Category: Reviews

Reviews

‘Doctor Strange In The Multiverse of Madness’ Trailer Hits

Wannabe Movie Critic

We are reaching new levels with the new Doctor Strange movie. Any and every Marvel character has a chance to pop up in this thing. It’s going to be a smorgasbord of Marvel heroes and villains.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Trailer Reveals First Look at Defenders Costume

Seriously, if you thought No Way Home was crazy because a couple of old Spider-Man people came back. That’s simply going to look like child’s place once we are done with Multiverse of Madness. It’s almost getting to the point in the MCU where I myself might have to do some research on who some of these characters are.

Since his entry into the MCU, Doctor Strange has only grown not only as a character but in popularity. Almost the centrepiece of the entire franchise now, he’s been at the centre of attention really since Infinity War. With the events of No Way Home, he’s really opened up a can of worms and reality as we know it, is about to change.

We’ve gotten two trailers and things are certainly up in the air. This could be based on the fact that Strange is trying to prevent a certain event from happening, or trying to change something he has already done. We are seeing multiple variations of the man himself, even a zombie variant. Now, we got the incredible What If episode late last year, where it explored Dr. Strange and what happens when he becomes obsessed with changing an event in his life.

All I know is that this movie is going to alter and change the landscape of the MCU forever. Consequences will be mighty and by the time the movie wraps, who knows who will be left standing.

Wanda seems pissed.

Reviews

‘Scream’ Review

Wannabe Movie Critic

One of horrors deadliest killers returns. The newest Scream is a worthy addition to this already beloved franchise. Where old school meets new school in a perfect blend of what makes this franchise so great.

Scream review: Time to give up the Ghostface | EW.com

Twenty-five years after the original series of murders in Woodsboro, a new Ghostface emerges, and Sidney Prescott must return to uncover the truth.

There are certain rules for surviving a horror movie, everyone knows this. 25 years ago made these rules were made famous, and people in Woodsboro have been trying to follow them ever since. Ghostface has a long line of victims, and the body count usually gets bigger with each new installment in this franchise. While there are certain rules one must oblige to in order to survive these movies. For me, these movies themselves must follow certain rules in order to be successful.

They are as follows. One, the opening scene must set the tone of the movie and must be memorable and arguably the scariest part of the movie. We all remember the iconic opening of Scream, that haunted audiences and made you realize no one would ever be safe in a Scream movie. Drew Barrymore was thought to be the star of the movie. Secondly, the movie has to have a decent kill count, and some imaginative and worthy Ghostface kills. Finding new ways to kill people is something Scream is known for, and great and memorable kills helps with the overall feel of the movie. Finally, you need the reveal of the killer to actually be shocking or surprising in some way shape or form. These movies are always whodunits, so the big Ghostface reveal and their motive is something that can either make or break the movie. Lucky for this movie, it meets the incredibly high expectations of all 3. Now, I won’t be going into spoiler territory, because these movies are best served not knowing any of those juicy details.

Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett had rather large shoes to fill. Wes Craven, one of the many Gods of the horror genre is sadly no longer with us and this is the first Scream movie that he was not apart of. Wes Craven would have be proud of what was accomplished here and this movie is almost a love letter to everything that came before it. They are able to blend the perfect mix of bringing in new and interesting characters and honouring those legacy characters that they bring back. As for the legacy characters, who we all know and love, Sydney (Neve Campbel), Gale (Courtney Cox), and Dewey (David Arquette), they all serve a purpose and feel like they needed to be there. Not shoehorned in or just there for the sake of fan service. The Scream movies and especially this one always have something to do with the past. Hence why they all felt vital to everything going on during the movie.

As for the new cast, they once again manage to bring in the best looking young people in Hollywood that all happen to go to the same high school. It can’t be a Scream movie without a good looking cast. Everything comes back to the past, so as for these new meat puppets, they are all somehow connected to the original killers or victims from Scream. We have sisters Sam (Melissa Barrera) and Tara (Jenna Ortega), who’s history I will keep quiet about. This movie is all about Sam, as she is set up to be the new Sydney. We have Sam’s boyfriend Richie (Jack Quaid), who is a lovable yet unqualified person to help protect Sam, because he knows nothing about horror movies, or does he? Never trust the boyfriends, or maybe this time you can? We have Tara’s group of friends, Liv (Sonia Ammar), Wes (Dylan Minnette), Amber (Mikey Madison) and the clear standouts and MVPS of the movie, twins Chad (Mason Gooding) and Mindy (Jasmin Savoy Brown). They are the niece and nephew of the legend Randy. So they know a thing or two about how to survive a horror movie. The whole new cast works great, they are interesting enough that you end up caring about them, and they each bring their own unique qualities to their respected character. This really feels like a whodunit, more so than the last 3 installements. They are questioning the moves and motives of all of their friends and can’t help point fingers at one another when something goes wrong. The movie does a great job trying to tease who the killer is and who isn’t as you change your mind about five or six times throughout the film. Until the final bloody showdown that exposes the killers and why they are doing all of this……

What I love about these movies is just how simple and fun they can be. Not to mention I just think Ghostface is so damn cool and one of the best creations in all of horror. This feels like a proper sequel, nothing is held back, it’s violent as hell and the blood shed and body count is high. This feels like a rated R movie, unlike some of the last few sequels. They are setting up a new franchise here, where we could easily get a few more Scream movies and that’s just good news for everyone. I would say this is the second best film in the franchise and I can’t wait to see where they go next. Yes the movie has some flaws, more so in the first half of the film, but the 3rd act blood bath really took me for surprise and it’s just so great seeing Neve Campbell do her thing again.

