Sam Rockwell (KKK leader), Babou Ceesay (Charrette leader) and TaraJi P Henson (Civil rights leader) confront each other.
THE BEST OF ENEMIES
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
It is tempting to go see how superheroes are saving the world in “Endgame”, but in the film, “The Best of Enemies”, we are shown how real superheroes are saving the real world one choice at a time.
Sam Rockwell plays the leader of the Ku Klux Klan, C.P. Ellis, in Durham, North Carolina.
And, Taraji P. Henson plays a local African American civil rights activist, Ann Atwater, also from Durham, North Carolina in the 1970’s.
In my humble opinion, both Rockwell and Henson should receive Academy Award nominations for this film.
These are real people, who come to the conclusion, that hate no longer divides them, after they get to know each other while co-chairing a school desegregation charrette.
They somehow bond in the process and come to see that they have more in common than they realized.
Atwater and Ellis both had children that they cared about, both were struggling financially, both assumed leadership roles in their respective arenas, and they were both caring individuals.
In this film and in real life, Atwater decides to help Ellis, and vice versa.
He had four children, one of which was born deaf and blind. She hits an emotional cord in him, when she uses her influence to help that child.
She also respects his display of the KKK information, by protecting it from any harm.
When Ellis sees this, his stance against Atwater begins to soften.
While being the leader of the KKK, Ellis also started a youth group, which was just dropped, when no one else could fill his shoes.
Hate or love, these are the choices.
The choice to express love brings them both the right kind of recognition.
Ellis goes on to become a union organizer and Atwater surrenders her single mom status, then becomes a deacon at the Mount Calvary United Church of Christ.
Their willingness to be open to listening to each other, had a healing effect on both individuals, who remained friends to the very end.
In fact, Atwater did the eulogy at his 2005 funeral, which is not shown in this film.
Pakistani wife (Nazanin Boniadi), hotel waiter (Dev Patel), and American architect (Armie Hammer) respond to noises in the hotel.
HOTEL MUMBAI
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
The events that occurred in 2008 at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in India are depicted in “Hotel Mumbai” in a graphic, yet constructive manner from the viewpoint of Australian filmmakers.
So far, this film has been released in Canada and the USA, with opposition in India, which has even blocked Netflix from screening it.
I needed to see the beginning of this film twice, to better see how the events unfolded.
It appears that a Pakistani terror group landed by boat, then broke up into groups headed for various locations in Mumbai, India, one of which was the hotel.
The compassion of the hotel leaders, worked both for and against them.
On the one hand, they had very loyal employees, and on the other hand, they let the terrorists walk right into the hotel in the midst of a panicked group of civilians.
The terrorists have on head phones.
They are listening to directions and reminders of how these people, the wealthy, were responsible for their poor fortune.
And, of how they would be remembered as heroes that the whole world was watching.
Some of the terrorists felt that this was good enough reason to slaughter civilians, others were conflicted.
Dev Patel plays one of the loyal composite hotel employees, Arjun.
And Anupam Kher plays Chef Hemant Oberoi, a hotel chef.
Both were responsible for saving the lives of their hotel guests in a game of cat and mouse.
Armie Hammer plays an American architect staying at the hotel with his Pakistani wife, played by Nazanin Boniadi, who is actually an Iranian-British actress.
Armie Hammer most recently can be seen in the film, “On the Basis of Sex” as Martin D. Ginsburg (Ruth’s husband).
The power of prayer is highlighted, when the Pakistani wife saves her own life by quoting passages from the Koran to one of the conflicted terrorists.
Too bad she did not start it in time to save her husband and her Russian admirer. This was an interesting grouping.
Was sympathy for the American or the Russian? The Russian, played by Jason Isaacs, was not as squeaky clean as the clean cut American.
Jason Isaacs is probably most remembered for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films.
This film is full of controversy and I hesitated to review it because of the graphic violence, but I feel that its content has socially redeeming qualities.
A lot of different cultures are depicted, so you may or may not be offended, but timely messages give it value.
See this film at your own risk.
Pakistani wife (Nazanin Boniadi) is comforted by Russian admirer (Jason Isaacs).
There are some complaints that the little baby elephant, Dumbo, was being abused, when it is actually Dumbo’s mother, who was abused.
A cruel handler was using meat hooks to move the mother elephant after she had just given birth.
