At The Movies

American Fiction & Poor Things

HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano have a lot to say in this podcast episode, because they're talking about two films that received numerous Academy Award nominations. Cord Jefferson's directorial debut, "American Fiction," strikes an admirable balance between comedy and drama in its story about a Black novelist, Thelonious Ellison (Jeffrey Wright), whose academic novels don't sell nearly as many copies as those of a mass audience-oriented Black novelist, Sintara Golden (Issa Rae). The satirical storyline has serious underpinnings, and that dramatic quality is underscored by Ellison's interaction with family members played by Leslie Uggams, Sterling K. Brown and Tracee Ellis Ross. This is a terrific film. A very different film, director Yorgos Lanthimos' "Poor Things," takes a "Frankenstein"-type premise and soars into wildly surreal territory. Although Mike thinks this film is too long and is often weird for the sake of being weird, he agrees with Marie that it has impressive performances by Emma Stone, Willem Dafoe and the supporting cast, and they also both praise the production design, makeup and costumes. "Poor Things" won't be everybody's favorite, but those who like it are likely to love it.

The Color Purple & Ferrari

"The Color Purple" began as an Alice Walker novel, was turned into a dramatic film by Steven Spielberg, then turned into a Broadway musical, and now has been turned into a movie musical by director Blitz Bazawule. That gives HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano plenty to talk about in this podcast episode. This crowd-pleasing film also pleases our two critics, even though Mike can't stop himself from expressing a few quibbles. Marie and Mike also discuss "Ferrari," about Italian race car designer Enzo Ferrari preparing for a race in 1957. Although veteran director Michael Mann brings his usual technical finesse to the story, there is an ironically slow pace for a racing movie. Marie and Mike disagree about Adam Driver's performance as Ferrari but agree that Penelope Cruz is terrific as Ferrari's wife.

The Holdovers & Napoleon

In "The Holdovers," director Alexander Payne and actor Paul Giamatti work together for the first time since "Sideways" back in 2004. HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano agree in this podcast episode that they have great director-actor chemistry in this character study about a New England boarding schoolteacher tasked with watching the several students who are not able to return home for the Christmas break. There are equally fine performances by Dominic Sessa as a student, Da'Vine Joy Randolph as the school cook, and Carrie Preston as a school administrator. This is one of the best films of the year. Less successful is director Ridley Scott's biopic "Napoleon." Although there are impressively staged battlefield sequences, the film is just a chronicle of one thing after another in Napoleon's busy life. Scott unfortunately mixes actual events with entirely fictionalized scenes, and there is almost no historical analysis. Joaquin Phoenix's brooding performance never really lets us inside Napoleon's personality, but at least Vanessa Kirby makes an intriguing impression as the Empress Josephine. So, think of this disappointing spectacle as Ridley Scott's Waterloo.

Killers of the Flower Moon & Anatomy of a Fall

As HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano talk about Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" in this podcast episode, they assure you they won't go on quite as long as the film's 3-hour, 26-minute running time. Although Marie thinks the film is too long and Mike is fine with the running time, they mostly agree that it is a compelling drama derived from David Grann's nonfiction book about a series of suspicious deaths on an Indian reservation in Oklahoma in the 1920s. Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio give reliably strong performances, and Lily Gladstone deserves an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress for her remarkable performance as one of the Indian women. Marie and Mike also discuss "Anatomy of a Fall," an intriguing whodunit set in the French Alps. They try their best to avoid any spoilers while talking about it.

Dumb Money & The Creator

An actual case involving Game Stop stock selling in 2021 is the basis for "Dumb Money," in which the good guy small investors go up against the bad guy hedge funds. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano mention how movies such as "The Social Network," "The Big Short" and "Dumb Money" deal with characters looking at their devices as they make financial transactions. Although Marie and Mike agree that actors including Paul Dano and Anthony Ramos engage viewer interest, the film does not do much in terms of character development. Marie and Mike also talk about "The Creator," a sci fi epic in which humans and A.I. life forms meet on the geopolitical battlefield. Our critics admire the film's production design and are intrigued by its ideas about A.I., but fault it for delivering a thematically unconvincing narrative. Just the same, they acknowledge that John David Washington is fine in the lead role and that the wavering narrative has enough action sequences and comic punch lines to keep you watching. 

Gran Turismo & The Equalizer 3

Based on a true story about a PlayStation gamer who went on to become an actual race car driver, "Gran Turismo" will satisfy gamers and race car fans alike. Admittedly, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano do not fit into either demographic category. in this podcast episode, they acknowledge what will appeal to the fan base while also noting that the film is too long and, ironically, does not have a fast enough pace. Marie and Mike also discuss "The Equalizer 3," which stars Denzel Washington and equally striking Italian scenery. That may not be enough, alas, to overcome a vigilante-oriented story that predictably and violently lets you know the bad guys don't stand a chance.

Jules & Golda

Although "Jules" is a sentimental movie about an alien that may remind you of "E.T.," it differs in that the human protagonists are senior citizens rather than kids. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano admire that geriatric twist to the standard storyline, and they also like Ben Kingsley's performance. Marie and Mike do voice a few quibbles about this gentle film, but, hey, they're critics. In any event, these carping commentators are much more critical of "Golda," starring Helen Mirren as Israeli leader Golda Meir. Despite a lot of prosthetic assistance, the casting does not quite work here; and what should be dramatic moments seem muted in scenes that are literally obscured by all of the cigarette smoke.

Oppenheimer & Barbie

Oppenheimer" is writer-director Christopher Nolan's ambitious biopic about atomic scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who is portrayed with suitable intensity by Cillian Murphy. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano agree that this is an impressive film tackling difficult scientific and political subject matter, although Mike has quibbles about what he considers an overly busy editing strategy. Look for "Oppenheimer" to receive multiple Academy Award nominations. Speaking of which, "Barbie" could hardly be a more different cinematic experience, but it has garnered favorable reviews along with enormous box office success. Writer and co-director Greta Gerwig oversees an entertaining comedy that has great production design, costumes, acting and cultural commentary. Marie and Mike really enjoyed it. Think pink!

Mission Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One & Joy Ride

Tom Cruise is a 61-year-old action hero who still delivers the goods in "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part One." HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano acknowledge as much in this podcast episode, but they also wonder about the movie's 163-minute running time - and this is just Part One! Individual sequences are exciting, but maybe it's too much of a good thing. Marie and Mike also discuss "Joy Ride," a raunchy comedy about mismatched friends. Although Marie liked it more than Mike did, they both admire it as a showcase for Asian American actors whose characters have a great time on that joy ride.

Asteroid City & No Hard Feelings

Wes Anderson makes visually striking, whimsical movies with large ensemble casts, and in that respect "Asteroid City" is very much a Wes Anderson movie. HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano have a friendly jousting match in this podcast episode, because she likes Anderson's movies more than Mike does. Set in 1955, "Asteroid City" takes place in a Southwestern town in which a TV drama is being filmed. It is sort of about that TV taping, and also sort of about atomic bombs, a Hollywood bombshell played by Scarlett Johansson, outer space aliens and who knows what all else. Mike agrees that it's great eye candy but otherwise finds it hollow and lacking narrative momentum. Even though she loves Wes Anderson's movies, even Marie has some quibbles about his latest. Marie and Mike also discuss the raunchy comedy "No Hard Feelings," in which Jennifer Lawrence plays a financially struggling, working-class woman who is hired by helicopter parents to "date" their innocent 19-year-old son (Andrew Barth Feldman) before he goes off to college. This highly uneven movie glosses over the ethical considerations of its prostitution premise, but the lead actors are solid and there are a few insightful and funny scenes.