Tag: Gender

“Eileen” (2023) starring Thomasin McKenzie & Anne Hathaway

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The stagnant waters of Eileen’s dull, stifled life as a solitary worker at a juvenile detention center in 1960s Boston, are unexpectedly disrupted when the institution brings in a new psychologist, the vibrant Rebecca. The fervent enthusiasm that blossoms between the two women almost immediately gives way to a closer relationship, until their fragile connection takes a dramatic turn. -Synopsis

You have to hand it to Anne Hathaway- she’s trying new things! Now, these roles aren’t all going to fit her right. As Rebecca, she wears a platinum wig (like a femme fatale from the days of noir). However, the real dangerous lady here is played by Thomasin McKenzie, a young/20ish Aussie actress w/ a LOT of talent. So far, I’ve seen McKenzie in Jojo Rabbit, The Power of the Dog, and Old. Eileen has a difficult home life, dead-end job, and “girl next door” looks (which helps the audience empathize w/ her plight). Elieen lives w/ her alcoholic/retired cop father, played by prolific character actor Shea Wigham.

The director, William Oldroyd, is a Brit who we can thank for “discovering” the FAB Florence Pugh (who was the lead in his debut/indie Lady Macbeth). This movie is inspired (in part) by Todd Fields’ critically-acclaimed drama Carol (which starred Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara). The 1st hour is intriguing, BUT that sense of anticipation is let down in the last half hour; the story is undercooked. I kept thinking that something was missing. What was the point here? FYI: There is a plot twist (involving another character) which could be difficult for sensitive viewers. Overall, I was disappointed, as I had high hopes for this movie!

“Priscilla” (2023) starring Cailee Spaeny & Jacob Elordi

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Wife to the King. Icon to the world. Destined for more. -Tagline

When teenage Priscilla Beaulieu meets Elvis Presley, the man who is already a meteoric rock-and-roll superstar becomes someone entirely unexpected in private moments: a thrilling crush, an ally in loneliness, a vulnerable best friend. -Tagline

Are any of y’all having a hard time sleeping? Well, this movie MAY be the solution- no joke! We have (another) case of style over substance. I had modest (NOT high) hopes for this biopic; it had gotten a LOT of buzz at the Venice Film Festival last Fall. The teens/20s crowd (mostly female) waiting for pics/autographs went wild for the statuesque Jacob Elordi (who plays Elvis). Priscilla Presley (whose autobiography the film was based on) was on the red carpet, along w/ Sofia Coppola (director) and petite/newcomer Cailee Spaeny (who plays the title role).

I think it would’ve been easy to make a much darker movie, especially because seeing something unfold onscreen can be so much more visceral than reading it. But I didn’t want the darker side of their relationship to completely overshadow the film, so it was a matter of trying to show the reality. It was important to Priscilla that it was still her love story and to show Elvis as a real human being instead of some two-dimensional villain. I just wanted to show her point of view and leave it to the audience to come to their own conclusions about this relationship. But it was a matter of finding some balance because I don’t want the film to seem like it’s condoning certain things, but I also wanna portray Priscilla’s experience as she says it was. It was important to me for her to feel good about the film, and that it felt truthful to her experience and how she told it. -Sofia Coppola, director

Lisa Marie Presley (before passing away suddenly) read the script and strongly disapproved; she wrote a letter to Coppola criticizing the portrayal of her father. Elvis Presley Enterprises declined approval for this film to use his songs; Coppola used music by her husband’s band (Phoenix) and cover versions of songs. As we expect from this director, the look of the film is impressive; the period details are cool to see. At nearly 2 hrs in run time, this movie seems TOO long b/c of its pacing. The tone is heavy throughout. I didn’t see much heat (romantic chemistry) btwn Elordi and Spaeny! Was this perhaps intentional (in some scenes), I had to wonder? Their acting is good for what they’re given, BUT I didn’t find depth in the dialogue or feel connection to the story. The supporting characters don’t get much to say/do, which makes the tale seem even more thin. As the Young’uns might say: “It was meh.”

“The Royal Hotel” (2023) starring Julia Garner & Jessica Henwick

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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 The Royal Hotel (available to rent/buy on VOD).

A fun adventure is all they wanted. -Tagline for the film

Hanna (Julia Garner) and Liv (Jessica Henwick) are two American mid-20s women backpacking through Australia. When the best friends get low on money, Liv convinces Hanna to take a temporary live-in job at a bar (The Royal Hotel) in a remote mining town. The bar’s owner, Billy (Hugo Weaving), as well a a motley crew of rowdy locals give the visitors an introduction to Down Under drinking culture. Adding to the tension is the fact that it’s hard to get cell phone reception in this area. Soon, Hanna and Liv realize that they’ve gotten themselves into a (potentially dangerous) situation!

