Movies I've Seen
The Kid aka Baby Yoda isn't one to gossip but...
“Smallville” may have had cast members who were slanging drugs and making sex tapes or co-founder/recruiter for a sex cult and branding women, but one thing “Smallville” didn't have...
Rather two things. None of the leads were arrested while the show was in production.
Ahem
And the second is that SV didn't have divorce. No. Tom and Justin saved that for when the show was over. I guess things are different on the set of “This is Us” as Justin got married and has filed for divorce from Chrishell Stauss in the span of four seasons.
Plotting his escape
Justin filed for divorce on November 22nd. Eight days after this photo was taken.
First Chrishell posted this sub-Insta
Then she really fired back. Unlike Angie Bowie who took her ex's last name to the grave or Susan Sarandon and Demi Moore who have had their ex-husband's names for so long people don't even know their maiden names (Tomalin and Guynes, respectively), Chrishell has petitioned to have her maiden name restored (which is good because I just realized her name isn't “Strauss” but “Stauss”.).
Chrishell has also requested spousal support (which Justin's divorce filing refused) and she lists their separation date as November 22nd - the day he filed, whereas Justin's filing lists their separation date as July.
One of them is obviously lying and although there is photographic proof that they were still, at least, socializing with each other in July through November
October
Justin probably explaining how he's been sneakily been moving his belongings out of the home for the past three months
September
July 30
The theory is that Justin was coming into a new deal which will bring him a salary increase. Therefore by setting their separation date earlier, Chrishell would not be
Before this tidbit came out, I assumed they were playing up the marriage to protect Hartley’s image. I know celebrities lie about the status of their marriages for some reason. I just don't get why. There has never been an actor whose film I decided to see or pass on based on their relationship. I was really put off by Ewan McGregor cheating on his wife with his “Fargo” co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead (caught by the paps kissing in a restaurant on the night of one of his daughter's birthday no less,)
but I watched (and LOVED) “Doctor Sleep” and I will be there for the Harley Quinn film with the ridiculously long title
Even though I've been hating Winstead since “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”.
Mary Elizabeth's post announcing her split five months before her affair with McGregor was discovered
It reminds me of the Cloud leak that pre-dated The Fappening. The hacker was interviewed a few years later about his crime and he talked about hacking Scarlett Johannsson's email - this was during her marriage to Ryan Reynolds - and while they were still doing red carpets and interviews like they were a happy couple, the reality was that they were separated and were hashing out details of their divorce.
The hacker also said he was surprised about a few big name male actors who were closeted. But yeah, why roll out a split? This isn't the 50s. Half of all marriages end in divorce, just own it.
Speaking of splits and fakery for social media sake. I present you Eva Amurri. Who is she? The actor daughter of Susan Sarandon
..turned lifestyle and mommy blogger.
Her claim to fame were two breathless posts over the years detailing the time her children's nanny tried to seduce her husband and they created some sting to fire her; then another nanny - her night nanny this time- dropping their son and fracturing his skull.
This time Eva, currently four months up the duff, has raised the bar for social media posturing.
October 29 celebrating their anniversary
Three weeks ago announcing their split
We're beyond concious uncoupling
Okay, maybe they really are at peace with getting divorced and they really are zen about it. But I can't wait until he tries to fight on her spousal support and she spills the real details.
2019 has also seen the break-up of real life pin-up Christina Hendricks and her lucky, nerdy husband actor Geoffrey Arend
Man were you punching above your weight, my guy
,
Sara Gilbert and wife singer/songwriter Linda Perry
and Colin Firth and wife of 22 years Livia Guiggioli.
Livia and Firth was rumored to have split in 2018 for a time and in that time Livia dated a close friend of hers, journalist Marco Brancaccia.
When she and Firth reunited, Livia broke it off with him and he began to stalk her, sending Firth videos and pictures of he and Livia together. At the time Firth fans were convinced that Livia and Colin were not separated at the time, but instead she was having an affair and to protect her image, Colin put out a statement that they were separated. Only the two of them know, but I do know I can’t hate Livia.
Woman has jokes. She's ducking for cover from the fan hate
Colin, Livia and Meg Tilly have strong a** genes. There has been no baby switching. Luca (18), Matteo (16) and Will (29)
Colin, Meg and Jennifer Tilly at Will’s 2018 engagement party
It all makes sense why Colin is looking quite fit. He has to get back into the dating game.
Colin with his "Supernova" director at their Halloween wrap party
**The director is dressed as Colin and Colin is his costar Stanley Tucci.
-Circling back to The Fappening and closeted actors. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) beginning first with “Black Widow” and then “The Eternals”, Marvel’s Kevin Feige has shown his desire to address the lack of LGBTQ characters in their universe. Hence. “The Eternals” will have the first openly gay main character. When “Game of Thrones” alum Richard Madden was cast, people was sure he would be the gay character as Madden’s relationship with openly gay actor Brandon Flynn (Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why”) drew attention.
Officially, they were roommates but with Flynn flying to Cannes with Madden, attended the Critics Choice Awards with Madden and his parents, flew to Scotland when Madden received an honorary doctorate, Flynn wearing Madden’s chain, Madden wearing Flynn’s shirt and fans finding Flynn’s Spotify mix titled “Richard” filled with love ballads, people knew they were much more.
