More Oscar Nominations: Some family films and some sci-fi

1/25/20 Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, nominated Best Makeup and Hairstyling, 2019

I enjoyed the first Maleficent film, starring Angelina Jolie and Elle Fanning; I saw it in a theater and thought the visuals were terrific. Lately, I have found myself reluctant to see sequels, unless I'm compelled by the list or they were part of the Marvel Universe. I had intentions of seeing Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, but it just never happened (the story of my movie life last year). There were parts of this story that truly escaped me; maybe I wasn't paying attention or maybe it was just that incoherent, but I can only give you a high level recap. I was grabbed by the visuals, which I thought were terrific except when they were hidden in some very dark (as in "I can't see, it's too dark") photography. The story picks up a little after the first movie, and Aurora is ruling the Moors; she's also being courted by Prince Philip. I'm not quite sure what Maleficent was doing. Prince Philip's mother, Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeifer), is plotting war and revenge against the Moors. She starts by angering Maleficent and creating false pretenses for her aggressions. The pixies are back as are the big trees and other creatures form the Moors; new are the Dark Feys, creatures like Maleficent. I don't think the movie was as good as the first one; I don't think there was enough Maleficent in the sequel; there was too much spread out between Ingrith, Aurora and Maleficent. 

1/26/20 Ad Astra, nominated Best Sound Mixing, 2019

At the heart of it, I think Ad Astra is about the relationship between a father and son and expectations of both; however, it's wrapped up in a sci-fi movie. Brad Pitt is astronaut Major Roy McBride, son of legendary/infamous astronaut/explorer, H. Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones). U.S. Space Command is concerned that recent disturbances in the universe are the result of an experiment being conducting by the elder McBride, and ask Roy McBride to establish contact with his father, whom he has not seen in years. As Major McBride makes his way to Mars to send his message, he encounters brigands and rabid baboons and resistance to his desire to meet his father on Neptune. The whys and wherefores of the story got a little confusing and ridiculous; seriously, rabid baboons on a Norwegian space craft, but so sign of the humans aboard or what happened, and then what happened to the baboons? I stopped trying to figure it out. What I did like about the movie were the incredible visual effects. Those I would have liked to have seen on the big screen, maybe even IMAX, and those aren't even up for a nomination. That was crazy. If you enjoy science fiction/space movies, you have probably seen this already, but if you haven't, I think it's worth watching, and you probably have a television from this century. 

2/1/20 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, nominated Best Original Score, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound, 2019

I was telling my friend today that I just saw Star Wars: The Rise of the Skywalker and I hoped they were done with it. We'll see. I know there are huge Star Wars fans who keep all the plotlines straight and look for plot holes, but I am not one of them. I enjoy them, but I don't look for a lot of deep meaning. There are so many things happening, I mean the movie was over two hours long, that I can't even give you a reasonable recap. It's like the writers and director, J.J. Abrams (also a writer) took as many cast members from the previous eight films (living and dead) as they could, plus more than a handful of cameo appearances by 'new' characters, threw them into a pot, mixed it with explosives, lasers and a familiar score from John Williams and said, "Here you go". I liked the last twenty minutes, but I had to sit through over hundred other minutes. I'm probably in the minority since it has made over $1 billion dollars and is still playing in the theaters, but let's move on, or to quote from Frozen, "Let it go".

2/2/20 Frozen 2, nominated for Best Original Song, 2019

I was not all that thrilled about seeing Frozen 2, not for any tangible reason, I'm just tired of sequels and remakes and reboots, also, I knew there were going to be children in the theater (I saw the first one at home) and I could not legitimately get upset with their existence. It didn't take a lot of arm twisting to get my movie pal to go with me, and I will eat a little bit of crow here, I really did like it, and it was fun listening to the kids giggling at the funny parts, and the songs were really good. The story picks up with Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) feeling a little restless, but not knowing why; Princess Anna (Kristen Bell) and Kristoff (Jonathan Groff) making googly eyes at each other; and Olaf (Josh Gad) looking for the meaning of life and transformation (in case you don't know, Olaf is a snowman). Elsa starts hearing something, but she can't quite pinpoint what it is or where it's coming from, but around the same time she starts hearing it, other strange phenomenon start: massive winds, strange fires and buckling streets. In order to protect her kingdom, Elsa, with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven the reindeer, embark on a quest to save Arundelle and the Northuldra tribe who live in the forest and learn the mystery of their parents' lives. Several of the cast members sing, but when Idina Menzel sings, it is mind-blowing. The only category the film is nominated in is for Best Original Song, and the good news is (I think I read it correctly) that Idina Menzel will be singing "Into The Unknown". I thought Frozen 2 was ten million times better than How to Train Your Dragon 47 in the story, the animation, music, everything. 

Frozen in Harbin, 2020

Three more nominees: The Two Popes, American Factory and Breakthrough

12/26/19 The Two Popes, nominated Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay, 2019

I cannot speak to the accuracy of The Two Popes, especially the scenes within the conclave where the Cardinals vote for the new pope. I thought the ballots were burned, so perhaps that part is speculation. At any rate, the film looks at the unusual circumstance and relationship between Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins) and Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) created when Pope Benedict stepped down from his lifetime appointment to the papacy and Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio became Pope Francis. The two men couldn't be more different or on opposite sides of almost any argument. The movie flashes back to when Jorge was a young man, before he entered the priesthood and then his time as a priest during the time of the junta in Argentina. The flashbacks show Bergoglio's flaws and his human side, which some may not believe are suited for a position that is considered infallible. Bergoglio repeatedly tries to resign his post as Cardinal, but Pope Benedict continually refuses him. The movie shows the human side of Pope Benedict as well, as he and Pope Francis watch the World Cup final between Germany and Argentina together, fact or fiction, it was an enjoyable scene to watch. Pryce is nominated for Best Actor and I think the odds are against him since Joaquin Phoenix seems to be the favorite this awards season. Hopkins is nominated for Best Supporting Actor and that may be a little more open, with two nominations for The Irishman (Joe Pesci and Al Pacino), Brad Pitt for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (haven't seen this yet) and Tom Hanks as Mister Rogers, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. I know Hanks is usually the favorite any time he's nominated, but I thought Pesci was really, really good.

1/12/20 American Factory, nominated Best Documentary Feature, 2019

American Factory was hard to watch, I really felt the heartache and frustration and disappointment of the men and women of Moraine, Ohio, as they tried to make a new life at a new factory built and run by the Chinese glass factory Fuyao. I wasn't surprised by the culture clash and differences, but I was surprised at how big and wide the divide was, and the hostile attitudes expressed by both at the end of the film. I thought something seemed familiar about the filmmaking and the topic, the General Motors Assembly Plant, but I just found out that the filmmakers also made 2009 nominee, The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant by Julie Reichert and Steve Bognar. This was the same plant. Everything seems pretty positive and full of potential and hope to bring back good paying jobs to southwestern Ohio. The Chairman, Cao Dewang, is aware of the differences in culture and work practices and at first seems okay with it, up to a point. The Chinese are absolutely opposed to any kind of unionization and threaten to shut the plant if the unions come in. Eventually, the lower than expected wages, the safety concerns and other practices put the two sides in opposition to one another. In my Pollyanna world, I kept thinking if the two sides could talk, really talk and get some kind of understanding and not fall into stereotyping (it happens on both ends), it could have been so much more beneficial. This is the first nominated documentary I have seen, so I can't honestly say if I think it will win, but I found it powerful, relevant and full of humanity. It's distributed by Netflix, so it's available on streaming, and I strongly recommend watching it, for so many reasons. 


1/17/20 Breakthrough, nominated Best Original Song, 2019

I'll be honest, if Breakthrough wasn't on the Oscars list, I would never have watched it; I can't even say it was an unexpected find. It's not that it was terrible, it's just not my thing. When I saw the previews, I thought, nope, I won't be going. Sigh. So here we are. The movie is based on the true story of John Smith falling through a not so frozen lake in St. Charles, Missouri and being put into a medically induced coma. The doctors had no expectations of a full recovery, but his mother, Joyce (Chrissy Metz), had other ideas. She was so fervent and adamant in her belief and her prayers that you could say she willed John to get better. Movies like this really aren't my thing, so if I'm going to like it (or maybe just watch it) at least the acting needs to be good. I'm sorry, but it wasn't. Topher Grace was Pastor Jason, and while I believed Anthony Hopkins could have Pope Benedict, I did not at all believe that Topher Grace was a pastor. The music was okay; "I'm Standing with You", written by Diane Warren and performed offscreen by Chrissy Metz is nominated for Best Original Song. It was a good song, but I have a feeling that the new song by Elton John and Bernie Taupin for Rocketman, "(I'm gonna) Love Me Again". The movie wasn't my thing, but you may like it.

