Sentimental Value

 

        Stellan Skarsgard stars in this new Norwegian drama about a fractured family. He plays a famous, retired film director, Gustav Borg, who sacrificed his personal life and connection to his two daughters for his professional life as a filmmaker.

         The film is directed by and co-written (with Eskill Vogt) by Joachim Trier and this is his third feature starring his favorite actress Renate Reinsve. Ms. Reinsve stars as Nora, the elder of Gustav's two daughter and the one that resents him the most. Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas plays Agnes, the younger daughter who has a son that Gustav adores.

          When Gustav returns home unexpectantly with a new script he has written, old resentments resurface, especially when he wants Nora to play the lead, and his grandson to play her son in his film. The film also co-stars Elle Fanning as a famous actress, Gustav hires for the film when Nora refuses the part.

           This is an excellent family drama with outstanding acting all around, but especially by Mr. Skarsgard and Ms. Reinsve. The pace is slow but Mr. Trier captures the realities of this splintered family in all their emotions and keeps the audience involved.

             

Hamnet

 

        Directed by Chloe Zhao with a screenplay by Chloe Zhao and Maggie O'Farrell (based on Ms. O'Farrell's novel), this new drama is both astonishing and heartbreaking.

         Based on what is known, the film is a fictionalized account of  William Shakespeare and his wife Anne (Agnes in the film) Hathaway and their three children, Susanna, and the younger twins, Judith and Hamnet.

          The film stars Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare and Jessie Buckley as his wife Agnes. Emily Watson plays Mary Shakespeare, William's mother. Joe Alwyn is Bartholomew Hathaway, Agnes's brother. Susanna is played by Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Olivia Lynes plays Judith and Jacobi Jupe plays Hamnet. The film also features Noah Jupe as "Hamlet" in the play's debut at The Globe Theater.

            It is a terrific cast and the children who play the twins are amazing. Mr. Mescal and Ms. Buckley have great chemistry and while Mr. Mescal is excellent, it is Ms. Buckley who is simply a revelation. Her work here is astounding, especially in the last act of the film.

           Ms. Zhao's direction is impeccable. The cinematography, sets, costumes, authenticity of the times, limited use of music and the performances of her actors all combine to create a work of art. 

            The film has a shattering midsection which sets up a final act that takes the film to another level. The emotional impact cannot be overstated. It is a masterpiece.

Rental Family

 

    

        Written by (with Stephen Blahut) and directed by Hikari, this sweet natured comedy/drama stars Brendan Fraser as Phillip, an out of work actor living in Japan. 

         After starring in a hit toothpaste commercial, new opportunities are scarce until Phillip's agent gets him a role as as "sad American" at a funeral. It is there he learns of an agency that provides roles for actors to portray family members, friends and associates of various clientele (apparently, this is a very real business in Japan).

         Mr. Fraser brings an endearing, sensitive side to his performance as Phillip and he is excellent as he takes on different roles for the agency. It is only after he becomes too close and involved with his "clients" that things become complicated.

          Takehiro Hira plays Shinji, the agency owner and Mari Tamamoto is Aiko, an employee there who befriends Phillip. The film also stars as clients, Shino Shinozaki as a single mother needing a "father" for her daughter Mia (Shannon Mahina Gorman) and Akira Emoto as an elderly, famous filmmaker, Phillip is hired to interview as a "journalist". The film is very well cast and Ms. Gorman is adorable and wise beyond her years, as Mia.

          The film takes place in Tokyo and is steeped in Japanese culture. The city and country of Japan itself, also make for a beautiful visual background. 

            If you're looking for something different that you don't see in theaters much these days, this gentle, low key film is perfect.

Sisu: Road to Revenge

 

        Written and directed by Jalmari Helander, this is the gonzo sequel to the equally gonzo original "Sisu". In the first film, our silent hero, Aatami takes on the German army at the close of World War Two. Now it's the Russian army's turn as they hunt him down when he tries to return to Finland from land now occupied by Russia (traveling with wood beams that are all that is left of his home no less). To up the ante, he also discovers the man (Igor Draganov) charged with finding him is also the man responsible for killing his wife and children.

