Cinephile No. 870 “Land”

Recommendation: 5/5 SHOWTIME

Plot: “A bereaved woman seeks out a new life, off the grid in Wyoming.” IMDB

Review: “Land” is not a romantic story about a woman disconnecting from the world and society as a form of protest. Instead, it is a story about the quiet violence of nature, as well as a study of grief and escape. Following a year in which we all lost so much and hundreds of thousands lost their lives in the United States, this film asks us to wrestle with emotions often buried and ignored.

For her part, Robin Wright (Edee), who directs and stars in this film, attempts to wrestle with the thin line between the worship of nature and the danger of the natural world, as well as the proper way to grieve and running from your problems. As Edee loses food to a bear, crops to improper planting techniques, game from a lack of knowledge, and nearly her own life to hypothermia, the romanticism of nature is all but exhausted. Given all these hardships, the force that proves most daunting is grief.

Grieving the loss of a child and a partner, Edee only begins to work through her pain when Miguel (Demian Bichir) enters her life accidentally. In Miguel, Edee finds a teacher and a kindred spirit. She also finds someone who is patient and understanding of loss. With the changing of the season, thanks to Miguel’s guidance, Edee grows stronger and more capable. She grows more confident in her environment and she is making strides with her loss.

In the final act of this story, Edee faces a revelation that changes everything. This is also a revelation I will not spoil, but it is by far the most moving part of the film. In it, we discover healing and the opportunity to rise above the pain. These were opportunities I cherished deeply.

As the screen faded to black, I sat with tears streaming down my face. I thought of my own grief and loss. Is this a perfect film? No. Yet, for the feeling, it elicited from me and the emotions it forced me to face, I must demand you see it with an open heart and mind.

Cinephile No. 867 “The Little Things

Recommendation: 3/5 STREAM

Plot: “Kern County Deputy Sheriff Joe Deacon is sent to Los Angeles for what should have been a quick evidence-gathering assignment. Instead, he becomes embroiled in the search for a serial killer who is terrorizing the city.” -IMDB

Review: “The Little Things” is a three-piece character study. Joe “Deke” Deacon (Denzel Washington) is a complex man returning to his roots with a need to feed his addiction for detective work. Jim Baxter (Rami Malek) is the new shining star in the darkened sky of the LAPD. Albert Sparma (Jared Leto) is part fan-boy, an obsessive observer of true crime, and seemingly guilty. With intrigue built from the beginning, our job, as an audience, is to unravel the tension between these three men, sort truth from false narratives, and find innocence where we can. This task is easier said than done.

Much like 1995’s “Seven” this is also a story about the changing of the guard. This becomes apparent as we watch the relationship between Deacon and Baxter unravel and wound themselves up again. The similarities to “Seven” do not end there. Much like that film, both men in this story are addicted to their craft and seem to easily find themselves enraptured by their work. Finally, much like the 1995 thriller, this film forces you to pay attention to the smallest of details, because this film is building toward an ending – an ending that will serve as the most complicated and controversial piece of this story.

When these three men crash into each other’s lives, it is with violence and a desire for something to be true. In the world of true detective work, I can only assume there are dead-ends, leads that never materialize, and mysteries that are never solved. This film will ask you to wrestle with these truths of the job. When faced with the ending of this film, you will be asked to analyze these realities and find either satisfaction or dissatisfaction there. For me, I was left feeling frustrated. I wanted an ending where something was solved. Unlike “Seven” this film does not fully develop all of its characters enough to leave us with ambiguity. So, when we are, I could not help but feel slightly disappointed.

Cinephile No. 865 “The Marksmen”

Recommendation: 3/5 STREAM

Plot: “A rancher on the Arizona border becomes the unlikely defender of a young Mexican boy desperately fleeing the cartel assassins who've pursued him into the U.S.” -IMDB

Review: We are in an interesting place in American cinema. Arguably, the two biggest action stars in the world are a former wrestler and a 68-year-old man. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s trajectory does not surprise me. Liam Neeson’s selection of characters who are loners possessing a special skill and an unwavering sense of justice is something that continues to surprises me. The man can act. “Schindler’s List” is Exhibit A of his abilities and he does seem to bring the best version of himself to each of his latest roles. Still, I cannot help but think we have gotten to the point in Liam’s career where we are just making a copy of a quickly fading photocopy.

“The Marksmen,” for its part, has before it the impossible task of telling a story about the U.S.-Mexican border. This is a political minefield with strong opinions resonating from both political parties and both sides of the border. Though, doing our shared border justice is not an impossible feat. The brilliance of “Sicario” and “Traffic” are two examples that come to mind. This film jumps into the debate feet first as Neeson’s character, Jim, is found patrolling his land for people illegally crossing the border. To complicate matters, Jim is struggling to hold onto his ranch in a desperate foreclosure battle with a bank.

Then one day, seemingly out of the blue, cartel violence spills over on to Jim’s land in the form of a young mother and her son desperately attempting to escape from violent assassins out for money. This is where Neeson gets to flex his “I possess nobility that cannot be ignored, strength over thinking, consequences be damned” muscle. For his part, the flex is convincing in the same manner as Clint Eastwood’s flex in “Gran Torino.”

