I know, I know… “Pixar makes another great movie” is as surprising as finding sugar in Coca Cola, but even they had some movies over the past few years that were “good, but not great”. Now, I am not going to name any names, but The Good Dinosaur (2015) or Finding Dory (2016) know, what I am talking about. Luckily, Soul is one of those basically perfect movies, that children have fun watching and adults contemplate their entire lives during. 🙂
There are two reasons this movie resonated so much with me and why I think this might be one of the best movies they have ever done – the surprise and the lesson.
The surprise for me might have not been a surprise for anybody else, as I didn’t really know anything about this movie going into it, so I didn’t see the story going *THAT* route when it happened. For people such as myself, I am not going to spoil it, but let me just say, it slightly infuriated me, when it happened, because I wanted the story to continue the way it was developing, instead of that really sharp turn. But then, when the story continued to develop further, I really liked and appreciated the decision more.
The lesson, or the main idea behind the movie, really resonated with me, as that’s something I have been thinking about lately – people preoccupied by everything else, they “forget” to live their life. I really liked how Soul approached the idea of purpose, “spark”, or an idea you are destined to do just one thing. As having one thing you are passionate about is definitely great, but if you only have that one thing and nothing else, that might not be as great and can ultimately lead you to a very dark place, where it’s just you, being stuck and ultimately unhappy.
The voice casting was (as always with Pixar movies) on point. Jamie Foxx was great, Tina Fey was hilarious and surprising Graham Norton (again, didn’t know anything about this movie before watching it, not even the voice cast) almost stole the movie for me, as his voice is definitely made for animated movies (how come he hasn’t been in one prior?)
Soul is definitely one of those movies I need to re-watch, as I feel like there are thousands of different things I have missed during my first watch, because I was just so pleasantly surprised by this movie and was trying really hard to take everything in. I was surprised how the story was told, how much it had to say about life in general, how it was dark, sad and at the same time, hopeful. This is why people love Pixar movies and I am only hoping, that Pixar will keep surprising us in the future. They have managed to start the new decade very well. I believe in couple of years time, Soul will be part of the “what’s the best Pixar movie?” debate that’s so popular within the movie community, as this movie is definitely strong and has… soul. 😉
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
Your enjoyment of this movie will be directly influenced by whether and how much you like Aaron Sorkin as not only “the screenwriter”, but also Aaron Sorkin “the director”. Because The Trial of the Chicago 7 is the purest Sorkin I have seen since… maybe ever? The fact he’s behind the camera and not “just” writing a screenplay means a lot, as this movie is exactly as his dialogue – precise, entertaining, a bit of full of itself, but at the end, no matter how “sugary” that ending might have made you feel, he’s got you exactly where he wanted. At least, he got me.
The Trial of the Chicago 7 is your almost stereotypical “Oscar-bait” movie, that follows unwritten guidelines, that might look like this:
Based on a true story, that’s still (unfortunately) as relevant today as it was back then? ✓
A few really strong speeches throughout the movie, that will make you go “hooray”? ✓
Ending that might be too much, but it fits within that moment and makes sense, because the movie sets it up? ✓
Most of the cast giving great performances, that will most likely be awarded with at least Oscar nomination? ✓
Clear divide where everybody stands, with maximum of one character, who might be working for the “other” side, but he’s only doing it because it’s his job? ✓
I think you get the point, because this movie is definitely guilty of following a narrative, that’s well known, especially during the fall season (that’s the award season in Hollywood, where if there was no pandemic, these movies would have been the top contenders for some awards and being released in the cinemas). Fortunately for this movie, being formulaic is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as the viewer (me) only notices the formula after it happens. What I mean by that is, if I am truly immersed in a movie, I tend to forgive certain things that come to me only after the movie is over and I think about it. Whereas if I am not too into the film I am watching, I tend to get bored, and start noticing those things as I they happen. And this film had me from the very beginning.
