Tag: Family

2016 AFI Latin American Film Festival: Mr. Pig (Mexico)

EmmaLeave a comment

He [Danny Glover] traces Ambrose’s rapidly deteriorating physical with ease. But psychologically, the script (by Luna and Augusto Mendoza) just doesn’t provide a lot of depth to work with — for him or for Rudolph, also a welcome presence in a rare non-comedic role. –Excerpt from Variety review

MrPig_poster.jpg

Luna doesn’t ease up on the sadness one iota, and it will undoubtedly be tough for some to sit through.  However, they eventually hit just the right groove, and Mr. Pig becomes an odd story of family reconciliation, one that isn’t afraid to wallow in the emotional mud. -Travis Hopson (The Examiner)

mrpig_cast_director

It turns out that Mexican actor (and noted international heartthrob) Diego Luna is ALSO a director/writer!  He’s in the next Star Wars movie, BUT that doesn’t mean that he wanted to rest on his laurels.  Mr. Pig (Luna’s third directorial attempt) starts out slow, w/ an old farmer, Ambrose (Danny Glover), and his beloved hog heading from his (soon to be repossessed) farm in Southern California to Mexico.  As a young man, Ambrose fell in love w/ Mexico’s natural beauty and its people.

MrPig_wash.jpg

In time, we see that Ambrose is dependent on alcohol and (possibly) ill. When his concerned daughter, Eunice (Maya Rudolph) calls, he doesn’t reveal anything about his money issues or deteriorating health. He goes to the large/industrial farm of his old friend’s son; the two men talk and joke about the old days for a night. But upon seeing the conditions in which the pigs are kept the next morning, he refuses to sell his hog!       

My friend and I BOTH liked this film, BUT it’s for those who need speed and want ALL the problems wrapped up in a nice bow.  I particularly liked the cinematography (by Damian Garcia).  The music was low-key, so it didn’t mess w/ that was happening onscreen.  Ambrose and Eunice have a troubled relationship, BUT she ends up going part of the way w/ him to Guadalajara (where old friends have pooled money to buy the hog).    

 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Emma3 Comments

This is the kind of indie comedy that you definitely don’t see every week (at the local multiplex), b/c that would be TOO delightful!  (FYI: I saw it 2 mos. back at Landmark E St. Cinemas.)  This story is NOT cloying or sugary, like SO MANY films centered on children, thanks to it’s tongue-in-cheek directorial style by Taika Waititi.  The director (who also has a cameo as a minister) is an up-and- comer from New Zealand (with a white mother and a Maori father).  His next project will be one of the Thor films (ugh, I guess that means success).

wilderpeople_b-day
Ricky gets a cake for his 13th birthday!

In this film, 12 y.o. juvenile delinquent, Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison), gets a cheery/sweet foster mom, Bella  (Rima Te Waita) and cranky/reluctant father figure, Hec (Australian veteran actor Sam Neill). 

paula-and-andy
Andy and Paula

This is Ricky’s LAST chance, as his “nemesis” Paula (Rachel House) from Child Services warns him, supported by bumbling cop, Andy (Oscar Kighty).  These two characters provide GREAT laughs later in the films- just wait for it!

hunt-nyt
Ricky (Julian Dennison) and Hec (Sam Neill) in the forest.

After a tragic turn of events, Ricky runs away to the forest, and Hec goes after him.  It turns out that Ricky, a self-proclaimed overweight book lover, has a natural affinity for the outdoors.  He wants to learn more and more, much to the shock and surprise of the hermit-like Hec (who refuses to be called “Uncle”).

sundance_wilderpeople
Rhys Darby (VERY famous Kiwi comedian w/ cameo in this film), Sam Neill (Hec), Julian Dennison (Ricky), & Taika Waititi (The Minister/Director)

Now Voyager (1942) starring Bette Davis, Paul Henreid & Claude Rains

EmmaLeave a comment

Now-Voyager-bette-davis-15644428-1195-947

The untold want, by life and land ne’er granted,

Now, Voyager, sail thou forth, to seek and find.  

-From the poem The Untold Want by Walt Whitman

Claude Rains Now Voyager

This box office smash (the BIGGEST of Bette Davis’ career) is loved by MANY, maligned by a few (including film critic Pauline Kael, who referred to it as “schlock”).  The premise is nothing new- an ugly duckling (w/ extra pounds, thick eyebrows, dowdy clothes, and VERY low self-esteem) turning into a beautiful (and more importantly, confident) swan.  

