Tag: MovieBlog

Hot Frosty

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Kathy (Lacey Chabert) is a recent widow who owns a diner and gets by with some help from her friends. When she accidentally brings a snowman to life, Kathy learns that maybe there’s a second chance at love after all. But Jack’s (Dustin Milligan) time is running out – it will take a Christmas miracle for the two to realize their feelings for one another.

It’s important to suspend belief while watching the film as the plot not exactly believable. That being said, once you go along with it, it’s actually a pretty cute story. I like how Kathy started as someone stuck in the past and then slowly seeing her open up again once Jack comes into the picture. The character development and the heavier subject matter helped ground the story more.

Chabert has starred in many Christmas romcoms. She’s got this easiness and charm about her that makes watching her so enjoyable. Milligan, on the other hand, went for it with his portrayal as Jack Snowman. The innocence he embodied added an extra playfulness to his budding relationship with Kathy on screen and I liked watching them together. I also need to give a nod to Joe Lo Truglio and Craig Robinson as Deputy Ed Schatz and Sheriff Nate Hunter respectively who provided many laughs. Having previously starred together on Brooklyn 99, you just know it’s going to be comedy gold.

Over the years, Netflix have become well known for the various titles they release around the festive season. Whether or not these films are anything to write home about is a different story, but I can never resist them. Hot Frosty was no exception. Luckily there was a little bit more meat to it this time around which I appreciated.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Emilia Pérez

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From director Jacques Audiard comes a story centred around four women in Mexico City. When lawyer Rita Moro Castro (Zoe Saldana) is approached by a cartel boss named Manitas to help fake his death and take on the life he’s always wanted as a woman, it is an offer she can’t refuse. And so Emilia Pérez (Karla Sofía Gascón) is born. Four years later, Emilia gets back in touch with Rita with a new mission: to reunite her with her wife Jessi (Selena Gomez) and their children.

After winning the Jury Prize and the Best Actress awards at the Cannes Film Festival, as well as receiving a nine minute standing ovation, I knew I had to check it out. Not only did it have an amazing cast, the fact that it was also a musical was something that interested me.

There’s a lot going on in the film. With many different genres ranging from crime to comedy to thriller to self-discovery, one might get lost amongst it all. It’s certainly an ambitious project, but I thought it was well executed for the most part. I couldn’t help but watch in awe as the events unfolded before me. The set up in particular was engrossing as well as the riveting final act when it all came together. Though the middle was a bit clunky, it was able to even itself out.

Where the film really excels is in its performances. Saldana shines as Rita. Her Spanish was impeccable and she had a lovely singing voice too. She was the glue that held the story together and I wouldn’t be surprised if she got some nominations come awards season. Gascón was a total force to be reckoned with. Not only did she portray the titular character, she also took on the role of Manitas which I thought was a brilliant choice. Her performance was both heartbreaking and inspiring all at the same time. Gomez really impressed me here. I’m used to seeing her act in more comedic roles so this dramatic turn was welcoming. She also got to act and sing in Spanish which was new territory for her. I also can’t forget Adriana Paz who portrayed Epifanía Flores, a woman who becomes enamoured with Emilia. Her poignant delivery helped tie it all together.

Overall, Emilia Pérez is a film unlike any other. Because there is so much going on, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. The performances are A+ and the exciting musical sequences, this has been one of my favorite film experiences of the year.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️.5

Anora

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Winner of this year’s Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, Anora tells the story of a sex worker named Ani (Mikey Madison) who meets Ivan (Mark Eidelshtein) one night at the club. He whisks her away into a world of glamor and when he asks Ani to marry him, she says yes. But Ivan is the son of a Russian oligarch and they aren’t happy with the newlywed’s nuptials.

I have been waiting a long time to see this film on the big screen and let me tell you it did not disappoint. This is everything that a film should be and twenty four hours later, I am still struggling to put my feelings about it into words.

This is hands down Madison’s film. Her portrayal of Ani is intriguing from the get go. With a combination of assurance and knowing her self worth mixed with a childlike innocence, she isn’t perfect, but you want her to succeed. You want her to get her happy ending. Her performance will surely garner multiple award nominations, all of which are completely earned. I cannot wait to see what she does next because I know it will be amazing.

