'Arrival' A Review

Arrival is a science fiction thriller about government recruited linguist Dr. Louise Banks(Amy Adams) learning and communicating with one of twelve seemingly benign alien envoys spread all around the world. The film opens on a flashback montage of Banks' daughter's childhood, illness, and premature death. when Banks' is pulled into the alien mystery flashbacks reoccur and strengthen as she delves deeper and deeper into the alien language. She is partnered with astrophysicist Ian Donnely(Jeremy Renner) and supervised by Colonel Weber(Forest Whitaker). The team eventually has to race against time to discern the alien's intentions before other governments engage in full on warfare.

Adams gives a nuanced, emotive, definitive lead as she almost always does. Complex and strong she facilitates our engagement not only with the central linguistic mystery and the international tension but provides the sorrow and strength of the individual. Renner is decent as, essentially, the sidekick but doesn't have a ton of screen time, nor is he really needed. Whitaker is the only one to equal the presence of Adams and gives a kind and confident turn as the Colonel in charge without unnecessary macho posturing or authority. The remaining cast are all serviceable but the film is not really about them and so they are, justly, on the periphery.

The cinematography of the film is dark and compelling. There are wide establishing shots that utilize CGI but the majority of the action and the focus is on the intimate. Adam's character entering the alien ship and interacting with the aliens. The effects and visuals employed are engaging not only in their detail and ability to heighten and accent the moment but in their welcome restraint. The effects serve to augment the tension initially but then over time they intensify and clarify the emotional and political stakes. For a film with aliens and smoke writing this melding is especially impressive.

The film is satisfying not only as thriller and science fiction but is inspiring as allegory especially so given our current socio-political climate. Adam's gives us a strong, scientific lead who focuses on the commonalities with the aliens as well as good old human hard work, understanding, and compassion to avoid a potential international crisis.

An important and prescient piece of filmmaking.

Don't Miss It.

Perseverance

The irony is that fatalism is futile. There is no benefit to doom. Certainly a moment of despair or a time of mourning is something we are all entitled to. But remaining in a place of fear, wallowing in ennui does not serve us personally nor does it effect the society in which we remain. We move on by moving forward, we survive by taking action.

Yes, this election has been brutal. Yes, this outcome is heartbreaking and terrifying. But out of this pain, out of this loss there are opportunities. This pain provides an opportunity to come together as compassionate humans. Provides a real and compelling chance to unite. Not only is it a time to reach out to our friends and family for fellowship but it is a time to connect more broadly, rigorously exercise our empathy and understanding, because only by recognizing each other as thinking feeling valued humans can we hope to weather the coming trials. It also allows us an enemy that is distinct. Apathy has slowed progress for years, with hate and aggression writ large and loud on a national scale there are no excuses left, we must and will take action.

On taking action. To men I suggest this is a time to listen and follow more than speak and lead, whatever the conversation, whatever the battle it is not for us to define. What we can all do, the tools of progress and change remain what they have always been- organize, march, vote, donate. Social organizations will need financial support in the coming months and years more than ever. And aside from the philanthropic we vote with our dollars, research the companies you are giving your money to and be discerning about where and what you purchase.

And life goes on. Life endures. The sun will rise and set tomorrow. There'll still be Thanksgiving and 2017 will still come. We still have to commute and go to work and decide what to do on Sunday afternoon. There are still pleasures, large and small, still love and companionship and joy. The future may look bleak but its reality is something we can determine. We have the choice on how to proceed and I suggest moving forward with hope and kindness. For even the smallest act of generosity can make a ripple that becomes a wave. One day at a time, one hour at a time, one moment at a time we can make the choice not to succumb to darkness but to live in the light.

Fear is the mind-killer. Struggle not submission.

Be True

As you wept
in our bed
I did not know
what to do

I could not know
your despair
or the pain
that ran through you

There are things
that can be shared
but others only
to be endured

Sometimes words
cannot heal
and assurances
have no weight

So I gave what I had-
my ears
and the warmth
of my embrace

For today
it was enough.

'Moonlight' A Review

Moonlight is a lyrical and rich coming of age drama set in Miami focusing on the same character, Chiron, over three different time periods. The film opens on Juan(Mahershala Ali) a drug dealer as he checks in on one of his corners. A group of kids chase Chiron in this first act called Little(Alex Hibbert) who eventually hides in an abandoned apartment. Little is later found and befriended by Juan. Little's controlling mother Paula(Naomie Harris) has a burgeoning but object's to Juan's involvement in her sons life. The second act follows the solemn and introspective Chiron(Ashton Sanders) as he navigates high school and develops a deeper connection to his childhood friend Kevin. The third act sees Chiron now called Black(Trevante Rhodes) as a drug dealer in Atlanta as he returns to Miami to reconnect with Kevin(André Holland).

Across the board the entire cast gives incredibly dynamic, layered, passionate performances. All three actors that play Chiron do so with a depth, nuance, and believability that is magnetic. Although there is some physical resemblance between them the three actors manager to each capture the spirit of this compassionate soul. Ali gives one of the most confident and compelling performances of his career with little flash but incredible weight. Harris as Chiron's mercurial mother conveys such complexity in the somewhat limited screen time she has. Holland as the third iteration of Kevin exudes a quiet calm, playfulness, and empathy that is stunning in its beauty. Truly from the smallest to the largest role there is no casting misstep. A perfect ensemble.

The saturated and compelling visuals paired with the affecting at times eerie score serve not to heighten the narrative but meld with it, imparting just as much information and emotion as the characters and dialogue. At times surreal and dreamlike, at times hopelessly real Moonlight is cinema exceeding its potential. Poetic and stirring with a striking human resonance.

One of the best films of the year.

Don't Miss It.

'Doctor Strange' A Review

Doctor Strange is a superhero film about obnoxious genius neurosurgeon Stephen Strange(Benedict Cumberbatch) who's hands are crippled after an auto accident. After modern medicine offers no solution he travels east to delve into mysticism and magic for an answer. Under the tutelage of The Ancient One(Tilda Swinton) and Karl Mordo(Chiwetel Ejiofor) Strange learns of the fight against fallen student Kaecilius(Mads Mikkelsen) and his service to malevolent being from the Dark Dimension Dormammu.

Cumberbatch is charming and wry as the titular hero, offering a pleasing and engaging lead if a character relatively similar to Iron Man's Tony Stark. Rachel McAdams as the love interest is grounded in reality and provides a freshness previously unseen in the MCU. Swinton, Ejiofor, and the villainous Mikkelsen all put in fun turns but depth is sacrificed for visual splendor and action.

The imagery of the film is incredibly rich doubling down on the ascetic of Inception with its kaleidoscoping cityscapes and interiors. The magic is also captivatingly rendered, an original realization of the "mystic arts" helps elevate the playful if relatively formulaic plot.

Fun and likable performances, fresh and stunning visuals, if a somewhat too tried and true origin story.

See It.

A Child's Cruelty

Once like
little beasts
we children
bared our teeth
and bit
to bleed
knowing not
nor caring
whose pain
it guaranteed,
deeds
were done
without
regard
to blame
or shame
or need,
for youth
grasps no
consequence
nor the sting
of empathy,
only time
can reach
and teach
those
necessities.

On Grief

We all grieve in our own way. Whether we commiserate or sit silently, whether we weep or anger, whether we recount memories or distract with humor. We all have our own process we must deal with in order to come to terms with loss. What we cannot do is bottle it up and ignore it. We must engage with our grief, we must feel, we must face it, the pain is ours to be experienced and grappled with and incorporated into ourselves as we move on. It is not some foreign thing to be scorned, as difficult as that can be.

Last week a friend passed away. He was 25. It is a tragedy and it is painful. He was funny and joyful, always grinning with an easy loud near-constant laugh. The fact that he is gone is a shock and as the days go by it still seems unreal, more like a dream or ill conceived prank rather than reality. Like any moment there'll be news there's been some mistake. It will take time.

As I mourn I try to crystallize my memories of James. Our conversations, the time we sat together during shows, the times I saw him perform, our hugs. And more importantly than that I keep in my heart and mind his unbridled joy not only of comedy but of life, his open and relentlessly positive disposition. I will carry that with me forever, as a remembrance and as a guide.

When it comes to death, that frightening and inevitable counterpoint to life, compassion should be our watchword and gratitude our touchstone. The burden of life can be heavy but in sharing it becomes lighter. We all struggle. In reaching out and connecting, in seeking understanding and empathy that struggle is weathered. Each day is precious, each friendship, relationship, family member, success, pleasure, triumph are to be relished and remembered. There is tragedy and cruelty and sometimes it strikes close to home. But there is also love, joy, and companionship. Seek it out and savor it.

The world is capricious. Sometimes life can be fleeting. This is how we go on. One step at a time. One day at a time. Fortifying ourselves with the warmth of friends and family we trudge the road of happy destiny. For today, today we are here.