The strange sound of Jackie
Jackie (2016)
Available Wednesday JACKIE Kennedy is one of those iconic women whose face is unmistakable but whose voice is almost unknown. That being the case, an initial flaw of this film is Natalie Portman’s preposterously breathy delivery which borders on camp. Surely, you can’t help thinking, the real Jackie did not speak like this — but you can never be sure.
The real trick to enjoying this film is probably to understand that it’s not really a sweeping historical epic so much as it is a narrow character portrait of one woman.
Set in the days and weeks following the assassination of JFK, it depicts an essentially powerless supporting player who abruptly becomes the architect of her own destiny — indeed, becomes responsible for how the man who married her, showcased her, and cheated on her will be remembered in the popular imagination. It never quite hits the biopic heights of something like The Iron Lady, but it’s still a well-written film and the accent grows on you.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2017)
Available now ADOLESCENT coming-of-age is fraught with awful cliche and too often written by people either misremembering their own distant youth or showing a dull parent-friendly finger-wag about their hormone-unhinged offspring.
This is neither. Its protagonist is Charlie (Logan Lerman), who has it tougher than most. Aside from the usual unspoken divisions between the various cliques that roam the school halls, Charlie has to do it all without his best friend, who committed suicide without leaving a note.
This has contributed to some very difficult to watch and serious mental problems that he is still working through, but he enters his new school with a slight bit of optimism.
His English teacher (Paul Rudd) is encouraging his love of writing and books, and Charlie comes into the orbit of two seniors who take him under their wing, the lovely Sam (Emma Watson) and eccentric, bighearted and gay Patrick (Ezra Miller).
The story successfully plumbs some very dark thematic developments, and navigates its way through humour and drama with ease. Touching and brimming with the energy, enthusiasm and tides of teenage love and life. An unsung gem on Netflix.
Amazing Interiors
8 episodes, Available Wednesday WE seem to live in a world currently obsessed with home renovation and interiors. While 10 years ago everyone was a foodie, probably with an intolerance or two, now everyone is a frustrated Dermot Bannon, who can spot the difference between oak and teak.
This series is all about homes that look very unassuming on the outside but, as soon as you step in, you are likely to be stunned in silent awe. While the designs may not to be everyone’s, ahem, taste (get ready for a lot of pink in one episode for instance), they are at least perfect for the sometimes eccentric people that live with them. If you’re partial to a little design inspiration (and who isn’t), then this is surely the series for you.
Father of the Year (2018)
Available now NOW and again it’s good to check in on what the gold standard of comedy garbage is. And you can’t say for sure you know what that is until you’ve had a look at Adam Sandler’s latest — while taking in the sobering fact that’s the only newly produced and Netflix-commissioned thing on the streaming service this week (which, for all the glory of streaming, surely compares woefully to the BBC, for instance).
Take a deep breath, the premise is this: when you were five years old and messing with your friends in the playground, without a doubt, one of the conversations you had was whose father would win in a fight.
Naturally, you rooted for your own dad, thinking he was some sort of invincible superhero.
Well, Adam Sandler and Netflix thought that was a great premise for a film, and this is it. Some of the jokes actually work and he isn’t doing his nerd voice here.
Give it a chance. We haven’t seen much by way of preview but it may also have so-badit’s-good potential.