Category: Film

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Micheal Cera, Brad Garrett, Directed by: Sebastian Lelio

Title: Gloria Bell
Review: Julianne Moore is a tour de force in this touching film about a fifty-ish divorcee dealing with loneliness and trying to find meaning as an empty nester. She looks phenomenal and acts wonderfully and has brilliant chemistry with the always whacked-out Turturro (best role in years). The supporting cast is really good and the film is very well executed-if a bit schmaltzy at points. L liked it a lot and it is another notch in Moore’s considerable belt of accomplishment.

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Viggo Mortenson, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini, Directed by: Peter Farelly

Title: The Green Book

Review: My Cousin Sherry, who grew up in the Bronx with me, ecstatically recommended this film…and it’s a great call. I loved this movie. I laughed a lot, I cried a lot. Goombah tough guy bouncer at the legendary Copacabana (in its heyday) take a job driving a controlled, effete Black master piano player on a tour through the south in 1962. The plot setting in the Bronx at start of move is dead on- costumes, music , sets….and a host of great Italian character actors. The scene in the deep south are brutal and deeply disturbing (not all that long ago)..and a good thing for everyone to see again in these times we live in (maybe we should build a wall around Mississippi?). Some might see the movie as clichéd or over sentimental…a classic two men of far different worlds come together on a road trip story….BUT…Mortensen and Ali have unbelievable chemistry and are pure brilliance in these roles. Both go way against type (Ali is unrecognizable from his current play as “Purple Haze” on HBO’s True Detective (you should be watching that one) -and Mortenson is a chameleon like actor. I simply loved this film.

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: Steve Coogan and John C. Reilly, Directed by: Jon S. Baird

Title: Stan and Ollie

Review: for my money, this is the movie of the year…though I am definitely biased. The film was extremely emotional for me…a beautiful story of friendship and perseverance…… and…. I watched these guys every day after school when I was a lad…which I’m sure is a generational thing (of an age). Still, the capture of this period (1937 through 1953) is fantastic, the sets and music are marvelous and the attention to detail magnificent. but…. Coogan and Reilly…WOW…it’s like they had waited for these roles all their lives. They ARE Laurel and Hardy. I laughed…I cried…this is a beautiful movie.

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: Liam, Neeson, Tom Waits, Zoe Kazan, James Franco, Tim Blake Nelson, Written, Directed and Conjured by: The Insane Coen Brothers

Title: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Review: this is a biased review…I LOVE these guys and their quirky, darkly comic and often perverted movies. Probably not the same for everyone…but for me…OOMPAH…..This a truly strange 6 part Western where there is barely a forehead that does not wind up with bullet in it sooner or later. Darkly funny does not do it justice….this is strange shit. Nesson is way out of character and wonderful…Blake as the singing cowboy/gunslinger, Buster Scruggs, is hardly describable (yes –there are full musical numbers)…and Tom waits steals the show as long suffering gold prospector in the majestic wilderness. The costumes are extraordinary, the dialog hilarious and the scenery spectacular. And…you can watch it on Netflix where it was simultaneously released with the theater opening. Give it at least two chapters before you give up. “People are like ferrets”

Genre: Film

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockford, Directed by: Adam McKay

Title: Vice

Review: Well…this is must see for the times we live in. Extraordinary portrayal of the puppet master who controlled the word (along with Karl Rove) during the “W” years. McKay is very slyly funny in all the right places…especially in presenting W Bush (whom he created the character on SNL for along with his partner, Will Ferrell). The cast is superb: Carell really edgy as Rumsfeld, Adams really intense as Mrs. Cheney and Rockwell as Bush an absolute hoot….but the show stealer is clearly Bale-who is beyond unrecognizable as the cautious, restrained and conniving Dick Cheney. This is a really disturbing portrait. I found the film dragging in places and the “over-narration” bit did not do much for me….but if you want to see where our current cesspool came from, you gotta see it.

