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Review – Nope

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When Jordan Peele released his first film “Get Out”, it became an instant hit. Audiences and critics were thrilled with the scares and engaged with the racial commentary the movie provided. It became one of the few Horror films to have been nominated for Best Picture. The follow-up, “Us”, was more complex for general movie audiences to digest. The feel of the movie was more reminiscent of Horror from the 1970s or 1980s. It actually felt inspired by the work of one of my personal favorite filmmakers, John Carpenter. Audiences still overall enjoyed it but critics and film fanatics had a ball dissecting the themes of Peele’s sophomore project. Now we have his third has come out and it’s time to see what it brings to the table.

If your looking for a film that is a spectacle to watch, then this is something you should check out. The story centers around a horse wrangler ranch in California, one that has historically worked on a number of movie sets. But the death of the family patriarch brings brother & sister home (Daniel Kaluuya & Keke Palmer respectively) and they try to financially save the ranch by taking a picture of a UFO that visits at night and selling it. Both of these actors bring strong performances to the screen. Kaluuya brings a quiet yet engaging personality to his character while Palmer brings energy that balance each other out and make them entertaining to see interact. All the performances in the movie are honestly fun to watch. From Steven Yeun who plays a rather interesting character during the first of the movie. To even Brandon Perea who plays the tech support comedic role that helps our main characters try to get evidence of alien life.

Several people have pointed out similarities between Jordan Peele’s movie & M Night Shyamalan’s movie “Signs”. Both take place on a farm/ranch and have the families deal with alien life. But that’s really as far as the similarities go. Shyamalan’s film was a dour movie, the characters devoid of any real personality. The aliens in the movie had standard designs and were taken out pathetically easily. Peele’s characters bring both depth and humor to their roles, making you both tense but can also make you laugh. And the reveal of what exactly is stalking their ranch is actually a fin spin on your typical Hollywood UFO flick. The climax of the movie is the most action-focused of Peele’s film career and that is where the spectacle of the movie takes center stage.

However, the one major flaw of the movie is the social commentary. Or rather, the movie’s failure to provide an easily identifiable connection between it’s commentary and the events playing on screen. The movie starts off with a rather tense and dread filled scene that connects to Steven Yeun’s character. You can feel that this backstory is in the film for a reason and that there is a connection between it and what’s happening in the present. But you will probably struggle to figure out what that connection is as your watching the movie. Of course, you can ponder it and do research following the credits. But it will ultimately be a distraction for you if that’s what you are going to this film to see. While “Us” is probably more abstract with it’s themes, it does provide enough clues and small details where you can at least start making the connections as you watch it. But there might be some people who will be initially confused by what this new offering has to say.

Overall though, this is a very enjoyable film. One that provides spectacle and commentary, even if the latter is a bit tricky to properly identify. A film that enjoys playing with tropes and the familiarity of this kind of UFO story that has tense scenes and entertaining performances. I would say that this is definitely worth going to the theaters for.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – Saint Maud

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A24 has grown to occupy a unique standing in Hollywood. They are quite possibly the biggest independent film studio at the moment. But it does feel like they have grown into one of the biggest studios in Hollywood, along studios like Warner Brothers and Paramount. Their brand and style has become well known among critics and general audiences alike. They are best known for producing movies with a unique dramatic and/or horror focus. Even for films where they only acted as distributors, they often carry a style that’s pretty similar to other work A24 has been involved in. That can be seen with this British Horror film which had flown under the radar for a lot of people but has gone on to be considered a modern classic of the genre.

A former hospital nurse known as Katie has left her job prior to the film to become a hospice nurse, going by the name Maud. In addition to the professional change, she has recently converted to Roman Catholicism and takes her faith seriously. To the point where she claims to feel God communicate with her, although not with words but sensations that her body feels. She likes the work that she does but feels like everything is leading her towards some higher purpose that God has planned. This seems to take shape when she becomes the nurse for a sick former dancer named Amanda. Things seem to go well at first, and it appears as though Amanda might have an interest in sharing Maud’s religion. Maud takes that as a a sign that she could save a soul and takes it seriously. But when she becomes a bit too involved in Amanda’s personal life, things take a sharp turn downward. All of it leading to Maud making violent choices with no opportunity to turn away. Even if she wanted to back out.

This film serves as the directorial debut of Rose Glass. Watching the movie, you start to notice how the movie is influenced by Horror flicks of the 1970s. A couple of comparisons that have been made are to the films “Carrie” and “The Exorcist”. But I think another film that might have inspired Miss Glass’s movie is the Scorsese film “Taxi Driver”. Maud’s personal life is shown as being practically non-existent ever since she left the hospital and converted. Her personal apartment is very small with only the bare essentials. She doesn’t seem to have any friends, although one former friend that also worked at the hospital does make an effort to try and reconnect during the film’s plot. Maud is solely focused on her work that she considers noble. But finds bigger purpose with Amanda, despite her firing Maud following a physical altercation. She takes it on herself to become the savior of someone she sees as in trouble.

