The Invisible Man

Leigh Whannell's The Invisible Man won't become a horror classic like the 1933 Claude Raines flick. One might argue it's better, considering the modern plot and the terrific work of star Elisabeth Moss.

But classic?

Nah, we won't be talking about this move in 90 years like we are the '33 version. Still, classic or not, this is one reboot that's a helluva lot of fun!

The 2020 mystery/sci-fi/horror flick starts tense and builds on that tension for the full 2-hour run, and that makes Whannell's ending highly satisfying. Elizabeth Moss carries the movie with her best film work yet, but the close-up cinematography really sells the emotional strain by creating a crowded, claustrophobic-like feel for the audience.

The Invisible Man may be the title, but it's the female lead that's the heart and soul of this movie.

Birds Of Prey

2020 Academy Awards! Early Picks!

It's red carpet time! Let's get this Oscar party started.

My picks for the 2020 Academy Awards major contests are:

Achievement in Cinematography
Rodrigo Prieto: The Irishman
Lawrence Sher: Joker
Jarin Blaschke: The Lighthouse
Roger Deakins: 1917
Robert Richardson: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Who should win: Jarin Blaschke, The Lighthouse
Who will win: Roger Deakins, 1917


Achievement in Costume Design
Sandy Powell and Christopher Peterson: The Irishman
Mayes C. Rubeo: Jojo Rabbit
Mark Bridges: Joker
Jacquelin Durran: Little Women
Arianne Phillips: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Who should win: Mayes C. Rubeo, Jojo Rabbit
Who will win:  Mayes C. Rubeo, Jojo Rabbit

Actress in A Supporting Role
Kathy Bates: Richard Jewell
Laura Dern: Marriage Story
Scarlett Johansson: Jojo Rabbit
Florence Pugh: Little Women
Margot Robbie: Bombshell

Who should win: Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell 
Who will win: Scarlett Johansson, Jojo Rabbit

Actress in a Leading Role
Cynthia Erivo: Harriet
Scarlett Johansson: Marriage Story
Saoirse Ronan: Little Women
Charlize Theron: Bombshell
Renee Zellweger: Judy

Who should win: Cynthia Erivo, Harriet
Who will win: Renee Zellweger, Judy

Actor in a Supporting Role
Tom Hanks: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Anthony Hopkins: The Two Popes
Al Pacino: The Irishman
Joe Pesci: The Irishman
Brad Pitt: One Upon a Time in Hollywood

Who should win: Joe Pesci, The Irishman
Who will win: Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Actor on a Leading Role
Antonio Banderas: Pain and Glory
Leonardo DiCaprio: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Adam Driver: Marriage Story
Joaquin Pheonix: Joker
Jonathan Pryce: The Two Popes

Who should win: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker
Who will win: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Directing
Martin Scorsese: The Irishman
Todd Phillips: Joker
Sam Mendes: 1917
Quintin Tarantino: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
Bong Joon Ho: Parasite

Who should win: Sam Mendes, 1917
Who will win: Sam Mendes, 1917

Best Picture
Ford v Ferrari
The Irishman
Jojo Rabbit
Joker Little Women
Marriage Story
1917
One Upon a Time in Hollywood
Parasite

Which should win: 1917
Which will win: 1917

1917

Sam Mendes' 1917 is, without a doubt, the best movie of 2019.

The epic, beautifully directed with a focus on symmetry and in a style that looks like one long shot, tells the story of two solders given a near-impossible task during WWI.

The way in which the story is shot makes the viewer feel included in the journey. We flinch, we grimace, we cry because we experience it along with the lead characters.

1917 should win Best Picture at the 2020 Academy Awards, and Mendes deserves the Best Director Oscar.

Jojo Rabbit

There's nothing funny about Hitler . . .  except when he's an imaginary role model for a 10-year-old boy figuring out the world is more complicated and complex than he's been led to believe.

The Two Popes

"What a long, strange trip it's been." ~ Grateful Dead

My experience with organized religion has been both long and strange. 

Through most of my childhood I attended a Christian fundamentalist church, a log cabin in the mountains of West Virginia where 25-30 people gathered several times each week to fellowship and praise their god. I was moved emotionally by services there: one can't wash the feet of one's pew-mate whilst singing "Amazing Grace," without feeling something akin to the Holy Ghost. 

I began doubting the existence of gods in my mid-teens, and by 18 was a full-fledged atheist. Early on, I was an angry atheist. Through my 20s I didn't understand why others couldn't see behind the curtain I'd pulled back for them. And I pulled it back as often as I could.

If you hung out with me at that time there's no doubt that talk turned to religion within the hour. 

Despite my disbelief, I missed the ritual and spirituality of a church service, so in my 30s I started attending a local Catholic church. Although I disagreed with a lot of hot-button political issues the Catholic Church is known for, I liked the fact that I left mass feeling hopeful, and not bad, about myself. 

From my perspective, the Catholic Church focused on personal improvement and on strengthening a connection with something greater than yourself. I could get behind that. My relationships with family and friends and my connection with my community each meet that standard. 

My wife and I converted. At the end of that experience -- and it's a nine month experience -- I had to go through my first confession. I had such respect for the priest who would hear it -- he was also the priest who lead the conversion process -- that I wanted to be completely transparent. I confessed to being an atheist. 

His response was perfect: Stop thinking about it. Focus on making society better for others. Serve people. Do good. 

It was exactly what I needed to hear, and it allowed me to stop feeling guilty about being an atheist Catholic.

