Author: Daniela

We Live In Time

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When Almut (Florence Pugh) and Tobias (Andrew Garfield) meet under unique circumstances, they embark on a once in a lifetime love. From the very first moment they laid eyes on each other, to when they become a couple and eventually move in together and have a child, they don’t think it will get any better. That is until a shocking revelation comes to light that threatens to tear them apart.

To say I’ve been looking forward to this film is an understatement. Two of my all time favorite actors Pugh and Garfield starring in the same project? Sign me up! Their chemistry was off the charts and I found myself swooning throughout. Not only did they look great together, but the personalities of their characters just meshed so well.

Films are usually portayed sequentially. That is not the case here. We flip back and forth between different periods of time. At first it was a bit confusing to follow. After a while I got the hang of it. I appreciated that they took a different approach than usual though I’m not sure it will work for everyone.

What I liked most is the moral of the story. Appreciating the little things in life and learning to cherish each moment is easier said than done when obstacles are in the way. The love that Almut and Tobias shared and the fact that they really did what they could to embrace it regardless of the consequences was really inspiring. It’s something that will stick with me for a while, I think.

We Live In Time is one of those romance stories you could only ever dream about. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry and it will make you feel all the feels. Thanks to the incredible chemistry between Pugh and Garfield, this was a brilliant film to kick off 2025 with.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

2024 Wrap Up

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How do I even begin to sum up 2024?

On a personal note, this year was extremely hard for me. I went through a lot of things mentally and physically and at times it got in the way of my review writing. That being said, I would always find my way back to cinema; films have a way of transporting us away or to inspire us when we need it the most. When times got tough, I knew I could come back and lose myself in an incredible story and then to share my thoughts with all of you.

There have been some outstanding films this year. Incidentally my top five all came out towards the end of the year. There were also some that I wish I could forget.

Without further ado, here are my top five best and worst films of 2024. I look forward to seeing what 2025 will bring!

Best:

  1. Anora
  2. My Old Ass
  3. The Wild Robot
  4. Wicked
  5. Inside Out 2

Worst:

  1. Joker: Folie À Deux
  2. Jackpot!
  3. Argylle
  4. Mufasa: The Lion King
  5. Role Play

Nightbitch

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Based upon the book by Rachel Yoder, Nightbitch follows an unnamed mother (Amy Adams) who stays at home with her son (Arleigh and Emmett Snowden) day in and day out while her husband (Scoot McNairy) goes to work. Fed up with the monotony, she can’t help but think that she might be turning into a dog.

There’s no denying the strange premise of the film. A woman changing into a dog is not entirely realistic, but there is something interesting about it all the same. Adams, who has been in a variety of different roles throughout her career, gives an outstanding performance as our protagonist. She wasn’t afraid to bare it all and really go there to get the point across and her Golden Globe nomination is certainly warranted. You feel for her character throughout the film as she struggles to keep it all together.

With that being said, McNairy also gave a commendable performance as the husband. At times you want to dislike him for what he puts Adams’ character through, but then you start to feel for him too. The two had a great and real chemistry together. Zoë Chao, Mary Holland and Archana Rajan who play the mother’s eventual friends were a lovely addition and helped liven things up a bit.

The actual transformation from woman to dog was not what I was expecting. Part of me wishes they had taken it even further than they did, showcasing some more of those pivotal moments than just the sprouting of a tail and growing body hair. I did enjoy the magical realism and the depiction of motherhood, however. It was a different approach and it did seem to hit the nail on the head.

Nightbitch is a film unlike any that I have ever seen before. The premise is wild, but I felt like it worked. Thanks to some incredible performances by Amy Adams and Scoot McNairy, it may not be everybody’s cup of tea, but there was something entrancing about it that I can’t stop thinking about it twenty four hours later.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Mufasa: The Lion King

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The Lion King is a classic beloved by many. In 2019 it was given the real life remake treatment. Now, five years later, the universe is expanding with a prequel story. Mufasa (Aaron Pierre) suddenly finds himself orphaned after a flash flood. He meets Taka (Kelvin Harrison Jr.) and the two form a brotherhood. As they embark on a journey through the Pridelands, their relationship is tested.

