Sunday, February 26, 2017

THE BEST AND WORST OF 2016: IN DEFENSE OF A LACK OF CERTAINTY

When someone is honestly 55% right, that's very good and there's no use wrangling.  And if someone is 60% right, it's wonderful, it's great luck, and let him thank God.  But what's to be said about 75% right?  Wise people say this is suspicious.  Well, and what about 100% right?  Whoever says he is 100% right is a fanatic, a thug, and the worst kind of rascal.
--attributed to An Old Jew of Galicia

The above quote appears at the beginning of The Captive Mind by Czeslaw Milosz.  And as a reformed film scholar and occasional movie critic this quote is a solemn reminder of the duties of a critic (and as a citizen, but we'll limit our brief discussion here to the film critic).  Not as the final arbiter of the good and the bad, the quality and the dreck (though there is an element of that, too).  No, it is as a guide to the audience, a gentle (or not so gentle) prodding either toward or away from the film under discussion.

I cannot possibly know what you will or will not respond to, and I can only relate what I have responded to, for good or for ill.  And, to that end, it is my sincere hope that this simple missive may inspire you to see a film you might have otherwise dismissed or to seek out with more vigor a film you wanted but failed to see.  And if I disliked a particulate favorite movie of yours, please keep in mind that there's no accounting for taste.  Especially mine.

All that said, I feel comfortable stating that my opinions are 60% right.  Of course there are many people to thank, but I won’t bore you with all that here.  If you’re reading this, please accept my thanks.  I’m grateful to all of you for different reasons and in different ways.  But I can safely say that your presence in my life has not left me unchanged.  And I mean that in a good way.

Finally, thanks to my always supportive family.  I’m lucky to have you.

  
Brian Pope
February 26, 2017



THE BEST OF 2016
(in alphabetical order)
ARRIVAL  Despite its science fiction trappings Denis Villeneuve’s film is a meditation on endurance in the face of inevitable tragedy and grief.  Eric Heisserer elegantly adapts Ted Chiang’s short story “Story of Your Life,” and Amy Adams’ sensitive performance anchors this profound and often moving drama.
THE HANDMAIDEN  South Korean director Chan-wook Park’s twisted, twisty tale of repressed passion and betrayal, inspired by the Sarah Waters novel Fingersmith, is chock full of crosses, double-crosses and steamy sex.  I double-dog dare you to stay ahead of this one.  Not for the prudish or faint of heart (in more ways than one).
HELL OR HIGH WATER  Two Texas brothers rob banks that stole their family home from them, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions.  Writer Taylor Sheridan and Scottish director David Mackenzie beautifully evoke the post-financial crisis desolation and desperation.

I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO  Raoul Peck’s documentary based in part on the unfinished novel Remember This House by provocateur James Baldwin traces the fight for racial equality in the 1960s but ties in, and is just as urgent and vital, to today.
THE LOBSTER  This bleak black comedy from Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos takes society’s notion of ideological purity, applies it to romantic relationships, and carries it to the absurdist extreme.  As the film’s fine line between humor and horror gradually breaks down we find ourselves alternately gasping with laughter and shock.
LOVE & FRIENDSHIP  Even Whit Stillman’s most “modern” films have always felt like the product of a bygone era.  So it should surprise no one that his most entertaining and insightful film in years is this crisp, clear adaptation of the relatively obscure Jane Austen novella “Lady Susan.”  Kate Beckinsale has never been better.
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA  Writer/director Kenneth Lonergan has a distinctly Irish sense of tragedy, and this devastating drama is no exception.  The filmmaker refuses easy sentimentality and pat catharsis and instead grapples with inconsolable grief.  Casey Affleck, Lucas Hedges and Michelle Williams are exceptional.
MOONLIGHT  A tender, lyrical tale about a black boy/youth/man seeking an identity and human connection in Miami’s inner city.  Writer/director Barry Jenkins divides this journey into three parts, and each feels like a revelation.  Exquisitely acted and gorgeously shot, this is the year’s finest film.
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS  Tom Ford adapts Austin Wright’s novel Tony & Susan about a visual artist who, while reading a novel written by her ex-husband, reevaluates her feelings about their separation and her life.  Ford brilliantly explores the power of fiction to alter our sense of the past and manipulate our desires for the future.
ZOOTOPIA  This delicious animated confection tells a timely and timeless tale of tolerance and cooperation without feeling preachy.  Instead the film relies on smart storytelling, clever world building, and engaging yet complicated (but not too complicated) characters.  This is a captivating kids’ movie that will delight adults as well.
Runners-Up of 2016
(in alphabetical order)
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
EVERYBODY WANTS SOME!!
FENCES
HIDDEN FIGURES
LION
Honorable MentionsDEADPOOL; DON’T BREATHE; GREEN ROOM; HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE; JACKIE; LOVING; MIDNIGHT SPECIAL; MOANA; ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY; SILENCE; SWISS ARMY MAN; 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE; 20TH CENTURY WOMEN
THE WORST of 2016
(in alphabetical order)
THE BIRTH OF A NATION  Nat Turner’s slave rebellion deserves to be told, just by a more accomplished filmmakerWriter/director/actor Nate Parker believes he's hit a home run only to be thrown out at second base.
CAPTAIN AMERICA: CIVIL WAR  Is this a superhero movie or a philosophical treatise?  Either way, it lost me at hello.  And yet it kept on talking for over two hours.  Put a sock in it.

