A crazy superhero film that’s like no other in terms of satire and intention, and a documentary about a man who turned the culinary world on its proverbial head - the two reviews today.
Suicide Squad (HBO Max & Theaters) - If you thought James Gunn & his Guardians of the Galaxy had given the superhero genre something crazy cool with a talking raccoon and tree, just watch Gunn given a looser rein at DC, with this soft reboot of the 2016 Suicide Squad film. This is obviously the one he was meant to write and direct with more creative control, and we are duly rewarded. No spoilers here, so just know that from the opening sequence alone, we’re treated to his subversive, satirical take on the film genre, and he’s taking full advantage of the freedom.
The fact that he’s dealing with hardened criminals and villains on a mission of good, only means that’s he doesn’t need them to conform to ethical behavior or moral scruples that a regular superhero is fettered by.
You will have your favorites, as Gunn smartly gives each of his main characters a chance to shine and create a strong impression. Me, I loved Cleo Cazo who’s the Ratcatcher 2, and the Polka-Dot Man. Cleo for being the most humanistic center of the troupe, and Polka for being simultaneously ridiculous and sympathetic with his Mommy issues. While Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn, Idris Elba as Bloodsport, and John Cena as Peacemaker are the big stars involved with the project, it’s nice to watch the whole ensemble each get a spotlight opportunity. Themes of American imperialism, family bonds among rejects, flit here and there; but in the end, it’s the balancing between the action and the goofiness that sets this film apart and turns it into such a success. It may actually not be for everyone, given how visceral and bloody so many of the scenes are, but you can’t say Gunn set out to surprise us and failed to deliver.
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain (HBO Max) - Masterfully put together by award-winning Morgan Neville; early on, one of the interviewees asks why they’re even there, as it’s no secret that ‘there will be no happy ending’. And perhaps that’s exactly the point, to help us understand and accept how Bourdain tragically left us in 2018. More than anyone else in the culinary world, he rewrote the rule book, giving us shows that were just as much about culture, politics, philosophizing, and himself, as it was about food. A self-confessed chef who had practically given up cooking and food preparation, Bourdain became someone who, through food appreciation as an entry point, made the world smaller and closer. More than anything, that was his gift, and why people from all over the world and walks of life, took him to their hearts and miss him to this day.
Morgan Neville directs, oscillating between respect and acknowledging his major flaws as a person, painting a picture of both hero and his own worst enemy. At some point, there’s talk about impostor syndrome, how Bourdain would feel he wasn’t deserving of all the attention and adulation, that his faking it would be found out. A furor over this documentary was created over the admission that they ‘created’ one of his speaking parts - artificially having him speak a line through studio magic. Some have outright dismissed the documentary for this dishonesty; but I’ll say that if it is a sin, it’s a venial one, as there’s still so much to takeaway from the film. It’s done with true love & respect for the person Bourdain was. There’s an sincere attempt to uncover the mystique created around the man, and the closeness to Bourdain of the people interviewed do give them the credibility to open up and reveal to us the person behind the public persona.