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themosleyreview · 4 years

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The Mosley Review: Best Films of 2019

Wohoo! 2019 has come and gone and man did it fly by. This year we had sooooo many fantastic films and this year was probably the hardest list to put together. I really wanted to include alot more, but I had to make a few cuts. Now I tend to keep my list to the traditional 10 films, but on some occasions I've extended it to 11. This is one of those occasions. I have one runner up that is worth mentioning and I think it should not be missed.

Missing Link: Many animated films are computer generated now and the art of hand drawn animation is rarely shown. The one type of animation that is all but extinct is stop motion animation. It takes time, patience and passion to bring to life characters with such sophistication and care in an almost forgotten art form. The masterminds at Laika are truly imaginative artist and this film shows that in every frame. Not many films take the story of the myth behind Sasquatch to fun places without being hokey and I was relieved that this film took it seriously and pumped so much fun and heart into the story and I think this was a hidden gem of 2019. Click the title for my full review.

Now, on to my list of 2019's best films of the year. If you want my full review of each film then go ahead and click the title of each film. First one up is definitely a fantastic sequel to a film that the author hated, but loved the film adaptation of his second book.

Doctor Sleep: The Shining is a classic that can never really be touched. Stephen King is famously known for disliking the film adaptation of his novel, but with his blessing placed upon Mike Flanagan's vision for the sequel novel, we got this magnificent film. Not only does this film pay tribute to Stanley Kubrick's film, but it also follows the same rules and visual structure while keeping the film fresh. The tone was consistent and the performances were across the board amazing. Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Ferguson and the talented Kyliegh Curran deliver absolute greatness. This film features stunning and intriguing dark moments, but definitely has one of the most disturbing scenes I've ever seen and its all because of Jacob Tremblay's performance in THAT scene.

Ready or Not: How many times have we seen the family initiation story in a romantic comedy? A dozen times I tell you! Well how about you take the same concept, throw in a fun horror version of hide and seek with a hint of the supernatural and great dark comedic writing. You get this fantastic film that is all of that and more. Luckily I stayed away from any major trailers for this film because in retrospect, the R rated trailer gave away too many of the fun gags. The performance of each family member was awesome and this was a standout performance for Samara Weaving. Every year from now on, this film will be on my Halloween watchlist. I loved this film and I can't recommend it enough.

Shazam!: Batman (1989), Superman (1978), The Dark Knight Trilogy and Spider-man: Into the Spider-verse are just to name a few of perfect adaptations of a comic book character to screen. This film was beyond perfection in many ways and the best DC film to date. This film had the right amount of fun, darkness and heart that embodies the life of the titular character. I could see the amount of genuine fun the cast was having on screen and the heartfelt performances of Asher Angel and Zachary Levi were outstanding. Jack Dylan Grazer stole the film with his amazing comedic speed and wit. This was truly a film I had high hopes for and it didn't disappoint.

Avengers: Endgame: How do you start a story in 2008 and bring it to an amazing and satisfying conclusion that wraps up 11 years of storytelling? You have a plan, a clear vision from the very beginning and with that it'll special success. Producer Kevin Feige set out on a journey to bring to life some of the best superheroes and keep them together in a cohesive and long formed narrative to complete a saga that's never been done before. He did it with the best talent behind each film's camera and The Russo Brothers have delivered the most epic film the superhero film genre has ever seen. I have waited my entire life to hear Captain America say "Avengers Assemble!" and I'm so happy I've lived long enough for my dream to come true. This was an emotional journey and end to The Infinity Saga. I really can say so much more about this crowning achievement in storytelling, but I'll keep this summary short.

Rocketman: It was only a mater of time before we got a biopic about the incomparable music legend Elton John. I was hoping that it would not shy away from his sexuality, addictions and his bright and explosive since of style. Well this film jumped right in and held nothing back and I loved every bit. It was truly a fantastical film that had enough gravity and style. The musical locations illustrate his most important moments in his life and are visually stunning and accurate recreations of his most iconic performances. Taron Egerton was Elton John and I loved that he sang all the music. This was truly a masterpiece.

1917: World War II films are a dime a dozen, but the World War I films are rare. Sam Mendes is one of the best directors and all of his films take you on a journey through the eyes, mind and soul of a character and he did exactly that in this film. The fact that this film is almost shot completely in one continuous take, gives every moment gravitas and tension as you watch our main character go along and across enemy lines to prevent an ambush. The score was truly haunting by Thomas Newman and my favorite piece from this film was from the flare scene. Such an stunning achievement in filmmaking should not be missed.

Joker: The clown prince of crime has had many iterations over the past 80 years. The most influential and canonical version of the character came from Frank Miller's The Killing Joke. Heath Ledger's take was iconic and made you scared because of his unpredictability. Joaquin Phoenix has taken the character and given a truly disturbing and authentic performance. As Arthur Fleck, we see through a constantly unraveling psyche, a man become a new and real kind of monster. Not only is this version the most unsettling, but it was beautiful. The cinematography was great and I loved how we got into the mind and heart of the character when he wasn't even speaking. This is a definition of how a person being pushed through horrible conditions can truly become a monster and yet be free. I loved this film and I think it will be studied in many acting classes from here on out.

Ford v Ferrari: There needs to be more racing films of this caliber! I love racing films that are not just about the cars, but also the drivers and their stories. This film was based on the true friendship between Carol Shelby and Ken Miles and I can't say enough how much attention to detail and heart that was put into every frame. The sound design in this film was crisp and powerful. The performances by both Matt Damon and Christian Bale was truly amazing and they had the best chemistry. Their fight scene was the funniest and most realistic fight I've ever seen between 2 friends. James Mangold is one of my favorite directors because of his focus on characters and story first before the action. This was a love letter to the world of racing and a respectful look at the lives of these pioneers of ingenuity and racing.

How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World: How do you make a perfect trilogy? How do you wrap it up with a satisfying and emotional ending? You focus on the story and stay true to the message and heart you started with in the beginning. You let the character bonds naturally grow and make each adventure a learning experience. This film was a perfect ending to the franchise and I can't stress how much I felt like I was with Hiccup and Toothless on their journey to this conclusion. The performances from the cast were stellar as always and although the villain may not have been as great, he still was a good addition. The visuals were the best and the textures in the scales and sand were out of this world. The score by John Powell truly brought me to tears as I got to say goodbye to my favorite companions. If you ever owned a pet, you known the emotional bond that is forged. This was the ultimate pay off and as a pet owner I saw my dog in Toothless' eyes. I will miss this franchise. If you're not crying by the end of this film then something is wrong with you.

The Peanut Butter Falcon: There are some independent films that take a risk in going outside of the norm and telling a story that nobody would have ever dreamed. This film was truly something special and I can't tell you how happy I was throughout. This film focuses on an individual with down syndrome whose dream is to become a wrestler and it is something truly inspirational and heartwarming. Zack Gottsagen was truly brilliant and awesome in this film. I loved his journey and his will to keep going. Shia Lebouf delivers an equally powerful performance and his chemistry with Zack was very sweet. This is one of the best films of 2019 and the most important films of the decade.

And here we are ladies and gentlemen! This is the moment you've all been reading toward. This film was an automatic choice for me the moment the end credits rolled. The crowing jewel of 2019 is none other than.....

Booksmart: I have seen so many high school teen comedies about partying or loosing your virginity before graduation, but never have I seen a film so engaging and focused on the bond of two bestfriends. Their bond was the heart and soul of the film and you couldn't have asked for a better pair of actresses. Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever were beyond perfection in every moment of this film and they had me cracking up left and right. Their adventure over the course of one night was truly fun and you are along for the hilarious ride. Billie Lourd nearly stole the whole film out from under them with her surprising and hilarious appearances. The music choices in the film were awesome as well. The comedy in this film was so fresh and from the first 6 minutes of the film you’re locked into these two ladies chemistry. I can't stress enough how much joy this film brought me and for a film to be on my mind for the entire year and to have me constantly recommending it to everyone I know is an achievement of itself. Olivia Wilde has directed a true masterpiece and new definition of a coming of age story. I can't stop gushing about this film so I'll finish off by saying WATCH THIS FILM!

And that is my list of the best films of 2019 and man has it been a great year in film. Lets hope 2020 starts off the decade with a bang! Thanks for reading everyone.

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ewh111 · 4 years

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Annual List of Favorite Film Experiences of 2019

Happy New Year! All the best to you for a fabulous 2020 and new decade!

2019 was a busy year of traveling. Work took me back to China (three times), Japan, Korea, and first time visits to the Czech Republic and Australia.

I had the opportunity of a lifetime when I helped lead a group of Harvard-Westlake faculty members on a culture and food themed trip to China with James Beard Award-winning food writer/chef Fuchsia Dunlop. As a big fan of hers, I invited her to join us as our culinary tour guide and she accepted, leading us through three regions of China with distinct cuisines (Chengdu, Hangzhou, and Shanghai). Over ten days, she curated 19 meals with over 300 different courses! For more, go to my first annual food post: https://ewh111.tumblr.com/post/189972112494/2019-food-lists

And now, here are my favorite film experiences of the past year.

