McQueen

— I’m not a haute couture kind of guy and I don’t have a keen interest in the fashion industry but “McQueen” was still worth seeing. It’s a fascinating portrait of Alexander McQueen’s fragile spirit and his creative work told in chapters that chronicle his artistic growth and achievements as his personal demons and struggles also grew. Of particular interest to me was the sheer artistry of his fashion shows and his ability to be so creative while never losing sight of the bottom line and making sure his companies stayed financially stable. There was something truly energizing in his focus on the interaction his shows had with his audience, making the audience one with the artistic experience, not just viewers of a traditional fashion show. Sadly, in the end, he was another creative spirit burning hot and fast and dying too soon.

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[2018. 111 min. Directed by Ian Bonhote and Peter Ettedgul.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/mcqueen-2018

A Simple Favor

— As comedy-thrillers go, this one’s pretty good. Of course, given what’s playing at the local cineplex this time of year, my bar may be lower than usual. In a way, it’s the kind of film we used to see with some regularity. No political message, no religious undertones, no pivotal point testing the main character’s mettle, no physical or juvenile comedy, not even any whiz-bang special effects. Instead, it’s a light thriller where Stephanie, a gung-ho soccer mom type, and Emily, a glamorous, martini-drinking, big-city working mom, form something of a friendship. Emily asks Stephanie to pick up her son after school when she’s running late at work and promptly disappears. From then on, the plot thickens and it really is one plot twist after another, but it doesn’t get overly complicated, obviously not wanting to confuse the audience, only to keep them guessing. All three actors—Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Henry Golding—are very good, and Paul Feig is admirably restrained, doing a great job of adding a bit of humor every now and then. If you go, you’ll also notice the titles are fun—an obvious throwback to lively film titles from fifty years ago!

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[2018. 117 min. Directed by Paul Feig. Starring Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, and Henry Golding.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/a-simple-favor-2018

The Wife

— I was happy to finally see a film for adults after a summer of films, if not marketed toward adolescents, mostly geared toward anyone and everyone. “The Wife” is a slow, intimate reveal of the history and workings of a 40-year marriage that has reached an achievement point. Joe Castleman is awarded the Nobel Prize for literature and he, his wife Joan, and their son head to Stockholm to receive the prize. A series of flashbacks as the trip unfolds gives us a glimpse into the bargains and deceptions made by the couple over the years as they patched together a strained relationship, a family, and a life that all looked pretty good on the surface. It’s not a perfect film, but it’s a fine film made great by Glenn Close's measured performance where pursed lips, a careful glance, or a turn of her head are all it takes to let you know what’s she’s feeling and to convey the emotional toll of years of concessions. I recommend it!

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[2017. 100 min. Directed by Bjorn Runge. Starring Glenn Close, Jonathan Pryce, Christian Slater, and Max Irons.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-wife-2018