Based on that, Maud does have vague similarities De Niro’s character Travis Pickle. But adding in the influence from those 70s Horror films turns it into a more unique film. Maud appears to have some sort of literal connection to the supernatural, which she views as God communicating to her. However, if you pay attention to the scenes where the supernatural events occur, she is the only one actually experiencing it or reacting to it. The movie’s visuals play with the idea of what Maud is experiencing is actually happening or if she is imagining it. Of course, Maud truly believes that it is God. But Amanda, despite seemingly interested in converting, eventually reveals that she was just playing with Maud. Her reasoning being that dying is boring. There is one scene early on in the movie where you do get the feeling she isn’t being entirely sincere. But that scene also starts fueling the possibility that the other supernatural elements aren’t actually there either, serving a dual purpose.

A more recent film to compare this movie with that also was influenced by Martin Scorsese’s work is “Joker”. That film could be read as happening in a variety of different ways. It is heavily debated whether any of the events in the movie happened, if it was all real, or if some of it was real but actually played out differently. The movie leaves all of those possibilities and theories open. But with “Saint Maud”, despite playing with the idea of how much of it is actually happening, you get the feeling that the movie prefers you view the supernatural elements as all being in Maud’s mind. While not explicitly described, you get enough of Maud’s past to know that a horrible death happened at her old hospital job where she tried to save the patient’s life but failed. The former co-worker who tries to reconnect with Maud tries to re-connect and give her support. But despite latching onto the offer for a human connection, Maud continues to isolate herself and keep focused on what she views as her mission. All of Maud’s actions and choices since that day at the hospital could be her mind’s way of making sense of what happened. Quite possibly breaking down over a period of time.

And that’s what brings us to the overall theme of the movie. Maud’s passion in her faith and mission to save Amanda’s soul starts being shown as a woman losing herself in obsession. Someone who is trying to comprehend past trauma but ultimately succumbing to violence resulting in death. Maud would no doubt view her story as something similar to “The Exorcist”, a story of someone wresting with faith but ultimately winning over evil both internal and external. But to the audience, it’s a mixture of “Carrie” and “Taxi Driver”. Someone who has become socially isolated, views her environment as a decaying world and ultimately a distraction from her mission. And while human connection does seem to be teased and become a reality, it is ripped out from under her, and so she takes matters into her own hands.

If you are a fan of 1970s Horror and/or enjoy psychological suspense that plays with perception of reality, this is an easy pick to watch. You will become engaged with Maud as you follow her throughout the movie’s running time. And by the end, regardless of how you view the supernatural elements, you will feel both fear of Maud as well as pity for her. This is a hidden gem that deserves to be seen.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – The Black Phone

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It can be tricky to review movies in the modern era. On the one end, there are a lot of movies that are easy to trash because they are lazily copying what more successful movies have done. Especially those trying to tap into nostalgia. Then on the other end, it is easy to praise movies that were doing something original or new. But that leaves a lot of movies in between that take familiar ideas or storylines, injecting their own ideas and details to make it stand out and on its own, but we tend to gloss over them. And I think that is especially true of Horror films. It all comes back to the perception of cliches and tropes. It is common, when giving a negative review of a movie, to mention how it relies on tropes. Truth of the matter is that tropes aren’t inherently bad. You just need to remember to focus on more than just the overall plot and do something with the characters. Add to the familiar to make it unique.

And that is exactly what we have with this movie. Based on a short story by Joe Hill, Stephen King’s son, you can tell what it has in common with other Horror movies as well as some of Stephen King’s own stories. I’m using his books for reference because I admittedly haven’t read any of Joe books. But it still works. A lot of Stephen King stories will have a person (usually a child) that has psychic abilities that have an unknown origin. Sometimes that is paired with another supernatural element at play with an equally mysterious unknown origin. And don’t forget the alcoholic! Yea, in this movie it is the father of the boy who gets kidnapped and his sister who has the psychic abilities. And the villain of the movie is a masked killer which you can find in a whole bunch of other Horror movies.

But as mentioned earlier, this movie stands out because it adds new details and focuses on the actual characters. It would have been so easy for this movie to just have the alcoholic father be mean and have the audience hate him. But through interactions with his daughter we see why he is a bit abusive and why he drinks. We get to learn a bit about their past and what happened. It fleshes him out and makes him seem like a real person. A similar thing can be said for Ethan Hawke as the villain, The Grabber. We don’t really know a lot about him. But as we pay attention to his methodology and the tricks he uses to play with his victims, we can actually piece together what might have made him the way he is. Even some of the things he says when interacting with the main boy – Finney – help clarify what his personality is like and what his mental state must be.

