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Category: New Releases

  • Suicide Squad (2016)

    Suicide Squad (2016)

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    The Brave and The Bold #25 (September 1959) marked the first appearance of the Suicide Squad, a team of antiheroes. First created by Robert Kanigher and artist Ross Andru, the group was featured in six issues before returning in 1987. John Ostrander revived the team for Legends #3, and it has since gone through many incarnations, even going into today. In 2009, Warner Bros announced a movie version was in production, with Dan Lin (The LEGO Movie) as a producer. David Ayer (End of Watch) signed on to write and direct in 2014, and tons of big-name actors were attached. Eventually, it came down to Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Viola Davis, Jared Leto, Jai Courtney, Cara Delevingne, and Joel Kinnaman. Filming commenced in 2015, though Warner Bros ordered reshoots following the negative reception of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. On August 5, 2016, David Ayer’s Suicide Squad was released.

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    Synopsis

    Following Superman’s death, intelligence officer Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) offers a solution should another cataclysmic event occur. She proposes to assemble a team of some of the worst criminals imaginable as disposable assets for high-risk missions. Among them are hitman Deadshot (Will Smith) and psychopath Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), the girlfriend of The Joker (Jared Leto). Alongside Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), and Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), Col. Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) leads them. Unfortunately, one of their recruits, The Enchantress (Cara Delevingne), goes rogue and besieges the nearby Midway City to control mankind. The squad is deployed to the city under the guise that they’re extracting a high-level target being threatened by terrorists. Joined by Asian warrior Katana (Karen Fukuhara), the squad must carry out their mission under threat of their heads exploding. Will the squad succeed, or will they be victims of The Enchantress?

     

    Review

    For as much as it tries to be fun, Suicide Squad is a garish mess of noise and colors. Starting with the positives, some of the performances are solid, namely Smith, Robbie, Davis, Kinnaman, and surprisingly even Courtney. Given that this was the live-action debut of fan-favorite Harley Quinn, Robbie’s is the best we could’ve hoped for. As per usual, Smith is very charismatic, though it feels less like a character and more Smith just being Smith. Davis’s stern attitude and cold demeanor perfectly contrast with the craziness around her, and Kinnaman makes a good straight man. Even Jai Courtney, who’s usually a plank of wood in terms of acting, is surprisingly fun to watch. The first act, though a bit scatterbrained, is the best part of the film, showing off its colorful aesthetics. Unfortunately, once the action gets going, things take a sharp nosedive and it never recovers.

    While some of the performances are enjoyable, a majority of them are painful to sit through, especially Jared Leto’s Joker. Whereas Jack Nicholson and Heath Ledger perfectly balanced eccentricity and intimidation, Leto goes full over-the-top, almost trying too hard. It doesn’t help that he went so far as to send his costars disgusting “gifts” and generally made them uncomfortable. Unlike Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which was dark and brooding, this one tries being more colorful and fun. Unfortunately, the colors are either too garish or, once again, washed out and muted, resulting in an ugly look. Also, the editing is atrocious, some scenes having at least two or three cuts per minute, making the action incomprehensible. This seems like a case of a studio trying so hard to appease its fans only to disappoint them. Overall, Suicide Squad is an ugly mishmash of color and mayhem.

     

    Buy Suicide Squad from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KxheG6

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  • Batman v Superman: Ultimate Edition (2016)

    Batman v Superman: Ultimate Edition (2016)

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    On a budget of $260 million, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice grossed $166 million in its opening weekend. However, in its second weekend, its box office returns dropped 68%, though it managed to gross over $870 million worldwide. Ultimately, the film was considered a financial disappointment, not helped by the mostly negative reviews from critics and audiences. The film also earned several awards at the Golden Raspberries and was nominated for Worst Picture, losing to Hillary’s America. For its Blu-ray release, Warner Bros released the director’s cut, which was dubbed the “Ultimate Edition”, alongside the theatrical version. This version had an additional 31 minutes of footage for a total runtime of 3 hours and 3 minutes. This version received more favorable reviews and was considered the definitive version, somewhat similar to what happened to Heaven’s Gate. So, let’s take a look at Batman v Superman: Ultimate Edition.

