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Wednesday, June 30, 2021
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Monday, June 28, 2021
Friday, June 25, 2021
Thursday, June 24, 2021
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Promising Young Woman
Promising Young Woman is the brainchild of triple threat writer/director/producer Emerald Fennell, who received an Oscar nomination for each one of those roles and took home the prize for Best Original Screenplay -- well deservedly I might add.
The film was also nominated for its Editing as well as for Best Lead Actress for Carey Mulligan, who gives a performance for the ages; certainly some of her best work.
Of note is also Bo Burnham, who plays her love interest and is absolutely adorable. He's the writer/director of Eight Grade, a really good movie if you haven't seen it.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Hands down one of the finest among this year's Best Picture nominees. This is a must-see.
Grade: 9
THE BOTTOM LINE: Hands down one of the finest among this year's Best Picture nominees. This is a must-see.
Grade: 9
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Monday, June 21, 2021
Friday, June 18, 2021
Don’t Breathe
Don’t Breathe is a somewhat predictable thriller with some shades of horror that rack up the suspense. It's pretty effective, even though the characters are a bit stereotypical.
Stephen Lang is quite good in his role; Jane Levy and Dylan Minnette also perform pretty well, while it's Daniel Zovatto who's left playing the weaker, more predictable role.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Fairly enjoyable and with a couple good twists, this is certainly worth a try.
Grade: 6
THE BOTTOM LINE: Fairly enjoyable and with a couple good twists, this is certainly worth a try.
Grade: 6
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Fear the Walking Dead
Unfortunately, try as they might, they can't seem to get it right enough times to make this show better. On the contrary, it seems to be inevitably sliding downward.
Season six's first half was episode after episode of boredom. The group having been split up by the villainous Virginia, each episode dealt with only one or two characters at a time, but with no rich stories to fill the airtime, I was not enthused.
The second half seemed to be finally moving the action forward, but just when I started hoping that they were getting things right, they went and blew it with the clearest example of jumping the shark I've ever seen.
Skip the next two paragraphs if you don't want a major spoiler.
If you don't care, here we go: a new villain, who seemed just the right amount of crazy to actually come across as interesting, planned to detonate several nuclear warheads in order to allow the survivors to start over again, and build a new and better civilization (what that would look like, we're not told or shown exactly).
I mean, I'm sorry, but when you blow up nukes, it's game over. Everything is wiped out and the area becomes unlivable for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Everybody knows that. If you don't die in the initial blast, then you're doomed to fairly soon die from radiation poisoning. And yet, this isn't supposed to be the end, given that a new season has been greenlit already. Are we just gonna have to watch the characters slowly get weird and ugly cancerous growths and die?
As the years went on, I started liking the character of Morgan less and less because of his inconceivable ideas and philosophy (this from his days on The Walking Dead). When they moved him to this show and killed off the main character to elevate him, a character who was really good and well rounded, I mourned the decision.
This season finale's cliffhanger veered so heavily into the ridiculous that I'm starting to seriously consider dropping it altogether.
Grade - Season 6: 3
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
Let's be honest here, if you've decided to watch The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard it's because you enjoyed The Hitman's Bodyguard's relentless hysterical bickering of its leads, Ryan Reynolds and Samuel L. Jackson.
Both are back here, as well as Salma Hayek, which is great and really the only gratifying thing, because there's very little else going on.
While the original had a somewhat cogent plot and a downright scary bad guy, the crisis at the center of this sequel is so utterly inconceivable that one just can't take it seriously (suspension of disbelief by damned).
Antonio Banderas is okay as the villain but, because of the unlikeliness of the plot mentioned above, you know right away that his plans cannot succeed.
THE BOTTOM LINE: It's great fun to see these three actors unleashed, but by the time the credits roll your brain has already moved on.
Grade: 5
THE BOTTOM LINE: It's great fun to see these three actors unleashed, but by the time the credits roll your brain has already moved on.
Grade: 5
Tuesday, June 15, 2021
Better Days (Shaonian de ni)
Nominated for a Best International Feature Film Oscar, Better Days presents a damning portrait of the incredibly high expectations that Chinese society puts on adolescents to perform at the highest levels.
It also deals with the topic of bullying, which is more of a universal problem, shining a spotlight on the difficulties of stopping or preventing the behavior from taking root.
Dongyu Zhou and Jackson Yee are absolutely phenomenal as the leads. I was utterly blown away by how deeply and fully they inhabited their characters.
THE BOTTOM LINE: This is definitely slower than the fare Hollywood has trained us to watch, but between the topics and the performances, I definitely recommend it.
