Hit Man (2024)

Pros: This was a truly solid film that kept my attention, no small feat these days. Glen Powell finally has a great leading man role and he takes full advantage of it (which is good, considering he co-wrote the screenplay). The leading man shows incredible range and the plot is also fascinating as he goes from intelligent, mild-mannered and ultimately boring. He's an avid birder and has two cats (that only makes him more attractive to me) and then, his side hustle goes sideways. He starts to go undercover as a hitman, getting people to confess and recording the whole thing, his arrest record is through the roof, until he meets Madison Figueroa Masters ( Adria Arjona) whom he gradually falls in love with. While never said, it is obvious her husband is controlling and potentially abusive but this it is this relationship that threatens to unravel everything.

Cons: The confrontation scene is a bit oddly staged and adds a weird comedic moment to this film. And while this is based on a true story, the actual Gary Johnson was born in the late 40s but they pulled this film into modern times; still, this are only minor problems.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-This film had a happy ending and actual epilogue which I love.

-Unlike a lot of films, the supporting cast is thin though Retta is a standout, as she always brings it. The screenplay carries this film, not the cast, though the leads are great.

-Gary eventually becomes a dog person.

-I wonder what his workout routine is as you never see it, just him feeding his cats and eating alone, not even in front of the TV.

-Seeing three pileated woodpeckers at once is literally my mother's dream. 

-All pie is good pie. 

Challengers (2024)

 I'm back and beware of the spoilers.

Pros: This is a slick film with some truly shocking plot twists and groundbreaking camera angles. In what is essentially a three-person drama, each actor delivers some of the best work of their career with Zendaya leading the way as Tashi Duncan, one of the best young tennis stars in the world only to suffer a career-ending knee injury and settles for coaching one of her love interests, Art Donaldson (West Side Story's Mike Faist) who loves her far more than she could ever love him. Lurking in the background is Patrick Zweig (Josh O'Connor) whose promising tennis career has floundered so much that he's resorted to sleeping in his car. But it's his returned presence that breaks the fragile eco-system that is the Donaldson marriage. 

Cons: Despite the excellent performances, the viewer is fed only breadcrumbs about their pasts and don't fully understand their motivations, especially the cold ruthlessness of Tashi when her parents remain actively involved in her life, her mother basically raising Tashi's daughter. And that cliffhanger of an ending is such a wicked thing to do to the audience but it still remains unforgettable and packs a powerful punch.

Recommend: Probably

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-The plot twist is actually a two-fold, one is that Tashi tells Art she'll leave him if he loses the simple match and then backhands and asks Patrick to lose on purpose, and then sleeps with Patrick anyway. And then during the match, Patrick uses the secret simple used when they were younger to indicate to Art that he slept with Tashi, leading to an epic match point.

-I'm grateful that Lily's paternity to appears to fall in Art's court, no pun intended.

-Zendaya is just the latest Spiderman actress to play a tennis star later on, joining the ranks of Kirsten Dunst and Emma Stone.

-That wind storm is epically wild and quite realistic with all the trash blowing around.

-I would like to know why Tashi married Art. 

Poor Things (2023)

 Pros: Emma Stone delivers another brilliant, transcendent performance as Bella Baxter, a woman who attempts suicide to flee her almost comically cruel husband, Alfie (Christopher Abbott) but instead is found by the experimental doctor, Godwin Baxter (Willem Dafoe) and her unborn daughter's brain is placed inside her own head. The film details her growth, learning more words and how the world works, in addition to discovering what makes her happy. Sure, the film takes some odd turns but it is oddly feminist and shows true genuine character growth.

Cons: Margaret Qualley is completely wasted as another science experiment for Dr. Baxter. Sure, she's good in her few scenes but she's too good of an actress for such a small role. 

Recommend: Yes, though trigger warnings should be included

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Mark Ruffalo is great as the buffoon who somehow apparently develops actual feelings for Bella and is livid when she rejects him. He's the closest character is a villain in this film. 

