Is this the best film of 2017? So far, I'd have to agree with all the critics.
There are three separate plot lines in this film which takes place on the ocean in between Dunkirk, in Germany and the homeland of England.
One is on the land, involving a few of the hundreds of thousands of men stuck on the beach of Dunkirk, where they are literally sitting ducks. One is by the sea, where the British navy has commandeered all the privately owned boats so they can go and rescue the sitting duck army and the third is by the air where the British air force is busy shooting down the German planes bombing the men.
Though this story doesn't end in a mass murder or a mass surrender; the men must retreat, which is a dangerous undertaking and yes, plenty of men do die, boats are sunk and destroyed.
But the film is excellent, a great war film told on a large spectacle but they also make it intimate, without many names. For example, the main young soldier (Fionn Whitehead) is never named until the credits. He joins forces with another man who doesn't talk to save a soldier's life by getting him on a ship back home, only to have the ship destroyed by German bombs. It turns out that the other guy with Whitehead is actually French, not German, though Harry Styles (another young British soldier) believes that this man is a German spy.
On the boat you have Mark Rylance (brilliant) who insists on going to help save the men himself, instead of letting the navy do it for him. He is there with his son and his son's friend, George (Barry Keoghan), who man the ship. The first man they save is the shell-shocked British naval man (Cillian Murphy) who doesn't want to go back; he just wants to go home. Eventually, he inadvertently kills young George when he finds out that they are indeed returning to Dunkirk. They then save a British pilot just in the nick of time and then, when the stories converge, they save many oil-soaked men before the German plane crashes causing the ocean to burst into flames.
The film ends with many of the men returning to the mainland, ashamed, but they survived, and that was enough. They will live to fight another day.
Brilliant in every aspect, this film takes place on both an epic and intimate scale with excellent camera angles, Christopher Nolan captures the gritty realism of that experience without making it Hollywood in any way, which would have included that sappy love story. Sure, it would have been nice if women have had a larger role, but that was how things were back then. Women appeared in this film solely as nurses. But the performances are excellent, without an action out of place. Despite the numerous roles, including Tom Hardy and Kenneth Branagh, everyone is pitch perfect in this almost documentary style film. Though this film seemed long, it took place over only three exhausting days. And this is easily one of Nolan's shortest films and also without a doubt his best. It is old-fashioned in some regards and that is lovely to see sometimes, without the over-the-top special effects. Everything is top-notch and in place with no false notes. Even if war films are not your cup of tea (they are usually not my favorite), this one will satisfy you without its super happy or super sad ending. Grade: A
Sunday, July 23, 2017
Friday, July 21, 2017
The Lost City of Z (2017)
This turned out to be a delightful film that covered a great deal of ground.
Covering a span of two decades in the life of Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnan) a man who wants to create a legacy that his children can be proud of. Clouded by his father's bad decisions, he struggles to climb rank in the British army when he is offered something extraordinary, surveying the contested border between Bolivia and Brazil as rubber is big business in the early 1900s. He journeys there, despite his wife (Sienna Miller) telling him that she is pregnant again. Though this adventure is successful, it inspires him to return to explore to discover past cultures. The archaeological objects truly fascinate him. For the most part, he has a good crew behind him, namely Henry Costin (Robert Pattinson). But the second time around, he is joined by another explorer, James Murray (Angus MacFadyen) who, despite having spent time in Antarctica, is actually weak and foolish. He thinks that the native people are beneath him and eats too many of his rations, which destroys the whole journey. They never reach the lost ancient city of Z (pronounced Zed) and then it is World War I in Europe and he survives that too, despite having a falling out with his eldest son, Jack (Tom Holland). Jack is always upset that his father is always leaving, but things change. After the war is over and Percy has regained his sight, Jack is insistent that they finish what he started.
Unfortunately, they once again run into natives, ones that are not as nice and interesting as the ones before. Who knows exactly what happens, but somehow his trusty compass does come back to England and Nina (his wife) never believes that her husband and son perished in the wilderness of Amazonia.
