Triangle of Sadness

If you know me, then you know I’m a picky eater.  I’ve had a few semi-exotic dishes over the years, but I’m safely in the category of “normal” for a Czech Scandinavian with very definite conservative tastes in food (no lutefisk, are you out of your mind?).  I’d make a lousy gourmet.  Keeping that in mind, never, never, never eat raw shellfish that you’re not sure of and especially not on a 250 million dollar luxury yacht in the middle of a tropical storm. 

The results of the level of absurdity seems over the top, however, I did have a bit of déjà vu from former experiences working for the non-monetarily challenged.  Each has their own interpretation of what makes them happy, what’s appropriate, and what they expect to receive in service.  The cast of characters are all abstracts of society/social network celebrity darlings, a nuevo riche technogeek (emphasis on geek), oligarchs, their wives and mistresses, and the “staff” (those who wait on the privileged) in a caste system that rivals most corporations from purser to housekeeping.  Guess who doesn’t get respect or well compensated.  At sea, the Captain is the boss and the crew is the only way you’re going to get back to the shore in one piece to continue living La Vida Loca.  Money can’t buy you happiness, safety, common sense, or survival skills…all of which are lacking here in abundance by the wealthy. 

I honestly only knew one of the actors, Woody Harrelson, in this three part story of a cruise gone awry.  It didn’t give me a desire to take a trip on a ship, a float on a boat, or even a dinghy in a blue lagoon.  You’ll laugh, you’ll gasp, and you may want to avert your attention during certain spontaneous scenes…it’s not a three hour tour on the Minnow with Gilligan and the Skipper, the Movie Star, the Millionaire and his wife, the Professor and Marianne.  It was sad to learn that the star, Charlbi Dean, passed away in August of last year before she could see her work and it may be that a sequel might be in the works.  In any case, Rating:  three jars of Nutella, a bottle of Pepto Bismal, all this and a bag of chips.

Best Picture Nominations - 2023 - 3 short, but on their way

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.. 

 

Babylon

When this writer was born, a film about Hollywood and the transition from silent to talkies was introduced to the world.  It was light and breezy, funny, engaging without the slightest off-color reference, set in the 20’s with a bouncy soundtrack, this is not a remake of that film.  We see a woman with an exaggerated case of coke-fueled chutzpah working her way up the ladder, an incredibly rich and handsome leading man trying to figure out if he’s going to be able to survive the transition, a dreamer who wants to realize his ambitions as a director, and a studio musician who shows how to handle extreme prejudice.  Without question, the soundtrack is fantastic, but the dancing is not Gene Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds by any stretch of the imagination. 

Think Day of the Locust, Sin City and the Great Gatsby with every debased drug-induced act of desperation to make magic on the celluloid screen.  The goal is to be noticed, make tons of money, and to create an illusion of everything’s all right when, in fact, after the initial high of success, it’s a rat race to get back to even half way to where you started.  This is a high stakes crap game of a film with not so nice backers…no Nathan Detroit or Sky Masterson, the leading lady is not a sweet little ingenue starlet (Margot Robbie), the hero (Diego Calva) is doing everything he can to make it in the business, a Gatsbyesque leading man (Brad Pitt) with a serious misconception of reality and a big drinking problem, Hedda Hopper’s alter-ego (Jean Smart), and whole menagerie of partiers, gangsters, whackadoodles, chickens, rats, a cast of thousands, and a very tempermental pachyderm.

There really isn’t much of a middle-road here.  You’ll either love it or be disgusted beyond belief or both.  What can I say…I can’t really give this an overall star rating…it’s 4, a 2, a 7 a total hot mess  --- you decide, you’ve been advised, but definitely listen to the soundtrack.  And I cahn't sten im.     

Everything, Everywhere, All At Once

Michelle Yeoh is, without a doubt, one of the best martial arts practitioners, ever.  She made Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon look like a walk in the park and in EEAAO, she even tells you she's really good and proves it.  Her role as wife, mother, daughter/caregiver, laundromat owner and unexpected savior of the multi-verse is mind-boggling and you'll either want to see it again to figure it out or run screaming into the night with a large unexplained craving for hotdogs and a googly-eye bindi.  

After the initial viewing, this writer was left with a feeling of deja vu ala Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the family version without lab-work.  I've heard of tripping on LSD or taking a magic mushroom trip and that it can really set your brain in another not so normal direction...this film personifies what happens when stress reaches a boiling point and blows the lid off a once semi-complicated existence.  The answer to life is fairly simple, but the method of reaching that conclusion is like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride on steroids.  Sit-down, strap-in, shut-up and here we go.  I recommend that you take this film in small bits, maybe concentrate on each of the main characters individually to make more sense from the seemingly nonsensical whole.  Cheers to the entire cast for a job well done, Rating...a 3 star audit of your taxes, gird your loins.

Wakanda Forever

The long awaited sequel to Black Panther is here.  T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) has been honored by his character’s remaining family and the world, as we’ve come to know it now that Black Panther is no longer, is in jeopardy, once again.  You knew that was coming because a comic book hero wouldn’t be needed unless they have something heroic to do.  Who will take his place and how will the tribes of Wakanda be united again?  Lots of twists and turns, some surprises, some not so much, but tons of great CGI and  some almost relentless action sequences.  There are so many very strong women represented here, not just the guards.  Fight like a girl, think like a girl, don’t take “no” for an answer.  Cheers to Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, Dominique Thorne,  Florence Kasumba, Michaela Coel…R.I.P. Chadwick Boseman…you may be gone, but you will live as Wakanda will live forever.  Rating:  3.75 bright blue vibrainium stars – as with most MCU films, please don’t leave before the credits are done, you’ll kick yourself. 

 

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, 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.

Cyrano

Tangled up in blues with declarations of love to find, found, lose, assume, and realizations that you can’t always get what you want.  Hearts are fickle and Roxanne (Haley Bennett) is decidedly so or so it seems.  She was born into privilege, he was not and add to that he is of a diminutive stature and believes himself to be the freak he is labeled by the ignorant.  When you lack in one area of your life, you may need to sharpen your survival skills in other ways.  Definitely the case here for both.  Cyrano (Peter Dinklage) has  puppy dog eyes, a voice that would melt butter, the soul of a poet and is a giant among men even at 4’5”.  He is hopelessly in love with the fair Roxanne; he’s resigned himself to always being bullied, and never being able to consummate his love or even reveal it to her.  Enter Christian, a soldier who is part of Cyrano’s battalion and instant eye-candy to Roxanne.  He is likewise smitten at first sight and we’re off on a slippery slope to save the fair maid from a life of bondage to a lavicious Duke, the likes of which shouldn’t be allowed to touch Roxanne’s hem.  Tale as old as time, but this beast isn’t going to turn into a prince.  The music is purposeful and carries the film along almost as a background to the story.  It’s lovely, and bloody, and sumptuous, and melancholy.  This won’t be everybody’s cuppa tea, but it’s worth a go.  If only we could change the outcomes of classic stories.  Rating: 3.75 glorious stars