Memoria
Review Rating: 6/10
In limited theatrical release
This week the Plaza theater in Atlanta featured the limited theatrical run of Tilda Swinton’s artful and thought-provoking “Memoria.” The Oscar-winning actress (see her outstanding work in everything and winning effort in 2008’s “Michael Clayton”) plays a Scottish woman named Jessica, traveling in Bogotá, Columbia. One morning, she hears a disturbing sound.
While investigating the sound’s origin, she discovers an archeological project conducted within the same hospital treating her ill sister. As she learns more about that project, the sound invades her peaceful moments. This constant reminder leads her to seek the assistance of a sound engineer and later to venture to the Columbian countryside. The sound follows her.
“Memoria” is a plodding movie. While the narrative is subtle science fiction, don’t expect exciting action sequences commonly associated with the genre. Naturally, Swinton is interesting and engaging in the lead, but the staid and restrained camera by award-winning cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom (see the “Suspiria” remake and “Call Me By Your Name”) will divide audiences.
Mukdeeprom works with writer/director Apichatpong Weerasethakul (see the challenging “Uncle Boonme Who Can Recall His Past Lives”) to create an effectively alienating look and feel that dovetails nicely with the odd “Memoria” narrative. The shots often rely on wide-angle masters locked down as though we’re watching a stage performance.
The incremental approach by Weerasethakul may cause some viewers to become impatient. I found parts of the film intoxicating but cold and off-putting at times. Of course, these feelings are all intended, which should provoke some viewers to think about the deeper themes of memory and shared experiences.
Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story
Review Rating: 7/10
Available on Netflix
The enigmatic and down-right evil Jimmy Savile is profiled in a revealing two-part documentary now streaming on Netflix. For those unfamiliar with Savile, he was a hugely popular DJ turned television presenter who struck epic television gold hosting the reality show “Jim’ll Fix It” starting in the 1970s. He also raised tens of millions of pounds for charity, chiefly for hospitals.
“A British Horror Story” exposes the other side of Savile, one that uncovers allegations of pedophilia. Through his relationships with hospitals, Savile preyed on children. The list of his victims is exponential, spanning decades. And given Savile’s place as a mysterious media darling and his powerful grip on the levers of power (with close friendships with the Royal family and government), these crimes weren’t adequately investigated until after he died in 2011.
Series creator Rowan Deacon (see the series “Nature”) carefully navigates the man's life, giving us some insight into what may have motivated his seemingly altruistic programs. Ultimately, anything good Savile might have accomplished is overshadowed by the despicable nature of his secretive criminal actions. No one, even the British Monarchy, can escape the perception that they looked the other way while Savile stalked the halls of hospitals. It’s a horror, to be sure.
WeCrashed
Review Rating: 7/10
Available on Apple TV+
Given Elon Musk’s headline-making offer to buy Twitter this week, Apple’s series “WeCrashed” is utterly appropriate viewing. The show gives viewers a look into the weird mind of a megalomaniac entrepreneur.
Jared Leto plays WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann. The eight-episode limited series follows the Israeli-born Neumann from his humble beginnings in New York City to his meteoric rise to billionaire status. Neumann starts with wild but mundane ideas, like a onesie for a baby with grippy kneepads, and eventually hones his thoughts into what becomes WeWork, the shared office-space company.
Anne Hathaway plays Neumann’s wife, Rebekah. The two actors collapse into character generating strange romantic chemistry that becomes uncomfortably charming if finally souring. “WeCrashed” is part love story, as their relationship grows over the years without any infidelity shown in this series. This aspect is refreshing because the two make an explosive combination as they pressure and challenge the business community principally led by banker Bruce Dunlevie (a solid Anthony Edwards).
Leto is perfect for the lead. The ageless actor looks very much like the real Neumann, even though Leto is far older than the character he’s playing. No doubt that some will bemoan another crazy accent for Leto, who appears to have inherited the mantle of Johnny Depp. But after a period of adjustment, the wacky performance works.
Hathaway, too, adopts a weird way of speaking that captures the pretense associated with a self-identified visionary. It’s comical and creepy as the two company leaders are elevated in the media while being vilified in business circles behind closed doors. And while we get some understanding of the couple’s methods, the series only scratches the surface of the corporate wrangling that ultimately led to their fall from grace but left them billionaires in the process.
My takeaway was that all the Neumann’s talk of using WeWork to change the world only masked their ultimate goal of money and power. Beware the one who protests too much! This not too hard to discern revelation might give us some insight into Musk’s real reasons for wanting to add Twitter to his private holdings.
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April 18, 2022 at 05:29AM
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Capsule Reviews: Memoria, Jimmy Savile: A British Horror Story, and Wecrashed - Newnan Times-Herald
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