Tag: Netflix

Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

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It’s been three years since the last Knives Out instalment dropped on Netflix. Now Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) and director and writer Rian Johnson are back for another mystery. Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor) is a young priest who is reassigned to a remote parish in upstate New York. There, he must work together with Monsignor Jefferson Wicks (Josh Brolin) who is equal parts charming as he is threatening. When someone dies under puzzling circumstances, Benoit Blanc finds himself on the scene.

The original Knives Out is one of my favorite films of all time. I’ve seen it a handful of times and always recommend it to people when they are looking for something to watch. Glass Onion, its predecessor which came out in 2022, was slightly more wacky, but still highly entertaining. To say that Wake Up Dead Man was one of my most anticipated films of the year is an understatement. I could not wait to see what Blanc would be up to this time. While I did enjoy the film, I have to say that I was a little bit disappointed with it too.

One of the major draws of this franchise is its stacked cast. Craig is back for his third outing and he’s just as iconic as usual. My only qualm was that he didn’t come in until the fortieth minute mark! I definitely think he could have been introduced much earlier on. This is hands down O’Connor’s shining moment and boy does he take it. With a perfect mix of innocence and determination to clear his name as being suspect, he truly delivered. Glenn Close portrayed Martha Delacroix, a devoted servant to the church. She was fabulous yet slightly unhinged in her role and I found myself looking forward to whenever she would be on screen.

Unfortunately there were so many other characters who we just didn’t get the chance to know very well. Jeremy Renner, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Cailee Spaeny, Daryl McCormack, Thomas Haden Church and Mila Kunis were all well casted. Because they didn’t have much backstory, they were just kind of there instead of seeming like real people. In the previous films we got to know who everyone was and each seemed suspicious. This time around some of the talent was wasted.

While I did appreciate the locked room element of the story, I’ll admit to getting lost in the religious themes. This, combined with the slower pace, and the fact that some of the scenes were just so drawn out made it hard for me to stay invested. Also, unlike in the previous films, there was no exciting reveal and it just kind of fell flat.

Overall, Wake Up Dead Man is my least favorite of the Knives Out trilogy. The cast were great, but I couldn’t help feeling like something was missing. Perhaps my expectations were simply too high, I don’t know. I appreciate Johnson wanting to do something different, but I was missing the thrill that the first two brought to me.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

My Secret Santa

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Taylor Jacobson (Alexandra Breckenridge) is a single mom who is doing whatever she can to provide for her daughter Zoey (Madison MacIsaac). When Zoey is accepted into the ski program at the local resort, Taylor disguises herself as Santa so she can pay for the lessons. Matthew Layne (Ryan Eggold) is the resort owner’s son. He has never cared about anything except partying and women so when he’s forced to clean up his act, he steps up as manager. Sparks fly between Taylor and Matthew but he doesn’t know about her Santa gig.

Here we are with yet another generic Netflix Christmas film and I’m not complaining one bit. This was probably the one I was most excited for because I’ve been a fan of Breckenridge since Virgin River premiered. Once again there wasn’t anything to write home about, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying it.

Mike Rohl, who also directed The Princess Switch, did a good job here. The story is very reminiscent of Mrs. Doubtfire and that isn’t a bad thing. Taylor’s brother Eric (William Vaughn) and her brother in law Kenny (Adam Beauchesne) lend their expertise and create the necessary prostestics so she can become Santa. The parallels are evident, but the similarities didn’t bother me.

The cast delivered mostly solid performances. Breckenridge brought a warmth and sincerity to the role. She felt like a real person dealing with real life struggles and this makes you root for her. Her scenes as Santa aka Hugh Mann were also hilarious. Eggold seemed a bit more one dimensional, but at least the two of them had cute chemistry. Tia Mowry starred as Natasha, the resort assistant who feels slighted that Matthew has taken the role she has coveted and Diana Maria Riva portrayed Doralee, Taylor’s landlady who develops a crush on Hugh which of course causes all sorts of chaos.

