I just wanted to take a second to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope everyone who celebrates had a wonderful day full of food, family, and festivities. Thank you all so much for another great year on this silly little site of mine. Your reading, likes, comments, and conversations have helped make this whole movie review gig worthwhile. I can’t wait to see what 2022 gives us to talk about. God’s blessings to each of you, your families, and your new year.
NFL quarterback Kurt Warner’s journey from stocking shelves at a grocery store in Cedar Falls, Iowa to being inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio is nothing short of remarkable. The personable, faith-driven graduate of the University of Northern Iowa spent four years after college fearing his dream of playing pro football was over. But when a near providential opportunity came his way, Warner went from the supermarket to the Super Bowl.
“American Underdog” sets out to tell the story of Kurt Warner’s rise to football stardom, chronicling the numerous highs and lows that made his journey such an inspiration. The film is directed by Andrew and Jon Erwin whose faith-based catalog includes movies like 2018’s “I Can Only Imagine” and last year’s “The Jesus Music”. Here the brothers deliver a sports biopic that really is about the person more than their accomplishments. That doesn’t mean it avoids all of the usual sports movie trappings. There’s plenty of melodrama and of course we get the overly dramatic ‘big game’, complete with swelling music and obligatory slow-motion. But at its heart, the movie sticks to the personal side of Kurt Warner’s story which proves to be the right move.
This is one of those movies that’s hard for me to dislike even with its noticeable flaws. I’m a sucker for true underdog stories and Warner’s is undoubtedly one of the most amazing in sports history. Here he’s played by the effortlessly likable Zachary Levi (“Shazam”) who may be a tad too old for the film’s early scenes, but who quickly sinks into his role. He gives an earnest and committed performance that highlights Warner’s character yet doesn’t shy away from his shortcomings.
By focusing more on Warner’s personal journey, screenwriters Jon Erwin, David Aaron Cohen and Jon Gunn hand Levi a surprisingly meaty role. While football certainly has its part in the story, the movie is really about overcoming impossible odds to succeed. More than that, it’s about grasping what’s truly important in life. We learn that for much of Kurt Warner’s life, football was most important. But it takes losing his dream and meeting his future wife Brenda Meoni (played with a striking mix of strength and vulnerability by Oscar-winner Anna Paquin) to finally open his eyes to what matters most.
The film’s early scenes touch on Warner’s time as a fifth year senior quarterback for Northern Iowa. After sitting on the bench for four years, Kurt is finally named the team’s starter. Soon he’s cutting his own “highlight” reels to send out to pro scouts. But an unknown quarterback with only one year of college experience at a small Division I school automatically sets him up as an underdog.
It’s during this time that he first meets Brenda, a divorced single mother raising two kids, one being her legally blind son Zack (Hayden Zaller), an underdog in his own right. Despite there being a clear spark between them, Brenda fears a repeat of her painful first marriage, and is quick to push Kurt away. But the movie’s inescapable predictability kicks in (the first of several times) and the two eventually become a couple.
While none of the film’s major plot points will surprise you, it’s what happens in between them that gives the movie its heartbeat. Football takes a backseat to Kurt and Brenda’s struggles. We see them buying groceries with food stamps and scrapping together loose change just to put gas in the tank. They’re hit with both tragedy and hardship leading Kurt to finally swallow his pride and accept a job playing quarterback for the Iowa Barnstormers, a new team in the fledgling Arena Football League. Not only does it help pay the bills, it finally opens the door to his dream of playing in the NFL.
Interestingly, the last 20 minutes is all we get of Warner’s NFL career. We see him get the call to St. Louis where he faces the ire of offensive coordinator Mike Martz (Chance Kelly). “You’re too old to be a rookie. You’re too green to be a pro,” Martz barks. But Kurt has one powerful ally – a gravelly voiced Dennis Quaid playing Rams head football coach Dick Vermeil, yet another fellow underdog who believes Kurt is ready for his shot.
Strangely, “American Underdog” downplays the spiritual side of Kurt Warner’s journey, something he himself has been very vocal about. It’s definitely woven throughout the movie, but there seems to be a concerted effort to be as subtle with it as possible. Perhaps it’s to avoid the schism that often comes with “faith-based” movies. At least it’s there and it helps give a well-rounded and honest portrayal of the man beyond the touchdowns and accolades. A man with a truly inspiring story worth being told. “American Underdog” opens in theaters on Christmas Day.
