June 30, 2023
One of my favorite movie podcasts is The Big Picture, in which one of the hosts usually interviews a director about their most recent project. At the end of every episode, he asks them to name the last great thing they’ve seen, whether it’s a film or television show, or anything. During the episode about Babylon (a film that I still think is underrated and will be thought of as a classic in ten years), director Damien Chazelle said he was recently in Italy and the Roman Coliseum was the most cinematic thing he’s seen recently. I thought of that anecdote recently while mapping out this month’s blog post. Let me explain.
Yes, I’ve seen a lot of movies this past month, including some great new releases which I will get to shortly. But probably the most impressive thing I saw this past month was the beautiful landscapes in Wyoming that my wife and I visited at Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park. We were fortunate to have a full week to explore most of the area and see something new every day. We certainly didn’t get bored during our time there, saw our share of wildlife (some a little too close for comfort, like the bear we came upon while walking to breakfast one morning), marveled at the wonders of nature, and created some beautiful memories together. We had never taken a vacation like this and after 25 years of marriage, I’m excited for the new places we will see together in the coming years. It’s impossible to put into words just how amazing the views were, but here are a few of the several hundred photos we have from an incredible adventure, which don’t do justice to the beauty of that part of the country.
OK, back to my usual topic. Let’s talk movies.
This Month’s Highlights
The Under the Radar Gem – BlackBerry
No doubt you have heard of the BlackBerry electronic device that experienced a rapid rise to market dominance in the early 2000s, followed by a quick demise at the hands of a little device called the iPhone. But have you heard of the movie BlackBerry? I would be surprised if you had, because it’s a small independent film made in Canada (home to Research in Motion, the maker of the popular device) that didn’t receive a wide release or big marketing campaign. That’s ok – you’ve got me here to recommend the lesser-seen gems.
When we begin our story, Mike and Doug are two technology experts whose idea for a handheld device that allows users to make phone calls, send emails, and surf the internet is ahead of its time. They can’t seem to convince anyone to invest in their company, mostly because they have a hard time translating their expert technology skills into business skills like communicating and selling. Enter Jim, a high-tempered businessman recently fired from his job, who sees the genius in what Mike and Doug have created. He offers to invest in the company for a 50% stake and a position as CEO. What transpires is a rapid rise to success as the strengths of all parties involved lead to an explosion in popularity of the BlackBerry devices. In stories like these, we naturally get to the fall of the company, brought on by the management’s weaknesses – inability to transition from entrepreneur to big corporation, dealing with underperforming employees, and getting distracted by success. The film, written and directed by Matt Johnson (who also plays Doug) is a rousing success as a fascinating drama with some brilliant comedic moments, primarily from Glenn Howerton who is excellent as the bombastic Jim. I will be surprised if this film is not in my top ten when the year is over. BlackBerry is now available to rent on demand.
Currently Holding the #1 Spot – You Hurt My Feelings
In a word, wonderful. Julia Louis-Dreyfus headlines You Hurt My Feelings, which is currently sitting atop my list of favorite movies of 2023. She stars as an accomplished writer who is struggling to finish her new novel, years after publishing her successful memoir. One day, she overhears her husband (a therapist played by Tobias Menzies, who you may know from The Crown) telling his brother-in-law that he doesn’t like his wife’s writing and doesn’t think her new novel is good. She is mortified that he has been lying to her all this time, leading her into a downward spiral that has her questioning everything about their marriage. Now, this may sound like a stressful drama, but with Louis-Dreyfus at the helm, there are plenty of comedic elements to mix in with the uncomfortable dramatic themes of the picture.
