#jojo really likes to take comedic actors and say 'but look at what they can REALLY do'

[autumnsxxangel]

DRAKE???!!! AGAIN???!!!

I'm really hoping P'Jojo does with Drake here where he did with Drake in The Player.

[bengiyo]

Never Let Me Go Ep 8 Stray Thoughts

Week of Jojo Part 2 continues! Last week, Palm and Nueng helped the gays get married and launched their own romance after Nuengdiao very earnestly tried to connect with Palm in his world. Chopper saved Ben from an ass whooping, and learned that his dad ordered the hit on Tanya. Also, Chanon tracked down the hitmen, but was then arrested by the police as a suspect in Tanya's attempted murder.

Yes, let's open with a gay love montage. Dress each other. Cook together. Clean together. Mix drinks together. Go shopping. Frolick on the beach. I love it. Shelter (2007) is still the standard for gay love montage on the beach.

Is there a Thai BL director book club? After appearing in 180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us, Plato's Symposium is here, too. Nuengdiao says one of the guests left it at the hostel. Was it Wang???

Phuwin is pretty good. He takes a moment for Nuengdiao to think before launching into the story.

Now that they're dating, Nuengdiao is touching Palm a lot.

I feel like Palm has too much hair for a cap to sit properly. Still, I think a simple gift like this is more appropriate and one Palm can easily accept.

Episode Title: Life.

They just cleaned this place! Goddammit!

I suspected it was loan sharks. If they were after Nuengdiao, they would have been waiting to jump them when they got back.

Damn, they totally played Chanon.

Oh good. Chopper understands that restroom stalls are not soundproof, and gets the chance to be close to his crush.

Perth is one of the most attractive actors in Thailand.

I like that we're highlighting that Ben was outed. We rarely acknowledge the violence of that.

Poor Chimon sweats so much.

I like Mam as a character. I like exploring a character who ran away from being a parent. It's not an easy role to fulfill, and many people are forced into it before they're ready. She's very self aware about what she chose and how that affected people.

Suddenly Maggie. Nuengdiao is not amused, and Palm is just worried about their cover being blown.

Maggie isn't dumb, so they need to make her an ally.

Oh, Nuengdiao is going to be jealous about Maggie essentially going on a date with Palm.

I'm glad Nuengdiao intervened, because it seems like Palm gets injured every time he helps someone.

See, Maggie ain't dumb. She been knew that Palm was into Nuengdiao. Maggie is a real one. I love her.

Okay, Chopper is actively flirting in this pool. All of the boys in this show look so good looking up at their crush from a pool.

Ah, what they must need to discuss is serious indeed if it requires product placement.

It is such a relief sometimes when a show confirms what you already know. Of course Ben knew that Chopper liked him, because Chopper told him.

I'm so glad that Ben is asking Chopper about this now. I was worried that jealousy or bitterness would make Chopper potentially turn on Nuengdiao, but Ben was the only potential conflict between them.

There is no peace to be had in this hostel. What are the guests thinking about all this drama?

The actor playing the loan shark has such a comedically evil laugh; I love it.

For all he has a temper, Nuengdiao is smart enough not to say much in front of these dudes.

Okay, Nuengdiao! Way to take care of business!

Oh, Mam. I like her a lot.

Palm is like, "Now that all that drama is out of the way, back to flirting!"

Nuengdiao is so petty 😂. "You did many wrong things to me. Let me hear it."

Palm is too tickled about Nuengdiao being jealous.

Pond and Phuwin do physical comfortability with each other really well.

The escalation of their kissing and intimacy has also had a really solid arc.

I don't recognize this dude with the computer, but the beach section is officially over!

[film-clown]

Jojo Rabbit

When you make a film like Jojo Rabbit, which brings a comedic touch to such a devastating topic, it takes real talent to not offend nor make the topic a joke. I walked into the theatre hoping that it would not happen, and as usual, Taika Waititi continues to blow my mind. I cried as much as I laughed, and grew such a strong emotional connection to numerous characters. And as much of a satire it was, it was still educational. I truly applaud Waititi for accomplishing all of this.

I also applaud Taika Waititi for his outstanding performance of a childish-like Hitler. It brought out every aspect of what a child sees in their imaginary friends and especially of what an “idol” would say to them in times of need (PSA: If Hitler is your imaginary friend, seek help). This relation between Jojo and Waititi’s “Hitler” also goes to show how destructive it can be to be a blind fanatic over someone, especially when you are unable to realise their wrongs. But Jojo finally confronting his imaginary friend at the end of the film and standing up for what‘s right, was the perfect ending to a character arc like his.

Speaking of Jojo, seeing character growth over the film through such a talented child actor was astounding. It’s rare for me to be blown away by child actors, especially so young, but Roman Griffin Davis gave me a damn toothache - the kid was so sweet! He put the audience in the shoes of a politically-blinded German boy from the 40s who didn’t know better, and all because of the actions of people in power. Which leads me back to my point about character growth; Jojo was blindly following what Nazis said about Jews, the stereotypes and the degrading, but understood to look beyond those when he came face to face with one. Saying “How will I know if I see one?” is basically the root of realisation for him that hey, they’re humans too. His performance was, overall, amazing. I adore him.

Now that brings me into the topic of Elsa, who I’ve officially fallen in love with. Her relationship with Jojo and Rosie is so incredibly wholesome and I’m glad that they chose to show a relation between two kids that didn’t turn out “romantic”. They loved each other beyond that, and the romance would’ve been so unnecessary in a film like this. Hers and Rosie’s common belief of dancing signifying freedom was also so heartwarming, and to see her and Jojo dance at the end of the war was ravishing. Although I wish that Rosie was there with them. But she stood her ground and sided with justice until her last breath, and I love her for that. I really do hope to see Thomasin McKenzie in more films, she’s amazing!

Rosie was a perfect example of a modern woman who wanted change in the world, and people like her were the reason that evolution began. She looked beyond what people said about Jews, she kept one in her home and she talked about love and dancing and god, to find out she was executed? And the way that the audience, and Jojo found out? To say it was heartbreaking is underestimating it. There were so many scenes that showed only her shoes and her dancing, and I had a feeling that it foreshadowed something, but I didn’t expect that. Scarlett’s performance was so moving, she brought to life a mother who cared deeply about her son and a woman who was passionate about the life she had lived, and the beliefs she carried on. Such an important character to this story.

Something about this film that upset me is the queer-erasure/queer-baiting of two characters - Captain Klenzendorf and Finkel. There was a scene that hinted at the fact that they were going to kiss, and I think that multiple points need to be made here. That moment between Rockwell’s and Allen’s characters happened, and then no related action ever occurred again? Like it didn’t just happen at all? If they were going to have some LGBT+ “representation” (which, by the way, in an era of time that concentration camps were a big thing?), they should’ve made it relevant to the plot. Not only did it have no story weight, it did not do ANY justice for representation.

But I can’t lie - the outfit Captain Klenzendorf made was ICONIC.

This film was amazing. I’d like to take several moments to appreciate Taika Waititi and all of his work, he’s an inspiration to me and I love his work so, so much. I loved almost everything Jojo Rabbit did and I LOVE the irony of a Jewish man making and starring in a film about a topic like this. And the fact that they played a German version of Heroes by David Bowie at the end? Any film that plays that song is good. I don’t make the rules!

And lastly,

“Let everything happen to you

Beauty and terror

Just keep going

No feeling is final.”

- Rainer Maria Rilke

[popwasabi]

“Jojo Rabbit” Review: Reich in the Feels

Directed by Taika Waititi

Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Taika Waititi, Thomasin McKenzie, Sam Rockwell, Scarlett Johansson

 At first glance, “Jojo Rabbit” looks like a supremely, over the top, hilarious romp through one of history’s darkest times and societies with only a light spattering of sincere thematic story-telling.

In the end though, Taika Waititi’s latest comedic romp may not have as many laughs as expected but it more than makes up for it with its quirky tone, genuine charm and a wholesome coming of age film that will warm even the coldest of hearts.

(I wasn’t ready...)

It’s a testament to Waititi’s nuanced directorial finesse that he is able to walk such a fine line between the truly terrible and, unfortunately, all too real circumstances of the time while creating a genuinely great and often humorous coming of age film for audiences of kind can enjoy.

“Jojo Rabbit” takes place toward the tail end of World War II where a young German boy named Jojo, in hopes of earning the praise of his Fuhrer, who takes the form of an imaginary friend, joins a Hitler Youth camp to make a name for himself. He wants to fit in with belligerent, Jew-hating older members of the camp but finds he just doesn’t have what it takes. After a freak accident he finds himself even more ostracized from his peers but when he discovers an older Jewish girl hiding upstairs in his home Jojo see’s an opportunity to prove himself to Hitler.

One of the most common retorts I hear and read these days on “cancel culture” is that a film like “Blazing Saddles” could never be made today.

Conservatives, centrists, and bull shit reactionaries like to drone on and on about the offensive language displayed in the film being too much for today’s hypersensitive “woke” crowd and say these folks would dissolve into mush if they heard such words muttered across the screen today.

Never mind it is a popular movie among people of this ilk and never mind the fact that interpreting the Mel Brooks classic as just a western with some offensive language is a fundamental and gross misreading of the film.

(Mel Brooks is laughing at you, not with you, assholes...)

You see, Brooks never tried to make the N-word about the black people in the film but more about how it’s used against black folk instead and how white people will consistently go against their best interests if it means the “right people” get hurt. You see, Brooks was always about punching up when it came to comedy, lampooning those in power for the little guys such as Jews like himself or as “Blazing Saddles” did for African Americans.

For all the praise douchebag, anti-“PC” folks give Brooks for making that film the director himself is on record as stating that there are lines even he would never cross because comedy can be a force for good and if misinterpreted or intentionally written with malice it can be used for bad.

(Hmmm I wonder who this reminds me of...)

So in comes Taika Waititi to show reactionaries once again that these films are 100 percent relevant to the world we live in today because it’s not about “offensive words,” it’s about context and whether your humor punches up or punches down and “Jojo” definitely does the former.

“Jojo Rabbit” doesn’t want us to just laugh at Hitler saying silly things like giving life advice to a little boy about killing Jews, blaming Winston Churchhill for his problems, or offering cigarettes to Jojo every minute. The film wants us to really confront how impressionable young children are often warped by the hate society has around them and how adults create this environment to foster this resentment of those who are different.

