Coming off November where the theme was death. The December theme seems to be can I have an editor please??!!!
Well I found ranking these films in December really tough, especially the top three. So this month I watched 7 films in the theaters....so here I go...
7
FACKHAM HALL
Directed by Jim O'Hanlon, this is more of a slapstick farce. A Downton Abbey farce. The film has a really good cast with Thomasin McKenzie; Damien Lewis; Tom Felton; and Katherine Waterston. The film has many funny moments, it sadly does not have a good story to keep you interested. In fact it was kinda boring. Oh...by the way..Say Fackham Hall very fast a couple of times..you will get it.
6
ELLA MCKAY
This is not good. I had high hopes, I mean it is a James L Brooks film! The only reason this is not number 7 for the month is the performances. Emma Mackey as Ella is very likable in this role. She has help from Albert Brooks; Woody Harrelson; Rebecca Hall; and Kumail Nanjiani. However , with all the star power they could not help this ridiculous script that often makes no sense. Then the ending is such a messy eye roll.
5
ANACONDA
Anaconda is funny. Jack Black and Paul Rudd want to make a remake of Anaconda, and it is a funny idea. It sadly, is not as funny as you hoped. It is like director and writer Tom Gormican had a funny idea, but the idea could only go so far. So there are a lot of action fillers here. A couple extra storylines that get in the way. Gormican had an idea, but the idea could not fill a feature length film.
4
AVATAR FIRE AND ASH
Needed editing, but no one is going to tell James Cameron this, and there lies the problem. It looked good. However had a bunch of characters I did not care about. There are many storylines going on here and...many were silly and I did not care. This is not an awful film, it's just so unfocused. At one point I could feel the big ending was coming, a big rescue, I looked at my watch and realized....THERE IS STILL AN HOUR TO GO!!! There is the problem. I want to throw this out before I finish...Oona Chaplin is so good here as the evil Varang. Again not an awful film , but could have been better if it was shorter and tighter.
3
SONG SUNG BLUE
Again a film that needed an editor. Still, I enjoyed this film. I was surprised, I mean, I thought the trailer was awful. Directed by Craig Brewer, this is a true story of a Neil Diamond tribute band Lightning And Thunder starring Hugh Jackman and an Oscar nomination worthy performance by Kate Hudson. The music is really good. The story is wonderful. However at 2 hours and 20 minutes..ugh. editing again. You look at your watch often especially after hearing the same song more than once. I feel bad bringing up it needed an editor because I really feel this film should be seen...so...go see it. Or watch it at home. I don't care.. just see it.
2
THE HOUSEMAID
Directed by Paul Feig and he understood the assignment. Stay close to the popular Freida McFadden novel and let you stars shine. Sydney Sweeney is wonderfully monotone as our Housemaid Milly. Amanda Seyfried in the juicer role as the unhinged Nina. Lets not forget in the middle of it all is Brandon Sklenar as Andrew.
The writing is comparable to the Shades films. However I don't care, this film delivers exactly what the viewers expect. It is bat shit crazy and its wonderful. I did not read the book and I am glad I didn't. I am glad I was not tipped off by the book. It is so much fun in a theater full of people, with gasps and laughter.
Okay this film will be in my top ten, where I don't know. I love a movie that delivers on its promise, There is a reason this film is gaining in popularity in theaters...good word of mouth. See it.
1
MARTY SUPREME
I kept waffling between this and The Housemaid, today Marty won out.
Directed by Josh Safdie, who gave us Uncut Gems, and this has almost threw same feel. Like Gems you feel like the film is in constant motion, from one event to another., The film follows Marty in his pursuit of greatness as he leaves a trail of lies and deceit and pain behind him.
It is not an easy watch, Marty is a narcissist, and is not really a good guy and he is in every scene making the film not ...well...an easy watch. The performances by Chalamet (He will Win the Oscar): Paltrow as the actress has been Kay Stone; Mr Wonderful pretty much playing himself: and a fantastic performance by Odessa A'Zion as Rachel Mizer; they all make this film work.
This film has so many levels, and it works even though often you think...I don't want to watch this.
Marty Supreme.
Well there is December. I still have some 2025 releases to see in January with my first 2026 films. So keep following as awards season is upon us.
From the shadows as always thanks for your time. rtyw
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