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    Synopsis

    Please refer to my original review of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice since the plot is relatively the same.

     

    Review

    It’s amazing how much of a difference an extra 30 minutes can make in drastically changing the overall quality. Many of the subplots that felt dropped in the theatrical version are now fully expanded upon here and make sense. For instance, a new character named Kahina Ziri (Wunmi Mosaku) claims that Superman killed her fellow villagers at the beginning. However, it’s shown that she was threatened by Lex Luthor to tell a false story to incriminate Superman. Also, the dead villagers were actually killed by mercenaries hired by Luthor, who burned their bodies to cover their tracks. This further shows how Luthor was manipulating people to incriminate Superman and explains Lois’s part in this. Later, she visits Jenet Klyburn (Jena Malone), a scientist at S.T.A.R. Labs who analyzes the bullet she found in Africa. Turns out the metal the bullet was made from was developed by Lexcorp.

    In my original review, I talked about the man in the wheelchair and how his subplot went almost nowhere. Admittedly, he’s not given much more development, but we learn that the wheelchair Luthor gave him was lead-lined. This explains that Superman couldn’t see the bomb in the wheelchair since his X-Ray vision doesn’t work on lead. Another major addition is a small subplot where Clark Kent visits Gotham City to learn more about Batman. Though the scenes are brief, we see how many people are afraid of Batman and feel threatened by him. Not only does it give us a different perspective on Batman, but it explains why Superman sees him so negatively. While the film still has the same flaws, these and many other changes help make the film more complete. Overall, Batman v Superman: Ultimate Edition isn’t perfect, but it’s the definitive way to watch the film.

     

    Buy Batman v Superman: Ultimate Edition from Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Lz17rP.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Batman v Superman: Ultimate Edition (2016)

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  • Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

    Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

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    Despite receiving mixed reviews, Man of Steel was a massive hit, grossing over $668 million on a $225 million budget. Following its release, Warner Bros announced that writer David Goyer and director Zack Snyder would reunite for a sequel. However, due to prior commitments, Goyer left the project and writer Chris Terrio was brought in for re-writes. Alongside the returning cast, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and Jesse Eisenberg would play Batman, Wonder Woman, and Lex Luthor respectively. This casting drew criticism from many fans, many of them even protesting similar to Michael Keaton’s casting in Batman. Though originally slated for a 2015 release then delayed initially to May 2016, it finally released in March 2016. Coincidentally, May 2016 would see the release of Captain America: Civil War, which Warner Bros. wanted to avoid competing with. Finally, on March 25, 2016, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was released.

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    Synopsis

    During the climax of Man of Steel, Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) witnesses the destruction of Metropolis firsthand. Operating in Gotham City as the vigilante Batman, Wayne sees Superman as a threat and tries to expose him. Meanwhile, eccentric entrepreneur Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) asks Senator June Finch (Holly Hunter) permission to investigate the wrecked Kryptonian ship. He explains that he wants to extract kryptonite to use as a deterrent against Superman, but Finch denies him. Wayne is trailing Luthor as he also seeks the kryptonite to use against Superman, and he manages to steal it. Following a Congressional hearing gone wrong, Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) goes into exile, fearing he might be dangerous. Then, Luthor kidnaps Clark’s mother Martha (Diane Lane) to draw him out to confront Batman in a one-on-one fight. However, the two realize there’s something else going on and decide to team up, but they’ll need help.

     

    Review

    Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a bloated mess marred by a convoluted plot and overuse of CGI. While much of the film doesn’t work, there are a few positives here, such as some of the performances. Though the characterization is off, Ben Affleck makes for a solid Batman/Bruce Wayne, and Jeremy Irons’ Alfred complements him. Gal Gadot, despite having limited screentime, is phenomenal as Wonder Woman, nailing the look and having some charisma. While his material mostly consists of moping about, Henry Cavill still shines as Superman, and he’s clearly trying. The fight between Batman and Superman, though brief, is fun to watch, inspired by Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Once Wonder Woman enters the fray, the action-packed climax improves, even if it becomes CG caricatures smacking into one another. Unfortunately, you have to sit through plenty of weak material just to get there.

