Jack and I were quite impressed by this telling of the #MeToo downfall of Fox News' Roger Ailes with the help of newswomen Gretchen Carlson, Megyn Kelly, and a fictitious intern (a composite of several real women who couldn't or wouldn't be specifically identified) in 2016.
The enormous and talented cast is headlined by Charlize Theron as Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Carlson, Margot Robbie as the composite Kayla, John Lithgow as Ailes, Allison Janney as Susan Estrich, and Kate McKinnon as Jess Carr. Theron is one of the producers of the pictures, with inspiration from her character's experience with harassment and sex discrimination in North Country (2005).
Director Jay Roach works from a script by Charles Randolph and prosthetic makeup artist Kazu Hiro's work is amazing.
I loved the soundtrack by Theodore Shapiro, which is available to stream on Spotify, Apple Music, and more, especially the "Elevator Trio" of singers Caroline Shaw (2013 Pulitzer prize winner at age 30), Petra Haden (also a violinist, she's the daughter of jazz bassist Charlie Haden and sister-in-law of Jack Black), and Susanna Hoffs (founder of The Bangles and wife of Roach), as well as six songs.
Theron and Janney were last blogged for The Addams Family, Kidman for The Upside, Robbie for Mary Queen of Scots, Lithgow for Beatriz at Dinner, McKinnon for Ford v Ferrari, Roach for Trumbo, Randolph for The Big Short, and Shapiro for Destroyer. Hiro won his first Oscar for Darkest Hour and is up for another this year.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics are averaging a tepid 68% but its audiences are more enthusiastic at 84. We saw it four weeks ago but it's still playing on a few big screens in these parts due to its Oscar nominations for Theron, Robbie, and Hiro. Its streaming release is estimated for March 2020. We think you'll like it.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Hustlers (2019)
Jack and I enjoyed this based-on-truth story about NYC strippers fleecing their wealthy clients. We streamed it on netflix about five weeks ago after Jennifer Lopez was SAG- and Golden-Globe-nominated for Supporting Actress (but lost). She's very good as the senior member of the group, with the lead role taken by Constance Wu, and supporting roles include Trace Lysette, Cardi B, and Lizzo.
Director/writer Lorene Scafaria based her screenplay on the 2015 New York Magazine article by Jessica Pressler (here's the whole thing).
Lopez trained with a pole in her house, to the delight of her fiancé Alex Rodriguez.
No composer is credited. Instead we have a great playlist of songs, listed here and here.
Wu was last blogged for Crazy Rich Asians and Scafaria for The Meddler. Lysette was one of the trans actresses in twelve episodes of Transparent, and Cardi B and Lizzo are famous musicians, as you most likely know, since they're famous!
Rotten Tomatoes' critics are averaging 87% but its audiences a mere 65. It's pretty much fun but isn't nominated for any Oscars.
Director/writer Lorene Scafaria based her screenplay on the 2015 New York Magazine article by Jessica Pressler (here's the whole thing).
Lopez trained with a pole in her house, to the delight of her fiancé Alex Rodriguez.
No composer is credited. Instead we have a great playlist of songs, listed here and here.
Wu was last blogged for Crazy Rich Asians and Scafaria for The Meddler. Lysette was one of the trans actresses in twelve episodes of Transparent, and Cardi B and Lizzo are famous musicians, as you most likely know, since they're famous!
Rotten Tomatoes' critics are averaging 87% but its audiences a mere 65. It's pretty much fun but isn't nominated for any Oscars.
Sunday, January 19, 2020
Little Women (2019)
Amy, Jack, and I loved this adaptation of the classic novel, with its focus on empowered women, decorated with magnificent photography and luscious costumes and set design. Though a tad too long at 2:15, the performances and visuals make up for the excessive length.