2019 movies - probable nominees: Marriage Story, Apollo 11, Bombshell

Since a lot of these are pretty fresh or may get new legs with DVD releases, I'm going to go light on plots and just give you my go/no go recommendation. It will be faster for all of us, I promise.

12/13/19 Marriage Story, 2019, not yet nominated

Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson star as a married couple that is getting unmarried; their initial attempt is to do it without lawyers, but it doesn't quite go as intended. The movie is bi-coastal as Driver's Charlie is building his reputation and career as a stage director in New York City, while Johansson's Nicole wants to break away from his shadow and re-establish her acting career in Los Angeles. Written and directed by Noah Baumbach, the story follows the ebbs and flows, highs and lows of a disintegrating marriage, including the low blows, dirty pool and spewing of venom that might have slipped out or might have been intentional. Unfortunately, there's a child in the middle, and that's the cause of the fights and anguish. The performances are spot on, the feelings are palpable, even on my teeny iPad mini. Laura Dern as Nicole's lawyer, Nora, has gotten lot of rave reviews, but I couldn't stand it, and maybe that was kind of the desired result, but, it seemed way over the top to me. Alan Alda took a brief turn as Charlie's lawyer, Bert, and he never disappoints; his delivery and cadence always keep my attention. I don't know if you have to see this movie, I don't feel like I had to, except it's probably going to get nominated for something, so, then I have to. A couple friends have seen it and really liked it. 

12/20/19 Apollo 11, not yet nominated 2019

My biggest regret about this documentary on the moon landing with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin is that I didn't see it on the big screen. Damn it. The movie is made up of archival footage, including film taken by the astronauts while in space and on the moon and film of the control center. There is no voiceover or commentary, whatever audio is from the participants. It really captures the excitement that took over the whole world, and this is before social media and twenty-four hour news cycles. We board the space capsule/rocket with the crew of three (Michael Collins was the third man); hear and watch the takeoff; watch the orbit of the rocket and hear conversations between the crew and mission control; it's crazy. Even if you don't have any interest in the space program, you should watch it. I defy you to not get goosebumps. If you have kids, you should watch it with them and revel in the scientific and human achievements. There may be a nomination for best documentary, maybe editing.

12/21/19 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, not yet nominated, 2019

This was not what I thought it was going to be. I saw the documentary on Mister Rogers when it came out over a year and a half ago, so I was not sure that any feature film could really do him justice. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood isn't a bio-pic, exactly, and it's not really fiction, and it's not really about Mister Rogers. It's about the people he influenced, specifically one person, Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), a feature writer for Esquire magazine. Lloyd has some unresolved anger issues, mainly directed at his absent father, played by Chris Cooper, and his wife, Andrea (Susan Kelechi Watson) is caught somewhat in the middle.  His editor assigns him the task of writing a brief article on Mister Rogers. Lloyd is suspicious and doesn't believe that Fred Rogers is real, and looks for an angle to expose. Director Marielle Heller really slows the pace of the film, at least it seems that way to me, and it kind of fits Mister Rogers' pace of life, and forces Lloyd to slow down a little. I think the writers were wise to take a different tack when telling Fred Rogers' story, because the documentary is still in the air, if you will, and it would have been too much comparing going in if this film followed the regular biographical line. By introducing Lloyd (who is based on writer Tom Junod), it lets viewers see Mister Rogers from a different perspective, and lets Mister Rogers tell his story (or not, because he can be quite evasive).  Tom Hanks is uncanny as Mister Rogers, the look, the mannerisms, speech patterns. I don't think you have to see this on the big screen, but I do recommend watching it (and then watching the documentary Won't You Be My Neighbor).

12/24/19 Judy, not yet nominated, 2019

Wow. Just wow. As much as Tom Hanks became Fred Rogers, Renee Zellweger became Judy Garland. I grew up listening to "Judy Live at Carnegie Hall" and of course watching The Wizard of Oz and I recently finished reading a biography of her, so I feel like I'm in a good place to review Judy. The movie focuses on the very end of her career when she had become so unreliable due to her drug use and drinking, that she was almost left no choice but to go to London for a series of concerts. The movie uses flashbacks to her early days under Louis B. Mayer and a studio system that treated actors, even stars, like cattle. It sets the table for many of the issues that Judy struggled with her entire life. The real Judy Garland had definite facial expressions and characteristics, and it seemed to me that Zellweger nailed them. Zellweger did her own singing as well, which is a gutsy move, and I she was tremendous. Garland was a complex woman, who was tiny but had a big voice, however her self-esteem often disappeared when she was off the stage. We get glimpses into Garland's personal life, with her bitter divorce from Sid Luft (Rufus Sewell) and the battle for her two youngest children, Joey and Lorna; there is the briefest of appearances by Liza Minnelli (Gemma-Leah Devereaux), her eldest child, but it only serves as an introduction to Mickey Deans (Finn Wittrock), Judy's last husband. I don't know if I would say that Judy is an entirely uplifting, feel good movie; there are definitely moments that made me feel good, but I would say I felt more melancholy and sad at the loss and waste of talent, and sadness at her loneliness. Don't let that deter you from seeing it. I will be very disappointed if Zellweger doesn't receive a Best Actress nomination; there may also be a Best Costume Design and Best Hair and Makeup.

12/25/19 Bombshell, not yet nominated, 2019

I cannot remember the last time I needed a hot shower after watching a movie, but I absolutely felt that way after seeing Bombshell; John Lithgow is creepy good as Roger Ailes, make your skin crawl creepy. Bombshell tells the story of the sexual harassment charges that were brought forward by former Fox talk show host (and Minnesota native) Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) and later corroborated by several other women at the network or formerly at the network. There are three main female protagonists, Carlson, Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) and Kayla Pospisil ( (Margot Robbie); and they are each in different phases of their relationship with Ailes; Carlson at the end, disgusted and angry; Kelly, whose career is really taking off, but she is seeing and hearing things that are making her question; Kayla (who is not a real person, as far as I can tell) is in the very beginning of her professional career and very naïve. How this all unfolds is really what the movie is about, so you are now on your own as far as that goes. We're in the Fox newsroom, so there are plenty of Fox on air personalities in the background, and making appearances walking across the screen; at times, I found that as disturbing as Roger Ailes. Some actors/characters required a lot of makeup to look like their real life counterparts, and some of the make up was really good and spot on; other times, I found it really distracting, like the poor actress, Anne Ramsay, who played Greta Van Susteren. I don't know what intern did that make up, but it was terrible; she's not even listed in the cast list on Wikipedia, and she had more screen time than others who did get listed. The performances by the three lead actresses were really good, but I think Robbie was particularly good, playing an eager conservative producer, first on Gretchen Carlson's show and then moving up (?) to Bill O'Reilly's show. She has aspirations of being on air and meeting Roger Ailes. In a smaller support role, Kate McKinnon is Jess, another producer on The O'Reilly Factor, who befriends Kayla and tries to give her pointers on the show. I should also mention Connie Britton was frightening as Beth Ailes, Roger Ailes's wife who had blind faith in her husband's behavior (it was nice (?) to see her in an atypical role). There is a lot going on here, some of which you probably heard about on the news when the scandal was breaking, some parts that were not common knowledge, and maybe some things that were totally fictionalized, and I'm not an expert on it, so I don't know. Director Jay Roach (Trumbo, Meet the Parents) kept the pace pretty fast, packing a lot of action in less than two hours. It just occurred to me that for the most part, the women in the film were restrained, occasionally understated, as if they had to keep all of their emotions in check, whereas the lead men, mainly Ailes/Lithgow, were allowed to explode and vomit verbally whenever the mood struck, which was often. Aside from needing a shower when the movie was over, I wasn't sure if I loved or liked it. I think right now, I liked it; I loved Robbie's performance; and I liked Theron's and Kidman's performances. I think there may be some nominations for technical Oscars, like editing and makeup and hair; I'm not sure how the acting nominations will play out, a possible Best Supporting Actor for Lithgow, but I don't know how you really break out the performances of Robbie, Theron and Kidman.

That's all for a while. Check my travel blog for some fun stuff in the coming days.

2019 films - Toy Story 4, The Farewell and The Hustle

10/20/19 They Killed Sister Dorothy, 2008

Dorothy Stang was a nun living and working in Brazil who was brutally murdered for her work to protect the Amazon Rainforest and the poor who lived there. She crossed paths and had violent encounters with the ranchers who wanted to cut the forest down. The documentary uses interviews with her brother; Sisters in her order, Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur; the peasants she helped; the ranchers she angered; and the men accused of shooting her in cold blood. It also includes footage from the trials of the men who were accused of killing her. Sister Dorothy was passionate about her love of the Amazon and the people who lived who lived, so passionate she was willing to risk her life. The fires in the Amazon recently made my viewing of this film vey timely.

