DON'T LOOK UP

 Leonardo DiCaprio     Jennifer Lawrence     Rob Morgan     Jonah Hill     Mark Rylance

Tyler Perry     Timothee Chalamet     Cate Blanchett     Meryl Streep     Ron Perlman

            In the beginning when astronomer Dr. Randall Mindy (DiCaprio) and his graduate student Kate (Lawrence) first discover a “planet destroying comet” headed for Earth they attempt to inform the proper authorities and American people that the country has only six months to get ready for it.  They’re wanting everyone to look up and see the moving light with a tail and understand it is coming our way.  The movie gets its title from those not wanting to accept that a comet is on its way and very dangerous; when it appears to the naked eye in the sky some advise others, “Don’t look up.”

         Well, the movie is a very funny parody about our political times, shining its light on climate change deniers, right-wingers, Fox News, the media’s exploitation of trivialities and current pop interests over serious news, and prominent Republicans who have their own ethics and their own interests at heart.  Topping the list is the President (Streep) with long blonde hair and a primary interest in getting re-elected [her empty-headed son Jason (Hill) serves as her Chief of Staff].  As expected, the President and her “scientific” appointees want to keep the news quiet and just “sit on it” for a while (i.e., until after the mid-terms).  DiCaprio has observed that “Adam [McKay] has woven an incredibly timely message about society, how we communicate, our current priorities, and the climate crisis into an absurdly funny yet important movie."  https://www.elle.com/culture/movies-tv/a37512771/dont-look-up-news-cast-spoilers-date/

       Upon hearing the news, the administration’s reaction and its influence spreads and influences those who similarly want to ignore science and scientists, ridicule them, and even become very nasty toward them on social media. The two scientists’ media advisors tell them to “keep it simple—no math”, to which Dr. Mindy replies, “But it is math!” Clearly, because he is a male and speaks a language many can’t/won’t understand, Dr. Mindy is made a darling; whereas Kate—younger, more articulate in plain language and more in touch with her emotions—becomes a pariah.  And gets arrested by the FBI more than once.

            Even the sexual boundary issues are brought into play, with a sensuous “Daily Rip” TV show host, Brie (Blanchett) seducing Randall and promoting him so long as he does her bidding.  (Her show with co-host, Jack Bremmer (Perry) is clearly a reference to “Fox and Friends” on Fox News.)   In Kate’s circle, the men are aware of the Me Too movement, such as one asking politely if he may touch Kate’s hair in a “nonsexual manner.”  These are anti-war anti-violence protesters who are gentle and respectful of women.  (The currently adored Chalamet plays one of them.)  

            The cast is huge and full of some of our best actors who are at the top of their game.  DiCaprio is almost unrecognizable in his slightly befuddled scientist mode.  It’s good to see Jennifer Lawrence back in action after a brief hiatus, and she plays the fiery young scientist most convincingly.  It’s too bad the writers had both scientists becoming uncharacteristically (for scientists) hysterical and verbally combative at times.  It undermined their believability in a significant way.

            A scene-stealer is Mark Rylance in his most surprising role:  that of an owner of a tech (phone) company who sees himself as a scientist because his company uses algorithms.  He comes across as an odd kind of person, but is a large donor to President Orlean’s campaign, so has her ear.  He convinces her of his alternative plan to deal with the comet, and we see how that works out.

            Entertaining is Ariana Grande’s performance as a pop star whose love life steals away the public’s attention from the impending danger to the outcome of her current romance.  It’s still another comment about the current attention span and the public’s and media’s focus on their idols.  Other actors who should be acknowledged are Rob Morgan as a Black scientist and Ron Perlman as the Administration’s willing sacrificial lamb (who didn’t have to serve when the mission he was on was aborted) but who nevertheless saw himself as a fighter and a hero.

