Katherine Hepburn: All About Me

Kathryn Hepburn: All About Me is a detailed look at the life and career of Katheryn Hepburn in her own words. A lovely documentary.

Stardust

 The film Stardust tells the story of David Bowie's first visit to the US and the inspiration for Ziggy Stardust. The story is actually quite amusing and this film is well done.

The United States vs Billie Holiday

The story told in The United States vs. Billie Holiday is tragic, enraging and dramatic. Andra Day is a force. Holiday's treatment was true low point in the history of law enforcement. Good film.

Judas and the Black Messiah

Fred Hampton was an integral part of the Black Panther Party in the 60s. In Judas and the Black Messiah, dynamic performances take us through this important chapter of American history. Fortitude, justice and betrayal are all addressed as the painful events unfold. I watched this more than once, it holds up to multiple viewings.

Basquiat

 The biopic Basquiat follows the rise and fall of the young street artist Jean Michel Basquiat. He was a popular artist in the Andy Warhol circles in the 80s and enjoyed success as well as disappointments. This is an interesting story with a great cast.

Million Dollar Mermaid

The film Million Dollar Mermaid is the biopic of Annette Kellerman. A passionate swimmer, she found a way to monetize her talent in the entertainment world. This film is beautifully shot, the costumes are great and the performances are top-notch. Interesting to see the evolution of entertainment. Good film.

Judy

I grew up watching The Wizard of Oz on TV every year. Dorothy was my hero and Judy Garland was the first movie star I was aware of. In the film Judy we see her talent and heartbreak in her later career. The realities of being a single mother and paying the bills tell a painful story. Rene Zellweger gives an empathetic performance. I liked this film.

The White Crow

In the film The White Crow politics meet art in the story of Rudolf Nureyev. His rise as an artist, his struggle to live his life the way he wanted to and his political leanings and the complications involved. A very interesting story of a very interesting life. Good film.

Becoming Astrid

The life of author Astrid Lindgren has a heavy tone in the film Becoming Astrid. Her early life was not a happy one, and the movie hits hard on the times of her childhood and young adult years. There were a few times where I almost turned the film off because the turn of events were so sad. This is a very heavy drama. An OK rental.

Fosse / Verdon

I adore musical theater. The film All That Jazz gave me a close up look at Bob Fosse at a young age. It taught me that flawed people can make beautiful art. The mini series Fosse/Verdon expands that story and brings in Gwen Verdon's point of view. Each episode focuses on a specific show, and segues beautifully from one to the next. The cast is superb and there is a great surprise appearance in the final episode. Great job from all angles.

At Eternity's Gate

I enjoy the works of Van Gogh, so the film At Eternity's Gate was a pleasure. While in France, his technique progresses as he struggles with life. The way this is filmed, it sometimes looks like a Van Gough painting. Lovely film.

Elvis: The Miniseries

A fascinating interview with Johnathan Rhys Myers brought up the TV series Elvis. When I learned how the actor developed the character I decided to rent it. Rhys Meyers gives a convincing performance as the late singer in his early career. A good dramatization of an interesting life. Good series.

Private Parts

After seeing Howard Stern interviewed by David Letterman on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction, I realized that I've never seen Private Parts. This biopic is interesting because some of the characters are played by the actual people. The film is made by Stern, so it presents him as a sympathetic character. I find him interesting, but he always seems to go to a place that makes me very uncomfortable. He's a smart guy, and the events of the rise of his career are interesting, but in true form, this film goes to places that make me want to change the channel. This was an OK rental..

All Eyez on Me

The thug life and rise of the rap career of Tupac Shakur is depicted in the film All Eyez on Me. An urban tale of success, rivalry, violence and art. Shakur had a volatile life that was full of great highs and shattering lows. An interesting piece of music history.

The Founder

As in many films based on true events, The Founder is a bit heartbreaking. The story of Ray Kroc discovering the McDonald brothers' system for fast food, and turning it into an empire starts out as a rags-to-riches story. In the process, we watch a man take advantage of kind people in the interest of the almighty dollar. Not much of an interest in their philosophy or goals, just how do I make a buck. Kind of a sad story. Good film though.

I Saw the Light

I Saw the Light is another music biopic in which the age of the star, Hank Williams', at the end of his life stunned me. The battle of egos in his personal life certainly overshadow his music. Excellent performances salvage this sad story to make it an OK rental.

Miles Ahead

Miles Davis was a brilliant jazz musician. In the film Miles Ahead his story is told in flashbacks and present day. Addiction, relationships and racism all play big parts in his journey personally and professionally. I liked the structure and performances in this film. Another good rental.

Born To Be Blue

In Born To Be Blue we get the age old struggle of the strung out musician in the story of Chet Baker. Not only is this gifted trumpet player compromised by his substance abuse, but physical injuries make playing a challenge as well. A sad story told in excellent performances. Good rental.

Get on Up

I like James Brown music OK, but stories of his explosive behavior and abusive behavior toward women was always a turn off for me. The biopic Get on Up gives the background of his behavior moving back and forth from his childhood to his rise to fame and success. All of his struggles laid out to see. A much better film than I expected. The performances are great.

Mr. Turner

In many shots of Mr. Turner, I found myself thinking "show off". Dazzling cinematography and set design are the strong suit of this film. I'm glad I saw this in the theater for the shear beauty. The story plods and the editing is all over the place. The acting is OK. The visual experience is the reason to see this film.