    The rest of the acting is decent but forgettable, though Jesse Eisenberg is the worst offender in terms of acting. While Michael Shannon was over-the-top as Zod, he was at least intimidating and came across as a genuine threat. Eisenberg, on the other hand, comes across as more annoying than intimidating, almost channeling Jim Carrey’s Riddler from Batman Forever. On top of that, several subplots go nowhere or are ignored, creating numerous plotholes and making the story more complicated. For instance, there’s a subplot revolving around a man who lost his legs during Superman’s fight with Zod. Just as soon as he appears, he gets blown up during the Congressional hearing, only there to advance the plot. This, combined with the dreadful pacing and overall tone of the film, make for a pretty miserable experience. Overall, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is a depressing slog to get through.

     

    Buy Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oJKBDQ.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

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  • Man of Steel (2013)

    Man of Steel (2013)

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    Created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938, Superman is one of the most iconic superheroes of all time. Debuting in Action Comics #1, Superman proved so popular, he was adapted into radio shows, animated shorts, and film serials. The first feature-length film adaptation of the character was Superman and the Mole Men in 1951 starring George Reeves. In 1978, Warner Bros produced the first big-budget superhero film, Superman: The Movie, starring Christopher Reeve in the title role. Three sequels followed, but the last two were such financial disappointments that the series was put on hold. While a reboot was being produced in the mid-90s, plans fell through until Superman Returns in 2006 starring Brandon Routh. Unfortunately, the film turned out to be a financial disappointment, so Warner Bros decided to completely reboot the franchise. So, in 2013, Man of Steel was released with Henry Cavill playing Superman.

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    Synopsis

    The planet of Krypton is about to explode, though Jor-El (Russell Crowe) is the only one who recognizes this. So, he and his wife Lara-El (Ayelet Zurer) put their infant son Kal-El in an escape pod bound for Earth. Kal-El grows up to be Clark Kent (Henry Cavill), being raised by Jonathan (Kevin Costner) and Martha Kent (Diane Lane). Lois Lane (Amy Adams), a reporter for the Daily Planet, gets assigned to investigate an alien spacecraft in the arctic. Clark goes to find what turns out to be a Kryptonian ship, where he learns of his true nature. Meanwhile, General Zod (Michael Shannon) and his forces have escaped imprisonment and are searching for Krypton’s genetic codex. Turns out Clark was given the codex before being launched into space, so Zod sets his sights on Earth. Now knowing his true power, Clark must defeat Zod and save Earth from total annihilation.

     

    Review

    The best way I can describe Man of Steel is that it has good ideas but poor execution. There are some interesting concepts not seen in a Superman movie before, but much of it isn’t handled well. While most Superman origins offer a brief glimpse at Krypton, this one devotes the first 20 minutes to Krypton. This certainly offers a nice change of pace since it’s a side of Superman’s origin we haven’t seen before. The rest of his upbringing is told in flashbacks, which bring up some questionable moments that don’t make logical sense. Essentially, they bring up how Clark must hide his powers for fear of being exposed, but at other people’s expense. Also, during the big action-packed climax, Superman ends up doing as much if not more damage than the villains. Granted, this is his first outing as Superman, but Metropolis ends up destroyed by the end.

    Performance-wise, everyone does a decent job, even if much of the material is a bit shaky, to say the least. Henry Cavill makes for a solid Superman, not only with his looks but also his charisma and emotional range. Michael Shannon, though not quite as good as Terrence Stamp, is wonderfully over-the-top as Zod while still being ruthless. Amy Adams is alright as Lois Lane, but she isn’t given much to do and lacks Margot Kidder’s spunkiness. Russell Crowe comes off a bit stiff and wooden, though this adds some dry humor to a few scenes. I’d say the film’s biggest problem is that it’s very dreary and joyless, not helped by the desaturated colors. Of course, not every superhero movie has to be light and fun, but Snyder’s direction probably wasn’t the best choice. Overall, Man of Steel isn’t terrible, but it’s a weak start to DC’s cinematic universe.

