Director: Kelly Reichardt
Writers: Kelly Reichardt
Stars: Laura Dern, Michelle Williams, Lily Gladstone, Kristen Stewart

Synopsis: The lives of three women intersect in small-town America, where each is imperfectly blazing a trail.

[/info]

Kelly Reichardt is a filmmaker who has set herself apart over the course of the last decade with films such as Meek’s Cutoff, Night Moves and Wendy & Lucy. Her style isn’t for everyone, but if you’re willing to submit to her methodical and patient approach, she will reward you. Her new film, Certain Women, is no different.

The film features three short stories on the lives of three women who live in rural Montana. Laura (Laura Dern) is having to deal with a client who doesn’t seem to have a clue. Gina (Michelle Williams) is having marital problems and struggles to connect with her daughter as a result. Jamie (Lily Gladstone), a farm rancher, is quiet, lonely and seemingly eager to connect with a stranger named Elizabeth (Kristen Stewart).

The three narratives will feel disconnected on the surface, with some connective tissue here and there, however there is one glaring commonality. All three stories are about women who feel desperate and isolated. Gina, although married and with a family, first appears on a hike by herself. Even in contact with her loved ones, there is something between them that has fostered some animosity. As for Jamie and Beth, despite sharing some genuine moments together, they eventually find themselves in familiar places by the film’s end. There are several occasions where characters, not only struggle to connect with another person, but they cannot find the words to process their current circumstances.

“Why didn’t you write me back?” one character says to Laura near the end of the film. She replies, “I didn’t know what to say.” There is an intentional emphasis on how little dialogue we hear from our characters. They simply linger in awkward silences, and it’s in those moments where Reichardt’s characters exist the most. Reichardt isn’t interested in conventional storytelling or presenting high narrative states, she’s more interested in the encounters her characters experience, which they wrestle with in realistic and profound ways. These situations may seem mundane, but to these characters, it’s everything. Reichardt’s stakes are the moments of reflection that will reap severe impacts later, especially when you consider their isolation and desperation for connectivity.

Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart and Laura Dern are all fantastic here, but it’s newcomer Lily Gladstone that is a true revelation in Certain Women. She offers an effortless, yet captivating performance that brings warmth among this film’s cold setting. Her sense of longing for companionship is beautiful and heartbreaking, but it’s her subtlety that makes it such a magical performance. She isn’t trying to make you cry, you just sympathize with her the less she does.

Certain Women also thrives on Reichardt’s direction. The art direction and cinematography isn’t very glamorous, and it’s not meant to be. The depiction of this film’s imagery beautifully couples with the movies themes and tones. The use of natural sound also amplifies its authenticity. There is very little score and the little we do have is quite good.

Overall, Certain Women is a Kelly Reichardt film through and through. Again, her style isn’t for everyone, but if you fall into her rhythm, there’s some proactive and cinematic gold here that is sure to satisfy.

Overall Grade: A

[divider]
Hear our podcast review on Episode 193:

[divider]

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Writers: Eric Heisserer (screenplay), Ted Chiang (based on the story “Story of Your Life” written by)
Stars: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg

Synopsis: A linguist is recruited by the military to assist in translating alien communications.

[/info]

Denis Villeneuve is one of the best directors right now, and his last three movies Enemy (2014), Prisoners (2013) and Sicario (2014) were all highly acclaimed film. Villeneuve’s directorial style is one that I respect because he always has some unexpected plot twist or presents situations that cause conversation as you leave the theater. Villeneuve’s latest film, Arrival, is another blockbuster that I am certain the average moviegoer will be mixed on. Arrival is not your typical alien-invasion movie; it teaches us lessons that we can apply in our lives. Communication and language are something that every species utilizes and this is the basis for Arrival. If you are uneasy with bad aliens-coming-to-Earth films (looking at you Independence Day: Resurgence), don’t fret; Arrival is the best film of its kind.

