meurernick Reviews

In the Heights (2021)

The First Blockbuster of Summer 2021

[7/10 · 12 June 2021]

I am considering this the first blockbuster of the summer. When watching this, I thought to myself, does this give Latin American people the same feeling that Black Panther gave Black people? While they are two totally different types of movies, but both give these communities a voice and a sense of brotherhood. This movie was also super fun to watch. I'm a sucker for musicals (La La Land is my favorite movie) and this did not disappoint. The songs, the choreography and all the characters. It also had some fun visual effects (especially during 96,000). Some of the lighting choices and coloring were great, pay attention during Paciencia y Fe! So much vibrancy. And the editing. I like how cuts would happen to correlate with the music. It was also nice to see some of the actors from the play show up in the movie, looking at you Abuela and Lin Manuel-Miranda. The movie also didn't just follow the play word for word, they added more to make the story more relevant to today and showed some real issues people deal with. I can definitely see this getting multiple award nominations (Picture, Director, Visual Effects, Costumes, Cinematography, Adapted Screenplay and Editing).

The Emperor's New Groove (2000)

An Underrated Gem

[8/10 · 29 April 2021]

This is one of Disney's hidden gems. This movie is usually seen on underrated Disney movie lists, and with good reasoning. Characters like Kuzco, Pacha and Kronk are all great, the story is quite interesting, and it has very memorable quotes. Also, what movie has provided more templates for memes than this?

Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)

I Liked this Movie

[7/10 · 29 April 2021]

I think this was a cute movie. It provided a good mix of seriousness and comedy. While I will admit that there were some plot holes and confusion from the story, I think it overall works. There were some moments where you are able to call out when certain things are going to happen, and it did look like there were some references to other films (i.e. Guardians of the Galaxy). It's not the greatest Disney movie, but it is far from being anywhere near its worst.

The Favourite (2018)

Definition of a Dark Comedy

[8/10 · 24 April 2021]

This movie is billed as a dark comedy, and I should have expected that coming from the guy who made The Lobster. Duck racing, lobster racing, poisoning, animal cruelty. Very dark and very odd. All three women were outstanding in their roles. In my personal opinion, Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone were the leads, while Olivia Coleman was more supporting. It was visually very beautiful, with all the beautiful costumes, makeup, production design and score. Really makes you feel like you were there. At points, you have to feel bad for Queen Anne. She's sick and being taken advantage of by her "helpers". The ending is probably one of the most disturbing parts. It's good that Anne stands up for herself, but I was disturbed by Abigail. I wonder if in the last scene she was thinking about her past?

Sound of Metal (2019)

I Liked It

[7/10 · 21 April 2021]

This was a sad movie. I don't have a disability, but I felt for Ruben's character in this. To one day be able to hear fine, and have it rapidly disappear? That's scary stuff. And you can't blame him for wanting to fix it. It was difficult for Lou as well, having to adjust for to this new development. Joe was tough but fair as a caretaker. And the ending was a bit of a surprise. This also had some good use of lighting and some pretty shots. Everywhere I've watched, people are saying this is a sure win for Best Sound, and there's no arguing with that.

Scream (1996)

A Horror Movie Classic

[8/10 · 18 October 2020]

What is there to say about this movie that hasn't been said before. The perfect mix of horror and comedy, it sparked a new form of horror in meta commentary. Ghostface probably has to be the worst killer in the slasher genre. He takes so much physical abuse, he's not really intimidating. It's kind of hilarious. Sidney Prescott is technically considered a final girl, but I'd absolutely go to her for protection in these times. Rewatching this movie, I saw myself in Randy Meeks. He's also the perfect comedic relief for this movie. I really like the moment when he's drunk watching Halloween, he's saying "Jamie look out". I think that's funny, especially because his name is really Jamie. In addition, the score (which I didn't notice the first couple times I watched it) was super awesome. Totally snuck by me the last time, and it was super dope.

