Ferrari

 

       "Ferrari" centers the story of Enzo Ferrari during 1957. Enzo is reeling from the death of his son, his disintegrating marriage, company financial trouble, dealing with his mistress and his illegitimate son, all while preparing for the Millie Miglia, one of Italy's most important races.

        Adam Driver stars as Enzo Ferrari in a cold self-absorbed performance While his acting is solid, it's difficult to empathize with this character. Penelope Cruz co-stars as Laura, his wife and company partner. Ms. Cruz steals every scene she's in and is simply an unstoppable force of nature. Also co-starring is Shailene Woodley as Lina, Enzo's mistress. While a very capable actress, Ms. Woodley is completely miscast this time. And in another strange casting choice, Patrick Dempsey plays Piero Taruffi, one of Ferrari's racecar drivers.

       The film is directed by Michael Mann who appears to have lost a step from his usual style. Outside of the car scenes, the film moves at a slow pace amounting to nothing more than an Italian soap opera. The racing scenes leading up to the Millie Miglia are all practice runs and become repetitive but the Mille Miglia itself is very exciting and features one of the most horrific sequences I've ever seen in a racing film.

        While a fascinating character study, the only real winner at the checkered flag is Ms. Cruz whose performance leaves everyone else in her dust.

The Boys in The Boat

 

   Director George Clooney tells the true story of the University of Washinton's 1936 crew team, a bunch of underdogs that learned to work as a team and overcome adversity and become winners.,

   On the surface, the screenplay by Mark L. Smith is a sure-fire crowd-pleasing sports film that features exciting race sequences, but the film may as well have been called "The Boy in The Boat" as its focus is on one particular crew member, Joe Rantz, played by Callum Turner. Joe is the only fully realized character out of the eight-man team. Crew members Don Hume, played by Jack Mulhern and Roger Morris, played by Sam Strike show a little personality as does coxswain Bobby Moch, played by Luke Slattery but that leaves four members of the crew we know nothing about (yes there is one scene where we do learn one of the crew was so poor, he stole clothes but that's it).

   The eight men work hard to become a team and beat the odds but knowing more about each member would leave audience more fully invested. As a character says, "we weren't eight men, we were one". And that one character is represented by Joe. So of course, we root for him. I also found myself rooting for Joel Edgerton who plays Al Ulbrickson, the coach and Peter Guinness, the wise old boat craftsman.

   Mr. Clooney's direction is pretty standard but it's the racing scenes that really sell the film. The cinematography, by Martin Ruhe, is terrific, especially the overhead shots of the boats. Those shots make the races even more exciting and poetic watching the crew as they row in synchronization.

    It's a good movie that will stir a crowd but like the boats it features, the story just skims the surface when there is obviously more story to tell below the waterline. Plot points are left dangling like oars at rest. A missed opportunity to make a good movie...great.

    

   

Saltburn

 

       The less said about this new film from writer/director Emerald Fennell, the better. If you are prepared for a debauched jolt to your senses, you won't be disappointed.

       Barry Keoghan stars as Oliver, a scholarship student at Oxford who befriends Felix (played by Jacob Elordi), his handsome and rich roommate. When Oliver tells Felix his father has died, Felix feels bad for him and invites Oliver to Saltburn, his family's estate for the summer. Oliver meets the rest of Felix's spoiled rich family and what happens from that point on, simply can't be described.

       Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant play Felix's parents, Lady Elspeth and Sir James. Alison Oliver plays Venetia, their daughter and Archie Madekwe is Farleigh, Felix's sarcastic American cousin. Cary Mulligan has an almost unrecognizable cameo as Pamela, Elspeth's friend.

       The plot, as is, has been done before but never to this extreme. The film is at once, funny, dramatic, intense, sensual, explicit, creepy and while a bit too neat, surprising. It's a polarizing story that will definitely leave an impact.

       It's still in some theaters and now available, streaming on Prime video.

Best & Worst of 2023

My Best and Worst films of 2023-

TOP 10 FILMS OF 2023

Killers of the Flower Moon- a masterpiece of film making co-written and directed by Martin Scorsese. Incredible in every way.

Poor Things- Emma Stone is sensational in this amazing and original fantasy.

American Fiction- Brilliant satire with the incredible Jeffrey Wright in the lead role.

Maestro- Bradley Cooper’s magnificent story of the life and times of legendary composer and conductor, Leonard Bernstein

Barbie- Bizarre, surreal, and brilliant. Greta Gerwig found the perfect way to make this film work.

Oppenheimer- Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece. “Nuff” said.

Napoleon- Epic in scale, it’s a great examination of the world conqueror and his great love, Josephine.

The Holdovers- A funny yet heartbreaking comedy/drama with a wonderful performance by Paul Giamatti.

Anatomy Of a Fall- Excellent courtroom and family drama.

RRR- India’s highest grossing action-adventure film. A simply amazing story filled with impossible sequences that will blow you away.

BOTTOM 10 FILMS

Leave The World Behind- Leave this film behind.

65- The Last of Us meets Jurassic Park with Adam Driver battling dinosaurs.

The Meg 2: The Trench- Cheesy sequel starring the always reliable Jason Statham.

Haunted Mansion- Not very funny or scary and a waste of a very good but eclectic cast.

Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania- Overblown visually and noisy. Exists only to introduce new Marvel villain, Kang played well by Jonathan Majors, who is now banned from the Marvel Universe.

Triangle of Sadness- Sad how this terrible film has fooled every critic.

Operation Fortune- A lazy Guy Ritchie spy flick with very few good moments but co-stars the wonderfully snarky Aubrey Plaza.

About My Father- Sebastian Maniscalco should stick to stand-up. An unfunny comedy loosely based on his life.

The Boogeyman- Disappointing generic horror film.

The Iron Claw

 

   Written and directed by Sean Durkin, this new sports drama is inspired by the real life story of the Von Erich wrestling family. It is both a story of triumph and also terrible tragedy.

    During the 1980's the Von Erich brothers were wrestling's only family of competitors. They wrestled individually and as a tag team. At times, there was great success but also personal tragedy. The film doesn't shy away from what the family called it's "curse" and while it ends on a positive note, it's actually harbors quite a bit of sadness.

