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

Surprising myself by enjoying A Quiet Place and Buster Scruggs

2/1/19 A Quiet Place, nominated Best Sound Editing, 2018

A Quiet Place is normally the type of movie I won't even consider watching, I run the other direction (kind of like last year's surprise Get Out) until it appears on one of my blasted lists. And like with Get Out, I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I was irritated with myself for not watching it sooner. I am often bemoaning the lack of originality based on the number of remakes/reboots, but not here. Lee Abbott (John Krasinski who also directed and co-wrote the screenplay) is trying to protect his family, wife Evelyn (played by real life wife Emily Blunt), his children Regan, Marcus and Beau from aliens who have invaded Earth. The aliens are blind, but man, can they hear. This forces the family to rely on American Sign Language, which they have learned anyway because Regan is deaf. The actors (and it's a very small cast) work very well together, and kudos to Krasinksi for hiring a hearing-impaired actress (Millicent Simmonds) as Regan; there's an authenticity there, and then learning that the cast learned sign language impressed me more. I think the movie works so well because of the silence and the attempts to be silent, and not knowing what sound may reach the aliens. It is a perfect suspense film, because even when you think you know what's going to happen, you're still on edge; but often, you don't know what's going to happen. It's taut and tense, and while it uses special effects, it uses them sparingly; Krasinski relies on the actors more than effects, and I really appreciated it. I liked that the ending wasn't cookie cutter or sicky sweet, but I really want to know what happens (no spoilers here). I am surprised that it didn't get more nominations, visual effects, original screenplay or film editing; the sound editing nomination seems a little ironic. If you haven't seen it and didn't want to because of the aliens or because you're a scaredy cat like me, I would say give it a chance.

2/2/19 Solo: A Star Wars Story, nominated Best Visual Effects, 2018

Eh. I could have lived my whole life without seeing Solo: A Star Wars Story and been perfectly content. As it is, I have watched it and do not feel one iota different. I wasn't entertained (that's usually the easiest compliment I can give a movie is that it entertained me for a couple of hours). As you might guess, this is a movie that focuses on Han Solo and his adventures before he met Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia; we learn how Solo met Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian. There were some witty lines, but honestly, I'm not even sure it should have been nominated for Best Visual Effects, except, I think there's an unwritten Academy rule that if there is a Star Wars movie out, it has to be nominated for something.

2/2/19 The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, nominated Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design, Best Original Song, 2018

It's always a crapshoot whether I'll like a Coen Brothers movie; I always want to, but it doesn't always happen; or, I'll like parts of the movie and roll my eyes for the rest. I surprised myself (I know, twice in one entry) but I loved it. Absolutely loved it. For one thing, it wasn't just one long movie, it was a series of short films, all with a Western theme and a macabre twist, kind of like if Edgar Allan Poe had been on the Oregon Trail; and all of the films were self-contained, so they didn't get too bogged down or go down one of those infamous rabbit holes. There are six vignettes, starring in no particular order: Tyne Daley, Tim Blake Nelson, James Franco, Stephen Root, Liam Neeson, Tom Waits and Brendan Gleeson. The film takes stories from the Old West with which we are all familiar: a gunslinger who can't be beaten, a bank robber/cattle rustler headed for a hanging, a gold miner, a family heading West looking for a new life; and they are given macabre twists. I don't want to give too much away because part of the fun was watching the stories unfold. The cinematography is spectacular; the color of the early morning and early evening is breathtaking. I was surprised it wasn't nominated in that category.

2/3/19 First Reformed, nominated Best Original Screenplay, 2018

An Ethan Hawke film I didn't hate. I didn't love it, but I thought Paul Schrader's film First Reformed raised some interesting points about faith, religion and man's responsibility to the world in which we live, and the difficulties in reconciling these things. Ernst Toller (Hawke) is the reverend at First Reformed Church in Snowbridge, New York, which is notable for being on the Underground Railroad and for being 250 years, but not much else. Toller is trying to cope with a crisis of faith after losing his son, Joseph, in the Iraq War, after encouraging him to follow the family tradition and serve in the military. Even as he is struggling to overcome his self-doubt, he meets a young parishioner, Mary (Amanda Seyfried) who seems to have faith enough for them both, but unfortunately, not enough for her husband, Michael, who has become a radical environmentalist, and does not want to bring their unborn child into this world. Schrader poses the question, through Toller, doesn't God want us to take care of the planet and treat its resources with respect and honor? How can people ( and there is a specific character in the movie to whom this is directed) who claim to be religious and praise God, destroy the planet with chemicals and over harvesting? Toller doesn't get a satisfactory answer to this, but seems more convinced that Michael was right. The movie takes a stranger and otherworldly turn at the end, which I guess I get, but I think endings like this make me shake my head and it's hard to take it seriously. I think this would make a good play (except for the ending) because it doesn't require a huge cast, you would need maybe three sets, there aren't any special effects, and it's good play material, lots of dialog, opportunities for the lead character to have a couple of soliloquys. Something to think about. I think it's worth seeing, but you can definitely watch it on the television.

As of this writing I have 34 movies left to see, ten which will be knocked off tomorrow after my annual trek to see the animated and live action shorts in Uptown. Stay warm.

Movie watching in a winter wonderland The Mule, Ready Player One, First Man

1/12/19 The Mule, 2019

The Mule was not originally on my 'must see in the theater' radar, but a friend was in town and we were hanging out at the Mall of America, and this fell into our time window. I had heard good things from someone at work, so why not. It's based on the true story of a senior citizen, Earl Stone (Clint Eastwood who also directed), who takes up driving mysterious packages across the country to earn money. Turns out the packages contain illegal substances and his employers are members of the Mexican drug cartel. Earl has a way with people, except his family, and that helps him negotiate the learning curve of working for people who would just as soon kill you as pay you. I liked watching Earl's relationship with one 'team' of drug dealers, asking about their families, having one of the young kids teach him how to text and use a smartphone, etc. I was less thrilled with the repetition of the drives; there are subtitles that indicate that this is the fourth trip, the fifth trip, etc. etc. and I think we hit 10 trips, and I was ready to go. There is a fractured relationship between Earl and his daughter (played by his real life daughter, Alison Eastwood) that doesn't get completely healed until the end (and maybe not even then). Bradley Cooper is a DEA agent on the trail of this new 'mule'; Dianne Wiest is Earl's ex-wife, who has remained friendly, if not a little wistful because their marriage ended. It's a good movie for movie night, maybe on a night where it's -27 degrees. Just saying.

1/19/19 My Darling Clementine, 1946, National Film Registry

The only prior knowledge I had of My Darling Clementine was the episode of "M*A*S*H" where they keep trying to show the movie and the film keeps breaking. It's one of my favorite episodes. It happened to be showing on a random movie channel one weekend and I started watching, then I saw it was on my list. John Ford directed Henry Fonda (Wyatt Earp), Victor Mature (Doc Holliday) and Walter Brennan (Newman Haynes Clanton) in this Western that re-tells the story of the gunfight at the O.K. Corral (with a great deal of historical liberties). Wyatt and his brothers are moving cattle when they meet up with the Clanton family who offer to buy the cattle. The Earps aren't interested, but the Clantons don't take no for an answer. Wyatt is a laconic man, letting his actions speak for him, which sometimes means shooting people. He is restrained and somber, letting his emotions show through when he's fighting for his family or showing kindness to Clementine Carter, Doc Holliday's former amour. I am no expert on Westerns, even though I have watched more than my fair share because of the lists, but I do know what I like and don't like, and I liked and enjoyed this movie. I was glad to finally see the film in it's entirety.

1/26/19 First Man, nominated Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Production Design, Best Visual Effects, 2019

First Man is about Neil Armstrong and his role in America's space program, which was in its infancy. The movie is directed by Damien Chazelle (La La Land) and stars Ryan Gosling (also recently of La La Land) as Armstrong. While the story is mainly about the space program and Armstrong's efforts to be part of a successful launch and landing on the moon, it also provides a look into Armstrong's personal life, including the death of his daughter in his early days as a test pilot. Her death haunts him, and makes him distant from his wife, his children and his fellow pilots. I think the history of the space program and the space race with the USSR is fascinating and amazing, and I think that Chazelle et al show us a glimpse of the dangers and risks, as well as the personal costs of this new field. It's nominated for Best Production Design and Best Visual Effects, and they are very well done. Out of the nominated films I have seen, I do they are better than most of the other movies, except perhaps Avengers: Infinity War.

