Hacksaw Ridge was another very interesting true story that deserves to be told. It was the way the story was told that I didn't entirely love.
First of all, the music was killing me. All through the movie it was right up in my face telling me how to feel. Too much.
Secondly, it had a kind of hokey, overly simplistic feel to it that made it seem completely unreal even though it was a true story.
I imagine that the real Desmond Doss probably presented himself as very simple and straight forward. That seems right and feels true, so I can understand why that style was chosen. But his story is one of a very complex and conflicted human being. Raised by an abusive war veteran he experiences two violent episodes that change him forever. First, as a boy he nearly kills his brother in a fight that their father is practically urging them on through. And secondly he intervenes in a horrible domestic violence dispute between his parents and narrowly chooses to not shoot his own father. These, coupled with his religious beliefs, are the motivating factors behind him choosing to never kill or pick up a gun again.
So to have scenes where it practically feels like he ought to have a Disney animated bird on his shoulder made me feel like they are painting with a broad stroke and not honoring the whole truth of his complexity.
Style deductions aside, this is a truly fascinating story. Doss goes on to be a conscientious objector and the only non-combatant medic to be on the front lines of WWII. He is the very definition of a hero, single handedly saving an unbelievable amount of men in the midst of one of the most horrifying battles you can imagine. I'm very glad I got to learn of his story.
A quick aside: his father comes to speak on his behalf at a hearing and dresses in his WWI uniform to attend. When he walks in, the judge exclaims, "That's a Great War uniform!" He is of course referring to WWI, which they called The Great War. But I heard, "That is a GREAT war uniform!" as if he were being complimented on his fashion and here I am, five days later, still giggling my head off about it! I just never know what will stick with me when I set out on this adventure!
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
Monday, January 30, 2017
Hidden Figures
Hidden Figures made me feel super conflicted.
First off, it is a great story to tell. Who ever knew that brilliant african american women were a part of the space race and one of the greatest technological achievements in American history? We need more stories like this. We need to revise our white-washed, testosterone-soaked view of history and start acknowledging the people that were really there making things happen. I was so thrilled to watch this movie with my girls and let them learn about inspirational black women.
Here's where my conflict begins to come in: I was glad that this film was an easy starter course in racism. My kids could watch this and learn about what it was like but without any of the uglier parts of the fight for civil rights. I feel like they aren't ready for dramatizations of lynchings or beatings or women getting raped. Which of course, they aren't. But also? It's only my own white privilege that allows me to feel icky about some of our very real, very disturbing history (and current events) and then choose to shelter them from too much truth. Some families don't have an option to not deal head-on with racism every day or to hide some of the ugly truth from their precious babies. Some families have to live this crap on a daily basis.
All of that is my own deal. I'm looking at my own privilege, so that's a step in the right direction and what does that have to do with the movie? There was a small underlying feeling to the movie that seemed to say, "THIS is how you beat racism! Not by being angry in the streets, not by militancy or making people uncomfortable but you force change by being good and focused and needed and so super awesome that your rights can no longer be denied." That's a beautiful message but is being NASA's top mathematical mind really an option available to everyone who wants to make a difference in the fight against racism? This message twinged at me just a bit but I think it is mostly my fear reacting. I think the real message of the film is meant to be that there are countless ways in which racism will prove itself base, unjust and undeniably wrong, and this story shows just one of those paths.
So is this movie a sanitized look at racial inequality? Or is it simply one story in a million? Is it an important film? Yes, I think so? Is it well made? The acting was solid, the story was neat and tidy, it looked good but not stellar. Is it Oscar worthy? I'm not sure. It is competent but not incredibly artistic or challenging or ground breaking. I'm not saying it has to be any of those things to be celebrated, but it does seem to lack a little something extra that I crave for a film to be lauded the best in any category. In the end, the film making in Hidden Figures just wasn't as jaw droppingly impressive as were the women that were featured in its story.
First off, it is a great story to tell. Who ever knew that brilliant african american women were a part of the space race and one of the greatest technological achievements in American history? We need more stories like this. We need to revise our white-washed, testosterone-soaked view of history and start acknowledging the people that were really there making things happen. I was so thrilled to watch this movie with my girls and let them learn about inspirational black women.
Here's where my conflict begins to come in: I was glad that this film was an easy starter course in racism. My kids could watch this and learn about what it was like but without any of the uglier parts of the fight for civil rights. I feel like they aren't ready for dramatizations of lynchings or beatings or women getting raped. Which of course, they aren't. But also? It's only my own white privilege that allows me to feel icky about some of our very real, very disturbing history (and current events) and then choose to shelter them from too much truth. Some families don't have an option to not deal head-on with racism every day or to hide some of the ugly truth from their precious babies. Some families have to live this crap on a daily basis.