Cheers, Ed

The Best and The Favorite of the Year

Parasite

The less you know before viewing this metaphorical, fiercely dark, genre-bending comedy/horror/social satire of haves and have nots where everyone is arguably a parasite, the better. Korean filmmaker Boon Joon-ho creates a memorable, twisty, thought-provoking film experience with exquisite storytelling, stunning visuals, sudden tonal shifts, unexpected turns, and a terrific cast. Just take the journey and enjoy this masterful work that may be the best film of the year. Trailer: https://youtu.be/isOGD_7hNIY

Jojo Rabbit

Appealing to my affinity for the quirky, this one is my favorite film of 2019. Who knew that a story during the waning days of WWII about a 10 year old Hitler Youth, his imaginary friend Adolph Hitler, and his single mom who is hiding a Jewish girl in their attic would be so sweet and funny. While an absurdist witty satire on the surface, it’s really an anti-hate, coming-of-age story as we experience the world through the eyes of 10 year old Jojo as he confronts and reconciles “the other” he’s been taught to hate in the world around him. Delicately balancing whimsy and seriousness, Jojo Rabbit is a beautiful and soulful film thanks to a great cast, including a terrifically endearing Scarlett Johansson (while likely to garner more attention for Marriage Story, this is the more memorable character to me), the audacious Jewish-Polynesian director Taika Waititi as the sophomoric Hitler bestie, Sam Rockwell as an SS officer with a heart, and a wonderful Roman Griffin Davis in the title role. Trailer: https://youtu.be/tL4McUzXfFI

Racing Against Time

1917

Wow. Daring and bold filmmaking in one of the most realistic and visceral war film experiences since the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan. In a role that may be overlooked during awards season, George MacKay is a standout as one of the two soldiers sent on an impossible mission through No Man’s Land to deliver a message to prevent British forces from entering a massive German ambush. Oh, and via pure movie magic, director Sam Mendes and master cinematographer Roger Deakins tell this story in what seems like one continuous shot. I was totally drawn in by the Gallipoli-esque race against time, the real-time pacing of 24, and the immersive POV of a video game. The result is breath-taking as the camera dances around the soldiers, trenches, bunkers, and towns in a beautifully choreographed dance without distracting from the gripping storytelling. Trailer: https://youtu.be/gZjQROMAh_s

Ford v Ferrari

An exhilarating, high octane, crackling thrill ride. The story of two obsessively passionate crazies, ex-racer and car designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and British race car driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale), who join forces with American corporate titan Ford to defeat Ferrari at the 24 hours of Le Mans in 1966. It’s pure adrenaline that non-racing enthusiasts can enjoy because of the well-crafted story and performances. Trailer: https://youtu.be/I3h9Z89U9ZA

Unforgettably Creepy and Disturbing

Joker

Joaquin Phoenix disturbingly and completely transforms himself into the pathologically deranged, downtrodden, and delusional part-time clown/aspiring comic Arthur Fleck in this origin story of Batman’s arch nemesis. Joker is a deeply disturbing character study of how an emotionally fragile individual on the fringes of society gets pushed deeper and deeper into the downward spiral of insanity to the breaking point. Dark, edgy, and unsettling, Joker is not for everyone. But there’s no denying Phoenix’s brilliant, tour de force performance. (Unfortunately, my edginess was heightened in my screening by an audience member who was similarly laughing inappropriately like Phoenix’s character, which had me looking for the closest exit in the event of a disturbance). Trailer: https://youtu.be/zAGVQLHvwOY

In his sophomore directorial effort, Jordan Peele has gone beyond the horror and social commentary of Get Out, and into even deeper, more chilling existential territory. In Us, Peele has created an All-American family terrorized by a creepy scissor-wielding doppelgänger family and spirals into more terrifying and mysterious terrain with a fabulous dual performance by Lupita Nyong'o. Who is Us? Is Us them? I’ll leave the metaphorical debate for later. Trailer: https://youtu.be/hNCmb-4oXJA

**Midsommar deserves notable mention in the creepy category–a slow-burn, dark tale of a young American couple’s vacation in the remote Swedish hinterland at a once-in-lifetime summer festival that goes creepily and morbidly wrong. Trailer: https://youtu.be/1Vnghdsjmd0

Masterworks by Tarantino and Scorsese

Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood

Perhaps Quentin Tarantino’s most mature film, Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood beautifully captures in painstaking detail a specific moment in time: Hollywood, 1969. A passionate homage and love letter to Los Angeles and the Hollywood scene, Tarantino blends a concoction of history and fantasy (a la Inglourious Basterds) in a buddy movie with Leonardo DiCaprio as declining TV hero/star and an endearing scene-stealing Brad Pitt as his stalwart stunt double/best friend whose lives fatefully intersect with Sharon Tate and the Manson family. While at times meandering (it’s less plot and more a series of vignettes), it is also at times spellbinding (an on set encounter between DiCaprio’s character and a fellow 8 year old child actor; Margot Robbie’s Sharon Tate watching herself on screen inside Westwood’s Bruin Theater). As the title implies, this is a quintessential Tarantino fairy tale: funny, yet warm, and, of course, violent. Trailer: https://youtu.be/ELeMaP8EPAA

The Irishman

An epic, career-capping entry into Martin Scorsese’s mob-themed oeuve, The Irishman appropriately brings De Niro, Pacino and Pesci together in this elegaic saga, complete with de-aging technology to tell the story of mob hitman Frank Sheeran (De Niro) through multiple flashbacks. And for those of us old enough to remember, the story helps to answer the unsolved question, what happened to Teamster head Jimmy Hoffa. Trailer: https://youtu.be/RS3aHkkfuEI

Family Dramas

Marriage Story

Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver are top-notch in this raw, yet poignant, and ultimately life-affirming journey through the disintegration of a marriage and the logistical mechanics of the divorce process and custody fight seen from both sides as each struggles to reestablish priorities in their lives and redefine family. Trailer: https://youtu.be/BHi-a1n8t7M

The Farewell

We are told the film is “based on an actual lie” in the film’s opening titles; director Lulu Wang’s heartfelt, deeply personal, and charming film stars Awkwafina as a young woman whose grandmother (in China) has been diagnosed with terminal cancer but the entire family has decided to keep it a secret. Under the guise of a hastily planned family wedding, the family gathers to say goodbye to grandma. Capturing the uneasy tension between Chinese and American culture, questioning where one belongs and the role of family in our lives, Awkwafina shines in her first dramatic role, as does the rest of the supporting cast. Trailer: https://youtu.be/RofpAjqwMa8

Little Women

Director Greta Gerwig follows up Lady Bird with another achievement, giving the classic 19th century Louisa May Alcott period piece a thoroughly modern feel with an effervescent cast and 21st century non-chronological storytelling. Saoirse Ronan leads a fantastic cast. Trailer: https://youtu.be/AST2-4db4ic

Two Funny Smart Girls, Two Religious Guys, and Only One Baby Per Family, Please

Booksmart

More than just a female version of Superbad, Booksmart is an impressive directorial debut for Olivia Wilde with the fantastic duo of Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein (HW ‘11) as the “study hard” academic besties on a mission to “play hard” on the last night before graduation. Also memorable is the scene-stealing Billie Lourd (HW ‘10). This very funny and delightful coming-of-age pic stands out in the pantheon of teenage comedies not only for its quirky and smart tone, but for its inclusive and diverse three-dimensional characters, including LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming teens whose sexuality don’t define who they are. Trailer: https://youtu.be/Uhd3lo_IWJc

The Two Popes

I didn’t expect a film that is essentially an extended conversation between two people would be so intriguing and gripping. The imagined conversation in 2012 involves two very different men, one the sitting pope who finds himself standing increasingly in the way of progress, and the other, his eventual successor looking to retire from an institution he is increasingly frustrated with. But with spot-on casting and terrific performances from Jonathan Pryce as the ABBA-humming future Pope Francis and Anthony Hopkins as the stoic, humorless intellect Pope Benedict XVI, The Two Popes is a joy to watch. Trailer: https://youtu.be/T5OhkFY1PQE

One Child Nation

This one’s a doc. From 1979 to 2015, China instituted the “One Child Policy” as a means of population control to stave off mass starvation. Documentarian Nanfu Wang, herself an exception to the policy and now a first-time mother, explores the enduring ripple effects of the policy that included forced abortions, sterilizations, abandonment of baby girls, and child trafficking. This powerful and devastating documentary looks at the multi-layered trauma–how it was carried out and the heartbreaking human and societal toll it has taken. Trailer: https://youtu.be/gMcJVoLwyD0

**Other documentaries to check out: Cold Case Hammarskjold, Where’s My Roy Cohn, The Biggest Little Farm, Leaving Neverland.

All Out Pure Fun Movie Experiences

Knives Out

An enthusiastic bundle of joy, Knives Out is Rian Johnson’s stellar, intricately crafted, Agatha Christie-like whodunit with a stellar cast who seem to be having as much fun as the audience. Trailer: https://youtu.be/qOg3AoRc4nI

Rocketman

Can’t help but compare this to Bohemian Rhapsody, but Rocketman is the superior and more entertaining musical biopic (using the term loosely). It’s bold, magical, and fantastical, as befits Elton John. Trailer: https://youtu.be/S3vO8E2e6G0

Other notables: The King, Avengers: Endgame, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Honey Boy, Yesterday, Velvet Buzzsaw.

