'Robin’s Wish' Review: The Unknown Illness That Plagued the Actor
Robin’s Wish is certainly not another broad assemblage of Robin’s greatest hits (and there are many), but an intimate and sympathetic look at the late actor at the most painful moments of his life.
On August 11, 2014, news reports broke the tragic news that the beloved comedian and actor, Robin Williams, had died. Major media outlets had globbed on to the news that he had taken his own life, leading to an incredible amount of press that stunned the world.
It was unthinkable to feel why Robin Williams would have taken his life, and people soon started to ask questions. People wondered if a years-long battle with drug abuse contributed if deep depression played a part (and the media spun up endless more stories). But a new documentary, Robin’s Wish, looks to clarify the reason for Robin’s death.
Although Robin Williams had unmatchable performance energy–a tornado of improvisational comedy–offstage, and offscreen, he was incredibly private. His secrecy extended through the end of his life when the actor (as the documentary shows) began to suffer from debilitating bodily ailments, such as forgetfulness, paranoia, and emotional instability, which would be known as Lewy Body Dementia, but not by the actor.
It’s sad when we learn anyone experiences conditions of this kind; it’s collectively worse when that person was one of the most celebrated performers of all time. In Robin’s Wish, the harrowing, saddening experience is recounted firsthand by his widow, Susan Schneider, who illuminates and shares this all.
Robin’s Wish is certainly not another broad assemblage of Robin’s greatest hits (and there are many), but an intimate and sympathetic look at the late actor at the most painful moments of his life. With unseen footage of Robin from Marin County, including his home, as well as interviews with neighbors and friends. An additional moment includes Shawn Levy, who recounts for the first time the struggles that Robin endured on the final Night at the Museum movie, with great reverence and respect.
Robin’s Wish is a very rewarding watch, if only to learn about the disease that would overtake his body and see the pain that he had hidden away from the public. It’s tough to hear some of these moments, but it makes what he was able to accomplish all the more incredible.
Distributed by Vertical Entertainment, Robin’s Wish is now available On Demand and Digital.
Boys State
When Tom Hanks' Greyhound released on AppleTV+ a few weeks ago, I didn't feel the need to sign up for the streaming service in order to watch it. Yet after watching a screening link of the new documentary Boys State (available to stream this Friday on Apple TV+), I feel compelled to tell everyone I know that they should absolutely sign up for the streaming service, which is the film's exclusive distribution platform (and which I might have to do just to watch it again, and maybe check out Greyhound finally after).
The new release from AppleTV+ and A24, Boys State first premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, where it was awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary. An annual event put on by the prestigious American Legion (a national institution that's included members such as Dick Cheney and Rush Limbaugh), Boys State shows a week-long camp of 1,200 teenage boys–all politically aspiring in their own ways– whose primary objective is to "run for office" of their respective Federalist and Nationalist parties and win the votes needed to secure desired positions. What ends up being captured is an incredible simulation of our very own American democracy, if it were run by children (I won't put too fine a point if I feel this is how politics are currently being run).
There are a few characters that Boys State follows–including Ben, the political junkie; Robert, the political "bro"; and the quiet, yet inspiring Steven–each of whom brings different ideologies and politics to their part of the camp. All bright and scholarly, the fun in the movie is watching them all jockey and campaign to win the votes of their respective campers, making for suspenseful, funny, and by the end, moving moments.
While it might be disheartening to assume that some of these young men will inevitably become corrupted on their road to politics, Boys State also brings the hope that we are truly witnessing new voices in the next generation that will lead us to a brighter future and better state.
Distributed by AppleTV+ and A24, 'Boys State' is available to stream on Apple TV+ this Friday.
'Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story' is Here–You Eeediot!
Quick Take: Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story reveals the layers of brilliance that were responsible for making one of the most artistically accomplished, and yet shockingly grotesque animated shows of all time, which makes for a fascinating watch–until its creator's demons that fueled it are revealed.
