This was a good, little film.
It tells the story of Joan Stanley (Judi Dench) who is arrested after the death of former foreign secretary William Mitchell (Freddie Gaminara) and revealed to be a former spy for the KGB. Her adult son, Nick (Ben Miles) is shocked speechless.
The majority film is told through the flashbacks of young Joan Smith (Sophie Cookson) as she navigates Cambridge in the late 1930s, studying physics. She does befriend some communists and falls madly and foolishly in love with one of the leaders, Leon (Tom Hughes) and their affair continues for years. But it isn't until the world is at war that she starts giving state secrets to the Russians. Keep in the mind that though Stalin was in charge of Russia and he was a dreadfully nasty man, Russia was on the same side as Britain but there were many secrets between the two countries. Joan is now working at a government lab which is working on developing a nuclear weapon and though she is vital in helping it be created, she feels that it is too powerful for only a select few countries to have. She knows how deadly it can be and never wants it to be used. So she slips secrets to the Soviets and holds on to everything until her boss, Max (Stephen Campbell Moore) whom she is now sleeping with, is arrested. She blackmails William into escape and the two go to Australia but does return to England, eventually.
Sure, her motives might have been in the right place (personally, I don't trust anyone to have access to nuclear weapons), but she nevertheless betrayed her country. In the end, her age saved her. Charges were not brought against her because she was so old.
The film was good. Not as good as The Imitation Game or anything, but worthwhile and important after all. The performances were solid though Dench should not have received top billing as her role was small but Cookson was brilliant. And the story is solid. The only problem is Nick's change of heart, but I am glad he stood with his mother, she risked her life for what she believed in and not many people do that. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Once again, sleeping with your cousin is disgusting. Here Leon and his cousin, Sonia (Tereza Srbova) not only have sex but also reproduce. However, I'm not entirely if they actually were cousins or if that was part of their cover.
-This film is one of the few who mentions feminine products and for that, I give it a lot of credit.
-Why does Sonia take Joan's mink coat?
-William marries his secretary as a cover for his homosexuality.
-Just as Sonia says, no one suspects Joan could have done anything as she is only a woman.
Monday, May 27, 2019
How I Live Now (2013)
I don't really know where to start with this film.
Daisy (she refuses to answer to her given name Elizabeth) portrayed by Saoirse Ronan is an American teenager who is sent to England to live with her aunt (Anna Chancellor, who has no more than two minutes of screen time) and her crazy cousins who sort of live off the grid.
Naturally, she is angry at first and miserable but comes around rather quickly, thanks largely to her attraction to the eldest cousin, Eddie (George Mackay). Despite a nasty bombing in London, they are very happy and fall in love only to have everything destroyed when the soldiers come. The girls are taken to a house with militia guarding everything and work on the farm dealing with vegetables all the time while the boys are taken elsewhere.
The rest of the film is Daisy and little Piper (Harley Bird) walking back home. They manage to escape fairly easily and walk through the woods. Sure, they do run into trouble and Daisy kills two men who try to kidnap Piper and she finds Isaac's (Tom Holland's) dead body but not Eddie's. However, my main problem with this is that she forgets the water tablets (terrorists have poisoned the water sources) so they walk for days without a source of reliable, safe drinking water. So that's a problem.
But they get home and even find a battered and bruised Eddie, dealing with shell-shock. His burns and bruises heal but he doesn't utter another word for the rest of the film. But Daisy still loves him and swears (via a long-awaited voice over) that she will wait for him forever. Oh yeah, the war is also over, just as suddenly as it began.
So, yeah, some big problems with this film. The acting is mostly solid though the scene is where Daisy foolishly burns her ticket out, Eddie needed a better reaction. However, that was only a minor problem. There were two big gaps. First of all, why is the world so troubled, we don't really know and it is never explained. And why does Daisy hear bizarre voices in her head? Does she have a mental disorder or has the government planted something inside her head?