This all connects to various interactions between different characters seen throughout the movie. The way these people talk and act are realistic and authentic. Which is another trait you could connect to other Horror stories, especially those written by Stephen King. How they talk and think through their situations makes the story more engaging. As Finney communicates with the ghosts of the dead kids through the phone, you follow him as he starts planning his escape. The decisions are smart and logical. And because the movie knew to focus on the characters and flesh them out, we root for him and want to see him escape. More often than not, a lot of Horror movies end up making their protagonists stupid and annoying. So when the time comes for them to come face to face with the killer, we actually end up rooting for the killer. If they didn’t want to get killed, maybe they shouldn’t have make so many stupid choices or be such a**holes in general. This movie recognizes that and understands how to make us feel fear for the kid. It knows how to build tensions and suspense.

And this is why this movie is so effective and worth the watch. It is unique because it knows that the characters are most important. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what plot line is used or which tropes are put into the script. Everyone working on this movie was focused on the details to bring the story to life. The details are what make this movie strong. This isn’t another Horror movie simply going through the motions and relaying on similarities to more successful films to get by. A lot of care and heart went into this making of this movie and it shows.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – Crimes of the Future (2022)

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It’s weird that David Cronenberg has two movies with this title and yet they aren’t connected in any way. Putting that aside, a brief overview of the movie. In the future, mankind has dwindled in size and major parts of cities and civilizations are in ruins. While not specified how far in the future it is or what has happened, it is clear that society and people have changed in dramatic ways. Most people no longer feel pain. Those that do also have the ability to create new organs. In this world, surgery is the new sex as people experience relief and satisfaction from being cut open. Performance artists are the main example of this, such as Viggo Mortensen’s & Lea Seydoux’s characters. But a strange man approaches them to do a performance with a certain body and the new government is working with the Organ Registry to fight back against this man and his group.

I should start with my criticisms of the movie. For some reason, everyone speaks really softly. This isn’t that surprising as many Cronenberg movies seem to have characters speak softly. And there are scenes where that delivery works. But there are just as many scenes where it is difficult to make out what they are saying. There is one scene, where Seydoux’s character is speaking to the crowd watching the final performance of the movie. But the crowd are several feet away and are on higher ground. She should speak louder so they can hear her! There is a subplot that comes up in the movie that doesn’t really go anywhere. I do get what it is supposed to add to Mortensen’s character – someone who feels pain and grows organs only to have them cut out during his performances. It’s meant to push him towards where his character ends up regarding his personal beliefs. But the subplot just feels like it is unceremoniously killed off.

One thing I wasn’t expecting this film to critique is the art world. In this movie, anyone can do surgery. Which makes sense because the way it is done and is experienced by people, it is very much sex. But only certain people are seen as artists and seemingly give meaning to it. It took me a minute for me to adjust to how this is used to parallel the art culture of the real world. Mainly because it takes a while into the movie for the critique to become clear. And I think that might be my biggest critique of the film. You watch it for a while and it is definitely interesting and you want to watch where it goes. But for a while it leaves you wondering what exactly the point of the movie is. What is the message it is trying to convey? It takes until the third act of the movie for your brain to make the connection once Mortensen’s & Seydoux’s characters ask the mysterious man why he wants them to go through with his request for a performance. That request being to perform an autopsy on his dead son.

And from there, I transition to my biggest praise for this movie. When the movie gets to this point, your brain makes the connections very quickly. This movie is exploring how society and the world around us has affected the evolution of our bodies. The people growing new organs are seen by the mysterious man and his group as being the next step in what humanity is becoming. And while this mysterious man’s group has surgically altered themselves, the dead son is the first one to be born with the new organs and system. That is also when you realize that the new government and the Organ Registry want to discredit these people because if this revelation becomes known, who knows how people would react. Granted, by the time you reach this point in the movie, you would assume that everyone would actually not be too disgusted by that. But the way the government tries to find and shut down people in the performance art world or this other group is a form of control. And the government in the real world does have a history of wanting to control what can and can’t be done to our own bodies.

The third act revelation also adds more meat to a lot of characters – their journeys and their motivations. That’s not to say they aren’t good performances. Mortensen is great as always and Seydoux is just as good. Another standout is Kristen Stewart – all though, she doesn’t do a lot. In that way, her role is similar to Robert Pattinson’s in Cronenberg’s movie “Maps to the Stars”. They are definitely in the movie and they have some level of effect on the storyline. But they don’t have a lot of screen time and they do seem to be lacking some sense of closure. I would have liked one more final scene with Stewart’s character to gain a little more insight into her beliefs now that we know the full extent of what she was doing.

