Directed by Miguel Arteta and written by Mike White, Beatriz at Dinner is the story of a Mexican-American massage therapist who is unexpectedly invited to dinner by one of her clients where she finds herself dealing with an arrogant dinner guest. The film is a look into a dinner party filled with rich white people and a lone working-class Mexican-American who finds herself at a dinner where it eventually starts to unravel due to her presence. Starring Salma Hayek, Connie Britton, David Warshofsky, Chloe Sevigny, Jay Duplass, Amy Landecker, and John Lithgow. Beatriz at Dinner is an eerie yet somber film from Miguel Arteta.
What happens when a massage therapist finds herself being a guest at a dinner party where the man who is the center of attention happens to be one of the most evil men living on Earth? That is pretty much what the film is about as it explores a day in the life of this woman named Beatriz (Salma Hayek) who spends the day doing work at a massage therapy center in helping cancer patients as she also has a rich client in Kathy (Connie Britton). Mike White’s screenplay doesn’t just explore Beatriz’s day as she copes with loss of a goat who was killed by her neighbor but also a day that feels very typical until she is asked to see Kathy who is preparing for a dinner party with her husband Grant (David Warshofsky). Beatriz’s relationship with Kathy and Grant has much to do with the fact that Beatriz had helped their daughter with her battle with cancer. Due to the fact that Beatriz’s car couldn’t start, Kathy invites Beatriz to stay for dinner where Beatriz spends much of the film being this observer as the guests at the dinner party are all white.
The guest of honor at this dinner party is the real estate mogul Doug Strutt (John Lithgow) who is this unconventional antagonist who seems to take pleasure in the money he makes as well as be arrogant in his accomplishments. Yet, Beatriz is curious over a connection she has with him as Strutt is accompanied by his wife Jeana (Amy Landecker) while a couple in Shannon (Chloe Sevigny) and Alex (Jay Duplass) are also guests at the party. Beatriz would observe everything that goes on while also telling about how she met Grant and Kathy through their daughter only to be interrupted by Strutt who would ask questions about her status in America. The dinner would eventually intensify with Kathy stuck in the middle wanting to protect Beatriz yet is aware that Strutt is the reason she and Grant are living a life of luxury as they really don’t know anything else.
Miguel Arteta’s direction doesn’t really bear much of a visual style other than recurring images of Mexico as well as Beatriz’s dead goat and ocean waves as it play into the sense of longing and loss that looms Beatriz during the course of the day. While there are some wide shots in the film including the way Arteta would frame some of the characters in a scene inside Kathy and Grant’s home as a way to show how detached everyone else is to Beatriz’s life and Beatriz herself. It’s also the way Arteta would use close-ups and medium shots to play into Beatriz’s own observation of this party as well as the guests who don’t know her at all as they find her interesting but are concerned about their own lives and what’s going to happen. Yet, with Strutt being the center of attention talking about his accomplishments and ultra-conservative views on the world. Beatriz would eventually find herself becoming more disgusted with him and who he is as a human being.
Arteta’s approach to the suspense and drama is restrained as well as it play into Beatriz being this outsider who would realize more of her connection to Strutt and his actions towards the world. There are these brief moments of intense moments of confrontation but it is all about the status quo as there’s elements of realism that Beatriz has to deal with as it relates to who she is and the ways of the world. Despite the things Strutt says and his actions about what he does, there is still an air of defiance and dignity in Beatriz in how Arteta would frame her as it does play into her place in the world. Overall, Arteta crafts a riveting and understated film about a Mexican-American massage therapist being a guest in a dinner party with one of the vilest men in the world.
