VICE

VICE: Nominated for six Golden Globes, it is bound to pick up a few Oscar nominations as well when the time comes.  The globe nominations are for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), Best Actor (Musical or Comedy) for Christian Bale as Dick Cheney, Best Supporting Actor (Musical or Comedy) for Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush, Best Supporting Actress (Musical or Comedy) for Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney) Best Director for Adam McKay and Best Screenplay for Adam McKay.  Others in the note worthy cast include Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld and Tyler Perry as Colin Powell and as an added treat there is a good deal of archival footage featuring Hillary Clinton, Richard Nixon, Tony Blair, Barbara Walters, Ronald Reagan, Jimmy Carter, Barak Obama and even Benito Mussolini and Osama bin Laden.   This unique screenplay is at times maddening and at times hard to follow, but It all makes for a fascinating film which leans a good deal to the left (I will admit).
With shades of "Macbeth" thrown in (they even recite some of the dialog), this is bound to incite many discussions.   And about Mr. Bale..... (He is nothing short of  genius in his portrayal.)  While it won't be for everyone, it is worth seeing for the craft involved in bringing it to the screen.  And there is a vignette midway through the closing credits that sort of sums it all up.  

WELCOME TO MARWEN

WELCOME TO MARWEN:  This most unusual film is directed by the "Forrest Gump" director, Robert Zemeckis, and it has his whimsical stamp all over it.  And while it is tempting to call is a dark "Toy Story," it is much more than that. The absolutely brilliant Steve Carell stars as Mark Hogancamp, a bewildered man who was attacked in a hate crime that wiped out all his memories.   And with imagination as his only weapon,  he fights for recovery by building a miniature town where he can heal, survive and be a hero.  While the film bounces back and forth between reality and the imaginary world that Hogancamp has created, it is fascinating to watch but strangely unsatisfying by the end.   I'm glad I saw it because it is wonderfully done, but I left the theater feeling there was a void in the storytelling.  It simply needed more of a "kick" in the final courtroom scene when Hogancamp shares his thoughts on the assailants sentencing.  It's first-rate, technically superb movie making, but...………...

AQUAMAN

AQUAMAN: Jason Momoa plays the title character in this epic about the proverbial battle between good and evil but this time underwater.   Which may explain why it is a bit waterlogged at times in spite of the opening sequence when the wonderful Nicole Kidman is discovered washed ashore at a lighthouse and taken in by its keeper (Tom Curry) who shortly learns that she is Atlanna, the Queen of Atlantis and on the run from an arranged marriage.  Needless to say, they fall in love and she gives birth to a son they name Arthur. And thus Aquaman is  born.  When thugs try to kidnap her and return her to Atlantis, she valiantly fends them off, but realized she must go back to prevent further mayhem.   And we are off and running (or swimming as the case may be) Among the supporting cast is Willam Defoe, Dolph Lundgren, and Owen Wilson, playing the bad guy for a change.   The plot is all about undersea wars and who will be king and other such nonsense all aided and abetted by spectacular CGI, which brings me to my only complaint about the film.  It is almost overkill and you feel like you may have stumbled upon a new "Star Wars, Under the Sea." All in all, it is diverting and grandiose in scope.  (And stay through the beginning credits at the end, to get an added plus...…..which is to let you know there will be a sequel.)  I hope they cut back a bit on all the noise and dry out a little.

MARY POPPINS RETURNS

MARY POPPINS RETURNS:  Already nominated for a Golden Globe as Best Picture (Comedy or Musical), I was afraid this sequel wouldn't quite live up to the original. but under the direction of Rob Marshall and with leads like Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda, it takes flight and soars! And in a word, it is delightfulcalafragilisticexpialidocious and the perfect movie for the holiday season. I won't go into the plot, suffice it to say that  Ms. Poppins saves the day and teaches some life lessons along the way.   And what a supporting cast!  We are treated to performances (some little more than a cameo) by Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep  and Julie Walters with Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer as the now-grown Banks children from the original film. Did I mention, it's a musical with some show-stopping numbers, most notably "The Light Fantastic."  There are also some wonderful animated sequences  (A side note, Julie Andrews was offered the Lansbury role of the Balloon Lady but turned it down because she thought it would be too distracting and the film should belong to Ms. Blunt.)  And indeed, it does, channeling Ms. Andrews but making it her own.   And Mr. Miranda is a perfect lamplighter who warms you with just a smile.  This it first rate movie making that will keep you smiling all day. And the three juvenile actors practically steal the picture.  I can't wait to see it again.

THE GRINCH

THE GRINCH:  Benedict Cumberbatch voices this Dr. Seuss character in this new animated version of the oft-told tale "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."  The plot is infinitesimal.  Unhappy Grinch vs. the overly joyous citizens of Whoville.  It's got a few nice chuckles here and there, but if you are over the age of preteen, you may be a bit Grinchy yourself.   It's nice but doesn't like any fireworks or more appropriately any new Christmas lights.   Kids will love it...…..and though I like to think of myself as a "kid at heart," old age must be creeping up like a Grinch in the night.   A nice Christmas movie but it won't become a classic.

l

INSTANT FAMILY

INSTANT FAMILY:  Every now and then you just need a nice comedy in your life.  So this Mark Wahlberg film seemed like a perfect choice.  Only one problem, it isn't a comedy.  Oh, there are enough amusing moments along the way, but they are outweighed by this tender portrait of a couple (Rose Byrne plays the wife) on a quest to foster and perhaps eventually adopt a child. Octavia Spencer is one of the mentors in this process and she is her wonderful usual self.  When a child is finally chosen, it turns out to be a teenager with two other siblings and so they opt for the package deal.  Hilarity does not ensue but it doesn't matter. Mr. Wahlberg produced the film and he made a wonderful choice.  Perhaps not the "feel-good" movie of the year, but certainly right up there.  And the three "children" are remarkable.