Inside Llewyn Davis

Co-Writers/Co-Directors Joel and Ethan Coen’s Inside Llewyn Davis is an exploration of the Greenwich Village folk singer scene in 1961, focusing on a week in the life of one of them.

First off, Cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel brings out images of the era with his usual mastery, Production Designer Jess Gonchor and Art Director Deboreh Jensen provide a true feeling of the time and Costume Designer Mary Zohphres is spot-on with the clothing.  Altogether, we’re given a true picture of the early-‘60s.  And, T-Bone Burnett's Music Production is sterling, providing the sound of the era.

Oscar Isaac as Llewyn, along with Cary Mulligan and Justin Timberlake as his friends, are admirably directed by the Coens and all turn in admirable performances. 

  

The question I have is, “Why?”  Why this lame story and what is it about?  

We’re treated to a talented, but stupid character, who, other than having a good voice, does little to make us care about him. 

 

And, what trials is he put through?  Leaving the apartment of friends, who let him sleep over, their cat escapes.  While catching it, Llewyn is locked out.  Instead of going to the Superintendent of the  building that has a live elevator operator, he ends up carrying the cat with him and foisting it on his friends and, then, allows it to escape again.  This is the stuff of a television sitcom, not a Coen movie as I’ve known them.

Llewyn bounces through several other nonsensical scenes to further prove he’s a loser until, finally, a scene that starts the film is repeated as its ending.  The point?  It’s beyond me.  Are we to think he’s caught in loop of repeating idiocy.  Has the film been a flashback?  Or, did the Coens just give up on an ending to their story or realize they had none?

What amazes me is the response of Critics and Reviewers, who see no problem here and are pouring on the accolades.  It reminds me of last year’s The Master disaster (reviewed 9/16/12).  I guess you can fool some of the people all of the time.

I must say, the theater was full and the audience was polite, i.e., no texting was happening.  Perhaps, however, they were as stupefied as I was.  At one point in the film, a policeman taps on the car window of the dozing Llewyn.  I was thankful to the character as the act brought me out of my stupor.  

 At one point, F. Murray Abraham as a music manager comments after Llewyn's audition, "I don't see much money here."  I didn't see much excitement here. And, I noticed there was no applause at the end by anyone in the audience. 

If you liked The Master, you’ll probably drink the Kool-Aid on this one, but, in all good conscience, I can’t give Inside Llewyn Davis more than a 3 out of 5.

Fight Like A Girl

Jill Morley’s documentary Fight Like A Girl  is a courageous and well-done  exploration of women boxers and the demons they face, which get them into the game.

Already past the age limit to participate in the Golden Gloves when she started her career in the ring, Morley had to get 10 years knocked off her birth certificate.  That was the easy part.  However, it meant she would always be fighting younger and more experienced fighters.  But,  to Jill, not going for it would have been even tougher.

Morley didn’t want her story to stand alone,  so she included those of three other brave women: Champion Maureen, the Gladiator, Shea, who was responsible for coaching Hilary Swank in Million Dollar Baby and fought her way back to the Championship after suffering through a debilitating depression; Susan Merlucci, who worked her way up to winning the Golden Gloves; and Kimberly Tomes, an Asian woman, whose fight against discrimination prepared her for the ring. 

My only issue with the film, and it’s a small one, is that, because Ms. Morley spends so much time behind the camera, the other women’s stories tend to make them more sympathetic to us viewers. 

Yet, we know whose voice is in control and is allowing all the secrets to emerge.

And, kudos also go to Gary Lee, Jill’s husband for the grace and understanding he expresses throughout her efforts of self-exploration.

Hopefully, this film will get a theatrical run.  However, whether it does or you have to get it through Netflix, it is well worth watching, especially if you have or are a daughter.

I give Fight Like A Girl  a 4 out of 5.

Homefront

Jason Statham fans, of which I am one, should enjoy veteran action Director Gary Fleder’s Homefront, written by none other than Sylvester Stallone.

Phil Broker (Statham) is a widower, ex-undercover DEA agent, who has chosen to bring up his 10-year-old daughter Maddy (Izabela Vidovic) in the rural area in which his wife grew up. 

 

A schoolyard fight between Maddy and one of the local boys (Austin Craig) stirs the need for vengeance in the boy’s mother Cassie (Kate Bosworth), who steals the film with her fine performance as an angry redneck.  Cassie goes to her psycho brother ‘Gator’ (James Franco), who runs the local meth lab, to demand punishment for Broker.

 When ‘Gator’ discovers the new neighbor’s past, he has his partner Sheryl (Winona Ryder) contact the imprisoned head of the drug cartel that Broker destroyed.

Well, you don’t mess with Broker, especially when his daughter’s life is at stake.  Need I say more? 

I give Homefront a 4 out of 5 for the fanbase.

PS: In improv comedy, there is a tenet, “Say ‘Yes’ to the action and magic will happen.” Ryder reminds us of what happens by violating this ‘rule.’  When she said, ‘No,’ to being Michael Corleone’s daughter in Godfather III, it was a career breaker.  Though she turns in a fine performance, she is the only the fourth most interesting female character in this film.  And, that’s sad. 

Black Nativity

Writer/Director Kasi Lemmons’ Black Nativity is a heartfelt Christmas story of the repercussions resulting from trying to interfere with someone’s life, no matter whether it’s done with their supposed best interests at heart.  And, it’s a musical with a libretto by the poet Langston Hughes.  What’s more, you don’t have to be Black to enjoy it.

Naima Cobb (Jennifer Hudson) is a single mother, living in Baltimore, who has been estranged from her Minister father (Forest Whitaker) and mother (Angela Bassett) for over 15 years.  Now, owing $5,000, she is about to be evicted from her apartment and sends her son Langston (Jacob Latimore) to New York to live with her parents while she tries to get her life together. 

Langston wants to know what has driven the family apart and goes through a surprising journey to learn the truth and learning that same $5K amount figures in the answer.

 

The singing, including that of Mary J. Blige, is excellent, with Whitaker’s fine voice surprising me.  And, Jennifer Hudson could make your chest heave with emotion even if she were just singing about bananas.  

 We needed a good musical this year.

As I said above, you don’t need to be Black to enjoy this film…just have a heart.

I give Black Nativity a joyful 4 out of 5.

Delivery Man

Writer/Director Ken Scott’s Delivery Man is his American remake of the French Canadian film Starbuck he made in 2011.  Using the same Co-Writer Martin Petit and the same Producer André Rouleau, this is the first remake into another language I can think of that was done by the same people.  So, it’s true to the original spirit.  The only thing missing is the Canadian star Patrick Huard.  Instead, we have the well-cast Vince Vaughn, who is able to show more heart than has been evidenced in his strictly comic roles to date.

The premise is one of the most unique of this or any other year.  All-around screw-up David Wozniak (Vaughn) had made 693 sperm donations in the ‘80s and learns that he is the biological father of 533 children, 142 of whom are bringing suit against the clinic to find out who he is.

The film is funny and heartfelt as David surreptitiously involves himself in the lives of several of his offspring while he is trying to get in the good graces of his pregnant girlfriend (Cobie Smulders), who is a cop, as well as keep from the clutches of loan sharks to whom he owes $80,000.

If the ending doesn’t bring tears of joy to your eyes, God help you.

As I did for Starbuck, I give Delivery Man a 4 out of 5.