Author: James Hathaway

We are back from Wisconsin and the holidays with family.  It was great fun except for the 2 weeks of sub-zero temperatures.  The 60+ temps at home seem balmy by comparison.

After falling behind on several new releases we are playing a bit of catch up.  Can you believe the Golden Globe awards are this Sunday?!  Enjoy.

J&J

Downsizing

The world is overpopulated.  Living costs are sky high.  Science has discovered a way to shrink humans to 5 inches tall and create a part of the world on the same scale with the cost of living on a comparable level.

Once you get your brain around it, it is a stimulating idea.  However, the parallel world is not all it would seem.  The underbelly of this new world is just as bad as the full size world.

The acting is good overall.  Matt Damon is superb as a workplace physical therapist.  Kristen Wiig has a bit part as his wife.  Christoph Waltz is off the charts as a Playboy/Con man.  Hong Chau as the housekeeper brings substance to the plot with her exceptional performance.

Critics and audiences are all over the board on this film.  Rightfully so, as the story morphs into too many Utopian corners.

It is rated R for language including sexual references, graphic nudity and drug use.  (Much of it unnecessary.)  The genre is noted as Comedy/Drama.  It runs a long two hours, 15 minutes.  It’s a near miss, just short of its grand concept.

Rating 

Molly’s Game

Just in time for Oscar consideration, this film is based on true events and the novel by Molly Bloom.  The story behind the story is one of the lead character gamblers, played by Michael Cera, was/is actually Tobey Maguire, hence the “real events”.

Screenplay and Directed by Aaron Sorkin.  The incredible Jessica Chastain plays a perfect Molly.  The equally skilled English actor Idris Elba the defense attorney.  Kevin Costner plays Molly’s father.  A dozen other actors contribute to a very fine cast.

It is rated R for language, drug content and some violence.  It is absolutely NOT appropriate for children.  The genre is noted as Drama/Crime with a whopping run time of two hours, 20 minutes.

This film has already been nominated for Golden Globes in the acting category and appears to be favored for Oscar consideration.  It is fast paced, intelligent, and often intense.

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I, Tonya

When this film was first announced, I thought ‘why on earth would they do a movie about Tonya Harding?’  Well, we finally saw it and were quite surprised with the production.

The film re-enacts the true events of U.S. figure skating scandals in the early 90s.  Ultimately, the story is sad, intense, clever and surprisingly captivating.  The acting makes the film jump off the screen.  Margot Robbie morphs into Tonya.  Allison Janney is stellar as her mother, LaVona Harding.  Romanian-American Sebastian Stan shines as Tonya’s husband.

The movie is rated R for pervasive language, violence and some sexual content/nudity.  It is not recommended for young children.  Its genre is noted as a Sport/Drama and runs 2 hours, 1 minute.

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Good Morning to all on this last day of 2017.  We are  enjoying the joy and laughter that comes from spending those special times with family.

We send our best wishes to you, our extended family, for the coming year.  It was so great to hear from so many of you this holiday season.  We send hopes for good health and happiness to you and all those important to you.

This will be our last movie post this year.  We racked up a new record 188 movies this year.  We will squeeze in as many more as possible to be ready for the Oscars.

Best wishes,

J&J

Ferdiand

This kid/family friendly animated film is sure to attract audiences.  It is unique, funny, charming and clever.  It is a story about a big Bull with a big heart and a big surprise ending. It was filmed in 3D (we saw it in 2D.) by Blue Sky Studios and 20th Century Fox.  It is based on the children’s book by Munro Leaf.

A cast of 18 actors make up the characters.  John Cena is the most notable character.  Kate McKinnon, Daveed Diggs, Peyton Manning, Miguel Angel Silvestre and Boris Kodjoe are the other memorable characters.

It is rated PG (there is some rude humor, action and thematic elements).  Nonetheless, it is quite suitable for children.  The genre is noted as a Fantasy/Adventure running 1 hour, 48 minutes.

Rating 

All the Money in the World

This film is based on true events and the book by Chris Clark about the kidnapping of John Paul Getty III, grandson of billionaire John Paul Getty, then the richest man in the world.

