BEING THE RICARDOS

If you are expecting a comedy, be forwarned.  This is a serious look behind the scenes of "I Love Lucy" in one of their darkest weeks.........Namely, when Lucille Ball discovered her husband may be cheating on her and Walter Winchell announced on his weekly Radio Broadcast that she had ties to the Communist party.   Nicole Kidmas as Lucy and Xavier Bardem as Desi Arnez create their personas admirably and there are moments you'd swear it was Lucy and Desi  The screenplay and direction by Aaron Sorkin holds a magnifing glass up to the going's on and you simply can't look away.  While not a great movie, it certainly maintains your interest for its two hour running time.  And J.K. Simmons as William Frawley and Nina Arianda as Vivian Vance deliver winning performances. (Fred and Ethel Mertz, in case you forgot) By the way, there are a few laughs, not many and they certainly don't outshine the performances by Kidman and Barden.  If you're a fan of "I Love Lucy," I think you'll be enthralled.

WEST SIDE STORY

I had trepidations.  Why remake a classic?  But after giving it some thought and recalling four versions of "A Star is Born" and countless looks at "Romeo and Juliet," I decided to not prejudge this much-touted remake by Stephen Spielberg.  So what did I think?   I think it is a materpiece in its own right and should not be compared to the earlier incarnation.  They both stand magnificently alone.  Mr. Spielberg is a masterfilmmaker and at the top of his game.  When one knows every song and still finds them fresh as they were many years ago on Broadway, you know you are witnessing cinema magic.  The casting is superb.  Ansel Elgor as Tony and Rachel Zegler as Maria bring an innocent charm to their roles and sing like angels.  Equally impressive are Ariana DeBose as Anita and David Alverez as Bernardo  (the later won a Tony when he was a child for his portrayal of "Billy Ellior")  And I must mention Rita Moreno as Valentina giving a flawless preformance that was created especially for her.  And the new Riff  (Mike Faist) brings a "little boy lost" to the role. The dancing (while paying homage to Jerome Robbins occasionally) is brilliantly staged by choreographer Justin Peck.  So, to sum it up, never to my knowledge has a remake of an Oscar winning picutre won an Oscar on the second outing...........But this may be the year...........Nominations are bound to happen.

 

Today, I ventured back to a movie theater with eager anticipation.  I wan not disappointed.  "In The Heights" arrived on screen full of charm, wonder and downright thrilling cinematic glory!  Freely adapted under the direction of John M. Chu from the Tony winning Broadway show, the movie "opens up" into the Latino world of New York City's Washington Heights with all the gusto I had hoped for.  With a cast of mostly unknown Latino actors (Jimmy Smits and Marc Anthony being the exceptions) the standout is Anthony Ramos in the lead role, played on stage by the author Lin-Manuel Miranda.  Mr. Miranda (sporting a beard) does appear in the film as a vendor selling summertime ice's in the sweltering heat.  The plot is of no importance here but it concerns lovers, tears, the lottery, a fictional black-out, an unexpected death and dancing.  And what dancing it is!  The choreography by Christopher Scott is refreshingly exuberant and quite surprising at times (No spoiler here, but some of it will blow you away)  While some may find it hard to follow (owing to the rapidity of some lyrics) it is still a joyful film to behold, full of life and a little fantasy here and there.  And I will be so bold as to say an Oscar nomination is in its future as Best Picture. And one that is well deserved.  To borrow a quote........."This is the stuff that dreams are made of."  Una pelicula brillante!

EMMA

 EMMA:  And yet another look at the Jane Austin comedy of manners and a noteworthy one with one exception.  The film is absolutely splendid from the brilliant period costumes to the cinematography.  Adding to the beauty of it all is a musical score that both amuses and enlightens.  And the cast if first rate.  The exception, you ask?  Well, at times the actors are so comfortable in their roles that they have a tendency to speak softly (as befits the scene) which makes them hard to understand.  (Perhaps the sound man is to blame.)  That being said, it is still a cinematic work of art and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  And I'm still in awe of the costume designer (as well as the hair stylist)  Eat your heart out, "Downton Abbey."

