Last night I continued my Best Films Rewatch. There were only two 80s films on the list. "Empire Strikes Back" and "Shag: The Movie." One began the decade and the other finished it out. But before we go there, let's talk about a couple of movies I saw this week. Starting with "Hereditary."
I have been both looking forward to and dreading talking about this film. It's interesting that I'm writing about "Hereditary" along with "Ocean's 8," the other film I saw...and "Shag" because all three, in my mind are ideal summer films. If I was writing about "Hereditary" with no outside awards context this would probably be a completely different take on the film.
I'm sure you all know what the film is about. A family grieves the death of its matriarch and all hell quickly yet slowly breaks loose.
I had a really good time watching this film. It's creepy, uncomfortable with great performances, particularly by Alex Wolff as Peter and Ann Dowd as Joan. Interestingly enough, before I saw the film, I saw multiple people talking about these two performances in lieu of Toni Collette, the star of the film, and I thought they were simply being nonconformist, but I totally get it now.
Writer/director Ari Aster, has an interesting core story, but, in my opinion makes some major missteps.
Look...if people are comparing this film to the brilliant "The Exorcist" and talking about Collette as a Best Actress contender, we have to look at it objectively and comparatively.
The biggest reason "Hereditary" does not work for me is simple. A sense of reality is never established. The home seems overtly unnatural (and not in the demon-y/creepy unnatural sense), the characters are incredibly stock--broadly grieving mother, pent up dad, emo son, really creepy daughter. It's clear to me, that there was little to no discussion on Aster's part about depth or history to these characters, other than what is written into the script.
Then there is Charlie. I honestly don't know how to say this...the casting choice could have worked if there was a real girl there. But the clucking, the MOOD...it's just too on the nose. Yes, we learn why she is this way...at least I think we do...I really don't want to spoil the ending...so how bout this: If this film continues to stay in the conversation, I'll go deeper....
If you look at A24's ad campaign, they are really pushing Collette's excess. And yes, she goes there. But the extremes are built on zero foundation. The scene where she goes to the grief support group is the strongest scene in the film. It's early in the film, and I thought...YES...she can win Best Actress. I would love for Collette to win an Oscar.
But...if Toni Collette is nominated/wins Best Actress for this film it will shock me beyond belief. The award would actually need to go to A24s Oscar campaign and the people who are praising this performance for more than it is.
I love that she is electric and bold, but there are multiple times she over shoots the mark. With a better director maybe I would think differently. Heck...there is a scene with Collette and Dowd in a parking lot where we can't even see Collette's face. At all! Not until she (unnaturally...again!) attempts to open herself up to the camera. Maybe Aster and cinematographer Pawel Pogorzelski were more concerned with head flossing to pay attention to such an obvious detail.
If we are comparing "Hereditary" to the "Exorcist," which is clearly happening, look at Chris MacNeil and Regan (played by Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair) compared to Annie and Charlie. Chris and Regan are real people. Chris's job makes sense in relation to both the film, the way she parents and how she continues with life despite the world (and Satan!) crashing around her. Annie's choice of job - sorry, but it seems chosen as a means to show not tell.
The supporting players in "The Exorcist" have SO MUCH backstory they are bringing to the table. Father Merrin, Father Karras...heck even Burke Dennings and Sharon! That's why it is terrifying. That's why it has stood the test of time. Alex Wolff comes closest in "Hereditary," but close, is not enough for me.
The supporting players in "The Exorcist" have SO MUCH backstory they are bringing to the table. Father Merrin, Father Karras...heck even Burke Dennings and Sharon! That's why it is terrifying. That's why it has stood the test of time. Alex Wolff comes closest in "Hereditary," but close, is not enough for me.
The last act of the film is creepy, for sure, but Collette's "crazy" plays less like a McGuffin and more like a tool to show us some really creepy things that actually don't add up in the end. And the very ending...well, not to spoil it here, but it is perfectly absurd in its audacity. But to call it a twist? We are given a payoff that is 100% predictable from the very beginning of the film! How is that a twist? Everything we already know/assume wrapped in a bow.