Scream = 81/100

Reviews

‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Review

Wannabe Movie Critic

Finally, after three viewings, I think I’m ready to write down my thoughts on perhaps the strongest MCU showing ever.

NO WAY HOME Puts Willem Dafoe in the Supervillain Pantheon - Nerdist

With Spider-Man’s identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.

Spider-Man has been apart of my life for as long as I can remember. To this very day, I remember when I saw the first ever trailer for Spider-Man on my TV. You know, a time before Youtube, Twitter or any real sense of social media. A trailer and part of the movie that was later removed from marketing, because it involved Spider-Man catching some robbers by getting them caught in a web that is strung up between the World Trade Centres. I remember sitting there, thinking, this is going to be the coolest thing ever. Unlike most heroes, Spider-Man is easily the most accessible to the younger audience because, well, he’s a kid. I’ve never missed a Spider-Man movie in theatres, hell, I waited in line for 4 hours just to see Spider-Man 3 at midnight. So to say I was just a wee bit excited to see the cumulation of 20 years of Spider-Man lore in one movie is an understatement.

For me, the MCU Spider-Man has been such a mixed bag. His relationship with Tony Stark was honestly one of the strongest, most impactful and emotional relationships we had seen in the Marvel Universe. But his solo outings have felt so John Hughes and immature, that it felt so disconnected from why I fell in love with this character.  He felt more Spider-Boy/Iron-Spider than Spider-Man. You know the loner, broke kid from Queens, who has a hard dealing with the balance of being Peter Parker and his alter ego. I’ve just wanted this iteration of Tom Holland’s Spider-Man to finally grow up you know? Well ask and you shall receive because the newest addition to the MCU is arguably the strongest movie yet and something every single Spider-Man fan will remember for the rest of their lives.

This movie is very hard to talk about because of spoiler type stuff, but seeing how I’m writing this review on Monday, after the second biggest weekend in the history of cinema, safe to say, most people reading this will have seen the movie. After the events of Far From Home, the entire world, thanks to Mysterio now knows that Peter Parker is Spider-Man, and it quickly turns is life upside down. When he goes to Doctor Strange for some help, at first, their plan seems simple enough, but when they unleash the power of the mulitverse, all hell breaks loose. Tom Holland’s Spider-Man is about to get a crash course on what it truly means to be Spider-Man and how being a hero means that sacrificing certain important elements in your life and protecting those closest to you is the most important thing. He’s about to learn that with great power, comes great responsibility……

I won’t go full blown spoilers, but we all know the return of 5 previous Spidey villains, each from one of the previous 5 Spider-Man movies. William Dafoe’s Green Goblin (Spider-Man), Alfred Molina’s Doc Ock (Spider-Man 2), Thomas Hayden Church’s Sandman (Spider-Man 3), Rhys Ifans Lizard (The Amazing Spider-Man) and Jamie Foxx’s Electro (The Amazing Spider-Man 2). They are all back and a little confused, and with that comes so much previous baggage, and the worst kept secret in all of Hollywood, Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield. It’s funny, that the previous Spider-Man movies suffered because of “too many villains” but here it works so well. They are the ones at the forefront of this movie. All realizing that their fate is to die by the hands of Spider-Man in their respective universes, but in this reality, every life is worth saving. That’s all I’m going to say about this stuff, because it’s fun experience when you know as little as possible.

Peter’s relationships, every single one of them is being push to the breaking point. These characters finally feel like they are shedding their skin and becoming full grown adults. Making this feel like the end of the ‘Homecoming’ trilogy. The themes about fully recognizing your responsibilities in this world, and knowing that your life can’t be perfect when you’re a superhero is something Peter hasn’t realized yet. Tom Holland gives without a doubt his best performance to date, in fact, it’s one of the best superhero performances I have ever seen. He’s fantastic and he’s on an emotional rollercoaster the entire film, that ends with him finally bitting the bullet and accepting his fate and his future. Even Zendaya and Jacob Batalon give their strongest performances as well. Their entire dynamic is what holds these movies together and it’s certainly at it’s strongest in No Way Home.

