Movies Of The Spirit - Page 19 of 25 -

COLETTE & THE WIFE

Dominic West (Willy) and Keira Knightley (Colette) in “Colette.”

Glenn Close (Joan) and Jonathan Pryce (as Professor Joseph Castleman) in “The Wife.”

COLETTE & THE WIFE

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

What are the chances of two films coming out just weeks from each other with the exact same theme? Unfortunately, I have seen this movie many times before, where the husband exploits and takes credit for the natural artistic talent of his wife.

“Colette” and “The Wife” feature wives, who both ghost write for their husbands, who then take credit for their wives writing, because, as explained, no one would buy a book that a woman wrote.

Colette was a real French woman, who eventually managed to break away from her first husband’s parasitic partnership, when she discovers his philandering. Colette was actually nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948.

Whereas the wife (Glenn Close) in “The Wife” gets to (spoiler alert) unravel as she participates in the act to the Nobel bitter end, as she also discovers that her husband is philandering his way all the way to the end.

And as the quote goes “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”

In comparing these two films, fiction cannot hold a candle to the real story of Colette, which is bolder, wilder and more courageous than any possible made up story as presented in “The Wife.”

Colette had the advantage of being very beautiful, which is prized in a patriarchic system. She also had a mother, who built up her confidence in herself, and she was able to attract influential lovers, and multiple husbands, who helped her stand on her own feet financially.

What is not shown in this film are her two other marriages and the birth of her own daughter, who was born in 1913.

I wanted this film to continue on, too bad, they could not find a way to tell Colette’s whole story. But then, in a patriarchic society, women are not supposed to turn the tables on their men, nor are they allowed to get old.

Colette:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colette

Actor Dominic West:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominic_West

Actress Keira Knightley:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keira_Knightley

Actress Glenn Close:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Close

Actor Jonathan Pryce:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Pryce

Director Wash Westmorland:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wash_Westmoreland

Director Bjorn Runge:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bj%C3%B6rn_Runge

The real Colette and her first husband, Henry Gauthier-Villars, Willy.

10/17/2018 # Colette & The Wife

A SIMPLE FAVOR

Blake Lively as Emily

A SIMPLE FAVOR

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Emily (Blake Lively) is the one who asks for a simple favor, and later, looks great in that orange prison jumpsuit, after she asks for it.

“A Simple Favor” is a smart, surprising, enjoyable, thought provoking, funny, and sexually intriguing mystery film.

There are lots of winning characters that each film-goer may identify with: the gay male mom (Andrew Rannells), the single mom (Anna Kendrick) , the super mom (Anna Kendrick), the career mom (Blake Lively) , the gay fashion CEO (Rupert Friend) , the good natured, warm hearted, insightful Black investigator (Bashir Salahuddin), the foreign national trophy husband (Henry Golding), the guilt ridden widow (Anna Kendrick), and last, but not least, the dynamics of being a twin (spoiler alert).

The music is another character. Composer Theodore Shapiro has great taste. I thoroughly enjoyed the French music. I was not aware that Brigitte Bardot could sing, but we are treated to several of her songs in French. That alone is reason enough to see this film over and over.

One of the important questions asked is how does ones background and ones parents affect who we become as adults? How much freedom should we give children? How can parents guide their children through ego/anger/grief issues?

And, who do we choose to marry and why? Both the wife (Blake Lively) and the girlfriend Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) are jealous of the relationship that Sean (Henry Golding) has with Beth (Melissa O’Neil) his teacher assistant, who appears to have his real affection, respect and partnership.

The husband, Sean (Henry Golding) has to deal with his demons of sex and greed. His marriage to Emily (Blake Lively) is way beyond his means as a struggling writer and professor, but full of fodder for his novels.

Henry Golding is also strong in his role as the “Crazy Rich Asian.”

I have seen this film twice, and enjoyed it even more the second time. I’ll be purchasing the DVD and the sound track for “A Simple Favor.”