     As the brothers, the film stars Zac Efron (almost unrecognizable), Jeremy Allen White, Harris Dickinson, and Stanley Simons. Their parents are played by Holt McCallany and Maura Tierney. The film also co-stars Lily James and Michael J. Harney. Mr. McCallany has been acting for some time now and this is his best role to date.

     The wrestling scenes are realistically filmed and exciting enough but the pace of the film drags at times. I'm sure wrestling fans familiar with the Von Erich brothers will enjoy the film but even if you are not a fan, it is a fascinating and entertaining (albeit sad) film with very solid acting.

Wonka

 

       With a screenplay co-written and directed by Paul King, this is a new musical fantasy of how Willie Wonka became "Wonka". It's a clever origin story but leaves out an important detail. Just where does he get his incredible ingredients?

        Timothee Chalamet plays Willie Wonka and while his singing is just passable, he makes up for it with plenty of charm and personality. His co-stars include Calah Lane as Noodle, an orphan girl who becomes his assistant of sorts, Keegan- Michael Key as the chocolate addicted chief of police, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, and Matthew Bayton as the villainous trio of evil chocolate makers, Sally Hawkins as  Willie's mom, Rowan Atkinson as a chocolate addicted corrupt priest, Jim Carter as Abacus Crunch, Tom Davis as Bleacher, the wonderful Olivia Colman as Mrs. Scrubitt and Hugh Grant as Lofty, the Oompa-Loompa.

        Ms. Colman and Mr. Grant almost steal the film out from Mr. Chalamet. They are both clearly having a great time. Fans of "Ghosts U.K." will recognize Charlotte Ritchie, Simon Farnaby and the previously mentioned Matthew Bayton, all from the series.

        The film is a visual treat, full of color and fantastic sets. The songs don't overpower  and fit well into the story. And the running time is perfect at just under two hours. Much lighter in tone than the previous films of Willie Wonka, this is a fun film for the entire family.

Leave the World Behind

 

         A great cast does not always a great movie make. Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, and Mahershala Ali lead a cast that also includes Myha'la, Farrah Mackenzie, Charlie Evans, and in a small but significant part, Kevin Bacon in this apocalyptic "thriller". It thrills for about 45 minutes with a great premise (and a wild scene at the beach), but it ends up as the most boring "Twilight Zone" episode ever.

        The acting is as good as expected from this cast but just about all the characters are annoying. While the premise pulls you in, things happen with no explanation (which I can accept) but almost no reaction from the characters (which I can't accept). If  something really strange happens wouldn’t you tell someone right away rather than wait to casually mention it later in the film?

        Set in a beautiful Long Island home for most of the film, the most interesting thing is the architecture as we watch the cast wait for "something to happen". To keep us awake, the characters and the viewers are exposed to a very annoying noise at various intervals. Mr. Bacon, in basically a cameo, induces the most tension in his one scene, which considering the state of our country these days, is scary in a very real way.

        Director Sam Esmail doesn't help by stretching out the story at a snail's pace. When the big reveal does eventually come, all I kept thinking was "wow, we have just given our very real enemies a blueprint to attack our country". Thanks Mr. Esmail, who also wrote the screenplay.

         Available on Netflix, I wish I could leave this movie behind.

   

Past Lives

 

    Written and directed by Celine Song, this romantic drama is a lovely and honest look at a relationship in its many forms for two people over the course of 24 years. Far from a "rom com", the story borders on painful yet hopeful as we follow the life of Nora Moon (aka Seung Ah Moon) from her early years in Korea to her life in New York as an adult.

     As 12-year-olds in South Korea, Seung Ah Moon and Hae Sung share a friendship that is on the cusp of young love when suddenly Seung's family decides to immigrate to Canada. Hae Sung is quietly crushed by the sudden departure and never gives up trying to find his lost love. 12 Years later, Seung is now Nora and living in New York when a chance encounter on the internet reacquaints her with Hae. They renew their friendship on-line with her in New York and Hae in Korea, but it soon becomes difficult for Nora to continue. She suggests they take a break which lasts another 12 years until one day he decides to visit her in New York.

     Nora is played by the amazing Greta Lee and Hae Sung is played by Teo Yoo, who's love for Nora has never died and is conveyed so well by Mr. Yoo. John Magaro plays Arthur, another character important to the story.

     Ms. Song's screenplay is semi-autobiographical and inspired by real events in her life. Her subtle direction lets the story breathe as we follow the fate of these characters.

      

American Fiction

 

 

       Directed by Cord Jefferson (who also wrote the screenplay), this new comedy-drama is a biting satire with a not so subtle underlying of truth.

       Jeffrey Wright stars as Thelonius "Monk" Ellison, a serious writer who takes some non-voluntary time off from teaching to visit his family and attend a book conference. "Monk' has not published in some time and is bitter and cynical about the state of modern American fiction. Using a pen name, he decides to write a "street" book as a joke to illustrate the sad state of contemporary fiction, and no one is more surprised than him when the book takes off and is hailed a masterpiece.

       Mr. Wright is marvelous as "Monk". His sublime physical reactions to the madness occurring around him is just one of his strengths as an actor. He handles the comedic moments as deftly as the dramatic ones. Co-starring with Mr. Wright are Tracee Ellis Ross, as his sister, Leslie Uggams (yes, Leslie Uggams) as his mother, John Ortiz as his book agent, Myra Lucretia Taylor as the family housekeeper, Erika Alexander as a potential love interest, Issa Rae as another author and Sterling K. Brown as "Monk's brother, Cliff. Ms. Uggams is a lovely surprise addition to the cast and Mr. Brown sheds his "This Is Us" personality in an entire new way.

        The film is very smart and the satire sharp as a knife. While it has its share of dramatic and even sad moments, it is also very funny with great dialog and situations that get more absurd as the "book" keeps gaining in popularity. And through it all, Mr. Wright tries hard to maintain his sanity right up to the moment of a very clever ending.

        One of the best films of the year that I hope finds a wide audience.

         

Eileen

 

   A  character study that moves between film noir and melodrama with surprising twists along the way. It stars Thomasin McKenzie as Eileen and Anne Hathaway as Rebecca, a woman who becomes Eileen's obsession.

   The two stars have great chemistry in this psychological drama that gets darker and stranger as it goes on. Ms. McKenzie, in particular, is terrific as the complex title character. Ms. Hathaway, of late, is choosing far more interesting roles in Independent films than her previous Hollywood lead parts. Here she plays a disturbed femme fatale.