There were no children in the audience when I attended, who had a problem with how Dumbo was treated.
This is not like E.T., where children were experiencing severe separation anxiety, when E.T. had to go home.
At the beginning of this film, I have to admit that I was squirming in my seat.
I was sorry that this sweet, innocent baby elephant was going to have to live in the sleazy atmosphere of the circus. I believe this atmosphere was created deliberately.
But, I was relieved by the end of this film that the mother and her baby, Dumbo, would get to live in freedom together.
Dumbo (2019) divides people up into two groups, adults who are caring, and adults, who are cruel.
As we get to know the circus that Max Medici (Danny DeVito) leads, we learn that most of the members are a family of caring individuals.
In contrast, V. A. Vandevere’s (Michael Keaton) Dreamland is plugged into personal gain and exploitation, in a very desperate way.
An aspect that I liked, was the film’s call for the acceptance of physical differences.
When Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) arrives on the scene, back from WWI, he tells his two children, “Hey, It’s still me,” when his two children appear to be taken back by his one-armed appearance.
And, there is the issue of Dumbo’s over-sized ears, which also turn out to be a blessing.
Farrell’s character proves that if you have courage and heart, having only one arm does not matter.
By the end of this film, the audience was routing for Holt’s heroism and courage, and the same can be said for Dumbo.
I feel that the director, Tim Burton, approached the theme in a very masterful way.
Colette Marchant (Eva Green) is the romantic interest, who at first looks like she might be listed on the cruel list, but proves that she really belongs on the caring list of characters.
The beautiful Colette sees Holt’s kindness and courage, and finds that those qualities are more important than his having only one arm.
Green’s Colette is a sympathetic character, full of grace, bravery and wisdom.
Do not miss this film, and bring your children to see this film.
(l to r) Colin Farrell as Holt Farrier, Dumbo, Nico Parker as Milly Farrier and Finley Hobbins as Joe Farrier.
Who should win: Bohemian Rhapsody (Graham King, Producer)
“Bohemian Rhapsody” has heart and shows the triumph of the human spirit. The real Freddie Mercury was magnificent and this film captures that feeling. This film tells the truth in a compassionate way. Director, Graham King, has good reason to be proud of this film.
Other contenders:
Vice (Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, Producers)
This is my second choice. “Vice” is very informative, if crass. And it does reveal the redeeming qualities in Vice President Cheney. He mastered playing the power game under the radar, because he did not want the media to dig up the fact that his daughter, whom he loved and supported, was gay. In this film, Cheney plays the game, until the time is right to reveal all his winning cards. His wife and her mother, did not have that opportunity. Sexism was at its height during the era depicted, but at least Cheney was not the total cad that I thought he was. His virtue was loyalty and devotion to his family.
A Star Is Born (Bill Gerber, Bradley Cooper and Lynette Howell Taylor, Producers)
How does the actor die in the first version? One of the versions has a car crash, not suicide. I don’t remember, but somehow the alcoholism was easier for me to take, than in this film. This film shows the mean side of alcoholism. The cold turkey self-destruction in this film made it unwatchable for me. Lady Gaga’s character comes off as caring, but unbelievable. Was she blind? This man is spiraling onto the edge of self-destruction, while she is spiraling up, up and away with her career. In other versions of this film, the actress at least tries to bolster up her man, and to provide opportunities for him to succeed, but his pride does him in. In this film, the relationships look parasitic and cruel. Singing his favorite song does not make this all better. This is another film that I never want to see again.
Black Panther (Kevin Feige, Producer)
The first Black superhero is a start. “Black Panther” invites Blacks to be loyal and to raise each other up, but it does not unify all. It is “us” versus “them” mentality. It is possible to be high tech, but not moral, as the film illustrates. I just wish superiority was judged by something other than physical prowess. Too many fight scenes for me. It begged for a new definition of moral leadership, without having to win in a physical fight. This film pushes the needle of cause and effect, but seems to blame the older generation for all the bad karma.
BlacKkKlansman (Sean McKittrick, Jason Blum, Raymond Mansfield, Jordan Peele and Spike Lee, Producers)
This film is not going to convert any KKK members to step down from that mindset. If anything, it will antagonize them. No one likes to be a fool, or to be made fun of. This is racism against whites.
