Displaying items by tag: RZA

PROBLEMISTA

US, 2023, 105 minutes, Colour.

Julio Tores, Tilda Swinton, RZA, Isabella Rossellini, Catalina Saavedfa, James Scully, Greta Lee.

Directed by Julio Tores.

What is a problemista?

Writer, director, actor, Julio Tores, born in El Salvador, with his strong career in television background, popular in the US, dramatises an answer.

Anybody looking at the cast before watching the film will be quite surprised to find Tilda Swinton and Isabella Rossellini in the cast as well as rapper RZA.

Tores plays Aleyandro, dreaming of being an artist, to design toys, applying for a job with Hasbro, rejected, then connecting with a cryogenic company – and a mission to recover 13 paintings by an artist who is being frozen, the commission from his haughty wife, played by Tilda Swinton, another very different performance. (If one wanted to see a haughty woman, imperiously impatient, continually demanding, momentarily relenting, then Tilda Swinton’s performance is well worth catching.)

All kinds of problems and complications, a range of characters and undermining Aleyandro – but his support from his mother and a reassurance at the end that his dreams well worthwhile.

1. Julio Tores, writing, acting, directing? His career and background?
2. The title, the tone, creative word? Aleyandro and his life and career?
3. The El Salvador background, Aleyandro and his mother, her fostering him, his art, the dream of the cave?
4. The surrealist comedy? Realism and fantasy? American style, Latin American style?
5. The New York locations, the apartments, business offices, the Freeze Corporation and cryogenics, the art world and galleries, the affluent world, immigration officers? The musical score? Aleyandro, as a child in El Salvador, the relationship with his mother, her fostering his art? The move to New York, his aim, toy design, the Hasbro models, his applications, internship?
6. Bobby, the dead artist, the nature of his art, cryogenics, the large paintings, 13 eggs? Aleyandro and the accident and the freezing? 30 days to deporting?
7. Elizabeth, Bobby’s wife, her character, sharp, demanding, angry, petulant behaviour? Aleyandro assisting her, planning the exhibition, his migrant status and no pay, subletting his room, Craigslist jobs?
8. The character of Bingham, hostile, undermining Elizabeth? The quest for the paintings, finding 12 of the 13, Dalia, past student, Bobby’s affair with her, Elizabeth’s jealousy and harsh review, Aleyandro’s apologetic letter? Dalia giving the 13^th painting?
9. Disputes with Elizabeth, Aleyandro and the filing system, the bitter phone call and argument, the imagining the dragon in the fights at the cave? Demands for copies, the freight issues and expenses, Aleyandro and his sex work? And the Hasbro development of one of his toys?
10. Paralegal, the immigration officer, the development of the show, the dragon dream and Elizabeth? On the cable car? Arriving late, all the paintings sold?
11. Aleyandro, reconciliation with his mother?
12. Elizabeth, the decision to be frozen, her giving him the name of the Hasbro exploiter of his invention?
13. The transition to the future, or reunited, Aleyandro is an old man, his success as a toy designer?

NOBODY 2

US, 2025, 90 minutes, Colour.

Bob Odenkirk, Connie Neilson, Christopher Lloyd, John Ortiz, RZA, Sharon Stone, Colin Hanks, Gage Munroe, Paisley Cadorath, Colin Salmon.

Directed by Timo Tjahjanto.

Bob Odenkirk was in the public eye with the very popular series, Better Call Saul. He moved into movies with the blend of violence and comedy, Nobody. So, for those of us who might have been wondering what happened to his character, Hutch, in the years after Nobody, here is an answer. And one of the parts of the answer is, much as he was doing before!

For those coming to Nobody 2 without preparation, there is an enjoyable, if very improbable, recap of Hutch’s career as a killer. He is financially indebted to a boss, The Barber (British Colin is one) and so goes out on mission, the filmmakers offering slam bang confrontations with several groups of thugs, Hutch, despite advancing age, demonstrating multi martial arts tactics and style, very much tongue-in-cheek, expecting the audiences to put their tongues in their cheeks as well for what will follow.

Hutch wants a rest. His children, from the previous film, same cast, would like a bit of attention from him. And, his wife, Connie Neilson from the first film also, is getting more exasperated with his erratic comings and goings. So, what better that that go to a resort that he enjoyed when he was young, a centre with an extraordinarily lively funfair. And, his dad from the previous film, veteran Christopher Lloyd, bringing his kind of wry humour to all the and tumble.

It all should have gone very smoothly but a local boy confronts his children, Hutch being absolutely touchy, weighing in violently – and off the plot goes. The aggressive boy is the son of the local boss of the resort, played by John Ortiz. And his firm has become involved in drug running – especially from the local master drug Lord, or rather Lady, played with enthusiastic venom by Sharon Stone. The other villain in the piece is the local sheriff played by an absolutely smug Colin Hanks.

It’s not a particularly sophisticated plot! Rather, if we have identified with Hutch, off we go, fights galore, traps, the grandfather in on the action, wife getting her violent moment, supported by the kids, making allies with the local boss rebelling against the villain, using to advantage the entertainments at the funfair, bringing plenty of adrenaline rushes even as, as mentioned, our tongues are in our cheeks.

Nobody 2 does not take itself very seriously at all, just there for some comedy and some violence, relishing going over the top, entertaining the audience and particularly staying in the memory except that it was an enjoyable action show.

