Amanda's Picks
February 2, 2023 at 3:15 p.m.
Amanda's Picks
By Amanda [email protected]
And that non-sweetheart behavior comes back to haunt Lydia when a former disciple/girlfriend commits suicide after Lydia wields her maestro power and blackballs her. Then there’s the social media thing which Lydia has never paid much attention to because when you’re that big a deal you don’t need to right? Uh, wrong.
You don’t have to like or know classical music to enjoy Tár. It’s more a film about having power, abusing it. And it’s about Blanchett who is truly magnificent. Even though Lydia is selfish, manipulative and dismissive of just about everyone, Blanchett magically makes you feel a tiny bit bad for her as you watch her inevitable downward spiral. And because she’s so riveting, the film does not seem 157 minutes long. Yes, there are some confusing and frankly unnecessary scenes but writer/director Todd Field (Little Children) who wrote Tár for Blanchett, has crafted a compelling and very contemporary narrative for our greatest contemporary actress.
Tár: 4 out of 5 Stars
If you have HBO Max, you have free access to the film that narrowly replaced The Fablemans as my favorite movie of the year, The Banshees of Inisherin (R). Already an awards darling, by the time you read this, Banshees should have scored a slew of Oscar nominations, and may I say in advance, well-deserved.
Set on a remote island in Ireland in 1923, Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) are old friends who have a comfortable routine that has become a bit too comfortable for Colm who without warning breaks off the friendship. Why? Not for any dramatic reason, but because Pádraic is boring. The break-up is as brutal as you’ll see in any bad boyfriend rom-com. Colm ignores his former friend to hang with his fellow musicians at the pub, leaving Pádraic to seek solace from his sister Siobhan (Kerry Condon) and his beloved pet donkey Jenny.
When Pádraic refuses to let his former friend be, Colm reacts in a most surprising and desperate manner. You’re like, “Nobody would ever do that” and then five minutes later you’re in. Why? Because Martin McDonagh knows how to write. He previously teamed with Farrell and Gleeson for 2008’s terrific In Bruges. His screenplay is smart, funny, shocking, sad and surprising. And it’s the best film about male friendship and the importance of connection that I’ve ever seen. Inisherin might be a beautiful island but Pádraic seems to be the only content person on the Island and that happiness evaporates when Colm “breaks up” with him. Siobhan, who lives with her brother and is bored to tears, feels trapped and their aimless friend Dominic (Barry Keoghan) has it even worse.
If I was a voting member of the Academy (and I should be) I would hand Oscars to Farrell, Condon and McDonagh for writing. I’d also give an award to Jenny and the island, both crucial sporting players. Throw in the Best Picture Oscar and I’m good.
The Banshees of Inisherin: 5 out of 5 Stars
Sometimes a movie doesn’t grab the critics but captures the audience. Judging by the crowd at the cinema at 11 am on a Sunday morning and a 97% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, that’s the case with A Man Called Otto, based on the Swedish novel and film adaptation A Man Called Ove. Tom Hanks stars as Otto, a down-on-his-luck curmudgeon who lost his wife, his job and his purpose. He dedicates himself to policing his neighborhood, yelling at people for illegal parking and throwing newspapers, and heaven forbid you don’t clean up after your dog. But nobody seems to get mad at Otto, so you know this is a movie.
When Otto decides the neighborhood watch isn’t enough he tries to end it all and despite his best efforts, fails. Then a noisy and needy family of four with one on the way, moves in next door. Tommy can’t fix anything and Marisol can’t drive. They need Otto. Soon Marisol is bringing Otto home-cooked meals, the kids are drawing him pictures and then there’s a cat and a baby. There’s always a cat. Throw in some flashbacks to Otto’s courtship of his beloved wife Sonya and we begin to understand why he’s such a Grumpy Gus.
I know A Man Called Otto (PG-13) sounds a bit shmaltzy, and it is, but it works, mainly because Hanks is perfect for the role and Mexican actress Mariana Trevino as Marisol is a fabulous foil. Like Banshees, Otto speaks to the life-changing significance of relationships and how we define family. Is it a bit manipulative? Yes. Are there issues with the story? Yes. Will it make you cry? I plead the Fifth. But if you just dig in and let these characters into your life, you’ll love Otto.
A Man Called Otto: 4 out of 5 Stars