The Favourite (Ceci Dempsey, Ed Guiney, Lee Magiday and Yorgos Lanthimos, Producers)
This is sexism in the extreme, from the very first image of a female being pushed from a carriage into the mud, to the last moment, when she is rubbing the queen’s legs. Does it give a fair examination of the queen’s reign? No. It lacks compassion and insight. How did this film ever get on the list? It seems to revel in making women look ridiculous. The lavish set and costumes are the only things that are working for it.
Roma (Gabriela Rodriguez and Alfonso Cuaron, Producers)
Maybe I just do not get the Mexican culture, but this film was painfully slow. The doctor/husband dumps his wife of many years, and many children, for a younger, friskier woman. Shallow, self-absorbed sexism at best. Their maid doesn’t do any better. The story telling strips all loyalty, caring, and beauty from male and female relationships. It is made into something that is soulless, dirty and bestial. The women seem to just accept this as normal, since they are totally trapped by their monetary dependency on men. The maid gets pregnant with someone who just wants to make babies, not take responsibility for them, because he is poor? Poor excuse. The women in this film come off as noble and dumb. The wife, at least, has a moral compass, as she tries to care for the children, her mother and the maid, as best she can. She, at least, is capable of expressing love and caring. I really do not want to sit through this film again.
Green Book (Jim Burke, Charles B. Wessler, Brian Currie, Peter Farrelly and Nick Vallelonga, Producers)
Dr. Don Shirley was a worthy subject, but the film makers were hell bent on making the driver into some kind of hero figure, when it should have been the other way around. The writers did not bother to look up the facts or to consult the Shirley family to get the facts, before making this film. Dr. Don Shirley was a piano prodigy and a civil rights activist, who would retreat into academia for support. There was no proof that he was gay. He was, however, very brave to do a piano recital in the South, when he did. He was braver than the driver. The film does not reveal Shirley’s connection to Martin Luther King, Jr. Hopefully, someone else will do a proper remake of this film.
BEST DIRECTOR
Who did win: Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)
Who will win: Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)
Who should win: Spike Lee (BlacKkKlansman) or Adam McKay (Vice)
I am split between “Blackkklansman” and “Vice.” Spike Lee is due for some recognition, but I think “Vice” was more complex, and had greater acting challenges that were pulled off successfully. The characters of Dick Cheney, George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell and Donald Rumsfeld characters were all outstanding. “Vice” brings insight and empathy to a fairly unlikeable main character. As a whole, “Vice was more thought provoking and moving. “Blackkklansman” was more like a high school prank. The terror of the situation was not quite realized. The insight and motivation of the Klan was not realized. This was a missed opportunity to understand and to heal our country, and the world, of an internal scourge. Spike Lee has been trying for a long time to put a spotlight on this situation. He should have gotten an award a long time ago for “Do the Right Thing.”
Other contenders:
Alfonso Cuaron (Roma)
The world that this director creates is ugly. I have no doubt that was his intension. The situations were devoid of any inspiration, rather, of hopelessness. In a childlike way, the director appears to be putting the mother on a pedestal. All the male characters are cads, and this is not something that money can fix. The women need to be educated, and the men need some kind of moral education. This film was painfully slow, and could not end fast enough.
Yorgos Lanthimos (The Favourite)
This director has a taste for lavish sets and costumes, too bad he appears to hate women. Lanthimos lacks insight into the era, and does not have a clue about what women were up against during that time period. News flash, women are not like men, they do not fight with each other over power positions. This director seems to delight in seeing women in humiliating situations, or better yet, to see them inadvertently maim each other. The director’s lack of insight and compassion regrettably mars this film.
Pawel Pawlikowski (Cold War)
This director has a very cold view of the world. The couple in this story are victims of a cold world. They obviously care for each other, but do not have the tools or trust to make their relationship work. The male characters in this film maintain relationships of convenience that are devoid of love. And, the main female character has escaped an abusive family situation, where her trust was permanently destroyed. These lovebirds are doomed from the beginning. There is no moral compass for either of them, no religious training to go by. He does not know how to make her feel safe, and she has no trust in anything or anyone. Even when this couple is given a second chance, they do not have the courage to rely on each other, they are doomed. They love each other, but the world created does not respect love. This film was painful to watch.
