Despite its predictability and cop-out ending, this film is brilliant.
Joseph Castleman (Jonathan Pryce) is one of the most beloved and praised authors in the country and now, he has won the Nobel Prize for literature, and travels to Stockholm to collect. Though he is not the only one being honored, he is the only one who has an entourage. Accompanying him is his long-suffering wife, Joan (the magnificent Glenn Close), whom he lavishes praises on though she insists on him not even wanting him to thank her during his acceptance speech.
Also coming is their son, David (Max Irons, great) who is a young writer who shows promise and rebuffs his mother's praise, wanting only his father to tell him that he's good. And he still smokes despite Joseph insisting that he stop. And there is also his wannabe biographer, Nathaniel (Christian Slater) who does his research.
The film also details the beginnings of Joe's and Joan's relationship, which began when Joan (now portrayed by Annie Starke) was one of Joe's (now Manhattan's Harry Lloyd's) students. For whatever reason, she falls in love with him, drawing him away from his current wife and young daughter and cultivating his extreme love of writing. The scene that sets the whole plot into motion is when Joe and Joan attend an oral reading from a female author of Elaine Mozell and she promptly puts an end to Joan's hopes and dreams, saying that she will never be taken seriously or become a famous author because she's not a man. And this is 1958, apparently Edna Ferber, Pearl Buck and Laura Ingalls Wilder meant nothing.
The truth comes out slowly as the relationship falls apart, in the present time of 1992, when the main plot occurs. She smokes when she shouldn't, he eats too much when he's had past heart attacks and they bicker but reunite when daughter, Susanna (Alix Wilton Regan) gives birth.
It isn't until Joe emphatically thanks Joan during his speech that she returns back to the fancy hotel and starts shoving clothes into her suitcase; she's finally going to leave him. Only she doesn't, he suffers a fatal heart attack.
On the flight home, just before the film ends, Joan warns Nathaniel that if he sullies her husband's name, she'll sue and promises David that she will sit both of them down and tell them the truth.
Despite the issues with it, like how and why does Joan fall in love with Joe? And the fact that Joe's a jerk and acts put upon when he was the one cooking dinner and caring for the children while Joan wrote away, is no catch but nevertheless, she sometimes worships the ground he walks on. And it was too predictable that the book and script simply kills off Joe at the end. But Joan remains ridiculously loyal past the grave. The truth could have come out. Nathaniel would have backed her up, but she chose to honor his memory and she scarified all her dreams for his. She loved him more than she loved herself.
Though Close plays a character who puts the suffering on herself, she is brilliant with her face a glass into her emotions. She better get another Oscar nomination for this as she is breathtaking. The performances make the film and each actor is excellent and none more so than Close. She is what makes this film memorable and superb. Grade: A-
Monday, September 24, 2018
Monday, September 3, 2018
The Miseducation of Cameron Post (2018)
It is 1993 and two girls are found making out in a car leads to one being forced into a religious, gay conversation camp.
Cameron (Chloe Grace Moretz) is the film's heroine, however, she isn't a particularly strong or even interesting character until the final act. At times, she states she wants to get 'better' while not trying to give in the experimental methods used.
Rick (John Gallagher, Jr.) is one of the founders and claims that he used to struggle with same-sex attraction but is now 'cured', and his sister, Dr. Lydia Marsh (a Nazi-like Jennifer Ehle) is the on-site therapist, but in reality neither have any idea what they are doing.
Some kids, like Erin (Emily Skeggs) who struggles with gender-identity really wants to get better and Mark (Owen Campbell) just wants his father's approval while Jane (Sasha Lane) and Adam (Forrest Goodluck) try to parrot back what they like to hear.
The camp includes high school classes, group therapy sessions, art therapy, individual sessions and still has plenty of time for hikes into the woods where Jane is growing pot, which actually is a concerning thought, though not as concerning as their methods to cure the children.
Things come to a head when Mark tries to sever his penis and is taken the hospital. An investigation is opened and finally, Cameron's spirit comes through, she states that this camp is full of emotional abuse as they are programming the kids to hate themselves. Her comments are duly noted. Given the emotions that this camp brings out, you would think this would not be the first time a suicide attempt had happened but they have literally know idea what they are doing and Rick more or less admits that to Cameron.
It is after this that Adam, Jane and Cameron decide that a life on the streets is better than this camp so they hike away and the film ends with them in the back up a random Democratic pick-up truck.