It’s insane to think that most things that are portrayed in this movie not only happened, but some happened even worse than portrayed here – the perfect example of this would be the treatment of Bobby Seale (brilliantly portrayed by Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) that was even worse during the actual trial, than displayed here (fairly briefly, but still it makes you uncomfortable). Usually, I would give you more information, but given this is still a fairly new movie, I don’t want to spoil it, so for more information, I direct you to the spoiler section on IMDb’s Trivia page.
That leads me to my next point, why I don’t mind this movie being so “formulaic” – the performances are simply stellar all around. From Eddie Redmayne, Jeremy Strong to already mentioned Yahya, all great performances within their own right, but the highlight (and surprise) for me was Sacha Baron Cohen. I have never seen in anything else but comedies, so it was one of those “huh, this guy can act really well” moments, where by the end, he stole the movie for me, which is quite a shock, as the character he portrays, seemed to be quite a “hipster” in a real life, to put it really mildly. That is how I knew he delivered, by making me like a character, who I wouldn’t probably get along that well in real life (I know, the guy he’s portraying is no longer alive, but that’s beside the point. Also that’s not a spoiler, as he survives the movie).
There is something almost comforting about these big, “important” movies still being made “the Hollywood way”. As it became a formulaic for a reason, because it usually works. And The Trial of the Chicago 7 worked for me from the very start. I really liked the story structure (sometimes we follow the trial, intercut with stand-up routine), I really liked the flow of the movie, as it never felt dull or boring (and we talking about a movie that is slightly over 2 hours) and most importantly, I did like the ending, even though I do understand if somebody tells me they didn’t.
Overall, I would strongly recommend this film, especially if you love “historical” court dramas (the historical being in quotes, as it feels weird saying that about a film taking place in the late 60’s), Aaron Sorkin, and the old, comforting Hollywood formula. Given what we have been through lately (and the fact the pandemic is still happening) we all deserve something comforting, even though this film will definitely make you uncomfortable at some parts.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
I remember hearing really good things about this movie a year ago, when it came out. But then, regretfully, I have forgotten all about it. But couple of weeks ago, some movie people I follow on Twitter started to “argue” that even though it’s really new, Klaus is a Christmas movie done right and will 100% become a new holiday classic for years to come. Yes, Twitter can sometimes do great things! So, being reminded of this movie, I’ve discovered it on Netflix and watched it with my girlfriend. And we absolutely loved it.
The story at first seems to be as cliché as it gets, spoiled son is shipped away to make something out of himself, he hates everything, he’s lazy… you name it. But there are these little things, quirks that differentiate Klaus from other movies. First of all, the animation looks more unique than your “average” Disney/Pixar/DreamWorks so it hits you differently, in a good way. The second thing was the jokes seemed to be more subtle, nothing too “in your face” like animation movies have done over the past couple of years. It’s almost like they have decided that even though this is an animated movie, it doesn’t mean we can’t have better jokes or deeper themes to cover. And that brings me to the most unique thing about this movie – the actual story.
See, Klaus is really about how this legend of Santa started. But it’s done in different way, European way. What does that mean, you might ask? Well, plenty of European legends/fairy tales are actually darker than American ones and are usually not shy from dealing with heavier topics within its stories. Just an example, have a read of the original story by Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid and you might be shocked to see how much Disney had changed it to be more palatable to Americans. And that is the biggest advantage of Klaus, it is not Americanised in any way. There are some darker elements and the back story behind the actual Klaus and why he has so many toys, is heart-breaking. But don’t get me wrong, this is a movie for the entire family, 100%! Just because it might deal with certain topics that would make you a bit sad (my girlfriend cried her way through most of the second half, either it was too sad, or too cute for her gentle soul to handle) it doesn’t mean it’s not a family movie. I would argue it’s one of the best animated family movies in years!