     

    Buy Man of Steel from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3779dAf.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Man of Steel (2013)

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  • Tenet (2020)

    Tenet (2020)

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    Christopher Nolan is certainly one of the biggest filmmakers in cinema today, skirting the line between experimental and mainstream. Nolan first arrived on the scene with 1998’s Following, but it was his 2000 film Memento that got him attention. The success of Memento led to him directing 2002’s Insomnia through Steven Soderbergh, a remake of the 1997 Norwegian film. Insomnia made over $100 million against a $46 million budget, leading to him getting to reboot the Batman film franchise. His Dark Knight Trilogy (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises) further established Nolan as a household name. In between his Batman films, Nolan also made The Prestige, Inception, and Interstellar, each earning critical and financial success. Nolan followed these up with the WWII epic Dunkirk, which earned Nolan his first Best Director Oscar nomination. After numerous delays due to COVID-19, 2020 finally sees the release of Nolan’s Tenet.

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    Synopsis

    A CIA agent known only as “The Protagonist” (John David Washington) is recruited by the secret organization, Tenet. He’s introduced to the concept of “inversion”, essentially objects have reversed entropy so that they can move backward in time. With the aid of British intelligent agent Neil (Robert Pattinson), The Protagonist learns who’s controlling the technology behind inversion. Russian arms dealer Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh) has been in contact with an unknown agency who’s been supplying the technology. The Protagonist tries to get closer to Sator by developing a kinship with his estranged wife Kat (Elizabeth Debicki). He learns that her relationship with Andrei is an abusive one to the point where she can’t see her son. Along the way, time continues being distorted as The Protagonist learns more about what Sator’s ultimate plan is. Will our protagonist succeed in stopping Sator, or will Sator manage to start World War III?

     

    Review

    Given that the film deals with time manipulation, Tenet is a hard film to talk about in terms of summarizing. The film never really explains much of what’s happening, which is both a good and a bad thing. While it’s good that the film doesn’t spoonfeed everything to you, there isn’t enough information given to go off of. Christopher Nolan is usually known for his unconventional storytelling, but here, it’s hard to follow the various plot elements. This extends to the characters, who are given little to no characterization aside from Kat and Andrei Sator. You learn so much about their relationship and how controlling Andrei is that you gravitate more towards Kat. It helps that both Debicki and Branagh give fantastic performances, the same goes for both Washington and Pattinson. You can tell the actors are giving it their all, even if there isn’t much to their characters.

    On a more positive note, Nolan once again shows just how masterful of a director he is here. The action sequences are well-staged and well-edited, and the concept of inversion offers plenty of opportunities for these sequences. Given how the film plays with time, it’s interesting to see how scenes are played out from two different perspectives. Admittedly, the action doesn’t really pick up until the second half, and at two and a half hours, it’s taxing. This is a film that would probably benefit from multiple viewings, which is something I know most audiences aren’t into. That said, I’m glad this is the first big film to get released to theaters given the 2020 pandemic. Even if the plot is convoluted and much is left in the dark, it’s still an impressive feat of filmmaking. Overall, Tenet is prototypical Christopher Nolan, so take that for what it’s worth.

     

    Buy Tenet from Amazon: https://amzn.to/49hBwN3.

    Disclosure: The above link is an affiliate link, which means that, at no additional cost, I will earn a commission if you click through the link and make a purchase.

