At The Movies

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes & The Fall Guy

Considering that this franchise goes all the way back to 1068, the latest installment, "Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes," still remains an interesting sci fi exercise in a near-future world in which the apes are civilized and the humans are, well, rather primitive. In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano discuss a movie that will satisfy its fans in both technical and thematic regards. Marie and Mike also discuss "The Fall Guy," which they agree squanders its interesting premise about stunt workers in the film industry. Although there is some worthwhile footage of behind-the-scenes action, too much of this movie is given over to an unconvincing melodramatic storyline. Not even Ryan Gosling can save it from falling down.

Civil War & Wicked Little Letters

Set in the near future, "Civil War" is about a messy conflict in a deeply divided United States. Sound familiar? In this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano agree that the film does not fully realize the political potential of its premise, and yet fully realizes the visceral power of accompanying several photojournalists who take a risky road trip from New York to Washington. Strong performances by Kirsten Dunst and Callee Spaeny make us care about a story that does not always hold up to analysis. Marie and Mike also discuss a very different film, "Wicked Little Letters," about a small English village just after World War I. Its colorful characters are mystified by a series of anonymous letters rife with a lot of naughty words. Viewers may find that the salty language wears thin and also may figure out the central mystery long before the characters do, but it's an enjoyable film in large part because of the engaging performances by the likes of Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley and Timothy Spall. 

One Life & Love Lies Bleeding

In 1938 a British stockbroker, Nicholas Winton, organized the rescue of 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and these children were sent to safety in Great Britain. This true story is the basis for "One Life," which HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano discuss in this Podcast episode. Anthony Hopkins is terrific as the elderly Winton in 1987 thinking back on his life; Johnny Flynn plays Winton in 1938. Although the bureaucratic details of the mission admittedly make for less than compelling cinema, the final scenes in the film are emotionally powerful. Marie and Mike also discuss a very different film, the film noir-influenced "Love Lies Bleeding," starring Kristen Stewart and Katy O'Brian as a couple who get into a whole heap of trouble in New Mexico in 1989. Although Marie and Mike are not always in agreement about this film, they agree that "Love Lies Bleeding" is never boring. 

Dune: Part Two & The Taste of Things

It's not often that a sequel is better than the first film, but director Denis Villeneuve's "Dune: Part Two" is better than the first part released in 2021. in this podcast episode, HCC film professors Marie Westhaver and Mike Giuliano discuss a cinematic epic that takes us deeper into the sci fi story and, of course, also visually delivers with more of those ominous sandworms. The human actors are also good, with the familiar faces in the cast including Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Javier Bardem, Christopher Walken, Dave Bautista, Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Austin Butler, Josh Brolin and Stellan Skarsgaard. Our critics actually look forward to part three. Marie and Mike also talk about a very different film, "The Taste of Things," in which director Tran Anh Hung and actors Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel immerse us in the gastronomic world of 1880s France. It's a lovely film in terms of the characters, themes, cinematography and, yes, cuisine.

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.