Overall, the film is upsetting and you need to wonder what others are thinking when they believe that people can change their sexual preferences but nevertheless, there is a real feel to the film, from the kids performing office tasks and peeling potatoes for dinner and even taking their bowls away before the hike.
But there are problems, while some of the minor characters are great, some need more explanation including Dane (Christopher Dylan White) who is deeply troubled and I suspect he may have been sexually abused but his outbursts are never explained which is needed. Some of the characters are far easier to figure out bu regardless, your heart aches for all of them and just hope that eventually they will embraced for their differences, not segregated because of them. Grade: B
Cameron (Chloe Grace Moretz) is the film's heroine, however, she isn't a particularly strong or even interesting character until the final act. At times, she states she wants to get 'better' while not trying to give in the experimental methods used.
Rick (John Gallagher, Jr.) is one of the founders and claims that he used to struggle with same-sex attraction but is now 'cured', and his sister, Dr. Lydia Marsh (a Nazi-like Jennifer Ehle) is the on-site therapist, but in reality neither have any idea what they are doing.
Some kids, like Erin (Emily Skeggs) who struggles with gender-identity really wants to get better and Mark (Owen Campbell) just wants his father's approval while Jane (Sasha Lane) and Adam (Forrest Goodluck) try to parrot back what they like to hear.
The camp includes high school classes, group therapy sessions, art therapy, individual sessions and still has plenty of time for hikes into the woods where Jane is growing pot, which actually is a concerning thought, though not as concerning as their methods to cure the children.
Things come to a head when Mark tries to sever his penis and is taken the hospital. An investigation is opened and finally, Cameron's spirit comes through, she states that this camp is full of emotional abuse as they are programming the kids to hate themselves. Her comments are duly noted. Given the emotions that this camp brings out, you would think this would not be the first time a suicide attempt had happened but they have literally know idea what they are doing and Rick more or less admits that to Cameron.
It is after this that Adam, Jane and Cameron decide that a life on the streets is better than this camp so they hike away and the film ends with them in the back up a random Democratic pick-up truck.
Overall, the film is upsetting and you need to wonder what others are thinking when they believe that people can change their sexual preferences but nevertheless, there is a real feel to the film, from the kids performing office tasks and peeling potatoes for dinner and even taking their bowls away before the hike.
But there are problems, while some of the minor characters are great, some need more explanation including Dane (Christopher Dylan White) who is deeply troubled and I suspect he may have been sexually abused but his outbursts are never explained which is needed. Some of the characters are far easier to figure out bu regardless, your heart aches for all of them and just hope that eventually they will embraced for their differences, not segregated because of them. Grade: B
Saturday, September 1, 2018
Tag (2018)
Despite the concept, this film isn't the worst film of the year, far from it.
A group of now grown men, in cities all across the country, still play the childhood game of tag, thus the title of the film.
They go through such extreme lengths, including getting a new job just to bombard another during an interview. And this year, they are all determined to get Jerry (Jeremy Renner) who takes the game to a whole new level, spending way too much time and money to avoid getting caught.
That is the whole concept of the film, there's really not much more to it than that. They keep playing the game to avoid falling out of touch and getting old, though it isn't working. Chili (Jake Johnson) gets high all the time while Sable (Hannibal Burgess) believes his wife is cheating on him.
However, this year, they plan to get Jerry at his wedding to Susan (Leslie Bibb) and to do so, it involves bribery, near torture and careful planning, though Jerry is always one step ahead of the rest, including having his fiance fake a miscarriage (she actually faked the whole pregnancy), and that is unacceptable. You do not do that, ever, period, point blank, end of discussion. That was a low move and the guys absolutely agree with that, though Jerry and Susan aren't especially apologetic about the whole thing. But it turns out that Hogan (Ed Helms) is the one who is actually dying, of liver cancer so he needed this, to get the whole gang together again for one last time. And the film ends with the group playing the game they loved so much.
The craziest thing is that this whole film is based on a true story, and a reporter for the New York Times (Annabelle Wallis, in the film) really does write a story about the whole thing.
Despite the faking of the pregnancy and miscarriage, the film does have funny moments without even trying and the performances are solid, though they are not the most complicated roles. Still, the film could have been far worse and truly dreadful, instead you just wonder why this game means so much to them, when they could have spent the time together just enjoying each other's company. Grade: B
A group of now grown men, in cities all across the country, still play the childhood game of tag, thus the title of the film.