One of the most disgusting, vile, and demented shows–excuse me, children's shows–of all time, Ren & Stimpy also stands as one of the most singularly influential artistic achievements of the '90s. Beloved by the cult following who took to it, a new documentary (funded by Kickstarter) chronicles the creation of Ren & Stimpy and the team behind it, including its brilliant yet tyrannical creator John Kricfalusi. It's a time capsule that shows the brilliant animators who put the cartoon on paper at a time when animation was at a low point. Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story, directed by Ron Cicero and Kimo Easterwood, captures interviews from all of the people involved, including John Kricfalusi, who speaks to the infamous end when he was fired from the show's second season. As the doc continues to show with John's substantiation, we learn of a very problematic history with fans and aspiring animators, which makes the whole thing even more disturbing. It's fitting that, like John, it's Ren & Stimpy's avant-garde hideousness that makes the show unforgettable.
Distributed by Gravitas Ventures, 'Happy Happy Joy Joy: The Ren & Stimpy Story' is available on VOD this Friday.
'The Tax Collector' Wasn't Original Enough to Make Me Want to Settle Any Debts
Quick Take: There's a lot of heart and fire that I felt simmering in this movie–notably from its all-POC cast (and a menacing Shia LaBeouf in a supporting role)–but The Tax Collector suppresses it all under surface-level story and terrors, making this not compelling enough to recommend.
I'll admit it. The thing that drew me in to want to watch The Tax Collector was what I had learned about one of the stars–Shia LaBeouf–during the making of the movie. In the school of classic LaBeouf method-acting, the actor had shaved his head and gotten the entirety of his chest tattooed with his character's name "Creeper." After watching The Tax Collector, that decision struck me as head-scratching (although not entirely shocking). For one, LaBeouf isn't even the lead here, playing the muscle/driver to the real "tax collector" David, played by Bobby Soto (A Better Life).
More importantly, the film on the whole just isn't compelling enough to warrant that level of commitment, mostly re-treading already-familiar plots, down to its surface-level story of David, a gangster in the streets but a protective, loving family man back home. When he learns of the return of a crime lord Conejo (Jose Conejo Martin), David ends up needing to defend himself and loved ones from a new threatening regime. But amidst its bloody and intense shootouts, The Tax Collector isn't so much compelling as it is familiar with movies we've seen before, least of which is writer/director David Ayer's own Training Day, which still stands as the pinnacle of recent LA-gangster movies.
So while LaBeouf's new tattoo brings incredible intrigue (and is certainly the best publicity that The Tax Collector could have ever dreamed of receiving), it will also likely last longer than the memory of this film.
Distributed by RLJE Films, The Tax Collector is available to stream on VOD today.
'Palm Springs' Is a Hilarious Time-Bending Comedy
Now available to stream on Hulu, Palm Springs (theatrical distribution from Neon) is one of those movies that's better going into blind. Starting with Nyles (Andy Samberg) as he shuffles through a Palm Springs rental on the day of a friend's wedding with apathetic energy, you'll likely feel as if you might've missed something (don't worry, you haven't).
But soon enough, with the unexpected introduction of Sarah, who throws Nyles' day – and world – out of wack, you're now settled in for an all-out, joyous, and hilarious comedy from the wacky, deranged mind of The Lonely Island (Popstar).
The top-billed pairing of Andy Samberg as the beer-cracking Nyles and Cristin Milioti as manic and insecure Sarah make for a delightful onscreen duo, whose chemistry ranges from their having to navigate insane waters together to finding a real romantic connection as well.
And beyond the film's "every day's the same" gimmick – which is executed wonderfully and earns real laughs (with J.K. Simmons getting in on the fun too) – there's also a surprisingly thoughtful and unexpected heart that the film derives its energy from, that of each character's personal insecurities and existential dread that ranges from love, mortality and our place in the universe.
