I periodically provide short reviews or recaps of
pictures I've previously reviewed, when they become available for streaming
and/or on DVD. The following movies have been released for home viewing over
the last three months. This is part 2 of a two part posting. Movies are listed
in no particular order:
The
Lobster (2015): When I reviewed this film back in June, I noted that “describing Greek director Yorgos
Lanthimos’ movies as unusual would be a significant understatement. Customers
leaving the screening of his latest, The Lobster (his fifth feature film
and his first in English) used adjectives like “weird”, “strange”, ‘odd” and
“absurd”, the last being closest to the mark. To me, it seemed “Bunuellian”, as
in the films of Luis Bunuel, particularly The Exterminating Angel (1962).”
The
Lobster is a
modernist allegory, the story of a man named David (Colin Farrell) living in an
alternate world very much, but not quite, like our own. Being single is a
crime, but the benevolent powers have set up a system to help those without a partners
find one; failing that, singles are turned into animals! Even here there is a
touch of liberality: you get to choose what kind of animal you’ll be. There are
resisters, of course, living in tribes in the forest, one of whom (Rachel
Weisz) comes to David’s attention.
“The
tone of the film blends an odd and very effective brand of farcical humor, some
of which is laugh-out-loud funny, with some disturbing violence and cruelty –
most of the violent bits occurring just off-screen, but no less troubling for
that.” The Lobster raises some fascinating questions, too, about our own
world and mores.
Available for streaming on iTunes,
Amazon, GooglePlay, and other sites; and on DVD from Netfli, and elsewhere.
Born To Be Blue (2016):
This is the more or less true story of legendary jazz trumpeter Chet Baker’s
comeback in the early 1960’s after drug addiction, loose living and the law had
left him down and out by his early thirties. Baker was a jazz sensation in the early
and middle 1950’s. In contrast to the intense, hot jazz of Miles Davis, Dizzy
Gillepsie and other East Coast luminaries of the day, Baker brought a “cool” West
Coast vibe to his music. [Please, jazz fans, let’s not argue about my use of
the terms ‘hot’ and ‘cool’. I’m aware that Miles’ Birth Of The Cool album is a landmark of the genre.] Plus, Baker was young and slickly handsome, he
could not only induce sweet sounds on the horn but could sing as well, and he
was white – sometimes referred to as the James Dean of Jazz.
By 1964, however,
when this movie is set, that was all over. Baker was a mess. His teeth had been
knocked out by a drug dealer (not great for a trumpeter). His wife, his friends
and his manager had given up on him. He had nothing. And yet, he somehow made
it back. Born to be Blue is writer/director Robert Budreau’s “reimagining”
of his struggle. Starring a brilliant Ethan Hawke as Baker and a sympathetic Carmen
Ejogo (Coretta King in Selma [2014[) as the woman whose love and support
keeps him going.
The tone of Born
To Be Blue is downbeat, realistic and slowly, sometimes painfully dramatic.
Hawke’s commitment and quiet passion holds it all together. My only complaint:
the music seems to be a watered down evocation of Chet Baker, rather than the
real thing (although it sounded nice). Born To Be Blue will not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I found
it to be a fascinating and moving story, well told.
Available for streaming on iTunes,
Amazon, GooglePlay, and other sites; and on DVD from Netflix and elsewhere.
The Meddler (2016):
In my April 2016, I enthused over this picture, describing it thusly: “The Meddler
is a domestic comedy with heart and soul. First and foremost, it is funny, very
funny. But it’s also warmhearted and honest about human relationships in a way
quite rare for a funny film.” Not
everyone loved it as I did, although the critical and consumer consensus has
generally been favorable. Like many comedies (and other experiences), your
reaction may depend on your mood going in.
Most everyone agrees however that
Susan Sarandon gives a truly great performance in the lead as Marnie, a widowed
East Coast mom, who has transplanted herself to Southern California to be
closer to her not always appreciative daughter (Rose Byrne).
Read my Full
Review and decide for yourself.
Available for streaming on iTunes,
Amazon, Vudu, and other sites; and on DVD from Netflix and elsewhere.
Hail, Caesar (2016): This, the latest movie written and directed by
the Coen Brothers, is an homage to and send-up of 1950’s Hollywood. Ostensibly, the
story line concerns a Hollywood “fixer” called Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) - named
for and (loosely) based on a real Hollywood fixer back in the day named E.J.
Mannix. A fixer was a studio exec whose job it was to keep the studio and
its stars out of trouble, or, as was more commonly the case, when a star got
into trouble, to try to hush it up and/or make it go away, by whatever means
necessary.
Here, the plot is launched when the studio’s big star, a
handsome lunkhead called Baird Whitlock (George Clooney) is kidnapped by some
lame-brain commies, while making a BenHur-like movie epic entitled Hail Caesar.
Complications
ensue which Mannix tries to manage. Along the way, there are backstage glimpses of various
other popular genres of the period, such as Esther Williams’ style water
extravaganzas (featuring Scarlett Johansson), a singin’ and dancin’ musical
styled after 1949’s On The Town featuring Channing Tatum, and a fluffy
adaptation of a Broadway hit called "Merrily We Dance" directed by the successful,
though tightly wound director Laurence Laurentz (Ralph Fiennes). Somehow a hot
young cowboy star, Hobie Doyle (Aiden Ehrenreich) has been signed as the
romantic lead in that production, but he is, amusingly, not a great fit for the
part. It’s a breakout role for Ehrenreich, who is the best thing about Hail
Caesar in my opinion, and an actor to watch.
Ultimately, Hail
Caesar is a gentle, rather affectionate, yet comic look at the films of the forties and fifties, and
a fun movie if you are a fan of that era, in which case you may enjoy picking
out the various clever inside references. But it’s more amusing than
hilarious. For the Coen Brothers, it’s somewhat of a dud (given the high
standards to which we tend to hold them) – but serious fans of those guys
should see it anyway. And some of my friends just loved it, so you never know.
Available for streaming on iTunes,
Amazon, Vudu, and other sites; and on DVD from Netflix and elsewhere.
Hunt For The
Wilderpeople (2016): “Looking for a
light, funny, warmhearted live-action adventure-comedy that won’t jar
your sensibilities and, should the occasion arise, would even be suitable to
entertain your elders or/and your kids (or grandkids)? Hunt For The
Wilderpeople may be just the ticket. It’s funny, clever, a bit quirky in
that down-under manner, and endearing.” So began my review back in June.
I heartily recommend this entertaining
movie for young and old. Check out my Full
Review.
Set for release on DVD and streaming services on September 27th.
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