Hot Takes On Film

Her (2013) A lonely man falls in love with his AI assistant. This Sci Fi Romance explores AI as part of our lives and our attachments to them. There have been quite a few that explore AI embedded in a robotic body. This is one of a few that explore just the voice AI and all that entails. The production Design and color although subtle was beautiful. Her was nominated for several Oscars and is very well done and has some things to say especially with regards to their (AI) place on our world. I really enjoyed this one. Find it for rent on most streaming. Please Like Share and Subscribe  

  You People (2023 US) a young Jewish man (Jonah Hill) falls in love with a young black woman (Lauren London). This was directed by Black-ish creator Kenya Barris. Barris co-wrote it with Hill. This romantic comedy was very uncomfortable to watch…by design. Much of the movie was about melding the two Jewish and Black families together so the couple could marry. The jokes revolved around Jewish and Black Americans and how they brought their own biases and ignorance when meeting the other. Ooof that was rough and went about as well as you would expect. Barris and Hill did a great job of making you feel that discomfort as if you were in the room. I loved that Hill personified the audience and was desperately trying to avoid the looming train wreck. Look over there, what’s that? That’s actually good directing and writing. There was an awful lot of acting and comedy talent in this which was fun to watch. Rotten Tomatoes scored it at 42% and I’m thinking they once again missed the point and

  It’s Friday and that means it’s # FemaleFilmmakerFriday and todays entry is Love and Basketball (2000 US). This romance drama was directed and written by Gina Prince-Bythewood. When my daughter was a toddler she referred to basketball as spacketball. So anyway I do love spacketball and there were a lot of shots of the game including circa 2000 Lakers and Sparks. I felt like Leonardo DiCaprio in that meme. Omg look!!!! But we went through a phase where romance films had to have a loser (someone innocent and nice gets dumped) and often depicted unhealthy relationships. I really wanted to like this but it was filled with that. It was very well done with a killer soundtrack but when you spend the entire film shaking your head in disapproval of some of the characters choices it’s hard to stay in it. It’s very well directed but kind of dated. The spacketball aspect was awesome. Find it on HBO, Tubi and Amazon or for rent on most streaming. Please Like Share and Subscribe

Bros (2022 US). Billy Eichner stars in this gay rom com about a couple who have to get over themselves to get together. This was really well done and certainly an engaging story. Bowen Yang had a small but hilarious role. Worth the price of admission right there. Eichner had some very choice words for movie goers after the movie didn’t do so hot at the box office. Here’s what I think happened. First of all very few movies do well at the box office rn. Second is Eichners character came across as angry. He had a beautiful arc but you had to wade through a good chunk of the movie with him like that. With everything going on atm that’s a tough sell. I don’t know about you but I have muted or blocked so many people that every effing post is an angry rant. Don’t want to hear it. And third, there was definite homophobia involved. It’s on Peacock right now and for rent on most streaming. Please Like Share and Subscribe  

  Shotgun Wedding (2022 US) Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel star in this rom com action about a couple on a destination wedding on an island which is invaded by pirates. This is the perfect # SuperBowl counter point. Kinda dumb, a lot of fun and kinda funny. JLO and Duhamel work well together as the second time around bride and groom. Geez JLO is so fit. Duhamel plays an aging baseball player. Shotgun Wedding has a deep talent pool with the gorgeous Lenny Kavitz, Cheech Marin and Jennifer Collidge. Marin is a bit subdued but delivers the best line in the film with “Thanks Carol”. Hilarious !! Don’t worry you will get it when you see it. Jennifer Coolidge with a machine gun is worth the price of admission right there. Find it on Amazon but not seeing it for rent. Please Like Share and Subscribe

  Meet Cute (2022 US). This Rom Com SciFi stars Kaley Cuoco and Pete Davidson. Hot mess Cuoco discovers a nail salon which has a Time Machine disguised as a tanning bed. On a whim Cuoco travels back 24 hours and meets Davidson. Cuoco seems to be playing lovable messes lately. Her character is very similar to Cassie in Flight Attendant on HBO. If you liked that you will like this film. Although, I do feel like I want to hug her and ask her “Oh sweetie, are you ok?”. This had some really lovely shots in it from Director Alex Lehmann and Cuoco and Davidson had great chemistry. I found it to be quite endearing but just gloss over the tanning booth Time Machine and those pesky paradoxes. If you can do that this was a sweet, enjoyable film. PS if you are wondering if it’s similar to Hot Tub Time Machine, it is not. Find it on Peacock. I don’t see it for rent. Please Like Share and Subscribe

  Decision to Leave (2022 S. Korea) written and directed by the insanely talented Park Chan-Wook. If you are like me and watched Parks “Old Boy” and now need serious therapy because you didn’t get a warning, thanks Josh, then you will be happy to know that he’s done traumatizing the world. The president of S. Korea had a little chat with him and he will now be using his powers for good instead of evil. Decision to Leave is good old fashion neo-noir complete with a helluva femme fatale for the romance aspect. Wow she was good. Park does not need high contrast and German Expressionism to make his noir. He has his own rules. The buzz last year was that Park would clean up like Parasite did at the Oscars. But nope! snubbed. WTF Oscar? We need to talk. You can rent this masterpiece on most streaming and free on Mubi.