-Ramy Youssef is the opposite as the gentle-hearted genuine Mr. Max, Dr. Godwin's protégé. 

-The film begins in black and white but changes to an odd color pigment.

-The film also has great mechanics, great score, editing, mise-en-scene, set decoration and cinematography. 

9 to 5 (1980)

 Pros: Well, the cast is solid and you can tell that they such a good time with the material, such as it is. And it does deal with still relevant topics, including sexism in the workplace. 

Cons: While the film started off, it took a crazy turn, including the office mole, Roz (Elizabeth Wilson) uncovering that Violet (Lily Tomlin) accidentally poisoned the nasty and cruel boss, Franklin Hart (Dabney Coleman) when that isn't why he was injured and thus, a crazy amount of blackmail and law breaking on both sides occurs. I wanted Hart to be destroyed, I didn't want them to break the laws and be so cruel in the process.

Recommend: Maybe

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-Judy's (Jane Fonda's) ending of marrying the Xerox salesman is supposed to be funny but it rings hollow.

-Dolly Parton is great and her fantasy of getting back at Mr. Hart is the best as it really turns the table on him. 

Next Goal Wins (2023)

 Pros: This film features a prominent transgender character: Jaiyah (Kaimana) who clashes with coach Thomas Rongen (Michael Fassbender) from the very start. While somewhat square, this film is nonetheless worth watching as it tells a story that deserves to be told. Dubbed the bad boy of soccer and dealing with an unspeakable grief, Thomas is fired from his job in the US and forced to either face unemployment or journey to American Samoa to coach that team who rank as the worst team on Earth. But they have the support of the entire island country and while Thomas doesn't understand the customs of the island, including stopping daily to pray and attend church each Sunday but he does learn and also gets the team to utilize their skills and come together as a team and yes, they do eventually score a goal, two actually to win the game.

Cons: There's not really a true con, though the only plot twist is a tragic one and I just feel that the film wasn't suspenseful enough for the final game. And I honestly thought it could have benefitted from being a bit longer, to allow for more character development. And Sia's song Chandelier wasn't around until a few years after the film took place as the film was set in 2011. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Elisabeth Moss is Thomas's estranged wife but she's wasted in the film. Ditto for Will Arnett.

-The film was filmed in late 2019 and only just now was finally released. 

-This is also the second time Elisabeth Moss has had an onscreen daughter named Nicole, the first being in The Handmaid's Tale. 

-It is unclear if Michael Fassbender's character is supposed to be British as he does speak with an American accent. 

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)

 Pros: Honestly, it was hard to find a truly good aspect of this film though the acting was at least palatable, though the characters just seemed slightly disjointed and didn't mesh together as well as they needed. 

Cons: The film was pointless, Oskar (Thomas Horn) is sent on a journey only to have it end helping someone else instead, he's no closer to getting closure after his father's (Tom Hanks's) death and the twist of having the mute Renter (Max von Sydow) as his grandfather was predictable and even having Sandra Bullock's Linda uncover the truth rang hollow. 

Recommend: No

Grade: C+

Side Notes:

-Despite the supporting being solid, including Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright and John Goodman, there was no saving this film.

-The idea that a sixth borough existed in New York is not the worst idea but it is poorly addressed in this film.

-It is never explained why a jeweler had a meeting in the World Trade Center on a Tuesday morning. 

Umbrellas of Cherbourg (1964)

 Pros: While trite, this film tells a story of young love and loss. Genevieve (Catherine Denueve) is young and deeply in love with Guy (Nino Castelnuovo) only to have him leave to fulfill his mandatory military service. Genevieve feels as though she's going to die and her mother (Anne Vernon) is not sympathetic, having her own struggles to worry as their umbrella shop is in financial straights, only to be saved, in more ways than one by jeweler Roland (Marc Michel) especially after Genevieve reveals that she's pregnant and Guy can't come back to make her an honest woman. I also give the film credit for actually showing Genevieve visibly pregnant something that was quite rare in Hollywood at the film, though this is a French film. The tearful reunion is also incredibly memorable. The acting is great along with the brightly colored set.

