James Mangold's FORD V FERRARI (2019)

A car does not excite me; nor a race,

But competence is always fun to see

In action, as is friendship, and a base

Of function in a family. For me,

Though, who has really bad reactions to

Big crashes, unsafe driving (thanks a lot,

O PTSD), I stayed watching through

A lot of that because I really got

A kick from Christian Bale, a character,

And not a growl inside a suit, again!

There's the best fistfight that I've seen occur

In recent years, as well. There might have been

A bit too mighty sound for migraine types, 

But otherwise, it well deserves the hype. 

Mika Kaurismäki's THE GIRL KING (2015)

Christina, Queen of Sweden, long has dwelt

Rent-free inside my head, e'er since I read

Of her in my Horizon mags. I felt 

A little more a rebel, in my head

For knowing she had lived. And Garbo brought

Her e'en more forward, so my standards for

A film about her are perhaps too high. 

There's some to like,  here, sure, but there is more

To who she was and what she did, than (sigh)

Her Countess. There's some quite good dialogue

At least, and all looks pretty, as it should.

It's not a bad film, though; it's not a slog. 

Is that enough, though, that I'd call it good?

Her odd upbringing isn't shown at all, 

Nor post-crowned life. Not sure 'twas their best call.

Wash Westmoreland's COLETTE (2018)

I do not often like Miss Knightley, yet
I must admit, in this she's without flaw
As that wild woman we know as Colette,
A writer-dancer-actress worth our awe.
Dom West can barely keep up with her, which
Is as it should be. And the others cast
In many roles reflect quite perfect pitch
(Except for Tomlinson, but, at the last
'Twas really just the accent). All the art
Direction met our standards for this fare
Called Costume Drama, and the movie's heart
Is right where it belongs. If you would share
In awesome on this level, check it out,
Then write some saucy fiction and don't pout!

Dexter Fletcher's ROCKETMAN (2019)

He still is standing after all this time, 

And it's sure fun to see a version of

His story that's as flashy, fun and wild

As Elton John's stage shows. Of course we love

The songs, and Taron sings them very well

And he's a sensitive, expressive face

That pairs up nicely with one Jamie Bell

(I want him as Ray Davies ere our race

Burns out its fuse). A playful fantasy

With brief, dark moments, seems exactly right, 

As do the costumes. If this had to be

A movie, at least keep it moving, bright 

And soulful, like Sir Elton's greatest tunes. 

I guess that's why this film kept making news. 

Jacob Hamilton's JUMP SHOT: THE KENNY SAILORS STORY (2020)

If Bud were not so tall, nor Ken so short

Wyoming wouldn't have its special place

In history, at least that of the sport

Of basketball. Sure, in the dash and chase

Along the boards, another would have made

The change, would add that third dimension to

An earthbound, static game, but how he played

Deserves this treatment. He played that way through

His life entire.  All of the talking heads

In praise of what he did when young are great, 

As are the fun cartoons, but this tale treads

Much longer, deeper paths. He's of my state,

But left his mark worldwide. I do, though, call

Bullshirt on one thing: why no Eric Schaal?

P.S. Hi Fennis. We love you, too

Bill Pohlad's LOVE & MERCY (2014)

For Pet Sounds, if for nothing else, does Bri

Deserve to live in memory until

The sun swells angry red, the surf runs dry

And good vibrations have reached out to thrill

Andromeda. And here hath Paul and John

Enacted Brian's passion for us in

Two famous stations. Am I maybe on

The track to blasphemy? I'll speak my sin. 

Both men convinced me of his genius, and

His suffering, even as the edits make

His stories flow as one. I'll say there can

Be an entire film in just the takes

That went on in the studio, but that would

Deprive us, then, of Banks, who's also good!

Dorota Kobiela and Hugh Welchman's LOVING VINCENT (2017)

The technical achievement's just the start, 

Though it is high; there's eye candy to spare.

To animate Van Gogh in oils took art, 

Attention, talent, time, indeed, and care. 

The actors, though, and those who filmed them 'fore

The rotoscope and painters took this on

Are wonderful to watch. And there's a score

By Clint Mansell as well! The script has gone

To that same well that Bernard Rose did when

Beethoven was the subject. Whodunnit?

Each time a charming sleuth who was a friend

Comes bearing final words and spends a bit

Of time exploring a great life reveals

A story squarely aimed at all our feels.