THE CALL OF THE WILD

THE CALL OF THE WILD:  While top billing in this re-tooling of the Jack London classic goes to Harrison Ford, the real star of the film is a CGI dog named Buck.  In fact, all of the animals are the result of brilliant CGI work.  (CGI, as a reminder, stands for Computer Graphic Imaging and in this case, Buck was  the result of a ballet dancer going through the "choreography" of Buck's movement and then having it enhanced through technology)...………….Too much information?   Perhaps, but I include it to let you realize what goes into a film like this.  And it is magnificent for those reasons.   In a nutshell, it concerns the "journey" of a rambunctious canine "dognapped" from California and thrust into the "Klondike Fever" of  Alaska.  Yes, as a sled dog.  Along the way, there are terrors, beauty, kindness and eventually, "The call."  While, Mr. Ford appears in only about the last half of the film (with a brief a scene early on) I thought he was at the top of his game (considering he was acting with a dog that wasn't there).   So, if brief, go see this wonderful film and marvel at how it was made.

PARASITE

PARASITE:  After winning all those Oscars (including Best Picture and Best International Film), I had to see what all the fuss was about.  Let's just say it is well deserved in that it is a comedy of sorts, a thriller of sorts and a look at Korean classes of wealth and poverty.  In short,the film is a bit of a marvel that keeps you guessing as to what is next.  Best Director Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho has realized a miracle of a movie, both satirical and sardonic.  While the cast is virtually unknown to American audiences, they are individual superb and equally thrilling in the ensemble playing. I can't reveal too much of the plot lest I spoil your entertainment.  Let me just say, I was mesmerized for the last half of the film and you will be too.   While "1917" is still my choice for best picture of the year, "Parasite" is a worthy number two.

DOOLITTLE

DOOLITTLE:  Robert Downey Jr. stars in this re-imagined tale of the Doctor who could talk to animals.   And the animals?   A splendid array of stars do the voices of these CGI wonders.  They include Emma Thompson, Rami Malek, John Cena, Octavia Spencer, Tom Holland, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez and Marion Cotillard.  Other stars giving "real life" performances are Antonio Banderas, Michael Sheen and Jim Broadbent.  In a nutshell, Doolittle has become a recluse following the death of his wife (All told in an animated sequence at the beginning of the film).  The plot concerned Doolittle being dispatched to find a cure for the ailing, young Queen Victoria.  And so begins a voyage to find a magic tree whose fruit will save her.  And he his accompanied by his animal friends, a parrot, a polar bear, a gorilla, and ostrich and so on and so on.  We also get some whales and even a dragon thrown in for good measure.  But sadly, it feels like too much was simply "thrown in."   The movie, I would guess was intended for the Christmas holidays but too many hands spoiled the broth and so it is basically a film without the heart is so desperately needs.  The CGI animals are quite well done and some of it is, indeed, breathtaking but it eventually sags under it's own weight.   And when an added scene is tacked on after the closing credits just to let you know what happened to the villain, well you know you're in trouble.   The younger set will most likely forgive all the errors that the filmmakers indulged it, but it is still not what it should have been.

1917

1917:  The winner of two Golden Globe awards (Best Picture-Drama and Best Director-Sam Mendes), this epic look at WW1 is a brilliant piece of movie making.  The story of two young British soldiers assigned a nearly impossible task of going behind enemy lines to deliver a message that could potentially save countless lives including the brother of one of them.  Newcomers (to me) George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman portray the two men (Schofield and Blake).  The supporting cast includes Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch in minor roles.   Director Mendes has delivered a film that is edited in such a way that the whole thing seems to be in one continuous shot and it is a wonder to behold.  Brutal, at times, but always honest in its portrayal of the horrors of war. There are no big battle scenes here, but rather an intimate look at soldiers doing their duty, making this a war film like no other.  Touchingly poignant at times, I found myself in tears more that once.  This is arguably one of the best films of this genre ever made.  No surprise if it also gets an Oscar nomination.

CATS

CATS:  The long-running Andrew Lloyd Weber musical has made it to the big screen.   And it's not nearly as bad as some critics would have you believe.   In fact, I found it rather charming and weirdly whimsical .  With an all-star cast including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, Jennifer Hudson, Taylor Swift, Idris Elba, James Corden and Rebel Wilson, their individual "moments" worked much better on film that it did in the stage production.   Star power has it's upside after all.  The choreography by Christophe Ross is imaginative and downright thrilling at times.  The book has been reworked from the stage production and all to the better, thanks to a wonderful dancer and actress, Francesca Hayward.  While this may not be everyone's taste and it takes a bit of getting used to cats with human faces, by the time Dench appears as old Deuteronomy, I was hooked.  (There was a bit of overkill early on with the introduction of singing mice and cockroaches, but they soon were a thing of the past.)  To sum it up, if you have an open mind and believe in the wonders of film,  I think you might be pleasantly surprised.  I know I was.

