At the Cinema - October 2019

Western Stars – 9

Bruce Springsteen just turned 70.  At an age when most are slumped in a lounge chair watching Netflix, waiting for their next doctor’s appointment, he is producing new projects.  Take rock stars.  If they are still active, it’s on the Rock N Roll seniors tour, playing songs that were hits 40 or even 50 years ago.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that.  I myself am a sucker for that stuff.

But here’s the Boss.  In the last few years, he’s written an autobiography and had a one-man Broadway show.  A movie about his influence on a young man, “Blinded by the Light” was terrific.  And he recorded a new album.  Then instead of just releasing the record, he produces a performance film where he plays the whole album.  That’s Western Stars.  I’m in awe. 

He introduces each song with a story of how he wrote it, and why.  He talks about his love of the old westerns of his youth, and even his love of Jimmy Webb’s melodies and their timelessness.  Then he performs each song in a huge barn, with an audience and a 30 piece orchestra.  I wish I had been there.

The sound is stunning.  No, every song isn’t a classic, and his intros seem to be tinged with the melancholy of his life.  I wished I had been more familiar with each song and I suspect in the years to come this film will be loved, as each song becomes more known.  It’s not getting much box office love right now, but I doubt that Bruce is worried about that.  He said he’s done rock n roll, and he wanted to do something else.  He’s making art, while most people his age are just making appointments.  You’ve got to give him his due.  He says he is about to get the E Street Band together, record another album, and tour.  After seeing this, I hope he adds an orchestra to his tour.  I don’t know where he gets the energy.

 

Joker – 8

Joker is the umpteenth portrayal of the renown Batman nemesis, and one that I would argue was unnecessary except for capitalistic motivations, as is often the case in America the Corporate.    In other words, make it dark, make it R-rated, and make some money.

And, I would argue, make it not half bad.  Joaquin Phoenix, who looks like he hasn’t eaten during the Trump administration, plays the Joker to the hilt.  Phoenix is not known for playing pleasant characters, so this one is right in his wheelhouse, and he doesn’t miss.  What’s surprising is that this is a rather slow moving character study, that accelerates into its bloody payoff in the second half.  This is the story of a man who plays a clown for a living, and while that right there would be enough to drive most people crazy, it’s just the beginning for him, as he unravels his unraveling life.  He begins to discover why he is the way he is, and starts to let his demons out.  This transformation is not for the squeamish.  

I’m not a big Phoenix fan, but he nails this transition into the Joker and somehow I see mo’ money makers in the future.  I can honestly say I would not recommend this movie to anyone, as you probably already know if it’s something you would like or not. 

Black and Blue – 8

Alicia West (played by Naomie Harris) is rookie cop who has come back to New Orleans after 10 years in the military.  She wants to make a difference in her old community, but how things have changed!  She barely recognizes her old friends, and it doesn’t take her long to realize her empathy for her old friends is going to be tested.  She is told she can’t help them, that her loyalties are now “blue,” not black.  She is tested when she catches cops conducting a drug related execution on her body cam.  She is soon being chased by what seems like every cop in the city.  It doesn’t help that the executed dealer is the nephew of one of the cities drug lords, so a gang is chasing her too. 

This is a B movie, like they used to make.  Sure, distrust of the police is a theme, but there’s good action, a good story, and good acting.  New Orleans comes off as the wild, wild west, and there’s not a lot of wasted time here.  I like movies that are just trying to tell a story and pull it off.  Good movie.  It won’t win any Oscars, but it will suck you in and entertain you.

Parasite – 9

I can count the subtitled foreign films I’ve seen in a theater on one hand.  It has to be acclaimed, and this is the highest rated film of the year so far.  It’s as good as advertised.

The setting is Korea, and two families interact.  The rich occupants of an architect-designed house in Seoul begin to unknowingly hire, in a variety of positions, the members of a family of slum-residents, who brilliantly move the old staff out.  The house itself becomes a character when the recently replaced housekeeper shows up with some secrets to share.  Famed director Bong Joon-Ho jolts the plot around in unpredictable, often stunning fashion.  The actors are uniformly terrific. I have to admit they had me at hello, and lost me a little at goodbye, as I thought the rather shocking ending was unnecessary.  I would have preferred the wit and satire of the previous two hours.  Guess you can’t have everything.