Brought to the screen with applause-worthy comedic chops as well as deft emotional hand by screenwriter Andy Siara and director Max Barkabow (his first feature!), check out this Sundance entry (and nominee for Grand Jury Prize) instantly before you'll want to watch it again.
'Palm Springs' is now available to stream on Hulu.
'Ski Bum: The Warren Miller Story' Review: Celebrating a Ski Legend's Life
"Warren Miller films are an experience."
If, like me, you have never skied in your life, the name Warren Miller is likely a name that you haven't heard before. If however, you are an avid skier, or winter sports fan of any kind, then the name Warren Miller is a legendary one, synonymous with the very sport of skiing itself. As I found after watching the new documentary Ski Bum: The Warren Miller Story, even though I fall into the former category of having not known of Miller, afterwards, I was left moved by the story of a man who – like Steve Jobs, or Henry Ford, or his idol, Walt Disney before him – became a titan of their industry and grew an entire sport itself.
Directed by Patrick Creadon (Wordplay, Catholics vs. Convicts), Ski Bum tells the story of Warren Miller and his 55-year career as a skier and filmmaker, which Miller himself recounts for the film (as Miller would pass away a few short months after sitting for the interview, his presence gives the documentary even more significance). As he remembers at his Orcas Island, WA lodge, growing up a surfer in Hermosa Beach, he would eventually hear the calls of the nearby Californian snowy mountains and shortly thereafter dedicate his life to hitting those slopes – soon proudly calling himself a "ski bum" by dedicating his weekend to sleeping in his car and hunting rabbits to stay up there. Miller would also take his 8mm camera and shoot his skiing, eventually making movies that would snowball (pun intended) into Warren Miller Productions, with Miller shooting, editing, narrating, and marketing these new ski movies himself. His eventual road shows would turn into annual events, gaining legions of fans around the world that would popularize the sport of skiing and in the process, immortalize his name with it.
With interviews from Olympic skier Jonny Moseley and skier/filmmaker Greg Stump, among others, Ski Bum isn't short of subjects willing to sit for the film to celebrate their idol. Yet the most striking part of Ski Bum is the film's use of archival footage, which features never before seen pictures and videos from the Warren Miller Entertainment library. As associate producer and assistant editor H. Nelson Tracey notes, "we accessed film reels that had never before been digitized! There are some unbelievable shots unearthed specifically for this film. In many ways, making this documentary was a bit of a scavenger hunt." This beautifully rendered early-50s and 60s footage transports audiences not only to just beautiful mountain slopes, but to another time altogether.
And while Ski Bum is a gorgeous celebration of the man, the film also digs deeper, past the surface-level snow, to reveal darker moments in Miller's life, including having an alcoholic father, the passing of a first wife, and financial hardships that would at one point bankrupt Warren Miller Productions. It's these moment that his children (who also sit for the film) speculate as to why he himself was a figure who wasn't always there for his family, pursuing his life's mission and larger goals. One thing's for sure: Ski Bum will make you realize the magnificence of a man who saw not just the beauty in mountains, but shared that magnificence to the world, who will celebrate him on the slopes for all time.
Ski Bum: The Warren Miller Story is now available to rent on Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube and iTunes, as well as available to purchase on Blu-ray or DVD on Amazon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JIEYw7LAYk&feature=emb_logo
'Be Water' Review: Bruce Lee Triumphed Over Racism and Transcended
Quick Take: Be Water succeeds in telling the story of the man who would be immortalized as philosopher king, Kung Fu master, and Hollywood legend by showing his biggest battle: a lifelong fight for racial identity and acceptance.
When we think of Bruce Lee, the first images that likely come to mind are of the martial artist in a crane-posed manner, single-handedly pulverizing an entire room full of hapless combatants. Perhaps you're picturing Lee decimate a fleet of enemies in his iconic yellow jumpsuit from Game of Death. Or maybe it's just a general abstract collection of Bhuddist-minded thoughts, illustrating how an enlightened guru once lived among us mere mortals.
