Keeper

 

     

       The latest film from director Osgood Perkins and writer Nick Lepard is their take on the "cabin in the woods" trope.

        The film stars Tatiana Maslany as Liz and Rossif Sutherland as Malcom, a couple celebrating their first year anniversary. Malcom brings Liz to his family cabin for a celebratory weekend. Once there, Liz begins to get strange visions, hear odd sounds and an overall eeriness begins to surround her. 

          Co-starring are Birkett Turton as "cousin" Darren and Eden Weiss as his girlfriend Minka. 

         Suspense and tension build slowly with hints of the supernatural occurring around the house. Unlike his last film, "The Monkey", Mr. Osgood takes his time with his horror elements until things really go off the rails in the final act. 

         Ms. Maslany does her best to sell the horror and while film is genuinely creepy, the story and characters feel underdeveloped (especially Darren and Minka) and the explanation for what we have just seen is less than satisfying.

       

Frankenstein

 

         Guillermo del Toro has written the screenplay and directed the most lavish version of this iconic story, keeping close to the original story by Mary Shelly.

       The film stars Oscar Isaac as Baron Victor Frankenstein, Jacob Elordi as "The Creature", Mia Goth, Felix Kammerer, David Bradley, Lars Mikkelsen, Charles Dance and Christoph Waltz. Mr. del Toro brings out the best acting in Ms. Goth's career to date and the rest of the cast is just perfect.

        Beyond the incredible acting by Mr. Isaac and Mr. Elordi, the film's sets, costumes, and special effects are incredible. Mr. Isaac's drive to conquer death and eventual descent into madness is remarkable. Mr. Elordi's acting is so powerful, he manages to figuratively burst through the layers of his incredible makeup. Mr. del Toro's script brings so much humanity to the story, finding the soul of the "creature", it makes it unique to the many versions that have come before it. The visuals are simply gorgeous, whether it's the inside of the Baron's castle or a ship frozen in the arctic ice. As with all Mr. del Toro's work, it is a beautiful film to watch.

        The story is told in three parts. First is the Baron's story, then the creature's point of view and finally, the two come together in an unexpected climax. There are a few horrific moments, but the film is as far from a scary "monster movie" as you can get. It is a gothic drama laced with madness, romanticism, melancholy, and ultimately great sadness. 

        With a run time of about two and a half hours, not a moment is wasted and never feels too slow. Mr. de Toro is a master of his craft. This is an epic film in every aspect.

Predator: Badlands

 

        This new entry in the ongoing Sci-Fi franchise is definitely one of the best. If you are not familar with the "Predator" films or not a fan of the genre, don't bother reading any further.  But if you are curious about this one, read on....

       The film resets the franchise by introducing a young Predator warrior, who after a dangerous confrontation with his father, sets out on his first hunt to claim his rightful place in his clan. His journey brings him to an extremely desolate planet where just about everything can kill you.

       Dimitrius Schuster-Koloamatangi stars as Dek, the young Predator and Elle Fanning in a dual role as Thia and Tessa, "synthetics" from Weylnd-Yutani Corporation. It co-stars Mike Homik as Kwei, Dek's older brother, Reuben de Jong as Njohrr, Dek's father and Rohinal Narayan As "Bud". Matt and Ross Duffer have vocal cameos as the voice of Kwei's spaceship computer.

       When Dek first encounters Thia, she has been split in two and she convinces him that she can help so he carries her upper body on his journey. The two have great chemistry and make quite the pair. Their verbal sparring is quite funny as they form a bond, which is a new experience for the solitary hunter.

       Director Dan Trachtenberg mixes CGI with old fashioned makeup and costumes to create very realistic characters and an incredible visual landscape. It all makes for a fun escapist adventure and the end promises a likely sequel. 

           

         

Ballad of a Small Player

 

       Director Edward Berger does a 180 degree turn from his last film, "Conclave" with this character study of a gambling addict slowly losing his mind in Macau.

       Colin Farrell stars as "Lord Doyle", a gambling addict on a long losing streak.  His game of choice is Baccarat and things are not going well. The film co-stars Fala Chen as Dao-Ming, Tilda Swinton as Cynthia Blithe, Deanie lp as "Grandma", and Alex Jennings as Adrian Lippett.

         The cinematography by James Friend is outstanding. The sights, sounds and colors of Macau make  Las Vegas look dull by comparison. It truly is the gambling mecca of the world and Mr. Berger invites us into this world with his intimate portrait of Mr. Farrell's character,

         Secrets are revealed. Not all characters are who they appear to be but no spoilers here. Through it all, Mr. Farrell's performance propels us through the story like an out of control missile. He is just electric.

         The film is streaming on Netflix.

Nuremberg

 

      Written and directed by James Vanderbilt, this historical drama is based on the events leading up to and during the Nuremberg trials at the end of World War Two. This was the first trial of it's kind to put the captured Nazi high command on trial for war crimes against humanity. There have been many films and TV movies done on the subject. Mr. Vanderbilt's film focuses on the relationship between Hermann Goring and the psychiatrist tasked with determining his sanity.