In the queue: Pain & Glory; Uncut Gems; Bombshell; Richard Jewell, The Last Black Man In San Francisco.

Favorite Binge-worthy TV Shows

Dark, Succession, When They See Us, Chernobyl, Mindhunter, Barry, Veep, Sex Education, Silicon Valley, Stranger Things 3, Don’t F**k with Cats

Special Shout Out to Dark

With elements of the mysterious strangeness of Twin Peaks and Stranger Things (minus the humor and camp) and the intricate intertwined storytelling and compelling characters of The Wire, Dark is the story of four families who live in a tiny German town situated next to a nuclear power plant (add a little of Chernobyl) who are inextricably connected through some strange cosmic phenomenon. Oh, and throw in a big dose of time travel. Dark is incredibly compelling and addictive. It is hands down the most complex and thoughtful (i.e., sophisticated and makes sense) time travel-themed story I’ve seen. Do yourself a favor and resist Googling anything about the show to avoid spoiling the experience. Just watch. There are two seasons worth at Netflix. And one more on the way. Trailer: https://youtu.be/S3vO8E2e6G0

#favoritemovies2019 #favoritefilms2019 #submission

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chicagoindiecritics · 4 years

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New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: MY 10 FAVORITE IMAGES FROM FILMS IN 2019

Every year at this time, I choose my 10 favorite images from films in the year. These are those particular shots that really stuck in my mind, made an impact, or became an indelible memory of the film for me. So, without any further ado, here are those ten that affected me the most. (Oh, and as always, there are spoilers ahead, so you’ve been warned.)

PARASITE The movie PARASITE, by filmmaker Bong Joon Ho, starts out as a comedy of manners. A low-class family cons their way into the home of a rich family to be caretakers of their children and household. It’s a dark comedy about the class system in Korea, but it’s really commenting on anyone’s station in life and how difficult it is to get to the next stage. Before they take over the Park family’s swank home, the Kim family thought they had it bad living in a below-ground-level apartment. Soon enough though, they’ll discover someone living a much lower existence – right there in the secret basement of the Park’s house. The little Park boy has seen him roaming the home at night, thinking it was a ghost. A flashback shows us exactly what he saw and indeed, it’s a terrifying sight. Hands down for me, it was the scariest and most memorable moment in any 2019 film.

MARRIAGE STORY My favorite scene in a movie this year is contained in Noah Baumbach’s MARRIAGE STORY. Charlie (Adam Driver) is a divorcing father, fighting his wife Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) for custody of their young son. He tries his best to impress the social worker (Martha Kelly) evaluating his worthiness one night, but then he accidentally cuts his arm with his pocketknife and tries to be nonchalant about it. As the bleeding continues, the social worker can’t help but notice. The hilarious and heartbreaking scene reaches its zenith when she can’t get the door open to exit. As Charlie watches her struggle, blood escapes down his arm, along with any chance of retaining custody. What a shot.

PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE At the end of the eighteenth century, Marianne (Noemie Merlant) is a painter, tasked with capturing the likeness of a reluctant bride-to-be named Heloise (Adele Haenel). What starts as a tempestuous relationship between artist and subject grows into friendship, then lust, and love. They bond over being outsiders, as well as similar tastes in art and literature. They find particular fascination in the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, leading to a lively discussion of why Orpheus turned around to look at his wife. As their affair ends, and Heloise’s arranged marriage beckons, she invites the exiting Marianne to turn around. Marianne does and sees her lover in her wedding dress, bringing a shocking and definitive end to their relationship, just like that of Orpheus and Eurydice. The way that director Celine Schiamma shoots the moment startles us as much as it does Marianne, finishing off the stunning image with an iris dissolve to black that makes it all positively chilling.

BOOKSMART Early BOOKSMART, Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) drives up to pick up her BFF Molly (Beanie Feldstein) for school. It’s not just a stop though, it’s an opportunity for Molly to make an entrance, and for Amy to join her in an impromptu dance celebrating their friendship. It’s sweet, nerdy, and hilarious as both are eccentrically awkward, lost together in their own little world. Director Olivia Wilde even turns off the soundtrack music halfway through their dance to reveal that the music is all in their heads.

KNIVES OUT Rian Johnson reinterpreted the all-star whodunnit for a modern era with his comedy-mystery KNIVES OUT. He twisted around Agatha Christie’s tropes with relish, yet stayed true to her mainstay of an eccentric detective. Johnson’s investigator Benoit Blanc is a Southern gentleman played to comic perfection by Daniel Craig. Johnson furthered the fun in how he introduced him. Blanc remains a blank for his first minutes of screen time, shot out-of-focus in the background behind the local cop (LaKeith Stanfield). Creating a mystery out of just who is the stranger plinking the piano keys in the background? It killed!

YESTERDAY The movie YESTERDAY isn’t a great film, but it is an intriguing one. After a strange cosmic accident, struggling musician Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) wakes from a coma to realize that in his new existence, no one has heard of the Beatles. Wanting to restore their legacy, as well as make millions singing and claiming their songs as his own, he becomes a worldwide phenomenon. So, if the Fab Four never existed, what became of the fellows who made up the band? Jack looks up one of them, and the reveal of an older and happy artist living in the country named John Lennon (Robert Carlyle) made for a moment that transcended the one-not idea of the film. Imagine that.

CAPTAIN MARVEL The first superhero movie in the Marvel Cinematic Universe featuring a female lead was 2019’s CAPTAIN MARVEL. Brie Larson played pilot Carol Danvers (AKA Captain Marvel) in the 1980’s period piece, and in one scene, flew high into space with fellow pilot Maria (Lashana Lynch) and tagalong tabby Goose. Co-directors Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck come from the world of comedy and it shows in wonderful shots like this one where the cat just floats about, quietly enjoying zero gravity.

FORD V. FERRARI In the action-drama FORD V. FERRARI, Henry Ford II wants an American sports car to beat the Italian-made Ferrari at Le Mans in 1966. Thus, he sets out to do so with an esteemed team of designers and drivers. Ford (Tracy Letts) is a bullying S.O.B. and when designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) has had enough of his attitude, he loads him up in the sports car and gives him a 120 MPH test-drive. As Shelby spins him around the dangerous track, Ford is scared shitless, weeping like a baby. It’s a sublime moment with the marvelous Letts letting go as you can see in this hilarious still.

ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD Few films this year received more water cooler discussion than Quentin Tarantino’s ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD. His story of an aging actor (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his best buddy, an aging stunt man (Brad Pitt), reckoning with the new Hollywood of 1969 was both amusing and elegiac. Age is a bitch in any walk of life, but in Tinsel Town, it’s a horror show. Pitt’s old-timer Cliff Booth is lucky to get a job stunting for the TV show THE GREEN HORNET. Still, he can’t help when the young upstart Bruce Lee (Mike Moh) brags about his prowess as a lethal weapon. Booth calls B.S. on the show’s star and they have a friendly fight. Lee scores a knockdown first, but during the second round, Cliff throws his opponent into the side of a car. It’s one of the best sight gags in a film all year, one talked about a lot at that water cooler.

I LOST MY BODY Few animated films are stranger than I LOST MY BODY. It starts with a severed hand escaping the lab where it’s being held to start on a journey of self-discovery. That means back to the body it came from, as well as the history of the owner. Naoufel, the young man who lost the appendage is a lost soul, trying to navigate his way through a difficult life. He’s such a mess, he can’t even deliver pizzas on time. One customer named Gabrielle calls him out on his shit and their conversation over the building’s intercom becomes a makeshift therapy session. As directed by Jeremy Clapin, and voiced by Dev Patel and Alia Shawkat, the simplicity of this static shot becomes mesmerizing in its simplicity and intimacy. It proves that stillness, even in animation, can be more moving than any action.

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eloisvs · 6 years

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howdy folks ! my name is leah ( she/her ) ,i’m 18, live in the south so i’m a est baby and i’ll be playing my baby eloise greengrass ! keep reading for all the juicy deets n wanted connections and i hope u love her as much as i do !!! if u wanna plot or smth like this msg n also my discord is dumb bih #8144 so hit me up there too !