Saorise Ronan is made for the lead as Jo March, the most forthright of the four sisters in the Civil War era. Apparently Ronan told, without actually asking, director Greta Gerwig she was going to play the part. Emma Watson plays her older sister Meg, Eliza Scanlen younger sister Beth, Florence Pugh is youngest sister Amy, Laura Dern their mother Marmee, Timothée Chalamet their besotted neighbor Laurie, Chris Cooper Laurie's grandfather, Meryl Streep is the girls' Aunt March, and Tracy Letts the editor Mr. Dashwood, among others.
The cinematography is thanks to Yorick Le Saux, the costumes are by Jacqueline Durran, and production design is by Jess Gonchor.
This year's #OscarsSoMale shut director/screenwriter Greta Gerwig out of a directing nomination (Oscars and elsewhere) but she did get one for the script, as well as the producers' nomination for Best Picture (it won't win), Ronan and Pugh for acting, Durran for costume design, and Alexandre Desplat for the score, which can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, and more.
Ronan was last blogged for Mary Queen of Scots, Watson for Beauty and the Beast, Dern for Wilson, Chalamet for Beautiful Boy, Cooper for It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Streep for The Laundromat, Letts for Ford v Ferrari, Gerwig for Lady Bird (which also starred Ronan), Le Saux for Non-Fiction, Durran for Anna Karenina (it won her the Oscar, and she was also nominated for Mr. Turner, Darkest Hour, and Beauty and the Beast), Gonchor for Hail, Caesar!, and Desplat for Isle of Dogs.
Full disclosure: getting over a cold on Christmas day, I had a coughing fit and left the room, missing a good ten minutes towards the end. I'd like to see those ten minutes sometime. This was the fifteenth year in a row Amy, Jack, and I have watched a movie together on Christmas day. Pro tip: always get your Christmas day movie tickets in advance.
PBS has complied a list of the almost two dozen adaptations of Louisa May Alcott's two-part novel. This is a good one, not only according to us, but also to 95% of Rotten Tomatoes' critics and 92% of its audiences. See it on a big screen if at all possible.
Saorise Ronan is made for the lead as Jo March, the most forthright of the four sisters in the Civil War era. Apparently Ronan told, without actually asking, director Greta Gerwig she was going to play the part. Emma Watson plays her older sister Meg, Eliza Scanlen younger sister Beth, Florence Pugh is youngest sister Amy, Laura Dern their mother Marmee, Timothée Chalamet their besotted neighbor Laurie, Chris Cooper Laurie's grandfather, Meryl Streep is the girls' Aunt March, and Tracy Letts the editor Mr. Dashwood, among others.
The cinematography is thanks to Yorick Le Saux, the costumes are by Jacqueline Durran, and production design is by Jess Gonchor.
This year's #OscarsSoMale shut director/screenwriter Greta Gerwig out of a directing nomination (Oscars and elsewhere) but she did get one for the script, as well as the producers' nomination for Best Picture (it won't win), Ronan and Pugh for acting, Durran for costume design, and Alexandre Desplat for the score, which can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, and more.
Ronan was last blogged for Mary Queen of Scots, Watson for Beauty and the Beast, Dern for Wilson, Chalamet for Beautiful Boy, Cooper for It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Streep for The Laundromat, Letts for Ford v Ferrari, Gerwig for Lady Bird (which also starred Ronan), Le Saux for Non-Fiction, Durran for Anna Karenina (it won her the Oscar, and she was also nominated for Mr. Turner, Darkest Hour, and Beauty and the Beast), Gonchor for Hail, Caesar!, and Desplat for Isle of Dogs.
Full disclosure: getting over a cold on Christmas day, I had a coughing fit and left the room, missing a good ten minutes towards the end. I'd like to see those ten minutes sometime. This was the fifteenth year in a row Amy, Jack, and I have watched a movie together on Christmas day. Pro tip: always get your Christmas day movie tickets in advance.
PBS has complied a list of the almost two dozen adaptations of Louisa May Alcott's two-part novel. This is a good one, not only according to us, but also to 95% of Rotten Tomatoes' critics and 92% of its audiences. See it on a big screen if at all possible.
1917 (2019)
I hate war and I hate war movies, but I'm glad I saw this riveting story of two British WWI soldiers crossing through enemy territory to deliver a message when the phone lines are down.
