Darkest Hour

“Darkest Hour” stars Gary Oldman, was written by Anthony McCarten and was directed by Joe Wright. This as most know is the story of the early days of World War II as Great Britain struggled with the results of the appeasement stratagies of Neville Chamberain, his fall from grace and the appointment of Winston Churchill as his successor who led his country and the Allies to a victory over Nazi Germany. But more than anything, it is the vehicle in which Mr. Oldman is given the opportunity of an actor’s lifetime to play Mr. Churchill so convincingly that the film becomes more like a documentary rather than a fictionalized version of what took place in Europe in the days preceding Britain’s entry into the war. I give the film 3 an1/2 stars based mostly on Mr. Oldman’s portrayal of Mr. Churchill but also because of the interesting and informative manner in which the film is presented.

Phantom Thread

Phantom Thread" stars Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps in this mysery/romance set in London in the 1950's as it delves deeply into the art of dressmaking and those who master the craft. Written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, the film, although shown in the super medium of 70mm and color, was, in my memory, an average black and white film. The plot is rather thin and the movie is much too long. When something is dull, even 10 minutes can seem like a lifetime so 2 hours and 20 minutes really accentuates the discomfort. Notwithstanding absolutely rave reviews from the professionals, I found this film to be an effort to watch and endure even with outstanding performances by Mr. Day-Held and Ms. Krieps. I give the film 2 and 1/2 stars with the "phantom" in the title representing the mysterious movie that was apparently seen by the critics but not by me.

Downsizing

“Downsizing” was directed by Alexander Payne who, with Jim Taylor, wrote the story and screenplay. The film stars Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Kristen Wiig and Hong Chau. I went to this film expecting to see an elaboration of a very tempting trailer but, unfortunately, the best part of the film was, in fact, all in the trailer itself. What starts out with a very intriguing concept, i.e. shrinking human beings to a height of 5 inches with a proportionate environment around them, loses itself in the first 30 minutes and travels in a number of different directions, most of which involve the writer’s political statements about climate change and the harm humans are doing to the planet. Also, to add another negative to the film is the role played by Thailand actress Hong Chau and what has to be the worst attempt ever made at imitating a Vietnamese émigré. Simply stated, she ruins each scene in which she appears with this ‘chalk on a blackboard” dialogue. Couple all of this with plot changes and ideas that make no sense and you have a disappointing and uncomfortable 135 minutes. I give the film 2 stars because of. what it started out to be, and could have been, but unfortunately went downhill in mid reel. In summary, all of Mr. Payne’s efforts as director and co-writer of this film came up short (pun intended).

The Shape of Water

“The Shape of Water” is a film conceived and directed by Guillermo del Toro and stars Sally Hawkins, Michael Stuhlbarg, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins and Octavia Spenser .This is a difficult film to review and rate because it requires the viewer to make a huge leap of faith and  to “just go with it” even though the plot and some of the scenes defy reality. Although Mr. del Toro may have had a strong message to deliver, this cold war version of the lighter film “Splash” (with Tom Hanks and Darryl Hannah)  doesn’t communicate it well. I found it difficult for the audience to get lost in it and truly believe what is occurring on the screen. The film is over 2 hours in length and even though I never looked at my watch, I was very conscious of its duration. I give the film 2 stars with special acknowledgment to Mr. Jenkins who can’t perform badly, regardless of the vehicle he is in.

Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool

“Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool” is the story of the last years of film star Gloria Grahame (an actress who played in many B movies in the 1950’s), Ably portrayed by Annette Bening as the aging lady of film, she is supported by Jamie Bell whose character in the film is named Peter Turner, the writer of the memoir upon whom the screenplay was based. Directed by Paul McGuigan, this is a film that gives Ms. Bening a wonderful showcase for her tremendous talent. It is difficult to judge the story when it is based on what actually occurred in real life so we accept the shortcomings as well as the positives because, simply stated, that was the way it happened. I give the film 2 and ½ stars with a special nod to both Mr.Bell and Ms Bening for performances well worth noting.

Wonder Wheel

“Wonder Wheel” is the annual film submission by writer-director Woody Allen and stars Kate Winslet, Juno Temple, Jim Belushi and Justin Timberlake. The film takes place in circa 1950 in Brooklyn’s famed Coney Island section amidst the backdrop of the infamous wheel invented by Mr. Ferris. This writer’s problem with the film stems from, firstly, the history of great films made by Mr.Allen and the tendency to compare each new entry with the gems of the past. Secondly, and on a much more personal note, the little old lady sitting next to me was using a device that displayed closed captioning and was a real distraction to the person sitting next to her, i.e. me. That being entered into the equation, I found the film to be mildly interesting with an all too simple plot. What makes the film standout, however, is the unbelievable acting of Ms. Winslet who dominates the screen whenever she appears and saves the film from the mediocrity to which it might otherwise have been relegated. Outstanding, too, are the performances of Mr. Belushi, Mr. Timberlake and Ms. Temple. But for me, a native Brooklynite and daily summer visitor to Coney Island, the water, beach, rides, boardwalk and the nostalgia they foster make the viewing experience that much more enjoyable. I give the film 3 stars but wonder (no pun intended) how it would have played without Ms. Winslet and/or the location.