Drama

Judy

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Directed by Rupert Goold best known for English theatrical productions and the 2015 movie True Story, Judy is an excellently crafted and sobering glimpse of the final months of actress and singer Judy Garland’s tumultuous life, and the film is brought to life by the truly extraordinary performance given by Renée Zellweger. A majority of the movie revolves around her final set of shows given in 1969 in London after facing several professional setbacks back home in the United States, but Judy’s story is also fleshed out with a series of flashbacks at the height of her child stardom around the time of The Wizard of Oz. As a result of her notoriously difficult behind-the-scenes behavior related to her substance abuse, she is practically in financial ruin and unable to get any sort of gig at the beginning until she is encouraged to perform in England where she is still beloved. She reluctantly leaves her son and daughter with their father and her ex-husband Sidney Luft, played by Rufus Sewell, in Los Angeles despite her unhealthy attachment to her children who she would use to perform with her. Greatly worrying her agent, the show promoter, and her British handler and assistant who is played by Jessie Buckley, Judy constantly shows up late to her sold-out crowds and dismisses rehearsals and spends most of her time in her hotel suite acting bizarrely and in a state of confusion. We learn she is addicted to a wide variety of medications, primarily as a result of her abusive treatment as a child star by the MGM studio head Louis B. Mayer. While working at MGM, she was often forced to working long hours and eat very little in order to maintain her status as a major star. Overall, I found it to be a terrific movie showcasing Renée Zellweger in an Oscar-worthy performance vividly showing that Judy Garland was sadly in a terrible state towards the end of her much celebrated life and greatly struggled with substance abuse and depression.

Joker

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Co-written and directed by Todd Phillips best known for his comedic work, including The Hangover trilogy first released in 2009, Joker is unlike any other movie based on a comic book character because it is much more of a character study of a very dark and deranged individual who eventually becomes the predominant arch-nemesis of Batman. Similar to the iconic 1976 Martin Scorsese film Taxi Driver, the story follows a clearly mentally ill man who eventually descends into violent madness after feeling persecuted by a morally bankrupt society that constantly bullies him for his idiosyncrasies. Living in the corrupt and economically depressed fictional Gotham City in 1981 based on the gritty New York City of the time, Arthur Fleck, played by the terrific Joaquin Phoenix in a very committed and disturbing role, works as a hired clown in the city and lives in a dingy apartment with his sick mother. His feeling of hopelessness and the pervasive depression surrounding him in the decaying city filled with a wealthy and greedy elite contribute to his horrifying psychological breakdown towards the middle of the movie. What really sets him off is seeing his comedic idol and late night television host Murray Franklin, played by Robert De Niro whose portrayal of Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver very much resembles Arthur Fleck, make fun of his inability to be a stand-up comic. Dressed up as a disheveled cloud who wants to be referred to as Joker, Arthur finds himself in a extremely violent situation that eventually spirals out-of-control and leads him to a destructive and terrifying psychosis. His actions eventually lead to a citywide protest against the rich, particularly mayoral candidate Thomas Wayne who is better known as father to Bruce Wayne later to become Batman. At the end, the entire city devolves into chaotic riots in which several people are brutally killed. Overall, I found it to be a disturbing yet well done anti-hero psychological drama that is led by a truly remarkable performance given by the extremely talented Joaquin Phoenix. It is definitely not for the faint of heart because it does contain a fair amount of violent moral depravity that has made the movie somewhat controversial with critics and audiences alike.