There is a moment in this when a certain character flips a switch and from that point on the movie doesn’t stop. Hit after hit keeps coming and you are fully emerged in this joyous ride that will make you cheer out loud depending on how you feel about that sort of thing. The fan service throughout works because it’s actually part of the plot. Not something they just felt the need to put in the movie. So seeing certain things transpire is almost rewarding because you know it’s coming, you’re just trying to figure out how they were going to implement it. Seeing closure and almost a rediscovery for Tobey and Andrew was so wonderful to see. Andrew Garfield is the best part of this entire movie, he crushes it and we need him back in some capacity going forward.

Peter is literally learning how to become Spider-Man from Spider-Men and I thought that was interesting to see. Little does he know, every feeling he has and every mistake he has made, these two strangers that stand in front of him, know exactly how he is feeling. It’s a beautiful dynamic that shifts the tone of the movie and it makes the 3rd act of this movie feel heavy. How the movie ends makes you wonder where exactly they are going to take this character going forward. He throws on the best looking Spider-Man suit in the history of film and webs out to be the friendly neighbourhood Spider-Man.

SPOILERS

The piece of Venom left behind at the bar in the MCU means one thing. We are getting a brand new Venom in the MCU and honestly that was one of the most important things in this entire movie. Tom Hardy was great, but Venom getting the MCU treatment and a fresh start sets up a new trilogy for this Spider-Man and I can’t wait to see the next step for this franchise. Tom Holland is now Spider-Man, and his world is small and that’s just the way I like it.

 

Spider-Man: No Way Home = 97/100

Reviews

‘West Side Story’ Review

Wannabe Movie Critic

Embark on the thrilling and magical spectacle, something crafted so beautifully that it only makes sense that Steven Spielberg the grandmaster of filmmaking could put it together.

West Side Story

An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds.

Imagine starting your job in 1971 and still being at the top of your game 50 years later. Well, that’s exactly the case for Steven Spielberg who directed his first musical, the legendary tale of West Side Story, and it’s simply marvellous. It’s a tale as old as time, it’s Romeo and Juliet in New York and tells the story of the Maria (Rachel Zegler) and Tony (Ansel Elgort) the two star-crossed lovers who are trying to find love in a hopeless place.

When this was announced I wouldn’t say I was excited to rush to a theatre and see it, but there I was opening day sitting down ready to be blown away. Within the first 20 minutes, you understand you’re probably watching the best picture winner, right around when Riff (Mike Faist) and the rest of the Jets break into the first song and dance number of the film. From the incredible and newly design choreography, that makes this feel more modern, and the talented singers across the board. Every time a musical number started I couldn’t help but find myself tapping my own foot on the theatre floor. Every single person in this film is a triple threat, everyone is singing, dancing and acting their asses off in order to make this one of the most enjoyable movie going experiences of 2021. You can’t help but find yourself smiling throughout the film, because the singing and dancing is so euphoric to look it. It’s memorizing, because the work that went into making sure the choreography was a technical marvel. To the point where you’re unsure of who to look at during certain numbers, because everyone is killing it on screen.

One thing that really separates Spielberg from other film-makers is his craftsmanship of camera work. He always knows how to perfectly capture a shot or a moment, where something as simple as Tony standing in a puddle, can become one of the most memorable shots in the entire film. The lights are bright, the colours are eye-popping, the costumes are gorgeous, and this is all a recipe for success. Not to mention all of the amazing performances in the film. When the two leads so re Zegler and Elgort are good, but they aren’t the strongest in the film, yet your movie doesn’t fall apart is a testament to itself. No, it’s the surrounding group of characters from Riff, Bernardo (David Alvarez), Anita (Ariana DeBose) and the lovely Rita Moreno as Valentina, the ensemble cast is terrific. From every single member of the Sharks to the Jets, everyone is bringing their A-Game. For me the real standouts were Mike Faist and Ariana DeBose, they steal every scene they are in, have the most emotional material to work with, and I think they give the best and most memorable performances out of anyone.

It’s funny, not knowing really anything about West Side Story, but when certain songs would come on, whether they have been imprinted into your mind from another time or another pop culture IP taking the song, you instantly know all the classics. I was insanely impressed with a few of the song and dance numbers, especially Gee, Officer Krupke, Maria and America.

Not enough praise can be given to Spielberg here. A fan of musicals his entire life, it’s crazy to think it took him 50 years into his directing career to finally make one. Considering his skill set, he is one of the most versatile directors today and out of the big “blockbuster” ones working today, he is by far the most suited to make one. So thank you Spielberg for doing so, because I can’t say enough good things about it. Either you buy into what this movie is or you don’t. Teenagers are stupid and in love and things fall apart around them, yet they want to run away together even after just one day of knowing each other. But, it always works, that’s why Shakespeare was a genius and his stories will forever be told.

I don’t know how many Oscar nominations this will rack up, it’s hard to decide if these performances are Oscar worthy, but I can see Faist, DeBose and Zelger all getting nominations and rightfully so. This will be around during the awards season, and from top to bottom, this is the best movie of 2021. From a technical perspective, to acting, cinematography, costumes, everything is damn well perfect.

