At the Cinema - April 2018

A Quiet Place – 10

I love it when a plan comes together.  Write a great script with a unique premise.  Cast the movie impeccably.  Direct the movie economically.  Edit it to perfection.  Shoot a terrific ending.  Become a hit mostly through word of mouth.  Then wait to see if the movie has enough staying power to become a classic.

As thrillers go, it would be hard to improve on this one.  The premise is brilliant and unique.  You probably already know the story.  There’s been some kind of apocalypse and monsters that react only to sound are roaming and rampaging. The family at the center has lived a silent life, and made provisions for quiet, even in the face of childbirth.  Yet, the scenes crackle with vibrancy, due to the great acting.  They live a rich life as they strive for protection. 

Krasinsky nails every part of this movie.  I only spotted one mistake which I’m not going to reveal, but I will reveal that the ending’s last scene will be part of its legacy, as it consists of one iconic sound, and I promise you it’s a film clip you’ll see for the rest of your life.  Very cool.

Chappaquiddick - 8

Imagine if you will, having 4 sons.  The oldest dies at war, the second one is assassinated while President of the United States, the third one is assassinated while running for President, and the only remaining son is considering a run for President.  Then #4 makes a mistake, a fatal one.

The year 1969 was epic.  The Jets and Mets won upset championships.  Richard Nixon was sworn in as President as the Vietnam War raged on, with accompanying protests.  Ted Kennedy, that 4^th son, drove off a Massachusetts bridge, leaving his passenger, Mary Jo Kopechne to drown.  This was pushed off the front page by man’s first walk on the moon by Neil Armstrong.  In August, the Manson cult committed its famous murders, Woodstock occurred, and those of us in Mississippi cared about none of this, as category 5 Hurricane Camille ravaged the Gulf Coast.  Later in the year, Wal-Mart, Wendy’s and The Gap were started.

It took many years for Ted Kennedy’s career to recover from Chappaquiddick.  Although he retained his Senate seat, he never attained the Presidency.  If this movie is true, the Kennedy political machine convened on Martha’s Vineyard and plotted his protection from prosecution.  It is a well-done depiction of those events and it is fascinating throughout.  His father died shortly thereafter, undoubtedly disappointed that his four sons did not change the world enough.  Bruce Dern plays the debilitated elder Joe Kennedy and with a few utterances may gain long-overdue award recognition.  If you like history movies, you like this one.