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Category: New Releases

  • Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

    Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

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    While not a household name, writer Lee Israel had a very interesting life, to say the least. She started as a freelance writer for The New York Times and Soap Opera Digest in the 1960s. Her first taste of success came in the 70s and 80s when she became famous for writing biographies. She wrote biographies on people like Tallulah Bankhead and Dorothy Kilgallen, the latter of which becoming a bestseller. Unfortunately, as time went along, her career started to decline and she was struggling to make ends meet. However, after selling a stolen letter from Fanny Brice, she decided to forge and sell letters from prominent writers. She made enough to pay the bills, but she was eventually caught by the FBI. She wrote a memoir about her criminal activities before passing away in 2014. In 2018, the memoir was adapted into the biopic Can You Ever Forgive Me?

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    After having a successful career writing biographies, writer Lee Israel (Melissa McCarthy) has fallen on hard times. No one’s interested in her work anymore, and she’s more or less gone broke, barely able to make ends meet. She soon decides to start writing a biography on Fanny Brice when she stumbles across one of her letters. Lee steals the letter and sells it, but not before adding content to the letter to make it more interesting. This begins her cycle of forging letters, posing as famous literary figures, and selling them for large sums of money. Along with her gay friend Jack Hock (Richard E. Grant), they go to various dealers to sell her forged letters. While things promising at first, it soon starts crashing down when the FBI starts investigating her for forgery and impersonation. As the threat of the FBI starts looming, everything in Lee’s life starts crumbling.

    I was pretty excited to see this film despite the fact that I had only seen one trailer for it. Once I saw the amazing critical reception it was getting, it made me curious and definitely interested in seeing it. While I’m not necessarily a fan of Melissa McCarthy, I’ve never disliked her either, having not seen her in much. She’s mostly known for being in comedies, so it was pretty remarkable to see her giving a dramatic performance. That said, she does inject some dry humor in her performance, and it really works for her character. She and Richard E. Grant are fantastic together, and it’s fun to see them play off each other. Another highlight here is Jane Curtin as Lee’s agent Marjorie, who clearly is sad to see how far she’s fallen. For McCarthy, this is definitely a career-defining performance.

    The film was directed by Marielle Heller, who also directed 2015’s The Diary of a Teenage Girl. While I haven’t seen that movie, I am curious to see it if it’s as good as this film was. In many ways, I related to this movie in its depiction of someone who wants to do what they love. It’s easy to root for her since she’s fallen on hard times and is struggling to get by. Even though she is committing fraud and clearly lying to people, Lee is still a character you can get behind. I’m not sure how historically accurate this is, but regardless, this is still a fantastic movie. The actors are superb, it’s well-filmed, the writing is great, and it feels almost uplifting at points. Given its title, Can You Ever Forgive Me? is a film that doesn’t need forgiveness because it’s so good.

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  • Halloween (2018)

    Halloween (2018)

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    In 1978, a small film simply called Halloween directed by John Carpenter starring a then-unknown Jamie Lee Curtis was released. While not the first slasher film, this was the one that became the trendsetter as it became a massive success. Following its success, the film became a full-on franchise even after Carpenter and Curtis left for other projects. Over the years, the franchise went through its ups and downs, but like many others, things started going downhill. After many disappointing sequels, Rob Zombie remade the original film in 2007 to commercial success despite mixed reviews. He followed that up with the 2009 sequel which made money but was universally panned by critics and fans alike. While there were plans for a third film, nothing came of it and the franchise was put to rest. Cut to 2018, 40 years after the original, and Halloween has returned for a new audience.

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    Review

    40 years after his initial reign of terror on Halloween night, Michael Myers is still held captive at Smith’s Grove. The lone survivor, Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) has since become a paranoid recluse isolated from the outside world. Ever since her friends were killed, she has been training and preparing herself for his return, fearing for the worst. Unfortunately, because of this, she’s had several failed marriages, and her now adult daughter Karen (Judy Greer) doesn’t acknowledge her. One night, as he’s being transferred to another facility via bus, Michael kills the driver and escapes. After retrieving his familiar suit and mask, Michael is now free to roam the streets of Haddonfield once more. Laurie’s granddaughter Allyson (Andi Matichak) gets caught in the middle as Michael continues his rampage. Now, she, her mother, and Laurie must stick together to survive the night and hopefully take down Michael for good.