Vlogger Stephanie (Anna Kendrick)

Actress Anna Kendrick:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Kendrick

Actress Blake Lively:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blake_Lively

Actor Henry Golding:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Golding_(actor)

Actor Andrew Rannells:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Rannells

Actor Rupert Friend:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Friend

Actor Bashir Salahuddin:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bashir_Salahuddin

Actress Jean Smart:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Smart

Cast of A Simple Favor:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7040874/fullcredits

Melissa O’Neil:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2047780/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm

Director Paul Feig:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Feig

Songs in A Simple Favor:

https://open.spotify.com/user/tunemunk/playlist/4hRN5ocMkMzKWnolpT1Rja

Brigitte Bardot and Serge Gainsbourg songs:

https://www.what-song.com/Artist/8012/Brigitte-Bardot-and-Serge-Gainsbourg

Composer Theodore Shapiro:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Shapiro

Screenwriter Jessica Sharzer:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Sharzer

Novelist Darcey Bell:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15188654.Darcey_Bell

The psychology of raising twins and multiples:

https://www.twins.org.au/news-and-events/blog/261-the-psychology-of-raising-twins-and-multiples

(l to r) Stephanie (Anna Kendrick), Emily (Blake Lively) and Sean (Henry Golding).

9/25/2018 # A Simple Favor

SKYSCRAPER

The world’s tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong, which they call “The Pearl”.

SKYSCRAPER

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Given a choice between seeing “Skyscraper” or “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” again, I would most definitely choose “Skyscraper.”

First of all, the Rock (Dwayne Johnson) still keeps himself in shape for his movies.

The Rock is the king of disaster movies. “Skyscraper” deals with the theme of urban fire, which is a timely topic in the current news.

True, it does mimic “The Towering Inferno,” but that is not the Rock’s fault. That is like saying that the events of 9/11 copied “The Towering Inferno.”

In this film, Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson) is a sympathetic former veteran, who has lost part of one leg, but still manages to create a beautiful family and a meaningful life, in spite of his situation.

Part of what makes me like this film so much is the idea of putting an entire city in one building, called the Pearl. This idea offers a solution to the problem of using up all of the environment for humans. By going up, humans can leave the environment alone.

Will’s marriage is another aspect of this story that is a winner for me. His wife, Sarah (Neve Campbell) is an equal partner. She is the surgeon, who helped him recover.

Their marriage is based on respect and trust. Both partners fight to keep their relationship intact and safe. Both partners have strong abilities that complement each other, and their love is tender, ongoing and vibrant.

Will, Sarah and their two children watch each other’s back. And, they are all allowed to be strong in their own right.

Will Sawyer does not spiral into self-pity when he loses part of his leg. Rather, he realizes that his new leg is now made of steel.

The action sequences are thrilling and the family relationship was even more thrilling for me.

I am encouraging everyone to see this movie.

The Rock in “Skyscraper”.

Director/writer/producer Rawson Marshall Thurber:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawson_Marshall_Thurber

Actor Dwayne Johnson:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwayne_Johnson

Actress Neve Campbell:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neve_Campbell

1974 The Towering Inferno:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Towering_Inferno

Sarah (Neve Campbell) and Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson).

7/30/2018 # Skyscraper

GOTTI

(l to r) John Joseph Gotti Jr. and John Travolta as “Gotti.”

GOTTI

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I understand that Rotten Tomatoes gave “Gotti” a zero, but I loved this film anyway. How can they give a true story a zero?

The Gotti story is a part of American history that I think we need to look at.

John Travolta accepted the part of Gotti, by the Gotti family. I guess it took an offer that he couldn’t refuse to make him really stretch his abilities.

This is the best role that John Travolta has ever done, using all his swaggering cool, all of his male virility, and all of his artistic charisma.

Just to make sure that I was not just under the Travolta spell, I went to a Cult Film showing of him in “Grease,” which he acted in over forty years ago. His character of Danny in “Grease” is a young John Gotti.

Neither Danny, nor young John Gotti, were the guys going to college, but they both found themselves in leadership positions based on their drive and their values.

Young John Gotti was critical of his own father, who could not support his family as a day laborer, but tried to supplement his income with gambling. There is a certain sad pathos to this.