(The closest we’ll ever get to “Springtime for Hitler” though)

The film paints a brilliant picture of how hatred can grow into disillusionment among many of the film’s characters particularly Sam Rockwell’s who turns in a brilliantly understated performance as a grizzled German army officer who has decided he’s seen enough from this war and no fucks left to give. Scarlett Johansson’s puts in an equally powerful performance as Jojo’s mother who is just trying to do her small part to make the world a better place in the bitter landscape of Germany’s hate-filled society. Both of them pair brilliantly alongside Roman Griffin Davis’s Jojo who, for such a young actor, is equally impressive powering the light yet somber soul of the film.

(Sam Rockwell clearly enjoyed playing a Nazi as much as Taika did apparently.)

Of course, Taika Waititi is great as the aforementioned imaginary Hitler playing a child-like caricature of the monster in the best way a film like this can do. Between him and Davis the two create a joyous duo that powers the film’s poignant message, deconstructing hate and learning in the end to choose love.

The film stylistically bares a lot of resemblance to Wes Anderson films with its use of European music and pop tracks and pastel color palette for its cinematography and fans will likely be most reminded of “The Grand Budapest Hotel” while watching this film. Its message is often very similar lampooning hate-filled fanaticism while giving plenty of time for more touching moments for its lead characters. If you enjoyed those films you are likely to enjoy the stylistic and narrative choices of this one.

If there was one critique, I might have of the film is that it perhaps over simplifies hate. People often think that short of Klan hoods, slavery and gas chambers hatred really has one face and its only overt. The film seems to paint a picture of a world that believes this is so, maybe not entirely, but yet still see’s this kind of hatred in the simplest of terms. Yes, the movie is told mostly through the eyes of a young boy but if the last three years is any indication hatred is a lot more nefarious and complicated than over the top caricatures of evil.

(Pictured: An over the top caricature of evil)

But this isn’t enough to truly take away from the film’s majesty which in its epic climax will lmove most to the tears. It’s a harrowing journey from learned hatred to loving acceptance of the other and the film, given its premise, is rather brilliant because of it. By the film’s climax it’ll be hard not to be moved by Jojo’s transformation and the triumph of humanity and its absolutely worth seeing.

“Jojo Rabbit” is the rare kind of film that perfectly balances a dark theme with often youthful charm and sincerity and the result might be one of the best feel good films of the last few years.

The world is a pretty shitty place and society often teaches us to hate without reproach but if we can learn to be more self-aware of how we are being manipulated and learn to love the “other” maybe we can all eventually arrive in a society we all want to live in.

Maybe…

 VERDICT:

5 out of 5

Take a bow, Taika.

[winterbites]

(Major JoJo's Bizarre Adventure anime spoiler warning) My review of...

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: Battle Tendency is my absolute favorite season of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. 16 episodes long, this is where Akari really began to show his viewers just how crazy his work could get and set the bar for the rest of the series.

Just like with Phantom Blood, Battle Tendency is pretty short so it has a narrator to help time pass while not leaving the viewer in the dark, it also doesn't have much on-screen character growth but it certainly has the same fantastic animation. Personally, I don't think there are any bad qualities in this season but I'll try to list the pros and cons equally and neutrally (I really do love this season).

To start, the soundtrack of this season had me wanking every single episode because it's just that good. I even looked up the soundtrack and saved a few songs (my favorite from it is Awaken). I love the inspired sounds and music from different countries integrated with the flashy pop (your Prince inspiration is showing again, Akari).

In terms of visuals, Phantom Blood's intro will always be my number one with or without sound effects; however, Battle Tendency's intro is definitely my 3rd favorite and jumps to my 2nd favorite when the sound effects are added. I adore the mix of the 3D-looking 2D art style, regular 2D art style, and the sketched elements of the Pillar Men's attacks; not to mention the whole intro is made even spicier with the large array of color palletes used.

As for the outro, I like it just as much as Phantom Blood's. The smooth transition from one season's outro to the next adds flavor and really shows the relationship between the two even though they don't have much to do with each other story-wise.

Next are the characters; I like them much better than many characters from a lot of the other seasons. In Battle Tendency, the characters were each given their own unique personality, morals, goals and very different physical designs. You had a German soldier who literally blew himself up no less than 3 times in the name of his country and risked his life many more times, eventually dying, for the same reason. You had Joseph who wasn't the righteous gentleman the way Jonathan was but instead is comedic and brave with strong familial values. You had strong female characters, each with their own unique designs and characteristics that reflected their age. You had all this and so much more, like an Italian soldier that you fall in love with as soon as he hits the screen only to have him die literally 10 minutes later within the same episode.

Now, remember when I said that this season is really where JoJo's Bizarre Adventure earned the bizarre in its title? I'll tell you why that is, and it's because of its antagonists: the Pillar Men. Starting off, their goddamn clothes. Odd clothing and fashion choices is a staple in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, but the Pillar Men take it to a new extreme with their loinclothes. That's literally it, that's all they wear. However, it's the way their bodies were designed and the way they constantly flash incredibly flamboyant poses that makes it so fucking weird (and yet nobody wants to mention them when comparing fashion choices across the anime). The Pillar Men had their own personalities, morals and codes of honor just like the rest of the cast as well as an enveloping, yet brief, shared backstory. By the way, did I mention their theme, Awaken, is fucking great? Because it is. Honestly, I think the Pillar Men are the best part of Battle Tendency and I highly enjoyed them and their character designs (great job, Akari!)

However, there were three specific things I didn't like in Battle Tendency. First was that Akari threw Straizo under the bus to further the plot. In my post about Phantom Blood, I said that there wasn't a lot of character development that could be done in 9 episodes and I stand by that. However, I don't believe that Straizo, a former friend in battle and life of Jonathan's, would give in to the corruption of vampirism and eternal life to the point of trying to murder his friend's grandson, especially since Straizo is obviously an important figure and friend within Joseph's life as well.

Second is that the viewers never got to see the extent of Lisa Lisa's powers. There was the big battle between Kars and Lisa Lisa that was being hyped to extraordinary extremes and then it kind of fell flat when Kars decided to be a realistic little bitch about the whole situation. I congratulate and even thank Akari for breaking off from the norm of villains going though unnecessary lengths to get what they want (in Kars' case, a full blown battle with a woman he knows is incredibly powerful and could very possibly kick his ass) and I know that it's the job of the main protagonist to take down the main antagonist, but I can't help but feel cheated because, through the show, we were never really shown just what Lisa Lisa can do.

Lastly is Caesar's death; it was the most unnecessary death in the whole series. I know he was high on emotion when faced with the choice of going after the Pillar Men, but he was always shown to be obedient to Lisa Lisa. So, to have him deliberately disobey Lisa Lisa's, and basically the whole party's, decision to NOT go after the Pillar Men, it didn't make much sense to me. To Akari's credit, the death was agonizingly heartbreaking and I cried a river during the sequence, so good job to him for making such a touching scene and David Production and the voice actors for really bringing it to life.

Finally, adding toward the pros of this season is the comedy: Battle Tendency is hilarious. I won't say much in this category since the creative humor needs to be experienced first-hand, but I will say that it's absolutely wonderful and had me crying tears of laughter the whole way through.

[wonderfulworldofmichaelford]

Psycho Analysis: Mariah

(WARNING! This analysis contains SPOILERS!)

There are GIRLS in Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure?! Actual beautiful women?! I mostly kid, as there were a few female Stand users prior such as Enya and Midler, but it’s easy to forget them in light of the stylish seductress Mariah. In a series known mostly for showing off buff, sexy men, it’s nice to see a gorgeous woman like Mariah… shame about the personality and the infatuation with DIO, though. Bit of a dealbreaker, that is.

Actor: Lauren Landa portrays Mariah in the dub; you may know her for such roles as Squigly in the hit fighting game Skullgirls, or perhaps for one of her many other anime or fighting game roles. Whatever you know her for, she certainly gives Mariah just the right voice to sell her as a walking dude magnet, in more ways than one.

Motivation/Goals: Mariah is a simple woman with simple needs: hot older men. She makes it pretty obvious she’s serving DIO because he’s just incredibly sexy, and can you really blame her? Dude stands around his mansion with his shirt off flexing and posing all the time, it’s a shock more of his henchmen don’t mention that they get aroused by him. Mariah is pretty open to the fact she’s serving DIO because he’s gorgeous, but beyond that, there isn’t much else to why she’s doing this beyond the generic “Stand assassin sent by DIO.” Still, she doesn’t need much more than what I already mentioned; as her episodes are a bit more comedic and goofy in nature, it makes sense for her to have a simple, shallow motive.

Personality: She’s a bit smug and condescending, but when you look as good as her and you’re evil it kind of comes with the territory. There are very few moments where she isn’t smugly looking down at Joseph and Avdol as they struggle under the magnetic powers of her Stand. Beyond that, there isn’t all that much to her, but I think part of that is due to her spending most of her time onscreen running away and another part is just the fact that, again, her episodes are a bit sillier and more lighthearted than some of the other Stand battles, and as the focus is mostly on the comedy she is just in general going to get less focus.

Final Fate: Mariah proves she really is the ultimate dude magnet when she attracts Joseph from one direction and Avdol from the other, and both have a hell of a lot of steel stuck to them. The results are predictable; Mariah is flattened like a pancake and yet, miraculously, she survives, but she’s most definitely out of commission. The fact she survives makes me wonder if every Stand user just has the secondary ability to take ludicrous amounts of punishment without dying.

Best Scene: While there are plenty of scenes to pick from that show off her inherent hotness – such as the scene where her “breasts” expand – I think the scene where she gets incredibly angry is the best, if only because she makes this face:

Best Quote: After watching Joseph and Avdol narrowly avoid death through clever thinking, Mariah says this while making the above face: “So you think you've outsmarted me...? You...OBNOXIOUS PIECES OF SHIIIIIIIIIT!” She really wasn’t happy that DIO wasn’t going to be proud of her work.

Final Thoughts & Score: Mariah is a rather simple foe, but she’s an enjoyable one. I think what she lacks in complexity and character depth she makes up for in good looks, humor, and a really interesting Stand power. Bastet is such an interesting Stand, one of the quirkier ones from Stardust Crusaders, and its unique design and magnetic powers lead to a lot of hilariously awkward moments for Avdol and Joseph. I also really like the implications that DIO has banged her, or at the very least she is really craving a ride on his D.

Mariah herself, during the times she’s openly antagonizing the boys, is pretty fun. It’s amusing how she eventually comes to appreciate Joseph and even flirt with him, though sadly she only has eyes for DIO. I think how amusing she ultimately is and how funny the hijinks her Stand causes is enough to earn her an 8/10. I think she definitely leans closer to a 7, but frankly her episodes are too enjoyable for me to feel she deserves any lower. I will say from an objective standpoint she’s probably one of the least interesting of the Egyptian God Stand users, as the others just have far more engaging personalities on top of having stellar gimmicks with their Stands, but then I look at screenshots like this…

...and all my objectivity goes out the window. Leave it to the magnetic girl to be this attractive.

