Beyond the Blue Border (Germany)

 Cine Europa 2025

Cinema 3, Red Carpet Cinemas

Edsa Shangri-la Mall

Beyond the blue border in this case refers to the Baltic sea which separates a small East German town from the nearest island town of Fehmarn located in West Germany. Set in the late 1980s when Germany was still divided by the Berlin wall, (the East was ruled by Communist rule while the West had a democratic form of government) we encounter best friends Hanna and Andreas. They have been friends since childhood and even live in the same government type housing complex.  

Hanna is an excellent swimmer. In fact, she is part of the national swimming team. She is in training to compete in a big championship and dreams of being an Olympian. Andreas, on the other hand is a delinquent non conformist who is often sent to rehab. But you need to understand that under Communist rule, rehab is a harsh, labor intensive method of  'correcting' bad behavoir. Totally not reformative, in any way.

A desperate Andreas comes up with a plan to 'escape' from the rigors of living under Communist rule. He wants to swim towards freedom. 30 - 40 kilometers is the distance they need to swim towards the nearest West German town. Although Hanna is not really repressed and has a chance of being a champion swimmer, she decides to join her best friend. She even helps in training him like teaching him how to hold his breath under water, and how to adapt the correct swimming posture.

Filmed in a non linear structure, we are shown scenes of the friends in their daily school lives, their interaction with their peers and their parents. Along with sequences of them swimming in frigid sea waters under calm and stormy conditions, trying not to get caught or killed by the authorities. With only a thin cord connected around their wrists keeping them close to each other. They survive by eating chocolates nicely packed in a plastic bag during lulls from their swimming quest.

It is doubly disturbing how seemingly 'normal' students/friends feel that their only way to survive in a such a harsh world is to escape by swimming across the Baltic sea. Because aside from the narratives of Andreas being harassed in rehab, there isn't a very compelling reason for them to leave everything behind. In fact, Hanna is very closed to her mostly home bound father who is suffering from some mental disability which isn't mentioned in the film. On account of the closeness between father and daughter, I couldn't understand how she could just leave him behind. But I reckon her friendship with Andreas took precedence because she was willing to give up her dream of being an Olympian swimmer just to help her best friend Andreas have a chance at a better life.

A gripping tale of friendship depicting the dreams of young people who have nothing to lose and everything to gain even if it means putting their lives in danger. Beyong the Blue Border gives us a good perspective to never take freedom for granted. 

The Peasants (Poland)

 Cine Europa 2025

Cinema 3, the Red Carpet Cinemas

Shangri-la Mall

Today was the launch of the 28th Cine Europa film festival for this year. The opening film is an artistic showcase from Poland, the country where Blessed Pope John Paul II was born. This is the first time I witnessed an film styled like a mural/painting or is it the other way around? A painting that was converted into a film? Suffice to say, it was very realistically made and quite an interesting concept. 

It is the film adaptation of a 1924 Nobel prize winning novel by Wladyslaw Reymont. It is a huge feat for the filmmakers to condense into roughly two hours all the four volume novels about life in a small Polish agricultural town. A society/community where intrigues, gossip mongering, deceit, prevail in a patriarchal society with a strong feminine presence, on a daily basis. I also read that it took over 100 painters to recreate each of the live action frames for the scenes. It was so realistic that after a while, you don't notice it is a painted animation film.

The film focuses on Jagna, a beautiful free spirited 19 year old lass who tends to be both naive as well as, for lack of a better word, a sly character. The kind of person who knows she is pretty but at the same time exudes a certain innocence that men tend to fall for. Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing but neither is it a good trait for a young lady.  And in the lush country side of the small Polish town, she is the center of attraction. She is of marrying age, so men of all shapes and sizes are all falling over themselves to win her. Of course in a town steeped in traditions, the one with the most wealth would be the appropriate choice as her husband.

The vivid tapestry of the changing seasons from the hot summer days, the changing color of the leaves during autumn to the freezing snowy winter nights provide a very rich background to the story of Jagna. Mostly the scenes unfold with frantic and intense tones, interspersed with laid back dragging sequences where nothing happens. Peaking towards a very fervent conclusion with "the Scarlet Letter" connotation. Suffice to say if you haven't read or heard of "the Scarlet Letter" novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne, you would certainly not get my drift nor understand what I am alluding to, at all.

Don't be fooled with the stunning visuals, the animated painting frames because The Peasants to all intents and purposes is quite a heavy laden motion picture. It deals with social ills, community based envy, small town intrigues and deceit, all unfolding in a period fraught with traditional behaviors, spiritual customs, and even certain controversial aspects of religiosity.  It is quite interesting but it might not appeal to the sensitivities of everybody.

The Teacher's Lounge

 KinoFest: The German Film Festival
The Red Carpet, Shangri la Plaza Cinema

Besieged by a series of thefts in a local school where pupils and even teaching staff are suspects, The Teacher's Lounge explores the length a newly hired idealistic math teacher would go to expose injustice in their diverse community. The admin zeroes in on the immigrant students as suspects, now known as racial profiling. Yet when teacher Carla herself becomes a victim of theft, she goes all out to accuse the perpetrator (the staff is the mother of one of her bright students) whom she caught on  video using the webcam of her laptop. It sends the entire high school into a web of suspicion, speculation, with a myriad of lies and half truths.

The film unfolds within the claustrophobic walls of the school, without any semblance nor background into the lives of the characters especially Carla. We can ascertain she is idealistic, righteous and wants fairness in everything she does. Nothing personal in terms of relationship status is revealed about her.

