tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43090184957620772752024-03-24T19:33:03.752-04:00The Lenient CriticThe game’s in the name! I love movies and television, and I always try to look for the good in everything while also respecting the amount of work that goes into creating a piece of content. After years of reviewing for the Cape Cod Chronicle, I decided to start my own self-published review website where I can continue to build my skills and experience as a critic while also chronicling my love and appreciation for new and older films alike.Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.comBlogger288125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-52745983893456746932023-10-18T10:00:00.013-04:002023-10-18T10:00:00.152-04:00“The Boy and the Heron” is a Return to Form for Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Legendary animation director Hayao Miyazaki has “retired” several times, most recently in 2013 after his historical masterpiece <i>The Wind Rises </i>hit theaters worldwide. Even though he supposedly reversed his decision after working on a short film in 2018 for the Ghibli Museum, it’s worth mentioning that many of those reversals happened after his son Goro Miyazaki made films for Studio Ghibli that are not as well-received as his father’s are. Goro’s <i>Earwig and the Witch</i>, the first 3D animated Ghibli feature, was harshly panned by critics and audiences alike, and thus, Hayao must come out of retirement once again to make another masterpiece.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://gkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/HERON_img_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://gkids.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/HERON_img_1.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of GKIDS</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>That masterpiece is </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Boy and the Heron</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, Miyazaki’s first film in ten years and inspired by his experience reading the 20th-century novel </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">How Do You Live?</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, which factors into the film’s story. I was lucky enough to see </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Boy and the Heron </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">at this year’s New York Film Festival, which marked its United States premiere, and as a Ghibli fan, I couldn’t have been more excited.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My excitement didn’t just stem from the fact that Miyazaki is a visionary who has a stark skill with the art of storytelling. Even the least interesting Studio Ghibli productions — bar <i>Earwig and the Witch </i>and <i>Ocean Waves </i>— are simply delightful, creating worlds that are easy and pleasant to immerse yourself in. Even <i>Grave of the Fireflies</i>, a dour tale about starving World War II civilians in Japan, paints an effective portrait of perseverance and heart. If nothing else, it’s about <i>humanity</i>, and <i>The Boy and the Heron </i>continues that trend effortlessly.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hesitate to give even a brief story summary — when imbued with a certain type of magic, Studio Ghibli films tend to wash over you like a warm bath, especially when you’re experiencing them for the very first time, cleanly and fully. It’s not just a film, it’s an experience, and should be treated as such.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546165/original/file-20230904-19-pte30t.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=14%2C0%2C2000%2C999&q=45&auto=format&w=1356&h=668&fit=crop" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="800" height="270" src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/546165/original/file-20230904-19-pte30t.jpeg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&rect=14%2C0%2C2000%2C999&q=45&auto=format&w=1356&h=668&fit=crop" width="550" /></a></div><i style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></p>The Boy and the Heron </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">transports you through time and across fantasy worlds, introducing you to creatures both familiar and fantastical. It’s emotional, deep, and nuanced, with compelling characters and excellent twists. It takes its place in the pantheon of both Ghibli and broader animation with the confidence and power few can successfully wield. Hayao Miyazaki remains undefeated.</span></div><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Boy and the Heron releases in US theaters December 8.</span></i></b></p></div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-3128898828236258382023-10-15T20:55:00.000-04:002023-10-15T20:55:38.785-04:00Flanagan’s “Fall of the House of Usher” is a Taut, Harmoniously Demented Horror Tale (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t believe I even considered doubting Mike Flanagan. He’s been my favorite horror director for years, mastering the genre both in film and on television, surpassing my expectations in following up <i>The Shining </i>with 2019’s <i>Doctor Sleep </i>and revolutionizing single-location cringe-inducing body horror with <i>Gerald’s Game</i>.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">His new endeavor, <i>The Fall of the House of Usher, </i>is a miniseries of eight stellar episodes that chart the steadily building saga of a dynasty stained by blood, betrayal, and fear, combining the stories of Edgar Allan Poe into a wonderfully genre-mashed horror tale. Based on the opening, I wasn’t initially sold on the series, but it very quickly won me over, rapidly becoming my favorite limited series of the year.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPJUV1c9jM8YABvBgBvk4hPE89svtOe5eTVGMF6DwlTzBbFhhzeiViItj027SNl6iFOEcm58mETbNIAyXR2wZOf2Ux2XedtLZ70tu47IrsdEcHODedk0jV6HbFG_kjH09_8C1QBCcvQCz4Rl1ftqd8Jn5_FiAozjqlZ9exFI1njTsGEzD6CDAcP1QGRY/s3600/TFHU_105_Unit_04964RC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3600" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPJUV1c9jM8YABvBgBvk4hPE89svtOe5eTVGMF6DwlTzBbFhhzeiViItj027SNl6iFOEcm58mETbNIAyXR2wZOf2Ux2XedtLZ70tu47IrsdEcHODedk0jV6HbFG_kjH09_8C1QBCcvQCz4Rl1ftqd8Jn5_FiAozjqlZ9exFI1njTsGEzD6CDAcP1QGRY/w640-h426/TFHU_105_Unit_04964RC.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Fall of the House of Usher </i>doesn’t just adapt Edgar Allan Poe’s titular short story; it incorporates a multitude of his works, spanning stories, poems, and novels, wrapping them up into one grand story to conclude Flanagan’s five-year deal with Netflix that has produced critically-acclaimed hit series like <i>The Haunting of Hill House </i>and <i>Midnight Mass</i>. I recognized some and learned about others from post-series research, and it only gave me more respect for Flanagan’s skill. There are scenes where characters simply quote Poe’s poems, and they never feel out of place; in a gothic world of unnatural happenings, they’re right at home.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For a filmmaker who has lived and breathed horror for years, it’s refreshing to see that with <i>Fall of the House of Usher</i>, Flanagan proves that he can successfully tackle a variety of genres, all of which trace back to his roots. The series updates the classic tale for the modern era and embraces the horrors of reality; instead of ambiguously wealthy people who live in a mansion in the middle of nowhere, the Ushers gained their wealth from the pain and suffering of others through the opioid epidemic, which was largely fueled by the meteoric rise of their (fictional) drug Ligadone.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdmSAFWuVD3Dk1wrMsFN5ntCEsXiFnOseaoi4C4iCz_ew9ih599YlEXvIMLNj_ytmo9x6S7VOs2s_UtkXeeU4U41N5dLfknvl5OIx-S9JvNp4QWi7LsGTYO-hdyqAag24oTRynFAYp16qsLFaSHvqZixr-0xKTkv0wkdiH0edHaxyUuwMbQFhsCeTQ1A/s3600/TFHU_104_Unit_00824RC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3600" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdmSAFWuVD3Dk1wrMsFN5ntCEsXiFnOseaoi4C4iCz_ew9ih599YlEXvIMLNj_ytmo9x6S7VOs2s_UtkXeeU4U41N5dLfknvl5OIx-S9JvNp4QWi7LsGTYO-hdyqAag24oTRynFAYp16qsLFaSHvqZixr-0xKTkv0wkdiH0edHaxyUuwMbQFhsCeTQ1A/w640-h426/TFHU_104_Unit_00824RC.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>At the head of the family is Roderick Usher (played by Flanagan regular Bruce Greenwood). His empire is supported by his tech genius twin sister Madeline (Mary McDonnell) and his six children, four of whom are illegitimate. A stranger from the Ushers twins’ past (played by the multi-faceted Carla Gugino) comes back into their life unexpectedly, and as Roderick’s children begin dying, he frantically searches for an explanation.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">Aside from Flanagan’s excellent writing and sleek directing, the cast is the definite highlight of the series. Mark Hamill, Carl Lumbly, Henry Thomas, and Kyleigh Curran are among the co-stars, but in a cast that is entirely at the top of their game, Bruce Greenwood is giving the performance of a lifetime. It’s hard to imagine the show without him, a thought made ironic by the fact that the role was re-cast midway through shooting, and Greenwood was initially not a part of the series at all. It makes it even more remarkable that the show works as well as it does.</span><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_Jdn-OFganDfNk60bDzcWZdGkzKRYzD8kD3WI8HyHoIw6TmLn5sntrx7wb0X18DDIROeydpZgcx2D6_s45GAmuByblbKPvCySuPJVUVVdhvNOp7x_A7z-tpeCbVWsAn2sxSaJoy51v2ZUhI5vhyphenhyphenBxKhP3rtLl-yHFU1kVKsSyNzpGwHbCEoF48XSLZg/s3600/TFHU_102_Unit_01074RC.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2400" data-original-width="3600" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4_Jdn-OFganDfNk60bDzcWZdGkzKRYzD8kD3WI8HyHoIw6TmLn5sntrx7wb0X18DDIROeydpZgcx2D6_s45GAmuByblbKPvCySuPJVUVVdhvNOp7x_A7z-tpeCbVWsAn2sxSaJoy51v2ZUhI5vhyphenhyphenBxKhP3rtLl-yHFU1kVKsSyNzpGwHbCEoF48XSLZg/w640-h426/TFHU_102_Unit_01074RC.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>The Fall of the House of Usher </i>is not just a macabre tale that weaves a horror story from the best literature of the 19th century, it’s also a brutal condemnation of the for-profit pharmaceutical industry. The series is critical without feeling overwrought, and carries a strong moral core, using some of the most despicable characters you have ever seen to deliver its point bluntly and effectively. If not for <i>Midnight Mass</i>, it would certainly be my favorite Flanagan (and Netflix) series to date.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Fall of the House of Usher is streaming on Netflix.</span></i></b></p></div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-12575805593867984502023-10-01T19:23:00.002-04:002023-10-01T19:26:26.503-04:00“Strange Way of Life” Couldn’t Convert Me to Into an Almódovar Fan (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pedro Almódovar did not direct <i>Brokeback Mountain</i>, and although he nearly did, his new short film <i>Strange Way of Life </i>proves he has the chops to make a great western.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/strange-way-of-life-644a817f911e8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="270" src="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/strange-way-of-life-644a817f911e8.jpeg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Strange Way of Life</i>, Almódovar’s second short-form English-language venture,<i> </i>stars Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as ex-lovers who live a desert apart and have not seen each other for nearly 25 years. Hawke’s character Jake is the sheriff of a small town, and Pascal’s character Silva runs a nearby ranch with his son. A recent murder complicates their reunion, and their relationship takes a drastic turn with the potential to become a permanent roadblock.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">We never saw Almódovar’s <i>Brokeback Mountain</i>…until now. <i>Strange Way of Life </i>was touted as his “answer” to the award-winning 2005 drama, and while it shares many similarities, it feels restrained. Its 30-minute runtime holds it back from being the western epic that it wants to be, which is frustrating because I <i>want </i>to like it. I even want to love it.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hawke and Pascal are not the problem. They’re giving some of their all-time best performances, which is no surprise given their track records. They have always been the highlight of everything they’ve starred in, and Almódovar knows how to use their talents to extract maximum tension of all sorts. It’s like watching three masters at work. Almódovar has cited desire as a central theme in his work, and if there’s anything I bought from this short film, these two characters feel very intensely for each other. Their love, however complex, jumps off the screen, and the sensuality is palpable.