Movie #2111 ........................."The Worst Person in the World" (Apple-rented)

 Movie #2111 "The Worst Person in the World" (Apple - rented)  This film reminded me so much of a Woody Allen film in the dialogue, the way the actors interrupt each other and talk over each other, the shots of the landscape and environment, the improvised feeling of it, and the subject matter.  Really, if it had better music in the background, and a bit more polish in some scenes, it could have been an Allen film.  That being said, it appeared honest in so many scenes --- cancer, relationships, feminism, self-love, sex,   It's a journey for one woman who doesn't think very highly of herself (thus, the title) and who is wondering what should she be doing in the future?  What is real love?  So many of life's questions are facing her.  I wanted a bit more in the ending, but it did come to a nice ending that matched the rest of the movie.  World problems aren't being solved here, but it was a nice indie film and a good choice to be nominated for foreign films --- not the worst at all --- one of the top ones, to me.  I thought it had a good shot --- I'd give it a 4.

"THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD"   2021           R            2 HOURS, 8 mins

The chronicles of four years in the life of Julie, a young woman who navigates the troubled waters of her love life and struggles to find her career path, leading her to take a realistic look at who she really is.

Director Joachim Trier

Writers:  Joachim Trier, Eskil Vogt

Actors:  Renate Reinste, Anders Danielsen Lie, Herbert Nordrum

Movie #2110 ........................."The Adam Project" (netflix)

Movie #2110 "The Adam Project" (netflix)  There's too much fighting in this Ryan Reynolds' film, but I loved everything else about it, so I just did something else while they fought some scenes to the bitter end.  Ryan Reynolds and Mark Ruffalo in the same film?  Enough said, for me.  I'm there.  Time Traveling has always fascinated me, and the idea that he goes back to confront his eleven-year-old self and the kid is a perfect copy ("clone") of Ryan Reynolds --- the kid is amazing!  This film was wonderfully entertaining to me and I highly recommend it.     4 out of 5 .

"THE ADAM PROJECT"             2022     PG-13      1 hour and 46 mins

After crash-landing in 2022, time-traveling fighter pilot Adam Reed  teams up with his 12 year old self for a mission to save the future.

Director:  Shawn Levy

Writer:  Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett

Actors:  Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo

Movie #2109 ........................."Drive My Car" (HBO)

 Movie #2109 "Drive My Car" (HBO)  In my opinion, this movie has been greatly hyped.  I picked up the short story first, and although there wasn't much plot in the story, the characters were complex , and it was an interesting read to me.  Even though the film made up some plot stuff to put into the film to flesh it out (and make it 3 very slow hours), I think I liked the story even better.  The one idea I did like in the film that they added was the amount of theatre and the diversity of the casting in the show within the movie --- there were various languages being spoken in the show "Uncle Vanya" (the play within the movie) and even sign language was used by one of the characters.  I know I probably should have loved all that  the film said about theatre and how through grief he was able to hide how sad he was about his wife's death behind his various acting roles, but that part of the film didn't seem to jive really well with the driver of the car.  For a film that was so preachy, esp. at the high point, it had an ending that needed to be watched a couple of times to understand --- very uneven, and I thought it was weak in comparison to a couple of the other entries (like "Flee")  yet, it won.  And that's why there's chocolate and vanilla, I guess.  I would give this one a 3.5 for some nice visuals throughout and the relationship between the driver and the actor.

"DRIVE MY CAR"       2021          2 hours and 59 mins

A renowned stage actor and director learns to cope with his wife's unexpected passing  when he receives an offer to direct a production of Uncle Vanya in Hiroshima.

Director:  Ryusuke Hamaguchi

Writers:  Haruki Murakami (short story), Ryusuke Hamaguchi, Takamasa Oe

Stars:  Hidetoshi Nishijima, Toko Miura, Reika Kirishima

Movie #2108 ........................."Marvelous Mrs. Maisel - Season 4 (amazon Prime)

 Movie #2108 "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" - Season 4 (Amazon Prime) -- another wonderful season of this winsome  show on prime, concerning a female comedy writer/ divorced mother of two, who is navigating through the man's world of stand up comedy.  The last show of Season 3 was so powerful that we  were kind of hesitant approaching this Season 4, thinking it couldn't measure up to the quality of the other 3 -- and at the start of this season, we noticed the first couple of shows were just okay ---- overlapping dialogue was used a lot (maybe too much) and the show seemed to be limping along --- but then, it took a turn and took off , and I can say that it ends much stronger than it began.  As usual, I love the music, the gorgeous costumes, the crisp dialogue and the relationships that are built up along the way.   I give it a solid A, 4points

"MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL" - Season 4            2022       8 episodes, about 45 minutes each

With Shy Baldwin's tour out of the window, Midge works out a new course of action; Joel's success (his club) comes with some disadvantages; Susie thinks outside the box to solve a cash crunch.  There are more adventures with Abe and Rose, as Abe works as a theatre critic in his new job, and Rose becomes a marriage arranger for a price.  Midge gets a job in a burlesque hall, and gets various side jobs , some better than others.  And Lenny Bruce comes travels in and out of Midge's life.

