Was it a car or a cat I saw?

Sep 02, 2020

PINNED: this newsletter is supposed to be a friendly recapping of the movies in, and coming to, theaters. But things be real weird right now. So until that changes in earnest, I'll either be suggesting old favorites to revisit, pointing out recent flicks you may have missed or calling out notable new VOD / streaming options.

Did a lil (momentary?) name change this week. Gotta keep up with the times and stay hip ya know. Or wait... *realization* Are massive billion dollar companies actually not the arbiter of what's cool and are actually just "playing it safe" hence all the copycatting and regurgitation?! 😲

Oh well, already made the header. 🤷‍♂️

Before I move on to the movies, there was some really sad news this last week that you almost assuredly know about - Chadwick Boseman. 😔 Beyond being so sudden and at a young age, it's clear his death impacted so many not just because of who he was, but what he came to represent. It's always a bit of a hard thing to understand when there's a massive outcry about the death of someone whom very few have ever met. But us humans are complex creatures and one death can mean many things to many different people. For those close to him, I'm sure it was about the person. For those who came to see him as the representation of Black Panther and all that that movie (and the others he made) meant to people, it's something different. No matter what it was, it's awful and sad. But a lot of good came before that sadness, and that's probably worth remembering.

TENET
AKA
"tenet backwards"

It's almost too perfect that the first major release in (just barely) now mostly opened theaters is a story that hinges on time. People everywhere have talked about how the functions of a clock have ceased to exist during "the bullshit." While that's only partly true (mostly because time doesn't even exist), it certainly feels true for many.

So then, why not risk life and limb to experience a movie where the things that have happened, have yet to happen. Or something like that. A solid explanation of the plot I will not be able to give you. Even reviewers have been saying they'd need multiple viewings to explain what they witnessed. And saying they witnessed it is not being overly grandiose. This really is something, the first notable film (because yes it was shot on film), after what has been the longest shutdown in cinematic history. If activity outside the US (where the film has already opened), is any indication, people will come back. But how many people, and in the sustained way theaters need? Only the future can tell us that.

As for why this is such a big deal release, it's really because of Christopher Nolan. He's one of the few filmmakers that can build hype merely on the fact he's releasing something. People don't need to know what it's about, they just need to know it's from him. He's partnered here with the kinda blowing up / kinda blown up John David-Washington (BlackKklansman) and Robert Pattinson (getting lots of praise for playing off type). Washington is the Bond like protagonist and I mean that literally - in the end credits you'll see him listed as "The Protagonist." If that's partly to keep mystery, reviewers say it partly keeps the audience distanced. Which is much of what the critiques are of the movie. It all looks excellent, is orchestrated well (lots of cool explosions! Including a real plane), presents cool ideas, but has an air of coldness. It's a critique from previous Nolan movies, so if you're a fan, may not be much of an issue.

Really, the only question here is, do you feel comfortable going to a theater right now? If yes, go check this out. If no. Well, keep reading.
Give it a Shot If: you're just dying to see a legit movie-movie outside of the same room if you've been stinking up the last six (!) months
Details: 77% on RT (161 reviews)
PG-13, 2 hrs 31 mins, Warner Bros.

MULAN
(2020)

What was (presumably) going to be one of the largest theatrical movies of the year is now going to be one of the biggest experiments in the modern home-streaming era.

Because unlike the recent Trolls sequel, which was turned into an expensive VOD rental at twenty bucks after it was forced from theaters, Mulan is pushing norms by requiring a Disney + subscription, *ahem* plus a $30 rental fee - the first rental within a streaming service. Still cheaper than a family outing to theaters, but still more expensive than the "free" Disney charged for the early Hamilton release... 👀

As for the movie itself, the biggest surprise is probably that there will be no break out into song moments, unlike recent Disney live-action remakes. Don't expect a tiny talking dragon either. The movie is going for (relative) realism, partly indicated by it's PG-13 rating. The story otherwise looks to be the same, with Mulan (Liu Yifei) proving to everyone around her she can sure as hell do what all the men can do - maybe better.

There aren't any reviews yet, but way back in March the premiere provided some positive early takes for what it's worth.

Note: curious, but don't want to pay the $30? Will become normal Disney + fair starting December 4th

Give it a Shot If: you'd enjoy another nostalgia fest have some rowdy kids to entertain

Details: TBD on RT (0 reviews)
PG-13, 1 hr 55 mins, Disney

I'M THINKING
OF ENDING THINGS
(2020)

This is a Charlie Kaufman movie. If that means something to you, it means you know I'll never be able to explain what occurs in a few futile sentences.

Kaufman (who wrote / directed here) is known for movies where he takes notional threads of what it is to be a human, tosses them into the air, lets them fall to the ground in a jumbled mess and then proceeds to work the knots out on screen. If that maybe not perfect analogy confused you, good, you're now more prepared for the viewing of a Charlie Kaufman movie.

And it's fair to want to prepare people a bit for a movie from the dude who's also responsible for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Adaptation and Being John Malkovich. They not normal! But I mean that in the best, loving way possible. This existential tale starts off with a woman (Jessie Buckley) visiting her boyfriend's (Jesse Plemons) parents (one of which is Tony Collette) even though she is about to break up with him. Or is she? It's apparently unclear, just as everything else also becomes more unclear. Maybe she's toying with us, maybe the movie is toying with us. Honestly, I don't know.

Go in expecting something weird, but also weirdly affecting and you'll probably get yourself halfway there in the readiness department.

Give It a Shot If: you want a chance to finally see something more confusing than your own current reality

Details: 87% on RT (62 reviews)
R, 2 hrs 14 mins, Netflix

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