The Beach Bum - Celebrate the Bottom Feeders

Movie: The Beach Bum

My Rating: 3 stars

 What a strange movie.  Watching it felt like being trapped inside one of Matthew McConaughey’s fever dreams.  That’s probably the vibe that director Harmony Korine was going for.  He always likes to create an aura of unsettling chaos in his films.  And, this one follows Matthew McConaughey—a drunken beach bum—as he staggers through his intoxicated existence in Key West with the rest of the shiftless bottom feeders.  (The role he was born to play!)  But, Korine takes the bedlam one step further in this film. Instead of simply watching the pandemonium unfold, he welcomes the audience inside the experience.  The aesthetics, and colors, and utter nonsense in this film actually make the viewer feel just as impaired as the characters.  It’s quite the feat.

 And, now that I’ve praised Harmony Korine’s well-deserved artistic accomplishment, I am now free to tell you that that being immersed in this sort of madness isn’t exactly a pleasant experience.  Fascinating, yes.  But, it will wear you down if you let it.  (And yes, yes, I know that’s the point).  But, I’m not really a fan of movies where you watch the characters ruin their lives with a series of bad decisions.  And, this is definitely a movie about a guy who could make better choices.  But, as long as you’re prepared for a bit of misery, you should be fine watching this film.  Because, when I weigh the good against the bad, I ultimately come up with a net positive.  And, I “enjoyed” this movie.  As much as I dislike watching tragedies unfold, I love some good absurdist humor.  And, this movie is full to the brim of insane, confusing spectacles.  (Snoop Dogg makes an appearance as a clergyman named Lingerie).  And, Matthew McConaughey’s outfits steal the show.

All things considered, I do recommend this movie . . . as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into.  Harmony Korine’s films aren’t for beginners, or casual movie watchers.  (Read: not for families).  Of course, his more recent works have been a lot less bleak than his early stuff.  Korine’s movies are all definitely dark.  But, at least this film and the previous one, Spring Breakers, are dark comedies. (Pitch black, yes, but ultimately comedic).  And, that extra dose of levity really goes a long way toward making the dark stuff more palatable. 

Lifechanger - Be the Body-Snatcher

Movie: The Life Changer

My Rating: 3 stars

 This movie treads well-worn ground—a horror story about body-snatchers, here to steal people’s forms and trick their loved ones.  There are a million of them out there.  But, somehow this film makes the whole concept feel fresh.  And, I think it’s because the movie doesn’t give us too much information right away.  It doles out details in drips.  And, the audience has to watch a cycle or two before we figure out what’s going on in the story, who’s who, and just what exactly we’re looking at as the “process” unfolds.  And, being put it the disorienting position of trying to figure things out engages the viewer right away.

 But, this movie has even more going for it than that.  I think the best part is that the story of this life-stealing monster is told from the point of view of the body-snatcher him/herself.  This makes them the protagonist of the story, and the character that the audience identifies with most.  And, that’s a very interesting angle from which to view this tale.  Audiences are accustomed to seeing the body-snatcher as the bad guy—as an evil monster that’s out to “get” us, (whatever that means).  But, what if the creature is just doing what they must to stay alive, and avoid being caught and killed by the authorities?  It’s actually a pretty sympathetic position, and I bet you’ll find yourself rooting for our creature to get away, even as we watch him/her sucking the life out of innocent people, left and right.  So, I think that while this is definitely a monster movie, I wouldn’t call it a horror story.  It’s really much more of a drama about one being’s futile attempts to find a place in this world.  I usually hate dramas, finding them boring and predictable.  But, the context of this one provided enough mystery and tension to keep the story exciting for me.

This is a very strange movie, and it put me in a very thoughtful mood.  I guess that means I liked it.  It feels very small and contained, but it has a lot to say about the human condition.  So, I guess I would recommend it to people (maybe even to a wider audience than usual), as long as they won’t be put off by a moderate amount of body horror.  (There are some gross bits, but they’re not the point of the story).

The Perfection - The Dark World of Cellists

Movie: The Perfection

My Rating: 4 stars

 This movie came out of nowhere.  I have to say, Netflix has been producing some real winners lately.  And, I’m glad they decided to dip their toes into the horror genre.  Plenty of studios decides it’s best to steer clear of that kind of divisive work.  But, horror is really a very rich genre.  So many troubling scenarios to explore; lots of stories to tell.  I love being surprised by new horror movies, and this one had just enough nuances and subtle shocks to keep me on the edge of my seat.  This movie is a psychological horror/thriller about two beautiful, young stars of the professional cello competition circuit (played by Allison Williams and Logan Browning).  There’s serious tension between these girls, but we don’t quite have enough information to know what it’s all about.  Is it jealousy, professional rivalry, sexual attraction, pity?  It could be anything.  And, it’s hard to know who to trust.

 I think what I love best about this movie is that in the strange world the film creates, prodigy cellists have the status of international pop stars.  They have huge posters of their faces in Times Square and luxury product endorsements.  Star cello players are a household name and have celebrity status.  It’s very amusing.  But, it totally works in this bizarre story.  I can’t tell you much more about the story without ruining it for you.  This is probably one of those movies that you’ll enjoy more the less you read about it.  But, I can tell you that once the tension starts to break, things really go off the rails in a pretty serious way.  And, things just keep happening.

 Everything I’ve describe so far makes this movie sound like a simple psychological thriller.  But, let me assure you that this definitely is a horror film.  And, it’s not one for squeamish viewers.  I’d like to urge anyone who thinks this movie sounds remotely interesting to rush out and watch it right away.  And, don’t read anything else about it.  I think surprises are the best part of a good horror film.  And, this one benefits from being seen with fresh eyes.  I originally learned about it by hearing the stars talking about it on a podcast, but I turned it off partway through, because I could tell that I didn’t want to learn anything more about the story before watching it myself.  And, it was the right choice.  This movie is very easy to get your hands on (it’s a Netflix original).  So, go ahead and check it out, and let me know what you think.