They go through such extreme lengths, including getting a new job just to bombard another during an interview. And this year, they are all determined to get Jerry (Jeremy Renner) who takes the game to a whole new level, spending way too much time and money to avoid getting caught.
That is the whole concept of the film, there's really not much more to it than that. They keep playing the game to avoid falling out of touch and getting old, though it isn't working. Chili (Jake Johnson) gets high all the time while Sable (Hannibal Burgess) believes his wife is cheating on him.
However, this year, they plan to get Jerry at his wedding to Susan (Leslie Bibb) and to do so, it involves bribery, near torture and careful planning, though Jerry is always one step ahead of the rest, including having his fiance fake a miscarriage (she actually faked the whole pregnancy), and that is unacceptable. You do not do that, ever, period, point blank, end of discussion. That was a low move and the guys absolutely agree with that, though Jerry and Susan aren't especially apologetic about the whole thing. But it turns out that Hogan (Ed Helms) is the one who is actually dying, of liver cancer so he needed this, to get the whole gang together again for one last time. And the film ends with the group playing the game they loved so much.
The craziest thing is that this whole film is based on a true story, and a reporter for the New York Times (Annabelle Wallis, in the film) really does write a story about the whole thing.
Despite the faking of the pregnancy and miscarriage, the film does have funny moments without even trying and the performances are solid, though they are not the most complicated roles. Still, the film could have been far worse and truly dreadful, instead you just wonder why this game means so much to them, when they could have spent the time together just enjoying each other's company. Grade: B
Friday, August 31, 2018
Catch Me If You Can (2002)
This was a actually good film about a great con-man. Or con-teenager. Frank, Jr (Leonardo DiCaprio, very natural in this role) is devastated when his larger-than-life father, Frank, Sr (Christopher Walken) gets into trouble with the IRS for tax fraud and his parent's divorce. Not liking his new school, he runs away. But he also wants a lavish lifestyle so he starts to impersonate an airline pilot and then sick of moving around, he fakes his way into a hospital by becoming a doctor, only he's still only eighteen and gets sick at the sight of blood and then, to impress a girl's father, he becomes a lawyer and learns quite a bit from just watching TV.
By the time, he's proposed to young, innocent Brenda Strong, not the actress (Amy Adams), the FBI is well on his tale, and in fact, he's already alluded them several times. But Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) is determined to catch him and make him pay. After all, by this time, he's written over four million dollars in fraudulent checks.
But he's caught, on Christmas Eve as he always calls Carl on Christmas Eve. It's France and its snowing, but Frank is caught but then, on the plane ride home, he is told that his father has passed away and devastated, he locks himself in the bathroom and escapes out of the toilet, which has got to be disgusting.
Unfortunately, he finds that his mother has indeed remarried and has a new, young daughter so Frank surrenders and is sentenced to twelve years in prison. However, over the years, he has become such an expert on forgery that Carl turns out to recruit him to work for them. Sure, it's a desk job, but it must be challenging, though Frank quickly tires of the whole thing. He leaves, but does return, to Carl's sheer relief. Now, Frank is an expert in forgeries and is paid a lot of money to help out, instead being a deterrent.
Overall, the film is solid and fascinating, with plenty of material for several films, though the screenplay weaves everything together pretty well, except for the odd introduction of Frank making an appearance on the show To Tell the Truth, which is when he launches into his story and never looks back. That's just weird. The performances make you forget that flaw, DiCaprio is brilliant, an effortless performance and Hanks is also solid, you can't tell when he's telling the truth and when he is trying to trap Frank. Pay attention for some cameos from Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Pompeo and Jennifer Garner. Grade: A-
By the time, he's proposed to young, innocent Brenda Strong, not the actress (Amy Adams), the FBI is well on his tale, and in fact, he's already alluded them several times. But Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks) is determined to catch him and make him pay. After all, by this time, he's written over four million dollars in fraudulent checks.
But he's caught, on Christmas Eve as he always calls Carl on Christmas Eve. It's France and its snowing, but Frank is caught but then, on the plane ride home, he is told that his father has passed away and devastated, he locks himself in the bathroom and escapes out of the toilet, which has got to be disgusting.
Unfortunately, he finds that his mother has indeed remarried and has a new, young daughter so Frank surrenders and is sentenced to twelve years in prison. However, over the years, he has become such an expert on forgery that Carl turns out to recruit him to work for them. Sure, it's a desk job, but it must be challenging, though Frank quickly tires of the whole thing. He leaves, but does return, to Carl's sheer relief. Now, Frank is an expert in forgeries and is paid a lot of money to help out, instead being a deterrent.