Amistad (1997)

Star-studded Cast Leads the Way

[7/10 · 17 October 2020]

I don't usually watch behind the scenes stuff for movies, but I did for this one, and it made the experience so much better. The attention to detail to make this as historically accurate as possible is wonderful. Spielberg took us back to a time in our history that many have told before, but this one felt different. Costumes, production design, the way people spoke, and the score all added to the feeling. This was a star-studded cast, and no one really stuck out for me, but I think the whole cast worked very well with each other. I was very impressed how captivating Djimon Hounsou was, while speaking only a few lines of English in the movie. Matthew McConaughey, Morgan Freeman, and Anthony Hopkins all provided entertaining roles as well. There were also great parallels between certain elements of the film. The sword and the nail to me at least represented freedom.

Cabin Fever (2002)

I Enjoyed This Film

[7/10 · 17 October 2020]

This movie was pretty entertaining. Earlier this year, I had said I would never watch an Eli Roth movie because I thought there would be too much gore. After watching Hostel, I felt fine. So I decided to check out Cabin Fever. Overall, it was pretty good. It had some good twists, and the gore wasn't unbearable. I still feel squeamish when watching the shaving scene. The effects were pretty solid. Also, the comedy was actually pretty funny. The final shot with the water being sent out was such a good addition. Makes you think of everyone else who'll get the virus. I felt bad for Paul and Karen. She died in a shed by herself, and he had to kill his friend/crush. Finally, people act like how Jeff did with COVID-19. Funny how a movie from 2002 can still be relevant almost 20 years later.

The Journey of August King (1995)

Eh

[5/10 · 17 October 2020]

This didn't really add anything new to what I have seen in movies about slavery. I was actually afraid this was going to become a white savior movie. Thankfully it did not. The movie was fine, but it didn't leave a huge impression on me. The acting was good. The only thing I found odd was at one point, I thought Olaf's actor had a British accent pop out at one point.

The Hug (2018)

It Was Okay

[5/10 · 17 October 2020]

I didn't really care for this. The whole time I thought to myself, this is a Five Nights at Freddy's rip off. In addition, Aden was an annoying brat, so I didn't really care when he died. Also, how did the manager not realize the kid took his keys.

Black Swan (2010)

Horrifying Beauty

[8/10 · 12 October 2020]

Ballet is difficult to make scary. Dario Argento did it back in 1977 with Suspiria, and 33 years later, Darren Aronofsky did the same thing with Black Swan. Natalie Portman blew her role out of the water. Nerdwriter talked about her being an obsessed artist, and that's an understatement. Everything had to be perfect. Her drive for perfection made her an unreliable protagonist, initially showing other people as the one's trying to hurt her, when it was her herself. The special effects were very uncomfortable at points, making me wince and look away at points. The makeup was beautiful, which went hand in hand with the choreography. Such beauty and grace watching them dance. Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel and Barbara Hershey all rounded out a good supporting cast. Even Winona Ryder (in her small screen time) did a good job. Nina also transformed from a shy, innocent, in some ways childlike character, to a more independent, yet unstable adult. You can even see it in the colors of her room, her actions, and mental psyche. Also, score was pretty solid, and props to the Academy for acknowledging a horror movie, by nominating this for 5 Oscars, including a win for Natalie Portman.

House of 1000 Corpses (2003)

Rob Zombie's Debut a Killer

[8/10 · 12 October 2020]

I enjoyed this movie. Before learning about this movie, I only knew Rob Zombie's movies as the Halloween remakes, but this was quite a trip. Cool editing, creepy production design, fun music choices, great/disgusting makeup, and awesome characters. Let's talk about those characters. Otis was very disturbing and uncomfortable to watch. A total flip from Chop Top (also played by Bill Moseley). The Professor and Dr. Satan were gross and not easy to look at due to the great make up. Captain Spaulding was very funny, especially in the cold open. And finally, my favorite character Baby Firefly. She was unhinged, but also captivating. Every time she was on screen, my eyes were drawn to her. Also, she had quite the range. This movie also had Rainn Wilson before The Office, and Chris Hardwick before Talking Dead. I also enjoyed their characters as well. I also felt like there were some homages to other horror movies. Dead Meat told me about the Texas Chainsaw dinner scene reference, but I also feel The Professor taking off his mask and releasing that liquid was a reference to Jason Takes Manhattan. Maybe. Maybe not.

