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Reviews
X (2022)
X.
2022
18
Director: Ti West
Starring: Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Brittany Snow, Kid Cudi, Martin Henderson, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure, etc.
In 1979, a group of young filmmakers set out to make an adult film in rural Texas, but when their reclusive, elderly hosts catch them in the act, the cast find themselves fighting for their lives. What a movie this was, such an amazing experience.
The cinematography and editing was truly amazing each shot was so well constructed and thought out and it was visually stunning. The set design was fantastic. With fantastic performances. Particularly from Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega and Brittany Snow. The campy humour was great. With a great set up. The score for this was truly terrifying and added so much atmosphere. The film built tension incredibly well, I was incredibly tense throughout. The script was very well written. The directing from Ti West was excellent. The film had an incredibly uncomfortable tone, there was some seriously disturbing scenes.
The themes were really interesting and executed with a lot of depth and clever insights. What it had to say about modern beauty standards, the porn industry and about the elderly wanting to remain youthful was fascinating. The characters were all interesting and charming. The gore and jumpscares were great with some gruesome kills. Plus the final act was incredibly intense and well done.
My only slight criticism would be that there was some underwhelming deaths with the antagonists in the final act.
Overall, X is a bold, artistic and deeply terrifying horror/slasher. It doesn't reinvent the genre but it doesn't need to when it follows the formula so well. This is how to do an effective horror. Ti West delivered an experience I won't be forgetting for some time.
Overall Score: 96/100.
The Nan Movie (2022)
The Nan Movie.
2022
15
Director: Catherine Tate and Brett Goldstein.
Starring: Catherine Tate, Mathew Horne, Katherine Parkinson, Jo Halpin, Sule Rimi, Niky Wardley, etc.
Catherine Tate's iconic character Nan hits the big screen as she goes on a wild road trip from London to Ireland with her grandson Jamie to make amends with her estranged sister Nell. This film was hilarious and a lot of fun.
The character background for her character was surprisingly strong and interesting. The film was absolutely hilarious, it had the same humour that I have come to expect with the Nan character, it was wild, outrageous and well written. Catherine Tate delivered a great performance. With a fun set up and good character conflict. There was a lot of funny scenes that you could just sit back and enjoy. The plot development was good, with a surprisingly heartwarming charm and moving final act.
There was some issues though. It was a fairly generic and predictable roadtrip movie. There was some corny and overused moments, and the plot was stretched a bit thin in parts.
Overall, The Nan movie is wild, outrageous and just a fun time at the movies. Balancing the humour with genuine heart and Catherine Tate delivers another fun outing as The Nan.
Overall Score: 84/100.
Fresh (2022)
Fresh.
2022
18
Director: Mimi Cave
Starring: Sebastian Stan, Daisy Edgar Jones, JoJo Gibbs, Andrea Bang, Dayo Okeniyi, Charlotte Le Bon, etc.
Fresh highlights the horrors of modern dating seen through one young women's defiant battle to survive her new boyfriend's unusual appetites. This movie was absolutely messed up but I loved it.
The cinematography and camerawork was really creative and refreshing. The set design was great. With a very strong script. The themes of the horrors of modern dating were well explored and truly showcases how dangerous it can be, especially for women. There was some interesting scenes involving a date gone wrong which shows how disrespectful some people can be. The chemistry between Sebastian Stan, Daisy Edgar Jones and JoJo Gibbs was excellent. With brilliant performances from all 3 of them. Daisy delivered an uncomfortable and passionate performance. Plus, Sebastian Stan really delivered a disturbing and unsettling performance here. The set up between the two leads meeting was great. The direction from Mimi Cave was excellent, this was her debut feature film and she has already established a strong visual style and voice for herself. The characters were likeable. With the sudden tonal shift being executed very well.
The tone was very intense, uncomfortable and dark. There was some clever character decisions from Steve with good character motivation. The plot development, and balance between the character investigation was great. The score was great, with some messed up plot twists that kept the film interesting and unique. The film had this twisted dark humour that I loved and uncomfortably laughed at a few times. Plus the final act was intense and messed up.
I only had a couple of issues. There was a lack of background and more set up to the plot to go deeper with the themes of the film. There was some questionable character decisions, and there was some underdeveloped plot points.
Overall, despite parts of the plot leaving more to be desired. Fresh is a fantastic debut for Mimi Cave who delivered something fresh (Had to get it in here somehow) and unique here. With a distinct visual style, messed up and dark themes and intensity, and brilliant performances from the two leads. This was a refreshing original film that is certainly messed up but in a good way.
Overall Score: 86/100.
Red Rocket (2021)
Red Rocket.
2022
18
Director: Sean Baker
Starring: Simon Rex, Bree Elrod, Suzanna Son, Brenda Deiss (RIP), Brittany Rodriguez, Ethan Darbone, etc.
Mikey Saber is a washed up porn star who returns to his small Texas hometown, not that anyone really wants him back. Just as his dysfunctional family seems to be making things work, Mikey meets a young women named Strawberry working the cash register at a local doughnut shop. He falls right back into his old habits. I seriously can't be the only one who thought this was terrible!
