Reel Recap: December 2020

I know that I had previously said I would share my Reel Recaps in chronological order. However, I've changed my plans since the Academy Awards ceremony is tomorrow, and I have already completed three reviews for Best Picture nominees in this specific Reel Recap. I have a lot on my plate at the moment, but I'll focus on catching up on these in the coming months. Without further ado, this Reel Recap includes reviews for Nomadland, The Santa Clause, Home Alone, Wolfwalkers, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, News of the World, Promising Young Woman, and Sound of Metal.

Reel Recap: December 2020

Nomadland - Watched December 4, 2020 (NYFF Virtual Screening)

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Director; Chloé Zhao, Best Actress; Frances McDormand, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Cinematography.

Won: Best Picture, Best Director; Chloé Zhao, and Best Actress; Frances McDormand.

Synopsis: After losing everything in the Great Recession, a woman embarks on a journey through the American West, living as a van-dwelling modern-day nomad.
Runtime: 108 minutes

MPAA Rating: R (for some full nudity)

Who should see it? Adults interested in indie dramas.

Based on Jessica Bruder's book, Nomadland was written, edited, and directed by Chloé Zhao. Zhao's character study is an introspective drama with methodical pacing, so that may test your patience. That said, the genuine performances will emotionally move those who persevere. Frances McDormand is consistently incredible in everything she does, but she bares the deepest parts of her soul here, and it shows. Other than David Strathairn, the supporting cast are real nomads portraying themselves, and that aspect enhanced the authenticity of Zhao's narrative. Nomadland is also a film that thrives on atmosphere, and I was constantly taken aback by the grandeur of Joshua James Richards' stunning cinematography and the previously recorded music Zhao selected from composer Ludovico Einaudi. For all of Nomadland's poignancy, I discovered a disconnect. I struggled to pinpoint the exact source but kept circling back to Fern's characterization and the film's perspective. You spend the entire runtime with her, yet she remains steadfast in her convictions till an abrupt ending. I'm hard-pressed to identify any personal growth that Fern undergoes on her journey. Zhao's perspective also feels detached as a passive observer of life. As a result, the film rides the line of feeling like a documentary. Nomadland is a beautiful, human film to  behold but failed to resonate with me fully. 

Film Assessment: B+

The Santa Clause - Watched December 24, 2020 (Disney+)

Synopsis: When a man inadvertently makes Santa fall off of his roof on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.

Runtime: 97 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG (for a few crude moments)
Who should see it? Families in the holiday spirit.

The Santa Clause is directed by John Pasquin and features a script from Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick. While enjoyable at times, the film never quite exceeds the novelty of its premise. Tim Allen fully embraces the story's absurdity, and there are quite a few chuckle-worthy moments. However, I never realized just how incessantly repetitive the surface-level messaging and "becoming Santa" gimmick were. Granted, I haven't watched this from start to finish in several years, but The Santa Clause doesn't hold up too well under older eyes without the benefit of nostalgia.

Film Assessment: B-

Home Alone - Watched December 24, 2020 (Disney+)

Nominated For: Best Original Song "Somewhere in My Memory" (written by John Williams and Leslie Bricusse) and Best Original Score.

Synopsis: An eight-year-old troublemaker must protect his house from a pair of burglars when he is accidentally left home alone by his family during Christmas vacation.

Runtime: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Who should see it? Families in the holiday spirit.

Widely considered a holiday classic, Home Alone was directed by Chris Columbus and written by John Hughes. The premise of a neglected child being left behind to fend off a home invasion is just as amusing now as it was thirty years ago. I hadn't seen Home Alone in a few years and all but forgotten how much Columbus and Hughes leaned into the preposterousness of Kevin's situation. While silly and arguably sadistic at times, the film is quite endearing, in large part to Macaulay Culkin's performance. Culkin embraces the absurdity of the role and convincingly portrays an insecure kid's desperate attempt at maturity. Thanks to Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci, the Wet Bandits are surprisingly suitable antagonists for Kevin. In the wrong hands, Kevin's house traps could quickly diminish their roles as cartoonish, but the two actors struck a nice balance between intimidation and laughing stock. Roberts Blossom rounds out the primary cast quite nicely as a mysterious figure with touches of kindness. Another mind-boggling tidbit was the reminder that John Williams composed the music for Home Alone. It's easy to forget that this humble family comedy sits snuggly alongside blockbuster franchises like Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Star Wars, and Superman on his resume. Home Alone's not particularly deep, but it's endlessly charming and leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside. 