While these images are constructive in that they inspire wonder and awe in us, there's also something unfortunate that the mythologizing of a person also does, which is to erase the human at the heart of these myths – and subsequently, invalidating the struggles that they had in their human form.
Be Water succeeds as a documentary in that it focuses on telling the story of Bruce Lee, starting from his childhood and through his upbringing, which we learn was strife with trying to overcome the natural downward pull of systemic racism. Be Water very mindfully takes moments to not only focus on the racially harmful times that Lee faced when he grew up – being born in San Francisco during a time in America where racist stereotypes of Chinese people were not only just embarrassingly present in film and television, but also a short history away after being forced to do manual labor to complete the railroads of today's America.
It's unfortunate that now, in 2020, that we still find ourselves to be a nation that's still fighting for true equality for all of its people. And yet it's also what makes Be Water so incredibly essential to watch as well. Once Lee accepted to not fight resistance, but to go with it – to be like water – Lee was open to pursuing his wildly ambitious dreams, which were to be both a martial arts master and Hollywood star, in an era where neither had been done before in Western culture. Be Water tells Lee's story with both his widow, Linda Lee Caldwell, and daughter, Shannon Lee's contributions, which serve as a majority of the history.
After seeing Be Water, I was moved to see what personal struggles Lee faced that I hadn't known about, and though I was aware that his life was short-lived, still found myself shocked to see when Lee tragically passed away at the age of 32 – mere weeks before Enter the Dragon, his biggest film ever, would open in Hollywood, and cement his legacy forever. If Bruce Lee was, as he spoke about, a pebble in water, then Be Water is a ripple that tells even more to his story.
ESPN’s Bruce Lee 30 for 30 will be available to stream (with a valid cable login) on WatchESPN after it airs on ESPN. Be Water will be available on WatchESPN for 21 days before moving exclusively to ESPN+.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-R7SZ1wgNY
Yes–You Should be Watching Damien Chazelle's New Jazz Mini-Series, 'The Eddy'
Note for note, The Eddy nails how life, in all of its free-spirited, surprising–and at it's darker core, chaotic and uncontrollable–moments, is like the beautiful harmony of jazz music.
And no other current filmmaker makes that musical leap to film better than Damien Chazelle, who first splashed onto the scene with 2014's Whiplash, only to follow that with the Hollywood musical throwback La La Land, which made Chazelle the youngest Best Director winner in Oscars history. With his newest project, Chazelle side-steps narrative features to get into the mini-series game, here making an 8 episode story for Netflix (now streaming). Centered around American nightclub owner and previously prodigious pianist, The Eddy (the name of the club) tells the story of Elliot (Andreé Holland) trying to save his Parisian nightclub, as well as his band and singer (Joanna Kulig) from going under. Throw in a newly transplanted daughter (Amandla Sternberg) and a mob that's come around to settle their debts, and you get a show that's exciting, gripping, dramatic, and visually stunning (the series was shot on 16mm film, which lends a grain not typical for Netflix or any streamer).
Fans of the director will have already noticed how Chazelle centers his stories around gifted artists whose attempts to achieve greatness through their craft often consume their realities, and audiences will be happy to see similar themes here, with Holland's heartfelt performance driving the show (although each episode follows a different character). But beyond all that, The Eddy is really at its best when the story builds to a musical sequence, at which point it stops to sink into the best jazz jams you've heard, and all from the walls of a real Parisian nightclub (and really, is there anything better than being transported to the heart of Paris while we're all locked down right now?). From the band's on-stage jams, to spontaneous musical moments that sprout up like weeds on the streets, you're going to find yourself rewinding, sitting breathlessly, and snapping to the rhythms from the comfort of your couch.
The Eddy proves that life is just better in the key of Damien Chazelle.
'The Eddy' is now streaming on Netflix.