Overall, My Secret Santa is one of those films where you know exactly what’s going to happen in the first ten minutes, but you don’t even care. It’s still a fun time. The story was engaging, the characters interesting and it had me feeling festive. This may actually be a holiday film I will revisit!

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

Champagne Problems

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Sydney Price (Minka Kelly) is a marketing executive who travels to France in hopes of securing the acquisition of a renowned champagne brand. Before she leaves, she makes a promise to her sister Skyler (Maeve Courtier-Lilley) that she will spend one night of her time away exploring the beautiful sights that Paris has to offer. When she meets Henri (Tom Wozniczka) at a bookshop, sparks fly. But when Sydney discovers that Henri is the champagne brand founder’s son, things get complicated.

This one wasn’t initially on my radar though I’m not sure why. A festive romcom taking place in the city of love is right up my alley! And as far as Netflix films go, it’s actually one of the more decent ones.

While I found Sydney to be a bit annoying at first, once she stopped being so uptight and decided to be more spontaneous, I really warmed up to her character. Kelly did a great job portraying her and as the film progress the audience gets to understand why she’s so career driven to begin with. Henri is the handsome Parisian who sweeps Sydney off her feet and sweep he does. Their meet cute was charming (I wish that bookshop actually existed!) and it was nice to see them let their guard down around each other even when they learned of the other’s true identities.

I’m so pleased that they casted French speaking actors as it made the story feel more authentic. Thibault de Montalembert starred as Hugo Cassell, Henri’s father and the founder of Chateau Cassell. Astrid Whettnall was Brigette, an interested buyer. Joël Cudennec was the devoted butler and lover of vintage cars. Thierry René was the helpful concierge Marcel at the hotel where Sydney stayed. In addition to them were Sean Amsing as Roberto Salazar and Flula Borg as Otto Moller, two other interested buyers who were super funny and stole many of the scenes they were in. They all played their parts well.

Choosing to film on location was a great choice. Paris at Christmas is a joy and the chateau in the countryside was also beautiful. All that snow and the small town vibe really had me feeling cozy.

Overall, Champagne Problems was actually not bad. The storyline mixes business and pleasure with the backdrop of the festive season. The two leads have good chemistry and while it’s predictable, it’s still sweet enough that I didn’t even mind. I recommend checking it out if you’re looking for something to get you into the holiday spirit.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

A Merry Little Ex-Mas

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Kate (Alicia Silverstone) and Everett (Oliver Hudson) were the perfect couple who had the perfect life. Fast forward many years later, they are now separated and planning on celebrating one last Christmas together with their kids Sienna and Gabe (Emily Hall and Wilder Hudson) before their divorce is final. When Everett invites his new girlfriend Tess (Jameela Jamil) to join in on the festivities, tensions rise and feelings that Kate and Everett long thought were buried begin to resurface.

It’s that time of the year again when Netflix release a slew of holiday themed films to get people into the festive spirit. While they have been kind of awful, I look forward to them anyway. They’re silly and cringey and totally predictable, but they make me happy and that’s all that I really care about.

The cast were enough of a reason for me to check this out. It was hard for me not to think of Cher Horowitz whenever Silverstone was on screen. Her character wasn’t the most likeable, but she was cute and quirky enough that I was able to give her a pass. Hudson’s character was kind of a douche though I guess that was the point. Jamil seemed more like a plot device, but I didn’t mind because she was still iconic. Geoffrey Owens and Derek McGrath starred as Daryl and Mike, Everett’s dads. They were a bright spot for me and provided quite a few laughs. I also loved how they got Melissa Joan Hart to play Kate’s friend April. To have Cher Horowitz and Sabrina Spellman together was a childhood dream come true. Unfortunately, I found Pierson Fode as Chet, a potential new suitor for Kate, and Timothy Innes as Nigel, Sienna’s British boyfriend, so incredibly annoying and they didn’t add anything to the story.

Where the film fell flat for me was that it lacked some emotional depth. There could have been a few flashbacks explaining in more detail while Kate and Everett decided to separate as well as conversations with the people they were closest with to drive those feelings home to the audience. Instead, the focus was more on some comedy which isn’t a bad thing, but that didn’t always feel necessary here.