Writer-director Nicole Holofcener (whose excellent 2013 film Enough Said featured Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini) does a brilliant job of exploring the dynamics of relationships between spouses and the little white lies we tell the ones we love. Is it really a “lie” if you are just trying to support your spouse in pursuing their passions, even if you aren’t necessarily passionate about it yourself? The theme is also explored with the couple’s son and their in-laws, who are also going through some issues in their own marriage. The supporting cast of You Hurt My Feelings is phenomenal, especially the couple that Menzies’ character is counseling throughout the movie. What most impressed me about Holofcener’s film is the writing. The characters and storyline feel real and the jokes are funny. It represents what we lack so much in comedic films these days – it’s SMART. You Hurt My Feelings is now available to rent on demand.
So Good I Saw it Twice – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
Last month I shared my experience seeing Taylor Swift with my daughter and her friend. I’m still blown away by how amazing that show was, but don’t worry. I’m not going to write another 1,000 words about Taylor. I’ll save that for when the concert film of the tour is released. Just kidding. Maybe not. Anyway, my daughter is not a big movie-goer, but she recently asked if I wanted to see the new animated Spider-Man movie and I had just seen it the previous day. But, you know what? It was so amazing and it was a great opportunity for us to go to a movie together that I saw it again. And I wasn’t disappointed and neither was she. In fact, there is so much jammed into this film (in a good way), that I picked up a number of little nuggets that I missed the first time.
There have been many iterations of Spider-Man films over the last twenty years and I am certainly not an expert in this world, but you don’t need to be a superhero authority to enjoy Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse. It would help if you’ve seen the first film in this trilogy, 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, so you can be grounded in some key plot points. The series is based on the concept of many universes, and we see our main characters (different versions of Spider-People) jumping through the different worlds to keep all of the universes (the Spider-Verse) from collapsing. Our heroes are Miles Morales, who became the Spider-Man of his world in the first film, and his friend / crush Gwen Stacy, who is the Spider-Woman of her universe.
The plot points of the movie can seem a little convoluted as you are trying to follow the story, and the speed of the animation sequences can be overwhelming at times, but my advice is to just go with it and admire the beauty of this wonderful creation. The animation that is on display is phenomenal, making you feel like you are actually reading a comic book at times. The action sequences are fun and exciting, and the storyline is compelling. It balances the danger of the multiverse collapsing with the challenging dynamics of parents and teenagers accepting that their relationships are changing as they grow older.
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is the second film in a trilogy, so be forewarned that not all of the plot points are resolved at the end, and the movie is on the long side (about 2 hours and 15 minutes), but it is a great experience, especially on the big screen. Given its strong success at the box office, I suspect this one will be available to see in theaters for most of the summer. It will also likely be a strong contender at the Oscars – at least in Best Animated Film, and maybe even in Best Picture. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is now playing in theaters.
This Year’s First Oscar Contender – Past Lives
In our world of a seemingly endless supply of content to consume – movies, television shows, podcasts, books, TikTok videos (just kidding – remember I’m old), it’s not often that a film sticks with you long after you see it. But that is exactly how I am feeling after seeing Past Lives last weekend. This film has been on my watchlist for most of the year since I read the strong reviews after its premiere at Sundance in January. The expectations were very high and Past Lives delivered for me, with it now firmly in my top five movies of the year.
The story from first time filmmaker Celine Song (who also wrote the script based on her own life experience) may seem simple, but the nuance and performances make this one worth seeking out. At the center of the story are two childhood friends (Na Young and Hae Sung) who have grown very close to each other. Na Young’s family moves from South Korea to Canada when she is twelve and she is resigned to never seeing her close friend again. We fast forward twelve years when she is living in New York City as an aspiring writer, having changed her name to Nora. The two long-lost friends connect again through Facebook and Skype video calls as Hae Sung still lives in South Korea. I don’t want to spoil too much more about the plot, as Past Lives is a film best seen without knowing too much.
Song does a brilliant job of exploring themes of friendship, unrequited love, and (most importantly) the concept of how small decisions can have an enormous impact on how our lives turn out. Are we with the person we were meant to be with? What if things had turned out differently? How do you know you ended up being the person you were always meant to be? What if you connected with that different person in a past life? This isn’t a fantasy / metaphysical story – it’s a contemplative, quiet story about love, friendship and the wonderment of what might have been. A true winning film and one you will hear about come Oscar time, particularly for Song’s script and Greta Lee’s performance as Nora. Past Lives is now playing in theaters and will likely be available to rent on demand in the next month or two.