Hardcore Henry - Be an Action Hero

Movie: Hardcore Henry

My Rating: 3 stars

 I thought this movie was really fun—mostly because I haven’t seen anything quite like it before.  Sure, it’s cheesy.  And yeah, the story is pretty simple.  But, the whole point of this movie is to give the viewer the experience of being the protagonist in an exciting, first-person shooter, video game.  And, the plots in video games are notoriously on rails and cheesy.  So, this movie is actually completely spot on tonally.  It has a beautiful wife that we’re trying to save.  And, a criminally insane villain that always swoops in to ruin things right when we think we have the situation under control.  And finally, a helper with unlimited resources who shows up, deus-ex-machina-style, to give us new weapons and skills as the story progresses.  Pretty spot-on if you ask me.

 Since the viewer is positioned as the protagonist in this story, we learn information at the same rate as “Henry” does.  So, as we wake up on an operating table in a high-tech medical lab, we’re naturally pretty confused.  But, the story starts slowly revealing itself, piece by piece.  But, the story really isn’t what I liked most about this movie.  The star of this film, really, is Sharlto Copley.  Even though he’s in a supporting role, he definitely steals the show.  I’ve always had a bit of a thing for him.  Not entirely sure why.  It can’t just be the accent.  I think it has something to do with the crazy roles he manages to get himself thrown into.  He always manages to bring a slightly deranged, wild-eyed vitality to his characters.  I’ve always liked a bit of feral energy.  And his character in this movie is about as untamed as they come.  He fills in the role of the guide you sometimes see in the upper right-hand corner of video games, offering helpful tips, and steering the narrative.

 This movie is fun, but that’s really all it is.  I don’t think I’d go so far as to recommend it broadly.  But, there are definitely a few subgroups that’d get a kick out of it.  Fans of Sharlto Copley, will definitely want to catch this one.  Or, people looking for a mindless, tongue-in-cheek, action movie.  And, while I don’t really play those video games myself, I can imagine that fans of first-person shooters might get a kick out of seeing the genre gently mocked.

Midsommar - Dark Solstice Revelry

Movie: Midsommar

My Rating: 4 stars

 As soon as I saw the trailer for this movie, I knew it was for me.  I’ve always thought that an over-cheerfulness was always way creepier than more traditionally dark material.  And, the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Swedes in this story, joyfully celebrating their Summer Solstice holiday are presented as supremely sinister.  I knew I had to see this film in the theater with all the other horror weirdos.  And, I got my chance when I recently had a Monday off work.  I was surprised (but not too much) to see how many other single-ticket horror fans there were in the audience for this week day matinee.  It was pretty fun.

Our protagonist is Dani, a depressed grad student who has suffered some pretty serious emotional trauma.  Her weasely boyfriend Christian is pretending to be supportive, but is really a coward, doing anything to avoid responsibility.  Lacking any direction in their lives (both personally, and academically), the couple decides to accept their Swedish friend’s offer to come travel to his home village for a special Summer Solstice celebration.  Their trip starts off as fun, if not disorientingly foreign.  Then things start getting seriously weird. And, ultimately the visit descends into some truly ominous goings-on.  (All delivered by friendly, gorgeous Swedes, with glassy eyes, and serene smiles).  The narrative expertly takes advantage of the tourist’s feeling of not really knowing what’s going on in a country where they don’t know the language, but not wanting to offend anyone by doing something wrong.  The feeling of unease is very relatable.  This movie is by the same director who made Hereditary—a movie responsible for ruining many a night’s sleep with its graphic imagery, and grisly tableaus.  And, this movie unquestionably follows suit.  It has the same creeping sense that all is not alright.  And, it certainly has the gore.  And happily, I found the story and climax of this film to be a lot more narratively satisfying than I did Hereditary.  (You read my complaints about that one).

I liked this movie quite a bit.  It was a fun one to watch communally in the theater.  It has the structure of a classic “Americans travelling abroad and experiencing foreign customs” horror movie.  But, it didn’t feel quite as exploity as those typically can get.  Perhaps that’s because the foreign culture that’s being viewed by American eyes is a traditional European culture rather than the route these films usually go, exoticizing some Amazon tribe.  Apparently, a lot of the rituals depicted in this film are based on real, ancient Norse customs.  And, that makes it all the more darkly fun.  This movie isn’t for lightweights.  This is a straight horror movie, with lots of unflinching shots of huge, bloody messes.  This isn’t the kind of light satirical horror we’ve seen from Jordan Peele lately.  So, I wouldn’t recommend it for the weak of stomach.  But at the same time, I’m a bit sad that I can’t talk about this movie with more people.

The Autopsy of Jane Doe - Forensic Mysteries

Movie: The Autopsy of Jane Doe

My Rating: 3 stars

I wanted to like this movie.  I really did.  It had all the right elements to reel me in.  I like a mystery-horror film, and this movie seemed to be offering me just that.  It stars a mysterious, unidentified, dead girl found at a crime scene, and brought into the coroner’s office by the confused local cops.  The police hope that maybe they’ll be able to shed some light on this woman’s identity by examining the body.  And naturally, the mysteries only get weirder and weirder as the autopsy proceeds.  Sounds really tense and spooky, right?  Unfortunately, a little bit of lazy writing was enough to ruin the whole thing for me.