Cinematographer Wyatt Garfield does excellent work with the film’s cinematography for the usage of low-key lights for the scenes in the daytime as well as the look for the scenes at night including its interior/exterior setting. Editor Jay Deuby does fantastic work with the editing as it does have bit of styles in the usage of the recurring flashbacks in some stylized transitions as well as some rhythmic cuts to play into the drama. Production designer Ashley Fenton and set decorator Madelaine Frezza do amazing work with the look of Kathy and Grant’s home in how lavish it is as well as the look of their daughter’s room. Costume designer Christina Blackaller does wonderful work with the costumes as it play into the ordinary look of Beatriz to the more posh look of Kathy and her friends.
Visual effects supervisors George Loucas and Scott Mitchell do nice work with the visual effects as it is largely minimal for some exterior set dressing including images that Beatriz would see. The sound work of Dan Snow is superb for its low-key atmosphere in the dinner scenes as well as how Beatriz would observe guests outside the house as she is listening to their conversations. The film’s music by Mark Mothersbaugh is terrific for its low-key approach to the music with its mixture of ambient, soft keyboard-based music, and somber orchestral music to play into the melancholia while music supervisor Margaret Yen provides a low-key soundtrack filled with kitsch music played in the background as well as an ambient piece by Brian Eno.
The casting by Joanna Colbert and Meredith Tucker is amazing as it features a few small roles from John Early as Grant and Kathy’s servant and Enrique Castillo as a tow truck driver. Jay Duplass and Chloe Sevigny are superb in their respective roles as the couple Alex and Shannon with the former being someone who likes to drink and do immature things while the latter is a snobbish woman who believes she has a lot to offer. Amy Landecker is fantastic as Strutt’s wife Jeana as a woman who doesn’t really know much about the world as well as being ignorant about everything she has. David Warshofsky is excellent as Kathy’s husband Grant who isn’t keen on having Beatriz at the dinner party but reluctantly gives in since Beatriz did a lot for his daughter.
Connie Britton is brilliant as Kathy as a woman who is kind of Beatriz though she’s is torn in her loyalty to Strutt for the lifestyle he’s brought to her and Grant as well as what Beatriz meant to her as it’s a tricky performance from Britton who could’ve been a one-dimensional character but shows there’s still an air of humanity despite her ignorance of what Beatriz is going through. John Lithgow is incredible as Doug Strutt as it’s a performance that just oozes this air of inhumanity, arrogance, and disdain as someone who is proud of what he’s done with little regard for what other people think and whom he’s hurt as it is one of Lithgow’s great performances. Finally, there’s Salma Hayek in a phenomenal performance as the titular character as a Mexican-American massage therapist who becomes an unexpected dinner guest as she deals with the other guests including Strutt whom she would despise as the night goes on as it’s a restrained performance from Hayek that shows a woman who’s endured so much loss and heartache as it’s Hayek in one of her defining performances.
Beatriz at Dinner is a sensational film from Miguel Arteta that features top-notch performances from Salma Hayek and John Lithgow. Featuring a compelling script by Mike White, a superb ensemble supporting cast, and a look into a world that is toxic with the person at the center of attention mirrors a certain figure who is probably the most hated individual of the 21st Century so far. In the end, Beatriz at Dinner is a spectacular film from Miguel Arteta.
Miguel Arteta Films: (Star Maps) – (Chuck & Buck) – (The Good Girl) – (Youth in Revolt) – Cedar Rapids - (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day) – (Duck Butter)
© thevoid99 2018
Directed by Richard Linklater and written by Mike White, School of Rock is the story about an unemployed rock musician who pretends to be a substitute teacher for a prestigious prep school as he decides to teach the children rock n’ roll and form a band so he can win a battle of the bands contest and pay his rent. The film is a comedy that explores a man’s desire to do right for his friend while teaching young kids the power of music and how it can shape their minds. Starring Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White, Miranda Cosgrove, and Sarah Silverman. School of Rock is a rocking and fantastic film from Richard Linklater.
