Mozart in the Jungle (2014-18)

Amazon took a chance on a niche show, a romantic comedy centered around the dynamic world of classical music. It is admittedly a pretty terrible show but it has its moments. I think the biggest problem was that it focused on the romance between Hailey and Rodrigo, which was decidedly less interesting than the relationship between the orchestra members. The show shone best just watching the inner workings of an orchestra, including the quirky musicians, the union issues, the funding issues, and their day-to-day struggles. Gael Garcia Bernal deserved all the praise he got, playing the Gustavo Dudamel-like conductor, a hard-to-handle musical genius. However, the protagonist was arguably Hailey, played by Lola Kirke. I found that I didn't really care about her story, which sort of revolved around the orchestra but was never within the orchestra. She eventually ditched the oboe for conducting and her conducting acting was entirely unconvincing. I understand it's hard, but she looked kind of spastic.

I binged the first three seasons within a couple days. Despite it not being great TV, it's very watchable, it goes by very quickly. It has its moments. There were some excellent episodes: Ichi Go Ichi E, The Rehearsal, You Have Insulted Tchaikovsky, and the Pilot. And there's some fun traveling episodes, in Mexico, Venice and Japan. It is a fun show, even if not a great one.

Coco (2017)

Coco is the latest Pixar film, its first non-sequel since Inside Out. Pixar is excellent as usual when running with original ideas. This one has gotten comparisons with The Book of Life (similar theme of Day of the Dead) and Spirited Away (similar plot points). I haven't seen The Book of Life, but Coco is something special. First of all, it's beautiful. The world of the dead is stunningly complex and vibrant and colorful. The animation is just amazing to look at. The first scene with the paper cuts is brilliant. It's beautiful on another level too. Pixar is historically white on the diversity front. They've only featured two three characters of color before: Frozone in The Incredibles, Russell in Up, and Mindy Kaling's Disgust in Inside Out. All of the characters in Coco are Mexican, and the Mexican traditions and culture are conveyed with the utmost respect--they clearly did their research.  The characters' commitment to keeping these traditions and preserving their heritage is beautiful.  Why is this necessary? Because minorities contend with more than just feelings, and family, and parenthood, and obesity...heritage is crucial to our lives and it's important that kids be able to see themselves on screen in our popular culture.

We know Pixar is full of masterful storytellers, but the little things are really clever too.  The interpretation of the process of how the dead return to the world of the living is really brilliantly imaginative, and in line with tradition. Names are really important.The movie is named for the great grandmother Coco. Ask why that is. Ask why the Xoloitzcuintli is named Dante. Yeah, like Dante's Divine Comedy in which Dante tours the afterlife.

My biggest gripe is the Disney-fication of Pixar. There was no Pixar short preceding the film. Instead, we got a 20 minute Frozen "short" that was completely unnecessary. It was very clearly made for TV. And it had no business preceding this Pixar work of art. 

Neruda (2016)

Neruda is a really interesting take on the biopic genre. It pits the titular Colombian poet (who lived a fascinating life) against the inspector chasing after him for the anti-Communist government. Here's the question, what is history and what is a story? Much of the production design leads you to believe that they are living out a story--the obvious moving backdrop (make no mistake, it was not just a budgetary restraint, every choice was made quite purposefully: the Senate meeting in the bathroom, the quick changes of scenery, and the cinematographic coloring). Gael Garcia Bernal may have top billing, but is he the main character? He does not play Neruda, but the inspector. Is he merely a supporting character in the life of Neruda? He fights for himself to be the protagonist of his own story. The climactic escape scene through the snowy Andes Mountain pass is wonderfully cinematic. It gave me an ominous McTeague kind of feeling, though it doesn't quite end like that. It does look like the snowy landscape of The Hateful Eight. I love Bernal in everything he does. This is no exception.

The Science of Sleep (2006)

This was a very pleasantly surprising movie.  The premise is there is a young man whose vivid imagination and dreams interferes with his real life.  The production design brings his imagination to fruition, with lots of moving cutout pieces and arts and crafts supplies making up the scenery.  It is very creative and incredibly executed.  Perhaps the most interesting depiction is of the protagonist's mind.  In a sort of "Inside Out" kind of way, the audience is taken inside his brain.  His brain is padded with packing materials like an impromptu asylum and a cooking show ensues. Mini-Stephane looks through cardboard flaps that are Stephane's eyes.

The writing is charming and funny (sometimes in an awkward way).  Gael Garcia Bernal and Charlotte Gainsbourg have great chemistry, and their banter is smile-inducing.  But there is one major downside to this movie.  I was entirely unsatisfied by the unresolved ending.  In the same way that "Interstellar" was so brilliant until the last 15 minutes when the conclusion kind of disappointed, this film also drops the ball in the final scene.  I would dare say that it does not offer an ending at all.  It is so creative and brilliant until the last minute, when it doesn't even really leave open an interpretive ending but just leaves you saying "what is this--this can't be all?" But despite this setback, the movie was definitely worth watching.

Rosewater (2014)

In Jon Stewart's debut film, he does a respectable job honoring journalist Maziar Bahari, who was detained in Iran for 118 days at Evin Prison following an appearance on the satirical "The Daily Show" hosted by Stewart.  The satire was lost on the Iranian regime, who accused Bahari of espionage amid the 2009 presidential elections.  The movie draws attention to the plight of journalists, who risk their lives to expose the truth in dangerous situations.  Stewart uses actual news footage to bring the audience back to 2009. Gael Garcia Bernal plays Bahari, a man subjected to psychological torture, but whose hope is not crushed.  He is very good, bringing a range of emotions, keeping all 118 days engaging. Perhaps this is a glimpse into Stewart's post-"The Daily Show" life--will he become a filmmaker?  If so, I think we have a lot of good things to look forward to.