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Asteroid City (2023)
Delightfully Bizarre
I don't follow Wes Anderson. I know I've seen some of his movies, but I've never analyzed them.
This film is brightly colored, full of strange dialog, and darkly funny. I enjoyed every fascinating moment. The jumps between so-called reality and the "play" are jarring, but feel like a treasure box being opened each time.
It's a parody that's not truly enjoyable unless you allow yourself to be immersed in its absurd setting and premise.
Many reviewers cited a lack of plot in their disappointment in the film. I'd agree it only has a loose plot. I'd argue, however, that this looseness was necessary. Had it a tighter plot, it might not have been as enjoyable. The looseness added to the absurdity and allowed one to hyperfocus on the individual scenes that didn't seem to fit together (they fit, but you have to follow along the different arcs).
The movie is an experience that just doesn't have the linear quality most people like in films. It jumps around, which is fun in its own right.
I liked it. If you want a movie with a strong, linear plot that doesn't make you feel a bit like you're Alice stumbling across oddities in Wonderland, then don't watch. Otherwise, relax and enjoy!
School of Chocolate (2021)
So Much Wasted Potential
What started out as a less-competitive, more wholesome than other reality shows show turned into a drama-rama with behind the scenes "interviews" that created backbiting and nastiness that I don't think was really there.
I think if Chef Amaury had more say (he wasn't one of the exec producers), I hope he'd have had it more of a school type experience than a "here's how to do a thing, now go do it" without letting them practice first.
I think, just from reading body language when he spoke, that the chef was saying things he was told to say and not really being his genuine self.
I'll echo another interviewer in that the end was badly done. The show was half baked, whether it was supposed to be another soul-sucking competitive reality show or just wholesome entertainment wherein everyone wins in a way.
Change in the Air (2018)
Everyone sees it differently
I enjoyed this movie very much. A young, mysterious woman moves to a tree-lined neighborhood set in an unnamed, nice little town. Her neighbors include a nosy older woman, an ornithologist, a music teacher and a mailman who delivers large sacks of mail to the new resident.
It was kind of like existing in a dream while the softly formed story arc played out. It never completely solidified, but I think it's meant to be something different for each viewer.
I looked at some of the reviews and some people saw a religiously tinged movie; one said it was christian and another said it was pagan. Someone else saw angels and prayers as the main theme.
I became very emotional during the culmination of Wren's part. I lost my father not that long ago and I saw regrets freed in that moment - those of nebulous letter writers and my own alike.
It's not action packed. It is full of delightful curiosity and a little bit of mystery. It's nice and full of a peace you just don't see in movies or even get to see in real life much. It is what you experience. Nothing more. But that's a lot, if you let it be.
Rescued by Ruby (2022)
Great for Background Noise
I really wanted to like this movie. It has good actors and good acting. It has a nice story premise, but its execution was shallow and frequently hard to believe.
I find it hard to believe the first thing the dog did when it went home with Daniel is poop on the floor, but hey, maybe that can happen when a dog is overly excited.
I also don't think a dog would run away from home (later in the movie - after they've bonded) and hide under a bridge while her human is calling her name just a few feet away - after he acts a little cranky around her when he thinks she failed at a search. Dogs can handle a little cranky. They might pick up on a human's moods, but not enough to run away like a little kid throwing a temper tantrum.
What I really doubt, however, is the part where Daniel supposedly gives the boy who is lost CPR. The boy has been lost all day. If the kid fell and stopped breathing for longer than a few minutes, there's no saving him. I suppose, *if* the boy had become lost and had been walking around for hours and *if* he had *just* fallen a few minutes before Ruby found him, then *maybe* it could have worked. Lots of ifs and a big maybe there.
Additionally, no ambulance is equipped with the necessary items to determine if the kid, who's been described as having internal injuries and a broken leg, would be "just fine", as is stated by the chief K-9 officer when they all get back out of the little ravine the kid fell into.
Also, even though I find it strange that someone would be made an official K-9 officer on the spot right after a big search was finished, I'll say, sure, in an emotional moment. I don't believe his very pregnant wife would just coincidentally show up on the spot without their toddler or mention of where he is.
The only believable part of the movie was in the end credits, where the real Daniel and Ruby are shown in pictures and real life information is imparted, as well as outtakes from the dog and the toddler. Those were heartwarming and funny.
If all you wanted was happy-ending, bland-food, or background-noise entertainment, then this will likely be a great watch for you.
Boyz in the Wood (2019)
Ridiculously, cleverly funny
This movie is a laugh-out-loud good time!
On the surface, it seems quite stupid, but if you look deeper, it has a darkly clever humor about it.
The foreshadowing is a bit heavy-handed, but it seems intentional and just adds to the fun.
My recommendation: Relax and surrender to the giggles!
Party of Five (2020)
Touching and timely
The excellent acting, writing, and cinematography all contribute to a story that has been updated to include a big issue of our times. The bonus is that it all works to produce an immersive story that evokes compassion and puts a stark face to the reality of deportations splitting up families.
The premise is similar to the original Party of Five: Five siblings' parents are taken from them and now they have to learn to depend on each other, to trust one another, and come together to be the family they are supposed to be .
In this version, there are additional questions and a heap of hope. Will the parents get to return? Will the entire family ever be reunited?
The added dimension of immigration issues deepens the story without taking anything away from it. While some people don't like that there is a hot-button issue folded into a beloved show from their pasts, they need to realize that things change, people change, and that original show isn't gone. It's still there in its original form for the watching.
This one is new and it's different, which is good -- otherwise, why re-boot the story?
In total, whether you've seen the original or you're new to the premise, the story is a good one. It's thoughtful, emotional, and strives to show a different perspective on an issue that can cause many people to turn away.