(leah, she/hers, eighteen, est, blood) ELOISE GREENGRASS is NEUTRAL in the war, even though HER official job is as AN ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT IN THE MINISTRY. the TWENTY TWO year old PUREBLOOD is known to be ZEALOUS and CHARISMATIC but also INCESSANT and SELF ABSORBED. some might label them as THE SOVEREIGN. fc: zoey deutch

character inspiration: blair waldorf (gossip girl), shelby wyatt (quantico), rosalinda fox (el tiempo entre costuras), sutton brady (the bold type), rebekah mikaelson (the vampire diaries), summer roberts (the oc), brooke davis (one tree hill), harper (set it up), schmidt (new girl), cece parekh (new girl)

eloise was born into the affluent & wealthy greengrass family and is their only child and heiress to the greengrass fortune . her parents were manipulative and clever business owners who mainly focused on repurposing and selling jewels to wealthy pure bloods . their business might seem kinda shady but it is actually legit , though their prices are extremely steep which doesn’t seem to be a problem for any of their customers . since the greengrass’s have always been extremely successful , eloise grew up living a luxurious life in a large house outside of london with a handful of maids at her beck and call . isabelle & richard wan’t nothing less for their daughter , whom they constantly doted on , so el grew up with the notion that world was her oyster .

she was spoiled rotten and for most of her early years , that’s how she behaved . she threw a tantrum if she didn’t get what she wanted , treated all her nannies horribly and only cared about herself . she was a self centered , selfish brat and that’s basically the best way i can describe her younger years .

as she grew older , she began to realize the world didn’t revolve around her . and that really happened when she began attending hogwarts . sorted into slytherin for being cunning & ambitious , eloise quickly learned that she wasn’t the only one who thought they were all that and that knocked her down a few tiers . but she still took on this queen bee persona , and being in slytherin kinda allowed her to get away with it . surrounded herself with strong , ambitious women ALWAYS . thrived off of the attention of others ( still to this day ) and wanted to be in control of everything . think blair waldorf when she was in high school .

after she graduated from hogwarts , she spent the summer partying with her friends around europe . didn’t give a fuck about anything , until she got hit in the face with a reality check and realized she had spent on all her money and had to go back home to beg for more . she didn’t get very far and was soon confined in her family home again with no money , no job and no plans for her future.

so after realizing she couldn’t mooch off her parents money forever , she began working at the shop . turns out she had a knack for marketing their products and she excelled in the business . her parents were proud , she didn’t feel guilty about her behavior anymore , and she actually enjoyed what she was doing .

but after a few years of working there , eloise became bored and wanted to try something new . expand her horizons , she said . she knows she’ll eventually return back to her job at the store , but she wanted experience elsewhere . so she applied for an assistant position at the ministry of magic and got it . honestly when it comes to her job , think of harper from set it up but a little less extreme .

but what she really wants to do , is get involved in fashion . eloise has always had a good eye , which has been picked up on by some of the press . but a career in the fashion industry just isn’t practical in the middle of a war . someday , she still hopes .

a great influencer in pureblood society . still attends all the galas even though there’s loads of controversy surrounding them . gotta keep that image tho .

as for her neutral position , she neutral because she just isn’t sure of what to make of everything . of course , that’s what she says when people ask her , but she would really just like to stay out of it completely . but her big heart will probably lead her into getting more involved so she’s kinda expecting that .

she’s mellowed out a lot when it comes to her need to be the queen bee , but she’s just as selfish , just as vain , and just as spoiled . but what she won’t do is judge based off appearances anymore or bully anyone for no reason . she’s a lot nicer , but still extremely guarded when it comes to matters that don’t revolve around her . doesn’t trust easily tbh . she’d definitely safe herself first no matter what .

she’s a closeted bisexual but only to her parents . wouldn’t dream of telling them because of how traditional they are , but literally everyone else knows .

here’s some wanted connections

eloise is an assistant who needs a boss, so if anyone’s character is a higher up in the ministry & would like an assistant lmk !

an actual best friend she would literally do anything for no matter what . pls give this girl a best friend it’s what she deserves .

girl squad please . i was thinking something like the ladies from the bold type , but lmk if you have any other suggestions !

opposites attract plot thing (f/f or f/m) !

eloise is very openly neutral , so i think it would be interesting if there were someone trying to recruit her . this could be from either side (it would be v fun if i had someone from both!) i’m honestly open to the idea of her eventually choosing a side before the war is over, and these people would definitely have a lot of influence on her.

old friends that she hurt bc she’s selfish and it’s hard to get her to care about anything else , or bc of other reasons too !

ex boyfriend or girlfriend - could have had a major falling out or ended amicably - i am honestly open to anything .

current or old friends with benefits , would honestly love either because i love w angst pls n thx

roomates because she's not trying to go back to living with her parents

frenemies because let's be real, eloise definitely has a lot of those

#maraudrshq:intros #✶ — › do you want a blue bar? — ⌜ introduction #so excited to be here!!!#probably forgot a bunch of things but i can't remember rn

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wisconsinprelawland-blog · 4 years

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The Life Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg-- Told In Epigraphs

By Mersadie Murray, University of Wisconsin-Platteville Class of 2020

August 14, 2020

My mother told me two things constantly. One was to be a lady, and the other was to be independent.

-Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (RBG) was born in Brooklyn, New York. She was known to be a deep thinker and was rarely into small talk [4]. Ruth was very close to her mother who was strict about her daughter’s education, although she had never graduated high school. The day before Ruth graduated high school, her mother passed away, but the lessons her mom taught her about handling her emotions and never relying solely on a man would never be forgotten [4]. The work ethic instilled by her mother would stick with Ruth throughout her life.

Marty was an extraordinary person. Of all the boys I had dated, he was the only one who cared that I had a brain. And he was always — well, making me feel that I was better than I thought I was. So we went to law school. And he told everybody, all of his friends, and he was one year ahead of me, his wife was gonna be on the Law Review.

-Ruth Bader Ginsburg, The Rachel Maddow Show

Ruth met her future husband, Marty, on a blind date when she was attending Cornell for her undergrad. However, Marty admits that the date was only blind for Ruth—she had been pointed out to him before the date [4]. The two were married quickly and had their first child, Jane, together while they were attending law school at Harvard. During her first year in law school, Marty was diagnosed with cancer that gave him a very slim chance at survival. For many people, deadly cancer and a young child might have been a sign that they should take a break from their studies, but not for Ruth. She took care of both Marty and Jane. Also, she completed both her and Marty’s studies. She would even attend his classes for him, although he was in the year ahead of her [4]. She was determined that they both succeed.

Luckily, Marty went into remission. He continued to be an extremely supportive husband for the time, never getting upset when Ruth had more success or wanted him to take on the caregiver role at times. Some men looked down on Marty for this or sneered at Ruth for not allowing her husband to be the breadwinner, but they remained focused on each other and their mutual success. They knew that there were certain times that the others’ careers needed to be put first [4]. Neither Marty nor Ruth would have been as successful without the help of each other.

You felt, in class, as if all eyes were on you and that if you didn’t perform well, you would be failing, not only for yourself but for all women. [2]

-Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth was one of nine women in a class of 500 at Harvard, where she attended the first two years of law school [1]. This was a time when women were supposed to be the homemakers and serve their husbands, not pursue a career or attend college. There was not even a women’s bathroom in most Harvard buildings [2]. However, Ruth defied the odds, and society, and excelled in law school. She even made it on the Law Review. Before Ruth had the chance to start her final semester at Harvard, Marty accepted a job in New York City doing tax law. The two decided that it would not be a good idea for them to separate in case Marty relapsed. Unfortunately, this meant that Ruth would not receive her law degree from Harvard, but rather from Columbia, where she also made Law Review and graduated tied for first in her class [1]. This is one of many times in Ruth’s life where she made the best out of unideal circumstances.

A gender line… helps to keep women not on a pedestal, but in a cage.

-Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld

Being a female with a law degree in the 1960s was not easy. These were times when banks could require a husband to co-sign on their wives' loans and it was legal for a husband to rape his spouse [4]. Ruth was faced with sex discrimination by every law office she applied at, despite her outstanding achievements throughout law school that rivaled most men. Ultimately, she was left with no choice but to become a professor of Women and the Law. While teaching in the ’70s, Ruth also headed the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union, where she took on cases that would influence equality for women [1]. She was careful to only take on cases that would promote legal change and make for good law. She argued six landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning five of them [3].

The first case Ruth argued in front of the U.S. Supreme Court was Frontiero v. Richardson (1972). This case dealt with a housing allowance for the military that was only offered to males. She won this case, but didn’t receive the standard she was hoping for, which was that sex discrimination equals race discrimination—she lost that standard with a vote of 4-5 [3]. Another critical case she won before the Supreme Court was Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld (1974). This case was important because it was a man, as opposed to a woman, was claiming he was a victim of sex discrimination. He was the caregiving parent to a newborn child whose mother died in childbirth. When he went to ask about benefits for the sole surviving parent, he was told that that benefit is called a mother’s benefit and he didn’t qualify. Ruth wanted to take this case to show how important sex discrimination is and that it can affect both genders negatively. She won this case with a unanimous vote [3].

One of our nation’s best judges.

-Bill Clinton on Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ginsburg Supreme Court Nomination

In 1993, Bill Clinton had the opportunity to appoint a new U.S. Supreme Court justice and make the court democratic. He admits that Ruth was not the person he had in mind, however, due to Marty’s campaigning, she secured an interview with the president. Clinton admits that it was this interview that changed his mind and helped him realize that Ruth was the one for the job. During her confirmation hearing, Ruth did something that no judge had the guts to do before—she talked about abortion rights. Although this topic is very liberal and controversial, she was confirmed 96-3. Ruth would be the 107th Supreme Court justice [4].

We have the oldest written constitution still in force in the world, and it starts out with three words, ‘We, the people’.

