I'm baaaaaack! I apologize for my far-too-long hiatus, but thanks to the current state of the world, there's never been a better time to write about some movies again. If you are coming to this blog from the future, the year is 2020, and currently the entire world is on shutdown due to the coronavirus. No, this is not a science fiction movie gone wrong, this has become our daily reality. This means most of us are stuck at home with more time on our hands than usual. Of course, in my case, this means I have more time to watch some movies! But before I can dive into reviews of my more recent viewings, I have to make up for lost time. 

My notoriously favorite day of the year occurred a few months ago... Oscar day! I know, I know, old news. Why am I bringing that up now? Well, life got crazy, and as tradition has it, I simply need to post a blog reviewing the Best Picture Academy Award noms at the very least. As time has gone by, the award show picks have held less weight for me over the years, but I will always adore Oscar day. In this post I want to provide quick write-ups on some of this years' nominations. Let the commentary commence!

Parasite:

Ah, Parasite. This film was an absolute joy, in the oddest way. I went into this movie completely blind to its plot- everyone that I discussed it with prior to seeing it simply said, "you just gotta see it". So I did! And now I get it... It's one of those films that is so bizarre and well-done that it encompasses your mind for days on end. I would describe "Parasite" as a psychological thriller/satire/comedy/horror movie. See what I mean when I say it's one of a kind? Usually a film that takes on such a task suffers from poor execution. "Parasite," however, was right on the money. This unique film provides social commentary on the wealth discrepancy in South Korea. We meet the Park family, a very wealthy family living in a beautiful, modern home designed by a renowned Korean architect. In juxtaposition, we meet the Kim family. They live in a decrepit basement and scheme their way into unreliable sources of income. This deceitful, conniving crew worms their way into the lives of the Parks, lying their way into jobs within their house. I watched in awe and amazement as the Parks craft elaborate schemes. "Parasite" hosts so many layers that it is nearly impossible to review this film without dissecting its every twist and turn. The scenes are masterfully crafted. It's well-paced and very very clever. It's one of those movies that never doubts its audience's intelligence. All at once, every scene is clever, funny, disturbing, quixotic, and profound. The film is playful yet always centers around the social gap between the rich and the poor. It is unusual, yet masterfully done. I am very glad that the Academy has paid it due credit with six wins, including Best Picture. This movie certainly marches to the beat of its own drum, and I commend it for that!

Joker:

I have mixed feelings about "Joker". As a whole, I thought it was really well done and Joaquin Phoenix's acting was extraordinary. I suppose I just don't understand the need to reintroduce this character in a new light yet again. This is now the fourth reinterpretation of this character in a major film. I don't think any Joker movie can hold a candle to "The Dark Knight" starring Heath Ledger. I find it a little disrespectful to recreate this role after Heath Ledger won a posthumous Oscar for his performance as the Joker. That performance is perhaps the most widely praised film performance of the decade. As for this version? Just because I think a film is well done does not mean I necessarily enjoy it. Todd Phillips, the director, created a new universe in "The Joker" that is reminiscent of early Scorsese 70s movies. Because of that, I thought the casting of Robert De Niro as a late-night talk show host immensely helped the film ("The King of Comedy", anyone? Honestly the undertones of this film are essentially the same to those of the "King of Comedy"). My thought is, just let Scorsese own that style that he crafted decades before. It doesn't need to be poorly reconstructed in a modern context. Phillips's "The Joker" serves more as a character study than as a classic comic book flick. Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a middle-aged man living with his mother who works as a clown-for-hire. His ultimate goal is to become a star as a stand-up comedian. It is clear from the get-go that Arthur struggles with his mental health. The first half of the film serves as an effective invitation into the twisted mind of this character. I really enjoyed this interpretation of the Joker's origin story- we see his steady descent into madness unfold before us. The second half, however, turns into complete anarchy. While I understand the praise of Phoenix's performance, I do not understand the high praise of the film as a whole. This may have been a unique interpretation of one of the world's favorite villains, but the bulk of "The Joker" is derivative and doesn't hold its own. Many performers have previously delivered great angles to this character, and one can never appropriately recreate the tone of a 70s Scorsese film (who can honestly prefer "The Joker" to the masterful and immense "Taxi Driver"? Night and day, my friends). 