That’s the other point with your story having some slightly darker or more adult themes – it juxtaposes with the light themes/jokes much better, which only makes sense, if you think about it. That is why I believe it’s a mistake for (mostly) American animated movies to be all jokes, no even remotely adult themes anywhere, as when you have a film, that’s one joke after another, eventually you will feel dull. Whereas with Klaus, one scene might make you a bit more emotional, just so in a couple of minutes, you will genuinely laugh. This movie mixes it perfectly, so it never goes overboard with being either too dark/adult or too silly/cartoonish.
Plus, the voice casting! The main trio is just excellent, Jason Schwartzman as our protagonist was great, Rashida Jones, who must really love voicing Christmas characters, as she’s in the latest “remake” of The Grinch (2018, my review here) too, is always pleasant to listen, but the main star is J.K. Simmons as Klaus, because he fits this role just perfectly. I love the fact J.K. Simmons is having this late career push, where he is in everything and he’s great, because he deserves it. And his voice, his slightly darker/threating voice, was oddly enough, perfect for this figure.
Overall, I loved this movie. I am always trying to be careful with what I say, as you never know what will happen in the future (remember how we believed 2020 will be great year…? Yeah…) but I am convinced, that Klaus will become a holiday classic, and not only for this generation. The same way we have holiday classics from different eras (the oldest is probably It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) with the latest probably being Elf (2003) as I can’t remember any other mainstream movie that would be considered holiday classic after Elf) this movie has already in my mind joined those movies, where it will be re-watched every holiday season, because it is that great. At least in our household, I will be more than happy to call this movie the new Christmas classic.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
This review only covers Season 2 of The Mandalorian. If you want to read my review of the first season, please click here.
Well, looks like it’s official – The Mandalorian is the best Star Wars content ever since X (please fill the X based on your preference and how much you liked/disliked the prequel or the sequel trilogy) as for the most part, it’s quest-of-the-week kind of show, that doesn’t rely too heavily on the Skywalker saga… until it does. And then it goes there hard. It’s impossible to talk about this without going into some heavy spoilers, so before that, let me just say that I am fully on board with this show, some of the spin-offs that have been announced and can’t wait for the season 3 of this show, patiently waiting where will the story lead us. Having said that…
Beware, SPOILERS are coming!
Overall, I liked almost everything they have done with this season. I did like the approach of “one episode = one quest” for our Mando to do, and this allows him to get closer to finding out who should take care of Baby Yod… ehm, sorry, I meant Grogu. Before we reveal the identity of the Jedi who will train our precious Grogu, we learn that Boba Fett has managed to survive the Sarlacc Pit in the Episode VI – Return of the Jedi (1983, my review here). I was shocked and happy with that, as a few episodes later, this TV show finally does something unbelievable – shows me for the very first time, why has Boba Fett been considered such a bad ass. I have never understood the hype around his character in Star Wars universe, but that episode, where he’s back and “reunited” with his armour, is definitely a cool one, that fully showcases him and his appeal.
Then we are introduced to Bo-Katan and Ahsoka Tano. If you are not familiar with either of those names, that just means you haven’t watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 – 2020) TV show, where both of these come from (to be fair, I am not certain whether Bo-Katan might have appeared some place else, but I am more than happy to be corrected) and since I am going my way through The Clone Wars, I am familiar with Ahsoka and was glad she was portrayed so well by Rosario Dawson. That episode would have probably been the highlight if it wasn’t for the very last episode.