But Mortensen’s character journey is the main one to focus on. He is one of the most famous performance artists in this new world. But he is also secretly working with the new government to find and capture certain criminals taking things too far. He is a part of the world but he is in between how life used to be and what life is moving forward. There are multiple times where characters comment on how Mortensen’s character is trying to maintain control over his body through him letting his new organs be cut out before they take root. And when you get to the third act, you put together that this is him denying the changes that are already happening to him and mankind in general – whether he knows that’s why he is doing it or not. But when the end of the movie comes, he does find belief. He believes in what the mysterious group says about how their bodies are changing and what that truly means for them. And the movie ends with him making a decision that see shim embracing that ideology and finally experiencing total relief from the pain he has been feeling.

Sorry if this has been vague, I want to avoid spoilers as much as possible. But this is a movie where the main message is actually very provocative and it stays with you well after you leave the theater. It does unfortunately take a while for the message to be fully realized and there are parts that could have been improved on. But the good outweighs the bad in my opinion and is worth the watch.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – Top Gun: Maverick

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Tom Cruise is back on the big screen in a movie many people are going to want to see. Decades after the events of the original movie, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell being assigned an important task. He must train and form a team of former Top Gun school graduates for a mission going into enemy territory. But one of the people he must train is Bradley “Rooster” Bradshaw, the son of Maverick’s wingman who died all those years ago. Tension runs high as Maverick confronts his past and makes sure these pilots are ready for their mission.

You might have noticed a trend going on in Hollywood in the last several years. A lot of films or movie franchises are being revitalized in order to cash in on nostalgia. Past movies that were active decades ago are now being followed up on in an effort to ensure a profit at the box office. A recent example of this, “5cream”, has coined the term Requel for this trend. A film that is both a reboot and a sequel. Mixing new characters as well as bringing in characters from the original or past movies in a film that is supposed to pay tribute to what came before but past the torch to a new generation. This type of movie became popular following the release of “The Force Awakens” and the trend has had mixed results.

But this is a bit different. This falls into a category that I like to call legacy sequel. Instead of this being a new long-awaited installment to a film series, it’s only serving as a sequel to one movie. And it isn’t meant to set-up more sequels but rather tell a new story in that world. An example of this subset of films is “Blade Runner 2049”. And this film does fit under that term. This isn’t a passing of the torch to a new generation as the main focus is on Tom Cruise’s character.

And in regards to Tom Cruise himself, this film is actually a solid reminder that he can still be a good dramatic actor. While most actors from his era would have started off doing action films then transitioned into more dramatic roles, Cruise has interestingly done the opposite. Gone are the days where he could have just as easily been in “Rain Man” or “Interview with a Vampire”. People watch him now to see him do his own stunts and to see what death defying trick he’s going to give us next. But Maverick in this film has dealt with and is currently dealing with a lot of complicated issues and baggage. Several moments in this movie you can see him put heart and sincerity into his lines and expressions. Don’t take this to mean he’s bitter. When we first meet Maverick in this sequel, he is still acting similarly to how he was in the original. But he has also matured in a way that makes sense. This is a performance that was treated with respect and dignity.

That’s not to say that everyone else isn’t doing a good job. All the pilots that Maverick is training put in the work. But we focus on a handful of pilots. Rooster is very good in this movie and the tense relationship he has with Maverick leads to some of the more dramatic scenes in the movie. But there is a pilot named Jake “Hangman” Seresin that does kind of steal a few scenes. You start off loving to hate this guy, but as the movie moves along he does end up being genuinely like-able and becomes a true friend and team player. Jennifer Connelly plays an old flame of Maverick’s who is back in his life and their relationship is also important to the story, but more relevant to Maverick’s character development. The love story in the original just felt like it was interrupting the movie and slowed things down. But in here, it does feel like part of the story and you enjoy the chemistry between the two.

And that’s part of what makes this movie better than the original. Yes, the flying and dog fights are amazing, a spectacle to behold and tense in the best way. But the story is actually better structured and improves on the weaknesses of the first. Despite the 1986 film being a hit, it did open to mixed reviews. And it is apparent why when you look back on it. There wasn’t a story focus to either tie in what was going on in the movie or even to push things forward. There is the rivalry between Maverick & Iceman, but they aren’t at Top Gun to train for a mission. Just to hone their skills. The love story as mentioned felt out of place and slowed things down. The volleyball scene – while iconic – just happens with no real reason why. And while there is a climax against some enemy pilots, that too just comes out of the blue with no build up.

