At the Cinema - November 2016

Arrival – 10

One of the little thrills of being a movie-lover is when you see one that provokes much discussion and deciphering afterwards.  I have a pantheon of such movies:  The Conversation, Nashville, Cabaret, The Godfather.  Welcome “Arrival” to that pantheon as it took me a little while to figure it out.  The water isn’t deep, it’s just murky.

What a pleasure to watch a beautifully crafted story edited to perfection.  It’s complex and it ends up circling the most important concept of life, the concept that has always been the most intriguing to me.  I’m not going to disclose it here. 

Two things I will say about this movie.  First, Amy Adams is terrific, probably even Oscar-worthy.  Much of the movie’s emotion is deployed in close-ups of her face as she reacts to what she sees and hears. She plays a linguist who is sent to try to communicate with one of several alien objects that are hovering over earth.  They have brought us something, and the clock is ticking, because the military is getting itchy.  She must figure out what they want.  All this intrigue is laid out ingeniously.

The second thing I want to say, is that if you have a young daughter, tread carefully. There is a subplot that could be upsetting.

Anything beyond these comments would serve to spoil a pretty cool movie experience, one that you will enjoy unraveling when it all sinks in.

 

Manchester By the Sea –9

Casey Affleck is another early Oscar favorite for his performance as Lee Chandler, a man with a very troubled past who, when his brother dies, finds himself as the unqualified and unwilling guardian to his nephew Patrick played equally well by Lucas Hedges. 

This is a character study of tragic intensity.  Lee is beyond damaged and Affleck captures it all with an epic performance.  I have been an Affleck fan since seeing him in Baby Gone Baby which I consider the best movie of this century.  It was directed by his brother Ben Affleck, whom I just want to shake and say “more movies like this please.” 

This is not an easy movie to digest.  It is slow moving, and there are no easy resolutions to the struggles the two main characters are going through.  While Patrick is wrestling with high school issues, like how to keep two girlfriends from finding out about each other. Lee is wrestling with having to move from Boston back to Manchester where he’s a pariah to the locals.  The presence of his ex-wife Randi, played  explosively by Michelle Williams, further complicates his life.  Manchester is a lovely place, but he doesn’t want to be there.

Writer/Director Kenneth Lonergan treats the audience like adults.  He paints a canvas and lets the viewer interpret.  It’s slow and melodic and haunting.

Edge of Seventeen – 6

All three of these movies are distressing to old school parents, and I guess I’m just officially an old fogie.  If this is what it’s like to be a teenager today, I’m glad I’m safely into my 60’s. 

Hallee Steinfeld, who is a budding singing and acting superstar plays Nadine, a young girl who has never really fit in.  When she finally gets a BFF (yes, I know what that means) in Krista they seem destined to grow old together.  Then Nadine’s shallow world is shattered when Krista, (a beautiful Haley Lu Richardson) becomes the girlfriend of Nadine’s older brother (Blake Jenner). 

Teen angst in 2016 hasn’t changed much, but my angst was elevated by the obliviousness of the parents.  Bobby Knight once said that kids haven’t changed, but parents sure have.  Bingo.  I guess Woody Harrellson, who is terrific as Nadine’s sparring teacher, is the responsible adult in the movie.  Let that sink in for a moment.

Sometimes movies are over my head.  This one just whizzed past my ear.