Murder on the Orient Express (2017)

Beautiful to look at and amazing acting by all, from director Kenneth Branagh.

Dear Ben Affleck and Matt Damon,

If you want to get back on the women of Hollywood good sides you can bring back Project Greenlight without the Weinsteins and instead of a contest I submit my unpublished novella as a screenplay for what is in my mind an indie film.

Dear Hollywood

Now that Harvey Weinstein is out it is time for a woman to be in charge of the industry. Here is my resume...

A love of movies for my entire life...

A deep hatred for Donald Trump

I have never committed murder, sexual harassment or abuse (of any kind). I don't do drugs, illegal or prescription, although if I'm in a state where weed is legal I would try a brownie. I enjoy a glass of wine once in a while. Thank you for your consideration.

Blade Runner 2049

As I wrote a few weeks ago, there are a few actors to whom I go see a movies because he is in the movie, Ryan Gosling was one on the list. So even though I haven’t seen the original Blade Runner I had to see Blade Runner 2049.

 At almost three hours Blade Runner 2049 is a slow paced, intriguing sci-fi film. Gosling stars as K a new version of the firsts film Replicas, who is a cop tracking down older, rebellious replicas. He doesn’t like doing so but it is his job and that is what he was designed for. When he is not doing this he lives a lonely life in a small and dingy apartment.

The story takes a few twists and turns but overall a good plot. The main thing I want to say about this film is that with all the tools in his filmmaking toolbox the Director (Denis Villeneuve) creates a whole world on film. I felt like I was there walking with K in 2049 Los Angeles. The look of every scene was both beautiful and unsettling.

Harrison Ford returns as Rick Deckard 

And Robin Wright and Jerad Leto also star

If you want to see a single character on an epic journey check out Blade Runner 2049

Stronger film is filled with strong performances

Before I go any further I have a confession to make, there are a handful of actors whose movies I go see just because said actor is in it. I spent the 1990s going to Chris O’Donnell movies and since the early 2000s with Josh Hartnett, (gone but not forgotten) Heath Ledger and Ryan Gosling. When you see a movie for this reason you end up seeing a few bad apples. So when I watched Stronger because it happens to star Jake Gyllenhaal I was happy it ended up being a delicious good apple.

Stronger is the true life story of Jeff Bauman, portrayed by Jake Gyllenhaal, a young man who in 2013 was at the finish line of the Boston Marathon when a terror attack changed his life forever. One of the homemade explosives took off both of Jeff’s legs and the film follows him as he copes with his family, fame and healing.

When Jeff wakes up in the hospital his family is there and what a group of characters they are. as they become the heart and center to this wonderful film. Miranda Richardson portrays Jeff’s mother Patty. The two share a small apartment and as much as she loves her son, she may love herself a little more. Her hair isn’t perfect, her clothes are baggy and she smokes like a chimney so you know Hollywood didn’t create her and she truly could be anyone’s mom. Richardson steals every scene she is in and that is a good thing.

The rest of the family is just as colorful and brilliant to watch. Throughout the film Jeff is struggling, he is angry at himself and the world and his family do what they can to support him. He and his brothers spend a lot of time at their favorite bar and in one memberable sequence they get into a fight with fellow patrons and are thrown out. Afterwards they spend the night causing trouble, as a group of young men do, wreaking havoc on a playground and in the streets of Boston. Also helping Jeff on his journey is his on again and off again girlfriend, portrayed by the amazing Tatiana Maslany, all she wants to do is help him and to stand by his side as he gets his new legs.

 At times it is not easy to be there for Jeff but as the story grows so do all those involved.

Finally I came to Jake Gyllenhaal’s incredible performance. As a handsome and successful actor he could have played Jeff as a true American hero, polished and perfect in every way, a man who fought the good fight and came out on top. In fact he didn’t have to make himself seem so small, grimy and insecure but if you have every watched a Jake Gyllenhaal film you know he is an actor who knows it’s the little things that make a character worth caring for. Watching Jeff in the bathroom for the first time without legs shows how even the simple tasks become difficult, Gyllenhaal made the scene heart breaking yet determined.   

That and all of the performances (even those who only appeared in a scene or two) are what makes Stronger the brilliant film that it is.