Directed by Ridley Scott, this story has intrigue and suspense.  It is fast paced with solid acting.

The cast is highlighted by Charlie Plummer as the kidnapped Getty Grandson (no relationship to Christopher Plummer).  An outstanding performance by Christopher Plummer (as a stand in for Kevin Spacey…see news articles for details).  Both Mark Wahlberg as body guard and Michelle Williams as the Mom deliver believable roles.  There are some great bad guys, Italian actors, notably Nicolas Vaporidis, Andrea Peidmonte and Gulielmo Favilla.

It is rated R for language, violence, drug content and disturbing images.  Parents should use caution before allowing children to see this movie.

The film is listed as a Drama/Mystery with a running time of 2 hours, 12 minutes.

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The Greatest Showman

Every once in a while a film leaps from good to instant classic.  This one, based on true events, takes some liberty with the history of P. T. Barnum who was considered one of the greatest showman of his era.

This is amazing, inspiring and inspirational all at the same time.  The cast is exceptional, led by the versatile Hugh Jackman.  Zac Efron delivers one of his best performances to date.  Disney protege Zendaya plays a love interest.  Michele Williams shines as the wife.  Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson is exceptional as the opera diva.  Keala Settle is off the charts as the Bearded Lady.

The movie is already nominated for three major Golden Globe awards.  Audiences love this film but many critics were tepid.  It earns highest marks from us.

It is rated PG and is suitable for most children.  The genre is noted as Drama, Musical & Performing Arts.  Run time is 105 minutes.

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Call Me By Your Name

Set in 1983 Lombardy, Italy is the perfect backdrop for this sexual awakening themed film.  Seventeen year old Elio meets his father’s summer intern Oliver.  The story is based on the novel by Andre Guadagnino.

This film is emotional, romantic, heart wrenching and brilliantly crafted.  The cast is compact and perfectly selected.  Armie Hammer plays the summer intern.  Timothee Hal Chalamet is perfect as Elio Perlman.  Michael Stuhlbarg plays the wise loving father. Amira Casar who grew up in England, Ireland and France is the Mom.

The movie is rated R for sexual content, nudity and some language.  This may not be appropriate for young children.  The genre is listed as a Drama/Romance.  The run time is two hours, 12 minutes.

Note:  This film was nominated last week for three Golden Globes for Best Actor, Supporting Actor and Best Movie, Drama.

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Star Wars: The Last Jedi

It’s here!  It’s exciting.  It respects its history, surprises often, and is an excellent addition to the franchise.  That said, it is not perfect.  We were surprised to learn there was some fan consternation regarding some character changes.  How silly.

Luke Skywalker is back in an important role along with Rey, a new female character with strong abilities from the Force.  On the flip side, General Hux and Kylo Ren lead a massive assault to crush the Resistance and Leia Organa.

The cast was excellent as always.  Daisy Ridley is Rey.  Mark Hamill is Luke Skywalker.  The late Carrie Fisher is Leia.  John Boyega is back as Finn.  Adam Driver is Kylo Ren.  Oscar Issac is Poe.  Irish Actor Domhnall Gleeson is General Hux.  Other noteworthy characters are played by Kelly Marie Tran as Rose Tico, Benicio del Toro, Laura Dern, Lupita Nynog’o, Tom Hardy  and English Actor Andy Serkis as the Supreme Leader.

It is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence.  It is suitable for children with an understanding of previous Star Wars episodes.  The genre is listed as Action & Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy.  It is written and directed by Rian Johnson.  The run time is 2 hours, 33 minutes.  We loved it!

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 Best Wishes and the Warmest Holiday greetings to all!! 

This Tuesday we will be traveling to be with family in Wisconsin for the holidays.  We’ll be back in San Francisco after the New Year.

Many of you already know the film industry releases some of the best movies of the year between December 22 and Christmas Day in order to qualify for the awards season.

We will try to see as many new releases as possible over the holidays and we WILL post our reviews within a day or two afterwards.

A big THANKS to all our friends and family for your friendship and love.

