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The Marvels (2023)
Light Breezy Fun and A Potential Relaunch for the Franchise
I'm not sure where to start with this movie but it's not a girly girl's movie or even a message-heavy one like I heard it would be. It's a superhero movie. I guess, having three female leads and a female villain is just too much for some.
Whatever's wrong with this movie comes down to the writing - that has its moments of greatness and fun - and the direction. It's not a complete mess since the movie holds up enough to have an exciting movie-going experience and very interesting implications for the future. Still, in the hands of a more experienced director and writer(s), this could have soared through the top of the box office with nothing for the haters to chew on.
The leads have amazing chemistry. I thought Larson would have the best chemistry with Samuel L. Jackson because I've seen them work really well off of each other, but that magic is there with Vellani and Parris. Carol and Monica's storyline works so well, they could have milked it a little more but what's there serves its purpose, it enriches their history, adds layers to the plot and the MCU, and woves a nice touch of emotions to the movie. Vellani is charming throughout, her Kamala is a joy that fits in seamlessly with Carol and Monica. This team-up has a nice balance. We become attached to the characters and each of them a moment to shine or an emotional high at some point in the movie. The trio is the film's greatest strength, not just because of their chemistry and acting ability, but also their comedic timing. Vellani excels here, she's a bit more of the comedic relief, with Parris more of the straight man, and Larson a bit of both. The humor is well-balanced, it doesn't detract from the stakes.
They did not skimp on the action scenes, there are plenty, nicely choreographed and their execution is more often great to serviceable than not and involves more people than you'd think. The same goes for the visual effects, they are solid better than in the trailers. However, this movie still suffers from what is a constant Marvel problem regarding most of their villains, they are a bit mustache-twirly. Dar-Benn doesn't have one but she's not given nearly enough to make her a compelling villain. The storyline is there, where we can see the potential depth and her character's motivation but Ashton is not given the time, yet she still manages to make it work.
The Marvels could have been longer but this run-time works, it's short and sweet. It also has the same "exciting things to come" feel from earlier MCU movies even without the post-credit scenes.
By @garcwrites.
Blue Beetle (2023)
One Performance Away from Being An Even Better Movie Than It Already Is
It became increasingly obvious that Blue Beetle was designed to be a fun family film with maybe the younger members of the family in mind. It's not quite a Spy Kids movie but it's close. A young adult version if you will. Don't get me wrong I love the Spy Kids movies for what they are and this movie made me think of them, but a grown-up version. Blue Beetle has heart, the emotion - I teared up a few times, - and the family dynamic is...great. It's a joyous movie that celebrates Latin culture well, but it falters when it comes to the superhero side of things, mainly the villain's goal and that he's fighting another version of himself.
The violence and the softened but still gory on-screen deaths would be the things that make this Spy kids-like movie - to keep the previous example - more adult but it's the performances that make it so, except for one. Uncle Rudy was too much, he was in a low-budget Spy Kids movie, while the others weren't. It was so jarring. He was so grating for me that I was tensed whenever he was on screen, which was a lot. It's like he's trying to be the main character in this movie instead of the supporting. Not everything he says or does is cringe but enough to be worrying once the pattern was identified and there's two third of the movie to go. I don't know if it's the casting, the direction, or the script, maybe all three but Uncle Rudy was not it, not the secret sauce. He really brought this movie down for me. This role could have been played differently. He's being a caricature when the others are desperately trying not to be. I'm not hating on him but him being the main thing that doesn't quite work in the movie is pretty good in my book.
Xolo, Bellissa, and Bruna really shine in this movie as do most of the Reyes family cast, they made me care about the family and what happens. Xolo is a great Jaime, I'm most familiar with the character from Young Justice but I recognized him in Xolo. Belissa as Jaime's sister was amazing, she seamlessly brought the dry humor and the sadness, she didn't lose me once. Bruna is a great find and this is probably the role that I'll recognize her from.
Blue Beetle is entertaining and fun, a good time at the cinema, yet just shy of being great.
@garcwrites.