     

    Synopsis

    Given the legacy of this franchise and especially of the original film, there’s a lot of hype going into this. For years, fans have gotten nothing but lousy sequels and even worse remakes, so things can only go uphill now. And, for the most part, this film definitely succeeds at recapturing what made the original film work in the first place. For one, Jamie Lee Curtis is easily the highlight of this film, showing what her character has gone through. She’s effectively channeling Linda Hamilton from Terminator 2: Judgement Day, going from a frightened victim to a strong-willed character. At the same time, you see how her PTSD and paranoia has affected her and made her so distant. In addition, David Gordon Green’s direction is on-point, clearly having studied Carpenter’s style while adding his own voice to it. There’s some genuine suspense and tension built up throughout the movie.

    While there are some characters that are somewhat annoying, they don’t overstay their welcome or are quickly disposed of. Newcomer Andi Matichak does a good job, and Judy Greer is sympathetic and really shines in the third act. The score, once again composed by John Carpenter, is just as effective as it was years ago. This movie is also filled with homages not just to the original, but also to other films in the franchise. This definitely feels like a film that was made by Halloween fans for Halloween fans. Whereas the Rob Zombie movies tried to make Michael more human, this one makes him more a force of nature. This film reminds us what made The Shape so scary to begin with, just killing without reason or remorse. Overall, the newest Halloween, while not quite as good as the original, is still the best we’ve seen in years.

     

    Buy Halloween (2018) from Amazon: https://amzn.to/43wCJwe.

    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 Halloween (2018)

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  • A Star Is Born (2018)

    A Star Is Born (2018)

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    In 1937, William A. Wellman’s A Star Is Born was released, starring Janet Gaynor and Frederic March. The film was nominated for several Academy Awards including Best Picture, winning for Best Writing (Original Story). In 1954, the film was remade by director George Cukor with Judy Garland and James Mason in the lead roles. Despite production issues, the film was nominated for several Oscars, including Best Actress for Garland and Best Actor for Mason. In 1976, yet another remake was made, this time directed by Frank Pierson and starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson. While not as critically acclaimed as the two previous versions, the film was still a hit with audiences. It became the 3rd highest grossing film of the year and won the Oscar for Best Original Song. Flash forward to 2018, 42 years later, where Bradley Cooper makes his directorial debut with the latest version.

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    Bradley Cooper plays aging country singer Jackson Maine, who’s struggling with drug and alcohol abuse despite his success. One night after a concert, Jackson inadvertently walks into a drag bar, where he meets Ally (Lady Gaga). Jackson is amazed at her talent and decides to take her under his wing to help bolster her career. Though reluctant at first, Ally goes along with him at the suggestion of her father (Andrew Dice Clay). After a concert where Jackson invites Ally to sing along with him, the two start touring and start a relationship. But while things seem to be looking up, Jackson continues struggling with his addictions, waining popularity, and family issues. Ally soon finds herself getting picked up by an agent (Rafi Gavron), who makes her a pop sensation. But even through all the ups and downs, Jackson and Ally try their best to maintain their relationship.

    Going into this movie, I had little to no reference for this movie, having not seen the other versions. That being said, this movie was a genuinely beautiful and simultaneously tragic story of love, addiction, fame, and personal struggles. For starters, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are absolutely fantastic here, and they have phenomenal chemistry with each other. You really feel that these people truly love each other and want to stay together through thick and thin. Cooper, who also directed the film, greatly portrays how addition can ruin your life without it feeling preachy. Lady Gaga, despite her real world persona, is very likable and you get excited when she starts succeeding. Plus, they do a great job with the music, as all the songs are well performed and memorable. Some other stand-outs include Sam Elliot as Jackson’s brother, Andrew Dice Clay as Ally’s father, and even Dave Chapelle.

    Honestly, that’s all I can really say about it without spoiling the movie, suffice it to say it gets emotional. While I generally don’t cry in movies, this one definitely got me in the feels. Granted, if you’re following along with the movie, you can kind of figure out how it will end. Even knowing that, you still hope and pray that things will get better, which is a testament to its quality. This is a tremendous film, especially from a first-time director, and I look forward to seeing Cooper direct more movies. I can already see this movie getting several Oscar nominations, especially for Best Actor, Best Actress, and possibly Best Picture. Overall, A Star Is Born is a beautiful, sweet, and tragic film that’ll stick with you for years to come.

