One Night in Miami (2020)
Regina King's film adaption of a stage play where activist Malcolm X (Kingsley Ben-Adir), singer Sam Cooke (Leslie Odom Jr.), football star Jim Brown (Aldis Hodge) and boxer sensation Cassius Clay (Eli Goree) meet and talk about being what they are in that time, on February 25, 1964. Historians may know this is one day after my birth (the real event to celebrate, but it's not mentioned...
). King trusts her actors to shine and they do with some entertaining moments before and after the night in a hotel room. Leslie Odom Jr. received some award nominations but it's Eli Goree as Clay who decides to rename himself I was impressed with most. Goree isn't just convincing as a boxer he's also able to capture the special charisma and attitude the young boxer had. 7/10
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La vita davanti a sé (The Life Ahead; 2020)
Sophia Loren plays a former prostitute who looks out for homeless children. A young refugee who just robbed her becomes her newest roomer and she isn't pleased about it. This Italian drama has some very touching moments and the sometimes less exciting story is lifted by Loren's engaging performance. Her son Edoardo Ponti's direction is flawless and like a modern version of Italy's neo-realism in the 1950's where social life is well observed. 6/10
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Young Promising Woman (2020)
I didn't want to see this film because I knew it has something to do with rape. But then I've read a piece and gave it a try. I'm overwhelmed. Never before I've seen a revenge story that gave me relief because it's told with a different view. We don't see a rape. There is one scene with violence but it's filmed in perspectives that don't zoom into the faces of those involved. Carey Mulligan plays the best friend of a rape victim and she's hanging out in bars somewhere in Ohio, where misogynist horny men try to lure her into a trap - not realizing it's the other way around... While it's sometimes funny we soon discover her life was affected by the friend's too.
Emerald Fennell directs this story (also written by her) which is part satire or black comedy and mostly thriller. And it has a very memorable twist I didn't see coming that results in a unhappy but happy ending. What? Yes, you don't want to but you'll smile at the end. Of all the movies that are currently in consideration for awards this is the one I want to see win big: Emerald Fennell for directing and the screenplay, and Carey Mulligan for best actress who gave me also a Margot-Robbie-in-
I, Tonya-vibe, a lead you want to follow. Coincidentally Robbie co-produced
Young Promising Woman with Fennell - it's the best film I've seen in the last months! 10/10
