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  

Musical Thesis: Drive-by Truckers “American Band”

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE MUSICAL THESIS PLAYLIST 

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. This thesis can be the driving force behind the album, a theme that interweaves songs together, or a feeling you are left with after the very last song plays. With some albums, the thesis is easy to find. On others, it is hidden and requires you to be more than a passive listener. These reviews are not about rating an album. Instead, it is about uncovering a musical thesis.  

I’m gonna love you ‘til the big one comes 
And shakes my bones and washes us out to sea 
Have a blast ‘til the markets crash 
And smoke and ash what’s left of these beautiful trees 

It was 2018 or 2019. My television overflowed with images from another senseless killing of an unarmed black man. Helpless and hopeless, I went searching for comfort in music. Driving around Los Angeles, I hoped and prayed my favorite streaming service would deliver exactly what I needed in my hour of desperation.  

Parked in an empty lot of a generic shopping center, What It Means filled the car. When the song was over, I hit repeat. After a second listen, I repeated the song one more time. After it ended and moved onto the next song in the playlist, I lowered the volume and sat in stunned silence. Someone put to music feelings I had not even named yet.  

This served as my introduction to the music of the Drive-by Truckers. I soon discovered I was a little late to the party. Better to arrive late than never arrive at all, right? As I spent time with their catalog, and the album, American Band, in particular, I find myself moved in the same way Rage Against the Machine used to move me. Their brand of protest music does something wildly different for me, though. See, I grew up in Oklahoma. At an early age, I felt the call of progressive politics. In Oklahoma, this always meant I was the odd man out. With friends or total strangers, I often found myself defending my beliefs. At some point, a compounding effect occurred. The weight became too much, and I headed for the west coast. I needed to know that I was not alone in what I hold dear.  

In this band’s music, I hear artists who have held onto their southern roots. They even find pride in them, but they have also carved out a space where protest can break through. As I think back on my upbringing and the myriad reasons I left Oklahoma, this gives me something new to consider. I no longer see my home state as a lost cause, and I should do my part to support those still fighting for it.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan  

The Cinephile’s Journey: Spotlight

Recommendation: 5/5 Stars  

The Cinephile’s Journey is an attempt to watch and review every film that has won The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar for Best Picture.  

Plot: “The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.” -IMDB 

Review: Of the thousands of films I have watched in a theater and the thousands of films I have watched at home, I have only rated 63 films as perfect. Spotlight is one of those movies.  

In my estimation, it is evidence that it is adult, mid-budget films that possess the true power to change an audience member. It is further proof that this elusive change intensifies in a communal setting, such as a theater. Now, that is not a slight directed at superhero films, blockbusters, or low-budget horror films. Those movies can also be engines for empathy too. But movies like Spotlight do something special. They often transport you to a world where ordinary people meet the challenges of extraordinary circumstances. In their tribulations, we learn, we grow, and we see ourselves. When this happens, the cinematic experience becomes something magical.  

This film highlights the courage of those who fought against the Catholic Church's inaction. Pursuing the truth, we finally hear from the victims. Thanks to the work of journalists, justice reclaims space. This film also avoids the pitfalls of becoming another procedural story about the world of journalism. It does this by ensuring we feel the full weight of discovery. To maintain power, the church covered up decades of abuse and an entire city helped them do it. That sin, ignorance, and complicity carry a damning weight, leaving very few unscared.  

This film also throws into question our institutions. What happens when a religion becomes so powerful it answers to no one? What would happen if we allowed journalism to die? Who speaks for those without a voice? These questions feel profound as a victim recounts his abuse to a journalist, Mike Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo). After his father dies by suicide, he describes a priest paying attention to him as, “it was like God showing up.” Shortly after, the abuse began. Without some advocacy on behalf of the truth, how does that victim ever find justice?

Another thing I love about this film is the pacing. Investigative journalism is slow and agonizing work filled with dead ends. It is a slog with roadblocks around every corner. This film understands that reality. The journalists get more right than wrong, but very little comes easily. They must fight and scratch for every inch of truth.  

Finally, I love almost any film that displays a romance for the written word. Every member of the Spotlight team believes in this power. This is a film that exemplifies the power of the pen over the sword. A well-crafted story can move mountains and it can bring down corrupt institutions.  

I have lost track of how many times I have watched this film. It rocked me to my core when I originally saw it in theaters. It still leaves me in awe. That awe still springs from a belief that thoughtful storytelling can change the world.  

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  

The Cinephile’s Journey: Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars  

The Cinephile’s Journey is an attempt to watch and review every film that has won The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar for Best Picture.  

Plot: “A washed-up superhero actor attempts to revive his fading career by writing, directing, and starring in a Broadway production.” 