BEST ACTRESS
Who did win: Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
Who will win: Glenn Close (The Wife)
Who should win: Glenn Close (The Wife)
Ms. Close is amazing at expressing silent rage. The fact that her character has a son, whom she loves; the fact that she was not prevented from writing; must have been the reason that she put up with this cad of a husband, as long as she did. Can rage cause heart attacks? Had it not been for a nosy journalist, she may never have been confronted with the truth. Too bad the journalist did not show up sooner.
Other contenders:
Yalitza Aparicio (Roma)
Aparicio has a clean slate, her character as a maid appears to have no family of her own. Where were they, when she gets pregnant? If there is anything to recommend her character, it is the fact that she lives happily in the present moment. She has no insight into male motivation. If he is giving me attention, he must love me. Male ego appears to impress her. In addition to no family, she does not seem to realize that she could get pregnant. Internally, her spirit reacts to her situation, by rejecting the birth. In the end, she is willing to risk her own life for the sake of the children, who love her. The film suggests that she exists on a higher spiritual level, than most people.
Olivia Colman (The Favourite)
I am only guessing, but I presume that she is playing a widow queen, who was trying to sublimate her sexual impulses. She has women fighting over her favor and usurping her power as a queen. What happened to all her children? All seventeen of her children died, twelve of them were stillborn. News flash, women rule differently than men. If given the freedom, they show compassion and consider how things might affect others. It is not Colman’s fault that the director and writer hate women. Her role and acting won’t be getting an Oscar from me. To defend the real Queen Anne, Britain became a major military power on land, the union of England and Scotland created a united kingdom of Great Britain, and the economic and political base for the golden age of the 18th century was established during her reign. She attended more cabinet meetings than any of her predecessors or successors, and presided over an age of artistic, literary, economic and political advancement that was made possible by the stability and prosperity of her reign.
Lady Gaga (A Star Is Born)
Gaga’s interpretation of the rising star was too edgy for me. Her character has a father and people rooting for her. She walks off her job, but it comes off as inconsiderate. Sort of like the Jennifer Lopez character in “Second Act.” It is all about me, and if you are having a mental breakdown, don’t bother me, try rehab, instead, because I am too busy becoming a big success. I found her role emotionally cold and the suicide leaves blood on the hands of her character that will not wash off.
Melissa McCarthy (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
Melissa McCanthy usually chooses roles that have a little more warmth, than this. As you think, so you become. I was turned off by the foul language and extremely bad attitude all the way through the film. I think she has another Academy Award in her, but she really needs to get a better agent. This is a real story becoming her real story.
BEST ACTOR
Who did win: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)
Who will win: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)
Who should win: Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody)
This was the only character in the bunch that I wanted to spend two hours with. Rami does a great job of bringing back Freddie Mercury. We all know the music, but thanks to Malek, we now can empathize with the story, as we get to know the Queens. Mercury picked a really nice group of co-workers. This film, and Malek, make it clear, who cares and who does not.
Other contenders:
Christian Bale (Vice)
This would be my second choice. Bale really does step into the shoes of Dick Cheney. The transformation is impressive, as are all the film’s characterizations. Too bad Cheney was not such a nice person, but Bale does make him relatable. Cheney, as presented, appears to be an under the radar opportunist. His saving grace is his loyalty to his wife and daughters. He has their back and wants the best for them. He is blessed with a strong nuclear family.
Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born)
I really wish Bradley Cooper would start to choose roles that are not so embarrassing. He is a handsome guy, so why all the wake up from a stupor, wet my pants in front of an audience roles? He can do much better. He does not have to embarrass himself to get to the Academy Awards.
Willem Dafoe (At Eternity’s Gate)
I really like Dafoe, just not in this role. I was uncomfortable with the sensory, poverty stricken, exploitative, opportunistic, crazy, messed up interpretation. But I must say, that I will never look at a Van Gogh painting the same way again. This film suggests that he would do just about anything to satisfy his sexual impulses, maybe even molest kids, which is left up to the audience to decide.
