Tag: DaveBautista

The Last Showgirl

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Directed by Gia Coppola, The Last Showgirl follows Shelly (Pamela Anderson), a dancer, who has been working at Le Razzle Dazzle for almost thirty years. Nobody can believe it when they hear that the show will be closing. Suddenly Shelly, along with the people she’s come to know and love, must think about what they want to do with the rest of their lives.

After hearing so much about Anderson’s career best performance, I knew that I had to check it out for myself. Having been misunderstood in the past, many have overlooked her talent. She has proved everyone wrong with this role. The fact that it was written with her in mind says a lot, but she still puts in the work and the pay off is priceless. The nominations she received were one hundred per cent warranted.

The rest of the cast are perfect in their roles too. We’ve got Jamie Lee Curtis as Shelly’s friend Annette, a former showgirl who now works as a cocktail waitress. In some ways she’s the complete opposite of our protagonist, but their friendship is heartwarming to watch. Brenda Song and Kiernan Shipka portray Mary-Anne and Jodie respectively, two fellow dancers who look up to Shelly and think of her as a mother figure. Dave Bautista steps out from his usual action persona to play Eddie, the club owner, while Billie Lourd is Shelly’s tentative daughter trying to reach out to the mother she never really knew.

What makes this film so topical is its depiction of ageism. Shelly, who is in her fifties, is considered too old to be in show business. When she goes for auditions, she’s turned away without so much as a blink of the eye. Annette is facing a similar situation. Going from a dancer to a cocktail waitress was already something she didn’t really want to do and then she finds her hours are being cut to favor other, younger women.

Overall, The Last Showgirl may seem like a simple film, but in reality it is so much more. It is a bleak look into show business that is both eye opening and upsetting. Anderson’s performance combined with the glitzy Las Vegas background are all additional reasons as to why you should check this one out for yourself.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

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

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

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Our favorite underdog heroes are back in their final adventure as the Guardians of the Galaxy. Picking up where we left off, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is still reeling from the loss of Gamora (Zoe Saldana), but not for long. When the life of one of their own is threatened, Quill assembles the usual suspects in Drax (Dave Bautista), Groot (Vin Diesel), Rocket (Bradley Cooper), Nebula (Karen Gillan) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) for one last time.

Wow! What a send off. From the very beginning, this film felt like a finale of sorts. Everything was put on the line and the trials and tribulations that were faced by the characters felt more hardcode than ever before. It didn’t let up for one second with some very cool special effects moments jumping from planet to planet and a few very cool and well done action sequences.

I think where it excelled the most was in its nostalgia factor. Not only were there several throwbacks to the first couple installments, but I loved how the focus was mainly on Rocket this time around. He’s always been one of my favorites of the bunch and learning about his origin story was so rewarding. I felt for him, but it was great seeing how he became the raccoon he is today.

Other standouts in the cast for me were Mantis and Nebula. The former grew on me a lot and I found myself falling for how utterly adorable she is, while the latter has come so far since the first movie and that was such a treat to see. Also, while he usually gets on my nerves, I have to say that Chris Pratt didn’t bother me as much.

To be completely honest, I wasn’t really looking forward to this. The first movie was such a pleasant surprise, but then I barely remember what happened in the second. This one blew them both out of the water. As it progressed, I became more invested and by the end I was sold. This clan of misfits will be missed. Definitely one of the better Marvels we’ve had in awhile.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

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When tech billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton) invites his mismatched group of friends to a private island in Greece for the weekend, he’s surprised to see that detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) has come along for the ride. Perhaps it’s for the better when somebody turns up dead.

To say that Glass Onion was my most anticipated film of the year is an understatement. Ever since I heard the news that Netflix bought the rights to two sequels, my excitement sky rocketed – 2019’s Knives Out is one of the best films I have ever seen. I cannot sing its praises enough, so Glass Onion had big shoes to fill. And when it was released in cinemas for a limited time in November and I couldn’t see it on the big screen, I swear it almost killed me.