Gotti’s biography states that after he married, he did try to go legal by taking jobs in 1962 as a presser in a coat factory and as an assistant truck driver. These aspirations did not last long.

Gotti’s son, called Junior Gotti, tells this story, through his recollection of his father, as he remembered it.

John Gotti was a loving family man. His wife, Victoria (Kelly Preston), whom he did not marry until she was on her second pregnancy, was probably the only one, who got away with arguing with him.

I sense that Gotti, himself, was motivated by his desire to vindicate his father, who lived in poverty. Gotti was quick tempered and vengeful.

His son, Junior Gotti, was given a shot at college via military school, so he was able to make a living, without resorting to crime. His desire for his father’s approval is what propelled him into crime initially.

True, this script does not show the long list of crime in which Gotti was involved, only the double crosses.

Gotti was involved with racketeering, hijacking, loan sharking, drug trafficking, bookmaking, prostitution, extortion, pornography, illegal gambling, and other criminal activities, not shown in this film.

The Italian culture in this film that we see in regards to women, is more of a guardianship, similar to that of Saudi Arabia.

And, I suppose that there was a green light to out-smart the police.

One of the best scenes is where Gotti argues with the police, who come to close down his 4^th of July fireworks party. In this scene, the illegal fireworks are better than the legal ones.

All in all, “Gotti” is a privileged view into the making of an American crime family played lavishly by one of America’s best actors, John Travolta. Hopefully, it will be out on DVD, soon.

“Send ’em up,’ says Gotti (John Travolta).

John Gotti:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Gotti

https://www.biography.com/people/john-gotti-9542186

Junior Gotti:

https://www.biography.com/people/junior-gotti-340854

John Travolta

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Travolta_filmography

Kelly Preston:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Preston

7/9/2018 # Gotti

RBG

Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female Justice, with nominator President Ronald Reagan in 1981 (far left). The four women who have served on the Court. From left to right: Justices Sandra Day O’Connor (ret.), Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Elena Kagan.

RBG

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I was more than energized by the documentary, “RBG.” So far, four women judges have made it to the United States Supreme Court. When Justice Sandra Day O’Connor retired in 2006, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the only woman on the court.

If it were up to Ginsburg, there would be nine female Supreme Court Justices. There would be no discrimination based on sex, race or age. Women would have control of their own bodies. Same sex couples would be able to legally marry. There would be no death penalty, no sexual harassment, no unconscious bias and no age discrimination. There would be gender equality, rights for workers and the separation of church and state.

We almost take these things for granted now, but before RBG, these rights, were not at all in place.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is a very determined Supreme Court Justice, who has more than earned her place on the Court.

Born in the midst of the Great Depression, now 85 years old, Ginsburg has endured many hardships as no big deal.

Her 56 year marriage to Martin Ginsburg began with her caring for her newborn daughter, her ill husband and getting both her husband and herself through law school. She not only attended her own classes, but his (bringing him the notes).

These early events established her as the alpha matriarch in their marriage.

Once through law school, her husband had no trouble finding a law firm, but at that time, no one would hire a woman, so Ginsburg was forced to turn to academia.

In Ginsburg’s upbringing, her mother, Celia, worked to help put her own brother through college, but was denied that privilege herself. Ginsburg’s mother put a lot of effort into getting Ruth an education, but then dies of cancer the day before Ruth’s high school graduation. Self-sacrifice seems to be in her blood.

After having fought for gender equality, Ginsburg now seems to be faced with ageism. She may be eighty-five years old, but as long as she can be fully effective on the court, she is not backing down from her duties.

“RBG” celebrates her accomplishments, just in case we forget to be forever grateful.

Chief Justice William Rehnquist swears-in Ginsburg as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court as President Clinton watches in 1993.

Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Bader_Ginsburg

15 Things You Should Know About Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/76804/15-things-you-should-know-about-ruth-bader-ginsburg

Biography of Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

https://www.biography.com/people/ruth-bader-ginsburg-9312041

Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Same-Sex Marriage, Women’s Rights, Health:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPict1a-xQ8

Stanford Rathbun Lecture 2017 – Ruth Bader Ginsburg:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83XnwyWg_q8

The Kalb Report – Ruth Bader Ginsberg & Antonin Scalia:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0utJAu_iG4

6/14/2018 # RBG

GAME NIGHT

(l to r) Rachel McAdams, Lamorne Morris, Billy Magnussen, Jason Bateman and Kylie Bunbury.

