Uncle Frank (2020)

In 1973 18 year old college freshman Sophia Lills bonds with her gay college professor uncle Paul Bettany, while on a road trip from New York to South Carolina for his father's funeral. Written and directed by 'Six Feet Under' creator Alan Ball. A refreshingly modest film of some pogiency. *** 

Spontaneous (2020)

 Members of the senior class at a suburban New Jersey high school start spontaneously combusting for no aparent reason. There is a romance between Katherine Langford and Charlie Plummer, there's some comedy, and government agents, and drugs prescription and recreational, Piper Parabo plays a mom, there is prom and depression and Westboro Baptist type protesters, and 80's music, and anti Trump jokes and some poignancy. Not sure what to make of it and I think that's the point. The feels were all over the place, it was off putting, kind of pretentious but kinda almost worked. Not quite sure what to make of it, but the high concept was too high so I didn't really like it, though pieces worked well enough. Would have liked to have the lead couple in a more normal movie. **

Clueless (1995)

 I finally saw this. Lose remake of Jane Austin's 'Emma' set among the "vapid" and privileged of Beverly Hills high schoolers. Strong cast and surprisingly smart and likeable. I really enjoyed this. ***

Shockproof (1949)

 Cornell Wilde seems the best kind of earnest liberal, a well liked parole officer who goes above and beyound for his clients. Patricia Knight is a gorgouse muderess for whom Wilde goes even more beyound, getting her a job as his blind mothers live in help, because he just knows he can save her, and did I mention she's gorgouse. 

The two stars were married at the time of filming. Interesting as blend of the styles of melodramest director Douglas Sirk and hard boiled writer Samuel Fuller. Unfortunately the blend dose not gell and the movie works less and less well the longer it's goes on. I just didn't find Knight's falling for Wilde convincing, nor the extent to which Wilde was willing to f-up his life for Knight. Movie was okay going in but by the end I was hating it. *

Matewan (1987)

 Story of a 1920 West Virgina coal strike that went integrated when Italin and black "scabs" joined in. Exceptional writting and directing by John Sayles. Strong cast includes Chris Cooper, James Earl Jones, David Strathairne, Mary McDonnell and Bob Gunton. This might be the best film about a union. ****

The Long Goodbye (1973)

Elliot Gould is such a different take on Phillip Marlowe from the iconic Humphrey Bogart portrail, but I thought it worked. Off beat adaptation of the 1953 Raymond Chandler novel updates things to a burnt out 1973. Lots of seemingly counter intuitive decisions by director Robert Altman as to casting (this is now my second favorite Sterling Hayden performance, and I usually don't care for him), pacing, and various digressions (a subplot concerning Marlowe's cat takes up an astonishing amount of screen time). I found the picture just fascinating and very odd. Not entirely sure what Altman was going for beyound proving the flexabilty of filmic adaptions, but that is more then enough. ***1/2

Too Die For (1995)

 Satire of 1990's tabloid culture. New Hampshire weather girl gets high school kids to kill her husband for her, media circus ensues. Came on kind of heavy at first but it grew on me. Film is anchored by a commited performance from Nicole Kidman. ***