11/23/19 The Farewell, 2019, not yet nominated

I don't know if The Farewell will be nominated for any Oscars, although I think Adapted Screenplay might be a possibility. A few of my movie loving friends kept telling me I needed to see The Farewell, and I finally got around to it. The screenplay, by Lulu Wang, was based on her story that she did for American Life, which was based on real life events in her family. Billi Wang (Awkwafina) and her parents live in New York City, while her grandmother still lives in China. Billi finds out from her parents (reluctantly) that Nai Nai (Zhao Shuzhen) has been diagnosed with lung cancer, which devastates Billi. It doesn't get better when her parents tell her they are going back to China for a 'family reunion' to say their goodbyes to Nai Nai, they're not telling her she's ill, and Billi isn't invited. It's Eastern tradition versus Western cerebralism, because Billi thinks they should be honest and tell her grandmother, but that's not how it's done in China; they don't want to worry Nai Nai, so they are all getting together for the wedding of Billi's cousin. The movie moves between those awkward family moments we all have (sibling rivalry, meeting up with relatives you haven't seen in a long time), to celebrating one's cultural and history, to dealing with the mortality of a beloved grandmother. Awkwafina was terrific (she was one of the only things I liked from Crazy Rich Asians which I otherwise pretty much loathed) and I think she showed that she doesn't just do comedy, she tapped into some pretty serious emotions and dramatic moments. I wish I would have gotten this review done before Thanksgiving in case you were looking for a break from football and Christmas movies, but you still have time to watch this during the interminable Christmas marathons, and I recommend that you do. There are subtitles, but don't let that turn you off.

11/27/19 Toy Story 4, 2019 Not yet nominated

I don't want to sound like the Grinch or Scrooge, but this was not the best animated movie ever, and it wasn't even the best Toy Story movie in the franchise. The story picks up after Woody and company are adopted by Bonnie and given a new home with her other toys. Sadly, Bonnie no longer wants to play with Bo Peep, so she is sent off to the land of misfit toys (oops, wrong movie), and Woody is heartbroken. Bonnie makes a new toy at school, called 'Forky'. Forky has some existential issues: he's garbage and should be thrown out, he doesn't want to exist as a toy. Unfortunately, he's Bonnie's favorite toy, and as he escapes the confines of the family's RV, Woody chases after him. Then all sorts of adventures and misadventures ensue: some very creepy ventriloquist dummies are the henchman for a voiceless talking doll; Woody meets up again with Bo, who is now a liberated woman, Buzz listens to his inner voice and becomes a problem solver; and Keanu Reeves becomes one of my favorite animated characters in the franchise as Duke Caboom. I do like that production crew includes old and familiar voices (Annie Potts, Don Rickles, Estelle Harris and Joan Cusack to names a few), but also brings new voices (at least to the franchise) like Carol Burnett, Carl Reiner, Carl Weathers, Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key. Of course there is the familiar sound of Randy Newman on the soundtrack. It's probably going to get nominated, because I think it's been codified into law that any Pixar film gets nominated for an Oscar, and will usually win. Now that the grown up review is done, I do think that kids will like it (but those dummies are kind of scary) and it could be a good family flick instead of watching The Santa Claus 2 again.

11/28/19 The Hustle, 2019

I kind of want my Redbox points back, because this movie wasn't even worth a free rental. I like Rebel Wilson (although I think she is going to be typecast which would be a shame) and I like Anne Hathaway, but this movie was so disappointing. I thought it was going to be funny, and it had maybe five laughs, otherwise, it was cringeworthy. Don't confuse this with the much buzzed about movie with Jennifer Lopez, Hustlers.  I didn't, but that would have been a good excuse.

If Beale Street Could Talk deserved more than three nominations, Mirai and Ralph Breaks the Internet worth watching

In between traveling and going to concerts, I've been able to squeeze in a few Oscar-nominated movies. I wish I could have gotten them in before the big show to give me a better perspective, but a person can only do so much.

4/13/19 If Beale Street Could Talk, nominated Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, won Best Supporting Actress, 2018

If Beale Street Could Talk was directed by Barry Jenkins (director of Moonlight) and was based on the novel by James Baldwin. The story is set in 1970s New York City and focuses on the love story of Fonny (Stephan James) and Tish (KiKi Layne); it's a love story that takes a tragic turn when Fonny is falsely accused of rape. Fonny and Tish have been friends since they were little kids, and their friendship evolves into a romantic one. The story is told via flashbacks, which don't always work (in my opinion), but they do here. It does make it challenging to give you a straightforward narrative type review, and I don't want to ruin it, so I'll be careful. Tish provides the narration, describing her experiences as a young, black woman who is trying to earn a living working at a perfume counter, which include describing the differences in how the clientele treat her when choosing perfume. Her words and the visuals of one particular customer was downright creepy. Tish finds out she's pregnant when Fonny is in jail; she has told her family, and they are very supportive, and a little excited to have a new life in the world. They have Fonny's family over to tell them the news, and that was one of the scenes that blew me away, the fast paced dialog, the interaction of the characters and the fact that so much was packed into maybe less than ten minutes. Fonny's family doesn't think much of Tish and her family, they think Fonny deserves better, and his mother certainly doesn't approve of the new baby. Tish's sister, Ernestine, is someone I would want in my corner the way she defends her younger sister, and doesn't back down from the holier than thou attitude of Fonny's sisters and mother. Oscar-winner Regina King as Tish and Ernestine's mother, Sharon, tries to keep everyone cool and levelheaded, while always supporting her family, including Fonny. This is a family that never gives up trying to help vindicate Fonny, even if it costs them every cent they have. They raise the money to send Sharon to Puerto Rico to talk to the rape victim, Victoria, to try and convince her to come back to New York and admit that she misidentified her rapist under pressure from the arresting officer. As aside, I thought it was very important that Sharon, and the family, never denied that Victoria was raped, just that she was not raped by Fonny. The meeting between Sharon and Victoria was so powerful and painful to watch. There is a lot that is painful to watch in this movie, the injustice done to Fonny by a cop who has an ax to grind; hope that is dashed in minutes; the humiliation that Tish experiences at work. There is also a lot that is hopeful, the incredible love of Tish's family; a strong, intact black family going against stereotype; strong women: Ernestine works in a law firm and gets an attorney to help Fonny; Sharon goes, by herself, to Puerto Rico to help Fonny, which must have been scary, especially if she had never been out of the country and spoke no Spanish, and was on her own (this was in the 1970s, so probably a huge challenge); Tish who never gives up on Fonny. I hope this is enough to pique your interest if you haven't seen it. I actually think the movie was robbed in terms of Oscar recognition because I think KiKi Layne should have been nominated for Best Actress (perhaps a long shot give then way everything played out, but she was tremendous); how could Barry Jenkins not get a nomination for Best Director? And I don't think it would have been a stretch for Stephan James to be nominated for Best Supporting Actor. James Baldwin had an interesting and complicated relationship with the United States and I think that comes through in this story.

4/16/19 Mirai, nominated Best Animated Feature, 2019

I was recently describing Mirai to a friend, and I found myself hemming and hawing about if I liked it or not. I couldn't outright say "Oh my gosh, you have GOT to see this movie.", but I also couldn't say I hated it or disliked it. The more I told her about it, the more I think I did like it, but there were parts I didn't care for, if that makes sense. What I really did like about the movie and thought made it special was how it gave the main character, Hun, a little boy who recently became a big brother, insight into his family and their 'origin stories', if you will. It involves a little bit of time travel and you have to surrender to the whimsy (maybe that's my hang up). Hun is having a hard time adjusting to his baby sister and the fact that he is no longer the center of his family's universe. As he has his outbursts (which are incredibly annoying and one of the things I disliked about the film), he also meets members of his family in the past, learning about his parents when they were children, his grandparents when they were young adults, and in a little twist, he meets his sister when she's older. All of these encounters teach Hun a little lesson about patience, tolerance, understanding, etc. As an adult watching this, I felt a little pang of jealousy (not jealousy exactly, but wistfulness maybe), because I think it would be magical, interesting and whatever other word I can't think of at the moment, to see what my grandparents were like in their twenties, or what my parents were like when they were kids. I guess I connected with those feelings. Hun's shrieking when he had his temper tantrums was enough to make me want to stop the DVD, that's how obnoxious it was. But I'm glad I stuck with it.

