The blazing dry heat of an Austin summer can make you feel like you have been turned inside out. Walk outside on a particularly scorching day to take your Pug for a bathroom break, then immediately dash back to the nirvana of air-conditioning. However, give me a great pair of earbuds and some blazing tunes, and somehow I could mow the lawn for hours, dripping sweat while trying to predict the next song. Sometimes it’s the simple pleasures of life that can quietly pivot a day in the right direction.

Back in the day, I was often asked by theatre owners how to hire great people to work at their movie theatres for what amounted to very little money. At the time I was working for a company that had a rep for having amazing and informed employees. My response was always the same. Hire your customers! They are already passionate about your business and the perks of the job you offer mean more to them.

Take a quick internal quiz. Can you remember one of your high school teachers that didn’t love their job? Doubt it. Remember the one who did and made an impression on you? I bet you do. It all points to having a passion for something that inspires or drives you.  I once spent a profound summer being mentored by Erin Gruwell, the teacher and inspiration behind the Freedom Writers movement and film. She is a passionate believer in her students and the magic young people can create if given the support and encouragement to do so. The two of us were kindred spirits, as we had many shared views on how to reach and respect young adults. It was a summer of learning I will never forget.

When reflecting on my own passions, it has always been music. Music has provided the spark for inspiration, and more importantly has been the soundtrack to many of the flashbulb moments of my life that I won’t forget. There is often a music memory attached to a time, place, person or event that just hearing the song years later will immediately transport me back. As an only child, I was often kept company by artist of many genres. I’m also grateful for having parents that would take me to hear jazz greats, grand operas and Broadway shows to complement my pop culture experiences of seeing 80’s legends Run DMC and Billy Idol. It will come as no surprise (as my former students will attest) that hearing is one of my most cherished of the five senses. More about our senses in my next post!

Yes, I am a movie guy. But other than a beautifully constructed script and the creative use of the camera from a director or DP, the music makes the movie for me. The music can make the movie a visceral experience for the audience. The composers and music supervisors hold an illustrious status in my book.  Check out the wonderful documentary, Score https://www.score-movie.com. As a special gift, if you want a glimpse at the trigger for one of my most memorable flashbulb moments, check out the brilliant short film (with the volume loud!), Precious Images https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_48fQyXgOM. It never fails to give me a passion pick up!

While it is music and movies for me, for others passion can come from watching or playing sports, experiencing live theatre, reading, gaming, volunteering, gardening, cooking or exercising. Even during this time of quarantine I’ve found puzzles to keep my mind sharp and provide anticipation about another day of, well… the same. Thanks to a New Year’s Resolution I decided to start reading for fun again in 2020, and it’s been glorious! Not that I’ve been choosing high-brow works, but it’s still been fun to reconnect with the adventures of Robert Langdon, Jack Reacher, Dirk Pitt, Lestat de Lioncourt and Roland the Gunslinger. Heck, I even found time to build a model pirate ship last month that was the inspiration for the Black Pearl! (see a pic of the finished product at the end of the movie reviews)

My wife also inspires me everyday, as she finds her passion volunteering at the Pug Rescue of Austin…how cool is that! 

As we have come out of the COVID quarantine, I will continue the search to have my passion inspired by the contributions of others. Maybe because I have such high regard for the art form of movies, I am emotionally impacted by great work, while experiencing an equal level of disdain for those who are clearly just doing it for a buck, making a political statement or attempting to manipulate popular culture.

Towards the end of my tenure in the movie biz, I was once tossed under the bus by a certain billionaire who dabbled in the business of film. “If you spent as much time finding ways to build your cash flow as you do developing your team, we wouldn’t be having this conversation”, he said with his customary crazy eyes (you’ve all seen THAT look before from him on TV). While it sounds laughable when taken out of context, your passion should be able to withstand this kind of attack. But that’s not reality. We tend to hear the negative feedback at a much louder volume than the positive. Subsequently, my passion was impacted negatively by him, until I happened upon my spark again as a teacher in room C428 within an extraordinary high school in north Austin.

In Hollywood, what I call “insecure DNA” still rules a segment of the big screen mindset, and with the excellence of small screen series content at a generational peak I worry about the future of movies being seen on the big screen. We need movie theatres to open again. Live theatre too, but let’s get the movies going first. They are the easiest of all to get back up and running…but sadly the studios will withhold from release all but some of their B-/C+ library. There is too much money riding on the big budget films to risk a big budget disaster. Will people flock to theatres to see the newest releases? I’m not sure Hollywood thinks so, or the executives are worried about having their own crazy-eye moment if moviegoers are not ready to come back yet.