-Ruth Bader Ginsburg

When she began her career as a justice, Ruth wasn’t the most liberal. She mainly wanted to bring the parties together and create good laws. Surprisingly, she was good friends with Justice Scalia, who believes that we should read the constitution just as the words meant to the men who ratified the constitution. Scalia was as far right as one could be. One prominent case that Ruth wrote the majority opinion for was U.S. v. Virginia. A case that dealt with the exclusion of women at VMI, a military college, and violated equal protection of the law. This was the first women’s rights case while she was a justice, so this was a very important case for her. The court ruled that VMI would have to allow women at the school if they could do the tasks required of them. After the election of President George Bush, Ruth knew that she had to push further to the left to balance the court [4]. It was this shift that began her notorious dissents.

Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.

-Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Shelby v. Holder dissent

Referred to by many as the “Notorious RBG,” Ruth was famous for ruthlessly—no pun intended—honest dissents. She didn’t hold anything back. In the case Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which dealt with a women’s pay being 40% less than males doing the same job, the court ruled that she didn’t file her charge timely, even though she was discriminated against. Ruth was outraged at the outcome and wrote the dissent. Because of this dissent, the law was changed; Congress ultimately passed the “Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009”, which would ensure that cases such as Ledbetter’s wouldn’t be let off on a technicality [4]. Ruth was a woman that wasn’t afraid to voice her opinion and always fought for what she thought was right.

I would like to be remembered as someone who used whatever talent she had to do her work to the very best of her ability.

-Ruth Bader Ginsburg, The Rachel Maddow Show

The legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg will live on long after she retires from the U.S. Supreme Court. She has inspired the lives of so many young women through her achievements and dedication in a time where women were not supposed to do what she did. Also, she was a lead influencer in gender equality, whether it was bringing gender discrimination cases to the Supreme Court pro bono or writing controversial dissents. Ruth could care less of what people thought of her, she was going to do what it took to make good law and ensure that all people were treated equally in the eyes of the law.

________________________________________________________________

[1] Academy of Achievement. (2019). Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Retrieved from http://www.achievement.org/achiever/ruth-bader-ginsburg/

[2] Gluck, A.R. (2013). A conversation with Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Columbia Journal of Gender and Law, 4905. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/fss_papers/4905/

[3] Oyez. (n.d.) Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Retrieved March 3, 2019, from https://www.oyez.org/justices/ruth_bader_ginsburg

[4] West, B & Cohen, J (Producers & Directors). (2018). RBG. [Motion Picture]. United States: Magnolia Pictures.

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kcaruth · 4 years

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Movie Mania: Top 10 of 2019

Another year of movies, another year a Star Wars film sadly did not make the cut for my list. With 2019′s The Rise of Skywalker, it is absolutely clear that the folks at Disney/Lucasfilm had no roadmap for this sequel trilogy whatsoever, which is an utter shame given their abundance of resources and proven ability to produce quality content as seen with the success of The Mandalorian.

In a rare occurrence, I saw most of the films nominated in the major categories for the Academy Awards. In fact, the Academy nominated seven out of my top 10 films for at least one award. I would say that 2019 was a markedly stronger year for film than 2018, so I have allowed myself a couple of extra honorable mention slots. One quick housekeeping note before I unveil my 2019 list: I’m retroactively moving Game Night and A Quiet Place ahead of Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book on my 2018 list. Now it is time to jump into my favorite films of 2019. (No spoilers!)

Honorable Mention: Joker

Nominated for a whopping 11 Oscars (equaling The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King [which swept all 11], The Godfather [Parts 1 and 2], West Side Story, and Saving Private Ryan, among others), Joker should get an award for most divisive film of the year. Directed by Todd Phillips (yes, the same guy who directed The Hangover), Joker is a psychological thriller staring Joaquin Phoenix that provides a possible origin story for Batman’s arch-nemesis. Before becoming the Joker, Phoenix’s character, Arthur Fleck, dreams of becoming a famous stand-up comedian. His gradual descent into insanity, nihilism, and violence mirrors the chaotic anarchy slowly consuming the decaying Gotham City as its citizens revolt against the wealthy and better-off.

Despite the concerns surrounding Joker that it would inspire real-world violence, the film has grossed over one billion dollars, making it the first R-rated film to do so. Phoenix disappears into his role, and Icelandic composer Hildur Guðnadóttir’s haunting score brilliantly conveys the inner pain and turmoil in Arthur’s mind as well as the dying light of Gotham. (Guðnadóttir made history as the first solo woman to win a Golden Globe for best original film score.) In an interview with Forbes, Guðnadóttir explained the concept of her turbulent score. “In the beginning, it’s almost just like a solo cello, but in reality, there’s a whole symphony orchestra behind the cello. It’s almost like this hidden force that he doesn’t know about and as he starts to kind of discover what he’s gone through and what’s actually happened to him, the forces become louder and more aggressive. The orchestra takes over and almost eats the cello alive.”

Although Joker is a powerful film and and makes strong statements about mental illness and poverty, its gruesome, unhinged violence can be hard to handle. Everything is shown in graphic, bloody detail, making the thought of a repeat viewing undesirable. I also could have done without a couple of choices that were made involving the Waynes, especially one scene that we have seen over and over again.

Honorable Mention: Ford v Ferrari

As someone who really does not care all that much about cars and their inner workings, this film did the one thing it needed to do for me: It made me come out exclaiming, “Yeah, cars!”

In all seriousness, James Mangold’s sharp direction smartly focuses not on the sport of racing but rather on its big personalities. Those personalities gripped me so much that I immediately started researching their lives after the film ended. The plot follows Carroll Shelby and Ken Miles as they are dispatched by Henry Ford II to dethrone the dominant Ferrari racing team with an American-made car. Along the way, they have to deal with mechanical setbacks and corporate interference to achieve their goal.

This film’s cast is outstanding. Matt Damon and Christian Bale’s deep but sometimes heated friendship as Shelby and Miles is the heart of the film. Tracy Letts as Ford II and Josh Lucas as Leo Beebe, senior executive vice president of Ford, give off the perfect amount of corporate stench to make them unlikable but not unbelievable. 14-year-old Noah Jupe comes off his great performance in 2018′s A Quiet Place to deliver another stellar outing here as Miles’ young son. However, Jon Bernthal felt a bit underused as Lee Iacocca, vice president of Ford, and Cautriona Balfe’s role as Mollie Miles, Ken’s wife, though well-acted, felt like it could have been removed entirely without much consequence to the film overall.

With a moving score and great cinematography, Ford v Ferrari unexpectedly tugged at my heartstrings, and the infectious passion Shelby, Miles, and these other characters have for cars managed to rub off on me, which might be the ultimate testimonial for this film.

Honorable Mention: 1917

1917 has been hyped as “that World War I movie with one continuous take,” but it is so much more than that. World War I was a stark clash between 20th-century technology and 19th-centry tactics. With soldiers largely trapped in trench warfare, conflicts commonly turned into battles of attrition. That does not exactly translate into exciting cinema, which explains why there are so many more films about World War II. Karl Vick acknowledges this in Time magazine, writing, “motion pictures do require a certain amount of motion, and the major accomplishment of 1917...may be that its makers figured out what the generals could not: a way to advance” (Karl Vick. Time. "Escaping the Trench". January 20, 2020. Page 38-41.)

What more can one say about Roger Deakins at this point? What he and director Sam Mendes created with the cinematography of this film is nothing short of fantastic. With its cinematic achievement of what is made to look like one continuous shot, 1917 presents most of its actors with only a small amount of screen time to make an impact, and they are more than up to the challenge. Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Colin Firth, Richard Madden, and others all leave a lasting impression with their extremely short encounters with the film’s main characters, Lance Corporal Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman [Tommen!]) and Lance Corporal Schofield (George MacKay). Mendes places the bulk of the weight of the film on Chapman and MacKay’s shoulders, and they luckily carry it with natural ease. Working together with the one continuous take style, Thomas Newman’s riveting score keeps viewers on the edge of their seat and makes them feel like they are part of this life-or-death mission with the lance corporals.

If I had to list a couple of flaws with the film, I would say that one of the characters feels like he has untouchable plot armor. It almost seems like Mendes and company hope that the awe-inspiring cinematography will make viewers forgiving or even ignorant of the amount of times this character should be fatally shot or even injured, but I understand that some artistic license is necessary to convey the story they want to tell. The nature of the cinematography employed here also makes it difficult to get a grasp on distances and positioning because the shot is never really allowed to zoom out or give an aerial view since it is fixed on the lance corporals.

Unfortunately, I experienced this breathtaking film with one of my worst theater audiences of 2019. Much of the film was drowned out by the ladies sitting next to me who felt the need to constantly narrate everything that was happening on screen. “He’s going down into the trenches.” “Look! He’s jumping into the water.” Etc., etc. This is not your living room, people! If people want to talk over a film like this and provide running commentary and narration, they should wait for its home release. Your fellow audience members are not blind, and we would greatly appreciate it if you remained quiet.