I really, really liked almost everything about that final episode, except the digital… Luke. That’s right, Ahsoka tells Mando and Grogu to go to this planet, where Grogu sends his signal for all the Jedi to hear, and the most powerful Jedi that’s alive heard him and it just happened to be Luke Skywalker. Which, at first, I thought it was bit of cheating, I mean… why go back to Skywalker saga? We already have Boba Fett, come on! But then, I remembered this takes places after the episode VI and about 25 years prior the sequel trilogy, so it had to be Luke. And again, I didn’t even mind that fact, after all, we have finally gotten a great scene of him against the Dark Troopers and actually cutting through them and crushing them using the Force. It all reminded me of the end of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016, my review here) and I am pretty sure that was on purpose. Only thing that truly bothered about this choice was the CGI on Mark’s face, as it takes you out of that moment. I would almost rather have somebody, who resembles young Mark Hamill, Mark could provide the voice…? I know, I know, am I truly suggesting re-casting Luke motherfucking Skywalker? No, but aesthetically it would have been way, way better than what we have gotten.
I feel like this might be breaking point for this series, as the second season of The Mandalorian has managed to supersede the first one, while it was building on something that was solid and building towards something really great. Now, where some part of the story seems to be finished (will there be more Grogu?) and the end gives us teaser for the first (I swear I can’t keep track of which one of those 256 Star Wars spin-off shows that have been announced will come out first) spin-off show, The Book of Boba Fett, I honestly wonder and hope this wasn’t the peak of The Mandalorian. As I have some inkling of what the season 3 will be about (Bo-Katan vs. Mando, possibly his struggle with the Dark Saber and the “power” it holds and Mando missing Grogu…?) but I can’t see how would they manage to make a full season out of that. But then again, so far, they (Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni) haven’t disappointed me yet and I they have earned my trust.
It will be interesting to see, where does this show go from here, which ones of the spin-offs will work and which ones won’t and how this will finish. But one thing is becoming clearer and clearer – this is the way. And I don’t mean just for this TV show, I think for Star Wars in general. I don’t know whether this is (un)popular opinion but this show proves Star Wars works much better as series. The stories don’t have to be these big, space battles between the good and evil all the time. Just contain the story to something on a smaller scale, give it decent budget, some talent behind and in front of the camera and get people passionate about this universe, who can name you any obscure character from different books, games etc., that will fill it in with references that if you understand, that’s great, but if you miss, that’s not that big of a deal. That might be the way for this massive franchise in the future.
Overall, The Mandalorian season 2 has delivered big and didn’t disappoint. I honestly am looking forward to the season 3 next Christmas and will probably check out The Book of Boba Fett too. In the meantime, I need to finish The Clone Wars and probably get Star Wars: Rebels (2014 – 2018) watched right after that, just to complete every Star Wars thing there is, at least filmed. Yes, I am one of those people… 🙂
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
I will show my hand straight away with this movie – I love it. I have seen it many times before, for me, this is one of the best performances for both Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy (and both have had great careers). On top of that, brilliant work by Jamie Lee Curtis who’s not only stunning, but can keep up with both of these comedy giants (I’ve always thought she’s seriously underrated in this movie). So, how come it’s problematic? Well, let me ask you, when was the last time you’ve seen this movie fully?
Because I remembered, there are some uses of the “n-word”, which even though it can be argued is not appropriate (because it’s not), it unfortunately fits within the story and fits the character who says it. Actually, let me stop here for a bit before talking about the scene I’ve forgotten completely is in the movie. Only on this recent re-watch I have realised the racist element and difference between the Duke brothers (brilliantly played by Ralph Bellamy and Don Ameche). Yes, both are in their core bad people, there is no argument here and the movie makes it pretty clear. But there is one major difference, how they see Eddie’s character, Billy Ray. Randolph (played by Ralph Bellamy) seems him as person, whereas Mortimer (played by Don Ameche) doesn’t, and it’s him who utters the couple of “n-words” in this movie. I have never realised it until now, that there is a tiny difference between them. But again, both are pretty horrible, messing around with people’s lives… that’s just not right.