HACKSAW RIDGE  A thick pudding of jingoism sprinkled with just enough Christian palliative to provide cover for the last hour's non-stop pornographic violence.  Sanctimonious, self-righteous and shamelessly manipulative.

Saturday, February 25, 2017

THE POPE’S 2016 OSCAR® PREDICTIONS

It’s time once again to match wits with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.  Below are my predictions the 2016 Oscars®.

Best Picture:

ARRIVAL
FENCES
HACKSAW RIDGE
HELL OR HIGH WATER
HIDDEN FIGURES
LA LA LAND
LION
MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
MOONLIGHT

Unless something very drastic happens, LA LA LAND will win Best Picture.  Aside from the unintentionally risible HACKSAW RIDGE it’s the weakest option.  But Hollywood does love to congratulate itself.  MOONLIGHT would be my first choice.  Followed by HELL OR HIGH WATER.

Should Win:     MOONLIGHT
Will Win:          LA LA LAND
Overlooked:    ZOOTOPIA

Best Director:

Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND
Mel Gibson, HACKSAW RIDGE
Barry Jenkins, MOONLIGHT
Kenneth Lonergan, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Denis Villeneuve, ARRIVAL

Damien Chazelle will win for LA LA LAND, because he loves old school Hollywood musicals.  And Hollywood loves itself.  Enough said.  A better choice would be Barry Jenkins for MOONLIGHT.

Should Win:     Barry Jenkins, MOONLIGHT
Will Win:          Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND
Overlooked:    David Mackenzie, HELL OR HIGH WATER

Best Actress:

Isabelle Huppert, ELLE
Ruth Negga, LOVING
Natalie Portman, JACKIE
Emma Stone, LA LA LAND
Meryl Streep, FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS

I wasn’t able to see ELLE, so I can’t comment on Isabelle Huppert.  Generally speaking this is a weak category.  As such, Emma Stone will win for LA LA LAND, because Hollywood.  Ruth Negga was wonderful in LOVING.  But it was such a subtle performance in such a small movie, it doesn’t stand a chance.

Should Win:     Ruth Negga, LOVING
Will Win:          Emma Stone, LA LA LAND
Overlooked:    Amy Adams, ARRIVAL
Kate Beckinsale, LOVE & FRIENDSHIP
                        Annette Bening, 20TH CENTURY WOMEN
                        Taraji P. Henson, HIDDEN FIGURES

Best Actor:

Casey Affleck, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Andrew Garfield, HACKSAW RIDGE
Ryan Gosling, LA LA LAND
Viggo Mortensen, CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Denzel Washington, FENCES

Up until about a month ago, most would have said Casey Affleck was a lock for MANCHESTER BY THE SEA.  Now, thanks to tons of bad press and a less-than-pleasant demeanor, his chances have dropped.  I still think his performance was the year’s best, very closely followed by Denzel Washington for FENCES.  I suspect Washington will win.

Should Win:     Casey Affleck, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Will Win:          Denzel Washington, FENCES

Best Supporting Actress:

Viola Davis, FENCES
Naomie Harris, MOONLIGHT
Nicole Kidman, LION
Octavia Spencer, HIDDEN FIGURES
Michelle Williams, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA

Viola Davis will finally win an Oscar® for her heart-wrenching work in FENCES.  And although Davis deserves it, Michelle Williams’ devastating performance in MANCHESTER BY THE SEA or Naomie Harris’ fearless turn in MOONLIGHT would have won in any other year.

Should and Will Win:   Viola Davis, FENCES

Best Supporting Actor:

Mahershala Ali, MOONLIGHT
Jeff Bridges, HELL OR HIGH WATER
Lucas Hedges, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Dev Patel, LION
Michael Shannon, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

The Golden Globes gave the award to Aaron Taylor-Johnson in NOCTURNAL ANIMALS, but the Academy didn’t nominate him.  The SAG Awards recognized Mahershala Ali for MOONLIGHT.  So the question now is whether Michael Shannon’s nomination will change the calculus.  Shannon is wonderful, as always, but likely won’t pull enough support from Ali to change things.