The Irishman:

Scorsese, you know I love you dearly. But what can I say? I honestly thought “The Irishman” was a bit of a snooze-fest. Believe me, I wholeheartedly wanted to love this film. I love period crime films, I love Scorsese, I love this cast! It seemed to me to be a recipe for success. I know this film was critically acclaimed. I do appreciate that it was a movie of quality, but it just didn’t do it for me. With a whopping three-and-a-half hours of screen time, that is simply too much time to fill showing a bunch of old white guys covering up their gang-related crimes. This movie is based off of a true story, so I certainly understand that plot creativity was somewhat limited. I guess this particular storyline just wasn’t for me. In this film, we witness the story of Frank Sheeran’s involvement with a notorious crime family. He climbs up the ladder, eventually becoming a lead hitman. He comes to work for Jimmy Hoffa, a labor union leader involved in some questionable side hustles.. While Scorsese has showcased similar stories in the past, “The Irishman” is missing his signature panache and style. This movie comes off as dry and a little sleepy. To no one’s surprise, this movie received 10 oscar nominations. Ultimately, it didn’t take home many awards, which kind of pleased me. These guys have all certainly had their time in the spotlight- sometimes it’s nice to see some fresh faces gain recognition. 

Marriage Story:

I know, I’m beginning to sound like a curmudgeon. First, I don’t like the new Scorsese movie. Now I’m about to rag on a film starring the lovely and talented Adam Driver! Don’t worry, exciting rave reviews are to come. “Marriage Story” was written, directed, and produced by Noah Baumbach. In this movie, Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson play a stage director and an actress going through a complicated divorce. Usually, I really enjoy a more understated plot in a movie that really allows viewers to connect to the characters. This is another movie that is absolutely raved about by critics and audiences alike. I am the odd man out in that it just didn’t do it for me. I thought the film felt like a stage play come to life. The script felt a little too forced and dramatic, and seemed unbalanced with the storyline. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of the script and plot, I truly did think the acting was phenomenal. Scarlett Johansson is pretty hit-or-miss for me, but she definitely steps up for her role. Adam Driver has one scene in particular (if you know, you know) that absolutely convinced me of his character’s emotional turmoil. He really commits to every role and the viewer can absolutely sense that. The true shining star of “Marriage Story” was the one, the only, Miss Laura Dern. She is forever one of my favorite actresses and kills her role as a divorce attorney in “Marriage Story”. I am so pleased that she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Dern as Nora, a powerhouse attorney, obliterates any other character in her scenes. She shows up to court with her stilettos and no-nonsense attitude. Her fierce character is lovely to watch in juxtaposition with the emotionally vulnerable main characters. All in all, this movie was not a personal favorite of mine, but Laura Dern can do no wrong. 

Little Women:

Another film with Laura Dern, hooray! "Little Women" was hands-down my absolute favorite movie of the year.  I am positively perplexed and disheartened that “:Little Women” did not earn more awards at this years’ Academy Awards. It is one of those movies that feels like coming home. While it is emotionally charged and has a fairly complex plot, it still feels like a cozy movie that viewers will return to time and time again. Let’s start off by talking about this absolutely stellar cast. When I first heard of the casting of this film, I couldn’t believe We’re talking Saoirse Ronan, Timothee Chalamet, Emma Watson, newcomer Florence Pough, Laura Dern, and the one and only Meryl Streep. For those of you unfamiliar with this classic story, It is a coming-of-age narrative about the four March sisters. Each young girl has her own unique personality. Saoirse Ronan plays Jo, a fiery and fiercely independent writer. Emma Watson plays Meg, a kind and responsible girl who values family above all else. Florence Pough plays Amy, an outspoken, mischievous artist. Eliza Scanlen plays Beth, a sweet, down-to-earth musician, The sisters are held together by the matriarch of the family, Marmee, played by Laura Dern. This is the story of their childhood amongst the backdrop of the Civil War. This is just the kind of movie I can find no flaws with. It is funny, emotional, and whip-smart. The cinematography, performances, costumes, and dialogue were all outstanding. This film was directed by Greta Gerwig, and it is clear that she was truly dedicated to every detail of this film. I could gush and rave about “Little Women” forever, but if you want a feel-good, inspiring film, definitely give it a watch. 