Cons: While not a traditional musical, all the dialogue is simplified slightly and sung which is rather annoying and I can't help but feel the subtitles simplified the dialogue even more.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Guy ends up marrying his invalid aunt's caretaker, Madeleine (Ellen Farner) despite knowing the truth about him having a child with another woman.

-The third half focuses on Guy getting his shit together and marrying Madeleine while I feel given that Genevieve was so much of the focus for the first two parts, the film should have continued to focus on her and her marriage to the utterly devoted Roland, but maybe the film decided to focus on the guy's point of view though I feel it fails to truly show Guy's true emotions.

-Both Guy and Genevieve end up naming their firstborns the French version of Frankie, Genevieve's is a daughter while Guy and Madeleine have a son. 

-No wonder the store is in financial straights, it only sells umbrellas. 

Suncoast (2024)

 Pros: This film deals with a teen sick of caring for her dying brother and uses her freedom to her advantage, finally acting like a typical teenager only to have regrets at the eleventh hour. Though based on a true story, set against a story which made national headlines, the film has a lot going on and while it deals with it well, considering human euthanasia is a touchy subject, but Doris (Nico Parker) is just blinded by her own childhood being robbed, she doesn't seem to care about her brother. Still, this film is good, with solid performances and a great set, it just could have been a whole lot better.

 Cons: You don't know the sick brother's name (Max) or Mom's (Kristine's) name until the film is basically over, which bothers me constantly and Doris's friends sometimes seem genuine and other times don't, so I guess they are typical teenagers but I just feel the film could have been so much more.

Recommend: Maybe

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-Laura Linney is great as a foul-mouthed, hell-bent determined mother to ease her son's passing, but she neglects her healthy, living child in the process. 

-Woody Harrelson is also great as one of the protestors.

-Though I remember this case, the film doesn't mention that Terry Schiavo does end up dying nor does it discuss the importance of a living will.

-For the record, while I'm terrified of dying, I do not wish to be a vegetable for decades on end. 

Rye Lane (2023)

 Pros: While this is ultimately a rom-com and has so many of the traditional tropes, it still manages to feel fresh, from the meet-cute between Yas (Vivian Orapah) and Dom (David Jonnson), who are as different as two people can be and both are dealing with the aftermath of a rough break-up for each of them, but they are drawn together nevertheless. The screenplay is clever and the two leads are brilliant and it isn't overly long so it's like goldilocks, it's just right.

Cons: It does start off weird, with some bizarre flashbacks or memories personified, but you eventually get used to it and those grand romantic gestures just don't happen in real life but it sure makes a good film.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-Colin Firth makes a cameo appearance, it's great.

-Meeting each other forces the leads to grow-up which is so sweet.

-When asked Yas describes her relationship with Dom as low-key screwing, which is utterly hilarious.

-It is never appropriate to save your urine in old wine bottles.

The Holdovers (2023)

 Pros: This film is top-notch from top to bottom, even though Paul Giamatti's character is a wretched sod of a human being, though he does redeem himself by the end. He portrays with brilliance Paul Hunham, a history and ancient civilizations teacher whom no one likes; he's tough on his students, sometimes fair but way too strict but he's livid that he's in charge of the left behinds over Christmas break, though eventually, it's just Angus Tully (Dominic Sasso) left as his mother picks her new husband over her teenager son along with head cook, Mary (Da'vine Joy Randolph, superb). Together, they have some interesting adventures and learn fascinating truths about each other and grow as people. The screenplay is great along with a truly realistic setting along with pitch-perfect performances, this film is undoubtedly one of the best of the year.

Cons: Honestly, there isn't a true con, despite all the smoking which was unfortunately, realistic as the film is set in 1970 though it does take you a little bit to figure out that Lydia Crane (Carrie Preston) is a secretary. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes: 

-Mary is actually a great cook, making the most with a little but she's also in deep mourning, her only son was killed in Vietnam as he couldn't afford to go to college and thus missed out on a deferment. 