Review: The first movie I can remember watching in a cinema was Tim Burton’s 1989 film, Batman. That film would forever change me. The spectacle of it all mesmerized me. On that day, I fell deeply in love with the cinematic experience, the art form of movies, and the work of Michael Keaton.  

Since that fateful day, I have seen over a thousand movies in a theater and thousands more at home. I have also closely followed the career of Michael Keaton. Over the last 30+ years, his career has seen triumphant highs and spellbinding lows. Just when it seemed as if Hollywood had forgotten him and moved on, he launched into a decade defined by some of his best work. That work includes the Best Picture winner, Birdman, a film for which he received a Best Actor nomination.  

This film goes beyond just using tracking shots to tell a story - it also has a lot to say about art, consumption, and what makes something relevant. Although any actor could have played the lead role in this story, Keaton's casting added a unique layer of nuance to the film. As an actor who got his big break playing a comic book hero, it feels special and, perhaps, voyeuristic to watch Keaton play an actor who also got the same sort of break. As Keaton’s Riggan turns to the Broadway stage in search of truth and the promise of authenticity, he does so balancing his own truth and fiction masterfully.  

On this journey, Riggan battles ego and relevancy as he works to establish a new artistic voice for himself. Cost overruns, self-righteous actors, and his failures as a father and a husband are ever-present challenges. A haunting, jazz-infused soundtrack that makes the confined spaces of the theater feel claustrophobic underscores these roadblocks and, as if there is no place one can be alone with their thoughts.  

In the end, Riggan needs one brave performance to rise above the criticism, gatekeeping, and doubt. With his back against the wall, Riggan does exactly that, but never in a way you would expect. As he bares his soul on the stage, sure of himself and the heartache he cannot shake, it is Keaton who soars to new heights. Above it all, he shows us he is so much more than an actor in a leather suit.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan  

Musical Thesis: Fleet Foxes "Sun Giant"

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE MUSICAL THESIS PLAYLIST 

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. This thesis can be the driving force behind the album, a theme that interweaves songs together, or a feeling you are left with after the very last song plays. With some albums, the thesis is easy to find. On others, it is hidden and requires you to be more than a passive listener. These reviews are not about rating an album. Instead, it is about uncovering a musical thesis.  

And you will go to Mykonos 
With a vision of a gentle coast 
And a sun to maybe dissipate 
Shadows of the mess you made 

The year is 2020 (everyone’s least favorite year). I am driving across the country from Oklahoma to Washington. The country is reeling from a misguided approach to the pandemic. Fresh off a failed attempt at a thru-hike of the Colorado trail and a few weeks at my mom’s home, I decide it is finally time to return to Seattle. Waiting for me is the prospect of a terrible job market and an extended stay with my future in-laws.  

Hoping to find some inspiration in the mire of ceaseless bad news, I drive toward the Devil’s Tower National Monument. From there, I will continue onto the Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier National Park.

I spend hours alone in the car. There is nothing but an endless playlist to keep me company. When I must stop, I keep my distance and eat alone in my room. This much solitude is a blessing. I need time and space to think. I need to process. I have turned my life upside down. I am only beginning to understand what the last three months have done to me.  

As expected, each stop is more breathtaking than the last. It has been said many times, but the national parks system is America’s best idea. When I arrive at Glacier National Park, it is nearly empty. I know this is normally not the case at the height of summer. I decide to take advantage of the situation and slowly drive up “Going-to-the-Sun” road. For the next few hours, I stop as many times as I want and snap photos with a sense of awe. Gladly, the vistas and music steal my attention. The album I chose to guide me through the park is Sun Giant by Fleet Foxes.  

As I absorb the music, stare longingly, and search for undiscovered angles, I hear folk music in a new way. I also proclaim this is a road trip album destined for the perfect national park. With Mykonos on repeat, I feel free. I feel released from the claws of the pandemic and see a world where everything is new. Pain is on the way out. I think surely this cannot be the thesis of this album. On this day, for me, it holds true. It continues to hold true.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan  

"We All Need a Second Brain" A Book Review by L. B. Freeland

As summer closes at the end of July, I find myself preparing for school. I,a public school teacher in Kansas, am always at work even when I am “off”. In order to provide my students with the education they need, I go beyond the school approved curriculum, though staying within the subject matter designated appropriate for their grade level, I read a variety of topics. I teach ancient history and am particularly fond of it. Learning about Alexander the Great, the Emperors of Rome, the ancient pharaohs of Egypt are all endlessly fascinating to me. I read Barry Strauss, Adrian Goldsworthy, Edith Hamilton, Philip Freeman and many other fantastic historians and authors. I prepare for my students, profiles on famous figures of antiquity. Using my resources, I throw together a slideshow featuring renaissance artwork and tell the story of Hannibal or Alexander or Spartacus. 

