Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

How do I start this?  Well, I'm 43 years old and Star Wars is 42.  I've seen in documentaries that the first Star Wars movie began shooting footage in Tunisia in March of 1976, which is the month and year I was born.  So, I grew up in the age of Star Wars fandom, and I'm one of those adults who so passionately links the original trilogy somehow to a pure nostalgic happiness.  Memories of standing in line waiting to get into the theater to see these movies is as precious to me as any of my childhood. Due to my age, I saw the original in a rerelease in the early 80's, but I absolutely remember seeing The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi at the Jackson MetroCenter Cinema 4 when they were released.  I remember going home and swinging my baseball bat around pretending it was a lightsaber.  I remember Luke with his lightsaber being my favorite parts of those movies, and I felt as though it was the most exciting thing to see as a kid.  I recognize I'm just one of several billion who have felt that way over the years.  People have a personal attachment to Star Wars that transcends these beyond being "just movies".  It's probably unhealthy to an extent, but for people of my generation they are so much more than movies.  They are part of the fabric of who we are.

Thus, when The Phantom Menace came out in 1999 and the prequel trilogy kicked off, fan fervor was rampant.  I, with my friends, stood in line through the night and into the morning on the day tickets went on sale to make sure we could see it opening day.  By the time the prequel trilogy ended, people were largely disappointed that Lucas couldn't recreate the full feelings of the original trilogy and everyone seemed to have a better idea of what could have been done.  If Star Wars were any normal experience, it would have meant that starting another trilogy even a decade later would have been out of the question.  Being that this is Star Wars, though, when Disney purchased Lucasfilm and announced they'd begin a sequel trilogy, the fan fervor immediately heated up again.  By the time The Force Awakens opened in late 2015, everyone seemed to have forgiven any problems they had with the prequels and were just ready to dive back into the world of the Skywalker family and see what was in store.  And yet again, even though there was a mixed reception to The Force Awakens, it proved the power of our fascination with The Force and that need to return to this science fiction realm that provides so many of us with such a strong feeling of comfort.  It was like going home again.

Now, we come to the end of the sequel trilogy with The Rise of Skywalker.  I'll try to remain spoiler free.  It's widely promoted that this is both the ending to the new trilogy and also to the Skywalker storyline overall.  It's also widely known that The Last Jedi became very divisive and some fans liked the direction that the storyline took, while others very vocally didn't.  We also know that J.J. Abrams directed The Force Awakens, then reigns were handed to Rian Johnson for The Last Jedi, and The Rise of Skywalker was supposed to be directed by the guy who made Jurassic World but they ended up bringing Abrams back.  Having all that backstory influences the way you watch The Rise of Skywalker and ultimately will be a big factor in how this trilogy is viewed and rewatched over time.

I enjoyed The Rise of Skywalker as an individual film.  It's witty, fast paced, fun, action-packed, and as full of emotional moments and scenery as any Star Wars film should be.  I am of the camp who was glad that Abrams was back.  The Last Jedi felt like a detour to me.  It slowed down and spun the story into interesting, but different directions.  The Rise of Skywalker is criticized for a lot online, and I understand the criticisms, but I didn't enjoy the movie any less for them.  What I will say is that looking back on the sequel trilogy as a whole, I really wish Abrams had steered the entire ship and either directed all three or been a consistent driving force in all three.  As it stands, it's eternally going to feel uneven.

So, here's more that I can say.  Daisy Ridley was awesome.  I mean awesome.  She owned the role in a confident manner that reflected her understanding of the character and her growth as an actress.  Adam Driver is his usual intense self as Kylo Ren.  When the script calls for subtle emotion, he can deliver with the best.  John Boyega and Oscar Issac are so pleasant together as Finn and Poe - something The Last Jedi strayed from.  It's so fun to see them play off of one another again as was started in The Force Awakens.  All the actors were on point.  They brought humor and fun to the film.  I've read that they all were happy Abrams was back, and I felt it showed.

The effects are the usual top notch standard.  There's pretty much nothing that can't be displayed on screen with visual effects anymore, and Star Wars always makes good use of technology.  As I mentioned earlier, the pace is fast and fun, which I think benefits a Star Wars movie.  Between the bouts of heavy emotion, we are used to quippy dialogue, lots of fast tracking shots with actors running and firing laser canons, new uniforms on the Stormtroopers, and cool gadgets used in fun and interesting ways.  You get all that here.  The movie remembers to entertain and be fun.

The Rise of Skywalker, on its own, succeeds in a lot of ways to me.  It's the kind of Star Wars movie that I want to see.  Unfortunately though, the legacy of this sequel trilogy will once again be one of disappointment, for a variety of viewpoints and reasons.  We were, as a culture, disappointed in the prequels.  We will be, as a culture, disappointed in the sequels.  What I keep thinking about though is if in 10 years they announce an Episode X, would we lose our minds in anticipation and hope for that perfect trilogy ahead?  OF COURSE WE WOULD!

