1917
After surprising many with its win for best drama at the Golden Globes last Sunday, we find out Monday morning if 1917 will be nominated for an Oscar.
Sam Mendes (who was the sixth director is history to win an Oscar for his very first movie, American Beauty) also co-wrote this World War I story. The movie is dedicated to his grandfather, who served in the war.
1917 is the story of two British soldiers who are sent on a mission to carry a message into enemy territory to prevent a massacre. Among those threatened by this massacre is the brother of one of the two young men sent on this mission.
What’s unique about this war film is it looks like it was shot as one long take, never jumping from scene to scene.
While Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Strong have small roles, there are only two real stars: Dean Charles Chapman (who played Tommen Baratheon in seasons 4-6 Game Of Thrones) and George McKay (who already has a couple of award nominations for this role: from The Satellite Awards and The London Film Critics Circle).
This movie has a much smaller, quieter more personal Saving Private Ryan feel. It didn’t have the same impact on me – I will NEVER forget Saving Private Ryan. But most critics just love this film. It was too slow for me. The one-long-shot thing gets hokey by the middle.
2-and-a-half hearts
Just Mercy
The always wonderful Michael B. Jordan stars as the real-life Bryan Stevenson, a Harvard grad lawyer who has devoted his life to helping poor, incarcerated inmates. He has saved the lives of dozens on death row, including Alabama inmate Walter McMillan, played by Jamie Foxx.
McMillan’s case in the '80s was actually one of Stevenson’s very first cases.
Captain Marvel’s Brie Larson co-stars as a local advocate who helps Stevenson, thus endangering her own family. The movie reunites Larson with the director of Short Term, which was her first starring role seven years ago. Tim Blake Nelson is outstanding in a small but pivotal role.
This is one powerful story — a movie that outrages and inspires. Despite fine performances, the story is better than the movie itself. I actually prefer the HBO documentary True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight For Equality. You can check out my podcast interview with the executive producer of the doc on Sonstein Sessions, on the iHeartRadio app.
2-and-a-half hearts
Like A Boss
Tiffany Haddish and Rose Byrne co-star as bff's who own a cosmetics company. After building the company from the ground up, they’re in way over their heads.
Salma Hayek stars as the woman who wants to buy them out. Haddish and Byrne are getting high marks for their chemistry, but the only other kind comment I’ve heard is that the film is just under 83 minutes long and apparently short on story at that.
It gets a lowly 23 percent (ouch!) on Rotten Tomatoes.