4/20/19 Ralph Breaks the Internet, nominated Best Animated Feature, 2018

I wasn't all that interested in seeing Ralph Breaks the Internet when it came out in the theaters, and still not thrilled after it was nominated for Best Animated Feature for 2018. My interest in animated feature films has waned, at least as an Oscar category because the rationale for selecting the winners, much less the nominees, just seems geared to sappy, oversentimental films, dominated by Pixar or Disney, not necessarily creative or innovative. Thankfully that was remedied (this time at least) when Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse won. Anyway, back to the movie at hand. So, it was with a little bit of reluctance that I started watching Ralph Breaks the Internet. John C. Reilly reprised his role as Wreck-It Ralph, who was formerly a big meanie in his video game, but revealed to have a heart of gold; Sarah Silverman as Vanellope, a driver in a racing game, who is also Ralph's best friend; and Taraji P. Henson as Yesss, the personification of an algorithm that determines what trends on the Internet; and several other new and returning characters from Wreck-It Ralph. The arcade is entering the Internet age and all that goes with it: social media, online auctioning sites, viruses, firewalls and updated video games. Ralph and his big two-dimensional heart get into a little trouble when he tries to give Vanellope a surprise and update her racing track. Of course, no good deed goes unpunished, and that is pretty much how the movie goes, one good deed, one unexpected consequence, and so on. Shank (voiced by Gal Gadot) is a tough talking, fast driving character in a new type of online racing game (new to Vanellope). Vanellope admires Shank, but loves the freedom and unpredictability of this game compared to her old, familiar Sugar Rush. I was pretty ho-hum on the movie, until about 40 minutes in, and I can't tell you what happened, but then I started to like it. I do remember very distinctly thinking to myself that I was way more interested in this movie than The Incredibles 2, which bored me to tears. It might have coincided with the introduction of all of the Disney Princesses (plus Moana and Ella and Anna from Frozen); there are several other pop culture references that you have to be paying attention to or you'll miss them. I am glad that I liked the movie, still not sure it deserved an Oscar nomination.

A collection of hits and misses, but don't miss Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

12/7/18 BlacKKKlansman,  not yet nominated, 2018

When I first saw the trailers for Spike Lee's BlacKKKlansman, I shook my head. It just made no sense. I mean, how would a black man be in the KKK? It was genius. It made me want to see it so I could learn what was going on. It turns out that it's based on a true story; events that happened to the real Detective Ron Stallworth in 1970s Colorado Springs. After an assignment in the records room, Stallworth is moved to an undercover assignment where he poses, verbally, as a white supremacist who wants to join the Ku Klux Klan (the stereotype "you don't sound Black" is turned on its head). Obviously, Stallworth (John David Washington) can't attend any in person meetings, so, he fellow detective, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), is the physical embodiment of Stallworth. In a bold move, Stallworth phones David Duke (Topher Grace), then the Grand Wizard of the KKK, and builds this bizarre relationship (given that Duke was unaware he was exchanging ideas with a black man) with Duke, to the point Duke expedites Stallworth's acceptance into the organization. Stallworth does a balancing act, between serving in a police department that had several racists and trying to be a good police officer, while he is dating Patrice Dumas (Laura Harrier), who is the head of the black student union, and trying to steer clear of the more radical facets of that movement. I don't know how accurate the movie is (it seems there is always some dramatic and creative license taken with anything based in reality, look at the outrage about Bohemian Rhapsody), and I haven't read Stallworth's memoir, but as far as the movie goes, I enjoyed it. I thought the story was interesting, certainly a different perspective, the cast was good, some better than others; Washington did a great job in what I think was his first starring role; I like that Driver shows diversity in his choice of roles and can carry it off; the various actors who were Klan members were good, but I don't know if I could pick them out of a crowd or would remember them if I saw them in another film. 

12/8/18 The Incredibles 2, not yet nominated, 2018

I feel like I should disqualify myself from any future reviews of kid-friendly films, because I think that piece of me that used to enjoy them, or appreciate them, died. Most reviews for The Incredibles 2 were fabulous, and I was so bored. Who cares? I should have been excited because in this sequel, Mrs. Incredible (Holly Hunter) takes the lead from her husband, Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson), and hits the streets as the superhero of the moment. Yay equality! The movie picks up soon after the original ends, so Jack-Jack, everyone's favorite super baby is discovering more of his powers, and, well, I'm not even going to pretend. I'm done.

12/14/18 Eighth Grade, not yet nominated 2018

I have said to many of my contemporaries that I would not want to go through adolescence again for all the money in the world; it was hard enough without social media and the peer pressure exerted using it, but add those elements, and forget about it. Elsie Fisher plays Kayla Day, an eighth grader struggling with the aforementioned challenges. Kayla has her own YouTube channel where she posts confident, self-assured tips on navigating the whitewater rapids known as being a teenager. In real life, Kayla is the target audience for her channel, not the role model. She tries to fit in with the 'cool' kids, but it really never works the way she hopes. And, like most teenagers, Kayla butts heads with her single dad (Josh Hamilton) about curfews, privacy, and teenage angst. When Kayla starts to hang out with older kids at the high school, it seems pretty cool and more grown up, but it doesn't stay that way. You want to tell Kayla it's going to be okay, keep your head on your shoulders, talk to your dad, etc., because you really want your 15 year old self to know that, too. This movie does what some movies in a similar vein (I'm thinking of Richard Linklater movies that make me want to impale myself) don't do. I did care about Kayla and her dorky, but true friend, Gabe, and about the other eighth graders out there. The movie didn't drag on too long. It's heavy in parts, and funny and awkward in others. Kind of like life. It came out in the summer, and even though Fisher was nominated for a Golden Globe, it may get overlooked for the Oscars. See it anyway.

12/22/2018 Tully, not yet nominated, 2018

I like Charlize Theron, so I might have watched this movie at some point, but I pushed it to the top of my holiday Redbox list because it was nominated for a couple of Golden Globes. Usually, I'm pretty late to the party when it comes to picking up on plot twists, but I got this one early on. I don't know if that impacted the fact that I didn't really care for the movie, or if had to do with the actress playing the titular Tully (Mackenzie Davis) or just the character of Tully. Marlo Moreau is pregnant with her third child, and copes with her young son who has a developmental disorder that hasn't been properly diagnosed or treated; a husband who works a lot; and she has this strained relationship with her brother who is disgustingly successful. After the baby is born, Marlo is sleepless, overworked with caring for her children, and her husband, Drew (Ron Livingston), appears clueless to the stress she is under. Magically, Tully, a night nanny, comes into Marlo's life, and seems to help Marlo. Post-partum depression is a real thing, and can have a devastating impact on mothers and their relationships, and maybe there are moms who enjoyed this, but I'm not a mom, and I didn't enjoy it; I guess I would have liked it if there was a different presentation of the issue.

If a movie is classified as a drama-comedy, I'd like the comedy to be funny. Overall, this is more of a drama, with a few funny/humorous moments, but nowhere near enough to be considered a comedy. Theron is good, but honestly, she's good in most of her films, even really great, but it's not enough for me to recommend the movie.

12/25/2018 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, not yet nominated, 2018

You may have sensed some hesitance, or malaise for some of my more recent films. There is no such feeling here. I loved this animated take on Spider-Man, almost more than any of the recent live action versions (much to the consternation of my Spidey-loving little brother). It did what I have wanted those other iterations to do, bring the comic books to life. The twist on this is the addition of Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) as the newest Spider-Man; Miles is of African-American and Hispanic parentage, whose parents have high expectations of him, especially his dad, who is a police officer (one of the funniest scenes was Miles' dad taking him to school, dropping him off, calling after him 'I love you', and Miles trying to walk away, and his dad saying 'Say I love You' over the patrol car's PA', and keeping it up until he said it. Such a real moment in the life of a teenager). The origin story is new, but similar, especially as we meet others from the Spider-Verse: SP//dr, Spider-Ham, Spider-Man Noir (Nicholas Cage), Spider-Woman (Hailee Steinfeld), and Aunt May (Lily Tomlin) and learn more about them. There is a roster of villains, including: King Pin/Wilson Fisk (Liev Schreiber), Doc Ock (Kathryn Hahn, yes, a female Dr. Octopus), Prowler (Mahershala Ali), who also happens to be Miles' uncle. If you're getting the feeling that there is a lot going on, go to the head of the class. I tried not to think too hard about the time-travel concept, because that always hurts my head; I just went with it. The writing was clever, quick-witted, irreverent, but yet it respected the legacy of Spider-Man movies that preceded it, as well as Spider-Man's creators, Stan Lee and Steve Ditko. Normally, I don't like modifications to who a character is, but things are different in the comic world, change is almost required to keep storylines relevant to new readers, but also keeping old readers, and I totally surrendered to it. I did have a little trouble with the drawings being blurry occasionally, but after checking with my brother, he explained that was the intention, to mimic the occasional blurriness that you see in comic books that happens during the printing process. That's pretty clever. My only regret is that I didn't see it in 3-D, I hurt the effects I enjoyed so much were even better in 3-D. I enjoyed it so much I almost saw it again in the theatre. I hope this is the beginning of a new series. I'd love to see how Miles negotiates his new powers, his relationship with his parents, and being a young man of color with super hero powers in 21st century New York. So many levels to this film. It won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature, and I think it definitely deserves to be nominated for the Oscar. 