   The film co-stars Shea Whigham as Eileen's widowed, alcoholic father, and Marin Ireland as  Mrs. Polk, a pivotal character. Ms. Ireland's part is small but she delivers a a great performance during an extended monologue.  

   Richard Reed Parry ( of Arcade Fire) did the music and both the score and song selections are perfect.

   Moody and progressively twisted, the story may not appeal to everyone, especially with an ending that I found unsatisfying but it does have two excellent performances from Ms. McKenzie and Ms. Hathaway.

   

     

Godzilla Minus One

 

   To be honest, this film was not even on my radar until a friend recommended it (Thanks Alan) and then I started to read positive things about it. To say I was not disappointed is an understatement.

   Written and directed by Takashi Yamazaki (he also did the special effects), the film is terrific.  Mr. Yamazaki uses the metaphor of the monster to reflect upon Japanese society just after World War Two (as well as war itself). He's not afraid to criticize the government at that time under the guise of a monster movie. 

   The special effects rival any Hollywood blockbuster and Godzilla appears as a truly terrifying monster, especially during his destruction of Ginza (which is easy to see the parallel of war torn Ukraine or even the war in the middle East). Tokyo, as well, is a bombed out shell of it's former self, even before the monster makes an appearance, due to the allied bombing of the city during the war.

   Besides the special effects and action sequences, what really makes the film special is the humanity of its lead characters, who give the movie it's heart and soul. Ryunosuke Kamiki stars as Koichi, a Kamikaze  pilot who defies his mission and first encounters the monster on a remote island (where only he and a technician named Tachibana survive). Tachibana is played by Munetaka Aoki.

   Koichi has survivor's guilt, both from the war and the monster's first strike on the island. When he returns home to a bombed out Tokyo, his family is gone and he reluctantly takes in a young woman and a baby who have nowhere else to go. His relationship with the young woman, Noriko, played by Minami Hamabe and the baby form a bond that is the strength of the film. 

   It's pretty clear that Mr. Yamazaki was influenced not only by the original film but also "Jaws". He features the monster sparingly but when he does, it's very impactful. The scenes on the ocean will definitely bring "Jaws" to mind.

   I'm still not sure what the film's title actually means but it was a pleasant surprise and a welcome addition to the Godzilla mythos. I guess you can teach an old monster new tricks.

   In Japanese with English subtitles.

Poor Things

 

          From the fertile imagination of director Yorgos Lanthimos comes the fantastic story of Bella Baxter. Unlike anything else you will see this year, this film, starring Emma Stone, is a perfect example of cinematic art.

           Emma Stone is absolutely remarkable as Bella Baxter, a Frankenstein-like creation of Dr. Goodwin Baxter, played by Willem Dafoe. Reanimated by the doctor, Bella has the brain of a baby and must face the world with a fresh start on life.

           Ms. Stone's performance is fearless, and superlatives just don't do it justice. She is simply a wonder to watch as her brain catches up with her body through the course of the film. Mr. Dafoe, under incredible makeup, is still able to give a nuanced performance as Bella's creator and father figure. The film costars Mark Ruffalo, in one of his best performances in years, as Duncan Wedderburn, a lecherous suitor and Ramy Youssef as Max, Dr. Baxter's assistant who helps Bella to learn and eventually falls in love with her. Other co-stars include Chriistopher Abbot, Herrod Carmichael, Kathryn Hunter, and Margaret Qualley.

          While the film takes place primarily in Victorian England with stops in various other countries, Mr. Lanthimos reimagines every location in a fantasy reality with remarkable sets and visuals. Filmed both in black and white as well as color, the film is a feast for the senses. The screenplay by Tony McNamara is brilliant with wonderful dialog and social commentary as Bella learns independence and demands equality.

            Full disclosure, the film deserves its R rating. There is nudity and sex but it is relevant to the story. "Poor Things" is surprising and wonderful and easily one of my favorite films of the year. It blew me away.

May December

 

    Director Todd Haynes, master of the melodrama, brings us this new film starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. Loosely based on real events from some years ago, Ms. Portman plays Elizabeth, an actress who comes to spend time with the woman she will portray in her next film. Ms. Moore plays her subject, Gracie. 

    Gracie, who's tabloid love affair with a 13 year old boy (10 years her junior), sent her to jail pregnant and when released, she subsequently married him and raised their children. Charles Melton plays Joe, her  now adult husband.

    Mr. Haynes is so good at making character studies his own. The film walks a fine line between disturbing drama and melodramatic comedy, reinforced by an over the top score. It's an unusual plot that finds Elizabeth digging under the surface to get to Gracie's "truth" for her role. In the course of her research, deep wounds are reopened and motivations are questioned.

   Ms. Portman really shines as Elizabeth picking apart Gracie's life for the sake of her art. Both Ms. Moore and  Mr. Melton are excellent in their complex roles, especially as Elizabeth starts to peel away layers of their seemingly happy world.

   The film is available on Netflix.

   

Silent Night

 

      From famed action director John Woo comes this nasty revenge thriller with a twist. The tag line is "Action speaks louder than words". It couldn't be more true as this film has no spoken dialog.

     Joel Kinnaman stars as Brian, a father who, at the beginning of the film,  loses his little boy during Christmas, to gang violence. He is wounded with a shot to the throat when he chases down the responsible gang. Unable to speak, Mr. Kinnaman relies on his impressive physical acting talents to convey his emotions..

    The film co-stars Scott Mescudi as the detective in charge of gang violence, Harold Torres as Playa, the leader of the gang, and Catalina Sandino Moreno as Saya, Brian's wife. There is no spoken dialog from any of the principal characters, only ambient noise, background chatter on a police radio, and a pulsing score, from Marco Beltrami, that drives the action.

    Brian circles the following Christmas on his calendar and spends the rest of the year getting in shape to get his revenge by hunting down the gang and killing them all. 

   While a typical action/revenge plot, the lack of dialog makes for an interesting experiment. In the hands of another director, it could have been a major failure but John Woo certainly knows how to deliver. While not his best work, it's still an exciting film filled with the creative, violent action you would expect from Mr. Woo.

        

Maestro

 

   Co-written, directed by and starring Bradley Cooper in the title role, this is a wonderful examination of the life and times of Leonard Bernstein, the fabled composer and conductor.

