ayoreinf Reviews

The Fall Guy (2024)

Do pay attention to the plot, it pretends it's silly - it isn't.

[9/10 · 2 May 2024]

Yes, this is a fun movie - that's what David Leitch specializes at - fun action comedies. But this one is way more than a simple action comedy. Let's start with the fact that our protagonist is a stunt man, the least recognizable person you might see on a movie screen. A point the movie makes repeatedly. A stunt man is a nobody, none knows him he can be replaced in an instant, but still - in this movie he's our protagonist. He tells us the story. So, we've got here a role reversal, but this role reversal is doubled, just as the term "fall guy" get's a double meaning here. This double role reversal is repeated a few times during the movie, in case we'll think it was accidental. It's not - that's what the movie is all about.

Think about the split screen scene - when the idea of a split screen is being discussed - is it a mere gimmick? Well, see what's happening on this split screen and you'll have your answer. Think about how unreal it all looks, and then think about one of the first sentences said by Jody Moreno - Emily Blunt's character - explaining that she doesn't want it to look real. It's a witty game the movie is playing with us - a game I love playing - it just calls for some extra attention. I could demonstrate this with many more examples, but it will require spoilers - I don't do these.

Just a few words about the acting - they're all super. I won't start singling out anybody. Editing, cinematography, pacing, all technical aspects of the movie - I just loved it.

Fast Charlie (2023)

A slow, fast moving, action movie.

[8/10 · 18 March 2024]

The key word in this slow thriller is "character driven". Namely, the entire story is driven by the characters we see on screen. Most of them are flesh and blood ones even when we get very minimal acquaintance with them. The movie is very quick when it comes to character building. See how quickly we get to know Blade and figure him out. And that's just one such example. Basically, the characters in this movie are written superbly, and obviously the actors do their share. With Pierce Brosnan and Morena Baccarin topping the list of a very good cast, in which even very short cameos count. (Think about Sharon Gless).

The story is not an original, and very few surprises are really surprising, but it doesn't matter, since the characters are so well written you want to know what will happen to them almost as soon as you get to know them. So, you stay through. I did, and I believe that if you'll give it the chance, you will too.

Argylle (2024)

In the game of spy comedies/parodies Matthew Vaughn is gunning for top spot

[9/10 · 5 February 2024]

Let's establish one basic assumption spy parodies/comedies are a kind of a game. Like most games they follow certain rules. The first rule is - trust none - nobody is what he/she claims to be. Another rule - there will be gadgets. One more rule is - laws of probability don't count. I could list a few more rules but these will do for now.

Matthew Vaughn is determined to get the top spot in this game. He competes against everybody, and he's going to win. See his Kingsman franchise, with two more installments promised at this moment. And Argylle, should the box-office be favorable will be another such franchise. These franchises may not reach the length of the ultimate spy franchise James Bond, but they'll compete in any other aspect and will leave nothing but dust in their wake.

Once you realize the entire thing is a game, most of the silly spectacular stuff will start making cinematic sense. The macabre fireworks show toward the end of the first Kingsman installment is just a prequel for the colorful smoke show, or the oil skating show we get in this movie.

We get a super cast to support this game show, with the ever-dependable Sam Rockwell and Bryan Cranston with the no less dependable Catherine O'Hara, with Vaughn's regulars like Samuel L. Jackson and Sofia Boutella. And with a very good performance by Bryce Dallas Howard who captures both aspects of her character to the teeth.

I loved it, including all the necessary plot twists. If you know what to expect you won't be disappointed.

Coup de Chance (2023)

It's a random and capricious world we live in

[8/10 · 22 November 2023]

I've been waiting for quite a long while for Woody to say something new. To be completely honest, it's not all that new, Woody himself had said more than once in his writing. But he never made a movie saying it so bluntly. And after a decade of repeating movies he did before, it's a breath of fresh air.

The acting is spot on, even if it does feel like his French people are in fact New Yorkers speaking with a weird accent. All the technical aspects were never an issue in Woody's movies. I'm not saying it's perfect, but it's a fun movie, and a good pastime. And I do like seeing Luo De Laage, ever since I saw her in Les Innocentes.

