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Conclave (2024)
Fantastic Film
Conclave
An inside look into the politics that are present even amongst the most secret meetings in Catholicism, Conclave is directly named for the process used when electing a new pope.
The pope has died, and all the Cardinals have been assembled. The film shows faction after faction try to put their agenda's forward, wooing supporters. However, as time goes on, we learn that men are not perfect, and that imperfection gets revealed.
However, what makes this film a masterpiece, I cannot say in this review without a massive spoiler. Looking inward into the sins, the piety, the mistakes and the good deeds of the main characters is done very well. It'll make the audience think about the true humanity of the figures inside a church that works to maintain mystery and secrecy.
I truly feel that this film will get nominated for numerous awards. The final message is so poignant that if the church really gave it, there would be hope for it.
Anora (2024)
Street smart woman gets swept up in raw amoral situations
Anora
Wow. Just wow. At nearly 2 and a half hours, Anora takes the audience on an extremely wild ride through party culture of the spoiled brats of rich parents. Anora is an exotic dancer and prostitute that falls into this crowd when she captures the attention of Ivan (Vanya), a 21 year old Russian citizen.
The amount of the use of the F word startled even me, and that should tell anyone that knows me that means there's a lot. Anora is from New York, and you'll definitely hear the stereotypes in her direct way of speaking, and her violent nature.
The previews reveal that she marries Ivan, much to the chagrin of his "handlers" in America. But what the previews don't say is that the marriage doesn't happen until nearly the half way point. The audience should beware of the amount of nudity, sex, drug use and how easy it is to be caught up in that lifestyle.
Watching Anora's station change so rapidly is fascinating, especially after Ivan's family gets wind of the marriage. I saw this movie with a friend and we tried to discuss the full point of witnessing Anora's journey. The morals of "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" or "look after yourself, because no one else will" came to mind.
The time passed quickly, and I laughed. Boy did I laugh. It gets silly and surreal at times, making light of the bad vices and their effect on some of the bumbling handlers. The final scene has burned a hole in my brain showing the emotional toll taken on someone.
It's a great movie, but it's very raw, and in your face with it.
Heretic (2024)
Sinister manipulative and thought provoking
Heretic
A stunning discussion on religion and personal beliefs that turns sinister rather quickly, Heretic is aptly named. It is a very fast talking, fast point making, and quickly terrifying.
Like an Agatha Christie novel, the film plants hints that may go unnoticed by a casual viewer. I was paying attention though, and it made the ride even more fun because I saw what was coming, or how the manipulations were happening.
The film thinks it is very smart, and for the most part, it is. One of the main characters makes a valid point in that part of the narrative had to be quickly adjusted due to an unexpected revelation.
This is a spoiler free review, so I am wrapping it up quickly with a "go see it" opinion. I really enjoyed the metaphors used, and the thought processes that were outlined. It gets the audience thinking, and puts the audience in suspense for the horrific aspects.
Here (2024)
A sensory masterpiece
Here
A love poem to the complexities of the human experience, "Here" takes the notion of existentialism and turns it on its head with such grace and simplicity. While the physical world can seem pointless, the film reminds us that a lifetime of memories comes from something tangible.
The entire film is devoted to the five senses. Being set in only one small room in a house, the camera never moves, leaving the audience to only see those memories created there. Anyone who knows me is aware that my memory is sharp and dependable, which I feel is one of my greatest assets. This skill is absolutely influenced by sensory reminders. I can hear a song and know exactly when I first heard it, where I was, and in some deep core memories, what I was wearing, or the exact date and time.
Our senses are truly that powerful. There are so many details in this film that capture one's attention. Certain songs play during different eras in history. The view through the great window changes via weather, or styles of cars, or even what buildings are present. All of these details combine together to form a sweeping narrative using only small details that ignite one's memories or education.
This film is a must see. I'm biased because this is exactly how I've been living my life. I am the most content and at peace when I surround myself with tangible, physical items or places. When I see, hear, smell, taste or touch the real world, I truly feel. I know why I'm "Here" and that's because I love it here. I don't suppress the memories that arise from physical interaction; I embrace them. The film definitely shows the audience the art of embracing.
Final disclaimer: I wrote this review on the art of the senses, and not on the plot of the movie. I leave that for you to see. All I will say is that if the film was not done the exact way that it was, it wouldn't have worked.
You Won't Be Alone (2022)
Finding humanity through irony
You Won't Be Alone
Minor spoilers, as the premise is shown in the trailer.
You Won't Be Alone is quite the interesting film! It's classified as a horror film, and it is, but it also a deep dive into what it means to be human. It is a story of abuse through neglect guised under protection. It is a story of irony, told through a story of beauty.
