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Reviews
Swan Song (2021)
Existential Sci-Fi about bypassing death
Let me start by saying that Swan Song is probably one of Mahershala Ali's most powerful roles I have seen him doing. He does a great job portraying a husband and a father coming to terms with his life nearing it's end due to a terminal illness. Set in a not so distant future, the film does a good job showing the sci-fi aspects of how technological advancements would look like in every day life usage, in addition to the main theme of the movie which is the ethical dilemmas that would arise when we try to defy nature's course. Should we try to extend our existence in the physical world for the sake of the emotional well being of family and friends, even though this would be a copy of ourselves? This is a great point Swan Song brings forth and that I argue they succeed in showing.
Some of the scenic forest/earthy environment used as locations looks really great and gives a good contrast to the more sterile and sleek feel during parts of the film. Swan Song reminds me of Ex Machina and Black Mirror in some ways, making you think about mortality and the impact one choice makes for those you leave behind. It's worth a watch as it is a well made film, but I would not go into watching it expecting something new and groundbreaking in terms of storytelling.
The Greatest Beer Run Ever (2022)
Vietnam War movie with a twist
Zac Efron does a good job portraying John "Chickie" Donohue and his journey delivering beer to several enlisted men from his neighbourhood who were deployed in Vietnam. The idea of doing such a thing and that the movie is based on a true story, was what brought me into watching the movie. I have to say that it delivered a good balance between the seriousness of war and the sombre aspects of it, to the comedic madness of risking one's life running across a battlefield to share cans of beer.
Overall I enjoyed the movie and would recommend it as I could easily see myself seeing it again. My score is around 7.5/10 with reasons for not scoring it higher being the introduction feeling a tad slow and characters that could use slightly more depth, however this improves further along the story. Have to include the war-photographer Coates played by Russell Crowe and his observations and comments during the dialogue with Chickie as one of the better scenes/moments of the film.