[agentnico]

Fall 2019 Movies I’m Excited For

I always prefer the second half of the year, as that is when we get all the awards contenders and thus - actually good films! Generally this 2019 fall has a lot of interesting projects on the offered agenda, however these are the ones that have spiked my interest the most, in no particular order...

AD ASTRA - Most people will be buying tickets for this one just to see Brad Pitt’s lovely face again, and that is a-okay in my books, but I myself am looking forward to this one more-so due to the director James Gray who most recently delivered a superb historical-adventure in The Lost City of Z, so as of right now I am ready for whatever his next project is......his next project being this.

BETWEEN TWO FERNS: THE MOVIE - Look, don’t judge me. I really like those Between Two Ferns interview skits. They are funny, okay?? Is this film going to be great? Probably not. Doesn’t stop me from being excited though.

JOKER - It is THE film that everyone is talking about coming out of the Venice Film Festival, and though I generally am quite calm when it comes to the superhero genre, this one seems to be something special. With inspiration taken from the works of Martin Scorsese and one of the best actors working today Joaquin Phoenix in the lead, how can one not want to see this??

ZOMBIELAND: DOUBLE TAP - 10 years in the making. Let’s hope the wait was worth it. Sequels like this don’t usually pan out well, but I’m holding out hope. The question is though, have all the Twinkies reached their expiration date?

THE LIGHTHOUSE - The VVitch dealt with goats being a personification of Satan. Now we have Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson stuck in a black-and-white lighthouse contemplating time as if they are stranded with Dale Cooper in the final moments of Twin Peaks: The Return. Groovy, to say the least.

JOJO RABBIT - Taika Waititi taking a break from bullying Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (the guy literally took away the man’s hair, eye, home and most importantly his hammer!) to take on a much more serious and important subject......bullying Hitler. Look, this film has one of the strangest premises of this year, but Taika has yet to do wrong with his filmography so far including the likes of Boy, Eagle vs. Shark, What We Do In the Shadows and Hunt for the Wilderpeople, however there is always a first for everything.

THE REPORT - Adam Driver takes on the American government. Possibly the most serious movie on this list, but I have to say, the trailer for this one really budged my curiosity and I am interested in finding out more about this true story. 

KNIVES OUT - An Agatha Christie style mystery with a star-studded cast and a director that is ready to redeem himself after Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Let’s give the man another chance!

A HIDDEN LIFE - Terrence Malick watering the roots of The Tree of Life hoping for another shot at the Oscar statue. Judging from the marketing footage and festival buzz he does actually have a chance.

THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD - Last time Armando Iannucci directed a movie he brought us The Death of Stalin (not literally, that happened way earlier!), so I am very much hoping he’s done a similar thing here as to taking something classical and well-known and giving it his own spin, whether it is comedic or something else. All we know so far is that it is about David Copperfield, set during historical times naturally, and that it is personal. Very personal!

HONEY BOY - You're walking in the woods, there's no one around and your phone is dead. Out of the corner of your eye you spot him: Shia LaBeouf. He's following you, about 30 feet back. He gets down on all fours and breaks into a sprint, he's gaining on you...Shia LaBeouf! You turn and you see, he’s playing his own father, for some reason or another...Shia La Beouf!

[featuristicfilm]

Movies of Fall/Winter 2019 (and 2020) that I’m really excited to see

With awards season kicking in, the movie release slate is about to bring us some incredible pieces of cinema. There are many films this year that sound fun, interesting, profound and promising so here is a shortened list of the ones that get me giddy with most anticipation. TOP 5 let’s go! (and a few honourable mentions)

5. Lucy in the Sky (Noah Hawley, December 6th, 2019, UK)

Randomly stumbling upon its trailer on Youtube, I was surprised as to why I haven’t heard anything about this film at all because it actually looks super intriguing. Even though the notion of a space movie can feel fairly worn-out, and there is only so much originality you can bring to that kind of concept, Lucy in the Sky looks like it’s going to be a completely shifted take on space dynamics and exploration. In fact, it seems it’s going to be a story fully centred around one character’s individual, self-reflective, very personal journey, with space acting only as a narrative device that creates the background, rather than it being at the forefront of the film’s events. Natalie Portman seems completely in her shoes in this trope of a study of a character who’s deeply damaged and emotionally transformed by whatever trials she undergoes. The trailer is put together so perfectly as well. It tells just enough information for us to understand what is the movie’s premise while also creating a dramatic and suspenseful energy. Also, to me the imagery feels very grounded and serious but also kind of weird, daring and eccentric in some shots, so if the creators managed to balance a kind of art-house approach with some epic, grandiose visual elements it is going to be one hell of a film. To be fair, I was kind of excited just ‘cause it’s Natalie Portman but the more I think about the story the more interesting and promising it sounds. Unfortunately, it comes out October 4th which means its going to have a biiiiit of a competitor in the box-office in the form of Joker.

4. Jojo Rabbit (Taika Waititi, January 3rd, 2020, UK)

This one exhibits several traits that make the film very enticing. First of all, of course, the subject matter. I think it’s fair to say that a little boy interacting with Adolf Hitler in the shape of an imaginary friend is as crazy and amusing an idea as it gets. And, of course, many of us have our understanding and reaction towards the people and events of the WW2 era but to have that portrayed in a comedy genre is definitely going to cast a whole new light on the subject, at least as seen on the big screen. This will most likely be a story exploring harsh realism through imagination and fantasy but also through the earnest and innocent eyes of a child and it will likely be a surprising take and not what anyone expects it to be. Due to many reasons, it is, obviously, going to be a widespread conversation piece and for that alone I have to see it. The other thing that perfectly complements the idea of this project, is the man himself, Taika Waititi. I don’t think a better combination between the material and the creator can emerge because it is hard to imagine someone else taking on such a bold proposition. He’s just the type of writer and director that is so unique in style and taste that you just believe anything he makes is going to turn out special in one way or another, and having creative will and freedom and integrity might be exactly what made this whole thing possible in the first place. Plus Waititi himself is playing Hitler which, I’d imagine, just raises the scale of humour and energy and dynamics of the whole piece. 

3. Jumanji: The Next Level (Jake Kasden, December 13th, 2019, UK)

I know, a not so popular of a choice. Compared to the way every other film is awaited based on their technical and creative merits, with this one I am so genuinely eager to experience the fun. After all the amusement Jumanji: Into the Jungle brought to the franchise, I don’t see why anybody wouldn’t be excited about this next instalment. I absolutely loved that film, it was so so so funny and entertaining! The story was really great because not only did it bring that fantasy and adventure aspect once again but also the way the avatar/game player narrative approach was incorporated was so unique. So, after seeing the trailers for this sequel, it sparked even more excitement to see how else can they possibly spin that concept. With that in mind, bringing in Danny DeVito and Danny Glover, well regarded comedic figures and over all talents, to the mix is genius. Them trapped in the bodies of Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart is, honestly, a hilarious thought and having old guys interact with the other teenage friends and deal with challenges in the desert, jungle, mountain tops will be no less than a thrilling journey. I think this is going to be just the right film to kind of step back from all the serious and deep dramas that will be in full motion for Oscar season at the time, and switch to some good-old light-hearted cinema. With holidays coming up during its release (December 13th) - nothing better than to go see a fun family movie. And if the playfulness and humour combined with the fond spirit of the story lands at least the same way as it did with the previous film, it’s going to win over people’s hearts and probably the box-office. Can’t wait to just fully enjoy the action and immerse myself in the wonder of this adventure all over again!

2. Joker (Todd Philips, October 4th, 2019, UK)

I have to admit, while initially I was very interested in this new iteration of Joker purely on a general movie-goer level, it was maintained and gradually piqued as time went on largely due to everyone talking about it so much. The sheer amount of hype and anticipation this announcement has managed to create is baffling. Every film coverage outlet, magazine, blog was discussing it. And maybe it’s just that I follow a lot of superhero genre loving people and maybe the idea of this film, in fact, doesn’t concern the general viewer as much, still it has kept many eagerly waiting. The thing that gives it an edge, though, is the fact that this is not simply going to be your general superhero action blockbuster but rather an intense psychological drama reflecting on certain societal issues applied to a familiar mythology. The character everyone knows as a rival to Batman here seems to be a troubled man, beaten down literally, as well as emotionally due to social injustice and his own mental complications. Therefore, this film will probably not rely on epic showdowns and comic tropes as much but actually will give the concept of an ‘origin story’ a different meaning. It’s exciting that DC took it upon themselves to make a bold and creatively charged version of their beloved character, and with Joaquin Phoenix as the lead and Todd Philips as director I think they can be confident about their vision. Whether it is going to be received well or not, that’s the question. While it did already receive heaps of acclaim, including the Golden Lion in the Venice Film Festival, the early audience reviews are quite widely mixed. Nonetheless, it is very intriguing. I have to say, it’s shaping out to be one of those films, and performances, in particular, that have the ability to stay in the minds of the viewers long after. Not long to wait now and we’ll finally see if it lives up to what it set out for. ‘Cause let me tell you, the standard’s high, for sure.

Knives Out (Rian Johnson, November 29th, 2019, UK)

For the longest, this film and Joker were up to par for the number one place on my list of the most awaited movies of the rest of year. Every trailer amped up the excitement so much more and, ultimately, when I felt that I could’t stop thinking about Knives Out, counting days ‘till it’s release, I knew which one has won me over. No surprise, though. I absolutely love whodunnits!!! There’s just a certain thrill to a mystery or a detective style film that cannot be found anywhere else. There’s always so much room for exploration of characters and narratives and the story can take so many directions. If a screenplay for a murder mystery is done right, and all the twists and turns are unexpected and smartly placed, it’s just the best. I also love the interactive aspect of it. Even though I know I can’t change the way it all plays out, I have the ability to have my own reasoning and conclusions that I can apply in my head as the events role out. So with this film I was instantly hooked. Chris Evans’ attachment to the project definitely helped me discover it, though. I’m a huge fan of his and I was curious already to see what kind of role he is about to take on next after the culmination of his journey as Captain America in the MCU. Since I find him to be a very intelligent actor, I think I can trust his judgement on what kind of material is interesting to explore and what kind of people are worth collaborating with. That in mind, this cast looks absolutely incredible! Some really experienced ‘veterans’ in Toni College, Jamie Lee Curtis, Christopher Plummer, a big big star Daniel Craig, as well as some less known but promising names such as Ana de Armas and Katherine Langford, for example. And that’s just to name a few… Wow. With the nature and genre of the story, given it’s a suspenseful mystery but with a comedic flare, a good ensemble of performers is crucial, as is their dynamic. Hopefully, writer/director Rian Johnson has managed to create a rich, powerful and unique film that will entertain and won’t disappoint. I do believe that will be the case, as that much talent on screen and behind the camera is usually a recipe for success.