Wolf Pack (2023)
Atmosphere and Shirtless Dudes
The pilot for this show was solid, it could quickly put you in some type of mood, whether it be with the imagery, the music, or the amount of skin the male actors are showing the show managed to play with your emotions and expectations quite well. So it felt atmospheric at times and much of the rest of the episodes have that, the night settings, the creepy music and silences, the sexy moments but it all lacks substance. It's as if the broad stroke for the show and the characters were laid out but they forgot to fill it all in.
As astute viewers, not everything needs to be spoonfed but it's a whole lot of vagueness for an eight-hour season. Maybe they got lost in the mystery aspect of it all, wanting the characters to figure it all out, so they opted out of most of the world-building like what werewolf lore applied to them? Part of that is still vague. There are a lot of unanswered questions, characters who just disappear, some characters' motivations that didn't make much sense, or poorly designed plans. The story is still a bit all over the place.
So in the end the show is just vibes and muscles because you might get a bit of a fright and or a tingle at what you see on screen. You might even get easily distracted by that but the show is kind of bland. It's entertaining enough if you like procrastinating, but impactful or memorable? Not really.
Wolf Pack feels like an idea of a show not fully realized or a dated idea of what a supernatural teen drama is.
@garcwrites.
Arrête avec tes mensonges (2022)
A Touching yet familiar story with great acting
As is the book, the story here is autobiographical and it is felt. The movie captures that quite well, there's a rawness to it that makes it feel like you're watching these events as they are unfolding whether they are in the present or the flashbacks. A movie that goes back and forth between the present and the past is nothing new, and someone reminiscing on their first love isn't either, but this film does a good job of it in the way it's structured. The flashbacks actually feel like memories, as bittersweet as they can be, and contrast well with Stephane now as he's still hurt by them and yet cherish them.
The whole cast is great but there are standouts. Guillaume De Tonquédec is the only actor in the cast I knew by sight but I've seen him more in comedic roles - at least that's the memory I have of him - but he nails it. His internal emotional turmoil reads perfectly as he comes back into town and meets Lucas. In the present scenes, it's mostly him and Victor Belmondo - famous last name and familiar features but the first time I've heard or seen him in anything - they are good but not as poignant as the flashbacks. Julien De Saint-Jean and Jérémy Gillet are just amazing in this film, their scenes give life and weight to the scenes in the present. These flashbacks are intense, believable, and capture gay teenage love well.
Lie with Me / Arrête avec tes Mensonges is sweet considering what it's about, even light at times but it works.
@garcwrites.
À la belle étoile (2023)
Hardships and Resilience with No Cheesy Sentimentality
This movie is touching, and depicts Yazid's road to success with all its ups and down but at no point that it tries to make you pity him. You can feel that they are a lot of unsaid, and more roadblocks than what was shown here but it's easy to fill in the blanks. There are still challenging and painful moments in this film but their effect are somewhat muted, like I said they're not trying to make you pity him and his circumstances, or trying to force some tears out of you because of how rough he had - or maybe I'm cold-hearted enough that I wasn't as affected. I thought the movie had a positive lens on Yazid's journey and focused more on his will and motivation to succeed, and the people that were there for him than his hardships.
The cast is good, Marwan as young Yazid is subtle and very communicative with his eyes alone. I wasn't didn't know that Riadh is/was a Youtuber/Instagrammer but he's a solid actor, he sold me on his portrayal of Yazid. The director also did a great job but you can see where he's most comfortable and/or skilled because those pastry scenes looked so good, I wondered if they were stock videos or made for a commercial. The back and forth between young Yazid and young adult Yazid were seamless and nicely pushed the story forward.
This movie has a beautiful message about resilience, about how the difficulties of the environment you grew up in can be overcome, and become fuel to achieve your goals. By @garcwrites.
I Care a Lot (2020)
I didn't want to like this
At first it was a little too hard for me to watch because I suspect the same thing is happening to someone I know.
However, after the first 30min it gets interesting. This movie has a lot of surprising plot twists, it keeps subverting expectations and the inherent will of anyone watching this hoping people like Marla get caught.
The acting is amazing, A1, and the cast is very well picked.
The only problem with this movie is that we get away from the very thing this movie is highlighting, legal guardians taking advantage of the people under their care.
