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.

---

[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!

---

[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!

---

[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

Searching

— “Searching” really is a thriller with a different perspective. The story centers on a daughter who’s gone missing and the efforts by her father and a police detective to find her. In the process, her father realizes he didn’t know his daughter very well so he starts a journey through her social media accounts and internet past. Most of the film's visuals become the screens he calls up on his journey and, aside from a few face-to-face meetings, the only real dialog comes in the form of FaceTime conversations, text messages, and archived videos. Add to that Reddit and Facebook and YouCast exchanges and images, and iPhone or laptop screens become the main character. Luckily, it’s done well and takes the viewer through plenty of suspenseful clues and plot twists. John Cho and Debra Messing both do their parts well. I expected a gimmicky film but got a pretty decent mystery/thriller with a unique plot device.

---

[2017. 116 min. Directed by Todd Haynes. Starring Oakes Fegley, Julianne Moore, Michelle Williams, and Millicent Simmonds.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/searching-2018

Wonderstruck

— This is a beautiful film [DVD] with an interesting story of two deaf children, each coming to New York a half century apart. The details are wonderful and the actor now their stuff. It’s a journey to find their place in the world and Todd Haynes adds his customary sensitivity to the film, giving it a glow and a beauty as they characters make their way. With Haynes, I always feel like I’m watching his love story with the film and that may be what makes his films so satisfying. This one seems a little off in the end, but still a joy to watch.

---

[2017. 101 min. Written and directed by Woody Allen. Starring Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Jim Belushi, and Juno Temple.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wonderstruck-2017

Crazy Rich Asians

— This is the kind of film you have see so you know what all the hubbub’s about. In a way, it’s just another romantic comedy with a Hallmark movie plot—true love triumphs over incredible odds and the girl gets the guy and his immense wealth. The thing is, it’s an all-Asian film with no martial arts and its grossing well by attracting non-Asian audiences. In a medium where Asians have traditionally been underrepresented, it’s a step forward to have a film that seems to transcend races. When you see it, you are seeing a romantic comedy with Asians, not an Asian film. When love, cultures, and classes collide, it helps that the film’s fun, entertaining, sometimes touching, and well done. I won’t be thinking much about this tomorrow, but it was a fun couple of hours watching it and it could be the start of more diverse representation in film going forward.

---

[2018. 120 min. Directed by Jon M. Chu. Starring Constance Wu, Henry Golding, and Michelle Yeoh]
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/14/movies/crazy-rich-asians-review.html
http://time.com/longform/crazy-rich-asians/

Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot

— I want the Gus Van Sant of “Milk,” “Finding Forrester,” “Good Will Hunting,” and “My Own Private Idaho” to show up a little more often. “Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot” just doesn’t measure up. Joaquin Phoenix is a fine actor, but the film jumps around more than it needs to, maybe trying to keep us interested even though the film is mostly structured around AA’s 12 Steps. It's about John Callahan, an alcoholic who, at the age of 21, became a quadriplegic when a car driven by a drunk friend crashed, and the subsequent rebuilding of his life, becoming a successful but controversial cartoonist. From my perspective, too little time was spent on Callahan’s cartoons and way too much time, with very little humor, was spent on his road to sobriety. The story was originally one Robin Williams wanted to tell and I can’t help but think he would have infused the part with a less somber air. That said, it’s still a good film, something of a lauding of higher powers and counseling, but it’s not a great film. It does, however, stand out as having the worst part Rooney Mara should ever have, particularly unsettling for someone twice nominated for a Golden Globe and an Oscar.

---

[2018. 114 min. Directed by Gus Van Sant. Starring Joaquin Phoenix, Jonah Hill, Rooney Mara, and Jack Black]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/dont-worry-he-wont-get-far-on-foot-2018

Wonder Wheel

— Woody Allen sure has his ups and downs, and keeps attracting some first-rate actors. This isn’t what I’d call Woody at his best—that’s “Blue Jasmine,” “Midnight in Paris,” and “Match Point.” “Wonder Wheel” is gorgeous cinematography, perfectly thought out scenes, more a feeling of a play than a film [DVD], and plenty of drama on Coney Island. Kate Winslet shines but, at the end, all you have is a beautiful piece of film that didn’t manage to move me.

---

[2017. 101 min. Written and directed by Woody Allen. Starring Kate Winslet, Justin Timberlake, Jim Belushi, and Juno Temple.]
https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/wonder-wheel-2017