Tag: MovieBlog

The Royal Treatment

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Outspoken Izzy (Laura Marano) runs her own salon in New York City and dreams of one day leaving her life behind to travel the world. Prince Thomas (Mena Massoud) is about to marry the woman (Phoenix Connolly) his father (Paul Norell) and stepmother (Teuila Blakely) have chosen for him. When Izzy has the chance to do the hair for the royal wedding, sparks between her and the prince while learning that it is okay to follow your heart every once in awhile.

Giving off major A Christmas Prince meets The Princess Switch vibes, The Royal Treatment was a cute story about being true to yourself regardless of what your family and society thinks. I like how headstrong Izzy was and how she helped bring Thomas out of his shell. I was rooting for them from their very first meeting at the LaMott Hotel. The chemistry could have been stronger, but I was all for that scene in the wheelbarrow.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much else to enjoy here. The plot lacked substance and I felt like the story dragged at times. Had it been fleshed out some more, I think it would have been much better. Laura Marano’s accent was overdone and grated on my nerves. I also couldn’t believe that I was watching Mena Massoud as the prince. I guess he really has been struggling to find work since Aladdin.

Overall, the movie was fine, but that’s about it. If I’m being honest, I expected to enjoy it the same way I do the above mentioned titles and couldn’t help but feel rather disappointed with the outcome.

Rating: ♥♥

Brazen

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Popular mystery novelist Grace (Alyssa Milano) is busy on tour for her latest hit when she receives a phone call from her sister Kathleen (Emilie Ullerup) asking for her help. What Grace doesn’t know is that in addition to teaching at a fancy private school, Kathleen moonlights as a webcam performer, hoping the extra funds will aid her in the nasty custody battle she is facing with her ex (David Lewis). But when Kathleen is brutally murdered one night, Grace finds herself sucked into the case, as if one of the storylines of her books is playing out in front of her. Teaming up with investigator Ed (Sam Page) and his partner Ben (Malachi Weir), they race against time to find the killer before he strikes again.

Based on the book by Nora Roberts, Brazen didn’t exactly scream amazing to me, but I was still curious about it. I’m a fan of thrillers and the plot for this actually sounded interesting enough. It also wasn’t completely predictable and I didn’t see the twist coming from the very beginning.

That being said, there wasn’t anything special about it. The cast were decent enough with some familiar faces, but the acting seemed dull and without very much passion. Grace and Ed were cute, despite the blurred lines of her getting involved in the case. I did like Ben’s character and I appreciated how the police captain (Alison Araya) was female.

While Brazen is not a film I would rush to watch again anytime soon, it wasn’t as bad as I was expecting. It more or less kept me engrossed the whole way through and the build up had a proper pay off. I do think it could have been so much better though.

Rating: ♥♥

Licorice Pizza

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Wannabe actress Alana Caine (Alana Haim) and successful childhood star Gary Valentine (Cooper Hoffman) live in the San Fernando Valley and meet by chance at school picture day. She’s 25 and he’s 15. As they grow up during the ’70s, their friendship grows into a partnership and later love, in spite of all they go through.

Licorice Pizza has been getting so much praise that I had to see what all the fuss was about. It didn’t seem like something I would like at first and I was very close to giving it a miss. Suffice to say, I am so glad that I didn’t. It wasn’t at all like I was expecting it to be – it was better.

If you are looking for a plot driven film, this is not it. What you will get instead is an exploration of various characters, what makes them tick and why they are the way they are. It was a different approach than what I was used to and sometimes the pacing seemed a bit clunky as a result. Sometime it was as if nothing was really happening which took some time for me to adjust to.

That being said, the acting was superb. Newcomers Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman gave top notch performances; their award nominations are rightly deserved and I look forward to seeing them in future projects. Mixed in with bigger talent such as Sean Penn, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Maya Rudolph and Bradley Cooper, it was a joy to witness.