            Adam McKay has had a significant role in movie productions including The Big Short and Vice, and the current TV series “Succession”, but Don’t Look Up seems to be a major shift into satirical parody.  He clearly has his finger on the times, and doesn’t mind at all skewering others when apt.  This is a “feel good” movie for those of us more politically liberal and concerned about the future of our democracy.  It describes so well the world we live in with all its puzzlements and outrageous people and behaviors.

            Don’t Look Up refers to the time when the deniers are the most desperate in wanting people to deny reality.

 

Don’t Look Up:  A must-see for everyone now living in a most perplexing age as far as people are concerned, but where science is concerned everything is quite clear.

 

Grade:  A-                             By Donna R. Copeland

PAW PATROL: THE MOVIE

 Voices of:  Tyler Perry     Ron Pardo     Will Brisbin

Keegan Hedley     Iain Armitage     Marsai Martin

Kids are going to love this.  But adults are too, with the spoofs, clever writing, references to current world issues, and ingenious special effects.  Developed from a Canadian computer-animated television series in 2013, writers Billy Frolick, Cal Brunker, and Bob Barlen adapted it into this movie, directed by Andrew Hickson and Cal Brunker.  

The Paw Patrol, headed by Ryder (Will Brisbin), is able to step in and rescue the citizens of Adventure City when their corrupt newly “elected” mayor (Ron Pardo) creates one disaster after another.  Mayor Humdinger (an apt name) displays his narcissism and hyperbole in usurping control over the weather, a fireworks display, jailing all dogs in the city (he favors cats, which hover around him), making the subway system a flawed looped ride, and finally, building “the tallest” building in the city. 

Writers have cleverly worked in current issues of today—corrupted politics, climate change, news media, diversity—even PTSD and conflict resolution modes.  I am truly awed by the way the filmmakers have woven together such important subjects within a completely entertaining movie for children.  This is one of the few films I’ve seen that are so successful in weaving together such disparate but important topics within an animated movie for children.

Tyler Perry has a small role in the beginning when he is rescued by the Paw Patrol   and “to the rescue” Chase (Armitage), after his huge truck gets suspended on a bridge.  He has absolutely no confidence in such a team rescuing him, but after their success, he has a new respect for the team, and the movie proceeds with the derring-do of the Paw Patrol.

Music by Heitor Pereira and animation by Mikros—along with all technicians involved and the primary showrunners and actors—make this a must-see movie.  

 

A rare find:  A movie for children and adults that provides pleasures for both groups.

 

Grade:  A                                          By Donna R. Copeland

 

VICE

Christian Bale     Steve Carell     Amy Addams     Sam Rockwell     Alison Pill

Don McManus     Eddie Marsan     Tyler Perry     Jesse Plemons

     This well conceived production with incredible casting and screenplay should hold up against the sure-to-come backlash.  Its greatest value lies in bringing to life background events and personalities that changed our country forever during the period of Richard Cheney’s political career (roughly the 1970’s-2009).  The choice of having a narration, and the selection of the figure to do it, points to just one of the creative ways in which writer-director Adam McKay and his colleagues present the personal and political values and characteristics that aided Richard Cheney and his wife Lynne in attaining the power they ultimately achieved in the U.S. government.  

     The story starts out with Cheney as a wayward partier when it looked like he would simply be a neer-do-well.  Enter Lynne Cheney, who had already dealt with alcoholism in her father, and gave her husband clear messages about her expectations of him and the consequences that would ensue should he choose not to abide by her conditions. Dick Cheney shored up, and began his career in politics.

     His true character begins to emerge after he has made it to Washington as an intern and aligns himself with Donald Rumsfeld.  Rumsfeld’s mentoring meshes completely with the personality of Cheney already in place:  ambitious, crafty/secretive, uncanny perception and the ability to look ahead and plan.  In the course of his career, Cheney will undergo ups and downs, but he will always have an eye out for opportunity, with a solid backer/strategist in his corner, his wife Lynne.  

     Through significant political threats (such as significant and historically unprecedented upsets in White House administrations) to his ambitions and heart attacks, Cheney forges on, seemingly undeterred, without any apparent contemplation or self-examination about his actions.