It is a shame. Sure, this was based on a book, but the film should stand by itself and this one doesn't. Grade: B-
Side Notes:
-Kissing and having sex with your cousin is beyond disgusting. I've said it before and I'll say it every time it happens.
-They do a good job of making Ronan look more grown up by the end of film by simply growing her bangs out.
-Why does the host mother serve the same food each night?
-Can Eddie talk to animals? If so, that's another major plot hole.
Daisy (she refuses to answer to her given name Elizabeth) portrayed by Saoirse Ronan is an American teenager who is sent to England to live with her aunt (Anna Chancellor, who has no more than two minutes of screen time) and her crazy cousins who sort of live off the grid.
Naturally, she is angry at first and miserable but comes around rather quickly, thanks largely to her attraction to the eldest cousin, Eddie (George Mackay). Despite a nasty bombing in London, they are very happy and fall in love only to have everything destroyed when the soldiers come. The girls are taken to a house with militia guarding everything and work on the farm dealing with vegetables all the time while the boys are taken elsewhere.
The rest of the film is Daisy and little Piper (Harley Bird) walking back home. They manage to escape fairly easily and walk through the woods. Sure, they do run into trouble and Daisy kills two men who try to kidnap Piper and she finds Isaac's (Tom Holland's) dead body but not Eddie's. However, my main problem with this is that she forgets the water tablets (terrorists have poisoned the water sources) so they walk for days without a source of reliable, safe drinking water. So that's a problem.
But they get home and even find a battered and bruised Eddie, dealing with shell-shock. His burns and bruises heal but he doesn't utter another word for the rest of the film. But Daisy still loves him and swears (via a long-awaited voice over) that she will wait for him forever. Oh yeah, the war is also over, just as suddenly as it began.
So, yeah, some big problems with this film. The acting is mostly solid though the scene is where Daisy foolishly burns her ticket out, Eddie needed a better reaction. However, that was only a minor problem. There were two big gaps. First of all, why is the world so troubled, we don't really know and it is never explained. And why does Daisy hear bizarre voices in her head? Does she have a mental disorder or has the government planted something inside her head?
It is a shame. Sure, this was based on a book, but the film should stand by itself and this one doesn't. Grade: B-
Side Notes:
-Kissing and having sex with your cousin is beyond disgusting. I've said it before and I'll say it every time it happens.
-They do a good job of making Ronan look more grown up by the end of film by simply growing her bangs out.
-Why does the host mother serve the same food each night?
-Can Eddie talk to animals? If so, that's another major plot hole.
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Amistad (1997)
This film tells a story that should be taught in history classes but isn't. In fact, despite my history minor (though I did take more European history classes), I hadn't even heard or remembered mention of this trial until watching this film.
A small ship of African slaves upraises and kills the Spanish sailors, save the captain and one other. They intend to return to their native Africa, but somehow manage to end up in Connecticut, where they are instantly arrested and put on trial. However, the question is not whether they are guilty of murder, but whether they are property of Spain, America, lost treasure (aka finder's keepers) or Africa.
They are literally on trial for their lives and none even understand the English language. But young lawyer, Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaghey) is determined to win, though he isn't a criminal attorney.
Just when you think the film is over, an appeal is presented so the film continues for another half an hour and gives Anthony Hopkins (as forgotten former President John Quincy Adams) enough screen time to earn his supporting Oscar nomination. Though it is 1840, the Supreme Court (despite being majority slave owners), they side with Roger and believe that they have enough evidence to prove the men were African natives and thus should be free. And yet, the Civil War would not start for another two decades.
The film belongs to Djimon Hounson as the main African slave who is brilliant and commands the screen and forces you to pay attention though he says only three words in English. Also pay attention to a young Chiwetel Ejiofor who serves as the ever important translator, someone finally able to understand and speak both languages, which proves to be ever vital for the case.