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  • A Simple Favor (2018)

    A Simple Favor (2018)

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    Paul Feig is a filmmaker that has certainly had an interesting career, both behind and in front of the camera. Feig first got his start in small roles in TV and movies, most notably the cult comedy Heavyweights. However, Feig truly took off with the cult TV series Freaks and Geeks, which has since found critical praise. He made his directorial debut with 2003’s I Am David, followed by 2006’s Unaccompanied Minors, neither of which were hits. But then, he directed 2011’s Bridesmaids, which was not only financially successful, but it even received two Oscar nominations. This led to him collaborating with Melissa McCarthy with 2013’s The Heat, 2015’s Spy, and the controversial 2016 Ghostbusters remake. After that film’s critical and financial failure, Feig returns with a somewhat smaller film. That film, based on the novel of the same name, is the newly released thriller, A Simple Favor.

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    Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is a stay-at-home mom who runs her own vlog series where she shares recipes and advice. Things are relatively normal for her until she meets Emily Nelson (Blake Lively), who’s almost the polar opposite of Stephanie. The two become best friends, sharing some of their deepest secrets and talking about their frustrations. as they’re sipping martinis. One day, Stephanie gets a call from Emily, where she’s asked to watch Emily’s son while she’s gone on business. Days pass without a word from Emily, and both her husband Sean Townsend (Henry Golding) and Stephanie fear the worst. Stephanie starts sharing the details about Emily’s disappearance on her vlog, which unexpectedly gets her more attention and support. Eventually, Stephanie starts learning that all is not as it seems, prompting her to investigate further. What follows are several twists and turns as Stephanie goes further down the rabbit hole.

    Going into this, I had somewhat mixed expectations given that I really didn’t like the Ghostbusters remake. However, once I saw the critical buzz it was getting, I was more than a little intrigued. Having seen it, I can really see why this film is getting so much acclaim, as it’s a well-crafted thriller. From the opening credits, the movie has the stylings of a 50s/60s thriller with the music and color scheme. The style definitely carries throughout, evoking Hitchcock thrillers like North by Northwest and Rear Window, mixing suspense with comedy. While nowhere near as good as those, this film does balance both genres well without it feeling like tonal whiplash. What also helps the film is the strength of its cast, especially leads Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. They work off each other really well and do a great job in their roles.

    I will say that while I was engaged throughout and able to follow along, some might be a bit lost. This is a film that rewards its viewers for paying attention to details and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Admittedly, some of the plot twists are pretty easy to see coming, especially if you’re familiar with the tropes. Also, the plot can be somewhat convoluted and there are some elements that don’t seem to go together. Even still, this is a fun and suspenseful ride that will leave you guessing throughout and leave you on edge. This certainly has made me think differently of Paul Feig, and I’m curious to see what comes next. With great performances, a stylish look, and a captivating story, A Simple Favor is both suspenseful and fun to watch.

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  • Venom (2018)

    Venom (2018)

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    In 1982, Marvel Comics asked fans to submit ideas for future stories, one such fan being Randy Schueller. His idea was for Spider-Man to have a new, more advanced all-black stealth suit. Schueller later received a letter from Marvel Editor-In-Chief Jim Shooter saying they liked the idea and paid $220 for it. His vision led to a plot point in Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars #8, where Spider-Man obtains his black suit. It was revealed in The Amazing Spider-Man #252 to be a symbiote, an alien parasite that feeds off its host. Then, in The Amazing Spider-Man #300, the symbiote bonded to a new host, Eddie Brock, transforming him into Venom. The character became so popular that he’s now one of Marvel’s most iconic villains/anti-heroes still to this day. He’s appeared in TV, movies, and video games, and in 2018, we have his new solo film, Venom.

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    Synopsis

    After one of their space probes crash lands on Earth, a bioengineering corporation called the Life Foundation investigates. It turns out the probe was carrying four alien symbiotes, one of which escaped in transit. The company recovers the other three and brings them to their headquarters in San Francisco to begin testing. Meanwhile, journalist Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) lives comfortably with his lawyer girlfriend Annie (Michelle Williams), who’s affiliated with the company. Through her, he gets an interview with Life CEO Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed), who’s obsessed with the symbiotes. Things go south when Eddie confronts him with confidential information he stole from Annie, leading to him getting fired. Six months later, Dr. Dora Skirth (Jenny Slate) asks Eddie to investigate what Drake has developed. While studying, Eddie gets infected with a symbiote known as Venom, and now the company is after him.

