Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Transformers One - This is really cute! And action-packed! The animation is great - especially the scenes with the robots mixed into the natural world. Just gorgeous! I think a lot of original Transformers fan, like my husband, are scarred by the Michael Bay movies (for the record, I love them! I think the only one I really didn't like was The Last Knight, but overall I find it a very entertaining franchise. And the first one is incredible, I don't care what anyone says). So, when this came to streaming, I asked my husband if he wanted to watch it with me and he shook his head no, but then I said "it's animated and it's not related to any of the previous movies." And that made him change his mind and I'm glad because he LOVED it (I failed to tell him that Michael Bay produced this, but he doesn't need to know that information). It definitely feels like the "old school" style of the original cartoons, but with updated technology in the animation. It's a great "from the beginning" origin story about how Optimus Prime and Megatron became enemies (but started as best friends). It's interesting to see the chain reaction of a villainous world creating more villains that parallels the cycle of abuse (I don't think kids will grasp this concept, but it's definitely there). I think the voice casting is very uninspiring - Chris Hemsworth is probably the biggest mistake of the whole movie. Also Scarlett has a great voice for sultry, sexy characters, but not for this. I love Brian Tyree Henry, but I don't think he has a particularly interesting voice. Hamm is too expected. I did enjoy Keegan-Michael Key because B-127 was the best character ("I get to work for the government!" LOL). I'm excited for a sequel! 

2. Blitz - Hmmmmm....I rated this movie 3.5 stars, but I don't think I quite liked it. It's just a really well-made movie though, because I don't think Steve McQueen is capable of making a bad movie (even Widows has its moments of stunning filmmaking). I appreciate a lot of things about this. First, the film is partially told from a black child's perspective during WWII in London, which is not a perspective we've seen a lot of. It's really interesting to see the racism persisting even among people who are being bombed and trying to literally survive the day. Second, like I said, some incredible filmmaking is displayed - from the use of sound, to some of the shots, to the costume design - it's all gorgeous. There's also a great tracking shot (because it's McQueen, so OF COURSE there is!). And third, Saoirse Ronan supremacy!! I don't think this is her strongest role, but she's still so mesmerizing on screen - I couldn't look away from her. But, the film is also very boring. I don't think the kid is a good actor, and he's not engaging at all. I saw someone compare it to Oliver Twist, and that tracks - it just doesn't feel very original aside from the multicultural aspect. And if someone asked me to pick the most current "vanilla" actor working today, I would absolutely respond "Harris Dickinson". He's so dull - and I don't even understand his character in this. It seems his entire part could have been cut altogether. Stephen Graham goes way over-the-top with this, which is his thing, but he needed to be reined in. Overall, I think film enthusiasts will find the value in this, but I would not recommend this to the average moviegoer. 

3. Alien: Romulus - This was actually far better than I was expecting. It's exactly what I've wanted from an Alien movie since Aliens. It might not be as thoughtful as Prometheus or Covenant (both of which I liked), but it's entertaining as Hell in a purely horror blockbuster sensibility. It also may be a little too referential (some of it was laughable - "get away from her *stutters*, you bitch". WOW incredibly bad), but I can forgive that. The two main stars are STARS - Cailee Spaeny is great. She's so tiny and petite, but she's also scrappy so I can believe her in this role. She really carried the whole movie, and I *think* she's about as close to Sigourney Weaver's Ripley that we're ever going to get. David Jonsson is also great as a malfunctioning robot - his facial expressions are so good. But unfortunately, the rest of the cast are incredibly forgettable. Isabela Merced is so under-utilized. I don't know the other three of the group, and I have no interest in finding out more about them. All...just...blah. But the action and the kills are so good! I love all the face-hugger action too. The best part of the whole film is the ending - because HOLY SHIT - it goes batshit crazy. I thought the film was pretty much over, and then THAT happens and the whole thing takes a whole new direction. I was not expecting it at all. I was expecting more of a twist with a "twin" plotline because the whole thing is a play on Romulus & Remus (from Roman mythology about the founding of Rome), but I'm wondering if that's going to be the focus for the sequel? It's definitely an interesting twist in the story. Anyway, I loved it - it sits right outside my Top 10 of the year so far. 

