Posted: March 4th, 2025 | Filed under: Cinema, Music | 2 Comments »
As I vowed in my initial post providing reasons why I, a Bob Dylan acolyte since he crashed onto the scene in the early 60s, wasn’t a premier day viewer of the Dylan flick, I watched it a couple days ago streaming.
Despite my admittedly haughty take at first — we of strong opinion are reluctant to dismount our high horse — I clicked “Watch Now” with an open mind.
Mostly because of the wise perspective of Joan Osborne.
Not because she’s a Louisville homie, who at her show a few years back on the Waterfront, talked about being at Waggener HS, and never imaging the possibility of performing in her town on the river in front of a throng.
And not because in her take — on Facebook by the by — she advises readers to go view other Dylan films, the very ones I mentioned in my above linked post.
What struck me is her take that, if for nothing else, the biopic provides a history lesson for younger music lovers, who might wonder why all the fuss about this guy with zero stage persona, a craggy voice, who is a defiant, vexing chameleon.
Advice that resonated with me.
The story I tell is of the day in ’77 when Bing Crosby died just a few months after Elvis. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: February 18th, 2025 | Filed under: Cinema | No Comments »
Culling through the NYT, I saw a header that touched my inner cinephile.
“Why Everyone Is Still Talking About ‘Paddington 2′”
A kid’s move that appeals to adults.
Funny. Clever. Well crafted. Deftly acted. Overwhelmingly well reviewed.
A perfect 100% rating at Rotten Tomatoes. Until, that is, one naysaying critic retroactively posted his negative review from when the film was released in 2017. For which he may have had to hire security, so excoriated was he by an ever expanding throng of devotees.
Clicked on the synopses of reviews, one of which said something to the effect, “Paddington 2 is to Paddington as Godfather 2 was to Godfather.”
That’ll peak a movie lover’s interest. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 29th, 2025 | Filed under: Cinema | No Comments »
As those enamored with “The Big Lebowski” know, Walter Sobchak “don’t roll on Shabbos.”
Others might not know Shabbos, that it is another arguably more immersive reverential for the Sabbath Day.
No, the cult classic is not a part of this year’s Jewish Film Festival.
But a truly cockamamie gem titled “Bad Shabbos” is.
Sobchak is shomer Shabbos.
He observes the rituals of sabbath.
So too, the upper West Side family in this film, headed by Ellen (Kyra Sedgwick) and Richard (David Paymer). Along with their three adult children.
So, what we have here — at the start anyway — is a traditional Friday night family dinner. A stop at Barney Greengrass on the way. Lighting of the candles. Brisket. Challah. Wine. Familial discomfort. Etc, etc.
Son David is engaged. To Meg. A shiksa, whose Catholic parents have flown in from Milwaukee to meet the future in-laws at dinner.
Youngest son Adam, is trying to find himself, training to join the IDF, he says. And doesn’t get along with sister Abby’s BF Benjamin.
The latter of which scenarios leads to an “accident.” One more serious than the brisket landing on the kitchen floor as it does.
Chaos ensues. Over under sideways down. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 14th, 2025 | Filed under: Cinema, Culture, Ruminations, Today's Lesson Learned | 1 Comment »
Yet again, I am struck by how one’s personal situation, health, station in life, sense of well being, all that personal stuff affects one’s perception.
It’s a significant thing to keep in mind.
Whether it’s how we hear a new song.
Or meet someone new.
Or watch a film.
Chasing down some rabbit hole or another recently I came upon a review of a movie written by the same guy who penned the screenplay to “Moonstruck.”
John Patrick Shanley.
The review shredded the film in question — forgot the title already — and wondered how Shanley, who was masterful in crafting “Moonstruck” could have been so off his feed.
Which reminded me of my reaction to the Cher/ Nicholas Cage comedy romance when I saw it upon release in ’87.
Which was luke warm.
Certainly didn’t hate it. Didn’t consider it a bad film by any stretch. Recall just feeling, OK this is nice, but don’t get all the hosannas being tossed its way.
So I went to Roger Ebert’s review of the acclaimed flick. It was so adoring. 4 of 4 stars. Figured it was time for a revisit. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: December 27th, 2024 | Filed under: Book Review, Cinema, Music, Personalities | 7 Comments »
A new film has just dropped, another attempt to pin down the unpindownable.
It’s about Bob Dylan. The early years.
It’s called “A Complete Unknown” and stars Timothée Chalamet, who it is said spent a half decade learning how to mime the Unwashed Phenomenon’s affectations, speak and sing with the Original Vagabond’s inflections.
Whatever.
This is not a review of that film.
Haven’t seen it.
A goodly number of my pals, long term Dylan acolytes like myself, saw it first day.
I understand the obsession.
For several reasons, I chose not to. I’m sure I’ll get around to viewing it. Though I may wait until it’s streaming.
The main reason: What’s the point? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: July 23rd, 2024 | Filed under: Cinema | Tags: Movie Review | No Comments »
Yes, this shall be a review of Chris Wilcha’s outstanding documentary “Flipside.”
Which is — I shan’t bury the lede — the best film I’ve seen this year. In several years.
But, as is my wont, I shall wend my way there, starting with Anne Lamott.
Whom I’ve adored from the get go when hearing the author being interviewed decades ago by Terry Gross. She was/ is wise, literate, funny, and the author of the best book on writing I know of, “Bird by Bird.” Which I have recommended and given away copies of many times since.
