Movie #1892 ........................."Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot"

Movie #1892 "Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot"  --  stream free Amazon Prime - I came across this while looking through Amazon Prime , and since I was recently wowed by Phoenix's performance as the Joker, I thought I'd check this one out --- this is a true biopic of John Callahan who found his way out of the hell of alcohol addiction by cartooning.  I was also interested in seeing Joaquin work with the wheel chair and the debilitating consequences of a car accident he is in when stone drunk -- He made it look quite authentic and got the rebellious  spirit of John Callahan across throughout the film.  Phoenix has been linked to Rooney Mara, his co-star here so I wanted to view how that worked out , them working together,  in this film.  Finally, I have been somewhat of a Gus Van Sant fan --- at least I know it will be nice looking, but not always a strong narrative through to the end, but this one was --- just the end could have had more punch.  Otherwise, I'd give it a 4 out of 5 stars.  Hard to watch, but it's nice to root for someone as he tries to deal with his addictions.


"DON'T WORRY, HE WON'T GET FAR ON FOOT"   2018    1 hour 55 mins.   R

After nearly dying in a car accident, the last thing Oregon slacker John Callahan intends to do is give up alcohol. Encouraged by his girlfriend and a charismatic sponsor, Callahan reluctantly enters a treatment program and discovers that he has a knack for drawing. The budding artist soon finds himself with a new lease on life when his edgy and irreverent newspaper cartoons gain a national and devoted following.

Initial release: June 14, 2018 (Netherlands)

Box office: 4.2 million USD

Budget: 3.5 million USD

Screenplay: Gus Van Sant

Director:

 Gus Van Sant

Writers:

 John Callahan 

Stars:

 Joaquin Phoenix,  Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara,, 

Movie #1891 ........................."Troop Zero"

Movie #1891 "Troop Zero"  - can be streamed on amazon prime --- We really enjoyed watching this movie the other night -- you might want to put subtitles on because they talk fast and with thick Georgian accents --- and they use regional dialect and idioms.    Most of the kids are very unkind verbally to each other and that's why I suggested middle school and older (in fact, there's a character named "hell, no" ).   There are "mean girls" even at a young age in here that make fun of the lead troop --- Allison Janney is the snotty principal and Viola Davis's character....well, you have to see it to believe it.  Let's just say, she adds another dimension to the melting pot of zany characters here (well, Gaffigan is the dad).  But in all its zaniest, it handles the grief well, while covering commitment, friendship, priorities in life and winning isn't everything .  And it will have you cheering at the end, and wiping a tear in the finale.  And you may be tapping your toes  and singing along to the music --- esp. David Bowie's star songs.  4.5 out of 5 (I am a sucker for underdog films!  esp. with this little star actress(McKenna Grace)  whom I have been a fan of since "Gifted" (see her in "Young Sheldon," occasionally, too)

See if you will like it, by checking out this link:  https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2189344537?listId=ls025720609&pf_rd_m=A2FGELUUNOQJNL&pf_rd_p=fbbed923-479d-463e-9e86-878589d08758&pf_rd_r=ZXHZPZ5180MQAD758ZDA&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_t=15021&pf_rd_i=tt2404465&ref_=tt_vd_troop_jkt_i_1



"TROOP ZERO"     IMDB  says it is PG, but I would say middle school up     2019    1 hr 34 mins

Plot:  In rural 1977 Georgia, a misfit girl (without a mother) dreams of outer space, partly to make a connection with her mom who is now "in the stars." When a national competition offers her a chance at her dream, to be recorded on NASA’s Golden Record ,  she  recruits a makeshift troop of Birdie Scouts, forging friendships that last a lifetime and beyond.