Though the film is lengthy, and covers a great deal of time, and many of the characters are underdeveloped, it is nevertheless a good film with excellent lines and a true message scattered in. The performances are also very good and it is realistic and gritty. The score is mesmerizing and the ending makes you wonder and think. That happens so often in a film. When it does, you should grab it and never let go. Grade: B+
Covering a span of two decades in the life of Percy Fawcett (Charlie Hunnan) a man who wants to create a legacy that his children can be proud of. Clouded by his father's bad decisions, he struggles to climb rank in the British army when he is offered something extraordinary, surveying the contested border between Bolivia and Brazil as rubber is big business in the early 1900s. He journeys there, despite his wife (Sienna Miller) telling him that she is pregnant again. Though this adventure is successful, it inspires him to return to explore to discover past cultures. The archaeological objects truly fascinate him. For the most part, he has a good crew behind him, namely Henry Costin (Robert Pattinson). But the second time around, he is joined by another explorer, James Murray (Angus MacFadyen) who, despite having spent time in Antarctica, is actually weak and foolish. He thinks that the native people are beneath him and eats too many of his rations, which destroys the whole journey. They never reach the lost ancient city of Z (pronounced Zed) and then it is World War I in Europe and he survives that too, despite having a falling out with his eldest son, Jack (Tom Holland). Jack is always upset that his father is always leaving, but things change. After the war is over and Percy has regained his sight, Jack is insistent that they finish what he started.
Unfortunately, they once again run into natives, ones that are not as nice and interesting as the ones before. Who knows exactly what happens, but somehow his trusty compass does come back to England and Nina (his wife) never believes that her husband and son perished in the wilderness of Amazonia.
Though the film is lengthy, and covers a great deal of time, and many of the characters are underdeveloped, it is nevertheless a good film with excellent lines and a true message scattered in. The performances are also very good and it is realistic and gritty. The score is mesmerizing and the ending makes you wonder and think. That happens so often in a film. When it does, you should grab it and never let go. Grade: B+
Sunday, July 16, 2017
The Big Sick (2017)
This was a film that I couldn't wait to see. In an odd way, I related to it, as the only guy I dated for more than two dates was from Pakistan. He was a jerk, far more so than Kumail (Kumail Nanjiani), but that's a whole other story.
To the film, here we have Kumail, from Pakistan, who doesn't fit into his parents' mold of being a perfect son. He works for Uber and also works as a stand up comedian and constantly have to deal with his mother's attempts at matchmaking. Then, at one of his shows, he meets grad student Emily (Zoe Kazan). They hit it off so well, having sex on the first date. But there is a genuine attraction between the two of them. Despite Emily declaring several times that she is not dating anyone at the moment, they nevertheless start dating.
And then, just like that, they aren't dating anymore. Emily is furious when she discovers Kumail's little black box, filled of pictures of women his mother has attempted to set him up with. He hasn't told his parents about her because of the whole arranged marriage thing and how he doesn't want to lose his family just because he's dating a white girl. Of course she doesn't take it that well and there relationship is over.
Kumail is literally in bed with another woman (rebound much) when Emily's friend calls him to tell him that Emily's in the ER with a bad case of the flu. She doesn't want him there but he stays anyway which is good because Emily's condition continues to deteriorate. In fact, one doctor basically forces Kumail to admit that he's Emily husband so they can better treat her severe lung infection by putting her into a medically induced coma. They can't wait until Emily's parents arrive from North Carolina.
Emily's parents each have colorful personalities and are pretty awesome people who have a fairly realistic view on things. Terry (Ray Romano) and Beth (Holly Hunter) aren't exactly thrilled to see Kumail there and in fact, especially at first, Beth is downright rude to him. Kumail admits that he made a mistake with Emily and Beth merely smirks and agrees. She doesn't understand why he's around now, considering he wasn't when she was still awake and alert so why should he be around now. But he just can't stay away though it cannot be easy watching someone hooked up to plenty of machines breathing for her and having no idea how much she understands. He eventually wins over her parents and in one of the funnier scenes Beth nearly beats up a guy who cruelly and ignorantly heckles Kumail as he attempts to perform stand up.
Emily's surgery goes well to remove the infection but it continues to spread throughout her body and then Terry and Beth argue, believing that they should move her to a better hospital. Terry wants her to stay (as does Kumail, who doesn't really get a vote but he actually talked to the nurse, what a radical idea) while Beth wants to move her to a better ranked hospital. It is then that Terry admits to Kumail that he cheated on Beth, just once and felt like complete crap about it, as he should. Terry also states that you don't understand how much you love another person until you cheat on them, what kind of oxymoron statement is that? Then he gives in and allows Beth to move her, though that is thwarted as the infection moves to Emily's heart.
Her actual diagnosis is soon learned all from an almost toss away line from Kumail, saying that she twisted her ankle a few days before she became dangerously ill. And it never healed so they are finally able to discover that Emily suffered from the rare but treatable adult-onset Still's disease. She starts her recovery almost immediately, beginning with waking up, and she isn't thrilled to see him there.
