Movies Of The Spirit - Page 16 of 20 -

MARSHALL

(l to r) Josh Gad, who plays the Jewish attorney, Chadwick Boseman as Thurgood Marshall and Sterling K. Brown as Joseph Spell, the man accused of rape.

MARSHALL

Film review by Marlene Ardoin

Of all the landmark trials that Thurgood Marshall was involved with, why do the filmmakers of “Marshall” pick a rape trial?

Thurgood Marshall won the case for integration of schools; he overthrows the South’s “white primary;” he strikes down legality of racially restrictive covenants; he demolishes legal basis for segregation in America; he ends the practice of segregation on buses, which ended the Montgomery Bus Boycott; he successfully defends civil rights demonstrators; and he becomes the first African American named to U.S. Supreme Court (1967–1991).

Are these accomplishments too boring for us to understand? I really don’t want to learn about them in the footnotes at the end of this film.

Director, Reginald Hudlin, has amassed an impressive cast, but his film seems overly concerned about the manhood issues of black men and Jewish men.

I feel that the script’s humiliating jabs at Jewish manhood were uncalled for. I don’t care what your ancestors went through, you get to carry your own bags.

Josh Gad, who plays the Jewish attorney, Sam Friedman, is Jewish in real life. Most practicing Jews are strong, but humble, and make a point of giving back to the community. They are very sensitive to homelessness, which is part of their ancestral baggage.

Marshall’s accomplishments give him his manhood, not (spoiler alert) winning a rape trial.

The script was written by Michael Koskoff, a successful, practicing attorney and his script-writing son, Jacob Koskoff.

There is a lot of interesting detail, like what to look for when picking a jury, but had they chosen to write about one of Marshall’s more history-making trials, they may have had a shot at an Academy Award.

In “Marshall,” perhaps without realizing it, the filmmakers illustrate, arguably, how women are the most oppressed group.

Kate Hudson plays Eleanor Strubing, the trapped, abused wife. She gets royal care as long as she doesn’t have any feelings, ideas or aspirations of her own.

Eleanor is the white version of Marshall’s own wife, Vivian (Keesha Sharp), who keeps miscarrying her pregnancies, which appear to be stress related.

The juror, Mrs. Richmond (Ahna O’Reilly), shows us the female leadership potential, when allowed freedom.

When was it that women got the vote? August 18, 1920, was only about 20 years before Mrs. Richmond is leading this jury.

Did Mrs. Richmond have a happy marriage; did she have an education; did she have her own money; her own property? Power was not something women during the 1940’s were used to having.

And, last, but not least, how was it that Thurgood Marshall was so successful as a trial attorney, winning 29 out of the 32 Supreme Court cases? One possible reason was that he could easily pass for White.

He does get a good education and he is very motivated to right the wrongs of his race. But, his physical appearance allowed juries and judges to identify with him and his objectives. That is my theory, and I am sticking to it.

Thurgood Marshall in 1936 at the beginning of his career with the NAACP.

Bio of Thurgood Marshall:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurgood_Marshall

Bio of Chadwick Boseman:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chadwick_Boseman

Bio of Josh Gad:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josh_Gad

Bio of director Reginald Hudlin:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Hudlin

Bio of Michael Koskoff (Jacob is his son):

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7817658/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Kate Hudson as Eleanor Strubing

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10/20/2017 # Marshall

9/11

(l to r) Wood Harris, Olga Fonda, Charlie Sheen, Luis Guzmán and Jacqueline Bisset, moments before the disaster.

9/11

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I feel the pressure to review “9/11” quick, before it disappears from the theaters. The anniversary of this infamous event is over, but with all the current disasters in the news, this story is still relevant and timely, and worth seeing.

Some people are not seeing it because Charlie Sheen fell off their pedestal. I am here to tell you that in this film, I can verify that he has kicked the coke, prostitute and “winning” reputation.