       Rami Malek stars as the military psychiatrist, Douglas Kelley, charged with determining that the Germans are mentally suited to stand trial. Also starring is Russell Crowe as Hermann Goring, second in command to Hitler, Leo Woodall as Sgt. Howie Triest, John Slattery as Commander Burton Andrus, Michael Shannon as Justice Robert Jackson, and Richard E. Grant as David Maxwell Fyfe.

        The film is well cast but Mr. Crowe is the standout with a transformative performance as Goring. Mr. Woodall's character is a secondary role but he is given a monologue late in the film that is remarkable. Mr. Malek's best scenes are with Mr. Crowe as they match wits in a battle for Kelley to understand the man beneath the uniform and his motivations. Mr. Shannon shines in the courtroom scene when questioning Goring on the stand and they engage in their own battle of wits.

         This is a dialogue heavy film that does drag at times but the score by Brian Tyler helps to move the story along. When actual footage of scenes from various concentration camps are shown as evidence, the film takes a heavy emotional turn that many viewers may find hard to watch.

         What Mr. Vanderbilt does very well is bridge the rise of the Nazi party to contemporary events in the world today. Mr. Kelley, in his book about his part in the trials, warned the world that it could happen again but, at the time, he was dismissed and his book deemed a failure. It is no longer in print.

         There is a sobering quote at the end of the credits, "The only clue to what man can do is what man has done"- R.G. Collingwood. 

Die My Love

 

     Jennifer Lawrence gives a memorable performance as Grace, a new mother struggling with post partum depression in this new film from director Lynne Ramsay. The film costars Robert Pattinson as her partner, Jackson.

     The film is a wild, crazy love story but as Grace sinks deeper into depression and psychosis, the story becomes bleaker and bleaker. There are moments of dark comedy but it's not enough for the audience to sink into despair along with Grace, as well as Jackson, who struggles to hold on to his unstable wife.

      Sissy Spacek and Nick Nolte costar as Jackson's parents, and the film also features LaKeith Stanfield as Karl, a mysterious character.

      It's an unsettling story but it is anchored by a brave and raw performance by Ms. Lawrence.

 

It was Just an Accident

 

    This new Iranian film was written and directed by Jafar Panahi. Mr. Panahi is very critical of the Iranian government and has been imprisoned several times. The film was shot without permission from the Iranian authorities which makes it all that more remarkable.

     When a former prisoner believes he has recognized his former torturous interrogator and jailer, he kidnaps the man with the intent to kill him. When a shred of doubt makes him hesitant to finish the act, he seeks the help of an eclectic group of other former prisoners to help make a positive identification.

     The film becomes more and more complex as other characters are introduced and the final resolution is not as simple as it seems. 

      Vahid Mobasseri stars as Vahid, who initially thinks he has found Eghbal, his former jailer. Ebrahim Azizi costars possibly as Eghbal. As Vahid seeks help for identification, he enlists Mariam Afshari as Shiva, Hadis Pakbaten as Golrokh, Majid Panahi as Ali, and Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr as Hamid.

      The film is thrilling and absurdly humorous at times and raises moral questions about justice and revenge while making a fairly blunt statement against the current Iranian government. It is presented in Persian with English subtitles.

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

 

         Directed and screenplay by Scott Cooper, this new film explores a particular period in the life of Bruce Springsteen and is based on the terrific book, "Deliver Me From Nowhere" (The making of Nebraska) by Warren Zanes. It takes place between the end of "The River" tour in 1981 and before the release of "Born In The USA".

           It is a intimate look into the personal and professional struggles of an artist approaching stardom who retreats to an isolated rental home to work out his demons through his music with the result being the stark, solo, acoustic, album known as "Nebraska". 

            The film stars Jeremy Allen White as Bruce Springsteen. Co-starring as his manager, Jon Landau, is Jeremy Strong. The film also features Stephen Graham as Bruce's father Douglas, Gaby Hoffman as his mother, Adele, Paul Walter Hauser as Mike Batlan, Odessa Young as Fay (a fictional girlfriend), Marc Maron as Chuck Plotkin, David Krumholtz as Al Teller, Harrison Sloan Gilbertson as Matt Delia, and as a young Bruce, Matthew Anthony Pellicano Jr.

            Mr. White capture the spirit and essence of Bruce Springsteen without becoming an imitation. He does his own singing and guitar playing. and makes the "character" Bruce Springsteen his own. His scenes of self doubt and depression are heartbreaking.

             The film contains many flashbacks to Bruce's youth and his difficult relationship with his father, which he starts to understand and work out through the songs of "Nebraska".  He finally comes to grips with his crippling depression with professional help. This is a raw glimpse into the life of a rock icon, that reveals his inner struggles (which he has discussed publicly) while at the same time shows us his creative process. And that process led to the album "Nebraska", that at first, no one knew what to make of, but is now regarded as a masterpiece.

