Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Spenser Confidential - A Marky Mark movie on Netflix?? Yes, Please! Even better, a Peter Berg directed, Marky Mark movie on Netflix!!?? It's exactly what you would expect, so if it's not your thing then it's pretty easy to avoid it. I, however, was completely entertained by it. I wasn't even too bothered that the actress who plays Marky Mark's (ex)-girlfriend is a terrible actress. Her over-the-top Boston persona made up for it, and her chemistry with Mark is undeniable. She even made me laugh a few times (the Batman comparison, and when she calls the other guy "Big Boi"). I also laughed at Mark's confusion about "the cloud" because that is totally me, but that also makes me feel really old (I mean, I sort of get it, but technology is just not my friend). Another thing that makes me feel old is that I recognized Post Malone from the beginning, but then I realized I only know him from "the kids" talking about him. I don't actually know what he does. This movie is ultimately just another paint-by-numbers action/murder mystery, but I had fun with it. The ending sets up for a sequel and I am totally in for it.

2. Where'd You Go, Bernadette - I didn't hear the best things about this movie, but for some reason I still had high hopes. I even bought the book (haven't read it yet - my reading has slipped this year, I've only read 2 books, so far!). Cate Blanchett is still my favorite actress (although Jessica Chastain is now a close second), and she is terrific in this, as expected. And another favorite actress of mine is also in this, unexpectedly, Kristen Wiig. I adore her. Unfortunately, the story is just so dull and elitist. I appreciate what it is trying to do, but it just comes off as disingenuous. It's basically trying to make a statement on what happens to an artist if they stop creating. Bernadette halts her creativity in favor of motherhood, and then once her daughter is almost all grown-up, Bernadette is forced to confront her decision. She basically has a mental breakdown, but it's something that has been building up for years. There are a few moments that are really well done, like when her husband (played by Billy Crudup) confronts her and talks about how he felt her elbows to see if she was an alien. And when she says the line "I'm not good at being exposed to people" (I feel you Bernadette). Overall, though, it's a mess of a movie - completely unfocused and devoid of genuine emotion.

3. Sorry to Bother You - I'm not quite sure how I feel about this movie yet. I appreciate that it is really original, and relishes in its absurdity, while also being about something very real, and very serious. LaKeith Stanfield and Tessa Thompson are a dream. There are some terrific moments - the catalyst for the plot is the "white voice" ("I'm not talking about Will Smith white" LOL), is overall fantastic and something I don't think is talked about in film very often. Also, the moment where Armie Hammer asks him to rap, assuming that he must know how. There are these small moments of racism that happen in everyday life that people don't even realize are racist. I'm reminded of one of my managers at work who is black. The amount of times someone comments to her about how professional she is and/or sounds (as if it's a surprise) and ugh I cringed at the moment she commented on liking Dave Matthews Band, and my other manager replied "wow I never thought you would even know who that is". Anyway, I think this movie does a really good job of showing these smaller moments, without being preachy. I got a little lost in the absurdity of it all, and some of it felt a little repetitive, but I would still recommend it.

4. Uncut Gems - I agree with most of the praise for this movie - it grips you right away, and is extremely tense, and ambitiously paced. And Adam Sandler is incredible (it definitely should have been Leo DiCaprio, Taron Egerton, Eddie Murphy, Joaquin Phoenix, and Sandler for the Best Actor nomination). The rest of the cast is also really solid - the second movie in a row that I watched featuring LaKeith Stanfield (total coincidence), Idina Menzel, and why-oh-why was nobody talking about how amazing Julia Fox is? And this is her first feature film? Holy fucking shit, she is perfect. I also now know who The Weeknd is! First, Post Malone and now The Weeknd! I feel super hip now, you guys. I'm assuming Kevin Garnett is also a pretty famous Basketball player in real life, too? I don't follow Basketball (i.e the dumbest sport, but also a little personal tidbit - I am super good at basketball. At least the getting the ball in the hoop part. I'm too short to actually play, which is why it's a dumb sport). I think my biggest criticism about this movie is that it feels dated - nothing about it seems modern. If it didn't feature modern celebrities, I would be convinced it takes place in the 90s. The ending is spectacular though, and somehow unexpected. And that final shot with the "colors of the universe" is stunning.

