Tag: MovieReview

Where The Crawdads Sing

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Known by others as ‘Marsh Girl’, Kya Clark (Daisy Edgar-Jones) was abandoned by her family as a child and had to grow up quickly as a result. When she comes across two young men (Taylor John Smith and Harris Dickinson) over the span of her life, she opens herself up to a world she never knew possible. But as one of them turns up dead, all fingers point are pointing at Kya.

Where The Crawdads Sing is based on the 2018 best seller by Delia Owens. Now considered to be quite controversial due to the author’s involvement in a real life murder case, there has been a lot of negative talk about the movie. That being said, I still wanted to see it as I did enjoy the novel and Reese Witherspoon’s production company was behind its creation.

The first thing that struck me about this movie was the way in which it was filmed. The locations, for starters, were absolutely breathtaking. I loved the aerial shots of the marshes and those of the various wildlife. It’s almost as if the marsh was its own individual character; it wasn’t at the forefront of the film, but you never forgot about it.

A simple story about a girl who just wants to find her place in the world, Daisy Edgar-Jones’s performance as Kya was outstanding. The vulnerability and simplicity that she brought to the role took my breath away. Every time I see her in something new, I am constantly impressed by her acting chops and can’t wait to see what she does next. As for her gentlemen counterparts, I preferred John Smith’s character more than Dickinson’s, though I suppose that is the point. I also enjoyed David Strathairn as Tom Milton, Michael Hyatt as Mabel and Sterling Macer Jr. as Jumpin’ all of who the film would not be complete without.

With major To Kill A Mockingbird vibes, Where The Crawdads Sing was a book to movie adaption that I have to admit was well executed. The main plot points were included and the few changes added made sense. This is the type of story that will sit with you long after you experience it and I know I’ll be playing Carolina by Taylor Swift on replay as a result.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

The Gray Man

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After uncovering top secret agency secrets from the CIA, agent Six (Ryan Gosling) finds himself on the run. With the help of Dani Miranda (Ana De Armas), he must escape time and time again from former agent Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans) who will stop at nothing until Six is dead.

Once upon a time, I used to look forward to action movies. They aren’t my favorite genre by any means, but as long as there is a good balance between the fight sequences, explosions and the overall storyline, I can usually get behind them. Unfortunately I cannot say that The Gray Man falls into this category. I was excited for this one too as it was set up by Netflix to be the next big summer blockbuster. Alas, it fell short.

The only good part about the film was a few of the cast members. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I saw Ryan Gosling in anything, so it was refreshing to have him back on my screen. I also loved seeing Ana De Armas again, who always brings her A game. While the movie boasted other large names such as Alfre Woodard, Regé-Jean Page, Billy Bob Thornton and Chris Evans, I have to say that they delivered less than stellar performances. I was stoked to hear that Page, Netflix protégé, was cast in something after Bridgerton. His scenes were lacklustre and his accent pretty terrible. And then there was Evans, who I am beginning to think is taking after Ryan Reynolds in that he plays himself. I liked seeing him portray a villain, although he was over the top and whiny. And what was up with that moustache?

I wish I could say the action itself was entertaining, but that would be a lie. There was way too much CGI and the fight scenes were repetitive, they just took place in different locations. I understand the purpose behind it and maybe it’s some people’s cup of tea. It just wasn’t mine. I wish there’d been more beef behind the scenes to make me care more about what was happening.

While The Gray Man seemed to be so very promising, I was massively let down by its execution. Sometimes, watching a movie for its stars is just not enough for me anymore.

Rating: ♥.5

Persuasion

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Anne Elliot (Dakota Johnson) has always been underestimated by her father Walter Elliot (Richard E. Grant) and sister Elizabeth (Yolanda Kettle). Believing they know best, they persuaded her not to marry the love of her life, Captain Frederick Wentworth, eight years ago. When Wentworth comes back into Anne’s life, however, sparks the internal struggle of moving forward with her life or giving him a second chance.

