Marshall

— "Marshall" is a fine looking film by Hollywood standards, but a little overdrawn for my tastes. Still, I can’t argue with its message and if theaters can be littered with the Marvel universe of heroes, I applaud them for sneaking in a Black attorney as hero, particularly one whose victories became the blueprint for the 1964 Civil Rights Bill and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The acting was sometimes a little exaggerated, and the music sometimes seemed out of place, but the images were gorgeous, the editing was well done, and even if it played a little loose with the facts of the case, the audience enjoyed themselves and rooted for the man who, 27 years later, became the first African-American Supreme Court Justice.

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[2017. 118 min. Directed by Reginald Hudlin. Starring Chadwick Boseman, Jash Gad, Kate Hudson, and Sterling K. Brown.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/marshall-2017

Suburbicon

— Based on early reactions to this film, I was expecting a confusing mess of a film. It is a little confusing as two storylines are advanced, one that’s darker and more suited to the Coen Brothers and the other softer and suited to Clooney. Both make some overlapping points (and share a backyard) about the myth of suburbia in the 1950s where houses were similar, lawns were manicured, and residents valued surface similarities over inclusion or multiculturalism. In “Suburbicon,” it doesn't take long to realize anger and violence aren't too far under the surface, and it doesn’t take long for groups to become gangs. I’m kind of fascinated by the film and its pedigree, and I wish I could fully understand what Clooney’s ambitious vision was since I don’t think he fully realized it.

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[2017. 104 min. Directed by George Clooney. Written by Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, Goerge Clooney, and Grant Heslov. Starring Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, and Oscar Isaac.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/suburbicon-2017

Stronger

— When watching “Stronger,” it’s hard not to remember “Patriots Day”, the other film focused on the Boston Marathon bombing. If you’re going to pick one to watch, watch “Stronger.” Jake Gyllenhaal is wonderful, as is Miranda Richardson, and the focus on a Jeff Bauman’s road to recovery after losing both his legs in the bombing works well. The emotional struggles he faces, including his doubts and anger and depression while the city of Boston turns him into a symbol of hope, strength, and survival, remind us how fragile the human spirit is…and how resilient as well.

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[2017. 119 min. Directed by David Gordon Green. Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Tatiana Maslany, and Miranda Richardson.]
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/09/stronger-movie-review/540774/

Only the Brave

— Good acting and good cinematography elevate this one above some of the other dramatic looks at horrible things, but not enough to take away the ambiguity I always feel watching a fictionalized version of a real disaster.

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[2017. 133 min. Directed by Joseph Kosinski. Starring Josh Brolin, Miles Teller, Jeff Bridges, and Jennifer Connelly.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/only-the-brave-2017

Battle of the Sexes

— I went to the theater for a light look at a media event I’m old enough to remember as something of a turning point in women’s athletics and the women’s movement as a whole. I expected it to be another look back at attitudes that are hard to imagine from today’s perspective and I was a little concerned when it started focusing on LGBT issues too since I had Billy Jean King pigeonholed as forwarding mostly women’s athletics, but the film reminded me that there are women’s issues and LGBT issues and all kind of other group’s issues but, in the end, they’re all equality issues. This is a thoughtful story with good actors that sometimes gets a little bogged down with both King's and Riggs' personal matters, but those same personal matters do make it more than a typical sports triumph film.

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[2017. 121 min. Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. Starring Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Elisabeth Shue, Bill Pullman, Alan Cumming, Sarah Silverman, and Andrea Riseborough.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/battle-of-the-sexes-2017

Blade Runner 2049

— Flat out, this is a good film, particularly given the veneration bestowed on its 1982 forerunner. As you might imagine, special effects aren’t held back, but they also aren’t senselessly used and the story unfolds at a pace that almost seems slow given the current predilection for breakneck action. Somehow, Villeneuve manages to offer plenty of nods to Ridley Scott’s original film and continue the story in such a way that new audiences will appreciate it. Of course the search for identity and the question of what makes us human still top the list of considerations and at times the film is a bit obvious as it considers these things. Again, it’s a peek at the not too distant future, making the darkness all the more frightening and alluring. It’s an engaging, dark, sci-fi story with great images, intriguing music/sounds, decent acting, and enough humanity to keep it from looking tethered to reality.

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[2017. 164 min. Directed by Denis Villeneuve. Starring Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Robin Wright, Dave Bautista, and Jared Leto.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/blade-runner-2049-2017

Victoria and Abdul

— Judi Dench really knows how to play Queen Victoria and Stephen Frears really knows how to direct British historical dramas. If you like this sort of thing, you’ll like “Victoria and Abdul.” For that matter, if you like buddy films or you like love stories, you’ll probably like it as well. Lucky for me I like all three types of films. It’s fun and it’s always good to see someone who’s just going through the paces suddenly spark up because something new and different comes along, widening their perspective and opening their heart. There are not oodles of depth to the film and it certainly takes historical liberties, but it’s more than enjoyable.

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[2017. 111 min. Directed by Stephen Frears. Starring Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Tim Pigott-Smith, Eddie Izzard, Adeel Akhtar, and Michael Gambon.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/victoria-and-abdul-2017

Columbus

— I believe in the power of architecture and have been to Columbus, Indiana more than once to see their buildings. I like films that pay attention to the images and take their time getting someplace and “Columbus” does all that and more. At its most simplistic level, it’s about two people dealing with parent issues who are attracted to each other with a town’s amazing architecture as a backdrop. I grew a little tired of what I’d call a mock-3D effect with the main characters in sharp focus and the background much softer but that’s about the only complaint I have. I liked thinking about attention spans and interests and perceptions. I liked thinking about art as a way to experience other’s feelings or isolate your own, as something that can broaden your life or give you a place to hide. I liked thinking about the hold our parents have on us and what it takes to realize you eventually have to take control of your life. I like thinking about asymmetry as it applies to architecture and to personalities. And I like that this is a little story about everyday people who are hurt, who love or fail to see love, who move forward with baby steps. It’s a good film.

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[2017. 100 min. Directed by Kogonada. Starring John Cho, Haley Lu Richardson, and Parker Posey.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/columbus-2017