If not for the short list… I have so many other films that have caught my attention and that will absolutely have me in the cinema seat on opening night. These include Bombshell whose team is worth an applause for that amazingly well put teaser trailer; Just Mercy, for a true story that will no doubt have an impact on me and for what seem to be astounding performances by the lead cast; and Marriage Story because it will make me cry… Stories about family, love and relationships always hit close home, this one might break my heart but there’s pain and joy in life all the time, I look forward to seeing the often difficult reality reflected on screen.

[milliondollarbaby87]

Here are the Male performances that have made my top 25 for the 2019 films that I managed to see throughout the year. This will include some 2018 films by date but due to the UK release dates they were available for this list. I actually had 45 on the long list so to cut it down it was a very tough ask! Some amazing films and therefore performances in 2019!

Taron Egerton as Elton John in Rocketman from Paramount Pictures.

My Cinema 2019 list – here 2019 Films overall – here

25. Viveik Kalra – Blinded By the Light (Review)

I am a massive Bruce Springsteen fan which is certainly a good start when you see Blinded by the Light and Viveik Kalra gives a truly lovely performance in this film. Really capturing the magic of the Boss’ lyrics and highlighting just how life changing music can be, putting in the lyrics into very good scenes and moments. 

24. Randall Park – Always Be My Maybe (Review)

I think I enjoyed this film more than I actually was supposed to and Randall Park was certainly a big reason behind that. He was brilliant in the leading role as the guy who had pretty much been friendzoned and works very hard to get out of that. His comedic timing worked so very well and you could not help but like his character.

23. Daniel Mays – Fisherman’s Friends (Review)

I don’t really feel like many people actually saw this film with it being quite a small British one. But I am pleased I managed to see it because it certainly brought to life the lovely true story of the group of Fishermen who ended up singing together on albums. Daniel Mays is the producer who comes across the group and feels they could make some money off them, but it ends up more than that and he shows some very good character development.

22. Anthony Hopkins – The Two Popes (Review)

The Two Popes certainly wasn’t my idea of an interesting topic for a film, but the performances are truly outstanding that was something that I was expecting especially from Hopkins who can do nothing wrong when it comes to films. He was engaging enough from start to finish and really was believable in the role.

21. Jonathan Pryce – The Two Popes (Review)

Following on from Hopkins it really was amazing to see Jonathan Pryce in this type of role as he is certainly one of my favourite actors. Working well as the pair he gets the slightly better and bigger role as it was the more difficult character to take on.

20. Bill Nighy – Sometimes Always Never (Review)

Another of my absolute favourite actors in a rather unseen film with Bill Nighy as the father searching for his missing son and in return neglecting everything else that is going on around him. Using scrabble as a way to connect and believing he has been reunited due to an online game. A very different type of role and very enjoyable to see him branching out to something different.

19. Kenneth Branagh – All Is True (Review)

I can totally appreciate how amazing Branagh was as William Shakespeare in this film as he also directed himself. I wasn’t a very big fan of the film overall but the performance really does deserve a lot of praise, I mean come on just look at how unrecognisable he is! You can tell how passionate he was about the story and bringing Shakespeare to life in a different way to performing in one of his plays.

18. Sam Rockwell – Jojo Rabbit (Review)

Is there any role Rockwell cannot do? I mean playing a Nazi is now added to his list, but not any Nazi, a Nazi that is willing to poke fun at the poor decisions and being what turns into an amazing role model for young Jojo. Everything around his performance is so good mixing emotions with comedy in key moments.

17. Tom Holland – Spider-Man: Far From Home (Review)

I really don’t think the world was emotionally ready for Far From Home, the first post-Endgame film from Marvel. Tom Holland’s Peter Parker was all of us in grief for the legend that is Tony Stark. In what is an impressive action film it packs so much emotion and we felt fully on the journey with Peter. Holland has really grown in the role and made it more than his own with a unique carefree style.

16. Nicholas Hoult – The Favourite (Review)

In a strange way it makes me sad that Hoult did not really receive enough credit for his pretty much perfect performance in The Favourite. The female performances are truly outstanding and it felt that he was just overlooked, so I am making sure he gets plenty of praise by having him rightly in this list!

15. Al Pacino – The Irishman (Review)

Sometimes I feel that due to my age and the years I really started getting into film that I still haven’t caught up and see the best of Pacino. His Jimmy Hoffa in The Irishman is an amazing performance and really makes me want to try and watch his better films as in recent years it has been rather mixed. He was outstanding on screen with De Niro and Pesci that is for sure!

14. Steve Coogan/John C. Reilly – Stan & Ollie (Review)

I have done this one as a double feature as Coogan and Reilly are both amazing and one would not be amazing without the other. The level of performance to truly become Stan and Ollie is amazing. You just have to see the scenes compared to the original clips to appreciate how much work was put into this lovely little film.

13. Clint Eastwood – The Mule (Review)

You may or may not know that Clint Eastwood is another of my favourites and lets face it he was pretty much the only actor around who could pull off this role. The old man who became a drug mule!

12. Archie Yates – Jojo Rabbit (Review)

Archie may not have had the biggest of roles in Jojo Rabbit but he was certainly stealing those scenes he was in, with perfect delivery and the innocence to really pull it all off. Amazing that this was his first ever film role and you have to look forward to him being cast in the Home Alone reboot!

11. Robert Downey Jr. – Avengers: Endgame (Review)

Everything had built up to this film and the moments within it and the character development for Downey Jr has been going on for so many years now with Tony Stark growing with each film. We would see another side to him throughout Endgame and it was an amazing performance to watch.

10. Robert De Niro – The Irishman (Review)

I feel De Niro has not actually been given enough credit for his performance in The Irishman you know as the actual Irishman. He has not received any award love and I personally feel it is such a shame, especially when you think it is best acting he has done in the past 20 years. Working so well with Pacino and Pesci!

9. Christian Bale – Vice (Review)

Unrecognisable for his role in Vice which was an incredible performance even if the film is not the best in terms of enjoyment factors. But it has also confirmed that I really watch just about anything with Bale in it, he pushes the boundaries in all of the right ways and that is why he is at the top of his craft.

8. Daniel Craig – Knives Out (Review)

The soon to be former James Bond has a complete change in roles, although we could say Logan Lucky was that turning point. In Knives Out he is a character you would never have thought he would play especially when he gives the unreal donut metaphor scene! Linking together with the very talented cast and quite frankly holding the film together as the detective.

7. Antonio Banderas – Pain and Glory (Review)

Now I feel seeing Pain and Glory which was actually on as a Cineworld Unlimited Screening which I must add only had about ten people attend the cinema, which was a shame because Banderas is utterly outstanding in the leading role. A Spanish film which I throughly enjoyed from start to finish. Attempting to battle his demons as his life has come crumbling down around him.

6. Joe Pesci – The Irishman (Review)

I feel Pesci is truly outstanding in The Irishman and stole every single scene he was in, absolutely love that he came out of retirement to take this part. It’s actually different to the style of character he has played in the past which was an added bonus because his acting was then different, the silent assassin at times.

5. Richard E. Grant – Can You Ever Forgive Me? (Review)

A true gem of a film and Grant works so well with Melissa McCarthy to bring to life the true story of Lee Israel who committed literacy forgery, he became her only friend. Grant was outstanding to watch as the over the top Englishman and I loved everything about his performance.

4. Taron Egerton – Rocketman (Review)

Isn’t is a shame for Taron Egerton that Bohemian Rhapsody and Rami Malek came out before his Rocketman performance as I truly believe because of that film he has not fully received enough praise for his turn as Elton John. Not only the acting performance but he recorded all of the songs himself as well. He is quickly becoming one of my favourite young actors.

3. Joaquin Phoenix – Joker (Review)

I don’t care what anyone says Phoenix is outstanding in Joker and his character development is on another level. When the casting was first announced he was always going to be amazing and that is shown within the film, he does not take on easy roles at all and that is confirmed with this one!

2. Adam Driver – Marriage Story (Review)

I don’t think a performance broke my heart as much as watching Adam Driver in Marriage Story. The layers and level of performance was amazing and on a totally different level. He had an amazing 2019 taking on so many different characters and I loved everything about this especially with the Losing My Mind scene as well!

1. Roman Griffin Davis – Jojo Rabbit (Review)

Could only be on actor in the top spot for 2019 in my opinion and a very young actor with that 12 year old Roman Griffin Davis. Jojo Rabbit is his first ever film role and he completely nails every single thing throughout the film. The range and level of emotion he must show from start to finish really shows that he is a true star in the making. He can make you laugh and then cry in later scenes as he is attempting to come to terms with the war and wanting to be Hitler’s friend. I honestly think he deserves so much praise as what a way to make your film debut!

Which were you favourite male performances in 2019?

Top 25 – Male Performances in 2019 Here are the Male performances that have made my top 25 for the 2019 films that I managed to see throughout the year.

[aion-rsa]

Home Alone’s Devin Ratray on Becoming Hollywood’s Ultimate Big Brother Bully, Buzz

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There are Christmas films and then there’s Home Alone.

Released back in 1990, no one really knew what to expect from this low-budget family comedy about a boy forced to defend his house from a pair of bungling burglars after being accidentally left behind from a family holiday.

Yet Home Alone is one of those rare examples of all the stars aligning in Hollywood to create something special. It’s a truly unique Christmas film, both feel-good and immensely funny, rivalled only in that respect by Will Ferrell’s Elf.

There are countless reasons why it remains a festive classic; John Hughes’s script, Chris Columbus’s deft direction, the work of cinematographer Kevin Macat and John Williams’s score are just a few examples.

One that often gets overlooked, however, is Devin Ratray’s Buzz McCallister.

Few actors have succeeded so well in bringing to life all the painfully familiar tropes of the average older brother. Buzz can be mean. His behaviour occasionally borders on bullying. But he’s also funny and, when it comes down to it, has a good heart. 

Ratray’s performance embodies that strange sibling duality perfectly.

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Hughes had written Home Alone with Macaulay Culkin in mind for the role of Kevin, while Columbus was always keen on bringing together the diverse talents of Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as hapless criminals Harry and Marv.

It was Casting Director Janet Hirshenson who recruited Ratray for the role of Buzz – a role he could never have predicted, 30 years later, he would still be talking about.

“I’m asked about it all the time,” he tells Den of Geek.

“At this time of year, I am asked about it on a daily basis.”

According to Ratray, people tend to fall into one of two distinct categories when it comes to realising he played Buzz in Home Alone.