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s worth noting that I’ve never loved Almódovar’s style of storytelling — his blend of naturalism and surrealism is not something that has ever gelled with me, and <i>Strange Way of Life </i>is no exception. There’s the added layer of being predominantly in English, which is not Almódovar’s first language; it’s easy to tell that the script has been translated, especially because the words and deliveries don’t sound quite the same in English. It contributes to the quasi-surrealism, which contradicts the neutral western tone Almódovar is trying to establish.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z7wGkS4UWwL0WFL_KPiG_SNdV8GltEGZ-t_1PeJOo_tnI4hQOIMIaNIH6xS1YyZeZMf1v3qUxGSFwSd4W9W4PxpNUrs261EhV1uq9ikm46UuLhzyWzs8Jnv1QgbpV-5so2VXCGM6IWx0RI98LkxuXlenmOhGQShpSrKmr0KChZHufYkYd9wvxaEItxA/s4032/IMG_8853.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Z7wGkS4UWwL0WFL_KPiG_SNdV8GltEGZ-t_1PeJOo_tnI4hQOIMIaNIH6xS1YyZeZMf1v3qUxGSFwSd4W9W4PxpNUrs261EhV1uq9ikm46UuLhzyWzs8Jnv1QgbpV-5so2VXCGM6IWx0RI98LkxuXlenmOhGQShpSrKmr0KChZHufYkYd9wvxaEItxA/w640-h480/IMG_8853.jpeg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">During the Q&A following my screening at the New York Film Festival, Almódovar went on a long, entertaining tangent about his ideas for what happens to these characters next. It was clear from the way he described them that they were something he thought about frequently, and he even described some of them in specific shot formats. He’s mapped out in his mind what could have been a feature film (and a narratively satisfying feature at that) but is ultimately relegated to the first 30 minutes of that story.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoyed my time in Almódovar’s western world, and maybe I’m grateful that <i>Strange Way of Life </i>is only half an hour long. Maybe that’s the perfect amount of Almódovar for me.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Strange Way of Life will receive a limited theatrical release on October 4 before expanding to a wide release on October 6.</span></i></b></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-65564817210964965462023-09-27T03:00:00.010-04:002023-09-27T03:00:00.142-04:00Stylistically Stellar “Wonderful World of Henry Sugar” Lacks Substance (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You’d think that the quirk of Wes Anderson and Roald Dahl would be a match made in heaven, meshing perfectly and complementing each artist in turn, and yet it still feels like both refuse to compromise and let the other dominate the project — an odd thing, considering Dahl has been dead for over thirty years. I think that speaks to the testament of his writing and how unique his style actually is.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNmYZ6fv8Mx1HKc6uObrfSD3JvSRlcrzum9C1LBazRkHSv8fDBpsMZXBeseKvBw2E-c2_xpfGRhKtzcHi748Xjacm0it99Q88wL6AwdEYy8UdkVzT_dWMqqim16bEl92kUeh-L7pVr9WKlj1BhOnFeCA5NPHg43D47k7o2BTAGbkBfDmZnhZWTwqfv3E/s3024/The_Wonderful_Story_of_Henry_Sugar_n_00_21_26_13.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2158" data-original-width="3024" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlNmYZ6fv8Mx1HKc6uObrfSD3JvSRlcrzum9C1LBazRkHSv8fDBpsMZXBeseKvBw2E-c2_xpfGRhKtzcHi748Xjacm0it99Q88wL6AwdEYy8UdkVzT_dWMqqim16bEl92kUeh-L7pVr9WKlj1BhOnFeCA5NPHg43D47k7o2BTAGbkBfDmZnhZWTwqfv3E/w640-h456/The_Wonderful_Story_of_Henry_Sugar_n_00_21_26_13.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><i style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></p>The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is the first of a series of short films that Anderson had adapted from Dahl’s stories that will be released on Netflix this week. This particular short follows the eponymous Henry Sugar (Benedict Cumberbatch, who seems right at home in the signature Wes Anderson style), a rich man who learns about a guru (Ben Kingsley) who can see without using his eyes. Sugar sets out to teach himself the skill in order to cheat at gambling.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In typical Dahl fashion, the story itself is loose and meandering, and Anderson adapts it for the screen in a very straight way — so well, I would not be surprised if he changed very little of the original text. It feels extremely faithful, which makes sense; after all, this isn’t the first time Wes Anderson has brought a Dahl story to the screen — <i>Fantastic Mr. Fox </i>was a modest hit almost fifteen years ago. This is a sandbox he’s played in before.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZas5aDgVLTnuavFfIsZEfzlcHgAlYiQlKZON-doiyrYhvh7V89niw5L4hUus7CEoZUXNZl2y6-29S-rZ9CdZ1JWtqUQthqHFPfDPMjQ_uTukrn9NS80yqdBOn5uQLCquAztKipfWtdUUDocfiC_rbvgB3uhSd9iittckVUGJm71UEQE84VUs-dBXbxE/s2870/ws_hs_mrk_stills_01_05_54_11.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="2870" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnZas5aDgVLTnuavFfIsZEfzlcHgAlYiQlKZON-doiyrYhvh7V89niw5L4hUus7CEoZUXNZl2y6-29S-rZ9CdZ1JWtqUQthqHFPfDPMjQ_uTukrn9NS80yqdBOn5uQLCquAztKipfWtdUUDocfiC_rbvgB3uhSd9iittckVUGJm71UEQE84VUs-dBXbxE/w640-h482/ws_hs_mrk_stills_01_05_54_11.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>I still enjoyed </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">(especially because Roald Dahl practically dominated my childhood literature choices) but it feels more of a directorial exercise for Anderson than anything else. The cast, which also includes Ralph Fiennes, Dev Patel, Rupert Friend, and Richard Ayoade, is stellar (as it is wont to be when you cast some of the greatest working English actors), but I don’t feel like I gained anything new from it. It feels more like a high-quality imitation — someone asking “What would it look like if Wes Anderson adapted Roald Dahl with his standard live-action stylistic choices?” as opposed to the man himself making something true to him. Maybe his Brechtian craft has become thus that even Wes Anderson at his performative best is not anything special or unique anymore.</span></div><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Or maybe it’s an additional bid for an Oscar next year, especially if <i>Asteroid City</i> isn’t up to snuff.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Wonderful World of Henry Sugar is streaming on Netflix.</span></i></b></p></div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-89604589242723002602023-09-25T15:30:00.017-04:002023-09-25T15:30:00.140-04:00“Dumb Money” is a New Take on the GameStop Revolution (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I should have expected it — after all, the world has been crazy enough these last few years — but it’s still surreal to see major studio releases about events that happened not only within my lifetime, but during a time when I was actively paying attention to the news. The pandemic has ensured that this has increased over the last few years, but no new release feels more familiar than <i>Dumb Money</i>.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/09/12/multimedia/dumb1-ztvp/dumb1-ztvp-videoSixteenByNine3000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/09/12/multimedia/dumb1-ztvp/dumb1-ztvp-videoSixteenByNine3000.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Dumb Money </i>tells the story of a group of amateur investors who were able to put a short squeeze — look it up — on two hedge funds that bet on video game retail company GameStop to fail. The effort was led by YouTuber and financial analyst Keith Gill (played in the film by Paul Dano), a financial broker from Massachusetts who led a ragtag campaign to invest in GameStop to ensure the hedge funds would not succeed in profiting from the company’s demise. The movement led to an SEC investigation and a Congressional hearing, all of which is depicted in the film.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s not even about the script. Narratively, <i>Dumb Money </i>follows the broad strokes of real-life events, charting the characters’ journey from mid-2020 to January 2021, when the hearing took place, while the story is great, there’s nothing special when it comes to what’s on the page — which, given the timetable, was probably rushed. A through-line with director Craig Gillespie’s work (which includes <i>The Finest Hours</i>, <i>Cruella </i>and <i>I, Tonya</i>) is a dedicated cast, and <i>Dumb Money </i>is no exception. Here, they elevate the material, turning an admittedly impressive story of real people making a real difference into an entertaining comedic ride that never diminishes the real-world impact, but instead uses the comedy to prove its own point and boil the story down to its absurd roots.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Apart from Paul Dano, the ensemble cast is filled in with big names like Shailene Woodley (<i>Divergent</i>), Seth Rogen (<i>Superbad</i>), Pete Davidson (<i>SNL</i>), America Ferrera (<i>Barbie</i>), Vincent D’Onofrio (<i>Full Metal Jacket</i>), Nick Offerman (<i>Parks and Recreation</i>), Anthony Ramos (<i>In the Heights</i>) and Sebastian Stan (<i>Captain America</i>). Some get much more development than others, and some are far more fictionalized than the rest, but they’re all there to round out and symbolize a different aspect of the investment movement. Most are investors (the heroes of the story) and some are hedge fund managers, who are painted in a very deliberate light — they’re not evil, despite being the antagonists, but they are misguided, raised with a series of ideals that have placed them in the situation of being on the morally wrong side of history. I appreciate that none of the characters were cardboard cutouts, and you can understand where everyone is coming from, even if you do not agree.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Dumb-Money-e1694208528472.jpg?w=1000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Dumb-Money-e1694208528472.jpg?w=1000" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>I’ve seen some people label </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Dumb Money </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">a “junior” version of Adam McKay’s comedy-drama </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Big Short</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, which I think is a reasonable comparison — but only to a certain extent. There’s a lot of stock market jargon, which is either boiled down for easy understanding or skated over because it doesn’t specifically apply to what’s going on. Despite its best efforts, though, I was never fully sold; I had a good time, but it felt like </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Dumb Money </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">was trying too hard to justify its existence — creatively speaking, that is — that I didn’t gain much from the experience overall.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most fun I had was with the cast, who far and beyond understand the assignment. I think this film will age well as a time capsule of this specific event, and an indicator of a movement that is still going on to this day. It’s enough to make the experience worthwhile, if only slightly.</span><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i>Dumb Money is playing now in select theaters, and will have a wide release on September 29.</i></b></p></div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-78372751583258034602023-09-16T10:00:00.017-04:002023-09-16T10:00:00.239-04:00Nostalgia Crossing and Horror Cinematic Universes: Revisiting My Unabashed Love of “The Nun”<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s not an exaggeration to say that movies we watch as children define us and stick with us in ways that are impossible to replicate. There are others that I wish I had seen earlier, but in the end, it’s the childhood favorites that remain among my favorites to this day, oftentimes due to the nostalgia factor…more on that in a moment.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For what felt like years, I bugged my parents for years about letting me watch R-rated movies, until I had to take my fate into my own hands and find my own way to see what I wanted to see. When I hit high school, I was finally allowed to go to the theater alone and watch whatever I wanted, and I took full advantage of that. One of those films that I saw early on in high school was <i>The Nun</i>.