Christmas Day 2023

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. It is rare to have my posting on Christmas Day, but this is a lucky year. The good news is that I have had some time to catch up on som recent releases. Netflix has two new releases of note, for which Maestro was getting some Oscar buzz. There was also the latest Zack Snyder Sci-Fi extravaganza, Rebel Moon, which has been heavily advertised. Lastly there was Dumb Money, not on Netflix that I saw which used as the backdrop the real life recent stock story of Gamestop. I wish everyone a pleasant day surrounded by friends and family, with hopefully a break before heading into 2024.

Dumb Money: This movie stars Paul Dano as the single small investor and blogger/vlogger, Keith Gill, who was known online as Roaring Kitty. Gill lived in a modest home with his wife, played by Shailene Woodley, and was just making ends meet. In his spare time he dabbled in stocks and did his own research. Gill started himself buying up what he felt was an undervalued stock in Gamestop, the retailer that sells video games, game consoles and accessories. Much like Blockbuster before it, it was felt by the Wall Street “experts” that this was a ding business model.

When Wall Street doesn’t believe in a stock, they bet against it, by doing what is called Short Selling. They promise to purchase a stock at a certain strike price. If it goes down, they make money. The risky aspect of it is that there is no upside in how much can be lost, if the price goes higher than the investor had bet. Make no mistake, it is a gamble. Gill openly shows his position in Gamestop with his purchases and current pricing. Gill through Reddit gains an audience, more small investors like him, and they start buying. Through the story we see other investors who have followed Gill, and their personal financial circumstance including a couple university students, a nurse and others. We also see the Wall Street folks buying the shorts in between tennis games and fancy dinners out of their mansions. The story unfolds much as it was told through the excellent documentary Eat The Rich, reviewed earlier by me. Gill shows tremendous fortitude in holding this stock, as his own net worth soars. His parents, his wife, his followers are all wondering what he is going to do. There are some unexpected twists and turns, which you wouldn’t have expected in a “free market society”. Apparently if the losses get to be high enough, the house eventually has to change the rules of the game in their favour. It’s an interesting depiction with good performances with some of the insider information (as best as it could be known I suppose) which Eat the Rich dodn’t have. If you have any interest in investing, this is a story much like the Tulip Bulb panic buying around 1636 in Holland. Panic buying on all fronts can create prices that simply out of reach. Good news is that this is a redistribution of wealth from a very few hedge fund holders to the average investor who could really use it. Is that what the stock market is really meant to be? A chance for the little guy to participate in this fundamental market activity that so many others have profited previously.

Rebel Moon: Part One: Zack Snyder of many Marvel films, like Man of Steel, Batman vs Superma, Justice League and 300 directs this latest sci-fi epic. Sofia Boutella stars in the lead role, named Kora, and viewers may remember her in The Mummy, as well as Atomic Blonde and Star Trek Beyond.

In summary, Kora begins in a small farming village in a remote planet. Then the “bad guys” show up in a large ship which looms over the village. The villagers are concerned, as they rightly should be. When they arrived, dressed basically as Nazis (or the Empire to borrow from Star Wars which this does) they start off seeming to be willing to negotiate but the tone changes quickly. The Empire becomes an occupying offensive force in the village, and predictably do bad guy things. Kora who has remained hidden, eventually has to step in and does in John Wick fashion (or Mandalorian, or other such skilled silent vigilantes). Knowing that she will be hunted, she leaves to find assistance with other skilled persons like her. She visits a Mos Eisley type port city, where she enters a bar and finds a bounty hunter to help her. Sound familiar? It should. There are others now to seek out. There is an Avatar-like task of taming a wild animal, along with speaking to others with glorious pasts. Amazing how just a few words can turn an individual around and see his way clear to help this small band (almost like a Guardians of the Galaxy). I will say that there is a moment where the little band seems to be in a real pickle. The resolution I will admit strained to the breaking point my level of disbelief. So from my perspective, this story borrowed from plenty of other similar stories. I think that they saved on the acting budget with many B-actors, and did a fine job with some of the effects and CGI. Nevertheless, it was a long story, that didn’t really engage me, nor have me care about the participants. The bad guys are caricatures of people, as they are simply just evil. Of course Kora has a back story. It isn’t overly surprising. But this is Part One and the second part will be released in April. I won’t be looking forward to it.

Maestro: Bradley Cooper directs and stars in this biopic for American composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein. Carey Mulligan plays his wife, and actress Felicia Montealegre. For me, after watching this I was thinking sometimes we should just appreciate the art that someone creates rather than delving more deeply into their personal life. Leonard Bernstein was brought onto the front stage at age 25yo, when the conductor of the NY Philharmonic took sick and he filled in. The rest is history from a musical perspective. He meets a young actress in Mulligan who they both find a synergy together. Much of the rest speaks to their relationship.

A couple of comments: I found that the nose and chin prosthetics used on Cooper were just as distracting as his attempted accent. I found that he was over-the-top in his acting, thrashing his hands all about while he was conducting. Funny I always thought that waving a white wand around to keep time wouldn’t be a heavily physical activity, but what do I know? My experience with a conductor begins and ends with high school concert band with Mr. McKay. I will further add that I have not been a huge fan of Carey Mulligan. I think that she is competent, but there is nothing about her for me that has her excelling. This role was no exception. It was long, with me checking the time more than a few times, and didn’t engage with me emotionally. The second comment is that I could not believe the amount of smoking done in the movie. There doesn’t seem to be any scenes where either Cooper or Mulligan has a cigarette. The cigarette budget must have come close to Cooper’s salary. I can’t imagine the number of takes, different angles etc with cigarettes being used. How about continuity? You could argue, well in those times people did smoke more, but literally every scene? I can only imagine on the film set for the entire crew. But it even extends near the end of the film when things are happening between the characters and one would wonder whether there would ever be any consideration between the parties?