Pressed by the UK shameless journalists about the nature of his relationship with Flynn, Madden said he doesn’t talk about his personal life, although he proudly talked about his relationship with ex Jenna Coleman (Dr. Who) and had been seen with Ellie Bamber.
But recently at a Brazilian convention, footage from “The Eternals” of which Madden is a cast member of
The Eternals cast minus Gemma Chan and Kit Harington
was shown and fans reported of a scene that revealed that it’s not Maddens’ character who is gay, but Brian Tyree Henry’s (Atlanta, Joker).
With that reveal, which came a few weeks after speculation that Madden and Flynn’s relationship had ended, people began to accuse Madden as gay baiting and that he used his friendship with Flynn as a way to deflect from criticism over his playing a gay man in “Rocketman”, that of Elton John’s long-term lover/manager John Reid. An idea that is so ridiculous to me.
Just as ridiculous is that now that it’s not Madden’s character who isn’t gay, people think Feige lied about desiring to cast an openly gay actor. For a long time I have thought Brian Tyree Henry was gay. Not sure if he is, but I definitely thought, just like Michael K. Williams, that he is. And it just exemplifies that some fans only want actors who they can ship - whether twinks or the aggressively unattractive like Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Why can’t Henry be gay? Why is it suddenly an affront if Madden isn’t the gay character but Henry?
Speaking of Henry, his “Book of Mormon” costar Andrew Rannells
has recently made it Instagram official with his “The Boys in the Band” costar years old Tuc Watkins.
Watkins, who was the gloriously nutty David Vickers on “One Life to Live” came out years ago when he became a father of twins through surrogacy. Prior to that Watkins had denied being gay when he played a gay man in the Showtime series “Beggars and Choosers”.
And showing that having your honey in the biz isn’t a bad thing, Watkins was cast in the third season of Rannell’s Showtime series “Black Monday”.
Rannells broke up with his partner of six years Mike Doyle in 2018.
1917
I always think it odd when a film is nominated for Best Picture but not the director and especially odd when a film wins Best Picture but the director doesn’t win Best Director because without a director, there wouldn’t be a film. Well, I would love for “Parasite” to win Best Picture and if all the film critics societies are any indication, it will win if put up in Best Picture. However, although director Bong Joon-Ho is always snagging awards left and right, I really feel Sam Mendes deserves Best Director for “1917”. While the film is lacking in weight (it’s more of premise than a story), it is a work of cinematic mastery. I haven’t seen a better executed film this year.
Based on a germ of a story told to him by his grandfather Alfred Mendes, Sam Mendes brings to the big screen this riveting, nail biter of a film about a green soldier Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman, Game of Thrones) who along with his war and world weary colleague Schofield (George MacKay, Captain Fantastic)
are tasked with a mission that, if successful, would spare the lives of 1600 soldiers, including Blake’s older brother (Richard Madden). The task? Deliver a message to a Colonel (Benedict Cumberbatch) that his men are walking into an ambush if they proceed with their dawn mission. Blake and Schofield embark on a perilous journey of navigating enemy territory, harsh conditions and time in hopes of saving lives.
Much like “The Revenant”, “1917” is really a test of endurance. We don’t get much time to live with the two characters as ten minutes (or less) into the film we are thrust into their mission. It’s a two-hander of a film with Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Colin Firth, Daniel Mays and Jamie Parker each just serving as guide maps for Blake and Schofield.
What makes this film a work of art is that Mendes uses long shots and has edited in a way that the scenes look like it is one continuous shot. He and his cinematographer Roger Deakins
won’t divulge which scenes are continuous and which ones were carefully edited (though I think every explosion hid a cut). It ultimately doesn’t matter because the style makes it more immersive, but not distracting as a first person shooter technique as used in the Sharlto Copely action-er “Hardcore Henry”.
And as a "Game of Thrones" fan I am so happy for Chapman is now more than a gif
and having the dubious honor of being the only GoT cast-member with a leaked jerk off vid. Which....
Little Women
There have been numerous takes on the Louisa May Alcott classic (seven in film alone), yet this is the best adaptation yet. Strictly because it's the only adaptation I have seen. And my first experience with “Little Women' period (never read the books).
With that I am unbiased, as opposed to my friend who is a strict lover of the 1994 Gillian Armstrong adaptation fronted by Winona Ryder. If the other incarnations of this film is as charming and touching as this one it's no wonder it's an enduring classic.
The life and times of the March women - patriarch Marmee (Laura Dern), her oldest daughter Meg (Emma Watson), the fiery writer Jo (Saoirse Ronan), the quiet, musically inclined Beth (Eliza Scanlan, Sharp Objects) and rambunctious youngest sibling Amy (Florence Pugh) as shown in flashbacks as we see where life has taken the idealistic sisters as they navigate life, love and chasing their dreams.
For my entry into “Little Women” it’s an excellent one. It’s a delight as are the actresses, especially the wonderfully talented Florence Pugh who plays Amy March. Although my only quibble with the film concerns her as we follow Amy from when she's a child to a young adult so 23-year old Pugh has to play as if she's a middle schooler. There's a scene where she's in her class surrounded by little kids and I thought, "Is she a teacher aide?" It's just odd to take seriously.