I know it sounds weird to say that this movie “stars” the dead girl, but it really does.  Her essence is unignorable.  The body is beautiful, and bafflingly well preserved, and her unsettling presence haunts every scene.  And as weird as it sounds to say that a dead person is projecting intentions, this girl really is.  And it’s so creepy.  Of course, the film is also set in a sterile coroner’s exam room in the basement of an ancient mansion.  And the story just so happens to take place on a dark and stormy night.  So, that also adds to the creep factor.  But, it’s not good enough just to have a great idea for the setup of a story.  You’ve gotta know how you’re going to end it before you start filming.  And, horror movies in particular need a satisfying twist or reveal.  Otherwise, what’s the point.  But, this movie Phoned . . . It . . . In.  I was pretty disappointed.

 I don’t think I’d recommend this movie.  I just didn’t find it satisfying to watch as far as horror movies go.  But, it did do a few things well, so I want to give credit where it’s due.  The movie really created some serious tension, as well as a very compelling mystery to solve.  But, the answer to this kind of setup can’t just be that it was ghosts all along.  (That’s not really what it was, but you get the idea).  Maybe this movie would be useful to watch if you’re studying how to introduce anxiety into a screenplay.  Or, if you’re some kind of pervert that likes to look at pretty, dead ladies.  But, otherwise, there are plenty of other, much more competently written horror films out there for you to enjoy.

Godzilla: King of the Monsters - Gojira!!!

Movie: Godzilla: King of the Monsters

My Rating: 4 stars

 What a fun movie to see on the big screen!  I recently saw this movie in the theater when I was back visiting my family, and I had so much fun.  It was a Tuesday night, and there was a fair amount of people there to see it.  And, let me tell you, the kind of person at a weeknight screening of a Godzilla movie is a super-fan, and is 100% on board for all the awesome action this kind of movie has to offer.  And, this movie had A LOT to offer.  Not only did we get so see Godzilla (King of the Monsters) fight all the classic beasts (Rodan, King Kong, the Muto (Muti?), Ghidorah, etc), and watch him commune with his forbidden love (Mothra), but there are also a lot of winks to all the die-hard fans in the audience.  We see glimpses of beloved characters.  (My favorites were the Mothra twins).  We get a few monster origins stories.  And, when the classic music cues come in, I could feel the audience members collectively lose their shit.  The energy was great.

 I can’t say I loved the story that surrounded all these epic monster fights.  It’s something about eco-terrorists waking up all the monsters to punish the earth for global warming or something.  But, the plot was hardly the point.  Vera Farmiga is a brilliant scientist who may not understand the full power of her monster-related inventions.  Millie Bobby Brown is her delightful daughter who does impulsive, dangerous things that progress the story in predictable ways.  But, it’s really ok, because these movies have always been a bit cheesy, and these sections of the movie really just serve as bumpers for the sweet monster throw-downs.  And, Godzilla really brings his A-game.

 This is a very fun movie.  It really was worth seeing on the big screen, just to get the full impact of the fights, and to feel the full-blast surround sound.  Since this movie is all about the fighting and the music, I think it was really meant to be seen in the theater.  But, I realize that you may have a hard time finding a place still playing it.  But, the movie is still worth renting at home.  But, while I’d like to be able to say that this movie could be enjoyed by anyone, I won’t kid myself.  This movie really is for people who grew up with and love all the classic, old, rubber-suit Godzilla movies.  You’ll spot tons of references, and the nostalgia will really hit you in the “something in my eye” zone.  I got a lot out of it.  Maybe you will too.

Rocketman - More Costumes!!!

Movie: Rocketman

My Rating: 5 stars

 I loved this movie.  It’s the biopic of Elton John, starring Taron Egerton.  I grew up with this music, so the movie already had the nostalgia factor going for it.  But, it was also an incredibly well-executed film.  I had thought I loved Bohemian Rhapsody (Freddy Mercury’s biopic), but after seeing this movie, I realized that I really only liked the music from that one.  Whereas, this movie had all the best elements of Rhapsody—the big, singalong, music hits, great outfits, drugs, sex, and alcohol—but also featured many additional sweeteners.  Those would include a good story structure, songs that progress the story line as opposed just being used as spacers, actors that actually sing rather than lip-synching, and more factually accurate plot points.  I’m not really intending this review as a dig at Bohemian Rhapsody, but the structure and beats of the two movies are so similar, that it’s practically impossible to avoid comparing the two.

 Taron Egerton stars as Elton John, and it’s a pretty amazing transformation.  I didn’t recognize him at all for the longest time, and it actually took me quite a while to figure out where I’d seen him before (Kingsman).  Because, he really becomes Elton John.  I also never realized that he could sing as well as act.  It’s pretty impressive.  Elton John has a wonderful singing voice, and Egerton’s singing really does the music justice.  This movie is more of a classic musical than Bohemian Rhapsody was.  The songs aren’t presented chronologically, or in the context in which Elton wrote or performed the pieces.  Instead, songs are selected for how their lyrics illustrate different plot points.  It took me a little bit to figure out what they were doing, but once I did, it felt like the most natural convention in the world.  The dreamy Jamie Bell plays Bernie Taupin, Elton’s lyricist, and he does a wonderful job as always. Of course, Taupin isn’t the same kind of public figure that Elton is, so I don’t really have a reference to know how accurate his portrayal is.  But, I’m going to make an executive decision that it was pretty good, just because I like Jamie Bell so much.  Either way, his acting is always great.

 As is common with many artistic geniuses, Elton John’s childhood and relationship with his family was very traumatic.  (Bryce Dallas Howard plays the mom from the black lagoon).  And what would a rock star’s story be without a comically evil manager?  I don’t know how a person thrives (or even survives) with so little emotional support.  At points it seemed like Elton’s family members were actively trying to undermine him.  All this is information I never knew about his life, and it makes all his accomplishments all the more impressive.  But, it does help to explain Elton’s (now remedied) nightmare descent into booze and pills.