The New Mutants (2020)
A Potentially Great Idea Not Used to the Fullest
@garcwrites: This movie is a slow burn that gives you enough time to get to know the new mutants but it's not very atmospheric. It doesn't put you in the mood, despite the horror vibe of the piece. I never felt anxious, or worried for any of the characters.
Even if the tone is a bit of a miss for me, it is a smartly constructed story. I felt I got the characters. I understood their fears, their traumas, and why they were the way we found them on an intellectual level but I hardly felt for them. I can't say that the actors didn't pull their weight, even though they are no oscar worthy performances, but giving that the atmosphere wasn't really there nothing elevated the work they put in.
The action scenes and visual effects were great for what they were going for, but in comparison to the sets looked like an expensive new car in a junk yard. The facility they were in is so rundown and cheap looking that I couldn't believe that it had voice activated locks. It would have been easier to believe that the doors opened and closed because of a Mutant's power.
The New Mutants felt like a great idea that wasn't totally followed through. There is a gun-shy feeling to it. They didn't go all the way or didn't strike the right tone. The first half of Josh Trank's Fant4stic Four felt more ominous than this entire movie. Unless they going for an intellectual horror superhero movie - if that's a thing - it worked! Because I understood what I was suppose to feel but never experienced any of the emotions.
Cursed (2020)
A theater play with striking visuals
@garcwrites: It is apparent, after a few episodes that the show is a coming-of-age story. The heroic fantasy theme is present but the flashbacks lean hard toward the coming-of-age tale while giving us context and more information about Arthur, Nimue, and Merlin.
We see our main characters grow and evolve but for some of them they start at such a low point that they can only onward and upward. I was surprise to find one of them to be a selfish deceitful b*tch. It was quite the departure from the usual portrayal of that character but I didn't mind. It's also one of the strength of the show, they play with your expectations about some characters and hide others in plain sight.
The other themes in the series - war, religious extremism, xenophobia to name a few, - resonates with us today because what's happening in this fantasy world is very much real in ours. Cursed explores those themes without watering them down, here they're complexe and driven by egos. The cast does a great job in infusing life into the thematics of the show, and into their respective characters.
At times the series feels like a theater play with striking visuals. The colors pops without being eerie, the cinematography is beautiful, and I enjoy the way the powers are showcased. The show also had a particular way of transitioning from one scene to another, which felt like turning the pages of a comic book.
Cursed is a story we've at least heard but the show manages a few surprised and reveals that will keep you entertain as the heroin faces impossible odds.
Hamilton (2020)
Quite the crecendo
@garcwrites: Going in I knew Hamilton: The Musical was two hours and forty minutes long. What I didn't know, well most likely forgot, is that it's in two acts, and that's important. Not being a Musical Theatre aficionado the run time was daunting, but once I started I was kind of feeling it.
I was totally engaged - I had to be - because this is a little dense. They sing the whole time, I mean the whole time. It feels like one long as song, with tons of information in lyrics that you don't always understand. So I had to be "on" if I didn't want to miss something. At some points of the first act it felt like they were lip-syncing, or as if they put the audio of one performance on the images of another, the sound mixing looked off.
By the time the intermission came, it was like a slapped to my face, because like I mentioned I forgot about it so I thought that it was the end of the musical. I was mildly entertain by what I saw and was ready to move on. It legit made me sweat when I realize I had over an hour to go.
The second act was truly a breath of fresh air. I felt like I learned more in that part then the first. There was a lot of variety in the songs, which were amazing, but I was captivated by what was going on, not because I could miss something important, I was just entertained.
I also appreciated that they didn't sanitize the more questionable aspects of the story. It got me to like the cast even more. I was looking at the performances and soaking in the history.
Hamilton is worth the watch it's crescendo with the first act feels like a intro that's running a little long but once you're in the thick of it, it's fun, and clever.
Cursed (2020)
A theater play with striking visuals
@garcwrites: It is apparent, after a few episodes that the show is a coming-of-age story. The heroic fantasy theme is present but the flashbacks lean hard toward the coming-of-age tale while giving us context and more information about Arthur, Nimue, and Merlin.
We see our main characters grow and evolve but for some of them they start at such a low point that they can only onward and upward. I was surprise to find one of them to be a selfish deceitful b*tch. It was quite the departure from the usual portrayal of that character but I didn't mind. It's also one of the strength of the show, they play with your expectations about some characters and hide others in plain sight.