Today I’m wrapping up my look back at the best performances of 2021. All that will be left is my Top 10 Films (look for that next week). We finish with the Lead Actor category, one that is brimming with Oscar-worthy leading work. Several big names as well as a few unexpected ones made this a really hard group to narrow down. But such are the silly rules. So here we go, starting with a few honorable mentions.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Oscar Isaac (“The Card Counter”), Eric Bana (“The Dry”), Tim Blake Nelson (“Old Henry”), Bradley Cooper (“Nightmare Alley”), Joaquin Phoenix (“C’mon C’mon”), Luke Kirby (“No Man of God”), Ciarán Hinds (“The Man in the Hat”), Benedict Cumberbatch (“The Power of the Dog”), Denzel Washington (“The Little Things”), Jude Hill (“Belfast”), Adam Driver (“House of Gucci”), Don Cheadle (“No Sudden Move”), Tom Hanks (Finch), Harvey Keitel (“Lanksy”)
I’ve always found Will Smith performances to be pretty hit-or-miss. But his portrayal of Richard Williams in “King Richard” tosses aside any hesitation I may have had. Williams was a complicated man and Smith transforms to shed light on the determined father of tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams. I wasn’t particularly excited for “King Richard” but it really surprised me. Smith was a big reason why.
While the script and direction for “Tick…Tick…Boom!” was a little shaky, there was nothing lacking in Andrew Garfield’s lights-out performance. Both when acting and singing, the magnetic Garfield infuses the film with an infectious energy. He quite literally carries the movie on his shoulders and it’s impossible not to be drawn in by the enthusiasm and the emotion he brings.
While these days he’s probably known more for the unbridled nuttiness he brings to so many of his roles, sometimes we forget that Nicolas Cage is actually an immensely talented actor. Look no further than “Pig” for proof. He turned a lot of heads with his restrained and affecting portrayal of an off-the-grid hermit who sets out to find his stolen truffle pig. It may sound silly, but it’s hard not to moved by his performance.
One of the great surprises of the 2021 movie year was Peter Dinklage in the brilliant musical “Cyrano”. Anyone who follows Dinklage knows he’s a terrific actor. But here, not only does he get to showcase his acting chops with a meaty dramatic leading role, but he also gets to sing too. And it does it extremely well. Mix the two talents together and you have one of the best performances of the year.
I learned a long time ago that in the world of acting there’s nothing Denzel Washington can’t do. And through the years he continues to prove that to be true. His latest film “The Tragedy of MacBeth” is even further evidence. Washington’s take on Shakespeare’s classic character is utterly captivating and he offers a perspective that honors the Bard’s vision yet still feels strikingly fresh. This is Denzel at the top of his game. Then again, when is he not?
Thanks for following along. Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Today I’m continuing my celebration of the best performances from the past year. We spent the last two days covering the top supporting work of 2021. Now we’re moving to the lead categories beginning with Best Actress. This is a stacked group of incredible talent and narrowing them down proved to be tough. As before, I’ll begin by naming a few worthy honorable mentions.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Tilda Swinton (“Memoria”), Isabelle Huppert (“Mama Weed”), Emilia Jones (“CODA”), Olivia Munn (“Violet”), Millicent Simmonds (“A Quiet Place II), Jessica Chastain (“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”), Nicole Kidman (“Being the Ricardos”), Rebecca Hall (“The Night House”), Lady Gaga (“House of Gucci”), Niamh Algar (“Censor”), Renate Reinsve (“The Worst Person in the World”), Noomi Rapace (“Lamb”), Thomasin McKenzie (“Last Night in Soho”)
The buzz coming out of Venice following the world premiere of “Spencer” had everyone talking about Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of Princess Diana. The buzz has died down a little but she still seems to be an Oscar front-runner. The good thing is she has earned the hype. From her voice to her mannerisms, Stewart gets it right while also melding nicely with the film’s psychological edge.
Mark this as a movie that fell under too many radars. “Oxygen” is a taut claustrophobic sci-fi thriller where Mélanie Laurent wakes up in an airtight medical cryogenic unit with no idea how she got there. For the most part Laurent is the lone cast member and she quite literally carries the movie. “Oxygen” is sharply written and directed, but it’s Laurent who keeps us locked in.
While the supporting cast of “West Side Story” has gotten the bulk of the attention (and understandably so), Rachel Zegler makes a splash in her feature film debut. With a sparkling presence and a powerful voice, Zegler sings her way through some of the film’s best scenes. She also has a budding charisma that promises only to grow as her career continues.
In Ridley Scott’s medieval epic “The Last Duel”, Jodie Comer’s character finds herself trapped within a brutal and oppressive world ruled by men. It’s a role that sees Comer tackling a range of emotions and often suppressing her character’s feelings out of fear of retribution. But there’s also a strength and resilience in her performance that is crucial to the story. She is a star on the rise.
Whenever you see Olivia Colman’s name you know the kind of top-notch performance you’re going to get. Her work in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter” is further proof of that. Here she’s explores a character clearly troubled and full of mystery. As the layers of the story are shrewdly peeled back, Colman gets some material she can really sink her teeth into. It’s one of her best performances in a career full of great performances.
