Movie Review: Mr. Malcom's List

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B-

A charming romance film. 

No better word can describe what works about this film than charming. We have seen these types of period romances many times and there is a reason for that. That is even with how familiar they get, there is still a certain comforting feeling about them and this is certainly present here. It has just what anyone who is a fan of these movies wants to see. The characters are likable and easy to relate to. They have their faults and don't always have the best intentions, but underneath this you can truly tell that they have good hearts. There is not a real villainous character in this movie and there doesn't need to be. There are just good people who sometimes do the wrong thing. And for this type of non-cynical escapism, sometimes that is what works best. Adding to this is the wonderfully charming performances from the cast. Everyone here plays their character with such an easygoing and delightful charm but in a way that still makes their characters feel real to us. There is simply such a likability to these performances that it is hard not to respond by liking the characters themselves. Even the moments where we just see one of them smile adds more charm to the film. This is also a period piece, and the movie takes full advantage of that. The sets and the costumes are lovely and make the film a delight to look at. There is also a fair share of humor here. Like many romantic comedies, it is rarely laugh out loud funny, but it does often put a smile on your face.

On the downside this is one of those films in which you can always guess what is going to happen next. As soon as the storyline is set up, you pretty much know beat for beat what is going to happen. However, there is definitely enough charm to make up for this.

This film may be very familiar stuff, but it is also charming enough to make it a nice trip to the movies.

Movie Review: The Last Duel

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B

A smart and intelligent medieval drama.

This movie takes a Rashomon-like storytelling method where the story is told from three different character's perceptive. While this storytelling device is not used perfectly, it is used very well. What appears different from each of these three times the story is told is not only certain story points but how characters are portrayed. It has been said that everyone is the hero of their own story and that is definitely true here where each character appears the most likable when the story is shown from their perceptive. However what is very clever about this is that we get the feeling that these characters are lying the most to themselves. They have so convinced themselves that they are in the right that they can not even see their own hypocrisy. This is very thought provoking because it causes us to look inside of ourselves and wonder how often we have lied to ourselves to put ourselves in the right when maybe we were not. The final version of the story though offers us social commentary beyond this. It not only speaks to woman's rights both of the time period and today but it also speaks to how many people over the years have scarified what they knew was right because they were afraid of a society that did not approve of what was right. This is not only thought provoking but emotionally powerful as well. 

Unfortunately all the characters besides our three main ones are quite bland and feel like stereotypes of characters rather than real characters. Though the Rashomon-like storytelling device works well in a lot of ways it does have its faults. So scenes are directly repeated without much difference between them and this can make the film drag at times and feel too repetitive. In fact this movie doesn't need to be as long as it is and would have benefited from a shorter runtime. 

The Trouble With Girls (1969)

The Trouble With Girls is an oddball film in the Elvis cannon. Even though the king of rock and roll is billed above the title and this was advertised as an Elvis movie, Elvis is not the star here, but a part of a larger ensemble cast. While this can make the movie disappointing to Elvis fans, it is a fine film on its own merits.

In 1927 a manager of Chautauqua show struggles to keep his show successful after the head of the children's pageant (Marlyn Mason) gives a young girl (Anissa Jones) the lead, when the manger promised to give it to the mayor's daughter. Things get even tougher for the show when a man winds up dead. Meanwhile the mother (Sheree North) of the girl who was given the part is struggling to get by in a town where she is treated very poorly. She feels that this children's pageant might be a turning part in her family's life but sadly it doesn't seem to be turning out that way.

While there may be a lot going on in this movie, very little of it happens quickly. First and foremost this is a film about its 1927 small town setting and takes its time to make you feel more involved in the time and place. This is very effective and gives the film a nice leisurely and charming feel. This is not always the small town Americana one might except from a movie like this as it isn't afraid to look a the darker side of the town. This not keeps the movie from being overly simplistic but also brings some moments of quite intelligent social commentary.

On the downside, even at only 99 minutes, the film can feel overlong and drags at times. There where simply some scenes that should have been on the cutting room floor. The camera in this movie seems restless. While I appreciate that this movie trying to do something different with its cinematography, the camera seems to be doing whatever it wants. This can become distracting especially during the more serious scenes.