The other themes in the series - war, religious extremism, xenophobia to name a few, - resonates with us today because what's happening in this fantasy world is very much real in ours. Cursed explores those themes without watering them down, here they're complexe and driven by egos. The cast does a great job in infusing life into the thematics of the show, and into their respective characters.
At times the series feels like a theater play with striking visuals. The colors pops without being eerie, the cinematography is beautiful, and I enjoy the way the powers are showcased. The show also had a particular way of transitioning from one scene to another, which felt like turning the pages of a comic book.
Cursed is a story we've at least heard but the show manages a few surprised and reveals that will keep you entertain as the heroin faces impossible odds.
IMDb on the Scene - Interviews: The Wrong Missy (2020)
Very silly but quite entertaining
Maybe it's due to the very low expectations I had for this movie but it was a nice surprise. I laughed, cringed, and smiled during the film. The perfect romcom to watch on an afternoon to relax, it doesn't take itself but manages to be meaningful in its own way.
Upload (2020)
An easy watch that works on multiple levels
Upload is silly, smart, and deep at the same time. Whether you're looking for some mind-numbing entertainment, or something to have an in depth conversation about the future, capitalism, big companies, spirituality, etc. this is the show for you.
It all depends on how you look at the show. It's really good.
@garcwrites
Tensión sexual, Volumen 1: Volátil (2012)
More than a eye candy movie
Going in I seriously thought that it would be eye candy the movie, which it kind of is, but it's more than that.
Despite the title and the subject matter it doesn't have a lot of steam, instead it's just a movie that rings true. No mater what your sexuality is you might have found yourself in one or more of the situations depicted here. It might be just the one time or multiple but these will look familiar to men.
There is some kind of sameness or better yet, a sense of unfinish business but it's a sexuality tension collection of short not romance and/or full on port.
Enjoy @garcwrites
Extraction (2020)
Sponsored by Tupperware
The story is not as straight forward as I thought it might be, there are a few genuine twists that makes it fresh. There's also some smart levity in it but it is an action movie.
The action looks like it hurt, it's violent AF, intense and vicious. They let it breath, literally, making it feels real and very much like you're in it with them. As a result there is not much suspension of disbelief needed. The fight scenes, close quarters fighting chases and gun battle have a danger feel to them and a high cost throughout the film. I have a favorite fight scene though, all I'll say is kids.
The directing is very smart with the tracking, using the idea of camera posing to hide the stuntman but using it in tracking shots, making us watch one way at some interesting thing while you know what's happening off camera, then picking back up to where we were it's amazing. Sam Hargrave delivers big time, he's one to watch.
The acting is amazing, top notch, it pluses the story and help carry the emotional weight. The cast is region accurate and the actors are great. Hemsworth did not hog the screen time - take note Robbie - and was surrounded by talented actors.
By the way I totally spotted a Thor reference, did you ?
Extraction, sponsored by Tupperware - don't think I missed the Tupperware bottle Hemsworth gave the kid - is a really good movie. Hargrave, Hemsworth, and Joe Russo delivered.
@garcwrites
Point Break (2015)
It looks like a commercial
It's a cute movie, it has beautiful images, similar to an extreme sports reel with a tiny bit of plot thrown in.
Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector (2020)
Enough to hook but a lot of room to grow
@garcwrites For an occasional listener and/or watcher of true crime podcasts and TV Shows, the words legendary serial killer, forensic criminologist, and detective, tickles my fancy.
The pilot, hence the story starts off with a flashback to establish Lincoln Rhyme as an intelligent overly confident detective, charging solo into danger; and the Bone Collector as an aloof clever madman. We knew who the main players were from the start, and we even got to learn of the Bone Collector's occupation and connection to Lincoln Rhyme.
Sidebar: In the first few minutes of the premiere Rhyme heard "sounds of distress coming from upstairs," I heard a barn animal. Not that I would have stayed put and wait for backup if this was a sheep but I wouldn't have rushed either. Also, the fact that Lincoln plays killer Instinct endeared him to me.
