Lake Michigan

Implacable

these millennia old
glacial waters

wise but unaware

that today I turn 38

and have come here

many times over years

for clarity and peace

which it always provides

unknowing

'Flux Gourmet' A Review

Flux Gourmet is a dark comedy genre film about a 'culinary collective' which does 'sonic catering' a performance art that combines food and sound, they receive a residency at a remote artistic institution and the story follows the artists themselves- Billy(Asa Butterfield), Lamina(Ariane Labed), and Elle(Fatma Mohamed)- over the course of a month as they perform, clash with the institution's director Jan Stevens(Gwendoline Christie) and bring the institute's documentarian Stones(Makis Papadimitriou) into their performances.

The eclectic and excellent cast are all in some ways liberated by the bizarre style of the film, this kind of performative, deliberate pretention, a dead pan juxtaposed with an absolute earnestness. There's humor and pathos, wryness and absurdity, but it never becomes self-serious, never knowing- always exploratory. Christie goes for broke and it's wonderful to see her cut loose after years of work in great if mainstream fair, the same is true of Butterfield. Labed, a frequent collaborator with her husband Yorgos Lanthimos, is much more at home in the singular tone but she's always a delightful mix of contradictions. Mohamed, writer/director Peter Strickland's constant collaborator, doesn't have as much dimension as she does in some of their other work but is still absolutely captivating, like a witch out of a fairy tale plopped into modern cinema. Papadimitriou is in essence the straight man and his grounding presence and dry delivery balances the cast perfectly.

As with all of Strickland's work the production design is immaculate and rich. The costumes, the fabrics, the sets, the score, all thoroughly considered and exact but with their own vibrant life. The story, more of a journey or exploration, kind of a mirror of the capital A Art that the film both lauds and tears down, could be a bit too bizarre and gross for some. Strickland's work is an acquired taste(Duke Of Burgundy). But it is incredibly rich and thoughtful and funny. 

In the same realm as The Lobster or last year's Titane, an unapologetic art film with a budget robust enough and a vision clear enough to allow it to really soar. 

Currently available to rent on most VOD platforms.

Don't Miss It.

'Cha Cha Real Smooth' A Review

Cha Cha Real Smooth is a coming-of-age dramedy about recent college grad Andrew(writer/director Cooper Raiff) who has moved back home and works at a fast food joint. Andrew goes to a Bar Mitzvah with his little brother David(Evan Assante) where he meets an engaged mother Domino(Dakota Johnson) of one of his brother's classmates Lola(Vanessa Burghardt) after which Andrew becomes a Bar and Bot Mitzvah 'party starter' and babysits Lola and develops a relationship with Domino.

Raiff has a natural aw-shucks dorky charm that works pretty well but here, whether because of the script or the limits of his acting ability, some of the nuisance and dimension of the pretty dark and complicated emotional dynamics at play are mostly glossed over. Johnson brings her typical wattage but is confined by the immature permeators of the narrative. Assante and Burghardt in particular stand out, whether because of their youth or otherwise, because there is an authenticity about their performances, a realism that isn't clouded by what can at times feel like a contrived sophomoric "relationship" focus that bogs down the two leads.

Shot with an indie/mumblecore grittiness that really works and overall Raiff's work as director is much more assured and interesting than his work as an actor or screenwriter. The big issue is the script and perhaps the demo the story is intended for. Raiff, at least rendered here, doesn't really have the time or perspective to comment about a time that he is either still going through or so recently did. The plot machinations which ultimately boil down to a wanna-be Mrs. Robinson type scenario glossed over with a faux sincerity that attempts to make the shallow reality emotionally complex. Andrew, the character, is kind of a self-involved, naïve, idiot, given that, what is the real value here. There is no real criticism leveled against him by the film, no actual investigation of what's happening, it's all too breezy, too camouflaged by a kind of Gen Z faux emotional intelligence to get at what's really happening. Which is Andrew is basically horny, has mommy issues and a thing for older women, and identifies Domino as susceptible to his particular brand of unthreatening charm and they emotionally exploit each other. The reality is kinda fucked up and gross but it's portrayed in a way as if it's an enlightening journey. It's bizarre.

An interesting if broadly unsuccessful from still promising filmmaker Raiff, perhaps appealing to 20 somethings but little to no appeal outside that demo.

Currently in theaters and streaming on Apple+.

Stream It.

A Meditation On Spirit

There is the way of faith
and the way of no faith

The way of no faith requires only certainty

Certainty that this is all there is

The certainty of the individual

The way of faith requires only belief

Belief that there is more

The belief in the unknown

Certainty is easy

Belief is simple

'Good Luck To You, Leo Grande' A Review

Good Luck To You, Leo Grande is a dramedy about repressed widow Nancy(Emma Thompson) who hires sex worker Leo(Daryl McCormack) to help her explore her previously dormant sexuality over a series of encounters.

Thompson is a luminary, one of the best of her generation, and her realism and vulnerability, her humility and naiveté rendered for the role is crystalline, magnetic. McCormack, no slouch, rises to her level and gives an equally dynamic, complicated, precise performance. The two have great chemistry and the characters really soar, its beautiful and tender but not without some painful lessons learned and discoveries unearthed.

The film is proficient if a little uninspired as far as it's production. Whether a result of the budget or the pandemic virtually the entirety of the film takes place in a single hotel room and as a result the camera work is extremely limited and relies, almost entirely, on the actors to maintain interest. Which they do extremely well yet it leaves something to be desired simply switching between the same three stagnant set ups for most of the 90 minute run time. The other issue is the score which is near constant and frustratingly indicative, it seems to have no confidence that the audience will understand the emotional nuance that is happening(although it is never really in question given how good Thompson and McCormack are). The limited cinematography and intrusive score almost degrade the film to made-for-TV status given their clumsiness.  
 

A powerful script and two fearless performances make up for the somewhat fumbling production design, but they shouldn't have to.

Currently streaming on Hulu.

Rent It.

'Lightyear' A Review

Lightyear is an animated scifi adventure film, a spin-off from the Toy Story series, framed as the movie the toy is based on referenced in the original film. Buzz Lightyear(Chris Evans) is a Space Ranger for Star Command exploring uncharted space. When a habitable planet is discovered, Lightyear along with his Commander Alisha Hawthorne(Uzo Aduba) investigate only to be set upon by native bugs and vines. In attempting to flee the hyperspace fuel is damaged marooning the expedition and forcing them to set up a colony.

Evans, no surprise, gives a wonderful and layered vocal performance gracefully finding both humor and pathos. The supporting vocal cast are all equally effective with nice turns by Aduba,  Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, Dale Soules, and in particular Peter Sohn as Buzz's robot cat companion Sox who provides delicious comic relief.

Visually stunning, an excellent score, and a tight script all coalesce perfectly for a thrilling adventure with heart that has nods to the original TS series but isn't bogged down by them and knowledge of the TS franchise is completely unnecessary as Lightyear stands on its own. It is a highly effective, highly enjoyable summer blockbuster that also has some intriguing but unobtrusive themes. Like many Pixar films it balances many things near perfectly.

By far more cohesive, convincing, and celebratory than either current blockbuster alternatives(Top Gun: Maverick or Jurassic World Dominion). A pure summer delight.

Currently in theaters coming soon to Disney+.

Don't Miss It.

Serious Business

My grandmother passed last Saturday, this is a poem she wrote about five years ago.

My sweet seven-year old granddaughter
confided to me that

she is afraid of dying.

She's definitely suspicious of Heaven

being a good alternative to Earth.

Will we have a body? We can't

take our real one with us.

Or will the big box we're in go too?

Do we take clothes to wear with us?

And what about the people in urns?

I counseled her that we will have a body,

but it will be a spiritual body.

We will know each other, and added that

I was looking forward to seeing

my mom and dad, and her Grampa Irv,

there already, as well as my brother

and many of my dearest friends.

We will have a joyous reunion.

I assured her that, as a young person,

she would not be going there

for a long, long, long time.

The she has important work

to do on the Earth first. She had

no what-do-you-eat-in-Heaven

questions; ones so worrisome

to my own kids.

The Reality

We're all the same
and all Gods are real
end of discussion

'Hustle' A Review

Hustle is a sports dramedy about underdog talent scout Stanley(Adam Sandler) who discovers Bo(Juancho Hernangómez) a Spanish street baller. After being rejected by 76ers owner Vince(Ben Foster) Stanley's employer, he trains Bo himself in preparation for the draft.

Sandler is wonderfully realistic and human, when he plays these kind of roles it's kind of stunning how grounded and emotionally dynamic he can be. Hernangómez isn't able to reach much in the way of depth but he's serviceable enough for being a first time actor. The supporting cast is eclectic with a great heel turn by Foster and a great if limited performance by Queen Latifah as Stanley's wife Teresa, aside from them it's mostly a parade of NBA cameos, which are fun but lacking a bit in narrative or character oomph.

A catchy score and flashy camera work does quite a bit to keep the momentum going but at a two hour runtime the movie seems a bit flabby and there are so many cuts and zooms and handheld shots the basketball itself remains somewhat inert. The action is rarely simply shown, there are no full games actually played. All the play, within the perimeters of the NBA and otherwise, feels a little too much like street ball- flashy dunks and ball handling- that don't actually occur that often in the pros. This is fine as a style choice but doesn't really mesh with the story being told.

An entertaining sports flick but not in the White Men Can't Jump or He Got Game league.

Currently streaming on Netflix.

Rent It.

'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore' A Review

 Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets Of Dumbledore is a period fantasy, the third installment in the Fantastic Beast series. Dumbledore(Jude Law) constrained by a magic bobbin of fidelity to former love Grindelwald(Mads Mikkelsen) enlists various agents to act against the dark wizard in his coup attempt.

The cast is wonderful, with the great addition in this installment of Jessica Williams, but none of them are well utilized or given much, if any, chance to actually act or be flesh and blood human characters. There is so much unnecessary, convoluted, boring plot the all-star cast is rendered relatively impotent.

Whether it's a lack of vision, the insulation of profound wealth, deserted imagination or what have you producer/screenwriter JK Rowling has been unable to recapture a fraction of the spirit or baseline entertainment value of the Harry Potter books in this series. They are dark, dingy, overly plotted and emotionally underbaked. It is, in essence, simply the story of Voldemort 1.0 which we have already seen. There seems to be no awareness about what is actually good or interesting going on(Newt's relationship with magical creatures, Jacob and Queenies relationship). What we get is a tired, borderline exhausted, retread with very little unique or energetic or even palatable going on.

Plays like a chore for both actor and audience alike.

Currently streaming on HBO Max.

Don't See It.

Searching

After awhile

I stopped

asked myself

"is this it?"

answered myself

"Yes, this may be it."

and that was OK

in fact

it was pretty good

'Top Gun: Maverick' A Review

Top Gun: Maverick is an action drama a sequel to 1986's Top Gun. The movie opens on Maverick(Tom Cruise) who is working as a test pilot. After disobeying orders to prove the viability of the project he is reassigned, by the intervention of now Admiral Iceman(Val Kilmer), back to Top Gun as an instructor for a top priority mission. 

Cruise returns to Maverick with pretty much the same swagger but with a lot more emotion and internal conflict, its effective but kind of generic but to be fair the whole movie is, no necessarily in a bad way. It's wonderful to see Kilmer back on screen and Jennifer Connelly as Maverick's love interest is always a joy to see but there's a breezy, blockbuster type of shallowness about the characters, not out of line for the type of movie that it is, but even so no one is particularly stretching their acting chops. The young supporting cast are all serviceable, Glen Powell in particular is one of the only ones that has any real energy or differentiation, and Miles Teller unfortunately mostly flails in the shadow of Cruise. But again, the narrative doesn't really require any of them to be particularly dynamic or dimensional.

The movie looks absolutely incredible, the multiple extensive practical flight sequences are completely stunning, worth seeing on the big screen just for that. The soundtrack checks all the boxes, there's enough nostalgia to satisfy fans of the original but is fresh enough to feel unique and if not exactly fresh than at least fitting. Even though it is a sequel almost 40 years in the making its nice to have an old school blockbuster that isn't CGI superheroes or a disaster flick with absurd collateral damage. Ultimately its relatively simple and contained and this is one of it's greatest strengths.

Thrillingly made with a story that may be only intriguing by comparison rather than in and of itself.

Currently in theaters coming soon to VOD.

Rent It.

'Fire Island' A Review

Fire Island is a romcom, an adaptation of Pride And Prejudice, that follows Noah(Joel Kim Booster, also writer) and his group of friends as they take a week vacation at famous gay destination, the titular Fire Island, off the coast of Long Beach. Noah, who has a healthy sex life but is relationship averse, attempts to help his lonely romantic best friend Howie(Bowen Yang) hook up and as they party around the island they run into a group of rich friends including Charlie(James Scully) who Howie falls for as well as Will(Conrad Ricomora) who is at first very reserved and particularly contentious with Noah. Fireworks, romantic and otherwise, ensue.

Booster gives a commanding lead performance, balancing humor and real, dynamic emotion with a casual realism. He incorporates a lot of topical references as well as gay culture commentary and it really works. Yang is equally compelling, the character so raw and open, wears his heart on his sleeve and its delightful to see this side of Yang, one that is virtually non-existent on SNL. We get a little of the biting humor he's known for on the show but here he is much more vulnerable, more real. The supporting cast is filled out wonderfully- Matt Rogers, Tomás Matos, and Torian Miller round out the friend group with energy and vitality, Margarat Cho is great as their defacto house mom(although she's a bit underwritten), with Scully and Ricomora as the quite effective romantic interests. It weaves together wonderfully.

Effectively shot on location and in the NYC area it evokes it's place and time beautifully and provides a window into and explores it's protagonists culture while using the Jane Austen story as a throughline. The filmmaking itself may be more workmanlike than artistic but it is effective and what is highlighted is what should be namely- the characters, the humor, and the emotion. A surprising and fascinating follow up to director Andrew Ahn's previous(excellent) film Driveways. 

Effortless yet punchy humor, unapologetic romance, with some biting social commentary lead by a great Booster.

Currently streaming on Hulu.

See It.