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://assets1.ignimgs.com/2018/09/04/ckemthfw-1536089732003_160w.jpeg?width=1280" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://assets1.ignimgs.com/2018/09/04/ckemthfw-1536089732003_160w.jpeg?width=1280" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Despite my best efforts, nobody wanted to see it with me, and I don’t blame them. It was a horror movie, for starters, and connected to a cinematic universe that not many people my age (and certainly not my friends) had any interest in seeing. So I sat in an empty theater on September 7, 2018 — I still have the movie ticket — and found myself cowering behind my own hands as I sat through 97 minutes of gothic terror. And I loved every second of it.</span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Directed by Corin Hardy, who hasn’t directed much aside from a 2015 English horror film called <i>The Hallow</i>, <i>The Nun</i> is one of many prequels and spin-offs in the horror series that began with 2013’s <i>The Conjuring</i>, which kicked off a renaissance of “haunting” movies and put paranormal horror back on the mainstream map. After the titular demonic nun’s debut in <i>The Conjuring 2 </i>and an offhand reference in <i>Annabelle: Creation</i>, the stage was set to bring the series back further than it had ever been before, timeline-wise: 1952, in rural Romania, a stellar backdrop for a story like this.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Demián Bichir (who was nominated for an Oscar for his role in <i>A Better Life</i>) plays Father Burke, a paranormal expert summoned by the Vatican to investigate what appears to be a nun’s suicide at Saint Cartha’s monastery in Romania. He brings along the novice Sister Irene (played by Taissa Farmiga, younger sister of <i>Conjuring </i>star Vera Farmiga) and they are shown to the monastery by local villager Frenchie (Jonas Bloquet), who initially discovered the nun’s body. Not only was <i>The Nun</i> filmed on location, but it’s scary enough without being overwhelming, displays effective tension building, and has minimal character who all have a specific part to play that doesn’t interfere with the story that’s being told. It’s an excellent gateway drug for budding horror fans.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/0c7/d03/f2b774e468c796d96354146da2a84152f5-13-the-nun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="323" data-original-width="800" height="230" src="https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/0c7/d03/f2b774e468c796d96354146da2a84152f5-13-the-nun.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>There are plenty of movies I feel nostalgic about, for any number of reasons, but these are mostly those childhood favorites. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Nun</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> caught me at an interesting time in my life; horror movies were new and exciting to me, and I could finally watch whatever I wanted with no filters in sight; plus, there was an undeniable allure to certain movies that I knew objectively weren’t the greatest, but I just had so much fun with them that I couldn’t help but love them. That was exactly the case for </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Nun</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">.</span><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I did my homework before my first watch; I had seen all of the <i>Conjuring </i>movies released up to that point (as of this writing, I have seen all but one loosely-related spinoff), and I became infatuated with its world building — my favorite story device — and connectivity. Up until then, my exposure to cinematic universes was mainly limited to Marvel, and a similar setup in the horror genre was a dream come true for a fledgeling horror fan like myself. But as a storyteller, the idea of this universe offered essentially limitless potential, and I was excited to see what came next, no matter the quality of the film overall.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So I both do and do not have nostalgia for <i>The Nun</i>. I have a fondness for it that helps me rewatch it with rose-colored glasses, but on the other hand, my love is not so great that I can’t objectively recognize what other people don’t like about it. Of course there are problems with <i>The Nun</i> — in fact, problems that are too much for nearly all of my friends who have seen, and hated, this movie — but I’m choosing to overlook those issues in favor of what I love about it. Maybe that’s the Lenient Critic in me, or maybe I’m just too nice. It could be both.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">One of the biggest criticisms I’ve seen is that it’s just plain boring, and while I can see why some might think that, I choose to view it as <i>atmospheric </i>and <i>methodical </i>— it’s clearly a movie that takes its time…but it runs at a smooth 97 minutes, and doesn’t have a ton of time to spare for establishing those crucial elements. Still, that’s part of what I love about the <i>Conjuring </i>series in general; the tone-setting and ambience is always spot-on.<i> </i>Plus, unlike its recently-released sequel, <i>The Nun </i>is not just a collection of (admittedly scary) jump scares that take place in various cramped rooms, instead spreading the scares around its singular vast location — a gothic abbey, graveyard and all — even if it’s not as reliant on those surprises. This is a film that takes full advantage of its location and uses it for maximum creepiness…and let’s be honest, the abbey is scary enough on its own. <i>The Nun </i>is merely capitalizing on this.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">My other favorite thing about the<i> Conjuring </i>franchise is the lore. Each of the films (aside from perhaps <i>The Curse of La Llorona</i>, which I have not yet seen) has conflicts rooted in Catholic mythology, and even though the specific religious relics that save the day are mostly confined to one film — blood of Christ in one film, eyes of St. Lucy in another — the narrative connectivity between the films themselves is mostly what interests me.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/the_nun_still_10.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/the_nun_still_10.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>The titular demonic nun, Valak, is not given too much explanation in the original </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Nun</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> aside from the fact that it’s “a demon from Hell,” which is just enough implicit exposition to make sense while also not lessening the effectiveness of the story. It’s the perfect balance of simplicity and intrigue, and nearly every entry in the </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Conjuring </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">series is similar. This is not a review of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Nun II</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, but this is another area where the sequel is bogged down — it goes a bit too deep on the lore and creates a McGuffin that makes the whole thing feel cheaper and less unique. Demons’ need to terrorize the innocent people of Earth should be enough. And in </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Nun</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, it is.</span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Valak is the first demon to carry over between films (aside from the Annabelle demon, though that one is less strictly defined), and seeing the earthly origins of this character who first appeared over seven years ago is very exciting to me. It seems like the people behind this universe care about this antagonist specifically, and I hope that the incentive to keep making movies about it — aside from the financial aspect, of course — is narratively driven. Not every universe needs to be Marvel-level, but a relatively small and niche horror franchise actively setting up a major confluence between its properties is something that admittedly makes me giddy.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Where was I going with this? I concocted this article as a way to work through and explain why I love a critically panned horror movie, and I don’t even think my relationship with <i>The Nun </i>is even that notable — we all have that movie that we saw at that point in our lives where we can see objectively why it may not be great, or even good, but we love it anyway. I haven’t even thought very much about <i>The Nun </i>in the last five years, but when a sequel comes around, I think it’s never a bad idea to revisit the original. And in this case, I’m so glad I did.</span></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-11919357545353093252023-07-28T10:30:00.025-04:002023-07-28T10:56:02.110-04:00Barbenheimer is the Cinematic Phenomenon of the Summer<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What began as petty revenge is now the blockbuster phenomenon of the summer.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To be clear, we can never be entirely sure of the “revenge” part, but it sure seems like there’s some triviality involved. Writer/director Christopher Nolan, whose acclaimed masterpieces include <i>Memento</i>, <i>Interstellar</i> and the <i>Dark Knight</i> trilogy, <a href="https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/christopher-nolan-exits-warner-bros-new-film-universal-1234664679/" target="_blank">parted ways with Warner Bros. in 2021</a> after a nineteen-year partnership, which included the production and distribution of the majority of Nolan’s films during that time.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Warner-brothers-losing-Christopher-Nolan-big-deal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="275" src="https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Warner-brothers-losing-Christopher-Nolan-big-deal.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Nobody was shocked — <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/12/christopher-nolan-rips-hbo-max-warner-bros#:~:text=Nolan%20called%20the%20studio's%20plan,worst%E2%80%9D%20among%20all%20other%20platforms." target="_blank">Nolan’s comments about Warner’s streaming service HBO Max and his public denouncement of their 2021 release strategy made the split all but inevitable</a> — and Nolan’s next film was almost instantly set to be produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. Eventually, it was revealed to be a biopic about J. Robert Oppenheimer, the creator of the nuclear bomb.</span><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Elsewhere in the entertainment world, a live-action film about the iconic Barbie doll has been in various stages of development since the mid-2000s. It cycled through various writers, directors and stars, and eventually was set to be directed by Greta Gerwig (fresh off of hits <i>Lady Bird</i> and <i>Little Women</i>), co-written by Gerwig and her partner Noah Baumbach, and starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken, respectively.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The rights for a Barbie film have shifted from studio to studio over the past few decades, but have ended up at Nolan’s former flame, the one and only Warner Bros. It makes sense that their <i>Barbie</i> film would be a summer success, and they set it for release on July 21, 2023, in direct box office competition with <i>Oppenheimer</i>. The fact that Nolan’s former studio partner pit one of their big 2023 tentpoles against his new film may be a coincidence, but there’s enough evidence to the contrary that many have chosen to believe it was an intentional choice.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2023/05/16/USAT/59eb18d5-8f15-4c26-be7a-c750014e133b-AP_Film_Summer_Movie_Preview.jpg?crop=2527,1421,x150,y0&width=2527&height=1421&format=pjpg&auto=webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://www.usatoday.com/gcdn/presto/2023/05/16/USAT/59eb18d5-8f15-4c26-be7a-c750014e133b-AP_Film_Summer_Movie_Preview.jpg?crop=2527,1421,x150,y0&width=2527&height=1421&format=pjpg&auto=webp" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken in <i>Barbie</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Whatever the rationale may be, two of the most anticipated films of the summer were suddenly going head-to-head. Thus, the idea of “Barbenheimer” was born. The concept of “counter-programming,” whether intentional or not, is not new — in fact, in the summer of 2008, both Nolan’s </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Dark Knight</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and the film adaptation of the ABBA musical </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Mamma Mia</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> were released on the same day — but in the age of the internet, everything has the potential to be the next big thing. It has to hit at just the right time, with just the right group of people, to become a term that sticks in the minds of anyone that opens Twitter or Instagram or any other social media app.