The performances from Simon Rex, Bree Elrod and Suzanna Son were great. The script was well written. The set design was good with some good plot development and development to certain characters relationships. The set up for the relationship between Mikey and Strawberry was solid and the cast had good chemistry.
However, there was a complete lack of character background into Mikey and any of his relationships, instead a complete over reliance on exposition was used, show us not tell us. The pacing was all over the place, mostly it was painfully slow. There was a complete lack of plot. I don't have a clue why this is labelled as a comedy as I didn't laugh once it was just a full drama for me. The characters were all horrible and unlikeable and whether that was intentional or not it wasn't fun to watch. The cinematography was bland and soulless. The final act was bland and dragged out, and the film had nothing to say and lacked any important or meaningful themes.
Overall, Red Rocket has committed performances from its cast. I must be missing something here as this was a dull, lifeless and forgettable mess of a film that had absolutely nothing worthwhile to say. Watching a film about a horrible person who doesn't change at all and continues to be horrible isn't a compelling story for me, it's the worst film I have seen so far this year.
Overall Score: 31/100.
Only Murders in the Building (2021)
Only Murders In The Building Season 1
2021
15
Director: Jamie Babbit, Cherien Dabis, Gillian Robespierre, Don Scardino.
Starring: Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez, Aaron Dominguez, Amy Ryan, Jackie Hoffman, Jayne Houdyshell, Julian Cihi, Michael Cyril Creighton, Tina Fey, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Jane Lynch, James Caverly, Nathan Lane, etc.
Three strangers who share an obsession with true crime suddenly find themselves caught up in one. This show was an amazing surprise and a real gem.
The performances and chemistry between Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez was truly something special. The characters were very likeable and they each had their own unique qualities to them. The whole podcast side to the murder mystery was interesting and a lot of fun to see develop. The plot development and mystery was strong, with excellent cliff-hangers and brilliant cinematography. The plot twists were great, and the different themes and character depth from the different leads was surprisingly strong. This show was absolutely hilarious and had a fun and unique tone to it that makes it stand out from the crowd. The cameos and new characters introduced were great, adding interesting new suspects and dynamics to the characters relationships. The deaf representation and the episode completely dedicated to complete silence/lack of talking was great. The stakes were high, the reveal was satisfying. With an amazing and hilarious finale that set up season 2 in a strong way.
My only slight criticism was that some episodes were fairly heavy with the exposition and this could have been cut down slightly in parts.
Overall, Only Murders In The Building season 1 brings a fun and refreshing twist on the murder mystery, with outstanding and charming chemistry between the three leads and a gripping story that kept me laughing and entertained until the final frame.
Overall Score: 96/100.
Turning Red (2022)
Turning Red
2022
PG
Director: Domee Shi
Starring: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, Orion Lee, Wai Ching Ho, Tristan Allerick Chen etc.
Mei Lee is a confident, dorky 13 year old torn between staying her mothers dutiful daughter and the chaos of adolescence. Changes to her interests, relationships and body are beginning to happen plus whenever she gets too excited she transforms into a giant red panda. I absolutely loved this and Pixar further cements themselves as the greatest animation studio out there.
The animation was incredible and very impressive to look at. The Asian representation was great and handled with a lot of depth and respect. The film had a unique, fun and charming tone. The pacing was great and flowed very smoothly. The voice work was great. Particularly from Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, Hyein Park and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. This film had some amazing and insightful themes on finding yourself, balancing friends and family, and the fear of not being perfect for your family. Really diving deep into what it is to be a mother and what is considered overprotective, also the more adult themes and metaphors for growing up and hitting puberty were great. The worldbuilding was fun, with some really interesting moments, plus the movie was hilarious. The characters were likeable, and the character design for the red pandas was adorable.
The character background was great with some good stakes to the plot. There was great chemistry between the characters and voice cast and some good plot development between all the different characters relationships. The character and the film managing to find the balance between Mei's relationship with her family and friends was great. With a fun final act with just the right amount of emotional weight.
My only slight criticism was that the set up for Mei becoming the Panda felt rushed and could of been executed in a more interesting way.
Overall, Turning Red is beautifully animated, fun and charming. With some very insightful and important messages about growing up, and for me is one of Pixar's strongest films.
Overall Score: 97/100.
Cyrano (2021)
Cyrano.
2022
12A
Director: Joe Wright.
Starring: Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr., Ben Mendelsohn, Monica Dolan, Bashir Salahuddin, Joshua James, Anjana Vasan, etc.
Too self conscious to woo Roxanne himself, wordsmith Cyrano De Bergerac helps young Christian nab her heart through love letters. This was a very good film.
The set and costume design was excellent. With very likeable leads, and great performances from Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett and Kelvin Harrison Jr who all had fantastic chemistry with each other. The cinematography was great, with some very well choreographed musical numbers. The script was great, the themes were strong with being proud of who you are, rising above fear and being the bigger person. A lot of the scenes had great intensity. The film had a very charming tone, great plot development and a moving final act that was well executed.
I did have a few issues however. I found that there was a lack of character background into how Cyrano and Roxanne that made it more difficult to connect with their relationship, and instead a heavy amount of exposition was relied upon in order to explain their backstories. I found that there was a lack of antagonism throughout that made the stakes not as high as they could have been, and finally a lot of the musical numbers felt very out of place or not needed.