In anything - TV series, movies,etc. - involving a serial killer they often keep the perp a mystery. Here, it was nice that we got to see him but Rhyme didn't. In that moment the overly confident detective was powerless to help, as the killer he's been hunting for five years kills someone close enough for him to listen. This signaled to me a battle of wits throughout the series, we both trying to outsmart each other in a thrilling way.
Flash forward to three years later, Rhyme is handicapped and retired, so we get introduced to Sachs. She was a bit a of slap for me, there was the typical stuff - a bit of a mess with a dependent - I saw the ambition with that letter, but her assignment was rough to me, I'm not even sure that it's a step up from traffic cop. Anyway, of course she stumbled upon the case but she contributes right away and become his puppet, well more like his protege. She goes where he can't wearing a name-tag size camera on her chest - for some her hands never get in the way and the signal is always strong. Sachs is not alone in this there's a team but they summarily introduced, you just know what they're here for.
The Bone Collector's M.O.: three bodies in a day, suggested to me a face-paced show, a Kiefer Sutherland's 24 type of season about tracking the serial killer but that's not exactly what we got. Although, I enjoyed the little false start to the investigation - that was genius - my heart plummeted a bit, when I thought "it's a procedural" and it kinda is. I expected and wanted a long thrilling story centered hunted one person.
However the show had enough elements to warrant my interest, the serial killer of the week angle was going to be wear me down. The saving grace of the season might have been the cutaways to the Bone Collector. As Lincoln is on the case of the week, the Bone Collector is cooking something, gearing up for a showdown while navigating his own life. I liked his threat assessment, when there was a potential problem, someone who might cause him trouble down the line, he took care of it right away. Thus getting rid of a common trope in crime dramas. The Bone Collector is consistently smart, and meticulous. He really planned his moves.
Despite the other cases - some of which were great -, there was enough about the bone collector to keep me watching. Lincoln's relentless way he approaches his cases - "There are no dead ends, only places where one chooses to give up the search." - is also fun to watch. Hornby really sells the disability without compromising his acting. Brian F. O'Byrne's frustration is very palpable he's subtle but memorable here.
The show works, I expected a manhunt, Seven-esq and got something else that is watchable, binge-able even but really needs to step up its game.
Monsieur (2019)
Not what I expected
When I put this in my watchlist I didn't know this was a musical, so that was a surprise. the short is surprising and not what you'd expect. It's get deeper as it goes along. It's a love story / social commentary with good music.
@garcwrites
The Letter for the King (2020)
Quite entertaining, it has its moments but shallow people
@garcwrites
The premise is not the most original one out there. Reading it, it's obvious that you'll be cheering for an underdog, an unassuming mildly skilled naive boy, who is thrust into a dangerous situation he's not happy about. A guy, who'll do the right thing because he must...well not exactly.
We spent a good chunk of time getting to know Tiuri, and although he's a nice guy, he doesn't go out of his way to be helpful. He minds his own business and tries to be a decent guy, but not a hero.
Tiuri keeps getting reluctantly pushed into things, his step father, Sir. Tiuri, wants him to become a knight, and then he tries to assist one person and it snowballs into a mess he's in the middle of. In fact, Tiuri actively tries to get out of that mess but gets sucked back in every time. He only truely accepts his quest when he has no other choice.
From the start Tiuri was told not to trust anyone and I appreciated that most characters were shown to not be trust worthy. Yet Tiuri was so naive and gullible for a 16 year old that it was frustrating. I didn't want him to be a Gary Sue but not an idiot either.
Different characters shined for various reasons. Prince Viridian sounded evil but looked too pretty particularly for a harden warrior. They tried to pass him off as a vilain who thought he was a hero but that didn't take.
Sir Tiuri was interesting to me, he's hard, mean even, and yet he is his stepson's the biggest champion - at least in public. There were contradicting things about him, it was like he knew something we didn't but that got nowhere.
Piak was instant like for me, the rest of the novices felt real in their overconfidence in their own skill and doubts about what was going on. The representation throughout the show is quite seamless, race, gender and sexuality are represented but a lot of the characters were selfish and/or greedy, making you wonder why does Tiuri trust anyone so easily.
