Unlike critics, we really liked this story of the late 19th century clashes between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over modern electricity. The all-star cast includes Benedict Cumberbatch as arrogant and megalomaniacal Thomas Edison, Michael Shannon as cool-headed George Westinghouse, Katherine Waterston as his supportive wife Marguerite, and Tom Holland as Edison's assistant Samuel Insull. Nicholas Hoult is also in the mix as Nikola Tesla.
The reason for "Director's Cut" is that an earlier version of this movie premiered at the Toronto Film Festival (also known as TIFF) in 2017 but got shelved due to Harvey Weinstein's sexual improprieties coming to light. It was re-edited with additional scenes, new composers were hired (more on the music in a moment), and it was released a few days ago.
Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon got to stay, as did screenwriter Michael Mitnick. I have no idea how accurate it is but the personal conflicts, the economics, and the science were compelling to Jack, Carina, Mark, and me.
I was transported by the music. Volker Bertelmann & Dustin O'Halloran, the original composers, have at least one track in the final movie, which I found on YouTube, and Max Richter's Spring 1, adapted from Vivaldi's Four Seasons, is available there as well. Sadly for me, the new score, by Danny Bensi & Saunder Jurriaans, doesn't seem to be streaming anywhere.
Cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung's work is also masterful, with brilliant colors and lots of overhead and angled shots. Noteworthy as well: costume design by Michael Wilkinson and production design by Jan Roelfs.
Cumberbatch was last blogged for Avengers: Infinity War, Shannon for The Shape of Water, Waterston for Mid90s, Holland for Spider-Man: Far from Home, Gomez-Rejon for Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, O'Halloran for The Hate U Give, Bensi and Jurriaans for Boy Erased. Chung shot Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
During the movie I kept thinking this could get Oscar nominations for cinematography and wardrobe, if not direction. But now, after seeing that Rotten Tomatoes' critics are averaging a cruel 31%, the nominations may be less likely. It's too soon for audience reviews yet. Go see it and make up your own mind.
Thursday, November 7, 2019
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
We laughed at lot at this violent sequel to Jack's favorite movie of 2009, in which our heroes are still surviving the zombie apocalypse. Returning cast includes Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone, and Abigail Breslin (now 23, practically all grown up!). Zoey Deutch is hilarious as new character Madison, and there are too many others to list.
Director Ruben Fleischer returns, as do writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, joined by co-writer Dave Callaham.
The original music by David Sardy, which can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music, is supplemented by a lot of songs. Chung-hoon Chung is the cinematographer.
Harrelson was last blogged for Solo: A Star Wars Story, Eisenberg for The Art of Self Defense, Stone for The Favourite, Breslin for My Sister's Keeper which actually was made after the original Zombieland, Deutch for Why Him?, Fleischer for Gangster Squad, and Reese and Wernick for Deadpool 2.
Obviously not everyone's cup of gore, this is rated only 68% by Rotten Tomatoes' critics. Its audiences have self-selected and average a more favorable 89. We saw it two weeks ago and the movie is expected to be streaming in January. Don't leave the room before the end of the credits.
Director Ruben Fleischer returns, as do writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, joined by co-writer Dave Callaham.
The original music by David Sardy, which can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music, is supplemented by a lot of songs. Chung-hoon Chung is the cinematographer.
Harrelson was last blogged for Solo: A Star Wars Story, Eisenberg for The Art of Self Defense, Stone for The Favourite, Breslin for My Sister's Keeper which actually was made after the original Zombieland, Deutch for Why Him?, Fleischer for Gangster Squad, and Reese and Wernick for Deadpool 2.
Obviously not everyone's cup of gore, this is rated only 68% by Rotten Tomatoes' critics. Its audiences have self-selected and average a more favorable 89. We saw it two weeks ago and the movie is expected to be streaming in January. Don't leave the room before the end of the credits.
Monday, November 4, 2019
The Laundromat (2019)
This disjointed movie about corporate corruption and its innocent victims doesn't live up to the star power of Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, Antonio Banderas, James Cromwell, and many, many more.
Director Steven Soderbergh proves he's not quite as reliable as we thought, working from a script by Scott Z. Burns, who adapted the non-fiction book Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation of Illicit Money Networks and the Global Elite by Jake Bernstein.
Soderbergh, who has stopped pretending he's retiring from movies, is once again using the stage names Peter Andrews (his father was Peter Andrew Soderbergh) for cinematographer and Mary Ann Bernard (his mother's maiden name) for film editor.
