So I don't claim to be any kind of music snob at all. I like what I like. I don't like what I don't lie, and I don't know and I don't know. Here are the 2016 songs I listened to a lot throughout the year in no particular order. I was heavily country influenced this year for whatever reason, and usually my rule is one song per artist, but one artist owned music so much this year so this artist gets more than one. My blog my rules.
1. Formation Beyoncé
Because she slay, she slay. Even if she does think Red Lobster is yum.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WDZJPJV__bQ
2. Runaway Train Cam
Hopefully Cam is one of country'S new badass women. As you will see in this list, she has a lot to compete with!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m85ozkDrXxw
3. Cheap Thrills Sia
An ode to cheap fun! One of the songs of summer
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=31crA53Dgu0
4. False Alarm The Weeknd
The Weeknd continues to be one of the most unique voices in music with this 80s influenced song.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CW5oGRx9CLM
5. Used to love you Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani gives up style and gimmicks for her most naked track since Don't Speak.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zeT_nYtjgTQ
6. Big Day in a Small Town Brandy Clark
There ain't no mall. No Waffle House. If you lived it then you know it.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vAppyuYLgkQ
7. Grigio Girls Lady Gaga
An anthem for woman in what should have been the year of women.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aPDRG0PJ9s4
8. Strive A$AP Ferg with Missy Elliot
A positive message in a hard year. And everyone needs more Missy Elliot.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z4Co_H50hUw
9. Ugly Lights Miranda Lambert
You know if you've ever been at a bar at closing time and the ugly lights come up.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YYnPIoQsz9w
10. Ugly Fantasia
More Ugly from someone that I wasn't sure had any good songs left in her.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C7YTDzhrBDQ
11. Audition (The Fools Who Dream) Emma Stone (from the film La La Land)
For all the dreamers and the aching hearts
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mwjalGJo7vA
12. Different for Girls Dierks Bentley with Elle King
I'm generally not into bro country, but this leans away from that. And Elle King's voice is wow.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xXeL3CHdLYk
13. Work from Home Fifth Harmony Ft. Ty Dolla $ign
Song of the summer. Hands down. But they are over before they really got started.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5GL9JoH4Sws
14. It's Quiet Uptown The Cast of Hamilton and Kelly Clarkson
There has to be a showtime! It's required. It is also a cheat because it came out in 2015. But I jumped on the Hamilton bandwagon late and Kelly Clarkson did an amazing remake in 2016
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rrsmUzqweBI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MdBws54ZHyY
15. My Church Maren Morris
Perhaps my favorite song of the year. For those who love the freedom of road travel and who maybe don't love real church that much. Hopefully Maren is just starting!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ouWQ25O-Mcg
16. Daddy's Lessons Beyoncé and Beyoncé with the Dixie Chicks
Beyoncé gets 2 songs because she was queen. She probably deserves 4. Hold up and Freedom
Are close to as good Plus Beyoncé did country! And sang about guns! And then the Dixie Chicks sang it on tour! And thenthen they recorded it together! Perfection! I faint!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1Y7h9heQjw
Cheers to great music in 2017!
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
My 2016 wasn't so bad (and I hope yours wasn't really either)
2016 wasn't my favorite year or anything, but I would still easily take it over 2015! I get it though! I had my share of personal issues, we elected a potential dictator (no, I won't wait and see) for President, and a bunch of cool talented celebrities died.
BUT
the only person who has the power to decide how I react to negative things is me. So I have made a list of 16 great things that I did in 2016. It didn't take long. I could've listed more easily, and I bet if you think about it a little you probably did some pretty cool things in 2016.
So here is my list!
16 amazing things I did in 2016
1. Above all I was very lucky this year in that I Spent lots of time with friends from all over the USA and world. Some friends I saw a lot and some I had not seen for over 20 years.
2. Ate amazing Tacos in West Hollywood wth my friend Thomas and took a picture under the Beverly Hills sign which was my most liked Instagram post ever.
3. Saw Kacey Musgraves make lots of noise
4. Turned an unexpected week off of work into a vacation to Seattle where I caught up with many of my long time friends.
5. Well I took a 3 day weekend to London and saw Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard. No big deal.
6. Took one of many trips to Portland Maine, and I finally got into Duckfat and had poutine, beer, a milkshake, and donuts along with my main courses.