Genre: Film

Grade: B+

Notable People: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz

Title: The Favourite

Review: Very dark comedy-drama film surrounding the reign of Queen Anne (An excellent Colman, known for her turn in the BBC/Netflix TV drama, Broadchurch) of England in the early 18th century. Magnificent cinematography and period costumes set the tone for the disturbing look on two extraordinarily manipulative woman vying for the ear, affection and power of the mercurial and sickly Queen. Stone and Weisz are both riveting in their conniving and seductive roles. Not a very flattering portrait of the men of the Court, who are pawns of the women’s power plays and seductiveness. Dragged a bit with a certain level of predictability but the acting is top notch and the story compelling.

Genre: Film

Grade: A-/B+

Notable People: Clint Eastwood, Dianne Wiest, Bradley Cooper, Lawrence Fishburne, Andy Garcia,

Directed by: Eastwood

Title: The Mule

Review: At this stage of his life, Eastwood makes must-see films. This is not a great film, but he is worth seeing it for. Does his usual job of well nuanced directing and telling a compelling story….with a few too many conveniences. But…Clint….really stretches himself. Probably speaks more in first 20 minutes of this film, than he has spoken in any entire film before now. He’s a bit naïve, kind of silly and whimsical….none of the things you expect with Eastwood. It is quite a performance. The supporting cat is good, and the story is just this side of believable (thug “based” on a true tale) . This is a good Christmas movie.

Genre: Film

Grade: C-

Notable People: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Directed by : John Chu

Title: Crazy Rich Asians

Review: Oh boy, where to start. I’d like to be fair about this movie, but find it hard. I’m aware that many people go to the cinema for pure entertainment….a distraction, if you will, from the world (especially the Donald laden world)….and recognize that I am a film snob of sorts….but this movie was really crap in my estimation. The critics gave it good reviews and it was the highest grossing film in the country for several weeks- so I had some expectations…for naught. Clearly, this film does for Asian folk, what “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” did for Greeks and “Slumdog Millionaire” did for East Indians….and maybe that is the draw…..cultural representation. For all these reasons, I gave the film a very generous grade of C-……my inclination was for a F! Predictable, formulaic, feel good only film without anything to give it substance. Goes for the easy sentimentality at every turn. Lots of eye candy, but not much mind candy. I stayed warm and dry in the theater on a rainy, chilly mountain afternoon, but that’s about it. This is the kind of film I would watch on a long overseas flight to aid in falling asleep. I’d rather stay home and serially watch ten episodes of Braking Bad.

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier, Directed by: Spike Lee

Title: BlacKkKlansmen

Review: Must see…the long awaited new film is Spike Lees’ latest “joint”, and well worth the hour plus Saturday afternoon trek we made up to Dartmouth to see it (hard to find such films in the mountains). Powerful film both for the times it takes place, and for our current state of affairs in Amerika. The true story surrounds a rookie detective in Colorado Springs infiltrating the KKK. Amazing attention to detail, great camera work, brilliant sound track and a sterling cast of characters-….all pulled together by Spike’s direction. Alec Baldwin kicks if off with a stunning racist rant, Washington is wonderful in the lead role, Driver continues his acting ascendancy and Harrier channels the spirit of the great revolutionary, Angela Davis. Harry Belafonte adds a perfect cameo. It is all overseen by Spikes brilliance….check out his homage sequence at the end to the classic Blaxploitation films….and then followed by a hard hitting political commentary based on the Charlottesville race fiasco. Spike remains at the top of his game and challenges us in every way. Long live Spike!

Genre: Book

Grade: NR

Notable People: Neil Young, His Band (Promise of
the Real), Willie Nelson, Written and directed by: Darryl Hannah

Title: Paradox

Review: Ok…this is some weird shit….but, then again, its Neil Young…Could not really give it a rating, as you have to be in some form of altered state to watch it…I’m sure there is a story and a message here, but it alluded me. This is a project- 30 years in the making –of Neil’s new lady friend, Hannah….and, well, the 30 years!…the woman must have some major obsessions. Funny, in an offbeat sort of way and Neil is quite the modern day outlaw….but you have to be a fan to love it, for sure. Cinematography on what is likely Neil’s ranch compound is majestic and the music is what you would expect. The 20-30 minute instrumental opus version of Cowgirl in the Sand is worth the price of admission alone. Available only on Netflix. If you have a 40-50 year love affair with all things Neil…you gotta see it.