Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Whale - Well, I really didn't like this, and even though I normally like Aronofsky films, I kind of knew that I wasn't going to like this going into it. It just seemed super offensive, and I don't think Brendan Frasier can act. I know that's an unpopular opinion (I have a lot of those), but he's awful and this performance is rough and now he has an Oscar (upside down face emoji). Colin should have won that Oscar. Or even Paul Mescal. Hell, I would have even taken Austin Butler's performance over this. It's just so embarrassing. How do they keep getting the Best Actor category SO wrong ever year lately? Awarding Rami Malek, Gary Oldman, Will Smith, Eddie Redmayne?? Not nominating Taron?? Just a consistently terrible category. Anyway, as for Aronofsky - he's done some of my favorite films (Requiem for a Dream, Black Swan) and I often like even his movies that others don't (like mother!), but this is just so boring. And I think it's meant to recognize and empathize with addiction because it's often caused by trauma and/or loss, but this film fails spectacularly at this because this guy is...uh....a selfish asshole? I have zero empathy for someone who abandons his child. They try to, like, explain it away as if he tried to keep in contact with her but her mother wouldn't allow it, but that is such a bullshit excuse. Legally, he has every right to contact his daughter and have a relationship with her. And his partner's sister takes care of him every day, and instead of being an adult and seeking medical help he exploits her kindness and sense of responsibility. Just an awful human being, in my opinion. And then it also ties together Aronofsky's often used theme of religion. While Aronofsky is never one to be described as subtle, I feel like this film is even more obvious with its connective religious overtones, which makes it even less exciting. There's nothing to even dig into, instead it's all very flat and obvious. Somehow, Frasier isn't even the worst performance here. I've been a big fan of Sadie Sink in the past, but she plays the least realistic rebellious teen I've seen in a long time. I think it's more of a problem with the dialogue and she was very simply miscast in this role, but there is no subtlety or depth to this performance at all. Hong Chau saves it, but I think she gave a stronger performance in The Menu. 

2. Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 - I knew this was going to be sad because I read that it was about animal testing. Why they would make that the focus of a fun, family blockbuster movie is beyond me, but I get that they wanted to give Rocket a backstory. It's just so fucking depressing. My husband turned to me in the beginning and said "uh...am I going to cry during this?" (I probably should have warned him...ooops). We didn't actually end up crying, but I definitely found this one harder to enjoy than the previous two. It's still just as good, though. There are some really funny and joyful parts that attempt to balance it out. I like that it has a smaller, more focused plot than what the rest of the Marvel movies have turned into. I have such a hard time keeping up with them all and I've watched them all! Even the tv shows! But they are all so referential and they keep throwing in different multi-verses just to confuse me. Even this one is confusing with the "other" Gamora. And you know what else is confusing?? Why is Laura Barton (Linda Cardellini) the voice of Lylla???? There are thousands of voice actors, why pick someone who plays a different character in the same universe? Anyway, as much as I love these movies, I think this had the perfect ending and I hope they just *actually* end it there (I know they won't - the after-credits scenes hint at spin-offs...UGH). I love the use of Florence's "Dog Days are Over", because it is such a joyful song and now it will make me smile even more when I hear it. Also, Will Poulter is definitely hot now. I know people have been saying that for a few years, but I didn't see it until his episode of The Bear. He also has really great comedic timing and fits these movies very well. 