1/26/19 Ready Player One, nominated Best Visual Effects, 2019

I don't even know what to say about this movie. A friend of mine read the book and thought the movie was terrible and not true to the book at all. I have no other frame of reference. It's a movie about gaming in a virtual reality. I thought the acting was mediocre, especially from Academy Award winner Mark Rylance (although something I read somewhere made it sound like he was acting this way on purpose). The movie was directed by Steven Spielberg. I mean, since I had to watch it because it was on the list, I had higher expectations. But, I really didn't care. I stopped paying attention, I couldn't pay attention, it was just so bad. I didn't think its visual effects were that great or original or eye catching. Maybe I have a bad attitude. The good thing is it was free from the library.

"Notorious" RBG, The ORIGINAL Planet of the Apes and Paul Newman as The Hustler

6/7/18 RBG, 2018, not yet nominated

"Notorious RBG", as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is fondly known, as become a celebrity in certain liberal circles, which is not exactly what she had in mind when she embarked on her journey through law school in the 1950s. I'm fairly certain that she didn't think there would be a hugely successfully Kickstarter campaign to create and sell an action figure of her. The documentary goes back and forth between current day and the past, including home movies, interviews with childhood friend and law school classmates, her children and grandchildren, and interviews with Justice Ginsburg. She may remind you of your own grandmother (she reminds me of my mom's 94 year old neighbor; they're about the same height), and she can be grandmotherly, but she can also be sharp with her wit and words when it comes to her interpretation of the Constitution and views on social equality. The documentary provides a primer on the Supreme Court, the politics involved (it's worse now, though), it's history and the evolution of law in the United States. I watched it with my brother, who is much younger than I am, and he didn't know that Joe Biden was a U.S. Senator (there are news clips of RBG's confirmation hearing, and Biden was Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee), or some of the other scads of information the movie presents. He liked it (a lot more than he thought he would when I dragged him to it). During the documentary, the producer or director shows her clips of Kate McKinnon's imitation, and she laughed and thought it was pretty good. You certainly get a multi-dimensional look into RBG's personality, which left me with a great appreciation and respect for her service to our country.

6/9/18 The Hustler, Best Art Direction - Set Direction, Black and White, Best Cinematography, Black and White, National Film Registry, 1961

The first time I saw The Hustler I fell asleep; I'm sure I was just exhausted. I did make it through the second time, and I thought it was okay, but not great. I know if my cousin is reading this he saying something like, "Okay? Tracer, what the hell is wrong with you? Newman was great, sublime, and George C. Scott was villainous without raising his voice (or something)". I'm sure this isn't the last time I'll disappoint him. Paul Newman was nominated for Best Actor in his role as "Fast" Eddie Felson (he won the Oscar 25 years later as Eddie in The Color of Money); Newman lost to Maximillian Schell for his role in Judgment at Nuremberg. Eddie Felson is a pool hustler; he and his manager go around to different cities looking to set up some good hustles, and looking for the big score. He eventually goes up against the best, Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleason), and after over twenty hours of pool, loses it all. Eddie parts ways with his long time manager, Charlie, and picks up with Bert Gordon (George C. Scott), a professional gambler and Eddie's 'sponsor'. It's an antagonistic relationship from the start; Gordon thinks that Felson is a born loser, but he's still willing to front him money for a rematch against Minnesota Fats. Felson also starts seeing Sarah (Piper Laurie), an unhappy alcoholic with no visible means of support, who has an intense dislike and distrust of Gordon. Newman and Scott seem so effortless in their roles; Laurie is a bit much, but I think that's how a lot of female roles were written and acted - just over the top melodrama. Sarah does have one of the pivotal scenes in the film, it reveals Eddie as a person with feelings, because up to that point, he was extremely self-centered; after that, he's a little less so. I guess I did not get the deeper meaning that was apparently intended, I enjoyed Newman's performance, but would I say you have to see this movie? Sorry, but I would not. I'm sure I'm going to movie hell.

6/10/18 Planet of the Apes, Honorary Oscar for Achievement in Makeup, National Film Registry, 1968

A classic, that's what Planet of the Apes is, a classic. We may look back fifty years and think the make up and the special effects were naïve and basic, but back then, the make up was definitely groundbreaking, and the whole concept of this other world, which turns out to be our world, just a few thousand years in the future, was mind blowing. Charlton Heston as George Taylor, lands on an unknown planet with his two surviving fellow time-travelling astronauts. As they explore this new world, they eventually find other human-like beings, and are surprised to find gorillas on horseback. This is their introduction to the Planet of the Apes. Taylor is imprisoned where he is examined by Zira (Kim Hunter), and he tries to communicate, which the apes and gorillas find amusing. Taylor is very combative, and when he is grabbed by one of the gorillas, he utters one of the most famous lines in filmdom, "Take your stinking paws off me, you damn dirty ape."  Taylor convinces Zira and her fiancé, Cornelius (Roddy McDowell), an archeologist, that he is an intelligent being and that he might have information about the past. They run up against the leaders of the community, including Dr. Zaius (Maurice Evans), who want to castrate him and definitely do not want to hear his story. Taylor soon figures out that he may actually be on Earth. In addition to a unique storyline and innovative make up, I always felt (even as a younger person) the undercurrent of social commentary. I would have to say that this is one of my favorite movies from growing up.

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. 

An endurance test Visual Effects nominees - Blade Runner 2049 and Star Wars: The Last Jedi

2/16/18 Blade Runner 2049, nominated Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects, 2017

I thought about taking one of my dumbbells and dropping it on my foot. Just to make something hurt more than my head from watching this pretentious piece of shit. The best thing I can say is that at least it's not nominated for best screenplay or best acting. This is so pretentious. I actually stopped paying attention after an hour (that may be generous); lucky for me, there was another hour and forty-five minutes to go, because director Denis Villeneuve does not believe in editing. I thought the same thing about Sicario and Arrival. If these weren't 'on the list', then I never would have watched any of them, and sadly, they weren't the little surprises I sometimes get when watching an unexpected film. Anyway, I have no desire to try and give you a synopsis of the film, because I don't care and it's so ridiculous, I couldn't if I wanted to. All I can say is, thank goodness for my free rental from Redbox.

2/18/18 Star Wars: The Last Jedi, nominated Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects, 2017

First: this movie has been out since December 15, and it was pretty much sold out at a major, first run theater. That's over two months. I was hoping the theatre would be empty, but alas, not only was it not empty, I sat next to a woman who was pretty much ready to set up camp in her seat, and then used her GD phone with about 30 minutes left in the movie. I finally said, "Seriously, can you turn it off?" "In a minute." WTF? Human beings survived without mobile phones, hell, regular phones, for millennia, you honestly can't wait? And, I'm pretty sure she wasn't a brain surgeon or any other kind of life saving career person. Just a guess. Okay, I'm good now.

Second: I may have mentioned this before, I have seen all of the Star Wars movies, some even multiple times, but by no stretch of George Lucas' imagination, am I a Star Wars expert. The things that send rabid fans into a frenzy general escape me, and I still sleep really well at night. So, whatever it was that set off fans two months ago, I don't have a clue; what I do know is the movie was really long, too long.