A Merry Little Ex-Mas was my first Christmas film of the season. My husband and I watched it while we were decorating our tree and it was very fitting. This probably won’t be one of those films that I will remember much of in a week nor will I rush back to revisit it, but I did think it did the trick.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

Frankenstein

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From the creative mind of Guillermo del Torro comes a new adaption of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The story follows Victor Frankenstein (Oscar Isaac), a mad scientist, who attempts to bring people back from the dead. When he successfully gives life to a new type of creature (Jacob Elordi), nothing will never be the same again.

This film has been in the works for many years and I have to say it was well worth the wait. Coming in at two and a half hours seemed daunting at first, but every single one of those minutes is warranted. There have been quite a few versions of this story told and this one breathes new life into it while still staying true to the source material.

With del Torro saying he wanted real sets built for authenticity he truly brought his point across. Not only were they expertly crafted, they were so otherworldly that I was left speechless at times. All of a sudden it felt like I was transported into this place with its vibrant colors and cool locations. Each one just kept getting better. The beautiful set designs paired brilliantly with the costumes and the haunting score that played throughout.

The casting was spot on and the performances well done. Isaac was perfect as the titular character. You root for him at the beginning because he wants to prove himself so badly, but by the end I couldn’t help resenting him for the choices he made. Elordi, however, stole the show for me. I was so impressed with the way in which he approached his role. Not only was he unrecognizable, he also had to change his voice and mannerisms to match those of a monster. While Christoph Waltz and Mia Goth did not have a lot of screen time, they were so present every time we did see them and their character’s were just as integral to the story.

I loved the idea of splitting the film into three separate chapters. This gave the audience a chance to experience the events that were unfolding from different perspectives. You know the saying there are two sides to every story and then there’s the truth? That seemed to ring true here. Each part helped build all the important plot points and didn’t leave anything out. In most reiterations of Frankenstein, the Creation is usually depicted as an evil monster. This time around he was given some proper human qualities. I really appreciated this change and felt like it added so much more.

Overall Frankenstein really is as epic as everyone has been saying it is. From the performances, to the brilliant sets, costumes and the world building itself, it is truly a treat. Although I wish I had had the chance to see this in the cinema, I am glad that it exceeded my expectations and I can’t wait to see how it does come awards season.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

The Woman in Cabin 10

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Based on the 2016 novel by Ruth Ware, The Woman in Cabin 10 follows Laura ‘Lo’ Blacklock (Keira Knightley), a journalist who has been invited on a luxury cruise for an assignment. When she sees a woman thrown overboard late one evening, she is told that no such thing happened. Despite nobody believing Lo’s claims, she does what she can to find out the truth.

Although I’ve not read the book, I was familiar with the story. I am also always up for a good whodunnit and this one seemed to tick all the boxes. While it was far from groundbreaking, I had a ton of fun with it and thought that it provided some satisfying entertainment.

Locked room mysteries are one of my favorite tropes because everything is heightened. The players cannot leave the premises and they are forced to coexist in close quarters. Having the film take place on a yacht was a smart choice because not only does it serve as a stunning backdrop, most is spent in the middle of a body of water with no sign of land for miles. This makes it feel even more isolating and therefore like something bad is about to happen.

I’ve been a fan of Knightley’s ever since I was a teenager. I’m so glad that she’s been coming back to the silver screen as of late. She carried the film on her back and was absolutely perfect as our protagonist. As Lo, she was fearless and never gave up despite everybody around her telling her she was crazy. With any thriller comes a slew of characters. Guy Pearce, David Ajala, Art Malik, Hannah Waddingham, Kaya Scodelario, Lisa Loven Kongsli and David Morrissey all portrayed obnoxiously rich people who were along for the ride. Some were featured more than others and that was one of the downsides. I wish each had their own chance to shine. I still have questions about some of these people!

