Armchair film critic
Here are three Oscar contenders now in wide-release that are worth leaving the house to see.
THE POST Hopefully newspaper owners noticed the line by Katharine Graham early in the film: “Quality drives profitability.” As publisher of the Washington Post in the early 1970s, Graham was concerned about the price of her newspaper’s stock because it was the difference in hiring or firing 25 reporters.
While increasing editorial staff seems like a fantasy today, one thing that remains relevant is the effort by those in power to silence the media. U.S. president Richard Nixon hated the press and wanted the Post banned from the White House. Today, Donald Trump attempts to silence media agencies that have been critical of his presidency.
The Washington Post broke a story on the controversial Pentagon Papers, partially because the New York Times was neutered by Nixon.
Meryl Streep, the greatest living actress on the planet, is, well, great, as are her co-stars Tom Hanks and Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul).
This film has nothing to do with Watergate — which the Post later became renowned for. The story is about having the guts to make a proper decision, even if it means affecting one’s own livelihood.
THE SHAPE OF WATER It wasn’t as good as I thought it would be — it’s like a cross of E.T. with War Games — but Guillermo del Toro’s monster love story is certainly unique, touching, and often intense.
Set in the Cold War, Sally Hawkins is a mute custodian who falls in love with a sea creature that’s being held in captivity at an American research base for observation. Her sidekicks are a black co-worker, who translates her dialogue from sign language and a gay illustrator, struggling to find work as he recovers from alcohol addiction.
Like the creature, the protagonist and supporting characters are all outsiders who you cheer for.
It’s a beautifully-filmed movie. Hamilton and Toronto (where the movie was shot) have never looked better.
Warning, with a PG-14 rating, there is violence, nudity and swearing.
I, TONYA “This is what you all came to see,” Tonya Harding says of “the incident,” breaking the fourth wall and talking directly to the audience. Admit it, we were all fascinated with the 1994 Skategate, brought to film for the first time.
Australian actress Margot Robbie does a great mimic of Harding but Allison Janney is winning all of the awards for best supporting actress as the sports mother from hell.
Harding is portrayed in a sympathetic light — she really didn’t have much of a chance in life. The film is often hilarious, but sad at the same time. The fact that a group of misfits could pull off an assault on rival Nancy Kerrigan is shocking.
The film’s score alone is worth the price of admission: Barracuda, The Chain, Shooting Star, 25 or 6 to 4, How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, and Sleeping Bag by ZZ Top, which the real Tonya used to perform to in competition, raising the eyebrows of the figure skating establishment. All of the songs match the plot.
How can you not love a movie that includes Gloria by Laura Branigan? BY THE WAY: I’m happy to see Emanuel Sequeira’s byline again... Biggie Smalls was gone far too soon... Prediction: Peachland voters will reelect Terry Condon. James Miller is valley editor for Okanagan Newspaper Group.