J&J

The Disaster Artist

Let’s see.  Where to begin?!  First the trailer for this film was off putting.  We had formulated an opinion before the film was released.  Given all the hype and then the recently announced nominees for the Golden Globes and Screen Actors Guild Awards, we acquiesced and went to see it.

By the end of the film, and a better understanding of what the film was about, we changed our minds about a rating.  Perhaps our learning will help you decide to see it, or not.

This is a remake of a film originally made 16 years ago by Tommy Wiseau that became a cult classic.  The original can be seen periodically at midnight showings in independent theaters.

The remake includes a who’s who of actors.  James Franco takes the lead as Tommy Wiseau.  His brother Dave Franco plays sidekick friend and actor Greg Sestero.  The cast includes roles by Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Josh Hutcherson, Alison Brie, Sharon Stone, Jacki Weaver, Melanie Griffith, Bryan Cranston and several more.

It’s rated R for sex and nudity, some violence, profanity, alcohol, drugs and smoking and some intense scenes.  It is absolutely not appropriate for children.  The genre is noted as Drama/Biography running 1 hour 43 minutes.

It is likely to enjoy a lot of hype and probably more award nominations.  Classic and or cult, it was not our cup of tea.

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Aida’s Secrets

This is a unique documentary about a fractured family just after WWII making this story intriguing and insightful.  The first son is sent to Israel for adoption.  A lifetime later another son is found in Canada.

The cast is made up of the actual persons, brothers Shep Shell and Izak Sagi both in their 70’s and their mother Aida Zasadsinska, in a care facility and presumed in her 90’s.

This films audiences are growing as word spreads.  It is well crafted by Director’s Alon and Shaul Schwarz.  However, it was not always easy to follow who was who and what happened when.

As films like this are a reminder of the horrors of the holocaust, it is also an inspiring and heartwarming reminder of human resilience.

It is not rated and listed as a Documentary.  Run time is 95 minutes.  English and Hebrew with English subtitles.

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Rebels on Pointe

This charming documentary shares the history of Les Ballets de Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the all male drag ballet that began over 40 years ago after the Stonewall riots in New York.

It is a fascinating visit behind the scenes of this entertaining dance troop.  The talent, diversity, the obstacles and challenges it has overcome to attract a global audience.

It is concurrently funny, enchanting, inspiring and uplifting.  This film has heart, grit, determination and inspiration.  It is thoroughly entertaining, insightful and lovable.

The genre is documentary.  It is not rated.  It is suitable for children and runs 89 minutes.

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Happy Holidays to all!

Hollywood’s Foreign Press released their nominations for the upcoming Golden Globes this morning.

Hollywood’s final releases for this year’s Oscar consideration must be released on or before Christmas Day in both New York and Los Angeles.

In the meantime, we are doing our best to find and see the handful of films being released here and there.  To be honest, it is getting to be slim pickings.  Here are a few we found this week.

The Breadwinner

This animated film by Irish Director, Nora Twomey, tells the story of an 11 year old girl, Parvana, who lives in Afghanistan with her small family under Taliban rule.  Her elderly father is arrested and imprisoned leaving no one to tend to the family’s needs.  Pervana cuts her hair, poses as a boy and works for meager wages to earn enough money to bribe a prison guard for the release of her father.  Pretty serious stuff for an animated film.

This film is based on the 2000 novel by Deborah Ellis. The cast includes the voice of Canadian actress Saara Chaudry as Parvana.  Laara Sadiq as the voice of Fattema.  Shaista Latif as Soraya and Soma Chhaya as Shauzia.

It is an inspiring and touching story about life under the Taliban, women’s role in that society and the power of hope and female empowerment.

The movie is rated PG-13 for thematic material and some violent images.  The genre is listed as Animation, Drama, Kids and Family.  Run time is 93 minutes.

Rating 

Wonder Wheel

This latest film by Writer and Director Woody Allen is set in the Coney Island amusement park of the 1950’s.  It is a story about a lifeguard, a former actress, her husband, his estranged daughter and the young son who has more than a few character flaws.

The actors include (in the same order): Justin Timberlake, Kate Winslet, Jim Belushi, Juno Temple and the child actor Jack Gore.  The performances are quite good.  The problem is the characters aren’t very likable and the story line is far from comfortable or inspiring.

