Category Archives: Talking Heads

2015, Character Driven, Fatal Accident, Fatherless child, Kanopy streaming, Narcissist, Quiet, Reconciliation, Slow, Talking Heads, Unusual ending, Wim Wenders, Writer

Every Thing Will Be Fine (2015)

From IMDB:

One day, driving aimlessly around the outskirts of town after a trivial domestic quarrel, a writer named Tomas accidentally hits and kills a child. Will he be able to move on?

From Kanopy:

A horrific car accident alters the lives of James Franco & Rachel McAdams in legendary director Wim Wenders’ gripping film about love and redemption.

From Kanopy you can stream this 1 hour 59 minute drama film.

Slow, quiet, heavy on conversations between Tomas (played by James Franco) and one of the many people in his life, this film doesn’t drive toward some conclusion, but rather seems to want to understand Tomas’ character.  You should draw your own conclusions about Tomas. Is he a selfish, unfeeling narcissist? Does he really care about the people he affects?

While watching the film, at several points I asked myself “Why am I enjoying this really slow, understated story that seems to jump from one point in Tomas’s life to some later unrelated point?”

Would someone volunteer their reading of Tomas?

2021, Acceptable for teenagers, Cancer theme, Could Be Sad, Divorce, DO NOT MISS, Drama, English, Feel Good For All, Friendship, Gay theme, Good Acting, Happy ending, Kanopy streaming, Language lessons, Low Key, Mourning, Spanish, Talking Heads, Tender, Zoom sessions

Language Lessons (2021)

From Kanopy:

When his husband surprises him with weekly Spanish lessons, Adam (Mark Duplass, Bombshell, The Morning Show) is unsure about where or how this new element will fit into his already structured life. But after tragedy strikes, his Spanish teacher, Cariño (Natalie Morales, Dead To Me, Parks And Recreation), becomes a lifeline he didn’t know he needed. Adam develops an unexpected and complicated emotional bond with Cariño — but do you really know someone just because you’ve experienced a traumatic moment with them? Bittersweet, honest, and at times darkly funny, this award-winning debut from director Natalie Morales is a poignant, funny, and emotionally resonant (Screen Rant) exploration of platonic love.

From Kanopy you can stream this 1.5 hour film.

Adam and Cariño talk via Zoom sessions. In fact the entire film is a series of such sessions, several of which are one-sided.  Just after the first session, Adam’s husband dies. Adam goes into deep grief and depression which he escapes with the help of Cariño.  Mostly they speak in English and if they do speak in Spanish there are subtitles. Really the language lessons are besides the point. Eventually we learn quite a lot about about Adam and Cariño.

This film is so sweet and touching that if you don’t yet belong to Kanopy (which is free), then join just for the chance to see this tender film.

DO NOT MISS!

2018, Acceptable for teenagers, Acceptable Sci-Fi, Acceptable Science, Aliens from outer space, Amazon Prime, Amnesia, Astronauts, Brain Transplant, Government medical experiment, Medical Theme, Must suspend disbelief, Nice Aliens, Psychedelic Visual Effects, Sci-Fi, Talking Heads, Unusual

The Beyond (2018)

From Amazon Prime:

After observing an anomaly in space, scientists transplant human brains in to synthetic bodies and send them through the wormhole.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1.5 hour sci-fi fantasy.

Proceeding as a sort of continuous interview with the scientists, which means a lot of talking heads, the plot mixes fantasy with the personal lives of the participants.  In most sci-fi scenarios we usually have to suspend disbelief and this example is no different.  However,  this particular sci-fi film does not fit the usual clichéd mold due to its monologue plus action style of flow.

Depiction of the aliens is perhaps the most original I have seen.

Probably not for everyone but well done production.

2022, Bicycles, COVID theme, Kanopy streaming, Love Story, Love Triangle, Low Key, Quiet, Talking Heads

Alone Together (2022)

From KANOPY:

Two strangers wind up double-booked in the same upstate New York rental during the start of quarantine. Exacerbating the situation, these polar opposite personalities must learn to cope with each other’s eccentricities ultimately realizing they have more in common than meets the eye.

From KANOPY you can stream this 1 hour 41 minute love story.

Looking for a relaxing, sweet romance story?  This “talking heads” film might be just what you are looking for.  Just listening to the growing rapport between June (Katie Holmes) and Charlie (Jim Sturgess) as they banter on into the night might not be  your bag. For some reason I was drawn into their conversations.