I thought often about my experience as I watched The Two Popes. At its core, Popes is an existential drama; an examination of whether a 2,000 year old institution should modernize to meet the needs of a changing society. 

Is change compromise? And if so, is compromise acceptable? The question goes beyond the church and examines who we are as people and as members of society. 

The Two Popes, adapted from a play by Anthony McCarten, is well written and well acted, as evidenced by the fact it has three Academy Award nominations (Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Adapted Screenplay). 

But, the movie's most important quality is its ability to make we viewers consider our connection with something greater without passing judgment on the quality of our humanity.  

Harriet

So, I know I went to History classes. All through junior high, high school, and my freshman year in college.  I listened, honestly. I really, really like History.

But, here are some things I didn't know that I learned from Kasi Lemmons' Harriet.

1. Mrs. Tubman's birth name was Araminta "Minty" Ross;

2. Minty was initially married to freedman John Tubman;

3. Minty's family was promised its freedom two generations before, but the current slave owner refused to abide by that agreement;

4. Mrs. Tubman took the name "Harriet" to honor her mother, and the surname "Tubman" to honor her husband. (Although when she made that name change is unclear.);

5. Mrs. Tubman made thirteen trips between the south and north, and personally freed 70 slaves while working with the Undergrounds Railroad. I was astounded to learn this; honestly, I always presumed she stayed in the north and facilitated Railroad efforts from a headquarters;

6. She carried, and used, guns in her work;

6. During the Civil War, Mrs. Tubman worked as a Union spy and led a squad of black soldiers who freed 750 slaves.

All true, I double checked. And Mrs. Tubman did much, much more that simply could not be presented in the movie for the sake of time and plot.

Like many biopics, Harriet feels a little rushed. But in fairness to Lemmon' script and direction, there was so much real-life material the script had to be focused and condensed. Unlike many biopics, Harriet is a story of transformation: we're watching a true-to-life legend change from Minty the slave to Harriet the freedwoman to Moses the emancipator to Mrs. Tubman the social justice warrior.

Cynthia Erivo, nominated for an Academy Award for her performance (and I predict she will win) is remarkable in the lead role. She's required to demonstrate subtleness and fierceness, fear and strength. And she does each with authenticity and skill.

I say it's time to ditch whatever history books a mostly white society creates and sells to a nation of mostly white teachers who teach mostly white students. Let's start using the biopic Harriet as an introduction to all students about Mrs. Tubman and how she changed the world.

Parasite

Call Bong Joon-ho's Parasite a "dark comedy thriller" if you want. Call it a great foreign film, the sorta movie you don't mind watching with subtitles. Go ahead and call Parasite a wonderful example of how cinemaphotography can make a very, very good film great.

Go ahead and say all those things. They're true.

But I'm gonna call Parasite the best movie of 2019.

South Korean filmmaker Joon-ho's movie about economic class division boasts the best cast ensemble of 2019, and serves as canvas for the remarkable artistry of lead actor Song Kang-ho. The movie is visually stunning and perfectly paced. While the story comes close to crossing the line, it never crosses (pun intended).  Parasite concludes in a beautiful, poetic way.

No matter the outcome of the 2020 Academy Awards, I'll remain convinced Parasite is the best movie released last year. It's certainly the best movie I saw.

2020 Golden Globe Predictions

Award season is here! Let's see if we can hit some predictions:

Best Motion Picture - Drama

Nominees: 

Joker

Marriage Story

The Two Popes

1917

The Irishman

Prediction: While I think The Irishman was the best on the list, I think the Globes will go anti-special effects and pro-streaming service and select Marriage Story as best drama.

Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Nominees:

Dolemite Is My Name

JoJo Rabbit

Knives Out

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Rocketman 

Prediction: This comes down to a three-way tie for me, between Knives Out, Rocketman, and Hollywood. Forced to make a choice, I select Rocketman because it's a true musical. 

Best Performance By An Actress In A Motion Picture - Drama

Prediction: Renee Zellweger, Judy

Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture - Drama

Prediction: Joaquin Phoenix, Joker

Best Performance By An Actress In  A Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy

Prediction: Cate Blanchette, Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture - Musical Or Comedy
Prediction: Taron Egerton, Rocketman 

Best Performance By An Actress In A Supporting Role
Prediction: Kathy Bates, Richard Jewell

Best Performance By An Actor In A Supporting Role
Prediction: Tom Hanks, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood 

Best Director

Prediction: Martin Scorsese, The Irishman 

Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

When one reaches a certain age one begins to question things: life choices, career path, personal relevance, etc.

And I'm of that certain age.

I've lived life, and I've done some things. I've built strong relationships, mentored many from the next generation as they grew into adulthood. and tried to improve myself along the way.

But will I leave a legacy? Have I made a difference?

It's the question Bernadette Fox ponders throughout Richard Linklater's film, Where'd You Go, Bernadette? An accomplished architect revered by her peers, Bernadette spent years being a mother and a wife. Important and necessary, for certain. But being focused on others for so long cost her a bit of creativity and, as a result, caused a bit of an identity crisis.

And it's an identity crisis that requires dramatic intervention to resolve.

Where'd You Go, Bernadette? is uneven. The first half is rock solid as it provides insight into Bernadette and her relationships, while the second half is uneven and melodramatic, and has a conclusion that's hard to believe. The cast is very good -- Cate Blanchette is nominated for a Golden Globe for her role -- but they can't save the film from the over-the-top finish.

Far from perfect, Bernadette still gives the viewer some things to ponder about life and the choices we make. That, and Blanchette's performance, make the flick worth watching.