Viggo Mortensen (Green Book)
Although Mortensen does a great job in this role, I really wanted the main character to be Dr. Don Shirley, not the driver. After researching the real Don Shirley, I became disgusted with the driver’s characterization, and the emphasis behind it. The filmmakers made a big mistake by not consulting the Shirley family before making this film.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Who did win: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Who will win: Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
Who Should win: Marina de Tavira (Roma)
Her role is the only female character among the choice range, that I could even half-way recommend as a role model. If her cad of a husband is a wealthy doctor (who appears to love money more than people), she was clearly the CEO of the household, who was taking responsibility for her children, her servants, her mother and keeping the boat from sinking, by spoiling her husband way beyond what he deserves. And, she does it without even a hint of resentment. She appears to have strength of character and resiliency. When another man hits on her, after her husband leaves, she soundly rebuffs the sordid attention. She protects her children’s good opinion of their father by making excuse, after excuse, for his bad behavior. I cannot reward a wife role for being on a pedestal, even if she does appear to have strength of character. She and her mother single-handedly take the members of the household under their wings. However, kindness is not always smart. She pampers a husband, who has no character. I wanted her to tell her no good husband to “grab a shovel, and clean the dog shit off the pavement himself.” If she had done this, it would have raised this role to another level for me.
Other contenders:
Amy Adams (Vice)
Adams portrays the equally opportunistic wife of Cheney. She is his strong right hand in all matters. Too bad she could not rescue her own mother from the abusive hands of her father. Usually, such girls end up marrying the same partners as their fathers, but she lucks out with Cheney. When he falls, she is always right there to pick him up and set him straight. She appears to be living through her husband’s successes. I do not think Cheney made all of those decisions on his own. Adam’s character was clearly his confidant, so she deserves one-half of the blame.
Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk)
King plays the young, soon to be old, wife of a Black man. Her husband, like many others, will inevitably end up in prison. Her path to marital bliss is very short lived, and the in-laws will always blame her, and not the justice system, for her husband’s imprisonment. Baldwin’s story depicts the life of many Black marriages during the civil rights era. I would have liked the two families to support each other, but that does not happen. Her character gets pregnant, then makes the best of a bad situation. I wanted her to do something more, to bring the families together, to not be a victim, to get her man out of prison, to do something more.
Emma Stone (The Favourite)
Stone made it to the Academy Awards, but at what cost? Why would she agree to go through the motions of so much humiliation? I was not impressed with this as a role model for other young girls.
Rachel Weisz (The Favourite)
Weisz gets the same comments as for Stone. Why, why, why, would you agree to such a role? Humiliation is too tame a word for her character.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Who did win: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
Who will win: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
Who should win: Mahershala Ali (Green Book)
Ali manages to keep his dignity intact, in spite of being downgraded to a supporting role, when he should have been written in as Best Actor. That dignity is maintained in spite of suggestions that Dr. Don Shirley might be gay; he might not like to eat with his fingers; he might not be capable of punching someone in the nose; and he might not be welcome at his own family during the Holidays. These are all false accusations. I am in awe of how he managed to do everything that was asked of him, yet still be the most memorable character in the whole film. I think this was accomplished, because Ali possesses a strong sense of self-worth and inner dignity.
Other contenders:
Adam Driver (BlacKkKlansman)
Adam Driver plays the white cop, who infiltrates the KKK, who was never in any real danger, because he looks just like them. Here was Driver’s missed chance to shed some light on the thought process and motivation of a Klansman in the making. Even though he was portraying one of the bad guys, he could have garnered some understanding of and empathy for their pathetic state of being. Like it or not, the KKK is a real part of American culture.
Sam Elliott (A Star Is Born)
Elliott plays the long suffering brother of the country singer star, who is having a mid-age crisis. Elliott is always likable in his roles, but here, he utterly fails his brother. To quote a part of this dialogue: “I got to be honest with you, things are easier without you.” Where is the love, the courage and the loyalty here? I cannot reward a character, who just takes the easy path, because it is easy. His brother needed a real friend, who really cared, which might have made a difference, and might have caused there to be a different outcome. His role should have had more meat to it, if it was not all about being easy. This is the filmmaker’s fault, not Elliott’s.
Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me?)
Grant’s character is the epitome of a low level, opportunistic narcissist. It is all about how I look, how I win. He has no real empathy or caring for others. If McCarthy’s character had a bad attitude, Grant’s character was bad to the core. His thought process, “she has an apartment and she has a cat that she loves, how can I exploit that?” His role teaches us how to be better judges of character, and better judges of who we let into our lives. I’ll give him that, but no Oscar.
Sam Rockwell (Vice)
I personally believe that the real George W. Bush became a better leader by the end of his tenure. Rockwell portrays him as some kind of drunken puppet leader, who was okay with Cheney calling all the shots. The real Bush was more sensitive than that, more thoughtful, and more caring, because he had a better wife. I feel that Rockwell’s portrayal is one-dimensional and false. Again, it is the fault of the film makers, not of Rockwell.