She recovers quickly and though he apologizes, truly and finally confronts his parents with the truth, she doesn't take him back. She does thank him for everything and sort of wants to get back together but it's too soon and she doesn't want to come between him and his family. So Kumail moves to New York with two of his good comedian friends (they are both good friends and comedians as opposed to his roommate who isn't that funny). It isn't until Emily goes to visit him at one of his shows that you know the relationship can finally begin again.
This was an excellent film with some brilliant performances and dialogue and though the subject is difficult and painful, the film manages to be truly funny. The scene I appreciated the most is one between Kumail and one of the girls his mother tries to set him up with. He ends things before they can even begin and tells her that she deserves better. She says that she will decide what she deserves (how true) and that he needs to stop apologizing.
The problem I have is that they sleep together on the first date. I'm sure this does happen, but it shouldn't. Sex is not something that can be taken lightly as it is in the vast majority of Hollywood films and TV shows (a notable exception is the superb Jane the Virgin). Sex should not be expected on the first date. And Hollywood needs to stop glorifying it and making it socially acceptable. That is a rant I should have gone on a long time ago, considering it happens rather frequently (consider Moonstruck).
Okay, end of rant, back to the film. Basically, go see this movie. It will not disappoint. Though it deals with the typical, tried and true plot of families not liking their child to date anyone different from their culture, this has a refreshing and tragic turn, anchored by the seamless casting. This film should catapult Kazan and Nanjiani to full-fledged stardom. Goodness knows they deserve it already. Grade: A-
To the film, here we have Kumail, from Pakistan, who doesn't fit into his parents' mold of being a perfect son. He works for Uber and also works as a stand up comedian and constantly have to deal with his mother's attempts at matchmaking. Then, at one of his shows, he meets grad student Emily (Zoe Kazan). They hit it off so well, having sex on the first date. But there is a genuine attraction between the two of them. Despite Emily declaring several times that she is not dating anyone at the moment, they nevertheless start dating.
And then, just like that, they aren't dating anymore. Emily is furious when she discovers Kumail's little black box, filled of pictures of women his mother has attempted to set him up with. He hasn't told his parents about her because of the whole arranged marriage thing and how he doesn't want to lose his family just because he's dating a white girl. Of course she doesn't take it that well and there relationship is over.
Kumail is literally in bed with another woman (rebound much) when Emily's friend calls him to tell him that Emily's in the ER with a bad case of the flu. She doesn't want him there but he stays anyway which is good because Emily's condition continues to deteriorate. In fact, one doctor basically forces Kumail to admit that he's Emily husband so they can better treat her severe lung infection by putting her into a medically induced coma. They can't wait until Emily's parents arrive from North Carolina.
Emily's parents each have colorful personalities and are pretty awesome people who have a fairly realistic view on things. Terry (Ray Romano) and Beth (Holly Hunter) aren't exactly thrilled to see Kumail there and in fact, especially at first, Beth is downright rude to him. Kumail admits that he made a mistake with Emily and Beth merely smirks and agrees. She doesn't understand why he's around now, considering he wasn't when she was still awake and alert so why should he be around now. But he just can't stay away though it cannot be easy watching someone hooked up to plenty of machines breathing for her and having no idea how much she understands. He eventually wins over her parents and in one of the funnier scenes Beth nearly beats up a guy who cruelly and ignorantly heckles Kumail as he attempts to perform stand up.
Emily's surgery goes well to remove the infection but it continues to spread throughout her body and then Terry and Beth argue, believing that they should move her to a better hospital. Terry wants her to stay (as does Kumail, who doesn't really get a vote but he actually talked to the nurse, what a radical idea) while Beth wants to move her to a better ranked hospital. It is then that Terry admits to Kumail that he cheated on Beth, just once and felt like complete crap about it, as he should. Terry also states that you don't understand how much you love another person until you cheat on them, what kind of oxymoron statement is that? Then he gives in and allows Beth to move her, though that is thwarted as the infection moves to Emily's heart.
Her actual diagnosis is soon learned all from an almost toss away line from Kumail, saying that she twisted her ankle a few days before she became dangerously ill. And it never healed so they are finally able to discover that Emily suffered from the rare but treatable adult-onset Still's disease. She starts her recovery almost immediately, beginning with waking up, and she isn't thrilled to see him there.
She recovers quickly and though he apologizes, truly and finally confronts his parents with the truth, she doesn't take him back. She does thank him for everything and sort of wants to get back together but it's too soon and she doesn't want to come between him and his family. So Kumail moves to New York with two of his good comedian friends (they are both good friends and comedians as opposed to his roommate who isn't that funny). It isn't until Emily goes to visit him at one of his shows that you know the relationship can finally begin again.
