Cinephile No. 1,110 “The Holdovers”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME  

Plot: “A cranky history teacher at a remote prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a troubled student who has no place to go.” -IMDB 

Review: Every student I have ever known circled the holidays on their calendar. The welcome break, custom-built into the calendar, meant time with family, holiday traditions, presents, and a much-needed vacation from school. Then, during my freshman year of college, I had to return to the dorms early. I had a job at a retail bookstore. It being the holidays and the busiest time of the year, I could not convince my supervisor to give me the entire two weeks off.  

Walking around the dorm, much to my amazement, I came to discover I was not alone. The halls were still eerily empty except for the international students who couldn’t make the long flight home, and students, such as myself, forced back to the trenches of holiday retail. It should have seemed so obvious, but I never realized the potential stories that could be told about those left behind.  

The Holdovers focuses on a remote prep academy for boys and their professor who rules with an iron fist, Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti). With the holidays lurking around the corner and final exams complete, the students dream of hitting the slopes, visiting family and friends, and escaping to exotic locations. For an unlucky group of four students, there will be no reprieve or escape from the hallowed halls of the prep school. No one is coming to rescue them. They are holdovers, and they are stuck spending the holidays with Professor Hunham.  

From this concept, one of the funniest, emotionally rich, and cutting comedies I have seen in years is born. The film explores every facet of the characters who anchor this story. From entitlement to loss and to a closed off life, nothing is safe or off the record. Things get even more interesting when four of the students leave campus with permission to join a fellow student at a mountain escape. This leaves one student standing, Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), alongside the professor and Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph), the campus cook.  

Heartbroken and disappointed, we find Angus dismayed by his circumstances. Naturally, he tests the limits of his professor. This provides some of the funniest moments of the film, but it also provides moments of emotional breakthrough as each character explores their personal definitions of home.  

While the relationship between Angus and Professor Hunham is fascinating to watch unfurl, it is Mary Lamb, played masterfully by Randolf, that serves as the heart of this film. Angus and the professor are mirror images of each other, but meet Lamb as she works through the complexities of a child lost to war. By every measure, her story colors the background of the film and gives it a richness I did not expect.  

As this movie enters its third act, we escape the stuffiness of campus. Mary heads toward the comforting arms of family. Angus and Professor Hunham turn toward Boston. In these moments, we see the culmination of all we have built toward. It is these scenes where an unshakable truth reveals itself, and we witness a true evolution.  

From the trailer alone, I expected this film to be funny. I did not expect it to be so emotionally gripping and heartfelt. Without a doubt, it is a movie I will return to again and again with the passing of each holiday season.   

Be good to each other,  

Nathan  

Cinephile No. 1,082 “Blue Beetle”

Recommendation: 3/5 Stars, STREAM  

Plot: “An alien scarab chooses Jaime Reyes to be its symbiotic host, bestowing the recent college graduate with a suit of armor that’s capable of extraordinary powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero known as Blue Beetle.” -Blue Beetle  

Review: After three phases of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a stumbling DC Extended Universe, audiences are sending a simple message to Disney and Warner Bros. They are voting with their feet and box office returns are painting a vivid picture of a cinematic landscape that feels formulaic and void of new ideas. Audiences have grown fatigued. Anything that fails to break new ground or doesn’t wow in a way that demands a trip to the cinema is best skipped and saved for a night at home.  

Blue Beetle is evidence of this truth. This is yet another film from the team at DC that collapses under the weight of its own mediocrity. So much so that even centering its story on a Hispanic family, something rare in this space, cannot save it. On the surface, this is a decent film that feels completely average in every regard. It could use 50% George Lopez, but its story is acceptable. But we’ve seen all this before. We’ve seen heroes and villains reckoning with the power that comes with a new suit. We’ve seen a villain lured to the dark side by pursuing power and money. We’ve seen heroes wrestle with purpose and blindly answer the call of vigilantism. We’ve seen this all before and the formula is boring audiences (this critic included).  