 

   This film is so obviously a work of love for Mr. Cooper. He embodies Mr. Bernstein's life and soul in every scene. You see and feel his honest joy and passion in the various conducting scenes and particularly in one climatic performance piece.

   The heart and soul of the film, however, belongs to Mr. Bernstein's relationship with Felicia Montealegre, his wife and great love. Cary Mulligan plays Felicia in an emotionally strong and yet heartbreaking performance. Their love for each other was great but their marriage was very complicated.

   Co-stars include Matt Bomer, Maya Hawke, Sarah Silverman, Michael Urie, Brian Klugman, Sam Nivola, Miriam Shor, Alexa Swinton, and Josh Hamilton.

   Mr. Cooper has shown growth as a director and handles his material very well. I can't imagine the difficulty of directing yourself, especially when you are in almost every scene. He films in color and black & white as well as plays with the film's aspect ratio but it all comes together beautifully.  He uses Mr. Bernstein's music throughout the film and it is magnificent.

    This is a Netflix production and will debut on the streaming service December 20th. However, if you can, I highly recommend seeing it during it's limited theatrical run. There will be an abundance of Oscar nominations.

  

Napoleon

 

 

   Director Ridley Scott reunites with star Joaquin Phoenix to bring Napoleon Bonaparte to vivid life. Mr. Scott's bombastic direction serves him well in the recreated battle scenes and Mr. Phoenix's chemistry with co-star Vanessa Kirby as Napoleon's great love, Josephine combine for an epic story.

   Screenwriter David Scarpa's script is a Reader's Digest condensed version (remember those?) of Napoleon's adult life squeezed into a two and a half hour film. It faithfully recreates famous battles and the complicated love story of Napoleon and Josephine. He does take liberties with timelines and alters certain events for dramatic effect and while not historically accurate, they serve the film well.

   Mr. Phoenix is excellent in the starring role. He coveys Napoleon's complexities well and adds a bit of his own quirkiness to the part. And Ms. Kirby plays Josephine with just the right balance of vulnerability and strength.

    Co-stars include Tahar Rahim (so good in Netflix's "The Serpent"), Ben Miles, Edouard Phillpponnat, Paul Rhys, and Rupert Everett as the Duke of Wellington. These actors stand out in a large cast but with the film's main focus on Napoléon and Josephine, everyone else is really pushed to the background.

   Mr. Scott's battle scenes are amazing, employing thousands of actual actors to wage war. Visual effects and even animation are seamlessly added in to bring the battles to bloody life. I do take issue with the many horses used in the film without the disclaimer that "no animals were harmed in the making of the film". While the credits do mention two veterinarians on set, it seems hard to believe that horses were not injured in many scenes. 

   The film is an Apple production and will eventually find it's way to Apple+ streaming. Due to it's scope though, I highly recommend seeing it on the largest screen possible. It's spectacular in IMAX.

Next Goal Wins

 

   Co-written and directed by Taika Waititi, this new sports underdog film is based on a 2014 documentary about the American Samoan football (Soccer) team. Mr. Waititi also has a small part as a priest.

    Previously the team had lost to Australia 31-0 and they are considered the embarrassment of the FIFA league. A Dutch-American coach, Thomas Rongan is given the nearly impossible task of turning the team around. Rongan is played by Michael Fassbender and while a very good actor, seems miscast in this comedy/drama.

   We meet the various members of the team, typical stereotyped losers and one transgender player that has lots of potential, all of them confused by their new coach. It's a fish out of water story for Coach Rongan who has to first learn the culture before he can bond with his new team.

   The film co-stars Oscar Knightly as Tavita, Kaimana as Jaiyah Saelua, David Fane as Ace, Rachel House as Ruth, and in small parts, Elisabeth Moss and Will Arnett. Aside from Coach Rongan, there is little character development which is disappointing as the material could have been mined for much more depth.

   The story comes together pretty much as you would expect with a few twists to keep it interesting. It has a lot of heart and you do get to learn interesting things about American Samoa but it's far from Mr. Waititi's best.

The Marvels

 

    

        It's been a while since we've actually had a new Marvel film and this new adventure serves as a sequel of sorts to "Captain Marvel".  It's really for fans and I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a introduction to the Marvel universe. Bree Larson stars once again as Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel and this time we find her, reluctantly at first, joining Monica Rambeau (now grown), played by Teyonah Parris and Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, played by Iman Vellani as "The Marvels.

        After a jump point anomaly in space causes the three women to switch places when using their powers, the trio eventually team up against Dar-Benn, played by Zawe Ashton, a Kree warrior who wants revenge against Captain Marvel, who's actions have accidentally led to the devastation of the Kree home world. 

         There are subplots involving Ms. Marvels family and Nick Fury's involvement as well as a detour to help some Skrull refugees and a dance number on a planet where language is sung which all lead to a less than cohesive plot. The tone of the film is a bit all over as well, juvenile at times, silly (too many cats) , and then suddenly very serious.

         The plentiful CGI and special effects are decent. The best thing about the film though is the solid chemistry between the three leads. They trade fun one-liners and find a true heart and soul between them.

          Of course being a Marvel film, there are two significant scenes at the end and mid-credits that allude to "more to come" for some of the characters.

        

The Killer

 

       Michael Fassbender stars as "The Killer", a hitman for hire in this new drama from director David Fincher. The film is divided into chapters that follow a hit gone wrong.

        The film co-stars Arliss Howard, Charles Parnell, Tilda Swinton, Sala Baker, Kerry O'Malley and Sophie Charlotte...all in small parts within their given chapters.

         After a botched hit in Paris, we follow "the Killer" through his internal monologue as he jets around the world, trying to proactively "clean up" the repercussions. There is a great on going joke involving the multiple aliases he uses in each country. You can play along and see how many you recognize.

           The film serves as a sort of hitman primer but also as an examination of a man coming to grips with an identity crisis. Mr. Fassbender is excellent in the role but as for directing, it's not Mr. Fincher's best. There are moments that harken back to "Se7en" but they are few and far between.

NYAD

 

   This new drama is the story of marathon swimmer Diana Nyad's incredible non-stop swim from Cuba to the Florida keys. It stars Annette Bening as Diana Nyad and Jodie Foster as her best friend and coach, Bonnie Stoll.

