Tag: MovieBlog

His Three Daughters

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Three estranged sisters come together in the last days of their father’s life. They couldn’t be more different: Katie (Carrie Coon) who has been struggling to get through to her teenage daughter, Christina (Elizabeth Olsen) who is away from her child for the first time and Rachel (Natasha Lyonne) who has never left the apartment she shares with her dad. Being in such close quarters for the first time in years will surely bring up all sorts of emotions.

I always like it when a film takes place in one location. It makes me feel like I’m watching a play. Not only that, but it really makes the overall atmosphere more intimate than usual because its focus is on a few select players. The father’s apartment holds a different meaning for each of the sisters though that doesn’t make it any less important. The only time the setting shifts is when we see the park and that in itself just feels like an extension.

Each actor delivers an impressive performance. They know these characters well and the way in which they work off each other was enjoyable to watch. Coon drove me crazy at times with her controlling ways, but I could also emphasize because as the eldest daughter she obviously felt like she had the most responsibility. Olsen was the peacemaker; I appreciated her efforts to mend the bridge between Coon’s Katie and Lyonne’s Rachel. Speaking of Lyonne, I’ve never seen her in such a role before. Her fear of a life without her father was so relatable. I think she was my favorite.

One of the downfalls for me was that sometimes the arguments would be solved too quickly. I would have liked more time in between for the dust to settle. I do understand these time constraints, however. In addition, there was a choice made in the final act that I didn’t completely agree with. It would have been more impactful if they had left it out entirely.

Overall, His Three Daughters was a realistic depiction of a family going through tragedy. With plenty of dramatic moments, there were also had some hopeful ones that perfectly balanced everything out. I’m not sure if it’s a film I’ll be revisiting anytime soon, but it is one that I’m glad I watched.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

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It’s been thirty six years, but everyone’s favorite poltergeist is back in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. When tragedy strikes the Deetz family, Lydia (Wynona Ryder), Delia (Catherine O’Hara) and Astrid (Jenna Ortega) are forced to return to Winter River. Lydia, who has been trying to move away from her past, is still haunted by Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) all these years later.

I’m a fairly new fan of Beetlejuice, having only seen the original for the first time a year ago. It was one of those films that instantly captured my heart and made me fall for the campiness and charm. The hype surrounding this much anticipated sequel directed by Tim Burton was at an all time high and I couldn’t wait to see it for myself.

Right from the opening credits, the audience are sucked back into this world. Catching up with the characters we got to know and love from the first film was a treat while getting to know some new faces. Lydia is exactly how I pictured she would be as a mom. Ryder does such an amazing job with this character and she always has. She was hands down the heart and soul of the film. O’Hara was certainly the scene stealer as Delia; her one liners had me in stitches all the way through and I could’t believe the antics she kept getting up to. Ortega was a welcome addition to the group though it felt like she’d been there all along. And who could forget Beetlejuice himself? Keaton once again smashes it as the titular character delivering an unforgettable performance.

While the sequel had the same look and feel as its predecessor, I could’t help but feel like there was too much going on. Some of the storylines I really enjoyed, like Lydia and Astrid reconnecting and Beetlejuice’s reunion with the Deetzes. However, there were others that I could have done without. Monica Belluci’s plot as Beetlejuice’s ex wife Delores seemed like an afterthought. We didn’t have enough time to really get to know her which was a pity because she had definite potential. Similarly it would have been nice to have more backstory on Astrid’s dad Richard (Santiago Cabrera) instead of Rory (Justin Theroux) who was rather annoying as Lydia’s producer and boyfriend. Willem Dafoe didn’t bother me so much because Wolf Jackson was amusing, but I did find myself missing a cameo from the Maitlands.

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice may not have been really necessary, but I think die hard fans of the franchise will still have a lot of fun with it. It is the perfect foray into spooky season and was true delight to be reunited with these iconic characters. I know I’ll be adding it to my annual Halloween roaster.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Sing Sing

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Based on the real life Rehabilitation of the Arts at Sing Sing Maximum Security Prison, the film follows Divine G (Colman Domingo), a man who was imprisoned for a crime he didn’t commit, and the other incarcerated men who put on plays as a way to escape reality. When newcomer Clarence Maclin (as himself) warily joins the group, Divine steps in and helps teach him the craft.

