Since I last wrote, the author of 10DSFansofJaredLeto have moved. A big day following 12 years of Jared Leto loving film blogs having power. But when one blog leaves, a new rival emerges. This time, 10DowningStreetFansofOliviaColman. A popular option amongst the public, but not one here. the scenery chewing and desire to take every scene she’s in means we have doubt about this new blog. But, let’s see. At least ClactonFansOfWhiteManFilmsLikeTaxiDriverandFightClubandWolfOfWallStreetOMGThatShouldBeMyLife isn’t the opposing film blog to contend with. (That was a one time joke, I’m never typing that out again).
Anyway, loyalists will note this blog is late. I’ve been busy. I know this is the only thing to keep you alive, ready for the lull until next month, but please you addicts stop. Therefore, this blog will be a bit shorter, focussing on a smaller sample of films from the month. Therefore, I won’t tell you how average Long Legs was (A silence of the lambs wannabe) or how I Saw the TV Glow was wonderfully stylish but the substance felt empty. I definitely also won’t tell you how the 2 hours and 20 minutes of Fly Me to the Moon was probably the most generic film I’ve ever seen, which is an accomplishment in itself. Instead, let’s turn on Eurythmics and talk about
Kinds of Kindness is the new film from Yorgos Lanthimos, who also did Poor Things, one of my favourite films of the year so far. This film is a set of three stories (There is a word for it which I’m not googling). In the first, Jessie Plemons’ character will do anything for his boss Willem Dafoe, who pays him and sets up a comfortable life for him. Things begin to go awry when he is asked to kill a man. In the second story, Plemons is convinced his wife, played by Emma Stone isn’t who she says she is. In the third, they run a cult looking for someone who can resurrect the dead. There is a small cast used in all three stories. However, the stories aren’t related.
This is Yorgos back to his weirdest, and his most emotionally detatched. Fans of his style will be enamoured by this movie, however those who aren’t devotees will find it to be a bit of a slog. The second story about the fake wife is the weakest, with the first and third being moderately entertaining. However, it is a struggle to sit through almost three hours of essentially nonsense. Despite that, there are some funny moments and the film is well acted and creative. An interesting experiment, but very much only for fans of Lanthimos’ style
A good film Grandmother is something precious on screen. It gives you a feleing of warmth and trust. You see your relationship with them mirrored in those on screen. Think Minari, The Farewell, and the new film Thelma.
Despite the tacky looking trailer, Thelma really is full of heart. When the titular character, played by June Squibb in her first leading role at the tender age of 93, is scammed out of £10,000 from someone pretending to be her grandson, her family want to think about her future and whether it’s time to put her into a home. Much against this, she pairs up with a home-bound old friend and goes out to find the money. The whole film is brilliantly funny, with camera work and a score which you’d find in your classic espionage heist. This comedy only works because of the beautiful tender moments, and the vulnerabilities these characters show and have to face in their age. The film’s lead is based on the director’s own grandmother, and you can tell as this film is a beautiful love letter to all grandmothers out there.
Clearly, grumpy older lady is the flavour of the month, as the phenomeal Crossing also features a woman looking for one last adventure. This time, however, it’s a Georgian woman who brings a young neighbour to Turkey to find her transgender niece. Meanwhile, a transgender lawyer is falling in love in a co-current story and helping residents of their block. A far less comic and more dramatic piece, this sees Mzia Aribuli bring one of the year’s best performances.
The film is beautifully shot, with characters well realised. Each feels lonely in a big bustling world and full of regret. They’re all missing some form of family and regretting their actions. No character feels judged, instead a story is just told. It’s a wonderful telling of transgender characters who exist without question. They are just there. It’s a sweet, tender, grown up movie, and a much better watch, I imagine, than the latest Marvel rubbish (which admittedly I haven’t seen).
My film of the month is probably the lowest budget movie I will have seen this year. Hundreds of Beavers is a slapstick, Chaplin-esque movie about a local drunkard who wants to get revenge on the local beavers who are reeking havoc, partly to impress a girl.
Very much a loony-tunes but live action movie, every animal is a human wearing a suit. The film feels stupid, but also smart. It has an array of incredible visual gags and many things which happen are linked back later on. It’s incredibly tight and really funny. One of the most creative and most enjoyable films which will be around this year, if you’re going to try one left field movie, make sure it’s this one.
The Film Ramble 