But in this movie, all of that is changed. Right from the beginning we know that these pilots are being trained for a dangerous mission. The love story develops Maverick’s character. And while we might not have volleyball, we do get beach football. That scenes also surprisingly has a reason to be in the movie. This is a sequel that still carries much of the feel and atmosphere of the original, but has a far stronger dramatic element to enhance the story. It makes the aerial combat more intense to watch as you are invested in these characters and want to see them make it out in one piece.

One criticism of some of those requel films is that they oftentimes make the returning old characters bitter. That they are the old mentors who don’t want to be roped back in but must to help out the new characters. But that doesn’t apply here. Yes, Maverick does have regrets. But his personality is still intact. He does dangerous and reckless things, but with the purpose of preparing these new pilots. Trying to make sure they have the skills to make it back home. While some of the pilots are enjoyable and fun, the focus is on Maverick. This movie is supposed to show him finally finding closure and improving on relationships with people he cares the most about. Be prepared to go right along with him as he flies into the danger zone and come out happier on the other side.

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Review: Dark City

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Stop me if you’ve heard of this one. A man wakes up in a water-filled bath tub in a sketchy room, with no memory of how he ended up there. Throughout the film, he is chased by an all-powerful collective that wants to maintain the fabricated reality everyone else believes in while the main character realizes the truth and gains powers during his journey. I admit it is a bit of a stretch to say the opening shot of this film is strangely similar to the opening of “Saw”. But the main talking point of this movie in the following years is how similar it is to “The Matrix”. It doesn’t help both films were released only a year apart, they filmed in the same city, and even shared sets. But I assure you that they are entirely different films, with my personal favorite being this overlooked gem.

The aura of this movie is instantly distinct from the previously mentioned science fiction-action based blockbuster. A lot of this film is influenced by much older movies, primarily those from the Crime Noir genre. The old TV show “The Twilight Zone” was even a major influence. While this movie can also be classified as science fiction, there is a Horror element that makes the story even more unsettling. And as someone who has seen his fair share of “The Twilight Zone”, it would be easy to believe this could have been a story from that show. But it’s more important to focus on the Crime Noir influence since that is the source of the movie’s themes and plot structure.

Let’s take a moment to talk about the villains in this movie, The Strangers. It is revealed towards the end they are an extraterrestrial species that kidnapped some humans and placed them in a city of their creation. It turns out their species is dying and they are curious about the Human soul. Or in more practical terms, the essence of what makes each person unique while also showcasing what makes the Human race in general different. The decision for them to study that is logical since they shared a collective consciousness without much room for individuality, which could be part of the reason they are dying. This also connects to themes often explored in noir stories. A lot of those movies have the characters explore human nature, what drives someone to do certain actions. Those movies often focus on the darker aspects of humanity and the cruelty that we can find ourselves capable of doing if pushed far enough. And those movies can oftentimes end on a depressing note as the main character can find themselves disillusioned and hardened by their experiences.

But this movie cleverly switches that around. Yes, the main character – John Murdoch – sees through the fake reality that has been created by The Strangers. Learns of how his life has been manipulated and how he has been forced in a sense to do things he most likely wouldn’t do of his own choice. But while one can call this being disillusioned, the movie would most likely refer to this as being enlightened. Now that he is aware of what is happening around him, he can utilize his mind to take control of his own life and future. And while the movie does make this literal with him having psychokinesis, it’s still an accurate way of portraying how that idea can be utilized in the real world. Just don’t expect yourselves to actually be able to create building with the power of your brain.

Another way that this movie turns a classic Noir trope around is the conclusion the main character comes to about Humanity. A lot of Noir films will end with the main character having a more pessimistic outlook on people and the world at large. But at the end of Murdoch’s story, he proves that the unpredictable nature of people is actually a good thing. When left to our own devices, we have the capability of creating a world and future that is bright and full of possibilities. The Strangers trying to figure that out through their experiment were never going to be able to fully comprehend that due to their own nature. Their experiment was doomed from the beginning. Even when one of them tries to form some kind of individuality it ends up ultimately being incompatible and kills him. Our free will is what makes us unique and so interesting. And with it, who knows what we can be capable of?

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Review: Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

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SPOILERS!

I have read a lot of comics. A large number of them deal with the more abstract and mind-bending elements that can be utilized and explored so well. And yet, my brain still can’t comprehend that there is a character whose legal name is…America. That has produced some funny lines of dialogue in the movie. And yet no one in the film acknowledges that her name is weird. That kinda works and leans into the unintentionally funny aspect of using her name. I just wanted to get that out of the way before diving into the review proper.