Now, the film is pretty good, though not as good as some of Spielberg's other works, and some scenes are beyond excellent, it still falls just short of being a truly great film, perhaps the somewhat odd scenes with teenage Queen Isabella II of Spain (a wasted Anna Pacquin) and Morgan Freeman's largely unnecessary role are what drag the film down. And it is a shame that Freeman's role is extra, when it should have been something more. Nevertheless, this film is necessary for all to watch. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-The political system was certainly rigged in 1839.
-Both American Presidents are portrayed by British actors. New Yorker Martin van Buren is Nigel Hawthorne, who doesn't win re-election.
-John Quincy Adams loves his flowers.
-Apparently, being Catholic was a bad thing back then as well.
A small ship of African slaves upraises and kills the Spanish sailors, save the captain and one other. They intend to return to their native Africa, but somehow manage to end up in Connecticut, where they are instantly arrested and put on trial. However, the question is not whether they are guilty of murder, but whether they are property of Spain, America, lost treasure (aka finder's keepers) or Africa.
They are literally on trial for their lives and none even understand the English language. But young lawyer, Roger Baldwin (Matthew McConaghey) is determined to win, though he isn't a criminal attorney.
Just when you think the film is over, an appeal is presented so the film continues for another half an hour and gives Anthony Hopkins (as forgotten former President John Quincy Adams) enough screen time to earn his supporting Oscar nomination. Though it is 1840, the Supreme Court (despite being majority slave owners), they side with Roger and believe that they have enough evidence to prove the men were African natives and thus should be free. And yet, the Civil War would not start for another two decades.
The film belongs to Djimon Hounson as the main African slave who is brilliant and commands the screen and forces you to pay attention though he says only three words in English. Also pay attention to a young Chiwetel Ejiofor who serves as the ever important translator, someone finally able to understand and speak both languages, which proves to be ever vital for the case.
Now, the film is pretty good, though not as good as some of Spielberg's other works, and some scenes are beyond excellent, it still falls just short of being a truly great film, perhaps the somewhat odd scenes with teenage Queen Isabella II of Spain (a wasted Anna Pacquin) and Morgan Freeman's largely unnecessary role are what drag the film down. And it is a shame that Freeman's role is extra, when it should have been something more. Nevertheless, this film is necessary for all to watch. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-The political system was certainly rigged in 1839.
-Both American Presidents are portrayed by British actors. New Yorker Martin van Buren is Nigel Hawthorne, who doesn't win re-election.
-John Quincy Adams loves his flowers.
-Apparently, being Catholic was a bad thing back then as well.
Saturday, May 18, 2019
The Sun is Also a Star (2019): The Film
They ruined the film!
I shouldn't say that, the film was lovely, exquisitely filmed and well-acted, but as far as I'm concerned, one of the two main points of the film was completely removed.
Based on Nicola Yoon's 2016 young adult novel, this film follows Natasha Kingsley (Yara Shahidi) and Daniel Bae (Charles Melton) on a very important day in their young lives, Daniel convinces Natasha that he can make her fall in love with him in just one day.
Spoiler Alert: It works. She's skeptical, as her science-based mind just refuses to believe that true love and fate exists, but she's getting deported, so true love doesn't last. For the record, if they truly loved each other, they would not have fallen out of touch. But I'm twenty-eight, not seventeen.
Now, the book also had another point, completely removed from the screenplay (Yoon, you should be very disappointed). Here, as Natasha enters through the security gate to go see an immigration lawyer, she thanks the security guard after her bag is returned to her. This is such a simple action, you might have glazed over it in the book, but it comes full circle. Turns out, this security guard, sick and depressed of her dead end job, was going to commit suicide that night but Natasha's simple, almost insignificant action caused this woman (I forget the character's name, shame on me) to quit her job and become a flight attendant, never getting Natasha's simple action.
To me, this just proves that every single action you do in a day matters. You may not think it will but it could. While the film had that point as well, it was more self-serving than in the book, which is a crying shame. I haven't been that angry at a film in a long time.
