The list continues!!
Settle down, I know you are excited!
Here comes 7 and 6 and 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7
Air
Who would have thought a film about a sneaker would be so dramatic. This Oscar Nominated film reminds us...after Argo..Affleck is still one of the best directors working today. He gets a lot of help from his pal Matt Damon: Chris Tucker; Jason Bateman; and of course Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan. Little shout out to Matthew Mahr who plays Peter Moore the actual creator of the Air Jordan the shoe. I love that they did not ignore him in the end. What is amazing is how just one phone call between Sonny Vaccaro (Damon) and Deloris Jordan changed the industry,
My Number 7 film of the year Air
6
ARE YOU THERE GOD ITS ME MARGARET
This film is clearly not for someone my age. It was not meant for me. However, I agreed with the reviews, it is wonderful.
The film does so many things right:
-It takes the Judy Blume book and keeps it in the 70's making this film timeless. It also stays with the hard subjects that often films shy away from. Plus adding just enough humor to help with the awkward subjects.
- Casting.
I feel the most underrated actress of our time Rachel McAdams as Margaret's mom (fighting her own inner turmoil in the 70's), is perfect here.
The real star, Abby Ryder Fortson as Margaret is fantastic. The film could not work without her perfect performance. What a find. Plus, they gave her some wonderful young actresses as her friends to play off of. So good!
Yes it has problems...
I did not care for the emphasis on grandma played by Kathy Bates, it took us away from the story. Plus poor casting of Margaret's dad Bennie Safdie (Oppenheimer), McAdams and Safdie have absolutely no chemistry.
Still....what a good film!
My number 6 film of the year Are You There God It's Me Margaret.
5
PAST LIVES
Oh my goodness! Written and Directed by Celine Song.
I got a pass for a screening of this film and I was going to pass on it. Then I started picking up a strong buzz about it. So off I went.This was in the Spring. The Oscar voters remembered it!!
Here is what I can tell you. There is a reason this film is at 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.
We follow Nora and Hae Song, best friends as children, broken apart as Nora and her family move away. We pick up 12 years later as they reconnect and again 12 more years later.
This is not your Hallmark ending. This film grabs you at your heart. It shows growth and also what is lacking there within the characters. There is an umbrella of sadness and longing here that is sometimes painful.
So why watch?
The script by Song is real, it harkens back to Linklater's Before Sunset trilogy, it's a "Talkie". You may find it boring, but I found it intriguing.
Then there is a fantastic performance by Greta Lee as Nora. Words cannot not do this performance justice. You can see the push and pull in her face and body language...that has to be seen.
Which brings me to this, which is the discussion for after the film. Why the breakdown in tears: Missing the country? Sadness for Hae Song? Sadness for herself and her decisions?
This film, more than any film this year, just stayed with me for days. The decisions we all make...and lives that move forward.
In-Yun...Fate that connects people from this life and past lives.
If you loved the Before Sunset trilogy you will like this.
My Number 5 best film of 2023...Past Lives.
As always from the shadows, thanks for your time!!!!!!!!
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