7 Down and 3 to go...let's get to it because the "big show" Oscars 2023 will be here before you know it:
Best Picture
All Quiet on the Western Front (watching today, will post soon)
Avatar: The Way of Water
In 2009, Avatar landed in the theaters as a totally new experience. James Cameron's story of extreme prejudice, greed, and environmental genocide on the moon/planet Pandora, way into the future. The big blue ones are back and this time, the Sully family has grown, there are new characters, new prejudices, a new product that is being "mined" and the landscape has changed from the forest to the seas. This is visually stunning. The realism is mind-blowing and at a whopping three hours and 15 minutes, you'll walk out wondering what's next and how can you top that? It gives new meaning to "whale" watching. Spoiler alert...I ain't giving you any spoiler alerts, just a rating...3.75 stars.
The Banshees of Inisherin
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson are paired, once again (see In Bruges), set in the time of the Civil War, living on Inisherin off the West Coast of Ireland. They have a routine, a rhythm that hits a decidedly sour note when their friendship is abruptly ended. It's worse because they live on that small island and everybody knows your business. I love all of the leads in this skewed tale of how to deal with rejection. There is almost a refreshing originality to it, however, it's bizarre and sad and you just want to give everyone a hug and a pint and tell them if you just calm down and try to think with reason and respect, there wouldn't be any need to destroy a relationship. Kudos to all and especially to Jenny the donkey. Rating: 3.99 stars
Elvis
Every time I see a Baz Luhrman production, I expect it to have a certain cinematography slick sparkle about it. It's in the costuming, the hairstyles, the background colors, the set designs, and a sort of surrealistic super reality. Elvis doesn't disappoint, in fact, I think it's a borderline overachiever of the year, but hoo buddy, it captures "The King" from the Sun Records beginnings to the Las Vegas residency years with pinpoint accuracy.
The soft and slimy underbelly is Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) who provides the narration and appears to be the stalwart friend to an impressionable and naive Elvis (Austin Butler). He's one nasty piece of work and Hanks does a stellar job of reaching down to the bottom of Parker's cold and calculating heart to keep his "golden calf" from getting out of the corral.
Hopefully, Mr. Butler is more than a "one hit wonder". It's an amazing performance, the music is classic, the costuming, hair, and make-up is dead-on, and if you close your eyes, you'd swear that the King still lives. Rating: It's one for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and go cats go, and in the words of Carl Perkins...don't you step on my blue suede shoes. Thankyou, thankyouverymuch!
The Fabelmans
This writer was nearly born when this fablelized family, based on Stephen Spielberg's adolescence and interest in film, begins. It helped immensely that Spielberg is the writer/director for such a personal story. It's a study in how to focus and believe in yourself to attain happiness or a reasonable facsimile of with all the drama that comes with life whether it's in the 50's, 60's or the present. Of the nominees, Michelle Williams has the honor of Best Actor and Judd Hirsch for Best Supporting Actor...I would have included Paul Dano, Seth Rogan, and, without question, even though she didn't have ton of screen time, Jeannie Berlin as Hadassah Fabelman. But what do I know, I'm just here to recommend you either see the film or avoid it like the plague. There are so many times during the film that are personally relatable. Even though I'm not Jewish and I was raised on the West Coast, it's like going back and revisiting those things that made growing up then "free range" and definitely more hopeful than in the past few years where technology has made our imaginations into constant viewable images. Loved the film, got farklempt, it deserves the nominations, thank you Mr. Spielberg and Mr. Kushner, now go see it.
Tar (yes I know there's supposed to be an accent over the a, but I can't get this post to cooperate)
Intellectual pomposity exudes from this film like hot tar (the roofing and paving type). Cate Blanchett is Lydia Tar, a fictional conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, who has developed a hard shell personality to combat the gender bias of her chosen profession. She's tough as nails, overly confident, a bully, and generally, professionally intimidating, sort of a The Devil Wears Prada with the focus on the Devil. She, Cate, commands the screen and delivers another genuinely flawless performance. The film, however, does not make this something that would compel me to watch it over and over and over. I love classical music, and especially watching orchestras and the several maestros that have conducted the Seattle Symphony live over the years. The children's specials with Leonard Bernstein on the television, priceless. If I had studied harder, I would have loved to have been a flutist or a concert pianist or even a conductor, myself. Not to be, obviously, but those who do have the talent should definitely pursue their passions. In this case the passions are not exactly about the music and like the protagonist, delivers an emotional beating on several levels. It would have been great to see more of a complete performance from the orchestra. Rating: One encore, One standing ovation, and One fierce right hook (she fights like a girl).
Top Gun: Maverick
My first question is why? The testosterone level of this film is enough to grow hair on the back of your hands while watching it. I get it...I saw the first one and loved it, but it was a long, long time ago and I don't feel the need for speed. Chemistry between the leads is practically non-existent and that's with all of the playas. If you came to watch Maverick (Tom Cruise) repeat his smarminess, you were successful. If you came to see something technologically insane in the air, on the sea, and virtually impossible to do unless you have the Force, Yoda, and R2D2 in the cockpit with you, then you've come to the right place. For crying in the beer, please don't believe that just cause you live off base in San Diego, you'd ever be able to afford anything even close to what these people make in the military. The houses are a kazillion dollars; you don't get to crash planes and sort of get to shrug it off as "oh well". Total fantasy, and I guess that's what appeals to all the 15 and 16 year old little hormone riddled kids that haven't gotten a chance to go through boot camp, serve in the armpits of the world, or a real live war. Rating: Val Kilmer rocks and he didn't even say anything, Berlin's Take My Breath Away is one of the best songs ever, Meg Ryan and Kelly McGillis dodged missles by not being included in this high in the sky melodramatic piece 'o schlock. Goodness gracious, your balls are on fire Mr. Cruise.
Triangle of Sadness (viewed, and review is pending, should be a drinking game) and Women Talking (have to view, doesn't look like a very "happy happy joy joy" sort of film, we'll see).
Okay, let's all go to the lobby to get ourselves a snack..