   After a failed attempt at age 28, Diana Nyad decides at 60 to try the extremely difficult and dangerous swim again with Bonnie as her coach. It is simply a remarkable achievement, chronicled here in great detail. Ms. Bening is absolutely incredible in the role and kudos to her for even taking on the part in the first place. Ms. Foster is at her most natural in her role as Bonnie. The two real life friends share a wonderful bond that is faithfully recreated by the performance of the film’s two stars.

    The film co-stars Rhys Ifans as navigator John Bartlett, Karley Rothenberg as skipper Dee Brady, Jeena Yi as Angel Yanagihara, Luke Cosgrove as Luke Tipple, Eric T. Miller as Jack Nelson (teenage Diana's swimming coach, seen in flashbacks) and Garland Scott as Jon Rose.

   Dramatic scenes are interspersed with archival footage of the real Ms. Nyad that adds to the overall exuberant experience of the film. It's a must see, both for the performances and for the inspirational story.

 Available on Netflix.

    

   

Anatomy Of A Fall

 

    Co-writer and director Justine Triet has created a masterful film that is both a courtroom procedural and a family drama.

    When her husband is found dead by their blind eleven year old son, right outside their chalet, writer Sandra Voyter's world is turned upside down. Was it an accident, suicide, or murder is the question? And if it is murder, did Sandra actually kill her husband?

    The film stars Sandra Huller as Sandra, Milo Machado-Graner as her son Daniel, and Swann Arland as her lawyer, Vincent Renzi.  The film co-stars Samuel Theis, in flashbacks, as the husband and Antoine Reinartz as the prosecuting attorney when the case goes to trial.

    Both Ms. Huller and young Mr. Machado-Graner are excellent. Ms. Huller, in particular, is riveting, proclaiming her innocence throughout the film.  Did she or didn't she is the question and the writing is so good, you will have a hard time deciding for yourself.

   The film takes place just outside Grenoble, France and the dialogue is in both French and English. Both Ms. Triet and Ms. Huller are at the top of their game and the film is not to be missed.

     

Priscilla

 

  Austin Butler did such an amazing job portraying Elvis Presley that it's hard to imagine anyone else playing the role now. In this new film written and directed by Sophia Coppola, it's not even an issue since the film is about and from the perspective of Priscilla Presley.

   Jacob Elordi plays Elvis to Cailee Spaeny's Priscilla. While Mr. Elordi tries hard (he's no Mr. Butler but then again, he doesn't have to be), it's Ms. Spaeny who shines in the film. She portrays Priscilla from age 14 to age 27 and is wonderful to watch. Ms. Coppola wrote the screenplay based on Ms. Presley's book, "Elvis and Me" so one would assume much of what happens in the film actually took place. Ms. Spaeny captures it all through Ms. Coppola's lens, from her wide eyed innocence to the craziness and isolation of being Mrs. Elvis Presley.

    The film co-stars Dagmara Dominczyk as Ann Beaulieu, Priscilla's mother and Luke Humphrey as Terry West. The rest of the cast are not well known actors who portray other characters in Elvis and Priscilla's orbit.

    Focusing her camera on Priscilla, we don't hear any Elvis music or see any of his performances (except a snippet), and the commanding Colonel Parker is only mentioned off screen. We see his world through Priscilla and it's actually a pretty strange one. She moves into Graceland when she is 16, marries Elvis at 21 and divorces him 6 years later. Elvis insists she always stays at Graceland, forbidding her to take even a part time job, picks out her clothes and makeup and yet is almost never home since he's off making most of his Hollywood movies during this period.

   Ms. Coppola gets the period just right. The clothes are perfect as are the cars, the sets and all the visuals. The film has an ethereal quality throughout which is a trademark with all of Ms. Coppola's films. She takes us into a world we could only imagine and shows us the the one of a kind reality it truly was.

The Holdovers

 

        This new comedy/drama reunites Paul Giamatti with director Alexander Payne, their second film together after "Sideways". They are both at the top of their game.

        Mr. Giamatti plays Paul Hunham, a crusty, curmudgeon of an ancient history teacher at a private boys school.  During Christmas break, he is assigned to watch over a small group of boys that have to stay behind at the school for various reasons.

        With him over the break is the school's cafeteria manager, Mary, played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph, in her best role yet. His young charges are soon reduced to one troubled student, Angus Tully, played by newcomer Dominic Sessa.

         The film is set in 1970 and Mr. Payne goes to great lengths to get the period and look of the film right. From the retro opening MPAA rating and Focus Features logo, you already feel transported back in time. Most of the film takes place at the school with the exception of a few significant sojourns. 

          You may be reminded of "Dead Poets Society" but with that film, Robin Williams was a loveable teacher with an unorthodox method of reaching his students. Mr. Giamatti is a self proclaimed failure who drinks too much and knows that no one at the school, teachers or students, likes him. 

           Forced to spend two weeks together, Hunham, Mary and Angus, all broken souls for different reasons, forge an unusual bond that propels the story. The film is funny, heartbreaking and ultimately endearing with three terrific performances.

Killers of the Flower Moon

 

   Co-writer, producer and director Martin Scorsese has created a masterpiece. It is without a doubt an incredible work of film art and a towering achievement in an illustrious career.

    Working from the book by David Grann, Mr. Scorsese and his co-writer, Eric Roth tell the true story of  horrific crimes against the Osage people in 1920's Oklahoma. Oil was discovered on their land around that time and the Osage became some of the wealthiest people in the country. The land rights were passed down by generation from the Osage women and could eventually land in the hands of non-Osage relatives through marriage. Using this law, white men started marrying Osage women to share their wealth. During a multi-year period, many Osage were murdered for their land rights. This horrific crime is the basis of the film.

   To his credit, Mr. Scorsese met with current members of the Osage people to tell the story honestly from their perspective. He employed many Osage men and women, both as actors and as part of the crew. Already meticulously detailed, this lends an further air of authenticity and truth to the film. 

   Mr. Scorsese's direction is flawless on every level. The cinematography takes your breath away as do all the visuals. The costumes are amazing. From the Osage clothes to men's pajamas, just remarkably detailed. His actors fill the screen with many unrecognizable names but faces you will never forget. And speaking of actors, his three leads, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert DeNiro, and Lily Gladstone have all taken their craft to another level.

