The Stuff I Watched: Creed, McCabe and Mrs. Miller
*Points to a mirror*: That's the toughest opponent you're ever going to have to face: writing a newsletter!
Morning!
We got a Friday grab bag. Fun!
Creed (2015)
Director: Ryan Coogler
B+
I watched this movie in preparation to see a live recording of the podcast The Rewatchables in Philadelphia. The podcast honestly was probably a more enjoyable time than the film. But I might be mean in saying that.
I lost a little bit of interest in the second and third acts. I feel the film drags a little bit and gets knocked down a grade for that. But c’mon. This movie is sick. The one-shot fight scene was the best filmmaking in a boxing movie ever and Michael B. Jordan’s performance still thoroughly impresses me.
Summary: Adonis Johnson (Michael B. Jordan) never knew his famous father, boxing champion Apollo Creed, who died before Adonis was born. However, boxing is in his blood, so he seeks out Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) and asks the retired champ to be his trainer. Rocky sees much of Apollo in Adonis, and agrees to mentor him, even as he battles an opponent deadlier than any in the ring. With Rocky's help, Adonis soon gets a title shot, but whether he has the true heart of a fighter remains to be seen.
McCabe and Mrs. Miller (1971)
Director: Robert Altman
A-
Back in the early days of this newsletter, I gave McCabe and Mrs. Miller a mixed review. I still fully couldn’t get behind it but I can’t deny Robert Altman’s greatness in this picture.
My main gripe with the film is the lead performance from Warren Beatty. I just can’t see Beatty, Mr. Hollywood personified, as a legitimate gruff cowboy. He’s just too much of a superstar to pull that off.
But that’s enough criticism. The cinematography fucking RULES in this and you start to understand the dread characters like John and Constance feel. It reflects the rotting, ugly decline of the American West as it was known. Robert Altman doesn’t make the genre look pretty and I respect the hell out of that.
Summary: Charismatic gambler John McCabe (Warren Beatty) arrives in a mining community and decides to open a brothel. The local residents are impressed by his confident demeanor and fast talk, but crafty prostitute Constance Miller (Julie Christie) sees through McCabe's words and realizes he isn't as sharp as he seems. For a share in his profits, Mrs. Miller agrees to help plan and run McCabe's establishment, but soon a powerful company threatens to destroy what they have built up.