Overall, Cyrano perhaps didn't need to be a musical and doesn't fully reach the emotional heights that it wants to. However, it is still a well crafted and visually stunning movie, with brilliant performances from the whole cast and a strong message that will resonate with a lot of people.
Overall Score: 79/100.
The Batman (2022)
The Batman.
2022
15
Director: Matt Reeves.
Starring: Robert Pattinson, Zoe Kravitz, Jeffrey Wright, Colin Farrell, Paul Dano, John Turturro, Andy Serkis, Peter Sarsgaard, Barry Keoghan, Jayme Lawson, Hana Hrzic, etc.
When the Riddler, a sadistic serial killer, begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement. Wow, I am honestly stunned at how incredible this film was.
The cinematography was genuinely incredible and some of the strongest I have ever seen. The colour palette, the lore of Gotham and so many incredible shots that required so much careful thought and consideration from Matt Reeves. The score and the action was incredible, truly feeling impactful and cinematic. This film had an incredibly uncomfortable and intense tone and is the darkest version of Batman I have seen. There was a lot of interesting moments. Especially with Gotham itself and how it was run, it truly transported me into the world. The use of voiceover from Robert Pattinson was amazing. The directing from Matt Reeves was spectacular, what he managed to achieve here was something special. The performances from absolutely everyone were amazing. Robert Pattinson was incredible as Batman, he bought the intensity, intimidation and the darker side to this character. Zoe Kravitz was amazing as Catwomen. Paul Dano was absolutely terrifying as the Riddler. Plus, Colin Farrell was fantastic, as well as Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis and John Turturro.
The set design was amazing. The mystery was fantastic, the Riddler was always 3 steps ahead of everyone and cleverly manipulated each and every character. The character motivation for the Riddler was great and how it was all linked to the Wayne's. With fantastic chemistry between the whole cast. The script was amazing. The Batsuit was my favourite version from all of the films. The plot development and twists were amazing. With great themes on power, greed and corruption. As well as fantastic character depth, a thrilling final act and a very satisfying ending that sets up a lot of things.
Overall, for me, The Batman is not only my favourite Batman movie but my favourite superhero movie. It is visually captivating, thrilling, dark and intense. The whole cast do a fantastic job and there is not one thing I would change about this movie. Best movie of 2022 for me and I don't think that will change.
Overall Score: 100/100.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2022)
Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
2022
18
Director: David Blue Garcia.
Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham, Jacob Latimore, Moe Dunford, Olwen Fouere, Jessica Allain, Nell Hudson, Alice Krige, etc.
After nearly 50 years of hiding, Leatherface returns to terrorize a group of idealistic young friends who accidentally disrupt his carefully shielded world in a remote Texas town. I personally had an absolute blast with this movie.
The cinematography was great, with the documentary style of filmmaking that the franchise is known for returning for a few scenes which was great. The nostalgia was great and perfect for the recent hype around nostalgia in films. The linked plot points between the different characters were well done. With some great set design, and fantastic character design for Leatherface. Plus the set up for Leatherface returning was great. With a great uncomfortable and intense tone throughout. The jumpscares were great. The gore and the kills were absolutely brutal and creative, it made my stomach turn in parts especially with the bus scene which was amazing. The leads of Sarah Yarkin and Elsie Fisher were likeable and their performances were good. The score was great, with a good enough character motivation for Leatherface. Plus, the final act was intense, thrilling and shocking.
However, there was obviously a lot of problems with it. A lot of the characters were unlikeable, the set up of why the characters were going to the town was underdeveloped. There was a distinct lack of plot, the script was very bad for most of the film. Plus the plot element of bringing back Olwen Fouere as Sally was unnecessary and copied Halloween, plus what happened to her character made her appearance in the film pointless.
Overall, is Texas Chainsaw Massacre a well put together movie? Not necessarily. But this film isn't about loads of plot, great character work or a great script. But it has inventive and incredibly gory kills, with Leatherface in his full glory. With a gripping intensity from start to finish that will keep you hooked.
Overall Score 72/100.
The Duke (2020)
The Duke
2022
12A
Director: Roger Michell
Starring: Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren, Matthew Goode, Anna Maxwell Martin, Fionn Whitehead, Jack Bandeira, Aimee Kelly, Charlotte Spencer, etc.
In 1961, Kempton Bunton, a 60 year old taxi driver, stole Goya's portrait of the Duke of Wellington from the National Gallery in London. He sent ransom notes saying that he would return the painting on condition that the government invested more in care for the elderly. What happened next became the stuff of legend. This was a very charming and fun British comedy.
It had a very charming tone, with some great humour that was delivered excellently by Jim Broadbent who was fantastic. The themes of grief and the mistreatment of the elderly were good and well explored. The performances from Jim Broadbent, Helen Mirren and Fionn Whitehead were excellent. The cinematography was great, bringing the setting of the 60's to life very well. The characters were very likeable and charming to watch. With a strong set up and good plot development. As well as a charming and fun final act with some funny plot twists.