Here in this installment of what Wikipedia describes as an "epic space opera", Rey (Daisy Ridley) meets Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) on an isolated island where Luke used to train Jedis. Meanwhile, the rebellion is under a lot of stress and not doing very well, as hotheaded Poe (Oscar Isaac) leads rebel forces to destroy a dreadnought, but ultimately loses a significant number of fighters. General Leia (Carrie Fisher) is trying to lead the Resistance fighters to safety, but the lead ship (which she is on) suffers a devastating hit, that puts her in sick bay. On the First Order side (the baddies) Kylo Ren/Ben Solo (Adam Driver) is wrestling with the angel and devil on his shoulder as he is still under the control of Supreme Leader Snoke (Andy Serkis). Back with the Resistance, Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (a new character, played by Kelly Marie Tran), are off on a mission to find a code to do something that will save the universe, but in an effort to make the movie longer, it doesn't work. I don't know, trying to give you a synopsis of this is crazy. What I did enjoy, and wish director/writer Rian Johnson would have spent more time on, was Luke's relationship with Rey, more Jedi training. I have heard so many mixed things about the movie, which clearly has not deterred anyone from seeing it, that I kept waiting for something that was going to really annoy me, and it didn't happen. My expectation for any Star Wars movie is good action, great effects, a little bit of comedy, a diverse cast: black, white, Asian, alien, male, female, and a stirring score by John Williams. Notice, I didn't mention a great, deep story line. I certainly enjoyed this a lot more than Blade Runner 2049. It was a little sad to know that Carrie Fisher wouldn't be in anymore films (unless it's from repurposed footage). Sorry for the less than detailed review, but if you're a fan, you've already seen it and would probably tell me all of the things I got wrong or missed, and if you're not, then you most likely don't care, and have already stopped reading.

Nominated films: The Shape of Water, Wonder, Loving Vincent

I am so behind. Ahhhhhhh!

1/27/18 The Shape of Water, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Costumer Design, Best Film Editing, 2017

I got a hand cramp from typing out the list of nominations for The Shape of Water, and I'll probably be typing a lot on Oscar night. Guillermo del Toro directed this unlikely love story set in Baltimore in the early 1960s at the height of the Cold War. Sally Hawkins stars as Elisa, a mute janitor at a government facility; her best friend and co-worker, Zelda (Octavia Spencer) interprets for her at work. Elisa lives in a small apartment above a movie theater, and her neighbor, Giles (Richard Jenkins) is an ad agency artist who seems to have had some troubles at work, so he is home a lot, and watches a lot of old movies. He also has an unrequited crush on the guy at the pie shop. Anyway, back to the secret laboratory, Colonel Strickland (Michael Shannon) brings in a mysterious creature under tight security, and places the creature under the observation of Dr. Hoffstettler (Michael Stuhlbarg); the two men have competing interests (seemingly), Hoffstettler for scientific purposes, and Strickland for intelligence or secret weapon purposes. Elisa and Zelda happen to witness some odd things, and this brings them closer to Strickland than any normal human would want to be, but it brings Elisa closer to the creature as well. The creature reminded me of Abe from Hellboy (also a del Toro film) and was played by the same actor that played Abe, Doug Jones. Elisa forms a bond with the creature, using sign language to communicate, and eventually hatches a plan to free him from the sadistic Strickland, which involves a Zelda and Giles, and begins a cautious alliance with Hoffstettler. Elisa keeps the creature in her apartment, in the tub, but that's really not where it should be, so she plans a time to release it back into the water. Unfortunately, it's not that easy as Strickland is hot on their heels. Hoffstettler has some secrets of his own, like his Soviet identity and spy activity (this isn't a spoiler). The rest I will leave up to you to see for yourself. I hope you do; I know del Toro isn't for everyone, and fantasy/science fiction is not everyone's cup of tea, but I really enjoyed The Shape of Water on so many levels: the cast is terrific - Hawkins conveys emotions without a word (except for a brief sound/utterance), using her hands and her facial expressions, I have seen her in a few movies and really enjoy her work; Spencer is, well, Octavia Spencer, she delivers wisdom, smart assery and toughness, and acts with Hawkins, which I would imagine can be difficult without lines to react to; you've seen Richard Jenkins, and you're scratching your head to remember where, but he is wonderful as a frustrated artist and gay man in the 1960s before it was accepted, as well as acting with Hawkins in the same way that Spencer does, basically talking to himself. Stuhlbarg and Shannon are two of the busiest guys in film, you can find them in at least three or four movies a year (maybe more, this isn't very scientific); playing all different kinds of characters. It's gorgeously filmed, the sets are fabulous. I do expect it to win several awards. I will say, as a warning, that there are parts that seem gratuitously gory, but it's done in a funny way (if that makes sense). It wasn't necessary, and I did cringe, but I got over it. 

1/30/18 Wonder, nominated Best Makeup and Hairstyling, 2017

I have not been impressed by most of the nominated films this year. I'm not sure why that is, per haps the Grinch has taken up residence in my dark soul (that is probably a bit melodramatic, but it's how I feel). So when I come across a movie that either I had no expectations (as in I wasn't too pressed to see it) or had lower expectations and then I'm blown away, I love it. That's how I felt about The Greatest Showman, and how I feel about Wonder starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay (who stole my heart in Room). I thought it would be cute, a feel good movie, you know, okay. But something hit me as I watched it, on a Tuesday night for gosh sakes, and I couldn't wait to tell people about it the next day. Tremblay is Auggie Pullman, a young middle schooler who was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome a genetic disorder that presents in facial deformities, possible seeing and hearing problems, but it does not necessarily mean intellectual limitations, as Auggie shows everyone. He's been homeschooled by his mom (Julia Roberts), but she and his father (Owen Wilson) think it would be best for Auggie to attend Beecher Prep. Going to a new school, under almost any circumstances, can be stressful and scary, so the principal, Mr. Tushman (Mandy Patinkin) arranges for three students to meet with Auggie and take him around the school. This has mixed results as we shall see. Auggie has an older sister, Via, who acknowledges that she is second fiddle to Auggie's needs, and sometimes she understands, and other times, she gets resentful. In fact, one thing that I liked about the movie is that showed both sides to a couple of the different relationships, which I thought was a nice reminder that even though we know what's going on in our mind/world, we don't always know what the other person is thinking or feeling, and perhaps we should be a little more understanding. This is a great movie for parents to bring their kids, especially in this day of heightened awareness of bullying and recognizing our differences, but also our similarities. Someone asked me if the movie was sad, and I said there are moments where you might feel sad, but overall, it's incredibly uplifting, but also pretty realistic, and not in a corny way. I don't think there are enough family movies, but this is one for you. Tremblay is buried under the makeup (which is very good), but he makes Auggie's personality, with all of his early adolescent flaws, come through. The rest of the cast is also terrific. So glad this was on the list.

2/3/18 Loving Vincent, nominated Best Animated Feature, 2017

Van Gogh, Rijksmuseum

If you like animated films and different styles of animation, this film is definitely for you. Loving Vincent is nominated for Best Animated Feature, and I'm afraid it will get overlooked by Coco (which I have yet to see). It is the first fully hand painted feature film, not computer generated or hand drawn, but hand painted, and if there was no dialog, just the beautiful scenes interpreting or presenting Vincent Van Gogh's paintings, it would still be amazing. There is a story, and it is about Joseph Roulin, a friend of Van Gogh's and a postman, trying to get one last letter of Vincent's to his brother, Theo. Roulin hands the task to his seemingly rudderless son, Armand, who really doesn't want to do it. Armand takes the letter and retraces Van Gogh's last days, meeting with people from Vincent's life (and who feature in his paintings). Armand starts his journey reluctantly, but he slowly becomes more and more interested in Vincent and the circumstances surrounding his death. This is a category that I usually disagree with the nominees and the ultimate winner; to me, the animation (quality, technique) is as important as the subject/narrative, etc., and in my opinion, that's not always the case. If you're an art lover, you should check out this film.

A little underwhelmed with these nominees: War for the Planet of the Apes, Kong, I, Tonya, Molly's Game

1/27/18 War for the Planet of the Apes and
Kong: Skull Island, nominated Best Visual Effects, 2017

There's really not a whole lot of reviewing that is needed here, in my opinion. I barely watched Kong: Skull Island, it's not like there was a complicated plot. It's probably more notable for the cast which included Tom Hiddleston, a special services kind, with tracking skills (I didn't buy it); Brie Larson as a photographer; Samuel L. Jackson as a Lieutenant Colonel; John Goodman and John C. Reilly. They're rebooting the "Monster Franchise", and that's fine, but get rid of the humans and let the monsters play. War for the Planet of the Apes has a little more substance, a stronger story, and neatly ties up this most recent trilogy of the world of apes. The apes are battling a group of humans, some of the apes have gone to the human side. Caesar (Andy Serkis) is trying to lead his clan of apes to safety, but of course, it's not that straightforward. One of his confidantes betrays them and goes to the humans, and the apes are ambushed. Woody Harrelson is the primary human in the movie as the Colonel. He's ruthless in his desire to wipe out the apes. There's a bit of a twist when Caesar's adviser, Maurice, finds a mute human child and takes her so he can care for her and protect her, much against Caesar's wishes. My favorite character (well, I liked him a lot) is Steve Zahn's "Bad Ape"; Bad Ape was in a lab where humans did experiments; he can speak and he brings a little light heartedness to a pretty dark film (which could go either way, but I appreciated it). If you have to pick, I would go for War for the Planet of the Apes; if you have a free Redbox night, maybe go for Kong: Skull Island, if you've seen everything else.

1/28/18 I, Tonya, nominated for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing, 2017 

As I sat watching I, Tonya on Sunday, one repeating thought was "did this movie need to be made?" and the answer that kept coming back was, no, not really. Strangely (it may seem), that didn't take away from the fabulous performances by Margot Robbie as Tonya Harding or Allison Janney as her abusive mother, LaVona Golding, but my life would have been fine without seeing this "based on real life and events, but maybe not totally" film. If you don't know or don't remember, Tonya Harding gained her infamy after her chief skating rival, Nancy Kerrigan, was attacked prior to the 1994 Olympics. Harding wasn't part of the actual attack, but her husband, Jeff Gillooly (or was he her ex-husband, I lost track) and her 'bodyguard' conspired to hire two knuckle draggers to do it; the movie indicates that Harding and husband only meant for threatening letters to be sent to Kerrigan. Let me back up a bit; the movie starts out with Tonya, at 4 years old, getting figure skating lessons, and winning competitions at an early age. This is in spite of (her mother would claim because of) her mother's habit of berating, humiliating and hitting Tonya. There is a bit of humor as Janney delivers her lines with a straight face, even as the audience knows she's twisted and as her bird bites at her ear. Both Janney and Robbie are transformed by make up and hair, making them almost unrecognizable. Gillooly is played by Sebastian Stan (Winter Soldier), and he is also unrecognizable. He plays Gillooly as an idiot and a brute, and there's little sympathy, or empathy, coming his way. There is no doubt that Tonya Harding had a helluva life, and overcame incredible odds, and lost it all because of the people around her, and probably decisions she made, but Robbie/Harding says frequently to the camera "it's not my fault", and that seems Harding's way of absolving herself of any responsibility. Janney could pull of a win, I think Robbie is going to have a tougher go of it going up against Frances McDormand, Saorise Ronan and Sally Hawkins. I don't think you're missing anything if you wait for home video or skip it.

1/28/18 Molly's Game, nominated Best Adapted Screenplay, 2017

I might have ruined this for myself by reading Molly Bloom's book before seeing the movie. It's not that there's a ton of suspense, but I kept comparing what I read to what was appearing on the screen, and some of the movie came after the book ends. It is based on a true story; Molly Bloom (Jessica Chastain) finds herself running what runs into one of the biggest underground poker games in Los Angeles, and then in New York City. All seems to be going well until certain events trigger interest from the federal authorities. Molly hires Charlie Jaffrey (Idris Elba) to be her lawyer, even though she doesn't have any money, and she's reluctant to part with certain information. Aaron Sorkin (Newsroom, The West Wing) wrote the screenplay and directed, and as much as I loved some of his other work, I was sadly underwhelmed. Perhaps I shouldn't have had such high expectations. Not only was I comparing Molly's Games to the book, I was also comparing it to Miss Sloane, which also starred Jessica Chastaine as a woman who frequently outsmarts the people around her, and which I loved so much more than this. It's good, not necessary to see on the big screen, but it's worth the Redbox rental.

The Wolfman, The Breakfast Club and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

11/18/17 The Wolfman, Best Makeup, 2010

When I see a movie classified as 'horror', my first inclination is to go the other way, and push it to the end of the queue. But something made me request both The Wolfman and Night of the Living Dead at the same time. I'm a little ashamed to say that I returned Night of the Living Dead unwatched. I just couldn't do it (if you're curious, it's on the BBC list and the National Film Registry). However, I bravely watched The Wolfman, and it really wasn't terrible; a little suspenseful and scary, but nothing that gave me nightmares. It is set in the 1890s, in England, in a part where the sun never shines and the fog lies heavy on the moors, and where Anthony Hopkins is lord of the manor as Sir John Talbot, father to Benicio del Toro's Lawrence Talbot. Lawrence is an actor and has been estranged from his family for a long time, until Lawrence's brother, Ben, is mysteriously murdered in the woods.  It gets a little awkward when we learn that Sir John is also a werewolf, and he bites Lawrence, thereby turning him into a werewolf. It's really the gift that keeps on giving. The movie was fine; nothing terrific, the acting was a little melodramatic, but the scenery and the cinematography was beautiful. As far as winning for Best Makeup, I think it was kind of a no-brainer, the other two nominees being The Way Back and Barney's Version, which were more straight dramas, not a lot of effects or dramatic makeup.

11/18/17 The Breakfast Club, 1985, National Film Registry

I watched The Breakfast Club years ago, but not when it came out in the theaters, when I would have been the target age, and it didn't have a huge impact on me. It was added to the National Film Registry last year, and I figured I should give it a fresh viewing. In case you have not seen it, the movie tells the story of "a brain (Anthony Michael Hall), an athlete (Emilio Estevez), a princess (Molly Ringwald), a basket case (Ally Sheedy) and a criminal (Judd Nelson)", essentially stereotypes found in high school (and potentially real life). It was directed by one of the hottest directors of the 1980s, John Hughes (Sixteen Candles, Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Weird Science among a few of his creative efforts), who seemed to have a hold on the teen demographic at the time. Five students are required to attend Saturday detention at school, and as ordered by the Assistant Vice Principal Vernon, they are to sit in silence and write an essay on who they think they are. Of course, this does not happen, and Saturday frequent flyer, Bender (Nelson), engages his fellow captives by cajoling, teasing and harassing them. The quintet get to know each other, challenging the others' preconceptions of them, poking at their frailties and insecurities. The movie is a definite reflection of 1985 with the soundtrack featuring the sounds of the 80s, especially in the anthemic: "Don't You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds, the clothes and the vernacular; however, it is also timeless. Teen alienation is nothing new, being shown in films like Blackboard Jungle (including the iconic "Rock around the clock") and West Side Story. High school can be a rough place, with kids not getting each other an certainly not understanding or being understood by the adults in their lives. I liked, and appreciated, the movie a lot more in my golden years.

11/19/17 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Best Film Editing, 2011

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo was originally a book written by Stieg Larsson, the first of a trilogy, then the first in a Swedish film trilogy, starring Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander. The English version stars Rooney Mara as Salander and Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist, among an all-star cast that includes Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgard, Robin Wright and Joely Richardson. Salander is an anti-social computer whiz, specializing in security/background checks, who is asked to dig into the background of disgraced journalist Blomkvist. The movie follows two paths, Blomkvist's and Salander's until they converge. Blomkvist has been invited to the estate of Henrik Vanger (Plummer) to solve the mystery of his niece, Harriet, over 40 years earlier. Every family has its secrets, and Vanger's is no different, and not everyone is thrilled to have Blomkvist going back through the family's history. As Mikael learns more about the Vangers, Lisbeth is waging her own battle against her new guardian/trustee, who exchanges her trust money for sex. Lisbeth is not passive and plays the long game against the man who uses his power to humiliate and hurt her. Those scenes are brutally described in the book, and they are pretty hard to watch in the movie. Eventually, Salander and Blomkvist connect and she helps him with his research. Director David Fincher sets a fast and suspenseful pace, and the Oscar-winning editing helps that happen. The score was done by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (both winning the Oscar for Best Original Score for The Social Network), and it's pretty powerful, including a version of Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" which was really fantastic. The cinematography suited the mood of the film, dark and gray up at the Vanger family home, and pretty dark everywhere else. I wasn't sure how Rooney Mara would be as Salander, especially since I read the book, I had my own idea of what she looked like, and I thought Noomi Rapace was incredible in that role. But, I didn't need to worry about that at all; Rooney Mara disappeared behind the dark makeup, punk, homemade haircut, piercings and tattoos. And attitude. She took ownership of that role, and I would have liked to see if she could have continued it in the following books, but it doesn't seem like that will happen (at least not with her or Craig). I was surprised the movie didn't do better, but it's dark and heavy and maybe not everyone's cup of tea.