#10: Spider-Man: Far From Home

After Avengers: Endgame released earlier in the year, the spotlight promptly shifted to Jon Watts’ Spider-Man: Far From Home, and he did a tremendous job with this film. Serving as both the epilogue to Endgame and the sequel to Spider-Man: Homecoming, Far From Home effectively closes out phase three and sets the stage for the next era of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Far From Home is the first Spider-Man film to pass the billion-dollar mark, and it is not hard to see how it managed to pull that off. The returning cast led by Tom Holland as Peter Parker/ Spider-Man retains its great chemistry, and Jake Gyllenhaal is the perfect choice to play Quentin Beck/ Mysterio, complete with a great theme from returning composer Michael Giacchino. Fans of Spider-Man have been waiting forever to see this character on the big screen, and I am happy to report the film does him justice. Watts especially knocks his character out of the park with a certain sequence about halfway through the film that I was beyond thrilled to see.

The film is set immediately after the events of Endgame and finds Peter and his high school class taking an international field trip to Europe. The writers do an amazing job explaining the ramifications of Endgame, and the way they weave plot details and character motivations together all the way back from phase one of the MCU is mind-blowing. Watts realizes that there needs to be some levity after Endgame, so this film is full of laugh-out-loud humor and charmingly awkward teen road-trip set-pieces. Oh, and did I mention it has one of the best mid-credits scenes in the entire MCU that dramatically alters the characters’ futures going forward?

#9: Toy Story 4

I have a deep personal connection to the Toy Story franchise. I grew up watching Toy Story and Toy Story 2 on repeat, and Toy Story 3 came out during my senior year of high school. Those who have seen that film know why it especially resonated with me at that age. In my opinion, Toy Story 3 ended the trilogy perfectly; there was no way another film could top its emotional ending. When I heard that Pixar was coming out with Toy Story 4, I was not going to pass up another opportunity to hang out with Woody, Buzz, and the gang, of course, (neither was anyone else, seeing as this is the highest grossing film of the franchise) but I set my expectations to a low, manageable level.

Although I was disappointed that Buzz and the rest of Andy’s old toys were not as heavily involved in the plot and did not have all that much time to interact with Woody, I was impressed overall with the new characters and was happy to see Bo Peep return. In this film, Bo breaks through her porcelain design and exhibits a character with total agency over her choices. Everything about her redesign and the way she carries herself is awesome. Keanu Reeves’ Canadian daredevil Duke Caboom steals every scene he is in, and Christina Hendricks’ Gabby Gabby gave me terrifying flashbacks to Talky Tina from the “Living Doll” episode of The Twilight Zone.

As audiences have come to expect from Pixar, the film delivers stunning animation and a signature big emotional gut punch, which it earns it by building up genuinely heartwarming moments throughout its run time that address themes such as the difficulty of change, the beauty of imperfection, the mystery of creation and the meaning of life, and the importance of serving others. As Matt Zoller Seitz writes for RogerEbert.com, “This franchise has demonstrated an impressive ability to beat the odds and reinvent itself, over a span of time long enough for two generations to grow up in. It's a toy store of ideas, with new wonders in every aisle.”

#8: Doctor Sleep

Writer-director Mike Flanagan took on the unenviable task of pleasing two different parties when Warner Bros. hired him in January 2018: fans of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining from 1980 and Stephen King and fans of his books The Shining and Doctor Sleep. Somehow, he managed to pull it off.

After visiting the Timberline Lodge in Oregon, the location used in Kubrick’s film for the exterior of the Overlook Hotel, this past summer, I decided it was finally time to watch The Shining. I can attest it is just as much a masterpiece as many people say it is. My favorite part: it is a horror movie that does not rely on jump scares. When I heard the Flanagan wanted to chop away at the horror genre’s reliance on jump scares, I was even more excited to see Doctor Sleep. Flanagan said, “When we were developing the project and when we were talking about the metered expectations audiences have about, in particular, jump scares and startles and the pacing of those, which we’re utterly uninterested in this film, I would say, ‘What’s your favorite jump scare in The Shining?’ There isn’t one. The same is true here. We used a lot of the lessons that Kubrick taught us about how to do a psychological thriller, a supernatural thriller, in a way that is more about suffocating atmosphere and tension than it ever is about the kind of traditional scares as we understand them today.”

It is well known that King really disliked Kubrick’s adaptation of his book. He disliked it so much, in fact, that he wrote and executive-produced a new version with the 1997 television miniseries. In his approach to Doctor Sleep, Flanagan first read King’s book, which was published in 2013, and then consulted closely with the author to reconcile the differences between the book and film version of The Shining. After reading Flanagan’s script, King felt like his least favorite parts of Kubrik’s film had been “redeemed.”

Set several decades after The Shining, Doctor Sleep reunites audiences with Danny Torrance, played by everyone’s favorite Jedi, Ewan McGregor. Danny continues to struggle with the childhood trauma he endured at the Overlook Hotel during the events of The Shining, turning to alcohol to numb the pain and his psychic abilities. Meanwhile, the True Knot, a cult of psychic vampires led by Rose the Hat (Rebecca Ferguson), is on the hunt for children with psychic abilities like Danny’s, and they are hot on the trail of young Abra Stone, played by Kyliegh Curran in her feature film debut.

With the benefit of having just seen The Shining a couple of months before this film, I was able to appreciate Flanagan’s careful attention to detail. He is clearly a fan of both King and Kubrick, but he does not let his admiration for them impede his own creative vision. He expertly balances original content with just the right amount of fan service and callbacks to The Shining. Even without jump scares, the film has plenty of horrifying moments, especially one involving young actor Jacob Tremblay that echoed in my mind long after the film had ended. Ewan McGregor is fabulous, as always, convincingly portraying Dan’s fight with his inner demons, and Rebecca Ferguson looks like she is having a devilishly good time as Rose the Hat. Above all, I was surprised to learn that this was Kyliegh Curran’s film debut. She is so comfortable on camera and has painted a bright future for herself out of the darkness of this film.

Doctor Sleep gave me all sorts of chills down my spine, induced by the eerie atmosphere of certain scenes as well as extremely well-timed tie-ins to its predecessor, that left me hungry for even more Stephen King stories.

#7: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Set in 1969 Los Angeles, Quentin Tarantino’s ninth film stays true to its name and delivers an alternate version of events that unfolded in Hollywood that year. In addition to Sharon Tate, Roman Polanski, and the Manson Family, the film tells the story of fictional characters Rick Dalton and Cliff Booth. Dalton is a veteran Hollywood actor most famous for starring in a Western television series called Bounty Law who believes he is approaching the end of his career. Booth, a war veteran with a shady past, is Dalton’s best friend and longtime stunt double. Together, they attempt to navigate the final stretch of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt work incredibly well together as Dalton and Booth, respectively, with neither star trying to outshine the other. Margot Robbie, on the other hand, does not get a lot of material to work with as Tate. (Do not tell Tarantino that.) Conversely, Julia Butters blew me away as Trudi Fraser, Dalton’s eight-year-old co-star in the pilot of a new American Western series. She more than holds her own acting side by side with DiCaprio.

Although the film moves at a slow pace, leaving me to wonder at times where this story was even going or if I was just watching a day in the life, Tarantino’s usual engaging, snappy dialogue entertains even when there is no real action happening on screen. With this being Tarantino, audiences have to accept his signature peculiarities, like close-up shots of feet, to be treated to another perfectly crafted soundtrack, complete with classic rock and roll, old-time DJ chatter, and period-accurate radio commercials. In the end, the slow pacing of Tarantino’s script actually helps enhance the heart-stopping standoff at the halfway point and the absurd payoff at the end. Clearly, this film is Tarantino’s passion project. In fact, he said it is “probably my most personal. I think of it like my memory piece... This is me. This is the year that formed me. I was six years old then. This is my world. And this is my love letter to L.A.” No wonder he publicly referred to it as Magnum Opus while he was writing it.

#6: El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie

Written and directed by the creator himself, Vince Gilligan, El Camino serves as the epilogue to Breaking Bad, giving fans closure on certain questions and characters. Many favorites from the series return in some form or fashion (shout-out to Jesse Plemons for absolutely crushing his role here), but the focus always remains on Jesse Pinkman. Whereas Breaking Bad was Walter White’s story, El Camino puts Jesse center stage, and Aaron Paul gives one of the best performances of his career, fully tapping into his character’s desperate, damaged psyche.

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul are two of my favorite television shows, and I think Gilligan is one of the best show runners in the business. He manages to incorporate the tone and atmosphere from the world of those two shows into this film seamlessly, and he rewards longtime fans with a nice amount of Easter eggs. Cinematographer Marshall Adams deserves so much praise for the jaw-dropping shots that grace the screen, especially the ones that show off the New Mexico landscape. He has an astonishing ability to make every frame look like a detailed painting. Editor Skip Macdonald should also be recognized for his work, particularly for the way his editing of Jesse searching for something in an apartment reinforces Gilligan’s non-linear revelatory style of storytelling.

El Camino does not waste any time with exposition, so someone who has not seen Breaking Bad cannot jump right into this film and understand what is going on. Then again, what rock have you been hiding under if you have not seen Breaking Bad at this point? What are you waiting for? Let this be your motivation to finally watch it, and then once you have made it through the series and El Camino, keep the good times rolling and watch Better Call Saul, which is just as good, if not maybe even a little better than, Breaking Bad.

