The Keeper is just another ho-hum biographical drama. It’s the story of Bert Trautmann, a German soldier captured by the Brits in World War II, who would go on to be a famous goalkeeper. At the end of World War II, Bert is in a POW camp in England, and he’s playing soccer in the yard one day when he is spotted by the coach of a local English team. The coach works a deal with the commander of the camp to allow Bert to work at his store and goal tend for the team, and Bert continues to stay on when the war ends and his compatriots are heading back to Germany. Over the course of the year, he does well enough to earn attention by the pro scouts, and falls in love with an English girl (the coach’s daughter). Neither move is accepted by the general population, who are still getting over the hurts caused by the Germans in the war. Bert himself is still trying to deal with his past transgressions. The film is OK, but nothing remarkable, and while I enjoyed it for the most part, it doesn’t do anything to set itself apart from the multitude of films like it. ★★
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is the latest from writer (and now director) Aaron Sorkin. I have to say, I’m a huge fan. This film is by no means perfect (despite my rating); it plays loose and fast, something that Sorkin can be guilty of at times. But damn, he knows how to build excitement and he lands emotional punches in all the right spots. It is based on the true story of the trial of the “instigators” of the riots at the 1968 Democratic national convention in Chicago. In a clear case of political motivation, 8 leaders of various anti-Vietnam groups are tried together with an obscure federal law about crossing state lines with joint plans to incite the riots. This, despite the people only passingly (or not at all) knowing each other, and no evidence of prior communication. One of the men, Bobby Seal (chairman of the Black Panthers) wasn’t even there during the riots. Despite being light on evidence against them, the men face an uphill battle, with a judge who clearly is against their political ideals, thinking they are anti-USA government, and an Attorney General, newly appointed by new president Richard Nixon, who wants to set a precedent for the new administration. If, like me, you like Sorkin’s previous works, including the fast dialogue of The Social Network or the trial setting of A Few Good Men, you’ll probably love this one too. And, obviously, there’s a lot going on there in 1968 that seems to be repeating now in 2020. And did I mention the all-star cast? Eddie Redmayne, John Carroll Lynch, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Keaton, and Frank Langella, just to name a few. And Sacha Baron Cohen! Do yourself a favor, skip his Borat sequel, and see this instead, the dude can really act! ★★★★★
I Used to Go Here is a cute little film, and depending on your tastes, that’s either a good thing or a bad. For myself, I really liked it. In the first 10 minutes, we learn that Kate’s life has taken an unexpected turn, away from being on the cusp of having everything she thought she wanted in life. The film starts with her on the phone with her publisher, having just published her first novel. Sales are not good, and they are cancelling her book tour. She opens up a package waiting for her at home and finds her wedding invitations to a now-cancelled wedding with her ex fiancé. Things are looking bleak, but out of nowhere she gets a call from her former college English teacher, who had set her on the path to writing. David invites her back to her alma mater (the fictional “Illinois University” in Carbondale, IL, which is weird because, living in St Louis, I know there really is a Southern Illinois University in Carbondale) to give a reading from her new book to his English majors. She readily accepts, and thus starts a fun, if sometimes depressing, trip down memory lane for Kate. She hangs with the college boys who now live in her old building, finds that her former idol/teacher David isn’t what he’s cracked up to be, and tries to get her life back on track in some way. From the opening of the film, I thought it might be a romantic comedy, but it is more of a “coming of age for your 30’s” kind of movie. Kate seemed to be on the right track for what society expects of you, but didn’t quite get there and now is starting from scratch again. At the same time, she’s a local celebrity to the English majors at school, because here’s an alum who is published and working in the real world. Balancing those two very different viewpoints is part of what gives some complexity to this picture. It’s not a laugh-out-loud kind of film, but there are lots of chuckles (like when Kate says to a boy that she was in this room 15 years ago, and he quips back that he was in kindergarten 15 years ago), and Gillian Jacobs (of Community fame) is absolutely charming in the lead role. So many films like this focus on younger 20-somethings, but its good to see some attention given to us older folks, many of whom may still be trying to find their way. ★★★½
Save Yourselves! is the worst kind of a movie: a comedy that’s not funny. It’s about a couple from New York who are having relationship problems, and decide to go to a cabin in the woods for a week to reconnect. They turn their phones off and promise themselves and each other that they will “disconnect” from their busy online lives and devote the week to each other. Of course, the week they happen to go, the Earth is invaded by an alien race which starts killing a bunch of people. Our couple is blissfully unaware for a few days, which is about as boring a 45 minutes as you’ll find on screen, and the final half isn’t much better. The “aliens” look like oversized tribbles of classic Star Trek TV, but low budget aside, the movie’s just not funny. Not even “chuckle” kind of funny. As in, I didn’t laugh or crack a smile once. A half a star because, hey, they made a movie? ½
On the Rocks is, unfortunately, a rather mundane, average comedy. Rashida Jones plays Laura, a married woman with 2 kids, who begins to suspect her husband Dean (Marlon Wayans) is cheating on her. He’s running a company which is really starting to take off, so he’s always away at meetings and going on mysterious trips. All of her evidence is circumstantial (he’s changed the password on his phone, he “accidentally” ended up with a female coworker’s stuff in his luggage) but she can’t stop that nagging feeling. Her suspicions are egged on by her dad Felix (Bill Murray). Felix knows a thing or two about extramarital affairs, having been the cause of his breakup with Laura’s mom, and he’s never given up the high flying lifestyle. They begin their stakeout of Dean’s whereabouts, searching for hard concrete proof. The actors give it their best, but the writing is dull and the jokes only land at times thanks to the ability of the talented cast. The ending is so cliche it could have come straight out of film 50 years ago. On the Rocks is an apt description of director Sofia Coppola’s career since Lost in Translation over 15 years ago. ★★
Jons Movie Takes 