Should and Will Win:   Mahershala Ali, MOONLIGHT
Overlooked:                Ben Foster, HELL OR HIGH WATER
                                    Sunny Pawar, LION

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Luke Davies, LION
Eric Heisserer, ARRIVAL
Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney, MOONLIGHT
Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi, HIDDEN FIGURES
August Wilson, FENCES

Eric Heisserer’s adaptation of Ted Chiang’s slim story “Story of Your Life” raises stakes and expands action without dwarfing its more meditative theme, but Barry Jenkins’ adaptation of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s unproduced play turns inner city angst into a lyrical tone poem.  He should and will win.

Should and Will Win:   Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney, MOONLIGHT
Overlooked:                Tom Ford, NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

Best Original Screenplay:

Damien Chazelle, LA LA LAND
Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou, THE LOBSTER
Kenneth Lonergan, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Mike Mills, 20th CENTURY WOMEN
Taylor Sheridan, HELL OR HIGH WATER

Damien Chazelle’s lead-footed venture into Hollywood nostalgia has a good chance to win, despite being the weakest script in the bunch.  Kenneth Lonergan’s devastating drama is the only one that has a chance against it.  Taylor Sheridan’s modern western about desperate, misguided desperados is a very worthy entry.  However, THE LOBSTER is easily the most outlandish and original screenplay this year but will have to settle for the nomination.  The safer bet is LA LA LAND; the more interesting bet is MANCHESTER BY THE SEA.  For fun I’ll go with the interesting bet.  (For those who listened to the On The Page® podcast, I have changed my prediction; I just couldn’t bring myself to let LA LA LAND win on paper.  Even if it does in “real” life.)

Should Win:     Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou, THE LOBSTER
Will Win:          Kenneth Lonergan, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Overlooked:    Jared Bush & Phil Johnston, ZOOTOPIA

Best Animated Film

KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
MOANA
MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI
THE RED TURTLE
ZOOTOPIA

I did not see MY LIFE AS A ZUCCHINI or THE RED TURTLE, alas.  Of those I did see KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS boasts the most artful animation; however, it suffers in its voice work.  MOANA is terrific in a traditional way, with classic animation and a marvelous musical score.  Yet ZOOTOPIA combines clever animation with a sharp script.  The timely, resonant message is icing on the cake.  It deserves to win and shall.

Should and Will Win:   ZOOTOPIA

Best Foreign Language Film

LAND OF MINE (Denmark)
A MAN CALLED OVE (Sweden)
THE SALESMAN (Iran)
TANNA (Australia)
TONI ERDMANN (Germany)

If the Academy is feeling political they may give the award to THE SALESMAN.  However, TONI ERDMANN made several critics’ Best of Year lists, so let’s go with that.

Will Win:          TONI ERDMANN (Germany)

Best Documentary Feature

FIRE AT SEA
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO
LIFE, ANIMATED
O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA
13TH

I only saw I AM YOUR NEGRO, and it was remarkable.  A must see.  However, I have heard that 13TH is equally compelling.  Because 13TH was directed by Ana DuVernay, who was snubbed for Best Director for SELMA some years back, there’s a chance the Academy could try to make amends here.  However, despite its imposing length, more people probably saw O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA.  It will likely win.

Should Win:     I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO
Will Win:          O.J.: MADE IN AMERICA

Best Cinematography

Grieg Fraser, LION
James Laxton, MOONLIGHT
Rodrigo Prieto, SILENCE
Linus Sandgren, LA LA LAND
Bradford Young, ARRIVAL

Grieg Fraser won the ASC award but that doesn’t always mean the Academy will think similarly.  Fraser deserves the Oscar®, but I fear it will go to Linus Sandgren as part of the LA LA LAND nostalgia-fest.

Should Win:     Greig Fraser, LION
Will Win:          Linus Sandgren, LA LA LAND

Best Film Editing

Tom Cross, LA LA LAND
John Gilbert, HACKSAW RIDGE
Joi McMillon, Nat Sanders, MOONLIGHT
Jake Roberts, HELL OR HIGH WATER
Joe Walker, ARRIVAL

Did I mention how much Hollywood loves itself?  Even when there’s an hour-long dull stretch through the middle of a movie?  Despite that fact Tom Cross will win for LA LA LAND.  A better choice would be Jake Roberts for the lean and mean editing of HELL OR HIGH WATER.

