CREED II:  Best 'Rocky' film in a long time.  Well-cut and Directed.
Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson have a baby.  He  boxes.
Super boxing matches.  Great denouement.  No one better than
Stallone.  Felicia Rashad (mother) comes close.
   Definitely worth seeing.
   Forgot to write...   Dolph Lundgren is great as father of
killer-boxer.  Father and Son antagonists were scary.

ROMA (a small town in Mexico)

  ROMA is directed by Alfonso Cuaron, a well-established Director.  Basically, the maid
in charge of  3 boys and 1 girl  is the focal point of this picture.  There is a pregnancy, then
a dead baby amidst the slowness of the story.  There are great crowd scenes as the film
picks up its pace gradually.  There is a Super Long "take" at the beach... one shot where
the maid saves two kids... and she does not know how to swim.  That one long take
saves the picture.  Incredible.  It will be nominated for an Oscar; it may win, but
don't count on it.  Flip a coin.  50-50 chance of winning.
   By the way, if this is part of Cuaron's "young life,"  which one is he?

November 14, 2018.
  Review of the Play  VALLEY OF THE HEART, playing at the Mark Taper
Forum in the Tri-Play Center, downtown L.A.
   No offense to Luis Valdez...  the play is good... but not Great!  If you remember
what he did with Zoot Suit.  It had pizzazz; it had songs.
   There are only two "songs" in  VALLEY.  The Play should be changed to
a Musical.  The Opening:  Man in the wheelchair---storyteller  song.
Family Differences:  Mexican-Japanese (could be a quintet).  Then the
marriage (song with Dancing).   Birth of the son (Happy Uptempo song).
War-Death of the brother (sad song).   Last:  an Ending song of Hope.
It could incorporate the Mexican guitar alternating with the Japanese
Koto and drums.
   Remember, it is only my opinion, and who am I?  Don Quixote, Man of
La Mancha !!!!   I am a serious theatre goer since the Sixties with
unbelievable memories from Ballet (saw ROMEO AND JULIET
"live" with Rudolf Nureyev at the Shrine Auditorium...  to
Simon and Garfunkel at U.C.L.A. ---  to  a ton of foreign films
from SUNDAYS AND CYBELE,  THE GRAND ILLUSION,
LA STRADA,  SEVEN SAMURAI).  YOU  get the idea.
   Most recently we saw  GREEN BOOK.  MY PREDICTION:
Six  Oscars minimum:  Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor,
Best Screenplay (for sure),  Best Director, Best Picture, Best
Editing.
    All for now.   Hold the popcorn.
   Ken