Tag: MikeFaist

The Bikeriders

Published on by DanielaLeave a comment

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: ♥️♥️♥️

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: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

West Side Story

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Adapted from the 1957 musical, West Side Story has been reimagined for a new generation. Following the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two street gangs in New York City, everything changes when Tony (Ansel Elgort) and Maria (Rachel Zegler) fall in love. They’re willing to give it all up to be together regardless of how their friends and family may feel.

I surprised myself when I added this new version by Steven Spielberg to my list. While I am a huge musical lover, I was never a fan of the original. There was something about it this time around, though, that captured my attention and I had a feeling I would regret it if I missed out.

My mind was blown by some of the performances. Rachel Zegler was the perfect choice for Maria. Her breakout role was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity and I bet she is going to be everywhere from here on out. Rita Moreno, who starred as Anita in the original, had a special role this time around. I love how she was the guiding light for many of the characters and she even got her own song! The standout for me, however, was Ariana DeBose. She was so impressive that I hope she’ll get some award nominations.

At the end of the day, I am so glad that I took another chance on this musical. Something about it was different and really touched me. I even cried when it was all over and the people in my theatre room clapped. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. Who would have thought?

Rating: ♥♥♥♥.5