And that is not to under mind the film, it was still good, with some great performances and deals with an important issue, illegal immigration. And if you've never read the book, you will probably love the film. So I'm torn, the film itself was very good but if you think about how the book was adapted to the big screen, then you will likely be disappointed. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Pay attention to Jake Choi (from ABC's Single Parents) as Daniel's big brother, Charlie, the film's main asshole, who also plays a pivotal role in keeping Natasha and Daniel together. You learn more about his background in the book.
-In the book, the reason Natasha's family is deported is that lawyer doesn't end up meeting with the judge because he's in love with his secretary and bangs her in the closet. In the film, the lawyer (John Leguizamo) is nearly run over by a bike and falls in love with the ER doctor, and marries her, though he wears a wedding throughout the whole film, not just the epilogue.
-I wish I could look that good after spending a night sleeping with a stranger in a random park.
-It's true, people never look up enough.
-In the film, Natasha and Daniel get back together as he starts to read a poem in a coffee shop. In the book, the former security guard is a flight attendant, recognizes Natasha and thanks her for being the inspiration to change her life. Daniel is on the same flight.
-Once again, just as in Yoon's other book to film adaptation, the male protagonist's hair has changed from the book to the film.
-Daniel did truly get all the looks in the family.
-Shahidi is brilliant and manages to look younger in parts and older, which cannot be easy. She's marvelous.
-For the record, I do not believe in true love or fate as I have had two meet cutes with the same guy but am still single nevertheless.
I shouldn't say that, the film was lovely, exquisitely filmed and well-acted, but as far as I'm concerned, one of the two main points of the film was completely removed.
Based on Nicola Yoon's 2016 young adult novel, this film follows Natasha Kingsley (Yara Shahidi) and Daniel Bae (Charles Melton) on a very important day in their young lives, Daniel convinces Natasha that he can make her fall in love with him in just one day.
Spoiler Alert: It works. She's skeptical, as her science-based mind just refuses to believe that true love and fate exists, but she's getting deported, so true love doesn't last. For the record, if they truly loved each other, they would not have fallen out of touch. But I'm twenty-eight, not seventeen.
Now, the book also had another point, completely removed from the screenplay (Yoon, you should be very disappointed). Here, as Natasha enters through the security gate to go see an immigration lawyer, she thanks the security guard after her bag is returned to her. This is such a simple action, you might have glazed over it in the book, but it comes full circle. Turns out, this security guard, sick and depressed of her dead end job, was going to commit suicide that night but Natasha's simple, almost insignificant action caused this woman (I forget the character's name, shame on me) to quit her job and become a flight attendant, never getting Natasha's simple action.
To me, this just proves that every single action you do in a day matters. You may not think it will but it could. While the film had that point as well, it was more self-serving than in the book, which is a crying shame. I haven't been that angry at a film in a long time.
And that is not to under mind the film, it was still good, with some great performances and deals with an important issue, illegal immigration. And if you've never read the book, you will probably love the film. So I'm torn, the film itself was very good but if you think about how the book was adapted to the big screen, then you will likely be disappointed. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-Pay attention to Jake Choi (from ABC's Single Parents) as Daniel's big brother, Charlie, the film's main asshole, who also plays a pivotal role in keeping Natasha and Daniel together. You learn more about his background in the book.
-In the book, the reason Natasha's family is deported is that lawyer doesn't end up meeting with the judge because he's in love with his secretary and bangs her in the closet. In the film, the lawyer (John Leguizamo) is nearly run over by a bike and falls in love with the ER doctor, and marries her, though he wears a wedding throughout the whole film, not just the epilogue.
-I wish I could look that good after spending a night sleeping with a stranger in a random park.
-It's true, people never look up enough.
-In the film, Natasha and Daniel get back together as he starts to read a poem in a coffee shop. In the book, the former security guard is a flight attendant, recognizes Natasha and thanks her for being the inspiration to change her life. Daniel is on the same flight.