Creators:  Daniel Palladino, Amy Sherman-Palladino

Actors:  Rachel Brosnahan, Michael Zegen, Alex Borstein, Tony Shalhoub, Marin Hinkle 

Movie #2107 ........................."Parallel Mothers" (Amazon Prime - rental)

Movie #2107 "Parallel Mothers" (Amazon Prime - rental) Let's talk  about best actress because I finally saw all of oscar nominee for that category  --- I missed this one the first time it came around (covid afraid to see it in theater way back when) and it won't be available to stream for free until after the Oscars, so I bit the bullet tonight and rented it, and I'm glad I did because I found the movie quite engrossing.  Almodovar is one of the best visual directors and he works well with Cuz. I knew nothing specific about the story before seeing it, so I don't want to give anything away right here in case you get to see it --- don't want to divulge any surprises. I can say that I have seen the story before, but not in such detailed fashion, and as a result I was more emotionally invested in the story and what the two lead female characters were going through.  And Penelope Cruz is one of the best actresses we have and she does the whole gamut here, unlike some of the other nominees in this category that are oscar-nominated.  I love to watch Kristen Stewart, but her "Spencer" performance was uneven with short clipped sentences showing mostly only the awkward/angst-ridden/unhappy life of Princess Diana.  Olivia Coleman is so quiet in her film, viewer is left guessing a lot to fill in blanks, That leaves Cruz, Kidman or Chastain.  I was very impressed in Kidman's rendition of Lucy, but it's the Lucy we didn't really know so I don't think voters will think she's "doing" her --- so it leaves Cruz or Chastain - and I'm betting not enough people saw the amazing acting  Cruz did  in this picture. So my guess is it is gonna go to Jessica Chastain -- she's long overdue, and she does a very difficult thing in the Tammy Faye movie --- as a cartoonish character, she is able to play it so genuinely that we feel sorry for her.  Back to this movie, I'd give it a 4 out of 5 --- it had  a powerful ending, but I felt there wasn't enough of that part of the story that was told throughout the film --- it felt kind of stuck on.  Otherwise, good film  and I recommend it.  

"PARALLEL MOTHERS"    R      2 HR AND 3 MIN                2021

The story of two mothers who give birth the same day.

Director:  Pedro Almodovar

Writer:  Pedro Almodovar

Stars:  Penelope Cruz, Milena Smit

Movie #2106 ........................."Attica" (HBO/Showtime)

 Movie #2106 "Attica" (HBO/Showtime)    Once again we have an oscar-nominated documentary that's too long!  What a surprise!  This is very hard to watch, but very topical ---- about protesting and prison uniform.  The film plods slowly for a good hour going through various attempts at negotiations after Attica, the prison, is taken over by the prisoners.   A few of the prisoners beat up Quinn, the guy on guard that evening where they broke in --- the prison administration is willing to negotiate until.....Quinn dies and it becomes a homocide.  The last two minutes are so hard to watch because it's real footage of what happens to the prisoners when they give up.  I'd give this film  3.5 and recommend it to only a few who can sit through it.  I don't think it's going to win anyway.

"ATTICA"       2021  1 HOUR AND 56 MINUTES  

This unnervingly vivid dive into the 1971 uprising from Emmy Winning director Stanley nelson sheds new light on the enduring violence nd racism of the prison system and highlights the urge.

Directors:  Traci Curry, Stanley Nelson

Writer:  Stanley Nelson

   

Movie #2105 ........................."Cruella" (Disney+)

 Movie #2105 "Cruella" (Disney +) This is an oscar-nominated movie for costumes and I think it might win this category because they are amazing from beginning to end.  This movie is overall rather dark and long, but I found it quite enjoyable.  Emma Stone and Emma Thompson and the dogs and Cruella's accomplices (and of course the aforementioned costumes) steal this show.  The story is easy to follow, and there's a slow, but big change in  the arc of the lead character.  I really found the idea of the "backstory" for Cruella Deille very entertaining, and I recommend this film those who don't mind dark humor.  Excellent acting job on Stone in the lead role.  I give it 4 out of 5.

"CRUELLA"      Disney +       2021   Pg-13        2 hours nd 14 minutes

 A live-action prequel feature film following a young Cruella de Vil.

Director;  CRAIG GILLESPIE

WRITERS:  DANA FO, TONY MCNAMARA, ALINE BROSH MCKENNA (STORY BY)

Stars:  Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry

  

Movie # 2104 ........................."Ascension" (HBO)

 Movie #2104 "Ascension" (HBO)  Oscar-nominated documentary was entertaining to me for the first 30 minutes or so, but it just went and on and on --- It comes across as apolitical, which in itself makes it stand out and different.  But after a while, it is list someone standing on a stage and listing --- after awhile, you wonder the reasons of the examples that are given to you.  After I watched this whole thing, I observed that the documentarians were showing us a wide variety of jobs that the Chinese have bailable in their culture ---- but many of them seem so restrictive.  So the whole society comes across as having a lack of freedom for its workers.  It isn't that they seem to be overworked, it's just that they usually wear uniforms and some of the work seems very tedious --- and just busy work.  These are all observations, since there is a lack of narration --- and I think it could have been useful here --- Occasionally, I was asking myself, "Is this for real?"  Especially in the blow up doll sequence --- It struck me that China is one of the biggest market for consumers, and they work hard enough to get that job done, but as a society , they don't seem to consume much.  There were several jobs where they were filming or taking pictures and they put on these fake smiles --- and in the other jobs, they don't seem to smile much at all.  It doesn't look like a happy society -- but to ascend in the world, they live by the quote no pain no gain -- the only worthy job you should use your intelligence, but there were so many jobs shown that don't stress intelligence from the worker.  Also, I noticed a lot of food prep was being done without gloves --- sanitation didn't seem to be a biggie, either.   And, I know you've heard this from me before, but this documentary ran tooooooo long.  I give it a 3 out of 5, and I don't recommend watching it.

