sweidman-28016 Reviews

Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2021)

Absolutely Adorable

[8/10 · 23 May 2022]

"Sometimes I find my mind wandering, thinking, "What would my family think?" Do you think they could be out there?"

Marcel, an adorable one-inch-tall shell living alone with his grandmother Connie seek to find their long-lost community with the help of a documentary filmmaker. Based on the widely popular YouTube series, Marcel the Shell With Shoes On revives the adorable shell in what is quite possibly the most adorable movie ever. I remember watching the YouTube videos a few times, but it was never something I fell for. However, this film re-introduced me to the world of Marcel and had me caring for every second of the runtime. For such a simple and silly idea, this film exceeds in sharing a heartfelt story. Everything about it is wholesome. For those who aren't familiar with the original shorts, the film easily updates those and throws easter eggs around. The script is incredibly funny. There would be times that we'd miss a few sentences into the next thing because the audience was laughing at the last thing. Some of the humor won't land with everyone because it's such a strange tone, but all of it worked for me. I thought it was written very well. There are emotionally gripping lines and thought provoking inquiries. It's one of those movies that makes you reflect on your own life and happiness.

Jenny Slate has never been better. Obviously this is just voice acting as a small shell, but this feels like the role that will define her career. We also have the talents of Isabella Rossellini and writer/director Dean Fleischer-Camp acting. Rossellini's character is incredibly well written and brings an emotional aspect to the film. I know it's not voice acting, but there's one really beautiful moment she has that's been playing through my head for the past week now. I like that Dean Fleischer-Camp acted in this because it gives it an intimate and unique angle to filmmaking. One of the most striking elements is the cinematography. I thought it was beautifully shot and does more than you'd think. Also, the score was very unique and I can't wait for them to release it. There are a few moments strewn about that didn't quite land. Sometimes it moves a little too fast with some montages in the beginning. Other times, it doesn't feel like we've stayed on the moment long enough. Still, you cannot deny the power these little shells hold on the story. I really loved Marcel the Shell With Shoes On. I can see this becoming a comfort movie for me and an instant crowd hit.

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)

A Bit of a Letdown But Still Fun

[6/10 · 20 April 2022]

"Today's forecast calls for a 100% chance of adventure!"

When the manic Dr. Robotnik returns to Earth with a new ally, Knuckles the Echidna, Sonic and his new friend Tails is all that stands in their way. I've got a lot going on right now so I apologize because I'm gonna gloss over this. Sonic the Hedgehog was a critical surprised when it landed in theaters in early 2020. Two years later, we have the sequel. I wasn't sure what to expect. The first was alright, much better than I expected. Really, it's just there to have a good time. Many people are loving this one more so than the first. I have to admit, I much prefer the first and feel conflicted about the sequel. The beginning is cute and all, but I found it hard to get into. For starters, the movie is two hours long. If you ask me, that's way too long for what it's worth. The first have of the movie dragged on for so long. There's a lot of jokes and fun for the audience, but it doesn't go anywhere. It seemed like a problem that I was more interested in the human storyline than Sonic's. Once we get to a halfway point where everyone is reunited, that's when things start to pick up.

Yet again do Ben Schwartz and Jim Carrey do a great job. It's so strange to think that these roles couldn't be played any better. It's a shame Jim Carrey is retiring from acting, because I'm would honestly like to see him have a solid ending to Dr. Robotnik (and also see him in other movies). We're introduced to Tails and Knuckles. Tails gets a better treatment than Knuckles if you ask me. I wish they didn't go the route they did with Knuckles because I honestly expected a little more. There's still more time to get to know the character more. The comedy, though not as strong as the first, is still pretty good. They know who their audience is and have something for everyone. Come the second half, we get these grander scale action sequences. I think the final battle was actually decent and the strongest part of the whole movie. It leads to new opportunities for the upcoming installment(s) and gave a little more character development to everyone, even though it's kind of predictable. I don't have a lot more to say about this. I feel a bit letdown, but I still had a decent time. The second half really saves the movie as a whole and I'm still sort of excited for the next one, especially with the after credit scene. If there's one thing the Sonic movies know how to do is have a good time.

The Outfit (2022)

Fun Movie!

[7/10 · 21 March 2022]

"If we had only angels as customers, we'd have no customers at all."

In Oscar-winning writer Graham Moore's directorial debut The Outfit, an expert cutter must outwit a dangerous group of mobsters in order to survive a fateful night. Last week, I was able to see an advanced screening of this movie with Graham Moore in the audience followed by a Q&A. The trailer made it look mediocre at best, but the talent and Graham Moore's name brought some interest. He won his Oscar a few years back with his screenplay for The Imitation Game, a solid movie. I was interested to see how his directorial skills would be since we already know he's a good writer. Though his skills aren't completely refined, The Outfit surprised me a lot. Moore takes inspiration from classic film noir and Chicago's history with mobs to create a story full of twists and turns. The screenplay is really good. It's fun to see how everything plays out after each little detail is revealed. With how many turns it takes, it's hard to see the outcome in a good way. The dialogue is sharp, there's enough humor and enjoyability to the tense situation, and the story is precise. The screenplay outdoes the movie as a whole.

Moore has a vision for this movie that's almost out of his reach. He has the skills and resources, but his writing overpowers that. There's basic things that needed work, though it's easy to ignore. He has trouble with pacing at times, mainly with his reliance of the twists. It's a great start and I think with another movie or two, he'll be a pretty good director. He's great at working with the cast. Mark Rylance does an excellent job in the lead role. Not that he'd ever do poorly, but he's so much fun to watch. His character is compelling and one that leaves you thinking after the credits roll. Other standouts include Zoey Deutch, Dylan O'Brien, and Johnny Flynn. The ensemble is great. The crew behind the production also do a good job. The set is pleasing to look at. The costumes, obviously, are good. Alexandre Desplat scores the feature. I could recognize his style right away and starts off the year with a solid addition. Overall, The Outfit leaves you with a high of enjoyment. It's so easy to get caught into which is one of its best elements. A few aspects need work, but the overall result is solid. I would really like to rewatch it and see what new things I learn. It's not playing everywhere, but it should be on VOD soon.

The Batman (2022)

An Achievement

[9/10 · 15 March 2022]

"Fear is a tool. When that light hits the sky, it's not just a call. It's a warning."

The Batman is the newest DC installment and take on the classic superhero. When the Riddler, a sadistic serial killer, begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement. I think at this point, we have 50 Batman movies (if we include the animated ones and everything involving him). Many have questioned why we need to start another franchise after the brilliant Nolan films, especially since The Dark Knight is considered one of the greatest films of all time. Since the trailer came out for this one, something looked special about it. It looked similar to something like Joker and had the right elements going for it. This film was quite the surprise. It's set the president for the best movie of the year and it'll be hard to beat. What it accomplishes is more than anyone could've imagined and, at times, makes Nolan's trilogy look smaller than this. Matt Reeves directs this amazingly. I've been a fan of his since Cloverfield. There's nothing of his that isn't good. And with his work on Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, it would be hard to see him doing something less than good. He revives the story of Batman creating a sinister atmosphere. There's inspiration taken from Zodiac and Se7en, basically anything Fincher. You can see that all in the tone, visuals, and execution. Grieg Fraser is gonna be a big name. With this and Dune, his cinematography track record is more than great.