Our protagonist, in Sleeping Beauty fashion, is to be taken by a severely burned witch as an infant. But a bargain is struck, and she can stay with her mother for 16 years, but with no voice. Does the mother then enjoy time with her daughter? No, she is locked away in a dark cave for "her protection." This abuse and neglect causes her to never gain social skills. There she remains until, of course, the witch claims her at 16.
The film gets going here as the witch converts Nevena to be a witch as well. Nevena learns that she can shape shift into whomever, or whatever, she wants, but only after shoving organs and entrails of the being into her body.
What follows next is Nevena's search for humanity as she claims one body after another. Living in a cave for 16 years removed the lessons of her formative years. This lack of morality, or empathy for the lives she chooses to emulate, only fuels the witch's point that one day Nevena will be discovered.
I don't want to spoil what goes on during this journey of discovery, but it is told so well that I was fascinated. Had this tale been told without death, it would be obviously less horrific. The dichotomy of beauty and destruction is portrayed so well.
If you can handle the horror elements, I highly recommend this film. But, no kiddos, of course.
Bros (2022)
A well written accurate portrayal of gay relationships
Bros
I'm surprised I didn't know about this movie until late 2024. Billy Eichner's 2022 rom-com, Bros, about 2 commitment phobic gay men is so much fun, and oh so accurate. The snark, the body dysmorphia, men still living in the closet, and the frank, oddly timed talk about sex so encompasses what it's like.
Now, most people reading this know me, and they know I'm a gay man, so I can assure you; this is how it really is. Gay men have a lot of hook ups. And we talk about them, sometimes when we shouldn't. When Bobby meets the very muscular, shirtless Aaron, their first conversation is how Aaron is joining another muscular, shirtless couple for a 3 way. I remember thinking, oh my god, we do do that.
What follows is a very sweet (and salty) story of Bobby and Aaron constantly running into each other. Bobby is put off by Aaron's shallow sex pursuits, yet maintaining the "bro" lifestyle, and Aaron is put off by Bobby's standoffishness that tends to get rude quickly, plus his opinion that Bobby acts too gay. Sound familiar? This happens all the time. Then everyone complains and gossips, and usually gets drunk. It's sad.
I like the fact that I'm reminded that, no, not all gay men are like that, and we can accept other people's authenticity. There is no rulebook that demands we act a certain way to fulfill some random role that's never defined. Just be yourself, and people will notice.
This is a good movie. We need more of these.
Joker: Folie à Deux (2024)
I wasn't sure at first, but now I know, this is a masterpiece.
Joker Folie a Deux
I'll put up a spoiler warning, even though I don't think there's that much that isn't revealed in the trailers. I don't give the ending away.
This review took me over a week to put together due to the complex feelings I have for this sequel to a Joker film from 5 years ago. It originally left me somewhat empty. I felt that any and all character development was halted and reversed. But then I realized, that was the point.
The plot is very thin. It revolves around the trial of Arthur Fleck, after the events of the first movie. It takes 2 years to get the trial going, so we get to see how he's been faring in prison, along with the trial itself.
However, it's the encounters with Lady Gaga's Harleen Quinzel that drive Arthur's characterization. The questions of is he Arthur, or is he Joker, or is he both, resonates throughout the entire film. Does he even know what's going on? There are plenty of fantasy sequences that play out in his head, showing the audience a deeply disturbed, yet confused man, grasping for meaning. Watch his personality shift when he finally feels seen and happy again. It's a very sharp change.
Harleen (goes by Lee) is a genius at manipulation. She is far from the comically insane character we see in the cartoons, or in the Suicide Squad films. This Harley is precise with her actions, making me wonder how one can truly define insanity. Why is she so attracted to Arthur? Why does she go out of her way to promote authenticity, when even she doesn't know what's authentic?
I've read a lot of negative reactions to this film, and I can see why. Like I typed above, it was kind of missing something. I feel that with Arthur suffering a psychotic break that abruptly snapped back together, twice, took the audience on a ride into a literal insane state. Gaslighting, hallucinations, god complexes, all fighting to let us decide if Arthur is a sociopath, suffers from borderline personality disorder, or is a wounded child buried inside a facade. It's genius, really.
I have now decided that I love this movie. Mental illness isn't always portrayed this violently, but it truly can happen. This film wasn't played for cheap laughs, but ultimately shows the sadness and loneliness of those that suffer.
Transformers One (2024)
Better than expected. So much fun!
Transformers One
Oh my goodness was I in nostalgia heaven. The beautifully animated, Transformers One takes us all into a prologue of sorts on how the autobots and decepticons came to exist.
The fairly predictable plot shows that most of the inhabitants of Cybertron are essentially slaves, working to mine the ore that powers everyone and everything. Orion Pax is the one robot that wants to learn more about himself, and why everyone does what they do. This is standard fare to have everyone follow the rules but one curious person. Fortunately, free will is kept in place, and Orion isn't treated like a malfunction made to be reprogrammed.