And Saoirse Ronan can do no wrong and her Jo is like her character in “Lady Bird” (or is “Lady Bird” like Jo?).
And a terrific supporting cast.
Tracy Letts as Mr. Dashwood, a publisher Jo is trying to work with, James Norton as James Brooke the love interest of Meg, Louis Garrel as Friedrich Bhaer a tutor Jo meets on her travels, Bob Oedenkirk as the family's patriarch, Chris Cooper as their neighbor Mr. March and the malnourished, underfed looking Timothee Chalamet as Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, his nephew and friend of the girls
Great follow-up to "Lady Bird" from writer/director Greta Gerwig. Who had her own little production going while "Little Women" was filming. The actor/writer/director hid her pregnancy from her cast during the shoot as to not be a distraction. When asked about it during the press tour Timothee Chalamet said he assumed she was just suddenly into baggy clothes and Ronan said the only thing that seemed different was that she was eating healthier as opposed to when they worked on "Lady Bird" and she would eat burritos and hot chips.
Uncut Gems
Adam Sandler, once again, tackles a dramatic role in this gritty tale of gambling and the high end jewelry biz.
Written and directed by wunderkinds The Safdie Bros. (Joshua and Benny), “Uncut Gems” takes us on a frenetic journey with jeweler Howard Ratner (Sandler), who is deep in debt to his loan-shark brother-in-law Arno (Eric Bogosian) thanks to a gambling habit and an expensive mistress Julia (Julia Fox).
Howad thinks his luck has come in when he buys a rare, uncut Gem from Ethiopia. But when he loans it to NBA player Kevin Garnett (playing himself), Howard is in a race against time and the possible bullets of Arno and other people he is in debt to, as he tries to get the jewel back from Garnett in order to auction it off.
Just as Martin Scorcese has to deal with living in a cinematic world where superheroes are kings, I guess I have to accept living in a world where new filmmakers are coming up, who are essentially cribbing from their idols but in a less nuanced way and will be applauded for it. Just like Gus Van Zant, Larry Clarke and Harmony Kormine made their careers on works focusing on the sex-filled, drug fueled lives of the underbelly of teens/young adult lives, The Safdie Bros. are dealing with the gritty lifestyles of criminals and grifters. It's just a vacant, seedy depiction that I find lacking of creativity. I would take the misogyny and racism of some of Quentin Tarantino work over The Safdie Bros. At least QT work has some brilliance to it.
Richard Jewell
His third film in two years, say what you will about this old cuss, he still has that Golden Age of Hollywood workhorse mentality. Clint’s last film “15:17 to Paris” was abysmal by all accounts, and I enjoyed “The Mule”, despite its pacing issues, but with “Richard Jewell”, Eastwood has hit the sweet spot with a compelling, well-acted drama. Sadly, his politics and the controversy surrounding the depiction of one of the persons in the film likely turned audiences off.
Based on the book “The Suspect” written by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen, and the Vanity Fair article “American Nightmare: The Ballad of Richard Jewell”, “Richard Jewell” shows what happens when the authorities race to close a case no matter what and the media rush to get a jump on their competitors with no concern to those who are affected by their ambition.
Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser, I, Tonya, Kingdom) has law enforcement dreams which are dashed each time due to his overzealous and heavy-handed techniques. He finally finds himself embraced by the law enforcement community when, acting as a security guard at the Summer Olympics, he correctly discerns that a discarded backpack had a bomb in it.
His status as a hero is short-lived when a former colleague informs the FBI of the questionable behavior of Jewell and his constant need for glory. The information, added to a psychological profile that fits Jewell to a tee has FBI agents Shaw ( Jon Hamm) and Bennet (Ian Gomez) sure that Jewell is their bomber. With a tip from the Feds, journalist Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde in a career best role) rushes to report that Jewell is a suspect.
With his deep admiration of law enforcement and desire to be in their ranks, Jewell doesn’t immediately catch on that the Feds are trying to railroad him into a confession. In steps Jewell’s former colleague, lawyer Watson Bryant (always entertaining Sam Rockwell), who is feverishly trying to save Jewell from himself, with the help of Jewell’s overwhelmed mother Bobi (Kathy Bates)
and his assistant Nadya (the dynamic Nina Arianda, Goliath)
I found the film very even keel. Because of Eastwood’s politics people reasoned that he was trying to be divisive and cater to Trump’s base as this film is a film about “fake news” and an untrustworthy government. I can’t speak to why he wanted to do the film, but I do know it’s a good thing to show the human toll of reporting and an over-reaching government. The film, IMO, takes great care to not paint Jewell as a saint. It does show that, given power (and a bit more brains), Jewell would be as devious as the FBI agents who are trying to paint him as a terrorist.
A great humanistic story, which is sadly missing at the box office.
Honey Boy
A film that is less a biographical ro·man à clef about Shia LaBeouf’s life and more of one of his father, Jeffrey.
After crashing his car while under the influence, 22-year old actor Otis (Lucas Hedges) is given two choices: rehab or prison. Belligerent, petulant and abrasive, Otis’ counselor, Dr. Moreno (Laura San Giacomo) diagnoses him with PTSD. In hopes that this diagnoses will help Otis get to the bottom of his actions, Dr. Moreno recommends that Otis tries exposure therapy which will have him journaling his pain.