This was an excellent film with some brilliant performances and dialogue and though the subject is difficult and painful, the film manages to be truly funny. The scene I appreciated the most is one between Kumail and one of the girls his mother tries to set him up with. He ends things before they can even begin and tells her that she deserves better. She says that she will decide what she deserves (how true) and that he needs to stop apologizing.
The problem I have is that they sleep together on the first date. I'm sure this does happen, but it shouldn't. Sex is not something that can be taken lightly as it is in the vast majority of Hollywood films and TV shows (a notable exception is the superb Jane the Virgin). Sex should not be expected on the first date. And Hollywood needs to stop glorifying it and making it socially acceptable. That is a rant I should have gone on a long time ago, considering it happens rather frequently (consider Moonstruck).
Okay, end of rant, back to the film. Basically, go see this movie. It will not disappoint. Though it deals with the typical, tried and true plot of families not liking their child to date anyone different from their culture, this has a refreshing and tragic turn, anchored by the seamless casting. This film should catapult Kazan and Nanjiani to full-fledged stardom. Goodness knows they deserve it already. Grade: A-
Sunday, July 2, 2017
The Hero (2017)
Well, I didn't like this film so much. It's probably because I'm not the target audience. My parents largely enjoyed it.
Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) just received bad news. He has cancer, and not one of those types that can be easily cured. But he's receiving a lifetime achievement for his career in films and TV shows, mostly of the western varieties. His life is pretty much a vastness of emptiness. He does voice overs for lame products and is separated from his grown daughter, Lucy (Krysten Ritter). He gets high a lot. And his only friend is his drug dealer and former co-worker (Nick Offerman). Things start looking up when he meets a far younger woman, Charlotte (Laura Prepon) who also gets her drugs from Jeremy. She actually likes him and is the one who accompanies him to get his award. Lee doesn't feel that he deserves the award and presents it to a random person in the audience and the speech goes viral. For the first time in some time, he's getting quality offers for acting roles. He's even got a film offer but he needs to audition for it, something he hasn't done in years. That is probably his greatest scene, reminiscent to real life, a man reconciling with his long-lost daughter. And though he nearly makes Jeremy cry, he flubs the audition and is pissed off.
In the end, he manages to start to mend the fences with his daughter and gets the risky surgery so he can have some more time. He and Charlotte are somehow still together, despite her bashing old men as part of her comedy routine. He is just glad to be living.
Now, while Elliott is wonderful and it is a good role for him, I just can't get behind the romance between him and Charlotte. She's far too young for him. It grossed me out whenever they were together. I found that whole thing unbelievable and ridiculous. I suppose it did need to happen, Lee needed to find romance in his life again but I wish it could have been with someone closer to his own age.
It blended reality and Lee's fantasy and dream life well together and the cinematography was innovative, with plenty of close-ups. But this film had no impact on me and I do not want to ever see it again and it's a shame as Elliott was brilliant. Grade: B
Lee Hayden (Sam Elliott) just received bad news. He has cancer, and not one of those types that can be easily cured. But he's receiving a lifetime achievement for his career in films and TV shows, mostly of the western varieties. His life is pretty much a vastness of emptiness. He does voice overs for lame products and is separated from his grown daughter, Lucy (Krysten Ritter). He gets high a lot. And his only friend is his drug dealer and former co-worker (Nick Offerman). Things start looking up when he meets a far younger woman, Charlotte (Laura Prepon) who also gets her drugs from Jeremy. She actually likes him and is the one who accompanies him to get his award. Lee doesn't feel that he deserves the award and presents it to a random person in the audience and the speech goes viral. For the first time in some time, he's getting quality offers for acting roles. He's even got a film offer but he needs to audition for it, something he hasn't done in years. That is probably his greatest scene, reminiscent to real life, a man reconciling with his long-lost daughter. And though he nearly makes Jeremy cry, he flubs the audition and is pissed off.
In the end, he manages to start to mend the fences with his daughter and gets the risky surgery so he can have some more time. He and Charlotte are somehow still together, despite her bashing old men as part of her comedy routine. He is just glad to be living.
Now, while Elliott is wonderful and it is a good role for him, I just can't get behind the romance between him and Charlotte. She's far too young for him. It grossed me out whenever they were together. I found that whole thing unbelievable and ridiculous. I suppose it did need to happen, Lee needed to find romance in his life again but I wish it could have been with someone closer to his own age.
It blended reality and Lee's fantasy and dream life well together and the cinematography was innovative, with plenty of close-ups. But this film had no impact on me and I do not want to ever see it again and it's a shame as Elliott was brilliant. Grade: B
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