Tag: Friendship

Spoiler-Free Review: “Infinity Pool” (2023) starring Alexander Skarsgard, Mia Goth, & Cleopatra Coleman

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While staying at an isolated island resort, James (Alexander Skarsgård) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are enjoying a perfect vacation of pristine beaches, exceptional staff, and soaking up the sun. But guided by the seductive and mysterious Gabi (Mia Goth), they venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism, and untold horror. -Official synopsis

WTF did I see!? What exactly are the filmmakers trying to say? The writer/director of this horror/drama is Brandon, the son of veteran Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg. Like his father, Cronenberg does NOT shy away from controversy; this film contains a LOT of blood, drug use, explicit scenes (w/ nudity), and dark (possibly unsettling) themes. It was originally rated NC-17 for “some graphic violence and sexual content.” After an unsuccessful appeal for an R rating, NEON (the distributing studio) edited it. The uncut version was screened at the Sundance Film Festival; the edited (R-rated) version was released in theaters.

James Foster: I actually came here looking for inspiration. To a resort. It’s quite pathetic.

Alban Bauer: So what do you do for money then? Do you teach, or?

Em Foster: He married rich.

Alban Bauer: That’s a good one. Well, its’ good for an artist to have a patron, isn’t it?

James Foster: Yes.

Em Foster: Oh, sure. I’m in danger of becoming a charitable organization at this point.

Alexander Skarsgard (son Stellan/brother of several other actors) is in his anti-hero stage; I was recently impressed by his (complicated) husband role in HBO’s Big Little Lies. The Swedish actor is considered one the most (classically) handsome men onscreen (V tall, blond, blue-eyed, w/ a trim/sculpted body). Well, there is NOT much “hot” (or even likeable) about the role of James! He’s feeling emasculated, being dependent on Em (his wealthy/young wife). James has been suffering writer’s block (after early success); Gabi Alban (Mia Goth- a Brit w/ a Latina mother) boosts his ego w/ her compliments… and more. I’ve only seen 2 movies w/ Goth; you may know her as the wife of (troubled actor) Shia LaBeouf. In a recent podcast, LaBeouf commented that being w/ him has hurt Goth’s career; she is known for her work in the horror genre. I don’t know the supporting actors; they all play unhinged characters.

I have to admit I did like the scene where Gabi (boldy) touches the hollow of James’ throat to illustrate a point on the beach. Who acts that way w/ a stranger!? When the married couples go out to dinner at the Chinese restaurant, Gabi looks at James like she wants to eat him up! Modern viewers sometimes complain re: the overuse of close-ups; there are TOO many here (and often unsettling). If you are squeamish re: blood, then I recommend you avoid this movie. I just didn’t like the style of directing, incl. the use of (discomforting) graphics. The music is disturbing; if I knew more on this topic, I could say more. It is rumored that Robert Pattinson was offered the lead, but passed; he would’ve made it worse than it already is IMO! The ending is just frustrating, as is most of the film. I learned that some viewers walked out at Sundance.

[1] I just felt like it didn’t really amount to anything except for shock for the sake of shock and weirdness for the sake of weirdness. […] The visuals were admittedly cool and the overall aesthetic of the movie was well done, but what was the point? It ultimately just amounted to being a very pretentious, try hard, extreme film for commercial audiences.

[2] The story makes no sense with cloning being the predominant theme. Skarsgard, Goth and the entire cast are wasted with a silly script and story.

[3] Sad no one spends the time to think things out and develop a scary story and use atmosphere and tension.

This movie has atmosphere and tension, but it’s of the lower kind .

If this movie is trying to say something it’s that people with connections and money get away with murder .