The one scene I have genuinely forgotten about is towards the end, where as a part of rouse, Dan Aykroyd’s character is wearing a full on black face, as he’s supposed to be Rastafarian. And look… this is where we need to be adults and recognize that yes, it’s not terribly great thing to do, and to be fair, this doesn’t set him up with funny jokes either. But we can’t go around and start “cancelling” this movie because of this one scene. 80’s were different, wild times (I mean, how many mainstream Hollywood comedies of today you can name that have proper nudity?) where almost nothing was off the table. And now, we can disagree with it, we can learn from it and move past it. But does this mean we should start pretending this movie isn’t great? No, I’d hope not. In the same vein how certain people are now trying to go back and claim that Kevin Spacey was always a mediocre actor, I am sorry, but that’s just wrong. I don’t know whether he did what he was accused of or not, so I can’t judge him, but I do feel bad about watching a movie with him in it. BUT, will I start claiming “he was never that great…”? No, because that is why it hurt, when we learned of the accusations against him. If he truly was “just a mediocre” actor, we wouldn’t have cared as much, but because he was somebody who up until 2017, was one of the most respected actors of his generation, we cared. And the same goes for this movie. I really hope some “overly woke” people, who always like to pretend they would have definitely been opposed to this in the 80’s (sure you would) won’t create bunch of clickbaity articles about why liking this movie is wrong.
Humanity is not perfect and guess what? We will never be 100% perfect. I guarantee you, today, in 2020, we are doing something, that in 5/10 years, will be questioned, shamed. And that’s good thing, because that means we are constantly evolving, we are questioning what is right, what is wrong and that is good. The only problem here are people, who are always trying to be holier than thou, who would like to bundle up everything “not up to a certain, *moral* standards” and cancel it, burn it, not show it, because it’s bad, it offends them. But that’s just wrong, because we will never learn! There is a saying that goes “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” and it couldn’t be truer today. We should be able to watch something, that we know is wrong and have a conversation about it, and why it’s wrong, because that is how we all grow, that is how we can truly evolve. Not by trying to ignore the past, trying to pretend some things never happened, as that offends us.
Sorry, this turned into something slightly else than a review, but, I believe there is nothing much I can say about Trading Places that hasn’t been said already. This comedy is as close to being perfect as possible and if you can get over the fact it was shot in the 80’s, where people thought certain things were more acceptable, you will have a blast watching this. True classic.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
It’s been slightly over 7 months since I wrote my review for the first 10 seasons of South Park (that can be found here). And as promised, here’s the review for the rest of it. Yes, I am as finished with South Park as humanly possible for just now, but I am nowhere near finished with the show itself, as it always finds a way to stay funny, relevant and to piss a lot of people off.
The later seasons of this show definitely felt different. It’s almost like as time went along, it was harder for them to make fun of everything (or you know, just stay focused on just the “easier” targets like Mormons, Scientologists) and they felt obligated to reflect even more on what’s happening in the world/USA. Especially with 2016 presidential election. If I remember correctly, that was the first season that actually had a story-line from start to finish throughout the entire season. Almost a proper narrative, not just two/three episodes in the row about the same topic, but around that time, they have decided to go with parallels/jokes for certain topics (election, climate change, political correctness) and making them the main focus of entire seasons, which was pretty smart decision.
What I hoped would potentially come back, or they might touch upon, is Stan’s depression, as South Park definitely isn’t afraid to address/delve into something a bit more serious and those few episodes in the middle of season 15, where everything Stan hears is shit, everything that he used to love is no longer bringing him joy… that definitely seemed relatable, especially in these (unfortunately still) weird COVID-19 times. I honestly wouldn’t mind if the creators somehow brought this story line back, especially since they are already dealing with the pandemic (that of course, might have been caused by someone from South Park) it would only feel natural, as how it eventually played out was… sad, true, but felt unfinished.
What I honestly admire and love about this show is how it won’t die, sell out, or rush. No matter how many times people try to cancel it (and it looks like lately people have been trying) they are not only still going strong, but they always manage to fire back at those critics, but not in Donald’s (sorry, Mr. Garrison’s) way of “No, YOU!” but in genuinely funny way (like that one time how they reminded us that everybody ignored Apu from The Simpsons being dubbed by white actor, which of course became a thing). And yes, not every single thing South Park does is “subtle”, no question about that. But that is their main strength, they don’t have to be subtle. Because they represent America, the best and the worst of it. And of course, America doesn’t like that.