1. The popularity of the original film? The popularity of Bob Odenkirk? And the entertainment blend of family life and issues as well as of hired killers and international crime?
2. The regrouping of the original cast? And adding Sharon Stone as the main villain? And Colin Hanks as the lesser villain? And the plot is a variation on the first film?
3. Audience response to the character of Hutch? His background as a killer, violent? Yet the marriage, bond with his wife, with the children, and with his father? The background of the burning of the money, The Barber and his hold over Hutch to repay the debt with various jobs?
4. The framework of the film, the police interrogation of Hutch? The story as a flashback an explanation? With The Barber, the financial situation, the job, to collect the key, the visualising of the mission, in the elevator, the mayhem, then the succession of other groups attacking Hutch, the brutality of the fights, and his emerging victorious?
5. The family tensions, his wife and her being at home, the kids growing up and being out, her exasperation, her job and estate agent? The children, teenagers and their attitudes? Their absent father? And the role of the grandfather and his character? (In the flashbacks during the film of Hutch and Harry and their father’s behaviour and attitude?
6. The decision to go on a holiday, the promise, the return to the resort of his childhood, for happy memories? At the resort, the rooms, the grandfather and his cabin? Everything set for an enjoyable week? The nature of the resort, food, carnival atmosphere and highlights?
7. The situation, the sheriff, lording it over people, the encounter with Wyatt Martin, memories father, building up the town? The revelation of his being indebted to Landina? The factory, the cash, drugs and gold?
8. The situation, the challenge to Brady and the taunts, touching Samantha’s head? Tearing up her toy? Hutch and his reactions, the mayhem?
9. The sheriff, the interrogation, threats? Hutch putting the family on the Duck boat? The deputy sheriff and the toughs, the fights?
10. Landina, her empire, her personal manner, the poodle, ruthless in destroying people? Her hold over Wyatt? The highly exaggerated manner, and Sharon Stone in the role?
11. Hutch, going to the factory, the confrontation, the abduction of Wyatt’s son? The sheriff, the henchmen? The all-out fight, the ballistics, the money in flames, the range of explosions? The rescue of the boy? Taking him to his father’s? On the phone call to Harry, memories of the past, Harry arriving?
12. The buildup to the siege, grandfather with the kids, Hutch’s wife to getting the rifle and going into action, the reconciliation between the two boys, Wyatt and the collaboration with Hutch, the elaborate reading of the funfair? Expectations?

CLEAN

US, 2021, 94 minutes, Colour.

Adrian Brody, Glenn Fleshler, Richie Merritts, Chandler Ari DuPont, Mykelti Williamson, RZA.

Directed by Paul Solet.

1. The title, expectations? The central character’s nickname? Working as a cleaner, the focus on the rubbish, saving some for repair, disposing of the rest? The rubbish on the New York streets? The imagery of the human rubbish on the streets, the need for cleansing the streets? The criminal gangs, working with the fish, smuggling the drugs, needing for cleansing? Michael, crime boss, brutality, going to church, confession, wanting some spiritual cleansing? The final mission for Clean?
2. The New York streets, the neighbourhoods, at night, the darkness, the thugs in the street, the violence, the abandoned homes, the absence of families and children? The close-ups of the streets and the driving, the overviews of the lights at night? Atmosphere? Musical score?
3. The central character, nickname of Clean, collecting the rubbish, driving, repairing the hoover, going to the pawn shop, the encouragement of the pawn shop, his living alone, preparing the food, the contact with Dianda, her grandmother, the conversations, the food, his going to the groups, listening? His visit to the barber, the wise advice, the friendship? His observing life around him?
4. The enigma of his character, not knowing at the end and his reputation and action, his flashbacks, embrace and the little girl, the deaths?
5. The thugs in the street, his pursuit, his being bashed, the hospital, not wanting painkillers? Continuing on? Continued repairs? The encounter with Michael, the stench, taking away the rubbish, including the body, not taking payment?
6. Michael, the gangsters, the family, his subservient wife, disappointment with his son, wanting to make a man of him, the son getting out of jail, with his friends, the music, his father’s disdain? The confrontation with the Chinese, the smuggling of the drugs, not enough? The brutal murder, disposing of the body? The contrast with him being at church, listening to the gospel, later going to confession?
7. Dianda, her age, going to school, with her grandmother, the grandmother’s reaction to Cleag? Her going off, with the group, Clean finding her, the drink and the drugs, Michael’s son present, the filming, his weapon, his bashing the men, including Mikey? Mikey, the doctor, warming to his father? His father not taking him to hospital?
8. The buildup to the confrontation, Clean taking the grandmother and Dianda, seeing the corrupt policeman, Michael setting the bounty, the policeman and his pursuit, Clean and his evasion, at the diner, the women going to the toilet, his getting another truck, the thugs arriving, the confrontation?
9. Clean, going to the pawnbroker, buying the guns, the flare? In the truck, driving into the house, the shootouts, the massacre, the confrontation with Michael, Mikey coming in, bandage, the gun, shooting his father, no more bullets for Clean?
10. The aftermath? The women? Clean and his future?
11. American violence, focus, drug dealing, guns, vigilantes’ action, vigilantes’ justice, violence and brutality?