Troop Zero is a 2019 American comedy-drama film, directed by Bert & Bertie, from a screenplay by Beasts of the Southern Wild co-writer Lucy Alibar and inspired by Alibar's 2010 play Christmas and Jubilee Behold The Meteor Shower. Wikipedia

Initial release: February 1, 2019

Directors: Bert, Bertie

Screenplay: Lucy Alibar

Music composed by: Rob Lord

Producers: Jason Blumenthal, Steve Tisch, Todd Black

Actors:  McKenna Grace, Allison Janey, Viola Davis, Jim Gaffigan

Critic reviews

An endearingly-gifted young leading lady, sparkling supporting performances, and a devilishly irreverent take on the underdog story make this period movie funny, surprising, and notably current.

Movie #1890 ........................."Kim's Convenience" (seasons 2 and 3)

Movie #1890 "Kim's Convenience" --- here we are waiting eagerly to see Season 4 of this show after going quite swiftly Seasons 2 and 3 of one of our favorite shows now "Kim's Convenience."
Yes, you , too, can stream it on netflix and you hopefully will discover a fun show for the whole family to see concerning a South Korean family that owns a convenience store in Toronto, Canada.  It has won several awards in Canada (that's covered in the link below) and has quite a lot of fans who are following this immigrant story.  It seems quite topical now, and even an important point of view we should be hearing from in our society these days.  We give it 5 out of 5 and highly recommend it.  Sometimes it is silly, but most of the time it is spot on and very enjoyable to watch, esp. in the growth of the characters, and the variety of  customers who walk into a store like this.  The family here becomes friends to us whom we check in nightly .  Here is a link to introduce a little about what I am talking about:

link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL9xRE3TS_4&frags=wn



"KIM'S CONVENIENCE"    2016---          22 minute show, comedy

Season 2, 13 episodes, Season 3, 13 episodes -- comedy surrounding a South Korean family running a convenience store in Toronto.  

Stars:

 Paul Sun-Hyung Lee, Jean Yoon, Andrea Bang, Simu liu, Andrew Pfung, Shannon Ross

Movie #1889 ........................."Peanut Butter Falcon"

Movie #1889 "Peanut Butter Falcon" -- Redbox movie --- this took a few slow minutes to get into, but once  I got through  the opening,  it won me over with a winning performance by Zack Gottsagen, who plays the title of this independent film.  Shia Lebeouf did a wonderful supporting job, too,  in this film --- the love story with Dakota is not a surprise, but she shows a bit more charm and authenticity in this role, in comparison to some other things I have seen her in....the story is pretty predictable  --- we've seen it in varying ways play out, but not in this way ---- and for that reason , it was fun to watch the end.  I would say, overall, this film is very charming and I recommend it.  4 stars out of 5.


"PEANUT BUTTER FALCON'  1 hour and 37 mins    2019     PG-13

Zak runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true.

Directors:

 Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz

Writers:

 Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz

Stars:

 Zack Gottsagen, Ann Owens, Dakota Johnson, Shia Lebeouf

Movie #1888 ........................."Joker"