A hodge podge of movies: Hellboy, Queen of Katwe, The Eagle Huntress

It seemed like a good idea to watch movies and then wait a month or so to write the review...maybe 'good idea' is not the term I'm using now. Obviously, I am not going to go back and watch the 'older' movies, but I do want to review them. I will do my best to at least give you an idea if you might enjoy them or not. I have no doubt that this will not be a shining example of wit or anything else, but they can't all be winners.


3/17/17 Killer of Sheep, 1978, BBC #26, National Film Registry

Sometimes it's good for me to sit on a review and let the movie percolate in the old noggin, get some perspective. I cannot say that's the case here. Until I saw the BBC list of the best 100 American films, I had never heard of Killer of Sheep, that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot, but I like to think I have some familiarity with movies from the past forty years, especially critically acclaimed movies. I'm not even sure I can tell you what the movie is about; it's really a collection of vignettes, set in the Watts neighborhood in Los Angeles, focusing on Stan, who works in a slaughterhouse in Watts. The movie may be noteworthy because it was made in 1978 by a black writer/director, Charles Burnett, with an all black cast, telling a story of urban living. I wish I had more insight because I feel like I'm missing something. It has been very popular on Netflix because when I was waiting for it, it was always on a long wait; I finally got it from the library. I did really like the music, which may be ironic, because that is why the film was initially delayed, the filmmakers had not secured the rights to the music. I would say that if you are a cinephile or film student, you should check out this film, but you probably have already.

3/18/17 Hellboy, 2004

I was prompted to re-watch Hellboy after visiting the Minneapolis Institute of Art's Guillermo del Toro exhibit that featured a lot of Hellboy memorabilia and artwork. Del Toro directed and Ron Perlman stars as the lovable demon, John Hurt is his adoptive father, Trevor Buttenholm. Hellboy is part of a secret team that fights supernatural creatures. I'm not sure why the franchise wasn't more successful, there was a sequel, but only one (I think), there is action, special effects, a wisecracking hero (kind of Dead Pool, Spider-Man). It was fun to watch, and while I should have been working on 'the list', it was a nice diversion.

4/6/17 The Eagle Huntress, 2016

I have been recommending this documentary to just about everyone I talk to (about movies, anyway), and I will do the same here. The Eagle Huntress is a documentary filmed in Mongolia that follows Aisholpan, a 13 year old girl who wants to follow in her father and grandfather's footsteps as an eagle hunter. This requires that she captures her own eagle from a nest in the mountains, a bit risky. Aisholpan has an indomitable spirit and disregards any discussion from men (other than her father) that she cannot and should not be allowed to participate in eagle hunting or the annual competition. She's also still just 13, and enjoys being with her friends at school and wearing nail polish and ribbons in her hair. I loved so much about this film: the scenery was breathtaking, so breathtaking that I started researching holidays in Mongolia and Kazakhstan; the relationship between Aisholpan and her father is heartwarming, he never discourages her and doesn't succumb to the pressure of the other men, and he is openly proud of her; Aisholpan is charming and determined and a wonderful role model for young girls everywhere. Even though the film is subtitled, the action is pretty self-explanatory, but there is also narration by Daisy Ridley (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) which fills in the blanks quite nicely. If you'd like to introduce your kids to a) foreign films b) documentaries and c) a different culture, this is a wonderful movie to watch.

4/7/17 McCabe and Mrs. Miller, 1971 #16 BBC, National Film Registry

I don't know why, but I thought McCabe and Mrs. Miller was a John Wayne movie; to say that was incorrect is a huge understatement. It was directed by Robert Altman and stars Warren Beatty and Julie Christie. It is set in the West, and it has miners instead of farmers or ranchers, and a saloon. Beatty is John McCabe, a gambler with is eyes set on building an empire, with a brothel as its foundation; Julie Christie is Constance Miller, a Cockney woman of ill-repute. I have seen Julie Christie in a few films, and I thought her cockney accent was extremely distracting, and I didn't believe her in this role at all. This is another film that I don't get why it's on the best of lists. It may be me, I don't know. McCabe and Miller are successful running their brothel, but McCabe gets too big for his britches when he refuses an offer to sell his business to a ruthless mine owner, and that bodes ill for McCabe. I have found my like/dislike for Warren Beatty is hit or miss, and this is somewhere in between. There you go, my lukewarm review. Take it for what it's worth.

4/8/17 Queen of Katwe, 2016

The Disney film Queen of Katwe is based on the true story of Phiona (Madina Nalwanga), a young girl living with her family in the slums of Kampala, Uganda. Phiona and her family struggle to survive selling vegetables, trying to keep a roof over their heads, when one day Phiona walks into a center where children are playing chess. She doesn't know much about the game, but quickly and intuitively, she begins to learn, getting encouragement from Robert Katende (David Oyewolo) who runs the missionary program sponsoring the chess program. Phiona's mother (Lupita Nyong'o) doesn't like that the chess distracts Phiona and her younger brother, Brian, from supporting the family, but she doesn't realize that chess may also open doors for the children to education and a better life. The movie isn't a cliff hanger, there are no special effects or stunts, and you might think that watching a chess match is about exciting as watching paint dry, and in this instance, you would be mistaken. The matches are edited to highlight the drama and the tension, and I think it works. The movie is about Phiona's development into a competitive chess player as well as a young woman, challenged by her circumstances and, at times, her ego. Phiona is the focus, but we learn about her family, and the hardships they face, and the things we take for granted. Her brother, Brian, is a spitfire and a good chess player; her sister, Night, is rebellious and chafes under her mother's strict rules. This is another good choice for your family movie night, maybe start with this and then The Eagle Huntress; take your family on a journey to Africa, encourage your daughters to be anything they want, and that they are as smart as the boys.

More 2017 nominated films: Nocturnal Animals, Moana, Passengers, Elle

4/3/17 Nocturnal Animals, Nominated Best Supporting Actor, 2016

I don't even know what to do here. I've tried explaining the movie to a couple different people, and while I agree the premise is unusual and original, I couldn't get past the opening sequence, hell, I can't even talk about the opening sequence without getting uncomfortable, and then I just wanted the movie to be over. AND, even after watching the special features, which explained a lot, nothing made those first five to seven minutes relevant. Anyway, the movie is told from two points of view, one is 'the real world' with Amy Adams as Susan Morrow, an art gallery owner, currently married to Hutton Morrow (Armie Hammer, although, truth be told, it could have been anyone) who has received a manuscript from her ex-husband, Edward Sheffield (Jake Gyllenhaal). The 'real world' story is told in flashbacks, so we see Susan in current time, but also go back to her relationship with Edward. As Susan reads the book called Nocturnal Animals, the story is portrayed in the movie, with Jake Gyllenhaal taking on the male lead, Tony Hastings, who is driving with his wife and daughter (Isla Fisher and Ellie Bamber), who look a LOT like Susan Morrow, when they are harassed and practically driven off the road by a few rough looking guys, who have bad intentions. Tony's family is taken from him, and he needs the help of Detective Bobby Andes (Michael Shannon in an Oscar-nominated role) to find out what happened. The men become partners of sorts as they try to find out what happened and also bring the bad guys to justice. The film goes back and forth between reality and the novel, showing us Susan in her pretty unhappy life, seeming to think about Edward and 'what if?'. I thought the whole premise was very clever, and to me, whether you see it or not comes down to your personal taste; if I would have skipped the first 10 minutes, I would have liked the movie a lot more I think. Gyllenhaal was really good in dual roles; Adams, who I love, was okay, but it was Gyllenhaal's movie. Shannon was good as well, and lately, he has been great in so many different films, but the Supporting Actor category was tough this year. Director Tom Ford has thought out every detail, with all the little hints carried from the real world to the story world; the lighting to differentiate the two worlds. I don't know if I have ever done this before, but I am going to walk back my initial reluctance to like this movie and to recommend it (with my previous caveat). That's what happens when you wait a week to write a review.