     Vice charts these activities, showing how stable he is in his positions and machinations.  When George Bush becomes President, he sees a golden opportunity to push forward something he has learned about from his lawyer, David Addington, the “unitary executive theory”, in which the power of the executive is absolute; the President can, literally, do no wrong. Application of this idea paved the way toward eroding previously firm policies about civilian privacy, foreign policy, and wartime engagement and behavior.  “Where law ends, tyranny begins”—an idea first attributed to British philosopher John Locke (1689) and carved on the Supreme Court building, which flashes briefly during a scene in this film, a meaningful quote.

     Christian Bale is a wonder playing Dick Cheney, who he doesn’t ordinarily look or sound like.  But with the extra weight, prosthetics, and studious attention he gave to media in preparing for the role, Bale is a dead ringer.  Amy Adams as Cheney’s stalwart, tenacious, and adoring wife is likewise convincing.  This is as strong a casting I’ve ever seen for a picture, including Steve Carell as Donald Rumsfeld, Sam Rockwell as George Bush (the younger), and Alison Pill as Liz Cheney.  Bale and Adams will almost certainly be named during the award season coming up.

     Adam McKay’s writing and direction of a subject that is sure to be controversial is, probably, one of his best, even taking into account The Big Short, which won an Oscar for screenplay.  I fully expect Viceto reap accolades during the awards season.

Demonstrates the power of drama in relating some significant historical transitions in the U.S.

Grade:  A                                    By Donna R. Copeland

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: OUT OF THE SHADOWS

Megan Fox   Will Arnett   Laura Linney   Stephen Amell  

Noel Fisher   Jeremy Howard   Pete Ploszek   Alan Ritchson  

Brian Tee   Tyler Perry   Gary Anthony Williams   Stephen Farrelly   Brad Garrett

      There is a new villain in TMNT:  Out of the Shadows, who plots with the imprisoned/escaping  Shredder (Tee) for world domination through extraterrestrial means.  Kraang (Garrett) has a robot body that has a pink tumor-like head thrusting out of its midsection to snarl and threaten whoever comes into its path.  It and Shredder have enlisted the aid of Baxter Stockman (Perry) and his lab to assemble the necessary materials for achieving their ends.  The assembly requires obtaining three critical parts scattered around the world.  It also involves a purple substance that when ingested will transform two criminals, Rocksteady (Farrelly) and Bebop (Williams) into a rhino and a warthog who will be super soldiers for Shredder.  The thunderously bumbling antics of these two provide some of the better humor of the film.

          Meanwhile, we can savor the interactions of the four Turtle brothers horsing around, eating pizza, quibbling with one another, and going after the bad guys.  They are chafing at having to remain underground so they won’t frighten American citizens but will still be on call to rescue their beloved New York City when necessary.  Their reporter friend April (Fox) is excellent at snooping around and uncovering evil plots where the Turtles can intervene.  In addition to April, their team is able to call on diffident Vernon Patrick (Arnett) who took credit for the Turtles’ saving New York previously to keep the true heroes’ identity secret, and Casey Jones (Arnett), a vigilante with an assortment of sporting goods.

         April has uncovered the plot being set in motion and calls the Turtles into action.  Along the way, she will need the help of Patrick the “Falcon” and Jones, despite the latter’s offending Police Chief Vincent (Linney) and warrants for the arrest of the Turtles.

          I think one goes to see movies like this for the special effects and stunts rather than for the story, and in that respect, the film is entertaining and will appeal to mainstream audiences who like this genre.  Subjects did arise that would be worthy of discussion, such as arguments for and against the Turtles’ using the purple substance to transform themselves into human shapes, the struggle to maintain leadership and teamwork among the Turtles, and the “no honor among thieves” theme in regard to the villains. 

If you like the Turtles, you’ll probably like this; otherwise, skip it.  You won’t miss a thing.

Grade:  C                        By Donna R. Copeland