Jean-Pierre Leaud in title role of French minimalist masterpiece “The Death of Louis XIV” (La Mort de Louis XIV), one fo the best films of 2017.
by Sam Juliano
Christmas Day 2017 is in the record books. In the northeast it was a blustery cold day, dipping in the 20’s later in the night, though these chilling numbers will continue the rest of the west, dropping down even further. We trust all our friends and readers had a special day and will have a great off week leading up till New Year’s Day. This is that in-between week many of us wow to get so much done during, but too often not enough is negotiated. My own family as per Christmas tradition spent the day at my young brother Paul and sister-in-law Rita’s (and their two girls) home in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Also as per tradition, we saw a film on Christmas night, catching the 8:00 P.M. showing of All the Money in the World at a local multiplex. We broke tradition on Christmas Eve by venturing out to see a movie as well, Downsizing in Teaneck.
The Caldecott Medal Contender series continues, and is expected to run until around February 10th, meaning at least 12 to 14 more reviews on the top of the 20 published so far. Jim Clark’s stupenous and candid review of Blade Runner 2049 posted this past week. The Greatest Television series Countdown -Part 2- resumes on February 14th.
Year end movie going continues with theatrical screenings of “Downsizing” and “All the Money in the World” and blu ray and DVD screenings of “The Death of Louis XIV” (masterpiece!!!) and Lady Macbeth.”
2017 films are all the rage for many of us each and every December, and Lucille and I negotiated two movie theater trips over the last few days as well as at home screenings of two vital films that had US openings in theaters this past year. “Downsizing” qualifies as one of the poorest films this year, and is as preachy as any film on record, not to mention the normally excellent Alexander Payne’s worst film ever; “All the Money in the World” is a most riveting account of a famous kidnapping (John Paul Getty III); “Lady Macbeth” is a quietly ferocious film about empowerment gone awry and the French “The Death of Louis XIV” starring Jean-Piere Leaud in a brilliant performance uses candlelight and close-ups to powerful minimalist effect in a painterly examination of the last days of the longest serving monarch in European history. The film is without question one of the very best of 2017.
The Death of Louis XIV (France) ***** (Monday night) blu-ray
All the Money in the World (US) **** Monday night (Secaucus multiplex)
Lady Macbeth (UK) **** (Saturday morning) DVD
Downsizing (US) * 1/2 Sunday night (Teaneck multiplex)
Screen cap from riveting kidnap drama “All the Money in the World”
Click on names for archives
Writers/Founders
Wonders in the Dark 
Tonight on TCM, a pair of Ross Hunter-Lana Turner trash epics: Madame X and Portrait in Black, both photographed by the great Russell Metty. Not to be missed, even if you’ve been felled by bird flu.
Mark, I have seen the former and agree with you for sure, even if that airborne creature passes on that dreaded malady! I do not however recall ever seeing PORTRAIT IN BLACK, but after our weekly pasta night gathering with friends every Tuesday I am headed over to Manhattan to see either THE POST or THE PHANTOM THREAD. I am going to check now if PORTRAIT is on DVD. Happy Holidays my friend!
Sam, I am really interested in The Phantom Thread. Hoping it hits NJ theaters soon.
Ricky, it should be here on or around January 11th methinks. Looking forward to your report my friend! Happy New Year to you and yours!
Sammy,
Hope you are staying warm! It is barely above zero here in Michigan this morning. We had a good and healthy Christmas and enjoyed time seeing family. We are back home and relaxing indoors. Looks like you’ve seen some more great films. I will need to track down Death of Louis. Looks great. Here’s what I’ve been watching…
As I reported last week…. The Last Jedi is magnificent. We all loved it immensely. I’m going 4/4 on this one. Terrific stuff and the best since Empire Strikes Back.
Dunkirk – 2/4…..rather frustrating and unnecessarily clumsy storytelling from Nolan. None of the characters resonate and the film is too choppy and short for its own good.
The Beguiled – 3/4….. Fascinating film with several very good performances. Overall a very satisfying film. Maybe Kidman’s best work in several years.
Lost City of Z – 2.5/4…… Passable entertainment at times but I failed to connect with the story, characters and filmmaking on the whole.