7. Went to the Ben and Jerry's factory on a side stop before heading to Montreal where we were hosted by the best Airbnb ever. Many snacks and drinks were provided as well as wine and cheese on the rooftop deck.
8. Explored the beaches and the town of Provincetown.
9. Saw Beyoncé and the Dixie Chicks sing Daddy's Lessons in the same week.
10. Work took me to a Chicago and I was able to use some of the time for fun, new and old friends, and exploring new territory.
11. Ate where they filmed the Los Pollos Hermanos scenes in Breaking Bad in Albuquerque an explored beautiful Santa Fe.
12. Went to a great wedding and Atlanta and then took a road trip where I knocked out states #48 and #49 (Kentucky and Michigan).
13. Saw Miranda Lambert start crying in the middle of the "House that Built Me"because a veteran made a really sweet sign for her.
14. Saw Barbra Streisand sing Evergreen live. My mom would have liked that.
15. Took a very relaxing, mostly unplanned trip to PalmSprings after a rough work season and the day after a horrible election.
16. Flew to DC after a wonderful Christmas season and was moved by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial before the fall In January and as a bonus tomorrow I'll get to see my good friend who I have not seen in person since 1991!
BUT
the only person who has the power to decide how I react to negative things is me. So I have made a list of 16 great things that I did in 2016. It didn't take long. I could've listed more easily, and I bet if you think about it a little you probably did some pretty cool things in 2016.
So here is my list!
16 amazing things I did in 2016
1. Above all I was very lucky this year in that I Spent lots of time with friends from all over the USA and world. Some friends I saw a lot and some I had not seen for over 20 years.
2. Ate amazing Tacos in West Hollywood wth my friend Thomas and took a picture under the Beverly Hills sign which was my most liked Instagram post ever.
3. Saw Kacey Musgraves make lots of noise
4. Turned an unexpected week off of work into a vacation to Seattle where I caught up with many of my long time friends.
5. Well I took a 3 day weekend to London and saw Glenn Close in Sunset Boulevard. No big deal.
6. Took one of many trips to Portland Maine, and I finally got into Duckfat and had poutine, beer, a milkshake, and donuts along with my main courses.
7. Went to the Ben and Jerry's factory on a side stop before heading to Montreal where we were hosted by the best Airbnb ever. Many snacks and drinks were provided as well as wine and cheese on the rooftop deck.
8. Explored the beaches and the town of Provincetown.
9. Saw Beyoncé and the Dixie Chicks sing Daddy's Lessons in the same week.
10. Work took me to a Chicago and I was able to use some of the time for fun, new and old friends, and exploring new territory.
11. Ate where they filmed the Los Pollos Hermanos scenes in Breaking Bad in Albuquerque an explored beautiful Santa Fe.
12. Went to a great wedding and Atlanta and then took a road trip where I knocked out states #48 and #49 (Kentucky and Michigan).
13. Saw Miranda Lambert start crying in the middle of the "House that Built Me"because a veteran made a really sweet sign for her.
14. Saw Barbra Streisand sing Evergreen live. My mom would have liked that.
15. Took a very relaxing, mostly unplanned trip to PalmSprings after a rough work season and the day after a horrible election.
16. Flew to DC after a wonderful Christmas season and was moved by the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial before the fall In January and as a bonus tomorrow I'll get to see my good friend who I have not seen in person since 1991!
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
Manchester by the Sea and other Wicked Massachusetts Movies (Yes, people really say Wicked here. )
Location is everything in Kenneth Lonergan's wonderful film, Manchester by the Sea. Coastal towns of eastern Massachusetts play an important supporting character in this story of family, tragedy, and forgiveness. I've only lived in Massachusetts for three and one half years so I'm no expert, but I looked at the road signs to see if I had ever drove to any of the places they were driving on the north shore. I had. I also laughed as I recalled hearing similar types of conversations as I rode through Andrew station in Southie on the T. There are many great movies that Massachusetts plays a character, and Manchester by the Sea will go down as one of them.
But what about the human characters and the story? Most everything about the film is great, and it is certainly one of the best films of 2016. Casey Affleck appears in most every scene of the film as the quietly internal janitor Lee, who moves from the south shore to the north shore after a death in the family. Despite all that is revealed about Lee's past and present in Manchester, Affleck never overplays any of it. In less capable hands it could have been a role of scenery chewing.
