Oppenheimer

It’s too early to pencil in Oscar winners’ names but it’s easy to imagine Oppenheimer pulling down a few next March. Starting with Christopher Nolan who wrote and directed this epic film. Is it his best film to date? Maybe. Among his top three, for sure.

Two weird trends this summer: baseball games have gotten shorter and movies have gotten longer. Oppenheimer is a three hour movie but screenwriter Nolan delivers huge amounts of narrative in those 180 minutes. And director Nolan maintains a fierce pace with multiple time jumps to tell that story. A clever device he employs is purposeful shifts between color and black-and-white sequences.

What about Cillian Murphy as Robert Oppenheimer? He’s been great in smaller movie roles and in the TV series Peaky Blinders. Although Murphy’s is not a household name, Nolan made a wise choice in giving Murphy the mantle of carrying this film. Not unlike the way the U.S. Army’s Leslie Groves (Matt Damon) chooses Oppenheimer to run the Manhattan Project despite the physicist’s baggage. 

Part of that baggage is his alcoholic wife Kitty (Emily Blunt) who is a Communist. As is Robert’s brother Frank (Dylan Arnold). A needy lover, Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh), also has red connections. Is Oppenheimer himself a Communist sympathizer? He contributed to revolutionaries in Spain. He tried to organize a faculty union at Cal. But his work as a physicist makes him the right man to head the development of the atomic bomb at Los Alamos.

The role of Lewis Strauss includes some of the best Oscar-bait dialogue since Jack Nicholson took the trophy with his “you can’t handle the truth” speech in A Few Good Men (which took Best Picture in 1992.) Robert Downey Jr. is up to the task of portraying a complex individual who is less well-known than the film’s title character. 

Much of Strauss’s screen time revolves around hearings for his nomination to be U.S. Commerce Secretary during Ike’s second term. He also recruited Oppenheimer at Princeton and later was head of the Atomic Energy Commission. 

Jason Clarke as AEC attorney Roger Robb has another role that  allows for some scenery chewing. His confrontations with Oppenheimer and others during an inquiry into Oppenheimer’s fitness for continued security clearance are forceful and direct.

Among the films large cast, players include Kenneth Branagh, Alden Ehrenreich, James D’Arcy, Matthew Modine, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Dean DeHaan and Rami Malek. Tom Conti appears as Albert Einstein and Gary Oldman portrays Harry Truman.

Sound plays a major role in Oppenheimer. The dynamic range between ear-splitting loudness and calming silence is finessed beautifully by Nolan and the film’s sound crew. Expect a few awards nods to the craftspersons who make the movie sound good. Ludwig Goransson’s music provides momentum and adds to the intensity of numerous scenes. 

Because of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and saber rattling by both the U.S. and Russia, Oppenheimer is not just entertainment but also a timely movie. Although the film is a dramatization of real events, there’s a foundation of truth here that provides useful information for all Americans, especially younger citizens. 

Twenty-first century perspectives have revised our views of much of our nation’s history including our participation in wars. The paradox of the atom bomb’s being a good thing (ending hostilities with Japan) and a horrible thing (killing thousands of civilians) is one that has been and will be constantly examined. Oppenheimer is now part of that discussion. 

The movie is likely to make Cillian Murphy a genuine star for his strong performance. If you’re going to be onscreen for that much of a movie, you’d better be good. He is. Will he receive awards consideration? Bet on it.

Oppenheimer will bring fresh individual accolades to Nolan and Downey, among others. And the film itself is a likely Best Picture nominee. It is, as they say, a MAJOR motion picture!

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Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One

Quality versus quantity. It’s a choice made in many aspects of life. Including action movies. 

For Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One, the choice was quality. The action scenes are thrilling, outrageous and huge fun to watch. But the sitting around talking scenes… eh, not so much fun.

Toby Keith had a hit song called A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action. I thought of that 30-years-ago country hit as I exited the MI:DR screening. Quantity.