 I loved this movie.  I want to go see it again.  I’d even consider going back to the theater, except that fellow audience-members generally frown on too much singing along.  So, I may just watch it again in the privacy of my own home.  I definitely recommend this movie, and not just to people who are already fans of Elton John.  The story is objectively fascinating.  And the music in this movie is intoxicating.  Plus, the actors, director, and set designers have really created something special with this film.  It’s one that I think is definitely worth dragging your butt to the theater for.

Renaissance - Sexy, Brooding Detectives

Movie: Renaissance

My Rating: 4 stars

 I like this movie a lot, and I’m not sure whether it’s because I like the story, or if I just like the look of the thing.  It’s a movie that I find myself thinking about a lot, but I suspect it has more to do with the mood and style that it evokes, rather than anything to do with the story.  This movie has an enthralling aesthetic.  And, I’m a sucker for this noir graphic-novel style animation.  But, the plotline is . . . fine.  Something about pharmaceutical malfeasance, and a missing Russian girl.  The story is set in 2054 Paris, and follows Detective Karas as he sulks around in the shadows, smoking cigarettes, and not always following the rules of proper policing.  But, he always gets his man, dammit!  It’s very French, and very stylish, and I’m into it.

 The movie is done in that chiaroscuro animation style that almost looks like its tracking 3D movement, but still has a flat look.  The characters don’t look like real people necessarily, but their body language feels kind of real.  It’s very stylized, and the aesthetic sticks with you.  I watched the film when it was first released back in 2006, and more than ten years later I still find myself thinking about it a lot, so I decided to give it another go.  And, the movie holds up.  Or, at least the bit I like about it does.  The story is still kind of murky.  And, the character development is pretty scanty.  But, I like the dystopic future world the film illustrates.  It feels pretty prescient, with the minor technological advances, the corporate money controlling politics, and the shiny surfaces masking a grimy underworld.  Plus, everyone just seems really, realistically  depressed or apathetic.  Sexy subject matter, I know.

 I recognize that this movie has its flaws (mostly with the writing).  But, I think I’d still recommend it.  Perhaps that’s just out of my nostalgia for the film.  This movie felt really special when it came out over ten years ago.  Or, it could be that I’m overvaluing its style.  Whatever it is, it’s definitely an irrational, emotional attachment to the movie.  But, maybe there really is something to it.  And, I guess I’m curious to see how it affects other people—to see whether it’s just me who’s captivated by it.

Paddington 2 - Little Bear in the Big House

Movie: Paddington 2

My Rating: 3 stars

 What a delight.  I’m not generally inclined to watch children’s movies, but I heard so many good things about this one that I thought I ought to take a look.  That’s pretty much why I watched the first Paddington—because one of the charming British podcasters I listen to mentioned how many of his equally-charming British friends played parts in it.  And, I thought that first one was cute.  But I heard rave reviews of this second installment, so I had to check it out too.  And, I thought the movie really was fun.  It’s not every day that you get so see a beloved character from one’s childhood get thrown into prison in a sequel.  (Or maybe Earnest Goes to Jail should have prepared me for that).  I like how kids’ movies are increasingly willing to go a little dark.  But, I do think that maybe some of the critics went a little overboard when describing how amazing they thought the film was. 

 So, as I mentioned, in this sequel, our sweet, fuzzy protagonist gets thrown into jail with a bunch of hardened criminals (over a misunderstanding, of course).  And naturally, he works his magic on these rough gents, and earns himself some very useful friends—good for avenging wrongs.  Hugh Grant plays the main villain.  And, his character is thoroughly evil.  He’s a shifty circus type, and he’s the one directly responsible for sending our dear little bear to the slammer.  But, when you make as many friends as Paddington, you always have a bunch of people willing to help you get out of scrapes like these.

 I enjoyed this film.  I wouldn’t say I loved this movie.  And, I’m actually having a bit of a hard time remembering many details about the story.  But, I know how sometimes movie reviewers like to exaggerate when they’ve been pleasantly surprised by a film.  And, I recall thinking it was cute and silly.  I definitely liked this movie more than any old kids’ flick.  The movie was definitely intended for an adult audience as well as children.  But, at the risk of turning the rest of the movie critic hordes against me, I’d say that you don’t need to go out of your way to check this one out.  I think this would be an excellent choice on an airplane.  Also, a good choice if you need to pick something that will cater to a wide range of ages and sensibilities (after Thanksgiving dinner maybe?).  The movie is thoroughly inoffensive, and great for families.  I realize it sounds like I’m talking myself out of this film, but I really did enjoy having seen it.

Hereditary - Mixed Feelings

Movie: Hereditary

My Rating: 3 stars

 I have a lot of feelings about this movie.  And, a lot of other people did as well.  This is a very unconventional horror/psychological thriller starring Toni Collette.  And, I had heard from plenty of viewers that they absolutely loved the movie—that it was tense, and suspenseful, and very creepy.  But, I heard from others that they thought it was trite and stupid.  Almost no one thought it was just ok.  I trust the judgement of most everyone that I heard from.  So, I had no idea which camp I would fall into.  After having watched the film, I can say that neither of those criticisms is wrong.  But I ultimately fell into the “movie is stupid” camp for a number of reasons.  Honestly, both arguments really do have merit.  The movie really is as tense and creepy as its proponents say, but I found that the story ad too many flaws for me to overlook.

