Oscar's Best 2021

Movies, in theaters, seem to be on the comeback trail, and I couldn't be happier about it.  Still, 2021 wasn't ideal, having to watch several of the Oscar movies on TV rather than in the theater.   I'm also not thrilled that the trend of longer movies continued in 2021.  Movies approaching 2.5 to 3 hours have practically become the norm.  Maybe filmmakers are trying to lure people back to theaters by giving "your money's worth", but it's a trend I can't get behind.  I enjoyed many movies this past year, but none of them jumped out as particularly superior.  I struggled more than usual coming up with my rank order.  I'd say the top four were close, and the remaining six could have come in just about any order.  Most had many elements that I really enjoyed but also had elements that I found lacking or even distracting. I will continue my "stripped down" version of the blog to remain on record.  Commentary and disagreement are encouraged.

1)  CODA:  I think I liked this movie so much because it was so simple, pure, genuine and heartfelt.  While nothing about it was over the top amazing, there just didn't seem to be anything wrong with it either.  It's a movie I watched with family, and we all came away touched and happy for having seen it; thoroughly entertained.  Simply being entertained has always been the primary benchmark by which I judge movies.  Plus, I've always had a soft spot for coming-of-age movies.  The themes are often formulaic and can become melancholic or cheesy, but CODA remained truly original.  Ruby is a high school student, facing all the anxieties and uncertainties that torment most teens.  She's from the wrong side of the tracks, finding it difficult to balance work (fishing with her brother and father), romance, peer pressure and her secret desire to become a singer.  Her life is complicated by the fact that her brother and parents are all deaf.  She's spent her entire youth being an oddity to her peers and an interpreter for her parents.  She's an outsider in every way imaginable.  Despite her overwhelming vulnerability and mistrust "CODA" avoids becoming sad or edgy.  In the end, due to excellent writing, superb acting, and thoughtful direction it was just beautiful, sweet, funny, and thoroughly enjoyable.  I recommend this film be seen with family.

2)  LICORICE PIZZA:  After watching this movie I was certain it would be my favorite of 2021.  There is so much to love about this movie.  Perhaps I'm a bit biased as Licorice Pizza was directed by one of my favorite directors, Paul Thomas Anderson, who is responsible for some of my all-time favorite movies (e.g., Magnolia, Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood, Phantom Thread).  The movie is set in the 1970s and follows the lives and relationships of Alana and Gary, played beautifully by Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman, son of Phillip Seymor Hoffman.  It was impressive to see both of these young actors so expertly tackle the complexities of the characters they portrayed.  This movie, very much like Magnolia, felt like a collection of short stories, or skits.  Each "story" had a life of its own and could have become a movie of its own.  All the skits are tied together by the relationship of our young protagonists.  Each "story" also had a significant co-star to drive the sub-plot.  For example, Sean Penn, Tom Waits and Bradley Cooper each contributed to this amazing movie.  While the overall film was extraordinary on many levels, the reason I didn't rank it first, was that some of the skits fell short, leaving the movie somewhat inconsistent and intermittently less enjoyable.

3)  NIGHTMARE ALLEY:  Another terrific director in Guillermo del Toro, but WOW, what a cast.  Bradley Cooper, Willem Dafoe, Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, and Toni Collette to name a few, star in this movie set around con men and the circus life; themes I've historically enjoyed.  Nightmare Alley follows the rise and fall of Stan, a man seemingly born to be a carny.  As he creeps out and up from his pitiful beginnings, he achieves increasing success, and his pride and ego grow in equal measure.  Ultimately, pride and the desire for more, become his undoing.  However, what makes this movie truly special, along with the wonderful acting, is the gorgeous cinematography.  It really is a visually beautiful film to watch.

4)  KING RICHARD:  Similar to CODA, this movie felt like "nothing special but thoroughly entertaining".  A very simple premise, Richard Williams raises and coaches Venus and Serena to tennis stardom.  Living in poverty, against all odds, through sheer determination Richard overcomes all hurdles to propel his children into the then Caucasian dominated world or tennis.  In the end it's a touching story about the importance of family, passion, and hard work.  Will Smith gives his customarily solid performance, but the young women are also surprisingly strong actors.  I'm usually down on young performers, but many of this year's films feature younger actors, who do far more then deliver.

5)  BELFAST:  Speaking of young actors, Belfast stars 9-year-old (at the time) Jude Hill, playing Buddy.   The film is the semi-autobiographical story of Kenneth Branagh's youth.  He grew up on a lively street in Belfast, where everyone knew everyone else.  Children playing in the streets, parents chatting on the stoop.  One day Protestant and Catholic are living in harmony, the next there are riots, explosions, relentless violence, barricades and mounting rage.  The film follows one family's struggle to adapt to these changing times, and to do what's right to protect themselves and their loved ones.  This movie is filmed in black and white yet is visually beautiful.  As most films nominated for Best Picture, the acting is also superb.

6)  DUNE:  I grew up reading comics and sci-fi and I do consider myself a fan of this genre.  However, as I get older, I find myself more and more critical of these movies.  I'm less impressed by special effects, costumes and makeup.  That being said, this movie is extraordinarily visually beautiful and, of course, features top notch acting.  Timothee Chalamet has amassed quite a resume for such a young actor.  I think most films nominated for Best Picture, tend to have strong writing, acting, and cinematography.  In the end, what else really matters?  I found the plot of Dune to be somewhat confusing and the pacing was meandering (code for too damn long).  I wasn't bored, but I'm not checking to see when the Part 2 comes out.

7)  POWER OF THE DOG:  This film is set in1925 Montana.  There are cows, lassos, guns and horses but I wouldn't call it a western.  The story centers on wealthy rancher brothers.  Benedict Cumberbatch, always amazing, is Phil and rising star Jesse Plemons is his brother George.  Kirsten Dunst is Rose, who finds herself the object of George's desire.  Phil is dark, bitter, and increasingly mean-spirited as his brother becomes increasingly involved with Rose.  Rose has a son, stealing most scenes, played by Oscar Nominated Kodi Smith-McPhee.  Ultimately, I believe, this film is about what it means to be a man.  What is a man's responsibility to family, community, and to himself?  There is a subtext about what sexuality has to do with male identity in 1925.  While I was entertained, this movie was far too "artsy" for my liking.  Sometimes "independent" movies just seem too artsy for the sake of being artsy.  The narrative and "meaning" can be cleverly disguised.  Often it feels like you need to read up after watching, to find out what it was really all about.  To me, that's more work than I want from a movie, going against my "entertain me" preference.  I do understand that this might be exactly what some people cherish and enjoy (read- my brother Dan), and why it garnered the most nominations of any film this year.  I guess it's similar to the difference between a story and a poem.

8)  DRIVE MY CAR:  This is another very artsy movie, and it's three hours long, Japanese, with subtitles.  As I've said before, subtitles almost automatically mean a slight downgrade.  Your eye-line isn't on the action as you read, and nuances in language are missed when interpreted.  This movie is still somehow captivating, in part for its novelty and in part for its sad beauty.  Our protagonist is a renowned stage director and actor.  His wife, his muse, dies unexpectedly and the story truly begins two years later, when he takes a job in Hiroshima.  There he is assigned a young woman to serve as his driver.  The story revolves around his relationship to his wife, self-discovery and his art.  He if forced to confront is loneliness and the errors he made in his life and marriage.  It's a very slow pace, stoic acting, and overall sad..... not a movie for everyone, to be sure, but on some level I did enjoy it.

9)  DON'T LOOK UP:  Hard to imagine I'd have a movie featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Meryl Streep on the bottom of any list.  He is clearly at the top, or near the top, of the "best actor of all-time" list.  She is unequivocally at the top of that list for actresses.  While Leo and Jennifer Lawrence are characteristically fabulous, the movie just isn't.  The two play an astronomy professor, Dr. Mindy and his assistant/student Kate.  One night they discover a giant comet that is on a collision course with earth.  If impact can't be averted global extinction is a certainty.  They go about trying to alert the authorities and the public; with very little success.  Meryl plays the President of the USA, Jonah is Hill is her son, the Chief of Staff.  Mark Rylance is an eccentric billionaire funding the efforts to derail the comet.  Adam McKay is a wonderful comedic director.  However, I think he relies too much on humor and silliness in this movie.  It's always bothered me when a director tries to play it straight/realistic but periodically go off the rails with unbelievable silliness.  There is an inconsistency in delivering the message that I find distracting.  Meryl, Jonah, and Mark are simply too over the top, unbelievable and unrealistic caricatures of real people.

10)  WEST SIDE STORY:  I remember loving the 1957 original and I'm a fan of Steven Spielberg.  His credits need no explanation.  That being said, this is a three-hour long song and dance.  While the singing and dancing is entertaining enough, with some extraordinary scenes, there just wasn't enough story to support three hours of it.  To be fair, I'm not a huge fan of musicals in general, which likely colors my opinion.  Rachel Zegler and the other leads were clearly well-trained professional singers/dancers.  Ansel Elgort was more than acceptable.  Still, the movie didn't feel very modern, innovative, or different enough from the original.  The romance, the forbidden love, felt forced and overly dramatic.  It also didn't really address racial tension or gang life in a believable way.  Ultimately, the fact that I checked my watch several times during the show, says it all.

Oscar's Best 2020

2020, by all accounts, was a dumpster fire of a year.  That may be a harsh overstatement for the movies of 2020, but overall it wasn't a very good year for movies either.  Even my favorite movie of 2020 wouldn't have been in my top 3 most years.  Once again I'm fairly sure my top choices won't win many Academy honors, it's just my own opinion.

This year my personal choice for the best and for the worst picture was easily made.  However, my choice for 2 and 3 could have been a tie, and 4 through 7 were nearly a coin toss as well.

I have to confess that I haven't seen any of the pics this year in an actual theater.  While I have a nice television there is no duplicating the feel and ambiance of a theater with an audience.  I toyed with not writing this blog at all this year, but decided to do a stripped down version, just to be "on record".

As always, I welcome comments of praise and agreement, as well those of disagreement.  Naturally, I'm also interested in movies you may have particularly enjoyed, and why.  No other movies I've seen stand out, although I did enjoy "Tenet" and surprisingly the four hour long Zach Snyder version of "Justice League".

