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!

The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby

A couple struggles to find their way after a major life tragedy. The story is told from both the husband's (Him) perspective and the wife (Her). The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby is the combination of both (Them). The structure is interesting, the performances superb and the story is heartbreaking. I really liked this film.

The Tale of The Princess Kaguya

The Oscar nominated animated film The Tale of The Princess Kaguya is the last of the nominated feature films available for me to see this Oscar season. Studio Ghilbi brings us a beautifully drawn, sweet story. well done.

Still Alice

Two thoughts ran through my head during the film Still Alice. 1. This is terrifying. 2. This is very respectful. Not only do we see the decline of Alice, trapped in the grip of Alzheimer's Disease, but we also see how family and colleagues react to her. Julianne Moore gives an outstanding performance as Alice and a speech she gives in the middle of the film turned me into a weeping mess. Bring your tissues to this one. I liked it.

Laggies

One of the most poorly named movies is actually a good movie. The term Laggies refers to something being slow. In this case it would be the character's emotional development. She runs away from her life for a week and learns about herself and others feelings. I really liked the cast and the script is sharp. A good rental.

Song of the Sea

I thought I had been pretty diligent in keeping up with animated features, but when the Oscar nominees were announced I was two short. Thankfully, the nominated Irish film Song of the Sea showed up on the Providence Children's Film Festival's schedule. A packed house of families, and folks like me. enjoyed this tale of family, adventure and fantasy. The animation is gorgeous and lent an air of whimsy to this delightful film.

Leviathan

Corrupt politicians and a man desperate to hold on to his home are the opposing forces Leviathan. In a Russian fishing town the law comes down hard on a man trying to keep his house and his family together. When the man does not relent, drastic, diabolical measures are taken. The results are dramatic and heartbreaking. A strong drama with a tragic ending. Worthy of the foreign film Oscar nomination.

White Bird in a Blizzard

When a film starts out looking like a teen angst film, the moment it turns to a thriller there is joy. In White Bird in a Blizzard a seemingly formulaic film takes a very satisfying twist. My favorite style of storytelling. Solid rental.

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.

John Wick

I had heard that John Wick was an entertaining action movie. Upon renting it, all I can say is this is violence punctuated by violence. Well done, but and hour and forty minutes is more than you need in a revenge story of an assassin who loses his wife, dog and car. Nuff said.

Timbuktu

Jihadist militants rule over parts of Africa with a terrorist-like hand. In the film Timbuktu we see a story set in this land where people just want to live peacefully, but are oppressed by this violent regime. This disturbing story is beautifully shot and worthy of the Oscar nomination. I was fortunate enough to see this film in NYC where the director conducted a very interesting Q & A after the film.

Last Days in Vietnam

Watching Last Days in Vietnam, I remembered how desperate people were to get the heck out of there. The refugee stories show a population that would do anything to get away. This well structured documentary is a view of the end of a war I saw unfold on TV. Interesting to see all of these events in one sitting. Excellent documentary.