 This is a spooky movie about dark goings-on at the Graham family home.  Annie (Toni Collette) is trying to come to terms with the death of her mother, whom she hated and feared.  That kind of situation can really do a number on you psychologically.  She feels guilty for feeling so relieved by the death of a very horrible person.  And, this kind of conflict isn’t the best for Annie’s family.  Her relationship with her husband is strained.  And, her kids are acting out in troubling ways.  The tension that this story line creates sets the perfect stage for a psychological drama.  And, it really is quite suspenseful.  The tension just keeps building and building.  And, it features moments of real, grisly horror (probably some of the most gruesome and surprising I’ve seen in a while).  But, I felt like the writing was a little lazy.

 In a suspense movie that features a central mystery, the screenplay is usually sprinkled with clues and red herrings, and it’s all supposed to come together in the end for a (hopefully) surprising ending.  In a good script, enough clues will be there so that a very insightful viewer could potentially solve the mystery, but the clues shouldn’t be so obvious that the whole plot is projected for anyone with eyes and ears.  Of course, writers don’t have to stick to a formula.  It’s often fun when they try experimental things.  But, I get annoyed when a screenwriter, with all these narratives tools available, can’t pull a story together in a satisfying way.  And, I was disappointed with how this movie ties things up.  It took a very sinister story, developed the plot and characters in very meaningful ways, and then the explanation for the central mystery turned out to be just the first red herring we see.  I felt that the climax fell pretty flat.

 I realize that this review seems a bit harsh, and it makes it sound like I didn’t like the film at all.  But, I did find things to like about it.  I really do like creepy horror films.  And, this film captures the right aesthetic, and ominous feel.  And, if you like horror movies, this one does have a few tricks up its sleeve.  But, I don’t think it’s necessary viewing.

High Noon - Classic Cooper

Movie: High Noon

My Rating: 3 stars

 This movie is apparently a favorite of most of the modern U.S. presidents.  Something about the story of a lone hero with the courage to stand up to a gang of thugs really appeals to the kind of narcissist who seeks high office.  In this story, the news is going ‘round that notorious outlaw Frank Miller is coming to town on the noon train to get revenge on the man who put him in prison.  When all the other men in town chicken out and decide to flee town, the sheriff (Gary Cooper), is the only tough guy in town with the mettle to face Miller and his gang.  How’s that for a macho male fantasy?  But seriously, this movie is a classic.  And, even though the story is a bit simple, it accomplishes some interesting things cinematically.

 This movie is your classic, ticking clock thriller.  And, it really takes advantage of the disappearing minutes to ratchet up the tension.  Frank Miller is an ever-looming, ominous cloud over the whole town, even though he doesn’t show up until the last few minutes of the film.  The closer we get to noon, the more frazzled Gary Cooper gets.  His energy then turns to weariness as he realizes that none of the friends who said they’d back him up in the confrontation are actually going to follow through.  (Of course, there is one old man, and one young kid who offer their help genuinely, but these sincere, yet useless offers just make the sheriff all the sadder).  Eventually, his emotional fatigue turns to resignation as he acknowledges the inevitability that he’ll be facing Miller alone. 

 This movie is all about Gary Cooper.  But there are a few other notable performances in there too.  Grace Kelly plays his religious, pacifist fiancé, and her character seems about as much fun as a bowl of porridge.  Kelly does a good job of playing a dull, pretty thing—an ultra-feminine, helpless stick in the mud.  It’s a good thing she’s got that pretty face, because the sheriff’s ex-girlfriend, played by Katy Jurado, has got the real goods—an independent disposition, an irrepressible spirit, and a figure that won’t quit.  That chick is sharp.  But, maybe she was a bit too much woman for the sheriff.  He seems like the kind of guy who wants to feel in control.  And, that kind of lady is nothing if not unpredictable.

 I think this movie is edited very well.  It doesn’t play out in real time, but it’s pretty close.  The audience can feel the minutes ticking away.  And, it gives us a great glimpse into human nature.  Some people panic, some flee, some lie.  The brave ones stand up to the threat, whether it’s advisable or not.  Humans don’t seem to be all that great at assessing the odds of their survival.  In the end, most people make foolish choices.  And, I guess there’s some comfort in knowing that a lot of us are in the same boat.  I think it’s all of these elements that make this movie a classic.  There are a lot of different lessons a person can take away from the movie, and it’s interesting to see who leaves with what.

All About Eve - The Original Frenemy

Movie: All About Eve

Rating: 4 stars

 This is a classic movie about what a rough life show biz is.  It’s about how you can never rest on your laurels as a working actor—about how there’s always someone younger and hungrier out there just waiting to steal your place in the spotlight.  But, I think there’s a bit more to this story than that.  It isn’t presented as a simple cautionary tale.  There’s a lot more suspense and drama, and stomach sinking revelations.  This movie is almost edited like a horror movie, and that’s why I find it so fascinating.

 This movie is, of course, a Bette Davis classic.  She plays the famed stage actress, Margo Channing.  And, Anne Baxter plays Eve, the innocent, little, backstage fan-girl, who snags the job of Margo’s assistant.  Of course, as the story unfolds we learn that Eve’s intentions are hardly innocent.  She has a sweet face, and demure demeanor, but is secretly a viper, just waiting for Margo to have a moment of weakness in which to strike.  I’ve never quite understood the appeal of a “frenemy” relationship.  I have a really low tolerance for this kind of undermining behavior and passive-aggressive barbs.  And, I don’t really understand why people seem to be willing to tolerate it in a “friend.”  Either two people like each other, and enjoy one another’s company, or they don’t.  Why waste time hanging around someone you secretly kinda hate?  But, there’s a lot about human motivations that will forever remain a mystery to me. 