1)  Sound of Metal:  Without question the best film I've seen this year.  Riz Ahmed was simply fantastic as Ruben, a suddenly deaf metal drummer.  His ability to quietly and subtly convey emotion was impressive for such a relatively inexperienced actor.  I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised given his great starring performance in HBO's "The Night Of".  The film takes us through Ruben's journey from a drummer with a joyful life, full of music and love, through his rapid hearing loss, his transition to be a member of the deaf community, and his growth as a human being.  The direction is terrific and the film beautifully shows his evolution, the eventual acceptance of his circumstance, and his ultimate ability to find "stillness".  I was also impressed by how they were able to demonstrate the phases of his hearing issues, audibly, to the audience.  One of the reasons I often find myself enjoying a film is due to which, and how many, characters I genuinely care about or am interested in.  Pretty much every character in this movie has a story I'd have liked to discover more about.  Lou, his wonderfully portrayed girlfriend (Olivia Cooke), Joe, the leader of the deaf "school" (Paul Raci), and several of the other "students" were rich, genuine, complex and interesting in their own right.  They contributed heavily to my enjoyment and the quality of this movie.  I'll be rooting for Riz to win the Oscar but I doubt he will.  The academy seems to give Oscars posthumously, as lifetime achievement awards.  Chadwick Boseman, who has clearly been one of the past decade's best actors, will likely win for "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom", a movie and performance I unfortunately didn't much care for.

2)  The Trial of the Chicago 7:  This movie is part documentary, part bio-pic, and part courtroom drama.  Aaron Sorkin, the prolific writer of some of the best dialogue in movies and on Tv (eg The West Wing, The Newsroom, The Social Network, Moneyball, A Few Good Men) is still somewhat of a novice director and it showed.  The movie details the protests around the 1968 Democratic Party Convention in Chicago, and the trial of 7 key "instigators" that followed.  The characters are certainly well played and interesting.  The trial is equally captivating and infuriating.  It's a very entertaining film, depicting an important part of American history, but I just found it too busy.  Too many characters and opposing points of view to fairly deal with them all. "Herding cats" comes to mind.  That being said, it was still the second best film, to me, of 2020.

3)  Judas and the Black Messiah:  Another historical drama depicting the influences of Chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya) on the Black Panthers, and their infiltration, by the FBI, through the reluctant informant Bill O'Neal (LaKeith Stanfield).  Both of the leads were absolutely superb and both were nominated as best Supporting Actors.  How Daniel Kaluuya was nominated as a Supporting Actor  instead of as a Leading Actor is beyond me.  He dominates and captivates in every one of his many scenes.  I'm very much looking forward to whatever his next projects are.  He has limitless talent and the potential to be the next Denzel.  The film reminds us of a very sad part of our American history.  I think my personal politics, as a white middle aged man, made much of it quite disturbing and hard to watch.  I suspect many won't appreciate the quality of the film for similar reasons.  Still, it's very good and well worth seeing.

4)  Mank:  As I mentioned, the next four choices could have come in just about any order, and on any given day I may have rated them differently.  I probably liked "Mank" more then the others because it deals with movies and movie making, topics I obviously care a great deal about.  The movie details the process by which alcoholic screen writer, Herman Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman), comes to write "Citizen Kane" for famed director Orson Wells and RKO studios.  As much as I've loved many of David Fincher's films (eg "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button", "Fight Club", "Se7en") this one is black and white, meandering, and slow.  While the performances are solid and the writing good, it's probably a movie meant for hard core movie buffs.  

5)  Nomadland:  I keep hearing this is the front runner to win Oscars in many categories, but I'm just not sure why.  As always Frances McDormand is hypnotic, but for me, her performance wasn't her best and it just wasn't enough to elevate the whole movie.  The movie is about how a middle aged woman deals with loss.  Her husband, her town, her community, and her entire way of life have all essentially died.  She finds herself content, in a new life, traveling through the American west as a nomad, living out of her van.  She encounters several other nomads who are on journeys of their own, all adopting this unconventional lifestyle.  The cinematography and the acting are all certainly great but ultimately there was very little character development or "plot".  No real arc and a lack "spark".

6)  Minari:  Another well acted, interesting tale, that just moves too slowly.  It tells the story of a Korean American family that leaves California to settle in Arkansas to start a new, hopefully better, life.  It poignantly depicts the importance and value of self actualization, sacrifice and compromise, family, community and belonging.  Once again the acting and cinematography are excellent, there was much to like, but once again it's just too slow and somewhat boring.

7)  The Father:   This may sound familiar....... it's a very well acted and interesting film that's just a little slow/boring.  I'm not going out on a limb to call Anthony Hopkins an acting treasure, even an icon.  He does not disappoint in this film about the sad impact Alzheimer's disease has on those who have been afflicted.  The film cleverly demonstrates his own confusion and mental decline as well as the chaos it creates for those who love him.  However, like several other movies in recent years, it feels more like a stage play then a movie.  Only one or two sets for the entire movie, clever dialogue, but no real "movie magic".  I feel like "Amour" and "Still Alice" were both far more powerful movies about how Alzheimer's can destroy a life and a family.  I'd suggest watching either of those ahead of "The Father".

8)  Promising Young Woman:  I've been accused of liking too many movies; being a soft critic.  I've consistently said a primary criteria for me is simply how entertained was I?!?!  Did I check my watch or look at my phone during the movie, or was I swept away?  It's why I'm in favor of comedies, animated and action  films, as well as comic book movies being considered for the best picture award.  These types of movies tend to focus more on pure entertainment, which is a wonderful thing and doesn't preclude greatness in my book.  However, to be considered BEST, a film really should be more then just entertaining, it should have some weight, a message, or gravitas.  If it doesn't have those things it really should at least be supremely entertaining.  I'm sure many will find this particular movie more entertaining then some of the other nominated films.  At it's core this is a movie about revenge.  A young woman struggling with her own identity after a trauma endured during her college years.  She seeks some measure of control as she tries to right the wrongs and punish those who in her eyes deserve it.  While entertaining enough, there is nothing truly special about this movie.  To be kind, I'd say that I didn't find the acting to be spectacular.  The plot was unrealistic and over-wrought.  This movie was inconsistent and ultimately forgettable as just another decent movie.  I have no idea what about this particular film merits consideration as BEST anything.

Oscar's Best 2019

Overall I'd say it's been a very good year for good movies, but I'd also say that it has not been a good year for great movies.  I found myself struggling again, but far more then usual, to create my own personal rankings of the best picture nominees.  I was pretty comfortable with my first choice, but the next two, or three, could have come in just about any order; the same could be said about those on the bottom.  I have a feeling that the order of my list won't be shared by many.  The critics front runners, and movies I've had friends and family rave about, are not necessarily those at the top of my list.

I should also say, with the advent of high quality original content from the streaming services, I was unable to watch each of the films on the big screen.  It's clear that these type of movies are going to get more nominations in the future, but they can be difficult, if not impossible, to find in a theater near you!  I haven't missed a best picture nominee on the big screen for probably a decade, until Roma, which was essentially only available on Netflix.  While I applaud excellence in movie making, wherever it comes from, I do lament missing the "best" on the big screen.

As usual I'd like to mention a few movies that I enjoyed but were overlooked by Oscar's major categories, or were not the type of movies Oscar would typically recognize at all.  So, if you're searching for something to watch/rent, consider these movies.
If you have a daughter and want her to learn a little about the amazing Ruth Bader Ginsburg I strongly recommend On The Basis Of Sex.  Last year's documentary about her was also worth watching.  In my mind she's as important as anyone who has fought for equality and social justice.  Brittany Runs a Marathon was another surprisingly enjoyable movie with a strong female protagonist.
This year three movies pay tribute to musicians in very different ways.  I particularly enjoyed Yesterday, honoring the Beatles in a rather unique way.  One of the most original plots in quite a while.  Blinded by the Light shows just how meaningful and motivational music can be.  Bruce Springsteen's music and lyrics give hope to an oppressed Pakistani boy living in England.  Finally, in a somewhat atypical biopic, Taron Egerton brings Elton John to life in Rocketman.  With all the awards going to Bohemian Rhapsody last year I was a little surprised by how little love the Academy showed this movie.  It's not nearly as good but was still enjoyable.
A few heavier and darker movies that I particularly enjoyed this year were Uncut Gems, Dark Waters and Richard Jewel.  If you like to think about and discuss religion The Two Popes is quite engaging and thought provoking.
While I'm not typically a huge fan of comedies, this year I enjoyed Long Shot, Booksmart, Good Boys, and Shazam.

I probably mention it every year, but movies are once again just too damn long.  Having gotten that off my chest, for better or worse, here is my personal ranking of the best picture nominees.  I actively invite debate, agreement, or dissent.  While I'd love some accolades, I'm just as happy to be called out.

1)  1917:  "War is hell" is made palpable.  This film vividly shows the violence, sacrifice, loyalty, pain, loss, and heroism against the backdrop of World War 1 trench warfare.  Two soldiers are sent on a suicide mission to get a critical message to a front line unit.  If they fail, 1600 will die, including the brother of one of our "heroes".  The writing is exceptional, the tenor is dramatic, the acting is spot-on from the mostly unknown leads as well as from the entire supporting cast.  Sam Mendes directed one of my all time favorite movies, American Beauty, and once again his direction is first class.  However, what makes this film extraordinary is the cinematography.  Some of the amazing visuals were almost too stunning and beautiful.  A few times I found myself nearly taken out of the action as I sat gaping at the beauty of a particular shot or scene, momentarily forgetting where the action was going.  This is not just a technical masterpiece, it's also a mesmerizing story.  Quite simply this is the most complete and most entertaining movie, from start to finish, and was therefore my favorite this year.

