Cherry

  

      Directors Anthony and Joe Russo reunite with actor Tom Holland in a new drama far removed from the Marvel universe.  "Cherry" is the story of a college dropout, who joins the army, fights in the Middle East, and comes home with serve PTSD. Once home, he turns to crime to support a growing drug habit.

      Mr. Holland shows tremendous growth as an actor in a complex role, especially in the latter part of the film when he is dealing with heroin addiction.  What centers the plot is his relationship with Emily, played by Ciara Bravo. He meets Emily in college and falls instantly in love. Only when Emily announces she is leaving for Canada, does he decide to join the Army. Emily changes her mind and the two marry before his deployment. It is their love that holds the film together even as things fall apart around them.

       The film is based on the auto biographical novel by Nico Walker. It pulls no punches on its depiction of war, PTSD and addiction. What starts out as a simple love story becomes a harrowing nightmare for both the characters and the viewer. It is Mr. Holland's range and strength as an actor that keeps you watching hoping for his ultimate salvation. While not an easy film to watch, it does hold your attention and the chemistry between Mr. Holland and Ms. Bravo is undeniable.

       The film is exclusive to Apple +.

Minari

      

       This semi-autobiographical drama by writer/director Lee Isaac Chung has been nominated for 6 Academy Awards this year, including best picture.

       It tells the story of a Korean family trying to succeed in rural Arkansas in the 1980's. Steven Yuen plays Jacob, the father, who is determined to farm the land growing Korean vegetables. Han Ye-Ri plays his wife Monica, torn between her loyalty and love for her husband and her family's well-being.  Their children are played by Noel Kate Cho as Anne and Alan Kim as her younger brother, David. Master Kim is adorable and a terrific little actor. He steals the film as well as your heart. Also co-starring is Youn Yuh-Jung as their not so typical Grandmother and veteran actor Will Patton as Paul, Jacob's farmhand.

      A very original story, it plays against the stereotypical direction you might expect. It is very much about the little things that happen and the consequences that follow. It is filled with wonderful moments throughout the film. A timely story of immigrants determined for a better life. 

     Available now on VOD or in theaters.

Mank

 

      

       David Fincher directs a masterwork in film, based on a screenplay by his father, Jack Fincher. This is an ode to old Hollywood. The biographical drama is the story of writer Herman Mankiewicz and his development of the script for "Citizen Kane". Many consider "Citizen Kane" to be the greatest movie of all time and if you are a fan or just interested in Hollywood history, you will love "Mank".

       Mank is portrayed by Gary Oldman who simply outdoes himself with every role. He has been recently nominated for best actor at this year's Academy Awards ("Mank" has received 10 nominations overall) and he has to be considered the frontrunner as he is simply fantastic. His co-star Amanda Seyfried plays Marion Davies, the actress and mistress of William Randolph Hearst (played by Charles Dance). She is luminescent in her best role to date. The film also co-stars Tom Pelphrey as Herman's younger brother Joseph, Arliss Howard as Louis B. Mayer, Lilly Collins as Mank's Secretary, Sam Troughton as John Houseman, and Tom Burke as Orson Wells.

       The cinematography is stunning. Filmed in crisp black and white, every frame is a beautiful portrait in of itself. It makes for visuals that are just lovely. Partnered with a terrific score, wonderful acting, and an outstanding script, you can't help but appreciate the brilliance of masterful filmmaking.

       The film is in a limited theater run as well as available on Netflix.

Coming 2 America

          

      A more apt title would have been "Coming to Africa" starring Jermaine Fowler and featuring Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall. Director Craig Brewer and Mr. Murphy try hard to capture the magic of the beloved original, comedy classic but miss the opportunity.

      Heavy is the head that wears the crown and now that Mr. Murphy is "King" Akeem of his fictional African nation, Zamunda, he gets very little opportunity to be funny. Yes, his smile can still light up a room but now he has three daughters and royal duties to attend to and not much time for comedy. By law, he must have a son to be the heir to the throne. Conveniently he discovers he has a bastard son living in Queens, the result of a one-night stand with Mary, played by Leslie Jones.  That results in an all too brief trip back to Queens to find his son and then back to Africa with Mary along for support.