More potential 2018 Oscar nominees with Mary Poppins Returns, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and Peppermint

12/15/18 Peppermint, not yet nominated, 2018

When I saw the previews for Peppermint, I thought it would be good for Netflix, and I was right. It's a good revenge movie starring Jennifer Garner as Riley North, a mom and wife whose husband and daughter are shot by order of a drug lord. After the trial fails to produce any results that resemble justice, Riley takes things into her own hands. There may be something twisted or cathartic (depending on your point of view) about enjoying revenge movies like this where someone just goes batshit crazy on the bad guys. The protagonist learns martial arts, uses explosives, becomes a computer/tech whiz, takes punches, but gives harder ones, and man, do we feel better. I did wonder what the movie would have been like if we could have gotten a glimpse into her training routine, because how did she go from working in banking to being an assassin? There's some intrigue, a little twist, but I didn't think it was a deep thinking movie, and that was fine with me. I didn't watch Alias with Garner, but I recall from clips that there was some martial arts and other similarities with Riley North, so maybe Garner was looking to return to a more action packed role. And that's no judgement for me; if men can do it, why can't women? If you're looking for a movie to watch with some friends over pizza and your beverage of choice, add this one to the mix. As for Oscar nominations, it's a longshot, but action movies like this always carry the possibility of sound editing/mixing nominations. 

12/20/2018 Mary Poppins Returns, not yet nominated, 2018

I was skeptical about Mary Poppins Returns, and I don't think I was alone in that. Julie Andrews will forever be Mary Poppins and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" and "A Spoonful of Sugar" are the songs she sings, so I think it was really brave of Emily Blunt to take on the role, although not in a remake, but a long-delayed sequel. The movie is set in the 1930s, around twenty or twenty-five years after the original, so some characters have moved on, while others have aged. The Banks family is once again Mary's raison d'etre, (certain things will be left out since the movie just came out this week and I do not want to spoilt it), and her accomplice isn't Bert the chimney sweep, but Jack (Lin-Manuel Miranda), a former apprentice of Bert's who is a lamplighter. Michael (Ben Whishaw) and Jane (Emily Mortimer) Banks are trying to take care of Michael's children since his wife died. Even though we never meet her, we get the clear impression that she handled everything, and Michael is struggling mightily, hence Mary Poppins. I think it's a good ten or fifteen minutes (that's what it felt like) until Mary makes her grand entrance, and almost immediately, I was engaged in the story. There are a lot of songs, and lots of possibilities for nominations; there is the combination of live action with animation, just like in the original; instead of the chimney sweeps dancing, the lamplighters have a show stopping number; and there is a financial kerfuffle that could cost the Banks' their family home. Through it all, Mary handles the children and the various adventures with aplomb and calm, never getting flustered, which is what we all want from Mary Poppins. The movie sets and costumes are beautiful and colorful, more opportunities for nominations. I liked the movie, and perhaps over time, I will love the movie, or at least hold it in my memory with the same affection as the original. I'm not sure what is holding me back, because I thought Emily Blunt was tremendous, demonstrating her ability to sing and dance, all with a very posh attitude, with a touch of cheekiness; Lin-Manuel Miranda was very good, but something about the Cockney accent bugged me; the children were good as well (although I had to laugh every time they did something, my friend would say "I hate children"); and there are stars sprinkled throughout the film, in big, little and surprise roles (Meryl Streep, Colin Firth, Julie Walters to name a few). One of the big problems I had was the character of Michael Banks seemed to suck the life and joy out of every scene he was in (perhaps that was the point, but I was noticeably happier when he was offscreen). I am glad I saw this in the theater.

12/22/2018 Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, not yet nominated, 2018

If I thought too hard about Mamma Mia - Here We Go Again, I probably couldn't watch it with a straight face; there are too many things that defy logic, reality, time travel and singing ability. The only thing I care about is the music, and thanks to this movie, and its precursor (which began life as a theatrical musical), the music of ABBA will pretty much never die. The characters from the original film return (Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth and Stellan Skarsgard), with a few key additions, including Lily James as a young Donna and Cher as Donna's mother and Sophie's grandmother. The story goes back and forth between young Donna, who having just graduated from Oxford, goes off to have adventures around Europe before she settles on an idyllic Greek island, and current day with Sophie (Amanda Seyfried) getting ready to reopen Donna's hotel. The best thing about the movie is it introduces some of ABBA's lesser known songs (well, I knew them, but I'm guessing a lot of people didn't) like "When I Kissed the Teacher" (which took a strange turn and also had a cameo appearance from Bjorn Ulvaeus), "Why Did It Have to Be Me" and "Andante, Andante"; of course, there were well known gems, like "Waterloo" (featuring Benny Andersson on the piano), "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You" and perhaps the biggest number is "Fernando" sung by Cher (I hope I didn't ruin that bit, but I thought it was common knowledge she was in the movie). The locale is beautiful, with filming being done in Croatia on the island of Vis, and the songs are terrific; the acting is good, but the story just seemed hit and miss for me. I hope they quit while they're ahead.

12/24/2018 Gosford Park, Best Original Screenplay, 2001

Since Gosford Park has been on cable at least twice this past week and I watched it, I figured I should review it. There is something about this Robert Altman movie that I have always liked, having seen it originally in the theatre and watching it when I find it on television. It is set on an English estate in 1932 and has a full cast of characters, above and below stairs and adds in a good old fashioned mystery. Julian Fellowes, who later created "Downton Abbey", wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay. The main plot involves the lord of the manor, Sir William McCordle (Michael Gambon) and his wife, Lady Sylvia (Kristen Scott Thomas), who are hosting a hunting party on their estate; the guests include gossipy cousin Constance, Countess of Trentham (Maggie Smith); actor, Ivor Novello (Jeremy Northam); American film producer, Morris Weissman (Bob Balaban). The below stairs cast include Helen Mirren as Mrs. Wilson, head housekeeper; Eileen Atkins as Mrs. Croft, cook; Emily Watson as Elsie, head housemaid; Clive Owens as Mr. Parks, valet to one of the guests; and Ryan Phillippe as Mr. Denton, valet to Mr. Weissman. Like most Altman films, there are a variety of subplots involving upstairs, downstairs and many that crossover between the two. All of these are happening even as someone is plotting a murder.  There are so many things going on, that even after watching it more than four times, there are new nuances that I picked up. If you enjoy "Downton Abbey" and have not yet watched this, I think you will enjoy it, Maggie Smith gets ready for her role as Dowager Countess of Grantham. Helen Mirren is wonderful as always, Ryan Phillippe is creepy as valet Denton, Gambon does not at all resemble Dumbledore. It really is a feast of wonderful actors in large and small roles. I feel like I have seen so many movies lately that I can barely get through one time, that I feel really pleased that I can watch a seventeen year old movie and still enjoy it.

A timely documentary: A Time for Burning; family films: Spirited Away, The Golden Compass

9/2/18 A Time for Burning, 1966, National Film Registry

This probably won't surprise any regular readers, but I have been telling everyone who asks me what movies I've seen recently or what would I recommend, that they have got to find A Time for Burning, an Oscar-nominated documentary from 1966. I wish I could say it's a great bit of nostalgia, and a look back at the efforts to remove segregation, but sadly, you could change the movie to color (it's filmed in black and white) and it could be shown today. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. I think when most people think about the Civil Rights movement, they think about Alabama, Mississippi and the marches that took place, or maybe, the riots that happened in Detroit, Chicago or Cleveland, but they rarely think about the Upper Midwest, states like Minnesota, Iowa or Nebraska. This documentary was filmed in Omaha, Nebraska, and followed the efforts of Reverend L. William Youngdahl (a son of a former Minnesota governor, Luther Youngdahl) to introduce his white parishioners to black parishioners from the same community, but who belonged to different churches. To me, that seemed like a common sense, practical thing to do, a matter of fellowship. However, in 1966, in Omaha, it was considered crazy by other white Lutheran ministers and member of church leadership (I wasn't clear if they were called board members or elders, but they were men who seemed to have some authority). Some of the arguments against this temporary, informal comingling of the races (I understood it to be perhaps having a family over for supper, or into the church for services) were so offensive and patriarchal and baseless, but one of the things that I really appreciated about this documentary was that the participants argued, debated and questioned in a mostly respectful way, sometimes trying to understand why Reverend Youngdahl was so insistent that this was the right thing to do, and what Jesus would have done. It was interesting to watch one of the men go from being against this, saying it wasn't the right time to realizing that the time had come to make these efforts. The film also features a group of black students discussing why they think the white community doesn't want to include them, and calmly debating amongst themselves if this would be a good idea (not shouting or name-calling or threatening like we do these days). There is an exchange (uncomfortable fifty years later) between Rev. Youngdahl and Ernie Chambers, a young black man, in a black barbershop, and Chambers, who is very well spoken, but also skeptical of Youngdahl's high-minded attempt. Chambers goes off on why blacks might be angry at current circumstances and why he doesn't believe in Youngdahl's Jesus. Youngdahl quietly listens, and takes Chambers' anger in before turning to leave. Ultimately, Youngdahl risks his position in the church because the white community is 'not ready' for this huge step, and his conscious will not allow him to stop fighting. I had so many feelings and thoughts after watching this (available through MNLink, on DVD from Netflix and the abridged version I found on YouTube): why I hadn't I heard of Reverend Youngdahl or Ernie Chambers (who went on to become a lawyer and a long serving member in the Nebraska legislature, and who has an interview included on the DVD that is well worth your time) and have we really gone back to a 1966 (or 1866) mentality? I prefer to think like Youngdahl, that we can move forward together, by learning about each other and coming together, instead of pushing one another away.