The film is just a simple story about an unemployed rock musician named Dewey Finn (Jack Black) who has just been kicked out of his band and needs to pay the rent or else he’s going to be kicked out by his friend Ned Schneebly (Mike White). By pretending to be Ned after hearing a message to be a substitute teacher for a prestigious upstate New York elementary prep school, Dewey deals with its strict rules until he learns about that the kids in his class are also in a music class. By teaching them the etiquettes of rock n’ roll, he finds the idea to make them his new band so he can win an upcoming battle of the bands contest and pay his rent. While it’s a story that might seem formulaic and silly, what makes it so engaging is the fact that it’s about a guy who bonds with some kids over not just music but also finding reasons into the idea of learning.
Mike White’s screenplay is actually far more interesting than what its premise suggests as it’s not just a film about rock n’ roll but also a film about a guy trying to find his role in life to mean something but still maintain that sense of love and passion for music. While Dewey Finn is sort of a man-child who doesn’t want to grow up and refuses to give up his rock n’ roll dreams. He becomes a much more well-rounded person by taking on this job as a substitute teacher where he not only helps out kids who feel stifled by the upbringing they’re in. He also gives them a reason to have some fun and act like kids while being able to learn along the way.
It’s not just the character of Dewey and the kids that really help the script be engaging. There are supporting characters like Dewey’s friend Ned and the school principal Rosalie Mullins who are just as interesting as well. Ned is someone who used to play rock n’ roll but had to give it up in order to get a real job as he’s constantly berated by his girlfriend Patti (Sarah Silverman). There’s a moment late in the film where Dewey admits to his actions and feels bad about what he does but he tells Ned that he couldn’t give up on his dreams like Ned did. What Ned reveals is that his sacrifice to give up music wasn’t easy as well into why there’s a bit of melancholia to his character. The Mullins character might seem like a typical figure of authority who has to run things but there’s more to her as she’s a woman who wants to change things for the school to make things better and actually make it less stifling for the children.
Richard Linklater’s direction is definitely lively in the way he explores the world of rock n’ roll as well as prep school life where he adds this element of fun into the entire story. While there are moments where things can get wild, it is told with some restraint in which Linklater is able to get his actors to tone things down a bit while having the kids just act naturally. Since it’s also a kids film, Linklater has the story be told from the perspective of kids as they’re being taught by Dewey who is sort of a child. Yet, Dewey knows that kids can go into the wrong places where Dewey has to play the adult of sorts.
The direction has Linklater also creating some compositions that are simple and direct but also have this sense of being very energetic and lively. Even in some of the more low-key dramatic moments where Linklater knows where to put the actors in the frame. The film climax is the Battle of the Bands concert where there are elements of humor but it’s more about a sense of celebration and all of the good aspects about what rock n’ roll is all about. Having fun. Linklater not only does that but he makes it so much more where it’s not just a film that rock fans can love but also a film that families can enjoy where it’s both educational but also entertaining. Overall, Linklater crafts a very exciting and exhilarating film about rock n’ roll and learning about the music that will make any kid do Pete Townshend windmill guitar power chords.
Cinematographer Rogier Stoffers does excellent work with some of the lighting where it‘s very straightforward for many of the film‘s interior and exterior scenes with the exception of the lighting display for the climatic concert. Editor Sandra Adair does amazing work with the editing to not just capture the energy of the comedy and the rock n‘ roll moments but also in creating a montage to display rock n‘ roll‘s rich history. Production designer Jeremy Conway, along with set decorator Karin Wiesel and art director Adam Scher, do wonderful work with the set pieces from the look of the prep school and Battle of the Bands stage to the apartment Dewey and Ned live in.
Costume designer Karen Patch does fantastic work with the costumes from the look of the school uniforms to the clothes the kids wear for the climatic show. Sound editor Jacob Ribicoff does nice work with the sound to capture some of the intimacy of the classrooms as well as the atmosphere of the rock concert. The film’s music by Craig Wedren is terrific as it‘s low-key with its emphasis on rock while the film‘s soundtrack that is assembled by music supervisor Randall Poster is a mish-mash of all sorts of music ranging from acts like the Ramones, Kiss, AC/DC, the Clash, David Bowie, Stevie Nicks, Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, the Velvet Underground, and Led Zeppelin. The soundtrack also features some original music by Jack Black in collaboration with Mike White and Craig Wedren to capture Dewey’s passion for rock n’ roll.