His bravery will pit Jim against a savage villain as they race across the country in a desperate attempt to deliver the boy to family in Chicago. Along the way, there will be close calls such as a heartbreaking scene at a motel, and there will be Neeson pummeling men half his age. Naturally, we will also get a blooming, but expected friendship between Neeson and his traveling companion.

For its part, “The Marksmen” holds tension and suspense well and delivers mostly through a final battle via a remote farm. But this film also requires tremendous suspension of disbelief. Moments like when Neeson is able to break the kid free from Border Patrol protection and his never-ending ability to keep fighting despite a wound that would break a normal man. It also fails to show a great deal of range for our leading man. Taken together it produces a pretty average film perfect for men like my dad.

Cinephile No. 866 “Bad Boys”

Recommendation: 2/5 SKIP

Plot: “Two hip detectives protect a witness to a murder while investigating a case of stolen heroin from the evidence storage room from their police precinct.” -IMDB

Review: The “Bad Boys” trilogy and I have never met each other. I do not think there is a particular reason for me skipping these movies. Timing, interest, other films? Whatever the reason, I decided to change this in January of 2021 when my local drive-in movie theater presented a showing of the original “Bad Boys.” Within 30-minutes of this movie, I discovered the exact reason I skipped it.

First, I am not a big fan of Michael Bay movies. In the world of Hollywood, he is an easy target thanks to his love of slow motion, simulated rain, massive explosions, sexual tension, and scripts that are just raunchy enough to make your mother blush. In this 1995 film, all the loves of Mr. Bay are front and center.

Beyond his directorial choices, I really did not find the relationship between Will Smith as Mike Lowrey and Martin Lawrence as Marcus Burnett compelling or engaging. Instead of cute, charming, or witty, I found it exhausting. In fact, it felt like a more boring version of “Lethal Weapon.”  

Much of the dialogue in this film feels like it is straight from a script. Multiple times throughout this movie I thought to myself, no one really talks like this. Most of the lines are constructed in a way to push the plot forward. They are not built to reveal richer and more contextualized characters.

Finally, the villains in this film did nothing for me. In fact, without reaching for IMDB, I could not even begin to tell you their names. But in the end, they do not matter. The outcomes of this film are known from the very beginning. To get there, we must get through car chases, ceaseless tension, sparks seemingly appearing from nowhere, massive explosions, and an orgasmic level of violence. Once there, I decided the journey really was not worth it.

Cinephile No. 864 “Promising Young Woman”

Recommendation: 5/5 Stars, SHOWTIME

Plot: “A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks out vengeance against those who crossed her path.” -IMBD

Review: It is hard to write about “Promising Young Woman” starring Carey Mulligan without talking about its climactic ending. If you do your best to avoid spoilers before seeing a film, save this review, watch the film, come back later, and let us chat. Please come back! I am itching to discuss this film with someone.

I am a full supporter of the #MeToo Movement. Influential people who have used their power to harass, victimize, and violate people are owed everything coming to them. Beyond the glaring lights of the film and television industry, I have wondered how this movement would trickle down to the work of everyday Americans. I have also wondered how this movement would be reflected in the art we consume. In my opinion, this film is the first really great artistic byproduct of that movement. It serves as more than a revenge flick. Instead, it is an encapsulation of a cultural moment. It keeps score and it serves justice in the most delightful way.  

For her part, Carey Mulligan owns the role of Cassandra. She is dark, methodical, cunning, and out for vengeance in the name of a friend who was violated beyond belief. Yet, she becomes focused on more than just revenge. She too is seeking some sense of normal. She is seeking an equal partner who is respectful, kind, and understands her fully. This partner comes in the form of Ryan played by Bo Burnham; someone Cassandra knew from her time in college.

Meeting Ryan is a collision point in this film. For Cassandra, he is at first everything she seems to want in a partner. This lasts until we learn Ryan was there the night Cassandra’s friend was sexually assaulted. For Cassandra, this cannot stand. Ryan, for his part, will be swept up in the reckoning and will be asked to pay a price. A price paid by teachers, administrators, and fellow students. When all is said and done, nothing will be normal.

This revelation gives way to the third and most controversial part of this film. Cassandra turns her attention toward the fellow student who violated her friend. The scene, ironically, takes place at a cabin in the woods during his bachelor party. Arriving dressed as a sexy nurse, the men assembled believe Cassandra is the evening’s entertainment. But Cassandra is not there to entertain. She is there for revenge. This revenge will pit her one on one with the one she has been seeking for so long. It will also mean she gives her life for the greater good and all those who allowed this injustice are forced to suffer.

As I absorbed the final act of this movie, and this film as a whole, I was struck by its ability to do the unexpected. It kept me guessing the entire time and often left me speechless in the most spectacular way. It also took a cultural moment in time and returned some of the power to those who were harmed. As the credits rolled, I found myself missing the character of Cassandra. I was proud of what she achieved and even prouder of her sacrifice. Those in power got what they deserved. Life so rarely works that way.

Be good to each other,

Nathan 

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