Lamott writes what are termed, somewhat derogatorily by some, “fix me books.”
And, other than the many of her endeavors I own and have savored, I eschew generic fix me books. (With a lone non-Lamott exception of Richard Carlson’s “DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF . . . and it’s all small stuff.”)
Anyhow, Ms. Lamott, long in 12 step recovery, has the great facility to extrapolate life lessons from every day events and moments. Especially how to turn what we might consider failures of ourselves into changes for the good. They are shared with insight, humor and truly engaging writing.
Filmmaker Wilcha’s film is centered, sorta, kinda (but it’s really much more) on the small town NJ record shop with the title’s name, owned by a guy named Dan. And a rival shop across town. Owned by a different guy named Dan.
But what it’s really about is how, like Lamott, director/craftsmith Wilcha is eventually able to gain insight and serenity within from what he considered previously a career of unfinished projects, a life of failures. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: May 7th, 2024 | Filed under: Cinema | Tags: Movie Review | 1 Comment »
Yes, kids, it’s been awhile since I’ve weighed in on a movie or TV series.
And, frankly, I’m still not sure why this smile-inducing, easily forgettable Netflix confection from Jerry Seinfeld has me at it again.
Perhaps the way I watched it. On my laptop at the car dealer while my car was getting worked on. In a serendipitous moment, my Crosstrek was ready just as the credits rolled.
Nah, that’s not it. But it sure did make that hour and a half wait significantly more tolerable.
No, I think the real reason is I found it’s just this too silly, often overreaching but ever humorous mindless take on 50s and 60s culture a perfect anecdote for these troubled times.
Anyhow, it’s an almost totally fictitious tale of the cereal war in Battle Creek between Kellogg and Post which ended in the kid’s breakfast stable Pop Tarts hitting the grocery shelves.
It also skews just about every cultural phenomenon of the time, except for the Hula Hoop and Slinky.
While taking digs at such as . . . Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: March 10th, 2023 | Filed under: Cinema, Film Reviews Podcast | No Comments »
On consecutive nights I viewed these two completely different movies.
Both worth considering if you haven’t seen them already.
“Tár” features award-nominated Cate Blanchett as the very intense conductor of the Berlin Symphony.
Over two and a half hours we get to watch her fall apart from her own flaws.
“Mrs Harris Goes to Paris” stars Lesley Manville in 50s Britain. She’s an eminently decent cleaning lady who dreams of heading to the fashion capitol of the world and purchasing a Dior gown.
The latter was for obvious reasons an easier and more enjoyable watch.
Though Blanchett who is always on her game is captivating, if her character is not very likeable.
For more, listen to my podcast below:
Posted: February 12th, 2023 | Filed under: Cinema, Film Reviews Podcast | No Comments »
Knowing my affection for the Crescent City, and its music, as you regular readers do, you’re thinking for sure that I am obsessively inclined to love any documentary which examines New Orleans music.
Truth: Yes.
Truth: There are several however that have left me cold.
Including the recent on about JazzFest. I mean, too much Pit Bull, for heaven’s sake.
But this one, this one, “Take Me to the River: New Orleans,” is a keeper.
Top shelf.
Well conceived.
Well executed.
One of the better docs about the musical creative process I’ve seen.
Now available to be streamed at Amazon Prime and Apple TV.
I explain in detail why in the podcast review below.
— c d kaplan
Posted: February 3rd, 2023 | Filed under: Cinema, Film Reviews Podcast | No Comments »
In one of the more absurd phenomena of this movie award season, the folks who run the Oscars launched an investigation into the nomination of Andrea Riseborough, the star of “To Leslie.”
Seriously?
This in a town where Big Hollywood has been wooing voters by various and sundry means for decades?
In their infinite wisdom and beneficence, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences backed off, apparently satisfied there was no chicanery afoot.
Wise move.
For Ms. Riseborough’s performance as a down and out alcoholic avoids just about all the clichés that have evolved with such roles over time.
It is absolutely an award worthy portrayal.
You can watch it on Amazon Prime.
For more on this movie, which would have otherwise go unnoticed, listen to my podcast below.
— c d kaplan
Posted: January 31st, 2023 | Filed under: Cinema | No Comments »
At 5:00 PM on a recent Sunday evening on Baxter Avenue near Highland, a man was shot and killed. The second such incident in that area recently.
One of Louisville’s finest eateries, Jack Fry’s is just a shout away.
This is Cherokee Triangle Territory. A “good” neighborhood. A “safe” neighborhood.
Not so much anymore apparently.
This is the kind of violence that is supposed to happen only on the other side of the tracks, at the other end of town where at a red light you don’t stop.
Call it violence creep. It is a very real thing.
This brutality is, for various reasons, becoming the new normal. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: January 25th, 2023 | Filed under: Cinema, Film Reviews Podcast | 1 Comment »
The setting is quiet, insulated and brooding.
An island off Ireland in the 1920s
Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson’s characters have been drinking together in the same bar at the same time with the same faces at the other tables forever.
One day, out of the blue, without explanation, Gleeson tells Farrell he wants nothing to do with him anymore.
Farrell doesn’t understand.
Martin McDonough’s movie is about him trying to figure it out.
As an audience member, I could only partially get an understanding myself.
“Banshees of Inisherin” can be streamed at HBO Max and Amazon Prime.
For more details, and my take on the film, listen to my podcast below.
— c d kaplan
