Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Nickel Boys - This is a very good movie that is filmed in a really cool and inventive way. I appreciate the camera technique very much - it gives it an edge, makes it interesting, and allows the audience to immerse themselves into the story. Some of the shots are glorious (like the reflection of him watching the MLK speech in the window. Superb!). The two main actors, Ethan Herisse and Brandon Wilson are terrific (although maybe too old for the roles. They both look 30). And it is definitely an injustice that Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor wasn't a frontrunner for the supporting actress category at the Oscars this year (if they nominated actual supporting roles instead of co-lead roles, her and Deadwyler would have been in, for sure). I also really love the guy from Shrinking (he's in a show with huge names like Harrison Ford, but he stands out to me). It's also just a really well-written story about the darkest parts of American racism. Although I found the confusing - but maybe I wasn't paying attention enough? I couldn't understand who Daveed was supposed to be because he obviously has a lighter skin tone, but he's supposed to be Elwood? He took his name? HUH? I had to look it up because I was confused. I think it could have been written in a different way to introduce that reveal more clearly. There are also a few things that didn't work for me (which is why it won't make it into my favorites of the year when I re-evaluate in July). The close-up shots are too close - it breaks the perspective angle. There is a disconnect between the voices and the perspective being shown - it just doesn't sound right? I'm not sure why, but it's a little jarring. I also don't get why the time-jump scenes are filmed from behind? Whose perspective is that supposed to be? It's just a little inconsistent and loses focus, but it's definitely interesting. 

2. Omni Loop - This is bad. Really, bad. I watched this over a month ago (I'm behind again! Shocker!), and I've pretty much wiped it from my memory. I love both Mary-Louise Parker and Ayo Edebiri. Parker has been a favorite of mine since I was kid because of Fried Green Tomatoes. And then she's also in one of my favorite series ever, Weeds. She's just so cool. Her and Edebiri make a solid team, and I like the idea behind this movie. But the reality is that it's about 20 minutes of movie repeated several times and I hate it. The whole "repeating each day" thing has been done a billion times and it's never a concept I enjoy because it's REPETITIVE. The score of this is also really annoying. And the movie doesn't make a bit of sense. I know it's not really supposed to because it's sci-fi, but everything else about it feels so grounded in reality so the sci-fi parts are just...dumb. I thought it would land on my worst of the year list, but it's considered 2024, and I don't re-evaluate my worst movies when I redo my best of list in July. That's kind of good, because then I never have to think about this movie ever again!

3. Strange Darling - I LOVED this!! Out of all the GREAT horror movies that were released in 2024, this one is definitely my favorite. It has a fantastic and intriguing opening shot - I wanted to know more immediately, and then tells this story, consisting of six parts, out of order revealing a super duper twist. It's SO GOOD. I feel like some might write it off as a bit gimmicky, but it really worked for me. And this is a star-making performance from Willa Fitzgerald (I've liked her since Royal Pains! She's also really good in Reacher, which I've just started and am suddenly on season 3). I'm not going to give away the twist - although I think most will figure it out by Part 1 (which is told third), but it's fabulous to watch it all unfold. But, I will talk about how gorgeous it is - some of the shots are so good, and the blood red color that soaks every scene is stunning and provides a really visceral experience. I love that Willa continued to wear this bright red color to all the premieres and promotional interviews. I was SHOCKED that the cinematographer is Giovanni Ribisi. Yes...that Giovanni Ribisi! I only realized it because I saw him listed in the cast, and then thought it was weird that he would take a small voice-over role, but then saw his name listed as the cinematographer! He definitely needs to continue in this field because every shot, every camera angle, and every scene is so well thought-out. It's definitely a horror movie that I will remember several scenes clearly for a long time, and that's not something I say often. I also want to watch it again soon, just to make sure that it all works (I'm fairly certain that it does - they overlap the story enough to connect all of the dots). 

4. September 5 - I hadn't really heard of this, but then it was randomly nominated for Best Original Screenplay at the Oscars this year, so I moved it up the list fairly quickly - and then it appeared on Paramount so I was able to watch it even sooner than I expected. I knew ZERO about it going in. Didn't even know who was in it - so I was pleasantly surprised by John Magaro, Peter Sarsgaard, and a woman who I thought *for sure* was Andrea Riseborough for a solid 30 minutes of the film. And then even weirder, as the credits rolled I yelled "ohhhh THAT was Ben Chaplin????" I haven't seen him in a while, I guess, because he looks about 20 years older than I remember. I also didn't know what it was about, but easily guessed as soon as I saw that it took place during the Munich Olympic games. I like learning about historical events through film because it often has me researching the true story, and diving deeper into the subject matter. I think it's interesting timing for this film - given the surge of the Israel/Palestine conflict, but this is just another reminder that this is not a modern day issue - this conflict has been happening for generations. The story doesn't focus much on the terrorist act, instead it focuses on the journalists and news team that were on duty while it happened, and how they were able to gain access and become one of the biggest live events ever watched at the time. It's important to tell stories about journalism and the press right now because it's taken such a hit over the last decade - you can blame Trump if you want, but I think it has more to do with social media and such instant access to information - everyone is so rushed to get the story that it doesn't matter if it's true or not. And also everyone giving their opinion, having their own website/blog etc., everyone considers themselves an "expert" on a subject even though they have no clue what they are even talking about. If someone has enough followers, they are suddenly considered an authority on everything they decide to discuss. It's an epidemic. This film kind of discusses the beginnings of this rush to get the story first - these journalists reported on the event, made broadcast history (over 900 million people watched!), but they got it wrong. It asks the question whether it's better to be first to the story or to get the story right, and that's what all journalists (and bloggers) should be asking themselves before publishing a story. 

5. Venom: The Last Dance - Well, it's not as bad as the second one, so that's something! The only thing I really remember from the second one is rave Venom because it was so fucking funny. It helps that the cast for this is STACKED. Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rhys Ifans, Stephen Graham, and Clark Backo. I would love to say that they are all great, but every single one of them over-acts their way through this. It's very cheesy - the doctor that is researching aliens, played by Temple, is WEARING a Roswell t-shirt and alien shaped earrings???? COME ON. But, I did laugh a few times, and I love how hard Tom Hardy goes in these movies. He's hilarious and seems like he's having a blast. I don't know much about the comics, but I guess this ending is teasing a possible Sinister Six movie? And the guy in the shadows is the same guy that played Michelle Williams' new beau in the first movie? Doesn't it sound like him? Are we not supposed to know it's him? Why is he in a shadow the whole time? I'm confused. Anyway, overall, I thought this was *fine*. It's not as fun as the first, and not as dumb as the second. There are some really entertaining scenes even if they are ridiculous. I think it's hilarious that they treat this story like a rom-com (the tagline is even "til death do they part" - haha!). It feels very different than the what other comic book movies are doing. But it also feels really long for a 90 minute film.