October 2018 film review

BATTLE OF THE SEXES (2018) D- Jonathan Dayton
In 1973, having already thrashed women’s number one player Margaret Court, unabashed male chauvinist pig Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell), 30 years her senior but still very much a force to be reckoned with, takes on Billy-Jean King (Emma Stone). The smart money is on Riggs once again, after all, didn’t King lose to Court only a few months previously?
           All this takes place against the backdrop of a world where females are awarded only a fraction of the prize-money offered to their male colleagues, and if there’s anything Billy-Jean cares more about than winning, it’s equality.
            I enjoyed this film enormously. It’s directed skillfully, and the acting throughout, especially by an oily Bill Pullman who plays arch-chauvinist Jack Kramer, is exemplary. There isn’t quite enough tennis in it, or at least we have to wait a long time before it makes its appearance, but the end result is out of the top drawer.

BLACK PANTHER (2018) D- Ryan Coogler
In the heart of Africa there is an ideal society, hidden behind an invisible barrier. There its population lives in splendid isolation from the deeply racist world outside - a kind of Shangrila, if you will, until that is, the heir to the throne of ‘Wakanda’ has to deal with the threat from a young pretender, who would oust him and place himself on the throne.

Speaking of equality, this film is a wholly black effort, black stars, black production team, black everything. Yet surprisingly, you hardly even notice. What you see is a 21st century blockbuster with all the high-tec trimmings, woven into a gripping narrative. Based on an idea by superhero wizard Stan Lee, this film works on every level, from acting, directing, all the way to its on-screen look. Most importantly, it doesn’t suffer form the clunky, uncomfortable feel of other all-black efforts of the past, such as Carmen Jones or Porgy and Bess.
Highly recommended.

BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY (2018) D- Bryan Singer
Being the life and times of one Farouk Bolsara, aka Freddie Mercury, and the incredible rise and rise of a band called Queen. It is much more than the story of their remarkable single which gives the film its title; indeed, I would suggest a better title might be Don’t Stop Me Now, if only because that says more about Freddie’s non-stop lifestyle, which was eventually to be his downfall.

Rami Malek puts in a highly serviceable performance as Freddie, and even if the whole is slightly marred by wide-ranging digressions into Freddie’s private life, it remains an absorbing biopic of one of the most iconic groups of the 20th century. I even shed a couple of tears towards the end, and it takes a lot to draw the tears out of this grizzled, cynical old git...

PRIZZI’S HONOUR (1985) D- John Huston
Principal hitman to a New York Mafia family, Prizzi’s (Jack Nicholson) eye is caught by an attractive woman (Kathleen Turner), much to the ire of his ex - a splendid Angelica Huston, who still burns a candle for him even though they broke up years ago...
           They marry, but his job interferes even on their honeymoon when he is asked to take out another victim - and guess who that is...
           John Huston chose to give this film a sort of graphic-novel, mythical feel which is highly engaging. Nicholson is particularly strong as a kind of ingenue, despite the extremely grim nature of his day-job. I somehow managed to miss this movie when it came out in the mid 80s; I guess life intervened. But I can only say I am extremely gratified to have caught up with it at last. Some things are worth waiting for...