GAME NIGHT

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

I am reviewing this film because at least four of my cinema customers directly told me that they really loved this film.

It is a dark comedy produced by the same people who produced “Horrible Bosses.” I think what sets this film and the “Horrible Bosses” films apart is the added depth of content.

“Game Night” is about why Americans love and hate competition. The film shows us a group of friends, who get together once a week to play games.

It is about the one-ups-man-ship of constantly comparing yourself to others. It is about the constant striving to beat others. It is about sabotage. It is about an ego-based life taken to the extreme.

Jason Bateman, who was also in “Horrible Bosses,” plays Max. He stands out as the leader of this group of friends, who has an awakening, which is cradled in a lot of pain.

The entire cast ensemble is strong with many stand-out moments.

Rachel McAdams plays Max’s equally competitive and supportive wife, Annie, who catches herself, when she realizes that she is not being fully supportive.

Jesse Plemons plays Gary Kingsbury, their next door neighbor and a policeman, who is being excluded from the weekly games at a very vulnerable time in his life. Gary just lost his wife by way of divorce.

Plemons is both pathetic and endearing. When we get a look inside his home, we realize that he is one of those people, who puts others on a pedestal.

I enjoyed Billy Magnussen’s performance as friend, Ryan, who is not a couple, but rather, brings a different date every week.

Ryan’s friends criticize him for losing every week, because he brings dumb blond types with him. He responds that he does not need to win to feel good about himself.

One of Ryan’s dates, Madison (Natasha Hall), stood out for me. She is like Marilyn Monroe, because she is the only one you see, while she is there, even though she is supposed to be a minor character.

The truth is that Natasha Hall is a real brainiac. Her filmography includes credits for writing, directing and producing, not just acting.

I also loved “Game Night.” It is definitely going to be part of my DVD collection classics.

Jesse Plemons plays Gary Kingsbury, their next door neighbor.

Director John Francis Daley:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Francis_Daley

Director Jonathan Goldstein:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Goldstein_(filmmaker)

Writer Mark Perez:

http://www.tracking-board.com/game-night-screenwriter-mark-perez-on-how-the-high-concept-comedy-came-to-be/

Actor Jason Bateman:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Bateman

Actress Rachel McAdams:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_McAdams

Actor Kyle Chandler:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyle_Chandler

Actor Jesse Plemons:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Plemons

Actor Billy Magnussen:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Magnussen

Actress Sharon Horgan:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Horgan

Actor Lamorne Morris:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamorne_Morris

Actress Kylie Bunbury:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kylie_Bunbury

Actress Natasha Hall:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1706020/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm#director

5/7/2018 # Game Night

A QUIET PLACE

Evelyn (Emily Blunt Krasinski) cautions her deaf daughter, Regan ((Millicent Simmonds), to be quiet.

A QUIET PLACE

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Shush…. or you might get killed.

“A Quiet Place” is about not having a voice in a life or death setting, where your abilities are not recognized, because of your gender, a physical disability, or any other competitive disadvantage.

Why have so many people been connecting with this film?

My take away is that rather than living in a constant terrified state, where a lot of the world lives right now, this film teaches us to figure out your opponent’s weaknesses, then to take defensive action in light of that knowledge.

It could be applied to confronting a shooter in a Waffle House, or to confronting a sexist, racist boss. The theme is universal.

The older daughter, Regan ((Millicent Simmonds), is physically and emotionally ready to take on responsibilities that her father, Lee (John Krasinski), is asking a much younger son, Marcus (Noah Jupe) to do.

This film questions the importance of maintaining the long established gender roles. In a life or death situation, everyone’s abilities need to be coordinated for survival.