The tale progresses at a slow pace but is packed with gripping drama as the investigation takes its toil on the students, the other teachers and especially on Carla. Her idealism and her strong sense of justice is questioned, examined and put to the test as she weaves through the fallout of her accusation. Students acting out in rage specifically Oskar whose mother is the 'suspected' thief, the student council publishing a scathing article about her integrity, the other teachers distancing themselves from her, and even a disruptive PTA meeting.  

All these heavy emotions don't go lightly as the audience is also torn between rooting for Carla yet at the same time, also maligning the deceptive method she used to catch the thief. The ensemble cast of mostly kids and the actress portraying teacher Carla do well to project their characters insecurities and fears. The film concludes without any firm resolution, yet it leaves a lasting impression about our own biased assumptions about how we treat other human beings especially when so called 'bad' things happen to us. 

I am what I am

 Japan Film Festival
Online 2024

Kasumi is a 30 year old single female. At her age, her family is worried she won't settle down so they set her up with a potential prospect who I would say is "husband material". The son of the owner of a ramen shop where Kasumi is a regular customer.

There is one problem, though.

Kasumi is not interested. She does not fit the mold of a single Japanese female looking for a partner to settle down, raise a family and live happily ever after. 

You see, Kasumi is asexual. This refers to someone who is not sexually attracted to a person of any gender. It is actually quite common nowadays among the younger generation. After a few serious dates, Kasumi expressly mentions to 'potential husband' that she is not in any way attracted to him. A sort of it's not you, it's me, so don't take it personally situation.

The film is interesting and refreshing as it delves into the lead character's persona without any judgement, condemnation nor mockery about her preference. Kasumi seems content with her job in a nursery for small kids after she has given up her dream to become a cellist. She has a good social life, a few friends who are supportive and her family even though they don't really understand her status, they have more or less accepted her fate.

In Japan with its age old traditions steeped with cultural and historical dimensions, an older generation getting older and a persistent decline in the child birth rate, it is rare that a film focuses on a sensitive subject dealing with gender preferences and sexualism. More often than not, they are misunderstood, jeered for not conforming to society's ideals of normalcy. But seeing Kasumi thrive,  we learn to accept her new normal and it doesn't require much effort on our part.

Yet in a universe where there is too much hatred, bashing (for lack of a better word) and violent reactions both online and in the real world, it pays to be kind, tolerant and more agreeable to live freely without any prejudices towards our fellow human beings, no matter their race, gender, religious beliefs and whatever else we judge people with these days.

My broken Mariko

Japan Film Festival
Online 2024

 

We are introduced to Mariko through a breaking news on the TV in a small diner, an office worker Tomoyo hears and see it on the telly. The news story is about a young lady who committed suicide by jumping off the balcony of her residence. Tomoyo instantly recognized the suicide victim whose name is flashed across the screen. Mariko was her troubled childhood classmate.  Mariko was physically and mentally abused by her parents her entire life.

Tomoyo takes leave from her work to pay her respects to her childhood friend. She ends up stealing the urn containing Mariko's ashes from her despicable parents, vowing to give her friend a true, final tribute. A much better send off than what she experienced throughout her miserably troubled past. A road trip ensues as Tomoyo travels by train, bus to the farthest corner of Japan to a seaside town which Mariko always talked and dreamed about in her youth.

Guided by some letters written by Mariko which Tomoyo found in her lil trove chest, we are introduced to the sweet, kind hearted yet clingy Mariko through flashbacks. Often poor Mariko is covered with bruises on her face and her body yet she is always smiling and a dear friend toTomoyo.

It isn't easy to watch a film that explores suicide, grief and misery but the way it was presented to a captive audience is through light hearted moments between the two friends. No physical altercation is shown on screen but it is truly implied that poor Mariko was a victim of abuse. 

I guess that suicide is a common occurrence in Japan. Most if not all Japanese films that deal with this sensitive subject is ingrained with deep, mixed emotions. It isn't sensationalized nor glorified and neither does it dwell too much on the act of killing oneself. Focusing instead on the varied reasons why a growing number of these cases happen. Peer pressure, depression, non comformity to society's norms to name a few. Each of these 'reasons' are valid and I don't intend to belittle those who choose to end their lives instead of bearing the struggles, the trials and tribulations of life.

"My broken Mariko" in its simplicity is able to draw us into the emotional journey of Tomoyo's quest  to give her dear friend a fitting tribute so that even if only in her death, she would have felt loved, not neglected by her parents, her peers and society in general.

The Holdovers

 Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph
Dominic Sessa, Carrie Preston

"Discomfort and Joy"

2024 Oscar Awards

Da'Vine Joy Randolph: Best Supporting Actress Winner
Paul Giamatti: Best Actor Nominee
Best Picture Nominee
Best Original Screenplay Nominee

Last March 18, I caught the first part of this movie on our flight to Singapore yet fell asleep mid way as it was an early morning flight. So I decided to re-watch it from the beginning during our return flight back home on March 24. Even though I was exhausted from the Singapore vacation, I managed to stay awake to finish the entire movie, after eating a really delicious dinner on Singapore Airlines.

Set in the 1970s in an all boys New England prep school called Barton, you can't help but compare "The Holdovers" with "Dead Poets Society. It is also a tale of a teacher who makes a huge impact on the lives of his students. 