In the future when someone watches this film, will they possibly ask “What’s this COVID business?”

Give it a try. You might fall in love with the film.

2006, Amazon Prime, Chance Encounter, Comic Moments, Flirting, Gay theme, Romance, Talking Heads

Scenes of a Sexual Nature (2006)

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From IMDB:

Sex and love. Some seek it, some need it, some spurn it, and some pay for it, but we’re all involved in it. Set on one afternoon on Hampstead Heath, London, this movie investigates the minutiae of seven couples. What makes us tick?

From Amazon Prime:

This British comedy stars an incredible home-grown cast including Tom Hardy (Mad Max: Fury Road), Ewan McGregor, (Trainspotting), Catherine Tate (Doctor Who), Mark Strong (1917), Hugh Bonneville (Notting Hill), Andrew Lincoln (Love Actually) and Adrian Lester (The Day After Tomorrow). On the lush green lawns of London’s Hampstead Heath, a variety of couples sort through their romantic dilemmas.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 32 minute British film.

There are comedic moments to be sure, but not all the discussions are funny.  Note the emphasis on “discussion” because this is a talking-heads film.  At first I thought “this is going to be boring.” But something about the script and the acting and the well-known actors kept my attention throughout.   Ewan McGregor and his film partner play a gay couple discussing whether to have a baby. Eileen Atkins and Benjamin Whitrow play a pair of elderly strangers who meet accidentally and make an amazing discovery. And so it goes.

Somehow this slow day in Hampstead Heath was a pleasant, easy watch.

2015, Acceptable for teenagers, Amazon Prime, B-movie, Chick Flick, Comic Moments, Crude Talk, Feel Good Not For Children, Love Story, Nothing special, Romance, Romantic comedy, Sex Scenes, Somewhat trashy, Talking Heads, Witty dialog, Young Adults

Playing It Cool (2015)

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From Amazon Prime:

The story of a young man (Chris Evans) who meets and instantly falls in love with a young woman. But there’s a problem…she’s engaged. Will staying in the friend-zone pay off, or is he stuck there forever? Either way, he’ll have to play it cool.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 34 minute film starring Chris Evans, Michelle Monaghan, Topher Grace.

In the mood for a bit of a fun, fluffy, romcom (for the older reader, “romcom” means romantic comedy)?   Some large portion of the film is devoted to talking heads. But the clever give and take of the conversations brought a smile to my face.  And yes, there are many not so subtle sexual references, which seems to be the norm these days.

Nothing special, but easy, relaxed viewing.

2016, Acceptable for teenagers, Amazon Prime, Drama, Ethical struggles, Gay theme, Jealousy, Love Story, Marital Infidelity, Nostalgia, Nudity, Panic Attacks, Personal Betrayal, Sex Scenes, Talking Heads

Lazy Eye (2016)

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From IMBD:

When Dean, a graphic designer in Los Angeles, notices a sudden change in his vision, an ex-love from 15 years earlier contacts him unexpectedly in hopes of rekindling their relationship. When the two meet at a vacation house in the desert near Joshua Tree, secrets are revealed and passions rekindled that threaten to upend both of their lives. Forty-eight hours later, neither will ever be the same.

From Amazon Prime:

Passions reignite & hidden secrets revealed when a graphic designer in Los Angeles reconnects with an ex-lover he hasn’t seen or heard from in 15 years. Over the course of a weekend at a vacation house in the desert, they must determine whether or not they have a future together. Written and directed by Emmy, Gotham, GLAAD and Independent Spirit Award Nominee Tim Kirkman.

From Amazon Prime you can stream this 1 hour 27 minute complete film.

Basically the film uses the talking heads technique. Unless that talking is interesting such films can be dull. But there is something real and intense about the conversation between Dean and Alex. Between the mundane topics, now and then brutal honesty pops up.

So many films offer the same tired cliché: A meets B, they fall in love and have sex, difficulties arise and are solved, happy ending. This film is different but I offer no spoilers.  But the film is a testament to courageous choices.

Not bad.

2013, Alcoholism, American Indian culture, Based on a Book, Based on true facts, Catholic culture, Dysfunctional Lives, Explicit sexual discussion, Love Story, Mental Illness, Psychiatrists, Psychological Drama, Quiet, Slow, Talking Heads, True Story, Unusual, War

Jimmy P. (2013)

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From Netflix:

Returning home from World War II, Blackfoot Native American Jimmy Picard suffers from a host of psychosomatic symptoms. In this drama based on a true story, he bonds with psychoanalyst Georges Devereux as the two explore his psyche for causes.

