A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2021 - Episode IV

It’s been a long agonizing wait for cinema, but the big screen returns in a huge way this month with titles from long-established franchises and high-profile directors. Here’s what’s on tap for the massive month of October: 

 

 

THE MANY SAINTS OF NEWARK – The prequel to TV’s successful THE SOPRANOS series, which explores the early days of Tony Soprano. Michael Gandolfini, son of James, plays the role of Tony. 

 

THE ADDAMS FAMILY 2 – The sequel to the 2019 animated hit, with the creepy and kooky family hitting the road for a vacation. The voice cast includes Oscar Isaac as Gomez, Charlize Theron as Morticia, and Chloe Grace Moretz as Wednesday. 

 

VENOM: LET THERE BE CARNAGE – Spider-Man’s greatest villain returns…again without Spidey in this sequel to the 2018 pile of shit. Tom Hardy reprises his role as Eddie Brock; the journalist who is infected by an alien symbiote. 

 

NO TIME TO DIE – The 25^th film in the James Bond franchise that is also serving as Daniel Craig’s final appearance as secret agent 007. The strong cast includes Rami Malek, Lea Seydoux, Lashana Lynch, Ben Wishaw, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Wright, Christoph Waltz, Ralph Fiennes, and Ana de Armas. Carey Joji Fukunaga (BEASTS OF NO NATION), directs. 

 

LAMB – In this supernatural horror film, a couple in Iceland finds their relationship in trouble with the arrival of a strange creature. Noomi Rapace (PROMETHEUS), stars. 

 

HALLOWEEN KILLS – The follow-up to the 2018 HALLOWEEN which was a direct sequel to the 1978 HALLOWEEN which ignored the other seven sequels (got that?). Jamie Lee Curtis returns. 

 

THE LAST DUEL – Sir Ridley Scott (GLADIATOR), releases his first of two films this year. This one takes place in the medieval 14^th century with a knight accused of rape. The cast includes Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Cover, and Ben Affleck. 

 

DUNE – Director Denis Villeneuve (ARRIVAL, BLADE RUNNER 2049), helms this new adaptation of the classic sci-fi novel. The cast includes Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem. 

 

RON’S GONE WRONG – In this animated sci-fi comedy, a young boy and his malfunctioning digital companion set off on an adventure. The voice-cast includes Zach Galifianakis and Olivia Colman. 

 

THE FRENCH DISPATCH – Stylistic director Wes Anderson returns with this comedy-drama anthology about a fictional newspaper trying to publish its last issue. The ensemble cast includes Bill Murray, Owen Wilson, Elisabeth Moss, Jason Schwartzman, Anjelica Huston, Frances McDormand, Timothee Chalamet, Christoph Waltz, Tilda Swinton, Benicio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Lea Seydoux, Henry Winkler, Jeffrey Wright, Liev Schreiber, Ed Norton, Willem Dafoe, and Saoirse Ronan. 

 

LAST NIGHT IN SOHO – Edgar Wright (SHAUN OF THE DEAD), directs this horror film which sees a young woman transported back in time. It stars Thomasin McKenzie (JOJO RABBIT), Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith, and Terence Stamp. 

 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the month of November. 

A Reel Review: DEAR EVAN HANSEN

In 2015, the coming-of-age stage musical Dear Evan Hansen premiered on Broadway, eventually winning six Tony Awards. The lead role was held down by Ben Platt, who brings his talent to the big screen adaptation. 

Evan (Platt), is a teenager who suffers from social anxiety who, as part of his recovery, is tasked with writing a helpful letter to himself. His letter is hijacked by his troubled classmate Connor (Colton Ryan), who later commits suicide…leading Connor’s grieving parents (Amy Adams, Danny Pino), and sister Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever), to believe that Connor and Evan were best friends. 

Directed by Stephen Chbosky and based on the stage musical, which itself was based on the novel by Steven Levenson, the plot of DEAR EVAN HANSEN is a series of snowballing complications. Connor and Evan were far from friends, but Evan gives into the grieving Murphy family for the sake of easing their pain. This leads to the entire school rallying behind Evan and the family, with charity projects and a strong social media campaign which aids other teens struggling with depression or social anxiety. 

The film tries to land on many themes; social anxiety for teens, social media issues, the grieving process, and most of all, family. There are a ton of emotional points that need to be hit on, but the script goes after them too hard and too fast, often repeating them over and over. With that much repetition it becomes a bit of a grind, and the running time of 137 minutes feels longer. 