The one saving grace for this film is the family surrounding Blue Beetle/Jamie Reves (Xolo Mariduena). In their wishes and hopes for Jaime, we see an immigrant story defined by gentrification, and the power of education to break generational poverty. Their love and support of him gives the film an emotional arc that rivals almost any other story in the DECU, nevertheless, this is not enough. This cinematic event is not a must-see. It is just another superhero film.  

I am fearful of what the future holds for DC and Warner Bros. James Gunn and Peter Safran have an impossible task before them. They must break new ground and they must give people solid reasons to fall in love with these characters and stories. Anything short of that will mean dwindling box office returns continues to be the story.  

Be good to each other,

Nathan  

Cinephile No. 1,065 “You Hurt My Feelings”

Recommendation: 3/5 Stars, STREAM  

Plot: “A novelist’s longstanding marriage is suddenly upended when she overhears her husband giving his honest reaction to her latest book.” -IMDB 

Review: You Hurt My Feelings, starring Tobias Menzies as Don and Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Beth, focuses on those harmless little lies we tell each other in our romantic, platonic, and professional relationships. On the surface, these lies are harmless, but when the truth about how Don views Beth’s latest book is overhead, all hell breaks loose. Heartbroken, we watch as the two swim through the complicated and muddy waters of truth.  

For many of us, our work serves as a point of pride. For Beth, she is a wife, a mother, and then a writer. After her memoir failed to reach a large audience, we meet a woman who is unsure of herself. Failing to meet her grand expectations, she adds a greater sense of pressure to her next book. Needing reassurance and some help to rebuild her confidence, she turns to the one person whose support means the most to her.  

In a conversation she should have never heard, Beth overhears Don’s true feelings about the new book. This honest feedback destroys her. Already struggling with her pride, a lack of trust makes its way to the pile. Watching Don and Beth rebuild trust between them, you might think about your own relationships. I sure did.  

Great relationships succeed because of open and honest communication. Those of us who belong to creative fields often tie so much of how we see ourselves to our work. When we seek feedback, it becomes nearly impossible to divorce our ego from criticism. In our romantic relationships, our partners know this. It makes honest feedback a challenging task. This film wrestles with this truth unlike any other film I have watched.  

For all that it gets right about relationships, resolution, and truth, the film has some challenges. The pacing of the first half of the film can feel odd. From the trailer alone, we know we are building toward an overheard conversation. We don’t know how we will get there. For the first half of the film, the story doesn’t know either. This is something I found rather distracting.  

Another challenge for me, were the restraints placed on Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ character. I was not expecting her to reprise a version of her award-winning performance in Veep, but I was expecting the comedic reins to be held a little less tightly.  

Beyond these challenges, I still recommend you spend some time with this film. It has profound things to say about relationships, reconciliation, and aging together. It left me with a lot to consider about my relationship.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan  

Cinephile No. 1,009 “To Leslie”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, Showtime  

Plot: “Inspired by true events. A West Texas single mother wins the lottery and squanders it just as fast, leaving behind a world of heartbreak. Years later, with her charm running out and nowhere to go, she fights to rebuild her life and find redemption.” -IMDB 

Review: The universe has a funny way of introducing me to art at the precise moment I need it. During these rare moments when everything changes and the Earth feels as if it is being thrown off its axis, I encounter a story that lets me know I am not alone. Songs, books, movies, television shows, and/or any of the other countless ways in which people express themselves, it really makes no difference. They all possess the power and potential to be a revelatory experience.  

To Leslie was such an experience for me. For years now, I have struggled with a sibling’s addiction, homelessness, and mental health challenges. Helplessly, I have stood by and watched self-destruction become the dominant force. I have felt powerless, confused, and heartbroken. My family is not unique in this struggle, but the feeling of loneliness and isolation remains.  

When we first meet Leslie (Andrea Riseborough), she is celebrating having just won the lottery outside of a dive bar in her small West Texas town. In that moment of pure joy, everything seems possible. A house, a fresh start, and a better life for her son, James (Owen Teague) feels within reach.  

The next time we meet Leslie, she is homeless, living in a doorway. Surviving and feeding her addiction seem to be the only things that matter, at least on the surface. At this point in the story, it is not abundantly clear how Leslie arrived at such a place. The biggest concern before her is our question to be answered. How much longer can she survive?  