Movie #1888 "Joker"  --- I saw this several weeks ago, but I forgot to write a blog on it (Thanks to my cousin for reminding me) I found this film one of the most intriguing films that I have seen in a long time--- I was going to skip it (esp. since I am not a superhero/marvel/dc fan) mainly because  I assumed it was just a string of violent episodes, one after another --- again, not a fan of those kinds of movies.  But then there were a couple of factors that persuaded me to get it from redbox shortly after it was offered there.  1)  I read on line that a lot of mental health experts were finding redeeming qualities in it, 2) Joaquin Phoenix was being mentioned again and again for best actor (I am one of those who thinks that Phoenix is one of the best actors of our time --- but a bit cerebral/ bordering on strange speaking  in his interviews).  3)  there were so many people on facebook and in texts that were commenting on the film, so I felt I was missing something big  - FOMO, I guess (something I don't usually like to miss) and 4)  people were asking me what I thought about it ---- so I felt it was coming across as meaty enough to talk about.......so I saw it.   And I am glad I did.  Yes, it was very violent (I had a list of those horrid scenes in front of me from IMDB so that I could speed through them or close my eyes --- sorry, I just can't watch much of that any more) Yes, it went through the character development  of the joker, batman's dreaded villain, even including the backstory of Batman's parents being killed as a result of the joker (well, kind of).  But what I found more interesting was that it seemed to take you into this wounded mind --- it is a result of an entire life of abuse, from an abusive mother, a missing father, a victim of bullying and manipulation by those he works with, and even strangers in the streets...... as a result, he can't make connections with people --- the one time he does, with this woman in the elevator who seems to "get him" for one moment, he misreads it  & as a result, he is caught engaging in inappropriate behavior.  His social worker he checks in with obviously doesn't "get him" --- his boss doesn't "get him" --- his mother doesn't "get him" --- his fellow workers don't "get him" --- even guys on a train car don't get him, and they push him to such extremes, he acts out violently --- his first rung on the ladder of descending into disintegration of his character.  Joaquin is able to walk the line here with the audience  between  us feeling sorry for him or for us abhorring what he does.  He is given very few tools to deal with his mental illness, but one in particular is interesting to watch ---- his dance moves seem to calm him down --- they almost look ballet - like, which emphatically clashes with the  violence and blood in the background that he is causing.  And all that just adds to the maniacal tone in a lot of the scenes..... watching this film is like watching a car accident at times in slow motion.  You are drawn in emotionally to his quest to be acknowledged as a human being --- the movie lets us see enough to "get him" in some moments so when he takes us on this crazy ride through time, and we know what is going to result, it is still jarring to us that the accident happens!  And then we linger to watch the "now what?"  I think this is the kind of movie that incites  discussions, hopefully about mental illness because boy, do we need them.  This is a recommendation, but only to those who can stomach the violence.  I give it a 4 out of 5.


"JOKER"         2 hours and 2 minutes           2019        Rated R

Set in 1980s Gotham City, this origin story of DC Comics' notorious archvillain the Joker chronicles the cautionary tale of a stand-up comedian whose failure drives him to criminal madness.

Cast 

Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Frances Conroy, Zazie Beetz, Brett Cullen, Brian Tyree Henry, Marc Maron, Dante Pereira-Olson, Douglas Hodge, Sharon Washington, Bill Camp, Glenn Fleshler, Josh Pais, Shea Whigham, Leigh Gill, Sondra James, Murphy Guyer, Hannah Gross, Gary Gulman, Chris Redd, Bryan Callen, Greer Barnes, Ray Iannicelli, Keith Buterbaugh

Director 

Todd Phillips

Genres 

Thrillers, Psychological Thrillers, Comic Books and Superheroes, Period Pieces, 20th Century Period Pieces

Moods 

Gritty, Violent, Dark

MOVIE #1887 ........................."Learning to Skateboard in a war zone (esp. if you are a girl)"

Movie #1887 "Learning to Skateboard in a War Zone" -- saw it on xfinity on demand --
the title says a lot of what happens in this short doc, but there's so much seen in the eyes of these little girls in a society that demeans their existence.  They have to sneak into the schools to be taught, and then to a skateboarding place where they do this inside, because they are not allowed out on the street --- and when they are 13 they have to stay in their houses (in Afghanistan)  This film will make you angry, but joyful that they have this outlet.  I'd give this 4 out of 5 stars.  The film is divided into the 5 steps to skateboard (like skating the ramp, etc.)  We are in the classroom half the time and I found that esp. interesting.




"LEARNING TO SKATEBOARD IN A WAR ZONE (IF YOU'RE A GIRL)   2019    39 mins

Learning To Skateboard In A Warzone (If You're A Girl) is the story of young Afghan girls learning to read, write-and skateboard-in Kabul.