“People either know me right away or they find out after knowing me for some time. It can be quite a surprise. I don’t look the same as I did when I was 13,” he laughs.

Born in New York to actor parents Peter Ratray and Ann Willis, he had already been acting in movies for four years prior to landing the part of Buzz following a “relatively straightforward audition.”

After an initial meeting with Hirshenson he was invited to a hotel in midtown New York to read for Columbus.

“Chris encouraged me to explore the material. If I felt like throwing in a line or improvising, he wanted me to do that so he could get a better sense of who I was. He made me feel at ease and very comfortable and I walked out feeling quite relaxed. It was a pretty good experience in terms of an auditioning process and just a total joy when I got the part.” 

Ratray is even able to recall what he read for Columbus, more than 30 years later.

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“I remember doing the Old Man Marley speech in Buzz’s bedroom for the audition. I guess it helped that I had memorised it and felt comfortable with the script. I just felt very at ease with Chris Columbus. Maybe he felt that he could work with someone who didn’t come across as nervous on camera. I don’t know what it was but I’m just grateful that I got it.”

Some actors may have been able to draw from their own personal experience when it came to shaping a character like Buzz – plenty of us have been born with older brothers, after all.

But, fortunately for him, Ratray’s formative years were a far more pleasant experience. 

“I have an older brother and there is almost the same age difference as Kevin and Buzz but he and I got along very well growing up. He was nothing like Buzz at all. The exact opposite in fact, so there was no familial inspiration at home.”

Despite his largely negative depiction in Home Alone, the role of Buzz was one that Ratray relished playing and one he had no apprehension about taking on. 

“Up until then I had played either nerds or bullies. Both ends of the spectrum. But playing the bad guy is always more fun and playing a nasty, surly, rude teenage bastard like Buzz was great.”

Ratray has fond memories of life on the set of Home Alone working alongside the rest of the kids that can be found running around the McCallister house at the start of the film.

“We would laugh and joke around. We bonded like brothers and sisters. I don’t recall any fighting at all. I was also a bit older than most so they did treat me like Buzz the older brother but I felt very close with them and we had a pretty good time together.”

Even so, Ratray remembers facing a gruelling schedule of filming and school work on the set of Home Alone.

“It was hard. We had to go school on the set for three hours a day as well as putting in the eight-hour work day. We didn’t have breaks really.”

Occasionally, if there was a break in filming, he would be rushed off into a lesson with one of the private tutors on set. However, if filming resumed within 20 minutes, none of that lesson time would count towards the required three hours of schooling a day.

Despite the intense workload, Ratray has few regrets about being a child actor.

“It was still fun. A tremendous, unique childhood. I enjoyed it all. I only wish in retrospect I had paid more attention to the schooling on set. It made for a difficult transition when I would get back from a movie and have to catch up at school.” 

The hours may have been long and the schooling stop-start but Ratray still has fond memories of his “very brotherly relationship” with Culkin, who he was already aware of prior to Home Alone.

“He was the kid from Uncle Buck at the time and I loved his work in that. He was great to work with,” Ratray says.

“We would try and crack each other up on set. He never succeeded but I absolutely got him.”

Ratray had Culkin in stitches during the scene in which Buzz intentionally eats the cheese pizza specially ordered for Kevin and then offers to “barf” it up for him – classic Buzz.

“Every time on his close-ups, I would slowly shovel pizza into my mouth. I totally got him. He was at my mercy.”

Some actors might have struggled with take after take of eating pizza – but Ratray had no qualms about enjoying the delights of Little Nero’s Pizza, happily consuming slice after slice on camera.

“I have no idea how many takes it took but I never had any difficulty. I really encouraged Chris to let me eat the pizza in the grossest way possible.  Milk it for all it was worth. I did a pretty good job.”

While Ratray remembers laughing a lot with Culkin on the set, he cites his onscreen mother and future Schitt’s Creek star Catherine O’Hara as someone he looked up to on the film.

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“She taught me so much about comedic timing and being real. There’s real acting in her performance. I studied her and learned a tremendous amount. The balance between frantic panic and true comedy. Almost screwball comedy. It’s a very fine line and she does it brilliantly. I just loved working with her.”

Ratray wouldn’t encounter the more fearsome of the film’s two Wet Bandits, Joe Pesci, until work began on the sequel. It was an encounter that wouldn’t have sounded out of place in Goodfellas.

“I let my hair grow out after Home Alone. So, initially I had this long, shoulder length hair. Joe Pesci, at the time, had a massive, almost pompadour style thick head of hair and they shaved him bald for the movie.

“He was outside the makeup trailer once as I was going in with the long hair and he said ‘What? They’re letting you keep that? They’re letting you keep your hair like that? They had to shave mine!’” 

“I had to be like ’No, Mr Pesci, I’m going in to get the buzz.’ Then he was still there when I came out with the fresh buzz cut and was like ‘look at that, they got you too! Let me see it’ and ribbed me a little for us both having to shave our heads.”

One person he does regret not interacting with on the film is John Hughes though Ratray was fortunate enough to later be cast in another of his movies, the Home Alone-esque Dennis The Menace.

“I found him to be such a warm and caring and humorous guy. Joking around, laughing with kids. Working for him was an absolute honour and seeing what a great guy he was. I wish I could have spent more time with him.”

The Home Alone movies changed Culkin’s life, catapulting him to superstardom and staggering $8 million pay checks for the movies Getting Even With Dad and Richie Rich.

Ratray might not have enjoyed the same level of stardom but he’s continued to work steadily , popping up on TV procedurals like Blue Bloods, Law & Order Special Victims Unit and Elementary as well as in meatier roles on underrated shows like Mosaic and The Tick.

Alongside that has come film roles in critically-acclaimed fare like Nebraska and Blue Ruin. It’s a CV that demonstrates he’s never ended up typecast as a result of Buzz McCallister, even if it has had its ups and downs.

Devin Ratray in Blue Ruin (2013)

“I am very privileged to have continued to act as my only profession and luckily I am able to continue to do interesting and different roles that aren’t just Buzz. But clearly Buzz is something that is going to stay with me.”

Ratray acknowledges he has occasionally been on the receiving end of people who think it is “funny to challenge Buzz McCallister” in public but has never been targeted or bullied over it. He’s also encountered fellow actors who have told him he “caught a lucky break and didn’t deserve” the role. It’s hard to know which sounds worse.

And like Culkin, Ratray struggles to watch a film millions tune in to watch every Christmas.

“I don’t watch it the same way anybody else would. I watch the film and I think about the set that we were on or something that happened at lunch during that day. It’s a dissociative experience.”

With much of the world in lockdown and many film and TV productions only now beginning to get back up and running, Ratray decided to show the film to his seven-year-old son.

“I was expecting him to be a little more impressed. He was a little disorientated to tell you the truth. He watched it and was kind of fascinated when I was on.

“I’m not quite sure he comprehended that when he was looking at the child on the screen that that was his big bearded dad. It must have been an odd experience for him.”

All these years later and despite the personal difficulties he has with it, Ratray still has a favourite scene or two from Home Alone.

“I enjoy telling the Old Man Marley story. Also, at the end when Buzz tells Kevin it’s pretty cool that he didn’t burn the place down. That was a moment that showed he wasn’t a total dick.”

Generally, though, he is hypercritical watching himself back.

“I don’t really like my performance in Home Alone. I go for obvious choices. If I did it now, I would have been funnier and meaner and better all around.”

Even with all those difficulties and the fact that, 30 years later, he’s still fielding questions about a Christmas movie he made as a teenager, Ratray has nothing but gratitude for being involved in the  movie.

“I am grateful and thankful it has become a favourite for different generations and transcended film and become bigger than a movie. People associate the holidays with it and they associate family memories with it. It’s made a deep, visceral impact on many people and also, now, their children and even grandchildren over the past 30 years. 

“It’s a tremendous phenomenon to be part of and I am very glad that I get to say I played a part.”

Buzz McCallister undoubtedly played an important part in making Home Alone the film fondly remembered today – and it may yet end up being a part he returns to in the not-too-distant future.

“I’m not at liberty to say right now but there may very well be a future engagement and return to the character. But I am not allowed to say right now.”

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Watch this space.

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2020 Academy Award Best Picture Nominees Guide For Those Who Haven’t Actually Watched Them

The 92nd Oscars are here and it’s time yet again for all of us to lord over one year’s worth of millions of people’s passions with the certainty of a judge at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show (which ironically takes places one day later) and say aloud, “This art is and forever shall be known as better than that other art!” 

Throw the notion that expression through the medium of film can exist simply to reflect a myriad of emotions and varied experiences right into the wind. We gotta know what that BEST art is, son!

So with mere hours left before Sunday’s spectacle, you’re probably asking yourself one question. “Brian, why do you keep doing this?” No, not that one. “Brian, Tumblr? Really? Does that still exist? Why don’t you spend the slightest amount of time to find a better medium for this?” No, not that one either. “But Brian, I haven’t actually watched any of these films. What am I going to do?!” Ah, now that’s the one. But fear not. I’ve got you covered. For the 6th time, I’m here to give you a rundown of what I think all of these movies are about without actually seeing them, along with some pithy little talking points to take into your Oscar parties to sound like a goddamn genius.

Ford V Ferrari

In this epic clash of man vs. nature set in the den of Harrison Ford’s summer home in Plano, Texas, the extremely hungry aging star has just had a large pie from Ferrari’s Pizzeria, located at 3949 Legacy Drive, delivered…and now it is time for battle. On the About Us section of their website, Ferrari’s Pizzeria makes a “promise to our customers to provide the best Italian food using recipes handed down from our Italian grandmothers.” Hold on to your Italian grandmothers, kids - that promise is about to be put to the test. (Yeah, it’s real.)

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

That cameo by Mater from Cars is really what pushed this film into Oscar contention.

Christian Bale's car in Ford V Ferrari is also an unwavering method actor and remained in character as a car for the entirety of production.

Who won? I'll give you a hint, in the long run, it was not the quality of life for the American working class!

The Irishman

In this gritty thriller, Lucky the Leprechaun’s father, Frank Leprechaun, an immigrant who worked as a farrier making horseshoes in Ireland before coming to America, wishes on a shooting star for a way to make a better life for his family. He finds that chance by doing hits for the mob and we see his first job take place under a pale moon, when he shoots a diamond store clerk in the heart, blood red ballooning out onto the green grass, like crimson and clover. Later, an aging Frank Leprechaun kills union leader Jimmy Hoffa and as he dies, he divulges the secret that Hoffa’s body is buried on a plantation in Lexington to Lucky. The young boy looks back and makes a firm promise to his dying father. “They’ll never get Kentucky farm.”