Used to, students would claim P.E. or lunch or recess as their favorite school subject but I had heard from a few students that my ancient history class had become their favorite. This should bring me great joy and it does but I feel that I could do even better. How could I possibly do better? By preparing better. How can I prepare better? By taking better “notes”. 

With the research that I put into my profiles, I listen to hours upon hours of audiobooks, Great Courses Lectures, and reading on my Kindle or paperbacks. Though I feel like I have a good memory and I try to stay sharp, I am getting older and with that my memory won’t be as good as it was. It is why I found the book Build a Second Brain by Tiago Forte such an interesting book. I have read a few productivity books to assist me in my chosen career but this one provides guided instruction on how to set up your “second brain”.

Tiago Forte is the founder of Forte Labs and really wants to push humans to their creative heights and his solution is to create a “second brain”. Essentially, the method uses technology to capture all the thoughts and ideas that you have and organize them in such a way that they are easily accessed, while freeing up your brain from that information that could be forgotten, misremembered, or misinterpreted. In this day and age of misinformation, this is a viable solution for those who are concerned with presenting information correctly whether in personal or professional settings. 

I found the audiobook to be very well narrated by narrator André Santana. His clear, crisp voice really helped me visualize what Forte was presenting. I will say, an audiobook is a fine option for most media, but those of you reading might want to pick up a paperback or even digital copy of the book for better understanding and annotation. I’m sure the author would recommend a digital copy and employ other apps to sync your notes and highlights with your chosen “second brain” app. 

The book presents a very modern take on note taking which I can use for myself and can employ in my classroom to a small degree. Though my students are still young, they are in a transition period in their life in which some of the tools presented in the book, especially syncing common ideas and thoughts across multiple platforms to complete a project, will serve them well for the remainder of their academic career, if not for life. 

The author is very thorough with his explanation of his process, explaining each step with minor anecdotes to drive home that point. Forte’s books reads/listens easily and you will find yourself nodding along with him. Perhaps some of what he presents in this book you do already. Maybe you carry a notebook, or jot down endless notes on post-its and group them together for later review. Whatever method you use, you can still continue to do so but the end result will be adapted so that you can have a clean desk, a clean mind, and a database of your own creation to improve your productivity and lower your stress. Wildly bold claims I know but I am excited about what his method can do for me during this school year. 

In closing I can recommend two more things for you to check out to explore more of what the author is talking about after reading his book. First his Resource Guide provides you with app recommendations and even suggests pairing of apps for specific careers. Though these are just suggestions, there are a variety of options to choose from. Second, YouTuber Red Gregory is a wonderful creator who uses the Notion app to create a variety of databases and even has a video specific to setting up Notion like a second brain according to what Tiago Forte presented in his book. A follow up to this publication is called The PARA Method will be out on August 15th.

Tiago Forte is really onto something and especially in my career, I can see using his methods for better information management. I know using it with fidelity will allow me to free my mind so that I can focus on other things when the time calls for it. 

Musical Thesis: Radiohead “The Bends”

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE MUSICAL THESIS PLAYLIST 

At the center of every album is a musical thesis. This thesis can be the driving force behind the album, a theme that interweaves songs together, or a feeling you are left with after the very last song plays. With some albums, the thesis is easy to find. On others, it is hidden and requires you to be more than a passive listener. These reviews are not about rating an album. Instead, it is about uncovering a musical thesis.  

Rows of houses all bearing down on me 
I can feel their blue hands touching me 
All these things into position 
All these things we’ll one day swallow whole 
And fade out again and fade out 

The year is 1995. I am obsessed with Pearl Jam, Nirvana, and the Seattle scene. At 12-years-old, I am shaping my taste in music. I am also deeply influenced by my friends. Without a doubt, they serve as my greatest source of music discovery.  

In our small town in southwest Oklahoma, Radiohead was not on anyone’s radar. We had no way of understanding that beneath our feet, the landscape of music was shifting from grunge toward a more introspective form of alternative rock. We did not know The Bends was in the process of changing everything. A moment in music history washed over us simply unnoticed.  

After finishing college, I would get my first proper introduction to Radiohead. A friend of mine, whose musical taste I hold in high regard, made the introduction. That introduction was an invitation to dig deeper, explore lyrics that slowly reveal their meaning, and spend quality time with pulsing and soaring sounds that often feel like an out-of-body experience.  

I explored with vigor. As I did, I discovered songs that often feel open to interpretation. To Radiohead, a song like Street Spirit might mean something specific. For you, it might mean something entirely different. In my hands, I am forced to wrestle with the consuming nature of suburbia. In my hands, I am forced to question my place in the world and how I want to be remembered. And this is just one example. We could do this with their entire catalog.  

And this might be my favorite thing about art in all its forms. I love art that forces you to derive your own meaning. The angst of Radiohead is not something that reveals itself easily. The meanings behind their songs can reveal themselves slowly. If I think deeply about their entire catalog, that feeling remains constant. For this listener, that is so deeply appreciated.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan  

The Cinephile’s Journey: Argo

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars  

The Cinephile’s Journey is an attempt to watch and review every film that has won The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar for Best Picture.  

Plot: “Acting under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979.” 

Review: From the outset, the filmmakers behind Argo acknowledge the complicated relationship between the United States and Iran. Throughout much of the 19th century, the U.S. attempted and succeeded in many regime changes in countries our leaders deemed hostile to our national interests. This sort of heavy diplomacy and interference made few friends and lasting enemies. Topping that list in the 1970s might have been Iran. By choosing to acknowledge this truth, we get a less sanitized and patriotic version of the truth. Certainly, we can still view this story as a battle between good and evil, but once we take past intrusions into account, the story becomes more complex..  

The other thing this film does exceptionally well is choosing to not get bogged down in that shared history. Our attempts at regime change could be its own movie, but this one is not concerned with telling that story. This fast-paced film is intensely focused on the six Americans who escaped the overrun American embassy and found safety in the Canadian ambassador’s home. Choosing to summarize the past and then focusing on the rescue mission on hand draws you in instantly and raises the stakes.  

Now, the plot of this film can feel overly simplistic. After several plans are considered on how to extract the six Americans from the country, C.I.A. agent Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck) pitches the cover story of filmmakers on location scouting potential locations for a science fiction movie. Of all the bad ideas, this is the best one. As Mendez goes about the business of finding a script, faking a reading, setting up a production office, forming backstories, and launching a movie that will never get made, I could not help but smile. The plan is ridiculous, but it speaks to people’s vanity and love affair with Hollywood. As the plan fully unfolds, I could not help but find beauty in the simplicity.  

The last act of the film is the most powerful. With manufactured backstories and support from the six Americans, we see the million points of potential failure. Location scouting could get them caught. Leaving the Canadian ambassador’s home could have them arrested, tried, and killed. Failure to commit their backstories could unravel everything. All these realities are front and center, but nothing compares to the tension of the airport.  

As Mendez leads his fake film crew through the airport, levels of security and scrutiny meet them at every turn. At every level, you will see ways in which the plan might finally fail. Never in my life has airport security and a gate check been so agonizing, but the payoff is a beautiful thing to behold.  

Argo is not a perfect film, but it is a hell of a ride that left me gripping the edge of my seat. On a second viewing, the tension remained despite the known outcome. To me, that is a sure sign of quality.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan  

The Cinephile’s Journey: The Artist

Recommendation: 4/5 Stars  

The Cinephile’s Journey is an attempt to watch and review every film that has won The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Oscar for Best Picture.  

Plot: “An egomaniacal film star develops a relationship with a young dancer against the backdrop of Hollywood’s silent era.” -IMDB 

Review: When Hollywood turns the camera on itself and tells its own story, it often induces eye rolls from the most hardened critics. Not from me, though. Hollywood has told countless stories about people, professions, and creatives the world over. Should it ignore its own story and the people who make movies happen? I do not think so. In fact, when done correctly and with eyes wide open, these sorts of films often rank as some of my favorites. The Artist is one of those films.  

Simply put, this film is a celebration of Hollywood’s silent era. It is also an open invitation to spend some time with these classic films and to deepen one’s understanding of what made so many of them foundational.  

For much of our story, this movie is told with nothing more than orchestral accompaniment and dialogue screens. It is meant to fully transport you to a world where sheer acting and music convey emotion. An actor’s choices gave the words being read on the screen their meaning. But a change was on the horizon, and seemingly overnight, the world did exactly that.  

But this movie does not just turn the sound on to show the monumental change. After brushing aside the coming transition, our lead actor, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) experiences a cacophony of sound. As an audience member, this is our first-time experiencing sound too. The experience is jarring and earthshaking. It also signifies nothing will ever be the same.  

Because of his refusal to adapt to this new world, George finds himself on the wrong side of has-been. As a relic of the silent era, he can only watch in disbelief as a budding young actress he met on set begins a meteoric rise. Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo) fully embraces sound and all its possibilities. As she does, we watch her ascend to the greatest heights in Hollywood. Meanwhile, George loses his riches, his wife, and his fame.  

Of course, this would not be a Hollywood movie if it also was not a story about second chances. Using her fame and influence, Peppy extends a hand to George, hoping he will finally hear the sound of change. His choice? I wouldn’t dare ruin that for you.     

I adore this film. It is not controversial. It does not break new ground or tell an unfamiliar story, but it takes a known idea and presents it in a new way. Its technical choices are what I find endearing and keep me coming back for more.  

Be good to each other,  

Nathan