I can’t recommend this, and I found it long and not engaging. I don’t like overall NY arts and music scene with unlikeable people who are focused on the next party. I also had a difficulty with what seemed to be acknowledged behaviour which later became the focal point of a real argument. Didn’t you know what you were getting into from the beginning? Didn’t you receive the benefit from your connection for many years and lead the life of the privileged, only to change your mind? Others may have a different opinion, and so be it. It’s not Oscar worthy for me.

As for me, I prefer this conductor to the one shown here:

December 18, 2023

Killers of the Flower Moon: This is latest, large scale story from Martin Scorsese. The same director who has recently told the lengthy story of Jimmy Hoffa with The Irishman, is taking another poignant and timely project. In some ways, this is perhaps more pointed for Canada than the US, given our more recent past with the situation with residential schools and the continuing treatment of the indigenous people within this country. This story was unfamiliar to me, and took place in the 1920s, in Osage County Oklahoma where the native Indians by pure fate ended up with oil bubbling up from their land. They own that land, and they kept the rights to that land as they sold the liquid gold to the white man, needing this oil for their burgeoning Industrial complex (cars, trains, planes etc) and became rich. The indigenous people there owned more Pierce Arrow cars than any other area per capita in the country. They had servants. But as often happens, a plan was hatched by the surrounding white people and how they can address this imbalance.

Scorsese has put together an impressive cast including Leo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, Jesse Plemons and others. He also includes quality less known actors like Lily Gladstone who plays indigenous woman, Mollie, who owns the rights to their land. They delve into this subject matter and explain the situation well to the point of discomfort for a white audience member like myself. It is yet another example of how we have poorly treated the indigenous peoples. Specifically here, the women who have land rights are targets and they are encouraged to marry and have children with these white men. But the white husbands, the powerful white men in the area, and the white police force (Sherriffs and Deputies) turn to taking what they aren’t entitled to have. They also get impatient, and rather than waiting for their eventual rights to the land and income, there are mysterious murders and accidents taking place. Unsurprisingly the local law isn’t investigating. The body count is rising. Leo plays Ernest who is a rather dim nephew of Uncle William Hale (DeNiro) who has a plan, and has recently returned from the battles in Europe in the First World War. He is susceptible to manipulation because he isn’t a man who thinks ahead. The story unfolds with his relationship with Mollie, who likes how Ernest looks, while her sister interestingly sees him as a snake. That is ignored.

For me, I found that this was very slow to unfold, much like The Irishman. I found that the Leo acting was a bit over-the-top with how Ernest was rather dim, and didn’t see the manipulation while the audience members will see it rather quickly. We however as the audience hadn’t been able to foresee how far that Ernest would go, and remain loyal to his Uncle. The story also then speaks to the early days of the Federal Bureau of Investigation led by Herbert Hoover, who after a while couldn’t ignore the pleas to investigate these mysterious deaths in Oklahoma. It becomes beyond a “local problem”. I wish I liked this more. I think that it is sad how stories like this are so prevalent, but have been swept under the rug. As the saying goes, like the introduction in Braveheart, “it is the victorious who write the history books”. A story like this, doesn’t sell newspapers back in the day, nor do the powerful white people want the the magnifying glass out to show what they have done. What is their legacy? Many, like the Roger Ebert site, have annointed this movie as the Best Movie of 2023. I wouldn’t agree with that. But it is certainly a story worth telling and bringing out into the light.

Leave the World Behind: This was recently released on Netflix. It is another of a number of these apocalyptic stories for current society that have been put out recently. Other films or series like it would include The Last of Us, World War Z, A Quiet Place, Annihilation etc. The credible cast includes Julia Robert, Kevin Bacon, Ethan Hawke, Mahershala Ali in this story. Hawke and Roberts play a couple with children, who in some ways are eerily remisicent of the children in Hereditary. They are vacationing in Long Island, and then strange, unexplained things start happening around them.

Julia and Ethan end up back with the owners of the place that they have rented (Mahersala and his daughter) and experience all the weirdness of the days ahead. Strange things just seem to keep happening, and however much the characters might know something, they aren’t sharing. It is frustrating. I guess the real question for me is why? Why wouldn’t you share what you have heard or know? You are all in this situation and perhaps someone else may be able to build up or add to your story. Instead it is half truths or silence. The weirdness continues. However much this movie tries to provide a look and feel of a scary movie like Hereditary and doesn’t work. The political message in the end seems to fall flat too for me. So this isn’t something that I can recommend and I don’t expect it to be getting any nominations for anything, despite those with impressive movies in their repetoire of films.

Past Lives: This is a new release, with mostly Korean characters focusing on a singular adult relationship of two young people knowing each other, growing up, and interacting as they go. It is a romance which starts out innocently enough in Korea, before Mom and Dad to the daughter (Nora played well as an adult by Greta Lee) and her friend at school (Hae Sung played as an adult by Teo Yoo). Nora and Hae Sung have been close as friends, and they compete with their studies, with Nora having large goals of winning a Nobel Prize, or a Pullitzer Prize and feel like her family where she needs to leave Korea to swim in a larger pool with greater opportunity. Her Dad is a director and Mom and artist. They emigrate to Canada, but not before Nora holds Hae Sungs hand on their First Date, with Moms watching.

