Reel Recap: September 2019

In case you missed my Doctor Sleep review or my first Reel Recap, I'm starting a new review format called "Reel Recap." This will enable me to write brief thoughts on everything I watch monthly going forward. In this second Reel Recap, I'm going to cover every 2019 release I watched in September. This includes Luce, Hustlers, The Goldfinch, Ma, Missing Link, Climax, Brittany Runs A Marathon, Official Secrets, A Vigilante, Arctic, and The Beach Bum.

Reel Recap: September 2019

Luce - Watched September 6, 2019

Synopsis: A married couple is forced to reckon with their idealized image of their son, adopted from war-torn Eritrea, after an alarming discovery by a devoted high school teacher threatens his status as an all-star-student.
Runtime: 109 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for language throughout, sexual content, nudity, and some drug use)
Who should see it? Adults who are interested in dramatic indies.

Serving as an adaptation of J.C. Lee's stage play, Luce is directed by Julius Onah and features a screenplay co-written by Onah and Lee. As of writing this Reel Recap, Luce remains one of the most compelling films I've seen all year. Primarily because it challenges its audience to question the truth they're presented. Luce is an impressive exercise in subtlety and intrigue. Beyond that, it's well-crafted, and the tightly-knit ensemble is exceptional across the board. Octavia Spencer straddles the line between concerned and vengeful as Luce's teacher Ms. Wilson while Andrea Bang impresses when relaying trauma. Naomi Watts and Tim Roth portray a pair of conflicted parents who must reevaluate their trust in their son, and the two offer a convincing depiction of that dilemma. All the while, Kelvin Harrison Jr. anchors the affair with a multifaceted performance that leaves you uncertain of Luce's intentions till the very end.

Film Assessment: A-

Hustlers (2019) - Watched September 13, 2019

Synopsis: A crew of savvy former strip club employees band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients.
Runtime: 110 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for pervasive sexual material, drug content, language, and nudity)
Who should see it? Adults who are interested in crazy crime dramas based on real events.

It's easy to write off Hustlers as "the stripper movie" without seeing it, but it's honestly so much more than that. Based on a magazine article "The Hustlers at Scores" by Jessica Pressler, Lorene Scafaria's latest film tells a captivating story of sisterhood and retribution. It's actually really fascinating to see how these women manipulated the system to their advantage amidst the 2008 stock market crash. Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu are incredible in it, exhibiting one of the year's bonafide onscreen friendships. Lopez exemplifies confidence and shades her performance with sinister undertones while Wu grounds the proceedings through a kinder outlook. Scafaria dazzles with a kinetic crime drama that never squanders the essential human element, proving to be very substantial beneath the surface as well.

Film Assessment: B+

The Goldfinch - Watched September 14, 2019

Synopsis: Theodore Decker was 13 years old when his mother was killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The tragedy changes the course of his life, sending him on a stirring odyssey of grief and guilt, reinvention and redemption, and even love. Through it all, he holds on to one tangible piece of hope from that terrible day.
Runtime: 149 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for drug use and language)
Who should see it? Adult fans of the novel.

Adapted from Donna Tartt's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Goldfinch is directed by John Crowley with a screenplay from Peter Straughan. Despite being one of the worst-reviewed films of the year, The Goldfinch is not the disastrous train wreck I expected. A structural mess and slog to sit through? Sure. Still, it would actually be watchable after some script revisions and a thorough trip through the editing bay. Bolstered by Roger Deakins' gorgeous cinematography and an all-star cast, The Goldfinch offers little else of interest. Like the titular painting, it's merely pretty to look at.

Film Assessment: C-

Ma - Watched September 19, 2019 (Fandango Now Rental)

Synopsis: A lonely woman befriends a group of teenagers and decides to let them party at her house. Just when the kids think their luck couldn't get any better, things start happening that make them question the intention of their host.
Runtime: 99 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for violent/disturbing material, language throughout, sexual content, and teen drug and alcohol use)
Who should see it? Adult fans of unintentionally hilarious thrillers.

Written by Scotty Landes and directed by Tate Taylor, Ma is an absurdist thriller sure to elicit a reaction from anyone. It's all a bit scrambled and tonally at odds with itself, which makes it even more exciting. More meme machine than a movie, Ma is ridiculously over-the-top and will have you laughing for all the wrong reasons. That said, Octavia Spencer matches the manic energy beat-for-beat and provides a performance that can only be described as dedicated...

Film Assessment: C-

Missing Link (2019) - Watched September 19, 2019 (Fandango Now Rental)

Nominated For: Best Animated Feature.

Synopsis: Mr. Link recruits explorer Sir Lionel Frost to help find his long-lost relatives in the fabled valley of Shangri-La. Along with adventurer Adelina Fortnight, this trio of explorers travel the world to help their new friend.
Runtime: 93 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG (for action/peril and some mild rude humor )
Who should see it? Families with young children.

