Paddington in Peru (2025)

Paddington's off to Peru with the entire Brown family (and Mrs. Bird) in tow when he's told that Aunt Lucy is really missing him. Once they get there, however, Lucy has disappeared so they're off to find her with only a bracelet and a cryptic map to help them.

Of course I was going to watch this. The first movie was charming and the second only improved upon the first. But, while this one sure does try to keep up, it just putters out despite the "bigger better" of the location and mystery. Ah well. No need to be greedy: two wonderful films are plenty for this franchise.

C+

The Truman Show (1998)

Great concept, especially for pre-reality TV times: a guy's life is broadcast as entertainment 24/7 without his knowledge. The town is like a 1950s idea of bliss as presented in an amusement park attraction. Everything's clean, everyone's content, there's no reason to change anything.

But a concept is not enough -- there has to be some depth. I never felt like I knew any of the characters, least of all Truman. For example, when he "escapes" from his room by fooling the cameras, we are in the position of the watchers rather than Truman -- we see his deception when everyone else does. Why? Aren't we supposed to identify with him? Why not let us escape with him, hoping to get away with it but feeling the "hurry up!!" nervousness that he will be discovered?

Also, it's certainly not easy to identify with a man who has literally never left his bubble. I get that he was manipulated his whole life, but he is aware of the outside world and has a great desire to be in it -- what man wouldn't try to get there? At least do it "The Village"-style and lie to him about what's "out there." Make it monsters. Make it nothing. It doesn't matter as long as I believe that, in his shoes, I'd stay put too. As written, it's ridiculous that he's never left. Also ridiculous? That we have no idea what happens to him once he leaves the bubble. What about money? A job? A place to stay? It seems he has no family and no experience that could help him out there. At least give us a "he's OK" montage over the credits. 

C

The Contestant (2024)

Nasubi was trying to make it as a comedian when he auditioned for a well-known television producer. He got the job and was immediately taken to a small apartment containing only with a low table, a single cushion, a rack full of magazines, a stack of postcards and a pen -- his clothes were even taken from him. His goal was to win 1 million worth of prizes by entering prize contests in the magazines. He would have nothing to sustain him except the prizes he could win. When he hits his goal...  he's moved and given a new goal. When he hits that goal, the producer changes the goal. All the while (about 15 months), his days are being recorded and broadcast as "Denpa Shonen: A Life in Prizes" and he's becoming famous without his consent or knowledge.

I mean... I don't even know how to talk about this. This is obviously torture. There's a reason that solitary confinement is restricted in United States prisons: it's detrimental both physically and mentally. And, even in prison, there's supposed to be some outdoor exercise time. Nasubi was not only alone (the cameramen were instructed not to engage): he was starved and humiliated. He is reduced to eating dog food when it is delivered as a prize. At one point he's moved to a "start over" apartment in Korea, which means he must LEARN KOREAN before he can even begin trying to win anything out of the Korean magazines.

There's nothing funny here. I admit that it's fascinating, but it is not entertaining. The worst thing is that the producer understands that he went too far... but he can't hide his pride over the show, which makes any contrition seem disingenuous. Nasubi may have always been "free to leave" but psychology is a tricky thing. The Stanford Prison Experiment shows that once you're designated a prisoner, it's very difficult to see yourself as having personal agency. 

One big thing we aren't told: where is the money?? Nasubi's diaries were published as best-sellers. The show was a huge hit. Did Nasubi see any of that? If not, shame on everyone involved in this. You know what? Even if he did get rich, everyone involved still deserves double portions of shame.

B-

Trial by Fire (2019)

Based on the true story of Todd Willingham, a young father with a checkered past found guilty and put on death row for the killing of his three children in a fire. Though he works hard in prison to learn what he can about the law and appeal his verdict, it's only once author Elizabeth takes an interest that any progress is made.

It's got a lot going for it: the case is interesting, the weaknesses of the justice system are on full display, and the two leads do a good enough job that I was rooting for success, but it all felt a bit too basic. I want to be angry about the cruelty of the justice system: lawyers who give less than their all, investigators using junk science, people who are willing to lie (plus the officials who solicit those lies), and the zookeeper-mentality of prison guards all deserve reform. But this felt more like a book report about the case than an exposé.

C+

Annie Hall (1977)

Though I really loved this the first time I saw it 30ish years ago, it has not aged well. I'm not even talking about the "child molesters" comment early on and the later mention of a sexual encounter with 16-year-old twins (though they do land with heavy thuds now that we know what we know). I mean that I've seen better versions of this story in the near 50 years since its release with better direction and better performances.

I don't begrudge this groundbreaking film its place in history. This must've felt so fresh in the way it broke the fourth wall with regularity and refused to adhere to a linear timeline. Alvy himself is a romantic lead that hadn't been seen: he's built like a 13-year-old waiting for his growth spurt with a personality that could be described as "perpetual gripe," but it told the truth that women can see past quite a bit in pursuit of a compatible mate.

That said, this has become nothing more than a curious time capsule I'm unlikely to visit again.

C+