Film Assessment: B+

Wolfwalkers - Watched December 30, 2020 (Apple TV+)

Nominated For: Best Animated Feature.

Synopsis: In a time of superstition and magic, a young apprentice hunter, Robyn Goodfellowe, journeys to Ireland with her father to wipe out the last wolf pack. While exploring the forbidden lands outside the city walls, Robyn befriends a free-spirited girl, Mebh, a member of a mysterious tribe rumored to have the ability to transform into wolves by night. As they search for Mebh’s missing mother, Robyn is drawn further into the enchanted world of the wolfwalkers.

Runtime: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG (for sequences of violence and peril, scary images, some thematic elements and brief language)
Who should see it? Families and fans of animation.

Co-directed by Tom Moore and Ross Stewart, Wolfwalkers features a screenplay from Will Collins and credits Jericca Cleland as a story and script consultant. After some cursory research to verify this claim's validity, I believe that Wolfwalkers is the first original animated feature released on Apple TV+. Though the tech giant's budding service admittedly has minimal original programming, Wolfwalkers is a solid addition to their virtual catalog and a promising glimpse into the potential of their future offerings. In any case, enough about streaming semantics. Wolfwalkers contains a wealth of breath-taking hand-drawn animation and captivating voice work. Stylistically, Cartoon Saloon's animators settled on an aesthetic deeply embedded in the Celtic culture that's gorgeous to behold. I also appreciated the film's spin on classic fantasy elements. At the risk of nitpicking, the story leaves much to be desired due to its simplicity and predictability. However, the filmmakers navigate these tropes quite well, so I can overlook the narrative's familiarity. That said, Wolfwalkers is a riveting fantasy that distinguishes itself from much of modern animation.

Film Assessment: A

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom - Watched July 14, 2020 (Netflix)

Nominated For: Best Actor; Chadwick Boseman, Best Actress; Viola Davis, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Production Design.

Won: Best Costume Design and Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Synopsis: Tensions rise between Ma Rainey, her ambitious horn player, and the white management determined to control the uncontrollable "Mother of the Blues."

Runtime: 94 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for language, some sexual content and brief violence)
Who should see it? Adult fans of August Wilson's play and those interested in seeing Chadwick Boseman's final performance.

Adapted from August Wilson's stage play, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is directed by George C. Wolfe and features a screenplay from Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The film has garnered plenty of attention for featuring Chadwick Boseman's final performance after the actor passed late last year. On that front, Boseman unknowingly delivered a sublime swan song. Boseman always brought otherworldly star power to his roles, and that's once again the case here. Bustling exuberance and roguish charm define his portrayal of Levee, so you're drawn to the character despite his arrogance and temperament. Opposite Boseman, Viola Davis' Ma Rainey also commands the screen to green effect. Ma Rainey will be written off as a full-blown diva at first, but I appreciated the layered reasoning behind her seemingly absurd demands. Amongst the supporting cast, Colman Domingo shines as Rainey's observant band leader Cutler. Although Wolfe imbues the story with some cinematic flourishes here and there, several dialogue-heavy scenes

within limited, confined settings accentuate the source material's stage origins. In that regard, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom brought another August Wilson adaptation to mind, Fences, which also happens to star Viola Davis and produced by Denzel Washington. Both films excel as performance pieces but fail to make the most of their medium.   

Film Assessment: B+

News of the World - Watched December 30, 2020

Nominated For: Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, Best Sound, and Best Original Score.

Synopsis: A Texan traveling across the wild West, bringing the news of the world to local townspeople, agrees to rescue a young girl. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers in search of a place either can call home.

Runtime: 118 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for violence, disturbing images, thematic material and some language)

Who should see it? Fans of the Western genre and Tom Hanks.