I was really torn on this film because I wasn’t fond of the 2019 version. I don’t understand why Disney feels the need to remake every single one of our childhood favorites in live action. While the CGI effects are impressive, particularly for the sweeping landscapes, I have to say that I can’t really take the animals seriously. They aren’t quite real and they aren’t quite computerized. It takes me out of the experience.

The story this time around felt convoluted. It was clunky to get going though I did enjoy seeing how Mufasa and Taka met and how they eventually run into Sarabi (Tiffany Boone), assistant Zazu (Preston Nyman) and Rafiki (John Kani). The second half was infinitely more exciting and I found myself getting into things more. It did seem like they were trying too hard to make call backs to the original. In some ways this was good, like the beautiful score and other Easter eggs, but after a while, I felt like I was just watching the same story over again.

The voice acting was good enough with many new additions joining the cast of the remake. Mads Mikkelsen portrays villain Kiros and he definitely fit the bill. Blue Ivy Carter is adorable as Kiara, Simba (Donald Glover) and Nala’s (Beyonce) daughter who we see in the future. Some of the songs were catchy though they were nowhere near as epic as the original. Nothing against Lin Manuel Miranda whatsoever, but I kept expecting to hear The Circle of Life.

Overall, Mufasa: The Lion King was a conundrum for me. There were some positives, but mostly it fell flat. While I understand that this is a cash cow for the company, I would have been more interested in seeing a remake of The Lion King 2 instead of a prequel story, but maybe that’s just me.

Rating: ♥️♥️

Carry-On

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Having coasted through life the past couple of years, Ethan Kopek (Taron Egerton) feels the pressure to step up after his longtime girlfriend Nora (Sofia Carson) becomes pregnant. On Christmas Eve, the busiest day of the year for airports, Ethan is put on the x-ray machine. When a mysterious traveler (Jason Bateman) blackmails him into playing along with his terrorist attack, Ethan must go along with the plan while also figuring out a way to save not only Nora, but thousands of other passengers too.

What initially attracted me to this film was the cast. Egerton has always been enjoyable and it was fun seeing him back in an action flick again. He plays the hero well and kept the film grounded. Though Bateman was only really present in the film throughout the second half, he carried an ominous presence from the moment you hear his voice through the earpiece. The way in which those two worked off each other was like watching a delicious game of cat and mouse. The supporting cast members elevated the story too. Carson had a sweet romance with Egerton’s character while Danielle Deadwyler was kick ass as LAPD officer Elena Cole.

As far as action goes, this certainly delivered. After a small introduction, it didn’t waste any time to get going. The airport setting really made it that locked room vibe which I liked and it added to the chaos as well. There was so much tension, like Ethan was running against a clock. I also never in a million years thought that I would watch a fight sequence set to Wham’s Last Christmas, but I wasn’t mad about it.

I didn’t have high hopes for Carry-On at first. It was much better than I thought it was going to be! Not only did it grip my attention from the very beginning, it had enough twists and turns throughout that kept me on the edge of my seat. It may not have been very realistic, but I didn’t care. I had a great time with it.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Moana 2

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The long awaited sequel to 2016’s smash hit Moana hit theatres this weekend. When Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) receives a call from her wayfinding ancestors, she must embark on a quest unlike any other. Together with Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and her crew, they must rescue a forgotten island to save their people and to find others who are just like them.

One of my favorite aspects of this franchise is its beautiful animation. From the island vibes to the impossible blues of the ocean, it is indeed a feast for the eyes. This time around the audience were introduced to some new places like the inside of a clam and the harsher waters of the ocean which made for a different yet still satisfying color pallet.

