Audrie and Daisy (2016)

This depressing but very important documentary tells two similar stories of young teenager girls being raped and how their assault and people’s reactions ruined their lives.  While watching this film, I became enraged and dumbfounded by the meanness of people.  Daisy’s story is probably the most disgusting because an entire town would rather protect the school’s star football player than believe her story.  The fact that said football player was the grandson of a state politician only made me fume more.   Only the victims were punished and the accused rapists never showed an ounce of regret.   No, means no!  This is a film every parent should watch with their kids and have a long discussion about.  We need to hammer into our sons’ heads that a drunken partner can’t give consent and you never pressure anyone into saying yes.   What are we people, cave men!  Grade: A-

Love and Mercy (2014)

I’m not that much of a Beach Boys fan but I love this film.  I had no knowledge of Brian Wilson’s troubles nor did I know how much of a musical genius he was.   This film by Bill Pohlad tells Wilson’s story from two points in time: when he was younger (Paul Dano) and recorded his best album (in my opinion at least) Pet Sounds and when he’s middle-aged (John Cusack) and he falls in love while under the treatment of Dr. Eugene Landy, a scumbag.  Dano’s section is my favorite.  He gives such a bold and wild performance that demonstrates how intense and innovated Wilson was.  I gained a real appreciation of Wilson’s work.   Cusack’s section is equally fascinating but I wouldn’t say his performance is as good.  It’s a good performance and of all Cusack's most recent work it's his best, but Cusack doesn’t share Dano’s range.   The fact that Cusack and Dano look nothing alike doesn’t hurt the film at all.   The love story with Elizabeth Banks is wonderful and the fact it’s true is very inspiring.  A really cool film.  Grade: A-

Pather Panchali (1955)

The first in a trilogy, this is on almost every Greatest Film list I’ve seen.   I’ve been wanting to see it forever but it’s been out of print.  Believe it or not, the original negative burned in a fire.  I could have seen a VHS version of it about six years ago but I decided to hold out for this rumored (and now reality) restored version.  It’s a miracle that Criterion and team were able to bring this film back to form and I applaud their heroic efforts.  Thank god we have such artists out there to keep such monumental works alive.   This is the first film I’ve seen of legendary director Satyajit Ray.  I plan to see everything I can of his from now on.  This is a beautiful and tragic film that I know without a doubt would have found it amazing even if I had not known how revered it is among film scholars around the world.   Based on the novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, it tells the story of a rural family with three children.  The father wants to become a poet someday and that leaves his wife to take care of their children.   Living with them is an old woman who bickers with the wife all the time.   I fell in love with this family and found each of them so vibrant with life.   The black and white imagery is so stunning that I can’t get the images out of my head.   I have to say it, this is a perfect film.  Grade: A+

I Am Your Father (2014)

This documentary is about David Prowse, the actor who played Darth Vader from the original Star Wars film.  It’s really enjoyable but I think director Marcos Cabota and Toni Bestard shoot themselves in the foot by seemingly promising to show us a reshoot of Darth Vader’s death scene where David is used in Darth Vader’s reveal instead of actor Sebastian Shaw.   Also I don’t find it criminal that Lucas decided to go with another actor to play Anakin in that moment.   Bitter grapes though can be dramatic and help cause many a conspiracy.  Yet getting to know Mr. Prowse and seeing all of his accomplishments is rewarding.   If you’re a Star Wars fan this is a must-see.  And if you’re not, it’s at least a fascinating look at the impact playing such an iconic part can have on a person.  Grade: B+

Spoilers:  I’m on the fence with the whole “let’s reshoot the reveal scene” gimmick.  For one, it sucks we can’t see it.  You feel bamboozled and that’s not cool.  Second, you don’t even need it.  Prowse’s life and personality alone is enough for a documentary without making it a film about the making of a mini-film.  (His work as the Green Cross Code Man for example is really cool.) Lucasfilm, in my opinion, should let Cabota release his little reshoot.  It’s harmless for one.  And second it would make David happy.  Is his ban from Lucasfilm events warranted?   Does Lucasfilm own him anything like an apology?  That’s up to the viewer (although the filmmakers make their opinion quite clear).  I personally think all the attention inflated his ego a bit, but that’s okay, he’s Darth Vader and that’s really awesome.   Let’s leave the man alone and enjoy the rest of his years with his fine family. 

Sicario (2016)

Maybe it’s the setting or the drug cartel topic but I just found this drama to be ho-hum.  Emily Blunt and Benicio del Toro do give excellent performances that help keep the film from going off the rails but if it weren’t for Roger Deakins’ beautiful cinematography I’d probably would have dismissed this as just an average film.  Direct Denis Vileneuve is a fine director; I just wish he’d have had a plot worthy of his talent.  Grade: B

Brooklyn (2015)

Saoirse Ronan gives one of her best performances as an Irish Immigrant in Brooklyn in the 1950s.  Away from home she discovers herself in this new country and falls in love.  Yet will she return home when she is called back?  Adapted from the novel by Colm Toibin by Nick Hornby and directed by John Crowley, this is a winner in a big way.   It would be nominated for best picture and I’m sure will find favor with many looking for a coming-to-age story that really gets to the soul of becoming your own person.  This is a flawless film in many ways.  Grade: A

Spoilers:  Thank god Tony, played by Emory Cohen, didn’t turn out to be a jerk.  I was really worried that she’d fall for Domhnall Gleeson’s Jim.  But I could see why she would. That’s great drama and made what one would think was a mundane story really intense. 

Ugly Americans and Our New President

Oh America.  Today, I am not Proud to be an American.  Today I'm depressed and trying with all my fiber to find hope for the future.  But alas, this country I live in voted for a man so loathsome to be our next President I can't really understand it.  What happened America?  It seems you are as racist and sexist as you were thirty or forty years ago.  It seems nothing really has changed except all the deplorables went into hiding.  Trump hit jackpot with his campaign of fear and hate and lies.  I was really looking forward to have a female president.  I was so excited to look at my son and tell him, "See her, she's our new President."  Now I won't even be able to look my son in the eye without feeling ashamed for our country.   I guess I should write a wonderful rant about how this will not be the end and how we'll fight another day.  But who?  Those who would oppose Trump are as fractured as the Republican party.  The youth didn't come out and vote. Or if they did, they voted for a third party candidate.  I know what that feels like.  I was young once too.  I shouldn't be surprised (and part of me isn't).  I voted Nader 16 years ago because I didn't want to support the guy I didn't like.  I learned my lesson but sadly no one else did.   I'm not saying Hillary would have won if Jill Stein or Gary Johnson wasn't there but they didn't help that's for sure.  And Bernie!  I don't think you'd have defeated Trump either.  As I said, Trump hit an angry nerve.  They want their jobs back, they don't want to be forced to pay for health care, they don't want immigrants, they want our military to go kick butt around the world and protect them and they want the promise that if they make it rich they won't have to pay that much tax.  Talk about voting against your own self interest.  It'll be interesting to see what unfolds in the next four years.  All I know is that Trump is going to hear a lot of noise and he'll not like it.  But until then I'm going to pretend none of this happened and dream of good days gone by.