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

The de-aging technology used in The Irishman was so advanced that, while you can’t see it, De Niro's testicles are actually two inches higher in the first half of the movie.

The run time of the movie is 3 hours and 30 minutes which is also the average amount of time Netflix users scroll through options before deciding to just watch the same episode of The Office again.

In Ireland, this movie is known as The Man.

JoJo Rabbit

From M. Night Shyamalan comes the story of a scared young boy who claims to see Jewish people. While adults around him are trying very hard to see them too, it’s Adolf Hitler who helps the boy to overcome his fear and actually communicate with the Jews to understand them and realize that the reason that he can see them is because he can help them. And then at the end we realize that Hitler was actually a Jew himself THE WHOLE TIME!  

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

I thought it was just a bit on the nose that Taika Waititi chose to have JoJo sing her hit “Leave (Get Out)” at all the Nazis during the Allied occupation of Germany.

While juggling roles in Marriage Story and JoJo Rabbit, Scarlett Johansson would often get confused resulting in one day on set when she tried to cut Sam Rockwell’s hair in a bathtub.

Of all the nominated films, when it comes to winning Best Picture, this is…Nazi one! (Cough. Look around. Place your drink on the table. Slowly collect your coat, walk to the door, pause as if to turn, sigh, leave.)

Joker

It’s 1964 and Cesar Romero has established himself as a force in Hollywood. A multi-talented performer and veteran of WWII, Romero has amassed an impressive body of work playing roles as a versatile character actor, when he gets a call from his agent.

Agent: Cesar, I’ve got something that I think you’d be perfect for.

Cesar Romero: Is it a complex villain in a new Western? A dark turn as a gangster in a noir? A comedic foil in a Sinatra vehicle?

Agent: No. Better.

Cesar Romero: What is it?

Agent: Get this. An evil clown Batman nemesis…on TV!

(Silence.)

Cesar Romero: Um.

Agent: You’ll be kind of like a sidekick to Burgess Meredith! And guess what he is?

Cesar Romero: (Deep breath.) What is he?

Agent: Like a half-man, half-penguin sort of thing…I think. But he’s also evil! Oh, and you’ll also get to star alongside Julie Newmar!

Cesar Romero: Oh, well that may have legs. So, do we have a “will they, won’t they” dynamic?

Agent: Not at all! But she is evil too. And also part cat!

Cesar Romero: I do not understand any of what you are saying.

Agent: And it’s got Frank Gorshin!

Cesar Romero: And what is he? Let me guess. Like an evil frog person?

Agent: No, no! He’s The Riddler. It’s sort of the same exact deal as your character, only he doesn’t wear any makeup. Isn’t this wonderful?!

Cesar Romero: (Pause.) You have to be joking.

Agent: No, Cesar. YOU have…to be joking.

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

We still have a little bit of time for Joaquin Phoenix to die and win a posthumous Oscar for this role and keep with tradition. Then in 11 more years, a woman will win Best Supporting Actress for playing the Joker role and then in another 11 years the actual Joker will direct Joe Kerr in a reboot co-starring the Impractical Jokers…and win an Oscar.

I found the end scene touching when Arthur’s wife delivers his child and asks, “Arthur, what do you want to name your son?” And he replies, “Béla.”

Todd Phillips only made this big flashy blockbuster for the studio so that they’d let him do his deeply personal, intimate art house project, The Hangover IV.

Little Women

In a fresh take on a movie that I think is about some nuns living in a cottage during, fuck, I dunno like 1845? 1912? Aught 5? but there’s like a mean one, and a smart-and-sort-of-pretty-but-not-too-pretty one, and they probably have a dog, oh and a horse, and they have fights about vying for the love of the same boy they grew up with who is now some hot stud with poofy hair and poofy shirts and a nasally British accent, oh and there’s 2-3 other sisters that really just serve to further the main sister’s plot, and there is like fucking grass everywhere and how is all that grass not staining the shit out of those long flowy dresses that they always wear on their farm – or is it a glen? can you live ON a glen? – but later the guy marries the right one and he’s a strong man but is totally cool with her writing about some bullshit about being like a female doctor pioneer or something – oh and she’s wearing a straw hat with like a ribbon that’s always flapping the fuck around behind her – I forgot also that they only have one parent, the other is definitely dead and that comes up a little too often, and my mom and two sisters have to have tissues near the goddamn couch while they watch this seemingly 14 hour fucking miniseries or movie or Hallmark marathon because even though each of them could goddamn recite the dialogue from memory they still cry every…single…time…and OH MY GOD, CAN THIS ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, SOUND OF MUSIC, LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE OR WHATEVER THIS GIRL STUFF IS PLEASE BE OVER SO I CAN HAVE THE LIVING ROOM TV BACK TO WATCH BOY STUFF!

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

Not many people know this fact but on her death bed, Louisa May Alcott’s final request was that if a woman ever directed a film adaptation of Little Women they would absolutely under no circumstances be nominated for a Best Director Oscar. So, really, that’s on her.

To ants, these are very big women.

Alan Dershowitz and Prince Andrew's favorite film.

Marriage Story

Dr. Ellie Sattler has established her second career as a divorce attorney after years as a paleobotanist and now fights so that “woman inherits the earth”...or at least gets primary custody and more than half of the assets.

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

The roommates of Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig have become increasingly annoyed listening to several minutes of the two repeating, “No I hope YOU are recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with the Academy Award for Best Picture…and hang up first,” before ending their long phone calls every night.

While juggling roles in Marriage Story and JoJo Rabbit, Scarlett Johansson would often get confused resulting in one day on set when she tried to hide Robert Smigel in the attic.

Variety reports that a remake of Marriage Story is now slated for fall of 2026 with Colin Jost in the role originated by Adam Driver in a version of the story that will be produced by real life.

1917

The seventh and final installment of the 1910's saga follows the previous successful box office hits 1911: The First One, 1912: Now There's Two, 1913: Why Not Three, 1914: Get It? Years Are Sequential. That’s Really All This Joke Is, 1915: This Is The Fifth One (But Fourth Sequel), and 1916: 19 Fast 16 Furious.

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

Originally, the movie was supposed to have a ton of cuts between scenes but after saying, “Action,” a producer whispered to Sam Mendes that they only had budget left for one single take after hiring every single recognizable British actor still alive – so Mendes started screaming, “Run! You there, start shooting at them. Keep rolling! Keep running! Jump down that waterfall! Let’s go, people, keep up! Hide in those trees now! Oh look, more bad guys! Pew pew! Duck! Run over that way! Do not…stop…shooting!”

If this movie was called 2017, Colin Firth would have just pulled out his Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and texted, “Call off attack,” with a GIF of Admiral Ackbar saying, “It’s A Trap!” Then, mere seconds later he would have received, “lol k thx”.

1917 earned Benedict Cumberbatch a nomination for “Most Distressingly Off-putting Mustache”.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood harkens back to a time long, long, long ago in Hollywood's history when the majority of top actors were white, the majority of directors were old men and individual parts of women's bodies were oddly objectified and sexualized. We’ve come so far since then!

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

Please don’t ruin the fun and let Brad Pitt know that a movie was actually being filmed around him from June to November 2018.

I didn’t think the film was particularly that great but every single person I know who lives in L.A. and is either in or adjacent to the entertainment industry corrected me that it actually is.

Oh, I’m sorry – I think you’re in the wrong place. This is the once upon a time where a man is burned alive with a blowtorch. If you’re looking for the once upon a time where a man’s eyes are drilled out of his face, well then, pal, you’re gonna want to go to Mexico.

Parasite

Oh. I’m sorry. I accidentally put a Best For'n Language Film here at the end of this list of the best ‘Murican films.

3 Things To Casually Inject Into Conversation To Prove You Saw The Movie And Sound Like An Expert:

Parasite was, by far, the best movie I read this year!

나는 기생충을 진심으로 감사 할 수 있도록 한국어를 배웠습니다.

Bong Joon-ho's Parasite might leave you asking who are the real bottom feeders in the black comedy about social structures. There's plenty of food for thought as this picture is deeper than than what it may seem like on the surface…is the word-for-word review from Rotten Tomatoes Super Reviewer Aldo G that I just read to you out loud after pulling it up on my phone here.

[glenngaylord]

MY MOMENTS OUT OF TIME IN FILM 2019

Instead of a Top 10 List, every year I like to honor a long-discontinued but influential annual column from Film Comment magazine. I couldn’t wait for my father to come home from work with the “Moments Out Of Time” issue.  The writers would cite their favorite scenes, images, or lines of dialogue, even from films they may not have liked, because let’s face it, even bad films may have a great moment or two.

The year brought us so many wonderful films.  Parasite wowed me with its ability to surprise while telling an important story about class divisions.  I think Once Upon A Time In…Hollywood will stop me in my tracks over and over again with its immersive deep dive into late 1960s Los Angeles.  The female-on-female gaze gets a workout in the stunning Portrait Of A Lady On Fire, while Jojo Rabbit masterfully walks a tightrope between hilarious and moving.  Watching Eddie Murphy return firing on all cylinders in Dolemite Is My Name remains one of the most joyous movie experiences of the year. Yet, even I can’t see them all, but here, in no particular order, are my Moments Out Of Time in film for 2019:

A door opens, someone calls out “Honey?”, as the plot veers off in a jaw-droppingly unexpected, biggest WTF of the year direction, turning a light class comedy into something far, far, deeper- Parasite

Upon the assassination of JFK, his enemy, Jimmy Hoffa (Al Pacino) orders the half mast flag in front of the Teamsters' Union to be raised back to its standard position.  As Hoffa looks up at the flag, this chilling, diabolical scene feels like the end of civil society as we know it - The Irishman

“Climb in my fur” - my favorite line of dialogue last year, cementing Jennifer Lopez’s Ramona as an iconic film character who can take sexual innuendo and turn it into an invitation for friendship - Hustlers

“That was the best acting I’ve ever seen in my whole life” - dialogue runner up as a young actress (Julia Butters) whispers into the insecure but committed actor Rick Dalton’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) ear, causing him to weep uncontrollably and giving him the recognition he’s always craved - Once Upon A Time In…Hollywood

A boy spies a flitting butterfly and stands up to get a better look, notices a pair of shoes next to him, and in an instant his entire life heartbreakingly changes - Jojo Rabbit

A vacationing family looks out their window to see…themselves…lined up and waiting to invade their home - Us

A gate which will no longer close on its own.  Two estranged parents and their child manually slide it shut with the barrier separating them from each other.  The battle lines have been drawn with deft precision - Marriage Story

