Wind River

Wind River (2017)

Written and directed by Taylor Sheridan

Stars:  Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Graham Greene, Kelsey Asbille, Apesanahkwat, Gil Birmingham, Tantoo Cardinal, Tokala Black Elk, Martin Sensmeier, and Tyler Laracca

When I mentioned Frozen River on Twitter, a user recommended this movie to me. I am unfamiliar with Taylor Sheridan's movies. Seeing this movie, I want to dive into more of his filmography.

A Wildlife officer, Cory Lambert (Renner) is out in the wilderness when he discovers the body of a young woman, Natalie (Asbille). Since the body was near the Wind River Indian Reservation, the FBI sends an agent, Jane Banner (Olsen) to investigate what happened to her.

The main mission of this movie is to bring to light the plight of Native Americans in reservations. I know the statistics. It is staggering. There is a disproportionate amount of missing women. There is an exorbitant amount sexual assault, domestic abuse, unsolved murders, drug abuse, suicide rates, etc. It's scary. The average American will not know about the rates.

I'm glad that Sheridan made one of the characters be the eyes and ears of the audience with Jane. The way things are done are not the same as it is on the reservation. It has its own set of rules.

I enjoy movies that center around the characters, fleshing them out. Making the environment its own character. Setting the mood throughout the entire movie.

The one big gripe about the movie is a certain flashback scene. I understood why it was there, but I wish things were more ambiguous.

Rating: 8/10

Best Picture Nominee Movie Catch Up: Dunkirk

Dunkirk (2017)

Written and directed by Christopher Nolan

Stars: Fionn Whitehead, Mark Rylance, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Tm Hardy, Aneurin Barnard, James D'Arcy, Barry Keoghan, Harry Styles, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy

Christopher Nolan's movies as of late have been more misses than hits for me. There is a disconnect about what Nolan wants the audience to feel than the audience trying to understand what he is conveying. I was not hooked in from jumpstart.

Taking place during a week from May/June of 1940, the Allied forces are stuck at a beach in Dunkirk by the Axis, waiting to be rescued.

My biggest question was who was this movie made for. People have been bashing on this movie for the lack authenticity with what happened at Dunkirk. Why did this story need to be told?

The characters are one dimensional. You have no idea who that person is. You are following this one generic white boy with dark hair to another generic white boy with dark hair. Then, you taken to some fighter pilots with blue eyes. Next, you follow an old guy in a dinky with more generic white boys. Lastly, you can't forget the officers on the dock that appear, disappear and re-appear again.

Who are is supposed to be the anchor of the movie? I don't know. I didn't care about the characters at all. If they died, oh well.

I read that the movie won for Best Sound Mixing/Editing and Film Editing. I will give credit to the sound. It was loud. Seriously. Do not wearing headphones for this movie. It was decibel piercing loud.

Rating: 5/10

Best Picture Nominee Catch Up Movie: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh

Stars: Frances McDormand, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Lucas Hedges, Clarke Peters, Caleb Landry Jones, Abbie Cornish, Željko Ivanek, and John Hawkes

After seeing the trailer for Martin McDonagh's latest film, The Banshees of Inisherin, I realized that I did not see his most successful movie. I know that Frances McDormand and Sam Rockwell got a fuckton of awards for their performances. The movie is good, but I have some problems with it.

A grieving mother, Mildred Hayes (McDormand) takes it upon herself to erect three billboards, calling out the police for not doing anything to solve the rape and murder of her daughter, Angela. The billboards cause a stir with the Chief of Police, Willoughby (Harrelson) and hothead Officer Dixon (Rockwell) in particular.

Knowing McDonaugh's previous work, I knew that there was going to be some politically incorrect dialogues and situations. The story hinges on the billboards and how they cause an uproar in the community of Ebbing. Were the people going to be nice? No. I didn't expect them to be.

The performances by McDormand, Harrelson and Rockwell were fantastic. They deserved their nominations.

I did have some questions. What was up with the confrontation at Mildred's shop? What was the accent that Abbie Cornish had? I love McDonagh's dialogue. There were some lines that were jarring to me. I kept thinking, "No one will say that."

The tone, the atmosphere, the performance were the highlights for me.

Rating: 8/10

Get Out

Get Out (2017)

Written and directed by Jordan Peele

Stars: Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, Caleb Landry Jones, Lil Rel Howery, Marcus Henderson, Betty Gabriel, and LaKeith Stanfield

Jordan Peele's latest movie being out in theaters. I thought I would visit his first movie. Holy shit. I am floored.

Chris Washington (Kaluuya) is a photographer that is going to visit his girlfriend, Rosie Armitage (Williams) parents for the weekend. When the couple gets there, Chris has the feeling that Dean and Missy Armitage (Whitford, Keener) are hiding something.

This experience is a trippy one. As a black person or any person of color, you always have this uneasiness when you are the odd person out. When you are in a room with all white people being the only POC there, you feel uncomfortable.

From the start of the movie, I was thinking that something fucked up with gonna happen. It did happen, but not what I thought it was. The score heightened the psychological aspects of the movie. It was uncomfortable for the viewer to see.

This was a visceral experience. I don't know if all people are going to get the hidden meanings or messages that movie evokes. This was something to behold.

Rating:10/10

God's Own Country

God's Own Country (2017)

Written and directed by Francis Lee

Stars: Josh O'Connor, Alec Secareanu, Gemma Jones, Ian Hart, and Patsy Ferran

I haven't seen this movie in about four years. When I knew I was gonna hate My Beautiful Launderette, this film was gonna get me out of my foul mood. Thank you for this film existing.

Johnny (O'Connor) works for his family farm in Yorkshire. He spends his days working there and his nights drinking, puking his guts out and has casual sex with any man that shows interest.

Johnny's father, Martin (Hart) cannot work, because of a recent stroke. A Romanian nomad, Gheorghe (Secareanu) to work on the farm temporarily. Johnny and Gheorghe develop an unlikely relationship.

Let me count of the ways that I love this movie. There is not that much dialogue in the film. You can read their thoughts through those lingering glances. I love that Gheorghe came into Johnny's life to give him love. Johnny is used to having things done his way. Gheorghe challenges that with compassion, empathy and being nurturing.

The tone, the pacing, and the chemistry were impeccable.

Rating: 10/10

Pride Month Movie - Day Thirteen: Atomic Blonde (2017)

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Directed by David Leitch

Screenplay by Kurt Johnstad

Based on the graphic novel series, "The Coldest City" written by Antony Johnston and illustrations by Sam Hart

Stars: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella, Eddie Marsan, John Goodman, Toby Jones, James Faulkner, Roland Møller, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson, and Til Schweiger

I saw the trailer for this movie years ago. It wasn't on my radar to watch. Then, it was revealed that there were some sapphic scenes. Yes, there were.

The action takes place at the end of the Cold War in West Berlin. An undercover agent, Lorraine (Theron) is being interrogated by her superiors, Gray and Kurzfeld (Jones, Goodman) about a mission that went wrong. She was trying to secure a list of undercover agents from getting in the hands of the Soviets.

When I was watching this, I kept thinking about Wanted. A similar movie with James McAvoy in it, except this time it's agents, not assassins. The positives. The soundtrack was very good. Enjoyed the songs that were peppered throughout. The action sequences were visceral, brutal and well done. If you have seen this movie, do you notice the bi flag color scheme in Lorraine's room? 

The negatives. The plot of the movie was very generic. I knew the "twist" of the movie thirty minutes before it was revealed. I believe interrogation scenes are a hit and miss with me, especially in an action movie. There is no tension or stakes, because you know that this person survives at the end.

Rating: 6.5/10