"ASCENSION" (HBO)   1 hr and 37 minutes     2021

The absorbingly cinematic Ascension explores the pursuit of the "Chinese Dream."  This observational documentary presents a contemporary vision of China that prioritizes productivity and innovation above all.

Director:  Jessica Kingdon

Movie #2103 ........................."Flee" (Hulu)

Movie #2103 "Flee" (Hulu) -- Here's another Oscar-nominated film, for animated full feature and Foreign Language Film.  And I really got into this one --- it's one of the best I have seen all year.  And it is to topical because it shows the viewer what it is really like to be a refugee.  Riz Ahmid voices the main character Amin, a refuge from Afghanistan.  It is a tough journey and it is based on a true story .  We tend to think that the refuge's problem is over once he gets out of the war-torn country, but we learn that isn't the case at all. the film, through animation, draws us into this family as each one tries to escape in his/her own way.  Because Amin is having trouble putting his journey into words, the film choose animation so for a long time you feel detached, like he feels, as he journeys from one bad situation to the next.  I thinly recommend this movie which to me was a 5 out of 5 stars.  I will be rooting for it on Oscar night.

"    FLEE"    2021             PG-13      1 HOUR 29 MINS

"Flee" tells the extraordinary true story of a man, Amin, on the verge of marriage which compels him to reveal his hidden past for the first time.

Director:  Jonas Poher Rasmusse

Writers:  Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Amin nawabi

Note:  I watched the English Dubbing of this film - Riz Ahmid does the voice for Amin in this one.

Movie #2102 ........................."Raya and the Last Dragon" (Disney)

Movie #2102 "Raya and the Last Dragon" (Disney)  --- This is another Oscar-nominated Full length Animated Film , and it is the one I least liked out of all of them.  In fact, to be perfectly honest, I never finished this one --- life is too short to watch a film I just didn't like.   While I was watching the film, I was wondering who was supposed to be the audience?  Possibly kids who watch video games?  Because the film's story is set up like one adventure/quest after another.  I waited until Awkwafina's  entrance and that wasn't even good --- her appearance was forced  --- like, okay, ready for the character that is so adorable that you will continue watching this?  --- but I didn't buy it and stopped watching.  I give this a 2 --- it's too scary and dark for kids, in my opinion.

"RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON" 2021   -- PG (? i question this)    1 hour and 47 minutes

In a realm known as Kumandra, a re-imagined Earth inhabited by an ancient civilization, a warrior named Raya is determined to find the last dragon.

Directors:  Don Hall, Carlos Lopez Estreda, Paul Briggs

Writers: Qui nguyen, Adele Lim, Paul Briggs

Stars:  Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina

Movie #2101 ........................."Summer of Soul" (Disney)

 Movie #2101 "Summer of Soul" (Disney)  -- the forerunner of the Oscar-nominated documentaries is this one, and I am guessing it will take the top  honor --- why?  it's a great topic --- it concerns  the Harlem Cultural Festival or nicknamed The   Black Woodstock --- a black outdoors several-day concert in the same year (1969) as Woodstock, but it didn't get the publicity Woodstock got.  At first, this doc, put together by Quest Love, shows footage from the concert of the performers like:  Mahalia Jackson, Sly and the Family Stone, Stev   ie Wonder, and Nina Simone --- full songs --- so I thought it was more of a concert than a documentary  -- but the second half has a lot more information as the film gives a brief history of the rise of black power, and why this concert was so important in the annals of American history.  I'm glad I watched it, and I recommend it -4 out of 5 stars

"SUMMER OF SOUL" (Or, when the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)    2021   PG-13          1 hour and 58 mins

Documentary about the legendary 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival which celebrated African-American music and culture and promoted Black pride and unity.

Director:  Questlove

Stars:  Dorinda Drake, Barbara Bland-Acosta, Darryl Lewis

Movie #2100 ........................."Dune" - 2021 (redbox)

 Movie #2100 "Dune" 2021 (redbox)   I approached this oscar-nominated movie with hesitancy; i.e., I didn't think I would like it -- I barely got through the book, so  not a fan from the get go-- and I'm not the demographic that would go ape over this kind of movie either.  That being said, I really respect the tech and visual effects.  I was sad I didn't go to the movie theatre and see the visual effects on the big screen, but I am glad I finally sat down to watch it.  Opening music and sound track through out, helped to keep my interest, but when the first minute included violence already, well, that turned me off to the story line right away.   Then, when the  film's title is introduced, there's a "Part I" , and at that,  I just cringed --- more parts?  ugh!  Then, there's a whole slew of names of places, people, heralds, sons and daughters, etc.  The cast includes Timothee Chalamet, who is a young actor who is able to convey all the pain this main character has to go through (even a pain test in one scene) , and Oscar Isaacs, his dad, and Rebecca Ferguson, his mom who has special powers on her own (You go, mom!).  But Jason Momoa enters the movie?  Are you kidding?  That doesn't gain any points with this viewer ---- Javiar Bardem, later scenes, much better!   as I watched, I noticed the film's feeble attempts at humor in dialogue, but at least there were attempts.  I cringed at the anti -women scenes --- this  society is obviously male -head oriented ,and  at the beginning of the film, Timothyis made to  boss his mother to give him a glass of water  —- she won’t do it until he demands it —- hard to watch.  But overall, I can see why many of the tech awards on Oscar night will go to this film; it's just not my cup of tea, rather the kind of science fiction I care to watch.  But I give it 4 out of 5.  Visually, well done!

