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The Med City Mov
Don’t Look Up
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CHRIS MIKSANEK - THE MED CITY
MOVIE GUY
The most accidentally-conservative
film I have seen in years.
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I talked about this one in detail on
KROC. |
FWIW Streep’s President Orlean is the epitome
of squeeing liberal politicians as evidenced
by this photo on her Oval Office desk.
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The Med City Mov
King Richard
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CHRIS MIKSANEK - THE MED CITY
MOVIE GUY
The Venus and
Serena Williams origin story. Regrettably, because
its theme — the power and essentialness of the
nuclear family, determination and a strong father
(Will Smith) — is contra the prevailing victimhood
narrative it is almost assured of being overlooked by
the awards industry.
I talked about this one in detail on
KROC. |
 
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ie Guy
The Many Saints of Newark
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CHRIS MIKSANEK - THE MED CITY
MOVIE GUY
Expectations are
unavoidable and a number of Sopranos fans have
expressed their disappointment with this one
(“fuggetaboutit it,” I believe a ton of them have
cleverly said) because of those expectations.
Problem is, they/we
were expecting — especially with so much marketing
about James Gandolfini’s son Michael playing young
Tony here — a Little Archies version of
The Sopranos.
i.e., Little Tony, Liitle Sil, Little Big Puss,
Little Paulie.
With the right expectations, this one
is a solid foundation to what will be an amazing
second film (vis-à-vis the so-called odd number curse) in the
prequel franchise.
I talked about this one in
detail on
KROC.
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Respect
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CHRIS MIKSANEK - THE MED CITY
MOVIE GUY
The summit of the outstanding 2013 documentary
Muscle
Shoals was that moment when Aretha Franklin enters
the studio, sits at the piano and commands attention
simply by her presence. Such was the Queen of Soul.
Here Jennifer Hudson transcends mere karaoke and
delivers an Oscar-worthy performance and tribute to
the musical icon who demanded, and got,
r.e.s.p.e.c.t.
I talked about this one in
detail on
KROC.
Have a read of my
take on the outstanding 2013 documentary
Muscle Shoals |
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Stealing Chaplin
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CHRIS MIKSANEK - THE MED CITY
MOVIE GUY
In 1978, two ne’er-do-wells actually dug-up and
ransomed film legend Charlie Chaplin’s
body in Switzerland. Ripe material for a drama, to be
sure, or for a documentary like 2017’s
similarly-named Stealing Charlie Chaplin.
Some chuckles here in this goofy buddy comedy,
but it doesn’t do the
sensational international incident justice.
I talked about this one in
detail on
KROC. |
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Pig
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CHRIS MIKSANEK - THE MED CITY
MOVIE GUY
One of Nicolas Cage’s better
performances but otherwise “Meh” though not without
the salient message that froufrou food is
overrated. Like Pixar’s Ratatouille,
the aftertaste here is that food is about an
experience, not lofty claims of the emperor’s new
cloves.
I talked about this one in
detail on
KROC. |
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The Boys in Red Hats
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CHRIS MIKSANEK - THE MED CITY
MOVIE GUY
Before going off the rails midway through trying to
unnecessarily demonstrate woke bona fides, the
documentary’s message is clear and unequivocal: Wait
before you hate and know the story before you write
the story.
I talked about this one in detail on
KROC. |
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Godzilla vs. Kong
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CHRIS MIKSANEK - THE MED CITY
MOVIE GUY
The time Kong told
Godzilla, “Cash me outside!”
1962’s
King Kong vs. Godzilla,
has always been a guilty pleasure.
Cheesy effects like floating Kong in with weather
balloons add to the kitsch. But for my money, the
best scene has Kong jamming a tree down
Godzilla’s throat to arrest the flames.
See, when these mega-monsters fight, street rules
apply!
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Two titans fixin’ for a fight.
I talked about this one in detail on
KROC.
See also my review of
Kong: Skull Island and other
Tall Tales!
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Kid 90
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CHRIS MIKSANEK - THE MED CITY
MOVIE GUY
From 7-year-old Punky Brewster to
13-year-old Punky Boobster
to post-teen NYC sk8er grrrl, 90’s child star Soleil
Moon Frye rediscovers the development of her and her
contemporaries though a 20-year-old cache of her
diaries and personal videos. I expected another
self-important narrative — it is that, unavoidably
due to the outsized “insight” pre- and early-teens
are wont to espouse — but surprisingly there’s more
and I talked
about it in detail on
KROC.
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© 2008,
2021 Chris
Miksanek, The Med City Movie Guy
Last updated:
2021 December 6
Contact: chris @ miksanek.com
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