Terminator:  Dark Fate – 8

I often say that our government has no respect for the tax-payer.  I can now also say that sometimes filmmakers have no respect for the ticket-buying public.  I’m not thrilled that this installment of the Terminator franchise essentially wipes out three of the previous sequels.

But having said that, this is a better movie than those now-irrelevant ones.  There’s a stunning development as the movie begins, but there is a new relentless terminator, trying to get to a new threat to the “Legion” (Skynet has been successfully dealt with.)  The action is fantastic, especially in the first half hour, as we meet the new savior of civilization, the new threat, and the new protector.  Sarah Conner is back in the person of Linda Hamilton, so that wipes out a tv series too.  (The Sarah Conner Chronicles – which was terrific – better than the erased movies.)  Linda has a lot of mileage on her, but she can still kick butt.  There’s a great in-air fight in an airplane where the only thing missing is Tom Cruise, and all the actors playing the various new roles have as much charisma as Tom.

Scanning the Satellite

Free Solo – 10

I finally got around to catching the movie that won the Oscar last year for Best Documentary, and is it spectacular.  This is the story of the first person, Alex Honnod, to scale El Capitan in Yosemite free solo.

El Capitan is essentially a big granite rock that requires a level of rehearsal and preparation that us mortals are not familiar with.  The filmmakers detail the preparation and the danger involved in making a climb like this with no ropes – free solo.

The film making is breath taking, as is the scenery.  But it is the feat itself that had me gasping out loud at least 20 times.  I don’t like heights, and I can tell you I had to look away numerous times.  This is a stunning film of a stunning physical accomplishment.  If you haven’t seen this, check it out, currently on Hulu.  Wow.

The Kelly Clarkson Show – Incomplete

I just have to confess that I DVR the new talk show ever day and watch the first 5 minutes where she does Kellyoke – singing a usually great version of a popular song.  Kelly has a terrific voice, great range, and she is a national treasure.  The rest of the show – not so much.  I haven’t made it through the rest of a show yet, but I’ve always thought with all the many talk shows we’ve had over the years, why didn’t one of them start with a musical act instead of leaving them to the last 5 minutes?  Well, Kelly is doing it, and it's usually amazing.

 

Saints Report # 8 - October 27, 2019

Much of the sports world was saying “come on baby what’s your hurry?”  

Sean Payton crooned “Nice and Breesy does it every time.” 

The first half of the season has been magical for the Saints, and after 5 games on the mend, Drew Brees stepped right back in to the lineup as if he had never been away, toasting the Cardinals 31 – 9.  All he did was complete more passes in a game than he had in 3 years, going 34 of 43 for 373 yards.  Michael Thomas caught his requisite 10 for 100, well actually 11 for 112, and Latavius Murray continued his strong play filling in for Kamara, going over 100 yards rushing for the second straight game.  Taysom Hill performed like an all-pro without a position, adding his 3^rd touchdown of the year. 

Meanwhile the defense was dominant, and didn’t relax at the end this time.  They had their second game of the year not giving up a touchdown.  They are a defense sorely in need of a nickname, and I would suggest “Smothered Gravy.”  They allowed 40 yards rushing, as they bottled up another running threat at quarterback in rookie Kyler Murray.  The suspension of PJ Williams has allowed CJ Gardner-Johnson to get on the field and play like he is possessed by demons.  CJGJ has the look of a star, joining the perpetual motion machine Cameron Jordan, lockdown Marshon Lattimore, demented Demario Davis, and on and on. 

About halfway through the game it dawned on me why the Saints were so hot to get Brees back for this game (besides his indomitable competitiveness.)  Perhaps it goes back to summer when Sean Payton expressed dismay at the Head Coach hiring process sweeping the NFL, with the focus on potential whiz kids.  He didn’t see how a Kliff Kingsbury could get a job after being fired from a college job, over some of Payton’s coaches like Dennis Allen, Pete Carmichael, and Dan Campbell.  He lamented the inexperience of the new coaches, and vowed to make them pay, saying “we play some of those teams.”  Teams are always looking for motivation, and Payton is a master at seizing on something like that.  He was out to prove a point.  Kingsberry may have proved it for him with a questionable decision to go for a 4^th down deep in his own territory in the 3^rd quarter.  The Saints smothered it like gravy and a game that was still close was broken open with a short Saints drive for a touchdown.  The Saints rolled from there.

