#filmforthought

Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer

Starring Richard Gere Rating: ★★★ Norman Oppenheimer (Gere) is a New York connections man, who develops a relationship with Israeli politician Eshel. Through this relationship, Oppenheimer builds his network.

The story is much more complicated than what it seems to be, but that is the fun in watching this film. Its first forty-five minutes is really all over the place. There is no backstory on Norman, as he just wanders around New York City and stumbles upon an impressive lead. The gears start grinding when Norman purchases a pair of shoes for the Israeli politician, but nothing is truly coherent until the fourth act. Its first three acts are trying to piece together some characters and situations the viewer should be aware of. However, all of these different features collide in the fourth and fifth acts, providing an incredible payoff. At two hours, it takes patience to see these different aspects come together, but the ending makes everything worth it.

With a small cast, this is Richard Gere’s show and he makes the best of it. Gere is a creepy guy with great stealth, as he stalks anyone who is of his interest. When Norman talks he is very rapid in his delivery, constantly throwing names at a person and attempting to arrange meetings. Norman is not a lovable or funny character as it may seem through the posters or trailers. However, he is a loyal man who will stop at no costs to connect people and fulfill an objective. For having no background, Norman is a character with many angles, as one can see him as an annoyance, while another may view him as a loyal friend.

Hidden Figures

Starring Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monae, Kevin Costner, Kristen Dunst, Jim Parsons and Mahershala Ali Rating: ★★★½

During the Space Race, three African-American women specializing in mathematics come to the forefront of NASA’s work despite all odds.

This is a remarkable story with fantastic performances by a stacked cast. Prior to seeing the film, there are not too many folks who have heard of this story. Yes, we all have heard of Martin Luther King Jr., the Little Rock Nine, Freedom Riders, and other people and events that helped shape the historical impact of the Civil Rights Movement during the 1960′s. However, the story of the Hidden Figures behind the Space Race is one that has never surfaced to where a high school student can learn about the event through history class. Fortunately, we have this film to understand how these women were some of the strongest brains of NASA during a time when the stakes in the Civil Rights Movement and Space Race were high.

Watching the characters deal with blow after blow due to the color of their skin makes this a challenging, yet inspiring experience. Janelle Monae’s character, Mary Jackson, summarizes the events perfectly when she says something like, “when we get closer to accomplishing something, you move the finish line.” Each time when it feels that a character has something in their reach, there is always the thought that it could be taken away at any moment. Although the characters face a series of challenges, it is amazing to see the ladies give it their all. Octavia Spencer’s character, Dorothy Vaughn, has worked a year as a supervisor for the West Area Computer, but is not promoted to the actual position of supervisor. Despite this, she sticks with her ladies in the department, and butts heads with Kristen Dunst’s character until the end. 

On the other hand, the film puts the spotlight on Katherine Johnson’s (Henson) challenges the most out of the three women. We get a glimpse of the home life Johnson had with her three children as a single parent, and the hope that another man may fill the void her deceased husband left. When Johnson works at NASA, it is incredible to see how she juggles her career with her home life. The moment Johnson steps into the room where she carries out her new position, it feels like it is her against the world. A strong majority of Johnson’s coworker’s are white males, with some white women, who plague her with a pile of work every day. Johnson’s coworkers treat her unfairly, and do not give her the credit she deserves. However, her hardest challenge is going to the colored bathroom every day, considering it is on the other side of the workplace grounds. The deck is stacked against Johnson, but she takes the challenge head on.

The chemistry between the three ladies is incredible. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae give it their all in their performances. When the times get tough, each lady has a different way of pulling their own weight. However, once the ladies are together, it feels like a down to earth moment unfolding. About half way in, there is a moment when each character feels like they have reached a breaking point at NASA. They vent their problem out a little, but it does not stop them from enjoying the fruits of life: drinking, singing and dancing. All of the ladies know how to carry their own, and care for each other.

Its supporting cast is also top notch. Kevin Costner does a good job as Johnson’s boss, who comes to embrace the idea of not letting the racial divide get in the way of accomplishing big things at NASA. Neil Patrick Harris also provides a solid role, playing the jerk of the office. Additionally, Kristen Dunst performs well as she engages with Octavia Spencer. Lastly, Mahershala Ali provides a nice little role as well. Sure, he is not in it too much, but he pairs very well with Taraji P. Henson.

I Am Not Your Negro

Written by James Baldwin, Narrated by Samuel L. Jackson Rating: ★ ★ ★

The unfinished work by James Baldwin, which depicts the current state of race in modern America by discussing the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Medger Ever.

James Baldwin’s work is as real as it gets and extremely well written. All of the points made from Baldwin’s account of the Civil Rights Movement almost 50 years ago feel like they are from a deep place in the author’s heart. Baldwin gives his perspective on the events like the integration of African Americans into Little Rock High School, the assassinations of the three activists mentioned earlier, police brutality, the role of African Americans in cinema and T.V. shows, and even the state of politics at the time. As Baldwin discusses his thoughts of the following events, the director beautifully ties in the author’s points to problems the African American community still faces today. For example, while Baldwin explains the recklessness of the police force toward African Americans, the images shift from the 1960s, to the Rodney King arrest of the 1990s, to the Ferguson protests of 2014. While Baldwin shares his story, it also paints a sad picture of how mean spirited people can be. Unfortunately, the racial divide and hatred toward the other race Baldwin discusses about in the documentary still continues today.