Ad Astra

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Co-written and directed by James Gray best known for 2017’s The Lost City of Z, Ad Astra is a visually stunning sci-fi space adventure movie that is much more philosophical than your typical space film in that it explores the relationship between father and son as well as the existence of intelligent life beyond humanity on Earth. Set in the near distant future in which humans have colonized the Moon and Mars, the protagonist of the story Major Roy McBride, played by Brad Pitt in one of his best performances, as a member of the U.S. Space Command is sent on a secret and personal mission to stop mysterious cosmic power surges crippling human infrastructure and threatening all of humanity. Roy is chosen for this mission because it is believed that his father H. Clifford McBride, played by Tommy Lee Jones, is somehow involved despite disappearing sixteen years ago on a mission to Neptune. The emotionally stoic and dedicated Roy, who we discover through flashbacks has had a difficult personal life with his estranged wife and long-lost father, sets out on a interplanetary expedition to the SpaceCom base on Mars by way of the Moon where there is a war between countries and pirates over the control of minerals. He is accompanied by a longtime friend of his father who is played by Donald Sutherland to go to Mars in order to deliver a message to the Lima Project spacecraft, led by his father, that mysteriously disappeared years ago. Without spoiling too much of the plot, Roy goes on even further adventures across the solar system while he is internally grappling with what it means to be a human and trying to understand the intentions of his father who is praised as a hero of SpaceCom. Rather surprisingly, the movie is much more of a meditative experience that relies on magnificent cinematography exploring space and the dreamlike states of Roy as he spends days by himself in outer space. Since his father’s mission was to try and discover extraterrestrial life on solar systems far from our own, the film contemplates on the existence of life and what it means for humans to possibly be the only intelligent beings in the universe. Overall, I found it to be a very well-done space film that has brilliant elements of science fiction in its depiction of space travel in the future in addition to being a personal drama that takes an inward look into the human psyche and our relationships with others, particularly family.

Downton Abbey

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A follow-up movie to the extremely popular British TV series Downton Abbey that ran for six seasons from 2010 to 2015, Downton Abbey does an excellent job of recreating the elements that made the show such a success by portraying the daily lives of the family members and staff of the Downton Abbey estate and, of course, with bits of scandal. The film is set in 1927 England, a year after the events of the concluding episode, and the plot revolves around a royal visit to Downton Abbey and all the preparations that must take place in order to properly host King George and Queen Mary. The movie will mean a lot more for fans and viewers of the original series and is very nostalgic with the appearance of almost all of the characters that fans have come to love and hate over the years. The quite entertaining conflicts between the staff members downstairs and the witty banter between the Grantham family, especially Maggie Smith’s magnificent Dowager Countess character. Things get even more complicated with the arrival of the royal staff who are trying to take over almost all of roles of the household staff, which, to put it lightly, does not go over well. Knowing that it is such a great honor to serve the king and queen, the household staff try their best to take back control of their beloved Downton Abbey and the family they have so dutifully served over the years. As is the case towards the end of the series, Lord Grantham, played by Hugh Bonneville, and his daughter Lady Mary, played by Michelle Dockery, along with the rest of the family grapple with what will happen with Downton Abbey in light of the changing times in which large estates are shuttering. Overall, I found it to be a wonderful continuation of the internationally-acclaimed television series that thoughtfully tried hard to recapture the same feel of such an endearing TV show. It will definitely delight long-time fans of Downton Abbey and quite honestly will probably mean much more to those who have watched the entire series than regular moviegoers who have not been exposed to the characters and storylines of the television program.

Hustlers

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Written and directed by Lorene Scafaria best known for 2012’s Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Hustlers is a surprisingly smart and entertaining movie for having a plot revolving around New York City strippers and is remarkable for undoubtedly the best performance ever given by Jennifer Lopez. Based on a real life story, the narrative is primarily told by a former stripper named Destiny, played by Constance Wu best known for her role in 2018’s Crazy Rich Asians, to a journalist, played by Julia Stiles. In a series of elongated flashbacks, Destiny first enters the world of stripping in 2007 as a means of financially supporting her grandmother but soon begins to want more money to live a more luxurious lifestyle. She meets a older yet extremely popular stripper named Ramona, played by the terrific Jennifer Lopez, who teaches her how to pole dance and the tricks of getting the most money from the male clientele. After the financial crisis only a year later, Destiny and Ramona part ways, with both women in financial distress due to the decreasing number of strip club attendance. Eventually, Destiny returns to stripping and teams up with Ramona once again but this time with a illegal scheme to steal money from their wealthy patrons. Two other strippers are also enlisted in the fraud in which they go to bars and restaurants to attract wealthy men and take them to the strip club where the women max out their credit cards. They are able to to get away with the scam because they drug the targets so they do not realize what is happening and lose memory of the events the next day. Over time, Ramona gets reckless in order to make even more money and ultimately gets her in trouble and harms her close relationship with Destiny. Yes, the film is visually dazzling as a result of the stylish and provocative strip clubs sequences, but there is unexpected depth to the storyline that explores the complex dynamics between stripper and patron. It also touches on the subject of wealth inequality in that the financially desperate protagonists decide to take advantage of mostly Wall Street wealthy patrons who only see the women as a means for their sexual gratification. Overall, I found it to be a terrific film, filled with powerful acting, that is able to tell a truly unique and nuanced story about a group of strippers taking control of their lives by using an an illicit scheme.