Are Studio Comedies Back? – No Hard Feelings
There has been an interesting development over the last few years when it comes to comedy films from traditional studios. With the significant increase in Peak TV, new streaming services, the blurred line between television and movies, and endless content options at home, people have become used to watching programs from their couch. If you don’t go to the theater very often, you will prioritize those occasions for movies that have to be seen on the big screen, like a superhero movie, an action movie, or an “event” picture. 2022’s big examples were Top Gun: Maverick and Avatar: The Way of Water, both of which grossed over a billion dollars.
Comedies are not the type of film people feel you HAVE to see in theaters, although seeing a great comedy in a crowded theater can be a fun experience, leading studios to question if they should even release comedies in theaters. Yes, The Lost City and Ticket to Paradise were successful, but those were mostly rom-coms. The traditional teenage comedy, in the vein of Superbad, is long gone, which brings me to another point – we’ve become a much different society in the last 5-10 years. People get offended much more easily than they used to, and going viral on social media for the wrong reasons (like a joke perceived as tasteless or offensive) can tank a movie or a career in a heartbeat. So, finding a winning formula that resonates with audiences is a tricky proposition. Fortunately, we got one that worked this month, thanks to an excellent comedic performance from its versatile star.
In No Hard Feelings, Jennifer Lawrence plays a lifelong resident of Montauk, New York who is struggling to make ends meet and keep her house. She owes back taxes and in the opening scene has her car towed, which is her main source of income as an Uber driver. Desperate to get her car (or any car), she notices a Craigslist ad by a wealthy couple offering to give someone a car for completing a task – dating their introverted 19 year-old son. It turns out they want someone to help him out of his shell before he goes to college. What specifically do they want? Well, as his dad (played by Matthew Broderick) says, “We want you to date him. Date him hard.”
Now, you can argue if the premise here is icky (maybe – Lawrence’s character is 32) or what would happen if the gender roles were reversed, or if we should celebrate a movie that is critical of a 19 year-old who is not interested in a girlfriend (as one think-piece I saw last week proposed). What do I say to all of that? LIGHTEN UP – it’s a freaking MOVIE! And you know what? It’s pretty damn funny.
Lawrence is fantastic in a role that we have rarely seen from her. She is hysterical and has great chemistry with her co-star, played by newcomer Andrew Barth Feldman, who has a very tough assignment in playing opposite an Oscar-winning Hollywood star. The plot is a little thin and the third act doesn’t work that well, but there are some sweet moments between the two leads and some legendary comedic sequences, some of which will make you cringe at the awkwardness of what transpires. One in particular (which will lead you to never think of the song Maneater the same way again) was shocking in its outrageousness, but I laughed. Are some of the jokes juvenile? Of course. Was this film a reminder of fun comedies that we used to get a lot more often in theaters? Absolutely. Grab some popcorn, turn off your brain after a long week, and enjoy No Hard Feelings, which is now playing in theaters.
Welcome Back Indy – Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
Let’s get one thing out of the way – this film (the fifth in the series about our favorite archaeologist) is not the best of the bunch. It’s not going to top the original (1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark) or the third film (1989’s Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), but for me, it’s probably the third best in the series. Is it iconic? No. Is it the dumpster fire that we saw with Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull? Also no. The new installment from director James Mangold (and the first in the series not led by Steven Spielberg) is a lot of fun, with just enough nostalgia to make it a worthwhile trip to the movies.
When we pick up the story, we’re back in 1944 as Indy is battling Nazis (who else?) for a priceless artifact (what else?) in a thrilling action sequence, albeit one that I think is a little too long. Notably for this opening act is the de-aging technology used to make Harrison Ford look much younger than he is now. It’s a little jarring at first, but I have to say they did a pretty good job, and there were times that I forgot Ford is now 80. That being said, I’m glad most of the story was set in 1969, when Ford plays Indy at his current age.