2)  Joker:  While I suspect the key to a great movie is the script, it can argued that a strong director is actually the most pivotal ingredient, merging all the necessary components together.  That being said, I'm personally most awed by great acting.  Of course all the elements of movie making are important to the process, but I'm fairly consistently drawn to movies with strong performances.  Joker is definitely one of those actor driven movies.  Joaquin Phoenix, to my mind, is one of a small group of elite actors, consistently bringing honesty, vulnerability and truth to his performance.  I may not have loved every movie he's made, but I always enjoy his performances, and this movie is no exception.  He plays Arthur Fleck, a wanna be comedian, with severe psychiatric issues.  His gritty and inspired performance is simply mesmerizing.  It's impossible to take your eyes off him.  I was conflicted walking out of the theater, not sure how I felt about it.  But it's one of those movies that grow on you over time, creeping in to your thoughts.  I was expecting more of a caper movie, with the Joker hatching some evil plot only to be thwarted by a hero in the end.  However, this was no typical super hero movie.  Instead the Joker's origin story is an exploration in to the anguish of mental illness and it's impact on an individual as well as on society.  Todd Phillips is best known as a comedic director, but this dark and intensely personal film, with its homage to Taxi Driver, marks him as a far more versatile director whose future films I'm eagerly awaiting.

3)  Jojo Rabbit:  When I saw this movie I thought it would be my favorite of the year.  It slipped to number 2 after I saw 1917, and ultimately to it's current location.  I went back and forth between it and Joker.  Ultimately, my brother, who's opinion I respect and who is not easily offended, explained to me why he found it "wildly offensive".  Something about "oh those fun loving and misunderstood Nazi's".  Clearly we had a different take.  It's a movie about a lonely ten year old boy, growing up against the backdrop of World War 2, and Nazi occupation.  The boy is part of Hitler youth, wearing his little brown uniform, with the swastika armband.  He has an imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, played hilariously by the film's director, Taika Waititi.  His mother, played beautifully by Scarlett Johansson, is a antiwar activist, and is harboring a Jewish girl in the crawl space of their home.  In time the boy comes to discover her and they form a complicated friendship.  I'm not generally a fan of children actors but these two were tremendous.  Given the disturbing premise and the overall terrifying darkness of the film, it was still quite unique and surprisingly hopeful, funny, and endearing.  Heart warming and heart breaking at the same time.

4)  Once Upon a Time in Hollywood:  It can't be argued that Quentin Tarantino is a top notch director and screen writer.  His mastery of the English language is peerless, even if at times it can be a bit pretentious or self congratulatory.  Put his words in the mouths of some of the greatest acting talent and how could you go wrong?!?!  Leonardo DiCaprio play a past his prime television actor and Brad Pitt is his trusty friend, assistant, and stunt double.  Margo Robbie is Sharon Tate as the movie loosely revolves around the "Helter Skelter" crimes of Charles Manson.  All the leading and supporting actors are hypnotic.  I found relative newcomers Margaret Qualley and Julia Butters to be particularly effective.  This is also a visually stunning movie with a multitude of story lines; perhaps too many.  To me it ended up being a series of fantastic short films; like a collection of skits or vignettes, versus a cohesive story with an understandable arc.  I personally enjoyed the scenes in which DiCaprio has a long conversation with a young aspiring actress played by Julia Butters.  Ultimately I found this movie to be long on style and a little short on substance, leaving me feeling like "what was the point", which isn't ideal for a 159 minute run time.  That being said, I was quite entertained by what is sure to become another Tarantino classic!

5)  Ford v Ferrari:  I would call this a formula movie....but in a good way.  "Good Guys" having to overcome impossible odds to defeat the villain.  Recalcitrant and troubled "bad boy" has to be corralled by family or friends, to give a top performance.  There is a formula because it consistently works.  When you add Matt Damon and Christian Bale to talented director James Mangold, it's bound to do more then just work.  I'll admit I have a bit of a man-crush on Bale.  He and Damon have excellent chemistry portraying deeply complex characters and give customary top level performances.  Not to be overlooked are all of the many supporting cast members who also contribute significantly to the success of this movie.  I don't know, or care, all that much about cars and I don't follow racing at all.  Still, the movie seemed to have gotten all of the technical aspects of this film right.  Overall a beautifully shot, expertly crafted, well acted, engaging, and very entertaining movie.

6)  The Irishman:  Martin Scorsese may well be the best living director and it's impossible to understate the many accomplishments and talents of Robert DeNiro.  This movie is commonly considered a front runner to win significant awards, including best picture.  Al Pacino gives a tremendous performance as Jimmy Hoffa and DeNiro as a mob hitman.  However, it was Joe Pesci who stole every scene he was in, as the sweetly terrifying mob boss.  It was really great to see him and Harvey Keitel again.  I did have a number of "issues" with this  movie.  Considering how little actually happens, and how slow the pacing is, it was a bit boring and self indulgent.  I'm not sure why it needed to be 3 and a half hours long.  I also had a problem with the different ages played by DeNiro.  The de-aging effects just weren't all that good.  I was distracted by the fact that the young man version looked and moved a bit awkwardly, which made it difficult to fully buy in to the character.  While it is a fascinating story of loyalty, friendship and "honor among thieves" I found it to be more nostalgic then entertaining, trading more on reputation then achievement.  I asked a few friends to quickly recall one scene that stuck out in their memory........ most came up blank.  To me, when I think of any great movie, a number of specific scenes come instantly to my mind.  Clearly not Scorsese's best.  Perhaps it would have fared better on the big screen, but for me it was only available on Netflix.

7)  Little Women:   This is a lovely little film but I'm clearly not the target audience.  It's a well told and well known tale of four sisters struggling to be part of a family, while retaining their own unique identity.  The performances of the sisters are all believable and the direction by Greta Gerwig points to a promising future behind the camera.  The compulsive attention to detail and the gorgeous costuming do help make this ensemble period piece enjoyable.  I also particularly enjoyed the brooding performance of fast rising young star Timothee Chalamet; clearly an actor to watch.  On the flip side there is something about Laura Dern that I just don't care for.  While she's been in a number of excellent movies, I don't typically enjoy her performances.  I also found some of the action to be erratic, jumping around between characters and time lines.  Ultimately this movie is good enough, but to me it was a little boring, predictable, "on the nose", lacking depth and nuance.  "Family Friendly" just isn't typically my cup of tea.

8)  Parasite:  This Korean movie is another critic favorite and front runner to win best picture.  These past few years I seem to be on a run of rating eventual winners low on my personal list.  This movie is so incredibly highly regarded I've come to question my own tastes.  I do have to admit to a mild bias against sub-titled movies.  Although, this year I did very much enjoy the Spanish language film Pain and Glory. Part of my problem is that I'm most interested in the acting.  When you're reading subtitles you often miss the nuances of facial expression, because your eyes are drawn elsewhere.  Add to that, you simply can't hear and discern all of the inflections in tone or expression when you don't understand the language.  It all just sounds foreign.  Perhaps that's why I didn't find the acting to be superior.  I also found the movie to be a very slow build for the first two hours, with a somewhat silly and hard to accept premise.  I've read that this bit of cinema is a masterful and nuanced depiction of class war.  The haves versus the have nots.  To me it felt like the have nots were basic criminal con artists.  The haves weren't exactly angles but they also didn't seem to deserve what they ultimately get. As the films nears it's conclusion it changes from slow and somewhat boring to absolute mayhem.  It goes from zero to a hundred in the blink of an eye, making it feel uneven, almost like two different movies.  Again, there are clearly things to like about this movie.  It is a fascinating glimpse in to another culture.  While visually excellent I still wasn't all that entertained and am not sure what all the hype was about.

9)  Marriage Story:  This would normally be a film right up my alley.  Dark and actor driven. I'm a fan of both Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver and they were both in top form.  However, I have to say, I've never been a fan of writer-director Noah Baumbach, and no surprise I didn't care for Laura Dern's contributions. I found the performances of many of the supporting characters, and all of the lawyers involved, to be unbelievable at best. The scenes with the social worker on a home inspection were particularly distracting. To me, this movie felt like a stage play, scripted and rehearsed.  Each actor gives long monologues while the other actor waits for their turn to perform.  I had a similar feeling and review about Fences, a few years ago.  I know a lot of people were touched by this film and the subject matter, but to me it felt manipulative, over wrought and overly dramatic.  Having heard and read all the hype, I eagerly anticipated this film, expecting to love it.  I did enjoy many parts of it, especially the acting of the leads, and some of the writing/dialogue, but in the end was disappointed. 

Oscar's Best 2018

It's been a very unusual year for movies, and for best picture Oscar nominations.  There were a significant number of very good movies this year, probably more then usual.  However, there was a shortage of truly amazing movies.  It was also unusual in that a number of my personal favorites this year got completely ignored by the Academy.  In fact, my absolute favorite movie of the year wasn't even nominated for best picture, although, it was nominated for best documentary.  It was an unusual year in that it was the first time in many years that I haven't seen all the nominees in a movie theater.  It was also unusual in that a "comic book" movie got recognized as a best picture nominee.  What's getting to be less unusual is how long movies seem to be.  Most have run times of over two hours, which in my opinion is just too long.  Two hours should be the max for most films.
Before I go through my ranking of best picture nominees, I'd like to mention a few movies that I enjoyed and think are worth checking out.  I'll try to list primarily those that Oscar overlooked, so if a movie got a significant nomination I won't mention it here.  The next time you're searching for a movie, consider these.  I'd love your feedback, good or bad, if you watch any of the following movies based on my recommendation.
In the "chick flick" or family friendly category:  Crazy Rich Asians, The Greatest Showman, Juliet Naked, and Love Simon were very entertaining and fun to watch.
In the "guilty pleasure" category:  Upgrade, Annihilation, Widows (visually stunning), The Mule, and Avengers: Infinity War are worth checking out.
In the "unique" category:  Searching,  American Animals (movie/documentary hybrid), and Tully were something a little different but still quite interesting and entertaining.
In the "indie" category:  The Rider, Eighth Grade, Beautiful Boy, and most especially Blindspotting were the movies I hoped Oscar would recognize.  Blindspotting was near the top spot on my personal list of favorite films this year.  It's the story of a man haunted by a single act that caused him to be imprisoned and changed his life forever.  It explores how it might feel "to be judged by the color of your skin or remembered only for the worst thing you ever did".
There were two other movies that did get recognized for Academy Awards, but not best picture, that I think deserve special mention.  Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse got nominated for best animated feature, but it should have been nominated for best picture.  It's the first animated movie that captured the feeling and joy of reading comic books.  If you grew up reading comics, you'll enjoy this film.
Free Solo got nominated for best documentary and it was my favorite movie this year.  I'm not typically a huge fan of documentaries, I generally prefer to be entertained and not educated by film. This year had a number of exceptional documentaries, to include RBG, Three Identical Strangers and Won't You Be My Neighbor.  Free Solo chronicles the life of Alex Honnold and his obsession with rock climbing; specifically his desire to climb Yosemite's El Capitan.  He climbs the 3000 foot sheer rock wall "Free Solo" which means without any ropes or other safety gear.  While it is a tale about a rock climbing savant, it's really of an examination of what makes Alex tick.  We learn about his motivation, his singular focus, and most interestingly about his personal and romantic life.  There is nothing fake or pretentious about Alex.  He seems incapable of deceit or artifice.  It really is a fascinating film that deeply moved and inspired me and it still lingers fondly in my memory.
Now on to my reviews of the best picture nominees from best to worst- IN MY OPINION.  My first two choices and last two choices were somewhat easy to  make, the four in the middle could have been in any order.

