Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice - So I rewatched the original a few months ago in anticipation of watching this sequel - because I know I wouldn't get any of the references because I hadn't seen the original since I was a kid. I was never the biggest fan - it was fine. But I wasn't part of the cult-like following that it had. But I'm definitely glad that I did do a rewatch because I definitely would not have enjoyed this otherwise. And "enjoyed" is a strong word for this, I think. I was mildly entertained, mostly because the cast is great - I love the original cast members that came back - Winona Ryder, Catherine O'Hara, and Michael Keeton. Plus, the new cast is fantastic - Jenna Ortega as Winona's daughter is great casting. And I love Justin Theroux, and HELLO MONICA BELLUCCI?! How did I not know that her and Tim Burton got married a few years ago? I thought it was weird that they start off killing the father - and conveniently don't show his face at all, so I thought they just couldn't get the actor (I never knew his name, but he was in a lot of 80s stuff - Howard the Duck, Ferris Bueller, etc.). I should have guessed that he's actually a terrible human so they literally couldn't hire him (google it). Anyway, it makes for a convenient catalyst to this sequel, but I think the story is quite lacking. The only interesting part happens once the "twist" of a certain character is revealed. There's some good scenes - like the soul train scene (very cute). But a lot of it feels forced and unnecessary. As much as I love Bellucci, all of her scenes could have been cut - that whole subplot is pointless. But I don't think it's any worse than the original - they are both 3 star movies. 

2. The Front Room - This is a bad movie, but I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 because I love Brandy. Yes, I'm biased and I don't even care. I've randomly met her twice (about 20 years apart), and she was a DOLL both times. Definitely the nicest celebrity I've ever met - and not the fake nice either. Like, a genuinely nice person. Anyway, this seemed like trashy Lifetime movie material - and that's what this is. I realized that the creators (twins Max and Sam Eggers) are brothers of Robert Eggers, so that's why A24 released this. It's the only explanation, because it is legitimately a bad movie. It's also really stupid - like when the old woman comes home with them and is like "you can't have a baby's room on a different floor than the parents" and they're like "oh yeah, that makes sense". I instantly questioned whether these two stupid fucking people should be bringing a child into this world. And obviously an OLD WOMAN who can barely walk can't go up and down stairs multiple times a day. What were they thinking? And the whole plot is dumb because you wouldn't let a woman who you already think is evil and racist into your home with your new baby and your black wife - just put her in a home. Who cares about the money? It's not like they are broke? They own a home. I stopped paying attention about 1/2 way through because it was all just so dumb - and mostly poorly acted. The husband looks like a Dollar Store version of Hugh Dancy and can't act at all. But, the highlight is obviously Katheryn Hunter. I think she's way more famous in the UK than here, but she's also in the new Netflix show Black Doves, so maybe more people will know her now. 

3. Nightbitch - It is a TRAVESTY that this movie is so mediocre because if it were actually good - it might have been Amy Adams long overdue Oscar win. That opening monologue is INCREDIBLE. She consistently delivers a great performance through the entire runtime, but it's just not enough to make this movie great. I feel like the whole exhausted, ignored, and depressed mom thing has been done a lot over the past few years - and this film definitely tries to do something different with the whole "turning into a wolf" thing (or is it a dog? They never really say), but it doesn't necessarily feel any different. I'm kind of getting tired of all the negative, unhappy motherhood roles in movies. Surely, I don't understand the struggle - and I truly will never understand how women can work full-time jobs and be moms because I just physically, mentally and emotionally would not be able to do it. But I do think that it is causing an epidemic of sorts among women waiting to have kids, and some are waiting too long and then losing their chance. I know technology has advanced for women to have children later in life, but what we're not considering is that biologically there is a reason for women having children before the age of 35. Our bodies are made for that before 35, but after? I'm not so sure. I think if I got pregnant at my age (43), I would literally want to die. Amy Adams is 50 (I'm not sure if they say how old she is supposed to be in this movie, but she looks 40s), and has a toddler. OF COURSE SHE'S FUCKING MISERABLE! But that's not representative of motherhood, at all. But we're sort of normalizing all this "exhausted mom" trope and I'm OVER it. Anyway, that was a bit of a side rant, but I think that's why I couldn't fully enjoy this film. The ending is really bad too - like, the worst option for her happens, and in reality she's going to continue being miserable. But, man, what a performance! 

4. The Outrun - And, another great performance from Saoirse Ronan, in another mediocre film. Again, it's a role that's been done a lot lately (she's a recovering alcoholic), and nothing new is added. Ronan is great in this, though. I think drunk acting is especially hard - it always seems fake and contrived, but this feels very organic. I appreciate the character study, and I love the atmosphere, but it's a very nothing movie. I was very confused with the timeline too - they try to differentiate it by giving her different hair, so I get the blue hair & the blonde with the faded blue tips timeline, but then sometimes her hair is orange-ish/pink! And sometimes just blonde! It's all confusing! I also think it's fairly normal for a young woman to party a little too hard and drink a little too much. It's part of growing up. I mean, I was kicked out of more than a few bars for being too drunk, passing out on bathroom floors when I was 22, and I'm a very responsible person now. I think it's weird to vilify her as such a young person. They give a little insight into her family life (I think her dad is bipolar, maybe?), but they don't really seem to connect anything. But then the ending is GORGEOUS, and very cinematic. The film definitely doesn't do enough to deserve such a strong ending. 

5. Longlegs - *spoilers ahead* Maika Monroe has been a solid modern-day scream queen, so I had high hopes for this. But unfortunately, I didn't like it. I gave it 3 stars because it's well-made with terrific performances, but I didn't necessarily enjoy it. It's creepy, at best, but not scary at all. I think it was actually going for more of a Se7en vibe than a straight up horror movie, but Se7en, was, you know...interesting? This isn't, but some of the shots are very chilling. But, it's also boring and incredibly obvious that the mom is involved the second she is introduced. I did like seeing Alicia Witt though!! I missed her - where has she been??? She's really good in this - maybe even a stronger performance than Monroe. I don't think I would have recognized Nicolas Cage if I didn't already know it was him? I don't know, maybe I would have, but they do a really good job of changing his appearance. And he physically changes into this super creepy person - so that's a nice change of pace for him (sorry, but he's usually just Nic Cage in everything). It's just not something I'm going to remember, and it's definitely not as strong as other horror/suspense movies released in 2024.