The four central characters along with their performances. Robert Pattinson creates a new Batman that's darker than we've seen. What's interesting is his lack of dialogue. Most of what he does is silent which is a good power dynamic. Zoë Kravitz does the best Catwoman yet with the most character development. I just loved her. Paul Dano as The Riddler is hypnotizing and incredibly interesting. We hardly see him, but when we do he gives it his all. Finally, is Colin Farrell as The Penguin. What a transformation! You can't tell it's him from appearance to the voice. I don't know how he got there but it's an achievement to be that unrecognizable. All of the characters are compelling. Not one is disposable. The story is meticulous with every aspect. I think what makes the film so unique is the story. It covers so many topics and dares to give social commentary. Police reform is a big message and it really hits the nail with its portrayal. This isn't another superhero movie. It's spreading a message. At times, it does feel weighed down by its three hour runtime. Honestly, a good 15 minutes could've been cut. The ending has trouble wrapping up, but it's all worth it. If you didn't have a good time by the end, something went wrong. I mean, Michael Giacchino's score is loud, intimidating, and the best Batman theme we have yet, and if you don't like it, you are alone. There are so many aspects to like and by the end you see a beautiful and haunting film. I've seen it twice now, both within a couple days of each other. Go see The Batman in the biggest, loudest theater you can (I highly recommend a Dolby Cinema). I can't believe the reboot of a reboot of a reboot and so and and so forth is one of the best.

Uncharted (2022)

Decent and Good Fun

[6/10 · 2 March 2022]

"There are places out there you can't find on any map. They're not fine. They're just lost."

Street-smart Nathan Drake is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor "Sully" Sullivan to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan, and lost 500 years ago by the House of Moncada. Uncharted is based on the widely acclaimed video game of the same name. I haven't played it, my video game knowledge ranges only in Nintendo territory. However, this always seemed like a game I'd like to play. Even though video game adaptations rarely work, there really wasn't a reason for me not to see it, especially with the lack of releases over the past few weeks. Uncharted may not be great, but it's honestly good fun and better than I expected. The story isn't always as fluid as it should be. It focuses more on the action and what general fans want while also incorporating aspects of the game. It's easy to spot out moments from the game. Plot points, dialogue, and the delivery of it all make it clear. While that can be fun, it almost weighs it down at points. They either need to balance those out rather than focusing either on the game or its own story at times. The actions scenes, however, are done well and make it worth while. Even as predictable as they are and we know our heroes will make it to the end, it's good fun.

Despite the backlash during pre-production, casting Tom Holland as a younger Nathan Drake works well. He's clearly having lots of fun and he adds as much as he can to the character. There's some things unclear, mainly because of the story, that need more fleshing out, but for what the movie is, it's fine. Mark Wahlberg also has fun as Sully. He and Tom have an undeniable chemistry that pops out in each scene. They both add the right amount of comedy to make for a good time. The surprise acting performance for me came from Sophia Ali. She plays a good Chloe and was a character I took liking to despite some of the flaws, once again from story. There are a couple twists that I didn't see coming, but the movie is pretty straightforward. If there's one thing I have beef with, it's the character Sam. We spend so little time on his character, and all we know is he's important and Nathan's brother. The whole mission is supposed to lead Nathan to Sam in some way. However, that aspect falls entirely flat and feels more like a minor plot point. By the looks of it, there will be another movie and they'll touch more on that later. If you don't expect too much from Uncharted, you'll have a good time. It's nothing great, and that's ok. I had a good time with it. I'm well aware it needs work, but I can see myself revisiting this in the future.

Death on the Nile (2022)

Better Than the First, But Not By Much

[6/10 · 26 February 2022]

"How many great stories are tragedies?"

Hercule Poirot's Egyptian vacation aboard a glamorous river steamer turns into a search for a murderer when a picture-perfect couple's idyllic honeymoon is tragically cut short. Set against an epic landscape of sweeping desert vistas and the majestic Giza pyramids, Death on the Nile is Kenneth Branagh's second Agatha Christie adaptation to the big screen after Murder on the Orient Express back in 2017. I wasn't a big fan of Murder on the Orient Express. It felt lackluster and more of an ensemble piece than anything. With how much this one was delayed and eventually thrown into its February release a couple weeks ago, my expectations were low. I will say, I do think this is better than the first, but not by much. Death on the Nile is definitely not the most interesting murder mystery. Obviously, this is an older story and we've seen it many times before. There are a couple turns that I didn't entirely see coming. However, after the watching the first 20 minutes, you should be able to piece together what's happening all along. Besides the mystery not being all that hard, the biggest weakness of the movie is the introduction of the murder. The movie is almost two hours long and the murder doesn't happen until an hour in. It's a long trek just to get to the point. So much is filler that doesn't need to be there. Easily, this could be 30 minutes shorter.

What the movies fails in story makes up for the cast. We're all aware of the several big name actors attached to this. Not all of them are on the same level, but they do well enough in their parts. Kenneth Branagh isn't the best filmmaker for this series, but he is an excellent Hercule Poirot. He eats up the screen and gives a fully committed performance. The other standouts for me were Annette Bening, Tom Bateman, and Emma Mackey. The actor getting the most attention is Gal Gadot. She is entirely over the top doing her own thing. It's fun to watch how much she's having fun, but it's also out of place. Because of her, the movie can come of as campy when I don't think that's the intent. Still, it's pretty fun. The production value is just as good as the first. I love the costumes and production design. The use of music (not the score) was a nice touch as well. There's not too much else to talk about. Death on the Nile is a fairly average movie, but I found some amusement while watching. It's better than the first which isn't saying much, but at least that's something.

Cyrano (2021)

Solid But Could Be Better

[6/10 · 22 February 2022]

"My fate is to love her from afar."

A man ahead of his time, Cyrano de Bergerac dazzles whether with ferocious wordplay at a verbal joust or with brilliant swordplay in a duel. But, convinced that his appearance renders him unworthy of the love of a devoted friend, the luminous Roxanne, Cyrano has yet to declare his feelings for her and Roxanne has fallen in love, at first sight, with Christian. Cyrano is Joe Wright's latest period piece after the disaster that was The Woman in the Window. He's track record hasn't been the strongest of late. With Cyrano, I had some hope, mainly for performances and production value. I got just that and more. This is a solid movie. The look of it all is really impressive. I just loved the production design. Everything looked so beautiful. The costumes, which gained an Oscar nomination, are also great. We can't ignore that the makeup and hairstyling is on par with the rest. Joe Wright knows how to make his films beautiful. It's a visual feast from start to finish. Bryce and Aaron Dessner score the film well. They did the same for the broadway musical, but this is all new compositions which is neat.

If you're going to watch the movie for anything, it's Peter Dinklage. I haven't really watched Game of Thrones, so I don't know his range on there besides the rave reviews and fans. Anyway, from what I've seen him in, he's never been better. It's hard to imagine anybody else playing Cyrano. For the stage performance he and Haley Bennett also played in their respective roles. It's cool to see them reprise them. Their chemistry is strong and it's easy to root for them to be together. Kelvin Harrison Jr. Also does well here. The acting and singing is all good. I can't say I was really taken by the songs, however, they do work for what we get. My biggest issue is the storytelling. Everything is great, but the storytelling can't match it. Personally, I wasn't as interested in it. It comes off as mediocre and familiar. Almost everyone knows this story, it's very famous. However, this version of Cyrano de Bergerac isn't as refreshing as it could be. The movie runs into pacing issues and some lackluster moments. The ending saves it all in a sequence that I thought was captivating. As for the rest, I was entertained. I feel slightly letdown by the end product, but I think many will take a liking to this delightful and heartwarming musical. I was able to see an advanced screening of this over a week ago just after Dinklage's Oscar snub. Once it's released next week, he'll certainly be the talk of the town.

After Yang (2021)

Profound and Beautiful

[8/10 · 22 January 2022]

"There's no something without nothing."

