Displaying items by tag: Vera Farmiga

HALSTON

US, 2021, 5 X 45 minutes, 2021, Colour.

Ewan McGregor, Rebecca Dayan, David Pittu, Krysta Rodriguez, Gian Franco Rodriguez, Bill Pullman, Jason Kravitz, Mary Beth Pell, Rory Culkin, Kelly Bishop, Vera Famiga,  Sullivan Jones.

Directed by Daniel Minahan.

In 2019, there was a documentary on Halston, biography, a portrait, his impact in the fashion world, his downfall. Recommendation for those who have not seen either film, the documentary of this television series, is to watch the documentary first, an overall view of Halston, the person, his work, the drama of his life before looking at this dramatic interpretation, gauging the drama against the background of the more factual account.

This drama moves around in time, different emphases on Halston and his personality, his talent, his success, his business failures, the era of his highs, the era of his lows.

Attention is given to his family background, from the midwest, his emerging as a designer. The film does highlight his abilities, with fabric, cutting, the material draping, his designs and the range of his shows. For audiences interested in fashion, a great deal to look at. Particularly significant is the show at Versailles, his being pressurised by Eleanor Lambert, participating in the American show in Paris, snubbed by the French, acclaimed by the audience, the contribution by Halston’s close friend, Liza Minnelli (a strong performance and impersonation from Krysta Rodriguez).

Alston was preoccupied with his work, obsessed, working long hours, making demands on his associates, including a young designer, Joel Schumacher, who was later to become a significant Hollywood director. There were also the business difficulties, the dealings with David Mahoney (Bill Pullman) and Halston, sometimes arrogant, sometimes short-sighted, finding himself in financial positions, takeovers not to his liking. Ultimately, taken over by companies not interested in fashion, controlled by executives who did not understand fashion.

There was also Halston’s lifestyle, not so much emphasised in the documentary, his relationship with Ed who was to become a designer in the company, his prowling for partners and encountering Victor Hugo, would-be artist, a companion for many years, but ultimately tangled in disputes and financial deals. And, the link with Studio 54 and Steve Rubel.

Halston was not a likeable character, talented, obsessed, the series tracing his successful years and his being the victim of his own arrogance, his downfall.

1. Audience knowledge of Halston, his talent, fashion achievement, personal life?
2. The contrast between the documentary, the dramatising, personalities?
3. Ewan McGregor, his portrait of Halston? The supporting cast, being actual characters, especially Liza Minnelli?
4. Characters, drama, Halston and his relationship with his staffs, with the models, friendship with Liza Minnelli, Elsa Peretti and her jewellery, Eleanor Lambert and Versailles, David Mahoney and his wife?
5. Sexual orientation, the meeting with Ed in the bar, the relationship? Ed later working for him? On the prowl, the encounter with Victor Hugo, their time together, the attraction, the falling out, Studio 54, the financial confrontations?
6. His origins, ambitions, talent, his experience with fabrics, his eye, the cut and the draping of the material, Jackie Kennedy and the pillbox hat, women’s clothes and comfort, his working for Bergdorf-Goodman, the contracts, JC Penney?
7. The episode at Versailles, Eleanor Lambert and her insistence, relying on Liza Minnelli, the treatment by the French, the performance, the success and applause? Status of American fashion?
8. His personal life, relationships, tempestuous, his reliability, arrogance, expenses, the layout of his office, the luxury, the flowers, his extravagance? Alcohol and drugs and their toll?
9. The world of Studio 54, Steve Rubel, the guests, the behaviour, club, sexual? The arrest of Rubel? The issue of the design of the party, his being shunned?
10. Halston, business, David Mahoney, decisions, not considered, impetuous, regrets? Failure, the companies and their ignorance, overseers?
11. AIDS, his being silent about his having , AIDS San Francisco, his death?
12. His talent, overreaching himself, success, but also consequences?

EZRA

US, 2023, 101 minutes, Colour.

Bobby Cannavale, William E.Fitzgerald, Rose Byrne, Robert De Niro, Whoopi Goldberg, Tony Goldwyn, Rainn Wilson, Vera Framiga, Matilda Lawler.

