ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Joaquin Phoenix

C’mon C’mon: Changed by Love

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A24 Productions has hit it out of the ballpark again. Founded in 2012, it has already brought us so many treasures to be grateful for. C’mon C’mon is no exception. Shot in beautiful black and white, it has the feel of a documentary – of lives of people that you didn’t know you needed to know about.

But you’ll be glad you stayed to meet them.

It might be easy to think “Here we go again. Another bonding movie about an adult male and a cute kid’ (Admittedly, Woody Norman really is a cute kid). But Mike Mills’ superb screenplay and skillful direction take this film to a deeper place. 

Johnny (Joaquin Phoenix) has a great job. As a radio jockey, he is making his way around the country with his colleagues, interviewing young people about their take on the world.  The movie starts with the sound of their voices. What are their aspirations and dreams?  How do they see the future unfolding? (My understanding is that these are real kids sharing, not actors.) Their answers are tender and courageous and wholly heartening. Johnny is empathetic and interested in all they have to share. 

But life can change with just one phone call and that is what happens. Viv (a wonderful Gaby Hoffmann), Johnny’s sister, asks him if he will come to California to stay with her son. Her ex is dealing with some mental health issues and she feels compelled to travel to help him. The brother and sister have been estranged since their mother died the previous year. Although nervous, this seems to Johnny like an ideal way to rebuild some bridges with the sister that he loves, and also to get to know his little nephew. If he can listen to other young people, certainly he should be able to handle his sister’s child. 

Here is where Mike Mills’ understated direction and beautiful script shine.  He could have gone for easy laughs or sentimental dialogue. There is none of that. The nephew is “smart and weird – a whole little person” as Viv describes her son, and he is going to make his uncle work hard to figure him out. Jesse is mesmerized by his uncle’s recording equipment and loves wearing the giant headphones and pointing the equally giant microphone at anything that makes a sound. Johnny is amused by this and probably realizes that eventually Jesse will become the interrogator of his life. “Did you tell my mom to leave my dad?” “Why aren’t you married?”. Johnny is forced to question himself about why he is so reluctant to give full–or even truthful answers–to his nephew’s many questions. And, of course, Jesse’s BS detector is always on high and any answers that don’t measure up are countered with “blah, blah, blah”.  Anyone with kids, or who spends time around youngsters knows what the “novice” parent is going to encounter: 

“Let’s use the bed as a trampoline.”

“Why aren’t you reading the story like mom does?”

“I’m going to repeat every (single) thing you say to me.”

“Can I sleep with you?”

“I didn’t hide – you lost me!”

“I’m an orphan and you have a dead child, so you can now adopt me (a nightly ritual)”

For Johnny this is all exhausting and illuminating. Jesse is wise and scared (he knows his mom and dad won’t be getting back together) and he needs some clarity or help from Johnny in figuring things out. When Viv’s time with her ex needs to be prolonged, Johnny must now take a bigger step of commitment by taking Jesse on the road with him. Homesickness and fear are now added to the mixture. But the bond between the two has now been forged and they sink or swim together. Jesse did not want to start on this trip, but found in the end that it turned out to be amazing. None of this time is easy, of course, but both uncle and nephew are changed in the process. 

Anyone who is used to seeing Joaquin Phoenix in tough guy roles (cackling as The Joker, snarling like Johnny Cash) will be again impressed with this actor’s range. Here, as a middle-aged guy thrust into a new role as uncle/parent, he shines. And he is met head on by his young companion Woody Norman. Their chemistry is beautiful to behold.  If you’re not one to see movies about family stories, or don’t like black and white movies, make an exception here.

Or, as Jesse would say, “C’mon, C’mon”. 

C’mon, C’mon is available in select theatres on Friday, November 26th, 2021 and expands on December 3rd, 2021.

Academy Awards 2021: Boseman Loss Shows Why We Still Do (and Don’t) Need the Oscars

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It wasn’t supposed to go like that.