-Once again, just as in Yoon's other book to film adaptation, the male protagonist's hair has changed from the book to the film.
-Daniel did truly get all the looks in the family.
-Shahidi is brilliant and manages to look younger in parts and older, which cannot be easy. She's marvelous.
-For the record, I do not believe in true love or fate as I have had two meet cutes with the same guy but am still single nevertheless.
Monday, May 13, 2019
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
This was a lovely, devastating film. Tish (the brilliant Kiki Layne) and Alonzo "Fonny" (Stephan James) are very much in love, though their families don't like each other much. But their idealistic romance is shot to hell when Fonny is accused of rape, despite having an alibi.
Ironically, it is Tish's family who carries the fight, with Tish's mother, Sharon (the great Regina King) is the one who goes down to Puerto Rico to confront the woman who picked Fonny out of a line-up, Victoria Rogers (Friday Night Light's Emily Rios) even though she likely doesn't know who exactly harmed her.
The film flows well, despite the jumbled timeline, but the performances are great, each actor delivering a pitch performance and the plot has no room for holes, even the one I had for about half the film is solved, the cop who claimed he saw Fonny running from the crime scene had previously nearly arrested Fonny for punching a man who was stalking Tish, and was likely out for blood.
There are some odd scenes, like Fonny's super religious mother, Alice (Aunjanue Ellis) cursing Tish for having an illegitimate child and hoping it shrivels up in Tish's womb and one of Fonny's jail scenes, when he declares that he is coming home. I thought he was going to commit suicide, without having the chance to clear his name, but he survives, and as the trial keeps getting postponed, he takes a plea deal. But he still seems to be a good guy, managing to smile at Tish and their son when they go to visit him in prison, still praying before the snack meal.
All-in-all, the film is well put together, with Barry Jenkins at the held, the film is lyrical and nearly heavenly, with some brilliant cinematography and score. And you feel as though you're back in the 1970s, which is never to accomplish.
While this film is another sad look on how America has failed its African American population, the film is nevertheless worth watching, knowing that there is hope and love will always lead you home. As Sharon states, love has brought you here thus far so you just need to continue to trust it (more or less). Life would be a lot better, if we could just trust love. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Though I liked Tish, my favorite character was probably her older sister, Earnestine (Teyonah Parris).
-Pay attention to some great actors in cameos, Dave Franco, Diego Luna, Pedro Pascal, Finn Wittrock (the lawyer) and Bryan Tyree Henry.
-I can't figure out how Fonny's parents are still married when she's very religious and he's more chill.
-Apparently, Tish and Fonny's respective fathers never got caught for their crimes of theft.
Ironically, it is Tish's family who carries the fight, with Tish's mother, Sharon (the great Regina King) is the one who goes down to Puerto Rico to confront the woman who picked Fonny out of a line-up, Victoria Rogers (Friday Night Light's Emily Rios) even though she likely doesn't know who exactly harmed her.
The film flows well, despite the jumbled timeline, but the performances are great, each actor delivering a pitch performance and the plot has no room for holes, even the one I had for about half the film is solved, the cop who claimed he saw Fonny running from the crime scene had previously nearly arrested Fonny for punching a man who was stalking Tish, and was likely out for blood.
There are some odd scenes, like Fonny's super religious mother, Alice (Aunjanue Ellis) cursing Tish for having an illegitimate child and hoping it shrivels up in Tish's womb and one of Fonny's jail scenes, when he declares that he is coming home. I thought he was going to commit suicide, without having the chance to clear his name, but he survives, and as the trial keeps getting postponed, he takes a plea deal. But he still seems to be a good guy, managing to smile at Tish and their son when they go to visit him in prison, still praying before the snack meal.
All-in-all, the film is well put together, with Barry Jenkins at the held, the film is lyrical and nearly heavenly, with some brilliant cinematography and score. And you feel as though you're back in the 1970s, which is never to accomplish.