While Robin Williams was an inspirational presence to an entire class, here Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham is not a well loved teacher. He is a grumpy, no fuss teacher with no bedside manners yet he is also a brilliant intellect. When he is assigned to 'babysit' a bunch of 'holdovers' or students with nowhere to go during Christmas break, he forms an improbable bond with Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa), a troubled student with dysfunctional family issues. To 'defrost' the icy, sardonic Mr Hunham, there is the kind hearted cook of the school, Mary (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) who is mourning the lost of her son in the Vietnam War. 

The film picks up when Mr Hunham, together with Angus and Mary go on a road trip to visit Angus's father who happens to be in a mental institution. Guards are down as three distinctly different characters bond over a simple meal. Their interaction is where the film shines. Relying purely on the credible acting skills of its stars, bouyed by a dialogue driven script unfolding in rural America in the early 1970s, "The Holdovers" succeeds on its own merit. 

It manages to warm our hearts with a good inspirational story of compassion and friendship with the right blend of light comedy and heavy drama  dealing with sensitive issues like grief and mental illness. Without any fancy special effects to distract us from the true essence of a feel good movie.

Past Lives

 2024 Oscar Awards

Best Picture Nominee
Celine Song: Best Original Screenplay Nominee

In this semi autobiographical film, written and directed by Celine Song, a Korean Canadian film maker, Nora (Greta Lee) or Na Young as she was known in South Korea and Hae Sung (Teo Yoo) are classmates in a school in Seoul. They were pretty close and would probably have ended up married to each other but destiny had other plans. At age 12, Nora's entire family migrate to Canada. When her mother was asked why they were leaving Seoul despite having good jobs. She tells Hae Sung's mother "If you leave something, you gain something too".

12 years past by, Nora is studying to be a playwright. She sees a comment on her father's FB page from Hae Sung who was wondering where he could contact his former classmate. They begin communicating through video calls. Despite the time difference, their line of communication is constant. She lives in New York now while he is still in Seoul. Sort of a LDR, (long distance relationship) but not really romantic, there is no label for their situationship (is that what they call it now?) given that they are continents apart. 

You see Nora is a very driven young woman. When she was young in Seoul, she said she was leaving because no one in Korea wins the Nobel Peace Prize. She is focused on getting things done. She decided to end the line of communication with Hae Sung because obviously life takes precedence over anything else. She is going on a writer's retreat while he is busy with his engineering studies. They don't have the luxury of just hopping on a plane to see each other either in Seoul or New York.

12 more years pass by, Nora is now married to Arthur, a Jewish novelist. Hae Sung emails her to say he is finally visiting New York for a short vacation. This stirs up a lot of mixed emotions for Nora but keeps a calm and collected exterior. While Hae Sung is clearly still in love with Nora, he is mature enough to know his limitations, somehow needs closure, a proper good bye, so to speak.

When they finally meet up, it is a bit awkward for the both of them. The pivotal scene at the bar (with her husband Arthur as the third wheel), Hae Sung asks a lot of "what if" questions. He ponders out loud to Nora all the different scenarios that could or could not have happened. Her simple answer is "I don't know". By the way, Nora and Hae Sung speak in Korean to each other while she would sometimes translate it into English for Arthur.

Nora is not a slave to her past, her frame of mind is now focused on the present. She tell Hae Sung that his memory of her as a 12 year old girl is someone she left in Seoul. He concedes and accepts by telling her that she was too big for Seoul. She had lofty ideas, far reaching goals. I totally agree with Nora because who we were when we were 12 years old with pigtails is a totally different person from who we become at 24, 36 or even 48 years of age. 

In the same aspect, "Past Lives" will hit differently for the viewers. It depends on how old you are, on your level of maturity, on your concept of fate and destiny, on your past, present and future journey in life. That is the beauty of this film, it will definitely make an impact whether you are a fresh graduate, a new mom or an empty nester. It will simply linger on, linger more and keep lingering.

Anatomy of a Fall

 2024 Oscar Awards

Best Picture Nominee
Sandra Hüller: Best Actress Nominee

Sandra, a German writer lives in a wooden chalet in the French Alps with Samuel, her French husband and their visually impaired 11 year old son Daniel. After an interview in their home is cut short because of Samuel's ruckus band practice, Sandra retreats to her room. Daniel comes back from his daily walk with his service dog, Snoop to discover the lifeless body of Samuel in the snow near the facade of their chalet. 

Did Samuel fall, commit suicide or was he pushed from the attic of the chalet?

As it is the norm in questionable deaths, the wife is always the prime suspect. Sandra claims she is innocent, and hires a lawyer to defend her as a murder trial begins to determine the exact cause of Samuel's fatal fall.

During the trial, the frosty cracks in their marriage are brought to the surface. Issues of sacrifices, infidelity, isolation, insecurities in their career and personal life, guilt feelings, regrets - all crop up like mushrooms. Their constant bickering, sometimes even violent arguments are presented during the trial through flash backs and taped audio recordings played in the court room. No stones are left unturned by the prosecution who are out to prove that Sandra did 'kill' her insecure husband. Innocent pawn in the whole mess is their only son, Daniel who just might provide the missing link in the murder case. 

Dialogue is mostly in French and some are in English. Sandra speaks in English as a compromise because she feels like a fish out of water in that secluded chalet in some remote town. Filmed in a drab court room, deviod of any fanfare, interspersed with scenic images of the vast snowy terrain, Anatomy of a Fall manages to capture our attention because we are intrigued by Sandra's fate. 

Even though, the verdict is not really a big surprise. We can't help but wonder: Did she or did she not murder her husband? As expected from a European movie, the conclusion is open ended. We are not fed with the truth and we are left to form our own opinions.

