Category: 2023-2024

“Saltburn” (2023) starring Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi, Rosamund Pike, Richard E. Grant, & Archie Madekwe

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SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Saltburn (streaming on Amazon Prime).

Struggling to find his place at Oxford University, student Oliver Quick (Barry Keoghan) finds himself drawn into the world of the charming and aristocratic Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi), who invites him to Saltburn, his eccentric family’s sprawling estate, for a summer never to be forgotten. -Synopsis

Woo boy- what can I say re: this (unhinged) British/indie movie!? Yikes, it’s hard to put into words suitable for all ages of readers! I was curious b/c I’m a big fan of The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow. I have NOT yet seen the two miniseries of Brideshead Revisited (1981; 2008). After I watched Saltburn (written/directed by Emerald Fennell), I was a BIT surprised that it was free on Amazon Prime. Speaking of shock value, yeah- there are several scenes which were unexpected (rarely depicted in movies)! We’ll never look at bathwater the same way…

Barry Keoghan is trying to create a role out of the disparate parts of other ones (Norman Bates, Tom Ripley, Patrick Bateman), yet doesn’t get all the way there. He couldn’t have. There is no “there.” -Wesley Morris (New York Times)

The cast is made up of (mostly) fine/experienced actors, BUT w/ such poor writing/shallow character development, there isn’t much they can do. Keoghan (an Irish character actor) doesn’t disappoint; it’s TOO bad that this was his 1st leading role. Oliver speaks w/ a Liverpool accent; it is revealed that he comes from a comfortable middle-class family. Elordi (an Aussie who recently played Elvis in Priscilla) has potential; I hadn’t seen his acting before. There are a LOT of shots which linger over his handsome face and tall/lean body; I thought this was overkill (hey, I’m NOT a teenage girl). Felix’s parents, James (Richard E. Grant) and Elspeth (Rosamund Pike) are removed from their feelings and say whatever they want- it’s just absurd. Some critics (incl. POC) weren’t pleased w/ the way Felix’s cousin, Farleigh (Archie Madekwe), was depicted. Taking it back to the Ripley comparison, Farleigh (w/ a Black/American father and white/English mother) reminded me of Freddie Miles (Phillip Seymour Hoffman), as he is one of the few characters suspicious of Oliver’s motives. Just when things could get interesting, Farleigh is removed from the story! Oliver’s socially awkward/Math major friend, Michael, is played by Ewan Mitchell (one of the young stars of House of the Dragon).

This is a V glaring case of style over substance; I noted this before re: other (modern) media. As the time period is 2006/2007 (when Fennell was in college), we see looks which were popular then, incl. pierced eyebrows, bleached (damaged) blonde hair, long belts, etc. The real location for Saltburn is Drayton House in the village of Lowick in North Hampshire; it was built around 1300. Fennell stated she considers this “a vampire movie,” even though the story does not have supernatural elements. Oliver refers to himself as a vampire in the (now infamous) garden scene w/ Felix’s younger sister, Annabel (Sadie Soverall).

[1] For me, unfortunately its third act is probably its most memorable feature because it requires an enormous suspension of disbelief.

[2] The twists – I saw all of them coming, most are heavily contrived, and none felt shocking in the slightest. […] Saltburn is a seriously dull watch, the humour is barely present at all. I would have turned off after about an hour, but having got that far I stayed in hope of a clever ending. Nothing clever here, in fact, rather than clever they went for nonsensical.

[3] …the issue of character: no one in the film is a real person: all of them are pawns to serve the grand plot which, when dissected, falls apart. These aren’t people; they’re vehicles for the screenwriter (director, producer, etc.) to show off an interesting, but ultimately flawed story.

[4] Saltburn is a film that promises much, but delivers little. Despite its grand setting and talented cast, it fails to provide a compelling narrative or engaging characters. It’s a film that tries to be a critique of the English aristocracy and a psychological thriller, but falls short on both counts.

[5] The suspenseful bits aren’t suspenseful. The funny bits aren’t funny and the sexy bits aren’t sexy.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Anatomy of a Fall” (2023) starring Sandra Huller, Swann Arlaud, & Milo Machado Graner

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SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Anatomy of a Fall (available to rent/buy on VOD).