Finding out the truth about an ugly situation can be very traumatizing, and in the movie, that can't be more accurate. A despotic, greedy robot's plans are exposed, but this leads to the schism that all fans of the 80s cartoon are familiar with.
I'll keep the details out of this review, but needless to say, I loved this movie a lot more than I thought I would. Kids will love the action sequences, but some of the major themes are going to go way over their heads. I like a movie where everyone can enjoy it in their own way.
Saturday Night (2024)
Loved the nostalgia
Saturday Night
The somewhat fictionalized account of how Saturday Night Live had its first broadcast on October 11, 1975 is frantic, anxious yet determined. I'm old enough to know all the people being shown, so my review comes from a standpoint of knowing about this. Those who are too young, most likely, will have a different view, especially when you compare that show to today's SNL.
The entire movie takes place over 90 minutes; from 10:00 pm until it's set to go on the air at 11:30 pm. The show was never supposed to be a success, but the writers and cast work to prove people wrong. What's interesting is that the show only made it to air because of a standoff between Johnny Carson and the network. That was one piece that I didn't know.
What we get to see is a series of interwoven short stories that define all of the principal cast, some of the side acts, George Carlin as the first host, and the writers. It's a little dizzying to watch as the camera has to follow rapidly moving people. Watching John Belushi, knowing what happened to him years later, placed a cloud over him, yet it makes you really feel for the man.
There is dramatic tension as the set literally starts falling apart, the lighting breaks, the sound system breaks, and the writers put together way too much material, making the audience wonder how the heck are they going to pull this off. It's very satisfying to see it all play out.
I wasn't sure if this was going to be documentary style, but it's told as a straight forward movie. I'm glad they went that way, instead of interjecting memories clouded with a lens of today. This was really good. I recommend it to those who like the history, or those that want to see an interpretation of actors known for decades.
My Old Ass (2024)
A giant what if story that hits you hard with its deep message
My Old Ass
SPOILER-ISH. I don't reveal the ending, but I'm skirting it so read on knowing that. The summary is? Go see this. It'll hit you right in all the feels, and sometimes, you need that.
What would you do if your future self could reach back in time to give you life lessons? What would you do if your past self could communicate right back? My Old Ass takes the therapeutic exercise of writing your old self a letter, and makes it a dialogue.
It is literally impossible to continue writing about this without heading into spoiler territory. Learning what the future holds, but continuing on the same path, shows great maturity and emotional depth. I don't know if I would have reacted the same way, on either woman's part, after all is revealed.
I was pretty sure I knew what the twist would be. Even prepared for it, I felt great sorrow, but not for what one would think. Knowing what bad things are coming your way does not mean it nullifies any and all good. After going through more than my share of stress and loss, I am who I am today. A myopic view of life, avoiding known risks and dodging known pitfalls may spare you that pain, but what about all the rest.
Life must balance. That is a very hard lesson to master when one does not want to feel pain, sadness, anger, regret. But without those, we never learn how to grow, find peace and contentment. Taking a leap isn't any guarantee, but it's better than doing nothing and never truly feeling.
This film is a triumph, though a little slowly paced. I loved it.
The Substance (2024)
Dark humor can't completely mask shallow, but it's still great
The Substance
The darkest comedy I've ever seen depicting a woman's need to restore her youth, The Substance is a science fiction story on how that youth can be restored literally.
This is not a unique story. Men are depicted as disgusting as they age without repercussions, but women become pariahs for daring to age. The film uses close up visuals and loud disgusting sound effects to heighten the viewer's senses of reality. We get it, men are disgusting. But with more subtlety, we see the same of women who use desperation to justify their actions.
However, the lengths Demi Moore's character Elisabeth Sparkle go to resuscitate her youthful career, with a new name Sue, are beyond funny. The grotesque method to switch between her ages comes across as hilarious but sad at the same time.
Elisabeth, while still in control of her body, tries to reassure herself that she matters even over 50, but can't accept that men could still find her beautiful. Men are disgusting, but she still craves their attention. Sue, when in control, revels in the attention, and starts to rob Elisabeth of her life. The body switching is where the sci-fi comes into play.
I won't spoil the full story, but my goodness does this film become gory and horrific. It goes on a bit too long, but the amount of laughter coming out of me increased exponentially as the film progresses.
Be aware that there is a lot of nudity in this movie, mostly female. And the sounds recorded might trigger those with sensitivity to certain noises. It didn't bother me, but an audience member left the theatre to empty the contents of their stomach.
The film also assumes that we have no memory because every time we had to remember something from earlier in the plot, we see a flashback. I get it, there were some "twists" but I'm not an idiot, and I saw them coming.
I loved this film otherwise. It's so ridiculous, and unbelievable, but I could not stop laughing. I want to even see it again to see if I missed anything told through nuance. Plus there are some hot men during the work out videos with Sue. I'm shallow. Men are disgusting. But I'm proud of it haha.
