Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

Margo Robbie is perfect as Harley Quinn. I knew that after the Suicide Squad movie, but in Birds of Prey, the actress truly gets to spread her wings and own the role. 

I was extremely pleased with the way they brought the character from the comic book page into real life this time around, keeping the key elements of the psycho New York chick firmly intact, including some absolutely amazing stunts that felt as if they were lifted right from the page of the book and made “real.” Harley kicks ass. Literally. And her adorable madness dominates the movie, which also features comic vixens Black Canary (Jurnee Smollett-Bell) , Huntress (Elizabeth Winstead) and Renee Montiya (Rosie Perez) who form an unlikely alliance to save the angst-filled teenage pickpocket Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco) who made the near fatal mistake of stealing a rather large diamond that houses secrets to a massive hidden pot of gold, so to speak. The would-be owner wants his diamond at any cost.

Robbie’s Quinn displays everything we love about her in the comics- her appetite for massive amounts of junk food (so funny for someone so darn skinny!); her love of “girly” things like purses, makeup, and fashion; along with her love of “manly” things like machine guns, baseball bats and booze. And you have to love her beaver!  I can see Harley becoming the DC equivalent of Marvel’s Deadpool, a tongue in cheek hero.

Help me Obi Wan! Ewan McGregor rocks as crime lord Black Mask and Chris Messina is perfect. as Victor Zsasz. Cathy Yan directed the all-star cast., creating a truly fun movie for all of us nerds. I am excited to report that Robbie will again pale her face as Harley in James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad movie on August 6, 2021. ­There’s no doubt she will also return in her own film. Five Big Stars.

-Michael Buffalo Smith

             

Rocket Man

From our “better late than never” department.

I had heard a lot of buzz about this movie back when it first came out. There were many who liked it, but a whole lot of people who said it sucked. One thing I learned long ago, I don’t listen to the critics. I have to see the film and formulate my own opinion. There have been many movies that I absolutely loved, but that got panned by the film critics and the public as a whole. By the same token, there have been Oscar winning movies that I thought were simply awful.  Another thing that kind of gets my goat is the “political correctness” issue. Never in my life would I imagine that a movie would be judge by (a) how many females are in the movie or directing (b) how many minorities are in the movie. Extra points if the movie has a gay story, men on men action, woman on woman action, transgender love. . . those are just the tip of the iceberg. Don’t be mad at me, you know it’s true.

Rocket Man is a film about the famously gay rock star, Elton John. So was Bohemian Rhapsody, but that one was slammed by many for “toning down” Freddie Mercury’s gayness. Huh? I loved the movie for the music, and the guy playing Freddie was uncannily Mercury like.

Rocket Man is a good movie, but very different from Rhapsody. This one is done as a rock musical. Remember Tommy? My description to anyone who asks me is, “it’s a cross between Bohemian Rhapsody and La La Land.

It goes without saying that the music is incredible. For those of us who grew up with Elton’s music blaring out of our transistor radio, the movie is a welcome tribute to songwriters Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The actor who plays Elton nails it in all of his gap-toothed glory. And the guy who plays Bernie is equally perfect casting.

Using the songs to illustrate moments from Reginald Dwight’s life brings to mind not only the movie version of the Who’s Tommy, but also the sub-standard seventies film Sgt Pepper’s Lonley Hearts Club Band, an all-star flop starring the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton. Rocket Man is not bad like Peppers, but for anyone looking for a straight (no pun intended) telling of Elton’s life, may I recommend his biography. A good read. But if you love the Broadway-esque, over the top production of La La Land, you will love this one. By the way, it’s a very positive look at kicking drug and alcohol addiction.

Four Stars

-Michael Buffalo Smith