October is fading away, but November will kick off Awards Season with much better movies. We're due to see the process of choosing a pope, an unusual musical, and some Russians trying to cancel a marriage (and not succeeding too well on that).
Some interesting movies have gotten lost in the shuffle, and this is my way of commenting on them. The first is My Old Ass with Aubrey Plaza and newcomer Maisy Stella. They technically play the same person, someone named Elliott. Maisy is the 18 year old version who's looking forward to leaving her cranberry farm in Ontario for adventures in Toronto. She'd especially would like to get away from her quirky family, including a brother who is Saoirse Ronan's number one fan.
Anyway, after drinking some very potent mushroom tea, she meets her 39 year old self, played by Plaza. Young Elliott is stunned, and the movie never explains how this happens. Plaza did play a woman who was up for some time travel in Safety Not Guaranteed. Maybe that character got separated from Mark Duplass and wound up in the past....where she gives birth to Elliott's mom. Maybe Future Elliott got a hold of another form of time travel and we have this meeting.
The point is, Future Elliott is careful not to mention too much of the future, but does tell Young Elliott to stay close to her family. BUT she should also avoid getting involved with anyone named Chad.
Both Elliotts do stay in contact for a while via cell, and Young Elliott does meet a guy named Chad played by Percy Hynes White.
Despite the fact Young Elliott is attracted to women, including a hot and heavy romance, she's drawn to Chad. He's a decent guy, actually, and a good mechanic. So what's the problem?
Well, Old Elliott is suddenly unreachable, so Young Elliott is on her own. That actually makes sense because Young Elliott might make the wrong choice and Earth blows up. Not here, though.
She's also thrown for a loop by some decisions her family makes. Her dad just says she shouldn't expect the future to be one thing.
Eventually, Old Elliott does come back, and finds out Young Elliott has made up her mind about Chad.
Old Elliott is not happy with that decision, but the reason is quite unexpected.
The final ten minutes actually makes the movie work as a coming-of-age flick. Old Elliott finally explains her Chad-a-phobia, and Young Elliott tells her future self what she'll do. The big moment is who meets both Elliotts and SEES THEM CLEARLY. It's a moment that makes the film special.
Maisy and Aubrey are great together as both sides of the same woman, with te younger self wondering if the future knows what she's talking about. Aubrey's big scene at the end is very good, and Future Aubrey realizes trying to "correct" the past may not help her in 2045.
The movie is mainly off theater screens to make room for Halloween fare, but should be on Prime Video in November
Then, there's the origin story of Donald Trump, where he becomes The Apprentice. Sebastian Stan, who plays Trump and usually a Winter Soldier, said in EW that there is a little Trump in everyone. This is how the Trump we know came into being. The movie shows it's mainly due to notorious lawyer Roy Cohn, played by Jeremy Strong. Seeing both notice each other is very chilling.
At the start, Trump may be VP of his dad's real estate firm, but it's mainly collecting the rent. That's an amusing sight to behold. Trump and Cohn do meet to try to find a way to make housing discrimination charges dropped. Donald does see how ruthless Cohn can be. Trump recoils from this, but not for long.
From there, the movie shows the slow development of Trump through Cohn's advise and help. He also finds love from a model named Ivana (Maria Bakalova). Cohn isn't sure about this, but lets it happen. It also shows the collapse of Trump's brother Fred Jr,, and hints strongly Donald should have made more of an effort. As Donald becomes more of a success, he leaves people behind. That includes Cohn, who will lose a lot in influence and also his health.
The movie has some interesting comments about Trump seemingly skeptical of getting into politics, and showing ignorance about his health. It mentions his financial problems in passing, but more details about that would made it a stronger movie.
Both Stan and Strong are just incredible as Trump and Cohn. They could have a good chance at the Oscar race, but they might be crowded out by many other actors who will impress over the holidays. The fact that The Apprentice has been in very few screens is another factor. It might make a comeback when it hits the streamers, but we shall see.
One more thing: I was surprised seven other people were there for the one showing the Cinemark Sierra Theater had. They stayed, and seemed to be interested in it. I suspect it will get its money back thanks to streaming over the holidays. there is one movie that will flatter the heck out of him, but it doesn't have a Winter Soldier