It’s like that guy, who’s overly self-confident, who is always boosting about having the best body, until he sees himself in the mirror. Or a girl, who’s always talking about being “totally different than the other, normal girls” just for you to discover, she’s not that different at all. Throughout the years, that’s been the biggest strength of this TV show for me – being the mirror for (mainly) USA. Plenty of times, uncomfortable, non-PC kind of mirror, that we might want to laugh at, ’cause ‘Merica, am I right? But deep down, we all know it’s more sad, than funny. But we laugh anyway, because what else is there to do? Nothing is black or white, nothing is just bad, or just great and South Park is here to remind us of that. And we should be grateful. I do appreciate somebody, who can still make fun of anything and just “say it as they see it”, even though that means sometimes, you might disagree with the message, or you might think they take something too far. But guess what? That’s totally fine, it would have been a boring world if we all agreed with each other all the time, plus good art should push boundaries.
Even after 23 seasons and one Pandemic Special later (which was brilliant) I still can’t wait for more episodes to come and here’s me hoping they won’t stop, get cancelled, or get bought by Disney anytime soon, as that would be a shame (and properly ironic on top of that) 😉
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
There are filmmakers who make great movies, that are not for everyone. For me, David Lynch is the perfect example of an artist, whose work is not easy to recommend to the “normal” audience, even though he is one of my favourite directors of all time. But even his movies pale in comparison to some of Pedro Almodóvar‘s work. That is why I like him too (can’t say love him, as I still haven’t seen as many of his movies as I would have liked). The Skin I Live In (in original La piel que habito) is yet another example of twisted brilliance, I desperately want to recommend to everybody, but at the same time, I can’t, as I fear some people would just stop talking to me after watching it, fearing for their safety. 🙂
Which is fair I guess, as this movie is… unique? Even that word doesn’t do this film justice. What I loved about this movie were the slow reveals of the necessary information. If this was an American film, there might have been a narrator, there would have been the awkward dialogue like “Of course, Mother, because that is how I always address you” to make sure everybody understands who is who, and what is happening. I think that is the main difference between American x European cinema, as plenty of European filmmakers give you information as the movie goes, trusting the audience and their intelligence. This movie is no different. Every time you think “I see where this is going now”, the movie makes a different turn, making you either really invested into the story, or really frustrated. Luckily, I was in the first group.
I love when movies treat you with some respect, allow you to guess, but at the same time, provide you with some answers, so you can put everything together, piece by piece. In this case, it is literally piece by piece… without going into spoilers, I can’t say more and for this review, I won’t go there, as I would love for you to watch it without knowing anything about it. Because this movie takes you places. And sure, plenty of them are uncomfortable, but to me, that is why I love unorthodox filmmakers/art.
Especially lately I subscribe to a theory that good art should shake you up a bit, make you think, show you something that might be slightly unsettling, on the edge or just slightly over the edge of what some might call a “good taste”. Why? Because art should evoke emotions. But nowadays, people seem to shy away from anything too… negative. Nobody wants to “make waves”, everything feels the same, sterilised. And I am not saying art needs to be just negative things about bad people doing horrible things, of course not. But just because a movie displays something, that is wrong, outrageous or on the edge of “good taste” (whatever that means) that doesn’t mean that the artist(s) like that bad thing. Or that people who like that type of art, like it because of that element. Plenty of times people gravitate towards something different because they want to be exposed to something they wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise. That in return might start conversation about certain topics, that otherwise would stay off the table.
