A Monumental Love Story in LOVING

Loving is based on the true story of Richard (Joel Edgerton) and Mildred (Ruth Negga) Loving, an interracial couple in 1950’s Virginia who lived in fear as a married couple while facing jail and prosecution from state laws prohibiting mixed marriages just as the Civil Rights movement loomed. It’s a remarkable story told on an intimate, human scale that chronicles what became a landmark court case that would take them all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.  The film, as written and directed by Jeff Nichols, is told in brief moments and vignettes that collectively portray a relationship and the personal sacrifice and hardship amid intolerance.  Never sensationalistic or overly dramatic, its understated nature lingers long after its sobering postscript. What shines through are stellar performances by the two leads in a love story that transcends its time. 

***1/2 of **** stars

The Tapestry of Life in ARRIVAL

Denis Villeneuve is a director on the rise (Sicario) with Arrival which reinvigorates the science fiction genre with this tale of an unknown alien presence, the memory of personal loss, and possibilities of reality.  Amy Adams (in an Oscar worthy performance) is outstanding as the language expert called in to help communicate with an ominous, humongous vessel that has also appeared in locations around the Earth. As global tensions and fear mount and military aggression is imminent, Adams desperately attempts to understand the visitors’ true purpose even as she makes a powerful, personal discovery. Jeremy Renner and Forest Whitaker lend strong support, and the film is beautifully shot and eerily scored. The DNA of this film comes from The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Contact, and Inception. Deliberately paced and at first ambiguous, what begins as an intergalactic codebreaking mystery morphs into a thoughtful, heartfelt allegory of human connection.

**** of **** stars

The Man from UNCLE

Robert Vaughn passed away recently, and his was a rich career for over a half century ranging from movie classics like The Magnificent Seven to Bullitt to The Towering Inferno and TV shows like The Lieutenant and The Man from UNCLE, the latter which will be fondly remembered as a super cool spy show that was TV's answer to the spy craze of James Bond. Even Ian Fleming had a character in Goldfinger named Napoleon Solo which he contributed for Vaughn's TV spy name. Growing up watching this show with my dad is a strong memory, and now we have reruns and dvd's to remind us of a talented actor (Oscar nominated and Emmy winner) whose work will live on.

The Dazzling Magic of DR. STRANGE

Marvel’s Phase Three in super hero film adaptations branches out from the real world to the realm of fantasy and wizardry in Dr. Strange, a visually stunning origins tale of redemption that is consistently entertaining and, yes, mind bending.  Adhering to the tried and true formula of Iron Man, an egotistical, self-centered surgeon (well played by Benedict Cumberbatch) has his career is cut short by a horrific car accident and subsequently searches desperately for help from the other side of the globe in the form of a wise mystic, The Ancient One (marvelously interpreted by Tilda Swinton). As he learns to heal and master other worldly powers and abilities, Strange finds that there are corrupt sorcerers like Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen in another glorious villainy romp) who seeks darker powers to destroy the earth. A strong cast including Rachel McAdams and Chiwetel Ejiofor elevates this to a well-acted, believable adventure still grounded by real emotions. There is humor sprinkled throughout and wide eyed fascination of this new world of magic, alternate realities, and other dimensions of space/ time that Marvel is introducing to its fandom. Above all else, director Scott Derrickson and the production team have creatively fashioned a world with supremely imaginative special effects that exceed The Matrix and Inception. They are Oscar worthy. Do stay for two post credit moments.

*** of **** stars (add ½ * for Marvel fans)

I love baseball, and you have to be thrilled for the Cubs erasing the 108 year old curse to finally win a thrilling World Series after being down 3 games to 1 game capped by a 7th game to go into the cardiac realm of all time greats. Ironic how the top guys who helped Boston erase their curse, manager Terry Francona goes to lead Cleveland and GM Theo Epstein builds a champion in Chicago going head to head. Very happy for the Chicago fans and the memory of all those great Cub players like Banks, Santos, Jenkins and Holy Cow, the late, great Harry Caray! Oh, and "It does matter" to Bill Murray!