Free State of Jones

— It’s a shame that this is so tedious as to render what’s probably a pretty fascinating Civil War story into something that feels long enough to have been a mini-series or a lengthy and bad documentary. It ends up being so influenced by recent headlines as to seem preachy. Its main problem seems to be that it just plods along with no rhythm, sometimes forgetting how helpful it can be to let the story unfold naturally instead of hitting the audience over the head with righteousness. Even Matthew McConaughey, who can usually make a scene better with his charm or a clever line or two, is dull. I spent more time wondering if he'd ever wash his dirty face and shave his scruffy beard than considering issues being raised. About the only time you’re not holding back a yawn is when there’s enough blood splatter to cause you to cringe. This really isn’t my kind or film, nor a particularly good film.

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[2016. 179 min. Directed by Gary Ross. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Mahershala Ali, and Keri Russell.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/free-state-of-jones-2016

The Meddler

— I’m not sure why “The Meddler” arrived in theaters with so little fanfare. Aside from living with a misleading title, it’s really an interesting, funny film thanks to Susan Sarandon who is amazing. Instead of being solely about a meddlesome mother, it’s about family, loss, love, heartbreak, reinvention of self, letting go, and beginning anew. It may be look like a standard dramatic comedy, but it’s really better than that and doesn’t try to be anything more than it is, but that’s more than enough.

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[2015. 100 min. Written and directed by Lorene Scafaria. Starring Susan Sarandon, Rose Byrne, J.K. Simmons, Jerrod Carmichael, and Cecily Strong.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-meddler-2016

Freeheld

— Julianne Moore can do better than this! It’s based on the real story of a landmark LGBT rights case after a dying lesbian, seeking to have her policeman’s pension go to her partner, has her request denied even though the pension would be given if she was a married policeman. Even Moore can’t save this from looking more like a made-for-TV saga than a theatrical release. Too often the human side of the conflict is overpowered by its political agenda. Every time our hearts become engaged with the inequity of the situation, we are jerked into the national issue as though we are unable to understand the inequality inherent in this one situation is indicative of an endemic inequality. I’m glad I saw it on DVD because it really is a small screen thought.

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[2015. 104 min. Directed by Peter Sollett. Starring Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Michael Shannon, and Steve Carell.]
http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/freeheld-20151001

Love & Friendship

— There’s a reason “Pride and Prejudice” has been made into a movie four times and a television mini-series three times while this is the first we’ve seen of Jane Austen’s “Lady Susan”, brought to the big screen with the title “Love & Friendship”. It’s pretty and witty but overly melodramatic for my liking. It feels a lot like a theatrical script since it suffers from a feeling of larger than necessary mannerisms and modulation. It’s filled with dull and dim-witted men surrounded by quick and conniving women making the behind-the-scenes decisions while skillfully maneuvering Regency customs. Think “I Love Lucy” in 19th Century England but not quite as funny. Don’t get me wrong, it is funny and a little naughty, and Kate Beckinsale is wonderful.

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[2016. 92 min. Directed by Whit Stillman. Starring Kate Beckinsale, Cloe Sevigny, and Xavier Samuel.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/love-and-friendship-2016

The Lobster

— “The Lobster” may be even more weird than I had expected. It’s also more complex than I had expected. It takes place in an alternate world where marriage and children are still the objective but really goes a bit farther than our world goes to dissuade other options, offering lots of opportunities for very dark humor. It’s playing the art houses and the audience I saw it with enjoyed the humor—most were coupled too. What I hadn’t expected was for it to also have a very odd but tender love story. Ultimately, the rules for those who’d appropriately paired didn’t make life much better—they just got to continue on with their species. There was a stiffness about all the characters that left viewers with little question that this might be sci-fi but is, instead, a strictly Dystopian tale. I liked it and the audience’s reaction to its ending was particularly interesting.

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[2015. 119 min. Directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. Starring Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz, and Jessica Barden.]
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/lobster-cannes-review-795869/