Brittany Runs a Marathon

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Written and directed by playwright Paul Downs Colaizzo in his feature film directorial debut, Brittany Runs a Marathon is a hilarious comedy that has a surprisingly amount of dramatic depth as a result of its inspirational story of a young single woman living in New York City who decides to take on her overweight body by challenging herself to running the New York City marathon. Based on a true story, Brittany, played by the very talented and funny Jillian Bell, feels like she is at a crossroads in our life with the perception that all in her life is lost and she will forever remain without a boyfriend and with a severe lack of self confidence. After a doctor’s visit in which she is told that she must lose weight for her health, she joins a running group along with a recently divorced middle-aged woman and a out-of-shape thirtysomething gay father. Although they have almost always got along ever since becoming roommates, Brittany begins to have tension with her best friend roommate who is a skinny popular Asian girl with a good-looking boyfriend. The only place Brittany can find solace is when she is with her running friends who seem to understand what she is going through. With her newfound confidence, she also takes a new job as a housesitter for a wealthy couple where she meets the rather eccentric loud-mouthed Jern. Britney and her new lazy coworker have an unusual relationship that makes for some very funny moments between the two obviously talented comedians. Towards the end of the movie, Brittany does go through a depressed phase in which she thinks the marathon is hopeless and moves in with her sister and very loving brother-in-law back home in Philadelphia to distance herself from New York and her new friends. Overall, I found it to be a quite inspiring story of a person overcoming her own struggles in life in order to pursue a truly amazing achievement. However, it is not the sort of movie that is depressing and overly dramatic but rather engages the audience through its very entertaining comedy.

Blinded by the Light

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Directed by British Indian filmmaker Gurinder Chadha best known for 2003’s Bend It Like Beckham, Blinded by the Light is a feel-good comedy drama that revolves around a story of a young British Pakistani living in an economically depressed town in England with his conservative Muslim family and is inspired by a real-life individual with similar circumstances. The protagonist feels very isolated from the rest of the English community that often bullies him for his ethnicity and has no creative or social outlet for his insecurities and desire to break away from his strict family life. After a chance encounter with a fellow British Pakistani at his school, Javed Khan, played by Viveik Kalra, the music of Bruce Springsteen whose lyrics closely resemble what he is feeling in his own life and feels inspired to spread the music of Bruce Springsteen whose popularity peaked several years prior. Set in the 1980s as a economic downturn greatly affects Great Britain, the film encapsulates the feeling of anxiety across the United Kingdom, especially with immigrants and the rise of the Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The movie is full of funny moments in which Javed’s sheer enthusiasm for Springsteen takes over parts of his life. The filmmaker also makes the creative and effective decision to superimpose the real lyrics of Bruce Springsteen as Javed is listening to the music on his Walkman. But, the movie is primarily a wonderfully uplifting story of a young man who is finally confident in his love for writing poetry and is able to find a British girlfriend, all because of an American musician who makes a connection with his own unique life living in an immigrant family. Overall, I found it to be a touching movie that shows the power of music and art to truly inspire people to do their best in life and is able to relay this message of hope while still being entertaining and creative.