Can’t wait to see it again.

West Side Story 93/100

Reviews

‘King Richard’ Review

Wannabe Movie Critic

From the Fresh Prince, to the King of tennis. Will Smith delivers the performance of his career at the perfect time in his life. One of the years best, a heartfelt, hilarious and emotional journey that showcases just how remarkable the story of Serena and Venus Williams really was.

King Richard movie review & film summary (2021) | Roger Ebert

A look at how tennis superstars Venus and Serena Williams became who they are after the coaching from their father Richard Williams

The American dream, everyone has one. For Richard Williams it was to raise the greatest two women’s tennis players to ever walk the Earth. In a time when tennis was portrayed as a predominately white sport, they were walking uphill to begin with. From Compton to the biggest stage, the remarkable story of this family is inspirational to say the least. Sports movies can always come across as such cliches, something that always has a “happy ending.” One thing I really liked about King Richard was how raw and authentic it was and it really doesn’t sugar coat anything. One of the best sports movies in recent memory and one of the strongest films of 2021.

This family had to fight for everything they had and Richard (Will Smith) was always front and centre. He was different, he was doing things his way. It was the definition of his way or the highway. In a time of crazy sports Dads, at the time, the media and people around Richard truly didn’t understand his madness or just how much he was sacrificing for his family. He was a mad scientist who always had a plan for his daughters and nothing would stop that plan from happening. He was hard on his kids, but in the best way possible. Hard working, good grades, humble, polite, everything you want to teach your kids. He just wanted to keep his kids off the streets and propel them into a better life. That should be the goal for any parent, provide a better life for your children then you ever had. I would say Richard and his wife Brandy (Aunjanue Ellis) achieved just that.

That’s where this movie begins, on the shoulders of Richard and Brandy Williams. Will Smith gives a memorable performance, the best of his career. What I loved most about it, it didn’t feel like Will Smith. He’s a megastar, bigger than most of the movies he is in. He’s a classic actor, he rarely changes his appearance, he’s just Will Smith in everything he does, but not here. He transforms into Richard Williams, and I was blown away. He does a few things, whether it’s his voice work, the way he walks, or the way he appears like sometimes he’s not all there. I’m just so happy he has finally given the definitive performance of his career, because it was beautiful. His counterpart Aunjanue Ellis is a strong female lead. Giving us the most impactful and emotional monologue of the film that serves a reminder that no matter how much Richard was in the forefront, he did not do this alone. Brandy is a strong and smart women, who helped mould all of her daughters into the impactful women they are today.

One thing that people need to realize, Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena (Demi Singleton) wanted to tell this story. They were proudly behind this project from the very get-go. Just because they are not in the forefront of the movie, doesn’t mean they aren’t a big part of it. Their father did so much for them, that they wouldn’t be who they are today without them and they wanted to showcase this to the world. Both girls who represent these world class athletes are fantastic. Just not with their acting chops but with their tennis abilities. They are going toe-to-toe with some terrific actors in this. The movie just feels so 90’s, from the cinematography, the outfits, how Richard feels about country clubs and rich white folks. It all feels so blended together and so naturally, unlike some more recent sports movies, this just feels like it’s on another level. Some truly fantastic visuals, that make it feel like a real awards contender. The thing that I was most impressed with, the actual tennis scenes. They are filmed so well, not many cuts and edits, they really let these ladies go out and play. The thing with most sports movies or shows, they don’t actually showcase the cast playing the sport the movie is about. They went out and got real tennis players to help elevate this movie and it works. Even Jon Bernthal comes in for half the movie and gives a different performance. He’s an energetic tennis coach, that has the best moustache in 2021. We are so used to him being a cold character, or a bad ass, and this was just a fun performance from a really great actor.

Emotional beats throughout help separate this from just the generic sports flick. There are two scenes in particular that, in my mind, the film needed and wouldn’t come across as successful if they don’t put them in there. You are reminded how hard it can be and will always be for black families in America and some families need to go the extra mile every single day to sometimes provide just safety and food for their kids. I loved how they didn’t shy away from where they came from and how hard they had, 5 girls in one bedroom, problems on the streets and potential dangers around every corner.

Reinaldo Marcus Green is an upcoming young and impressive director, again, this is an elevated sports drama. He brings something new and brought one hell of a cinematographer with him. I hope we can celebrate with Will Smith during awards season, because I think it’s just his time. This is a must see and honestly my favourite movie of the year.

King Richard = 91/100

Reviews

‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Review

Wannabe Movie Critic

Strap on your proton pack and hop in the Echo 1, because the Ghostbusters are back. A true love letter to the franchise, Jason Reitman follows in his fathers footsteps and serves up a worthy sequel.