Licorice Pizza is really as good as everybody says it is. It took me some time to wrap my head around what I had just seen but I mean that in the best way possible. It made me think and had me feeling nostalgic for a time that I have never even lived through.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

2021 Wrap Up

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It’s hard to believe that another year has come to an end. In some ways, it was like I blinked and 2021 was over. Starting out in another lockdown (which definitely impacted my maintaining this blog) was rough, but then halfway through, movie theatres opened up again. Nothing will ever beat walking into that large auditorium, settling into those chairs and buckling in for a life changing journey.

2021 brought many great films that certainly made making this list a difficult task. Some I forgot along the way. Some made themselves known to me more recently. And others I wish I could erase from my memory all together. There are also a few that I think I generously rated, but what can you do?

So without further ado, here are my top 5 best and worst of the year.

Best

  1. Promising Young Woman
  2. West Side Story
  3. In The Heights
  4. Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
  5. Encanto

Worst

  1. Space Jam: A New Legacy
  2. The Green Knight
  3. Thunder Force
  4. Locked Down
  5. Tom and Jerry

Don’t Look Up

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When Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), an astronomy grad student and her professor Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) discover a comet within the solar system, they can’t believe their eyes – until they realize that it is on its way to Earth. Upon embarking on a media tour that takes them to the White House, it seems that nobody really cares that they are all going to die. With only six months until the comet makes impact, Kate and Randall will do whatever they can to get the world to just look up.

Don’t Look Up seemed so promising. The cast, which boasted big names such as Meryl Streep, Cate Blancett, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, Kid Cudi and Ariana Grande, was one that grasped my attention as soon as the trailer hit Netflix. And I almost hate to admit it, but this movie was just such a miss for me. I guess I can’t really say I’m surprised since it’s not a subject I am very familiar with, however, I still wanted to give it a go.

Films with so many famous people in it are not always successful. This was one of them. Some characters had more screen time than others and some were also not very likeable (though I think that was kind of the point?) I must admit that Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence had good chemistry together. I also loved seeing Meryl Streep portraying The President.

While this was pegged to be a comedy, I did not think it was very funny. Sometimes humor tends to go over my head and I found myself missing out on the various supposed jokes.

Overall, I understand what Don’t Look Up was trying to achieve, I’m just not sure it landed all too well. I expected much more from the movie and can’t help feeling disappointed since it was my last film review of the year.

Rating: ♥♥

Spider-Man: No Way Home

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Following the events of Far From Home, Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) identity as Spider-Man has been revealed to the world. Life as he knew it with his aunt May (Marisa Tomei), his best friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) and his girlfriend MJ (Zendaya) is no more. When Peter sees the lives of the people he loves becoming impacted by his choices, he knows he needs to make things right. Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) has the power to make everyone forget that he was ever Spider-Man. But when the spell goes wrong, the multiverse opens and with it comes many foes.

I feel like I am incredibly late in both watching and reviewing Spider-Man: No Way Home and let me tell you, it killed me. I was worried so much that I would be spoiled and my experience of watching would therefore be ruined. I am happy to report that that was not the case. And if I’m being entirely honest, the wait was actually worth it.

Without giving too much away, I have to say that everything about this movie exceeded my expectations. It was funny, it had many thrilling moments and some crazy action sequences all in true Marvel fashion. It seemed like the stakes were raised higher than ever before and I was on the edge of my seat the whole way through.

Spider-Man: No Way Home seemed like an ending of sorts, though I hope that isn’t true. I’ll be the first to admit that I was hesitant about Tom Holland at first, but he really impressed me with each and every instalment. Hopefully it won’t take too long until we see him and the rest of the gang back on our screens again.

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

Single All The Way

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Tired of his family’s judgement on his single status, Peter (Michael Urie) begs his best friend Nick (Philemon Chambers) to come home with him for Christmas so they can pretend to be in a relationship. The plan seems perfect since everyone in Peter’s family thinks they should end up together anyway, until his mom Carole (Kathy Najimy) interferes and sets him up on a blind date with her trainer James (Luke Macfarlane), causing everything to go haywire.