George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman are terrific as Scofield and Blake and there are cameos by Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, and Benedict Cumberbatch, among many others, as higher ranking officers. #OscarsSoMale, count the women in this movie.
Director/co-writer Sam Mendes has one of the ten Oscar nominations for this movie, co-written by Krysty Wilson-Cairns, inspired by Mendes' grandfather's autobiography. They tasked the cast and cinematographer Roger Deakins, working with film editor Lee Smith, to make the movie appear to shot in one two-hour steadicam shot (except for one sequence). It was not, and I'm disappointed that Smith did not earn one of those nominations. Even a film buff such as I am had difficulty finding any cuts. Here's an Entertainment Weekly article about the cinematography and a page from the official movie website with some interactive features, including extensive use of storyboards. The actors rehearsed for six months so as to make the shots as long as possible.
One of my favorite Hollywood composers, Thomas Newman, has a provided the score, available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and more. Sadly, the song Poor Wayfaring Stranger, sung in the trailer and the movie by Jos Slovick, is not available.
1917 is likely to produce symptoms of Motion Picture Motion Sickness (here's my running list), so sit far back and/or medicate. I also used my sound muffling ear plugs during the screening. Bring yours if you have them and decide for yourself.
MacKay was last blogged for Captain Fantastic, Firth for Mary Poppins Returns, Scott for Denial (after his notable role as the sexy priest in Fleabag's second season), Cumberbatch for The Current War, Mendes for Spectre, Deakins for Blade Runner 2049, and Newman for Victoria & Abdul. Chapman played best friend Matt in Blinded by the Light (though I didn't mention him) as well as some Game of Thrones episodes (which I didn't see) and Smith won an Oscar for editing Dunkirk as well as a handful of other nominations.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are currently tied at 89%. Jack and I urge you to see this before the Oscars on February 9.
George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman are terrific as Scofield and Blake and there are cameos by Colin Firth, Andrew Scott, and Benedict Cumberbatch, among many others, as higher ranking officers. #OscarsSoMale, count the women in this movie.
Director/co-writer Sam Mendes has one of the ten Oscar nominations for this movie, co-written by Krysty Wilson-Cairns, inspired by Mendes' grandfather's autobiography. They tasked the cast and cinematographer Roger Deakins, working with film editor Lee Smith, to make the movie appear to shot in one two-hour steadicam shot (except for one sequence). It was not, and I'm disappointed that Smith did not earn one of those nominations. Even a film buff such as I am had difficulty finding any cuts. Here's an Entertainment Weekly article about the cinematography and a page from the official movie website with some interactive features, including extensive use of storyboards. The actors rehearsed for six months so as to make the shots as long as possible.
One of my favorite Hollywood composers, Thomas Newman, has a provided the score, available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and more. Sadly, the song Poor Wayfaring Stranger, sung in the trailer and the movie by Jos Slovick, is not available.
1917 is likely to produce symptoms of Motion Picture Motion Sickness (here's my running list), so sit far back and/or medicate. I also used my sound muffling ear plugs during the screening. Bring yours if you have them and decide for yourself.
MacKay was last blogged for Captain Fantastic, Firth for Mary Poppins Returns, Scott for Denial (after his notable role as the sexy priest in Fleabag's second season), Cumberbatch for The Current War, Mendes for Spectre, Deakins for Blade Runner 2049, and Newman for Victoria & Abdul. Chapman played best friend Matt in Blinded by the Light (though I didn't mention him) as well as some Game of Thrones episodes (which I didn't see) and Smith won an Oscar for editing Dunkirk as well as a handful of other nominations.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are currently tied at 89%. Jack and I urge you to see this before the Oscars on February 9.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Oscar nominations and more
Yes, I'm way behind in writing and trying to catch up! Meanwhile, here are nominations.
Academy Awards February 9.