Her son, James, knows the burn of past failures and broken promises at the hands of his mother. Despite his pain, he responds to an innate familial duty and takes his mother in with some conditions. She must make a plan and she cannot keep drinking. Of course, it does not take Leslie long to succumb to her addiction. For me, these scenes are powerful examples of what it means to love an addict and the shame surrounding such a disorder.  

Frustrated and out of options, Leslie returns to West Texas to live with Nancy (Allison Janney) and Dutch (Stephen Root); bikers she knew before everything went south. As we transition into this phase of the movie, the overarching challenge of the film reveals itself. Will Leslie rise above her circumstances? Can she secure a place to live and hold a job, or will her addiction win the war?  

In countless ways, this move feels like a country song personified. Back in her hometown, Leslie confronts the shadows of a former life, a culture where drinking is the social norm, and people who will never let you rise above your worse sins. With this immense pressure weighing on her shoulders, Leslie hits rock bottom. Like so many characters in those country songs, the darkness can consume, or it can show you the light.  

For Leslie, her lowest moment illuminates a path forward. She quits cold turkey, devotes herself fully to a new job as a housekeeper at a local motel, and slowly begins a journey down the road to redemption.  

With a lot of humor and heart, this movie pulls back the curtain and asks the audience to experience life as an addict and as the people who love them. For me, I did not expect this film to hit so close to home, but I am so thankful for the journey. My road to forgiveness begins with empathy and this film provided that opportunity.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan 

Cinephile No. 1,088 “Going Varsity in Mariachi”

Recommendation: 3/5 Stars, STREAM  

Plot: “In world high school mariachi, musicians from South Texas reigns supreme. Under guidance of coach Abel Acuña, the captains of Edinburg North High School team must turn shoestring and diverse inexperienced musicians into state champions.” -IMDB 

Review: Documentary films possess a rare ability to reveal worlds and characters you never knew existed. Going Varsity in Mariachi introduces a unique high school competition to a new audience. By doing so, we step into a fresh experience that reveals the magic embedded in this approach to filmmaking.  

Co-Directors Sam Osborn and Alejandra Vasquez focus our attention on the competition and the bandleader. We get background information on a select few students. In my opinion, I would have loved to know these students more deeply. Outside of practice and competitions, I believe this expansion of roles and backstory would have provided a more emotionally rich film.  

What we learn about these students feels like glimpses into their personal lives. We grow to understand the sense of belonging and responsibility provided by belonging to this band. But even these glimpses center on preparation for competitions. I wanted to care more deeply about these humans who are dedicating themselves to something larger. I believe this level of understanding would have made their wins and losses so much more profound.  

The filmmakers choose to have the competitions serve as the emotional focal point for this film. In these spaces, we see these students unravel the deeper meaning of losing. We see competition provide adult lessons. And we see them grow, wrestle with second chances, and aspire to greatness. The act of competition provides a level of intimacy that helps this film rise above its shortcomings.  

Ultimately, this is a film about the joy of playing music together and working toward a common goal. Along the way, the students learn, and we witness the power music possesses to convey emotion. If that was the primary goal of the filmmakers, I think they achieved their aim.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan 

Cinephile No. 1,025 “Chevalier”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME  

Plot: “Based on the true story of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, who rises to heights in French society as a composer before an ill-fated love affair.” -IMDB 

Review: As far as biopics go, Chevalier follows a rather predictable and well-worn path. Still, it tells a story that inspires, uplifts, and challenges what we understand about the French Revolution with charm and class.  

Joseph Bologne’s (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) story was brand new to me. Perhaps the most exciting thing about this film is the realization that I may have never encountered his work without a story such as this. That’s also a shame, because how he challenged the established order as a violinist, composer, and as someone under consideration to lead the Paris Opera is a story, we should all know. What cements this is that Joseph was a black man, son to a white father and enslaved mother, who counted Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) a friend.  

