Better Late Than Never Vol. 5

If Beale Street Could Talk (B)

Albeit this is the first Barry Jenkins movie for me as I still haven't seen his Oscar-wining picture Moonlight (Hanging my head in shame). In If Beale Street Could Talk, Jenkins travels to Harlem in this romance based on the 1974 novel of the same name by James Baldwin. Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne) and Fonny Hunt (Stephan James) are in love, but when Fonny is arrested for a crime he didn't commit, Tish and her family try to find a way of proving his innocence. Things get complicated when Tish gets pregnant and despite everyone's best efforts from talking to the victim or affording a lawyer, they aren't any closer on making Fonny a free man. A definite artsy movie, like the ones they show in college as an example in achievement in film-making, storytelling and make for an interesting discussion. It may not click on all levels and a bit of a slow watch but I understand the recognition it has with critics. KiKi Layne has a bright future ahead of her; the scenes where she breaks the news of her pregnancy to both her and Fonny's family makes for a gripping watch.

Vice (B)

Whether Vice, isn't a hundred percent factual, Christian Bale hands down looks the part as former Vice president Dick Cheney, and gaining fifty pounds for the role. Sam Rockwell gets the mannerism of George W. Bush to a tease and Steve Carrell is uncanny as Donald Rumsfeld who looks more like an elderly Micheal Scott or Brick Tamland seeing how this is from the same director of Anchorman. A sure contender for Best Make-Up and Hair-styling at the Oscars. Funny Story: I accidentally feel asleep during the first half that when I woke up, the credits were already rolling and thought "Shoot! Did I just slept through the entire movie?!" Turns out it was just a mid-credit gag as the movie wasn't even half from being over. Really got me there movie. Despite a sluggish start, Vice is funny, off-key at times, politically provocative, and will definitely raise some eyebrows. In other words, give it a watch.

P.S. There is a post-credit scene so don't leave immediately once the credits roll.

Mute (D)

When his girlfriend goes missing, Leo (Alexander Skarsgård) a mute bartender looks to find her only for the trail leading closer and closer into the criminal underworld. Duncan Jones made a name for himself in sci-fi cinema with his first two movies Moon and Source Code only for War Craft to be quite the conundrum. His latest movie Mute had a lot of hype as a futuristic film noir like Blade Runner and set in the same universe of Moon with Sam Rockwell even reprising his role from said film. Mute has ambition but results in a icky and disproportionate mess. The movie spends so much time with deplorable and creepy side characters that our main protagonist who represents the good side seems like an afterthought. Why couldn't there be more scenes of Leo and a little girl he shares a few scenes with, expressing their passion of drawing as a means to communicate. More of that could have helped tipped the scales on showing that a light of goodness can exist even in reprehensible places. Unlike Blade Runner where it finds the right balance on portraying good and evil, Mute puts too much focus on the evil that I felt dirty. As for the connections to Moon, like its lead its more in the background having little to no part in this plot. Leo may end-up finding his voice but I can't say the same for this this movie.

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (B+)

If you were to ask me who are the masters of story-telling in cinema, look no further than with Jeff and Ethan Coen. No Country For Old Men, The Big Lebowski, and my all-time favorite Fargo, these guys are the real deal. Taking advantage of the Netflix platform, the Coens cook-up a movie of a different kind, or in this case six short movies that take place in the old west.

Story #1: The Ballad of Buster Scruggs-Tim Blake Nelson as the titular cheerful outlaw who can carry a tune and is quick with a pistol.
Story #2: Near Algodones-James Franco as a down-on-his-luck bank robber,
Story #3: Meal Ticket-Liam Neeson as a traveling showman that features an unrecognizable Harry Welling better known as Dudley Dursley from Harry Potter.
Story #4: All Gold Canyon-Tom Waits as an old prospector searching for gold.
Story #5: The Gal Who Got Rattled-Zoe Kazan as a young lady in a wagon trail.
Story #6: The Mortal Remains-A stagecoach carrying a peculiar set of passengers to an even peculiar destination.

Each story is told in true Coen fashion with their signature use of dark humor, slapstick, catchy tunes, and witty writing; the first and last ones being my favorite. If you are in the mood for a western, are a Coen Brother fan and have Netflix account, sit down and listen to the campfires tales from The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.