Waahington's Best Receiver

 

NFL receiver Charley Taylor has passed at 80. For Washington fans, he was the best, going to 8 Pro Bowls and being inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When he retired in 1977, he was the all time leader in receptions. He was also receivers coach for the likes of Art Monk and Gary Clark under Coach Joe Gibbs during the glory years of three Syper Bowl wins. For a kid growing up near DC and watching his team become a powerhouse, Taylor (along with Sonny Jurgensen and others) meant so much to so many fans, including me. Thank you Charley.

Coming Home in DRIVE MY CAR

 

Director Ryûsuke Hamaguchi adapts a short story into Drive My Car, a deeply felt story about loss and recovery. The result is a rich, compelling experience that explores relationships and exposes secrets. 

A stage actor, Yûsuke Kafuku (Hidetoshi Nishijima), leads a life of bliss with his wife until tragedy strikes and his world is shaken. Years later, he becomes a director in residence for a theatrical company in Hiroshima and auditions a new cast. He also reluctantly accepts a driver, Misaki (Tôko Miura), to shuttle him around. During preparation for the play, both he and his driver slowly reveal aspects of their personal lives and as their respective pasts are revealed, they must find a way come to terms with painful truths. 

The film is about personal loss and how revisiting old wounds can be a difficult yet necessary process to move forward.  These leads have facades, but as you warm up to them, you begin to understand their trauma.  Kafuku obsessively plays a tape with lines from the play, Uncle Vanya, and there are parallels with his own life as he learns more about his own wife.  At first Misaki is a quiet, dutiful driver, but a deep guilt emerges as she begins to share her mysterious past.  Kafuku and Misaki slowly form a bond that in time culminates in a heartfelt moment. 

Interestingly, the film begins with one of the longest prologues ever before the opening credits.  Beautifully shot, it also concludes with a scene that ends abruptly but provides enough context to form a definitive conclusion.  

At three hours, this brave, immersive film allows Hamaguchi to fully explore his characters; it’s one of the year’s best films.  It also makes you want to read some Chekhov. (Japanese with English subtitles.)

  **** of **** stars

Director of Blockbuster Comedies

 

Producer/director Ivan Reitman passed at 75. After producing the mega hit Animal House, he directed several film comedies including a series of blockbuster ones starring Bill Murray including Meatballls, Stripes, and Ghostbusters. His son Jason Reitman is a major film director. 

Visual Wiz Pioneered SFX

Director and visual effects pioneer Douglas Trumbull passed at 79. He learned his craft under Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey and became one of its effects supervisors. He supervised the special effects of such scifi classics as The Andromeda Strain, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek The Motion Picture, Blade Runner, and directed the ill-fated Brainstorm starring Natalie Wood. He was an innovator in motion pictures and IMAX receiving a special Academy Award for technical achievement.  A true wizard.