Arrival (2016)

"If you could see your whole life from start to finish, would you change things?"

Twelve alien ships land around the world.  Linguist Dr. Louise Banks (Adams) is recruited by the U.S. Army, under the direction of Colonel Weber (Whitaker), to decipher the alien language.  She is joined by physicist Dr. Ian Donnelly (Renner).  Every day they enter the ship, along with a military team, and try to communicate with the heptapod aliens.  They name the aliens Abbott and Costello and work on finding common ground.

Their progress is monitored at the command center, which is overseen by Colonel Weber and CIA Agent Halpern (Stuhlbarg).  They also share their findings with the other 11 teams / countries via videoconference.  While diving into her work, Louise is haunted by the memory of her daughter.  Can Ian and Louise communicate with the heptapods enough to get the answers they need?


The film is based on the short story "The Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang.  The novel was published in 1998 and won the 2000 Nebula Award for Best Novella.  Chiang approved of the film.  The screenplay was written by Eric Heisserer, who also served as a producer on the film.  Director Denis Villeneuve wanted to direct a science fiction film.  He was introduced to Chiang's story and fell in love.

The story keeps you guessing, especially if you don't know the twist.  It is a meticulous film, the sounds are incredible and the visuals are stunning.  The visual language was designed by Maxine Bertrand.  They also consulted with phonetics experts to create the sound of the language, and linguists to make it believable.  Amy Adams is wonderful in the film and is not recognized enough for her work.

The film was nominated for 8 Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Production Design.  It won for Best Sound Editing.

Arrival (2016) 116 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for
Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Amy Adams as Dr. Louise Banks
Jeremy Renner as Dr. Ian Donnelly
Forest Whitaker as Colonel Weber
Michael Stuhlbarg as Agent Halpern
Mark O'Brien as Captain Marks

Oscar Picks 2017

Once again it's time to predict the Oscar winners.  This is my 11th set of predictions.  Last year I saw 14 of the nominated film, and correctly predicted 5 of 8 categories (I don't predict all of them).  This year I saw 10 films (for the full list of nominees, go to the Academy Awards website):

13th
Arrival
Captain Fantastic
Florence Foster Jenkins
Hail, Caesar!
Hell or High Water
Kubo and the Two Strings
La La Land
Life Animated
Zooptopia

Hail, Caesar! is nominated for Best Production Design

Alright, let's get to the main event:

Best Supporting Actor

*Mahershala Ali, Moonlight

Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water

Lucas Hedge, Manchester by the Sea

Dev Patel, Lion

Michael Shannon, Nocturnal Animals

...who will win... Mahershala Ali

...who should win... Mahershala Ali

Mahershala Ali has the buzz going into this award.  I have heard the most about his performance, so I don't think anyone else stands a chance.

Best Supporting Actress

*Viola Davis, Fences

Naomie Harris, Moonlight

Nicole Kidman, Lion

Octavia Spencer, Hidden Figures

Michelle Williams, Manchester by the Sea

 ...who will win... Viola Davis

...who should win... Viola Davis or Octavia Spencer

Viola Davis has been sweeping the award shows.  I think she has the edge to win.  The only possible upset is Octavia Spencer in Hidden Figures.  But I still think it will be Davis.

Best Actor

*Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea

Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge

Ryan Gosling, La La Land

Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic

Denzel Washington, Fences

...who will win... Denzel Washington

...who should win... Denzel Washington or Casey Affleck

I would love to see Ryan Gosling win for La La Land or Viggo Mortensen for Captain Fantastic, but it will probably be Denzel Washington for Fences.  Casey Affleck could pull an upset... since he was one of the early favorites.

Best Actress

Isabelle Huppert, Elle

Ruth Negga, Loving

Natalie Portman, Jackie

*Emma Stone, La La Land

Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins

...who will win... Natalie Portman

...who should win... Emma Stone

I loved Emma Stone in La La Land, I like to think that she could win.... but it is a tough category.  Meryl Streep was great in Florence Foster Jenkins, but I think it will be Natalie Portman.

