Movie: Honeyland
Nominated for: Documentary Feature, International Feature
How I watched: Prime
When I fell asleep: No, I folded laundry
When it had me: Bee Stealing
When it lost me: I was in and out
What I have to say: This movie is a perspective widener. Before it I did not know that people lived in Turkey in bombed out villages with no services whatsoever, surviving on the old ways, or living a nomadic existence just trying to survive off of a desert landscape. Early on in the film, I was worried that I would get bored just observing this lifestyle. However, conflicts arose that got me invested and anxious and the main characters won me over and got me really interested in where their lives would take them. It was interesting to see that the female beekeeper was all about sustainability, nurturing bees and generally believing that there would be enough for everyone. By contrast, the male bee keeper, urged on by the pressures to be a provider, prove his worth and meet unreasonable expectations, is focused only on a quick process leading to maximum profits. He ends up lying, stealing, over-harvesting and threatening the ability of anyone in the area to collect honey in the future. The film is shot beautifully and ultimately very engaging. This film got nominated both as a doc and as an International Feature. I haven't seen that before.
Movie: The Cave
Nominated for: Documentary Feature
How I watched: Laemmle Theatre
When I fell asleep: Not a bit
When it had me: Right from the start
When it lost me: Only for a tiny bit at the end
What I have to say: The most depressing film so far this year, The Cave follows an underground hospital trying to save lives in a neighborhood of Syria where the people are unable to get out and the Russians are bombing relentlessly. Should I feel hopeful that people are there exhibiting care and bravery? Should I feel desperate that in the face of war, so many lives are sacrificed, so many people tortured and lost? I felt both. I wept openly about three times during this movie and got really fidgety and uncomfortable for a while too. I mean, it's not fun to watch at all, but I think there is value in those of us who are living safe and privileged lives to open our eyes and see the painful truth of human existence.
Movie: American Factory
Nominated for: Documentary Feature
How I watched: Netflix
When I fell asleep: I didn't
When it had me: Chinese workers complaining about the Americans' fat fingers
When it lost me: A few times
What I have to say: I thought this film raised interesting issues about the ever evolving nature of labor and jobs in America. Should we be doing things more like the Chinese? Would we ever want that? What happens when everything gets automated? It asks the hard questions and gets you thinking and of course, there are no easy answers. While I did appreciate how it makes you think, it didn't offer anything special in terms of film making choices.
Wednesday, January 29, 2020
Monday, January 27, 2020
More Great Performances!
Movie: Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Nominated for: Actor in a Supporting Role
How I watched: Caught it before it left the theatre, the whole family went
When I fell asleep: Not at all
When it had me: From the Mr. Rogers-style opening
When it lost me: It did not
What I have to say: I really loved the storytelling style in this film, framing the whole movie as an episode of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood was brilliant and fun. Early on I felt like Tom Hanks was really just Tom Hanks rather than disappearing into the role. As time went on he embodied the feeling of the character well enough that it did not bother me that he didn't actually look like or sound like the real person. I'm trying to process the fact that Mr. Rogers really makes me feel uncomfortable. It's so odd to see someone be so present and so vulnerable and so open to connection It feels too intense, too intimate, too intimidating. I really hope I can continue to evolve and gain a greater capacity for kindness and authenticity at a full Fred Rogers level. Matthew Rhys turned in a beautiful performance as the everyman character trying as hard as I would to avoid the Rogers' soul-stare. My whole family really liked this film!
Movie: Bombshell
Nominated for: Actress in a Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Make Up & Hairstyling
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: I didn't
When it had me: The term "Anger Menstruating"
When it lost me: I don't think it did
What I have to say: So this was fascinating and disgusting and overall a well told whistle blower story. I'm shocked every time I see a detailed account of how these predatory dirt bags work. I don't know why I'm still shocked but I am. It's not just shocking what they get away with, it's shocking how they create a culture around them where everyone assists, complies, coerces, protects and looks the other way in the face of behavior almost no one would condone out loud. It was so fascinating to watch these hyper conservative women struggle with the fact that they want to be treated with respect and a certain degree of equality in the work place and they want to (sometimes) be treated like humans instead of objects but they have to walk the line like expert gymnasts because they are terrified of being labeled feminists! Or terrified of finding out that when they really do have to fight for themselves, in their heart of hearts, they actually are feminists. Sometimes I felt sorry for them, and sometimes I felt like they deserved their inner squirming for not having thought through their own place in the world very carefully. At least this was a true story where the fat, white predator in charge of everything actually got fired! So that made for a happy ending.
Movie: Judy
Nominated for: Actress in a Leading Role
How I watched: Prime
When I fell asleep: I didn't but I did have to turn it off for a while and come back later because that's what happens when you watch at home
When it had me: The first song of Judy's London tour
When it lost me: I'm not sure
What I have to say: This movie starts with Judy taking the stage at some tiny show with her kids. I swear she says, "Hello, Altadena!" which I found so distracting because I live in Altadena and I could not imagine where there was a venue that Judy Garland might have performed and then I started googling whether there was a record of her ever playing here and couldn't find anything and then I thought maybe one of the Writers or Producers lives in Altadena so they put it in for them and then I realized I wasn't focused on the movie. But I got back in and remembered that everything about Judy's life was pretty heart breaking. Renee Zellweger pretty well disappears into this role. I saw everything I needed to in the scene of her first performance in London. She did so much with that song. She put pretty much everything she had into that performance; it was stunning. She plays Judy like a performance machine; she plays her vulnerable and raw, she plays her both present and far away, she plays her on the knife edge of unraveling, she plays her drugged out of her mind, she plays her innocent and hungry for love, she plays her desperate and in control of her instrument and out of control of her life. And she does it all in one song. I can't even judge if she actually looks like her or acts like her but she captured something very real and electric and layered and I was more impressed than I imagined I would be.
Nominated for: Actor in a Supporting Role
How I watched: Caught it before it left the theatre, the whole family went
When I fell asleep: Not at all
When it had me: From the Mr. Rogers-style opening
When it lost me: It did not
What I have to say: I really loved the storytelling style in this film, framing the whole movie as an episode of Mr. Roger's Neighborhood was brilliant and fun. Early on I felt like Tom Hanks was really just Tom Hanks rather than disappearing into the role. As time went on he embodied the feeling of the character well enough that it did not bother me that he didn't actually look like or sound like the real person. I'm trying to process the fact that Mr. Rogers really makes me feel uncomfortable. It's so odd to see someone be so present and so vulnerable and so open to connection It feels too intense, too intimate, too intimidating. I really hope I can continue to evolve and gain a greater capacity for kindness and authenticity at a full Fred Rogers level. Matthew Rhys turned in a beautiful performance as the everyman character trying as hard as I would to avoid the Rogers' soul-stare. My whole family really liked this film!
Movie: Bombshell
Nominated for: Actress in a Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Make Up & Hairstyling
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: I didn't
When it had me: The term "Anger Menstruating"
When it lost me: I don't think it did
What I have to say: So this was fascinating and disgusting and overall a well told whistle blower story. I'm shocked every time I see a detailed account of how these predatory dirt bags work. I don't know why I'm still shocked but I am. It's not just shocking what they get away with, it's shocking how they create a culture around them where everyone assists, complies, coerces, protects and looks the other way in the face of behavior almost no one would condone out loud. It was so fascinating to watch these hyper conservative women struggle with the fact that they want to be treated with respect and a certain degree of equality in the work place and they want to (sometimes) be treated like humans instead of objects but they have to walk the line like expert gymnasts because they are terrified of being labeled feminists! Or terrified of finding out that when they really do have to fight for themselves, in their heart of hearts, they actually are feminists. Sometimes I felt sorry for them, and sometimes I felt like they deserved their inner squirming for not having thought through their own place in the world very carefully. At least this was a true story where the fat, white predator in charge of everything actually got fired! So that made for a happy ending.
Movie: Judy
Nominated for: Actress in a Leading Role
How I watched: Prime
When I fell asleep: I didn't but I did have to turn it off for a while and come back later because that's what happens when you watch at home
When it had me: The first song of Judy's London tour
When it lost me: I'm not sure
What I have to say: This movie starts with Judy taking the stage at some tiny show with her kids. I swear she says, "Hello, Altadena!" which I found so distracting because I live in Altadena and I could not imagine where there was a venue that Judy Garland might have performed and then I started googling whether there was a record of her ever playing here and couldn't find anything and then I thought maybe one of the Writers or Producers lives in Altadena so they put it in for them and then I realized I wasn't focused on the movie. But I got back in and remembered that everything about Judy's life was pretty heart breaking. Renee Zellweger pretty well disappears into this role. I saw everything I needed to in the scene of her first performance in London. She did so much with that song. She put pretty much everything she had into that performance; it was stunning. She plays Judy like a performance machine; she plays her vulnerable and raw, she plays her both present and far away, she plays her on the knife edge of unraveling, she plays her drugged out of her mind, she plays her innocent and hungry for love, she plays her desperate and in control of her instrument and out of control of her life. And she does it all in one song. I can't even judge if she actually looks like her or acts like her but she captured something very real and electric and layered and I was more impressed than I imagined I would be.
