Marty Supreme

Some guys, that I have come to know in my life, have an over abundance of chutzpah.  There’s a line delivered by our “hero” that almost made me spit water out my nose.  To paraphrase, “I could sell a pair of shoes to a double amputee”.  I’ve actually witnessed this up close and personal, many years ago.  Marty Mauser is a ping pong hustler in 1950’s New York.  He gives off the grifter vibe from the second he starts talking.  He can rationalize the bejesus out any situation, good or bad.   He has one focus and one focus only and there’s not a lot he won’t do or say to achieve those goals…in essence, he’s a survivalist with a unique skill and an “owe me” mentality.  This film is like watching a Rube Goldberg contraption triggered on speed.  It’s a little bit Pulp Fiction with a lot of miscalculated risks.  The cast is eclectic, the direction had to be spot-on to pull off any of it and Timothee Chalamet is looking at another set of best actor nominations and predictable wins.  Rating: 3.85⭐️s. Don’t get distracted—your serve.

Frankenstein - Anatomy Lesson

I’ve been putting off watching this version of the classic Mary Shelly story of an egomaniacal scientist who, through childhood trauma, creates the ultimate “monster” from parts.  He doesn’t look at people as humans with souls, just the right parts.  This is a grisly film to put it succinctly.  It’s also beautiful and grotesque at the same time.  The brain is not from someone named Abby, and the gathering of parts is graphic with a waltz like quality as the un-named monster is carefully stitched together.  The results remind me of the term “takes a licking and keeps on ticking”.  The story is told from two perspectives - creator and creation.  Guillermo del Toro has masterfully melded the two showing how lack of communication and assumptions can lead to disastrous outcomes.  Oscar Isaac and Jacob Elordi bring, sorry, new life to a very old story.  Rating: 3.75 stars - lightening in a bottle