Best Director

Denis Villeneuve, Arrival

Mel Gibson, Hacksaw Ridge

*Damien Chazelle, La La Land

Kenneth Lonergan, Manchester by the Sea

Barry Jenkins, Moonlight

...who will win... Damien Chazelle or Barry Jenkins

...who should win... Damien Chazelle or Denis Villeneuve

La La Land was stunning, so I think Damien Chazelle has a good chance of winning this category.  But, Arrival was also great and people really enjoyed the direction of Moonlight, so I think either of them could take it from Chazelle.

Best Animated Film

Kubo and the Two Strings

Moana

My Life as a Zucchini

The Red Turtle

*Zootopia

...who will win... Zootopia

...who should win... Zootopia

Zootopia was one of the first movies I saw in theaters in 2016.  It is a great animated film, and it will take the title.  My Life as a Zucchini looks like a fun film and Kubo and the Two Strings was very well-made.  And I am excited to see Moana, but I don't think anyone can take Zootopia.

Best Documentary 

13th

Fire at Sea

I Am Not Your Negro

Life, Animated

*O.J.: Made in America

...who will win... 13th or O.J.: Made in America

...who should win... 13th or O.J.: Made in America

The O.J. Simpson trial is very popular right now.  The TV series American Crime: The People v. O.J. Simpson swept the Emmy's, due to great performances and an interesting story... and that can only help the O.J. Made in America documentary, which is a five-part miniseries.  I think the only upset will be 13th which was another fascinating documentary.  Based on current events, it will be one of those two.

Best Picture

Arrival

Fences

Hacksaw Ridge

Hell or High Water

Hidden Figures

La La Land

Lion

Manchester by the Sea

*Moonlight

...who will win... La La Land

...who should win... La La Land

No question, La La Land should win this.  It is an inventive and entertaining movie and musical.  It doesn't do everything you expect and everything about it works.  Arrival was also a film that kept you guessing... but I think for the spectacle alone, it will be La La Land.

Other than that, I would like to see Lin-Manuel Miranda EGOT, so I would like his "How Far I'll Go" to win Best Original Song.  However, I think it will go to Justin Hurwitz and Pasek & Paul for "City of Stars".

And the short film Piper (pictured above) was cute, so that's my pic for Best Animated Short.


*EDIT: 7 out of 8
Not bad.

Life Animated

In 2014 journalist Ron Suskind wrote "Life Animated: A Story of Sidekicks, Heroes, and Autism" about his son Owen.  At the age of 3 Owen is diagnosed with Autism and he stops talking.  The only thing that draws him out are the Disney animated films he watches with other brother Walt.  Later, he starts talking and understanding his world by using Disney movies.

Owen is preparing to graduate from high school.  He created a Disney club at school, to help his classmates (who are also autistic), to interact with the world and difficult concepts through Disney.  He is excited the graduate and start life on his own.  He gets an apartment and a job.  But there are some things that Disney can't provide.


This is a beautiful and emotional film.  The Suskind family lays their story out, complete with home movies and family pictures.  They don't shy away from the difficult moments and allow themselves to be emotional.  They also talk about the future and their fears about what will happen when Owen's parents, Ron and Cornelia, get older and are no longer able to care for him as they do now.  He is very functional, and has an apartment, but will always require more from them.

The documentary is very well-done and it makes me want to read Ron's book about Owen.  Owen is charismatic and full of life, and you cheer for the Suskind family with every new victory and mourn with every defeat.  It will also feel very real for anyone that loves someone with autism.

This film is nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary.

Life Animated (2016) minutes
Director: Roger Ross Williams
Starring: Owen Suskind
Ron Suskind
Cornelia Suskind
Walt Suskind
Jonathan Freeman

Don't Think Twice

"Del Close once said watching great improv is like watching people put the plan together when they're already in the sky."