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    Where to watch Tenet (2020)

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  • VFW (2019)

    VFW (2019)

    [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.4.8″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.8″ hover_enabled=”0″]In Hollywood, while there are actors who are considered superstars, there are also those who make a living supporting them. Oftentimes called ‘character actors’, many of these actors can end up being more memorable than the leads. Some of the most prominent character actors include Lin Shaye, Keith David, Kurt Fuller, Jared Harris, and Clancy Brown. However, there are times where a character actor can transition into being a superstar, like Terry Crews and Octavia Spencer. There’ve even been movies whose primary cast is character actors, including The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension. Enter Joe Begos, a relatively new director who made his feature film debut with 2013’s Almost Human. After making 2015’s The Mind’s Eye, Begos gained a lot more attention for his 2019 film Bliss. That same year, Begos directed what has become his most critically acclaimed film to date, VFW.
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    Synopsis

    Vietnam veteran Fred (Stephen Lang) runs a VFW post, meeting up with friends Walter (William Sadler) and Abe (Fred Williamson). One night, Walter, Abe, Lou (Martin Kove), Doug (David Patrick Kelly), and Thomas (George Wendt) come to celebrate Fred’s birthday. Unfortunately, things go south when a young woman named Lizard (Sierra McCormick) storms in with gang members after her. The veterans make fast work of them, but demand to know what’s going on and why the gang’s after her. Turns out she stole drugs from local crime boss Boz (Travis Hammer) after he killed her sister Lucy (Linnea Wilson). Even worse, one of the punks the veterans killed was Boz’s brother Tank (Josh Ethier), so he also wants revenge. Unfortunately, Thomas gets killed and Doug is critically wounded, so the others must fight to stay alive throughout the night. Will the vets survive, or will the gang kill them all?

     

    Review

    Whereas Super 8 felt like J.J. Abrams’ tribute to Steven Spielberg, VFW feels like Joe Begos’ tribute to John Carpenter. The film takes its inspiration from Assault on Precinct 13 with some elements from Escape from New York thrown in. Stylistically, there are some Argento and Fulci influences with the vivid colors and use of shadows and darkness. This results in a hyper-stylized look that fits along with the unbridled insanity and over-the-top violence on display. You’ll see heads exploding, limbs being cut off, faces getting stomped, and blood splattered everywhere bordering on being gratuitous. Thankfully, for all the violence and action thrown in, there are plenty of moments for exposition and character development. The cast is fantastic, with Lang and McCormick, in particular, being the major highlights and the heart of the story. Hammer makes for a solid villain, and Dora Madison is good as his accomplice.

    The rest of the main cast alongside Lang is comprised of some of Hollywood’s greatest veteran character actors. Even though some don’t have much screen time, each of them is given a moment to shine they excel in. Williamson and Kove are still major powerhouses as always, and Sadler also has some fun moments where he’s unhinged. Also, Tom Williamson plays a young Army veteran who more than holds his own against these Hollywood veterans. There are tons of practical effects work for the blood and gore, which further adds to the film’s visceral quality. Honestly, it’s a much better tribute to 80s action than The Expendables films, which use tons of CGI blood. Much like those films, this goes to show that no matter how old they are, actors can still be awesome. Overall, VFW is an enjoyably brutal horror-action fan sure to please genre aficionados.

     

    Buy VFW from DiabolikDVD: https://bit.ly/3gLnUuS

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  • The Gentlemen (2019)

    The Gentlemen (2019)

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    Born in 1968, British filmmaker Guy Ritchie first arrived on the scene with the 1995 short film The Hard Case. Shortly after, he met up-and-coming producer Matthew Vaughn, who would produce his debut feature, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Released in 1998, the film went on to be a critical and commercial hit, establishing Ritchie as a filmmaker. His follow-up feature, 2000’s Snatch, was another hit, though his next film, 2003’s Swept Away, was a massive flop. After a brief hiatus, Ritchie returned with 2005’s Revolver and 2008’s RocknRolla before hitting it big with 2009’s Sherlock Holmes. Following its 2011 sequel, Ritchie focused more on studio films, including 2015’s Man From U.N.C.L.E. and 2017’s King Arthur. Both were critical and commercial disappointments, and while 2019’s Aladdin made tons of money, it didn’t fare well critically. In 2020, Ritchie finally returns to his roots with The Gentlemen.