3. A Thousand and One - I think my hopes were just a little too high for this one. I saw a lot of rave reviews of it, but overall, I think it's just "good". Nothing special, and probably not something that will stay with me at all. I think it does a really good job of creating a specific moment in time in a very specific place - Harlem in the late 1990s/early 2000s. They really got me with the over-size gold hoop earrings that every female character wears. And Puff Daddy talking on the radio. And the Sean John t-shirt. It's all perfectly executed. It also lays out a specific deterioration of our society - the prison system, especially for women and people of color, is one of the biggest failures in America. I like that this story starts as this woman (played by Teyana Taylor - a very strong performance) is getting out of prison and we aren't really given much information as to why she was there because it's not really relevant to her future. At least, it shouldn't be. The whole point of prison is for someone to "do their time", and once released they should, in theory, be able to continue leading a life of substance. I really like the beginning - the catalyst for the story is that she kidnaps her son from the foster system (yet another systemic failure we face), and starts a new life. But then, nothing really happens - and I don't really feel like they show the difficulty of her situation until the end. And I think the story struggles to find a focus with too many underlying themes of redemption, gentrification, a mother's sacrifice, a child longing for stability. I also think it's weird that the year 2001 appears across the screen with the movie taking place in NYC and then...9/11 is never mentioned? 9/11 is a major reason that gentrification happened in Brooklyn and Harlem (just like Hurricane Katrina caused gentrification in New Orleans and the wildfires will cause it to happen in Maui), so it's wild that it's ignored. Anyway, I did like this movie, I just think it could have been much stronger. And the actor who plays the older Terry is not a good actor, so he kind of ruins an otherwise very strong and unexpected ending to the story. 

4. Shazam! Fury of the Gods - Weirdly, I think I liked this more than the first one??? I don't think that's a popular opinion, but I thought the first one was really dull and the kids were terrible actors. This one is just more entertaining, and the kids are still terrible actors, but they are in it a little less (from what I remember?). I feel like the adult versions were featured so little in the first one that I didn't even remember that Meagan Good is one of them?! Anyway, I think the story is stronger here, and it has a great cast - the three sisters being Helen Mirren (!), Lucy Liu (!!), and Rachel Zegler (not as exciting, but I think she's cute and seems sweet - the negativity she receives is kind of wild). Adam Brody isn't featured as much as he should be (the kid version of this character is featured more, but he is probably the best one). And I've always been on Zachary Levi's side (Chuck forever!), but he's one of those actors that doesn't have self-awareness of when to stop talking and he's been a bit grating lately. I also think he cheeses up this character a little too much - and the kid version and him doesn't match AT ALL, which is a weird choice. I laughed a few times (the "WHAT?" after she asks what Comic Con is, is so perfectly executed that I spit my water out. Adam Brody forever!. And I also laughed when Levi pronounces Solomon as "solo-man"), and I enjoyed the little meta references (whether intentional or not), with them referencing the Fast and Furious movies TO Helen Mirren, and they have Rachel marvel at a golden apple (as she's the new Snow White). I do think it feels really long, and I'm so tired of the same songs being used ("Holding Out for a Hero" AGAIN??! I just heard this in Super Mario Bros.!!! ENOUGH!). And I'm SUPER confused by the ending - the Justice Society is the Black Adam one right? That's how they were going to connect them until James Gunn took over, right? But then why are the people from Peacemaker there? Are they connected? Or is that how Gunn is going to connect them? I don't care enough to actually look into it, but I just don't get if they are actually starting over or if they are still going to take *some* elements, which is going to make it super confusing. *shrugs*