</span></div><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Because of their shared release date, which neither studio budged on, <i>Barbie</i> and <i>Oppenheimer</i> became irrevocably associated with each other…and the date of July 21, 2023. Somehow, that’s all it took for the internet to fuel the flames of popularity and get everyone excited about seeing both movies on release weekend.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It didn’t stop there. Fan-made shirts were produced and sold all over the web. Double-feature schedules, both humorous and serious, flooded social media. Even now, Barbenheimer is all that the film side of Twitter is talking about. It’s a true phenomenon.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On July 21, <i>Barbie</i> and <i>Oppenheimer</i> debuted in theaters, both to rave reviews and stellar box office performances. I never would have expected that a dour, three-hour epic about the father of the nuclear bomb would be looped in so closely with an existentially wacky comedy/drama inspired by children’s toys. At the time of writing, <a href="https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt15398776/" target="_blank"><i>Oppenheimer</i> had made over $200 million worldwide</a>, while <a href="https://collider.com/barbie-global-box-office-528-million/" target="_blank"><i>Barbie</i> has since crossed the $500 million mark</a>. For at least the latter, making a billion is no longer just a possibility, it is a probability.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://img.thedailybeast.com/image/upload/c_crop,d_placeholder_euli9k,h_1614,w_2869,x_336,y_0/dpr_1.5/c_limit,w_1044/fl_lossy,q_auto/v1683562768/Screen_Shot_2023-05-08_at_10.49.55_AM_umpnxm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://img.thedailybeast.com/image/upload/c_crop,d_placeholder_euli9k,h_1614,w_2869,x_336,y_0/dpr_1.5/c_limit,w_1044/fl_lossy,q_auto/v1683562768/Screen_Shot_2023-05-08_at_10.49.55_AM_umpnxm" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer in <i>Oppenheimer</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Unsurprisingly, both films have skyrocketed in popularity and have been dominating the box office, and there’s something to be said for the virality of the internet finally being used for everyone’s benefit. Both movies would have done well on their own, but the close association benefited both, in addition to the audience, who were treated to two excellent films (sometimes in the same day, if they attempted the double feature). It’s a rare instance where the majority of folks on the internet came together to encourage everyone to do some good, and support both cinemas and filmmakers.</span></div><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s impossible to know how both releases would have done if the internet hadn’t been invested, but I can promise that the Barbenheimer success will not only go down in history, but lead to more instances of intentional counter-programming in the film landscape. In fact, <i>Saw X</i> and <i>PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie</i> are both releasing on September 29, so <a href="https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/saw-patrol-barbenheimer-movie-double-feature-meme" target="_blank">it’s about time to get excited for Saw Patrol</a>!</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Barbie and Oppenheimer are playing now in theaters.</span></i></b></p></div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-56425675349460097752023-07-01T19:23:00.008-04:002023-07-01T19:25:07.693-04:00Risk-Averse “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” is Still a Home Run (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The most recent three films in the <i>Indiana Jones </i>franchise have had perfect endings that could (and should) act as the closing moment of the series. But when there’s money to be made, there is sequel potential, no matter how many years pass in between.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.slantmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/indianajonesdialofdestiny.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="800" height="315" src="https://www.slantmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/indianajonesdialofdestiny.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think, even though the film itself has been divisive, they could have done a lot worse than <i>Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny</i>, the franchise’s fifth entry, which has finally been released after years spent languishing in development hell (fifteen years after the last Indy adventure, <i>Kingdom of the Crystal Skull</i>). <i>Dial of Destiny </i>largely plays it safe, without explicit willingness to take risks, which does remove some of its efficacy — you might expect a legacy sequel in one of the more consistent long-running franchises to diversify itself in some unique ways, but <i>Dial of Destiny </i>sticks relatively closely to the script that has made the series successful for decades. I can’t fault it; after all, why mess with a winning formula?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s 1969, and humanity has just landed on the moon. College professor Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is retiring, and it seems like he’s finally out of the adventuring lifestyle for good. But then his goddaughter Helena (Phoebe Waller-Bridge, best known as the creator and star of <i>Fleabag</i>) shows up at his doorstep with a proposition that might be just enough to pull him back in.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In actuality, <i>Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny </i>begins with a half-hour-long flashback to one of Indy’s adventures during the Second World War, which sets up this film’s MacGuffin (or the device on which the plot is dependent): the titular dial of destiny, originally created by ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes as a method of peering through (and even changing) time itself. The <i>Indiana Jones </i>series is no stranger to magical items — in fact, that’s what nearly every one of the films revolves around — so it’s perfectly in-line with the fantastical reality that the franchise has established.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/films/2023/05/18/TELEMMGLPICT000329924971_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqGyDzj1Q6wzTf2DvQ0Fu1dDwWrqdWJa0xXOTcOWzh2VM.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="360" src="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/dam/films/2023/05/18/TELEMMGLPICT000329924971_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqGyDzj1Q6wzTf2DvQ0Fu1dDwWrqdWJa0xXOTcOWzh2VM.jpeg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s a delight to see Harrison Ford back in the saddle (along with his stunt double, who I’m convinced is on-screen as much as Ford is), and Waller-Bridge is a wonderful addition to the cast as the witty and wisecracking sidekick. They’re pit against ex-Nazi scientist Jürgen Voller, played by Mads Mikkelsen (most recently the star of <i>Doctor Strange </i>and <i>Rogue One</i>), who is another fantastic addition to the franchise. Mikkelsen’s subtlety clashes with Ford’s boisterousness in a way that works very well for the story — plus, you can tell that (unlike Han Solo) this is a character Ford loves dearly and is always happy to reprise.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Indiana Jones</i> wasn’t even a big part of my childhood, and <i>Dial of Destiny</i> conjured nostalgia out of basically nothing, which was unexpectedly impressive. It didn’t necessarily need to exist — either of the other two “franchise enders” would have been great places to stop, but I’m glad that <i>Dial of Destiny </i>exists. It’s great fun to immerse oneself back into the world of <i>Indiana Jones —</i> after all, being caught up in the adventure is what makes it exciting, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have a ton of fun. But maybe it’s past time for the series, like its hero, to finally rest.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny is playing now in theaters.</span></i></b></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-73154788463942504212023-06-29T16:00:00.004-04:002023-06-29T16:00:00.137-04:00“Nimona” is a Thrilling New Standard for Family Entertainment (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As a queer, gender-fluid person with big thighs and a tendency to talk more than I should, I’ve always identified with cartoonist ND Stevenson’s work. Netflix’s futuristic fantasy <i>Nimona</i>, an animated adaptation of Stevenson’s 2015 graphic novel by the same name, is no exception.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhANPad5JbTBzZV24xIQCvgTlgpMI-4J1Khspd9T-tZXb1viEJuTS_YwiDy2Uu3DPj7WM_oU3gCd7XLEUMj5XR3avIt4YkrXiyYcHfoPmVFuYuLXzvQThNMLh6TLVtf07qfM47wZ0spk5Tma-9weuDV0TwyeF0J9RcKCONYKSqiv38-VmQNB15ANxgrs/s5158/Nimona_u_00_55_41_20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="5158" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhANPad5JbTBzZV24xIQCvgTlgpMI-4J1Khspd9T-tZXb1viEJuTS_YwiDy2Uu3DPj7WM_oU3gCd7XLEUMj5XR3avIt4YkrXiyYcHfoPmVFuYuLXzvQThNMLh6TLVtf07qfM47wZ0spk5Tma-9weuDV0TwyeF0J9RcKCONYKSqiv38-VmQNB15ANxgrs/w640-h268/Nimona_u_00_55_41_20.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><i style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></p>Nimona </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">follows the journey of Ballister Blackheart (voiced by Riz Ahmed of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Rogue One </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">and </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Sound of Metal</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">), a former knight misbranded as a villain, as he joins forces with a spunky shape-shifter named Nimona (</span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Hugo</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">’s Chloë Grace Moretz) to clear his name.</span><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was impressed with how the animators translated the 2D drawings from the graphic novel into 3D animation for the film. The art is unique and the animation feels very fluid. It’s a different spin on Stevenson’s characters in a new style, while preserving important parts of the character design. I loved seeing Nimona as a punky delinquent covered in piercings, but I also love that she retained her big thighs and partially shaved head from the comic. It feels fresh and new, while still true to the source material in the ways that matter.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Nimona</i> is set in a futuristic fantasy world instead of the more typical medieval fantasy setting, which was a choice that really worked for me. The city setting is compelling and different for a story about knights and magic, engaging me and holding my attention from the very start of the film.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YrYLDY9VQQCY9_SyJTCUrt3xTDcKuL0Wsa6vM9Ijw_bVatdzH_3J77t75tpmVDjVPuYLXVn6eNDkGCx_YMcIt54kRluxQt6jkx7SOP9c2QsMBrBRFzFmhyDu9IwQ11AenOk9UvCw0xVcOounYL8_6-Jr-zSDlTBHb0dAbNLUid5qaIS151PoiMgI64Y/s5158/Nimona_u_00_46_54_22.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="5158" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4YrYLDY9VQQCY9_SyJTCUrt3xTDcKuL0Wsa6vM9Ijw_bVatdzH_3J77t75tpmVDjVPuYLXVn6eNDkGCx_YMcIt54kRluxQt6jkx7SOP9c2QsMBrBRFzFmhyDu9IwQ11AenOk9UvCw0xVcOounYL8_6-Jr-zSDlTBHb0dAbNLUid5qaIS151PoiMgI64Y/w640-h268/Nimona_u_00_46_54_22.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Since the graphic novel the film is based on was written by the same mind behind <i>Lumberjanes</i> and <i>She-Ra and the Princesses of Power</i>, I knew I could expect queerness to be central to <i>Nimona</i>. Stevenson is a master of writing queer stories that feel powerful and intentional, but never exploitative or overdone. Many of his characters are explicitly queer, but it’s never a source of pain or conflict. Characters suffer discrimination due to being perceived as different, but their queerness is never a factor. In this way, Stevenson reflects the queer experience without ever sacrificing queer joy, and the filmmakers duly follow in Stevenson’s footsteps.