Charlie Sheen is believable as a billionaire stock trader, who effectively defends his right to be.

Based on the stage play, “Elevator” by Patrick Carson, it covers every angle of human behavior in a disaster.

Whoopi Goldberg is solid as the faithful elevator surveillance operator, who will not budge from her position, because she knows that people are depending on her help in the crisis.

Luis Guzmán plays Eddie, the custodial engineer, who becomes indispensable to the survival of the five individuals trapped in the elevator together.

Jacqueline Bisset is Diane, the billionaire’s estranged wife, who is reminded of all his good qualities during the disaster. One minute, she wants him to sign the divorce papers, and in a twinkling of an eye, she is defending him to his critics with vivid examples.

But, the billionaire (Charlie Sheen) earns his right to live. An avid reader, he cites examples of how they can survive a disaster in an elevator.

He points out that he was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth, he sacrificed his own health, his own marriage and his own family, for his success.

Wood Harris is Michael, a Black courier, who reveals his own prejudices and Olga Fonda plays Tina, a Russian mistress, who has reached her limit in such a relationship.

All of these people ultimately realize that if they are going to survive, they need to drop the assumptions about each other and work together.

I appreciated the poetic touches in this film, such as the elevator worker passing the desperate wife without recognition of each other as ashes fall all around them.

The ending is abrupt, but it allows each filmgoer to decide for themselves, who deserves to live or die.

I highly recommend “9/11,” and I am planning to pick up a DVD copy of it for my collection.

Above and beyond worker, Whoopi Goldberg as Metzie.

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9/19/2017 # 9/11

WIND RIVER

Rookie FBI agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) enlists the help of game tracker, Cory (Jeremy Renner).

WIND RIVER

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Taylor Sheridan, writer/director of last year’s “Hell or High Water,” appears to champion women in “Wind River.”

Sheridan points out how young, American Indian women get raped and disappear regularly, with no records to verify the crimes.

In the film, we discover that there are at least three young women, who have met this fate. There appears to be a serious cockroach infestation in the area.

So, who do the FBI send? A female FBI agent (Elizabeth Olsen) from Las Vegas, or is it Florida, is sent to Wyoming.

Jeremy Renner plays Cory Lambert, an effective and sharp-shooting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tracker. It appears that wild animals, who prey on livestock, are kept better track of than rapists and murderers on the reservation.

Rookie FBI special agent Jane Banner (Olsen) needs lessons on how to survive in the brutal Wyoming winter weather, and Cory (Renner) helps her out, so she enlists his help in her investigation.

The investigation leads us to an oil rig community, who are raping the reservation lands in yet another way.

The brother of the raped girl, Chip (Martin Sensmeier), is an addict, living in a trailer on the reservation. The impotence of the American Indians appears to be generational. Wyoming lands are a brutal and a hopeless place for the offspring.

In the script, Cory (Renner) chastises Chip for not doing more with his life. He tells him that he could have gone into the services or to college.

His sister, Natalie (Kelsey Chow) , seemed to have a happy high school life, according to the pictures of her.

But, as soon as she leaves school, at 18, she is released from any adult instruction or direction. I guess this is what happened to her brother, Chip, as well.

Back to our female FBI agent, she proves that she has as much grit as she has humility in her situation.

The one thing that rubbed me the wrong way, was the graphicness of the rape scene as it unfolded. The situation was believable and just a little bit too pornographic for my taste, which seems to be a Sheridan signature move.

Is Sheridan suggesting that the American Indians are to blame? Or, is there something wrong with how the US government deals with the American Indian population?

Either way, the American Indians are portrayed as victims. Why can’t they be the heroes in this story? And why does the director choose non-American Indians to play their roles?

By hero, I do not mean running six miles barefoot in the snow.

If there is one thing the American Indians do not need, it is another tale of how badly they have become victims.

Bio of writer/director Taylor Sheridan:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_Sheridan

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9/12/2017 # Wind River

AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER

Al Gore continues giving climate workshops.