However, I did have a few issues. There was some pacing issues and underwhelming moments where the robbery of the painting could have been more of a fun or less rushed scene. Plus, for me there lacked the required character depth that the film was trying to achieve but never fully could stick the landing. Mostly due to the underdeveloped plot points and a lack of emotional depth, often playing it safe with the depth that it could have reached.
Overall, despite the film missing the mark slightly with the emotional depth. The Duke is a charming, funny and entertaining British comedy. With excellent performances and a fascinating true story about a man who just wanted to do some good in the world.
Overall Rating 82/100.
Dog (2022)
Dog.
2022
12A
Director: Reid Carolin and Channing Tatum
Starring: Channing Tatum, Q'orianka Kilcher, Ethan Suplee, Kevin Nash, Aqueela Zoll, Bill Burr, Jane Adams, Emmy Raver Lampman, etc.
Two former army rangers are paired against their will on the road trip of a lifetime. Briggs and Lulu race down the pacific coast to get to a fellow soldier's funeral on time. I really liked this movie and it was surprisingly touching.
It had such a charming tone with Lulu being such an adorable dog and just the film showcasing the bond between humans and dogs. The cinematography was great. The film was very funny in places. With a good set up. Channing Tatum delivered a great performance here, it was good to see him back. The chemistry between Channing and Lulu was very sweet and was a key highlight for me. The plot development was great as both their bonds grew. There was some interesting elements revolving around what military dogs are trained for that was well explored. The themes were very moving and strong. Particularly on toxic masculinity and the horrible effects war and violence can have on both humans and dogs of this nature. The film had a surprisingly strong amount of emotional weight, it nearly got me multiple times, and the ending was heartfelt and very moving.
It did still have a few issues. There was a lack of plot and some pacing issues within the first half. There was a lack of character background to a particularly big part of the story so it didn't fully connect, and it was very predictable.
Overall, dog is a story that has been told before and takes a little while to connect. However, the charming chemistry between the two leads. The heartfelt and moving themes and the emotion that this film manages to achieve makes it something worth seeing.
Overall score 76/100.
Death on the Nile (2022)
Death on the Nile.
2022
12A
Director: Kenneth Branagh
Starring: Kenneth Branagh, Gal Gadot, Armie Hammer, Emma Mackey, Letitia Wright, Sophie Okonedo, Tom Bateman, Annette Bening, Russell Brand, Jennifer Saunders, Dawn French, Susannah Fielding, Rose Leslie, Ali Fazel, etc.
While on vacation on the Nile, Hercule Poirot must investigate the murder of a young heiress. I personally absolutely loves this film and it was much better then Murder on the Orient Express.
The cinematography, lighting and set design was fantastic. Also with fantastic costume design. I thought they bought the time period and setting to life in a fun way. The character background for Poirot was interesting and a great element to the movie. The performances from the whole cast were great. My key highlights were Gal Gadot, Jennifer Saunders, Letitia Wright and Sophie Okonedo. But the star of the film for me was Emma Mackey. She was absolutely incredible here. Her performance was intense, passionate and she captured the essence of her character excellently, and the subtle way she would be so expresionate with her face was amazing. The film did a good job at balancing the whole cast and giving everyone a good motivation for the murder. The film had a very stylish and slick tone. There was some fun comedic moments. The mystery was very strong, the film misled you and I didn't have a clue who the killers were until the very end. The plot twists were great and unexpected, with an intense and well constructed final act.
I only had a few minor issues with the film. It took a little while for the mystery of the film to start being developed. There was some slight overreliance on exposition in parts, and there was a few odd character decisions.
Overall, despite a few minor issues. Death on the Nile is a stylish, slick and intense murder mystery that keeps you constantly guessing from beginning to end. With a talented cast that highlights a star making performance from Emma Mackey who should get a lot more work after this.
Overall Score 90/100.
Uncharted (2022)
Uncharted.
2022
12A
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Starring: Tom Holland, Mark Wahlberg, Antonio Banderas, Sophia Ali, Tati Gabrielle, Steven Waddington, Tiernan Jones, Rudy Pankow, etc.
Street smart Nathan Drake is recruited by seasoned treasure hunter Victor "Sully" Sullivan to recover a fortune amassed by Ferdinand Magellan, and lost 500 years ago by the house of Moncada. This film was pretty solid and one of the stronger game to film adaptations, which isn't saying much as it was still disappointing.
The cinematography and set design was great, capturing the lore and grand scale of the games. The game references were really strong and well crafted. The action was great and very entertaining. With brilliant performances from Sophia Ali and particularly Tom Holland who did a great job here and made the character of Nathan Drake his own. Plus, Tom Holland and Mark Wahlberg had fantastic chemistry with each other, capturing the same chemistry as Nate and Sully in the games. The humour was good, with a lot of fun scenes were it bought the sense of adventure and fun of the games out really well. The characters were very likeable, with some good plot development. Some fun plot twists and an entertaining final act that ended the film on a high note.
However, there was a lack of character background between Nate and his brother so therefore the emotional connection with their relationship just wasn't there for me. The set up felt very rushed and I would have liked to have seen a more established storyworld and more of Nate by himself. It was generic, taking inspirations from multiple films in the genre. The villains were very weak. They were just bland, thinly written and lacked any real threat. I think Mark Wahlberg, despite trying his best was definitely miscast as Sully. The mystery involving Drake's brother felt underdeveloped. The structure of the film got messy towards the second half, and the CGI wasn't great in parts.
