FILM REVIEW: A Compilation

• Apocalypse Now(1979)
• Director: Francis Ford Coppola
• Review: Oddly unimpressed by this film. I do not know. I expect something big and bold especially from his 70s output. It just did not take off compared to the others. 2/5

• Marie Antoinette(2006)  
• Director: Sofia Coppola
• Review: Another Coppola in the casket. The film that is considered to had wrecked her Critical reputation. Talk about inappropriate advertising among other things. To say least about this film, its actually good. I was shocked that it was more tame and less of a Girl's Gone Wild-kind  affair. It was kind off an dignified view of the short live life of Marie Antoinette. Advertising truly took its toll in this film. 3.5/5

• Virgin Suicide(1999)
• Director: Sofia Coppola
• Review: Final Coppola in the casket. Just Ok. Definitely has left a dated 'edgy' 90s vibe with it. Not really drawn to its not-so subtle script. 2/5

• 3 Women(1977)
• Director: Robert Altman
• Review: Another overrated film. Altman goes overboard with his realm of surrealism and got fully eaten by it. 1/5

• The Harder They Fall(1956)
• Director: Mark Robson
• Review: A surprisingly great film. Film Noir just gives the best suprises  in movie watching. It tells the story of a bogus Heavyweight and Bogey as the his promoter slowly eaten by guilt. I think its biggest strength is it pivots away from the boxer and towards the crooks. It just works in so many levels. 4/5

• A Bucket of Blood (1959)
• Director: Roger Corman
• Review: Another shockingly good film.  A dark comedy about a murdering artisan in 50s Beatnik Crowd. Deliciously Black. Looking forward to other Corman works this period. 4.5/5

FILM REVIEW: I Tonya

I, Tonya(2017)
Autobiograpical movies tends to be self serving. It always acts as a retribution for viewer to feel for the life of the film's central character.

In a way, no film of this kind makes me happy because in the end it is about  egotistic autobiography. A tunnel vision view of the person but in I, Tonya - It attacks this notion and subverts it.

TELLING the story one of America's Biggest Bad Girl of 90s, Tonya Harding. She was famous for her connection with the kneecapping of fellow Competitor before the Olympics. In the film, we see her envisioned side of the events but the film never lets off the ridiculousness of the true tale and her shortcomings. It is just so enchanting to watch. We see her try and try again only to fall two steps backwards, every time.

In addition, the cast were so marvelous. Janney, Margot and the underrated Stan were all riveting in their respective role, as the Oscar-winning Lavona, the Titular Tonya and the multiplicitous  Gilooly. It just worked so well, given the quite risque materials. Not do much love for Hauser who hammed it a bit for my taste.

Overall, I Tonya is an unnerving cautionary tale of stranger than fiction life of Tonya Harding. 5/5

REVIEW: Trip to the Bountiful (1985)

Trip to the Bountiful (1985)

Based off a famous Broadway play, the film tells the story of an elderly woman who tries to leave  for her now desolate hometown, the aforementioned Bountiful to escape from his son's awful wife.

Quite a charmer of the film. particularly Geraldine page who Hard carried the film with her turn as the acerbic yet lovable Carrie. She really handled the change of heart of her character from vivacious savant in the beginning to an enlightened dignified personality. Such a multi faceted performance and much deserved wins as Best Actress that year.

I also really like the how it handled the ever burgeoning feeling of time, just like what David Bowie sang, it changes you. Her sudden outburst due to her regrets on how she handled a failed romance. The pure heartedness of retiring in Bountiful and her  acknowledgment  when  her original plans fell apart. Her realization that trip is probably her last- accepting her time had passed, at last. I miss those qualities in new films. A nihilistic but realistic views for the grim end.

on the other end of the stick, John Heard( of Home Alone fame) and Caitlyn Glynn were intensely insufferable in their respective role role. NOTHING MUCH TO WROTE ABOUT

Overall, Bountiful=Geraldine Page magic. 4/5