Asphalt City

 

        This is a hard hitting new drama taking us very realistically inside the world of EMT's. While "Bring Out The Dead was similar in structure, this film plays almost like a documentary with unrelenting closeups and non-stop action driving call to call.

         Sean Penn stars as the veteran EMT, Gene Rutkovsky (Rut, for short) and Tye Sheridan plays Ollie Cross, Rut's new rookie partner. The film also co-stars Michael Pitt, Katherine Waterston (in a one scene cameo), Raquel Nave, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Mike Tyson (in a credible role), and Kali Reis. Ms. Reis (so good recently in "True Detective: Night Country") is almost unrecognizable as a addict who has just given birth by herself in a shelter.

          Director Jean-Stephane Sauvaire's "in your face" hand held camera works puts you riding along inside the ambulance and right in the middle of the emergency calls. It is breathtaking but at the same time, very difficult to watch. The territory is East New York and the majority of the people they try to help are not easy going or friendly. No one looks like actors. It's all seems very real and at times, scary to see what these people go through on a daily basis. It is a harrowing film.

           There is little dialog for the first half of the film but slowly we begin to learn more about Rut and Cross. Cross meets a woman at a Rave and finds a sexual outlet for his pressure. Rut visits with his ex-wife to see his little girl. These short interludes give way to the job and it's not long before they are back making life and death decisions, doing their best to keep people alive, whether they think they deserve it or not.

           The film is dedicated to all the EMT's and first responders who work tirelessly trying to save lives and in the balance, many times lose their own.

Sting

         AMC Theaters  has found a way to fill seats on a Monday night (slowest night for theaters) by offering a five dollar ticket to "Unseen Cinema", a surprise new film. This past week I took a chance on what I only knew would be a horror film.

          "Sting" is written and directed by Kiah Roache-Turner. It is a horror film made in Australia but taking place in a small apartment building in Brooklyn New York, during a terrible snowstorm. An extended family lives in the building along with a few other tenants. The main character is Charlotte, a precocious preteen who discovers a small black spider while exploring the building though the air ducts. Unbeknownst to Charlotte, the spider has arrived from outer space and is not a normal arachnid.  She names it Sting and keeps it in a jar but it grows bigger each time she feeds it. Of course that becomes a problem very quickly.

           Alyla Browne plays Charlotte, Penelope Mitchell plays her mother, Heather. Ryan Corr is her stepdad, and Noni Hazlehurst is her grandmother, Helga. The film also co-stars Jermaine Fowler as Frank, the exterminator. Other tenants are played by Silvia Colloca, Robyn Nevin, and Danny Kim. Ms. Hazlehurst steals the film as the hard of hearing and memory challenged, Helga.

           The film is well paced and mildly suspenseful but never really scary (unless you have a fear of spiders). It has horror film required gore but also a few amusing moments as well.

            It was worth the five dollars but otherwise, if you're interested in this sort of thing, wait for streaming it at home.

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

 

   Based on the success of the sequel, "Ghostbusters: Afterlife", it was inevitable that the franchise would continue. Building upon that story, the cast from "Afterlife" has been transported to New York and taken up residence in the firehouse from the original film.

    Returning are Carrie Coon as Callie Spengler and as her kids, Finn Wolfhard and McKenna Grace. Paul Rudd is also back as Gary, Callie's boyfriend and surrogate dad. Celeste O'Connor and Logan Kim also return (with a poor excuse for their move from Oklahoma). 

     The additional casting of Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts and even William Atherton (all from the original film) add a jolt of welcome nostalgia to the story. In addition to the returning cast members, we also get many references from the original film and even a snippet of Ray Parker Jr. singing the original song. 

      Joining the cast this time are Kumail Nanjiani (in a significant role), Patton Oswalt, James Acaster, and Emily Alyn Lind. Ms. Lind plays a ghost in scenes with McKenna Grace that almost seem romantic and out of place for this story. Of course the story itself is overstuffed with the odd mix of ghosts, an undead God and the coming of a second ice age (which has nothing to do with ghosts except here to fatten the plot).

       Individually, Ms. Grace has the largest part. Mr. Rudd is there to basically wisecrack (which he does so well), Mr. Wolfhard's scenes involve "Slimer" from the original film but everyone does team up for the big finale. And of course, lets not forget the cute army of "Staypuff" marshmallow men who even have a cute mid-credit scene.

        It's harmless family fun for preteens and up and definitely nostalgic fun for adult fans of the original.

Knox Goes Away

 

       Once in a while a film with no fanfare, advertising or any real press means the studio that releases it has no faith in it. But sometimes a film like that can sneak up on you and you find yourself pleasantly surprised. This is one of those films.