While this film is another sad look on how America has failed its African American population, the film is nevertheless worth watching, knowing that there is hope and love will always lead you home. As Sharon states, love has brought you here thus far so you just need to continue to trust it (more or less). Life would be a lot better, if we could just trust love. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-Though I liked Tish, my favorite character was probably her older sister, Earnestine (Teyonah Parris).
-Pay attention to some great actors in cameos, Dave Franco, Diego Luna, Pedro Pascal, Finn Wittrock (the lawyer) and Bryan Tyree Henry.
-I can't figure out how Fonny's parents are still married when she's very religious and he's more chill.
-Apparently, Tish and Fonny's respective fathers never got caught for their crimes of theft.
Saturday, May 11, 2019
The Sound of Music (1965)
This is a great film, though it combines a bunch of genres, namely musical as it was classified as such. But it is also a romance and drama with underlying tones of war, without any battle scenes.
Maria (Julie Andrews, in the performance of her career) is sent to be a governess as she is just not fitting in at the convent.
We all know the story, she lets the children actually be children and with a mere song, the Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer, who was young once) changes his whole attitude to how he raises them.
And eventually, after some persuading from Mother Superior (Peggy Wood), Maria returns and she marries the Captain only to have Austria taken over by the German Nazis so they must escape the country and do so by singing (almost literally), so the film has a happy ending for all.
The songs are great and while the film looks great, it was nevertheless a low-budget musical. None of the actors who portrayed the children would become big stars (probably unfortunately) and the biggest name the film had was Baroness Elsa (Eleanor Parker), and while the film lacks the big, fantastical musical numbers common in musicals, the songs are catchy and weaved well into the film, however, despite the realness of the subject and how the Nazis would punish everyone who didn't cater to their every whim, this film lacks the gritty realism of Robert Wise's other musical film, West Side Story, which was truly brilliant. The film is picturesque and devastating, and while it deals well with the tonal change, it is still a hard tonal change to take. Still, the songs are so well written, the scenery so great and Andrews so good, this film is impossible not to love. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-One of the few funny scenes, as well as my dad's favorite scene (mine, too) is when the nuns remove parts from the cars of the Nazis allowing the Von Trapps to escape, and confessing that they have sinned.
-The song choice for Maria walking down the aisle is a rather poor one.
-Also of note, she walks down the aisle by herself, there is no one to give her away.
-It is a shame that Parker is best remembered for this role, when she had some fine performances in the 1950s, Caged, Detective Story and sang her way to another Oscar nominated in Interrupted Melody.
-I think that Captain Von Trapp was a nationalist and pro-Austria, which is why he was so deeply offended when they merely bowed down and let Germany take over.
-The Von Trapp butler is a little worm, tattling on the family.
Maria (Julie Andrews, in the performance of her career) is sent to be a governess as she is just not fitting in at the convent.
We all know the story, she lets the children actually be children and with a mere song, the Captain Von Trapp (Christopher Plummer, who was young once) changes his whole attitude to how he raises them.
And eventually, after some persuading from Mother Superior (Peggy Wood), Maria returns and she marries the Captain only to have Austria taken over by the German Nazis so they must escape the country and do so by singing (almost literally), so the film has a happy ending for all.
The songs are great and while the film looks great, it was nevertheless a low-budget musical. None of the actors who portrayed the children would become big stars (probably unfortunately) and the biggest name the film had was Baroness Elsa (Eleanor Parker), and while the film lacks the big, fantastical musical numbers common in musicals, the songs are catchy and weaved well into the film, however, despite the realness of the subject and how the Nazis would punish everyone who didn't cater to their every whim, this film lacks the gritty realism of Robert Wise's other musical film, West Side Story, which was truly brilliant. The film is picturesque and devastating, and while it deals well with the tonal change, it is still a hard tonal change to take. Still, the songs are so well written, the scenery so great and Andrews so good, this film is impossible not to love. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-One of the few funny scenes, as well as my dad's favorite scene (mine, too) is when the nuns remove parts from the cars of the Nazis allowing the Von Trapps to escape, and confessing that they have sinned.
