Reel Recap: January 2021

I still have several Reel Recaps drafted to share for March-December of 2020, but I thought it would be beneficial to share these more regularly. I'm still not ready to unveil my Top 10 Films of 2020 because I'd like to watch more films and catch up on reviews beforehand. I'm writing them in reverse chronological order to get the ones fresh on my mind finished first. Therefore, I've completed December 2020 and am about halfway through November 2020. Luckily, those were the months I watched the most, so it shouldn't be much longer before I finish the rest. However, I will share them chronologically, so I'll start with March-April before tackling the rest. This will be a tedious process behind-the-scenes, so thank you for bearing with me. I've also decided to write a review for WandaVision once the first season ends. 

Reel Recap: January 2021

The Departed - Watched January 9, 2021 (Netflix)

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Director; Martin Scorsese, Best Supporting Actor; Mark Wahlberg, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

Won: Best Picture, Best Director; Martin Scorsese, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

Synopsis: An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.

Runtime: 151 minutes

MPAA Rating: R (for strong brutal violence, pervasive language, some strong sexual content and drug material)

Who should see it? Adults interested in crime dramas and Martin Scorsese's filmography.

Adapted as an American remake of the Hong Kong film Internal Affairs, The Departed is directed by Martin Scorsese and features a script from William Monahan. Given Scorsese's affinity for crime dramas, it's a no-brainer that he would be drawn to this project and the right filmmaker for the job. Many of Scorsese's trademarks are present, including breakneck pacing, voice-over narration, violent crime, and a rocking soundtrack. These elements culminate nicely in one of Scorsese's liveliest motion pictures. Scorsese's longtime editor Thelma Schoonmaker continually delivers astounding results, and her Oscar-winning work here is no exception. It's impressive how much information is communicated quickly without overwhelming the viewer, and then the film moves at a perfect pace. The parallel undercover storyline between Billy and Sergeant Sullivan serves as a fascinating focal point for the narrative, adding an element of tension and suspense as their paths begin to interweave. I was also impressed by how often the film took me by surprise with sudden significant plot developments. The star-studded cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Jack Nicholson, Vera Farmiga, Martin Sheen, and Mark Wahlberg all deliver terrific performances, lending a sense of realism to their varied characters. I'm still in the process of viewing all of Martin Scorsese's acclaimed filmography, but The Departed rightfully ranks towards the top. It's no wonder this was the film to win him the Oscar for Best Director. 

 

Film Assessment: A+

Pieces of a Woman - Watched January 11, 2021 (Netflix)

Nominated For: Best Actress; Vanessa Kirby.

Synopsis: When a young mother's home birth ends in unfathomable tragedy, she begins a year-long odyssey of mourning in this deeply personal story of a woman learning to live alongside her loss.

Runtime: 126 minutes

MPAA Rating: R (for language, sexual content, graphic nudity and brief drug use)

Who should see it? Adults interested in grief-driven dramas.

Rooted in the personal experiences of director Kornél Mundruczó and his partner and screenwriter Kata Wéber, Pieces of a Woman explores the multitudes of grief. Anyone who's experienced difficulties during childbirth or a miscarriage should be forewarned that Pieces of a Woman may be tough to watch. Some scenes involving Shia LeBeouf were especially uncomfortable to watch, considering the recent allegations against him. Warnings aside, the film really only has a few things going for it. Most notably, Vanessa Kirby is exceptional in the lead role. There's a raw vulnerability to her performance that's never stretched to the point of feeling overdone. You buy into her trauma because it's genuine. The opening thirty minutes that precede the title card are the most compelling, and the film rarely matches those heights in the remainder of its runtime. The birthing scene is shot in an extended one-take, and I was impressed at how organic the camerawork felt when it could have easily come across as a flashy gimmick. Benjamin Loeb's cinematography and Howard Shore's score proved to be the film's most reliable aspects. Aside from the aforementioned elements, the film was hollow and lifeless. Pieces of a Woman is naturally a bit of a downer due to the subject matter, but the ensuing melodrama often felt contrived. The script seems unsure of itself and its grander point beyond the idea of communicating a woman's struggle to match her grieving process to others' expectations. And uneven performances from the likes of LeBeouf and Ellen Burstyn didn't help matters. While I applaud Mundruczó and Wéber for their bravery in telling a story so personal, the intended emotional beats failed to really resonate with me. 