AN INCONVENIENT SEQUEL: TRUTH TO POWER

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Al Gore proves that he does not need to get the Supreme Court to grant him the presidency. He is recognized as a President, anyway, as far as the rest of the world is concerned.

With his follow-up film, “An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power,” he drives home his point of what is happening with some graphic images of changes in our world, proving that his predictions from his first film, “An Inconvenient Truth,” are all coming true.

It has been about ten years since his first film. Gore has gotten grey hair and the world has gotten drastic floods, droughts, melting glaciers and large fish swimming down the streets of Miami at high tide.

The nightmare is coming true. Gore describes recent typhoons delivering water bombs caused by warmer ocean temperatures.

Every day the news is filled with stories of humans suffering the effects of global warming.

Most recently, 500 plus dead in the Sierra Leone mudslides. Masses of humans relocating to new locations because of drought, rising ocean waters, rising temperatures, fires and floods.

In his first film, “An Inconvenient Truth,” Gore makes the statement that China will not buy our automobiles, because the U.S. autos do not meet their environmental standards. That was ten years ago, now China is interested in electric cars.

In “An Inconvenient Sequel,” Gore is seen trying to solve India’s hold out during the 2016 Paris Climate Accord by calling up Solar City. India felt that atomic power was morally needed for their development.

Solar City was not equipped to solve India’s problems, but India did finally relent on April 22, 2016 by signing the agreement in New York.

On August 1, 2016, Tesla announced in a joint statement with Solar City it would be acquiring the company in an all-stock $2.6 billion merger. Elon Musk owns 22% of Solar City stock.

Gore might have offered India several options. How about suggesting hydro power to them.

This documentary shows how Gore has gained recognition and status on the world stage.

A group of Chinese students recognize him on the subway, Canada’s Trudeau greets him at a conference and he can be seen participating in negotiations with other countries.

Gore does not need no stinking presidency, because he cares about clean energy, the world and the future we leave for future generations.

Al Gore Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al_Gore

Wife/husband duo Bonni Cohen and Jon Shenk interview of filmmakers:

http://www.hammertonail.com/interviews/cohen-shenk-interview/

Paris Climate Accord:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Agreement

Solar City

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SolarCity

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8/22/17 # An Inconvenient Sequel

GIRLS TRIP/ROUGH NIGHT

Girls Trip (top) versus Rough Night (bottom).

Guess who wins boob exposure contest?

GIRLS TRIP Versus ROUGH NIGHT

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I thought it might be interesting to compare the black and white versions of college girl reunions in “Girls Trip” with “Rough Night.”

I was struck by how much more conservative “Girls Trip” was in comparison.

The black girls, Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish and Jada Pinkett Smith talk about showing some skin, but they only show so much at their ten year reunion in New Orleans.

Even the bad girl, Deborah Ayorinde as Simone, seems tame compared to the white girls in “Rough Night.”

The black girls want a proposal, not a boyfriend in “Girls Trip.”

The white girls in “Rough Night,” Jess (Scarlett Johansson), Alice (Jillian Bell), Frankie (Ilana Glazer), and Blair (Zoë Kravitz), don’t seem to care about that marriage proposal. They are more up for male castration, bisexuality, male strippers, and vibrators at their ten year reunion in Miami.

Demi Moore is very daring as a female sex addict in “Rough Night.”

The black girls in “Girls Trip” are still looking for a man to provide protection, partnership and motherhood. But, somehow, betrayal is what they get from their men, who walk all over them.

There is one male in “Girls Trip,” Larenz Tate as Julian, a musician, who gives up his apartment for the women and who makes sure that they are safe, is appreciated, but does not appear to be a serious relationship option. He does not have the financial resources or the macho image.

What occurs in both films is the dynamic of women being pitted against each other.