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    Synopsis

    Marijuana kingpin Mickey Pearson (Matthew McConaughey) has decided to retire and settle with his wife Rosalind (Michelle Dockery). He plans on selling his business to billionaire Matthew Berger (Jeremy Strong) for the sum of $400 million. However, Asian gangster Dry Eye (Henry Golding) learns about this and tries to persuade Mickey into selling him the business. Mickey turns him down, which leads to one of his drug farms getting raided and a small gang war erupts. This is intercut with sleazy private investigator Fletcher (Hugh Grant) telling the story to Mickey’s right-hand man Raymond (Charlie Hunnam). Along with telling the story, Fletcher is also blackmailing Raymond for the information he’s gathered on Mickey and his dealings. Many twists and turns happen along the way, people are betrayed, and the characters’ real motivations are exposed. Who will come out on top, and who will meet a rather unfortunate death?

     

    Review

    After years of making studio pictures ranging from good to mediocre, The Gentlemen is Ritchie’s successful return to his roots. First off, the cast assembled is phenomenal, each one having their moments to shine and sharply witty dialogue. McConaughey is as cool and charismatic as ever, Dockery is stunning and fierce, and Grant is delightfully sleazy. Hunnam gives probably his best performance here, Golding is wildly over-the-top, and Colin Farrell also gives a solid performance. As per usual with Ritchie’s films, the dialogue is well-written and sharp, and there are some great back-and-forths between characters. Also, the direction is slick and fast-paced, and the editing helps keep that frenetic pace going without overloading you. While a lot is going on plotwise that can be tough to follow, it’ll start to click after a while. In other words, it’s Guy Ritchie being at his most Guy Ritchie.

    While it’s somewhat cliche to say “they don’t make movies like this anymore”, it is the case with The Gentlemen. This movie is rough, tough, gritty, cool, has tons of profanity and offensive language, and doesn’t care about mass appeal. As much as I do praise this film, I will admit it has its shortcomings, namely with its plot. Given the many twists and turns that happen, it can come across as convoluted and feel repetitive after a while. There’s so much information being thrown at you so fast that you need to pay attention and stick with it. It’s better to give it a second watch to pick up on details you may have missed and appreciate more. Most modern audiences probably won’t give it a second watch since they prefer one-and-done movies, but that’s their loss. Overall, The Gentlemen is a welcome return to Guy Ritchie’s directorial roots.

     

    Buy The Gentlemen from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3frTZYP

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  • The Invisible Man (2020)

    The Invisible Man (2020)

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    In 1897, famed science-fiction author H.G. Wells wrote the novel, The Invisible Man, about a scientist who turns himself invisible. Years later, Universal Studios saw great success with their series of monster movies in the 1930s, including Dracula and Frankenstein. As part of this series, the book was adapted in 1933 directed by James Whale and starring Claude Rains. Following its success, many sequels were made during the 1940s, featuring actors like Vincent Price and John Barrymore among others. The character proved so popular that various other film and TV adaptations have been made over the years. Fast-forward to 2017’s The Mummy, which was to be the start of Universal’s Dark Universe, a cinematic universe about monsters. However, the series was built on hold following its critical and financial failure, and focus was shifted to individual films. The first of these is Leigh Whannell’s 2020 film, The Invisible Man.

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    Synopsis

    Cecilia Kass (Elisabeth Moss) has just escaped from an abusive relationship from her ex-boyfriend, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). Now living with her childhood friend James Lanier (Aldis Hodge) and his daughter Sydney (Storm Reid), Cecilia seems safe. However, she’s still paranoid given what she was put through, but things change when it’s reported that Adrian killed himself. Strange things start happening, including Cecilia being drugged, her sister leaving over email, and her being blamed for hitting Sydney. Cecilia tries convincing people that Adrian faked his death and has become invisible, but no one believers her. She starts investigating his house for proof that he’s found a way to make himself invisible and she’s not crazy. Soon enough, Adrian turns up and reveals he’s been using his invisibility to ruin her life after she left him. Will Adrian be stopped, and what will become of Cecilia?