Kenneth Lonergan has written a wonderful screenplay and perhaps does not get enough credit for the quiet choices he made for the film and the way he weaves present and past together. Michelle Williams, as usual is also quite wonderful and if she had many one more big scene, she would have a better chance of finally being an Oscar winner. Her final big scene is a classic heartbreaker though. While both of those actors are getting most of the talk, I have to say that the performance of Lucas Hedges as Lee's nephew was the most surprising and exciting one. He brings his character from wise cracker to genuinely sensitive and loving in one fell swoop. I am really looking forward to see what he does next. Hopefully Hollywood has room for a very talented pasty ginger!
I will admit that Manchester by the Sea is nearly a perfect movie, but a couple things did underwhelm me. The score in the film is used Too much and really didn't match the emotion or the setting of what was happening in the scene. I also thought Hedge's character's mother was a very underwritten part for the amount of screentime she received. I wonder if that would have come off differently with a different actress. But those are minor quibbles! Manchester by the Sea does film, storytelling, performing, and of course Massachusetts proud.
Manchester by the Sea gets 9 out of 10 from me, and as an added bonus here are some of my favorite films with Massachusetts as a supporting character. I only chose ones that I really liked a lot! They are in no particular order!
The Conjuring
The Crucible (1996)
One Crazy Summer
Little Women (1994)
With Honors
The Departed
Fever Pitch
Good Will Hunting
Mystic River
The Social Network
Spotlight
And, of course, Gone Baby Gone since parts of it were in my neighborhood and one part in particular is about a hundred steps away from my front door.
But what about the human characters and the story? Most everything about the film is great, and it is certainly one of the best films of 2016. Casey Affleck appears in most every scene of the film as the quietly internal janitor Lee, who moves from the south shore to the north shore after a death in the family. Despite all that is revealed about Lee's past and present in Manchester, Affleck never overplays any of it. In less capable hands it could have been a role of scenery chewing.
Kenneth Lonergan has written a wonderful screenplay and perhaps does not get enough credit for the quiet choices he made for the film and the way he weaves present and past together. Michelle Williams, as usual is also quite wonderful and if she had many one more big scene, she would have a better chance of finally being an Oscar winner. Her final big scene is a classic heartbreaker though. While both of those actors are getting most of the talk, I have to say that the performance of Lucas Hedges as Lee's nephew was the most surprising and exciting one. He brings his character from wise cracker to genuinely sensitive and loving in one fell swoop. I am really looking forward to see what he does next. Hopefully Hollywood has room for a very talented pasty ginger!
I will admit that Manchester by the Sea is nearly a perfect movie, but a couple things did underwhelm me. The score in the film is used Too much and really didn't match the emotion or the setting of what was happening in the scene. I also thought Hedge's character's mother was a very underwritten part for the amount of screentime she received. I wonder if that would have come off differently with a different actress. But those are minor quibbles! Manchester by the Sea does film, storytelling, performing, and of course Massachusetts proud.
Manchester by the Sea gets 9 out of 10 from me, and as an added bonus here are some of my favorite films with Massachusetts as a supporting character. I only chose ones that I really liked a lot! They are in no particular order!
The Conjuring
The Crucible (1996)
One Crazy Summer
Little Women (1994)
With Honors
The Departed
Fever Pitch
Good Will Hunting
Mystic River
The Social Network
Spotlight
And, of course, Gone Baby Gone since parts of it were in my neighborhood and one part in particular is about a hundred steps away from my front door.
Saturday, December 17, 2016
A Journey Through La La Land
My favorite film of 2014 was Damien Chazelle's Whiplash. At the time I was experiencing harassment and manipulation from a bully disguised as a mentor, so it felt very relevant to me. Aside from my own personal experiences, it was such an immersive experience of the senses that it is not exaggerating too much when I say that I felt like I'd just had an intense physical and mental workout coming out of it.
Chazelle,who is currently, one of the most exciting directors making "somewhat" mainstream films right now. His long awaited and current Best Picture front runner La La Land takes audiences on a different kind of journey. However the previews for this film are showing it, it isn't a light easy journey. La La Land wasn't what I expected. There were times I found the first half frustrating. I wasn't alone. I counted four people on my side of the theater who walked out of the film in the middle. I stuck through it until the end, and I definitely felt rewarded, but this film will definitely not play well for just anyone.