This exercise brings him to memories of when he was a 12-year old series star (Noah Jupe), with his former rodeo clown and former alcoholic and drug addicted father James (Shia LaBeouf) as his set guardian.
A Vietnam vet with his own history of trauma - both mental and physical - James is both Otis’ biggest champion, but also his biggest bully as he’s jealous of what his son has been able to achieve.
Otis finds care and affection from a denizen at their motel home in the form of the young prostitute, Shy Girl (fka Twigs).
Will Otis find it in himself to reconcile his past with his present?
The Otises on-set
Watching the film I thought of a “Game of Thrones” line about “making honest feelings do dishonest work”. My friend attended a screening/Q&A of the film and my friend is a former journalist and for some reason my friend felt compelled to bring up to Shia the time he had tried to interview Shia during the red carpet of “Eagle Eye” and Shia was dismissive and rude to him. Shia apologized and said he was in a bad place during that time and pointed to the film as evidence of that. I bring up this conversation to show while it is extremely helpful that LaBeouf shared his story in the promotion of it he’s been saying that this film will give context about why he’s done the things he’s done but it doesn’t. Not all children of abuse turn into abusers.
He has turned a mirror to his dad’s life but the film spends the majority of time with young Otis who is a sweet, open, and precarious child. It really doesn’t delve deeply into how his childhood affected him. One could argue that his anger issues and alcohol use as displayed in the film does that, but his actions in the film could easily be explained away as someone who is angry about having to go to rehab and therapy. But those who are aware of LaBeouf’s history of verbal and emotional abuse of his partners (there’s even a video of him telling two men who broke up an argument between him and his then wife Mia Goth that it was good that they came because he was going to kill her) , the film is a cop-out. He doesn't take ownership of his actions. Maybe that's another movie for him. Or maybe I'm just cheesed off
that Shia whined in front of Robert DeNiro during THR's actors roundtable that Tom Hardy intimidated him on the set of "Lawless". DeNiro did not like hearing that. This could jeopardize Tom ever getting a chance to work with DeNiro, his idol!
A Christmas Carol (mini-series)
Brought to FX and BBC One by Ridley Scott and Tom Hardy and his production company is this dark retelling of the Dickens classic which has only been done better by Mr. Magoo.
Adapted by Hardy collaborator Steven Knight (Locke, Peaky Blinders), “A Christmas Carol” gives a bit more edge to the telling by giving us a Ebenezer Scrooge who was a victim of child s abuse and who s harasses Mrs. Crachitt. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMIILY!
We know the plot bits by now. It’s Christmas Eve and the late Jacob Marley (Stephen Graham, Boardwalk Empire, The Irishman)
cannot rest in peace because of the sins of his partner and friend the miserable and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge (Guy Pearce). When the Ghost of Christmas (Andy Serkis)
warns Marley that he could not have eternal peace until Scrooge redeems himself, Marley warns his friend of the impending visits of three ghosts - Christmas Past, Christmas Present (Mrs. Tom Hardy, Charlotte Riley, Dark Heart) and Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Jason Flemyng) who will force Scrooge to take in his life in hopes that he would repent from his wretched ways or else he’d and Marley both would face eternal damnation.
Nothing that new under the sun, just a great reprise of a classic. Fine performances by the cast all around including Joe Alwyn (The Favourite) as Bob Cratchit,
Vinette Robinson as Mary Cratchit who has to keep the secret of Scrooge’s harassment a secret out of fear of reprisal, the darling Lenny Rush as Tiny Tim and a brief appearance by Adam Nagaitis (Chernybol, The Terror) as Scrooge’s nephew Fred who wants to have a relationship with his uncle. I especially like that the story isn’t strictly centered on Scrooge but we get a lot of the Cratchit family.
Bombshell
Written by Charles Randolph and directed by Jay Roach, “Bombshell” is less ambitious than the women the film about. It’s a sure-footed endeavor that is as even as ruler. It feels like a PR piece for the women of Fox. As if their harassment they endured should take evaporate any ill-will people have of them because of their political views.
Charlize Theron transforms -thanks to the sheer power of makeup- into Megyn Kelly and we watch as she struggles with the decision to either add her voice to the choir of women, including her colleague Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman)
who have accused Fox honcho Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) of harassment
, or stick to her journalistic guns of not making herself a part of the story.
The film really plays like an abuser how-to- instructional guide. We see how fear is instilled on those coming up like Kayla (Margot Robbie) who is doubly insecure about speaking out about her harassment as she is new to the field and a closeted lesbian; or those who want to keep secure what they have like Carlson.
It’s an intriguing look at what was happening behind the scenes as Fox employees drew battle lines on how they would protect one of their own and those who were working in secret to expose Ailes.
The film has a cadre of actors: Allison Janney as Susan Estrich, Ailes close friend and legal counsel who wants to get to the bottom of the truth of the accusations, Mark Duplass as Kelly’s husband Douglas, Kate McKinnon as a colleague Robbie’s Kayla is involved with, , Brian D’Darcy James as Kelly’s producer, Malcolm McDowell as Rupert Murdoch and Ben and Josh Lawson (House of Lies) as Lachlan and James Murdoch.