Sandra Hüller's portrayal of the novelist's stoic and calm demeanor is engaging. Good performance too from the young actor who plays Daniel. Even though the plot moves at a snail pace, and the setting is limited within the confines of the small court house, this film serves as a good analysis on the complexities of a marriage and its implications on the family.

Society of the Snow

2024 Oscar Awards

Best International Feature Nominee (Spain)

Netflix

J.A. Bayona, the Spanish director of The Impossible about the 2004 tsunami which devastated Thailand is back with another true-life disaster movie. The 1972 crash of a Uruguayan airplane in the Andes mountain. Its passengers were members of a rugby team along with some officials and supporters who were going to Santiago, Chile for an exhibition match.  

Out of the 45 passengers, only 16 survived for 72 harsh days battling serious injuries, starvation, intense frostbite, brutal avalanches, watching their team mates in excruciating pain deteriorating in front of their eyes, staring death in the face.  .

Their deep Catholic faith, along with their camaraderie sustained them during those gruelling 72 days. Cheering each other up, not losing hope that they will be rescued and they even give each other permission to feed on their dead bodies when they die. 

Although that sounds gruesome, it was a reality they had to face in order to survive the elements. Society of the Snow succeeds in its narration of this tragic accident because it focused more on the friendship and their will to survive. It does not highlight the cannibalism  which really occurs during any catastrophe of such magnitude. That aspect was handled well.

The vast Andes mountain range provided a bleak backdrop as it stood witness to the devastation of the airplane crash. Excellent make-up and costume design visibly transformed the virile young lads into weary, battle torn and despondent survivors. 

The scene which stood out for me is during the actual crash landing of the airplane as it hit the mountain, then slided bounced off the deep snow, the body of the aircraft is sliced into half, the tail is torn off, bodies ejected, could hear the sound of bones breaking as the victims were slammed against metal. It was very vivid, and violent yet at the same time you couldn't keep your eyes off the screen. It was very realistic, thrilling and quite shocking too. One of the best depictions of an actual plane crash I've seen so far. 

In movies about disaster, one tends to keep guessing which victim will survive, which victim will not make it. The passengers all looking alike and blending into a big blur. But Society of the Snow was different. It was a humane, poignant and realistic rendering of a tragic accident. An entirely moving and hopeful tale about survival, strength and determination that God won't abandon us during insurmountable hardships.

A Man

 Japanese Film Festival 2024

Cinema 4, The Red Carpet
Shangri-la Plaza Mall

An intriguing premise abounds in this dramatic thriller that begs the question: how much do we really know someone? Even in the context of a marriage, there are certain truths/secrets/lies that spouses keep from each other especially when it involves some sordid past. We only know a person based on what s/he reveals about themselves.

Rie, a divorced single mother meets Daisuke, a reticent tree faller. She owns a stationery shop that sells art supplies and he frequently buy his sketching materials there. Four years later, they are married and have a daughter and Daisuke is also a doting father to Rie's pre-teen son from her previous marriage.

A tragic accident claims his life and Rie is left to pick up the pieces. At Daisuke's wake, when Kyoichi, Daisuke's estranged brother takes a look at the picture of the deceased, he asserts that Rie's second husband is NOT his brother. To get to the bottom of this whole mistaken identity mess and for the life insurance, Rie hires her former lawyer Akari Kido to do a background check on the true identity of the person she married.

In the blink of an eye, the movie's plot shifts from a story of a happy family unit to a convulted, dark narrative of deceit and hidden identities. It doesn't really delve into the technicalities like identity theft, forged documents or counterfeit. As Atty. Kido probes deeper in his quest, he encounters several characters who shed further light into the true persona of Mr. X. We discover who he really was, the real sad reason he wanted to be someone else. Until slowly, we overlook the deceit and feel more empathy towards him and his hapless existence.

Overall, good performance from the entire cast who all play sympathetic characters. Each of them dealing with their inner demons. Rie is neither a wife nor a widow. Her son is tormented by the fact that he needs to change his surname, yet again. Mr. X was desperate to be 'reborn' to escape the stigma of  his father's transgression. Despite being a top lawyer, Atty. Kido is an outcast, being the son of Korean parents living in Japan which I found out is a big issue there. They are called Zainichi Koreans.

Googled this: "You're only a Zainichi Korean if your Korean ancestors settled in Japan during the Japanese colonization period. Zainichi Koreans have a special residential status, they are Korean citizens, but they are also protected under the Japanese law and have most of the same rights as Japanese citizens apart from voting I believe. Zainichi Koreans are also not required to do mandatory military service if male so there's really nothing much to lose if they don't become a naturalized Japanese citizen."

Gloria Bell

Julianne Moore, John Turturro

"Dance to Your own Tune"

NETFLIX

Julianne Moore stars as Gloria, a 50 something divorced mother of two grown children. She likes going to nightclubs/bars to dance the night away. Meets men for one night stands and goes on with her lonely, yet satisfied life. One night, she meets Arnold (John Turturro) at the bar and they start dating. But something is not right with Arnold. Well, not physically but it seems he cannot say no to his ex-wife and his two grown daughters when they summon him. And boy, they do 'need' him a lot, constantly calling him up wherever he goes. 

At first, Gloria didn't mind but as the neediness grew to an irritation. She had enough.  In Las Vegas, during an intimate dinner, his family calls and just like that he left poor Gloria all alone on what was supposed to be a romantic getaway.

