May December: This new release has two strong female Oscar winners with Natalie Portman (Black Swan) and Julianne Moore (Still Alice) in the principal roles. The story is roughly based on the well publicized Mary Kay Letourneau situation with her as a married teacher with four kids, falling in love with a Grade 7 male student. She was jailed for it, but later released. Upon her early release, she goes back to the young man and returned to jail but she ended up pregnant and delivering the baby in prison. The situation raised many questions. This story has a much older Moore with her younger husband, being approached by an actress, Portman, who wishes to portray the wife for a movie. Portman is there in town to do research for the role. To that end, she conducts interviews and asks direct questions to those involved and taking notes.
I have to admit that I am not a big Natalie Portman fan. I am a bit surprised at the direction that is taken by the Hollywood actress. I suppose that the argument can be made that she is a method actor and needs to immerse herself in a role, and that would include looking upon the young man (now in his 30s) as a person of interest. Do this man need saving? Does he need a new direction in his life? How would an actress be a person who should be influencing these decisions. The outward stance of Moore’s character is a bit surprising as well as she seems very focused on protecting herself and defending her decisions. A number of those positions are those of the real Letourneau when she was interviewed about her unusual family situation. She still lives in the same town as her ex-husband and her children from that marriage. Two girls. Along with children from her new relationship. Overall, it is a story that moves slowly and has turns that don’t make a lot of sense. It is a challenge when mixing a real life story with more fictional elements that the overall effect can be muddled. I think that the acting talent is wasted. I don’t feel anything for the main characters, but I am amazed at how well adjusted that the children are. As young people, they are well spoken and connected with their parents, even if Dad isn’t that much older than they are. In the end, it was slow, not engaging and not something that I can recommend. It was a disjointed story that doesn’t capture the essence of the source material. I will note as an aside, that in real life Letourneau died from cancer at age 58. The actual 60 Minutes interview with Letourneau and her husband is an interesting watch.
The Holdovers: This movie is another movie about teachers and their students in a long line of films with this theme. Directed by Alexander Payne (Election, The Descendants, Sideways, Nebraska) he tells a story set in the early 1970s at a New England prep school as it heads into the Christmas Break. Paul Giamatti plays a history teacher who isn’t much of a team player in the eyes of the school administration. He sticks to his own values. The result is that he draws the short straw to remain at the school with the unfortunate few students who don’t have places to go for the holidays. He is not married, has no family and no children of his own. Among the students includes Angus, a student who expected to be with his Mom in the Caribbean but she disappoints and goes with her new husband instead. The few students are also left with the head of the kitchen, played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph who had lost her son in the Viet Nam war, from which she is still reeling. Together these misfits are gathered in the smaller gym area (to save on heating costs) for a prolonged babysitting session.
Situations present themselves, and those involve boil down to the three pictured above; teacher, student and chef. They attend a party, the young man wants to go for a road trip and they have some issues to deal with, including an unexpected sidetrip. Giamatti is good in the role, and he embodies the frustrated school teacher who has never quite hit his full potential. There is a story behind that, but much like the Robin Williams character in Good Will Hunting, he has choices to make. The young man is troubled, and we can see his struggles. He is smart enough but has a temper and acts impetuously at times to his detriment. Finally the cook, has plenty of real world insight and keeps the two men in check. Her “hmmmmm”s throughout show her recognition that those around her don’t always understand how to are perceived and the unintended consequences of what they are doing. Ultimately the resolution to the story is satisfactory, for me anyway. I like these characters, unlike with May December and I think that each develop and grow from their interaction with one another.
Talk to Me: In recent years there have been some decent thriller, horror, suspense movies. Movies such as Hereditary or Annihilation or Jordan Peele (Us, Nope or Get Out) have all been better than the hacker and slash movies that were post Exorcist era. This Australian movie is a decent addition to these films. The premise, like many in the genre, is that some teens are looking to explore the paranormal/after life. To that end, they have found a ceramic hand which when used with a candle, and a phrase it is supposed to “open the door” to the netherworld. Apparently the hand was passed down, and these guys have come across it.
As Mom (played by Miranda Otto from Lord of the Rings) is off at work, the kids gather in the house to have the ceremony and get their camera phones ready to film the results. A family friend volunteers to try first, and she is successful. The daughter, Jade played well by Alexandra Jenson, with her much younger brother (played by Joe Bird) are looking on. I think that this movie captures the current age well, with the phones and kids seeking the sensational. As the situation escalates, the thought process on how to resolve the real problem is an interesting one. This story is engaging and compelling. The audience wonders how there is a solution that works. There are also some stunning visuals with some shocks, expected and unexpected. That is the point of these tpes of movies. They are escapism, meant to allow the audience to experience some surprises and be scared a little in the safety of their own home, like a roller coaster ride. I liked this. It moved along well with a good pace. The stories around the various young people were not contrived and added to their stories. Like any good thriller there will be times when one says to themselves as they watch the action unfold “you will regret doing that” or “that can’t possibly be a good idea” with some predictable results, and some not. Well worth checking out.
Mondays With Robbie 