Doctor Strange finds himself protecting a young girl named America Chavez. She has the ability to travel throughout the multiverse and is being hunted by someone who wants her power. That person…is Wanda Maximoff AKA The Scarlet Witch. She desires her power to travel to a universe where she can be with her children and she utilizes the Darkhold for the dark magic that will help her achieve her plan. Strange & America try and find a way to defeat her as they travel through other universes.

One thing that has been talked about is how this movie is supposed to have consequences for Strange’s actions in “Spider-Man: No Way Home” and even his first movie. That isn’t exactly true. Those events aren’t explicitly mentioned in this movie. But this movie is supposed to have Strange realize that his stubbornness and need to be in control has put other people in danger and drives others from him. There is even a brief scene in the beginning where someone asks Strange if his plan to defeat Thanos was the best one, that there was no other way. While the people snapped did came back, this guy mentions how his brother had passed during those 5 years in between. It’s a moment of clarity that there are still people who will never be reunited due to how Strange’s plan unfolded. This is something that Stephen realizes and confronts by the time the movie ends. And that makes Strange one of the highlights of the movie.

One of the other major highlights is Wanda. I loved her as the antagonist in this movie. She has some great, intimidating scenes, really shows off what she is capable of. There may be a few people who aren’t quite on board with this development based on the finale of WandaVision. And I can understand where they are coming from. Personally though, I thought it made sense. Especially since she was pushed in that direction by the corrupting influence of the Darkhold. The other character that has a major role in this movie is America Chavez. She is…pretty much what you think she ends up being. The movie doesn’t really give her much room to establish a unique personality or stand out beyond being the person being hunted. That’s not to say I didn’t like her. She was fine and I see the potential for her in future movies. I just hope those future movies have her evolve and develop into a more interesting character.

There are a couple of things about this movie that keep me from really falling in love with the movie. While the multiverse is in it, we don’t spend a lot of time in other universes. We see glimpses of a bunch, sure. But only spend significant time in a couple of them. The trailers also showed that Mordo – Strange’s former mentor turned enemy – is back in the movie. But it is one from an alternate universe. However he is still pretty similar to the main Mordo. Which just makes it a little more frustrating that we haven’t followed up on that character since the first Doctor Strange movie. Finally, the first half of the movie does have some of the MCU traits that people are criticizing a bit more in recent years. All though there isn’t a lot of it and they are passed by fairly quickly.

With all of that out of the way…I gotta say, I still found a lot to really enjoy. Like previously mentioned, Strange and Wanda are two big highlights and I love their roles and arcs through the movie. But this movie is truly at its best when Sam Raimi is allowed to be himself as a director. There are multiple camera shots and angles that are unique to his visual style. Scene transitions similar to some of the transitions used in his Spider-Man movies. And of course – the horror elements in this movie will please Evil Dead fans such as myself. This creates some great visuals in the movie. Hell, there are entities called Spirits of the Damned and I’m totally convinced those are just the MCU’s version of Deadites!

I can’t say that I loved this movie. But I did find myself really enjoying this movie. Definitely something that I would revisit multiple times in the future. While it was shorter than I expected, it is kind of refreshing to have a lighter multiverse centered story as opposed to some others that go for the more epic feel and weight. I also appreciate how after something horrific happens, they usually don’t follow it up with a joke. They will let the weight of what just happened just be felt. Overall, it was worth the wait.

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Review – The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent

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I’ve been looking forward to this movie for a while. Nicolas Cage stars as himself, a National Treasure. A man who makes a lot of movies, but we find out he isn’t The Family Man he once was. While his daughter is thankfully not a Valley Girl, she’s someone who clearly needs the presence of both her Mom and Dad. But every time Nic does show up in his daughter’s life, he finds work and is Gone in 60 Seconds. But things change when Nic Cage accepts an offer to go attend a birthday party for a wealthy man at The Rock that houses his estate. After flying Con Air, they bond by watching a movie (all though it wasn’t filmed in 8mm) and they take drugs created by a Color Out of Space. But then suddenly, Nic is recruited by the CIA and becomes and Army of One to spy on his new friend who might be behind a kidnapping plot. This leads to an intense Face/Off that also requires Nic to Drive Angry and Kick-Ass. And then Nic Cage has to become a real hero, escaping the wrath of a master criminal while making sure no one he cares about gets Left Behind. Also, he starred in Ghost Rider.

Now that we got that mess of a paragraph out of the way, let’s talk about this movie. I always find it amusing when actors play fictional version of themselves. Neil Patrick Harris playing a version of himself in the Harold & Kumar movie was probably the highlight of that movie. But Nicolas Case playing himself…my mind is still trying to process the insanity a performance like that can create. And this doesn’t disappoint. There’s a lot about him that does feel truly authentic to how he is in real life. Including some version of how the internet views him. But this movie also uses that perception of him to create an emotional arc for Cage in the film. That being how him always working has created conflict with his family, especially his daughter. And that is properly focused on and given some resolution that feels fulfilling.