Should Win:     Jake Roberts, HELL OR HIGH WATER
Will Win:          Tom Cross, LA LAND

Best Costume Design

Colleen Atwood, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
Consolata Boyle, FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS
Madeline Fontaine, JACKIE
Joanna Johnston, ALLIED
Mary Zophres, LA LA LAND

Normally one would look to a period piece for the winner of the costume award.  The most obvious choices would be FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS or ALLIED.  Personally I prefer Madeline Fontaine’s subtle work, but I suspect Mary Zophres will ride the LA LA LAND wave.  Hollywood, thou art a narcissist.

Should Win:     Madeline Fontaine, JACKIE
Will Win:          Mary Zophres, LA LA LAND

Best Production Design

ARRIVAL
FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM
HAIL, CAESAR!
LA LA LAND
PASSENGERS

The Coen Brothers’ HAIL, CAESAR! was a puzzling concoction, but its production design was immaculate.  I hope I’m wrong, but LA LA LAND is the likely victor.

Should Win:     HAIL, CAESAR!
Will Win:          LA LA LAND

Best Original Score

Volker Bertemann, Dustin O’Halloran, LION
Nicholas Britell, MOONLIGHT
Justin Hurwitz, LA LA LAND
Mica Levi, JACKIE
Thomas Newman, PASSENGERS

Bertemann and O’Halloran’s sinuous LION score should prevail.  However, nostalgia will have its revenge (again!) as Justin Hurwitz’s tepid music for LA LA LAND carries the day.

Should Win:     Volker Bertemann, Dustin O’Halloran, LION
Will Win:          Justin Hurwitz, LA LA LAND

Best Original Song

“Audition (The Fools Who Dream),” LA LA LAND
“Can’t Stop the Feeling,” TROLLS
“City of Stars,” LA LA LAND
“The Empty Chair,” JIM: THE JAMES FOLEY STORY
“How Far I’ll Go,” MOANA

Lin Manuel Miranda knows how to write musical numbers, and his rousing “How Far I’ll Go” from MOANA deserves the prize.  Once again, however, Hurwitz will triumph with his morose “City of Stars” from LA LA LAND, because, hey, it’s a musical.  (Psst, Academy members, so is MOANA.)

Should Win:     “How Far I’ll Go,” MOANA
Will Win:          “City of Stars,” LA LA LAND

Best Sound Mixing

ARRIVAL
LA LA LAND
HACKSAW RIDGE
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
13 HOURS

Whether deserved or not the nominated “musical” inevitably gets the sound mixing award.  Hence, LA LA LAND’s win.  ARRIVAL is head and tentacles better.

Should Win:     ARRIVAL
Will Win:          LA LA LAND

Best Sound Editing

ARRIVAL
DEEPWATER HORIZON
HACKSAW RIDGE
LA LA LAND
SULLY

There’s a good chance this will continue LA LA LAND’s landslide.  However, this may be the chance the Academy needs to give HACKSAW RIDGE some undeserved love.  Me?  I prefer ARRIVAL.

Should Win:     ARRIVAL
Will Win:          HACKSAW RIDGE

Best Visual Effects

DEEPWATER HORIZON
DOCTOR STRANGE
THE JUNGLE BOOK
KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

I only saw KUBO and ROGUE ONE.  Of the two I preferred ROGUE ONE.  Just about everyone I know who saw it loved THE JUNGLE BOOK.  What the heck.  It’s worth a shot.

Should Win:     ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY
Will Win:          THE JUNGLE BOOK

Best Makeup

A MAN CALLED OVE
STAR TREK BEYOND
SUICIDE SQUAD

This seems like a particularly weak year in the category.  I only saw STAR TREK BEYOND, so let’s go with that.

Should and Will Win:   STAR TREK BEYOND

Best Documentary Short Subject

EXTREMIS
4.1 MILES
JOE’S VIOLIN
WATANI: MY HOMELAND
THE WHITE HELMET

No clue, so I’ll guess.

Will Win:          EXTREMIS

Best Animated Short Subject

BLIND VAYSHA
BORROWED TIME
PEAR CIDER AND CIGARETTES
PEARL
PIPER

I’m guessing.

Will Win:          PIPER

Best Live Action Short Subject

ENNEMIS INTERIEURS
LA FEMME ET LE TGV
SILENT NIGHTS
SING (MINDENKI)
TIMECODE

I’m guessing again.

Will Win:          ENNEMIS INTERIEURS

Friday, February 24, 2017

THE POPE'S PICKS AT ON THE PAGE (2017)

Michael Musa and I join noted screenwriting teacher Pilar Alessandra at her On the Page podcast to discuss the 2016 Oscar-nominated screenplays.  Podcast producer Pat Francis, host of the popular Rock Solid podcast, and YA author Nina Berry join the fray.  Get ready for some fireworks.

Just copy the below link into your browser and click on the Oscar podcast (#494).

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-page-screenwriting/id262077408

Enjoy.