The Commune is an improv group in New York City.  The six members are close friends and enjoy performing together.  Miles (Birbiglia) created the group and teaches improv classes, Lindsay (Sagher) is a rich girl who is coasting through life, Allison (Micucci) is an artist working on her first book, Bill's (Gethard) family doesn't understand his life, Jack (Key) likes to create big characters, and his girlfriend Samantha (Jacobs) is a natural performer.  Their performance space has been sold and they are trying to find a new space.

Members of the sketch show "Weekend Live" attend one of their shows.  They are impressed and invite Jack and Samantha to audition for the show.  Jack is cast in the show, but Samantha is not.  With this sudden change in their group dynamic, can The Commune stay together or will their dreams drive them apart?


I discovered this film through Netflix.  It sounded interesting and had a great cast, so I gave it a try.

Most of the main cast (all but Kate Micucci and Gillian Jacobs) have rots in improv / stand-up.  Two weeks before filming began, the cast performed improv shows.  It gave them the opportunity to bond as a group and to add authenticity to their performances.  The film thanks improv groups The Upright Citizens Brigade and The Second City.  And the show "Weekend Live" is a based on TV show Saturday Night Live.

The characters are funny, and realistic; the film runs the gamut of emotions.  The characters are figuring out what they want in life and at a cross roads, it isn't easy but it is a part of life.  I think the film sums up their feelings on it well "Your 20s are all about like hope, and then your 30s are all about realizing how dumb it is to hope."  It embraces the humor but isn't afraid to show other emotions.

The cast is great.  Everyone pulls their weight, although the film focuses more on Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Birbiglia, and Gillian Jacobs.  Birbiglia also wrote, co-produced, and directed the film.  It is a well-made low-budget film and definitely worth checking out.

Don't Think Twice (2016) 92 minutes
Rating: R for language and some drug use
Director: Michael Birbiglia
Starring: Keegan-Michael Key as Jack
Mike Birbiglia as Miles
Gillian Jacobs as Samantha
Kate Micucci as Allison
Tami Sagher as Lindsay
Chris Gethard as Bill

Hell or High Water

"How have you managed to stay out of prison for a year?"

"It's been difficult."

After the death of his mother, Toby Howard (Pine) does everything in his power to save the family ranch.  There is a reverse mortgage on the house and only a few days left to pay the Texas Midlands Bank.  Toby is unemployed, so he comes up with a plan: rob the local Texas Midlands Banks with the help of his ex-con brother Tanner (Foster) and use that money to pay off their debt to the bank.

Their activities catch the attention of the Texas Rangers.  Rangers Marcus Hamilton (Bridges) and Alberto Parker (Birmingham) are assigned the case.  This is Hamilton's last case before retiring.  As the danger mounts, who will survive the deadline?


This film is a modern Western and crime film.  It features a strong cast and compelling performances.  Ben Foster excels at the wildcard roles, and this is no exception.  He is just the right amount of unhinged.  Chris Pine is the hero, not his usual "golden boy" role, but not squeaky-clean.  He isn't perfect and has an edge.  Jeff Bridges and Gil Birmingham are entertaining as the bickering Texas Rangers.  They keep it light, while still being brutally honest and raw.  The rest of the characters don't matter, they just show up for a few scenes and do their job.

This is director David Mackenzie's 9th film, and his only film that I have seen.  Taylor Sheridan wrote the film and this is his 2nd time writing a feature film (he also writes for TV).  The story is interesting and keeps your attention throughout.  The film has an ambiguous ending, which works but also makes you want to see what will happen next.

This film is nominated for 4 Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Support Actor for Jeff Bridges, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

Hell or High Water (2016) 102 minutes
Rating: R for some strong violence, language throughout and brief sexuality
Director: David Mackenzie
Starring: Jeff Bridges as Marcus Hamilton
Chris Pine as Toby Howard
Ben Foster as Tanner Howard
Gil Birmingham as Alberto Parker

The Parent Trap (1961)

"The nerve of her! Coming here with your face!"

"What are you gonna do about it?"

"Do? What in heaven's sake can I do, silly?"

