[I review "Conclave," "We Live in Time," "Emilia Perez" and the documentary "Carol Doda Topless at the Condor."]
Conclave (2024)
An inside look at how a Pope is chosen - with some conspiracy and mystery thrown in.
The Pope has died so the College of Cardinals goes into seclusion for a papal conclave (that's what the process is called for choosing a new Pope) led by Cardinal-Dean Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes). And we get to be there as flies on the wall to an ancient and mysterious process that few know about.
The four men vying for Pope are Aldo Bellini (Stanley Tucci), an American liberal; Joshua Adeyemi (Lucian Msamati), a Nigerian with socially conservative views; Joseph Tremblay (John Lithgow), a Canadian mainstream conservative; and Goffredo Tedesco (Sergio Castellitto), an Italian traditionalist who wants to go back to the old ways - you know, services in Latin, no birth control, fish on Fridays, all of that. But there is also a newcomer, someone unknown to the Cardinals - Archbishop Vincent Benitez (Carlos Diehz) of Kabul, who claims the late pope secretly made him a cardinal. His arrival is strange because no one knew about him but particularly strange because Benitez is Mexican. How did he end up as the Archbishop of Kabul?
There is mystery and drama afoot.
Bellini and Lawrence are the two leaders of the Church's liberal wing, but neither claims to want the papacy but it becomes clear that is not really true. As Lawrence leads the conclave, he learns about a mysterious medical appointment the former Pope made for Benitez in Switzerland that was later canceled. He also learns that the pope demanded Tremblay's resignation hours before dying. However, when confronted, Tremblay vigorously denies this. Then a secret is revealed about Adeyemi and Head nun, Sister Agnes (Isabella Rossellini), plays a pivotal role, sharing a secret with Lawrence. And there is more - a bribery for votes allegation, a suicide bomber attack on the Vatican, and a huge twist you won't see coming!
Who knew there was so much drama around electing a Pope?
Drama, indeed. Based on the book by Robert Harris adapted for the screen by Peter Straughan, this is one of the best dramas of the year and one could say it's an allegory for the world's current political climate, conservative vs. progressive.
I have been in love with Ralph Fiennes ever since "The English Patient." No one broods like Ralph. And he has lots to brooder over here. He is also surrounded by an ensemble cast of wonderful actors and the film is highlighted by brilliant cinematography thanks to Stephane Fontaine. Directed by Edward Berger, this movie has Oscar written all over it.
Rosy the Reviewer says...who knew a papal conclave could be so riveting and exciting, but it is and with that a huge twist at the end, I was speechless, something I rarely am, but, when it was revealed... Kaboom! Mic drop! This film is not to be missed! One of the best of the year! (Streaming for free on Peacock and also available for rent or purchase on various other streaming platforms)
We Live in Time (2024)
Tobias (Andrew Garfield) and Almut (Florence Pugh) "meet cute" and fall in love... and then she gets sick.
On his way to sign divorce papers, Tobias is hit by a car driven by Almut, an up-and-coming chef. They fall in love but then Almut discovers she has ovarian cancer. But she gets treatment, the cancer goes into remission and she and Tobias are able to have a child.
A few years later, Almut is now head chef at her own high end restaurant, and Tobias and Almut are living in the countryside with daughter, Ella, but then Almut's cancer returns. She doesn't want to undergo treatment again, wishing to live "six to eight amazing months" rather than months of chemotherapy, but when Tobias proposes marriage, she decides to undergo treatment. At the same time, Almut is invited to participate in the Bocuse d'Or, a prestigious cooking competition, a challenge that conflicts with her treatment and her wedding and, when confronted about this by Tobias, Almut says she wants her daughter to remember her as an accomplished chef rather than a sick and dying woman.
Written by Nick Payne and directed by John Crowley, the film weaves together the past and present in flashbacks and flashforwards that could be confusing to some viewers - Tobias and Almut meeting "cute," if being hit by a car by your future love interest could be considered "meeting cute;" their romance before her cancer diagnosis; the birth of Ella; and Almut's career as a chef and participation in the Bocuse d'Or cooking competition. So there is something here to satisfy those who like love stories; something for those who like drama; something for those who appreciate good acting; something for you foodies out there; and plenty of tears to be jerked if you are hooked on tearjerkers.
But this is not a movie wallowing in sadness. Yes, this is one of those "dying woman love stories," but what sets it apart from most is that Almut refuses to be defined as a dying woman and instead continues with her life right up until the end.
I couldn't get over how much Florence Pugh reminded me of Kate Winslet. Not just in looks but in getting her kit off (that's Britspeak for taking off one's clothes) as did Kate (she was even kind of known for that). I have always been a Florence Pugh fan but not so much Andrew Garfield, probably because I wasn't that into Spiderman but then he did "tick, tick...boom" and I was in. And here he does a good job as a charismatic romantic lead. Pugh and Garfield have chemistry and are great together.
Rosy the Reviewer says...despite a cringey birthing scene in a gas station toilet, this is a poignant love story about living your life fully right up until the end. (available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple+)
Emilia Perez (2024)
The story of four Mexican women who are each seeking to find their own happiness: Emilia Perez (Karla Sofia Gascon), an ex-cartel leader who fakes her own death; Rita Mora Castro (Zoe Saldana), an underappreciated lawyer who gets caught up in Emilia's life; Jessi (Selena Gomez), Emilia's ex; and Epifania (Adriana Paz), a once abused wife who enters into a relationship with Emilia - and it's a musical!
