Forgotten, but not gone
Maybe not forgotten, let's go with "misplaced"
In This Week’s Edition: Ferrari | The Boys in the Boat | All of Us Strangers
Movie Quote of the Week 🎬 💬
“We all have it coming, kid.”
hint: said by an actor not known for saying a lot of words, which often makes the ones he says more impactful
THINK THOUGHTS 💭
It’s kinda weird to be writing about movies that’ve already released in theaters, but with the pure number of films to come out in the last couple weeks, I think it’s only fitting a few presents are left under the tree 🎄 🎁, waiting to be discovered. And plus, it was intentional, deeeeefinitely intentional. 🫣 Not at all because I was caught up with other things - life as you will, among them - and distracted by the nine movies I gallantly informed you about in an effort to save you from a few choice moments of family awkwardness.
Sure, I’d also like to tell you it was deliberate that I waited until this week to inform you of the existence of Ferrari and The Boys in the Boat because I knew that they’ll both be “slow-play movies”, what with their intended audiences likely not caring if they see the film(s) opening day, opening week, or hell, in theaters at all. Because both fit solidly in the category that’s become known as “dad-movies.” (not daddy-movies mind you, that’s a whooooole different thing). Films that, whether they’ve sired a child or not, befit a certain type of stereotypical straight man (even though the movie's’ audiences will obviously be wider than that, on account of preferences not being friends with stereotypes).
But alas, I did not actually plan this. It was planned for me, by the universe. Except I don’t believe in that sorta bullshit. I believe in movies, the truth, love and Ryan Reynolds. Not necessarily in that order.
Shall we?
NEWSY BITS 👾
Mark Wahlberg’s ‘The Family Plan’ Apple TV+’s Most Watched Movie Ever As ‘The Morning Show’ Broke Records For Streamer’s TV Drama Series (Full Article): this really isn’t a huge deal since Apple TV+’s existence and the streamer’s list of original movies are both quite short, but it is yet another indication that people like what they like, which mostly means they like stuff that’s similar to what they’ve seen before - Deadline
EXTRA CREDIT MOVIE(S) 📝
All of Us Strangers - I want to be giving this film about a grieving man finding love at the same time more attention, but it’s tough when I know the its viewing audience will be relatively small. But if you’re into a beautiful looking movie - visually and emotionally - about the complexity of the human experience (or just have a thing for “hot preacher” from Fleabag) give this a looksie. The reviews, as you might’ve guessed based on the above, are excellent. Playing in Limited Theaters NOW
NOTABLE NEW RELEASES 🎟 & 📺
Did you know this is a prequel to the Christian Bale / Matt Damon starring Ford v Ferrari, yet another quintessential “dad-movie?” Well I hope you didn’t, because it’s not. But it also kind of is, in the spiritual sense. I don’t actually know what that means either, but I do know Ferrari deals with cars, Ferraris to be exact. Yes I am a genius, why do you ask?
But this isn’t just 130 mins of car porn, although you can expect some really good car porn 🥵, it’s actually a meaty biopic directed by Michael Mann about Ezno Ferrari, the dude who, ya know, started Ferrari. Wild isn’t it? Because at this point the Ferrari logo is so iconic it’s almost hard to imagine the company was started by actual humans and didn’t just burst into existence with the rest of reality during the Big Bang.
But nope, creating a massively beloved brand apparently takes a lot of hard work, personal strife and sometimes even death. Which wouldn’t ya know it, makes for a pretty good movie. But while a good story, I’m quite sure it helps to have a director like Mann in charge, who made the beloved (dad-movie classic) Heat, as well as an intense / intensely good - and well seasoned with his Italian accent - lead in Adam Driver (lol, “driver”) portraying Mr. Ferrari. Add in Penélope Cruz as his business partner / wife angry at his adulterous ways? Like I said, good story.
Plenty of biopics do the whole from birth to death sorta thing, but this one focuses in on a particularly difficult time in Enzo’s life. A point at which things could go go away completely. Which we obviously know isn’t the case, but that doesn’t mean the destination is any less fun if the ride is enjoyable. Right?
“You’re about as deep inside this character’s head as imaginable, though given the glimpses you catch of what’s inside and all the damage that Enzo does, it is the filmmaker more than the character who holds you rapt.” - from the New York Times review of Ferrari
Out: NOW
Where: Theaters
Details: 2 hrs 10 mins | R | 🍅: 74%
George Clooney has, along with a wink and a smirk, a subtle wistfulness about him. It’s why he’s sometimes described as an old-style movie star. But it also seems to be why he makes movies about the “good ol’ days” or just times long passed. Sure, one of his most recent directorial efforts was a post apocalyptic sci-fi, but with almost every other one of his movies, he’s chosen to go back in time.
And now? It’s the 1930’s. A period in history when, well, shit was fucked up - the depression, Hitler on the rise, rampant racism and on and on and on. But with an aw gee shucks looking attitude, Clooney has decided to highlight the story of a junior varsity crew team - mostly rowing on account of the room and board that was provided - from the University of Washington that didn’t just take on the Ivy League snobs, but the entire world. And by gosh, they might just win it all. Huzzah!
Well, using the word “might” might just be a bit misleading. Because watching the trailer you know exactly how this thing is going to play out. Which, as I mentioned earlier in this newsletter, is be precisely what some people could be looking for (and based on the Rotten Tomatoes audience score, indeed are).
So sure, the the movie looks to have a proverbial Instagram-lens haze surrounding it, and if that “softening” of a difficult time is unappealing, I totally get it. But if the idea of seeing the boys mentioned in the film’s title row their boats faster than any of the other competing boys row their boats, this just might fill a Tuesday night for ya.
“About halfway through the movie, Edgerton’s Coach Ulbrickson is strategizing out loud, and says, “We need an edge.” At times The Boys in the Boat could have used more of an edge. But like the Huskies, it gets the job done, stumbling sometimes but mostly assured. It hasn’t the fire, say, of another Olympics-triumph movie, Miracle, but it’s a saga from another era. The characters’ gumption lies not in big movie gestures but in steadiness during desperately uncertain times, one oar stroke after another.“ - from the Hollywood Reporter review of The Boys in the Boat
Out: NOW
Where: Theaters
Details: 2 hrs 4 mins | PG-13 | 🍅: 58%
TRAILERS! ⏯ “Is that even a word…”
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver - Is that even a word… you ask when coming upon “scargiver” in the title of this trailer for the sequel to the just released Netflix holiday… hit? And as you do, (Rebel Moon) director Zack Snyder appears directly behind you, scoffs and patters in your ear “Of course it is. Just like “fetch.” Duh.”