Fool's Paradise (2023)

Some real funny jokes and some great cartoons but no real movie

[6/10 · 4 September 2023]

No, it's not the worst movie ever, as another reviewer wrote here, at least not for me, but it's not a good movie too. In fact, I see it as a waste of some real funny jokes and some great cartoon characters. Thing is they don't meld together into anything resembling a movie. So even 97 minutes which are short by today's standards, become longish. I can't fault Adrien Brody, Ray Liotta, Kate Beckinsale Jason Sudeikis or Ken Jeong - they all deliver. To tell you the truth even Charlie Day's character is touching. And the satire is there, but since everyone is just a cartoon, and even the deepest relationships described in the movie - the one between Latte Pronto and Lenny grows into something heartfelt only in the last 10 minutes. The entire thing left me unmoved and mostly unimpressed.

There are lots of good elements in this movie, but they're all wasted since nothing coherent comes out. Just a pale shadow of the great Being There from 1979, in which Peter Sellers worked his magic. Go see it and see how cartoons can be made human.

Marguerite's Theorem (2023)

About mixing science with emotions

[9/10 · 20 August 2023]

I saw this movie about a month ago and had a privet debate with myself weather I should review it. The problem I had was, that as a movie - there's nothing out of the ordinary with it. It's well done the acting is of the highest quality, especially the lead, Ella Rumpf and Jean Pierre Darroussin, who plays her professor. But that's about it. Not amazingly bad not amazingly good, just a well-done movie.

But that's not all there is to a movie. It had one point that for me made it all worth my while. It's a story about a brilliant mathematician that manages to really reach her potential only when she comes to accept her emotional relation to math. We're all used to hear how science must be rational and detached from any sort of emotion. In fact, the idea is repeated a few times in the movie itself. Thing is, Marguerite sees math as the thing that keeps her world together, and as such she's very emotional about it. Without accepting that fact she can't really reach her potential, no matter how brilliant she is. And I just loved the way the movie made this point. For that reason alone, I rated it as I did, and for that reason I think it's a movie worth seeing.

The Flash (I) (2023)

When good writers go lazy

[8/10 · 26 June 2023]

Not long ago I wrote about how Across the Spider Verse stood out among other comics by defying the fatalistic approach adopted by most comics. Come and see this movie and you'll know exactly what I was complaining about.

I liked it. It had great characters, and great acting (one is the result of the other). I mean - I loved Ezra Miller whenever I saw him/them on screen. Sasha Calle is giving a great debut performance and Michael Keaton finally gets to be a real Batman. If only Tim Burton gave him a real chance to act back in the days. That means the writers of this movie know their job. Only problem is, it seems to me like they spent too much energy on writing the characters and didn't have enough left in their tanks when they reached the plot.

I'll admit, the entire idea of time loops has been milked by sci-fi to the bone. So, going there was doomed from the start if you ask me, even with all the nice Back to the Future jokes. But Back to the Future said - your destiny is yours to determine, while this one goes back to the lazy old fatalistic cliche. And then, they commit an even bigger sin in my personal book by allowing their heroes to reach a literal dead end. I said it before: in the world of comics if a superhero has to die - someone wrote it wrong and chose the easy way out.

This should've been a real great movie, but it fell short when it really counted. For me, that's a pity.

My Happy Ending (2023)

Despite the massive use of humor in this movie - this is no comedy

[8/10 · 11 June 2023]

The non term "comedy drama" strikes again. And since it's being used repeatedly, I'm forced to repeat my statement: "there's no such thing as comedy drama". The drama here, as in most cases when this term is used, is indeed present. But not every time humor is used the result is comedy. In this case humor is here simply to hold the drama in check and stop the entire thing from turning into a melodramatic mush. And it works, we do get a very understated and sometimes even restrained emotional reaction in a story that the normal Hollywood treatment would turn into an overwhelming sentimental tearjerker. The fact that we have no tearjerker here is in itself an achievement.

