I thought it was time to catch up on a few
of the Big Fat Hollywood films from last year. I usually don't bother to
review them because the Internet is infected with them. I will say that I
loved the first 20 minutes and final 10 minutes of Spiderman and hated the
rest of it. My dreams are more interesting than that CGI pile of money grubbing
nonsense. Have to get to Batman. Will definitely skip Dr. Strange. Enough
of his arm waving in Spiderman that was basically being used as a promo for
the Dr. Strange movie that followed. Please Benedict, do another season of
Sherlock instead. West Side Story though I avoided because I was afraid I
would be disappointed. I wasn't.
Got to The Batman too. Had this short thought about it.
A three hour noire dirge in the dark. Next time Batman is a psychotic serial killer who spends the entire film in a room with no windows and no lights muttering to himself as Gustav Mahler plays in the background. The film though perfectly reflects our times when everything seems to be corrupt, when there is no light at end of the tunnel because there is no tunnel. And the crazies are whispering to each other on the Internet that the next January 6th will be weaponized. If my mother had watched this, her main comments would have been - he is a millionaire right? Can't he get a good haircut? And to Cat Girl - feed your damn cats and get a better mask. Even I could recognize you and I have trouble recognizing my husband in his pajamas. Do I have glaucoma? Why is everything suddenly so dark. Make an appointment for me to see the eye doctor. You go into a room, you turn on the lights. That is what people do. Is there a light bulb shortage? Get my other glasses.
Needless to say, this was a dark movie literally as well as figuratively.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Year: 2021
Rating: 8.0
I have to give Spielberg credit for taking on this film. There were a lot of minefields to sidestep. There is always an inherent risk in trying to remake what was once considered a classic film. It is hard to think of many that were better and a whole lot that were worse. So the question has to be asked why did he. I noticed that the film was dedicated to his father, so maybe that was it. But this film in particular was a risky proposition. I used the word "once" for a reason. For decades the original was considered a classic - the magnificent score from Bernstein, the lyrics from Sondheim, the energetic choreography from Jerome Robbins - all legends. Romeo and Juliet playing out on the hard streets of New York City. It was one of the last great musicals. But then time, changing attitudes and political correctness caught up with it as it has with so many older films.
And over the past decade or so a stigma was attached to it. Before this film came out I read a discussion from a group of Hispanic critics and academics and they were unanimous in hating the original. Of finding it offensive to Hispanic culture, of stereotyping Hispanics and of course the Big Elephant in the room the casting of Natalie Wood as Maria and basically no Hispanics in the cast other than Rita Moreno. I would be curious to see whether they thought Spielberg had fixed this. My guess is not. The Hispanics in the cast sure - that was easy - but avoiding cultural aspects perhaps not. I know the music so well to this film but have not seen the original in decades and so can't compare. I would not really want to. I have noticed that a lot of people who do the comparison find this one lacking - a few who hate what Spielberg did - I tend to think those are people who truly love the original and so came at this film with enmity in their heart. Otherwise though opinion seemed very divided to those who loved it and those who found it boring. Initially, when I saw that the running time was 156 minutes I winced - a 156 minute musical seemed pushing it - but then I saw that the original had almost the exact same running time.
I give the film an 8 as much for ambition as the film itself. It never quite connects emotionally with me (until that wow ending and Rita Moreno singing just because it is Rita Moreno singing) - perhaps in 2021 the idea of punk teenagers dancing and singing is hard to take seriously any more. Easy to mock. The musical is for the most part dead. Many seem unable to accept the idea of people breaking into song and dance while going about their lives - but accepting super heroes is not a problem. Not me. I love musicals and sometimes wish life was one. There is nothing more joyous than song and dance. Just emoting through music. And when they break into the song America on the streets it swept me in or the wonderful Tonight and Maria. Spielberg sets up so many scenes brilliantly, none more so than the big tragic fight - the camera above as their advancing shadows merge. Spielberg is a master filmmaker even if his films may not set right with you - every detail planned out. Every camera angle considered. The dancing in the streets in a few numbers is magical.
What I found interesting is sadly how relevant much of the story from the old film transferred to this one still is. Not the two gangs but the hatred of the Other that is with us more than ever, the disdain for immigrants, gentrification, the this is our country, get the fuck out, hell, near the beginning the policeman who breaks up the fight basically offers up The Replacement Theory that is insidiously working its way into the Conservative mind set and the long-lasting ability of those in Power to divide people who should naturally be economic allies into opposite camps based on race, religion and culture. Fucking nothing has changed.
