Tag: Greta Gerwig

JACKIE (2016) movie review

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JACKIE Kennedy Onassis, fashion guru and lifestyle trendsetter influenced a nation with her quiet, proud posture of grace. Yet she endured what few could have, holding her murdered husband as he died and the million griefs that that sudden shock brought to her family, her situation, and her name in the days and years following – all under daily public scrutiny. She suffered silently even before he died. In many ways, her struggle is underplayed in historical accounts. We rarely think of the assassination from her perspective. This film offers insight expertly shown by Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Jackie’s aimless pacing of empty state rooms, her endless dress and undress. This also sets audiences up for the fateful day when she chooses not to change out of her bloody pink suit until she is finally alone to grieve. The film follows two interviews in tandem, one with a reporter and one with a priest. One a decision, the other a confession. One in staunch stance, holding demure position and poise, refusing to sensationalize. The other emotionally asking how God could allow her every level of suffering. After JFK’s death, Jackie chose to honor her husband’s memory and position by leading the country in grief as she did in fashion. When anyone dies, we unconsciously customize their memory. We eulogize their beauties, skills, and strengths, remembering them for all of their best qualities. Despite their flaws in life, we glorify them in death.Jackie orchestrated a hero’s send off in favor of patriotic symbolism and in so doing, strengthened a country. Her dignity set the tone for the whole world to grieve. This film shows her internal tension and culminates as she explains the line from her husband’s favorite play, “for one shining moment, there was a Camelot.”
Bio pics run the Oscar syndicate, two favorites are: JACKIE (2016) & JUDY (2019). (Stay tuned for Judy review!)  Unsung and yet beloved, the reputations of both of these two icons remain somehow untarnished despite the tragedy, conspiracy, intrigue, and raw reality of their stories.

 

LITTLE WOMEN (2019) movie review

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When given the challenge of reviving a generational classic, Greta Gerwig called upon her faithful, dramatic compatriots (Saoirse Ronan and Timothee Chalamet) and broadened her incredible team (Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, Florence Pugh, Emma Watson, Eliza Scanlen, Bob Odenkirk, Chris Cooper,  and more) to reinvigorate Little Women as we’ve never seen it before.
This film is a triumph in artistic vision and storytelling vigor. It’s a walk through the Musee d’Orsay; each scene is reminiscent of a famous painting. Each character is a Pinterest board of fresh takes and favorite moments from classic renditions of these films, all adaptations of the beloved novel by Louisa May Alcott.
But this is Gerwig’s finest chess move. She plants author’s DNA into the main character. Jo March is a strong, verbose, witty, lively heroine confined to the constraints of an era in which women were doomed to demure domesticity. She was a writer and a visionary. Like Alcott. Like Gerwig. So her characters investigate the struggles of home-life in a time of civil war, when money is king yet scarce, and when imagination and family bonding provide rare escape from discouragement. Loss determines destiny for most, but strength of spirit and courage of will allow the March women to rise above all.
Don’t miss this newly deemed classic. It’s pretty nearly perfect. 

ISLE OF DOGS (2018) movie review

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Wes Anderson rides again in his purest puppy parade to date.
While he famously kills a dog in each of his symmetrical dollhouse menagerie films, here in Isle of Dogs he attempts a mass rescue of dog-kind. Only one little hero pilot willingly risks his life to save his best pal Spot.Wes puts his diorama-prone filmmaking to the test in this puppeted art film including every ounce of classic Andersonism fans have come to expect, though the tone is perhaps even more dry and stoic and the narrative arc less pronounced than his usual fare. Immersing in Japanese culture, Anderson allows for half or more than half of this film’s dialogue to be in Japanese without subtitles. It’s an adjustment at first, but we’ve come to expect nothing less from Wes.And though he worked remotely on this project, he still filmed himself acting out the dog roles, controlled each element of visual story, and offered what can only be called his style to the production. He in his classic tweed suit lends even the mangey dogs living on “Trash Island” a level of posh austerity, a demure grace.

At times watching this felt like watching a Miyazaki film. Perhaps it’s the slower, continuous flow-through pacing or the neutral-toned setting. As it turns out, Miyazaki is just one of the artist influences that Anderson nods to. Also in the list are renowned filmmaker Akira Kurosawa and Charles Schultz of Peanuts cartoon fame.Edward Norton, Scarlett Johansson, Jeff Goldblume, Greta Gerwig, Bryan Cranston, Tilda Swinton, and of course Bill Murray are only a few of the voice talents behind the hand-painted hand-designed stop-motion characters.Each one took around 16 weeks to make, with around a thousand interchangeable faces to pinpoint specific expressions within each of the 12 frames per second. It took 670 artists years to create this hour & 41 minute long film. An excellent interview with some of the Isle of Dogs animators can be read here.Two scenes still stand out days later as potential for pop genius and eccentricity unmatched: the sushi scene in which audiences gain point of view from the eyes of a sushi chef as he slices and creates a box lunch, and the kidney transplant scene with a realistic overhead view within an operating room as a surgeon slices, removes, stiches up, and replaces a kidney. It’s surprising and yet fitting in the world as presented by Anderson.

LADY BIRD (2017) movie review

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Senior year at her Catholic school, a girl with abnormal charisma and confidence changes her name and takes on her toughest critic: her mother.Everyone wants to be loved. This film speaks to the soul of the everyday, normal, individual you that doesn’t feel approved of, noticed, or truly seen. Her issues resonate because in some ways they are universal.This film is a conversation being picked up, spun round, remembered and circled back to. Scenes and dialogue cut and jog but somehow maintain fluidity, grace, and humor.
The early 2000’s, Dave Matthews’ “Crash,” neutral and dark oversized shirts, Kool-aid dyed hair, thrift shopping for prom gowns, and high school musicals make every moment hilarious and true. It’s almost a little too close to home.From the opening scene listening to books on tape in the car with her mother to sneaking communion wafers with her best friend, this is all real. It’s about hope and finding satisfaction in yourself and in the family you were born into, and learning to love and pay attention to both for the broken wonderful things that they are. Because after all, in the end maybe loving and paying attention are the same thing.