Yet the thing with guys like Arnold is that they have no clue about how horrible they are as a human being. Totally oblivious to how despicable they are. So sure enough, he kept calling Gloria like he did nothing wrong. But Gloria is tough and she has moved on with her life, right after she had her 'revenge' over Arnold for treating her so badly.

The film ends with Laura Branigan's song "Gloria" at full blast and Gloria dancing away during the wedding of her friend's daughter. Julianne Moore has starred in many movies and she always make her characters multi-dimensional. But her great talent couldn't salvage the average plot but she did a good job of personifying Gloria.

Uncut Gems

Adam Sandler, Lakeith Stanfield,

Julia Fox, Kevin Garnett

NETFLIX

There is something to be said for comedians who are also good in dramatic roles. Adam Sandler proves it is possible.  As Howard Ratner, Sandler digs deep and shines as a compulsive gambling, jewelry store owner in New York. Always in a rush to score the big one, even going as far as buying some rare opal from Africa, which he considers his lucky charm. These type of hustlers always attract shady characters and in this movie there is no shortage of them.

The hustle and bustle of New York's diamond jewelry stores serves as the backdrop. Howard is a nervous gambler, always on the go type. wheeling and dealing. He is also having an affair with one of his employees. Yet fulfills his family and religious duties, obediently.  The plot is fast paced  and tend to use colorful language.  

Sometimes it is difficult to keep up with Howard's chaotic and sleazy lifestyle. Yet at the same time, we can't help but commiserate with his situation and root for him. He strikes as a tragic figure, we all love to hate but we also wish the best for him. For him to be successful in his business. For him to sanely handle his hectic lifestyle. For him to hit it big so maybe, just maybe he is less stressed and panicky.

Adam Sandler is in his 'Jewish' elements. From his wardrobe, to his accent and his manner of doing business.  His realistic portrayal deserves an award for this larger than life role. The haywire plot can be confusing but there is only one reason to watch his dramatic film - Adam Sandler. 

Paddleton

Ray Romano, Mark Duplass

"A comedy Of dramatic Proportions"

NETFLIX

This buddy drama is one of the saddest movies I've seen.  Andy (Ray Romano) lives on the apartment on top of Michael's (Mark Duplass) flat. An unlikely friendship develops between them. 

They are both loner types lacking in social graces but their bond is solid. They even invented their own game which they named "paddleton", a variety of squash, the racket and ball game. They also always watch an old kung fu movie called "Death Punch", together. 

Michael finds out he has liver cancer and decides to take his own life before the disease turns 'messy'. So they go on a short road trip to another town where the (euthanasia) medicines Michael needs are available. Apparently, not all pharmacies sell these kind of medicines, for moral reasons.

Andy and Mark's friendship is purely platonic and I have to emphasize they are definitely not gay. I never got that vibe even though I have read reviews that imply they were. Their bond is endearing because it seems they only have each other as there are no mentions of family or other friends.

The last 20 minutes was intense and quite emotional. It is the scene where Michael decides to end his life. Much to the chagrin of Andy yet he doesn't stop his best friend, either. Mark Duplass did a great job in showing the effects these medicines have on one's body. There was no blood or anything gory involved. In fact, it was quite peaceful to see but it was also tragic and very sad. 

On the other hand, it was refreshing to see Andy move on with his life without Michael, even making small talk (his pet peeve) with his new neighbors (a mother and son) moving into Michael's former apartment.

I don't believe in euthanasia. This film doesn't really justify it. It was portrayed as an option offered to cancer patients so they can get a good quality of life. I may not like it but I do understand and respect their decisions.

"Paddleton" does not aim to be an existential movie and was ranked 186th in the 250 best Netflix movies. It is a simple narrative about an affinity between two people who may not have anything in common but are drawn to each other and have a lasting brotherly relationship. It is powered by great and credible acting from Mark Duplass and Ray Romano. Romano is  quite a revelation because even though he is  a comedian, he can equally shine in dramatic roles. Just be ready with some tissues, when you see this movie.

The Kindergarten Teacher

Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gael Garcia Bernal,

Parker Sevak

"A Fine line Between nurturing And obsession"

NETFLIX

This remake of a 2014 Israeli film is ranked 163 in the 250 best films on Netflix. It stars the talented Maggie Gyllenhaal as a 40 something kindergarten teacher named Lisa Spinelli. It seems that Lisa is stuck in a rut. 

Her grown children are always busy with their studies and constantly prefer social media over some family bonding times. Her husband Grant is solid yet there is an invisible wall between them.  Lisa is enrolled in a writing class so she can revive her lost dream, a life filled with poetry, supports art, or language. In short, being an intellectual in a world where social media has invaded every single aspect of our lives.

Enter Jimmy, a student in her kindergarten class who can recite his own poetry without any effort. Lisa becomes so fascinated with Jimmy's artistic talent, she even passes his poems as her own in her writing class. It climbs to an obsession as she hounds the little kid to come up with more poems, even giving him her cellphone number so Jimmy can call her up each time he comes up with a poem.

This very simple movie tackles with good precision the really thin line between nurturing pure talent and obsessing over it. For me, Lisa means well. She is part of a dying breed of individuals who prefer books, poetry and anything artistic than be caught up in a world of mediocrity. So I do understand her frustration, and her anguish, but her questionable method of harnessing Jimmy's talent is quite stalker-like and very creepy, indeed.  

On the other hand, there is no doubt that Jimmy is a genius. Even at such a young young, his brain is wired differently. I don't think he can even process just how talented he is. But this does not mean that Lisa can just 'invade' his brain and literally kidnap him, to hold him hostage as what happened towards the open ended conclusion. Mind you, even Jimmy realized that fact when he called the police and told the authorities, he was kidnapped. 

