Thoughts on 5 Films

1. 12 Strong - Very typical war film, but such an unbelievable (true) story. I feel like Chris Hemsworth is going to take all of the roles that Marky Mark is now too old for. It's very "Go America Go!", which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it does feel a bit like Propaganda. There's a fairly large supporting cast, but all of them are unmemorable. Even my favorite, Michael Pena! I forgot he was even in the movie until I just looked up the cast (because I couldn't remember anyone else except for Chris). I don't think I like Chris with an American accent. He's not bad at it, but his natural accent definitely helps his screen presence. Without it, he's a bit dull. Also, I love that his real wife was in it - Elsa Pataky. She is stunning. Anyway, there's not much else to say about the movie. It's exactly what your expecting it to be. Nothing particular stands out in any way, except maybe that a modern war battle was fought using horses. That's fascinating (and true!). Also, on a side note, I think stories like this are extremely important right now. There is this whole backlash against masculinity (because people apparently can't tell the difference between "toxic masculinity" and "healthy masculinity"), but this masculine trait to be the "hero" is what drives people to such dangerous activities and it is absolutely necessary.

2. Boy Erased - Another extremely important and heartbreaking story, based on Garrard Conley's memoir about his time in Conversion Therapy. Directed by Joel Edgerton, who did a great job directing his debut, The Gift, I was very intrigued. Overall, I think this film is very good - mostly due to the wonderful acting performances by Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe. And a very small, but very memorable scene from Joe Alwyn. I looked him up, because the performance was that good, and now I realize I recognize him as Taylor Swift's boyfriend (and apparently he was in Mary Queen of Scots, but I don't remember him because none of men were memorable). There's a bit of a twist with his character that I wasn't expecting that makes the whole story a bit more complicated - and is commentary on "toxic masculinity", in case you're confused. There is also, obvious commentary, on the role that religion plays in homophobia. I'm interested to read the book, because I feel like the film plays it a little safe. I just don't think it went deep enough. I also think it should have been more than an afterthought to expose the fact that the guy running the center is gay.

3. Booksmart - Honestly, this movie is a big disappointment for me. I was expecting something...so much more, based on all of the incredible reviews and my love of Superbad (it just might be my favorite comedy of all-time). I've been a fan of Olivia Wilde since The O.C., and I think it's super cool that she directed a movie that received so much critical acclaim. I'm glad others enjoyed it, but for me, it just wasn't very funny, or original, and it definitely didn't feel genuine. I was entertained, don't get me wrong, but mostly because of Beanie Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever (who is fantastic in Unbelievable. I'm on episode 5 and I am in love with it). Their chemistry is great, and is about the only genuine thing in the movie. The rest of it feels really forced - especially all of the supporting characters. Just really cliched, and the dialogue is cringe-worthy. I fully admit that I just might be too old for this type of movie, maybe this is how high schoolers act (which if true, the human race is in big trouble). The class of '99 is extremely different than the class of '19 (yes, my 20 year reunion was this year. I'm officially an old lady.), but we definitely had better high school movies (10 Things I Hate About You, Can't Hardly Wait, American Pie - absolute classics). Also, it's weird that a movie that epitomizes "woke" culture has teachers that are so predatory. How is that acceptable?