       Michael Keaton stars and directs himself, as John Knox, a criminal diagnosed with Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. This is a rapidly moving form of dementia that he is told will completely take hold of his mind and body within weeks. With time running out, he tries to make amends by protect the life of his adult son, while also being pursued by the police who are investigating his involvement in a murder,

        Mr. Keaton is absolutely terrific as Knox. Whether it was because he directed himself or simply because he is such a good actor, this is one of his best performances. The film co-stars Al Pacino as his mentor, Marcia Gay Harden as his ex-wife, and James Marsden as his son, Also featured are Ray McKinnon, Joanna Kulig, Lela Loren and as the detectives in charge of the investigation, Suzy Nakamura and John Hoogenakker.

        As a director, Mr. Keaton keeps the film well paced without any theatrics and getting good work from the whole cast, including Mr. Pacino who, of late, can sometimes be rather manic. The script, by Gregory Poinier, is an original twist on the crime genre pitting Mr. Keaton's disintegrating mind in a race against his plan to protect his son, all while the police and other criminals keep getting in his way.

        This is an Indie drama worth your time.

One Life

 

       This new drama is based on the true story of Nickolas Winton, a British stockbroker who took it upon himself to organize (with a small group of others) the rescue of over six hundred child refugees (most of whom were Jewish) from Czechoslovakia on the brink of World War Two.

       Sir Anthony Hopkins plays the elder Winton, who, when cleaning out old files finds his scrapbook with details of the rescue and decides to bring it to public attention. Flashbacks take us to Prague in 1938 where the young adult Winton is played by Johnny Flynn.

       Mr. Flynn is subtlety dashing in his resolve to help as many children as he can, get safely to England. Sir Hopkins gives a superb performance as the elder Winton, who wants the story told. The film co-stars Helena Bonham Carter as Babi Winton (Nickolas's mother in the flashbacks), Lena Olin as Grete Winton, Jonathan Pryce as the elder Martin Blake, Ziggy Health as young Martin Blake, Romola Garai as Doreen Warriner, and Samantha Spiro as Ester Rantzen.

       This little known, remarkable, story is deeply moving and heartfelt. It should be seen by the largest audience possible. It will restore your faith in humanity.

   

The Temple Wood Gang

 

     A new French film that takes a different approach to the "heist genre". Directed by Rabah Ameur-Zaimeche, this story is less about the robbery and more about the aftermath.

     When five friends decide to rob a Saudi prince, it sets off repercussions that affect the gang members as well as others around them. Bebe, played by Philippe Petit is the leader of the gang, all of whom live in the Temple Wood housing project in Paris. They have all been close friends since childhood and well known to others who live in Temple Wood.

     Mr. Ameur-Zaimeche is more interested in the background and class of his characters than he is of the crime. His camera lingers far too long on scenes that have for all purposes, already ended. He also makes the bold choice to shoot without a score or music (except for a song sung at a funeral and another over the end credits). He prefers natural sounds to add realism to the events on screen. He also doesn't spoon feed the audience plot points and leaves much for the audience to figure out for themselves.

     While an interesting character study, I was disappointed.

Toni

 

     Written and directed by Nathan Ambrosioni, this new French film is a heartfelt comedy/drama starring Camille Cottin. Ms. Cottin plays Toni, a former pop star, now raising a family of five (in different teenage stages) on her own.

       The beauty of Mr. Ambrosioni's script is how well he has defined each character, giving each each member of the family a full bodied personality and equal representation throughout the film. A rare occurrence in an ensemble piece.

        Ms. Cottin is wonderful, in a part written specifically with her in mind. She balances her hectic family life, trying to give attention to each child, even while trying to figure out a future for herself. Her children are played by Lea Lopez, as Mathilde, the oldest, followed by Thomas Gioria as Marcus, Louise Labeque, as Camille, Oscar Pauleau as Timothee, and Juliane Lepoureau as Olivia, the youngest. Cast after seeing about 500 kids, these five are just terrific and their chemistry with Ms. Cottin is so natural, you would think you were watching a real family.

        This is only Mr. Ambrosioni's second feature film. Based on this work, the young director has a long career ahead of him.

Dune Part Two

 

   Once again co-written and directed by Denis Villeneuve, Part Two picks up moments after the end of Part One. While the first film was for the most part setting up the foundation, Part Two fully engages the viewer in the expanse of the story in a most spectacular way.

    Cast members who survived the first film return led by Timothee Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson. Also returning with expanded roles are Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Charlotte Rampling, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin and Stellen Skarsgard. New cast members include Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Lea Seydoux, and in an uncredited one scene cameo, Anya Taylor-Joy.

    Mr. Villeneuve clearly has a vision for the material and has created a fully realized science fiction classic. The cinematography will take your breath away. The visuals are stunning, blending live action with CGI seamlessly.  The sound is immersive and the actors couldn't be more committed to their roles. Mr. Bardem, in particular appears to be having a great time and Mr. Butler (almost unrecognizable) has shed the Elvis persona once and for all.

    While the film does comes to a conclusion, it is open ended enough that one can only hope Mr. Villeneuve will commit to a third film, based on "Dune Messiah", to complete the trilogy.