Change Your Image
moviesfilmsreviewsinc
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Reviews
The Losers (2010)
Fun, Original and twists and turns
The Losers, a comic-based action film, follows a group of soldiers seeking revenge for a crime they didn't commit. The film's characters are portrayed as beefy quip machines, and its dated execution and style, such as skip-frames and cartoony captions, make it a film you could know all about without actually watching it. Despite this, The Losers has a breezy charm due to Jason Patric's badguy and Chris Evans's comic relief, and the plot is effective but mechanical. The strangely coy approach to violence leaves an odd aftertaste, but not enough to taint the fun. The Losers is a comic book adaptation of the popular action film, set in the Bolivian rainforest. The Losers are a group of specialized army badasses who play cards and use large sidearms instead of chips. They have a reputation for taking down whole armies, but their routine operation is a cold-hearted stab in the back, leaving their reputation in tatters. The film starts with a fairly ho-hum revenge thriller narrative, with explosive action and very little depth, resonance, or character development. However, the real trick of The Losers is that, for the most part, you don't particularly care. The film finds its sweet spot in the mixture of Oceans Eleven-style slick teamwork, gentle humour, and openly, charmingly silly mayhem. Chris Evans is pitch perfect as the squad's nerdy motormouth, jabbering through neurotic asides and comments that help undercut the narrative's moments of dull exposition.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan, looking cool in an ever-present suit, manages to carry a suave sort of emotional trauma behind his dark eyes, but there never really is any complexity that lets the characters become compelling beyond posture and punch. The opening sequence uses innocent civilian casualties as lazy shorthand to instill a sense of moral certainty to their revenge mission, but this removes any thorny subtext to the team's destructive journey. While the film's action setpieces showcase each character's part in a well-executed whole, Short, Jaenada, Elba, and Zoe Saldana just don't have that much space to develop their parts beyond testosterone-fuelled stereotyping. Zoe Saldana tries her best with the under-written, mysterious benefactor Aisha, a character who is viewed with suspicion and desire. The film is a flawed and unpretentious exploration of the themes of identity, betrayal, and the consequences of one's actions. It relies on the suspension of all intelligence to accept the twists and betrayals, the scene-chewing villain Max, and the predictable sequel. Director Sylvain White keeps the film moving, but it runs out of visual ideas before the finish line, often resorting to POV handheld shots, slow-mo, and comic book-like freeze frames. Despite its flaws, the film is enjoyable and unpretentious, with enough kick to overcome its glaring pitfalls.
Boy Kills World (2023)
Boy Kills World is a film that aims to showcase Skarsgård's versatility and talent in the action genre.
"Boy Kills World" is a hyper-action movie that follows a media-addicted killer who seeks to avenge his family's deaths. The movie's protagonist, a deaf and mute orphan named Boy, is murdered on live TV by Frosty Puffs cereal mascots, who are sponsors of The Culling, an annual televised flex of power organized by the insecure fascist Melanie Van Der Koy and her family. Frosty Puffs also plays a crucial role in the over-exaggerated and under-developed backstory of the titular character. The movie dabbles in media criticism by focusing on the Van Der Koy family's manipulation of the media. The Van Der Koys are also evident in their vainness, her husband Glen, and their frustrated artist brother-in-law Gideon. Melanie projects her insecurities onto the Boy, who can't communicate verbally, despite speaking a language she's fluent in. The movie's gory and joyless action comedy imagines media consumers and political dissidents as unmemorable extras, making it a gory and joyless action comedy. The Stunts are so precise and the Violence is very Graphic but that's how the story is and the characters are. Boy Kills World is a film that combines elements of both Hunger Games and modern science fiction. The protagonist, Bill Skarsgård, is a man who lives to kill dystopian dictator Hilda Van Der Koy, who murdered his family in an annual "culling" ceremony. He is groomed for revenge by a mysterious shaman, who tells him that Hilda must die. Boy infiltrates another culling ceremony in the capital, a city with medieval and futuristic elements. Despite the fantastical framing, the storyline is repetitive and predictable, with a twist that derails the proceedings both tonally and narratively. The film is filled with action and not much thought, which would be better if there wasn't too much plot. Bill Skarsgård, one of eight Skarsgård siblings, has gained a reputation for his creepy-chic performances in films like Barbarian, Hemlock Grove, IT, and The Crow reboot. In Boy Kills World, he proves to be a bona fide action star as he plays Boy, a character shaped for revenge against Famke Janssen's Hilda van der Koy, the head of a wealthy ruling family in a totalitarian state. Boy's character is deaf and mute, and his performance resembles Buster Keaton. However, the film fails to match his level, with a blend of Deadpool-esque comic violence, Hunger Game-style worldbuilding, and character archetypes borrowed from various genres. The plot is overworked, with too many flashbacks and revelations, and the movie lacks fun characters, a snappy runtime, and lethal set pieces. A leaner edit could address some of these issues, but it would require someone prepared to be as brutal as Boy in taking out obstacles. Overall, Boy Kills World is a film that aims to showcase Skarsgård's versatility and talent in the action genre.
Day Shift (2022)
Funny and well written
The film "Day "Shift" is a two-hour action-comedy for Netflix, directed by veteran stunt coordinator JJ Perry. The film follows a vampire hunter named Bud (Jamie Foxx), who is tasked with killing an infestation of vampires in LA. Bud uses various weapons, including pump-action shotguns, psychotic hunting knives, rolls of decapitation wire, and special bullets with toughened wood. His only ally is Big John Elliott, a cameo by Snoop Dogg. Bud needs $10,000 to save his estranged wife Jocelyn (Meagan Good) from moving to Florida with their daughter Paige (Zion Broadnax). To get more vampire-killing work, Bud must apply for readmission to the vampire-hunting "union" that had expelled him. He accepts a partner, Seth (Dave Franco), who is not used to field work. The film's crude action sequences and video-game aesthetic are not interesting or glamorous, with only a small bit of comic potential when Seth is compromised. The ethos of being "turned" is fudged to allow the protagonist to become a vampire while staying a good guy. The film is pretty bloodless and lacks any interesting or glamorous aspects. "Day Shift" is a vampire thriller featuring Jamie Foxx in a badass mode, with the film being a mix of eccentric goofiness and arduousness. Directed by J. J. Perry, the movie aims to be a dessert drenched in blood, but this adds flavor but also weighs it down. The movie follows Bud Jablonski, a Los Angeles vampire hunter who aims to get $10,000 to pay for his daughter's braces and grade-school tuition. He plans to do so by selling vampire fangs, which can be valuable depending on the bloodsucker they come from. The movie is one of the more perversely twisty vampire flicks in recent memory, with five types of vampires organized by age: Southern, Eastern, Spider, Uber, and Juvenile. To kill the vamps, they are killed through blasting them through the heart with special African hard wood and cutting their heads off with a silver blade. A black-market sunblock allows the vamps to be out in the SoCal daylight for about 20 minutes. Once they are killed, they release a special gas that Bud needs to get off with a special orange-yellow powder. Decapitation is the closest the film comes to having an inviolable law, as a key vampire gets decapitated only to place his head back on himself. There are also vamps who are loyal to humans rather than other vampires. Overall, "Day Shift" is a mix of undead action, cop/crazy cop buddy comedy, and a tale of a tough but saintly divorced dad trying to save his family.
