Freedom of the Press, A Spooky Key Demon, and Too Much Money to Handle

 
   Well, 2018 is off and running, and that means a new year of (hopefully) really great films. Over the last week or so I've been able to catch a few movies that I've been meaning to see that I wasn't able to get to upon their opening, save for one. This evening I was able to catch Steven Spielberg's newest film The Post, which I'll get to in a second. By way of a little housekeeping concerning this blog, for those few who valiantly read my ramblings (you truly are saints for doing so), my goal for this year is to write about every film I see. Last year there were just as many movies that I watched in theaters that I didn't review in comparison to the ones that I did. So, my goal is to rectify that. That being said, there may be more of these informal posts that cover multiple movies at a time.

Okay, enough of that chit chat, let's get to the movie talk.

   Spielberg's The Post is a wonderful film that has a surprisingly relevant message in regards to the current state of the world we live in. Throughout the course of the Vietnam War, a cover-up that spanned four U.S. Presidents pushed Kay Graham (Meryl Streep), the country's first female newspaper publisher, and her hard-driving editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks) to join an unprecedented battle between journalist and government. When the American government sought to silence the New York Times for publishing classified documents about the cover-up, The Washington Post stepped in. The narrative of this movie was really engaging, and the story as I mentioned has resounding relevance today. The Pentagon Papers is not ancient history but a historical fact that comes to illustrate the dangerous times we're living now. As the movie tells us over and over again, if you want to protect the right to publish, you have to publish. That is the dilemma that Graham faces at the crux of this story, and the rising political relevance helps to drive the narrative home.

  Streep and Hanks are a power duo if there ever was one. Both of them are fantastic in this film, and with Spielberg at the helm it's like an all-star team event. Hanks plays the hard-nosed, pushy and no-holds-bar editor Bradlee. He brings a gravitas, but also a sense of grounded realism with his portrayal. It's not over the top, but his performance strikes at the heart of the issue, representing the stalwart soldier in the army of the press. Tom Hanks is just plain awesome, and he could practically do anything and be awesome at it. Streep is no different. At the center of all of this is Kay Graham, who not only deals with the moral and political decision of printing the Pentagon Papers or not, but does so in the midst of a time where gender inequality is much more rampant than it is today. The idea of a woman running a newspaper was unheard of, and balancing the pressures of society against the pressures of duty places Graham in a position that no one would ever want to be in. Her bravery and courage in the face of all of this is inspiring, and Streep is absolutely perfect for such a role. Again, an actor who can do wrong. The cast across the board is great, but at the forefront is a dynamic duo who's performances are well worth the price of admission. Overall the movie is directed well, has a great message, and is a pure example of why Steven Spielberg is one of the greatest working directors today. There is no action in this movie. Save for a brief moment at the very beginning depicting a fire fight in Vietnam, this movie is straight drama from start to finish. I recommend seeing this movie for sure, especially since it's sure to garnish more awards buzz as time goes on.

 
   However, if political talkies aren't your cup of tea, maybe a horror flick would suit you best. I love horror movies, and as of late the resurgence of horror franchises has been something to be excited about. Insidious: The Last Key is the fourth installment in its respected franchise and it's just plain fun. Parapsychologist Dr. Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye), the connecting character throughout the entire franchise, faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet - in her own family home. The thing about the Insidious films is that they deliver the scares without caring too much about convention. Sure they elicit the typical jump scare moments, but they still attempt to weave a story that has relatable characters and intriguingly spooky situations. With each installment, there seems to be a new creepy entity that needs to be faced, and with The Last Key its the aptly named KeyFace that carries the mantle. A creepy, lanky, zombie-faced demon with skeleton keys for fingers, KeyFace can access every facet of The Further, the spectral realm within the Insidious universe. Elise, we learn, has been connected with The Further for most of her life, and her involvement with it in this film is by far the most personal and dangerous.

   I have to say, the strongest aspect about all of these films has been Lin Shaye, and for the first time in the franchise she's the lead of the story. I think it's awesome that a movie, especially a horror film, embraces the use of a 74 year old woman as their main lead. If the franchise were to just follow just Elise from here on out, like a senior citizen ghostbuster, I'd be completely fine with that. Until now she's been a supporting character, the means by which the main characters can be saved. The Last Key is very much Elise's story, and where it takes place in the overall timeline of the franchise is really cool, too. The movie delivers some serious scares, and what was refreshing was the amount of jump scares they played with. You could tell the filmmakers were aware of the jump scare trope, and they took some liberties in playing with that trope. Just when you suspect that something happens, it doesn't, only to happen when and how you least expect it. Overall, the movie isn't perfect, but it's a worthy chapter in this franchise and a lot of fun. If you've liked the other Insidious films, you'll like this one.

   

 Then again, if scary movies aren't your thing, then maybe a suspenseful drama might do. There's been a lot of buzz around Ridley Scott's latest movie All the Money in the World, mainly centered around the firing of Kevin Spacey, who originally played J. Paul Getty in the film. When allegations came out against Spacey, he was fired from the project after already filming his scenes. Christopher Plummer was then recast in the role and in nine days Ridely Scott re-shot all of the Getty scenes. Truly an amazing feat, and it turns out that Plummer was absolutely amazing. The story is loosely based on true events. It's the story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother, played brilliantly by Michelle Williams, to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom. It's an interesting story about the power of money, the influence of greed, and the overshadowing cloud of family. With great performances, fantastic editing, and a truly riveting story, All the Money in the World is well worth checking out.

   There is still a ton of movies playing that if you haven't seen you should definitely check out. The Post opens wide this weekend after having a limited release since Decemeber 22nd, and with the way the box office has been it probably won't take the number one spot. Holiday hold-overs like Jumanji and The Last Jedi seem to still rake in the dough, and rightfully so. But if you get the chance, here are three films that I thought were great.