[4] This film had the potential to be something new and creative in the horror genre, but writer/director Brandon Cronenberg settles for more of the same of his usual style with little in the way of an understanding of why these events are occurring or even caring that they are happening. […]

All the acting is very well done; Mia Goth is always a sure bet when playing a sinister crazy person. Alexander Skarsgård, unfortunately, isn’t given enough material here to truly shine in his role. He’s a practically one dimensional shell of a character, and that is one of the main reasons the film did not work for me. I felt nothing for his character, and the character makes some of the worst decisions I’ve seen on film. Barely any of the film makes sense, if I’m being honest. Best not to ask why to any of the questions you have because, more than likely, they will not be answered.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Fatal Attraction” (Paramount+): Episode 1

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A deep-dive reimagining of the classic 80s thriller, exploring timeless themes of marriage and infidelity through the lens of modern attitudes toward strong women, personality disorders and coercive control. -Synopsis

Introduction:

Are you a fan of the (iconic) movie Fatal Attraction (1987) starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close, or perhaps the erotic thriller genre? If so, then you may want to check out this new Paramount+ streaming show (w/ a subscription on Amazon Prime). Three eps were released last SUN (April 30th); there will be a total of 8 eps (about 1 hr./ea.) For fans of the original, there are “Easter eggs” to be found, as co-writer Alexandra Cunningham noted. James Dearden (who wrote the original screenplay) is credited; long-time fans may recognize (discarded) ideas from his original script. Beth has a much larger role to play; she has a small business (so is not a housewife). Dearden originally wrote Beth as a schoolteacher who’d taken a few yrs off, BUT was planning to return to work. Producers didn’t like that idea, so that’s why movie Beth (Ann Archer) was an ideal “happy homemaker.”

Episode 1:

15 years after Alex Forrest’s murder, Dan Gallagher is paroled and reaches out to his estranged daughter Ellen. In the past, a crushing career defeat drives him to first connect with Alex. -Synopsis of the pilot episode

Do you know the (alternate) ending to the ’80s movie which the producers rejected? That finale included Dan being convicted of murdering Alex! The ep opens w/ Dan’s hearing in front of the parole board; he has served his sentence of 15 yrs. It sounds like he has been a model prisoner during this time. His manner is humble and his speech is V serious/calm. Though he doesn’t notice her, the adult Ellen (a grad student in Psychology) is at the hearing.

The setting of the story has been moved from NYC to LA. In 2008, Dan (Joshua Jackson, 45 y.o.) is still a lawyer, BUT he’s a Deputy District Attorney (NOT in corporate law). As in the movie, he has a comfy home, loving wife (Beth), and young daughter (Ellen is aged up to 8 y.o.) He seems to be respected/liked by most of his colleagues at the Criminal Courts Building. Dan is turning 40 soon and up for a judgeship. Alex (Lizzy Caplan, 40 y.o.) isn’t a book editor here; she works in Victims Services (and is also a colleague of Dan’s). In the era of #MeToo, this adds another layer to the classic story of infidelity.

This show has 2 timelines: the present (2023) has a cool color palette, while the time period of the affair/its aftermath (2008) has a warmer look. In the past, Dan is often in the center of the frame (as one would typically present a main character). He wears suits, talks fast, and walks in an upright/confident manner. In the present, Dan is sometimes on the sidelines (as the story is NOT just his anymore). He has more gray hair, is dressed V casually, talks carefully (slowly) and has his head/shoulders lowered. There is more to see, so check out the show for yourself!

My first reaction was that I missed the (more glam) setting of Manhattan. Then, I wondered how much of the story would focus on law and order. Ellen’s focus is on Carl Jung; I wonder if this may play out in the show. Do you think the casting of the leads is fitting? I will keep on watching and post review of the full series when it has finished. If you’re active on Twitter, I’ve posted some related tweets. (See videos below.)

“The Star” (1952) starring Bette Davis & Sterling Hayden

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The story of every woman who ever climbed the stairway to the stars…and found herself at the bottom looking up. Played, as it could only be, by the two-time winner of the Academy Award!

When the Hollywood star fades… the woman is born.

