The Banshees of Inisherin

 

Colin Farrell, the actor who stars in a lot of movies you expect to be good, but aren’t (Alexander, Miami Vice, The New World, The Batman, Fantastic Beasts, American Outlaws, Dumbo and the second season of True Detective), is finally in a good film. 

It’s feckin’ good.

Banshees reunites In Bruge actors Farrell and Brendan Gleeson as frenemies living on the made-up Irish island of Inisherin in the 1920s. The island may not be real but from its thatched roofs, thick accents, local characters and dark brew pubs, this gorgeous film sure makes it seem so.

Writer and Director Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Illinois) has assembled a dark comedy about two men and a friendship severed while giving a finger to predictive storytelling.

Within the story, the film makes many thoughtful observations on age, loneliness, masculinity and niceness. It's clearly the director's most humane (although grotesque) film.

In a nutshell: A slow-paced story set on an isolated island, but it’s anything but feckin’ boring. One of 2022's best.

Award potential: Similar to last year’s Power of the Dog, it’s likely to be a divisive film that scores multiple Oscar nominations from Best Picture down but may struggle to win any. I expect Farrell as Actor and certainly Gleeson as Supporting Actor to be in most award conversations. Barry Keoghan (Dunkirk) who plays the local “idjit” could make all the lists as well.

Where to find it: In theaters starting November 4, 2022

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

The Greatest Beer Run Ever

You may have heard that this beer was greeted with a lukewarm reception at Telluride, but don't be fooled, while it's dropped out of Oscar Best Picture discussion, this is a ten-buck-worthy movie that is perfect for a weekend movie night.

Perhaps its pedigree raised expectations a bit. Directed by Peter Farrelly (2019 Oscar Best Picture Green Book), the film was expected to be the one that Apple pushed for its follow-up to last year's best picture, CODA. Turns out, it's a good film that just doesn't reach that level of greatness. But it's one of the best new things you can stream at home this month.

The Greatest Beer Run Ever tells the true story of Chickie Donohue and his bar bet decision to take a trip to Vietnam— in 1967— to bring his soldier friends a beer and a hug of support from their hometown. Zac Efron (The Greatest Showman) plays Chickie and earns points for playing a character that's not Zac Efron, but falls short of taking the story to something a bit deeper. Perhaps Miles Teller would have been the winning choice here.

The full film has the same problem. It's neither crazy funny (after all, this is the director of Dumb and Dumber and Something About Mary) nor very deep and moving. Unless it's a shock to you that the Vietnam War was full of bad things, it's a bit of a lightweight given its potential.

However, like Forest Gump grazing through history lightly or perhaps Good Morning Vietnam, it's a very likable, watchable film. And it's an amazing true story. 

Once I realized that this was more Green Book than Platoon and more Forrest Gump than Tropic Thunder, I sunk into the story and enjoyed the show.

In a nutshell: A lightweight, enjoyable film to screen at home — with an amazing story.

Award Potential: None.

Where to see it: Apple TV+

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

Netflix Summer Blockbusters 2022

While I wish a few of these flicks were in chilly, popcorn aroma-filled theaters this summer, three A-list cast films are premiering on Netflix instead. Two are worth your ten bucks.

Spiderhead

While Chris Pratt (Jurassic World Dominion) and Chris Hemsworth (Thor: Love & Thunder) delivered some unwatchable summerfilms on the big screen in 2022, "Thor Chris" decided to go one worse and put a stop on the summer success of Miles Teller (Top Gun: Maverick) too. 

Based on a short story from The New Yorker, Spiderhead (not a superhero film) takes place in a future prison where prisoners are offered mood altering, experimental drugs. Overseing these experiments is Steve Abnesti (Hemsworth) who manipulates and watches. It's creepy and everyone is acting in the wrong tone. 

I have no idea what director Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun:Maverick) and writers Reese and Wernick (Deadpool) were thinking except for just cashing a Netflix check, but don't be fooled by this impressive list of Hollywood royalty.

The Ten Buck Review: Skip it; not worth ten bucks.

The Gray Man

The other Chris, "Captain America Chris," shows up as a bad guy doing his best mustached-Henry Cavill (Mission Impossible: Fallout) impression. Spoiler reveal: He's never a believable threat. It's the only weak spot in an excellent spy film that I wish had been on the big screen. 

Directors Anthony and Joe Russo (Avengers: Endgame) certainly know how to make an action film and they've enlisted one of the greats to hold it together. Ryan Gosling (La La Land, Drive) is Sierra Six, a government agent not unlike the ones we know from Mission Impossible and Bourne movies, just a bit more convincing.

