Saturday, September 21, 2019

Official Secrets



Not so much of a movie but a theatrical play shot on film with the excellent duo of Keira and Ralph Fiennes. Their understated, matter of fact, performance is sublime. Supporting cast is also great. While one can duly expect it of Ralph, Keira Knightly with years turned from another pretty face with an English accent of "Pirates of the Caribbean" into a formidable performer.

But the movie, similarly to much weaker and formulaic "Post" with Meryl Streep demonstrates not the real image of the British media, judiciary and even intelligence--where everybody knows that Blair Administration is an assorted collection of liars and psychopaths--but rather how they want to see themselves. In that vein, the final scene of split of Fiennes, and his antagonist, the Crown Prosecutor is mundane. Much better ending would be they giving "high fives" to each other and going fishing together.

Where'd you go, Bernadette?



Linklater forever engraved his name into the cinema history with technical innovation of a feature animation by the live actors in his "Waking Life". He is also stands apart from other American directors that his movies frequently do not tell story of violence and murder. But his overtly "sunny", polyannish outlook in the current film clouds the conclusion of Bernadette. It is always better to survive personality issues with deep pockets. Cate Blanchett is great as always.