Tag: Identity

Countdown to #Halloween: “Bug” (2006) starring Ashley Judd, Michael Shannon, & Harry Connick, Jr.

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First they send in their drone… then they find their queen.

Paranoia is contagious.

-Taglines for the movie

I’ve always thought that Bug was a love story. It’s a love story between two intensely-damaged individuals… but it’s not called ‘Love Story,’ its called ‘Bug,’ so it’s probably about some other things, too. Namely, bugs. -Michael Shannon (actor) in behind-the-scenes video of the movie

Agnes (Ashley Judd) is a lonely waitress working in a lesbian bar. She lives in a grimy/rundown motel somewhere in rural Oklahoma. Her lesbian co-worker/friend, R.C. (Lynn Collins), introduces her to a quiet drifter, Peter (Michael Shannon). The woman talk, drink, and do some cocaine. After R.C. is called away, Agnes and Peter get to know each other. The next morning, Agnes’ violent/ex-con husband, Goss (Harry Connick, Jr.) suddenly appears. We learning of a great tragedy in Agnes’ past; she’s tired of being alone. She starts a romance w/ Peter, even though she knows V little about him. Peter (who could be in trouble for going AWOL from the military) thinks that there are bugs infecting the motel.

This low-budget horror (streaming free on various platforms) was shot in July/August of 2005 in Southern Louisiana; it wrapped up only a week before Hurricane Katrina hit. The apt. set was built inside a H.S. gym. Ironically, many of the crew members got rashes from bed bugs in their hotel rooms! Bug was originally a play written by Tracy Letts; Shannon (in his breakout role) had played Peter onstage for several years. Judd hadn’t acted for 2 yrs. when she got the script; she’d been doing work w/ the U.N. According to Collins (a classically-trained actress), director William Friedkin (who passed away this year) never took more than 4 takes. Friedkin said that this film is re: the widespread “infection” of paranoia everyone has, esp. the fear of terrorism. He thought that Peter is someone who could become a terrorist- the mentally unstable loner, out in the middle of nowhere.

[1] “Bug” is, at its core, a cautionary tale about the dangers of isolation and loneliness, compounded by drug and alcohol abuse.

[2] I thought this was an effective movie about paranoia and the human mental condition. It also shows to what lengths some people will go to not be alone anymore.

[3] “Bug” actually reminds me of the first Friedkin movies, also based on plays and more interested in character study than spectacular effects. It’s all the more striking that “Bug” looks like a young man’s movie, filled with energy, experimentation, absurd humor and a genuine sense of artistic freedom.

[4] I have to say that this was an incredibly disturbing psychological thriller that really freaked me out. I mean, these performances were absolutely amazing, most people are raving about Ashley Judd’s performance, but what about Michael Shannon? In my opinion, he had the best performance, he was so intense and he really draws you into the scene and the story.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Godless” (2017) starring Jack O’Connell, Michelle Dockery, & Jeff Daniels

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Welcome to no man’s land. -Synopsis

In the late 1800s, infamous criminal leader, Frank Griffin (Jeff Daniels), and his outlaws are on a mission to get revenge on Roy Goode (Jack O’Connell), the former “brother” who betrayed their gang. On the run, Roy seeks refuge near the mining town of La Belle, N.M. He gets a job and a place to stay w/ Alice Fletcher (Michelle Dockery), a widow/single mom/outcast. The local sheriff, Bill McNue (Scoot McNairy), is keeping a secret, BUT still trying to do his job. Bill’s deputy, Whitey Winn (Thomas Brodie Sangster), is eager to fight, yet untested. Mary Agnes McNue (Merritt Wever) helps Bill care of his 2 young kids; she wears pants and handles a gun well (like her brother). When word of Griffin’s imminent arrival, the residents of La Belle (mostly women) band together to defend themselves.

Godless (7 eps) was released on Netflix in NOV 2017. Scott Frank (writer/director) was nominated for the 2018 Emmy in Outstanding Writing for a Limited Series, Movie or Special. Frank is known for Logan (2017), Out of Sight (1998) and The Lookout (2007). Daniels (a veteran of film/TV/stage) won the Emmy that year for Outstanding Supporting Actor; Wever (mainly a theater actress; seen in Marriage Story in 2019) won Outstanding Supporting Actress. La Belle is an actual town that was located in Taos Co. around the turn of the 20th C. The character of John Randall (Rob Morgan) of the 10th Cavalry Union Army and the legend of the Buffalo Soldiers is true. Blackdom was located in SE New Mexico (close to Roswell), NOT in the North of the state (as other towns mentioned on the show).

This show both subverts, and builds upon, the common tropes of the Western genre. Though the setting here is the Old (& V wild) West, the issues explored are universal: grief, generational trauma, desire for redemption, search for knowledge, etc. The women have no choice; they MUST be self-sufficient, work w/ own hands/bodies, and develop mental toughness. Masculinity is depicted in nuanced ways (which pleasantly surprised me); there are no swaggering John Wayne-type heroes. Some of the work was done by casting male actors of slim builds/average height; also, the dialogue and (subtle) acting is key. The men in this show are able to cry, fall in love, and (sometimes) verbalize what is affecting them. The costumes, production design, cinematography, and music are ALL superb.

