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July 14, 2022

Let’s Get Reel

We’re here…

One thing that unites us all is the ability to be loved and understood. No matter the differences, those are criteria which matter. Some would say we could be proud of those. And here we are in the perfect month for that. Parades, mixers and drag shows are for allies too. We have come a long way from 1969 and it is great to see the inclusiveness. I laughed at seeing the trailer for Bros, happy to see ourselves getting an offbeat romantic comedy in theaters. However, there is also a great set of movies and series newly released.

Horror is a social construct

On the surface, scary movies seem rather basic. Like comedy, they only require a simple formula to work. A monster or killer plus victim equals gold. As these films have changed, it has taken on more philosophical aims. Subversion is the true nature behind what we fear. Works by Jordan Peele, Mary Harron and Alex Garland come to mind. The latter’s latest, Men, I failed to see before it left the theaters. However, another provocateur has made his return after a long hiatus.

Dressing up a dead corpse

History is, basically, the stories we tell ourselves. Fact is muddled somewhere in it, but it is some human element that binds it together. Much of historical dramas operate on this principle. No film could completely depict the events as they unfolded. However, we don’t expect it to be created from whole cloth either. A balance is struck between the machine of Hollywood filmmaking and the adherence to the truth. In some ways, this can yield middling results. Much of Netflix’s latest Operation Mincemeat falls into this region.

Comedy through the ages

Well for those who saw the last film I reviewed, you might need a much needed break from brutality. As good as The Northman was, it’s not a film to easily shake off after viewing. As I saw the box office numbers come in, it was both disheartening and understandable the weak totals that Viking epic brought in. A needed dose of mirth is just what the doctor would order. With the wealth of options what does one choose? And, after all, humor is highly subjective. In my fumbling way, let me guide those over to HBO Max for a couple choice program to get your yucks in.

Pagan rite and firelight

Mythos and their power over us have been in the zeitgeist in the last decade. A glut of superhero films continues to fill multiplexes, our modern equivalent to ancient tales. It is enough to take them for granted as base culture. However, this was not always the case. Equal parts anthropology and religion, these tales passed down were inspiration for many writers going forward. No greater motivation has ignited plots as revenge. And no grander presentation has graced the screen as Robert Eggers’s latest.

Googly eyes and hotdog fingers

Agreed, that title is very weird. You, dear readers, may be scratching your head in confusion and bafflement. Honey, you don’t even know the half of it. Trust me, this was my first feeling when I saw the trailer for Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. The latest from distributor A24 in theaters, we should know a bit of what we are in for if you saw my reviews for The Lighthouse or The Green Knight. Arthouse and avant-garde are the best descriptions for their output. And this release is no exception.

A soggy tale

Adrian Lyne has been a strange case in the annals of film history. Two words that best used to describe his work would be sexy and opulent. His characters exist in realms of privilege; shiny exteriors that mask true emotions under cool surfaces.

Growing Pains

A change is in the air as Spring kicks into high gear. Mother Nature’s tempestuous mood swings have us in its throughs, much like those growing into adulthood. Some readers may not remember what it is like to be in those formative years. Or, at least, they recollect those halcyon days through more rose-tinted glasses.

As spring break is upon us, some younger relatives may be visiting. If so, these films will make for a good way to pass the time. Maybe even help to start a conversation.

A little murder among friends

Thaw is on, and the buds are giving way to spring. For most, restrictions are alleviating. Wanderlust gives way to a sense of adventure. A vacation is in order after all we have been through. Only problem is where to go? What is better than somewhere more exotic. International voyages can be an option. Just make sure that the accommodations are safer than those conjured by a certain mystery writer.

Agatha Christie has long been the grand-dame of the genre ever since she put word to paper. Solving clues with each turn of the page, filmmakers never fail to resist adaptation of her most famous investigator: Hercule Poirot.

An alley worth checking out

Hope you had a good Valentine’s Day. Movies about love lost and found abound. My go-to picks are usually Richard Linklater’s Before Trilogy and Wong Kar-Wai’s In The Mood For Love for instance. Even with the holiday out of the way, dear readers, you can check them out. However, the Oscar nominations are in, ready to be fomented over by pundits and neophytes of film alike.

Comedy and tragedy

When scrolling endless catalogs on streaming services, it would seem that every film and show is broken neatly into categories. On further inspection, however, the case just isn’t so. See my reviews last year of I Care A Lot and Annette as examples of what I mean. A good movie, sometimes, defies easy genre confines. Here are two recent releases that do just that.

Disney 2.0

Chilly winds are setting in. It’s a good time to bundle up on the couch with family. And the best way to enjoy is with some escapism. With Disney hitting it out of the park, let’s check out what going on over at their streaming service.

Absurd to the Max

Well, a new year brings new entertainment. But with all the options, it is good to have help sifting through them. Well as a resolution for 2022, my pledge is to be a guide to the world of film. So let me be your Virgil through the plethora of divine comedies and tragedies coming your way. And this is anything but funny.

Wading in the Stream

As the bustle of the holiday season and the chilly winds start to blow, we all can use a break for a while. On my first idea for this final review my plans were dashed by, unfortunately, release dates. Some of the more hyped features like “Spiderman: No Way Home” and “The Matrix Resurrections” among others aren’t out until later. That being said, there is a smattering of good films not in theaters but at a screen for home viewing. Some of which may be just the ticket.