5. The Lion King (2019) - Ok, so The Lion King is my favorite Disney animated movie (actually on a different day, I might say The Little Mermaid, but it is definitely a tie between those two). I had the soundtrack when I was a kid and I used to blast it on repeat for hours on end. I named my cat "Simba" with the intention of naming my next cat "Nala", but I ended up getting a male cat (so he was named "Milo" after Milo and Otis. Side-note, both of my babies passed away recently. They were born only 6 months apart and they died 4 months apart. They were best friends for life and I miss them both dearly.). Most of the criticism I read about this movie is that the colors are lost with the "live-action", which is true (I mean, just LOOK at that poster!). It makes me really sad. But, my biggest criticism is the music. I cringed so hard the second that "Circle of Life" started. It's not that it sounded bad, per se, but it just doesn't sound...right. My cat enjoyed the whole thing in its entirety, so it's not a total loss, but I found the whole thing unnecessary. I still cried at Mufasa's death though. It just hits me so hard. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Trial by Fire - I hadn't heard of this movie, but I came across it while scrolling for something to watch. Jack O'Connell and Laura Dern certainly peaked my interest. It's based on a true story about a man who was executed for killing his 3 children in a fire, despite there being a significant amount of evidence proving his innocence. It's definitely an interesting story, but the film doesn't give it the emotional resonance that this story needs. It feels like a TV movie - which isn't really an insult anymore, but I meant it as one. I usually love Jack O'Connell (he will ALWAYS be Cook from Skins, to me), but this performance is rough - the awful American accent combined with the white-trash persona, it just felt so inauthentic. There was a highlight with Emily Meade, though. She felt like a real person, flawed and confused. I also appreciated that they never shied away from how awful this couple were - they were both physically and emotionally abusive to each other, and were probably terrible parents, but it doesn't necessarily make him a murderer, though. He was definitely convicted based on his background and his past immoral behavior, and that's where the problem lies. It's just a terribly tragic story on many levels, but I wish the film was stronger.

2. On the Basis of Sex - While this was a typical biopic that I'm not necessarily thrilled about, I still enjoyed watching it. It's a cute movie that gives a little insight into Ruth Bader Ginsburg's rise to the Supreme Court, but it also delves into her marriage and her relationship with her daughter (who idolizes Gloria Steinem). It's always a joy to watch Felicity Jones - she's just such a delight. Plus, I learned a few things! (1.) I knew Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an amazing woman, but I didn't realize just how amazing. (2.) I had no idea her husband had testicular cancer back in the 50s. And she took his classes for him so that he could stay in Law School while undergoing treatment. I absolutely LOVE their love story. They are both so inspiring. (3.) I never realized how tiny she is. I know this seems trivial, but it's really hard to be taken seriously, not only as a woman, but especially as a tiny woman (trust me). The only thing I hated about the movie was the final shot - it was so poorly done and unnecessary. We already know what RBG looks like.

3. Knives Out - I enjoyed this movie a lot, but I didn't love it like I was expecting to. The cast is phenomenal - led by the stunning Ana de Armas. I am so excited that she is EVERYWHERE now. I fell in love with her in Blade Runner 2049 and I'm so excited to see her as a Bond girl. The rest of the cast is a dream - Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, the girl from 13 Reasons Why, Daniel Craig (I'm leaving off Chris Evans, sorry, he's just so dull. I'll never understand why people are so obsessed with him. Although he's been funny before with The Losers and Scott Pilgrim. Overall, though, BLAAAAHHH.). I think I went in with the "trust nothing" attitude, so that's exactly what I did and that led me to assume that the story that was presented as the "truth" was not in fact "the truth". I guessed who did it, but I definitely would never have figured out how that person did it. I wish it was a little campier (like Clue or Once Upon a Crime), I just didn't have as much fun watching it because it took itself a little too seriously. There are a few funny moments - I loved the reference to "Flam", which is obviously a jab at Gwyneth Paltrow's "Goop" company (on a side-note, at work I was asked to listen to a podcast with Gwyneth and some other ridiculous woman about women in leadership. This is what the world is coming to - I'm supposed to take advice on leadership from Gwyneth fucking Paltrow. Fucking kill me.).

4. Alita: Battle Angel - Once you get past the "look" of it, it's an ok movie. But I had a really hard time with visuals for at least an hour before I was able to focus on anything else. There are a few things I really enjoyed - It has a really, really fascinating sci-fi premise. Jennifer Connelly is wonderful, as always, and Rosa Salazar is fantastic (but ruined by the special effects, such a shame). The scene in the pub is wonderful and very effective, and the last hour had a really intense pace that I appreciated. Everything else is pretty tough. Aside from the visuals, the second worst part of the movie was the guy who played Hugo. The lines are always cheesy with movies like this, but he really took it to another level of cheese. Also, I wish some of the supporting cast were featured more because there are some really awesome people involved (Eiza Gonzalez, Jackie Earle Haley, Mahershala Ali). I think it's weird that it has this fairly large cult following of people demanding sequels and such. It's very mediocre overall.

