#Middlebury #DVDs
“Roma” (R) – Director Alfonso Cuaron breathes life into 1970s Mexico City, seen through the eyes of Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio), a live-in domestic worker for an upper-middle-class family with four children. She cares for the children and home she lives in, and explores and loses a relationship, all with the backdrop of upheaval – tensions in the streets and in the falling apart of her employers’ marriage. It’s shot in black and white, with an exquisitely sentimental feel. Aparicio is brand new to acting, but gives a solid performance. Her quiet triumphs and solemn tragedies are not overdramatized; they feel authentic. It’s likely as much due to Cuaron, for whom this is semi-autobiographical, really a love song to a time and place in his past.
Matt Damon, Christian Bale in “Ford v Ferrari” (20th Century Fox Film Corp. photo)
“Ford v Ferrari” (PG-13) – In 1966, designer and engineer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) was challenged by Ford exec Lee Iacocca to design a car using a Ford engine that would be so fast, it could beat Enzo Ferrari, the prevailing champion design, in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. He accepted, but with the stipulation that it required the addition of a driver who could instinctually manage the necessary level of power. He recruited British driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale), as talented and driven as Shelby, if a bit more dramatic. It’s about racing and strong personalities. But it’s also about relationships and trust, and the kind of belief in others that’s necessary to reach the next level in this deadly sport. I enjoyed it both for the exciting race scenes and for the brotherhood and collaboration. Directed by James Mangold.
“Waves” (R) – Complicated relationships are the forefront of this family drama. Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) is a talented and popular high-school wrestler. He’s also damaged goods, nursing a critical injury. He is driven by his heavy-handed father, Ronald (a tight performance by Sterling K. Brown), and supported by his sympathetic stepmother (Renee Elise Goldsberry). Taylor Russell plays Tyler’s younger sister. It’s no surprise that the film is titled “Waves.” In addition to being set in South Florida, where the ocean provides perspective, the story is wave after wave of action and reaction. And that’s the essential question it asks: Where does another’s influence end and one’s responsibility begin?
“The Good Liar” (R) – Ian McKellen plays Roy Courteney, a lifelong degenerate and con man who, along with his partner Vincent (Jim Carter), defrauds unsuspecting dupes of their money via offshore accounts. His latest target is Betty, played by Helen Mirren, a sweet widow with a big bank account. Roy works his magic, and just as the deed is on the cusp of being done, the plot thickens. Although McKellen and Mirren are lovely, you can see this con coming a mile away.
New TV Releases
“Preacher” Final Season
“Swamp Thing” The Complete Series
“Game of Thrones” Season 8
“Fleabag” Season 1
© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
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