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. 

Harald Zwart's THE 12TH MAN (2017)

 

We've all been cold, but have we cut our toes

Right off our feet 'gainst gangrene, started when

They froze in winter seawater, then snows

That buried us for days? I haven't been

Quite there. Nor have I been a hero, passed

Around a nation like a living prize

That everyone's decided is their last

Best hope for freedom. Jesus, though, those eyes.

Throughout Jan Baalstrud's journey as portrayed

By Thomas Gullestad, now clear, now red

Like nothing should be red, from snow glare, stayed

With me for hours. There are sights to dread,

But also thrills to have, as when, at speed

A reindeer drags him racing in his need!

Garth Davis' LION (2018)

The waterworks are open; flow my tears.

But they were earned. I'm human, have a heart

And this film taps into our basic fears

Then tells us it gets better. For my part 

Patel should be a worldwide treasure, and

For once did Kidman not inspire my hate. 

But Wenham, he was wasted, though I'll hand

It to him, his screen time is just first rate. 

That first half hour, though! Evoking much 

Of what I love most from the native screens

Of India! Of Mehta, Ray and such!

I want the story whole, though, so it seems

I've soon a date with Saroo Brierly's book. 

Until I get it, I'll hang on this hook.