He's an assasin who follows dangers from Hong Kong and Rome to Vienna and Bangkok, just like we like these other flix, but the action sequences are bang-pow-boffo with very little CGI. One scene reminds me of the joy of the train scene in The Fugitive (1993). Yeh, this is the spy movie we wanted this summer — it's just on Netflix.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth Ten Bucks

Hustle

The joy of seeing a Netflix film is that you haven't invested money and you can change the channel on a film like Spiderhead — or give another chance to Adam Sandler. This one pays off. 

Sandler plays Stanley Sugerman a Philadelphia 76ers scout and an underdog character who finds his next superstar in Bo Cruz (Utah Jazz's Juancho Hernangomez). The familiar but charming film also stars Queen Latifah and a Wheaties-box lineup full of cameos. Perfect for a TV night at home.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth Ten Bucks

Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris

The summer just got sunnier. 

I can think of no better escape from the heated dog days of summer in a midterms year than an hour and fifty-five minutes in a chilly theater with popcorn and Mrs. Harris.

This film has no mention of the multiverse or hammer-wielding heroes, just the charming delight of grand British actress Lesley Manville (Phantom Thread) as a widowed, cleaning lady from London who dreams of buying a couture dress in Paris.

The last time most of us saw Manville, she was in her Oscar-nominated role of a shrewd, high-fashion insider in The Phantom Thread. In a jaw-dropping turn, Manville plays the opposite role here — sparring with Isabelle Huppert (The Piano Teacher) as Mrs. Colbert, the snooty gatekeeper at Christian Dior. Spoiler alert, she does go to Paris.

Although there are surprises along the way, it's fair to note that this fairy tale story has a predictable ending that you can see from miles away. Camera shots that hang on way too long in the first act tell you all you need to know about act three. It doesn't matter; I already want to see the film again this weekend.

The delight of the film exudes from Manville's charismatically authentic performance, director Anthony Fabian's attention to detail, a stunning peek into the lavish house of 1950s Dior and the contagious giddiness around the idea of pursuing a somewhat silly dream.

Ahh, an ode to dreams of all sizes. It's the escapist film we've been waiting for and my favorite of the year so far.

In a nutshell: Manville dazzles and inspires in a wistful fantasy rom-com

Award potential: It may be too comedic and slight for serious Oscar contention but Manville and Huppert should be considered. I expect they'll be on all the shortlists and do well in any Comedy/Musical category (if there is a Golden Globes this year).

Where to see it: In theaters, starting Friday, July 15.

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

The Year's Best Really Short Movies

 

One of last night's SNL skits featured Pete Davidson, Chris Redd and Simon Rex looking for "a really short movie" and praising “three-minute shorts before every Pixar movie.” With The Batman providing about three minutes of entertainment over three hours and Oscar winner Drive My Car driving past three hours, it's no surprise we're long tired of the epic movie run times.

Even with Belfast clocking in marvelously at just an hour and a half, this year's Oscar Best Picture nominees have a running time average of 139 minutes, which is 14 minutes higher than the category’s all-time average.

Rest easy, here are some of the best shorts of the year.

The Long Goodbye
An immigrant family in Britain is having a typical day in their house until a far right-wing march spirals out of control. Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal) produced and stars. He won his first Academy Award (with Aneil Karia) for Best Live Action Short at this year's Oscars. The short film is based on his concept album of the same name. It's shocking, frighteningly real and then, finally, poetic.


Running time: 12 minutes
Where to find it: On regular YouTube, Hulu

Robin Robin
After you watch that one, I'd suggest the joyful, stop-motion Robin Robin. A bird raise by mice is quite a terrible thief and sets off on a journey of self discovery. Gillian Anderson (Crown, The Fall) and Richard E. Grant (Can You Ever Forgive Me, LA Story) raise the shorts VO bar with delightful contributions to "Cat" and "Magpie." For simple entertainment, Robin Robin is the word.


Running time: 32 minutes
Where to find it: Netflix

The Windshield Wiper
This year's winner for best animated short is for adults only. A man with cigarettes asks "What is Love?"and a collection of vignettes attempts to answer his question. The animation is often remarkable and The Windshield Wiper is the recipient of this year's Academy Award for Best Animated Short. Its song ironically reinforces the need for smoky cafes,millennial debates and, perhaps, living in the now.

Running time: 14 minutes
Where to find it: On regular YouTube

The Queen of Basketball
Lusia "Lucy" Harris Stewart, the first and only woman to be drafted into the NBA, is a pioneer in women's basketball and the GOAT of women's game who also scored the first basket in women's Olymic history in 1976. The documentray, which shows her leading a rural Mississippi college to three national titles, could have probably filled three hours if Peter Jackson directed; thankfully he did not. The Queen of Basketball won Best Animated SHort at this year's Oscars.
Running time: 22 minutes
Where to find it: Streaming on Roku

The Ten Buck Review: All are ten-buck worthy.

