RED ROCKET — CANNES 2021

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"Red Rocket" is as good as American Independent Cinema gets.

Fantastic.

Sean Baker, don't you dare go Hollywood.

It's worth repeating, Sean Baker is our modern-day John Cassavetes.

But if Baker ever directs a Marvel movie it will be all over. 

Don't make the same mistake that Chloé Zhao ("Nomadland") made. What a sell out.

"Red Rocket" is an emotionally intense Trump-era satirical drama that lands every punch of betrayal, selfishness, and senseless greed for ego fulfillment.

Simon Rex deals a virtuosic portrayal of an inveterate narcissist porn star taking those near him on a downhill ride to hell.  

Wow.

American narcissism's days are numbered. 

Hallefuckinglujah. 

Rated R. 130 mins.

THE KING OF MARVIN GARDENS — THE CRITERION COLLECTION

Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does.

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Co-writer/director Bob Rafelson's satirical take on the pathetic state of the American psyche (post Viet Nam) finds its level in the faded glory of Atlantic City.

The brotherly bond between Bruce Dern's conman Jason and Jack Nicholson's radio storyteller David, gets filtered through bi-polar prostitute Sally (Ellen Burstyn) and similarly employed step-daughter Jessica (Julia Anne Robinson).

Atlantic City enjoys a last gasp of now long-ago-destroyed grand hotel casinos.

The nagging demands of capitalism chew and gnaw at the underpinnings of Rafelson's flawed characters.

No apologies are made.

Surreal elements punctuate the drama created by characters doomed to misunderstand one another, and the social pressures they suffer. 

Rated R. 103 mins. 

QUEEN & SLIM

Roll the dice. Dig the groovy vibe of this stunning independent gem. Think Bonnie and Clyde, but with a lot more style, sex, attitude, and daringness. Surprises just keep coming through the lives of American characters so lived in, you’ll swear you’re part of the adventure.

Director Melina Matsoukas (a two-time Grammy winner) throws down like a motherfucker in bringing scriptwriter Lena Waithe’s brilliant screenplay to dynamic life. Casting plays a significant part in this film’s overwhelming success as an example of truly inspired Cinema. Marvel has nothing on Melina Matsoukas.

Daniel Kaluuya (Jordan Peele’s “Get Out”) is remarkably charismatic as Slim, a regular guy who gets caught in a deadly confrontation with an Ohio police officer. Jodie Turner-Smith is off the charts as Queen, an attorney sticking to Slim like glue after surviving the couple’s roadside encounter with a racist cop. Kaluuya and Turner-Smith enjoy an undeniable sexual onscreen chemistry that fires suspenseful twists and turns for our couple on the run. You'll be on the edge of your seat. And yes, "Queen & Slim" rates as great pick for a date movie if you're in the mood to get some. 

“Queen & Slim” embodies America's laundry list of racial social injustice as part of the overall fabric of the story at its heart, a love story. I promise you’ll love this movie. Spoiler alert, the window jumping scene will put your heart in your throat. Wow.   

Rated R. 132 mins. 

Groupthink doesn't live here, critical thought does.

This ad-free website is dedicated to Agnès Varda and to Luis Buñuel.

Get cool rewards when you click on the button to pledge your support through Patreon. Thanks a lot pal!