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Animation, Part 2
Movie: How to Train Your Dragon, The Hidden World
Nominated for: Animated Feature
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: No way!
When it had me: Ever since I learned Dragons were cats
When it lost me: I stayed in it
What I have to say: This was a well done, if heart breaking conclusion. I always feared they would go The Fox and the Hound route, which they essentially did. I hate a movie when best friends are super happy and then it gets revealed that they somehow don't belong together and must say their good byes. Like, forever good byes. It sucks. Angelina was devastated; this whole franchise has been her favorite world for a really long time. Also, we have a cat that look s exactly like Toothless. Sad though it was, we enjoyed it a bunch.
Movie: Toy Story 4
Nominated for: Animated Feature
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: Nah
When it had me: Key and Peele's characters
When it lost me: I had trouble getting into this one
What I have to say: As much as I have loved the Toy Story movies, I just did not see the need for another one so I was reluctant going in. It was weird that they took Woody's steadfast loyalty and turned it into unhealthy codependency in this film. I might have preferred if they didn't cast that pall over all of the other films. It made me feel like all of our possessions are stuck in abusive relationships with us. Like my toaster maybe would really like to travel but it couldn't break its habit of people-pleasing me. Overall the movie was enjoyable but I'm still not sure they convinced me it was needed. I'm surprised that this one got a nod over Frozen 2, which I thought was a stronger overall installment.
Movie: Frozen II
Nominated for: Original Song
How I watched: Arclight
When I fell asleep: No way
When it had me: The characters
When it lost me: Nah
What I have to say: I wasn't sure about a second Frozen. The first one was a revelation as far as reframing the notion of true love. I was afraid another one would just fall short. However, this movie stayed sharp and refreshing! There is a 1980s Peter Cetera-style music video that made me howl with laughter. That gem was enough to justify the whole installment!
****SPOILERS****
Kristoff and Anna are in love but there are some bumps in the road as she tries to juggle her desire to take care of her sister and him and Olaf and herself. There is a point when Kristoff says, "My love is not fragile." I gasped out loud in the theatre and felt a deep burning in my stomach or my soul. I mean either the popcorn was giving me indigestion or I just realized that Kristoff had expressed something that my heart has always desperately longed to believe. The notion that you can be in love and still have your own life and follow your heart and sometimes not make your love your first priority and that will be ok and he won't just get pissed and leave? Well, it's another revelation for people pleasing Autumn and certainly not the way "successful love" is most often portrayed on screen. Later he swoops in almost as if he is there to save her but all he says is "What do you need?" And then proceeds to help her. Why am I now in love with an animated character??? I'm still utterly shocked that a sequal can make me feel these deep feels.
Nominated for: Animated Feature
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: No way!
When it had me: Ever since I learned Dragons were cats
When it lost me: I stayed in it
What I have to say: This was a well done, if heart breaking conclusion. I always feared they would go The Fox and the Hound route, which they essentially did. I hate a movie when best friends are super happy and then it gets revealed that they somehow don't belong together and must say their good byes. Like, forever good byes. It sucks. Angelina was devastated; this whole franchise has been her favorite world for a really long time. Also, we have a cat that look s exactly like Toothless. Sad though it was, we enjoyed it a bunch.
Movie: Toy Story 4
Nominated for: Animated Feature
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: Nah
When it had me: Key and Peele's characters
When it lost me: I had trouble getting into this one
What I have to say: As much as I have loved the Toy Story movies, I just did not see the need for another one so I was reluctant going in. It was weird that they took Woody's steadfast loyalty and turned it into unhealthy codependency in this film. I might have preferred if they didn't cast that pall over all of the other films. It made me feel like all of our possessions are stuck in abusive relationships with us. Like my toaster maybe would really like to travel but it couldn't break its habit of people-pleasing me. Overall the movie was enjoyable but I'm still not sure they convinced me it was needed. I'm surprised that this one got a nod over Frozen 2, which I thought was a stronger overall installment.
Movie: Frozen II
Nominated for: Original Song
How I watched: Arclight
When I fell asleep: No way
When it had me: The characters
When it lost me: Nah
What I have to say: I wasn't sure about a second Frozen. The first one was a revelation as far as reframing the notion of true love. I was afraid another one would just fall short. However, this movie stayed sharp and refreshing! There is a 1980s Peter Cetera-style music video that made me howl with laughter. That gem was enough to justify the whole installment!
****SPOILERS****
Kristoff and Anna are in love but there are some bumps in the road as she tries to juggle her desire to take care of her sister and him and Olaf and herself. There is a point when Kristoff says, "My love is not fragile." I gasped out loud in the theatre and felt a deep burning in my stomach or my soul. I mean either the popcorn was giving me indigestion or I just realized that Kristoff had expressed something that my heart has always desperately longed to believe. The notion that you can be in love and still have your own life and follow your heart and sometimes not make your love your first priority and that will be ok and he won't just get pissed and leave? Well, it's another revelation for people pleasing Autumn and certainly not the way "successful love" is most often portrayed on screen. Later he swoops in almost as if he is there to save her but all he says is "What do you need?" And then proceeds to help her. Why am I now in love with an animated character??? I'm still utterly shocked that a sequal can make me feel these deep feels.
Friday, January 24, 2020
Animation, Part 1
Movie: Missing Link
Nominated for: Animated Feature
How I watched: Prime
When I fell asleep: Didn't
When it had me: Beautiful shots of vistas
When it lost me: My attention strayed to my phone a couple times
What I have to say: Zack Galifianakis was very enjoyable as Mr. Link. The style of animation was cool and impressive but some of the facial features of the main characters were unnervingly pointy. There wasn't anything too surprising about it but it was a satisfying watch.
Movie: Klaus
Nominated for: Animated Feature
How I watched: Netflix
When I fell asleep: Nope
When it had me: When we met Klaus
When it lost me: A few times along the way, including one rather disturbing revelation at the end
What I have to say: Angelina and I did not care for the main character very much. I'm not sure why we needed another alternate origin story for Santa Claus, especially not after watching this one. I had never heard of this movie before it was nominated; I guess it had one of those minimal theatrical releases. The second act of the film was pretty enjoyable with a few surprising twists to the traditional telling of Christmas lore. Overall it was fine but I didn't see why it needed a nomination.
Movie: I Lost My Body
Nominated for: Best Animated Feature
How I watched: Netflix
When I fell asleep: No, I was warned to watch it early! (Thanks, Jason)
When it had me: I was curious. Is that enough?
When it lost me: I was lost a lot
What I have to say: This one was rated mature, so I had to watch alone. This movie deals with the issue of injury and trying to find your way through the world when you are lacking wholeness. It's about trying to find connection, after becoming severely disconnected. It had some suspenseful sequences. Two story lines slowly work their way toward each other in an interesting way. It mostly kept my interest but at the end there were still pieces that felt unresolved and questions still remained for me. It was fine.
Nominated for: Animated Feature
How I watched: Prime
When I fell asleep: Didn't
When it had me: Beautiful shots of vistas
When it lost me: My attention strayed to my phone a couple times
What I have to say: Zack Galifianakis was very enjoyable as Mr. Link. The style of animation was cool and impressive but some of the facial features of the main characters were unnervingly pointy. There wasn't anything too surprising about it but it was a satisfying watch.
Movie: Klaus
Nominated for: Animated Feature
How I watched: Netflix
When I fell asleep: Nope
When it had me: When we met Klaus
When it lost me: A few times along the way, including one rather disturbing revelation at the end
What I have to say: Angelina and I did not care for the main character very much. I'm not sure why we needed another alternate origin story for Santa Claus, especially not after watching this one. I had never heard of this movie before it was nominated; I guess it had one of those minimal theatrical releases. The second act of the film was pretty enjoyable with a few surprising twists to the traditional telling of Christmas lore. Overall it was fine but I didn't see why it needed a nomination.
Movie: I Lost My Body
Nominated for: Best Animated Feature
How I watched: Netflix
When I fell asleep: No, I was warned to watch it early! (Thanks, Jason)
When it had me: I was curious. Is that enough?
When it lost me: I was lost a lot
What I have to say: This one was rated mature, so I had to watch alone. This movie deals with the issue of injury and trying to find your way through the world when you are lacking wholeness. It's about trying to find connection, after becoming severely disconnected. It had some suspenseful sequences. Two story lines slowly work their way toward each other in an interesting way. It mostly kept my interest but at the end there were still pieces that felt unresolved and questions still remained for me. It was fine.
