Hot Takes On Film

  Black Snake Moan (2006 US) Christina Ricci and Samuel L Jackson star in this really NSFW drama about a female nymphomaniac (Ricci) reliving severe sexual trauma as a child and a blues man (Jackson) trying to cure her affliction by chaining her up. As promised at the beginning of # LoveFestFebruary I would feature films that are not just your garden variety rom coms. So here it is. It was uncomfortable to watch for sure but it had some very deep moments especially with regard to mental illness. I do think the point was to make you feel uncomfortable. Talking about child sexual abuse and the aftermath is very uncomfortable. Jackson in his sort of elder sage role does his best to help Ricci and not get drawn in by her advances. I love how Jackson and Ricci just were not afraid to go there. I can imagine other actors when presented with the script were like..Nope! Find it on Paramount plus and available to rent on most streaming.

 Harley Quinn: A Very Problematic Valentines Day Special (2023 US). The further we get away from the Hayes code the more fun things get. In this VDay special based on the series Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy are dating. The agent of chaos that is Harley Quinn works to give Ivy the orgasm to end all orgasms. Things go awry. Crass, well written, sweet, fun and really NSFW; but enough about me. I really enjoyed this one. In fact I’m enjoying the whole series. The writers are really taking leaps and this special was off a cliff but in the best way. It has a horny Kaiju ffs. That’s reason enough to watch it right there. Warning though, it will make you blush.  Unfortunately, it’s only on HBO.

Amelie (2001 FR) A woman who spends most of her day in her own head and making other peoples lives better, finds love for herself. This is such an endearing film. It was shot all over Paris with 80 different locations to make it feel like you are there. Director Jean Pierre Jeunet did a great job capturing Audrey Tautou’s whimsical side with camera work and production design. Jeunet also directed the much darker City of Lost Children. Unfortunately, it’s a little hard to find right now. Something to do with Miramax’s catalogue but I am hearing that it should be up and about tomorrow. If not just keep checking back and it will pop up again. 

  Loving (2016 US) Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton star in this Bio pic romance depicting Richard and Mildred Loving. For those that don’t remember or live outside the US this is the couple who were arrested in Virginia for having an interracial marriage. They sued and the case went to the US Supreme Court in Loving vs Virginia. In 1967 the court sided with the couple and interracial marriage became legal. I’m a big fan of Ruth Negga and she really did an outstanding job in this. The costumes also really stand out. I love biopics and what I loved about this was it depicted a loving relationship, not without its problems, but strong enough to overcome some very difficult intrusions in their lives. I could only imagine being arrested for something humans are hard wired to do, pair up. Ultimately, their bond made the lives of others so much better.  Find it on Netflix and available to rent on most streaming platforms.

 A Guy  Named  Joe (1943 US) a bomber pilot is killed in action and is assigned to be the guardian Angel of the man courting his “woman”. Btw she is also a pilot and a really good one. Spencer Tracy and Irene Dunne star in this Oscar winning drama that was the basis of the film Aways (1989). TBH Spencer Tracy was an arse hat through most of the film but pulled it together in the third act which you will need your tissue box for. Don’t mess with WWII women. Oh this assignment is too dangerous? You just sit right my dear and I will bomb the German munitions dump for you. Tracy was there with her as a ghost trying to talk her out of it but kinda changed his tune after she pulled it off quite easily. Producers put some cash into this cuz the aerial photography was quite grand. Although, some of it is screen background quite a bit was cameras in the air.  The models they built to blow up were quite good too. Find it on HBO or to rent in most streaming. #LoveFestFebruary #Film #Films #FilmFa

 Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Sage (2020 US) This deliciously stupid musical romcom stars Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams as the singing duo Fire Saga. I've noticed that Farrell can put people off and sometimes rub you the wrong way. However, I do feel that this is some of his best work down the rung a bit from Elf. McAdams plays the foil to Ferrell's stupidity and he is quite stupid. It does mock Eurovision Song Contest and I hear that it did not piss off that many people. I didn't know that was a thing anymore. Ill have to get in on that "not hating stuff" action. It seems fun. The song at the end was really quite good and was nominated for an Oscar for best original song as well as a Grammy. The song was "lit". Am I allowed to say that being over 21 and all? Anyway, it came out just after Eurovision cancelled because Covid was wreaking havoc and we were all stuck inside. I loved some of the appearances of Eurovision contestants, not that

  Naked (2017 US) For those that are new here I will let you in a secret. I love the time loop sub genre of scifi even the really goofy ones like this one. Marlon Wayons wakes up naked in an elevator the day of his wedding. Also starring Regina Hall and the Allstate "your in good hands" guy. He repeats the loop until he gets it right. Billed as a RomCom its actually Rom Com SciFi. OMG Rotten Tomatoes gave it a )% so this is a must see. BTW critics hate comedy but the truth is that comedy is effing hard to do. Directed by veteran comedy director Michael Tiddes who has a history of working with the Wayans Bros and getting the best out of them. I love how they discuss the rules of the time loop genre and even reference Groundhogs Day as if it was a documentary. This flick was all about Wayans. His timing is spot on and he loves physical comedy too which for the record is really hard. Its snowing in Los Angeles so this is the perfect movie to snuggle up on the couch with hot coco

 Entergalactic (2022 US) Based on themes in the music of Kid Kudi this highly stylized animated romance drama also features the songs of Kudi. An Artist moves into a Manhattan apartment and falls in love with his photographer neighbor. Both of them must have been doing good to afford an apartment in Manhattan. The script was solid relationship drama but not particularly stand out. OH but the animation and artwork was just stunning. Every scene was a beautiful tableau that the master of  Mis En Scene, Miyazaki, would be envious of. The artists were particularly adept at movement and color. I thought at first it was rotoscoping a live image because the movement looked so natural, but nope. This was good old fashion talent and no doubt worked off of models. I just loved the color work in this. The soundtrack by Kudi was outstanding and gave the film an extra layer. In fact the animation, color and sound all added to a layered experience to enjoy. Its a Netflix original and should be avail

 Border (2018 SW) From the writer of Let The Right One In (John Ajvide Lindqvist) comes this bonkers love story of Border Agent Tina and drifter Vore. I have decided this belongs in the #ShitMyEyesAreBuring  box but not in the #WTFWednesday  box and here is why. Blue Lagoon takes your hand and guides you into a decency void that nobody belongs in. This film does not take your hand and guide you into anything except a relationship drama. You go to weird ass places all by yourself. When you do realize your own inherent sensibilities that help you navigate the day told you to turn left into a muddy field, you get kinda salty. This film gave audiences a significant reaction. That takes talent both in directing and writing. I challenge you to challenge your own software and watch this with an eye on how you feel and why you feel that way. Another standout of this film is make up. These two actors look nothing like this photo. Find it on Hulu and Amazon and for rent on most streaming. #LoveF