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Tully (2018)
Excellent portrayal of postpartum depression and stress
Watching this alone while my husband snoozed, I found myself over and over wanting to wake him up, drag him in the den, point to the TV and say "THIS! You never 'got it' either and she needs to kick her husband in the teeth!" Of course, she doens't since he's really a great guy, though clueless, as was mine. And no I didn't actually wake my husband and sharme him for his ignorance 40 years ago, but watching Marlo go through so much of the same chaos, guilt, depression, anger,and just plain brain and soul numbing exhaustion I and other struggling postpartum moms did and do was a little cathartic.
Of course I know (as does most everyone who's not lived under rocks for the past 20 years) postpartum depression and even postpartum psychosis are very real, but unlike many sufferers and clinicians who criticized this movie for not calling it out, I think doing so might have softened the impact of its mental/emotional tsunami and potential tragedy.
I was actually more annoyed that the older son's very obvious behavioral and sensory issues kept being referred to as "quirks" by people who are supposed to know better, namely his school adminstrator.
Other than that, I thought this was a very compelling, albeit with a creative spin, picture of postpartum psychosis - thankfully interrupted by a DUI car wreck with no other victims instead of something much more tragic. Just to say I disagree with those who accused this movie of treating postpartrum mental illness flippantly. In the hospital after Marlo's wreck, her treating physician is clearly alarmed by Marlo's symptoms and astounded her husband had been oblivoius to them. Another criticism I've read is that the ending tied it up too neatly on which I also disagree. The story had been told. We don't know how much time had passed between Marlo's diagnosis (and treatment) and the sweet moment when her husband joins her to help wash dishes in the final scene.
This movie ought to be required viewing for all brand new or about to be dads. Oh, and Charlize Theron was fabulous. She nailed it in every way. Excellent!
Walking Out (2017)
Ignore the "meh" reviews. Excellent movie, brilliantly cast and acted.
This movie would be worth watching if for nothing but the beautifully captured Montana mountain wilderness. While there are some breathtaking panoramas, the rugged wildness and remoteness of it all establishes a tense, physically chilling back and forth in the story. The peaceful, awesome beauty of nature is juxtaposed against a sense of imminent danger in nearly every scene. And it's cold. The weather seems to get colder and snowier as the story progresses, adding even more tension.
The small cast made it easy to connect with the characters. They quickly establish the relationship between Cal and his son David, who he only sees once a year during a school break. While Cal comes across at first as gruff and intent on forcing his mountain man persona on his city boy son, we quickly see his tender side. He obviously still cares for David's mother and is touched when David tells him (though Cal knows he's lying) that his mom sends her love -- which caused me to stifle my growing irritation at David's brooding teen schtick. He's a 14yo kid out of his element with a dad he barely knows - but who he clearly cares for. We see Cal's deep disappointment - not anger - when David initially balks at the adventure Cal has planned for just the two of them, then again I'm moved by David's... respect? compassion? or just wanting to get to know his dad better?... when he changes his mind and insists he really wants to go.
Our family - my husband, me and our 14yo son - watched this together, and each of us "felt" the characters. My husband sensed a desperation in Cal who was afraid the window to connect with his son might be closing. Cal was 14 when he "came of age." in his own dad's eyes. I liked how they interrupted the story with flashbacks of Cal and his dad, perfectly played by a 60-something Bill Pullman - and you realize Cal is trying to create an impression on David's like his own father's on his. It's also important to Cal that David learn to know his grandfather who died when David was too young to remember him.
Our 14yo was put off by Cal's demeanor toward David. He felt Cal was too gruff and demanding, and thought he was trying to guilt him into compliance. (Just like a 14yo boy!) Cal admonished David several times about about a careless mistake he made, but I could see he was simply trying to drive home how critical certain life skills are. And sure enough, as it turns out, David would need to draw on his dad's instruction sooner than later.
In the final scenes we see David wholly dependent on the fresh knowledge and example his dad provided, suddenly far removed from the self-absorbed, video gameophile of a few days before, and determined to overcome the ordeal before him. He even begins assuming some of his dad's figures of speech and mannerisms. If you pay attention throughout the movie, you'll notice Cal did the same with his father. Matt Bonner sounds enough like Bill Pullman in this movie, if you close your eyes it's hard to tell which of their characters is speaking. The ultimate strength, character and father/son "passing the torch" integration of these three characters - David with his father and grandfather - wasn't lost on our boy. It was really cool to see the light come on.
All in all, this is one of the best "coming of age" movies we've seen in a long time. The young actor who played 14-yo David was phenomenal. I hate Walking Out hasn't received the ratings or attention it deserves, and I hope folks will give it a shot despite them.
A Christmas Carol: Chapter Three: A Bag of Gravel (2019)
As if Scrooge wasn't dark enough...