Luckily the wait was worth it. This instalment was everything I had hoped it would be and more. I didn’t know how it was going to compare to its predecessor and I was scared I would be let down. But I was proven wrong. The mystery this time around was much more intricate, with many details scattered throughout as well as red herrings to throw us off course. The script was tight and full of fun jokes that worked perfectly.

Where the film really shines is in its cast. Edward Norton as Bron was a shoo in as the leader of the pack. Kate Hudson as Birdie Jay was brilliant and one of the best roles I have seen her in. Dave Bautista embodied Duke Cody to a T while Kathryn Hahn as politician Claire Debella and Leslie Odom Jr. as Lionel Toussaint were great additions. Then there was Jessica Henwick as Birdie’s assistant Peg and Madelyn Cline as Duke’s girlfriend Whiskey. Seeing Cline in something aside from Outer Banks was so exciting. Janelle Monáe was mesmerizing as Bron’s partner Andi Brand; it was clear she was hiding something and I just wanted to know what!

But it was Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc who stole the show for me. I love everything about this character that director Rian Johnson created and I will never, ever get tired of him. The accent, the outfits (and we saw plenty of them this time around) and the fact that we learn more about him as these films go on, he is rapidly becoming one of my favorites ever.

As if you couldn’t tell, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery completely rocked my world. It may have taken some time to get going, but once it did, it did not stop for one second. I already can’t wait to rewatch it again and again.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥

Dune

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Based on the book series of the same name, Dune follows the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), a gifted young man who must fulfill his destiny. To make this happen, he must travel to a dangerous planet to secure the life of his family and his people. His journey, however, will not be an easy one as multiple forces hunt for a supply of a unique and special resource that will change the universe forever.

Let’s get this out of the way: I am not a fan of science fiction. Most of the time I end up confused and missing out on half of the story because they are way too intricate for me to comprehend. So, my expectations for this movie weren’t very high. Here I was thinking I would be spending the entire time struggling to keep up. I can gladly say that the opposite happened though and I ended up completely entranced in the story. While it took some time for things to get going, once it did, I was fully immersed and could barely turn my eyes away from the screen.

With such a stacked cast, it was impossible for me not to enjoy the various performances. While I was initially interested in seeing Zendaya and Jason Mamoa, even I have to admit that I wasn’t as bothered by Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Paul. He’s not usually a favorite of mine. Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista and Stellan Skarsgård were all flawless in their roles. Rebecca Ferguson’s role as Lady Jessica was the standout however. She stole every scene she was in.

I think the most impressive part of the film was the world building and the sets. I don’t think I had seen anything quite like it before and I couldn’t get over how realistic it all looked. That is something that I admire most about this genre and Dune was no exception. I felt immediately transported to those places which I greatly appreciated. Additionally, the musical score was beautifully haunting and fit perfectly. Hans Zimmer is a genius. I had chills multiple times throughout.

Overall I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Dune. It was very well done and I can say that it is worth the hype it has been receiving. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Army of the Dead

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After a zombie outbreak occurs in Las Vegas, a mismatched group of people are recruited to pull off the greatest heist ever. They must walk into the quarantine zone to retrieve money from a vault underneath one of the casinos. Putting their lives at risk, no matter what, is no problem when the payout is sure to be worth it.

Zack Snyder really has done it again. I don’t know where the man comes up with all these epic movie ideas, but he is a visionary. This was unlike anything I had ever seen before in the best way possible. There was not one dull moment starting right from the get go. That opening sequence alone helped set the tone and was completely captivating. The film didn’t let up afterwards and I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time. I also caught myself constantly screaming at my TV when something crazy happened.

I must give a special shoutout to the incredible cast that helmed this movie. Each played their role so flawlessly and the chemistry between them was off the charts. I couldn’t have imagined a better group. Dave Bautista, in particular, was able to show off more of his range as Scott Ward. I also thoroughly enjoyed the characters of Vanderohe (Omari Hardwick), Dieter (Matthias Schweighofer) and Mikey Guzman (Raul Castillo).

To be honest, I’m not sure why I liked Army of the Dead so much. It’s not usually my cup of tea, however, there was just something about it that was so intriguing to me. It was fun, entertaining and pure escapism. That is truly what we all need these days.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