"DUNE" PART ! (UGH!)      along 2 hours and 35 minutes       2021

Feature adaptation of Frank Herbert's science fiction novel about the son of a noble family entrusted with he protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.

Director:  Denis Villeneuve

Writers:  Jon Spaiht,  Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth

Stars:  Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya

    

Movie #2099 ........................."Carole King & James Taylor: Just Call Out My Name" (HBO)

 Movie #2099 "Carole King & James Taylor:  Just Call Out My Name" (HBO) .  Several people recommended this documentary to us, knowing that we like music and Carole King and James Taylor, and it was a fun watch for us.  It mixes together songs they performed at the Troubadour with little snippets of interviews --- and they throw in some rehearsal and backstage banter, as well.  We found this quite enlightening when it focused on how well they work together, their takes on the songs they do and reasons why they sing particular songs, and their relationship through the years --- it gives a brief history of  music, to boot.  I rate this 4 out of 5 and recommend it.

"CAROLE KING & JAMES TAYLOR:  JUST CALL OUT MY NAME" (HBO   2022. 1 h4, 37 mins

This documentary explores the 50 year old friendship between award-winning singer/songwriters Taylor and King.  Focus is on the duo's 2010 world tour, dubbed the "Troubadour Reunion Tour"

Director:  Frank Marshall

Stars:  James Taylor,l Car0ole King

Movie #2098 ........................."Please Hold" (movie theater oscar-nominated live action shorts 2022)

 Movie #2098 "Please Hold" (movie theater oscar-nominated live action shorts 2022)  I enjoy science fiction once in a while, esp. when it has a definite message or warning to us --- this short film shows us how doing everything on line without the human voice or touch can get out of hand.  A guy just on his way to work is arrested by a drone and imprisoned  and put into a privatized prison cell and he  never finds out why --- we assume, it is a mistake.  He can't complain because he needs money to get even in touch with a lawyer to find out why he is there --- it's kind of humorous at times, even though it sounds like a desperate situation he is thrown into.  I liked it because as outlandish as it may seem, it still kept its credibility and its warning theme.     I give this a 4 out of 5 and recommend it if you can find it somewhere to stream.

"PLEASE HOLD"      19 mins       2020     US

A young man's life is suddenly and inexplicably derailed, as he finds himself at the mercy of automated "justice."

Director:  KD Davila

Writers:  KD Davila, Omer Levin Menekse

Stars:  Erick Lopez, John Alton, Doreen Calderon    

Movie #2097 ........................."Take and Run ("Ala Kachuu") (movie theater oscar-nominated live action shorts 2022)

 Movie #2097 "Take and Run" (Ala Kachuu") (movie theater Oscar-nominated live action shorts 2022) This was the most involved one of the batch of live actions this year, and it resembled a lot of movies I have seen in this category in the past --- focuses on a problem in Kyrgyzstan  This one I did not know about --- one of bride kidnapping, which is still practiced today.  Beautiful shots with gorgeous landscapes and bright colors serve as a stark contrast to the horror of the situation.  We root for this girl throughout the film --- it's a fight for freedom, one that is being fought  in the Ukraine right now so this becomes so topical!!!    I wanted this film   to go on longer and show us  more into the future of this young victim, and maybe have some blurb at the end telling us just how big of a problem this is because it certainly piqued my interest.  I give it a 4 out of 5 and recommend it if you get a chance to see it.

"TAKE AND RUN" ("Ala Kachuu")     38 mins     2020

A young Kyrgyz woman is kidnapped and forced to marry.  A drama about the desire for freedom in the clutches of a tradition.

Director:  Maria Brendie

Writer:  Maria Brendie

Stars:  Alina Turdumamatova, Nurbek Esengazy Uulu, Madina Talipbek

Movie #2096 ........................."The Long Goodbye" (movie theatre oscar-nominated live action shorts 2022)

 Movie #2096 "The Long Goodbye" (movie theater oscar-nominated live action shorts 2022) This was the worst of the bunch, and I was very disappointed because it had Riz Ahmed in it, and he has become one of my favorite actors --- he always seems to do worthwhile material; this one probably started out as one, but it's kind of a jumbled mess.  The background  story is that it comes from a hip hop album with the same name -- it comes across more as a musical video with a long rapped soliloquy at the end --- because the sound is so garbled, and his accent is so thick and we have no subtitles given, it didn't work for me at all -- it just went on and on.  And it's too bad because the film sets up a nice family going through a preparation for a wedding, and then the bad guys (we are never told who they are) come to door, take them out into the street in front of their home, and tragedy ensues.  I think the soliloquy was supposed to explain what was happening, so that's why it's all a bit foggy and messy to me.  Sorry, Riz, I'm sure this was an important point you were making, but sound got in the way --- kind of ironic since "Sound of Metal" was his big movie last year and spoke so well about the importance of sound.   I give this a 1 out of 5.

"THE LONG GOODBYE"   13 mina            2020

Riz and his family are in the middle of a typical family day in their house, whilst a far right march plays out on the telly in the background, which eventually arrives at their front door, leading to a devastating outcome.