La La Land is a musical, and in a way it is an homage to Astaire and Roger type musicals of Old Hollywood. As a major musical lover, I have to admit that I'm not a fan of many of the old time Hollywood musical that La La Land clearly adores. It also has a basic premise that I just couldn't totally buy, and that despite the traffic, the grit, and the disappointment, that Los Angeles is a magical place of dreams. This is a hard pill for me to swallow because in all of my many travels LA is one of my least favorite places I've ever been to.
But then something happens. I can't pin it down exactly. I know it was after all of the walk outs though. La La Land will stay in my thoughts for awhile for because of how confounding and beautiful it is. For this is a simple girl meets boy movie that seeks to be something more. The second half is excellent--at times genius, but to say more than that would be unfair to anyone who reads this and may potentially view the film.
Emma Stone, who may or may not win a Best Actress Oscar for this, pulls off the wide eyed naivety well. Her ride through La La Land ends up being the most defined, and she often gives a quite fearless performance. Ryan Gosling, my favorite male actor, catapults a perhaps underwritten character with his charm and great talent. It's funny that this is finally the film that will finally probably get him a second Oscar nomination because he has played many roles that have required much more of him (aside from the dancing). It's a strong performance, but he makes it look easy (even if it maybe isn't).
The third star of the movie is Damien Chazelle's direction which again creates an immersive experience with the music and the colorful visuals. He was clearly influenced by The classic French Film Umbrellas of Cherbourg, and perhaps this film is America's Umbrella. The songs range from fun (the opening traffic scene) to amazing (Emma Stone's monologue song), but ultimately I would say drop your conceptions of what a musical is at the door of you may be disappointed. La La Land is not what you expect. Ultimately it is probably more. What I do know that it is an ambitious but flawed piece is art that makes me even more excited for what it's director's next move is.
La La Land 8 out of 10
Monday, December 5, 2016
The Winners. Better late than never. The Best of TV. The 2015-2016 season
I watch a lot of TV! Here are my favorites from June 1, 2015 to May 31, 2016
The winners are noted below.
Best Reality Television show
Making A Murderer
Project Greenlight
Rupaul's Drag Race Logo
Shark Tank
Survivor- Winner
Top Chef
Best Guest Actor in a Series
Mahershala Ali House of Cards
Richard Armitage Hannibal
Reg E. Cathey House of Cards
Jeffrey Dean Morgan The Walking Dead-Winner
Paul Sparks House of Cards
Jon Tenney Scandal
Best Guest Actress in a Series
Gillian Anderson Hannibal
Ellen Burstyn House of Cards
Kate Burton Scandal
Molly Parker House of Cards
Cicely Tyson How to get away with murder
Mare Winningham The Affair-Winner
Best Supporting Actress Mini Series or TV Movie
Kathy Bates American Horror Story: Hotel
Regina King American CrimeMelissa Leo All the Way
Charlotte Rampling London Spy
Jean Smart Fargo- Winner
Mare Winningham American Horror Story Hotel
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Laura Carmichael Downton Abbey
Melissa Leo Wayward Pines Season 1
Maggie Smith Downton Abbey
Maura Tierney The Affair-Winner
Bellamy Young Scandal
Constance Zimmer Unreal
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Anna Chlumsky Veep
Kether Donohue You're the Worst
Jenifer Lewis blackish Winner
Judith Light Transparent
Niecy Nash Getting On
Allison Williams Girls
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jim Carter Downton Abbey
Joshua Jackson The Affair
Lenny James The Walking Dead
Rob James-Collier Downton Abbey Winner
Michael Kelly House of Cards
Jussie Smollett Empire
Best supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Titus Burgess Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt
Jaime Camil Jane the Virgin Winner
TJ Miller Silicon Valley
Timothy Simons Veep
Zach Woods Silicon Valley
Steve Zissis Togetherness
Best Supporting Actor in a TV movie or Mini Series
Connor Jessup American Crime Winner
Ne-Yo The Wiz
Denis O'Hare American Horror Story Hotel
Jessie Plemons Fargo
Joey Pollari American Crime
Bokeem Woodbine Fargo
Best Guest Actress Comedy
Tina Fey Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt
Beth Grant Mindy Project
Linda Lavin Mom
Niecy Nash Scream Queens Winner