When a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife, was written and directed by Jason Reitman, the son of Ivan Reitman, the original director of the classic 1984 Ghostbusters. Some would say this is the passing of the torch, that Jason, who literally grew up on the sets of the first two Ghostbusters movies, was always destined to make a Ghostbusters movie himself. This movie is clearly a love letter to not only his father and everything he built within the Ghostbusters universe, but his childhood as well. Much like the directing duties being passed down a generation, so is the job of busting and capturing ghosts. We see the grandchildren of the legend Egon Spengler learning about their family history and their true destiny in life to finish what their grandfather started all those years ago.

For some, Ghostbusters is their childhood, something they grew up on, a warm place that serves as a reminder for when things were simpler. People much like myself have been waiting a very long time for a continuation of this beloved franchise, and I think this served as a great launching pad. It’s something that can gravitate towards the veteran fans and something that will suck in a ton of new ones.

The story is simple, things have changed, there hasn’t been a ghost sighting for nearly 30 years and the Ghostbusters are no more. It doesn’t mean that everything is quite so simple and when Egon casts himself into solitude in the remote and small town of Summerville, and it leaves his friends and family wondering why. Enter his daughter Callie (Carrie Coon) and her two kids Phoebe (McKenna Grace) and Trevor (Finn Wolfhard). With nothing of their own, they assume that Egon might have left them something, at first glance it feels like he left nothing, until Phoebe digs a little deeper and starts to unravel the mystery of Summerville and who her grandfather really was. Nothing to his name except his old farmhouse, the family decides to make the most out of this situation and give Summerville a chance. Callie never truly understood why her father left her and she believes that he’s nothing more than an asshole. Even his old friends are stumped at his behaviour and haven’t spoken to him in a long time.

McKenna Grace steals the entire movie. The quirky and awkward kid, who is a spitting image of Egon, who would have made Harold Ramis very proud. She’s funny, a bad ass and carries the movie on her back. She’s never had any friends, so when she meets Podcast (Logan Kim) a curious kid who loves conspiracy theories and all things ghosts and supernatural, they become instant BFFS. She also befriends her summer school teacher Gary Grooberson (Paul Rudd). It’s Mr. Grooberson who leads Phoebe down the eventual Ghostbusters rabbit hole when she brings in a ghost-trap she found at her grandfathers home to school. That’s when all hell breaks loose and it’s up to Finn, Podcast, Phoebe and Lucky (Celeste O’Connor), Finn’s pseudo girlfriend to jumpsuit up and take down some ghosts.

This is a small movie, it feels warm and homie. No giant action set pieces or massive explosions, this is a kick-start for something bigger to come. There are some really fun moments, and certain sounds, like a proton pack getting switched on will immediately bring a smile to your face. This movie is about family, finding yourself and understanding that sometimes people have to do things without any explanation at all. If you’re a fan of the franchise I honestly thing you will enjoy this movie, that obviously leans on nostalgia in a big way, but what did you expect? I think that’s what makes it so special, and feel so familiar, whether it’s the same score as the original, certain sounds, or just the familiarity of the entire franchise. This isn’t trying to be something it’s not, or something new. This is a direct sequel that wants to honour its predecessor and built on the beautiful foundation that was built so many years ago.

It can feel like a rehashing of the first Ghostbusters, but I think that’s the point. I’m happy this is the route they decided to take, and happy that they give our new characters a lot of time to shine. Where they go from here is up in the air, it will depend on box-office numbers I think, but it certainly sets itself up for another movie, that promises to be bigger than ever. Let’s just say, the movie ends with the Ghostbusters back in business.

It takes a while to get going, they don’t bust their first ghost until almost the hour mark of the movie, but we need time to understand what’s going on and actually the very first scene of the movie is so well done and you immediately get a little emotional. You know what’s coming, but you still can’t help but get up and cheer for when it does. It’s something I’ve waited my whole adult life to see and I’m so thankful that it did. The final act of the movie is a ton of fun, some jokes don’t land, but this movie wasn’t going to be perfect, it just needed to make me feel a certain way and mission accomplished. How they handled everything with Harold Ramis was beautiful and I’ll be disappointed if this franchise doesn’t continue going forward. They really unlocked something with McKenna Grace and Finn Wolfhard, they make awesome Ghostbusters and it’s time to strap a proton pack to Paul Rudd for the sequel.

This is everything I wanted this movie to be, so to me, it’s perfect.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife = 88/100

Reviews

‘Spencer’ Review

Wannabe Movie Critic

Kristen Stewart disappears as Princess Diana, giving us her finest performance to date. A haunting and chilling character study that promises to be one of the best movies of 2021.

During her Christmas holidays with the royal family at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, England, Diana decides to leave her marriage to Prince Charles.

Being famous is tough, being Princess Diana was a whole other story. Spencer dives deep into the psyche of what it was like to live this kind of lifestyle and the immense pressure that comes with it. This movie can make you feel uncomfortable at times, mainly due to the amount of tension in the air, making you feel like you’re walking on glass for 2 hours. The story takes place during a three day stretch, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day, as we see a Royal Family gathering that makes Diana a little uneasy to say the least.