A woman is suspected of her husband’s murder, and their blind son faces a moral dilemma as the main witness. -Synopsis

Samuel Maleski (Samuel Theis) is found dead in the snow outside the isolated chalet (in the French Alps) where he lived w/ his wife, Sandra Voyter (Sandra Huller), and their partially-sighted 11 y.o. son Daniel (Milo Machado Graner). An investigation leads to the conclusion of “suspicious death,” as it’s impossible to know for sure whether he took his own life or was killed. Sandra’s old friend, Vincent Renzi (Swann Arlaud), is her lead defense attorney. Sandra is indicted, so we follow her trial, where her marriage is dissected. The French legal system is quite different from our own! Daniel is caught in the middle- btwn the trial and life w/ his mother.

When we started working on this film, it was like a genre film. We have so many thrillers on all the platforms and I wanted to do something different. The original idea was to have a film where there was a lack of visual elements and images, unlike films which depict a trial where there are all sorts of flashbacks and you see the life of the couple – that might have been easier – I could have shown their lives in that manner. But everything is based on absence. The child doesn’t see very well and there aren’t many images, yet you have this loud, loud music which is a focal point for the film. Whence the idea of placing the spectator in a position like the child or the jurors where there’s a lack of facts and evidence – everything is interlinked. This delirium springs from the fact that there’s so much that’s missing. -Justine Triet, director/co-writer (Cannes 2023)

Sandra [testifying in court]: Sometimes a couple is kind of a chaos and everybody is lost. Sometimes we fight together and sometimes we fight alone, and sometimes we fight against each other, that happens.

The screenplay was written by Triet (who started her career in documentaries) and her life partner, Arthur Harari. They have 2 kids together and started writing this movie in the COVID-19 pandemic (when under lockdown in Paris). This movie is a blend of domestic and legal drama- something which we (Americans) don’t often see. Triet explained that she was influenced by the Amanda Knox case, esp. how the young American woman was treated by the media. She noted that there was a LOT of misogyny in the way the press covered that case.

Sandra [to her son, Daniel]: My love. I just want you to know that I’m not that monster, you know. Everything you hear in the trial it’s just.. it’s twisted. It wasn’t like that.

Anatomy of a Fall (which is in English and French) won the Palm d’Or at Cannes. Language plays an important part here. We notice that English is the language that Samuel (a Frenchman) and Sandra (German) have in common. Daniel can speak English and French well; it’s easier for adolescents to pick up languages. At times, Sandra is at a loss for the appropriate French words in court, so she requests to speak in English (which is allowed).

The lead character is NOT always likeable and remains somewhat mysterious; some may wonder IF Sandra could be guilty. IMO- no- she was innocent (though that’s NOT the only focus of the filmmakers). In the middle of the movie, there is a flashback to a fight btwn her and Samuel. Some viewers said they were shocked by how realistic it seemed! As some of you may’ve guessed, Triet said that she was inspired by the fight btwn. the characters played by Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in Marriage Story (2019). Sandra was more successful as a writer than her husband; Samuel earned money by teaching. Daniel (a V smart/sensitive boy) was closer to his father than his mother; his loyal dog is his constant companion.

The film moves towards this point, where it’s the child who becomes the centerpiece of the trial. What does the film talk about? It talks about a child – he carries around a very heavy weight. He’s very close to his mother, he trusts her and then there are cracks that appear and he effectively finds himself in the position of the jury; in other words having to decide whether his mother is guilty or not. We’ll never know. We’ll never know whether his testimony is true or not. I was deeply touched to see this kind of situation and it’s particularly moving as a child. I think this is the first film where I’ve really given the floor to a child. The whole of the film moves towards this point. -Triet, when asked re: the testimony of the son in the trial (Cannes 2023)

I’d heard positive buzz about this movie for several mos. before I saw it (by renting on Amazon Prime). I enjoyed it a LOT, as it subverted my expectations; IMO it’s one of the best movies of 2023! The acting is terrific, incl. by Graner and the dog (Huller’s pet IRL). Huller is garnering attention for Zone of Interest, as that film was also released in 2023. The advocat general (Antoine Reinertz) is a tough prosecutor; he has a quick wit. Some critics said that they loved to hate him! Arlaud (keeps things grounded/has charm) has the kind of (angular) face which looks different from different angles; he and Huller have great chemistry. At a recent awards event, Triet joked w/ a journo and Graner: “Doesn’t he look like a baby Adam Driver?” Such a cute moment! Check this movie out for yourself, IF you haven’t done so already.