Maggie Gyllenhaal is brilliant in any role and as Lisa, she is very good in capturing the teacher's soulful and spirited persona. The little boy who portrays Jimmy is equally good, given that it is very difficult for child actors to look natural on screen. 

"The Kindergarten Teacher" is a slow burn but also very provocative. My advise is to watch it without being highly judgmental towards Lisa. Instead dig deep, and even though it is difficult, please try to fully understand where she is truly coming from. In these arduous times, tolerance goes a long way. I end with  a quote from Lisa which is sad yet very accurate.

Talent is so fragile and so rare. And our culture does everything to crush it. I mean even at four or five, they're coming into school attached to their phones, talking only about TV shows and video games. It's a materialistic culture, and it doesn't support art, or language, or observation. Even my own children, who are great, they don't read. You know, you think maybe it's just a phase. But I worry that it's something larger. A lack of curiosity. A lack of reflection. No one has space for poetry.

Knives Out

Daniel Craig, Ana de Armas

Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson,

Toni Collette, Chris Evans,

Michael Shannon, LaKeith Stanfield,

Christoper Plummer

"Everyone has A motive.
No one Has a Clue"

This all-cast murder mystery does reveal early on, the manner the murder was committed. Yet as the plot unfolds, the original cause of death is torn to pieces as the truth slowly comes out.

So the 'murdered' person is famous crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer), the patriarch of the family who just celebrated his 85th birthday. Suicide is the cause of his untimely death. 

Enter Lieutenant Elliot (LaKeith Stanfield) the person in charge of investigating the 'suicide'. He is accompanied by renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) who was hired by an anonymous benefactor. They proceed to interview several members of Harlan's immediate family. 

Harlan's eldest daughter Linda Drysdale (Jamie Lee Curtis), a successful business woman and her husband Richard (Don Johnson), next is Linda's brother Walt Thrombey (Michael Shannon) who runs the publishing company which markets his father's books. 

Joni Thrombey (Toni Collette) is Harlan's daughter in law, the widow of his late son Greg. She has a teenage daughter, Meg who is friends with Marta Cabrera (Ana de Armas), Harlan's dutiful nurse and caregiver, an immigrant from some Central or South American country. They all answer the queries as honestly as possible even though in the process, they each offer some sort of motive towards wanting Harlan dead, in some way or the other.

Through Blanc's intensive prodding, he discovers that Marta made a mistake while administering Harlan's medicines, he then overdoses on an injection which gives him only 10 minutes to live. Marta is unable to find the antidote so Harlan decides to kill himself so Marta's mother, an illegal immigrant won't be deported when Marta is jailed for the accidental injection. Much to Marta's chagrin and despite her pleas to call an ambulance, Harlan slits his throat.

To make the long story short, several factors such as Blanc's style of investigation, and the appearance of Ransom (Chris Evans), the son of Linda and Richard Drysdale, we find out the real cause of death, the evil mastermind behind the 'murder' and who hired Benoit Blanc. These snippets are all revealed through flashback sequences and leads to a bittersweet conclusion with Marta inheriting everything the patriarch owes as stipulated in his will.

This Agatha Christie style crime thriller with a cast of good actors was refreshing to watch. Daniel Craig shines as Benoit Blanc as we are reminded of Hercules Poirot, the fictional Belgian detective created by Agatha Christie. Not a caricature, mind you. But an equally eccentric detective. The ensemble cast carries the entire narrative on their quite able shoulders. The plot tends to lose some momentum during some scenes but overall it is a clever whodunit which deserves our full attention. 

Outside In

Jay Duplass, Edie Falco

Kaitlyn Dever

"Things are Never the Same on the Outside"

NETFLIX

The plot seems simple enough - an ex convict is released after 20 years for a crime he didn't commit, through the advocacy of his former HS teacher. Yet at the story unfolds we realize it isn't that simple. A side plot offers some complexity to an otherwise average drama.

Chris (Jay Duplass) is fetched from prison by his brother Ted. Although the crime is not re-enacted, the audience does have a sense more or less of what actually occurred through a muddled voice-over. The thing is Chris is totally innocent yet served 20 years incarceration. 

Now 38 years old awkward and shy Chris must adapt to a very uncertain future. He tries applying for several jobs yet his one passion remains his romantic feelings towards his former teacher. Carol (Edie Falco) is stuck in a loveless marriage and has a complicated relationship with her teenage daughter Hildy (Kaitlyn Dever). Fully aware of Chris's crush on her but staying true to her married vows.

Eventually, an event leads Carol into Chris's arms and although we want to cheer them on, it isn't the happy ending we all long for. Or is it? I am not spoiling the fluid ending. It is up to the audience to formulate their own conclusion(s), alright?

Jay Duplass is a familiar face if you watched the eccentric yet amusingly entertaining TV show "Transparent". His characterization of Chris is subdued. A stoic outward appearance yet deep inside he is very conflicted with his feelings. There is nothing much to say about Edie Falco's brilliant acting talent. She is fantastic in any role and as Carol, she is in true form. 

"Outside In" (#81 in the best 250 films on Netflix) proves that even though it may be a small budget movie, it still kicks in a lot of punch in its narrative. A compassionate and absorbing story set in a small town with great performances from its two main leads.

P.S.

RIP to its director, Lynn Shelton who died recently. Gone too soon, just 54.

