Movie Review - American Honey

American Honey (2016)

Starring Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf, and Riley Keough

Directed by Andrea Arnold

***This film is currently streaming via Amazon Prime***

There is nothing about American Honey that even remotely validates its epic nearly three-hour runtime.  Its plot can be explained in a simple sentence:  Impoverished teenager Star (Sasha Lane) joins a ragtag group of kids headed by the harsh twentysomething "den mother" Krystal (Riley Keough) who travel across the country hoping to earn money by selling magazines whilst doing drugs, drinking alcohol, stealing trinkets, and sleeping with one another.  Conflict is slim to none throughout the film and there are tons of lengthy shots of these disheveled, dirty-looking teens singing rap songs for no apparent reason other than to show the mundaneness of everyday life for this group.  Yet, despite this myriad of issues, I found myself oddly captivated by American Honey.  Sure, it's a film I never want to watch again and I can't even say I'd want to subject anyone else to attempt a viewing, but the simplicity and naturalness of writer-director Andrea Arnold's film kept my intrigued more than I could ever have imagined.

I mean this in a complimentary fashion, but there's a dirtiness that permeates throughout American Honey.  This group of kids on display exudes a griminess and a grossness that's anchored in realism and while at least these teens are trying to make a living, they are kids with whom I'd never want to hang.  First-time actress Sasha Lane is at the center of this gang of miscreants and she certainly embodies the lower-class aesthetic that runs rampant through the flick.  Her blossoming relationship with Shia LaBeouf's Jake, a member of magazine-selling group, feels lived-in and naturally develops over the course of the film's runtime.

I really do find it incomprehensible that I sat through this entire film.  There was a moment about seventy minutes in -- which is just a third of the way, mind you -- that I was extremely tempted to stop because, as I mentioned, nothing really happens in this film.  Yet, thanks to the solid performances and the lived-in aesthetic created by Andrea Arnold and her cast, the lack of plot becomes a shockingly insignificant issue.  Now, don't mistake this positivity for all-out affection.  American Honey really could've afforded to have been shortened or, at the very least, had some story added to it.  And, as I've mentioned before, I never need to watch American Honey again nor can I in good conscience recommend it.  However, something surprisingly worked for me and I found this flick to be much better than I expected.

The RyMickey Rating:  B-

Movie Review - King Georges

King Georges (2016)

Directed by Erika Frankel

As I've grown up, I've admittedly become quite the foodie, fascinated with the Food Network (when it aired how-to shows, that is), Top Chef, and The Great British Baking Show to name a few entertainment-driven culinary television shows.  I've also visited some restaurants owned by famous chefs including Top Chef winner Nicholas Elmi whose Philadelphia-based Laurel provided a delicious meal a few months ago.  I mention Elmi because he is highlighted in the engaging documentary King Georges which showcases the world-renowned Philadelphia restaurant Le Bec Fin which closed its doors a few years ago.  Owned by French chef Georges Perrier, Le Bec Fin was known has one of the best restaurants in the world -- not just the United States -- in its heyday of the 1970s-80s.  However, changing taste buds challenged Perrier to keep up with the burgeoning foodie revolution and even his hiring of the talented younger chef Elmi couldn't help Perrier from having to close the doors of the beloved restaurant in the early 2010s.

Director Erika Frankel follows Perrier and Elmi across several years, capturing them during successful times, then as they prepare to close the doors on the ritzy French restaurant.  Being from the Philly area and being quite familiar with Elmi, I'll admit to prejudicial bias in enjoying the subject of this documentary.  Your mileage may vary, but regardless the piece is well-made look into how a restaurant actually runs behind the scenes.  The chaos that occurs each night in the kitchen of a fancy restaurant such as this is something I'd never want to be a part of and this film made me appreciate even more the chefs, sous chefs, line cooks, and waitstaff that help restaurants such as Le Bec Fin run.

I also must admit that back in my high school days, I actually ate at Le Bec Fin.  Watching this film, I desperately wish I fully understood what I was experiencing.  I undoubtedly failed to appreciate the intricacies and talent that Georges Perrier brought to the Philadelphia (and culinary) landscape.  I was probably panicking at the mushroom that was on my plate or turning my nose up at being served quail or duck instead of embracing the skill and artistry that was likely on display in front of me.  While I have been fortunate enough to visit Nicholas Elmi's restaurant and been able to appreciate the culinary craftsmanship he learned from his mentor Georges Perrier, I really do regret not knowing what I was getting myself into twenty years ago.  King Georges helped me to appreciate things a bit more and for that I'm grateful.

The RyMickey Rating:  A-

Movie Review - Christine

Christine (2016)

Starring Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts, Maria Dizzia, J. Smith-Cameron, and John Cullum

Directed by Antonio Campos

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

Based on a true story, director Antonio Campos' film Christine is an intense character study of its titular female, television news reporter Christine Chubbuck who worked for a small-town Sarasota, Florida, news station in the early 1970s.  Although initially lacking in personality and seemingly way too serious to be considered even remotely engaging, we soon discover that the headstrong and desperate-for-success Christine (Rebecca Hall) has more than a few emotional problems with which she's failed to come to grips.  These issues eventually rear their ugly head in a way that will likely be a huge surprise for those unfamiliar with this film's conclusion prior to watching it.

Rebecca Hall is impressive as Christine, carrying the entire film on her shoulders.  Christine isn't a warm person in the slightest and that admittedly puts up a barrier between the audience and Hall's portrayal, but it's still an admirable turn that captivates.  The film slogs a bit to its conclusion -- especially if you know the way it's going to end -- but it still is successful enough to warrant a watch.

The RyMickey Rating:  B-

Movie Review - Indignation

Indignation (2016)

Starring Logan Lerman, Sarah Gadon, Tracy Letts, Danny Burstein, and Linda Emond

Directed by James Schamus

In the fall of 1951, Marcus Messner (Logan Lerman) embarks on a new adventure, traveling from Newark, New Jersey, to Winesburg College in Ohio.  The Christian ideology promoted by the school is a big change for the Jewish youngster, but he heartily starts right in on his studies.  Soon, however, Marcus becomes distracted by the lovely and sexually promiscuous Olivia (Sarah Gadon) who he soon discovers may be a bit more than he can handle.  Then again, Marcus is very headstrong in his own way, butting heads with the college's Dead Caudwell (Tracy Letts) as the young man tries to find his way in the tumultuous era of the Korean War.

Thus is the story of Indignation, a very straightforward, yet well-acted and simplistically compelling film directed and written by James Schamus who has crafted a film that, with a few exceptions, feels like it could've been made in the decade in which it is set.  The old school aesthetic of the film is matched by its lack of showiness behind the lens.  That's not a bad thing, either.  Keeping Indignation fully focused on its story is a positive, drawing the audience in to the blossoming life of Marcus.  Nice performances from Logan Lerman and Tracy Letts (who together have a rather fascinating, long verbal tete-a-tete that proves to be a centerpiece of the film) help anchor Indignation as a film that deserves to be seen.

The RyMickey Rating:  B