GLORIA BELL

Julianne Moore     John Turturro     Michael Cera     Alanna Ubach     Rita Wilson     Brad Garrett

     Chilean Sebastian Lelio’s films have been popular in the U.S., particularly Disobedience (2017) about a Lesbian Jewish couple and A Fantastic Woman (2018) about a transgender woman.  Gloria Bell is a remake of his earlier film, Gloria (2013) about a woman past her 40’s trying to develop a satisfying life. Played by Julianne Moore, Gloria looks for someone to share her life with.  Her two grown children, Peter (Cera) and Veronica (Ubach) are caught up in their own lives and clearly enjoy their independence.  Gloria is successful at her job in insurance, and for pleasure goes to dance clubs hoping to connect with a man.

She does connect with Arnold (Turturro) one evening, and they start an intimate relationship that is, unfortunately, punctuated with calls from his two grown daughters needing his assistance.  But to her credit, Gloria is patient and understanding and allows Arnold the space to attend to his family demands.  This is clearly a warning signal, but one she doesn’t attend to.

     When Gloria wants to introduce Arnold to her family, particularly to her son and daughter, her ex-husband and his wife are present as well.  When the Bell family gets to reminiscing and showing old pictures, it’s too much for Arnold, and he disappears.  The rest of the story is about whether Gloria and Arnold will make it as a couple.  

    It’s a “Will they or won’t they?” situation.  This has the potential to be interesting, but several factors keep it in a mundane, rather boring place.  First of all, the main character (much as I love Julianne Moore) captures little interest.  She comes across as lonely and dependent, but, worst of all, lacking any problem-solving skills.  For example, she can’t seem to keep someone else’s cat out of her apartment. I presume this was supposed to be comical, but I didn’t find the humor in it.  And there are numerous other times when her decisions make the viewer shake his/her head.  

     Secondly, the dialog and action of the story makes you hold your hand over your mouth and yawn.  When the couple of the story meet, their interchange is so stilted and uninteresting you want to leave the dance floor.  Throughout, secrets are kept unnecessarily, and it’s hard to see these people in our present-day culture.  

     I did see Lelio’s original film Gloria, and was unimpressed then; I had hopes that in this rendition Julianne Moore would change my mind about it, but it’s still a story about a repressed woman who can’t figure out how to get her needs met.  It is so unlike women of today, I couldn’t relate to it.

     Julianne Moore does accomplish her usual high level of performance, and John Turturro matches her well.  Michael Cera is striking in his ability to show discomfort in the company of an unintrusive but still annoying mother, and Alanna Ubach is wonderful as the daughter who is the antithesis of both her parents in being excited about exploring new horizons and acting upon it.

     This film is only mildly interesting, and is not likely to capture much enthusiasm among today’s audiences.

A woman’s core personality keeps her from living a life she thinks she desires.

Grade:  CBy Donna R. Copeland

DAWN PATROL

Scott Eastwood     Rita Wilson     Kim Matula     Chris Brochu     Julie Carmen     Jeff Fahey

     This film directed by Daniel Petrie, Jr., is disturbing in its portrayal of a bigoted, minimally educated family.  The parents have not conveyed a hint of moral grounding to their two boys, John and Ben, whose lives center mostly around surfing, drugs, parties, and alcohol.  (The parents also participate in the last three categories.)  John (Scott Eastwood) does seem to have a better sense of social responsibility, but he doesn’t have a chance having the parents he has.  I do sympathize with them that in the midst of the recession, their jobs are at stake and they are in danger of losing their house.  But, unfortunately, they’re living right next to Latinos, and fuel the fire of hatred, rather than attempt to negotiate a better life for their kids.  They buy into the myth that the Latinos are beneath them and don’t deserve what they have.

     When the favorite of the two sons—Ben—is killed, the parents in their drunken state urge John “to do what’s right”—and not in a good sense.  John finally succumbs, but it does not turn out well, and John joins the military to avoid being apprehended by the law.  Not surprisingly, he ends up with PTSD.   

     The script by Rachel Long and Brian Pittman of Dawn Patrol is truly irredeemable.  I see no purpose in showing attitudes that will only serve to reinforce the same attitudes in our society and prolong the antagonism among groups that many of us strive to overcome.

     Another negative aspect of the script is in its portrayal of women, who are shown to be spineless, capricious, seductive without loyalty or purpose, hateful, and emasculating.

     The only possible redeeming quality of this film to me is the ending, where there is some accountability for bad behavior, and the plan for revenge at least has some thought behind it.  This resolution does show some creativity.  At last.

Dawn Patrol is disturbing in its portrayal of a bigoted, minimally educated family.

Grade:  D                        By Donna R. Copeland