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Reviews
Genius: Aretha: Respect (2021)
The sound of one hand clapping
Hard to fathom how an eight-part series featuring a great story, a great performance by Cynthia Erivo, and great great music--could have been so bungled. The incessant flashbacks and interspersed story lines make for a dramatic dud. On top of it, how they managed to make a film about Aretha that NEVER ONCE plays Respect, Natural Woman, Think, or Never Loved a Man--and only a snippet of Chain of Fools--is well, hard to fathom. Such a disappointment.
Still Mine (2012)
Mistake in rating?
How could 43 out of 57 reviewers rate this movie 8 or higher and yet produce a cumulative score of only 4.8? Still Mine was the SF Cinema Club's selection yesterday. Not a dry eye in the theater (though I swear mine was allergies). It's Amour with feeling, and a Canadian sensibility, i.e., more like Away from Her, the other Canadian film that deals with aging and dementia, than the steely, unsentimental Amour. Cromwell is gigantic. Is there any other male actor of his age who says more with less? And Campbell Scott proves what they say about no small roles, only small actors. His is minor--but flawless in its understatement. This movie may not crack the big time, but that in no way should diminish its beauty, power, and lasting impact on those who seek it out.
Shakespeare in Love (1998)
As close to perfect as we're going to see
Witty, sumptuous, full of twists and turns and, to the end, surprises. Writing does not get any better; acting is flawless. I would watch it again just to look at Dame Judi's face and Gwyneth's "bubbies." One thing that stands out is the pacing of the movie--it seems to propel the viewer forward, often in a mad rush, always with a heightened sense of expectation. Movies that literally make you laugh and cry are rare. SIL is very funny (thanks to Tom Stoppard) yet has a serious theme and moments of pathos. And there seems to be authenticity in its historical settings and backdrop.
This is a movie that lives a lifetime. One of my Top 5.