But make no mistake, this new film IS a “must-see.” In the theater. As with many action films of late, it’s sometimes hard to tell what’s real and what’s special effects. However, because the action scenes in MI:DR are so well done, it doesn’t matter. Quality.

MI:DR is a “must-see” because its star is Tom Cruise who “saved Hollywood” last year with Top Gun: Maverick. Tom no longer has that youthful look but when he’s onscreen there’s an electricity and a sparkle that make whatever his eventual payday turns out to be… not enough. 

This time the impossible mission for Ethan Hunt (Cruise) is to track down a key that can provide great power to whoever possesses it. That’s right, a key. Well, it’s a special key made of two pieces that fit together. It provides control of the Entity, a software program that has the potential to mess stuff up really bad. 

To secure the key, Hunt and those who also want it conduct a long running chase from Abu Dhabi to Rome to Venice to the Austrian Alps. Among those involved in the pursuit of the prize are some bad guys and girls and some good guys and girls and some whose allegiance is initially uncertain. Running along with Hunt are his support team played by Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg. 

The film’s money shot is the train business that has been featured in trailers and ads and is seriously mind-blowing. But the chase sequence on the streets of Rome is also a highlight. It features a Fiat being driven down the city’s famous Spanish Steps. 

The cast includes players who can handle physical requirements as well as delivering convincing reads of their scripted lines. Special attention goes to Hayley Atwell as Grace, her highest profile role to date. This movie will bring her to the forefront of movie stardom. 

Rebecca Ferguson, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Esai Morales, Shea Whigham and Henry Czerny also play major roles. Strong cast!

Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One is directed by Christopher McQuarrie who also co-wrote it with Erik Jendresen. Rated PG-13. Run time is 2:43.

And, looking ahead… Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part Two is set to hit theaters on June 28, 2024.

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Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

Welcome back, Dr. Jones! 

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny checks all the boxes. Everything you want from an Indy adventure, you get. And more. Grab the jumbo size popcorn and settle in for two-and-a-half hours of thrills, chills and chuckles.

The film’s first twenty minutes set the tone with action that includes our hero about to be lynched by Nazis in Poland, then wriggling away when a bomb hits, stealing a vehicle, jumping onto a moving train and engaging in a face-off atop a fast moving train. Oh, and that segment wraps with Jones jumping off a high trestle as the train crashes. 

That opening segment is set at the end of WWII and features a de-aged version of Jones. Kinda like they did with some of the stars of The Irishman a few years ago.

Then, in 1969, Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) jumps into a new adventure with Helena Shaw (Phoebe Waller-Bridge), the daughter of archeologist Basil Shaw (Toby Jones). Her dad was obsessed with a strange dial, supposedly developed by Archimedes, that can supposedly control, among other things, time.

Jones has one half of the dial but where oh where is the other half that’ll make the magical thing work? Well, that’s what the story’s about.

Of the many chase scenes in IJATDOD, the best may be the one in Manhattan where Jones is pursued through a parade honoring the Apollo 11 astronauts. (By the way: Remember when Harrison Ford was chased through a parade in Chicago in The Fugitive?) The chase features Jones riding a horse in the NYC subway. Love it!

The bad guy in the movie is Jurgen Voller (Mads Mikkelsen), a former Nazi, who wants to employ the dial to go back to 1939 and reset history. He encounters Jones back in that opening segment. Then in 1969, he is aided by a gang of henchmen (and one henchwoman) who follow Helena and Jones on their travels from New York to Tangiers, Casablanca, Greece and Sicily. 

Voller’s character, who works for NASA and takes credit for the moon landing, brings to mind Wernher von Braun the real-life German who came to America to design and build rockets in Huntsville AL.

I’ve always considered time travel to be a storyteller’s crutch. But there are so many other fantastical things happening in this movie, why not go back a few centuries? However as Mr. Peabody and Sherman taught us, you have to be careful that you go back exactly where (when?) you want to be in the space/time continuum. 