Director:

 Carol Dysinger

MOVIE #1886 ........................."Life Overtakes Me"

Movie #1886 "Life Overtakes Me" --- I had never heard of resignation syndrome, but it seems it is a very specific PTSD and it has popped up in Sweden --- 200 cases in 3 years and growing, and popping up in Australia, as well --- in children, and they are in a comatose state due to some reaction to a tragedy ---- we see them and the way they act in the coma, and what their diligent parents do to keep them going --- move their legs and other parts of the body, bathe them daily, feed them, take them for walks, teach them to swallow, etc.   It was unbelievable to watch!  But I had sooooo many questions afterward so I'd give it 4 out of 5 stars.  

"LIFE OVERTAKES ME"    2019      39 mins     can stream from Netflix

In the grip of trauma, hundreds of refugee children in Sweden withdraw from life's uncertainties into a coma-like illness called Resignation Syndrome.

Directors:

 John Haptas, Kristine Samuelson

Stars:

 Henry Ascher, Nadja Hatem, Mikael Billing 

Movie #1885 ........................."In Absence "

Movie #1885 "In Absence" --- what a tough one to watch --- mostly my mouth was open in amazement --- very powerful and kept my interest!  It concerns the S. Korean ferry, the Sewol, which sent a mayday that it was sinking, 5 minutes later there is footage of the captain leaving the ship, and then rescue boats and we just sit and watch nothing done while 200+ passengers were locked in their cabins and drowning.  What a ridiculously bungled situation occurred and we just watch it unfold.  I give it a 5 out of 5.






"IN ABSENCE"     28 minutes        2018

Documents the sinking of a South Korean Ferry. As a result of the ineptitude of the first response to the emerging situation, hundreds of people, mostly children lost their lives

Director:

 Seung-jun Yi

Movie #1884 .........................."Walk Rum Cha Cha"

Movie #1884 "Walk Run Cha Cha" ---this is a nice salute to the power of dance, but not sure why it was nominated --- this is the weakest of the batch --- and I wish the two dancers focused here were a bit better in the final dance ----  I'd give it a 3 out of 5.


"WALK RUN CHA CHA"       2019        20 mins

Paul and Millie Cao lost their youth to the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Forty years later, they have become successful professionals in Southern California-and are rediscovering themselves on the dance floor.

Director:

 Laura Nix

Writer:

 Laura Nix

Stars:

 Chipaul Cao, Millie Cao, Maksym Kapitanchuk

Movie #1883 ........................."Klaus"

Movie #1883 "Klaus" (animated feature) --- Theme and plot are mentioned below, so I just want to make some observations.  I liked the voices here, and I liked the way the film discloses one part of the Santa Claus story and then the next and the next --- so as a viewer, I am saying to myself:  Oh, that's where and why the reindeer get into the story, etc.  The film moves most of the time rather speedily through one incident to the next, and the major characters are developed quite well. What I wondered about when I was watching this is:  Who is the demographic for this audience?  It is a bit scary in a couple of places for little kids --- it makes a conscientious study of the Santa Claus stmyth  --- one that kids know very little about because he seems to be something magical --- and to think much more about it kind of ruins that Christmas megic in the story.  So is it a cartoon for adults?  Not sure ---- I don't know; I was confused.  But I did enjoy the humor in the main character --- he reminded me at the outset like Inspector Clousea with more sarcasm .  The film is much more interesting than "The Missing Link," but I still am partial to "Toy Story 4" as the best in this category.  4 stars out of 5



"KLAUS"     1 hour and 36 mins     2019        

A simple act of kindness always sparks another, even in a frozen, faraway place. When Smeerensburg's new postman, Jesper, befriends toymaker Klaus, their gifts melt an age-old feud and deliver a sleigh full of holiday traditions.

