Creed II

CREED II
2018 | Dir. Steven Caple Jr. | 130 Minutes

"Are you here to prove something to other people, or prove something to yourself?"

Viktor Drago, son of disgraced Russian boxer Ivan Drago, challenges Adonis Creed's claim to the world heavyweight title in a bid to repair his family's tarnished reputation. When his beloved mentor Rocky Balboa refuses to train him to fight his dangerously desperate opponent, Donnie nearly loses everything dear to him. Guided by Rocky's wisdom, Donnie finds true motivation to confront the shadow of the past and face the future with a renewed sense of purpose.

Helmed by up-and-coming director Steven Caple Jr., Creed II is a satisfying second act to the story of Adonis Creed. Though the plot follows story beats that mirror the original Rocky sequels, the major events of Donnie's life are handled with a much more nuance and thematic gravity, exploring the pressure to meet expectations, and the burden of maintaining a lasting legacy made more poignant with the concept of fatherhood playing a key role.

While the featured boxing sequences are competently executed, and occasionally downright brutal, they are the least impressive parts of the film, constructed and paced with noticeably less flair than Coogler's exemplary work featured in the first film. The sportscaster commentary running through the key fights is overwrought and distractingly melodramatic at times. Caple's style is up-close-and-personal, and is decidedly the picture's biggest strength, perfect for quiet moments of intimate human drama, drawing excellent performances from the cast particularly in tender scenes centered on Donnie and Bianca.

Through his consistently magnificent performance, Michael B. Jordan handles Donnie's struggle with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt with sensitivity and considerable skill. Sequences covering Donnie's pain and frustration during the low points of his story are at least as powerful as the obligatory training montages leading up to the climatic fight. As Bianca, Tessa Thompson is once again absolutely magnetic, showcasing her phenomenal range of talent as an actress and as a singer. The chemistry shared between Jordan and Thompson is palpable and, like the first film, this sequel just wouldn't work without this onscreen couple.

Not simply a one-dimensional opponent to pit against Donnie, Viktor Drago's motivation is relatively grounded, slightly complex, and emotionally poignant. Florian "Big Nasty" Munteanu brings Viktor to life with a surprising amount of pathos, establishing the formidable contender as a truly suitable foil to Donnie. Dolph Lundgren reprises his star-making role as Ivan Drago, an exponentially more experienced actor than he was when he initially played the character over thirty years ago, bringing gravitas (and a larger vocabulary) to the part. Munteanu and Lundgren are very convincing portraying an obsessively driven son and his vengeful overbearing father.

Slightly older, slightly wiser, but just as endearingly clumsy with his words and sentiments, Sylvester Stallone comfortably slips back into the role of his best character, albeit with a smaller, less pressing story to tell in this installment. Returning as Mary Anne Creed, Phylicia Rashād is particularly wonderful during an amusing dinner scene shared with Donnie and Bianca early in the film and remains a strong and warm presence throughout. Wood Harris also returns as trainer Tony "Little Duke" Evers in a larger role with more opportunities to demonstrate his seemingly effortless charisma. Though he does his best playing the part of the manipulative fight promoter Buddy Marcelle, Russell Hornsby is somewhat underutilized in the paper-thin role.

While Creed II doesn't reinvent the classic underdog narrative, it offers a familiar uplifting experience like the most nourishing comfort food. Fans of the original Creed and the Rocky series as a whole will find it to be an excellent natural addition to the saga of cinema's most iconic heavyweight boxing heroes.


FRAGMENTS
- Brigitte Nielsen returns very briefly as Ludmilla Drago from Rocky IV, serving as more of a concept than a full character

- In a touching cameo appearance, Milo Ventimiglia reprises the role of Rocky's son Robert last seen in Rocky Balboa

- To claim the title of World Heavyweight Champion, Donnie soundly defeats Danny "Stuntman" Wheeler once again played by real-life boxer Andre Ward returning from Creed

- Ludwig Göransson's excellent musical score builds upon themes he established in Creed and continues to use Bill Conti's Rocky themes in thoughtful and powerful ways; although understandable, it's slightly disappointing that Göransson did not use any of Vince DiCola's music from Rocky IV for the Ivan Drago


SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF
- Video: Ari Lennox "Shea Butter Baby"


007 CONNECTIONS
- Dolph Lundgren (Venz in A View to a Kill)


MCU CONNECTIONS
- Wood Harris (Officer Gale in Ant-Man)

- Sylvester Stallone (Stakar in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3)

- Tessa Thompson (Valkyrie in Thor: Ragnarok, Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, and The Marvels)

- Michael B. Jordan (N'Jadaka/Erik "Killmonger" Stevens in Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever)

- Florian Munteanu (Razor Fist in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings)

Ant-Man and the Wasp

ANT-MAN AND THE WASP
2018 | Dir. Peyton Reed | 118 Minutes

"Maybe you just need someone watching your back, like a partner."

After violating the Sokovia Accords, Scott Lang is under house arrest while his allies Hank Pym and Hope van Dyne are forced into hiding. During the final days of his two-year sentence, Scott is begrudgingly recruited by Pym and Hope to embark on a rescue mission. Standing in their way are the FBI, a ruthless illegal tech dealer and his thugs, and a mysterious wraith-like combatant.

Director Peyton Reed delivers a brisk superhero comedy that improves on nearly every aspect of his initial Ant-Man film. Plenty of fun and laughs are to be had from Scott's scale-shifting antics courtesy of a malfunctioning "work-in-progress" suit and Paul Rudd's natural charisma. Hope suits up as the Wasp and is clearly a more capable fighter than Scott, allowing Evangeline Lilly to really shine as the de facto action star of the picture. Together with Michael Douglas' perpetually grumpy Hank Pym, their excellent chemistry carries the wholesome narrative centered on the value of family topped with several layers of humor and semi-nonsensical sci-fi jargon.