Hit Man (2023)
Hitman is a longtime popular crime character
In Richard Linklater's Hit Man, philosophy lecturer Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) ponders the question of how many people truly know themselves. The film tells the story of Johnson working for the New Orleans Police Department as a fake hit man for its sting operations. He is an amiable, Honda Civic-driving, bird-watching Everyman in shorts and glasses, who turns out to be the perfect fake assassin. Despite his unreadable face, Gary gets the gig at a moment's notice because the usual guy got caught beating up teens and got himself a 120-day suspension. However, Gary is a natural and convincingly transforms into a badass as soon as he meets his mark. This is similar to the scene in Collateral where Jamie Foxx's mousy cabbie has to pose as Tom Cruise's stone-cold assassin and suddenly becomes a new man. Glen Powell's performance in Hit Man might make him a movie-star because it is at heart a fantasy. Gary plays a figure out of our collective imagination, playing a figure out of our collective imagination. He researches his clients beforehand and tailors his look for their expectations of a hit man, making up the character as he sees fit. He meets Madison (Adria Arjona), a terrified wife being tormented by an unstable, domineering husband. She tries to hire Gary, but he slyly convinces her to give up on the idea because he doesn't want her going to prison. They fall in love, but she thinks he's still "Ron," the grizzled, open-collared killer who showed her some genuine compassion and impromptu life coaching. Gary also thinks he's Ron, or at least becomes Ron whenever he's with her, so much so that he's now a demon in bed. He has the instincts of a tougher guy when they're together, and when Madison's estranged husband spots them at a club and threatens them, Gary immediately pulls out a gun, Clint Eastwood-style, and backs him off. Hit Man is a film that deconstructs the concept of stardom by presenting a character we cannot be, and then making us believe we can be him. The film's amiable filmmaking and Powell's charming, self-aware swagger are infused with the idea that anything is possible, making the world seem open, malleable, and accepting. The auteur theory has been criticized for its lack of focus on the material, but Linklater's breeziness and generosity as a director work wonders in this film. It serves as a rebuke to other hit-man movies at Venice this year, such as David Fincher's The Killer and Harmony Korine's Aggro Dr1ft. Linklater's film feels genuinely fresh, with fun for the star and the audience. The film's overt philosophical digressions, such as Gary's lectures to his classes, are easygoing and lively. Linklater's gentle touch is his secret weapon, and Hit Man might be a masterpiece. The film's overt philosophical digressions, in the form of Gary's lectures to his classes, are equally easygoing and lively.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
The Coen Brothers are brilliant as ever
The Old West, as depicted in American movies for over a century, is a place where chaos reigns until it doesn't, opportunity is abundant until it isn't, and freedom and liberty are the name of the game until some force of God or government tramples them. The West is foundational to America's myths of self-starting, national community, and perseverance. However, this doesn't imply that you control your own fate; anything can happen, it's true, but so can the reverse. Twists of fate and reversals of fortune are the dialectics at the heart of many of our most enduring parables. The Coen brothers, whose films frequently traffic in the forces just beyond their characters' grasps, have sometimes accordingly gotten a reputation for cruelty. Buster Scruggs will reinforce this reputation while dutifully proving it wrong. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is not a single narrative but a fleet-footed anthology of miniature ones, each with its own cast, themes, style, and tone. It's a collection of short stories, each with its own internal rhymes and ricocheting network of ideas, all of which are in conversation. The titular opener, an overture, serves as an overture, proving that impression hilariously wrong. The real intent of the six ensuing tales is to serve up every theme that the film's six ensuing tales will continue to explore, from the political utility of language to the value of reputation and the inevitability of death. Buster Scruggs is a film that explores the themes of possibility and inevitability in the Western genre. The Coens' vision is both bemusing and vicious, with the values put into motion by their characters being the heart of each study. The stories themselves are exciting, with characters such as James Franco, Tom Waits, Alice Longabaugh, Billy Knapp, and Bill Heck playing key roles. The Western genre has a built-in repertoire of vast horizons, gold, and promises of marriage, but it also offers an opportunity to explore the latent frustrations of chaos and order. The Coens take advantage of this by creating a hollowness throughout the film, where sounds from gunshots to the neighing of Buster Scruggs's steed seem to travel through empty space. The film has the earnest purity of folklore, but also finds pleasure in the tension between revival and ridicule. The choice of Native American representation in Buster Scruggs flirts with the problematic representation that's marred this genre from the start. The Native presence in Buster Scruggs is pointedly blank, appearing only in fits of violence, per usual in tales of this kind. On the other hand, those outbursts are indeed a force of nature, keeping white American optimism firmly, knowingly in check. Since first watching it at the New York Film Festival last month, Buster Scruggs has been described as a political film and also as a histrionic, reactionary nostalgia trip. The real pleasure here is in watching ideas unfold across and between these stories, as the West's mix of possibility and inevitability seems to attract the Coens. The Coens have been criticized for their cool and coy nature, but their images and attitudes are too sharp and bloodthirsty to be reduced to reactionary nonsense. Their meticulous forays into the past, such as The Man Who Wasn't There, Hail, Caesar!, and A Serious Man, do not strike me as period fetishism. In The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the West is not a source of nostalgic pride or a place to reinhabit, but rather a place where great American myths die.
Hollywood Homicide (2003)
Harrison Ford at his prime
"Hollywood Homicide" is a movie starring Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett as detectives Joe Gavilan and K. C. Calden, assigned to Hollywood. Galivan, preoccupied with his real estate business, attempts to sell a house to a club owner who has just been killed. Calden, who wants to be an actor, has Galivan run lines from "A Streetcar Named Desire." The movie was directed by Ron Shelton, who co-wrote with Robert Souza and specializes in funny dialogue for guy characters. The movie is more interested in the goofy cops than the murder plot, with their dialogue redeeming otherwise standard scenes. The movie features a double act between a man who has seen everything and a man who has seen too much. K. C., who moonlights as a yoga instructor, agrees that they are all going to die someday, but his philosophical observations are cut short by a crash. The movie "Hollywood Homicide" begins with a hit on a rap group in a music club, resulting in four deaths. Joe and K. C. investigate, but are under investigation by Benne Macko, the Internal Affairs guy who hates Joe. Joe is suspected of "mingling funds," confusing his personal debts with his real estate business debts. He has been seen with Ferre Salesclerk, a known hooker, and Ruby the psychic (Lena Olin), another member of the Los Angeles women who believe it is fun to make love on a blanket in an empty house. Hartnett makes an able partner for Ford, trading deadpan dialogue and telling everyone he's an actor. He has one of Shelton's nicest little scenes when he goes to the morgue and looks at the dead bodies of the murder victims. There is a chase and a half at the end of the movie, filled with cameos and walk-bys, including Frank Sinatra Jr. As a show-biz lawyer, Martin Landau as a fading producer, Lou Diamond Phillips as Wanda the cop in drag, Gladys Knight, Dwight Yoakam, Isaiah Washington, Master P, Kurupt, Eric Idle, Dr. Dre, and just plain Dre. Much of the closing excitement depends on the Fallacy of the Climbing Killer, a dependable chase cliche where the killer climbs to a high place from which he cannot escape unless he can fly. This film may be the most exciting film ever made about real estate, with the dialogue being the reason to see the movie. The movie is filled with cameos and walk-bys, and the dialogue is the reason to see the movie.
