I’ll admit that I didn’t run out to see Project Hail Mary at the theater, despite being a sci-fi nerd, because it looked a bit too silly to me. The trailers leaned heavy on the comedy (and in my opinion, there was too much of it, especially in the first half of the movie) but it’s still an awesome science fiction flick. Based on a book by the same author who wrote The Martian (another fantastic space film), it has the same kind of “man out in space on his own” kind of idea, but with a twist. Ryland Grace (Ryan Gosling) wakes up alone in a space ship in deep space with total amnesia, no idea why he is out there; the two other spacefarers died in their induced hibernation during the long trek. Grace starts to get his memories piecemeal, which we see as flashbacks, that give us the story. Some kind of alien parasite has been sucking energy from our sun, and if humans can’t figure out how to stop it, our sun will grow too weak to keep the Earth warm, killing all the plants and animals and thus all the people too. Looking out into space, scientists have found the same problem with all stars except one: Tau Ceti, 11.9 million light years away. Using those same little parasites, which can emit tons of energy, they built a ship to get Grace (and his now-dead team) all the way out there to see why this one star is surviving, and to bring that knowledge back. Except Grace will not be bringing it back, because there’s only enough energy for a one-way trip, and he’ll have to send the cure back on tiny probes. Thankfully, Grace isn’t as alone as he thought he’d be. When he gets to Tau Ceti, he finds an alien, which he names “Rocky.” Once they learn how to communicate with each other, they learn they are there for the same reason, to save their home worlds from dying stars. The exciting parts in this movie are exhilarating, edge-of-your-seat affairs, and the movie has a surprising amount of heart as Rocky and Grace look out for each other as they face death time and again. Could have been a perfect sci-fi movie if they’d just cut back on some those silly laughs, but still a thrilling movie. ★★★★
She Dances is a great little indie flick with a strong cast. The (almost always) underrated Steve Zahn plays Jason, an absent father (been doing a lot of films like that lately) who is tasked with chaperoning his daughter Claire on her latest trip. Claire has always been into dance, and there’s a new competition for her to enter with her longtime friend and dance partner Kat. Much of the humor of the film is provided by these two Gen Z’ers and the out-of-touch Dad, but there’s some seriousness to the movie too: the hanging specter of Jack. Jack was Claire’s brother and Jason’s son, who died a few years ago (cause never mentioned; I suspected suicide), an event that ripped the family apart. It ended Jason’s marriage and sent him spiraling into alcoholism and withdrawing from Claire’s life. Jason has been sober for awhile now, but still hasn’t faced the hurt Jack’s passing has left him. Jason is uncomfortable around Claire because she reminds him of Jack, and Claire is hesitant to open up to Jason because of what it may dredge up. Jason is, after all, a recovering alcoholic and honestly doesn’t recall much of that dark time. Ethan Hawk costars as a longtime family friend and Jason’s business partner, and Claire is played by non other than Steve Zahn’s real-life daughter Audrey Zahn, in her first role. ★★★½
Jackie Chan will always be known for his martial arts films, but over the last few years, time has obviously diminished his action roles and he’s been taking more dramatic films. Such is the case for Unexpected Family, where he plays the elderly Ren. Ren is suffering from dementia, and while he lives alone, he is well-liked by his neighbors who take turns looking after him. A young tenant moves in named Zhong Bufan, and Ren mistakenly thinks it is his long-lost son returning home. Seeing Ren brighten up, the neighbors convince Bufan to play along. Initially, Bufan wants nothing to do with it, but when he thinks he may be able to manipulate Ren into giving him some money, he agrees. It isn’t long before Bufan grows to like Ren too, and gives up is nefarious plot. Ren, a former weightlifting coach, coached his son to a gold medal many years ago, so Bufan and the neighbors decide to reenact that championship meet in an attempt to bolster Ren’s memories and spirits. Things do not go as planned. Lots of Chan’s customary silly humor in the beginning of the film, but it really hits its stride in the second half, where it becomes more dramatic. Chan has acting chops, and I dare you to keep the emotions in check when he confronts his estranged “son” in the end. ★★★
Two Prosecutors shines a light on what life was like under the Stalin regime in the Soviet Union during the Great Purge, when Stalin was removing dissenters. It begins in a prison in Bryansk, where a prisoner is tasked with burning letters written by prisoners, letters which will never see the light of day. He is stricken by one though, written in blood, and somehow smuggles it out. The letter makes its way to a young prosecutor named Kornyev, a staunch communist but also a young idealist, and he comes to Bryansk to try to interview the prisoner who wrote the letter. He receives all kinds of run-around. The powers-at-be at the prison don’t want anyone to know how they are treating their prisoners. When Kornyev finally does meet the prisoner, an old man named Stepniak, we see why: Stepniak shows plenty of evidence of physical abuse and is coughing up blood, in obvious poor health. Turns out Kornyev has been so adamant because he once saw Stepniak give a speech about Bolshevism at his law school, and Kornyev knows that Stepniak is no dissenter. He’s a proper party man, and wants to know why Stepniak ended up here. He tries to take Stepniak’s case up the food chain, but everywhere he goes he is met with red tape and blockades. The red machine is in full force, and is not ready to admit any failure; with them there is either for or against, and if Kornyev isn’t careful, he may end up “against.” Excellent slow-burn drama. One of those movies where not much happens, but all the intrigue is told “in between” the dialogue. ★★★½
From one dark period in our world history to another, with the German film Amrum. Based on childhood of the film’s writer Hark Bohm, it takes place in the eponymous village, on a tiny German island off the coast, in 1945. The war is winding down, which is great news for most but unbelievable to others, namely Hille and her son Nanning (the main character). Hille is a staunch Nazi supporter, while her husband is off fighting in the war, but the rest of the village, far removed from Berlin and its worries, is ready for the war to be over. This includes Hille’s sister Ena. Ena and Hille are from this village and are staying in their childhood home; Hille’s house in Hamburg was bombed by the allies. Nanning finds himself at the center of this weird crossroads. When he repeats what a villager said about being thankful that the Russians are only 50 miles from Berlin, Hille wants the villager reported to the local magistrate, saying she is disloyal to her country. Even most family members in the village (aunts and uncles) are not sure what the war was supposed to be about, and are happy that they will stop losing friends and loved ones to “Hitler’s war.” After Hille gives birth to a new baby, she falls into postpartum depression, and refuses to eat. She makes an offhand comment that she’ll only eat white bread with butter and honey, all items that are extremely hard to come by these days. Nanning begins an adventure to find, trade for, or work for these items, in hopes of lifting his mom’s spirits, but it will be a tough job with society crumbing around him. Extremely well-depicted coming-of-age film, and a reminder that while our leaders will always try to divide us into “them” and “us,” most people are just living normal lives like everybody else. ★★★★
- TV series recently watched: Star City (season 1), The Vampire Lestat (season 1)
- Book currently reading: The Winds of Dune by Herbert & Anderson
Jons Movie Takes 