When Yang - a lifelike, artificially intelligent android - abruptly stops functioning, a father's quest to repair him eventually becomes one of existential introspection and contemplating his own life, as it passes him by. After Yang is Kogonada's second feature after Columbus. I haven't seen Columbus but it's become a must see in the indie feature selection from the past few years. Foreign to his style and skills, I found his work to be masterful. Firstly, the script, based on a short story, is incredibly thought provoking. It plays heavy on the ethics of life and technology leaving us to wonder if an A. I. is worth saving. Filled to the brim with beautiful moments, everything is bittersweet and sentimental. One of the big aspects is memories. Kogonada writes and execute this memories much like how our mind process them. Little things repeat and change to bring out the correct portrayal. At first it feels like your mind processed the scene wrong but quickly you'll pick up on that. Another thing I loved is the camera placement throughout. He has the vision of what we should be looking at specifically, even if it's not the focus of the scene, and it all flows together nicely. The cinematography is stunning, popping with life and great production design. The score is also really beautiful.

Colin Farrell has a difficult character to play. The complexity of managing a different persona from actual growing feelings is hard to convey with what the film deals with. There's a few scenes he nails perfectly. Hayley Lu Richardson does well in her smaller role. We slowly learn who she is and how she fits into this story. Once we find out the full story, it's emotional and profound. Justin H. Min as Yang only has a few scenes but his presence is felt throughout. Most of his dialogue is poetic and adds so much to his character. The film is never too on the nose or explains everything to the audience. We're piecing details and thoughts together just as much as they are. This is a slow burn. Sometimes the pacing falls flat within scenes. As everything progresses, it's hard not to be mesmerized by the topics and story as a whole. I really want to read the short story now. Though the film may end on a note that doesn't work for everyone, I think it ends at the perfect moment. The last few scenes are a knock out. I'm really pleased with After Yang and want to rewatch it again. Earnest and profound, it'll be hard to forget.

Fresh (2022)

Entertaining Debut

[7/10 · 21 January 2022]

Fresh depicts the horrors of modern dating seen through one young woman's defiant battle to survive her new boyfriend's unusual appetites. This movie goes pretty off the rails and for good reason. Writer Lauryn Kahn is no stranger to rom-coms having several flops in the past. For this feature, she toys around with the horror genre to give a unique perspective both taken literally and metaphorically. The first 30-minutes are setup like a pleasing romantic movie. I quite enjoyed that beginning. Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan have a cute relationship and great chemistry, which lasts throughout. After that first half hour, the movie starts to pick up and show a darker side. In fact, the opening credits don't happen until then. What comes next is absurd and chilling. Without Mimi Cave's direction, her feature debut fun fact, I doubt the movie would work. She makes this both an uncomfortable and entertaining watch all together. Her techniques may not all be foreign to the horror genre and it definitely can be predictable at times, yet I feel she pulls it off.

I mentioned our two leads before, and they get even better as the movie progresses. Edgar-Jones gives a fully committed performance proving once again she's a great newcomer within the past few years. I really liked her character and how she's able to pull of a good performance to please others in the most desperate of times. Sebastian Stan does well in this role and is completely mesmerizing. Once this hits Hulu in March, there are going to be a few meme-able moments with him and quite the talk surrounding his character. Another good performance comes from Jojo T. Gibb's as the friend trying to piece this mystery together. There's a couple characters that make their entrance but feel like they serve no purpose once they get their time to shine. In the climax, I expected more from them but their works are easily resolved. And the movie ends abruptly if you ask me. As a whole, the runtime is close to two hours. It overstays its welcome with scenes that go nowhere and a few missing pieces never to return to. As much as I liked the beginning, I feel as if that could've been chopped down some even though the half hour mark throws you in for a loop. Not everything is entirely new and it could be better, but the performances and Mimi Cave's work pulls it together. This will for sure gain a cult following in the future and connect with some in such a way. I can't say it all worked for me, it's a bit messy and too long, but still a solid watch.

Scream (I) (2022)

Good Fun

[7/10 · 20 January 2022]

"After tonight, no more books, no more movies, and no more Ghostface!"

Twenty-five years after a streak of brutal murders shocked the quiet town of Woodsboro, a new killer dons the Ghostface mask and begins targeting a group of teenagers to resurrect secrets from the town's deadly past. Scream is the fifth installment in the franchise. I can't say I was too keen on seeing this. The trailer itself looked awful and it's just something that felt like it should be done at this point. However, the positive reactions seemed to say otherwise so I decided to check it out. To my surprise, Scream is actually a pretty decent movie. I'm not completely on board with the rave reviews some have been giving, but I did find myself enjoying it a whole lot more than I initially thought. Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett direct this in the same fashion as Wes Craven would have. Even the script is pretty similar to how the original was written. This franchise criticizes horror tropes while utilizing them as well. It's always a fun watch, especially for first time watchers. And this addition is no exception. It's just a plain old good time. The mystery of who the killer might be kept me engaged the whole time. They do an excellent job of diverting who it may be with all the twists throughout. By the end, I was quite satisfied with the outcome. The one aspect of the script that I wasn't too keen on were the characters. Of course, they're meant to be disposable playing along with the trope. But our new leads didn't have me rooting for them much so. When they have the original cast return, their screen time, though more than a cameo, didn't feel like they were needed much other than a fun throwback, especially with Campbell and Cox. I wanted the characters and their stories to come through because the acting is pretty well done.

The movie runs close to two hours, which is a solid runtime. This could be me, but I felt like it could've been trimmed down. Suspense is such a big factor and they will keep it going as long as they need to. I just wanted the third act to come sooner and get us to the conclusion we want. The first act is good and has a fun clinch, and as I mentioned the third is the best of it. Throughout the second act, mainly we're seeing who is going to be killed off next. All of the kill scenes are fun and executed well. There's a lot of exposition for first time watchers and more drama than there needs to be. Again, this plays in with the characters. Cut a chunk out of the middle and it would be better. Besides the kills and suspense, another factor that keeps it going is the comedy. There are so many good jokes that had the theater laughing. I almost feel like this is the most comedic of the series. There's not much else to say other than this is a fun horror flick that defies expectations. Fans of the series will most likely love this and first-timers should as well. I have to admit I've only seen the forts in it's entirety and pieces from the rest. Scream left a mark and has made me want to go back and rewatch all the previous movies for a bit of fun.

The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021)

Appreciated and Liked It, But Wanted More

[7/10 · 20 January 2022]

"By the pricking of my thumbs, something wicked this way comes..."

A Scottish lord becomes convinced by a trio of witches that he will become the next King of Scotland, and his ambitious wife supports him in his plans of seizing power. We all know Macbeth. It's required reading for everyone in 10th grade or so. You either love it or hate it. I took quite a likening to the story. Naturally, I was pretty hyped for The Tragedy of Macbeth and not just because of the talented cast and crew. For starters, this is 100% Shakespeare. Hardly anything is changed and is directly from the play. That being said, this can be hard to follow at times. We don't have the convenience of a modern translator at hand so we're left questioning some of what we just listed to for the past few minutes. It's cool that they were able to pull this off with how difficult of a read it is. Branching off the dialogue, we have two solid performances from Denzel Washington and Frances McDormand. You have to acknowledge how well they pull of the delivery and everything while maintaining character. Critics and audiences are going wild over Denzel which is great. I don't think I'm at that level and maybe it's my thoughts on the movie as a whole. For me, I didn't feel much for each character, maybe because I knew everything that happens. Basically, I was watching actors do Shakespeare. It takes a good actor to do it and we have many great actors here. But I just wasn't as invested in the performances as I thought I was. If there is one performance I was invested in, that would be Kathryn Hunter as the Witches and the smaller role of the Old Man. She is absolutely marvelous and haunting. Some of the best casting of the year. I'm surprised she's not getting as much praise as she should be. It's quite the performance and one I'll be thinking of for a long time.