OK...enough of that.
I also saw "Ocean's 8" which I found to be a complete blast. Probably because no one is saying it will be up for any awards.
It's so great to see these incredible actresses having a blast. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway in particular are so good. Being funny, particularly in Hathaway's case is much more challenging than wailing in a wide shot at a grave side...although you will never convince people who don't understand acting...or the people who say they understand but really don't.
It's so great to see these incredible actresses having a blast. Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway in particular are so good. Being funny, particularly in Hathaway's case is much more challenging than wailing in a wide shot at a grave side...although you will never convince people who don't understand acting...or the people who say they understand but really don't.
"Ocean's 8" also makes some pretty big missteps in terms of storytelling, but it's ok because it somehow maintains the energy it establishes from the start even though it never quite rises to the level that this sort of movie really should. It relies too heavily on the casting and acting chops of its stars along with some pretty great (although not quite Met Gala level) costumes.
Speaking of female driven films, "Shag: the Movie" came out in 1989, y'all!
It's a tad raunchy, hilarious and has 4 great female leads. Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda, Annabeth Gish and Page Hannah. They have chemistry for DAYS. Cates and Fonda have seemingly retired from acting, which is a bit sad (and makes me want to revisit "The Anniversary Party" in which Cates plays a version of her semi-retired self)...Gish is still working and Hannah seems to have returned to film acting after a very long break.
It's a tad raunchy, hilarious and has 4 great female leads. Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda, Annabeth Gish and Page Hannah. They have chemistry for DAYS. Cates and Fonda have seemingly retired from acting, which is a bit sad (and makes me want to revisit "The Anniversary Party" in which Cates plays a version of her semi-retired self)...Gish is still working and Hannah seems to have returned to film acting after a very long break.
Is "Shag" one of the best films of all time? No, it's not. It's sexy (Cates and Robert Rusler smolder as Carson and Buzz), laugh out loud funny and very Southern. It will forever remain a film stamp on my youth and reams.
I wanted to be Fonda's Melaina...and I was...later, to some extent. I wanted to move to the big city and chase my dreams (check) and in the process got myself in a few sticky situations (double check!) that landed me in my own version of a field covered in shaving cream (trust me on that one...check, check, check!).
I wanted to be Fonda's Melaina...and I was...later, to some extent. I wanted to move to the big city and chase my dreams (check) and in the process got myself in a few sticky situations (double check!) that landed me in my own version of a field covered in shaving cream (trust me on that one...check, check, check!).
SO..."Shag" lands in the honorable mention pile. Which is better than where "Funny Girl" ended up.
Moving ahead, I will be working on a follow up to my "Love and Heartbreak" piece that was published at Awards Daily with new quotes from our beloved Timothee Chalamet and producer/actor Peter Spears as well as a look at "Alex Strangelove," "Main in an Orange Shirt" and more queer films.
If you missed it, here it is:
And here is the Best Films Rewatch List:
Funny Girl - 1968
West Side Story 1961
The Godfather Part II 1972
Empire Strikes Back 1980
Shag 1989
Silence of the Lambs 1991
The Crying Game - 1992
Drop Dead Gorgeous 1999
Psycho Beach Party 2000
Billy Elliot 2000
Donnie Darko - 2001
Mulholland Drive - 2001
A Walk to Remember 2002
Lost in Translation 2003
Mysterious Skin 2005
Zodiac 2007
Where the Wild Things Are 2009
Black Swan 2010
La La Land 2016
Call Me By Your Name 2017
This series seems to be building so much anticipation for me. I myself was entirely disappointed with Hereditary, it played like watching mental illness run riot and Colette seemed to be channeling her old role as Tara Gregson in the United States of Tara. The anticipation for me lies in the next new peice written here as well as a continuation of the journey the author takes through his top 10 quest. It’s amazing how much changes when we rewatch/reread it reminds me just how subjective art can be. Yet talent has no expiration date. It’s a beautiful journey of self discovery and I feel privileged to watch it play out for this writer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking this journey with me!!
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