     

    Review

    Before getting into my issues with the film (and there’s plenty), I’ll first get into what I liked about it. What worked for me was Tom Hardy’s performance and his relationship to Venom, which helped to carry the film. Hardy gives it his all here, and there’s an interesting dynamic between him and Venom, similar to Jekyll and Hyde. It’s fun seeing the two of them argue and trade insults back and forth, and there’s some great physical comedy. Once Venom does take over, it’s a lot of fun watching him tear through people and wreak havoc throughout. It’s certainly enjoyable as a fun B-movie with some good action and some fun spectacle. Plus, it feels like some excellent ideas here could’ve gone further had the writers ironed out the script. Unfortunately, that’s where my positives end as I go into what doesn’t work.

    While Hardy is doing his best and acting his heart out, the rest of the cast sadly falls flat. Riz Ahmed is largely unremarkable as the stereotypical corporate villain, and Michelle Williams doesn’t have any compelling character traits. Also, throughout the movie, it seemed like they wanted to be R-rated, but the studio had them cut back. It’s especially noticeable in scenes where Venom bites someone’s head off, only to cut away before getting gruesome quickly. That can primarily be due to roughly 30-40 minutes cut out of the movie, which you can tell. The third act, in particular, is just a mess of CGI blobs, choppy editing, and hard-to-tell action sequences. Hopefully, there will be a director’s cut released that will hopefully fix many of the problems. For now, though, Venom is a mess that, while enjoyable, is vastly more disappointing than terrible.

    Final note: a much better version of this film was Upgrade released earlier this year, definitely worth a watch.

     

    Buy Venom from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3oxilr7.

    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 Venom (2018)

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  • Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

    Crazy Rich Asians (2018)

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    In 2013, Singaporean-American novelist Kevin Kwan wrote a satirical novel based on his childhood living in a wealthy family. He was inspired to write this novel while caring for his father who sadly passed away in 2010 from cancer. While caring for him, the two would reminisce about life in Singapore and Kwan would write the stories down. Kwan did this as a way to preserve the stories so that they’d be remembered long after his father’s death. This led Kwan to write a novel that satirized the culture surrounding rich Asian families, living in elegance and insanity. When it was finally published, the novel received rave reviews from critics and was a major bestseller. Naturally, as with any novel that becomes a hit, Hollywood decided to film an adaptation of the novel. So, fast forward to 2018, where we’ve been given the romantic comedy-drama, Crazy Rich Asians.

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    Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) is an economics teacher at NYU whose boyfriend Nick Young (Henry Golding) invites her to Singapore. Turns out, Nick’s friend is getting married, and he wants her to join him and meet his family. Little does Rachel know, however, that Nick’s family is actually quite rich, like insanely and ridiculously rich. After meeting Nick’s friend Colin (Chris Pang) and his fiancée Araminta (Sonoya Mizuno), Rachel is soon introduced to his family. Things immediately are not looking good for Rachel, especially with Nick’s mother Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh) clearly disapproving of her. It soon becomes clear to Rachel that Nick’s family doesn’t like her and feel that she’s not good enough. While this is going on, Nick is trying to keep things intact with Rachel despite his mother’s objections. It soon becomes a struggle between the rich and entitled versus the middle-class common folk with some family drama.

    As anybody who knows me will tell you, I am not the biggest fan of romance films. Sure, there’s the stereotype that guys don’t like romantic movies, but sadly, it’s somewhat true if generalizing. More specifically, I’m not a fan of really sappy and melodramatic romance films that follow the same basic formula. However, when I saw how successful this movie was and the rave reviews it received, I was curious. Having now seen it, I can really see why this movie appeals to so many people, myself now included. This is a very charming, funny, touching, and sweet romance film that even someone as cynical as me can enjoy. One major aspect of the film I have to commend is the production design, using vibrant colors and lush visuals. Given how amazing the film looks, it’s remarkable it only cost $30 million, which is small compared to most blockbusters.

