I only recently became acquainted with the iconic, beautiful, and compelling Indian actress Sridevi--who was in nearly 300 films. She has now suddenly passed away at the only 54. This is a terrible loss, so I'm taking this moment to recommend both Mom and English Vinglish, two of her more recent films. Mom is a rape-revenge thriller, released in 2017. After her step-daughter is brutally assaulted by a gang of men, step-mom Devki takes matters into her own hands. Mom is pretty great, while not for those easily triggered by brutal violence. This is a tight thriller. 4/5 English Vinglish is a little older, released in 2012. In English Vinglish, Sridevi plays the matriarch to a family who underestimates and takes her for granted. Being the only one in her family to not speak any English, Shashi decides to secretly take English classes. This film is so lovely and wonderful. If you don't feel great after watching English Vinglish, I don't know what's wrong with you! 5/5 |
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Toni Erdmann is a miracle. I went to see Toni Erdmann because I didn't feel like going to a sobfest, I wanted to laugh. I thought "a 3-hour German comedy? How could this possibly work?!" Let me just say, it worked. It really really worked. I can say with confidence that not only was Toni Erdmann 900 million times better than anything I could have imagined. I have also never laughed so hard at a German-anything before. This is a bizarre story about a goofy aging dad who goes to visit his daughter who lives and works in Romania. He creates a goofy character, Toni Erdmann, complete with nutty wig and silly teeth. And so, the daughter plays along halfway mortified. This film could have easily veered into cringe comedy territory. I loathe cringe comedy. I don't think humiliation is funny. Somehow, Toni Erdmann avoids meanness and sticks with silly fun. Without saying too much, Toni Erdmann is reminiscent of a Mike Leigh anti-farce. 5/5 Jerry Lewis: The Man Behind the Clown is a new documentary about actor, director, humanitarian Jerry Lewis. The film primarily focuses on Lewis' style and philosophy, his evolution as a clown/actor/artist and his work as a director, his success in France, and his philanthropy. The doc features a lot of hilarious footage that make it a fun watch. However, it completely avoids getting personal about Lewis. The doc completely side steps around Lewis' personal relationship with Dean Martin, framing it as strictly professional. While it touches on his health problems and addiction to pain killers, the film never really touches on anything about Lewis' personal life such as love interests, never mentioning his two wives nor his children. And, while the film is rife with great clips, it merely teases the audience about Lewis' failed/never released Holocaust film, it never delivers with any clips. 3.5/5 Hedwig and the Angry Inch is the film adaptation of the musical play of the same name written and directed by John Cameron Mitchell. This is the story of transperson, Hedwig Schmidt Robinson (internationally ignored song stylist), her escape from Communist East Berlin, her failed marriage to an American GI, her broken heart, and her desire for recognition when it comes to the success for her protege Tommy Gnosis. This is a very fun ride! If you haven't Hedwigged you need to GET ON THAT BANDWAGON!!! 5/5 The Lady in the Van is quite remarkable. This film is adapted from the play by British playwright Alan Bennett. It's weird and delightful, surprising and curious, and fascinating, and it's mostly true. Oh, and it's meta in all the right places. This is the story of an odd-couple relationship between Bennett and an eccentric homeless elderly woman, Margaret Shepard, who lives for 15 years squatting in a van parked in Bennett's driveway. Maggie Smith is incredible, of course. Smith previously portrayed Margaret in the stage play in 1999 and the radio play in 2009. Alex Jennings is terrific pulling double duty as two Bennetts. 5/5 Deadpool. Everyone is raving about Deadpool. Yes, it's fun and funny. Yes, it's dirty and violent. It's cheeky and breaks the fourth wall in all the right ways. It's meta and self aware of itself as a Deadpool movie. It knows that it is specifically a Deadpool movie in the delicious way that 21 and 22 Jump Street fully acknowledge that they are Jump Street movies. I will say this: Ryan Reynolds was born to play Deadpool. I can think of no one else who could've pulled it off. Reynolds is a real-life joker, seemingly never serious and always going for a laugh. And so, naturally, Reynolds is the reason to see Deadpool. I'm not saying I loved it to pieces, but it satisfied. It was what I expected and I had some good laughs. At the end of the day, I like something a little grittier...I think I'd prefer to re-watch Watchmen. Deadpool is some how light and fluffy and doesn't quite hit a home run. Reynolds, however, hits a homerun. 4/5 |
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