I guess seeing 11 movies in a short month (even though it was Leap Year) is not a bad record, but fewer than my normal total. movies not seen previously are noted wiyh an asterisk (*) and the rating system goes from 1-5 cans of tuna, with 5 the top rating.
15. Parasite* (2019) – I know it got the Oscar for Best Picture and a bunch more accolades, but there was little I liked about this movie. Yes, it was a very original story and well presented, but it did not hold my interest. I was not interested in the story and I don’t enjoy having to read the movie in the subtitles. Just not my cup of tea. 2 cans for the direction and originality.
16. Vick* (2020) – If you recognize the name Michael Vick, it is probably in conjunction with his conviction for conducting a dog-fighting business on his property, rather than because he was a gifted pro football player. This ESPN documentary, part of the “30 for 30” series, take a deep dive into Vick’s life and background, coming from an impoverished area and climbing to incredible wealth and fame, all of which came crashing down around him as a result of his self-acknowledged stupid decision to allow dog-fighting in his compound. Originally from Virginia, where dog-fighting is at least somewhat accepted, Vick allowed the old friends to move into his home and have the run of the house and property in the dog business, building kennels and featuring ghoulish fights between dogs. He was aware but not as deeply involved as the others, and as he saw himself go quickly from the top of his profession to prison and bankruptcy, he was genuinely contrite. Many stories have the “rise and fall” arc, and this one is no exception. Vick is interesting because his abilities on the football field paved the way for future outstanding young, Black quarterbacks who can pass and run with equal skill. Vick was blessed with amazing athletic ability, but little concern with proper training or even how his money was being spent. This is a 2-part documentary that runs for a total of 4 hours, but worth the time. 3½ cans.
17. JoJo Rabbit* (2020) – JoJo (Roman Griffin Davis) is a fresh-faced 10-year old living in Germany with his mother and his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi, who wrote and directed the film). Although he is so young, JoJo has his own political beliefs and he thoroughly endorses the Nazis, even though his mother (Scarlett Johanssen) is hiding a teenaged Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their house. His mother is sympathetic towards the persecuted young woman and Jews in general, while young JoJo is a Nazi sympathizer. Hitler is hilarious – if you can imagine that – and this satire looks in parts as if Monty Python had a hand in the script. At one point, the Nazis have to round up German Shepherds, and instead of dogs, they show up with actual shepherds. It is not all fun and games, as war is serious stuff, and the lonely little boy finds himself with just one friend, another young boy who supports the Nazis as the war winds down. This movie has a very fresh approach and is a constant reminder that we have to be taught to hate, to ridicule and disparage people who are not exactly like us. You can’t help thinking of the climate here in this country right now, with antisemitism and racism now so openly practiced. Young Davis gives a superb performance in his role as JoJo. Expect to see him on the screen often. 4 cans.
18. Running Scared (1986) – Rarely has an action movie proved so amusing, largely because of the unmistakable chemistry between Chicago cops Ray and Danny (Gregory Hines and Billy Crystal). The two are trailing a drug kingpin Julio (Jimmy Smits) and nearly get killed in a shootout, when their car chases Julio on the El line tracks, and when it ends up in a car crusher. The two actors – best known as a dancer and a comedian – are captivating as they work against the bad guys and even fellow officers to bring down the drug dealer. This movie is so old now that Ray talks on a cell phone the size of a large sneaker, but it remains a treat in the action drama buddy genre. 3½ cans.
19. Unknown (2011) – Here’s what I know: Never get into a cab, an elevator, a car, a train or anywhere else if Liam Neeson is there. This guy gets himself into and out of impossible situations. Here he is Dr. Martin Harris, a scientist who arrives with his wife (January Jones) in Berlin for a conference and loses his briefcase and nearly his mind. The “coincidences” that take place here are beyond the scope of reality, as he gets into an accident on his way back to the airport to retrieve his suitcase, is saved by the heroic cab driver (Diane Kruger) but winds up in the hospital with no identification. (The thought that he could get treated without insurance may be the most mind-boggling aspect of the movie.) When he gets back to the hotel, no one can confirm his identity, including his wife (January Jones), who is now on the arm of another main who claims to be Martin – and this guy (Aidan Quinn) has a valid passport. Go figure. Although parts of the plot seemed preposterous, the movie has enough suspense to hold your interest and dare you to follow it. Just stay away from Neeson! 3½ cans.
