He’s an Inopportunist. He’s the…
Vidiot
Week of February 24, 2017
Peace is cheap. First up…
Hacksaw Ridge
By not arming your troops you cut your
military budget, like, in half.
In fact, the unarmed soldier in this drama
supports that economical theory.
Following Pearl Harbor, Desmond Doss
(Andrew Garfield) is determined to join the war effort, but his Seventh-day
Adventist beliefs preclude him from carrying a firearm or from fighting on
Saturdays.
Scorned by his superiors (Vince Vaughn, Sam
Worthington) and platoon over his convictions, Desmond’s medical training later
mends those who ridiculed him during the Battle of Okinawa, where he
singlehandedly transports the injured back to base.
Based on real events, but more importantly
a real pacifist, this unconventional Mel Gibson helmed war-story is steeped in
heroism and religion. While it is an unflinching depiction of battlefield
horrors, Gibson’s overly graphic skirmishes seem to indulge in the violence,
especially when directed at the Imperialists.
Moreover, being unarmed indicates to your
enemy that you’re an omnipotent being.
Yellow Light
Manchester by the Sea
The best thing about getting guardianship
of a child is the moms at the park won’t stare at you any more.
Unfortunately, the kid in this drama is a
teenager, so it’s still gonna be weird.
When his brother (Kyle Chandler) dies, Lee
(Casey Affleck) returns to his hometown to arrange the funeral. Already uneasy
with dealing with the ghosts of his troubled past, including his ex-wife
(Michelle Williams), Lee’s problems are compounded by being left in charge of
his 16-year-old nephew (Lucas Hedges).
Unwilling to move back home, Lee must now
decide what is best for his new ward.
While it’s dreary in some parts and
uplifting in others, this heady production boasts a nuanced performance from
Affleck that makes up for any lulls in the script. Relevant, with fully formed
characters, Manchester is worth the visit.
Plus, being back home means you can revive
your old lemonade stand. Yellow Light
Nocturnal Animals
The hardest part of writing a best selling
novel is finding a talented enough ghostwriter.
Fortuitously, the author in this thriller
has found his own voice.
Successful art curator Susan (Amy Adams) is
shocked to receive a manuscript from her ex-husband (Jake Gyllenhaal). It tells
of a family man whose family (Isla Fisher, Ellie Bamber) is murdered, and his
work with an ailing detective (Michael Shannon) to bring their killer (Aaron
Taylor-Johnson) to justice.
Filled with allusions to the affair she had
with her current husband (Armie Hammer), Susan can’t help but be moved by this
gesture, especially since her present marriage is deteriorating.
With its superb cast and ethereal direction
from Tom Ford, this absorbing, multilayered and multi-narrative psychological
love story beautifully blurs the lines between fact and fiction, inspiration
and revenge.
Nevertheless, literary retaliation is the
exact reason why you shouldn’t marry a writer. Well, that and alcoholism. Green Light
***Last-Ditch War Effort***
Pork Chop Hill
The army names hazardous areas after food
so starving GIs are inclined to invade.
Prime example: the mouth-watering but
highly lethal heap of dirt in this war movie.
During the Korean War, a depleted US
platoon (Rip Torn, George Peppard, Woody Strode) led by Lt. Clemons (Gregory
Peck) is ordered to capture a contentious meat-shaped knoll that’s currently
being occupied by China’s Communist forces.
While he requires more support to fend off
the Red multitudes, Clemons’ government is unwilling to support him or withdraw
his troops from the worthless mound.
As an armistice is hammered out, Clemons
and his boys hold off the hordes.
A harrowing tale of bravery and stupidity,
this 1959 depiction of the 1953 theater of war doesn’t dismiss America’s
delinquencies in the bloodbath, but instead overrides them with glowing
nationalism.
Fortunately for famished troops, a
McDonalds will shortly materialize on any property seized by the US.
He’s the Cheap Theater of War. He’s the…
Vidiot
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