4. Smile 2 - Another great horror film! I have so many horror films rated as 3.5 stars this year (Abigail, Immaculate, The First Omen, etc. and 3.5 stars is a high rating for me), and this is one of them. I was not expecting it at all - even with the good reviews (I'm always more skeptical of good horror film reviews - because a lot of them are bad). I liked the first one just fine - I rated it 3 stars (which is average/good to me). I liked Sosie Bacon, but that's about all. I thought a sequel seemed excessive (not every story needs to continue!). But this, is far more memorable - and Naomi Scott is INCREDIBLE. I like how they connect the stories, and then focus on this demon overtaking a pop star (a character that is already deemed as "crazy" due to an excessive life style). It's a really interesting turn in the story. But I truly think that Scott makes this movie - not only in acting, but the performing. I would fully believe that she is a pop star if I didn't already know otherwise. I recently watched the Power Rangers movie from a few years ago and she stood out among a great cast, but as I was watching this, I wondered what else she's done only to realize that she's the actress from the live-action Aladdin and the Charlie's Angel's remake - both of which I destroyed in my reviews. I still stand by both of those movies being terrible and the acting even worse, but obviously Scott can act - she's just been cast in bad movies. She gives off a bit of a P!nk vibe with this role (and I love P!nk), especially with the choreography and the spectacle in her performance. And Naomi does all the singing and dancing too! Incredible - better than most current pop stars. And I added the "New Brain" song to my Spotify list, because it's SO GOOD! I had it stuck in my head for days. Anyway, aside from her performance, I just think it moves a lot quicker than the first one does - it's more straight-forward, there are some truly gruesome scenes (the weight smashing into his face - so gory!). And it has a GREAT ending. I expected it, but I also thought they wouldn't actually go there, but they do (and it's a great commentary on the cult-like fanbase for a certain pop star that shall remain nameless). I think the only critique I have is that as great as Scott is, the constant reaction shots are annoying. 90% of the movie is just her face reacting to something horrific. 

5. The Piano Lesson - I mentioned this when I watched Fences, that I think it's incredible that I, a Drama Studies major in the early 2000s, have not read a single August Wilson play. It should have been a part of my curriculum. It's definitely a glaring omission - and direct proof of exclusion in the arts. I have been meaning to correct this, but I don't read a lot of plays anymore (I do read a lot of POC non-fiction because I think the whole purpose of books/movies/tv etc is to expand your worldview and that's not going to happen by just consuming things from white authors). There's a lot of good stuff in this - first, Danielle Deadwyler is fantastic - probably my favorite supporting performance of the year. Second, the scene with the men sitting around the table singing and stomping along to the beat is so simple, but yet SO EFFECTIVE. I could have watched that scene for another 20 minutes and enjoyed every second of it. Third, HOLY SHIT IS THAT RAY FISHER??!!! I thought he was completely miscast in the Justice League movie and I WAS RIGHT! Because he was terrible in that, but he's SO GOOD in this. I didn't even recognize him at first because dare I say, he's also REALLY HOT in this?! The scene in which he buys the suit is so cute! He's so excited about it and I wanted to reach into my television and give him a big hug. Fourth, the ending is really good with a proper horror haunted house vibe. The lighting (and flashing lights) is so strong and effective. The silhouettes of past lives is haunting and just so incredibly beautiful. And last, I appreciate the generational family affair of this - with Denzel producing, Malcolm directing, and John David starring in. Unfortunately, my biggest problem with it is John David Washington. I just don't think he's a good actor. He sounds just like his dad, but he definitely does not have the same star power or charisma. I think he struggles here - the dialogue does not sound natural for him at all and he just spends the entire time shouting. There's a deep divide too when he shares the screen with actual great actors (like Deadwyler - who doesn't even need dialogue to act or Samuel L. Jackson who is probably the only actor that can over-act and still be incredible in every role). I read a few reviews from black critics, all of whom praise John David Washington in this, so maybe I'm wrong, but he's just not convincing from my perspective. I also think it feels a little too stagey in parts, but I'm not sure if that can be helped with the nature of the story mostly taking place in one location. It just doesn't feel like a movie until the end.