While Elvis is far from the star here, he really gets to shine in his musical numbers. I have always been an unabashed fan of Elvis' gospel music and he gets to perform one of his great renditions of a gospel classic here. The song he gets to perform here is Swing Down Sweet Chariot. He had recorded this song in 1960 and it remains one of my favorite of his recordings. This movie version is just as great. It is high energy, fun, soulful and moving. If anybody asked me why I am an Elvis Presley fan, I can hardly think of a better example of why then his performance of this classic song in this film. Clean Up Your Own Backyard was the single from this movie and there is no wonder why. The song was written by the team of Mac Davis and Billy Strange (the same team that wrote the Elvis hits A Little Less Conversation and Memories).  It has biting social commentary in its lyrics that will always ring just as true as they did in 1969. Elvis sings the song to perfection and the music is undeniably catchy. True for a film that takes place in 1927, this song musically sounds very much of the 1960's, but it is an Elvis movie and most of us fans won't mind.  While this film may not have the greatest reputation, some consider this song to be one of his best movie songs and it is not hard to see why.

This may not be King Creole (1958), Jailhouse Rock (1957) or Flaming Star (1960), but there is still plenty to enjoy.

Note: This film features Nicole Jaffe in the cast and was released the same year Scooby-Doo! first appeared on TV screens. That show provided Jaffee with her most famous role as the voice of Velma.  

-Michael J. Ruhland  

Movie Review: The Courier

 

Note: I saw this film in a theater and I am so glad to be back.

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

A top notch Cold War spy thriller. 

I must start this review by praising what everyone else is praising about this movie and that is Benedict Cumberbatch's performance. To be honest before this movie I was mostly familiar with him from the MCU and The Current War. While I knew he was a good actor from these films, I was unaware he was capable of a performance like this. His acting here is incredible and despite the fact that I knew who the actor was, I never once thought about the actor while watching his performance. This performance starts out as charming and quite comedic but as the storyline gets more intense so does the way he plays this character. Yet this always feels like the same person, no matter how intense or how charming the performance is. Cumberbatch knows how to make you believe you are watching a regular likable person being pushed to his limits. The last act of this movie is simply a tour de force for Cumberbatch. That is not to say that he is the only good member of the cast. In fact everybody in this movie truly shines.  This film also benefits from an incredible true story. This story is a perfect story for a movie like this because while it is true it also larger than life. The story is told extremely well. There is not a single scene in which my attention drifted. Yet at the same time it is told at a pace that never once feels rushed. This film also extremely benefits from a fantastic score by Abel Korzeniowski that perfectly captures and adds to each scene.

This is simply a must watch movie. 

Movie Review: Emma.

Michael's Movie Grade: A+

A top notch film adaption of Jane Austen's classic novel.

This movie is a pure joy to watch from beginning to end. Emma is as charming as anyone could ever hope for. This is due in no small part to an incredible performance by Anya Taylor-Joy as the title character. Already so early in her career this young actress has already proven to be one of the brightest upcoming stars and here she is given a role that suits her perfectly. She never goes out of her way to make her character likable, yet we can't look away from her whenever she is onscreen. Mia Goth is also just as incredible as Harriet Smith and quickly wins our hearts. Much of this charm is also due to the fantastic direction by Autumn De Wilde (in what is shockingly her feature film debut). She had previously been a music video director and that probably plays a large part in why this film is so visually and stylistically gorgeous (though of course cinematographer Christopher Blauvelt and art director Alice Sutton have a lot to do with this as well). As soon as the film starts it's unique look immediately captures your attention. De Wilde also does an excellent job at making this movie flow at a relaxed pace without the film ever feeling slow or boring. This film is just as much a comedy as a period drama and although the humor is much less broad than your average Hollywood comedy, it is no less funny and I certainly wasn't the only one in the theater who laughed quite a bit. Every comedic bit is perfectly set up and pays off beautifully. Yet none of it distracts from the story itself, which is also very charming.

I don't want to give any summary of this picture as if you don't know Jane Austen's novel it is best to go into Emma not knowing what to except. Just know that the film is completely and utterly delightful.

-Michael J. Ruhland
  

Movie Review: Once Upon A Time ... In Hollywood

Michael's Movie Grade: A-

Review: An affectionate (though not exactly uncritical) love letter to 60's cinema that is irresistible.

If I were to give you a description of this movie's story, you might wonder how this could possibly fill a 160 minute movie. However this film is hardly about the story. Instead it is about the atmosphere, the characters and the story. Not only does this movie take place in the 1960's but it truly feels like a 1960's movie. This is accomplished not only through how the film likes but how it made as a whole. This is not a fast paced movie by any means, but most 60's movies where much slower paced than Hollywood films of today. Because of this the movie feels more authentic. This movie is also a pure auteur film of the type that where in vouge in the 60's. Quentin Tarantino does not stay invisible behind the camera for a second. His direction is constantly making its presence known. In a lesser filmmakers hands this can be disastrous, but when the right director does it, the effect is incredible and Tarantino is definitely the right director. This is not to give all the credit to the director however.

The cast in this movie is perfect. Leonardo De Caprio puts his whole heart and soul into this role and it shows. He brings a sense of humanity to a character that could seem like just a caricature in a lesser actors hands. A scene in which his character plays the bad guy in a TV show, and finally nails the part, is an especially good example of this. A child actress working with his character (played marvelously by Julia Butters) says "That is the best acting I have ever seen in my life." That might be a tall statement but there is no doubt, that we are witnessing an incredible performance by that scene. Brad Pitt and him have perfect chemistry together and it is just a joy to watch them share the screen. Margot Robbie is a joy as she brings so much joyous energy to the part of Sharon Tate. The scene in which she is watching herself in the movie Wrecking Crew in a theater is a feat for both her acting and Tarantino's directing.

Tarantino loves movies, as all of you should know. This can be felt throughout this film. I have already mentioned the scene inside the theatre with Sharon Tate. As well as a feat for Margot Robbie's acting and Tarantino's directing, this scene also shows us the magic that movies will always have on audiences and why the cinema remains the best way to see a movie. There are also throw away lines, about a character (Al Pacino) watching Rick Dalton double features in which he even talks about watching these films on 35mm. Of course this line shows how deep Tarantino's love for movies being shown on film. The characters constantly talk about movies and TV and do so with an undying affection. There is also some good natured ribbing of movies of the era (in fact much of this movie is laugh out loud funny). This includes a joke about Rick Dalton appearing in an Italian James Bond ripoff, Rick's negative opinion of Spaghetti westerns and a fantastically hilarious scene about The Great Escape. This can also be seen by the great sights of the 1960's style movie theatres lighting up. In the way these scenes are shot there is something awe inspiring and magical about it, something that will certainly resonate with many of us movie lovers.

This film also has a great soundtrack. True to the 1960's period, the music is mostly from that era. Not only does this help the film match the time period, but the music also gives this movie a great energy. It always fits what is on screen and complements it perfectly. Of course the songs (from Paul Revere & the Raiders, The Mamas and the Papas, Neil Diamond, Roy Head & the Traits, Deep Purple, Buffy Sainte-Marie and others) are just great songs and a joy to hear in any context.

This is a fantastic movie on every level. One could argue that its length is longer than it needs to be, but despite this I never got bored. I found this movie a complete pleasure from beginning to end.

-Michael J. Ruhland    

Movie Review: Green Book

Review Written By Michael J. Ruhland

Michael's Movie Grade: B+


Review: Excellent movie.

This is a movie about two people who strike a unique and powerful friendship that causes each to learn more about the other and grow as people. A movie like this is almost completely dependent how much we believe this friendship. The great thing is that this movie makes us believe it completely. Tony (Viggo Mortensen) is foulmouthed and not exactly one who would fit into high society, while Dr. Shirley (Mahershala Ali) has a very refined and classy way of presenting himself. However each has something important to learn from the other and this effects both their lives profoundly. We see the two go from having little to talk about to the two understanding perfectly that the other person wasn't the way they originally thought they were. We truly see this friendship grow over the course of the movie, in a gradual and natural way. There is no exact moment in which this happens and because of this when we see one standing up for the other, we completely believe and accept this. Adding to this is two powerhouse performances from the actors. The two have fantastic chemistry with each other and it is just a joy watching them share the screen.


This movie also benefits from some really funny humor. Scenes like them sharing fried chicken and Tony's original attempts at letters as well as just much of the banter between the main characters help make this film laugh out loud funny. I don't think there is a joke in this movie that doesn't work. Adding to this is that the humor is such a part of the characters it makes us believe them even more (I know this based off a true story, but again how many based on a true story movie are their where the main characters still don't feel real).

The easiest complaint to launch against this movie is that you can always tell what is going to happen next. This movie is full of cliché plot points (I know this is based off a true story, but I am sure dramatic license was taken in at least some of these scenes) and there is little here that hasn't been done before. The story is still a good one though and the emotional moments still hit quite well. We care about the characters in a way we don't in a lot of similar movies and because of this we can still get involved with them emotionally. Overall any predictability in this movie is overcome by the film's pure undeniable charm.

By the way one of the co-writers on this movie was Nick Vallelonga who is the son of the real life Tony.

-Michael J. Ruhland