Michael Peña, Tip "T.I." Harris, and David Dastmalchian return respectively as chatterbox Luis and his associates Dave and Kurt who've since started a security company perhaps inadvisably named X-Con. While Peña is granted additional screen-time, his comedic stylings are somewhat more tiresome this time around with the notable exception of an extended truth-serum-induced rant. Also returning are Judy Greer and Bobby Cannavale as Maggie and Paxton in much smaller roles. Conversely, Abby Ryder Fortson's Cassie plays a much bigger role, sharing some of the film's most funny and touching scenes with Paul Rudd's Scott.

Though her character is slightly underdeveloped, Hannah John-Kamen does an admirable job as Ava Starr, the tormented Ghost on a desperate mission. As Bill Foster, Laurence Fishburne is underutilized as Ava's surrogate father and voice of reason. Randall Park is perfectly cast as the slightly dopey FBI Agent Jimmy Woo as is character actor Walton Goggins as the slimy Sonny Burch. Michelle Pfeiffer is absolutely radiant in her brief appearance as Janet van Dyne.

All-around, the visual effects are excellent. Ghost has a unique and inspired look as the surrounding translucent images of her waver between the immediate past and present. The prologue of the film and several flashback scenes feature Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, and Laurence Fishburne convincingly de-aged digitally. The scale-changing action is taken to an entertaining new level during the climatic chase sequence through the streets of San Francisco as Pym's modified cars shrink and grow to dodge and disable enemy vehicles in addition to the titular heroes' constant size shifts. Though brief, the deep-dive into the Quantum Realm is appropriately trippy.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is a light zippy visually-exciting adventure with real heart. Its loose, fast-paced plot is elevated by a fantastic cast and inspired action. Fans of the first Ant-Man movie, and followers of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, should find this sequel to be more than a worthy continuation of the smaller and larger narrative.


MID-CREDITS STINGER
The Pyms send Scott into the Quantum Realm to collect energy particles but leave him stranded when they unexpectedly...


POST-CREDITS STINGER
Arthropod drum solo during a state of emergency.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man's car is destroyed as he reflects on the 60s.


FRAGMENTS
- Bill Foster mentions working on a project called "Goliath" with Hank Pym, a reference to Foster's superhero alter ego in the original Marvel Comics

- Ghost and Sonny Burch are Iron Man foes in the original Marvel Comics


SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF
- Video: Christophe Beck "It Ain't Over Till the Wasp Lady Stings"

Incredibles 2

INCREDIBLES 2
2018 | Dir. Brad Bird | 118 Minutes

"Done properly, parenting is a heroic act... Done properly!"

In an effort to repeal superhero prohibition, telecommunications mogul and superhero fan Winston Deavor approaches Elastigirl with an offer to improve public perception on supers. Mr. Incredible begrudgingly takes on the role of stay-at-home dad while Elastigirl tracks a mysterious mind-controlling villain. Meanwhile, Baby Jack-Jack's unpredictable powers develop at a hilariously alarming rate.

Released over a decade after The Incredibles, Brad Bird's long-awaited sequel is a serviceable superhero movie that's funny and full of heart, but it doesn't quite reach the lofty heights of its predecessor. Helen's solo adventures feature several breathtaking set pieces and action beats, most notably a high-speed chase sequence featuring a custom-built motorcycle tailored to her unique powers and a close-quarters brawl in a cage fashioned with bright mesmerizing strobe lights. However, while there are a couple of neat set-ups involving portal-hopping courtesy of the fresh-faced superhero Void, the climatic set piece aboard a massive speeding ship falls a bit flat.

Bob's character arc taking care of the children is much more captivating than the mystery at the center of Helen's story. The struggling, sleep-deprived father does everything he can to be a good dad to a temperamental teenage daughter, a hyperactive son, and a baby developing new and wild abilities - a situation that is naturally comedic. Jack-Jack's nighttime battle with a raccoon in the backyard is epic and absolutely hysterical.

Holly Hunter, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Vowell, Samuel L. Jackson, and director Brad Bird reprise their roles without missing a step. Character actor Bob Odenkirk is effortlessly enthusiastic as Winston Deavor while Catherine Keener brings a natural charming and relaxed nature to the role of Deavor's tech genius sister Evelyn. Sophia Bush doesn't leave much of an impression as Void.

Incredibles 2 is a delightful action-packed sequel that works much better as family comedy than as a superhero movie. It just doesn't quite maintain the magical balance achieved by the original picture. All in all, it is a worthy continuation that should please both fans of the genre and fans of Pixar films.


JOHN RATZENBERGER AS...

- The Underminer


A113

- The movie Violet and Tony go to see is "Dementia 113" (a reference to Francis Ford Coppola's Dementia 13), the letters and numbers for A 113 on the right-facing movie theater marquee are red instead of black


PIXAR INTERCONNECTIVITY

- The ball from 1986 Pixar animated short Luxo, Jr. is painted on a piece of furniture in Jack-Jack's Room


FRAGMENTS

- Brad Bird reportedly threw out three scripts for a sequel to The Incredibles before committing to this one

- Actors Bob Odenkirk and Jonathan Banks (who replaces the late Bud Luckey as government agent Rick Dicker) appeared together on the critically-acclaimed television series Breaking Bad and its spin-off series Better Call Saul

- Catherine Keener essentially plays an evil hypnotist once again


MCU CONNECTIONS
- Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury in Iron Man, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Avengers, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Avengers: Infinity War, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and The Marvels)

Avengers: Infinity War

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR

2018 | Dir. Anthony and Joe Russo | 149 Minutes

"Perfectly balanced, as all things should be."