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Rocketman, Ad Astra and The Lighthouse
Movie: Rocketman
Nominated for: Best Original Song
How I watched: On Demand
When I fell asleep: I didn't
When it had me: First jump into the past
When it lost me: I'm Still Standing
What I have to say: This was one of my favorite biopics! I usually find them quite clunky and unsatisfying, but this one worked for me. I loved the way in which they integrated Elton John's music into this film. They picked songs that fit the moment in his life rather than playing them strictly in chronological order. I also appreciated that other characters in his life are sometimes the one who voice the songs. Using rehab as a device to jump forward and back in time was really smart and the first time we jump back in time for a big song number was really enchanting! I had thought the Academy might acknowledge this one more, but I guess their plate was full.
Movie: Ad Astra
Nominated for: Sound Mixing
How I watched: In theatres, ages ago
When I fell asleep: Nope
When it had me: The Pysch evals
When it lost me: I'm not sure
What I have to say: It's been a long time since I saw it but I remember feeling like this brought up a lot of feelings about masculinity and the need to have absolute control of your emotions. The older generation (repped by Tommy Lee Jones) became fanatical about that need for control over all their feelings and suffered by becoming detached from life and from their purpose in many ways. Through the film we watch, Brad Pitt, the next generation trying to navigate the problems caused by that detachment and trying to find another way to approach life, in spite of everything he had been taught. It was a quiet and really thoughtful film with left me a lot to mull over. I appreciated that.
Movie: The Lighthouse
Nominated for: Cinematography
How I watched: Prime
When I fell asleep: Nope, it was an early screening. I had to fit it in before the day's Senate proceedings began!
When it had me: From the trailer
When it lost me: Somewhere in the 3rd act
What I have to say: I was so excited to see this movie! Two "Light Keepers" tend a remote island light house in the 1800s. The movie almost looks like it was shot in the 1800s. It is black and white, faded and blurry. It is shot in a square frame, creating even more tension and exacerbating the feelings of being trapped; by an island, by small living quarters, by a tiny circle of light created by an oil lamp every time the sun goes down. Everything in this movie was confining. Early on I thought, "Man! Not an iPhone in sight! How will they survive?" Then the two men face bad weather and start to go mad. There's such a great sense of dread and doom. My favorite scene is the best argument about cooking ever. Unfortunately right after that the movie gets a bit repetitive. It stays weird, it stays doomed and like the men on the island, the story has nowhere to go. With the exception of some questions about what is real or not, there is no real mystery unfolding, or any particular outcome to root for or against. It's just weird until it ends with no significant sense of resolution.
Nominated for: Best Original Song
How I watched: On Demand
When I fell asleep: I didn't
When it had me: First jump into the past
When it lost me: I'm Still Standing
What I have to say: This was one of my favorite biopics! I usually find them quite clunky and unsatisfying, but this one worked for me. I loved the way in which they integrated Elton John's music into this film. They picked songs that fit the moment in his life rather than playing them strictly in chronological order. I also appreciated that other characters in his life are sometimes the one who voice the songs. Using rehab as a device to jump forward and back in time was really smart and the first time we jump back in time for a big song number was really enchanting! I had thought the Academy might acknowledge this one more, but I guess their plate was full.
Movie: Ad Astra
Nominated for: Sound Mixing
How I watched: In theatres, ages ago
When I fell asleep: Nope
When it had me: The Pysch evals
When it lost me: I'm not sure
What I have to say: It's been a long time since I saw it but I remember feeling like this brought up a lot of feelings about masculinity and the need to have absolute control of your emotions. The older generation (repped by Tommy Lee Jones) became fanatical about that need for control over all their feelings and suffered by becoming detached from life and from their purpose in many ways. Through the film we watch, Brad Pitt, the next generation trying to navigate the problems caused by that detachment and trying to find another way to approach life, in spite of everything he had been taught. It was a quiet and really thoughtful film with left me a lot to mull over. I appreciated that.
Movie: The Lighthouse
Nominated for: Cinematography
How I watched: Prime
When I fell asleep: Nope, it was an early screening. I had to fit it in before the day's Senate proceedings began!
When it had me: From the trailer
When it lost me: Somewhere in the 3rd act
What I have to say: I was so excited to see this movie! Two "Light Keepers" tend a remote island light house in the 1800s. The movie almost looks like it was shot in the 1800s. It is black and white, faded and blurry. It is shot in a square frame, creating even more tension and exacerbating the feelings of being trapped; by an island, by small living quarters, by a tiny circle of light created by an oil lamp every time the sun goes down. Everything in this movie was confining. Early on I thought, "Man! Not an iPhone in sight! How will they survive?" Then the two men face bad weather and start to go mad. There's such a great sense of dread and doom. My favorite scene is the best argument about cooking ever. Unfortunately right after that the movie gets a bit repetitive. It stays weird, it stays doomed and like the men on the island, the story has nowhere to go. With the exception of some questions about what is real or not, there is no real mystery unfolding, or any particular outcome to root for or against. It's just weird until it ends with no significant sense of resolution.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Stuff My Kids Like, Too! (It's so great when they get old enough to really see movies with you!)
Movie: Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker
Nominated for: Original Score, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
How I watched: Opening Night Fan Event, Arclight
When I fell asleep: Hahaha!
When it had me: Since I was 7
When it lost me: I feel like it did briefly, but I'll have to see it again
What I have to say: First of all, what this movie had to do was completely impossible. It had to wrap up a nine film franchise that began in the 70s and has been a roller coaster ride of mixed methods, visions, techniques and philosophies that has alternately had books, comics, cartoons and the like that have over the course of time been varying degrees of "canon" or not. It had to satisfy nerds and geeks like me who have been loving this world way too hard for way too long while also trying to capture and inspire new audiences along the way. And it had to do this all without our beloved Carrie Fisher to bring us all home as the greatest tough, wise-cracking Princess turned General to ever grace the screen. That meant scrapping large parts of the script that had already been envisioned. It's a completely impossible task, so I wish everyone would just calm down about this movie.
***(There are spoilers, but we've all seen this by now, right?)***
For me, I was engaged the whole time. I appreciated the return to Palpatine because creating a brand new Sith in movie 9 would just feel like bad film making. I appreciated that we saw that the Force exists in kids with brooms in the last movie, but also THIS movie was about Skywalkers because ALL of the damn movies have been about Skywalkers so why change it in the final installment? Disney owns this and you can bet that going forward we will see more characters on other planets who can wield the force.
I loved that this movie started to deal with the question of WHY people end up on the dark side. Rei can see that people (and snake monsters) who have wounds that never heal turn away from the hope and beauty in themselves and become engulfed by darkness. That's some big and lovely crap right there! And finally we begin to see the Force used for healing. Do I wish that had been introduced somewhere else along the way? Sure. But I'm glad it's finally here now because it's a better actual balance to fighting than we have ever seen before.
The BEST thing about the film was watching Adam Driver's transition from Kylo back to Ben. First, it comes from Rei healing Kylo, and those two have been the most electric thing about this whole trilogy by far! But in the sequence where Ben goes to help Rei, Adam Driver and JJ Abrams do the most wonderful thing. They show us that Ben is Han Solo's son. He becomes a Harrison Ford style hero by following a heroic looking jump with a very human reaction, "Ow." He does the Han Solo shoot-accurately-without-looking trick. And then he rushes in without a plan and gets the crap beat out of him! When Rei Force-passes him a light saber, his shrug is so Han Solo I could barely contain myself. In three short moves he does what Alden Ehrenreich could not muster once in an entire movie, he convinces me I'm watching a Solo. That's just good film making.
There was confusing stuff. Finn now is force-sensitive, which for some reason I feel like I have always known. It didn't surprise me a bit but literally no one else felt that way so that was apparently me just misinterpreting something in the past. Rose was under-used, as was the new Kerri Russell character. And Rei's stand off with Palpatine felt like it just kept moving the goal posts on her. It wasn't perfect, but none of it was as bad as Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen trying to have a human conversation. Not even close! I feel like everyone forgot how low the bar had already been set.
For my money, and I have invested a LOT of it over the years, Abrams brought us home. We were limping and a bit bedraggled at times, but we made it. If you felt like you didn't make it home at the end, I'm sorry. That's a tough journey to go on and feel like you were let down. Please take care of yourself and heal; don't let it fester. May I suggest The Mandolorian?
And My Kids: My kids were thrilled to watch an LGTBQ moment of celebration at the end! (Representation Matters.) They had a good time and felt like it wrapped up a lot of things well.
Movie: Knives Out
Nominated for: Original Story
How I watched: In the theatre, with the whole family
When I fell asleep: Never
When it had me: From the start
When it lost me: It didn't
What I have to say: This was the epitome of a fun film! A great ensemble cast playing wild characters, a smart script, editing that deftly moves us along through zigs and zags, past and present and even alternating theories, and a whodunit that pulls off its surprise ending. We all enjoyed this very much.