Joel Coen is a great director, no question about it. He maintains his master directorial skills here even with his brother. Like the acting, it takes a certain person to pull of Shakespeare, and he does that. It's cool to see what he does with the story and how it stands out. I might as well say it now because I don't know where else to put it. There's so much to complement in this movie, and I have more to do. But, I can't say I fully enjoyed this. Most of it is an appreciation. Shakespeare is inaccessible for most people. This and some of Romeo and Juliet are the only works of his I like. Part of that is because I had units to break them down to have the time of appreciation. Had this not been taught in class and I only watched this, I probably wouldn't like the movie. But because I have an understanding, I do like this enough and can appreciate the work done. Shakespeare is hard and there's no denying it. I just want more than a simple appreciation for everything. Anyway, the most amazing parts of the movie are the technicals. The cinematography is to die for. When you watch this, simply watch it for the visuals because it is rewarding. They will be remembered for years to come. Then there's the production design. All of this was shot on a sound stage and not on location. That works incredibly here and they utilize the space to its fullest potential. Sometimes it's hard to even know this isn't at an actual castle or outdoors. Carter Burwell composes a nice score that blends in with the impressive sound design. Every single one of these technicals enhance the movie as a whole. I've given my opinion on The Tragedy of Macbeth. I wouldn't recommend this if you don't like Shakespeare or this play. After watching it twice, I can say I doubt I'll rewatch this for a long time, but I can say I liked and appreciated the craftsmanship.

The House (III) (2022)

Rewarding Watch

[8/10 · 20 January 2022]

"For those who decide not to find it, there can be nothing."

Across different eras, a poor family, an anxious developer and a fed-up landlady become tied to the same mysterious house in this animated dark comedy. The House is an interesting 90 minutes that's hard to describe. Over the course of three segments we watch this setting grow into this surreal experience. With how strange this is, not everyone will be all for it. Even some parts within the segments didn't necessarily work for me. Still, the entirety pays off well in the end. The most striking feature is the use of stop motion animation. This style has become almost a lost art. Hardly any filmmakers use it anymore with the convenience of computer animation. There's something about it that I love and thankfully they chose to go that route here. With the route these stories take, only an animated style could do it justice. Plus, people are weirded out by stop motion animation and claymation so it only seems fitting. The entire atmosphere is expertly crafted by our four directors. Having a different director for each gives a unique approach each time. Because of that decision, the flow of the entirety doesn't always match. Though it's listed as three separate episodes, Netflix put them together in one to make it a movie. That's slightly confusing because having a set thing, episodic or movie, would give a better idea of what this project should be. I'm sure there's an answer somewhere.

We have a wide array of voice acting from veteran actors. It's fun to spot each voice within the shorts. Mia Goth is in the first and does an excellent job with her character. Jarvis Cocker has his performance in the second, being my favorite acting performance of them all. And in the third, I was a big fan of everyone. However, Helena Bonham Carter and Susan Wokoma stand out the most. As for each episode, it's hard to rank them because they're all so different. The first caught my attention, especially in the third act from how strange it turned out to be. The second is frustrating, taking inspiration from mother!. And the final is bittersweet invoking a feeling of home and loss. The third has the most to say and has stuck with me the most. I would be interested to see a feature length of each. The pacing doesn't always work with them partially from how short they are, even if they are slow burns. And the story doesn't always come through as much as it could. Still, The House manages to pull everything together and be a notable feature/series (I'll find out sometime) that could be memorable till the end of the year and years to come. If you think you're up for the watch, go for it!

The Lost Daughter (2021)

Hauntingly Beautiful

[8/10 · 9 January 2022]

"We are obliged to do so many stupid things. From childhood even."

Alone on a seaside vacation, Leda becomes consumed with a young mother and daughter as she watches them on the beach. Unnerved by their compelling relationship, Leda is overwhelmed by her own memories of the terror, confusion and intensity of early motherhood. An impulsive act shocks Leda into the strange and ominous world of her own mind, where she is forced to face the unconventional choices she made as a young mother and their consequences. The Lost Daughter is Maggie Gyllenhaal's directorial and screenwriting debut. At the Venice Film Festival, she won the Golden Osella for her writing on this feature. Even with the star talent and Maggie's debut, I was weary about this for quite some time. Once her big award was settled and the rave reviews came in, I wanted to watch this as soon as possible. I can confirm that The Lost Daughter is a hauntingly beautiful film. This story can be difficult to unfold. The more we learn about Leda, the less confident we feel for her and the outcome of this particular juncture. Obviously, the writing on this is really thought out and thought provoking. It shines through as some of the year's best with monologues and words alone that burn into your mind. Almost outshining the writing is the direction. Maggie Gyllenhaal does a superb job directing this. The connection to motherhood is portrayed and felt in such a personal way. Clearly, there's passion behind this project and it's easy to see and feel. There may be times where the first time choices and techniques are evident. And it does try to avoid certain tropes but doesn't quite manage to leave them all behind. Even so, this is some marvelous work.

Leda is such an intriguing character that I can't quite wrap my mind around. She's deeply troubled and this sudden and unexpected PTSD sinking in over this relaxing holiday puts her into turmoil. Olivia Colman gives a subtle yet explosive performance. She's brilliant in everything she does and is a guaranteed lock for a nomination this year. Somehow she never misses a mark in every role given. Playing her younger self is Jessie Buckley. Even with less screen time, she manages to make a mark and give quite a performance in a few scenes. They're two different versions of Leda in two different times, but they fit those pieces together to create a fully fleshed out character. Dakota Johnson plays yet another interesting character. Just like Leda, she's hard to gauge. It only makes sense since she triggers Leda's downfall over this short period of time. Johnson gives a great performance that needs more recognition. I'm a year with so many notable supporting actress performances, it's easy to lose the ones that aren't super showy. The cinematography and score look and sound good. With cutting back and forth from present to past, it flows well. There are bouts of dragging on, but the payoff is worth it. I know that general audiences have been conflicted with this film. It's difficult to watch in a way that's hard to explain. I can't imagine how challenging of a novel this is. But it's that challenge that make The Lost Daughter worth your time. Maggie Gyllenhaal is the only one who could've done such a project and I hope she continues on this path.

Nightmare Alley (2021)

Entrancing

[8/10 · 26 December 2021]

"Step right up and behold one of the unexplained mysteries of the universe! Is he a man or beast?"

When charismatic but down-on-his-luck Stanton Carlisle endears himself to clairvoyant and her has-been mentalist husband Pete at a traveling carnival, he crafts a golden ticket to success, using this newly acquired knowledge to grift the wealthy elite of 1940s New York society. With the virtuous Molly loyally by his side, Stanton plots to con a dangerous tycoon with the aid of a mysterious psychiatrist who might be his most formidable opponent yet. Nightmare Alley is Guillermo del Toro's return to cinema since his best picture winning film The Shape of Water. Based on the novel and film from the 40s, del Toro and his co-writer Kim Morgan manage to retell this complex story and bring a new vision. We all know the direction in this is stellar long before seeing this. We see his staple directorial skills that bring this circus and world larger than life. The carnival sequences only take place in the first act, but they leave such an imprint. Everything looks outstanding and eerie. Some of the best production design you'll see! Even the later stuff is just as good. As usual, we have the cinematography with blue and teal colors tinting the screen. Everything looks clean and perfectly places. This is a visual feast from start to finish.

