She's Beautiful When She's Angry

The roots of feminism are portrayed in the documentary She's Beautiful When She's Angry. Footage from the late 60s to early 70s alongside interviews with the women in present day are effective and fascinating. As I have always tried to wrap my brain around why women have ever been discriminated against, I appreciate this look at an important time in history.

It Follows

Classic horror is given a modern twist in It Follows. Sex is the conduit for a creepy entity that is passed from one sexual partner to another. A group of friends tries to help a young girl who is being followed by that entity. They are very entertaining and earnest. The music in this film adds to the tone and tension. More than your average horror film.

The Humbling

Al Pacino is aging gracefully. In The Humbling he portrays an actor who is not. The character is dealing with the challenges of his golden years,  giving in to delusions, pursuing situations that are not age appropriate. He's a mess. Interesting to watch and a bit heartbreaking, I thought this was a good drama. Pacino's still got it.

The Wrecking Crew

The music of my youth has roots in recordings made with a group of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. The documentary affectionately traces their origins and careers. So much talent! The audience I saw this with applauded at the end and sat through all of the credits. We just didn't want the music to end. Denny Tedesco waited to release this film until he could afford to put all the music he wanted in this film. It was well worth the wait. Thanks Kickstarter.

Top Five

Sometimes a movie is worth seeing for the story, sometimes for the performances. In Top Five it is the performances that got me. Chris Rock assembles a lot of talent to tell an average story. This was an OK rental.

The Homesman

A bit slow, but true to the period, The Homesman portrays the strength of a woman and the brutality of pioneer days. The cinematography makes up for the pace. There are many beautiful shots in this film. The story is brutally honest about the circumstances of the times and deals with 3 women who have lost their minds in response to the difficult situations. Many disturbing scenes make this one tough to watch at times. An OK rental.

Rudderless

Coping takes a lot of forms. When the parent of an adult child must deal with the horrific actions of that child, that coping is escape through one of the child's more positive attributes. Music. In Rudderless we watch the father struggle with what his son has done, and then tries to understand his son through music and young people that remind him of his son. This story is complex and intense. I really liked this film and the music. Performances are outstanding. Solid rental.

Two Night Stand

Over the years, I have become enamored of the work of Miles Teller. In Two Night Stand he continues to earn my admiration. The story of a one night stand that turns to two when a blizzard traps the couple for a day longer than intended, has some sweet and awkward moments. Analeigh Tipton gets just as much credit for the success of this story. These two young actors have great chemistry without banging you over the head. Glad I saw this one.

What We Do in the Shadows

I find parody to be highly entertaining. In What We Do In The Shadows the form is alive and well. Or should I say undead...yes the film parodies vampires. Four vampires share a house and the lifestyles and situations are pretty hilarious. For a low-budget film, this also has pretty sophisticated stunts and special effects. This is probably the best film I've seen so far this year. Very funny!