Directors:

 Sergio Pablos, Carlos Martínez López (co-director) 

Writers:

 Sergio Pablos (original story by), Sergio Pablos (screenplay by)  | 2 more credits »

Stars:

 Jason Schwartzman, J.K. Simmons, Rashida Jones 

Movie #1882 ........................."A Sister" (Une Soeur)

Movie #1882 "A Sister (France) --- wow!  this was tense from beginning to end -- the title has a double meaning and I enjoyed that, as well.  I don't want to dwell on the plot because not knowing about it would make it more effective.  Sufficeth it to say, it is well done and I was emotionally involved from beginning to end. 5 out of 5 stars.


"A SISTER"    2018    16 mins

A night. A car. Alie is in danger. To get by she must make the most important phone call of her life.

Director:

 Delphine Girard

Writer:

 Delphine Girard

Stars:

 Veerle Baetens, Selma Alaoui, Guillaume Duhesme

Movie #1881 ........................."Nefta Football Club"

Movie #1881 "Nefta Football Club" (France/Tunisia)  Now for something completely different --- this is a lighter one of the batch of live action shorts this year --- very enjoyable --- kids being kids.  Very satisfying ending.  I'd give this 4.5 out of 5.






"NEFTA FOOTBALL CLUB"     17 mins   2019

In a Tunisian village, children are playing football on a wasteland. Meanwhile, Abdallah and Mohammed come across a donkey with headphones on his ears and bags full of a white powder on his back. The two young brothers decide to bring those bags back to their village.

Director:

 Yves Piat

Writer:

 Yves Piat

Stars:

 Eltayef Dhaoui, Mohamed Ali Ayari, Lyès Salem

Movie #1880 ........................."Saria"

Movie #1880 "Saria" (Guatemala)  --- March 8, 2017 there was a tragedy at an orphanage in Guatemala , where up to that time kids spent their days as slaves cleaning, and nights dreaming of escape --- This movie is in tribute of these girls and a motivator to do more investigating into the bad treatment of the kids.  The "actors" are kids from another orphanage nearby.  What a story and what an ending!  I'd give this a 5 out of 5.  Very powerful --- the most powerful one of the bunch.




"SARIA"    23 mins     2019      Guatelmala

SARIA explores the unimaginable hardships faced by young female orphans at the Virgen de La Asuncion Safe Home in Guatemala, leading up to the tragic fire which claimed 41 of their lives in...See full summary »

Director:

 Bryan Buckley

Writer:

 Bryan Buckley

Stars:

 Estefanía Tellez, Gabriela Ramírez, Verónica Zúñiga

Movie #1879 .........................""The Neighbor's Window"

Movie #1879 "The Neighbor's Window" (USA) --- a very tired married couple find themselves spending time looking out their window at a much younger couple enjoying themselves being young (parties, sex, etc.)  I liked this one a lot --- like Rear Window, it has a surprise ending.
I'd give it a 5 out of 5.



"THE NEIGHBOR'S WINDOW"    20 minutes    2019

It tells the story of a middle aged woman with small children whose life is shaken up when two free-spirited twenty-somethings move in across the street.

Director:

 Marshall Curry

Writer:

 Marshall Curry

Stars:

 Maria Dizzia, Greg Keller, Juliana Canfield

Movie #1878 ........................."Brotherhood" (live action short)

Movie #1878 "Brotherhood" (Canada) -- Tragedy strikes a close family whose son just got back from Syria with a pregnant muslim woman who is in search of a safe place ---Tragedy t occurs because of someone's bigoted action --- good ending.  I would give this a 4 --- I was confused that the actors in the film that were playing the children looked Irish with all kinds of freckles, when these people  were from Tunisia.  I also had trouble understanding the covert bigoted looks and comments and didn't know how people usually feel about strangers...... it was a quiet film and the characters didn't say much to each other and that made it more challenging.  I didn't emotionally connect to this film like the others.



"BROTHERHOOD"   25 MINS.    CANADA    2018

Mohamed is deeply shaken when his oldest son Malik returns home after a long journey with a mysterious new wife.