-Ironically both Paul and Angus are nearly the same person as both had rotten and depressing childhoods. 

-Paul's book idea is actually a monograph on ancient cameras.

-Kids shouldn't get a free ride even if their parents are rich. 

Dumb Money (2023)

 Pros: This film deals with stocks and finances during the darkest days of the pandemic and actually truly captures what the pandemic was like, including most, save the super rich, don masks to prevent the spread of the disease. And that's not the only thing that the rich seemed exempt from, getting prosecuted from being charged with crimes despite ganging up on each other to shut down websites and prevent GameStop stock from being bought, which has got to be all sorts of illegal. This film details the resilience of those hard-working people, determined not to let Wall Street executives win.

Cons: Despite the screenplay explaining the financial terms well, investing money still confuses me and the whole concept of dumb money is still muddled. Still, the film is solid.

Recommend: Probably

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-The cast is brilliant and stacked with talent from top to bottom with Paul Dano leading the way, Pete Davidson as his brother, Shailene Woodley as his wife, Kate Burton and Clancy Brown as his parents and then there's America Ferrera as the hard-working nurse, Anthony Ramos as the actual Game Stop worker who hates his mask, and then Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman, Sebastian Stan and Vincent D'Onofrio as the rich executives.

-Vincent D'Onofrio's character has a pot-bellied pig that follows him around his estate.

-DoorDash driver's should not eat the food they are delivering.

-We don't know what happens Paul Dano's character or any of them really, except the executives, who lose money but not are not publicly charged with anything. However, they will still pay for their poor actions.  

Maestro (2023)

 Pros: Fabulous performances from Carey Mulligan and Bradley Cooper ground this film which covers the vast majority of Leonard Bernstein's celebrated career though he often expressed longing to compose more scores. His wife, Felicia (Mulligan) also had her own career as she was a stage and television actress in attention to juggling their three children and Leonard's (Cooper's) various affairs, usually with men, often a sticking point in their marriage, though she knew about that going in. Still, Leonard adored his wife and mourned her death until his own more than a decade later. The story is also told in an unconventional way, going from scene to scene almost like a stage play at times. The film is solid from top to bottom and the score is especially good considering Bernstein's one of the best composers of the twenty-first century.

Cons: Unsure as I was sick when I watched this, so I'm not sure if there really is a solid con, though the ending was rather abrupt. 

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The solid supporting cast includes Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Michael Urie (as Jerry Robbins) and Miriam Shor. 

-Out of all the children, only Jamie, the eldest, has a solid role, the other two are background dressing.

-Though both are chain smokers, Felicia actually dies of breast cancer, in a very realistic portrayal of the wretched disease. 

-In addition, Leonard does other sorts of drugs. 

-Still, his talent shines through all of his risky behaviors. 

The Iron Claw (2023)

 Pros: Finally, Zac Efron is in a good film with a leading role worthy of showcasing his acting chops. He portrays the only surviving Von Erich brother, in a large wrestling family headed by a father, Jack (Holt McCallany) whose methods are unconventional at best and cruel and abusive at worst. The film deals with a lot of years and the rises and falls of the various brothers and how Kevin overcomes the curse that haunts the family and it certainly haunts them. I don't believe in curses, instead, you have controlling and unsympathetic father who informs his surviving sons not to cry at David's (Harris Dickinson's) funeral as men don't cry. There is also the lovely romance between Kevin and his eventual wife, Pam (Lily James, who again transforms into an utterly realistic character).

Cons: You don't know how Jack comes to be involved in marketing and getting wrestling matches on TV and then you learn much too late in the film at how he's cooking the books when Kevin's money issues come into light. His father threatens to disown him if he sells the business but you don't know if he follows through on that threat, though he probably did, knowing him. The epilogue doesn't mention that the parents, Jack and Doris (Maura Tierney) do eventually get divorced and I feel that you needed that.

