Fall & Winter 2018

Hello, fellow movie lovers! Please forgive my hiatus. Life has been pretty crazy the last few months. I picked up my life and moved to Brooklyn, and started a new job! Sadly, the insanity of the last few months has left me strapped for time to do what I love- watch movies and review them. I'm doing my best to make up for lost time, so I've decided to write this blog post delivering short reviews of the movies I've seen this season. Given that the Oscar nominations are being announced in a couple of days, I feel pretty ashamed with my current movie-viewing status this season. Those rumors about the New York work grind are real, I can assure you. Onto the reviews!

Mary Queen of Scots:

Most recently, I saw "Mary Queen of Scots," the dramatic telling of the rivalry between young Scottish queen Mary and her cousin, Elizabeth, queen of England. This film stars Saoirse Ronan as Queen Mary and Margot Robbie as Queen Elizabeth. I've always adored historical dramas, so considering the premise of the film and my adoration for these actors, I couldn't wait to see this film! While this film hasn't been very well-received by critics due to problematic historical accuracy, I personally loved it. A lot of historical dramas get analyzed with a fine-toothed comb to make sure the history is accurately portrayed. It may not have been perfect, but what  "Mary Queen of Scots" lacks in historical accuracy, it makes up for in its dramatic plot, fiery dialogue, and incredible lead actors. The movie unravels the tension between the English and Scottish monarchies in the 16th century. Teenage ruler Mary returns to Scotland from France following the death of her husband, and finds herself ruling a country that does not stand by her decisions. Meanwhile, her cousin Elizabeth, reeling in jealousy of Mary's youth and confidence, struggles with her health and with the fact that she has not produced an heir to the throne. Since Mary has claim to Elizabeth's throne, the threat to Elizabeth's monarchy sparks a heated tension between the two nations. This film breaks down what it's like to be a woman in command in a world that is predominately controlled by men. The script of this film is razor sharp, and Ronan and Robbie delivered compelling performances. The cinematography was breathtaking. While I don't think this is technically one of the greatest films I've seen, it is still one I immensely enjoyed. Sometimes movies of this nature can feel a bit like a slow burn, however "Mary Queen of Scots" kept my interest from start to finish. I can personally excuse any historical inaccuracies because the dramatic twists and turns throughout the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. Robbie and Saiorse are two of my favorite actresses, and neither let me down. Robbie is nearly unrecognizable as the sickly Queen Elizabeth, and Ronan truly brings her character to life. While this film could feel a bit like a soap opera at times, I still very much enjoyed "Mary Queen of Scots" and would recommend it to anyone with an interest in historical dramas. 

If Beale Street Could Talk:

In my humble opinion"If Beale Street Could Talk" was the most perfect film of the year. Director Barry Jenkins blessed our screens with "Moonlight" two years ago, and he's done it again this year with "If Beale Street Could Talk". Jenkins adapted James Baldwin's novel of the same name into a film, telling the story of Tish and Fonny, a young African American couple living in 1970s Harlem. While I've never read the book, watching this film truly felt like watching a book come alive. "If Beale Street Could Talk" is about the complexity of relationships and identity, breaking down the realities of being African American in the 1970s. Childhood best friends Tish and Fonny dive into a deep romantic relationship in their teenage years. They spend their days dreaming of their future lives together. Their future plans together get put on hold when Fonny gets accused of a crime that he did not commit. The film breaks down the struggles Fonny, Tish, and their family members face due to the injustice served to the African American community in 1970s Harlem. If I could describe this film in one word, it would simply be beautiful. It truly felt like a work of art. The dialogue, charged by Baldwin's mastery of language, astoundingly captures each character's thoughts and feelings. The set design and costumes transport viewers to the New York that existed 40 years ago. As far as I'm concerned, every aspect of this film was sheer perfection. Each actor's performance was phenomenal, particularly that of actress Regina King, who portrayed Tish's mother.  She portrayed such raw emotion as a mother who cannot find a way to comfort her child. "If Beale Street Could Talk" almost felt more like a play than a movie to me. There were moments where the characters would look straight into the camera, inviting the audience into their souls. This script is poetic- I am certain that James Baldwin's memory could not have been honored in a more meaningful way. This movie demonstrates how every single component of African American life, even something as fundamental as love, is altered by systematic racism. Fonny is framed for a crime that he did not commit, simply due to the color of his skin. Sound familiar? This film bone-chillingly reminds us as a society that many things have not changed over the last several decades. Systematic racism against black men in this nation has been and will continue to be a monumental injustice. What I really loved about this film is it seemed to go several layers deep into each character's soul. Instead of just telling the story of Fonny's framing, the viewer can essentially feel what each character is feeling. It dives deep into the emotional side of things without losing any credibility for the gravitas of Fonny's situation. Watching "If Beale Street Could Talk" made me want to read every Baldwin book and rewatch "Moonlight". Both Jenkins and Baldwin are creative geniuses that have a gift for showcasing the deep emotional sides of African American stories. "If Beale Street Could Talk" is a work of art that everyone should see!