Needless to say, March through June of 2020 will go down in history. How we will look back upon it will depend on who is tasked with writing that history…but isn’t that the way history has always been. But seriously, these times are unprecedented. We feel cooped up, inconvenienced, uncertain and quick to judge. Never has there been a more perfect time to reconnect to a passion that can keep you centered, hopeful and positive. If you find yourself in a funk, get back to the basics of what keeps you balanced and brings you peace.

As for my screen time these last few months, it’s been potent. Let’s recap (in the order I experienced them) what April through June looked like. I hope this help you chose your next film to see. You’ll notice that I’ve started re-watching some older films. Just like a great song, a great movie never fails to rekindle the passion.

Uncut Gems– Speaking of passion! A spectacular way to start Q2. It’s been quite a while since a film created as much anxiety as this one (i.e. Run Lola Run or The Ring). My heart was pounding, waiting for what I felt was most likely a frightening end. I actually wanted to hit the pause occasionally just to take a breath. Kudos to young directors Benny and Josh Safdie for creating a claustrophobic and exhilarating experience. A brilliant turn by Adam Sandler as a high-end NYC jeweler with a gem that changes the lives of everyone it touches. Spot-on supporting performances by Broadway icon Idina Menzel and NBA Hall of Famer, Kevin Garnett. 4.5 STARS

Spenser Confidential– A surprisingly fun diversion from Netflix and Mark Walberg. He’s found that unique niche which allows him to be a badass, while being genuinely self-deprecating (unlike Ryan Reynolds, who seems to only know how to do Snarky). Somehow we want to root for him while he’s getting pummeled and quipping one-liners. I’d like to see another installment of this buddy-film concept for the new generation.  4 STARS

Jay and Silent Bob Reboot– I’m loyal…to a fault. I’m a fan of Kevin Smith’s early work. Even had a chance to work with him a bit while supporting Clerks and Chasing Amy. This, on the other hand, is a shocking mess that is completely unacceptable. They might have had a blast filming it with all his buddies coming together for one more drug-influenced, comic book inspired adventure, but this was cringe-worthy. 1.5 STARS

Killer Joe– I know that Matthew McConaughey is an acquired taste for some. He is at his absolute best, grungiest and most terrifying in the lead role of this dark and haunting film, playing a Texas police detective that is a contract killer on the side(!). Directed by legend William Friedkin, this film earns it’s NC-17 rating. A tale of murder set in a trailer park, it’s fantastic piece of work with fearless supporting turns by Gina Gershon and Juno Temple. 4.5 STARS

The Beatles: 8 Days a Week– I never realized that the famous Candlestick Park show in San Fran the Beatles played back in 1966 was their last together. This well-constructed docu brings us inside the mental and physical exhaustion that ultimately caused the legendary band to stop touring. Without social media, the Beatles managed to become the most famous band in the world. It really is a tragic tale that security concerns and poor sound in huge stadiums ended the opportunity for additional years of touring. I’m not a super fan, but I was completely engaged. It’s a must see for any fan of music history. 4.5 STARS

X-Men: Dark Phoenix– While it was not terrible, there was no clear narrative (or any apparent relation to the X-Men canon) reason to make this movie. As much as I love Game of Thrones, our dearest Sansa is not talented enough to carry her own studio film. She looked very uncomfortable as an emotionally conflicted super person. I just didn’t buy it. 2.5 STARS

Star Trek: First Contact– Reconnecting with my inner Trekkie is like putting on a comfy pair of shoes. Just makes everything feel better. The penultimate ST:TNG film, it’s got it all… even with a familiar time travel theme. Spirited writing, professional direction and fun supporting turns by James Cromwell and Alfie Woodard. BTW, if you haven’t seen the recent show Picard, it’s worth paying for the CBS streaming service even if the quality of the overall character development isn’t quite up to par. Make it so. 5 STARS

The Hunger Games 1&2– My daughter and I binged these after seeing them together in theatres a few years back at opening night midnight shows. These both really held up for me, even if the premise is actually quite dark…with teenagers forced to kill each other while the entire country is forced to watch. Can you imagine?! Over the top performances by a talented cast are balanced beautifully by the sublime Jennifer Lawrence.  Parts 3&4 continue to go very dark, but it’s a worthwhile franchise to revisit. 4.5 STARS

Fight Club– An absolutely outrageous experience that I had not seen in years. Violent and mind-bending with legendary performances by Brad Pitt and Ed Norton. Special thanks to rock legend Meatloaf for an epic supporting role. I have the same reaction to this film every time… “what the heck did I just watch!?” One of the most skillful examples of film direction of the last 20 years by David Fincher, he’s in complete control of his craft. The messages are just as relevant today as they were in 1999. Just don’t forget the first rule of fight club! 5 STARS