And My Kids: My kids have an annoying habit of watching about 15 minutes of a movie and then predicting everything that will happen. Accurately. When this movie presented a full telling of the event in question early on, I swear they looked like they wanted to walk out. They were literally whispering to me about it and I was like, "Let the film maker tell you the story for once!" So they enjoyed the fact that there were twists and surprises to discover. They also had great appreciation for the planting and pay off involving the similarity between a real knife and a prop knife.
Movie: Avengers: Endgame
Nominated for: Visual Effects
How I watched: Opening Night Fan Event, Arclight
When I fell asleep: Early on. Just Kidding! No!
When it had me: Watching my kids watch all of those female superheroes fighting side by side was incredibly moving
When it lost me: Confused multiple endings
What I have to say: Oh, man! This was SO LONG ago. I hate writing these reviews. I mean, I could re-watch it but there are other things I need to get around to, and...
Anyway, I remember that when it ended I was awestruck that in something like 22 films, I had basically always been watching one long story. And it worked! On so many levels this was successful. Along the way, I have complained about the fact that everyone in the MCU is a smartass, and sometimes that really undercuts the drama and importance that might come into play in a hero movie genre. I felt like just because we all liked RDJ's witty Ironman, everything molded itself into this one kind of persona. But once I viewed this as one mega-film, it makes more sense. They all had to live in roughly the same world for Avengers: Endgame to ever be a thing that makes sense.
The movie felt like it had a couple of Cap endings and I wish they would have streamlined that story-telling a bit. But overall, I'm impressed by the monster that Disney has created and how well this thing held together. It feels like whatever comes next is going to either over reach, or try to be too similar and suck by comparison! Good luck, MCU!
And My Kids: My kids love the fact that these movies combine drama and humor so well, especially in this installment which they feared would be a real bummer. They were thrilled that the multiple timelines give Loki a chance to live on! And saddened by the fact that Black Widow only gets one more film. Also, they were sad to see Ironman go (especially if you're going to let that super cute Spiderman get all emotional about it! Stop it, Tom Holland!)
Nominated for: Original Score, Sound Editing, Visual Effects
How I watched: Opening Night Fan Event, Arclight
When I fell asleep: Hahaha!
When it had me: Since I was 7
When it lost me: I feel like it did briefly, but I'll have to see it again
What I have to say: First of all, what this movie had to do was completely impossible. It had to wrap up a nine film franchise that began in the 70s and has been a roller coaster ride of mixed methods, visions, techniques and philosophies that has alternately had books, comics, cartoons and the like that have over the course of time been varying degrees of "canon" or not. It had to satisfy nerds and geeks like me who have been loving this world way too hard for way too long while also trying to capture and inspire new audiences along the way. And it had to do this all without our beloved Carrie Fisher to bring us all home as the greatest tough, wise-cracking Princess turned General to ever grace the screen. That meant scrapping large parts of the script that had already been envisioned. It's a completely impossible task, so I wish everyone would just calm down about this movie.
***(There are spoilers, but we've all seen this by now, right?)***
For me, I was engaged the whole time. I appreciated the return to Palpatine because creating a brand new Sith in movie 9 would just feel like bad film making. I appreciated that we saw that the Force exists in kids with brooms in the last movie, but also THIS movie was about Skywalkers because ALL of the damn movies have been about Skywalkers so why change it in the final installment? Disney owns this and you can bet that going forward we will see more characters on other planets who can wield the force.
I loved that this movie started to deal with the question of WHY people end up on the dark side. Rei can see that people (and snake monsters) who have wounds that never heal turn away from the hope and beauty in themselves and become engulfed by darkness. That's some big and lovely crap right there! And finally we begin to see the Force used for healing. Do I wish that had been introduced somewhere else along the way? Sure. But I'm glad it's finally here now because it's a better actual balance to fighting than we have ever seen before.
The BEST thing about the film was watching Adam Driver's transition from Kylo back to Ben. First, it comes from Rei healing Kylo, and those two have been the most electric thing about this whole trilogy by far! But in the sequence where Ben goes to help Rei, Adam Driver and JJ Abrams do the most wonderful thing. They show us that Ben is Han Solo's son. He becomes a Harrison Ford style hero by following a heroic looking jump with a very human reaction, "Ow." He does the Han Solo shoot-accurately-without-looking trick. And then he rushes in without a plan and gets the crap beat out of him! When Rei Force-passes him a light saber, his shrug is so Han Solo I could barely contain myself. In three short moves he does what Alden Ehrenreich could not muster once in an entire movie, he convinces me I'm watching a Solo. That's just good film making.
There was confusing stuff. Finn now is force-sensitive, which for some reason I feel like I have always known. It didn't surprise me a bit but literally no one else felt that way so that was apparently me just misinterpreting something in the past. Rose was under-used, as was the new Kerri Russell character. And Rei's stand off with Palpatine felt like it just kept moving the goal posts on her. It wasn't perfect, but none of it was as bad as Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen trying to have a human conversation. Not even close! I feel like everyone forgot how low the bar had already been set.
For my money, and I have invested a LOT of it over the years, Abrams brought us home. We were limping and a bit bedraggled at times, but we made it. If you felt like you didn't make it home at the end, I'm sorry. That's a tough journey to go on and feel like you were let down. Please take care of yourself and heal; don't let it fester. May I suggest The Mandolorian?
And My Kids: My kids were thrilled to watch an LGTBQ moment of celebration at the end! (Representation Matters.) They had a good time and felt like it wrapped up a lot of things well.
Movie: Knives Out
Nominated for: Original Story
How I watched: In the theatre, with the whole family
When I fell asleep: Never
When it had me: From the start
When it lost me: It didn't
What I have to say: This was the epitome of a fun film! A great ensemble cast playing wild characters, a smart script, editing that deftly moves us along through zigs and zags, past and present and even alternating theories, and a whodunit that pulls off its surprise ending. We all enjoyed this very much.
And My Kids: My kids have an annoying habit of watching about 15 minutes of a movie and then predicting everything that will happen. Accurately. When this movie presented a full telling of the event in question early on, I swear they looked like they wanted to walk out. They were literally whispering to me about it and I was like, "Let the film maker tell you the story for once!" So they enjoyed the fact that there were twists and surprises to discover. They also had great appreciation for the planting and pay off involving the similarity between a real knife and a prop knife.
Movie: Avengers: Endgame
Nominated for: Visual Effects
How I watched: Opening Night Fan Event, Arclight
When I fell asleep: Early on. Just Kidding! No!
When it had me: Watching my kids watch all of those female superheroes fighting side by side was incredibly moving
When it lost me: Confused multiple endings
What I have to say: Oh, man! This was SO LONG ago. I hate writing these reviews. I mean, I could re-watch it but there are other things I need to get around to, and...
Anyway, I remember that when it ended I was awestruck that in something like 22 films, I had basically always been watching one long story. And it worked! On so many levels this was successful. Along the way, I have complained about the fact that everyone in the MCU is a smartass, and sometimes that really undercuts the drama and importance that might come into play in a hero movie genre. I felt like just because we all liked RDJ's witty Ironman, everything molded itself into this one kind of persona. But once I viewed this as one mega-film, it makes more sense. They all had to live in roughly the same world for Avengers: Endgame to ever be a thing that makes sense.
The movie felt like it had a couple of Cap endings and I wish they would have streamlined that story-telling a bit. But overall, I'm impressed by the monster that Disney has created and how well this thing held together. It feels like whatever comes next is going to either over reach, or try to be too similar and suck by comparison! Good luck, MCU!
And My Kids: My kids love the fact that these movies combine drama and humor so well, especially in this installment which they feared would be a real bummer. They were thrilled that the multiple timelines give Loki a chance to live on! And saddened by the fact that Black Widow only gets one more film. Also, they were sad to see Ironman go (especially if you're going to let that super cute Spiderman get all emotional about it! Stop it, Tom Holland!)
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Acting! Brilliant! Thank you!
Movie: Pain and Glory
Nominated for: Actor in a Leading Role, International Feature Film
How I watched: The Laemmle
When I fell asleep: Did not
When it had me: Casually trying heroin?
When it lost me: I struggled a bit
What I have to say: This film had a feeling that stood out from most of what I have seen this year. Visually, it was stunning and bright; the whole thing felt warm and inviting and perfectly designed. However, the story felt very thin and stretched at times, meandering around the edges of an aging film maker's world. I appreciated the aesthetic but found myself sometimes bored, struggling to connect with the film. I do think Antonio Banderas was very good but I don't know if his performance would have stood out for me if everyone wasn't already talking about him.