[1] Godless is easily one of my favorite westerns I’ve seen in a long time. I’m actually blown away by how much I liked it. I had high expectations because of all the great ratings and reviews and it not only met those expectations but surpassed them in every way!

[2] Jack O’Connell and Jeff Daniels lead an absolutely incredible cast who are all at the top of their game here!

[3] The writing of this show is what surprised me the most, how the scenes of each character from their past to the present are presented in such a subtle yet moving way. […]

The direction of Scott Frank is really among the best when it comes to how he sets up the scenes, the camera work, and how he spent time with these characters that went further than western to date. I wish there were more Westerns made this way…

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“The Handmaiden” (2016) directed by Park Chan-wook

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Are you a fan of erotic thrillers (which were prominent in the ’80s-’90s)? Though this is a historical drama, you’ll find elements of the erotic thriller genre. As you may’ve noticed from ads/trailers, there is a love triangle (yet w/ an unexpected twist). This is one of those films where the less you know going in, the better! It is truly unlike anything I’ve seen before; some viewers said they needed to watch it 2x to get everything that’s going on. The story is divided into 3 chapters w/ each told from a different character’s POV. The film may be 2.5 hrs. long, BUT I hardly moved from my seat! The themes are quite relevant to our world: greed (lust for money), gender/sexual repression, women’s desire, and the (potential) dangers of porn. The Handmaiden was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at Cannes (2016). It was released in South Korea on June 1st 2016, to critical acclaim and grossed $38M worldwide. At the 71st BAFTAs, it won Best Film Not in the English Language.

This movie is inspired by the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (2002) which is set in London during the 19th C. The Handmaiden is set in Korea in the 1930s under Japanese colonial rule. Before filming, Park Chan-wook (an auteur w/ an eye for beauty) sent the completed script to Waters for comments. She liked the script, though felt that it is more appropriate to say that the film was ”inspired by” her novel. The film title in Korean (Ah-ga-ssi) means The Lady, referring to Lady Hideko (Kim Min-hee); the English/international title is The Handmaiden, referring to Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri). Both Japanese and Korean were spoken by the (mainly Korean) cast. Before shooting, the Korean actors were all assigned Japanese teachers to study the script and learn to speak Japanese. For the theatrical release, the subtitles were color coded to differentiate the two Asian languages spoken in the film: white subtitles were used for Korean, while yellow subtitles were used for Japanese.

[1] What the film does with this basic plot is enjoyable and engaging. The narrative is solid, holds the interest without effort, and is very well paced and structured. […]

The direction, production values, and general pacing of the film, all work together to give it a beautiful appearance and tone. It is quite sensuous to watch, with such great colors, sets, costumes, and designs.

[2] Adapting Sarah Waters’ Fingersmith, a Victorian tale awash with all manner of Dickensian motifs, Park spins an engrossing tale that ebbs and flows with a Hitchcockian suspense; it withholds as much as it discloses; it is an erotic tale that beats with raw fervour.

[3] If the plot and the direction weren’t amazing enough, the movie is as beautiful as they come. From the darkest moment, the most violent, to the most intimate, beauty transpires in every frame, and every scene comes to life and threatens to pop and break free from the screen.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Tequila Sunrise” (1988) starring Mel Gibson, Michelle Pfeiffer, & Kurt Russell

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A dangerous mix. -Tagline

A former L.A. drug dealer tries to go straight but his past and his underworld connections bring him into the focus of the DEA, the Mexican feds and the Mexican drug cartels. -Synopsis

This is a neo noir (written/directed by Robert Towne) set in LA; it’s streaming on Max (formerly HBO Max). It was also shown on TCM’s Noir Alley. I must’ve seen it MANY yrs ago (maybe as a teen) b/c I recalled V little about it (aside from the hot/famous cast). It’s trying to be edgy, as the good guy is an ex-drug dealer and the cops/feds are baddies. There is a love triangle of 2 men (friends since HS) and one woman; this is unusual for mainstream Hollywood. Critics are mixed re: this movie; some enjoyed it, while others noticed the (many) flaws.

Jo Ann: I’m sorry. I was just joking. I didn’t mean to hurt you.

Mac: Aw, come on. It didn’t hurt that bad. Just looking at you hurts more.

What’s up w/ the odd title? When the DEA agent, Maguire (J.T. Walsh), is listening to surveillance tapes of restaurant owner, Jo Ann Vallenari (Michelle Pfeiffer), she’s heard offering Dale “Mac” McKussic (Mel Gibson) a cocktail (Tequila Sunrise). FYI: The drink consists of tequila, orange juice, and grenadine syrup. The producers wanted Harrison Ford and Jeff Bridges for the male co-leads; that could’ve been a better movie. Gibson was V popular then; he’d recently been in Lethal Weapon; Mac is more nuanced than Det. Riggs (trying to be a good father). Russell (acting since childhood) was known for his likeability and work in the action genre; Lt. Nick Frescia is NOT so nice though. Pat Riley (coach of the LA Lakers) provided the inspo for Nick’s look (suits and slicked-back hair).

