Once Upon a Time...in .Hollywood

My View:  Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood  (2019)  R  During the final years of the Golden Age of Hollywood, a struggling television actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double (Brad Pitt) try to mount a comeback. Underneath the glamour, there is a darkness coming in the form of Charlie Manson. This film is two hours and 41 minutes in length and feels like it is longer. I did enjoy the nostalgia factor of this film, getting to see L.A. in the last years of the vast studio system. Pitt and DiCaprio do play off each other well but there is a lot of shots of Pitt driving around listening to music. Be warned that this is not a true story but a fable about DiCaprio’s character who is on the downward spiral of an actor who once was a big star and is forced to take guest roles of television. As with any film that Quentin Tarantino does there is a good bit of humor and some rather repulsive violence. The story just takes too long for the payoff at the end and there were times that I was bored with the plot.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Once Upon a Time in...Hollywood Website

Indiefest:  The Farewell  (2019)  PG  A Chinese family discover that their grandmother has only a short time to live. They decide not to tell her and stage a wedding as an excuse to gather the family together to say goodbye. Based on writer/director Lulu Wang’s own life, the film is a loving tribute to families and how we will do anything for our loved ones. Awkwadina wows us with her dramatic performance of a woman who is the black sheep of the family and has a hard time understanding why they are lying to her grandmother. I saw the film at the 2019 Atlanta Film Festival and fell in love with it. Go see this funny and warm film that will make you feel good about your family and yourself.   My Rating: Full Price   The Farewell Website 

Indie fest:  Sword of Trust  (2019)  R  Cynthia (Jillian Bell) and Mary (Michaela Watkins) show up to collect Cynthia’s inheritance from her grandfather’s estate. The only item she receives is an antique sword that her grandfather swore proved that the South won the Civil War. Mark Maron gives a brilliant performance as the grumpy pawnshop owner who decides to help the two women sell the sword with a healthy cut for himself. This is a quirky little film whose dialogue feels real and genuine. There isn’t a lot to the story but it’s a fun ride with a surprise ending. The film is full of strange characters that seem to fit right in with the plot.   My Rating: Full Price    Sword of Trust Website

Forgotten Film:  The Boy Friend  (1971)  G  When the leading lady of a low-budget musical gets hurt, her understudy (Twiggy) takes over the role and becomes a star. This is a musical that writer/director Ken Russel did as a tribute to the 1930 musicals that Busby Berkeley made. Twiggy is fine as the lead but the reason to watch this film is the singing and dancing of Tommy Tune who is amazing in the role. The film won several awards and was a nominee for Best Music at the 1972 Academy Awards.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    The Boy Friend Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Once Upon a Time in…Hollywood:  Stunt Department Office Manager

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  The Nightingale  (2018)  R  Set in 1835 Tasmania, a young woman named Clare (Aisling Franciosi) chases a British officer through the wilderness bent on revenge for the terrible things that the officer did to her family. Written and directed by Jennifer Kent, who made The Babadook, so I’m in.    The Nightingale Website

Until Next Time!

Annabelle Comes Home

My View:  Annabelle Comes Home  (2019)  R  Annabelle, the doll that has an evil spirit inside it has been locked in the basement. While babysitting a teenager and her friend Unknowingly awaken the doll. Annabelle isn’t the only thing that has been unleashed and the evil spirits have set their sights on the Warren’s young daughter. Horror fans will enjoy this film though I think it depends a little too much of the ‘jump out of the dark’ scares. Unlike the past Conjuring films, this one does not focus on the husband and wife team of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Instead, this film is about a night when their daughter, Judy (Mckenna Grace), a psychic like her mom, who is being babysat by Mary (Madison Iseman). When Mary’s friend Daniela (Katie Sarife) visits things go to hell, mostly because Daniela has let Annabelle out of her case. I enjoyed Mckenna Grace’s performance which is deep and nuanced. If you want to have some fun and get a few scares in, this film is for you.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee      Annabelle Comes Home Website

My View:  Yesterday  (2019)  PG-13  A musician, Jack(Himesh Patel) who realizes he’s the only person to remember The Beatles. He then starts performing their songs and becomes a big star. Patel has a fine voice and what I like about this film is Patel puts a new take on some of the Beatles songs. His version of Help near the end of the film is a perfect example of this; it’s full of anger and angst. I loved Lily James, who plays Ellie, Jack’s manager, who at times is the only one that believes that he can succeed as a musician. I enjoyed the music in the film, seventeen songs of The Beatles are sung, showing just how prolific they were. This is a sweet film that doesn’t always work. The film never quite finds its footing and I hated the ending. You get the feeling that screenwriter Richard Curtis didn’t quite know how to get his characters out of the predicament they find themselves at the end of the film.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Yesterday Website

Indiefest:  Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am  (2019)  PG-13  Documentary on the Pulitzer and Nobel prize-winning writer, showcasing her life and her work.  I confess I have only read one of Morrison’s books, ‘Beloved’ and knew very little about her. Through this film, I learned that she has lived a very interesting and is incredibly hard working but also she, as an editor at a major publishing house, fostered a number of great writers. When you read a Morrison book you get to really understand the characters and in this documentary, it does the same thing with Morrison. You get to understand her beliefs about writing and life. I also enjoyed her sense of humor that comes through in this film. Watch this film and you will want to explore the catalog of Morrison’s work.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee    Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am

Forgotten Film:  Dogfight  (1991)  R  It’s 1963 and Eddie (River Phoenix) are about to be shipped out to Vietnam. They decide to play a game; they put in fifty dollars each and then go about trying to date the ugliest girl they can find. Eddie meets Rose (Lili Taylor) at a restaurant and convinces her to go to a party. When they get to the party, Rose figures out what is going on but by that time Eddie has figured out that he really likes Rose. What makes this movie works is the great chemistry between Phoenix and Taylor, it’s sweet and warm but it’s also deeply moving. Some people don’t like the ending of the film but I think it works perfectly for what the film is trying to accomplish.   My Rating:  Full Price    Dogfight Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Annabelle Comes Home:  German Shepherd Puppet Sculptor

Coming Soon to A Theatre Near You:  Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood  (2019)  The story takes place in Hollywood in 1969. The story centers around a faded star (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double (Brad Pitt) but the part of the story that I am more interested is about Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) who was about to become a big star when she was murdered by Charlie Manson’s gang.    Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood Website

Until Next Time!