1)  A Star Is Born: This year, more then most years, I'm basing my list primarily on how entertained I was.  I usually put more weight on acting, cinematography, writing and direction, but this year was more about pure entertainment value.  Having said that, A Star is Born was the most entertaining movie this year.  Following in Ben Affleck's footsteps Bradley Cooper is off to a great start with his directorial debut.  It may have been easier filming a re-make (number three) but it's still quite an accomplishment.  A Star Is Born is the love story between an alcoholic, aging, deeply troubled, famous musician, played by Cooper, and the heart of gold, young, unknown, meek, aspiring singer song-writer played by Lady Gaga.  The chemistry between them simply works.  Together they amount to more then either of them could have independently, the ideal of any productive and rewarding relationship.  They seem to have genuine affection between each other and it shows.  The film could easily have become melodramatic or cliche but it avoided those traps with clever writing, great songs and authentic performances.  The evolution of their romance felt real, and the musical numbers even more so.  Clearly Cooper is a superior actor and Gaga a superior singer, but each proved to be more then adequate in the opposite role.  I do think the movie slowed somewhat during the last third.  The build up and growth of the relationship was well paced and gripping.  However, later in the film, when the focus drifted to more peripheral topics, like her family and dealing with fame, it seemed to slow and lose focus.  However, it's an excellent film, worthy of the top prize.

2)  Bohemian Rhapsody:  Another supremely entertaining film.  I had forgotten how much I liked Queen music.  I had the pleasure of seeing them live in concert, a million years ago, and had that memory as a backdrop.  I saw the film with my wife and youngest daughter, and we all had a very positive experience; we were all entertained.  The film works well beyond simple nostalgia.  Rami Malek clearly did his homework and seemed to embody the essence of Queen front-man Freddie Mercury, both in appearance, swagger, and on stage presence.  The remainder of the cast was more then adequate, but Malek steals the show, and all scenes without him are somewhat lacking.  The writers and director (Bryan Singer) expertly captured the essence of the time and the complexity of the relationship between band members.  Freddie Mercury was a complicated person, struggling with his identity.  He doesn't quite know how he fits in with his Indian Parsi family, in society, with his band, or with his sexuality.  These topics are explored but only superficially.  It's not really a deep dive in to his motivation as much as a tribute to the music.  Singer does beautifully captures the look and feel of the era.  Bohemian Rhapsody "sticks the landing" with the final Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium, which is breathtaking, visually and musically.  Despite being a gay man, the key emotional relationship, is between Freddie and the love of his life Mary Austin.   The film examines all aspects of his life, his motivations, relationships, the music, and ultimately his fatal battle with HIV/AIDS.  This film joins the growing list of great musical biopics, such as Walk the Line and Ray.

3)  Vice:  This movie reminded me a lot of Adam McKay's other wonderful film, The Big Short.  He uses several of the same actors and the same unique quirky style of telling a complicated, potentially boring, story.  He was able to make the details of very complicated financial collapse, and now the life of vice president Dick Cheney, both understandable and compelling.  Of course it helps when you have Christian Bale doing the heavy lifting.  I'm typically drawn to movies that are actor/performance driven, and Vice is definitely that.  Bale is consistently able to transform himself, both physically and in character, which in my opinion is the hallmark of exceptional acting.  He's arguably one of the finest actors working today and in many ways reminds me of my personal favorite Meryl Streep.  He takes chances, accepts a wide range of roles, and seems to become whoever he's portraying, instantly erasing any lingering memory of any other prior equally mesmerizing performance.  Working across from Sam Rockwell (George Bush), Amy Adams (his wife Lynne), and Steve Carell (Donald Rumsfeld) gave Bale equally talented actors to play against.  Three outstanding performers at the top of their game.  I'm sure most won't put this movie as high on a list as I did.  Even with McKay's directing talents and superior acting, it's still too long, meandering and a bit dry.  That being said, it's a very enjoyable film and if you're not careful you might actually learn some history.

4)  Green Book:  It's the 1960's, racism is alive and well, and a black virtuoso pianist takes on a musical tour through the deep south.  He requires a driver/security for this trip and hires a white Italian American man for this purpose.  Mahershala Ali gives an Oscar worthy performance as the musician.  His performance is rich with elegance, dignity, and even subtlety as he uncovers the complexity of his own personal motivations and illustrates the complexity of the nation's racial divide.  Ali is rapidly becoming a force in the acting world.  He may have one of the most expressive faces I've seen.  It's impressive how much emotion and intent he's able to convey with a mere glance, smile, raised brow or tilt of the head.  Viggo Mortensen portraying the driver, is his acting equal.  The film contrasts a man struggling with his identity with that of a man deeply rooted and secure in his identity.  Ali doesn't know where he fits in, in his personal life, within his own race, or in society at large, while Viggo has deep family roots and a clear place in his Italian-American neighborhood.  The film is well told, well directed and extremely well acted.  However, there isn't much that is surprising or original about it.  Two men from opposite sides of the tracks are forced together and learn they aren't so different after all,  in the end coming to respect and understand each other.  My oldest son pointed out that he knew exactly what to expect and could have easily predicted how it would end even before it began.  Sadly he was right.  Although it is predictable and stereotypical in many ways it is still an important story, well told, and worth seeing.  I was entertained.

5)  BlacKkKlansman:  Spike Lee directs this "based on a true story" account of Colorado Springs' first black detective, who was able to infiltrate the KKK along with his Jewish partner, played by Adam Driver.  The movie is well acted, expertly directed and beautifully shot.  Denzel's son, John David Washington plays the police officer who against all odds infiltrates the KKK.  It's the 1970's, and the civil right's movement is heating up.  America is a far cry from racially tolerant.  Up and coming Adam Driver plays a Jewish cop, who hides from his own ethnicity, seemingly unwilling to recognize his own minority status.  Washington tries to embrace and promote his race, unable to hide from it, while struggling to be accepted by his peers and by society.  In the end Driver comes to recognize the significance of his own ethnicity and how all races deserve to be treated equally.  I very much enjoyed Topher Grace's performance as David Duke, the leader of the KKK.  While the acting, the direction and the action make this movie worth seeing, I found the writing to be somewhat redundant.  The film kept making the same point over and over.  Considering the high stakes of a Jewish man going undercover to infiltrate the KKK, the tone of the film lacked a degree of menace that the theme would suggest be present.  There were far too many "silly" and comical moments which I felt took away from the weight and seriousness of the theme.  Overall it was an enjoyable experience but I felt there could have and should have been "more".

6)  The Favourite: Who doesn't love a great period movie?!?!  Director Yorgos Lanthimos has made some of the oddest and most uncomfortable films in recent memory, such as The Lobster, Killing of a Sacred Deer, and Dogtooth, all films clearly NOT made for the masses (watch at your own risk).  In The Favourite he has assembled a cast of fine actors.  The Academy seems to reward performance driven films, very much like I do. The film is beautifully set in the 18th Century, with a sickly Queen Anne, wonderfully played by Oliva Colman, on the throne.  The sets and costumes are spectacular.  Rachel Weisz is the Queen's aide but also her confidant and lesbian love interest.  She controls the Queens itinerary, has her ear, and is even able to influence policy.  Naturally her position incites envy and others conspire against her.  Emma Stone appears as a prior lady, now a manipulative servant down on her luck, but with limitless ambition.  She quickly befriends and charms the Queen, eventually challenging for control and power.  Her character will do anything, stoop to any level, to gain an upper hand.  There is plenty of intrigue as each party schemes to rise in the ranks.  I particularly enjoyed the scenes involving a somewhat secondary character, Robert Harley, played by Nicholas Hoult.  Each of his all to few scenes were outstanding.  It's never quite clear what each person's motivation is, what emotion is genuine, which words are true......  It's a quirky and unique film, beautifully told, cleverly written, and expertly acted.  While I was entertained, in the end, it was just a bit to absurd to rate more highly.

7)  Black Panther:  While I did enjoy this movie, and understand it's social significance, I simply didn't think it was even the best comic book movie of the year.  My brother, whose opinion I don't always share but always respect, absolutely hated this movie.  In any case, I thought both Avengers: Infinity War and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse were superior comic book movies this year.  If ever such a movie deserved a best picture nomination, to me, it would have been Deadpool.  In general I suspect I'm guilty of being a movie snob when it comes to the Academy Awards.  I don't think critical acclaim should have anything to do with box office success.  While I do watch and enjoy the block busters I prefer that the Academy Awards go to more meaningful, serious, or artsy, type movies.  I'd be more in favor of a different Oscar category to allow for fan favorites like X-men, Mission Impossible, James Bond, comedies or horror movies to give them a chance at winning Academy Awards.  Although, there are other award shows that more readily recognize these type of movies.  All that being said Chadwick Boseman was wonderful as The Black Panther, just as he was as Jackie Robinson (42) and Thurgood Marshall (Marshall).  I'm glad I saw this film as it has great production value, strong women characters, fantastic effects, excellent costumes, and an interesting plot, but it simply wasn't extraordinary, or not extraordinary enough to warrant a best picture nomination.

