I've tidied up my notes on some of the films I saw in January.
Bird: Strange,and pretty brutal fantasy/realism coming of age film with Barry Keoghan as an apparently deadbeat dad to Bailey who is 12, views the world through a phone camera and doesn’t want to wear a bridesmaids outfit to their dads wedding. Set in Gravesend, with a scruffy urban landscape but also capturing the wild beauty of the marshes too where Bailey spends a lot of time watching and photographing the birds, and where they also meet a man called Bird looking for his family. Bailey's mum and siblings are living with a pretty unpleasant man, and there are some gruelling scenes, but there is also kindness and community amongst the brutality. I really enjoyed Keoghan's layered performance, and I did chuckle at what did appear to be a reference to Saltburn in the middle there. This isn't at all flashy, a quietly classy film despite the bravado we see throughout, and has a good heart which shines through the oddity. (Streaming now)
La Chimera: I had to have a couple of tries at this one - a picaresque story, with a first half following Josh O'Connor as a charismatic rogue wending his way across Italy with a dodgy gang of characters, a chorus of women, references to all sorts of Greek folk tales, plus a classy Isabella Rossellini being thrown into the mix. First time, I gave up halfway through despite Josh O’Connor's fabulous shambling performance. Came back to it a couple of weeks later and absolutely loved it. Masquerading as a caper movie for the first half at least, this has messy Greek myths, commentary on the price of everything, valuing nothing, all set with beautiful cinematography of gritty run down landscapes next to beauty. The scenes where the gang break into the undiscovered tomb and the beautiful art immediately calcifies on being exposed to air, brings it all together ready in readiness for the perfect finale (Streaming now)
The Substance: Demi Moore has a blast in this OTT horror movie which in the best tradition of horror is both gruesome and funny. I watched this largely because of Demi Moore's recognition in the awards this year and I have no real idea how to judge this. It was very entertaining satire on the expectations placed on women in particular for beauty, and the toxicity of the conversations around women whatever age they are. But also highlights what Moore's character is prepared to do to stay successful in a toxic environment. If you aren't squeamish (I'm not) it's a fun couple of hours. If you are squeamish though, give this one a miss. (Streaming)
A Complete Unknown: Chalamet is prettier and much more charming than the real Dylan but does a good job of his evasive grumpiness mixed with his charm. He has a good voice and I don’t feel at all cheated by his performance of the songs, even when there was nowhere to hide - just a voice, sometimes with a guitar. The music was used well to show the themes and evolution of Dylan's philosophy and increasing frustration with fame and the limitations being placed on him, as well as picking out the key moments in his early career -
'That Ain't Me Babe' was both funny and effective story-telling . The women didn’t pass the Bechdel test unfortunately in this, Baez is used effectively to show the evolution that Dylan goes through but is still really just a foil. But then that’s probably to be expected in a biopic. I enjoyed it a lot though, and it was the first time for ages when I have been at the cinema that neither I or the rest of the audience left at the start of the credits, instead we all sat listening to
Like a Rolling Stone all the way through before anyone moved. (At the cinema)
The Second Act: With meta-ness seeping out of every pore, this strange and funny film is sort of about making a film, whilst questioning the difference between fiction and reality. It's never quite clear where film starts and reality ends as they continually bleed in and out of each, jumping in and out of character and circling back around to arguments had in real life right in the middle of the 'scripted' pieces. Also a bit of a commentary on film making in general with a producer/director that we never meet who communicates via a laptop only, this was actually pretty entertaining. A black comedy/drama, the tone is nicely unsettling as the tragedy is treated in much the same way as the comedy. Full of tracking shots with two characters talking to each other in different permutations, I laughed at the ending which was a few minutes of tracking shot, showing yes, the camera track. (Streaming now)
Conclave: I read the book a while ago and so I remembered the reveal, but I really enjoyed this slightly pulpy thriller about choosing a new pope. Great cast, all acting their chops off, and actually a pretty good script that only had me rolling my eyes a few times. The cinema was full, which is quite unusual these days and there was an actual audible gasp at that reveal towards the end. I think this is up for a lot of awards, and think Ralph Fiennes is due one for this. Stanley Tucci does a great job being nervously slightly weasley, and John Lithgow is excellent too. Some fabulous cinematography here too, having a field day with the gorgeous outfits worn by the clergy, let alone the locations. Could have done without the guy next to me noisily and very slowly eating what I think was probably nachos; whatever it was, it was definitely greasy, and I didn't think that any wrapper could make as much noise. Once finished his first course he moved on the popcorn which he managed to crunch noisily as well as scrabble in the box.... The last hour was great as he finally finished his meal. (I saw this in the cinema, but it is also streaming on Prime)
- Sweet and sharply funny little film written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg and starring Julianne Moore and Finn Woolfhard as a mother and son at cross purposes, each of them seeking out a substitute to give them the validation they are missing. Lots of fun digs at self absorbed teenagers and self absorbed adults, this is packed full of sly jokes and toe curling moments as both get things very wrong. Delicately acted by both leads with a nice supporting turn by Jay O Saunders as the father/husband they both ignore. (Streaming on Netflix)
The After: A short BAFTA nominated film starring David Oyelowo as a grieving Londoner in a new job as a driver is a heartbreaking 18 minutes long. Horror, sadness, humour anger, and acceptance - worth taking 18 minutes out of your evening for this one but have the tissues ready (Streaming)
Harriet: A biography of Harriet Tubman, a runaway slave who became one of the conductors on the underground railroad, which for most people would be enough, but she also led armed forces during the civil war to free slaves and then became an activist for freed slaves, and the emancipation of women. Story was soaped up, and I doubt that the real Tubman had such a gorgeous singing voice but Cynthia Erivo made a convincing lead, with Joe Alwyn as a blackhearted, villainous slave owner. It’s such a stirring real story who could fail to be moved by it? (Streaming)
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