Keanu (2016)
Stupid but cute and Brilliant
Keanu is a comedy film about nerdy friends who disguise as gangsters to steal their kitten. The film stars Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key, best known for their Comedy Central sketch series Key & Peele. They play Rell, the besotted owner of Keanu the kitten, and his uptight George Michael-loving cousin Clarence. The film has a geeky, film-literate flavor to some of the humor, which defuses the semi-ironic gangster posturing. A cameo from Anna Faris is unexpected and not entirely successful. The central joke, that even the most ruthless underworld drug wholesalers are putty in the paws of an adorably cute kitten, is a good one but not enough to sustain an entire movie. The film is intended for the duo's loyal fans, introducing them to a wider audience, and directing at children. However, the movie is a weirdly generic fish-out-of-water tale, where bungling cowards impersonate tough guys, familiar territory for male comedy duos past and present. Key and Peele play their familiar, nerdy suburban characters, with Clarence being a mild-mannered people-pleaser and his cousin Rell being a single, stoner artist and graphic designer. Keanu, played by a team of seven kittens, fills the hole in Clarence's heart and becomes his artistic muse. The film's chemistry is one of its main assets, and the central joke, that even the most ruthless underworld drug wholesalers are putty in the paws of an adorably cute kitten, is a good one but not enough to sustain an entire movie. Key & Peele, a group known for their roles in Hollywood comedy, can act outside of their signature characters. Their intense friendship and individual personalities draw viewers in, but their bromance is absent in this show. The characters play it straight, with little frisson between them, and their black nerdiness is neglected. Keanu has potential, but the code-switching shtick becomes tiresome and neglects their black nerdiness. However, the team works to translate representations of black masculine anger and impenetrability into comedy, revealing the adorable kittens underneath the swagger. The film also satisfied the guilty pleasure of rappers/actors, with Method (Acting) Man defying the adage of avoiding performances with children or animals. Overall, Key & Peele's performance is enjoyable and satisfying, despite the potential for more mature roles. Keanu is a film about a family of gang members who are chased by the 17th Street Blips, a savage gang of former Bloods and Crips. The cousins, led by Will Forte, pursue the kitten into the urban underworld of L. A., where they bond with the Blips and battle drug kingpins and a crime duo. The film has only a single comic narrative setup and extended joke, which is part of the problem with the film. While Key & Peele are appealing on the big screen, the film feels declawed and lacks anything we haven't seen before, except for the kitten. The production feels televisual, staged in enclosed spaces like cars, clubs, and rooftops. The cousins visit urban spaces explored in their program, such as the Club, strip joints, back alleys, and vacant lots. However, the hood and neighborhood are flat, missing the playful surrealism that animates these quotidian urban and suburban spaces and the eccentric characters that occupy them in the show.
The Great Lillian Hall (2024)
'The Great Lillian Hall' reviews: Jessica Lange's performance should 'send chills down the spines' of Emmy competition
"The Great Lillian Hall" premiered on HBO on May 31, 2024, with positive reviews from critics. The film stars Jessica Lange as Lillian Hall, a Broadway star battling dementia, and reunites her with Kathy Bates and Lily Rabe from "American Horror Story." Pierce Brosnan and Jesse Williams also star. The movie is loosely inspired by actress Marian Seldes, who was the aunt of the screenwriter. Directed by Michael Cristofer for HBO Films. Jessica Lange's performance in HBO's TV movie The Great Lillian Hall is a powerful and elegant Broadway-set drama. Lange's first film lead since 2006, she has been working in episodic formats, a sign of an industry's dire lack of meaty roles for older women. Her work with Ryan Murphy has mostly been for memes rather than awards, but it serves as a consistent reminder of her fantastic and fun acting abilities. Lange has also returned to the stage, most recently in the family drama Mother Play, which earned her a Tony nomination in 2016. Her role in The Great Lillian Hall might vault her into the Emmys race, as the film was released on the last day of eligibility after a surprise announcement just weeks ago. Despite the lateness of her nomination, Lange's performance is so breath-catchingly great that it could almost see her winning. She also performs on stage in her real life as a Tony-winning actor playing a woman with dementia, and her role in The Cherry Orchard is seen as one of Broadway's greats. The Great Lillian Hall is a small, focused character study centered around a knockout lead performance by Jennifer Streep. With just weeks to go until previews begin, Lillian is forgetting lines, growing unsteady on her feet, and seeing visions of her late husband. Her assistant, longtime friend Edith (Tony nominee Kathy Bates), her long-suffering daughter (Tony nominee Lily Rabe), and her new director David (Tony nominee Jesse Williams) are concerned, but Lillian remains adamant that things will go on. The film takes seriously the act of stage performance and the perils that come along with it, with theatre pros in front and behind the camera (director Michael Cristofer). Some screenwriter Elisabeth Seldes Annacone's strokes can be a little too broad, and some directorial choices are a little unnecessary. However, Lange takes full control of a miraculous showcase, avoiding every cliche of the over-emphasised theatricality of playing a performer and the oft-seen movie-of-the-week confusion of having dementia. The film gives us the fullness of a life that for an older woman we just don't often get to see in this way. The Great Lillian Hall premieres at 8pm on 31 May on HBO and will be available to stream on Max with a UK date to be announced.
Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip (2015)
A tale For Kids and the Family.
"Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip" is a movie that combines mayhem and humor, with its opening scene featuring Alvin, Simon, and Theodore throwing a surprise birthday party for their dad/legal-guardian Dave. However, things get out of hand when hundreds of people show up, and a half-pipe is erected in the backyard, skateboarders careen through the air, and a DJ cranks the tunes. Dave throws everyone out and gives the chipmunks a good scolding. The movie's main point is that it is a series of random events where the chipmunks either incite a riot or calm one down with their music. It is reminiscent of The Muppets road trip in "The Muppet Movie," musicals of Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, or old comedies where the forces of anarchy bust up snooty drawing room parties. Dave, disappointed in their behavior, is dating a new woman named Shira (Kimberly Williams-Paisley), and wants the chipmunks to be on their best behavior when they finally meet her. On a group outing to play miniature golf, the mischievous chipmunks meet Shira's teenage son Miles (Josh Green), who makes jokes about super-gluing them together. While the chipmunks like Shira, they are terrified that Dave is going to propose to her while on a trip to Miami. They find an unlikely ally in Miles, who doesn't want a new dad at all. The four set off on a crazy trip from California to Miami to track down their parents and bust up the proposal before it's too late. "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip" is a movie about a group of naïve and naive children who embark on a dangerous journey to find their lost friend, Theodore. Theodore, a mentally unstable U. S. air marshal, is tasked with chasing the evil chipmunks who have ruined his flying record. The film takes them across the country, stopping in Texas, Texas, and New Orleans, where they perform on a wooden sidewalk, play in a dive bar, and transform a jazz parade into Mardi Gras. Director Walt Becker creates entertaining scenes for big energetic crowds, with some cameos, including John Waters' great cameo. Jennifer Coolidge, a genius, is under-used as Dave's bizarre neighbor. "Alvin" is not a movie for kids, with some issues with bathroom humor, product placement, and inappropriate clothing for the audience. However, it is generally funny and sometimes sweet, with Tony Hale as a great villain and the road trip sections being pure, uncynical mayhem. The movie also has a subtle message about families, highlighting that they don't have to look a certain way, but are people who love and take care of each other. Overall, "Alvin" is a fun and entertaining movie for kids, but may not be suitable for children.
The Wrong Missy (2020)
The Right or Wrong Missy
"The Wrong Missy" is a Netflix comedy directed by Tyler Spindel and starring David Spade as Tim Morris, who is still in love with his lost fiancée Sarah Chalke. He goes on a blind date with an eccentric woman named Melissa (Lauren Lapkus), who becomes an unexpected and unpredictable handful. Tim meets another Melissa (Molly Sims) at the airport and feels a deeper connection with her. Before a corporate retreat to Hawaii, he plans to invite her Melissa but accidentally texts Lapkus' Melissa. However, as Missy tries to tear her way through one unsettling interaction after another, Tim begins to like her. The movie has a familiar and familial feel, with Sandler's influence dominating the movie. Supporting roles include Rob Schneider, Nick Swardson, Jonathan Loughran, Jackie Sandler, Sadie and Sunny Sandler, and various other Sandler family members. Rapper Vanilla Ice and wrestler Joe "Roman Reigns" Anoai also make cameos. The sweet, timid Tim provides a change of pace for Spade from his typical dirtbag-like persona, but also leads to a saccharine flatness. Lauren Lapkus plays the character's outsized personality, pushing the physical comedy and inappropriateness to extremes. The film's funniest and most savage jokes are when Lapkus repeatedly makes fun of Spade's hair and age. "The Wrong Missy" is a lightweight throwaway, but if your algorithm lands on it, it provides a harmless diversion. Tyler Spindel's Happy Madison tells the story of Tim Morris, a sales executive, who goes on a blind date with Missy, played by Lauren Lapkus. The character is dismally unfunny and would be misogynistic if it wasn't absurd. Tim then meets Melissa at an airport, leading to a sexy interlude and raunchy texts exchanged later. Tim invites Melissa to a Hawaii work retreat, but it's revealed that he has been unwittingly communicating with Missy. Missy initially shocks and embarrasses Tim's friends and colleagues, but eventually wins them over with her in-your-face nonsense. Tim eventually falls for her, despite her horrific behavior leading to him nearly being eaten by an FX shark. The film features a motley mob of Tim's friends and colleagues, including Nate (Nick Swardson), Jack Winstone (Geoff Pierson), and Jess (Jackie Sandler), played by Jackie Sandler's wife Jackie Sandler. Rob Schneider is missing out on the fun, but Steve Buscemi is unavailable. The movie offers originality, wit, narrative sense, emotional resonance, and complex roles for women that reflect progressive contemporary feminist attitudes. It is a Happy Madison movie, strictly for punters who will laugh at anything.
Steel Magnolias (2012)
It will Tug at your Heartstrings
"Steel Magnolias" was a popular Southern film released in 1989, featuring only two black actors who spoke in a nearly two-hour film set in a Louisiana town. The new Lifetime remake of the film, which is now available on Sunday night, features white actors in the background and few of them speak. The film is surprisingly faithful to the original story, which revolves around six women who gather at Truvy's Beauty Spot to gossip, joke, and shed a tear. Director Kenny Leon and his all-star cast, including Alfre Woodard, Jill Scott, Queen Latifah, and Phylicia Rashad, have worked hard to tone down the material and smooth it out.
However, the remake misses the point of the original film. The film essentially consists of a wedding and a death, with everything else being banter and tears. Herbert Ross, a shamelessly effective director of big Hollywood entertainments, wisely pumped up the volume and action in the original film to distract from the script's thinness. He also benefited from the shrewd casting of Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, and Shirley MacLaine, three expert purveyors of ersatz emotion and hollow laughs.
The talented cast in the remake doesn't specialize in that kind of hucksterism or exaggerated vividness that Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton brought to the original. The actresses in the remake, even the normally fierce Ms. Woodard, give quiet, skillful performances in roles that barely exist, except as vehicles for wisecracks and outrageousness. They come across as prosperous New Jersey suburbanites rather than stereotypes of Southern eccentricity, which may sound like an improvement but just makes the whole project feel insubstantial. Condola Rashad plays Shelby in the remake of Phylicia Rashad's original film, while Adepero Oduye plays Annelle. Male roles are less significant in the remake, with basketball superstar Julius Erving appearing as a minister. Details have been altered to reflect the new racial makeup and period, such as referencing Michelle Obama and a more organized wedding scene. However, the original quote "Life goes on" remains intact, recited by both white and black actresses, highlighting the resilience of life.
The First Omen (2024)
Terrifying, Creepy and Plot Twists.
In the past two weeks, two horror movies have been released in America, focusing on young American nuns arriving in Italy to discover a sinister plan by a demonic faction of the Catholic Church to impregnate women. The first movie, The First Omen, is a prequel to Richard Donner's 1976 classic, The Omen, about an American couple who secretly adopt their son as the child of Satan. Wes Craven, a renowned filmmaker, emphasized that the horror genre began providing images of torture around the time the real world became filled with such images. The First Omen, directed by Arkasha Stevenson, incorporates what's happening in society at large into its genre tale of creepy occurrences behind cloistered walls. In 1971, Rome is seized by protests, and young novitiate Margaret Daino (Nell Tiger Free) asks her mentor, Cardinal Lawrence (Bill Nighy), about the turmoil. He explains that the Church is among those institutions where these young people have lost trust and faith.