Baldwin’s writing is beautiful. The topics discussed by Baldwin are expressed in articulately, as the audience clings on to every word. An interesting move by director Raoul Peck is to let Baldwin’s unfinished work take center stage, and hold back a complete background of the author. Although it would be nice to have a little more background on Baldwin, the director ultimately makes the right choice by letting the author’s work give clues to his past. There is a heartbreaking story where Baldwin tells of a relationship he had with a white girl while he was a teenager. They would meet behind closed doors in one of their houses, and when they concluded their time together, the lady would leave first, then Baldwin would follow five minutes later. The two would stand on the same subway platform, and enter into the same subway car without saying a word to each other. With stories like this, a formal introduction to James Baldwin is unnecessary.

All About Eve

Starring Bette Davis, Anne Baxter, George Sanders and Celeste Holm Rating: ★★★ ½

Eve Harrington (Baxter) is a huge fan of Margo Channing (Davis). After one of Channing’s plays, Harrington is granted the opportunity to meet her favorite actress. Once Harrington hits it off well with the actress, Channing hires her as an assistant. From here, the audience fastens their seat belts.

The performances, witty script and thoughtful story make All About Eve a timeless feature. Its cast alone is worth checking out. Its leading ladies, Bette Davis and Anne Baxter, showcase fantastic performances as the two have a qualm that boils from its earliest moments. Bette Davis has the look of a woman one would not want  to mess with, and acts accordingly. Davis is strong and says what is on her mind. Yes, her character fears that her advancement in age may see a decline in value, but her confidence gives off a different impression. On the other hand, Baxter plays the good hearted lady who turns into a vile foe as her ambition explodes. Baxter is perfect for the role, considering her innocent looks and tone. A man who plays well off of Baxter is George Sanders. Sanders won an Academy Award for his performance, and rightfully so. The character Sanders plays is an astute critic who talks like a living, breathing column in the paper. Sanders comes off as very articulate, and takes Baxter head on with ease down the stretch.

Its screenplay is extremely well written. Each character’s dialogue is quick and cunning, as anyone can hold their own in an argument. Additionally, the characters are able to turn any situation into a humorous one. As Margo Channing prepares for the party in the evening, she tells the guests to, “Fasten your seat belts. It's going to be a bumpy night.” Of course, the quote is ranked number nine on the American Film Institute’s Top 100 list. There are no dumb jokes or cheesy remarks; everything is articulate and meaningful.

Additionally, the story provides the perfect balance of comedy and drama. It is scary to see Anne Harrington evolve into the monster she becomes towards the end. Its nice that the story buries a lot of Harrington’s past, and establishes her as the kind hearted soul. The qualm between Harrington and Channing was, and may still remain, a problem in Hollywood. With actors aging and losing value on the screen, many young performers are able to take an aging actor’s presence at the drop of a hat. For this reason, one could see why the Academy loved this film so much.

So recently I've been seeing a lot of talk on my dash about this film and its blatant racism towards African Americans. While this is absolutely true, and I don't condone it in any way, this movie is hardly the worst example of racism in Hollywood. In the 1940s, when this film was released, it was immediately shot down by the NAACP and multiple other organizations and has continued to be since then. Even the opening of Splash Mountain in the Disney theme parks in the late 80s/early 90s was protested. However, this film, if anything, is one of the least racist portrayals of African Americans made at the time. Just look at films like Gone With the Wind. One of the most celebrated American films of all time, set at basically the same time as Song of the South, and far more racist than the Disney film. However, no one really complains about that. Which brings me to the point that this film is primarily looked down upon by people simply because of the company that produced it. People expect Disney to show us the good in the world and provide wholesome, family entertainment. This film is not "family-friendly", therefore, Disney and the film are persecuted for it. If any other company had produced it, this film would have been looked over just like so many other films of the time.

Now, Is this film racist? Yes. Is it racist to the level of evil that most people make it out to be? absolutely not. In fact, the only way in which it really strays into cringe-worthy racism is some small behavioral mannerisms, racial references (tar-baby), and how some of the animated characters are voiced. Besides these things, we see the same depiction of African Americans that we see in great, praise-worthy films like 12 Years a Slave, Gone With the Wind, and Huckleberry Finn. This was a time in history that regardless of how it is depicted will always be met with skepticism and protest, but nonetheless people should educate themselves about. The 1940s were a very different time as well, and therefore, must be viewed as such when examining material from that time. 

In the end, it's up to you to decide for yourself what your opinions are on this film. These are just some things to think about. Am I saying this film needs to be celebrated? No. I'm merely suggesting that we all examine things before we dismiss them just because that's what the bandwagon is doing. Therefore, if you're really interested WATCH THE FILM. I'm sure you can find it for free online (That way you don't have to support it at all), but then at least you can form your own opinions about it. I personally don't condone this film and I think that Disney has made the right decision to not release it in its entirety anymore. But that being said, regardless of how you feel about the film, no one can deny the technological advancements, characters, talent (James Baskett as Uncle Remus is incredible), and music that it has brought to the Disney archives. It's safe to say that no one really, deep down, can resist humming along to "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah". Which goes to show that beautiful things can come out of adversity, even small things, like a silly song. 

Sincerely,