“A Quiet Place” also takes a look at the family unit. The film shows us a husband (John Krasinski) and a wife (Emily Blunt) with an older daughter, (Millicent Simmonds) who is deaf, a younger son (Noah Jupe) and an unborn baby.

Apparently, there are neighbors, but no effort is made to organize them.

(Krasinski and Blunt are real life husband and wife and Simmonds is deaf in real life. And, the Krasinski’s, write, direct and perform their own script.)

In this film, your family is your team, and their individual talents and abilities need to be developed to the fullest. This is no time to shelter anyone from the truth, or to deliberately keep anyone weak or in the dark about anything.

If his wife can give birth in a pool of blood, without making a sound, then the husband should be able to figure out a way to save his children without screaming.

Self-sacrifice is out of the question. The father is a vital member of the team, and the family’s chances of survival go way down without him.

I was a little puzzled about why doors were left wide open, and wondered why they could not just create a series of noise diversions in another location, if their enemy could not see, but responded to sound?

At least the female characters were not victims.

Emily Blunt was fabulous in “A Girl on a Train,” and she is just as great in “A Quiet Place,” where she is essentially the same character. Once she figures things out, she becomes a force to be reckoned with.

This film gave me a lot to think about, which I loved. It is not for the faint of heart, but is highly recommended for competitive advantage.

Saying grace, becomes a silent meditation in “A Quiet Place.’

John Krasinski Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Krasinski

Emily Blunt Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Blunt

Millicent Simmonds Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millicent_Simmonds

Noah Jupe Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Jupe

4/23/2018 # A Quiet Place

THE LEISURE SEEKER

John (Donald Sutherland) and Ella (Helen Mirren) find heaven on their road trip to old age.

THE LEISURE SEEKER

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Sometimes it takes an outside eye to see the truth of a situation.

In the case of “The Leisure Seeker,” Italian director, Paolo Virzi, captures the American dilemma of aging and of marriage in our culture.

On the surface, John and Ella Spencer (Donald Sutherland and Helen Mirren) are perfect for each other. They appear to enjoy all the privileges of being secure financially and socially.

During their road trip from Wellesley, Massachusetts, down the coast to Key West, Florida, we get to look under the hood of their marriage, its dynamics, and what has held their marriage together for nearly 50 years.

He is a successful, distinguished college professor, and she is the warm, gregarious wife and mother of their two children, a boy and a girl, Jane and Will (Janel Moloney and Christian McKay).

However, in a culture that is voraciously competitive, even the slightest of weaknesses can be seen as an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

How does love express itself in such an environment?

When Ella was pregnant, the beautiful, next door neighbor (Kirsty Mitchell) takes advantage of the situation, and the neglected, husband, John, betrays the trust of his wife, Ella.

Lucky John, he is surrounded by women who love him, his wife, his neighbor and his daughter. Being the successful breadwinner, his future is protected, even in his current state of dementia.

Dementia has never been so charming thanks to Donald Sutherland. John lives in the present, with no judgement of situations or of people. He seems to enjoy every moment, whether he is in a crummy rest home or a Trump rally or at Hemmingway’s last home.

His moments of lucidity are few and far between. But, he is endearing in every situation.

I recently watched “Milton’s Secret,” which also stars Donald Sutherland as a benevolent grandfather, who steps into the life of his grandson, with the wisdom and grace of an American baby boomer.

That movie has a very different perspective. In “Milton’s Secret,” granddad is totally independent and is a good problem solver. He is in, helps solve some problems, and then he leaves, before he becomes a burden.

I have to congratulate Sutherland for his many recent portrayals of aging American men. He also recently tackled the role of John Paul Getty, in “Trust” a new FX series, which began on March 25^th.

Back to “The Leisure Seeker,” how does Ella keep John interested?

She has this story of her first love, who mythically fawned over her in an effort of win her love. She gives her husband a competitive bar to reach.

Dick Gregory has an interesting cameo as her first love, who is now in a crummy rest home. No accident that he is Black, the American standard of virility.

Helen Mirren does have her moments as Ella. The most striking is when she scares off two young thieves with her gun, telling them, “We’ve got nothing to lose!” She exhibits her strength of character that has made her a winner throughout her marriage.

