The Danish Girl

Let's start this review by stating the obvious. This is the best Eddie Redmayne has ever given, far better than the role his won the Oscar for last year. He was beautiful and poignant and tragic and shy and delicate and courageous and transformative. He was a revelation and I will be stunned if I see much better from this year's crop. However, the movie itself was Oscar-bait at best. It was shallow and vapid and hung entirely on the performances of Redmayne and Vikander, who was also outstanding and rightfully deserving of her awards. I understand the acclaim for Redmayne but not for the movie itself. I continue to be amazed at the actions of the Academy. 3.5/5

The Danish Girl on Netflix

Jupiter Ascending

#FTRQ "Jupiter Ascending" - Before I say anything, let me emphatically state that I could care less about political agendas in my films. Quite the contrary, I tend to hate massive political overtones in my films, so when I say that the makers of this film should be incredibly ashamed to put out this anti-feminist piece of garbage, that's it's REALLY bad. So bad that I could not help but marvel at what a helpless dim-witted fool Jupiter Jones was, and why she immediately fell in love with a man who needed to constantly save her from herself. This film is insulting to the senses in nearly every way, but if there was any way I could have felt anything but dismay and disgust at the helplessness of our heroine, perhaps I could deem this movie at least worth watching. As it is, it's pretty CGI with a terrible story. The only thing worth watching is Redmayne, but isn't he always? Terrible. Just terrible. 1/5/5

Jupiter Ascending on Netflix

The Theory of Everything

I've still to write about "Birdman" and "Whiplash", but I'm finding this review considerably easier. If one sat down to design a movie to attract Oscar attention, if one tried to distill everything conventionally seen as "Oscar worthy", one would produce this movie. All of the tropes about what types of films win Oscars are present and accounted for here. They are all done exceptionally well, don't get me wrong. Redmayne is as exceptional as he's ever been, and Jones is positively luminous throughout. But it's just so expected, so ordinary a film, so utterly and completely Oscar bait that I found myself drifting. This is as safe of a film as one can make in Hollywood, and, in good conscience, I can no longer award such safety with glittery awards. And as good as Redmayne was (and he truly was exceptional, let's make no mistake there), I cannot see his performance being better or more tranformative than Scott Haze in "Child of God" or James McAvoy in "Filth". Neither of whom, of course, were nominated, because "Child of God" and "Filth" were most certainly not safe films. So my review of "The Theory of Everything" boils down to it's good, but far too safe and basic to garner award notice from me. 4/5

The Theory of Everything on Netflix

Murderous Intent

This psych thriller is wonderfully acted by Eddie Redmayne but nebulously scripted with an odd ending. 3/5

Murderous Intent on Netflix

Savage Grace

This drama based on a true story is alarming & disturbing but excellently acted by Moore and Redmayne. Very dark 3.5/5

Savage Grace on Netflix

Hick

This movie is SO much darker & sinister than I expected - brilliant acting & a tense plot. I wasn't expecting this at all 4/5

Hick on Netflix

My Week with Marilyn

Michelle Williams divinely channels a goddess in this beautiful, sentimental look at a lost legend. 4.5/5


My Week with Marilyn on Netflix

The Yellow Handkerchief

Finely acted, this romantic drama has a fetching plot that's interesting despite being predictable. 3.5/5

The Yellow Handkerchief on Netflix