“Past Lives” (2023) starring Greta Lee, Teo Yoo, & John Magaro

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SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Past Lives (available to rent/buy on VOD).

Na Young (AKA Nora) and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrested apart when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea to Canada. Twenty-four years later, they’re reunited in NYC for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny. -Synopsis

As fans of HBO’s Girls (2012-2017) may recall, Greta Lee played Soojin (an artist’s asst/frenemy of Marnie) in 4 eps (S2-S3). Adam Driver (Adam Sackler on Girls) and Lee were photographed chatting at the Gotham Awards after-party last Fall in NYC. They’re both 40, have worked in NYC theaters, and played younger characters. Past Lives is a beautiful (inside and out) indie drama written/directed by Celine Song (a 1st time director). This film (produced by A24) won the National Society of Film Critics Best Picture award. Like Nora (Lee), Song moved w/ her parents from Korea to Canada; her father was a filmmaker. She later settled in the US, worked as a playwright, and married a Jewish/American writer- Justin Kuritzkes. This story is based on Song’s real life, BUT w/ “dramatic moments added” (as she explained).

Arthur [to Nora]:  You dream in a language I can’t understand. It’s like there’s this whole place inside you I can’t go.

In a profile of Lee in the NYT on May 30, 2023, Song said she tried to keep the 2 leads separated (as much as possible) to help the scenes when Nora and Hae Sung finally meet in person after a long separation. This film is in BOTH Korean and English; director Bong Joon Ho’s American interpreter helped Lee improve her skills in Korean. Yoo (42 y.o.) speaks fluent English, along w/ 3 other languages; he was born/raised in Germany and studied in the US (Lee Strasberg Inst). Song also did not let Yoo and John Magaro (Arthur- Nora’s husband) meet before shooting. When Hae Sung and Arthur meet each other for the 1st time, it’s the same for the actors. The shot that was eventually in the movie ended up being the 1st take. Magaro (40 y.o.) is mainly an indie movie/theater actor who often plays New Yorkers (w/ a V believable accent). As some critics commented, Arthur understands the appeal seeing how handsome Hae Sung looks.

Nora [to Hae Sung]: Getting married is hard for idealistic people like you.

Nora and Hae Sung (an engineer who is hesitant re: marriage) spend a few days together in NYC; they walk, talk, and visit some tourist attractions. Though they barely hug or touch, we sense some tension (romantic potential). One night, they’re joined by Arthur at an East Village bar. Nora (who sits btwn the 2 men) finds herself in the role of interpreter and intermediary btwn 2 cultures. Unlike many modern movies, Past Lives is restrained, understated, and effectively uses silence. Perhaps most refreshing- it doesn’t play into melodrama and Hollywood stereotypes, esp. w/ the “love triangle.” Some viewers were reminded of Richard Linklater’s Before trilogy (w/ Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy). I loved this film- and yes- I did cry!

At 40, it’s strange to be called a breakthrough actor. I’ve been doing this for 20 yrs! -Greta Lee

[1] The actors who play the sweethearts as adults, Greta Lee and Teo Yoo, are both exceptional, but it’s Lee who creates the most fascinating character. […]

The movie is also a sensitive look at what it feels like to be an immigrant, torn between two cultures, and not sure whether the nostalgia you feel is what you really want or just the allure of the familiar.

[2] Such a touching film, but at the same time, never cloying, because the script and direction from Celine Song were so wonderfully restrained. […] The characters were beautifully drawn and didn’t devolve into cliches, an example of which was the husband who gave a master class in being understanding and supportive. Beautiful cinematography too. Definitely one to see.

[3] A simple plot becomes a richly complex story of lost love, sought closure, and found purpose; and it’s all due to Celine Song having the proper understanding of when to allow silence to speak.

Yet despite the frequent bouts of silence, not a moment feels wasted. Every shot and sentence is meticulously edited to give us exactly what we need to feel each moment with its full emotional power.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire” starring Sofia Boutella, Djimon Hounsou, Ed Skrein, Michiel Huisman, & Charlie Hunnam

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SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire (2023) streaming on Netflix.