          Jorma Tommila returns as Aatami and is joined now by Stephen Lang as Igor and Richard Brake as the KGB commander. Mr. Lang chews the scenery brilliantly in these villain roles and here, is particularly nasty. Mr. Tommila is all bloody action as the silent unstoppable killing machine, hell bent on revenge.

          This is a genre specific film and certainly not for everyone but if you like non-stop action with plenty of bloody violence and great stunts, you won't be disappointed.

          Oh, and his adorable dog doesn't die.

       

Wicked... For Good

 

       For everyone who enjoyed "Wicked", the year long wait is over for this conclusion. Picking up where the first film ended, the story gets darker, the relationships become more intense and the bond between Glinda and Elphaba couldn't be any stronger (although, seemingly not at first).

       The entire cast is back with the same wonderful chemistry. The eyepopping visuals are even bigger eye candy and the sets and costumes are still remarkable. Most of the songs are fairly short but "No Good Deed" is a showstopper, much the way "Defying Gravity" was in the first film. There are fewer dance numbers here, sacrificed I imagine, for the sake of the story.

        Ariana Grande has matured as Glinda with stronger acting and vocals. Cynthia Erivo remains marvelous in the stronger role as Elphaba. Jeff Goldblum returns as a terrifically oily "wizard" and Michele Yeoh takes her villainy to another level. Jonathan Bailey has more to do than hang around looking perfect and both Marissa Bode and Ethan Slater's character are more developed.

         Director Jon M. Chu and screenwriters Winnie Holzman and Dana Fox find a fascinating and clever way of incorporating Dorothy, Toto, The Scarecrow, Tin Woodsman, and the cowardly Lion ( our beloved characters from the original Wizard of Oz) into the film. There are obvious changes to the story with the emphasis on the witches and not the aforementioned characters. There are changes from the Broadway show as well, since so much more can be done in a film with a longer running time. For the most part, however, they are subtle and actually enrich the story.

          This film is an example of why we should still go to movie theaters. It is made for the big screen and even better in IMAX. It is a grand entertainment.

Keeper

 

     

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

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

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

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

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

       

Frankenstein

 

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

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

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

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

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

Predator: Badlands

 

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

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

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

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

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

           

         

Ballad of a Small Player

 

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

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

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

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

         The film is streaming on Netflix.

Nuremberg

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Die My Love

 

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

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

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

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

 

It was Just an Accident

 

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

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

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

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

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

Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bugonia

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

                Root for the bees.

The Lost Bus

 

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

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

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

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

A House of Dynamite

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Good Boy

 

                Let's get this out of the way immediately...the dog doesn't die, nor is he ever in any real danger. Directed and co-written (with Alex Cannon) by Ben Leonberg, this new horror film stars Mr. Leonberg's own dog Indy. What make this horror film unique is that it is told from the dog's perspective.

                Mr. Leonberg pulls off quite the trick. He filmed the movie over three years shooting with the dog only three hours a day. Indy, of course didn't realize he was making a movie. Just another day in the life of a dog. What makes the film work is the camera angles, perspective, and sound that will convince you Indy is indeed "acting". He is extremely emotive with wonderful expressions and obvious intelligence. And of course, he is absolutely adorable.

                The story is simple enough. Todd is dying of cancer. He decides to live out his final days at his deserted grandfather's home with his loyal dog Indy by his side. His sister tells him the house is haunted which he ignores. Indy, however, senses a presence immediately upon arriving and through his eyes, Todd appears to be slowly becoming possessed by an "evil spirit".

                 Besides Indy, the film stars Shane Jensen as Todd, Arielle Friedman as his sister, Vera, Stuart Rudin as Richard, the neighbor and Larry Fessenden as Todd's grandfather.

                 Despite taking three years to make, the final cut is only seventy five minutes long but it packs quite a wallop. It is suspenseful,  always creepy and contains a few good "jump-scares" as Indy tries to save Todd from the "evil spirit". 

                  Mr. Leonberg and his wife, producer, Kari Fischer deserve a lot of credit for a successful experiment in filmmaking and turning their dog into a star. Stay after the credits for a short behind the scenes look at how the film was made.