All of that is my own deal. I'm looking at my own privilege, so that's a step in the right direction and what does that have to do with the movie? There was a small underlying feeling to the movie that seemed to say, "THIS is how you beat racism! Not by being angry in the streets, not by militancy or making people uncomfortable but you force change by being good and focused and needed and so super awesome that your rights can no longer be denied." That's a beautiful message but is being NASA's top mathematical mind really an option available to everyone who wants to make a difference in the fight against racism? This message twinged at me just a bit but I think it is mostly my fear reacting. I think the real message of the film is meant to be that there are countless ways in which racism will prove itself base, unjust and undeniably wrong, and this story shows just one of those paths.
So is this movie a sanitized look at racial inequality? Or is it simply one story in a million? Is it an important film? Yes, I think so? Is it well made? The acting was solid, the story was neat and tidy, it looked good but not stellar. Is it Oscar worthy? I'm not sure. It is competent but not incredibly artistic or challenging or ground breaking. I'm not saying it has to be any of those things to be celebrated, but it does seem to lack a little something extra that I crave for a film to be lauded the best in any category. In the end, the film making in Hidden Figures just wasn't as jaw droppingly impressive as were the women that were featured in its story.
Friday, January 27, 2017
The Arrival
In The Arrival, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner have to figure out how to speak to aliens. It's an easy to understand task and the movie is anything but simple.
It's such an interesting concept! Our language is our only way to express our understanding of the world, so it can either limit us or free us from the restrictions we experience in how we interact with our reality. Look at that sentence I just wrote! What the heck am I even saying? I sound like I'm talking nonsense! This movie was DEEP, and it got me thinking sort of deeply, too. I love that.
So the restrictions that get lifted by learning the new language have to do with our experience of time. This is where the writing of The Arrival really kind of blew me away. Telling a story that messes with your concept of time seems so hard to me! It feels like so many pitfalls are hidden in that process, but this film really seemed to nail it. They leaked clues throughout, I felt like I knew what was happening for a while, then started to wonder if I knew what I thought I did and eventually they made it all click into place for me right when they wanted me to fully understand. I admire the absolute control they had over me as a viewer! So impressive.
In addition to all of these deep thoughts and story telling machinations, they tie everything directly into the personal and emotional story of her relationship with her daughter. They appeal to your empathy and humanity and ask you what your response would be if time were different, if life choices were made by alternate criteria.
This was a well made movie with such a skillful blend of crazy abstract concepts, a topsy turvy plot and a solid emotional core to anchor it. Ambitious and successful!
It's such an interesting concept! Our language is our only way to express our understanding of the world, so it can either limit us or free us from the restrictions we experience in how we interact with our reality. Look at that sentence I just wrote! What the heck am I even saying? I sound like I'm talking nonsense! This movie was DEEP, and it got me thinking sort of deeply, too. I love that.
So the restrictions that get lifted by learning the new language have to do with our experience of time. This is where the writing of The Arrival really kind of blew me away. Telling a story that messes with your concept of time seems so hard to me! It feels like so many pitfalls are hidden in that process, but this film really seemed to nail it. They leaked clues throughout, I felt like I knew what was happening for a while, then started to wonder if I knew what I thought I did and eventually they made it all click into place for me right when they wanted me to fully understand. I admire the absolute control they had over me as a viewer! So impressive.
In addition to all of these deep thoughts and story telling machinations, they tie everything directly into the personal and emotional story of her relationship with her daughter. They appeal to your empathy and humanity and ask you what your response would be if time were different, if life choices were made by alternate criteria.
This was a well made movie with such a skillful blend of crazy abstract concepts, a topsy turvy plot and a solid emotional core to anchor it. Ambitious and successful!
Thursday, January 26, 2017
La La Land
(Written before the nominations.)
I am making an educated guess that La La Land will be nominated and getting an early start on my reviews. This one is all spoiler; don't read until you have seen it!
I watched this with a friend that told me the Saddest Story I had ever heard right before the viewing. I blame her for the fact that I didn't enjoy this movie as much as I expected. I shouldn't though! But I do.
The opening number just fell flat for me. It's purpose seems to be to say, "Hey! This will be a musical, ok? So get used to it!" And the song is everything that is annoying about musicals! I get the feeling that is an intentional choice but it made for a rough start and I was still thinking about that really Sad Story...
The rest of the musical numbers are directly tied to the main characters and are motivated by the story so I enjoyed all of those so much more.