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood– A charming story starring the exceptional Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers. The film wins however, on the back of the character arc of Matthew Rhys (from the brilliant series, The American’s). Maybe I needed a film like this at the time, but to me it was a perfect combination of writing, acting and skillful direction by Marielle Heller. I just felt better about life after watching this. If not for Parasite, this was my Best Picture of 2019. 5 STARS

The Way Back– A fine return to form for Ben Affleck, not that he really was in bad form. In fact, he’s been pretty darn good in everything from The Accountant (same director) to Justice League to Triple Frontier…it’s just his personal life that has been in such an epic shambles. This tale of an alcoholic finding a purpose as a high school basketball coach does not break new ground, but it works because we believe this is truly happening to Affleck…as it kind of did. And BTW, if you have not seen Argo, find it now. It will likely serve as his career pinnacle. 4 STARS

IT Chapter Two– Spot on casting and some of the best writing in a horror film series…EVER. Yes, I said IT. IT is not about the clown or the horror trappings, IT’s about a group of friends and what they go through together while they struggle with their own personal demons. A seamless transition from Part 1, the follow-up is not as scary (although the clown is still terrifying) but is faithful to Stephen King’s masterpiece. 4 STARS

Icarus– The Oscar winning documentary is absolutely worth seeing, particularly if you are interested in how countries (including ours) will go over the line to see their athletes succeed on the Olympic stage. What was apparently special about this docu was also one of my challenges with it, as the film starts with an examination of how doping impacts (or does it??) cycling performance, but then morphs unexpectantly into a world-wide look at how doping programs were employed by the Russian government. While the change of focus was jarring for me, it was a fascinating look behind the doping curtain that the filmmaker wasn’t initially expecting to show us. 3.5 STARS

Charlie’s Angels– OK, I’ll admit it…I love Kristen Stewart. She IS the millennial culture on film regardless of what she does. This film is goofy, but is a serious guilty pleasure of 2019. And it has Patrick Stewart (aka Captain Picard AND Professor X) as the bad guy! I was down with the girl power vibe and directing style of Elizabeth Banks that made no apologies for just going for it. The film was an epic bomb financially, so there is no chance of a follow up. Sucks to be me. 4 STARS

Beastie Boys Story– I love these guys (just ask my college roommate!), but really didn’t know anything about their story. The decision to have the Boys filmed telling their own story (TED Talk-style) to a live audience provided us with some answers about how their fame came to be and how they developed into a truly talented group of guys, but it was still a bit contrived for me. It was all very one-sided and curated, rather than more of a documentary providing both sides of the story. Of course it’s also bittersweet, as there were only two Boys to tell their story as MCA had passed away a few years earlier. It’s a must for any Beastie’s fan, but it was a little sloppy in its presentation and left me feeling a bit short-changed. However, if you do need a pick-up on a sleepy drive, listen to the track Sabotage. It’s a guaranteed pump up and is considered their finest achievement. 3.5 STARS

Run All Night– If you like Liam Neeson and his “unique set of skills”, check this out. He’s in fine badass form, with more plot than normal, even if the hitman/mob boss friendship-gone-bad isn’t really deep. Ed Harris adds some gravitas in his typical bad guy role. 3.5 STARS

Bombshell– A world class trio of women headline this masterclass. It’s uncomfortable, shocking and sad to see a company culture where hard working and brilliant women are marginalized. Special mention to John Lithgow for yet another incredible supporting role (check him out as Winston Churchill in The Crown on Netflix). Unquestionably my three favorite actresses working today (with apologies to my old pal Jodie Foster) all in one movie. 4.5 STARS

Star Trek/Star Trek Into Darkness/Star Trek Beyond– Had a blast revisiting the thrilling re-booted franchise. I could not have been more pleased with the casting, direction and chemistry of these films. While the most recent of the three is probably the weakest, the excitement and respect for the franchise is intact. Darkness in particular is one of my favorite of all ST films. 4.5/5.0/4.0 STARS

Hotel Artemis– Speaking of Jodie Foster…she makes a rare on-screen appearance as a nurse at a bad guy high rise refuge. While a wee-bit of a rip off of the John Wick safe house concept, this underappreciated film didn’t receive nearly enough attention. Sufficiently violent and with a wacky cameo by the maestro Jeff Goldblum, I was taken with the story of different criminals gathering in a secret place to have their gun and knife wounds repaired by an over-worked nurse. In true Foster fashion, there is always a heart in everything she does. It’s worth searching out. 4.5 STARS

Kill Bill Part 1 & 2– I’m biased. After working with Quentin to launch Reservoir Dogs back in the early 90’s, I’m a dedicated follower. No one has written dialogue better for the big screen in the history of the business. His crazy brilliant scripts along with his directing ability that seems to resonate with purists and pop culture followers alike. His casting choices are also unprecedented. This ultra-violent revenge two-parter is a career achievement for Uma Thurman. The quintessential girl-power film…with decapitations. 5 STARS for both!