We have quite the acting ensemble with veteran actors. Our main stars include Bradley Cooper, Rooney Mara, and Cate Blanchett. All give more than Greta performances. For Cooper, this is his most reserved and complex role. He's falling to pieces and does it in such a subtle way. The first 20ish minutes he doesn't even talk. By the end, he gives such a haunting performance that lingers. Rooney Mara plays his love interest and I think she's such an underrated actress. Her chemistry with Cooper is such a joy in those seemingly magical moments. She's forced to do things she doesn't want to do and is loosing it from it all. She's closest to the audience perspective. And then there's Blanchett giving her very best as usual. I love her character and how calm and uncomfortable she makes you. As a psychiatrist, she's absolutely entrancing and fits everything perfectly. Besides the acting and look, the highlight is the finale. Everything is unhinged and goes off the rails. With such a long film, the conclusion is very satisfying. In the middle things start to slow down and some could've been cut out to shorten it. But with how much happens within the story it's hard to lose interest. This obviously won't be for everyone. It's artistic and strange. Still, this is definitely worth checking out when you get the chance.

Don't Look Up (2021)

Hilarious, Anxiety Inducing, Terrifying, and True

[8/10 · 22 December 2021]

"At this very moment, I say we sit tight and assess."

An astronomy grad student, and her professor make an astounding discovery of a comet orbiting within the solar system on a direct collision course with Earth. However, no one really seems to care. Turns out warning mankind about a planet-killer the size of Mount Everest is an inconvenient fact to navigate. With only six months until the comet makes impact, managing the 24-hour news cycle and gaining the attention of the social media obsessed public before it's too late proves shockingly comical - what will it take to get the world to just look up? Don't Look Up is acclaimed writer and director Adam McKay's newest feature film. He's a critical darling and master at satire and comedy. His last feature Vice proved to be divisive among critics and audiences but still got the recognition and awards hype after that battle. Don't Look Up is even more divisive and faces that same battle. Even with its mixed scores and reactions, it still has managed to appear on many best picture lists and other categories. I, for one, am all for that love. This is such a hilarious, angering, and scary film. Everything about this story is entirely possible and even reflects on modern day life. There's a large ensemble with many stars, each portraying a different type of person we'd see in a situation like this. The biggest standouts for me are DiCaprio, Streep, and Lawrence. DiCaprio plays a nervous scientist struggling with anxiety. He's really good and for me one of his best performances. At one point, he has this long monologue like the freak out scene in Network, which he nails out of the park. Obviously, he'll be everyone's favorite out of this. Streep plays the controversial president of the United States who doesn't care much and fails to look at science. Right now we know many politicians like that so it'll be easy to relate to the anger towards her. Streep has so much fun with the role and it's hard not to enjoy to some degree. Much like DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence is struggling with the anxiety of this, but is also full of rage for how the situation is handled. She's the closest to what the audience will be feeling and is easiest to relate to. Some of her character needed work on, but a great performance by her.

McKay is known for his distinctive style of editing which is prominent here. It may not be his best edit yet, but it still works on a comedic level. He knows when to cut to the next scene and when to do a freeze frame in the middle of a frustrating and hilarious scene. The one thing the edit fails to do is shorten the film. This is a pretty long one. It flies by quickly, but it's longer than it needs to be. There's even a mid-credit scene which answers a question posed in the film, but honestly it wasn't needed. As much as I liked it, I was ready to be done once the credits started rolling. There's so much to take in with a topic like this. At times it feels overwhelming, and it is a scary topic to think about. It's like McKay did it too well placing all this stress on us. I'm a big fan of the conclusion. They could've handled it differently or done something safer, but they go for it. With all the fun the film has, it's not scared to be honest and show things how they are. And there is some beauty to be found. I really enjoyed Don't Look Up. There's many achievements to be found. McKay's writing is great. Nicholas Britell's score shines through. The performances stand out. It's a fun time even when it's not. It'll take a certain person to appreciate something like this. Honestly, I doubt many audiences will take a liking to it. Once you see it, you'll be able to tell. Don't Look Up drops on Netflix this Friday, so if you want to get your family together this holiday weekend to watch a film about the end of the world, go for it!

West Side Story (2021)

Very Good!

[8/10 · 20 December 2021]

"All my life, it's like I'm always just about to fall off the edge of the world's tallest building. I stopped falling the second I saw you."

An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. For a while, I was reluctant about this project. Sure, Spielberg is such an amazing director and had the potential to do this remake justice, but I didn't see the use in remaking it. When the teaser came out during the Oscars earlier this year, we were given a promising look into it. Here we are now with raving reviews and one of the best of the year. Spielberg's West Side Story exceeds expectations on every level to bring us something refreshing and captivating. His vision for this project showcases passion and a reason to tell a story that's been redone time after time. Everything about this is well thought out. Per usual, he teamed up with Janusz Kaminski to shoot this. Something about the way he shot this makes it look like it's actually from the 60s. The color correction, grain, and the movements reflect on that golden age of movie musicals and pays homage to their great impact. Every aspect on a technical level looks great. I'm a huge fan of the editing. It's really impressive and helps with the pacing of this long film.

The cast is absolutely fantastic. Ariana DeBose is just amazing as Anita. This is a role destined to make stars and win awards and that's what she does here. Rita Moreno has a part in here as well and proves to still be just as great years later. Mike Faist plays the best Riff yet. David Alvarez is good as Bernardo. Rachel Zegler makes you smile the whole time as she lights up the screen as Maria. The only weak link here is Ansel Elgort and he's still pretty good. What I think makes him the weak link and generates the weakest part of the whole film is the romance. Maria and Tony are heartwarming to watch, but nothing much more. I didn't fully believe this blooming romance over a couple days. They're great actors but the chemistry just wasn't completely there. Part of this goes to the story. It's almost hard to believe such a love would exist how it plays out and things that eventually further the story, but we have to accept that. The musical numbers are mostly all the same as the original, but the stuff in between has been altered to create something new and not just another swing at it. I'm really glad they went for that. Another aspect I thought was a good choice was the language barrier. Around 40% of the film is spoken in Spanish, however, they chose not to use subtitles. It brings an authenticity to it and goes to the theme that love and language have no boundaries. Also, it's trying to be a bit better than the original with inclusivity and better representation. I'm really pleased with how West Side Story turned out. With how well it's doing with critics, audiences, and awards circuits, don't be surprised to see it win awards and nominations. It's to the point where it could potentially be the best picture winner of the year, and I wouldn't mind that. Still, we're three months away and many things will happen till then. With its poor box office performance (due to a few reasons), I would suggest seeing this when you get the chance if you've already seen these other big blockbusters that just came through and are about to get their releases. Watch it, you won't regret it.

The Summit of the Gods (2021)

Solid Film

[8/10 · 17 December 2021]

"For some, the mountain isn't a goal, but a path."

A photojournalist's obsessive quest for the truth about the first expedition to Mt. Everest leads him to search for an esteemed climber who went missing. Based on the manga of the same name, The Summit of the Gods is a French animated film that dropped on Netflix a couple weeks ago after it's critical acclaim from the Cannes film festival. I went in basically blind because I wanted to be awestruck with visuals and have a compelling story to pair with them. I have to say, this is a pretty good movie. If anything works, it's the animation. Everything about it works. I wasn't aware about the manga beforehand, but I have to say the visual style in here works very well when looking at reference photos. The animation brings the story to life. Some of the most thrilling moments are because of what they were able to achieve with the look. Few reviews have complained about the use of animation over live action. All of those complaints are wrong. Another great technical aspect is the score. It's really beautiful and one of the best of the year so far. With as much talk as it's getting just from those two technicalities, it's surprising that it's hardly getting any recognition from general audiences and awards circuits.