8)  Roma:  I have no idea how this movie got one, let alone ten, Oscar nominations.  It's a black and white, very long, sub-titled movie.  The story is set in Mexico and is told through the eyes of a maid, serving a dysfunctional family, in the 1970's.  I found the performances to be flat, the direction and pacing to be inconsistent and meandering, the writing to be uninspired and pointless, with the color literally taken out.  The only praise I have is for the cinematography.  Many of the visuals are stunning.  The scenes of Mexico City at the time were interesting and beautiful, there is also a gritty hospital sequence that's excellent.  Still, I was unable to connect or relate to any of the characters and didn't really care what happened to them.  It's been a long time since I've disliked a "best picture" nomination so much.  One scene perfectly summed it up for me; a close up of a car tire slowly rolling over a mound of dog excrement.  This was the first time I've missed seeing a best picture nomination on the big screen, and I'm glad for not having spent the money.  Often nominated movies are re-released to theaters, taking advantage of the buzz nominations generate.  As of yet, Roma has still not been released in any of the many theaters I frequent, including the art house theaters.  Roma is a Netflix original that never went in to wide release.  I'd love to hear from someone who enjoyed this movie.  Clearly I must be missing something as I was NOT entertained.

Oscar's Best 2017

Oscar night has snuck up on me this year.  I've seen all of the best picture nominees but have simply been too busy, or too lazy, to actually write down my thoughts.  As always, I'm hoping to spark some conversation or debate.  There have been a number of very good movies, but just like last year, no single movie blew me away.  I did enjoy movies throughout the year, without the customary lag during the winter and summer months.  I have noted that movies seem to be longer then usual this year, with many run times well over two hours.  It's a trend I'm not a fan off as longer films can become indulgent and boring.  Some of the movies I enjoyed this year, that didn't get any love from the Academy, included: Logan Lucky, Baby Driver, Wonder Woman, Tragedy Girls, Only The Brave, Jumanji among others.  Some more "out there" and harder to recommend films I enjoyed, or at least found interesting, included: Hostiles, The Disaster Artist, Wind River, Split and Mother.
As always I'll review the best picture nominees from best to worst- IN MY OPINION.

1)  PHANTOM THREAD:  I suspect I may be alone in my admiration of this movie, above all others this year.  I am typically drawn to movies that are driven by great acting, far more so then by those driven by plot, character, action, suspense, humor, etc.  That being said, Daniel Day-Lewis may arguably be the single best currently working male actor.  Let's hope his claim to now be retired turns out not to be true, although I fear it is.  Direction and writing are probably the next most important element to a great movie.  Paul Thomas Anderson wrote AND directed Boogie Nights, Magnolia and There Will Be Blood.  Need I say more?!?!  Daniel Day-Lewis plays the dressmakers to the stars in 1950's London.  He lives and works out of a house, which is run like a military barrack.  He has a rigid militant manner to his life and to his work.  Life is on his terms and he no tolerance to be pushed out of his comfort zone personally or professionally.  The only people who seem to have a permanent place in his life and in his heart, are his equally cold sister, Cyril (Oscar nominated Lesley Manville), and the memory of his beloved mother.  The inspiration for his dress designs seem to come from the women he currently loves, although he eventually discards them unceremoniously.  The movie begins with a chance encounter, and eventual love affair, with Alma (Vicky Krieps), a simple but strong and beautiful waitress.  While acting as his muse and lover she throws his orderly way of life in to chaos.  In time, as their love grows, each figures out what the other wants and needs.  They become interdependent and bring out the best in each other, even if unconventionally.  Does she become the third woman with a permanent place in his life?  Does he dump her?  Will his art suffer?  The acting, direction, writing, cinematography, and the music all weave together seamlessly in to a beautiful crafted work of art.

2)  THE SHAPE OF WATER:  Another interesting movie by director Guillermo del Toro who also brought us the stunning Pan's Labyrinth.  This somewhat darker twist on "Beauty and the Beast" takes place in the 1960's, set mostly in a secret, underground, government, research facility.  Elisa (Oscar nominated Sally Hawkins), the beauty, is a sweet and charming, deaf custodian, with a heart of gold.  She encounters the beast, a scaly, water bound, "monster" imprisoned at the facility.  She finds herself drawn to him and endeavors to save him.  Naturally, in time her affection is reciprocated and romance blossoms.  A number of expertly portrayed secondary supporting characters bring life to this film.  Octavia Spencer plays her colleague and ally while Michael Shannon plays the antagonist determined to "break" the beast.  There is a great deal of humor, tenderness, beauty and intrigue interwoven in this unconventional love story.  The movie is beautifully shot, well scored, and tremendously well acted.  Del Toro has a way of filming that is dance-like.  The choreography and motion of the scenes flows so beautifully, almost whimsically.  The film genuinely captures the time period and cleverly sets the mood visually.  I did take issue with a bathroom scene that while beautiful was just too far fetched to believe and was inconsistent with the prior "realism".  I also didn't love the ending.  It felt rushed, awkward, and unsatisfying.  As my brother likes to say "it didn't stick the landing".  I'm not sure it deserved all the nominations it received, but it is an excellent movie worth seeing.

3)  DARKEST HOUR:  Now this is a movie almost solely driven by a single acting performance.  Gary Oldman portrays Winston Churchill in this historical biopic.  I know makeup, prosthetics, and special effects have come a long way, but I was still blown away by how they were able to physically transform Oldman in to Churchill.  However, flushing out the complexities of the character is a testament to Oldman's superior acting skills.  I was instantly hooked and convinced I was watching Churchill.  His interactions with the King were particularly riveting.  As a fan of history, particularly the history of World War II, I greatly enjoyed learning how Churchill rose to power and how he struggled making the weighty decisions he faced.  Annihilation and/or annexation seemed likely.  Should he fight to the end and risk more innocent lives, or should he try to negotiate with Hitler?  His action, or lack of action, would determine the fate of Britain.  Like all of the historically set films on the list this year, this film truly captures the essence of the time period in which the events take place.  I don't even really care that much how historically accurate the film was.  I was completely swept up in the journey and enjoyed the ride.

4)  LADY BIRD:  A beautifully written and acted coming of age comedy.  I have been critical of several movies Greta Gerwig acted in.  However, she did a spectacular job writing the screenplay and directing this film.  The gifted Saoirse Ronan, who burst on the scene in Brooklyn, plays a Catholic high school senior, who like most teenagers, struggles with her identity.  She is looking to discover what her mother calls "the best version of yourself".  In an effort to define herself and have some control she insists on being called Lady Bird instead of Christine, her given name.  Like most teens, she's often charming, lovable, witty, clever and kind. However, she can also be selfish, petty, and even mean spirited, making her feel very "real". She has complicated interactions and feelings about her sexuality, parents, siblings, friends, teachers, and religion.  There is a natural and inherent selfishness to youth, thinking we are the center of the universe, but why doesn't everyone else recognize it?!?  Teens don't necessarily see that others have equally complex and difficult lives.  What makes this movie even more entertaining are all the rich secondary characters.  An interesting movie could easily be made out of most of the supporting cast.  I'd have liked to learn more about each of her parents, her brother and his girlfriend, her boyfriend/s, teachers etc.  I admit that I tend to enjoy coming of age movies and this one did not disappoint (and it wasn't two hours long).

5)  THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI:  What makes this dramatic dark comedy rank so high is that is was simply entertaining.  I never checked my watch and time flew by; a primary criteria by which I evaluate movies.  I suspect this film will be a fan favorite, appealing to a wider audience.  It's a fictional story about a grieving mother who takes out three billboards to motivate the police department.  She accuses the chief of police of ineptitude or laziness.  Her daughter has been brutally murdered months ago, and she perceives a lack of action and investigation, and she blames the chief.  Much of what makes this movie so entertaining, aside from the script, are the poignant performances by the leads as well as by the secondary characters.  Frances McDormand as the mother, Woody Harelson as the Chief, and Sam Rockwell as the racist/violent Deputy are the heartbeat of this film.  But Woody's wife, Sam's mother, and McDormand's ex husband, along with a slew of other interesting characters contribute greatly to this film.  Both Woody and Sam are consistently excellent and yet seem under-rated.  My primary issue with this film are the number of unrealistic scenes which I found distracting.  I don't mind suspending disbelief and absolutely don't require realism, but I do like some consistency.  I was particularly distracted by Sam Rockwell's character.  While expertly played, I found it impossible to believe that a small town, in the deep south, would not only employ but retain a police deputy with his degree of overt racism, ineptitude, immaturity and complete disregard for the rule of law.  By rights he belonged in prison.  There were other inconsistencies and unbelievable moments which lowered this movie's rank.  It also didn't quite "stick the landing", leaving me a bit unfulfilled.  That being said, it's a fun ride and worth seeing.

6)  CALL ME BY YOUR NAME:  Another coming of age movie.  I found it fascinating how this movie seemed to be the opposite of Lady Bird.  Both movies are about teens struggling with finding their own inner identity and their place in the world.  However, they do so in equally interesting but wildly different ways.  This is very much an "indie" type movie while Lady Bird is more mainstream.  It might make an interesting project for a film student to compare and contrast.  Elio, played by Timothee Chalamet, who incidentally also had a part in Lady Bird, does an impressive job conveying his search for identity.  The movie is set in Italy and feels like a meandering stroll through the countryside.  It's beautifully filmed but in no hurry at 132 minutes.  Elio is a gifted musician, highly intelligent, well read and well liked, with understanding and supportive parents.  Mostly he seems to struggle with his sexual identity, even his sexual preference.  Armie Hammer's character Oliver, comes to live at the summer home in Italy, serving as the teaching assistant to Elio's father (Michael Stuhlbarg).  The two eventually become friends and slowly a reluctant, tender and passionate love affair develops.  Additionally both have sexually satisfying relationships with women.  It's a wonderful movie but I simply had a hard time relating to the characters.  Being able to relate to, understand, identify or empathize with a character is critical to becoming invested in the action and outcome.  This is the second year in a row that I struggled to identify with a gay themed movie.  I just didn't connect.  I think I'd have had an easier time relating to Elio were he simply gay, rather then bi.  Moonlight, last year's best picture winner, was my least favorite of the nominated films. I am not at all homophobic and have loved many movies which had homosexuality was at their heart.  Films like Milk, Dallas Buyers Club, A Single Man, and even Philadelphia are just a few such films that come quickly to mind.  There is a lot to love about this film but for me it was too long, a little self indulgent and hard to relate to.