1922

Thomas Jane, Molly Parker,
Dylan Schmid

"Your Darkest secrets Never stay Buried"

NETFLIX

This is based on a short story by Stephen King. The horror king, himself. If you are a regular follower of this blog, all three of you :D  You would know I am not a horror movies fan, at all. Yet this was #167 on the Netflix best 250 films article so I was naturally curious. 

Set on a farm in Nebraska in the year 1922, the story is told through the eyes of farmer Wilfred James (Thomas Jane). In a letter, he confessed while he was staying at a hotel that he killed his wife, Arlette (Molly Parker) with the help of his teenage son Henry.

The scenes flick back and forth to his stay in the hotel completely paranoid and also to the time when we get the back story before the murder. Their farm isn't making money at all so Arlette wants to sell her share to another farmer. But Wilfred is a proud man and doesn't approve of her plan. While Arlette was sleeping, Henry holds down his mother as Wilfred tries to decapitate her. Yet she naturally struggles so they end up stabbing her to death. Blood is everywhere. On the bed. Their clothes. The floor. It is a bloody mess, indeed.

Next, they dispose of her body in an old well. The following day as Wilfred peeks into the well, he disgustingly discovers huge rats feasting on Arlette's decomposing body. Together with his son Hank, they decide to push a big cow into the well to cover the stench. 

Bad luck continues as the farm still doesn't make any money. Hank is disillusioned and gets his girlfriend pregnant. They run away as his girlfriend's father is furious. Resorting to a life of crime, the young runaways are miserable. While Wilfred is now haunted by big rats which find their way into the now decrepit house. He sees visions of his dead decomposing wife everywhere. Suffice to say, the film ends on a bleak note with no redemption for the doomed characters. yet I believe they deserved their fate.

So while there are very disturbing scenes of rats infestation and rats feeding on a corpse, 1922 was intriguing enough for me to keep watching. Yet, I cringed every time, those scenes appeared.   The setting is as bleak as the dark and twisted plot. Great performance though from Thomas Jane as the weary farmer. His physical appearance clearly depicted exhaustion from his gravely voice to his wrinkled, fatigued face. As much as the film tried to turn into a psychological thriller, it lacked some depth to fully transform into one. 

Just make sure, you don't watch it before bedtime or else you might have nightmares of rats infesting your bed. Trust me, I did so be warned.

Blue Jay

Sarah Paulson, Mark Duplass

NETFLIX

On May 1, a Rotten Tomatoes article listed the 250 best movies on Netflix, it was a rather interesting mix of original Netflix movies as well as those which were released in cinema theaters. I tend to navigate towards small, independent movies which may have limited budget costs yet are still quality films that pull no punches. 

Blue Jay, # 188 in the list stars Mark Duplass as Jim who is based in Arizona and works in construction. Upon his mother's death,  he returns to his hometown in California to sort out her affairs. While at the grocery, he runs into his former long time girlfriend Amanda (Sarah Paulson) who is visiting her pregnant sister. 

At first, it was awkward and a bit of a shock for the both of them. Over coffee, they get re-acquainted as it has been 20 years since they kept in touch. As night falls, they continue to reminisce at Jim's ancestral house. They embark on a very nostalgic trip, even re-enacting their little make believe skit complete with a Annie Lennox song, "No More, I Love You's", a 1990s classic.

While going through some items in Jim's former room, Amanda discovers a letter in a sealed envelope addressed to her. This letter plays a pivotal role in their relationship, eons ago. It is opened in the final few minutes of the film and it is like a Pandora box of past regrets. A painful yet significant event in their past which I believed shaped their lives, without them fully realizing it.

This film is entirely in black and white, and was shot over the course of 7 days in Crestline, California. A small town in the San Bernardino mountains which we don't really see much of since the leads are mostly indoors. Mark Duplass along with his older brother,  actor Jay have a film production company which mostly roll out independent movies.

Sarah Paulson has a very refreshing face even though Blue Jay is in black and white, her striking features still shine through. Mark Duplass tend to portray lonely, good guys in most of his films and as Jim, he is in true character form. Together, Amanda and Jim's chemistry is palpable. It feels like one is eavesdropping on a couple who were in a deeply pure relationship in their teenage years until an unplanned incident led to their separation. Even if they haven't kept in touch, they seem to pick off from the time they were in their teens, albeit in a guarded position.

The last few minutes was intense with the revelation of the contents of the letter coming to the fore. It begs the questions: if the letter was read when they were still together, would they be a happily married couple now? Or it won't make much difference and they would still break up?

So yes I was left with more questions than answers. But allow me to merit a guess - I believe it made Amanda stronger and wiser to face life head on because as much as I hate to admit it, Jim will always be happier in a small town setting. The fact that he remained single proves he is not that mature to handle what life throws at him. Amanda married a much older guy and this just proves she needed maturity and guidance in her life.

I'm not a psychologist nor a psychiatrist but merely a keen observer of human behaviors and patterns. So I'm glad I chanced upon this gem of an independent movie because it had depth, passion and more drama therefore the need to put my thinking hat on - which in my book is a good thing. =)

Phantom Thread

Daniel Day Lewis, Vicky Krieps

Leslie Manville

NETFLIX

I'm grateful for Netflix, it has a wide selection of films which were first shown on the big screen. I've been meaning to see Daniel Day Lewis' final film but due to time constraints, I missed its run by just a day.

Director Paul Thomas Anderson and Daniel Day Lewis worked together in the award winning movie "There will be blood", a grand tale about the rise of a ruthless oil tycoon. 