Risky Business– This is an 80’s opus that launched the career of Tom Cruise. One of my favorite films of all time. The original parents-leave-town-and-innocent-son-has-house-party movie. The most quoted film of the 80’s. I’m often asked what it was like growing up in the 80’s. My answer…watch Risky Business. The film captures the vibe, pace, debauchery and fun of the decade perfectly. 5 STARS

The Judge– …and then there is this. A dull modern-day tale of a father and son trying to re-connect after years of being on opposite sides of the courtroom. Old-timer Robert Duvall directs himself along with Robert Downey Jr as his lawyer son. RDJ plays a brat without the charisma or spark of his Iron Man/Sherlock Holmes roles. It’s a melodrama, probably would have been more interesting as a limited series on Netflix. I was bored. 2.5 STARS

FB: The Crimes of Grindelwald– I thought I would give the sequel to this Harry Potter spinoff another try. I really wanted to connect to it the way we all did to the HP films. After the gravitas of the HP films, this spinoff just seems like a poor-man’s attempt to revisit a world we already know. Don’t get me wrong, it looks brilliant and the attention to detail is first rate…but the casting choices at all levels have not connected with me (with the exception of Jude Law as a young Dumbledore). I just don’t care enough about the characters and what happens to them. I just don’t know if we need another one. BTW, if you need more of Jude Law, his HBO series The Young Pope is unique and enthralling. 3 STARS

JoJo Rabbit– A wacky, thoughtful and heartbreaking film about Nazi’s! That’s right, this is an anti-hate film that delivers. It’s a typical indie film that is widely respected and a recipient of a number of accolades…but that not many people have seen. It’s not for everyone, but it’s one of my favorites of 2019. Directed by Taika Waititi (who also plays Hitler!), the genius behind the Hulu vampire comedy What We Do in The Shadows (a MUST see). 5 STARS

Trumbo– The fantastic Bryan Cranston carries this period drama about politics infiltrating Hollywood, resulting in the blackballing of some of the top talents of the generation. It’s a quality production all around, yet a sad story of how far our country still needed to go in the late 40’s.  If you have an interest in film history and how unique the script doctors in old days really were, it’s worth tracking down. 4 STARS

Extraction– The Netflix film starring Chris Hemsworth in another strong performance as a modern-day government sanctioned mercenary, is a kinetic, violent and video game paced flick that is pretty much non-stop action fun. Directed with a millennial eye by rookie Sam Hargrave, best watched on a big TV screen with crackling sound. 4 STARS

Green Room– A small budget, violent thriller mostly set in a punk/dive bar. A young band of musicians take a gig that they REALLY wish they hadn’t. A very claustrophobic experience as you wait for more bad things to happen. Once again, the legend Patrick Stewart shows up surprisingly as the bad dude behind the mayhem…and it doesn’t end well for him! 3.5 STARS

7 Psychopaths– This movie about writing a movie started slow for me, but caught it’s second wind. Directed by seasoned pro Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Three Billboards) this one sports a stellar cast including Collin Farrell, Christopher Walken, Woody Harrelson and Sam Rockwell. It’s a charming little violent-comedy about a writer (Farrell) trying to develop his script. Fortunately, his wacko life (hence the multiple psychopaths) provides more than enough inspiration. 3.5 STARS

Ready or Not– A hidden gem that was mostly swallowed up by the pandemic in the early part of the year. An unsuspecting wife joins her new family of wealthy toymakers in their castle, post wedding for a traditional family game night. Little does she know that the game entails the entire family trying to kill her…including her new husband! This is a very dark comedy with quite a bit of bloodshed. Worst in-laws ever! 4 STARS

Batman Begins– I wanted to revisit the first film of Chris Nolan’s trilogy, and I was not disappointed. While not as strong as the epic Dark Knight, anytime Liam Neeson can be added to the cast, I’m a happy man. The only major mis-step, and it’s a biggie, is the casting of Katie Holmes as Bruce Wayne’s love interest. She’s a C-level actress and does not belong in this ensemble of Oscar winners. I was embarrassed for her. 4 STARS