The music by David Holmes is supplemented by these songs.
Streep was last blogged for Mary Poppins Returns, Oldman for his Oscar-winning turn in Darkest Hour, Banderas for I'm So Excited, Cromwell for The Artist, Soderbergh and Holmes for Logan Lucky, Burns for Contagion.
We chose to ignore the Rotten Tomatoes' critics' rating of 41% and its audiences' of 45 to watch this on a rainy vacation day October 16. So we went to The Addams Family the next day.
Director Steven Soderbergh proves he's not quite as reliable as we thought, working from a script by Scott Z. Burns, who adapted the non-fiction book Secrecy World: Inside the Panama Papers Investigation of Illicit Money Networks and the Global Elite by Jake Bernstein.
Soderbergh, who has stopped pretending he's retiring from movies, is once again using the stage names Peter Andrews (his father was Peter Andrew Soderbergh) for cinematographer and Mary Ann Bernard (his mother's maiden name) for film editor.
The music by David Holmes is supplemented by these songs.
Streep was last blogged for Mary Poppins Returns, Oldman for his Oscar-winning turn in Darkest Hour, Banderas for I'm So Excited, Cromwell for The Artist, Soderbergh and Holmes for Logan Lucky, Burns for Contagion.
We chose to ignore the Rotten Tomatoes' critics' rating of 41% and its audiences' of 45 to watch this on a rainy vacation day October 16. So we went to The Addams Family the next day.
The Addams Family (2019)
Silly, clever, and fun, this animated update has top-notch voice casting and lots of PG jokes as our ghoulish friends try to fit into a white-bread suburban community. Charlize Theron, Oscar Isaac, Chloë Grace Moretz, Bette Midler, Allison Janney, and Nick Kroll are just some of the actors channeling the 1950s Charles Addams cartoons, several TV serieses, and some 1990s movies.
Directed by Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon, its script is by Matt Lieberman and the original soundtrack, by Mychael Danna and Jeff Danna, can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music. Many improvisations on the motif of the original series theme are to be heard on the soundtrack.
Theron was last blogged for Long Shot, Isaac for At Eternity's Gate, Moretz for Clouds of Sils Maria, Midler for Parental Guidance, Mychael Danna for On the Basis of Sex, his brother Jeff for Thin Ice (The Convincer). Tiernan has directed dozens of episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine and Vernon has co-directed a handful of other animated features, including one with Tiernan.
Though rated at only 43% by Rotten Tomatoes' critics, similar to The Laundromat which disappointed us the day before, audiences rated The Addams Family at 69, and it pleased us on October 17.
Directed by Greg Tiernan and Conrad Vernon, its script is by Matt Lieberman and the original soundtrack, by Mychael Danna and Jeff Danna, can be streamed on Spotify and Apple Music. Many improvisations on the motif of the original series theme are to be heard on the soundtrack.
Theron was last blogged for Long Shot, Isaac for At Eternity's Gate, Moretz for Clouds of Sils Maria, Midler for Parental Guidance, Mychael Danna for On the Basis of Sex, his brother Jeff for Thin Ice (The Convincer). Tiernan has directed dozens of episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine and Vernon has co-directed a handful of other animated features, including one with Tiernan.
Though rated at only 43% by Rotten Tomatoes' critics, similar to The Laundromat which disappointed us the day before, audiences rated The Addams Family at 69, and it pleased us on October 17.
Sunday, November 3, 2019
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
We loved this dark comedy about a Nazi-in-training, whose imaginary friend is crazy Hitler, and a Jewish teenager that his mom is hiding in their house. It's at turns slapstick--part Springtime for Hitler, part Wes Anderson--and then heart-rending, as in Boy in the Striped Pajamas (2008). Roman Griffith Davis is transcendent as ten-year-old Johannes AKA Jojo, as is his little buddy Yorki, played by Archie Yates. Director/writer Taika Waititi is hilarious as Hitler, Thomasin McKenzie is marvelous as the covert housemate Elsa, and we get terrific performances from Scarlett Johansson as Jojo's free-spirit mom, Sam Rockwell as a frustrated Hitler Youth officer, Rebel Wilson as one of his staff, and others, too numerous to list.
Waititi adapted the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens. I must mention the glorious look of this picture, with production design by Ra Vincent (oh, the wood in Jojo's apartment!), cinematography by Mihai Malaimare Jr. (bright, saturated colors!), and costumes by Mayes C. Rubeo (just wow). Michael Giacchino composed the original score, supplementing the songs, which can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, and elsewhere.