The story takes place at various times, with the opening scene above beginning the film. Pay attention to the commentary from a couple watching this interaction at 4am at a bar. Then we go back a stretch of time with the young lovers. After Nora leaves, they connect once again over social media and they learn to like one another once again. Relationships for them have come and go. Nora is now in NYC. She breaks off the communication and promises to reach out soon. Time passes and she doesn’t. The story moves forward and we have a more fullsome adult discussion about love, relationships, choices, marriage and all manner of human interaction. Body language, silences speak volumes. Adult choices are made, quality observations made about one another, and you can see choices made by each of the main characters. This is a thoughtful, engaging piece which is also on many of those Best Movies of 2023 lists. I would agree with that, as I think that it is good story, well acted, with results which are satisfying. I am glad to have seen this, and can enthusiastically recommend it for others.

December 11, 2023

Napoleon: In the first time in what seems like a very long time, I was at the movie theatre on Saturday to watch the new Ridley Scott film starring Jacquin Phoenix in the lead role. The word on the street was not positive, but I had done my level best to avoid trailers and to read reviews for this. I wanted to go in with fresh eyes. Accompanying me was my 88yo step-father. I figured that this movie, of the recent releases, would be better on the big screen. Off we went.

I will admit that I don’t know a great deal about Napoleon, beyond what Looney Tunes cartoons and Bugs Bunny showed me, the fact I have visited him tomb and memorial in Paris, and that I remember the movie about Napoleon and Josephine and how much of a romance that they had. I was also aware of his military prowess as a tactician. This is the life of a man worthy of a thorough review. Each of these aspects are really a different man. There is the man and his personal life, the military leader, and the political Emperor of France.

The story begins with the death by guillotine of Marie Antoinette in 1793 which actually took place at Place de Concorde in Paris, but appears in the film to be at Versailles. Apparently Napoleon was present for it. This signals the end of the French monarchy and the people rising up to create a republic. But the revolution creates a mess with no real leader identifed to move the country forward. Napoleon as a Captain in the army leads a very successful battle in the strategic Toulon over the British which promotes him to the rank of general at age 24. The story turns to show how Napoleon and Josephine meet. Josephine is played by the excellent Vanessa Kirby, who sadly isn’t given much material to provide a full character. She says very little, wearing bust revealing outfits and showing herself, even on her wedding day, to have a wandering eye. Kirby and Phoenix did not have chemistry, but it was hard to have it when Phoenix’s Napoleon with Jospehine is switching from being a controlling narcisict (not surpringly really), but on the other side an immature, whiny, tearful, jealous mess throwing tantrums at her reported escapades. It is not the figure you expect to see. Some of their dialog is just cringeworthy. So I blame the writing. In many ways this is odd because so much of the writings between these two are well known. I also hadn’t realized nor expected to see Napoleon become like Henry the Eighth and worrying about a male heir. It was a distraction.

On the battlefield, Napoleon shows his strength in the victories that he was able to command with his keen eye and sense of battle. The battles scenes are where Scott can excel showing the scale of the battles as well as the brutality. This is early 1800s, where battles are being fought between US and Canada, as well as between France and Russia. Alliances shift around and a key player seems to be Austria quite often. There is a European universal dislike for the British and the way they fight, along with a contempt for their strength of the navy. Napoleon had many battles to wage on many fronts. All of these are rather disjointed. In one scene, there is no explanation given for an exile initially of Napoleon, from a reinstated King Louis XVIII, nor for the inexplicable engagement on foot with French troops upon Napoleon’s own return. I was thinking that the soldiers aren’t very disciplined if they cannot comply with the orders which I would think come from the King himself to detain Napoleon and send him back.

Overall, I can’t say that I get a real sense of the man. It certainly did not live up to the image that is portrayed in history and other films. It was also slow in the pacing. There was a lot of walking around in palaces and buildings with very little speaking. Phoenix broods, smiles little, and seems very introverted. But I think that the man and his accomplishments deserves better than this. No doubt he is a complex man, and some of this is shown, but as a viewer it isn’t very compelling or emotional. I don’t feel for the characters nor understand them better as a result of this. While this movie didn’t live down to the early reports, it also wasn’t as good as it could have been. It wasn’t terrible, as very few Ridley Scott projects are, but it also doesn’t rise above and be as amazing as it might have been. I would be interested to hear what the French people and film reviewers think of this movie of one of their greatest leaders and legends. For many in France, Napoleon is greatest leader in their history, above Kings and Charles De Gaulle. He ushered in the Civil Code, the basis for laws in France, all the while taking back rights of women, and reinstating slavery in the Caribbean colonies of France. It is difficult to put a 2023 modern lens to a man’s actions from over 200 years ago. But he certainly is a world-reknown figure that impacted the world greatly during his time, starting from very humble beginnings. The fact that people still talk about him, and he has had a lasting impact in the world 200 years after his death would suggest that he is, by any measure, a great man. I wish that he had a movie that showed this greatness better and spoke of his accomplishments in a better light.

Blue Eyed Samurai: A hockey buddy encouraged me to check out this anime series on Netflix. I have not watched a lot of anime but I was interested to see the artistry for this form of animation. I was very impressed.

Set in Japan in the 17th Century, it speaks to a time when guns are just arriving on the world stage for battles. In Japan, Shoguns rule within their cities, and samurais are their fighting force, with ronan as hired swordspeople. For this story, white men were brought in for a time but have since been exiled from the country. They had brought forth too much death and destruction with their weapons, and impacted the culture. Some mixed children resulted, and the focus of this story is a blue-eyed child, named Mizu, who was held to be a demon by many. The blue eyed child is an outcast, and for the child’s safety had to be hidden. Ultimately Mizu ended up with a blind sword master who took the child in and taught the skill of making fine swords, the finest in the land. Mizu grows to seek revenge, and kill the white men that caused all of this trouble. We learn more about Mizu’s backstory as the episodes unfold, and not all at once. The child grows up and decides to leave the swordmaster, despite his protests. The journey continues.