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
Heartwarming spin on traditional Christmas stories
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special
The second of the Marvel Studios Special Presentations, The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special takes already established characters, and does a sidestep in their main plot.
It takes place after Thor leaves, but while Gamora is still no longer with the team. The Guardians have taken over Knowhere. It is Christmastime on Earth, and Peter is in his feels about how he misses the holiday.
His friends go to Earth and kidnap Kevin Bacon because Peter has often spoken of his love for the actor. Of course, Drax and Mantis, the two who can't handle reality through social awkwardness, believe that Kevin is a hero of the people, not an actor.
The next 45 minutes is adorable as Peter experiences an attempt at Christmas cheer, with a Kevin Bacon who acclimates to the strange situation. Two songs are performed bringing the fun of the holiday into an alien world.
It's so cute, not necessary for the MCU plot, but is a great exploration of the Earth's holiday through the eyes of those that don't understand. I like watching it during Christmas because of the original plot keeping the spirit alive, but without traditional stories.
Lee (2023)
Essential viewing so we never forget
Lee
Some spoilers, but her life is thoroughly documented.
A biopic based on the book written by her son, Lee is a cinematic masterpiece depicting the life of war photographer and model Lee Miller.
As this is a true story, her biography is easily discovered on various websites. Her photos from the Second World War are known throughout the world. Most were only discovered after her death. Kate Winslet gives the performance of a lifetime (doesn't she always?) depicting a deeply troubled woman. Lee explains in the film that she didn't know why she was so drawn to taking pictures of the war, but at the same time knew that someone had to.
What I love most about her photos are that they featured the days in the life of the individuals most affected by the war. We see everyone from the Allied soldiers, the citizens in France and Germany, and the dead bodies of the massacred Jewish people in concentration camps.
I left the theatre in tears not only for the lives lost, but for the fact that we needed Lee to show everyone what most people didn't see. This film is needed for a new generation that didn't know family members who were in the war.
I found it interesting that there was a very short scene where Lee is taking pills that she describes as taking the edge off. She uses substances, like alcohol, to mask the pain of experiencing the fallout of insanity. However, it is only recently discovered that the Nazis were fond of using a pill that was essentially methamphetamines. Were the filmmakers trying to say that she was falling victim to the same drug?
Watch this movie. Never forget the powers of a cult of hatred. It's been 80 years since the Normandy invasion by the allies. With modern technology, war images are now everywhere. We can no longer turn blind eyes to atrocities committed that seem too horrible to be true, when proof was captured.
Coco (2017)
Criminally abusive family learns nothing
Coco
This movie is 7 years old, so spoilers are to be expected.
A cute movie that focuses on the Day of the Dead, Coco explores the idea that family is the most important thing in the world. Unless you wish to pursue your dreams against the will of a tyrannical matriarch, and then you're physically and emotionally abused.
Miguel wishes to be a musician. But his great great grandfather pursued his dreams leading to his wife and daughter to fend for themselves. It doesn't seem to matter that he died before he could return.
Flash forward to the present where we see Miguel concealing his dreams because the rest of the family doesn't care about independent thought. He has to run away, which I cheered for, so that he could explore what it's like to perform. However, due to an unexplained phenomenon, he ends up the only living person in the land of the dead.
This film then explores the concept that, over time, people become forgotten. The idea that, without photography, a person won't be remembered is a bit shaky. What about those people that existed before that invention? I guess they're all forgotten, and the land of the dead should be a lot less populated. I find it nice that, in order to remember Coco's father, it is music that brings an old woman back to life.
I enjoyed the music. I enjoyed the visuals, as always, due to Pixar's attention to detail. I did not enjoy the abuse of "family". My friends who grew up in this culture say it is completely normal. That is the saddest thing I've ever heard. Withholding love to mold a child to their whims is so abusive, and will lead one to therapy for years.
The sudden change back to a family that enjoys music, when the dozens of them hated it before, is lazy writing. The far superior Encanto explores these themes in a much better way, without the need for random abuse masked as love.
Again, I found it cute due to the bond that Miguel shares with Hector, and the explanation of family remembering you is paramount. But the real life family is such crap, it really drags the movie down. And the characterization of everyone, except Miguel and Hector, was not done well.
It's worth it for the land of the dead sequence and music, but the rest of this movie can be skipped. Go see Encanto instead. You won't be hit with a shoe by narcissistic women.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
A powerful movie that honors Chadwick and strengthens Shuri
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
The sequel to the Black Panther film, without the amazing Chadwick Boseman, might not have worked if not done well. Ryan Coogler did well. Very well. The film kept the story going, while honoring the loss of an amazing man.
Not only is their king dead, but the nations of the world are getting more and more aggressive trying to find their own vibranium. What was thought to be only in Wakanda, is being found at the bottom of the sea. What's great about this is that the film can now introduce Riri Williams (Ironheart in the comics) as a genius inventor.