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While Nimona isn’t explicitly gender-fluid (she’s referred to as a girl and uses exclusively she/her pronouns), the way she talks about her shape-shifting ability felt accurate to my lived experience as a genderqueer person in a way I never thought I’d see, especially in a family movie. Throughout the film Nimona is often asked “what” she is, to which she always frustratedly answers “I’m Nimona.” Her shape-shifting is not a magical power that she has, it’s an intrinsic part of who she is. When asked why she continues to shift forms when she’d be more accepted if she just lived as a human, she describes it as an itch inside her that is uncomfortable to ignore. Then she adds that shifting forms just makes her happy. Her refusal (and perhaps inability) to label herself, as well as the joy she feels when she embraces all sides of herself, not just the one deemed socially acceptable, is a perfect reflection of transness. <i>Nimona</i> is full of natural and thoughtful representation and messaging, especially in its queer characters, something that brings me joy to see in children’s media.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZi_iYeCfIh6zeeLihC60s1kls-vsIvSuBy_iCIt49WaPaw1mmMgEvmKMXxyKvVRHCBGYPj3UPCxRrYl6_v6fRjs7HCqunmoiR48yR5KUco-1mbLXjZkorgKnXJaqvDYBdwHa2240wysOm9VmW6-03WofZSpcqZrEQnaVXcpMxzpWXnWRAjbqAQpUgN4/s4096/USAtodayFINAL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1716" data-original-width="4096" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZi_iYeCfIh6zeeLihC60s1kls-vsIvSuBy_iCIt49WaPaw1mmMgEvmKMXxyKvVRHCBGYPj3UPCxRrYl6_v6fRjs7HCqunmoiR48yR5KUco-1mbLXjZkorgKnXJaqvDYBdwHa2240wysOm9VmW6-03WofZSpcqZrEQnaVXcpMxzpWXnWRAjbqAQpUgN4/w640-h268/USAtodayFINAL.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Keep putting such positive representation in family films and I will watch – every time. <i>Nimona</i> was clearly created with care and with the potential social impact of the messaging in mind. The characters are fun and relatable, the humor mostly works (especially Beck Bennett’s voice acting as a douchey knight named Todd), and the story has enough twists and intrigue that it never feels stale. If you’re looking for an easy and fun watch, <i>Nimona</i> is worth checking out (and may even surprise you in the best possible way). And especially if you are a parent of queer kids (or kids you suspect may be queer), it will mean a lot to them if you pick this one for a family movie night.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Nimona premieres tomorrow on Netflix.</i></b></span></p></div>Davis Mathishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02367297845689231191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-72774357544634201692023-06-29T13:04:00.005-04:002023-06-29T15:01:15.181-04:00“The Witcher” is Running Low on Bloodlust (Season 3 Vol. 1 Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Netflix’s adaptation of <i>The Witcher </i>has, in the last year, been through the promotional ringer. For a variety of reasons, it was announced that star Henry Cavill (a self-admitted fan of the show’s source material, and one of the series’ initial draws) would leave the show after its third season, to be replaced by Liam Hemsworth. That news, and the fact that it was announced so early, casts a long shadow over Cavill’s last season, which has been split into two parts by Netflix, undoubtedly (among other reasons) to milk his remaining time as Geralt of Rivia. I speak for many other <i>Witcher </i>fans that he is usually one of the best parts of the show, and his exit has the potential to strip it of what made it great in the first place.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFOzqulCqUGa6D5J3h2SkaNpWl3aPXH_EspZhgERqvr49lV8Wmicxq-UOqiLDwSS9DBG5-wPwfk_DkBWEMWrjt0neyBynZyHPwmM_8mPjC5bafq-T7H9mPk-UhchPDB9hltt145iXYBHyogyoAVx1yPe06M1JdXXIR-x5_g99TDcyqL7KW02zdNt6wB4/s3388/THEWITCHER_S3_0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1906" data-original-width="3388" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFOzqulCqUGa6D5J3h2SkaNpWl3aPXH_EspZhgERqvr49lV8Wmicxq-UOqiLDwSS9DBG5-wPwfk_DkBWEMWrjt0neyBynZyHPwmM_8mPjC5bafq-T7H9mPk-UhchPDB9hltt145iXYBHyogyoAVx1yPe06M1JdXXIR-x5_g99TDcyqL7KW02zdNt6wB4/w640-h360/THEWITCHER_S3_0001.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Alas, we won’t know for sure how Cavill’s tenure ends until the second half of the season drops in July, but until then, we have a definite jumping-off point for his final arc. And it pains me to say it — I liked Season One, and adored Season Two — but </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Witcher </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is rapidly losing a lot of the steam it gained in the first two seasons.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It begins with Geralt (Cavill), his on-again-off-again mage flame Yennefer (Anya Chalotra) and their ward Ciri (Freya Allan) on the run from omnipresent assailants. They’ve become a hodge-podged found family, only able to trust each other as they seek to get Ciri to safety.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Part of the series’ previous strengths, including politics of the magical world in preparation for an ever-oncoming war, feel tired now. At the start of the third season, I found myself far less invested in what eventually happens — it’s possible that it’s spread itself too thin with too many disparate storylines that don’t fit together as well as the show hopes they do.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSv8kmOaCVa7eRXKi7rnenA_VN1IA_xsOX_omg1sLilT4VHgT5f6-L-1M5igonpy1kQxr_eWqIJBQ9PGpEgzCOZwtiVyyhXKPBksUmqwEWEWXfd87qUAmCZq8gk9CP-shNKHEtKQXV0g_f2UwqwtkCRDkfYwYuSrQ4kUhRo76lnr5VqBEHzMZRbEfMWRQ/s3051/EE_303_Unit_01547_RT2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2034" data-original-width="3051" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSv8kmOaCVa7eRXKi7rnenA_VN1IA_xsOX_omg1sLilT4VHgT5f6-L-1M5igonpy1kQxr_eWqIJBQ9PGpEgzCOZwtiVyyhXKPBksUmqwEWEWXfd87qUAmCZq8gk9CP-shNKHEtKQXV0g_f2UwqwtkCRDkfYwYuSrQ4kUhRo76lnr5VqBEHzMZRbEfMWRQ/w640-h426/EE_303_Unit_01547_RT2.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>I suppose this level of interconnectivity was inevitable, but the series was a lot stronger when it was more anthological; at this point, it doesn’t feel like Geralt has much of a part to play, and functions more of a reactive character. His adventures in Season One were far more exciting and interesting to watch, and more fun than keeping track of a dozen puzzle pieces in the game of war.</span><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Still, there are glimmers of potential. Charming bard Jaskier (Joey Batey) is once again the MVP, but he once again doesn’t get nearly enough to do as he should. Ciri’s increasingly frequent visions show a future that could be a fascinating endgame, but it feels like the show is trying to use those visions as a way to keep us drawn in and invested, when the show should be able to do that on its own. I've never been a fan of overusing visions as a story device, and that’s a trap <i>The Witcher </i>falls into too many times this season.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Perhaps the show</span>’<span style="font-family: inherit;">s biggest problem this season is an influx of characters that are hard to care about. Since there are so many, they don’t get nearly enough screen time to develop, and since the show has strayed away from being an anthology, there are many more plot threads (and thus, different characters populating those threads) that are increasingly difficult and exhausting to keep track of. Plus, there are a few odd casting choices for this season’s new players, including Robbie Amell, who sticks out like a sore thumb in this high fantasy reality.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7Qf-JPFim9_hu-w79f4BoFe1hc3YGILSZa5RSgX-X8aeCwLIQyJwVgVyyQ7cr7mh5jm7bW07JJfY9drx-5anyb4ocVSjhbnbYs2wodCNUbY651YptgEy06i6KWXUblNiRqOet-ZFUQRm1EfRbLlUoEBbIYQESOgei542DqkYjtV506_ngkbrhRDsPxs/s3364/EE_302_Unit_01367%2520(1)_RT.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2243" data-original-width="3364" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7Qf-JPFim9_hu-w79f4BoFe1hc3YGILSZa5RSgX-X8aeCwLIQyJwVgVyyQ7cr7mh5jm7bW07JJfY9drx-5anyb4ocVSjhbnbYs2wodCNUbY651YptgEy06i6KWXUblNiRqOet-ZFUQRm1EfRbLlUoEBbIYQESOgei542DqkYjtV506_ngkbrhRDsPxs/w640-h426/EE_302_Unit_01367%2520(1)_RT.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Netflix</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>A fed-up Henry Cavill, tired storylines and wasted potential is just part of why I did not thoroughly enjoy my time with the third season of </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">The Witcher</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">. As with most shows I’ve enjoyed in the past, I will always keep watching and holding out hope for the future, but right now, it’s getting harder and harder to remain optimistic.</span></div><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Witcher Season 3 Vol. 1 is streaming on Netflix.</span></i></b></p></div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-31051777153555334752023-06-28T10:00:00.001-04:002023-06-28T10:00:00.143-04:00“You Hurt My Feelings” is an Inoffensive, if Lackluster Relationship Dramedy (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It can be tricky to know what type of story can sustain a film’s runtime, especially one with a basic premise that sounds more like a short film or a sitcom episode. Such is the case with <i>You Hurt My Feelings</i>, a new comedy-drama from A24 that makes no apologies for its capacity of brevity.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/449/c67/6acffd0db52da577da57a846eec409d331-You-Hurt-My-Feelings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="370" src="https://pyxis.nymag.com/v1/imgs/449/c67/6acffd0db52da577da57a846eec409d331-You-Hurt-My-Feelings.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>You Hurt My Feelings </i>features Tobias Menzies (<i>Game of Thrones</i>) as therapist Don, husband to novelist Beth, played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus (who still finds time to star in more modestly-budgeted films, even as she begins to make her mark on the blockbuster Marvel movies). They have a near-perfect marriage, anchored by great communication, an adult son (<i>Mrs. Fletcher</i>’s Owen Teague) still in their life, and a close relationship with Beth’s sister’s family. But that begins to unravel when Beth inadvertently hears Don’s honest opinion of her latest book, which doesn’t align with what he had told her about it. A misunderstanding follows, and you might be able to figure out how the rest goes.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>You Hurt My Feelings</i> runs a tight 93 minutes, and packs every facet of relationship drama it can into the time it has. It’s the latest feature from Oscar-nominated writer/director Nicole Holofcener, who made her mark on the film scene with 2018’s <i>Can You Ever Forgive Me?</i>. Like that film, <i>You Hurt My Feelings </i>is driven by its central cast, all with commanding presences and the ability to expertly juggle comedy and drama, oftentimes in the same scene.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are plenty of laughs to be had, but <i>You Hurt My Feelings </i>suffers from the simple flaw of being unmemorable. There are plenty of relationship dramas out there, and <i>You Hurt My Feelings </i>does little beyond establishing interesting characters to distinguish it from any other run-of-the-mill dramedy. It seeks to make us uncomfortable while watching a marriage fall apart in one scene, and then make us break out laughing in the next. It’s not quite as jarring a tonal dissonance as it sounds, but it’s not an easy buy-in either.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F6%2F2023%2F05%2F25%2FYou-Hurt-My-Feelings-01-052523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="370" src="https://imagesvc.meredithcorp.io/v3/mm/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstatic.onecms.io%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fsites%2F6%2F2023%2F05%2F25%2FYou-Hurt-My-Feelings-01-052523.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I enjoyed my 93 minutes with <i>You Hurt My Feelings</i>…but it’s not a movie I remember very well a week after watching it. It’s not an unpleasant experience, just a forgettable one, and while those feelings of ambivalence don’t necessarily hurt, I don’t exactly feel good about them either.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>You Hurt My Feelings is playing now in theaters and is available to stream on demand.