Directed by Tony Goldwyn.

While there have been a number of films dramatising autism and its effect on those on the spectrum (for example the very striking Temple Granted with Claire Danes), this is very audience-friendly look at an autistic boy.

Audiences will be sensitive to the issues, the emergence of awareness of autism in more recent decades, consequences for family life and parenting, for education opportunities whether in the community or specialised schools, the issues of medication for “normalising” the autistic person.

The screenplay for this film was written by Tony Spiridakis, based on his own experience with his son and, as he has noted, his learning how to finally step back from trying to control his son’s life. He has been a long-time friend of the actor-director, Tony Goldwyn, and Goldwyn has directed this film as well as taking a small role.

‘The film also had multiple autistic crew members on set to ensure its authenticity. Other cast members were directly related to a family member who has autism. Throughout the production, the creators screened different versions to the autism community for feedback.’ (Wikipedia entry on the film.) This is the case with Robert De Niro who plays the grandfather here.

Film opens with Ezra aged about 11, having great difficulties at school, fighting, on the verge of being suspended. Young William A.Fitzgerald is very convincing as Ezra. His parents are divorcing. He lives with his mother, Jenna, Rose Byrne, devoted, anxious, supported by her lawyer, Tony Goldwyn. But there are frequent visits from his father, Max, Bobby Cannavale very powerful and emotionally-charged in perhaps his best screen performance. He plays a stand-up comic and writer, taking his son to the performances as his supportive Mojo. However, he wants his son to be “normal”, in ordinary school with ordinary students, and is highly suspicious of any medication for the autistic condition.

Max lives with his father Stan, De Niro, asserted past which need some kind of resolution and apology.

The film dramatises the plight of the young boy, determined, sometimes fixated in autistic mode, devoted to each of his parents.

After an incident, almost an accident with Ezra being injured on the street, Max’s tension becomes even higher, assaulting the doctor in the hospital, arrested, a restraining order, becoming desperate and kidnapping his son, intending to travel to Los Angeles for a spot on the Jimmy Kimmel show, organised by his agent, played by Whoopi Goldberg.

With police intervention, Max takes refuge in the home of an old friend, a sympathetic Vera Farmiga, whose daughter involves Ezra in play, and introducing him to a horse, patting it, befriending it, some moments of freedom and joy.

The climax occurs in the Jimmy Kimmel studio, Jenna arriving with Max’s father, the police and the authorities, clash, Max arrested.

However, there is a more peaceful ending, Max calming down, Jenna and caring for Ezra – and an enjoyable Jimmy Kimmel show postscript.

An audience-friendly film on issues of autism.