Finding vibranium under the sea leads us to the Atlanteans, though not called that, and their leader Namor. Namor has been a name in the comic books for decades, and it was great to finally see him on the big screen. The film using Meso American stories with the Spanish invasion of the Mayan culture was doing extremely well. I loved the twist of using a Mexican actor speak Mayan and lead an empire to protect their very existence from prying eyes.
Special effects wise, there were well done fight scenes that didn't use CGI. And then there was the car chase onto the bridge. Okoye's fighting in that scene reminds me that the actor is truly a genius at her craft. The underwater scenes also were obviously done with real people and not special effects. It was so cool to see all the free diving that was going on, even though the background and the cityscape were CGI.
Shuri's story arc was heart breaking in many ways. She lost her brother to a disease that couldn't be cured because Killmonger burned all the herbs. She swears revenge on the world, even when her mother cautions her. Her anger attracts Namor and the two of them start to bond, even though she's kidnapped. Her actions lead to the demotion of Okoye, and then the invasion of Wakanda. Shuri is completely broken down before she can rise again. Who else gasped when we saw who appears in the ancestral plane?
Angela Bassett received a nomination for best supporting actress at the Oscars for her role as Queen Ramonda. She. Deserved. It. This film gave her a huge amount of screen time to show her leadership, her vulnerability, her love for her children, and her fierce protectiveness when Riri is put in danger. Plus, those outfits, slay girl slay.
The music in this movie blew me away. There is a three part documentary on just the music, spanning Nigeria, Mexico and a London Symphony orchestra. Listen to Con La Brisa. You won't regret it.
It's a very long film, but it flew by for me. I've seen it twice now, and I am just in awe of what Marvel can put together. We will never know how the movie would have gone had Chadwick lived. But they did him proud.
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
Swing and a Miss
She-Hulk Attorney At Law
The introduction of She-Hulk takes place over a 9 episode season that doesn't seem to have any direction. Some good acting, nice references to the source material, and the re-introduction of Daredevil isn't enough to save this mess.
There are many plots going on, and most aren't even related. It was almost like a short drama, or sitcom, with a legal case of the week. Even that is questionable as the show doesn't spend a large amount of time in the courtroom, but rather covers the conflict Jennifer Walters has by unwillingly becoming the She-Hulk. Her identity is not a secret, and this causes strife at work, at home, and her dating life. I couldn't get myself to care.
What I did like was the background advancement, or explanation, of prior plots. The audience gets an explanation, of sorts, as to how Bruce Banner learned to integrate his Hulk identity with his human identity. We follow up with the Abomination who was sent to prison in 2008's The Incredible Hulk film, which had been almost forgotten due to the movie rights only recently returning to Marvel. The Abomination had made a cameo in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, but he has a main role in this series. Matt Murdock, who made a cameo in Spider-Man: No Way Home, gets a full re-introduction into the MCU after 3 seasons on Netflix. Wong also appears, but he is vastly underutilized and appears to only be there to gather viewers.
Speaking of gathering viewers, Megan Thee Stallion's cameo in episode 3, while fun, was clearly a stunt.
The new features brought to life on the show dealt with talking to the fourth wall, like the comics did. Titania appeared, but she just came across as vapid and annoying. A few random and forgettable villains made appearances that hadn't been mentioned before, and most likely will never be seen again.
The show also decided to go into women's issues, which I'm fine with, but there have been numerous female superheroes introduced throughout the MCU with no issue. A toxic, insecure masculinity group called the Illuminati spent the series treating Jennifer as an inhuman waste of space who deserves death for inheriting powers. What? The final episode's absurdity in wrapping everything up was complete garbage.
I don't understand how this show got such good reviews. They weren't universal, but they were a lot higher than they should have been. The far superior Ms. Marvel was panned, while this was praised. A surprise announcement of The Hulk having a son has not been mentioned again, though it's only been two years at the time of this review.
Read a summary if you're not a full Marvel fan. I really didn't like this show at all, and it can be skipped over.
Speak No Evil (2024)
Psychological thriller that exceeded my expectations
Speak No Evil
SOME SPOILERS: It's hard to discuss why the psychological terror is so effective without some backstory.
The psychological thriller, Speak No Evil, surprised me with its depth, the suspense, the mental messing with the minds, and the family drama. I went into this film worried that it would be cheesy or corny because the trailers were not good at all. I don't usually go by trailers, but as an avid moviegoer, I was forced to watch them dozens of times.
It is a remake of a Danish film released two years prior, but I didn't see that one. From what I've read, it was pretty much an English adaptation that changed little from the original.