It is surprisingly rated PG-13 for thematic content including some sexuality, language and obsessive smoking.  The genre is noted as a drama with a run time of 1 hour, 41 minutes.  All in all… just ho hum.

Rating 

The Other Side of Hope

Here is a fascinating and unique look at immigration.  In this deadpan approach from Finnish Director Aki Kaurismaki who “peels the onion” with his  comedy/drama look at the refugee crisis facing many European countries, and in this film Finland.

The film delivers a deadpan tone that takes audiences a little getting used to.  Adaptable viewers will catch on to this theme;  i.e. skinheads that don’t know the difference between Arab and Jew.  The underlying commentary on bigotry is subtle yet effective.

This film is in limited release and is not rated.  The genre is reported as Art House & International, Comedy, Drama.  The cast is primarily from Kaurismaki’s pool of “reliable stock” of Finnish actors.

This is a unique and quirky film that requires a bit of patience and thought.  The more we thought about this movie, the more we recognized the nuances.  In English, Finnish, Arabic and Swedish with English subtitles.

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Marshall

Every once in a while a movie is made about real events, real people and history in the making.  This film is perhaps the best example of those characteristics this year.

It is the story about Thurgood Marshall in 1941.  He was the first African American lawyer for the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and its leader of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s.  He was the first black Supreme Court Justice appointed in 1964.

This film has a great screenplay and excellent actors, most notably Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall.  Kate Hudson plays the socialite Eleanor Hudson.  Josh Gad is superb as the Jewish Defense Attorney.  There is an impressive performance by Sterling K. Brown as the accused rapist.  Dan Stevens is the smug prosecuting attorney and James Cromwell is the grizzly Judge.

It is rated PG-13 with mature thematic content, sexuality, violence and strong language.  It is listed as a Drama/Biography running 1 hour, 58 minutes.  There is a lot of Oscar chatter about this movie and we think it deserves it.

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Darkest Hour

This true story is about Great Britain’s entry into World War II while Nazi Germany is sweeping across Western Europe.  The options boil down to negotiate for a peace treaty or hold the course and risk of massive casualties at Dunkirk.

The acting is superb.  Most notably are:  Gary Oldman morphs into Winston Churchill.  Ben Mendelsohn is King George VI.  Lily James is perfect as Churchill’s Secretary.  Kristin Scott Thomas transforms into Clementine Churchill.

This film was strategically released Friday, December 8 to qualify for potential Academy Awards and to benefit from the demand for holiday season films.  Gary Oldman may just have a lock for Best Actor.  Other likely nominations include Best Picture, Cinematography, Screenplay and Costume Design.

It is rated PG-13 for some thematic content.  The genre is Drama/History and runs 2 hours, 5 minutes.  Our favorite scene:  Churchill’s first “subway” ride meets everyday Brits and seeks their opinion about the war.  Genius!

Rating 

The Shape of Water

Oh my gosh!  What can you say about such a unique, quirky, artistic, sensual film about a mute cleaning lady, a merman from the Amazon (South America, not warehouse) and a cold war bureaucrat/scientist bully.  It is set in 1962 Baltimore.

The acting makes the film plausible.  Michael Shannon is the crazed government scientist.  Doug Jones is unrecognizable but fascinating as the creature.  Sally Hawkins is brilliant as the cleaning lady.  The always amazing Octavia Spencer shines as the friend Zelda.  Richard Jenkins is hilarious as the neighbor Giles.  There is another dozen actors rounding our the cast.

This incredibly creative story manages to weave seemingly conflicting themes together.  The cold war meets an unknown species, weaves in a love story, a cover up becomes a romance and an escape attempt.  Sometimes a bit creepy, occasionally unexpectedly shocking, often charming and totally surprising.

It is rated R for sexual content, graphic nudity, violence and language.  No surprise the genre is noted as Drama, Science Fiction, Fantasy and Romance.  It is absolutely not suitable for children.  It runs one minute short of two hours.

If you are looking for something different, this one is it.  There may be some Oscar material here including Cinematography, Costumes, Visual Effects and more.