That’s it for this week….hope you and the family stay warm for New Year’s!
Jon, the frigid temperatures here have been quite extreme as well, if not quite numerically where you are. All week it has been in the teens, and work it that tonight in Times Square where the ball drops and where hundreds of thousands are tentatively set to gather, the Fahrenheit reading will be 9 degrees with wind/chill taking it down to near 0. It is unbelievable some are able to stand there for hours!!! Thrilled to hear we are in agreement on a STAR WARS movie. For me this is a first. And great too that the whole family was in accord in enjoying it! I liked DUNKIRK considerably better on my blu ray viewing, but your commentary here is how I felt after the theatrical screening. I now see where Nolan is coming from, but those issues remain to ponder. Agreed on your rating and commentary of THE BEGUILED completely. As to THE LOST CITY OF Z we differ here grandly. This is in my Top 10 of the year, but you are not the first to voice issues with it. Thank you my friend! Looking forward to a continuation of the year-end wrap! Wishing you and your lovely family the best years ever in 2018!!! 🙂
Sam, I’ve heard a lot about “Molly’s Game.” Hoping you may be able to report back here with a verdict. Same goes with “The Post.” I’m sensing the war film “Dunkirk” is no longer a prohibitive favorite for the awards.
Alas Celeste, I wasn’t the biggest fan of it, but Ms. Chastain was extraordinary as always. You may end up liking it more. THE POST was solid (4 of 5) but not quite excellent enough to make my year-end best-of list. Regardless, worth seeing. Well, you may well be right on DUNKIRK no longer the favorite, though at this point it hinges on guilds. Setting the Oscars aside (they are fun to follow but their choices are to be taken with a grain of salt as always) the film hasn’t done as well as expected on Ten Best lists either, not with critic awards. Go figure. Ironically, I liked it much more on my blu ray viewing than in the theater. Happy New Year my friend, and thanks for all the support on the Caldecott series!
I’m glad everyone had a good Christmas holiday and am wishing you all a Happy New Year!
Sam, I’m enjoying the reports on movies seen that you’ve been posting on facebook and here. I guess I’m just not excited by the awards season offerings this year, and so, haven’t rushed out to see many. I will manage to check them out before completing my annual list. As usual for me, there are three or four films that I am hoping to see that will keep me waiting.
Here’s what I’ve seen in recent weeks:
A Ghost Story (***1/2 )
Lady Bird (**** )
Mudbound (*** )
The Florida Project (****1/2)
Okja (**1/2 )
Wonder Wheel (****1/2)
The Killing of the Sacred Deer (**** )
Happy New Year my friend, and best to you and yours Duane! We had a very nice Christmas, though then and now we are in a deep freeze here on the East Coast! I guess you’ve been feeling some of that cold as well out there.
I can well understand you wanting to wait things out a bit more, though I am wagering even money you will love THE PHANTOM THREAD, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME and THE SQUARE. I am also thinking there is at least a fair chance you will connect with THE SHAPE OF WATER (my #2 behind a A QUIET PASSION for this year), but we will see. I also had warm feelings for ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD and Pixar’s animated COCO, and await your eventual reports on those. As always I greatly look forward to your year-end list. As to your star reports here, I guess the biggest surprise is the 4.5 (of 5) for the new Woody Allen film, which has been roasted by critics. The reviews were so bad that up until now I have not prioritized it, though I never miss any of his films. Alas your defense is enough for me to give it a whirl. Happy to see the strong regard from you on LADYBIRD and THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER! I liked THE FLORIDA PROJECT a bit less, but we aren’t that far apart. And I liked A GHOST STORY and MUDBOUND more, but again we aren’t drastically at odds. I can watch OKJA on netflix streaming at any time, so I’ll take a look. I understand you are mixed on it though. Thanks so much for the welcome report my friend, and here’s to the best year ever in 2018!
One day in the distant future there will be a reevaluation of the late films of Woody Allen and everyone will then wonder why they were so unappreciated at the time.
I hear ya Duane, especially since I know there are some other Woody Allen films made late in his career that similarly have been given short shrift. I will definitely see this new film at first opportunity.