9/8/18 Life of the Party, 2018 (not yet nominated, and probably no risk of it)

Sigh. I really like Melissa McCarthy. I think with the right material she is one of the funniest actresses out there; a great physical comedian, but she also has impeccable timing and a way of inflecting a line that makes it perfect and she's fearless. Life of the Party is an example of material that is mostly mediocre, only occasionally laugh out loud, and not a single pee in your pants moment. McCarthy wrote and produced the movie with her husband Ben Falcone, who also directed. McCarthy is Deanna, a woman who is surprised by her husband, Dan (Matt Walsh from "Veep") with a request for a divorce, right after they drop off their daughter, Maddie, at college. Deanna decides to return to that same college to complete her degree. Maddie is less than thrilled that her mom is hanging out with her and her friends, but most of her friends love having Deanna around, and Deanna embraces campus life. Maya Rudolph plays Christine, Deanna's friend, who provides some of the funnier moments, in my opinion. I suppose if you stretch, the movie is about not sacrificing your dreams for someone else and/or pursuing your dreams, which is a great concept, but I just thought there would be more laughs. You know, a comedy.

9/9/18 Golden Compass, Best Visual Effects, 2007

Another movie based of a book series that I have never read. I don't think that adds to or diminishes to watching the movie, and I didn't understand all the foofaraw surrounding the film based on the series by Philip Pullman. The movie was fine; set on Earth, but an alternate reality, starring Daniel Craig, Nicole Kidman and a young Dakota Blue (who shows up years later in the "Endeavor" series), Sam Elliott and a variety of other actors in voice roles. I did actually watch this years ago, and thought it was okay, the effects were good, but the story and the 'world' I needed to follow just made my eyes glaze over. This came out in the years of the "Harry Potter" series and "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" and "The Lord of the Rings", and maybe that's why it didn't do what people (what people?) expected it to do. Honestly, I didn't care. It won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects, beating out Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and Transformers, and maybe it deserved it, maybe it didn't. I think you can skip this and just grab a couple of the Harry Potter movies or even take a trip into the wardrobe.

9/15/18 Spirited Away, Best Animated Feature, 2002

Spirited Away kind of snuck up on me. It started off slow, for me, and my mind was wandering, but then, the story took a turn and I really enjoyed it. Hayao Miyazaki wrote and directed this story about a young girl (10-12) who comes off spoiled and demanding (well, I guess like a lot of 10-12 year olds), who finds herself in a mystical land filled with witches and other magical creatures, trying to find and save her parents, who have been turned into pigs. Chihiro is the young girl, and she must navigate this new world she is living in, not sure who she can trust, although she seems to be befriended by Haku and Lin, and eventually earns the reluctant acceptance and respect of the boiler grandad and dueling twin sisters, Yubaba and Zeniba. Chihiro goes from being spoiled and whiny to a determined and brave girl, fighting her fears and spirits along the way. The length (two hours) is what is holding me back from saying kids might really love this: it's got action, kids are the main 'heroes', it's got magic, and while the animation is far from the Disney/Pixar style that most people are used to, this is more anime, with its angularity, like Pokémon, so kids will probably still enjoy it, and it's got humor as well. I watched this first, and then Isle of Dogs, and this was far better, in my opinion.


9/15/18 Isle of Dogs, not yet animated, 2018

I want my dollar back from the library. My first thought when I saw the trailers for Isle of Dogs, was nah, because I really didn't like The Fantastic Mr. Fox, but then maybe, because I like director, Wes Anderson's, live action movies. I should have gone with my first instinct, but I have a sneaking feeling that it's going to be nominated, so I might as well get it out of the way. It seemed to me that the movie is an excuse to get a lot of great actors together (Frances McDormand, Tilda Swinton, Edward Norton, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, and more), but I just didn't care, and about twenty minutes into it, I gave serious consideration to turn it off. It might have been a lot better and more palatable to me as a short.

Family friendly options: Happy Feet, Ratatouille and The Horse with the Flying Tail by Disney

5/25/18 Happy Feet, Best Animated Feature, 2006

In the early days of the Best Animated Feature Oscar, it was first awarded in 2001, there wasn't a lot of great competition, often the category only had three films. Happy Feet is a cute movie, with an ecological message that resonates even more today, but I didn't think it was the best animated film. Flushed Away, Open Season and Over the Hedge weren't even nominated. George Miller (Mad Max movies) directed Nicole Kidman (Norma Jean), Hugh Jackman (Memphis), Brittany Murphy (Gloria), Elijah Wood (Mumble) and Robin Williams in a variety of roles in this look at emperor penguins and their fellow inhabitants in Antarctica. Mumble is the offspring of Norma Jean and Memphis, and unlike his parents and fellow penguins, he can't sing, however, he can dance (actually, Savion Glover can dance as he provided the motion capture for Mumble). Unfortunately, his dancing makes him a bit of an outcast and takes him on a journey to meet leopard seals, skuas and other types of penguins, and also to discover that there were big machines out there destroying their home. Mumble is captured by humans and put in an aquarium when scientists think he is trying to tell them something, and they release him back to his family, but with a tracking device attached. And, unlike in the real world, the humans listened and stopped their drilling and digging and started to care about the environment.

5/26/18 The Horse with the Flying Tail, Best Documentary, 1960

Documentaries have come a long way since Disney's The Horse with the Flying Tail won in 1960, going up against only one other film, Rebel in Paradise about Paul Gaugin. Nautical, a Palomino, was a spirited horse who was a great jumper, when he wasn't being obstinate. The documentary traces his life as a ranch horse, then to various owners until he finally found an owner and trainer who could motivate him to be successful. He was part of the equestrian team that won the gold at the 1959 Pan Am Games. He had a habit of raising his tail when he would make a good jump. I don't know for sure, but I seriously doubt, that the film was shot in real time. How would they know that he would become a gold medal winner. I'm not sure it would hold up to today's documentaries but if you like horses, it was okay.

5/27/18 Ratatouille, Best Animated Feature, 2007

The first time around I wasn't really interested, I'm not even sure why I watched it, except it was pretty popular. This second time, over ten years later, I was interested and actually enjoyed it. Maybe I was thinking of my trip last year to Paris (no cooking rats, I'm afraid), or maybe I got over whatever was bugging me at the time. Brad Bird (The Incredibles) directed and Patton Oswalt voices Remy, a French rat who loves to cook and has a taste for the finer things, much to the dismay of his father (Brian Dennehy). Remy winds up in Paris, with the ghost of his inspiration, Chef August Gusteau (Brad Garrett), a welcome, if unexpected, presence. Garbage boy Alfredo Linguini (Lou Romano) and Remy team up, with Alfredo the hands and Remy the brains behind delicious and innovative cuisine. Linguini's success is more than a nuisance to Gusteau's right hand, Skinner (Ian Holm) who has plans for a line of frozen foods and other ways to capitalize on Gusteau's legacy. Linguini and Remy unintentionally foil Skinner's plans. There are several other actors who make appearances, Janeane Garofolo as Colette, one of the cooks and Linguini's love interest; Will Arnett as Horst the sous chef; and Peter O'Toole as the deliciously evil-intentioned food critic, Anton Ego. Sometimes movies do get better the second time around.

Catching up: Independence Day Master and Commander, Wallace and Gromit, The Incredibles

4/26/18 Independence Day, Best Visual Effects, 1996

I think I may start counting a movie as 'seen' if I fell asleep during it, that would move this list along a little faster; it certainly would have saved me two hours of watching Independence Day. Earth is being invaded by an alien species, blah blah. Bill Pullman is the young president, a former fighter pilot, who is leading an all-star cast in a seemingly hopeless endeavor. But if it was hopeless, it might have been a shorter movie. Will Smith is the lead pilot, and gives us a precursor to the smart alecky, but cool, agent in Men in Black; Judd Hirsch, Randy Quaid, Mary McDonnell, Jeff Goldblum, Robert Loggia and Viveca Fox also co-star. I know for some this was a huge summer blockbuster, but it dragged on, and was painful to watch. 