Movie: The Two Popes
Nominated for: Actor in a Leading Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: Netflix
When I fell asleep: I might have, but I was folding laundry
When it had me: It took a while but it got there
When it lost me: The first act was rough
What I have to say: I did NOT want to watch this movie, not one bit. I sighed and rolled my eyes a lot during the first act, as it slowly wound it's way through the life of the current Pope. I did not care as the Cardinals convened to navigate the tricky process of naming a new Pope. But slowly, as the plot honed itself in to two guys talking through their visions of the world and their differences, it actually built some interest for me. I found myself wanting to see what understanding they could reach and how they would resolve their Papal stalemate. I consider that a big win for this movie.
Movie: Harriet
Nominated for: Actress in Leading Role, Original Song
How I watched: We caught it at the cheap theatre! Phew!
When I fell asleep: Not a bit
When it had me: Right from the start
When it lost me: Never
What I have to say: I knew just the broad strokes about Harriet Tubman going into this film and I was fully transfixed by every second of her story. The acting was wonderful, the story gripping and the costumes were so very cool. Angelina and I both adored this movie. It's too bad it didn't garner a few more nominations. I've been wondering why it didn't. I found this movie just as emotionally affecting as 1917; Harriet only lacked the exhilaration of the film making trickery at work in that film. Is the problem that history films are a difficult sell? Because I was NOT excited to see 1917 until I knew about the trick, so that makes sense. Or is the problem that Kasi Lemmons had a $17 million budget instead of a $100 million budget? If so, Hollywood, please give her more money. Thank you.
Nominated for: Actor in a Leading Role, International Feature Film
How I watched: The Laemmle
When I fell asleep: Did not
When it had me: Casually trying heroin?
When it lost me: I struggled a bit
What I have to say: This film had a feeling that stood out from most of what I have seen this year. Visually, it was stunning and bright; the whole thing felt warm and inviting and perfectly designed. However, the story felt very thin and stretched at times, meandering around the edges of an aging film maker's world. I appreciated the aesthetic but found myself sometimes bored, struggling to connect with the film. I do think Antonio Banderas was very good but I don't know if his performance would have stood out for me if everyone wasn't already talking about him.
Movie: The Two Popes
Nominated for: Actor in a Leading Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: Netflix
When I fell asleep: I might have, but I was folding laundry
When it had me: It took a while but it got there
When it lost me: The first act was rough
What I have to say: I did NOT want to watch this movie, not one bit. I sighed and rolled my eyes a lot during the first act, as it slowly wound it's way through the life of the current Pope. I did not care as the Cardinals convened to navigate the tricky process of naming a new Pope. But slowly, as the plot honed itself in to two guys talking through their visions of the world and their differences, it actually built some interest for me. I found myself wanting to see what understanding they could reach and how they would resolve their Papal stalemate. I consider that a big win for this movie.
Movie: Harriet
Nominated for: Actress in Leading Role, Original Song
How I watched: We caught it at the cheap theatre! Phew!
When I fell asleep: Not a bit
When it had me: Right from the start
When it lost me: Never
What I have to say: I knew just the broad strokes about Harriet Tubman going into this film and I was fully transfixed by every second of her story. The acting was wonderful, the story gripping and the costumes were so very cool. Angelina and I both adored this movie. It's too bad it didn't garner a few more nominations. I've been wondering why it didn't. I found this movie just as emotionally affecting as 1917; Harriet only lacked the exhilaration of the film making trickery at work in that film. Is the problem that history films are a difficult sell? Because I was NOT excited to see 1917 until I knew about the trick, so that makes sense. Or is the problem that Kasi Lemmons had a $17 million budget instead of a $100 million budget? If so, Hollywood, please give her more money. Thank you.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Polk Salad Annie: The Movie (Ford V. Ferrari)
It gives me great pleasure to present you with this film review for Ford V. Ferrari. I would like to start by awarding the Music Supervisor of this film with a special make believe Oscar (the Autumnal Award) for being so awesome and including one of my favorite songs in two scenes of the film.
In the film, an instrumental version is used for a couple of racing montages. If you saw the movie, you heard the song's funky flavor but were robbed of the beauty of its lyrics.
The song is Polk Salad Annie. My mom played it for me when I was little and I loved it! I will treat you now to the lyrics of this amazing song, interspersed artfully with my thoughts on the film.
The opening of the song starts with a gravelly, soulful southern accent just talking to you over music. Real dramatic like.:
It gets very informational:
This seems like a slow start to the song. Ain't no real singin' goin' on yet. But they are just getting you up to speed. Much like Ford V. Ferrari. It started a little slow for me while they got me up to speed on the Ford Corporation and all the huge white male egos that all want to destroy one another for various reasons. Cool, cool. I thought the story telling was a little rote and dry in this early part of the film.
I mean what's not to love about this song??? And I warmed up to the movie via good to great acting, great editing and sound. I found myself routing for the rule-breaking, quintessentially American scoundrels as they tried to stick it to the fatter, less macho rule-breaking, quintessentially American scoundrels.
Oh, no! Granny! I mean, what????? Chomp, chomp????????? It's the best song ever. Seriously. And they use this masterful song to move us through some very exciting racing scenes! Quick cuts, sound, pacing, all bringing you along for the ride. The editor of The Two Popes tried a similar style to depict the Papal voting process, but to lesser affect. The movie manages that thing where you know what is going to happen and you get wrapped up and tense about it anyway. That's a win for the editor, for sure. And the movie as a whole is solid if not monumental film making.
Now please go check out the song because you'd never fully believe it otherwise. Polk Salad Annie by Tony Joe White
In the film, an instrumental version is used for a couple of racing montages. If you saw the movie, you heard the song's funky flavor but were robbed of the beauty of its lyrics.
The song is Polk Salad Annie. My mom played it for me when I was little and I loved it! I will treat you now to the lyrics of this amazing song, interspersed artfully with my thoughts on the film.
The opening of the song starts with a gravelly, soulful southern accent just talking to you over music. Real dramatic like.:
If some of y'all never been down south too much
I'm gonna tell you a little bit about this
so that you'll understand what I'm talkin' about.
It gets very informational:
Down there we have a plant that grows out in the woods
And in the fields looks something like a turnip green
And everybody calls it polk salad.
Polk. (blues guitar) Salad. (trumpets!)
This seems like a slow start to the song. Ain't no real singin' goin' on yet. But they are just getting you up to speed. Much like Ford V. Ferrari. It started a little slow for me while they got me up to speed on the Ford Corporation and all the huge white male egos that all want to destroy one another for various reasons. Cool, cool. I thought the story telling was a little rote and dry in this early part of the film.
Down in Louisiana where the alligators grow so mean,
There lived a girl that I swear to the world
Made the alligators look tame.
Polk Salad Annie, Polk Salad Annie
Everybody said it was a shame
Cuz her momma was working on a chain gang.
(A mean, vicious woman.)
(A mean, vicious woman.)
I mean what's not to love about this song??? And I warmed up to the movie via good to great acting, great editing and sound. I found myself routing for the rule-breaking, quintessentially American scoundrels as they tried to stick it to the fatter, less macho rule-breaking, quintessentially American scoundrels.
Everyday for supper time, she'd go down by the truck patch
And pick her a mess of polk salad
And carry it home in a tow sack.
Polk Salad Annie, the gators got your granny (chomp, chomp chomp)
Everybody says it was a shame
Cuz her momma was working on a chain gang.
(A wretched, spiteful, striaght-razor totin' woman)
(A wretched, spiteful, striaght-razor totin' woman)
Oh, no! Granny! I mean, what????? Chomp, chomp????????? It's the best song ever. Seriously. And they use this masterful song to move us through some very exciting racing scenes! Quick cuts, sound, pacing, all bringing you along for the ride. The editor of The Two Popes tried a similar style to depict the Papal voting process, but to lesser affect. The movie manages that thing where you know what is going to happen and you get wrapped up and tense about it anyway. That's a win for the editor, for sure. And the movie as a whole is solid if not monumental film making.
Her daddy was lazy and no count, claims he had a bad back,
All her brothers was fit for, was stealing watermelons
out of my truck patch.
Polk Salad Annie, Gator got your Granny
Everybody said it was a shame
Cuz her momma was workin' on a chain gang.
(Sock a little polk salad to me. You know I need a real mess of it!)
Now please go check out the song because you'd never fully believe it otherwise. Polk Salad Annie by Tony Joe White
Friday, January 17, 2020
The Least of the Best? Best Picture Nominees I liked a little less
Movie: Joker
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Actor in a Leading Role, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Original Score, Make Up & Hairstyling, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: I nodded off briefly
When it had me: Off and on
When it lost me: The Joker appearing on the TV talk show
What I have to say: If you remember from my first set of reviews, I really like movies that can change tones deftly. This movie was not able to do that for me. I felt confused by these tone shifts and jarred right out of the movie.
