From the moment an Uncharted movie was announced over 10 years ago, I was half in the bag. I really enjoyed Mark Wahlberg in The Fighter (still his best performance) and the credibility of what a director like David O. Russell could bring to the table was exciting (see also Silver Linings Playbook) despite Wahlberg…
Category: Film Review
Jason Bourne Battles Kylo Ren in ‘The Last Duel’, One of Ridley Scott’s Best
The Last Duel has had an interesting critical climb. Its story flaws are present right upfront. Par for the course for director Ridley Scott whose movies often accompany questionable character logic. Here that uncertainty is utilized for strength in a joint screenplay by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Nicole Holofcener each writing their Rashomon-style parts. Damon…
For a Moment, The Hunger Games Set the World on Fire: Lost Review 103
I have been looking to write this review for some time. 8 years in fact. For reasons of a busy schedule, I was unable to write a review until now. Having rewatched it I see why it was such a difficult film to review. It is more product than film. When I wrote my final…
Denis Villeneuve Offers a Rock-Solid ‘Dune’ to the Masses
It’s funny to me how much fear vibrated through the sands ever since the first frame of this movie was released. Dune is based on a 1965 book and subsequent book series. It has quite the fanbase. A 1984 film adaptation from David Lynch and Dino DeLaurentis failed critically and financially. This version’s distributor and…
‘Coming 2 America’: 2021’s Best Costume Design
The most important thing for a belated comedy sequel to get right is the vibe. The recent Bill and Ted 3, also got this right. These films understand if your movie feels like it belongs, less of a burden will be on the the laughter. Eddie Murphy is long past having to prove himself and…
Is ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ in 2020 a Comedown or an Uplift?
This movie was supposed to come out November 1st, 2020. And yet despite the extra time the special effects are bad, the writing sloppy and the film edit drags. I can’t explain how the film came in initially hot and highly rated. Maybe during the pandemic critics were clamoring for anything. With positive reviews like…
How Much Soul Has Disney-Pixar Got?
Director: Pete Docter (Inside Out, Up, Monsters Inc.) Kemp Powers Writer: Pete Docter, Mike Jones, Kemp Powers Music By: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Jazz Compositions and Arrangements by: Jon Baptiste Soul has a bad screenplay. Initial presumptions of the film being exactly like Inside Out plus Coco are spot on. With unclear story rules and…
‘The Wolf of Snow Hollow’ is One of the Best Films of the Year!
It’s like if Paul Thomas Anderson made a horror movie. Around this time four years ago, I sang the praises of Don’t Breathe. A sleeper thriller hit, the kind of genre success I only catch on Home Video at the end of the year after everyone sings its praises. The Wolf of Snow Hollow lives…
RE-ƎVALUATION: TENET enjoyable more AT-HOME versus IN-THEATERS
Watching it In-Theaters I was but The Protagonist, but now I am Neil. I worked very hard on my TENET REVIEW. Considering I made a calculated risk to go see it during the pandemic and worked a month to edit in in video format. I thought it was too impenetrable with a pile of nothing…
Even on his first film, Spielberg’s genius was on full display. ‘The Sugarland Express’ (1974)
A former 26 Year-Old Reviews a former 26 Year-old’s Theatrical Debut. This director really likes action I thought as I watched The Sugarland Express. There’s a generous amount of car chases in this film considering how anti-violent the characters are. You have a Police Captain leading the chase that hasn’t shot anyone in his 18…
Charlie Kaufman and Ian Reid help me “think of ending things”
“I feel I owe a debt of gratitude to the algorithm.” Kingston author Ian Reid said upon reviewing the successful adaptation of his work, the latest head trip from Academy Award Winning screenwriter Charlie Kaufman. Kaufman is my brother’s favourite screenwriter though I always preferred Kaufman’s twin brother Donald. Most of his tales never venture…
Mulan is ‘Trite Shite’
3 redeeming qualities of Mulan: The Aspect Ratio, the cool witch makeup, and the casting of Tzi Ma as the father who adds decency to a film that doesn’t offer much. Out of all the Disney remakes, the only one I really like is Cinderella. Rebuilding a 65 year old film whose politics and motivations…
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