Tag: film critic

Young Pope Rules

pope2

After the success of “Westworld” I was intrigued to see where HBO would go next. “The Young Pope” is probably less commercial but may end up being even better. The show is about a very flamboyant new American Pope who may be bisexual and agnostic. Jude Law is outstanding in this role in the first episode. Diane Keaton is promising as the nun and his most trusted advisor who brought him up after his parents died in his youth. The viewer is left wondering why his character was chosen to be pope, as well as what role and motivation Keaton’s character had in actualizing Law’s ascent to the papacy.

pope

This show has some very memorable moments such as imagined speeches that the Pope gives where he tells the crowds who came to see him to do whatever the hell they want. He appears to be conflicted about what message he wants to give his followers. The director has a sly way of showing that the personal interest of the ruler pope is not what is similarly in the best interest of his followers.

What makes the Young Pope so interesting is that it is very unpredictable. The viewer has no way of knowing his intentions. What is clear is that he is highly ambitious, cunning, and ruthless. He smokes cigarettes, and crosses over taboo subjects in his conversations and in his daydreams. There are hints of a dark past.

It will be fascinating to see if this show generates controversy in America. Will this show’s cynical take on the Pope amuse or repel audiences? Well, it amused me and held me in thrall. I think this kind of intelligent entertainment is what we need right now in the wake of our political landscape being so dumbed-down and partisan. “The Young Pope” is not for everyone, but it is a must for the thoughtful viewer. This show airs new episodes Sunday and Monday nights on HBO.

young

Nocturnal Animals is Whack

images

I attempted to watch “Nocturnal Animals” the other day.  I did not find it dull, but it was a real nasty turn-off of a movie.  It starts with fat, sultry chicks giving you the eye while dancing naked in slow motion. Yes it really does. Next follows a self-absorbed woman artist in a bad relationship who receives a manuscript for a novel dedicated to her from her even more self-absorbed ex-husband called “Nocturnal Animals.”  The novel follows a suburban family off the road by some redneck psychos, and the mother and daughter end up naked and dead.  This was followed by a dinner scene between our two self-absorbed artists in which they bash Republicans.  At this point, Deplorable Steve and I walked out.

     First of all, why this POS getting good reviews while the terrific “Allied” is getting panned?  “Allied” has characters we like and admire; this film has naked singing fat chicks layered over the opening credits.  Lots of directors imitate David Lynch, but Tom Ford forgets that Lynch’s films are beautiful and fun.  All “Nocturnal Animals” accomplishes is depressing the audience and making us regret listening to the critics.
-CoolAC

Intense Film: Desierto

desert desert4

Looking for a different kind of foreign film? Not the artsy kind, not the crowd-pleasing kind, but one with terror and suspense? Welcome to “Desierto,” a film that couldn’t have arrived at a more timely moment than right now. It is about a group of immigrants who have just crossed the border and are in the desert, looking forward to new, better lives in America. Unfortunately for them, a hick cowboy with a mean dog is taking it as his mission to shoot and kill as many illegal immigrants as he can. Obviously, a standoff is coming. Can anyone survive?

The movie works because it doesn’t push its concept beyond B-movie basics. Gael Garcia Bernal is a good protagonist and Jeffrey Dean Mprgan is chilling as the villain, who sees killing illegal immigrants as being all in a day’s work. The film is so well-made that you feel like you’re in the desert with the characters. Director Jonas Cauron gives us a blunt, unpretentious thriller that scores big because it never tries to make political and didactic points. If you want to be thrilled beyond all expectation, go see “Desierto.” –CoolAC

desert2

Viva Joe Bob Briggs!

 

For those of you who are wondering what happened to Joe Bob Briggs, drive-in critic, author and satirist from The Movie Channel in the 80’s and 90’s, keep reading.

Joe Bob Briggs, also known as John Bloom, is a comedian, writer and former host of “Joe Bob Briggs Drive in Theatre” who earned praise and controversy for writing and talking about exploitation films in reverent tones. He called films like “Out of Africa” and “Witness” as “indoor bullstuff” and wondered why the real “best films of the year” like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Make Them Die Slowly” did not receive recognition. In response, he created the Drive-in Academy Awards and the song “We Are The Weird,” with such luminaries as Leatherface singing about their plight.

I loved Joe Bob with his redneck humor and political incorrectness, He rated films according to such categories as blood, breasts, beasts and the “vomit meter.” He rated his films from one to four stars but only “Halloween 3” got one star because it failed to bring back Donald Pleasance, the Shape, and Jamie Lee Curtis. If Joe Bob Briggs liked a movie, though. you could be sure it was entertaining and outrageous. Check out his book “Joe Bob Goes Back to the Drive-In” https://www.amazon.com/JOE-BOB-GOES-BACK-DRIVE-/dp/038529770X/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1473298609&sr=8-2&keywords=joe+bob+goes+to+the+drive+in for his reprints of his columns and film criticism.

I wasn’t the only person who liked Joe Bob Briggs; he was cast in the films “Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,” “The Stand,” and “Casino..”

I lost track of Joe Bob in the 2000’s; I couldn’t find him on the web very easily. But recently, he seems to be surging.

First of all, he is writing extraordinarily interesting columns for Taki’s Magazine, http://takimag.com/contributor/JoeBobBriggs/245#axzz4JcAzcojV an online publication that I subscribe to for free. He writes articles about such topics as “Donald Trump, You Ignorant Slut.” “Why the New York Times Will Endorse Donald Trump,”, and Olympic coverage that neglects fascinating people like Kimberly Rhode, who has won medals in six Olympics in categories like skeet shooting but received no coverage because she in pro-NRA. Secondly, he is appearing as John Bloom on September 8 at 7 am at Books Inc. (301 Castro Street by the Caltrain Station) in Mountain View promoting his new fact-based book “Eccentric Orbits,” about a “darkly weird” (his words) NASA project, and he wants all his fans to be there so he can talk to “regular people.” So all Joe Bob Briggs fans like me should be sure not to miss this exciting free event! He is only selling John Bloom books there but if you bring your Joe Bob Briggs material there he will sign it. Don’t miss it! : https://www.facebook.com/JoeBobBriggs/photos/a.10152609996514556.1073741827.162253609555/10153694682714556/

–CoolAC