</i></b></span></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-89048568256474262352023-06-24T22:43:00.000-04:002023-06-24T22:43:08.368-04:00“Asteroid City” is a Methodical Filmmaker at the Top of His Game (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Given time and opportunity, the best filmmakers are able to hone their craft and create a unique reputation for themselves within the cinematic sphere. It’s difficult to think of a modern director with a more recognizable visual style than Wes Anderson. A slew of AI-generated videos have recently attempted to capture said style, but what those lack are the soulful core of what Anderson imbues every frame of his films with, and that sort of thing is impossible to digitally replicate.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/asteroid-city-11.jpg?p=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/asteroid-city-11.jpg?p=1" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Anderson’s latest is <i>Asteroid City</i>, which I see as the culmination of years spent establishing and sharpening the aforementioned style. It features an impressive cast of both Anderson regulars and newcomers alike, all of whom are fully committed to the very particular way of speaking and acting that has come to define Anderson’s characters. What sets <i>Asteroid City </i>apart is that, while some of his other films occupy a specific world all their own, here there is a narrative purpose behind the strangeness, which brings a whole new dimension to what we’re seeing. There doesn’t always have to be a story-motivated reason behind the design, but in this case, I find it fascinating that Anderson has decided to go that route, and I wonder what it could mean for the stories he decides to tell in the future.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Of course, it’s not just about Wes Anderson (even though no other filmmaker could have even dreamed of making <i>Asteroid City</i>). The production design is one of the biggest reasons this movie even works, because the immersion needs to be complete in order to buy into its surreal reality. The cast is absolutely stellar, filling in the colorful scenery with a crew of A-listers that includes Jason Schwartzman, Tom Hanks, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton and Steve Carell. This might give <i>Barbie </i>and <i>Oppenheimer </i>(which will both be released on the same weekend in July) a run for their money in terms of all-star ensembles.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2023/06/14/ac_fp_00005_rc1684782697_custom-6d7acb299b53693aaeba43b84aa1d8831c4393ad-s1100-c50.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="800" height="380" src="https://media.npr.org/assets/img/2023/06/14/ac_fp_00005_rc1684782697_custom-6d7acb299b53693aaeba43b84aa1d8831c4393ad-s1100-c50.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I can’t pretend that I understand all of Anderson’s intentionality when it comes to <i>Asteroid City</i>, but what I can do is appreciate what I love about the way he makes art. Every line of dialogue is loaded either with symbolism, dark humor or a mix of the two, and the entire film seems to revel in the absurd, a sandbox that Anderson is now an old hand at playing in.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Needless to say, this may beat out <i>The French Dispatch </i>as the <i>most </i>Wes Anderson has ever been. Fans of his signature style (myself included) will fall over themselves in love and amazement at the achievement that <i>Asteroid City </i>is. Consequently, those who don’t jive with Anderson’s methodology may find it harder than usual to connect to his dispassionate characters and odd, multi-faceted world.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Asteroid City </i>is unapologetically Wes Anderson, though, and that deeply personal touch is something I will always respect.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Asteroid City is playing now in theaters.</span></i></b></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-67703893585382075582023-06-04T23:13:00.000-04:002023-06-04T23:13:40.312-04:00Go “Across the Spider-Verse” in an Astounding Multiversal Sequel (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In 2018, <i>Into the Spider-Verse </i>blew away any preconceived notions of how a Spider-Man movie, and even a superhero film in general, should operate. It introduced Miles Morales, the first Black Spider-Man, to mainstream filmgoing audiences. It completely flipped the expectations of how animation can behave on the big screen.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://ticketing.phoenixmovies.net/CDN/media/entity/get/FilmBackdrop/f-HO00001466?width=1920&referenceScheme=Global&allowPlaceHolder=true&fallbackMediaType=FilmTitleGraphic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://ticketing.phoenixmovies.net/CDN/media/entity/get/FilmBackdrop/f-HO00001466?width=1920&referenceScheme=Global&allowPlaceHolder=true&fallbackMediaType=FilmTitleGraphic" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Unsurprisingly, it also cleaned up at the box office. A sequel was inevitable, and after a hefty half-decade wait, <i>Across the Spider-Verse </i>is now upon us. Nearly half an hour longer than its predecessor with a monumental weight on its shoulders, this may be the most pressure a superhero sequel has ever been under (excepting, perhaps, <i>Avengers: Endgame</i>). It had to deliver in ways that were previously unprecedented.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s easy to exaggerate when it comes to critiquing superhero movies — I’ve done it several times myself — but <i>Across the Spider-Verse </i>is a special case. I don’t believe there’s such a thing as a perfect movie, but <i>Across the Spider-Verse </i>knocks it out of the park in every conceivable area. The voice cast (both new and returning) are phenomenal, the humor and screenplay sharpness are dialed up, and it’s emotionally mature and thematically resonant in ways I was not prepared for; in fact, I never thought superhero movies could be capable of this much nuance and subtlety before the first <i>Spider-Verse</i>.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But where <i>Across the Spider-Verse </i>shines the most, both literally and figuratively, are the visuals. After changing the landscape of animation with its predecessor, the sequel takes things to the next level, so much so that I’d dare to call it the most visually creative movie I’ve ever seen. The fact that it’s a multiverse movie means it can naturally incorporate a multitude of different art styles, sometimes in the same scene, to stupendous effect. It is not an exaggeration to say that my jaw was on the floor more than once during this experience.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.wired.com/photos/64790f5a0b67c709cbcaa9b5/16:9/pass/Spider-Man-Across-The-Spider-Verse-Monitor-Culture.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://media.wired.com/photos/64790f5a0b67c709cbcaa9b5/16:9/pass/Spider-Man-Across-The-Spider-Verse-Monitor-Culture.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Picking up about a year after <i>Into the Spider-Verse</i>, <i>Across </i>finds Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) settling into his role as Brooklyn’s one and only Spider-Man. That all changes when a new villain, the Spot (voiced by Wes Anderson regular Jason Schwartzman), begins to come after his “nemesis” Miles, intent on getting his revenge. Miles is once again swept into a multiverse-spanning adventure, bringing him into contact with a number of other Spider-Man variants, including some voiced by Oscar Isaac (<i>Star Wars</i>), Issa Rae (<i>Insecure</i>), Karan Soni (<i>Deadpool</i>), Daniel Kaluuya (<i>Get Out</i>), and Andy Samberg (<i>Brooklyn Nine-Nine</i>). The voice cast of <i>Across </i>is even more stacked than that of its predecessor.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Across the Spider-Verse </i>takes itself seriously when it needs to, but maintains the levity that made the first film such a wholesome experience. The Spot’s introduction sets him up as a goofy, wise-cracking and sometimes incompetent baddie, and while he comes close to falling into the single-punchline trap, what’s funny early on becomes menacing in ways you would never expect.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There’s a lot of exposition here, but I think that’s pretty par for the course when it comes to modern superhero stories. It’s all in service of building to an earth-shattering climax that is not fully resolved by the end — in fact, it leads directly into next year’s <i>Beyond the Spider-Verse </i>— but I still found it to be a massively satisfying experience. This is also due in part to Daniel Pemberton’s score, which absolutely blows <i>Into the Spider Verse</i>’s out of the water; here, it’s bombastic and incredibly original, incorporating character traits into themes and experimenting with full band and orchestral arrangements to tremendous effect. I’ve been listening to it on repeat ever since seeing the film.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2022/04/21/c45467cb/spidey_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/full/public/2022/04/21/c45467cb/spidey_1.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I fully expect this trilogy to become the quintessential Spider-Man canon. It achieves such a fantastic feat of tying together every Spider-Man story we’ve ever seen in a way that feels not only logical, but necessary; after seeing this movie, it’ll be hard to revisit any other Spider-Man property without thinking about the ideas that <i>Spider-Verse </i>posits. There’s a reason the <i>Spider-Verse </i>films are the best superhero stories of the modern era: they craft a compelling narrative, backed by a crew of people who care about every single (even negligible) aspect while managing to not rush anything, all while appealing to the widest possible audience. That’s a feat most movies only dream of, let alone get close to achieving.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse is playing now in theaters.</span></i></b></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-76220531450463918012023-05-22T14:31:00.002-04:002023-05-22T15:19:40.600-04:00The Eras Tour is an Epic Showcase of Range, Style and Personality (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“This is one of the reasons you’re on the Eras Tour,” proclaimed Taylor Swift, holding a sparkling microphone on the very first performance of her three-night run in Massachusetts.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“We refer to you as many things, one of which bring Foxy Foxborough!” Swift grinned, before doing a spin in her glitter-studded opening outfit. “Another reason we refer to this place, Gillette Stadium, as the most joyful place on earth!” That remark elicited cheers from the crowd, a move the famed singer/songwriter was clearly expecting — she threw her arms in the air, ready to dive into her rich catalogue of award-winning music.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-03/18/20/asset/4384748fe195/sub-buzz-14447-1679170744-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://img.buzzfeed.com/buzzfeed-static/static/2023-03/18/20/asset/4384748fe195/sub-buzz-14447-1679170744-1.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was lucky enough to attend opening night of the Eras Tour performances in Foxborough, one of fifty-two shows Swift will be performing during the five-month tour, which is her first since 2018. I used to consider myself only a casual listener of hers, and then her two COVID-era albums (<i>folklore </i>and <i>evermore</i>, both released in 2020) caught my attention and turned me into a fan very quickly.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Eras Tour is not just a concert; it’s a <i>performance</i>. Over the course of three-plus hours, Swift took us through her entire discography, performing a range of songs from her different “eras” as a singer/songwriter, going in non-chronological order between her beginnings in country rock, her time as a pop icon, and her revolutionary rebranding during the pandemic. Despite seamlessly moving from one to another over the last seventeen years, Swift has kept the best aspects of each era, and utilized them to improve her music going forward. The Eras Tour also serves as an exhibition of just how far she’s come, and how she’s learned from everything she’s done.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each stop on the Eras Tour has a rotating roster of opening performers (including Gracie Abrams, HAIM and Paramore), but on Foxborough’s opening night we were able to see boisterous newcomer and recent Grammy nominee Gayle, in addition to the well-established Phoebe Bridgers, one of Swift’s self-styled favorite artists. Both opening acts were fantastic in their own way, even though I was admittedly more excited to see Phoebe Bridgers — despite only releasing two solo albums, she has cemented a vibe and personality that makes her one of today’s most interesting young artists.