When the story moves forward, we are introduced to Helena (portrayed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who is wonderful), the daughter of Indy’s good friend featured in the opening sequence. She is on the hunt for a missing piece of the titular dial that, when combined with the piece they have, may set in motion a powerful tool that could wreak havoc if used by someone with evil intentions. Enter our villain – a former Nazi, played by Mads Mikkelsen, who has a strong track record playing European bad guys (see the excellent James Bond film Casino Royale.) We then set off on a back and forth adventure across several countries, featuring exciting chase sequences and action set pieces that Mangold does an excellent job bringing to the big screen.
The resolution of the storyline didn’t exactly work for me – it gave me a “What?!?!” vibe, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as when the aliens showed up at the end of The Crystal Skull installment. That being said, I enjoyed the action, the wonderful moments of nostalgia throughout the film, and Ford’s performance, which was more emotional than I expected. In press interviews leading up to the release of the picture, he has been saying that he is 100% done with playing Indy, and this film gives one of the most iconic characters in movie history a proper sendoff. And for that reason, I give this one a solid recommendation. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is now playing in theaters.
Coming Attractions
If you thought June was an impressive summer movie month, take a deep breath and check out what we have coming in July.
First up is Joy Ride, the story of four friends who set out on a journey to find one of their birth mothers. This comes from Adele Lim, one of the writers of Crazy Rich Asians, and features Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once) as one of the friends. Joy Ride is being marketed as an R-rated comedy in the vein of Bridesmaids, and the trailer looks really funny. After a strong showing from No Hard Feelings, here’s hoping we can keep the momentum going with adult comedies. Joy Ride premieres on July 7th in theaters.
The following weekend, we welcome our good friend Ethan Hunt back into our lives with the debut of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1. The hype on this one has been strong, as the last three entries in the series have been excellent, and Tom Cruise and director Christopher McQuarrie like to increase the stakes with each installment. You know this one will be good based on the insane stunt where Cruise rides a motorcycle off of a cliff. Don’t worry, he had a parachute, although I recently read a story where Cruise noted that they filmed that scene first in case something happened to him (you know, like death). He said they wanted to know if they could continue with the planned story or need to rewrite the script (because, you know, he died). Gotta love Cruise – always thinking about the film’s production. Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part 1 premieres on July 12th in theaters.
Mark your calendars for July 21st. The battle we’ve all been waiting for. Bombs vs. Blondes. That’s right – it’s Oppenheimer vs. Barbie. Christopher Nolan’s epic tale of the man who helped create the atomic bomb, starring Cillian Murphy in the title role, looks fantastic. It was shot in IMAX and it’s safe to say that it will be best viewed on a large IMAX screen. That same day will see Greta Gerwig’s satirical take on Barbie, featuring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken. It seems like this will be a story of our heroes escaping their “toy” world into the “real” world, followed by a lot of “fish out of water” hijinks.
Now, Barbie may be really silly, but I have a feeling it is going to be a campy fun time at the theaters for two reasons. First of all, Robbie and Gosling appear to be in on the joke and willing to have a fun time with the story, regardless of how ridiculous they look and sound. The second reason is that Gerwig is behind the camera, while also co-writing the script with her long-time partner Noah Baumbach. They are both insanely talented, Gerwig’s first two films (Lady Bird and Little Women) were excellent, and I’ll gladly trust their vision of this story. One last point – despite the description of this being an “epic showdown,” Barbie will likely easily win the box-office, as it will appeal to a wider audience and has a PG-13 rating, while Oppenheimer is an R-rated three-hour period piece. Either way, I know what I am doing that weekend – seeing both. Oppenheimer and Barbie premiere on July 21st in theaters.
That’s all for this month’s report. I’ll be back next month with more highlights from the movie world. Thanks for reading and if you’d like to be notified of future posts, you can subscribe below.