7)  THE POST:  Meryl Streep is probably my favorite actor of all time, Tom Hanks is no slouch, and Steven Spielberg is obviously in rarefied air as a director.  With those ingredients you'd think this movie would be slam dunk amazing.  The Post explores the US government's deception of the American public about the Vietnam War, and the cover-up that followed.  Secret government documents exposing wrong-doing are covertly leaked to the Washington Post.  These documents become known as the Pentagon Papers.  On the grounds of protecting national security Nixon endeavors to legally bar the Washington Post, owned by Kay Graham (Streep) and edited by Ben Bradlee (Hanks) from publishing these damning documents.  Should she risk her freedom and the future of the paper, violate the law and publish, or let an important story about corruption and deception go untold?  Intrigue, suspense, and dramatic tension should have been at the heart of this movie and yet it was slow and a little boring.  Graham who eventually does the right thing, doesn't come across as the strong willed titan she was.  She comes across as a timid, confused and a reluctant participant, lost in her late husband's shadow.  Additionally many of the scenes felt contrived, unnatural and staged.  Shots to make sure every character was in frame, nobody obscuring anyone else.  Characters standing by unnaturally, waiting for a cue, eager to give their own lines.  It felt a bit like a stage play rather then a big screen movie.  In 2015 Spielberg collaborated with Hanks in Bridge of Spies and I had similar directorial issues with that film.  I did enjoy the movie overall, but compared to Spotlight, another movie about journalism and uncovering deception, it simply didn't measure up.

8)  DUNKIRK:  I had such high hopes for this movie.  Director Christopher Nolan brought us amazing movies such as Memento, Insomnia, The Prestige, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar.  However, Dunkirk was somewhat disappointing.  In 1940 Allied soldiers were isolated and surrounded on the beaches of Dunkirk, France.  The German army had them pinned down and trapped, with a real opportunity to end and win World War II.  The story is told from three different perspectives.  There is the military drama on the beaches, a view from a fighter pilot's cockpit (Tom Hardy), and there are civilian boats rushing to Dunkirk in hopes of evacuating stranded soldiers.  Technically this movie was amazing.  Many of the images and several of the scenes were visually stunning; beautifully filmed and acted.  The opening few minutes and all scenes with Mark Rylance, as a small boat captain, were particularly effective.  My daughter loved every scene with boy-band heartthrob Harry Styles, of One Direction fame.  However, I'm not sure this alone qualifies for a higher ranking.... Sorry Lauren.  On the other hand, Kenneth Branagh's superior talents were absolutely wasted and his scenes went nowhere.  There was minimal character development with very little meaningful dialogue, making it difficult to connect with any character or the action.  Overall I found the story confusing without a smooth arc to the narrative. Much of the action seemed contrived, disjointed and unrealistic.  With no ship in sight why were rows of soldiers lined up on the beach, virtual sitting ducks?  It wasn't clearly explained how Dunkirk came to be, what the issues were, and what made it so important.  The action at sea and in the air were far more entertaining and coherent then what transpired on the beaches.  For example, a minor sub-plot story develops when a group of soldiers seek refuge on an small grounded ship.  The entire sequence felt alternately pointless, confusing, manipulative, and in the end cliche.  The technical merit of this film can not be denied, and it is worth seeing, but I just don't think this movie deserved to be on the best picture list.

9)  GET OUT:  At the risk of being inconsistent, or a movie snob, I'll say this movie was more entertaining, interesting, and "fun" then Dunkirk, yet I rank it last among the best picture nominees.  If I had to re-watch any of the movies on the list, I'd easily watch Get Out before I'd watch 6, 7, or 8 again.  I should say that horror is by far my least favorite genre of movies and straight comedy may be next.  Jordan Peele, of the hilarious Key And Peele fame, writes and directs his first movie.  I can't wait to see the next film he directs.  Get Out is the tale of an interracial couple, portrayed beautifully by Daniel Kaluuya and the gorgeous Allison Williams.  Their relationship has reached the point where she wants to take him to meet her parents.  They travel deep in to the woods, to her parent's isolated home.  At first everything is harmonious and he's accepted with open arms.  Eventually he begins to notice odd happenings but writes them off to his imagination.  When her mother, a psychiatrist (too rarely seen Catherine Keener), hypnotizes him things take a dramatically darker turn.  It's a unique, fun, poignant and interesting tale well told.  So, I guess it depends on what you think "best" means when raking a movie.  I think Get Out just lacked some of the gravitas or weight of a great Oscar caliber film.  It's a fun movie for sure but it lacks the elements that make a movie important or "best" to me.  It's why so few comedies, comic book movies, animated or horror movies even get nominated.  By all means see this movie and feel free to tell me I'm wrong for not listing it higher.  You may be right.

Oscar's Best 2016

It's Oscar time once again, and once again I've failed to be active on this blog.  So much for best intentions.  2016 has had a number of good movies, and overall I'm pleased with the best movie category.  However, unlike most years, I didn't find that singular standout movie to make my top choice easy.  My top two, and the next two, choices are almost interchangeable.  Only the bottom few were easy for me to categorize.  I did feel a bit self conscious for selecting all of the racially themed movies near the bottom, but that's just how it went.  As always, I welcome and encourage comments, either to agree or disagree with my ranking.  I understand that movies are art, and that we don't, and that we shouldn't, agree on what "good" art is.  The following list simply represents my humble opinion.  Be aware, there may be spoilers.

1)  LION:  This is an amazing "based on a true story" movie, by virtually unknown director Garth Davis.  It's the tale of a 5-year-old boy, named Saroo, who accidentally gets trapped on a train in India.  He's unable to disembark until he arrives in Calcutta, thousands of miles from home.  Saroo is eventually adopted, out of an orphanage, by a couple in Australia.  I'm not normally a fan of child actors in leading roles, as they don't typically have the range to show the "arc" of character development necessary.  However, Sunny Pawar is simply amazing as the young lost boy, and in my mind was overlooked by Oscar.  Dev Patel does get a nomination for expertly playing the grown and tormented Saroo, struggling to find his own identity.  Nicole Kidman, who plays his adoptive mother also deserves her nomination.  The film flows beautifully and captured my full attention.  The action, cinematography, acting, and direction are all top notch.  I was simply swept away.  My only slight issue came in the final act, which I felt lacked the same intensity, edge, and tempo.  Therefore, it did not hold my attention in the same way the rest of the movie did.  The ending of the movie ended up feeling a bit too much like a documentary.  That being said, this is an excellent film and should be seen by all movie lovers.  Bring Kleenex!

2)  MANCHESTER BY THE SEA:  I felt somewhat conflicted by this film.  The thing I didn't like about it initially, is the very thing I ended up liking most about it.  First let me summarize- the movie deals with the life of Lee Chandler, played by Casey Affleck, a New England native, dealing with tragedy, sorrow, and guilt.  The source of his anguish is cleverly withheld until well in to the movie.  Lee is forced to move from his self imposed prison, a dingy basement apartment in Boston, back to the town at the heart of his suffering.  He's been named in the will of his deceased brother, to care for his teen aged nephew Patrick, played by Lucas Hedges.  I'm a huge fan of, and consistently find myself enjoying movies that are driven primarily by good acting, and this is clearly one such film.  Of course what makes extraordinary acting special is the writing.  Great actors given great dialogue makes for great cinema.  There is a two minute scene in which Casey Affleck chats with his ex wife, played by Michelle Williams (both appropriately nominated), that is simply magnificent.  Two of the best at their very best.  It's a scene that will stick with me for a very long time.  What bothered me most as I walked out of the theater was Lee's lack of "arc."  It's a deeply sad movie, about a deeply wounded man, who by the end of the film is nearly as sad and wounded as he was at the start.  He's lonely, hurting, and picking bar fights in the first act exactly the same as he is and does in the last.  Despite being around loving people, family and friends, who are struggling to move on with their own lives and their own hardships, he simply can't.  I left the theater feeling hopeless and depressed.  However, the movie is so powerful, so well written and performed, that it continued to haunt me.  In time, I ended up appreciating this movie for portraying a character who simply can't get over his guilt and loss.  Sure, there is a tiny bit of growth, but some wounds are just too deep to recover from.  Not every movie needs to have a happy ending, not every character has to see the light.  I respect that this movie was even made.  For such a dark movie, there was a lot of humor, some of which I didn't think fit all that well.  Lucas Hedges gives a fine performance, for which he got a nomination.  However, to me he's the weakest link.  It's not the actual performance as much as what his character seems to be about.  As paralyzed by sadness as Lee is, Patrick barely seems to recognize that his own father has just died.  He seems only to care about fishing, friends, and juggling his two girlfriends.  It's a great film, a must-see, but again, bring Kleenex.

3)  ARRIVAL:  Sci Fi at its very best.  Smart, rich characters, well acted, great script and superior direction.  Who could ask for more?!?!  Alien vessels have arrived and are hovering over a multitude of cities around the globe.  Are they friend of foe?  Merely observers or threats?  Amy Adams is a leading linguistics professor and is charged with decoding the "language" which the aliens are using to communicate.  I was fully hypnotized by the story, by the acting, by the pace, by the visuals, and by the message.  I have seen reviews and heard comments that this is a "snooze fest," "preachy" and "cliche-riddled." I couldn't disagree more vehemently.  Finally a movie about alien life that isn't simply a monster story.  A film with meaning and heart.  I was struck by the directors use of light and focus.  Many of the scenes are purposely dark, with only the object of interest in the light.  It's a seamless yet artistic way of drawing our attention.  A similar technique is used in which there is a short depth of field.  Only the object of interest is in focus, while the surroundings are blurred, with changing focus to draw our attention.  It's a unique story, beautifully shot, and worth a peek.