The Letter For The King's story builds up nicely introducing characters, places, while slowly revealing plot points. It hits a crescendo but then slows down almost to a crawl. There are a few twists but they don't make much of an impact. It is a fantasy series with magic and a quest but it wasn't epic enough, my excitement level dropped half-way through.
When it comes to visuals, imagery the show has its moments like, that jump - in the first episode - was just magical, a nice shot, reminiscent of E.T.; and then the final "battle" had a lot of screengrab worthy moments that you could frame.
The Letter For The King is quite entertaining, it has its moments, the visual effects are good, but the writing is a little uneven. I would watch a second season but in a "I'll get to it when I have time" kind of way.
Hidden Figures (2016)
Or the persistence of biases when greater goals are on the horizon
@garcwrites
At first glance this film sounds like a civil right's movie, by this I mean, it can seem like it's a movie solely about race and discrimination. These two topics are reason enough to see a well mode movie but Hidden Figures is much more than that.
It's actually a fascinating work-place drama set in the early days of the space race. It's a more grounded depiction of that time in history because usually movies about the space race are about the achievement itself, the rocket taking off with the wife or girlfriend with a tear in her eye. Little to no mind giving to the grind, the trial and error, and the tense conditions they were working in at a time when technology wasn't as evolved as it is today.
This movie is clearly dramatized, it's not a documentary, but there is a lot to learn here. I had no idea that they were people, women, who's job was to do complex math. The surprising thing is not that women were doing math - well giving the time period it kind of is. It's the the inner workings of N.A.S.A.
The sheer importance and scale of the whole opperation is not lost on the viewer, they make sure of that. Which makes it is all the more mind-boggling that given the importance of what they were trying to achieve that they had time to discriminate. I know that racism and discrimination is systemic, particularly, in this era but come the F'k on how was it not a meritocracy?
I could stress on that point for so long but that would be like shouting at the wind at this point. Don't get it wrong, the biaises are not just based on race but on women in general, there's a clear hierachy of discrimination showed in this film but the silver lining though, is that these women are also depicted striving for more, overcoming obsticles, leading the way.
The cast is quite big and yet memorable, they all make an impression. I saw this movie when it came out in 2016 and even before rewatching it - because it's worth repeat viewings - I could list the cast by name or remember faces, if not the names. It's a testament to the level of talent there's in this film. The smallest roles have space to shine and the actors knew how to seize their opportunities.
Henson is front and center in this movie and yet Spencer and Monae are true stand outs. Kristen Dunst, opperates masterfully in a grey area as both an "oppressed" and pottential oppressor, Glen Powell is charismatic and a source of hope, and Kevin Costner does a fabulous job but Seth Meyer's sketch does sour a bit aspects of his character.
Hidden Figures is a compelling learning experience that will hit you in the feels and worth the viewings.
The Postcard Killings (2020)
Maybe some books are meant to stay books.
@garcwrites :
I saw this movie after a long day, so maybe that played into how I perceived it. The film had a rocky start for me, and the acting was at fault for me. I didn't really believe the father's grief. For some reason I don't buy Jeffrey Dean Morgan crying - and he cries a few times in this. Same for the mother, I legit asked myself "was she collecting a paycheck?" but don't fret the movie picks up - or maybe I got used to it.
It's an easy story to get into because there's a decent mystery, why are the victims left nude and positioned to ressemble famous works of art? What do the postcards means? Etc. The investigation managed to keep my sleep deprived brain focused. There's a misdirect that I didn't see coming - I don't think my fatigue was to blame but I'm gonna let you guys guess what it is. It was about one of the only thing that really surprised me.
For a mystery crime drama, the tension is clumsily build. The score is trying to help with that but it doesn't really work. The "gruesome" aspect of the murders didn't exactly land. They tried to showcase a bit of the process of the preparation of the corpses at the beginning, and even systematically showed the bodies posed like twisted pieces of art, but it was like Hannibal on a budget. Take any horribly mangled corpses in whatever episodes of that TV Series, it would be still ten times better than all the "corpse art"seen in this movie.
You can't even argue that they wanted a more realistic, gritty feel to the corpses because it's simply not true, again the TV series was more impressive, often nausea inducing and creepy as hell.