-The song choice for Maria walking down the aisle is a rather poor one.
-Also of note, she walks down the aisle by herself, there is no one to give her away.
-It is a shame that Parker is best remembered for this role, when she had some fine performances in the 1950s, Caged, Detective Story and sang her way to another Oscar nominated in Interrupted Melody.
-I think that Captain Von Trapp was a nationalist and pro-Austria, which is why he was so deeply offended when they merely bowed down and let Germany take over.
-The Von Trapp butler is a little worm, tattling on the family.
Saturday, May 4, 2019
Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)
This was a good, simple little film.
Lee Israel (a nearly unrecognizable Melissa McCarthy) needs money. She's flat broke, her beloved cat is sick and she can't pay her rent. Sure, her writing has been critically acclaimed but no one wants her biographies. So starts doing something illegal, writing letters from famous people. Naturally, it doesn't take long for others to catch on so she's soon in some pretty deep hot water.
And that's the whole plot. Sure, it doesn't seem like much, but the film is great nevertheless even though Lee is rather despicable and unlikable, a trait which is pointed out to her several times. She likes cats more than people (I do too, at times) and she drinks too much. Her only 'friend' is fellow loser, Jack Hock (Richard E. Grant) who peddles in illegal drugs and flips on her to the feds rather quickly.
While the film is simple, filled with unlikable characters, it is good nevertheless. The screenplay is tight and flows well and no minute is wasted space and the performances are good and it is shocking to watch, someone almost getting away with forging pieces of history. The performances are also great. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-I wonder what truly happened to Jersey. I suspect that Jack gave her too many pills.
-At least Lee managed to get an agent, I haven't been that successful.
-Lee really needs to work on her people skills.
-Also, she's on house arrest and lies about going to AA meetings? How does she get away with that?
-I love how Jack looks to Lee for permission to get a steak.
-Despite being a complete fraud, one of Lee's letters manages to get authenticated.
-The sad thing is, Lee was so talented, she deserves to be remembered more than just the woman who forged letters from famous people.
Lee Israel (a nearly unrecognizable Melissa McCarthy) needs money. She's flat broke, her beloved cat is sick and she can't pay her rent. Sure, her writing has been critically acclaimed but no one wants her biographies. So starts doing something illegal, writing letters from famous people. Naturally, it doesn't take long for others to catch on so she's soon in some pretty deep hot water.
And that's the whole plot. Sure, it doesn't seem like much, but the film is great nevertheless even though Lee is rather despicable and unlikable, a trait which is pointed out to her several times. She likes cats more than people (I do too, at times) and she drinks too much. Her only 'friend' is fellow loser, Jack Hock (Richard E. Grant) who peddles in illegal drugs and flips on her to the feds rather quickly.
While the film is simple, filled with unlikable characters, it is good nevertheless. The screenplay is tight and flows well and no minute is wasted space and the performances are good and it is shocking to watch, someone almost getting away with forging pieces of history. The performances are also great. Grade: B+
Side Notes:
-I wonder what truly happened to Jersey. I suspect that Jack gave her too many pills.
-At least Lee managed to get an agent, I haven't been that successful.
-Lee really needs to work on her people skills.
-Also, she's on house arrest and lies about going to AA meetings? How does she get away with that?
-I love how Jack looks to Lee for permission to get a steak.
-Despite being a complete fraud, one of Lee's letters manages to get authenticated.
-The sad thing is, Lee was so talented, she deserves to be remembered more than just the woman who forged letters from famous people.
Friday, May 3, 2019
Long Shot (2019)
Despite the disgusting sex scenes and overuse of profanity, this film is nevertheless extremely important, showing us a behind the scenes look at politics in a world not unfamiliar to the one we currently live in.