#5: Jojo Rabbit

Only the whimsical genius of Taika Waititi could have concocted this irreverent, dark satire set against the backdrop of World War II Nazi Germany. Based on Christine Leunens’ book Caging Skies, Jojo Rabbit stars Roman Griffin Davis as the titular Johannes “Jojo” Betzler, a jingoistic 10-year-old German boy enrolled in the Hitler Youth. Jojo lives with his mother, Rosie, played by Scarlett Johansson. As far as Jojo knows, his father is fighting on the Italian Front, so he often turns to his imaginary friend, a wacky version of Adolf Hitler (Waititi), for advice and support as Germany becomes more desperate as the war starts to reach its conclusion.

Jojo Rabbit’s black comedy places viewers in plenty of predicaments in which they want to laugh, are not sure its entirely appropriate, but still end up doing so anyway. The film balances this out by keeping a good amount of heartrendingly emotional and genuinely sweet moments tucked up its sleeve. Waititi and Romanian cinematographer Mihai Mălaimare, Jr.’s visual storytelling is on a whole different level, carefully using ordinary imagery as subconscious foreshadowing, leading to one of the biggest breath-stealing shocks of the entire year that stopped my heart and rocked me to my core. Michael Giacchino seems to have been criminally overlooked by the Academy for his simultaneously jaunty and intimate score that adds yet another impressive layer to the film’s wide range of emotional beats. Living in a world fueled by hate, Davis, Johansson, and Thomasin McKenzie’s characters show how compassion and the willingness to try to come to a common understanding can change, and in some cases save, lives.

#4: Marriage Story

Writer-director Noah Baumbach paints what may be the most brutally honest picture of divorce I have ever seen on screen in Marriage Story. Before Marriage Story, I had never seen one of Baumbach’s films, but I get the sense from this film that he takes a very grounded approach to storytelling.

Marriage Story stars Adam Driver and Scarlet Johansson as Charlie and Nicole Barber. Charlie is an acclaimed theater director, and Nicole is his muse. Despite her acting skills, Charlie always receives all the praise, leaving Nicole to congratulate him from the back seat and contemplate what kind of professional movie and television acting career she possibly gave up to be with him. She also misses living in Los Angeles and being close to her family. At the center of this tenuous relationship is the couple’s young son, Henry. As things go from bad to worse in their relationship, Charlie and Nicole start down the path to divorce, initially wanting to approach everything amicably without involving lawyers, but quickly walking back on that as they begin to doubt each other’s motives and end goals, especially in regards to Henry.

Driver and Johansson both put on a masterclass of acting here, but I would have to give Driver my nod in choosing the stronger performance of the two. He is a tour de force in this film, unyielding to the unflinching camera. Alan Alda and Laura Dern keep pace with Driver and Johannson beat for beat as Bert Spitz and Nora Fanshaw, Charlie and Nicole’s lawyers. Baumbach smartly chooses not to wallow in the melodrama of the messy divorce, showing that small, flickering sparks of love still exist between Charlie and Nicole, maybe not enough to reignite the flame that brought them together in the first place, but enough to convince you that they still have a hope for some kind of happiness.

#3: Knives Out

After the Internet firestorm that was Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rian Johnson did the best thing he could have possibly done—he went far, far away from any established franchises, rounded up an all-star ensemble cast, and wrote and directed his own original murder mystery film. Through some ingenious plotting, Johnson revitalizes the entire genre and turns the classic whodunit on its head, all the while delivering some timely social commentary. Complete with Daniel Craig delivering a monologue about donut holes in a southern gentleman accent, Knives Out is an absolute delight.

The events of the film center around the Thrombey family, with the main mystery beginning after patriarch and rich crime writer Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead in an apparent suicide the morning after his big 85th birthday party with his family at his mansion. An anonymous source informs private detective Benoit Blanc (Craig) of Harlan’s death and hires him to investigate.

A huge fan of classical mystery thrillers and comedies, Johnson’s love of the genre is tangible, but he never allows the narrative to become overly meta, referential, or even reverential, for that matter. I have already mentioned Craig and how much fun he looks like he is having in his role as Blanc, but Ana de Armas breaks out as Marta Cabrera, Harlan’s caretaker, and is the heart of the film. The rest of this high caliber ensemble cast has its moments, and I only felt like a couple of the characters were completely disposable, such as Jaeden Martell’s Jacob Thrombey, for example.

Johnson keeps his audience on its toes for the entire film. Just when the solution seems obvious, he throws another twist at them to throw them off the scent. It is a true shame that Knives Out received only one nomination from the Academy, but Johnson more than deserves that nomination for best original screenplay.

#2: Avengers: Endgame

It has all led up to this, the culmination of phases one through three of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Admittedly, I was not the biggest fan of Avengers: Infinity War; I did not care for its overall slow pacing. Avengers: Endgame, however, is everything I wanted in this grand finale of the Infinity Saga. Whereas Infinity War felt overcrowded, Endgame brings it all back home to the original Avengers team for the majority of its surprisingly swift 182-minute run time, allowing them to essentially take a victory lap before the next phase of this cinematic universe begins. In the interest of not giving anything away, I will keep this brief, and trust me when I say that I could go on and on talking about how much I enjoyed this film. I will just end by saying that directors Anthony and Joe Russo and producer Kevin Feige certainly reward the dedication of fans who have watched all 21 films leading up to Endgame, and Robert Downey, Jr. submits one of his best performances as Tony Stark/Iron Man. #ILoveYou3000

#1: Parasite

Far and away my favorite film of 2019 was Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, a South Korean dark comedy home-invasion thriller about a poor family plotting to improve their circumstances by tricking an extremely wealthy family into hiring them by posing as unrelated, highly skilled individuals.

I came into this film ignorant of its premise, and I was completely floored. This is Bong Joon-ho in total control of his craft. Parasite has a mesmeric rhythm to it that is aesthetically energized, allowing the film’s strikingly bold tonal shifts to work so well. Every act increases the ever-present nail-biting suspense, supplemented by cinematic moments of pure genius like the nearly five-minute long montage towards the end of the first hour. Every single member of the cast knocks it out of the park, and there is enough social commentary to fuel college essays for years. The twists zig when you think they are going to zag; it is a truly wild ride. To put it quite simply, Parasite is a masterpiece.

The following are a list of films I saw from 2019, in no particular order:

· Glass

· How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World

· Captain Marvel

· Shazam!

· Avengers: Endgame

· Aladdin

· Booksmart

· Rocketman

· X-Men: Dark Phoenix

· Men in Black: International

· Toy Story 4

· Spider-Man: Far From Home

· Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

· Joker

· Parasite

· Jojo Rabbit

· The Lighthouse

· Doctor Sleep

· Ford v Ferrari

· Frozen II

· Knives Out

· Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

· 1917

· The Two Popes

· The Irishman

· Marriage Story

· El Camino

· Uncut Gems

· One Piece: Stampede

I somehow completely forgot I saw The Peanut Butter Falcon and absolutely adored it; I definitely recommend checking out this feel-good film.

My 2018 film list: https://kcaruth.tumblr.com/post/182182411291/movie-mania-top-10-of-2018

My 2017 film list: https://kcaruth.tumblr.com/post/171040800751/movie-mania-top-15-of-2017

My 2016 film list: https://kcaruth.tumblr.com/post/156340406236/movie-mania-top-15-of-2016

#movies #film #oscars #academy awards

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tyleroakley-obsessed · 4 years