Overall, the film is solid and fascinating, with plenty of material for several films, though the screenplay weaves everything together pretty well, except for the odd introduction of Frank making an appearance on the show To Tell the Truth, which is when he launches into his story and never looks back. That's just weird. The performances make you forget that flaw, DiCaprio is brilliant, an effortless performance and Hanks is also solid, you can't tell when he's telling the truth and when he is trying to trap Frank. Pay attention for some cameos from Elizabeth Banks, Ellen Pompeo and Jennifer Garner. Grade: A-
Saturday, August 25, 2018
On Chesil Beach (2018)
This is a rather simple film but a brilliant one nevertheless.
Florence (Saiorse Ronan) and Edward (Billy Howle) are newlyweds but though they frequently declare that they love each other, the chemistry is lacking. Florence keeps pushing off the inevitable while Edward can't wait to rip off her clothes. Both of virgins and both are terrified but Edward wants the sex while Florence does not and after their first failed attempt, Florence is so disgusted, she flees which leads to the title confrontation. Despite it being love at first sight, Florence is so repulsed by sex, she is okay with him getting that elsewhere just as long as they're together. She gave into that so quickly and immediately wrote herself off as a lost cause when it came to that sort of thing and Edward just let her walk away, just gave up on their fledgling marriage. And Florence is a saint, handling Edward's mentally unstable mother (Anne-Marie Duff) with grace and dignity.
That night effects them for the rest of their lives. While Florence finds success, both professionally and personally, Edward opens a record store and while he has friends there is no one special in his life. Even when Florence's ultimate dream comes true, Edward is there to support her just as he promised he would be decades ago. When Florence catches his eye, both start crying silent tears.
Each main actor is utterly brilliant, each little nuance is captured and they both make the characters come alive off the very pages they were written on. There is nary a false note in this film, though pay close attention to the flashback scene in Florence's mind right after she pushes Edward off of her, that is likely a telling scene and its over too soon. Was she assaulted or just terrified at feeling something real for once in her life? And how does she overcome these feelings with Charles (Mark Donald), the cello player in Florence's quintet. But overcome them she does, eventually having three children with him, while Edward remains alone and bitter.
Naturally, when Florence admits she's not that interested in sex, I don't blame Edward for feeling incredibly betrayed, she had no right to do that to him and shame on them for not being more open with each other before marriage. While Edward is pulling off her underpants, she asks him how many women he'd been with before her. That is something that should have already been discussed. And even after everything falls apart, they still don't talk about it anyone else.
Despite the largely depressing nature of the film, it is nevertheless based on a masterful piece of literature even if it is all my fears personified. Grade: A-
Florence (Saiorse Ronan) and Edward (Billy Howle) are newlyweds but though they frequently declare that they love each other, the chemistry is lacking. Florence keeps pushing off the inevitable while Edward can't wait to rip off her clothes. Both of virgins and both are terrified but Edward wants the sex while Florence does not and after their first failed attempt, Florence is so disgusted, she flees which leads to the title confrontation. Despite it being love at first sight, Florence is so repulsed by sex, she is okay with him getting that elsewhere just as long as they're together. She gave into that so quickly and immediately wrote herself off as a lost cause when it came to that sort of thing and Edward just let her walk away, just gave up on their fledgling marriage. And Florence is a saint, handling Edward's mentally unstable mother (Anne-Marie Duff) with grace and dignity.
That night effects them for the rest of their lives. While Florence finds success, both professionally and personally, Edward opens a record store and while he has friends there is no one special in his life. Even when Florence's ultimate dream comes true, Edward is there to support her just as he promised he would be decades ago. When Florence catches his eye, both start crying silent tears.
Each main actor is utterly brilliant, each little nuance is captured and they both make the characters come alive off the very pages they were written on. There is nary a false note in this film, though pay close attention to the flashback scene in Florence's mind right after she pushes Edward off of her, that is likely a telling scene and its over too soon. Was she assaulted or just terrified at feeling something real for once in her life? And how does she overcome these feelings with Charles (Mark Donald), the cello player in Florence's quintet. But overcome them she does, eventually having three children with him, while Edward remains alone and bitter.
Naturally, when Florence admits she's not that interested in sex, I don't blame Edward for feeling incredibly betrayed, she had no right to do that to him and shame on them for not being more open with each other before marriage. While Edward is pulling off her underpants, she asks him how many women he'd been with before her. That is something that should have already been discussed. And even after everything falls apart, they still don't talk about it anyone else.
