Little Missy Goes to the Movies
A Thanksgiving Tradition--Catching up on the movies you have been wanting to see!
Victoria and Abdul
Like many of Little Missy's readers, I am usually dazzled by anything to do with the British Royals, even when their most gifted filmmakers are attempting to humanise them, one might even say knock them off their pedestals. Watching the brilliant actor Judi Dench, made up to look like an obese and ageing Queen Victoria gives one a start, especially as we must endure her slurping through her formal dinners, burping when she's not snoring. When two young Indians arrive to present the queen with a special Indian coin, we are cheering the tall, good looking one on to wake her up. Apparently, she hasn't lost all of her lively impulses, or else it's the chicken curry he has made especially for her, but all at once, the Indian called Abdul becomes her favourite--and the queen goes on an Indian fanaticism that lasts the rest of her life. The story of Victoria's obsession with Abdul--he was with her nearly every day, teaching her Urdu and Hindustani, chatting about her family problems as well as the issues of the state--was little known until 2003, when Shrabani Basu was touring Victoria's Isle of Wight summer home and noticed several paintings and busts of an Indian made up to look like an aristocrat, not a servant. Voila: Stephen Frear's drama starring the aforementioned Judi Dench and Ali Fazal. This movie is well acted and beautifully shot, and Little Missy gives it a pass because it brings to light a story we didn't know about Queen Victoria. And because of that, it sheds new light on the age of repression we call "The Victorian Era". Nothing is as easy as a label. By now we must all know that.
Victoria and Abdul
Like many of Little Missy's readers, I am usually dazzled by anything to do with the British Royals, even when their most gifted filmmakers are attempting to humanise them, one might even say knock them off their pedestals. Watching the brilliant actor Judi Dench, made up to look like an obese and ageing Queen Victoria gives one a start, especially as we must endure her slurping through her formal dinners, burping when she's not snoring. When two young Indians arrive to present the queen with a special Indian coin, we are cheering the tall, good looking one on to wake her up. Apparently, she hasn't lost all of her lively impulses, or else it's the chicken curry he has made especially for her, but all at once, the Indian called Abdul becomes her favourite--and the queen goes on an Indian fanaticism that lasts the rest of her life. The story of Victoria's obsession with Abdul--he was with her nearly every day, teaching her Urdu and Hindustani, chatting about her family problems as well as the issues of the state--was little known until 2003, when Shrabani Basu was touring Victoria's Isle of Wight summer home and noticed several paintings and busts of an Indian made up to look like an aristocrat, not a servant. Voila: Stephen Frear's drama starring the aforementioned Judi Dench and Ali Fazal. This movie is well acted and beautifully shot, and Little Missy gives it a pass because it brings to light a story we didn't know about Queen Victoria. And because of that, it sheds new light on the age of repression we call "The Victorian Era". Nothing is as easy as a label. By now we must all know that.
Last Flag Flying
Leave it to filmmaker Richard Linklater (Little Missy reviewed his "Boyhood" a few years ago) to tackle a difficult and sensitive topic. The film takes place in 2003, just after the beginning of the Iraq war. Larry "Doc" Shepard, played by Steve Carell has lost his wife to breast cancer a few months earlier and now his son, a Marine, in Iraq. Steve, who served in Vietnam until an incident got him thrown into the brig for two years and thrown out of the Navy with a Bad Conduct Discharge, is truly the epitome of down and out. He seeks out his old Vietnam buddy Sal, played by Bryan Cranston, who is now running a seedy bar in Virginia for help. Although the two haven't seen one another since the war, Bryan drops everything when Steve asks him if he will come with him to claim his son's body and bury him. The Marines have stipulated he be buried at Arlington, which already is giving Steve bad feelings. The two pick up one more old Vietnam friend for this journey, Richard Mueller, played by Laurence Fishburne, now a Baptist minister. We learn that Steve doesn't want his son buried at Arlington, but next to his mother in New Hampshire. When the three friends arrive at Dover to claim Steve's son, they meet the son's best friend, Charlie Washington, played brilliantly by J. Quinton Johnson. Quinton tells Steve what really happened to his son, which makes Steve go ballistic. He insists on bringing his son home to New Hampshire, Arlington be damned, and the Marines insist Quinton accompanies the group to insure the son has a proper and dignified burial wearing his dress uniform. My favourite part of the movie is when the three old warriors start reminiscing about Saigon, booze and prostitutes, and Quinton shuts them down by suggesting that prostitution isn't something he or his friends are into. Hmmmm, a Millennial Moment??? Happily for this sad movie, the ending is upbeat. The three inadvertently have done exactly what the son would have wanted them to do. Full disclosure: I would not have picked this movie, my boyfriend did--but I am glad I saw it.
If I had to say what movie had the most impact on me this year, I would have to say it was Sean Baker's "The Florida Project". The setting is a three-story poverty motel on the outskirts to Disney World. It's even called The Magic Castle, but this is as close to Disney World the kids who live here are going to get. It stars Willem Dafoe as motel manager and it should get him an Academy Award. He is uncompromising but kind and humane to the down and out parents who are trying to make their rents each week. He also looks out for the small kids while their parents are working, asleep or inebriated. A six year old girl called Moonee, played brilliantly by Brooklyn Kimberly Prince, lives with her early twenty something mom, played by Bria Vinaite. For Brooklyn, summer means endless stretches of time to invent games to antagonise neighbours, roam throughout the neighbourhood inventing fantasy scenarios, and never giving up or giving in. In essence, this movie is about the resiliency of children, despite what may be going on at home. In fact, I've never seen a movie that quite captured the indefatigable bounce back kids can have in the worst of situations. I don't want to say much more, except do whatever you can to see this movie!
Woodshock
Last but not least, Little Missy is happy to say that Woodshock is available as a DVD. Kate and Laura Mulleavy's breathtaking movie starring the luminous Kirsten Dunst is a must see. It tells a story 100 per cent from a woman's viewpoint, something I don't think has ever happened in Hollywood. Like the movie "Days of Heaven", which was released in 1978 and is now considered one of the most important American movie, there is little dialogue and much gorgeous cinematography. Allow yourself to be immersed in the redwoods while Kirsten takes her dark night of the soul journey. Stunning and unforgettable.
Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers!
Much love
Little Missy
