Tag: review

Carol continues director Todd Haynes’s turn as a latter day Douglas Sirk. In Carol, he explores the suppressed sexual desires between a young counter clerk and an older woman. In this though, the clerk is a young woman. It is a movie based on a Patricia Highsmith novel, The Price of Salt, which was a formative novel for the gay and lesbian community.

In this film as in the book, the love that blossoms between the women is meant to be normal. It attempts to have a happy ending, but it was still ambiguous. It attempts to make the young lady realize her growing desire. It attempts to make the older woman less of a vamp and more of a tortured soul. They are or may be right together.

As with Sirk, Haynes deals with the sublimated ugliness within American culture of the 50s. The way the husband whispered in quiet tones about his wife’s dalliances. The way the boyfriends desperately pleaded with the young one for some semblance of hetero love. The discreet glances, the touches, all had to be held back in a more repressive society.

There is a scene of lovemaking in this movie. It was tasteful to say the least. Somewhat titillating showing the love made physical. It was there to remind us that there was still sex at that time.

I really wanted to like this film, but it was too smooth for me. I can see how it has won accolades with the acting by both Kate Blanchett and Rooney Mara. Both actresses were very good effectively portraying the strain in their psyche as they fought society, their desires, and their commitments. It may have been a good movie but not for me.

3 of 5 stars.

Secret In Their Eyes had some of the worst plot twists in the final minutes of the film which ruined the entire experience. Not that it was already good while watching, but these plot twists of which there were two were absolutely unbelievable. I was shaking with anger at the end because of them.

Don’t watch this film expecting a nice tidy ending. Expect the twist. Then pick up your jaw from the ground because the twists ruined everything.

I’m still angry and mystified several weeks later.

2 of 5 stars.

Since it has been several weeks that I have reviewed any movies, it may seem like I didn’t watch anything in the theaters. Yeah, I know that I was too busy with “Nogizakatte doko?”, “Nogibingo!”, and any and all Nogizaka related things, but I did catch a few first run movies.

Our Brand Is Crisis I saw last month. Now I just have to put a few thoughts together…

Yeah, I don’t remember this one too much.

It was based on a documentary, Our Brand Is Crisis, which followed American political campaigners in Latin America. So, the fictional story is based on real events.

Sandra Bullock plays Jane Bodine a once hotshot political adviser. She’s been out of the game for years, because she kept losing to a James Caravelle type rival played by a bald Billy Bob Thornton. She’s pulled back into the game by operatives trying to fix a Bolivian presidential campaign. They get her off her rump by giving her a chance to take down Billy Bob. She bites. But at first she doesn’t like to. Then she finally does give in and turns on the heat to get her guy elected by running a negative campaign.

It turned out to be a Sandra Bullock movie. She starts off sad. She then becomes morose. But pulls it together to be happy in the end.

Billy Bob Thornton phones it in, but does provide a nice counterpoint to the Bullock movie.

Anything Anthony Mackie has been in has been fine. He’s the best part of the movie.

Overall, I would not have seen this on my own, but since I was sort of dragged to it, it was a forgettable, but enjoyable 2 hours. I liked the popcorn.

3 of 5 stars.

Bridge of Spies is a decent offering from Steven Spielberg. It is very much one of his more serious offerings in the vein of Munich. Yet, it wasn’t as serious because the Coen brothers contributing some very subtle witty dialogue. Tom Hanks is an elderly version of himself. He sort of reminded me of Joe from Joe Versus the Volcano, a somewhat down beat character who finds the heroic side in him from being brave.

Here Hanks is James Donovan, a lawyer who stumbles into the ungrateful task of defending a Soviet spy. Donovan gives the spy as good a defense as deserved. He also makes the case that by giving the spy a decent defense he is following the spirit of America. Or even Jesus. America is about dignity and grace. Contrasted to the Soviets, America is upholding human rights. It isn’t about ramming people into jail. It isn’t about torture. It is about taking the high road. If only we remember this. America is better than what the GOP let’s you believe.

Anywho, Bridge of Spies is worth watching as a Spielberg movie. It’s not a classic, but it is rather solid, and it would be a pleasant film to catch on a lazy Sunday as it plays on USA network.

3 of 5 stars.

Everyone cries in a Nancy Myers film including the leads in The Intern.

It was better than expected. And I liked how the ending left much to your imagination.

3 of 5 stars.