 Despite all the warped psychology, this is a pretty fun movie.  Bette Davis is always a riot.  I love a willful, snarky, ill-tempered movie star.  And, that’s basically Davis’ brand.  She really commands all the attention in the room.  Anne Baxter’s Eve may be mercenary and conniving, but her character doesn’t hold a candle to Davis’ Margo.  And, I can’t entirely tell whether that’s due to the characters, or the personalities behind them.  Additionally, the movie features a few scenes with Marilyn Monroe before she became a star.  It’s obvious, even with the short amount of screen-time she gets in this film, why Monroe went on to become a really big deal.  She’s quite the attention-grabber.

This movie is all about the ladies.  The male characters might as well not be there.  And, that’s always kinda fun.  Sure, the guys are the focus of a few plot points, but they really just serve as pawns in the power struggle.  Their presence isn’t necessary.  The same narrative points could be made by merely mentioning them.  This movie is a true classic and is definitely worth seeing.  The story is well-crafted.  The editing is creepy and suspenseful.  And, the acting is captivating.  Don’t let the old-timey, black and white nature of the movie keep you away from it.

Solo: A Star Wars Story - I'd Love to Hear Your Thoughts

Movie: Solo: A Star Wars Story

My Rating: 3 stars

 This movie was fun enough.  It’s the story of Han Solo’s famous “Kessel run” of Star Wars lore, and a deeper look into his back story.  And, it was fun to get more insight into some old, Star Wars canon.  We get to see Han meet Chewy and Lando Calrissian.  We learn a biut more about his troublesome relationship with women.  And, this is where he gets his ship.  But, somehow these newer installments feel a bit more like Star Wars drag to me, rather than a natural extension of the franchise.  The Disney film studio is definitely getting the aesthetics right.  Everything looks great, and very authentic.  And, they’re hitting all the right narrative beats.  But something seems to be missing, and I can’t quite put my finger on it.

I know it’s hard to revive much-loved, old film franchises.  It’s impossible to please everyone, because people have a lot of emotional investment in the stories and worlds they create.  And, emotions are a very tricky thing to satisfy.  But, I think some have definitely pulled off the trick successfully.  Of course, opinions differ wildly, but I thought the modern continuation of Blade Runner was pretty true to character.  Alien 3 wasn’t so bad (although admittedly, all the ones that followed it were pretty disappointing).  And, the new Mad Max revival is fantastic.  I suspect that many people feel the way I do about this Han Solo movie, because it wasn’t a box office success.  But, strangely, I haven’t heard many individual people’s opinions on the film.  I don’t know how my Star Wars fan friends felt about this one, and I’m very curious to hear what they have to say.  And, I’m willing to listen to arguments.

There’s no reason not to see this movie.  It’s a fun adventure story.  And, Alden Ehrenreich is actually really good in the lead role.  Emilia Clarke is everywhere these days.  (Not sure if that’s a good thing or not yet).  And of course, Donald Glover is stealing the show as Lando Calrissian. All the lead actors are very charming.  And, it’s always a good time dipping one’s toes back in the Star Wars waters.  I’m not sure I’m being very fair with my criticisms of this film, and I’d love to hear any counter arguments.  Because, I suspect  I’m just falling prey to the same emotional response that’s warping my judgement.

Us - Cryptic, But Interesting

Movie: Us

My Rating: 3 stars

 This movie is Jordan Peele’s next foray into horror films after his last, Get Out.  And, it required a little thought . . . well, a lot of thought, actually.  Us is a very scary movie, and it starts of like a standard home-invasion horror flick.  But, then it gets a little more esoteric and difficult to understand.  In fact, when I got home after seeing this movie, I immediately looked up several different articles explaining what it meant.  And honestly, that helped clear up a lot of my confusion.  After reading a few pieces about all the symbolism I figured out what message the movie was trying to communicate.  And, at that point it made more sense.  But, that shouldn’t have been necessary.

 With that criticism out of the way, I’m free to tell you that I found the movie to be fun, very scary, and unbelievably tense.  It’s a full-on, home-invasion, slasher movie—with the added horror of the psycho killers being physical doubles for the people they are hunting.  The imagery is chilling.  The idea of bumping into a copy of oneself is terrifying on its own.  But, then the clones reveal themselves to be shrieking, speechless husks, carrying chest-stabbing scissors.  The main plot follows all the traditional tropes of the genre without being overly predictable.    It’s the B plot where things get a little tricky.  Apparently, it’s all a big metaphor for the disaster that was the Hands Across America charade in the 80s.  And, that’s the bit that I needed to read up on afterward.  I wouldn’t have guessed that part on my own.  And, I guess the movie illustrates that point well enough once you know what it’s trying to do.  But, I’m not so sure it makes for the most coherent story.  However, I don’t think that’s a reason not to go see it.

Overall, I liked this movie.  The pacing is tense.  And, the acting is terrifying.  And, it’s amazing once you remember that every actor essentially plays two roles—the “good” version, and the very very scary “bad” one.  Of course, I was predisposed to like the film.  I really enjoyed Get Out, so, I was pretty excited to see this next attempt.  And, it has a lot of the same weird quirkiness.  But, it’s a bit more high-concept.  I’ll keep seeing Peele’s movies.  And you should go ahead and see this one too if you’re into horror films.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs - Bleak Stuff

Movie: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

My Rating: 5 stars

 This is one of the darkest, most wonderful collection of short stories I’ve seen in a really long time.  I was almost completely shocked by what I was watching, thinking that there was no way a movie studio would have greenlit such a subversive film.  But, then I remembered that it was a Netflix exclusive, and they’ve been known to get behind some pretty unorthodox material.  This is a set of six, dark, short stories—each one more horrible and ghoulish than the last.  All of them are set in the Old West . . . or at least “frontier country.”  And each story has some terrible observation to make about human nature, or about just what a bitch fate can be sometimes.