Rating  

The Divine Order

It is hard to believe that women in Switzerland were still struggling to gain the right to vote decades after most of the Western world secured these rights.  This insightful film zeroes in on a small village in Switzerland and the housewife where the movement began.  Switzerland finally granted women the right to vote in 1971.

All the actors are European, mostly Swiss and Italian.  All are impressive character roles.  It was filmed in English, German, Italian and Swiss German with English subtitles.

What was most impressive about the film was how the women characters slowly bonded together, each supporting the other, each for different reasons.  It is a fascinating peek behind the curtains.

This film is not rated.  The genre is noted as Art House & International, Drama.  It runs a quick 96 minutes.

Rating 

Thelma

What sparked our interest in this newly released film is it’s Norway’s submission for the 2017 Foreign Film Oscar.  We also noticed very high ratings from the most prominent critics.  (That should have been a clue…)

The story follows a young college student when she suddenly experiences extreme seizures for no apparent reason.  As time continues, the extent of her condition challenges her friends and family well beyond the pale.

The acting is quite good.  It is a small but skilled cast.  The production gets a bit goofy as it drifts in one direction then suddenly in another.  Maybe that is the intent.  Half the time we could not figure out what was going on.

The film is not rated.  It is listed as Art House, International, Mystery & Suspense.  We do not recommend this film for children due to drug use, graphic sexuality, extreme and violent behavior.  Run time is just under 2 hours.  Norwegian with English subtitles.

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The Swindlers

This was an interesting and confusing movie about a Korean con artist who was reported dead but rumored to be alive.  When the “less than clean” Prosecutor meets another fraudster that is looking for the same con man they decide to join forces but for very different reasons.

It’s an entirely Korean cast and production with bits of sarcasm and a fair amount of overacting.  There is also some great stunt work, impressive driving and some jazzy special effects.

On the downside, the English subtitles flash on the screen so fast to keep up with the dialog it often makes the story difficult to follow.

This film is not rated.  It is quite violent, plenty of foul language and certainly not suitable for children.  The genre is listed as Drama, Mystery and Suspense.  Run time is 1 hour, 57 minutes.  It might be worth a look if you are up for something a bit different.

Rating 

The Man Who Invented Christmas

This is a remarkable film about Charles Dickens writing A Christmas Carol.  It is magically filmed “in real time of the time of the writing” which takes a bit of getting used to but well worth the mental investment.  This makes the film thought provoking and a real flashback to 1843 when Charles Dickens wrote the book.

The cast is relatively small but effective.  Dan Stevens is Charles Dickens.  Christopher Plummer is Scrooge.  Jonathan Pryce is Dicken’s father.  Donald Sumpter is a really scary Jacob Marley, and Morfydd Clark is the wife Kate Dickens.

It was exciting and challenging at the same time watching Charles Dickens actually creating the original book.  It was both unique and fascinating film making!

This film is rated PG for thematic elements and some mild language.  We do recommend this film for children perhaps with some current explanation.  It is listed as a Comedy/Drama.  It runs 104 minutes and we cannot think of a better way to continue the holiday season.

Rating 

Jane

Take one part adventure, one part romance, add a lifetime commitment to chimpanzee research, mix in a multi continent family and make a world class documentary about the whole thing and you have a whopper of a film.

Director, Producer, Screenplay writer Brett Morgen draws on over 50 years of archived National Geographic film stock to tell the story of the trailblazing Jane Goodall and her chimpanzee research.  It is also a biography of Jane and her immediate family’s life in Tanzania.

It is an amazing documentary on the lives of chimpanzee.  Their behaviors, relationships with each other and their interactions with other species.  It is filled with awe, laughter, tragedy, heart break, discovery and disappointment.

It is rated PG.  It is listed as a Biography/Documentary.  Critics and audiences are giving Jane high marks.  It is generally child friendly although there are some scenes of violence within the animal world that may require explanation.

This is a potential Oscar winner.