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are so enjoyable! They made me forget about the Sad Story for a really long time. They are cute and petite and pleasing and personable and you start to get into this sort of classical hollywood musical vibe. Creation is a process and a struggle and life isn't always just like the movies but love gets us through, right? Love is the antidote and with love, everything happens for a reason!
Not so fast. The ending is a gut punch of sorrow and regret and crap just never working out how it should. And there is the Sad Story my friend told me before and that is SO sad and now this is kind of sad too and I was liking all your damn music and then you just pulled the rug right out from under me. Are you kidding me? This story you made me invest in was the story of the one that got away? Bittersweet, but so heavy on the bitter!
Here's the thing. I guess I respect that? It took a musical's sunny outlook and tried to apply it to a more modern and realistic story? Except the characters themselves weren't that realistic. They kind of fell back on some pretty stereotypical tropes and plot points. So did it turn the genre on its head or not? It definitely set up expectations and then renegotiated on them. That should be a good surprise in film, right? But it felt kind of mean to reel me in like that. Also, there's that Sad Story on my mind. So. Sad.
Ok. Great musical numbers, cute performances, lovely lighting cues and transitions! It was a film I haven't seen before. All good. We just didn't part on the best of terms. I was crying at the end and my friend looked at me and said, "If this one made you sad, you better get ready! You haven't watched the sad ones yet!"
I'll just grab some Prozac and meet you here for my next review!
I am making an educated guess that La La Land will be nominated and getting an early start on my reviews. This one is all spoiler; don't read until you have seen it!
I watched this with a friend that told me the Saddest Story I had ever heard right before the viewing. I blame her for the fact that I didn't enjoy this movie as much as I expected. I shouldn't though! But I do.
The opening number just fell flat for me. It's purpose seems to be to say, "Hey! This will be a musical, ok? So get used to it!" And the song is everything that is annoying about musicals! I get the feeling that is an intentional choice but it made for a rough start and I was still thinking about that really Sad Story...
The rest of the musical numbers are directly tied to the main characters and are motivated by the story so I enjoyed all of those so much more.
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling are so enjoyable! They made me forget about the Sad Story for a really long time. They are cute and petite and pleasing and personable and you start to get into this sort of classical hollywood musical vibe. Creation is a process and a struggle and life isn't always just like the movies but love gets us through, right? Love is the antidote and with love, everything happens for a reason!
Not so fast. The ending is a gut punch of sorrow and regret and crap just never working out how it should. And there is the Sad Story my friend told me before and that is SO sad and now this is kind of sad too and I was liking all your damn music and then you just pulled the rug right out from under me. Are you kidding me? This story you made me invest in was the story of the one that got away? Bittersweet, but so heavy on the bitter!
Here's the thing. I guess I respect that? It took a musical's sunny outlook and tried to apply it to a more modern and realistic story? Except the characters themselves weren't that realistic. They kind of fell back on some pretty stereotypical tropes and plot points. So did it turn the genre on its head or not? It definitely set up expectations and then renegotiated on them. That should be a good surprise in film, right? But it felt kind of mean to reel me in like that. Also, there's that Sad Story on my mind. So. Sad.
Ok. Great musical numbers, cute performances, lovely lighting cues and transitions! It was a film I haven't seen before. All good. We just didn't part on the best of terms. I was crying at the end and my friend looked at me and said, "If this one made you sad, you better get ready! You haven't watched the sad ones yet!"
I'll just grab some Prozac and meet you here for my next review!
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Moonlight
I saw Moonlight with a friend a while back and I really loved it. It was a magical experience for me. I went in not knowing much at all about it and I was able to just surrender to an incredibly moving and poignant story that was completely new to me.
The first thing I loved about it was that I was looking at characters in a different way than I had seen them before. This story takes place in the 80s (and beyond) in a very poor area of Florida where drug dealing is a major form of income. But it isn't about that; that's just the backdrop. The movie is not telling me how bad drugs are or that the people who get involved in drugs are evil. It's not druggies versus cops, it's a whole new take. So I met a drug dealer who is a great person and feels conflicted. I met a crack head who is doing her best in a tough situation and failing but still a complete human, still trying. It has a feeling that is hard to describe. I know! It feels real! This movie is treating its characters with love and respect as human beings. What a great feeling!
The next thing I loved about the film was its focus on small moments. Moonlight follows its main character, Chiron, thru three phases of his life. There are large scale conflicts that he is dealing with, for sure. But the focus of the film is on the small moments that truly contribute to who he becomes. The movie really looks at who shows up for you on your journey. It isn't always who you expect, but it lays the ground work for the path you end up taking, nonetheless.