 I knew absolutely nothing about this movie before sitting down to watch it, so I was really taken by surprise.  I knew it was a Coen Brothers film, and I remembered that they’ve always had a pretty sardonic streak in their work.  But, I don’t think I ever thought of them as being quite this bleak.  But, perhaps I’m looking at this all wrong.  I’m painting the movie as harsh drama, where it really is black comedy.  Sure, it’s comedy that’ll have you shaking a fist at the heavens.  And, it may incite an existential crisis or two.  But, that’s pretty much a weekly occurrence around my place.  And frankly, that’s the kind of movie I like best.  I like the kind of people that like them too.  And, this really is a great film.  There are tons of great actors—it really is an enormous ensemble cast—and they’re all doing a great job.  The sets are impressive, and the cinematography is gorgeous.  The filmmaking captures a lot of the spectacular natural beauty of the frontier that most of the old Western films pretty much ignore—mountain panoramas, beautiful big skies, deep, dark forests, etc.  And, the gorgeous scenery is such a perfect contrast against the twisted stories the film has to tell.  It’s very well done.

I loved this movie.  I’d watch it again, except that the surprise of each story really is half the fun.  I would absolutely recommend it to anybody hearty enough to roll with the ironic gut punches.  This isn’t a movie for sensitive babies.  Because, there really isn’t much reprieve from the dark material.  I’ve been thinking about it ever since I saw it, and I love when a movie can make me do that.  Check it out and let me know which story you liked best.

Double Indemnity - The Grand-Daddy of Noir

Movie: Double Indemnity

My Rating: 3 stars

 I was fun getting to see the movie that essentially got the whole Film Noir trend rolling.  In my head, this type of movie has always been about men in fedoras, smoking cigarettes, fast dames showing off their gams, dim rooms with venetian blinds, and a pretty thin story.  And, this movie checks off all those boxes in order.  But hey, I guess these well-worn movie tropes had to get their start somewhere!  But, the result was that I almost couldn’t watch this movie with a straight face, it was so by the book.  I couldn’t internalize the fact that this was the script that wrote that book.  So, I guess that’s one drawback to coming to these classic movies so late in life.  I’ve been exposed to so much of its progeny, that I almost couldn’t enjoy the original.  But, I’d like to think that I can at least intellectually appreciate the novelty that this movie was in its day.

 This story is a good, old, sexually-charged murder thriller.  A crooked, (fedora-wearing) insurance adjuster (Fred MacMurray), takes up with a mouthy, gam-baring, married dame (Barbara Stanwyck).  And, their plan is to murder her husband for his life insurance money.  Of course, if they can make the death look like a crazy accident, they can trigger the “double indemnity” clause and get twice the dough.  Naturally, they plan this caper while smoking in dim rooms with Venetian blinds pulled.  It’s dark and sexy, and I’m always surprised by how risqué some of these old-timey movies can get.  Of course, movies back then couldn’t make any explicit sexual references.  But, that just means that the screenwriters and directors became masters of innuendo.  Banning something doesn’t get rid of it, it just drives it underground.

 This is a fun movie to watch if you’re interested in cinematic history.  It’s ground zero for the hundreds of copy-cat movies that followed.  And, that’s kind of the reason why I didn’t find it to be wildly entertaining.  The market has become so saturated with all these noir tropes that I couldn’t view this film with fresh eyes.  But, it played an important part in the development of film and storytelling.  So, if you want to learn more about that kind of thing, it’s always best to start with the original.  And, I suppose watching this film will help you spot references made elsewhere.  So, give it a go.

Apocalypse Now Redux - Better Now That I'm Older

Movie: Apocalypse Now Redux

My Rating: 3 stars

 I saw this movie about fifteen years ago (maybe more), and I absolutely hated it.  It had felt like an interminable slog that didn’t really know where it was going.  But, I was significantly younger.   And, I definitely understand the value of waiting to watch something until you’re emotionally ready for it—either in terms of mood and energy level, or emotional maturity.  So, when the Unspooled podcast got to this entry on the AFI top 100 films list, I decided that it was worth my time to give this movie another go.  And, I definitely think it was worth it.  I enjoyed the movie a lot better this time around.  I don’t know if it’s because I’ve matured significantly, or if I understood better what to expect from it.  But, this time around I knew well enough to embrace the tone of chaos and uncertainty.

There’s a lot going on in this movie—so many layers of sociopolitical statements and literary references.  It’s Francis Ford Coppola’s epic drama, fusing the hopelessness and anarchy of the Vietnam War with the horrors and chaos of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness.  Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is sent on a secret mission to hunt down and kill Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando), who has gone utterly insane (both the character and the actor).  The story takes Willard and his crew down the river right through the Vietnam war, and continues deep into Cambodia to find their target.  There’s a lot of message here, and the film is very heavy-handed about it.  The plot features one atrocity after another—sometimes with a hazy dream logic—and shrugs off each one with a sense of detached nihilism and inevitability.  It’s a very depressing view of human nature, and it can really drag you down if you let it.  If you approach this movie in a patient mood, the film is actually quite powerful and impacting.  So, even though you can see many of the narrative “strings,” it’s executed in such a competent way that the film is worthy of respect.

This is an important movie.  The acting is pretty amazing, and the cinematography is otherworldly.  I agree wholeheartedly with its inclusion on the AFI top 100 movies list.  And, I’ve reached a point where I have the patience and inclination to give all these significant films a go.  I mentioned in previous reviews that I’ve actually been quite surprised by how many of the films I’ve genuinely enjoyed.  And, this one was definitely better this second time around.  It’s still not a wildly entertaining flick.  But, it was never intended to be.  And, there’s plenty of black humor alongside the ham-fisted drama, and I always enjoy a bit of that.  I say this one is worthwhile.  But approach it in the right mindset.