20. The Queen (2006) – Helen Mirren does a masterful job in portraying Queen Elizabeth II in this recounting of the death of Princess Diana in 1997. The Queen and her husband, Prince Philip, are away with her son, Prince Charles and “the boys,” Princes William and Harry when the fatal car accident occurs in Paris. Divorced from Prince Charles, Diana was no longer welcome in the Royal Family, and the Queen had no intention of noting her passing, no less celebrating her life, until newly elected Prime Minister Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) works some diplomatic magic to persuade her to appropriately mark the devastating loss of what he called “The People’s Princess.” The coldness of the Royal Family is evident, although the Queen would have you believe she was only trying to keep her grandsons’ bests interest at heart. If not for Blair’s common sense approach and his increasing sympathy for the monarch, there might have been mutiny against the Crown. 3½ cans.
21. Tell Me Who I Am* (2019) – Twin brothers Alex and Marcus are close, which is invaluable when Alex has a devastating accident that wipes out most of his memory. He trusts Marcus to fill in all of the gaps, which Marcus willingly does. But his recounting of their childhood and later life omits some of the reality of their lives together, which Alex resents when he realizes that Marcus has lied to him for many years. This is a true and painful story. You could not make this stuff up. Fascinating. 3½ cans. Available on Netflix.
22. Fatal Attraction (1987) – It has been 33 years since Glenn Close came unglued in this suspenseful thriller about a one-night stand gone awry. Lawyer Dan (Michael Douglas, looking 33 years younger, virile and gorgeous), has an intense sexual encounter with a business associate while his wife is out of town. Alex (Close) has decided she wants him for more than one night or weekend, even though he is clear about being a happily married husband (to Anne Archer) and father. That’s not enough for Alex, who becomes increasingly threatening and violent as she tries anything to keep Dan in her life. I had not seen this one in years, but it holds up. Better than Douglas, at that. 4 cans.
23. D Wade: Life Unexpected* (2020) – Contrary to the title, this ESPN documentary was not only expected, it was produced over the long career of all-star basketball player Dwayne Wade, with film shot throughout his career. Born and raised in Chicago, young phenom Wade had to overcome enormous challenges of poverty and a mother with a drug addiction. Somehow, those obstacles spurred him on to greatness, as he vowed to succeed and never follow his mother’s behavior. Wade is a good guy, devoted to his children, always encouraging them and accepting them. The film documents his rise from a gifted high school player through college and the pros. I would say the only limitation here is that if you are not a basketball fan, you might not even recognize his name, but if you are, finding out more about D Wade is illuminating. 3½ cans.
24. David Crosby: Remember My Name* (2019) – A creative dynamo addicted to music and drugs, the musician and member of both Crosby, Stills and Nash and CSN & Young (when they added Neil Young), Crosby lives his life in wonder, mostly wondering what the hell happened. He has many regrets about his behavior and time lost to his severe drug habit, which landed him in prison (which probably saved his life). Beyond the examination of the adventures of his life, those he loved and lost (including his treasured bandmates, Steven Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young), much of this documentary (but not enough, in my opinion) focuses on the incredible music he and the bands wrote and performed. They have a remarkable catalog of popular and meaningful music that defined a generation and the rise of the California sound. I’ll remember his name for sure. 3½ cans.
25. The Assistant* (2020) – Julie Garner plays the title role, a young, aspiring movie producer who has taken a job as an assistant to a nameless man (always referred to as “He,” as in “Is he in?”) clearly modeled on convicted sexual predator Harvey Weinstein. The assistant has the most mundane job imaginable, working long hours making copies, washing the office dishes and making lots and lots of arrangements, including booking private flights for the Big Boss Man, getting him to places from his various homes and offices, and using Fabreze to clean stains off the couch (one of the male assistants – who seem higher up on the human bondage scale here – warns, “never sit on the couch.”) But when the assistant is charged with picking up a young woman with whom Mr. Big seems to have established a relationship and getting her into a fancy hotel, she knows what is going on behind the closed doors. So does everyone else, but with their futures on the line, no one wants to drop a dime on the Boss. Garner plays the role with either a bland or fearful expression on her face as she goes about her daily chores, just one of the nameless, faceless assistants (no character in this film even has a name; just lots of pronouns) going nowhere but afraid of getting out of the queue headed for success. I don’t think this movie could have been made even five years ago; I’m not sure it should have been made today, but it certainly shows a toxic workplace and the misogyny that exists in the office. One more thing – and this is a pet peeve of mine – I have never seen real offices as poorly lit as the one portrayed here. It is a common practice in TV shows and movies to show characters working in offices illuminated only by lamps, but in the real world, it is all about ceiling lights that are harsh and unattractive but which provide the light necessary to work! 3 cans and a brighter bulb, please!
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