Hammerle On … “Napoleon,” “Godzilla Minus One” and “Tramps”

“Napoleon”

I hate to criticize any film directed by Ridley Scott in light of his many memorable films that include “Alien,” “Blade Runner,” “Thelma & Louise” and “Gladiator.” However, his great 46-year career, like many great lawyers, will not last forever.

Joaquin Phoenix’s performance as Napoleon reminded me of Leonardo DiCaprio’s role in “Killers of the Flower Moon.” They both may come close to Oscar nominations, but 70% of their time on screen involves little more than staring with their pouting lips sealed. Both films needed editing that their acclaimed directors ignored.

While there are a number of great battle scenes, they serve only as a cinematic distraction. While you watch Napoleon rise to the role of a French emperor, the film spends a significant amount of time focusing on his relationship with Josephine, his intriguing wife. The plot involves Napoleon’s need for an heir and Josephine’s inability to become pregnant.

Ironically, like “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the value of both films comes from the performances of two women. Just like Lily Gladstone in “Killers,” where she played the Native American wife of DiCaprio, Vanessa Kirby is stunning as Josephine. While she falls in love with Phoenix, it doesn’t stop her from having an affair while he is off to war.

While I liked both films, let me just say that I would not choose to watch either of them a second time. While both Gladstone and Kirby deserve Oscar consideration, neither film rises to that level.

Imagine going to see these films at a double feature where you sit in the theater for six excruciating hours. You are warned. Watch them at home. You can always take a needed break.

“Godzilla Minus One”

Let me just say that I have not seen a better film this year. Laugh if you want, but I implore you to set aside your doubts and see it.

Directed by Takashi Yamazaki, the entire film is in Japanese with subtitles. While it could challenge for a best picture Oscar nomination, it has to win the best foreign language award.

The film has a dramatic premise that left a tear in my eye. Beginning in 1945 near the end of World War II, a Japanese kamikaze pilot, Koichi Shikishima, played with force by Kamiki Ryuwosuke, fakes engine trouble and lands on a Japanese-controlled island. When Godzilla attacks and kills most of the soldiers, Koichi survives.

As the war ends, he returns to Japan and finds nothing but destruction. Finding that his family has been killed in the American massive bombings, the films rises to a shocking, emotionally intense level.

Besides helping Noriko (Minami Hamabe), a young woman living on the street caring for an abandoned baby, Koichi becomes involved in a plan to confront Godzilla. A number of civilians have devised a confrontation in which a p

ilot is needed. He fights survivor’s guilt as he teams with Kenji Noda (Hidetaka Yoshioka), a weapons engineer, and Sosaku Tachibana (Munetaka Aoki), a mechanic, to try and destroy this monster.

The strength of the film flows from the intense desire of the Japanese to rebuild their country after many have lost their families and homes. They don’t embrace either revenge or hatred. They only seek a way to try and live again, if that is possible.

And then on top of that is a monster that destroys buildings that survived the war while killing thousands of civilians. He is immune to gunfire and destroys military ships at sea.

Godzilla was first brought to the screen nearly 70 years ago. While it has appeared in various films numerous times, none have been better than this one.

Despite how they started WWII, you watch Japanese citizens show courage and honor as they rise from the ashes that destroyed much of their country. Godzilla was a devastating punishment that they had to endure to recapture an honorable place in the world of human existence.

“Tramps”

This is a film that would be perfect to hunt down during the holiday season. All but ignored when it was released seven years ago, it is a creative movie that will produce a smile on your face as it entertains you.

Grace Van Patten and Callum Turner give great performances as Ellie and Danny, two small-time criminals caught in a mess. Trying to help his incarcerated brother, Danny exchanges a wrong briefcase that creates an adventure that defines the entire film.

Money is to be made if they can retrieve the suitcase, and in the process, Ellie and Danny find love interfering with their quest. The movie only lasts one hour, 22 minutes, and it will charm you from beginning to end.•

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Robert Hammerle practices criminal law in Indianapolis. When he is not in the courtroom or the office, Bob can likely be found at one of his favorite movie theaters preparing to review the latest films. To read more of his reviews, visit www.bigmouthbobs.com. Opinions expressed are those of the author.