First off, let's talk about Joaquin Phoenix who is amazing and probably a lock for the Oscar. His performance was mesmerizing and heart breaking. The portion of the film that dealt with him trying to express the disconnect between who he believed he was and who the world saw was amazing. As a study of a deeply damaged person who cannot overcome the pain and humiliation of being invisible it is top notch. But then there were scenes that played for me like over the top comedy. (A hospital clown dropping a gun in the children's wing and making an exaggerated shushing gesture, among others.) I can't figure out why, but for me these played as all out comedy more often than dread inducing discomfort laughs. Between the slapstick and the incredibly realistic and disturbing performance, I started getting whiplash.
Once we get to the moment where the evolution to "The Joker" has come full circle, I was disappointed that this was the very least interesting material from Phoenix. He had built such a deep character, I guess I hoped that once we crossed over to villain it would stay super interesting. Instead, I thought that was the weakest bit in the film.
I think this film would have been better if it were not a part of the DC franchise. Just tell the story of an Arthur Fleck and see where it goes. The need for him to become the flamboyant showman at the end who might someday fight Batman, undercut the really good character study that they started off by telling.
But then again, I am the only one who thought any of that. Everyone else just thinks it is genius.
Movie: Ford V. Ferrari
Nominated for: Best Picture, Film Editing, Sound Editing
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: Not this time
When it had me: When they made Henry Ford Jr. cry
When it lost me: It held a very light hold on me throughout
What I have to say: see my special edition review post tomorrow: Polk Salad Annie: The Movie
Movie: Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Actor in a Leading Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Original Screenplay
How I watched: With my mom and husband, in theatres
When I fell asleep: No, we went early
When it had me: Leo DiCaprio's hilarious ravings
When it lost me: The last half hour of the film
What I have to say: This movie was too long. Let's just get that out of the way.
Leonardo DiCaprio as an aging narcissistic Hollywood star offered us scene after scene of cutting humor, hilarious bits, and detailed and accurate remembrances of a time gone by in our entertainment history. This was truly enjoyable!
Brad Pitt was also great and his brush with the Manson Family at the Spahn Ranch was taught, inspired film making. My skin was crawling for so long and I just didn't know when violence might break out. That sequence is among my favorite all year.
Where this all falls apart for me is when I ask the question, what is this movie about?
SPOILER ALERT
And I had a lot of time to reflect on that question during the long drawn out incredibly brutal murder-fest that went on for at least thirty minutes at the end of the film.
When I go to movies, I kind of like the moment where the message of a film hits home for me. When I realize Parasite has made me think about class and status in new ways, or when Jojo Rabbit makes me see that some Nazis were more misguided than evil and that raising a kid in that environment would be impossible. While I watched all of the brutal beatings that Brad Pitt was dealing out, I kept trying to wrap my head around what the message of this film was and I couldn't do it. "Quentin Tarantino has a cool imagination" was the best I could muster. So even though I had just watched so many scenes and sequences that I thought were well made and effective and entertaining, I still ended up leaving the film feeling a bit disgruntled. We'll see what Hollywood thinks.
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Actor in a Leading Role, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Original Score, Make Up & Hairstyling, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: I nodded off briefly
When it had me: Off and on
When it lost me: The Joker appearing on the TV talk show
What I have to say: If you remember from my first set of reviews, I really like movies that can change tones deftly. This movie was not able to do that for me. I felt confused by these tone shifts and jarred right out of the movie.
First off, let's talk about Joaquin Phoenix who is amazing and probably a lock for the Oscar. His performance was mesmerizing and heart breaking. The portion of the film that dealt with him trying to express the disconnect between who he believed he was and who the world saw was amazing. As a study of a deeply damaged person who cannot overcome the pain and humiliation of being invisible it is top notch. But then there were scenes that played for me like over the top comedy. (A hospital clown dropping a gun in the children's wing and making an exaggerated shushing gesture, among others.) I can't figure out why, but for me these played as all out comedy more often than dread inducing discomfort laughs. Between the slapstick and the incredibly realistic and disturbing performance, I started getting whiplash.
Once we get to the moment where the evolution to "The Joker" has come full circle, I was disappointed that this was the very least interesting material from Phoenix. He had built such a deep character, I guess I hoped that once we crossed over to villain it would stay super interesting. Instead, I thought that was the weakest bit in the film.
I think this film would have been better if it were not a part of the DC franchise. Just tell the story of an Arthur Fleck and see where it goes. The need for him to become the flamboyant showman at the end who might someday fight Batman, undercut the really good character study that they started off by telling.
But then again, I am the only one who thought any of that. Everyone else just thinks it is genius.
Movie: Ford V. Ferrari
Nominated for: Best Picture, Film Editing, Sound Editing
How I watched: In Theatres
When I fell asleep: Not this time
When it had me: When they made Henry Ford Jr. cry
When it lost me: It held a very light hold on me throughout
What I have to say: see my special edition review post tomorrow: Polk Salad Annie: The Movie
Movie: Once Upon A Time in Hollywood
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Actor in a Leading Role, Actor in a Supporting Role, Cinematography, Costume Design, Production Design, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, Original Screenplay
How I watched: With my mom and husband, in theatres
When I fell asleep: No, we went early
When it had me: Leo DiCaprio's hilarious ravings
When it lost me: The last half hour of the film
What I have to say: This movie was too long. Let's just get that out of the way.
Leonardo DiCaprio as an aging narcissistic Hollywood star offered us scene after scene of cutting humor, hilarious bits, and detailed and accurate remembrances of a time gone by in our entertainment history. This was truly enjoyable!
Brad Pitt was also great and his brush with the Manson Family at the Spahn Ranch was taught, inspired film making. My skin was crawling for so long and I just didn't know when violence might break out. That sequence is among my favorite all year.
Where this all falls apart for me is when I ask the question, what is this movie about?
SPOILER ALERT
And I had a lot of time to reflect on that question during the long drawn out incredibly brutal murder-fest that went on for at least thirty minutes at the end of the film.
When I go to movies, I kind of like the moment where the message of a film hits home for me. When I realize Parasite has made me think about class and status in new ways, or when Jojo Rabbit makes me see that some Nazis were more misguided than evil and that raising a kid in that environment would be impossible. While I watched all of the brutal beatings that Brad Pitt was dealing out, I kept trying to wrap my head around what the message of this film was and I couldn't do it. "Quentin Tarantino has a cool imagination" was the best I could muster. So even though I had just watched so many scenes and sequences that I thought were well made and effective and entertaining, I still ended up leaving the film feeling a bit disgruntled. We'll see what Hollywood thinks.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Three More Great Best Picture Nominees
Movie: 1917
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Cinematography, Make Up and Hairstyling, Original Score, Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects, Original Screenplay
How I watched: IMAX
When I fell asleep: Not possible
When it had me: From the "One Shot" Trick
When it lost me: It didn't
What I have to say: I think this one is the winner. It has "a thing", appearing to be all captured in one long shot, and we all know Oscar loves a gimmick. This "gimmick" serves an undeniable purpose of letting you live an uninterrupted and immersive experience alongside two young soldiers in WWI. But this movie is also much, much more than its gimmick. It's a personal story, in the midst of a war setting. It's alternately beautiful and sweeping or unbelievably disgusting or terribly heart breaking. It's well-acted and it really makes you feel something, emotionally and viscerally. It's also happens to be a cinematic achievement! Roger Deakins has to be a lock for Cinematography given the crazy task he had in order to shoot this beautiful journey. It's hard to argue against this film. Seeing it on IMAX was the right choice for me to really be able to feel what this film is all about.
Movie: Little Women
Nominated for: Best Picture, Actress in A Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: With my mom and my kids! How nice!
When I fell asleep: No
When it had me: Immediately
When it lost me: After the movie
What I have to say: What a cast! The ensemble strength of this piece just made you love the family and feel so invested. What I think Greta Gerwig did so well was to show us a period drama where the characters were so fully accessible to now. (Angelina liked, in particular, when Jo and Laurie are dancing crazily outside the stuffy ball. It looked like how we would behave today.) Their struggles did not feel that remote from mine. We really enjoyed this!
(SPOILER ALERT) Interestingly, my mother caught the fact that Jo writes a "marriage" ending in order to sell her book and guessed correctly that Louisa May Alcott's own life probably went differently. We looked it up and found that, sure enough Louisa, the writer, never gave up on her hard earned independence and lived the spinster life to which Jo so fervently aspired. Only then did I feel cheated. I wish we weren't still being fed the white male publisher's version of an acceptable ending.
Movie: The Irishman
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Two Actors in Supporting Roles, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Production Design, Visual Effects, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: In the theatre
When I fell asleep: I believe I became very drowsy, but never drifted off
When it had me: When the Irishman claims not to know why his truck is empty
When it lost me: De Niro's CGI face was really off putting, the end lingered through about three or four false endings
What I have to say: Firstly, this was such a different look at the mafia from Scorcese. We've seen the mob as frenetic, charming, brutal, glamorous, thrilling and frightening. This one felt like more of a study in loyalty, for better or worse. The Irishman took an honest, measured and contemplative approach. I was alternately moved and terrified by the depths of unquestioning, sociopathic, loyalty demonstrated by Frank Sheeran.