4. Us - I have such mixed feelings about this movie. It's simultaneously absolutely brilliant and ridiculously dumb. But, the originality of it, is what I appreciate most. It takes so much from other horror/suspense films (the biggest inspiration I felt was Invasion of the Body Snatchers), but is truly its own thing. Also, I thought about it for days afterwards, and that is always a good thing. I don't get scared very easily, but every time I closed my eyes I saw the image of Young Adelaide and it was honestly terrifying (kids are fucking creepy). Lupita Nyong'o is fabulous - it's rare for Horror to be recognized come awards time, but she is definitely deserving of some recognition (and Get Out was definitely loved, so their is hope for this). And, I will admit that Elisabeth Moss didn't bother me that much - she actually did a great job. I read a few articles about this movie afterwards to see how people felt about the last act, and it seems people were surprised by the last twist which is shocking to me. I feel like it is very obvious, particularly during the scene where Young Adelaide is at the therapists office. And I watched the film, with full knowledge of the twist. I wonder how my viewing would have been had I not figured it out so quickly? It's just weird to me that avid film viewers found the twist shocking. I sort of question their ability to analyze film, which I know is mean, but....really? You didn't see that coming??? Anyway, I definitely recommend this movie, it's one of my favorites of the year (but I've only seen like 20 movies from 2019. I'm sooooo behind), just go in with the knowledge that it's a bit stupid.

5. Stuber - I was in the mood for something dumb, so this was at the top of the list. Kumail Nanjiani is hilarious, and Dave Bautista proves to be really funny in the Guardians movies. It kind of reminds me of a more old-school type of comedy (like Rush Hour, Lethal Weapon, etc.), and sometimes that's exactly what you're in the mood for. It moves quickly, has a solid plot, funny dialogue, and likeable characters. My favorite scene is with Steve Howey - I don't know why, but I think he is hilarious and this was the perfect part for him (he's also my second favorite actor/character on the American Shameless, behind Lip, of course). I feel like they were setting up for a sequel with the way the film ended, but I don't think this did very well at the box office...? I would watch a sequel though. It's a shame that Karen Gillan didn't have a bigger role (it's also weird that she's in the biggest movies in the world and no-one in America would recognize her). The worst thing this movie has going for it is obviously the title. Who thought that was a good idea?

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Mary Queen of Scots - Saoirse Ronan and Margot Robbie are probably my two favorite young actresses. They have both done some incredible work and have made really interesting career choices. They both are phenomenal in this otherwise perfectly adequate film. The film is definitely more centered on Mary, but Robbie really shines as Queen Elizabeth I, it was definitely a more challenging role and she really went for it. I love Period Dramas, but I always have a problem discerning between background characters because everyone looks the same. Definitely a big problem in this movie - I couldn't figure out which character was on which side. I also tend to get confused when it comes to British Royalty and then I furiously google who everyone is instead of just focusing on what I'm watching. I also am really skeptical when it comes to how truthful these movies are because honestly so many plot points could be completely made up, and I wouldn't know the difference (like the scene where they beat her gay friend to death - looked it up and it seems to be partly true). Overall, I would recommend this movie (for the acting, alone), but if you're not into this type of movie then this will probably bore you to death.

2. Kong: Skull Island - Super fun Blockbuster movie. And, man, what a cast! Samuel L. Jackson, Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston (weird to see them all together in a non-Marvel movie), Toby Kebbell, and the standout performance, John C. Reilly. His comedic timing really makes the movie. I also really love all the of 70s nostalgia feeling throughout. It's done really well, with a bit of grainy images mixed with modern special effects. It also, not so subtlety, gives several nods to "Heart of Darkness" (characters named Marlow and Conrad). The best part of the whole movie is Jackson's Jurassic Park reference with one of his most famous lines "Hold on to your butts!". I laughed so hard at that. There are a few minor issues that I had with this movie - the first, and most important, is that I rooted for all of them to die the second that they started shooting at Kong without provocation. Second, Toby should never do a Southern accent again. Third, it's about 20 minutes too long so it feels really bloated. It would have been so much more fun if they just trimmed a little bit here and there.