I continue to be amazed by how the Saints have drafted so well to build this team.  This year they only had 5 picks, but 4 have stuck and join “stickers” from previous drafts:

2019:  Erik McCoy, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Saquan Hampton and Kaden Ellis.

2018: Marcus Davenport, Tre-quan Smith, and Wil Clapp

2017: Marshon Lattimore, Ryan Ramczyk, Marcus Williams, Alvin Kamara, Alex Anzalone, and Trey Hendrickson

2016: Sheldon Rankins, Michael Thomas, David Onyemata

2015:  Andrus Peat, and PJ Williams

2013:  Terron Armstead

2011:  Cameron Jordan

2009:  Thomas Morestead

The Saints are now 33 – 11 since their three straight 7 – 9 seasons.  That turnaround can be traced to great drafting, including 11 impact defensive players out of the draft. 

Let’s catch our breath.  Let’s take a week off.

Saints Report # 7 - October 20 2019

The Saints traveled to Chicago, and the pundit consensus was that the Bears were going to do to the Saints what they had done to Leonardo DeCaprio.

Afterall,
Drew Bress was still out
Alvin Kamara was not going to play due to injury
Tight End Jared Cook was not going to play due to injury.
Slot coverman PJ Williams is taking a banned substance sabbatical.
Trey Hendrickson is still out.
The Bears were coming off their bye week.
The Bears were getting back Mitch Trubinski, their first round quarterback. 
All signs pointed to a low-scoring, competitive game. 

It wasn’t.  The Saints dominated 36-25, moving to an improbable 6-1 record.
It's becoming obvious, for all to see.

The Saints are built like a Brick. House.  Mighty-mighty, just lettin’ it all hang out.

Consider this:

The Saints blocked a punt that resulted in a safety, and could’ve easily been a touchdown.
The Saints got a piece of a second punt.
The Saints had a touchdown called back on a fumble recovery return that looked like a premature whistle. (They still capitalized on the turnover for their first td.)
The Saints had a punt return touchdown called back due to a holding call
The Saints kicker, Wil Lutz, missed two field goals.

But, Latavius Murray rushed for 119 yards, to control the clock, and Michael Thomas contined his record pace with 9 catches for 131 yards.  
Thomas now has 62 catches in 6 games, which is a pace around 160 catches for the year.  The NFL record is 143.
Ryan Ramczyk neutralized all-world Defensive End Khalil Mack.  I had a discussion with a friend this week where I made the case that Michael Thomas may already be second only to Brees as the greatest Saint of all-time, and he suggested maybe Ramczyk is.  
CJ Gardner Johnson filled in for Williams, and held up well.

The Bears only good play in the first 40 minutes was running back a kickoff for a touchdown.  They drove for a field goal to take a temporary lead of 10-9, then went into hibernation.  The Saints took the lead back at 12-10 to end the half.  They scored on their first possession of the second half, then continued to pound the Bears with their ground game.  When the Bears got the ball with 12:45 left in the 4^th quarter the Saints had a yardage domination of 364 to 85. 

The Saints led 36 – 10 with 4 and a half minutes left.  This may have been the Saints most dominant performance of the year.  To pound a physical team into submission like this was as exciting as any game I’ve seen recently.  .

Unfortunately, the Saints gave up a couple of garbage touchdowns as the 4^th quarter wound down, even messing up an onside kick to contribute to the Bears scoring enough to fool one who hadn’t watched this game. 

Fortunately, like in Seattle they had built up a big enough lead.
Make no mistake, the Saints are well put together.
Everybody knows.

Saints Report # 6 - October 13, 2019

The Saints traveled to Jacksonville and out-pounded the Jacksonville Jaguars 13 – 6.  The defenses were so dominant the only thing missing was throwback jerseys.  The Saints moved to the most improbable 5-1 in their history.

It was ground and pound and punt most of the day, and new Saints Latavius Murray and Jared Cook showed why the Saints signed them as free agents.  Murray took the load off of a hobbled Alvin Kamara and Jared Cook caught the two biggest passes of the game.  First, he caught a 4 yard touchdown pass to give the Saints their final margin, and then in the 4^th quarter he took a 3^rd and 1 reception 20 yards to help the Saints maintain possession on their final drive of the game.  That drive ended with Teddy Bridgewater kneeling inside the five.  Jacksonville coach Doug Marrone was Sean Payton’s first offensive coordinator on the Saints, and he didn’t call his last timeout, and Sean Payton didn’t try to ram in a meaningless score, as the respect the two coaches have for each other was obvious.

