Mindless Movie Marathon (part 1)

I’m trying something a little bit different this week. So please bear with me and let me know what you think. I did a double feature this week where I watched two movies that I want to discuss, and since it’s Oscar season coming up soon. Why not use this time to watch and review to movies that are nominated for best picture? Both of these movie reviews below will contain spoilers and/or major plot points, so if you don’t mind… proceed, if not come back after you’ve seen them.

Maestro

          It’s officially Oscar season. The nominations have been announced since my last review came out. The first film in the marathon today is Maestro (which was directed by and stars Bradley Cooper). Cooper plays  the late Leonard Bernstein, the great composer, conductor, music teacher and much more. Alongside him is Carey Mulligan as Felicia Montealegre who would become his wife.

            I have to admit, going into this, I knew very little about Bernstein outside of his name and knowing he was a conductor. He was absolutely so much more than that, and Bradley Cooper played him eerily good. During the end of the movie when he’s older, my wife walked in and didn’t even know it was Cooper playing him. Bernstein was a very busy man… both in mind and body and kept them both occupied at all times (even when he shouldn’t).

            The real star of this movie though, was Mulligan. She shined as Montealegre and actually picked up momentum as the movie went on. She definitely owned the second half of the movie stealing the scenes with Cooper (or anyone). I particularly enjoyed the dialogue between her and Shirley Bernstein (portrayed by Sarah Silverman). That was a nice surprise to see her in a serious role.

            Acting aside, the story bounces a lot and skips wide swaths of time during the 2+ hour runtime. I never got lost, but you would get some story, then boom, a year would pass and they have a baby. Then boom, they have two kids. Skipping through an entire existence of their little family at breakneck speed. Don’t get me wrong, it was nice to see all the highlights of their life together, but some moments would drag on and others barely saw the light of day.

            The music was wonderfully put together as it was all Bernstein’s work, but it was laid out in a delightful way that helped tell the story. Especially when he was writing and composing his music. The great acting carried the movie, but it did lack in a few other areas. So to end the first half of our marathon, I give this movie a 6 out of 10.

The Holdovers

          The second movie in our marathon is The Holdovers directed by Alexander Payne. I can tell you right off the bat, I enjoyed this one so much better. Even though this has it’s moments of sadness and depression, I had  a fun time watching this. Plenty of humor mixed in with the serious stuff really helped tie it all together.

                        Paul Giamatti plays Paul Hunham an instructor at Barton Academy where he is tasked with staying at the school during Christmas Break to watch over the kids who have can’t go home during the break. After most of the kids end up leaving, Paul is stuck watching just one kid, Angus Tully (played by Dominic Sessa). Angus is forced to stay at the academy because his mom wants to go on a honeymoon with her new husband. The other major player here is Mary Lamb (played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph) who is the cook who is also staying behind and is still grieving the loss of her son in the Vietnam War.

            All three of them have their own issues, but slowly learn more about each other and themselves as they navigate their time together. I’m not sure which one of these amazing people did a better job in their respective roles, but combined together, they sure put on a show for anyone lucky enough to catch this movie. If you’ve seen it, then you know what I mean.

            I especially loved the relationship between Paul and Angus. It starts out with neither one of them liking each other. Angus constantly getting on his nerves and Paul constantly making him do homework over Christmas Break. By the end, they are getting into sticky situations and lying to either save each other or to make the other one look good, even though “Barton boys” aren’t supposed to lie.

            The scene where they all go to a Christmas party together is really the only time the movie slips a little. Really, what was the point in that whole thing? Why have Angus meet the niece? Why have Paul get emotional over a women when it doesn’t effect the story? But other than that, I enjoyed this from start to finish. This may have to become a new Christmas go-to in my household after how much fun we just had watching it. I give this one an 8 out of 10.

Good luck to both of these movies on March 11^th and let me know what you think of the marathon double feature!