Well, dear readers, once in a blue moon one sees a film that gives one hope that simple, honest, unfettered filmmaking and storytelling can still be done and work rather than being over-the-top BS, bombastic, using all the latest AI and CGI stuff, being in IMAX for no real reason, or just being all arty for no real reason, or shakycam, or endlessly moving the camera. In other words, last night I saw such a motion picture. If I were handed the film to direct, I cannot think of a single thing I would have done differently than the writer/director did. Is it a film of thundering import or significance? Of course not. Is the storytelling honest and real, do we care about the characters, are the camera set-ups in service of the story and performances – all of the above is a firm and happy yes. Is it well cast? Check. Does it resonate and ring true? Check. Did they foolishly try to update it and take it out of its time period (1970)? No. In other words, they did everything right. Since it’s based on a beloved novel, did they do that novel justice? Check. Is it a throwback to the kind of films that Hollywood no longer understands how to make? Check. Was it one of the best reviewed movies of 2023? I’d say with a 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes that would be a strong yes. Does it do everything that it sets out to do perfectly? Check. Was it a hit? Of course not. It was a box-office failure, which basically tells you all about the audiences of today. The title of this lovely, very funny, and very touching film is Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, based on the beloved book by Judy Blume. It gets a top tier recommendation from the likes of me. I’m not going to do a breakdown of the film – discover it’s pleasures for yourself. But if you were ever an adolescent, whatever gender, and you had a heart, you will empathize with everything in the film. There are no real villains. Excellent. Yes, a couple of obnoxious kids, but that’s it. As I said, it’s perfectly cast, starting with Abby Ryder Fortson as the title character. She’s simple, no treacle, honest, funny, and entirely loveable. Rachel McAdams and Benny Safdie are terrific and winning as her parents, and Kathy Bates is great as a Jewish grandma. It should be up for a slew of Oscars but probably won’t be because I believe it’s one of those movies that the Academy, DGA, and WGA voters simply will not bother to watch. We’ve seen this happen repeatedly to Todd Haynes, although thankfully they can’t ignore his film of this year. The only hope it has is if the SAG voters watch it – and that’s a big if, too. I don’t want to over-hype this because it’s pleasures are very simple. I laughed out loud, I got teary-eyed, and I may just watch it again today. The only nit I would pick is Hans Zimmer’s score, but it’s no different than every other score written today, although it does have an almost cute theme. But he doesn’t score the drama, he just lays on some music. The film was produced by Gracie Films, James L. Brooks’ company and I wish he’d used someone like Michael Gore in Terms of Endearment of Defending Your Life mode. Elmer Bernstein or Jerry Goldsmith could also have written a score for this in their sleep. As to Gracie Films, all I want for Christmas is to get them GEE and the Kritzer books and have them actually read them.
After that, the “next up” suggestion was a movie I’d never even heard of entitled Hearts in Atlantis, not a great title. Based on a Stephen King novella, screenplay by William Goldman, and starring Anthony Hopkins, I figured why not? It very much wants to be in the Stand by Me mold, but it’s not really that movie, and no amount of forcing period rock songs every ten minutes will make it that movie. Hopkins is his usual great self, being hunted by the “low men” – only later do we find out what that means and what power he possesses. It starts in the present with portentous narration, but once we’re back in time that goes away for the most part. The main kid is played by Anton Yelchin and he’s very good. Hope Davis plays his mom and the character is not one easy to get with and Ms. Davis does a good job of not making us love her. David Morse plays the lead kid as an adult and he’s excellent, and the main young girl is fetchingly played by Mika Boorem, who was one of those kid actors who was seemingly in everything, including the movies Mighty Joe Young, The Patriot, Along Came a Spider, and a ton of TV. I enjoyed it, and the Goldman script gets the job done certainly.
Yesterday was another day of feeling slightly better in the early part of the day, and then slightly worse as afternoon turns to evening. I was up after six hours of sleep but went back to bed and got three more. Once up for good, I ordered a chopped Eyetalian salad from the California Pizza Kitchen. That arrived pretty quickly and was just what I was craving. After that, I did a few things that needed doing, and then I began my viewing, which basically took up the entire evening.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, still hope that I will feel 100% back to normal sooner than later, I’ll eat something, I’ll do just a little more writing so that I have about ten pages done to kickstart the book on January 1, then I’ll just watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, if I’m feeling my oats, I’ll meet the helper at the storage place, and we’ll try to find a couple of titles that she can’t seem to find that I’m pretty sure we have plenty of. That really shouldn’t take all that long. Otherwise, it’s more resting. Saturday, I’ll do the big shopping for the raincheck Do on January 1, and then we have our annual New Year’s Rockin’ Eve Bash, the most fun and safe place to ring in the New Year, and the next morning I begin a new book, after which we’ll have us a damn Do.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, do whatever needs doing, hope that I feel closer to 100%, eat, write, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Stephen King movie adaptations? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have seen a rare once in a blue moon motion picture.