A woman stares at another across a theater.  They have a history.  The symphony plays a striking, propulsive piece which both women know so well.  A searing two minute close-up of the women she sees betrays her anguish, the pain, the missed opportunities, and the suffering of a woman who society demanded could not be herself - Portrait Of A Lady On Fire

Best final scene of the year: Two best friends sit in a car curbside at an airport.  They awkwardly exchange awkward pleasantries even though we can tell they’re really going to miss each other.  A delicate cover of “Unchained Melody” plays over stellar performances of Kaitlyn Dever walking away and Beanie Feldstein looking forelorn, both conveying that painful moment when high school besties part.  Then, suddenly remembering it’s a hilarious comedy, Feldstein almost crashes into Dever, who gets back in the car and they decide they have enough time to get pancakes.  Feldstein yells, “F*ck yeah!” as we smash cut to black - Booksmart

While he’s wanted inside at his premiere, Rudy Ray Moore can’t walk away from the fans waiting outside the theatre, choosing instead to give himself over to them and melting everyone’s hearts, including mine, in the process - Dolemite Is My Name

Wait!  This guy is at your Passover Seder?  You’re related to him?  Now I’m scared - Uncut Gems

A milked cow.  A barn.  A dogfight up in the skies above.  A knife. Two soldiers foraging for food, safety, and a chance to survive the next minute.  Everything changes. - 1917

Matthew McConaughey as Baker Dill (!) spends most of his time howling to the heavens or completely naked, and for these reasons, I will never forget this terrible, amazing film experience - Serenity

When she forgets the words to her signature song, the audience sings them for her, making us all realize that even though she was close to death, the memory of her will never fade away - Judy

Normally, I’d be delighted to open my window and see Isabelle Huppert staring at me from across the street, but here, it’s a hauntingly nightmarish image - Greta

Julianne Moore sings along to an Air Supply song in her car and somehow manages to make her lapse in taste seem heartfelt - Gloria Bell

I love comedic moments built from repetition or missed connections.  When Jack (Himesh Patel) can’t get his parents to sit still for a moment so that he can convince them he wrote the song “Let It Be”, his incredulousness and frustration strikes comedy gold - Yesterday

A young writer negotiates her terms with a publisher, gloriously finding her voice and her power at a time where such bravery seemed impossible - Little Women

A drunk, lonely, middle-aged woman dances alone in a small town honky tonk to Leon Russell’s “Out Of The Woods”, giving us a glimpse into her less austere past - Diane

A dildo with a retractable switch blade - Knife + Heart

What do the sounds of Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s songs look like?  A man crashing out of a window and joining a dancing flash mob at a carnival to “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting” felt alive and electric, Yet, even more so, in a moment achieving some level of transcendence, Elton (a fantastic Taron Egerton) falls sideways off of a diving board into a pool where his boyhood self plays the title song on a piano at the bottom.  That we somehow end up at Dodger Stadium where a sparkly Elton greets his fans and flies up into the stratosphere makes his classic soar - Rocketman

A grunge pop star/recovering addict (Elizabeth Moss), not too dissimilar to Courtney Love, sits at a piano and performs a sober rendition of Bryan Adams’ “Heaven”, stripping away the outrageous bravado to quietly break out hearts - Her Smell

“Agency” seems to be on everyone’s lips when describing dynamic, plot-driving lead characters, but Leo’s (star in the making Félix Maritaud) choices don’t fit into a standard box.  His decision, like it or not, is all his. - Sauvage/Wild

In a film filled to the brim with unforgettable, emotionally-laden images, its final shot of a man rowing a boat across turbulent waters moved me to tears - The Last Black Man In San Francisco

To learn from a documentary that the Ten Commandments monuments on display in front of many City Halls across the U.S. resulted from a Charlton Heston-led publicity tour for his 1956 movie epic is to realize, painfully so, that sometimes Hollywood and not the Churches, ruins everything! - Hail Satan?

Although, sooner or later, most of us will end up in a patch of dirt, some long for that moment more than others and find beauty in it - High Life

Watching Laura Dern pull off one of the most notorious literary scandals of modern times gives us one of the most original kicks of the year in a scene with an interviewer.  She hides in plain sight as a novelist pretending to be the terribly British Manager to Kristen Stewart’s fake face of the same novelist in order to build mystique and sell more books - J.T. LeRoy

Who knew that a CGI-animated film for the whole family would have the most bone-chilling sequence of the year?  But there it was in an antique store with Gabby Gabby and the creepy ventriloquist dummies - Toy Story 4

A woman enters her drab Chinese hotel room only to be asked if the U.S. is better by the anxious bellboy.  Afraid to offend him, she merely tells him it’s different.  The things we do to ease the pain of the less fortunate. - The Farewell

Three women.  An elevator on its way to the chairman’s office.  The sideways glances.  The knowledge they all have of what awaits them.  A silent sisterhood until Nicole Kidman’s Gretchen Carlson awkwardly comments, “Hot in here”.  The year’s best calibrated scene - Bombshell

An out gay actor, Mark Patton, confronts the writer of the film which ruined his career and gets an apology.  The years of pain written across his face don’t go away, but a little weight of the world gets lifted from his very relieved, very courageous shoulders - Scream Queen!  My Nightmare On Elm Street

While Tarantino played around with historical revisionist wish fulfillment, director Mary Herron and writer Guinevere Turner tapped into female rage in telling the story of the Manson murders.  When Hannah Murray as Leslie Van Houten carries out one of the murders, screaming as she plunges a knife into someone, we get a rare glimpse into finally understanding what brought her to that point - Charlie Says

After Lily Collins’s Liz demands, “ Release me…what happened to her head?” as a way for doomed serial killer Ted Bundy (a chilling Zac Efron) to admit his guilt, he finally writes with his finger on the glass prison visitor’s window which separates them, one frightening word, “Hacksaw” only to wipe it away immediately - Extremely Wicked Shockingly Evil And Vile

A gay white man and his straight, non-English speaking Latino handyman bond over Madonna’s “Borderline” in the back seat of an Uber.  Matt Bomer’s angsty character finally relaxes and connects with this adorable man (Alejandro Patiño) doing ridiculously cute seated dance moves - Papi Chulo

A young woman rushes to her apartment bathroom and in a seamless transition, she emerges down the aisle of a plane headed for Sweden - Midsommar

Sometimes one can derive great pleasure from a film by simply listening to how Adam Driver says the word “ghouls” - The Dead Don’t Die

An actress known primarily for her own murder gleefully watches herself on the big screen in a Westwood Village movie theater, and in that moment, we finally experience the gorgeous humanity and not the horrendous end of this lovely person - Once Upon A Time In…Hollywood

When you have an icy, almost robotic main character, you need Alfre Woodard to masterfully play drunk and show you all of her other shades - Clemency

I don’t care if the film felt like a xerox copy of the original or if the CGI ruined everything, because Billy Eichner’s Timon arrives at a now barren, picked apart Pride Rock and blurts out,  “Talk about a fixer-upper. I think you went heavy on the carcass.”  - The Lion King

When was the last time you saw a film where a character stops the action to demand of another, “I want you to know about me!”? - The Peanut Butter Falcon

A young Irish indentured servant in 1825 Tasmania watches helplessly as a soldier kills her baby just to stop its crying, and that’s only the beginning of a long line of justifications for her rage - The Nightingale

Nothing like a well-placed coffee mug to illustrate your main theme in the final image of your movie - Knives Out

Tracy Letts’ Henry Ford II feels the sheer power of one of his race cars and provides the most beautiful, unexpected crying scene of the year - Ford v. Ferrari

The funniest crossing a busy freeway scene since Eddie Murphy attempted it in 1999’s Bowfinger - Good Boys

A split second choice at what should have been a routine traffic stop changes the lives of our unlucky, racially profiled, sweet, smart but “not a match” Tinder date protagonists - Queen & Slim

A passport inspector asks, “Purpose of your visit?”  The young man replies, “I’m going to see Bruce Springsteen’s hometown.”  As he stamps his papers, the inspector responds, “I can’t think of a better reason to visit the United States than to see the home of The Boss” - Blinded By The Light

A horribly brutalized gay man wafts to shore only to see the haunting image of a scary clown reaching out to perhaps save him?  Nah, he’s a midnight snack - It Chapter 2

A young child, caught between his parents arguing over the phone, conveys painful messages to the supposed adults in the equation - Honey Boy

Sometimes an unreturned text can send you spiraling so far out of control that you ruin your life and everyone else’s around you - Waves

That last moment of bliss between a husband and wife right before their quiet mountaintop hamlet gets invaded by the sounds of planes overheard and the Nazis arriving to recruit them - A Hidden Life

You may have gotten in shape, but without true growth, the fat girl inside you won’t hesitate to shame another - Brittany Runs A Marathon

Gabriel Luna wins the award for sexiest performance in a terrible movie as a new killing machine decked out in tight pants and a killer stare - Terminator: Dark Fate

A mentally disturbed aspiring comic turned homicidal maniac disastrously makes his late night talk show debut, posing ominously backstage, skipping out with a bizarre tap twirl flourish, and then…well…like a true comic…he kills - Joker

Alec Baldwin, in a stunning monologue, basically shows us the early rise of people like Donald Trump, as all sense of hope gets sapped away - Motherless Brooklyn

An old sailor and his new charge stare down the camera right at us, somehow letting us know that we have no idea what bleak is, so hold on tight - The Lighthouse

A farmer (a never better Bill Camp) barges in on a corporate lawyer to get him to investigate the dying cattle in his hometown.  From such humble beginnings comes something which affects every single one of us - Dark Waters

An aspiring Scottish country singer sneaks away from her Grand Ole Opry tour group to sing alone on the main stage and perhaps get discovered. When she learns that everybody does that, she realizes she isn’t that special after all - Wild Rose

Biggest cinematic moment of dread: When a Chinese billionaire reopens a shuttered Ohio GM plant and hires back some of the workers at half their salaries and without benefits, you know you’ve just boarded a slow moving train to hell - American Factory

Did he do it?  Is he a terrorist?  Or is he a good guy?  How much of his tragic past is still present within him?  That final image will keep me guessing forever - Luce

A devoted Chinese Communist Party Member and abortion specialist knows she can never redeem herself from the part she played in ruining so many lives - One Child Nation

You may take issue with the implications that her real life character traded sex for intel and that she’s no longer alive to defend herself,  but Olivia Wilde gave one of the most vivid, exciting, ballsy performances of the year - Richard Jewell

An actual minute of silence in a film would normally be its death knell, but when Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers demands it, we rethink our own hurried, impulsive lives - A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Sure she overdid it.  Yes she had an odd, hairy, uncanny face and strangely manicured nails for days.  Overwrought doesn’t even begin to describe it, but when she hits that big note and belts out, “Touch me / It’s so easy to leave me / All alone with the memory / Of my days in the sun”, damned if I didn’t snot cry right along with her - Cats

[kt-cant-focus]

Kingdom Review

So if you don’t know I’m obsessed with One Piece. It got me through the lowest point in my life and continues to be amazing. So when I say this manga is tied with One Piece as my favorite manga, it’s the best compliment I can give.