Against her conscience, Rita defends a prominent media figure's wife accused of murder, arguing the death was a suicide. Soon after winning the case, Rita is asked by cartel kingpin Juan "Manitas" Del Monte to help him fake his own death after having sex reassignment surgery so he can start a new life as a woman. Rita finds him a doctor and he pays Rita a huge amount of money. Meanwhile, his wife, Jessi, and his children are moved to Switzerland for their own safety. After the surgery, Manitas begins a new life as Emilia Perez.
But wait just a minute. This is not going to be one of those happily ever after stories. Think of this as a telenovela (even though this movie is very French), one of those over-the-top Latin American soap operas, but with music.
So four years later, Emilia's and Rita's paths cross in London...and not by chance. Emilia misses her children, so Emilia once again asks Rita to help her by arranging to bring Jessi and the children back to Mexico City to live with Emilia, telling Jessi that Emilia is a distant cousin of Manitas and Emilia wants to help Jessi raise the children. Jessi is skeptical but acquiesces because she wants to reunite with Gustavo Brun (Edgar Ramirez), an ex-lover. Unbelievably, Jessi doesn't recognize Emilia (but, hey, this is a telenovela). All goes well for a time when Emilia wants to reunite with her family and make restitution for her life as Manitas, using her connections for good by setting up a nonprofit to help find "the disappeared," and to identify bodies of cartel victims. Through that, Emilia meets Epifania, a woman whose abusive husband's remains were identified and the two begin a relationship.
But then all hell breaks loose! It doesn't end well. But you knew that.
As I said, this is a sort of telenovela with an original plot, excellent acting, lush cinematography (thanks to cinematographer Paul Guilhaume), music and even some humor! The scene where Rita interviews a sex reassignment doctor in Bangkok is a hoot!
Does everything work? No, but I have immense respect for movies that try to do something new and to take risks. This is like something you have never seen before.
Karla Sofía Gascón is amazing, playing both Manitas and Emilia. You would never guess it was a woman playing Manitas. And Gascon herself is transgender, beginning her transgender transformation in 2018. Selena Gomez is everywhere these days, starring in the popular series "Only Murders in the Building" as well as this, and she has a single coming out that her over 700 million followers on social media will no doubt embrace. And did you know she is a billionaire? But this role as the horny ex-wife of Manitas will surprise everyone. It's a departure for her. No more the young Disney star. Adriana Paz is also good in a smaller role, but Saldana dominates as she is in almost every scene and is the character that connects everyone. She is outstanding. These four women won the Best Actress Prize as an ensemble at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and the film, loosely based on the book "Ecoute" by Boris Rason and adapted and directed by Jacques Audiard, won the Jury Prize.
Rosy the Reviewer says...Wow! A unique and poignant musical film experience, a feast for the eyes and ears, not to be missed. (In Spanish with English subtitles on Netflix)
Carol Doda Topless at the Condor (2023)
A documentary about Carol Doda, who in San Francisco in 1964 became the first dancer to go topless. She became a tourist attraction as famous as The Golden Gate Bridge!
I moved to San Francisco in 1970, the day after I graduated from college in Michigan. I knew I had missed the Summer of Love, but after seeing this documentary, I realized I missed way more than that. San Francisco was hopping starting in the early 60's when it was the center of the Bohemian movement and free love.
So there I was, a little virgin Michigan girl...well, a virgin when it came to living in a big city...and as I explored San Francisco's famous North Beach neighborhood, I couldn't avoid Carol Doda. A billboard highlighting her "assets" decorated The Condor Club on the corner of Broadway and Columbus (and it's still there). North Beach was, and still is, a happening place. It was where all of the nightclubs were but also the Italian restaurants, comedy clubs and Lawrence Ferlinghetti's famous book store, City Lights.
So who was Carol Doda?
She started out as a waitress but she also liked to dance and then Rudi Gernreich invented the topless bathing suit and that opened the flood gates. Doda was the first dancer to appear topless in the United States, and "Topless" became a thing. Everything was topless including topless ice cream shops and topless shoe shines (back when there actually were shoe shines). And Doda embraced it. Doda had said "I want to be in show business and I don't know any way except to show my boobs." And so she did. Her act at The Condor became the place to go.
And who said size doesn't matter?
Carol was a beautiful woman, but her breasts were not gigantic by any means so she set about making them so through silicone injections. Not recommended today. Silicone injections were outlawed in 1992. But for a time, it worked and Doda's breasts were the stars of the show at The Condor. She also danced "bottomless," as in totally nude until that was outlawed in 1972. She retired from stripping in the 1980's but continued to entertain into her 70's. Little known factoid: Doda Dome in Yosemite National Park was named for her.
But for all of the titillation (sorry), there is a feminist twist here. Doda said she was one of the original "bra burners"...wink...wink...but at the same time, she did take control of her life, did what she wanted with her body and there was a certain empowerment in that.
Rosy the Reviewer says...written and directed by Marlo McKenzie and Jonathan Parker, this is an interesting little tidbit in the history of San Francisco. (Amazon Prime)
See you next time!
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