Passages

"Passages" is a film about a narcissistic bisexual German film maker, Tomas (Franz Rogowski) living and working in Paris and the two romantic relationships he ricochets between. At the start of the film, Tomas is living with Martin (Ben Whishaw) in a flat which they both own. I kept wondering where I had seen Ben Whishaw before - he played the new Q in the the recent Bond films. Anyway, Tomas meets Agathe (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and they end up having an affair. Then it turns into much more. But Tomas can't seem to let go of Martin. So why did I like this melodramatic film so much it ended up on my blog? Good question. To me it felt like a Cassavetes's film. If you told me that Cassavetes was alive and well and he made this movie, I would believe you. The pacing, the earnest dialogue, the look of the film all reminded me of John Cassavetes. I don't think there could be higher praise. Director and co-writer Ira Sachs has crafted a little indie film that felt like it was from the 70s. The exchange between Tomas and Agathe's parents alone was worth the price of admission. And Tomas riding his bike! This was pure cinema. I loved it and didn't expect to. Catch it now in rep cinemas or on streaming services when it becomes available. 

Jules

Perhaps the comic theme of aliens to speak about aging is going to become a film subgenre? Ron Howard gave us "Cocoon." Marc Turtletaub ("Little Miss Sunshine") has given us "Jules," which is the story of Milton (Ben Kingsley) who is living in a small town in Pennsylvania. Milton's daughter is worried about her father's mental state after finding some canned vegetables in his bathroom medicine cabinet. Milton, when he is not too confused, likes to  expresses himself to his city council. His recommendation: they should change the town slogan from "A great place to call home," to "A great place to refer to as home," because of the confusion it causes because you might think it's a great place to get on the telephone and call home. E.T,, I'm sure, would like to call home from Milton's house. E.T. isn't around, but who is? Jules. Jules is the little blue alien who has crash landed in Milton's backyard. Of course nobody believes Milton because everyone already thinks old Milt has a few screws loose. Except for Milton's two other vocal citizens, Sandy (Harriet Sansom Harris) and Joyce (Jane Curtin). They find out about Jules and work to both keep Jules a secret and to help the little blue fellow get home. It's far funnier than I thought it would be. In fact, it's much smarter than I thought it would be. Jules surprised me. Delightful. Catch it in a theatre near you. 

Lola

If you had a time machine, would you go back and kill Hitler? I'm sure this drunken university philosophical question continues to bounce around, popping up at campus pubs from time to time. How about if the year were 1941 and you had a machine that could pick up radio broadcasts from the future, so you would know when and where the Germans were coming to attack your English country? Welcome to "Lola," Andrew Legge's first feature length film - although with a very short runtime of only 1 hour and 19 minutes. What's it all about? Two sisters have built, Lola, a machine that can pick up radio broadcasts from the future and they use it to help England fight the Nazis in WWII. For a low budget film, Andrew Legge and his crew have crafted a very special looking film, and one of the most intriguing and ingenious little stories to come along since "Memento." A lot of it looks like modified footage from WWII. Apparently "Lola" was shot on actual film giving this black and white picture a crackling-hiss-pop sensibility of a classic analog movie. Highly watchable and wickedly smart, this "The Man in the High Castle"/"Twilight Zone" story is well worth your time. Clever as all get-out. It put a smile on my face and definitely didn't overstay its welcome. The Kinks, David Bowie, and Bob Dylan are some high stakes we are dealing with - that and the future of the free world. Catch Lola on streaming services or at your local rep cinema when you can.  