This achievement is reached with the help of the humor used here and with superb acting of all the leads. That is, in my humble opinion, what we got here is four leads and one major supporting role. Namely, Andie MacDowell, Miriam Margolyes, Sally Phillips and Rakhee Thakrar who all get their moments on screen, and Tamsin Greig, who supports this magnificent quartet. If we consider the subject matter - keeping the entire thing from going overboard is really something special that requires a lot of control and restraint from the cast. I remember seeing other movies on this topic that failed exactly in this point. The result was next to unwatchable.

One last point: one of the previous reviewers wrote the entire movie off as a collection of cliche. The story as is, without the humor and the restraint is exactly a collection of cliche. But when this collection of cliche is presented like that it becomes something completely different. For me, it became real, and touching because of this approach.

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

It's not a movie about characters from the comics - it's a comics book made into a movie

[10/10 · 4 June 2023]

I was really blown away by this masterpiece. It's beautiful, clever, funny and deep. And it dares being a comics in each and every frame. It never allows you to forget these are drawn characters you see. Unlike so many animated movies of recent time it doesn't go for the smooth polished look it makes certain we never forget that we watch a comics book that was brought to life on screen. Just like Rembrandt made sure we all see his brush strokes when we watch his paintings. But just like Rembrandt, it's done without allowing the technical mastery of it all to drop one little bit. But it's way more than simple issue of the looks of it. This is comics all the way, thematically as well as visually, hence the ending we got.

They didn't give up on anything; didn't allow a single detail to go amiss. They wouldn't give up on any bit of storytelling. It's all there, no matter how long the final cut will be, and still, it's not too long not even a second too long. The characters are all fully developed - real human beings drawn in comics form, but human just like any of us watching them on screen. It calls for some of the best voice acing I've seen, by each and every member of the cast. I simply can't single out anyone of them. They were all superb.

And than the story itself - It's way more than just sci-fi comics. It doesn't limit itself to the usual issues of power and its moral implications. It's asking us the deep questions of what determines the path our life take? Are we ruled by our destiny? Is it all written in our stars? If I had a problem with most of the comics I read it was because of the fatalistic approach adopted by most of them. This one defies the tradition in the best way. It breaks down all the accepted rules and leaves us all hanging in one of the best cliff hangers ever.

If you love comics, science fiction, action movies or simply real brilliant cinema - go see it.

You Hurt My Feelings (2023)

Good acting with no script - it just can't work

[7/10 · 3 June 2023]

Imagine you're going to an improv night, if you're lucky the acting will be good and it'll be like watching a few skits of "Who's Line Is It Anyway". Now, imagine the entire evening is dedicated to a single skit. It'll be a miracle if it worked. The charm of the improv wears thin when the short form of a skit is exceeded. This so-called miracle didn't happen for this movie too.

Yes, the acting is good. I mean, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is the living cartoon of a Yappie, and she made a career out of it, but once you get a non story with a single idea that would suit a skit, stretched into feature length, I can't see how it'll work, no matter what. It's not a surprise that the only bits that do work are those written to begin with, as short skits. Namely, the session with the psychologist. And, I do agree with one of the previous reviewers - it's not all that funny.

Robots (I) (2023)

Clever and witty, but well disguised

[8/10 · 1 June 2023]

What we have here seems like a silly sci-fi romcom, it even works as such. But upon closer inspection you'll realize most of the jokes are aimed not at the characters on screen but rather at us, the viewers. The characters themselves are well written and well performed cartoons with single characteristic driving each of them, not with a fully developed character, they should have if they're to pass as relatable humans. Which means - what we're watching is in-fact a satire not a romcom. But since satire is often confused with comedy and comedy does sell better, it does make sense to disguise it as a silly rom-com.

Do have a closer look, you'll see the point is our never-ending quest for leisurely carefree living with as little regard as possible to anyone but us. So what would happen if we did get robots to do all our dirty jobs. What if we could build them to look exactly like us. Yes that would be illegal but when did the law stop anyone with enough money from breaching it. So this "what's if", is the starting point of this very clever movie. I won't tell you any more on the plot. Ill only mention the single major fault of this movie - a forced ending meant to suite its rom-com disguise. I'd rate it much higher without this forced end. Still, it's a fun clever movie worth your time.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

Wit, humor, action and soul evenly blended

[9/10 · 9 May 2023]

In fact, not just evenly blended but almost perfectly blended in this sealing episode of the Guardians trilogy. (Who knows, there might be a few more installments waiting to be made).

