Being an adult doesn't mean you act like one.

Sep 30, 2020

"They'll never catch me man,
'Cause I'm fucking innocent."

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.

A bit after I sent last week's edition, it was reported that Disney moved Black Widow to May 7 2021 - basically a year after its initial release date. Disney kept Pixar's Soul on its November 20th date for now. Maybe they're less concerned since it's likely a strong at home play too?

I mean, at this point, if you can sustain without the revenue, it seems to make sense to hold your product until everyone can see it (does that mean post vaccine? idk). Now if you're MGM, which owns the Bond franchise, it's a bit of an issue. Bond is still set for a release later this year (November 11 to be specific), but will people feel any more comfortable going by then? MGM is no longer a big studio with tons of cash a la Disney, or a subsidiary of a bigger corporate behemoth (see: WB, Universal, Paramount); it's more of a branded investment by private equity firms, so Bond means a whole lot more to them than Black Widow does to Disney (although BW still means a lot!). Conundrums abound.

Trailers! Lots of good ones this week. A few goofy ones too, at least by my judgement. But everybody's tastes are different.

Btw, I know it's a TV show, but man, I'm really enjoying Lovecraft Country (HBO). It may take some people a few episodes to adjust to its melding of tones, but I strongly encourage a watch. It's one of the more inventive shows, both from a purely creative standpoint (especially last episode, oh boy), but also tackling the spectrum, and problems, of humanity.

This week's theme is... heartbreak and bad decisions, aka country songs, those who sing them and the inspirations behind 'em.

WILD ROSE
(2019)

This the "the world is throwing everything at her, but she just can't help but be a star" one.

The lead of Wild Rose, Jessie Buckley, has something in common with the character she plays - they both seemed destined to be stars. And while I don't know the intricacies of Buckley's life, I have a feeling they're slightly less difficult than the ones portrayed here. Buckley, who is that actor "suddenly" in everything (see: this movie, Chernobyl, Misbehaviour, I'm Thinking of Ending Things, Fargo etc. etc. etc.) plays a young working class Scottish woman with a list of legal transgressions, a couple a kids and one big dream to make it in Nashville. It's an unlikely story, but those are the ones that are often behind the songs worth singing.

And speaking of singing, Buckley does her own here, as her story got a huge boost when she came in second on a British singing competition back in the day.

Give It a Shot If: you're sick of the men monopolizing all the stories about bad decisions and overcoming them

Details: 92% on RT (189 reviews)
R, 1 hrs 41 mins, NEON

CRAYZ HEART
(2009)

This is the "old timer who's lookin for that one last chance at happiness" one.

The movie that finally gave Jeff Bridges his best actor Oscar; and let's be real, you watch this one for Bridges. Because even if you've seen the story of the guy who fucked up so many times he's nearly exhausted the list of ways to do it, and you think directors have to have exhausted the ways of telling it - it's still worth paying attention when someone who is as compelling to watch as Bridges is takes on the role.

And as cliched as a redemption story is, it's also compelling when done correctly. Maybe it's that many of us want to think we can make changes to improve our lives a little, atone for the mistakes of our past or at least accept them and move on. So to watch someone else do it probably gives us a little hope for ourselves. Nothing wrong with that.

Give It a Shot If: you want something to prove wrong the (bullshit) notion that people can never change

Details: 90% on RT (209 reviews)
R, 1 hr 52 mins, Fox Searchlight

BLAZE
(2018)

This is the "most people don't know about him, but let me show you why more people should" one.

Calling someone a "legend" is almost begging for others to question your canonization. But Ethan Hawke as director tries to make his case for why Blaze Foley, the real life country singer, who died in the late 80's, deserves such a moniker.

It's a biopic, but not in the traditional sense. Hawke, in channeling a bit of his sometimes partner Richard Linklater, looks to sit in the moments of the life of Foley, not just give a point to point connection story. Much of the time will be spent with Foley and his partner, played by Alia Shawkat, who is also his muse, but seems to bristle at holding that title. You'll also spend time with the other singers who were around Foley and tell his story, since he's unable.

And while the tales of the romanticized are often lauded for the things they've accomplished or the art they've created, what seems to be the case here, and why Hawke may think Foley was a person worth legendary status, is the lives of those around them they affected.

Give It a Shot If: you're lookin to discover a story

Details: 94% on RT (90 reviews)
R, 2 hrs 7 mins, IFC

Highlights

Minari - story of a family that emigrates from South Korea to the states in the 1980's to build a better life. One of the Sundance "breakouts" (100% on RT)

His House - horror movie about a refugee couple from South Sudan who are moved into an apartment in England where the bugs and peeling paint are the least of their problems.

The Craft: Legacy - a reboot, but kinda sequel, to the nineties teenage witch flick (which I quite liked!).

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet - the famous nature guide (w/ the even more famous voice) talking about his life and experiences through the lens, and the effects of, climate change.

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