4/8/17 Moana, Nominated Best Animated Feature Film, Best Original Song, 2016

I enjoyed Moana, I didn't love it, but I did laugh out loud at some parts, and I did love the Oscar-nominated song "How Far I'll Go", and I'm partial to stories that have strong female leads, and I don't think we've had anyone from the Pacific Islands. Instead of the more familiar Greek or Roman myths, Moana is the story of Polynesian gods and demigods and how the islands were created by Maui, a demigod, voiced by The Rock/Duane Johnson; as many gods and demigods from different mythologies, he loses his mojo and has to wait for an unsuspecting human to rescue him. Moana is that human, defying her father to go farther out to sea than is considered safe. Some of the funniest moments are Moana and Maui bickering with each other. They face adventures fighting off coconut pirates (true story), a giant coconut crab, voiced by Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) who seems to be aware of his Jamaican counterpart from The Little Mermaid, Sebastian. His few minutes on screen are pretty hilarious. Johnson's personality really came through even though it was an animated persona and Auli'i Cravalho was terrific both as an actress and singer, in fact, it was her singing on Oscar night that got me excited about watching the movie; she did a spectacular job. I just noticed that I didn't mention her until almost the end, and I apologize for that, it's probably due to the fact that I've written this particular review over three separate days, which plays hell with any train of thought. One thing that I did find annoying was the character of Heihei, Moana's pet rooster, who just seemed like the director/writer checking a box: cute, but dumb pet sidekick. If you're looking for a family movie, I suggest getting this from the library or buy it, if you're so inclined, and if you're really adventurous, perhaps you can find the sing-a-long version.

4/8/17 Passengers, Nominated Best Original Score, Best Production Design, 2016

My feeling after watching Passengers starring Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt was, meh. It was another movie with an interesting concept, suspended animation gone awry, but only for a few people, the rest are blissfully unaware, but I don't think it could decide if it wanted to be a comedy, a drama, a science fiction action movie or all of the above. A brief synopsis: 5,000 passengers (colonists) are traveling for 120 years to a new planet and they are in a state of suspended animation; Jim Preston (Pratt) is awakened by a mechanical error, and finds himself alone on the ship, well, alone except for Arthur, the robot bartender (Michael Sheen) and other android or virtual characters. In his loneliness, Jim comes across a fellow passenger, Aurora Lane (Lawrence) and he falls in love with her through her video profile, and has a debate with himself and Arthur about waking her up, and pretty much shortening her lifespan and guaranteeing she won't see the new colony. After a year of being alone, Jim wakes her up, although he pretends her capsule had a mechanical failure as well. So, no real surprise that they fall in love, it wasn't even that hard. They spend a year together, when Arthur decides that he needs to tell Aurora that Jim woke her up on purpose. This does not go over well at all, but their spat is interrupted by another pod malfunctioning, and Gus (Laurence Fishburne), a crew member waking up; the three discover that there are some major issues happening with the ship. Up to this point we've had a little comedy, a little romance, and now we get into the science fiction/action bit, when the ship is in danger of exploding, Preston is willing to sacrifice himself to save the ship, and Aurora. After watching movies like Interstellar and The Martian, my expectations are pretty high, and the few minutes of action/suspense, didn't do anything for me. I was disappointed with Jennifer Lawrence; maybe it was the script, but I did not for one minute believe she was Aurora Lane. Chris Pratt was Chris Pratt, smart alecky, brash, nothing terribly new.

4/11/17 Elle, Nominated Best Actress, 2016

I am not going to give too much away because you really have to watch this movie unfold, and I don't want to ruin it. What I will say is that with all due respect to Emma Stone and La La Land, Isabelle Huppert, nominated for Best Actress, was robbed, absolutely, no question in my mind. Huppert is Michele LeBlanc, an executive of a video game company, which if you know anything about video gaming (and I know very little), it's a pretty male dominated industry. Michele comes off as an angry, bitter, vindictive and controlling woman towards her son, her lover, her ex-husband, mother, really almost anyone. Honestly, I usually hate those types of women (people) and movies that feature them, which is probably why Netflix thought I would rate it 2 stars, but the Paul Verhoeven-directed movie is more complex and so is Huppert's portrayal of a very resilient woman. Michele has a dark past, although not a secret one, and it clearly affects her forty years later, especially in her relationships with men. Michele enters into relationships with men that at best are ill-advised and at worst, dangerous, but it's almost like she does it knowingly, taking herself to the edge, seeing if she can pull herself back. I haven't seen most of Huppert's films, but even if I didn't like the film, I usually appreciated her role in it (I have seen Heaven's Gate, Madame Bovary, 8 Women, Amour). The movie is graphic, violent and occasionally difficult to watch, but Huppert is really good, but the total flipside to Emma Stone's character in La La Land, that's for sure. So, it's not much of a synopsis, but if you like foreign films and the work of Paul Verhoeven and Isabelle Huppert, and a tense, unconventional story, I recommend this. But this won't be for everyone, and I won't be offended if you don't watch it.

Best pictures, original screenplays: Hell or High Water, Kubo, La La Land, Arrival, Ove, The Lobster

2/9/17 Hell or High Water, nominated for Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, 2016

Who doesn't dream of getting back at someone or something, like an institution, when you perceive you have been screwed over? In Hell or High Water, that's what Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner (Ben Foster) try to do on behalf of their mother as they begin robbing the bank that had her reverse mortgage. The brothers commit these robberies (this is not a spoiler, it's pretty evident from the trailers) and they are pursued by a soon-to-be-retired Texas Ranger, Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) and his partner, Alberto Parker (Gil Birmingham). There's really no mystery here, and I didn't think it was really a "thriller"; it was a brother movie. The relationship with Toby and Tanner is complicated, Tanner feeling a responsibility and obligation to save the family farm for Toby's sons after spending years in jail. Honestly, I was more interested in the relationship between Marcus and Alberto; Marcus makes comments that most people would consider politically incorrect in the least and very offensive and racist at the worst, but Alberto just laughs at him, and gives it right back to him. It's a joking and brotherly relationship, and you get the feeling they have known each other for too long. Bridges was really good, in a very understated, but good old boy way. He's nominated as Best Supporting Actor, and he was good, but I have not yet seen the other nominees, but a few other movies are getting some additional buzz. I'll keep you posted.

2/11/17 The Lobster, nominated for Best Original Screenplay, 2016

When I mention this movie to my friends, they have never heard of it, and to be honest, I had never heard of it until it showed up on my Oscar list. These one-off nominations can be a mixed bag; sometimes I think I found a gem, other times I don't know why I bother. For The Lobster, I'm kind of in the middle of the road, but the more I think about it, the more I think it was definitely an original screenplay. The movie is set in a dystopian society where being single, or a 'loner' I not only frowned upon, it can get you turned into your favorite animal; David's preferred animal is a lobster. Colin Farrell is David, a recently singled man who is now in a hotel, hoping to find another partner, and soon. Checking into the hotel is similar to checking into a low security prison, strip down to your underwear, turn in all of your property, etc. There are very strict rules, and not following them could be hazardous to your health. Many of the characters aren't given names, but referred to by a predominant characteristic, like Heartless Woman, Nosebleed Woman, Lisping Man (John C. Reilly), etc. The guests have 45 days to find a partner; every day loners hunt other loners with tranquilizer guns, and for every loner tranquilized, the hunter gets to stay an extra day. If you do meet someone and it's determined you are suited, you move to the couples' side of the hotel, and then eventually one of the yachts. After an ill-fated relationship with Heartless Woman, David had to escape, and he makes it to the woods where he meets the leader of the Loners (Lea Seydoux from Blue is the Warmest Color) as well as the narrator, Short-Sighted Woman (Rachel Weisz). Just as the hotel had strict rules, being in the pack of Loners comes with a set of restrictions, including no sexual relationships. David and Short-Sighted Woman find a commonality in their short-sightedness and begin a covert relationship. Love is hard. I was so skeptical when I started to watch this, but I did find myself interested in the story and how it would play out; there are definitely twists and unexpected turns. Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthimis Fillippou wrote the screenplay and Lanthimos directed (he directed Oscar-nominated film Dogtooth); and it has an international cast. I like Colin Farrell and I really liked that he didn't play a tough guy, or a sexy guy; he's an architect, with a little belly, a little shy, and he doesn't have to hide his Irish accent. If you are looking for a different type of movie, something that is rehashed from a television series or a remake of another film, give this one a try. I'm not sure if it has much of a chance for the Oscar going up against La La Land and Hell and High Water.