4/28/18 Master and Commander, Best Cinematography, Best Sound Editing, 2003

Master and Commander was one of the big Oscar-nominated films of 2003, with twelve nominations and two wins (this was the year of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the Rings). I saw it the first time on the big screen and you certainly get the feeling of being swept overboard with the incredible waves and the vast ocean. The movie is set during the Napoleonic Wars of the early 1800s, in the southern hemisphere, with the British ship HMS Surprise, captained by Jack Aubrey (Russell Crowe). Aubrey and his crew have been bested by the French ship Acheron, and Aubrey chases it like Ahab pursued Moby Dick. The story is taken from several of the books from Master and Commander book series, and I think there was talk about doing a sequel, but despite a dozen Oscar nominations, I don't recall the regular public clamoring for it. There is a lot of action and it is helpful to be somewhat familiar with the historical setting. It is certainly a primer for the very harsh life on board a fighting ship in the 1800s. I liked it, I didn't mind watching it a second time, and it's a good adventure/action movie.

4/28/18 Romeo and Juliet, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, 1968

I was inspired to re-watch Franco Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet after watching my friend's son in his high school production (he was Friar Laurence); it wasn't too bad. In the film, Leonard Whiting plays Romeo and Olivia Hussey is Juliet. Hopefully you are somewhat familiar with the play by William Shakespeare or perhaps some other film adaptation, so I won't recap it. This was Whiting's first film, and Hussey's third, so they were pretty unknown teenagers, and untested actors. The script is not verbatim, there are things that are missing (I noticed Friar Laurence was not as featured as he was in the play I had recently attended), but the spirit and energy are definitely there. The movie was filmed throughout Italy, and I think it's beautiful. I enjoyed Romeo and Juliet, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite play by Shakespeare or even my favorite film of a Shakespeare play (Laurence Olivier, who is the Chorus in this film, played King Lear in 1983 in a television production, which was incredible), but it's a good production of one of the most well-known of Shakespeare's plays.

4/29/18 Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were Rabbit, Best Animated Feature, 2005

I love Wallace and Gromit, and apparently, so do the Oscars, as Wallace and Gromit have been nominated five Oscars and winning three (two short films and one feature). Wallace is an eccentric inventor living in the north of England with his wise-beyond-his-species dog, Gromit, who is often responsible for rescuing Wallace. They both have a fondness for cheese and adventure (trips to space are not uncommon). In this glimpse into their lives, Wallace and Gromit operate a humane pest control business, trying to save their neighbors veg gardens. Wallace (voiced by English actor Peter Sallis) catches the eye of Lady Campanula Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter), but unfortunately he also pokes the ego of Lord Victor Quartermain (Ralph Fiennes who just chews up the scenery with his pomposity, meant in a good way). Ever the inventor, Wallace accidentally creates a Were Rabbit, which almost brings ruin to the town, and himself. Aside from the super fun animation, using the time intensive stop motion method, I always enjoy the smart word play and puns and visual treats provided by the Arman team.

5/3/18 The Incredibles, Best Animated Feature, Best Sound Editing, 2004

I suppose it's very timely that I re-watched The Incredibles so close to the release of The Incredibles 2; it's almost like I planned it. This is another movie that I actually saw in the theater when it was originally released. I enjoyed it, didn't love it. This was before the spate of super hero movies started coming out, and it was a new take on the whole idea of super heroes, making it a family affair. Written and directed by Brad Bird, who also voiced the fashion designer in the film, Edna Mode, and starring Craig T. Nelson as Mr. Incredible, Holly Hunter as Mr. Incredible's wife and hero in her own right, Elastigirl. They have three kids who also have powers: Violet (who is similar to Invisible Girl from The Fantastic Four) and Dash who is super fast, and Jack-Jack who has yet unidentified powers. Of course, there is a bad guy, Incredi-Boy/Syndrome (Jason Lee) who was ignored/treated badly by his hero, Mr. Incredible, and he comes back to teach the Supers, especially Mr. Incredible a lesson. I am getting a little ahead of myself: the Supers had to all go underground after the public sentiment turned against them (similar to what happened to Batman and The Avengers); so they had to take regular jobs. It may be safer, but it's boring, so Mr. Incredible and his friend, Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson, before he took on the eye patch of Nick Fury) take on bad guys secretly, their wives don't know and the 'agency' doesn't know. Back to Syndrome, who starts to wreak havoc, requiring the Incredibles, and later Frozone, to come out of retirement. The Incredibles is a fun movie, and at the time it was released, it was a fresh take on super heroes with the family element, and showing them to be all to human. The character of Edna Mode, dahling, is still one of my favorites (she kind of reminds me of Heddy from NICS: Los Angeles). It was pretty cool to have a black super hero (years before Fury, Falcon, Luke Cage or the Black Panther). I was pleased with the animation, and it looks like The Incredibles 2 is a very different style, but that's for another review, because I'm almost sure it will be nominated. 

Finally The Black Panther, a double dose of Ferdinand, and one very greedy man

4/7/18 Ferdinand, nominated Best Animated Feature, 2017
4/21/18 Ferdinand the Bull, Best Animated Short, 1938

I don't know if it's fair to put these two films that share a name and essentially a similar plot line but are separated by 80 years in the same review, but it sure is convenient. Both films are based on the book The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson and feature Ferdinand the flower loving bull. The 2017 film stars John Cena as Ferdinand and a cast of well known personalities as the supporting cast: Peyton Manning (yes, that Peyton Manning), Anthony Anderson, David Tennant and Kate McKinnon as the comfort goat (and who should had a short film all her own). Ferdinand is a lover, not a fighter, but through some unexpected and undesired consequences, Ferdinand finds himself getting ready for a very important bull fight. Kate McKinnon was really my favorite part of the whole movie, otherwise, I didn't find it very original or engaging, and certainly not worthy of an Oscar-nomination. Watch Coco or Kubo and the Two Strings or my favorite recommendation, The Boxtrolls. Ferdinand the Bull won the Oscar for Best Animated Short in 1938. It's much simpler, with one person, Don Wilson (announcer for "The Jack Benny Show"), narrating and doing the voices (there is actually very little dialogue). That might seem quaint given the star-studded voice casts these days, but it's similar to a parent reading to a child and doing all the voices. The short is only seven minutes plus, but it tells the story of Ferdinand without a lot of fluff and filler.

4/15/18 All the Money in the World, nominated Best Supporting Actor, 2017

I think what most people are going to remember about All the Money in the World is very last minute casting change, after the film was for the most part completed, with Christopher Plummer replacing Kevin Spacey as billionaire J. Paul Getty. The movie is about the abduction of Getty's grandson, Paul, by an organized crime ring, and just as notoriously, the senior Getty's reluctance to pay the ransom. Battling Getty for her son's life is Gail Harris (Michelle Williams); Harris divorced Pauls' father, but walked away from any potential settlement in order to retain custody of her children; her husband, Paul II, was a drug addict and an otherwise useless person in his younger days. Acting as a link between the two camps is Fletcher Chace (Mark Wahlberg), security advisor and other duties as assigned to Getty, Chace finds himself dubious of the kidnapping plot, but becomes convinced of the reality, and becomes an advocate for Gail. Charlie Plummer plays the unfortunate young Paul. Director Ridley Scott knows how to tell a tense tale, and even if you are familiar with the events of 1973, it's still a little shocking to hear Getty be so cold and calculating (literally) about why he shouldn't or wouldn't pay the ransom (it would inspire other kidnappings of his grandchildren or that he didn't have enough money - he was the richest man in the world at the time). I enjoyed the movie, but I didn't love it, and I can't quite put my finger on it, something was missing. As for Christopher Plummer as Best Supporting Actor, I'm not sure he was better than Sam Rockwell in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and I'm also not sure if he would have been nominated if not for the last minute substitution. Don't get me wrong, I love him, but I think it's a legitimate question.