Rocketman– Never has an actor worked so hard to get it right…and failed. I’m a huge Elton fan, so I’m obviously hard to please when the producers decided to use Taryn Edgerton’s vocals. He’s just not good enough of a performer and signer. He just tried too hard and it showed. I enjoyed the pacing and style of the film, it’s the entire cast that just didn’t gel (with the wonderful exception of Jamie Bell as Bernie Taupin). I’ve seen it in theatres and again at home. Results were sadly the same. Whereas, Rami Malak’s tribute to Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody was 100% deserving of his Best Actor trophy. 3.5 STARS

Yesterday– This little indie about a down on his luck musician who finds himself in an alternate universe(!) where nobody has ever heard of the Beatles or their music. Well, our struggling musician becomes a worldwide star after he makes all of the Beatles catalog his own. A great concept, right. For a while, but the screenplay and amateur-hour direction doesn’t know how to advance the story. Too bad, but after a strong start it crumbled. 2.5 STARS

Call of the Wild– The dog was fake. Loved Harrison Ford, but the dog was fake and I could not get over that. The animals from Babe back in the late 90’s were much more believable. By the way, the dog was fake. If you can’t overcome the fact that Rex (or whatever Scooby Doo’s name was) is completely CGI, then avoid this. 2 STARS

Gemini Man– A weird sci-fi, action film with Will Smith fighting his younger self. Unlike the previously mentioned dog, the face of the younger Smith is also CGI, but based on a human performance by the real Smith. It was creepy but it worked for me (just don’t think too hard). Good action, and an interesting story about cloning used as a military weapon. 3 STARS

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker– Still don’t know what the title means, but I re-watched the final SW film and must admit I did enjoy it as much as the first time. It’s made for the fans. It’s just a lot of fun. 4.5 STARS

The Avengers/Age of Ultron/Infinity War– Wanted to explore the first three of the four Avengers films. While the folks behind the Star Wars reboot tried to re-create the magic or the original series (which they did to inconsistent results), the Avengers team really had something to say and took great care to execute it. While I remember Ultron being the weaker of the three, I found after another viewing that it’s just not the case. Wonderful chemistry between the actors, ridiculous action sequences and a real heart made this collection of films something we might not see again for some time. 5 STARS for all.

La La Land– One of my favorite movie theatre moments was discovering this before the hype, caught completely by surprise. Loving every second of it on the big screen I wanted to see how it held up on the small screen. Not as well, but it is still a special film. It’s a musical, with dancing and the whole deal. If that’s not your bag, beware. Brilliant performances by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling. A true throwback made with love and care. 5 STARS

The Invisible Man– A terrific thriller with Elizabeth Moss in the title role. This one was completely buried due to its early release in 2020, but it was a smart and well-acted gem that has made its mark during the quarantine. Moss is one of the best we have, particularly after Mad Men and The Handmaid’s Tale. A great horror film that will resonate with both men and women. 4.5 STARS

The Show Must Go On– This docu on Netflix tells the story of the how and why the rock band Queen made Adam Lambert their front man. It’s a fascinating story of how Queen reinvented themselves without forgetting their past. Lambert is an unbelievable talent that appears to be a perfect match for the band. I was enthralled with the entire story, it’s a must see for rock historians and music fans. It also speaks to how American Idol truly changed the music industry, as country music, rock and Broadway certainly have been impacted immensely. 5 STARS

Underworld Evolution– Not sure why I decided to revisit this sequel, other than my mini-crush on Kate Beckinsale since knowing her while making her debut film Much Ado About Nothing in the early 90’s. She’s still around, kicking butt while wearing skin tight leather. She’s a vampire, he’s a werewolf…let the carnage begin! 3 STARS

Official Secrets– Speaking of great female talents, Keira Knightly plays a CIA whistleblower in this true story drama set post-9/11. It’s a tough task trying to make one of the world’s most beautiful look homely, but her performance was typically first-rate. The film takes some hard looks at politics, race and loyalty. Other than an unnecessary appearance of the real-life protagonist at the end (which ruined it for my parents, whom I watched it with), it’s a quality film for grown-ups. 4 STARS

The Hunt for Red October– My dad’s favorite movie ever. I love it too. So much so I even have a cast-signed poster in my home office. One of the best ensemble casts ever assembled, with Sean Connery playing the legendary sub captain and a young Alec Baldwin (but no less awesome) playing his CIA counterpart. Tension, action and smart writing with quotable lines galore. The film resonates with me every time…even after 50+ viewings. One of my top 20 of all time. 5 STARS

…. coming next quarter, a big reveal about my future plans.

W.Fox

07/202