(l) Mahershala Ali as Don Shirley with Viggo Mortensen as the driver. (r) The real Don Shirley at his piano.
GREEN BOOK
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
I suppose we should thank the makers of “Green Book” for bringing the life of a brave, civil rights era, Black classical pianist, Dr. Don Shirley, to the Academy Awards.
But, did you know that Shirley’s father was a friend of Martin Luther King, Jr? Dr. Shirley was active in the civil rights movement, friends with Dr. King, present for the march in Selma, and close friends with Black musicians—from Nina Simone to Duke Ellington and Sarah Vaughn—Dr. Shirley was also very much a part of his family’s lives.
Did you know that Shirley’s main motivation for doing a musical tour in the deep south was to raise the consciousness in that area? When he was studying psychology, he came up with the idea of doing his tour, to show that Blacks were capable of much more, if given the chance.
Did you know that his father was an Episcopal priest at St Cyprian’s church in Pensacola, Florida?
Did you know that Shirley was a piano prodogy at age 2?
Did you know that Shirley earned doctorates in Music, Psychology, and Liturgical Arts? In the times when his career was stunted, he would retreat into academia. He earned three doctorate degrees, spoke eight languages and was an accomplished painter.
Did you know that he considered becoming a psychologist and a professor, when he found it hard to make a living as a pianist?
Did you know that his other three brothers also had doctorate degrees?
And, did you know that his mother was a teacher, who died when Shirley was 9 years old?
If you did know these facts, you did not get it from the film, because “Green Book” was all about the driver, when it rightfully should have been all about the pianist.
And for the record, Dr. Don Shirley did not come out as gay during his lifetime. Other than in this film, there is no proof that he was gay.
Don Shirley did marry when he was 25 years old, but was forced to let go of the relationship, because he could not finance both an uphill career and a family.
When Shirley was 83 years old, in 2010, he was evicted from his beloved artist’s apartment above Carnegie Hall, where he lived for 50 years.
Dr. Don Shirley died at age 86 in 2013.
I suppose Dr. Don Shirley’s memorial is this film, “Green Book,” but just not like his family may have imagined it.
The Negro Motorist Green Book was published yearly from 1936 to 1966.
Pianist Don Shirley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Shirley
(l to r) John Deacon, Freddie Mercury, Brian May and Roger Taylor.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
If you haven’t already seen “Bohemian Rhapsody” yet, this is my film recommendation for the Holidays.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” captures the heart of Freddie Mercury’s (Rami Malek) artistic challenge as an artist, as a son, as a man and as a singing frontman of a band. Below, I’ve included the full Live Aid Concert, which was his crowning achievement.
One of many poignant parts of this film, was his relationship with his father, Bomi Rustomji Bulsara (Ace Bhatti).
Mercury felt that he could never be the son that he thought his father wanted, so he made the drastic decision to legally change his name, so he would not reflect negatively upon his father or his heritage.
The film suggests that he may have been ashamed of his heritage, but after studying his family dynamics, I feel that it had more to do with expressing himself independently from what his family expected of him.
If Mercury was ashamed of anything, it was the overlap of his teeth, and then, his growing awareness of his gay, bisexual identity, at a time when being a gay minority was cruelly punished and conformity was the norm.
At an early age, before his jaw could catch up to his extra teeth, he was sent to an Indian boarding school, where he took advantage of the freedom to pursue his own interests, like learning to play the piano, singing and creating a band.
He was summoned back to Zanzibar at age 16, when his father made the equally drastic decision to flee to Great Britain during the Indian revolution.
It was only late in the film that Mercury begins to appreciate the choices that his father made, and this realization is heart wrenching.
The other looming character in Mercury’s life was Mary Austin (Lucy Boynton). Mercury lived with Austin for about seven years, when he was a starving artist, trying to create a professional band. She loved him unconditionally, and remained a lifelong friend, making him a godfather of her first son, before Mercury died of AIDS.
There was evidence of stress and a self-destructive tendency in Mercury. If you look at any of his few interviews, he appears to be a chain smoker. He has a cigarette in one hand and a drink in the other. He discovers too late, who his real friends were, and did not have a strong spiritual practice, although he was raised as aZoroastrian.