It is great to see a film with all young new talent. A springboard for some of them I hope. Ansel Elgort who plays Tony was Baby Driver! A film I quite enjoyed. This was the debut of the wonderful Rachel Zegler who is Maria. With her petite features, big eyes, thick eye brows she is lovely. Hopefully more roles for her. The fact that the film bombed is a shame. Probably another nail in the Musical.
Got to The Batman too. Had this short thought about it.
A three hour noire dirge in the dark. Next time Batman is a psychotic serial killer who spends the entire film in a room with no windows and no lights muttering to himself as Gustav Mahler plays in the background. The film though perfectly reflects our times when everything seems to be corrupt, when there is no light at end of the tunnel because there is no tunnel. And the crazies are whispering to each other on the Internet that the next January 6th will be weaponized. If my mother had watched this, her main comments would have been - he is a millionaire right? Can't he get a good haircut? And to Cat Girl - feed your damn cats and get a better mask. Even I could recognize you and I have trouble recognizing my husband in his pajamas. Do I have glaucoma? Why is everything suddenly so dark. Make an appointment for me to see the eye doctor. You go into a room, you turn on the lights. That is what people do. Is there a light bulb shortage? Get my other glasses.
Needless to say, this was a dark movie literally as well as figuratively.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Year: 2021
Rating: 8.0
I have to give Spielberg credit for taking on this film. There were a lot of minefields to sidestep. There is always an inherent risk in trying to remake what was once considered a classic film. It is hard to think of many that were better and a whole lot that were worse. So the question has to be asked why did he. I noticed that the film was dedicated to his father, so maybe that was it. But this film in particular was a risky proposition. I used the word "once" for a reason. For decades the original was considered a classic - the magnificent score from Bernstein, the lyrics from Sondheim, the energetic choreography from Jerome Robbins - all legends. Romeo and Juliet playing out on the hard streets of New York City. It was one of the last great musicals. But then time, changing attitudes and political correctness caught up with it as it has with so many older films.
And over the past decade or so a stigma was attached to it. Before this film came out I read a discussion from a group of Hispanic critics and academics and they were unanimous in hating the original. Of finding it offensive to Hispanic culture, of stereotyping Hispanics and of course the Big Elephant in the room the casting of Natalie Wood as Maria and basically no Hispanics in the cast other than Rita Moreno. I would be curious to see whether they thought Spielberg had fixed this. My guess is not. The Hispanics in the cast sure - that was easy - but avoiding cultural aspects perhaps not. I know the music so well to this film but have not seen the original in decades and so can't compare. I would not really want to. I have noticed that a lot of people who do the comparison find this one lacking - a few who hate what Spielberg did - I tend to think those are people who truly love the original and so came at this film with enmity in their heart. Otherwise though opinion seemed very divided to those who loved it and those who found it boring. Initially, when I saw that the running time was 156 minutes I winced - a 156 minute musical seemed pushing it - but then I saw that the original had almost the exact same running time.
I give the film an 8 as much for ambition as the film itself. It never quite connects emotionally with me (until that wow ending and Rita Moreno singing just because it is Rita Moreno singing) - perhaps in 2021 the idea of punk teenagers dancing and singing is hard to take seriously any more. Easy to mock. The musical is for the most part dead. Many seem unable to accept the idea of people breaking into song and dance while going about their lives - but accepting super heroes is not a problem. Not me. I love musicals and sometimes wish life was one. There is nothing more joyous than song and dance. Just emoting through music. And when they break into the song America on the streets it swept me in or the wonderful Tonight and Maria. Spielberg sets up so many scenes brilliantly, none more so than the big tragic fight - the camera above as their advancing shadows merge. Spielberg is a master filmmaker even if his films may not set right with you - every detail planned out. Every camera angle considered. The dancing in the streets in a few numbers is magical.
What I found interesting is sadly how relevant much of the story from the old film transferred to this one still is. Not the two gangs but the hatred of the Other that is with us more than ever, the disdain for immigrants, gentrification, the this is our country, get the fuck out, hell, near the beginning the policeman who breaks up the fight basically offers up The Replacement Theory that is insidiously working its way into the Conservative mind set and the long-lasting ability of those in Power to divide people who should naturally be economic allies into opposite camps based on race, religion and culture. Fucking nothing has changed.
It is great to see a film with all young new talent. A springboard for some of them I hope. Ansel Elgort who plays Tony was Baby Driver! A film I quite enjoyed. This was the debut of the wonderful Rachel Zegler who is Maria. With her petite features, big eyes, thick eye brows she is lovely. Hopefully more roles for her. The fact that the film bombed is a shame. Probably another nail in the Musical.