2/10/17 Kubo and the Two Strings, nominated Best Animated Film, Best Visual Effects, 2016

I have been staring at this movie title for a week and for some reason, I am having a really hard time writing a review, or at least something more than two sentences. I did like this movie and the story and the voice actors (Charlize Theron as the mother/Monkey and Matthew McConaughey as Beetle/Hanzo, Ralph Fiennes as Raiden the Moon King), as well as the animation. The movie was done by Laika, the same production team that did one of my favorite animated films of the past few years, The Boxtrolls, as well as ParaNorman and Coraline. Kubo lives with his mother, isolated from the local village; Kubo and his mother have magical powers; in fact, the movie is filled with magic, and maybe that's why I'm finding it hard to review - telling you too much may ruin the surprise. It has action, suspense, music, danger, and young boy who has to be very brave. This isn't the most in-depth review, but I commend the movie for your viewing.

2/19/17 Note: In the midst of all of these Oscar-nominated movies, several of which I have not yet reviewed, I watched Jack Reacher: Never Go Back as a rental from the library. I don't have the time or energy to do really, but if you're looking for a Tom Cruise action movie, this will do until the next Mission Impossible comes out.

2/18/17 Sully, Best Sound Editing, 2016

I remember watching the Miracle on the Hudson at work, and thinking how cold it must be. I may have also thought "hmm, I bet they make a movie out of this." I have to say that this Clint Eastwood-directed film, starring Tom Hanks as Chesley Sullenberger did not quite capture the drama; it seemed very choppy, using flashbacks and inserting bits of conversation with Sully and his wife, Lorraine (the very underused, in this film, Laura Linney), who had a lot of dialogue that was essentially "What? What? I can't hear you?" "What do you mean?". I thought the last 30-40 minutes were the best, the incident (birds flying into the engines); the landing on the Hudson and the presentation of simulations during the NTSB hearing. There isn't a lot of tension or suspense, unless you have no idea about what happened, but even so, you know most people survive because that's presented early in the film. Oh, and then there were 5-7 minutes spent in Sully's youth where we see him flying. Not one of Eastwood's best efforts. I'm really not sure why or how it was nominated for Sound Editing, but I'm thinking Deepwater Horizon or Hacksaw Ridge, or La La Land will take the Oscar.

2/18/17 La La Land, nominated Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Production Design, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, 2016

La La Land is the critics' favorite, it seems, and I'm not prepared to rain on everyone's parade...well...I enjoy Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, but I'm hot and cold on musicals, so I didn't run out to see it. Even now, after having a lunchtime discussion about it, I'm less sure how I feel. I think what makes this so different and original, and I do think it was original, is that we don't get a lot of original musicals (or even quasi-musicals), they come from Broadway or they're remakes, and I think it hit the spot for a lot of people. Damien Chazelle (who wrote and directed Whiplash) wrote and directed La La Land and infused it with his sense and sensibility of jazz. Ryan Gosling is Sebastian a jazz musician/fan/historian who is trying to make a living in Los Angeles playing his kind of jazz, but often finds himself in the position of playing below his standards for practical reasons. Emma Stone is Mia, a struggling actress/barista, who is close to giving up her dream. The two meet and have a rough start, but after another chance meeting where Seb is forced to play the hits of the 1980s like "I Ran" by A Flock of Seagulls. They fall in love and are each other's biggest fans, supporting one another in their different endeavors, until it gets a little more complicated and stressful, and then, you know, they figure it out, or not. Divulging much more might ruin it if you haven't seen it yet. I liked this more than I did Arrival, but not as much as I did Fences; Gosling and Stone were tremendous, dancing, singing, and Gosling playing jazz piano, but I wasn't moved the way I was by Denzel Washington in Fences. The production design and costume design were both top-notch, and Chazelle and his team paid homage to Hollywood. Take this review for what it's worth, my opinion. It's good, delightful, and original, and it will shock the odds making world if it doesn't win most of its nominations. Hidden Figures and Fences (reviewed soon) are my two picks.


2/18/17 Arrival, nominated Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design, 2016

I didn't race out to see Arrival when it was released; I probably would have waited for DVD, if I saw it at all. When it landed on The List, I knew I was going to have to watch it. Science fiction is not one of my favorite genres, and I rarely see sci-fi in the theaters. I was really underwhelmed with Arrival (and I really love Amy Adams); I thought for a science fiction film, the effects were pretty lackluster. It had an interesting premise: communicating with extra-terrestrial beings who use symbology instead of words, written or spoken; but it was the element of time travel that really lost me. Amy Adams plays Louise Banks, a linguist who seems to be fluent in every language known to man; Jeremy Renner is Ian Donnelly, a theoretical physicist; Forest Whitaker is Army Colonel Weber; and Michael Stuhlbarg is a government agent (if you think you have been seeing Stuhlbarg all over, you have: Dr. Strange, Trumbo, Steve Jobs, Transparent). These strange pods land in several countries around the globe, and while the countries intend to share information, they seem to have different methods of gathering and analyzing their information; are the pods there to help or harm the world? Due to some misunderstanding and misinterpretation, the world is led to the brink of disaster. I didn't care. I thought this is something my dad would have liked; he would have read the short story; and when I said I didn't like it, he would have given me a few examples of what I missed. The movie was directed by Denis Villeneuve, who also directed Sicario, which coincidentally I didn't like either. He and his cinematographer are fond of very dark sets, low lighting (I get it: they were in a windowless enclosure, but it's not fun to watch), I am not sure how this gets a nod for Best Production Design. If you're a fan of sci-fi, you are probably disagreeing with me, and that's fine. I'm happy to leave it to you.

2/18/17 A Man Called Ove, nominated Best Foreign Film, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, 2016

A Man Called Ove combines bittersweet drama with injections of humor, some dark, some life-affirming; reminiscent of one of my favorite films from last Oscar season The 100-Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared, and what a coincidence, it's also nominated for Best Makeup and Hairstyling by the same team, Eva von Bahr and Love Larson. Ove is recently widowed, and still reeling from the loss of his beloved wife, Sonja, and between failed suicide attempts, he harangues neighbors for violations of the neighborhood code. On one such day, he meets Parvaneh, who is Iranian, her husband Patrick and their two young children, and he is less than impressed when they run over his mailbox. Parvaneh tries to make amends and to make friends, but Ove is prickly and not interested in getting to know them. The movie is essentially about how Parvaneh breaks through Ove's tough exterior, but also takes us into Ove's past, and his close relationship with his father and his marriage to Sonja. While Ove has always been a rule-follower, but to him, he's trying to do the right thing, like his father. Over time, Parvaneh and Ove form a bond, almost father/daughter, in fact, her little girls call him 'grandfather'. Ove chooses the world of the living, and you have to think his wife would have been proud. The movie is based on the book of the same name, which I have not yet read, but I recommend the movie. This is where I tell you not to be turned off by a foreign film that you have to read; the story carries you and you will probably forget you are 'reading'. I haven't seen the other foreign films, but have heard really good things about the German film, Toni Erdmann. It's up against Suicide Squad and Star Trek Beyond for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and I have to go with Star Trek Beyond for this one.