How do their children turn out? Their daughter, Jane, is the successful one. She marries, becomes a college professor, just like dad, and has two children as well.

John and Ella’s son, Will, loses at the game of life. He is gay, which prevents him from openly having a normal life.

So, he devotes himself to taking care of his aging parents, always feeling less loved, less appreciated, and a victim of less self-esteem.

The problem of parents getting older in a competitive society, is that they can no longer maintain their independence.

In America, aging parents are a burden, worth more dead, than alive.

The conclusion is that Americans are no good at leisure. They need to be independent, active and useful.

This is not just an American dilemma. In Italy, by 2024, it will already have more than 1 million people over the age of 90.

And, worldwide, the elderly will form an increasingly large proportion of the population in most countries.

In America, if you do not have money, if you do not have good health, you might find yourself doing what John and Ella end up doing.

Brace yourself for the big event, because we will all get there eventually.

Italian director, Paolo Virzi’s Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paolo_Virz%C3%AC

Actress Kirsty Mitchell Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirsty_Mitchell

Milton’s Secret 2016 – full movie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waSZXgD1Fmc

Helen Mirren, Ella, and Donald Sutherland, John, sit beside their “leisure seeker,” an aging RV that has seen its day.

3/26/2018 # The Leisure Seeker

2018 OSCAR PREDICTIONS

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Best Picture

Will win: The Shape of Water

Should win: The Post

Did win: The Shape of Water

The Shape of Water I was not feeling the love. Too violent and sadistic for me. The Post was the only film in the group that I can really get behind. It has a true, heroic story, in which a woman gets to lead the charge. Meryl Streep really knows how to pick her roles. Call Me by Your Name turned me off. It is not ok to use your employee to test the sexuality of your son. And, it is not ok for your son to use impressionable, young girls to try out his sexuality. Except for the mother, all the other females were made to look hopelessly ridiculous.

Darkest Hour Everything was going great, until we came to where Churchill flashes his privates at his in-home secretary. Were they trying to illustrate the Me Too movement? One thing that I did like about this film was that it spelled out what Dunkirk was all about. Apparently, the whole British army was waiting on the Dunkirk beach. That point was not made clear to me in Dunkirk. The part of me that is half French was turned off by Dunkirk. I went cold when the British turned away the French soldiers from getting on the escape boat. It was obvious that French lives did not matter to them.

Get Out was very creative, but does not help Whites or Blacks like or trust one another. Very paranoid and hurtful story. Lady Bird features the competition between mothers and daughters, where the daughter finally gets to take the high road and forgive her mother. Bad mothers seem to be a theme this year.

Phantom Thread features a weird power struggle in a love relationship, which gets solidified in the marital relationship. This is not helpful in the slightest. Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri is one of the bad mother films. I, Tonya features yet another of the daughter sabotaging moms. Why is this so important for filmmakers to point out? No thanks.

Call Me by Your Name

Darkest Hour

Dunkirk

Get Out

Lady Bird

Phantom Thread

*The Post

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

Lead Actor

Will win: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Should win: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Did win: Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Timothée Chalamet, Call Me by Your Name

Daniel Day-Lewis, Phantom Thread

Daniel Kaluuya, Get Out

*Gary Oldman, Darkest Hour

Denzel Washington, Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Lead Actress

Will win: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Should win: Meryl Streep, The Post

Did win: Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Sally Hawkins, The Shape of Water

Frances McDormand, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Margot Robbie, I, Tonya

Saoirse Ronan, Lady Bird

*Meryl Streep, The Post

Supporting Actress

Will win: Allison Janney, I, Tonya

Should win: Mary J. Blige, Mudbound

Did win: Allison Janney, I, Tonya

*Mary J. Blige, Mudbound

Allison Janney, I, Tonya

Laurie Metcalf, Lady Bird

Lesley Manville, Phantom Thread

Octavia Spencer, The Shape of Water

Supporting Actor

Will win: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Should win: Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World

Did win: Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Willem Dafoe, The Florida Project

Woody Harrelson, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Richard Jenkins, The Shape of Water