Despite the largely depressing nature of the film, it is nevertheless based on a masterful piece of literature even if it is all my fears personified. Grade: A-
Life of the Party (2018)
Overall, this movie was not the worst way to spend a Friday night.
Deanna Miles (Melissa McCarthy) is blind-sided by her husband (Matt Walsh) decides that he's going to divorce her, and sell the house which is his name only. After all, he's been having an affair with the real estate agent, Marcie Strong (Julie Bowen, too pretty for Walsh, making them an unbelievable couple). Upset that she dropped out of college to have her lovely daughter, Maddie (Molly Gordon), she decides to go back to college.
At first, Maddie isn't thrilled to have her mother, but eventually warms to the idea. Even though Deanna is in full Mom mode at first, Maddie eventually forces her to loosen up and soon becomes kind of a party girl and even catches the eye of frat boy Jack (Luke Benward). Though she tries to keep the relationship casual, she can't ignore the huge age difference, and tries to push off his advances. Jack is too clingy for a college guy, leave it to Hollywood to make attractive males too good to be true.
But there is a twist with Jack, he's Marcie's son. Yeah, they managed to slip a genuine surprise into this film. And even after Deanna ruins the wedding reception of Dan and Marcie, Jack doesn't hate her though he probably should have.
In the end, Deanna is able to earn enough money to stay in school with a little help from her friends and does graduate, after all, brains were the one thing she was never missing.
Deanna is absolutely a resilient character and McCarthy does a great job but the rest of the characters aren't nearly as well written. There's Helen (Gillian Jacobs) who was in a coma for eight years, which should never be funny but it is, and Leonor (Heid Gardner), Deanna's odd roommate who hardly ever leaves the room.
Still, the laughs are there and seeing Maya Rudolph is always welcome and boy, am I glad that I never encountered anyone having sex in the library stacks. Grade: B
Deanna Miles (Melissa McCarthy) is blind-sided by her husband (Matt Walsh) decides that he's going to divorce her, and sell the house which is his name only. After all, he's been having an affair with the real estate agent, Marcie Strong (Julie Bowen, too pretty for Walsh, making them an unbelievable couple). Upset that she dropped out of college to have her lovely daughter, Maddie (Molly Gordon), she decides to go back to college.
At first, Maddie isn't thrilled to have her mother, but eventually warms to the idea. Even though Deanna is in full Mom mode at first, Maddie eventually forces her to loosen up and soon becomes kind of a party girl and even catches the eye of frat boy Jack (Luke Benward). Though she tries to keep the relationship casual, she can't ignore the huge age difference, and tries to push off his advances. Jack is too clingy for a college guy, leave it to Hollywood to make attractive males too good to be true.
But there is a twist with Jack, he's Marcie's son. Yeah, they managed to slip a genuine surprise into this film. And even after Deanna ruins the wedding reception of Dan and Marcie, Jack doesn't hate her though he probably should have.
In the end, Deanna is able to earn enough money to stay in school with a little help from her friends and does graduate, after all, brains were the one thing she was never missing.
Deanna is absolutely a resilient character and McCarthy does a great job but the rest of the characters aren't nearly as well written. There's Helen (Gillian Jacobs) who was in a coma for eight years, which should never be funny but it is, and Leonor (Heid Gardner), Deanna's odd roommate who hardly ever leaves the room.
Still, the laughs are there and seeing Maya Rudolph is always welcome and boy, am I glad that I never encountered anyone having sex in the library stacks. Grade: B
Sunday, August 19, 2018
BlackkKlansman (2018)
Directed by the legendary Spike Lee, this film is good but not as good as Do the Right Thing (1989), but you should watch it anyway.
Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) is the only African American on the Colorado Springs Police Force and some do not welcome him. His first job is in the records room but then is forced to go undercover to attend a rally arranged by the Black Student Union President, Patrice (Laura Harrier) from Colorado University. And from there, he continues and decides to infiltrate the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, though Klan is not a word that is uttered, instead calling it the organization. The members are downright nasty, hating blacks and Jews. The whole organization is downright disgusting. And Ron's boss is sceptacle about the whole thing. Obviously, a partner is needed. Enter white Ron Stallworth, aka Philip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) who enters this undercover assignment reluctantly but does give it his all, though his own life is potentially in danger as he is Jewish. While Ron watches at a distance, and takes photographs, Philip goes in to the house and meets the guys wearing a wire the whole time. White Ron and Felix (Jasper Paakkonen) argue over the Holocaust, Felix believes the whole thing is a hoax while Ron states that it is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. Both of which are just awful and the worst. Eventually, Black Ron makes phone contact with David Duke (Topher Grace). David believes that because of Ron's perfect diction, he is speaking with a white man but he is fooled at the very end in an epic scene.
The film gets intense as Felix's wife, Connie (Ashlie Atkinson) goes to plant a bomb at Patrice's house during Ron's induction ceremony, the juxtaposition is epic. But White Ron's cover is nearly blown as one of the fellow members is someone whom Philip arrested a few years ago. Black Ron follows Connie to Patrice's house and as he tries to arrest her, another cop comes along and nearly arrests Ron and then the switch is flipped but the bomb was planted in Patrice's car, killing Felix and Ivanhoe (Paul Walter Hauser) and sending Connie to prison for some time. Ron is freed and then is able to get the corrupt cop, Landers (Frederick Weller) to confess to bigotry, among other things. Unfortunately, the ending falls slightly flat to me. Patrice decides that she cannot date the enemy, in this case, that enemy is Ron as a police officer but stands with him nevertheless as the arm themselves to answer the knocking at the door. Then it cuts to the actual scenes from Charlottesville, Virginia August, 2017 where one person was killed. That actual footage is far more violent than anything shown in the film. And that actually happened. There are still bigots out there.
Despite the film being set in the 70s, with completely accurate clothing, cars, sets and music, the film is shockingly relevant and many of the lines uttered are ones that could be heard in the news and perhaps that is the scariest part.
Now, the film is rather good despite the morbid subject matter, the acting is solid and the script is tight, with both humorous and dark moments, the film shows that sometimes justice is given but other times, it is not and nothing can be done to stop this, except speaking up to give the power to all the people. Grade: A-
Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) is the only African American on the Colorado Springs Police Force and some do not welcome him. His first job is in the records room but then is forced to go undercover to attend a rally arranged by the Black Student Union President, Patrice (Laura Harrier) from Colorado University. And from there, he continues and decides to infiltrate the local chapter of the Ku Klux Klan, though Klan is not a word that is uttered, instead calling it the organization. The members are downright nasty, hating blacks and Jews. The whole organization is downright disgusting. And Ron's boss is sceptacle about the whole thing. Obviously, a partner is needed. Enter white Ron Stallworth, aka Philip Zimmerman (Adam Driver) who enters this undercover assignment reluctantly but does give it his all, though his own life is potentially in danger as he is Jewish. While Ron watches at a distance, and takes photographs, Philip goes in to the house and meets the guys wearing a wire the whole time. White Ron and Felix (Jasper Paakkonen) argue over the Holocaust, Felix believes the whole thing is a hoax while Ron states that it is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. Both of which are just awful and the worst. Eventually, Black Ron makes phone contact with David Duke (Topher Grace). David believes that because of Ron's perfect diction, he is speaking with a white man but he is fooled at the very end in an epic scene.
The film gets intense as Felix's wife, Connie (Ashlie Atkinson) goes to plant a bomb at Patrice's house during Ron's induction ceremony, the juxtaposition is epic. But White Ron's cover is nearly blown as one of the fellow members is someone whom Philip arrested a few years ago. Black Ron follows Connie to Patrice's house and as he tries to arrest her, another cop comes along and nearly arrests Ron and then the switch is flipped but the bomb was planted in Patrice's car, killing Felix and Ivanhoe (Paul Walter Hauser) and sending Connie to prison for some time. Ron is freed and then is able to get the corrupt cop, Landers (Frederick Weller) to confess to bigotry, among other things. Unfortunately, the ending falls slightly flat to me. Patrice decides that she cannot date the enemy, in this case, that enemy is Ron as a police officer but stands with him nevertheless as the arm themselves to answer the knocking at the door. Then it cuts to the actual scenes from Charlottesville, Virginia August, 2017 where one person was killed. That actual footage is far more violent than anything shown in the film. And that actually happened. There are still bigots out there.
Despite the film being set in the 70s, with completely accurate clothing, cars, sets and music, the film is shockingly relevant and many of the lines uttered are ones that could be heard in the news and perhaps that is the scariest part.
Now, the film is rather good despite the morbid subject matter, the acting is solid and the script is tight, with both humorous and dark moments, the film shows that sometimes justice is given but other times, it is not and nothing can be done to stop this, except speaking up to give the power to all the people. Grade: A-
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