Single All The Way is a great holiday rom-com and I love that it is Netflix’s first with same sex representation. Despite the predictable storyline, I was still swept up in the joy of it all. The scene, in particular, of Peter dancing with his two nieces to my favorite Christmas song My Only Wish (This Year) by Britney Spears will live rent free in my mind for months to come.

I have to give a special shout out to the cast. Not only was the chemistry between Michael Urie and Philemon Chambers adorable, but some of the supporting members were too good for words. Kathy Najimy shined as Peter’s mom. I loved her meddlesome ways and how supportive she was of her son. Jennifer Roberston of Schitt’s Creek fame was hilarious as Peter’s sister Lisa and who could forget Jennifer Coolidge as Peter’s aunt Sandy? The woman is amazing in everything she does and this was no exception.

Everything about Single All The Way was perfect and just what we need for this time of the year. There may not be anything special about it, however, it will leave you feeling all warm in fuzzy inside.

Rating: ♥♥♥

Encanto

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The Madrigals, a family who live in the Columbian mountains, inhabit a magical house. The magical house has given each child a gift over the various years, from super strength to the power of healing. The only child who never received a gift was Mirabel (Stephanie Beatriz). Always feeling as if she was left out, Mirabel finally sees purpose in her family when she discovers that the magic is in danger and she takes it upon herself to save it.

I had no idea that Encanto would leave such an impression on me, nor that it would touch me in the way that it did. The story was intricate and unique with many captivating characters. Pepa (Carolina Gaitan), Bruno (John Legizamo) and Isabela (Dianne Guerrero) were among my favorites, but I connected the most with Mirabel. Her desire to fit in and establish her place in her family was all too familiar to me and I loved how realistic she seemed.

Lin Manuel Miranda was behind the soundtrack and he once again excelled in the department. The songs were fun and catchy and I appreciated the fact that there were some Spanish pieces thrown into the mix.

The colorful pallet of the film was unlike anything I had seen before. The house, in particular, seemed to come from a dream. Having the chance to see into each child’s room added to this feeling.

Disney has done it again. I don’t know how they keep me coming back for more and yet here we are. Encanto really had it all. Not only was there an exciting story, it also reinforces the importance family and being proud of who you are. I highly recommend it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥.5

House Of Gucci

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Patrizia Reggiani (Lady Gaga) is your average, hardworking Italian woman who always knew she was destined for more. When she meets Maurizio Gucci (Adam Driver) at a party, she vows to do everything possible to land him as her husband. Marrying into the Gucci family will give her that stability and, most importantly, power. Over time it becomes apparent that Patrizia’s ambition is too much for the Guccis’ to handle causing a spiral of betrayal, and ultimately, murder.

Lady Gaga was the star in House Of Gucci. Despite her questionable Italian accent, her acting chops have stepped up even more since A Star Is Born. I couldn’t take my eyes off her and she really commanded every scene she was in. In a way it was almost as if Adam Driver wasn’t the best match for her, though you could tell he was trying his best. Another standout was in Jared Leto’s portrayal of Paolo. First of all, he’s completely unrecognizable in the role and he was hilarious too. I just wish we had had more of other supporting cast members in Al Pacino, Jeremy Irons and Salma Hayek. It didn’t seem like we got the full capacity of their talent.

My expectations for this movie were at an unbelievable high. What started off really strong unfortunately didn’t stay that way. The pacing slowed significantly and the run time was starting to wear on me. It definitely could have been cut down by about forty five minutes. It also seemed like there was a lot of build up for a short climax.

That being said, House Of Gucci was a fascinating take on the famous family. The only aspect I knew about their history was the murder and so I appreciated learning everything else. I truly believe that it is a film worth watching, if only for the performances. I can see some award show buzz in the future.

Rating: ♥♥♥