Welcome to the 845th edition of my series. It has been quite a week. My minivan of maybe eight years or so is on its last leg so I knew it was time for a new vehicle. I feared with the chip shortage situation that it would be very difficult to find a good deal on a decent used vehicle. Thankfully I was wrong and found a really good 2015 Jeep Patriot that has had limited usage. I must also discuss the play MURDER AT CAFE NOIR that I am in at the Pulse Opera House in Warren, Indiana. This show is happening in the weekends of March 11-13 and 18-20 with the Friday and Saturday shows happening at 8 pm and the Sunday shows happening at 4 pm. Tickets can be bought through the website https://pulseoperahouse.org/ or by calling 260-375-7017. Come take your mind off things and get some laughs. I will get on with my selections for the week.
Disobedience (2017): This is part two of my potential five-part Rachel Weisz series that centers around the Jewish community. Sebastian Lelio directed this film based on the novel by Naomi Alderman. Weisz stars as Ronit who has returned to the Jewish community that shunned her after her estranged father dies. Rachel McAdams co-stars as Esti who clearly has history with Ronit but has since married Dovid, played by Alessandro Nivola who is a disciple of the church. As Ronit and Esti get reacquainted, their passion reignites and walk a fine line between faith and sexuality. Anton Lesser, Allan Corduner, Nicholas Woodeson, David Fleeshman, Steve Furst, Trevor Allan Davies, and many others co-star in this film. This is a pretty intense film within the Jewish community. Weisz and McAdams worked well together in this film about faith and love. This is available to watch on Hulu.
Proof (2005): This is part two of my potential four-part Anthony Hopkins series. John Madden directed this film which is based on the play by David Auburn. Gwyneth Paltrow stars as Catherine who is the daughter of the late Robert, played by Hopkins. Robert was a very brilliant but mentally disturbed mathematician and Catherine wonders if she takes after her father. Jake Gyllenhaal co-stars as Hal who is a former student of Robert and is interested in his writings. Also complicating things for Catherine is her sister Claire who returns in hopes of settling their father's estate and other things. This is a character driven film more than anything. Paltrow carries this very well trying to understand her level of sanity in this compelling film. This is available to watch on Showtime.
Project Nim (2011): This is my documentary for the week which was directed by James Marsh and based on a book by Elizabeth Hess. This takes a look at a chimpanzee named Nim who in the '70s raised like a human child starting with a suburban family. This takes a look at his journey and making an impact wherever he goes. This shows the ups and downs of trying to raise an animal in a human environment and unfortunately the downs outweighed the ups. This takes a look at many people who were involved in his life and reflecting of these times. This is a rather compelling and sad story of this animal. This is available to watch on Prime with a subscription to Tribeca Shortlist.
The Tram (1966): This is my Polish short film for the week which was directed by a young Krzysztof Kieslowski who did this as a college assignment. This is a silent film where a shy young man who watches a girl on a tram. When she leaves, he realizes he must meet her. This is a simple boy meets girl love story that was the start of quite the career for Kieslowski who is likely most known for this THREE COLORS trilogy. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel as well as otehr works from Kieslowski.
A Damsel in Distress (1937): George Stevens directed this musical romantic comedy with music written by the Gershwins. Fred Astaire stars as American entertainer Jerry Halliday who after a series of misunderstandings meets English damsel Lady Alyce, played by Joan Fontaine. George Burns and Gracie Allen add to the comedy as a couple of Jerry's friends. Reginald Gardiner, Ray Noble, Constance Collier, Montagu Love, Jan Duggan, and many others co-star in this musical. This is the usual sort of Astaire fun and with the legendary comedy team of Burns and Allen adding a lot to it. Fontaine holds her own in this world as well. This is available to watch on HBO Max.
The Woman in the Window (1944): Fritz Lang directed this Film Noir based on the novel by J.H. Wallis. Edward G. Robinson co-stars as Professor Richard Wanley who meets up with femme fatale Alice Reed, played by Joan Fontaine. A misunderstanding leads Richard into killing Alice's boyfriend and agrees to cover up the murder to protect his reputation which leads into a world of blackmail. Raymond Massey, Edmund Breon, Dan Duryea, Thomas E. Jackson, Dorothy Peterson, Arthur Loft, Frank Dawson, George McFarland, Robert Blake, and many others co-star in this film. This is a very intriguing film and a significant entry into the genre. This would be a great double feature to go along with SCARLET STREET which reunites some of these actors. This is available to watch on Amazon Prime and Hoopla Digital.
Sun Children (2020): This is my Iranian film for the week which was directed and co-written by Majid Majidi. This is a hard look at a group of preteens who support their families by doing small jobs and committing petty crimes. The 12 year old Ali, played by Roohollah Zamani, and his friends are entrusted to find a hidden treasure but must first enroll in a school where the tunnel is located. Ali Nassirian, Javad Ezati, Tannaz Tabatabaei, Shamila Shirzad, and many others co-star in this Iranian film. This takes a good look at the social situations of Iran. It is also a good story from this country with very good performances. This is hard to watch sometimes but is a very compelling film that deserves a look. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Farewell, My Lovely (1975): Dick Richards directed this film based on the novel by Raymond Chandler. Robert Mitchum stars as the famed private detective Raymond Chandler in 1940s Los Angeles. He is hired by an ex-convict named Moose, played by Jack O'Halloran, to find a former love. As expected, there is far more to the case leading into a much deeper world. Charlotte Rampling, John Ireland, Sylvia Miles, Anthony Zerbe, Harry Dean Stanton, Joe Spinell, Sylvester Stallone, Kate Murtagh, Walter McGinn, and many others co-star in this Neo-Noir. This would be Stallone's last movie before his star-making film of ROCKY. Mitchum makes a great Chandler and is homage to the 1940s Film Noir but stands alone as its own movie. This is also a bit darker as they were not held back by a production code. This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and much of the free streaming services that have ads.
Summer Interlude (1951): This is my Swedish film for the week which was directed by Ingmar Bergman. Maj-Britt Nilsson stars as the ballerina Marie who recalls a summer 13 years ago where she meets her first love Henrik, played by Birger Malmsten. Alf Kjellin, Annalisa Ericson, Georg Funkquist, Stig Olin, Mimi Pollak, Renee Bjorling, and many others co-star in this film. This is a beautiful story on love and tragedy done in a way only Bergman can do. This is available to watch on the Criterion Channel.
Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015): I end the week on this independent film which was directed and written by Chloe Zhao in her feature film debut. This takes place in South Dakota's Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. John Reddy and Jashaun St. John star as close-knit brother and sister Johnny and Jashaun Winters. They have an older brother in jail and live with their single mother Lisa, played by Irene Bedard. Johnny considers a movie to Los Angeles which concerns Jashaun. Much of the actors in this movie are locals. This is really a movie driven by the script and its characters. This takes a look at the ups and downs as well of the hardships to survival where sometimes they must resort to hustling. It is also a touch movie on family. This is available to watch on Hoopla Digital and on Hulu.
Well, that is it for this week. Tell me what you like and dislike and stay tuned for next week which so far includes Rachel Weisz, Anthony Hopkins, Katherine Hepburn, and many others.