Poor Things In Theatres C-
Oh Boy. I don’t want to say this film is without merit. The art direction is stunning. I would happily slide the rest of this movie into the front door of the remains of the Fukushima power plant. But ask me how I really feel? Oye. Where to start? Oh, how about the use of the “R” word in the first five minutes? Can we start there? Or shall we move on to the depiction of someone who is differently abled (I won’t even get into the whys and wherefores of the shocking reasons for this) and then the hyper sexualization of this character and all those who would take advantage of her? Doesn’t that sound like a great premise for a movie? This is one of those films where people are going to say, “It’s Art!” as an excuse for everything that has nothing to do with art. The human body is beautiful and can be displayed as art, so it really isn’t about the endless gratuitous nudity and graphic depictions of every possible sex act displayed in this movie. No, it’s more about the cloying, virtue signaling, endless fisheye lens, because “it’s really a women’s empowerment statement” that was dished by the writer and director. Let me assure you this is not a woman’s empowerment film. This horribly, terribly wrong movie is symptomatic of all that is wrong in Hollywood. I predict that it will win awards and nominations, and everyone will tell Emma Stone how brave and courageous she was. When really, I wish someone would get her some good counseling. I have a feeling she’s going to need it. And one last thing, I can’t give away one of the most deplorable aspects of the film, because it would be a spoiler, but it’s bad. Really bad. Consider yourself warned.
American Fiction In Theatres B
This is a biting, funny look at what sells in the entertainment industry, especially when showcasing the Black American experience. Jeffery Wright brilliantly plays Monk, the fiction writer that is so fed up with what sells that he writes a novel based on all of the tropes that he believes pander to the audience and misrepresent the true experience of Black Americans. The hilarity ensues when everyone loves it. The premise of the film is good, but the writing stalls and becomes very predictable. I was especially saddened by the writing of the character of Monk’s gay brother, which seemed to me to be all the tropes the film was seeking to jab. Any promise the film appears to hold in the first half circles the drain and ultimately fizzles for an uninspired ending.
Anatomy of a Fall Apple TV+ C
Unless you have incurable insomnia save yourself the time and money. This snoozefest of a psychological thriller is slightly less thrilling than watching paint dry. The film has gotten a lot of press because it won the Palm d’Or at Cannes, which I can’t even explain…was everyone drugged? Yawn. It’s not bad, it’s just boring.
Napoleon In Theatres C+
To be honest I never got past the fact that all the French characters spoke with a British accent and Napoleon sounded like he was from Akron, Ohio. I just couldn’t get past it. I love Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby. They are both brilliant actors, but they are just okay in this film that only shines when dealing with military strategy. Yawn. I couldn’t help thinking of all the 8th graders who are going to sleep through this movie for the next 20 years. Yawn. It’s not horrible, but it’s not good.