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.