Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Outfit - So I enjoyed this while watching it, but I watched it only 3 weeks ago and I barely remember it. That's never a good sign. But lucky YOU, I take notes! I watched this for Dylan O'Brien - I just really like him. However, it's a good thing that I like the rest of the cast, because *spoiler* he's not in it for very long (and his Chicago accent is a bit cartoonish, especially combined with the gangster dialogue). Mark Rylance is the lead - it's a quieter, more toned down role than what he's been doing lately (sorry, but what exactly was he doing in Don't Look Up?). Zoey Deutch is lovely. And Johnny Flynn!! I really like him, and this is the third time that I've seen him and been like "oh he's good, who is that?" and low and behold, it's Johnny Flynn - he's a very chameleon-like actor. I'm interested to find out what his actual accent is? The internet just says that he's "British" but that could mean a lot of different accents (and he was born in South Africa, which is also interesting!). The film is a little slow-moving, but the dialogue keeps it interesting. It feels a bit like if you made a movie from the perspective of the tailor from the Kingsman movies (like he's just minding his business making suits, but he's surrounded by espionage - this tailor is surrounded by gangsters, but you get my point). It picks up in the end, and becomes a strong tale of revenge. It goes a bit OTT for my liking, especially in comparison to the rest of the movie, but overall it's good (but obviously not very memorable...). Also, the poster makes it seem a lot more "gangster action movie" than it actually is. 

2. The Forever Purge - I had NO IDEA that a new Purge film came out last year?? Was it even advertised? Was it released in theaters? Also...wow...this is a bad movie. I was expecting not great because the only one that I genuinely liked was the second film of the series. The first one obviously has a great premise, which is why there have been so many of them (and a tv series that I haven't gotten to yet). They have all been not-so-subtly about racism, classism, America's obsession with guns and violence, etc. so it makes sense that this one is at the heart of it all - set in Texas and focuses on immigration. It's just...not good. First, it's soooo boring. Second, they make the racist guy the white savior character (oh good, he's racist, but not a murderer so...he's a good guy? OK, no thanks). And last, I stopped paying attention fairly quickly in because it's just *so stupid*. I do really like the main actress, Ana de la Reguera. She's from Narcos and the tv show version of From Dusk Till Dawn, and stood-out in both. This is an unfortunate misstep for her. 

3. Dear Evan Hansen - I obviously have heard the criticism for this, but I tried to go into this with an open mind. Plus, it's a common thing in the film industry to have actors in their late 20s/early 30s play teenagers, so I was confused as to why so many people had problems with it happening here - and it seemed, to me, to make sense to cast the original actor from the very successful Broadway show. Ben Platt is super talented, so I'm sure it was devastating to have his performance lambasted from the very first trailer, that he, nor the film, were just never able to recover from. It's clear to me, after having seen it, that the biggest issue is from the makeup & hair department. That hairstyle clearly makes him look older, even older than he actually is - and absolutely nothing like what a teenage boy would look like in today's world. He's also hunched over for most of the movie as if he's an 80 year old man, which doesn't help (I think this is an attempt to "shrink" himself - to visibly show his introverted tendencies, which probably works better on a stage than on film, so again, not his fault - the director should have caught that it wasn't working). I also thought it was hilarious that the general population had no idea what the plot of this story is - and were horrified by how fucked up it is. But, even though, yes, the story is fucked up, it's also about someone who is paralyzed by social anxiety (likely autistic, even though I don't think it's ever confirmed), and how not being able to pick up on social cues can detrimentally effect your life. It's supposed to elicit empathy from the audience. Unfortunately, the film is very slow (I have not seen the Broadway show, but this certainly does not make me want to) and mostly dull. I had no idea Kaitlyn Dever is in this - and I'm surprised that she is actually a singer (or trying to be?) because I do not like her singing voice AT ALL. But I still do love her. It's also weird that Colton Ryan is in this because he's also in The Girl from Plainville, but I've never seen him in anything before and then suddenly I'm watching him in two different projects the same week! And even weirder, he plays another character that kills himself! The only real positives are, obviously, Amy Adams (as Dever's mom! That's perfect casting, right there) and Julianne Moore. Also, the songs are very pretty and the lyrics are wonderful. Otherwise, unfortunately, the critics were right on this one - just a big ol' mess. 

4. Uncharted - This isn't necessarily a bad movie, but it's just so disappointing. I love both Tom Holland and Marky Mark (yup, still Marky Mark to me!). I've never played the video game, so I had no expectations regarding its translation to the big screen, but I do think that treasure hunting action-adventure movies should...be fun? And this is just sort of a slog. I'm so surprised at the audience rating on RT of 90% (critic RT is at 40%, which is correct), because I can't imagine that anyone had any fun with this. And if it didn't star Tom Holland, I'm not sure it would even be watchable? Marky Mark is as dull as a rock in this. There is a forced chemistry between them that feels uncomfortable instead of a funny comradery, and there is no chemistry between Holland and Sophia Taylor Ali (I didn't even realize he was supposed to like her until the movie was almost over). The other actress is from You, and she is a very one-note "bad guy". And it's not funny, at all. I laughed once and that was when Holland hits the security guard and falls back almost knocking himself out. Oh and when he says "I'm not much of a dancer", because, in case you don't know, that boy can move. But everything else feels overdone and just not funny. The "action-adventure" part is okay, I guess. It's just very predictable and routine, nothing at all new. With some better dialogue and a more charismatic supporting cast, this could have been passable, but as it is, it's just...so dull. 

5. Respect - I watched the miniseries with Cynthia Erivo not that long ago, and I definitely learned some things about Aretha's life that I did not know. I'm not sure why her family denounced the mini-series, but were behind this movie? Perhaps because the movie glosses things over a little more? Or because Aretha handpicked Jennifer Hudson to portray her? Either way, I think the miniseries does a better job of showing her complicated life, but I still feel like neither live up to the legend that is Aretha Franklin. Hudson is perhaps the only person who can nail the vocal range necessary, while also being an incredible actress - I'm surprised this was overlooked for more awards (it's certainly Oscar-baity and it's certainly better than the disastrous Billie Holiday move that got way too much attention last year). Unfortunately this just feels like every other biopic - very straightforward and clean. It implies a lot of stuff without actually saying it, which is sort of an easy way out. It also feels very rushed and directionless. The supporting cast is all over the place - Marlon Wayans is horribly miscast. He's way too soft to play a "tough guy", and his lowered voice feels like a parody (it's actually hilarious). It seems like every record exec is played by either Paul Giamatti or Marc Maron (the latter is in this - and the role is exactly what you expect it to be). Also, why cast the fabulous Mary J. Blige and give her barely anything to do? It's all such a waste. Maybe one day somebody will get it right (like do it as a big fantastical musical bio with Dexter Fletcher at the helm).