After unexpectedly re-arranging the schedule to push Best Picture up and let the acting categories shine, the Academy clearly wanted to send a message. With the foregone conclusion that Chadwick Boseman would posthumously take Best Actor for his work in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, it was going to definitively celebrate a young man who was taken from us far too soon after losing his battle with cancer last year. 

An African-American man. 

Black Panther.

The significance of the moment was going to be a victory to end that night that would be both emotional and satisfying. After all, at a moment when Black culture is looking for heroes, a Chadwick victory would have been a symbolic statement in honour of a young man who had become a beacon of hope for many, sending viewers home with a truly feel-good moment.

Well, we all know how that went.

After Phoenix announced Anthony Hopkins as Best Actor to close out the show, the shock was palpable. The room was fairly quiet. Phoenix had to fumble through an awkward acceptance on Hopkins behalf as he was the only nominee not available. Of course, Twitter erupted. (In some ways, you almost feel bad for Hopkins. At home in Wales, even HE didn’t think he was going to win. If I were him, I likely would have slept through the ceremony as well.)

In a moment that felt like the reverse of the La La Land/Moonlight fiasco of a few years ago, the ‘feel-good’ finale completely backfired.

Within seconds, people took to their social media and responded accordingly. Outrage! Fury! Cancel! The response was completely understandable—and expected. After all, around this time, it’s almost tradition for people to take to the inter-webs to complain about the Oscars and the choices that they proclaim are ‘Best’. People decry from the rooftops that the films the Academy selects show their irrelevancy (and, sometimes, that’s a totally fair complaint). Comments like ‘this is why I don’t care about the Oscars’ flood social media with tsunami-like force.

But the irony is that same blow-up on the Twitter-verse shows that people still do care.

While people may either be happy or furious, the fact that the reactions to these awards are so strong suggests that there’s still an interest in the results. For over 90 years, the Academy Awards have been the ‘standard’ by which success in the industry has been measured. To win an Oscar is considered one of the highest honours in the industry and, even though culture has changed a lot in recent years (and continues to do so), there remains a respect for that golden statue that continues to endure. To win an Oscar still says something. 

They matter because they matter to us.

The reason people were upset about Chadwick losing the award is not because Hopkins didn’t deserve it but rather that it meant something to them. Hopkins turned in the performance of the lifetime in the role but a Chadwick victory would have felt not only poignant but powerful. With his career still reaching his potential before his death, Chadwick still felt like someone that people could relate to, especially amongst the Black community. A win for him seemed like it would have felt like another win for them.

And it might have.

But, if the awards truly didn’t matter to anyone outside the industry, no one would have cared. There would have been no outcry or frustration. It would have simply passed on from the cultural zeitgeist and landed on the entertainment pages… not the front page… 

The problem may be that we’ve given too much credibility to the Academy. Though filled with over 1000 industry professionals, with this responsibility comes the expectation that it will represent the values of the people and the time. The truth is that they don’t always. Yes, they strive for representation and want to speak the voice of a culture. That’s why these films matter as much as Marvel films or alien invasions. They connect with a heartbeat that speaks the cries of our world.

But they don’t always speak for you and I. How could they?

With this in mind, the loss by Chadwick shows that, maybe, we don’t need the Oscars to play the same role in our culture. The truth is that, while considered the highest heights of the industry, the loss to Hopkins does not take away from his performance (or career) in any way. So many of history’s best films and performances were never recognized by the Academy. Citizen Kane, Raging Bull, Do The Right Thing, Pulp Fiction and innumerable others were robbed of ‘Oscar glory’ yet remain the most influential films of the last century. (And let’s not forget Delroy Lindo from the list of snubs this year…)

Regardless of who the Academy chooses to take home the gold, Chadwick Boseman will be remembered.

He matters. And he’s as important as he was yesterday.

I admit it. I love the Oscars. I love the pageantry, the music and the speeches. Unlike many, I love the fact that winners use the platform to speak their hearts about issues that matter to them. (I mean, they’ve been given a voice. They should use it.) I even love my Oscar pool with friends.