Waititi was last blogged for What We Do in the Shadows (on which Vincent was production designer), McKenzie for Leave No Trace, Johansson Avengers: Infinity War, Rockwell for Vice, Wilson for How to Be Single, Giacchino for Spider-Man: Far from Home, Malaimare shot The Hate U Give, and Rubeo did wardrobe for Avatar and more.
Critics are dumb. Rotten Tomatoes' critics' average is a mediocre 79%. Its audiences agree with us, however, coming in at 98. As of this writing the movie has 4 wins and 3 more nominations. I predict more. We saw it opening weekend.
Waititi adapted the novel Caging Skies by Christine Leunens. I must mention the glorious look of this picture, with production design by Ra Vincent (oh, the wood in Jojo's apartment!), cinematography by Mihai Malaimare Jr. (bright, saturated colors!), and costumes by Mayes C. Rubeo (just wow). Michael Giacchino composed the original score, supplementing the songs, which can be streamed on Spotify, Apple Music, and elsewhere.
Waititi was last blogged for What We Do in the Shadows (on which Vincent was production designer), McKenzie for Leave No Trace, Johansson Avengers: Infinity War, Rockwell for Vice, Wilson for How to Be Single, Giacchino for Spider-Man: Far from Home, Malaimare shot The Hate U Give, and Rubeo did wardrobe for Avatar and more.
Critics are dumb. Rotten Tomatoes' critics' average is a mediocre 79%. Its audiences agree with us, however, coming in at 98. As of this writing the movie has 4 wins and 3 more nominations. I predict more. We saw it opening weekend.
Miles Davis: Birth of the Cool (2019)
As a jazz fan, I loved every minute of this documentary about the seminal bebop horn player. With archival footage of the man (1926-1991) and his various combos, and interviews with his children, some wives, and a host of jazz musicians, the movie is artfully edited and presented.
The director/producer is accomplished documentarian Stanley Nelson and this one is adding to his pile of award wins and nominations.
I'm enjoying listening to the playlist, available on Apple Music and Spotify, and probably more.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are all in, averaging 94 and 100%, respectively. I look forward to seeing it again if and when it streams (I think it will be on the PBS series American Masters, if it hasn't already). Right now it's playing limited runs at art houses around the world. I saw it in one such art house in early October of this year. Don't get it confused with the Davis record of the same name, released in 1957, nor with the fictionalized movie Miles Ahead, starring Don Cheadle as Davis.
The director/producer is accomplished documentarian Stanley Nelson and this one is adding to his pile of award wins and nominations.
I'm enjoying listening to the playlist, available on Apple Music and Spotify, and probably more.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are all in, averaging 94 and 100%, respectively. I look forward to seeing it again if and when it streams (I think it will be on the PBS series American Masters, if it hasn't already). Right now it's playing limited runs at art houses around the world. I saw it in one such art house in early October of this year. Don't get it confused with the Davis record of the same name, released in 1957, nor with the fictionalized movie Miles Ahead, starring Don Cheadle as Davis.
Good Boys (2019)
Amusing, raunchy, profane fluff about sixth grade boys getting in over their heads in a, yep, R-rated romp. The boys are Jacob Tremblay, Keith L. Williams, and Brady Noon, and the adults include Will Forte, Lil Rel Howery, Retta, and Sam Richardson.
It's the feature debut for director Gene Stupnitsky, working from a script by himself and Lee Eisenberg.
Tremblay was last blogged for The Book of Henry, Forte for A Futile and Stupid Gesture, Howery for Brittany Runs a Marathon, and Stupnitsky and Eisenberg for writing Bad Teacher. Williams had a story arc on several episodes of The Last Man on Earth with Forte.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics' average is 79% and its audiences' is 86. It's now streaming. Jack and I saw it September 24, 2019.
It's the feature debut for director Gene Stupnitsky, working from a script by himself and Lee Eisenberg.
Tremblay was last blogged for The Book of Henry, Forte for A Futile and Stupid Gesture, Howery for Brittany Runs a Marathon, and Stupnitsky and Eisenberg for writing Bad Teacher. Williams had a story arc on several episodes of The Last Man on Earth with Forte.
Rotten Tomatoes' critics' average is 79% and its audiences' is 86. It's now streaming. Jack and I saw it September 24, 2019.
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