The beauty and joy of Star Wars lies in that answer.

Marriage Story

To align with the film's his & her trailers, my wife and I are reviewing Marriage Story together.  Jason's comments are prefaced with HIM and Sarah's are prefaced with HER.

HIM:  Anticipation around our house has been high for this film for several reasons.  We both love the director's debut, Kicking and Screaming (1995).  It's eternally a Top 5 personal favorite for me.  We both love Adam Driver and, especially, Scarlett Johansson.  The idea of seeing how Kylo Ren and Black Widow would handle this emotional movie would have been enough to ensure we would be watching it.  On top of all of this, the topic of marriage and divorce is such a relatable one that it becomes easily a must-see event.

HER: Anyone who follows me on social media knows I love Scarlett. I first noticed her in Ghost World. Then she made Lost in Translation with family favorite Bill Murray, and I became a forever fan. Add in Adam Driver and director Noah Baumbach, and Marriage Story quickly rose to the top of my list. Not surprisingly, the awards are already stacking up for the film and its cast and crew. 

HIM:  About the story.  The story is about Charlie (Driver) and Nicole (Johansson) who are married with an 8 year old son.  They live in New York and have a working relationship together in the theater.  The movie does a terrific job of drawing you into their lives and painting a picture of who these people are.  I won't offer more detail than that on their background, except to say one of the brilliant aspects of the script and the direction is in how the story is told and how you are filled in.  From there, you are with them on their journey through separation and the process of filing for divorce.  It's uniquely sweet, humorous, tragic, dire, wonderful, and nightmarish in all the ways life can be, and certainly in the ways a marriage falling apart can be.

HER: So I absolutely loved the separate trailers and how they gave you a snapshot of Charlie & Nicole's characters through the other's words. The movie begins like that but with extended descriptions. It's a fabulous way to introduce the characters and the love that they have for each other before the pain train arrives. 

HIM:  About the director.  Noah Baumbach has made a mature film.  Mature in both subject matter and presentation.  As much as I adore Kicking and Screaming, I'd pick Marriage Story as his masterpiece.  All of his writing and directing skills are peaking with this movie.  It's obviously a very personal film for him, and it brings out the best in his abilities.  The dialogue is dense and memorable.  The speeches and scenes are realistic and feel lived in.  He injects humor in light ways that provide the viewer with much needed levity at times.  For Baumbach, it's nothing short of a triumphant work of art and skill. 

HER: I frequently read about movies online. I check IMDB probably once a day and always after I finish a film. An interesting tidbit about Noah Baumbach's direction and writing is that he did not want any improvisation in the big fight scene. Every word, every hesitation is in his script. I find that fascinating because it all feels so in the moment as it unfolds. There is also a heavy theater aspect to the way the scenes are set up and how the actors move throughout. While watching, Jason and I agreed it felt very much a like play, which is what Baumbach intended. 

HIM:  About the actors.  Driver and Johansson are equally at their best.  I've never entirely understood why people are so enthralled with Driver.  I tend to find him almost emotionless.  In this film, he breaks beyond that barrier in wonderful and poignant ways.  Johansson has long been an actor who can show strength with believability, but in this film she becomes a woman finding her strength.  It's a journey she handles with great accuracy and honest emotion.  This feels like a movie that probably wore them both down.  It's likely that every day was a tough day at work. 

HER: I haven't seen much of Driver's work besides Star Wars and a couple indie films. He has an understated leading man quality that is really becoming apparent this year. Much of this movie is about Charlie's journey through the divorce process. Where Nicole was unhappy in the marriage, he is unhappy in the divorce. She flourishes while he flounders. Driver's downward spiral is masterful. Johansson, to me, is so subtle in her performances that sometimes people dismiss her. This role really showcases her talent. The monologue scene where Nicole tells Laura Dern's attorney character the story of her marriage is heartbreaking. My favorite quote of Nicole's: "I never really came alive for myself. I was only feeding his aliveness."

HIM:  Final thoughts.  At the end of the film, my wife and I dried our eyes and hugged for a long time.  The movie is beautiful and brutal.  It's not an overstatement for me to say this will likely be my favorite film of the year.  This movie was everything I thought it could be and more.  It's gut wrenching but worth every moment.  One day, I'll brace myself and watch it again.  It's a masterpiece.   Plain and simple.  

HER: I have not experienced divorce. My parents were married for 41 years before my dad's death. Jason and I have been married for 16 years. And yet, I was with these characters completely. I honestly never took a side. I did see moments where one was at fault or handled a situation badly. But I love that there is never really a villain, other than the divorce process itself. Not even the lawyers who are just doing the best for their clients. A major point of this story is that even though Nicole and Charlie want to divorce as simply and amicably as possible, the process tears them apart. It's tragic, touching, and even funny at times. Kudos to all.