Dicks: The Musical (2023) Review

Title: Dicks The Musical
Year: 2023
Director: Larry Charles
Country: US
Language: English

If you enjoyed the outlandish - weird for the sake of weird - filmography of queer auteur director John Waters then you'll find yourself fascinated by the absurd Dicks: The Musical. Pushing the boundaries of conventional taste, you'll find yourself asking "how did they get away with that!?". 

A pair of business rivals discover that they're identical twins and decide to swap places in an attempt to trick their divorced parents to get back together.

So it's The Parent Trap...but gay, surreal and a musical? With a camp aesthetic similar to But I'm a Teenager (1999), Dicks: The Musical has a throw-everything-at-the-wall script that peels away convention and makes the audience gasp at how ridiculous everything can become. Did they seriously sing God is a f***ot? Why does Nathan Lane have sewer creatures as a pet? 

The commitment to making a technically competent musical is admirable. The sets are eye-popping; the songs are catchy; the colors are vibrant. The dancing - albeit not ground breaking - is still better than most modern musicals. The main downside is that the film can be too reliant on low-brow humour and the story can meander in the middle. 

Dicks: The Musical won the Midnight Madness award at the Toronto International Film Festival and it's no wonder why. This film was a big risk, its infringement on good taste could have made audiences groan, but thankfully it works as a whole. 

Working Girls (1986) Review

Title: Working Girls 

Year: 1986
Director: Lizzie Borden
Country: US
Language: English

Winner of a Special Jury Prize at the 1987 Sundance Film Festival, Working Girls (1986) gives us a unique perspective on the world's oldest profession. Far from the typical Hollywood picture, this film gives us a humanist perspective that allows us to empathize with a group that is constantly villainized in mass media. 

The film is a day in the life of Molly (Louise Smith), a queer New Yorker who makes rent taking shifts at a private brothel. 

Working Girls (1986) is funny, dramatic, dark and honest. It is an intimate look at prostitution; director Lizzie Borden calls it "narrative fiction" as it has a cinema-verite style of documentary feel despite being fiction. It does not glamourize prostitution - nor does it serve as a warning against it- as Borden shows life from the workers' perspective. 

Borden's Working Girls strips prostitution of its social stigma and makes it feel similar to a monotonous office job. It's a proactive take that dismantles typical gender politics and offers a new perspective on sexuality. The directing and screenwriting stand-out; I particularly like the slow-burn character development of Molly. 

Working Girls is a breezy film that had me captivated throughout its run-time. It was quite bold in its subject matter; I'm surprised this film was able to be made in the late eighties considering how conservative that decade is known to have been. 

Ladies in Retirement (1941) Review

Title: Ladies in Retirement
Year: 1941
Director: Charles Vidor
Country: US
Language: English

Directed by Charles Vidor, Ladies in Retirement (1941) is a gothic melodrama noir, much like Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940).  It blends noir elements with old-school horror, and has a gothic aesthetic in its cinematography. I enjoy Vidor's films (Gilda) and I'm a big fan of Ida Lupino (Lust for Gold) so I decided to check this out. 

The housekeeper (Ida Lupina) to a retired actress tries at the same time to look after her own two emotionally disturbed sisters, with dramatic results.
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Ladies in Retirement stands out for its use of lighting. The shadows accent each actors' face, and like a lit mask reveals their intentions and inner thoughts. Ida Lupino's typically beautiful eyes are now a window into her tormented soul. 

Skillful cinematographer George Barnes and Art Director Lionel Banks add to a haunting atmosphere by setting up odd twisted interior settings, as well as foreboding surreal exteriors. The film's shots - of dense fog and staircases that go nowhere- give us an uneasy feeling throughout the run-time.

Ladies in Retirement is a well-made picture that, at least to my knowledge, is under-appreciated in modern times. We should be talking about this film a lot more as it is both entertaining and impressive on a technical level. 

Lust for Gold (1949) Review

Title: Lust for Gold
Year: 1949
Director: Sylvan Simon
Country: US
Language: English

Based on the book Thunder God's Gold by Barry Storm, Lust For Gold (1949) opens with a short note from the Governor Arizona stating that the ecents in this picture are loosely based on a true story. The legend of the lost loot has been quite embellished throughout the years, but the picture suggests it's still possible to find this treasure. 