The Peanut Butter Falcon

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Winner of the 2019 South by Southwest Audience Award for a narrative film, The Peanut Butter Falcon is a heartwarming and quite beautiful comedy drama that has the feel of a Mark Twain adventure story that follows an unlikely friendship between two very different protagonists. The movie follows 22-year-old Zak, played by Zach Gottsagen, who has Down syndrome and lives at an elderly nursing home under the tender care of an employee named Eleanor, played by Dakota Johnson. Tired of his lack of freedom, Zak, with the help of his elderly roommate played by Bruce Dern, is finally able to escape and go on an adventure throughout North Carolina where he lives. Eventually, he meets a down-on-his-luck fisherman named Tyler, played by Shia LaBeouf in one of his best acting performances, who begrudgingly takes Zak on a wild adventure to meet Zak’s wrestling idol who lives in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Eleanor is desperately trying to find Zak who she worries is all alone and in need of help. Eventually, she finds Zak with Tyler and is convinced to join their journey on their makeshift raft floating in the Outer Banks. Throughout the course of the film, Tyler matures through his developing close relationships with Zak, and they both have wonderfully fun times together and encountering eccentric people, including a blind minister. Overall, I found it to be one of the best movies of the year because of its truly inspiring and uplifting story that is full of genuine love and joy. The filmmakers do an amazing of creating a film that does not take pity on Zak because of his disability but rather uplifts his story to be one of perseverance, courage, and normalcy.

American Woman

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Directed by Jake Scott who is the son of acclaimed British filmmaker Ridley Scott, American Woman is a powerful drama following the troubled life of a young mother who loses her daughter and is marked by terrific acting performances and an emotionally intriguing script. The movie takes place over the course of 11 years, beginning in 2003 when we first meet the protagonist Debra, played by Golden Globe nominee Sienna Miller in one of her best performances, raising her teenage daughter Bridget and her grandson Jesse. One night after meeting with Jesse’s distant father Tyler, Bridget mysteriously disappears in their rural industrial town in Pennsylvania, and Debra is devastated and accuses Tyler of being somehow involved. Throughout the story, she is somewhat comforted by her close sister Katherine, played by Emmy nominee Christina Hendricks, who lives across the street with her kind husband Terry, played by comedian Will Sasso. The film continues several years later after Bridget’s disappearance is officially unsolved and the increasingly despondent Debra is in a abusive relationship while also supporting Jesse as he gets older. Later, another few years go by and Katherine encourages Debra to go out with Terry’s coworker Chris, played by Emmy winner Aaron Paul, who eventually becomes a part of the family and takes on the role of a father figure for Jesse who still does not know what happened to his mother. A very dramatic and often tragic story, the filmmaker does an excellent job of trying to understand the grief that a parent goes through when their child is missing, as well as the trials and tribulations of being a working-class single mother living in an economically-depressed town. Overall, I thought that Sienna Miller was brilliantly able to bring such a dynamic and desperate woman to life and, in turn, made the movie one of the more heartbreaking yet must-watch dramas of the year.

Papi Chulo

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Written and directed by the Irish filmmaker John Butler, Papi Chulo is an entertaining comedy drama about an unlikely friendship between a white weatherman and a Hispanic day labor and attempts to provide a glimpse into the intersection between two different cultures. The story revolves around a depressed local TV station weatherman in Los Angeles named Sean, played by the handsome Golden Globe winner Matt Bomer, who is forced to go on leave after an on-air meltdown. Not knowing what to do with his spare time and still recovering from becoming a newly single gay man, he is determined to repaint his patio after moving a large tree and eventually resorts to hiring a Hispanic day labor waiting for work outside of the nearby hardware store. Over the course of the movie, Sean tries desperately to become friends with Ernesto, played by Alejandro Patiño, despite the language and cultural barriers between the very different men. Ernesto is befuddled by Sean’s desire to do activities with Ernesto that very much resemble things to do on a date. There are a few scenes that are ridiculous in their appearance that make for funny moments, including both of the men rowing on a lake, going for a hike, and going to parties together. Towards the end of the film, we learn that Sean is in somewhat more of a mental breakdown that first realized because of a recent tragedy, and his bond with Ernesto is primarily the result of him being scared to be alone. Overall, I found it to be a movie that has the best intentions of telling a heartwarming story of unexpected friendship that occasionally borders into cringe-worthy moments reminiscent of the criticized 2018 movie Green Book, but, for the most part, it is a endearing film exploring the comedy and drama of everyday life.