5. Asteroid City - As you may already know from reading this blog, I'm not really the biggest Wes Anderson fan, but I always appreciate his style. I mean, I actually think it's super-duper cool that he has such a strong signature, from the set design, to the color schemes, to the camera blocking - one can always recognize any shot and still from any of his films and instantly know that it's a Wes Anderson film. He is one of the very few modern day auteur directors, so my respect for him is sky high. But, it's usually the plots that don't work for me, and I absolutely hate when he features child/teen actors (the storylines are always awkward like in Moonrise Kingdom and I don't feel like any child actor he has worked with has been able to nail the dry delivery of dialogue that Anderson is also known for). I didn't mind this one, though. I was entertained and interested for most of it. I could have done without the teens again, because the memory game scene seemed like it lasted forever and it's so boring to watch, and the two kids trying to flirt is awkward. But I like the sci-fi aspect of it and the alien design is so freakin' cool and unexpected. There are a few lines that really made me laugh ("this just in from the president. He's furious" and then he throws the card. The delivery there is perfect). The cast is mostly made of Anderson regulars who I don't really care for (Adrien Brody. UGH. Scarlett doing her best Debi Mazar impression. UGH. Jason Schwartzman doing his same schtick. UGH), but I like the addition of Tom Hanks and Margot Robbie (who steals the movie with one short scene). Overall, I liked this - solid 3 star movie, like most of his films. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Polite Society - I really liked this! It's fast-paced, has a strong story, and is very funny. Plus, I really like the girl from The Umbrella Academy (Ritu Arya). The entire cast is actually fantastic, but the highlight is probably Nimra Bucha as the soon-to-be mother-in-law because I *knew* she was evil, but she does it in a way that is so deliciously sweet that I second guessed myself a few times. I like that it embraces Pakistani culture but isn't about being Pakistani (which there's nothing wrong with, I just feel like there are so many stories to tell featuring different cultures and identities, but the stories don't necessarily have to be about them *being* that specific culture or identity. Does that make sense?). Instead, it's about a teenage girl who has high dreams of becoming a stuntwoman, who is convinced that her sister is marrying the wrong person and losing her own identity. I don't have a sister, but if she did, I probably would be ECSTATIC if she were marrying a wealthy man (because she would obvi buy me stuff and take me on fancy vacations with her), but Ria is suspicious of him right away (mostly due to jealousy at first). It moves really quickly and is really fun - filled with a few very well-choreographed fight sequences, I was entertained from beginning to end. There are also some very laugh-out-loud moments - the scene where they infiltrate the locker room and they try to walk with "swagger", and towards the end when they get past security by saying "heavy flow" multiple times. Overall, highly recommend. 

2. Renfield - This is another fun movie! I don't always like Nicolas Cage, but he almost always gives his all - and he truly goes for it as Dracula. Nicholas Hoult is a perfect example of an actor that has really grown with every performance, and he also found what he's good at. I really didn't like him until Warm Bodies, but even then I was sort of "meh" on him until The Great, which he is spectacular in. I just really hated him on Skins and then he got a bunch of big roles (well roles that were supposed to be big anyway) like Jack the Giant Slayer, Kill Your Friends, and the Clash of the Titans remake and he was so terrible in all of them. But NOW I pretty much love him. See, I'm very open-minded! Anyway, he's a lot of fun in this, and really plays off of Cage's energy very well. The concept is *very* What We Do in the Shadows, but I *love* that series (and the movie), so I don't mind. I wish it were a bit scarier kind of like the Fright Night remake with Colin Farrell - that felt like the stakes were higher and had some terrifying moments. This is more fun with a little bit of gore. But it's one of those movies that accomplishes everything it's trying to do - so that's a win. I laughed and I was entertained. The bar is pretty low for those two things and yet so many movies fail. 

3. They Cloned Tyrone - I saw the fairly good reviews and the cast consisting of Jamie Foxx, John Boyega and Teyona Parris and I was in. I chose to watch this on Barbenheimer weekend, instead of Barbie or Oppenheimer because the movie theater stresses me out, especially when it's busy. I'll wait a few weeks until after it dies down before I see either of these movies (I don't need to be up-to-date with the latest theater releases and I think it's weird that it seems like a race to watch movies now. Another effect of social media, I think). Anyway, this was pretty good! Not only is it a great sci-fi concept, it's also got a strong conspiracy theory/anti-government stance. It reminds me a bit of what Antebellum was trying to do (which is why I couldn't hate on that movie as much as everyone else seemed to. It had a strong story, it just wasn't told well). Also, as I'm currently watching Oz (I'm almost finished with the 3rd season), I can easily connect the two (while Oz is a more realistic take on the idea that the government is keeping black people down starting with the prison system). Racism is systemic - and we're never going to solve it unless there is a radical change from the top. The movie's biggest success, though, is that it is very quick and it is very funny. It moves very fast - almost too fast, because I found myself catching the joke a moment or two too late. I think my favorite moment is when she's trying to be low-key in the Carmen Sandiego outfit (which is already funny) and then the woman screams at her from across the street "lookin' like Carmen Sandiego". I also laughed at "they Clockwork Oranging us!!". I like that it has a retro 90s vibe, but they talk about bitcoin and have cellphones (but it could have easily taken place in the 90s). It definitely could have had a shorter runtime (could have been a perfect 100 minute movie) and the scene with Boyega in the old man makeup is awful (it restricts his facial movements so much - it's such an important reveal scene, too). Other than that though, it's a solid movie!

