REVIEW:
CRY MACHO ★★★
At an age when most actors are either retired or picking up checks from character roles on TV ensemble shows, Clint Eastwood defies expectations and continues to find suitable starring roles at 91. In "Cry Macho" he plays ex-rodeo star who fell on hard times after a tragedy left him a shell of his former self. One day, his old boss Howard (Dwight Yoakam, "Sling Blade") comes to him with a proposition to travel to Mexico and retrieve his young son for him as payback for the help he's given him over the years.
Thus sets up the premise for the film, which unfolds in a very relaxed, easy manner, as Eastwood's character Mike Milo meets and befriends the teenager Rafo (Eduardo Minett) on what essentially becomes a scenic road trip with a stop in a quaint town where they hide out from authorities in churches and diners. Along the way, they meet a kindly local Mexican woman named Marta (Natalia Traven) who provides the duo with some food and comfort on their journey.
The two are joined on their quest by Rafo's pet rooster, which is used for cockfighting and therefore named Macho for his ability to defeat other roosters. It also serves as a metaphor for a number of things in the film, which is about what really matters in life and how to pick our battles. A couple of henchmen loyal to the boy's sketchy mother try to prevent them from reaching the border, which leads to a nice little show of physicality on Eastwood's part, but for the most part the movie focuses on the lessons learned between a boy finding out who he wants to be and an old man trying to find a reason for being. On that level, "Cry Macho" works, because we like these people and want them to be happy.
However, the script doesn't have the ambition to reach for more when it could have been a bit deeper or more epic. I think that was a deliberate choice for Eastwood as a director, wanting to simplify his message and just show people living and continuing to grow internally. The picture is typically well-made, with lovely cinematography by Ben Davis ("Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri") and an equally nice score by veteran composer Mark Mancina ("Speed," "August Rush").
If anything, this is a film that proves that less can sometimes be more. Eastwood's "Cry Macho" is a fairly undemanding but welcome addition to his varied and impressive resume.
REVIEW:
ANNETTE ★★★★
Stand-up shock comedian Henry (Academy Award nominee Adam Driver, "BlackKklansman") and opera star Ann (Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard, "La Vie en Rose") become a celebrity couple, marry and have a child they name Annette. Everything seems fine until Henry begins to grow restless. Ann dreams of a MeToo type situation where she is warned of Henry's true nature, but she continues and the relationship becomes rather toxic.
In a conventional film these events would take on the feel of a Hallmark TV movie, but in the hands of French director Leos Carax ("Holy Motors," 2012), who wrote the screenplay with composer brothers Ron and Russell Mael, "Annette" is a rock musical that is anything but conventional in its style. Even the appearance of baby Annette, who becomes the center of the turmoil that eventually takes place between Henry and Ann, is completely original and unexpected. I don't want to spoil the film by giving too many details, so let's just say the movie takes a lot of twists and turns. The story gets much darker than you might expect.
All of this is presented in a mix of the absurd, the tragic and dark humor. The production design and cinematography are beautiful. Add to that a score made up of songs new and old from the pop duo Sparks, the aforementioned Mael brothers. At times the film's turns may feel oppressive, as there is some violence and some of the situations take on a surreal element, but it is always fascinating. Stick with it, I say. The performances make this task rewarding, especially Driver, who seems to dare us to sympathize with a very complex character. "Annette" is one of the best, and most original, films of the year.