Before the Light Takes Us - Black Metal Examined

Movie: Until the Light Takes Us

My Rating: 4 stars

 Black Metal has always had a pretty sinister reputation—most of that, by design.  People have always enjoyed a good amount of pearl-clutching and sotto voce moralizing about things considered “Satanic.”  I never really put much stock in the whole Black Metal = Satanism thing.  But, I never really knew how seriously to take those claims.  So, I decided to go to the definitive documentary about the topic, and the events that caused such media panic.  I am, of course, referring to the murder, suicide, and series of church burnings in Norway that were attributed to the Black Metal movement in the 1990s.

 The public has always loved a good Satanic scare.  I don’t think they really even care that it isn’t really a real thing.  Or, that when musicians do claim to be involved in Satanic rituals these days, it’s thoroughly tongue-in-cheek, and designed to be provocative.  Of course, I don’t want to detract from the experiences of honest, practicing Satanists.  I know they’re out there holding their weird, nude, Gnostic masses, as is their right.  But most of the stuff that the media and the general public consider to be Satanic is really just some teenagers engaging in a little light rebellion, and trying to feel important.  And, I think that’s exactly what the Norwegian Black Metal scene was all about.  It was about disaffected teens rejecting mainstream, middle-class values.  They were abandoning the strict expectations of their Christian upbringings.  They were disavowing capitalism, and the consumerism that goes along with it.  And, for a group of teen boys who wanted to forcefully renounce conformism, getting into a purposefully dark, discordant musical movement (ironically?) provided them with the sense of belonging and power that that they craved.  So, I think the movement was always only about insecurity, not communing with the devil.

I enjoyed this documentary very much.  It mostly focuses on two musicians from the band Darkthrone—Gylve “Fenris” Nagell and Varg Vikernes—with a few snippets from other musicians.  Fenris is still in the music scene, producing tracks, and making appearances.  He gives his interviews for this documentary from a variety of different locations—preening in a photo studio, grinning in his messy bedroom, brooding in a bleak, snowy, Norwegian forest, and feeling uncomfortable at an art gallery.  He’s adorable.  I know that’s probably not the vibe Fenris was going for.  He was probably going for more of a “dark lord” thing.  But, he’s just so cute in is dark little outfits, and tossing his glossy locks (that he clearly takes very good care of).  Of course, the story is completely different with Varg Vikernes.  As the one responsible for the murder and various church burnings that brought down so much media attention, he is giving his interview from prison.  And in contrast to Fenris, he’s clean-cut, in a regular t-shirt.  And, his interview is strangely chipper and candid.  When I started watching the movie, I thought the roles were switched.  I didn’t know too much about this case ahead of time, so at the beginning, I thought Fenris was the one who had committed all the crimes, and that Vikernes was the one giving context by casually chatting about his silly, angsty period.  I was actually pretty shocked when I figured out I had it backward.  That’s good editing for ya.

 I think this documentary will be interesting to anyone interested in different musical or countercultural movements.  There’s a lot of meat here.  It was a vibrant scene with a rich tapestry of practices and norms.  The outfits were pretty fun.  It was wildly misunderstood by the mainstream culture.  And, of course, there’s the whole Satanic murder scandal.  There’s a lot of material to work with here.  And, the documentary covers it pretty well.  But, I do need to strongly warn you that the film includes some VERY disturbing images of a suicide that it just springs on the audience without any warning.  It’s graphic, and very grisly, and the image is honestly going to haunt me for the rest of my days.  So, if that’s something you need to avoid to maintain your sanity, skip this film.  But, I don’t think it’s enough to warn you away from the movie if you’re interested in learning more about the Black Metal scene.  If you’re into that kind of stuff, you’re probably already either desensitized to disturbing images, or have a healthy understanding of why it’s sometimes important to witness tragedy.  I’m glad I watched it.  But, you should rely on your own judgment for yourself.

Generation Wealth - American Excess

Movie: Generation Wealth

My Rating: 4 stars

 This is a really interesting film.  It’s a documentary by Lauren Greenfield investigating what it is about American culture that encourages us to pursue money so single-mindedly.  The documentary already looked pretty interesting on its own, but when I learned that Greenfield was the same director who brought us The Queen of Versailles, I was sold.  That was the film about a time-share mogul, and the hideous mansion his family was building to look just like Versailles.  I enjoyed the perverse humor of that film, watching an ex-beauty queen earnestly giving us a tour of her truly ugly home.  And, I also respected the journalism.  Not only does Lauren Greenfield show viewers the vulgar results of American culture run amok, but she also seeks to uncover the underlying causes.

 This documentary focuses on individuals that Greenfield has been following and photographing over a number of years.  We see the photos she took of her subjects over a decade ago when they were young and flaunting their possessions and physiques.  And, we catch up with these individuals today as they give interviews about their lives back then, and talk about how their motivations have changed over the years.  Greenfield does an amazing job of capturing raw emotion in her prints, whether it be happiness, ambition, or sadness.  Really, a lot of the stories are a little more bitter than sweet.  Much of the film’s tone focuses on individuals’ dogged pursuit of wealth and their confusion as to why they still feel so empty even after acquiring their status symbols.  But fortunately, most of the interview subjects have gained some perspective over time, and understand themselves a lot better now.  This kind of journalism makes the viewer feel a lot of empathy for other people.  (Or, it made me feel that way, at least).  And, as horrified as I was by some of the behavior documented in the film, I really valued the compassion it made me feel for humanity and all its foibles.

I highly recommend this film.  It’s fascinating, and it provides viewers more than just a bit of cheap entertainment.  Of course, it is very entertaining too.  It’s fun to get a peek into the lives of very grand, delusional people (and deluded  people striving to be very grand).  But the film will also get you thinking and examining your life.  That’s always a bonus.