LITTLE WOMEN

LITTLE WOMEN:  This retelling of the Alcott classic is definitely for a new generation and well it should be. This new batch of March women are a strong lot, particularly Jo, played beautifully by Saoirse Ronan who garnered a Golden Globe nomination.   Her sisters are portrayed equally as well....Meg (Emma Watson), Beth (Eliza Scanlen) and Amy (Florence Pugh).  Filling the role of Marmee (and doing it admirably) is Laura Dern while Aunt March is brought to life by the incandescent Meryl Streep (who brings magic to her every performance).  With Timothee Chalamer as Theodore "Laurie" Laurence and Chris Cooper as his grandfather.  While the plot is familiar, it is told with such love and caring that it becomes a fresh take on how women were pigeonholed in earlier times.  Unless you married well...…..(you get the drift).  Beautifully photographed, this film is absolutely exquisite.  It does however dart back and forth in flashbacks but they are never disconcerting.  And the ending which is totally new to this telling, feels remarkably perfect.  An extremely satisfying movie!

BOMBSHELL

BOMBSHELL:  And the nominees are...………..well, you decide...…….Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie and John Lithgow are clearly in the running and certainly Theron will get a nod portraying Megyn Kelly in this look at the sexual misconduct by Roger Ailes (Lithgow) at FOX television. Told with bits of humor, the film still packs a wallop displaying the beginning of the "Me, too" movement (before Weinstein and all the others). The film is chocked full of actors portraying the likes of Rudy Giuliani, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reillly, Judge Jeanine Pirro, Geraldo Rivera, Chris Wallace and the list goes on and on.   Among the other supporting actors are Allison Janney, Connie Briton and Malcom McDowall as Rupert Murdock.   Whatever your beliefs in politics and/or FOX news, this is a first rate portrayal of a not too bygone past.   Never boring, always madding, and worth your attention.

JUMANJI,THE NEXT LEVEL

JUMANJI, THE NEXT LEVEL:  The original cast is back and the basic formula is here as well, but given a boost with more of everything, including an ostrich stampede, attacking baboons, and some of the best CGI work you will ever see.  The plot concerns the teenagers getting sucked back into the video game where they become Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, Nick Jonas, and Awkwafina,   Also on board this time around is Danny DeVito and Danny Glover as well as brief appearances by Colin Hanks and Bebe Neuwirth.   As they all switch avatars at various time, you would think it would be hard to follow, but to the credit of the screenwriters, it isn't and you are always aware what character is inhabiting which body.  And it all makes for great adventure and great fun with some witty dialogue and even an homage (in the music) to "Lawrence of Arabia."  For pure escapism, this one will be hard to beat.  An extremely entertaining trip into the land of Jumanji.

e

FROZEN 2

FROZEN 2:   The long awaited sequel, has wonderful moments and some brilliant animation but the plot will be hard to follow for the younger set.   It's all about an enchanted forest with stone giants, horses made out of water, a cute little creature that carries fire on his/her back and a bunch of swirling leaves called Gale. The regulars are back, Elsa (the snow queen) voiced by Idina Menzel, Anna (Kristen Bell) Olaf, the snowman (Josh Gad) and the Disney Magic.  The musical numbers are varied and memorable as is the beautiful animation which harkens back to the Disney classics. It is quite a lovely film and one worth seeing.

.

KNIVES OUT

KNIVES OUT:  With an all-star cast, this deliciously wicked thriller is great fun and a roller coaster of twists and turns.   I refuse to give any of this intricate plot away, so you'll have to solve it as you go along.   We start out with a dead body.  Foul play?  Suicide?  And who hired the detective to investigate and why?  Even the detective doesn't know!  The superb cast is headed by Daniel Craig as the detective with the suspects seeming to be most of the family of the deceased.   On board for the mayhem is Jamie Lee Curtis, Chris Pine, and Toni Collette among others with Christopher Plummer as the deceased.  ( But as the story unfolds he is very much alive in a series of flashbacks.) And it all takes place in a spooky estate worthy of Agatha Christie.  I might add, they even manage to get in a car chase.  And some laughs, as well.  (My favorite....Daniel Craig waiting in a car singing "Or am I  losing my mind" from "Follies")   If this genre is for you (as why wouldn't it be?)  treat yourself and see it pronto.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:  Tom Hanks embodies Mr. Rogers in this nostalgic look at the iconic television pioneer, and he does it brilliantly. Based on a true story, Matthew Rhys plays Lloyd Vogel, an Esquire magazine journalist sent to interview Mr. Roger for an upcoming article.   The friendship that develops between them is the crux of the film.   While Vogel is trying to dig up dirt on the TV personality, he can't help but fall under the spell of this remarkably kind man.  Chris Cooper, in the role of Jerry Vogel, Lloyd's estranged father, adds still another dimension to this intriguing tale as we (and Mr. Rogers) learn of the reason for the animosity between the father and son.   At times light-hearted, the film still has enough grit to be most satisfying.   And Hanks has never been better.  Truly one of our finest actors.

