Hello, My Name Is Doris

First Hit:  Sally Field (as Doris) steals this film and makes this story work very well.

Doris is in her mid-sixties, her mom has just passed away, she had lived with her mom most of her life, she’s a hoarder, and works in an advertising agency as a data input operator.

Into her work life walks in John Fremont (Max Greenfield), a new arrival from California. He’s in his mid-thirties, got dropped by his girlfriend, is kind, and in his new job/life he’s trying to fit in.

What doesn’t work about this film is that John is portrayed as too naïve about how Doris feels about him. However, what does work about this film is Field as Doris. She is so good that the audience is engaged and bought into the story.

Most of the film is about how Doris fantasizes about having a romantic relationship with a man half her age. However, it also speaks to aging, human kindness, hoarding, sacrificing for family, the modern workplace, older people, and finally, friends and family.

Although we are not introduced to Doris’ character gently, there is no compromise in her character and to be quite frank, it worked.

Field is beyond fabulous. She could be considered for a third Oscar next March. Greenfield was good but I couldn’t help but think about his lack of vision of Doris' intention. Tyne Daly as Roz, Doris’ best friend, was extremely strong. Her acceptance and friendship was perfectly played. Isabella Acres as Roz’s granddaughter Vivian was spectacular. Her befriending of Doris and helping her navigate Social Media was perfect. Laura Terruso and Michael Showalter wrote a very interesting and edgy script. Showalter did a great job of guiding and giving Field the freedom to deeply explore her character.

Overall:  This film was very entertaining and I loved Doris’ outfits.

Lincoln

First Hit:  Fantastic acting in a wonderful slice of Americana.

I was overwhelmingly amused that we had just finished an election where the Republican Party devastatingly lost its credibility and mojo while this film showed Republicans at their finest.

Make no bones about it; Lincoln’s Co-Republican group were what drove the 13th Amendment into the law of the land while Democrats floundered in a generic stupidity of beliefs. Who learned from this lesson – the Democrats and it was the Democrats that brought our first black President back for a second term.

In Lincoln the focus is on a short few months from when he was elected to a second term until his assassination. Lincoln’s task was to ensure the freedom of blacks in America before the ending of the Civil War.

His premise was that if the war ended prior to passing the 13th Amendment, this law would fall by the wayside and blacks wouldn’t have their deserved freedom. Daniel Day-Lewis plays Lincoln as a thoughtful complex intelligent man whose single-minded focus kept the Republican dream alive.

He cared not so much for what was on the outside, but what was in a person's heart and what was right. Wife Mary (played by Sally Field) was, in this time of her life, grief stricken by the loss of one of their sons and despite her strength and intelligence was prone to fits of despair over loss. 

Day-Lewis is extraordinary and will certainly get an Oscar nod for his portrayal of Lincoln. He embodied the drive to create equality for the blacks in America. Field was strangely complex and powerful in her role as Marry Todd Lincoln. David Strathairn was pointedly strong and loyal as William Seward, Secretary of State. Tommy Lee Jones was amazing and perfect as Thaddeus Stevens the long time proponent of the 13th Amendment. Jackie Earle Haley was great as Alexander Stevens the Southern States representative during negotiations with Lincoln. Tony Kushner wrote a powerful and compelling screenplay while Steven Spielberg delivered a Oscar worthy turn as director.

Overall: If Republicans want to get their mojo back they need to watch and learn from this film – the Democrats obviously learned through history.

The Amazing Spider-Man

First Hit:  This was a fun-filled action fantasy film.

Sometimes a franchise film finds new legs and sets a new mark on what might become a new base for a new set of movies. This film does this.

Not taking away from Tobey Maguire and Kristen Dunst but Andrew Garfield (as Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man) and Emma Stone (as Gwen Stone) have a great start on creating a new set of adventures with the Spider-Man franchise.

In this film we go back to the beginning and discover the more about how Peter’s father and mother died, how he was raised by his Aunt May and Uncle Ben (played by Sally Field and Martin Sheen respectively). We learn how Peter’s father Richard (played by Campbell Scott) worked with Dr. Curt Connors (played by Rhys Ifans) to discover how to mix species for the betterment of humankind.

Parker in his curiosity of Connors’ lab gets bitten by a spider and we all know what happens from here. It is the way Parker discovers his talents that make this film fresh and fun; and this film is fun.

Even in the darkness of what will happen; while Parker is being hunted by the police or the Lizard (Connors’ alter ego) this film is enjoyable in all ways.

Garfield is very good as Parker/Spider-Man, my only criticism is that he’s just a little old to be playing a high school student. Outside of this small criticism, he’s great in this role and I know he’ll be wonderful for this franchise. Stone is very good and this film is about Spider-Man. Ifans is creepy enough to carry the transition between Connors and the Lizard. Field is good as the mostly fretting Aunt. Sheen is excellent as Parker’s caring uncle. James Vanderbilt and Alvin Sargent wrote a great script. Marc Webb did an excellent job of bringing new life to this wonderful story.

Overall:  This was a very well made and enjoyable film.