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

In the heated months of 1969, a series of energetic music performances took place in New York during the Summer of Love. 

However, we're not talking about Woodstock. The Harlem Cultural Festival, which took place over six summer Sundays featured Nina Samone, Stevie Wonder, The Fifth Dimension, Sly and the Family Stone, B.B. King and Gladys Knight & the Pips in top form.

Mostly forgotten in time, Questlove (The Roots) has rescued the film footage, most of which has never been publicly seen, and created a two-hour film (Peter Jackson, take notice) showcasing the amazing performances as well as poignant stories from the artists.

Gladys Knight reminisces about the early days of Motown, and Mavis about the sheer awe of singing with Mahalia. Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. of Fifth Dimension who had been called "not black enough," detail the power of their performance that day.

And there's the music. Stevie Wonder on drums (really), David Ruffin solo, and Nina Samone hypnotizing listeners with "Backlash Blues.”

In a nutshell: A lovingly assembled timepiece and an essential look at performers in their prime.

Award potential. Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) has been nominated for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards.

Where to see it: Hulu

The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

Stream Oscar's Best International Film nominees at home

Japan's three-hour Best Picture contender Drive My Car, popular Norwegian relationship drama Worst Person in the World and triple-threat animated documentary Flee are triple frontrunners for Best International Feature Film (once named Foreign Film) at the 94th Academy Awards.

It’s tough to predict how this race will go, but ultimately movie-goers are the big winner. All five are inspiring films that will take you around the world in human experience — and all are available to stream at home before the Oscars show. Also, lots of cigarette smoking. Here’s what you need to know.

DRIVE MY CAR

Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s three-hour Cannes Best Screenplay-winner Drive My Car is up for Best Picture, Best Director and Best International Feature Film. Japanese director Ryusuke Hamaguchi takes viewers on a ride in this quiet-masterpiece featuring Yusuke (Hidetoshi Nishijima) and his driver Misaki (Toko Miura). Raise the seat back, get comfy and keep your eyes on the narrative which shifts between the two effortlessly and memorably.

It’s a long film in four parts, consider watching it as your next binge series.

Where to watch: HBOmax
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

THE WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD
Norwegian writer-director Joachim Trier (Thelma) perfectly casts Reate Reinsve (Oslo) as Oslo medical student Julie, a magnificent mess who changes career plans too often in her early twenties and may just have similar problems with relationships. Also, perfectly cast are her men— a Robert Crum-style comic-book artist Aksel (Anders Danielson Lie) and Eivind (Herber Nordrum) a married stranger she meets at a party.

If you haven't guessed already, it's a dramatic comedy about a woman on the verge of figuring out who she is. She's unlikely "the worst person in the world" nor is she the "nicest." One thing I can reveal is that she is "funny" in a way we haven't seen since TV's Fleabag.

The whole film is pretty likable too. it delights and generates some solid, rootin-'tootin' laugh-out moments. Until a third arc conversation between Julie and Aksel that delivers a gut-punch about the artifacts of youth that was the most memorable scene of the year for me.

Where to watch: VOD
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

FLEE

Director Jonas Poher Rasmussen's film tells the story of Amin, a young refugee fleeing his home in Afghanistan to Denmark. It's a story of perseverance and hope that will surely impact even the least emotional viewers.

Amin and friend Rasmussen's story is filled with enough suspense to make you forget you are watching an animated film. The animation, of course, hides the identity of the Afghan refugee but serves as a thrilling storytelling device that stretches the format into new directions and will surely push both documentary and animated crafts forward.

A contender for Animated Feature, Documentary and International Feature, which is quite a feat. Flee has already made history and is one to watch before Oscars Night.

Where to watch: Hulu
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

THE HAND OF GOD
Italian auteur Paolo Sorrentino delivers a personal, coming-of-age story set in his hometown Naples. He also delivers a scene that is, well, oh so Italian. Everything here is big and bright and oversized, but it’s quite a trip to go on the trip of one young boy, Fabietto (Filippo Scotti, not Timothy Chalamet), and his own dolce vita.

Where to watch: Netflix
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

LUNANA: A YAK IN THE CLASSROOM

In Pawo Choyning Dorji’s film from Bhutan, a reluctant teacher is assigned to a school that’s an eight-day up the mountains of Bhutan. It is perhaps the most remote classroom in the planet.

Shot high in the remote Himalayas with local villagers and rookie musician-turned-actor Sherab Dorji, Lunana tells the story of a city teacher who finds inspiration through the schoolchildren he encounters. At the beginning of the film, he’d rather be a musician in Australia. By the end, well you’ll likely feel as similarly transformed as Lunana.

Where to watch: VOD
The Ten Buck Review: Worth ten bucks.

Enjoy your trip around the world!