Director:  Aneil Karia

Writers:  Aneil Karia, Riz Ahmed

Stars:  Riz Ahmend, Sudha Bhucher, Nikkita Chadha

Movie #2095 ........................."The Dress" (movie theater - oscar-nominated live action short 2022)

 Movie #2095 "The Dress" (movie theater - oscar-nominated live action shorts 2022) This was a very quiet, but constantly simmering type of film to watch concerning a young woman with dwarfism.  We are introduced to her daily life and her want for more.  She has a life-hardened co-worker in Poland at a roadside motel that they both work in as maids.  When a handsome stranger gives her the eye, he ignites her not-so-latent sexual desires, and she dares to hope for romance.  I would have ranked this movie even more if the ending worked for me.  It seemed up in the air, and if you see it, I would love to converse with you on what you got out of it.  But I understood why this was nominated because it works to keep your interest (as mundane as her life is) to the end.  I give it 3.5.

"THE DRESS"      30 MINS                Poland      2021

A woman with limited hopes toils in a rundown motel in rural Poland, as a maid.  Will the repeated visits of an interesting man, a truck driver, change the loneliness of her situation?

Director:  Tadeusz Lysiak

Writer:  Tadeusz Lysiak

Stras:  Anna Dzieduszycka, Dorota Pomykala, Szymon Piotr Warszewski

Movie #2094 ........................."On My Mind" (movie theatre - oscar-nominated live action shorts 2022)

Movie #2094 "On My Mind" (movie theatre - oscar-nominated live action shorts 2022) This was the first one we saw, and we both picked it as the best --- it instantly pulls the viewer in -- the man gets bad news at the hospital about his wife, he puts his head against a window full of desperation, all in one minute, the visual tells just enough.  But then the film introduces a barmaid and her boss and in walks the desperate man.  His request is strange and the boss nixes it right away because it deals with some work to set up equipment and he's busy doing accounting -- but the barmaid senses the humanity of the situation and gets him to go along.  I was crying by the end of this short live action (18 MINS) --- which is quite a feat to pull that much emotion out of a viewer  in a couple of minutes, but I highly recommend seeing it if you get a chance because of all the short  films we saw, this one was the best.  I give it a 5 out of 5, and I don't want to ruin it by saying too much more, just in case it is available on line for you to watch.

"ON MY MIND"        18 mins             2021             Danish

Henrik makes a request in a bar --- it has to be today, it has to be now.  It's a question of life and death.

Director:  Martin Strange-Hansen

Writer:  Martin Strange-Hansen

Stars:  Rasmus Hammerich, Camilla Bendix, Ole Boisen

Movie #2093 .........................."The Queen of Basketball" (movie theater - oscar-nominated doc shorts 2022)

 Movie #2093 "The Queen of Basketball" (movie theater - oscar-nominated doc shorts 2022) Louisa Harris --- ever hear of her?  Her parents were sharecroppers and she was 6 foot and the only black student on the Delta State (Mississipi) women's basketball team.  She was the first woman to be asked to be on an NBA team and she turned it down to raise a family --- and she did a fine job of that, and went back and coached at her school she played on --- she just died in January, but she is the warmest image we saw on the screen in all of these films.  I wouldn't be surprised if this one takes the oscar; she pulled us in where the others had trouble.  It looks like it would be "Audible" or this one that will get an oscar --- they both tell good, strong stories and it's ironic that they are both on sports.  And that I liked them more than the others (because I usually get bored with the sports ones).  4 out of 5 on this one.

"THE QUEEN OF BASKETBALL"      22 mins. 2021

She is one of the greatest living women's basketball players.  3 national trophies.  Scored the first basket in women's Olympic basketball at the '76 Olympics.  Drafted to the NBA, but have you ever heard of  Lucy Harris?  

Director:  Ben Proudfoot

from US

Movie #2092 ........................."Lead Me Home" (movie theater - oscar-nominated doc shorts 2022)

Movie #2092 "Lead Me Home" (movie theater - oscar-nominated doc shorts 2022)  this is a film about the homeless --- a vast subject as it is, and this one is ambitious in that it tries to show side by side by side what San Francisco, Seattle, and Los Angeles are doing for their homeless population ---- I really liked and appreciated that the film used so much juxtaposition --- for example, it shows a guy living in his car and getting his dinner together and juxtaposes it with a guy in a luxurious apartment doing the same --- the film does this constantly without any narration --- those images don't really need juxtaposition, but I think it was a mistake that there is no narration in the rest --- it particularly bothered me how it rapidly moves from one city to the next --- I was constantly wondering where we were and not sure if that was important --- because I remember Los Angeles having a very interesting project that could work in other cities, I think.  One city suggested that an organization like FEMA should be established for the homeless, and another city had a mayor who was trying to clean up the homeless areas of the city by  building places for them in the city, but the people living in the city by these new constructions were against having homeless living near them.  So the film brought up a lot of problems , just like all homeless films do -- and we could use much more discussion on solutions, for sure, but this one didn't pull us in to the problem that much  and didn't give a lot of solutions ---some of the visuals were mighty pretty, though --- 3 out of 5

"LEAD ME HOME"    PG-13     39 minutes     2021

Lead me home is a short film that follows several people living on the streets in West Coast cities.  Conceived to be a cinematic study of contrasts, the film will be familiar and shocking, intimate and vast.  By weaving individual stories with aerial vistas, time-lapse photography and evocative details of contemporary urban life, Lead Me Home aims to spark a national conversation about the epic scale of this alarming and ever-growing problem.  I'd give it 3.5 out of 5.