Maybe the most fantastical thing about IJATDOD is that Helena, despite partaking of derring-do alongside Indy, always looks great. She is a pretty woman.

Also in the film is Antonio Banderas as a sponge diver who leads Indy and Helena into the deep and when they surface, guess who shows up? Voller and his crew.

This is a film to see on a big screen in a theater with big sound—the better to enjoy John Williams’ exciting soundtrack (which reprises the Indy theme throughout.)

Indiana Jone and the Dial of Destiny is directed by James Mangold. Rated PG-13.

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No Hard Feelings

No Hard Feelings is a fun movie. The best thing it has going for it is Jennifer Lawrence. She’s a great actress. She has charisma. And she’s funny.

Maddie (Lawrence) is a bartender who is also an Uber driver in Montauk, Long Island. She gets her car towed for failing to pay her rapidly growing property taxes. Hard to be an Uber driver without a car. 

A friend shows her a Craigslist ad posted by a wealthy couple who want to hire someone to initiate their sheltered teenage son into the ways of sex before he heads off to college. The couple (Matthew Broderick and Laura Benanti) offer Maddie an old Buick if she’ll introduce Percy (Andrew Barth Feldman) to her womanly charms. But she, of course, cannot let him know that she is working for mom and dad.

Even though she’s a bit older than what the parents are looking for, she agrees to give it a shot. There’s some irony in the fact that the influx of rich folks (like Percy’s folks) has pushed up the property taxes for longtime locals like Maddie who is trying to hang on to the home her mother left her.

Not only is Lawrence terrific in the movie, so is Feldman as the nerdy neophyte. She first encounters him at the pet rescue place where he works. Her pretense is that she wants to adopt a dog. As he takes down her information, she flirts shamelessly. When they meet at a bar, he’s super nervous and surprised that Long Island Ice Tea is a boozy blend.

Among the film’s key scenes is a nocturnal trip to a closed beach for skinny dipping. When a trio of locals tries to make off with their clothes, Maddie rushes out of the water to fight them off and reclaim her and Percy’s duds. Yes, there’s graphic nudity. But it’s more funny than sexy. (It appears that the naked hardbody is Lawrence’s and not a body double but in these days of amazing post production technique, who knows?) In any case, the scene has already generated significant conversation.

Another key scene has Maddie chasing down Percy a party full of recent high grads at a mansion.  She’s stunned when she opens upstairs bedroom doors in the home only to find the teens… looking at their phones.

So do Maddie and Percy ever actually hook up? Well… Let’s just say the film has a happy ending for pretty much all concerned.

Jennifer Lawrence is not exactly America’s Sweetheart like Julia Roberts was for a few years there, but she has a likability and good looks and talent that have made her a favorite. At age 32 she has compiled a resumé that includes Hunger Games and X-Men films plus three excellent performances for director David O. Russell (Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle and Joy). So almost any Jennifer Lawrence movie is one that you should take notice of. The fact that No Hard Feelings is a solid, entertaining production makes it even more worthy of your attention.

Rated R. Directed by Gene Stupnitsky.

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Asteroid City

Asteroid City has all the trademark Wes Anderson elements:

Bright colors, maybe his brightest palette yet. Big cast of notable stars, though no Bill Murray this time. Lateral camera moves, not pans but sideways dollies (trucking is the film school term). And quirkiness galore. 

It is, however, a tedious slog. Have I ever checked my watch more during a movie screening than I did as Asteroid City was unspooling? Not that I can remember.

Unless you are a hardcore loyalist Anderson fan, you might NOT want to head to the movie house to see Asteroid City. Maybe check it out on cable or streaming in a few weeks and see what I mean. Or maybe watch some of those Youtube parody videos of trailers for classic movies if they were directed by Wes.

