2015 films: Carol, Anomalisa, 50 Shades of Grey and The 100-Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared

I was bemoaning the fact that I had to watch Fifty Shades of Grey because it was on the list. Some suggested I skip it, I mean, they're my rules. But if I skip one movie, where would it end? It's a slippery slope. However, the same weekend that I planned to watch Fifty Shades of Grey, I also saw Carol, Anomalisa and the hidden gem of the Oscars, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared. Forty movies and four weeks to go. Easy peasy.

1/23/16 Carol, nominated Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Costume Design, 2015

Cate Blanchett is Carol Aird and Rooney Mara is Therese Belivet in this 1950s drama based on the 1952 book The Price of Salt by Patricia Highsmith. Carol is a wealthy woman separated from her wealthy husband, Harge (Kyle Chandler). Therese works at Frankenberg's and that happens to be where is Carol is doing some last minute Christmas shopping in New York City. Therese is seeing Richard, but seems intrigued by Carol's smooth and glamorous demeanor. Carol definitely seems interested in Therese who is many years younger and quite naive. We get veiled hints about Carol's past, and her relationship with Abby (Sarah Paulson), and the damage that has been done to Harge and Carol's marriage and more important to Carol, is the threat that Harge will take away their daughter, Rindy. Carol decides to head west for a break after Harge takes Rindy to Florida for Christmas, and she asks Therese to go with her. This is the 1950s and homosexual relationships were not out in the open and could lead to all kinds of ostracism, and could certainly cost Carol any contact with Rindy. Cate Blanchett is tremendous as the cool, elegant and sexy Carol who very slyly maneuvers the budding romance with Therese. As I was watching the movie, I flashed back to the Beebo Brinker/Odd Girl Out books and thought this story would have fit perfectly. I honestly don't know if the character of Therese bothered me or if it was Rooney Mara, but in any event, I did not get that connection at all. I watched it with my friend and we both commented that we did not see or feel any sparks (we may be the only two, but at least we agreed). The costumes and sets were extremely well done and I felt captured that post-war revival that came in the 1950s. Blanchett is nominated for Bet Actress, and she was really good, but my pick would be Brie Larson for Room because I feel that Brie's character ran the emotional gamut and I felt pulled into that movie so much more than Carol.

1/23/16 Anomalisa, nominated Best Animated Feature, 2015

I'm not sure where to start with Anomalisa the animated film directed and produced by Charlie Kaufman and Duke Johnson. I liked the animation technique of stop motion and the way the animated characters were created as well as the incredibly detailed sets. I thought the story was interesting and in some form could have been a regular live action movie. But at the end of it, my friend and I (we saw Carol an hour before this) were not emotionally moved (as the trailers indicated we would be). Michael Stone (David Thewlis) is an ex-pat Brit who has been living in America for a while, has a family, and as the movie opens, he is landing in Cincinnati, Ohio, to give a motivational speech. Michael is kind of crabby, and I put that down to being tired from the flight. But it became clear to us (me and my Twinnie) that it wasn't the flight, he was crabby and lonely. Michael has an abrupt conversation with his wife and son; he then reconnects with an ex-lover from 10 years ago, and to say that doesn't go as planned would be a mild understatement. Michael mistakenly knocks on another room and invites the two women, who happen to be fans of his, down to the hotel bar for a few drinks. One thing leads to another, and he hits it off with Lisa (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and they go back to his room. I must say, I was a little taken aback at the full frontal nudity of the animated characters, to say nothing of what they did in that state. Unfortunately, the honeymoon period of Michael and Lisa's relationship lasted as long as it takes to get from Cleveland to Cincinnati on I-71. I think a lot of what is 'magical' or 'deep' about the movie requires it to be seen, so I don't want to give away too much. You should have that 'aha' moment on your own. The movie is definitely worth seeing, it's different than most animated stories out there. As for the Oscar, this is my pick; I would prefer Inside Out to win, but I don't know if it will, and I don't think Shaun the Sheep deserves it, and I haven't seen Boy & the World.

1/23/16 Fifty Shades of Grey, nominated Best Original Song, 2015

When my friends found out I had to watch Fifty Shades of Grey, some laughed, most refused to watch it with me, and a couple thought it would be hilariously uncomfortable to watch it with me, and a few offered to lend me the books. With friends like that.... I just decided to watch it and get it over with; I have seen a lot of terrible movies and I knew they weren't fatal. Fifty Shades of Grey is the story of the relationship between college student Anastasia (Ana) Steele (Dakota Johnson) and billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). Christian wants to share his affinity for S&M with Ana, and has drawn up a contract regarding what is permissible and what is not. Ana is intrigued but gets hung up on the contract. It doesn't stop her from doing anything, so I don't know what she was squawking about. The acting was not great, in fact, so not great that the actors, the movie and the director were all nominated for a Golden Raspberry award (nominations pending at this time). It was light porn, I suppose. The soundtrack wasn't horrible, but the song that was nominated "Earned It" was not the best song on there. This could actually win (the horror) and because the only big name movie with a song is Spectre and the song by Sam Smith, "Writing's on the Wall", which could pull it out. The other movies/songs are on the list; we'll see. The best thing about this movie is that it was free from the library. This might be a fun movie to watch with friends and make some kind of drinking game out of it; I don't really drink, but it might help. This capped a day of movies with all kinds of sex and naked people. I think I'm good for a while.

1/24/16 The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, nominated Best Hairstyling and Makeup, 2015

What a treat. This Swedish production was so delightful. It reminded me of the Coen Brothers meet Forrest Gump and the quirkiness from My Life as a Dog. First, yes, it's a Swedish film and it's mostly in Swedish but it's narrated in English. Second, it's a history lesson of the 20th century told from the perspective of Allan Karlsson, who is turning 100 years old in the opening scenes of the movie. There is something that is innocently charming about Allan, almost like Mr. Magoo as he is seemingly oblivious about the situations that occur. Allan is put into a senior citizens home because he blew up the fox that killed his beloved cat. Allan loves to blow things up and it's a recurring theme. Allan climbs out the window and goes to the transit center and with all the money he has, he goes to Byringe, a town with a population of one, Julius. But, before he gets there, a skinhead tough looking guy demands that Allan hold on to his suitcase while he goes to the toilet. Allan (in Mr. Magoo fashion) continues to hold on to the case as he boards the bus. That's the Coen Brothers part. The movie uses flashbacks to show us Allan's past and then brings us to the current day and Allan's new friends, including Julius, Benny and Gunilla and the people trying to chase him down, Gaddan, Hinken and Pim. The flashbacks include saving General Francisco Franco from getting blown up, giving Oppenheimer tips on completing the atomic bomb (that's the Forrest Gump part). The movie was nominated for Best Hairstyling and Makeup and as I watched on the special features how they made actor Robert Gustafsson as Allan Karlsson age from 19 to 30 to 50 to 80 and 100 (or something like that) it was quite amazing. Sometimes five or six hours of makeup. It's up against Mad Max and The Revenant, so I'm not sure it will win, but get it from the library or Netflix, you won't regret it. In fact, I may have to buy a copy to keep for when I get tired of my lists.