paul-allaer

As "Contagion" (2011 release; 102 min) opens, it is "Day 2" and we are introduced to Beth Emhoff, who on her way back from Hong Kong has a layover in Chicago where she meets up with a guy who is not her husband. By the time she arrives home in Minneapolis, she has fallen seriously ill. At this point we are less than 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments; brilliant film by director Steven Soderbergh about the outbreak of a mysterious global virus out of China and how the world responds, It's in essence the 2020 pandemic foretold a decade earlier in the most amazing amount of details. Absolutely stunning. (Soderbergh credits the scientists for getting so much of the details correctly.) Besides this true foretelling, the film benefits from a true all-star cast, including Matt Damon, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow, among others. I picked up this film after recently reading a blurb about it in the New York Times. So glad I did.

"Contagion" did quite well at the box office when it was released in September, 2011. It is currently still rated 85% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. I saw it last night streaming on Amazon Prime. Regardless of whether you are a fan of the director or of any of the all-star cast, I'd strongly suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.

As "Holland" (2025 release; 108 min.) opens, we are introduced to Nancy Vandergroot. Who thinks of Holland as "it's just perfect here". Her husband is Fred, an optometrist. They have a 13 yo son Harry. At this point we are less that 10 minutes in the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from director Mimi Cave, whose debut "Fresh" was as fresh as it was outstanding. Alas, things doesn't turn out so well with this one. The movie doesn't know what it wants to be: a comedy? A thriller? A psychological drama? Perhaps all of those and then some more? Important to note is that Nicole Kidman, in the lead role as Nancy, also executive-produced this. I can only surmise what played in her head, realizing at some point what a turkey this was becoming or had become. It's just absolutely baffling. I will confess that after seeing half the movie, with nothing pointing to anything worthwhile to come, I abandoned the movie. If you cannot convince me after 50-55 minutes that this movie is worth sticking around for, then you've lost me for good.

"Holland" premiered at last month's SXSW film festival to underwhelming response. It is now streaming on Amazon Prime. "Holland" is currently rated only 21% Certified Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes, and that sounds about right to me. I cannot in good conscience recommend this film to anyone. I lost an hour of my life that I will never get back. Don't make the same mistake!

As "2073" (2024 release from the UK; 84 min) opens, we are in the year 2073 in New San Francisco, "capital of the Americas". The US has become a very dystopian police state. We get to know a mute woman named Ghost, whose grandmother was disappeared years ago. At this point we are 10 minutes into the movie.

Couple of comments: this is the latest from Oscar-winning British director Asip Kapadia ("Amy"), Here he brings a movie that is half fiction and half fact. The fictional part looks at what it might be like in the year 2073. The factual part comes in flashbacks as we see the terrible things playing in the world with authoritarians and wanna-be authoritarians (take a bow, Mr. T., you're almost there), with climate change and worse, etc. Etc. It's just that fiction and fact don't mix very well. And yes, also this: it makes for a mostly depressing viewing experience. But I will give Kapadia credit for the audacity to try. And of course he simply reflects what 's playing out in the world, and it ain't a pretty picture, that's for sure...

"2071" premiered at last year's Venice film festival. Not sure if it ever got a US theatrical release (I kinda doubt it). But I stumbled on this on Max just the other night, and decided to give it a shot. The movie is currently rated only 53% Certified Fresh, and here also I believe it is more a reflection of the movie being anything but an uplifting viewing experience, rather than being a bad movie. If you have an interest in geopolitics (both current and projected), I'd readily suggest you check this out, and draw your own conclusion.