I wasn’t familiar with Edelshtein, but I felt like he was great as Ivan. While the character ended up frustrating me more than anything, I figured that was the point and he did it well. I really liked the oligarch’s three cronies Toros (Karren Karagulian), Garnick (Vache Tovmasyan) and Igor (Yura Borisov) too. The tone changed when they entered the picture, but I think they added an extra something that was needed.

What I liked the most about this film is the fact that it gripped me from the very first shot and it didn’t let me go. It took the Cinderella trope and spun it on its head, giving it a cold, hard reality slap. The fact that I felt every single emotion throughout the run time was seriously impressive that when it was all over, I just sat there in complete disbelief to what I had witnessed.

Anora deserves every single praise that it has been receiving. Sean Baker has a hit on his hands. I was a bit worried because I had such high hopes for this film. Luckily it was better than I ever could have imagined.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Time Cut

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Four students were murdered twenty years ago. Lucy’s (Madison Bailey) sister Summer (Antonia Gentry) was one of them. While she’s always tried to forge her own path, it’s clear that Lucy will never fill the void that Summer left behind. When she accidentally time travels, she has the chance to get to know the sister she never had. But uncovering the decades long mystery becomes difficult for if Lucy alters the timeline, she will cease to exist.

If you saw Prime’s Totally Killer from last year, then you know more or less what to expect from this film. The similarities are endless, but what I really enjoyed about Time Cut was the time period in which it was set. Being transported back to 2003 was such a nostalgia trip. Reliving the velour sweatsuits, platform flip flops, French tips and initial necklaces had me feeling like a preteen again. Throw in a banger of a soundtrack with tracks such as So Yesterday by Hilary Duff, Complicated by Avril Lavigne and All You Wanted by Michelle Branch and my heart was soaring.

The cast did a good job in their respective roles. I’ve been a fan of Bailey’s since the early days of Outer Banks and I am familiar with Gentry thanks to Ginny and Georgia. Seeing the two of them team up and as sisters was enjoyable. I felt like they had a natural chemistry. Griffin Gluck, who portrayed Quinn, was a welcome addition. I like how he helped the sisters track down the killer.

Though the film started off on the right foot, it seemed to lose its way around the midpoint mark. It started with a dip in which some scientific jargon had to be explained and then it didn’t really bounce back afterwards. I did have an inkling as to who the killer was and though I was proven right, it wasn’t in the way that I was expecting. The twist was certainly different, but ultimately confusing and could have been explained better.

Overall Time Cut is a fun little slasher flick that is perfect for this time of the year. I would have liked for it to be a bit more fleshed out and with some more gruesome kills, but the nostalgia trip alone made it worth watching.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Venom: The Last Dance

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In the final instalment of the Venom trilogy, Eddie Brock and Venom (Tom Hardy) find themselves on the run. The world is convinced that Eddie is a murderer while Venom is being hunted. The symbiotic alien has something that a new foe wants and they will stop at nothing to get it – even if it means devastating circumstances for the duo.

One would expect the last film in a franchise to go out with a bang. Unfortunately I can’t really say that that was the case. The storyline was all over the place and didn’t always make sense. There were three different ones going on at the same time. When they came together, only two of them really came together. I didn’t think the other was needed. It took a really long time for anything exciting to happen too. Luckily it paid off in the final act.

Hardy makes this worth watching. You can tell that he’s had such a blast in both these roles. He always gives it one hundred and ten per cent and I will miss the unconventional friendship that was formed between Eddie and Venom. I do think that the rest of the cast were underused though. I was excited when I discovered that Juno Temple was attached to the project. Her character of Dr. Teddy Paine had potential, but we didn’t really get to see her take off. I feel like the same happened with Chiwetel Ejiofer’s Strickland and Rhys Ifan’s Martin. They were side characters who never had the chance to shine.

The Venom franchise is one that has never been high on the list of Marvel fans’ favorites. I personally have always found them to be a ton of fun. They don’t take themselves seriously which is refreshing and it doesn’t take a lot to understand what’s going on. While Venom: The Last Dance could have been a much stronger send off, I am glad that we got to see Eddie and Venom one last time.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Wild Robot

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Dreamworks has been responsible for the release of many classic films. From Shrek to Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, they have all been unique and full of vibrant animation. Their latest offering, The Wild Robot, follows ROZZUM unit 7134, or Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), that finds itself stranded on a deserted island. It must learn to adapt to its surroundings.