And I think this is what Almodóvar is doing here. He’s bored of normality, things being the same, he challenges the world. He’s forcing us to have a conversations about topics, we probably wouldn’t have. Like in this example – where is the line between good and evil? Does one horrible act justify another one? Is there such a thing as morality, or is that just set of rules we force upon ourselves? What makes human? Is that the skin they live in, or is it a soul? If it’s the soul, can you destroy it…?
The Skin I Live In is definitely one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. It’s really strange to say I would highly recommend it, given it will make some people really uncomfortable, but I honestly would recommend it, as it’s not something you see everyday, that’s for sure. It also makes you think, treats the audience with respect and showcases talent of Antonio Banderas and Elena Anaya who were both magnificent. This was a wake up call, that I do need to watch more of Pedro’s movies, as even some of his films I didn’t love as much are still worth seeing. Again, when somebody has such a unique vision, they tend make unique art. Sometimes, that art misses you. And sometimes, it hits you in a way you’ve never expected.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
After watching and reviewing Rumor Has It… (2005, my review here) a movie, that’s based on the idea of The Graduate being based in reality, I realised I have seen this classic only one time, about 10/12 years ago, when I was getting into movies. So I had to re-watch it, obviously. And it is still great, but… it is definitely one of those movies that in these times plays differently.
First and foremost, I am not one of those people looking to be “too woke” about older movies and how “bad” they are when comes to variety of different things we just don’t do today. So, setting that aside, Mrs. Robinson, one of the most legendary MILFs (maybe the very first one) is a proper sexual predator. I mean, seriously. Especially before their first sex, she traps poor Dustin Hoffman in the hotel room! I mean, those are some Weinstein-like practises…
In all seriousness now, I am joking… well, kind of. I will not judge the movie based on this, even though she might be taken as a problematic figure in these days. But I think we are all mature enough to acknowledge that yes, her behaviour is not great, nevertheless, it fits within the movie. And the movie, surprisingly, holds up. I know, you didn’t expect to be reading this after the Weinstein comparison, right…? Well it does, because what people often remember about this movie is the Mrs. Robinson, the famous line “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me!” the Simon & Garfunkel soundtrack. But they often forget this movie is more about growing up, how youth is wasted on young people, who can’t help it, as they don’t know what to do with themselves, they don’t know who they are yet. And they get lonely.
The thing about The Graduate is you forget how great all the performances were. And how subtle they are. That is the number one thing that jumped out at me, how everybody in this movie is great, but really subtle about everything. What I have also forgotten is how this movie has tempo of its own. It feels slow, in places almost lazy, but it’s not boring! It emerges you in its world, getting you into the same mindset as Dustin’s character, where everything is slow for him. He’s bored, he doesn’t know what to do, he just wants to take it easy, maybe too easy.
Of course, there is one more thing that made this film into the classic it truly is, the ending. I think I don’t have to be too careful about discussing a movie, that’s over 50 years old now. On top of that, it’s been parodied to death on different shows, movies, sketches… It’s undoubtedly one of the most memorable movie endings of all time. What I like about it, is how bitter sweet it is, as at first, it seems like your typical Hollywood happy ending. He gets the girl, they escape, everything is in front of them. But then, the last 30 seconds of the movie happen, where they exchange the now the famous looks of “well, what now?”, where in those two looks, you can see so much fear, doubt, uncertainty… it’s an acting masterclass. And that ties in with the “youth being wasted on young people”, where they sometimes just do, and then think. Everything comes full circle.
The Graduate can be definitely viewed very differently today, if you want. Or, we can stop pretending we would have always stood on the right side of history, and get over something, that is undoubtedly bad, but that should not cheapen this movie in any way, shape or form. This movie is still relevant even today, as it deals with universal themes of being young, where you are no longer a child/teenager, but you don’t feel like a “proper adult” yet. And the world is this big, and scary place. And if there is one thing young people can relate to today, is this idea of world being a big, scary place…
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
That’s all for this one! Did you see it? What did you think about it? Let me know!