There are eight episodes. They are all in English. Some of the voices are from well known actors and actresses (like Kenneth Branaugh, and George Takei). The animation is excellent. This is adult animation with plenty of blood and sword work. There is some nudity as well and adult themes. But the scenes, the cinematography, the characters and the story are all first rate. Naturally, there are aspects of this where the audience questions the ability of Mizu to recover from injuries sustained while continuing to fight. The same complaint can be made of any John Wick film, or Kill Bill. Revenge films take on familiar themes with those seeking revenge being told that their focus is unhealthy for them. In this case there are a number of themes and characters at play. I can say that this is just the first season. There is more to come. But a lot of ground is covered and the final episodes are compelling and satisfying. The audience isn’t necessarily left hanging, but recognizing that there is work still to be done.

I liked this, I look forward to seeing more seasons. It is a marvel how these scenes can be put on film, whether through computer or not, it still requires an artist to put the humanity into a cartoon figure, and create characters that you care about. I was thankful for the recommendation and I pass it along to others in response. Enjoy.

December 4, 2023

No Hard Feelings: This 2023 comedy release available on Crave was an unexpected smile, for someone who had very low expectations for it. I came into this cold, with no context or having watched any of the trailers. I had been feeling that Jennifer Lawrence had disappeared for quite some time, getting married and having a child, save for the 2021 Don’t Look Up with a power-packed cast. Laird and Allison Becker (played by Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti) are helicopter parents with a 19yo only child son (played by Andrew Barth Feldman) who is soon to be heading off to Princeton. Parents are very worried that their introverted boy will not be able to fit into the college lifestyle. The family summers in Montauk NY, which looks remarkably like Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Like Cape Cod, the rich city dwellers invade in the summer time and make life very expensive for the locals.

Jennifer Lawrence plays Maddie Barker a single 32yo woman, living in the house that she grew up in, inherited from her mother. She has lived her entire life in Montauk. She has come on hard times, living off the toursits with Uber driving and working a local bar. But things have gotten worse for her as her failure to pay the taxes on her property has put a lien on it, that the Town is looking to enforce. She is desperate to find something to help her. She reads an advertisement from the Beckers looking for someone to “date” their son and bring him out of his shell. She decides to take on this task, having spoken to the parents, with the reward being desireable for her.

Maddie and the son meet, with Maddie putting on the full court press. Things happen and there are some genuinely funny moments. There are also some heartfelt moments as each of the parties grows a little, dealing with their respective challenges. Some are expected, and a couple are not. I think that Lawrence shows that she has some good comedic timing, both with some physical comedy as well as reacting situationally. Feldman plays the awkward teen very well, but has this underpinning of character which guides him in this interaction with his parents and Maddie. As mentioned earlier, I had low expectations, which likely made this better in my mind than it likely is. Certainly there is a predictable arc to the story, but it’s really the journey in getting that is fun to watch. There is a scene which to me is an hommage to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and you’ll know exactly the scene I mean if you are familiar with that film, which still today holds up well. Broderick is expanding his his repetoire of roles, from the bad guy in Painkiller earlier this year, to a long-haired doting parent. This was light entertainment and provided a couple good laughs.

Love in the Wild: Some people at the office were speaking about this reality show that was on Netflix. It is a mixture between Survivor and the various couples dating shows. Set in the beautiful Costa Rica, 10 single young men and women engage in tasks after pairing up and then deciding whether they have found a love match. In theory, it makes sense to put attractive young people together with challenging tasks and see how they interact to finish and interact with others in the group. It is always to see how some of them get attached, and get possessive very early in the game. In this instance it seems to be surrounding the “pro golfer” Steele. The premise of races and the winner being rewarded with a night of luxury makes sense along with the more intriguing opportunity to force another contestant who didn’t win to pair up with them has some potential. But nearing the end, the couples are pretty much set, and it becomes strictly a race to the finish.

Spoiler alert: I was under the impression that this was a recent show and newly released. I was searching for updates on the couples post the show. The winners after all get a first class trip around the world! What I found out is that this was a show on NBC back in 2011!! Twelve years ago! So this is ancient history. There was a Season 2 and that was the run it had.

The Crown (Final Season): Crave/HBO has released the first four episodes of The Crown, with the remaining six episodes in this final season being released on December 14th. All readers will know that I am big fan of this series, and I was especially impressed with all the acting, the writing, sets and the stories selected. There have been some standout performances for me like Claire Foy as the Queen in early seasons along with Matt Smith as Phillip. Add to that Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret, and Josh O’Connor as the older Charles. Now add to this list the excellent Elizabeth Debicki portraying Princess Diana.

Debicki has managed to capture the look, hairstyle, mannerisms, clothing and personality that we in the public had seen from Diana. She is a complex woman. This season’s first four episodes is the detailing of her tragic death in the tunnel in Paris in the early hours of August 31, 1997. How fast 26 years fly by! What is revealed are some surprising details which if they are true show the intention of Harrod’s owner (at the time) Egyptian Mohamed Al Fayed, father of filmmaker Dodi who was killed along with Diana in the car crash. Time and again you see the paparazzi at play, which ruthlessly hunted the Princess, for a picture that could be sold for a massive amounts. This of course only occurs because of the public’s insatiable desire to see the popular People’s Princess in all that she did. You can see the impact it had on the young princes, William and Harry with William showing no desire for sitting for photographers at all. It is a tragic tale of course. Debicki and those in these episodes reveal the back story at least as the writers have found out. Phillip comes across as a pompous ass, so does Mohamed who belittled his son, and forced him into doing Dad’s bidding. Charles looks to bring a sympathetic Crown forward to assist in the healing for the people, protocol be damned. If you are a fan of this series it continues to shine. It will be a shame when it is all over and will be missed, only to be reviewed periodically in the future by this fan anyway.