“Smallville” may have had cast members who were slanging drugs and making sex tapes or co-founder/recruiter for a sex cult and branding women, but one thing “Smallville” didn't have...
Rather two things. None of the leads were arrested while the show was in production.
Ahem
And the second is that SV didn't have divorce. No. Tom and Justin saved that for when the show was over. I guess things are different on the set of “This is Us” as Justin got married and has filed for divorce from Chrishell Stauss in the span of four seasons.
Plotting his escape
Justin filed for divorce on November 22nd. Eight days after this photo was taken.
First Chrishell posted this sub-Insta
Then she really fired back. Unlike Angie Bowie who took her ex's last name to the grave or Susan Sarandon and Demi Moore who have had their ex-husband's names for so long people don't even know their maiden names (Tomalin and Guynes, respectively), Chrishell has petitioned to have her maiden name restored (which is good because I just realized her name isn't “Strauss” but “Stauss”.).
Chrishell has also requested spousal support (which Justin's divorce filing refused) and she lists their separation date as November 22nd - the day he filed, whereas Justin's filing lists their separation date as July.
One of them is obviously lying and although there is photographic proof that they were still, at least, socializing with each other in July through November
October
Justin probably explaining how he's been sneakily been moving his belongings out of the home for the past three months
September
July 30
The theory is that Justin was coming into a new deal which will bring him a salary increase. Therefore by setting their separation date earlier, Chrishell would not be
Before this tidbit came out, I assumed they were playing up the marriage to protect Hartley’s image. I know celebrities lie about the status of their marriages for some reason. I just don't get why. There has never been an actor whose film I decided to see or pass on based on their relationship. I was really put off by Ewan McGregor cheating on his wife with his “Fargo” co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead (caught by the paps kissing in a restaurant on the night of one of his daughter's birthday no less,)
but I watched (and LOVED) “Doctor Sleep” and I will be there for the Harley Quinn film with the ridiculously long title
Even though I've been hating Winstead since “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World”.
Mary Elizabeth's post announcing her split five months before her affair with McGregor was discovered
It reminds me of the Cloud leak that pre-dated The Fappening. The hacker was interviewed a few years later about his crime and he talked about hacking Scarlett Johannsson's email - this was during her marriage to Ryan Reynolds - and while they were still doing red carpets and interviews like they were a happy couple, the reality was that they were separated and were hashing out details of their divorce.
The hacker also said he was surprised about a few big name male actors who were closeted. But yeah, why roll out a split? This isn't the 50s. Half of all marriages end in divorce, just own it.
Speaking of splits and fakery for social media sake. I present you Eva Amurri. Who is she? The actor daughter of Susan Sarandon
..turned lifestyle and mommy blogger.
Her claim to fame were two breathless posts over the years detailing the time her children's nanny tried to seduce her husband and they created some sting to fire her; then another nanny - her night nanny this time- dropping their son and fracturing his skull.
This time Eva, currently four months up the duff, has raised the bar for social media posturing.
October 29 celebrating their anniversary
Three weeks ago announcing their split
We're beyond concious uncoupling
Okay, maybe they really are at peace with getting divorced and they really are zen about it. But I can't wait until he tries to fight on her spousal support and she spills the real details.
2019 has also seen the break-up of real life pin-up Christina Hendricks and her lucky, nerdy husband actor Geoffrey Arend
Man were you punching above your weight, my guy
,
Sara Gilbert and wife singer/songwriter Linda Perry
and Colin Firth and wife of 22 years Livia Guiggioli.
Livia and Firth was rumored to have split in 2018 for a time and in that time Livia dated a close friend of hers, journalist Marco Brancaccia.
When she and Firth reunited, Livia broke it off with him and he began to stalk her, sending Firth videos and pictures of he and Livia together. At the time Firth fans were convinced that Livia and Colin were not separated at the time, but instead she was having an affair and to protect her image, Colin put out a statement that they were separated. Only the two of them know, but I do know I can’t hate Livia.
Woman has jokes. She's ducking for cover from the fan hate
Colin, Livia and Meg Tilly have strong a** genes. There has been no baby switching. Luca (18), Matteo (16) and Will (29)
Colin, Meg and Jennifer Tilly at Will’s 2018 engagement party
It all makes sense why Colin is looking quite fit. He has to get back into the dating game.
Colin with his "Supernova" director at their Halloween wrap party
**The director is dressed as Colin and Colin is his costar Stanley Tucci.
-Circling back to The Fappening and closeted actors. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) beginning first with “Black Widow” and then “The Eternals”, Marvel’s Kevin Feige has shown his desire to address the lack of LGBTQ characters in their universe. Hence. “The Eternals” will have the first openly gay main character. When “Game of Thrones” alum Richard Madden was cast, people was sure he would be the gay character as Madden’s relationship with openly gay actor Brandon Flynn (Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why”) drew attention.
Officially, they were roommates but with Flynn flying to Cannes with Madden, attended the Critics Choice Awards with Madden and his parents, flew to Scotland when Madden received an honorary doctorate, Flynn wearing Madden’s chain, Madden wearing Flynn’s shirt and fans finding Flynn’s Spotify mix titled “Richard” filled with love ballads, people knew they were much more.