Film Assessment: C+

One Night in Miami - Watched January 16, 2021 (Prime Video)

Nominated For: Best Supporting Actor; Leslie Odom Jr., Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Original Song "Speak Now" (written by Leslie Odom Jr. and Sam Ashworth).

Synopsis: A fictional account of one incredible night where icons Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown gathered discussing their roles in the civil rights movement and cultural upheaval of the 60s. 

Runtime: 114 minutes

MPAA Rating: R (for language throughout)

Who should see it? Adults interested in a dramatization of the night Cassius Clay became the world heavyweight champion, and the gathering of Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown that followed.

One Night in Miami is Regina King's feature directorial debut and an adaptation of Kemp Powers' 2013 stage play, with a script from Powers himself. Like most stage adaptations, One Night in Miami's limited scope continually reminds the audience of the medium its story was initially intended. King imbues the story with some visual flourishes and the occasional change of scenery to escape this feeling, but the dialogue-heavy affair never quite feels cinematic. A substantial chunk of the runtime is dedicated to a night-long conversation. Though the four lead performers ran away with the material, the relatively anti-climactic events left much to be desired. Conflict naturally accompanies the gathering of such culturally significant and strong personalities, but the ruffled feathers are quickly tidied, so it veers more toward passive-aggression. As previously mentioned, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr. each step into the shoes of four larger-than-life cultural figures and measure up to their respective legacies. The four actors also had a very lively rapport with one another, so their friendship felt authentic. The shifting topic of conversation and differing viewpoints regarding 1960s race relations are compelling, but there's little else of interest in the grand scheme of the story. However, I especially liked the narrative's central idea that a simple discussion behind closed doors would empower its participants to further leverage star power in the service of civil rights. 

Film Assessment: B

Wayne's World - Watched January 24, 2021 (Fubo)

Synopsis: Two slacker friends try to promote their public-access cable show.

Runtime: 94 minutes

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for sex-related dialogue)

Who should see it? Fans of the SNL sketch.

Based on a Saturday Night Live sketch, Wayne's World was directed by Penelope Spheeris and written by Mike Myers and husband-wife, Bonnie and Terry Turner. As I watched this for the first time, only one thing came to my mind: "This is so stupid." While I'll admit there were occasionally some clever gags and fourth wall breaks, the over-exaggerated characterization and outlandish plot elicited more eye-rolls than laughter from me. Expanding on an SNL sketch is challenging because sometimes humor works best in an abbreviated timeframe and doesn't translate well to pad out a feature-length film. In that sense, Wayne's World is a comedic time capsule. It may have been considered hilarious when released, but it hardly holds up almost 30 years later. It's so obnoxious that it's almost amusing, but not quite. 

Film Assessment: C+

The Little Things - Watched January 30, 2021 (HBO Max)

Synopsis: Two cops track down a serial killer.

Runtime: 127 minutes

MPAA Rating: R (for violent/disturbing images, language, and full nudity)

Who should see it? Adult fans of crime thrillers and Denzel Washington.

John Lee Hancock's The Little Things has lingered around Hollywood for nearly 30 years. Clint Eastwood, Danny De Vito, and even Steven Spielberg were each attached to direct at separate points, but alas, Hancock wound up helming his own screenplay. With the hindsight of watching The Little Things, it makes sense why each of those high profile directors would have chosen to walk away. Though The Little Things was written before Se7en, the number of similarities between the two is astonishing, especially considering a little over 25 years to revise the script. The difference being that Se7en makes for an enthralling viewing experience, whereas The Little Things is a tedious watch with little payoff. The film's pacing and structure were puzzling, as the story calls for a slower tempo, but Hancock repeatedly jolted ahead to the next scene before earning your interest. Circling back to the script, there was so much uninspired police jargon and unnatural human interactions that you'd think the dialogue was generated by artificial intelligence that'd been shown several police procedurals. Despite being headlined by three Oscar winners, the performances hardly register. Denzel Washington naturally possesses an intense gravitas, and that stoicism is here in spades. Still, Joe Deacon barely has any personality otherwise. Meanwhile, Rami Malek persists in having an awkward screen presence in what should be a serious role. Playing the prime suspect Albert Sparma, Jared Leto's a certified creep, so brilliant casting, I guess? In the end, it's the little things, like the lack of enticing mystery and intrigue, that hindered The Little Things from delivering a compelling narrative and made the proceedings that much duller. 

Film Assessment: C-