That’s what real writers would call “burying the lead” as the real story of this game was the defense.  Defense travels, and the Saints front line, anchored by Cam Jordan, simply dominated the game.  Jordan had two sacks, quelling Minshew mania for a day, and the defense bottled up Leonard Fournette.  It looked like Demario Davis was assigned to shadow him, as he repeatedly tackled Fournette.  The Saints secondary, led by Marshon Lattimore bottled up the receivers, and the Jaguars could only manage two field goals. 

Michael Thomas was key to moving the chains in the short passing game, as Bridgewater was like a pitcher throwing on too much rest.  He was high in the strike zone several times.  Sean Payton has adjusted the game plan for Bridgewater to a conservative, grind it out approach.  Punter Thomas Morestead keeps the Saints in control of field position, and I actually think the absence of Brees has affected the opposing teams more than the Saints.  They also play it closer to the vest, because they don’t prepare for a shoot out, they think it will be more traditional.  More about field position.  It’s throw back football.  Lattimore, Jordan, Thomas, and possibly Davis are headed for the All-pro team, and the Saints placing more defensive than offensive players on that would be unprecedented. 

Now, the Saints go to play Chicago.  (Why do the Bears never come to New Orleans?)  It will probably be a slugfest.  They might as well take the facemasks off and leave the sprinklers on all night.  Maybe Ditka and Butkas will suit up.  Oh, and one unsung hero to watch.  Zach Line, the Saints full back.  He’s getting a lot a playing time to help protect Bridgewater.  Watch for him to be waiting for Khalil Mack in the backfield.  It will be the throwback matchup of the day. 

Saints Report # 5 - October 6, 2019

Last week the Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran up 55 points on the Los Angeles Rams.  They looked like an offensive juggernaut, and there was some trepidation that they would come into the Superdome with some real momentum under their new coach Bruce Arians. 

As young people today like to say, “no worries.”

The Saints defense dominated in a 31-24 victory that shouldn’t have been that close.  A rare strategic late game error by Sean Payton led to a second straight garbage touchdown at the end of the game by the visiting team.  Leading 31 – 17 and in easy field goal range, Payton opted to run on 4^th down with a minute 16 left, rather than kick a field goal that would have made it a 3 score lead at 34-17.  Instead the Bucs drove down after the Saints’ unsuccessful conversion and scored a touchdown with 13 seconds to go, bringing it to a one score game at 31-24.  It was going to come down to an onside kick, which fortunately the Bucs kicked out of bounds.  A field goal would have put the game out of reach, but Saints fans would get stress tested again.  It's just the way it is.  

The latest trend in “game management” is to receive the kick to begin the second half in the hope that you can turn two straight possessions into a big lead.  Since the Bucs won the toss and chose to receive the opening kickoff, the Saints did just that, taking a 24-10 lead with touchdown drives to end the first half and begin the second half.  Bridgewater was hot as he threw 4 touchdown passes, two to Michael Thomas, whom Tampa just can’t guard.  He had 11 catches for 182 yards, as Bridgewater and the Saints opened up the downfield passing game.  Bridgewater finished with 26 of 34 for 314 yards, his best outing so far as a Saint. 

Meanwhile the Saints defense continued to shine.  They harassed Winston to the tune of 6 sacks, and Carl Granderson even got one.  Granderson was a free agent gamble that looks like it may pay off.  A tremendously gifted athlete out of Wyoming, he was serving a jail term when training camp began.  Projected as a late round draft pick, he probably went undrafted due to sexual assault charges. He’s an uncharacteristic “character” gamble by the Saints.  The Saints defensive line is a swarming, persistent group that is beginning to dominate.  Sheldon Rankins is back.  Marcus Davenport is coming into his own.  Malcom Browne is paying off as a free agent.   Player gambles like Jarius Byrd Brandon Browner are forgotten as the Saints rarely miss on a prospect these days.  Generating a pass rush with only an occasional blitz has allowed the secondary to press coverage more.  Marshon Lattimore had his second straight lockdown game, this time shutting out Michael Evans, one of the best receivers in the NFL.  That’s right, not a single catch.  It must be said that the Saints haven't had this much team talent since the Dome Patrol.  

