Mr. Jones (2020)

 Gareth Jones is probably not a name you've heard of before, but you should remember him.

Despite the adverse odds, he tells the truth about Stalin's Ukraine and how wretched the country was, starving child after starving child, dead bodies in the road and only two bits of food per person per day even though he is discredited by a Pulitzer winner. 

Portrayed by James Norton, Jones is fearless, escaping from his Soviet handler and seeing the real 1934 Ukraine where there is plenty of grain but none of it is for the people who grew but is rather shipped to Moscow where there is enemy suppression and it is difficult to express your own opinion. 

The film is incredibly bleak, with its stark cinematography and intense score but where it fails is that it juxtapositions clips of George Orwell's Animal Farm, as Gareth's truth is the basis for that book. I feel that that gave the film an odd feel and served as the framework for this film. Unfortunately, Gareth didn't get a happy ending, he was killed in 1935 after his tour guide turned on him. Which is just a shame, more people needed the scruples of Gareth to make this world a better place. Grade: B+ 

Side Notes:

-Vanessa Kirby's character, Ada Brooks, is a bit of an odd character, she writes in Moscow but doesn't trust her handler anymore but isn't as brave as Gareth. Their kiss scene is incredibly awkward.

-Eating tree bark is disgusting and a poor excuse for a meal. 

-Why does Stalin want his people to starve? They have worth. 

-Gareth watches a living child get picked up and placed in a dead pile. I wasn't upset that he didn't try to save the child, then again, he probably couldn't have done much but still. 

His Girl Friday (1940)

This film takes a bizarre topic and turns into a screwball comedy loaded with dialogue. 

A man is set to be executed for shooting a police officer while he was (or wasn't) insane. But Walter Burns (Cary Grant) just doesn't want to lose his ex-wife, Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) so he contrives her to write the story. 

Despite the excellence of the plot, and Hildy as a strong character, Walter, is downright wretched, having Bruce (Ralph Bellamy) write a life insurance policy and then has him robbed, picked up by a fake prostitute and given fake money. So he's a jerk but this film shows how important making a difference is to Hildy. 

Still, the acting and timing is impeccable, and the story is fascinating, despite the blatant plot holes. I mean, is convicted killer Earl Williams (John Qualen) really going to stay quiet in that desk for as long as he does while the action happens all around him, please, I don't believe that for a second. And the governor gave the convicted murderer a last minute and the mayor (Clarence Kolb) tries to do away with the reprieve. Too bad this film is dated, as it is a gem. Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Of note, the police officer killed was 'colored', yet there are no African American roles in the film. 

-Cary Grant does have one of the best lines, "He looks like that actor fellow, Ralph Bellamy," when he is actually Ralph Bellamy. That line almost made the film worth it. 

Dave (1993)

 This film is ridiculous, never could happen in real life but I certainly wish it could kind of film. 

The American President, Bill Mitchell (the lovable Kevin Kline) is an asshole, cheating on his lovely wife, Ellen (Sigourney Weaver), no coincidence, with that name. But more than that, he's corrupt, guilty of several crimes and cares about no one but himself, not even his cute corgis. But then, by some bizarre twist of fate, the secret service tracks down Dave Kovic (also Kevin Kline) who runs a temp agency and seems to beloved by all to be a fake President as he just so happens to be a lookalike. President Mitchell, instead of fulfilling his duties that he was elected to do, goes off to have sex with his mistress (Laura Linney) but instead, has a near fatal stroke. 

With machinations of his own, President Mitchell's Chief of Staff, Bob Alexander (Frank Langella), decides to let Dave continue to 'playing' the President so he can undermine both the President and the VP, Gary Nance (Ben Kingsley), outing them as part of the scandal involving campaign finance so he can become President. 

However, things don't exactly turn out like they've planned. The First Lady figures out that something has happened to her husband and Dave enlists his accountant friend to help solve saving some homeless shelters and then he decides to find a job for every American who wants a job. Naturally, he also forces Bob to resign which backfires but Dave comes up with a back-up plan, and fakes having a stroke so he can go back to his regular life, which is more or less what happens.