Pressed by the UK shameless journalists about the nature of his relationship with Flynn, Madden said he doesn’t talk about his personal life, although he proudly talked about his relationship with ex Jenna Coleman (Dr. Who) and had been seen with Ellie Bamber.
But recently at a Brazilian convention, footage from “The Eternals” of which Madden is a cast member of
The Eternals cast minus Gemma Chan and Kit Harington
was shown and fans reported of a scene that revealed that it’s not Maddens’ character who is gay, but Brian Tyree Henry’s (Atlanta, Joker).
With that reveal, which came a few weeks after speculation that Madden and Flynn’s relationship had ended, people began to accuse Madden as gay baiting and that he used his friendship with Flynn as a way to deflect from criticism over his playing a gay man in “Rocketman”, that of Elton John’s long-term lover/manager John Reid. An idea that is so ridiculous to me.
Just as ridiculous is that now that it’s not Madden’s character who isn’t gay, people think Feige lied about desiring to cast an openly gay actor. For a long time I have thought Brian Tyree Henry was gay. Not sure if he is, but I definitely thought, just like Michael K. Williams, that he is. And it just exemplifies that some fans only want actors who they can ship - whether twinks or the aggressively unattractive like Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Why can’t Henry be gay? Why is it suddenly an affront if Madden isn’t the gay character but Henry?
Speaking of Henry, his “Book of Mormon” costar Andrew Rannells
has recently made it Instagram official with his “The Boys in the Band” costar years old Tuc Watkins.
Watkins, who was the gloriously nutty David Vickers on “One Life to Live” came out years ago when he became a father of twins through surrogacy. Prior to that Watkins had denied being gay when he played a gay man in the Showtime series “Beggars and Choosers”.
And showing that having your honey in the biz isn’t a bad thing, Watkins was cast in the third season of Rannell’s Showtime series “Black Monday”.
Rannells broke up with his partner of six years Mike Doyle in 2018.
1917
I always think it odd when a film is nominated for Best Picture but not the director and especially odd when a film wins Best Picture but the director doesn’t win Best Director because without a director, there wouldn’t be a film. Well, I would love for “Parasite” to win Best Picture and if all the film critics societies are any indication, it will win if put up in Best Picture. However, although director Bong Joon-Ho is always snagging awards left and right, I really feel Sam Mendes deserves Best Director for “1917”. While the film is lacking in weight (it’s more of premise than a story), it is a work of cinematic mastery. I haven’t seen a better executed film this year.
Based on a germ of a story told to him by his grandfather Alfred Mendes, Sam Mendes brings to the big screen this riveting, nail biter of a film about a green soldier Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman, Game of Thrones) who along with his war and world weary colleague Schofield (George MacKay, Captain Fantastic)
are tasked with a mission that, if successful, would spare the lives of 1600 soldiers, including Blake’s older brother (Richard Madden). The task? Deliver a message to a Colonel (Benedict Cumberbatch) that his men are walking into an ambush if they proceed with their dawn mission. Blake and Schofield embark on a perilous journey of navigating enemy territory, harsh conditions and time in hopes of saving lives.
Much like “The Revenant”, “1917” is really a test of endurance. We don’t get much time to live with the two characters as ten minutes (or less) into the film we are thrust into their mission. It’s a two-hander of a film with Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Colin Firth, Daniel Mays and Jamie Parker each just serving as guide maps for Blake and Schofield.
What makes this film a work of art is that Mendes uses long shots and has edited in a way that the scenes look like it is one continuous shot. He and his cinematographer Roger Deakins
won’t divulge which scenes are continuous and which ones were carefully edited (though I think every explosion hid a cut). It ultimately doesn’t matter because the style makes it more immersive, but not distracting as a first person shooter technique as used in the Sharlto Copely action-er “Hardcore Henry”.
And as a "Game of Thrones" fan I am so happy for Chapman is now more than a gif
and having the dubious honor of being the only GoT cast-member with a leaked jerk off vid. Which....
Little Women
There have been numerous takes on the Louisa May Alcott classic (seven in film alone), yet this is the best adaptation yet. Strictly because it's the only adaptation I have seen. And my first experience with “Little Women' period (never read the books).
With that I am unbiased, as opposed to my friend who is a strict lover of the 1994 Gillian Armstrong adaptation fronted by Winona Ryder. If the other incarnations of this film is as charming and touching as this one it's no wonder it's an enduring classic.
The life and times of the March women - patriarch Marmee (Laura Dern), her oldest daughter Meg (Emma Watson), the fiery writer Jo (Saoirse Ronan), the quiet, musically inclined Beth (Eliza Scanlan, Sharp Objects) and rambunctious youngest sibling Amy (Florence Pugh) as shown in flashbacks as we see where life has taken the idealistic sisters as they navigate life, love and chasing their dreams.
For my entry into “Little Women” it’s an excellent one. It’s a delight as are the actresses, especially the wonderfully talented Florence Pugh who plays Amy March. Although my only quibble with the film concerns her as we follow Amy from when she's a child to a young adult so 23-year old Pugh has to play as if she's a middle schooler. There's a scene where she's in her class surrounded by little kids and I thought, "Is she a teacher aide?" It's just odd to take seriously.