I won't say much about the humor, apart from mentioning the fact that many of the jokes are purely visual gags that might pass overhead of many viewers (like a brilliant reference to Michelangelo's Creation of Adam in which Adam Warlock plays god). There're also many throwbacks to the 60s and 70s (and even 80s) that add to the overall joyful effect.

I'll say even less about the action, it's often over the top, but it works. The real point I wish to make refers to the soul or heart this movie has aplenty, which for me is the main reason it's standing out among many other action/superhero movies. - Most of them have great character writing for the leads combined with lazy character writing for most of the other figures appearing on screen. James Gunn doesn't allow a single character appearing on screen to be an incomplete creation. They all get the full treatment, even the cameos. See Daniela Melchior as Ura or Linda Cardellini who does wonders in the role of Lylla. These wonderfully written roles allow each and every member of the cast to give a stellar performance, with the "second tier" characters like Mentis, Drax and Nebula practically stealing the show. James Gunn has already showed his knack for great character writing in his installment of Suicide Squad, but he's even better this time. For me, this is where the difference lies. This is what's making this movie something worth your time even if you're not an ardent fun.

Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves (2023)

Following the rules you set.

[8/10 · 4 May 2023]

This is one of the basic rules of suspension of disbelief, which lies at the base of every proper fantasy. If suspension of disbelief is expected to work the rules set within the story as the rules controlling the world that fantasy describes must be followed. And usually, if it is a proper fantasy, these rules are being followed. Thing is, most of the time it's being done as a matter of fact. In a way that you may not notice it at all unless you pay special attention to this fact. Obviously, when these rules are being ignored attentive viewers are bound to notice and react to the movie/story accordingly. The point in this specific movie is that the fact it follows its own rules are pointed at repeatedly. In fact, even the post credit joke is precisely about how these rules keep on working in the world described by this movie. So much so, that they keep on working even after the movie has ended. And I, as an ardent fan of everything fantasy, just love it.

Other than that, it's a fairly average fun fantasy movie. Professionally done, professionally acted, not really surprising, not very original, but fun. And as far as I'm concerned, the fact it's fun and professionally done are the important ones. Yes the recent trend of having strong women in the cast is bound to annoy the regular haters in this site. For me, it's part of the territory here. I see them as necessary background noises. If you're looking for a fun movie, and you don't feel threatened by a few strong women, this might be the movie for you.

Suzume (2022)

You can make a fantasy movie, and still say something deep and thought provoking.

[10/10 · 19 April 2023]

I love good anime, even when they translate it into live action movie. When it's good, it remains good no matter the format. Suzume is more than simply good, it's one of the best I've seen, and I don't use the term lightly.

I saw it in the original Japanese, I don't speak the language but the acting works even with subtitles. And the acting works, because every other aspect of this movie also works at the highest level. It's a fantasy anchored deep in the real life of people in Japan. Corresponding with real dates and real places and presenting on screen real people - flesh and blood characters that seem three dimensional without ever needing the special effects. Including a fantastic talking cat. Each and every character seems real, generating raw emotions that one can't ignore.

And above all, it's a fantasy movie that has something deep to say about us - humans. About the way human life begets human life and its destruction is like a malignant tumor that if left unchecked can grow and grow. You don't have to delve into deep philosophy in order to enjoy this movie, but it's there for us to see and think about if we only pay a little more attention.

The Super Mario Bros. Movie (2023)

I know I'm not the target audience of this movie but...

[7/10 · 10 April 2023]

As stated at my title - I'm not the target audience of this movie. Let's start with the fact that I'm old enough to have seen the live action version of the early nineties, the one everybody loved to hate. To tell you the truth - I didn't hate it back then, I still think it's a very underrated movie with some top-notch acting performances. On the other hand, I'm far from blown away by this version. There're too many plot holes for my taste, and too many things that happen because the script writers needed them to happen but were too lazy to develop a plot line that would justify them. I do think that the voice acting was very high quality, but I found the facial design of some characters to be too doll like (mainly the princess). And I do love silly goofy animation, but I don't think that this is "Illumination's best since Despicable Me 1". As another reviewer claimed. In fact I think all of the Despicable/Minions franchise is much better and much funnier than this movie, even if some jokes did hit the mark.