1. The focus of the with police intervention, film on Ezra, age, autism, symptoms, behaviour, relationship with father, with mother, was grandfather?
2. The New Jersey setting, homes, streets, schools, police precincts, jails, comedy clubs? The American countryside, the journey to Michigan, the farm, the horses? The roads, diners along the way? The Jimmy Kimmel studios? The musical score?
3. The screenplay, Tony is very darkness and his experience with his own son, the cast with family connections to autism, autistic members of the crew? The testing out of sequences?
4. The audience entering the situation, Max and Jenna, marriage, Ezra, is autism, the years passing, is experiences at school, the parent being called in, the violence and his outbursts, expulsion?
5. Max, his devotion, taking Ezra to his stand-up comic digs, his Mojo? Ezra and his responses? The bond between father and son? Jenna, the day by day care, the divorce proceedings, a relationship with Bruce, lawyer, his advice? The scenes at home, care for Ezra?
6. William A.Fitzgerald and his presence and performance as Ezra? Manner, the symptoms of the spectrum, way of speaking, movie quotes, reactions, violence, not being touched, bananas, phobias? It shrewdness? At home, at school? His dislike of Bruce? Going to the club, the theme of the big Lebowski? Home late? Jenna’s reaction?
7. Robert De Niro is the grandfather, Pop-pop, the back story as it unfolded, difficult, cooking for the military, hard on his wife, her abandoning the family, Max thinking it was to blame? Living at home with his father, the memories of the past, his father’s severity, violence? His father as a doorman at the hotels? Max taunting him about his parking sign, his military service, cooking? The difficult relation with Jenna?
8. Max, relationship with his agent, Jane, her bookings for him, his performance after the experience of Macs, overhearing Bruce, interpreting literally, rushing out, the dog, taxi, hospital? Maxes hope reaction at the hospital, attacking the doctor, the arrest, the police, release, his doing a deal? The performance of the club and it’s sad ending, is talking about his doing the deal? The decision to abduct Ezra? Is being on probation with the law? Phoning his father?
9. It is, the discussion about medication, maxes hostility, saying the doctors were exploiting the drugs, political issues? Jenna finally desperate, calling the police, their upbraiding her because of the delay, the Amber Alert? On television, the roadblocks…?
10. Max and his friendship with Nick, Nick in the camp, the Senegalese nun, Ezra tantrums, metallic cutlery, the eating with their fingers…? Nick, support for Max?
11. The journey, Ezra and his reactions, returning to his roots, police cordoned, driving through the woods, stranded, Ezra running away, reconciliation, getting the lift, going to see Grace, who welcome, memories of the past, Ezra with Ruby, the other children, her helping him to befriend the horse and its effect on him? Running and playing? The police arriving, grease giving them the car, travelling to Los Angeles?
12. Jenna, desperate, trying to contact the grandfather, throwing stones at his house, at his work at the hotel, his finally telling her where they had gone, the drive, the attack on Nick?
13. Grandfather see father and son in the diner, relating will, talking with Max, his confession about the past and his sorrow?
14. Everybody in Los Angeles, the Jimmy Kimmel studio, the preparation for the gig, the police arriving, the Amber alert, Ezra and not wanting to be touched, the police, cuffing his father, Ezra’s attack, generally desperate?
15. The aftermath, Max on probation, working with Jenna, the school, his taking him? Possibilities for Max to accept reality, not wanting to control?
16. The credits sequence, Jimmy Kimmel, the return to the studio, the joke about being arrested, performance?

ORIGIN

US, 2023, 141 minutes, Colour.

Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, John Bernthal, Niecy Nash, Emily Yancey, Finn Wittrock, Victoria Pedretti, Jasmine Cephas Jones, Isha Blaaker, Vera Farmiga, Audra McDonald, Connie Neilson, Blair Underwood, Nick Offerman, Myles Frost, Suraj Yengde.

Directed by Ava DuVernay.

The title, Origin, is significant. However, more significant is the word, Caste. In fact the film is based on the book by Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: the Origins of our Discontent. And, checking on the general meaning of caste: any class or group of people who inherit exclusive privileges or are perceived as socially distinct. We note that the word “socially” is underlined and the film will show that this is a key understanding of differences rather than racism, remembering the unity of race in India and the classic example of a caste system.

This sounds as if this film is something of a seminar on social issues. And, in many ways, it is. However, there is also a strong narrative, the story of Isabel Wilkerson herself and a powerful performance by Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, her background, African-American, her family, especially her relationship to her mother who is going into care, a loving relationship with her husband, white, played by John Bernthal. And it is a film about her career as a Pulitzer prize-winning author, urged by a friend to explore race issues in the United States but this leading her to her exploration of the meaning of, significance of, living of, caste.

There are quite a lot of discussion scenes but the film also uses the device of telling stories within stories. We receive a shock when Isabel looks at a photo in a gallery, Nazi authorities gathered for a meeting and then this is dramatised, the dialogue is about ridding Aryan society of the Jews, but looking at American legislation, Jim Crow laws, which they think of incorporating into 1930s German law. And this is illustrated by a mass rally, everybody with the Nazi salute except one, a young man who wants to marry a Jewish girl. And the consequences of this relationship and the authorities is shown brutally.

Another illustration is the story of two couples going undercover in the southern states, one black, one white, academics who are investigating and writing reports. One telling sequence has the sheriff driving through the white area to smiles and applause, then driving through the black area, scowling and the residents with impassive, blank faces.

