Red Sparrow

— Jennifer Lawrence seems to be in a string of misses and “Red Sparrow” fits right in. The story itself works but the script isn’t quite right and the direction is really odd. There are plenty of perverse scenes that could have been great at the hands of Sidney Lumet or Brian De Palma, but Francis Lawrence seems to hold back, flattening the scene and leveling the progression of the film. It helps a film [DVD] that’s over two hours seem even longer than it is. It isn’t all bad and I did keep watching—even dulled it’s still a spy thriller with a bit of an edge!

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[2018. 140 min. Directed by Francis Lawrence. Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts, and Charlotte Rampling.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/red-sparrow-2018

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

— The story of Lee Israel, an author of well-written biographies whose work is no longer desired. To make ends meet, she begins forging letters by literary notables and selling them as authentic. Melissa McCarthy’s perfect in the role, abandoning her usual shtick for something less physical and more reserved. Israel’s not a very likable person, preferring to interact with booze and her cat instead of with people. In fact, lonely and alienated, she’s downright prickly, feisty, and ill-tempered, but she knows how to write and the success of her clever forgeries gives her a sense of pride, and highlights her creative skills. Of course, misanthropic as she is, she manages to form a bond with another damaged soul, making for some interesting interactions. It’s a fascinating story but, more importantly, it deals with universal issues, reminding us there’s a bit of quiet desperation in everyone and more that a little in some, that everyone questions their self-worth and, in mid-life, feels they’ve accomplished neither what they expected nor what they should have and, eventually, that there may be value in human interaction. The film also benefits from a palette of comfortable colors and a circa 1990 Manhattan look and vibe, in addition to wonderful music. I'm glad I saw it.

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[2018. 106 min. Directed by Marielle Heller. Starring Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, and Dolly Wells.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/can-you-ever-forgive-me-2018

Boy Erased

— This isn’t an easy movie to watch and I wasn’t prepared for it’s wallop. It’s the story of a college-aged Baptist minister’s son whose parents, on learning he may be homosexual, decide to help him with conversion therapy. Lucas Hedges and Russell Crowe are perfect as the son and his father, but it is Nicole Kidman who shines as his mother, walking a shaky line between her husband, her faith, and her son. In the end, the film is as much about love and family as anything, and although it’s an indictment of conversion therapy, the familial kindness somehow softens those realities. No matter what, it’s hard not to wonder why only 14 states have passed laws to ban this horrible, discredited medical practice.

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[2018. 115 min. Directed by Joel Edgerton. Starring Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Joel Edgerton.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/boy-erased-2018

Widows

— “Widows” is a very good film and much more than just an all-women heist film. Don’t think “Oceans 8” or many of the usual variety where there tends to be a bit of glitz and glamour, and characters who are all the best in their criminal specialties, often appearing to have a whole lot of fun as an intricate caper unfolds. Instead, almost everyone in “Widows” is somehow enmeshed or embroiled in one form of corruption or another. The “widows” have found themselves dropped in the middle of things when they lose their husbands, pretty much penniless, friendless, and without a parachute, so the heist they plan is driven by fear and need in a gritty world, and isn't just some clever scheme playing out in a classy world where everyone drinks martinis. Yes, the plot is intricate with plenty of twists and turns to keep the audience on its toes, but there’s a look of desperation, not smugness, as the widows with no criminal backgrounds do their best to get up to speed and pull off a complicated robbery. These are thieves with whom viewers can identify, not witty gadabouts and their clever pals. Viola Davis shines, as does almost everyone in the ensemble cast, and the entire fabric of the film is perfect, holding everything together while exploring several issues—political corruption, female empowerment, racial and ethnic issues, class distinctions, etc.—all at play in a corrupt and violent world. It was a treat to see this film, thanks in no small part to Gillian Flynn and the incredibly talented Steve McQueen.

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[2018. 129 min. Written by Gillian Flynn and Steve McQueen. Directed by Steve McQueen. Starring Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Colin Farrell, Daniel Kaluuya, Liam Neeson, and Robert Duvall.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/widows-2018

The Girl in the Spider’s Web

— Let me say right off “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” is pretty good entertainment, just something of a let down compared to David Fincher’s “Dragon Tattoo” or the 2010 Swedish films based on Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” series. The fact that the “Spider’s Web” book was commissioned by the Larsson estate and written by David Lagercrantz may have something to do with it and, honestly, wonderful as Claire Foy is, she seems a little more bewildered than vengeful. The story line itself is somewhat more direct than Larsson’s more meticulously convoluted narratives, but there are still enough twists and turns to be satisfying. What’s a little less satisfying is the underdeveloped characters—neither the main antagonist nor the NSA cyber security agent who helps Lisbeth are very interesting, except to move the action along. Luckily we know Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist from earlier films but, unfortunately, Mikael doesn't have much to do in this film. In the end, I’d say this is perfectly acceptable entertainment, and that’s enough given the films in popular release the past few months.

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[2018. 117 min. Directed by Fede Alvarez. Starring Claire Foy, Sverrir Gudnason, Lakeith Stanfield, and Sylvia Hoeks.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-girl-in-the-spiders-web-2018

The Leisure Seeker

— Ella and John (Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland) back their vintage Winnebago out of their driveway, embarking on a road trip without telling anyone. Their adult children are beside themselves, but this is a film with a decidedly “boomer” perspective. John’s a former college Literature teacher who’s suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and Ella's been diagnosed with something terminal, so this is there last stand and they’re choosing to live it on the road instead of in a assisted living facility. It’s a good idea for a film and Mirren and Sutherland are more than up for the task, but while the sentiment may be right, there’s something about the circumstances driving individual scenes that seem too contrived. There are plenty of tender moments but they just don’t move very gracefully toward anything but a prescribed ending. [DVD]

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[2018. 112 min. Directed by Paolo Virzi. Starring Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland, Christian McKay, and Janel Moloney.]
https://www.aarp.org/entertainment/movies-for-grownups/info-2018/leisure-seeker-movie-review.html

Bohemian Rhapsody

— Queen’s music saves this film from being too long and too uninspired. Beginning with Queen’s standout performance at Live Aid 1985, it quickly jumps back to 1970 when Freddie Mercury is just becoming the lead singer in a band renamed “Queen.” The film dutifully takes us from that beginning to their later success, trying to focus on Mercury’s relationships with his family, his fellow band members, his wife, and his business associates, as he deals with his sexuality and growing fame. Unfortunately, the script needed another re-write or two and the scriptwriter needed to infuse a bit of sensuality in the film about a singer whose sensuality was part of his appeal. As it is, the film’s just dull and that’s hard to believe given how interesting Mercury’s public persona was. Luckily, the music infuses the film in large doses and it has the rhythm and enthusiasm the rest of the film lacks.

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[2018. 134 min. Directed by Bryan Singer. Starring Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, and Ben Hardy.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/bohemian-rhapsody-2018