              One doesn't have to be a Springsteen fan to appreciate the emotional relationships, terrific acting, and the creative backstory of the film, but of course, fans will thoroughly enjoy it.

Bugonia

 

            The latest film from director Yorgos Lanthimos is a nasty piece of work based on the Korean film, "Save The Green Planet", which in itself, is a completely bonkers film. The screenplay for this story is by Will Tracy and while it has the basic premise of the Korean film, Mr. Tracy and Mr. Lanthimos make it their own.

              The film stars Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons and they are terrific playing off each other as kidnapper and victim. Ms. Stone plays Michelle Fuller, the CEO of a pharmaceutical company and Mr. Plemons plays Teddy, a low level warehouse worker for her company and a beekeeper hobbyist. Teddy and his mentally challenged cousin, Don, kidnap Ms. Fuller convinced she is an alien from Andromendon.

              Once they have her tied up in the basement of their isolated house in the woods, Teddy proceeds to torture her to get her to admit she is an alien. Much of the film is is contained to the house and scenes of torture. The more Fuller denies, the more Teddy tortures her until she figures out her best chance to survive is to play along.

              Aidan Delbis plays Don and Stavros Halkias plays Casey, a local policeman investigating the kidnapping. Casey harbors guilt over an incident between him and Teddy when they were both young and Casey was his babysitter. There is also a cameo from Alicia Silverstone, who plays Teddy's comatose, hospital bound mother.

               It's a very small cast and the story is driven by the two leads. Eventually we learn of an ulterior motive for the kidnapping which leads to more horror and even more violence. This is not an easy film to watch as it grows darker and crazier as it goes along.

               The little humor that exists is very dark. None of the characters are likeable or deserve our sympathy except for, maybe, Don, who is just following his cousin's lead. 

                Root for the bees.

The Lost Bus

 

     Nobody does realistic recreations better than director Paul Greengrass. Here he tells the true story of a heroic bus driver and a teacher who drove 22 kids to safety in the middle of the devastating California "Paradise" wildfire.

      The film stars Matthew McConaughey as bus driver, Kevin McKay and America Ferrera as teacher, Mary Ludwig (in the actual events there was a second teacher, who did not want to participate in the making of the film). The film co-stars Yul Vazquez as fire chief, Ray Martinez, Ashlie Atkinson as Ruby, Ray's boss at the bus depot, and Mr. McConaughey's real mom and son as Ray's family.

       Blending actual footage and special effects, Mr. Greengrass puts the viewer in the heart of the fire. It is so well done, you can't tell where the actual fire begins and the CGI ends. You can literally feel the heat and smoke around the bus as Kevin desperately tries to find a way around the flames. And he does it dodging traffic jams, narrow mountain roads and, along with Ms. Ferrera, trying to keep twenty two kids calm at the same time. And on top of all that, Kevin worries about his own mother and son, while Mary worries about her own family, all caught, as well, in the middle of the fire.

        This heroic story (just one of many that I'm sure occurred during that catastrophic fire) is edge of your seat excitement and one hell of a ride. It's streaming now.

A House of Dynamite

 

      If you like your movies linear with a definitive beginning, middle and end, this new film is NOT for you. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, who is a master with this kind of material and written by Noah Oppenheim, the film is a doomsday scenario played out with multiple perspectives.

     When a nuclear warhead is launched by an unknown entity and is discovered heading into United States airspace, the military and government leaders must make crucial decisions within twenty minutes. The film is presented with three different perspectives with overlapping dialog. Characters in the first section may only be heard as voices and then revealed in the second and third section and vice versa.

      Once the rogue missile is detected, we see officials spring into action for almost twenty minutes and then the film momentarily goes black and resets twenty minutes to replay the action from the perspective of different characters and then resets again in the final third of the film.

       The film stars Idris Elba as POTUS (the President of the United States), who's voice we hear early on but only see him in the last third of the film. Also starring are Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, Geta Lee, Jason Clarke, Gbenga Akinnagbe with cameos from Kaitlyn Dever and Renee Elise Goldsberry. Everyone is excellent in their realistic roles but to this critic, the standout is Jared Harris as the Secretary of Defense.

        Ms. Bigelow rachets up the tension with each perspective as the no-win situation plays out with the final, ultimate decision squarely in the hands of the President. Many viewers may not like the ending but if you watch the credits, you may get a definitive clue as to how the film finally ends.

          Apparently Mr. Oppenheim and Ms. Bigelow did deep research as to how this scenario would really play out and the film represents a very scary, realistic view of  "what could happen".  The title refers to our planet as the "house" and all the nations with nuclear weapons as the "dynamite". 

          The film is this generation's "Fail Safe", released in 1964 during the "Cold War". It was and still is, a chilling drama about the possible consequences of nuclear war.