Drive-Away Dolls (2024) | REVIEW

Geraldine Viswanathan and Margaret Qualley in Ethan Coen’s DRIVE-AWAY DOLLS — PHOTO: Focus Features / Universal Pictures (Still image from trailers).

Directed by Ethan Coen — Screenplay by Ethan Coen & Tricia Cooke.

Ethan Coen’s Drive-Away Dolls is set in the late 1990s and the film follows friends Jamie (played by Margaret Qualley) and Marian (played by Geraldine Viswanathan) go on a road trip to Tallahassee, Florida. However, what complicates things is that, due to a misunderstanding, the drive-away car that they are given the keys to a car that three criminals had planned to take and which contains an all-important cargo that they desperately need to get ahold of. As a result, while the more promiscuous Jamie tries to get Marian laid on the way to Tallahassee, criminals are desperately following in their footsteps in an attempt to retrieve what the drive-away car contains.

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Oppenheimer (2023) | REVIEW

Cillian Murphy is outstanding as the titular theoretical physicist in Christopher Nolan’s OPPENHEIMER — PHOTO: Universal Pictures.

Directed by Christopher Nolan (Dunkirk; Tenet) — Screenplay by Christopher Nolan.

In 1965, famed physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer appeared on a television broadcast, and, on said broadcast, he gave an account of how people reacted and what went through his head during the so-called ‘Trinity Test’ in 1945, when Oppenheimer and a group of physicists had successfully created and detonated the first nuclear weapon. Oppenheimer claimed that a specific line from the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad Gita popped into his head: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.” It is a chilling quote that has echoed through generations and had a life of its own. For the twelfth feature film in his oeuvre, the immensely popular auteur filmmaker Christopher Nolan opted to tell J. Robert Oppenheimer’s story. It’s a film about a man full of paradoxes, such as how he became a political figure with strong left-wing disarmament views but was also the man who is known for having willfully created a weapon that once dwarfed all others and forever changed warfare and foreign policy. But it is also a film that gets to the heart of the rot of the American soul in the 20th Century. It is an intimate account of the complicated headspace of a historically significant genius, but it is also a haunting and damning cautionary tale about learning the wrong lessons, naivete, guilt, covetousness, and ripple effects. It is an astoundingly brilliant achievement and much more than your average biopic.

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AIR (2023) | REVIEW

Matt Damon and Viola Davis in AIR — PHOTO: Amazon Prime Video.

Directed by Ben Affleck — Screenplay by Alex Convery.

Ben Affleck’s AIR is a biographical drama about the origin of the highly successful original AIR Jordan basketball shoe, which was designed with Michael Jordan in mind when he had yet to actually play an NBA game. It follows Sonny Vaccaro (played by Matt Damon), a basketball talent scout for Nike, as he tries to convince first Nike and then Michael Jordan and his parents, including his mother Deloris (played by Viola Davis), to choose Nike, which was, at that time, not the massive company that it is today, as his brand of choice. There are, however, quite a few obstacles that Sonny must overcome. Jordan allegedly prefers Adidas, Nike likely cannot afford to compete with Adidas for his signature, Nike is considering axing their basketball division, and Sonny doesn’t have the best relationship with Jordan’s agent (played by Chris Messina).

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REVIEW: The Last Duel (2021)

Jodie Comer as Marguerite in Ridley Scott’s THE LAST DUEL — PHOTO: 20th Century Studios.

Directed by Ridley Scott — Screenplay by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck & Matt Damon.

Based on the Eric Jager non-fiction book of the same name, The Last Duel tells the true story of one of the last judicial duels in France in 1386, when Jacques Le Gris (played by Adam Driver) and Sir Jean de Carrouges (played by Matt Damon) went head-to-head in a trial by combat to decide whether or not Le Gris was guilty of raping de Carrouges’ wife, Marguerite (played by Jodie Comer). However, all three of their lives were on the line. Because their rules stated that if her husband were to lose the duel (and his life in the process), then the courts would regard Marguerite as a false accuser and sentence her to death as a result of his loss.

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REVIEW: Ford v Ferrari (2019)

Theatrical Release Poster – 20th Century Fox

The following is a review of Ford v Ferrari, also known as Le Mans ’66 — Directed by James Mangold.

James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari tells the true story of the rivalry between Enzo Ferrari (played by Remo Girone) and Henry Ford II (played by Tracy Letts) in the lead-up to the 1966-edition of the French 24-hour race known as the ‘Le Mans.’ The film follows Carroll Shelby (played by Matt Damon), a former Le Mans winner and current automotive designer and engineer, and Ken Miles (played by Christian Bale), a testy but talented British race-car driver. Ford wants to beat Ferrari at his own game, so to speak, so he hires Shelby to design a racecar mighty enough to trounce the Italian rival, which had rejected Ford’s offer to purchase them. Shelby insists that Miles is the only man who understands the car they build together for Ford, but executives at Ford believe that Miles isn’t a company man, and they are prepared to derail the entire project to ensure that Shelby and his crew, none of whom are yes-men, follow their orders. Continue reading “REVIEW: Ford v Ferrari (2019)”

Favorite Thespians #3 – Ben Affleck

Favorite Thespians - Ben Affleck

In honor of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice being released in March, I am moving my Favorite Thespians-schedule around a bit. For one time only, Favorite Thespians is being released the day before I’m seeing the thespian’s latest film. This time it’s all about Ben Affleck!

Favorite Thespians is a monthly opinion piece wherein I name one of my favorite actors or actresses. Favorite Thespians contains three separate sections: one section on the first film I saw the thespian in (“On My Radar”), another section on 5 films you need to see to know the thespian (“Homework”), and a section on my favorite performance from him/her.
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The Collection #3 – The Departed

The Departed - Collection

  • The Departed (2006) – Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Our next movie in The Collection might be the best remake of all-time – the excellent crime-drama The Departed directed by Martin Scorsese. Originally, another Scorsese film was going to be this month’s member of The Collection, but in a last minute change-up the ensemble-led drama became the next must-watch film suggested by me.  Continue reading “The Collection #3 – The Departed”

Reaction to the 88th Academy Award Nominations – Motion Picture Thoughts #5

MOTION PICTURE THOUGHTS

The Academy has announced what films are worthy to call themselves the best of 2015. The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Martian were shown a lot of love in the nomination process, but Star Wars: The Force Awakens did get a handful of nominations as well. Now, let’s look at the nominations and discuss the odd Oscar snubs and the nominations that caught some by surprise. Continue reading “Reaction to the 88th Academy Award Nominations – Motion Picture Thoughts #5”

Predicting the Nominees for the 88th Academy Awards – Motion Picture Thoughts #4

MOTION PICTURE THOUGHTS

By this time tomorrow we will know which films will battle for some of the biggest awards in western cinema. One of my favorite days of the year is when the Academy announces the nominees. Cinephiles always have opinions about award snubs, and I’m always excited to take part in that conversation. This year it’ll probably end up being The Revenant versus Spotlight for the big awards, but don’t be surprised if the Academy shows a lot of love for either Mad Max: Fury Road or The Martian. Let’s try to predict the nominees! Continue reading “Predicting the Nominees for the 88th Academy Awards – Motion Picture Thoughts #4”