So overall, Uncharted adds nothing new to the genre, and suffers from a weak script and some bad creative decisions. But offers enough entertainment and fun to be a good diversion, proving to be one of the stronger game to movie adaptations. Plus the chemistry between the leads is strong for this to be something that you should give it a watch, and I am invested enough to want a sequel.
Overall score 64/100.
Belfast (2021)
Belfast.
2022
12A
Director: Kenneth Branagh.
Starring: Jude Hill, Lewis McAskie, Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Judi Dench, Ciaran Hinds, Josie Walker, Colin Morgan, etc.
A young boy and his working class Belfast family experience the tumultuous late 1960's. This was a great film and definitely deserving of the awards buzz.
The cinematography and creative decision to be shot in black and white was a great visual choice, with some creative camerawork. The building of tension and intense tone involving the riots between the Catholics and the Protestants were great. With some interesting elements involving this big conflict of the time. The performances were fantastic. Caitriona Balfe, Jamie Dornan, Jude Hill and Judi Dench in particular delivered. The chemistry between the cast was great, with some fun humour that felt authentic to the characters. This film had such a nice charm to it, with fantastic directing from Kenneth Branagh. The character development and depth was particularly strong. With some great themes on family, tradition, knowing the difference between what's right and wrong and also love for your culture was so well explored. Plus the script was fantastic.
My only slight criticism of the movie would be that it took a while for the plot to start fully developing, and certain plot points involving the religious conflict of the time felt underdeveloped, particularly within the second act.
Overall, despite a couple of issues with the writing and how the film was structured. Belfast is a charming, visually interesting and fantastically acted movie. It was clear that Kenneth Branagh has so much love and passion for this era and filmmaking in general. Belfast is definitely deserving of its awards buzz even if it's not for everyone.
Overall Score 92/100.
Moonfall (2022)
Moonfall.
2022
12A
Director: Roland Emmerich.
Starring: Halle Berry, Patrick Wilson, John Bradley, Charlie Plummer, Michael Pena, Carolina Bartczak, Donald Sutherland, etc.
A mysterious force knocks the moon from its orbit around Earth and sends it hurtling on a collision course with life as we know it. With mere weeks before impact and the world on the brink of annihilation, a NASA executive and former astronaut Jo Fowler is convinced she has the key to saving everyone. But only one astronaut from her past, Brian Harper and a conspiracy theorist KC Houseman believer her. This movie was just a complete mess.
The film did have strong cinematography. The set up was good and the characters were likeable. With some interesting elements and ideas that were introduced and explored. Some of the action was entertaining and the score was solid.
However, the pacing was extremely rushed and terrible, never allowing anything to fully process or develop properly. The structure of the movie was a complete mess and all over the place. There was countless inconsistencies with the logic that were just too ridiculous. The characters and the plot itself were very generic. I didn't connect with any of the characters. The script was very bad and the dialogue felt very recycled and corny, like it was supposed to be released 20 years ago. The characters lacked chemistry with each other, perhaps due to the poor writing. The CGI in parts was surprisingly bad considering the high budget, the obvious green screen was often very distracting. There was either inconsistent or underwhelming action. It was tonally inconsistent and felt like 3 different movies, and the final act, despite introducing some interesting ideas was a mess and it failed with its execution.
Overall, Moonfall has brief moments of entertainment, great visuals and Patrick Wilson and Halle Berry try their best. But this movie was poorly written, inconsistent and messy. This film didn't have a clue what it wanted to be and it just turned into a poorly executed disaster movie that failed on all levels.
Overall Score 32/100.
Nightmare Alley (2021)
Nightmare Alley
2022
15
Director: Guillermo Del Toro
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett, Toni Colette, Willem Defoe, Richard Jenkins, Rooney Mara, Ron Pearlman, etc.
An ambitious carny with a talent for manipulating people with a few well chosen words. Hooks up with a female psychiatrist who is even more dangerous then he is. This movie for the most part was very strong.
The cinematography, set design and lighting was truly spectacular and some of the strongest I have seen, definitely awards worthy within these categories, with such a distinct visual style and creative use of editing and camerawork. The use of gore was very shocking and effective. The uncomfortable and intense tone was executed very well. With a great sense of mystery throughout. The directing from Del Toro was fantastic. There was a lot of interesting elements surrounding circus performers and how they execute all of their tricks. The performances were very strong. Particularly from Rooney Mara and Toni Colette. Plus Bradley Cooper and Cate Blanchett were incredible here. The plot and character development was strong, and the final act was intense, shocking and had a powerful message, showcasing the worst parts of a person and highlighting how there are always consequences to someone's actions and a repeated cycle of destruction.
I did have a few problems with the film though. There was some underdeveloped plot points, especially between the different characters relationships. There was some pacing issues, particularly in the first act, and there was for me a lack of character depth where I often had trouble connecting with the characters.
Overall, Nightmare Alley isn't Del Toro's strongest work due to the lengthy runtime and occasionally slipping into style over substance with its characters. But is still a stylish, visually stunning and shocking experience of a film. With incredible performances, and insightful and interesting themes that are explored in a fascinating way.