The film cuts between the chaos in the streets and the chaos in Margaret's mind. She becomes intrigued by Carlita Skianna (Nicole Sorace), one of the girls at the orphanage where she serves. Carlita is quiet, odd, and unable to play with others, and the nuns often send her to "the Bad Room," a sort of solitary confinement for unruly girls. Margaret sees something of herself in the girl and tries to forge a bond with her. When a rogue priest (Ralph Ineson) warns her that Carlita might be marked with the sign of the Beast, and that she might have been bred by the Church specifically to give birth to the Anti-Christ, Margaret is in denial. The First Omen is a horror film that explores the concept of loss of control and helplessness. The priest, who receives information about the Omen, is revealed in a gruesome opening scene featuring Charles Dance. The film is a mix of horror and science fiction, with images that are both textured and shocking, tapping into visceral fears. The film features black veils, monstrous figures, and grimy claws pawing at delicate female flesh. The film also features drawings on walls whispering dark nothings and black habits hanging on hooks that come to life with a burst of wind and a queasy glance. The film is a true horror film that leaves the audience with more questions than answers, highlighting the need for an active horror franchise.
He Went That Way (2023)
Vertical Entertainment Films are very well done.
In 1964, professional ice skater and animal trainer Dave Pitts encountered a young hitchhiker who was on a killing spree. The story was fictionalized in Conrad Hilberry's book "Luke Karamazov," which is the source of "He Went That Way," the feature directing debut of cinematographer Jeff Darling. Jacob Elordi plays Bobby, the nasty, brash killer, while Zachary Quinto plays Jim, the diffident trainer. Jim has troubles, including a wobbly marriage, debt, and bad work prospects for the chimp. Bobby is apt to add to his woes, but the two bond anyway. Elordi's performance in "He Went That Way" lacks the discipline he applied to his work in "Priscilla" and "Saltburn." The film is laboriously quirky, with an indifferent script that feeds Elordi almost as much profanity as Al Pacino uses in "Scarface." The best entertainment is archival footage of the actual Spanky ice-skating, but the rest of the movie is not worth watching. "He Went That Way" is a mid-century indie film that tells the true story of Dave Pitts, an ice-skating chimpanzee who was a star in the Ice Capades. The film stars Australian cinematographer Jeffrey Darling and adapts the book "Luke Karamazov" by Conrad Hillberry. However, the film fails to find a steady tone, veers off into bizarre subplots, and features two underwhelming performances from the talented lead duo. Set in 1964, the story begins with an in medias res development involving a dead body and flashes back a few weeks earlier. Zachary Quinto's Jim Goodwin is driving his rickety old van through Death Valley when he picks up Jacob Elordi's Bobby, a lanky and movie star-handsome stranger. Bobby claims to be an Air Force veteran who has been roaming America and is now trying to reunite with his girlfriend in Milwaukee. Jim is driving to Chicago, and the movie is heavy with symbolism about the uncertainty of America in the aftermath of the JFK assassination, the Vietnam War, and social protests. The chimp, played by an actor in motion capture (with some puppetry as well), never really seems like an actual chimp. There's something sad about the idea of a chimp taken from West Africa, forced to train for hundreds of hours, and turned into a costumed performer who is now spending most of its life in a small cage in the back of a van. Zachary Quinto delivers icy and distant work as Jim, while Jacob Elordi goes way over the top, as if he had watched "Rebel Without a Cause" a dozen times and decided to turn up the James Dean impersonation to an 11. "He Went That Way" ends as it began with a series of self-conscious and eccentric developments that feel inauthentic and forced.
Loot: We Shouldn't Exist (2024)
They Shouldn't Exist
LOOT, a comedy show, explores the theme of billionaires and their relationships, showcasing sarcasm and irony. The show leaves viewers with cliffhangers and a focus on friendship, love, and life-changing decisions. The show's surprises and honesty make it difficult to predict what Molly and her cohorts will do next. Jazz is a highlight, lasting at least three hours. Despite not always being taken seriously, LOOT provides valuable insights into how to solve some of the country's problems. Fans appreciate the brave, thought-provoking moments while still making them laugh out loud. Kudos to LOOT for its humorous and entertaining content. In Loot Season 2 Episode 10, Molly and Grace appear on a magazine cover with the title "We Shouldn't Exist: A New Type of Billionaire." Norman Lofton wants to tour a "Space for Everyone location" and funds it, but Arthur calls their almost-kiss a mistake. Ainsley tells Sofia how inspiring she is for always putting others before herself, which shakes her. Molly talks with her about Isaac and encourages her to take the leap if she truly loves him. Nickie gets a call from a Korean woman, possibly his birth mother, who is interested in him for a role that would take him to Korea for six months. When she meets him, she encounters a group of men in robes and masks who threaten her activities and demand she cease them. The leader of the group is Norman, who tells her she's crazy for upsetting the natural order of things. Molly doesn't want to join them, but she and Grace decide to start their own group, finding people who care about humanity. However, the group swayed Grace over to their side, as she realized she loves money too much. Sofia shows up at one of Isaac's shows and stops her from talking more with a kiss. When Sofia texts Molly about her successful "leap" with Isaac, Molly is convicted to share her feelings with Arthur. The expansion of Space for Everyone isn't looking promising after the reveal of the cult of billionaires, but Loot pulls off the absurd characterization of billionaires. The finale may not be an impressive finale, but the charismatic cast makes the most of it, making the characters lovable and flawed.
Loot: Mood Vibrations (2024)
Good Vibes
In Episode 9 of Loot Season 2, the show takes a more serious tone with emotional swells, payoffs, and downbeat drama. The episode revolves around Isaac and Sofia, who are both struggling with their pasts and the future. Isaac decides to pursue music as a career, which alarms Sofia, who dismisses it as a midlife crisis. This highlights the fundamental differences between them, as they would never drop their entire lives for music. Grace, who helped attract billionaire donors to Space For Everyone, returns to work at the Wells Foundation, but his success is short-lived. John, on the cusp of launching his rocket, Molly-1, publicly implies that he and Molly are back together. However, most Space For Everyone donors hate John, leading some to refuse to work with Molly. Molly-1 explodes during takeoff, possibly killing John. However, he reveals to Molly that he orchestrated the disaster to try and win her back, choosing a moment when Molly has just had a personal realization that she's in love with someone else. This episode serves as a reminder that Loot is one of the better comedy shows airing right now and deserves more respect than it gets. In "Mood Vibrations," Molly and Arthur are forced to spend quality time together, but are distracted by their phones. The finale promises to bring them closer. Howard's attempts at running a wrestling league go wrong, with no hotdogs, speedos, or a double-booked venue. Nicholas is on hand for logistical backup, but Howard is defeated. He wants to cancel the event, but Nicholas refuses. Howard and Nicholas main event the show themselves, putting on a fun match with the Wells Foundation crew. Nicholas shows a softer side to himself and is a true friend to Howard. The payoff is that they have put too much effort in and will never forgive themselves.
Loot: Grace (2024)
Help, Grace
In Loot Season 2 Episode 8, the Wells Foundation team brainstorms ways to raise money for the "Space for Everyone" project. Sofia proposes a list of billionaires to ask for donations, including Grace, an old friend of Molly's who is newly divorced. Grace agrees to give the foundation $11 billion, but Molly struggles to accept it. She spends time with Grace in Iceland, while Sofia returns to work. Howard helps Nicholas learn Korean for an audition but goes too far when he suggests they go on a trip to Korea together. This disheartens Nicholas, who feels like he's not Korean enough. When Howard learns this, he promises to be there for him. Molly struggles to get through to Grace, but she shares her experiences following her divorce and how she discovered she could lead people and make a better world. Grace calls into the foundation with the pledge to give them all her money, and other billionaires also want to contribute. Sofia has to hand the money to Molly, as she was right to be there for Grace. The plot of the season progresses in a significant and meaningful way, with Molly finding a more joyful life in helping others rather than spending her money on meaningless frills. In "Loot" Season 2 Episode 8, Molly and Sofia's meeting with Grace reveals a mirror image of Molly's previous difficulties following her divorce. Grace is in a cycle of self-destruction, using drugs, alcohol, and reckless behavior to soothe her agony. Molly decides to get to know Grace personally instead of taking the money. She stays longer in Iceland to help Grace, while Sofia goes back to work. Molly's choice to travel with Grace to Iceland reflects her awareness of Grace's need for a confidant during her turbulent downward spiral. However, Grace's misery is worsened by her downward spiral, which ends with the party DJ rejecting her. Molly's use of alcohol as a coping strategy reflects Grace's difficulties and highlights their mutual suffering. Sofia struggles after learning about Arthur's relationship with Willa, forcing her to address Arthur's boundary concerns. Sofia sets up a public show of affection with Isaac to express her discomfort, challenging Arthur's assumptions and emphasizing the importance of having boundaries. The episode explores empathy, individual limits, and the complexity of interpersonal relationships as characters work through personal challenges and consider the nature of closeness and connection. Nicholas confides in Howard about his problem with cultural identification and how he feels cut off from both his Asian background and his American culture. Howard highlights Nicholas's story as representative of many immigrants navigating cultural assimilation in America while demonstrating empathy and providing support and understanding.
Loot: Camp Wells (2024)
Camp Wells, oh well
In Loot Season 2 Episode 7, Molly's growing attraction to Arthur is confirmed when she meets him in his boxers. She confides in Nicholas, who suggests hosting a work retreat to grow closer. Molly proposes a retreat at her palace in Dubai, which Sofia agrees on. However, her confidence takes a hit when she meets Willa, who has been dating Arthur for a few weeks. Molly tries to change the retreat to show her down-to-earth nature, but everyone except Arthur is upset when they learn they will be going to a cabin in the San Bernadino Mountains instead of Dubai. Sofia and Howard bond over the fire while sharing tales of their childhood friendships. Nicholas sets up a meal for Molly and Arthur, and they have a great time together. However, Molly becomes angry when Arthur brings up Willa and how happy she made him. She drives off in a rage and hits a naked Rhonda, who has been skinny-dipping. Rhonda and Molly end up okay, but Molly decides to focus on herself and her work. The next day, she tells Sofia she wants to do "Space for Everyone" across the country, but Sofia stops her with the statement that she doesn't have enough money. This is a departure from Loot's previous vagueness about Molly's wealth, as it now matters for the "Space for Everyone" project. While the drama of the episode was enjoyable, there was no attempt to provide a strong secondary plotline. Instead, the focus should be on Howard and Sofia's conversations. The episode begins with Molly accidentally walking into a hidden bathroom at work where Arthur is changing, leading to awkwardness between the two. Molly admits her feelings for Arthur to Nicholas, who tells her that Arthur confessed his feelings for her while in Corsica. Nicholas proposes a work retreat for them to figure out their feelings about each other. Molly and the team, including Sofia, are excited to go to Dubai, but soon discover that Arthur may not be as available as they had hoped. The rest of the episode is a standard rom-com-style series of events where Molly acts jealous of Willa, projecting her feelings onto everyone else. This is uncomfortable and cringey, but Maya Rudolph chooses her moments of vulnerability to make Molly still happy. After meeting Willa, Molly spirals and looks up Willa's Instagram account, believing she can't compete with her down-to-earth nature-loving friend. Nicholas convinces Molly that she's not out of the running for Arthur. Molly decides to change her work trip from Dubai to a cabin in San Bernardino, California instead of Dubai. She speculates that Arthur might want someone more laid back, so she decides to stay in San Bernardino instead. Ainsley is the only one not present for this information, and the rest of the episode is spent stuck at the Dubai airport. Sofia and Howard bond over the change in plans from Dubai to a cabin, as they both had terrible camp experiences as kids and aren't keen to relive it. They try to find reception to distract themselves on their phones, but are unsuccessful. Howard mentions building a fire, which he actually does.
Loot: Women Who Rule (2024)
Woman's World
In Loot Season 2 Episode 6, Sofia attends work in casual wear for the first time, despite having slept over at Isaac's and forgetting to bring a change of clothes. The team teases her about their relationship getting serious, but she insists on keeping it casual. Isaac offers to buy her a ticket to the Hollywood Bowl, but she tells him this isn't working. Molly participates as a model in LA Fashion Week, themed "Women Who Rule," but starts feeling her age and losing confidence. Nicholas offers to put her through an intense beauty regimen to make her feel younger and beautiful again. However, the regimen involves TikTok dances and headstands, which Molly can't handle. She takes a supplement, which is mostly herbal, and Arthur arrives at the show wearing the same outfit as the security guards. Molly is incredibly high during the show, and she has to be escorted off stage and taken to the hospital. The same model who offered her the pill ends up there as well, and when asked to be in one of her videos, Molly refuses. When Sofia returns home, Isaac doesn't realize they have broken up, but they go inside together. Michaela Jae Rodriguez plays Sofia's freak out about commitment, and the chemistry between her and O-T Fagbenle is lovely. Molly's arc is hard to get invested in, except for Maya Rudolph. It seems that Loot has lost its anti-billionaire focus when Nicholas reminds Molly she has billions to spend on her beauty regimen, and nobody blinks an eye. "Loot" follows Molly Novak, a philanthropist who faces a divorce and finds herself in a world of wealth and instability. After receiving a $87 billion settlement, she finds purpose through her philanthropic foundation. Molly embarks on a journey of self-discovery, reconnecting with society and immersing herself in philanthropy. The second season has been popular, and viewers eagerly anticipate the next installment. On "The Cup" morning show, Molly Novak suffers a loss and struggles to express her devotion to her homeless project. Speculation about her relationship with Isaac and Sofia's relationship is also prevalent, with coworkers questioning the depth of their connection. The show promises to be a thrilling ride as Molly navigates her newfound sense of fulfillment.