Like any excellent biography, our lead needs a source of pain to rise above like a phoenix from the ashes. Abandoned by his father at a school for remarkable children and separated from his mother, Joseph, as the only black kid in the school, does this by adapting, and in part, rejecting a sense of his true self. Despite a world that both accepts his talents and holds him at arm’s length, Joseph conquers expectations with a sense of confidence that matches the false pride of aristocracy. The scenes in this film where he matches wit, strength, and talent with his white counterparts are some of my favorite in the movie.  

As Joseph ages, he becomes accustomed to this world and even embraces it. Believing he belongs in every room he enters are flashes of confidence I will never forget. When he learns of the passing of his father and the subsequent freeing of his mother is when this movie became profoundly interesting to me. His mother's presence in his home confronts him with daily reminders of how different and difficult life could have been.  

Matters are further complicated by Joseph’s pursuit of a singer to lead his opera, Marie-Josephine (Samara Weaving). As a pursuit of her talent gives way to an affair, Joseph plays with a fire that might force him onto a road walked by his mother, but something that he has only experienced in passing.  

By the third act, it's clear that the Paris Opera is unwilling to accept Joseph as their leader, showing society is not ready for a major shift. His affair is also uncovered. Together, these events serve as the dramatic high points of the film and help us understand why t’s name has been lost. With revolution brewing outside his window, Joseph, mired in betrayal, can no longer ignore his choice. He has enjoyed a taste of freedom and the calls to join those building a new France becomes unavoidable. In my estimation, it is this last act that fortifies this film as something you should experience.  

Chevalier tells a powerful story that more of us should know. It also serves as another reminder of the names and stories lost to time because of racism and white supremacy.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan 

Movie Review: "Flora and Son"

My Grade: A-, currently streaming on AppleTV+

Plot: A single mom at war with her son is trying to find a hobby for him. One day, she rescues a guitar from a dumpster. -IMDB

Review: Writer/Director John Carney is a master of weaving music into the narratives of his movies. The musician lovers of Once (2007) connect and express their emotions through songs, on the streets of Dublin, Ireland. The disgraced music executive and the struggling singer of Begin Again (2013) get a second chance at life, by making an album in the heart of New York City. The teenage boys of Sing Street (2016) in 1985 Dublin form a band to impress a model and break out of their small town. Music is always the common denominator in all of Carney’s projects. That device is the driving force of his latest movie, Flora & Son, which once again displays Carney's uncanny way of expressing the transformative power of music in an entertaining and heartfelt package.

The movie centers on Flora (Eve Hewson) and her troubled teenage son Max (Orén Kinlan). They share a disconnect that stems from Flora’s regrets in life. When music is brought into the equation, Flora’s guitar lessons with the charismatic Jeff (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), via video chat (he lives in Los Angeles), help awaken a sense of self-purpose. Flora and Max (whose skills in music production impress Flora) start to form a missing bond.

Carney expertly incorporates music into the story's narrative in an organic manner. The working-class setting of Dublin lends a sense of authenticity to the movie, which starkly contrasts the lighter fantasy music-related moments. Carney is able to infuse these particular sequences with genuine sincerity, thanks to the lived-in quality of the characters and their circumstances. The honesty of the dialogue and performances help to make the happier moments feel earned and true. Carney doesn’t shy away from depicting the messiness of the characters. He creates a movie that is hilarious and touching in equal measure without ever slipping into maudlin emotions.

The performances are terrific all around, but the standout is Eve Hewson in the title role. Flora is a warts and all type of woman and Hewson infuses her with an unapologetic sass and genuine passion, giving a powerhouse performance that never rings false. She is a natural and exciting talent who deserves all of the praise. I look forward to seeing what she does next. Hewson has playful and romantic chemistry with Gordon-Levitt, who displays his usual charisma and depth in the role, along with a musicality that would make him an excellent lead in a musical. The heart of the movie is the contentious relationship between Flora and her son Max. Kinlan infuses Max with the teenage angst required, but also a scrappy charm. Their scenes are full of humor and heartbreak, thanks to their expert work in the roles. Jack Reynor also does solid work as Flora’s failed musician ex-boyfriend and father of Max.