       The quick stop in Queens does give Mr. Murphy and Mr. Hall a chance to play the barbershop guys and other characters we loved in the first film but now they have aged 30 years and their jokes are stale and their makeup creepy. Once back in Zamunda, the new prince, played by Mr. Fowler (an engaging young actor), must pass multiple tests to prove he is worthy of the throne. At this point, Mr. Fowler takes over the film providing its focus and moral center. Ms. Jones provides some laughs with her loud obnoxious comedy style and then to provide more comic support, "Uncle" Reem, played by Tracy Morgan, flies in from Queens, injecting a few needed laughs with his unique comedy.

        The film relies heavily on nostalgia, even cutting in multiple scenes from the original to remind us just how good it was the first time around. It also manages to place Ms. Jones into the original to explain the presence of Mr. Fowler. There are many other familiar faces to stir our memories. John Amos returns as Cleo McDowell, the King's father in-law, Louie Anderson in a cameo as a McDowell's manager, Shari Headley as Lisa, King Akeem's wife, and James Earl Jones, briefly as King Jaffe. Musical appearances by Gladys Knight, En Vogue, Salt-N-Pepa are also a nice touch for the nostalgia factor.

        Wesley Snipes also co-stars as General Izzi, Akeem's nemesis, and just about steals the film as he reminds us of his comedic talents. Besides the welcome addition of Mr. Snipes, the costumes and choreography are also a bright spot in this otherwise disappointing sequel.

The United States Vs. Billie Holiday

   

      Lee Daniels direct from a screenplay by Suzan-Lori Parks, and the result is a mixed bag biography of Billie Holiday. Emphasizing Ms. Holiday's struggle with heroin addiction and the U.S. government's fear of her controversial song, "Strange Fruit", the film is ill structured and poorly edited.

      It does, however, mark the arrival of a wonderful talent, Ms. Andra Day, who plays Ms. Holiday.  She inhabits the role completely, capturing Ms. Holiday's triumphs as well as her terrible defeats. She also has the vocal chops to perform all the songs herself.

      The film co-stars Trevante Rhodes as Jimmy Fletcher,  a not so undercover FBI agent who becomes her lover. While Mr. Rhodes does a fine job, as written, the role is very confusing. The film also co-stars Garrett Hedlund as Harry Anslinger, the head of the Bureau of Narcotics, who is not above framing Ms. Holiday for possession. He wanders in and out of the film, enjoying her performances while at the same time trying to put her in jail.  Rob Morgan plays Louis McKay, Ms. Holiday's husband, who also wanders in and out of the film, either to beat her or have sex with her. Tyler James Williams gives a strong and one of the few consistent performance as Billie's sax player, Lester Young. Natasha Lyonne plays the actress, Tallulah Bankhead, in a small role with a lesbian implication. 

      While the film moves in a linear path through the years, the editing is choppy,  scenes are filmed in mixed styles for no apparent reason, and often seem disconnected to each other.  There is no connective narrative thread to the film. I can't remember another film being this dysfunctional in its storytelling.

            It's a shame that such a raw and honest performance by Ms. Day is spoiled by the incoherent script and poor direction. It's a triumph for Andra Day but a misstep for Mr. Daniels.

Promising Young Woman

 

          

        Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, this new thriller stars Carey Mulligan, as you've never seen her. She plays Cassie, a med school dropout working in a coffee shop, who tricks men in clubs into thinking she's drunk and an easy mark to score. In fact, she's quite sober and calculating.

         Cassie's motivation is revealed slowly and she ups the ante targeting specific people involved in a terrible injustice from her past. The film takes a clever angle on the revenge theme and Ms. Mulligan plays her part very well. It features a great supporting cast all of whom share some great scenes with Ms. Mulligan. Connie Britton, Alfred Molina, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Bo Burnham, Allison Brie, Jennifer Coolidge, Clancy Brown, Laverne Cox, Chris Lowell, and Molly Shannon are all in Ms. Mulligan's orbit in various ways.  Her parents are played by Ms. Coolidge and Mr. Brown but their scenes together are bizarre and a waste of their talents.

          The film is shot with a colorful palette but in many ways, is a strange setup. It raises many questions that are never answered. It's promising but never fully realizes its promise.

I Care A Lot

         

        This Netflix original film is a piece of nasty fun. Written and directed by J. Blakeson, it is billed as a black comedy, but is blacker than comedy. It's still quite fun due to its clever script and terrific performances.

        Rosamund Pike stars as Marla Grayson, a con artist who manipulates the elder care system to get guardianship of seniors, taking all their cash and possessions for herself and her partner (played by Eiza Gonzalez).  Marla is a ruthless, conniving woman unafraid of anyone or anything. Ms. Pike has a ball playing the part.

        When their newest victim, Jennifer Peterson, is not the easy mark they anticipated, Marla's con takes an unexpected turn. Dianne Wiest plays Jennifer and is easily the best thing about the film. She is wonderful and it's unfortunate that she drops out of the film in the latter half of the story. The film also co-stars Peter Dinklage, also having fun with an unusual part, Chris Messina as an oily lawyer and Isiah Whitlock Jr. as an easily manipulated judge.

         I usually don't take note of hair, makeup and wardrobe but it's worth a mention here as Ms. Pike, especially, looks fabulous throughout the film. Things turn nastier as the story goes and as an audience, you just can't wait for these characters to get what they deserve, but credit the clever writing, I don't think anyone expects it to turn out the way it does.

         It will make a great double feature with the classic "Ruthless People".

Nomandland

          Directed by Chole Zhao (who also wrote the screenplay) this is a glimpse into a fabric of American life, unfortunately becoming far too common in today's world. Through the eyes of Fern, a fictitious character played beautifully by Frances McDormand, we meet real nomads, displaced people carving out a life on the fringes of society. 

           Sometime after Fern's husband dies and she loses her job when the plant in her town goes bust, Fern packs her meager belongings into a van and hits the open road.  The film has a very loose narrative as it weaves its way across the American west following Fern as she moves state to state and job to job meeting various people and hearing their stories. She becomes friends with Linda May and another woman named Swankie. They share time together as their lives crisscross on the open road. Both women play a fictitious version of themselves but their lives and stories are real.

          The only other "actor" in the film is David Strathaim, playing a nomad who shares a minor mutual attraction with Fern. Both actors blend so easily into the landscape, the film feels more like a documentary than a scripted feature. Ms. Zhao's shoots the film in an unassuming and gentle way, letting the people and the landscapes fill in the narrative. The cinematography by Joshua James Richards is just wonderful. Close-ups on faces and still life appear like paintings come to life, lingering both on taut skin and beautiful scenery.

 

           In a film like this nothing really happens and yet everything does. These people may have been forced into their circumstances but they have learned to adapt to a new way of surviving the harsh realities of today's America. It is a tribute to their tenacity and quiet dignity.

Judas and the Black Messiah

 

      This new drama written (with Will Berson) and directed by Shaka King, is based on the true story of Fred Hampton, Chairman of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panthers Party in the late 1960's. It stars Daniel Kaluuya as Hampton and LaKeith Stanfield as Bill O'Neill, forced by the FBI to become an inside informer and ultimately betray Mr. Hampton.

      Mr. Hampton was a powerful, charismatic leader thoroughly committed to "power of the people" to lead a revolution in America. Mr. Kaluuya, while older than the actual Hampton was at the time, is no less charismatic and powerful in the role.  The film's focus is primarily on the rise of the Party and Mr. Hampton, but it is Mr. Stanfield who is mesmerizing as the conflicted O'Neill that makes for the more interesting character.