"I'd bit off her nose.  Then she wouldn't look like you."

At summer camp, Boston teen Sharon McKendrick (Mills) and California teen Susan Evers (Mills) meet.  They immediately hate each other.  After fighting in public, they are forced to spend the rest of camp together.  One day, they discover that they are twins.  Their parents split when they are 1 year old and each took one of the girls.  They decided to switch places so that their parents will be forced to see each other again to switch them back.

Susan goes to Boston to live with their mother, Maggie (O'Hara).  They live with Maggie's parents, Charlies (Ruggles) and Louise (Nesbitt), in a beautiful home with a large staff.  They have a busy social and academic schedule, run by Louise.  Meanwhile, Sharon goes to the ranch in Monterey to live with their father, Mitch (Keith).  Life on the ranch is laid-back, and their housekeeper Verbena (Merkel) and ranch foreman Hecky (Denton) also live there.  Both girls are shocked to learn that their father has a serious girlfriend, Vicky Robinson (Barnes), which changes their plans.  Can they reunite their parents?


The film is based on the 1949 German novel "Das doppelte Lottchen" (translated "Lottie and Lisa") by Erich Kastner.  The novel has been adapted into 19 films since 1950, this was the 4th adaptation.

I enjoy this film.  The story is well-known, but the film keeps it interesting.  It is helped by a strong cast, led by Hayley Mills in the dual roles of the twins.  This was Mills 2nd of 6 films for Disney (following Pollyanna in 1960, which earned her an Academy Juvenile Award).  Maureen O'Hara is always wonderful.  This was Brian Keith's first comedy film and he is entertaining here.  Joanna Barnes is great as gold digger Vicky.  She also appeared in the remake, again as a character named Vickie (the mother of the gold digger character).  The rest of the cast is comprised of character actors that add to the film.

The film was written and directed by David Swift for Walt Disney.  It featured 3 songs written by Richard and Robert Sherman: "The Parent Trap", "For Now, For Always", and "Let's Get Together."  The opening credits feature the song "The Parent Trap", performed by Tommy Sands and Annette Funicello (who were filming Babes in Toyland).  Funicello also sings the recording of "Let's Get Together" which plays at the dance.  The song is later performed by Hayley Mills.

The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Sound Recording (for Robert O. Cooke) and Best Film Editing (for Philip W. Anderson).

The film was popular enough to make 3 made-for-TV adaptations, which all aired on the Disney Channel.  The sequels take place 20+ years later, focusing on Susan and Sharon and their marriages.  The Parent Trap II, in 1986, is about Sharon.  The Parent Trap III, in 1989, is about Susan.  The final film, The Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon, was also made in 1989.  I have never seen any of the sequels, but they sound interesting (in a made-for-TV film way).

This film was remade in 1998 with Lindsay Lohan playing both twins.  I prefer this film over the remake, but I do enjoy both.

The Parent Trap (1961) 128 minutes
Director: David Swift
Starring: Hayley Mills as Susan Evers / Sharon McKendrick
Maureen O'Hara as Maggie McKendrick
Brian Keith as Mitch Evers
Joanna Barnes as Vicky Robinson
Charlie Ruggles as Charles McKendrick
Cathleen Nesbitt as Louise McKendrick
Una Merkel as Verbena
Leo G. Carroll as Reverend Dr. Mosby
Linda Watkins as Edna Robinson
Ruth McDevitt as Miss Abbey Inch
Crahan Denton as Hecky

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

"Germany has declared war on the Jones boys."

In 1938, Indiana Jones (Ford) learns that his father, Dr. Henry Jones (Connery) is missing.  He was searching for the Holy Grail and then Indy receives his father's diary about the Grail.  He and family friend/museum curator Marcus Brody (Elliott) decide to trace Henry's steps to find him.  Their trip is sponsored by American businessman Walter Donovan (Glover).  Donovan arranges to have them meet with Henry's colleague Dr. Elsa Schneider (Doody).  Indy and Elsa use the diary to find a clue about the location of the Grail.