    I also have to give credit to the cast, all of whom do a great job here. Constance Wu is very likable and sympathetic as she tries to prove herself to Young’s family. Henry Golding is relatable in how he goes against his family and clearly wants to set his own path. Michelle Yeoh definitely steals the show as the stern mother who, at times, is sympathetic, but also chilling and intimidating. Even Ken Jeong, who more or less has been playing the same character since The Hangover, is surprisingly endearing. Granted, there are some characters that can be somewhat annoying and ridiculously mean-spirited, but it seems like that’s intentional here. Also, while the movie certainly has similar tropes as other romance films, it almost feels like the film’s lampooning them. Overall, even though it’s not my usual forte, Crazy Rich Asians is still a fun, heartwarming, and touching romp.

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  • Lizzie (2018)

    Lizzie (2018)

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    Born on July 19, 1860, Lizzie Borden was a simple girl living in Massachusetts with her father, stepmother, and sister. The family was well off, thanks to Andrew Borden (Lizzie’s father) having success in real estate and manufacturing. However, the relationship between the daughters and Abby Borden (their stepmother) were tenuous at best, believing her intentions were impure. Lizzie and Emma believed that Abby’s family was after the family fortune, so they worked to protect their father’s properties. Then, on August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found murdered, having been mutilated by a hatchet. Lizzie was indicted for the murders in December 1892, and was brought to trial in June the following year. However, without a conclusive testimony from witnesses or substantial evidence, Lizzie was acquitted on June 20, 1893. Over the next century, many adaptations of these events were made, including a 2018 movie simply called Lizzie.

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    Taking place six months before the murders, the film focuses on Lizzie Borden (Chloë Sevigny), a social outcast and recluse. She lives with her father Andrew (Jamey Sheridan), her stepmother Abby (Fiona Shaw), and her sister Emma (Kim Dickens). One day, a young Irish woman named Bridget (Kristen Stewart) comes to the Borden house wanting a housemaid job. As time goes on, we see the relationships in the Borden family start to deteriorate. Lizzie is a recluse who finds solace in her pet pigeons, but is constantly arguing with her father. Eventually, Lizzie and Bridget start becoming close, leading to a relationship that the father objects to. At the same time, Lizzie’s Uncle John (Denis O’Hare) is clearly after her father’s money despite her stepmother’s objections. The abuse Lizzie is subjected to, combined with Bridget being sexually abused by Andrew Borden, ultimately culminates in the murders.

    Of course, there’s more to the plot than what I went over, but I don’t want to spoil everything. At around an hour and 45 minutes, this movie is packed with tons of plot points. That being said, the first 20-30 minutes of the movie can be pretty slow and drag for a while. However, just as the movie has you in a lull, it hits you over the head and gets you hooked. Even knowing the full story and how it ends, it’s still an intriguing story seeing what led to the murders. From my understanding, the movie does follow the historical events fairly accurately, but I’m sure they changed some elements. Some will certainly be upset if this movie isn’t 100% accurate, but regardless, this film is still a good watch. Given the society we live in currently, this movie definitely appeals to the #MeToo movement.

    What really makes this movie work is its stellar cast, especially Chloë Sevigny and Kristen Stewart. Given this was something of a passion project for Sevigny, it shouldn’t come as a surprise her performance is outstanding. At times, she’s sympathetic and afraid, but at other times, she’s very chilling and unfeeling. Stewart also does a good job, playing the more rational one who care for Lizzie, but objects to her actions. Sheridan does a great job at playing a detestable character, and Shaw also delivers as an awful person. Craig William Macneill’s direction is great, effectively capturing the mood and tension one would expect. Bryce Kass’s writing is also spot-on, with some sharp dialogue and great material to flesh the characters out. Overall, Lizzie is a solid character piece of one of history’s most infamous murders and those behind the murders.

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  • The Predator (2018)

    The Predator (2018)

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    In 1987, filmmaker John McTiernan made his first studio film with the action sci-fi classic, Predator. With an all-star cast including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Carl Weathers, and Jesse Ventura and Stan Winston’s effects, it was a hit. Three years later, Predator 2 was released, starring Danny Glover, Gary Busey, and Bill Paxton and directed by Stephen Hopkins. While not a critical or commercial hit, the film has since found a cult following. It wouldn’t be until 2010, 20 years after the last film, when the next installment Predators was released. Produced by Robert Rodriguez and a cast including Adrien Brody, Laurence Fishburne, and Topher Grace, the film sadly underperformed. Cut to 2018, where Shane Black (who starred in the original film) teamed up with former collaborator Fred Dekker. Together, the two have brought us the newest installment in the franchise, The Predator.