While the film may be simple in its plot, there is so much more to it than meets the eye. For starters, the acting is phenomenal by everyone in the cast. Domingo is known for smashing just about every single role he’s been in and this one was no exception. What was so astounding to me, however, was the fact that most of the characters were actual prisoners who took part in the program and were playing versions of themselves. Coming to this realization really made the whole experience that much more authentic and gave the film a whole new meaning.

Because this is a character study above all else, the cinematography was often up close and personal. This made it feel like we were in the room with them, having these conversations and being privy to their inner most thoughts and demons, but not in a way that was intrusive. This combined with the juxtaposition of the prison shots brought the audience back to reality.

At the end of the day, these men are human just like everybody else. They made have made mistakes, but haven’t we all? When everything was taken from them, they found a way to keep going despite it all. It was so inspiring to see.

Sing Sing was thought-provoking, understated and sincere. It was also full of hope. Everything about it worked for me and I can’t wait to see how well it does in awards season.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Jackpot!

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After another Great Depression, The Grand Lottery is introduced to help boost the economy again. The only catch is that if you kill the winner before sundown, you can legally claim their prize. Katie (Awkwafina) is new to LA when she unknowingly becomes the newest lottery winner. She ends up joining forces with an amateur jackpot protector named Noel (Jon Cena) who vows to help Katie make it to the end of the day.

There was so much wrong with this film, I don’t even know where to start. The one positive I can think of is the cast. Awkwafina and Cena develop an enjoyable friendship that I did like watching. Simu Liu, who portrays Louis Lewis, another protector and rival of Cena’s Noel, is another great addition and it was fun having him and Awkwafina reunited after Shang Chi. I mustn’t forget about Sean William Scott who starred in a feature film again after so long which was a welcome treat. While the script lets them down, it’s easy to tell that they are doing what they can with the material they were given.

Unfortunately it’s pretty much all downhill after that. While the storyline held promise, despite the fact that it’s not something we haven’t seen before, it wasn’t executed well at all. I would appreciated more background as to why this lottery made people so crazy that they wanted to kill the winner to claim the prize for themselves. The action sequences were almost cartoonish after a while and became less and less exciting to watch.

I also didn’t think the film was funny. A couple of the jokes made me chuckle, but most of them fell flat. Very rarely am I a fan of slapstick comedy so I should have realized I would find problems here. It just didn’t work and after a while it all just started to feel like more of the same.

Overall, Jackpot! was a huge waste of time. Aside from the cast who were trying their best, there really were no redeeming qualities. I’m surprised that Paul Feig directed this as I usually like this work. With its runtime coming in at almost two hours, I couldn’t wait until it was over.

Rating: ♥️

It Ends With Us

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Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us took the world by storm when it first came out in 2016. Now it has been adapted for the screen. The story follows Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), a woman who moves to Boston in hopes of opening a flower shop after a traumatic childhood. She meets neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) and is swept up is his charm and good looks. But when Lily runs into her first love Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), her relationship with Ryle takes a turn for the worse.

There was a lot of backlash over the casting for the film. Many thought that the actors chosen were too old for the roles and they weren’t who the fans had previously envisioned. Although I read the book, I didn’t have anybody in mind so that didn’t bother me too much. I just decided to go into it as blindly as I could. I actually ended up being pleasantly surprised.

Lively gave a powerful performance as our protagonist. I’ve been a fan of hers for a while now and the way in which she portrayed each of Lily’s mannerisms and emotions was spot on. Sklenar worked perfectly as Atlas; his chemistry with Lively was exactly what I had hoped it would be. Jenny Slate, who played Lily’s best friend Allysa, and Hasan Minhaj who was Allysa’s husband provided some much needed comic relief. I was also very impressed with Isabela Ferrer and Alex Neustaedter who took on the roles of young Lily and Atlas. The former was almost like a carbon copy of Lively, it was insane. The only person I had a problem with was Baldoni as Ryle. He simply was not convincing enough for me.

The subject matter at play here is not for the faint hearted. Domestic violence is something that men and women deal with all the time and that question of whether the victim should stay or leave is not as black and white as everyone thinks it is. I thought the way in which this was depicted on screen was very tastefully done. It took some time for those who weren’t aware to figure out exactly what was going on and it really made you feel for every character in the situation.