And while that is good, that’s not really what this movie is about. Nicolas Cage is an actor everyone knows and loves. A wide variety of people were in the theater that I was in when I saw this movie. And that should go to show that this movie is a celebration of the actor and his work. This movie doesn’t make fun of him in a mean way or discredit any of his movies. In fact, it actually puts a brief spotlight on a couple of his films that I don’t think many people even recognize. Cage gets to show us the many reasons why so many people love him. His comedic timing, his dramatic expressions, his action skills, and so on. The movie itself is a blend of several different types of Cage films. But when we get to the action focused third act and climax, it does actually feel organic and not a drastic tonal shift.

The movie is well shot, has solid pacing. Many of the supporting actors are good in this movie. Honestly, the only other thing I feel like I can expand on is Pedro Pascal’s character. I totally believe him as this Nic Cage super fan that truly loves his work. He gets both nervous and excited to actually meet him and spend time with his favorite actor. And the two of them end up developing this touching friendship that does become the heart of this movie. I think he might even be a stand in for everyone who is a fan of Nicolas Cage based on some of the lines he says in the film.

I know it seems like I didn’t really do a lot to analyze the film. That might be because I know a lot of reviews for this film are basically saying the same things I am. But trust me – this movie is funny, exciting, engaging, and filled with genuine heart. Every fan of Nicolas Cage is going to see this regardless. Even if you haven’t seen a lot of Cage films prior to this, I have no doubt this will encourage to dive deep into the actor’s filmography. Let’s just all appreciate this actor and watch him does what he does best – be himself.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – The Northman

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Robert Eggers is one of my favorite directors currently working. This is only his third film, but he has already established a distinct style and tone that can be found in all three of them. They all also touch on similar ideas and themes that help develop their own worlds as something more mature and complex. And while actors from his past two films show up in this one, this one is more epic in scale than the previous films. And it is more violent, intense, and arguably more engaging than the past films. That’s not meant to criticize his past films, but is supposed to show just how hard the director has perfected his skills.

This movie focuses on Prince Amleth. It starts off with him as a young boy who witnesses his father killed by his uncle who takes the kingdom and the Prince’s mother. Amleth flees, promising to avenge his father, save his mother, and kill his uncle. The majority of the movie then focuses on him as a brutal warrior who puts a plan in place to destroy the life his uncle has created before finally claiming revenge. If any part of this plot sounds familiar, that isn’t a surprise. This movie is based on an old Norse poem that would later inspire the Shakespeare play “Hamlet”. But this movie makes sure to make the right changes to avoid obvious similarities and establish itself as it’s unique thing that’s authentic to the era it takes place in.

And that’s one of the strengths of this film. Robert Eggers spent a lot of time making sure this movie is authentic to the time period it is set in. Not surprising considering he has wanted to make a Viking themed movie for years. This authenticity also brings in a lot of bloodshed, which is wonderfully violent. When we see some of the things the older Amleth does, we see him commit acts that are as bad – if not worse – than anything his father or uncle have probably done. For example, for years he spends his time honing his warrior skills by joining the Berserkers. They are a group of Viking warriors that attack villages and sell prisoners as slaves. Not only do we see Amleth kill many villagers, including biting into the throat of an enemy, he watches as his fellow berserkers set one of the shelters on fire that is housing screaming children.

And I think that serves as an example as to why this movie is so interesting and more complex than it might seem. As time marches on and society progresses, what we determine to be honorable, courageous and morally right changes. I have no doubt there are people that can’t find anyone to root for in this movie. That they can’t find anyone they would call a good person. This movie’s protagonist hangs mutilated corpses on the side of a shelter as a scare tactic to psychologically get into his enemy’s head. But the time period this movie takes place in is not out time. Back then, it was seen as honorable to seek revenge on someone for killing your family, regardless of how much carnage it creates. Also, we are dealing with the same culture and mythology that has vikings. These aren’t the knights of the round table we’re dealing with.

Speaking of mythology, I do like the use of mysticism in this film. While a lot of effort was put into the film in terms of getting the look and feel down – as well as the culture and their practices – the mysticism does elevate it to that epic level. It kind of reminds me of some old Greek mythological stories I read back when I was younger. About how a hero would go on this epic adventure, overcome challenges, and claim victory with the aid of the Gods. And that’s how I view this movie. As a more brutal, realistic, complex, and intense hero’s journey.

