Cinephile No. 822 “Searching Eva”

Recommendation: 3/5 Stars, STREAM

Plot: “When in 1996 Grateful Dead songwriter John Perry Barlow announced, "a civilization of the spirit" with cyberspace - "may it be more humane and just than the world your governments have built so far" - F. was four years old. A few years later, the young Italian declared privacy an outdated concept, gave herself the name Eva and put her diary online on her first blog. Over the next few years, she became an Internet star, an underground icon of the blogging world, allowing anyone who wanted to participate in her maturing process. Today Eva is in her early twenties and oscillates between her "real" life as an anarchic vagabond, social marginal figure and "feminist" sex worker and the life of her Internet persona, iconized as the leading figure of the authentic.” -IMDB

Review: For my 15th film of the 2019 AFI Fest, I began with a question. What has social media and, to a greater extent, the internet done to us? To answer this question, “Searching Eva” analyzes the life of Eva. Eva is a young Italian woman who has declared privacy dead and broadcasts very intimate details of her life as she navigates adulthood, life as a sex worker, and a sense of self. As she does, we come to understand the trauma associated with an exposed life that is never settled.

In many ways, this film is meant to frustrate. In the world in which we live, sharing personal details about your life has become second nature. Still, there are some things we keep to ourselves. Eva doesn’t believe in privacy and she isn’t alone. As she searches for meaning in this 21st Century character study, we see every detail and the intended consequences. Knowing some of the pain could have been avoided is what will frustrate most audience members with this film.

Understanding the pain and analyzing one young woman’s life, does give birth to a powerful conversation needing to be had. In both public and private places, more and more of our lives are being documented. These actions are fundamentally changing our society and giving birth to unforeseen consequences. We as citizens have not properly debated this change. Instead, we have allowed it to wash over us without much input. For me, this film is a reminder to hit pause and begin a deeper conversation.

Cinephile No. 833 “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”

Recommendation: 5/5 Stars, SHOWTIME

Plot: “Based on the true story of a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and, journalist, Lloyd Vogel.” -IMDB

Review: Looking at the life of Mister Rogers (Tom Hanks) from afar, I understand the cynicism. In a world that seems so cruel, the idea of someone so kind, caring, and loving must have seemed like an elaborate hoax. When Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys) was assigned to write a short article about the famous children’s show host, he approached the story with the same level of cynicism many of us would have felt. Over the course of numerous conversations and interactions, Vogel discovered the truth. Luckily for us, he shared that truth with the world in a brilliantly written Esquire article which serves as the basis for this film.

For his part, Hanks is the pure embodiment of Mister Rogers. I cannot vividly imagine another actor attempting this role. His approach is one of deep caring and love personified. This love becomes apparent over the course of several genuine conversations. Vogel approaches with a wish to be done with the story as soon as possible, but Rogers being who Rogers was, takes an interest in Vogel. He is fascinated by his family and the demons of his past he is battling. As the article becomes about Vogel instead of Rogers, we learn the persona of Mister Rogers is not a character. This man is the truth, on and off-screen.

One of those demons Vogel is wrestling is his estranged father who has mysteriously reappeared. We quickly learn the earth-shattering reason why. When we do, this becomes not a movie about a TV show host. Instead, it becomes a story about forgiveness. In Mister Rogers, we see the best of ourselves. Thanks to this film, we learn mirroring such a person is not impossible.

Cinephile No. 834 “Honey Boy”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME

Plot: “A young actor's stormy childhood and early adult years as he struggles to reconcile with his father and deal with his mental health.” -IMBD

Review: I have never watched a movie quite like “Honey Boy.” On its surface, it is a narrative about a twenty-something-year-old actor (Lucas Hedges as Otis) who is out of control. From the very beginning, we can tell he is wrestling with untamed demons from his past. To understand the choices he is currently making, we are taken back to the beginning and meet a child (Noah Jupe as Otis) who is pushed too hard by his father (Shia LaBeouf as James). This is where the story gets really interesting because this movie is inspired by real-life events from Shia LaBeouf’s time as a child actor. Much of what we are experiencing on the screen, he endured at the hands of his father as he was beginning his career. This approach to storytelling is the most courageous piece of cinema I saw last year.

James, for his part, is a really complicated man. At times, he can be really loving and supportive. Within moments of doing something any decent father would do, a switch can flip, and he can become abusive, violent, and a self-imposed victim of martyrdom. For Otis, this means constantly walking on eggshells and loneliness expressed by many child actors. As we watch him navigate this complicated relationship, we know he is going to come out on the other end damaged. The only question left to answer is to what depths will the damage reach.

As this film enters its third act, Otis the child, and Otis the adult begin to defend themselves in pretty powerful ways. They both make brave decisions to no longer be used. For the younger Otis, this means confronting his father with the absolute truth. For the adult version, a new idea is born. “A seed must destroy itself to grow again.” If he ever wants to be happy and healthy, he must make himself new and in his own image, not that of his father. As the screen blackens, this message is a powerful one to ponder as you make your way home.

Cinephile No. 835 “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME

Plot: “The surviving members of the resistance face the First Order once again, and the legendary conflict between the Jedi and the Sith reaches its peak bringing the Skywalker saga to its end.” -IMBD

Review: Let me begin this review by saying that I am not an expert on the Star Wars universe. I have seen all of the movies in this nine-part sage once. It is not a universe where I have spent considerable time. I know the names of prominent characters, but I have not dug deeply into their backstories. I am a passive observer of this universe and will probably never be anything more than that. When I judge, “The Rise of Skywalker” on its own, I see a much darker film (something I have wanted for a long time) where the galaxy’s fight for power comes to a beautiful end. I also see a film, that in its pursuit to please hardcore fans, made plot choices that were too easily explained with throw away lines. By doing so, it angered those very fans it was trying to please.

Disney’s journey into this universe always terrified me. I did not think they were capable of delivering an original idea. Instead, they would deliver a rehashed story about family connections across the light and darkness consuming the galaxy. Once again, the lead character would be forced to confront who they are and then make a choice. Those choices would have ripple effects and beloved characters would pay the ultimate price. In Episodes VII, VIII, and IV, my fears were realized.

Yet, I do not hate this film, I just hate the unrealized potential and deep study of who we become when forced to make impossible decisions and what it means when darkness truly falls. In a story with this reach and characters with true potential, Disney made easy decisions and did not force the audience to grow. In their desperation to avoid the pain of Episodes I, II, and III, they made a passable series of films. While I am no die-hard fan, I know audience members deserved more than this.

Be good to each other,

Nathan 

This website exists because of readers and supporters. If what you just read made you smile, please consider supporting the website with a monthly gift. Your support means everything and proves to the world that original content still matters.