Challengers

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After being delayed a couple of times, Challengers has finally graced cinema screens around the globe. Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), a former tennis prodigy turned coach makes no excuses for the person she is on and off the court. Married to Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), a champion who has been on somewhat of a losing streak, she signs him up for a smaller scale competition in hopes it’ll bring him redemption. He just has to face off against his former best friend and Tashi’s former flame Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) first.

Tennis may play an important part in the film, but at the center of it all is a love triangle. Zendaya delivers her most mature and captivating performance yet. Tashi was a magnetic character who didn’t care about anybody but herself and the way she commanded those boys was intriguing to watch. Faist and O’Connor held their own against her as well as each other; their bromance was one for the books and if you ask me, I think they should have been together, not fighting over who got to be with Tashi! That being said, all three had crazy chemistry that I won’t be recovering from anytime soon.

Music helps amplify certain scenes and put you in the right frame of mind. The score that was used throughout was so unlike any that I have ever experienced before. It was loud and pulsating especially during the big tennis match. That mixed with the unique way in which it was shot was a palette not only for the ears but for the eyes too.

To help bridge the gap between the past and the present, there were multiple flashbacks. The first one really set the stage. After a while, it started skipping around a bit too much and was hard to keep track of. As a result, the big match almost seemed to take a backseat while simultaneously feeling like it lasted far too long.

My expectations for Challengers was pretty high and for the most part I feel like it delivered. Thanks to the stunning performance from our three leads and the direction of Luca Guadagnino, this is a film that tingled all of my senses while also staying true to such a beloved sport.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

The Greatest Hits

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Harriet (Lucy Boynton) has been dealing with the sudden loss of her boyfriend Max (David Corenswet). In order to help her grieve, she discovers that certain songs can transport her back into a particular time in which they spent together. As she tries to fit the pieces together in the past, her life in the present takes off when she meets David (Justin H. Min).

I really liked the concept of this movie. It blends so many different genres together from romance, comedy and drama to time travel. It’s so true that one particular song can really send you back to when you first heard it. The way in which this was incorporated throughout the film was really smart. The song choices were A+ too; there were some well known classics and others that I wasn’t familiar with, but they all fit perfectly.

Boynton should lead more films because she did a stellar job as our protagonist. She’s clearly been through a lot and she’s torn between her past and her future, but wouldn’t anybody be in her predicament? Max and David couldn’t be more different, but neither of them outshine the other. Boynton has pitch perfect chemistry with both Corenswet and Min that you can’t help rooting for both of them to end up with her. The addition of Harriet’s best friend Morris (Austin Crute) was a welcome one. You could tell he was her ride or die and I appreciated how supportive he was of her while also keeping her grounded.

As much as I enjoyed the time travel aspect of the story, I have to say that it did get a bit repetitive. I also wish we’d had a bit more background on Max. As the film was told in Harriet’s point of view we didn’t really get to know him outside of her thoughts and feelings.

The Greatest Hits is an emotionally charged romantic dramedy that only got better as it progressed. With fabulous performances and an even better soundtrack, this is a film I will be revisiting.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Back To Black

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Amy Winehouse was an icon. Gone too soon from this world, she is still sorely missed. Now, twelve years after her death, we have Back To Black, a biography about Amy’s life, her music and her legacy. Sam Taylor-Johnson, the director behind Fifty Shades of Grey, helmed this project and did what she could to bring Amy back into our lives.

There was some backlash when news broke that this film was being made. Some felt it was too soon after the singer’s untimely death while others had something to say about the casting of our star. Amy had a particular look and style, who could possibly even begin to try and portray her on screen? I’ll admit even I had my reservations, but I was pleasantly surprised by Marisa Abela’s interpretation. While she didn’t exactly look the part, she did sound it, especially while she was singing (yes that was actually her voice). Combined with the same hairstyles and fashion choices that Amy was spotted wearing, I thought Abela did a good job.

Other prominent players in Amy’s life included lover Blake Fielder-Civil who was played by Jack O’Connell. Not only did he provide us with some laughs, you could really see how tumultuous his relationship with Amy was and how that had such an influence in her music and her addiction to drugs and alcohol. Amy’s dad Mitch Winehouse, played by Eddie Marsan and her Nan Cynthia, played by Lesley Manville were also central to the plot.