Director:  Pedro Kos and Jon Shenk

Movie #2091 ........................."Three Songs for Benazir" (movie theater - oscar-nominated doc shorts 2022)

Movie #2091 "Three Songs for Benazir" (movie theater - oscar-nominated do shorts 2022) - this was a tough one to get into because the opening was so badly done --- doc shorts oftentimes have problems with dialogue because it is loosely scripted or mumbled in the moment, etc.  But this was like they had memorized a script and were reciting to each other --- and they aren't good "actors" because doc shorts don't use "actors" per say.  Anyway, the songs are for the love he has for his wife while they are both living in a displacement camp in Kabul.  Shaista, the main guy, really has a big dream to be the first of his tribe to join the Afghan National Army , but he is struggling with the idea of leaving his new wife when they are just about to start a family.  It is supposed to show how hard it is to be in Kabul and still keep your dreams of a better job or a full family or as in this case, both.  This one was weakly done --- a 2 out of 5.

"THREE SONGS FOR BENAZIR"                         22 minutes     Afghanistan    2021

Even as Shaista's love for Benazir is palpable, the choices he must make to build a life with her have profound consequences.

Director:  Elizabeth Mirzaei and Gulistan Mirzaei

Movie #2090 ........................."When We Were Bullies" (movie theater - oscar-nominated doc shorts 2022)

Movie #2090 "When We Were Bullies (movie theater - oscar-nominated doc shorts 2022)  - this is a pretty involved documentary short and hard to explain in a few sentences, but here goes --- a guy who makes films  hires a voice for his next film and recognizes the guy as a member of his 5th grade class at the elementary school he went to --- the guy says yes and his name is Richard --- because  there were 4 Richards  they each had a nickname so they weren't confused, and the two guys start to remember the one called "Dick" --- and that he was picked on a lot --- in fact, the two remember when the whole class  blamed him for having to stay after  school,  they  encircled Dick in the parking lot and started taunting him, etc. until the principal and the teacher came out and broke the mob up --- they both felt bad about the incident, and for  the rest of the film, the filmmaker interviews the other 5th graders that are still alive and the teacher  --- and he wants to get Dick in an interview, but decides not to because by apologizing to him now, it might just bring up the bad memory all over and he didn't want him to suffer more  over it.  Even though the film  was too long, I liked the visuals that this guy uses to keep our attention to the very end --- It made me think of someone that was bullied at my elementary school and what he was doing now.  The film also went into all the different ways people bully others, esp. "shunning" which according to this film can be the worst form. This film was from United States/Germany and I would give it 4 out of 5.  But I think "Audible" pulls more at the heart strings  than this one ---- but who knows?  This one was a bit "out of the box" and on a valuable topic!

"WHEN WE WERE BULLIES"        2021                36 minutes

A mind-boggling coincidence less the filmmaker to track down his fifth grade class and his 5th grade teacher to examine their memory of and complicity in a bullying incident years ago.

Director:  Jay Rosenblatt

Writer:  Jay Rosenblatt    

Movie #2089 ........................."Audible" (movie theater - oscar-nominated documentary shorts 2022)

 Movie #2089 "Audible" (movie theater - oscar-nominated documentary shorts 2022)  = the film is narrated by a deaf football player about his one season leading up to the homecoming game; he  plays  for a very successful deaf football team, but also deals with the grief the team has been through with the self-inflicted death of his best friend on the team.  "They use being deaf as their strength" says the opposing coach to his team during his half time speech.  And that is one point made in the film --- it's really like heaven to have these team members who so easily communicate with each other on and off the field , but what happens after they graduate?  what happens when dealing with all the discrimination that's in the outside world --- the teammate who killed himself found it impossible ---how will it be for all of these guys?  to be inaudible in an audible world ?    This film does what a doc short should do ---- make us think.  I'd give it a 4, and it could possibly be considered the best of the bunch.

"AUDIBLE"            39 mins          U.S.        2021

Football player Amaree McKenstry-Hall and his Maryland School for the Deaf teammates attempt to defend their winning streak while coming to terms with the tragic loss of a close friend.

Director:  Paul Lindsay

Writer:  Raven Magwood

Stars:  Shawn Carter Peterson, Shannon Miller

Movie #2088 ..........................""The Windshield Wiper" (movie theater - oscar-nominated animated shorts 2022)

 Movie #2088 "The Windshield Wiper" (movie theater - oscar-nominated animated shorts 2022) This movie with an intriguing title asks the question "What is Love"?  and answers it very badly.  The film doesn't seem to go anywhere that I could figure out --- 1 out of 5.

"WINDSHIELF WIPER"        2021      15 mins     

Inside a cafe while smoking a whole pack of cigarettes, a middle-aged man asks himself and the audience an ambitious question:  What is love?

Director:  Alberto Mieigo

Writer:  Alberto Mielgo

Movie #2087 .........................."Bestia" (movie theater - oscar-nominated animated shorts 2022)

 Movie #2087 "Bestia" (movie theater - oscar-nominated animated shorts 2022) I can't remember hating a movie more than this one -- I'm sure I did, but this is the one I will most dislike that has the honor of being oscar-nomiated  this year --- what a mistake, to me.  Besides being incoherent at times, we are forced to watch  torture of human beings and dogs, bestiality, and a lot of the same things day after day after day (like groundhog day) -- which means the story becomes  even more frustrating because it's like when someone continuously  speaks the same sentence in a foreign language  over and over --- we don't get it, okay? I give this film a 0 --- it's a waste of any effort people made to make it.  Enough said.

