Tag: Ben Shenkman

CHRISTMAS EVE IN MILLER’S POINT (2024)

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Directed by: Tyler Taormina

Written By: Tyler Taormina and Eric Berger

Story Editor/Editor: Kevin Anton

Cinematography: Carson Lund

Cast: Matilda Fleming, Maria Dizzia, Ben Shenkman, Francesca Scorsese, Elsie Fisher, Michael Cera, Gregg Turkington, Tony Savino, Steven Alleva, Grege Morris, Sawyer Spielberg

On Christmas Eve, a family gathers for what could be the last holiday in their ancestral home. As the night wears on and generational tensions arise, one of the teenagers sneaks out with her friends to claim the wintry suburb for her own.

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this film is the epitome of an ensemble film as there are no real stars. Every character plays their role essentially in each other stories, and there is no real complete story as everything is told more and snippets and scenes, but never quite from beginning to end in a complete way. 

As the film is largely plotless, but plays out over a families holiday traditions, and party as they all get together where many individual things happen some smaller some greater but nothing really happens except for this celebration.

it seems like the filmmaker wanted some more evoke, the emotions of the holiday or any holiday gathering with your family where the story is told purely at this celebration where you get updates about their lives away from one another, always wanting to showcase the best and you get a sense of the family history and their relationships with one another, but nothing is ever clearly defined 

The drama that happens as well as the comedy is more lived in and isn’t as random as everyone knows each other and because they know each other and their habits nothing is quite shocking to one another. 

The film works and its own artistry that might be frustrating to some members of the audience as it takes its time telling the story it wants to, but again the story is never told in a complete way it’s more told segments that seem like they go nowhere endless that more evoke moods as there is an inherent sadness throughout as they adults are realizing they’re getting older and how much they have in the past but also the ones who raise them are slowly deteriorating and they want to take care of them. It might be too much for them to take on

And that would also celebrates the happiness of seeing long lost family members who you grew up with who now other than these types of get together rarely ever see as those family members you never really want to see, but are forced to and have to play nice with 

The tons of cuisine and food that you can board yourself on and share with family 

As well as issues that certain family members have with one another that everyone seems to know about, but either or not acknowledged or not talked about, but clearly seen and felt 

there is a section of the film where it more focuses on the younger characters the teenagers and their wild night out though even though there’s more adventure and the film seems to have a little more energy and spirit to match the characters. It also is more told in segments whereas anytime the film comes close to anything happening, especially any kind of action or excitement it seems like it cuts to something else or another character and then we see the aftermath of the action.

As even the biggest names in the cast, who is also a producer, Michael cera barely has any lines and isn’t in much of the movie nor anal part of it, but is appearance does add a certain prestige into the film

this is a film that might be challenging for some and truly you’re either going to get into its wavelength or not.

Though as an audience member one cannot say they were totally down with everything about the film. I applaud it for its artistic choices and the mood and can identify with the material as the film presents highs and Lows joys and defeats, but isn’t meant to leave the audience depressed, but also isn’t the typical holiday movie where it’s all smiles and happiness for the audience, though the film does end with a lot of smiles for the characters.

Grade: B-

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7 (2020)

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Written & Directed By: Aaron Sorkin 
Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael 
Editor: Alan Baumgarten

Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jeremy Strong, Alex Sharp, John Carroll Lynch, Yahya Abdul-Manteen II, Mark Rylance, Joseph Gordon Levitt, Ben Shenkman, Frank Langella, Michael Keaton, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Caitlin Fitzgerald 

What was intended to be a peaceful protest at the 1968 Democratic National Convention turned into a violent clash with police and the National Guard. The organizers of the protest–including Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden, and Bobby Seale–were charged with conspiracy to incite a riot. The trial that followed was one of the most notorious in history.

This is a film that comes with a certain pedigree so that no matter what happens it constantly comes off with a certain pedigree.
It’s Certainly an eye-opening history lesson and recreation. That does feel like it was a film always planned as a live-action version of an animated documentary that tells the same tale. Only here the film filled with recognizable actors came in a vital time of the United States being in a personal political uproar. That not exactly was a repeat of the times that the film depicts but in a similar situation. Proving that history has a way of repeating itself. 

This film seemed to want to send a message of hope, faith, and belief or democracy and the power of individuals United in belief to hope to change the system and stand up for their rights and everyone’s.

The actors are all good. Even if some come off more like they are playing virtues and beliefs (Eddie Redmayne) rather Than characters. While others seem to be going more for impersonations. Then again some characters are written more vividly than others. As like the characters’ personalities some Are more dramatic some are more comedic.

Mark Rylance, certainly stands out amongst the cast. Even if his role isn’t as showy. Even as everybody here wants and deserves a Pat on the back for what they bring to the film and their roles. Ultimately at times like the film, it feels a bit self-serving. 

The script is good, it feels like it is more meant to say something about the then-current political times while going over historical events. 

The direction by screenwriter Aaron Sorkin is fine. No big flourishes, only wish that it might have been a bit stronger visually and made more of an impression in scenes. Especially those where there are action or powerful moments. 

For a film that seems to reach for so much and paint a bigger picture, it feels restricted or smaller than expected. Which works somewhat as reminding us that this was a microcosm of the country where so much was being decided. It also achieved letting it feel more personal and intimate. Though it feels different than what we are used to with historical films feeling epic and as big as the decisions and landmark history they bring forth. 

This is a crowd-pleasing tale of constant injustices that unfortunately seem to keep happening and have to be seen to be believed. 

Even if some might say that it Is mostly liberal infighting against injustices and a corrupt system that has sought fit to target them. As political leaders. 

Even as Bobby Seale’s story is so strong and fascinating than seems cut off at a certain point and out of the rest of the film. As in love he seemed lumped in with the rest randomly. 

The film stays entertaining. A s a smooth feel-good movie. It just never feels close to blowing you away. Though it is a story that needs to be told and shared. 

Grade: B-