The Boys In The Band (2020)
R ‧ Drama ‧ 2h 2m
Screenplay by Mart Crowley, Ned Martel
Based on a play by Matt Crowley
Directed by ‎Joe Mantello

THE CAST

Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer, Andrew Rannells, Charlie Carver, Robin de Jesús, Brian Hutchison, Michael Benjamin Washington, and Tuc Watkins.

THE STORY
 
(In their own words) At a birthday party in 1968 New York, a surprise guest and a drunken game leave seven gay friends reckoning with unspoken feelings and buried truths.

THE REVIEW

I was about ten minutes into The Boys In The Band when I thought “this must have been a play. The writing is way too good.” And indeed it was. I knew the film was a remake of a film from the 70’s, but wasn’t sure it was a play, which it turns out…it was. The first movie was based on a 1968 play of the same name. This 2020 version uses the same cast as a 2018 Broadway revival. And it’s excellent. 

The writing is spectacular. The acting is excellent. The story is compelling. It’s just an all around great film. It’s uncomfortable in its use of gay slurs that were much more commonly used in 1968, and provides a lot of insight into the gay culture of the time. 

Jim Parsons plays the main character, Michael, in a fearless and effortless performance. He is a complex character that you both empathize with and deteste at the same time. Michael allows his straight former college friend, Alan, to visit his home during a planned birthday party with his gay friends. Alan’s reaction of homophobia sends a sober Michael back to drinking and prompts him to play a game with his friends that is exciting, scary, and cruel. 

The dialogue is witty, the monologues are elegant. There isn’t a poor performance in the whole production. This is a great adaptation of a play. 

In whole, it’s a love story. It’s a story of lost love. It’s a story of the love between friends in a world that isn’t accepting of them. It’s a story of love between partners, who are trying to figure out how to move forward. It’s a story of self-discovery and self-love. It’s uncomfortable at times, but you will love to feel uncomfortable. 

THE BEST

Three BEST things about the film

1. The acting 
2. The writing
3. The richness of characters. 

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

1. The slurs. There’s a lot of gay slurs in it which are tough for a modern audience.But I believe accurate.
2. Some untied endings 
3. Knowing it was a play, we know they probably won’t be changing locations in any significant way. This loses some dramatic tension. 

THE LESSON

Love takes courage. 

THE FINAL WORD

This newest adaptation of The Boys In The Band is full of strong performances for a fantastic script. While the source is dated it is an interesting history lesson of gay relationships in the 1970s. 

THE FINAL VERDICT 
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

I give this film a ……Love It

Enola Holmes (2020)
PG-13 ‧ Adventure, Crime, Drama ‧ 2h 3m
Directed by ‎Harry Bradbeer
Screenplay by Jack Thorne
 Based on the book “The Case of the Missing Marquess: An Enola Holmes Mystery” by Nancy Springer

THE CAST

Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Helena Bonham Carter, Sam Clafliny Brown

THE STORY

(In their own words) When Enola Holmes-Sherlock’s teen sister-discovers her mother missing, she sets off to find her, becoming a super-sleuth in her own right as she outwits her famous brother and unravels a dangerous conspiracy around a mysterious young Lord.

THE REVIEW

An absolute delight. That really is the best way I can describe this film. It’s fast-paced, witty, interesting, beautifully shot, and filled with fine performances throughout. Starring Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things fame as the title role, Enola is a young woman coming to age in a world where men are in charge of her life, despite being raised by her mother who taught her life skills that she can use to survive on her own. When her Mother disappears one day, her famous brother Sherlock and her oldest brother Mycroft come to investigate and look out for her. Elona begins her journey to find her mother as well as a secondary journey of finding herself. 

The story is told through a series of flashbacks of past lessons from the Mother Holmes (played by Helena Bonham Carter) as Enola discovers more clues to her mother’s whereabouts, she brings the audience along on her journey by literally breaking the fourth wall and talking directly to the camera. This is a kind of thing that will usually bother me, but it was wonderful in this film. Brown does a fantastic job in the role and especially at talking to the audience and making us feel included. She plays this spirited character quiet well and seems to be the perfect fit to play Sherlock’s sister. Sherlock Holmes is played by Henry Cavill who really delivers a surprisingly interesting performance.  

The film is ultimately a mystery, so I don’t even want to say anything too specific because the script is pretty multilayered and I don’t want to ruin the surprises for you. I will say that this movie felt like it flew by and I couldn’t believe two hours had passed. It’s shot beautifully and I can’t remember another film in a long time that made me feel like I was part of the action. It’s a film you surely want to see whether you are looking to see a different take on a Sherlock Holmes world building or you just want to discover a new young female sleuth. 

THE BEST

Three BEST things about the film

1. It’s a really fun film. 
2. The presentation of the story is done in a really interesting way. 
3. Does a fantastic job breaking the 4th wall.

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

1. Some of the mystery solving isn’t fair. There’s no way we would know some of the things that they figure out. 
2. There’s quite a few anachronisms with behavior, but honestly, I’m not someone who cares about minor things like that. But I know people who will be bothered by it. 
3. I didn’t find the objectives and goals of Mycroft Holms, Enola’s brother, to be very realistic. Just didn’t think that relationship made sense, but I think they needed a foil there and made him one. 

THE LESSON

I’m reminded of the old saying “Well behaved women rarely make history. 

THE FINAL WORD

This fast-paced romp through England with Sherlock Holmes’ unknown sister will make you look forward to her further adventures even before the film ends. 

THE FINAL VERDICT

My 3L system gives me the choice for each film of Love It, Like It, or Lose it. 

This film gets from me……Love It.