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986)

So Much Fun

[8/10 · 10 October 2020]

I love watching this movie. A total 180 from the original 1974 film. In my honest opinion, I didn't really enjoy Leatherface/Bubba in this film. In the original Gunnar Hansen was a hulking monster of a man who you would scare you just by looking at you. And while he did have some comedic moments, like putting on the different masks to look "pretty", he was still terrifying. In the second film, Leatherface seemed way too dumb and incompetent, and they tried to make him too likable. A character I did enjoy though, was Chop Top. The fact that Bill Moseley was such a huge fan, Tobe Hooper basically couldn't say no to him being in the movie is so inspiring. Chop Top was extremely uncomfortable and funny to watch. Picking at his scalp and eating it, talking about how important music is. He's hilarious and has quickly become one of my favorite characters in all of cinema. Dennis Hopper was funny as well, especially with his "bring it all down"! He was also a good character, because he had a very good method for hunting down the Sawyers. Drayton and Grandpa Sawyer both added more comedic and scary moments. The close up on Grandpa's face was kind of horrifying. The last character, Stretch. I really enjoyed Stretch as a character. She was strong, smart, funny, and didn't take anyone's s**t. I just think there was just a bit too much screaming. I really enjoyed the production design. Creepy, yet kind of inviting.

Crawl (I) (2019)

It Did Its Job

[6/10 · 10 October 2020]

So I read that this was Quentin Tarantino's favorite movie of 2019. While I do love Mr. Tarantino, I can't say I agree with that opinion. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the movie, but it wasn't even my favorite horror movie of 2019. I like the chemistry between Kaya Scodelario and Barry Pepper's characters. They actual seemed like a father/daughter duo that cared for each other. The way Dave encouraged Haley when she was second guessing herself was so heartwarming. However, my favorite character had to be the dog, Sugar. Sugar was definitely the smartest character in the movie. She found where Dave was, and knew when there was trouble. Also, it had some good jump scares. Now for what I didn't really enjoy. For starters, the cgi on the gators could have been better. I know nothing is perfect, but in 2019, the alligators looked just a bit too digital. Second thing was, could the characters really have all the strength they had with all their injuries. Haley got bit in the leg, and was able to outswim a gator. Also, one gator bit her shoulder, and put her through the death roll (always love a good death roll/I anticipated seeing it), and she could swim fine and but pressure on it to reach the room. Also, how did Dave have enough strength to lift Haley to the roof with one arm? Third and finally, this movie felt super long. It's less than an hour long, but watching ten minutes felt like watching half an hour.

Cam (2018)

Unique Story

[7/10 · 10 October 2020]

I applaud this story for its concept. I think this was done well, especially since it is loosely based off the writer's own career as a camgirl. Identity theft is no joke, and it's probably worse when it is some weird, unidentifiable virus/ghost doing it. I really enjoyed the production design of Lola's room. I love neon color, and it was great to see all the bright colors being used. In addition, Madeline Brewer got a lot of praise for her role as Lola, and I agree with it. She was very personable, and I felt her awkwardness and "shame" when everyone she knew found out she was a camgirl. Then the police wouldn't help her. At least there was a nice resolution between Alice and her mom towards the end of the movie. The one cop even basically tried to see if she was some sort of prostitute, and tried to brush it off as a "compliment". Very interesting movie. Enjoyable, but probably a hard movie to describe watching.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

A Horror Classic

[8/10 · 7 October 2020]

