The Fallout

I think the enduring thing about "The Breakfast Club," the reason it continues to be discovered by new generations, is because of the honesty in the writing, the dialogue. Those kids, John Hughes' kids, felt real; they still feel real. The Netflix series, "Ginny and Georgia" is one contemporary example of honest dialogue - at least it felt that way to me. "The Fallout" is a teen drama about a high-school shooting. It's a heavy subject. It's the first feature film written and directed by Megan Park. Wow, what a way to come flying out of the gate. I can't say enough about how impressive this debut is - the level of honesty in the writing and in the performances is extraordinary. Jenna Ortega (also in 2022s "Scream" and "X") as Vada and Maddie Ziegler (found also in 2021's "West Side Story") as Mia are both really impressive - they seem accomplished beyond their years. This is the story of the post-traumatic effects of a mass school shooting as we see it through the eyes of four select students, the main one being Vada; how it affects her family, her relationships, and mostly how it affects her. From the phone messaging/texting to the music, this film feels contemporary. Hats off to Megan Park for putting together something so honest and human. I look forward to seeing what she does next. Catch this auspicious debut on HBOMax/CRAVE.

The Innocents

This Norwegian horror/thriller is remarkable. What's it all about? Sisters, Anna and Ida, maybe aged 12 or 13 and 10/11 respectively find themselves living in a new apartment complex with the majority of the residents away on holiday. Anna has autism and she is non verbal. Her sister Ida seems to resent her existence. She pinches her, puts broken glass in her shoe - mean kid stuff. Ida meets two kids about her age, Ben and Aisha. They both have special gifts - telekinesis, telepathy, and an uncanny empathic synchronization. Turns out autistic Anna has some powers too. The problem is Ben. He is like a serial killer in the making and he is beginning to discover his own magical abilities. The closest thing I can compare it to is the Swedish film "Let the Right One In." This film gripped me like a rare few have. And the performances of these kids are simply phenomenal. I can't say enough good things about it. One of the best films to come out last year; I just got around to seeing it. You should too. Catch it on streaming services or your local video store when you can.  

Flee

My mother was born in Copenhagen, immigrated to Canada with her family in her early teens. I've heard stories of the five of them living in a one bedroom apartment and the hardships that come from learning a new language and culture. This also makes me half Danish by bloodline, so I have a soft spot for Danish films. "Flee" is a Danish film nominated for three Oscars, Best Documentary Feature, Best Animated Feature Film, and Best International Feature Film. It tells the true story of Amin and his family, growing up in Afghanistan during a time when the USSR was invading. Amin's father is taken away and is never seen again. He and his mother, brother and sisters flee to Russia. From there they entrust themselves to human smugglers to get them safe passage to Sweden - a few of them almost dying inside a shipping container with no means of escape. Amin's first attempt to flee lands him and his mother on a leaking boat, almost dying. It's harrowing stuff. It brought me close to tears a few times. Considering what is happening in Ukraine, this film is timely and important to feel the impact of displaced and traumatized people by acts of war and violence. Catch this remarkable tale of survival on Amazon Prime. 

The Batman

When I was five years old I wore a Batman cape to school - on a regular basis. I watched reruns of Adam West's Batman on TV and loved it. Couldn't get enough. As I have matured (well many might argue that point - ha) so too has Batman. When I was nineteen (1989), Tim Burton's "Batman" came out - I remember lining up outside the Place de Ville theatres in downtown Ottawa. Jack Nicolson as the Joker - this can't possible get any better, could it? Tim Burton's second feature "Batman Returns" was better! -  Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, yes! But then came Kilmer and Clooney and my childhood fascination with the caped crusader began to wane. Then, when I was thirty five years old (2005), Christopher Nolan gave the world, "Batman Begins." I was in love all over again. This, this was the mature Batman, the one I had been waiting for my entire life. Could it get better than this? 2008 brings us Nolan's central masterpiece of his bat trilogy, "The Dark Knight." When this came out I lost my mind. All Batman films would be judged against it. Heath Ledger posthumously won the Oscar for his role as the Joker. The opening bank heist scene was right out of Michael Mann's "Heat" - this was gritty and raw and realistic. The story was epic and I would argue this was the comic book version of "The Godfather" or "Goodfellas" - an epic crime drama where the source material has been elevated to high art. It was the best Batman movie ever made. Then came 2022.