Loosely based off of Jane Austen’s final novel Persuasion, this adaption has sparked controversy with die hard fans. Over the years, there have been various versions of Austen’s work, particularly when it comes to Pride and Prejudice, Emma and Sense and Sensibility. While some have closely followed the source material (the Keira Knightley version of the former from 2005 rings a bell), others were a more modernized retelling (the now classic Clueless).

I, for one, was very much looking forward to this new version. I knew going into it that Netflix was giving it a new life and that was a welcome change. I liked the updated script and the fact that Anne interacted with the audience. It kept me totally invested in what was happening and like I was a part of the story too.

Dakota Johnson shined in the role of our protagonist. Her honesty and vulnerability was refreshing to watch. Another exceptional performance came from Mia McKenna-Bruce who played Anne’s younger sister Mary. Her spoiled brat ways could have come across as cringy but instead was anything but. I only wish the same could be said for the male leads. Cosmo Jarvis was fine, though nothing extraordinarily memorable and I wish we’d had more time with Henry Golding’s Mr. Elliot. He was brought it way too late in the game I almost didn’t see the point.

An Austen fan through and through, I was perfectly content with this new version of Persuasion. While it has been ages since I read the book, I was happy with it’s make over. It had everything I could have wanted: longing stares, witty banter, beautiful landscapes and stunning costumes that made me seriously question whether or not I was born in the correct century. Don’t let the negativity deter you – give this one a go!

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

Thor: Love and Thunder

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Our favorite God of Thunder is back in the latest instalment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Bidding farewell to the Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) turns his attention to a new foe – Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale). With the help of King Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Korg (Taika Waititi) and ex girlfriend Dr. Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), they embark on an adventure of a lifetime.

The Thor movies have always been my favorites in the MCU. I think I like them so much because they tend not to take themselves too seriously and you know what what to expect. The newest addition boasted just that and I couldn’t wait to see what was in store.

I know I’m in the minority here, but I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. With a vibrant color palette and a killer soundtrack, I felt like I was sucked into a cosmic universe. While I understand why people prefer a longer run time, I have to say that I prefer them shorter. My attention span isn’t what it used to be, so that was rather appreciated.

Gorr as a villain was brilliant. Bale’s portrayal was scary and haunting to the point where I wouldn’t want to see him standing over my bed in the middle of the night. The reintroduction of Jane was great as well and I loved seeing her become Mighty Thor. I only wish we’d had more scenes with both characters.

Overall, Thor: Love and Thunder was just what I was in the mood for. Wacky humor, crazy scenarios and out of this world fun. I cannot wait to see what will happen next.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

The Princess

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When a princess (Joey King) refuses to marry evil sociopath Julius (Dominic Cooper), she is kidnapped by his henchmen and locked in one of the towers of her father’s castle. As Julius plans on taking over the kingdom, the Princess must escape and save her people before it’s too late.

Hulu’s The Princess is an over the top action movie, so if that isn’t your thing, then I would stay clear. There isn’t much to the plot; instead the story moves forward with one fight sequence after another. Some of these are rather gory and can seem repetitive, but I have to commend Joey King for giving it her all here. As someone who has always wanted to star in an action flick, not only does she perform the majority of her stunts, she does them well too.

As for the rest of the cast, it was fun to see Dominic Cooper in the role of a bad guy. It seemed as if he was having a fun time with it. Other honorable mentions go to Olga Kurylenko as Julius’s accomplice Moira. She was completely ruthless. I also enjoyed the additions of Kristofer Kamiyasu as Khai and Veronica Ngo as Linh, both of who were important in The Princess’s combat training.

Overall, The Princess is an entertaining enough romp perfect to indulge in on a Sunday afternoon. The girl power atmosphere heightens the overall experience, but aside from that, it falls short.

Rating: ♥♥.5

Minions: The Rise of Gru

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Gru and the minions are back! This time around, Gru (Steve Carell) is almost twelve years old and has been practicing his evil ways. When supervillain supergroup The Vicious 6 stage a coup from leader Wild Knuckles (Alan Arkin), Gru is invited to an interview. In a series of unfortunate events, he finds himself in the role of enemy number one. It is up to his trusty sidekicks Kevin, Stuart, Bob and newest Minion Otto (Pierre Coffin) to help him out.

