Julieta

“Julieta” is a beautifully directed film by the world acclaimed Pedro Almodovar who with Alice Munro co-wrote the film as well. This is a story of guilt, relationships and the many ways in which those who suffer loss react to it. Ably acted by Adriana Ugarte, Emma Suarez and Danie Grao, the audience is transported into the world its main character, Julieta, as she attempts to  cope with the realities of life and death. I give the film 3 stars for although it may not equal the other great films of Mr. Almodovar, it reaches an extremely high level of accomplishment and gives the audience over 2 hours of extraordinary entertainment. I give the film 3 and ½ stars and recommend that it be seen while it is still in general distribution.

Manchester by the Sea

“Manchester by the Sea” was written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan and stars Casey Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler and newcomer Lucas Hedges. This is a story of sadness and a series of ill-fated events that befall Mr.Affleck’s character, Lee Chandler, who is asked to become the guardian of his young nephew upon the sudden death of Lee’s brother Joe. ‘The performances in this film are noteworthy because they are understated yet immensely powerful as each actor communicates great degrees of emotion without overburdening the scenes with wordy laments. Kudos to the young Mr. Hedges who plays Lee’s nephew as he and his uncle Lee attempt to develop a relationship despite different lifestyles and aspirations. I give the film 3 and ½ stars with a special spotlight on Mr. Affleck whose Oscar nomination seems virtually guaranteed.

Jackie

“Jackie” stars Natalie Portman in this bio drama capturing the days and weeks following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and how his widow coped with this tragic event. Directed by Pablo Larrain (the Chilean born producer who also directed the acclaimed ‘Neruda”) and ably supported by Billy Crudup, John Hurt and Peter Sarsgaard, this is the story of a widow’s quest for dignity amidst heartbreak and great personal loss. Written by Noah Oppenheim, the film has credibility and insight as it reveals the frailties, weaknesses and strengths of those in public life and especially those who are dealing with the most intimate and private of happenings.  I give this film 3 and ½ tars with a special nod to Ms. Portman who, like the lady she portrays, communicates a regal elegance throughout the most trying of times her character is forced to experience and endure.

La La Land

“La La Land” is a charming drama, romantic comedy and musicall tied together nicely by writer/director Damien Chazelle. Ably performed by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling, the film tells the story of an aspiring actress and a dedicated jazz musician as they search to find and realize each of their respective dreams. Ms. Stone and Mr.Gosling have never been seen or known as singers or dancers so the viewer is at first suspect and in doubt that either of these two can properly fulfill the roles the parts demand. To the surprise and satisfaction of all involved, they are a delight to watch and listen to as they seque from drama to musical numbers all in a subtle and lovely transition. This also lends to the credibility of the film and its story under the able direction of Mr. Chazelle. The film also provides the viewer with a delightful series of songs and jazz sessions which add to the positive experience. I give this film 3 and ½ stars for it is not only a sweet, simple and charming story of hope and ambition in the City of Los Angeles but a reminder that good films can still be made using the once forgotten formulae of mid-20^th‘century moviemaking.

/edge of Seventeen

“Edge of Seventeen” stars Hailee Steinfeld, Blake Jenner, Haley Lu Richardson, Kyra Sedgwick and Woody Harrelson in this coming of age film about a teenage girl and the problems she and so many of her generation face in being accepted and in coping with the reality of social competition. The film was written and directed by Kelly Fremon Craig and represents her first directorial endeavor. I might also mention that one of the producers of the film, Julie Ansell, is the daughter of one of our readers,  Although Ms. Steinfeld’s performance, as with the other actors, is genuine and quite skilled, the film itself is more like a television movie than a full length theatrical motion picture, certainly as to the depth of the writing and the production values it seeks to achieve. Nevertheless, the film is an honest portrayal of one girl’s obstacles and how she tries to cope with them and for that reason, together with fine performances by the cast, I give the film 3 stars.

Arrival

“Arrival” stars Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker in this sci-fi drama written by  Eric Heisserer based on a novel by Ted Chiang (“The Story of Your Life”). The film was directed by Denis Villanueve who, together with the writer and the editor, if there was one, must take full responsibility for the 2 hours I wasted watching their product. The movie is slow, confusing and complicated and the scenes float back in time and place without ever clearly indicating what was intended by its creative team. Ms. Adams can do no wrong for she is a talented actor but somehow she got placed in this amateurish attempt at a modern day “ET”. The film is not only a disservice to Ms. Adams’ talent but to the audience that must suffer through the picture  as well. I must have looked at my watch at least 5X during the course of the film and, in so doing,  found the hands on my timepiece more interesting that that which was being projected on to the screen. What amazes me most is that so many professional critics found this movie to be worthy of their highest rating, again proving that being paid for an opinion doesn’t mean it has value. I give this film a one star rating and if I hadn’t been in the company of my wife and friends, I would have walked out of the theater mid way through it. The only recommendation I can make about this film is to respectfully suggest to Ms. Adams that she  hire a new talent agent..

Loving

“Loving” is a film based on the real life story of Richard and Mildred Loving who were arrested, chastised and banned from their home town by the legal authorities in the State of Virginia for violating its laws against inter-racial marriage. Ably acted by Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga who portray the courageous couple as they and their supporters helped bring about the 1967 landmark Supreme Court decision in the case of Loving v. Virginia (which declared that marriage among any couple, regardless of race, was a right that the states could not deny). This decision laid the groundwork for the ultimate ruling by the high court acknowledging the rights of person of the same sex to also have the right to marry and so the film, and the story, goes far beyond 1967 to our present day human rights victories.  Defying the old adage that a writer/director cannot do both as effectively as if there were 2 separate individuals In those roles, Jeff Nichols does a noteworthy job in both capacities and brings forth from the actors subtle, low key performances that capture the strength and humility that are typical of so many of history’s unsung heroes. How ironic, too, that the title of the film and the surname of the real people in this story is a word that best describes their attitude towards each other and the 3 children they raised.

I give the film 3 and ½ stars for its honesty and dedication to the facts. It not only serves as a reminder to those of us who lived through this sad and regrettable period in our past but, equally as important, as an education for those who did not.