For 2 hours we sit and watch Diana slip further away, realizing this life isn’t for her anymore and more importantly not for her sons. Being watched constantly, she is starting to feel the weight of the world and is growing tired of this lifestyle. She’s drifting apart from her husband and is becoming aware that this sort of life isn’t meant for her. Director Pablo Larrain is able to beautifully capture all of this. The use of the score, which is chilling, haunting and makes every scene seem so tense. Everyone in the movie and in the audience is on pins and needles, it’s like watching a dormant volcano bubbling at the surface, waiting to erupt. Pairing this with stunning set design, cinematography and costume design, this movie is all around magnificent.

Lets be clear, this movie belongs to Kristen Stewart and her alone. Basically in every single scene, she transforms into Princess Diana and it is a marvellous and poetic performance. She’s a shoe in for an Oscar nomination and I would be shocked if she doesn’t walk away with a lot of gold come awards season. Her performance is quiet yet powerful, she’s loud but never manages to raise her voice. You are waiting the entire film for this woman to erupt, to scream, to do something, and it never happens. She acts out, whether it’s cutting herself, saying ridiculous things to the staff, or leaving every dinner to go regurgitate whatever food she had managed to get down, but she never fully breaks. Watching her breaking down is draining, because you are rooting for her all while realizing what tragedy awaits this woman in her future.

Some striking and colourful images and outfits really help capture certain moments of the film, with one scene in particular that takes place around candlelight that will surely be the Oscar reel for this film. It’s heartbreaking to watch and I’m sure Diana’s sons William and Harry would think the same thing. Diana just wanted to be herself, while everyone around her was telling her that she had to be two different people, after a while that can beat anyone to the ground.

You feel exhausted by the end of the film simply because of Stewarts performance. This is the story of the lead up to her and Charles divorce, and you can see why this life wasn’t meant for her. The score really plays such a vital and important role in the movie because it sucks you into every scene. Some parts feel very Joker-ish while others reminded me of The Shinning. The score just makes it feel like such a thriller that something terrible could happen at any moment, I haven’t really felt that in a movie in a long time.

This is just a beautiful movie that makes you feel all sorts of emotions. Oscar nominations in bound for sure. This reminds me of The Favourite from 2019, about ten nominations and a lock for Best Actress. I really enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to watching it again.

Spencer = 84/100

Reviews

‘Eternals’ Review

Wannabe Movie Critic

Embark on the MCU’s most vast movie yet. Introducing us to the Eternals who need to come together to protect everyone on Earth, while trying to discover who they truly are.

The saga of the Eternals, a race of immortal beings who lived on Earth and shaped its history and civilizations.

When you think of stability within a movie franchise, the MCU usually comes to mind. Everyone loves it, and so do the critics. It’s rare that a movie isn’t met with high praise and warm words, until recently. The newest addition to the family has been met with the worst reviews for a MCU to date, and after seeing the movie myself – I’m not sure why. Sure, this movie doesn’t come without its flaws, as Superhero movies tend to do these days. It boils down to this, the MCU is expanding to the point of no return. With the ever expanding roster of new characters, ideas and universes, it can get difficult to keep track of everything, but that shouldn’t be a flaw with the movie at hand. Eternals is vast, it’s huge in scale, providing some of the biggest themes the MCU has to offer. We are dealing with literal gods and some of the strongest and most powerful beings in the entire MCU.

So who better to bring in than Oscar winner Chloé Zhao. Fresh off her impressive year, she brings a little extra flare to the MCU. Providing us with some of the best visuals, landscapes and emotional moments to date. Alongside, a cast that is longer than a CVS receipt. Each Eternal brings a unique set of skills, whether it’s super speed or strength, the ability to shape shift objects, control minds, invent the most badass technology or simply be Superman. And that is just the tip of the iceberg with these people, and respectfully they all have their own moment to shine and showcase their awesome powers. When the leader of this group Ajax (Salma Hayek) suddenly falls, she appoints a new leader of the Eternals Sersi (Gemma Chan) to take her place. They have been on Earth for 7000 years, peacefully and quietly providing assistance whenever a certain foe known as Deviants are involved. So when the end of the world is upon them, Sersi rounds up the rest of the team like Danny Ocean and sets out to save this world.

Prepare yourself, we got Sprite (Lia McHugh) not to be confused with the soft drink, Ikaris, who is basically Superman (Richard Madden), Kingo (Kumail Nanjiani) a Bollywood star who can turn his hands into deadly weapons, Phastos (Brian Tyree Henry) who is the technology expert, Druig (Barry Keoghan) the mind shaper, Makkari (Lauren Ridloff) the speedster of the ground, Gilgamesh (Ma Dong-seok) the heavy hitter, and finally Thena (Angelina Jolie) the Goddess of War herself. Together they make or made one happy family, now separated for centuries. The standouts for me were Makkari and Kingo. I thought the speedster was so well done, and Kumail crushed his role. His arc and comedy were some of the best parts of the entire movie. When you have this much acting talent within the cast, some scenes are going to feel heavy and emotional, and I’m so glad they let each one of them spread their wings.