Loot: Mally's (2024)
Strong Episode and Season
Loot Season 2 Episode 5 begins on Molly's birthday, which she no longer celebrates due to last year's fiasco. After receiving an unwanted gift from John, Molly decides it's time to sell her megayacht to Swedish billionaire Emil. Arthur helps her go over the paperwork and they spend time together at the mall, where Molly experiences nostalgia from a time before she was rich. Arthur reminisces about his past, including getting in trouble with an officer. Molly buys the mall to keep the people there in work and renovate it. Meanwhile, others prepare for fieldwork for the Space for Everyone hotel, and Sofia organizes a competition to get signatures for the project. Nicholas and Howard encounter a wronged ex of Nicholas' and another ex at a juice bar. Howard encourages Nicholas to apologize to those he has wronged, leading to growth as a person. When everyone reunites, Molly decides to do something for her birthday, and Nicholas proposes Mariah Carey live in Vegas. Arthur can't join because he has to pick up his daughter, but he gets Molly an engraved picture frame from the mall. Molly is smitten with the nice guy, and they are pretty precious together. The picture frame from Arthur symbolizes that it's time to simplify Molly's life and chase after what's truly good. Although not a deep message, it makes for enjoyable storytelling. Loot Season 2 Episode 5 is a warm and moving episode that showcases the evolving relationship between Molly and Arthur. The episode, "Mally's," is a reminder of the Season 1 finale and allows Molly to spend the rest of the episode with Arthur. Arthur accompanies Molly to meet with a Swedish billionaire named Emil, who is purchasing her superyacht. Emil's assistant, Bjarke, is twelve years old, and they spend time in the local mall. The episode showcases the earnest character development between Molly and Arthur, as they see how Molly's wealth has isolated her from normality and how much she misses everyday things. Arthur, in his bumbling way, represents these things. Both characters are clearly into each other, but Molly is warmest about Arthur when she sees him helping an old lady. Molly lies about the time Emil is taking to sign the contract as an excuse to spend more time with Arthur. They continue to mess around in the mall until they are taken into the back room by security, presumably for a stern telling off. Fortunately, when you're a billionaire, these things don't really apply. Molly buys the mall instead, and Arthur suggests calling it "Mally's," the title of the episode.
Loot: Mr. Congeniality (2024)
A masterpiece for Comedy
In Loot Season 2 Episode 4, Molly's horniness causes Sofia to advise her to forget about swearing off men for casual sex. Molly resolves to recenter herself at a retreat to conquer her desire, but her desire gets out of hand when handsome actor Benjamin Bratt arrives. Howard and Arthur audition people for the role of the Heel in their new wrestling league, but each person feels too mean. Ainsley struggles with her own problems, such as making a seating chart for her wedding. After a phone call from Nicholas, Howard and Arthur realize that Nicholas is the perfect Heel for their league. Molly and Benjamin get kicked out for sneaking around at the retreat, leading to a one-night stand. Molly returns to work happier and less horny, much to Sofia's relief. The episode has charming moments, but the focus on Molly's current journey is colder. The question remains: will we ever refocus on the "Space for Everyone" project? What is Molly doing to give away her billions if she's comfortable spending money on an expensive retreat? And why is Sofia, the moral paragon of the show, less concerned about Molly's getting laid than the show's critique of one-percenters? Sofia, a observant and honest friend, finds her billionaire partner Molly horny and unable to water a single herb without her drooling over him. Molly's recent search history, revealed at a team meeting, forces Sofia to take action. She admits to her boss that Molly is horny and feels weird, and suggests she go to a bar for sex. Molly appreciates Sofia's hyping of her melons but is not one to just have a one-night stand. Instead, she has booked a meditation retreat at a Malibu wellness center to refocus and re-center herself after her first relationship post-divorce ended in disaster. The retreat is a low bar, as there was water involved, making it a low bar for Molly's cravings. The episode of Loot and Loot is a strong example of the writing on the show. The story revolves around Molly, a character who has been burned twice in a row and is hesitant to put herself out there. The episode uses the Jean-Pierre fiasco to develop Molly's character, highlighting her reluctance to put herself out there and her fear of getting hurt in a relationship again. Molly attends a retreat where she is paired up with Benjamin Bratt, a single, hottest version of Benjamin Bratt. He tells Molly he is a fan of her charity work and sometimes works out to her Silver Moon Summit speech. Molly struggles to sit down correctly after this, and they are instructed to face each other and touch each other's hearts while maintaining eye contact. This episode showcases Loot's ability to add layers to a character while also providing a hilarious plot. Overall, the episode showcases the strength of the writing on Loot.
Loot: Vengeance Falls (2024)
Beautifully written and casted
In Loot Season 2 Episode 3, Molly is excited to see Nicholas in his upcoming play, "Vengeance Falls," and invites his parents to attend as a surprise. Nicholas is embarrassed by his conservative parents' support and tries to explain that he has a great relationship with them. Molly believes that if Nicholas puts in the work like she does, he could have a more open relationship with them. To prove to Nicholas that she can be alone, Molly gives him and the rest of the staff the day off. Sofia tries to get Howard to finish a presentation for the "Space for Everyone" project, but is distracted when he receives a notification of a Taylor Swift concert. Howard tries to prove that Sofia is a Swiftie, but she denies it. He even makes a presentation to prove Sofia is a fan, showing that she asked off work the same day as the concert. Sofia admits she is a Swiftie and that she made up her great aunt to be taken seriously. Howard understands and promises not to tell anyone, and they fangirl together over theories about the music. Back at Molly's place, the billionaire is doing a good job at being alone, but she gets into bed and the smoke alarm starts beeping. After an intense battle with it, she fails to take out its batteries and decides to put it in her panic room, but it locks behind her, leaving her trapped inside. In "Vengeance Falls," Nicholas, who is alerted when the panic room locks, helps Molly out of her room. Molly is embarrassed about her inability to do anything alone, but Nicholas encourages her. She apologizes for giving him advice about his parents, but he admits she wasn't entirely wrong. The episode ends with Nicholas showing up at his parents' place, asking them out for dinner and sharing a commercial he booked. This episode is the most wittily written and delivered of Loot so far, allowing it to function more simply as a classic sitcom episode with likable characters who go through funny escapades and learn life lessons. Ron Funches is endearing as Howard, while Maya Rudolph's fight against her smoke detector is both absurd and relatable. The ending between Nicholas and his parents is sweet and shows that, despite Molly's unreasonable expectations, small steps can be made to build bridges.
Loot: Clueless (2024)
Clueless Funny
In Loot Season 2 Episode 2, Molly and Nicholas watch Clueless and compare Molly to Cher. Molly wants to swear off men, while Cher wants to help her friends out with love. They meet with architect Issac at a hotel for the Space for Everyone project, but they both butt heads. Molly arranges a meeting between them, and they hit it off great. Molly gives Sofia his number, but she sends him embarrassing texts, which he ignores. When Molly uses her security detail to track down Isaac at a bar, Sofia confronts him. Arthur learns about Howard's financial difficulties and suggests selling some of his assets. Howard sets up a stand at a wrestling match to sell his memorabilia, but Arthur offers to invest so Howard can start a wrestling league for his wrestling heroes. At the bar, Sofia finds herself in the middle of a memorial birthday party for a friend of Isaac's who had passed away. Isaac finds the situation amusing and asks her out again, and she agrees. Molly is happy for Sofia, but as she watches the end of Clueless, she feels lonely. The storyline is strong, with comparisons to Clueless being apt and watching Michaela Jae Rodriguez fight falling for someone. It also continues Molly's inner war of wanting to come out from the shadow of her ex, which makes sense as she wants to swear off men.