Grade: 8
THE BOTTOM LINE: This is definitely slower than the fare Hollywood has trained us to watch, but between the topics and the performances, I definitely recommend it.
Grade: 8
Monday, June 14, 2021
In Memoriam
Ned Beatty (July 6, 1937 - June 13, 2021)
An incredibly prolific actor with over 160 credits to his name, Beatty was once hailed by Daily Variety as the "busiest actor in Hollywood."
Nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1977 for Network, he appeared in the most disparate fare, like Toy Story 3, A Cry in the Wild, The Big Easy, Superman, 1941, All the President's Men, and his very first performance, in Deliverance.
R.I.P.
Official Secrets
Official Secrets is a well written thriller centered around the courageous act of an actual British Intelligence officer, Katharine Gun, who decided that her loyalty was with the British people rather than the British government, and that the former deserved to know the truth about the illegal war the latter was careening the country towards.
Unfortunately, her disclosure wasn't enough to prevent the catastrophic Iraq war, which was based on manipulated intelligence and lies proffered by both Bush and Blair to their respective countries and to the world. We're still all paying the cost of that blunder . . .
Keira Knightley is excellent in the lead, flanked by Ralph Fiennes, Matt Smith, Matthew Goode, Rhys Ifans, and Adam Bakri. An excellent cast all around.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommended if you're looking for a taut drama, with the added benefit of shedding some light on one of the many unsavory operations our governments carry out in secret, purportedly for the benefit of all.
Grade: 7.5
THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommended if you're looking for a taut drama, with the added benefit of shedding some light on one of the many unsavory operations our governments carry out in secret, purportedly for the benefit of all.
Grade: 7.5
Friday, June 11, 2021
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is the third chapter in the Conjuring universe, which has now expanded to include several spin-offs - some more successful than others.
The good news is that this movie is even better than the two that preceded it, serving up a hefty dose of horror that has been expertly woven through a well written story.
Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are once again back in their roles and they're both great. Ruairi O'Connor is a welcome discovery, while it's a guilty pleasure to have John Noble here, even if in a smallish supporting role. He's such a great actor.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Absolutely recommended for fans of the series and newcomers alike (you don't really need to have watched the previous ones in order to enjoy this film). A horror movie that is well developed and manages to scare you is a fairly rare feat, and this title checks all the boxes. Two thumbs up!
Grade: 8
THE BOTTOM LINE: Absolutely recommended for fans of the series and newcomers alike (you don't really need to have watched the previous ones in order to enjoy this film). A horror movie that is well developed and manages to scare you is a fairly rare feat, and this title checks all the boxes. Two thumbs up!
Grade: 8
Thursday, June 10, 2021
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Given the dearth of new releases coming out because Covid-19 threw the calendar into upheaval, some theaters have been showing older titles in the hopes of enticing audiences to venture out to the cineplexes.
I had watched Raiders of the Lost Ark on TV back when I was a teen probably, so I figured I'd experience it as it was meant to be watched, on the big screen.
I enjoyed it as much as I had years ago, although I did find the visual effects quite dated - a bit disappointing if one considers that this movie came out after Star Wars . . .
The acting is good, even though a few lines from the script did sound somewhat cheesy.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The first in a very successful franchise, Raiders doesn't disappoint and serves up quite a few thrills. A fun adventure for sure.
Grade: 7.5
THE BOTTOM LINE: The first in a very successful franchise, Raiders doesn't disappoint and serves up quite a few thrills. A fun adventure for sure.
Grade: 7.5
Wednesday, June 09, 2021
The Man in the High Castle
Juliana and Tagomi come to rely on one another for help in understanding what is going on and what the future holds.
Meanwhile, the Smith family has to deal with the loss of their son at the same time when his likeness is plastered everywhere as an example for the young people of the Reich to follow.
Then, Juliana discovers what the Nazis are plotting, raising the stakes even higher . . . and not just for her world.
Needless to say, this show just gets better with time.
Grade - Season 3: 8
The Cakemaker
The Cakemaker is a movie about love and grief and the many facets that they can have for different people.
A great screenplay and a light-touch direction enable Tim Kalkhof, Sarah Adler, Roy Miller, and Zohar Shtrauss to really shine.
THE BOTTOM LINE: This is one of those small gems of gay-themed cinema that can't be missed, but it's a great movie regardless of that particular niche genre. A must-see!
Grade: 9
Grade: 9
Tuesday, June 08, 2021
Wonder Woman 1984
DC Comics hit the jackpot when they released the greatly entertaining Wonder Woman, so the expectations were sky-high for a worthy sequel. Wonder Woman 1984, alas, is not it.
Clocking in at over two-and-a-half hours, I'd say only the last 45 minutes or so are worth saving. The first part feels useless, rambling, and even boring.
