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.

Rare Captain Marvel (John Davey) Public Service Announcement

One of my favorite memories from Saturday mornings was watching Shazam!(later the Shazam/Isis Hour) on CBS.

Here's a rare public service announcement by John Davey (who starred in the latter half of Season 2) asking kids to read up on multiple sclerosis.

Loved his moving those boulders in the intro.

Ready Or Not

I first saw the trailer for Ready Or Not several months ago, in the summer.  I winced, then leaned toward my wife and whispered: "What the hell?"

We laughed at the stupidity of a comedy-horror flick themed on hide-and-seek. Then we dug into our popcorn and started watching the Marvel flick we were there to see. I didn't think about the movie again. Until I had a couple post-Christmas hours to kill with little to do.

The $5.99 I spent to rent it from Amazon Prime was a bargain! Ready Or Not was perhaps the most fun I've had watching a movie this year.

Yes, it was predictable. But it was "Yes!" to all the things more important: It was funny, horrific, well produced, and well acted.

Sometimes you can judge a book by its cover. But I sure as hell misjudged Ready Or Not by its trailer.

Judy

Two heel-clicks for a movie that teeters on the melodramatic. 

Three heel-clicks for an Oscar-worthy performance by Renee Zellweger.

Queen & Slim

Road movies aren't supposed to be like this.

Road movies are supposed to be full of hijinks, like Planes, Trains, & Automobiles or action-based drama like Thelma & Louise. It's even OK to have a blend of the two genres, like Midnight Run.

But Queen and Slim is something different. First time film director Melina Matsoukas infuses mystery and romance into this road flick.

We first meet the two main characters during a first date, but we really don't get to know them. Their names aren't revealed until near the end of the movie, and the nicknames "Queen" and "Slim" are never spoken. The audience must get to know the two just as they are forced to get to know each other -- a little bit at a time, and in and around dramatic events. The result is a slow-burn romance that isn't based in sex or want or desire; instead, the romance is built over time on true respect and affection.

I've been suspicious of Daniel Kaluuya's rising star since 2017's Get Out, thinking he may be a one-and-done wonder. But he is remarkable in the role of Slim, forever staying in the moment while still trying to stay one step ahead of the law. Jodie Turner-Smith is good as Queen. Her character is emotionally distant and difficult to feel close to (which is important to the plot), and that made it a little hard to have empathy for her for a long period of time.

Like Slim, though, the audience will eventually break though her hard shell.

Queen & Slim is a romance story built around the traps and pitfalls of a road movie. The acting alone makes this movie worth your time.

Richard Jewell

Clint Eastwood is a teller of stories. 

Whether he's starring in a film or directing -- or doing both -- Eastwood most often tells stories by stripping them to their bare essence. There's not a lot of filler in an Eastwood film; every moment seems important regardless of how much -- or how little-- is going on in a scene. And Richard Jewell follows suit. 

But this simple story has a rather complex undertone. 

Eastwood uses the compelling story of the Atlanta security guard who saved lives at the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing to throw punches at two of the country's storied institutions: the Federal Bureau of Investigation and print journalism. These are timely arguments, considering the FBI and news organizations play significant roles in the current political divide we in the US find ourselves. 

Can we trust our rights and civil liberties to these institutions? Should we?

Richard Jewell placed his trust in them, and that misplaced trust cost him dearly. 

The cast of Richard Jewell is outstanding. Sam Rockwell looks more comfortable than ever as a lead star, and Paul Walter Houser channel Richard Jewell -- down to his perpetually-blushed cheeks.  The film's best role, however, may be the role of Jewell's mother. We meet Bobi Jewell as a naïve woman who loves her son but doesn't pay much attention to the world outside her own. The movie ends with her eyes opened to how lies and politics can devastate the life of an innocent. 

Look for Kathy Bates, who plays Bobi Jewell, to pick up a gold statue for her supporting role.