The Favourite:

It seems as if every year there is one film that I can truly appreciate as being great, but I personally don't enjoy it. This year it is Yorgos Lanthimos's "The Favourite". This film stars Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman. Colman plays Queen Anne, an 18th century English queen who appears to be utterly helpless and dependent. She relies on her aid Sarah, the Duchess of Marlborough, played by Weisz. The two appear to have a complex relationship, ridden in banter and lust. When Sarah's cousin, Abigail (Stone) appears at court, a very intricate love triangle ensues. Abigail is given a position as a lady in waiting to the queen. Anne quickly takes a liking to Abigail, stirring up a rage of jealousy in Sarah. While it is clear that the court is dealing with major global conflict, Queen Anne remains an utterly useless pawn. This film focuses in on the rivalry between Sarah and Abigail, as well as their relationships with Anne. Lanthimos injected a very specific type of humor into every crevice of this film. Last year, Lanthimos directed the film "The Killing of A Sacred Deer," which I greatly disliked, so I should have taken that into account before seeing "The Favourite". I just don't think I appreciate this style of humor. The script is witty and the acting is great, I just personally don't like the humor. It's challenging for me to pinpoint exactly what I don't like . I don't want to sound like a complete snob, but I think I honestly just found the humor a little juvenile and tasteless. Something about injecting this type of humor into a period piece about monarchy felt a little disrespectful. A lot of people I know seemed to love this film and find it hysterical. I do agree that the script was razor sharp. Each actress delivered a stellar performance.  The lighting, costumes, and cinematography were exquisite. That being said, it just wasn't for me! Simple as that. All in all, I definitely see why this film is being well-received by critics. My sense of humor just didn't match up!

A Star is Born:

While I think "If Beale Street Could Talk" was the best movie of 2018, I must say that "A Star is Born" was my favorite! I just adore this movie! I was so excited for months leading up to its release. I think Lady Gaga is one of the most talented people on the planet, so as soon as I knew she was set to star in this movie I was on board. I saw the 1976 Barbra Streisand version of "A Star is Born," and even though I adore Madame Streisand, I did not care for that film. I thought it was slow, boring, and felt very dated. I did, however, like the premise of the film. When I heard that Bradley Cooper was attached to direct and star in a remake, I became even more excited. When the film was about to be released, however, I must say I got a little nervous. For all these months I've set my expectations of this film quite high. I told myself going into the theater that it was okay if it wasn't great, it was going to be a fun movie. I spent the next two hours completely entranced. For anyone who doesn't know the premise of the film "A Star is Born," it tells the story country rock singer Jackson Maine and upcoming shining star Ally Campana. Jackson is a bonafide rockstar struggling with addiction when he discovers Ally a natural-born talent. The two quickly fall into an intense romantic relationship. In the midst of their courtship, Ally provides a sense of home for Jackson while Jackson launches Ally into the spotlight. Their relationship is explosive and tumultuous- the audience is taken along for a twisty ride throughout the course of their romance. Gaga and Cooper breathe life into their characters. This movie is nothing without their immense talents. I've honestly never been much of a Cooper fan in the past, but his performance as Jackson Maine and role in directing this film made me completely change my tune. He does an unbelievable job in this role- and who knew he had such an incredible voice! He was so committed to this role that he lowered his speaking voice an entire octave throughout the film. The only part of this film that proved to be better than Cooper was queen Lady Gaga. This was her first time acting in a lead role of a film, and her performance was genuinely one of my favorites of all time. We all know Lady Gaga has stellar pipes, but she was so phenomenal in her role as Ally. The music in this film is absolutely phenomenal. I've literally listened to the soundtrack every week since the film came out. I thought that every element of this film was just wonderful. It was heart-wrenching, powerful, inspiring- everything I could have wanted and more. The dialogue seamlessly blended with the music. The performances in this film were some of the best I've seen in a long time. I could go on about this movie for ages, but I'll leave this off by saying I cannot wait to see what Cooper and Gaga do next!

I hate to admit it, but that's been the extent of my movie viewing so far this season! I have yet to check out Vice, Bohemian Rhapsody, Roma, and Green Book. Rest assured that every movie will be seen once the Oscar nominations are announced! I've watched every best picture nominee for the past several years, and that is not a streak I plan to break. Cheers to the 2019 Oscar Nominations- I can't wait to report back soon with more thoughts on these films!