Juror #2 was a very earnest movie directed by Clint Eastwood. I’ll say he’s sweet, as far as giving new writers a chance, as Jonathan A. Abrams has only a few movies under his belt. The writing was formulaic, but combined with excellent actors: Toni Collette, JK Simmons and Nicholas Hoult, the well edited movie… Continue reading Juror #2 & Conclave, a Twofer
Tag: Sarasota Film Society
Multi-faceted: Queer (movie title)
Queer is many movies in one. You’ve got my second favorite actor of the year Jason Swartzman doing a ‘if Tom Cruise’s character in Tropic Thunder was gay’ routine. If you were curious Anora’s Yuri Borisov, doing a Russian Ray Maxwell impression, my number one. You’ve got Lesley Manville doing a ‘if Shelley DuVall was… Continue reading Multi-faceted: Queer (movie title)
The Return: A Tribute Piece and/or Human Love Celebration
If you didn’t want to see Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche reunite after The English Patient, your need to have your blood checked for AI wires. HOWEVER, the only conclusion I can make about The Return’s flat tire feeling is that they put the film out as is, as a tribute to one of the… Continue reading The Return: A Tribute Piece and/or Human Love Celebration
Glad to Meet You, Too: Gladiator 2
Here’s a PSA for movie goers with osteoporosis: No matter how tired you are, don’t throw yourself in to the far side of your movie seat, trying to avoid sitting on the ten sweaters you brought to keep warm. Because what might happen is you clock your elbow so violently on the wooden armrest that… Continue reading Glad to Meet You, Too: Gladiator 2
A Real Pain; Jesse’s Mural
Did you get my musical allusion: Jesse’s Girl=Jesse’s Mural? I try. A Real Pain is Jesse’s mural of modern day Poland. Ok, it seems the populace seems to just want light on heavy stories this year: Anora, and now A Real Pain. Which is fine I guess, it’s like a holiday gathering where polite folks… Continue reading A Real Pain; Jesse’s Mural
Anora and Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point
Real life can’t help but blend into my blog, so this week’s difficulties are from the people who can’t seem to plan ahead and schedule anything…property sellers, Fedex, etc. But that’s why movies are crucial, they take us away to witness other people’s problems so we can forget about ours. Let’s talk about Anora. Sean… Continue reading Anora and Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point
Here by Zemeckis and the Hank-Wright Reunion
Ever wonder if society is simply disintegrating (a la the ‘character’ they created for the Catholic Church?) and if your broken family and relationships are just a reflection of all this? Well, add Robert Zemeckis to the family circus. He took a beautifully understated Graphic Novel titled Here by Richard McGuire, whose entire premise was… Continue reading Here by Zemeckis and the Hank-Wright Reunion
Sing Sing Had me at Sing
Did you know Sing Sing is from the Native American language which means stone on stone and that after Edison introduced the electric chair there in 1903 that the town changed its name to Ossining as to not be confused with the jail? And did you also know that while Joker Deux (or whatever the… Continue reading Sing Sing Had me at Sing
Between Two Temples: An Homage to Humans
Here’s a litmus test: if you see the uplifting new film by Nathan Silver and think ‘it’s weird’, you may just need to exit social media and start connecting with human beings on a face to face level. I’m just being honest here. Because if you call people simply being idiosyncratic, or constantly evolving from… Continue reading Between Two Temples: An Homage to Humans
Don’t Listen to the Critics: Dance First, Think Later
Don’t listen to the critics, which could be advice for triple causes: for Samuel Beckett, the subject of Dance First who was never good enough for his mother, for viewers who might read reviews and think they should pass on this wonderful film by James Marsh starring Gabriel Byrne, and heck for any person out… Continue reading Don’t Listen to the Critics: Dance First, Think Later