Mysterious alien aircraft land in various places around the world and of course they want to know why these creatures are here? Do they intend to harm the residents on earth? The army enlists linguist Dr. Louise Banks (Amy Adams) and physicist Ian Donnelly (Renner) to answer those very questions. While the rest of the world is on a first-strike option, Louise and Ian are making strides but as pressure mounts will it be too late?

Interestingly the script by Eric Heisserer is very sparse in its dialogue. The film chooses to tell it’s story through visually and through sound primarily. Most of the films best scenes involve Louise standing outside a glass window, conversing with the aliens through cryptic imaging. At first, the images seem like nothing, but as the movie progresses, we learn about their language and how quickly they can convey complex messages. I mention all this because in these films, the language barrier never really gets challenged as it does here. What is your purpose here? Is a simple question to us because we understand the language. Louise explains why she can’t simply ask the aliens that question. Small details like this make the movie for me.

Amy Adams put herself in contention for Best Actress this awards season for her performance in this film. She isn’t afraid when the aliens show up, and despite what everyone around here believes, she believes in language and doesn’t deviate from that. Adams balance all those emotions with ease. Renner also proves he is more than just an Avenger.

Arrival is a must-see movie and is another brilliantly directed film by Villeneuve.

Overall Grade: A

[divider]

Hear our podcast review on Episode 195, coming soon.

[divider]

Director: Scott Derrickson
Writers: Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Mads Mikkelsen, Tilda Swinton

Synopsis: A former neurosurgeon embarks on a journey of healing only to be drawn into the world of the mystic arts.

[/info]

Doctor Strange is the newest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and honestly, this is one of Marvel’s worst films to date. I am quite baffled as to why this movie is getting such rave reviews, but then I remember most critics give Marvel’s movies a pass. Don’t get me wrong Doctor Strange is Marvel’s most mind blowing film regarding special effects and the ideologies it tackles. I just wished that the same passion went into the rest of the storyline.

After a horrible accident leaves arrogant watching the percentage Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) relatively use of his hands, he travels to Kathmandu, Nepal in search of the secret compound Kamar-Taj. Strange hopes that The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton) can provide a way to help him heal his hands. Strange is then introduced to the Mystic Arts and quickly excels to become a sorcerer.

Marvel’s biggest issue has been a promising villain, and Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelsen) is not giving much screen time, and his motives are similar to other Marvel villains, so there’s nothing creative here with his character. Much like Ronan in Guardians, Kaecilius is working for another huge baddie in Dormammu, which Cumberbatch did the motion capture. Kaecilius is one of the worst villains portrayed on screen, and it’s no fault of Mads Mikkelsen, think he was just a filler villain for Dormammu.

Introducing Dormammu is a huge deal because he is one of the deadliest and brutal villains in the entire MCU. I hope that Marvel does not treat Dormammu the same way it has handled Thanos so far and hopefully he makes an appearance in a potential sequel, teaming up with Mordo (Chiwetel Ejiofor) to take one Strange in the physical world.

Origin stories are a must for superhero movies, and I think in Doctor Strange we don’t get that full transition to superhero without having that defining moment that causes a change in our hero or heroine. I understand Strange is a smart man but so is Tony Stark and in the first Iron Man we see why he decided to become Iron Man, we never see “that” moment that makes Strange want to be a sorcerer.

There is a lot of ground to cover in this film, and Strange is relatively unknown in comparison to Captain American and Iron Man to non-comic book fans, so maybe that is why the story seems muddled. The scenes with Christine Palmer (Rachael McAdams) and Stephen was flushed out more because to me Palmer has a way of bringing down Stephen’s massive ego and I wanted more scenes with them together.

The most disappointing thing about this movie is the fighting scenes especially the big climatic battle. Aside from a struggle in the hospital the other scenes lack any innovation or creativity and leave you unsatisfied.

A superhero film that does not have a strong villain, bad fight scenes and an out of place hero would get negative reviews but only if was a DC movie. Do not be fooled by the smoke and mirrors of the dark dimension as Doctor Strange is one of Marvel’s worse projects.

Overall Grade: D

[divider]