3. Mortal Engines - This world building could have been so great - the idea of mobile cities is actually really fantastic, but this movie is just....so boring and lifeless. The main girl (sorry, I'm too lazy to look up her name) is part of the problem. She looks a little like Alexis Bledel, and it's really disappointing that she's not. But then she also looks a little like Elle Fanning, and again, she's not. Instead, she's just there...with no screen presence at all. There's also the guy from Misfits (again, lazy), who is also extremely dull here. But the biggest surprise is Leila George - I did look her up while watching the movie, because she looks so much like Melissa George, and I thought that maybe they were sisters, but apparently they are of no relation (even though they both have the same last name, and are from Australia, and LOOK IDENTICAL. I mean, they just have to be related). Instead, I found out that she is the daughter of Vincent D'Onofrio and Gretta Scacchi (still so weird to see actors I grew up with having ADULT children. It makes me feel so old). And the biggest mind-blowing tidbit I learned about her is that she is dating Sean Penn. Again, Vincent D'Onofrio's DAUGHTER is dating Sean Penn. Hollywood is so weird. All of this information is more interesting than this movie, I promise. I lost the plot after an hour, and suddenly there were these weird skeleton Terminator type monsters and I have no idea why, nor do I care.

4. Fahrenheit 451 - I just don't think this works as a movie - there are just some books that need to be protected in our mind, and this is one of them. I've avoided watching the film version from the 60s for this exact reason, but this cast was just too intriguing - Michael B. Jordan and Michael Shannon are a winning combination. However, this film is just so dull, and I don't really see how that could have been avoided. I like that they updated the "future" to include virtual reality, digital copies of books, and that there is some really strong commentary on the problems with "PC culture" (being offended by works of art because they depict racism, sexism, etc. - it's all coming to a terrifying conclusion). I think they tried to make the film have a Blade Runner feel, but it feels like a knock-off and not in a good way. There are a few really strong scenes (the VR club scene comes to mind), but overall it feels like a made-for-television movie (which I think it is? This wasn't released into theaters, was it? It's hard to keep track nowadays).

5.  The Snowman - You guys, this is a terrible movie. BUT, not as terrible as I was led to believe. I mean, a 7% on Rotten Tomatoes is definitely an exaggeration. It's hard to watch the movie without thinking of all the "Mr. Policeman" snowman memes and laughing hysterically throughout, but it has a semi-interesting plot, a loaded cast (Fassbender, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Rebecca Ferguson, Chloe Sevigny, J.K. Simmons, and Val Kilmer) and an overall mystery that isn't revealed until the end. Granted, the twist is actually terrible, but twists are often terrible in these types of movies. I'm assuming that the book is really good, and that the initial script was strong (otherwise how did it attract all of this talent??). The movie just dragged a lot, some bits were a bit ridiculous, and it's poorly edited. I was also really disturbed by Val Kilmer's performance, but then I looked him up and apparently he had throat cancer so they had to dub all of his dialogue. I'm not going to put any negative energy in his direction - dude's a legend and I hope he's feeling better soon.

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. The Girl in the Spider's Web - Be prepared: the five movies in this post are all incredibly disappointing - for many different reasons. This one, mostly due to my intrigue over the casting of Claire Foy. I was not the biggest fan of Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (it was a good movie, but I found some of the praise a little ridiculous). I like Rooney Mara, but I didn't really believe her in the role. To cast Claire Foy is such a weird choice - it literally could not be more different than the role she is currently most famous for (Queen Elizabeth). She proves to be a very versatile actress, but I still don't believe her in the role - and for the exact same reasons that I didn't like Mara. The original Swedish version of Lisbeth was played by Noomi Rapace and she was very believable. But I think my main problem is that women are supposed to see Lisbeth as a role model, and that is excruciating to think about. Overall, this sequel is pretty dull and definitely not as beautiful to look at as the first (obvi), but there are some nice action sequences and there is some powerful stuff involving the complicated relationship with her sister (when her sister says "for sixteen years, you chose not to save me", I got chills). Otherwise, it just feels pointless.