4/16/18 The Black Panther, 2018

You know me, I love my super hero movies, but I was so burned out from Oscar season, it took me almost three months to get my ass to a theatre, even with regular nagging from my brother. I may be one of the last people on the planet to see The Black Panther. But, I finally did, and I loved it. The Black Panther is the final film before Avengers: Infinity Wars, which is promising to be the mother of all super hero films. Director and co-writer, Ryan Coogler (Fruitvale Station, Creed) brings the sense of fun that I like in my comic book movies, but also a strong sense of purpose and empowerment and history from a different perspective. Chadwick Boseman (who has portrayed real people - Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and Ernie Davis) is T'Challa, the Black Panther, newly crowned king of Wakanda. He inherits the throne after his father, T'Chaka is killed, and he defeats a challenger to the throne. The kingdom of Wakanda is built upon a stash of vibranium, the most powerful metal/element in the world, and it has helped to sustain and strengthen Wakanda, while keeping it isolated from the rest of the world, including its African neighbors. There are those who are trying to steal the vibranium, including Klaue (played by Andy Serkis, who looks like he really bulked up for this role, you may be more familiar with Serkis in his performance capture roles like Smeagle, Caesar or King Kong). Klaue hires a few mercenaries to help him, one of whom turns out to be T'Challa's cousin, N'Jadaka/Killmonger (Michael B. Jordan), who has his own agenda. These competing goals lead to some pretty intense and awesome battle scenes. The movie succeeds on so many levels for me: the action, the humor, the effects, the story and the cast. The cast was incredible with Angela Bassett as T'Challa's mother who is so regal; Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia, T'Challa's love interest, but also a strong, wily woman; Jordan taps into his evil side with pleasure; Boseman makes you think there could be a lot more Panther movies and you wouldn't mind a bit; Letitia Wright as T'Challa's sister, Shuri, who is the teenage equivalent of Q from James Bond - she has brains and crazy technical skills, but also an irrepressible spirit and sense of humor (there have been calls for Shuri to get her own action figure/be a new type of Disney princess); Daniel Kaluuya (straight from his Oscar-nominated performance in Get Out); and my personal favorite, Danai Gurira (from Grinnell, Iowa and graduate of St. Paul's Macalester College) as Okoye, the head of Wakanda's special forces who was fantastic - we need more female roles like Okoye. The story does not shy away from the theme of racial inequality, but also the empowerment and enlightenment of African Americans and minorities. Maybe it's an oversimplification on my part, but just like Wonder Woman gave little girls a glimpse of powerful and intelligent women who were more than capable of taking care of themselves and breaking stereotypes; I think The Black Panther has given that same glimpse to young African Americans - physical strength, but also technology that defies anything the so-called "first world" has come up with; and demonstrates the importance of science among girls and minorities. So far, the movie has earned over 1 billion dollars and something about convinced the Saudi Arabian government to make The Black Panther the first movie shown in public movie theaters since 1979. I could probably go on, but I just loved this movie and I'm really glad that I saw it on the big screen.

As a post-script: Rachel Morrison was the cinematographer - she was nominated for an Oscar for Mudbound, the first woman to receive that nomination. And, speaking of Oscars, I expect a few technical awards, let's see if it can get one of the other categories.

More nominations: The Square, Coco, Roman J. Israel, Esq.

2/22/18 The Square, nominated Best Foreign Film, 2017

That is two hours of my life that I will never get back. I really want to know who the people are who think this movie is the best Sweden had to offer this year. At first I thought maybe I'm going soft in the head and didn't get it; well, I didn't get it, but I think it's because it wasn't very good. When I think satire and movie, I always think of Brazil by Terry Gilliam (comedy and drama, satire, just like The Square). I wouldn't even put this in the same category. The Square uses the art world, art installations, performance art and some of the pompous pretentiousness (that seems to be one of my favorite words) that is found when 'those in the know' extol the virtues of certain types of art. So, I guess you could say that is juxtaposed with the arrogance of gallery director, Christian, who essentially threatens an entire apartment building because he thinks the thief who stole his wallet and phone lives there. There is some bizarre relationship with a journalist, Anne (American actress Elisabeth Moss) which I cannot explain or understand why it's in the movie. There is another scene of performance art involving an actor imitating a chimp and getting very violent with the guests at a dinner event; his violence incites violence form the guests. Was that the point? I actually think there may have been a good point (the impact of social media on society, can social media be art, etc.) I like to encourage people to check out foreign films, but I won't be recommending this at all. I probably won't get to see the other nominees until after the Oscars, so I really don't have any idea which one will win.

2/24/18 Coco, nominated Best Animated Feature, Best Original Song, 2017

I wasn't all that bothered whether I saw Coco or not; sadly, that's what happens when I get to the end of the list and have such a short amount of time before the Oscars. I kind of just get burned out. However, one of my movie companions kept mentioning it and that she would like to go with me if it worked out with our schedules. I'm really glad that it did work out; I had heard really good things from adult friends who saw the movie, and then my snark got the best of me. But, I am here to tell you that this was a really good animated film: a sweet, heartwarming story; good animation techniques (not as technically interesting as Loving, Vincent); funny bits that kids and adults laughed at (that is the benefit of being in a pretty crowded theater, you can hear others' reactions); and little bit of an introduction to Mexican culture and the Mexican holiday of Day of the Dead (before someone gets upset with me, it's just an introduction, but hopefully it will interest kids and their families, and I guess just adults, to learn more on their own about the holiday and its traditions). I will say, and again, someone will disagree with me, I didn't think the music was all that great, not like other Disney or Pixar films. Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) is a 12 year old boy who comes from a family with a history of hating music, but he's never really given a reason for this, and causes a little bit of hysteria when he reveals his love of music. Miguel has a close relationship with his great-grandmother, Coco, even though is very old and doesn't always remember his name. He wants to try out for a talent contest that will be held on the Day of the Dead when he has a confrontation with his grandmother. Something happens and Miguel is transferred 'over the bridge' to where the dead live, and he meets his great-great-grandmother, aunts, uncles, as well as a few other characters. His appearance as a human boy is as disconcerting to them as their appearances as skeletons is to him. Miguel wants to go back home, but he can only do that with the blessing of someone form his family; great-great-grandmother Imelda gives him the blessing, but it includes the condition that he will never play music again, a condition he cannot abide. He goes on a quest to find another member of his family, perhaps the famed singer, Ernesto de la Cruz (voiced by Benjamin Bratt who brings the same smarmy quality he has when playing Javier on Modern Family), whom Miguel believes to be his great-great-grandfather. Miguel befriends Hector (Gael Garcia Bernal) a lonely spirit who is fading from the memory of his family (when a spirit is no longer remembered, they disappear for good). The way the story unfolds is part of the charm, and if you haven't seen it, I do not want to ruin it because I think it was pretty clever. I have bemoaned the lack of family films, and rightly so I think, but Coco works on so many levels without getting sappy or preachy, and an adult can watch it and enjoy it as much as a kid. These days movies come and go so quickly, so when there is a movie with staying power (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Greatest Showman) like Coco which was released in November and up until recently was playing in chain theaters and is now at the 2nd run theater and was playing to a large number of people, I think that says a lot. It also says a lot when the audience applauds at the end, and to my surprise, this audience did, and loudly. My comment to my friend at the end was also kind of a question: how in the world is Boss Baby even considered on the same level as Coco or Loving, Vincent? I still have yet to see Ferdinand or The Breadwinner.

2/24/18 Roman J. Israel, Esq., nominated Best Actor, 2017

I wasn't exactly sure what Roman J. Israel, Esq., starring Denzel Washington, was about; I guess I made some assumptions based on the trailers, but they were all wrong. Or mostly. Tony Gilroy wrote and directed the film, and his last writer/director film, Nightcrawler was nominated for Best Original Screenplay, was a really well done piece of suspense and creepiness, and there was definitely some suspense (I was happy to not have the creepy aspect). Israel is an attorney, very happy in his current role writing briefs, doing legal research, etc., and not actually dealing with clients. That duty falls to his partner (actually, that may be more in Israel's mind than reality) and mentor, William Jackson, whom we never meet, but who becomes incapacitated and leads to the dissolution of the firm. Jackson made provisions for another attorney, George Pierce (Colin Farrell) to step in and give Israel a job opportunity. Israel has difficulty relating to other people; one could speculate he is on the autism/Asperger spectrum; he does acknowledge his social challenges. In his desire to get back to his roots, using the law for social change, he has an awkward encounter with some younger people who don't appreciate his 'old fashioned' ideas and it doesn't end well. However, he does being a friendship with Maya (Carmen Ejogo), a community organizer.  Meanwhile, Israel is having a tough time fitting in at Pierce's firm; challenged by the drive for billable hours and not practicing the law for the good it can do. Israel is given the opportunity to handle a case where the defendant is accused of killing a store clerk in a hold up. He says he didn't do it, but was there, and can tell Israel who and where the person is hiding. Israel makes a choice that will have impacts on the rest of his life, and that appear to change who he is as a person. He loses a bit of his optimism, his belief in the good of the system, to be dramatic - he loses a bit of his soul (much like Jake Gylenhaal and Rene Russo's characters in Nightcrawler). I liked that character study, and Washington is so damn good; you kind of believe that he is socially awkward. I thought the story was intriguing and not without possibility in the real world, but thought the end was kind of too neat. I would be surprised if Washington won for Best Actor because of the other nominees; Daniel Day-Lewis (whom I have yet to see in Phantom Thread, but who has won three Oscars for his five nominations) and Gary Oldman are probably the front runners. Who knows? That's the fun of watching. Out now on DVD.