      A petty thief with no interest in politics, O'Neill is arrested for car theft and impersonating an FBI agent. Facing a long jail sentence, he agrees instead, to "join" the Panthers and become an informer for the FBI. Jesse Plemons, in his usual understated performance, plays Roy Mitchell, the agent that "runs" Mitchell. He fills his head telling him the Panthers are no better than the Klan, buys him expensive dinners and pays well for his information. At first, O'Neill enjoys the role but as his position in the Panther Party grows, things become more dangerous and much more of a conflict as his friendship and admiration grows for Mr. Hampton.

      Martin Sheen has the small but pivotal role as J. Edgar Hoover, whose ultimate decision seals the fate of the two men. Also co-starring is Dominique Fishback as Deborah Johnson, Mr. Hampton's love interest.  Ms. Fishback continues to shine as her roles continue to grow in film and TV.

      Mr. King's direction is taut and economical. He doesn't waste a frame and the film moves at a quick pace.  The music by Mark Isham and Craig Harris is an explosive jazz score that compliments the story well but can be grating at times. 

          This is an important piece of American history and its story, brought to the screen, is made that more compelling by the work of its two lead dynamic actors.

Martin Eden

          

         This is a throwback to great Italian cinema. The drama is loosely based on the novel by Jack London and is a star making turn for Luca Marinelli. As the title character, Mr. Marinelli brings Mr. Eden to life as a young man determined to become a writer as his way out of poverty and a chance to rise above his station in Italian society.

         A chance meeting with the rich socialite, Elena, played by Jessica Cressy, is love at first sight but to be accepted, Martin must become a member of the bourgeois class he detests. This is at once a love story and a story of social and class struggle in an Italy of an earlier time. It follows Martin's social and political awakening in a compelling way. 

        The direction by Pietro Marcello and cinematography by Alessandro Abate and Francesco Di Giacomo is fantastic, giving the film a visual flair to earlier Italian cinema. The film looks and feels like a product of the 1960's, rather than today. Mr. Marcello enjoys "the close-up", at times having the characters speak directly to the camera or by bringing the camera right up to their expressive faces. He intercuts scenes with metaphors, flashbacks and various archival footage that fill out the film and gives it more depth. 

        The film is in Italian with subtitles and is an Apple+ exclusive.

Palmer

      

     Rising just above a "Lifetime" movie, this new drama stars Justin Timberlake as an ex-convict trying to put his life in order after serving 12 years in prison. He returns to his small southern town and moves back in with his grandmother played by June Squibb. 

     What saves the film from sinking into melodrama is the terrific performance by Ryder Allen as "Sam" the young son of Palmer's neighbor, a "trailer trash" drug addict played by Juno Temple. Mr. Timberlake gives an understated performance but once Sam comes into his life, the film takes on a new life. When Sam's mother disappears for an extended period, Palmer gets an opportunity to bond with Sam in an unusual friendship.  Sam is "different" from other boys his age, preferring to play with dolls and watch fairy princess cartoons on television. What make him unique though is his early acceptance of who he is and that strikes a chord in Palmer.

      This is a story of acceptance and redemption that while honest, is far from subtle.  You can telegraph the entire story as it unfolds, from predicting the actions of the stereotyped characters to the final outcome. Young Mr. Allen is a revelation however, and a joy to watch.  There is true chemistry between him and Mr. Timberlake and their scenes together convey real emotion. 

          Fans of Mr. Timberlake will enjoy him in the title role but the film is an Apple+ exclusive and if you don't have Apple+, you really won't be missing anything. A far better film with similar themes of acceptance and redemption is "The Peanut Butter Falcon".

the little things

      

     Denzel Washington, Rami Malek and Jared Leto star in this police "thriller". Apparently, the script for this film has been in development for years and It shows. The mood is dark trying hard to emulate "Seven" or Zodiac" but doesn't even come close. The whole thing seems like a bad outtake from "True Detective".