After 5 games, the Saints are a surprising 4-1.  Given their tough schedule, and the injury to Brees, it’s a phenomenal start.  Next, the Saints get an up close look at Minshew Magic as they travel to Jacksonville.  As always, it will be a stress test.

At the Cinema - September 2019

Ad Astra – 7

My overwhelming impression of this movie is that it was a Brad Pitt vanity project.  I’m a huge fan of Brad Pitt and think he’s terribly underrated.  He’s as natural as they come.  This film has gotten great reviews and almost universal acclaim.  I often say you buy it or you don't.  Well..this movie is so “all about Brad” that it becomes tiring.  The story is that Brad is astronaut Roy McBride, and his legendary father, played by Tommy Lee Jones, who has long been assumed dead somewhere around Neptune.  But now, since Earth is under attack from Neptune, maybe it’s Pops and maybe Brad needs to get to the bottom of this.  So off he goes, first to the moon, then to Mars, where he can communicate with Dad, and a ship can be sent from Mars to Neptune if necessary.

Much like Gravity, 2001:  A Space Odyssey, Interstellar, etc. etc., the film is visually stunning.  There are a couple of great action pieces, although yes they are ludicrous.  The problem is that not only do we get to watch Brad speak 90% of the dialogue, he’s also narrates in voice over what he’s thinking.  I get bored quickly with narration.  I go to the movies to get a visual fix, not read a book.  So, while visually sumptuous, the movie drones on like a talk show, albeit one with a high production budget.

Linda Ronstadt:  The Sound of My Voice – 10

This documentary is a traditional straight forward life story of the great Linda Ronstadt, who was the premier rock n roll female vocalist of my youth.  She may be largely forgotten now, as many today have no idea who she is.  (I asked around.)  She didn’t write her own music, she interpreted others.  There really never has been a voice like hers, backing up her insatiable taste for new music.  She went from rock to traditional Mexican folk music, to Broadway, to the classics backed by Nelson Riddle.  Her trilogy of big band albums from the mid-80’s of the songs made famous by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra are as good an education of that era of music as you can get.  I remember seeing her at the 1984 World’s Fair when she was in the midst of this phase of her career.   She had a strong tie to New Orleans, recording duets with Aaron Neville that were her last big hits.  She even made some Cajun music.  She trio’d with Emmylou Harris and Dolly Parton, and had several hits written by Karla Bonoff, one of my favorite song-writers who thankfully gets some screen time in the movie.

There’s nothing new or ground breaking in this movie.  No need to embellish her greatness.  The music is breathtaking, but the story is heartbreaking as today Linda Ronstadt suffers from Parkinson’s that has stolen her singing voice.  She’s had a series of high profile romances, but never married, as her unrelenting focus was music, not herself.  I have been to the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame many times and love it, but it is unforgivable that they didn’t vote her in until 2014.  By then she couldn’t even travel to the ceremony, although an all star group of female singers paid a stunning tribute to her.  Don’t believe me?  Check it out on youtube.

Unfortunately we had to drive to New Orleans to see this movie.  It probably won’t show in Mississippi, but it was produced by CNN, so maybe in 6 months or so you can catch it on your HD TV and hope your sound system can crank up to 11 and do her music justice.  It will be a great trip down memory lane, or a wonderful introduction to someone you should hear.

Scanning the Satellite

Unbelievable – 10
Netflix’s dramatization of a true story of a serial rapist and how he was caught leads off with a searing, depressing episode of a young victim whose story doesn’t satisfy investigating detectives.  She recants and is charged with filing a false police report.  It will take 8 episodes for her to get justice because of an investigation by two detectives in another state. 

Kaitlyn Dever plays the young victim and becomes a star right in front of our eyes.  Merritt Weaver and Toni Collette are spectacular as well and this is as engrossing as they come.  Don’t miss it.

Mindhunter Season 2 – 9
I’m beginning to believe I should just stay home and watch Netflix.  Seems like they can take 8 hours and tell an in-depth story that fully develops characters.  This series about profiling of serial killers seems headed in one direction, then veers off suddenly to address the Atlanta child murders. One could watch Netflix just to research serial offenders.