anthonymigliori

There are times where we really deserve a good thrill from a good movie. If you're looking for one, then "Parasite" is one hell of a cinematic ride to take.

Bong Joon-ho's direction calls back to the brilliant direction a master like Hitchcock would provide, which would be full of unique visuals and stellar composition. And, since I'm on the topic of masters, I am convinced that Director Bong Joon-ho will go down as not just a master of the directing craft, but also of the screenwriting craft. The screenplay, which he co-wrote with Han Jin-won, is full of not just so many twists and turns, but filled with so much genre-bending twists that there's never a moment where you feel the trope is overused. Both Bong and Han clearly know how to write a screenplay that is just as effective as say a screenplay like the one for "Chinatown."

Then comes the performances of the cast. This film is a prime example of casting done right. Song Kang-ho plays Kim Ki-taek, the father of the poor Kim family desperate to break the boundaries set by classism and infiltrate the luxurious home of the Park family, with Lee Sun-kyun and Cho Yeo-jeong playing the father and mother, respectfully. Every single actor in this films shines like cinematic gold in their respectful roles.

So, if you like films that are original, imaginative, thrilling, and oh-so brilliant acted, written, and directed, then please. Give Parasite a go. I promise, you will be in for a surprised. A really big one.

For a Disney film like "Cruella," this life-action origin story about one of the most notorious villains in Disney history is actually pretty good, even with it's minor flaws.

When you put two Emmas in a film, magic clearly happens. Emma Stone gives off badass vibes with her performance as the young Estella Miller/Cruella de Vil and Emma Thompson gives off antagonizing vibes as Baroness Von Hellman. While I wouldn't say the performances are worthy of Oscar praise, I would say they are worthy of huge amounts of respect from people who view this film.

Then comes the screenplay and direction. The screenplay, written by Dana Fox and Tony McNamara, along with a few others, is not perfect. In fact, at times when the film feels so thinly-written, it's times like those while viewing the film that you hope the performances are enough to hold up the clumsiness that clearly shows in the writing. As for Craig Gillespie, the director, I think it's possible that Disney gave Gillespie the creative freedom card so that the "I, Tonya" director could let his own directorial style run loose, which is at times a rarity in big-budget studio films, the type of films that are mostly products of the studio execs' vision. So, for that, I'll give Disney my blessing.

Let's not forget this film's eclectic soundtrack. The soundtrack is full of catchy songs that can easily have you bobbing your head to the beat of the songs. The song selections alone are perfect and often fit the badass vibe of the movie.

Otherwise, while this film might have its downs, it still as plenty of ups and is worth the go, especially if you love a good Disney flick.

"Human Nature" is just one example of what happens when you combine a script written by Charlie Kaufman, the directorial talents of Michel Gondry, and a stellar cast featuring Tim Robbins, Patricia Arquette, and Rhys Ifans.

The movie may not be up to par with Kaufman's other works such as "Being John Malkovich" and "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind," but it does great at utilizing the usual elements that make a great Kaufman script: Eccentricity, great dialogue, and sometimes dark humor.

This film also happens to be director Michel Gondry's first directorial effort. While the film does lack some of the trademarks that Gondry would use in the other films of his career, (specifically his manipulation of the mise en scene) this film is, after all, his first directorial effort. Sometimes directors don't immediately find out what their main style is on their debut films.

Then you have the performances of the cast. Tim Robbins and Patricia Arquette shine in their respectful places as the male and female leads, but I believe Rhys Ifans deserves a bit more love. His performance as Puff is one that I feel is wildly underrated.

Overall, "Human Nature" is worth a go, especially if you like anything with Charlie Kaufman or Tim Robbins or Patricia Arquette written on it.