While following the trail they are attacked by the Brotherhood of the Cruciform Sword, a secret society that protects the Grail.  The Brotherhood, led by Kazim (Malikyan), gives them Henry's location.  The Nazis, led by Colonel Vogel (Bryne), are holding Henry at the Castle Brunwald.  They want the map to the location of the Grail, which Henry had in his diary.  Indy gives the map to Marcus and sends him to meet with their friend Sallah (Rhys-Davies), while he and Elsa travel to the Austrian-German border to rescue Henry.  Can Indy find his father and the Grail in time?


This the third film in the Indian Jones franchise, following 1981's Raiders of the Lost Ark and 1984's Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.  Once again, Steven Spielberg directed and George Lucas co-wrote the story (Menno Meyjes co-wrote the story and Jeffrey Boam wrote the screenplay).  After the darker, and less popular, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, they returned to the formula that worked in the first film: Nazis are the main antagonists, characters Marcus and Sallah are back, and the artifact is religious.

Raiders of the Lost Ark is probably the best of the films, but this film is my favorite in the series.  It is funnier than the others.  Sean Connery was a brilliant choice to be Indy's father.  They make sense and their relationship really elevates the film.  It was also nice to have Denholm Elliott and John Rhys-Davies back.  Denholm Elliott gets to go on the adventure and they explore his friendship with Henry.  And John Rhys-Davies gets to add some levity as Sallah.  Alison Doody is the love interest and, like the first film, gets to be an active participant (more than just react to the action).

The film opens with a teenage Indiana Jones, portrayed by River Phoenix.  This shows Indy's early interest in artifacts, explains his fear of snakes, and introduces his relationship with his father.  This scene inspired Lucas to create a TV show about Jones as a teenager, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles.  The show was structured as to have an elderly Indiana Jones, played by George Hal, recounting stories from his childhood and teenage years.  Teenage, approximately 16 years old, Jones is played by Sean Patrick Flanery and Corey Carrier plays him at 10 years old.  The show ran for 2 seasons and 4 episodes of a TV film.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) 128 minutes
Rating: PG-13 for action/adventure, violence, and some sensuality
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones
Sean Connery as Dr. Henry Jones
Alison Doody as Dr. Elsa Schneider
Denholm Elliott as Dr. Marcus Brody
John Rhys-Davies as Sallah
Julian Glover as Walter Donovan
Michael Byrne as Colonel Vogel
Kevork Malikyan as Kazim

Octopussy

"Mr. Bond is indeed a very rare breed... soon to be made extinct"

After MI-6 agent 009 is murdered while investigating a jewelry smuggling ring, James Bond (Moore) is sent to protect a Faberge egg.  009 was carrying the fake egg when his body was found.  At the auction he bids against exiled Afghan prince Kamal Khan (Jourdan).  Bond replaces the egg with a fake and lets Khan win.  He follows Khan to India to uncover the rest of the ring.

In India, he immediately clashes with Khan and his bodyguard Gobinda (Bedi).  Khan is working with Russian General Orlov (Berkoff), who has nuclear weapons and a hatred for Nato and Western Europe.  They are also working with the infamous Octopussy (Adams).  Octopussy runs an island of women who are international smugglers.  Can Bond find the stolen items and save the world from a nuclear attack?


This is the 13th James Bond film and Roger Moore's sixth time in the role.  It was also one of the first films that turned Bond into a joke.  Moore's Bond was always a little more ridiculous than his predecessors, but his last few Bond films veered more toward camp than serious action film.  Everything about this film is ridiculous and heavy on the slapstick (not in a good way).

Moore was too old to play Bond.  There is a visible difference between him and the stuntmen.  He also wears a series of ridiculous costumes / disguises that are laughably bad.  Moore was cast as Bond to combat the rival Bond film Never Say Never Again which starred Sean Connery.  EON productions, who produced all of the other Bond films, wanted fans to have a familiar face as their Bond.