Best picture
“1917”
“Ford v Ferrari”
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Joker”
“Marriage Story”
“Little Women”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Parasite”
Best director
Sam Mendes, “1917”
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Bong Joon-ho, “Parasite”
Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”
Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”
Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”
Florence Pugh, “Little Women”
Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
“Toy Story 4”
“Knives Out”
Academy Awards February 9.
Best picture
“1917”
“Ford v Ferrari”
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Joker”
“Marriage Story”
“Little Women”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Parasite”
Best director
Sam Mendes, “1917”
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
Todd Phillips, “Joker”
Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”Bong Joon-ho, “Parasite”
Best actress in a leading role
Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”
Renée Zellweger, “Judy”
Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”
Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
Best actor in a leading role
Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”
Best actress in a supporting roleSaoirse Ronan, “Little Women”
Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
Best actor in a leading role
Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”
Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”
Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”
Florence Pugh, “Little Women”
Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”
Best actor in a supporting role
Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
Best animated feature film
“How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World”
“I Lost My Body”
“Klaus”
“Missing Link”“I Lost My Body”
“Klaus”
“Toy Story 4”
Best international feature film
South Korea, “Parasite”
Poland, “Corpus Christi”
North Macedonia, “Honeyland”
France, “Les Misérables”
Spain, “Pain and Glory”South Korea, “Parasite”
Best original screenplay
“1917”“Knives Out”
“Marriage Story”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Parasite”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Parasite”
Best adapted screenplay
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“The Two Popes”
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Joker”
“Little Women”“The Two Popes”
Best cinematography
“1917,” Roger Deakins
“The Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto
“Joker,” Lawrence Sher
“The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“The Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto
“Joker,” Lawrence Sher
“The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson
Best documentary feature
“American Factory”
“For Sama”
“American Factory”
“The Cave”
“The Edge of Democracy”“For Sama”
“Honeyland”
Best original song
Best original song
“I’m Standing With You,” from “Breakthrough”
“Into the Unknown,” from “Frozen II”
“Stand Up,” from “Harriet”
“ (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” from “Rocketman”
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” from “Toy Story 4”
“Into the Unknown,” from “Frozen II”
“Stand Up,” from “Harriet”
“ (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” from “Rocketman”
“I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away,” from “Toy Story 4”
Best visual effects
“The Irishman”
“1917”
“Avengers: Endgame”“The Irishman”
“The Lion King”
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
Best production design
“1917”“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
Best production design
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Parasite”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Parasite”
Best makeup and hairstyling
“Joker”
“Judy”
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”
“1917”
“Bombshell”“Joker”
“Judy”
“Maleficent: Mistress of Evil”
Best costume design
“The Irishman”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Joker”
“Little Women”“Jojo Rabbit”
“Joker”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Best original score
“1917,” Thomas Newman
“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir
“Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat
“Marriage Story,” Randy Newman
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” John Williams
“1917,” Thomas Newman
“Joker,” Hildur Guðnadóttir
“Little Women,” Alexandre Desplat
“Marriage Story,” Randy Newman
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” John Williams
Best film editing
“Ford v Ferrari”
“The Irishman”
“Joker”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Parasite”
Best sound mixing
“1917”
“Ad Astra”
“Ford v Ferrari”
“Joker”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Best sound editing
“1917”
“Ford v Ferrari”
“Joker”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
Best documentary short subject
“In the Absence”
“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)”
“Life Overtakes Me”
“St. Louis Superman”
“Walk Run Cha-Cha”
Best animated short film
“Dcera (Daughter)”
“Hair Love”
“Kitbull”
“Memorable”
“Sister”
Best live action short film
“Brotherhood”
“Nefta Football Club”
“The Neighbors’ Window”
“Saria”
“A Sister”
“Joker”
“Jojo Rabbit”
“Parasite”
Best sound mixing
“1917”
“Ad Astra”
“Ford v Ferrari”
“Joker”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Best sound editing
“1917”
“Ford v Ferrari”
“Joker”
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
Best documentary short subject
“In the Absence”
“Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You’re a Girl)”
“Life Overtakes Me”
“St. Louis Superman”
“Walk Run Cha-Cha”
Best animated short film
“Dcera (Daughter)”
“Hair Love”
“Kitbull”
“Memorable”
“Sister”
Best live action short film
“Brotherhood”
“Nefta Football Club”
“The Neighbors’ Window”
“Saria”
“A Sister”
American Society of Cinematographers Awards January 25.