This is the 2nd feature film of a young Aussie woman, Kitty Green; the director/co-writer of the screenplay teams again w/ Garner (also the lead in The Assistant). It’s too bad that the movie re: Madonna (starring Garner) was cancelled! One of the “hot button” topics nowadays (esp. after pandemic life) is the breakdown of interactions btwn men and women. The men in the movie (mostly young miners) call the new barmaids “fresh meat.” Most of them are NOT subtle w/ their come-ons; sexual harassment is a theme here (as in The Assistant). The men are ALL problematic, though they are characterized somewhat differently! Billy is an alcoholic; his live-in Māori gf, Carol (Ursula Yovich), is nearly fed up w/ his attitude/behavior. The seemingly chill guy, Matty (Toby Wallace- a Brit), is a college grad who gets to know Hanna. One of the miners, Teeth (James Frecheville- an Aussie), has his eyes on Liv. The most interesting (and also volatile) man in the pub is Dolly (Daniel Henshall- an Aussie w/ many character roles).

The movie (distributed in North America by NEON) is NOT the typical thriller made by Hollywood studios; it’s more of a social thriller that has elements of the horror genre. What happened to these women desperate to escape their past lives this summer? Why are men (in crowds) SO prone to wild or dangerous behaviors? This film is inspired by the doc Hotel Coolgardie (2016); that true story involves two Finnish women/tourists who go to work at a remote pub in the tiny town of Coolgardie. The Royal Hotel is NOT badly-made, BUT is V disappointing! It is moody/atmospheric, though NOT much is going on. It is undercooked, though there was a LOT of potential. The pacing is TOO slow, even for big fans of indies. Hanna starts out as more impulsive than Liv- kissing the stranger/Swede- Torsten (Herbert Nordrum)- on the party boat; however, Hanna becomes V nervous at the pub. Liv doesn’t look TOO worried re: the male attn; she keeps trying to convinces Hanna to loosen up.

“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.

“Passages” (2023) starring Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, & Adele Exarchopoulos

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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 Passages (2023) streaming on MUBI.

…a form of cultural censorship that is quite dangerous, particularly in a culture which is already battling, in such extreme ways, the possibility of LGBT imagery to exist. -Ira Sachs (co-writer/director) on the NC-17 rating given to the film by the MPAA

At the wrap party for his latest movie, 30-something director, Tomas (Franz Rogowski- a German actor), celebrates w/ his hubby, Martin (Ben Whishaw- a British character actor), the film crew, and their guests. Among these guests is a 20-ish teacher, Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos- a Frenchwoman), who invites Tomas to dance. Soon, the two begin an affair, which puts strain on the relationship btwn Tomas, Martin, and their wider social circle.

I really liked how in this story the 3rd person is a woman. Because it shows how awkward it is to maybe try to have that balance of freedom and being open to people exploring, but also wanting traditional needs met. […]

He [Tomas] is not interested in making anyone else comfortable but himself.

-Excerpts from YouTube video by Jelly Fish Reviews (8/1/23)

This indie film was rejected by both Cannes and the Venice film fests; it had its world premiere at Sundance. Ira Sachs (who is American) and the film’s distributor, MUBI, rejected the NC-17 rating; it was released in theaters (unrated) in AUG 2023. I heard some positive things from media critics I follow, so had high hopes for this movie. I think many ppl are hungry for mature dramas w/ serious themes. This story has a V unusual/interesting premise, BUT there is little in the way of character development. Polyamory is NOT a topic we see discussed much in media.

The unlikeable protagonist (NOT a hero) doesn’t grow/learn/change by the end. FYI: Ragowski speaks w/ a lisp, which is his natural speaking manner (hard to understand at times IF you’re not using subtitles). Tomas is a narcissist who causes havoc w/ his words/actions wherever he goes. Some viewers commented that he isn’t “conventionally handsome”; Tomas has a patchy beard, gaunt features, dresses in mismatched clothing, and moves in a “snake-like manner.” We may wonder why Martin (a successful artist/business owner) and Agathe (an independent-minded/strong woman) found him SO appealing! After all, it’s easier for the audience to relate when a baddie IF he also happens to be a hottie (i.e. Brando in Streetcar; Newman in Hud).

The visual style of the film is NOT impressive; there are even scenes where the framing seems off and a character is hidden from view (while speaking). There are no camera “tricks,” which could’ve made this film a BIT more effective. The pacing is slow and I didn’t sense tension building as the story went on; there are common issue in (modern) movies. As for the “controversial” scenes, the sex looks “animalistic” (NOT romantic), as a few viewers commented. I saw little passion/connection btwn the characters.

[1] Not all films need to be message driven, but I think any director or writer makes a film because they have something to say. In that sense, I’m not sure what ‘Passages’ wanted to say.

[2] …a rather dull introspective of characters that didn’t really leap off the screen at me. […] The production and pacing all contribute to the general ennui of the whole thing and to be honest, I was just a bit disappointed with this whole thing.

[3] Without style, the absence of substance dominates this lackluster experience.

[4] The movie transcends type and finds the truth in its relationships, it dotes on and suffers with its protagonists in a manner that does feel intimate, both emotionally and physically.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews