3 Thoughts on Argylle

1. Matthew Vaughn, never change - I know he's not for everyone, but I just love him to death. This movie is so over-the-top, I don't even know where to begin. But it's also filled with scenes that you would never imagine in your wildest dreams! So, I AM HERE FOR IT. I can just picture him thinking out loud and saying "what if we have her ice skate on oil while she fights the bad guys", to a room full of suits looking at him like he's insane. Nothing can top the first Kingsman movie - especially the church scene, and I remember laughing my ass off during the end when all of the brain implants are activated and they all blow up but instead of showing actual heads being blown to smithereens, they just have the heads turn into this stunning firework display. I honestly still get a kick out of it. It's just so funny (and I think about that scene all the time with Musk announcing his brain implants! Why would anyone do that? He could blow your head up into a firework!). But, I think there's good effort in this for Vaughn to top himself, and I appreciate it. Some of the CGI is a little wonky, so it doesn't look as good as it should. And the CGI cat is kind of annoying (I like the idea of the cat - with him in that backpack joining the action! So funny! But, unfortunately, it just looks like a fake cat the whole time). But otherwise, I had a good time and was entertained. I think reviews were overly harsh - most just taking this movie way too seriously. It's supposed to be ridiculous, that's what makes it fun. 

2. That hair! - We all knew Henry Cavill was going to have that ridiculous haircut once the first images of the movie were released. I assumed there would be a reason for it...but there's not? That's just how he looks? I know he's a figment of her imagination, but why is she imagining him like that? But, I actually want to talk about a different hairstyle - Bryce's blonde makeover during the last act of the film??? Why did they do that to her? They, like, try to make her "sexy" for the 3rd act, but I think any man (and woman) would tell you she is waaay sexier before the new look. They do the same thing to Sam Rockwell, too, by giving him frosted tips for the ending. It's all just really hard to look at, and I think the reason is because, in movies, spies are supposed to be hot and aspirational, and in this, they are all...not (due to styling, not actual hotness). It's just a weird choice, and definitely the worst part of the movie. I'm also not the biggest fan of this group of actors. Aside from Sam Rockwell, I don't rate any of them very highly. I like Bryce Dallas Howard a lot, but I don't think she picks the best roles for her acting ability (and she's an awesome director! Stick with that!). But I do think this is the best I've ever seen her. I've said my thoughts on Cavill before (dead behind the eyes), and thankfully Dua Lupa and Ariana DeBose are not in it enough to effect the movie. Luckily, two other actors who weren't advertised as much (Bryan Cranston & Catherine O'Hara) are in it way more than I was expecting. That being said, I do think part of Vaughn's charm is to cast people in roles that others might not think of (like Julianne Moore as an evil drug lord or Colin Firth kicking ass and taking names in the Kingsman movies). Someone posted on Twitter how great it was to see Howard, a curvier actress, in a role like this, and OF COURSE, a lot of people had opinions ("stop reducing women to their body shape!" and "this isn't new, she was in a huge blockbuster franchise already!"). BUT, BUT...but...it IS a great thing to witness??! And, yes, she was in the Jurassic World franchise, which is an action movie, but it's mostly here running away and escaping dinosaur carnage. This is her as a successful spy - in detailed fight sequences, fucking up the bad guys! The only comparison I can think of is Angelina Jolie who was often touted as being "curvy" but if you look at pictures of her from Tomb Raider- she's a STICK! Look how skinny her arms and legs are! I just found Howard, in this role, to be incredibly refreshing and extremely sexy. Both women and men want to see more of this, so let's make this the first step into a change in Hollywood and action films! *crosses fingers & toes for a Christina Hendricks led action movie*

3. The "twist" - I may have already spoiled part of the twist with the last paragraph, but this part will obviously contain spoilers. If you remember when the film was first announced, then you already know the twist too. I pay attention to Matthew Vaughn films, so I already knew that it was about "a spy who has amnesia and becomes an author to regain her memory" or something like that, because it was part of the logline (I think Deadline reported it like that). But the amnesia part is supposed to be a big twist. For the first half of the film, the audience is supposed to think that she's an author (of spy novels) who is thrown into this world. I think part of the problem with the film is that....maybe they reworked it so that it would be a twist, but it wasn't originally meant to be? Because assuming I didn't already know, the whole beginning doesn't really work - it's just not believable at all. And the thing is, there are other twists in the movie that make it great, so why not focus on that? I think it would have worked better if in the beginning when she "meets" Rockwell's character, he tells her the truth and she just doesn't believe it. Then we the audience would know (because we already do know!), and we wouldn't have that long wait for the reveal. I just feel like something happened in the editing process to provide more twists and surprises and it just wasn't necessary. It's very over-cooked. Also, when it was announced, I assumed that Vaughn was going to make another spy franchise that could also be connected to Kingsman, and the after-credits scene sure does elude to that, but if that's the case then he shouldn't have cast Kingsman actors like Sam Jackson and Sofia Boutella?? And in roles that can't be connected!!  - I guess Sofia's could, possibly, but I think the timeline would be off (it would have to take place before Kingsman because they both die in it..., although, Kingsman has brought back major dead characters before, so who knows!). Anyway, I just want the third Kingsman movie, that's supposed to be the final Eggsy story (Taron said he only wants to do one more to give Eggsy an ending) - it keeps getting pushed back (Covid, then Taron was booked for other things, then the writer's strike, then Taron was booked for other things! It's like a never ending cycle of rescheduling). I NEED IT NOW!

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Priscilla - I've said it before, but I want to like Sofia Coppola's films, yet I rarely do. I like Marie Antoinette and The Virgin Suicides, but all of her other films I rate 2.5 stars or less (eeek! I know!). I think this might be her best film, though?? I really enjoyed it, although I did have some major issues with a few things. I'll start there - first, Jacob Elordi in this role is a big miss for me. I just don't think he's a good actor, unfortunately. I could feel his thoughts in every second of the film (his thoughts, not Elvis'), I don't think charisma and screen presence come naturally to him. And Elvis is all presence. Also Elvis was tall, sure (6ft), but Elordi is really tall (6'5") and he is lanky, and Elvis definitely wasn't. Just visually it doesn't work. Second, the ending is extremely rushed and it's the most interesting part. The film, thankfully, moves extremely quickly so I certainly think it could have tacked on another 15 or so minutes to show us this new Priscilla. And third, the lighting is a little wonky. She's literally in a shadow for the entire movie - and if this was done on purpose (like if she was literally, as well as figuratively, in Elvis' shadow) that would have been a genius visual element, but she's always really poorly lit from beginning to end (even on the poster!). But otherwise, I really like the story that Coppola tells here. I often say that not everyone is interesting enough to make a movie about, and I think that's the point here - this seemingly glamorous woman who is married to the biggest star in the world and...she's boring. Her isolation and loneliness bleeds into every scene. I think it's interesting that the real Priscilla is a producer in this and had a say in the story, and yet the Presley estate denounced the film. Obviously this film doesn't show Elvis in the best light - he is manipulative, emotionally abusive, and controlling. He wants her to literally just sit in this huge house by herself and wait for him ("when I call you, I need you to be there for me"). There are adult women who don't realize they are in abusive/controlling relationships like this, so it's understandable that a teenager fell for this. It's also bold to show such an icon as a predator (sorry, but he was very aware of her age and may have been physically respectful, but he also knew that because of her age she would be easier to manipulate), and I understand that his family does not want to think of him in this light. However, I think it's been well-documented that this is how their relationship was, and we have to allow women to tell their stories. The very clear highlight of the film is Cailee Spaeny. I know she's been in a few things recently but this is her first starring role (I think?) and she is incredible. I don't quite think it's Oscar-nomination worthy (some included her in the snubs this year), but she is one to watch for sure. There's a quietness to her performance that is quite beautiful - from the pure joy of having the biggest star in the world interested in you, to seeing that joy deflate more and more with every scene. It's a huge success. 

2. Self Reliance - I liked this movie a lot. I think, mostly, because it's very original and I had no idea how the story was going to play out. I spent the entire film going back and forth in deciding if the whole thing was real or if he's actually a schizophrenic or suffering a mental breakdown. It's like Beau is Afraid, but as a 100 minute comedy. The catalyst to the story is that this man (the loveable Jake Johnson who wrote & directed this), is offered the chance to play a deadly game, but if he wins the game he wins a million dollars. The rule of this game is that he has to survive 30 days being chased by professional assassins. He learns of a "catch" though, that the assassins can't approach him if he is with other people (in order to ensure no innocent people get hurt), so he thinks "easy-peasy" as long as I'm not alone for the next 30 days, I get a million bucks! I would definitely take that deal in a heartbeat. It seems easy enough - I would just rent a hotel (like he does at one point) and just bunker down for 30 days with a friend or family member. The problem, though, in his case, is that he's had previous issues with mental illness so his family don't believe him and because he's a loner, he has no trust-worthy friends. So the film becomes more about him trying to make connections with other people. He hires a homeless man to accompany him everywhere, but that proves to be unreliable, and he meets someone else who may or may not be playing the game too. It's all really well done and interesting. Plus, it's laugh out loud funny more than a few times (the Andy Samberg parts are hilarious, as is his mom calling him Sandy Amberg). *spoilers ahead* The end is left a little open, with him surviving and therefore winning, but we're still left with this feeling that the whole thing was in his head. I think it's meant to be real, though. And the twist is that the "million dollars" is actually in Greenlandic currency which equates to $145k in American dollars (still a nice chunk of change, but not enough to change his whole life - unless he moves to Denmark!). 

3. The Burial - Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones starring in a courtroom drama sounds like it's a move from the 1900s (that's what the kids call it!). It definitely has that feel, like A Time to Kill vibes. Although the case at hand, is not that interesting and revolves around contract law (snoozefest). The cast keep it alive, though. I love Jamie Foxx and I'm happy that he's healthy - I respect that he wants to keep his medical issues private, but I'm also super curious as to what happened to him?! Everyone was so worried! I also love Jurnee Smollett (it took me way too long to realize that she was Denise on Full House. Like, an embarrassing amount of time). Foxx and Smollett have great chemistry as adversaries. It's also interesting that something like contract law, that should have absolutely nothing to do with race, still somehow has to do with race. It's crazy that they turn down the settlement offer of 75 million (I would never! I realize that they ended up with a lot more than that by winning the case, but nobody needs 500 million dollars?! 75 and peace would do me just fine). I did enjoy his little "feels good" at the turn down though. And it is satisfying that they won and got so much money from this big corporation that was screwing people over, but it's just very idealistic. And as the "bad" guy states - it's not really going to effect him at all. That's why I find it so weird when all these guys like Trump, Giuliani, Alex Jones, etc. are losing all these cases and ordered to pay millions, everyone cheers as if any of these cases are going to ruin their lives. Literally nothing happens to them. They still have millions, they still are in the media spewing hate and lies, and ultimately they are still going to be successful. I don't even pay attention to any of it anymore because it's all so infuriating. Anyway, this movie is exactly what you might expect. Solid 3 star courtroom drama, with fantastic performances. Can't complain. 

4. You Hurt My Feelings - This is a cute movie. Completely forgettable, but cute. I love Julia Louis-Dreyfus so much, so it's odd that I hate the show Seinfeld. I'm talking hate. I've tried watching it multiple times and I find it so grating (and I've seen most of the episodes because it used to play on Thursday night "must see tv" along with Friends). The premise of the film is that this woman, an author, overhears her husband (with whom she seems to share a very solid relationship with) talking shit about her latest book behind her back. She feels hurt and betrayed because she cares so much about what he thinks of her and want him to be proud of her. I like that it explores the "truth" within relationships, and also how you don't always have to like everything your partner does, but you can still be proud of them. I don't think I would be upset if my husband didn't like something I worked on creatively (like a painting or something - I paint a lot of flowers & trees and they are simply not his taste), but I would be upset if he was talking about it in a negative way to someone else? Anyway, I like the supporting cast a lot, too. Amber Tamblyn and David Cross (a couple in real life) play a troubled couple seeking therapy to repair their relationship (my take: she's a bitch and they hate each other. Divorce is the only answer. The answer certainly is not spending 33 THOUSAND DOLLARS in TWO YEARS on therapy. Do you know how much you can do with 33k??? Maybe take a nice vacation together? That would repair a relationship more than therapy). Michaela Watkins plays Julia's sister (weird that they are a decade apart, Julia just looks so good for being in her 60s!), which is good casting - they have great comedic chemistry together. But, the guy that plays the son is TERRIBLE. It's so weird that I just watched the new version of The Stand, that came out a few years ago and this guy is one of the main stars and he is unbearable to watch. Just over-acts in every single scene, and he does the same here. I don't even want to look up his name. He also plays just a really annoying, entitled character - he literally gets upset that he's a "third wheel" because his parents are happy and love each other. Can you even imagine feeling like that? What a fucking narcissist. Ugh. Anyway, there are a few cute, funny moments ("I don't have cleavage, why would I wear a v-neck?"). It does feel a little longer than it actually is because there are quite a few unnecessary scenes. Also, it's really dumb when the pot store gets burglarized and the dumb son just hands the box of money over. Sorry, WHAT? My father-in-law owns a recreational marijuana store and that shit is secure because it's an all cash place. The money is in a locked safe and you can't just take the product from the shelves - you order it and they give it to you through a window. I think most places are like that? They couldn't function any other way. 

5. The Marvels - I like how we keep thinking these comic book movies can't possibly get any worse and then we keep getting worse movies. It feels almost purposeful at this point. I think the biggest issue with this movie is that it's not accessible at all. If you didn't sit through the absolute pain of Ms. Marvel or WandaVision (which was good, but came out 3 years ago and I have a terrible memory), then you'll have no idea who 2 of the main 3 characters are. Plus, obviously you have to watch Captain Marvel as well (at least that's more of an expected ask, though. Asking people to sit through whole tv shows is a little bit much). They do a little quick recap in the beginning, but it feels rushed and just made me realize that I don't care about any of these characters. And then they start switching bodies so quickly and it feels so chaotic I can't even follow what is happening. For the record, I hated Captain Marvel, too. I thought it was so...cheesy and Larson is not made for blockbusters. I can't wait until her run with this character is over because she needs to go back to small quiet dramas like Room and Short Term 12 (she's also great in the Apple show Lessons in Chemistry). I hate her in this role - I think she's supposed to be funny, but she comes off as snarky and mean. But, Iman Vellani as Ms. Marvel is an absolute joy to watch. She's having a ton of fun and that counts for something. I just can't find the fun in anything else. They certainly try - like with the singing planet, but instead of being fun it's just...hard to watch. And it looks terrible! Like when Monica flies - just terrible visual effects. The only part that is sort of funny is the whole cat part, but it also...looks really bad. The idea of it is just so ridiculous that it becomes entertaining. It's kind of weird that Zawe is a villain in this (a very unmemorable, one-note villain) when she's dating another Marvel villain in real life (Loki will always be a villain to me no matter how many times they try to redeem him). It's also weird that Monica is the same age as Captain Marvel because that doesn't make sense, but I looked it up and apparently Captain Marvel ages slower so she's actually like 50 years old??? Did they tell us that and I just wasn't paying attention, or is that something we're just supposed to know? I did like the end though, with the new young team being formed because I like Ms. Marvel, I just didn't like the show or this. And I really like Kate Bishop. They need to appeal to the next generation, so I get why they are going that route. I'm interested to see who else joins them?

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. John Wick: Chapter Four - I was a little skeptical going into this, only because the fourth film of a franchise is usually never actually good. But this is probably the best one after the first one! Is it waaaay too long? God Yes. But was I entertained?? Also, God Yes. Some of the action scenes are stunning, and it feels like its very high stakes - so I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I do think the entire storyline with "Nobody" could have been cut completely??? Who is he and why do I care about him? Just because he has a dog?? I don't get it. Other than that, though, I don't have many complaints. Although I do wish this were the final film. It ends perfectly and continuing it is a mistake, I think. Unless they do spin-offs (which they did with The Continental, and I didn't really like that). Some of the scenes are so ridiculous, but also really, really beautifully filmed (specifically the part where they have their duel in the middle of a rave - it takes way too long for the ravers to notice them fighting and gunshots. It's kind of hilarious, but also really beautiful to look at). And the poker scene is also hilarious - they each have, like, impossible hands and then, of course, the one guy has an actual impossible hand (a five-of-a-kind with no wild cards...LOL). I laughed for like 10 minutes after that scene. And Donnie Yen is such a fun addition, but him being blind is also soooo ridiculous. A blind assassin? Wick could just hide behind something instead of fighting him. Overall, though, I really liked it. 

2. The Exorcist: Believer - I recently rewatched the original, because I never really rated it very highly in my mind, but I definitely forgot how brilliant it actually is. I've never watched any of the sequels, but I plan on it one day. It's a shame that Friedkin was so against this one being made - it was inevitable, and sometimes I think directors feel too much ownership over their projects. It's not like he created the story, or even produced it (I think that would allow for more of the "ownership" feeling, but he was just a hired hand, in my opinion. It's not "his"). Why not get involved and make it live up to the original, instead of fighting against it? Anyway, as many reviews have stated, this movie does, in fact, suck. But, it has a good plot, and it could have been good if it didn't fall into so many cliches and had a less predictable plot. Although, I was surprised by something, but it's a huge part of the story that I found hard to stomach, so it ruined the film even more for me. *Major Spoilers Ahead* In the beginning of the film, this man, played by Leslie Odom Jr. (who somehow has an extreme talent for picking the worst films to star in), has to choose between the life of his wife or the life of his unborn child, and then it fast-forwards to him being a single father with a pre-teen daughter. And I WAS LIVID that he picked his unborn child!!! I rooted for his death for practically the whole film, and then it's revealed that he did, in fact, pick his wife, but things went awry. That makes so much more sense, but also, I feel like it just creates a very unlikable character for 75% of the film??? Big mistake, in my opinion. I love that Ellen Burstyn reprised her role 50 YEARS (!!!) after the first film, but I think they under-utilized her. And THEN, *more spoilers ahead*, Linda Blair appears for a literal millisecond. What in the actual fuck? If you're going to put Blair in the movie the PUT HER IN THE MOVIE!! It just felt like a stunt, instead of a thoughtful storyline. I just didn't care about anyone, especially the bickering parents. The one girl is a really strong actress, though (I recognize her from Nightbooks). And Ann Dowd is always brilliant. That's probably the only nice thing I can say about it. 

 

3. The Kitchen - Big, big Daniel Kaluuya fan here. I wish he were starring in this, too, but it's super cool that he co-directed this. I've been sort of hoping he started doing more behind the scenes stuff again (he co-wrote some of Skins back in the day). It is quite weird though that this is listed as a 2023 release even though I heard literally zip about it until the day it was released on Netflix in January of this year. Apparently it had a very limited release in the U.S in December, but I never saw anyone review it or anything. I'm going to count this for this year, because, well...I do what I want. I like this movie, and I think it's incredible for a directing debut. It is a little light on story, though, I felt like I was waiting for something to happen for the entire movie. But I like the focus on this "father" figure/son relationship - I just felt like nothing really happens with it until the final 30 minutes. I also like this future world that is created, because it feels very real, very scary, and very possible. And the soundtrack is great (I totally forgot about the song "Candy" by Cameo. I LOVED that song as a kid). Plus, even though I'm disappointed that Kaluuya isn't the star, Kane Robinson (aka Kano), is really strong in the lead role and the bond that he forms with this boy feels really genuine. I definitely got emotional when he inquires about a "double occupancy", but then realizes he might end up being screwed. It's a tough decision, for sure, and it's heartbreaking that he chooses his own success (but understandable). The final 30 minutes are really great - but I just wish the whole film was this strong. And I loved the ending, even though it was expected. I saw a few reviews comparing this to Attack the Block, but I got a completely different vibe than that (they are actual hooligans in Attack the Block, that's not the case here - they are fighting authority, but it's become an oppressive police state, so the fighting is necessary). 

4. Dumb Money - This was a bit more entertaining that I was expecting, but also something that is completely forgettable. It's definitely trying to be The Big Short, and it fails. I like that it tries to explain the whole GameStop vs. Wall Street thing that happened during the pandemic because I did not understand it at all. And I still don't, really? Because if it's that easy to do, then why don't people who invest in the stock market just continue to do stuff like this? Like, why don't they just form groups and agree to all put money into one specific stock until it reaches a certain point, cash out, and then pick a different stock?? Right? So, maybe I just don't understand it? Also, once it hits the point where I'm making 6 figures, I would have cashed out. I get why that's a mistake, but I could do so much with 100k (I don't want millions. People with millions become bad people, mostly). Anyway, it's still interesting that these normal people took down billionaires. The film focuses on the main guy, who apparently was some sort of internet personality (I'm old, this is another thing I don't get - and also the whole ape thing and crypto), along with the insane people who took his advice (including a nurse, two college students, and a GameStop employee). They did a great job with casting really likeable people (Paul Dano, America Ferrara, Myha'la, Anthony Ramos), so I felt really emotional seeing all these people beat the system and change their lives. There's also Seth Rogen, Pete Davidson, Nick Offerman, Shailene Woodley, and SO MANY MORE - just an incredible cast of people. Oh AND Dane DeHaan! I didn't even recognize him at first because he wears a mask the whole time. Anyway, I've said it before, but I do think that we need to wait a while longer before turning news stories into movies. We need longer to reflect and see the full impact (this story *just* happened in 2021!). I think a lot of the parts that were supposed to be "cool" or this whole "fuck you" attitude it tries to pull off, just come off as desperate and made me role my eyes. Like playing "WAP" in the beginning or when Davidson drinks out of the cup before delivering food (which is dumb because in 2021 all restaurants doing deliveries were Covid conscious and would definitely not put your straws in your drink before delivery - everything was sealed). It would have been better if they focused more on the nurse and maybe the GameStop employee? People who felt more real. 

5. Passages - I thought this was going to be one of those sneaky films that ended up on my Top 10 of the year list, but it didn't quite get there. It's very good, but just not excellent. It's a solid story about the complexities of marriage, relationships, sexuality, jealousy, etc., and it feels very authentic and tangible. I really like the exploration of sexuality, because I tend to think sexuality is very fluid - which is a popular opinion, but it also recently feels unpopular a lot of the times because people are so focused on "identity" nowadays. I think people are attracted to people, not gender, although you might have a "type" and that "type" might be someone of the opposite gender, which would make you typically straight (although, I, for one, would never be attracted to a man wearing that many sheer tops....LOL). Anyway, I like that the lines are blurred here, but also that it's not really even the point of the story. I really like Adele Exarchopoulos but her character wasn't really developed very well, and it would have enhanced the story so much more if she were. I really wanted to understand her and her side of the story, but alas, we are only really given one point of view - and that point of view is from a master manipulator. Just a real asshole that upends the lives of others around him because he's a narcissist and also extremely insecure at the same time. People like that don't change. Franz Rogowski and Ben Whishaw (why did I always think his name was Ben Winshaw? I just looked up how to spell it and was like, wait, where's the n???) have incredible chemistry together and there is a very necessary sex scene (all sex scenes are necessary! I'm so exhausted by the discourse). I like a lot about this movie but I don't think it's something that's going to stay with me for very long. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Killers of the Flower Moon - Well, in a big twist of events, I didn't love this. I really expected to. I read the book back in 2018 (I wrote some quick thoughts on it on this blog I think). It covers a lot, so I didn't think I would mind the length of the film. I love Leo, and I love his collaborations with Scorsese (I think this is, what, his 6th collaboration??). And I was excited to see this supposed incredible performance from Lily Gladstone. I just....am disappointed with the result. It is waaaay too long, and I felt every single second of it. I don't like what Scorsese decides to focus on, which is more about the villains of the story. I get why maybe focusing on the FBI part would create another "white savior" type story, buuuuut....that's what the book is about? The literal subtitle is "The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI". But Jesse Plemons (as the FBI agent assigned to the case) doesn't show up until 2 WHOLE HOURS into the movie!! I actually forgot who played this role and when he knocked I thought it was Matt Damon! I wouldn't be surprised because Damon shows up in random movies all the time (It's his thing!). Leo is...absolutely awful in this role - the fake teeth they give him feel so unnatural and the accent is hard to listen to (combined with the constant frown, he looks like he's trying to do a Billy Bob Thornton Sling Blade impression). I think at this point, Scorsese has blinders on when it comes to certain actors because I felt like both Leo and De Niro were completely miscast in this. And as far as Gladstone is concerned - she's fine. I don't think her part is written very well, and she's not given much to do other than sit or lay there and look absolutely miserable. I'm not saying she should ever seem happy, so-to-speak, her family is slowly being murdered, but she' never given any depth whatsoever. A completely one-note character. And there are so many incredible lead actress performances from 2023 who aren't even being talked about in favor of this - and that's incredibly frustrating (Florence Pugh in A Good Person is a perfect example). I also don't think that is a "lead" performance, but this isn't the first nor will it be the last that we see of category fraud from awards shows. Other than that, it's a well-made film (because of course it is!) and some of it is very beautiful, but it just never hits the emotions that it should nor does it give a voice to the Osage people. It does shine a light on a disturbing part of American history (one of many!), that many don't know about (even my husband who is usually well-versed on American history. He came home while I was watching it, about 1/2 way through, and instead of watching the movie spent the next hour and half researching the history behind the film. I'm sure he learned a lot more in that time than he would have watching the movie). I also appreciate the end, with Scorsese inserting himself into the film. It's bold, for sure, and I can see why some didn't like it, but I felt like it was the most necessary part of the whole film. 

2. Foe - *spoilers* Well, now, how do you fuck up a movie with such a strong premise, starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal???? First, they filmed this movie that's set in the American mid-west in...Australia. And then they had both of these incredible Irish actors play Americans (taking away a big part of there "essence" - Although, Ronan is great with accents, Mescal...is not). It also doesn't help the film that it was released after the Black Mirror episode that essentially had the same story except it was good! I think the comparisons definitely hindered my enjoyment, specifically, because the whole thing is supposed to be some sort of mystery, with a twisty ending, but I knew exactly what was happening and how it was all going to play out because of those comparisons. It also is way too similar - the farmhouse looks identical?? It's like they used the same set! So my brain instantly said "oh, he's the AI already within the first, maybe, 20 minutes" (which is different than the Black Mirror plot, but not different enough), so the rest of the film seemed like a moot point. I think if they revealed the twist more towards the middle and then showed the after-effects of the "original" back on Earth, it would have added a layer of interest. Instead it's 90 minutes of this very boring couple with a slight mysterious air surrounding them. And it's not even interesting to look at, the characters are never fully fleshed out, the dialogue is dull, there's no chemistry, just all a big fat failure on every level. I don't update my Worst of list, like I do my Best of list, but if I did this would surely make the cut. 

3. Society of the Snow - What a beautiful movie! While I thought *for sure* that Killers of the Flower Moon was going to effect my Top 10 from 2023 (and it didn't), I had no expectations that this would (it will definitely be in the revised version). I've been a little peeved with J.A. Bayona ever since he made The Impossible about a white family. But he corrects his mistake here and casts actors from South America (many from Uruguay) and the dialogue is in Spanish. I don't think he could have technically done it any other way nowadays (but nothing surprises me, he could have added a fictional white family on the plane if he wanted to), BUT apparently this story was made into a film already and they cast WHITE ACTORS like Ethan Hawke! I obviously have not seen it, but Jesus Christ, that's hilarious. I'm not that familiar with this story, it was a little before my time, but obviously I had heard about the plane crash and what they did to survive (cannibalism). I think the tv show Yellowjackets obviously took some inspiration for their storylines, which I didn't even think about until watching this. The most effective part, I think, is that they tell the story from the perspective of one of the people who die. It would have been a far easier and more expected route to tell the story from a survivor perspective, so I appreciate the little twist. And I think in doing this, it gives the survivors more equal weight (audiences will automatically care more about the narrator of the story, usually, but he's dead!). The plane crash scene is just really brutal, and the film never shies away from the difficulties they face to survive, as well as the guilt they feel. I, for one, would be so pissed if I survived the initial crash, and would, for sure, just curl up in a little ball and die from either freezing or starving to death. But there are obviously people who have more of a survival instinct, and they really showcase that here. I did actually write down in my notes "why were there so many cigarettes and if they could light them, then why couldn't they start a fire?", although I questioned that maybe there wasn't enough stuff for them to burn. So I appreciate that Bayona actually answered this question on twitter (I guess I wasn't the only one questioning the reality of that), and apparently it's true. His answer is that they actually did find a whole suitcase filled with cigarettes so they smoked constantly (which makes sense because it's an appetite suppressant) and they did try to start a fire, but everything was too wet to get one going (makes sense!). 

4. The Equalizer 3 - I watched the first two films a week before catching this latest one and I quite enjoyed them. Denzel is just such a watchable movie star. I think I actually liked this one the best, though? I would rank them 3 > 1 > 2. Although, I don't understand how or why they didn't actually call it The Sequelizer and The Threequalizer. I know people made jokes about it, but I genuinely think those are what the titles should be. I loved seeing the supporting cast in the first two (Haley Bennett - clearly A STAR from the second she's on screen, and Pedro is in the second one! I think it's way too obvious as to his what his arc will be, though, which is why I didn't enjoy it as much). But THIS ONE takes the cake!!! A reunion with Denzel and Dakota Fanning 20 years after Man on Fire!! LOVE IT. I actually didn't recognize Dakota for a second - it's not like she's been gone (I watch The Alienist!), but something about her looks different. She almost looks like Maika Monroe?? Anyway, it's a little hard to take her seriously in such an adult role, but she is going to be 30 YEARS OLD this month, so I guess I have to deal with it. I do think that it's obvious as to who she is, and they didn't need to wait for a reveal, but it's different than Pedro because it's just a character reveal, not a twist of character. Anyway, I like the new Italian setting, and the overall kindness from everyone in the town. The action sequences are terrific, as expected. And, like I said, Denzel is just perfect in this role - I could easily watch a dozen more of these movies. 

5. Golda - On one hand, I appreciate that this isn't a traditional biopic, instead it's more of a war strategy film about the Israel/Palestine conflict, but on the other hand, it's kind of boring (and obviously one-sided). It was filmed before the events of 2023, I'm surprised that they still decided to release it, but it is important to see the history of this conflict. It's been going on for DECADES and it's wild to me that people outside these countries are so invested in it now but have no knowledge of the history. Anyway, this film is a bit like The Iron Lady, by trying to conjure up some sort of empathy for an awful woman in power. Sorry, but I don't believe for one second that leaders in power care about the death toll of war, because if they did, then war wouldn't exist! It's all just a numbers game to them. There are a few good things happening in this movie - Helen Mirren is one of the best actresses of all time, and she gives a very strong performance. And the sound design is really great. There are also certain harrowing scenes that are filmed almost like a horror film, which I think is really interesting for a film like this. But, overall, it's a very average film. And every other scene features a cigarette! I'm not exaggerating! At least 60% of the movie is someone smoking or lighting a cigarette. 

Movie Marathon: The Ocean's Movies

**New blog series alert** - Movie Marathons!! I'm going to watch a selection of film franchises (mostly as rewatches) and give my quick thoughts! First up, The Ocean's movies: 

1. Ocean's Eleven - This is one of my favorite films of all-time. I loved it the first time I saw it, the 5th time, and the 20th time. I don't find that many films made after 2000 to be that rewatchable (compared to 80s & 90s films), but there is just something about this that is so smooth and sleek. And the cast is just perfect and the chemistry they have together is a dream. To me, this is Soderbergh's masterpiece. There are so many iconic shots (the one of Clooney coming up the escalator, the shot of them driving through Hollywood with the camera mounted to the back - giving it a very old school Hollywood feel, and so many more). The way the dialogue bounces off of every cast member so breezily, and is both outwardly hilarious at points, but also sneakily funny in parts (one of my favorite lines is part of a side-bar dialogue "Tess is with Benedict now? She's too tall for him". I laugh every time). It also features one of my favorite lines of dialogue EVER - "Does he make you laugh?" and Roberts replies "He doesn't make me cry". It's such a gut punch. Even the things that are ridiculous, have sort of made the film somehow even better - like Don Cheadle's horrendous British accent. It just somehow works and is actually just really funny. Or how Pitt spends the entire film eating and talking with his mouth full of food. I remember the whole poker scene being incredibly cool in 2001 - with that cast, but unfortunately it didn't age very well (I don't think any of those actors made it out except Joshua Jackson). The actual heist is also super cool, and I think it still holds up. They literally thought of everything. I still can't find a plot hole.  

2. Ocean's Twelve - I remember really liking this one when it first came out, but I never watched it again. I saw a lot of people calling it awful, so I assumed that maybe I misremembered or was just swayed by my love for the first one. But, no, I love it. Obviously, not as much as the first one (that will just never happen and it doesn't have to!). I know the whole "Tess pretending to be Julia Roberts" thing is really ridiculous, but I remember watching this with my mom in the movie theater, and we laughed and laughed at this whole scene. I still find it really amusing - mostly because Julia is such a good actress that she pulls it off so well. Especially when she sees Bruce Willis and she's trying not to be excited about the fact that he's talking to her. Matt Damon is great in this scene too. It's just overall a very fun scene, and I love it. I think the weak link of this one is Catherine Zeta-Jones (I rarely like her), but she doesn't ruin the film for me. I couldn't really remember how it all plays out (again, only seen it once when it was first released so it's been 20 years!). I knew there was a twist with LeMarc and Zeta-Jones character, but I couldn't remember exactly. I do think the whole set-up with Benedict demanding his money back is really ridiculous, because wouldn't they have anticipated that and kept a low profile? And if he found them, they have enough money still to relocate and start over with new names and such. It's just stupid. 

3. Ocean's Thirteen - Now this one...is not good. I saw this one only once, as well, and also when it was first released in theaters. I don't, however, remember a single thing about it. I watched it for this post only 2 weeks ago, and I...also don't remember anything about it??? They partner with Benedict and try to take down a rival casino, I think? I don't remember why, though. And there's a whole painful scene with Matt Damon trying to seduce a drunk Ellen Barkin that is really hard to watch. It's just not interesting at all. And the side characters are really, really sidelined (Affleck is off starting a strike at a factory in Mexico?? Why, exactly??). And no Julia is a big mistake - I think Soderbergh underestimated her importance in the first two. I also think that the heist isn't believable in this one with them causing a literal earthquake in the high rise casino (putting so many lives in danger). They also rehash my favorite line with "Do you think it's funny?", "Well, it sure as shit ain't sad". I appreciate the throwback, but...just...NO. 

4. Ocean's 8 - Okay, so I was very disappointed with this when I first watched it. I thought I was going to love it - combining the Ocean's films with my favorite actress of all-time, Sandra Bullock, along with one of the best actresses of all-time, Cate Blanchett, seemed like a slam-dunk. I was hopeful that a second watch would allow me to appreciate it more, which I actually did (but I'm still a little disappointed). I think one of my big nit-picks is that they steal from a museum, but I realize that I was actually wrong about that - they do steal from a museum but they steal the crown jewels that are on loan, so they are, in fact, stealing from royalty billionaires so I don't mind that as much. And they also steal from Cartier, also a billion dollar company. I also remember thinking Awkwafina was awful (and I thnk it might have been the first thing I saw her in that everyone else praised her and I didn't get it), and I still do! And it's funny that she's in so much now and I still can't stand her (as an actress, I'm sure she's a lovely person!). I do think that Rihanna is a sneaky highlight - I would love to see her act more, but everything she was in kind of bombed, so I think she might have given up on the acting thing. It's a shame though because she's funny! I think the attempt at the whole meta thing that was successful with the second one, fails here with Anne Hathaway playing a version of herself (and then being in on it - even though it makes no sense as to why she would poison herself....LOL....if she's in on it, wouldn't she have just not eaten the soup and handed off the necklace in the bathroom??? So dumb). I think it's clear that Soderbergh is not involved with this one because it's certainly not as sleek or smooth. And, the plot holes are not tiny - they are very in your face and there are a ton of them (Hathaway would have been arrested immediately - nobody would believe that she couldn't feel a 6lb necklace being taken off of her neck). There is also a chemistry issue - Bullock and Blanchett do not have the same chemistry that Clooney and Pitt have, and none of the side characters even really interact with each other. Plus, they cast James Corden??!! Why??? 

Side Note: I wanted to watch the original Ocean's 11 film from 1960 (I've never seen it!), but it wasn't available anywhere to stream for free at the moment but I will watch it eventually.