Shrinking

I have no idea why I didn't watch it sooner. I loved Jason Segel's last series, "Dispatches from Elsewhere." And Harrison Ford, my childhood movie action hero was who has starred in some of my favourite films. Why did I wait so long to watch this? I think it's because I didn't want to be disappointed. Perhaps mediocre "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones" squeals played into my subconscious. Maybe that and Apple+ has made a bunch of things, only which "Ted Lasso," "Shining Girls," and "Servant" I have enjoyed. And I gave up Ted in the 3rd season. Well I'm happy to report, "Shrinking" is a fabulous new series; smart, witty, and pretty dark. It's about grief and trauma and despite the heavy themes, it remains feeling light - I believe it's the charming and slightly goofy soundtrack they laid over it like a Band-Aid. Harrison Ford plays a lovable curmudgeon and Jason Segel is a man in mourning trying to sort out his relationship with his daughter. The writing in this show is excellent; earnest, witty, cutting, and bloody clever. Catch one of best things Apple+ has put out. "Shrinking" - streaming on, you guessed it, Apple+.

Talk to Me

"It Follows," "Split," "Don't Breathe," "Heredity," "Get Out," and "Us" for me, rank as the best horror films of the last decade. "Talk to Me," is now too on this list of exceptional films. "I see dead people," the famous line uttered by Haley Joel Osment in "The Sixth Sense." There is a lot of seeing dead people in "Talk to Me." It's kind of the point of the film. What's it all about? Well there is this hand (more like hand and forearm) that looks like a store window mannequin hand that has been scratched up. Teenagers carry it around in duffle bag and pull it out for a good time of let's-talk-to-the-dead. When one of these kids shakes hands a kind of portal to an undead netherworld opens and they get to see the underbelly of hell. When this happens, the kid gripping the hand experiences a zombie like DMT trip while all the kids in the room film it on their cell phones. Everyone takes a turn except for young Riley. His sister thinks he is too young. Well when she leaves, Riley has a turn. It doesn't go so well. I don't want to tell you any more about this movie. Go see it! It's original, smart, and Australian! Oh, and it's scary as shit! In theatres now.   

Shortcomings

I recently watched "Joy Ride" (2023) which I had heard great things about - a feature film with Asian leads being touted as the next "Bridesmaids." It was raunchy and pretty much unfunny. Quite frankly, it was dumb and disappointing. However it did explore interesting material - what it's like to be Asian growing up in a white society. If you want to see one of the best films of the year about this, please watch "Riceboy Sleeps." So what does all this have to do with "Shortcomings?" Well it has three Asian leads and it's about living, working, and dating within a white culture; oh, and this film, well it's brilliant and funny. This little indie picture stars, Justin H. Min as Ben, a late twenties/early thirties Asian man who has fading dreams of being a film maker while he continues to toil away working at an independent movie theatre as the manager. The film starts off with Ben attending an Asian film festival with his girlfriend, Miko (Ally Maki) watching what would be the equivalent of "Joy Ride" - a dumb mainstream movie to appeal to the masses. Ben's high-art snobbery is a problem for Miko (that and Ben's "thing" for white girls) and it marks the beginning of the end of their relationship. "Shortcomings" is honest, clever, and well made. If you are looking for a dramady, then please catch Randall Park's smart film at your local rep theatre or on streaming services when it becomes available. 

Sympathy for the Devil

It was when I watched the first and second season of AMC's "The Killing" that I developed my man-crush on Swedish born actor, Joel Kinnaman. I thought to myself, this guy is an amazing actor. Kinnaman is one half of "Sympathy for the Devil." The other half is Nicolas Cage. Everyone knows Cage. He's known for his over the top, crazy performances. So you might chalk up this performance as just that, just another wackadoodle one. I would argue it's not. Cage looks like he has lost weight for this role (hopefully intentionally). It gives him a mean look. I think his boyish face, besides from granting him the appearance of youth, had never giving him the gravitas I think catapults other actors into the spotlight. So I think the leanness of Cage's face (not to mention the flamboyant hair!), but also the leanness of the manic energy Cage expels, a kind of powder-keg waiting to blow, makes this performance one of his best since "Pig."  What's this movie all about? Two guys in a car with a possible case of mistaken identity. I don't want to say any more. It's a violent thriller and I loved it. You may have seen this story before but this version, it's a killer. Catch a ride with "Sympathy for the Devil" in theatres or soon on streaming services.