Will is king

Hope you had a good Thanksgiving. And now we’re in the thick of holiday season. But if we could tear ourselves away from retail discounts and Prime deals online, maybe we can find time to gift ourselves a good movie.

“King Richard” is now available in theaters and HBO Max. Based on the life of the Williams sisters but from a different angle, we follow Venus and Serena through the eyes of their father. An odd trajectory for a sports film, in hindsight it’s clearly the most compelling.

Style with Substance

Well, I did promise to review the other Chalamet film out in theaters. But like me, you’re not going to like it. “The French Dispatch” comes to us from Wes Anderson. That name may be familiar to those who enjoy quirky humor in fractured fairytale-like settings. My personal favorites are “The Royal Tenenbaums,” “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and “Isle of Dogs.” The aforementioned comedy seems to be lacking in this one. A few chuckles may be had but not enough in this head scratcher.

Yay for Chalamet!

Hollywood’s fascination with new talent is anything but. Since the birth of cinema, the search for the next big thing has yielded a wealth. Entire television shows have been dedicated to its promise. Growing up in the 90s, there was buzz around such notables as Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz and Leo DiCaprio. No greater comparison to Leo has arisen than Timothee Chalamet.

You know his name

Well, this has been a long time coming. Six years, to be precise, but here we are. The granddaddy of franchises, James Bond, returns to cinemas. Billed as Daniel Craig’s final outing as the character, the build-up was palpable in many of the trades. All the speculation can be put to rest as this is both the most fitting end to this iteration as well as Craig himself. So, grab your martinis and strap in. Or in my case, Ricard and Limoncello LaCroix. Please, no judgments.

The best of the fests

As a critic, I have been prone to fawning over the occasional arthouse movie. That isn’t to say that mainstream fare is lost on me. After watching so many superhero blockbusters, one longs for some originality. No better place than the film festivals to showcase more unique entries. Most audiences roll their eyes at pretentiousness, but still really good movies come out of the fray. Here is just a few of the cream sieved out for your perusal.

Whoa, Yeoh!

As the dog days wind to a close, the season’s electricity still flits in the air. Last gasps of summer present themselves in the form of action films, attempts to keep an August sun shining. Strangely, one of my favorite action stars has a connection with two of them: Michelle Yeoh. Better known for working with Jackie Chan, she went on to be in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” and recently, “Crazy, Rich Asians.” Here though, she plays supporting roles.

Sun shines on The White Lotus

Having worked in the book business for years, my livelihood has always depended on the guilty pleasure. A piece of fiction (although sometimes non-fiction), where outrageousness and drama are the key draws, really fly off the shelves. The intense salacious fury of it all overtakes readers. Like we all say, sex sells. Books (and film) like “50 Shades” and television shows like “Real Housewives” seem trashy and naughty. Sometimes more literary forms are available. A good beach read is nothing to scoff at. And there is nothing sandier than HBO’s latest craze.

A knight among kanves

We begin our tale with our hero: Sir Gawain. Dev Patel has become one of Britain’s finest actors over the past decade. After splashing onto the scene with the BBC show “Skins” and later the Oscar-winning “Slumdog Millionaire,” his boyish impetuosity and endless charm has all been leading here. In many ways, he was born to play this part of a young man destined for great things but unsure of himself in the process.

Extremely “Loki”

To paraphrase Friedrich Nietzsche, art is dead and we have killed it. Ok, so I may be exaggerating a bit. However, the entertainment industry has always been a struggle between art and commerce. A lead weight, however, has been placed down on the commerce side of the scale recently. After being without a year of Marvel movies, a void had been created in the interim. So, when it was announced that Disney+ had new programs and “Black Widow” would be released in theaters, optimism set in. Here is the halfway point of the year and that feeling is running low.

From lows to ‘Heights’

To be honest, not much on the summer movie roster stirs interest in me. Scrolling down IMDb, the usual pops out as standard fare. In regards to quality, 2021’s theme is almost like that of the late 90s. “The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard,” “Jungle Cruise,” “Snake Eyes,” “The Suicide Squad”; all of these are big and dumb. Even in last year’s dearth of Marvel, “Black Widow” has even waned. Given the way “Loki” is going, the MCU is a bit lackluster. One film though has been on my horizon since the beginning: “In the Heights.”

Fear as entertainment

Seems as though getting back to “normal” isn’t as easy as one would hope. Travel advertised and events being announced, there is still this general sense of unease. As we make way out of bomb shelter battlements we have created out in our homes, what do we make of this new world?

Big stars, big action

Summer is upon us once again. With it comes the expectation of long sunny days and starry nights. Time will have to be filled with all the fun and frivolity this year has to offer. And there’s only just so much running after the ice cream truck one can do. This means going back to theaters for the blockbuster season.

A bite of Apple

With as many streaming services out there, there is no lack of entertaining content. Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max; should we need yet another?

Well, the last one we would expect is one from the company who redefined the phone and the watch.

Let’s have ‘Another Round’

Well, that was an interesting awards show, wasn’t it?

Big, dumb fun

April has begun; meaning spring showers, love and the start of the blockbuster movie season. I know…I know, it feels too early for that. Can’t we wait for May? With studios getting more anxious, each one sits poised at the starting gate. Executives are eyeing down the track like jockeys ready to bolt with their prize ponies. Theaters are starting to open up more to the possibility of a better summer, although streaming is still on the rise.