    This is the best acting Mr. DeNiro has done in years. For Mr. DiCaprio, it may be his finest role ever. Their scenes together are simply magic. Ms. Gladstone will break your heart with an incredible performance. Other familiar names include Jesse Plemons and in basically cameos, John Lithgow and Brendan Fraser. Mr. Scorsese makes an interesting choice to also employ many well known musicians in various roles. Jason Isbell has a key part as does Pete Yorn and if you look closely you will notice a few others. 

    Completed before his death, Robbie Robertson did the music for the film and the methodic beating rhythm underscores the growing tension of the story perfectly.

    There is some controversy regarding how Mr. Scorsese presents the film's epilog. Personally I had no problem with it and found it very original. The film runs long, three and a half hours but not one minute of film is wasted. It really should be seen on a big screen (IMAX if you can) but if the running time is an issue for you, it will be available on Apple + in a few weeks to watch at your leisure.

    This was a very dark period for the Osage and it was happening around the same time as the Tulsa riot, another stain in American history (which Mr. Scorsese briefly refers to). To bring this story to life in a dramatic and yet, entertaining way is such a credit to this master filmmaker. Expect to see double digit Oscar nominations.

    And as Robert DeNiro reminds us, "The front is the front and the back is the back". I loved that line.

    

       

She Came to Me

 

   Written and directed by Rebecca Miller, this new film can best be described as a romantic drama with comedic moments. You may go in expecting one thing but the film turns conventions on their head and comes out in the most unexpected ways.

    Peter Dinklage stars as Steven, an opera composer with writer's block. His wife Patricia, played by Anne Hathaway, tells him one day to take the dog for a long walk and clear his head. Once he meets Marisa Tomei's character, Katrina, he finds inspiration in the most unusual way. At the same time,  Patricia's teenage son, Julian, is unknowingly dating her cleaning woman's daughter which ends up causing trouble for both families. The circumstances that turn the plot are very original and clever.

    While all the actors are terrific, quirky doesn't even begin to describe their characters. Mr. Dinklage is a gem as the neurotic composer. Ms. Hathaway quietly may be the most quirky of all as the obsessive compulsive therapist who loves to clean. Ms. Tomei is outstanding in a very original role, as Katrina. The film co-stars Evan Ellison as Julian and Harlow Jane as his girlfriend Tereza. Joanna Kulig is Magdalena, the cleaning woman and Brian d'Arcy James is her husband, Trey (another very original character).

      While the framework is familiar, the story is fresh, filled with surprising yet endearing moments. And if you are a Bruce Springsteen fan, there is a new song featured over the end credits.

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

 

       Famed director William Friedkin's last film is a remake of the classic play and film. The story is updated to reference 911 and with a single set and solid cast, Mr. Friedkin does a great job with the material.

       Kiefer Sutherland stars as Lt. Commander Queeg, the captain of the USS Caine. With only two scenes, Mr. Sutherland is terrific, especially in his second appearance as he starts to unravel in the courtroom. Jake Lacy is Lieutenant Maryk who stands accused of the mutiny during a mission in a raging storm. Jason Clarke is Lieutenant Greenwald, Maryk's defense attorney, Monica Raymond plays the lead prosecutor, and in his final role, Lance Reddick plays a commanding presence as Captain Blakely, the head judge.

       While Mr. Sutherland makes the most of his two scenes, Jason Clarke steals the film defending Lt. Maryk. Set completely in the courtroom, this is a potboiler of a story with a surprising and powerful ending. The film is available on Showtime.

Fair Play

 

     Written and directed by Chloe Domont, this is a really fun and nasty piece of work about gender and office politics in the world of high finance.

     Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich star as Emily and Luke, two analysts at a major hedge fund. They live together and plan on getting married but are keeping their relationship secret at work since its against corporate policy. When one is promoted over the other it changes their dynamic at at the office as well as at home, and not for the better.

     Eddie Marsan plays Campbell plays the company's demanding CEO and Rich Somers plays Paul, his right hand man. Ms. Dynevor and Mr. Ehrenreich are dynamite together and figuratively blow up the film.    

     This is a great little feature about sex, power, and corporate greed. In limited theaters and on Netflix.

The Exorcist: Believer

 

      Co-written and directed by David Gordon Green, this new horror film attempts to take the story back to its roots, even bringing Ellen Burstyn back as Chris MacNeil, the mother in the original film.

      The film ups the ante on the original by having two girls possessed at the same time. Lidya Jewett plays Angela and Olivia O'Neill plays Katherine. The two young actress are put through the proverbial ringer as their possession gets stronger and stronger.

      Leslie Odom Jr. plays plays the lead as Angela's father Victor, who as be begins to believe the possession, reaches out to Chris MacNeill for help. Norbert Leo Butz plays Tony, Katherine's father and Ann Dowd plays Ann, a nurse with ties to the church. Ms. Burstyn's role is a gimmick that amounts to not much more than a cameo (although there is very clever scene with her at the end). It's a respectable cast of above average actors adding a distinct pedigree to a horror film than most. 

     The special effects are fairly good but the film fails to deliver real thrills and chills with only a minimum of good scares. It's still fun in a nostalgic way bringing back memories of the original (which was terrifying back in its day).  There are two sequels are planned which I assume will depend on the box office of "Believer".

    

The Creator

     

     Mixing elements of "District 9", "Terminator", "Ex Machina", "I Robot" and "Bladerunner", this is science fiction we've all seen before, but it's never been timelier.

     When a nuclear blast destroys Los Angeles in the near future, it sets off a war between humans and artificially intelligent robots. The United States outlaws AI and creates a flying fortress, USS NOMAD" to scour the earth looking for AI strongholds.

      John David Washington stars as Joshua Taylor, a soldier, undercover in the AI network looking for "The Creator" and the weapon it's built to destroy NOMAD. Mr. Washington brings a tremendous amount of humanity to his part and the film in general. Co-starring are Gemma Chan, Allison Janney (playing against type as a villain), Ken Watanabe, Sturgill Simpson, Ralph Ineson, Michael Esper, and Madeleine Yuna Voyles as Alpha-O (or Alphie for short).