Thanks to a two and a half year delay due to the pandemic, the follow up to the smash hit Minions has finally hit cinemas. I have to say it was well worth the wait! There is something about this franchise that is just so fresh and fun; it’s impossible not to enjoy yourself while watching.

With the stakes raised even higher this time around, we get to know a different side of Gru. The way in which Steve Carell voices this character has always been a treat, however, this time around was even better. We are also introduced to a couple of other newbies who I feel added an extra element to the story. I loved the addition of Michelle Yeoh’s Master Chow, who helped prepare Kevin, Stuart and Bob to fight against the bad guys, not to mention Taraji P. Henson as the incomparable Belle Bottom.

Hands down, though, the best part of this movie was, of course, the minions. These lovable yellow creatures are just so damn cute, I can’t decide if I want to own one or be one. Every single time they were on screen was a pure joy. I was close to tears from laughing so much at their antics.

Minions: The Rise of Gru is the animated film of the summer. It’s got action and adventure, with a little bit of heart thrown in. The soundtrack is great and the Easter eggs that are scattered throughout are a hoot if you’re a big fan!

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

Elvis

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From acclaimed director Baz Luhrmann comes Elvis (Austin Butler), the biography about the King of Rock and Roll himself. Told through the eyes of his on again off again manager Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks), Elvis rose to fame in Memphis, Tennessee before taking the world by a storm.

Not only is Elvis one of the biggest movies of the summer, it is arguably one of the most anticipated of the year. When news broke that mostly unknown actor Austin Butler would be starring in the titular role, a lot were skeptical that he would be able to embody such a character. After hearing that the film received a twelve minute standing ovation in Cannes, I knew I had nothing to worry about.

Austin Butler was Elvis. You could tell that he endlessly studied the legend’s movements and mannerisms because they were completely down pat. At times, I completely forgot that I was watching someone else and was completely swept up in his performance. I truly believe he will be getting a lot of nominations within in the next year.

Unfortunately the same cannot be said for Butler’s screen partner in Tom Hanks. Usually a force to be reckoned with, the accent he put on for his role as Parker was distracting and not at all authentic. It took away from most of his scenes which was a pity.

Another downside to the film was the fact that instead of focusing primarily on Elvis, we experienced his life from the perspective of someone else. I’m not too sure that was the right route. I would have liked to see more inside Elvis’s head, especially since it seemed he was struggling with so much.

With that being said, Elvis is truly a spectacle. The way in which it was shot and put together is a sight to be seen, thanks Luhrmann’s signature style. The music was outstanding with many famous hits sprinkled throughout, but where the film really excels is in its lead actor who I simply won’t be getting over anytime soon.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

Cha Cha Real Smooth

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Written, directed and starring Cooper Raiff, Cha Cha Real Smooth is about recent college grad Andrew who is trying to find his place in the world. Working a dead-end fast food job and living at home with his mother (Leslie Mann), stepfather (Brad Garrett) and brother (Evan Assante) he takes on a side gig as party host for the summer’s Bar Mitzvah circuit. That’s where he meets the mysterious Domino (Dakota Johnson) and her autistic daughter Lola (Vanessa Burghardt). Little does he know, they will change his life forever.

Let me start by saying that the hype for this movie is real. Receiving rave reviews at this year’s Sundance Festival, there was no way I would miss out on this one. I didn’t expect it to hit as hard as it did and yet here we are.

Although I am not familiar with Raiff’s work, he is quite the triple threat. His portrayal of Andrew is awkward and so very realistic; how many of us have struggled to figure out what we want to do after we finish school? It’s no secret that I’m a Dakota Johnson fan. Her performance here was endearing and honest and the two balanced each other well. The big stand out for me, however, was Vanessa Burghardt. Autistic in real life as well as on screen, she’s got such a career ahead of her and I can’t wait to see where it takes her.