     

    Review

    The Invisible Man is proof that you don’t need a large budget to make an effectively tense horror film. Leigh Whannell, coming off the underrated Upgrade, once again shows his potential as a filmmaker and a name to watch. While his previous outing was more fast-paced and action-packed, this one is much more of a slow burner. Some people might be put off by the much slower pace, but it’s those quieter moments that make it work. Elisabeth Moss gives an amazing performance, perfectly blending fear with raw intensity, and helps keep the film grounded. You instantly sympathize with her and want to see her fend off Adrian despite what’s happening to her. The supporting cast, including Hodge, Reid, Jackson-Cohen, Harriet Dyer, and Michael Dorman have their moments and perfectly complement Moss’s performance. It’s also a clever modernization of the story originally created by H.G. Wells.

    What’s interesting about this version of The Invisible Man is its themes of manipulation, abuse, and psychological effects. It plays on the fear of someone coming after you long after distancing yourself as far away as possible. In an age where abuse victims are more vocal and wanting justice against their abusers, this film is extremely relevant. Thankfully, this film doesn’t focus solely on its message or themes but rather weaves it into the plot. Admittedly, some plot elements don’t make sense or create plot holes, but those don’t ruin the overall experience. This is a very well-written and intelligent psychological horror film that plays on real-world fears that audiences can identify with. Whether or not this starts a new series of Universal monster movies, it’s still successful as its own self-contained story. Overall, The Invisible Man is a fantastic modernization of a classic tale.

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  • Uncut Gems (2019)

    Uncut Gems (2019)

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    The Safdie brothers, Joshua and Benjamin, are New York-based filmmakers who’ve had quite a career in the past decade. Their first film, 2007’s The Pleasure of Getting Robbed, screened at the Cannes Film Festival but received mostly negative reviews. For their second outing, 2009’s Daddy Longlegs, the film received better reviews and won the John Cassavetes Award in 2011. Following this, they were asked by producer Adam Shopkorn to help work on the documentary Lenny Cooke released in 2013. Around 2009, the brothers came up with a concept about a jewel dealer and approached Adam Sandler to star. Unfortunately, Sandler turned them down, so they went off to make 2014’s Heaven Knows What and 2017’s Good Time. Thanks to the attention they got for the past two films, Sandler agreed to star, and the rest was history. After ten years of development, the Safdie’s Uncut Gems was released in 2019.

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    Synopsis

    In 2010, a group of Ethiopian Jewish miners uncovers a rare black opal, which gets purchased two years later. The buyer, jeweler Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), plans on selling the opal at an auction to settle some debts. In addition to owing money from his brother-in-law Arno (Eric Bogosian), he’s divorcing his ex-wife Dinah (Idina Menzel). The day Howard receives the opal, NBA superstar Kevin Garnett (himself) visits his jewelry store, taking an interest in it. Howard reluctantly gives Garnett the opal in exchange for his championship ring, which he pawns off to bet on Garnett. While Howard wins the best, he’s accosted and assaulted by Arno and his goons over the money he owes. Howard has to get the opal back from Garnett while dealing with his ex-wife and girlfriend Julia (Julia Fox). Will he able to pay off the loan sharks, or will his gambling addiction ruin him?

     

    Review

    Just to get this out of the way, I have never been a fan of Adam Sandler and his comedies. With a few exceptions, I’ve found him to be loud, annoying, and abrasive in every single one of his films. However, he has shown that he has the potential to deliver good performances, including Punch Drunk Love and Funny People. With Uncut Gems, he delivers easily his best performance in years, convincingly making him a likable and charismatic sleazeball. By all accounts, this character’s a loser, and the film acknowledges this, but Sandler’s so good, you root for him. Also, the rest of the cast, including Menzel, Fox, Bogosian, and surprisingly even Garnett all deliver fantastic performances. There are also appearances by Lakeith Stanfield, Judd Hirsch, Pom Klementieff, and even The Weekend, all having their moments. Uncut Gems has one of the best casts of the last few years.