The framing device for Asteroid City, a black-and-white TV show hosted by a severe Bryan Cranston, appears to have been something Anderson and his co-writer Roman Coppola tacked on to add to the film’s run time. It DOES help cement the story’s setting in 1955 and it DOES give Anderson favorite Edward Norton an easy way to be part of the movie. But clever? Nope, not really. 

The story, set in a tiny town in the Southwest, not far from Monument Valley and not far from A-bomb test sites, centers around a celebration of the anniversary of an asteroid landing nearby which resulted in a giant hole in the ground. 

Among the actors who portray folks who come for the event or are already there are Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johanssen, Tom Hanks, Steve Carrell, Liev Schreiber, Tilda Swinton, Willem Dafoe, Matt Dillon and more.

Along with the absence of Bill Murray, there’s a lack of cool and/or obscure tunes added to the soundtrack. The two train songs that run at the beginning and end of the film are fun but that’s about it for music (which has been a part of most Wes movies.)

Anderson’s movies generally have many disparate episodes which don’t necessarily fit neatly together but somehow coalesce to add to an underlying narrative. The happenings in Asteroid City and the characters seem more disconnected than usual and the framing device (the TV show) doesn’t help.

As I have enjoyed some but not all of Anderson’s prior efforts, I had high hopes for this one. But Asteroid City is, for me, a big disappointment. Rated PG-13. 

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The Flash

We need to talk about Ezra. Is Ezra Miller a big enough star to open and carry a big budget movie? Obviously, the answer is no. Because the makers of The Flash have brought along Michael Keaton as Batman to do a significant amount of the film’s heavy lifting.

Regarding Miller: Despite the creepiness of some of his prior movie roles and despite his real life misbehaviors, his talent is undeniable and his charm and humor shine through in his portrayal of Barry Allen AKA The Flash.

(I will, in this review of the new movie The Flash, refer to Ezra Miller as “he/him” because using a plural pronoun for one single person is confusing to me and to others. If you have a problem with that, just hit delete and move along.)

The film itself has, despite its flaws, enough story and special effects to attract fans who may be suffering from the widely-reported superhero fatigue among the movie-going public. It’s a fun ride! A bit too long—another movie with a climactic battle scene that goes on and on. And then on some more.

Time travel is a key element of The Flash. But what happens when The Flash goes back in time and encounters his younger self? They exist together in that time/space. It makes for some complications, of course. And some funny business. And some useful teamwork.

The opening episode of The Flash may generate a sickening 9/11 flashback for some folks with the image of newborn babies and a nurse falling from a collapsing building. (Spoiler: they don’t die, thanks to The Flash.) Yes, it’s a fantasy movie and, yes, that horrible day was nearly twenty-two years ago, but still…

There’s a decent amount of fan service with references to other DC superheroes. And a Shawshank reference, intentional or not, when a character walks through a wall decorated with a poster of a female movie star. 

The initial encounter by the two Barrys of the gone-to-seed version of Bruce Wayne is among the film’s highlights. Some of Keaton’s finest acting in a well-written scene.

Along with Miller and Keaton, The Flash features Michael Shannon as General Zod who comes to earth from Krypton with evil intents. Sasha Calle is Kara Zor-El AKA Supergirl. And Kiersey Clemons charms as Iris West, Barry’s sort-of girlfriend. 

The big question this movie asks—and the box office will answer—is this: Are The Flash and the film’s star Ezra Miller strong enough to anchor a franchise within the DC Extended Universe? Or will The Flash be relegated to occasional appearances in Justice League ensemble movies? To be determined. 

The Flash is rated PG-13. Directed by Andy Muschietti.

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Book Club: The Next Chapter

Book Club: The Next Chapter has all the hallmarks of a Hallmark movie, with a few differences: the cast is older and better known, the budget is bigger and the script is more risqué. It’s rated PG-13 so you can take your mom but not your church group.

“White women drinking wine in gorgeous locations while talking about men” could be the slug line for several Hallmark Channel movies. It also describes Book Club: The Next Chapter.