From Wikipedia:

Jimmy P. stars Benicio del Toro as the titular character, Jimmy Picard, a Blackfoot Indian who has returned from war with debilitating symptoms. Mathieu Amalric, who has appeared in most of Arnaud Desplechin’s films, plays George Devereux, a French doctor of Hungarian Jewish background, who specializes in ethnology and psycho analysis. Jimmy P. was shot in Michigan and Montana, and is primarily based on a book by George Devereux , “Reality and dream: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian” (New York: International Univ. Press, 1951). The film is about some of the pioneering days of psychoanalysis.

Because this is basically a psychological talking-heads film, not everyone would find this story interesting. Except for some sad violence involving mentally ill patients, there is no action.

Assumedly Benicio del Toro’s first language might have been Spanish because he was born in Puerto Rico as the son of two Spanish lawyers. In this film he speaks in a slow, well articulated manner that presumably a Blackfoot Indian would use in speaking English. If you read del Toro’s full biography in IMDB, you might discover some films worth watching.

Mathieu Amalric is no great actor, but he delivers a believable performance.

For me seeing Gina McKee as Amalric’s “lover” was a nice surprise. Everytime I see her I remember her performance as Irene Forsyte in the British TV series “The Forsyte Saga”. Probably her portion of this film could have been entirely omitted without affecting the intent of the story.

Language fans will enjoy the discussion of Amerian Indian languages.

Not for everyone, but I was fascinated.

2012, Based on true facts, Docudrama, Philosophic Discussions, Political statement, Talking Heads, Terrible acting, Thought provoking, True Story

Hannah Arendt (2012)

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From Netflix:

After fleeing Nazi Germany for the United States, a Jewish-German philosopher accepts an assignment from the New Yorker to cover the trial of an infamous war criminal, resulting in an article that ignites controversy all over the world.

According to Wikipedia:

In 2012 a German film titled Hannah Arendt was released, directed by Margarethe von Trotta, and with Barbara Sukowa in the role of Arendt. The film concentrates on the Eichmann trial, and the controversy caused by Arendt’s book, which at the time was widely misunderstood as defending Eichmann and blaming Jewish leaders for the Holocaust.

Perhaps “talking heads” best describes this philosophical, talkative, historical non-action film in which the characters endlessly discuss (argue?) the nature of evil, the involvement of the Jewish leaders during the Nazi regime, group versus individual culpability, Eichmann’s trial, etc. etc. etc.

Most of the dialog is in German. Subtitles are for all spoken words, German and otherwise. Perhaps the fact that this is a German film explains why so many of the lines spoken in English sound like something out of a high school drama class.

As the film often reminds us, it is not fair to criticize the ideas of Hannah Arendt without first having the fortitude to read what she wrote.

Try and keep watching up to the point in which Hannah defends her ideas before a large student body. Her speech is moving and in direct opposition to the irrational, emotional, and completely understandable reaction of many Jews.

2012, Comedy, Coming-of-age, Drama, Feel Good Not For Children, Flirting, Love Story, Mental Illness, Optimistic, Quiet, Sex Scenes, Small gem of a film, Talking Heads, Witty dialog

Liberal Arts (2012)

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From Netflix:

A speaking engagement brings 35-year-old Jesse back to his college alma mater, where he’s blindsided by nostalgia and a plucky sophomore named Zibby. Newly single and unfulfilled by his job, Jesse finds Zibby pulling him out of his disillusionment.

Call it talking-heads, call it an hour and one half of feel-good bubbles, but this little gem made me smile. Just enjoy all the philosophical pronouncements, some of them even make sense.

How can you not like 35 year old Jesse (played by Josh Radnor), an ordinary-looking guy with a friendly, sincere smile who is moral enough to think twice about sleeping with a 19 year old college student and warm enough to help a student suffering from manic-depression?

Feel sorry for the other characters who in a negative way help Jesse start to come alive: Professor Holberg (played by Richard Jenkins) who regretfully must retire even though he still feels like he is 19; Professor Fairfield (played by Allison Janney) who has grown cynical and bitter after loveless years of teaching literature.

Enjoy listening to the clever banter between Jesse and Zibby (played by Elizabeth Olsen). Were you like Zibby at her young age ?

Try and see it with someone you love.