When a peaceful settlement on the edge of a distant moon finds itself threatened by the armies of a tyrannical ruling force, Kora (Sofia Boutella), a mysterious stranger living among the villagers, becomes their best hope for survival. Tasked with finding trained fighters who will unite with her in making an impossible stand against the Mother World, Kora assembles a small band of warriors – outsiders, insurgents, peasants and orphans of war from different worlds who share a common need for redemption and revenge. As the shadow of an entire Realm bears down on the unlikeliest of moons, a battle over the fate of a galaxy is waged, and in the process, a new army of heroes is formed. -Synopsis (Netflix)

Remember when y’all dressed up in your parents’ clothes, shoes, etc. and acted like a grown-up? This new movie (streaming on Netflix) is NOT connected to Star Wars (as I’d assumed). I learned that Zack Snyder 1st conceived this as a Star Wars movie; he pitched it to Lucasfilm in 2012 (after it was sold to Disney). As many critics have noted, this is a take on Seven Samurai (1954) dir. by Akira Kurosawa. It’s basically style (SFX/action) over substance, though the CGI isn’t always impressive. I don’t know much re: Snyder’s work (though I know he is a divisive filmmaker); I saw Man of Steel at a (free) pre-screening in 2013. Nope, I would NOT have paid for that movie!

The cast incl. some actors who we (barely) know or haven’t seen before. Boutella (looking FAB at age 40- mad respect for that) is a French-Algerian actress w/ a strong background in dance/former model. I’ve ONLY seen her in Star Trek Beyond (2016) and an ep of Modern Love (2019); she doesn’t have range. This is the 1st time Ed Skrein (Adm. Atticus Noble) and Michiel Huisman (the lead farmer Gunnar) have worked together since Huisman (who is Danish) replaced Skrein (a Brit who resembles a young Jonathan Rhys Meyers) as Daario Naharis in Game of Thrones. Skrein (in the main baddie role) and his troupe of Mother World (NOT the Empire) soldiers are dressed in uniforms almost exactly like Nazis. Yikes, talk about a lazy shortcut for characterization! Huisman (though sporting bigger muscles/lusher hair than in previous roles) still comes off awkward and lacks charisma/screen presence. I recall that MANY viewers complained after he took on Daario; I also saw him in the ensemble drama Treme. As for Charlie Hunnam (Kai), he’s a baddie version of Han Solo w/ a man bun/twinkling blue eyes who speaks w/ an (exaggerated) Irish accent. Yes, Hunnam has charm, BUT that can’t save him here!

The fault should NOT totally fall on the actors’ (well-sculpted) shoulders; the script is uninspiring and the plot is thin. One viewer asked: “Was this written by AI?” LOL! There is a badass woman heroine (who can beat-up men 2x her size), innocent/peaceful farmers, cliched/nasty villains (incl. potential rapists), and a V little arc to the story. As w/ MANY Netflix series/movies, there are TOO many characters who are barely developed; the audience ends up caring little about their fates. As Kora gathers the diverse team of warriors (each w/ a different style), we wonder why they want to join this fight. Like many viewers commented, I wanted to see more of the hardened warrior (played by Djimon Hounsou) and the robot character, Jimmy (voiced by Anthony Hopkins), who has a good scene in the 1st act. I’m also NOT a fan of slow-mo and lens flares (why I quit watching ST: Discovery).

[1] Imagine you’re a twelve year old boy, having watched some cool movies for the first time five minutes ago, having your bootleg toys of popular franchises and smashing them together in dirt saying “and then” every couple of minutes. Now imagine you get tens, if not hundreds of millions of dollars to make that a movie.

Now imagine that being better than this.

[2] Other than the world design and effects, there really isn’t much else to salvage from it. In true Snyder style we’ve got lens flare and slow motion, but this time he’s dialed it up over the top. Some of the action scenes are absolutely ruined from way too much diving in and out of slow motion.

[3] The plot? Star Wars excuse aside, it’s a mess. The preposterousness of engaging with their Seven Samurai recruits at moments when each is faced with a crucial test is just lazy storytelling.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Spoiler-Free Reviews of Three 2023 Movies

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Killers of the Flower Moon

In 1920s Oklahoma, a simple-minded/former WWII soldier, Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio), comes under the influence of his powerful/businessman uncle, William Hale (Robert DeNiro). In this area, the members of the Osage nation are V wealthy, as they hold land rights (to where oil was discovered). While working as a driver, Ernest meets and courts Mollie (Lily Gladstone), a young/single Osage woman who comes from a family of several sisters. Ernest and Mollie marry and have children, though their life together is NOT always smooth. In time, we learn of (mysterious) deaths of several Osage; the (newly formed) FBI sends agents to investigate, incl. Tom White (Jesse Plemons).

