Truth be told, this film did a sneak attack on me like a burglar in the middle of the night. I knew nothing about it for months. Then it turns up on the Oscars' Best Picture list of nominations, so I gave it a sample via Apple TV. And was thoroughly captivated by the simple yet complex story. It truly might be the best movie I saw on that Oscar roster.
First off, you need to understand the title. "CODA" stands for "Children of Deaf Adults." And that's pretty much the logline. Ruby is a high school senior in Glouester, Massachusetts, who dreams of being a singer. A music teacher thinks she has the makings to get into Boston's prestigious music academy Berklee. There's just one problem. Ruby can't be away from her parents and her brother. They are all deaf and she is their sole translator via sign language.
Ruby's family has a new fishing business and her presence is mandatory for their success. Except she has this phenomenal chance to do something else with her life.
And that's it. A wonderfully simple and tight yarn. And, unlike most movies in 2022, you actually like the characters. You certainly see both sides of all their stories. Troy Kotsur and Hollywood's "go-to" deaf actress Marlee Matlin are marvelous as the parents and Kotsur has even scored a Best Supporting Actor nod. And Emilia Jones is marvelous as she depicts Ruby's dilemma.
From what I hear, this movie is coming up along the back stretch in the Oscar horse race. The cast won a SAG award for best ensemble. Compared to the front runner, the dull and uninteresting "Power of the Dog," "CODA" just might sneak in and give us hope that Hollywood still knows how to make unpretentious films.
Please, please check out "CODA."
LEN'S RATING: Four stars.
Dinner last night: Leftover ham.
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