Jenny Slate Girls
June Squibb Mom
Best Guest Actor Comedy
Christopher Abbott Girls
Mike Carlsen Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt Winner
Peter Macnichol Veep
Anthony Mendez Jane the Virgin
Chris Messina Mindy Projec
Corey Stoll Girls
Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson blackish winner
Aziz Ansari Master of None
Noah Calvin The Real O'Neals
Chris Geere You're the Worst
Jeffrey Tambor Transparent
Josh Thomas Please Like Me
Best Lead Actor in a Mini series of Tv Movie
Bryan Cranston All the Way Winner
Idris Elba Luther
Timothy Hutton American Crime
Andy Samberg 7 Days of Hell
Ben Whishaw London Spy
Patrick Wilson Fargo
Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Kyle Chandler Bloodline
Hugh Dancy Hannibal
Freddie Highmore Bates Motel Winner
Mads Mikklesen Hannibal
Kevin Spacey House of Cards
Dominic West The Affair
Best Lead Actress in a Mini Series or Tv Movie
Kirsten Dunst Fargo Winner
Felicity Huffman American Crime
Audra McDonald Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
Lili Taylor American Crime
Kerry Washington Confirmation
Shanice Williams The Wiz Live
Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Shiri Appleby Unreal
Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder
Michelle Dockery Downton Abbey
Taraji P. Henson Empire
Ruth Wilson The Affair
Robin Wright House of Cards Winner
Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Rachel Bloom Crazy Ex girlfriend Winner
Tracy Ellis Ross blackish
Ellie Kemper Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt
Julia Louis Dreyfus Veep
Gina Rodriguez Jane The Virgin
Constance Wu Fresh Off The Boat
Best Mini Series or Tv Movie
All The Way
American Crime Winner
Confirmation
Fargo
Lady Day at Emerson Bar and Grill
London Spy
The Wiz Live
Best Comedy Series
blackish
Crazy Ex Girlfiend
Getting On
Jane the Virgin
Please Like Me Winner
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt
Best Drama Series
The Affair Winner
Downton Abbey
Empire
Hannibal
House of Cards
Scandal
Unreal
The winners are noted below.
Best Reality Television show
Making A Murderer
Project Greenlight
Rupaul's Drag Race Logo
Shark Tank
Survivor- Winner
Top Chef
Best Guest Actor in a Series
Mahershala Ali House of Cards
Richard Armitage Hannibal
Reg E. Cathey House of Cards
Jeffrey Dean Morgan The Walking Dead-Winner
Paul Sparks House of Cards
Jon Tenney Scandal
Best Guest Actress in a Series
Gillian Anderson Hannibal
Ellen Burstyn House of Cards
Kate Burton Scandal
Molly Parker House of Cards
Cicely Tyson How to get away with murder
Mare Winningham The Affair-Winner
Best Supporting Actress Mini Series or TV Movie
Kathy Bates American Horror Story: Hotel
Regina King American CrimeMelissa Leo All the Way
Charlotte Rampling London Spy
Jean Smart Fargo- Winner
Mare Winningham American Horror Story Hotel
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Laura Carmichael Downton Abbey
Melissa Leo Wayward Pines Season 1
Maggie Smith Downton Abbey
Maura Tierney The Affair-Winner
Bellamy Young Scandal
Constance Zimmer Unreal
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Anna Chlumsky Veep
Kether Donohue You're the Worst
Jenifer Lewis blackish Winner
Judith Light Transparent
Niecy Nash Getting On
Allison Williams Girls
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Jim Carter Downton Abbey
Joshua Jackson The Affair
Lenny James The Walking Dead
Rob James-Collier Downton Abbey Winner
Michael Kelly House of Cards
Jussie Smollett Empire
Best supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Titus Burgess Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt
Jaime Camil Jane the Virgin Winner
TJ Miller Silicon Valley
Timothy Simons Veep
Zach Woods Silicon Valley
Steve Zissis Togetherness
Best Supporting Actor in a TV movie or Mini Series
Connor Jessup American Crime Winner
Ne-Yo The Wiz
Denis O'Hare American Horror Story Hotel
Jessie Plemons Fargo
Joey Pollari American Crime
Bokeem Woodbine Fargo
Best Guest Actress Comedy
Tina Fey Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt
Beth Grant Mindy Project
Linda Lavin Mom
Niecy Nash Scream Queens Winner
Jenny Slate Girls
June Squibb Mom
Best Guest Actor Comedy
Christopher Abbott Girls
Mike Carlsen Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt Winner
Peter Macnichol Veep
Anthony Mendez Jane the Virgin
Chris Messina Mindy Projec
Corey Stoll Girls
Best Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Anthony Anderson blackish winner
Aziz Ansari Master of None
Noah Calvin The Real O'Neals
