NYFF Virtual Cinema report:
As you may recall, I got tix for
Nomadland, La Nuit des rois/Night of the Kings,
and
Undine,
the latter of which finally came available last night. I'm sorry to say that, while I loved Paula Beer (as always), for me,
Undine
did not live up to
Phoenix
or
Transit.
Still, it has a great atmosphere and performances, so if you have a higher tolerance for magical realism than I do (which almost anyone does) you might just love it.
The other two were absolutely fantastic. I can't recommend them highly enough. Along with
First Cow,
my favorites of the year so far. As someone who wanted to like
The Rider
more than I did, I was glad to see Chloe Zhao hit it out of the park with
Nomadland.
I can't imagine it not being up for multiple Oscars. In a just world
La Nuit des rois
also would be, but we'll see. It is the Cote d'Ivoire's submission for Best International feature and it is all about storytelling so I would think it would get a nomination at least.
While I’m probably not gonna watch it, I’m a little surprised that it took this long for Freaky Friday the 13th to get made.
Hey, remember that teen coming of age movie that I was the consultant on? It's finally been released on streaming!
My Summer as a Goth: available on Amazon Prime, Vudu, FandangoNow, iTunes, Microsoft Store, Google Play and InDemand (cable).
Okay, let me pitch you a movie idea.
It's the Robin Hood story. Only, they're all gangsters in Prohibition-era Chicago. And it's a musical.
Before you say anything, let me tell you about the talent that's lined up. 4 big names to play the Robin role and 3 of the Merry Men roles -- 3 of the 4 could genuinely be described as legends of popular music. For the Gisborne role, we have someone that has already been nominated for 2 Supporting Actor Oscars and 2 Emmys, with one Emmy win. The Sheriff of Nottingham role also involves an up-and-comer, with a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination under his belt. For the Maid Marian role, we have someone with a solid resume, including a Golden Globe. And the movie starts with a cameo from a screen legend. Plus some great tunes, with at least one that should become a standard.
So, yes, Robin and the 7 Hoods has a ridiculous premise. But there's a lot of star power having a great time. Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Bing Crosby sharing screen time -- and they sing together on You've Either Got or You Haven't Got Style. Frank introduces My Kind of Town. There's also Sammy Davis, Jr., who taps up a storm while shooting up a casino in Bang Bang. Peter Falk plays Gisborne, and while he can't really sing, he's only asked to do so once. Victor Buono plays the Sheriff, and Barbara Rush plays a very different kind of Marian. Plus Edward G. Robinson in a cameo.
Not great art, but a lot of fun. Worth spending 2 hours here.
aw ... David Prowse, who provided the physical presence of Darth Vader, has died
Wow indeed. I may have to subscribe.
Damn, HBO. Shut up and take my money.
