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Reviews
The Collective (2023)
Fun action film to get lost in
Sometimes you need a fun action film to get lost in. This one fit the bill. A villain who represented the truest evil humanity has to offer, led the way for bad ass fight sequences & was offset with a few laugh out loud moments (pistol puppet).
Lucas Till delivered but I haven't seen Tyrese in such a serious role since he won my heart as Mouse in Black and Blue. His performance, showcasing a very haunted Hugo, pulls at your heartstrings as you root for his triumph. Loved him.
Absolutely loved the strong female rep in this film as well. Would have loved even more. Mercedes crushed her fight scenes & I noticed that even the leader of The Collective was flanked by 2 women. Nice! Ruby thrives as Daisy, a woman competing for the approval of her savage boss. She's the best kind of villainous woman; intelligent & ruthless. I felt Ruby had one of the more natural performances & I wanted more time with this character.
The concept of The Collective is a brilliant one. It acknowledges the flaws in our legal system in a creative way. But I would have loved a little more backstory on our villain early on. By the end, you see just how evil he is. In the beginning, it read a little more humor than fear to me. Overall, I really enjoyed the ride & recommend it.
Taurus (2022)
A heartbreaking lesson in Empathy, the only way to experience it.
There are 2 ways you can watch this film. One is to sit on your couch and view a tragic man's story as a bystander and make judgments about what you see. Judge the main character harshly, critically, but missing Colson Baker's narrative entirely.
The second version is to tap into the darkest parts of the human soul, the parts few want to discuss. Feel the pain of a lost and broken man as he tries to navigate a world the only way he knows how. Through numbing his pain, lashing out at his fears and pouring his emotions into his music. This man wants so much more than he knows how to obtain. It breaks you. I'll be feeling this one for awhile. This movie sits in those uncomfortable moments & makes you feel another humans struggles...if you let it.
Colson Baker's performance was incredible and moved me to tears. I have not seen him in any other films, nor am I a "fangirl" who blindly praises his work. This is genuine admiration for a pure talent and a film that deeply touched my soul.
You can see "Cole" as unlovable, raw, angry or as a total jerk (if I'm watching my language) but I believe the character was portrayed that way, because that's how "Cole" saw himself every day. Think on that as you watch.
Stowaway (2021)
Enjoyable Action Film For A Random Saturday
*Spoiler FREE Review*
First of all, I didn't even realize this movie came out, due to a lack of promo. What happened there? That said...
If you've seen Ruby's film "Doorman," I would say the two had quite a bit in common. If you enjoyed Doorman, you should enjoy this. This character, however, was very different from "Ali." I found that Ruby's acting carried this film, as expected via she's the lead. I loved Bella's edginess and constant sarcastic remarks. When she felt scared, I felt scared. When she was pissed, I was pissed. I felt like I was following Bella's story & never felt like I was watching "Ruby Rose." So, in my definition, that's the best kind of acting. Frank Grillo was brilliant as always. He's the master at delivering that character you love to hate or at least never trust. Haha His performance was spot on, as expected. Also of note, I fell in love with Luis Da Silva Jr's performance but can't tell ya more!
I found the twists to be fun and interesting. Nothing blew my mind, but most general action doesn't tend to do that. Action films usually tend to entertain you for a couple hours, not break the "depth" mold. The goal is to entertain and I felt entertained on a random saturday. If you want more depth, see Ruby's SAS: Red Notice. That's incredibly, layered depth! This was a fun popcorn munching flick and I liked it.
That said, I feel like the villains in this movie took their performances up a few notches too high for my taste. Some call that overacting. Some say more critical words. I think that's harsh. It think they were aiming for gritty and attempting to be slightly frightening...it just over reached. Made it hard to truly fear them or connect.
Overall, despite quite a bit of hate on this one, I'd recommend it. If you're just chillin on the couch and looking for something to entertain you...this is worth your time. But that's my opinion. You decide!