2018 is off to a smashing start, as I am three for three for movies in January!
I reviewed The Shape of Water's limited release back at the beginning of December, based on the critical and social reviews that had come out, but seeing it myself confirmed just how good it is. Part inverse fairytale, part subversive horror movie, the protagonists challenge every kind of status quo imaginable. My personal highlights: a subtle, but not shy, examination of female sexuality and a fairly large cameo by a Canadian actor I adore.
Proud Mary had me with the trailer: an impeccably dressed Taraji P. Henson as a hitwoman. The movie itself is much more than that, more a raw examination of the cyclical nature of gangs and familial abuse than a straight-up action movie. The yearning for a home, for sharing care without strings of obligation, and the ways we create our own sanctuaries really spoke to me, shown in highlight by the relationship between Mary and Danny. Approach the story with caution if familial abuse and grooming children into gangs is a button-press for you, but you can let loose during the big cathartic action set pieces. (The climax in particular is a goosebump-inducing shoot-out set to the titular song and, alone, is worth the price of admission.)
For someone who just saw All The President's Men for the very first time recently, The Post is a great second act in this symphony of historical resonance that is 2018. It's Oscar-baity and knows it, but when a movie manages to turn on the tension in one phone call (here's a great article about the creation of that scene), I think it deserves that nom. A very Spielberg movie that hits all the right notes of political commentary, it's a well-done reminder of what has happened and what will continue happening so long as we are complacent to not know, to not learn, to not face the ugly realities of what our country has done and continues to do.
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