The simplicity of the plot added a factor of intimacy I didn’t know I needed. It almost allowed me to look into the characters’ minds and learn exactly what makes them tick. I found myself laughing along with them, just as I found myself tearing up at certain moments. That conversation about depression, for example, was so on point that I couldn’t help nodding along in agreeance to what was being said.

Cha Cha Real Smooth is a movie that should not be missed. I don’t care if you don’t have Apple TV+. Find a way to watch it. I guarantee it will touch you in one way or another and will stay with you long after the screen turns black.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥

Good Luck To You, Leo Grande

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Good Luck To You, Leo Grande follows the story of Nancy Stokes (Emma Thompson), a retired teacher who lost her husband a couple years prior. Wanting to find herself again, she decides to hire escort Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack). What starts off as a business transaction develops into something more as both Nancy and Leo’s walls come down and the two form a heartwarming connection.

Emma Thompson is brilliant in all that she does. She is the reason why I wanted to watch this movie in the first place. Always giving it her all, the performance she delivers here is unlike anything I have ever seen. Daryl McCormack was equally as enjoyable to watch. His charm and attractiveness lit up the screen and there was a sort of simple yet endearing chemistry between them.

The single setting of a hotel room made for an intimate viewing experience. With Nancy and Leo in the forefront, we really get to know them. As the movie progresses, the layers are stripped back and we see not only Nancy and her reasonings for hiring Leo in the first place, but we also learn about Leo’s background. While the two characters may seem different, they have more in common than meets the eye.

With strong writing and some laugh out loud moments scattered throughout, I have to admit that I found the middle of the film dragged slightly. When those personal details started getting in the way of Nancy and Leo’s meetings, I lost a bit of interest and wasn’t sure I liked the direction it was going in. Luckily it picked up again for the final act.

Good Luck To You, Leo Grande was different than what I was expecting it to be going into it. I thought it would be about one woman wanting to conquer her sexual desires, but what I got was so much more than that. Considered to be a character study on Nancy, I really appreciated the way in which she came to terms with her new normal and how she learned to love herself in the process. It was quite powerful to see.

Rating: ♥♥♥.5

Top Gun Maverick

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Since its release in 1986, Top Gun has become a classic that is beloved by many. Thirty six years later, the sequel fans have been waiting for finally hits theatres this weekend. Now a captain, Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is called back to Top Gun to train a new crop of the best aviators in the country for their most dangerous mission yet. But with his late friend Goose’s son Bradley ‘Rooster’ Bradshaw (Miles Teller) in the line up, Maverick has no choice but to confront the ghosts of his past.

I’m going to be completely transparent here. The only reason I went to see this movie was because my husband wanted to go. Neither one of us had watched the original until two days ago when we realized we probably should educate ourselves. He enjoyed it thoroughly whereas I found myself on my phone most of the time. Sure I was able to follow along with the story and knew more or less what happened, but it didn’t captivate me as much as I had been hoping. Going into my showing last night, I had no idea what to expect.

Slowly but surely, I found myself completely and totally engrossed in the story. I wanted to learn more about these new characters and I wanted them to succeed. A lot of that was due to the incredible cast that came together to make this happen. Tom Cruise proves once again that he is a king when it comes to action movies. He’s not one of my favorites, but even I have to admit that there is no one else like him.

Other stand outs for me include Miles Teller. As Rooster, his arc with Maverick tugged at the heartstrings and really made you feel for him. Glen Powell, who portrayed Hangman brought the good looks and cockiness whereas Monica Barbaro as Phoenix represented females everywhere. Additionally, I enjoyed watching Maverick’s love story with Penny (Jennifer Connelly) unfold. She was feisty and certainly no pushover which I appreciated.

Seeing this film in AVX was such a good choice. The sounds of the jets mixed with the score and special effects are really on a whole other level. Combined with a great soundtrack, it really adds to the overall experience. I’ve had Danger Zone in my head ever since.

I’m surprised as to how much I liked Top Gun Maverick. Seeing it on opening night certainly heightened my experience as the audience kept breaking out into applause. It was rather emotional now that I think about it to be able to experience something like this. It proves just how special film really is. This movie is going to be the talk of the summer. Don’t miss it!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