-Taglines for the film

Middle-aged former Oscar winner Margaret Elliot (Bette Davis at age 44) is a Hollywood has-been. Maggie hopes to resurrect her past stardom in a leading movie role. However, no job offers are coming and she’s broke (w/ creditors selling off most of her valuable personal items). A young ingenue (Barbara Lawrence) has been getting the types of roles Maggie played. Divorced from her successful/actor husband, Maggie shares joint custody of their 13 y.o. daughter, Gretchen (Natalie Wood ay just 13). Maggie is torn btwn her fear of age, devotion to her daughter, and drive to get back to where she belongs. She has an extended family that she had cared for financially, but is no longer able to do that. When it looks as if Maggie has hit rock bottom (spending a night in jail for a DUI), Jim Johannsen (Sterling Hayden at age 35 y.o.) re-enters her life. He is an old friend who got his big break in Hollywood b/c of Maggie’s notice. However, Jim soon came to the realization that he didn’t want to be an an actor. Jim works as a boat parts supplier/mechanic and lives a quiet/contented life.

Jim: You know, it’s funny, I was just thinking. Sailors are a lot like actors. With them it’s always the next ship and the next voyage, and with an actor it’s always the next part and the next picture… Always chasing rainbows.

This is a short (89 mins.) movie which packs a punch; it’s a must-see for fans of Davis and the classics! Some astute viewers said it was like a (dark) view into what could’ve happened to Margot Channing (Davis’ character in All About Eve). The director (Stuart Heisler) was on contract at Paramount (1940-1942), turning out mostly “B” movies. As a freelancer, he did a fine job w/ Storm Warning (1951) starring Ginger Rogers and Ronald Reagan. Here we have a no-frills (non-glam) style of directing, which suits the themes. The writers of the (terrific) screenplay (Dale Eunson and Katherine Albert) were a married pair. Hayden goes a great job in his (understated/good guy) role; his real life reflects that of Jim.

[1] This is worth seeing for Davis alone. She’s just great. She also gleefully said she modeled her character after Joan Crawford! OUCH!

[2] Ironic isn’t it, that Bette Davis would get a Best Actress Oscar nomination for a role in which she portrays a washed up actress? There’s a great “Sunset Boulevard” moment in the story when she affirms to her daughter Gretchen (Natalie Wood) , “…if you’re a star, you don’t stop being a star.”

[3] Hayden, of course, is at his sterling best; how nice to see him playing a tender, kindly role, for a change…

[4] “The Star” is a realistic look at the ego of someone who has been isolated from reality and surviving on her identity as a film star. Unlike her male counterparts, she has to face the passage of time, and she can’t. […] And although someone commented that this character is probably like Davis herself, yes and no. Davis was very smart in that she went into character roles – where every leading lady ends up eventually – comparatively early in her career.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“The Outsider” (2002) starring Naomi Watts & Tim Daly

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Have y’all seen anything on Freevee? A few weekends ago, I came across this movie (which originally aired on Showtime). The Outsider (based on the novel by Penelope Williamson) is a Western/drama/romance set in the late 1880s; it was filmed in Australia. It is centered on the (forbidden) love btwn a widowed mother, Rebecca Yoder (Naomi Watts), from a (Mennonite-like) group and a gunslinger, Johnny Gault (Tim Daly), who she takes into her house after he is shot. Noah (Keth Carradine) is Rebecca’s friend/neighbor; he is a widower w/ a teen son. The community’s doctor is played by his (real-life) older brother, David Carradine. Fans of the LOTR trilogy will recognize the main villain, Mr. Hunter (John Noble- a veteran Aussie actor). The director (Randa Haines) has worked on several critically-acclaimed films.