I also have to admit that I am not a fan of “inspired by actual events” films, especially when that event happened within my lifetime. I didn’t know the story although I am sure it was on the news and internet and to be honest I didn’t care so I was skeptical when I walked into theater one. Directed by David Gordon Green and written by John Pollono based on the book by Jeff Bauman and Bret Witter, Stronger doesn’t focus on the manhunt of the terrorist but on those who were affected by their actions. It could have been big, bold and preachy. It could have been the good guys against the bad guys. Instead this small film was about so much more. Stronger concetratraed on the important things in life. For instance when Jeff gets the dressing changed on what is left of his legs for the first time the viewer ends up feeling his pain. Not because of the screams of agony but the expression in his eyes. You can tell a lot about how a person is feeling by just a look on his face and the look on Gyllenhaal’s face is of sadness and pain and makes for a much bigger impact. More than once does the actor make you feel what the character is going through by such subtle moments throughout the film   

The movie had just the right amount of patriotism, humor and sap. It was a well-made film that had a good story to tell and that is why I am happy I saw (and you should go check out) Stronger.

          

A history lesson on Dunkirk

Imagine yourself standing on the shores of what under normal circumstances would be a beautiful beach hoping it’s not your time to die as enemy planes fly overhead. That is how the World War II drama film Dunkirk begins. Over  400,000 men in uniform taking cover in a place where none is to be found. Men who just want to make it across an ocean and see home again. Is Dunkirk a film about a little known event in British military history, yes. Is it a film worth watching? Yes and let me tell you why.

Directed and written by Christopher Nolan, from opening shot to ending cridits Dunkirk is a thrilling and beautiful film. A true story taken from World War II about the British and allied evacuation from Dunkirk, France. A story about what it means to be a soldier and a human. A story about what it takes to survive a battle. With the beach being the prime location Nolan also takes us to the skies and on the water. It is difficult to write about a film when most of the cast is unknown to me and they wear the same uniform and have accents making it especially challenging to learn the names of the characters but that’s not going to stop me.

Dunkirk opens on Alex, played by Harry Styles (yes from the boy band One Direction but stay with me because while it is always nerve wrecking when a teen singing idol takes a stab at dramatic acting sometimes things work out, look at Justin Timberlake) he is running through the streets of the city and from there the viewer is with him as his story unfolds. A single soldier without a regiment or commander he finds others along the way who just want to make it through the battle. In one anxious scene he and his fellow soldiers are in the hull of a capsized ship trying to keep still with the enemy nearby.

Then we are in the skies as British pilots try to stay in the air as they protect those on the ground.

The other piece of the story isn’t about soldiers at all but the civialns who were called upon by the miltary to help for their own ships cannot make it. This is where having a large population of citizens who own a boat and being an island nation comes in handy . One of these regular folks is a man named Mr. Dawson played by Mark Rylance, he along with his son Peter, played by Tom Glynn-Carney and Peter’s friend George played by Barry Keoghan. The three of them brave the fight to save as many men as they can.

Although there is very little dialouge Christopher Nolan has made a film that leaves a lasting impact for days afterwards. Every scene, every fight was from the point of view of those involved. Although at times loud (after all it is war) Dunkirk is a tense film putting you on the edge of your seat. I felt claustrophobic during scenes that took place in tight spaces, and I cried a few time-from joy and sadness. And I felt as Commander Bolton, played by Kenneth Branagh felt throughout the film.    

A great job by all those who had a part in making this film.

I have watched a few World War II movies, some like Pearl Harbor over and over until I had it memorized and some that were critically acclaimed like Saving Private Ryan. With Dunkirk I have learned something new about this time in history and will watch it again.

Turn: Washington’s Spies (2014-2017)

In order to say a fond farewell to Turn: Washington’s Spies a have to go character by character.

Let me start with Abraham Woodhull portrayed by Jamie Bell. Abe was younger brother to Thomas who was killed in an uprising before the war. He married his brother’s girl Mary, portrayed by Meegan Warner and they had a son named after his brother. Before the Revaluation Abe was a cabbage farmer in Setauket New York. When the opportunity to fight, as a spy not a soldier, came to his doorstep he knew he had no choice. So without his father a judge and loyalist portrayed by Kevin McNally  knowledge and in honor of his brother he became a key member of the spy ring. Under the name Culper, Abe would go on to fight the British from the inside. Abraham Woodhull was a good man who loved his family, even when they were against him and along with others knew that a new nation was worth fighting for.    

Then there was Maj. Ben Talmadge portrayed by Seth Numrich who if I am being honest was my favorite character. Ben was the one who brought Abe and others into the spy ring. Throughout most of the war he was the one within Washington’s camp working with him as they planned each new mission for the spies. Friends with Abe and Lt. Caleb Brewster, portrayed by Daniel Henshall, since they were kids he always had their back and wanted them to stay safe and come home.