IF the 3 hrs. and 26 mins. run time doesn’t put you off, then you should check it out. I feel V important events, issues, and themes are discussed. I saw it w/ 2 of my friends a few weeks after it was released. I think younger (under 25) audiences could have a tough time, as they have shorter attention spans. Modern viewers are also NOT used to such long takes of scenes, some of which could’ve been edited further. IF you’re sensitive to blood, racist/sexist language, and violence, this MAY be difficult to watch; director Martin Scorsese films don’t shy away from these elements.

DiCaprio (who made a salary of $30M) is wearing a downturned (frowning) expression w/ his brows knit tightly; some critics commented that Ernest is working hard to understand what’s going on (as he’s NOT V smart). Gladstone is prominent in the 1st half of the film; she can express a LOT while speaking little. DeNiro plays the affable (unofficial) patriarch; he speaks the Osage language and knows the culture. I thought that most of the supporting (mostly NOT famous) characters did a good job and fit their roles; the standout was Louis Cancelmi (as several critics have noted). The production design was V impressive; you can tell that a LOT of research went into this production.

I was disappointed that the FBI storyline was NOT as developed much as I expected. The FBI came in ONLY in the last 1/3 of the movie; Tatanka Means (son of activist/actor Russell Means) is the young/handsome Native American agent. As some of you MAY know, the (original) script had DiCaprio playing Tom White and focused more on the law & order angle. When Scorsese decided to focus more on Ernest and Mollie’s story, Plemons was brought on to play Agent White (who became a supporting character). There are some V effective shots which will stay in your mind; we wouldn’t expect less from Scorsese. What did you think of the ending? I think it was an unusual directorial decision. This story did get me emotional in the final moments.

Napoleon

I went to see this movie on a TUES about one week after it was released; I ONLY paid $7 for the ticket (at Regal). I didn’t have high hopes, BUT was curious to see what director Ridley Scott had done. I was disappointed to see that French actor, Tahar Rahim (who plays aristocrat/general Paul Barras), was ONLY in the first 1/3 of the story. English actress Vanessa Kirby (Josephine) is a strong onscreen presence; I wanted to know a BIT more about her. As for Joaquin Phoenix in the lead role, I was NOT impressed by the characterization (we know he is a strong actor). He speaks w/ an American accent and is now close to 50; Napoleon accomplished much as a young man. Napoleon often looks tired, annoyed, and petulant; we see him planning battles (in ONLY one scene) though he was famed for strategy. As one critic said, this movie shows us “the greatest hits” (just 3 of his battles). As for these few action scenes, I thought they were done quite well. Some of the background CGI is NOT that realistic. At the end, I saw that the (small) audience I went to see it w/ was NOT impressed. Scott’s work in the past 15 yrs. has been hit or miss.

Oppenheimer

I went to see this movie the day after it was released, as I had time off that afternoon; the (IMAX) theater was full w/ viewers of ALL ages. I’m sure MANY of you have heard/read re: this movie, so I won’t give a synopsis. I was glad to see that Cillian Murphy (an Irish actor I admire) got a starring role; he is now 47 y.o. (so it’s high time). He is up to the challenge of carrying the film; there are MANY close-ups of his face. My audience seemed to enjoy the scenes w/ Murphy and Matt Damon (in the 1st act); they have good onscreen chemistry and quippy banter. Even more so than w/ KOTFM, we see supporting actors who each get a chance to shine. The standouts among the scientists are two Americans: David Krumholtz (who started out in teen comedies) and Benny Safdie (also an indie director). There are some cameos which MAY surprise viewers.

Unfortunately, we don’t get a LOT of character development for the 2 main women- Kitty (Emily Blunt) and Jean (Florence Pugh). Blunt gets more to do than Pugh; as some critics said in the past, director Christopher Nolan doesn’t focus much on women. Another issue is the (incessantly overdramatic) music which I did NOT appreciate! There are a few shots (whether practical or special effects) that were V impressive. When we get to the last act, it looked like people were NOT as engaged. This is the section where we see more of Robert Downey, Jr; his young aide is played by Alden Ehrenreich (who was the co-lead in Fair Play). It was a V long movie, BUT I was mostly interested in the material. Nolan isn’t much for emotion (as y’all cinephiles know), BUT he does have an unique viewpoint here.