They must come together once more and overcome their differences to deal with the possibility that their entire existence has been one big lie. Introducing us to so many new and likeable characters is no easy feat, in fact, it’s one hell of a mountain to climb. With so many new people and a movie that deals with giant themes and elements, it can feel a little over bloated at times. Overstuffed with ideas, but in order for the MCU to grow, certain seeds need to be planted. This isn’t simple times anymore, we are dealing with cosmic deities who make Thanos feel like a cakewalk.

One thing I did appreciate about Eternals, it didn’t feel green-screen heavy. Chloé wanted to shoot a ton of stuff on location and you can tell. There is a ton of amazing imagery and visuals sprinkled throughout. The diverse cast helps propel the movie when it feels like it hits a bit of a snag. The movie is long, but when you have so much material at hand, what did you really expect? The middle certainly feels slow, but the third act is something to behold, when everything is up for grabs and these awesome new heroes get to showcase what makes them super. It’s going to be awesome to revisit these guys and gals again and see them interact within the MCU more. That’s the thing about going forward and getting introduced to all these new characters, I can’t wait to see where it all goes.

Don’t go into this movie just thinking about Rotten Tomatoes. Judge for yourself. It’s fun, cinematic and there’s a lot of good in this movie. No where near the bottom of the barrel for the MCU

Eternals = 71/100

 

Reviews

‘Dune’ Review

Wannabe Movie Critic

Denis Villeneuve has out done himself with his latest outing. Delivering us with an epic science-fiction space opera that makes you believe in cinema again.

Dune (2021) - IMDbFeature adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel, about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.

Let’s just this out of the way first. Dune is masterfully and beautifully directed by Denis Villeneuve, cementing himself as perhaps the new King of science fiction. From Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 to now Dune, each new experience he has grown as a film-maker, and continued to submerge us into new depths of some of the most stunning visuals I have ever seen.

Escape reality and enter into the world of Arrakis, where the land will literally kill you. Whether it’s the heat, that is too hot for any man to survive or the sand worms that will swallow you up in a matter of seconds. It would be like watching a man step on an ant, that’s how small these people are compared to the great sand worms of Arrakis. The Atreides are a nobel family that have been sent to planet Arrakis to make peace and finally bring some sort of balance to their universe. Duke Leto (Oscar Issac) Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and their son Paul (Timotheé Chalamet) make up this royal family that is home to one of the greatest armies in the entire universe. Leading this army is Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin) who plays a stiff but intense close ally to The Duke, and their fearless compainion Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa). Both of these dudes just shine in this film. I certainly believe this is the strongest outing of Jason Momoa’s career and will go even further and say he is the best part of this movie.

With Dune comes a big responsibility, this is a beloved franchise of novels that fans have been waiting to see a great live action adaptation take place. There is so much lore, so much backstory and characters being flushed out especially in the part of the novel that this movie is covering. I wondered how they would accomplish this ginormous task. Glossing over certain things and not developing certain characters more was bound to happen, but I’ll say this. They do it so organically in the movie, not cramming all the information down your throat, and let you get immersed into this world before dropping a bunch of exposition on you. It was a herculean task to bring this novel to life and they did it flawlessly I believe.

So what exactly is Dune all about? Two words, desert power. Paul is dreaming of a girl on Arrakis; Chani (Zendaya) and he’s not quite sure what his dreams truly mean. If you’re going into this movie expecting a ton of Zendaya I hate to break it to you, but she serves as mostly a music video girl, you’ll understand once you see it. But remember, this is only the beginning. This movie is all about Paul and his story about self-discovery and learning who he is truly meant to be. On one hand, Paul is bound to the throne after his father Duke. He is meant to be a great political leader and needs to learn how to not only lead but what is important in being a great leader. On the other hand his mother Lady Jessica, she is part of the Bene Gesserit, which is almost a secret society. They are basically witches, who use a higher power, “the voice” to control everything and everyone behind closed doors. Reserved for females only, the tide shifts when Jessica starts teaching Paul the ways of this unique and powerful gift. The world doesn’t run on Dukin’ Doughnuts anymore, but rather spice. It’s the most prized possession and when going to Arrakis a world full of it, Paul quickly realizes that it isn’t actually the most valued commodity on Arrakis, but rather its people, the Fremen. Banished to the underworld of this desert planet, they will ultimately play a vital role in changing the course of this intense power struggle.

Why is this movie so special? Because these are the exact kind of movies that are made when you think of movie theatres. The scope, the size, the sound, are all magnificent, it’s honest to god holy. See this on the biggest screen possible and you are actually being transported to another world. It all feels so rich and vast while not thinking “this is just one big CGI cluster-fuck.” How Denis Villeneuve is able to pull off such remarkable visual effects all while keeping his movie so grounded is beyond me. One of the things he does best in this movie, is making you realize how large the size of something is, whether it’s a space ship, an army marching towards their enemies or one of the breathtaking sand worms. His eye for focusing on one target that is rather small and surrounding it by just immense scale is truly world class film-making.