Another thing that I love is the score. The haunting chants are almost spiritual and they fit perfectly with the tone of the film. Unfortunately the soundtrack itself is not as epic as it was in the first film. Lin Manuel Miranda’s absence is felt and while I enjoyed most of the songs in the moment, none of them really stuck out and I couldn’t even tell you their names.

Cravalho and Johnson are a great team once again as Moana and Maui. They have an effortless friendship with one another; it was just a pity they were only reunited in the third act! I enjoyed the addition of some of the other characters like Moana’s sister Simea (Khaleesi Lambert – Tsuda) and the crew that Moana recruits for her voyage Moni (Hualalai Chung), Loto (Rose Matafeo) and Kele (David Fene). And who could forget the likes of Pua and Hei Hei, Moana’s pet pig and chicken? They provided a lot of laughs! I would have loved to learn more about Matangi (Awhimai Fraser) however, but maybe we’ll get her story in the inevitable third part.

Though Moana 2 wasn’t as great as the original, there is still a lot to like about it. Moana’s journey upped the stakes and I was intrigued the whole way through. With many laughs and heartfelt moments between family and friends, this is a great time for the whole everyone to enjoy.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Our Little Secret

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year because Lindsay Lohan is back on our screens starring in another Christmas film. This time around she stars as Avery, a career driven woman who is spending the holidays with her boyfriend Cam (Jon Rudnitsky) and his family. What she doesn’t know is that her ex from ten years ago Logan (Ian Harding) is now dating Cassie (Katie Baker) who just so happens to be Cam’s sister and he’ll be joining in for the festivities. Instead of coming forward about their past relationship, they decide to keep it a secret.

Out of the slew of festive films that Netflix have released this year, this one has been my favorite. Lohan is in top form here; she’s so effortless in the romcom genre and she always delivers when it comes to comedy. I thought that Harding was a good choice for the role of Logan. The chemistry between the two of them was cute. I’ve always liked the friends to lovers trope and while they were mostly exes during the film, we got to see their relationship develop in a more mature way.

Among the rest of the cast were some familiar names like Tim Meadows and Judy Reyes who portray Stan and Margaret, family friends, respectively. The big scene stealer, however, was Kristin Chenoweth as Erica, Cam and Cassie’s mother. She was such a bitch, but that just made me love her more. You could tell that she was having the time of her life.

I found the film to be genuinely funny. The scene in the church and the one with the family dog particularly had me in stitches. They were just so over the top! But what I appreciated was the balance with Avery dealing with her mother’s sudden loss from a few years ago. It was something I could relate to and it added a deeper layer to the story.

Overall Our Little Secret was a cute little Christmas romcom. With a great cast, hilarious hijinks and a heartwarming love story, this is one that I will definitely revisit in the future.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Wicked: Part One

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The biggest movie of the year has arrived and when I say it’s amazing, I mean it! Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire and the stage musical of the same name, Wicked has been given the big screen adaption by director Jon M. Chu. Born green, Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) has faced many hardships growing up. When she’s given the opportunity to study at Shiz University, she meets and befriends the popular Glinda (Ariana Grande). But dark forces are at work in Oz and after a chance meet in with the Wizard, Elphaba and Glinda find themselves at a crossroads.

As a fan of the stage production and of the Wizard of Oz, I was curious to see how this film would pan out. I was initially unsure of the decision to split it into two parts, but now that I’ve seen it, I think it was a great idea. So much happens in both acts, it would have been hard to make any cuts. This gave the audience a chance to really get to know the characters and for them to have proper growth.

Erivo and Grande were the perfect match as our leading ladies. Erivo’s portrayal of Elphaba was exactly as it should have been; powerful yet understated at the same time and full of heart. Her rendition of Defying Gravity, which just so happens to be one of my favorite songs of all time, not only gave me chills, it made me cry too. Grande, on the other hand, absolutely understood the assignment as Glinda. She stole the show. Her comedic timing was brilliant and all her mannerisms were just over the top in the best possible way. They will certainly both get some nominations come awards season.

The rest of the cast are outstanding too. Jeff Goldblum is fabulous as the Wizard and I can’t wait to see more of him in part two. Michelle Yeoh is mysterious as Madame Morrible while Jonathan Bailey is delicious as Prince Fiyero. Shout outs also go to Ethan Slater as Boq, Marissa Bode as Nessarose and Peter Dinklage as Dr. Dillamond.

Oz and its surroundings are a magical place and the world building was out of this world. A kaleidoscope of colors from the poppy fields of Munchinkinland to the shimmering Emerald City, I was ready to pack my bags and walk down the Yellow Brick Road. Throw in the unique costumes and classic soundtrack and I was transported.

Words cannot express how epic Wicked: Part One was. I was worried it wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but it did. I truly believe it’s one of the best stage to screen adaptions ever. Run, don’t walk to your nearest cinema – this isn’t one you want to miss.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

The Merry Gentlemen

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Netflix has been really delivering with their Christmas movie offerings this year! Up next on the rota is The Merry Gentlemen. Ashley (Britt Robertson) comes home with her tail between her legs after she’s let go from her job as a Jingle Belle. When she discovers that her parents’ (Michael Gross and Beth Broderick) performing venue is struggling, she decides to stage an all male revue. With the holidays coming up, she is hoping she’ll be able to raise enough money so that business woman Denise (Maria Canals-Barrera) doesn’t replace it with a juice bar.

When I heard that Chad Michael Murray was starring in a knock off version of Magic Mike, I thought sign me up! He’s been a heartthrob since his One Tree Hill days and though he’s not as prominent in the industry anymore, I still like seeing him on my screen. Robertson is someone else who I’ve been familiar with for a while having seen her in many TV shows and films growing up. While I didn’t totally buy the chemistry between the two, I did root for them by the end.

I’m not sure why, but I wasn’t completely invested in the film at the beginning. Though there was a short run time and it didn’t take too long for things to get to going, I would have liked a little bit more background on some of the characters or some extra scenes here and there to really make me care. Unlike Hot Frosty I didn’t feel like this one had much substance.

That being said, I was totally sold on the musical sequences. Another one of the members, Troy (Colt Prattes) has a dancing background and you could tell. I liked how each night was dedicated to a particular theme and it didn’t hurt that they were all good looking.

Overall, The Merry Gentlemen was a fun film. I think I was looking forward to it more than I actually ended up liking it, but that’s okay. It still provided me with the right amount of entertainment.

Rating: ♥️♥️

Hot Frosty

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Kathy (Lacey Chabert) is a recent widow who owns a diner and gets by with some help from her friends. When she accidentally brings a snowman to life, Kathy learns that maybe there’s a second chance at love after all. But Jack’s (Dustin Milligan) time is running out – it will take a Christmas miracle for the two to realize their feelings for one another.

It’s important to suspend belief while watching the film as the plot not exactly believable. That being said, once you go along with it, it’s actually a pretty cute story. I like how Kathy started as someone stuck in the past and then slowly seeing her open up again once Jack comes into the picture. The character development and the heavier subject matter helped ground the story more.

Chabert has starred in many Christmas romcoms. She’s got this easiness and charm about her that makes watching her so enjoyable. Milligan, on the other hand, went for it with his portrayal as Jack Snowman. The innocence he embodied added an extra playfulness to his budding relationship with Kathy on screen and I liked watching them together. I also need to give a nod to Joe Lo Truglio and Craig Robinson as Deputy Ed Schatz and Sheriff Nate Hunter respectively who provided many laughs. Having previously starred together on Brooklyn 99, you just know it’s going to be comedy gold.

Over the years, Netflix have become well known for the various titles they release around the festive season. Whether or not these films are anything to write home about is a different story, but I can never resist them. Hot Frosty was no exception. Luckily there was a little bit more meat to it this time around which I appreciated.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5