And Saoirse Ronan can do no wrong and her Jo is like her character in “Lady Bird” (or is “Lady Bird” like Jo?).
And a terrific supporting cast.
Tracy Letts as Mr. Dashwood, a publisher Jo is trying to work with, James Norton as James Brooke the love interest of Meg, Louis Garrel as Friedrich Bhaer a tutor Jo meets on her travels, Bob Oedenkirk as the family's patriarch, Chris Cooper as their neighbor Mr. March and the malnourished, underfed looking Timothee Chalamet as Theodore "Laurie" Laurence, his nephew and friend of the girls
Great follow-up to "Lady Bird" from writer/director Greta Gerwig. Who had her own little production going while "Little Women" was filming. The actor/writer/director hid her pregnancy from her cast during the shoot as to not be a distraction. When asked about it during the press tour Timothee Chalamet said he assumed she was just suddenly into baggy clothes and Ronan said the only thing that seemed different was that she was eating healthier as opposed to when they worked on "Lady Bird" and she would eat burritos and hot chips.
Uncut Gems
Adam Sandler, once again, tackles a dramatic role in this gritty tale of gambling and the high end jewelry biz.
Written and directed by wunderkinds The Safdie Bros. (Joshua and Benny), “Uncut Gems” takes us on a frenetic journey with jeweler Howard Ratner (Sandler), who is deep in debt to his loan-shark brother-in-law Arno (Eric Bogosian) thanks to a gambling habit and an expensive mistress Julia (Julia Fox).
Howad thinks his luck has come in when he buys a rare, uncut Gem from Ethiopia. But when he loans it to NBA player Kevin Garnett (playing himself), Howard is in a race against time and the possible bullets of Arno and other people he is in debt to, as he tries to get the jewel back from Garnett in order to auction it off.
Just as Martin Scorcese has to deal with living in a cinematic world where superheroes are kings, I guess I have to accept living in a world where new filmmakers are coming up, who are essentially cribbing from their idols but in a less nuanced way and will be applauded for it. Just like Gus Van Zant, Larry Clarke and Harmony Kormine made their careers on works focusing on the sex-filled, drug fueled lives of the underbelly of teens/young adult lives, The Safdie Bros. are dealing with the gritty lifestyles of criminals and grifters. It's just a vacant, seedy depiction that I find lacking of creativity. I would take the misogyny and racism of some of Quentin Tarantino work over The Safdie Bros. At least QT work has some brilliance to it.
Richard Jewell
His third film in two years, say what you will about this old cuss, he still has that Golden Age of Hollywood workhorse mentality. Clint’s last film “15:17 to Paris” was abysmal by all accounts, and I enjoyed “The Mule”, despite its pacing issues, but with “Richard Jewell”, Eastwood has hit the sweet spot with a compelling, well-acted drama. Sadly, his politics and the controversy surrounding the depiction of one of the persons in the film likely turned audiences off.
Based on the book “The Suspect” written by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen, and the Vanity Fair article “American Nightmare: The Ballad of Richard Jewell”, “Richard Jewell” shows what happens when the authorities race to close a case no matter what and the media rush to get a jump on their competitors with no concern to those who are affected by their ambition.
Richard Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser, I, Tonya, Kingdom) has law enforcement dreams which are dashed each time due to his overzealous and heavy-handed techniques. He finally finds himself embraced by the law enforcement community when, acting as a security guard at the Summer Olympics, he correctly discerns that a discarded backpack had a bomb in it.
His status as a hero is short-lived when a former colleague informs the FBI of the questionable behavior of Jewell and his constant need for glory. The information, added to a psychological profile that fits Jewell to a tee has FBI agents Shaw ( Jon Hamm) and Bennet (Ian Gomez) sure that Jewell is their bomber. With a tip from the Feds, journalist Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde in a career best role) rushes to report that Jewell is a suspect.
With his deep admiration of law enforcement and desire to be in their ranks, Jewell doesn’t immediately catch on that the Feds are trying to railroad him into a confession. In steps Jewell’s former colleague, lawyer Watson Bryant (always entertaining Sam Rockwell), who is feverishly trying to save Jewell from himself, with the help of Jewell’s overwhelmed mother Bobi (Kathy Bates)
and his assistant Nadya (the dynamic Nina Arianda, Goliath)
I found the film very even keel. Because of Eastwood’s politics people reasoned that he was trying to be divisive and cater to Trump’s base as this film is a film about “fake news” and an untrustworthy government. I can’t speak to why he wanted to do the film, but I do know it’s a good thing to show the human toll of reporting and an over-reaching government. The film, IMO, takes great care to not paint Jewell as a saint. It does show that, given power (and a bit more brains), Jewell would be as devious as the FBI agents who are trying to paint him as a terrorist.
A great humanistic story, which is sadly missing at the box office.
Honey Boy
A film that is less a biographical ro·man à clef about Shia LaBeouf’s life and more of one of his father, Jeffrey.
After crashing his car while under the influence, 22-year old actor Otis (Lucas Hedges) is given two choices: rehab or prison. Belligerent, petulant and abrasive, Otis’ counselor, Dr. Moreno (Laura San Giacomo) diagnoses him with PTSD. In hopes that this diagnoses will help Otis get to the bottom of his actions, Dr. Moreno recommends that Otis tries exposure therapy which will have him journaling his pain.