The irony at the end - the reason for the killings - and the way the investigation and murders are solved just makes a mockery of it all. I was surprised that the director, Danish Tanovic, has an oscar - there's hope for us all - but I don't blame him for this, feels like there wasn't a cohesive vision. It definitely felt like there were scenes left on the cutting room floor, the acting wasn't solid throughout, the cinematography could have been better but the movie title is better than the book.
This movie just seems like it would be a lot more interesting as a read. At times, it's like a pitch or concept for a book.
The Postcard Killings is good movie to stream, entertaining with a lot of potential but not frustratingly bad.
Lost Girls (2020)
A lot of unsaid yet it's deafening
@garcwrites :
I'm not sure I can spoil the movie but I'll keep it simple enough so that if someone like me, with know prior knowledge of this story can experience this film fresh.
The song performed by that haunting voice at the opening credits of the film as images of a scared young woman running in a dark country are showed puts you in the right mood for this movie.
It was striking to me how, in the beginning of this film, when the little sister - Sarra - is first seen, we cannot see her face. It's a shot of her back, then a few seconds before we see her face, it's a shot of her mother driving looking back at her while she's lying down in the backseat of the car. That shot is reminiscent of both a parent looking lovingly at a sleeping child in the back seat of a car, or that of a kidnapper longingly looking at a victim.
There's a lot to unpack in the first 20min alone. From what Mari and her girls' life is like, their struggle, family dynamic and past. To the dismissals, and downplaying of legit worrisome events, or the slow change of the narrative within the story: Shannan goes in the span of 5 minutes to a missing grown woman who probably just left, to an implied drug addict and/or dealer, to full on prostitute.
I like how Mari, the mother, is in no way portrayed as a saintly woman to "ramp up" her sympathy factor. She's a woman who does what she can to make ends meet but clearly is not an attentive mother to the two other daughters she still has at home, almost seeming negligent with them. Shanon appears to be her favorite - before she's ever missing - and the other two know it as well.
There are subtle things to be picked up in this movie, like a photograph in the Oak Creek home owners' association building, or the way the dispearance of Shanon gets even more dismissed, ignored, or downplayed as more information is discovered about her character.
I was starting to worry that there wasn't a single decent man or police officer portrayed in this movie, they all seemed inconvenienced and annoyed by Shannan's disappearance. But then Joe showed up out of nowhere, then another took action. Yet I don't feel like man are vilified.
Lost Girls is a harrowing thought provoking true crime story ideal for an investigative podcast - that probably already exists. It needs to stay in the public's consciousness but mostly needs truth. It is well very well written, masterfully directed with grounded performances.
Bloodshot (2020)
When visuals supersedes story
@garcwites :
Writing the premise, I omitted part of the last sentence which is, "only to discover that there's more between what he originally feels and a conspiracy." I'm not sure that it is necessary to sell this movie, I'm on the fence. Selling it as a revenge movie with cool visuals would probably work for Diesel's core fanbase or anyone who just love action scenes no matter what the story is about. The phrase I highlighted and took out of the premise gives more subtances, more meat to the story. It could intrigue a casual action movie fan into seeing Bloodshot trying to figure out what the conspiracy is about. Saddly the marketing took that away from the viewer.
It's not high art, and that "conspiracy" is not too difficult to figure out but they could have tried. Tried, among other things, to not give it away before the movie was out. Since for almost two third of the movie it is not adressed. They could have put more subtle clues about what's really going on before Ray discovers it, enticing audiences to watch the film a second and/or third time instead of the one and done it turned out to be.
There are actors that I love in this film but they failed to level up the story. The performances were a little wooden but to be fair you can't make up what's not there. Although, Toby Kebbel kind of made it work, I really saw two dinstinct versions of the character he was playing. As for the rest of the cast they can count their blessings because people will forget they were even in this.
The visuals are clearly a selling point of the movie - that is if you count Vin Diesel as a reason to see a film - and it's the only thing that some thoughts went into. For a debut film Dave Wilson has shown that he's good with action scenes and visual effects but still needs to show that he can direct actors, maybe in another movie with a...story.
Bloodshot is action packed with awesome secenes and weak story, so leave your brain at the door and enjoy your popcorn.
