Well we find ourselves at the end of another year. One that has been rather eventful if not in the best of ways. With nowhere to go, we make the most of it with little distractions. Along with abbreviated hours at stores and take out only for restaurants, a complete loss of theaters has robbed us of places to commune with film. The news of Warner Bros. releasing their entire 2021 slate of movies has even furthered those anxieties.
True, we will see âWonder Woman 1984â in the comfort of our home. But we still want to be with others, soaking in those emotions. âSoul,â the Pixar film, will also be arriving the same day on Disney+ December 25. The silver lining in this is we can enjoy movies that we wouldnât get in theaters until much later.
âMankâ is one such film. Directed by David Fincher, this is something of a passion project of his and it shows. Written by his late father, we are spun the tale of screenwriter Herman Mankiewicz in late 30s Hollywood and the creation of his script for âCitizen Kane.â Fincherâs trademark visual style leaps even off of the smaller screen. Gary Oldmanâs main performance is another in a string of greats for the actor. Amanda Seyfried as screen star Marion Davies is a joy to see here. Much has been said of Charles Danceâs role as Hearst, but it doesnât really come alive until the climax. He is more of a presence looming over if anything. The one thing holding back the film for me is the distance of the filmmaker. Donât get me wrong; I enjoyed myself as a film history buff. But much like âTenetâ in the summer, you can tell Fincher might be making this more for himself than for the audience. The relief here is that we can revel in this with him.
Amazon Prime has been a powerhouse in terms of exceptional content of late. âSound of Metal,â Darius Marderâs feature debut, is not flashy in terms of directing. That being said, the sound design is top notch. Conveying the story of a drummer losing his hearing, the ways in which the sound comes and goes allows us to get into the main characterâs headspace. Riz Ahmed is the centerpiece here, a man who succumbs to this and just wants an easy solution. His arc through the movie is full of ups and downs that never feel forced. Raw and heartbreaking, weâre given an ending that is both serene and disquieting. Ahmed is a shoe-in come Oscar time.
As we near the end of the year, I would like to put together a list of my favorite movies and television. We had two great Elizabeth Moss performances in âThe Invisible Manâ and âShirley.â Netflix has been on a roll with âDa 5 Bloods,â âRebecca,â âThe Devil All The Time,â âI Am Thinking Of Ending Things,â âThe Boys In The Band,â âThe Trial of the Chicago Seven,â âThe Queenâs Gambitâ; the list goes on. âThe Old Guardâ was there in lieu of Hollywood action blockbusters. Amazon Prime has had a go at arthouse fare with the Steve McQueen-directed âSmall Axeâ(larger review to come). âThe Last Danceâ on ESPN, âPerry Masonâ and âWe Are Who We Areâ on HBO; we are in a glut of good media.
With all this and more out there, now more than ever we cannot say that we are starved for content. The window (or in this case, screen) is wide open. We all have but to look forward. As we take this break in publication, I want to say stay safe. Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and Happy Viewing.