Riddle me this, who is Matt Reeves? Well for starters he is the director of "The Batman" staring Robert Pattinson as Batman and Zoë Kravitz ("Kimi") as Catwoman. Before this, Matt Reeves directed "Cloverfield" (a Godzilla knock off) and the last two Planet of the Apes films ("Dawn of the Planet of the Apes" and "War for the Planet of the Apes"). I must confess, I loved the Ape trilogy. Thought is was spectacular. If you haven't watched them, you should. 

Matt Reeves film resume isn't long enough (in my humble opinion) to get a sense of who Matt Reeves is as a director. I really liked those Ape movies but I had no real confidence going into "The Batman," only hope. If you told me David Fincher directed this movie, I would believe you. Reeves borrows heavily from Fincher's "Se7en" and "Zodiac" films. The main villain is the Riddler; hooded like the Zodiac killer leaving clues and cyphers and doling out punishment, one victim at a time, to corrupt city officials. Played by Paul Dano, the Riddler is simply terrifying. 

Nolan's "Dark Night" remains great but there is a cleanliness to it - a surgical precision. If "The Dark Night" is Georges Seurat, then "The Batman" is Vincent van Gogh. The grimy streets of Reeves's Gotham are out of of a rainy "Blade Runner" set. The batmobile has been stripped back down to a lean machine that looks like a souped-up version of a Mustang rather than the tank-like machine Christian Bale drove. Even Pattinson's bat suit looks more homemade-commando and far more flexible than any previous.

It's dark, it's grimy, it's epic. The entire cast is fantastic. It's simply brilliant. But is it better than Nolan's? If "The Batman" stands shoulder to shoulder with "The Dark Knight," by my tape measure, "The Batman" is just a little bit taller. 

Catch this in theatres. And if you are going, take me with you, I will gladly see it again. 

Kimi

Steven Soderbergh doesn't always do it for me but I will watch anything with his name attached to it. "Kimi" is a lot of fun. It's like a modern day version of Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window." Tossed in with a little of Brian De Palma's "BlowOut" and add a pitch of Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation," and Steven has mixed himself an exciting little 90 minute movie. What's it all about? Zoë Kravitz plays Angela Childs, an atrophic OCD tech worker who is employed by the company who makes and supports Kimi (think Google home or Alexa). Angela's hipster-cool loft apartment (one she never leaves) is wired-up to Kimi, so Angela can voice command her computer, music, and lights. For her job, Angela listens to Kimi recordings to hear commands from other people and help correct Kimi's "understanding" so Kimi will respond correctly, etc. in the future. Then one day Angela hears something odd, a woman struggling - an assault. When she reports it, Angela is forced to leave her apartment. I won't tell you any more, except there is a nail gun. Zoe Kravitz is great (she is also the new Catwoman in "The Batman"). Soderbergh has crafted an exciting little thriller. Catch it on HBO Max. 

Catch the Fair One

"Catch the Fair One" is a gritty revenge thriller which pulls no punches. Kali Reis plays Kaylee, an Indigenous-black female, former lightweight boxing champ, who plans on going undercover into a human sex trafficking ring to find her missing sister. This movie is dark. It even has a cameo performance from Lisa Emery (best know for her role as Darlene Snell in Ozark). There have been lots of similar films of revenge, "Death Wish, "The Brave One," "The Equalizer," etc. But "Catch the Fair One" reminded me most of "Blue Ruin" for its small small independent-cinematic quality and also for its dirty and realistic perspective - it bobs and weaves in directions I didn't expect. Darren Aronofsky ("Requiem for a Dream") is one of the producers to give you a sense of the darkness I'm talking about. If you can take it, then hop in the ring with "Catch the Fair One," one of the best little crime dramas that came out last year. Catch it on streaming services or at your local rep cinema. 

The Worst Person in the World

When my friend Paul asked me on Facebook if I liked this movie, I quickly answered, very much so. When I asked him, he replied with "a bit slow but quirky, thought provoking. . . and other good stuff." Short but apt. What's it all about? It's about Julie (Renate Reinsve) a girl in her late twenties, early thirties trying to find herself. She has daddy issue, at least according to her comic book artist boyfriend, Aksel (Danielsen Lie). Julie does things on whims, not caring about consequences - it's part of her charm and part of the reason you might find yourself upset with her choices. When she crashes a party and meets another love interest, Eivind (Herbert Nordrum) the sexual tension is enough to freeze time. If you were to take Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise" trilogy and boil it down and add the magic realism of "Amélie" and a love triangle, you would get "The Worst Person in the World." The conversations and the experiences (taking mushrooms) reminded me of my own journey through my 20s and 30s. It's a comedy, a drama, and a tragedy. . .  and other good stuff. Catch this film in a rep cinema near you.