"BESTIA"      2021                     16 mins       Chile

Ingrid is working in the Chilean intelligence Directorate (DINA in 1075.  Her relationship with her dog, her body, her fears and frustrations reveal a grim fracture in her mind and in an entire country. 

Chile, 1975. Against the backdrop of Augusto Pinochet's authoritarian military government, we probe into the sad life of a cold, blankly inscrutable lady and her monotonous routine: the impassive woman goes to work, travels back and forth to a mysterious house, plays with her German Shepherd, bakes cakes, and is concerned about her weight. However, as her story unfolds through daily rituals, a beastly portrait starts to take shape, bringing to light the shocking picture of the enduring damage done to a country shattered by unpunished crimes and sickening atrocities.

(now if only the film conveyed that above message, it might have worked)

 

Movie #2086 ........................"Affairs of the Art" (movie theatre - oscar-nominated animated shorts 2022)

 Movie #2086 "Affairs of the Art" (movie theatre-oscar-nominated animated shorts 2022) This one lacked focus --- it was all over the place ---- an attempt to be creative?  Maybe, but it didn't win points with me --- I value thinking outside the box, but theme should be clearer --- some universal truth needs to be examined --- what I got out of this?  Everyone involved in the arts, and their families, start out usually  as sociopaths?  I just used that label because   her son and sister both like to do experiments on  (and oftentimes damage) the animals of the world...... There's nudity in this one because every time we get lines of narration from the artist she's throwing her nude body on a big sheet of canvas or something or other.  I didn't like this one --- can you tell?  It was pretty annoying.  But there's more even worse coming up.  This one is 2.8 out of 5.

"AFFAIRS OF THE ART"       16 minutes         2021     from UK/Canada

How many obsessions can one family have?  In this film Beryl is the working-class heroine who not only reveals her own obsession with drawing but exposes the addictions of her eccentric family, which include pickling, screw threads and pet taxidermy.  

Diretor:  Joanna Quinn

Writer:  Les Mills

Stars:  Menna Truster (voice) Brendan Charleston (voice) Joanne Quinn (voice)

Movie #2085 ........................."Box Ballet" (movie theater - oscar animated shorts 2022)

 Movie #2085 "Box Ballet (movie theater - oscar-animated shorts 2022 )  I really liked this one the best because it took some risks (no dialogue) and used juxtaposition to make the audience constantly think, and it seemed very universal --- strong themes.  However......the ending left me wondering what it meant --- It was unclear and so the theme depends a lot on that last visual comment.  The film is about a relationship that develops between a lonely boxer and a lonely ballerina --- both are victimized by their jobs and come together at the end ----but they still don't seem to be happy --- they remain fragile in their separate and together worlds.  I'd give it a 3 --- rough animation that seems to go with the rough boxing world.

"BOXBALLET"     15 minutes   Russia     2021

One day, a delicate ballerina named Olya meets the rough, surly boxer evgeny.  The contrast between their worlds and their philosophies is so sharp that even the possibility of these two characters crossing paths seems incredible.  

Director:   Anton Dyakov

Writers:  Anthon Dyakov, Andrey Vasilyev

Movie #2084 ........................."Robin, Robin" (movie Theatre)

Movie #2084  "Robin, Robin" (movie Theatre - animated shorts 2022) -- Of the 5 oscar -nominated animated shorts for 2022 this is the only one you can actually show to a kid ---- the rest have nudity, torture, bestiality, etc.  This is an old school type of story about an orphaned robin that gets adopted by a mouse family and as a result never learns how to fly ---- by the end of the film, she is flying and saving another damaged bird from a nasty cat (voiced by Gillian Anderson).  I didn't especially like this one because I felt it was too long and had a couple of unnecessary songs included... but to me it was the clearest and best --- animation was cute and it had a clear theme.  I'd give it 3.8 out of 5.  

"ROBIN, ROBIN (short)  Movie Theatre - animated shorts 2022)    G      32 minutes      2021

In this stop-motion short film, a bird raised by mice begins to question where she belongs and sets off on a darling journey of self-discovery.

Directors:  Daniel Ojari, Michael Please

Writers:  Daniel Ojari, Michael Please, Sam Morriison

Stars:   Bronte Carmichael, Richard E. Grant, Gillian Anderson

Movie #2083 ........................."Nightmare Alley" 2021 (movie theatre)

 Movie #2083 "Nightmare Alley" 2021 (movie theatre) Earlier this year I watched and blogged on the 1947 version, which was just okay with me ---this one is also just okay with me, but for lots of different reasons.  This is much better photographed, better acted, and pushes much more the aspects of film noir.  And what better subject of a film's creepiness than to focus on the carny life.  Carny life has been shown in several movies, like "Greatest Show on Earth" (Jimmy Stewart as the sad clown), and lately "The Greatest Showman" (with Hugh Jackman), just to mention a few.  But rarely has it shown the creepiness of it all , like this one --- mostly because of the Hayes' code in the earlier years.  So along comes Del Toro and he has his film include all the freaks and yes the  "Geek" ---a part of the carny life that people whisper stories about.  Both 1947 and 2021 versions of this story center on the con, esp. of mind reading.  And  the lead guy (Bradley Cooper in this version - who is never bad to look at, even when he is passed out drunk on the ground!) learns all the "con" entails:   you first find the victim, get an assistant and do some research,  set up the con, get the costumes and the props, and then the con itself.  We have seen this in a better film before  (does "The sting" come to mind) and we try to figure out where this is all going --- it's obvious there will be a final "sting" as there was in 1947, but this ending went in a direction I found really hard to believe.  Things started to happen with the Cooper character that I don't think went along with his character..... there was some foreshadowing, but he was usually an observer, and it's hard to believe he would become a doer so quickly.  So I guess what I am saying is that I enjoyed the film's mood ( film noir), photography,  its creepiness, its great acting (Colette, Straihern, Cooper, Rooney, Jenkins,  Blanchett (although, she was a bit too over the line to me - in the original she was more just an ice princess with brains) but not the ending.  I read that the Hayes' code didn't allow the ending that the director wanted in 1947 --- but I actually preferred the , dare I say  its "nicer" ending  --- I don't want to give anything away for either film, but sufficeth it to say this was a tough one to watch in comparison to the 1947 one. But whose to say?  You might like this one better (Remember, I am a Hallmark Christmas movie fan, so there's that)!  I'd give this a 4 out of 5 and recommend it , but not to the faint of heart.  I also recommend seeing it on a big screen.