Ford v. Ferrari:

“Ford v. Ferrari” was probably the least buzzed about film this award season, and with good reason. This movie, based on a true story, is about the competition between a racecar driver and an automotive designer. In short, the Ford Motor Company begins developing race car drivers in order to improve their image with young drivers. They attempt to partner with Ferrari, and when that goes belly-up, Ford hires a race car driver to help them with their endeavor. They want to beat Ferrari in the 1966 24 hours of Le Mans race. Given that I have exactly no interest in cars, I was not especially looking forward to this one. Its runtime was 2 ½ hours, which was just a little too long for my taste. For what it was, it was a quality film. I think if anyone has interest in the history of cars or racing, they would greatly appreciate this movie and learn a lot. I may not have been on the edge of my seat, but it was still a well-done film. “Ford v. Ferrari” stars Christain Bale and Matt Damon, and they certainly deliver in their roles- namely Bale. Not my favorite subject matter, but a good movie nonetheless. 

1917:

WOW. In my opinion, “1917” was the single most impressive film of this awards season. If I’m being 100% transparent, this was my pick to win Best Picture over “Parasite”. This World War I drama follows the story of two soldiers tasked with crossing enemy territory to deliver a vital message that will save 1,600 lives. The entire film is edited to appear as one continuous take, a feat never done to this standard before. To me, this movie encompasses all of the classic elements of a war movie that critics are known to love, but also so much more. Since this film appears as one take, the audience becomes more intimately involved with the lead protagonist. It feels as if you are in the trenches with lance corporals Schofield and Blake, smelling the horrid smells, hearing horrific cries. The sense of following this plot in real time had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. This is one of the few movies that allow you to feel as if you are living the lives of these characters. Between the fluid cinematography, stressful plot, and stellar acting, it would be near impossible not to feel completely immersed in this film. Even if you are not one for war movies, I would still wholeheartedly recommend 1917. It is the most empathetic war movie I have ever seen. I was in tears by the end of the film, which truly indicates how supremely emotional and immersive this movie is. I felt the anxiety, pain, hope, and fear of these soldiers. I got insight into just how young and innocent these boys were- a concept often left out of war films. It absolutely blew me away and I will recommend it time and time again.  

Jojo Rabbit:

When I first heard that a satirical Hitler film was nominated for Best Picture, I was genuinely confused. “Jojo Rabbit” was definitely at the bottom of my watch-list this awards season. But each year I try to watch every film nominated for Best Picture, so I gave “Jojo Rabbit” its shot. A satirical Hitler film? What would that entail? Essentially, this movie is about a young boy named Jojo, who is in training to be a Hitler youth in Nazi Germany. Little does he know, his own mother is hiding a young Jewish girl in their house. Also, Jojo has an imaginary friend- who happens to be Hitler. This imaginary friend is an over-the-top caricature of Hitler. Jojo becomes conflicted when he develops a love-hate relationship with Elsa, the girl hidden in his house, while worshipping Hitler. It is difficult to explain this movie, as it is so outlandish that you truly have to see it firsthand. It was fairly funny and the writing was smart. SImply put, this was just not my cup of tea. It was not as horrifically cringe-worthy as I initially anticipated, but still, this one was not for me. 

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood…

I've already written a blog on this one, but let me briefly remind you that I LOVED THIS ONE. I am not surprised that Leo didn't ultimately take home best actor for this one, but Brad deserved his best actor award! 

That’s all, folks! I have some exciting new ideas for this blog, so be sure to stay tuned! I hope you’re enjoying some extra movie watching in these very strange times.