5. The Dead Don't Die - I always assumed I was a Jim Jarmusch fan, but after looking at his filmography, I'm not so sure. I liked Broken Flowers to a degree, same for Only Lovers Left Alive, but man, did I loathe Paterson (and I don't think I've ever seen Coffee And Cigarettes). This is by far, my favorite film of his, and I think it's weird that it's his worst according to reviews. I thought it was really interesting, and different, and hilariously sarcastic. At first, I was really aggravated by the sight of Adam Driver (whyyyyy the fuck is he in EVERY movie?), but he's perfectly dry in this. I really loved the entire cast - Bill Murray, Caleb Landry Jones, RZA, Tilda Swinton, Chloe Sevigny - they all played to their strengths. My favorite scene is when they discover the two murdered waitresses - it's so awkwardly odd and serious, but also dryly funny. I also loved that they kept ironically referring to Selena Gomez as a "hipster" because if I close my eyes and picture a celebrity hipster, it is most definitely Adam Driver and Chloe Sevigny. And my favorite bit was towards the end when it just goes full-blown meta ("I know because I read the script" - I gasped with shock and laughter). I had a lot of fun watching this movie and I would actually consider watching it again, because I feel like I might have missed a lot of smaller jokes.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Ma - Octavia Spencer is always great, but this movie is not. The plot is actually a good one, for a horror movie, but it takes so long to get to the point. Absolutely nothing happens for the first hour of the movie. I like the main girl, I recognize her from Booksmart. But there are a bunch of supporting actors, who are only in it for mere minutes, who are way to good to be utilized in this way (Luke Evans, Allison Janney, Juliette Lewis). Once it finally gets going it becomes a fun, cheesy horror movie full of cliches and dumb dialogue. And Luke Evans' penis (which I was not expecting. The only time I jumped through the whole movie!!!). Also, this is going to make me sound like an unsympathetic bitch but the catalyst for the movie (the reason she is crazy) is really dumb - *spoiler* she was bullied, because that's what every movie like this is about nowadays. How about people take some personal responsibility for their own actions, you know? She willingly went into that closet. People don't deserve to die just because you're a gullible idiot.

2. The Hustle - Wow. So bad. Not even a little bit good. The trailer was pretty terrible, but I thought it could be cute. I've enjoyed Rebel Wilson in the past (I thought Isn't it Romantic was super cute, and I never expected that to happen). And I like Anne Hathaway. It's supposed to be a gender-swapped Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, but it fails in so many ways. First, it's not funny at all. Like, not one joke landed. Second, Hathaway's British accent was so insane. It hurt my brain to listen to her. Third, the whole thing is really anti-men, and it terrifies me that this is seen as being a good thing for women. The whole con-artist part relies on the fact that "no man will believe that a woman is smarter than he is" (actual line from the movie), which is just ludicrous. But then the kicker is that *major spoiler* they get fucking played by a man. Then what in the actual fuck is the point of this movie? OH...wait...I just remembered back to my earlier point about it not being funny - I did laugh once, when she made fun of her Beetlejuice suit. That was a good one.

3. Parasite - I wanted to believe the hype, but it was hard considering that I believed the hype surrounding Snowpiercer, and I thought that movie was...just "ok". While I did find this to be a much better movie, I'm not in love with it as most cinephiles are. I enjoyed it. It's well-made, and wonderfully acted. It will definitely be in my Top 10 from last year (probably top 3), but that doesn't mean it's a masterpiece - it just means that last year was a shitty year for movies (at least from what I've seen so far). I was actually a little annoyed with this movie in the beginning. It's hard to believe that poor people worry about phones and wifi? Is that poor now? Because when I was poor we worried about food and shelter and heat (and we walked to school uphill both ways!!!). I'm not trying to be unsympathetic, but I genuinely just don't understand - it's weird to me that the internet has become a necessity. Anyway, there comes a point in the movie, about half-way through, when I finally bought into this family and this story and really started to enjoy it. And then, once the rain starts, it gets so good I get goosebumps thinking about it. I was under the impression that this was a horror movie, for some reason, and it's definitely not, so I think I also kept waiting for the "horror" part which was a disservice. Overall though, it is a brilliant story about class - the symbiotic relationship between the wealthy and the poor. There is also an amazing balance of controlled chaos. It felt like the movie was going to bubble over every second, but it holds back until the end, and it is very satisfying.

Judy - This movie just makes me so angry. Well, actually, it's the performance that makes me angry. Wait, no, it's the fact that is performance was so praised and showered with awards that makes me angry. I've never been the biggest Renee Zellweger fan - except for the Bridget Jones movies and Chicago. She is sort of this spacey, eccentric personality, and she seems intoxicated all the time (mean, but true), so I don't think this role is a stretch for her. This performance is just Renee Zellweger with really good makeup and hair. Plus, I could hear her Texas twang through the whole movie, so someone please explain to me just how this deserves an Oscar - when Lupita and Sienna Miller weren't even nominated?? Also, I was under the impression that she sings the songs herself (which is why none of the real high notes are ever featured), but it seems like she is lip-syncing through the performances (which is more of a sound-mixing issue than her fault). Judy's story is a tragedy, and just so heartbreaking but I would have loved if the movie had a little more nuance - it's just so cut and dry (A to B storytelling is just so ordinary, especially for a biopic).

5. The Best of Enemies - I watched this a few weeks ago and I just had to look up what this movie was even about, so that tells you exactly how memorable it is. I watched it for one reason, and one reason only, Sam Rockwell. He is the best at playing unlikeable characters that you still somehow root for. Taraji P. Henson is great, but that show that she is on is so awful, it makes me not like her (why are you wasting your talent on such a garbage show, Taraji??). I was surprised by Anne Hache! I haven't seen her in anything in years. I assumed, for some reason, that she quit acting? Anyway, I don't really have much to say about this movie. It's based on a true story, and I don't think it tells you anything new - But I'm actually surprised that it didn't get more attention and rave reviews like other mediocre stories about race (like Green Book). It seems like the type of movie that Oscar voters love to pat themselves on the back for.