There is still a lot to admire in DEAR EVAN HANSEN. With some clever costuming, exaggerated body language, and a little bit of CGI, the 27-year-old Ben Platt is made out to be a high-schooler and it works. The musical numbers add to character’s internal thoughts, and there is an earnest effort to get up-close and personal with the primary characters. The film does have an artificial look to it; every house, classroom, and locker-room hallway just lacks a lived-in look. 

Performances are outstanding all-around. Ben Platt, despite playing an awkward teen who can barely squeak out two words around a girl, fills up the screen very well. His chemistry with the excellent Kaitlyn Dever provides a spark. Amy Adams plays the role of a grief-stricken parent very well, and Julianne Moore, playing Evan’s mother, is also excellent. 

DEAR EVAN HANSEN ends on a bittersweet note, as the primary players end with just as many losses as they do gains. As a film with a whole lot to say, anyone can come away with a different takeaway…and that’s a good thing. There is some polish needed, but it still manages to have some shine. 

BOTTOM LINE: Rent it 

 

A Reel Opinion: Leave Marvel Alone

In 2019, famed director Martin Scorsese, while out doing press rounds for his new film THE IRISHMAN, was asked how he felt about the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU); the long-running series of superhero films based on Marvel comics. While his feelings on the armored and caped hero films are debatable, the news sparked a new pandemic in the business; not the type that closes theatres, but the type that has every lazy writer out there looking for some extra clicks. 

 

Since it’s launch in 2008, the MCU has made billions at the box office, won Oscars, and elevated even the most obscure comic characters into household names and into cultural icons. With the exception of maybe STAR WARS, nothing generates clicks on a headline like one that has the word Marvel in it. Ever since Scorsese’s comments, lazy writers and bloggers have gone out of their way to ask the most respected film directors about their MCU feelings; film auteurs such as Quentin Tarantino, Francis Ford Coppola, David Lynch…and most recently, Denis Villeneuve while he was doing press rounds for his upcoming film, DUNE. 

 

While the opinions of these filmmakers are certainly respected, they are gentlemen who have never had involvement in the superhero business and probably never will. They’ve made careers out of doing their own thing and that will never change. Asking them their opinions on the current king of the modern blockbuster certainly generates buzz and earns some clicks on social media, but after two solid years of hearing about it, it has become old, repetitive, and stale.

 

To be fair, headlines that grab clicks turns into revenue for press outlets…a near necessity for survival in the digital media world. Most of cinema talk right now revolves around superhero films and the concept of shared universes, ranging from Marvel’s success stories to the outright failures by other studios. People do want to read about those caped and armored heroes, but the purpose of a journalist is to write about the news, not generate news by provoking an answer that is a lock to generate buzz. 

 

So writers, stop being lazy…and leave Marvel alone. 

A Reel Retro Review: AUTUMN LEAVES (1956)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film from the TCM library every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

 

The season of glorious Fall is upon us. Last year, Reel Speak blogged on the best films to watch during this refreshing season (read that HERE). One film that was considered for the list but didn’t make the cut of 10 was Robert Aldrich’s 1956 noir drama, AUTUMN LEAVES. 

 

Milly (Joan Crawford), is a lonely self-employed typist who meets Burt (Cliff Robertson), and they begin a whirlwind romance which leads to marriage. But not long after, Joan meets Burt’s ex-wife Vera (Virginia Hanson), and his father (Lorne Greene), who hint that Burt may not be all that he seems…

 

AUTUMN LEAVES is a film that latches closely to the three-act structure. The early goings are a standard romance tale, the middle section adds mystery, and the concluding act sees Burt’s secrets come to light. The arrival of his ex-wife and father triggers long-standing issues within him, and once the film moves past the layered mystery, AUTUMN LEAVES surprisingly becomes a story that often shocks about mental-illness…with Burt’s sanity quickly going downhill. 

 

Director Robert Aldrich, who would win a Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival for this movie, films a spectacular looking noir. Lights and shadows are used brilliantly, and a scene in a theatre which shows Milly’s loneliness is excellent even by today’s standards. Every shot is exquisitely framed. 

 

The cast is excellent. Joan Crawford shows Milly’s loneliness and desire for affection very well. Cliff Robertson lights up the screen…especially when he starts to lose his sanity. Lorne Greene, years before he would gain fame in TV’s BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (1978-1980), makes for an excellent villain. 