Intergalactic warlord Thanos is determined to collect all six Infinity Stones. A defeated Thor teams up with unlikely allies to forge a new weapon to slay Thanos. Stranded in space with company he does not care for, Tony Stark formulates a desperate plan against the unstoppable enemy. To prevent Thanos' invading forces from taking the Mind Stone, Steve Rogers and Earth's mightiest heroes seek aid from King T'Challa and the warriors of Wakanda.

Immediately following the events of Thor: Ragnarok, and picking up the storythreads from all previous MCU movies, Avengers: Infinity War jumps right into the action, offering virtually nothing in the way of exposition. Its biggest flaw as a film is that it simply doesn't work as a stand alone story, but this is hardly a problem for viewers who are already deeply invested in Marvel Studio's shared-universe saga, as this latest chapter of the series was definitely crafted just for such viewers. Taking an astonishing and surprisingly compelling narrative choice, the filmmakers place the heart of the movie in Thanos and his belief that his motivations are purely altruistic, convinced that he is saving the universe in his quest to wipe out half of its population. After only briefly appearing as a vague threat to the heroes for years since the first Avengers movie, this picture is undeniably Thanos' story. While it isn't necessarily the most thought-provoking plot, there's a certain tragic quality to it even taking into consideration the cruel and violent actions taken by him and his underlings. The heaviest theme of this installment as a whole is sacrifice, a theme that is highlighted many times over.

The feature is an action-packed visual smorgasbord. Its lead character, the giant menacing CGI-rendered Thanos built around Josh Brolin's brilliant voice over and motion capture work, struggles to suppress his emotions in order to do what he believes needs to be done. Thanos shows off the unique powers of each Infinity Stone in some truly flashy ways. Though thin in characterization, Thanos' four children voiced are visually distinct and extremely exciting to watch in action as they take on the Avengers and their allies. The creepy Ebony Maw played by Tom Vaughan-Lawlor and Proxima Midnight played by Carrie Coon are particularly notable. Traversing more worlds than any single Marvel Studios picture before, the feature truly feels like a universe-spanning story. The plentiful fight sequences throughout the movie are expertly choreographed, escalating the stakes to near-unbearable levels. The massive multi-front climactic battle, intercutting between several far-off locations, is particularly breathtaking.

Tonally, the picture demonstrates the full range of Marvel Studios' entire eclectic catalogue, occasionally shifting gears rather rapidly. From the first scene and onwards, Thor's journey in this movie is utterly heartbreaking and yet he spends much of his screen time humorously interacting with Rocket and Groot. Tony Stark's frustration in dealing with tag-along Peter Parker, the no-nonsense Doctor Strange, and the all-nonsense Peter Quill undercuts the astronomically high odds against them as they prepare to face the most powerful being in the universe. The tension remains high but the quips and one-liners seldom let up. This may possibly be jarring to some viewers, but it's perfectly consistent with the shared universe's bathos-laden storytelling.

Above all, the filmmakers impressively balance and shuffle the sizable cast of characters. Each hero not only gets their own opportunities to shine but they interact with each other in amusing and surprising ways, too. In no universe would Tony Stark and Stephen Strange ever get along. Peter Quill's intense jealously over his crew fawning over pirate-angel Thor is priceless. When Shuri meets Bruce Banner, she immediately demonstrates that she is brighter than him and all his PhDs. Bucky teaming up with Rocket is a surefire recipe for laughs. Natasha, Okoye, and Wanda form a magnificently formidable trio. While most of the heroes aren't afforded complete character arcs - the story for this one remains focused on Thanos after all - these moments are pure magic just as they were in the first Avengers film.

Epic. There is no other word that adequately describes it. Culminating ten years of multiple shared-universe storylines, Avengers: Infinity War is Marvel Studios' biggest, most ambitious movie yet. It should prove to be an extremely rewarding experience for all longtime fans of the massive multi-picture ongoing cinematic narrative -- and absolutely confounding to everyone else.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
In a moment of desperation, Nick Fury pages an old friend.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man is a school bus driver.


FRAGMENTS
- A blue Tobias Fünke from Arrested Development appears in Taneleer Tivan's collection

- Ludwig Göransson's theme for Wakanda from his Oscar-winning Black Panther score plays when we first see Wakanda in this film


SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF
- Video: Alan Silvestri "Forge"


007 CONNECTIONS
- Benicio del Toro (Dario in Licence to Kill)

- Dave Bautista (Mr. Hinx in Spectre)

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
2017 | Dir. Martin McDonagh | 115 Minutes

"She got killed, still no arrest. How come, I wonder. Because there ain't no God, and the whole world's empty, and it doesn't matter what we do to each other? I hope not."

Furious mother Mildred Hayes buys ad space in a remote location in the small town of Ebbing, Missouri, to chastise the local sheriff for his inability to solve the case of her teenage daughter's brutal rape and murder. Public opinion quickly turns against Mildred due to the open secret of the sheriff's failing health. As the situation escalates, Mildred acts on her worst impulses, and the most unlikely person in town discovers a potential lead on the case.

Martin McDonagh's Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a powerful drama about one mother's absolute refusal to let go as she lives in the unbearable aftermath of an unspeakable crime. While there are comedic moments in the film, the majority of any humor to be had is morbid, and the violence perpetrated in the narrative is sudden and shocking. While Mildred's anger is undoubtedly righteous, the story is one of displaced and misplaced rage, of the products of domestic abuse, and of people uniting under a dubious cause for dubious reasons. The film plays out like a true crime story in which events unfold in an unpredictable manner and easy solutions are nowhere to be found.