4)  HELL OR HIGH WATER:  A modern day western.  Instead of horses we have pick up trucks.  Instead of an evil land baron, we have evil banks.  Once again what makes this film superior is the acting and writing.  The surprising Chris Pine and the deliciously menacing Ben Foster play Toby and Tanner, cowboy brothers, who decide to rob banks for the money they need to save their family and their land.  The brothers both have dark sketchy pasts, but what they also have is a bond, and true love for each other.  Toby is fighting his darker nature and appears to be the good brother, while Tanner has malice just barely below the surface.  He's not even trying to hide or suppress his baser instincts.  The interactions feel real, honest, complex, and unique.  The other couple, or partnership, that is equally unique is between the Texas Rangers Marcus and Alberto, played by Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham.  Once again Jeff Bridges offers a deep portrayal, inhabiting his character as comfortably as if it were his own skin.  He steals every scene he's in and makes it look easy.  He adds a levity but also a legitimacy to the film.  At the risk of sounding cliche, Jeff Bridges is an American treasure.  The direction of this film is superb.  David Mackenzie takes us on a beautifully paced and artistically filmed western adventure that is absolutely worth the trip.

5)  LA LA LAND:  I mean this as a compliment: LA LA LAND is a great little chick flick.  I should also add that in general, I am a fan of musicals- my favorite probably being HAIR.  As much as I enjoyed LA LA LAND I don't think it deserved a record number of nominations.  What makes this movie work is the incredible chemistry between Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.  Both are great actors in their own right, and are also magnificent together.  Damien Chazelle expertly backs up his amazing direction of WHIPLASH from 2014.  I can't wait to see what he comes up with next.  The movie is light and engaging as we learn to genuinely like and root for both lead characters  We also find an appreciation for the third lead, "Jazz."  Their courtship is sweet, even if it is somewhat predictable.  I found the first two-thirds of the movie enjoyable and fun, but the final third of the film is what makes it special.  All the great musicals I can think of have an edge, a darker side, to go along with memorable musical numbers.  Until the final act that edge was absent, which left it feeling simply amusing and "sweet."  My only other criticism has to do with the voices.  I've heard it said that the relatively sub-par (not awful by any stretch) singing voices of the stars is what gives it authenticity.  I'm not of that camp.  I found their singing a bit distracting, much as I did hearing Russell Crowe croak in Les Miserables a few years back. If I had to recommend any of the nominated movies for a fun date night out, this would be it.

6)  HIDDEN FIGURES:  When I saw the trailer for this movie I thought it looked quite Pollyanna and a candidate for the TV Hallmark Hall of fame.  After a friend, who saw it, told me it was "trite" I was sure I'd hate it.  Exactly the kind of movie I typically hate.  After seeing it, I was right, it was Pollyanna and even a little bit trite.  Even the images were all bright, colorful and cheery.  However, I actually enjoyed it a lot.  The story is compelling and important.  It's a part of our American history that we should all be aware of and I was hooked from the start.  It's the tale of NASA's endeavor to put a human in to orbit and eventually on the moon.  It's based on the real life significant contribution of African American women, who provided invaluable mathematical contributions to the US space program.  Taraji Henson is a captivating as Katherine Johnson,  Octavia Spencer is her usual charming self as Dorothy Vaughan, and Janelle Monae portrays Mary Jackson, three "human computers."  Theodore Melfi artfully relays the story about these talented women, stressing the support they receive from their friends, family, and community.  It's a beautiful representation of life in the 60's and depicts a warm and loving African American community.  I was surprised how well a story largely about overcoming racism and bigotry was told without a sharp edge, without finger pointing, and without anger.  There is no violence, no cursing, and no gratuitous outrage.  Still, it's made evident how difficult the lives of African Americans were at that time, and how deep the injustices were which they had to endure, both socially, legally, and professionally.  I tend to like my movies a bit darker and with more grit, but this is an important true story, beautifully told and worth seeing.  An ideal family movie date.

7)  MOONLIGHT:  I'm still conflicted by this film.  There is no doubt that this movie was well acted and directed but I just couldn't connect or relate.  I was only able to appreciate it as a work of art.  In the end I just didn't find it terribly entertaining.  MOONLIGHT is the story of Chiron, aka Little, a homosexual boy, growing up in the drug infested projects of Miami.  The movie is told in three acts, with three actors representing different stages of his life.  Each actor is challenged by different aspects of his struggle, as he endeavors to understand his own sexuality and to be accepted.  He just doesn't fit in to his community, his school, or even his family.  His struggle isn't only external, but he also struggles to define and know himself.  He's the product of poverty and lack of opportunity; hungry for positive role models, as he's being raised by a drug addict single mom.  My primary issue with the film was once again a lack of "arc."  Each of the three actors playing Chiron do so almost stoically. Feelings and opinions are seldom verbalized and have to be inferred.  The youngest actor is almost comically silent.  There is very little growth, which may be the point, but it left me feeling empty and disconnected from Chiron.  This is the a classic "indie" type movie and I only recommend it for true movie lovers.  The film is raw, dark, and depressing, yet there is no doubt that it is a work of art.

8)  HACKSAW RIDGE:  I'm not sure I can be totally objective about this movie.  First, I tend to be hard on military movies, just as I am on medically themed movies, because I have some real life experience in those fields, making me more judgmental and more critical than I should be.  That real life experience for some reason also keeps me from getting fully immersed.  Second, I'm just not a huge fan of Andrew Garfield.  He was good in a smaller role in THE SOCIAL NETWORK, passable as SPIDERMAN, but in my opinion he is what kept 99 HOMES and SILENCE from being as good as they could have been; I might even say that he ruined them for me.  I do like Mel Gibson as a director, and as such he did a masterful job.  The movie is once again based on a true story.  Desmond Doss was a conscientious objector who served as a Medic during the battle of Okinawa.  He didn't carry a weapon and refused to "fight."  Still, he was a hero, saving lives, and earned the Medal of Honor without firing a single shot.  As such it's a compelling and important story.  Doss volunteers to serve and it comes as no surprise that in basic training his fellow recruits, as well as the cadre, want him gone.  Nobody wants to be in a foxhole with a solider without a weapon.  It also doesn't come as a surprise that by the end they all respect and appreciate him.  A significant sub-plot of the film deals with his courtship of a nurse.  During the romance Garfield continually makes the same ridiculously dopey expression that made me want to punch him in the face.  His social and political fight for acceptance is well documented by the film and as such it's interesting.  However, the heart of the movie takes place on Hacksaw Ridge.  It's probably the longest battle scene in history, or at least that I can remember, or maybe it just felt that way.  In any case, this movie has 6 nominations so someone liked it, I just wasn't one of them.

9)  FENCES:  I've stated that I particularly enjoy movies that are "actor driven."  Clearly FENCES is one of those films, and yet it's my least favorite of the Best Picture nominees.  Denzel Washington is a living acting legend and Viola Davis is on a short list of best living actresses, and they both shine.  That being said, I found this movie to be a series of long, often boring, speeches.  Very little action and a plot I couldn't relate to and didn't care much about.  The set of the movie is pretty much limited to a single house and the yard around that house.  When it was over I said "this felt more like a play then a movie."  I was embarrassed to find out that it was actually a Broadway show first, and that the show featured Washington and Davis.  Washington directs the action which takes place during the 50's and deals with family, race, loss, and forgiveness.  AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is another film based on a play, with similar issues, but is a far better film in my opinion.

Oscar's Best 2015

Once again the Oscars are upon us, and I haven't written a single blog this year.  At a minimum, this year, I will write a post revealing my personal ranking of the 8 movies nominated in the Best Picture category.  I do hope to write a few more posts in this coming year, and I hope to entice some comments, but hope does spring eternal.
Beware, there may be mild spoilers.
Here, from best to worst..... IN MY OPINION.

1)  SPOTLIGHT:  I often find myself struggling with the order in which to rank the movies nominated for best picture.  Some years it's fairly simple, but this year was particularly difficult, especially after the top two.  My choice for the very best picture of the year is typically easy, as it was this year.  SPOTLIGHT is quite simply the best movie I saw in 2015.   It's such a complete film, without holes.  It's a wonderful script, expertly directed, beautifully shot, and honestly acted.  The action flows at a steady pace, which is a key construct for making a great film.  The story is of course about Catholic priests molesting boys in Boston, and ultimately the world over.  It uncovers the systematic cover up perpetrated by government officials, the community, the legal system, and the church itself.  That being said, the movie is really more about the craft of being a journalist.  It reminded me of ALL THE PRESIDENTS MEN in the way it focuses on the investigation.  Michael Keaton plays the leader of the Spotlight team, a division of the Boston Globe.  His team typically pursues a single story that requires deep, prolonged, intensive, investigative reporting.  Liev Schreiber, the newly hired, first ever Jewish editor of the Globe, essentially assigns the Spotlight team this story.  Mark Ruffalo and Rachel McAdams are Spotlight journalists who doggedly follow lead after lead.  What's beautiful about this movie is that it doesn't pull any punches, yet it doesn't feel judgmental either.  There is no gratuitous religion or church bashing.  The facts are honestly and accurately depicted, and the intricate deception is revealed layer by layer.  I was also struck by the apparent reluctance, of everyone involved, to uncover the truth, but being honor bound and dedicated to doing so.  Often at their own expense they proceed, because it was the right thing to do.  For the most part they are faithful Catholics without an ax to grind.  Every fact uncovered leads to a darker more disturbing truth, a truth nobody really seems to want to hear.  With heavy hearts and a hope to find a different truth, they do their duty.  I was swept up in the journey, learned something, and was thoroughly entertained.  If you haven't seen it, are older then 20, you won't be disappointed.

2)  ROOM:  My second choice was also pretty easy this year.  For such a harsh and ugly premise this really is a gentle and beautifully crafted film.  Brie Larson plays Ma, a young woman who 7 years previously, as a teenager, was abducted and locked in a shed behind her captor's home.  The tale is elegantly told, and expertly paced, in two parts.  We join the story in the claustrophobic space of a 10 X 10 foot shed.  Ma and her now 5 year old son, played amazingly well by Jacob Tremblay, are locked away and isolated from society.  A flickery rabbit-ear television and the captor himself are the only connection to the outside world.  The first half of the movie takes place entirely within this space, referred to simply as "room".  Somehow Ma manages to make this tiny room a loving home for the two of them.  It's impressive how much action and how full a life takes place in this tiny physical space.  The second half of the movie deals with their rescue and re-introduction to society.  What's striking about this movie is how beautifully and subtly it's been crafted.  It was obvious that the writer and director agonized over every line and every image.  There were so many opportunities for it to become melodramatic but it never is.  It could have become emotionally manipulative or sensationalized but it isn't.  Each point is made poignantly but subtly.  For example, we suspect the boy will be emotionally damaged and will need professional therapy.  We do indeed see him talking to a Psychiatrist, but that scene probably isn't even 30 seconds long.  The fact that the perpetrator will have a trial, which will have a physical and financial cost, is only alluded to peripherally.  We learn very little of the captor or his motivation.  He is not dignified by giving him the weight of a back story.  Ma's own father has "issues" with her and his newly discovered grandson.  It's never spelled out and it's not debated.  The audience is given credit for some intelligence and we are allowed to draw our own conclusions.  The movie is all about Ma and her struggle to survive, in and out of room.  I was swept away by the elegant, simple, beauty of this very dark and very powerful story.  In the end it speaks to human resilience and to the power we have to adapt and endure even in the face of the most crippling hardships.