November 27th, 2023

The Creator: This was a big budget sci fi feature that was also heavily advertised at it headed into the theatres. I think it was meant to attract those “big screen” movie watchers (like me) who want to see epic sights on the bigger screens. It stars Denzel Washington’s son, John David Washington as well as Allison Janney, looking older than I have ever seen her, and Ken Wanatabe. This futuristic tale centres mostly on one man’s journey but a world where there is an ongoing conflict with the US and other East Asia countries with the issue of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The proliferation of technology and AI was spreading throughout the world until there was a nuclear event in LA, California where millions were instantly killed. The US decided that AI was evil, and that it should be banned. Other countries, notably in southeast Asia did not agree and pursued using more AI. The US did not take kindly to this and viewed all countries continuing with AI development as “the enemy”. The story continues.

The AI robots/drones/droids have borrowed heavily from the look and feel of the robots in 2014’s Ex Machina with Alicia Vikander as the robot. There is a human-like face, with a rear of the head looking like technology. In this instance a circular spinning wheel, much like a gerbil’s wheel. The protagonist Joshua (Washington), on a personal level is in southeast asia, looking like Thailand with a pregnant Asian partner. An attack by Americans happen, and we learn that Joshua is involved in the intelligence side of the US efforts. They are searching for the creator of the advanced AI. Things happen.

This didn’t suck, but it wasn’t overly compelling either. In many ways I saw it borrowing from other similar stories like The Golden Child with Eddie Murphy or a little too of HBO’s The Last of Us. I think about questions like, why would an artificial intelligence make a child-sized robot? If there is a human element to the robot, does it grow? If so, how does the machinery grow with the human element? Clearly within the robot AI world there is aging robots (like Watanabe), but why would you add grey hair? How about why don’t you use your earth-based technology and shoot the monster, missile-firing mega-ship out of the sky? For an audience I think that more than a fewer in Southeast Asian countries like Viet Nam might have some PTSD watching US military attacks by air and tanks on their soil. In the end, this was okay. I am glad that I didn’t pay for it. It would have been disappointing in a theatre for me. I expect more. I suppose that I expected more truthfully. When an entire military complex seeks one individual, with seemingly another individual trying to protect it, it can become silly very quickly. I will leave it at that.

Minx: On Crave I was told about this comedy series, which definitely would be considered more adult entertainment. Specifically, there is plenty of full frontal nudity. Now that I have your attention, the series is set in the early 70s with a young woman who is looking to publish a feminist-based magazine to empower women. She is Joyce Prigger, played by Ophelia Lovibond who has struggled in her efforts and decides to go to a publishing convention. By happenstance she runs into Doug, played by Jake Johnson, who is a publisher of various pornographic magazines. Doug listens to Joyce and makes her a generous offer. Holding her nose, and feeling more like this is a final chance to get started, Joyce agrees. There is obvious creative tension as Joyce has to accept that naked men centrefolds will be part of her politically focused magazine.

This can be fun. There is no lack of nudity for both men and women, including the fireman cover on the premier issue. There are issues in creating the content, finding advertisers, and getting distribution. Oh yes, the mob is involved in the trucking of the magazines to the corner stores and porn shops. Joyce struggles at times, and her more mainstream sensibilities are challenged by the practical street smarts of Doug. I have finished four episodes and I look forward to more.

November 20th, 2023

I did not post last week as I was away on vacation. But it’s back to work, and the reviews must continue.

Nyad: Netflix released this film starring Annette Bening and Jodie Foster with an assist from Rhys Ifans. It dramatizes the true story about Diana Nyad, who is a world class marathon swimmer who looked to make a record length open water swim from Cuba to Key West Florida, a distance of over 100 miles.

Nyad had tried when she was 28yo to make this swim and was not successful. This story starts when Nyad is turning 60yo and uncertain what to do with her life. There are flashbacks to her childhood and early days as a young swimmer. She had a domineering father, and she later had a well known coach who some observations are made about him. That aspect is not central to the main story of looking to make this formidable crossing. Rather the story address the 60yo woman looking at her own life. She decides that she wants to resurrect this old dream about Cuba. But there were challenges in attempting this swim: first there is weather and currents to deal with, but there are also sea life like sharks, jellyfish, barracuda and others. Finally there is the ability to swim for about 60 hours straight without any assistance of any kind.

What you learn is that she had to acquire a team to assist her. Diana as you can imagine has a strong personality and is driven like few people are driven. She commits to something and is single minded in her focus. Never mind age, she exemplifies determination at absolutely any age. This is a blessing and worthwhile, but a curse and difficult for those in a supporting role who are equally necessary but can be perceived as accessories (the swimmer being the “CEO” with ultimate decision making, even if the decision can put everyone’s lives at risk). You also learn that more than one attempt was made. Remarkably she would spend over 24 hours in the water only to be turned back.

