KLER, Bad Times at the El Royale and First Man

KLER is an exceptional Polish Film. The title translates to "Clergy" and is a condemnation of the priesthood in that country that takes well over two hours to unfold. Just who are the villains and who are the victims? It takes time to decide. It is not just about child abuse but much much more. Writer-director Wojciech Smarzowski uses a surprisingly big budget to get his message across. Gripping.

One of the best screenplays of the year comes with Bad Times at the El Royale. So it was not surprising it was written (and directed) by Drew Goddard. From big TV hits like Lost, Buffy and Alias to successful movies such as Cloverfield, The Cabin in the Woods, World War Z and The Martian, he now has a CV for screenplays that would let him make any film he chooses. This time we have a mix of Tarantino and Hitchcock as seven strangers meet at this isolated hotel. We know we are at the end of the sixties, just listen to the superb songs on the soundtrack. The cast is OK, although some more classical actors might have given a more dangerous twist. When just after the start, the agent's boss tells him (in capital letters) "DO NOT INTERFERE" we just wait for the first disaster. While the plot is fairly formulaic, I enjoyed the conversations, the set (just the hotel) and the music. Too many songs to mention, see the list on Tunefind. From the Isley Brothers'"This Old Heart of Mine" to Deep Purples "Hush". All from the hotel's jukebox. This is my kind of movie.

Am I in the tiny minority who (once again) are not enthralled by a Damien Chazelle film? OK, it is a highly impressive piece of film making. But it is mainly so boring. To me, this is a silent art house film about nuts and bolts crossed with a family drama. I much preferred the latter, but even that was ordinary. Ryan Gosling did his usual brooding self (lighten up man) but thank goodness for Claire Foy who was outstanding, given the lightweight script. But then, every so often we were back to the nuts and bolts of the mechanics of space flight. I pity anyone who will watch this on anything but the biggest screen.