In “Rough Night,” the school teacher, who does not have a mate, is placed at the bottom of pecking order, being replaced and left out of invites. She is seriously pitied, but if you wait to the end of the credits at the end of the film, she does get her revenge.

And, in “Girls Trip,” all the women at one point turn on each other, but at the last minute, realize that they are the ones who can be counted on to accept each other unconditionally.

The white girls in “Girls Trip” are not let into the black circle, but are allowed to be helpful in promoting their careers. They are not seen as the competition.

Each film has so-called successful females. In “Girls Trip,” Regina Hall as Ryan Pierce, is a successful self-help writer and lecturer. And in “Rough Night,” Scarlett Johansson as Jessica “Jess” Thayer, is running for political office.

Ryan’s male partner is cheating on her, and Jessica looks like she may lose the election, because she does not look like she will put out. The male factor sabotages their efforts.

What about money? The white girls in “Rough Night” clearly have no worries financially, but the black girls in “Girls Trip” do not have such financial privilege.

I know that this is a comedy, and things are taken to the extreme, but it does expose our culture for what it is. Americans are seriously messed up when it comes to male/female relationships, marriage, career, money, identity and sex.

Ideally, men should be able to be men and women should be able to be women, no matter what color their skin is. Just because you are smart does not mean you have to be a cad, unless, of course, you are exploiting someone else. That goes for both men and women, black or white.

These days, gender identity is an added factor, which is slightly mentioned in “Girls Trip,” but it is front and center in “Rough Night.”

So, it appears that each person is an individual with an individual identity. Maybe Americans are starting to get something right, after all. We are starting to see the individual, rather than just their color, gender or wallet.

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8/4/2017 # Girls Trip/ Rough Night

BLIND

Suzanne Dutchman (Demi Moore) walks in park with blind Bill Oakland (Alec Baldwin).

BLIND

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I found myself becoming fond of the film “Blind,” in which Alec Baldwin and Demi Moore give it their best try to make being blind sexy. And, Dylan McDermott makes being a white collar financial criminal into a scary, vicious thug.

Baldwin plays Bill Oakland, a novelist/ college professor, who has community service volunteers read his student papers for him at a Center for the Blind, which is where he meets Suzanne Dutchman (Demi Moore).

Suzanne gets 100 hours of community service, just for being married to Mark Dutchman (Dylan McDermott).

The female judge says that she does not believe that Suzanne knew what her husband was accused of doing, but dishes out the punishment anyway.

If anyone is a selfish, narcissistic psychopath, it is McDermott’s character, Mark. There is one scene in prison, where he effectively shows his colors. I was really frightened for Suzanne, when her husband, Mark, gets himself out of jail.

Never confront a narcissist about anything, because they will come at you with their teeth bared. McDermott does a great job of demonstrating this principle, while in prison.

This film tries to demonstrate that even though a man or woman is blind, they can still lead a meaningful life that contributes positively to life.

A future prospect of driverless autos could really enable the blind, who could get from place to place without depending so heavily on others.

In the film, “Blind,” Suzanne gets to know Bill, while her husband is in jail. She reads his student’s papers, looks up Bill’s novel, then visits his classroom, while he is teaching.

The major flaw of this film is too much explanation about being blind in the dialogue. The point being made is that they are just like everyone else, except they do not see.

This film would have been far more romantic, if the characters just acted out the situations. The audience gets it.

Why does Suzanne find Bill attractive? Bill gains her respect, and her husband, Mark, loses her respect. Her skin begins to crawl under the shame of her husband’s jewels.

Baldwin is drop dead handsome as a blind man. I was surprised to see him in such a vulnerable role.

Baldwin’s character is very frustrated having to depend on others, until Suzanne shows up.

In one scene, he keeps the office hot, and refuses to open the windows for Suzanne, which forces her to start shedding clothing. He also uses his novelist skills to paint a very romantic possibility of a life in France.

One of Bill’s male readers gains his trust enough to be invited to help him out at his home. This worker takes advantage of that trust by taking one of Bill’s manuscripts without asking.

