Well if the scene shown above did not wreck you, nothing will...
13 November films I have sat through in the theaters, and I am here to rank them for you. November brings us a couple Oscar contenders!! These November films bring us...Death...it hangs over many of these films. Which I struggled with personally lately...which made these films feel heavy on my heart...
So off I go......
13
.
IF I HAD LEGS I'D KICK YOU
Written and directed by Mary Bronstein. This film follows Linda, wonderfully played by Rose Byrne, as she navigates her child's illness; her missing husband; a missing person, and an awful therapist.
Yes Byrne is really fantastic as Linda. However I had trouble caring for her. I just found her to be frustrating and unlikable.Then Bronstein threw in some strange mystical storyline , it was all just a lot. The film did not resonate with me at all.
12
DIE MY LOVE
Death
Directed by Lynne Ramsay, the film follows the struggle within the relationship between Grace, Jennifer Lawrence; and Jackson , Robert Pattinson. The film focuses on Grace as she spirals with postpartum depression. The story needed to be tighter. It was all over the place and often, me, the viewer, gets lost on what is real and what is hallucinations without anything connecting, or relevance to the plot. It is messy. Great Oscar worthy performances from Jennifer Lawrence and Sissy Spacek (as Graces mom). That was the only bright spot.
11
RENTAL FAMILY
DEATH
I reaaaallly looked forward to this film. Then..it was disappointing. So sad.
Directed by Hikari, the film follows an American actor in Japan, Phillip played by Brendan Fraser, who takes jobs pretending to play stand-in roles for strangers. Pretending to be a husband, or a father, and so on. This film was so flat. Emotionless while wanting us to be emotional watching it. Poorly acted, poorly written, and boring.
10
ETERNITY
DEATH
Directed by David Freyne. Often funny, with quick visual jokes, about a couple who land at a sort of weigh station, where after you die you decide from this point what land you want to spend eternity in. The problem is Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) has two husbands at this station. She must decide on spending eternity with husband 1, Luke ( Callum Turner) a war hero; or husband 2 , Larry (Miles Teller) the man she spent over 50 years with. It's just a pretty good movie. that falls apart with some stiff acting and poor chemistry between the leads...which makes me think Olsen was miscast, I mean she has no chemistry with either husband. Worth a look when it's available for home viewing.
9
THE RUNNING MAN
Death
The running man is a top rated TV show in the future where the contestant must stay alive for 30 days to win a boat load of money, however he is being hunted by people who want to win money for killing him.
Well acted by Glen Powell and a very funny Michael Cera. Josh Brolin plays a great sleazy bad guy. The disappointment is the choppy, and ridiculous never ending script.
8
SARAH'S OIL
Based on the true story of Sarah Rector. Sara, at 11 years old, is left a parcel of land on Indian territory. Sarah, believes that there is oil on her land...and this is where the story begins. Well acted by Naya Desir Johnson as the brilliant Sarah and Zachary Levi as her helper Bert Smith. This is a pretty good film. With an Umbrella of love and community.
7
NUREMBERG
DEATH
NUREMBERG gives an insightful view of the trial and the lead up to the trial and what happens afterwards. Fantastic performances by Russell Crowe; Rami Malek; and John Slattery. Worth a look at home. This would be higher up on my list, but, I see this often, Hollywood cant help but take a story and try to connect it to modern day politics. You know, I can make this decision on my own, I do not need it shoved in my face at the end ruining an interesting film. it was not needed.
6
ZOOTOPIA 2
Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back, and ready to solve another mystery. Not as good as the first film but still very entertaining.
5
HAMNET
Death
Directed by Chloe Zhao, Hamnet tells the story of what led William Shakespeare to write his masterpiece Hamlet. This movie is highlighted by the best performance of the year, which is Paul Mescal as William Shakespeare. I mean, his performance is perfection. Let me not forget to mention Jessie Buckley as William's wife Agnes. This film is sad and not an easy watch. I wished it edited a little out from the beginning and gave us a little more in the back end, letting us see the reaction of Hamlet, giving some hope for them as a couple. Still...a really interesting film, not just about the Shakespeare family but also the time and place.
4
WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY
Death
Yes I got to see a screening in the theater of this before it hits Netflix next week!
Benoit Blanc is back!!!!!!!
Great performances...The reveal however is a bit flat. No spoilers so I will stop there.
Is it as good as the first Knives Out? No
Is it as good as the 2nd Knives Out Glass Onion? Yes!
3
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
Death
Not an easy watch. Directed by Joachim Trier, Value touches on so many subjects. Mental illness in a family and how it gets a passed down just by being around it. Broken relationships within a family. Trust within a family. Then throw in the inside of the making of a film within a film.
There is a lot to unpack here, but the performances by Renate Reinsve: Elle Fanning; and Stellan Skarsgard, will keep you watching. It is a slow interesting watch about a broken family.
2
CHRISTY
Yes the film that lost a ton of money is my second favorite film of the month and could be in my top ten of the year. Marketed wrong, like Rocky is a love story with some boxing. Christy is a story about manipulation and abuse with some boxing.
The true story of Christy Martin and her rise as the first famous female boxer, and the manager who abuses her.
Fantastic performances by Sydney Sweeney and Ben Foster. This film had me tearing up at the end. Do not let the press stop you from seeing this. One of the best of the year.
1
WICKED FOR GOOD
DEATH
Yes Jon Cho made mistakes:
-Splitting this stage play in two. Les Miz was shown on the screen as one long musical and it was fine.
-Adding more songs to this 2nd part. However I love Girl In The Bubble.
-Michelle Yeoh...who cannot sing as Madame Morrible
-Keala Settle in the film but not singing!!??
--editing problems like the Tinman being in 2 places at once.
Still with all these issues, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo are wonderful in this darker back end of the musical. I still think Wicked is the best piece of entertainment ever written...For Good. Maybe not the best movie..but..how can you not watch both pieces of this film together and not love this story.
I put Wicked For Good in front of Christie this month just because of the rewatchable factor. I could watch this over and over. Christie...not so much.
Well there you have it. November the month of sad deaths, 9 out of the 13 films I saw.
It is hard.
December will bring Avatar Fire and Ash, 3.5 hours YIKES
As always thank you for your time from the sad shadows.
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