Trumbo

— I streamed “Trumbo” last night and thought it was worth a viewing, particularly for anyone unfamiliar with the story since it’s a story that should be retold lest we forget or, worse, repeat it. It’s a nicely crafted film made special mostly because Bryan Cranston is excellent as Dalton Trumbo, one of the “Hollywood Ten” who appeared on the first Hollywood blacklist in 1947 and whose life and the lives of subsequent blacklisted artists were damaged during the late ‘40s and the 1950’s when they were barred from employment in most of the entertainment field after being identified as having ties to the Communist Party by the House Committee on Un-American Activities. It’s not going to make my list of top films, but it’s certainly a good watch just the same same.

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2015. 124 min. Directed by Jay Roach. Starring Bryan Cranston, Diane Lane, Helen Mirren, Louis C.K., David James Elliott, and Michael Stuhlbarg,]
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/feb/07/trumbo-review-bryan-cranston-hollywood-screenwriter-dalton-blacklisted

45 Years

— If you missed “45 Years” when it was released and still have a chance to see it, go. It’s worth it for Charlotte Rampling’s performance alone, but the slow unfolding of this intricate relationship is nearly perfect. It’s really a week in the life of a couple about to celebrate the 45th wedding anniversary, culminating in their anniversary party. As the week begins, a letter informs the husband his first love’s body has been found preserved in a glacier and her presence permeates the week. Tom Courtenay, as Rampling’s husband, is also excellent. I should caution that I suspect it’s more suited for viewers able to look back for several decades of life than those entangled in the present and near future. Interestingly, it strikes me as a fairly realistic look at those of us who are no longer young, something oddly rare in films.

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[2015. 95 min. Directed by Andrew Haigh. Starring Charlotte Rampling, Tom Courtenay, and Geraldine James.]
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/aug/30/45-years-charlotte-rampling-tom-courtenay-review-mark-kermode

Deadpool

— I finally got to see “Deadpool” and I’m a little embarrassed to admit how much I liked it. Unlike most of the Marvel films, “Deadpool” was produced on a shoestring budget. In one of Deadpool’s many comments to the audience, he even references the small budget. Those comments, when Deadpool breaks the fourth wall, are part of the fun. Heck, he even pokes fun at Ryan Reynolds. The dialogue’s a little lewd and crude too but, just as is the case with the blood and the other routinely flowing fluids, you get used to it pretty fast and realize it’s just part of the anti-hero’s wake. It is a small film and it’s kind of an uneven and uneasy blend of “Monty Python”, “American Pie”, and “Hancock”, but it’s fun to watch and it's great to see a Marvel film and not have to worry about whether the world will be saved or not.

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[2016. 108 min. Directed by Tim Miller. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, and T.J. Miller.]
http://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/deadpool-review-ryan-reynolds-1201695367/

Sherpa

— A look at Himalayan Sherpas whose skills make it possible for a growing number of climbers to reach the summit of Everest. What was once a small number of climbers challenging the mountain has become an industry attracting crowds with the Sherpas assuming a great amount of the risk in exchange for financial reward. The documentary includes a bit of history in addition to looking at the current situation from the Sherpas’ point of view, made even more poignant when sixteen Sherpas were killed at the Khumbu Icefall during production, creating a clash between the Sherpas and westerners. This is a beautiful film reminding us of the toll tourism can take on indigenous people. (Shown at True/False Film Fest 2016.)

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[2015. 96 min. Written and directed by Jennifer Peedom.]
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/sep/16/toronto-film-festival-sherpa-director-everest-documentary-jennifer-peedom

Hail, Caesar!

— A day in the life of a 1950’s Hollywood studio exec as written by the Coens. The studio’s filming one of every kind of film and the story moves from set to set, so there are many films within this film. There are also extremely competent stars in all these films. I really enjoyed it, chuckling often at both subtle and not-so-subtle references—I wonder how many more I missed. This has the sharp wit but not the dark edge often associated with Coen films, and yet it works very well even when hovering perilously close to corn. Sure, it’s not their best film, but it’s fun and quick and expertly done. I thought it was worth seeing but I'm not so sure everyone in the audience felt that way. Some people just don't like the Coen's quirkiness.

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[2016. 106 min. Written and directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen. Starring Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Alden Ehrenreich, Ralph Fiennes, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDorman, Channing Tatum, and Jonah Hill.]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/hail-caesar-takes-a-goofily-jaundiced-view-of-old-hollywood/2016/02/03/98b517b6-c9e7-11e5-a7b2-5a2f824b02c9_story.html

Youth

— A detailed and beautiful look at art, youth, and older age. A retired, renowned composer and orchestra conductor is at a Swiss resort with his daughter and his best friend, an acclaimed film director, when the Queen invites him to conduct his most famous piece for the prince’s birthday. The film moves lovingly at a cadence all its own, sometimes feeling almost like an homage to Fellini. I went from being mesmerized by the film to shaking my head and questioning where it was going. In the end, I liked parts of it but think I may need to see it a second time to know if it was successful. Maybe my steady diet of popular films has left me unable to fully appreciate things more cerebral, or maybe it’s just an uneven film. It does have a great cast, a nice bit of humor, gorgeous cinematography, and the hand of a great director, but with only one viewing under my belt, I think Sorrentino’s other English-language film, “The Great Beauty”, is more worth your while.

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[2015, 124 min. Written and directed by Paolo Sorrentino. Starring Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano, and Jane Fonda.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/youth-2015l