Ultimately though, they don’t determine which films or performances matter most. Only the ones that mattered to these people. That’s why it doesn’t really matter in the end if Boseman posthumously took home the gold. His performance in Ma Rainey’s was a thing of brilliance and it will be remembered. (In fact, it should be remembered.) This year’s Oscars may have been the most diverse in the Academy’s history. Chloe Zhao. Daniel Kaluuya. Yuh-Jung Yoon. H.E.R. Soul. Jon Batiste. All of these winners from last night show that things are changing. This was not #OscarsSoWhite, even if it did feel like #OscarsSoWrong.

The loss by Boseman doesn’t change any of this… but it’s all anyone’s talking about.

Yes, it would have made an amazing story to see him cap off his young but incredible career with a win. It would have been an emotional moment for us all. But there’s a reason that they announce the winner by saying ‘the Oscar goes to…’ They don’t want the other nominees to feel as though they are someone lesser than the others.

Because they aren’t. Not Riz Ahmed. Not Boseman. None of them, regardless of category. They all achieved something great with their cinematic achievements. And, like Chadwick’s performance, their work lives on. 

The Academy knows that. We may have forgotten it.

Message received.

Joker & What It Says About Us

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your sunday drive podcast

Did you see Joker? What did you think of it?

In this episode of the Your Sunday Drive podcast, we take a close look at the movie Joker and the zeitgeist surrounding it. Topics and questions include: Why the film is controversial; does it glamorize an evil character? is it a good film?; related fears of mass shootings; “incels” and if Joker is about them; does art reflect life or vice versa?; what role does the media play?; do artists share responsibility for the effects of their messages?; freedom of speech and “cancel culture;” Joker as a “Christ figure” and the longing for redemption in art.

Come along for Your Sunday Drive – quick conversation about current events, politics, pop culture and more, from the perspective of a couple of guys trying to follow Jesus.

Hosts: Matt Hill and Nate Polzin. Presented by the Church in Drive of Saginaw, MI, as often as possible. Please visit churchindrive.com and facebook.com/thechurchindrive



6.02 Dancing with Danger in JOKER (100th Episode!)

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In a wild left turn for the DC film universe, director Todd Phillips’ latest film JOKER takes us back to Gotham City in order to witness the birth of the Clown Prince of Crime. When we first meet the titular villain, his name is Arthur Fleck, a failed comedian who has been isolated, bullied and disregarded by society. As things begin to unravel in his life (and his mind), Fleck begins a slow descent into madness as he transforms into the iconic DC villain known as the Joker.

This week, in our 100th episode, our SF team tells us what the site means to them, we announce a VERY special giveaway and Paul and Julie Levac stop by to talk about the dangers and brilliance of Todd Phillips’ foray into criminal madness.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

GIVEAWAY! In order to enter our giveaway for a $100 gift card for the movies, please do the following:

  1. Answer the following question in the comments section: Who is your favourite DC Villain?
  2. Like/Share this episode on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
  3. For a bonus entry, rate/comment on us on iTunes.

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

6.02 JokerDownload

Joker: Laughing on the Outside

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In Joker, failed comedian Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) works as a clown to pay the bills and lives at home with his sickly mother. Beaten down by a society coming apart at the seams, Fleck struggles to maintain a positive outlook yet desperately wants to make people laugh. Struggling to find his way, Fleck soon begins to act out his frustrations in increasingly violent ways as he slowly transforms into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.

Written and directed by Todd Phillips, Joker feels like an unexpected twist in his career trajectory. With films such as The Hangover trilogy and Old School leading his portfolio, an exploration of the dark underbelly of humour may seem like a vast departure from his previous work. In many ways, however, Joker also feels like a nature progression. Whereas many of his previous films have dealt with middle-aged men working out their emotional issues through the use of humour, Joker simply flips the switch by digging around in the psychology under the laughter instead of focusing on the gags themselves. While the film is bound to be divisive due to its dark themes and violence, Phillips has created a character arc so compelling that every scene feels like a vital piece to the most complicated of mental puzzles. 

