Month: April 2023

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry

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Based upon the novel by Rachel Joyce, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is the story of Harold (Jim Broadbent), an ordinary man, who lives in South Devon with his wife Maureen (Penelope Wilton). One day he receives a letter in the post. From former colleague and friend Queenie Hennessy (Linda Bassett), she is writing to tell him that she’s dying of cancer. Harold comes up with a reply and sets out to mail it. But instead of slipping the letter through the slot, he keeps walking. The further he goes, he decides that as long as he keeps walking, Queenie must wait for him, for he will save her.

Having only recently been made aware of this story, I jumped at the chance to read the book before the film released in cinemas. I wanted to know what I was getting myself into and I truly believe it’s one of the best books I’ve read so far this year (and I’ve read a lot). Suffice to say the adaption had a lot to live up to, but luckily I was left satisfied.

If you are looking for something that is constantly moving and has many twists along the way, this won’t be for you. That is precisely one of the reasons why I love it so much. On the surface, it appears to be about one thing, but as the story goes on, you learn so much more about Harold and his life. The themes that come along with it are a mixed bag that kept me invested all the way through.

Broadbent does a wonderful job as our main character. His mannerisms and the way his eyes go big to convey the smallest look are absolutely perfect. It was everything that I envisioned while reading about him. Wilton, alternatively, may not seem so supporting at the beginning, but she still delivers a standout performance as Harold’s wife.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry punched me in the gut from the get go. The emotions I felt while watching were heightened because everything I felt while reading the book was well executed on screen. Not only does it capture those fleeting moments and it really does make you want to be a better person.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Ghosted

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The ever popular Ana De Armas and Chris Evans are back on our screens, teaming up to star in action adventure romantic comedy Ghosted. When Cole (Evans) meets Sadie (De Armas), he’s sure he’s found the one. They spend an unforgettable day and night together and then she vanishes into thin air. When he eventually tracks her down, he discovers her deep dark secret: she’s a secret agent! Suddenly Cole is swept up until Sadie’s lifestyle as they embark on a mission to save the world.

Not going to lie, I was really looking forward to this one. The two leads alone boasted what I thought would be a home run for Apple TV +. And while I had an overall fine time with the film, there wasn’t much to write home about.

De Armas and Evans are in top form here. This is now the third time that they have worked together and you can tell that their chemistry is completely and totally organic as a result. It’s just not their fault that the script wasn’t tighter and that not all the jokes managed to land. There were some good one liners and the meet cute between Cole and Sadie that took place in the first part of the movie balanced it out though.

I wasn’t entirely invested in the action part of the story, there were still some hardcore fight sequences and chase scenes that kept the movie entertaining. Having Adrien Brody as the villain was a fun choice. I enjoyed the soundtrack choices (Are You Gonna Be My Girl? and Uptown Funk were some great fits), but I had the best time spotting all those cameos.

Although Ghosted wasn’t as amazing as I’d hoped it would be, there were some positive things about it. The two leads were definitely up there and I would happily watch a million more titles with them as the stars. All in all, not too bad for a Friday night in.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Renfield

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Ever since I was a kid, I have had a fascination with Dracula. I even used to tell people that he was my father and I had a pretty convincing argument as to why – having been adopted from Romania and not knowing who my biological father actually was, it could totally be true! So when I heard about this new take on the infamous vampire and his familiar, I knew I had to check it out.

Renfield (Nicholas Holt), the titular character in our story, is tired of doing Dracula’s (Nicolas Cage) bidding after countless years. Wanting to make it on his own, he finds a new apartment, changes his look and even strikes up an unlikely friendship with cop Rebecca Quincy (Awkwafina). But Renfield’s dreams of starting over won’t be easy, not only thanks to his blood-thirsty boss, but also because of a mix up with drug lord Teddy Lobo (Ben Schwartz) and his family.

What worked really well here was the over the top gore. While some elicited some ews from me, it fit with the tone of the movie and made for a really fun time. I have to give props to the make up team because they absolutely aced it. Going hand in hand were the fight sequences which were just as out there, especially when Renfield would possess his master’s powers and acquire some crazy killer moves.

I’ve seen Holt in a variety of roles over the years and think he’s a fine actor. He carried this film on his back and delivered a solid performance. Cage, on the other hand, was the scene stealer. He’s such an enigmatic actor and you could tell that he gave his all to this performance. I wish we’d seen more of him.