The white women are Vivian (Jane Fonda), Sharon (Candice Bergen), Diane (Diane Keaton) and Carol (Mary Steenburgen). The gorgeous locations are Rome, Venice and Tuscany. The wine keeps being poured and consumed throughout the film. 

The men they talk about are Don Johnson (Viv’s fiancé) , Andy Garcia (Diane’s boyfriend) and Craig T. Nelson (Carol’s husband). Sharon, whose personality is similar to that of Murphy Brown, does not have a regular guy but that fact lets her cast her net toward a handsome gent she meets in a bar. And one of the gals runs into an old boyfriend from back in the day and spends part of the evening with him in his van.

Would you believe that the movie’s climax features a wedding? And that there are a few last minute surprises just before the “I do’s”? Well, that’s another Hallmark hallmark. 

As mentioned, Italy is gorgeous. And the women, despite their advanced ages (70, 77, 77 and 85), look pretty good, too. Well, the current version of Jane Fonda looks more like the latter day Mary Tyler Moore than the beautiful Jane we remember but, hey, give her credit for hanging in there. 

The wardrobes are fun, too. Despite luggage issues, the cool outfits just keep on coming. On a visit to a bridal designer, all four try on wedding gowns. And where does Diane keep getting all those hats?

Oh, the book the group refers to on several occasions is The Alchemist, a novel by Paulo Coelho. The author is from Brazil. The English translation was first published in 1993, per Wikipedia.

Book Club: The Next Chapter is a big dollop of gooey fluff with a few laughs along the way. If you’ve been to Italy or fantasized about traveling there, add BC:TNC to your Italy movie list. This one will stream in a few weeks but looks better on the big screen.

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Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 3

Pull out an arsenal of adjectives for this one: huge, mind-blowing, hilarious, emotional, loud, clever, surprising, uplifting, satisfying. They all apply. James Gunn has topped himself with Guardians Of The Galaxy, Vol. 3. It’s a must-see!

The story, the effects, the art direction and the soundtrack are damn good. But it’s the character development of the Guardians that makes GOTG3 special.

Peter Quill aka Star Lord (Chris Pratt) leads the crew but focuses much of his attention on Gamora (Zoe Saldana) who rebuffs his romantic overtures. The best word to describe her character: fierce. 

Drax (Dave Bautista) is funnier than in the previous GOTG films and gives indications that he may not be as clueless as he sometimes seems. 

Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) play key roles as the Guardians’ mission is a total team effort.

Groot (voiced by Vin Diesel) plays a bigger role in this newest GOTG and even—whoops, gotta stop before a spoiler leaps out!

Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper and others), his origin and the crisis he faces form the main component of the plot line. Again, dodging spoilers here. (You can find plot summaries online but I suggest you see the film with no more pre-knowledge than you can obtain from trailers.)

The first two GOTG films were notable for their use of popular hit songs. GOTG3 gets a bit more, um, adventurous in its music choices. The film kicks off with Radiohead’s classic Creep.

Manchester, Missouri’s own and SLU grad James Gunn (who wrote and directed) achieves full redemption for his years ago Twitter sins with GOTG3. Nothing can top the thrill of seeing the first Guardians film nine years ago but Vol. 3 comes close with its fun and surprises.

Brother Sean Gunn plays side character Kraglin who gets screen time at the beginning and end of the movie, along with his amazing dog Cosmo.

Two tips: You might want to buy your tickets before you show up at the theater—you could encounter big crowds this first weekend. Also, stick around for all the credits and extra scenes and hints about the future of the franchise. Runtime is 2:30. Rated PG-13.

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Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.

Is it as good as the book? Short answer: No. Because movies adapted from books are never as good as the book. Well, almost never.

But is it a good MOVIE? Yes. Entertaining. And, yes, charming.

