Well only two releases for home viewing to n ote this week.
MOANA
Directed by Ron Clements; Don Hall; John Musker; and Chris Williams
Screenplay by Jared Bush; Ron Clements; John Musker; Chris Williams; Don Hall; Pamela Ribon; Aaron Kandell; and Jordan Kandell
Voices by Dwayne Johnson and Auli'i Cravalho
One of my biggest disappointments of the year...as per expectations and final results.
-I know they advertised over and over that some of the music was done by Lin-Manuel Miranda of Hamilton fame. Maybe that was a sign. A sign that even they did not believe in the film and or just to advertise the biggest name in music. Still......the music was awful. Maybe some of the worst songs in recent memory from a Disney animated film. The singing was bad. The lyrics were bad. The music was bad. Just bad.
-The story was boring and it seemed like the big battle at the end was made up along the way and was just thrown together. Look at all the Directors and the Writers, clearly there was a problem. Plus didn't we see this story in Mulan and Brave. Same exact theme.
Positives?
-Well the idea I like and the main character I like, even though I feel like I have seen this character before I still like the premise of a strong woman shall lead.
-The film just looks beautiful, the island and the water, the colors just pop.
Yes I understand Disney films are for Children not adults so I would give this 1 1/2 stars but jack it up another point for children who will laugh at the chicken sidekick and not question the exciting action at the end. so 2 1/2 out of 5 stars for Moana.
JACKIE
Directed by Pablo Larrain
Screenplay by Noah Oppenheim
Starring Natalie Portman; Peter Sarsgaard; Greta Gerwig; and Billy Crudup
This film follows Jackie Kennedy from the day of the assassination thru the funeral as told to a journalist ( Crudup) some time after.
Well lets get to the highlight and that is the acting:
Portman as Jackie Kennedy is so good. What a difficult part, she captures the voice and mannerisms of the iconic symbol of class and distinction. Throw in playing a part that is so cold at that particular time and place. The first funeral shown to our heartbroken country in the age of television.She pulls it off.
Greta Gerwig as Jackie's assistant Nancy Tuckerman. Well if you have been following my blog for awhile you know Gerwig is one of my favorites. Here she plays a part that she rarely plays. A backseat to the star in a small film. As usual she shines, in such a small part!! Here, often you see Gerwig says so much with a look or a movement while watching Portman from across the room, I wonder if Portman at any point in the filming thought "Damn how did we get her to agree to this small part. We are so lucky!"
Sarsgaard as Bobby Kennedy plays another difficult part. His brother died. He has to watch over his sister-in-law. He also has to take part in the planning of the funeral. He also has to be the go between as helps with the transition of power. Sarsgard really likes interesting odd parts and he always pulls them off. As a viewer it is sometimes difficult to watch because you know he will be shot in the near future.
Speaking of difficult to watch:
This script is cold. But the story is cold. Somebody was killed. It takes us behind the scenes of the White House during this difficult time, as we watch Jackie"s inner-struggle to be composed for the nation. To be a good mother. To fight for her husbands memory. And as the story is told to the reporter she is basically looking back. Almost angry. So you have a very cold story. Told with almost a growl. Still I could not tell where the anger comes from. Is it Oswald and a government cover up? Not sure. It is so cold it really does not dig deep into thoughts and reason at the time and place.
So an odd, sad, cold, angry story. Yet it is interesting, it puts you right there. It is tragic. I think only the 3 leads separate it from a History Channel film.That may be not enough for me, I thought the same about the Lincoln film years a go. 3 1/2 stars out of 5 for Jackie. You walk out with sadness in your heart. Still painful to watch. Not big enough for the big screen, so perfect for home viewing.
If you get a chance to watch this and like it, which I did, I recommend Parkland, which takes place at Parkland Hospital in Dallas where JFK was taken to. It is really good. Parkland is available for home viewing also.
From the shadows as always thanks for your time.
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