Chris Geere You're the Worst
Jeffrey Tambor Transparent
Josh Thomas Please Like Me
Best Lead Actor in a Mini series of Tv Movie
Bryan Cranston All the Way Winner
Idris Elba Luther
Timothy Hutton American Crime
Andy Samberg 7 Days of Hell
Ben Whishaw London Spy
Patrick Wilson Fargo
Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Kyle Chandler Bloodline
Hugh Dancy Hannibal
Freddie Highmore Bates Motel Winner
Mads Mikklesen Hannibal
Kevin Spacey House of Cards
Dominic West The Affair
Best Lead Actress in a Mini Series or Tv Movie
Kirsten Dunst Fargo Winner
Felicity Huffman American Crime
Audra McDonald Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill
Lili Taylor American Crime
Kerry Washington Confirmation
Shanice Williams The Wiz Live
Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Shiri Appleby Unreal
Viola Davis How to Get Away with Murder
Michelle Dockery Downton Abbey
Taraji P. Henson Empire
Ruth Wilson The Affair
Robin Wright House of Cards Winner
Best Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Rachel Bloom Crazy Ex girlfriend Winner
Tracy Ellis Ross blackish
Ellie Kemper Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt
Julia Louis Dreyfus Veep
Gina Rodriguez Jane The Virgin
Constance Wu Fresh Off The Boat
Best Mini Series or Tv Movie
All The Way
American Crime Winner
Confirmation
Fargo
Lady Day at Emerson Bar and Grill
London Spy
The Wiz Live
Best Comedy Series
blackish
Crazy Ex Girlfiend
Getting On
Jane the Virgin
Please Like Me Winner
Transparent
Unbreakable Kimmie Schmidt
Best Drama Series
The Affair Winner
Downton Abbey
Empire
Hannibal
House of Cards
Scandal
Unreal
Friday, December 2, 2016
Film: Their stories matter- Loving and Moonlight
Two small independent films, Loving and Moonlight, are beginning to catch on with audiences as award season begins. Both of them are worth your time. Aside from telling stories of African American characters that are all too rarely told on film, they are also works of art in their own right.
Loving is based on the true story of Mildred and Richard Loving. (I am embarrassed that I only realized during the movie where the title came from. Prior to that, I thought it was a pretty uninspired title. Of course my mind is changed now.) Mildred and Richard are an interracial couple (one white and one black) who want to get married, but the state of Virginia (as well as many other states in the USA at that time) would not allow it. It is the kind of thing that maybe even a year ago it would have blown minds that it was even as issue, but now sadly anything in the USA is possible again.
Loving, the film, does something interesting and risky. It stays quiet. It would have been easy to make a bombastic deal about the Supreme Court decision that ultimately allowed them to be married, but the film keeps it understated and unassuming just like its two main characters. Loving is ultimately not about the Supreme Court case that gave these two individuals the right to marry, it is this couple's love story, and it is beautifully told!
Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga are amazing as the Loving couple. Both deserve major award attention including Oscar nominations, but neither has a scene that screams "Give me an Oscar, or I will throw more fine china on the floor!" This is very much to director Jeff Nichol's credit for letting these quiet characters stay quiet and not acted out with a capital A. There is a nice scene with Michael Shannon as a Life photographer. The only performance that did not really fit in for me was Nick Kroll's as their ACLU attorney. He did his best, but it is hard to leave his huge comic persona at the movie theatre door.
Loving is worth your time for a beautiful love story and the reluctant hope that such a story could never happen again in the United States.
Moonlight is another story that is rarely told on film. It is about an African American male dealing with his sexuality, and his place in a world that is always pushing against him. It may be extreme for me to say that Moonlight is a revolutionary film, but I can think of no other word, and it is how I feel. The closest thing I can find to compare to what has been made here is Brokeback Mountain. Certainly, not since that film has the issue of same sex attraction in a world that does not accept it been dealt with such sensitivity and complexity. What I am about to say is going to make some people clutch their pearls, but I think Moonlight is a better film than that the excellent Brokeback Mountain.
