Best in-flight activity? Watching movies
The recent in-flight entertainment we saw included three movies namely, Steven Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans,' Sarah Polley's 'Women Talking,' and Dean Fleischer Camp's 'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On,' on our way back to Manila after a two-week stay in France.
By Rica Arevalo
Published Jun 12, 2023 02:26 am
Long-haul flights enable us to catch films we have missed or films that were not shown in the local cinemas. The recent in-flight entertainment we saw included three movies namely, Steven Spielberg’s *The Fabelmans*, Sarah Polley’s *Women Talking*, and Dean Fleischer Camp’s *Marcel The Shell with Shoes On*, on our way back to Manila after a two-week stay in France.
THE START OF IT ALL Steven Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans' is a story loosely based on the director's childhood and how he gained a love for film
It took five decades for Spielberg to share his childhood/adolescence and love for filmmaking to the public via this 151-minute coming-of-age drama. Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle) is an aspiring filmmaker who got a quiet, computer engineer father and a “wandering” mother who supports her son’s passion. His father’s job relocates them to many places making Sammy adjust to different schools and bullies. There are emotional scenes that mark the dysfunctional family’s unique setup, especially with mother Mitzi, played by Michelle Williams. One, she hauls the kids to her car to chase the raging tornado. Two, she dives deep into depression when her mother passes away. But the biggest heartbreak for Sammy is shooting family home videos and realizing that “Uncle” Bennie (Seth Rogen) has his eyes on his mother. With Sammy’s footage, there is proof that his mother has had an extramarital affair with his father’s best friend. After confronting his mother, the damaging secret is formed between mother and son. For a director who made blockbusters hits *Jaws* (1975), *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* (1982), *Schindler’s List* (1993), and *Saving Private Ryan* (1998), among others, Spielberg showcases in *The Fabelmans*how he developed his love for cinema, revealing the nostalgic shooting of his war short films using 8mm and 16mm cameras but, most important, he captured the memories of his real-life parents.
A HEAVY HITTER Sarah Polley's 'Women Talking' nabbed the Best Adapted Screenplay award during the 95th Academy Awards
Another heavy material worth seeing is *Women Talking*, nominated for Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards with director Polley winning Best Adapted Screenplay. Inspired by real-life events in Bolivia, a group of women is “isolated” from the population. One wonders why they are together. Is it because of their faith? Or the circumstances that surround them? The film opens with a woman in bed, bloodied and bruised. An ensemble cast composed of Frances McDormand, Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, and Judith Ivey decide whether their character will stay, protest, leave, or fight in their remote colony. We learn that all these women were raped and abused by men. The women on a hayloft welcome a plebiscite where August (Ben Whishaw) writes down the pros and cons of the women leaving the men, bringing their children, and making a new colony where women will have equal rights. Who will win? The film explores whether forgiveness equals permission. Is it acceptable to fight tooth and nail just as Salome (Claire Foy) believes, that she’d “stand my ground and shoot each man in the heart.” The discussion is engaging and thought-provoking that one will analyze each woman’s argument, hoping the best collaborative decision wins.
ABSOLUTE CUTIE Dean Fleischer Camp's 'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On' is a heartwarming story about a one-inch shell living with his grandma
*Marcel the Shell with Shoes On* was my best companion in the aircraft. In an absurd, heartwarming storytelling, Marcel is a one-inch shell that can talk and has the potential to be the next influencer! Marcel’s dilemma is he lost his family and he hopes to reunite with them. Dean, a documentary filmmaker shoots Marcel and the video trends in an online video sharing platform. One will fall in love with Marcel’s outlook in life and his caring relationship with his grandma, Nana Connie. His charm becomes a hit to the netizens and even his favorite *60 Minutes* with Lesley Stahl guesting him on the show. The sudden fame and lack of privacy make Marcel uncomfortable. How Marcel deals with grief and his love for family makes him so human. The stop-motion animation mixed with live-action footage excels, putting the right balance of sadness and humor, having a 98 percent positive review from Rotten Tomatoes. The 90-minute comedy-drama mockumentary is pure heart. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars this year.
THE START OF IT ALL Steven Spielberg's 'The Fabelmans' is a story loosely based on the director's childhood and how he gained a love for film
It took five decades for Spielberg to share his childhood/adolescence and love for filmmaking to the public via this 151-minute coming-of-age drama. Sammy (Gabriel LaBelle) is an aspiring filmmaker who got a quiet, computer engineer father and a “wandering” mother who supports her son’s passion. His father’s job relocates them to many places making Sammy adjust to different schools and bullies. There are emotional scenes that mark the dysfunctional family’s unique setup, especially with mother Mitzi, played by Michelle Williams. One, she hauls the kids to her car to chase the raging tornado. Two, she dives deep into depression when her mother passes away. But the biggest heartbreak for Sammy is shooting family home videos and realizing that “Uncle” Bennie (Seth Rogen) has his eyes on his mother. With Sammy’s footage, there is proof that his mother has had an extramarital affair with his father’s best friend. After confronting his mother, the damaging secret is formed between mother and son. For a director who made blockbusters hits *Jaws* (1975), *Raiders of the Lost Ark* (1981), *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial* (1982), *Schindler’s List* (1993), and *Saving Private Ryan* (1998), among others, Spielberg showcases in *The Fabelmans*how he developed his love for cinema, revealing the nostalgic shooting of his war short films using 8mm and 16mm cameras but, most important, he captured the memories of his real-life parents.
A HEAVY HITTER Sarah Polley's 'Women Talking' nabbed the Best Adapted Screenplay award during the 95th Academy Awards
Another heavy material worth seeing is *Women Talking*, nominated for Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards with director Polley winning Best Adapted Screenplay. Inspired by real-life events in Bolivia, a group of women is “isolated” from the population. One wonders why they are together. Is it because of their faith? Or the circumstances that surround them? The film opens with a woman in bed, bloodied and bruised. An ensemble cast composed of Frances McDormand, Rooney Mara, Claire Foy, Jessie Buckley, and Judith Ivey decide whether their character will stay, protest, leave, or fight in their remote colony. We learn that all these women were raped and abused by men. The women on a hayloft welcome a plebiscite where August (Ben Whishaw) writes down the pros and cons of the women leaving the men, bringing their children, and making a new colony where women will have equal rights. Who will win? The film explores whether forgiveness equals permission. Is it acceptable to fight tooth and nail just as Salome (Claire Foy) believes, that she’d “stand my ground and shoot each man in the heart.” The discussion is engaging and thought-provoking that one will analyze each woman’s argument, hoping the best collaborative decision wins.
ABSOLUTE CUTIE Dean Fleischer Camp's 'Marcel the Shell with Shoes On' is a heartwarming story about a one-inch shell living with his grandma
*Marcel the Shell with Shoes On* was my best companion in the aircraft. In an absurd, heartwarming storytelling, Marcel is a one-inch shell that can talk and has the potential to be the next influencer! Marcel’s dilemma is he lost his family and he hopes to reunite with them. Dean, a documentary filmmaker shoots Marcel and the video trends in an online video sharing platform. One will fall in love with Marcel’s outlook in life and his caring relationship with his grandma, Nana Connie. His charm becomes a hit to the netizens and even his favorite *60 Minutes* with Lesley Stahl guesting him on the show. The sudden fame and lack of privacy make Marcel uncomfortable. How Marcel deals with grief and his love for family makes him so human. The stop-motion animation mixed with live-action footage excels, putting the right balance of sadness and humor, having a 98 percent positive review from Rotten Tomatoes. The 90-minute comedy-drama mockumentary is pure heart. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Oscars this year.