Atomic Fangirl

“Destiny has brought me here! Destiny has brought me this lamb chop!”

Story: It’s 1789, and Marie Antoinette has been beheaded during the rabid tide of the French Revolution. As years pass, a Corsican military commander named Napoleon Bonaparte seeks a chance to show his quality. He succeeds, and fails, in glorious fashion.

Genre I’d put it in: Montage-esque Biopics With Glorious Art Direction
Release Date: 2023
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Based on the life and times of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Gotta say: I am a dilettante when it comes to history. I know what I know, but am always keen on learning more stuff, especially if wonderful costuming is part of the package. And Napoleon gives me everything my eyes require; the cities, camps, homes, and barracks look lived-in, not simply historically accurate. Same for the costumes and set pieces. And director Ridley Scott gives the battle scenes a Game of Thrones feel through the gray-blue colors and accurately gross FX. Pity the story is such a mess.

“You can’t even dream a whole dream, can you?”

Story: Paul (Mr. Hunham to his students) is a gleeful curmudgeon who lives for the takedown. Especially when that involves the wealthy, overprivileged snots in his Ancient Civilization classes. But when he gets saddled with holiday break duties in the winter of 1970 (see: gleeful curmudgeon for reasons), he learns a deep lesson in humility, humanity, and hope from Angus, a student in his care, and Mary, the kitchen manager who’s also staying through the holidays. Maybe. Sorta. Mostly, he’s still a douche.

Genre I’d put it in: Films That Completely Nail The Retro Vibe
Release Date: 2023
Remake, Sequel, Based-On, or Original: Inspired by Marcel Pagnol’s Merlusse, and a TV pilot idea by Holdover‘s screenwriter David Hemingson.

Gotta say: I’ve been drooling over this film ever since I saw the gloriously retro look of the teaser trailer. Director Alexander Payne has said “We were very fully making a ’70s movie,” and the obvious love of the craft shows in this film. From the tics and bumps of the film stock, to the grainy focus of each frame, to the cool, dull look of each shot, it’s a master class in not only re-creating the look of 1970s cinema, Holdovers feels like a film born too late to join its compatriots. Luckily with streaming, it’s got a chance to share space with those that have gone before. Plus, it’s officially a Christmas film. Ho ho ho, y’all!