Comparing Philomena, Wolf on Wall
Street, and Nebraska...and the winner, hands down, is Philomena!
Bad
title. Instead, Philomena, played by Dame Judi Dench, should have been called
something like, "They're Taking Anthony". This movie is: a
mystery and an attempt to solve a heinous crime; a story about unconditional
love between mother and son; a story about Aids being ignored inside the Reagan
administration while its employees were dying from it; a story about the importance
of freelance journalism; a story about a mother's acceptance of her son's homosexuality;
a story about sexual guilt and shame; a story about the crimes of the Catholic
church who sold children of unwed mothers for financial gain; a story about
forgiveness; a story with values. Stephen Frears, its director is given little
credit though he has done a masterful job. The production values are exquisite.
After walking from a screening of Nebraska which was a slow journey
about making amends towards one's father and a great film because of the
magnificent performances of Bruce Dern and the townsfolk of Lincoln who never
had a publicist, but whose acting is every bit as good as Dern's, and pondering
the merits of The Wolf of Wall Street while comparing all three, Philomena
is the easy winner,
As
to Wolf of Wall Street, this film is devoid of values. It is cheap sexual
exploitation. The use of drugs, yes, is part of the story, and, yes, profits
from this movie are going to charity. But slick criminal Jordan Belford is
becoming a household name due to this despicable film.
Yes,
Jordan
Belford, portrayed brilliantly by Leonardo di Caprio, is 17 years sober
which is commendable, but this film is a glorification of Belford's
drug use
turned into comedy with no direct amends made by Belford to those he
injured.
Yes, Belford says he is giving all profits to these folks, but has he
tried to
make amends on a personal level to one? Just one? On Piers Morgan's
interview
with him on CNN he says, "No,"
But
my main objection to Wolf on Wall Street is its director. Scorsese may
feel drug use is funny to glorify, but it is not. And the horrible exploitation
of women with its gorgeous star, Margot Robbie, sitting spread eagle on the
carpet while a camera films her nakedness is the cheapest shot of manipulative
Scorsese's career.
"Oh,
you'll be in a Marty Scorsese film," our beautiful heroine is told. Ba
Humbug. Scorsese talked this naïve beauty from down under to expose her down
under. And what about all the other naked women, treated like extras, who strut
around the office showing their unshaven selves. What a casting session Marty
must have enjoyed choosing these women!
"Oh,
you'll be in a Marty Scorsese film," these naïve actresses were again
told. Oh, please, Marty grow some cahoonis! Have some respect for women! This
nudity was gratuitous and did not advance the plot. It was unnecessary. Could
it be because Marty has been married five times that he is projecting his
repressed anger towards women onto the screen needlessly? Oh, wait, he did
direct Jonah Hill to masturbate and show his erection on camera so he leveled
his playing field regarding sexploitation.
Wolf
of Wall Street
is a pretentious film about exploitation. Period.
Philomena is based on a true story ultimately
about redemption written by Martin Sixsmith titled The Lost Child of
Philomena Lee. Scorsese could learn a thing or three from Stephen Frears,
Stephen Coogan who wrote the screenplay, starred in it and produced it, Martin
Sixsmith and, Philomena, herself.
Scorsese at 5'3" is a little man.
Scorsese at 5'3" is a little man.
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