2. Men in Black: International - From the reviews, I already prepared myself for disappointment with this one. Such a damn shame. Chris Hemsworth has comedic timing as proven in Thor: Ragnarok and Ghostbusters (omg I still think about him in that movie. Just downright hilarious.), but he is no Will Smith. And Tessa Thompson is just simply wonderful, but she is oddly stiff in this role. This movie lands with such a huge thud - it's just so...boring. It's really predictable, and it's not funny - like, AT ALL. I don't think I laughed once. Meanwhile, I still quote the original Men in Black on a regular basis (really, I just did my impression of "Edgar, yer skin is hangin' off yer bones" last week!). There are some cool visuals, and and some cool looking aliens, but otherwise there really isn't much to talk about. Oh, wait, now that I'm thinking about it - I was amused by Pawny, and Kumail Nanjiani does some fabulous voice-work. Pretty much stole the whole damn movie.

3. They Shall Not Grow Old - Not necessarily a disappointment, because I don't really like Documentaries, but the idea that Peter Jackson directed and he restored all of this original WWI footage is very intriguing. Reviews called it "ground-breaking", which was even more intriguing. It is amazing to see this footage so vividly, but ultimately it's just like EVERY other War Documentary. If you've never watched this type of film before, then this might be something to seek out. But I've seen sooooo many - my grandfather used to make me sit for hours watching them with him. Although, I always thought they were about WWII, but as a kid I probably wouldn't know the difference. I just remember being fascinated that this was something that actually happened. How do we, as humankind, ever think war is the only option? I also never understood why my grandfather was so obsessed with watching them, after having lived through it. But then again, my step-father is obsessed with watching footage of 9/11 (he is a WTC survivor). I guess it must be therapeutic in some way.

4. Billionaire Boys Club - How do you fuck up a movie with Taron Egerton and Ansel Egort? I remember this film circulating at least a decade ago (I believe with Ryan Phillippe attached. Or maybe Ryan Gosling. Definitely one of the Ryans). I never saw the original, and I never really heard the story. I'm surprised it hasn't been turned into one of those popular true crime series because it's a fascinating story, but this movie is just really bad. Ryan Murphy could have made this story into something really fantastic (and maybe he will!). This film kind of downplays their horrible crimes (they fucking murdered people!) and makes them seem like innocent "in over their heads" good boys. Are we supposed to feel bad for them? It's cute the studio pretended it flopped because of the Kevin Spacey controversy, but in reality they hid this movie as much as they could because it's TERRIBLE. These actors are LUCKY that no-one saw it. I adore Taron so I refuse to criticize him, but his American accent is....uneven. I just don't think role is right for him, in general. It's boring and cliched - there's no nuance. I will forgive him and Ansel for participating in this garbage (I mean, in theory this seems like a great project). Also, this is the first time I've ever seen Suki Waterhouse in something (aside from being arm candy to Bradley Cooper), and oooof this is a rough first impression.

5. The First Purge - I've enjoyed all of the Purge movies to some degree (the second one is my favorite - if I remember correctly. The Anarchy one with Frank Grillo and that really rad car). So, I wasn't expecting this to be as terrible as it is. I guess the origin story is the biggest question that needs to be answered, but I probably would have preferred to never have that answer. Probably because the answer is too dumb, and over-simplified (**spoiler** it's a government conspiracy to kill the poor people to solve over-population). It starts as an "experiment" and takes place on Staten Island. I feel bad for Staten Island because it's like the laughing stock of the tri-state area (even New Jersians make fun of it). I actually live really close to the island, but I've never been - it's probably not as bad as people say. According to this movie, it is the epicenter of gangs and violence - i.e the perfect place to make murder legal! I admit that I got really excited when I saw Melonie Diaz because she is such an under-rated actress and then I got really upset because I think she only has like one line in the entire movie!? How does this happen? How does an extremely talented actress like this get shafted, while someone like Suki Waterhouse is getting roles? It just doesn't make any sense. Anyway, I also don't understand why Marissa Tomei would agree to be in this? LOL. Anyway, this is just a really terrible movie. The others at least have a little bit of psychological horror, but this is just hollow. There's some commentary on racism that is relevant to today's political discourse, but the movie is too dull for any of it to be taken seriously.