Recommend: Probably

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-In reality, there were six Von Erich boys, the film eliminates one of them, who ended up also dying by suicide. 

-Three of the Von Erich boys would die from suicide, though Kerry (Jeremy Allen White) had a foot amputated due to a nasty motorcycle accident and then, Michael (Stanley Simons) suffers a shoulder injury and nearly dies during surgery only to recover with a permanent brain injury. David dies of natural causes undoubtedly caused by constantly being beaten up in the rink. He has a ruptured intestine, which has got to be a dreadful way to go.

-In reality, Kevin and Pam have two daughters first and then their boys though the film indicates the opposite. David's daughter died of SIDS but Kerry had two daughters, one of whom would follow in her father's footsteps into the ring. 

-Pam states that she wants to become a vet and it appears that does happen, based on her scrubs and the amount of dogs crammed into that tiny apartment. 

-It is shocking that Jack would have ever touched the clarinet much less coming close to getting a scholarship to college for music but he gave that up, obviously and doesn't like when his wife brings up that he was ever soft. 

Saltburn (2023)

 Pros: Barry Keoghan gives the performance of his life (so far) as the extremely intelligent Oliver Quick who develops an infatuation with the hot and wealthy Felix (Jacob Elordi) and he eventually worms his way into Felix's family, the vain and shallow Elspeth (Rosamund Pike) and the foolish James (Richard E. Grant) and then there's sister, Venetia (Alison Oliver) who is probably the only decent character in the film. The film is slow moving and semi-unpredictable, though also incredibly bizarre and then comes the last roughly five minutes of the film which confirms (or at least confirmed mine) your suspicions and leaves you wondering if you should watch the film again. 

Cons: Though Promising Young Woman is a revelation, a brilliant piece from Emerald Fennell, this one falls short at packing the same relevant, emotional punch even though it does contain the same sort of twisty ending. Justice is not served in this film and it leaves you hollow.

Recommend: Maybe

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-The set is opulent and over the top.

-The scene and reaction after Felix's body is found is especially disturbing. 

-While eventually the Catton dies off, one by one, the family friend, Farleigh (Archie Madekwe), his fate remains unknown.

-It is never explained how Felix gets away with murdering the whole family, sans James, especially since he tears tubes out of Elspeth's throat.

-The ending is rather rushed. 

-It is also unclear why Oliver lies about his family, other than to gain sympathy but that turns into a disaster. 

-There is also an especially bizarre scene involving Venetia's period blood.

Theater Camp (2023)

 Pros: Filled with quirky, bordering on unrealistic characters, this film's message might have been countless times before, but it remains as effective as ever. Packed with great performances, this film details a dying summer theater camp for those hopeful to make it big time though most just want to feel like they have a place to belong. However, this year, the camp is in danger of folding as the owner, Joan (Amy Sedaris) remains in a coma following a seizure and her son, aspiring business mogul, Troy (Jimmy Tatro) takes over. Troy has no clue about theater or why it matters but his transformation as he watches a show portraying his mother's life, his whole perspective changes and it's wonderful to see. 

Cons: While there are tons of characters with decent arcs and great acting, there are just too many of them, especially the children for them to be truly fleshed out and it also plays it safe, with only minimal drama between the campers. And when Joan wakes up from her coma, she's wide awake instantly, which is beyond unrealistic. Still, overall, the film was incredibly enjoyable.

Grade: B

Side Notes:

-The cast is amazing and most of the main characters also wrote and directed the film: Noah Galvin, Molly Gordon, Ben Platt, Caroline Aaron, Patti Harrison, Nathan Lee Graham and Ayo Edebiri.

-Edebiri's character turns out to be a talent agent in a failed attempt at a funny plot twist.

-The original show on Joan's life comes together quickly but perfectly.

-Pay attention to the airbnb guest.

Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret

 Pros: I loved this book when I was younger, now over two decades ago and Kelly Fremon Craig delivers a great adaptation, though yes, liberties are taken, scenes and dialogue cut and the mother's (Rachel McAdam's) role expanded but the result is still great and so many of the themes and scenes are timeless and Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret is a true star. The set and acting is flawless.

Cons: Despite some of the scenes being verbatim, plenty remains left out though it does seem to remain insignificant at the end of the day, though I do think a vital scene formally ending things with Nancy (Elle Graham) and Margaret might have been needed. And there is the inconsistency of Herb's (Benny Safdie's) bandaged hand which seems to heal so quickly.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: B+

Side Notes:

-All the young actors are great and kudos for the realistic diversity.

-This film deals with puberty realistically but doesn't stray from the religious aspect, so important throughout the novel and something that is rarely dealt with so effectively today. 

-Kathy Bates is great as the devoted grandmother who stuck by her son's side.

-Now, most don't put such emphasis on religion, I mean, disowning your child because she married a Jew, that's just ridiculous. 

-Periods suck, I mean, it is great to get yours, at first, but that feeling doesn't last long at all. They're a huge pain. 

May December (2023)

 Pros: This film delivers three of the best performances I've seen in recent memory. Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) is an actress who arrives in the picturesque Savannah, Georgia to meet with and study Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore) who is clearly and blatantly based on Mary Kay Letoureau, who had an affair with a teenager while she was in her thirties. Yet, Joe (Charlie Melton) claims that he's not the victim for the vast majority of the film. However, Elizabeth's presence disrupts the delicate family dynamic who may seem happy, but that's only on the surface. The film gently peels the complex layers of this film and Portman delivers one of the best monologues of the year as Gracie. Melton is also a revelation and Moore continues to deliver great performance after great performance.

Cons: While there aren't any true cons, the opening credits are a bit odd and the music is a bit jarring at times, and the nuanced screenplay is just so meta, it's honestly annoying, but with that powerhouse, yet subtle ending, this film will force you to think for hours on end.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The couple's oldest daughter, born behind bars, is ironically named Honor (Piper Curda).

-You have to wonder how Gracie's first husband, Tom (D.W. Moffett) feels that her children with her second husband share his last name. The kids have the hyphenated Atherton-Yoo as their last name.

-The couple clearly had to sell their wedding pictures to pay for that giant house when she's a baker and he's an x-ray technician.

-Also ironically, Gracie has her twins graduating from high school the same year as her eldest grandson. Yeah, that's got to be weird.

-Gracie claims throughout the course of this film that she's both naïve (obviously) but also quite secure. You can't be both. And she's not secure as she comments how brave daughter Mary (Elizabeth Yu) is at wearing a dress that shows her bare arms. She also passes down the tradition of buying her daughters a scale when they graduate from high school, just as her mother did for her. 

-One of Gracies's sons from her first marriage, Georgie (Cory Michael Smith) claims that her brothers sexually molested her when she was a tween, but Gracie adamantly disputes that. Personally, I think that that's very possible, given how she saw nothing wrong with having sex with a thirteen-year-old.

-Another claim of dubious origin is that Joe slept with two other women before her. I can't believe that to be true.

-It is never discussed who raised the children while Gracie was still behind bars and how Joe dealt with fatherhood at such a young age.

-The ending leaves you wondering as Elizabeth insists on filming that crappy seduction scene again as it's starting to feel real. I wonder if this is setting her up to having an affair with the young man portraying Joe in the film, I hope not, because it appears that Elizabeth does actually know right from wrong but she's such a good actress, she's now inhibiting Gracie. 

Rustin (2023)

 Pros: Once again, this film details a hidden part of history, one not taught in schools (or at least not when I was a child, some two decades ago). Bayard Rustin (Colman Domingo) is the man who not only comes with the idea of the March on Washington, he is also leading the charge of organizing everything. However, he's a polarizing figure in the NAACP community as he's both a homosexual and a former Communist. Still, thanks to Domingo's mesmerizing performance and tight screenplay, this film is well worth your time.