Overall Score 81/100.
Sing 2 (2021)
Sing 2
2022
U
Director: Garth Jennings
Starring: Mathew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Tori Kelly, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll, Garth Jennings, Jennifer Saunders, Chelsea Peretti, Bobby Cannavale, Adam Buxton, Eric Andre, Halsey, Letitia Wright, Bono, Pharrell Williams etc.
Supported by the motley crew of his loyal all star performers, Buster Moon has set his sights on taking dazzling Redshore City by storm with an out of this world theatrical extravaganza at infamous billionaire Jimmy Crystal's crystal tower theatre. However, in order to conquer the glamourous entertainment capital of the world, Moon will have to find and talk to reclusive global rock icon Clay Calloway into joining them. This film managed to achieve something very few sequels can do and match the quality of the first film and in some parts exceed it.
The animation in this movie was absolutely stunning and some of the most best and most colourful and vibrant I have seen, even down to the photo realism of the animals fur. The soundtrack was excellent and included some great songs. Also with a fantastic voice cast. Key highlights being Tori Kelly, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton and Halsey. The characters were all just so likeable and had great chemistry with each other. The film was hilarious and had multiple laugh out loud moments. The worldbuilding was great with some really fun scenes involving different character interactions. The set up was strong. With a fun villain and great new characters added. The character development was great, with some fantastic themes on loving yourself, rising above fear and finding your spark, and it had a very moving, emotional and well done final act.
My couple of negatives for the film would be that there was some repetitive and predictable moments with the characters, and the film didn't have as much personal character moments and character depth as the first film.
Overall, Sing 2 is beautifully animated, and will make you smile and want to sing along from start to finish. With a very talented voice cast and its full of heart and great messages. Something for the whole family to enjoy and easily as good if not better than the first film.
Overall Score 92/100.
The 355 (2022)
The 355
2022
12A
Director: Simon Kinberg
Starring: Jessica Chastain, Penelope Cruz, Bingbing Fan, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong'o, Sebastian Stan, Jason Flemyng, John Douglas Thompson etc.
When a top secret weapon falls into mercenary hands, a wild card CIA agent joins forces with three international agents on a lethal mission to retrieve it, while staying a step ahead of a mysterious woman who's tracking their every move. I honestly thought this was a pretty solid action movie and personally nowhere near as bad as the reviews say.
The cinematography and set locations were very strong. With a good set up and some very strong action that was gripping and intense. Also with great building of tension. The chemistry between the cast was very good. With some committed and strong performances from everyone. Particularly Jessica Chastain, Lupita Nyong'o and Sebastian Stan. Once the film found its focus, the plot development was strong. With a very strong second half and final act that was entertaining, intense and surprisingly dark, also with high stakes.
However, there definitely was still some issues. It was generic and predictable. With some odd creative decisions. The script for the most part was mediocre. And there was a lot of rushed explaining and a very messy structure in the first half that made it difficult to follow in parts.
Overall, is The 355 fairly paint by numbers? Yes, and its script and predictability brings the films quality down. But, if you can forgive some of its flaws I think this is a solid action film. With committed and strong performances, intense action and great chemistry between the strong cast.
Overall Score 74/100.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Licorice Pizza
2022
15
Director: Paul Thomas Anderson
Starring: Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, James Kelly, John Michael Higgins, Maya Rudolph, Bradley Cooper.
This is the story of Alana Kane and Gary Valentine growing up, running around and going through treacherous navigation of first love in the San Fernando Valley in 1973. This movie was fantastic, and another win for Paul Thomas Anderson.
The cinematography and set design was amazing. With an incredible script which was excellently crafted by Paul Thomas Anderson and the dialogue was amazing. The directing from Paul was fantastic and it had his signature style all over it, making it feel very personal to him. With amazing performances from Bradley Cooper and John Michael Higgins. Plus the performances and strong chemistry between Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman was fantastic, they both did such a brilliant job. The film was very funny in parts with very cleverly written humour. It had a strong set up, and handled the age gap between the leads well. The soundtrack was great. With some great themes on maturity, growing up and finding yourself, also highlighting the pressures women face when going into acting. The character conflict and development between the leads was fantastic, as they tried to find themselves but always ended up being drawn back to each other, and the ending was satisfying and well done.
I did have a couple of issues though. I thought there was a lack of clear structure in parts, sometimes making it difficult to follow. Particular scenes within the first half felt unneeded and didn't contribute anything towards the plot. Plus I would have liked some more development to the other characters, for example the families of both the leads.
Overall, Licorice Pizza is masterfully written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. Who had a clear vision with this bold coming of age story. Plus it introduces us to two fantastic actors with Alana Haim and Cooper Hoffman. Not perfect, but definitely awards worthy.
Overall rating 92/100.
Scream (2022)
Scream (2022)
2022
18
Director: Matt Bettinelli Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
Starring: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette, Melissa Barrera, Jack Quaid, Mikey Madison, Jenna Ortega, Dylan Minnette, Jasmine Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Sonia Ammar, Marley Shelton etc.
25 years after the original series of murders in Woodsboro, a new Ghostface emerges, and Sidney Prescott must return to uncover the truth. Scream was fun but personally a little bit underwhelming.