Yes, this is a bizarre love story as Dave falls in love Ellen who is far too good for Bill but it also a story of what a President should be, someone who actually cares for the American people, which is so different from what we currently have, some humanity and decency in the office. Despite the numerous laws broken, I wish this could happen in real life. Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-The VP really had nothing better to do than do go to Africa for a goodwill mission?

-Until Dave mentioned it, I thought he was a pro-bono attorney.

-I also found it surprising that Dave had been married but it didn't stick. He seems too nice for someone to have left him. 

Ford v Ferrari (2019)

 This film is a stylish, lavish but lengthy production.

Detailing the year in which Ford Company, led by Tracy Letts, is hellbent to beat Ferrari after a deal between the two companies falls apart. Ford uses its vast wealth to hire Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) to design a car to beat Ferrari and he enlists his best but temperamental driver, Ken Miles (Christian Bale) to help and race for Ford. 

So they set off, and there are setbacks mostly because Ford doesn't trust Ken and Carroll to do the jobs they hired them to do and of course, they have to accomplish the impossible, designing a car that can last for twenty-four hours at an incredibly high speed. It isn't easy but they do manage to succeed, only Ford doesn't want Ken to race because Ken isn't the biggest fan of Fords and isn't the greatest team player and isn't one to shy away from voicing his opinions. So Ford isn't a huge fan of Ken's despite him being the best man for the job. 

But they manage to beat Ferrari by figuring out how to completely change the brake system in the pits, so while the victory should be sweet, Ken loses on a technicality. The ending, though is painfully sad but shows how strong the friendship between the two of them is, which is ultimately what this film is all about, loyalty. 

Despite the length, which certainly could have been trimmed down, the screenplay is great, allowing the characters plenty of time to breath and develop their fully fleshed out characters. And the art direction is impeccable. This film shows Damon and Bale at the top of their game.Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-There are good supporting performances from Josh Lucas, Jon Bernthal, Noah Jupe and Caitriona Balfe. 

-Also of note, only one African American gets screen time and he has no lines. 

-We never learn what brings the Miles family to America. 

A Cry in the Dark (1988)

 You really should have zipped up that tent, Meryl. It likely would have saved you a bunch of problems and your baby might still be alive. 

From the moment Lindy Chamberlain (Meryl Streep) screeches "That dingo's got my baby," everything is under scrutiny. The media instantly takes everything the Chamberlains say and twists it, turning them into the villains of their own story, First, they are found to have no involvement in baby Azalea's death, but then the case is reopened and Lindy is put on trial. What ensues is one of the great courtroom dramas of all time. 

Despite not having a body, some of Azalea's clothes are uncovered and the crude forensics of the 1980s determine that it isn't likely a dingo is responsible for Azalea's death but the timeline and method proclaimed, that Lindy slit her daughter's throat with sewing scissors in a limited time frame, with her elder son by her side is completely ridiculous, she is nevertheless found guilty and gives birth to her second daughter behind bars. 

While Streep and Sam Neill's performance carries the film, it is also an interesting character study of how the Chamberlains rely on their faith to get them through this impossible time. They have both supporters and adversaries. The film shows random people reacting to how the trial is going. I feel that this should have never gone to trial and should have been chalked up as a tragic accident. Fortunately, the screenplay is tight and Streep and Neill have never been better. And it forces you to think how could an entire country condemn the couple for the disappearance of Azalea? Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Props given to including the part where the nurse gives Lindy pills and a pump to dry up her milk. Breastfeeding is not something enough films discuss.

-Sam Neill's character, Michael, is an odd duck, breaking down on the stand, not comprehending the questions asked. He also doesn't seem supportive of Lindy during her pregnancy, but he loves her deeply and refuses her request to divorce her if she is convicted.