I was one of those skeptical people who wasn’t sure if It Ends With Us should be made into a film. While I did enjoy the book on some level, I understand those people who didn’t. It was much better than I was expecting it to be and it certainly tugged on my heartstrings! Despite how heavy it got at times, I did love seeing Lily Bloom’s come to life as well as ogling all the fashion choices and digging the soundtrack.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Deadpool & Wolverine

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Everyone’s favorite anti-hero Deadpool is back and this time he’s teaming up with an unlikely ally. Wade Wilson (Ryan Reynolds) has traded in his Deadpool life for something resembling normalcy after his break up with Vanessa (Morena Baccarin). But when his timeline is threatened by new foe Cassandra Nova (Emma Corrin), Wade is coerced by Mr. Paradox (Matthew Macfadyen) of the TVA to suit up, find Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) and save the world.

Fans have been waiting for this instalment for years and I’m happy to report that it totally delivered. Reynold’s sassy Deadpool mixed with Jackman’s grumpy Wolverine made for a match made in heaven. From their back and forth hijinks on social media to their natural chemistry on screen, I hope this isn’t the last time we see them together.

With any Deadpool movie, audiences can expect plenty of over the top action sequences, blood and gore. The opening number and the car fight in particular were especially entertaining. The writing was also strong and quippy with almost every single joke landing. There are also plenty of pop culture references, but they’re more blink and you’ll miss them.

One area in which the film suffered was its plot which was hard to follow at times. I’ve come to expect this from Marvel, however, as I often find it hard to keep track of everything that is happening. Luckily this didn’t take much away from my enjoyment and can even be considered a standalone for new potential fans.

It’s no secret that Marvel hasn’t quite been the same since Endgame. After quite a few fumbles, I think Deadpool and Wolverine is a step in the right direction for the franchise. There is a lot of fun to be had, with hilarious jokes, memorable characters and cameos galore. I also can’t forget to mention the outstanding soundtrack featuring hits from NSYNC, Madonna, and Avril Lavigne. For the first time in a long time, I’m feeling optimistic about the future of the MCU.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Thelma

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Thelma Post (June Squibb) is ninety three. One day she receives a phone call from a scammer pretending to be her grandson Danny (Fred Hechinger) asking for money. When she complies and later realizes she’s made a mistake, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

What you see is very much what you get with this film. There are no high stakes chase scenes, no CGI or crazy hijinks. Thelma still sets out on a remarkable adventure complete with constantly escaping her worried family and stealing a gun from a friend who has Alzheimers to name a few. Despite her age limitations, the ways in which she pushes herself is still exciting to witness.

Squibb is fabulous as the titular character and I loved her team up with Richard Roundtree’s Ben. In his last role before his passing, Ben is an old friend of Thelma’s. Somehow he gets roped into this adventure and it’s so nice to see the organic chemistry between them develop. Another selling point for me was watching Thelma and Danny’s interactions. They were heartwarming and funny and reminded me a lot of my own relationship with my grandmother who passed in 2012. I mustn’t forget the additions of Parker Posey as Thelma’s daughter Gail and Clark Gregg as Thelma’s son in law Alan who were perfect in their roles and provided some big laughs.

It’s not often a film has an elderly character as its lead and that’s a shame. I really enjoyed watching Thelma take control of her life while also grasping that she can’t do everything as she used to anymore. It also reinforced the fact that it’s important to check in with the elderly people in our family and let them know that they’re not alone.

It’s crazy that at ninety four years old, this is Squibb’s first starring role. She brings Thelma to life and makes this is most wholesome movie you didn’t know you needed in your life. It’s simple yet packs a punch that will ring through right until the very end. I’m really glad I checked it out.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Twisters

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The blockbuster hit of the summer has arrived with Twisters! Serving as a standalone sequel to the 1996 version of the same name, former storm chaser Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones) is lured back to Oklahoma by her old friend Javi (Anthony Ramos) after a tragedy. Out on the field they come across Tyler (Glen Powell), a social media superstar. First at odds, Kate and Tyler end up working together to figure out how to beat the twisters once and for all.

I’ve never seen the original film so I cannot compare it to this new version. What I can say is that I had a total blast! Right from the very beginning I was gripped with that hardcore opening sequence and that feeling didn’t go away until the credits started to roll. The storm sequences were heart pounding and constantly had me on the edge of my seat.

One of the main areas in which the film excels is in its cast. Edgar-Jones is someone I’ve enjoyed watching since Normal People and Where The Crawdads Sing. Now that she is in such a mainstream movie, she has proven that she can do anything. Ramos was perfect as Javi, a man who didn’t always do things for the right reasons, while Powell killed it as Tyler. Words cannot express how much I love that man; he is so incredibly charismatic and this douchebag character was so much fun! I also need to shoutout the players that made up Tyler’s team (Brandon Perea, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sasha Lane, Tunde Adebimpe and Katy O’Brien). They were fab and I would totally go storm hunting with them.

