The Filmic 5: Are You Not Entertained Edition
Your Weekly Film Superlatives By Critic and Film Scholar Jack Hanley
I. Film I Am Loving This Week
Nicely surprised by WICKED- while I still hold a bit of a grudge against the McGuire source material for ushering in our over-saturated era of needless classic-canon revisionism that undermines some of our greatest cultural icons, I was demonstrably charmed by this filmic adaptation FAR more than I expected.
Did it need two parts? Definitely not. Are most of the songs save two rather forgettable? Definitely so. But the leads had some GENUINE chemistry and that “cliffhanger” ending set piece reminds us that many stories are so better elevated and experienced through the magic of cinema than the limitations of the stage. I’m still so pleasantly impressed with Grande’s comic timing- and I should probably stop being so. She’s nothing short of AMAZING. Lots of fun.
II. Piece I Am Loving About A Film I Was Most Definitely Not
Jack was NOT so entertained by GLADIATOR II. (It's NEVER great when the second best performance was a flashback of Russell Crowe.)
HOWEVER, let me just say DENZEL FUCKING WASHINGTON. Like Heath in Batman, you are always counting the minutes until he is back on the screen, CHEWING the scenery…I’m calling it now, he gets a Best Supporting Nomination- and he goddam deserves it. But speaking of the fallout surrounding this improbable casting, I WAS entertained by this marvelous piece by fellow historian Sarah Bond (University of Iowa) that examines the rather insidious portrayal of historical Rome's Africa- and Africans- in Scott's lackluster sequel.
Click here to read this marvelous piece!
III. Film I Am Dying To See: DAHOMEY
We had the distinct honor of programming French filmmaker Mati Diop's debut film ATLANTICS for the Crested Butte Film Festival back in 2019- and I have been in awe ever since. Her new documentary DAHOMEY is described as "...a poetic and immersive work of art that delves into real perspectives on far-reaching issues surrounding appropriation, self-determination and restitution."
Winner of the Golden Bear prize at the 2024 Berlinale. I simply cannot wait for this film.
IV. Film Book I Am Currently Reading
I first fell in love with the films of Agnes Varda in a tiny film studies screening room at the University of Florida...and I've been loyal ever since. It's hard to believe she left us over five years ago now- this book makes you feel as if she never left.
V. Film Essay I Am Intrigued By This Week
Why does Hollywood try SO HARD to NOT market musicals as musicals? Harrison Richlin notes "...Musicals have always been a cornerstone of the Hollywood machine, but recently, studio and marketing executives seem terrified of promoting them as such." Why?
Click HERE to discover the answer!
That's all for this week. Get out there and watch something LIFE-CHANGING.
Jack Hanley is a Boulder-based film scholar, podcaster, and critic. He is a programmer with the Chicago Underground Film Festival and Boulder International Film Festival. He is one-half of Blindspotting: A Film Discovery Podcast and Flicker with Jack and Scott on YouTube. Find him at Kinophilia on Medium and at HanleyOnFilm.com