Added to the mix is Joaquin Phoenix who absolutely shines as the hopeful but hurting Fleck. Over the years, the character of the Joker has provided multiple actors opportunity to push themselves and, thankfully, Phoenix carves out his own unique place in the canon. In an Oscar-worthy performance, Phoenix is simply mesmerizing as the failed comedian, giving him a likeable quality amidst his brokenness that makes you want to root for him (until you simply can’t anymore). Without question, Joker is very much the hero of his solo film—but the nature of that heroism eventually gets called into question.

Whereas the Joker has been often presented as a mysterious ‘force of nature’, here he is very much a product of his culture. Living in the slum-like Narrows of Gotham city Fleck’s life is a comedy of errors. Bullied for his job as a clown and living with his mother, Fleck has dreams of making other people laugh as a stand-up comic. His mother waits faithfully for a severance check from the wealthy Thomas Wayne that will never come. He’s in love with the beautiful tenant across the hall who may or may not be interested in him. Like the rest of those in the Narrows, success for Fleck is something that is constantly in view but just out of reach. While he’s constantly laughing on the outside, there’s little joy within him. (Interestingly, in one of the more intriguing story points for his character, his constant laughter stems from a medical condition that causes him to do so regardless of what’s happening around him.) For Arthur Fleck, life is no joke as his desire to matter in the eyes of others is consistently spat upon by the world. 

What’s more, this perspective echoes the film’s portrayal of Gotham itself, choosing to look at life through the eyes of those who are struggling to get by each day. Set years away from the arrival of the Dark Knight, Gotham is at a tipping point as the rich become richer and the poor more helpless. Anger and frustration run deep within those living in the Narrows as they become viewed as ‘troublemakers’ and yes, ‘jokers’ instead of people in need. Even Thomas Wayne, who has been painted in previous visions as a saint who wanted to see the city thrive, is skewed here as an irrelevant billionaire who remains out of touch with the common people. 

In Joker, hope remains out of reach for much of the city. In a city that mirrors the broken spirit of American culture, the 99% have grown angry with their way of life and want desperately for their voices to be heard. Then, when an unknown attacker kills three businessmen on a subway, tensions within the city begin to bubble over as talk of revolution hits the streets. 

In light of this, the most terrifying aspect of the film stems from its realism. Instead of chemical transformations or superpowered villains, Joker shows what can happen when a city loses its grace for the downtrodden of humanity. Although Fleck’s actions become reprehensible, they stem from his inability to process the abuse of a culture that has turned its back on him. “I used to think my life was a tragedy,” he moans, “but now I know that it’s really a comedy.” Light becomes lost in a world that has succumbed to the shadows and Joker gleefully dances into the darkness. (Is it any wonder that the film has been referred to by Phillips as a ‘cautionary tale’?)

Despite its bleak outlook on the world, Joker truly is one of the years best and most creative films. Phoenix’ performance as the Clown Prince of Crime may take him to dark places but there remains a brokenness within him for much of the film which humanizes him. Pressure from all sides to succumb to a culture of despair, Arthur Fleck’s journey is less of a comic book film and more about what happens when a world fails to listen to those who need it most.

And the outcome of that is no laughing matter.

Joker laughs its way into theatres on Friday, October 4th, 2019. 

TIFF ’19: Joker

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In Joker, failed comedian Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) works as a clown to pay the bills and lives at home with his sickly mother. Beaten down by a society coming apart at the seams, Fleck struggles to maintain a positive outlook yet desperately wants to make people laugh. Struggling to find his way, Fleck soon begins to act out his frustrations in increasingly violent ways as he slowly transforms into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.