The casting by Ilene Starger is brilliant for the ensemble that is created including the young kids that appear in this film. The film features cameo appearances from Frank Whaley as a battle of the bands director and the Mooney Suzuki as a band auditioning for a spot as well as small performances from Adam Pascal and Lucas Babin as Dewey’s former bandmates. Notable performances as the kids in Dewey’s class that include Cole Hawkins, Angelo Massagli, James Hosey, Zachary Infante, Brian Falduto, Aleisha Allen, and Caitlin Hale where they all play a part in helping with the look and style of the band. In the role of the School of Rock band, there’s Maryam Hassan as the soulful Tomika aka Songbird, Robert Tsai as the shy keyboardist Lawrence aka Mr. Cool, Rebecca Brown as the bassist Katie aka Posh Spice, Kevin Clark as drummer Freddy “Spazzy McGee” Jones, and Joey Gaydos Jr. as virtuoso guitarist Zack “Zack-Attack” Mooneyham as they all give great performances.
Miranda Cosgrove is wonderful as the school brainiac Summer “Tinkerbell” Hathaway as the student who helps Dewey out in handling some of the business stuff as well as being his organizer. Sarah Silverman is terrific as Ned’s bitchy girlfriend Patti who hates Dewey as she constantly bullies Ned into being an adult. Mike White is excellent as Ned Schneebly as a guy who loves to teach but has a hard time dealing with Dewey’s inability to grow up while admitting to the sacrifices he’s made in being an adult. Joan Cusack is superb as Principal Mullins as a woman who wants to create an environment for kids to learn but also not make it stifling as she is trying to deal with all of the restrictions she’s working while finding a chance to loosen up during a meeting with Dewey.
Finally, there’s Jack Black in a marvelous performance as Dewey Finn where Black is full of energy and charisma as a man-child who loves to rock where he takes his friend’s substitute teacher gig and finally finds a place where he can grow up but also still be a kid. It’s a performance where Black is not only funny but also shows that he does have some range as an actor where he can be a bit serious. Plus, it’s a performance where Black can show his love for rock while being the kind of guy that kids and adults can just love to watch as it’s definitely one of his career-defining performances.
School of Rock is an outstanding film from Richard Linklater that features a monstrous yet exciting performance from Jack Black. Along with notable supporting performances from Mike White and Joan Cusack as well as smart script from White and a fun soundtrack. It’s a film that doesn’t just capture the energy of rock n’ roll but also make it engaging enough where it appeals to the hardcore rock fans as well as kids and their parents. It’s a rare family film that isn’t afraid to be a bit educational but also make it compelling enough for kids to enjoy. In the end, School of Rock is a magnificent from Richard Linklater that takes it up to 11 and have kids bang on the drums like Keith Moon or Neil Peart. Rock out the guitar like Jimi Hendrix or Angus Young. Slappin da bass like Geddy Lee! Belt out those vocals like Aretha, Janis, or Freddie Mercury! It’s a film that displays what rock n’ roll is all about!!!! Having a good time and giving salute to those that love to rock!!!!
Richard Linklater Films: It’s Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books - Slacker - Dazed & Confused - Before Sunrise - subUrbia - The Newton Boys - Waking Life - Tape - Before Sunset - Bad News Bears (2005 film) - A Scanner Darkly - Fast Food Nation - Me and Orson Welles - Bernie (2011 film) - Before Midnight - Boyhood - Everybody Want Some!! - The Auteurs #57: Richard Linklater Pt. 1 - Pt. 2
© thevoid99 2013