Maybe I’m just not good at solving puzzles, but I didn’t see the twist coming. For that reason alone, I have to say that I had a great time watching the events unfold. There were many red herrings and just when I thought I knew what was happening, I realized how very wrong I was. I do wish the final act had been fleshed out a little bit more. It seemed rather rushed.

Overall, The Woman in Cabin 10 was a decent enough mystery that had me engaged from the get go. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it was a great way to spend a quiet Saturday night in. I doubt I’ll remember much about it in a week’s time and that’s okay. It more than served its purpose when I needed it to.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

The Thursday Murder Club

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Based upon Richard Osman’s 2020 novel of the same name, The Thursday Murder Club follows four individuals who meet every week to try and solve cold cases. Elizabeth (Helen Mirren), Ron (Pierce Brosnan), Ibrahaim (Ben Kingsley) and Joyce (Celia Imrie) couldn’t be more different save for their love of true crime. When one of the co-owners of their retirement home is found dead, they finally have the chance to put their sleuthing skills to the test.

I did read the book shortly after it came out, but I really don’t remember it. What I do know is that I wasn’t a big fan and soon put it out of my mind. I did find my interest peaking when news of the film broke and especially with that cast. I honestly did not know what to expect going into it though I wouldn’t be surprised if me not recalling any details helped with the overall enjoyment.

Mirren, Brosnan, Kingsley and Imrie are practically British royalty. To have them star together in such an adaptation is a lot of pressure; we all know that mixing big names together doesn’t always have the desired effect. With that being said, I actually think they were perfect. Mirren helmed the film effortlessly – she was Elizabeth. There was also so much more to her character that we simply didn’t get to see so hopefully there will be more opportunities for that in the future. They all had their moments to shine, however. I do think that Kingsley and Imrie could have been a little bit more at the forefront though.

The rest of the cast was absolutely stacked as well, I can’t not mention them. Naomi Ackie is Donna, a police officer who ends up working closely with the Murder Club on the case. Tom Ellis is Jason, Ron’s son and former boxing champ. Jonathan Pryce is Elizabeth’s husband Stephen who has dementia. David Tennant is Ian, another owner of the retirement home who is into all sorts of dodgy business. And Richard E. Grant is Bobby, a mysterious man who has disappeared, but who has a specific connection to the case. I loved seeing who would pop up where and thought they all did brilliantly in their roles.

I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the reasons why I didn’t enjoy the book as much was because the mystery was more of an Agatha Christie whodunnit and not so much of an earth-shattering twist that I’m always gagged for. I didn’t mind that in the film. It made the whole atmosphere quite cozy and autumnal which is fitting considering we are soon entering the ber months. These aspects combined with the beautiful backdrop of Coopers Chase (a literal castle?!) complete with it’s stunning manicured lawns and a cemetery really just enhanced the whole experience.

Overall, I enjoyed The Thursday Murder Club more than I thought I would. I would one hundred percent be open to them adapting the other books so let’s hope that they do. This has also prompted me to revisit the book – maybe I will appreciate it more now.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️

My Oxford Year

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Based on the book by Julia Whelan, My Oxford Year follows Anna De La Vega (Sofia Carson) as she sets out to the prestigious university to study poetry. She’s had her life planned out just so, but she never expected to meet Jamie Davenport (Corey Mylchreest). A PHD student filling in as a TA for the poetry class that Anna is taking, the two have a rocky start that quickly develops into something life changing.

The student teacher relationship aside, I have to say that I thought the relationship between our two main characters was lovely to watch. I’m a sucker for a good enemies to lovers trope, but this one packed a punch I didn’t see coming. It seems as though Carson has been in everything and anything on Netflix lately, but I am not complaining. I was familiar with Mylchreest from Queen Charlotte and remember him being quite the heartthrob. Together they had a sweet and organic chemistry; I was rooting for them from the beginning.

As I hadn’t read the book prior to watching the film, I went in blindly and I was completely floored when I discovered where the story was going. I probably shouldn’t have been too surprised and yet I was still caught off guard by how touching the whole thing was. The importance of living every moment as if it’s your last was not only prominent, but depicted perfectly.