Written and directed by Todd Phillips, Joker feels like an unexpected twist in his career trajectory. While the film is bound to be divisive due to its dark themes and violence, Phillips has created a character arc so compelling that every scene feels like a vital piece to the most complicated of mental puzzles. Added to the mix is Joaquin Phoenix who absolutely shines as the hopeful but hurting Fleck. In an Oscar-worthy performance, Phoenix is simply mesmerizing as the failed comedian, giving him a likeable quality amidst his brokenness that makes you want to root for him (until you simply can’t anymore).

Despite its bleak outlook on the world, Joker truly is one of the years best and most creative films. Phoenix’ performance as the Clown Prince of Crime may take him to dark places but there remains a brokenness within him for much of the film which humanizes him. Pressure from all sides to succumb to a culture of despair, Arthur Fleck’s journey is less of a comic book film and more about what happens when a world fails to listen to those who need it most.

Joker had its North American premiere last week at the Toronto International Film Festival and laughs its way into theatres on Friday, October 4th, 2019. 

Mary Magdalene: Empowering the Powerless

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““If there’s a demon in me, it’s always been there. I wish there was a demon…” – Rooney Mara, Mary Magdalene

In the first century, free-spirited Mary Magdalene (Rooney Mara) flees the marriage her family has arranged for her, finding refuge and a sense of purpose in a radical new movement led by the charismatic, rabble-rousing preacher named Jesus (Joaquin Phoenix). The sole woman among his band of disciples, Mary defies the prejudices of a patriarchal society as she undergoes a profound spiritual awakening and finds herself at the center of an Earth-shaking historical moment.

While there have been many retellings of the Crucifixion of Christ over the decades, this film sets itself apart due to the perspective from which the story is being told. Directed by Oscar-nominated director Garth Davis (Lion) and written by Helen Edmondson and Philippa Goslet, Mary Magdalenetells the story of the Jesus Christ through the eyes of one of the more famous women in his life. Mary Magdalene, who receives her ‘last name’ due to the Magdala region in which she lives, is known as one of the central figures in the life of Christ due to her commitment to him throughout his darkest hour. Often a side character in other Christ narratives, she is front and centre in this version as a woman of courage and mercy in the midst of oppression.

Having been taught her entire life that she is secondary to her husband and unfit for her own active faith, Mary feels trapped by a culture that doesn’t value her as a person. “I’m not as I’m supposed to be,” she aches, searching for hope. However, through her relationship with Jesus, she begins to experience what it means to be empowered with equality and grace, despite how others choose to view her. Bringing an inner strength to her character, Mara gives reverence to the film and anchors it emotionally.

While people have suggested for centuries that some form of romantic relationship may have occurred between Mary and Jesus, Mary Magdalenereveals the nature of that love to be one rooted in mutual respect and admiration. Though some depictions of Jesus have emphasized his kindness or rebellious teaching, Mary Magdaleneportrays him as one who seeks to empower those who lack hope, especially women. There is an equality inherent to his character in this film that challenges social and political boundaries in a masculine-dominated culture (even amidst his own disciples). He teaches a Kingdom that isn’t built upon power and control but redemption and forgiveness. (“The Kingdom is not something we can see with our eyes… It is within us…,” Mary beams.)

However, as the title suggests, the real focus of this film is Mary herself. As one of the disciples, she also becomes one who best exemplifies the teachings of Christ to the others (Peter, in particular). In the end, although Jesus is the light of the story, Mary is the one who reflects that light onto others.

Mary Magdalene tells her side of the story in theatres on Friday, April 12th.   

The Sisters Brothers: Mining the Golden Kingdom

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Written and directed by Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone, Dheepan), The Sisters Brothers tells the story of Charlie and Eli Sisters (Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly), two contract killers in mid-19thCentury America. Here, Charlie and Eli are teamed with detective John Morris (Jake Gyllenhaal) to find and kill the humble prospector Hermann Warm (Riz Ahmed). However, when a betrayal leads to a change in plans, the brothers set out on a journey into the wild to complete their mission.