  Casablanca (1942 US) “Of all the gin joints in the world this was the closest to my house” (Alan Tudyk on Resident Alien). I know so many of you have seen this but on this day of the Bowl of Super is a great time to rewatch this super classic. I’m also kinda hearing that it’s getting a bit lost in the sands of time and there are quite a few who have not seen it. That’s not OK. So grab someone who hasn’t seen it, tie them to a chair and force their eyelids open. They will thank you by the time Bogie says the famous line “We will always have Paris”. If they press charges tell the judge it was to watch Casablanca. They will totally understand. (Disclaimer: don’t do this.) After all in polite society knowledge of one of the most perfect movies ever made is required. Find it on HBO and Amazon and available to rent on most streaming. Please Like Share and Subscribe

  Warm Bodies (2013 US) here is a different one for you, romance/horror. A zombie and a regular human fall in love. This may seem weird and you would be right. Writer director Jonathan Levine does a good job making the allegory of modern life. The one thing I noticed most was the connection between working in a corporate office environment and being a zombie. Yup, yup, yup nailed it. Most scholars equate the effect of technology on humanity and zombies. However, Levine expands on that concept pointing out how love transcends all. I’m not a zombie fan especially the zombie apocalypse. As I said before I think it’s been harmful, gratuitous and toxic. I knew someone who had a sincerely held belief that the zombie apocalypse would happen. BUT being a clear allegory makes it more positive especially having a lovely end. I enjoyed it. Find it on Peacock and for rent on most streaming. Please Like Share and subscribe

Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961 US) based on the Truman Capote novel of the same name. Holly GoLightly(Audrey Hepburn) a troubled high priced hooker meets a writer (George Peppard) moonlighting as a gigalo. To be clear Hot Mess Holly is a hooker and not a socialite like IMDB said. She charged $50 to go to the powder room. Although, Capote said he saw her more as a Geisha. This is one of my favorites. Hepburn and Peppard play hot messes but they get each others brand of mess and can appreciate it. Oh that dress. What iconic! so wow! Hepburn, who can’t sing, was convinced to do a beautiful rendition of Moon River. The film won an Oscar for the soundtrack. Now let’s move to the 600 lb gorilla in the apartment next door, the racist yellow faced performance of an Asian neighbor by Mickey Rooney. Some broadcasters are taking out those scenes before airing it. I say do it. It adds nothing to the film and is soooo cringe. Unlike the racism jokes in Blazing Saddles, who broadcasters love to censor

  Only Lovers Left Alive (2014 US) Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton play an old married couple in this horror romance. A depressed vampire (Hiddleston) reunites with his wife (Swinton). When I saw the log line for this I thought there would be some manner of reconciliation and redemption but nope Swinton was just in Tangiers having fun with her friends. When she finds out that her husband was super depressed she rushes back. Married in 1865 these two were literally an old married couple and writer director Jim Jamusch made a point of showing that several times and that was so sweet. I loved the line “well I suppose we should get up and get rid of the body”. The plot kinda meanders on a not clear path and it works. Jamusch also made a point of making Detroit and Tangiers almost a character in the film. I loved it but be prepared this is also horror and there are dead bodies. Find it on HBO Hulu and Amazon and available to rent on most streaming. Please Like Share and Subscribe

  Angel-A (2005 FR) Directed by Luc Besson. A down and out man wants to end it all on a bridge until he meets an Angel and falls for her instead as she works to improve his outlook. I just love this one. If it feels like “Its a Wonderful Life” you would be right. I love how Besson cast a tall super model and put her in high high heels to give her an ethereal look. The cinematography is stunning. Critics complained about the clunky dialogue but I just didn’t get that much. It may have been because of the translation into English. Maybe in French it was like that. Find it on Tubi for free or for rent on most streaming. Please Like Share and Subscribe

  The African Queen (1951 US). Humphrey Bogart and Captain Janeway, whoops I mean Katherine Hepburn star in this classic about a spinster missionary who talks a river boat captain into taking a trip up the river and to destroy a German gunship. Based on the novel of the same name. Like a lot of films of the day they bickered a lot. I wonder if relationships at the time were like that. But they did get their poo poo together to survive the African river and the Germans and to fall in love. Eventually they stopped bickering. The implication throughout the film was that god was on their side for this mission because of Hepburn’s faith. This is one of my favorites. It was nominated for an Oscar in multiple categories and Bogie won for best actor. I’m really surprised though that director John Houston didn’t win in his category cuz that was a hard shoot. There was some criticism that the film shot in Africa, had no people of color in it. While that is true it did not have many people in it

 West Side Story (2021 US) Directed by Steven Spielberg. Don't get me wrong the 1957 Robert Wise version is just stunning too. I just liked the updated version. My first thought upon hearing about this film is why would you want to remake such a classic, but I'm glad I watched it. Spielberg did a great job with all aspects but the casting really caught my eye. Triple threat Rachel Zegler as Maria just knocked it out of the park. Oh and those dresses. Spielberg does a great job of heartfelt movies and this was no exception. I'm not a big fan of musicals but I really loved this one and also Hamilton. Spielberg really utilized lens flares here. Star Trek has gone nuts with lens flares so I'm a bit overloaded with them but it worked well for him.  I was watching a documentary of the filming of this. The school dance scene looked particularly hard to shoot with sooo much going on so it took awhile.  Rita Moreno was cast in a matronly role and acted as an anchor on the film.