As a casual listener of Amy’s music, there was a lot I didn’t know about her. By an entertainment point of view, I was intrigued by the events that unfolded in front of me. That being said, there was no way the film would be able to cover everything. For one, I thought there was too much focus on Amy’s love life. It would have been nice to see how she really got her start with song writing and where she got her inspiration from. I also would have liked the timeline to be a bit more fleshed out as we jumped ahead quite often. And of course there was a lot of sadness during Amy’s life that would just come and go in some scenes, but they would quickly be forgotten when the next moment came along. A bit more tightening up in these areas would have certainly made a difference.

To make a biopic of such an iconic person is no easy feat. I didn’t go in with high expectations and felt like while I learned a lot, there is still a big chunk of the story that I don’t know. What I do know, however, is that thanks to an endearing performance by Marisa Abel, Back To Black wasn’t as bad as I was expecting it to be. It just could have been more.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Scoop

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In 2019, the world watched as journalist Emily Maitlis sat with Prince Andrew to discuss his ties to the late Jeffrey Epstein. So many people tuned in to the interview that eventually led to Andrew being stripped of his royal duties. Now Netflix has brought us a recounting of what happened.

I actually did not see the original interview, though I did hear about all of its ins and outs. This sequence in the film was certainly the highlight. Everything was building up to it and I thought that it was done very well; it seemed incredibly realistic. I wish that there had been more focus on the interview and the aftermath of it instead of so much build up. Some plot points didn’t seem necessary and were only there for dramatization purposes.

The cast choices were bang on. Gillian Anderson was a force as Maitlis. Her character took centre stage later on, but once she was at the forefront, she completely excelled. Rufus Sewell looked so much like Prince Andrew it was scary. He had the mannerisms down pat too. Keeley Hawes was ever so dedicated as Prince Andrew’s private secretary, not willing to believe he could be at fault for anything and Romola Garai helped bring it all together as fellow journalist Esme Wren. It was Billie Piper as Sam McAlister, however, who shined the brightest of all. Not only did she break the story, she the real life Sam wrote the book that the film is based on.

Adapting a real life news story like this is no easy feat. Similar projects like Bombshell and She Said paved the way for Scoop and I feel like it was mostly enjoyable. It’s natural to add some padding for entertainment’s sake, but I wish there’d been just that something more to completely hold my attention.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Musica

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Directed, written and starring Rudy Mancuso, this coming of age love story follows Rudy (Mansuco) who is an aspiring creator. He has synesthesia; every noise he hears he turns into a rhythm. This has proven to be quite difficult in his day to day life, especially in dealing with his mother Maria (Maria Mancuso) and his girlfriend Haley (Francesca Reale). But everything changes when he runs into Isabella (Camila Mendes) at the fish market. Suddenly the prospect of figuring out his future doesn’t seem so bad.

I have never seen a film like this, but I loved every moment of it. There were some scenes that seemed to be right out of Stomp. The way in which each rhythm, melody and dissonance were depicted was so unique – at times it was like an overload to the brain as well which I guess is just how Rudy felt on a daily basis. As these moments came on screen, I grew to enjoy them more and more. My favorite was when Rudy and Isabella were in the playground and he was trying to explain his situation to her.

The casting is spot on here, with Mancuso proving that he is a triple threat. Mendes shines as the girl of his dreams and it’s no surprise that the two fell for each other while making the film. You can’t help but feel for Reale’s Haley and laugh at J.B. Smoove’s Anwar, Rudy’s best friend. But it is Mancuso’s real life mom Maria who is the scene stealer. Not only is she absolutely hilarious, but she is everything you’d expect a Brazilian mother to be. I really liked seeing their authentic chemistry come to life on the screen.

New York City and Newark pose as the backdrop of the film. In some ways they could be additional characters. They are constantly brought up by the characters, particularly in Mancuso’s case, when he is trying to figure out what it is he wants to do with his life and I liked how they were never forgotten.

Musica was truly a delight. Mancuso has created a beautiful story that everyone can relate to. While his character didn’t always do the right thing, this was integral to the plot and it all came together nicely in the end. With great cast chemistry and stellar music performances, this isn’t a film I won’t soon forget.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

The Beautiful Game

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A football team led by their coach Mal (Bill Nighy), travel from London to Rome to compete in the Homeless World Cup. A last minute addition is former semi-professional Vinny Walker (Michael Ward) who has a chip on his shoulder, but a great set of skills. He soon learns that he will have to confront his past in order to help the team and move on with his own life.

I think what makes this movie so compelling is the fact that it is based on true events. The Homeless World Cup is a real life football competition that takes place annually. It gives opportunity to those who may not otherwise have it . And while the stories of our characters may be fabricated, I really enjoyed seeing how these countries banded together over the love of a game.

Nighy is a world class actor who has tackled many different roles throughout his career. He was the perfect choice for the England team coach. The way in which he mentored these men who had once lost their way was really lovely to see. His relationships with each team member (Callum Scott Howells, Tom Vaughn-Lawlor, Sheyi Cole, Kit Young and Robin Nazari) were special in their own way – he was like a father figure to them. I have to say that this is very much Ward’s movie, however. He gave a convincing performance as the jilted football star and while at times it was starting to get old, it was also necessary to the plot.

The match scenes were a joy to watch. They were filled with so much energy and excitement, which is normal for a football game, but this time around felt different. You could tell that this Cup meant so much to these characters and that just added to my overall enjoyment of the film. There were so many moments where I couldn’t decide which team I wanted to win!

I really liked The Beautiful Game. A feel good story at its core, it makes you appreciate the little things in life. There were various moments throughout where I had tears in my eyes because it really touched me and that wasn’t something I was expecting. I highly recommend checking out this wholesome film over this Easter holiday weekend.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Irish Wish

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Lindsay Lohan is back in her second venture with Netflix. In Irish Wish, she stars as Maddie, a book editor who has been in love with her boss Paul (Alexander Vlahos) ever since they started working together. When Paul gets engaged to her best friend Emma (Elizabeth Tan), Maddie puts her feelings aside and travels to Ireland for the wedding. Before the big day, she makes a wish for true love and wakes up as the bride to be. But just because all of her dreams are starting to come true doesn’t mean they won’t come at a price.

Words cannot describe how happy I am to have Lohan back on the scene. Her comeback holiday hit Falling For Christmas proved that she never should have left in the first place and I have since been excited to see what she would do next. With her natural charm and comedic chops, Lohan effortlessly carries this film on her back.

Being torn between two men is no easy feat, but it is the chemistry between Lohan’s Maddie and Ed Speleers as nature photographer James that wins. From the very first moment they meet to the moments they spend together in the alternate reality, it is clear that our heroine is meant to be with him instead of Paul. Vlahos did a great job in making the audience dislike his character. In fact, the rest of the casting was pretty spot on as well with Ayesha Curry as Maddie’s other bestie Heather, Matty McCabe as Paul’s brother Kory and Jane Seymour as Maddie’s mom Rosemary.

Another selling point of the film was its Irish backdrop. The cliffside landscapes and magical wishing garden mixed with the quaint town and the beautiful Kennedy estate all elevated the magical element of the story. I’ve been to Ireland before, but now I want to go back and explore even more of it.

Lindsay Lohan is what makes Irish Wish work so well. If she wasn’t in it, I probably wouldn’t have checked it out. We’ve seen various takes on the same story before and some of the dialogue cringey and uneven. But it was still cute and a perfect way to pass time after a long and tiring week and that’s all that matters.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Damsel

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Doing what she thinks is best for her family, Elodie (Millie Bobby Brown) agrees to marry the handsome and seemingly perfect Prince Henry (Nick Robinson). When she realizes their union is a trap, it is too late – she’s thrown into a cave inhabited by a fire-breathing dragon and she must do whatever she can to survive.

Considering the fact that Netflix is known for putting out mediocre films, I went into this one with little to no expectations. Imagine my surprise when I found myself becoming invested and actually kind of enjoying myself?

While it takes way longer than it should to get going, the film did pick up in a big way. With no scene partner to work off of, Brown was completely at the forefront and I have to say that she totally delivered. Her tenacity and bravery to get to safety was thrilling to watch and I found myself waiting in bated breath to see how it would all turn out. Brown, who has been a Netflix protegee since Stranger Things, is certainly one to watch.

Though we don’t see them often, the additions of Ray Winstone, Angela Bassett and Robin Wright as the respective parents were selling points. Robinson unfortunately had quite a wooden performance as the prince thanks to some cringe worthy lines.

The special effects were mostly convincing save for a couple of green screen landscapes. The cave scenes in particular and the dragon itself was quite well done. At times it felt realistic and like the Kingdom of Aurea really does exist.

Damsel was way better than I was expecting it to be. Taking the damsel in distress trope and spinning it on its head was a brilliant idea. It’s no masterpiece by any means, but it made for an entertaining watch and that’s all that matters.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Dune Part Two

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The long awaited Dune sequel is here and holy crap was it worth the wait! I’m not the biggest science fiction fan, but even I have to admit that this instalment was on a whole other level. I was left completely and utterly transfixed on what was unfolding in front of me.

Picking up right from where we left off, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) has joined forces with the Fremen and is getting closer to Chani (Zendaya) as a result. Despite the prophecy claiming he is the Chosen One, he does all that he can to stay true to himself while grappling with his inevitable fate.

Firstly, it’s important to note how visually stunning the cinematography is here. The way in which the landscapes were shot from the sand dunes to the various locations were literally out of this world. It was like an overload to the senses at times and I mean that in the best way possible. Just absolutely outstanding!

The acting here is top notch with everyone delivering career best performances. Chalamet solidifies the fact that he was the right choice for our leader; I wasn’t sure of him before, but now I am. It was great to have more of Zendaya on screen this time around as she really was the grounding force throughout. Newcomers to the group Florence Pugh and Austin Butler fit right in; the former was the perfect Princess Irulan while the latter was completely chilling as the sadistic Feyd-Rautha. Complete with Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Dave Bautista, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux, Stellan Skarsgärd and Charlotte Rampling, there was nothing they couldn’t do.

While there were times where I felt the pace needed to pick up slightly and the open ending, I was engrossed the whole way through. I remember enjoying the first film, but this was so much more elevated. It was easy to follow, had great story arcs and an incredible score that fit perfectly. This is what cinema is all about – being swept away into another world and forgetting where you are for that moment in time.

Dune Part Two really is worth the hype that it’s been getting. Run don’t walk to your nearest cinema and enjoy it on the big screen. You won’t be disappointed!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Players

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In Netflix’s latest rom-com venture, Mack (Gina Rodriguez) is a sportswriter who has been making hook up plays with her best friend Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.) and their crew (Augustus Prew, Joel Courtney and Liza Koshy) for years. When she unexpectedly falls for hotshot reporter Nick (Tom Ellis), her plans are thwarted, and she is forced to rethink everything she thought she knew about the games she crafted.

Players looked like a cute film from its trailer. The cast is great with the likes of Rodriguez, who is not only stunning but full of charisma, Wayans Jr. who has great comedic chops and the delectable Ellis fresh off his run from the streaming platform’s Lucifer. But as I settled in and the story progressed, the excitement soon disintegrated.

The chemistry between the core group of friends was playful and fun. I enjoyed the various plays they made at the beginning, like the fishing one. The tone changed, however, when Mack started pursuing Nick. The lead up was entertaining and then the cracks started to show. Nick turned out to be a pretty awful person and it was hard to watch the scenes they shared together.

In fact, the main problem I had with this movie was in its characters. It is obvious from the get go that Adam has always held a torch for Mack, but we’re grasping at straws trying to piece together their history. And then there is Mack who is clearly running away from her true feelings. She makes a lot of questionable decisions which made it hard to root for her. Perhaps having some flashbacks with her and her parents showing their strong bond would have made me understand why she was so closed off in relationships.

Overall, Players could have been a home run, but instead it never really got off the ground. Had the characters been reworked slightly with more fleshed out backstories, it would have been more compelling and well rounded. I also would have cared about them more as a result.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5