Not sure how to write a review about a revelation without spoiling this film written by my cherished Safdie brothers (Good Time, Daddy Long Legs) and their writing partner Ronald Bronstein. BUT I will keep my promise!! Suffice to say it’s a must see and certainly breaks into my top ten at ‘lucky’ number 7… Continue reading Uncut Gems: Sparkling!
Category: action/suspense
“Parasite”: Impressive Korean New Wave But Will it Be Oscar’s Fave?
Bong Joon Ho, is part of the Korean New Wave and writer and director of what some say is ‘Picture of the Year”. But what makes a film worthy of such a moniker? It all comes down to story (and scene moments), acting and cinematography. Let’s take story first. Like Joker, Parasite tackles class and… Continue reading “Parasite”: Impressive Korean New Wave But Will it Be Oscar’s Fave?
No “First Man”, But No Second Banana Either: Ad Astra
First of all, do you know what Ad Astra means? It’s a Latin phrase meaning: “Through Hardships to the Stars”. My former Latin teacher friends; Steve Beaulieu, Mary Belleville, and Susie Scoppa will appreciate that mini lesson. But Ad Astra is also the title of the new movie by James Gray. I don’t own any… Continue reading No “First Man”, But No Second Banana Either: Ad Astra
Lean on Pete, Saddle Up, It’s a Wild Ride
My brother recommended Lean on Pete (directed by Andrew Haigh, also of 45 Years, another solid film) and I joked with him after that he’d owe for the Valium needed to come down from the angst. But the bigger question is, my brother didn’t like the Florida Project due to its realism, so why did… Continue reading Lean on Pete, Saddle Up, It’s a Wild Ride
Killing of a Sacred Deer, Communal Grousing Fun
Immediately following (and actually many times during) my friend Tim and I derisively mocked the film Killing of a Sacred Deer. “Implausible”, “Who cares about these non-emotional people?”, “No mother is ever going to say (with the exception in this silly classic horror film trope), ‘Don’t involve the cops’”. But there I was the following… Continue reading Killing of a Sacred Deer, Communal Grousing Fun
Undulous and Evocative Swells: The Shape of Water
I remember the first time I heard Schubert’s Winterreise on NPR, white knuckle driving the snowy commute from home to school. Made more poignant by dancer Bill T Jone’s tale of watching his father’s brutal walk in the bitter cold to make ends meet for his family. (https://www.wabe.org/winter-songs-bill-t-jones-picks-schuberts-winterreise/) The music and memory made me calm.… Continue reading Undulous and Evocative Swells: The Shape of Water
That’s amore`, that’s a screenplay! Spinelli’s American Made
Two aspects of American Made immediately impressed me; first the taut screenplay by Gary Spinelli* and Tom Cruise‘s perpetual likeability**. *I’ll continue to research, but thus far, there’s not a whole lot of bio information about Gary Spinelli. I assume he’s relatively new at screenwriting according to the short list of his writings on IMDB.… Continue reading That’s amore`, that’s a screenplay! Spinelli’s American Made
Twilight is Broken and thank goodness: Good Time
If it hadn’t been for Jennifer Jason Leigh’s interview on Marc Maron’s podcast, I would have been very reluctant to see Good Time. I mean a crime drama starring the dude from Twilight isn’t exactly in my wheel house of interests. But JJ Leigh interested me, even more so her back story, her dad Vic… Continue reading Twilight is Broken and thank goodness: Good Time
Adam “Baby” Driver, Just One Reason to see Logan Lucky
Logan Lucky was just what the doctor ordered, a squeeze in of fun between one enervating work shift and before a totally different, and oft times lonely eight hours. I shan’t bore you with the details, besides there’s too much to say about Logan Lucky. Not just because Adam Driver, is the attractive introverted, quirky,… Continue reading Adam “Baby” Driver, Just One Reason to see Logan Lucky
One Outta Three Ain’t Bad: Gilliam, Gillespie and LaGravenese
I attempted three movies in the last five days and only got through one…I know, rescind my film fanatic card. Ya see, I need some comedy in my life and that wasn’t going to happen in any way shape or form in The Last Five Years (LaGravense-a name that works-‘grave’) nor in Lars and The… Continue reading One Outta Three Ain’t Bad: Gilliam, Gillespie and LaGravenese