  To Have and Have Not (1944-45 US) omg this movie. So much to say. This classic was directed by Howard Hawks with cinematography by Sidney Hickox. A romance for the ages blossoms against the backdrop of WWII France. NVM the plot this was all about Bogie and Bacall. They met and started their affair on this film. Bogie was married at the time but they were having a lot of problems, like she stabbed him kind of problems. Bacall was 19 and Bogart was 25 years older but their on screen chemistry was so legendary that Hawks changed the script so Bacall was the one Bogie left with. Bacall was very nervous on this and was shaking a lot. Bogie told her to lower her chin to hide it. But that made her have to look up. Hence was born the “F*ck around and find out look”. Hickox had over two decades of solid experience behind the camera. When noir started to become popular he leaned into it and brought the look to this film. This film is not noir, but it comes close. Hawks and Hickox would later

  Gilda (1946 US) starring Glenn Ford and the OG hot mess Rita Hayworth. Technically and by many accounts it’s noir but I do think the noir took a back seat to relationship drama. Hayworth plays the title role and femme fatale Gilda. Gilda is a hot mess too and creates a lot of heartache for club owner Glenn Ford. I kinda liked the film and Hayworth really grabs your attention especially when she gets going. You just don’t know what brand of trouble she is getting up to. But I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t more noir. So here is your warning. Ford had a reputation for being a womanizer and had a fling with Hayworth even getting her pregnant. Oddly Ford comes across as kinda cold in this film while Hayworth is on fire spreading chaos and destruction wherever she went. Kinda like IRL. Find it on Tubi for free and for rent on most streaming.

  It’s # FemaleFilmmakerFriday and todays entry is The Fare (2018 US). Produced, written and starring Brinna Kelly. A cab driver and a passenger are stuck in a time loop. The internet is calling this a sci-fi romance. I feel like they didn’t watch it because it’s a fantasy romance and clearly so despite the time loop. If I elaborate any further I will spoil it and I don’t want to do that. I just love this film. The romance doesn’t jump out at you at first. It takes a bit but it is so worth it. Kelly and director D C Hamilton scraped together a whopping $35k for a budget and went for it. For such a low budget execution was pretty good. I think my only real complaint was the dispatcher was a bit over the top. I appreciate a clever film that has a good idea and good execution. Find it on Amazon and Tubi and a bunch of other platforms. Apple TV has it for rent at .99.

  Crazy Rich Asians (2018 US) this romantic comedy stars Constance Wu and Henry Golding. I really liked this film and more I loved the impact it made. I put this film in the same category as Black Panther which came out the same year. Huh? Asian centered films were a thing before this eg Joy Luck Club, but they like black centered films were considered niche. Like Black Panther this film made so much money they had to hall it away in a dump truck. Producers became, dare I say it, Crazy Rich. Other producers now want a piece of the action and make their own Asian centered films. 2018 was a pivotal year in America. The story follows a professor who accompanies her BF to Singapore to his cousins wedding only to find out that his family is absurdly rich. The pool of talent in this is very deep including Michelle Yeoh. What I liked about it most was that it depicted a healthy relationship, not without its problems. The problems were seen as something to work through with comedy of course. F

  Always Be My Maybe (2019 US) after Crazy Rich Asians Netflix had a hankering to get in on the action so they made this romantic Comedy. Starting Ali Wong and Randall Park and Keanu Reeves as himself, two longtime friends work through their romantic issues. I loved this one too especially the cameo by Reeves. He looked like he was having so much fun with it. Wong and Park have serious comedy chops and deliver some funny moments. Although, I would categorize the film as charming with flashes of funny. Find it on Netflix and should be available in all regions.

  Secretary (2002 US) Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader star in this in this, did I just see that, sadomasochistic relationship drama. A young woman fresh out of a mental institution gets a job with an overbearing attorney and things go sideways from there. I’m pretty sure this would not get made today as it has some troubling moments and Spader and Gyllenhaal look like they are having more fun than they should. Although, some critics feel it was more thoughtful and loving than it appears on its surface and would get made today. I actually agree that it’s a very thoughtful representation of mental illness but I still don’t think it would get made today as the surface is pretty kinky. Too much of a mine field and head f*ck. General audiences are not into nuisance right now. But if you have a hankering for something outside of the box then here it is. Just don’t watch it at work. Find it on Tubi for free and available to rent on most streaming.