This exercise brings him to memories of when he was a 12-year old series star (Noah Jupe), with his former rodeo clown and former alcoholic and drug addicted father James (Shia LaBeouf) as his set guardian.
A Vietnam vet with his own history of trauma - both mental and physical - James is both Otis’ biggest champion, but also his biggest bully as he’s jealous of what his son has been able to achieve.
Otis finds care and affection from a denizen at their motel home in the form of the young prostitute, Shy Girl (fka Twigs).
Will Otis find it in himself to reconcile his past with his present?
The Otises on-set
Watching the film I thought of a “Game of Thrones” line about “making honest feelings do dishonest work”. My friend attended a screening/Q&A of the film and my friend is a former journalist and for some reason my friend felt compelled to bring up to Shia the time he had tried to interview Shia during the red carpet of “Eagle Eye” and Shia was dismissive and rude to him. Shia apologized and said he was in a bad place during that time and pointed to the film as evidence of that. I bring up this conversation to show while it is extremely helpful that LaBeouf shared his story in the promotion of it he’s been saying that this film will give context about why he’s done the things he’s done but it doesn’t. Not all children of abuse turn into abusers.
He has turned a mirror to his dad’s life but the film spends the majority of time with young Otis who is a sweet, open, and precarious child. It really doesn’t delve deeply into how his childhood affected him. One could argue that his anger issues and alcohol use as displayed in the film does that, but his actions in the film could easily be explained away as someone who is angry about having to go to rehab and therapy. But those who are aware of LaBeouf’s history of verbal and emotional abuse of his partners (there’s even a video of him telling two men who broke up an argument between him and his then wife Mia Goth that it was good that they came because he was going to kill her) , the film is a cop-out. He doesn't take ownership of his actions. Maybe that's another movie for him. Or maybe I'm just cheesed off
that Shia whined in front of Robert DeNiro during THR's actors roundtable that Tom Hardy intimidated him on the set of "Lawless". DeNiro did not like hearing that. This could jeopardize Tom ever getting a chance to work with DeNiro, his idol!
A Christmas Carol (mini-series)
Brought to FX and BBC One by Ridley Scott and Tom Hardy and his production company is this dark retelling of the Dickens classic which has only been done better by Mr. Magoo.
Adapted by Hardy collaborator Steven Knight (Locke, Peaky Blinders), “A Christmas Carol” gives a bit more edge to the telling by giving us a Ebenezer Scrooge who was a victim of child s abuse and who s harasses Mrs. Crachitt. FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMIILY!
We know the plot bits by now. It’s Christmas Eve and the late Jacob Marley (Stephen Graham, Boardwalk Empire, The Irishman)
cannot rest in peace because of the sins of his partner and friend the miserable and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge (Guy Pearce). When the Ghost of Christmas (Andy Serkis)
warns Marley that he could not have eternal peace until Scrooge redeems himself, Marley warns his friend of the impending visits of three ghosts - Christmas Past, Christmas Present (Mrs. Tom Hardy, Charlotte Riley, Dark Heart) and Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Jason Flemyng) who will force Scrooge to take in his life in hopes that he would repent from his wretched ways or else he’d and Marley both would face eternal damnation.
Nothing that new under the sun, just a great reprise of a classic. Fine performances by the cast all around including Joe Alwyn (The Favourite) as Bob Cratchit,
Vinette Robinson as Mary Cratchit who has to keep the secret of Scrooge’s harassment a secret out of fear of reprisal, the darling Lenny Rush as Tiny Tim and a brief appearance by Adam Nagaitis (Chernybol, The Terror) as Scrooge’s nephew Fred who wants to have a relationship with his uncle. I especially like that the story isn’t strictly centered on Scrooge but we get a lot of the Cratchit family.
Bombshell
Written by Charles Randolph and directed by Jay Roach, “Bombshell” is less ambitious than the women the film about. It’s a sure-footed endeavor that is as even as ruler. It feels like a PR piece for the women of Fox. As if their harassment they endured should take evaporate any ill-will people have of them because of their political views.
Charlize Theron transforms -thanks to the sheer power of makeup- into Megyn Kelly and we watch as she struggles with the decision to either add her voice to the choir of women, including her colleague Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman)
who have accused Fox honcho Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) of harassment
, or stick to her journalistic guns of not making herself a part of the story.
The film really plays like an abuser how-to- instructional guide. We see how fear is instilled on those coming up like Kayla (Margot Robbie) who is doubly insecure about speaking out about her harassment as she is new to the field and a closeted lesbian; or those who want to keep secure what they have like Carlson.
It’s an intriguing look at what was happening behind the scenes as Fox employees drew battle lines on how they would protect one of their own and those who were working in secret to expose Ailes.
The film has a cadre of actors: Allison Janney as Susan Estrich, Ailes close friend and legal counsel who wants to get to the bottom of the truth of the accusations, Mark Duplass as Kelly’s husband Douglas, Kate McKinnon as a colleague Robbie’s Kayla is involved with, , Brian D’Darcy James as Kelly’s producer, Malcolm McDowell as Rupert Murdoch and Ben and Josh Lawson (House of Lies) as Lachlan and James Murdoch.