Director:

 Meryam Joobeur

Writers:

 Meryam Joobeur, Meryam Joobeur

Stars:

 Kais Ayari, Mohamed Grayaâ, Mouldi Kriden

Movie #1877 ........................."The Edge of Democracy"

Movie #1877 "The Edge of Democracy" --- this one was another hard one to watch for a different reason ---- it is a cautionary tale possibly about what would happen if King Trump wins the next election by cheating and his enemies (which is about 50 percent of this country, at least) gather in the street, protest and refuse to leave the streets until something is done --- OR  King Trump loses the next election and refuses to get out of the white house.  What happens in Brazil in just a few years ago I could see as a nightmare that could happen in our country --- it's like the title --- just on the edge of democracy, but it is a fragile place to be for Brazil  because they had  a president  (Lulu) that they liked  because  he was their first president (from having a dictator)  and he made  their  life easier, but he did  his work  through corruption,  so people with integrity started  to speak up and try to vote him out --- when it is hard to get rid of him, the two party system hates each other so much, they go to the streets and lawlessness prevails.  We know in the US  we have to take the loss of the impeachment and move on  and win at the ballot box, but if that voting is  not legally  done, then lawlessness could prevail, and that's what I am afraid of in the next election.,  And this film got me thinking about it.  When truth no longer matters, when integrity is not as important as power and greed.......then  all our country has stood for, for years, can go out the window.  And that's what happened with Brazil.  But their democracy was not as old as ours --- so there is hope.

I must admit, I thought a lot about this film as I was watching it, but when it got into the corruption etc., I bailed out and didn't finish the film --- too over my head and I lost interest.  I would give it a 3 and I found it to be the weakest film  of these documentaries that were nominated for an Oscar.


"THE EDGE OF DEMOCRACY"  2 hours and 1 min     2019

Political documentary and personal memoir collide in this exploration into the complex truth behind the unraveling of two Brazilian presidencies.

Director:

 Petra Costa

Writers:

 Petra Costa (screenplay), Carol Pires (co-writer)  | 2 more credits »

Stars:

 Dilma Rousseff, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Marisa Letícia Lula da Silva 

Movie #1876 ........................."Honeyland"

Movie #18976 "Honeyland" (Macedenia)   -- this is definitely using an observational lens, so some aspects of this beekeeper's life and conflicts aren't always very clear.  Film starts to pick up about 15 mins in when this family of tons of kids and little respect for the  land and each other storm in to her area and literally take it over --- first with their noise, and then they worm their way in to her life and daily activities.  When beekeeping becomes a way to make money for them, they tune in especially, with very little respect for the bee.  My complaint here is that it just doesn't I've enough information along the way, but I found it quite instructive and enjoyable.  I'd give it 3.8 out of 5.



"HONEYLAND"   1 HOUR AND 36 MINS   2019

The last female bee-hunter in Europe must save the bees and return the natural balance in Honeyland, when a family of nomadic beekeepers invade her land and threaten her livelihood.

Directors:

 Tamara Kotevska, Ljubomir Stefanov

Stars:

 Hatidze Muratova, Nazife Muratova, Hussein Sam

Movie #1875 ........................."The Cave" (documentary)

Movie #1875 "The Cave"  (Denmark) This documentary covers basically the same subject is the one above, but it moves more slowly, answers less questions, and looks more staged in comparison .  It is still very effective and very very sad --- unlike "For Sama" it doesn't have the little baby girl to enjoy at times, and it doesn't use flashback so the editing can maneuver a less helpless tone throughout much of the film --- this one is so sad and helpless it makes it almost unwatchable --- When the high point is the gassing of this hospital, where countless numbers of little children are shown dying....... almost too much.  The underground hospital armed by student doctors is very amazing, but the narrator tells too little and her face shows very little --- There are some good arguments men use to the women doctors:  "You should be home with your husband and kids"  and "Women are tools of war."  I would give it a 4.  But this is tough to watch in so many ways!