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    Rather than a remake or a reboot, this film is a sequel to the earlier films. During a hostage rescue mission, Army Ranger Quinn McKenna (Boyd Holbrook) gets attacked by the Predator. After incapacitating the Predator, McKenna steals some of its armor and mails it to his home for safe keeping. However, McKenna ends up captured by government agent Will Traeger (Sterling K. Brown), who also takes the Predator for research. Traeger recruits biologist Casey Bracket (Olivia Munn) to do further research while McKenna is sent off with several insane ex-soldiers. Things go south when the Predator escapes, so McKenna and the other soldiers take the bus and Bracket with them. McKenna and company make their way to his home and find that his autistic son has the Predator armor. Things are bad enough with the Predator after them, but they also have to contend with a new super Predator.

    Before I get into my issues with this film, I’ll first get into what worked for me. For one, the cast does a decent job, even though there are some dead spots. Boyd Holbrook is good in the lead, despite not having much character development. The actors playing the crazy ex-soldiers are all fun and have their own unique quirks. There’s Keegan-Michael Key as Coyle, who uses humor to deal with his PTSD. Also, there’s Thomas Jane’s Baxley, whose Tourette’s has him blurting out random curses, and has an interesting friendship with Coyle. Trevante Rhodes as Nebraska is probably the most normal one amongst the group, perfectly working alongside Holbrook. Sterling K. Brown is fun as the villainous Traeger and Brian A. Prince plays a good Predator. In addition to the cast, Shane Black’s direction is decent, and his and Fred Dekker’s writing has some good ideas.

    Unfortunately, while there are things here that work, there’s a whole lot that really doesn’t. For one, as mentioned before, some of the cast isn’t very strong, though none are necessarily awful. For one, Olivia Munn has her moments, but is generally fairly weak. Also, Jacob Tremblay, who plays McKenna’s autistic son, is decent, but seems to play it more like Hollywood autism. In addition to the weak cast, much like with Peppermint, there seems to be stuff cut out of the movie. From what I understand, the movie went through several reshoots after test audiences were confused by the third act. You can tell since the third act feels very cobbled together and doesn’t quite go along with what came before. Admittedly, the movie has some good ideas and it feels like the people involved really tried. While not a terrible movie, The Predator is still very disappointing.

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  • Mandy (2018)

    Mandy (2018)

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    As I mentioned in my review of Con Air, Nicolas Cage’s career has been through some ups and downs. Sadly, the past decade or so has been more downs than ups due to some less-than-stellar projects. While he has appeared in some theatrical films, he’s mostly been relegated to direct-to-video flicks found at the local Redbox. Of course, the main reason why he seems to not turn down a role is because of his financial troubles. However, for every Left Behind and Arsenal, there are those hidden gems he manages to find. Films like Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans and Joe are reminders of his talent as an actor. Now enter Italian-Canadian filmmaker Panos Cosmatos, son of George P. Cosmatos, director of Rambo: First Blood Part 2 and Tombstone. After his directorial debut with 2010’s Beyond the Black Rainbow, Panos returns eight years later to bring us Mandy.

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    Set in 1983, Cage plays Red Miller, who lives with his girlfriend Mandy (Andrea Riseborough) in the Shadow Mountains. He works as a lumberjack while she works on her art and reads fantasy books at home. Then one day, she catches the eye of a religious cult, led by the deranged Jeremiah Sand (Linus Roache). Jeremiah is instantly enamored with her, and he conjures up some motorcycle-riding demons to capture her and Red. Jeremiah tries seducing Mandy into the cult, but when she laughs at his lack of manhood, he sets her ablaze. The cult leaves Red for dead and mourning over the ashes of his lost love, rendering him insane. After getting some help from an old friend named Caruthers (Bill Duke), Red sets out to take his revenge. From there, it becomes a wild ride of over-the-top violence, gore and bloodshed, and very psychedelic and almost dreamlike imagery.