Bill lost his sight in an auto crash, which also killed his wife. I got the impression that he was about to ask for a separation, when this accident occurred.

Michael Mailer (son of novelist Norman Mailer, 4^th marriage) is the producer and director of “Blind.” His half-brother, John Buffalo Mailer (Norman Mailer’s son, 6^th marriage) wrote the script and performs in the film. He plays Jimmy, an attendant at the Center for the Blind.

And, we also get to catch a glimpse of Baldwin’s real life wife, Hilaria Baldwin, as Susanne’s yoga teacher.

“Blind” is fun to watch, and makes it easy to understand the world of blindness.

Suzanne Dutchman (Demi Moore) receives a necklace from her husband, Mark (Dylan McDermott).

Dylan McDermott BIO:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dylan_McDermott

Screenplay by John Buffalo Mailer:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Buffalo_Mailer

Directed and produced by Michael Mailer:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Mailer

Norman Mailer Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Mailer

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7/19/2017 # Blind

THE BIG SICK

Kumail waits at the hospital with Emily’s parents (Holly Hunter and Ray Romano)

THE BIG SICK

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

This is my favorite film, so far, this year.

“The Big Sick” is all about how a brave Muslim comedian, Kumail Nanjiani, (true story) meets an American girl, Emily V. Gordon (Zoe Kazan) in his audience, while he is struggling to become a comedian.

She brings out the best in him, and he responds by loving her forever.

As the story opens, Kumail is fighting his way out of the expectations of his Pakistani, Muslim family, who are not too subtle about hooking him up with a nice Muslim girl.

This is post 9/11, when all Muslims are under intense scrutiny by all Americans. In fact, Emily’s parents, are quick to ask him, point blank, “What’s your take on 9/11?”

Breaking out of his multi-faceted, straight-jacket, after having been confronted with this question, over and over, Kumail responds, “Yeah, it was bad, we lost 19 of our best guys.”

Clearly, Kumail is letting go of all sense of safety. He is saying go ahead and kill me now. A stressed-out Muslim, seeks suicide by stressed-out American parent.

I loved seeing Holly Hunter as Emily’s mother. As always, she is laser-sharp in her approach, but fair. She has disappointments in her marriage, but stays for the love and support.

As soon as we see Emily’s father, Terry, played by Ray Romano, we know immediately what attracted Emily to Kumail. He’s the spitting image of her father. Except, the real Terry Gordon, does not look that way at all. I guess the filmmakers felt a need to explain the attraction.

Kumail puts together a one-man, stand-up show to introduce Americans to his Pakistani culture. He innocently is trying to show us why he is proud of his country of origin.

Emily, a student therapist, suggests to him, that what would make this piece interesting to Americans, would be for him to tell us about how he really feels about his country.

This is the key that unlocks Kumail’s career as a comedian. There is nothing like extreme tension to make people laugh.

In his final stand-up performance, Kumail explains about how his parents do not approve of his chosen profession. “There is doctor, lawyer, hundreds of jobs, Isis, then, at the bottom of the list, is comedian.”

I have to say that before seeing this film, I was aware of the existence of a Muslim comedian, who talked about being a Muslim in America.

This film is a must see on many levels. It’s timely, relevant, real, and it tackles what matters in today’s definition of a marriage.

top to bottom) Movie Emily (Zoe Kazan) and Kumail vs real Emily and Kumail.

Kumail Nanjiani Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumail_Nanjiani

Emily V. Gordon Bio: ( Zoe Kazan)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_V._Gordon

Holly Hunter Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holly_Hunter

Ray Romano Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Romano

History vs Hollywood:

http://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/the-big-sick/

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7/10/2017 # The Big Sick

BEATRIZ AT DINNER

Beatriz (Salma Hayek) decides to attend the dinner just as she is.