Bottom line, this movie, which I find mediocre, at best, is getting rave reviews while the older, cuter version of the early nineties is still considered a disaster by many who never saw it. Personally, I think the plot in this movie was underdeveloped, and even lazy, while the older movie, which obviously called for suspension of disbelief, like all fantasy movie do, had much better plot development. It was not perfect, but it was cute and even charming at moments. Yes, this one has its share of charming moments, but it has way too many moments that didn't make any sense inside the world that was built in the movie. And for me, that's an unforgiveable sin.

The Whale (2022)

The Road to redemption - Aronofsky's way

[10/10 · 7 February 2023]

I always liked Brendan Fraser, and always thought he was not getting the recognition he deserved for his talent. It was probably due to the ease in which he seemed to carry his roles, and the fact he never looked like he was taking himself seriously (or anything else). In fact, for me that was his most endearing quality. Most of all I missed his lighthearted action comedies and I always thought there was a sharp brain behind all his charm. So obviously I had to check this movie out:

You can check me out on this page - I don't rate movies 10 stars often. Even 9 stars don't come so easily from me, even though I mainly go to movies I believe I'm going to like, and I do research them before I decide to watch any. The reason I rated this movie 10 stars is because for me it's a perfect combination of all the components of movie making. The acting is superb, and Brendan Fraser is topping the list with the performance of his life. But none in this movie is missing a single note they're all like a well-trained orchestra. Sadie Sink is amazing as the daughter who can't forget or forgive. Hong Chau is impressive as the nurse who tries to atone for the sins of her father. And I could go on without a single bad word.

But that doesn't sum up this movie. The camera works wonders, Matthew Libatique, Aronofsky's regular cinematographer deserves the credit in this case. The lighting is simply mesmerizing, think about the suffocating feel you get from the dark claustrophobic house in which this movie takes place - almost theatrical, maintaining the three unities, almost to the letter. Think about how every outdoor shot is there just so the inside of the house feels more tomb like. And think about the script or more precisely - the plot. A story about an obsessive search for redemption that leads to destruction as part of the redemption Charlie is so desperately looking for and about the weird role religion plays in this search for redemption. In fact, it's here only so we can see that it's not the road to redemption. It's here just so we can see what road Charlie chooses, when he could've taken the religious road.

One more point - think about Moby Dick, think about Ahab's final scene and think about the reason this movie got this name. It's not just because of Charlie's size.

I don't often find such a perfect combination of what I think should make a movie, I found it all in this movie. It wasn't an easy watch, but it was worth every single second.

Armageddon Time (2022)

What's in a name?

[9/10 · 29 January 2023]

I very often have an issue with the way names of movies are being "translated" in Israel. Obviously, the names are being determined by the movies' distributers according to what they believe will sell them best, but this is obviously (again) harder in Hebrew - a totally different language to any Hindu-European language in which terms like Armageddon don't exist as such. Still choosing to call it "Days of Innocence" is going against everything the movie's creator tried to say with the original name - I just had to point it out.

The original name goes back to Ronald Reagan who stated Armageddon could be looming around the corner, while running for POTUS. This statement takes a whole new meaning when it's being used to name a movie about that period, while we already know that Armageddon failed to materialize back then. All the more so, when it's obvious the opinions in the family leading the story we're watching were that the mere fact Reagan was elected meant we got closer to Armageddon. An Armageddon I feel like James Gray is telling us is coming about right now, as a result of what was planted back then. So, replacing the name with a complete opposite in this case is a much bigger sin.

That's said I feel like I have to say a few words about the acting so many over here seemed to hate. I already mentioned here more than once that opinions on the quality of one actor or another are completely dependent on personal taste, but still, I have to say that I found the performance of at least four actors in this movie to be of the highest quality. These are: Jeremy Strong, Anthony Hopkins (who never fails), Jaylin Webb, and topping them all, Banks Repeta whose career should be going from strength to strength.