The picture's fantastic cast is led by the ever-brilliant Frances McDormand as Mildred, absolutely personifying a thirst for vengeance that severely compromises all logical judgement. Playing a racist, violent, and incompetent white trash deputy who may not be beyond redemption (the unequivocal heart of controversy for the film), Sam Rockwell gives the performance of his career. The cast also features excellent performances from a selection of some of the best character actors available including Woody Harrelson as the dying Sheriff Willoughby, Lucas Hedges as Mildred's wary son, Caleb Landry Jones as the dopey owner of the billboards, Peter Dinklage as a local with an unrequited crush on Mildred, John Hawkes as Mildred's abusive ex-husband, and Clarke Peters as the new sheriff and sole voice of reason.

Grim, funny, often upsetting, but always captivating, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a story of misguided anger and the search for justice and meaning, a search that may never end. The film is challenging, thematically rich, hopeless to a certain degree but hopeful in other ways, and hands down one of the best films of 2017.


FRAGMENTS
- Caleb Landry Jones appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Get Out

- Lucas Hedges appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Lady Bird

- Kathryn Newton appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Lady Bird

- I was particularly thrilled with Clarke Peters' reassuring presence as a straight-shooting lawman, not too far removed from his iconic role as Lester Freamon on The Wire


MCU CONNECTIONS
- Sam Rockwell (Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2)

- Kerry Condon (FRIDAY in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame)

- Peter Dinklage (Eitri in Avengers: Infinity War)

- Christopher Berry (Randy in Spider-Man: Homecoming)

- Kathryn Newton (Cassie Lang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)

The Shape of Water

THE SHAPE OF WATER
2017 | Dir. Guillermo del Toro | 123 Minutes

"When he looks at me, the way he looks at me, he does not know what I lack or how I am incomplete. He sees me, for what I am, as I am. He's happy to see me every time, every day."

In Cold War era Baltimore, Maryland, a mute woman named Elisa works as a janitor at a secret government facility. Elisa falls in love with an aquatic humanoid creature held captive in the lab, but as their romance blossoms she catches the attention of the sadistic colonel who captured the creature. With the creature's life on the line, Elisa helps the creature escape with the help of her friends.

The Shape of Water is a creature feature with a romantic heart beating at its core. Writer/Director Guillermo del Toro's fondness for monsters and old Hollywood colors every frame of the film. The audience is quickly introduced to Alisa who lives alone in a creaky apartment above an old movie theater through her day-to-day routine down to the most honest and intimate detail. As Alisa's relationship with the creature develops, rather than shy away from depicting the physical act of love, del Toro fully embraces the moment as one of romantic beauty and triumph. The supporting characters populating the relatively simple narrative are also nuanced and human to a fault, from Alisa's awkward neighbor who has a shy crush on the server at the local cafe to the villainous colonel who suffers from intense feelings of inadequacy.

As the mute heroine Elisa, Sally Hawkins is simply lovely and undeniably magnetic, carrying the film with genuine strength and grace. Doug Jones, the Boris Karloff of our time (and director Guillermo del Toro's regular ace in the hole), delivers yet another brilliant and affecting performance as the meticulously-realized fishman - here's hoping the Academy honors him with a statue some day if they're ever less stuffy about recognizing genre films. Character actor Michael Shannon at his most volatile raises the dramatic stakes considerably as the colonel, and leads a fantastic supporting cast featuring Octavia Spencer as Elisa's unhappily wed friend from work, Richard Jenkins as her kindly gay neighbor, and Michael Stuhlbarg as a conscientious soviet spy.

An artful and truly unique blend of pure romance and monster movie, The Shape of Water is a heartfelt tribute to those who feel unloved, and the fulfillment one may find in unexpected places. The film ranks among Guillermo del Toro's finest works, and it's without a doubt one of the best motion pictures of the year.


FRAGMENTS
- Writer/Director Guillermo del Toro reportedly asked for assistance from female members of his family and female friends to design the shape of the creature's butt to ensure that it was pleasing to the eye

- Doug Jones previously appeared in Writer/Director Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy and Hellboy II: The Golden Army based on Mike Mignola's comic book series as Abe Sapien, a similar amphibious humanoid creature

- Michael Stuhlbarg appears in three Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film, Call Me By Your Name, and The Post


MCU CONNECTIONS
- Michael Stuhlbarg (Nicodemus West in Doctor Strange and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)

The Post

THE POST
2017 | Dir. Steven Spielberg | 116 Minutes

"We can't hold them accountable if we don't have a newspaper."

In the mid 1960s, an embittered military analyst leaks classified reports documenting the extensive secret history of the ongoing Vietnam War that was hidden from the American public to various news outlets. It is a race against the clock for the reporters of the financially fragile Washington Post to obtain the documents to beat other publications to press time, but when the Nixon Administration bars the New York Times from publishing the classified information, Katharine Graham, the reluctant owner of the Washington Post, must choose between protecting the integrity of her politician friends and the stability of her business, or serving the American people by exposing the truth.

Steven Spielberg's latest film is a relatively standard, competently-constructed drama elevated by its magnificent cast. The picture's captivating narrative surrounding the Washington Post's decision to publish the Pentagon Papers unfolds in a deliberate fashion that is at times frustrating and at times exhilarating. The focus of the feature shifts between the drama surrounding Graham (and the men who both support and subvert her leadership) and the revelation of the shocking truths behind the Vietnam War. The very best sequence of the film involves the leadership of the Washington Post on multiple telephones sharing one phone line, arguing over whether or not their Pentagon Papers story should be published with press time just hours away.

While Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks are at the top of their respective games, they do not deliver their very best work. Streep is perfectly regal and relatable as Katharine Graham, but while Graham faces a significant personal dilemma, the role ultimately does not require much range. The same can be said of Hanks' part as Ben Bradlee, with Hanks once again doing a fine job taking on his bread and butter role of the standard everyman, this time in the form of the impassioned newspaper editor-in-chief with little to no respect for authority. The supporting cast is packed with a variety of talent featuring Bruce Greenwood, Tracy Letts, Bradley Whitford, Matthew Rhys, Alison Brie, Sarah Paulson, Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, Carrie Coon, Jesse Plemons, Zach Woods, and Michael Stuhlbarg all in key roles.

The true story of the Washington Post's decision to report on the Pentagon Papers, and subsequently provoke the wrath of the Nixon administration, already a story worth telling and retelling, is all the more relevant now considering the current presidential administration's disdain for the press. However, Spielberg's narrative unfolds in an almost painfully procedural way. The Post is without a doubt an important film, but its greatest flaw is that it is just a good movie but not a great one.


FRAGMENTS
- Bradley Whitford appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Get Out

- Tracy Letts appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Lady Bird

- Michael Stuhlbarg appears in three Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film, Call Me By Your Name, and The Shape of Water

- Bob Odenkirk, Jesse Plemons, Carrie Coon, and Michael Stuhlbarg were all featured in the acclaimed Fargo television series

- It's incredibly gratifying to Bob Odenkrik and his comedy partner David Cross, the creators/stars of Mr. Show, featured so prominently together on screen in a Steven Spielberg film


MCU CONNECTIONS
- Michael Stuhlbarg (Nicodemus West in Doctor Strange and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)

- Carrie Coon (Proxima Midnight in Avengers: Infinity War)

Phantom Thread

PHANTOM THREAD
2017 | Dir. Paul Thomas Anderson | 130 Minutes

"You're not going to die. You might wish you're going to die, but you're not going to."

Renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock is a confirmed bachelor, completely dedicated to his work, and reluctant to maintain any meaningful emotional relationships. One day, a waitress named Alma captures Woodcock's attention and quickly becomes his live-in muse and lover. The pair struggle to love and understand one another as their contrasting personalities alternate between melding and clashing. After their relationship is damaged through several difficult episodes, fearing that she would lose Woodcock, Alma makes a drastic decision.

A tale mad love in the world of 1950s London high fashion, director Paul Thomas Anderson latest film is an aesthetically-rich finely-crafted picture. While every detail in the production design of the feature is lovely, not least of which the real artistic work behind the lavish tailored gowns, Anderson juxtaposes the beauty with a quiet sense of dread. The tension between Woodcock and Alma, accentuated by Jonny Greenwood's brilliant musical score, is palpable and a feeling of discomfort permeates the entire picture.

Announced as Daniel Day-Lewis' final film performance, Phantom Thread is an appropriately fitting send-off for the accomplished method actor. Woodcock is equal parts charming, insufferable, attentive, and cruel, and Daniel Day-Lewis completely disappears into the persona once again demonstrating his ever-impressive talent. Vicky Krieps perfectly complements Daniel Day Lewis' eccentric particularity as the unapologetically headstrong Alma, revealed to be harboring a vengeful mean streak of her own. The feature is driven by the pair's excellent chemistry and by their endlessly entertaining verbal sparring matches courtesy of Anderson's razor-sharp screenplay. Lesley Manville deserves special notice as Woodcock's no-nonsense sister Cyril, effortlessly embodying the protective but wary sibling who knows and has lived with her brother's moods and eccentricities all her life.

Phantom Thread is as visually pleasing as Woodcock's dresses and as emotionally complex as a love laced with poison. Excellent performances from Daniel Day-Lewis and Vicky Krieps elevate the picture to astounding heights. While the romantic narrative leads to a dark and sinister place that may be surprising and disturbing, it is absolutely captivating.


FRAGMENTS
- Reynolds Woodcock is loosely based on British fashion designer Charles James

- To prepare for the role of Reynold Woodcock, Daniel Day-Lewis designed and crafted a Balenciaga dress from scratch

- Writer/Director Paul Thomas Anderson states that there is no official credit for the cinematography for the film, and that it was a "collaborative effort"

Lady Bird

LADY BIRD
2017 | Dir. Greta Gerwig | 93 Minutes

"The only thing exciting about 2002 is that it's a palindrome."

Catholic high school senior Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson and her mother Marion are at odds about Lady Bird's desire to attend college away from her hometown. Leading up to graduation, Lady Bird openly defies authority, falls for boys who are not good for her, and briefly abandons her best friend to socialize with the popular kids. Meanwhile, Lady Bird's middle class family struggles through tough financial challenges.

Greta Gerwig's directorial debut is a funny true-to-life coming-of-age story with a screenplay by Gerwig that accurately portrays the life of a high school senior without sugarcoating or over-dramatizing the very real emotions experienced by youth on the cusp of adulthood. From Lady Bird's sometimes clever, sometimes clumsy mannerisms to the questionable social decisions she makes throughout the picture, there is a captivating inevitability in the way Gerwig's narrative unfolds. The early 2000's setting is authentically captured from the haircuts to the music to the truly dumb and naive things teenagers said and believed at the time. The denouement fizzles out slightly, but I guess that's realistic, too.

