Category: Film

Genre:  Film

Grade  A-/B+

Notable People:    Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, Simon Helberg, Directed by: Stephen Frears

Title:  Florence Foster Jenkins

 Review: Well- we finally got to movie up here in the mountains. Surprisingly, the local teen action flick cinema had this one- not sure why. Guess it is the drawing power of Meryl Streep. Wild story about an infamous patron of the arts in NYC in the 1940s, who was determined to have her own singing career, despite not being able to carry a single note. Alternately funny and tragic, it is decent movie, elevated to much loftier heights by Streeps’ typically virtuoso performance. Since she is actually a quite talented singer, she had to learn to sing really off key opera in a convincing way…and boy, does she. Grant does well as her kept and doting husband, and Helberg is magnificent as her reluctant accompanist. The acting makes it a passable A-.

 

 

Genre:  Album

Grade  A-

Notable People:    The Avett Brothers, Produced by: Rick Rubin

Title:  True Sadness

Review: Got this album in mail today from the alt country rockers, and listened to it four times in the car. Great harmonies, sweet songs, fine musicianship. Liked these guys before- but more now. They have matured as songwriters and the arrangements are sparkling. Viva Les Avetts.

Genre:  Film

Grade  A-

Notable People:    Florian Stetter, Peter Schneider, Sylvester Groth, Directed by: Philipp Kadelbach

Title:  Naked Among Wolves

 

Review: I very rarely watch films on TV- but was home alone one night and caught this 2015 film on Netflix. Very powerful Polish film about a group of concentration camp veterans at Buchenwald , at the very end of WW2 in 1945, who risk everything , to hide a 3 year old Jewish boy from the Nazis. Extraordinarily dark and moving- best film I have seen about these survivors trying to hang on as the allies approach to liberate them. Gotta be in the mood for this one.

Genre:  Film

Grade  B+

Notable People:    Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, John C. Reilly, Directed by: Lorgos Yathimos

Title:  The Lobster

 Review: Wow…this may be the strangest movie I’ve ever seen. I’m sure some people would really take exception to my rating- maybe giving it a D or even an F. Suffice it to say, not for everyone. But if you like very, very quirky, art-film, indie movies- this is worth the gambit. We did our usual drive of an hour to go to Dartmouth to see it (got a fine Indian meal in the bargain) and I’m not sure it merits the drive…but the acting was great, it certainty leaves you thoughtful afterwards, and the premise (if there is one) is pretty unique. Basic questions- should the world  only be populated by people who pair up, and convert the rest to some kind of animal? Really, this is the question. You may have to see the film to figure out the answer. If it is near you, maybe worth a try, but who knows. I personally liked it a lot

Genre:  Film

Grade A-

Notable People:   Mark Ruffalo, Micheal Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Live Schreiber, John Slattery, Stanley Tucci, Directed by: Tom McCarthy

Title: Spotlight

 

Review: Brilliant and disturbing film about the Boston sexual abuse scandal in the catholic church and the news team that broke it. Probably everyone has seen it by now- but it is must see. Ruffalo and McAdams play against every type they have done (McAdams is unrecognizable from her turn in True Detective). Keaton is his usual brilliance though a bit toned down. Schreiber cannot be the am guy who does Ray Donovan and Tucci…is just Tucci- too good. Well filed, well written, great film.

Genre: Film

 

Grade: A- to C+…this is a tough one…..

Notable People: Geza Rohrig, Directed by Laszlo Nemes

Title: Son of Saul

Review: Whoa- this is as serious film. Hits the ground running at Auschwitz in 1944 and never lets up. Probably safe to say this may be the most hit you-over-the-head concentration camp experience yet portrayed on film. Despicable, hopeless , grim, overwhelming. I barely took a breath for the entire two hours. There is no single uplifting moment in the film, nor much of a redeeming character. The main character, played with amazing grace by newcomer (and non-actor) Rohrig almost becomes sympathetic but is so driven and despairing it is hard to like him much. The striped and numbered people treat each other almost as badly as the filthy Nazis. It’s all unimaginably horrific- which is why we need to think about it. If you are a film buff, this is a must see A level film. If you are a more casual movie-goer and mostly seek entertainment- stay home…you’ll probably hate it.

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Joan Allen, Directed by Lenny Abrahamson

Title: Room

Review: Startling film about a woman and her child kept in a garden shed by a true sicko for seven years and what happens when they escape. Larson and Tremblay as mother and five year old son are remarkable. Allen is wonderful as the reunited grandmother and William H. Macy plays a troubling small part as the lost dad/granddad. Very, very tense movie with amazing shots inside the tiny prison room. A lot of darkness about human nature here. The second half dragged a bit- but a major must see.

Genre: Film

Grade: A-

Notable People: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, , Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Title: The Revenant

Review: Sprawling, violent, dramatic story set in the vast wilderness without a whole lot of dialog. Leo is masterful. Hardy is despicably good. The cinematography is by the incomparable Emmanuel Lubezki and is worth going just to see that- absolutely majestic. There’s no doubt this is a very ambitious film and that the cast, direction and art of filming are all of the highest grade. There are some amazingly brilliant moments here…the bear mauling made me want to crawl under my seat. And, this IS one to see on the BIG screen. I did find it a bit long and at times, tedious. May also be adversely affected by the hype around it. Very good film- not great. Want to see great- watch Jeremiah Johnson from early 70s with a youngish Robert Redford- very similar context, shorter and equally compelling.

Genre: Novel

Grade: A

Notable People: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Directed by Andrew Haigh

Title: The Company She Kept

Review: Amazingly, the 26th offering in 26 years for the Joe Gunther series, Archer takes the form to new heights in this one. Circling back to some mysterious, and unresolved characters from books of ten years ago as well as introducing a host of new characters, he takes us on a great ride through the mountains and valleys of his beloved Vermont. His books have gotten more politically informed over time, as well as a lot more life-philosophical (Joe must be 90 by now!). But, his craft just keeps getting better. We had the good fortune to hear him read from the book this Fall, and the passion of his voice is quite sincere as are his musings about the writing process and its evolution, shared with us over coffee and pastry at Java Baba’s in Ludlow. . . fair to say, this is not an unbiased review as most of your know about our longtime acquaintance with Archer…but I wouldn’t let that dater you from going out and getting a copy right now. Well, well done.

Genre: Film

Grade: A

Notable People: Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, Directed by Andrew Haigh

Title: 45 Years

Review: A superb, but very depressing film, set in the English countryside- about a childless couple approaching their 45th wedding anniversary. In the midst of their preparations for a celebratory party, a long lost secrete emerges from the past, forcing the 70 something couple to reevaluate their lives and relationship. The acting in magnificent- Rampling especially has enjoyed a major late career resurgence- and the movie is wonderfully shot and composed. The music is haunting and everything just feels really dark-as it is intended to. A very fine movie but a hard one to watch.