Loot: Space for Everyone (2024)
A Space for Everyone
In Loot Season 2 Episode 1, Molly Wells is not living up to her promise to donate her money to the foundation's Alameda Street Project, which was canceled by the city. She and Sofia must find another way to help unhoused people or risk losing her credibility. Molly also faces interference from her ex-husband John, who believes they are meant to be together after having sex in Corsica. Molly insists that John needs space right now. Howard and Nicholas intervene in Arthur's life at work, seeing his new leather bracelet as a midlife crisis or a cry for help after losing Molly to John in Corsica. Sofia finds a solution in Noah Hope-Devore, a former billionaire who funneled his money into Hope 2.0, a philanthropy platform designed to find the most statistically optimal way to save lives. They set up a meeting with him, and Molly agrees to invest 120 billion dollars into Noah's model. Molly fears that if she can't do it, she will only be known for being rich guy's ex-wife. After talking with Arthur, she feels better about her mistake. Later, Molly discovers Howard has secretly been living in her guest house, and when he notes her lack of space, she pitches her idea to Sofia, "Space for Everyone." When the foundation announces the new initiative, people praise Molly, but John releases a video announcing he will be leading the Novak Aeronautics team into space, thanks Molly for inspiring him. Loot Season 2 revolves around Molly's personal journey and her financial struggles, providing most of the show's commentary. Despite its strong premise, the show's humor has not improved since last season, turning serious topics into cloying ones. Despite this, the show continues to poke fun at Molly, holding her accountable as a billionaire. While there is room for improvement in tact and wit in satirizing the rich, the show's future remains hopeful. Overall, the show's strong premise and continued poking fun of Molly make it a worthwhile watch.
Gaga Chromatica Ball (2024)
I was blown away she is so much better than Taylor Swift as a performer and a person.
Concert movies are a common way for artists to monetize events, but the quality of the music and the live performance show are crucial factors in making an exceptional concert film. Lady Gaga's Chromatica Ball, filmed live at Dodgers Stadium in California with over 52,000 monsters in attendance, represents multiple eras of her music in a visually striking love letter to her extensive catalogue. The film features seamless editing, trippy visuals, projection, strobing lights, flashy pyrotechnics, and intricate dance moves, making it one of Gaga's best ever performances. The concert splits into four distinct acts, topped off by a jaw-dropping finale. While some staples may be absent, Chromatica Ball gets an awful lot right about what a dream Gaga setlist would be, including some deeper cuts. The full catwalk, constantly changing set, and multiple costume changes add an extra burst of pizazz. Bizarre interludes for Chromatica carry us over into different elements of the show, with visuals onscreen melding with the images, such as effects during "Telephone." Gaga's flawless vocals are paired with masterful stage design, and the stage itself is a constantly moving tapestry of beauty. Big, booming instrumentals each have their moment to shine, with "Babylon" serving as an iconic, gold-tinged highlight. In summary, Lady Gaga's Chromatica Ball is an epic concert that showcases her diverse musical eras and the power of her live performance show. Fans can now enjoy a front row ticket to her most ambitious show yet, thanks to Gaga herself. Gaga's variety show, Gaga Chromatica Ball, is a captivating performance that showcases her greatest hits. She effortlessly transitions from high-energy fun to inspirational themes, and her piano performances are particularly impressive. Gaga's ability to incorporate her true feelings without making them into a pep talk is evident, as she encourages the audience to celebrate their pride and makes "Born This Way" a major part of the show. Her personality is filtered through every frame, creating a deeply touching portrait of Mother Monster without requiring talking head interviews. The show falls within the realm of a concert movie, leaving viewers feeling as if they were in the room with the thousands of other Monsters. While it is unclear how strongly people will connect to this, those with a casual interest in Gaga's sound or persona are likely to be watching. A concert movie is about giving back to the warm, accepting masses that have loved Gaga since the beginning. The show leaves a lasting impression on the audience, whether they are wiping away tears from emotional ballads or singing along to the lyrics from the comfort of their living room.
Exclusively On Max May 28. 2024.
Raya and the Last Dragon (2021)
Pixar has heart and passion for their films
Disney's animated output has been a predictable laze in recent years, with a focus on mass market appeal and sequels. However, the release of Raya and the Last Dragon serves as a reminder of Disney's ability to transport audiences to a beautifully crafted universe and tell fresh stories. The film follows Raya (Kelly Marie Tran), a young girl who lives in the fragmented world of Kumandra, split into different warring clans after the evil Druun led to the sacrifice of the dragons they had once lived peacefully alongside. Years later, Raya finds herself on a dangerous quest to bring everyone together with the help of the last dragon Sisu (Awkwafina). Set in a fictionalized version of south-east Asia, the voice cast is almost entirely of actors of Asian descent. The film's diversity sells, but its positioning of a female lead is an unfortunate misstep. Raya is the driving force behind the action-led plot and is focused on her family, mission, and friendship with Sisu. Tran's steeliness is well-matched with Awkwafina's goofy comedy, and their buddy comedy back-and-forth is funny without bordering on the "this one's for the adults" smugness that can often seep into post-Shrek animation. The intricate and immersive world of Raya and the Druun is visually escapist Disney films, with the design of the dragons feeling a little cheap in comparison to everything else. The script, from Crazy Rich Asians screenwriter Adele Lim and playwright Qui Nguyen, aims to offer simple life lessons along with the adventure, urging unity over division. Raya and the Last Dragon is a charming, sweet-natured YA-leaning adventure that serves as proof that Disney needs to focus on moving forward rather than continuing to look back. The film tells the story of Raya, who has long heard the stories of the last dragon from her father Benja. The dragons united their forces into a stone, and one named Sisu used it to stop the pending apocalypse. She sacrificed herself in the process, although rumors persist that she survived. The stone resides with Benja and Raya's people when the film begins, but the other clans steal it, break it into pieces, and scatter it across the land. Years later, Raya goes on a quest to find Sisu and the fragments of the stone, trying to bring her people back together and fulfill her father's vision of loyalty. Along the way, they are chased by the princess of a clan seeking full power named Namaari. Along the way, they encounter several memorable supporting characters, including the gregarious Boun, one-eyed Tong, and even a "con baby," a kid who uses her cuteness as an alley con artist. All of these lively characters were impacted by the stone's fragmentation, and they form an unforgettable core in this old-fashioned adventure movie that recalls everything from Indiana Jones to "Princess Mononoke." "Raya and the Last Dragon" is a unique and unforgettable film that explores themes of fallibility and courage, blending mythology with its own past, present, and future. Despite the closure of theaters in recent years, many films have been overlooked, but "Raya and the Last Dragon" is a unique and memorable experience that will undoubtedly find its audience. The film is a testament to the power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit, making it a must-watch for fans of history.