 

AUTUMN LEAVES was omitted from Reel Speak’s Best Fall Film list simply because it doesn’t have a lot to do with the season, despite Nat King Cole’s classic tune of the same name appearing in the opening and closing credits. Cole’s song serves as a metaphor for the film, which is an effective look at mental illness and romance. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

 

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Reel Facts: Robert Aldrich would go on to direct hits such as THE FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (1965), THE DIRTY DOZEN (1967), and THE LONGEST YARD (1974). Cliff Robertson would win an Oscar for Best Actor in the film CHARLY (1968), and in his later years would play Uncle Ben in Sam Raimi’s SPIDER-MAN trilogy (2002-2007). 

A Reel Retro Review: SEMI-TOUGH (1977)

Reel Speak’s Retro Reviews will randomly review a classic film every week, with the intention of introducing some overlooked and perhaps forgotten screen gems from the past to those of us who may be unfamiliar or unawares of their existence. 

 

Professional football is back in season, and when fans aren’t screaming at the TV or at each other, they may take a moment or two to discuss the best films that have visited the ol’ gridiron (read Reel Speak’s take on that matter HERE). One of the overlooked and perhaps thankfully forgotten football films came in 1977 with Michael Ritchie’s rowdy comedy, SEMI-TOUGH. 

 

Billy Clyde Puckett (Burt Reynolds), and Marvin “Shake” Tiller (Kris Kristofferson), are pro football players who share an apartment with Barbara (Jill Clayburgh); the daughter of their team’s owner (Robert Preston). As the team makes a run to the Super Bowl, Marvin begins a romance with Barbara, while enrolling in a New Age self-help program. 

 

Directed by Michael Ritchie and based on the 1972 novel of the same name by Dan Jenkins, SEMI-TOUGH is less of a football film and more of a romantic comedy; focusing on the love triangle between Billy, Marvin, and Barbara…while also throwing a few harpoons at self-help groups. Marvin and Barbara’s romance is bothersome to Billy, who goes out of his way to try and woo her into his life romantically, while trying to make sense of Marvin’s commitment to the over-the-top self-help group. 

 

The various plotlines of the love triangle and the self-help group all but bury any football time. The team’s playoff run and appearance in the Super Bowl almost comes as an afterthought, as none of the other storylines effect what happens to them on the field. SEMI-TOUGH is also a prime example of the over-the-top, raunchy comedy of its era; the players are hard partiers, vulgar, with more than one insensitive racial joke or quip. It’s one film that did not age well. The NFL did not give license for any of its teams to be presented in the film, leaving SEMI-TOUGH with a bunch of cheap-looking generic teams...not to mention a few scenes where it's obvious they were filming in empty stadiums. 

 

Burt Reynolds and Kris Kristofferson seem to be having a blast in the film, and their charisma and sense of “life is playground” really carries the movie. Jill Clayburgh is excellent in keeping up with the massive amounts of testosterone all over the film. Carl Weathers pops in as a rival linebacker. 

 

The finale, which involves  a brawl at a wedding, is ridiculous and not as funny as it thinks it is. SEMI-TOUGH finishes with a few laughs, but misguided in its telling. This is one game that should be forfeited. 

BOTTOM LINE: Fuck it. 

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Reel Facts: Michael Ritchie also directed the sports films DOWNHILL RACER (1969), and THE BAD NEWS BEARS (1976). He also helmed the Chevy Chase FLETCH comedies. Jill Clayburgh would have her breakthrough role a year later in AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, for which she was nominated for Best Actress. 

A Reel Opinion: The Top 10 Solo Films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

Last week, Disney and Marvel Studios scored another hit with SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (read Reel Speak’s review HERE). The superhero/kung-fu/fantasy hybrid is the 25^th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and the 21^st of the “solo” films which feature the individual heroes before they move onto the mighty AVENGERS team-up movies. SHANG-CHI has right away been hailed as one of the best of the solo outings, which brings us to Reel Speak’s Top 10 Best Solo MCU Films. 

 

Ever since the MCU launched with IRON MAN way back in 2008, every solo-shot worked to accomplish several things; to establish the character, to connect them to the larger universe, and to plant seeds for sequels. The MCU has done this very well with their individual hero films, with even their lesser received efforts still worth a watch. These are the non-AVENGER films that did it the mightiest…

 

 

 

 

 

 

10. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING (2017)

 

The ever-popular web-slinger suffered through a decade of terrible movies produced by Sony Pictures before finally coming home where he belongs. Tom Holland took over the role and instantly brought a down-to-earth innocence that embraced the character’s comic origins and made him relatable; Spidey was finally an earnest American kid who just wanted to be an Avenger…to help others and to be a hero on the way. With that, HOMECOMING hits Spidey’s 1960’s character-origins…while offering some of the best twists/surprises in the MCU so far. 