    Going into this, I was unfamiliar with the Safdie brothers’ work, but after seeing this, I’m interested in seeing more. Their directing style is very fast-paced and highly energized, but it never feels like it’s going by too fast. The editing helps keep the pace going, even in the slower scenes, and the cinematography adds to the kinetic energy. Admittedly, this style of filmmaking might make it hard for some people to watch, which is perfectly understandable. Despite this, the story and performances keep the film engaging, even if it can be hard to watch. Writing-wise, the dialogue naturally bounces off the actors and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. This is a well-acted and well-made story of greed and addiction, as well as the consequences that come from it. Overall, Uncut Gems is a great film with a great performance from Adam Sandler.

     

    Buy Uncut Gems on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2vJIWbz

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  • Onward (2020)

    Onward (2020)

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    After graduating from college in 1998, Dan Scanlon quickly rose through the ranks of Disney animation, eventually working for Pixar. He started off working on the direct-to-video sequels to Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid, 101 Dalmatians, and Tarzan amongst others. After being hired by Pixar in 2001, he was a story artist for Cars and Toy Story 3. Later on, he moved up to being part of the senior creative team on Brave and Inside Out. Then in 2013, he directed his first feature-length animated film, Monsters University, a prequel to 2001’s Monsters Inc. The film went on to be a massive commercial hit, though critical reception was mixed, to say the least. Following its success, Scanlon decided his next project would be more personal, inspired by losing his father as a child. That project soon culminated in his second directing effort, the 2020 animated fantasy film Onward.

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    Synopsis

    Once upon a time, the land was inhabited by mythical creatures who could wield magic and go on exciting adventures. However, as new technological advancements were being made, magic started to fade and all the mythical creatures lived normal lives. We soon meet the Lightfoots, including Ian (Tom Holland), his older brother Barley (Chris Pratt), and mother Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). For Ian’s 16th birthday, their mother gives him a present left behind by their late father: a staff and gem. Turns out he left behind instructions for a spell that would allow him to see them for one day. Unfortunately, the spell goes wrong, and Ian only brings back their dad’s legs, in the process destroying the gem. So, Barley decides to take Ian on a quest to find another gem to hopefully restore their dad before sunrise. It’s an adventure involving pixies, centaurs, and The Manticore (Octavia Spencer).

     

    Review

    Since childhood, I’ve been a huge fan of Pixar, and they’ve delivered high-quality content, for the most part. For every lackluster A Bug’s Life, Cars, and Monsters University, we get animated classics like The Incredibles, Wall-E, and Up. Compared to their other works, Onward lies somewhere in the middle: not one of their best nor worst either. Given that it’s Pixar, the animation is spectacular as always, from the well-designed characters to the imaginative environments. Speaking of characters, the voice work is very well-done, especially from Holland and Pratt, who have great chemistry together. Julia Louie-Dreyfus is fun as the nervous but cool mom, and Octavia Spencer steals the show as The Manticore. Mel Rodriguez is also fun as Officer Colt Bronco, a centaur cop who tries to be a good stepdad. Plus, the story moves at a solid pace and never feels like it’s dragging along.

    While this film marginally better than Scanlon’s last film, Onward is not without its problems, though it’s still enjoyable. Firstly, they talk a lot about how great the father was when he was alive, but we’re never shown it. Also, the fact that the father is mostly just legs makes it hard to feel an emotional connection. Granted, Onward seems more focused on the relationship between the two brothers than necessarily on seeing their dad. Also, most of the film goes through the typical buddy movie tropes with not much of anything exciting happening. Luckily, the film picks up quite a bit in the third act, and you’re still rooting for the brothers. While this is far from being one of Pixar’s best, it’s still a worthwhile watch for kids and adults alike. Overall, Onward is an enjoyable buddy movie about two brothers coming together on an epic quest.

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