Saoirse Ronan is fantastic as the titular rebellious teenager, perfectly capturing the spirit and the awkwardness without turning the role into a caricature. Laurie Metcalf matches Ronan's energy as Lady Bird's mother, playing to perfection the headstrong woman who hides her own vulnerability behind a barrier of strict, no-room-for-argument parenting. Conversely, Tracy Letts is lovable as Lady Bird's seemingly perpetually laidback father who is revealed to be struggling with depression unbeknownst to his daughter. Playing the boys Lady Bird fall for, Lucas Hedges excels in a relatively small but rich role as a closeted gay Catholic, while Timothée Chalamet is hilariously believable as the detached teen in a band who believes in wild conspiracy theories and can’t be bothered. Scene-stealer Beanie Feldstein is absolutely adorable as Lady Bird's best friend Julie, quietly playing out a heartbreaking subplot in which Julie has an inadvisable crush on her math teacher.

With nuanced natural dialogue, carried by brilliant performances from its cast, Greta Gerwig crafted an instant-classic in Lady Bird. The attention to detail paid to establish the characters and the setting is remarkable. Most importantly, the themes and ideas at the very heart of the film ring true.


FRAGMENTS
- Tracy Letts appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and The Post

- Lucas Hedges appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

- Timothée Chalamet appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Call Me By Your Name

- Kathryn Newton appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

- To this day, I adamantly loathe the Dave Matthews Band song "Crash Into Me" but the director Greta Gerwig utilizes the song in a surprisingly funny and emotionally touching way

MCU CONNECTIONS

- Kathryn Newton (Cassie Lang in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania)

Get Out

GET OUT
2017 | Dir. Jordan Peele | 103 Minutes

"All I know is sometimes, when there's too many white people, I get nervous, you know?"

Chris, an African American photographer, spends the weekend at the childhood home of his Caucasian girlfriend Rose to meet her allegedly socially progressive family and their overly-enthusiastic friends. The weekend takes a sinister turn when Chris discovers the unspeakable secret that links Rose's family with several missing local African American people. When Chris goes missing, his friend Rod, a TSA Agent, investigates.

With a clever screenplay and an inspired vision, comedian Jordan Peele's directorial film debut is equal parts uncomfortable and entertaining. The narrative is rich with layers of social commentary on the very real and immediately issues surrounding race and ethnicity in modern America. The most chilling concept presented in the picture is that its monsters do not simply aim to subjugate Chris. The rich old predominately white villains (there is one Japanese man in the crowd) fetishize Chris on a purely superficial level, attempt to suppress and hollow out his personhood, and subsequently fully implant themselves into his shell.

As the emotionally reserved Chris, Daniel Kaluuya is a captivating protagonist, delivering a quiet vulnerability that constantly builds as a formative childhood trauma is drawn to the surface against his will and as he discovers the horror behind his predicament. Allison Williams plays Rose to perfection as the duplicitous bait in her family's scheme. As Rose's surgeon father, Bradley Whitford exemplifies the unnerving shallow friendliness of any racist who has ever denied their prejudice. On the other end of the spectrum, Caleb Landry Jones embodies pure white trash as Rose's brother with a proclivity for random violent outbursts. The most terrifying character of the film may be Rose's psychiatrist mother portrayed by Catherine Keener with cold precision. A close second for scariest character would Georgina, the creepy maid with a disturbing secret, played by Betty Gabriel with delightful creepiness. It is impossible not to root for Lil Rel Howery's Rod, the ineffable and hilarious voice of reason, and possibly the only TSA agent to ever perform a heroic act in film.

Get Out is smart, gripping, socially-conscious horror with a good measure of humor in the mix. The twisted, deceptive, very white antagonists are truly terrifying. Jordan Peele immediately establishes himself as a filmmaker to follow closely.


FRAGMENTS
- According to Writer/Director Jordan Peele, the Sunken Place represents the marginalization of minorities in America as "No matter how hard we scream, the system silences us."

- In the original intended ending of film, Chris incarcerated by law enforcement for killing Rose and her family, but Writer/Director Jordan Peele decided to revise the ending in light of several unjust police shootings of black people that occurred as production for the film was underway

- This film was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture in the category of Musical or Comedy while it is undeniably NOT a musical or comedy

- Bradley Whitford appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and The Post

- Caleb Landry Jones appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri


MCU CONNECTIONS
- Daniel Kaluuya (W'Kabi in Black Panther)

Dunkirk

DUNKIRK
2017 | Dir. Christopher Nolan | 106 Minutes

"All we did is survive."

Trapped on the beach at Dunkirk in 1940, a British Soldier named Tommy is among hundreds of thousands of allied soldiers in the process of being picked off by German dive-bombers. Across the channel, Mr. Dawson, his son Peter, and neighborhood boy George set sail to Dunkirk in Dawson's boat alongside hundreds of civilian vessels to assist in the Royal Navy's desperate rescue mission. In the sky, a Royal Air Force fighter pilot flies towards Dunkirk to provide air support as his wing men are gunned down.

Dunkirk is an extraordinary and suspenseful war picture utilizing the very best of Christopher Nolan's talents as a filmmaker - most notably Nolan's unique manipulation of time. Told through three interwoven narratives that respectively take place over one week, one day, and one hour, tension is established through steadily rising action, breathtaking photography, and masterful film editing. Though the lead characters are not given much expository dialogue or backstory, they are fully-defined by the actions they take in the direst of circumstances. The film is a tale of pure survival, sidestepping any form of a political message, completely distilled and concentrated, undeniably thrilling the most visceral way.