Cons: Honestly, there isn't a true con with this film either, which is a good thing, as the film is great, with a good score, tight editing and great scenery. I suppose the only nitpick is that you don't know what sort of job Rustin gets after resigning from the NAACP.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A

Side Notes: The supporting cast is great and includes Jeffrey Wright, Glynn Turman, Audra McDonald, CCH Pounder, Bill Irwin, Adrienne Warren, Chris Rock (with the gray hairs) and as the indominable Mahalia Jackson, Da'Vine Joy McDonald.

-Johnny Ramey stars as the young preacher Elias Taylor, who struggles with his sexuality as he is married to the lovely Claudia, who starts out as worshipping Rustin but quickly grows toward hatred as her husband's truth comes out. Ramey gives an inspired performance, one worth of an Oscar nomination. 

-Rustin was raised Quaker and preaches non-violence.

-Aml Ameen is Martin Luther King, Jr. 

-Peanut butter and jelly holds up better than cheese. 

-The March on Washington was the largest peaceful march in DC to date, the statistics will not change given the current political climate. 

Past Lives (2023)

 Pros: Essentially a three person drama, this film details the week Nora's (Greta Lee) old childhood friend from Korea, Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) visits New York, complicated by her husband, Arthur (John Magaro). While it is obvious that Hae Sung and Nora are soul mates, she remains faithful and he doesn't push the issue. Sure, the film is a bit melancholy and near maudlin, but it is also mesmerizing and the score is haunting complete with great performances, realistic and authentic. 

Cons: Honestly, there is a true con, even though the film is simple and moves at a snails pace, it is still breathtaking, and except for a bit of Korean curse words, it is also reasonably family friendly.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-Nora is a playwright and Hae Sung is some sort of engineer.

-For some reason, Nora's green card is set to expire which is one of the reasons why she marries Arthur as soon as she does.

-In Korea, they have a term for people who randomly meet, believing that they've likely met in their past lives. 

-The ending is haunting, with Nora sobbing into Arthur's shoulders.

Killers of the Flower Moon (2023)

 Pros: This film might deal with a seldom mentioned aspect of American History, one that I never learned about in either high school or college, despite being a history minor, which just proved how incomplete the history books are. Leonardo DiCaprio shines as Ernest Burkhart a World War I vet who goes out of Oklahoma and unwillingly gets intertwined in his uncle's (Robert De Niro's) diabolical and pure evil plan. They live on Native American (referred to a the old-fashioned term Indian throughout the film) land and struck it rich when oil was discovered. While Ernest meets Mollie (Lily Gladstone) on his own, he marries her and then plots to have her sisters killed so all the money will go to him and his children. DiCaprio is a marvel, showing vast range and Gladstone is a revelation. The film might be overstuffed and long but it should be required viewing for high schoolers. The film is top-notch from top to bottom and shows an incredible attention to detail with flawless editing, cinematography, set decoration and score. 

Cons: While the intro is brilliant, what I don't understand is why Mollie had to run by her expenses by an attorney and yes, there are too many characters, especially white men but these are only small problems in an overall brilliant film.

Recommend: Yes

Grade: A-

Side Notes:

-The supporting cast is solid and includes Jesse Plemons and then in near cameo roles Brendan Fraser, Tantoo Cardinal and John Lithgow.

-While Ernest claims that he loves his wife and I certainly think that he does, if he really loved her, he wouldn't poison her with tainted insulin or have her sisters murdered.

-When Ernest hears of his youngest daughter's death, he does breakdown, proving that he has a heart, buried underneath all that greed. 

-While this book is supposed also describe the birth of the FBI, that isn't really detailed in the film though it appears that they are first group to finally succeed in getting to the bottom of what was going on as others tried and failed, due to intervention from Bill Hale (De Niro). 

-Mollie does eventually divorce Ernest and remarries but still dies young due to her diabetes. 

-This cast also includes two singers: Jason Isbell and Sturgill Simpson in prominent roles.