I watched this back in my freshman year of high school. Revisiting it almost 8 years later, I enjoyed it even more. Let's talk about the acting first. Anthony Hopkins is in the movie for less than 30 minutes of screen time, and he steals every scene. The thing that made him so chilling, was how he could dissect a person both mentally and emotionally. Everyone I've heard has also agreed with this claim. Then there's Clarice Starling. She held herself together with Dr. Lecter. She'd take what Dr. Lecter would throw at her, and throw it right back at him. She might've broken down in the parking lot, but she didn't show weakness in front of someone who who could take control of the conversation so quickly. The scenes between Clarice and Dr. Lecter were my favorite. A battle of wits and intellect. Clarice didn't take s**t from anyone, and was even able to outsmart Dr. Lecter and the FBI at points. And she was only in the academy! Finally, there's Buffalo Bill. He felt like a mix of Ted Bundy and Ed Gein. He was also creepily funny. Mocking Catherine's screams, calling one of his victims, a "great, big, fat person", and not really taking Clarice seriously when she tries to arrest him. He's a mean guy, but he had fun with his role. I like the production design of Buffalo Bill's house. Looks like a normal house from the outside, but then in the basement, it's like a maze, and then a giant hole in the middle of the room. And then all the moths flying around. Gross. There's also some very good editing, especially during scenes with Clarice and Dr. Lecter. The score was also pretty solid.

The Beach House (II) (2019)

Trippy

[7/10 · 5 October 2020]

This was another heavy movie. I didn't expect this movie to have so many existential themes. This was also a good combination of different types of horror. Environmental, zombie, doomsday. I did think some of the dialogue was a little corny, but overall it was pretty good. Liana Liberato was definitely the MVP of this movie. I felt as scared as her at moments. This movie also had some good gross out moments and anxiety building moments. It also had some great transitions, beautiful cinematography, and great effects. Also, this works as an indie movie. I kept picturing Brie Larson and Tom Hardy as Emily and Randall, but I definitely like this with lesser known stars.

The Quiet Room (2018)

A Solid Horror Short

[7/10 · 5 October 2020]

This reminded me of the 2020 Invisible Man movie. The acting was pretty solid, and the chemistry between the actors was good. The direction was very good. Sam Wineman used some classic horror tropes, and when you thought one thing was going to happen, he went in the opposite direction. This movie had some LGBTQ+ themes to it, and I think they were handled very well. It even had some drag queens act in it. Finally, a good twist always makes a movie better in my opinion.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988)

B Movie Royalty

[9/10 · 3 October 2020]

This is B Movie royalty. When I think of B Movies, I think of things like Plan 9 from Outer Space, Sharknado, and this! This movie is so much damn fun. The Chiodo brothers went all out on this one. The clowns are disgusting to look at (great practical effects), the special effects were cheesy, but probably okay for the time, it had beautiful production design (especially the clowns' ship), funny acting and an all out whacky story. You could tell that this was made in the 80's, based on the comedy (Chief), but that isn't a total deal breaker. I originally liked Officer Mooney, he was funny and took no one's crap, but then I realized, he's a corrupt cop who restricts people's rights and will kill 'em for no reason. Last two things, I like how Jumbo also kept looking at the screen like he broke the fourth wall. In addition, all their weapons were so fun and original too. Cotton candy guns, popcorn guns, shadow puppet monsters, ballon animal bloodhounds.

My Bloody Valentine (1981)

One that Doesn't Get Talked about Enough

[8/10 · 2 October 2020]

This was total 80's slasher fun. I was not able to watch the unrated version, but it was still very fun and gory. I like the use of a pickaxe as the main weapon, as 1. It is relevant to the town, and 2. it's a unique weapon in the real world, a total diversion from the plethora of knives and axes were would end up seeing in the movies to come later in the decade. I originally heard of this movie on Dead Meat's Kill Count, and was not disappointed. Good kills, and special effects. My favorite character was Hollis. He was so happy, and was able to keep TJ and Axel from killing each other most of the time. Finally, the song that plays over the credits (The Ballad of Henry Warden) is pretty fun. This one doesn't get talked about as much, falling under the weight of all the Nightmare, and Halloween sequels.

La haine (1995)

Other Countries Suffer from Police Brutality and Discrimination

[7/10 · 2 October 2020]

First things first, I find it very intriguing that this was directed by Mathieu Kassovitz. The first thing I saw Kassovitz in, was Amélie, a very happy film to say the least. Little did I know, six years before that, he made this movie about police brutality and discrimination in France. Being from the United States, I usually do not hear about other countries' issues with the police. That may be me just not paying attention/looking in the right places, or a lack of coverage, but this opened my eyes. People in other countries deal with the same issues we deal with in the states. I think this movie was fascinating in it's symbolism of the policeman's gun. At one point, Saïd says to Vinz, "with that piece, you're the big man in the projects". It is a symbol of power. Also, the character change in Hubert was also very good. He started out as wanting nothing to do with the gun, to possibly being the last one to fire it in the movie.

First Reformed (2017)

I Didn't Hate It

[6/10 · 2 October 2020]

I have a love/hate relationship with A24. I really like some of their movies (like Midsommar), and then I don't (like Under the Skin and A Ghost Story). This movie definitely had an interesting concept. This priest absorbing the idea, "Will God forgive us for destroying his creation"? It was an environmental message, through the eyes of the church. The character development of Ethan Hawke's character was very well done. He went from wanting to prevent this man's death for the same reasons, to basically falling into the same situation as Michael. I also felt really bad for Toller. Watching him pee was very uncomfortable, seeing how much pain he was in. And even by the time he goes to the doctor, he had already basically given up. The doctor told him not to drink, but he did anyway. He fell into the "what's the point of living" ideology. it gave me chills. Amanda Seyfried and Cedric the Entertainer helped round out a very solid supporting cast. However, my only qualm with the movie, is the ending. Ending with Toller and Mary making out, and immediately cutting to black? Did not sit right with me.

Melancholia (2011)

Depressing

[7/10 · 25 September 2020]

To quote John Mulaney: "To quote the president: "This movie was SAD"!" This is a one way ticket to Depressionville, that stops at one of the saddest endings I've ever seen. I read things about this movie, and I thought one thing was going to happen and it did, but then something else happened that negated the first thing. I never thought I would watch a Lars Von Trier movie, due to thinking they had unnecessary gore in them, but I was gladly mistaken in this one. Kirsten Dunst scared me at points. Her depression seemed very realistic, and I've seen those things happen before. Trying to seclude yourself, fake a smile. Truly haunting. I also have felt like Claire, overthinking and thinking a planet will destroy the Earth. It has terrified me at points. The planet, Melancholia was beautiful to look at, and it did contribute to some of the gorgeous cinematography, but that doesn't make it any less scary.

Rosewood (1997)

Heavy Movie

[7/10 · 25 September 2020]

This was a heavy movie. I had never heard about the Rosewood Massacre, but it's a heartbreaking story. Watching this, gave me similar vibes to when I watched Birth of a Nation. What I mean is, for the majority of the movie, I saw white southerners killing African Americans, and burning their property. At least in this movie, some of the African Americans survived and escaped. I thought the sheriff was going to be a good guy, but that was immediately shut down, when he joined the lynch mob. I don't care if you tried to stop some of it, you participated in it, and you can't come back from that. I liked Ving Rhames in his role. When I first saw him, I thought to myself, "is that Marsellus Wallace?," and it was! Also Don Cheadle was great. And the twist at the end, did not see that coming. Beautiful shots, a good John Williams score, and great direction from John Singleton.

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Slow Burn, but Fun

[7/10 · 25 September 2020]

This movie is slow, but the last 35 minutes (which Spielberg has said are the most difficult things he has had to edit) are so much fun. There's so much fun behind the scenes trivia for this movie. The aliens looked creepy, which is always a fun addition. John Williams much have had such a fun time composing the five tones scene (I absolutely loved it). That scene reminded me of something you would have seen in Fantasia. And I'll be honest, I thought a different character in the movie, was played by Richard Dreyfuss for like the first half of the movie. Not used to seeing him without a beard. If you want to see a slow burn Sci-Fi movie, check out Close Encounters. Also, this rightfully won Best Cinematography. It had beautiful shots.