The Help (2011)

"Minny don't burn the chicken." -Minny Jackson

The help is one of those movies that I kept seeing in parts. And now, I have finally seen it in its entirety, uninterrupted, and as they intended. It happened.

There are a number of topics within The Help that deserve and have been discussed online for the past 7 years. These include, racism, structural racism, inequality, civil rights, power, social structure, and more, but I thought I would bring up a specific choice by the creators that I noticed more in the breath of fresh air from it's absence. In this case, men.

Men are specifically and almost in a reverse of the tradition of storytelling/cinema, not included. There are male characters, but they serve as the backdrop and seem to expected to be almost inconsequential or to serve as a foil. The only man of any serious not, Stuart Whitworth is presented only as a reminder of the cost of change against the status quo.  It's refreshing to see so much space for women in a story by the conscious relegation of men to the background. They might be heard, but they are generally not seen, and their thoughts aren't of particular consequence.  Not every movie needs this, but I like it when it is done right and want to see these sorts of choices more often.

Here was another thought, as I want to give a particular nod to the excellence by Bryce Dallas Howard and Jessica Chastain. BDH, I have in the past not enjoyed your performance- but your portrayal of the scurrilous Hilly Holbrook was wonderful. It makes the film to have the villain played with such contempt and competency. JC,  I actually didn't know you were Celia Foote, and that is one of the best compliments I can give. You disappeared.   Yet, I realized that let's say Hilly was 25 in 1963 as was Celia.  So born in 1938, if they were alive today they would be 80 years old (not impossible). So, would they have been real, it is entirely possible that 72 year old Hilly and Celia went to see The Help.  It's hard for me to empathise and imagine with what they thought about how accurate the social norms and structures of Jackson were portrayed. How do they feel about this that the standards of their prime years are now maligned for a global audience? I don't know. But, there are people we can ask. 

I would encourage all to engage in discussions on this topic with older generations.

Pacific Rim (2013)

"Today we are cancelling the apocalypse!" -Stacker Pentecost

Guillermo Del Toro has kind of cracked the code. (And I am in no way certain that he is the innovator.) But, it seems that for a huge chunk of the modern film going office doesn't care about the details of things like plot, character development, structure, science, etc. What they do care about is monsters and robots that fight. I repeat, monsters and robots that FIGHT. Guillermo Del Toro feels similarly and made a film to meet his desires and their wants. 

If I were to accept Pacific Rim on its own terms, then it comes off pretty well. Unfortunately, the CGI and costumes etc. did not really come close to suspending my disbelief. Oh, I disbelieved, I did. I thought they were slightly better effects than Beast Wars. Somehow, if they had been more unrealistic, or overly detailed, I would have would have engaged with film on a greater level. The middle ground never works. 

Yet, I am an old, structured curmudgeon, and I don't want to abandon art in favor of RAWRRRRR.  #oldmanisold

So, Pacific Rim is complete non-event for the release of monster stress. 

That doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable. It was!  And I love that GDT loves Kaiju.  Me too. 

Charlie Day, Ron Perlman, Rinko Kikuchi, and, or course, Idris Elba. Be in anything you want. 

The Wind Rises (2013)

Still at your mackerel bones? -Honjo

Something about The Wind Rises was less stunning and more genuine than a traditional Miyazaki directed film.  I found it far more comfortable to watch then the rest of the pantheon.

My take away was that of understanding the importance of self reliant failure. If your goal is to simply be competitive, follow the best practices of the current leader.  This is what our characters were doing in Germany. The Japanese airforce had to be competitive- thus they looked to and copied the leader. This is a standard recipe for competition and a safe reliable way to not lose.

It also as noted by our hero, that this process is a lock into perpetual 'also-ran" status. If you only look to the current best, you  won't see beyond. There will be no victory, no edge, just continual learning from others. It takes daring, failure, belief and gumption to achieve that which is new and produces an enduring edge.

I think Miyazaki may be encouraging those that are coming after him to break away from his mold. Japanese anime now all looks and feels like Studio Ghibli. He would rather they broke out and failed in new directions that will have new imitators.

Copying Miyazaki-sama is good idea as a standard to chase, but don't make it THE standard. Thank you for the lesson, The Wind Rises. 

Coco (2017)

I think Pixar has a rule. If they audience does not cry, we have failed as filmmakers. There's just something about the culture of an organization that can continue to create quality.  Coco is admittedly not the greatest of all Pixar films, but I don't care, because it is of the highest quality.

There was a meme I read a while back about that Pixar movies could be expressed simply:

What if_____had feelings?  And Coco is exactly that.  What if the dead had feelings?  And this is not an existential question. In a colorful, profound, and unrepentantly Mexican story, Pixar made me consider the feelings of the dead and how they affect our current lives.

My own thoughts were with my Great-grandmother Esther. When I was young, it was natural for me to be a child and focused on my own experiences, but as an adult there is little more I would want to do than to spend time with Esther again and ask her about all the things she saw; all the changes she witnessed, everything. And as my grandparents and parents, move on, Coco has reminded me (and hopefully everyone) that history is about living memory, songs, stories, and life as much as it about names, dates, and books. If we forget how to remember, then we are officially untethered from all that has come before. Sounds like, I should play another round of Yatzee with Grandma over tea.

Hats off Pixar.  -you once again made me cry.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

"Now!" -several characters

This is what I get for being a little sick and uncaring when on netflix.

First, I think movies like this actually add to a climate for fear in general and stoke antagonism between nations, in this case the USA and Russia. So.... It might be time to reconsider making them.

Beyond, I think "Cold War" Tom Clancy and his All-American hero taking on Russians is a bygone stereotype long dead.  We would do well not to try and revive it.

Lastly, I expect more from you, Kenneth Branagh. I admit you took something that in lesser hands could have been found on the bottom of my shoe and turned it into a passable film, but my question is Why? Why this project? and why that accent? -I trust you as performer and a director, and Jack Ryan in no way will diminish my respect for your talent...but if someday we meet, I might ask about this particular Russian accent.

So in short. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is longer than necessary, with acceptable acting, slightly strange accents, and nothing worth investing one's emotions or time in. Making it simply a forgettable action film.

I think this kind of a trend, I am noticing in the Action genre in general. Nothing new has happened in many years.  The whole field has been played out -see Red and The Expendables.

From Chris Pine to Chris Pratt, I give Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit 2.2 out of 5 stars.

It's officially Chris Pine has moved into last place in my "Chris" rankings.