The original music (songs co-written by Carney and Gary Clark) is catchy and lends to many of the wonderful music-infused scenes throughout the movie, creating a memorable soundtrack. The rooftop scene, in particular, with Hewson and Gordon-Levitt is euphoric in its romanticism. Though the movie does tread familiar storytelling for Carney, no one utilizes music’s power in movies the way he does. His screenplay is full of warmth, humor, and sadness without resorting to sappiness. Thanks to his skillful guidance and a radiant Hewson leading the way, Carney has created another crowd-pleaser that will have you laughing and cheering by the end.

See you at the movies!

Cristian Barros

Cinephile No. 1,077 “No Hard Feelings”

Recommendation: 3/5 Stars, STREAM  

Plot: “On the brink of losing her home, Maddie finds an intriguing job listing: helicopter parents looking for someone to bring their introverted 19-year-old son out of his shell before college. She has one summer to make him a man or die trying.” 

Review: Jennifer Lawrence has entered a new phase of her career. With enough box office success, she can pick projects that matter most to her. No Hard Feelings is evidence of this new reality. It is a choice that really should surprise no one who has been paying attention.  

Lawrence is the perfect late night talk show guest. She has great comedic timing and does not mind sharing an embarrassing tale that puts her at the center of the joke. In this film, it is those skills that elevate a crude script dripping with dry humor from beginning to end.  

Within fifteen minutes of the movie’s opening credits, you will figure out where this film is heading. It suffers from a predictable storyline. Lawrence stars as Maddie. When we first meet her, life is unraveling and spiraling out of control. Her car is being repossessed. Without a car, she cannot drive rideshare and take advantage of the busy summer months in Montauk, New York. She is behind on her property taxes and is inching closer to losing her home (a home that once belonged to her mother).  

Maddie needs cash and needs it fast. A car is the centerpiece of her plan to raise money for back taxes to keep the home she dearly loves. Scrolling through Craigslist looking for a cheap car, she runs across an ad placed by wealthy parents. The ad proposes the exchange of a free Buick Regal for a woman who agrees to date their isolated son before he heads off to Princeton in the fall. Without hesitating, she fully jumps at the opportunity. It is this ridiculous scenario that serves as the comedic gold that feeds the rest of the story.  

Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) is a bashful loner with lots of online friends, but few in the real world. Bullied by kids at school, he spends lots of time volunteering at a local animal shelter, playing piano, and gets lost in the world of video games. When he first meets Maddie, he is completely unaware of his parents’ proposition. Awkward and shy, he totally misses her advances. This gives rise to a series of roadblocks that serve as threats to Maddie’s plan. It is these obstacles that allow Lawrence an opportunity to shine and flex her comedic strength.  

The predictability of this film rears its head in two ways. We know from the beginning that Percy will fall head over heels in love and that the plan will be discovered. The consequences make this film worthwhile. Lucky for us, the script is hilarious and Lawrence gives a brave and fresh performance. Taken together, this film overcomes any challenges associated with predictability.

In the end, this film is a cautionary tale about the dangers of over-involved parents who rush to protect their children. It possesses a lot of humor and heart. It also gives us a type of role I would like to see Jennifer Lawrence pursue more often.  

Nathan 

Cinephile No. 1,074 “Mission: Impossible–Dead Reckoning Part One”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME  

Plot: “Ethan Hunt and his IMF team must track down a dangerous weapon before it falls into the wrong hands.” -IMDB 

We have talked about artificial intelligence for decades, but it seemed like a far-fetched idea that wouldn't come true in my lifetime. When news of Chat GPT first broke, I made every attempt to approach this new technology rationally and with curiosity. I suspended judgement until I could spend some time with it.  

I approached, hoping it could help me do my job better and make me a better writer. As a communications professional, I must admit it still makes me nervous. I am fearful of the change it will unleash. A new concept has emerged that could impact our economy, how we interact with information, and international relations.. With these thoughts, the latest iteration of the Mission: Impossible franchise gives us a terrifying glimpse into our future and yet one more AI challenge to consider.

