Monrovia, Indiana

The well established documentarian, Frederick Wiseman, has produced a clear, untarnished look at a small town in America, in Monrovia, Indiana.  To quote my friend, Brooks Roddan, a writer and publisher, blogging about this film, which I saw with him:
"There's a real beauty to flat landscapes: trees stand out, for instance.  The horizon lines are so clearly delineated that it seems you can see forever.  The sky is often lovely, filled with white puffy clouds...
It is still possible to convey some basic human truths by holding a camera on a Christian preacher as he delivers the eulogy for a beloved mother and wife, whether one happens to be Christian or not."
Barack Obama, my favorite president, once referred, in essence, to some small town people as clinging to religion and guns. That didn't go over so well.  After seeing this film, I have more insight into why Trump became a choice for many.

Free Solo

O.M.G.!!! A documentary about Alex Honnold, a famous mountain climber, taking on the face of El Capitan in Yosemite, straight up 3000 feet, without ropes, just him.  See it to believe it; some of the most astounding photography that I've ever seen.

BlacKkKlansman

Whoa! Wait a minute!  With BlacKkKlansman, the preminent director, Spike Lee, has brought us the best movie of the year.  Even though it's only August, I don't expect anything to top this.  It is an historical drama based upon Ron Stallworth's book, Black Klansman, about his life story.
It centers around a black man (Stallworth) who joins the Colorado Springs Police Department in the 70s.  He infiltrates the local KKK, who call it "the organization".  He becomes an undercover phone voice, and a fellow policeman, white and jewish, uses the same name when in person with the KKK members.  They uncover serious plans against the black citizens of Colorado Springs.
It is an extremely intense drama dealing with racial issues that are blatant, subtle and complex.  It is realism, black and white, good and bad, moral and immoral.
Although set in an earlier time, it is relevant to the current day, and in fact, is specifically brought current at the end of the movie with racial clashes, particularly in Charlottesville, and even shows President Trump commenting on his version of the Charlottesville clash,  that there were bad elements on both sides.

Leave No Trace, The Rider and Elvis Presley: The Searcher

Leave No Trace
A father and daughter live in a forest near Portland, Oregon.  They are discovered and go on the run.  He's a war veteran with a syndrome and she's a budding teenager.  She's helpful and mostly under his thumb but is managing steps toward independence.  Great performances by both, especially the daughter, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie; plus there's a perfectly suited soundtrack.
The Rider
The story of a rodeo rider who has had a devastating accident while riding but can't resist what he knows so well, the rodeo.  The role is played by Brady Jandreau, who actually had such an accident in real life.  His real father and sister are also in this engaging film, which portays the country and horses in a most beautiful and alluring way.  My mother would have loved it.
Elvis Pressley: The Searcher
A compelling 2 part HBO documentary series on Elvis from his early life right through to the end.  A lot of great music that you've probably never heard before.  A thoroughly engrossing saga that no one should miss.

RBG

RBG, for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, is an outstanding documentary about this very special Justice of the Supreme Court.  I saw it at the SF Film Festival and hope that it will get distributed in general release in theaters so that more people can appreciate it and her.  At a time when a moral code is so lacking in our current administration, it is a much needed infusion of fresh air.

The Party and Leaning into the Wind

The Party is a very funny, adult film.  With a snappy script, the cast is headed by Kristin Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson and Bruno Ganz.  A clear Do Not Miss.  Leaning into the Wind, is a documentary about about the extraordinary British artist, Andy Goldsworthy.  This is the second collaboration made between him and the director and photographer, Thomas Rieddelsheimer, and it is up to their first, the compelling Rivers and Tides (2001).

Oscar Nominations

No big problems with Oscar noms except Best Director.  What!  Martin McDonagh gets no nod for Three Billboards....?  And how about Novitiate for Best Movie?  Glad to see Faces Places got nominated for Best Documentary, but what about Human Flow?
Now for a rare nod for Best Freckles to Julianne Nicholson in I, Tonya and Noviate.
And a first time nod for the steadily increasing degrees of creepy to Get Out.  

Get Out and The Post

I usually skip horror movies, but when I noticed the attention that Get Out was receiving this award season, I went to see it.  I think calling it a horror movie does not do it justice.  This film is nice, then creepy, creepier and yes, then an absolute horror.  The black/white relations in it add spice and humor.  All in all, a fully engaging experience and one not to be missed.
The Post is also an excellent film, centered on the publication of the Pentagon Papers.  It depicts the power and achievements of journalism.  Two of our finest big stars, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, deliver compelling performances.
I admit to being so awed by Get Out that I have nothing more to say about The Post.

5 "Little" Movies Also Get High Ratings

Faces Places.  As artists, Agnes Varda and JR, collaborate to traverse the French countryside making new friends and creating art and large format photos.  Its a fantastic exhibition of their imaginations.  The warmth which develops between them and those they meet feels genuine and magnetizing. 
God's Own Country.  This movie is set on a small farm in northern England.  The family consists of the parents and a son, Johnny, who's a tough nut to like.  A Romanian immigrant, Gheorghe, comes to the farm as a temporary worker but before long, he and Johnny strike up a friendship and more.  This simple story and setting develop into an extraordinary film in the harsh and bleak, but beautiful,  landscape.
Noviate.  A young girl with an agnostic mother is drawn to Catholicism and eventually pursues a vocation as a nun.  The girl (Margaret Qualley), the mother (Julianne Nicholson) [see predeeding post on this blog], and the Reverend Mother (Melissa Leo) all deliver compelling performances.  A thoroughly engaging film.
Human Flow.  Artist Ai Weiwei created this astounding documentary about the world-wide refugee crisis.  So many of us are aware of the homeless issues and poverty extremes where we live, but this film, global in scope, takes us beyond to an expansive reality.  It is dense and absorbing.
BPM (beats per minute).  This film involves the HIV/AIDS battles in Paris in the early 90s.  It  focuses specifically on the ACT UP organization and its many attempts for recognition and medical treatment for those afflicted, but also on the religious and political establishments and their passivity and prejudices.  A frustrating but exhilarting film.

Julianne Nicholson, actress

I first noticed Julianne Nicholson in the movie Flannel Pajamas (2006), in which she played the woman in a nasty, but disappointing (you were rooting for them)  break up from her partner.  She was extraordinary.  I've seen her here and there since then, but now in 2017, she has 2 (semi major) roles in Novitiate, in which she is the loving, but angry and vulgar mother of a daughter who has decided to become a nun.  It's a challenging role that she plays to a T.  She also solidly plays the coach in I, Tonya. Furthermore, she is the recipient this season of the rarely given samoblog award, Best Freckles.