Rating  

The Square

Oh my!!  What a mess.  First, locally, The Square we saw was about a Modern Art Museum in Stockholm.  The San Francisco Chronicle prints a daily review about a documentary with the same title regarding the Egyptian uprising released in 2013.  We thought we were seeing the Egyptian movie.

It gets weirder.  The movie we did see was listed as a “Drama/Comedy”.  It gets better (or worse depending on your perspective).  The film we saw won virtually every major award at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival including the coveted Palm d’Or.  Unbelievable given we thought it the worst film in years.

The film we did see was about a Swedish Modern/Contemporary Art museum and its curator developing a new collection.  Their PR company goes rogue when it produces an ad clip where a little girl blows up causing massive fallout with the public and the press.

The acting was good with several globally talented actors but the story line just did not translate.  Some of the plot was just creepy;  i.e. a scene where an adult ape is wandering around an apartment while a human couple are having sex.  And that is just one example of several.

It is rated R for language, strong sexual content and brief violence.  It is absolutely not acceptable for children (or adults for that matter!).  It runs a painful 2 hours, 22 minutes.  English, Danish and Swedish, with English subtitles.

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The Killing of a Sacred Deer

It took a bit of research but apparently the much acclaimed Director Yorgos  Lanthimos (remember The Lobster, 2016?) is inspired by Iphigenia of Greek Mythology, daughter of King Agamemnon who offended the goddess Artemis.  Artemis commanded the the King to kill his daughter in retribution.  (There is a famous painting of this event by Francois Perrier from the 17th century where you will also see the Sacred Deer.)

While that is an interesting art history lesson, it does not explain the plot for this film.  That said, most critics loved this movie.  Descriptions include: “unsettling” we say bizarre, others said “disturbing” we say nuts, still another says “thought provoking” we say yeah, as in drug induced psycho nightmare.

Colin Farrell plays a skilled cardiovascular surgeon and father who speaks in a monotone voice.  Nicole Kidman plays the wife and mother.  Young actors Sunny Suljic and Raffey Cassidy are the son and daughter with skilled performances beyond their years.  A noteworthy performance was by Barry Keoghan, the young Irish actor, who in this film is the best bad boy around.

It is rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content, some graphic nudity and language.  It is not suitable for children.  It is listed as a Drama with a run time of 2 hours, 1 minute.

Rating  

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

This is an intelligent and captivating role for Denzel Washington.  It takes place in Los Angeles’ overburdened criminal court system where his character is a life long activist when his mentor and partner suddenly dies and the firm goes bankrupt.

Enter Colin Ferrell as a slick, ambitious lawyer, a mover and shaker on defense cases.  He hires Mr. Isreal who struggles to adapt.

There are about 20 actors in the script but about 6 are core to the movie.  Mr. Washington transforms into Roman Isreal.  Colin Ferrell is brilliant as the high powered defense attorney.  (Compare that to his lackluster role in the Sacred Deer film reviewed above!)  Carmen Ejogo is stunning as the activist attorney who befriends Roman.  The talented Tony Plana also gives a riveting character life.  Shelley Hennig also delivers an impressive character.

The film is rated PG-13 for language and some violence.  It is listed as a Drama/Crime/Thriller genre.  It’s too early to comment on potential Oscar chatter.

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Coco

This Disney Pixar production is laser focused on detail, every frame, every scene, every aspect.  Disney decided to debut Coco in Mexico in advance of the US where it broke records as the #1 film of all time in local currency.

The story is a chronicle of Mexican Day of the Dead folklore, its traditions and history.  It is also a story about generational divides, latin culture and integrity.

Miguel is the animated 10 year old struggling to honor his family’s history while following his heart’s desire to be a musician.  The film was three years in production which meant finding the talent to bridge the character’s attributes.  The role of Miguel is played by Anthony Gongalez who was 10 when he started and 13 when the film was finished.

The all star cast also includes Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Pratt, Renee Victor, Edward James Olmos and a dozen other actors.  It is rated PG.  The genre is noted as Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy.  It runs 1 hour, 49 minutes.

This is a must see film.  There is Oscar buzz everywhere especially for Feature Animated film and several technical categories.  Given the quantity and quality of animated releases to date, it ought to be an interesting awards season.

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