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 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.

September 11, 2023

Well talk about a milestone day that will live forever. September 11th on a crystal clear, blue sky day back in 2001 (twenty two years ago) the Twin Towers in NYC were destroyed along with an attack on the pentagon, in the most brash terrorist attack on US soil ever. For someone my age, I can remember it, in detail, like it was a month ago. I was working downtown Toronto in the tallest office building in the country (First Canadian Place). I was sent home early. I say this in passing because this day doesn’t always happen on a Monday. For those interested in movies on the topic, there are plenty like

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny: So Disney in their October 2012 $4.05B purchase of LucasFilm the biggest news story was the gaining of the Star Wars films. Less important was the Indiana Jones franchise, which had a lacklustre release back in 2008 with Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. After all, the main star Harrison Ford was 66yo at the time of this release, where they brought back Karen Allen as Marion Ravenwood as the love interest, and she has a son Mutt who is a bit of a rock n roll adventurer himself. As a sidenote, Sean Connery played Henry Jones, Indy’s Dad, in 1989 at the age of 59yo for The Last Crusade. Filming for this latest installment has Harrison Ford as 80yo! So how adventurous do you get with an aging Indiana, along with all of his friends from previous iterations like Sallah, at 79yo looks older than Ford himself?

Add to the complexity the fall from grace of Shia LaBoeuf as a potential successor to Indiana. As a producer, the challenges become greater. So Disney chooses to do a couple of interesting things. First of all, they have to create a new item to seek, but go back in time of the Nazis in WWII in order to set the stage. Remember that Jones was an adult during the time of the Nazis. So adding time puts him into the early 1970s. That aside, the challenge is the item itself, which is a decently produced Jones-like chase in the opening sequence. In short the item is claimed to when fully functional have the ability to go back in time. Jones and a colleague of his Basil Shaw is looking for this item. In many ways, the Shaw character was similar to Henry Jones and his obsession about the Holy Grail. Shaw has a daughter, Helena, who is Jone’s goddaughter. Helena is seen as a young girl and then as an adult. The adult Helena is a Han Solo-like mercenary who seems very focused on money and less concerned about the morality of her actions, and how her artifact may be used by the purchaser. Jones is coming back into her life and trying to assist with this item which has ressurected itself. Helena has some anger issues to sort through.

The rest of the story continues with CGI at places that is almost laughable. Like many stories involving time, there are aspects that the viewer must just simply accept. In the later parts of the story, the level of disbelief borders on being broken, if not shattered already depending on the viewer. Much has been written about casting (or miscasting) of Phoebe Waller-Bridge as Helena. She seems better suited to a Fleabag, where she is fun, and quirky with good comedic timing. Those skills are lost here. She as Helena has duel purposes here, one is to discount Jones and his perceived contribution to the downfall of her father and the other a need to establish herself. Neither is very successful. Certainly she doesn’t come across as a compelling next Jones. This was not disappointing because I had heard all the negative press and reviews and had no expectations. Zero. So there wasn’t much lower to go. But was this necessary? Beyond money, was this a story that Ford felt compelled to tell for his character? I have heard Harrison Ford mentioned that he liked playing Indiana Jones far more than Han Solo. Jones was more fully formed, intelligent and an array of stories that could be told. Solo he wanted to kill off earlier in the Star Wars triolgy. This one is not worth your time. A hard pass, and a disappointing swan song for a revered Ford character.

Better Call Saul – Season 4: I completed watching Season 4 of Better Call Saul. I found it slow to get going as we are introduced to early days with Saul, named Jimmy McGill. But like Breaking Bad, the drama builds and builds as the seasons move forward. We also have the additional tie-ins to the main storyline from Breaking Bad. The two main stories in this season are with Mike, dealing with having the lab constructed for Gus Fring, and his challenges in getting this done. The second story is with the disbarred Jimmy, who is dealing with keeping himself busy for a year while he is under suspension.

Jimmy like the characters that Vince Gilligan creates are flawed, as most people are. They have skills but also challenges in their life. Jimmy has this undercurrent of being the guy who battles uphill, with odds against him. He has an older brother, who was the Mr Perfect Lawyer, but not much of a human being, in a holier-than-thou way. They have a strained relationship with older brother always seeming to battle against the not-so-subtle Favourite Child syndrome with his mother. The other compelling character is the ever hard-working Kim Wexler, played excellently by Rhea Seehorn, who has a relationship with Jimmy, but can struggle with his morals and choices. There is some really good writing here as the parties interact. I will continue to watch and enjoy. I have already heard that the finale is different, for some disappointing for others the right tone. We will see.

