Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
It seems that every film that I go to see this year, is featuring a beloved, older star, who is over 60.
One older patron thought it was because the younger set stream everything, so they are trying to woe the older film goers.
For me, the newer actors and actresses, all look like kids.
I grew up with these older stars, or we somehow grew up together, and I do not want to see them go.
Am I prejudiced and discriminating on the grounds of age to prefer older actors, like Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, Sam Neil, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michelle Yeoh, Liam Neeson and Maggie Smith?
It may be easy to push a relative into a nursing home to die, but I just cannot imagine doing it to my favorite film stars.
I often say that if you live long enough, you will live to experience ageism, where we stereotype elders and have negative attitudes towards them.
We isolate them to the point that it undermines who they are as people, causing them to feel depressed, which can shorten their life.
Our not taking them seriously is life threatening to them, causing them cognitive decline, followed by physical decline.
At which point, life becomes pointless and not worth living.
However, that does not seem to be the case with certain aging actors and actresses.
I cannot imagine how I will feel if they go.
Even the undertaker does not want them to die.
Personally, I cannot live without them.
“Elvis”
Elvis
Trailer: https://youtu.be/2E52kIgSnuE
Wiki: Elvis (2022 film) – Wikipedia
Wiki: Elvis Presley – Wikipedia
Wiki: Colonel Tom Parker – Wikipedia
History vs Hollywood:
Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis Movie vs. the True Story of Elvis Presley (historyvshollywood.com)
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
If you are in your 70’s or 80’s, you remember Elvis, because he was a big part of your growing up in the 1950-1970’s.
The film “Elvis”, captures that era, but because it was made by Australian filmmakers, it may not exactly understand the American pressures that Elvis (Austin Butler) endured during that era.
This film puts all the blame on his manager, Colonel Thomas Andrew Parker (Tom Hanks), for Elvis’s downfall, but a lot of it had to do with Elvis’s own choices.
He chose to love the Black American culture, at a time when Blacks were being hung, shot and segregated in America.
He chose to take amphetamines and sleeping pills to continue his career and to overcome the forces set against him.
He chose to pursue a relationship with Priscilla, who was ten years younger than himself.
And, he chose to leave the finances to others, rather than keeping an eye on that responsibility himself.
Actor Austin Butler does bring back the spirit of Elvis for everyone to enjoy.
A common remark after seeing this film is “I wish there was more of his music.”
Not brought up in the film is the fact that the Colonel was married during the course of his career of managing Elvis.
His first wife died of chronic brain syndrome in 1986, preceded by signs of dementia, which might have shifted sympathy in the Colonel’s direction.
The Colonel was also not an American.
He was Dutch, but without a passport, which was a possible reason he did not encourage Elvis to travel outside of the United States.
“Elvis” brings the king back to life, so that we all get to walk in his very large shoes.
“Jurassic World Dominion”
Jurassic World Dominion
Trailer: JURASSIC WORLD 3: Dominion Trailer (2022) – Bing video
Wiki: Jurassic World Dominion – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
I rest my case with this film, Jurassic World Dominion, where the older couple, played by Sam Neill and Laura Dern outshine the younger couple.
The twinkle in Sam Neill’s eye says it all.
Physical beauty and virility cannot compete with world experience and that nothing to lose attitude of the older set.
Jeff Goldblum, in my opinion, was the star of this film.
He has all the best lines and is so sardonic and on point, all the time.
I especially enjoyed (spoiler alert) his interpretation of getting fired from the worst boss in the world, the evil head of Biosyn Genetics.
Goldblum’s lecture to his younger students was also great.
The major takeaway from this film is that if greed and avarice are not brought under control, life as we know it and the whole food chain will collapse.
A very timely theme, with a conclusion that we cannot bully our way out of this.
“Top Gun Maverick”
Top Gun Maverick
Trailer: Top Gun: Maverick – Official Trailer (2022) – Paramount Pictures – Bing video
Wiki: Top Gun: Maverick – Wikipedia
Wiki: Kelly McGillis – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
Has it really been 35 years, since the first Top Gun Movie?
First, I pulled out the VHS Tape from my collection to re-watch the first film with Tom Cruise and Kelly McGinnis.