Looking for an adrenaline boost? Deepwater Horizon, Jungle Book, Rogue One, 13 Hours

1/29/17 Deepwater Horizon, nominated Best Sound Editing, Best Visual Effects, 2016

Holy shit. That's all I have to say. To think that 'only' eleven people were killed when the Deepwater Horizon essentially exploded probably sounds callous, but honestly, the fact that so many people did escape and survive is unbelievable. Peter Berg's film starts off with ominous foreboding, with the crew who is supposed to do some concrete testing leaving before that happens, and BP executives complaining about being over budget and behind schedule. You might think you were watching something like Towering Inferno or Earthquake, a fictionalized disaster film with a few heroes saving the day...except, it was true and it happened. Mark Wahlberg as Mike Williams and Kurt Russell as James Harrell, called Mr. Jimmy by his crew are the good guys and John Malkovich as Donald Vidrine and Brad Leland as Robert Kaluza from British Petroleum are cast very clearly as the bad guys. Vidrine is pushing to get the rig ready to drill, and Mr. Jimmy (and most of his crew) are not sure everything is safe. They run a few tests, but don't get the anticipated red flags, and begin the process. Things go badly almost immediately, and even though I knew the outcome, it was mind-blowing to watch as events unfolded (I'm sure there was some dramatization, but I have no doubt there was extreme chaos and havoc being wreaked), and unreal how these guys (almost all guys except for Andrea Fleytas (Gina Rodriguez)) still tried to stop the pumps, help each other, get the lifeboats, etc. etc. From an action movie standpoint, I was on the edge of my seat. Mark Wahlberg plays certain roles very well, the action guy with a big heart, and he does that here. That's not a knock or anything, I was certainly rooting for him. I love Kurt Russell (most specifically his hair, but that's for another time) and he does not disappoint here as Mr. Jimmy, who knows his crew, knows the task at hand and totally understands that BP's managers are motivated by the money and not the safety of the crew on the rig; he does everything he can to forestall the operation to guarantee the well-being of everyone. Fleytas stands out as the only woman (that we see) on the rig, but she is entrusted as the rig navigation officer (I don't know how those rigs work, but this one seemed HUGE and full of so many moving parts and components). On more than one occasion, I wanted to punch John Malkovich's character in the mouth, which may have been the reaction he wanted. There is a domestic component with Kate Hudson playing Felicia Williams, Mike's wife; Mike and Felicia are Skyping when the explosions start. It may have happened in real life, but I think it interrupted the flow of the movie and wasn't entirely necessary. The Deepwater Horizon disaster happened in 2010, but the effects are still being felt in the Gulf. The movie is definitely worth your time.

2/3/17 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, nominated Best Sound Mixing, 2016

This is another historical event that played out in front of my eyes; I remember watching the television in the lunchroom at work and not wanting to believe it, and also remembering there was so much confusion and unreliable news reports. Similar to Deepwater Horizon, we see the events behind the news stories. In 2012, Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens visited a diplomatic compound (not an official embassy) in Benghazi, Libya, on the anniversary of 9/11. Meanwhile, a controversial film was released on the Internet which inflamed already tense and aggressive feelings towards Americans. These aggressions were taken out on the compound and a 'hidden' CIA outpost. There are conflicting reports on what happened and what was said, and I have no concrete information, and because these events had repercussive effects on the most recent election, I'm not qualified to comment. As a movie/story, it was a look into the men (mostly men?) who served in the US military and then return to the Middle East as contractors, with all of the risk, but none of the benefits or recognition. As in Deepwater Horizon, we have a 'villain' in the guise of the CIA chief at the outpost, who is adamant the group not reveal themselves to the locals, even if their assistance is needed urgently by the ambassador's team at the diplomatic compound. I'm not a huge fan of director Michael Bay; I'm not sure he would know restraint if it tapped him on the shoulder, but he does give the viewer a sense of being under siege with the soldiers.

2/4/17 The Jungle Book, nominated for Best Visual Effects, 2016

I loved this movie. It surprises me to say that considering I wasn't even going to watch it until it turned up on the list. Jon Favreau did a tremendous job with this live action/CGI take on Rudyard Kipling's stories and obviously the Walt Disney film of The Jungle Book. It combines action, humor, and some music (although honestly, I hardly noticed the music) with some very well-known voices including Bill Murray as Baloo the Bea; Ben Kingsley as Bagheera, a black panther; Lupita Nyong'o as Raksha, a wolf; Idris Elba as Shere Khan the tiger, Mowgli's nemesis; Scarlett Johansson as Kaa, the hypnotic python; Christopher Walken as King Louie, a giant ape (which would have been extinct); and Giancarlo Esposito as Akela, the leader of the wolf pack. The big unknown is the young actor who plays Mowgli, Neel Seethi. This has everything that the classic animated film (and practically every classic Disney film) has, which is anthropomorphic animals that interact with each other, speak with one another, and in this case, speak to the young human among them. Mowgli was found by Bagheera when he was a baby and brought him to Akela and Raksha. Mowgli grows up along with his wolf brothers and sisters and learns the wolf ways, and the ways of the jungle from Bagheera. Things are fine until Shere Khan comes to the community watering hole and threatens Mowgli and his wolf family. This sets Mowgli on his journey as he leaves his wolf family to go back to the human world; as he travels, he meets Kaa the python, and narrowly escapes her clutches, as well as Baloo who is played so perfectly by Bill Murray; and eventually King Louie, king of the monkeys. The screen time with Baloo and Mowgli is hilarious, as Baloo tricks Mowgli into getting his honey from some very angry bees. As much as I loved the visual aspects of the movie, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the characters and the story and dialog. The voice actors were perfectly cast (well, I did struggle a little with Walken's East Coast accent); Elba was suitably menacing, while Kingsley was almost like Obi-Wan Kenobi; I didn't recognize Nyong'o as the voice sounded like a much older actress, but she was wonderfully strong in the face of Shere Khan. Neel Seethi is really amazing for such a young actor, acting with puppet figures and making it very believable. I would say the movie is child friendly, but with many Disney films, there are a few dark elements that might be scary for really young children, but I think kids will enjoy Mowgli's adventures with the animals.

2/5/17 Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, nominated Best Sound Mixing, Best Visual Effects, 2016

You know that feeling you get when you realize the movie you're watching isn't as bad as you thought it was going to be, and even better, that it's actually pretty good and you're enjoying it? Yeah, that feeling. That's how I felt about Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Rogue One can be viewed as a standalone movie, but it has definite ties to the Star Wars saga. Felicity Jones is Jyn Erso, daughter of Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen) a research scientist and a key player in developing the Death Star. Diego Luna is Cassian Andor a captain in the Rebel Alliance. There are no Wookies, but there is a wise-cracking droid, K-2S0, who was reprogrammed by the Rebel Alliance; his exchanges with Jyn and Cassian were some of my favorite moments onscreen. Forest Whitaker is Saw Gerrera, a radical in the Rebel movement and guardian of Jyn when she was a young girl. I honestly think this whole story line could have been eliminated and no harm would have been done to the rest of the plot. I like Whitaker, but he seemed a bit over the top in this role. Boiled down to the most basic plot: the Rebel Alliance is fighting the Imperial Forces and are under threat of an incredible world destroying weapon; Jyn, Cassian and a small cadre of Rebel soldiers take on the job of trying to find the plans of the Death Star. Lord Vader makes a few appearances and is more menacing than I remember. We also get brief glimpses of the beloved C3P0 and R2D2. Once the movie passed the point of Saw Gerrera, I felt the pace picked up and we could get down to brass tacks. My favorite two characters (after K-2S0) were Chirrut Imwe, a blind warrior who seemed a lot like a Jedi to me, and his friend and foil, Baze Malbus; their bickering could not hide their deep friendship and loyalty to one another. The action and effects were spectacular; and I enjoyed the nod to the past films, and trying to figure out how it would all tie together. Even the score tipped its hat to John Williams, while using original music created for this film. I'm glad I saw this on the big screen; I might have even liked it in 3D. This is the front-runner (in my mind) to win the Best Visual Effects Oscar, right up there with Dr. Strange. I'm not sure where it will fall with the Sound Mixing award.