Month: June 2024

A Family Affair

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In Netflix’s newest romantic comedy offering, Zara Ford (Joey King) works for movie superstar Chris Cole (Zac Efron) who is the worst boss ever. By a twist of fate, Chris strikes up a relationship with Zara’s mother Brooke (Nicole Kidman).

This is not the first time we’ve seen a relationship blossom between an older woman and a younger man. I liked how this time around the age factor wasn’t the focal point of the story. Instead the audience is invited into the worlds of these characters as they embark on a journey of self discovery. Of course some hijinks ensue. There are some laugh out loud moments and one in particular that had my husband reaching for the remote to rewind it and watch it again.

At the core is a heartfelt story about finding yourself and growing up. Sure Chris and Brooke form the central romance, but I really liked the depiction of the mother daughter relationship between Zara and Brooke and that of Brooke and her mother in law Leila (Kathy Bates). It really helped tie it all together for me.

The cast was what definitely made the film. King, although a bit whiny at times, was relatable as the lead. Efron proves he’s still a heartthrob and Kidman is as lovely and beautiful as ever. At first I didn’t buy their chemistry, but I have to say that it did eventually win me over. The fact that they got Bates for the grandmother was genius and we can’t leave out the supporting cast of Liza Koshy and Sherry Cola as Zara friends Eugenie and Stella.

Overall, A Family Affair may not add anything new to the genre, but it is a perfectly fine flick with something everyone can enjoy. Thanks to the star studded cast and the emotional material it left me feeling satisfied.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Kinds of Kindness

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In Kinds of Kindness, three different stories are played out on screen. The first features a man who tries to make his own choices after having his whole life mapped out for him, the second follows a cop who can’t help but wonder if that is really his wife who has returned after being lost at sea and the third is about a woman who is in search of someone with a special ability.

Yorgos Lanthimos is known for his strange and unusual movies. After watching and loving Poor Things earlier this year, I was looking forward to seeing what he was going to do next. Unfortunately his newest venture didn’t quite hit the same marks that his predecessor did. One day later I’m still scratching my head over what it was that I watched.

What I did like was seeing some familiar faces in the film. Emma Stone, Jesse Plemmons, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hong Chau, Hunter Schafer, Mamoudou Athie and Joe Alwyn are the key players here. They each take on a different character throughout the three stories. I thought the performances were well done which is unsurprising with a cast of this calibre. That didn’t mean that any of them were particularly likeable, nor did I want to see any of them succeed.

That’s about where the enjoyment ended for me. As time ticked by (and it did so slowly), I became more confused. There was no correlation between the fables that I could detect and I couldn’t help but wonder what the point was. I think I would have appreciated it more otherwise. Also, it was as if each story just got more strange and convoluted. I like to think I’m open minded, but some of the scenes that unfolded before me have been etched into my mind and not in a good way! It’s like Lanthimos just did it for shock value and not because it added anything to the plot.

Overall, Kinds of Kindness is one of those films that will certainly divide audiences. I wanted to like it so much, but I think it just went way over my head. At least the cast were great and the cinematography worked so there were some silver linings.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Bikeriders

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Based on the photography book by Danny Lyon, The Bikeriders focuses on a motorcycle gang’s reign during the sixties and seventies. When Kathy (Jodie Comer) meets Benny (Austin Butler) at a local bar, her life will never be the same. Benny is the newest member of the Vandals. As the country changes over time, Benny is constantly forced to choose between the woman who becomes his wife and Johnny, the enigmatic leader of the club.

With an incredibly stacked cast, I was instantly sold. Hardy gives a solid performance as the leader of the group. He doesn’t take any shit from anybody and he also serves as a father figure to many of the members. Butler’s role this time around wasn’t as convincing for me, but I think that was what the character called for. wasn’t as strong in comparison. He was a bit of a wet rag if I’m being honest. But he’s so beautiful to look at that I would interested even if he were to read the phone book. The film belongs to Comer though who shines as Kathy. Told through a series of interviews given to Lyon’s character played by Mike Faist, she instantly captivated me even if the accent took some getting used to.

The look and feel was cool. The small town America back drop complete with the old school outfits and the soundtrack was all very fitting. I also appreciated the cinematography especially in regards to the motorcycles themselves. During many of the drive by scenes, the way in which the camera was positioned on the road with the engines revving was such an adrenaline rush.

Unfortunately the film did fall flat around the halfway mark. I understand that this was more of a character study, but it was missing any sort of real conflict. The pacing, as a result, was slow and I found myself losing interest. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the leading trio, but I felt like we didn’t even really get to know who they were as people, let alone the side characters (played by Norman Reedus, Michael Shannon, Boyd Holbrook and Damon Herriman to name a few).

