She Said

          Based on the true investigative journalism by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the film recounts the story of how the two reporters exposed Hollywood power broker Harvey Weinstein's history of sexual abuse. Zoe Kazan plays Jodi Kantor and Carey Mulligan plays Megan Twohey.

          I couldn't help be reminded of "All The President's Men" starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman as Woodward and Bernstein, the Washington Post reporters that broke the Watergate scandal. It details the determination a reporter will go for the story, following the leads, getting usable facts from witnesses and victims alike. Obviously these two women are chasing a very different story but the way they go about it is very similar.

         While it lacks the razzle-dazzle of a big time Hollywood drama, it does represent a tribute to journalistic integrity as it goes about the matter-of-fact details of the story. There is a welcome sidebar into the private lives of both women which balances nicely against their dogged professionalism in pursuit of the truth. Ms. Kazan and Ms. Mulligan are both well cast and have good chemistry between them.

 

          The film co-stars Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher, Peter Friedman, Zack Grenier, Jennifer Ehle and Ashley Judd (playing herself in what must have been a very emotional time, recreating what she really went through). There is also an electric cameo by Samantha Morton in a very emotional scene.

          The article and subsequent book by Kantor and Twohey made a major impact igniting the "Me Too movement" and changing the climate of sexual harassment in the workplace forever.

The Fabelmans

          Steven Spielberg bares his heart and soul on his most personal film yet. It's basically his autobiography very thinly disguised around a fictional family named Fabelman.  Written with frequent collaborator, Tony Kushner, Mr. Spielberg exposes the love and heartbreak any family can relate to and still entertain us through the magic of cinema. It is a loving tribute to his family and his past, that doesn't shy away from difficult memories.

           Directing his own story had to be an incredibly emotional burden, especially during the difficult moments but Mr. Spielberg is a master craftsman, who brings every memory to life with great care and grace. His casting is just perfection.  Michelle Williams is Mitzi Fabelman, the artistic mother who encourages her son to follow his dream of making movies. Paul Dano brings another level to his acting as Burt Fabelman,  the science-minded, electrical engineer father who thinks making films is just a hobby. As Mr. Spielberg's fictional self,  Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord plays Sammy Fabelman as a wide-eyed child and later, for the remainder of the film, Gabriel LaBelle plays Sammy through his teens and young adulthood.

           Costarring is Seth Rogan (in a surprising serious turn) as Benny, Burt's best friend and surrogate uncle to the family, Jeannie Berlin as Burt's grandmother, Chole East as Sammy's first high school girlfriend, and, in an incredible one scene cameo, Judd Hirsch as Uncle Boris. 

           The film is full of wonderful scenes, taken from Mr. Spielberg's life, that are so good, they could be stand-alone short films on their own. Without revealing the plot, but as an example, a major turning point in the story comes in a scene shot devoid of dialog, that is just amazing. This is the work of a master director, sure to be nominated in every major category at next year's Academy Awards.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

           Writer/director Ryan Coogler returns to the mythical Marvel kingdom of Wakanda for this sequel to the "Black Panther". With the untimely and tragic death of Chadwick Boseman, many wondered how Mr. Coogler could pull off a successful sequel. 

           Not only is the sequel a success but it is a loving tribute to Mr. Boseman, whose spirit inhabits the film from the first frame to the last. Most of the original cast returns and the emphasis this time is on Shuri, T'Challa's younger sister, played by Letitia Wright.  With the help of a strong supporting cast, including Angela Bassett as Ramonda, the Queen Mother, Winston Duke as M'Baku, Danai Gurira as Okoye, and Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia, Ms. Wright rises to the challenge. The film also features Dominque Thorne as Riri Williams, Tenoch Huerta as Namor, Martin Freeman as Evert Ross, and Julia Louise-Dreyfus as Valentina.

            Using Prince Namor, a Marvel iconic character, as the villain in the film is a bold choice and while Mr. Huerta tries hard, he doesn't quite capture the essence of the character. His backstory is also changed from the comics which will bother purists. However, the mass audience waiting for this film will probably not even care. Ms. Thorne's character is also derived from the comics, as the action hero "Iron Heart", sort of a female Iron Man. Mr. Coogler keeps most of the action contained in Wakanda or in the underwater Kingdom of Talokan (Atlantis in the comics). There is considerable action but the film gets bogged down in its excesses and could have easily been trimmed by 20 minutes.

              The film will undoubtedly be a success as it will satisfy all the fans and it does pay the well deserved tribute to Mr. Boseman. There is an important mid credit scene but nothing after the credits end, so no need to wait until the very end unless you enjoy reading credits.  We are told though that, like James Bond, The Back Panther will return.