Jo Ann: Mr. McKussic, it seems, has been engaged in his business for purely romantic reasons, whilst you have been engaged in romance for purely business reasons.
Nick: I’m not sure I understand.
Jo Ann: A little vague for you?
Nick: A little.
Jo Ann: Well, then, let me spell it out for you: you want to f**k your friend, then f**k him, not me!

Did these (mostly male) writers and producers have any (female) friends!? Mac’s ex-wife is depicted as vain/money-obsessed; she gets V little screen time. As some viewers noted, neither Nick not Mac is good enough for Jo Ann! Pfeiffer (in mostly cream-colored outfits) is doing her best w/ Jo Ann’s (shallow/contradictory) characterization. She didn’t get along w/ Towne; he called her “the most difficult actress I have ever worked with.” The actress was going through a divorce at this time. There is a (infamous) love scene; the hot tub was NOT built properly/chlorinated. Pfeiffer, her body double, and Gibson got skin rashes and splinters from the wood- ouch! Production shut down for a few days while they recovered.

Carlos [to Mac]: You son of a bitch! How could you do this? Friendship is the only choice in life you can make that’s yours! You can’t choose your family, God damn it – I’ve had to face that! And no man should be judged for whatever direction his d**k goes – that’s like blaming a compass for pointing north, for Christ’s sake! Friendship is all we have! We chose each other. How could you f**k it up? How could you make us look so bad?

The dialogue can be good (at times), BUT also quite cheesy/predictable. The plot and editing are often confusing; Roget Ebert commented: “It feels like there are chunks of the movie cut out.” The filmmakers could’ve made better (more nuanced) choices. I expected Mac to die at the end of the film; that would’ve made more sense! Towne wanted that ending also, BUT producers said Gibson had to be alive. Is there anything fun re: this movie? Well, Gibson is shirtless in several scenes (in FAB shape). The kid playing Mac’s son (Cody) does a good job in his small role. When the main villain, Carlos (Raul Julia), appears- he steals the movie! Julia (a trained singer) sings some; he does the best he can w/ what he has been given. A young Matt LeBlanc (Friends) appears on the TV; this was a real commercial for Heinz ketchup.

Spoiler-Free Review: “Barbie” (2023) starring Margot Robbie & Ryan Gosling

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Barbie suffers a crisis that leads her to question her world and her existence. -Synopsis

She’s everything. He’s just Ken. -Tagline

Summer has (traditionally) been the season for family-friendly/crowd-pleasing movies. As you may know, both Barbie and Oppenheimer were released on the same day (July 21) of this yr. I went to see Barbie w/ a big group of (mostly) women during its 2nd wknd at AMC (Ballston Quarter). One of my friends was esp. excited; she purchased 10 tickets (limit per person) several wks. ahead of our screening. I was somewhat curious, b/c I really liked the work of director/co-writer Greta Gerwig (who turned 40 y.o. last wk) and Noah Baumbach (co-writer); they’re also partners IRL and have a baby together. Gerwig and Baumbach are also close friends/collaborators w/ Adam Driver. Some skeptical critics wondered: “Who is the audience for this movie?” As I expected, my theater was full w/ (mostly) women in their 20s-40s; many were wearing pink (in various shades).

The production design is V cool; you feel immersed in the material/colorful world of Mattell toys where “Stereotypical Barbie” (Robbie), her love interest, Ken (Gosling), and all their friends live. As we saw in the trailers/ads, there are Barbies and Kens of diverse backgrounds (Issa Rae, Simu Liu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Kate McKinnon. etc.) Alan (Michael Cera), Midge, and a few other (NOT so well-known) dolls are also there. Women are the ones who hold ALL the important jobs in this (make-believe) world! Of course, there are several human characters (played by America Ferrera, Ariana Greenblatt, Will Ferrell, etc. ) A much younger Greenblatt (now 15 y.o.) was Driver’s co-star in the action movie 65 (2023). The eclectic music suits the story well; I was NOT familiar w/ all the songs. Yes, this movie has a feminist take (as I’m sure many are aware). It also includes singing and dancing (which reminded me of technicolor musicals). There are many LOL moments, yet there are emotional/touching ones also. I hadn’t seen much of Gosling’s acting; I was surprised by how funny he could be! I do think this movie was a BIT too long; this is a common problem today. There are also a few speeches; they are NOT all effective IMO. I think a wide audience (IF they keep an open mind) can enjoy this movie; it already passed the $1B mark worldwide – wow! Two of my (mid-20s; male and female) co-workers really liked the movie; they went on opening wknd.