Although at times it seemed as if the film didn’t really know what genre it was trying to be, I thought it was still an overall fun time. The camp and bloodshed were highlights though I think it could have been even darker and it still would have worked just as well. That being said, I had a good time and would not be opposed to seeing more of these characters adventures in the future.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Rye Lane

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Dom (David Jonsson) has just been dumped and he’s not handling it well. While at the art exhibit of a friend, he runs into Yas (Vivian Oparah). She also just got out of a long term relationship, but as opposed to him, she’s handling it like a champ. The two hit it off and spend the rest of the day together.

Directed by Raine Allen-Miller in a brilliant debut, Rye Lane is the stuff that romantic comedies dream of. I loved learning about Dom and Yas as they peeled back their layers and related to them immensely. Break ups are hard and the way in which they depict what each has done to them was raw and emotional. Though their experiences may seem different on the surface, they have more in common than one may think.

Just as Dom and Yas are our main characters, I have to say that South London itself is a third. The movie is a love letter to the city as we see various areas throughout the course of the film. I really enjoyed this take, reacquainting myself with familiar spots while learning about new ones along the way. Going hand in hand with the cinematography, the environment is filled with a colorful vibrancy that really worked in an authentic way.

Where this movie excels is in its message. In the age of social media, you’d think it’d be easier to connect with people, but in fact, the opposite has proven to be correct. True human connections are harder to come by than ever before and that is why this friendship is so magnetic to watch. With a tight knit script, jokes that actually land and a lot of heart, Rye Lane is a total home run.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Tetris

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Everybody knows Tetris. To this day, it is one of the most successful games ever and it is still loved by many. But what a lot of people don’t know is the story behind its creation.

The year is 1988 and Henk Rogers (Taron Egerton) is going after Tetris. Unfortunately for him, there’s a long line of people who want the game for exactly the same reasons as he does. Deciding to travel to the Soviet Union, he hopes to join forces with creator Alexey Pajitnov (Nikita Efremov) to bring the game to the masses.

I was one of the many kids who grew up playing Tetris on my Gameboy. That adrenaline that would be pumping through my veins when I’d be close to beating a level – there was nothing like it. I never stopped to think of what went on behind the scenes to get this game into the hands of everyone around the world.

While at times the events in the movie were exaggerated, it did help move the story along at a nice enough pace that I never felt bored. Instead, I became invested in what was unfolding in front of me and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next, even if I couldn’t stop myself from thinking all of this over a game? But then again, what do I know?

Egerton was brilliant in the role of Henk Rogers. Not only did he exude a charisma that sucked in the audience, his passion for the part helped make everything that much more authentic. I’ve always liked him as an actor and I believe he chooses projects that you would never expect. Another standout for me was Efremov who, as a native, was the perfect fit for Pajitnov. Additionally, his chemistry with Egerton was spot on and I kind of wish we’d seen more of them together.

Paired with a brilliant soundtrack filled with fun covers of popular hits to the way in which each chapter was broken up into a video game design, Tetris was a much better watch that I’d given it credit for. The delightful performances, twisty storyline and fast pace made it an enjoyable watch.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Murder Mystery 2

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Sometimes a movie sequel will come along and not only meet the expectations of its predecessor, but can actually surpass it too. Unfortunately this was not the case with Murder Mystery 2.

Now full time detectives, Nick (Adam Sandler) and Audrey (Jennifer Aniston) are struggling to get their PI business off the ground. When they are invited to their friend, the Maharajah’s, (Adeel Akhtar) wedding to Claudette (Mélanie Laurent) on a beautiful private island, they think it’ll be a much deserved vacation. But trouble finds them when the Maharajah is kidnapped. Suddenly everyone is a suspect and it is up to the Spitzes to solve the case.

It has been four years since the first caper was released and I remember being surprised as to how much I enjoyed it. The chemistry between Sandler and Aniston was palpable and the mystery was interesting enough to keep me entertained the whole way through. When I heard that they were making a sequel, I wasn’t even hesitant about it because I figured it’d be more or less the same fun time I had before. Unfortunately, as it just so happens, I should have had some reservations after all.

First of all, the pacing here was way off. It took forever for something exciting to happen and in between all the crazy car chases and explosions were some unneeded filler that simply wasn’t necessary. I wasn’t as invested in the overall mystery this time around either and could not get behind rooting for any of the other players in the story, even if one of them was portrayed by Mark Strong.

Even the antics of Nick and Audrey weren’t as authentic as before. The slapstick comedy was turned up a few notches too high, making it more annoying than charming and I wanted to turn it off on more occasions than one.

Netflix films are notorious for being less than stellar, but this is one of the worst ones I have seen to date. Everything about it just felt wrong. It was a slog to get through, the comedy wasn’t funny at all and the whole act just felt tired. I know that they kept things open for a potential third instalment, but I really hope they decide against it.

Rating: ♥️.5