The result is a story that is compelling and interesting. Bening is a four-time Oscar nominated actress without a win, but she shows determination in the role. Foster is a very capable supporting member and coach who was vital in the success of any attempt. The swimmer has to learn about the value of a team, that being an autocratic leader doesn’t build a lot of loyalty amongst the team. The team also realizes that the expected glory that can be achieved in the event, can be shared by all. At some point, each realizes that this can be their rememberance for their lives (and for which a movie may be made one day!). This is worth checking out.

Better Call Saul: A retrospective.

I finally finished this series, which was created by the same team that brought us the amazing Breaking Bad. Although much of this series pre-dates the events of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul especially in this final season also begins to address the post-activities from that original series. It all comes together, and some can complain about that ultimate resolution. For me, I like how it resolves itself. I think it addresses his primary relationship with Kim Wexler, as well as professional legal relationship with his old firm. The primary partner, Howard Hamlin, was also a source of challenges for Jimmy/ Saul and Kim.

Jimmy and his alter ego Saul Goodman (“It’s all good man”) have a number of active irons in the fire during this season, and even on different timelines (more present day, and also previous to this). Things are coming together and at the same time issues between Kim and Jimmy are also showing themselves once again. Gus Fring has his own challenges with the Salamanca family while Mike helps Gus with his security.

Of course I won’t share how it all ends because one has to see for themselves. Each may regard the end differently. These characters are all well written. They are flawed. They are intelligent and do things that are clever, while at the same time can be damaging. Does Jimmy recognize the harm that he does to himself and those around him? How does he actually live with himself, and clearly he can? But is he able to break away from his own personality? In some ways, this creation of Saul allows him to do exactly that. With Jimmy there always seems to be another scam, another score. He has a very capable accomplice with Kim. They seem to be meant for each other. The two series together are not a fairy tale with a happy ending. You are dealing with drug dealing and the cartels. It rarely goes well for anyone in this industry, from the highest levels to the bottom. The same can be said for those mid-level workers here. But the stories are compelling, the characters are interesting, the writing is excellent and the acting is first rate. I found the early seasons slower and they bogged down a bit, but by the middle seasons picked up speed as the drug stories become more pronounced. Jimmy with his brother was good backstory and it created some motivations for Jimmy, but it could have been done more quickly. The end of it was memorable. This series is well worth checking out, especially for those who wish to seeing some back story but also see some old friends from Breaking Bad.

November 6th, 2023

The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar: It will be a short review this week because this is a short movie. At only 41 minutes, this Wes Anderson film based upon the Roald Dahl book is just delightful. The impressive cast includes Benedict Bumberbatch, Dev Patel, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Kingsley. All are very good in bringing forth this tale of a man who claims to have acquired the ability to see without the use of his eyes.

Cumberbatch plays Henry Sugar who is a wealthy man, but with no real drive, and no real abilities. He by happenstance comes upon a book which is the old tale of a man who had met with a yogi who had the ability to see without using his eyes. Henry Sugar reads the book, is intrigued and wishes to acquire the ability. But what to do once you have acquired the ability? Along the way, the characters are played well with Dev Patel as a doctor who was tasked with masking the lead in the book played by Ben Kingsley. Say what you want about Wes Anderson, and his movies can be hit and miss for me, but he gets top talent to play in his movies. This was short but perceptive, and once you get over the seemingly extraordinary ability which takes years and years to develop, then you just go with the premise and see where it takes you. I enjoyed and would recommend. You see? Short and sweet.

Better Call Saul, Season 6: Things are coming to a head, and near the end for Saul/Jimmy in this final season. Episode 9 was particularly moving on many fronts. The tie ins with Breaking Bad are becoming well established, and even though you know that the characters in Breaking Bad are moving on past their situations presented, it is still a fun ride in how they get there. However flawed these characters are, and they are all flawed, the audience cares, all the while scratching our heads at the very human ability to not be able to stop unhealthy patterns of behaviour, even when we know that they are hurting us. It is really good TV. I would encourage those who get bogged down in the early seasons to stay with it, because there are some really good pay-offs when you do. It is clever writing, good characters on both the good, bad and grey scales along the way. I like that even the “bad” characters are smart, and come up with intelligent plans that make sense, which makes this more of a chess match. What will the bad guys do and how will the good guys counter? What happens when the plan goes astray? You get to find out. Enjoy.

October 30th, 2023

Oslo: I had mentioned that I was planning to provide a more full review of the 2021 movie of the play Oslo. It stars Ruth Wilson and Andrew Scott, both known UK actors. They play real-life Norweigian couple Mona Juul and Finn Grandal. The inspiration from checking out this film was first the atrocities that occurred on October 7th between Israel and Palestine as initiated by the Hamas government, a self proclaimed terrorist organization that is committed to wiping Israel and its people from the earth. I know so very little about the history and the region that I watched a Youtube by UK academic, diplomat, author, broadcaster, former soldier and former politician Rory Stewart. Within his 10 Minute explanation of the history between the two peoples, he had mentioned the book and play Oslo. So I wanted to better inform myself.

Back in late 1992, and into 1993, this Norweigian couple had heard that the peace talks between Israel and Palestine had gotten nowhere after years of trying, and they suggest internally another approach. Their idea is a smaller group, more one and one and have a discussion that can start with recognizing both parties as human, with families and history but more importantly discussions about high level principles. Once a base line can be established then perhaps have more higher level diplomats get involved. They also wanted to keep this low profile without the cameras and press involved. There is a lot of merit in this. There is some early tension between the parties, but some small gestures help (with a shared enjoyment of food as well as being well lubricated with liquor). They make greater strides than any of the more well known discussions elsewhere.

I don’t profess to say that this two hours makes me an expert, however I can see as an independent person with no vested skin in the game, that both sides are very passionate and that hard compromises were made to make significant strides back in the early 1990s. All that they negotiated was lost on October 7th, now thirty years later. A fragile peace, such as it was, all but obliterated in images that few can deny didn’t change them. The epilogue of the film shows yet again that even the best intentioned people cannot control the more radical elements within their country. In the words of The Dark Knight’s Alfred, when speaking about The Joker “…some men just want to watch the world burn”.

So, in summary, this is worth checking out with good performances as you can see how impassioned the players involved were and are, and how they were able through compromise, hard work, a commitment to a peace and co-existing that progress can be made. It is easy to be the naysayer poking holes in work being done by others to make a difference, it is the visionary who can see that longer journies take many steps with incremental growth. One hopes that new visionaries can be found to take up the charge that this Norweigian couple undertook to try to find common ground once again and avoid a prolonged war which can only cause more death, more pain and worldwide heartache.

Joker (revisited): I did re-watch Joker with Jacquin Phoenix to see having finished The King of Comedy whether it made any difference in my overall assessment for it with a passage of time and a different viewing lens. I stand by my original review from October 21st, 2019.

Here was the initial assessment from Alison from back in 2019:

Joker is no joke. I’m going to resist comparing Joaquin’s performance to that of Heath Ledger because they are incomparable in that they represent a pinnacle performance for each actor. Joaquin’s transformation into this character was complete right down to his frighteningly emaciated frame and the physical stress the projection of the Joker laugh and unnatural run took on his frail person. Performance aside Joker is a dark, depressing and surly poetry that you can’t help but stare at. Its engaging from start to finish and as an origins story provided both the story of Joker and the Batman – two of the more prominent ‘superhero’ characters that have no special powers other than their menacing mindsets. The film is well directed by Todd Phillips, who I had to look up to learn he’s best known for The Hangover franchise, and his offering here is to the standard set by Christopher Nolan. Is it worth seeing if you’re not in the comic book movie scene? Yes, albeit on the small screen. Fans of the genre will be best served on the big screen.

But I add to this, that Phillips most definitely borrowed from the themes of Martin Scorsese in both Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy, both starring Robert De Niro in memorable performances. Within Joker, there is the scene with Phoenix standing in front of the TV with his gun. It channels the “Are you talkin’ to me?” speech from Taxi Driver. There are other film references, like Phoenix having to yell back to his Mom who he lives with, much like Rupert Pupkin. Of course there is the tie-in to the Johnny Carson Comedy network show, where De Niro becomes the star, rather than the wannabe.

But Joker goes further with the Batman story and tying into the demise of Bruce Wayne’s parents along with being that backstory to the Joker character. You learn about the uncontrollable laughter condition that he carries along with his extreme thin frame, which eerily mirrors Robert De Niro (Raging Bull or The Untouchables) and Christian Bale (The Fighter or The Machinist) in other roles for these method actors who are embodying their characters fully. Phoenix gives an extraordinary performance, which really can’t be compared to Heath Ledger. I still prefer Ledger overall. I am not sure whether the pieces still fit into that Batman story timeline, especially with a young Bruce Wayne, but that doesn’t matter. As a piece of art, and a performance this stands on its own. But it is an interesting turn to view with fresh eyes, with a different perspective, the exact same film. Joker is a dark character, with a dark history. I am certain that more stories with the Joker involved will continue because he can be so compelling.

October 23, 2023

The King of Comedy: On October 21st, 2019, I reviewed the new release of Jacquin Phoenix’s Joker. My older brother posted of this blog the following:

I saw Joker last night with my daughter – I enjoyed it more than she did. I don’t think you & your friend Allison really got the point – it wasn’t a comic book movie. It really was an homage to the Martin Scorcese & Robert De Niro movies of the 1970’s Taxi Driver, and especially the King of Comedy (with De Niro now playing the talk show host), using the familiar Batman origin story as a back drop.

I get the reference now. I had never seen the 1982 Scorsece picture with Robert De Niro, and Jerry Lewis. Since I hadn’t seen The King of Comedy at that time it was something I didn’t understand it. I do now. In truth, I think that this movie takes away from some of what I felt was effective in Joker.

Scorsese and De Niro have worked together 10 times, with some of the best movies from the last 50 years. In 1976 they worked on Taxi Driver, and then 1980 was Raging Bull. This was the next picture for Scorsese. De Niro plays a 32yo wanna-be comedian, Rupert Pupkin, who is obsessed with fame and with the local Johnny Carson talk show personality named Jerry Langford played well by Jerry Lewis. Crowds follow Jerry everywhere, especially after the taping of his shows. Pupkin hangs around the back stage with the hopes of engaging with Jerry. His chance comes where an obsessive fan, played Sarah Bernhard, jumps into Jerry’s limo and accosts him. After she is removed, Pupkin enters and offers to Jerry that he is comedian and thinks he should be on the next show. Jerry politely tells Pupkin to call “his people” in the hopes that this encounter is over. It continues as Pupkin looks to use a little crack of hope, to more a more invasive engagement with Jerry. The culmination of this happens in a dramatic scene with Jerry at his home. An interesting sidenote is that the woman playing the bartender Pupkin is looking to impress was De Niro’s actual first wife, Diahnne Abbott. Pupkin takes on incredible actions to see that he has his moment of fame on Jerry’s show.

Those who have seen Joker, will recognize this plot structure. Robert De Niro plays the Jerry character TV show host named Murray Franklin. Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck who wants his chance, and although Fleck’s opportunity comes about in a different way, there many homages to this original film. I am amazed at the 1983 scensibilites for things such as security which are very different now then they were back then. Can you imagine the police, let alone the TV network, allowing Pupkin to carry on with what he does? The point can only be seen by allowing it for the ending, but it simply wouldn’t happen. Fame is a funny thing, and even more so in a world with social media which didn’t exist back in 1983. There is social commentary about fame, but also talent, and how someone is able to get noticed and become known, as well as people with fame that you need to better understand your challenges with interacting with those that you regard as your fans. John Lennon was assassinated on the streets of NYC just three years before this movie was released.

Better Call Saul, Season 5: I finished the fifth season of this series, and remark how much more engaging it is in these final episodes than it was early on. Much like Breaking Bad, this is a slow burn. You as the audience must see the backstory of Jimmy McGill. Also see the backstory of Mike Ehrmantraut, the retired cop who was Gus Fring’s head of security.

In this season, Jimmy/Saul are being pulled in two completely different directions. On one side there is Kim Wexler, his partner, prfoessionally and personally, and his greatest supporter along with the legitimate legal system that he fought so hard to return to. On the other side, there is this growing relationship with the drug cartel that has been slowly creeping into his life. However distateful there is large sums that can be made, but it comes at a price. How much oif who he is, is he willing to sacrifice?

This was a very good season. Great writing and performances. Both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul have personalities who are generally good people, but who through circumstance or otherwise can do very questionable things. They let their humanity go, in the name of whatever is driving them. The audience can see the choices that Jimmy/Saul has made, and continues to make, and we just collectively shake our head. We also see Mike experiencing the same ethical challenges. I like the characters. I like the circumstances that surround them, and even though I know that this is a prequel, and that the main characters are going to survive, you are still wondering “how are they going to get out of this one?” Much like Jesse and Walter. I don’t equate Better Call Saul with Breaking Bad on the best TV series scale but it still very good TV. I will continue to watch for the sixth and final season.

October 16th, 2023

So today is my Dad’s 85th birthday. I think it deserves some recognition. He is doing well all things being equal, and I am a very lucky guy to have him, and my other parents still around. At this age, this is a bonus. So thanks Dad for being there, and always caring.

The Mauritanian: This movie was released in 2021, and when I saw early trailers I was impressed by the cast who included Jodie Foster, Benedict Cumberbatch, Shailene Woodley, among others. This is a dramatization based upon a book and true story from the young man who was detained at Guantanimo Bay (GITMO) in Cuba. The timing is two months post 9/11 the United States is aggressively pursuing those who were involved in the terrorist attacks of that fateful day. Mohamedou Ould Slahi is taken from his home in Mauritania (in Africa, yes I had to look it up too. It is on the west coast of Africa near Senegal). He is detained in various countries to start, but is never told under what charge he is being held. He ends up at the US Military base and held where the US authorities are looking to seek the death penalty in his trial. The unknown allegation to him was espionage, and specifically he was alleged to have actively recruited for Osama Bin Laden the pilots who flew into the twin towers.

After an extended stay at GITMO, the US Supreme Court had held that detainees had the right to habeus corpus which is allowing them to be brought before a judge and to know the charges against them and to face their accuser, or to be released. Enter Jodie Foster and Shailene Woodley, attorneys from a firm in New Mexico which heard about this case in passing. Foster is the senior partner, and Woodley the associate. They have an uphill battle. On the State’s side, there is Benedict Cumberbatch who is a motivated government lawyer, and a naval aviator, who wants to have someone pay for the attacks on the US. However motivated he is, he is still very much a lawyer who believes in due process and ensuring that the prosecution has fully discharged their duty. The cat and mouse story of legal proceeding shows the challenges when the prosecution is not interested in fully showing what they have done. However predictable the story is, and what the viewer anticpates will happen, when you finally see it, it’s unsettling and disturbing. As a lawyer I have a hard time understanding the actions of some of those involved. If you have ever wondered how in WWII, the German people were able to be willing part of genocide and the extermination of the Jews, you get some further into human behaviour and not just German behaviour.

This story is also very timely for me to watch with current world news in Israel with Palestine on the Gaza strip. What intrigues me is how governments can use horrific events (and make no mistake that the events as they have been desribed by the Hamas are inhuman, having no place in human interaction) to then justify the cessation of basic rights that citizens and humans expect in any conflict. In this situation, the US chose to ignore basic rights of due process. They were convinced by sketchy evidence (a phone call from Bin Laden’s international phone to Slahi), and they sought to obtain any information he may have by any means. The evidence would then be used in a case against him. The lawyers are entering the story well after the military interrogations took place. There are moments in the faces from Foster and Cumberbatch when they are finally reading the details of what had occured at this sight, which show the viewer everything you need to know. But like any detention camp, there are workers there; guards, cooks, officers, people engaged in transporting the detainees. So how much did they know? How secretive can you be when loved ones are asking questions? Ultimately when it comes to government actions, one would hope that the rule of law, due process, the Geneva Convention and human rights would be observed by all. What is the probitive value of a confession that is coerced? Is this admissible in court? Should it be? How much lack of due process should a court be willing to accept? These are all really good questions that beg for answers as this story unfolds. Should a person be able to be held without a charge for over a decade, no matter how powerful the nation or how strong their desire for retribution for a heinous act committed against them? But should the search for “somebody” mean that “anybody” can do?

As an aside GITMO has been around since March 2022 in its present form and was a creature of George W Bush and Dick Cheney. President Obama stated that he would close Gitmo but never did. The number of detainees was substantially reduced from 250 to 41. President Biden has also committed to close it, but hasn’t taken any active steps to do so.