1917 - Roger Deakins
The Irishman - Rodrigo Prieto
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood - Robert Richardson
Joker - Lawrence Sher
Ford v Ferrari - Phedon Papamichael
Writers Guild of America Awards February 1.
Original Screenplay
1917, Written by Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Booksmart, Written by Emily Halpern & Sarah Haskins and Susanna Fogel and Katie Silberman
Knives Out, Written by Rian Johnson
Marriage Story, Written by Noah Baumbach
Parasite, Screenplay by Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won, Story by Bong Joon Ho
Adapted Screenplay
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster, Inspired by the Article “Can You Say…Hero?” by Tom Junod
The Irishman, Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, Based upon the Book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt; Netflix
Jojo Rabbit, Screenplay by Taika Waititi, Based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
Joker, Written by Todd Phillips & Scott Silver, Based on Characters from DC Comics
Little Women, Screenplay by Greta Gerwig, Based on the Novel by Louisa May Alcott;
Documentary Screenplay
Citizen K, Written by Alex Gibney
Foster, Written by Mark Jonathan Harris
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, Written by Alex Gibney;
Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People, Written by Robert Seidman & Oren Rudavsky;
The Kingmaker, Written by Lauren Greenfield
Original Screenplay
1917, Written by Sam Mendes & Krysty Wilson-Cairns
Booksmart, Written by Emily Halpern & Sarah Haskins and Susanna Fogel and Katie Silberman
Knives Out, Written by Rian Johnson
Marriage Story, Written by Noah Baumbach
Parasite, Screenplay by Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won, Story by Bong Joon Ho
Adapted Screenplay
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, Written by Micah Fitzerman-Blue & Noah Harpster, Inspired by the Article “Can You Say…Hero?” by Tom Junod
The Irishman, Screenplay by Steven Zaillian, Based upon the Book I Heard You Paint Houses by Charles Brandt; Netflix
Jojo Rabbit, Screenplay by Taika Waititi, Based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens
Joker, Written by Todd Phillips & Scott Silver, Based on Characters from DC Comics
Little Women, Screenplay by Greta Gerwig, Based on the Novel by Louisa May Alcott;
Documentary Screenplay
Citizen K, Written by Alex Gibney
Foster, Written by Mark Jonathan Harris
The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, Written by Alex Gibney;
Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People, Written by Robert Seidman & Oren Rudavsky;
The Kingmaker, Written by Lauren Greenfield
Directors Guild of America Awards January 25.
Feature Film
Bong Joon Ho - Parasite
Sam Mendes - 1917
Martin Scorsese - The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Taika Waititi - Jojo Rabbit
First-Time Feature Film
Mati Diop - Atlantics
Alma Har'el - Honey Boy
Melina Matsoukas - Queen & Slim
Joe Talbot - The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Feature Film
Bong Joon Ho - Parasite
Sam Mendes - 1917
Martin Scorsese - The Irishman
Quentin Tarantino - Once Upon A Time In Hollywood
Taika Waititi - Jojo Rabbit
First-Time Feature Film
Mati Diop - Atlantics
Alma Har'el - Honey Boy
Melina Matsoukas - Queen & Slim
Joe Talbot - The Last Black Man in San Francisco
Producers Guild of America Awards January 18.
The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures1917
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Knives Out
Little Women
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood
Parasite
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
Frozen II
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
The Darryl F. Zanuck Award for Outstanding Producer of Theatrical Motion Pictures1917
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker
Knives Out
Little Women
Marriage Story
Once Upon a Time in… Hollywood
Parasite
The Award for Outstanding Producer of Animated Theatrical Motion Pictures
Frozen II
How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
Missing Link
Toy Story 4
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