Passing is a great film looking at race in 1930’s New York, many themes of which still apply today. Its co-leads are two black women with lighter complexions, made to look even lighter by filming in black and white. Irene (Tessa Thompson) is an upper middle class woman married to a doctor, and while not purposefully trying to pass as white, she doesn’t dissuade shop owners, hotel doormen, or restaurant staff from thinking otherwise. In one such place, she runs into Clare (Ruth Negga), an old friend from school, who is indeed purposefully passing as white. Clare has married a wealthy white man, who hates African Americans to the point that he won’t even hire a black housekeeper. Irene is disgusted that Clare could not only pretend to be white, but live with a man who hates her people. Irene makes a quick getaway, but Clare soon reaches out to her, hoping to hang out. After so many years pretending to be white, Clare wants to hang out with her people, dance to jazz in clubs, and let loose without fear of her husband finding out. Irene sets aside her aversion to Clare’s acceptance of her husband, but never does completely warm up to her. She seems to have a right to worry, when she sees her own husband cozying up to Claire. Whether its all in her head or not, and what comes of Clare’s subterfuge with her husband, is what leads to the climax. Tremendous performances by both leading ladies, and lots of nuanced themes dealing with race relations, identity, etc. ★★★★
Son of Monarchs, a film about a Mexican man who comes to the USA to pursue a career, but who still has some family secrets to take care of in Mexico, sounds like the kind of indie sleeper that I’d be all about. Unfortunately it did not live up to expectations. A successful biologist in New York City, on the verge of some DNA breakthroughs on his research of butterflies, Mendel must return to his home town after his grandmother, the woman who raised him after his parents died, has passed. He hasn’t been home in five years, and has to face his brother. There’s a lot of animosity there, and the reason doesn’t come out until later. But don’t expect a big ah-ha moment. This film is full of build-up but light on payoff, and spends way too long on details about Mendel’s research, which stunts the progression of the film. Strong acting by Tenoch Huerta Mejía as Mendel, but that’s about the only saving grace. ★½
I usually do newer films in these sets, but I’ve got a couple older (but not quite “classic films”) that I’ve been wanting to see, based on friends’ recommendations. The first is True Romance. Written by Tarantino (of whom I am not a fan, sacrilegious I know), it has an all-star cast of actors from the early 90s. Clarence (Christian Slater) falls in love and marries a call girl, Alabama (Patricia Arquette). Wanting to free her from her pimp, Clarence goes and kills him (played by a wild and almost unrecognizable Gary Oldman), and steals a suitcase of coke before heading out. Unfortunately with that much drugs involved, the powers-that-be aren’t just going to let Clarence and Alabama walk away scott free. A mob boss follows him out to L.A., and in typical Tarantino fashion, there will be lots of blood shed. Supporting actors include Dennis Hopper, Christopher Walken, James Gandolfini, and Tom Sizemore, with cameos from Brad Pitt, Samuel L Jackson, Chris Penn, and many others. I liked it a lot better than most Tarantino films. Not quite as over-the-top, perhaps honed in by director Tony Scott. It’s a wild ride, sort of crime/drama/comedy all mixed up together. ★★★½
I’ve got to go up to my buddy who recommended The Rundown, and punch him in the nuts. The start of the movie is alright, with Dwayne Johnson walking into a club and throwing down with a bunch of football players, walking out nearly unscathed with a championship ring needed as collateral against some money one of the players had borrowed and is late on paying. But then the next scene showed the Rock’s next mission down to South America, to bring back a wayward son. The son in question is played by Seann William Scott. As soon as I saw this, I knew that was it for me. Has this guy ever been in a good film? I hear this movie is actually a decent buddy cop kind of flick, but man, Scott’s face just makes me want to punch him. He’s not funny, he can’t act in a serious role, and I checked out of this film after about 45 minutes. ½
I’ve seen bits and pieces of American Psycho over the years when it was on TV, but never sat down and watched it. I’m glad I finally did. Christian Bale is tremendous as the psychotic Patrick Bateman, a man who outwardly appears sophisticated and cultured, but on the inside is a cold blooded killer who can torture and murder without emotion. Bateman is a vice president at a financial institution, but he never seems to do any work. He and his fellow vice p’s try to one-up each other with better dinner reservations, better looking business cards, etc. The only time he ever shows emotion is when he feels like he isn’t top dog in the pecking order among his fellows. He has a socialite fiancee, but doesn’t have any feelings for her either, cheating on her with prostitutes, before ultimately killing them. As his spree ramps up, his mental hold starts to break down, until the viewer is as confused as Bateman is about what is going on around him. A fantastic black comedy, bordering on the silly at times, but managing to stay intense thanks to Bale’s performance. ★★★★½
- TV series currently watching: Only Murders in the Building (season 1)
- Book currently reading: Hades by Mark Danielewski
Jons Movie Takes 