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Apr 14, 2021

"If you could see your whole life from start to finish,
would you change things?"

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.

I'm featuring a couple movies that have been out for a few months (Little Fish / Some Kind of Heaven) and another, The Courier, that had a brief stint in theaters, but is now making it's way to VOD (probably the best place for it).

As for theatrical, since Godzilla vs Kong, there's been a dearth of new wide releases, although we'll get another next week with Mooooortal Kombaaaat!!!! Dun dun dun dun dun dun dun dun (they better feature that damn song). But it may be a while before we're getting consistent legit releases, theatrical or streaming, so I may be pulling from older (but still somewhat new) underseen movies. Just an FYI.

In industry news, two fairly big things happened last week. First, Netflix got the rights to stream Sony's catalogue, back and going forward with movies released theatrically starting in 2022 - as well as produce some direct to streaming. Interesting because it indicates (at least for now) Sony is holding off on trying to compete in the streaming game in a big way. Also interesting cuz it gives more catalogue content at a time most producers are removing their stuff from the streamer.

The other happening was the closure of Arclight cinemas.😔They're a big deal in Los Angeles (lots of premieres, Q & A's with directors / actors) so it came as pretty big news. TBD if someone will buy them.

(from top, left to right)

Some Kind of Heaven: We need more documentaries about old people. Said...probably not you and can't say it was me! But 25 year old director Lance Oppenheim was like, hell yes we do. So he made one. And based on reviews, he was smart to do so. Although "about old people" is probably an unfair description here, in part because it almost sounds derogatory in its flippant"ness," and also because that's not exactly accurate. It's about people, but also in large part about the place they abide, The Villages, and how it affects them. And yes, the subjects in the film happen to be (relatively) old.

The Villages is a retirement community that's manufactured (emphasis on that word) to be the nicest darn place you ever dun lived (and died?). It's been nicknamed "Disney World for retirees." But the movie follows a few inhabits to see what the reality is. Or rather, their realities, because while the community may have been built to be a happy bubble from the outside world, the outside world is a persistent SOB. Eg even though community member Reggie wants to alter the state of his mind with illicit drugs (much to the chagrin of his wife), the state has other ideas.

And if you're a youngin' asking, why would I want to watch a bunch of geriatrics play pickle ball and don cheerleadering outfits?, I'll add that Daren Aronofsky produced this doc, which should add some street cred. But more so I'd just encourage you to watch the trailer and you'll quickly gather this ain't your daddy's talking head style doc. Speaking of dad's... 📣SEGUE ALERT 📣

Releases: It's out!
Watch: VOD
Trailer | NR | 1 hr 23 mins
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% (Certified Fresshh)

The Courier: I feel like we last talked about "dad movies" way back when Ford v Ferrari came out. Haven't featured one in a while, so it's about time. The Courier fits the description snappily: British spy thriller, engaging, but not flashy, set during the Cold War, based on a (little known) true story. Perfect fodder for a dad to watch and then ceaselessly text his offspring about...

7:27 PM "Subject: The Courier. You have to watch this movie it's excellent based on a true story too!!!!! -Dad"

7:46 PM "Subject: The Courier. Have you watched it yet??? -Dad"

7:47 PM "Subject: QEVEBtbbt. qwergliu"

Two days later "Subject: Text. Sorry, I think I butt texted you. Btw, did you watch The Courier yet?"

The most modern thing about it looks to be the actors, including Benedict Cumberbatch as the everyday businessman enlisted by MI6 and the CIA to help defuse nuclear war. What I tell you? Every. dad's. dreeeeam. Cumberbatch get's some support from his wife, played by Jessie Buckley (I'm Thinking of Ending Things) and Rachel Brosnahan (Marvelous Ms Maisel) as his CIA helper, but most of the (bro)romance as it were, will be between Cumberbatch and his Russian counterpart.

Releases: Friday!
Watch: VOD
Trailer | PG-13 | 1 hr 51 mins
Rotten Tomatoes: 87% (Certified Fresshh)

Little Fish: At this point, I'm basically just catching you up on all the Olivia Cooke movies you've missed. Little Fish is another from the active actor who also led Pixie (which I featured last week) as well as the Oscar nominated Sound of Metal (and previously Ready Player One and My and Earl and the Dying Girl and...).

Her performance here is gaining her yet more praise in a story that takes place during a... ya know, I'm not even gonna say the word. I've avoided it for 12+ months and I'm gonna keep it going. Short of it is people in the near future are being afflicted by "NIA," which is a memory loss disease akin to Alzheimer's, but can affect someone at any age, at any time. Cooke is married to Jack O'Connell (Starred Up) who starts to show symptoms. It's a worldwide affliction, but the focus is on the couple's story and how two people in love deal with one half not remembering the memories they've built their relationship on. Getting at questions like, if someone can't remember why they love, just that they do, is that enough? And is a partnership anything more than those shared remembrances?

A few reviews have noted it'll make you think of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, but in a less ambitious sense. That's not necessarily a knock, just that it's not quite the mind bender that movie was. But you'll probably end up crying just the same.

Releases: It's out!
Watch: VOD
Trailer | R | 1 hr 33 mins
Rotten Tomatoes: 91% (Certified Fresshh)

NOTABLES
(from top, left to right)

Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard - sequel to the Ryan Reynolds / Samuel L. Jackson action comedy. I think they made this movie just so they could claim the most possessives in a movie title ever.

Fast 9 - the whole movie, um, I mean a second trailer.

Army of the Dead - a full trailer for the Zack Snyder (300, Zack Snyder's Justice League) heist / zombie combo flick. Stars Dave Bautista leading a bunch of vets tryin to rob a casino in Vegas, whiiiich also happens to be where the zombies are.

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