The workers are going home. 🚜👷

Dec 01, 2021

"Anybody else wanna negotiate?"

PINNED: this newsletter started as a way to highlight movies coming to theaters (see: the name). Then, "the bullshit" happened. And I started featuring movies in theaters, VOD or streaming (see: the +). Point is, if there's a movie worth checking out, you'll probably find it here.

A Gospel Christmas
Saying Yes to Christmas
Match Made in Mistletoe
A Christmas Dance Reunion
A Christmas Village Romance
My Favorite Christmas Melody
Welcome to the Christmas Family Reunion

These are some of the holiday themed movies being released this week. Yes, some.

Upon my initial perusing, I had no idea who was making all these, let alone where they were playing. I thought, maybe they weren't showing anywhere and were being made simply to appease some unknown to me vengeful Christmas gods who would otherwise smite us all with a glitter bomb larger than the asteroid that offed the dinosaurs and the producers responsible for surefire hit Match Made in Mistletoe were literally saving our lives. Now, that may have been the most unlikely option, as well as potentially the scariest but definitely the most fun.

But after some googling, turns out, waah waah, all these are simply the work of one content entity. Lifetime. Because of coooooourse it's Lifetime (well, or Hallmark). Cuz who else would release so many movies that could cannibalize themselves in a span of seven days, but the network to have already released a film titled An Ice Wine Christmas (cuz with this many candy cane colored movies, it god damn better be).

I have no real point here. Just that I was astounded at the output. I mean, I knew Hallmark and Lifetime did their thing around this time, I just didn't know they were this good at breeding red and green babies.

And also to admit to you that in the process of "researching" the phenomenon, I maaay have started watching one of Lifetime's previous year winners, 2017's Snowed-Inn Christmas. (you can watch it for free). And after watching for about 5 minutes, I get it. And that is a bad thing. Because now I'm worried, as it got me thinking that while the Christmas gods may bot be real, the Christmas devils probably are. And I have succumb to their evil, cynical, maniacal plan to keep me watching not bad, but definitely not good Xmas movies for the next oh *checks watch* ...month?! 😈🎄

😳

Extra Credit Movie(s): WOLF, a movie about a small set of humans who think they are not humans, but animals, and are in treatment for the "condition," is also out this weekend. But only in 250 theaters (ie major cities). It has an intriguing premise, and the actors in it are interesting (George MacKay from 1917 and Lily Rose-Depp - yeah, Johnny Depp's daughter), but reviews are limited and split so far. Check out the trailer if you're curious.

Paul Thomas Anderson's (Boogie Nights, There Will Be Blood) next movie, Licorice Pizza, has been playing on literally just a few screens for the past couple weekends. It's doing very well so far. Everyone will be able to watch on Xmas, and you can trust I'll be featuring it then. Just letting you know if you were getting antsy.

THE POWER OF THE DOG
There's a certain joy in seeing a movie when you know nothing of what's to come; ignorant of the plot or themes the story is engendering. It's something that I've very rarely experienced in the last 15 years, paying to movies as I do. But it's so lovely when it happens, and the movie turns out to be something that captures you - likely in part because you have no expectations or considerations of what's to come.

We can't do that for all movies of course, as it'd be a bit too hard to decide what to watch. But when we become aware of a movie that's lauded as critical viewing amongst a year's worth of cinema, like The Power of the Dog is, I think we should take that opportunity to go in as fresh as possible. As mentioned, I'm well far gone in that respect, but can tell you, if you even have an inkling of going in unaware, I recommend avoiding reviews. Critics are absolutely loving this movie, for the acting, directing, visuals and the difficult human questions it poses. But as is often the case, they love to detail exactly why they crushed so hard. And in that process (imho) give the reader far, far too much of the goods. But it's understandable, they enjoyed the movie and want others too as well! But I want to avoid doing that here. So I encourage you to open Netflix and click play vs reading on if you're interested enough already. But if you want more...

Ok, lay it on me. First, the basics.

You can see for yourself above, but the movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch, as well as Jesse Plemmons, Kirsten Dunst (fun fact: married in real life) and Kodi Smit-McPhee (Nightcrawler in the recent X-Men movies). And it's directed by Jane Campion, most notable for writing / directing 1993's The Piano, and more recently the TV show Top of the Lake (first season was great).

Cool. I need some plot yo. Oook, keep reading.

So Cumberbatch and Plemmons are brothers, in charge of a large ranch, owned by their parents. Cumberbatch is a cruel jerk, going full tilt on being a cowboy and often mocking his brother, but they're still a unified pair (even sleeping in the same room). Until a widowed Dunst comes around with her son (Smit-McPhee) and...

You good? Nope, still want some more. You sure? Yup.

...she marries Plemmons. Which sets off Cumberbatch, who proceeds to center his spite on Dunst and her son who has a contrary way of being (read: soft, artsy, somewhat feminine) to the setting of 1925 Montana. Dunst is under other pressures as well, and these take their toll, luckily her son is spared some by going away to school.

We should stop. No! Just getting into it. ...hmmm, fine. A tad more....

But when Smit-McPhee returns, he and Cumberbatch start to form a relationship; the elder man teaching the younger how to became a cowboy, much to his mother's dismay.

I don't really want to go further with plot, but can discuss how the movie is a look into masculinity and the form it takes here. One which is severely toxic to those around it, but maybe most to the one shepherding it. But the movie looks to go beyond that, which in part is why it seems to be so well liked. It looks to be an incredibly rich movie. And one, at least for the moment, I shall stop discussing.

Vibe: a modern western that uses the genre to dissect ways in which humanity acts against humans

Out Now
Watch Netflix (Limited theaters too)
The Trailer | 2 hrs 7 mins | R | 🍅: 95%

(called out from top, left to right)

Warner Bros. did another mini trailer for The Matrix Resurrections where they show how a bunch of the new movie is basically the same as the original movie. They even gave it the apropros title "Déjà Vu." I think it's supposed to imply that this one isn't just a redo of The Matrix, which is what it's seemed like so far. And I hope is the case, cuz I've been pretty meh on this one based on the first couple trailers.

Otherwise, there aren't many other big notable trailers, but a few interesting pieces for "smaller" movies.

One being a chance for Clifton Collins to get recognized for the really good actor he is, in Jockey. The story looks familiar, but still looks solid (and reviews confirm).

There's also a delightful looking movie out of France called Delicious (Délicieux en Français si'l vous plaît) about "the first restaurant." Where a chef is fired by royalty, so he takes his abilities to the people.

What's In Theaters +

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