And, towards the end of the film, a very moving anecdote, an old man reminiscing about 1951, an African-American boy in the Little League, not allowed into the swimming pool, the guard declaring it would have to be decontaminated if he touched the water.

There are also some palpable interviews, compounded by the grief at the death of her husband, the needs of her mother, discussions with her sympathetic cousin, terminally ill, and a telling sequence with star Audra McDonald as Miss Hale, remembering the school principal condemning her for looking him in the eye and rebuking her for demanding to be called Miss at her trying to explain that this was her actually given name.

Isabel Wilkerson also goes to India, visual images of the caste system, a very jolting sequence about the Dalits and their having to clean sewers by hand for the privileged castes.

This is a long film, serious-mindedly directed by Ava DuVernay (Selma), interesting in its storytelling but demanding in its challenge to the audience to acknowledge racism but to explore the idea of caste, and the sad and sometimes savage effects of this kind of privilege superiority over those considered lesser mortals.

1. A challenging film, narrative, portrait of the author, the story? But a film of issues?
2. The writing-director the film career, experience, African-American, race issues?
3. The period, the 2010s, the range of flashbacks? Isabel as a character, journalist, Pulitzer Prize-Winning author, relationship with Brett, life with him, his being white? Her relationship with her mother? Her mother in care? Institution? Her career, the publishers and challengers? The details of her life with Brett, the relationship? The details of her relationship with her mother? With her cousin? The clash with Brett, the suddenness of his death, the funeral and sadness? Her mother, advice, her mother’s death?
4. The publishers, contact with her, at the social, the interview with the journalist, his urging her for further research? Pause after the deaths of Brett and her mother, going back to writing, beginning her research, the various visits and testimonies, their being visualised? Her visit to India, the discussion with the professor about caste? The aspect of selling the house, her memories there, the house repairs and the visit of the plumber, discussions with him? And the resumption of this theme at the end and her walking through the renovated house?
5. The character Brett, White, the marriage to Isabelle, supporting her, the discussions, the challenge? The suddenness of his death?
6. The mother, her wisdom, the relationship, care, her death?
7. Marion, the bond with Isabelle, the discussions, her advice, the terminal illness, Isabel in India, communicating with her, the phone calls?
8. The interview with Miss, telling her story, her name being Miss, the principal not believing it, looking in the eye, and his reaction to her direct approach? The contribution of her story?
9. The visualising of the couple who went undercover, black and white, their personalities, relationship, their expertise, their decisions on research? The south, the visuals, the scene with the sheriff driving through the white community and waving, smiles, kowtowing? The contrast with his drive-through the black area, the silent faces, no response, his sternness? The couple being embedded, their experiences, their writing, the achievement, the photos at the end?
10. Germany, the 1930s, the picture, the dramatising of the picture, issues of the Nazis, superiority, the Jews, looking at American legislation and racism embodied in law, their motivations, race, the humiliation of the Jews, the visualising of the couple, his not saluting, her being Jewish, their time together, the attempt to escape, the arrest, the consequences?
11. The old man reminiscing, 1951, the little league game, the African-American boy, shared triumph, not allowed in the pool area, not in the water or it would have to be decontaminated, the pressure from the coach, laughed on the water, the Ranger, the boy not being allowed to touch the water, outside again, and the people passing him food? The old man and the regrets and his memory?
12. The theme of caste, the explanations, common humanity of the possibilities of being superior to others, the example of caste in India, Isabelle and her visit, the discussions with the professor, her observations of life in India? The visuals of the delegates, the humiliation, use of cleaning the toilets with their hands and visuals of this as an overpowering example for the film audience?
13. The challenge to the audience, expectations about race, racism, the visuals of American slavery, India, and Martin Luther King’s visit to India in the 1950s?
14. Isabel and her writing, ultimate success, the support of the editors, the publication?
15. The challenge to the audience to understand this idea of caste versus racism, the discussions, the speeches, the clarifications, and the elaboration of the pillars of caste?
16. The impact of the film for an American audience? For audiences outside the US?