For some backstory, Kingdom is a manga written and drawn by Yasuhisa Hara. It began in 2006 and currently has 526 chapters and 46 volumes. It is published in Weekly Young Jump along side Tokyo Ghoul. An interesting thing about this manga is that according to myanimelist,” On December 12, 2012 the manga won a Guinness World Record for manga written by the most people. The record was made possible due to its "Social Kingdom" Campaign where artists, fans, and voice actors redrew the entire 26th volume. Each of them picked 1 frame and redrew it and the top 100 would be given a special edition of the manga. Eiichiro Oda (One Piece), Masashi Kimimoto (Naruto), Hirohiko Araki (JoJo no Kimyou na Bouken) and many others were among the participants. “ Super cool right?

Kingdom is a manga set in the Warring States Period of China and we follow the life of a servant-a nice way of saying slave in the series- who is aiming to become the greatest general that ever lived. The manga is considered seinen.

Personally I think the best part of the manga is the characters. Every character is compelling, even if you don’t have their backstory. So if you do get their backstory is just makes it has an even greater impact. Each one is an individual, you don’t feel like they are rehashing basic stereotypes or that anyone is two-dimensional. I grew to love the main characters with such an intensity that I haven’t felt since I true got into One Piece. So you laugh, cry, cheer, and feel every emotion along with the characters because of how much you love them. And because of that emotional connection it just makes the series unforgettable. Also, this manga has some of the most, and please excuse my language- bad-ass women in storytelling history, they get in there just as much as the guys.

The story is loosely based off the actual Warring States Period and many of the characters were actual people and many of the events actually happened which makes it fun to research and learn more about these people. The story is so interesting that you really don’t feel how long the series is as you read it. Each arc is exactly as long as it should be and balances the quiet moments, the action, the comedic points and the emotional moments extremely well so I never felt bored. Honestly because of how well it flows it eats up a lot of time since you don’t notice the hours passing. Now to the art.

The art is absolutely breath taking and can be incredibly detail when the panel calls for it. I’ll post some of the panels so it can speak for itself.

Honestly, maybe it’s my bias, but I really can’t find anything all that wrong with the show. I mean there are arcs that I sometimes skip when I reread it (and I’ve reread it from beginning to current chapter at lease five times). But that had more to do with the fact that I hate the characters the arcs are focusing on, but you are meant to dislike them so it really isn’t a downside.

This series has no Englsih release, so you have to read it online. Look for the Turnip Farmers scans as most fans agree theirs is the best. This series hasn’t gotten the love it deserves in the West because the anime isn’t very good, it is filled with the awkward CGI that Japan hasn’t fully perfected yet, even on the characters. Check this manga out for yourselves and let me know what you think, I’m sure you wont regret it.

[cinephiled-com]

New Post has been published on Cinephiled

New Post has been published on http://www.cinephiled.com/interview-creative-team-behind-taika-waititis-brilliant-jojo-rabbit/

Interview: The Creative Team Behind Taika Waititi’s Brilliant ‘Jojo Rabbit’

Writer/director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok, Hunt for the Wilderpeople) brings his signature style of humor and pathos to his latest film, Jojo Rabbit, a World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy (Roman Griffin Davis as Jojo) whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother, Rosie (Scarlett Johansson), is hiding a young Jewish girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi), Jojo is forced to confront his blind nationalism. The film offers a funny yet profoundly moving child’s-eye view of a society gone mad with intolerance. Drawing on his own Jewish heritage and his experiences growing up surrounded by prejudice, New Zealand filmmaker Waititi (whose mother is Jewish and father is Māori) makes a powerful statement against hate with this pitch-black satire of the Nazi culture that gripped the German psyche at the height of World War II.

I admit I am not a big fan of films like Life Is Beautiful that have attempted to bring fantasy or whimsy to stories of World War II, so I was nervous going into this film, and yet I loved every second of it. I thought that Waititi and his team achieved the perfect balance between the fantasy elements of the film and the stark reality of the situation. As one critic said, “It shouldn’t work…but it does!” Based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens, Jojo Rabbit, winner of the People’s Choice Award at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, also stars Sam Rockwell, Stephen Merchant, Alfie Allen, and Rebel Wilson. I sat down with several of the incredibly talented people who helped create the unique look of the film: production designer Ra Vincent, Visual Effects Supervisor Jason Chen, Makeup and Hair Designer Dannelle Satherley, and film editor Tom Eagles.

Danny Miller: The details in the sets were just stunning. Did you recreate this German village from scratch or did you find real settings that you could adapt for the story?

Ra Vincent: We had done so much research about this time period and did our breakdowns of what we needed, but it wasn’t until we found our locations in the Czech Republic that this world we were creating really expanded. The borders during the Nazi occupation were constantly shifting and the Baroque village we found in the Czech Republic had become a German territory during the war. We even found out that there had been Nazi rallies in some of our locations. It was exactly the aesthetic we needed.

Given the history in that part of the world, was it a bit dicey to bring in all of the swastika flags and banners that you needed for the story?

Ra Vincent: Yes, it was. We had some early discussion about swastikas with the studio, they were very nervous about it, but in the end we decided to do what we wanted. We felt we needed the swastikas or the story and the satire would not work at all. The idea was to confront hate and how that regime was formed. We could not remove the importance of that insignia.

Jason Chen: The swastikas had so much weight in that town. I remember when we were shooting in the building that we were using as Gestapo headquarters and had to put up swastika banners. We actually had several local crew members who told us they couldn’t go in there because their family members had been tortured or killed by the Nazis. The weight our locations carried was a good reminder to us about the message we were trying to convey.

Dannelle, speaking of historical sensitivity, you will now always be able to say that you did Hitler’s hair and makeup. What was that like?

Dannelle Satherley: (Laughs.) Well, with Taika’s character, he was an imaginary version of Hitler as seen through Jojo’s eyes, so we were going for something more roughly hewn than you might see elsewhere. Sure, we had to have the touchstones that everyone knows like the moustache and the combover, but he was never intended to be a carbon copy.

Were there times when Taika was directing in full Hitler drag?

Dannelle Satherley: Oh yes, many times! It was definitely something to see.

I’m sure the on-set jokes were writing themselves: “Help! Our director is Hitler!” Tom, I imagine for a film with such serious themes with comedic elements, finding the exact rhythm in the editing was everything. How difficult it was to maintain that balance?

Tom Eagles: It helped that Taika’s script was amazing. There were differences in the details but we were faithful to the feeling of the script, trying to walk that tightrope between black humor and real emotion throughout.

Were there a lot of clues in the script about how everything should look?

Ra Vincent: Absolutely. Taika’s writing is so good and there were many clues about the characters in the script that you could pull from about what type of environment they would be inhabiting. For production design, it pays not to overstate things, you don’t want to detract from the performance. But, for example, knowing how artistic Rosie (Johansson) was, we added all sorts of nuances in the decoration of the house which also played into Jojo’s view of the world through somewhat rose-colored glasses.

I want to see the film again just to more closely examine all of the delicious details of that house!

I was working with a wonderful set decorator, Nora Sopková, who has been working in Prague for a very long time and she knew where to find all the best things. I like to provide as much realism for the actors as possible. If you’re going to put food on the table in front of them you make it really nice to eat, you fill the drawers with clothes of the period in case they open one during a scene, you add all these authentic touches so there’s an opportunity for bits of spontaneous characterization.

I know in many of Taika’s projects there’s a lot of improv. Was that a worry when trying to maintain the right tone in this story?

Tom Eagles: There were very different types of scenes in this film. For a dramatic scene between Scarlett and Thomasin, for example, they would run through it normally, get some direction, and then perhaps try a few new things when they did it again, but it was a very traditional process. They were amazing actors working with an amazing script. But with our comedians it was something else entirely. They’d constantly be stopping and throwing something new in. It did make it a challenge to keep the rhythm right.

I’m guessing that someone like Rebel Wilson went to town on her takes.

Tom Eagles: Oh, trust me we could definitely do a short film of just alternate takes from Rebel, Stephen Merchant, and Taika as Hitler. And you’d be screaming with laughter! Taika always encouraged them. Whether it was even his intention to use those takes or not, he really wanted these comedians to feel free to explore their characters. A lot of great stuff ended up on the cutting room floor because it just didn’t work with the overall film but we did get some gems that we used.

Dannelle, it looked like you were also able to go a bit above and beyond with Rebel’s look, too. Kind of an “Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS” aesthetic?

Dannelle Satherley: Oh, we had so much fun with Rebel and some other people in the supporting cast because we were able to go a little extra with them. I loved working on Rebel’s hair because we were really able to go to extremes with the look. She carried it so well! But some of the other characters were much more tame. I’ve worked so closely with Taiki over the years that I’m very familiar with his aesthetic. I know, with the possible exception of Thor which was kind of its own world, that Taika errs on the side of naturalism, he doesn’t like anything to look too overcooked.

The extensive research you all did for this project must have been so fascinating.

Jason Chen: I think that’s the best part of what we do. We really did a deep dive on the Hitler Youth. And a lot of the ridiculous things you do see the characters doing in the Hilter Youth camps were actually things that happened, like four- and five-year-old boys roughhousing with teenagers, punching and tackling each other, it was insane. They were completely brainwashed about what they were told would make them good soldiers.

I also really liked the color palette of the film which seemed different from so many films we see set during World War II.

Jason Chen: It’s true. Movies set in this time period are usually very dark and dreary, but the reality of the situation was that towards the end of the war a lot of people dressed to the nines as best they could, they didn’t know how much longer they’d be around. So Taika really wanted a bright and vibrant color scheme throughout.

Ra Vincent: And because this was a story from a child’s perspective, that included us injecting some whimsy and childishness into it. We used a few tricks, even things like having more cars in the background than would necessarily have been around during that point in the war.

To be honest, I was kind of surprised when I first saw the poster for the film because it seems so focused on the comedy whereas I see it as more as a very serious movie with some comedy in it.

Jason Chen: I agree with you, actually, and yet I think Taika’s instinct to lead with the comedy makes a lot of sense so I can see why that’s a big part of the ad campaign. Taika believes that humor kind of loosens people up and makes them open to things that they might not have been otherwise. You’ll notice that the film is quite heavy with comedy in the first act and then that eventually transitions in a big way.