BEATRIZ AT DINNER

Film review by Marlene Ardoin

“I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. Rich is better.” – Sophie Tucker

“Beatriz at Dinner” may look like a battle between the givers and the takers, but they are both right. The winner is a balance of the two extremes.

Beatriz (Salma Hayek) appears to be unable to receive. Being poor does not make her superior. Her client, Kathy (Connie Britton), offers to dress her up for the dinner, then later, offers her money for the tow home, both offers are refused. Had she accepted these offers, the outcome may have been drastically different.

Beatriz is the odd one out. At the dinner, she describes an experience with her father, where he was kicking an octopus. She sides with the octopus.

Another point of view is that her father was trying to protect her from the octopus. Had she had this alternate point of view, things might have turned out very different for her.

I believe that we shape our world by how we see it. A more positive viewpoint would have enabled Beatriz to love men, to love the world as it is, and then, to become a positive force in making it even better.

Doug Strutt (John Lithgow) has no problem accepting and showing appreciation for her shoulder massage. When alone with her, he offers her a gift. He points out that we are all dying from the moment that we take our first breath. He encourages her to try to enjoy her life.

Beatriz appears to have more judgment, more pride and more ego as the “healer”, than her opponent, “the successful rich guy.” His comments make her seethe. But, he expresses more love and caring, than her massages or songs do.

Doug Strutt, the man who kills rhinos, who strips bare the environment, who is on his third wife, has the moral high ground here.

I personally prefer all of his transgressions to the transgression that Beatriz ends this film on. I left the theatre feeling ashamed to my core for identifying with Beatriz.

While everyone else is sending prayer lanterns into the air, Beatriz chooses to take a swim by herself.

This story is very much needed at a time in the history of our world, where the “Have Nots” are blaming the “Haves” for all of their misfortune.

Bravo to the writer, Mike White. When in Rome, do as the Romans do, right?

But wait a second, what if this is the guy, who is hiking up the cost of cancer treatments by 5000%, who is raising the price from $12.50 a tablet to $750 a tablet?

What if this is the guy, who does not pay his workers a living wage?

What if this is the guy, who is kicking families out of their homes, so he can raise the price 500% higher?

Or, what if this is the guy who is cutting down all the 3000 year old redwoods?

These are just variations to the story, which would make that guy less likeable or sympathetic.

His jokes would be more offensive.

As written, I do not feel the script is sympathetic to Beatriz, nor does it capture all the reasons for her despair and anger.

Public humiliation is just a part of it. Racism and indifference can be subtle and very debilitating.

Doug Strutt (John Lithgow) is pensive during dinner.

Bio of screenwriter Mike White:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_White_(filmmaker)

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6/28/2017 # Beatriz at Dinner

MY COUSIN RACHEL

Rachel (Rachel Weisz) accepts the family necklace from Philip (Sam Claflin).

MY COUSIN RACHEL

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

In the Victorian era of “My Cousin Rachel,” if a woman’s husband dies of a brain tumor, why do her husband’s relatives assume that she must be some kind of black widow?

This theory does not make any sense, because women could not inherit property then. If a husband dies, and a woman has no male children, she is out of business.

In the film, “My Cousin Rachel,” Rachel (Rachel Weisz) is in a destitute situation. So, she throws herself at the mercy of her husband’s male heir, Philip (Sam Claflin).

Philip is just 24 years old when he meets Rachel, who is an older, but very accomplished woman.

Philip spurns Louise (Holliday Grainger), the daughter of his godfather, Nick Kendall (Iain Glen), who is managing his estate, which Philip is due to inherit at age 25.

Rachel is walking into a very unfriendly and deadly environment. She has to please Philip, so he will support her, but she immediately sees that Louise has her sights on him as a husband. Her every move is analyzed mercilessly.

Does Rachel have no other relatives? No one makes inquiries about her family.

She does have a male confidant, Rainaldi, who helps her manage the closing of her deceased husband’s villa. Rainaldi is the one who supplies the death certificate and verifies that Philip is still the heir, with no changes to his uncle’s will.

