Ten Reviewed

It’s been nearly two months since my last post, so this is a kind of catch up activity. Deciding on a film to watch is usually an agonizing exercise. But it’s even harder for people like me who refuse to watch scary movies that involve serial murders, child abduction or harm, and in general bloody shoot ’em ups with an excess of special effects. I spend hours on Rotten Tomatoes and Best Of lists trying to come up with some new material. So because I love all of you so much I am sharing my two month list–the Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (actually should have put that on the list–revisited and actually enjoyed it. Forgot that Clint Eastwood was so handsome. Too bad he became such a political shithead.) As usual, wishing you would send in your suggestions. I need some!

“Close to Vermeer” 2023 (Prime,Apple,maybe Kanopy?) If you love Vermeer, you will enjoy this lovely documentary.

“The Lies We Tell” 2023 (Kanopy) Histrionic 19th Century Irish Gothic thriller of sorts. Some of the scenes seemed gratuitous and frustratingly implausible (“why would she leave her door unlocked?”) Nice costumes

“After Yang” 2021(Kanopy) Interesting and somewhat touching sci fi about human and A.I. robot love.

“His Three Daughters” 2024 (Apple,Amazon) Very well done drama with excellent acting, dialogue and character development. It’s been described as “quiet” because, I suppose, it’s a simple production with complex themes. It’s really like watching a staged play.

“Fall Guy” 2024(not sure–watched it on the plane) Just relax and watch the special effects and you can enjoy it. This is a perfect flight film–nod out and wake up to the sound of one car crashing without losing the thread of the plot such as it is. I’m not sure I saw the ending. It goes well with those over salted pretzels that serve as dinner on domestic flights.

“Will and Harper” 2024 (Apple) Will Ferrell and his transitioning 61 year old friend and former comedy writer Harper Steele travel cross country for 17 days. Part of the film theme is their testing of Harper’s new female persona in “rough country”, but it is more about their loving relationship as friends. Their shared comic perspective keeps the film from being maudlin and Hallmarkish. Highly recommend.

“Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” 2017 (Amazon) Here’s a film that purports to be a feminist statement but its subtext contradicts that notion. It’s based on the truth that “Wonder Woman” was the invention of a Harvard trained psychologist. And also on the truth that he was into bondage and enjoyed a nearly twenty year menage a trois with his wife and his former student, niece of Margaret Sanger. It’s not an unwatchable movie, it’s just kind of ill conceived. And inaccurate. Wikipedia research tells the real story. Bewilderingly the filmmakers chose to omit or change details that would actually have heroized the “wonder women” in Professor Marston’s life. There’s a lot of bondage eroticism but it’s not much of a turn on. The dialogue is filled with anachronisms. A documentary would have been more interesting. But please, watch it and give me your opinion.

“The Last of the Sea Women” 2024(Apple) This is a fascinating documentary about the haenyeo, women divers of JeJu a Korean island about the size of Maui. Two novels published in the last four years (The Island of Sea Women and The Mermaid from JeJu )focus on the relationships and diving culture of the divers and are set during and shortly after World War II. But the film brings so much more to the story of these brave women. It documents the lives of the women who now in their 80’s and 90’s are still diving, the dying culture, and its sadly diminishing ability to cope with the pollution and destruction of our oceans.

“The Terminal” 2004 (Kanopy) This film with its feel good message and miscast characters got rave reviews and you might like it. But if you do, tell me how it ends.

“Shut Up, Sona” 2020 (Kanopy) I think it leaves Kanopy this week. Watch this documentary if you are interested in feminism and Indian culture and gorgeous singing. Sona Mohapatra is a well known singer who (among many other musical genres) brings a new reading to 16th century Hindi songs, arguing that they are feminist affirmations of gender fluidity. She is the force behind #MeToo in India. The film feels a bit disjointed and occasionally low technical quality, but that aside I found it fascinating, Sona’s voice mesmerizing. Highly recommend.