Dune is this generations Star Wars, hell the book was published before Star Wars and it’s clear that George Lucas was a fan of the material. There are so many parallels between the two, that it only makes sense. This is a science fiction masterpiece that will go down as one of the very best science fiction movies to ever be made. It is film-making at its finest and as I’m sitting here writing this review, we just got word of the Dune sequel and life is great, and movies are just back. Go see Dune.

I fully expect this movie to clean up at the Oscars, probably a clean sweep of every technical category and I won’t be shocked if both Ferguson and Chalamet are nominated for their acting, because both give emotional and raw performances.

Dune = 95/100

Reviews

‘The Last Duel’ Review

Wannabe Movie Critic

Ridley Scott delivers another epic, this time a medieval affair that showcases some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, where friends becomes enemies and relationships are pushed to the brink.

The Last Duel' Is From Three Different Perspectives Similar To 'Rashomon'

King Charles VI declares that Knight Jean de Carrouges settle his dispute with his squire by challenging him to a duel.

If you were to tell me a movie with Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Adam Driver, a movie that was directed by Ridley Scott, would be a complete and utter box-office bomb, I would have called you crazy. The Last Duel suffers from only one thing, being a real film. We live in a world now, where every movie that average movie-goer sees, has to do with Superheroes or is already a large existing IP of some sorts. Even myself, I found it weird to sit down and watch a flick that didn’t have any larger stakes at hand, that wasn’t going to be apart of any larger than life expanded universe and I’ll tell you this, it was lovely.

This is an adult movie, it deals with trauma, rape and the consequences of such evil behaviour. How Ridley Scott dives into this material is through the perspective of our three main characters. Matt Damon plays Jean de Carrouges and he is a noble knight and one hell of a warrior, who just wants to be respected, all while trying to be remembered and have his name passed on throughout the generations. His chapter is first and it tells the events leading up to the tragedy that falls upon his wife. This is a slow burn, but we do get blips of action and when it happens it’s really great. It’s brutal and dirty and looks exhausting as I’m sure combat was back in the 1300’s. The longest of the three chapters of the story, it dives deep in to Carrouges awful luck, whether it’s money, his family or not getting the attention or respect that he rightfully deserved.

His friend, well at the beginning of this story, Jacques Le Gris (Adam Driver) is a fellow Squire, that is almost the polar opposite of Carrouges. He is considered handsome, he has it all, and most importantly he is well respected throughout France. Driver plays him well, the relationship between these two men is strong, but ultimately jealously and bitterness threatens their relationship and is the demise of their tenured friendship. Le Gris has it all, money, woman and respect, so when he sees something he wants, he goes after it and that’s exactly what he does and it becomes his downfall. The second chapter is strong, it showcases Ben Affleck’s Pierre d’Alecnon who is a powerful man and makes Le Gris essentially his right hand man. Affleck is brilliant here, playing a rambunctious, horned up man who loves woman and places his trust in all the wrong people. Driver and Affleck are having the time of their lives all while making Carrouges feel small and unimportant. Taking land that is rightfully his away from him, and not appreciating the amount of blood he is shedding for their rightful King. In the end the thing Le Gris wants most in his life, becomes is ultimate demise as he finds out with unlimited power does not mean life does not have consequences.

In the third and final chapter we get the point of view of Carrouges wife Marguerite de Carrouges (Jodie Comer). The tragic victim of it all. We relive her horror twice in the movie, and through her eyes and her perspective it’s even more disheartening and spine-numbing. She’s unlike most woman at this time, educated, loyal can speak multiple languages. She has a heart of gold, who is loyal to her husband and just wants to start a family before it is too late. She doesn’t gain the respect of Jean’s mother, who is almost at fault for what occurs to her, because like most woman of that era, things happen and you should just deal with it. She stands up for herself, without anyone thinking she is in the right. So when Jean comes to her aid and honour both of their lives are at stake when Carrouges and Le Gris fight to the death in the duel. If her husband loses that means she was lying and must be burned alive because that is “the will of god.” She and Jean want justice and to finally put their demons at rest, which culminates in one hell of a fight.

Performances across the board are fantastic, from heartbreaking to hilarious, again Affleck is all over the place in this movie and it’s great to see him spread his wings and fly again. Beautiful cinematography with a chilling score. Some of the scenes looked like they were exhausting to shoot, all of the battle stuff and it’s great to see a movie look like a real life movie, instead of the green screen treatment a lot of movies get these days. Shot on location, with big sets and tons of extra’s it was simply refreshing.

The movie can drag a little bit, but it’s enough meat on the bone to keep you engaged the entire time and it sucks a movie like this crashed and burned at the box-office, but i think it will still be an awards contender. Support movies like this please and thank you.

The Last Duel – 73/100