Animation styles have changed a lot over the years, but I have to say I have never seen anything quite like this before. The island backdrop looked like something out of a painting. It’s like you could see the brushstrokes of the water or of the trees. That combined with the vibrant colors made it feel so realistic.

The various characters we meet had sparkling personalities that leapt off the screen. Nyong’o was the perfect choice for Roz. The way in which her voice changed from being unsure to more confident as the film went on was executed well. Pedro Pascal was Fink, a cunning fox who ends up befriending Roz. His playful tone balanced Roz’s uncertainty and I really liked the friendship that formed between them. Kit Conner was Brightbill, a gosling that hatches in Roz’s hands and immediately believes it to be his mother. From the moment they met, my heart soared; they had such a sweet, genuine relationship that I really loved watching. And of course there was Bill Nighy as Longneck who played an integral part in Roz’s task. As usual he was full of wisdom. I only wish we’d had more of him!

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I’ll admit that I wasn’t interested in it. When the reviews started coming in and they were all glowing, I knew I had to see what all the fuss was about. This is officially my favorite film of the year. It ripped my heart out of my chest and stomped on it repeatedly, but I mean that in the best way possible! The way in which it was able to go from a light-hearted moment to something more emotionally driven was brilliant. The message of tolerance and unity as well was so spot on and so, so important.

I highly recommend checking out The Wild Robot. This is the type of film that touches you and leaves an impact long after you leave the theatre. It is also one that makes you want to be do better. I can’t wait to see it sweep at Awards season.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Woman Of The Hour

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Based on a true story, Cheryl Bradshaw (Anna Kendrick) is an aspiring actress who goes on the matchmaking TV show The Dating Game. Rodney Alcala (Daniel Zovatto), also known as bachelor number three, is the lucky winner. What nobody knows is that Alcala is a serial killer responsible for the death of many women.

I remember hearing about this ages ago so the fact that it is now out for the world to see is a treat. Kendrick, who not only stars in the film, also directs for the first time. I have to say that I was very impressed; the way in which she approached the subject matter was perfect. I can’t wait to see what else she ends up working on behind the camera in the hopefully near future.

The acting on display is nothing short of brilliant. Kendrick aside, we have Zovatto who was so amazingly creepy that I was very much convinced with his performance. He made you want to know more about him. Not only that, he was very charming and easily manipulative towards the women we see him come in contact with. I do wish we’d had more backstory about why he was the way he was though. The supporting cast of Tony Hale as Ed, the TV show host, Nicolette Robinson as Laura, a woman who had a previous brush with Alcala, and the various victims we were introduced to were all great additions. It was Autumn Best, however, whose portrayal of Amy, was pivotal to the story. The final act of the film had me on the edge of my seat.

Another aspect that I appreciated was the combination of pure seriousness one moment and the sudden change to something more light and comedic. I would be holding my breath during those tough scenes and then I would have to recalibrate my brain and shift gears. I truly believe that The Dating Game sequences are the best of the film, with great writing to boot.

Overall, Woman of the Hour was a captivating experience. I went into the film not knowing anything about it and found myself completely enthralled with what was unfolding in front of me. I hadn’t know anything about Rodney Alacala until that moment and learning about how horrible he was was eye opening. I recommend giving this one a go.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Joker: Folie À Deux

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Todd Phillip’s 2019 version of Joker was so successful, it came as no surprise when a sequel was announced. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is waiting for trial in Arkham for the crimes he committed. He meets Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (Lady Gaga) and the two form a bond unlike any other.

I was so much looking forward to this film. The original was one of the best I have ever seen from DC that I just wanted more. I’m so sad to say that this was just awful. None of it worked and I kept scratching my head in complete disbelief as to what was unfolding in front of me. It’s like Phillips took everything that made the original so great and tore it apart bit by bit until there was nothing left.

While I was initially unsure of the musical aspects, I tried to keep an open mind. Most of these sequences taker place in Arthur’s mind so I can understand why they were implemented. I don’t think it did much to strengthen the plot. It wouldn’t have made much of a difference if they were there or not. At least we know that Phoenix and Gaga can carry a tune.