                 It is said that dogs can sense disease in people and it's quite possible that what Indy is "seeing" is Todd's cancer manifesting itself as an evil spirit or the house is truly haunted. Either way, it's a different kind of horror film that will both scare you and tug at your heart.

            

 

         

The Smashing Machine

 

          Written and directed by Benny Safdie and based on the documentary of the same name, this is a raw and intimate look at the life of MMA fighter, Mark Kerr during his most successful years in the ring.

         The film takes place between 1997 and 2000 during the early days of MMA when Mr. Kerr was one of the top fighters in the sport. Dwayne Johnson stars as Kerr and he is absolutely terrific, completely disappearing into the role. It is easily his best screen performance and he "smashes" it.

         Also starring is Emily Blunt as Dawn Staples, Mr. Kerr's longtime girlfriend. The two actors have wonderful chemistry together, in both the tender moments as well as in the screaming matches between them. Co-starring as himself is Bas Rutten, a former MMA fighter and now Mark's trainer as well as Ryan Bader as Mark Coleman, another MMA fighter and Mark Kerr's best friend.

         Mr. Safdie shoots the film closeup and personal, clearly focused on Mark's fights and life outside the ring. His fight scenes are incredibly realistic. You can feel every punch and kick. Mr. Johnson's makeup is remarkable and it helps him to disappear into the character.

           I'm sure the original documentary is fascinating but this "fictionalized" version, while very interesting is really a showcase for Dwayne Johnson's serious acting chops. You can't take your eyes off him.

One Battle After Another

 

      This new drama directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (who also wrote the screenplay based on the book, "Vineland" by Thomas Pynchon), is just terrific.  The cast is perfection. The script is original and so relevant to the country we are living in today. And Mr. Anderson's direction could not be better, bringing out the best in his cast, his eye for detail and even his trust in the audience.

       The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as "Bob", a member of the far-left revolutionary group, The French 75 who, along with his partner, "Perfidia" played by Teyana Taylor wreck havoc on the establishment. Shortly into the film, the story jumps 16 years and Bob is now a burned out stoner, and paranoid ex- revolutionary raising his teenage daughter, Willa, played by Chase Infiniti. The film also stars Regina Hall as Deandra, Benicio del Toro as Sergio St. Carlos, and Sean Penn as Col. Steven Lockjaw. As I mentioned, the cast is perfection but in particular, Sean Penn is just sensational as Col. Lockjaw disappearing completely into the character of an obsessed military man.

       Mr. Anderson's script touches lots of hot buttons and while serious in nature, still contains flashes of humor. There are many exciting sequences including not one but two unique car scenes, one a getaway and the other a chase. His trust in the viewer is never more obvious when he makes the conscious decision to shoot a scene in Spanish without subtitles. He has us engaged from the start and while the film runs almost three hours it never feels too long or bloated. 

        This is an easily one of Mr. Anderson's most entertaing films and should rack up many Oscar nominations.

         

HIM

 

         Not quite a sports film and not quite a horror film, "HIM" is just a horrible film. Directed by Justin Tipping, who also co-wrote it along with Skip Bronkie and Zack Akers, the film misses in every direction. 

          Tyriq Withers plays Cameron Cade, an up and coming quarterback who has a chance to sign with the Fictional San Antonio Saviors. After a very strange head injury almost ends his career, he is given the opportunity to train with "legendary" quarterback, Isaiah White at his remote compound. Marlon Wayans plays Isaiah White and he puts "Cam" through a rigorous and bizarre training regime. Mr. Withers shows much promise as an actor. It's just a shame his first starring role is in this mess.

           The film co-stars Julia Fox as Isaiah's wife, Tim Heidecker as Tom, Cam's agent, and comedian  Jim Jeffries as Marco, Isaiah's personal sports doctor.

          We never see an actual football game, only the training which borders on sickly sadistic and turns into a competition between the two men. Both actors are in amazing physical shape which is evident by the consistent, bordering on fetish, camera work of their topless bodies.

          The cost of greatness is played out against odd and violent rituals which never really make sense. Producer Jordan Peele dropped the ball on this one.