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/

A Bigger Splash

— This is a relaxed, sensual film about a gorgeous, aging rock star who is vacationing with her equally gorgeous new and younger lover in a sun-kissed Mediterranean villa. The star’s previous, more age-appropriate lover (who set her up with her current lover) and his recently discovered and oh so nubile daughter arrive unexpectedly and end up staying with them. Pasts are slowly revealed, and emotions simmer then boil. There’s a lot of heat in this one and I liked it a lot. Each of the four are perfectly acted and its one of those nice, slow, evolving stories that you just hope will end on some satisfactory note. It does and I’d suggest seeing this if you like a vaguely European, sexy sort of films.

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[2015. 125 min. Directed by Luca Guadagnino. Starring Tilda Swinton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Ralph Fiennes, and Dakota Johnson.]
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/05/bigger-splash-review/481620/

The Lady in the Van

— I missed “The Lady in the Van” in theaters so I checked it out on DVD the other day. Although billed as a comedy, I’d say that’s pushing it. This is the “mostly true story” of an unpleasant but mysterious elderly woman who lives in a van, and Alan Bennett, a milquetoast author, who lets her temporarily park in his driveway—she ends up staying for 15 years. The film looks like a stage play (it was, and the play was based on the real Bennett's book) and is as much the story of Bennett as of the woman. Not much really happens except for the slow development of their friendship. Maggie Smith is incredible (isn’t she always?) which is a good thing given the dull and wandering nature of the plot. Alex Jennings is good too, in both his roles (one the Bennett who lives his life and the other the Bennett who writes, which can be a little much when they converse with each other). Their bond is interesting as is the reactions of their neighbors. There’s also an interesting thread about how much writers should adhere to reality and whether it’s okay to augment reality. In the end, it’s Smith’s performance that’ll engage you, but as an entertaining story, it’s just so-so.

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[2015. 104 min. Directed by Nicholas Hytner. Starring Maggie Smith and Alex Jennings.]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/film/the-lady-in-the-van/review/

City of Gold

— This is one of those documentaries that's fun to watch. It’s more a portrait than an indictment; more a history than an investigation. It almost makes me want to live in L.A. so I can have access to the food and the fabric of the city. This look at Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold becomes a look at immigrant families whose food trucks and restaurants he’s drawn to, and in the process, the glory of diversity and the realization that there can be many “bests”. He sees the evolving nature of his city and the possibilities it offers thanks to the varieties of culture and commerce within its boundaries and somehow, the food he samples and the meals he eats become a testament to the city itself. I liked it.

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[2016. 96 min. Written and directed by Laura Gabbert. Featuring Jonathan Gold.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/city-of-gold-2016

Sing Street

— A captivating coming of age film set in 1980’s Ireland. There’s a kind of free-flowing energy throughout this thoughtful look at first love, brotherhood, the resiliency of the human spirit, the choices available to youth, and the possibility of greatness. With plenty of music and humor, this film’s bittersweet storyline and toe-tapping enthusiasm made it a joy to see.

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[2016. 106 min. Written and directed by John Carney. Starring Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Lucy Boynton, and Jack Reynor.]
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sing-street-2016