Exciting New Year's Movies (1/2):
Delighted to share with you my joy over a spate of recent films I’ve seen. So many good ones and fine filmmakers! I’m not seen all of these yet, so apologies to those left out, but of those I have seen –
1. #Wicked – Wow! I never saw the stage play or followed the coverage, but I just purely loved the sensuality and intelligence of the movie. I didn’t know these two actresses, but what a surprise to find both their performances so fresh and different. #ArianaGrande is a marvel of cuteness with her sparkly eyes – who, I wonder, could’ve give birth to such a delightful fairytale creature? And #CynthiaErivo brings a depth and intelligence to Elphaba, the Evil Witch from Oz, that is very moving!
@jonmchu is a helluva filmmaker and is working with challenging material in this prequel that turns everything in #TheWizardofOz upside down. All the more amazing that he pulled it off with a Hollywood studio.
2. The same is true for #ACompleteUnknown. #BobDylan’s generation should be happy; they seem to have gotten it right. #TimotheeChalamet, who’s always adorable and sensitive, here displays a strength I’ve not seen before, and #MonicaBarbaro is comfortable playing a legend, has a spectacularly pure voice like Joan Baez did, and on top of that, very warm, inviting eyes. She’s a woman with her own identity, and yet you can believe Dylan is the one for her. But they could never link up, which is well-handled here.
Same goes for #EdNorton, who surprises us as the iconic folk singer Pete Seeger with a warm and simple performance. I never believed Norton could play a kind and nice person, but here, credit is due. He’s a superb actor, but I’m still not convinced he can carry a picture as the protagonist. This is a great film from an underrated filmmaker in #JamesMangold, who, with “Walk the Line,” has made two musical masterpieces.
3. #Conclave packs a real punch as a political thriller expertly done by #EdwardBerger, with an ending that’s truly shocking in the sense that it feels so appropriate to the moment – and yet, the societies we have in this world will never accept the rightness of it. It’s a very challenging picture and a delight to watch with #RalphFiennes, #StanleyTucci, and #JohnLithgow, and the Italian actors as well, all going through their expert nuances. I really wonder what the Vatican would think of this? They clearly cooperated. If so, why? My only quibble is, to get access to the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel, etc., and then light it so dimly was a disappointment.