"THE CAVE"      1 hour 47 mins    pg-13     2019

Amidst air strikes and bombings, a group of female doctors in Ghouta, Syria struggle with systemic sexism while trying to care for the injured using limited resources.

Director:

 Feras Fayyad

Writers:

 Alisar Hasan, Feras Fayyad

Stars:

 Amani Ballour, Salim Namour

Movie #1874 ........................."For Sama"

Movie #1874 "For Sama" -- a review on line that explains this so well....
"FOR SAMA is both an intimate and epic journey into the female experience of war. A love letter from a young mother to her daughter, the film tells the story of Waad al-Kateab's life through five years of the uprising in Aleppo, Syria as she falls in love, gets married and gives birth to Sama, all while cataclysmic conflict rises around her. Her camera captures incredible stories of loss, laughter and survival as Waad wrestles with an impossible choice - whether or not to flee the city to protect her daughter's life, when leaving means abandoning the struggle for freedom for which she has already sacrificed so much. The film is the first feature documentary by Emmy award-winning filmmakers Waad al-Kateab and Edward Watts."  This one is so tough to watch but everyone should see it.  The film changes times and uses flashback, but it is helpful to keep things moving along, and it is what makes the story epic.  I would give this a 5 out of 5.  I would vote for this one if I were in the academy.  (and there is another nominated film basically about the same project)


"FOR SAMA"    2019    1 hour and 36 mins     Syria

FOR SAMA is both an intimate and epic journey into the female experience of war.

Directors:

 Waad Al-Kateab, Edward Watts

Stars:

 Waad Al-Kateab, Hamza Al-Khateab, Sama Al-Khateab

Movie #1873 .........................."American Factory" (Documentary)

Next, Oscar-nominated Documentaries (which I always think are too long...):


Movie #1873 "American Factory"  -- I really found this film fascinating (but very long) --- but in comparison to a few of the other ones that are nominated in this category, this actually follows some kind of story line.  It covers so many topics concerning the working class/work place  ----importance of unions, the differences in the work ethic between the chinese and the u.s., "safety doesn't pay bills," machines taking place of people, the way companies work in China compared to us, what really is freedom, This is a very topical subject --- one we are continually wrangling with --- and it's wonderful how it covers all aspects of it.  A very informative film, and I think one that has a shot to win for this category.  I really like the idea of two countries coming together with so different attitudes but when coming together get mutual respect.  This movie proves it can happen --- I give this a 4 out of 5 stars.







"AMERICAN FACTORY"      1 hour and 50 mins       2019   documentary

In post-industrial Ohio, a Chinese billionaire opens a factory in an abandoned General Motors plant, hiring two thousand Americans. Early days of hope and optimism give way to setbacks as high-tech China clashes with working-class America.

Directors:

 Steven Bognar, Julia Reichert

Stars:

 Junming 'Jimmy' Wang, Robert Allen, Sherrod Brown 

Movie #1872 ........................."Memorable"

Movie #1872 "Memorable" (France) -- there usually is one movie nominated about alzheimer's and this is the one this time.  It is stop motion (like the first one) and once again that type of distortion of the characters fits the mental health of the main character.  This is so sad -- he can't recognize himself in a mirror, but his art lives on.  The pacing of the film was slow --- 3.5.



"MEMORABLE"    12 mins    2019

An aging painter and his wife struggle increasingly to cope with his advancing dementia.

Director:

 Bruno Collet

Writer:

 Bruno Collet

Stars:

 Dominique Reymond, André Wilms

Movie #1871 .........................."Hair Love"

Movie #1871 "Hair Love" (USA)  Dad has to do his daughter's hair for the first time --- enough said.  Adorable tribute to parenthood and very creative animation. 5 out of 5 stars


"HAIR LOVE"   7 MINS      2019

A father tries to do his daughter's hair for the first time.

Directors:

 Matthew A. Cherry, Everett Downing Jr.  

Writer:

 Matthew A. Cherry

Star:

 Issa Rae