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Start March right with these Memphis weekend ideas, including my top five pics for things to do. state of the world got you down? try some prozac But first, be sure you didn’t miss anything on the blog lately: The Best Things To Do In Memphis This Month Free Things To Do In March Win Tickets To The Coffee Festival ($70 value) Win Tickets To The Soccer Game on Saturday I Can Show You Memphis: Magic Happens At Sun Studio 1. Aladdin, Orpheum Theatre, All Weekend, $29 – $145, ages 6 and up It’s your favorite Disney classic come to life on stage, with new characters and new songs in an incredible production that is getting the best feedback I’ve seen from an Orpheum show in a while. This weekend is your last chance to see Aladdin, and there are shows on Thursday and Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. P.S. There are $25 rush tickets for students, educators, military/police/fire/nurses/first responders available this weekend. Read those details here. 2. Memphis 901 FC v. Indy Eleven, AutoZone Park, Saturday, 6 p.m., $22+, all ages/kid-friendly Memphis USL soccer is back with a Saturday night home game against Indianapolis this week and the big deal is that Tim Howard—international soccer superstar and team minority owner—is coming out of retirement to play goalkeeper for our team! If you’re reading this before Friday at noon, I’m giving away five 4-packs of tickets to the game and you can enter to win them here. 3. The Lies of March Comedy Show, Theatreworks, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., $10, 18 and up Beware the lies of March! The Bluff City Liars hosts a hilarious evening of March-themed improv skits and games including a reenactment of Julius Caesar’s murder, a song about St. Patrick’s Day, and a “March Madness” competition. 4. V&E Arbor Day Celebration, Kirby Station (1625 Tutwiler Ave.), Saturday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., free, all ages/kid-friendly Head to the V&E Greenline to this Saturday for a plant sale and a ceremonial tree planting at noon. Gardening and tree experts will be on hand to answer all your plant-based questions, and there will be some refreshments. The event is free, but donations are accepted since the V&E Greenline is volunteer supported and community funded. 5. Mix-Odyssey, Botanic Garden, Friday, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m., $75, 21 and up This annual cocktail party and competition brings in the best bartenders in town to pour seven cocktails for you to sample—and vote on your favorites! There will be snacks, hors d’oeuvres, tunes from Grizzlies DJ Justin Baker, and a chance to learn more about how to give back to Memphis. Read more about Mix-Odyssey here. Here are two additional suggestions. If anyone goes to both of these, I want to talk to you. Southern Women’s Show, Agricenter International, Friday – Sunday, $10 adv./$13 at the door, all ages Attention shoppers! This event is for you. Shop from hundreds of boutique vendors in fashion, health, beauty, food; plus there are celebrity guests, chef demos, fashion shows, and more. Tickets are $10 in advance or $13 at the door, and kids ages 6 to 12 are $6, 5 and under can get in free. Memphis Burlesque Productions, B-Side, Friday, 9 p.m. – midnight, $15 – $25, 21+ Join MBP for an evening of classic burlesque at B-Side (a music venue and pub inside Minglewood Plaza) featuring Julia Le Boom, Lady Doo Moi, Frankie LaFemme, Lady Problems, Cheyenne, Seren Synn, Luna Zul, Lady Lethargy, and host Papa Chubb. Even more ideas! Friday, March 6 Post Malone Runaway Tour at FedExForum Mix-Odyssey at the Botanic Garden The Orchestra Unplugged: Devil at the Crossroads at the Halloran Centre Southern Women’s Show at the Agricenter (through March 8) family Arbor Day Celebration at Overton Park family The Lies of March at Theatreworks Memphis Burlesque Productions at B-Side First Fridays on Broad: March Madness Edition family, free Beat Battle at Stax Music Academy Jon Langston Live at The Bluff Louder Than Bombs: The Smiths/Morrissey Cover Band at Railgarten Crosstown Brewing Dart Tournament at The Casual Pint Ghost Hunt at The Woodruff-Fontaine Ladies Night + Mechanical Bull Party at Brinson’s Fido Friday Dog Happy Hour at Loflin Yard Ladies Night Art Experience at Pyro’s Ultimate Friday Night Mixer at Privé Restaurant Boxlot Taste & See at Boxlot 5 Fridays of Jazz – 3rd Man at the Central Library family, free Women in the Arts at the Dixon (through March 7) free Disney’s Aladdin Broadway Show at The Orpheum (through March 8) family “Women in the Pit” at Hattiloo Theater (Thu-Sun, through March 22) The Book of Will at Playhouse on the Square (select days through March 22) March 7 Mardi Growl Dog Party + Crawfish Boil at Overton Park family, free Memphis Modern Market at Loflin Yard family Big Birthday Party for Sesame Street at DeafConnect family, free Civic Saturday at East Shelby Library family, free Southern Women’s Show at the Agricenter (through March 8) family Memphis 901 FC Home Opener at AutoZone Park family IRIS Orchestra Guest Artist: Anne-Akikio Meyers at GPAC V&E Greenline TN Arbor Day Celebration family, free Learn to Curl with the Mid-South Curling Club at Mid-South Ice House Women in the Arts at the Dixon (through March 7) free Memphis Grizzlies Hoops and Heels aka Ladies Night at FedExForum family The Lies of March at Theatreworks Memphis Mosque Open House at multiple locations family, free Disney’s Aladdin Broadway Show at The Orpheum (through March 8) family “Women in the Pit” at Hattiloo Theater (Thu-Sun, through March 22) The Book of Will at Playhouse on the Square (through March 22) Sunday, March 8 Southern Women’s Show at the Agricenter (through March 8) family Memphis Black Restaurant Week (through March 14) family Iris Orchestra at the Brooks with Anne-Akiko Meyers at the Brooks Spiritous for International Women’s Day at 115 Vance Ave. Kendra Give Back To Arrows Nest at Kendra Scott Disney’s Aladdin Broadway Show at The Orpheum (through March 8) family “Women in the Pit” at Hattiloo Theater (Thu-Sun, through March 22) The Book of Will at Playhouse on the Square (through March 22) More: blog’s calendar March events guide free March events St. Patrick’s Day Crawfish fests + boils around town Are you a home owner in Memphis, with a broken garage door? Call ASAP garage door today at 901-461-0385 or checkout https://ift.tt/1B5z3Pc

https://ilovememphisblog.com/2020/03/5-things-to-do-this-weekend-3-6-3-9/

#I Love Memphis

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chicagoindiecritics · 5 years

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New from Kevin Wozniak on Kevflix: Top 5 – Most Anticipated Movies of the 55th Chicago International Film Festival

The 55th Chicago International Film Festival kicks off this week and it is a festival I love attending. Not only was this the first festival that I attended back in 2008, but it is a festival that highlights so many unique movies from all around the world and showcasing some of the best filmmakers working today. This year’s festival is no different, with a slew of movies from all genres from dozens of different countries. I plan on seeing over 20 films over the next ten days and here are the five that I am most excited for.

BONUS:

HONEY BOY (Alma Har’el)

CLEMENCY (Chinonye Chukwu)

I’ve already seen both Honey Boy and Clemency at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and was a big fan of both of them. Both films are powerful and expertly made with some stellar acting. Honey Boy, which was written by its star, Shia LeBeouf, looks at LeBeouf’s life growing up in the entertainment world with his abusive father. LeBeouf gives one of the very best performances of 2019 here. In Clemency, the great Alfred Woodard stars as a prison warden who’s death row executions begin to take a toll on her. Woodard could garner herself an Oscar nomination for this one, as should Aldis Hodge, who plays a death row inmate that gets close to the warden. Both films are great and I am excited to see them again.

5 – KNIVES AND SKIN (Jennifer Reeder)

Knives and Skin sounds kind of like if Pretty Little Liars went full Twin Peaks. The film follows the disappearance of a local teenager in a small Illinois town and how it effects her friends, her parents, and the entire town. But the film describes itself as “mystical” which only makes me think that this isn’t your typical missing-girl film and I’m excited to see where Reeder takes this film. Shot locally in Illinois, Knives and Skin looks to be a fun, wild entry in the After Dark section of the festival.

4 – FORD V. FERRARI (James Mangold)

James Mangold is a director who feels like he has been riding the cusp of greatness for almost two decades now. With films like Girl, Interrupted, Identity, 3:10 to Yuma, and Logan, Mangold is a director who has worked with a wide array of actors in a wide array of genres. Ford v Ferrari could be the film that puts Mangold over the edge and puts him on the awards trail. Starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale, Ford v Ferrari looks at American car designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) and driver Ken Miles (Bale) as they battle corporate interference, the laws of physics, and their own personal demons to build a revolutionary race car for Ford and challenge Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. The film looks gorgeous and promises strong performances and a great story. This could be a big Oscar player at the end of the year.

3 – PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE (Céline Sciamma)

Since its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, Portrait of a Lady on Fire has been a movie I have been anticipating seeing. I have heard nothing but incredible things about this movie from some of my favorite critics, many of which have declared the film one of the very best of the year. Set in the 18th century France a young painter, Marianne, is commissioned to do the wedding portrait of Héloïse without her knowing, which brings the two closer as Héloïse’s big day approaches. I have avoided the trailer, all full-length reviews, and anything that might spoil this movies greatness. We might have the makings of a truly special film here.

2 – KNIVES OUT (Rian Johnson)

Say what you will about The Last Jedi (I love it), but Rian Johnson is one hell of a filmmaker. Rocking the independent world back in 2005 with Brick and flipping the time travel genre on its head in 2012 with Looper, Johnson knows how to make unique genre films with great visual flourishes. Johnson’s latest is a classic whodunnit, as a detective investigates the death of a patriarch of an eccentric, combative family. Johnson got a stellar cast for this one, with Chris Evans, Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Michael Shannon, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, LaKeith Stanfield, and Christopher Plummer starring in what is arguably one of the best ensembles of the year. I love whodunnit films, I love Rian Johnson as a director, and I love this cast.

1 – THE IRISHMAN (Martin Scorsese)

Whenever Martin Scorsese has a movie coming out it’s almost guaranteed that film will be near or at the top of any “most anticipated” list. At a spry 77-years-old, my favorite director of all-time is still putting out interesting films that keep the directors visceral style while adapting new technology and the ever changing cinematic landscape. With The Irishman, Scorsese brings together an ensemble of cinematic icons, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel, to tell the story about hitman who tells his life story and his involvement in the murder of Jimmy Hoffa. Thanks to Netflix’s gigantic budget ($140 million), the film is going hard on the de-aging technology, as De Niro, Pacino, and the rest of the legends are getting the treatment, as well as offering up a three-and-a-half-hour runtime, which sounds incredible. Early word is that this is another Scorsese classic and I am ecstatic that I get to see this movie on the big screen.

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