Fionn Whitehead carries much of the film as the soldier Tommy, completely natural as a young man forming unspoken bonds with other soldiers as he desperately fights to survive under extraordinary circumstances. Kenneth Branagh and James D'Arcy make brief but notable appearances as military officers on the mole. Mark Rylance and Cillian Murphy provide dramatic conflict on the sea as small boat captain Mr. Dawson and a shell-shocked soldier found floating on debris. Young actor Barry Keoghan plays the well-meaning but hapless George in a memorable but thankless part. As the Royal Air Force fighter pilot, Tom Hardy is simply cool - there is no other descriptor for his performance - he is so cool.

Engaging, inspirational, meticulously-structured, at times disorienting, Dunkirk is a solid cinematic achievement that must be experienced in a movie theater. The film more than compensates for the absence of a conventional narrative with universal depictions of heroism through action.


FRAGMENTS
- Writer/Director Christopher Nolan considered improvising the entire film instead of writing a script but his partner Producer Emma Thomas convinced him to write an actual screenplay

- Dunkirk depicts the struggle of Operation Dynamo on the ground, on the sea, and in the air, while Darkest Hour, also nominated for Best Picture released in 2017, depicts the political administrative challenge behind the operation


MCU CONNECTIONS
- James D'Arcy (Edwin Jarvis in Avengers: Endgame)

- Barry Keoghan (Druig in Eternals)

- Harry Styles (Eros in Eternals)

- Tom Hardy (Eddie Brock and Venom in Spider-Man: No Way Home)

Darkest Hour

DARKEST HOUR
2017 | Dir. Joe Wright | 125 Minutes

"You cannot reason with a tiger when your head is in its mouth!"

In 1940, the Labour Party forces British Conservative Party Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain out of office. Meant to serve as a placeholder for the Conservative Party, the irritable First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill is elected Prime Minister. Despite immense pressure from Parliament and King George VI, Churchill perseveres and refuses to surrender to the escalating might of Germany.

Designed to be a prestige picture in every way, Darkest Hour is frustratingly conventional, lacking in any unique qualities in terms of content and presentation. Nearly the entire film features a murky visual aesthetic meant to accentuate the WWII-era England setting that is more jarring than nostalgic. The narrative depicting Parliament and George VI's objections against Churchill and Churchill's subsequent triumph despite their misgivings is as generic as it sounds as depicted on screen in this feature. The very worst sequence is one invented out of whole cloth in which Churchill converses with common British folk while taking a ride on the London Underground, asking their opinions on the war and the potential negotiations with Germany.

Character actor Gary Oldman's go-for-broke performance as Winston Churchill, fully transformed into the iconic British PM under heavy prosthetics, is worthy of praise, but leaves no room for nuance and is far, far from his best work. Kristin Scott Thomas and Lily James also deliver brilliant performances as Clementine Churchill and Churchill's secretary Elizabeth Layton respectively but their work is ultimately wasted on this picture.

The biggest draw of Darkest Hour is Gary Oldman's astounding portrayal of Churchill. Oldman is excellent but his performance is never subtle and, at points, even distracting. The feature itself is a washed-out paint-by-numbers affair, failing to tell a story meant to be inspiring.


FRAGMENTS
- Legendary character actor John Hurt was initially cast as Neville Chamberlain but was undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer and passed away in January 2017; incidentally, the real life Chamberlain died from terminal bowel cancer

- Darkest Hour depicts the political administrative challenge of Operation Dynamo, while Dunkirk, also nominated for Best Picture released in 2017, depicts the struggle on the ground, on the sea, and in the air


MCU CONNECTIONS
- Ben Mendelsohn (Talos in Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home)

Call Me By Your Name

CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
2017 | Dir. Luca Guadagnino | 132 Minutes

"Right now, there's sorrow, pain. Don't kill it and with it the joy you've felt."

In the summer of 1983 in the Italian countryside, Elio, the teenage son of an archaeology professor falls in love with Oliver, a graduate student spending the summer with Elio's family. Fearing the social stigma against homosexuality of the time, they carry one their relationship in secret. Elio suffers the biggest emotional loss of his young life as Oliver returns home at the end of the summer.

Luca Guadagnino's adaptation of André Aciman's 2007 novel depicts love, longing, sexuality, heartbreak, and loss through an honest lens that is never judgmental and never veers into exploitation. Beautifully shot in Crema, Lombardy in northern Italy, the film affectively creates an ephemeral idyllic setting both visually and emotionally. Where the film fails to be compelling at certain points is in its lack of dramatic stakes. While there is palpable emotional tension throughout the picture, there isn't much narrative tension to speak of as Oliver's return home is inevitable.

Timothée Chalamet carries the film with a heartfelt and delicate performance as Elio. Equal parts spirited and vulnerable, Chalamet impressively evokes the genuine and often-times confusing emotions of first love. Perpetual second-string actor Armie Hammer is serviceable but ultimately unremarkable as Oliver. Young actress Esther Garrel is adorable in a small but notable part as Elio's jilted girlfriend Marzia. As Elio's father, Michael Stuhlbarg is entertaining as a passionate academic, and ultimately a crucial player in the defining scene of the feature in which the professor reveals to Elio his knowledge and support of the relationship shared between Elio and Oliver.

Call Me By Your Name is a touchingly earnest examination of fleeting romance and youth. For what its worth, the picture is nearly devoid of dramatic tension. The tragedy of this love story, as in all stories of young love, is that the central relationship was never meant to last but there is a multitude of lessons to be learned from it.


