A few more films

I’ve been watching still more movies, and it’s fun to write a little about each of them. Not least because I never seem to remember what I’ve seen if I don’t write it down. Don’t let that put you off these films, though, because I’ve watched some really good stuff recently.

Lilting

I loved this moving film about a man (Ben Whishaw) whose boyfriend has died – the film sees him trying to connect with his boyfriend’s grieving mother (Cheng Pei-pei), who is Chinese and doesn’t speak much English. With the help of a translator, they try to connect (and Peter Bowles is in a supporting role!) If you speak Mandarin and English, it might be a bit annoying that every line is essentially repeated by the translator, but that was not an issue for me. A simple, beautiful, thoughtful film – and a brilliant performance by Whishaw.

Moonlight

It won the Best Film Oscar a couple of years ago – remember envelope-gate? – and I’d avoided watching it because I thought it had lots of drug-taking in it. Turns out, no. It shows three periods of one man’s life, from child to teenager to adult, as he deals with an abusive mother, his sexuality, and being bullied. If that sounds super dark, then fear not – the film is oddly lovely, even with all those elements, and that’s probably because of the way it’s shot. A worthy winner.

Paterson

I forget where I saw this recommended, but was pleased to see it on Amazon Prime. Adam Driver plays Paterson (who lives in Paterson) – a bus driver who also writes poetry. He lives with his creative, affectionate girlfriend and their dog, and the movie mostly sees him go about his ordinary, everyday life. It’s truly lovely. There are few momentous events, and those that seem momentous turn out not to be – it’s rare to see ordinary, contented people shown so well, and it’s another beautiful film to add to this list of beautiful films.

We the Animals

Speaking of, the cinematography in this film is mesmerising, and that’s not something I’d usually notice. It’s about three brothers who grow up with volatile parents in near-poverty – and about the confusion that can come about from the mix of love, angst, violence, affection, and the failure to fit in. It drags a little in places, but Raul Castillo’s performance is brilliant, and (again) the way it is shot and edited is stunning.

Isn’t it Romantic

And now a change of pace! I set aside my irritation that this title doesn’t have a question mark (why?!) to enjoy a sort of spoof rom-com that was made by Netflix. Rebel Wilson hits her head and wakes up in a world that resembles a rom-com – she lives in an enormous New York apartment, has a female nemesis at work, and Liam Hemsworth is in love with her. It’s certainly not groundbreaking, but Wilson is always very engaging to watch, and the whole thing is super fun.