The story is equally thrilling and introspective. I love how it's trying to replicate and let people know what it feels like to climb and have us go through the journey. A movie like Everest does a great job at the thrill and showing the dangers and tragedies that come with it. Here, it's more about the feeling and meaning. As great as that is, I can't say I was always on board with the story. It's slow paced and brought me in and out at times. I did have other things on my mind (mostly schoolwork) so that could affect it. I wanted just a little more at times and from the characters. For me, characterization seemed to be a struggle here. They were interesting in their own ways, but it never felt as close as they could've been. Also, there's a couple intense sequences that lost a bit of the thrill where I would've liked a good punch out of them. Some of these are picky and I know that. I did feel invested throughout the runtime. More people should be talking about The Summit of the Gods, but I guess with the little advertisement for it on Netflix, it has fallen under. I can see myself rewatching this in the future and maybe find even more to like. I'd suggest this to anyone. It's nothing inaccessible and would be liked by most.

Wolf (II) (2021)

Very Interesting

[7/10 · 16 December 2021]

"It's not about surviving, it's about surviving as me."

Believing he is a wolf trapped in a human body, Jacob eats, sleeps, and lives like a wolf -- much to the shock of his family. When he's sent to a clinic, Jacob and his animal-bound peers are forced to undergo increasingly extreme forms of 'curative' therapies. However once he meets the mysterious Wildcat, and as their friendship blossoms into an undeniable infatuation, Jacob is faced with a challenge: will he renounce his true self for love. Wolf is an interesting movie. Even before it's release at festivals and theatrical, it was met with mixed reactions. A project like this would never work well with most audiences, but I'm glad they went for it. This is by no means a great movie, but with everything it covers, I think it's solid for the most part. To get one thing out of the way, it can be uncomfortable to watch. Quickly, it turns the uncomfortableness onto humanity and no these people suffering from species identity disorder. This is a real thing that needs to be taken seriously even if it's a little absurd. Writer and director Nathalie Biancheri knew how to handle this and make it serious. I do think she thought this was something greater than it is. For every festival it went to, this description was: A high-concept arthouse drama about a boy who believes he is a wolf. A bit pretentious, don't you think? And this is pretentious. But it makes do by creating something pretty interesting and you can see she cares.

George MacKay absolutely soars in this. This is a transformative role and he embodies his character with precision. His counterpart, Lily-Rose Depp also goes for it. Her character intrigued me the most and I feel we know more about her than anyone else. If the movie needed one thing, it was characterization. There is a lack of it and it's hard to find reasons to care for them. The antagonist, though played well by Paddy Considine, is just a bad guy because he's using awful methods to revert them to their normal selves though they want to be like this. I found it hard to connect with anyone. When the themes come in, and they are really strong, I could apply them to the characters but I couldn't tell you much about them. The script could've used some work at parts. And the pacing didn't flow right. The third act works really well but the first two run on highs and lows. Had it not been for some memorable moments throughout and most of the last act, this would've fell completely flat. But this is a memorable movie, mainly because the content. Wolf showcases some great acting, interesting themes, and really good cinematography. It's a shame not too many people are talking about it. It needs more work, but I found it quite interesting. When I went to see it, I was in a large auditorium on opening night and I was the only one there. Weird experience but I'm glad I had it. This is one of the movies of the year that has mixed-negative reactions that I liked.

The Beach (2020)

A Visceral Experience

[8/10 · 7 December 2021]

"(singing) Grow you little b*stards."

The Beach exclusively follows Australia's acclaimed indigenous filmmaker Warwick Thornton while he retreats to a remote beach where he spends several months with no power and only the land to provide sustenance. This docu-series was distributed by A24 over the week of Thanksgiving. Their release strategy was really impressive. Instead of putting it out in a service or have it on vod or something like that, they had it in their personal screening room. In the screening room, the six episode series would play on repeat 24 hours and for 7 days straight. Whenever you tuned in, you wouldn't know where you'd start. With a series like this, it surprisingly works. I started halfway through episode two and watched it all the way to where I started in one sitting. The Beach is one of the most impressive series that I've seen. Everything is focused on the simplicity of life and the little things that we do to survive. There are absolutely no stakes whatsoever. Everything is calm. Warwick isn't here to draw anyone's attention with anything big. Honestly, I'm surprised more people aren't disliking it. The way he captures life, his own life, reminds us that nothing has to be extravagant to make us feel better. Warwick Thornton is such an interesting person. Scattered throughout the episodes, he'll give us personal insight and stories from his life. Some pertain to what's happening, and some are there just for him to talk about out loud. Most of the time he doesn't talk at all. At most he'll talk to the chickens he has with him. Every once in a while, I would've liked to hear his thoughts and stuff like that. At the same time, how natural it is feels just right. A show like Alone which has contestants alone in the wilderness setting up their camera and telling the audience what they're doing and thinking. I think because we know what he's doing, he doesn't feel the need to tell everyone. He's there to have a life detox.

The marketing for the series pitched it perfectly. The trailers have clips and audio that loops around before reaching a conclusion. Each day and episode is sort of like that. They all blend in together. Ok life, we repeat these tasks over and over with little variation just to survive. Even out in the middle of nowhere for six months, the same things happen. However, in this small shack on a beach, there's no stress or much to worry about. The same cycle continues and he goes to prove that point. A big part of our lives is eating and preparing meals. Warwick really emphasizes culinary arts. Each episode he makes at least two beautiful meals with the bare minimum of supplies. It's one of those things you see that makes you want to go out and try to make it, even more than you see in cooking shows. His survival skills are almost unfair, yet it's so interesting to watch. He utilizes all aspects of filmmaking once again with the bare minimum of equipment. The camera work, done with quite a few small cameras throughout the place, looks absolutely stunning. There's no reason something like this should look that good. I'm curious to how some of the techniques used were done. I assume mostly post but it's really good work. Another interesting aspect is the score. Around the second episode, you see how it came to be. He has this guitar with him and the way the wind blew on it this one time made this soothing ambient music. That's what was used to score the series. Warwick also composes a few pieces but it's mostly the ambience. The Beach has so much to compliment on and hardly any flaws. The whole experience is isolated, intimate, and sentimental. I watched it one and a half times and I still felt like I could watch it over and over. You won't see anything like it and we have Warwick Thornton to thank for that.

The Humans (2021)

Different From the Play, But Still Thought Provoking

[8/10 · 7 December 2021]

"Don't you think it should cost less to be alive?"

Based on the Tony award-winning play, The Humans follows the course of an evening in which the Blake family gathers to celebrate Thanksgiving in a shabby New York apartment. As darkness falls outside the crumbling building, mysterious things start to go bump in the night and family tensions reach a boiling point. About a month ago, I was able to see a production of this to get a little taste into what I would be getting into with this. I absolutely loved the play and had really high hopes for the film version. After all, the original playwright and director adapted the screenplay and went on to direct again. Though I don't think the film captures everything the play did, The Humans is a pretty solid movie. Stephen Karam has a great understanding of what he wants to focus on in this version, and that would be atmosphere. The cinematography really accentuates the disgusting, eeriness of the apartment. The whole space becomes it's own character. The lighting isn't evenly lit, a plot device actually is the lights going at eventually, and there's always a feeling of something dark lurking in the corners or off screen. This isn't by any means a horror story in the sense of evil spirits or monsters. A quote that explains the title comes from the character Richard. He talks about a comic he loved/loves about monsters from a different planet and how "the horror stories for the monsters are about humans." That's exactly what the story is trying to get at and also strike fear into the audience to what people - families - become when the reunite and let themselves show. When we get to the last shot, it's absolutely beautiful and haunting. It's one that lingers and makes you think about everything you had to take in within the last 110 minutes.