Based on Paulette Jiles' novel, News of the World is directed by Paul Greengrass and co-written by Greengrass and Luke Davies. Westerns are a scarcity these days, so it's always refreshing to see a new one roll by. Considering director Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks previously struck gold with Captain Phillips, and I admire Greengrass' work on the Bourne franchise, I was intrigued to see News of the World. Unfortunately, Greengrass's latest film is an uneven adaptation with inconsistent cinematography and a script lacking in depth. Though the film boasts excellent period elements, the story's anchored by companionship between Tom Hanks and Helena Zengel. As a relative newcomer, Zengel holds her own despite sharing the screen with a veteran actor like Hanks. She proves to be quite charismatic as well as selling the moments of apathy and despair. Hanks is a steadfast presence, as is to be expected. The arc of their friendship is a compelling journey but simultaneously felt superficial to me. The barebones structure is there for a great Western. However, Paul Greengrass started his wagon train with faulty wheels and neglected to take a pitstop. 

Film Assessment: B-

Promising Young Woman - Watched December 31, 2020

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Director; Emerald Fennell, Best Actress; Carey Mulligan, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

Won: Best Original Screenplay.

Synopsis: A young woman, traumatized by a tragic event in her past, seeks vengeance against those who cross her.

Runtime: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for strong violence including sexual assault, language throughout, some sexual material & drug use)
Who should see it? Adult fans of revenge thrillers.

Emerald Fennell's Promising Young Woman is an incisive revenge thriller intent on exhibiting the lasting repercussions of toxic masculinity and sexual assault. This isn't meant to be a startling revelation by any means, but an uncomfortable truth too often ignored or forgotten. And Fennell explores the frequent dismissal of victims' allegations with such deftness. I was astounded to learn that the film was Fennell's first feature credit as a writer and director due to how well she maneuvers through the twists and turns of such a heavy narrative. Central to the whole affair, Carey Mulligan is exceptional in the vindictive lead role. Mulligan masks Cassie's trauma with wry wittiness and assuredness, proving to be a very resourceful schemer. And Cassie's plots are quite elaborate. Bo Burnham, Alison Brie, Alfred Molina, and Chris Lowell impress with surprisingly layered performances. In just about every way imaginable, Promising Young Woman maximizes its potential. I suppose the title is also an apt description for Emerald Fennell as a rising filmmaker. 

Film Assessment: A+

Sound of Metal - Watched December 31, 2020 (Prime Video)

Nominated For: Best Picture, Best Actor; Riz Ahmed, Best Supporting Actor; Paul Raci, Best Original Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound.

Won: Best Film Editing and Best Sound.

Synopsis: A heavy-metal drummer's life is thrown into free fall when he begins to lose his hearing.

Runtime: 120 minutes
MPAA Rating: R (for language throughout and brief nude images)
Who should see it? Adult fans of indie dramas.

Sound of Metal is Darius Marder's first directorial credit on a narrative feature (he previously directed a documentary entitled Loot). Marder co-wrote the screenplay with his brother Abraham and developed the story alongside fellow filmmaker Derek Cianfrance. Sound of Metal's premise is compelling in its own right, but Marder's approach to the film's soundscape accents the intrigue. As Ruben loses his hearing, viewers begin to hear a ringing in their ears as well. While this isn't prevalent throughout the entire runtime, Marder ensures that the audience often shares Ruben's auditory experience (or lack thereof). At times, the dialogue is muffled or entirely absent, and subtitles offer no help in these instances. This creative choice acts to enhance the audience's understanding of Ruben's experience. 

One commendable aspect of the Marder brothers' script is that it doesn't present deafness as a handicap. Though Ruben initially perceives it as such, his journey towards acceptance offers an uplifting affirmation to the deaf community. And Riz Ahmed is exceptional in the lead role, offering a grounded performance that delves into the subtleties of sudden change and addiction. To prepare for the role, Ahmed learned American Sign language and how to play the drums, and the authenticity of his performance shines through. Supporting Ahmed, Olivia Cooke and Paul Raci resonate as encouraging girlfriend/bandmate and wise addiction counselor. It's also worth noting that many of the supporting deaf characters were portrayed by deaf actors, with Lauren Ridloff and Chelsea Lee standing out amongst the cast. Marder's drummer drama moves at a leisurely tempo, but the story's emotional momentum is dead on. 

Film Assessment: A-