Bottom line: I loved the movie and was surprised to see how divisive it was. I suppose it has to do with its very clear political leaning. It's a polarized period - if you lean strongly in one direction, you're bound to face opposition from the other.

Violent Night (2022)

Action movie for actors

[8/10 · 24 January 2023]

There's a popular misconception that action stars don't really have to act. All they have to do is make the fighting look real, everything else is secondary. This misconception gave birth to the career of a few big action stars who's acting abilities are fairly minimal - I won't mention any names but every action lover can make his own list with ease. Still, I always thought that being able to act is as important in action movies as it is in any other movie. In fact, I think that the choreography of movies' fight scenes is the secondary bit, that could always be worked out.

For me David Harbour's performance in this movie is a case in point, it's the second time I notice him in a movie, and the second time I'm owed by his talent. The first time I noticed him was in Black Widow, but I found out that I saw him before in a few other movies, never realising he was there. It's very simple, Harbour is the kind of actor who get so completely into his roles that if you don't pay special attention, you'll miss him altogether. That is, unless his role is big enough to stand out. Harbour is not a scene stealer, he's a consummate professional who performs his role so flawlessly it's as if he's not there, only the role he plays. Without him this movie would've been nothing more than a bloodbath with some Home Alone jokes, with him it gains unexpected depth. The jaded Santa he plays, is so human one has to empathize with him. One can almost feel what it would be like to be that mythical being giving gifts everywhere one Christmas after the other.

Harbour gets some real support from John Leguizamo and from Beverly D'Angelo the rest of the cast is very professional, but no special fireworks are flying on screen. And yes, we do get loads of blood - if that's not your cup of tea - avoid the movie, but if you don't mind cinematic bloodletting - this just might be the movie for you.

Best Sellers (2021)

To the cliche and beyond

[9/10 · 11 January 2023]

As it has been mentioned here in other reviews the bitter drunk maverick author is a cinematic cliche that goes a long way. Moreover, Michael Caine, has played this role so many times in his career that he might just be the iconic face of the aging bitter drunk Brit. And still, summing the entire movie as an exercise with cinematic cliche is missing the point of this charming movie, and downgrading an amazing performance of Michael Caine to a "been there, done that".

What we've got here is much deeper than the age old cliche, in fact I think Caine was chosen to play in it because the movie wanted to dig deep into the cliche and find the man beneath, and in my book they definitely did. One can't speak about this movie without mentioning the great performance of Aubrey Plaza as the spirited Lucy Stanbridge and the very professional role of Scott Speedman as Jack Sinclair, another cinematic cliche that Speedman has tackled already, even if this cliche is here in my opinion only as counterpoint to the old cliche deconstructed here by Caine's superb performance.

Another point I have to make is the obvious barbs this movie is sending at the modern literary world of social media. I couldn't avoid smirking widely at certain moments, if you saw the movie, you'd know the moments I speak about.

Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)

If we're speaking about long movies...

[9/10 · 26 December 2022]

The most loud and common reaction I heard as I was leaving the cinema auditorium from fellow viewers was: "wow this didn't feel so long, in fact it was almost quick". Considering the fact that this movie is by no means quick it's a big testimony to how riveting and captivating the movie was. Plot and visuals combined. And I'm saying at the very beginning of my review - I won't be discussing the visuals - I simply can't add a thing to what's been said already.

The points I want to make regard the plot, which is much better than other reviewers claim. And the characters. I heard a few say that this movie is very much like the first installment, most of the people saying that spoke about it as a fault - it's not. It's simply the outcome of a single story being continued from the first installment. Think of it as another chapter you read in a book, you don't expect every chapter to turn the story upside-down, in fact you'd be complaining if that would be the case. Thing is, Cameron has already done that with his installments of Terminator (I & II), once you see the two you realize it was a single movie separated into two chapters. That's the reason Cameron didn't want anything to do with the 3rd installment of Terminator - it went against the point his story was making: We make our own destiny and we're strong enough to do it. I don't know yet what's his point this time - I'm not sure if we've seen the end of this story. But I'm definitely going to wait and watch the next installments. He did create an amazing complete world in his mind, and I always love it when an artist creates an entire world for his story.