The characters are all extremely fleshed out. Each has their own issues, both with themselves and the others surrounding them, and that's what makes them so relatable. We have a stacked cast that consists of Richard Jenkins, Jayne Houdyshell (who won a Tony for this same role), Beanie Feldstein, Steven Yeun, Amy Schumer, and June Squibb. Each of them is fantastic. I think Richard Jenkins and Jayne Houdyshell should be in the conversation for awards nominations, but that's something I'll get into later. The two are so dynamic in their portrayals of Erik and Deirdre. Obviously, there are many monologues, and they nail each and every one. The ending showcases so much emotion in Erik and I loved seeing his interpretation of everything, along with Karam's interpretation for the movie. Beanie Feldstein has become a very great actress over the past couple of years and gives one of her best performances. Steven Yeun had had the same success and does Richard justice. June Squibb's character doenst speak too much or get a ton of screen time, but her presence is always felt. Many people have problems with Amy Schumer as a person and comedian. I've never experienced that, but I can tell you that you won't have that here. As a dramatic role, she does well with, coincidentally, Aimee. I really like that character and she's dedicated to portraying her and her emotions with care. It's an ensemble showcase and if you'll leave with anything, it's how great of characters and performances there are.

Stephen Karam made his directorial debut in film with this project. Though he knows the source material more than anyone, I felt some of the direction took away honestly. Maybe it's because the production I saw took a different direction than here, but this has a much different tone. The play is filled with jokes, dramatic tension, and anxiety. The movie goes for the drama and "horror" more than anything. The script is almost exactly the same as the play. Even with that, I think we lost some. A majority of the jokes in the movie never really landed. I couldn't tell if they were going for humor or just passing comments. With that, a little bit of the enjoyment factor was lost. The drama is on point, though some subtleties didn't quite come through. I mentioned how good the cinematography was, but it also became an issue. Instead of focusing on characters in conversations, the camera often moves around to different parts of the apartment to looks at nothing/everything. You can hear everything in this space, but sometimes we just didn't see what we could've. There's a haunting reveal made towards the end that absolutely broke me while seeing the play. Here, the camera angle and how quickly it's played off didn't do it the justice it needed. Another very emotional part is cut down a little and I think they needed the full treatment. Karam wants to give us an intrusive and uncomfortable experience, and though we get it, it comes off in the wrong sense at times. His direction, though I think is good, needed a little more care and thought put in for film treatment.

I have a lot to say about The Humans. Mainly I liked it. I can't say I enjoyed it because this is one of those stories that isn't meant to be enjoyed, rather thought about and experienced. Stage to screen can have issues in translating. I think this almost gets it all. This has a different direction than the stage is used to seeing from my knowledge. Just look up clips on YouTube and compare it to this and you'll see a notable difference. Not everything works. But this is such a brilliant story that's incredibly written. I know not everyone will like this, and most audiences aren't liking it. I liked the play better, but I still thought this was a solid movie. It may not be one I'll revisit a lot, but it stuck with me, and for good reason.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)

Quality Entertainment

[7/10 · 2 December 2021]

"Somehow, a town that isn't anywhere near a tectonic plate, has no volcanic activity, that has no faultlines no fracking, no loud music even- is shaking on a daily basis."

When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind. Ghostbusters: Afterlife is out and quickly becoming an audience favorite. I can't say I'm a Ghostbusters fanatic. I enjoy the original and I didn't mind the 2016 reboot that most everyone hated. The one thing that intrigued me into wanting to see this was Jason Reitman in the director's chair. As the son of Ivan Reitman, the director of the original, I was interested to see if they had the same vision for something like this or something different. This is unlike the other Ghostbusters installments, but it's done in a way that brings nostalgia and an overall sense of joy. Jason Reitman also co-wrote the script alongside Gil Kenan bringing even more of himself into the script. You can tell which scenes were primarily wrote by him from the witty and dramatic dialogue. I found the dialogue to be a strong suit here. Almost all of the jokes landed, it's not trying to dumb things down for younger audiences, and plays out in a fairly realistic manner. There's a few scenes with the kids that worked well in capturing their own feelings. I liked how they made it into a coming-of-age story almost over a supernatural adventure. They captured the right tone for it. And the acting is pretty good. McKenna Grace stands out once again as brings great child actor, Finn Wolfhard does well, Paul Rudd is pretty funny, but Carrie Coon surprisingly steals the show. She's such an underrated actress and I love how she always gives the most no matter the role.

The overall story needed some work to it. I liked what it was trying to do, but not all of it worked. As hard as it tried to fit in with the original, it feel mainly separate. They throw in as many callbacks as they can, but it just doesn't feel the same. It works, but it's separate. The coming-of-age material does feel a bit overdone to start with. The characters are pretty cliche though we learn to like them more and more. A good comparison would be the first installment of Fear Street earlier this summer. The story and characters felt basic, but the way it's told almost forces us to like them. None of the twists, surprises, or plot devices surprised me. It's easy to tell where the movie is going. And it's for sure setting up a sequel or series, there's even two after credit scenes, so we don't have the full picture. Maybe in the future installment(s) the stakes will be heightened and we can get more out of the family and ghostbusters. Overall, Ghostbusters: Afterlife pleasantly surprised me. I can't say I was 100% with it, but there's quality entertainment here. With as well as it's doing with audiences around, this could be one to take friends or family out to for a night of fun.

King Richard (2021)

Inspirational

[8/10 · 30 November 2021]

"The most strongest, the most powerful, the most dangerous creature on this whole earth is a woman who knows how to think. Ain't nothing she can't do."

King Richard takes a look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams. Though I may not be a big sports person or take time to learn the history of the Williams sisters, I did have this as one of my most anticipated movies for the rest of the year. And even though the trailers didn't make it out to look sensational, I knew it would be a crowd pleaser at the bare minimum. King Richard is quite the crowd pleaser, but it goes beyond that to craft quite the inspirational story. Rather than focus on the sisters, this focuses on who brought them to the tennis stars they are today. Will Smith is fantastic as Richard. It's to the point where you don't see him acting and instead a determined father. What I like is how they don't glorify Richard in every possible way. He could be quite extreme at times forcing the girls and the family as a whole to see and do things his way and not let them be themselves. His selfishness and ego can be frustrating at times. But moments come by that show a loving side and how much he really cares for everyone. Saniyya Sidney (Venus) and Demi Singleton (Serena) are great as well. The story may put Venus in the spotlight a little more than Serena, but each of them get their own moment to shine. Another scene stealer is Aunjanue Ellis as Richard's wife Brandy. Sometimes it feels like she's under utilized, but she has her moments as the voice of reason. The whole cast is really good and we for sure have two locks and a good chance at a win for acting awards at the Academy Awards.

The story is pretty formulaic in close to everything. The route it takes is one we've seen before, so it should be easy to see where things are going. Even some of the dialogue comes off in that way. There are times where I could really feel it and it dragged me out of the experience for a little bit. Somehow, though, it manages to make this familiar format exciting and captivating. The life brought into the story makes it memorable and a standout. I already mentioned the acting, but the script does bring out many good points and themes for the movie that need exploring and not just glossed over. In a crowd pleaser, it's typical to avert viewers from the problematic nature in characters and society to create this happy little world. Thankfully, we don't get that here. I'm glad for the risks it decides to take. As a whole, the movie is a little prolonged nearing almost two and a half hours. I could feel it drag on in the middle and some in the beginning. The last act really brings it together for an engaging experience. Maybe I don't like the execution of the final moments, but everything pretty much landed in a spot that worked nicely. It's a shame that this hasn't been performing well with audiences. Hardly anyone has gone out to see it. Even on HBOMax, the numbers are low. This could be because not many people know what it's about from just the title alone or haven't seen enough ads (I've seen many). I'm sure this would be a success to almost all who see it. In fact, I don't know I single person who watched it and didn't like it. King Richard is a feel good movie that you should watch. It may be a little too familiar at times, but it's one to remember this year.

tick, tick... BOOM! (2021)

Solid Movie with a Great Lead Performance

[7/10 · 23 November 2021]

"Lately, I've been hearing this sound. Everywhere I go, like a tick, tick, tick.."