THE GOOD LIAR

THE GOOD LIAR: The brilliant performances of Helen Mirren as Betty McLeish, a wealthy widow and Ian McKellan as Roy Cortnay, a con-artist, make this thriller a must-see.  When the two meet on line, Roy starts to devise a plan on how to steal her millions.  What follows are a series of twists and turns that will keep you thinking "What next."   I won't go into the plot because half the fun is watching it unfold.   I admit it is a bit slow going at first, but as the pieces fall into place, the pace picks up.  And by the end...……...well, no spoilers here.

PLAYING WITH FIRE

PLAYING WITH FIRE: In this light-hearted family flick, John Cena plays Jake (a.k.a "Supe") the head of a team of Smoke Jumper Firefighters that include Keegan-Michael Key (Mark) and John Leguizamo (Roderigo).  When the team rescues a trio of children from their burning cabin with no parents in sight, they soon become baby-sitters for the clan and very quickly learn that children can be like fires--wild and unpredictable.  What starts out as quirky comedy (and there are some lovely laughs), by films end is quite touching and will bring a tear to your eye.  Key and Leguizamo are perfect foils for each other with Leguizamo always "quoting" sayings and Key always rolling his eyes and explaining "not even close."  (Example:  Leguizamo - "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.  Barbra Bush")  All in all, it's just plain fun.  And sometimes that's all you need in a film.  

JOJO RABBIT

JOJO RABBIT:   Part comedy, part drama, with a healthy dash of pathos, this is a most unusual film and quite enjoyable. Roman Griffin Davis, in a nuanced performance that belies his young age, plays Jojo Betzer, a lonely German boy in the midst of WWII.  When he discovers that his single mother, Rosie (a superb Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in the attic, he must confront his fierce Nationalism and turns to his imaginary friend, Adolph Hitler.   Yes, that Adolph Hitler!  And this Adolph Hitler is played by Taika Waititi who also wrote and directed this one-of-a-kind creation with twist and turns and cinema tricks abounding.  Others in the cast include Oscar winner Sam Rockwell and Rebel Wilson as brutish instructors in the Hitler Youth Movement.  I won't divulge too much plot, but it will keep you on your toes and the outcome is most satisfying.  If you're in the mood for a movie that's a bit different, this is the one to see.

t

THE CURRENT WAR

THE CURRENT WAR: While some may call it a historical picture, this film portraying the "fued/war" between Thomas Edison and George Westinghouse over who would bring electricity to America is still engrossing with Edison touting Direct current and Westinghouse pushing for Alternating Current.  The marvelous Benedict Cumberbatch as Edison and the equally adroit Michael Shannon as Westinghouse along with Nicholas Hoult as Nickola Tesla give a master class in acting. These three guys (speaking of electricity) ignite the screen in this display of cutthroat competition.  Also on board is Tom Holland (the latest Spiderman) playing Edison' secretary and helper.   In this battle of wits the ultimate prize is who will bring electricity to the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.  But there is also the battle over the Electric chair!   A fascinating look as a bygone era and two dynamic gentlemen.

MALEFICENT, MISTRESS OF EVIL

MALEFICENT, MISTRESS OF EVIL:   Angelina Jolie returns in this Disney sequel that takes place 15 years later than the previous film.   When Prince Philip (Harrison Dickinson) proposed to Princess Aurora (Elle Fanning) and she accepts, Philip's  mother, Queen Ingrith (Michelle Pfeiffer) plots to use the wedding to divide the humans and fairies forever, causing Maleficent and Aurora to find themselves on opposite sides of an impending war.  The film may be a bit confusing to those who don't know the backstory, so be forewarned.  But it you are in the loop, it's a wonderful look at where Maleficent came from and a real fairy tale from the Disney folk.   (With some of the most imaginative fairies you'll ever see (including Imelda Staunton).  Others in the cast are Robert Lindsay as the King John and Chiwetel Ejifor as Conall. The CGI is first rate with an all-out war in the last half hour that still makes me question "How did they do that?"  It you're still a kid at heart, here is a fairy tale for you.