*Christopher Plummer, All the Money in the World

Sam Rockwell, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Adapted Screenplay

Will win: Call Me By Your Name

Should win: Molly’s Game

Did win: Call Me By Your Name

Call Me By Your Name

The Disaster Artist

*Molly’s Game

Mudbound

Logan

Original Screenplay

Will win: Get Out

Should win: The Big Sick

Did win: Get Out

*The Big Sick

Get Out

Lady Bird

The Shape of Water

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Best Director

Will win: Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water

Should win: Greta Gerwig,Lady Bird

Did win: Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water

Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk

Jordan Peele,Get Out

*Greta Gerwig,Lady Bird

Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom Thread

Guillermo del Toro, The Shape of Water

2/25/2018 # 2018 OSCAR PREDICTIONS

FIFTY SHADES FREED

Ana (Dakota Johnson) accepts Christian’s (Jaime Dornan) marriage proposal.

FIFTY SHADES FREED

Film Review by Marlene Ardoin

Nothing not to love in the final stage of “Fifty Shades Freed.” Everyone loves beautiful weddings, fantastic honeymoons in Paris and the French Riviera, then on to the setting of boundaries in a very modern marriage.

I think that some very important points are made in light of today’s male and female relations.

Personally, I know some women, who have had a marriage, but now seek to prolong the dating stage as long as they can, then instead of committing, they go on to the next lover.

You know who you are ladies, usually blond with a tattoo close to their breasts, who are not willing to trade bliss for a pile of dirty dishes.

Important marriage points in “Fifty Shades Freed”:

The wife gets to keep having an exciting career and her own money after marriage. Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) is a book editor, thanks to Christian Grey’s (Jaime Dornan) courting gesture. After marriage, she seeks his respect for her authority at work.

The husband does not get to take out his frustrations or anger on his wife in the bedroom. Christian is frustrated that Ana does not go straight home after work. Instead, she chooses to spend time with her friends. She makes it clear to him that she does get to have friends.

The husband does not get to turn to other women as a sounding board. He needs to communicate with his wife, instead. (Spoiler alert) Christian does not react well, when Ana tells him that she is pregnant. She reminds him that they are in this together. This is not something that involves other women.

The wife may choose to retain her maiden name for professional reasons. Ana is now Mrs. Grey, but at work, she retains the name of Anastasia Steele. Ana asks Christian to respect this.

The wife gets to retain her friends. Ana sets this boundary early. She does not intend to go home to keep the dirty dishes company.

The wife gets to do what every other woman is doing on the French Riviera. Europeans are not so prudish about exposed breasts. In fact, some circles believe that tightly constricted breasts, may lead to breast cancer.

The wife gets to spoil her man in the kitchen, and he gets to spoil her back, by learning how to cook. Ana has mastered the perfect steak, the least that Christian can do is turn out a decent pasta.

The wife needs to learn how to set boundaries for other designing women in her husband’s life. (Spoiler alert) Ana lets a female architect know that when on the job, she needs to dress and act in a more respectful manner. Also, the architect does not get to demolish a home that Ana thinks is beautiful.

The wife needs to be strong, smart, capable of making quick decisions and is well able to defend herself. (Spoiler alert) Ana takes a hand gun and the bank official’s phone, which requires a lot of thinking on her feet, in a very tight and dangerous situation.

And, last but not least, the husband needs to learn to trust his wife and needs to learn how to express his feelings. (Spoiler alert) Christian is not able to cry, but in this one scene, he does manage to cry. Well, almost. I got the impression that they both laughed their heads off, while trying to do this scene, and the best they could do was to fake it. No close ups of Christian’s eyes, which would have made this scene. Too bad.

If you can think of anything else that belongs on this list, please let me know.

Their first dance as husband and wife.

Dakota Johnson’s Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakota_Johnson

Jamie Dornan’s Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamie_Dornan

Director James Foley Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Foley_(director)

Screenwriter Niall Leonard Bio:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0502727/

Author E.L. James Bio:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._L._James

Ana (Dakota Johnson) switches seats with Christian (Jaime Dornan), so she can drive.

2/10/2018 # Fifty Shades Freed