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

YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE ME WHEN I'M DEAD:  A lucid documentary on the
filmmaking perils of Orson Welles.  A genius as a child, he never changed.  He
remained a Genius.  Every story had his personal stamp.
   He died with about six Features unfinished.  Tonight, we are scheduled to see
the very last film he did before he died.  Hmmm.  Going to find out  WHO
edited it all together.  Should be interesting.
   Back to you in a day or so.
   Ken

KENNY D.'S FILM REVIEWs

  The first Feature I wish to bring you is the Best Thing I have seen in years.
Ready?  GREEN BOOK with an unforgettable  Viggo Mortensen in the
Lead Role.  Viggo gained quite a bit of weight for this role (Method Actor?),
and he plays an Italian, with all the New Yawk expressions that my family
used (plus all the dirty ones).
   He begins as a waiter with all the panache of a Hustler.  But within the
first few minutes, he is laid off while the company remodels its restaurant.
   Linda Cardellini is wonderful as the understanding wife as Viggo broods
about his job.
   Luckily, he is sent to meet a doctor for a special job.  The doctor turns out
to be a Doctor of Music, a concert pianist unparalleled  (here it comes)
because he is Black.  Mershala  Ali fits the role to a tee.  His diction is
perfect, his demeanor, like a King.  Class, all the way.
   To further the confusion, Viggo is hired to drive this brilliant pianist
through various cities in the South, and we wonder  HOW a Black Man
will handle the South!?
    Now...  I do not wish to give much more away as far as plot.  But I
will state that GREEN BOOK will be up for  Best Actor, Best Supporting
Actor, Best Director ( Bob Farrelly),  Best Picture and will win  Best
Screenplay.  And my Prediction is unequivocal.

   Enough for now.  Until that time,  I shall remain
Respectfully yours,
 Ken   DelConte
p.s.   Keep the popcorn warm.

   

WITHIN MY KEN: Sept 2018

ALPHA ---  If you like dog stories, you will love this Feature.  Pre-historic times.
    All subtitles!  The boy speaks in a caveman language.  He is the chief's son
   and bonds with a wolf-dog.  Simple story but touching.  The Cinematography
   is excellent, the dog is incredible, and the young boy look as if he could be
   your best friend.  This film could be a real sleeper; it's that good.  Highly
   recommended.

THE WIFE ---  Two married writers (Glenn Close and Jonathan Pryce) quarrel,
   even though he wins the Nobel Prize for Literature.  Or did he?  Best dialogue
   scenes in a Love-Hate Relationship.  N.B.  There is a Twist at the end with
   the reporter (Christian Slater).  I predict Oscars for  Ms. Close,  Picture,
   Director, Actor and especially Screenplay.  Jeremy's son Max Irons plays
   the son.  Very solid as a first-time big role.

KIN --- White old brother (Jack Reynor) and Black adopted younger brother
   (Myles Truitt) team up with a lovely Dancer (Zoe Kravitz) to escape the
   sixty thousand gambling debt owed to Capo gangster (James Franco).
   Surprisingly good with Sci Fi Twist at End with Producer  Michael
   B. Jordan.  Dennis Quaid is excellent as tough but fair father.
   A film worth seeing.

    All for today.  More soon.
    Fight on!  
    Ken   DelConte

  EYE ON ENTERTAINMENT

  LATEST Film Reviews:

YA VERMOS (NOW, WE WILL SEE):  Young boy going blind,
    Mom and Dad split up... near perfect Rom Com from Mexico.
    Highest grossing film in years!!  Fernanda Castillo and Mauricio
    Ochmann are wonderful.  One of a kind movie.

JULIET, NAKED... is the title of a song that Ethan Hawke
   made a hit in this story.  Chris O'Dowd idolizes him;
   Rose Byrne (the wife) is not sure why.  A cool, funny,
   quirky film that will eventually grab you.  We loved it.
   Dialogue is clear and intelligible (unlike many films today).

COOL SKIN:  Spanish.  A lighthouse.  A new, young man
   joins the Old Pro (a gruff Ray Stevenson) who screws a
   young fish-girl (a great Aura Garrido).  Every night, a
   slew of fish-people attack the lighthouse.  The newbie
   David Oakes tries to befriend them.  The Old Pro will not
   allow it.  Emulates  SHAPE OF WATER (but filmed
   Before that great film).

ALPHA:  All subtitles.  Pre-historic.  Young boy (a Chief's
   son) falls down mountain.  He bonds slowly with a wolf-dog.
   Excellent cinematography.  The boy and the dog were great.
   If you like dogs, you will like this movie.

PICK OF THE LITTER: A documentary.   Five dogs are
   trained to aid HP-Blind People.  Two pass this rigorous
   test.  Very touching.  I loved the dog named PATRIOT. 
   Let me know which dog YOU like.

    Hope you enjoy my thumbnail sketches of recent films.
   Fight on!
   Ken   DelConte
 

RACER AND THE JAILBIRD
   Matthias Schoenaerts and
Adele Exarchapoulos fall in love.
She drives fast; he robs banks.  She
does not know.  Terrific acting, but
the last 30 minutes, it becomes hokey.
Needs trimming in the Editing.
   Yet there is a strong love connection
between the two wonderful actors.
  Ken

WITHIN MY KEN: A look at THOR

THOR: RAGNAROK ---  Fun film.  The protagonist  Chris Hemsworth is always good, and here
he is more subtle and humorous.  But the women in this film were totally awesome.
Cate Blanchett is impressive as the Antagonist, with or without those long antlers.  Every line
she delivers is concise:  great acting.
   The other wonderful actress is a new one for me.  Tessa Thompson as the fiery Valkyrie
was wonderful.  Every gesture was dead on.
   Anthony Hopkins was solid; Keith Urban, human; Jeff Goldblum was kookie, bringing
a ton of humor to his performance.
   Of the larger budget films, this is one to see.
Ken    DelConte