FRAGMENTS
- The final shot of the film is of Elio crying in front of a fireplace as Sufjan Stevens' "Visions of Gideon," which was specifically written for the film, plays and the end credits roll -- this sequence absolutely destroyed me

- Timothée Chalamet appears in two Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film and Lady Bird

- Michael Stuhlbarg appears in three Best Picture Oscar Nominees that were released in 2017: this film, The Post, and The Shape of Water


MCU CONNECTIONS
- Michael Stuhlbarg (Nicodemus West in Doctor Strange and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness)

The 90th Academy Awards

My ranking of the Best Picture Oscar contenders of 2018:

1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
2. The Shape of Water *
3. Get Out
4. Phantom Thread
5. Lady Bird
6. Dunkirk
7. Call Me By Your Name
8. The Post
9. Darkest Hour

*Actual Winner

Black Panther

BLACK PANTHER
2018 | Dir. Ryan Coogler | 134 Minutes

"You are a good man with a good heart, and it's hard for a good man to be a king."

Still grieving over the death of his father, T'Challa ascends to the throne of Wakanda, a technologically-advanced and resource-rich African nation hidden from the rest of the world. On a mission to bring an enemy of his country to justice, T'Challa discovers a family secret kept by his father in the form of an adversary who intends to usurp T'Challa's birthright and conquer the world using Wakanda's high-tech weaponry. T'Challa begins to consider the impact of his actions as a king, and the role of his nation, on the world stage.

Black Panther is a visually-stunning action-packed spectacle that encourages serious discussions about what it means to be a leader, and about the proper amount of knowledge and resources a nation should share with the world. As a distinct departure from other heroes of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, T'Challa's struggles not with his ego or personal failing, but with making the best decisions as a ruler. While T'Challa gradually shifts away from Wakanda's historically isolationist approach to foreign affairs, in direct contrast his rival Erik Stevens is overeager to reveal the might of Wakanda to the world. Writer/Director Ryan Coogler does not provide easy answers, but he clearly rejects the violent path chosen by those like Stevens.

The film showcases exceptionally imaginative special effects to present Wakanda's technological wonders, particularly in the grand sweeping aerial shots of the nation's Afrofuturistic cityscape, when the scientific genius Shuri reveals the automated Vibranium mining system to an astounded Agent Ross, and when all of T'Challa's gadgets are put to use during an intense car chase through the streets of Busan. The breathtaking fight choreography featured in every thrilling action sequence is also a true highlight of the picture. T'Challa's multiple ritual combat scenes atop a waterfall, a fight sequence in an underground casino in Busan, and the epic climactic ground battle between Wakandan tribes are absolutely exhilarating.

Leading an incredible cast of predominantly black actors, Chadwick Boseman is, in a word, iconic as T'Challa. Boseman exudes T'Challa's strength, patience, and wisdom as a king, and also manages to be gentle and charming when joking with his sister or trying to convince the woman he loves to stay by his side, having the opportunity to show off more of his range as a performer than in his first appearance as T'Challa in Captain America: Civil War. Michael B. Jordan takes complete ownership over all of his scenes as antagonist Erik "Killmonger" Stevens, a complicated villain with motivations that may be justified despite his misguided approach. Lupita Nyong'o is radiant as Wakandan spy Nakia, the apple of T'Challa's eye. As Shuri, Letitia Wright is a real joy, perfectly fitting the role of playful rebellious sister, brilliant chief scientist, and capable warrior. The most impressive action star in the cast may be Danai Gurira in the role of Okoye, the fierce general of Wakanda's all-female royal guard the Dora Milaje. The film also features Daniel Kaluuya as T'Challa's best friend and Border Tribe leader W'Kabi, Winston Duke as Mountain Tribe leader M'Baku and proud foil to T'Challa, Angela Bassett as the Queen Mother Ramonda, Forest Whitaker as mystic wise man Zuri, and Sterling K. Brown as king T'Chaka's wayward brother N'Jobu.

Previously appearing in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Andy Serkis returns as the despicable illegal arms dealer Ulysses Klaue, dialing up Klaue's over-the-top personality to the very limit. Martin Freeman reprises his role from Captain America: Civil War as the CIA Agent Everett K. Ross, essentially the token white supporting player of the film with a much greater part to play than in his previous appearance. Also returning from Captain America: Civil War are Florence Kasumba as Dora Milaje warrior Ayo, and John Kani as King T'Chaka.

Unlike any previous Marvel Studios film to date, Black Panther tells an inspiring story about the challenges of being a good leader while delivering on the promise of a solid action film that goes well beyond simply following the familiar beats of a standard comic book movie. The film firmly establishes T'Challa as one of the most heroic characters depicted in cinema, and the narrative provides a bounty of amazing role models particularly for children of color. Wakanda Forever!


MID-CREDITS STINGER
T'Challa reveals his plans to share Wakanda's knowledge and resources with the rest of the world to the United Nations.


POST-CREDITS STINGER
A trio of Wakandan children wake a man known as the "White Wolf." The man is revealed to be Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), living in peace and undergoing treatment from Shuri to deprogram his Hydra brainwashing.


STAN LEE CAMEO
Stan the Man is a high roller at the underground casino in Busan.


FRAGMENTS
- Director Ryan Coogler has collaborated with actor Michael B. Jordan on all of his films so far including Fruitvale Station, Creed, and this film

- Director Ryan Coogler has also collaborated with composer Ludwig Göransson on all of his films so far including Fruitvale Station, Creed, and this film

- Sterling K. Brown and Winston Duke were featured in recurring roles on the television series Person of Interest

- Martin Freeman and Andy Serkis previously appeared together in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey as Bilbo Baggins and the creature Gollum


SUPPLEMENTAL STUFF
- Video: Kendrick Lamar and SZA "All The Stars"

- Video: The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar "Pray For Me"

- Video: Ludwig Göransson featuring Baaba Maal "Wakanda"