Another selling point for me was, of course, the beautiful Oxford backdrop. It’s been a hot minute since I last visited, but I was instantly transported there. The various pub outings, kebab stand and the Oxford vs. Cambridge boat race were just so quintessentially British that I couldn’t help but smile.

Overall, I went into My Oxford Year expecting a cute, easy going rom-com and came out of it with something more. The acting may not have been the best and I didn’t really care for the side characters, but that’s okay. The story and the central romance was enough to keep me invested.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5

Fear Street: Prom Queen

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Prom is a rite of passage for every high school student even when said high school is in Shadyside. For one night only they will try to take their minds off of the curse that has fallen on their town for a good night. Lori Granger (India Fowler) is an outsider who has been nominated for Prom Queen. It’s clear that none of the It Girls, lead by Tiffany Falconer (Fina Strazza), want Lori to be competing against them. When they start disappearing one by one, it becomes clear that a killer is on the loose and none of them are safe.

The first three Fear Street films came out in the summer of 2021 and became instant hits. This trilogy singlehandedly got me into the horror genre. I was so excited for this new instalment. Unfortunately it did not exactly live up to my expectations though there were some things I still appreciated.

Fowler did just fine as our final girl though I wasn’t completely sold on her performance. The same can be said about the other younger talent. Strazza was probably my favorite because she was so mean, she could very well give Regina George a run for her money. It would have been nice to see more of Christy, portrayed by Ariana Greenblatt, and I would have appreciated more backstory of the other girls. The adult cast were much more enjoyable. Nancy (Katherine Waterston) and Dan Falconer (Chris Klein) were hilarious as Tiffany’s overbearing parents and I thought Vice Principal Dolores Brekenridge (Lili Taylor) and Principal Wayland (Darrin Baker) were quite the pair.

Though a lot of the kills were predictable, they were still really well executed. I was unsure at the beginning because we didn’t see the first one happen on screen, but luckily it was ramped up by a thousand percent thereafter. I also have to say that I did not see the reveal coming whatsoever. It genuinely caught me off guard.

Fear Street: Prom Queen may not have been the outing I had anticipated it would be. I guess that what happens when you get your hopes up too high. At least the kills were good and the soundtrack perfectly encapsulated the eighties. I am looking forward to more of the Fear Street books being adapted.

Rating: ♥️♥️.5

The Life List

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Alex (Sofia Carson) used to know what she wanted in life, but lately she’s been feeling lost. When her mother Elizabeth (Connie Britton) passes away, she implores Alex to complete the life list she made when she was thirteen years old. From getting a tattoo to learning how to play Clair de Lune on the piano to going back to teaching, Alex starts to fall in love with her life again.

I actually didn’t know much about this film going into it. Here I was expecting a light-hearted romantic comedy so you could imagine my surprise when I discovered it wasn’t quite that at all. Instead, what I discovered, was something more.

Carson has played similar characters in the past. What I liked about Alex and what I felt was different this time around was the emotional rollercoaster she goes through. From losing her mom, to trying to find herself again and maybe even falling in love along the way, it was a more complex role and I thought she did well. Though Britton’s Elizabeth is killed off rather quickly, she is still very much an integral part of the story. I loved the relationship she and Alex shared; you could tell that it was them against the world.

The theme of romance was certainly prominent throughout, but it wasn’t at the forefront. One of the items on Alex’s life list was to find true love and this was no easy feat. Her two potential suitors Brad (Kyle Allen) and Garrett (Sebastian De Souza) were attractive and had many positive attributes to them. She really could have ended up with either of them, though I did have my preference.

What I liked the most about this film was the message behind it. Pain and loss is a part of life. It’s how to deal with it that makes all the difference. This is easier said than done, but it was really inspiring to see how Alex did what she could to lift herself up in what was otherwise a heartbreaking situation.

Overall, The Life List is definitely one of Netflix’s better original films. The depth and emotions behind it wasn’t what I was expecting whatsoever, but that just made the experience so much more enjoyable.

Rating: ♥️♥️♥️.5