The main character, played beautifully by three different actors, is so achingly vulnerable! He is so open and susceptible to the world around him, a world of hate and anger and hurt and danger! He lacks a safety net and feels always on the knife edge between salvation and ruin. It is not exactly a suspenseful film but I was so barely balance between hope and despair as I experienced his journey with him.
What an excellent piece of story telling from Barry Jenkins and film making in all departments and at all stages to give me so much! I love the magic that can happen when a really special story is well told! Go see Moonlight!
The first thing I loved about it was that I was looking at characters in a different way than I had seen them before. This story takes place in the 80s (and beyond) in a very poor area of Florida where drug dealing is a major form of income. But it isn't about that; that's just the backdrop. The movie is not telling me how bad drugs are or that the people who get involved in drugs are evil. It's not druggies versus cops, it's a whole new take. So I met a drug dealer who is a great person and feels conflicted. I met a crack head who is doing her best in a tough situation and failing but still a complete human, still trying. It has a feeling that is hard to describe. I know! It feels real! This movie is treating its characters with love and respect as human beings. What a great feeling!
The next thing I loved about the film was its focus on small moments. Moonlight follows its main character, Chiron, thru three phases of his life. There are large scale conflicts that he is dealing with, for sure. But the focus of the film is on the small moments that truly contribute to who he becomes. The movie really looks at who shows up for you on your journey. It isn't always who you expect, but it lays the ground work for the path you end up taking, nonetheless.
The main character, played beautifully by three different actors, is so achingly vulnerable! He is so open and susceptible to the world around him, a world of hate and anger and hurt and danger! He lacks a safety net and feels always on the knife edge between salvation and ruin. It is not exactly a suspenseful film but I was so barely balance between hope and despair as I experienced his journey with him.
What an excellent piece of story telling from Barry Jenkins and film making in all departments and at all stages to give me so much! I love the magic that can happen when a really special story is well told! Go see Moonlight!
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Announcing the Oscar Nominations of 2017!!!
It's on like Donkey Kong here at The Oscar Glutton main offices, people! We have nominees! I repeat, we have nominees! All units mobilize!
This morning the Academy announced all the movies I need to watch, with an extra challenge. They announced about a week later than usual (probably because of the inauguration and all that crap).
Here's my tally: I have seen 12 of the nominees! Yay! I still need to see 38 films. Holy hell.
It's ok. I can do this. I have the support of all of you, my eight faithful readers. And more and more as the years go on people say to me, "Autumn, can I accompany you to some Oscar screenings this year?" They carry my weary body to the theatre (no, they don't really), they hold open my eyelids when I fall asleep (well, sort of...), they pass me my tea when I am too weak to go on (um, this really isn't that hard, but...) so fear not, for me! I will get through.
The full list of nominees is here.
My real focus is how to fit in all the screenings but here are my first few thoughts about this year's list. I am really happy that Moonlight got 7 nominations, as that is my favorite movie of the year so far. Oscar is less white this year, with 35% of the acting nominations going to non-white actors. I'm glad to see progress being made there.
La La Land is going to be the picture to beat this year. It garnered 14 nominations which I have heard ties it for the most nominations of all time. And the category of "I have to watch WHAT for the Oscars???" is filled by Trolls, nominated for an original song, and Suicide Squad, nominated for Make Up.
So let's get started. We have much to do, dear readers.
Let the viewing begin!
This morning the Academy announced all the movies I need to watch, with an extra challenge. They announced about a week later than usual (probably because of the inauguration and all that crap).
Here's my tally: I have seen 12 of the nominees! Yay! I still need to see 38 films. Holy hell.
It's ok. I can do this. I have the support of all of you, my eight faithful readers. And more and more as the years go on people say to me, "Autumn, can I accompany you to some Oscar screenings this year?" They carry my weary body to the theatre (no, they don't really), they hold open my eyelids when I fall asleep (well, sort of...), they pass me my tea when I am too weak to go on (um, this really isn't that hard, but...) so fear not, for me! I will get through.
The full list of nominees is here.
My real focus is how to fit in all the screenings but here are my first few thoughts about this year's list. I am really happy that Moonlight got 7 nominations, as that is my favorite movie of the year so far. Oscar is less white this year, with 35% of the acting nominations going to non-white actors. I'm glad to see progress being made there.
La La Land is going to be the picture to beat this year. It garnered 14 nominations which I have heard ties it for the most nominations of all time. And the category of "I have to watch WHAT for the Oscars???" is filled by Trolls, nominated for an original song, and Suicide Squad, nominated for Make Up.
So let's get started. We have much to do, dear readers.
Let the viewing begin!
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