"NIGHTMARE ALLEY"  2021   rated R     2 hours and 30 mins

An ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well-chosen words hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous than he is.

Director:  Guillermo del Toro

Writers:  Guillermo del Toro, Kim Morgan, William Lindsay Gresham

Stars:  Bradley Cooper, Cate blanchett, Toni Collette

Movie #2082 ........................."House of Gucci" (Redbox)

Movie #2082 "House of Gucci" (Redbox) Want to see a dysfunctional rich family with a lot of power to wield around?  Then, here's the film for you.  It's a bit of a melodrama, bordering on soap opera,  when all these actors start screaming at each other --- but , you have Lady Gaga playing the newbie with a lot of her own ideas, married to stoic Adam Driver (I'm sorry, I don't see much acting here at all from him --- he's mousy, and then when he apparently gets a backbone, he just relies on a smile -- I guess that is something!); and uncle Al Pacino who chews up scenery in every scene he is in, and then there's Jared Leto, who is hardly recognizable, with a bald cap and a very high voice --- but at least he is trying to get across his character with some entertainment value.  I really do applaud Lady Gaga and Jared Leto for what they do here because the film is very inconsistent, paced slowly, and an accident just waiting to happen ----i.e.,  you know what's going to happen because we read the headlines and can see everything unraveling, but the film still tries to  entertain albeit with sometimes mindless dialogue being delivered in dark rooms,  being said by actors dripping in Gucci accessories. And the best of the entertainment, to me, were GaGa and Leto --  those two actors made the film worthwhile for me to see.  I also found the Gucci philosophy to be interesting --- that it would always stay IN the family --- once it didn't, it's no more.  How true!  I'd give this a 3.8.  The one Oscar nomination it was given (guess what it is?  Yep, makeup) if won, won't even be given  live, evidently, but like I said, the two actors do justice to the Gucci name.  PS --- ironic Selma Hayek is in the film since her hubby is  CEO  of what is left of  Gucci right now. 3.8 out of 5.

"HOUSE OF GUCCI"           2021                 rated R       2 hours and 38 mins

When Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel their legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge, and ultimately....murder.

Director:  Ridley Scott

Writers:  Becky Johnsont, Roberto Bentivegna, Sara Gay Forden

Stars:  Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Al Pacino, Jaren Leto

Movie #2081 ........................."King Richard" (Redbox)

 Movie #2081 "King Richard" (redbox) I really enjoyed this biopic of Richard Williams, father to Venus and Serena.  The movie focuses mostly on Venus' rise, while Serena is always in the background, learning along with her sister, but waiting for HER time to come (the next movie?).  All the while we are watching Venus'  career unfold, we are focused on her dad's style of coaching and his philosophies of life.  Now we aren't told about the previous family he had (and walked away from, evidently) nor any of the possible ineffective decisions he made along the way --- the film really is tilted his way, but he isn't portrayed as a saint by any means.  While watching, I sometimes cringed at something he said or the way he acted, but then I'd look down the way, and it ended up to turn out good for the kids, for the most part. The most important takeaway   from the film, I felt, was how this road to success was far from easy --- coming from Compton, with no places to practice, no money to back them up, nosey neighbors who see endless hours of practice to be abusive so they call the police, the prejudice, and more prejudice, and more prejudice, either for their young age, or being females, or having the color of their skin.  So because we know Venus will end up to be a successful player for a time period in World Tennis, along with the hard work the whole family puts into that success, the film comes across quite inspirational!  and a fun watch.  I'd give it a strong 4 and recommend it to others.  And there's just enough of tennis to not make it too boring for those who aren't much into the sport.  And here's a final plus --- the acting is extraordinary --- Will Smith takes on the look, the stride, the posture, and the voice of Richard, and makes him quite a sympathetic figure (Even when I remember him as a laughable character  when I watched him in the stands on t,.v.)  -- Will seems to be  a very strong contender for best actor this year (my bet is with him); then, there's his wife who is very strong at protecting her kids and wanting them to be able to be kids and still be good at tennis -- she is also nominated but I think Ariana from Westside Story may take this supporting actress award; and the girl who plays Venus is quite talented --- would be fun to see her do more.  Bottom line?  Film shows how parents deal with talented kids, esp. when faced with prejudice.   

"KING RICHARD"    2021        2 hours and 24 mins    pG-13

A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams

Director:  Reinaldo Marcus Green

Writer:  Zach Baylin

Stars:  Will Smith, Aunjanue Ellis , Jon Bernthal