The heroine- neurotic Charlotte Vale (Davis)- is helped by her sister-in-law Lisa, a pioneering psychotherapist named Dr. Jaquith (Claude Rains), and eventually- a friend who becomes more- Jerry Durrance (Paul Henreid). The villain in this film is Charlotte’s mother, Mrs. Vale (Gladys Cooper), a widow of considerable wealth in Boston.  She is a domineering woman, displeased by everyone, though her harshest criticism is for her youngest child- Charlotte.   

nv1

If the psychological elements, glamorous clothes, or music don’t draw you in- there is also a BIG love story element.  But learning to love (and accept) oneself is a key theme in this tale.  As Charlotte tells the depressed preteen Tina: “You can have a kind of beauty… one that comes from within, because you are kind to people.” 

The Little Foxes (1941) starring Bette Davis

EmmaLeave a comment

LittleFoxes_poster.jpg

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. -Chapter 2, Verse 15, Song of Solomon, King James Bible

This film’s screenplay was adapted from Lillian Hellman’s stage play by herself. A few others, including Dorothy Parker, worked on it also.  The film was helmed by William Wyler- a director that needs NO introduction. 

In turn of the 20th century, small town Southern aristocrat, Regina Hubbard Giddons (Bette Davis- NEVER one to shy away from unsympathetic roles), wants more freedom (travel to Chicago) and access to money (her older brothers inherited ALL their businessman father’s money).  Regina’s brothers (bachelor Ben and abusive husband Oscar) are ALMOST as ruthless as her!  Oscar’s wife, Birdie, comes from a former wealthy planter family, but she is disrespected by almost everyone (aside from her black servants and niece).

BetteDavis_LittleFoxes

You can flout society’s rule and be Regina, or you can ‘toe the line’ and be Birdie, who is blissfully ignorant of the political meaning of anything happening around her. She requires the charity of men to even survive.  -IMDB commentator 

Regina also wants her sweet/clueless teen daughter, Alexandra (Teresa Wright), to meet more eligible men in high social circles.  However, the girl already has a steady presence in her life- David, the local newspaperman.  (This character was created for the movie to provide a caring ally for Alexandra.)  Oscar’s son,  Leo (Dan Duryea), has had his eyes on his cousin for a LONG time.   

You can’t make a picture without a villain . . . it pays well and you last.  -Dan Duryea, actor

One day, Regina decides that her daughter is the BEST person to go and fetch her father, Horace (Herbert Marshall) from Baltimore where he has been recuperating for SOME time. 

Greenleaf: First Impressions of Oprah’s New Drama Series

Emma3 Comments

NOTE: This is a SPOILER-FREE review.

First of all, Oprah is NOT the star of this show (SOME will be disappointed by this fact); she is a recurring character- Mavis, a bar owner and older sister of the Greenleaf family matriarch, Lady Mae (Lynn Whitfield). The show, focusing on a black family running a megachurch in Memphis (where Oprah grew up), was created by Craig Wright (a former pastor). Yes, he’s a white man, but also a close friend of Oprah. Wright calls the show a “collaboration,” where he takes in feedback from regular church-going consultants and the lead actors. 

The viewer is put in the shoes of the main protagonist, Grace (AKA GiGi), played by theater veteran Merle Dandridge (check out this fun interview on Live! w/ Kelly). She is tall, elegant, and a single mom; she is also a journalist (by profession). As a very young woman, she used to preach at Calvary (as the town car driver recalls). GiGi returns home from Phoenix (after 20 yrs away) w/ her teen daughter, Sophia (Desiree Ross), for the funeral of one of her younger sisters (Faith). The house (or estate) has changed a LOT from that of her childhood, she tells Sophia.  At the gates, she is surprised to find her (very handsome) old flame, Noah (Benjamin Patterson), who is head of security for Calvary.      

The prodigal daughter returns… -Bishop James Greenleaf (Keith David) greets his daughter with these words, a big smile, and long hug

You’re not here to sow discord in the fields of my peace?  -Lady Mae asks GiGi

We see that Faith’s funeral is just family; also, she’s NOT buried in a graveyard. Hmmm…  At the family dinner (served by uniformed staff a la Downton Abbey), Gigi endures a trial by fire, which is lead by her sister-in-law/principal of a private charter school, Kerissa (Kim Hawthorne).  Her mother backs up Kerissa (as seen in the clip below from the pilot ep). 

One viewer called this show “a gospel version of Empire.” As the FOX drama takes music seriously, THIS show takes religion (Christianity) seriously.  From the eps so far, religion is NOT the problem, it’s the covering up of (ugly) truths. Saving face is also a big theme in this show; people will go to GREAT lengths to preserve their positions and respect w/in the church/family. OK, so maybe that reminds you of soap operas?  BUT those would never cover Black Live Matter (as we see in Episode 4). I’m not calling this MUST-SEE, but there are issues in this show that I feel are worth considering.