    I’ll just come out and say that this is easily my favorite film of 2018 without a doubt. For one, the movie is incredible stylish, has very vivid colors, and creates an almost dreamlike quality to it. It almost feels like watching a cinematic fever dream, like you’re going further into the insanity of Nicolas Cage’s character. Speaking of which, Nicolas Cage completely owns the role and he delivers one of his best performances in years. Linus Roache is also fun to watch as the deranged religious cult leader whose almost as over-the-top as Cage. Plus, even though he only has one scene which is disappointing, it’s cool to see Bill Duke make an appearance. The first half, while slow at times, is still captivating to watch thanks to the dreamlike atmosphere and stylized imagery. The slower pace helps to effectively build up to the over-the-top second half.

    Once the second half starts and the action kicks in, it becomes an insanely fun ride of violence and bloodshed. Armed with a crossbow, a giant battle axe, and a chainsaw amongst others, he goes all out. While some may be put off by the over-the-top violence, I feel it goes along with the insanity on display. You really feel that this horrible event drove this innocent man insane. I’ll fully admit this is not a film for everyone, like you won’t see this in a multiplex. Also, some will complain that there’s not much more to this film other than a simple and straightforward revenge story. This is for those who not only appreciate stylish visuals and gripping performances, but can go along for the ride. Mandy is a film that I feel no other 2018 film will ever top, and that about sums it up.

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  • Bone Tomahawk (2015)

    Bone Tomahawk (2015)

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    The western is probably one of the oldest film genres, having started back in 1903 with The Great Train Robbery. However, it was in the 50s and 60s when westerns were at their peak, which many consider the golden age. Films like The Searchers, Rio Bravo, The Magnificent Seven, and True Grit dominated the genre, though there were some exceptions. You also had the Spaghetti Western, which were known for their gritty realism and bloody violence. Some notable examples included Sergio Leone’s Man with No Name trilogy and Once Upon a Time in the West. However, as the decades rolled on and trends changed, the western started to die off. There was a resurgence in the 90s with movies like Unforgiven and Tombstone, but that slowed down in the 2000s. Then, in the 2010s, we started getting cross-genre westerns, including Cowboys and Aliens, Django Unchained, and today’s feature, Bone Tomahawk.

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    Set in the 1890s, our story focuses on a group of characters in the small Western town of Bright Hope. One night, a drifter named Purvis (David Arquette) wanders into town after his partner Buddy (Sig Haig) is killed. After being spotted by deputy sheriff Chicory (Richard Jenkins), Purvis is confronted by Sheriff Hunt (Kurt Russell) at the saloon. Purvis ends up getting shot in the leg trying to escape and is subsequently thrown in jail. With the doctor indisposed, his assistant Samantha (Lilli Simmons) is brought in to treat the wounds. Unfortunately, Purvis ends up accidentally leading a group of cannibalistic natives to the town, and they kidnap him and Samantha. Hunt then assembles a rescue group, including Chicory, Samantha’s husband Arthur (Patrick Wilson) and local womanizer Brooder (Matthew Fox). They race off to try and save the kidnapped townsfolk from a horrible fate as well as survive.

    Cutting right to it, this is a fantastic film, not only as a western, but as a film in general. The first thing I have to compliment this film on is the amazing cast that’s been assembled. While Kurt Russell certainly dominates the film as he usually does, the rest of the cast is also phenomenal. Patrick Wilson, Matthew Fox, and Richard Jenkins play their parts so well that they feel like fully realized people. In addition, the story and pacing are incredibly well-done, giving plenty of time to the characters before the action starts. Admittedly, the film can be a bit slow at times, but the characters are so engaging that you’re never bored. You really get a sense of the struggles these character go through, and you want to see them survive. Once the action finally picks up, it’s a pretty intense ride.

    When the cannibals come into the story, it almost becomes a completely different movie, which might put some off. It’s almost like one minute you’re watching Shane, then the next you’re watching Cannibal Holocaust. That said, this movie mixes the two genres so well that it never feels like tonal whiplash. If anything, it raises the stakes and makes things even more intense, making you wonder how they’re going to survive. For a first-time director, S. Craig Zahler films the movie so well, you’d swear he was a veteran. You can tell he’s done his research and he clearly has a love for both the western and horror genres. But while he certainly takes influence from Sergio Leone and John Ford, it never feels like he’s just lifting elements. In the end, even if you’re not a fan of westerns, Bone Tomahawk is a remarkable film not to miss.

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