Category: Film

Genre: Film              

Grade: A

Notable People:  Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, Directed by: John Madden

Title: this film was recommended to me by my ENT, who is a very picky guy. He was right. I loved everything about this true story of the greatest deception in the history of war; the last ditch attempt by Churchill and the Brits to avert disaster with the Sicily invasion of 1943 (that ultimately turned the tide of the war and may have saved the world as we know it), by creating this absolutely incredible red herring that made Das Boot think the invasion was going to secretly happen in Greece. The film is moving, the narrative and dialog wonderful, very heady, very emotional. There is an all-star cast of veteran British TV and film folks, but the principle four actors-led by the great Colin Firth, are impeccable. An amazing story, partly narrated by a very young solder named Ian Fleming, who went on from this spy escapade to create James Bond…really wonderful film.

Genre: Film 

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte LeBon Directed by: Lasse Hallstrom

Title: Lightweight, but fun film that is surprisingly uplifting. Hallstrom gently takes on European immigration hatefulness in this quirky story about an Indian family, chased out of Mumbai in a coup, that finds themselves stranded in a small mountain town in France after their “brakes break for a reason”. Even though a lightweight, anything with Mirren is worth watching and the two principle East Indian actors, Puri and Dayal, are wonderful. The story evolves around two competing restaurants in this charming, old fashioned village and keeps you gently enthralled ……and hungry. Nothing too powerful here, but a pleasant film to watch.

Genre: Film 

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Tessa Thompson, Ruth Negga, Andre Holland, Bill Comp, Alexander Skarsgard, Directed by: Rebecca Hall

Title: a 2021 black and white esoteric firm written, produced, and directed by Hall in her directorial debut. The film is based on Nella Larsen’s 1929 controversial novel, that explores African-Americans who had skin color light enough to be perceived as white who decided to “pass” in a white world in the north. In 1920s New York City, Irene Redfield (Thompson), a light-skinned Black woman living in Harlem, meets a childhood friend, Clare Bellew (Negga), by chance at a hotel dining room. While Irene is married to a Black doctor, the also light-skinned Clare “passes” as white and has married a wealthy white, and extremely racist, man from Chicago. It is a very slow potent film that seems constantly on the verge of disaster. Harlem of the 20s is beautifully recreated and the idea of passing for someone or something you are not radiates in many ways in the film. This is not for everybody, but a powerful film to watch) once you acclimate to the pace) that will leave likely leave you in thought or discussion for some time.  

Genre: Film                                  https://vermontrambles.com/2022/01/02/stus-reviews-611-film-the-courier/

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Benedict Cumberbatch, Kristen Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Directed by: Jane Campion

Title: The Power of the Dog

Review: Cumberbatch, Cumberbatch, Cumberbatch, Sherlock……..he is everywhere…..go streaming and you can see him on ay least a half dozen features with his versatile self…..though this is his first where he plays an American early 20th century Montana rancher….took me a while to grasp his accent, but it works. Campion adapted this film from a 1967 novel by Thomas Savage, and the critics have just loved it, winning all kinds of awards…. not quite so beloved by viewers….and IT IS QUIRKY…… In remote 1925 Montana, a domineering rancher responds with mocking cruelty when his brother brings home a new wife and her son……..quite, complex film that startles you at the end…just did not see it coming….dark, brooding  and very slow moving, but pulls you in nonetheless…never quite sure where it is going or what the point is, but he performances are exceptional…and…well…its’ Cumberbatch!

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People:  Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel Brosnahan, Merab Ninidze, Directed by: Dominic Cooke

Title: The Courier

Review: The Courier is a 2020 spy flick with the brilliant Cumberbatch as a British businessman who was recruited by British and American Intelligence Services to deliver messages to Russian secret agent Oleg Penkovsky (played by Merab Ninidze) in the early 60s. Centered around the drama of the Cuban Missile Crisis and set in London and Moscow, the film is a chilling look at the Cold War. Released simultaneously in theaters and on Amazon –where you can now watch it for free. Masterful attention to all details of the time period and very well shot and directed, it’s another vehicle for Sherlock’s undeniable artistry. Brosnahan still feels a bit too much like Mrs. Maisel, but she’s entertaining and Ninidze is wonderfully intense as the defecting Russian spook. Very nice film.  

