May’s reviews feature one outstanding film — Far From the Madding Crowd — and a pair of big name box office stinkbombs (Aloha and Tomorrowland). Around them circle some mediocre efforts, a populace rather typical this time of year.
I use a 5-finger rating system, with a high-five going to those rare films that are a true treat to watch. Films rated four fingers are excellent and well worth paying to see. Three is mediocre, two is not good, and a film that would rate one finger — a visual image too grim to mention — is instead awarded a zero, The Dreaded Fist of Badness.
Films are always fun, and what one viewer sees and enjoys doesn’t mean enjoyment for all, so feel free to let me know if you have an opinion on any of these. Half the fun of seeing a movie is disappearing within its story. The other half is swapping opinions afterward with friends. I am always happy to hear from fellow cinephiles.
Here are 10 films — studio, indy, and foreign — for May.
Dior and I – 3 fingers. This interesting documentary deals with the surrounding pressures and implied expectations of a young leader (and surprise choice) who unexpectedly takes over a legendary brand as its new creative director—and has a mere eight weeks to prepare for his first pressure-packed Parisian show.
Noble – 3 fingers. This is a mediocre film based that under-serves the extraordinary life of a determined Irish woman (Christina Noble) whose fierce fight against all odds eventually steers her to a calling in Vietnam, where her bullheaded determination to improve the lives of over 700,000 street children and families physically, emotionally, and financially ravaged by Vietnam’s post-war Agent Orange remains a testament to what is possible by someone who devotes his or her life to helping others.
About Elly – 3 fingers. This sad, limited location, low budget Iranian drama about an extended family who invites a local schoolteacher on a seaside holiday weekend, only to have their lives suddenly turned upside-down by a tragic accident.
Mad Max: Fury Road – 3 fingers. Three writers combined to pen a two-hour overdose of dust, deafening explosions, and non-stop desert vehicle chases, but the iconic reboot lacks suspense due to a clunky script and some very odd coloring and editing decisions.
Far from the Madding Crowd – 5 fingers. Carey Mulligan’s star turn as an independent young woman running a farm is Oscar-nomination worthy in this simple but elegant 1870s love quadrangle period piece set in rural England.
In the Name of My Daughter – 3 fingers. Legendary French actress Catherine Deneuve stars as an aggrieved mother whose failed casino vanishes her wealth but not her spirit as she doggedly pursues her former legal aid—whom she believes has murdered her estranged, rebellious daughter.
I’ll See You in My Dreams – 3 fingers. Aided by a fun supporting cast, Blythe Danner’s fine performance lifts up this melancholy drama about a retired widow who is inspired by two opposite types of men to “get back in the game” and live life to its fullest.
Aloha – 0 fingers, The Dreaded Fist of Badness. Despite it’s Hawaii setting, there’s not a person on the planet who will think this insipidly stupid, poorly made mess of a film is worth five minutes of his or her time.
The Connection – 4 fingers. This entertaining, well-made dramatic French remake puts a twist on Gene Hackman’s most famous starring role (The French Connection) and focuses on tense, escalating gamesmanship between a Marseilles drug kingpin and an honest lawman determined to bring him down.
Tomorrowland – 0 fingers, The Dreaded Fist of Badness. This terrible two-hour mess of a film about a secret, better, utopian haven for only the chosen implodes under a myriad of problems—lack of clarity about what the story truly is about and who, if anyone, is its target market—and will forever be remember as a big-money Disney bust.
June will be a fun month as releases roll out and momentum ramps up for the summer season. Find a star or story or director you like and support your favorite artist.
Take care, enjoy springtime, and I will see you at the movies!