Philip is too young to intuit Rachel’s situation. Rather, he sees her approach as a come on to him, and he spurns Louise, because Louise is too frank with him, which wounds his ego.

I also wonder why Philip’s estate is in such a shambles just before Rachel arrives. The dogs have their run of the mansion and the roof leaks.

The story is by Daphne du Maurier, who’s other novels have also been the subjects of American films, such as “Rebecca” and “The Birds.” Another version of “My Cousin Rachel” was made in 1952, starring Richard Burton and Olivia de Havilland.

Most Hollywood films feature happy endings, but not du Maurier’s stories. She explores interesting character studies, which ring true.

The filming of the 2017 version of “My Cousin Rachel” is exquisite. Very strong, beautiful and vivid imagery.

Rachel (Rachel Weisz) ponders her situation.

Bio of novelist, Daphne du Maurier:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daphne_du_Maurier

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6/24/2017 # My Cousin Rachel

PARIS CAN WAIT

Michael (Alec Baldwin) waves goodbye.

Jacque (Arnaud Viard) drives Anne (Diane Lane), who is holding a rose.

PARIS CAN WAIT

Film review by Marlene Ardoin

Eleanor Coppola, wife of renowned filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, had an experience, which caused her to write her own script, then to direct her own film, “Paris Can Wait,” which gives a voice to all middle-aged women, who suddenly feel invisible.

I loved this film. And in my opinion, she needs to keep going, even if she is 81 years old.

Eleanor Coppola has a successful marriage, successful children, and now, I feel that it is never too late to become a successful filmmaker/writer/director.

In her film, Diane Lane plays Anne, the wife of a successful movie producer, who decides to join her husband in Europe, while he is on location. She soon discovers that this may be a bad idea.

Alec Baldwin plays Michael, the movie producer husband, who, when he does get off the cell phone, is criticizing his third wheel wife for ordering two sandwiches. He shames her ruthlessly.

It seems that she does not know French well enough to communicate that she wanted cheese on her hamburger, hence the second cheese sandwich.

And to compound his error, her husband leaves her alone with his luggage, telling her to call the bellman. She tries using the phone, but, again the language barrier. She ends up becoming the bellman, instead.

By the time Anne makes it to the airport, she has a pounding earache. Her husband does not notice her distress, but his French business associate, Jacques (Arnaud Viard), does notice.

Jacque offers to drive Anne to Paris, rather than have her take the small plane to Budapest with her husband.

And to compound his error even further, her husband shows no signs of jealousy, concern or caring for her. He essentially throws her under the influence of a total male stranger.

Her husband, Michael, seems oblivious to the fact that she may be experiencing some distress, because her daughter is now no longer at home and her dress shop business has just closed.

She was hoping to connect with her husband, who is revealing that he is a total asshole.

Luckily, Jacques is a kind and generous soul, who is everything that her husband is not, except, maybe not as rich.

Jacques starts off by taking care of her earache.

And to compound that, he turns out to be a good travel mate. He is sensitive to her needs. He asks questions and shows interest in her. He is not stingy with food. He takes special care to see that she is served the finest of French food.

What is endearing about him, is that he agreed to drive her to Paris, even though the car that he owns, probably will not make it.

He stops every hour on the road, telling her that he needs to stretch his legs and have a cigarette. I’m not buying it. He is seeing that his engine is heating up, because the fan is about to go out.

It becomes apparent that these two are very compatible. They are comfortable in each other’s company. And, their level of emotional intimacy is reached at warp speed.

So, if you are married, divorced, or hoping to stay married, may I suggest going to see this film.

Eleanor Coppola.

Interview with Eleanor Coppola and Arnaud Viard:

http://deadline.com/2016/09/eleanor-coppola-paris-can-wait-arnaud-viard-tiff-

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6/14/17 # Paris Can Wait