The initial sequence, about Diana's competition prowess, seems far fetched, considering that she might understandably have some additional powers than the other Amazons, but they're all grown up warriors with plenty of experience. It's hard to believe she'd best all of them for so long.
The following section seems to serve the purpose of immersing the audience into the '80s era, but just feels kitschy. Diana looks like is randomly stumbling from one day into the next, kind of like one scene follows the other in this movie.
Pedro Pascal, an excellent actor in Game of Thrones, gives it his all as the villain, but the premise is so flimsy, he often looks ridiculous more than menacing.
Honestly, Kristen Wiig is the best thing about this movie. She gets to play two very different kinds of women, and shines in both. Gal Gadot still embodies Diana Prince, but somehow feels diminished this time around.
It really seems incredible that Patty Jenkins directed both movies, because there's a chasm between the two. As usual, it comes down to the script, which was written by Jenkins herself, while Zack Snyder, one of the best creative forces behind the DC Universe movies, was one of the scribes of the first one.
If DC Comics and Warner Bros. have any hopes of catching up to Marvel Studios and the heights of their Marvel Cinematic Universe, they better up their game. This is a pretty bad stumble.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Can't really recommend this movie because it's such a letdown from the original. Jenkins is also slated to write and direct the next Wonder Woman movie, so I guess we can only hope it's better than this one.
Grade: 5
Monday, June 07, 2021
A Quiet Place: Part II
After the great success of A Quiet Place, with both audiences and critics, director John Krasinski was given the go ahead to film a sequel, A Quiet Place: Part II, which was supposed to bow last year but was delayed because of the pandemic.
It was certainly worth the wait, given that we got a smartly developed and executed project, even though a couple editorial choices did feel a bit contrived.
Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy are their usual excellent selves, matched in skills by the young Millicent Simmonds and Noah Jupe, two very promising young talents.
THE BOTTOM LINE: If you liked the original, you should enjoy this one as well. Plenty of action and a few good scares ensure a good time for all.
Grade: 7.5
THE BOTTOM LINE: If you liked the original, you should enjoy this one as well. Plenty of action and a few good scares ensure a good time for all.
Grade: 7.5
Friday, June 04, 2021
Cruella
Cruella is the latest live-action revisiting of one of Disney's most well known properties, conjuring up an origin story for the infamous Cruella Devil.
The movie works well enough, but I found it a bit too long. Still, the script does manage to create a backstory where there was none.
Emma Stone and Emma Thompson are both very good, along with Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, John McCrea, and Mark Strong.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Fabulous clothes, nice music, and good acting all work in synch to offer up a hefty dose of naughty fun.
Grade: 7
THE BOTTOM LINE: Fabulous clothes, nice music, and good acting all work in synch to offer up a hefty dose of naughty fun.
Grade: 7
Thursday, June 03, 2021
Supernova
Supernova is a very tender tale of the love and experiences shared by two men, one of whom will soon start inevitably forgetting everything about it.
It's also a well written exploration of what it means to realize that one's mind will soon start to fail you, and what your options are.
Stanley Tucci and Colin Firth are perfectly cast as the two men deeply in love with one another.
I've heard the argument that gay roles should go to openly gay actors, and there's certainly some merit to it, particularly given that gay actors are often denied the opportunity to play straight roles because of the fear that audiences might not believe them. Still, an actor's job is to make us buy whatever they're selling, so to speak, and these two interpretations are certainly a prime example of that.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommended to everyone, gay or not, particularly for the themes discussed.
Grade: 8
THE BOTTOM LINE: Definitely recommended to everyone, gay or not, particularly for the themes discussed.
Grade: 8
Wednesday, June 02, 2021
Deadwood: The Movie
Deadwood: The Movie is another example of a movie made specifically to give closure to the many fans of a TV series that was canceled before a proper send-off.
Most of the characters are back, and I was surprised by how quickly I felt reacquainted with all of them.
Indeed, hats off to the entire cast for so effortlessly and seamlessly re-inhabiting characters they gave life to many, many years ago.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Absolutely recommended for those who watched the series. If you haven't, I would wholeheartedly recommend doing so, and then wrapping it all up with this movie. It's one of the best shows I ever watched.
Grade: 7.5
Tuesday, June 01, 2021
Dream Horse
Dream Horse is a charming little comedy with a big heart, made all the more incredible by the fact that it's based on a real story.
The cast is excellent, led by the always great Toni Collette and a dashing Damian Lewis.
Honestly, the racing scenes are pure adrenaline rushes.
THE BOTTOM LINE: The perfect movie if you're looking for a feel-good night.
Grade: 7.5
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