      The film is co-written and directed by Gareth Edwards. Not only does Mr. Edwards borrow heavily from the aforementioned films, but he also relies on the recent ubiquitous trope of a hero protecting a child.  And while it's got the "been there, done that" feel, the film also manages to feel fresh mostly due to Mr. Washington's heartfelt performance and the stunning visual effects.

   A.I. is here to stay and only becoming more advanced. This film, like the others that have come before it, serves as a warning of what the future may really hold for humans and robots.

    

Reptile

 

       This new Netflix drama is a throwback to the slow burn, crime story that may remind you of the atmospheric feel of "True Detective" on HBO.

       What appears to be a simple, yet brutal murder of a real estate agent turns complex and frankly pretty convoluted but still worth your time if you are a fan of the genre.

        Benicio del Toro stars as Detective Tom Nichols and Alicia Silverstone plays his wife, Judy. Justin Timberlake also stars as Will Grady, a successful real estate agent whose girlfriend is the murder victim. The film also co-stars Eric Bogosian, Ato Essandoh, Domenick Lombardozzi, Michael Pitt, Sky Ferreira, Owen Teague, Mike Pniewski, and Francis Fisher. It's a great cast, not lacking for suspects. Mr. del Toro and Ms. Silverstone are both excellent and fun to watch as they bounce ideas and theories off each other to solve the case.

        The film takes it's time with the investigation, accompanied by a moody score. The plot gets tangled up in its own twists and turns, but Mr. del Toro's magnetic presence keeps you engaged.

Flora & Son

 

   

 Written and directed by John Carney (Once, Begin Again, Swing Street), this is another comic/drama that continues his streak of hits that showcase the power of music.

     Flora is a single mom living in Dublin with Max, her rebellious teenage son. Max acts out his anger issues with petty robberies and is always getting in trouble. Flora finds an old guitar, fixes it up and gives it to Max in hopes a new hobby will help. When Max refuses the guitar, Flora decides to take online lessons to learn to play herself. 

     Sounds simple enough but Flora gets more than she bargained for from her online teacher, Jeff and her discovery of Max's true passion. The story blossoms into something more complex, heartfelt and lyrical.

     Eve Hewson plays Flora, and her star keeps rising with each onscreen appearance. Here, she has top billing, and it is well deserved for both her acting and musical talent. (I guess it doesn't hurt that her dad is Bono, of U2). Jeff, her guitar teacher is played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Max is played by Oren Kinlan. Both are terrific. Jack Reynor plays Ian, Flora's Ex, and still an important figure in Max's life.

    As with all his films, Mr. Carney fills the story with great music and at least one memorable song. He always brings an honest and natural performance from his actors. The language in the film is a bit rough at times, (especially in one scene that didn't seem necessary) but realistic to the story. Dublin, itself, is a great backdrop,

     The film is in select theaters and also streaming on Apple TV+. 

     

It Lives Inside

    

    

      Another entry in the recent slate of horror movies,  "It Lives Inside" adds a new element to the tired "teens in danger" storyline. The main character is Sam, a teen girl of Indian origin who must face off against an evil Hindu spirit to protect her friends and family. In her suburban town, Sam denies her Indian origins to "blend in" at school and avoid being alienated. When she unwittingly unleashes the evil spirit possessing her friend Tamira, she must embrace her heritage to fight the demon. 

      Sam is played convincingly by Megan Suri and the rest of the cast includes Neeru Bajwa as her mother, Vik Sahay as her father, Gage Marsh as Russ, her love interest, and Betty Gabriel as Joyce Dixon, a teacher and friend.

      The film is written and directed by Bishal Dutta and while there are some genuine creepy moments, the horror tropes are pretty standard and lack any real scares. The editing is choppy at times, scenes jump from one to the next, seemingly unconnected. And while it is a horror movie, there are irrational elements to the plot that take you out of the film's reality.

      If the film does well, the ending, while definitive, does leave the door open for a sequel. Sadly, I'm still waiting for a new horror film that will send the popcorn flying out of my lap.

Dumb Money

 

 

     Based on a true story, this new film recounts the crazy story of how the "little guy" took on Wall Street Hedge Fund billionaires trading Game Stop shares. While the hedge funds were betting the Game Stop stock would fail, a group of small-time individual investors, following the advice of Keith Gill, kept buying up stock using a site called "WallStreetBets" a subredditt site managed by Robinhood.

     While he had a day job, Mr. Gill, in his spare time had his own internet site offering stock advice as "Roaring Kitty". He did a deep analysis of Game Stop and began watching the stock very closely buying up shares himself. As he gained more and more followers, the stock price began to rise and hedge fund investors looking to "short" the stock took huge losses.

     The film simplifies the story making it easy to follow even if you are stock market ignorant. I'm sure the real story is much more involved and complex, but director Criag Gillespie and writers Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo do a great job breaking it down to its core with humor and unexpected suspense.

     Paul Dano stars as Keith Gill, Shailene Woodley as Caroline, his wife, and Pete Davidson as Keith's brother, Kevin. Also starring as the Hedge fund billionaires are Vincent D'Onofrio as Steve Cohen, Nick Offerman as Kenneth Griffin, and Seth Rogan as Gabe Plotkin. Sebastian Stan and Rushi Kota play the owners of the Robinhood site that causes chaos when they shut down the trading. And while the film can't tell the story of every individual investor, America Ferrera, Anthony Ramos, Myha"la Herrold and Talis Ryder represent the "little guys" that at times, invested their life savings on the advice of "Roaring Kitty".

      The story is unbelievable but true, and the film version, which I'm sure has its fictional elements, is very entertaining. It would make a great double feature with "The Big Short".

A Haunting in Venice

       Directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh, this is the third film in the growing series of Hercule Poirot mysteries. Based on the Agatha Christie novel, "Hallowe'en Party", the setting is Venice for this whodunit with supernatural overtones.

      As with his other films in the series, Mr. Branagh surrounds himself with an all-star cast including Camille Cottin, Jamie Doran, Tina Fey, Kelly Reilly, Jude Hill, Riccardo Scamarcio and Michele Yeoh. Only Ms. Fey seems miscast, her performance too modern for a 1947 story.

      Her character sets things in motion when she invites Poirot to witness a seance in an attempt to discover the deception of the medium, played by Michele Yeoh. When a murder occurs during the evening, it is up to Poirot to solve the case.