This is NOT the typical (shoot ’em up) Western, though there are scenes of action. The scenery is V nice, though the sets, costumes, etc. are simple. Rebecca’s community members are called “the plain people” and they avoid confrontation and violence. In an early scene, we see what lead to the death of her husband. The townspeople try to take advantage of this peaceful community sometimes. The worst one of all is Mr. Hunter, a powerful/feared man who wants to expand his land holdings. About a year later, a man dressed in dusty/dark clothes stumbles onto her land w/ a bullet lodged in his gut. Quickly, Rebecca and her young son (Benjo) take him into their log cabin. Rebecca is shocked when she unwraps the guns, knives, and bullets that this man carried on his person. We wonder if this is a good man or one that is a criminal (who could cause her harm)! The doctor removes the bullet and predicts that the outsider will die soon. However, Rebecca is NOT convinced; she prays for his life and helps him recover (going out of her way).

Why would anyone want to cover up something so beautiful? -Johnny asks Rebecca (who covers her hair)

After a rocky start, Rebecca and Johnny get to know each other as he heals. She’s pleasantly surprised to know that he knows the Bible. Johnny appreciates her humor and humanity. Rebecca is more of a spiritual person; her view of religion consists of everything around her. When Johnny is chastised for playing music, he is playful/teasing w/ Rebecca, not angry. It turns out that Rebecca loves music, BUT it’s not allowed by her people. Rebecca is attracted to Johnny b/c he appreciates who she is. Yes, there are (typical) tropes you find in romance novels, BUT there are scenes that feel fresh and non-cliched. Even today, there are NOT many movies that focus on women’s desire! Watts (who is an Aussie) would go on to some big roles; she always gives a fine performance. Daly (an American; then known for light/comedic roles) gets to show his versatility. They have great chemistry together!

[1] Every so often, a movie comes along with an inspiring cast, a beautiful setting, dialogue that sounds like people talking, foreshadow that makes sense and characters that emote deep sympathy.

[2] For anyone that loves reading a good romance novel, this is the movie for you. […] Sexy, intelligent, believable characters, and a smoldering chemistry…

Tim Daly is fantastic in this film. …his character has a variety of facets which are explored in a realistic way.

[3] Tim Daly – who I had always considered as an actor in light comedy – was extremely impressive as a dark, possibly evil, character. In a movie that could have been just a mixture of Shane/Witness, it brought something new and impelling. It made you care…

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

#Oscars: “Tar” (2022) starring Cate Blanchett, Noemie Merlant, Nina Hoss, Sophie Kauer, Mark Strong, & Julian Glover

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Set in the international world of Western classical music, the film centers on Lydia Tár, widely considered one of the greatest living composer-conductors and the very first female director of a major German orchestra. -Synopsis

Lydia Tár: Don’t be so eager to be offended. The narcissism of small differences leads to the most boring kind of conformity.

Conductor/composer Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett), the first female principal music director of the Berlin Philharmonic, is at the top of her game. She is known as a trailblazer in the male-dominated classical music world. Lydia prepares for the release of her memoir while tackling work and family. She is preparing for one of her biggest challenges: a live recording of Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. However, forces she can’t control chip away at Lydia’s facade, revealing her dirty secrets and the corrupting nature of power. At the 95th Academy Awards, Tár received 6 noms: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.

Lydia Tár: You want to dance the mask, you must service the composer. You gotta sublimate yourself, your ego, and, yes, your identity. You must, in fact, stand in front of the public and God and obliterate yourself.

Writer/director Todd Field wrote the film specifically for Blanchett and wouldn’t have made the film w/o her; they previously planned to work on a different film that Field could not acquire financing for. Focus Features told Field that they would produce any film that he wanted as long as it was at a certain budget. Blanchett had to re-learn the piano, learned how to speak German, and learned how to conduct an orchestra for the role. Scenes of the orchestra playing are 100% real; Blanchett was actually conducting the Dresden Orchestra. Hungarian pianist and professor at the Hungarian Academy of Music, Emese Virág, helped Blanchett prepare for her role. To bring Tár’s (carefully cultivated) speaking voice into being, she listened to recordings of Susan Sontag.

Lydia Tár: Unfortunately, the architect of your soul appears to be social media.

