1243. Nomadland

Nomadland
2020
Directed by Chloe Zhao

I have once again reached the end of the List, which is something I've now bragged about three times on this blog. When the List comes out with a new update, there will be a fourth time. Honestly, I didn't find any new favorites among the updates, but it was interesting to see what was being created during such a weird time in the world.

In 2011, Fern loses her job after the US Gypsum plant in Empire, Nevada closes, closing the town with it. Fern sells most of possessions and buys a van. She dubs it Vanguard, and roams the country looking for work. She starts to establish relationships with some other nomads, but remains untethered to life.

This is probably the most impressive performance I've seen from the new batch, and it comes right at the end. Frances McDormand is literally in every scene of this movie. She genuinely feels real, not like a Hollywood glamazon who became a size four for the role. I don't know if we had to see her defecate, but I guess that's life in the van.

This reminds me of the documentary on the List Surfwise, which showcased the life of a family of nomads. To me, it feels like a transition to death, and therefore, not something you should enforce on your children.

So until next time! Happy viewing!

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

McDormand lived in a van for five months to prepare for the role.

Empire, Nevada is a real place that was owned and shut down by US Gypsum.

1242. Lovers Rock

Lovers Rock
2020
Directed by Steve McQueen

This is an odd selection, as it is a part of anthology series called Small Axe. I wonder if people who are truly obsessed with the List will have to watch the entirety of Small Axe. What psychos! Now onto my entry number 1242.

The film mostly shows black people dancing together at house parties, like that scene in Dirty Dancing when Baby arrives with the watermelon. It's a nice change to see Black joy shared on screens, since a lot of films starring African Americans tend to showcase their miseries and pain.

So the music is good, but not much happens. But it's short, so worth a watch.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

The film takes its name from a popular musical genre in 1970s London, which was a blend of reggae and R&B.

1241. Never Rarely Sometimes Always

Never Rarely Sometimes Always
2020
Directed by Eliza Hittman

Kudos to the List for including so many female directors in this update. Abortion as a topic hasn't popped up too often on this blog. I am grateful the subject is actually being covered by women.

Pennsylvania continues to embarrass me by providing the setting for this story. Seventeen-year-old Autumn is unable to get an abortion in Pennsylvania without parental consent. She does her best to terminate the pregnancy herself, when that doesn't work, she turns to her cousin Skylar. Skylar manages to steal enough money for bus tickets to New York, so Autumn can get her abortion. 

This was a tough watch, particularly the grueling pregnancy clinic appointments. The film did an outstanding job portraying how vulnerable teenage girls are, and how they are just under a constant barrage of attacks on their body. 

The two leads brought freshness and sensitivity to their roles, which was no doubt funded by their lack of experience. I like the moments of hope sprinkled in the story. 

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Sidney Flanigan beat out more than a hundred actors for her role.

1240. Soul

Soul
2020
Directed by Peter Docter and Kemp Powers

Madeline L'Engle said "You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children." Pixar always tackles subjects that are very difficult for adults to process, and anthropomorphizes feelings we didn't know we had. At least, that's been my experience. I know some people refuse to watch animation, but they are missing out on some very thoughtful films.

Pixar has come up with very depressing content, but this might be the darkest of the bunch. Joe Gardner, a middle school music teacher, receives his first big break as a jazz musician. Because Pixar characters are not allowed to be happy, he immediately falls into a manhole and dies. Well, he's not really dead. There's a chance he can rejoin his soul with his body, if he is able to wrangle unruly soul 22, who doesn't want to come to Earth. If he is able to find soul 22's spark, he can use their Earth pass to come back. It's trippy.

I am here for the Jaime Foxx/Tina Fey pairing. They had great comedic chemistry and emotional depth which is doubly impressive given that they weren't in the same room when they were saying their lines. The visuals are obviously stunning.

I still don't think this is the best offering from Pixar, but you'll still get a good cry out of it.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Tina Fey helped write her character's lines.

Elements of the Great Before share similarities with the Mormons' views on pre existence.

First Disney movie to be released straight to the streaming service.

1239. Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom
2020
Directed by George Wolfe 

This is one of those films that makes you feel guilty for not praising it. Sure the performances were outstanding, but I spent most of the movie wading through monologues, hoping something would happen soon.

Ma Rainey is a blues singer/diva. I don't blame her, if I had star power I would make similar demands about Diet Dr. Pepper as she does about Coke.  Levee Green is the band's trumpeter, and his personality immediately clashes with the rest of the group.

Viola Davis convincingly became Ma Rainey, but Chadwick Boseman stole the show, he had much more interesting things to do. It felt very staged and trapped to me, but that's adaptations of plays for you. 

Good ending though, even if the climax was melodramatic.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

The black bottom refers to a dance craze popular among African Americans during the time in the rural South.

Filmed in Pittsburgh. Well, it's interesting to me, because I live there.

With this film, Davis became the most Oscar nominated actress of African-American descent.