Release: February 9, 2018
Rating: NR
Production Company: Wonderland Sound and Vision
Director: Ari Sandel
My Rating: 3/10
Themes: Destiny, Time travel
Content or Trigger Warnings: The concept that such a thing as a 'friendzone' exists, problematic manipulation of women
Okay, so it will be hard to say much about this movie because it was about as deep as a puddle and ten times more predictable. Basically, a guy (Adam Devine) falls in love with a girl (Alexandra Daddario) he meets at a party only she 'friendzones' him and meets the man of her dreams the next day. Three years later when the guy realizes he can travel back in time to relive that night. Trying several strategies, he always wakes up in the morning, three years later to discover that regardless of whether he 'got the girl' or not, things are not right. All the while, in every iteration, the guy finds himself getting closer to the girl's best friend (Shelly Hennig). Well, i'm sure you can see where this is going. he realizes the first girl was never his destiny and her best friend is his real soulmate. This 'plot twist' was anticipated from about 10 minutes into the movie.
Ari Sandel's 'The Duff' was a real gem, in my book, but that probably had more to do with plot and the exquisite Mae Wittman. To be fair, the director can't help the writing here or predictable plot. And for an utterly pointless, predictable 90 minutes, there were some good belly laughs. Problematic concept aside, it's not terrible but it's not great either. I doubt anyone needs to waste their time.
The Shape of Water
Release: December 22, 2017
Rating: R
Production Company: Fox Searchlight
Director: Guillermo Del Torro
My Rating: 9/10
Themes: Love, Passion, Non-conformity, Espionage, Cold War
Content or Trigger Warnings: Nudity, sexuality
While Call Me By Your Name remains my favorite movie of 2017, I really enjoyed the Academy Award winner for Best Picture - The Shape of Water. I admit that I went in with reservations. How could I possibly buy a love story between a woman and a manfish? Well, I did.
Set in the 1960s, at the height of the Cold War, Del Torro puts you in the era, one-hundred percent. From the music, set, costuming, lighting, the total feel of the film is 1960s Cold War era espionage flick. That touches on another thing, this film seamlessly straddles multiple genres. It's science fiction, romance, espionage, coming of age, heist, and social commentary rolled into one neat, very watchable package.
The performances sell this movie. Each character is artfully rounded and portrayed with outstanding performances by Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Octavia Spencer, and Michael Stuhlbarg, and Doug Jones. Honestly, any one of these actors deserved accolades for their performances - especially Doug Jones who much convey real, human emotion and romance with no words and under a mountain of amphibious make-up.
One reviewer described this movie as a classic 'hero' movie turned on its head. In old Hollywood, Strickland (Shannon) would be the hero, fighting for the cause of American Exceptionalism in the Cold War Era. The Amphibian Man would be the natural 'monster', his foreign nature an inherent threat. This narrative flips all that on its head, with the natural 'hero' being an abusive, misogynist hellbent on torturing a defenseless creature and the 'monster' is a deep, emotional being capable of love and compassion far beyond the archetypal 'hero'. I think you can connect the dots of the lesson here.
I watched it twice almost in a row, it was that good. I highly recommend it, and it will be a film that is added to me 'often viewed' selection of movies.
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