As for the characters created in this movie, unlike the first one no significant character is left undeveloped. Some could use more substance but obviously the movie would end being even longer. Accordingly, the acting was first class. Though I'm still uncertain regarding the fact Sigourney Weaver is playing her 14 years old daughter. I understand the point Cameron is making, and she does it flawlessly but I'm still a bit uneasy about it. The only thing I have against this movie is some things Cameron has left out of his story or spoke too little about. It's not a major issue, and as I already said - the movie was long enough as is, but still a few details are missing for the story to be completely coherent.

The Fabelmans (2022)

Film directors should never be charged with directing their biography

[8/10 · 5 December 2022]

Let's get it straight, as far as I'm concerned this is the best non-fiction I've ever seen from Steven Spielberg. That is, the best real-life story I've seen directed by him. All the leads are simply superb - not a surprise regarding Michelle Williams - I've seen her in so many role- never a bad one. But Paul Dano, whom I've seen in a few roles is simply breathtaking here; Judd Hirsch has such a tiny role, and still manages to work wonders performing it; and I could go on and on - I can't think of a role that wasn't splendidly written and excellently performed.

I also loved Spielberg's sense of balance, which I usually don't in his real-life stories. He doesn't ever go overboard. His characters ring true even when they're over-reacting or going haywire. They actually feel more human when they do. And the same sense of balance is true of the story itself.

Technically. I could never fault Spielberg, he's definitely a master of his trade, and always was. So, what's my problem with this movie, why didn't I rate it a perfect 10? - Here goes my title - It's not the first time I've seen great directors doing the story of their own biography in film. More often than not the end result is packed to the brim with details, tiny stories that draw a complex picture, a very complex, elaborate and meandering plotline that at the bottom line diminishes the impact of a would-be great film. The personal attachment to the life story we see stops even some of the best directors from cutting out scenes they should. This movie should've been at least 20 minutes shorter. It would've been a perfect 10 then, at least in my personal book.

The Good House (2021)

How many times can I say it - Comedy Drama - doesn't exist

[9/10 · 17 November 2022]

I really get sick and tired of the repeated use of this combination. I said it so many times in my reviews and again and again I get proven right. Have a look at this movie - it's a good movie so you won't regret it. But do tell me, - what's funny about it? A few snarky remarks said at the right point may make us snigger, or maybe even laugh for a second or two, but the movie has nothing funny in it. If every time we said something snarky, we were in a comedy, we'd all be living in a comedy. - We don't. At least most of the people I know, who do use sarcasm regularly, don't live in a comedy. They just live, simple plain life. This movie is once again - a life story, and like life it does have moments of fleeting humor. But the life story we see in this movie is not funny, in fact, it's rather tragic. I didn't say it was a tragedy - it was a life story a life story that rings true with real people in it. And real people don't often let themselves slide into tragedy they usually stop before the tragedy materialize.

That's what we got here. A life story, with real characters. Well written characters. Superbly acted with the best performance I ever saw from Sigourney Weaver and some superlative acting from a few others. In my personal book, calling it a comedy is not just missing the point, it's plain offensive. So, go see this movie - it's definitely worth your time, but don't expect any comedy.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Deciding to focus on characters makes it slower but...

[8/10 · 15 November 2022]

I've got an issue with some of the decisions made by the producers and the creative team of the movie, even if I can understand some o the solutions they chose. I'm not sure they had to kill T'Challa, but I do understand the difficulties of replacing the like of Chadwick Boseman who made the role his own. I'm not sure they had to present Namor the way they did, even though his character in the comics allows for this option, but it does limit what they can do with him in the future. And I don't like the fact they kill other leading characters almost as an easy way out.