Yes there were women who believe in the cause and there was none more ready to be part of the war than Anna Strong, portrayed by Heather Lind, married to another man but in love with Abe, Anna quickly joined the fight and worked alongside Abe and Ben since the beginning. She was as strong as her name suggested and never let down the men or herself.

On the side of the spies and working with them were a couple of recurring characters-

Abigail, played by Idara Victor a black woman who served in the household of Andre and Arnold, she was able to work both sides and passed on important information about the British tactics to Anna. Her son Cicero, played by Darren Alford would join her in the effort. A man named Akinbode played by Aldis Hodge would come to help the cause and love her.

And finally fighting for America’s freedom we had Robert Townsend, portrayed by Nick Westrate. Townsend a Quaker by religion and a Tavern keeper in life was in a prime situation to become known as Culper jr. because of his religion he tried to stay neutral but working behind a bar everyone, even a redcoat, will talk to you and after a few drinks will tell you anything. With the local newspapers printing press in his tavern’s basement he was able to pass on information in plain sight.  

SIMCOE, portrayed by Samuel Roukin, what can I say about Lt.Col. John Graves Simcoe?  1) He is not the 1^st British officer I love to hate on TV or in film. 2) Simcoe was pure evil from day one. He and Abe were enemies almost from their first meeting when Simcoe was walking around Setauket like he owned the place. He was one of those guys who thought they knew everything and believed he was better than anyone. All he cared about was power which was evident when it came to his relationship to Major Edmund Hewlett, played by Torchwood’s own Burn Gorman (Hewlett was in command at Setauket and for most of the series Abe used him and played him like a fiddle to get him to do what was best in order to mover along each mission and gain information for Ben and Washington). When Simcoe got some real power in the command of the Queen’s Rangers he used them to try and kill his enemies. Abe and Simcoe were the definition of good vs evil. Every time they met the friction that came across the screen was electric. Bell and Roukin made these two men come (back) to life and every second was a joy to watch, a week after it and I still got goosebumps after watching their final fight. SIMCOE

And then there is the one “character” in this series that I knew a thing or two about before but now feel I have better insight of- General Benedict Arnold portrayed by Owain Yeoman (I don’t know what is worst portraying a traitor or being an undercover Brit, where was that accent during The Mentalist?) History nerd alert-If you visit the Historical National Park and Battlefield in Saratoga NY you can see a statue of Gen. Arnold’s boot and this series picked up shortly after he was shot in the leg during that battle. Where Simcoe was evil, Arnold was an opportunist. When he didn’t receive a promotion and raise from the continental congress he and his knowledge of Washington’s tactics joined the British. Arnold would go on to marry Peggy Shippen, played by Ksenia Solo who never really loved him but grew up with money and believed Arnold was key to keeping her social status. It seemed Benedict never loved Peggy even as she became a spy in her own right as it was Major John Andre portrayed by JJ Field who was in love with her. When it became clear Andre couldn’t be with her he had an actress dress as Peggy. As creepy and out of line as that sounds John Andre may have been on the wrong side of the war but he still had a heart and Spoiler Alert while assisting in a plot devised by Arnold he was quickly hanged and I did shed a tear or two while the scene played out.

Last but certainly not least there was the man himself- General George Washington and really there isn’t anything I can say that the history books haven’t said although like with those mentioned above and the rest of the cast Ian Kahn who played the prodigious General and 1^st president was superb and made this series a treasure to watch.   

When Turn: Washington’s Spies (based on a book of the same name written by Alexander Rose) premiered it moved slowly and I was unable to follow the plot and characters but by the beginning of the second season I was hooked and involved in this real yet little known story from US history. These men and women to whom I never heard of before came alive in a TV show that stayed under the radar. I enjoyed learning about this time in our history and those on both sides. Although it was one of those shows that never got recognized by The Emmys, the storytelling was on par the best I’ve seen (and as a TV fan and amateur historian that is saying a lot) and the acting by even those in small supporting roles (they added Alexander Hamilton only after Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Musical was a hit) was excellent. Every actor knew their role and every role was important.

When a season ended I didn’t know if the show would return but Turn: Washington’s Spies had 4 good years and I for one will never forget it, in fact I may watch it in its entirely again once the finale airs. I raise a pint to the cast and crew of this one of a kind show. Thank you for teaching and entertaining me every step of the way. RIP