Needless to say, everything about it is great. The acting is great. The characters feel real and they all keep my attention. Visually, it looks beautiful. And as mentioned, the violence is enjoyably brutal. It helps that the action is well done. This isn’t an action movie, but the way it is shot is intense and makes it stand out from how a lot of other movies film their action scenes. I honestly don’t know what else to say about this movie that hasn’t already been covered. If you are looking for an epic size film that is intense and dark, this is the one to go see.

Movie Reviews, Movies

Review – Everything Everywhere All at Once

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Comic book readers are already familiar with the multiverse. It has opened up a variety of story-telling potential and has inspired the imagination of who knows how many people. But now it appears the TV and movies are starting to play around with the concept. Whether it’s to bring 2 different Spider-Men together or explaining why “The Batman” doesn’t connect to Ben Affleck, movies are now seeing the potential as well. But now it’s time to take a look at how an indie studio like A24 handles such a concept. And it is an insane – and touching – as you might expect.

We begin with Evelyn Wang getting ready for an audit by the IRS. There’s her husband Waymond, daughter Joy, and her estranged father referred to as Gong Gong. Which naturally means this is the right time for her husband to be taken over by a version of himself from the Alpha Verse! Jobu Tupaki is a threat that threatens the safety of the multiverse and it happens to be Evelyn’s daughter from the multiverse. She must now utilize verse-jumping to find the skills necessary to fight back.

I suppose we should start off with how the movie deals with the multiverse concept. It’s existence is explained by how different choices in the timeline creates a new universe, leading to really an infinite multiverse. It’s a common way of explaining a concept like this, something comics themselves have used a couple of times. But it’s important to remember that it isn’t limited to different choices Evelyn or her family make. We get glimpses of different universes that were not shaped by Evelyn or anyone in her family. As for verse-jumping, people from the Alpha Verse have tech and are trained to mentally access another version of themselves. Their memories, skills, and bodies. But this also runs the risk of them being distracted or pulled back by that other universe as their minds are kind of split in multiple universes. They are trained to deal with that fallout, but it affects Evelyn for better and for worse. Overall, this multiverse isn’t that different from ones people might have experienced in other mediums. But trust me when I say it is still a very unique film.

One of the main things that establishes this multiverse story as unique is how they are able to verse-jump. They have to perform random actions that allow them to access certain versions of themselves. The weirder the action the better chance of finding skills that are useful in your scenario. Examples include getting 4 paper cuts in between all your fingers, downing a 2 liter bottle of orange soda in seconds, or furiously humping a lamp. And those are the examples that don’t spoil anything in the movie! This obviously leads to a lot of funny moments and bits that really land. The way this movie is shot and presented is similar to a number of South Korean films. What I mean is that it blends a lot of different styles and emotions together into a single movie that shouldn’t work as well as it does. But you are going to have a blast all the way through!

As for an underlying messages, this is sort of a 2-in-1 situation. Let’s first look at the larger theme. Jobu Tupaki is a version of Joy from the Alpha Verse that gets pushed during Verse-Jumping training so hard that she is seemingly lost. But when she comes back, she is described as this entity of darkness and nothingness. She talks about how due to the overwhelming size and scope of the multiverse, looking at the morality of specific actions and choices in one single world seems pointless and insignificant. And chances are, we might make a new discovery that’s even larger and will make us even more insignificant. So she views existence from a “nothing matters” perspective and tries to get Evelyn to see things like she does before ultimately ending their existence.

But the movie ends up deciding to not take Jobu’s side. It is easy to see things that way, easy to fight back against an idea or concept that scares you. But in a multiverse as massive an insane as this one, the most important thing that remains constant is love. Caring for one another and showing compassion. There may be things that are massive and terrifying, but that means family and loved ones are even more important.

Time for the second underlying themes that goes hand in hand with the first. The importance of making Evelyn and her husband Chinese immigrants is to show the cultural divide that within their own family that can honestly be applied to any family. You have older members sticking to traditional ways of living and their own beliefs that don’t seem to account for how the modern world has evolved. The younger ons who have grown up with this world and end up being at odds with their own family about their beliefs and the way they live their lives. And some family members trying their best to bridge that gap but might be making things more difficult without realizing it. This movie is trying to show that institutions and old concepts and ideas can be limiting. They can damage our relationships with other people. But if you can realize that and try to move past it, you can work on fixing damaged relationships and find some deeper meaning.

And these ideas are told in the most entertaining of ways. This movie takes advantage of the multiverse concepts and shows off some wild action scenes and peeks into bizarre worlds. The actions required to verse-jump are incredible and the good kind of stupid. All the actors get a chance to show off their wide range, especially Michelle Yeoh as Evelyn. But in all of this madness, there is an emotional anchor that makes this an extremely relatable story. Please check this out in theaters while you have the chance. Or at least make a plan to seek it out and just watch the insanity unfold a touching human story. I promise you won’t regret it.