Their second collaboration is a post-war narration, set in London about a famous fashion designer named Reynolds Woodcock. His stylish attires/gowns are sought after by royalty members, stars from tinsel town and the affluent sector of society. Together with his sister Cyril (Leslie Manville), a Mrs Danvers type and his business partner, the atelier is thriving.

After Cyril "rids" (no, she was not killed)  Reynolds of his lonely  girlfriend or wife (not sure if they were married); he drives at top speed in his sports car to his regular vacation spot.  There he meets Alma, a meek and shy waitress at the inn he frequents, who takes his order of a very hearty breakfast.

Alma (Vicky Krieps) is a bumpkin but Reynolds is totally smitten and brings her back to his atelier in London. At first, her role is ambiguous. She is assigned to help the other seamstresses yet she also shares his bed. They are polar opposites as she is awkwardly clumsy while Reynolds is refined and demure befitting his status in high society. 

But they are a good tandem as she's his inspiration, his muse, his everything. Things get  a bit bizarre when Alma commits some macabre deed so Reynolds is totally dependent on her. A side plot which I honestly didn't see coming. Soon enough, her 'gesture' works, so they seal their bond with matrimonial vows. Now official married, Reynolds lighten up a bit without losing his essence while Alma also tries desperately not to lose herself. Without compromising who they really are, their marriage is successful, even being blessed with a child. 

Newcomer Vicky Krieps was a revelation. Her Alma was able to evolve from an awe stricken shy waitress to a woman with a strong personality especially when it comes to "manipulating" her husband. Although she does have a morbid streak which manifests itself on some occasion, she is no longer the long suffering heroine. She has come into own person, a good thing for women during that decade when they were supposed to merely be decorative pieces.

Daniel Day Lewis doesn't disappoint at all. As Reynolds, he is in his best elements. Sans make up, salt & pepper hair slick and combed back, his face weary but distinguished, delivering his lines effortlessly. Totally imbibing this complex character with ease. At first, a stubborn snob but eventually submitting to a lifestyle completely different from his very uptight upbringing.

The Anglo-Irish actor has come a long way from "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992) as a swashbuckling hero rescuing a damsel in distress. He has had a flourishing career. Even though "Phantom Thread" is quite a 'minor' film compared to his other much celebrated movies, it was a fitting vehicle to capture his brilliant acting skills making him a great thespian. I will miss seeing him on the big screen but I also understand his reason for retirement. 

God speed, Daniel Day Lewis!

Private Life

Paul Giamatti, Kathryn Hanh

Molly Shannon, Emily Robinson

NETFLIX

This drama tinged with some dry humor is set in New York and deals with a couple struggling with infertility problems. Richard Grimes (Paul Giamatti) and Rachel Biegler (Kathryn Hanh) are a typical couple, probably in their 40s. Richard teaches while Rachel is an author, their flat is surrounded with books, they live comfortably but their inability to conceive the natural way is taking a heavy toll on their marriage as well as their physical health and mental state.

Countless blood tests, retrieval of eggs, artificial insemination and the tortuous IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) are very strenuous for couples. Rachel and Richard though have this relentless spirit, they don't give up. Failure after failure doesn't slow them down. 

Soon enough, their niece Sadie who is taking a 'break' from studying at college (because she is lost and wants "to find herself") is more comfortable staying with them than with her parents.  They agree because it feels nice to have someone else in their house, sort of a distraction from their tedious "task".

By this time, Richard & Rachel are exploring other means of being parents. They decide on hiring a surrogate to carry their baby for them. They make a bold move by asking Sadie if she is willing to be their surrogate. She agrees because it was the  least she could do for them, her favorite persons in the whole world.

Here are issues I had with Sadie's agreement: First, she is only 18 years old, too young to be responsible. She can't even commit to finishing her studies. I know she won't be the mother, but still it was a huge responsibility to ask of a 'child'. Second, they didn't even check her medical history. Does she have any underlying conditions or can she even carry a baby to term? Third, Sadie is too close to them. She is their blood relation. 

I won't reveal, if they were successful or not in their attempts to conceive.

Director Tamara Jenkins does a great job in showcasing their journey towards parenthood. Paul Giamatti and Kathryn Hanh were perfect in their roles, relying solely on their great acting skills and their palpable chemistry. They really imbibed the true nature of couples dealing with infertility. From their physical appearance, the endless talks about their options, to the heavy toll the constant pressures and stress took on their marriage.

I absolutely felt each of their heartaches, their pains, their feeling of being incomplete. Because, me too I struggled with infertility.  I was already 41 years old when we tried to conceive.  I had to spend 3 days a week at the hospital for TVS (ultrasounds), numerous blood tests. I also had to drink several fertility medicines daily, until it got to the point where I needed to be injected with HCG for follicles production, every other day. 

It was a vicious cycle of hospital visits and painful injections. It took a huge toll on my mental well being. I would cry to sleep every time I had 'negative' results in the pregnancy tests. I would easily cry whenever I saw babies, anywhere. I was an extremely troubled chapter in my married life.

After two years of trying, we simply quit and accepted that we are not meant to be parents. The sooner I accepted it, the better I felt. I have no regrets though. At least we tried until our bodies and our bank account surrendered to God's almighty will.

So "Private Life" felt so raw and genuine because there aren't many movies which tackle infertility problems with such precision. I like that the film wasn't too technical and instead focused on the journey of two wonderful persons who are willing to do anything to be parents. That, for me is the true measure of  L.O.V.E.