Mercury was a cat lover, which provided him with the unconditional love that was low-maintenance. He would have loved to have had children with Austin, but his career was too demanding in the early days, and they barely had enough to eat themselves.
Had Mercury received voice training and early support for his aspirations, he might even have become an operatic singer. In fact, his last live concert is with Montserrat Caballe, who invited him to write songs and to create a concert with her (see Barcelona concert below). Mercury rose to the occasion, and appears to be surrounded by a healing light.
Interestingly, the film’s title is “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which was Mercury’s attempt at creating an operatic song, which was six minutes long.
When Mercury died of AIDS, he shook up the world from the ignorant realization that AIDS is not a gay disease, but can be acquired in heterosexual relationships, as well as by blood transfusions.
Director Bryan Singer almost completed this film, before he was replaced at the very end, for being unreliable. In my research, I discovered that Singer is also bisexual, like Mercury. Turns out, he was busy trying, at the time, to become a father himself. His son is now about three years old.
Farrokh Bulsara (5 September 1946 – 24 November 1991), known professionally as Freddie Mercury, died in 1991 at age 45 due to complications from AIDS.
On 27 November, Mercury’s funeral service at West London Crematorium was conducted by a Zoroastrian priest. In attendance at Mercury’s service were his family and 35 of his close friends, including the remaining members of Queen and Elton John.
In his will, Mercury left the vast majority of his wealth, including his home and recording royalties, to Mary Austin and the remainder to his parents and sister.
Dominic West (Willy) and Keira Knightley (Colette) in “Colette.”
Glenn Close (Joan) and Jonathan Pryce (as Professor Joseph Castleman) in “The Wife.”
COLETTE & THE WIFE
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
What are the chances of two films coming out just weeks from each other with the exact same theme? Unfortunately, I have seen this movie many times before, where the husband exploits and takes credit for the natural artistic talent of his wife.
“Colette” and “The Wife” feature wives, who both ghost write for their husbands, who then take credit for their wives writing, because, as explained, no one would buy a book that a woman wrote.
Colette was a real French woman, who eventually managed to break away from her first husband’s parasitic partnership, when she discovers his philandering. Colette was actually nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948.
Whereas the wife (Glenn Close) in “The Wife” gets to (spoiler alert) unravel as she participates in the act to the Nobel bitter end, as she also discovers that her husband is philandering his way all the way to the end.
And as the quote goes “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”
In comparing these two films, fiction cannot hold a candle to the real story of Colette, which is bolder, wilder and more courageous than any possible made up story as presented in “The Wife.”
Colette had the advantage of being very beautiful, which is prized in a patriarchic system. She also had a mother, who built up her confidence in herself, and she was able to attract influential lovers, and multiple husbands, who helped her stand on her own feet financially.
What is not shown in this film are her two other marriages and the birth of her own daughter, who was born in 1913.
I wanted this film to continue on, too bad, they could not find a way to tell Colette’s whole story. But then, in a patriarchic society, women are not supposed to turn the tables on their men, nor are they allowed to get old.
Emily (Blake Lively) is the one who asks for a simple favor, and later, looks great in that orange prison jumpsuit, after she asks for it.
“A Simple Favor” is a smart, surprising, enjoyable, thought provoking, funny, and sexually intriguing mystery film.
There are lots of winning characters that each film-goer may identify with: the gay male mom (Andrew Rannells), the single mom (Anna Kendrick) , the super mom (Anna Kendrick), the career mom (Blake Lively) , the gay fashion CEO (Rupert Friend) , the good natured, warm hearted, insightful Black investigator (Bashir Salahuddin), the foreign national trophy husband (Henry Golding), the guilt ridden widow (Anna Kendrick), and last, but not least, the dynamics of being a twin (spoiler alert).
The music is another character. Composer Theodore Shapiro has great taste. I thoroughly enjoyed the French music. I was not aware that Brigitte Bardot could sing, but we are treated to several of her songs in French. That alone is reason enough to see this film over and over.
One of the important questions asked is how does ones background and ones parents affect who we become as adults? How much freedom should we give children? How can parents guide their children through ego/anger/grief issues?
And, who do we choose to marry and why? Both the wife (Blake Lively) and the girlfriend Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) are jealous of the relationship that Sean (Henry Golding) has with Beth (Melissa O’Neil) his teacher assistant, who appears to have his real affection, respect and partnership.