Check back tomorrow as we finish up with the Best Actor Category
Yesterday I began my look back on the best performances of 2021. We started with the Supporting Actress category and today we follow it up with Supporting Actor. Much like the ladies, this is a category rich with great performances from a wide variety of movies. So lets get to it starting with a few honorbale mentions who just missed the cut.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Rob Morgan (“Don’t Look Up”), Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”), Jon Bernthal (“King Richard”), Willem Dafoe (“Nightmare Alley”), David Strathairn (“Nightmare Alley”), Richard Jenkins (“The Humans”), Woody Norman (“C’mon C’mon”), Jamie Dornan (“Belfast”)
It has been great seeing my critic colleagues from across the nation sharing this pick. Troy Kotsur’s performance in the surprisingly wonderful “CODA” could have been an easy one to overlook. Thankfully people have taken notice and now Kotsur has a legitimate shot at an Oscar nomination. He gives a performance so sincere and full of life. And the way he represents the hearing impaired community is inspiring. If you haven’t seen “CODA”, you should.
There were so many powerful performances this past year, but few moved me quite like Jason Isaacs work in the heart-rending drama “Mass”. While the film relies on its incredible ensemble, Isaacs’ performance spoke to me the most. He brings a raw and pained intensity to the film’s heavy subject matter and you feel the emotion in every word he shares. The entire cast blew me away, but it was Isaacs who I really connected with.
I think the most scene-stealing actor out of this year’s batch may be none other than Ben Affleck. He could easily have made this list for his work in Ridley Scott’s “The Last Duel”. But I’m going with the George Clooney directed “The Tender Bar”. Affleck is a captivating presence, swiping every scene he’s in and bringing a relatable down-to-earth personality that Clooney wisely utilizes. He’s terrific.
Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos” was a nice surprise. Of course it had Sorkin’s signature snappy dialogue. But it was the performances that stole the show. One of the best of the group came from the always reliable J.K. Simmons who played the surly but secretly compassionate William Frawley. Simmons loses himself in the role (as he often does) and really captures his character. Easily one of my favorites of the year.
Hands down one of my favorite things about the fabulous “West Side Story” was Mike Faist. Full disclosure: I wasn’t familiar with Faist prior to this, but his eye-opening work in Steven Spielberg’s musical remake/adaptation blew my mind. Not only is he boiling over with charisma, but his performance has a modern day edge yet feels like something that could have been yanked from the 1961 film. There were several great performances in “West Side Story”, but Faist’s was tops on my list.
Come back tomorrow when I look at the Lead Actress Category
Tis the season for us film critics to start looking back over the movie year that was and compiling lists (it’s what we do). Before I get into my Top 10 movies of the year, I want to hone in on some of the 2021’s very best performances. Over the next few days I’ll be focusing on the very best work from each of the four major acting categories. So as I normally do, let’s start by with the Supporting Actress category.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Aunjanue Ellis (“King Richard”), Haley Bennett (“Cyrano”), Nina Arianda (“Being the Ricardos”), Marlee Matlin (“CODA”), Martha Plimpton (“Mass”), Rita Moreno (“West Side Story”), Alicia Vikander (“Blue Bayou”), Jayne Houdyshell (“The Humans”)
While I’m not seeing her name pop up on many (if any) ‘Best of’ lists, Emma Thompson’s hilariously venomous performance in “Cruella” has stuck with me all year. Sure, it’s not the kind of super-serious prestige role that grabs voters’ attention. But Thompson is an acid-spewing delight and she brings a villainous energy to the movie that I loved.
In Maggie Gyllenhaal’s “The Lost Daughter” Jessie Buckley is given a tricky role to pull off. She’s asked to feed us fragments of a troubled woman’s past through a series of story-critical flashbacks. She’s up for the task in every respect. Buckley skillfully wrings out every layer of conflict in her rich but complicated character. It’s yet another great performance from an actress who never disappoints.
I was overjoyed to see critics groups from around the country recognizing Ariana DeBose’s vibrant and layered performance in “West Side Story”. Whether she dancing, singing or shouldering one of the movie’s heaviest scenes, DeBose leaps off the screen and brings an energy that’s impossible to match. I love this performance and I left the theater immediately wanting to know more about her.
Leave it to the effortlessly great Cate Blanchett to give us one of the best movie femme fatale’s since film noir was in its heyday. In “Nightmare Alley” she absolutely simmers with mystery and panache, mixing wicked elegance with lethal cunning. By now nothing Blanchett does is surprising. She’s always in top form and this performance is no different.
“Belfast” is Kenneth Branagh’s warm, tender and earnest reflection back to his childhood growing up in the tumultuous late 1960’s. It’s focus is firmly on family and what made the film work was the terrific cast that brought them to life. Caitríona Balfe’s heartfelt and textured performance really captures the movie’s range of emotions. Funny, frustrated, compassionate and courageous – Balfe conveys it all through her stellar work.
Check back tomorrow as I look at the Supporting Actor category
Keith & the Movies 