An American family, living in London, go to Italy on holiday to forget their troubles that aren't outlined off the bat. Ben, Louise and their anxiety filled daughter Agnes are escaping from unexpected unemployment, the abrupt move to London and the emotional affair Louise engages in. It's no wonder Agnes has anxiety. Louise also is one of those annoying people that not only has strong opinions in her politics and environmental thoughts, but also will share them with heat and tenacity. Ben takes a back seat, and avoids confrontation.
So while on vacation, they meet Patrick and Ciara and their special needs son Ant. Paddy and Ciara couldn't be more opposite from Ben and Louise. So after the vacation, Ben and Louise run away from their problems again to be surrounded by a happy family at their isolated home in the West Country.
What happens next is a roller coaster ride of anxiety, suspense and fear due to Louise's inability to relax to the country lifestyle, and Agnes's concern for Ant's true mental state. Paddy and Ciara do everything they can to make them feel comfortable, but Ben and Louise's own problems seem to baffle them.
I spent most of the movie completely confused as to why they let their issues ruin the whole reason they are there. When the twist is finally revealed, a fight for their lives begins. The motivations revealed for Paddy's actions are absolutely horrifying. Gaslighting of this level even messed with my head, and it's a fictional story. Suffering from a conglomerate of the mental health issues presented, I could totally see how this could happen, from Ben and Louise's perspective. Reading into people's actions can be confusing or questionable as to whether or not there is sincerity.
I can't recommend this film enough. It's just long enough to keep the audience guessing, even though the trailers did spoil a bit of it. I was very entertained, and really loved it.
I Am Groot (2022)
Straightforward cuteness
I am Groot
I'm not going to really review this seriously because it's pretty self explanatory. Groot, while in his childhood state, has adventures throughout the Guardians of the Galaxy's travels. That's pretty much it. It's cute, it's funny and it's wild. It's enjoyable as a cute little aside, and the episodes are only 4-5 minutes long spanning two seasons. One was released in 2022, and the second in 2023. Have fun with it; I did.
My little review needs a bit of expanding so I'll also add that the two seasons need not be watched in release order as part of the MCU release calendar. It doesn't add enough to the overall story to be of any consequence.
Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Silly, fun and heartfelt
Thor: Love and Thunder
The fourth film dedicated to Thor reunites the director of Thor: Ragnarok with the cast, and features the return of Natalie Portman as Jane Foster, who had been missing from the story since 2014's Thor: The Dark World.
Here's what's fun about the movie: It's so silly you can't help but laugh throughout almost the entire thing. While the plot is serious, and helps move along the MCU's overall plot, there are so many parts that are so ridiculous you can't help but enjoy the ride. Screaming goats anyone?
The film picks up a few years after Thor left with the Guardians of the Galaxy at the end of Avengers Endgame. He spent those years regaining his physique, but set adrift mentally as he tries to process all the loss he had gone through over the last decade (or more when you count the blip that always confuses me regarding the Sacred Timeline).
New Asgard seems to be doing well under the leadership of King Valkyrie. It has become a tourist attraction even showing a multitude of cruise ships docked at their port.
After a few years, Thor finally parts ways with the Guardians to deal with his "midlife crisis". It was fun to see that team cameo in the first 20 or so minutes of battles and backstory, but Gamora was missing with no explanation. Chris Pratt and Chris Hemsworth are so silly together as they totally try to out masculine each other.
Now the sad part: Jane Foster is dying of cancer. She looks into the shattered hammer of Thor, which pieces are in New Asgard after Hela destroyed it in Thor: Ragnarok. She transforms into a fierce warrior that calls herself the Mighty Thor. Jane gets to do combat scenes, instead of being sidelined as the scientist. Together with Valkyrie, it was a lot of fun to see two strong female leads stand toe to toe with Thor, and then against Gorr (Christian Bale).
I know this film didn't get as much praise as previous MCU entries, but I loved it. Russell Crowe as Zeus, Thor's unexpected but welcome nudity, those screaming goats, watching Jane and Thor's history from before the Infinity War, and the final battle involving the New Asgardian children makes for a lot fun. The making of documentary stated that they tried for a 1980s space adventure, and they pulled it off.
Of course, Marvel fans must watch it because we watch everything, but the film does well for people who watch this as a stand alone.
1992 (2022)
Needed more history, less heist
1992
I wasn't sure what to expect when I sat down to watch a movie set during the LA riots after the ridiculous non guilty verdict delivered to the cops who beat Rodney King on camera. 1992's main character is a man who had been out of prison for 6 months for an undisclosed crime, but related to gang violence. He has a 16 year old son that lives with him due to the deaths of the kid's mother and grandmother.
The twist here is that a group of criminals use the riots as a distraction for their heist of platinum from a plant. For 1992 it's a pretty advanced plot to break into the safe while only one security guard remains. As Ray Liotta's final film before his death, he plays the head of the heist, even though his 2 sons, and one of their war buddies did all the work.
I was glad to see that most of the first half of the movie deals with watching what the riots were doing in the neighborhood. Mercer, no stranger to violence, works to get his son to the same plant being robbed, for safety. The film does elicit the anger that the country felt to see such a miscarriage of justice.
The rest of the film is very Die Hard as Mercer fights against the thieves, as he watches in horror as his son is used as a hostage. It's fun to see Mercer take them out, and then it's fun to see the twist when one of the thieves realizes that the heist was going to far.
The one Black man in their crew is the first casualty when a forklift causes the amputation of his legs. The irony is not lost not he audience that during the riots, he is hurt by the remaining white crew, though unintentionally.
It's not a fantastic movie, though Tyrese Gibson (Mercer) does a fantastic job playing a scared father that has an ability, he is not proud of, to defend his family. He also is subject to the humiliation of suffering an incident with the police as he is driving to the plant, all while keeping his cool to avoid escalation. Watching a white family get sent through the barricade with no inspection just ticked me off.
I also wished the ending returned to the repercussions of the riots, but it did wrap up the heist plot. 30 years after the riots, I guess it was inevitable to use a real life event as an identifier of time and motive, but I almost felt it was going to be a more historical drama. But it's not, and I also remembered that the 2018 Black Panther movie did the same thing, at the beginning of the film.
Palm Royale (2024)
Carol Burnett saves this from 1 star
An abundance of comediennes are completely wasted in this unfunny mess. The character's personalities change with such whiplash force that you never know what's going on. Norma (Carol Burnett) leads the crew of witchy women that are either tearing each other to shreds, or helping each other to tear various men to shreds. There's a bizarre subplot with Ricky Martin showing how poorly gays were treated in the 60s as a way to advance the main plot.
I really don't know why this show exists, other than that it came from a book. It just isn't done very well, and as the season rolls on, the show gets worse and worse with it transitioning from a "comedy" to confusion with a few smirks.
Watch for the spectacle of Carol Burnett, but this is a hard pass.
9/11: One Day in America (2021)
Essential watching for all Americans
9/11: One Day in America
The 2021 documentary has even more photos and videos than had been seen before. The only show I had seen before was that production of the camera crew filming a day in the life of a fire house and happened to be on the scene for the entire thing. Interviews with first responders and survivors are heartbreaking and emotional. But the stories of heroism are always welcome. We all know what happened that day so I'm not saying anything more. It's worth a watch to get more perspectives from people you may not have heard from before.
I believe that everyone should see this so we never forget. The amount of the terrorist attack caught on film will make sure that everyone will see.
Ms. Marvel (2022)
An absolute delight of young adult charm, cultural representation and historical education
Ms. Marvel
The creative, Easter-egg filled Ms. Marvel shines with family ties, cultural history, a great link to the MCU and tons of fun. The trend of "Young Avengers" continues with another young adult heroine, brought to life from the 2014 comic book.
Marvel Comics went through a phase in the mid 2010s by retiring almost all of their heroes and reinvented them from different cultures, genders, ages, adding a much needed diversity to their line up. This did backfire a bit as the original heroes did return, but these new characters stuck around, and I'm very glad they did.
After Hawkeye's "Rogers the Musical", Ms. Marvel continued the fun by introducing Avenger Con. That entire scene in the first episode at the convention needs to be paused over and over to see all of the references to other MCU stories. I even noticed She-Hulk in there.
Kamala Khan is our high school age main character. I have to take a moment and express the confusion that I'm sure many people have with the pronunciation of her name, and our current Vice President. Both pronounce it differently, and there's a huge internet schism over the whole thing. Just look at the reddit trolls, my goodness. It's only a thing because "Kamala" is an unusual name.
Learning about Pakistani culture in New Jersey, coupled with some historical information going back to the 1940s was very educational for me. I loved seeing the family traditions and religious practices put on my screen, and combine it with a great superhero story. Marvel's big platform has allowed the world to learn about these historical facts used as the setting. Plus, they interwove the multiverse again with the shifted reality of the Djinn.
Kamala is obsessed with Captain Marvel, which is obvious after 30 seconds into the first episode. What this brings to mind is how fantasy can take over one's life, even if it is done positively. Watching Kamala and her mother quarrel over direction in life comes across as just so real. Again, Marvel brings reality into fantasy, especially when the fantasy is what brings us to these stories.
In addition, I love Kamala's creativity with drawing and story telling. There are several references to Ant-Man in the show, and every time Kamala starts describing a plan, she does it in the rapid fire way that Luis does. Take the time to watch the show more than once, and admire her art work. Plus, watch the credits for every episode as they change when she goes to Karachi.
I know I'm not really talking about the main plot, even though it's really good. I'm just very happy to see that heroes come from all walks of life, and that is being represented from a major motion picture / television studio.