      It may be how his character is written but Mr. Washington appears to have shown up just to collect a paycheck. As for Mr. Malek, I don't understand the appeal anyway. Yes, he was fantastic as Freddie Mercury in a role he was born to play but where's the range? A pedestrian actor who had a hit T.V. show and one good movie doesn't put him anywhere near the orbit of Mr. Washington or even Mr. Leto. And speaking of Mr. Leto, he is easily the best thing about this film. He disappears into his creepy character, gets the best lines and is actually fun to watch.

    Written and directed by John Lee Hancock, the film strives to be greater than its parts but never rises above mediocrity. There are police procedures that are absurd and character motivations that make no sense. Two "twists" at the end help explain things but it's too little too late.

     A major disappointment.

News of The World

 

       

     This new western by director and screenwriter (with Luke Davies) Paul Greengrass stars Tom Hanks as Captain Jefferson Kidd. Mr. Hanks is his usual noble, caring, self which is perfect, as a father figure to the young girl he escorts through hostile territory in the west of 1870.

       With the end of the Civil War, Captain Kidd supports himself traveling from town to town reciting to the masses, the news of the day culled from various newspapers he collects. One day he comes across a young orphaned girl dressed in Buckskin and speaking in Kiowa.  When no one else wants the responsibility of caring for the child, Kidd takes it upon himself to guide the girl safely to her relatives.

       The young girl is played by newcomer Helena Zengal and she is wonderful. The entire film rests on their relationship and she more than holds her own against Mr. Hanks.  Their chemistry together is terrific. And credit of course, also goes to Mr. Greengrass for his purposeful direction. The acting is all very sincere and while it follows a stereotypical western setting, with an ending you can see coming (five minutes into the film), it still works due to Mr. Hanks and Ms. Zengal.

       Along with the deft direction, the cinematography is excellent. The New Mexico landscapes are breathtaking. There is the usual assortment of dangers along the journey and even some surprises. The familiar supporting cast of Bill Camp, Elizabeth Marvel, Ray McKinnon, and Mare Winningham are all short cameos but they are all still appreciated.

       While not ranked one of his best, Mr. Hanks still elevates to film to an enjoyable level. The film is out now and available on VOD.

The White Tiger

    From India (but spoken in English for the most part) comes this new drama of class struggle in the Indian Caste system. As our protagonist, Balram, says 'there are only two types of people in India, those that live in the darkness and those that live in the light".

     Coming from a small, poor village, Balram is definitely one living "in darkness" but he hopes to improve his life by becoming the driver of a wealthy businessman named Ashok. When the film begins, we learn early on that Balram has become successful but just how, we learn in surprising flashbacks. Balram narrates his story as he composes an email to the Chinese Premier on the eve of his visit to India.

       While the film may remind you somewhat of "Slumdog Millionaire" (even given a sly reference), this is a very different kind of "rags to riches" story.

          Balram is played by Adarsh Gourav, a very engaging young actor and the film co-stars Rajkummar Rao as Ashok and Priyanka Chopra as his wife, Pinky.

            Written (screenplay based on the novel) and directed by Ramin Bahrani (who made the excellent "Man Push Cart" in 2005), the film crackles with energy and doesn't hold back from showing the dark side of Indian culture. It also has a great score by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans,  mixing traditional Indian music and Hip-Hop. The film is a Netflix exclusive.

One Night In Miami

       

Based on the play of the same title, this film imagines what took place when Cassius Clay (soon to be Muhammad Ali), Football star, Jim Brown, Singer Sam Cooke, and Malcolm X all meet after Clay's title bout against Sonny Liston in 1964.

       Malcolm X arranges a meeting in his hotel room after the fight, where it is his hope to "recruit" the stars into the Nation of Islam and join his cause. Clay has already decided but starts to question his decision and tension escalates between Malcolm and Same Cooke as the night goes on. 