 

 

 

9. THOR: THE DARK WORLD (2013)

 

TV’S GAME OF THRONES alum Alan Taylor directed the second solo outing for the God of Thunder, as played by Chris Hemsworth. THE DARK WORLD had major consequences for the MCU moving forward…with huge events that would play right into INFINTY WAR (2018) and ENDGAME (2019). Stylistically, it’s a nice combo of sci-fi and fantasy, has high energy, plenty of surprises, and one of the best overall scores in a Marvel film, as provided by Brian Taylor. 

 

 

 

 

8. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS (2021)

 

The test of time has not been put to Marvel’s newest film yet, but it’s hard to overlook it’s uniqueness. SHANG-CHI’s plot is rooted in family drama with a main villain who only wants to bring his family back together. Gone is the standard bad guy who just wants to destroy and rule and is instead coping with grief. Fresh, new, and a lot of fun on the screen. 

 

 

 

 

7. BLACK PANTHER (2018)

 

The late great Chadwick Boseman took on the role of the first superhero of African descent in mainstream American comics and elevated the character into an instant cultural icon. It is the first superhero film to earn a nomination for Best Picture, was a box office smash, and has kids across the world yelling Wakanda Forever! as a unifying cry. The film itself, directed by Ryan Coogler, is a visual stunner, and similar to SHANG-CHI, capitalized on a strong father-son story. 

 

 

 

6. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011)

 

Even after Marvel Studios pulled off characters such as Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk…we still weren’t sure how the Star Spangled Man would fare on the big screen. Thank the gods we were wrong, because Joe Johnstons’s WWII-set origin story not only reinvented the character for new generations, but established a line of trust in Marvel movies that has yet to be broken. Chris Evans embodied the character perfectly, and his strong supporting cast of Tommy Lee Jones, Toby Jones, Stanley Tucci, Hugo Weaving…and the magnificent Hayley Atwell gave the film a take-me-serious weight. 

 

 

 

5. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR (2016)

 

Our beloved Avengers are torn apart at the seams in an internal conflict over government oversight and freedom. Our heroes had been banging heads since day one; particularly Captain America (Chris Evans), and Iron Man (Robert Downey, Jr), but this time the conflicts come to blows and a deep division within the team. As directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, CIVIL WAR did the legwork to make sure Cap and Iron Man’s reasons for taking their respective sides were fleshed out; both are vulnerable while dealing with loss…giving this massive slugfest a strong human side. 

 

 

 

4. THOR: RAGNAROK (2017)

 

Everyone’s favorite cinematic oddball Taika Waititi helms Thor’s third solo film which sees the God of Thunder whisked across the galaxy in this star-studded romp…which included Jeff Goldblum, Cate Blanchett, Tessa Thompson, Anthony Hopkins, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, and Karl Urban. RAGNAROK isn’t afraid to show just how strange the galaxy can be, and despite the many laughs, puts Thor through some of his toughest tests while having vital happenings for the MCU. 

 

 

 

3. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER (2014)

 

Captain America has his world turned upside-down when he sees his faith in the institution fail by way of espionage and treachery…when he discovers SHIELD has been overrun by the evil Hydra for decades and his best friend Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), has been alive for 70 years as a master assassin. Helmed by Anthony and Joe Russo, THE WINTER SOLDIER also turned the MCU on its head with important events happening, and its grittiness and old-school violence gives it a throwback sense to the 1970’s. 

 

 

 

2. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014)

 

This may seem like a bit of a cheat since there’s more than one hero in this one, but for this gang of misfits it’s still their own solo film and it is not an AVENGER movie. James Gunn directs this laugh-a-minute romp which expanded the MCU into the far reaches of the galaxy, and by the end had instantly elevated the characters, which most of the world had never even heard of before 2014, into cultural icons. 

 

 

 

1. IRON MAN (2008)

 

If SUPERMAN (1978), can be considered the grand-daddy of all superhero films, than IRON MAN from 2008 can be called the godfather of the Marvel run. Robert Downey Jr. experienced a much-needed career resurgence when he took on the role of Tony Stark, the billionaire/playboy/philanthropist who would build the armor of Iron Man. Jon Favreau directed this first outing which started it all, which had a real-world grit to it which gained our confidence from the first frame. Downey was joined by a cast that resembled the call-sheet on Oscar night; Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges, and Gwyneth Paltrow…which once again sent a signal that Marvel Studios meant business. Overnight, Iron Man became a new icon in pop culture; transcending his long-past comic and cartoon popularity…and changed the game for Marvel movies and for all superheroes on film. 