Fortune seeker Barry Storm (Glenn Ford) stumbles onto some clues that may lead him to the fabulous Lost Dutchman Mine, but others have tried and been murdered.

Lust For Gold is a film noir hidden in a Western. It has all the film noir tropes; a femme fatale (Ida Lupina), murder. deceit, greed, pessimism and a flawed protagonist. Well written and well directed, the picture keeps you on your toes as it fills its run-time with melodrama, suspense and shocking moments. 

Cinematographer Archie Stout fills the screen with breathtaking cinematography, including an action packed climax on a thrilling cliff-side. The score adds to the dramatic weight of the picture. Ida Lupina steals every scene she's in as a villainous and greedy woman.

The picture is not on the level of Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1949), but it is quite a decent achievement. Lust for Gold meanders in the middle, but picks up steam and is ultimately fairly satisfactory viewing. 

An American in Paris (1951) Review

Title: An American in Paris
Year: 1951
Director: Vincente Minelli 
Country: US
Language: English

My goal to watch every Best Picture Winner, from 1928-2023, concludes with An American in Paris (1951). I love musicals, I love Gene Kelly (see: Young Girls of Rocheforte) so I planned to end this series on a bang rather than a whimper. I was certainly excited to watch this song-and-dance film. 

Jerry Mulligan (Gene Kelly) , a struggling American painter in Paris, is "discovered" by an influential heiress with an interest in more than Jerry's art. Jerry in turn falls for Lise (Leslie Caron), a young French girl already engaged to a cabaret singer.

The film's cinematography, by Alfred Gilks, captures the enchanting beauty of this fairytale-like film. The technicolor, which was used sparingly in the early 50's, marvels us with its impressive soiree of vibrant, appealing colors. The exquisite set design perfectly blends fantasy and reality, giving us a truly artistic masterwork. 

The combination of Gershwin's music and screenwriter Allan Lerner's lyrics prove to be a success in American in Paris. Vincente Minnelli's directing is in top form, as is Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron's choreography. The film's climax is a 17 minute ballet sequence; a huge production! An lesser team would have stumbled, but everyone working on this film managed to be on top of their game. 

Is it my favourite musical to win "Best Picture"? No. I do love West Side Story (1961) and Oliver! (1968) more. I do love An American in Paris' story, but I won't find myself mindlessly humming the tunes from this film. A five star musical needs songs that you have trouble getting out of your head. 

Wings (1927) Review

Title: Wings
Year: 1927
Director: William Wellmann
Country: US
Language: English

On May 11th, 1927 MGM studio head Louis B.Mayer hosted a dinner,  where he invited 36 prominent industry figures to discuss the creation of an organization that could address concerns related to cinema. During the dinner the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was proposed. The first Academy Awards took place two years later, with Wings being the first film to win the coveted "Best Picture" Oscar. 

Two young men, one rich, one middle class, who are in love with the same woman (Clara Bow) , become fighter pilots in World War I.

Wings was a pioneer in action cinematography. For the film, cameras were rigged to the plane and strapped to the engine cowling. These cameras were far more compact and versatile than the more commonly used ones. Thirteen cameramen were used to create the pictures' imaginative and awe-inspiring shots. 

Wings is quite a spectacle, an epic in its scope. The director used 60 planes and 3,500 extras - all of whom were real soldiers.  Massive acres of land were allowed to be used - plenty of room for the real airplane crashes & real bombs to be set off. 

The cast had no prior flight experience, but were required to learn how to become pilots for this film. They also had to act, roll the camera and communicate with ground personnel while flying.  It was an incredibly dangerous set that proves just how much dedication everyone involved had to their craft. 

The script has more to be desired; the romantic triangle aspect meanders a little bit. The bubble scene goes on for a bit too long. A shorter run-time would have improved this film. It's a fine film overall that deserves a viewing due to its technical importance in cinematic history. 

CODA (2021) Review

Title: CODA
Year: 2021
Director: Sian Heder
Country: US
Language: English

 CODA was an underdog during the 2022 Academy Awards. Jane Campion's Power of the Dog was nominated for 12 Oscars and Dennis Villeneuve's Dune was nominated for 10. CODA was only nominated for 3, the lowest since 1932's Grand Hotel. To many viewers surprise, including my own, the film won every award it was eligible for, including Best Picture. Was this worthy of such prestige? Lets find out!

As a CODA (Child of Deaf Adults) Ruby is the only hearing person in her deaf family. When the family's fishing business is threatened, Ruby finds herself torn between pursuing her passion and helping her family.

CODA is an important work in cinema because, as a production, it trancends the barriers disabled people face in art. We (I have a heart condition) are underfunded, underrepresented and underemployed. CODA's production sought to include a disabled cast & crew. Their input from ASL coaches transformed the creative process. This film's financial & critical success means a tremendous amount to representation. 

The picture itself is pretty great. Music adding drama to a story about hearing loss is a bit of a trope (see: Sound of Metal) , but I found that the family drama packed an emotional punch, while also being quite humorous. I appreciated the honest depiction of disability, as it didn't seem to be condescending or written from an ablest perspective.

The acting, particularly by Troy Kotsur, is quite impressive. The writing, editing and directing was also in top form. There were more entertaining films that year, but none as important to the industry as CODA.  

Terms of Endearment (1983) Review

Title: Terms of Endearment
Year: 1983
Director: James L. Brooks
Country: US
Language: English

Terms of Endearment sounds like it would be a melodramatic made-for-tv lifetime movie that would appeal to viewers of Oprah and daytime Soap operas. Shirley MacLaine's involvement gave me some interest in viewing the film- albeit I was aware that she is older (49) in 1983. This was 23 years after her best role in Billy Wilder's The Apartment. 

This film is an exploration of the lifelong relationship between a mother (Shirley MacLaine) and daughter (Debra Winger), with a focus on their enduring love and difficulties. 

James L. Brooks provides a screenplay that is witty. dramatic, and full of emotion. The characters are complex; we see their growth and transformation throughout the run-time. The wonderful cast, which also includes Jack Nicholson, John Lithgow and Jeff Daniels, prove to be a tour de force by giving quite impressive performances. 

Terms of Endearment does meander a bit however; several scenes could have been cut to make the picture more compact. The fate of the daughter feels a bit rushed and unearned. There are small pieces of this picture that devalue the film, making it hard to consider Brooks' work a "great" Best Picture winner. 

Terms of Endearment approaches adult relationships in an honest, heartfelt way. At 2hrs 12 minutes it feels a bit too long. If 30 minutes were cut it could have told the same story in a far more efficient, satisfying way. 

Ordinary People (1980) Review

Title: Ordinary People
Year: 1980
Director: Robert Redford
Country: US
Language: English

I’ve been determined to watch every Best Picture Winner from 1929 until present day. I tried to avoid Ordinary People (1980) until the last few remaining pictures, because the title seemed very bland. Do I want to watch an “ordinary” film? It went against Martin Scorsese’s Raging Bull and somehow won. This couldn’t have been worthy as “Best Picture”…or could it?

The accidental death of the older son of an affluent family deeply strains the relationships among the bitter mother (Mary Tyler Moore) , the good-natured father(Donald Sutherland) and the guilt-ridden younger son (Timothy Hutton).

Robert Redford (Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid) exceeded my expectations for this “ordinary” film. Ordinary People is a poignant heartfelt family drama that navigates complex emotions (pain, grief, healing) in an honest way. Its script allows the film to be an emotional rollercoaster, without crossing the line into melodrama.

The cinematography is underrated, as it doesn’t appear on any “best of” lists. The staging and camerawork capture the inner turmoil of each character. The framing gives the film’s quieter moments an incredible amount of emotional power. The score is also deeply affecting.

Ordinary People may not be as timeless as Raging Bull, but it’s certainly a worthwhile watch that will grip you with its engrossing storytelling. This is quite a masterful work of cinema.