On the cusp of his 30th birthday, a promising young theater composer navigates love, friendship and the pressures of life as an artist in New York City. Tick, tick...BOOM! Is based off of Jonathan Larson's musical and real life experience. Everyone is familiar with Larson's Rent, and I was interested to see what this musical had in store. This is definitely an enjoyable movie. I'm not like all the theatre fans who are gawking over this, but I did enjoy this. The story explores themes that I found pretty personal. Jonathan is at the point in his life going on 30 where he has to find a way to achieve his dreams or get a job and move on. I may not be quite at that point, but I do feel this way at times and I'm sure most do. If Larson knows how to do one thing, it is making relatable content. As the story continues, the time ticking away grows louder audibly and we can feel the growing pressure. Andrew Garfield expertly portrays Larson in one of his best performances to date. He understands his character and who he was paying respect to Larson. Garfield gives an almost wild and deranged performance. As everything is falling to pieces, we go a layer deeper and see that scared person on the inside. I know his stage acting from clips on YouTube (and of course in movies), but I haven't heard him sing till now and he's pretty good. Other standout performances include Robin de Jesus (who has a great scene), Alexandra Ship, Vanessa Hudgens, and even Bradley Whitford's cameo.

Most everyone knows the project was placed in the hands of Lin Manuel-Miranda. Technically, this isn't his debut but this is his first big project. I think he does a fine job in the director's chair. Personally, I don't think there was enough voice in direction than there was in story. His style was quick cuts and going back and forth from stage to a real life scenario eventually blending them together. He knows the story and does portray it in a good light but I don't think he understood his voice in direction. My biggest disappointment was in this aspect. Not everyone will be looking into that, but I certainly was. As the movie goes along, it does feel a little prolonged. The runtime is fine, however, the messages become a bit on the nose and could be fleshed out a bit more. There's time for fun bits, but even some for me felt a little wasteful. A big part about a musical are the songs. Though they may not be as catchy or all winners, I thought the music and lyrics were pretty good. Utilizing the stage part for the musical numbers worked and added some flare to it. It draws us out of the real world story and brings us into the headspace of our characters, which is both a good thing most of the time. I honestly couldn't tell you more. Tick, tick...BOOM! Is a solid movie that hits almost every mark. I enjoyed it, though I felt it was lacking in some key aspects bringing it slightly down for me. I'm sure more people have more things to say, so it might be best to listen to a professional on their thoughts. I'm just a film student giving my two cents.

Bergman Island (2021)

Enjoyable and Full of Hope

[7/10 · 19 November 2021]

"Can I tell you about the story I'm writing?"

A couple retreat to the island that inspired Ingmar Bergman to write screenplays for their upcoming films when the lines between reality and fiction start to blur. Bergman Island is a light-hearted drama that's been going from festival to festival the past few month. People have praised it as a great feel good movie for cinephiles. If I'm being honest, I haven't actually seen a Bergman film. The closest I've gotten was this year's limited series Scenes From a Marriage based on his film. Being in film school, though, I am familiar with his works and what he has done for cinema. Bergman Island is there to pay homage to the name Bergman. Everything about it is centered around the filmmaker. The first 45-minutes actually goes through a tour and gives the audience a slice of who he was. This is good for those who don't know him. After a little bit, it does begin to feel more like a lesson than part of the movie. It is necessary to know all of this information but it can be a bit excessive. It almost feels like it's testing our knowledge and talking down to us. When we get into the actual story the movie is about, it becomes an enjoyable time. Vicky Krieps and Tim Roth play a troubled couple trying to find their voice for their upcoming screenplays. The two play their characters well. I found Krieps' character more appealing. We are supposed to side with her and follow almost the entire time so that is inevitable. Her passion for film and wanting a story centered around a woman like her is delightful to see.

Where the movie finds a unique voice in story is Krieps' idea of a story. The movie becomes a movie inside of a movie. This movie that we're watching stars Mia Wasikowska as a woman similar to Krieps' down to the look. This new story actually took my interest more than the overall one. It's very fun and a little more relatable. And Wasikowska steals the entire show! By adding this new aspect, it grounds the movie as a whole. Both stories start off string but lose steam as they go along. By the time we get to the new story, it felt like it was going nowhere. As great of an idea as this is and it works well, the placement is awkward. Not till about an hour in so we see this. It diverts our attention, and for good reason, but feels out of place to begin with. By the end of the new story, I started to feel some fatigue. The very end of the movie leaves us on a hopeful thought. It's a movie full of hope and there to inspire others to let their creativity flow. Mia Hansen-Løve showcases good filmmaking through direction and writing. I'm glad I saw it once it ended. I do think there were story aspects that could've been approved upon, but this is a downright enjoyable movie. Bergman Island is available to rent on VOD and it's one that I'd like to revisit again someday.

Spencer (2021)

A Masterclass in Story, Direction, Acting, and Everything Else

[9/10 · 18 November 2021]

"Here, in this house, there is no future. Past and the present are the same thing."

I'm very late on this but I have free time now!

During her Christmas holidays with the royal family at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, Diana Spencer, struggling with mental health problems, decides to end her decade-long marriage to Prince Charles. At the beginning of Spencer, we're told this is a fable from a tragic tale. Though we may not know the full story from those three days, what Spencer manages to do is extraordinary. This film is brilliant from start to finish. Diana's story has become increasingly popular within the past few years, especially with season four of The Crown. Some may be getting fatigued from the story, but I am not. We haven't seen anything like this just yet. Steven Knight hasn't written something as grand as this before. It's a piercing screenplay that digs right to the core and guts you out. Pained, serene, and ever so heartbreaking, it's a roller coaster of emotions. Believe it or not, this is a pretty bizarre film as well. The lavish lifestyle and the activities and expectations that encompass the holidays may feel foreign to most (I would hope so), but it turns into a haunting story as it crosses between reality and surrealism. Though fairly easy to follow, we can't be for certain what's real and not in a few scenes. In a few sections, it does run a bit in circles and repeats the same things. Shortly, they pick up and go back on track. Pablo Larraín was a master when it came to 2016's biopic Jackie. Here, he's even more of a revelation. Beautifully directed, his voice stands out. There are many visions that come clear through his direction that no one else would have dared to seek out. It seems that he's very interested in heavy-handed, character-driven biopics, so far about female figures, and I cannot wait to see what he might do next if he continues this route. Even if that's not the plan, anything else I'd love to see.

Outshining the direction is Kristen Stewart's portrayal of Diana. This is absolutely incredible. We know about Twilight and all those roles she had during that phase which didn't go over very well, mainly due to the movies she was attached to. You cannot say she's a bad actress because there are many roles of hers that she is very good in. Absolutely this is her best work! She nails the accent and all of the little mannerisms. Because of how intimate it is, we are completely in her shoes. We see the full range of emotions. Though the dramatic monologues drew me in (and literally everything), my favorite parts came from her with the kids. You see the light inside of her shine through and it's a wholesome few minutes. Truly a transformative performance that is completely captivating. Even the smaller performances from Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins, and Sean Harris are very good. Look plays a big part in the story in film. The costumes, as beautiful as they are, become an antagonist for Diana and us. The set design is very extravagant but becomes a dizzying maze from how excessive it is to the common eye. The most striking part is the cinematography. Claire Mathon outdoes herself with the dreamy look that puts us in a new world. You can tell it's all done on film and I wish we had more films that look like this, however, only Mathon could do what she did. Another interesting aspect is Jonny Greenwood's score. It's unconventional for this type of film. It turns into something avant-garde and jazzy. I don't know how he pulled it off, but it's memorable is very good. There's so much I could say about Spencer and praise it for. It's one of the best films of the year and it's because of the dedication to Diana's memory that pulls it together. If you get the chance it see this, please do. It's rewarding in every way possible.