 

 Reel Speak's Top 10 Solo Films of the Marvel Cinematic Universe

1. IRON MAN
2. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
3. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
4. THOR: RAGNAROK
5. CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR
6. CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER
7. BLACK PANTHER
8. SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS
9. THOR: THE DARK WORLD
10. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

A Reel Review : SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS

One of the many reasons why the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) has worked so well for the last 13 years is they have successfully cross-bred their superheroes with other genres of film. IRON MAN (2008) was a techno-thriller, THOR (2011) was high fantasy, and CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE FIRST AVENGER (2011) was a war film. For their 25^th feature film, SHANG-CHI: THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS, the MCU ventures into new territory; kung-fu. 

Years after leaving his life as an assassin, Shang-Chi (Simu Lu), settles into a regular life; parking cars with his friend Katy (Awkwafina), when he is pulled back into his old organization The Ten Rings, which is led by his father Xu Wenwu (Tony Leung)…who wields the power of the mystical weapons, the ten rings. 

 

Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton and based the Marvel comics character which made its debut in 1973, SHANG-CHI sets itself up as a standard journey of rediscovery. Shang-Chi and Katy are drawn to China, where they find his sister Xu Xialing (Meng’er Zhang), and eventually back to their father who is looking to open a mystical portal. 

 

Although SHANG-CHI is saturated very well in Chinese mythology and fantasy, the plot uses the family dynamics to drive things. Xu Wenwu isn’t a villain who wants to destroy or rule the world, but instead believes he has found a way to bring back his dead wife. He’s a villain in perpetual mourning, and he needs items that his children possess to make the miracle happen. This really works in raising the stakes and amplifying characters. 

 

While director Destin Daniel Cretton is weaving a family drama, he is also lensing a gorgeous looking film. Although mostly artificial, the landscapes and Chinese cities are breathtaking. The fight scenes are a blast and very well executed, with some of the sequences done in impressive long takes. 

 

Acting is excellent. Simu Lu has all the charisma and physicality of a true leading man. Awkwafina is the comedy relief and nearly steals the show. Tony Leung is tremendous, and be on the lookout for some cameos and extended cameos from some Marvel Universe alum. 

 

SHANG-CHI has a lot of mythology and backstory to get into, most of which comes in well-timed flashbacks or long information dumps. It grinds a little, but it’s no dealbreaker as the film is always moving forward. Once the finale rolls around we are invested, because at that point we are invested in this family. This is another Marvel success story. 

 

BOTTOM LINE: See it 

A Reel Preview: The Year in Film 2021 - Episode III

It’s September. The Summer Movie Season (what we had of it), is over, and the cooler winds bring in the annual Oscar hopefuls. But there is still a fair amount of fun to be had in the ninth month of the year.  Here are the notables headed for the big screen as Fall arrives: 

 

 

 

SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS – The 25^th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) brings us the tale of Shang-Chi; a master of kung-fu who finds himself pulled into the secret Ten Rings Organization. Simu Lu and Awkwafina star. 

 

MALIGNANT – James Wan, co-creator of the horror franchises SAW and INSIDIOUS, directs this thriller about a woman who dreams of grisly murders, only to see them come to fruition. Annabelle Wallis stars. 

 

QUEENPINS – Kristen Bell stars in this comedy about two housewives who come up with a $40 million coupon scam. Vince Vaughn and Paul Walter Hauser (RICHARD JEWELL), co-star. 

 

THE CARD COUNTER – Long-time Scorsese writer Paul Schrader directs this drama about a ex-military interrogator turned gambler. The cast includes Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan, and Willem Dafoe. 

 

CRY MACHO – Clint Eastwood, at the spry age of 91, directs and stars in this neo-Western about an ex-Rodeo star who is recruited to smuggle a child across the border. 

 

THE EYES OF TAMMY FAYE – Jessica Chastain (ZERO DARK THIRTY), plays controversial televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in this biopic. She is joined by Andrew Garfield and Cherry Jones. 

 

DEAR EVAN HANSEN – The big-screen adaptation of the 2015 stage musical of the same name. Broadway star Ben Platt reprises his stage role about a high school student with social anxiety disorder. 

 

THE GUILTY – Antoine Fuqua (TRAINING DAY) steps back into the crime genre with this thriller about an emergency dispatcher who receives a disturbing call. It stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, Peter Sarsgaard, Riley Keough, Paul Dano, and Bill Burr. 

 

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Next month, Reel Speak previews the packed month of October.