Overall, I did enjoy The Bikeriders, but I felt like it could have been better. This was a prime example that a stacked cast isn’t always worth the hype because outside of the performances, there wasn’t much on offer.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Inside Out 2

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Ten years after its first instalment, Inside Out is back and so are its beloved emotions. Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Disgust (Liza Lapira), Fear (Tony Hale) and Anger (Lewis Black) have perfectly curated Riley (Kensington Tillman) to be the best person she can be. None of them expected what was going to come next: puberty. And with this new chapter in Riley’s life comes some new emotions: Anxiety (Maya Hawke), Envy (Ayo Edebiri), Ennui (Adèle Exarchopoulos) and Embarrassment (Paul Walter Hauser).

While I thoroughly enjoyed the original story, it was never up there with the greats. I still couldn’t help but wonder how Pixar would top it, considering it is a movie that so many people hold dear. I actually think I loved this one even more because I was able to relate to it on a whole different level.

As usual, Pixar knocks it out of the park with the animation. Whether it is the different areas of Riley’s mind like the stream of consciousness, the pits of sarcasm or the back where bad memories are banished to, or in the real world where we see Riley at hockey camp, there is a blend of vibrant colors and out of the box ideas that completely sucked me into the story.

The cast is once again a stand out here with some returning favorites and other newcomers. Taking on the roles of Disgust and Fear respectively are Lapira and Hale who do a fine job; it is like they had been there since the beginning. I’ve always had a soft spot for Sadness and was overjoyed to see her back – when she bursts into tears and face plants in the ground I feel that! But I also have to give major props to the new emotions who each brought something to the table. Ennui was much funnier than I expected, but it was Anxiety who impacted me more than anyone else. The way in which Hawke portrayed this character was so on point it was scary at times.

It wouldn’t be a Pixar film if it didn’t make me cry. I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned it, but I have anxiety and depression, so seeing these depicted on screen really hit me hard. With Anxiety getting more out of control and Joy’s line about struggling to find joy when you become an adult was like a punch to the gut.

I am so glad that movies like Inside Out exist. They teach children the truths about growing up and how important it is to stay true to yourself in such a smart way. Though our theatre was packed with people young and old, I do think it was the adults who took more away from it. I am sure that when the youngsters grow to understand the subject matter a bit more, Pixar will have done its job and that is something they should be proud of.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Hit Man

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From director Richard Linklater comes a caper full of twists and turns that is a guaranteed good time! Gary Johnson (Glen Powell) is a college psychology professor who also moonlights as a hit man for the New Orleans police. When he breaks protocol to help Madison (Adria Arjona), a woman who is trying to leave her abusive husband, the two lives that he has worked so hard to keep separate suddenly blur together.

Powell is hands down one of the best actors around right now. He has been on a steady incline and I’m sure he will only keep getting better. This role solidifies him as a bona fide star. The different personas that he dons while dealing with different clients just got better and better; I couldn’t decide which one was my favorite! Arjona, who I was not previously familiar with, holds her own against Powell. Their chemistry is electric and full of passion and I couldn’t help but swoon when they were on screen together.

I have to admit that there were some pacing issues throughout the film. It seemed as though a lot of time passed until things really started to happen. I didn’t mind the slow burn because I feel like the payoff was worth it, but I can imagine that other people would have expected more. Once the twists kept coming however, they didn’t stop. I do think that they tried to pack so much in that the ending was abrupt as a result.

Hit Man is a film with something for everyone to enjoy. The fact that it is based on true events is pretty cool! Having the chance to join Gary on his adventures and never knowing what to expect was a great way to spend a Friday night.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Am I OK?

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Lucy (Dakota Johnson) and Jane (Sonoya Mizuno) have been best friends all their lives. When Jane is promoted and the new role requires her to move out of the country, everything changes. Not only will their friendship be tested, but as Lucy comes to some realizations, things may never be the same again.

Inspired by the real life coming out story of screenwriter Lauren Pomerantz who previously worked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, we embark on Lucy’s journey of self discovery. Afraid of facing the unknown in her early thirties when ‘we’re supposed to have it all figured out’ couldn’t have been more relatable if it tried. Whether it was exploring her sexuality or deciding to focus on art for a living, I enjoyed coming along for the ride.

At the heart of the film, however, is the friendship between the girls. Johnson and Mizuno’s chemistry was believable enough. I’ve always felt that Johnson is underrated as an actor, but her comedic timing here was everything. And though I’m not as familiar as Mizuno, I felt like she was just as matched in that department too. The way in which they approached these characters was well done. I liked that we were privy to the good, the bad and the ugly. The fact that they could say anything to each other, even if it hurt, showed how much they cared. And while the time they inevitably spent apart was tough to watch, it gave them both a chance to grow and find their way back.

AM I OK? is the film that I didn’t know I needed. I can’t believe that it debuted in Sundance in 2022 and was only released into the world now. It tells an important story about being true to who you are and also one about the significance of friendship. I recommend checking it out!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️