Written and directed by Chris Butler, Missing Link is the latest feature from Laika Entertainment. Even after fourteen years of making stop-motion, the studio continues to astound me with their impeccable craftsmanship. Still, the story felt rather hollow and uninteresting compared to Laika's previous work, while the humor skews towards the younger demographic. On the whole, Missing Link is geared more towards young children than mature viewers. Though older audience members will no doubt be impressed by the animation and charming demeanor of a notable voice cast.

Film Assessment: B-

Climax (2019) - Watched September 19, 2019 (Prime Video)

Synopsis: French dancers gather in a remote, empty school building to rehearse on a wintry night. The all-night celebration morphs into a hallucinatory nightmare when they learn their sangria is laced with LSD.
Runtime: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for disturbing content involving a combination of drug use, violent behavior and strong sexuality, and for language and some graphic nudity)
Who should see it? Adults who are interested in watching dancers on LSD.

Gaspar Noé's Climax is a psychedelic fever dream you won't soon forget. Noé often prioritizes style over substance, choosing to turn his attention towards flashy filmmaking over a meaningful message or compelling character work. The energetic choreography and passionate performances filmed in a series of one-takes are impressionable. However, the story loses steam as it becomes clear there's little more to Climax than a dancing troupe experiencing a bad trip.

Film Assessment: C+

Brittany Runs A Marathon - Watched September 20, 2019 

Synopsis: A young woman decides to make positive changes in her life by training for the New York City Marathon.
Runtime: 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for language throughout, sexuality and some drug material)
Who should see it? Avid runners and aspiring marathon runners.

Written and directed by Paul Downs Colaizzo, Brittany Runs A Marathon is an inspiring tale of an unfit individual overcoming the odds. Though fairly by-the-books in terms of plotting and structure, the charming cast and humor compensate for the film's complacency. If you're looking for a motivator to exercise more often, Brittany Runs A Marathon is now streaming on Prime Video. So go ahead and give it a shot while shopping this Cyber Monday!

Film Assessment: B

Official Secrets - Watched September 21, 2019 

Synopsis: The true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Runtime: 112 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for language)
Who should see it? Adult and teenage fans of political thrillers based on true events.

Based on Thomas and Marcia Mitchell's book "The Spy Who Tried to Stop a War...," Official Secrets is directed by Gavin Hood and features a screenplay by Hood and spouses Gregory and Sara Bernstein. The film's quite gripping in its approach and interesting by virtue of spotlighting a lesser-known piece of history. In a cast filled to the brim with recognizable character actors, Keira Knightley, Matt Smith, and Ralph Fiennes provide strong performances. With no awards buzz or superheroes in sight, it probably flew under your radar though. Nevertheless, Official Secrets is worth watching for historical context, and it's undoubtedly more interesting than the relevant Wikipedia page entries.

Film Assessment: B

A Vigilante - Watched September 22, 2019 (Prime Video)

Synopsis: A vigilante helps victims escape their domestic abusers.
Runtime: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for violence and language)
Who should see it? Adults who are interested in revenge thrillers with minimal action.

Sarah Daggar-Nickson's A Vigilante is one of the most harrowing films I've seen all year. The choice to rarely show violence reminded me of Lynne Ramsay's latest film You Were Never Really Here, where every punch, cut, scrape, and bruise is made more impactful as a result. The same minimalistic logic prevails here. Less is more. In a role that requires her to be both emotionally distant and on the verge of a breakdown, Olivia Wilde is absolutely incredible. Wilde fluctuates between the extremes seamlessly as needed. Proving to be an assured badass when dealing with her client's abusers and susceptible herself when facing her own difficult circumstances. Some viewers may be underwhelmed by the lack of action, but Daggar-Nickson doesn't abide by the traditional revenge thriller rulebook.

Film Assessment: A

Arctic - Watched September 22, 2019 (Prime Video)

Synopsis: A man stranded in the Arctic after a plane crash must decide whether to remain in the relative safety of his makeshift camp or to embark on a deadly trek through the unknown.
Runtime: 98 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for language and some bloody images)
Who should see it? Those interested in wilderness survival stories.

Arctic is directed by Joe Penna and features a screenplay co-written by Penna and Ryan Morrison. The score and setting effectively immerse the audience in the harsh polar conditions faced by Overgård in addition to heightening his sense of isolation. With nearly no dialogue, Mads Mikkelsen lends a provocative performance as he conveys a multitude of emotions in his eyes and facial expressions. The relentless narrative depicts a convincing fictional survival account full of frigid trials and tribulations as the odds are stacked against Overgård in his struggle to survive.

Film Assessment: B+

The Beach Bum - Watched September 22, 2019 (Hulu)

Synopsis: A rebellious stoner named Moondog lives life by his own rules.
Runtime: 95 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for pervasive drug and alcohol use, language throughout, nudity and some strong sexual content)
Who should see it? Adult fans of stoner comedies.

Written and directed by Harmony Korine, The Beach Bum is a stoner comedy that may just be the most pointless film I've ever watched. Indulging in Moondog's carefree lifestyle, the narrative's entirely aimless as a sequence of random plot developments come-and-go without consequence. The cast seemed to be enjoying themselves, but I sure didn't.

Film Assessment: F