Something I didn’t expect was that the story, with all its crazy moments, had an emotional tone to it. The tragedy that occurs at the beginning comes back throughout the course of the film. It helped make the characters more realistic and multi-dimensional. I also liked the hints of romance between Kate and Tyler. It was never the full focus, but the way in which it was handled was really sweet.

I honestly did not think I was going to enjoy Twisters, but it’s certainly up there with one of my favorites of the year so far. With its action packed storm sequences, fabulous cast chemistry and emotional heart, this is the film of the summer that you don’t want to miss.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️

Despicable Me 4

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Gru (Steve Carell), Lucy (Kristen Wiig), Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier), Agnes (Madison Polan) and the Minions (Pierre Coffin) are back in an all new adventure! With a new addition to their family, Gru Jr., Gru is finding it difficult to bond with his son, especially because his son is intent on tormenting his dad. When old arch nemesis Maxime (Will Ferrell) and his girlfriend Valentina (Sofía Vergara) break out of prison, the family are forced to go on the run.

I have always been a fan of the Despicable Me and Minion movies. They are just so much fun! The storylines are usually full of twists and turns and while you more or less know how they will turn out, you still have a good time anyway.

This time around we were joined by some new faces. Joey King donned the role of Poppy Prescott, a new neighbor who dreams of becoming a villain. Her dad Perry voiced by Stephen Colbert and her mom Patsy voiced by Chloe Fineman were great additions that added some new dynamics. I also thought that Maxime and Valentina were worthy villains and learning about Maxime’s past with Gru was interesting too.

I’m always so impressed with the animation in these films. It’s so vivid and I enjoyed seeing different locations from the first three instalments. Mayflower, for example, was a cute little town that the family had to flee to for protection. It was fun getting an inside look at the top secret headquarters where the Minions were hiding out as well as Gru’s school where he learned to become bad.

My favorite part, however, was the Minions. The obsession that I have with these creatures is unmatched. They are just so freaking cute and they say the funniest things. I think I laughed the most when they were on screen.

Despicable Me 4 is just as much fun as its predecessors. Audiences of all ages can find something to enjoy here. With its brilliant animation and talented voice cast, there is a lot to appreciate. I am already very much looking forward to the next Minions movie and whatever else may come from this franchise. I don’t think it’s one I will ever get tired of.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Descendants: The Rise of Red

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Five years after the original trilogy came to a close, the Descendants are back. The Rise of Red follows Red (Kylie Cantrall), the daughter of the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora), who is nothing like her tyrant mother. When chaos breaks out in Auradon, Red is forced to team up with Chloe (Malia Barker), the daughter of Cinderella (Brandy) who just so happens to be the former best friend of the Queen of Hearts. Together they must travel back in time to change the future.

When I first heard that they were making a sequel to the franchise, I didn’t think it was really necessary. The way in which they ended things in the last installment seemed fitting and the fact that none of the OG four characters were attached to the project had me skeptical. Still I wanted to see for myself what all the fuss was about and unfortunately I walked away feeling disappointed.

One of the aspects I did like was the introduction of some new characters. Red was a decent enough protagonist and I thought that Ora completely embodied the role of the Queen of Hearts. It was also cool how they incorporated Brandy’s Cinderella and Paolo Montalban’s King Charming and of course it was nice to see China Anne McClain reprise her role as Uma, the only bridge between the old and new stories.

The songs and choreography didn’t feel synonymous with what we had seen before. You could tell that there was no cohesion between when Kenny Ortega was at the helm and now with Jennifer Phang. I couldn’t help but think that they were trying too hard to incorporate some Tik Tok fads as well which is something I couldn’t relate to.

Another thing that really bothered me was how clunky the plot played out. The first two acts were fine but the third went by in the blink of an eye with no proper wrap up! They’d built up the Castlecoming Dance the whole way through and then the audience didn’t even see it happen. There wasn’t even an epic final performance to end on a high note.

Overall, Descendants: The Rise of Red was a letdown. I didn’t have high hopes to begin with but this was just poorly executed and unnecessary. I feel bad for the longtime fans who were looking forward to this one.

Rating: ♥️♥️