        While most of the story takes place in the hotel room and feels very much like watching the play it's based on, director Regina King opens things up with clever camera angles and "opening up" the film in the beginning and the end. She also manages wonderful performances from her four main actors.  Kingsley Ben-Adir plays Malcolm X, Eli Goree plays Cassius Clay, Leslie Odom Jr. plays Sam Cooke and Aldis Hodge plays Jim Brown. Each actor is given their moment to shine but it is the interplay between the four that is most exciting to watch.

        Mr. Goree is wonderful as Cassius Clay. He captures the young boxer perfectly. Mr. Ben-Adir and Mr. Odum are both excellent, especially during their tense verbal fireworks. Mr. Hodge also holds his own as the quieter of the four who tries to keep things light but starts to question his own place in a "white man's world".

       While many questions are raised in this imagined scenario, there are no easy answers as the night ends. As the film comes to a close, we see the inevitable result of each man's decision, debated during that fateful night.

Let Him Go

      Diane Lane and Kevin Costner star in this surprisingly dark drama. They are a couple trying to get their young grandson, Jimmy, away from a dangerous family, after their son dies in an accident and their daughter-in-law remarries.

       The film co-stars Jeffrey Donavan and Leslie Manville. Ms. Manville plays the menacing matriarch of the family where Jimmy is living with his mom and stepdad. Mr. Donovan plays her nephew.

       Most of the film moves at a comfortable, deliberate pace amongst the beautiful scenery of Montana and North Dakota building slow tension until the third act when the situation turns inevitably violent and very ugly. Ms. Lane and Mr. Costner have great chemistry and are very natural together but this is far from a "feel good" movie.

My Top 10 for 2020

Soul- Pixar takes on the meaning of life through the life & “death” of a Jazz musician and it’s brilliant. Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey are perfect together.

Da 5 Bloods- Spike Lee re-imagines “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre” in  contemporary Vietnam (and in flashbacks during the war) and takes on a host of contemporary issues. Wonderful cast.

Sound of Metal- centered on a rock drummer losing his hearing, Riz Ahmed’s performance is tremendous.

First Cow- period western that is a quietly effective ode to friendship.

My Octopus Teacher- a documentary about a man’s relationship with an octopus. Just try not to get swept up in its beauty and intelligence. Simply amazing.

Emma- Anya Taylor–Joy stars in this period piece that’s a fresh take on the classic novel.

Ma Rainy's Black Bottom- Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman anchor a wonderful cast in this filmed version of August Wilson’s great play.

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm- Sacha Baron Cohen once again exposes the ugly underbelly of America and adds a touching story of a father and daughter’s growing relationship.

The Invisible Man- Elizabeth Moss’s acting elevates this movie to A status as well as one incredible shocking scene.

Tenet- You’ll either love it or hate it but you can’t ignore the fact that Christopher Nolan is in a class by himself when it comes to mind blowing movie making. Small puzzles wrapped inside a bigger puzzle that may be impossible to figure out but exciting to watch.

Honorable mention-

“The Queen’s Gambit”- while not technically a movie, this multi-part show on Netflix  felt like a film and was worth every single moment.

Tenet

           A mind blowing, time twisting, adventure from writer/director Christopher Nolan. Mr. Nolan's breakout film was "Memento" and what made the film so fascinating was that it played in reverse. He also played with elements of time twisting in "Dunkirk" as major sections of that film occurred at different times that eventually merged into the same moment. And let's not forget how he messed with our heads with "Inception". In "Tenet", Mr. Nolan takes the concept of time itself to a whole new level. I won't pretend to understand the complexities of "Tenet" but I think I understood enough to appreciate the story even while it moves forward and backward in time sometimes even simultaneously.

         John David Washington stars as "The Protagonist", a secret agent with a one-word clue, "Tenet", on the trail of a billionaire arms dealer, (played by a menacing Kenneth Branagh) who has the ability to invert time. It's a complex concept that forces the viewer to really pay attention but it's worth every second.

         The film looks fantastic. Scenes reverse themselves in ways you can't imagine. You are watching something so new and original that it will blow you away, even if you don't quite understand the science and there's plenty of action sequences to keep you engaged. From the opening moments, the film takes off and never lets up. It's a remarkable work of movie magic brought to life by Mr. Nolan and his team. 