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/641b2b8252ae61ead67e92d9/3:2/w_5999,h_3999,c_limit/GettyImages-1474485122.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://media.architecturaldigest.com/photos/641b2b8252ae61ead67e92d9/3:2/w_5999,h_3999,c_limit/GettyImages-1474485122.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’m not sure how much of her spoken dialogue was rehearsed (although it’s almost certainly more than I think), but Swift has such a dynamic on-stage presence, even when apparently going off the cuff and starting a one-sided dialogue with the audience. You get ever-so-brief glimpses into the somewhat socially awkward person under the superstar persona, and because most of her music is so honest and unashamedly personal, it feels even more like we’re watching her express herself live on stage — not just for our benefit, but for hers too. She clearly enjoys putting on a show, and I am all here for it.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every time I go to a concert, even if it’s for an artist I really enjoy (which, to be honest, are the only concerts I tend to go to), I almost always come away with some songs I hadn’t heard before (or had heard in such a different context that I associated them with a different experience) with the intention of listening to them on loop for the next week. Taylor Swift certainly did not disappoint, and I feel more educated and exposed to her more underrated music. Even the songs of hers I was not a big fan of were brought so remarkably to life that I could not help but enjoy them, and appreciate them in a whole new way.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">For each night of the tour, in an effort “to play as many of [her] songs as possible,” Swift has performed two “surprise songs,” somewhere from her catalogue, untouched on the rest of the Eras Tour. On Friday night, when I attended, she performed “Should’ve Said No” (from her 2006 debut album) and “Better Man,” which was originally recorded by Little Big Town before being performed by Taylor for her re-recording of her album <i>Red</i>. Neither song even scratched the surface among my favorites of hers, but the staged performance was deep and unique, performed just by Swift herself in a spotlighted area with just her piano and guitar (though she was joined by Phoebe Bridgers for “Better Man,” the recording of which Bridgers is also featured on).</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://assets.teenvogue.com/photos/63612fe62cdbf142665a84ac/3:2/w_1849,h_1232,c_limit/unnamed%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1232" data-original-width="1849" height="360" src="https://assets.teenvogue.com/photos/63612fe62cdbf142665a84ac/3:2/w_1849,h_1232,c_limit/unnamed%20(1).png" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Each era presented during the concert had a very distinct identity, and it truly felt like an epic journey to experience them all in one night. While the <i>folklore </i>and <i>evermore </i>eras are more understated and melodic, earlier albums like <i>1989 </i>and <i>Reputation </i>are bombastic and loud, with massive dance numbers and impressive sets. The backup dancers, band and vocalists are phenomenal as well, showcasing just how much work was put into making this tour the best it could possibly be. I hope there is a cinematic recording released at some point in the future — the cameras were going crazy at the concert, so it’s a very distinct possibility — because the Eras Tour was an experience that I certainly wouldn’t mind having again.</span></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-76455003611175958532023-05-17T14:37:00.029-04:002023-09-18T15:51:24.776-04:00“Book Club: The Next Chapter” is a Fluffy, Feel-Good Reunion with a Dash of Cheesy Charm (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I was only a young, doe-eyed theater worker when <i>Book Club </i>was released in 2018, but it dominated my small community cinema. I myself saw it later in its run, and although my developing sense of film criticism appreciated its cheesy charm, I could not stop asking myself “how did this make over $100 million?!”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://statcdn.fandango.com/MPX/image/NBCU_Fandango/138/50/thumb_EB011728-1378-4DD6-93A1-AC743945FDBD.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://statcdn.fandango.com/MPX/image/NBCU_Fandango/138/50/thumb_EB011728-1378-4DD6-93A1-AC743945FDBD.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The (debatably) long-awaited sequel <i>Book Club: The Next Chapter </i>mostly abandons the titular element, instead taking the central ladies out of their comfortable homes and flying them to Italy, jumping from one unexpected adventure to the next. Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen and Mary Steenburgen all make a triumphant return (and no, even though it might seem like it, this is not the same crew from <i>80 for Brady </i>— at least not entirely) as seniors seeking a new lease on life. And since this is a feel-good comedy, that’s exactly what they find across the pond.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I have to admire the consistency between <i>The Next Chapter </i>and its predecessor; character arcs, or as close as these movies come, carry over, with romance threads picked up and carried to the finish line, culminating in a satisfying ending for all those involved. Supporting actors Craig T. Nelson (<i>The Incredibles</i>), Don Johnson (<i>Knives Out</i>) and Andy García (<i>The Untouchables</i>) all return, lending their good humor to pad the runtime. But the ladies are the true stars; their one-liners and rapid conversations make up for ninety percent of the film, because let’s be honest, if you go to see this movie, that’s exactly what you’re there for.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.glamour.com/photos/6436db289623f5859cae918a/4:3/w_3999,h_2999,c_limit/4195_D018_00176_RC3%202.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://media.glamour.com/photos/6436db289623f5859cae918a/4:3/w_3999,h_2999,c_limit/4195_D018_00176_RC3%202.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You don’t need to have seen 2018’s <i>Book Club </i>to enjoy <i>The Next Chapter</i>; in fact, the best way to enjoy <i>The Next Chapter </i>may be to not watch it at all. It’s fluffy friendship comfort food at best. There’s not much substance to sustain the runtime, and a hastily thrown-together climax makes a mockery of the so-called “character work” done so far. I hold true to my theory that this movie was conceived only because the four leading ladies enjoy hanging out with each other, and wanted an all-expenses-paid trip to Italy. What better way to do that than to make a movie, which consists nearly entirely of the banter they undoubtedly exchange on a daily basis?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">And yet, I would go so far as to say I had a good time. These actresses have been in the biz for a long time, and each of them knows how to command your attention and deliver a line in just the right way. It’s superficial, but I’m not complaining.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Book Club: The Next Chapter is playing now in theaters.</span></i></b></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-85622129124345564532023-05-15T15:07:00.000-04:002023-05-15T15:07:31.033-04:00“Crater” Transcends the Direct-to-Streaming Standard (Review)<div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Disney+ originals are quite hit or miss for me, with the ones I enjoy the most usually being complete surprises. I hadn’t heard much about <i>Crater</i>, so I didn’t expect much. But to my delight, the tale of Caleb, a newly-orphaned teenager living on the now-colonized moon, teaming up with his friends to explore a crater that was significant to his parents, was unexpectedly delightful and earnest.</span></div><div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/crater.jpeg?w=1024" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/crater.jpeg?w=1024" width="550" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">At its core, the film is about friendship and adventure, but it surprised me by exploring some intense themes. There’s an emphasis on class inequality that borders on critique of capitalism (because no one hates the exploitation of workers more than Disney). The parents of the children in the film are essentially trapped in a form of indentured moon servitude, which was not what I was expecting from this <i>Goonies</i>-esque kids movie about a group of friends on an expedition. Watching a movie geared towards kids explore these real-world issues from the point of view of relatable adolescent characters was a refreshing treat.</span></div><div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><div style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A major strong point for me was the score. From the very first scene I’d already pulled up Spotify to see if the score was available (it is!) and the rest of the film only solidified my initial love for the music. The composition is quirky and playful, blending into the film tonally so perfectly that you may not even notice it, but still propelling the momentum of the story forward with each note.</span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another highlight was the five main child actors in the cast. Some of the characters were one-note, like Borney, played by Orson Hong (who you may know from <i>John Mulaney & the Sack Lunch Bunch</i>) who’s only personality trait was “nervous,” but Hong’s energetic and likable performance kept the character from being forgettable. Isaiah Russell-Bailey (former star of Netflix’s sitcom <i>Family Reunion</i>) plays protagonist Caleb, and he does a solid job carrying the film, especially in Caleb’s interactions with his father (played by rapper/singer Kid Cudi) and his friends.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://images.complex.com/complex/images/c_fill,dpr_auto,f_auto,q_90,w_1400/fl_lossy,pg_1/b2ecr0jtup3z2p8lvedb/kid-cudi-stars-in-crater-disney-plus-trailer" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://images.complex.com/complex/images/c_fill,dpr_auto,f_auto,q_90,w_1400/fl_lossy,pg_1/b2ecr0jtup3z2p8lvedb/kid-cudi-stars-in-crater-disney-plus-trailer" width="550" /></a></span></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Other than Cudi, the most recognizable cast member was McKenna Grace (<i>I, Tonya</i> and <i>Gifted</i>) who plays newcomer to the friend group Addison. While this is not my favorite performance I’ve seen from Grace, she is charming and effective nonetheless. I wished I could have seen more of Thomas Boyce (in his film debut) because his portrayal of Marcus, a kind teen with a heart condition, is grounded and full of heart, and he deserved more screen time. The biggest standout for me, however, was Billy Barratt (<i>The Other Me</i>) as Dylan, tech whiz and Caleb’s best friend. Barratt captured an emotional and nuanced performance without losing the childlike wonder necessary for the film, and I’m excited to see what he does next.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">In terms of a live-action Disney+ original, this one is pretty solid. The effects are good (as in you mostly don’t notice them at all, which is a good thing), and whenever the characters are walking on the moon it looks super fun. For a film with a mostly blue and gray color palette, it is never too dark or dull, proving that you don’t need bright colors for a movie to be well lit and visually engaging. <i>Crater</i> is an entertaining family film with a surprisingly poignant message and a solid cast, and it’s a shame that Disney hasn’t been promoting it, because it’s well worth the watch.</p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Crater is streaming on Disney+.</i></b></span></p>Davis Mathishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02367297845689231191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-39919006299199146772023-05-07T00:03:00.001-04:002023-05-07T21:17:30.801-04:00“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” is an Emotionally Devastating Final Ride (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 </i>is perhaps Marvel Studios’ most exciting project since <i>Avengers: Endgame</i>. It’s been long-delayed, and more newsworthy than most Marvel projects (especially considering writer/director James Gunn’s firing and subsequent rehiring), and as many consider the <i>Guardians </i>series to be among Marvel’s best sub-franchises, expectations are high.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.marvel.com/content/1x/cea0260_trl_comp_spi_v0181.1040_r.