Moonlight is so great because the way that it tells its character's stories. Three of the main characters are a drug dealer, a crack addict, and a son of a crack addict, but these characters which lean toward being stereotypical African American film characters feel more human than almost any character of any color I have seen on screen for a few years.
The acting is astonishing, but in a way that is hard to single any actor out. This film is very much an ensemble piece with great scenes for all the actors. However, if I have to single out actors I would definitely make the case for Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, and Trevante Rhodes as the adult version of the main character all deserve attention. Singer turned actor Janelle Monae is also a welcome addition to the cast.
The film is more than its performances though . It is crafted like it was made by a veteran filmmaker. Director Barry Jenkins, who is a director to watch, has an eye for great detail. His camera operators makes some interesting choices with cinematography that you would not expect in such a story driven movie. The score is also amazing, and it is wisely used sparingly to make the moments it is used even more effective.
While I have many movies to see this year, it is hard to imagine a film that will be better than Moonlight. It is also difficult to imagine that many movies will be better than Loving. These are two movies about characters that don't have their story told often enough on screen. And their stories matter.
Loving scores an 8 out of 10
And Moonlight scores a rare 10 out of 10.
Loving is based on the true story of Mildred and Richard Loving. (I am embarrassed that I only realized during the movie where the title came from. Prior to that, I thought it was a pretty uninspired title. Of course my mind is changed now.) Mildred and Richard are an interracial couple (one white and one black) who want to get married, but the state of Virginia (as well as many other states in the USA at that time) would not allow it. It is the kind of thing that maybe even a year ago it would have blown minds that it was even as issue, but now sadly anything in the USA is possible again.
Loving, the film, does something interesting and risky. It stays quiet. It would have been easy to make a bombastic deal about the Supreme Court decision that ultimately allowed them to be married, but the film keeps it understated and unassuming just like its two main characters. Loving is ultimately not about the Supreme Court case that gave these two individuals the right to marry, it is this couple's love story, and it is beautifully told!
Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga are amazing as the Loving couple. Both deserve major award attention including Oscar nominations, but neither has a scene that screams "Give me an Oscar, or I will throw more fine china on the floor!" This is very much to director Jeff Nichol's credit for letting these quiet characters stay quiet and not acted out with a capital A. There is a nice scene with Michael Shannon as a Life photographer. The only performance that did not really fit in for me was Nick Kroll's as their ACLU attorney. He did his best, but it is hard to leave his huge comic persona at the movie theatre door.
Loving is worth your time for a beautiful love story and the reluctant hope that such a story could never happen again in the United States.
Moonlight is another story that is rarely told on film. It is about an African American male dealing with his sexuality, and his place in a world that is always pushing against him. It may be extreme for me to say that Moonlight is a revolutionary film, but I can think of no other word, and it is how I feel. The closest thing I can find to compare to what has been made here is Brokeback Mountain. Certainly, not since that film has the issue of same sex attraction in a world that does not accept it been dealt with such sensitivity and complexity. What I am about to say is going to make some people clutch their pearls, but I think Moonlight is a better film than that the excellent Brokeback Mountain.
Moonlight is so great because the way that it tells its character's stories. Three of the main characters are a drug dealer, a crack addict, and a son of a crack addict, but these characters which lean toward being stereotypical African American film characters feel more human than almost any character of any color I have seen on screen for a few years.
The acting is astonishing, but in a way that is hard to single any actor out. This film is very much an ensemble piece with great scenes for all the actors. However, if I have to single out actors I would definitely make the case for Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, and Trevante Rhodes as the adult version of the main character all deserve attention. Singer turned actor Janelle Monae is also a welcome addition to the cast.
The film is more than its performances though . It is crafted like it was made by a veteran filmmaker. Director Barry Jenkins, who is a director to watch, has an eye for great detail. His camera operators makes some interesting choices with cinematography that you would not expect in such a story driven movie. The score is also amazing, and it is wisely used sparingly to make the moments it is used even more effective.
While I have many movies to see this year, it is hard to imagine a film that will be better than Moonlight. It is also difficult to imagine that many movies will be better than Loving. These are two movies about characters that don't have their story told often enough on screen. And their stories matter.
Loving scores an 8 out of 10
And Moonlight scores a rare 10 out of 10.
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