4. Transformers: Rise of the Beasts - I know everyone hates the Transformers movies except *somehow* the most boring and dull one, Bumblebee, seems to be highly praised (make it make sense!?), but I love them all. Yes, even Revenge of the Fallen (that's the one that everyone hates, right? I don't remember anymore). I didn't even realize that this was released already and had a theater run and everything?! I didn't really see anyone talk about it or review it, which is weird, and obviously not a good sign. I looked a little at some of the reviews and to no surprise, they were mostly bad. But, once again, I'm going to disagree with everyone. It's fine. Solid 3 star movie and exactly what I expected it to be. I like the cast a lot - specifically Dominique Fishback (I'm rooting for her hard!). I've seen Anthony Ramos in a few things (In the Heights, In Treatment), and he's never really stood out to me but I didn't not like him. He doesn't bother me in the same way that a lot of trendy actors do. He's good in this - very charming and likeable (although I was instantly sold on the character with the Mets hat and the Wu-Tang poster). I was a little confused by the timeline, but that's mostly because I have a bad memory. I guess this one is supposed to be a sequel to the Bumblebee one, right? But for some reason I don't remember that one taking place in the 90s? Hmmmm....? Anyway, I had fun with this. I think there's definitely too many needledrops - and in a row! It's very weird and distracting. I laughed hard at the line "Marky Mark is leaving the Funky Bunch!". It's so cheesy, but it made me giggle (first, because Marky Mark joins the Transformers universe, and second, because I can actually remember when that was big news! I'm old.). 

5. The Super Mario Bros. Movie - I like this movie because my husband liked this movie. I honestly couldn't care less about Mario and the gang, but he was laughing and smiling the whole way through this and that's what movies like this are about. I definitely played Super Mario Bros. when I was a pre-teen, and I remember it being fun, but it's not something that I have any passion for whatsoever. And I tried to play Mario Kart a few years ago and I thought it was boring. I'm not really a gamer, though. I'd rather watch movies. But my husband can be a gamer sometimes - he goes through phases of being obsessed with a new game and then he won't play anything for months at a time. But he was practically giddy watching this and yelled out whenever a character was introduced and when he recognized an easter-egg. It was really cute. And the movie is cute, too. I think it accomplishes what it was trying to do, which is be a fun movie for children and adults. I do think that Chris Pratt was miscast as Mario (and I like Chris Pratt, which is super uncool among film twitter) and I think Mario and Luigi sound waaaay too similar. I almost think that Charlie Day should have been Mario and someone else should have been Luigi? BUT, Jack Black is INCREDIBLE. He has so much fun with this role, and you can really tell he took it very seriously. I also enjoyed Seth Rogen - even though I think his voice is a little too recognizable. Actually it's more his laugh that is recognizable (my husband asked who it was *right before* he did his signature laugh and then he said "oh...nevermind" because even he knew who it was and he never knows anyone). My favorite part though was Blue Flame's dialogue. It's super dark for *kid's movie*, but I laughed so hard (he says stuff like "there is no sunshine only darkness" and, like, longs for death. It's HILARIOUS).