by Sam Juliano
April Showers brings May Flowers. It is an innocuous enough adage but for those of us with seasonal allergies it usually heralds in a period of nagging discomfort, allegre pills and irritability. In the metropolitan area the month has sure enough started off with rain with a lot more scheduled for the coming days. Easter break is set for next week, and immediately after the launch of the annual nine-day Tribeca Film Festival in Manhattan. Right on the heels of that popular Manhattan venue is the week-long Montclair Film Festival out in north central New Jersey.
Here’s a shout out to our dear friend John Grant for his continued recovery from a minor health crisis over the past weeks. Great to see he is back in the saddle at Noirish.
We saw three films in theaters over the weekend, and all is all I can’t really recommend even one of these. The horror film “The Blackcoat’s Daughter,” (Village East Cinemas) directed by the son of Tony Perkins is oppressively dull until the last fifteen minutes showcasing some nasty violence, by which time it has forfeited all interest despite alluring mood and atmosphere; “Life,” (Ridgefield Park Starplex) an Aliens/Gravity re-tread sadly in need of character and narrative development and “The Zookeeper’s Wife” (Edgewater multiplex) which tells the real-life story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II. They run the Warsaw Zoo, but disaster strikes when the Nazis invade. Strictly by the numbers and maligned by a oft-warbled soundtrack. Of the three films though, I say it was the strongest.
The Zookeeper’s Wife *** (Sunday evening) Edgewater multiplex
Life ** (Friday night) Ridgefield Park Starplex
The Blackcoat’s Daughter ** 1/2 (Saturday night) Village East Cinemas
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Many thanks for the kind thoughts, Sam. Sorry to hear none of the three movies was up to snuff! My guess is we’ll be catching The Zookeeper’s Wife and The Blackcoat’s Daughter when they make it to cable.
We watched The Man Who Knew Infinity (2015) this week, and were for the most part impressed — I was a bit iffy about the way the mathematicians responded instantly to the sight of sheaves of math (it takes more than a quick glance to recognize that a piece of math might be important, I’d say). I see from Wikipedia, though, that “the film . . . has been praised by mathematicians and scientists for its . . . authentic portrayal of mathematicians,” so what do I know?
Jeremy Irons really does look quite like G.H. Hardy.
John, very happy and relieved all is going well with you now my friend! You are back in the saddle, which is wonderful news. Let’s see what you make of those two films when they air on cable. Your summary judgement may be considerably different. I haven’t yet seen The Man Who Knew Infinity, but am very much intrigued by both the subject and your positive assessment. Well, your perception of the enterprise could still be a more accurate one than wikipedia’s. Ha! Irons is so exceptional, and to boot your observation points to inspired casting. Have a great week my friend. Thank you!
Sam — Glad to hear that John Grant is on the mend! We’re going to take a pass on all three films, thank you for the heads up!
In behalf of John thank you so much Laurie for those wonderful sentiments! He is indeed doing well now. Can’t say I at all blame you for devoting your future movie time to films other than these three. Have a great week my friend!
Sounds like a rough week in the theaters Sam. I was planning to see “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” but am in no rush.
Frank, as I’ve stated to others, I appreciate your confidence, but you may come up with a different position. “The Zookeeper’s Wife” did have some serious issues, but the subject alone may entitled to it to a look-see. Thank you my friend. Have a great week.
So Happy It’s Tuesday (it’s some kind of acronym, I dunno). Do any animals get blown to bits in The Zookeeper’s Wife, Sam? Does ‘Lion’ have a lion in it (didn’t see one in the preview clips)?
What I saw, from the ridiculous to the sublime:
Fifty Shades of Grey Flannel – At last! Tentative, coy, luxe foray into Book-of-the-Month club S&M and about as erotic as a Bronx sidewalk. Dakota Johnson redeems herself somewhat in ‘A Bigger Splash.’
Staircase (Stanley Donen, 1969) – Superb underplaying by Richard Burton elevates this rather dreary gay drama. Rex Harrison, looking like a Siamese cat, showily minces about as Burton’s longtime companion. See it for King Richard’s performance and don’t let Harrison get in the way.
Song to Song – Still processing this one, but on first take it looks like the great American modernist has directed another master film brimming with visual pomp. Lubezki continues onward and upward as Malick’s cinematographer-magician.
Later, all.
Hello Mark!
Well, there are some disturbing scenes of zoo animals being killed in the early scenes and then a destructive fire and some other scenes that have you turning away. Ha, no actual lions are not part of the LION film presentation interestingly enough. I have avoided FIFTY SHADES OF GREY FLANNEL, and after reading your response here I am happy I did! Yes Dakota is very fine in A BIGGER SPLASH. Ya know, I never saw STAIRCASE, though I nearly ordered the Fox Cinema DVDR copy on demand until I heard it wasn’t original aspect ration (which turned me off). Nice to hear you have not dismissed it like the lion’s share of the critical fraternity have. The actors there alone should make it an essential view, though I see you weren’t too thrilled with Harrison. 🙂 I LOVED the new Malick film and gave it 4.5 of 5 and am mighty thrilled you are detecting greatness in his ravishing visuals and thematic connections! I agree it will get better and better. Lubezki is a magician for sure. Thank you and have a great week my friend!
Sam, I saw “Life” two weeks ago. I agree that it wasn’t terribly original, but still found it reasonably entertaining. I also had read somewhere that the horror films directed by the son of Tony Perkins is actually two years old.
Ricky my friend, that is certainly fair enough. And yes “The Blackcoat’s Daughter” is oddly enough a 2017 release that just now got to the theaters. Have a great week!
Hey Sammy,
Hello from Pikeville, Kentucky. Been here too much lately. Doesn’t look like any of those films are worth writing home about.
We caught 20th Century Women since I last chatted with you. I’d go 3/4 on it. Solid but not groundbreaking. Certainly well acted and I liked the messiness of the characters. Not a top 10 for me though.
Finished reading The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood. That was pretty fantastic. Now reading It Can’t Happen Here by Sinclair Lewis. You can see where my head is at. 😉
Hope you have a good weekend my friend, I’ll be working so enjoy it for me.
Jon
Hey Jon, I am assuming you are still down there in the Bluegrass State, and are having a nice time of it work or no work. No the three films I saw this past week are not ones to write home about at all, though if you had the chance I might say see Zookeeper without expecting too much. I am fully in accord with you on 20th Century Women, which hasn’t stayed with me at all. The acting is indeed its major strength. Great reading there with both those novels! Your head is in the right place! The past weekend was a mighty fine one thank you my friend!