Speaking of our leads, Phoenix is once again brilliant as our troubled Arthur. You never really know if you’re supposed to be rooting for him. He keeps you fascinated though whether or not he’s himself or Joker. I wanted to like Gaga’s version of Harley, or Lee, as she goes by here, but unfortunately I wasn’t sold. Nothing against her whatsoever as an actress, but I didn’t feel like her character really went anywhere. Luckily the supporting cast of Brendan Gleeson as cop Jackie Sullivan, Catherine Keener as Arthur’s lawyer Maryanne Stewart and Harry Lawtey as lawyer Harvey Dent helped elevate things.

There were a lot of bold choices made throughout. The opening sequence for starters was something I certainly wasn’t expecting. I felt like the courtroom scenes became drawn out and slow and then when the third act came about, it all just kind of jumbled together. There was no flow. I kept waiting for it to all fall into place, but it never did.

I know that everything has a sequel or a reboot these days, but Joker: Folie À Deux is one that never should have happened. It ruined everything it had going for it in the first one and made it into something unrecognizable. Even the acting couldn’t save it. This is probably the worst film I have seen so far this year and that just makes me so sad to say.

Rating: ♥️.5

Wolfs

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When Margaret (Amy Ryan) finds herself in a delicate situation, she calls a fixer (George Clooney) to come and cover it up. But then another fixer (Brad Pitt) shows up and the two realize that they need to work together. The night spirals out of control in more ways than one.

The big selling point here is the team up of old time pals Clooney and Pitt. Their real life friendship truly shines through. The banter between them as rivals is whip smart and snappy; I found myself chuckling along at various intervals. I liked how their characters started off seemingly so different from one another, but as time goes on, you realize that they are actually quite similar.

In regards to the supporting cast, Ryan does a good job at setting the scene though she disappears shortly thereafter. Austin Abrams helps kick things up a notch with his rather integral role. I feel like the action doesn’t really start until his character comes into play. I remember seeing him get his start in Euphoria so the fact that he is now starring along side two of the greatest actors of our generation is impressive. Poorna Jagannathan was also a welcome addition as June, a lady who works with both of the fixers.

Unfortunately the film doesn’t have much by means of plot. It takes a while to get going as it really needs to set it all up. The chase sequences and fight scenes are chaotic and entertaining, especially the one that takes place in the final act. With that being said, I think I may have missed the overall point.

Wolfs is your typical run of the mill action caper that does very little to break the mold. It excels thanks to its two lead stars who help drive the film forward in every single way. Not bad for Sunday afternoon viewing, but not entirely memorable either.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

My Old Ass

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Elliot (Maisy Stella) has always felt like a big fish in a small pond. She can’t wait to get out of Muskoka and stat over again at university in Toronto. When she and her friends Ruthie (Maddie Ziegler) and Ro (Kerrice Brooks) trip out on shrooms, Elliot comes face to face with her thirty nine year old self (Aubrey Plaza). Older Elliot comes with some warnings that will completely alter everything younger Elliot thought she knew.

Over the years there have been many coming of age films. Lady Bird, Eighth Grade and Perks of Being a Wallflower all walked so that My Old Ass could run. I wish there was something like this around when I was growing up. Turns out it still had an impact on me now.

I first saw Stella in 2012’s Nashville. After some time away from the spotlight, she’s back and better than ever. She brought so much charm and charisma to the role and was so extremely relatable. I’m really looking forward to seeing what she does next. Plaza, on the other hand, was not who I would have thought for Stella’s older counterpart, but it worked. I really enjoyed their scenes together and thought that they had a natural chemistry.

This film was so completely Canadian and I loved that aspect so much. Being able to experience cottage country again in its full form was pure joy. The beautiful Muskoka lake, the little islands scattered around it and puttering around on a motorboat brought me back to the various summers that I spent in an area not too far away from there. I also appreciated the fact that they casted some proper Canadian talent too.

I had a feeling that I would love My Old Ass, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much. Director Megan Park truly understands the minds of young adults. There were so many moments where I felt sucker punched with how real it all was. It gave me a lot to think about and I love it when a film does that. I highly recommend checking this one out!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️