Is this a real person!? You wouldn’t be alone in wondering this, like my friends and I did when we watched it (Amazon). Near the start of the movie, Tár (who is fictional) is interviewed by Adam Gopnik, a New Yorker reporter, in a V long scene supposed to be taking place at the mag’s annual festival. Her book is being published by Nan Talese at Doubleday. Tar’s suits are tailored by Egon Brandstetter, who plays himself. Even the young Russian cellist, Olga Metkina (Sophie Kauer), is played by a British-German musician who recently got into acting.

The very first scene we shot was a post-rehearsal scene… at the Dresden Philharmonie that’s supposed to be after the very first rehearsal that we see of the Mahler. It was the three of them, it was Cate Blanchett, Nina Hoss and Noémie Merlant, and I remember that first take, and it just, it took my breath away because that’s a part of filmmaking… It’s the magical part of filmmaking. It’s beyond the camera, it’s beyond the lighting, it’s beyond your lens choice, it’s beyond all of – art direction, everything else. It’s human beings in front of a camera that can do MAGICAL things. And that part of it felt like a long overdue homecoming. -Todd Field, on returning to feature filmmaking after 16 yrs.

Can you separate the art from the artist? During a lunch convo btwn Tar and her mentor/friend Andris Davis (Julian Glover), he mentions several real conductors: James Levine, Charles Dutoit, and Wilhelm Furtwängler. In 2017, Dutoit was accused of multiple sexual assaults over several decades; he resigned as artistic director/principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic. In 2018, the Met announced that James Levine, their principal conductor since 1972, had been fired in the wake of multiple sexual assault allegations and investigations. Wilhelm Furtwängler was principal conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic (1922-1945); though he made symbolic nods toward independence, he was the most prominent conductor to remain in Germany during the Nazi regime and was known as Hitler’s favorite conductor.

She’s always been a key reference for me. I like to re-watch my favorite scenes of hers, sometimes right before I shoot a scene myself; not to copy her, just because it gives me energy. Working with her was mind-blowing. -Noemie Merlant

This film looks and sounds authentic; the viewer is taken (perhaps too deep) into the world of classical music. It’s obvious that Field was given a LOT of freedom to make his vision come to life. Yes, it’s V long (as w/ most movies lately); I think this is one of it’s few weaknesses. Blanchett continues to impress; she can truly play any role! All the supporting players do a fine job; the acting is subtle and realistic IMO. Merlant (who is French) continues to be one of the young’uns to watch; I think she did FAB in Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019). I got a kick out of seeing Mark Strong (wearing a hairpiece) playing a wealthy businessman who is an insecure conductor. FYI: He is still my fave Mr. Knightley.

[1] Tár is a dense film. Thick with dialogue and emotional power. It’s also a bit tricky to get in to and might be a bit much for the casual viewer. That’s a shame though as it’s great.

[2] I seriously doubt that I’ll ever skip a Cate Blanchett movie. She’s won two Oscars and has been nominated six times. She’s consistently the best part of her movies, and often the best in a full year of movies. […] Ms. Blanchett is fascinating and mesmerizing to watch. She is at the top of her game playing a perfectionist who is at the top of her game. However, it’s clear this film isn’t likely to strike the right notes with mainstream audiences.

[3] The central topic emerges rather quickly (abuse of power), but there are diversions which support character development, yet drag on the narrative, which is probably why many reviews here find the film frustrating. […] Field expects viewers to interpret a lot on their own, which is bold and demanding, but with this approach it is crucial to keep focus on an underlying message, otherwise it gets lost. […] In conclusion, “Tár” has all the ingredients for a masterpiece – interesting characters, great performances, nice camerawork – but weak storytelling ultimately reduces the film’s potential.

[4] Near perfection from Blanchett. It’s a steamy, slow burn with a massive payoff, even at 150+ minutes. Cate Blanchett’s range of emotions exhibited through her acting is superb. The closeup orchestra rehearsal scenes are extraordinarily insightful for those who maybe have never been a part of a performing ensemble.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews