A Lure

In the dream
I look down at my arm
and a hook is protruding

I grasp it and pull

slowly and painfully it comes

and keeps coming

with more hooks

and shiny metal disks

its an oversized fishing lure

I awake

disconcerted

what does it mean?

I need to pee.

'Grand Theft Hamlet' A Review

Grand Theft Hamlet is a documentary about two UK out-of-work actors who attempt to stage a production of Hamlet within GTA during lockdown.

"Shot" entirely within the game with audio of the various players talking to each other via headsets the film follows Sam and Mark as they come up with the idea of putting on Hamlet, cast, stage, and eventually perform it. More so than the production itself it's a meditation on the pandemic, isolation, creativity, community, and the enduring nature of art and its ability to restore(or at least distract).

Even at its short runtime the film at times feels claustrophobic(which is fitting) we, like the subjects, yearn for some actual human faces from time to time, but that's apt not a criticism. Its rich with theme and humanity and illustrates, along with last year's The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, the potential power and depth of digital fellowship.

A scrappy, utterly singular, piece of cinema with an ultimate message of hope and connection.

Currently streaming on MUBI.

See It.

'The Monkey' A Review

The Monkey is a horror comedy about a magically murderous monkey that haunts a family over decades.

Theo James in a twin role is effective as Hal, the lead, who also narrates, deploying some versatile emotion with some genuine depth. As Bill, the other twin, he is kind of uninspired, not particularly scary or interesting and James wears his wig and costume poorly. The supporting cast is pretty stacked but many of them are seen too briefly- Tatiana Maslany as Lois Hal and Bill's mom in flashbacks, Elijah Wood as Ted the stepdad of Hal's son, Adam Scott as Petey Hal and Bill's dad in flashbacks, Sarah Levy as Ida Hal and Bill's aunt. They're all perfectly cast but only get a scene or two each which lessons their impact. The bigger issue isn't the cast it's the unique but inconsistent tone and thematic confusion.

Writer/director Osgood Perkins has style, at this point that's inarguable, the film looks great with wild and funny gory deaths, immaculate set design, visually the film is inspired. The soundtrack and score weave together thrillingly but the script is just a bit thin and a bit confused as to its intent. The gross out comedy moments are really effective there's just not quite enough of them, at the same time there are feints made at actually trying to say something- about death, familial trauma, parental responsibility etc.- but those two objectives, as deployed in the film, come across as incongruous. As a result, much like Osgood's 2024 offering Longlegs, it stumbles in the third act, fails to finish, and kind of muddies the whole as a result.

Ambitious, intriguing, at times thrilling, but lacks cohesion. Perkins clearly has a great film in him but we haven't seen it yet.

Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.

Rent It.

'Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius)' A Review

Sly Lives! (aka The Burden of Black Genius) is a documentary about the life, career, and legacy of the members of Sly and the Family Stone with particular focus on the band's front man Sly Stone.

Through talking-head interviews, concert footage, archival interviews with Sly, archival news, and some animation the band, its members, but more importantly the music are explored and celebrated. An overdue look at a great and influential figure and band. The best parts are when one of their songs is broken down in an animation sequence and when two talking-heads breakdown their sample of one of their songs. Basically the shop talk is excellent and the film is patient and generous in exploring the band's discography. The investigation into Sly himself, the burden of his Black Genius, as well as his addiction is compassionate and thoughtful if not ultimately particularly deep. But that's OK because it's the music, the sound that is really elevated and focused on, its a music doc not a biography. As an aside it is interesting that this film and many others like it, when discussing artists or public figures with addiction, fail to understand a most fundamental fact about the disease, which is, it can happen to anyone. We all have within us a certain threshold when it comes to substance use, for some its very high, for some(like myself) its very low, but there is a point beyond which the disease is triggered, like a circuit breaker. Sly may have started using for various reasons and circumstances(which the film discusses) but the disease, once active, renders those things relatively moot and the addict is solely focused on the acquisition and ingestion of the preferred substance.

An inspiring rumination on a legendary band with moments of transcendence propelled by the music. Should have had a theatrical release.

Currently streaming on Hulu.

Don't Miss It.

Chicago Pride

Despite the difficulties

crime, inflation, the political machine
despite civic complications

CTA, property tax, CPS

there is no where I'd rather be

than as a denizen of our fair city

its people characterized(generally speaking)

by determined work ethic

and cautious kindness

visiting the DMV today

I was struck

not by frustration, irritation, and malice

as is the cliché

but by a profound sense

of belonging

of community

orderly queuing

prompt and affable treatment

all of us

together

civic responsibility on one side

civil service on the other

all of us Chicagoans

(or presumably Cook County residents)

in acceptance of the day

and its necessities

in pursuit of accomplishment

however minor

and in this efficiency and mundanity

life

in all its depth and complexity

in all its richness

we are here

in the City of Big Shoulders

and we move forward

pride fills my chest

and eyes water in gratitude

joyful in our shared purpose

however fleeting

'The Gorge' A Review

The Gorge is a scifi action romance about two world class snipers stationed at either side of a mysterious gorge that contains mysterious monsters.

Anya Taylor-Joy brings her patented magnetism and commitment and makes something out of this not-much of a character in this convoluted story. She's charming, charismatic, and proves again and again that she's got talent. She brings the same level of intense commitment to her roles regardless of their quality(and good for her!). Unfortunately her wattage isn't really enough to bring the movie out of it's nose dive. Teller doesn't fair as well and uses a less-is-less approach, he hasn't really capitalized on the promise shown in his break out Whiplash partly because of the roles he's had but also perhaps because that was just one of those stars-aligning type of films and he simply doesn't have top-of-the-call-sheet type juice. He's not bad but he's not particularly interesting and the wild swings in tone don't do either actor any favors.

The movie looks cheap, shot mostly on soundstages with extensive greenscreen/CGI it looks fake and there is some uncanny valley effects as a result. The sound mix is atrocious with the oppressive score ten times louder than the (minimal) dialogue track. The biggest issue though is the script. Written on spec, it seems clear that screenwriter Zach Dean's intent was to use this to get his foot in the door not actually have it produced(he's also the scribe of the profoundly unwatchable The Tomorrow War). The Gorge was on the 2020 Black List of "best" unproduced scripts which is kind of baffling and makes you wonder if the script readers at studios actually watch movies. Having just returned from LA I can say it is shocking how many people there who want to work in show business(or do) but don't watch much of the actual product(and seem proud of this fact). Tonally it attempts to mash science fiction, action, and romance but simply switches between the genres scene-to-scene and doesn't meld them which makes you feel like your getting a ride from someone with a stick shift who doesn't know how do it. The dialogue is pretty cringe and there are so many ludicrous plot holes and inconsistencies its virtually impossible to invest in anything that's happening.

Straight-to-streaming mediocrity.

Currently streaming on Apple TV+.

Don't See It.

Domesticity

There's a lot to navigate
logistics, compromise, food

it's noisy, chaotic

but gratifying

the texture of it

the depth

easy to get lost in

the labyrinthine obligation

sometimes it's good

to disappear

in service to others