Along with beginning to mature into a new life stage, Margaret (Abby Ryder Fortson) has to handle a move from New York City to the Jersey suburbs AND a spiritual awakening. The film’s other title character, God, gets significant attention in the story. Margaret’s frequent prayers and religious exposure from her grandma (Kathy Bates) and friends open her mind to new ideas and concepts.

Margaret’s parents are a Christian mom (Rachel McAdams) and a Jewish dad (Ben Safdie) who have chosen not to raise their daughter in either religion. This leads to an ugly episode when Margaret’s maternal grandparents come to visit.

Margaret’s interactions with her friends Nancy (Elle Graham), Janie (Amari Price) and Gretchen (Katherine Kupferer) are the highlights of the film. Their meetings in 2023 would likely be conducted via text messaging or other cyber connections. It’s nice to see them hang out in person in their 1970 world.

The important question here is: can a story set half a century ago still be relevant in our more sophisticated modern day? Absolutely. Sixth grade girls in 2023 are vastly different from those of 1970 but much of this tale is about the things all girls—and their parents—deal with as they transition from childhood into puberty.

Today’s girls are much better informed about many things, receiving details from their peers who are better informed than Margaret’s peers were. And, of course, the internet provides info. And today’s school libraries offer materials that tell girls more than was available back in the day.

Also, can a male moviegoer relate to this story of a young girl who is anxious about getting her first bra and her first period? Puberty is a weird time for boys, too, but women will identify with the film’s central characters and their travails more closely than most men might. 

Director Kelly Fremon Craig is to be credited for not overplaying the nostalgia aspect of the production. There are old cars, telephones with cords, girls wearing skirts and dresses instead of slacks, etc. But we’ve seen other filmmakers take the nostalgia route to such an extent that it distracts from the story. Craig, who also scripted the film, does an admirable job of weaving character development with storytelling in a quick-moving hour and forty-five minutes.

Fortson handles well her duty of carrying the title role which is always a concern with juvenile actors. Her talent is obvious. And she’s a cute kid without being cloying. Graham who plays Nancy is impressive as well and her career, too, bears watching. And McAdams always adds to any film she’s in. 

Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. is rated PG-13. Might be okay for some preteens but that’s where your parental guidance comes into play.

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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

A quest! To throw as many fantastic, magical happenings as can be crammed into just over two hours at a movie audience!

And to follow four likable questers as they try to avoid dungeons and dragons and evil wizards and other forms of peril. Throw in a few chuckles along the way. Result: success!

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves works on many levels, among them—with one notable exception—its casting. Chris Pine is Edgin who is seeking a magical tablet to bring his dead wife back to life. Pine is handsome but he can do the action stuff. Michelle Rodriguez is Holga, a fierce female who helps Edgin recruit two younger team members: aspiring sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith) and Doric (Sophia Lillis) who is an elf and a shape shifter.

The quartet faces challenge after challenge and has outrageous experiences and surprises, some of which may remind you of magical things you’ve seen in the Lord Of The Rings movies, the Harry Potter movies and even Game Of Thrones. Teleportation, reviving dead people, fending off monsters, etc. 

The exception to the film’s clever casting is Hugh Grant as Forge who starts the story as a rogue but becomes a lord. Grant is an excellent actor. Charming. Funny. But he’s badly miscast here. Did the producers feel they needed another big name? Is he supposed to be eye candy for moms and grandmas who bring their kids to the movie? Hard to justify.

Speaking of kids… D & D: H A T is rated PG-13. Little ones may be spooked by some of the scary bits. But I know that preteens today have seen more wild and weird stuff than I had seen when I and even my own kids were in that age range. So parental guidance is in order here.

Full disclosure: I have never played D & D but I have several family members who have told me in great detail about campaigns that they have been part of. Remember this is a movie, not a board game. It works as a movie.

The budget was $151 million and it shows. Almost all of the effects look great. Co-directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have to be anxious to see how audiences respond to this movie that has been sitting on the shelf for nearly two years. My guess is they will be happy. Not just that the film is now finally released but also that box office and buzz will be good. 

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