If Beale Street Could Talk - 7 stars out of 10

If Beale Street Could Talk - 7 stars out of 10

My expectations for “If Beale Street Could Talk” were too high.  The Certified Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and award season hype had me expecting a mind-blowing film but I felt pretty indifferent in the end. It reminds me of “Loving” from a few years back.  With both films, I had an expectation of an emotionally-charged racial story that would have me fired up but the end result was “very good” but not great.  That isn’t to say that I wasn’t fascinated by this classic story from James Baldwin.  This adaptation utilizes a nonlinear timeline to maintain the mystery of why Fonny is in prison and whether he is guilty.  It also helps us to form bonds with the characters by allowing Director Barry Jenkins to decide when to reveal different events in each character’s life.  Introducing Fonny when he is stealing woodworking materials might not make him very likable but introducing him within the context of his relationship with Tish paints him in a positive light.  This makes us more understanding of his negative actions as we’ve already seen how the trials of his life have shaped him.  Kiki Layne and Stephan James give strong performances in the lead role while Regina King gives a very good performance as the mother, but I’m not sure that it is worth all of the hype.  A nomination in the Best Supporting categories comes with a certain expectation - the actor will have one extremely emotive moment that sticks with you (think Anne Hathaway in “Les Mis”).  This is the same issue that I had with Mahershala Ali’s win for “Moonlight.”  He had a nice performance but there was no “wow” moment.  I was very surprised to see Marina de Tavira with a nomination for “Roma” but even she had that heartbreaking moment when her husband leaves.  King plays her character very well but I was still waiting for here “wow” moment when the credits began to roll.  If I were going to choose a supporting performance that stood out, it would be Teyonah Parris as Ernestine.  I believe that she was only in one scene but her spunky attitude left a big impression.  One of the film’s most perplexing Oscar nominations is for Best Original Score.  As a musician, I am very attuned to the memorable themes woven throughout a score and the music that enhances our emotions throughout a film.  Nicholas Britell provided neither.  This score is a plodding, repetitive dirge with an occasional jazz dissonance.  I can’t imagine that anybody could sing “The Theme from Beale Street” if I asked and I blame the score for preventing me from forming the truly empathetic bonds that should come so naturally in this story.  “If Beale Street Could Talk” has an interesting story and good acting but I am one of the few that is not surprised by its lack of Oscar nominations.

[Pictured: "Beale Street" offers a powerful story but doesn't quite live up to the hype]

Eighth Grade - 9 stars out of 10

Eighth Grade - 9 stars out of 10

"Eighth Grade” is hilarious because it is so completely accurate.  Director Bo Burnham must be in touch with his inner adolescent because every stereotyped kid and every overdramatic teenage tragedy is spot on.  The film is one long pop culture reference and even though this causes it to be instantly dated, the struggles of Kayla are forever relevant.  It needs to be this way in order to properly capture this snapshot of adolescence in our current technological age.  The screenplay is really well-written, incorporating “umms” and “likes” into the dialogue of its teenage characters.  There is so much awkwardness intentionally injected into every scene.  The themes of peer pressure, anxiety, and sexting are accurate and effective as they explore the social issues of a generation that spends more time staring at a screen than looking up.  As a teacher, this film is an important reminder to adults about how fragile preteens can be and that their sensitivity is important, no matter how silly the situation looks to us.  15-year-old Elsie Fischer is magnificent as Kayla.  She really gets to the heart of the character as she awkwardly interacts with her peers but shows confidence in her internet videos.  You would totally believe that this was her personal video diary.  Subtleties like the way that she carries herself in the pool scene make her acting multidimensional.  One of the best-written characters is Kayla’s dad.  He is hilarious because he perfectly embodies every characteristic of a real-life embarrassing dad.  Josh Hamilton balances his goofiness with a beautifully tender moment toward the end.  His chemistry with Fischer feels like they are family.  While the film could be very valuable to eighth graders with its important messages about self-worth and being yourself, the content goes beyond anything that I would ever let my middle schooler watch.  There was some controversy over the MPAA’s decision to give it an R-rating but I believe it to be the correct rating.  There are definitely things that could have been cut to make it more appropriate for teens without losing the film’s grit and message.  “Eighth Grade” is a hilarious look back at those awkward middle school years.  I found myself laughing out loud because the characters and situations are so accurate but at its core, it captures the essence of how scary the world looks through the eyes of an adolescent.  I highly recommend the film, even if you won’t be able to enjoy it with your teens.

[Pictured: The awkwardness that permeates this film is palpable]

Beautiful Boy (2018) - 7 stars out of 10

Beautiful Boy (2018) - 7 stars out of 10

“Beautiful Boy” is a raw, challenging look at drug addiction.  This is the true story of teenager Nic Sheff, whose casual drug use quickly led to a constant need for something stronger.  He begins his story as a likable kid with hopes and dreams but it doesn’t take long for his life to spiral out of control.  Timothée Chamalet puts forth an impressive performance as he portrays the many different phases of Nic’s addiction.  By the end of the film, it is hard to believe that the pathetic, broken young man is the same person that had so much life in his eyes at the beginning.  His critical acclaim and awards nominations have been well-earned.  Steve Carell gives the most emotional performance of his life in the role of Nic’s father, David.  The film is particularly difficult to watch as a father because the story is told from his perspective.  There is a painful amount of empathy that will make you pray that you never have to see your own child suffer like this.  Carell sheds his typical funny man persona and demonstrates the devastating effects of a person’s drug addiction on their loved ones.  For fans of “The Office,” it was a cruel joke to cast Carell with Amy Ryan (Michael Scott and Holly), only to reveal that they are divorced and only appear in one scene together.  The content of the film reminds me of “Requiem for a Dream.”  It is difficult to stomach in its straightforward approach to what drug use looks like and it’s negative effects on both the human body and psyche.  The story explores rehab, halfway houses, relapse, and how difficult it is to maintain sobriety when your body desires drugs so badly.  The content is extreme and should only be approached in the proper mental state.  It would make any person question the risk vs. reward of drugs and, like “Requiem,” this is a good film to share with a young person who is battling with peer pressure.  “Beautiful Boy” offers strong acting performances and a well-written script but the most important part of this film lies in its thesis: drug addiction begins with a single use and once it grabs hold of you, it will destroy you and every person that you care about.

[Pictured: The high stakes emotions bring the dangers of drugs to the forefront of the film]