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People:  Robin Wright, Demián Bichir, Kim Dickens Directed by: Robin Wright

Title: Land

Review: Released simultaneously in theaters and on HBO, this is clearly a labor of love written, produced, directed and starring Robin Wright. It’s quite a turnaround from her years long spin on House of Lies. Quiet and moving film, with no real surprises- the themes have been done many times before and it is a bit predictable, but Wright and Bichir have great chemistry, and the cinematography is way worth the price of admission. Ever dream of living on a mountaintop and totally off the grid? This is a pretty good portrayal of that until the troops mysteriously come to the rescue. Worth a cold night on HBO.

Genre: Film (Hulu)     

Grade: A-

Notable People: Francis McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May  Directed by: Chloe Zhao

Title: Nomadland

Review:    A formidable, quiet and beautiful film from the brilliant director Zhao, with the incomparable McDormand as the 60ish woman who has lost her husband, job and place……picking up roots and criss crossing the country in her van…. communing with a bunch of similarly situated/minded people. As she says, she’s not homeless, she’s’ houseless. McDormand is a national treasure, and this film only solidifies her legacy…. she says very little, but her soul is ablaze for us all to see. Not much action here, but a serene beauty that will make you think about what the nomadic life in America is like…. which will have some appeal to many of us. The cinematography is spectacular, very nice and subtle score and the acting is superb…mostly from all real life Nomads…not actors. A very soothing film that can be watched commercial free on Hulu or in the theater…. if you’re ready to put your Hazmat suit on, and brave that experience.

Genre: Film (Amazon Prime)

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, Leslie Odom, Jr., Directed by: Regina King

Title: One Night in Miami  

Review:    Everyone has seen the publicity for this film adaptation of Kemp Powers stage play of the same name. Cassius Clay, Jim Brown, Sm Cooke and Malcom X spend a night together in a hotel room in Miami after Clay defeated Sonny Liston for the heavyweight boxing world championship. Intense, brooding, riveting- the film is very much like watching a stage play. Goree is striking in his channeling of the great Ali/Clay. The direction and dialog are top notch. Very heady, very potent, very timely examination of race in this country-not a lot of physical action. Does well at capturing the feel of the times.

Genre: Film (Netflix)

Grade: A-

Notable People: Carey Mulligan, Jason Clarke, Jason Mitchell, Mary J Blige, Rob Morgan, Jonathan Banks, Directed by: Dee Rees

Title: Mudbound

Review:    Excellent Netflix original from their “Black Lives Matter” collection- telling the story of two poor farm families-one black and one white-  in rural Mississippi after the second world war. This is not an easy movie to watch, and reminds us of how we got to where we live toady with racial injustice. Still, there remains an underlying humanity in even such a torrid environment. Blige does an impressive subtle turn as the matriarch of one family and banks is his usual cantankerous self as the bigoted patriarch of the other. The story line of what is was like for black heroes to come back to the south after the war is powerful and humbling. Well directed-well shot, and worth the tears.

Genre: Film (Amazon)

Grade: A

Notable People: Robbie Robertson, Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Richard Manual, Garth Hudson, and a cast of luminaries offering tribute Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Title: Once Were Brothers

Review:    Winner of several major awards, this is the story of The Band- albeit through the eyes of Robbie Robertson. Scorsese reprises his magic of the Last Waltz in telling the story of the greatest American Band of all time. Poignant, funny, provocative…loaded with esoterica. Since Robertson is the last man standing (Hudson is still alive, but a bit of recluse) it is expectedly skewed to be more his story, but I will say it is a lot more human and empathetic than his past tellings. It’s really am amazing story of extraordinary success and the collective bains of the times: drugs, drink, crazed living and resentments. They were just too good to last. Rockabilly legend Ronnie Hawkins, who gave them their start in the wilds of Canadian Honky Tonks- as his backing band, when they were still teens, is the shining star of the show-still a wild man. Dylan talks about going electric with them at Newport in 1965, Clapton talks about going up to Woodstock and trying to join the band, Springsteen talks about hearing Big Pink the first time and never being the same. If you are even a minor fan of the music, this is must see. If not, it’s still a wonderfully done and stimulating documentary film. Did I mention, that the music is pretty good…