The husband, Sean (Henry Golding) has to deal with his demons of sex and greed. His marriage to Emily (Blake Lively) is way beyond his means as a struggling writer and professor, but full of fodder for his novels.
Henry Golding is also strong in his role as the “Crazy Rich Asian.”
I have seen this film twice, and enjoyed it even more the second time. I’ll be purchasing the DVD and the sound track for “A Simple Favor.”
The world’s tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, which they call “The Pearl”.
SKYSCRAPER
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
Given a choice between seeing “Skyscraper” or “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” again, I would most definitely choose “Skyscraper.”
First of all, the Rock (Dwayne Johnson) still keeps himself in shape for his movies.
The Rock is the king of disaster movies. “Skyscraper” deals with the theme of urban fire, which is a timely topic in the current news.
True, it does mimic “The Towering Inferno,” but that is not the Rock’s fault. That is like saying that the events of 9/11 copied “The Towering Inferno.”
In this film, Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson) is a sympathetic former veteran, who has lost part of one leg, but still manages to create a beautiful family and a meaningful life, in spite of his situation.
Part of what makes me like this film so much is the idea of putting an entire city in one building, called the Pearl. This idea offers a solution to the problem of using up all of the environment for humans. By going up, humans can leave the environment alone.
Will’s marriage is another aspect of this story that is a winner for me. His wife, Sarah (Neve Campbell) is an equal partner. She is the surgeon, who helped him recover.
Their marriage is based on respect and trust. Both partners fight to keep their relationship intact and safe. Both partners have strong abilities that complement each other, and their love is tender, ongoing and vibrant.
Will, Sarah and their two children watch each other’s back. And, they are all allowed to be strong in their own right.
Will Sawyer does not spiral into self-pity when he loses part of his leg. Rather, he realizes that his new leg is now made of steel.
The action sequences are thrilling and the family relationship was even more thrilling for me.
(l to r) John Joseph Gotti Jr. and John Travolta as “Gotti.”
GOTTI
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
I understand that Rotten Tomatoes gave “Gotti” a zero, but I loved this film anyway. How can they give a true story a zero?
The Gotti story is a part of American history that I think we need to look at.
John Travolta accepted the part of Gotti, by the Gotti family. I guess it took an offer that he couldn’t refuse to make him really stretch his abilities.
This is the best role that John Travolta has ever done, using all his swaggering cool, all of his male virility, and all of his artistic charisma.
Just to make sure that I was not just under the Travolta spell, I went to a Cult Film showing of him in “Grease,” which he acted in over forty years ago. His character of Danny in “Grease” is a young John Gotti.
Neither Danny, nor young John Gotti, were the guys going to college, but they both found themselves in leadership positions based on their drive and their values.
Young John Gotti was critical of his own father, who could not support his family as a day laborer, but tried to supplement his income with gambling. There is a certain sad pathos to this.
Gotti’s biography states that after he married, he did try to go legal by taking jobs in 1962 as a presser in a coat factory and as an assistant truck driver. These aspirations did not last long.
Gotti’s son, called Junior Gotti, tells this story, through his recollection of his father, as he remembered it.
John Gotti was a loving family man. His wife, Victoria (Kelly Preston), whom he did not marry until she was on her second pregnancy, was probably the only one, who got away with arguing with him.
I sense that Gotti, himself, was motivated by his desire to vindicate his father, who lived in poverty. Gotti was quick tempered and vengeful.
His son, Junior Gotti, was given a shot at college via military school, so he was able to make a living, without resorting to crime. His desire for his father’s approval is what propelled him into crime initially.
True, this script does not show the long list of crime in which Gotti was involved, only the double crosses.
Gotti was involved with racketeering, hijacking, loan sharking, drug trafficking, bookmaking, prostitution, extortion, pornography, illegal gambling, and other criminal activities, not shown in this film.
The Italian culture in this film that we see in regards to women, is more of a guardianship, similar to that of Saudi Arabia.
And, I suppose that there was a green light to out-smart the police.
One of the best scenes is where Gotti argues with the police, who come to close down his 4th of July fireworks party. In this scene, the illegal fireworks are better than the legal ones.
All in all, “Gotti” is a privileged view into the making of an American crime family played lavishly by one of America’s best actors, John Travolta. Hopefully, it will be out on DVD, soon.