      Venice itself becomes a character with gorgeous cinematography adding to the natural beauty of the city. Mr. Branagh's direction fills the story with creepy visuals, the camera swirling through dark halls, empty rooms, and hidden cellars while all the characters are locked in for the night as Poirot looks for motives and clues.

       The supernatural element may be suspect, but it's done well and adds to a darker tone than the previous films. If you enjoy the series, you will not be disappointed. If you are new to Ms. Christie's famous detective, you should find yourself, at a medium, mildly entertained.

       

The Nun 2

 

    The sequel to the surprise 2018 hit, "Nun 2" ups the terror by putting a boarding school of young girls in danger.

    Taissa Farmiga returns as Sister Irene, as does Jonas Bloquet as Maurice and of course, Bonnie Aarons as "The Nun". New additions to the cast include Storm Reid as Sister Debra, Anna Popplewell as Kate (the prerequisite young child in danger. I lost count how many times a character askes "where's Kate".) and Katelyn Rose Downey as Sophie, Kate's mom and a teacher at the school.

    A blink and you missed it horror scene from the first film justifies how the demon escaped to appear in the sequel. Director Michael Chaves creates a good sense of fear and tension in almost every scene. And many scenes reward with decent scares.

    If you are a fan, there is a mid-credit scene that ties the story to the rest of "The Conjuring" universe, technically making it the ninth film in the series.

The Equalizer 3

 

    Denzel Washington and director Antoine Fuqua return for a third go round in this action drama. This time the film takes place in a small town outside Naples Italy. Why Mr. Washington's character, Robert McCall is in Italy remains a mystery until very late in the film.

    The plot has a unique structure, starting with McCall having already killed a number of men and apparently captured by some unnamed Italian gangsters. From there it takes a fresh breath in the story until returning to what we've come to expect in these films.

    Mr. Washington spends a great deal of time sipping cappuccino and tea at his favorite cafe, enjoying life in Altamonte, recovering from a serious wound. The action sequences are sparse but when the happen, they are intense and very violent. It's a slow burn as McCall watches the town threatened by gangsters and deciding when and how to "equalize" the situation. Meanwhile, there is a subplot about terrorists and drugs that introduces Dakota Fanning's character Emma Collins, a CIA operative. The film also co-stars David Denman. Eugenio Mastrandrea, Sonia Ben Ammar, and Remo Girone.

     It's always fun to watch Mr. Washington play this character as he methodically goes about his violent business with a cool, calm demeanor.

      

Golda

    

        

     This biographical drama is a tour de force for Helen Mirren in the title role as Golda Meir. As with pretty much any film she is in, Ms. Mirren is remarkable and carries the weight of the film squarely on her shoulders.

     The timeline for the film is an account of Ms. Meir's leadership during the "Yom Kippur War" when Israel was attacked on all sides by Egypt and Syria. Directed by Guy Nattiv, the film is straightforward and fairly dry in its retelling of that terrible time in Israel's history.

     Co-starring are Camille Cotin as Lou Kadar, Ms. Meir's personal assistant, Rami Heuberger as Moshe Dayan, Ohad Knoller as Ariel Sharon, Lior Ashkenazi as David Elazar, and in a two-scene cameo, Liev Schreiber as Henry Kissinger. 

     Ms. Mirrin's makeup is remarkable, even in closeup. And how she survived chain smoking throughout the film is beyond me. There are countless shots of her smoking and filled ashtrays. It's enough to question your own health when you leave the theater.

           There is not much new here to learn if you are familiar with the facts but if you're not, it is certainly an important time in history to watch unfold with another great Helen Mirrin performance.

Gran Turismo

     

      Forget for a moment that this is a two hour and twenty minute commercial for a Sony Playstation video game and Nissan Motors. It's based on a true story and once we get past the video game opening sequences, it becomes a high action, intense and crowd pleasing racing film.

      I've never played the video game and knew nothing about the story but was intrigued by the "true story" aspect and the racing sequences in the trailer. Much to my surprise, not only did it not disappoint but I found myself completely engaged and at times, on the edge of my seat.

      Director Neill Blomkamp seamlessly blends CGI and actual racing to deliver a high octane story about a Gran Turismo video gamer who trains to becomes a real racing car driver. The script does add some drama, time- shifting some of the actual events to heighten the intensity of the story but any film "based on a true story" will always add elements to enhance the plot.

     The cast includes Archie Madekwe, a very engaging young actor as the gamer/driver Jann Mardenborough, David Harbour as Jack Salter, the ex-driver who mentors Jann, and Orlando Bloom as Danny Moore, a marketing executive at Nissan who comes up with the idea to train gamers as real drivers. Jann's parents are played by Geri Halliwell and Djimon Hounsou and Mr. Hounsou has some geniunely emotional moments with his son.

      IMAX was made for a film like this. Try to see it in a theater on the largest screen possible with a good sound system. I saw it in a theater with Dolby sound and it was amazing. And not for nothing, you have to love a film that makes Kenny G's music an important plot point.

The Last Voyage of The Demeter

 

    

      This underappreciated horror film was adapted from a chapter entitled, "The Captain's Log" found in Bram Stoker's original novel, "Dracula". It is a period horror film taking place entirely on the ship that carried Dracula from Romania to England.

      Even though, the title "last Voyage" predestines the film, it is still a scary joyride that takes pleasure in its shocks and gore. Director Andre Ovredal heightens the suspense and tension shooting in a claustrophobic setting, keeping views of Dracula to a minimum.  Bear McCreary's atmospheric score also pairs perfectly to build the permeating sense of dread.

      When the film starts, the ship is found wrecked off the coast of England with no survivors. We then flash back four weeks to the start of the voyage. The plot is simple. Once Dracula is loose on the ship, it's only a matter of time for who dies, when and how. It was a nice surprise, though, to discover some conventions are not followed.

      The film stars Cory Hawkins, Aisling Franciosi, Liam Cunningham, David Dastmalchian, Woody Norman, and Javier Botet as Dracula. While there is obvious need for some CGI, Mr. Botet probably endured hours of make-up to play a real version of the famous vampire. And this version, Dracula is portrayed more like Nosferatu than Bela Lugosi.

      Unlike many of today's horror films (filled with teens as victims or just plain torture porn), this is a well done, throwback horror thriller that at times, actually had me on the edge of my seat.

      In other words, it doesn't suck.