Billed as comedy, the film is actually anything but. Though there remains moments of humor and levity, Brothers actually takes itself quite seriously, establishing the harshness of the time. Strong performances by the entire cast ground the film, even giving it a surprising level of poignancy.

Further, The Sisters Brothers subverts the values inherent to the Western genre by holding it up to the ideals of the modern era. Held in constant juxtaposition with one another, Eli and Charlie represent two differing Western worldviews. While Charlie lives a life without rules in a constant quest for power, Eli is discontented with a life of violence. Though Charlie remains entirely focused on the mission, Eli remains torn between who he is and who he wants to be. Fascinated with luxuries like a toothbrush or flushable toilet, Eli yearns for a civilized life.

Eli yearns for home.

Whether it’s how they interact with women, handle disputes or their life goals, Charlie and Eli have conflicting ideas about what it meanst to be successful. In doing so, the film usurps the tradition values of the Western (and stereotypical Western values) of taking power by force. In other words, whereas the Western genre usually focuses their stories on one’s ability to show force in a savage time, Brothersquestions that ideal by offering an alternative to violence.

What’s more, Brothers also demonstrates the power of the Kingdom in the lives of those who get a taste for the best that it has to offer. Despite the fact that he’s being hunted by contract killers, Hermann remains steadfast in his belief that his secret will change the world. However, more than simply emphasizing the financial impact of his discovery, he is most concerned with the positive social impact on the local community. He yearns to make his way to Dallas in order to participate in a mysterious commune that believes in seeking the benefit of everyone who lives there. To Hermann, Dallas remains the ideal goal for humankind as ‘a new kind of society’ and the mere prospect of it has reshaped his entire worldview.

More than this though, Hermann’s belief affects everyone who listens to his story. His pronouncement that there’s a ‘better way’ serves as a calling to those around him. Suddenly, men like Charlie, Eli and Morris are faced with a choice to continue on in the ways of the West or potentially experience something hopeful and new (albeit terrifying). By no means is Hermann a preacher… but his perceived Kingdom is infectious. There is something hopeful about the world he proclaims and it has the potential to change everyone and everything around him.

In the end, Brothers is an entertaining film with ambitious ideas. More than a simple character piece, the film examines the truth behind our culture’s idealization of power over community. Holding up the wild West to modern values, Brothersknows we need our history to speak into our present.

 

The Sisters Brothers is opens on September 21st, 2018.

TIFF ’18: The Sisters Brothers

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 Written and directed by Jacques Audiard (Rust and Bone, Dheepan),The Sisters Brotherstells the story of Charlie and Eli Sisters (Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly), two contract killers in mid-19thCentury America. When Charlie and Eli are teamed with detective John Morris (Jake Gyllenhaal) to find and kill the humble prospector Hermann Warm (Riz Ahmed). However, when a betrayal leads to a change in plans, the brothers set out on a journey into the wild to complete their mission.

Billed as comedy, the film is actually anything but. Though there remains moments of humour and levity, Brothers actually takes itself quite seriously, establishing the harshness of the time. Strong performances by the entire cast ground the film, even giving it a surprising level of poignancy.

Held in constant juxtaposition with one another, Eli and Charlie represent two differing Western worldviews. While Charlie lives a life without rules in a constant quest for power, Eli is discontented with a life of violence. Whether it’s how they interact with women, handle disputes or their life goals, Charlie and Eli have conflicting ideas of what it is to be successful. In doing so, the film usurps the tradition values of the Western (and stereotypical Western values) of taking power by force. In other words, whereas the Western genre usually focuses their stories on one’s ability to show force in a savage time, Brothers questions that notion by offering an alternative to violence.

In the end, Brothers is an entertaining film with ambitious ideas. More than a simple character piece, the film examines the truth behind our culture’s idealization of power over community. Holding up the wild West to modern values, Brothersknows we need our history to speak into our present.

 

The Sisters Brothers is currently playing at the Toronto International Film Festival.