This is Maud Adams' second time as a Bond girl.  She also appeared in The Man with the Golden Gun, which starred Moore.  For being the title character, she is not that interesting...   The plot of the film is based on Ian Fleming's final Bond story "Octopussy and The Living Daylights."  However, the film only takes the title and the octopus from that story ("The Living Daylights" short story was also turned into a Bond film).

Louis Jourdan is good as the villain, but there are too many villains to keep track of.  There is Jourdan's Khan, his bodyguard Obinda, General Orlov... it's too much and doesn't let anyone shine.  Steven Berkoff is decent as Orlov.  Kabir Bedi is menancing as Obinda.  There is nothing wrong with the villains, but they aren't as memorable as other Bond villains.

The theme song is "All Time High", performed by Rita Coolidge.  The song was written by John Barry, with lyrics by Tim Rice.  It is not memorable, but also not terrible.

Overall, it is a ridiculous film, that led to another ridiculous / laughable entry in the Bond franchise (A View to a Kill).

Octopussy (1983) 131 minutes
Director: John Glen
Starring: Roger Moore as James Bond
Maud Adams as Octopussy
Louis Jourdan as Kamal Khan
Kristina Wayborn as Magda
Kabir Bedi as Gobinda
Steven Berkoff as General Orlov
David Meyer as Mischka
Tony Meyer as Grischka
Desmond Llewelyn as Q
Vijay Amritraj as Vijay

Groundhog Day

"Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn't one today."

Phil Connors (Murray) is a Pittsburgh weatherman.  Ever year he travels to Punxsutawney for the Groundhog's Day celebration.  He hates everything about the trip and town.  After delivering the February 1 weather report, he leaves for Punxsutawney with his cameraman Larry (Elliott) and producer Rita Hanson (MacDowell).  He stays at a bed and breakfast, and begins his February 2 miserable.  The groundhog predicts 6 more weeks of winter and a blizzard hits as they are leaving town, forcing them to return to Punxsutawney for the night.

The next morning when Phil wakes up it is still February 2.  Everything is the same about the day and Phil is the only one that is aware of the repeat.  The next morning is again February 2 and he is still the only person that realizes the day is repeating.  Can Phil break the cycle and get to February 3?


Since this film was released in 1993, it has been a hit.  It has reached iconic status and is considered a comedy classic.  It won a BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay.  It also was recognized by the American Film Institute in the lists: AFI's 100 Years...100 Laughs, 100 Years...100 Passions, and 10 Top 10 (in the Fantasy Film category).  This film usually appears on top comedy film lists or Murray's filmography and is named as one of Roger Ebert's "Great Movies".

Despite all of the prestige, this was my first time watching the film.  It felt appropriate / timely to watch it today.  It is a hilarious film and worth all of the hype.

Murray is perfect as weatherman Phil Connors.  He gets to play both the jerk and the good guy, and have a ball doing both.  Everything about his performance works here.  Andie MacDowell is the love interest, but she makes him work for it.  The film focuses on Phil, but she gets some good moments as well.  The cast is great and even the small / minor characters get a chance to shine.  The film also features Murray's brother Brian Doyle-Murray as one of the groundhog handlers.

This was Harold Ramis' fourth film as the director.  He also co-wrote the screenplay with Danny Rubin (Rubin wrote the original story) and co-produced the film with Trevor Albert.

In 2003, Stephen Sondheim was interested in adapting the film into a musical.  However, by 2008 he dropped the project.  Ramis announced a year later that Rubin would adapt the film into a musical.  It premiered in at The Old Vic in London in July 2016 and is set to premiere on Broadway in March 2017.  Tim Minchin wrote the music and lyrics for the show.

Groundhog Day (1993) 101 minutes
Director: Harold Ramis
Starring: Bill Murray as Phil Connors
Andie MacDowell as Rita Hanson
Chris Elliott as Larry
Stephen Tobolowsky as Ned Ryerson
Brian Doyle-Murray as Buster Green
Angela Paton as Mrs. Lancaster
Rick Ducommun as Gus
Rick Overton as Ralph