Secondly, who doesn't have a soft spot for these actors doing this work with this director? Set aside the fact that it was very hard to look at De Niro's face for large parts of the movie, or that Pacino seemed like really weird casting for a German-Irish, Italian-hating Hoffa. You cannot deny the amazing talent and performances gathered in these three hours.
Thirdly, three hours? I hate that when these directors get to a certain place in their careers, no one is powerful enough to tell them to CUT DOWN the running time.
Fourthly, my (far-removed) cousin's famous murder in front of Umberto's was included. That's always fun for me!
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Cinematography, Make Up and Hairstyling, Original Score, Production Design, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, Visual Effects, Original Screenplay
How I watched: IMAX
When I fell asleep: Not possible
When it had me: From the "One Shot" Trick
When it lost me: It didn't
What I have to say: I think this one is the winner. It has "a thing", appearing to be all captured in one long shot, and we all know Oscar loves a gimmick. This "gimmick" serves an undeniable purpose of letting you live an uninterrupted and immersive experience alongside two young soldiers in WWI. But this movie is also much, much more than its gimmick. It's a personal story, in the midst of a war setting. It's alternately beautiful and sweeping or unbelievably disgusting or terribly heart breaking. It's well-acted and it really makes you feel something, emotionally and viscerally. It's also happens to be a cinematic achievement! Roger Deakins has to be a lock for Cinematography given the crazy task he had in order to shoot this beautiful journey. It's hard to argue against this film. Seeing it on IMAX was the right choice for me to really be able to feel what this film is all about.
Movie: Little Women
Nominated for: Best Picture, Actress in A Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Original Score, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: With my mom and my kids! How nice!
When I fell asleep: No
When it had me: Immediately
When it lost me: After the movie
What I have to say: What a cast! The ensemble strength of this piece just made you love the family and feel so invested. What I think Greta Gerwig did so well was to show us a period drama where the characters were so fully accessible to now. (Angelina liked, in particular, when Jo and Laurie are dancing crazily outside the stuffy ball. It looked like how we would behave today.) Their struggles did not feel that remote from mine. We really enjoyed this!
(SPOILER ALERT) Interestingly, my mother caught the fact that Jo writes a "marriage" ending in order to sell her book and guessed correctly that Louisa May Alcott's own life probably went differently. We looked it up and found that, sure enough Louisa, the writer, never gave up on her hard earned independence and lived the spinster life to which Jo so fervently aspired. Only then did I feel cheated. I wish we weren't still being fed the white male publisher's version of an acceptable ending.
Movie: The Irishman
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Two Actors in Supporting Roles, Cinematography, Costume Design, Film Editing, Production Design, Visual Effects, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: In the theatre
When I fell asleep: I believe I became very drowsy, but never drifted off
When it had me: When the Irishman claims not to know why his truck is empty
When it lost me: De Niro's CGI face was really off putting, the end lingered through about three or four false endings
What I have to say: Firstly, this was such a different look at the mafia from Scorcese. We've seen the mob as frenetic, charming, brutal, glamorous, thrilling and frightening. This one felt like more of a study in loyalty, for better or worse. The Irishman took an honest, measured and contemplative approach. I was alternately moved and terrified by the depths of unquestioning, sociopathic, loyalty demonstrated by Frank Sheeran.
Secondly, who doesn't have a soft spot for these actors doing this work with this director? Set aside the fact that it was very hard to look at De Niro's face for large parts of the movie, or that Pacino seemed like really weird casting for a German-Irish, Italian-hating Hoffa. You cannot deny the amazing talent and performances gathered in these three hours.
Thirdly, three hours? I hate that when these directors get to a certain place in their careers, no one is powerful enough to tell them to CUT DOWN the running time.
Fourthly, my (far-removed) cousin's famous murder in front of Umberto's was included. That's always fun for me!
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Movies that can tone shift: Three of my favorites
These are some of my favorites from the year and they all have the ability to shift tones, pretty drastically at times.
Movie: Marriage Story
Nominated for: Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Original Score, Original Screenplay
How I watched: Netflix
When I fell asleep: I did not
When it had me: Right from the start
When it lost me: It didn't
What I have to say: This movie was filled with such honesty and care, both for the story and for the characters. The depiction of this slowly unraveling marriage is so real and relatable. It's not filled with bad guys and injustice; it's filled with miscommunication and long held pain. Your allegiance might shift from one character to another or you might feel like you are sitting outside of it, watching both of them with equal empathy. But no one is painted a villain, and I love that. The plot is fairly mundane, filled with everyday life struggles and small moments. But between the writing and the incredible acting, I did not get bored living through this with them.
Tone Shifting: Look for the scene starring Martha Kelly. Pure comedy in the midst of so much painful drama!
Movie: Parasite
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Film Editing International Feature Film, Production Design, Original Screenplay
How I watched: Arclight Theatre
When I fell asleep: Didn't
When it had me: As soon as the grifting started
When it lost me: Never
What I have to say: How I love a movie that takes hard right turns and totally mystifies you! In general, American film making is far more likely to follow predictable story lines and structures. It's with the Foreign Film (or newly named International Feature) category that you really get to check your expectations at the door. This reminded me of Shoplifters, one of the nominees from last year. I am struck by these Korean films that paint a picture of life that I have not truly delved into before and that makes me align myself squarely with some really dubious characters. This film had me captivated, shocked, second-guessing and thinking deeply all in the same two hours. That's a good time!
Tone Shifting: Someone called this a comedy-drama-horror mash up and that's so accurate! The social commentary is biting and hilarious, the struggles of the characters are real and relatable, and the building tension between groups rises to horrific proportions. Bong Joon Ho has the ability to morph his movie from genre to genre as he goes without leaving you feeling confused, distracted or just fed up.
Movie: Jojo Rabbit
Nominated for: Best Picture, Actress in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Production Design, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: In theatres, with my husband and kids
When I fell asleep: not once
When it had me: goofy Hitler
When it lost me: It didn't, really
What I have to say: One of my favorite things is to imagine the conversations that led to certain events occurring, like the conception of Jojo Rabbit. Taika Waititi telling his friends he wants to play Hitler one day. His friends protesting that would be a very bad idea, Taika explaining HIS version of Hitler would be more fun and playful. Everyone taking a nervous step away from him. Ah, what fun!
So anyway, how DO you teach a child not to be a Nazi when not being a Nazi means certain death? Not an easy task, and it creates the right amount of tension in this film. As does the interplay between very serious themes, high stakes and a whimsical comedy overtone. The choice to take a comic look at Nazis actually gets you to look at everyone involved in the film with fresh eyes. My kids thought their heads would explode from feeling resonance and sympathy with Nazi characters! I think it is worth being reminded that most Germans and Nazi party members were not monsters, just humans trying their best in a messed up situation. Just like us.
Tone Shifting: Waititi takes us from moments of absurdity to gut wrenching sadness. This kind of dance between humor and tragedy is not often done well but I found the balance utterly delightful, and at times heart-breaking in this film.
Movie: Marriage Story
Nominated for: Best Picture, Actor in a Leading Role, Actress in a Leading Role, Actress in a Supporting Role, Original Score, Original Screenplay
How I watched: Netflix
When I fell asleep: I did not
When it had me: Right from the start
When it lost me: It didn't
What I have to say: This movie was filled with such honesty and care, both for the story and for the characters. The depiction of this slowly unraveling marriage is so real and relatable. It's not filled with bad guys and injustice; it's filled with miscommunication and long held pain. Your allegiance might shift from one character to another or you might feel like you are sitting outside of it, watching both of them with equal empathy. But no one is painted a villain, and I love that. The plot is fairly mundane, filled with everyday life struggles and small moments. But between the writing and the incredible acting, I did not get bored living through this with them.
Tone Shifting: Look for the scene starring Martha Kelly. Pure comedy in the midst of so much painful drama!
Movie: Parasite
Nominated for: Best Picture, Directing, Film Editing International Feature Film, Production Design, Original Screenplay
How I watched: Arclight Theatre
When I fell asleep: Didn't
When it had me: As soon as the grifting started
When it lost me: Never
What I have to say: How I love a movie that takes hard right turns and totally mystifies you! In general, American film making is far more likely to follow predictable story lines and structures. It's with the Foreign Film (or newly named International Feature) category that you really get to check your expectations at the door. This reminded me of Shoplifters, one of the nominees from last year. I am struck by these Korean films that paint a picture of life that I have not truly delved into before and that makes me align myself squarely with some really dubious characters. This film had me captivated, shocked, second-guessing and thinking deeply all in the same two hours. That's a good time!