Dead Reckoning Part One raises the stakes to impossible heights.. Ethan Hunt and his team must pursue a key that unlocks an AI system called “The Entity.” Possessing the power to attack truth, mislead governments, and give enormous power to whomever holds it, we quickly understand that no one person or nation should have this sort of power. Of course, any bad actor or state welding such a device could hold a power not seen since the Manhattan Project. For Ethan (Tom Cruise) and his IMF team, this means an all-out pursuit for the key and The Entity.  

With a simple mission before us, a massive chase unfolds for a woman in possession of one half of the key. Through the streets of Venice and onboard a runaway train, Tom Cruise performs death-defying stunts couple with some of the best cinematography I have ever witnessed in an action movie. The pace, speed, violence, and sheer bravery of these scenes only heighten the need to reach the key first.  

Beyond the stunts and cinematography, this film also excels as a genuine spy thriller. You will encounter misdirection, betrayal, and scenes that make you second-guess around every corner of this movie. As Ethan gets closer to bringing the two halves of the key together near the film’s end, this sort of work pays dividends (which, of course, is not something I will spoil).  

As the credits rolled on this film, I found myself in shock. After seven films, this franchise still delivers. The stunts feel bigger. The stakes feel loftier. The threat feels more aware of our worst fears. As I exited the theater, I felt in awe of the moment. None of us know where artificial intelligence will lead society. It is a tool, and like all tools, there are unintended consequences. This tool will improve lives. People will lose jobs and bad actors will pursue power blind to those they hurt. If this movie wants us to reflect on potential harm, then I think it successfully fulfills its purpose.

Be good to each other,  

Nathan 

Cinephile No. 1,023 “The Super Mario Bros. Movie”

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars, SHOWTIME  

Plot: “The story of The Super Mario Bros. on their journey through the Mushroom Kingdom.” -IMDB 

Review: It was Christmas of 1987. Somewhere around 4 AM, I walked out into the living room. I didn’t know it, but my parents had been in bed for only a few hours. There, underneath the Christmas tree, sat a brand-new Nintendo Entertainment System. “Santa Claus must have dropped it off while I slept,” I thought. 

Unable to control my excitement, my parents heard me from their bedroom. My mom exited her bedroom, checked the clock on the mantel, and told me Christmas would not begin for a few more hours. She commanded me back to bed. For four sleepless hours, I laid there dreaming of what the future would bring.  

Since 1987, I have owned every Nintendo system. In that time, I have spent countless hours in the Mushroom Kingdom saving Princess Peach and defeating Bowser. When the first trailer for The Super Mario Bros. Movie dropped, I knew I had to see it.  

Featuring a straightforward story about two plumbers dropped into a mysterious world. Separated from each other, much of the film is about Mario (Chris Pratt) and Luigi (Charlie Day) working to find each other and return home. But it is also a film about a powerful ruler, Bowser (Jack Black) attempting to steal Princess Peach’s (Anya Taylor-Joy) kingdom and her hand in marriage or the plot to the game, Super Mario Odyssey.  

The film has two primary audiences: kids and those of us who grew up with these characters. With a PG rating, it more than delivers on the promise of family friendly entertainment. With countless Easter eggs hidden throughout the story, there is plenty to keep a loyal adult audience engaged.  

For myself, it was not the funniest animated movie I have ever watched, but it uses music in clever ways. It also introduces the mechanics of the world in wonderfully creative ways. Somehow, the story of two plumbers fighting alongside a princess to defeat a giant turtle and his minions makes total sense in the world the storytellers have constructed.  

If the film has a fault, it is an over enthusiastic desire to include so much from the Mario story. In over 90 minutes, we get glimpses from Luigi’s Mansion, Donkey Kong, Mario Kart, Super Mario Odyssey, and much more. For someone new to this world, it can be overwhelming. Even for me, a longtime fan, it was a bit much.  

In my estimation, I easily forgave this because of a couple of decisions. First, Princess Peach is anything but helpless in this story. She is powerful and the master of her domain. Second, the final showdown with Bowser is everything I wanted. Sure, it is predictable, but it was engaging, enthralling, and put the biggest smile on my face.  

The Super Mario Bros. Movie gave me everything I wanted and more that I never expected. I have spent considerable time with these characters and their never-ending story. In the end, I wanted a joyful story true to the games I so dearly love. I got exactly that.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan