July 30, 2021
Before I jump into part two of my mid-year movie report (if you missed part one, you can read it here), I’m going to quickly hit on some of my favorite films of the year that I have already covered in detail elsewhere. With the 2021 movie season starting to resemble some sense of normal (I refuse to believe that this motherf-ing variant is going to stop James Bond and Maverick from coming to our theaters this Fall), the early part of the year saw some excellent films that are near the top of my 2021 favorites:
- Judas and the Black Messiah – The film that fell into the nebulous zone of being a 2021 release, but eligible for the 2020 Oscars. It’s the fantastic story of Black Panther leader Fred Hampton, played by Daniel Kaluuya in an Oscar-winning role, and his betrayal by a fellow Panther who was also an FBI informant. Available for streaming on HBO Max.
- CODA – Still holding on to the number one spot in my top movies of 2021, even after I saw it way back in January as part of the Sundance Film Festival. It’s the story of Ruby, a teenager in Gloucester, Massachusetts who is the only hearing member of her family. She’s caught between helping her parents and brother run their fishing business with the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. CODA will finally be released in theaters and on Apple TV+ on August 13th.
- Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) – If you love live music and admire the incredible work of talented musicians, this is a wonderful exploration of the Harlem Cultural Festival that was held in July 1969. The documentary was directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, founding member of The Roots. Summer of Soul is near the top of my list of favorite documentaries and is available to stream on Hulu.
- In & Of Itself – A filmed adaption of the off-Broadway one-man show performed by illusionist Derek DelGaudio, this is more than just a “magic show.” He takes us through some fun sleight of hand, but the tricks are interwoven with stories about his life and fables that illustrate that we all have our own sh*t we’re dealing with, and how it’s important to stay grounded in appreciating what we all have in life. I was blown away when I watched this back in January and recently revisited it, and was still so impressed. This may be the best piece of art I’ve watched on film this year. If you decide to watch it, I suggest putting down your phone and letting yourself get immersed in his story. In & Of Itself is now streaming on Hulu.
You can read my thoughts on Judas, CODA, and Summer of Soul in my Sundance recap here, and my reaction to In & Of Itself here. OK, let’s move on to some other picks.
Sometimes Sequels Work – A Quiet Place Part II
Before the robust box office results of Black Widow and F9: The Fast Saga that I covered last week, the first indication that movies might be back was the May release of A Quiet Place Part II, the sequel to the 2018 (literal) monster hit. Featuring Emily Blunt returning as the mother of three kids trying to stay alive in the post-apocalyptic world decimated by aliens with supersonic hearing, this is a nice sequel that works for a number of reasons. First, it’s only 100 minutes, as director John Krasinski, who makes an appearance in the phenomenal opening sequence that flashes back to the day the aliens arrived, makes a nice crisp story without overthinking it. Yes, there is a bit of repetition with the family running from the monsters, but there are two new dynamics at play. The first is the discovery that there may be a group of people who have found a refuge from the monsters, and the second is the addition of the excellent Cillian Murphy as a widower who assists Blunt and her family. There is no deadweight in this movie. It features a propulsive storyline with a lot of jump scares, and by the time it’s over (predictably setting up a third chapter, which was recently announced), you’re wondering how it ended so quickly. That’s quality filmmaking. After its strong release in theaters, A Quiet Place Part II shifted to Paramount+ after only 45 days. As much as I criticized Paramount last week for their tepid introduction to streaming, they are getting aggressive with this move, as the typical window between theaters and streaming is at least 90 days. At least this was a strategy that is easy to understand, unlike our next example. A Quiet Place Part II is now in theaters and available on Paramount+.
And Sometimes They Don’t – The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
Before I get into the confusing release strategy of HBO Max, let’s discuss this movie. I’ve never been a huge connoisseur of the horror genre until I started this blog and decided to branch outside my comfort zone and be willing to let myself enjoy some scares while watching a movie. I’ve found some good ones over the last two years, including the first two films in The Conjuring series that I thought were fantastic. So, naturally, I had high hopes for the third installment, which is based on a real-life case of a young man whose legal strategy was a claim that he was possessed by the devil when he murdered someone. Supernatural investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (the ones who investigated The Amityville Horror back in the day) are brought in to see if the claims are true. The Warrens are played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga, who once again deliver strong performances as they did in the first two entries to this franchise. I think what disappointed me about The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It was the overall plot leaning heavily on a cult being a major part of the storyline. I also expected there to be a little more action in a courtroom since I knew this was part of a legal defense, but that was not in the story at all. I wouldn’t say this film is “bad” – I just had high expectations and they weren’t met. If you are a horror fan and are looking for something completely original, check out The Empty Man. This one came out late last year, and is a clever and suspenseful story about a retired detective searching for a missing girl. She was last seen with her friends and may have come in contact with an evil spirit referred to as The Empty Man. This movie is a little long, but it features some really good jump scares, including the opening 20 minutes which is one of the creepiest sequences I’ve ever seen. The Empty Man is now streaming on HBO Max. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It was available on HBO Max, but is now only available in theaters, and for rental on demand. It will return to HBO Max later this year.
If that last sentence was confusing, you’re not alone. Before we move on, let’s spend a minute on the release of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It, which was distributed by Warner Bros. The studio previously announced that all of their 2021 films would come out in theaters and on HBO Max on the same day. This strategy started with Wonder Woman 1984 last Christmas and has continued with Judas and the Black Messiah, In the Heights, and Godzilla vs. Kong, among other films. But, here’s the complication. Each movie was only on HBO Max for thirty days. So, if you missed it during that month, you had to go to the theaters, or wait until it comes back to HBO Max a few months later. Got a headache yet? That’s what I thought.
So, two pieces of advice. The first: If you are interested in The Many Saints of Newark (The Sopranos prequel coming out October 1st) or Dune (coming out October 22nd) and really don’t want to go to a theater, make sure you catch it during that 30-day window. Here’s the second piece of advice. If you want to know where to watch any movie (or television show for that matter), check out JustWatch.com, or their app. It is the best resource to find where a movie is streaming, you can set up a watchlist, and you can even save your streaming services to your profile, so you can easily find movies that are on your streaming services. If it’s a newer film that might not be streaming yet, search on IMDB, another great resource, which also includes theater showtimes near you. And, if you want to see if I’ve written about a movie, you can search my film index here, which also includes a link to that film’s page on JustWatch. Hope that advice makes your movie consuming experience a little easier.
Wait a Minute – Justin Timberlake Can Really Act? – Palmer
Ever noticed that I like to make disclaimers? Here’s another one. Never been a JT fan. Just never got into his music, and NSYNC was never my bag. My only experience with Timberlake was his turn as Sean Parker in The Social Network (you remember the scene – “Drop the “the”. Call it Facebook. It’s cleaner.”) So, when starting to watch his newest film, I went in with a little trepidation, but I have to say – this is a pretty good movie and Timberlake is very good in it. He plays the title character, a young man just released from prison for a fight that got out of hand, and he’s looking to reform himself and start over. He moves in with his grandmother, who sometimes watches the young boy who lives in a trailer next door. The boy’s mom (played by Juno Temple from Ted Lasso) is a drug addict who frequently disappears and leaves her son alone. Palmer develops a friendship with the boy, who desperately needs some adult guidance, especially after getting bullied for his preferences in clothes and toys he plays with. Yes, the movie is a little predictable and we’ve seen this kind of story before, but there is a lot to like about it. All of the performances are very good and if you’re looking for a drama with an uplifting message, this is a good pick. Palmer is now streaming on Apple TV+
Wait Another Minute – Nicholas Cage is Still Good? – Pig
For the last decade or so, Nicholas Cage has been known for subpar movies that have gone straight to video on demand, and he hasn’t had a legitimate hit in years. It seemed like he was in the business of taking roles just to cash paychecks. I haven’t seen many of these movies, but two did stand out. In Color Out of Space, a batshit crazy horror film released last year, he played a man whose life (and that of his family) is turned upside down when a mysterious asteroid lands in his yard. Interesting movie, but definitely certifiable. Earlier this year, I saw Prisoners of the Ghostland, another crazy picture where he plays a retired criminal who is hired to find the kidnapped daughter of a local politician. It features Cage at his all-time manic behavior and some excellent sword fights. That film premiered at Sundance and has yet to be distributed. His next movie sounds fantastic – It’s called The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent and he plays a fictionalized version of himself who is paid $1 million to attend a billionaire’s birthday party. Apparently, things get out of hand and he is forced to act out various characters he has played throughout his career.
Now that’s three pretty crazy movies. His newest film, Pig, was initially described as a man who goes on a revenge mission when someone kidnaps his pig. Sounds like some bizarre version of the Liam Neeson Taken series, right? Well, there are a couple “revenge” scenes, but this is not that kind of movie. Cage plays a former chef dealing with unmistakable grief who retreats to a cabin in the woods where he lives with his pet pig, who finds truffles that Cage sells to local restaurants. Yes, the pig is taken and Cage goes on a mission to get him back, but the true story is about one man’s coping with the loss of a loved one and how he manages to get through every day in his life. Cage plays the role with sweet sincerity and a talent that I haven’t seen in a long time. It’s nice to see that he still has it in him. Pig is now playing in theaters.
Feel Good Horse Stories – Dream Horse and Concrete Cowboy
First things first. The only thing these two movies have in common is that they are sentimental films based on true stories. Oh, and horses are featured prominently in them. Dream Horse stars Toni Collette as a woman who is trying to find the meaning in her life and decides to invest in a racehorse, along with other members of her town. The rooting interest of all of these community members gives them something to bond over, leading to close friendships. The movie has somewhat predictable ups and downs, but features some wonderful moments, especially from Collette who is the star of the film (aside from the horse). Dream Horse is available to rent on demand from Amazon or iTunes.
If you didn’t know it going in, you would probably be surprised to find that Concrete Cowboy is based on the true story of a group of horse riders who lived in a section of Philadelphia. Not on a farm, but in the city. They care for their horses and have built a community where they share a common bond of the love for their animals. At the heart of the story is a man played by Idris Elba, who is visited by his estranged son, sent there by his mother in Detroit when she becomes fed up with his behavior. The relationship between father and son is naturally frosty at the beginning, but as the son learns the ways of caring for horses, he begins to see his father in a new light. Elba’s performance is excellent, and the supporting cast features a number of real-life “concrete cowboys” that lend credibility to the story. Concrete Cowboy is available for streaming on Netflix.
Soderbergh’s Still Got It – No Sudden Move
During 2020, while most of the world was hunkered down trying to figure out how to get through one day at a time, Steven Soderbergh did what he does best – he went out and directed a new film. He also was at the forefront of getting Hollywood back to work, leading a committee to establish protocols for safely working in the middle of the pandemic. He began shooting No Sudden Move in Detroit in September and wrapped two months later, and unlike some other projects filmed during the pandemic (like the awful movie Locked Down, which featured way too many masks and Zoom video calls), No Sudden Move feels timeless. And that’s a good thing, because it takes place in the 1950s. At the center of the story are two criminals (Don Cheadle and Benicio del Toro) hired to perform a job, with very little information. When things go awry, our lead characters try to unravel the plot behind their job, and decide to take matters into their own hands. The cast features some strong performances from David Harbour and Amy Seimetz as a couple caught in the middle of the crime, and Jon Hamm as a detective trying to figure out what is going on. The plot is a little confusing at times given the large number of characters, and the various twists and turns you’d expect in a noir crime film, so pay attention to the details on this one. It’s almost like Soderbergh wanted to make this one a little more confusing to follow to ensure that you put your phone away while watching it. I liked this one a lot, despite a technique Soderbergh uses in filming that occasionally has an anamorphic / fishbowl feel to the scenes – I found it a little distracting. But other than that minor criticism, the look and feel of 1950s Detroit was excellent and the plot had some twists I didn’t see coming. It’s a very good movie, not necessarily in his top 10 that I covered here and here, but an enjoyable one nonetheless. No Sudden Move is now streaming on HBO Max.
That’s all for this week. I hope you enjoyed this look at some quality films from the first half of the year. I’ll be back for the final part in this series, including a look at In the Heights, Cruella, some documentary recommendations, a few horror picks, the crazy new M. Night Shyamalan movie, and the new film starring Matt Damon. Thanks for reading and if you’d like to be notified of future posts, you can subscribe here.