August 7th, 2023

Dances With Wolves: I had noted that I had referenced Dances with Wolves four separate times in my posts. This epic Kevin Costner film was released to great acclaim and brought him seven Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound and Best Original Score. The score, like many films adds so much to the experience. John Barry wrote the score and it enhances so many of the scenes. Released in 1990, I saw at a theatre in Windsor when I was in law school. It holds very well 33 years later. It was one if the first movies that I can recall which had native Indians, indiginous people speaking their own language with subtitles. This was Kevin Costner’s directorial debut and what a first attempt. The film ran over budget, and Costner ended up paying the $3M difference out of his own pocket.

At its heart, the story involves a Union soldier in the mid 1800s, named John Dunbar, who after a dramatic battle in which he was unwittingly a turning point, he decides to go station himself in the frontier “before it disappears”. Dunbar can see the shifting winds and the ever expanding world of white influence. Out to the frontier at a remote outpost, which hasn’t seen people in a long while, Dunbar sets up shop. What he doesn’t expect is some visitors, in the form of a wolf and later some Sioux indians. The story moves forward, and he begins a relationship with his neighbours. There is a language barrier and it is a slow process. He is able to begin to make a positive impression with the Holy Man, named Kicking Bird, played by Graham Greene. Not everyone in the Sioux village is as enthusiastic with his presence, including fierce warrior Wind In His Hair. There is also a white woman among the villagers and she is introduced to Dunbar through unusual circumstances. Her name is Stands With A Fist and for good reason. Dunbar finds ways, some planned and others not, to try to ingratitate himself to the village, and the leaders. Time moves on, and the buffalo become the focal point as they do their annual hunt. Dunbar continues to make an impression as he integrates further into the tribe.

The turning point in the relationship is when Kicking Bird asks Stands With A Fist to become his translator. They are able to communicate better. She has her own backstory and was once part of a white settling family before they were attacked by another tribe of natives and she ran free. The performances across the board in this epic are all solid. Costner is the centre point, but there are quality supporting roles from Greene, and Mary McDonnell as Stands with a Fist. Add in the young people add some good scenes. There is some good humour, along with some more dramatic moments. You learn how the Sioux are worried about the white man, and whether this is a change that will last. The Sioux leader Ten Bears is not convinced that another foreign invader will last. What sets this apart from western from before is the recognition that previous portrayals of the indiginous people were wrong. In this movie, it is the white soldier who is adapting and realizing that his way of life, and outlook on the world is very different than those around him. He is shown time and again how the white man takes without asking, and has no harmony with nature. This is an emotional journey on multiple fronts. It is a story of friendship, of understanding, oppression, cooperation and love of family. These are all timeless, and this is why this is a movie to be remembered fondly. Good stories last. Kevin Costner when approached about this story by his writer friend Michael Blake from acting school, Costner had told him that he needed to write a novel. Only once in the novel form could he look to invest and want to explore making it. The result of all this is one of best films in the 1990s. Well worth the time with the three hour running time, which also is reminiscent of the latest three hour epic Oppenheimer, and also worth your time.

Better Call Saul, Season 3: I am a big fan of Breaking Bad. I really like the character of Saul Goodman from the original, as I think he delivered some of the funniest lines. One memorable line was Saul addressing Jesse and Walter after a crazy event he said “now I know what to call my polyps”. I was eagerly anticipating this show but it got off to a slow start. Seasons 1 and 2 focused on his relationship with his older brother. Both parties contributed to the strained relationship, even though Saul (original name Jimmy McGill) stayed with his brother to help him through his challenges. This season 3 brings those challenges to a head with an excellent episode 5 in the hearing held by the New Mexico Bar on whether Jimmy should keep his law license. Jimmy with his collegaue and personal partner Kim Wexler, look to find a way to cross examine older brother. It’s clever, and memorable while at the same time unfortunate that the result of course is the end of that connection between the brothers.

At the same time there are ongoing parallel stories with Mike, the enforcer and former cop in Breaking Bad as well as Giancarlo Esposito playing Gus Fring who runs his drug operation through the memorable chicken franchise Los Polos Hermanos. This past week Mark Margolis passed away at the age of 83. He played Hector Salamanca who is a driving force in both franchises. He is a mob boss, drug dealer who is working hard to keep his empire which he struggles to do. This season made me realize that the previous hype that I had heard was warranted. I really like the Kim Wexler character. This is another series well worth your time.

July 25th, 2022

The Gray Man: Netflix has released the new Ryan Gosling film, with an impressive cast which apparently cost $200M to produce. The impressive cast includes Rege-Jean Page (Bridgerton Season 1), Billy Bob Thornton, Anna de Armas (who Gosling worked with in Blade Runner), Chris Evans, Alfre Woodard and others. The premise is a simple one; Billy Bob works for the CIA, and he approached people in prison (no idea if it was all men or not) and offered to get them out, so long as they become operatives for the CIA for an unknown length of time. Gosling, not surprisingly, takes the deal. Fast forward a few years and location to Bangkok, and there is a bad guy who needs to be taken out. Turns out, Gosling the operative is told very little about the marks that he is expected to take down. And so the story unfolds with De Armas seeing things happen and taking sides of her own. There is a great deal of Jason Bourne in this plot, with some additional James Bond aspects. There really isn’t anything new of substance. Gosling is pitted against the “private” agent (Evans, who chose this role over the Gosling role) as well as the new bosses for his unit. Billy Bob was replaced by a new regime. There is a subplot involving a niece for Billy Bob, which moves the story along. As far as the movie and production goes, there are some amazing locations, I was most impressed by Prague, but there were clearly CGI aspects of fights that took place. Some of that CGI isn’t as impressive as it should be for the budget. Like any other movie in this genre there are many moments where one must suspend their disbelief for the number of bullets that are fired, and punches taken (including head butts) that don’t leave the perpetrators concussions or bruised or dead. It is to be expected. This is a popcorn fluff movie that is watched for escapism; little more or less. Gosling is effective in the role, and certainly shows that his character can take some hits while unflinchingly carrying on. At some point, one thinks his previous injuries must open up. Why is it, though, that such agents always seem to break into veterinarian offices to deal with their injuries? There is a hint of looking to make this a series. Evans plays the over-confident guy who will do whatever it takes when legal means are not available to do what is necessary. His job is to obtain an asset, and he will do anything that he and that cheesey smile and mustache will conjure up in his twisted head. Both Gosling and Evans took in apparently $20M each for this production, and I am sure that they would like to carry on. But we will see. For a Netflix movie, that seemed to be almost simultaneously released in the theatres, this fulfills the Netflix payment for the month. It didn’t suck, but it also wasn’t amazingly entertaining or breaking new ground. Ana De Armas through this and the last Bond has shown herself capable of doing these roles as the principal actor rather than a supporting cast member. She is once again a scene stealer in the movie.

Solaris: This is a George Clooney movie from back in 2002 (twenty years ago already!!) with Viola Davis and Natascha McElhone which is a space psychedelic movie. I re-watched this in the past week. The movie still is meant to confuse, and is successful in that. A space craft is near a planet, Solaris, and then strange things happen aboard. The people on board are either extremely terrified, like Viola Davis, or they are just chill, like Jeremy Davies. McElhone was the wife of the Clooney character and she adds complexity to the story with him. In some ways I can see some elements of the later Inception where Leo’s character needed to address the past relationship with wife, played by Marion Cotillard. The ending will have you thinking that you likely should be watching it once again. Perhaps it is even better on second or third viewing because initially one watches with a plot focus just to pay attention. For me, it is still a head scratcher, which is okay. I am not sure that I can recommend it.

Better Call Saul: It was recommended to me that Better Call Saul, the spin off from Breaking Bad was worth my time. I had thought that the Saul character was excellent in Breaking Bad as a supporting character. Bob Odenkirk is brilliant as the lawyer on the edges with the really good one liners. I wasn’t sure that the character though could be a watchable principal. I have been assured that despite a fairly slow start, that it gets much better. Some notable characters from Breaking Bad make appearances as well like Mike, and some of the drug crowd. There is good writing throughout and once again it is set in New Mexico. I will continue to watch and see where it takes me. It does make me laugh with the things that he gets himself into.