Then, I went to the Tuesday opening show of the 2nd Top Gun movie.
I cannot remember when I have ever seen so many elderly people with walkers coming out to see any movie, which also happened to be on Memorial weekend.
Nothing personal, but the bar maid love interest in Maverick, could not hold a candle to the aeronautics specialist that McGinnis played.
When I mentioned this to another movie goer, it was pointed out to me that she was not a bar maid, but a business owner.
Then Val Kilmer, who had throat surgery, was nowhere near his former self, just 35 years ago.
Why do some people age rapidly and others stay young forever?
I am partial to the first film, but if you have never seen the first film, the 2nd film was extremely well done.
How dare they push Maverick (spoiler alert) into a teaching position, just because they think that he is too old to carry out a fighter jet mission?
Tom Cruise keeps behaving like he did 35 years ago, while the other commanders want him to behave like an old person.
Then, there is the son of Maverick’s former partner, who died in the first film.
He, who holds a grudge against Maverick, until he doesn’t.
The movie stands on its own feet, but why does Maverick need to act like he is old?
This is the classic attitude of ageism, if I have ever seen it.
“Downton Abbey : A New Era”
Downton Abbey : A New Era
Trailer: DOWNTON ABBEY: A NEW ERA – Official Trailer [HD] – Only in Theaters May 20 – Bing video
Wiki: Downton Abbey: A New Era – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
I love that Maggie Smith’s character gets to have an intriguing past love life.
Her character inherits a French villa, but her choice to not return to it, proves fatal.
One moment she appears happy and feisty, then after her family’s trip to France, she declines rapidly.
She is beloved, because she is the one member of the family, who is attentive to the well-being of each member of the family.
Her granddaughter finds it difficult to be faithful to a husband, who is off doing his own thing.
In my opinion, this absent husband deserves a divorce.
A marriage means that both individuals are present and contributing their support.
Otherwise, that is a recipe for divorce.
Maggie’s son seems preoccupied with loyalty to his father, and is oblivious to the well-being of his wife, or anyone else.
Considering the conditions of his current circumstances, being the bastard son of a Frenchman, should be the least of his worries.
Maggie Smith is such a great example of an aging woman at her best, but for whatever reason, she chooses to no longer engage.
She is without a doubt the center of this family and of the Downton Abbey series.
“Memory”
Memory
Trailer: Memory Trailer #1 (2022) | Movieclips Trailers – Bing video
Wiki: Memory (2022 film) – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
If there is one word that scares the hell out of old and young alike, it is Alzheimer’s disease.
And, Liam Neeson attacks this topic as only he could, with his fatalistic positivity, which gives this film the twist that it needs.
His hitman character makes it clear that while he may be experiencing cognitive decline, he is not experiencing moral value decline.
A recurring theme in his films is his aversion to human trafficking.
His character does not harm children, and he can be fatal to anyone who does.
After visiting his brother in an Alzheimer’s ward, he resolves to give his all to living, so long as he can independently function.
He is well aware of his ultimate fate.
I loved the honest wisdom of this film.
If one manages to live into old age, one will no doubt cherish this film as a cult film for the elderly.
“Everything Everywhere All at Once”
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Trailer: Everything Everywhere All At Once | Official Trailer HD | A24 – Bing video
Wiki: Everything Everywhere All at Once – Wikipedia
Film Review by Marlene Ardoin
You may have heard of the male mid-life crisis, but in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”, we get to experience the female mid-life crisis.
Evelyn (Michelle Yeoh) seems unhappy with her own life choices, marriage, husband, financial situation in this film.
And, Deirdre (Jamie Lee Curtis) plays a crazy, middle-aged, female IRS inspector, who threatens to take everything altogether away from her.
Here we have an aging female, who feels victimized by her own choices in life and feels powerless in her ability to make new choices at this stage of her life.
If you are an aging female, you will be able to relate.
Also, aging males will be able to relate.
And, if you are not young anymore, you will be able to relate, period.
7/2/2022 # AGEISM – “Elvis”, “Jurassic World Dominion”, “Top Gun Maverick”, “Downton Abbey: A New Era”, “Memory” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once.”