          Co-starring are Elizabeth Debicki as Mr. Branagh's wife, with an agenda of her own, that puts her in the center of the action and Robert Pattinson, as Neil, a shadowy figure helping "the Protagonist". Other friends and foes include Martin Donovan, Dimple Kapadia, Himesh Patel and Aron Taylor-Johnson. And of course, it wouldn't be a Christopher Nolan film without a cameo from Sir Michael Caine.

           

          To explain anymore would ruin the fun. If you trust seeing it in a theater, try to see it in IMAX for the ultimate experience. It's also currently streaming on various services for $19.99. You will probably need to see it at least twice and won't mind a bit.

The Personal History of David Copperfield

      Co-written and directed by Armando Iannucci, this new comedy-drama tells the story of David Copperfield from his point of view. It is a fresh, comedic and charming spin on the timeless classic.

      The adult David is played by Dev Patel, always an engaging actor, he is terrific in the role. As a child, David is played by Jairaj Varsani, an adorable little boy with a wonderful smile. Other familiar faces in the cast include Tilda Swinton as Betsey Trotwood, Hugh Laurie as Mr. Dick, Ben Whishaw as Uriah Heep, Peter Capaldi as Mr. Micawber, Benedict Wong as Mr. Wickfield and Gwendoline Christie as Jane Murdstone. Also featured are Rosalind Eleazar as Agnes Wickfield, Morfydd Clark as Dora Spenlow and Diasy May Cooper as Peggotty. It is a fine cast representing all the well-known characters from the novel. Ms. Swinton, Mr. Capaldi and Mr. Laurie, in particular, have a ball with their roles and are all a sheer delight.

   
 Mr. Iannucci, known for his biting wit and sarcasm (VEEP) loves to play with language and sets a comedic tone for this revised version of "Copperfield". Typically filmed as a drama, this version is filled with great word play as well many visuals gags. He also faithfully recreates 1850's England with great sets, costumes and scenery. The film is very entertaining and I highly recommend it.

Soul

     Pixar Studios does it again with one of the best films of the year.  With each film they produce, they take on more and more complex themes and this time they ask the biggest question of all...what is the meaning of life?

      "Soul" stars a jazz pianist named Joe (voiced by Jamie Foxx) who's been waiting his whole life for his one big break. In the meantime, he supports himself as a part time music teacher. After a freak accident, Joe "dies" and his soul is separated from his body on the way to "The Great Beyond". Joe doesn't accept his fate and his soul ends up in "The Great Beginning". Due to a mistaken identity, he ends up a mentor to another soul, number 22 (voiced by Tina Fey). 22 is a restless soul who can't seem to find the one spark that will allow her to travel to earth and merge with her physical body.

       Joe and 22 do eventually find their way to earth but not in the way they expected and this starts a series of comic misadventures to restore order in the universe. The film explores many complex themes and tries hard to simplify its concepts. For small children, these concepts may be hard to understand but they will still enjoy the colorful characters and energy of the story. For everyone else, it's a wonderful journey of self-discovery filled with humor, emotion, and absolutely fantastic animation. 

       Much of the film takes place in New York City (pre-pandemic) and it captures the energy and life of the city in all its glory. Animated scenes are incredibly lifelike from the streets to the subway to the smallest detail. There are sight gags galore (many of which may only be recognized by true New Yorkers).

       The film also features the vocal talents of Angela Bassett, Phylicia Rashard, Daveed Diggs, Graham Norton, and Questlove. Of course, music is also an important element of the story. The score is by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross with Jazz contributions from Jon Batiste and consultations from Herbie Hancock and Terri Lyne Carrington. There are lessons of love, for family, for music, for life itself, presented in a remarkable way. I can't give enough credit to director Pete Docter, his writing partners, Mike Jones and Kemp Powers and his incredible team of animators.

         This is simply a wonderful film. Now streaming on Disney +.