The main plot revolves around the regal Secretary of State Charlotte Field (a brilliant Charlize Theron) who learns that the President, former TV star Chambers (Bob Odenkirk) won't run for President again as he's trying to break into films, not many have made that leap so he's endorsing her.
In an effort to increase her humor factor, Charlotte hires her former neighbor and recently fired liberal journalist, Fred Flarsky (a great Seth Rogen, if still his typical role). Despite the odds and poles, they form a relationship of a sexual nature, and while the film is about that, it is also about how Charlotte tries to do good, working relentlessly to make that happen, only to have sacrifice it as her boss's boss (that's right, the President is being controlled by someone else) doesn't want the trees to be saved. And it's because she's a woman, that is why she needs to make the sacrifice.
Fortunately, the film has a happy ending, not just for the characters but for the country as well, which is such a relief.
Given the current climate, this film is a breath of fresh air, portraying it with humor while pointing at the blatant problems and showing us that there are no easy solutions. And the film just works, with the main characters truly getting underneath the skin of their vastly different characters and the supporting characters are also brilliant, with the standout being O'Shea Jackson, Jr as Fred's college friend, Lance, supportive and successful in his own right but isn't afraid to call Fred out for being narrow-minded. He's just the best. June Diane Raphael also shines as the cold-hearted bitch and handler for Charlotte. Alexander Skarsgaard (whose just in everything) is also good as the Canadian Prime Minister who may or may not be a jackass.
Regardless of politics, go see this film. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-That jacket Seth Rogen wears throughout needs to go.
-If you're Secretary of State, you probably shouldn't take Molly (the pill) as an emergency can pop up at a moment's notice.
-Pay attention to Andy Serkis in the flesh.
-How did gay marriage cause global warming exactly, we all want to know.
-It is nice seeing a film discuss the environment.
-Two proms are never a good idea.
-The only inconsistency in the film is that sometimes Lance wears a wedding ring, other times he does not. I know I'm nitpicking.
The main plot revolves around the regal Secretary of State Charlotte Field (a brilliant Charlize Theron) who learns that the President, former TV star Chambers (Bob Odenkirk) won't run for President again as he's trying to break into films, not many have made that leap so he's endorsing her.
In an effort to increase her humor factor, Charlotte hires her former neighbor and recently fired liberal journalist, Fred Flarsky (a great Seth Rogen, if still his typical role). Despite the odds and poles, they form a relationship of a sexual nature, and while the film is about that, it is also about how Charlotte tries to do good, working relentlessly to make that happen, only to have sacrifice it as her boss's boss (that's right, the President is being controlled by someone else) doesn't want the trees to be saved. And it's because she's a woman, that is why she needs to make the sacrifice.
Fortunately, the film has a happy ending, not just for the characters but for the country as well, which is such a relief.
Given the current climate, this film is a breath of fresh air, portraying it with humor while pointing at the blatant problems and showing us that there are no easy solutions. And the film just works, with the main characters truly getting underneath the skin of their vastly different characters and the supporting characters are also brilliant, with the standout being O'Shea Jackson, Jr as Fred's college friend, Lance, supportive and successful in his own right but isn't afraid to call Fred out for being narrow-minded. He's just the best. June Diane Raphael also shines as the cold-hearted bitch and handler for Charlotte. Alexander Skarsgaard (whose just in everything) is also good as the Canadian Prime Minister who may or may not be a jackass.
Regardless of politics, go see this film. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-That jacket Seth Rogen wears throughout needs to go.
-If you're Secretary of State, you probably shouldn't take Molly (the pill) as an emergency can pop up at a moment's notice.
-Pay attention to Andy Serkis in the flesh.
-How did gay marriage cause global warming exactly, we all want to know.
-It is nice seeing a film discuss the environment.
-Two proms are never a good idea.
-The only inconsistency in the film is that sometimes Lance wears a wedding ring, other times he does not. I know I'm nitpicking.
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