All that said, this wasn't a bad movie. It wasn't disjointed as other reviewers here suggested - I spoke with a few that watched the movie with me - we had no problem following the plot. It was definitely a very slow action movie - as my title says - that's a result of the decision to focus on the characters, and this is a decision I do agree with. It did present us with a lot of superb acting performances with Letitia Wright, Angela Bassett and Danai Gurira topping the list, but with almost no false note in the entire cast. And when the roles are so well performed the slow pace of the movie doesn't make it any less riveting. Again, the role of Namor does leave a lot to be desired, though they did try to give him some depth, but I think they made him a bit too contradictory and so very hard to play and relate to.

Bottom line, the moment they decided to make the new Black Panther a she, they were bound to face a lot of animosity on this site. It comes with the territory over here, and I know I'm going to pay with a lot of hate, here - I'm half expecting it by now. But I liked the way they dealt with the issue of grief and international politics. And even if the role of Riri was shoved into the movie for external reasons I don't think it hurt the movie in any way.

Black Adam (2022)

Unevenly written characters hold a would-be good film from really getting there

[7/10 · 2 November 2022]

I'm reminded of the first Suicide Squad movie not because of the superheroes/supervillains issue but rather because of the uneven quality of characterization. Once again, we get some superbly written roles like Black Adam, Dr Fate, Adrianna Tomaz and Amon Tomaz. All performed very well by the cast. In fact, the role of Hawkman wasn't so well developed but as he got a good share of screen time Aldis Hodge managed to breathe life into the character and give him some real personality. This can't be said about the roles of Cyclone who gets a single sentence referring to her back-story, that could get much more but simply didn't. Atom Smasher doesn't get even that one sentence he's just wasted as comic relief. Same is true of the role of Karim even if in his case it makes more sense since his potential role is small to begin with. But the greatest sin committed by the writers of this messed up comics story is the character of Ishmael - one can't have a real superhero/supervillain story without writing a real villain in the lead. You can't solve it by simply stating that he's evil - not when he's countered by flesh and blood characters - if you reduce the main villain to mere cartoon you, by definition, diminish the entire conflict. It's not the first time they did this in movies but it's a bigger problem when some characters are so well written. It means they know how to write properly just didn't pay enough attention or something like that, and for me - that's much worse.

On top of that problem, the whole introduction of the JSA is botched here. I guess they wanted to show how old the lead character is, so they had him face the JSA instead of the more modern JLA, but aren't they supposed to be of Earth 2? So, if you do introduce a new earth into the DC universe shouldn't you say something about it. Or are we all expected to know the entire DC mythology by heart?

Considering the two major complaint I just mentioned the movie is doing all right. Obviously, I think it could, and should've been much better. But I did see worse.

Amsterdam (2022)

Another great movie that should've been better

[8/10 · 27 October 2022]

David O. Russell seems to love them quirky, using a gallery of picaresque characters to tell a straightforward story. In fact, a very strong and important story that in my humble opinion loses part of its punch because so many of the characters look and behave so strangely that they seem borderline cartoons. This is mainly true of all the upper-class types and of Christian Bale's character who's both the lead and the narrator of the story. Yes, he performs superbly, but he can't be fully credible when he's portrayed the way Russell chooses to portray him - a shady doctor, a semi drug addict and a weird looking guy. I know, he's showing the effect of war injury, as do many of the characters he cares for. And showing us how terrible that war was is an important part of the story. But think about Jhon David Washington's character - who was injured in the same war, and you'll realize it didn't have to look so bizarre.

That's the reason I used the term "picaresque" as part of the picaresque genre requires both a hero who's not looking too heroic and a cartoonish depiction of the upper-class. We get both of these requirements here, but I think we shouldn't. I think the story told as is without the manneristic bits is way stronger, as it should be. Mainly since it did take place in the real USA with real flesh and blood people who really thought to overthrow an elected president for their own gain. Making them cartoonish may be funny, but it misses the point if we don't realize how real the entire story was.

I must also say that part of the problem is that some of these cartoons are performed so brilliantly it only adds to the problem. That is - both Anya Taylor-Joy and Rami Malek are superbly funny, and Michael Shannon and Mike Myers don't fall far behind them.

Yes, Margot Robbie and Jhon David Washington both perform straightforward characters and also give a top notch performance with Robert De Niro being as dependable as ever.

Bottom line - a great movie that in my humble opinion would have been greater if the director dared making it less funny.