While well-acted and visually compelling -- the cinematography actually looks old, cold and dark -- there's very little redemptive or uplifting about this "retelling" of the Christmas classic. Its revelation of the horrible, tragic origins of Scrooge's sociopathy is believable, but the spirits' means of delivering him from the aftermath of a stolen and psychotically abusive childhood are equally dark, depraved and Godless. I doubt Dickens would approve.
Unbelievable (2019)
Brilliantly done and authentic - couldn't stop watching.
WOW. The storytelling was pitch perfect. The acting was excellent. And the portrayal of the dramatically different investigative approaches to five almost identical sexual assaults occurring over three years in different towns in three different states was eye-opening and horrifying.
It becomes evident that things like crime venue, jurisdictional resources and most disturbingly the background of the victim, have at least as much bearing on how aggressively a case is investigated as the evidence itself.
Also, I hope viewers won't miss the subtle but clear message that the online porn industry is grossly complicit in the wholesale sexual exploitation of women and children. Predators and traffickers are a prime source for the digital imagery bought and sold by the porn industry to "entertain" its online consumers. My middle schooler will understand loud and clear that pornography is not a "normal" rite of passage or a witty punchline. It's an industry that motivates predators, exploits their victims and desensitizes its consumers to the right to dignity every man, woman and child deserves.
"Unbelievable" should be a must-watch for law enforcement personnel, school and college counselors, social workers, educators -- anyone who thinks they know the "typical" profile of sexual predators and their victims or the "normal" responses to sexual assault, abuse and exploitation.
Designated Survivor (2016)
Enjoyed Seasons 1 and 2 more with each episode - blindsided by Season 3!
To truly appreciate a story I have to like the characters, and it took me a few episodes to warm up to President Kirkland and entourage. By the end of Season 2, though, I was all in. I applauded (most of) his (mostly) refreshing agenda, admired (most of) his trusted advisors and was used to him speaking to his obviously pre-teen daughter as if she were 5. I even cried when his First Lady died.
Then came Season 3. It's like the writers - if it's even the same ones - were suddenly out of ideas so they filled in the voids with drinking binges, drug OD's, marital infidelity, casual hook-ups and copious amounts of profanity, especially the f-word. So many f-words. One might make a game of counting them in virtually every scene. Maybe they're trying to illustrate how experience jades and hardens even the most virtuous and well-intended politicians. But I don't really care any more because I don't like them any more. I'm shallow like that.
It's almost like the story was hijacked by "Invasion of the Body Snatchers". Suddenly all these polished, professional, highly educated, political up and comers. All of which prompted a quick check of the parent guide, and yep - the rating also morphed from TV-14 to MA (mature audience).
Would've been cool if we'd noticed that before our 8th grader watched part of an episode with us last night. Just to say this is more of a heads up to other parents than a review of the series. Should I have said that to begin with? Probably. But that's a little how it feels when you get to Season 3.
The Devil Wears Prada (2006)
Loved the movie, especially the sublimely satisfying - even if predictable - ending!
My husband was more than a little unenthused with my choice of movies for our first night out in a while. He assumed we were in for a typical chick flick, bubbling with clever banter, artsy characters, complicated romances, etc.,.... and he was right. BUT with its deliciously despicable Miranda Priestly, balanced by an impossibly upbeat heroine in Andrea, and an ending as perfectly satisfying as you could want -- HE enjoyed it as much as I did. Yes, it was a little predictable but who cares? Sometimes you need the outcome you expect. And I disagree with an earlier reviewer who felt this movie characterizes New Yorkers as "so wired they can't even go to the restroom because their desks must be occupied at all times". I mean, if everyone had to sell their souls (and sacrifice their bladders) to keep their jobs, what would be so uniquely challenging or movie plot-worthy about working for Miranda? And that's what we both loved about this movie. It painted a vivid (if cartoonish) picture of an unrepentant, outrageously demanding, ruthlessly calculating boss and the gradual character descent of her smart, capable, well-intentioned assistant. Although Andrea entered the fray with a bemused, above-it-all perspective, she was gradually sucked into the endless and fruitless pursuit of trying to please, at all costs, the unpleasable Miranda. So what if Miranda's character is a little over the top? I've worked for one of those crazies myself -- and some who haven't had the privilege might be shocked to know how outrageously unreasonable they CAN be. If you've ever likewise had this hair-pulling, head-pounding, character-building experience you'll find this a vicariously satisfying romp on a whole different level. Ah, but Miranda's not the only one who gets her just desserts in the end (sort of). Anyone who's ever been thrown under the bus by a groveling, self-promoting, hiney-kissing co-worker whose every breath edifies and encourages the outrageous antics of an ego-maniacal bully/boss... well, just go see this picture. I bet you'll feel a lot better when you leave! We sure did!