The cinematography was great, with the opening scene being very nostalgic of the original and very well shot to increase tension. The film was very meta, which within the first half worked very well. The sound design was excellent. With great performances, particularly from Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, Melissa Barrera, Jasmine Savoy Brown and Mason Gooding. The chemistry between the cast was great. With some surprisingly strong character depth and emotional weight in parts. There was some strong plot twists and creative elements to the plot and script. With the original cast being utilised very well. The kills and the jumpscares were great. And the mystery of the killers was a lot of fun and was developed very well.
However, the pacing was very inconsistent. The script was actually very poorly written in my opinion, with the film taking it way too far with how meta it was and with the amount of references of other films and previous instalments. I also thought the film was overstuffed with too many characters. And the final act was very underwhelming, with disappointing killers that didn't really have a clear motivation for what they were doing beyond the generic and one dimensional.
Overall, Scream 5 is a fun movie, and brings back the original cast and introduces us to a great new cast. Fans of the original and Ghostface in general should enjoy themselves. But it took it too far with how meta it was, it was one of its biggest strengths but also one of its biggest weaknesses, and there is only so much you can cover up with being so meta until you realise the poor writing and lack of originality.
Overall score 71/100.
Don't Look Up (2021)
Don't look up.
2021
15
Director: Adam McKay
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothee Chalamet, Ron Pearlman, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Himesh Patel etc.
Two low level astronomers must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet that will destroy planet Earth. I thought this was fantastic, and I don't understand the negative reviews at all.
The cinematography and set up were strong. With fantastic performances from the whole cast. But key highlights being Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep and Cate Blanchett. This film was hilarious, with cleverly written and relatable jokes and excellent comedic delivery from the stacked cast. It had a good balance of people who believed the main characters and people who didn't. The cast as a whole was impressive. With a fantastic script, the dialogue was snappy, witty and clever. The characters were all interesting and fun to watch. With some great plot and character development. As well as some fun plot twists that helped further express the themes of this movie. And the final act was great. The themes that this film managed to execute were amazing. It highlighted how narcissistic, hypocritical and power hungry society and politics has become. And this movie hits hard with its themes and the reflection of what society is becoming which will be a tough pill for some to swallow, perhaps explaining the mixed response.
My only criticism of the movie would be the poor editing in places. It was very erratic and random, often becoming distracting and annoying to watch.
Overall, Don't Look Up has a huge cast who all do brilliant jobs. This film is hilarious, bold and hard hitting. And everything this movie does is intentional to develop its fantastic themes, its called a satire for a reason. I have huge amounts of respect for Adam McKay for going as far as he did here.
Overall score 95/100.
The King's Man (2021)
The King's Man
2021
15
Director: Matthew Vaughn
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Gemma Arterton, Rhys Ifans, Harris Dickinson, Djimon Hounsou, Matthew Goode, Charles Dance etc.
In the early years of the 20th century, the Kingsman agency is formed to stand against a cabal plotting a war to wipe out millions. Despite its flaws this film was a lot of fun and another strong addition to the franchise.
The cinematography and scope of the film was great. With some good character background. With very effective use of gore and strong action that was well choreographed and kept me consistently entertained. The chemistry between the cast was fantastic. With some brilliant performances from Harris Dickinson, Gemma Arterton, and Djimon Hounsou. But the star performances were from Ralph Fiennes and Rhys Ifans who both delivered passionate, emotional and disturbing performances. The set up was strong and established a strong bond between the main characters, and I loved the setting of the war period. The film was very funny and never took itself too seriously, and keeping the style that the Kingsman franchise is known for. Rasputin was also fantastic as one of the villains, he was disturbing and hilarious. The development to the plot was strong. With a very intense tone in parts. It also had a surprising amount of character depth and emotional weight with its themes on the harsh realities of war and how it can mentally effect people. Plus the final act was a lot of fun and very entertaining.
However, it did have a fair amount of flaws. The opening scene felt rushed and didn't make me as connected to the characters as I would have liked. The pacing was often fairly clunky and the movie could have been around 20 minutes shorter. I thought that there was some odd creative decisions, not having Rasputin as the main villain in particular was baffling to me as he was fantastic. There was a lot of underdeveloped plot points, particularly with the villains and the characters in general. Plus the plot twist in the final act was underwhelming which always happens when you don't reveal the villain until the final 15 minutes.
Overall, The Kings Man is the weakest of the whole franchise due to its clunky pacing, baffling creative decisions and weak writing in parts. However, is still a worthy addition to the franchise. Keeping the style, fun and strong action that the Kingsman is known for. Also with a surprising amount of emotion with its themes.
Overall score 77/100.
Hawkeye (2021)
Hawkeye
2021
12A
Director: Bert, Bertie and Rhys Thomas
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Hailee Steinfeld, Florence Pugh, Vera Farmiga, Tony Dalton, Fra Fee, Alaqua Cox, Linda Cardellini, Vincent D'Onofrio etc
Former Avenger Clint Barton has a seemingly simple mission of getting back to his family for Christmas, this can be made possible with the help of Kate Bishop, a 22 year old archer with dreams of becoming a super hero. The two are forced to work together when a presence from Barton's past threatens to derail far more than the festive spirit. I personally thought that this show was amazing.