3)  THE MARTIAN:  This is where it got difficult for me to decide which movie I enjoyed more.  Depending on your own personal preference and personality the order might well be different.  My own "sciency" background is probably why I liked this movie so much.  Maybe just because I saw it with my girls and was in a good mood.....  The exploration of and travel to Mars has been very much in the news lately.  Thousands of people are signing up to be potential one way travelers to Mars.  Matt Damon credibly plays an astronaut who becomes stranded on Mars, knowing his days are literally numbered.  He methodically and realistically deals with the obstacles threatening his survival; how to eat, how to breathe, how to communicate with earth, how to survive the elements, long term.  In his own words "I'm gonna have to science the shit out of this."  The story is told with a keen sense of drama and yet maintains a light almost comedic air.  I was swept up and fascinated by every discovery, every challenge, and every solution.  I was also inspired by the hopefulness and optimism of this film.  Humans and humanity are shown in the very best most generous light.  The cinematography was breath taking and Ridley Scott's direction was spot on; simply a beautifully told story.  I do agree that the pace of the film was a tad slow, especially considering how much of the movie involves only Matt and Mars.  I also felt that the ending was rushed, incomplete, and somewhat unsatisfying, especially after such a slow deliberate build.  If you don't buy in to the story early, with a run time of 2:24, I could understand how you might feel it long and even tedious.

4)  THE BIG SHORT:  If you're interested in the financial markets and enjoy biopic style movies I could see where this film might rank higher on your list then it does mine.  I know it was my oldest son's favorite movie of the year, even if he didn't see ROOM.  This very ambitious script tries to untangle and explain why and how the stock market crashed, and exactly how that event was tied to sub prime mortgages, or collapse of the housing "bubble".  Considering the inherent complexities, director Adam McKay succeeded admirably.  The primary characters impressively played by Christian Bale, Steve Carell (no longer a mere comedic actor), Ryan Gosling, and Brad Pitt, are based on the actual people who exposed the corruption.  Only the names were changed to protect the innocent.  For the most part this film moves along briskly and is captivating.  I'm not typically a huge fan of voice-over narration but due to the subject matter and need for explanation, the direct looking in to the camera narration by Gosling actually worked.  I seemed obvious that the movie was made by a primarily comedic director.  McKay is best known for STEP BROTHERS, ANCHORMAN,  and TALLADEGA NIGHTS.  There was a humorous slant that I felt was often unnecessary and at times distracting.  My most common complaint these days is the length of movies.  Do they really need to be more then 2 hours long?  Several scenes were pointless and added little to the story or my understanding of what happened.  I keep remembering a alligator in a swimming pool, and wonder why???  Still, I was thoroughly entertained and walked out with just the right amount of indignation and outrage.

5)  BROOKLYN:  If you're inclined to romance you'll enjoy this movie and would no doubt rank it higher then I did.  Saoirse Ronan, who I expect to win the Best Actress award, gives an amazing performance as a young Irish woman who reluctantly leaves her home and family to start a new life, with more possibilities, in New York.  Her journey and early experiences are marked by memorable encounters with other fascinating people.  Each of the characters she interacts with are rich, full, interesting people.  It's a great sign that I wanted to know more about her travel companion, her co-workers, and the women she shared a house with... to name a few.  It speaks to the richness of the script, that even the more peripheral characters were intriguing.  Her travels are harrowing and her early days in NY are desperate and lonely, yet she endures.  She is supported by the church, finds work, educates herself, and lives the American dream of making a better life through hard work.  Somewhat predictably she ends up falling in love.  The lucky Italian young man is deftly portrayed by relatively unknown Emory Cohen.  The slow build of their affection and reliance on one another is truly beautiful.  They avoid cliche and contrived drama.  Eventually she makes a return trip to Ireland, feeling the pull of home and family.  Once back in Ireland there are job opportunities and there is an inevitable attraction to a charming Irish suitor.  She is confronted by a choice between a life in NY and the potential of a rich life back "home" in Ireland.  The story of this complex woman's life is expertly crafted and tenderly told.

6)  THE REVENANT:  Now if you need a little more action and testosterone in your movies, you'll no doubt rank this much higher.  I was particularly eager to see THE REVENANT, in large part because I'm a huge Leo fan (still annoyed and perplexed that he didn't win best actor for THE AVIATOR) and of director Alejandro Inarritu who brought us such amazing and memorable films as BIRDMAN, BABEL, and 21 GRAMS (maybe on my top ten of all time) to name a few.  In a nutshell the movie is about revenge and survival.  Leo's character's son is killed by the harsh, duplicitous, and menacing character played by Tom Hardy.  After the first ten minutes my hopes were very high.  The opening depicts an Indian attack on fur trappers in the wild.  We've all seen a number of bow and arrow attacks in various films, but Inarritu's treatment is truly unique and majestic.  The brutality, panic and fear is palpable.  Leadership weighing the options, mounting a defense and counter, followed by a retreat felt "real", was visually stunning, and had my heart racing.   The much hyped bear attack was equally extraordinary, leaving me breathless.  The landscape and how it was filmed should have been considered for a best actor nomination.  The scenery was the lead, and had a lot to do with the power of this movie.  So while there was a lot to like, there were enough "issues" that dropped THE REVENANT down in my personal ranking.  Maybe it's my fascination with TV's MAN VS WILD, or my medical training, but I kept thinking "he'd be dead of hypothermia", or "no way he'd survive that", a few different times.  Heck, I avoid shallow puddles on a sidewalk, skipping around them, even when I have on boots.  Yet these men made no effort whatsoever to avoid walking right through freezing streams, in not much more then fur boots.  A good friend of mine felt the quality of Leo's performance was over-rated since there wasn't all that much dialogue.  I countered with Adrian Brody's performance in THE PIANIST, which was extraordinary but similarly short of dialogue.  While it wasn't his most memorable role, I won't be disappointed if Leo wins.  For all it's qualities, the film, in the end just didn't deliver enough by way of arc.  What was the point?  What did we learn?  Revenge is good?  We're capable of amazing feats if we put our mind to it, or are properly motivated?  For me, too little pay off for far too long a movie.  Beautiful and entertaining, but a bit empty in the end.

7)  BRIDGE OF SPIES:  Steven Spielberg just doesn't make bad movies.  Fine, I was no fan of WAR HORSE but still....  His credits are legendary; arguably the best living director, or at worst he's in the team picture.  This movie is another popular true story bio-pic.  Tom Hanks plays a well reputed lawyer who is enlisted to represent a Soviet spy and eventually to negotiate a conflict between the Soviets and the US.  He's untrained and inexperienced for the task he's given.  His skills and ethics are put to the test trying to negotiate a prisoner exchange.  While the performances were predictably excellent, particularly Hanks and Mark Rylance, the Soviet spy, who I would have enjoyed seeing more of.  Still, I felt a number of scenes were "stiff" for lack of a better word.  The action felt choreographed at times, almost rehearsed, something unexpected in a Spielberg movie.  Again the 2 hr 22 minute run time felt excessive.  I checked my watch a number of times to see "how much longer".  Another issue may actually have more to do with me personally then with the film.  I knew what the eventual outcome would be.  Much like ARGO the movie is considered a thriller.  How much suspense can there be when you already know what's going to happen?  I never had that pit in my stomach rooting for some particular result, or anxiety dreading some other outcome.  Knowing it'll all work out, ahead of time, is a suspense killer.  There just wasn't enough dramatic tension, nor were the characters compelling enough, to keep me fully invested for the films entirety.  There were plenty of exceptional scenes and much to like, but as a whole, for a best picture nominee, I was disappointed.

8)  MAD MAX: FURY ROAD:  Ranking this movie last was actually a very easy choice.  I just didn't like much about it.  Off the top of my head there were a number of movies I'd have rather seen nominated instead of MAD MAX.  For example,  EX MACHINA, TRUMBO, CONCUSSION, ME EARL AND THE DYING GIRL, THE WALK, and STEVE JOBS were all much more enjoyable and to me "better".  I didn't see the animated INSIDE OUT but I have a hunch it too was better.  I know this movie has, or will have, cult status.  I have a number of friends who loved it.  I'll admit that it was stylishly innovative and different for sure.  Still, I couldn't get in to it.  I was unable to suspend disbelief.  It's vital to accept the premise of any movie to be able to enjoy it and I couldn't.  The story is about survival in the dessert of a post-apocalyptic world.  A tyrant needs to be overthrown and the elements need to be endured.  I didn't care for the acting, the premise, the costumes, or even the cinematography.  I got hung up on the lack of water which made survival too unrealistic for me to overlook.  I felt any number of scenes were "artsy" for the sake of "artsy" which didn't contribute anything to the film.  It felt very much like a very long MTV music video, for a song I didn't care for.  A guitar player on the hood of a demon vehicle?  Soldiers flapping around like flags at the end of very long poles in the dessert?  I just kept thinking "really?".  To me this movie was a bit like how I feel about good poetry.  You may well have no idea what the heck it's about after the first reading, but if you study it, you'll be rewarded by some deeper beauty or truth.  In this case I had no desire to study and never found any deeper anything.  And as they said in THE BIG SHORT, "Truth is like poetry.  And most people fucking hate poetry."  I loved the original MAD MAX, far less THUNDER DOME, and even less FURY ROAD.  For free, on HBO, I guess it's worth a look, just to see what all the hype is about.  Make your own judgement.  I welcome opinions on why I'm wrong about this movie, or any other movie for that matter.