Tone Shifting: Someone called this a comedy-drama-horror mash up and that's so accurate! The social commentary is biting and hilarious, the struggles of the characters are real and relatable, and the building tension between groups rises to horrific proportions. Bong Joon Ho has the ability to morph his movie from genre to genre as he goes without leaving you feeling confused, distracted or just fed up.
Movie: Jojo Rabbit
Nominated for: Best Picture, Actress in a Supporting Role, Costume Design, Production Design, Adapted Screenplay
How I watched: In theatres, with my husband and kids
When I fell asleep: not once
When it had me: goofy Hitler
When it lost me: It didn't, really
What I have to say: One of my favorite things is to imagine the conversations that led to certain events occurring, like the conception of Jojo Rabbit. Taika Waititi telling his friends he wants to play Hitler one day. His friends protesting that would be a very bad idea, Taika explaining HIS version of Hitler would be more fun and playful. Everyone taking a nervous step away from him. Ah, what fun!
So anyway, how DO you teach a child not to be a Nazi when not being a Nazi means certain death? Not an easy task, and it creates the right amount of tension in this film. As does the interplay between very serious themes, high stakes and a whimsical comedy overtone. The choice to take a comic look at Nazis actually gets you to look at everyone involved in the film with fresh eyes. My kids thought their heads would explode from feeling resonance and sympathy with Nazi characters! I think it is worth being reminded that most Germans and Nazi party members were not monsters, just humans trying their best in a messed up situation. Just like us.
Tone Shifting: Waititi takes us from moments of absurdity to gut wrenching sadness. This kind of dance between humor and tragedy is not often done well but I found the balance utterly delightful, and at times heart-breaking in this film.
Monday, January 13, 2020
THE DAY OF THE NOMINATIONS!
I woke up without my alarm this morning at the precise moment that the nominations were set to be announced! THAT'S how in tune I have become with all that is Oscar. So I jumped out of bed and ran to my TV...
Just kidding. I went back to sleep. You can check the list whenever you wake up, after all, and it was still dark out for Oscar's sake! (The complete list is here.)
If anybody is new here, this is the time of year when I challenge myself to see every nominee in every category before the Awards air on February 9th. I do this, not because the Academy is always right and they will correctly define what is the best, but because I love films, I love a challenge and this gives me a place to start so I can catch the films each year that get people talking, thinking or feeling.
My plan for Oscar-nominated-movie-viewing domination is well under way. I have used my pre-nomination time wisely and guessed well. I have already seen all of the nominees in the following categories:
Best Picture
Directing
Actor in a Leading Role
Adapted Screenplay
Original Screenplay
Costume Design
Film Editing
Original Score
Production Design
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing
I think there's some things to celebrate, apart from my viewing list being so manageable. Parasite is being celebrated with six nominations, including a Directing nod for the South Korean film maker, Bong Joon Ho. That's impressive, and it's so great to see a very different type of film in the mix this year.
Many are claiming that women got snubbed this year, with Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Kasi Lemmons (Harriet), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Melina Matsoukas (Queen & Slim), Marielle Heller (Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) and Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers), to name a few, not acknowledged for their directorial work. But I look at this as a positive! When has Oscar ever had so many amazing women to snub all at once? That's real progress!
I do feel sad for the poor Mexican director triumverate. Cuaron, Innaritu and Del Toro have won five of the last six Directing Awards. And not even one nomination for them this year. I'd like to think it's because they have been vacationing together someplace really interesting, like Muncie, or Nova Scotia.
The real mess that I'd like the Academy to clean up is the "International Film Award", formerly called the Foreign Language Film category. A couple of films from Nigeria and Austria were notably disqualified this year because of the rule stating that a Foreign Language film must be at least 50% in a language other than English. The problem with that is that the official language of Nigeria is English. So is the Academy really willing to disqualify that country from ever competing (along with many others)? Perhaps in response to this problem, perhaps not, this year the award name was changed to the International Film Award. The rules, however, were not changed a bit. That makes complete sense, Academy! This is so dumb to me. Fix the language rules so that any country can submit their films for consideration. The more, the better.
So we are off to the races! It's time to overindulge on movies! It's time for me to review so many movies that I start to get really weird about it. It's time to inundate your FB feed with Oscar posts until you want to unfollow me. It's Oscar Glutton time!!!!!!
Just kidding. I went back to sleep. You can check the list whenever you wake up, after all, and it was still dark out for Oscar's sake! (The complete list is here.)
If anybody is new here, this is the time of year when I challenge myself to see every nominee in every category before the Awards air on February 9th. I do this, not because the Academy is always right and they will correctly define what is the best, but because I love films, I love a challenge and this gives me a place to start so I can catch the films each year that get people talking, thinking or feeling.
My plan for Oscar-nominated-movie-viewing domination is well under way. I have used my pre-nomination time wisely and guessed well. I have already seen all of the nominees in the following categories:
Best Picture
Directing
Actor in a Leading Role
Adapted Screenplay
Original Screenplay
Costume Design
Film Editing
Original Score
Production Design
Sound Editing
Sound Mixing
I think there's some things to celebrate, apart from my viewing list being so manageable. Parasite is being celebrated with six nominations, including a Directing nod for the South Korean film maker, Bong Joon Ho. That's impressive, and it's so great to see a very different type of film in the mix this year.
Many are claiming that women got snubbed this year, with Greta Gerwig (Little Women), Kasi Lemmons (Harriet), Lulu Wang (The Farewell), Melina Matsoukas (Queen & Slim), Marielle Heller (Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood) and Lorene Scafaria (Hustlers), to name a few, not acknowledged for their directorial work. But I look at this as a positive! When has Oscar ever had so many amazing women to snub all at once? That's real progress!
I do feel sad for the poor Mexican director triumverate. Cuaron, Innaritu and Del Toro have won five of the last six Directing Awards. And not even one nomination for them this year. I'd like to think it's because they have been vacationing together someplace really interesting, like Muncie, or Nova Scotia.
The real mess that I'd like the Academy to clean up is the "International Film Award", formerly called the Foreign Language Film category. A couple of films from Nigeria and Austria were notably disqualified this year because of the rule stating that a Foreign Language film must be at least 50% in a language other than English. The problem with that is that the official language of Nigeria is English. So is the Academy really willing to disqualify that country from ever competing (along with many others)? Perhaps in response to this problem, perhaps not, this year the award name was changed to the International Film Award. The rules, however, were not changed a bit. That makes complete sense, Academy! This is so dumb to me. Fix the language rules so that any country can submit their films for consideration. The more, the better.
So we are off to the races! It's time to overindulge on movies! It's time for me to review so many movies that I start to get really weird about it. It's time to inundate your FB feed with Oscar posts until you want to unfollow me. It's Oscar Glutton time!!!!!!
Wednesday, January 8, 2020
Oscars 2020: The Game Has Changed!
The Academy has decided to hold their Oscar Awards ceremony a full month earlier this year, on February 9th. Let's set aside for a moment that putting "The Big Movie Event" one week after "The Big Sporting Event" is messy and inconvenient for me personally. What this means for all of us here at the Oscar Glutton Blog (just me) is that we (again, just me) have a much shorter span of time in which to achieve total Oscar-nominated-movie-viewing domination.
This makes the game a bit different, if just as deliciously challenging. My focus this year is to GUESS as many of the nominations before hand so I can frontload my viewings before the actual nominations are announced on January 13th.
Movies I have gorged myself on over the past couple of months are as follows:
Parasite
Jojo Rabbit
The Irishman
Dark Waters
Queen & Slim
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker
Uncut Gems
Bombshell
Marriage Story
Little Women
Rocketman
I will leave the nominees for Original Song to be my last viewed films, as I have been considering eliminating them from the game for a few years now. I often watch a whole film just to hear the nominated song play over the closing credits. If the song is not even part of the story telling, then I'm not really sure why it should matter to me. So I'm prepared to deprioritize those as needed.
Five days left until nominations! What do you think will be nominated? Give me your best guesses as I try to get ahead. Your help would be greatly appreciated by all of us (me)!
This makes the game a bit different, if just as deliciously challenging. My focus this year is to GUESS as many of the nominations before hand so I can frontload my viewings before the actual nominations are announced on January 13th.
Movies I have gorged myself on over the past couple of months are as follows:
Parasite
Jojo Rabbit
The Irishman
Dark Waters
Queen & Slim
Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker
Uncut Gems
Bombshell
Marriage Story
Little Women
Rocketman
I will leave the nominees for Original Song to be my last viewed films, as I have been considering eliminating them from the game for a few years now. I often watch a whole film just to hear the nominated song play over the closing credits. If the song is not even part of the story telling, then I'm not really sure why it should matter to me. So I'm prepared to deprioritize those as needed.
Five days left until nominations! What do you think will be nominated? Give me your best guesses as I try to get ahead. Your help would be greatly appreciated by all of us (me)!
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