The character background into all the characters was great, particularly with Clint, Kate and Echo. With an interesting perspective from Kate in the pilot of seeing Clint for the first time. The connected storylines was very strong as the show managed to balance multiple different plot points and character motivations. I loved the more grounded tone, it was very charming and Christmassy, whilst also feeling more personal to the characters. The performances from the whole cast were very strong. Jeremy Renner, Florence Pugh and Alaqua Cox were great. But the highlight was Hailee Steinfeld, she was perfect for this role. This series was a lot of fun and very funny in places. The chemistry between the cast was great, and all the characters were very likeable. The mystery and the development to the plot over the episodes was great. With fantastic action throughout. The balancing of tones was great, with some interesting moments to do with the blip and fun use of the trick arrows.
The character depth for Clint was great as he struggled with the aftermath of Natasha's death and the love for his family. Whilst also dealing with the regret of his past mistakes. The representation for the deaf community with Clint and particularly Echo was well done. With some great cliff-hangers. The character motivations were strong, particularly with Echo and Yelena. With some amazing new characters. Also, there was a surprising amount of emotional weight in some episodes with Clint and his family. The themes introduced on being a hero and what is considered forgivable from Yelena was great. The villains were very good, with Kingpin being an excellent addition to the series. The building of tension in scenes involving Kingpin and Yelena were great, and the finale was amazing. There was great character arcs for the characters and it tied up all the plot points in a satisfying way.
There was a few genre tropes and inconsistent character depth and pacing in particular parts but it really didn't effect me too much.
Overall, Hawkeye season 1 is the strongest MCU show since WandaVision. With great worldbuilding and action. As well as a more grounded and personal feel to the show. Balancing more depth to Clint, and introducing us to some great new characters.
Overall score 94/100.
West Side Story (2021)
West Side Story
2021
12A
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Rachel Zegler, Ansel Elgort, Ariana DeBose, David Alvarez, Rita Moreno, Brian D'Arcy James, Corey Stoll, Mike Faist, Josh Andres Rivera, Iris Menas etc.
An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. I was underwhelmed with this movie, but there was still some fantastic moments.
The cinematography and set pieces were truly something special truly bringing the time period to life. The character conflict between the two different gangs was strong. The dance numbers and soundtrack were incredible and definitely the strongest element of the film. The performances were very strong. Particularly from Rachel Zegler and Mike Faist. But, for me the star making performance was from Ariana DeBose who was incredible. The directing from Steven Spielberg was incredible, with tremendous amounts of respect and love for the source material and it really showed on screen. The themes on culture, ethnicity and family were great. The chemistry between most of the cast was strong. Some of the humour was great, with amazing representation for the Puerto recan and trans community. The plot development was strong and the intensity of some scenes particularly with the character deaths was great.
However, a lot of the characters relationships felt underdeveloped and for me there was a lack of chemistry between Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler because of this, but Rachel tried her best. There was a lot of illogical and unlikeable character decisions that yes were in the original but just not executed well here. The pacing, particularly in the final act was a big problem.
Overall, West Side Story is fantastically directed by Stephen Spielberg. Who maintained a respect for the original source material. And has truly outstanding visuals and musical numbers. Plus, Rachel Zegler and Ariana DeBose offer star making performances. But the underdeveloped characters, and a dull and bland final act that didn't really seem to end cut this film short despite its impressive achievements.
Overall score 77/100.
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Spider man: No way home
2021
12A
Director: Jon Watts
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Benedict Wong, Tony Revolori, Marisa Tomei and a few other surprises.
With Spider Man's identity now revealed, Peter asks Doctor Strange for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be spider man. Wow, this was everything I wanted it to be and more.
The cinematography of this film was beautiful. It was hilarious with some brilliant comedy. The set up was strong with introducing all the different antagonists. With some fantastic plot development with Peter and his relationships with MJ, Ned and aunt May, plus the fallout from far from home. The cameos and guest appearances from all of the different generations of villains was just amazing to see. The chemistry between the cast was incredibly strong. There was a lot of interesting elements involving the multiverse and the villains with how they reacted to being in this new world that was well explored. The action was incredibly strong, and the character conflict was excellent. With some fantastic performances. This was Tom Hollands and Zendaya's strongest performances yet with these characters. I also have to praise Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe and Alfred Molino who were all fantastic. With Green Goblin being the strongest villain, he was terrifying.
The character development of Peter Parker was excellent, he grew so much and matured as he took on the responsibilities of his actions and accepted the consequences. This film has a lot of emotional weight and it was surprising with the amount of emotional beats it had. The fan service was just amazing, it was so nostalgic to have three generations of villains back. The final act was also particularly incredible, and both the end credit scenes are amazing. My only slight nit-pick would be that there was some pacing inconsistencies in the first half as they had to fit a lot of plot in such a short space of time.
But overall, Spider Man No Way Home is a cinematic event. Its visually stunning and emotionally satisfying. Packed full of strong action and amazing performances. And is truly a film for the fans, and top tier MCU, perhaps even in their top 3 strongest.
Overall score 98/100.