The show leads into the movie The Marvels, which I'll talk about in that review. As Marvel is so tight lipped about what's coming next, I'm hoping that the Young Avengers theory will come true and we can gather all these kids together. Most of them have been introduced as of 2024.
This was a fantastic show. I don't think I have anything negative to say at all. I really loved it.
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
How do choices define you when there are universes that literally show them?
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse Of Madness
The film considered the sequel to the original Doctor Strange serves more as a continuation of his story, and Wanda Maximoff's evolution into the Scarlet Witch. I say considered a sequel, but I don't feel that it worked that way. With the MCU being one continuous story, I felt it was just more of the story, which is not a bad thing.
Doctor Strange has been featured in Infinity War and Endgame, plus in Spider-Man No Way Home. His powers, while not really evolving, are used as a mentor, or plot device using his sorcery to assist in the other heroes's work to end villainy. He is also used as an info dump to describe what is going on in the narrative that new viewers may not yet understand.
Wanda had her own tv series WandaVision, dealing with her descent into grief and madness. Her story, while tragic, was given the attention it deserved as she really went through the gamut of emotions that began in her childhood. However, I had one major problem with her story. At the end of WandaVision, instead of continuing to deal with her mental illness, the crutch of adding a form of evil corruption is used.
The two characters intersect with the aid of the introduction of the comic book character, America Chavez. As a plot device, she became the perfect method to explain the Multiverse that has been hinted at during Phase Four of the MCU. After Spider-Man No Way Home, and the animated filmInto the Spider-Verse showed how alternate realities exist and could collide, America is introduced as a character who can travel between them. America also is notable as being unique as she only exists as herself, and does not have counterparts in the other universes.
I won't go further on the plot description, but I will touch on two themes. One involves on whether one character, who makes different decisions in different universes, still ends up the same character in the end. Strange is arrogant and has an inflated sense of self worth. It appears throughout the other universes that this is a common feature of his character. However, with his knowledge that he is like that, may or may not be the impetus for Earth 616's version to not make those mistakes. Is it the self fulfilling prophecy that he is aware of it so he changes? Or is he really as good as he appears to be?
The second theme involves more of Wanda's choices in WandaVision. She has given up on living with Vision, the love of her life, but now she is insistent that she has twins. The twins were fabrications, but in other realities, they are truly real. This theme is detailed as, how far would you go to get what would complete a happiness that may or may not be enough? Wanda finds the presence of America to be the way to get into other realities to get those kids, regardless of how their real mother would be treated. Wow, this was good.
Consequences for both themes exist, and are wrapped up for both, but with chances of more to come. Wanda may have destroyed all forms of the Darkhold, sacrificing herself, but we all know characters don't necessarily die. Stephen's work at being good, which still involved a dubious choice, appeared to have no fallout, but it sure did as the mid-credits scene portrays. The movie is only 2.5 years old at the time of this writing, so I hope to see more of both, but I believe Wanda may be done.
You can't see this movie without knowing all the backstory, so it'll be difficult to fully know the story, but it's pretty good as a stand alone. I liked this, and I hope to see more.
Joker (2019)
A genius peek into what's real and what isn't
Joker
Joaquin Phoenix's interpretation of Batman's primary antagonist, Joker, is definitely worthy of his winning of the Oscar for Best Actor in 2020. The film not only features psychological themes, but political ones as well. The nomination for best film was also very much deserved.
For eight decades, the Joker has always been a mystery. Even his real name was never really disclosed. In this film, his name is Arthur Fleck. He works at trying a career in comedy, but suffers from a condition where he laughs at inappropriate times. This laughter, paralleling the maniacal laughter of the comic book character, gets him in trouble during conflict as people feel insulted.
Arthur lives with his mother, who is also lost in a narrative that she was Thomas Wayne's lover, leading to the birth of her son. Arthur and his mother, played brilliantly by Frances Conroy of American Horror Story fame, are enamored by a night time Johnny Carson-like tv show. Arthur begins to fantasize about being featured on this show, which would validate his work in comedy.
The story really gets moving when he can't take being abused for his mental health issues any longer, and he murders three Wall Street punks on the subway, while dressed in clown make up. This begins to fan the flames of a battle between the upper class and the working class. Joker's clown archetype murdering the snobs who feel invincible takes off leading to a finale that blows up a city.
However, it's very important to notice that a lot of what Arthur experiences was a complete fantasy. The audience needs to pay close attention because these fantasies mold Arthur into taking the actions he takes. At the end, the questions still arose on whether or not anything truly happened.
I will admit that I'm not a fan of anything DC has to offer in film, but I was pleasantly surprised by the genius script and the acting. The explosion, literally, of someone who felt unseen, is only seen after being insulted and after committing heinous crimes was so unexpected. I was captivated watching Arthur become such an antihero.
As of the writing of this review, the sequel is coming soon. Adding Harley Quinn to the narrative will definitely add more to the insanity, and I can't wait.