What I’m watching: ‘Dunkirk’ is a triumph, ‘GLOW’ is a hoot, ‘Ronin’ worth rediscoveringDate: 8/17/2017
In Theaters: Dunkirk
Director Christopher Nolan’s “Dunkirk” sets a new standard in how to present a story about an overwhelming historic event.
The evacuation of British and French troops pinned up against the sea in 1940 involved hundreds of thousands of people. What Nolan, who also wrote the script, does is to take one story of rescue and then tell it from the perspective of each of the people involved in it.
We have two soldiers trying to get off the beach; an admiral who is the commander and trying to see his men reach safety; three British fighter pilots trying to protect as many troops as they can from the air; and a civilian who is part of the citizen armada who is in route to bring as many men as he can back to Great Britian.
There is no introduction to speak of and Nolan thrusts the audience into the thick of the events. The suffering the troops endure is presented mater of factly which adds not only to the realism but underscores the grim nature of their situation.
What is amazing about the film is its lack of CGI. Nolan used real planes and real vintage ships. He shot it on the actual beach in France where the evacuation took place.
For me, keeping the presentation almost like a documentary heightened its emotional content. This is an outstanding film.
I only wish I could have seen it in the IMAX format as it was filmed for those screens. Still, don’t let that from preventing from you see it.
On Netflix: GLOW, GLOW: The Story of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling
Do you remember the late 1980s TV show, “GLOW?” Apparently the women’s wrestling program left a large enough impression that its story has been told in an excellent documentary and in a new fictionalized series both on Netflix.
The original “GLOW” was syndicated TV series that ran for four seasons with changes in both cast and crew. Inspired by professional women wrestlers, producer David McLane created a wrestling show that featured nothing but female wrestlers. The women, some with wrestling backgrounds, but many with no experience though, were cast to portray archetypes, some of which might be seen today as stereotypical or politically incorrect today.
“GLOW” always seemed to be quite aware it was essentially a parody of traditional male-dominated wrestling. While professional wrestling has always been filled with over-the-top characters, “GLOW’s” wrestlers were frequently too silly to take seriously on any level and yet the show built a sizable fan base.
Glitter, spandex and personalized rap songs were all part of the show and its story of a success in TV and then its downfall is told in the documentary through both archival footage and extensive interviews with the women who made up the cast. Director Brett Whitcomb even filmed a reunion of the cast members at which the show’s original director, exploitation filmmaker Matt Cimber, appeared.
It’s a fascinating show business story and a compelling documentary even if you’re not a wrestling fan.
The new Netflix series is inspired by the original show and it’s a behind the scenes story but is a work of fiction. The central character, Ruth Wilder (Alison Brie) is a struggling actress who out of desperation auditions for the wrestling ensemble. What complicates the situation is that Ruth has cheated with the husband of her best friend Debbie Eagan (Betty Gilpin) a successful soap opera actress who is now retired and raising her newborn.
Debbie is recruited into the show to play the all-American heroine and the director, Sam (played by Marc Maron) realizes he could use the personal conflict between the two women in the ring by casting Ruth as a Russian villain. Remember this was the 1980s.
The show is at turns funny and quite serious. Brie’s character is the focus of much the story. If you know her from “Community” or “Mad Men,” you know she is an actress of great range and she uses both her comedic and dramatic skills to full advantage here. Comedian Maron is well known for his outstanding podcast “WTF” and as well as his work as a stand-up, but he damn near steals the show as the director, a man known for his dreadful exploitation films but believes the success of this TV show would lead to the production of his dream project.
I was instantly hooked after the first episode and pretty much binge-viewed the rest. I’m looking forward to a second series.
On Blu-ray: Ronin
Arrow Video usually selects some offbeat genre or foreign films for its impressive restoration projects, so I was surprised to see a mainstream spy thriller such as “Ronin” turn up in my mailbox.
I had never seen the 1998 film directed by John Frankenheimer, a veteran filmmaker whose works included “the Birdman of Alcatraz,” “Grand Prix,” “the original “The Manchurian Candidate” and “52 Pick Up,” among many others. He seemed attracted to stories with political intrigue and action and when all of the elements were in place he created movies of great impact. I don’t think his legacy is as celebrated as it should be.
In “Ronin” a group of mercenaries is recruited by an apparent IRA agent to retrieve a mysterious silver suitcase. None of the men know each other or their handler Deirdre (played with icy precision by Natascha McElhone). She supplies few details, which worries Sam (Robert DeNiro) the most. Of the entire group, he seems to be a tactician who wants to know details to ensure the operation comes off well.
Frankenheimer wants to keep the audience in the dark as well and carefully reveals details of the plot and characters in a deliberate pace. Needless to say, there are betrayals aplenty in this story as well as several amazing car chases that set the standard for such scenes.
I really enjoyed this film with its script by David Mamet, working under a pseudonym, and with expert editing that allows the audience to fully appreciate the action sequences. It may strike some people today, used to much faster edits achieving the look of a video game, as old fashioned but it works magnificently.
The performances of this top-notch cast are excellent with DeNiro and Jean Reno as the standouts.
The disc includes s plethora of extras, not the least of which is a commentary recorded by the Frankenheimer describing his decisions in making the film
If you enjoy action thrillers, “Ronin” should be in your collection.
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