Noughts + Crosses: Episode #1.1 (2020)
Pilot: Eye-opening at some levels
@garcwrites :
I do not know how these books flew under my radar. It was by utter chance that I found the show. One image - the poster - caught my attention, then I read the premise, frowned, and decided to check out the pilot.
It was superweird to see things being flipped, seeing an alternate version of what we'd expect. The attention to details in this series is just impressive, it's amazing to see. The sets, costumes, hairstyles, the way the actors speak, all the way down to a band-aid. It was interesting to see how the "noughts" were influenced by the "Crossers."
This entire show could have felt gimmicky but it manages not to be.
One other thing, watching this pilot - well the first 15 minutes really - I truly realized how important the Oscars so white campaign and all the calls for diversity in entertainment are. For some reason, I thought that they weren't that many people of color who wanted to work in the entertainment industry. I also thought that the few who wanted to should be given opportunities to do it. Noughts and Crosses made me re-evaluate the number of people of color who want to work in cinema but just don't have many opportunities to do so. Because you would have given me the premise of the show and I would have legit thought that finding actors of color for these roles would be really hard to do, next to impossible, if you take into account the extras, the experience and talent the actors would need to make this show watchable. I know that sounds very ignorant and stupid of me but I did underestimate the amount of black, brown and Asian kids who want to act, write, direct or produce.
Let me know what you think about this show and/or the books, have you noticed something I didn't?
Spenser Confidential (2020)
Nice to start off your weekend and laugh a bit
@garcwrites
If you had stumbled upon the film without having seen a trailer or read a blurb about it, the premise of the movie is made perfectly clear in less than five minutes in the opening flashback scene. It's seamless, you know some of the key plays - Spenser and the Boston Police - and what it's about - corruption. They also do a great job in those first ten minutes and the rest of the movie at showing how tight of a community the police force is, keeping you suspicious when one shows up since you've just learn it's about corruption. Spenser Confidential could have easily been a serious dramatic movie on the subject but the comedy shows its head rather quickly, whether it's in Spenser's and other characters' quips or unassuming jokes that are set up a few scenes back that cracks you up when the punchline is revealed (e.g. Pearl).
Story wise, there are a few minor twists that are trying to keep this movie from being too predictable, and they work on some level, but it's still a somewhat predictable film. Earlier I mentioned the comedy and Spenser Confidential has its moments, I chuckled a lot watching it and recognized a lot of funny moments that didn't necessarily make me laugh but I could see the comedy in it.
The cast is good, they pull off the comedy and the action, Wahlberg and Duke make an interesting pair and they work. I don't remember seeing Iliza Shlesinger in a movie so I was interested to see her in this, and damn she's good. She's funny and all but I didn't see a comedian acting in a movie, I saw an actress with great comedic timing forgetting that she's a legit comedian. Post Malone was kind of the same, it's a small role but he's memorable, face tattoo aside.
The action sequences are good but not on the level of Mile 22, but it's nice to see what Peter Berg can do with an action comedy. So Spenser Confidential is a nice movie to start off your weekend and laugh a bit.
All the Bright Places (2020)
Deeper than what you'd expect
@garcwrites :
All the Bright Places is not a book I read or that was on my radar. I actually don't remember how the movie came to my attention but I'm glad it did.
The story is sweet and sour, it reflects the ups and downs of life in a sneakily dark romantic way. The score is perfectly calibrated for the movie, it pluses it, enhances the experience. It goes alongside with the quotes, which may seem like throw away lines but they are poignant and make sense in the overall story.
The two leads are well cast, Justice Smith is the best, casting him as the lead in a romantic movie was genius. Finch he so adorable, direct and real, with a touch of darkness that looms even in the bright places and Justice plays that so well. He makes Finch very likable in moments another actor might seem creepy, angsty and weird. He makes you feel for the character in his ups and downs.
Elle Fanning is a quiet force in this movie, her emotions are palpable in her looks alone. She makes a really good pair with Justice Smith, they have great chemistry and make a good looking couple.
This movie could be summed up: "Two people falling in love with famous quotes thrown in." Or "a girl falling in love with her "therapist."" but it's much deeper than that. It's more a movie about mental health than a straight up romantic movie. It's a bit dark, messy but also has levity. It's a pretty nice depiction of people living with mental health problems.
What's your take on this movie?