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://cdn.marvel.com/content/1x/cea0260_trl_comp_spi_v0181.1040_r.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Marvel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am one of those people who was absurdly excited for <i>Guardians Vol. 3</i>. It’s been my most anticipated Marvel movie since 2021’s <i>No Way Home</i>, and I (along with many others) were eagerly, and somewhat nervously, anticipating how Gunn would end his trilogy of wackos and weirdness. This is one of those rare Marvel films where anything can happen, and the stakes are exponentially higher than normal (after all, are they going to make any massive story swings in <i>Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</i>, or save the big moves for the next <i>Avengers </i>movie?). With unpredictability at an all-time high, it’s time to return to a cosmic corner of the universe for a grounded space adventure with the capability to absolutely destroy me emotionally.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Picking up a few years after the earth-shattering fallout of <i>Avengers: Endgame </i>(and their brief stint in <i>Thor: Love and Thunder</i>), the Guardians of the Galaxy are settling down. As seen in their holiday special (which released on Disney+ this past fall), they’ve purchased the base Knowhere and have transformed it from a desolate mining colony into a respectable town of very nice folk. When you’re in an action movie, true peace never lasts, and they’re soon beset by a consecutive wealth of problems that threatens the team’s stability and hearken back to their individual pasts.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.marvel.com/content/1x/gotgv3_highevol_2_hcm-18836_r.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="370" src="https://cdn.marvel.com/content/1x/gotgv3_highevol_2_hcm-18836_r.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Marvel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Forgive the vagueness, but I usually find that to be necessary when it comes to Marvel movies. Their trailers usually do a great job of disguising what the true story is, and I fear to speak on it in detail out of sensitivity to spoilers.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What I will say is that <i>Vol. 3 </i>strikes a balance true to its predecessors, but in a far more sustained manner. While the first two <i>Guardians </i>flicks relied on comedy first and foremost, and expertly factored in character moments that brought the emotion at very select points, careful to not bombard the audience and stay true to the “Marvel schtick” while also forming an identity for themselves outside of the Marvel formula.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Guardians Vol. 3 </i>brings the emotion in full force, from the first moment to the very last. Rocket is the central focus, and it becomes abundantly clear that his arc (which has threaded primarily through the two <i>Guardians </i>movies and <i>Avengers: Endgame</i>) has been a storytelling priority since the beginning. Through flashbacks, we learn more about the devastating backstory he’s been so far resistant to share with his compatriots. Bradley Cooper, of course, gives such a remarkable voice performance, perhaps the best in the Marvel Cinematic Universe thus far, that you will want to go back and revisit Rocket’s arc from his previous appearances. Better get out those tissues now while you have the chance.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In fact, every cast member (both new and returning) is giving their best Marvel performances yet, perhaps excepting Karen Gillan and Sean Gunn (who had more of an arc in 2017’s <i>Vol. 2</i>). It helps that this film also acts as the concluding chapter in every single one of their arcs, most of which have been building across six movies over the past nine years. But that’s how it operates best — not as well on its own, but with the support of its predecessors. I encourage rewatches of the previous chapters in the <i>Guardians </i>saga, especially if it’s been a while, because the three of the core films tie together remarkably well when viewed successively.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.marvel.com/content/1x/hcm-23927_r2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="370" src="https://cdn.marvel.com/content/1x/hcm-23927_r2.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Marvel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>In </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Guardians Vol. 3</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">, set-ups are sparse but payoffs are magnificent. Gunn draws from the wealth of story he’s already established with each of these characters as opposed to containing everything within this singular narrative, which has both advantages and drawbacks. It rewards longtime fans and those who’ve kept up, but at the same time makes for an incomplete experience if </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Vol. 3 </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is viewed on its own. Thus, </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Vol. 3 </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">works best as the conclusion to the trilogy, as opposed to a standalone arc, and Gunn’s writing is not as strong as it is in previous installments.</span><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Even then, there’s a distinct lack of retconning, and the story of the trilogy remains remarkably cohesive. Plus, there were elements that were clearly difficult to work with (at least initially); it’s plain to see that James Gunn is unhappy with the narrative baggage that the end of the Infinity Saga saddled him with, but he still makes full use of what <i>Infinity War </i>and<i> Endgame </i>gave him. Zoe Saldaña turns in a fantastic performance as Gamora, but not the one we’ve grown to know and love — this Gamora is time-displaced, removed from any former character development (including her romance with Peter, which has been wiped clean on her end). She is essentially an entirely different character, and <i>Guardians Vol. 3</i> makes certain to keep reminding you of that. Her storyline is an unexpected one, and does not go in the direction you think it will.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve discovered that after I see a genuinely good Marvel movie (more of a rarity these days than not) for the first time, I end up chasing the high for a few days before I’m able to see it in a fully objective light. Maybe I should've waited to write this review, but I don’t see my takeaways drastically changing — set to the tune of a signaturely rocking soundtrack, <i>Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 </i>concludes the trilogy with the gusto and the perfect combination of action, comedy and emotion that has defined an era that must now, unfortunately, come to a close. But that doesn’t mean it’s the end; there’s always more story to tell.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://cdn.marvel.com/content/1x/wsa4580_trl_comp_wta_v0198.1070_r.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://cdn.marvel.com/content/1x/wsa4580_trl_comp_wta_v0198.1070_r.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Marvel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Once more with feeling.” The tagline doesn’t lie.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is playing now in theaters.</span></i></b></p></div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-31116922754699854502023-05-03T10:00:00.022-04:002023-09-18T15:52:09.068-04:00“Peter Pan & Wendy” Fails to Recapture the Magic (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Most mornings in the shower, since I hate being alone with my own thoughts for too long, I listen to a podcast. One podcast I listen to frequently is a <i>Glee </i>rewatch show, <i>And That’s What You REALLY Missed</i>, and for a few weeks, the same ad played during every episode, advertising for Disney+’s newest live action remake, <i>Peter Pan & Wendy</i>. “If you think you know the story, think again,” the ad claimed. It called the movie an “all new adventure.” My hopes were high. My interest in poorly-lit live action remakes of movies that were always intended to be animated has never been high, especially in the last few years.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static1.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/peter-pan-wendy-jude-law.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="280" src="https://static1.colliderimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/peter-pan-wendy-jude-law.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>Still, the </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Glee</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> podcast had given me hope. Would this take the </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Cruella</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> route of taking beloved characters and completely reimagining the story surrounding them? I thought perhaps. I was, sadly, disappointed. Instead of a creative new take on Neverland, I got yet another poorly-lit live action remake of a movie that was always intended to be animated.</span><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are a few new and interesting elements that the 1953 original lacked, though most don’t make any substantive changes. The most notable addition is that Captain Hook is given more backstory, but the character’s depth comes entirely from Jude Law’s performance rather than the additional exposition.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wendy’s characterization is, in my opinion, the most successful deviation from the original. She has much more agency in this version of the story, scheming against the pirates, actively participating in combat, and even developing a friendship with Tinker Bell. Ever Anderson (seen recently in Marvel’s </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Black Widow</i><span style="font-family: inherit;">) brings a charisma and charm to the character that makes her incredibly likable and easy to root for. The only problem with Anderson’s performance was how much it overshadowed the other child actors around her. </span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I took no issue with any of the Lost Boys, and I did enjoy the diversity amongst the children cast, but they were given nothing to do and essentially no screen time. If they had been cut entirely the movie would not have changed at all. Similarly, John and Michael Darling (Joshua Pickering and Jacobi Jupe) were cute, but they also added nothing of substance to the film, and almost disappeared next to Anderson’s impactful performance as Wendy.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pluggedin.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/peter-pan-and-wendy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://www.pluggedin.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/peter-pan-and-wendy.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>The most underwhelming aspect in the film was, disappointingly, Peter Pan himself (Alexander Molony, in his film debut). The film leans more heavily into Wendy’s side of the story and Captain Hook’s backstory, which I think is a good choice for a modern remake, but in the process all of Peter’s negative qualities are highlighted far more than in Disney’s original, and his heroics are less impressive when Wendy is shown to be extremely capable without his help. Peter Pan is supposed to be young and vibrant and charismatic and immature and enchanting. Alexander Molony nails the “young” part, and does a decent job of portraying the immaturity, but he lacks the charm at the heart of the animated version of the character; especially since many of his scenes are paired with Ever Anderson or Jude Law, who are easily giving the best performances, he doesn’t quite have the star quality necessary to tackle a character as iconic as Peter Pan. </span><div><br /></div><div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I did not hate <i>Peter Pan & Wendy</i>. In fact, I liked some of the tweaks made to the original story. But even with those changes, it really is just a less enjoyable remake of the animated version. The flying does not feel magical, and it does not sweep you away into the world of Neverland like in the animated classic. Peter is not a strong enough character to carry the film (though Wendy definitely is, and Anderson certainly tries her best). The beautiful color palette of the animated classic is washed-out and dull when translated to live-action. Neverland does not feel like a child’s escapist fantasy, it just feels like a forest and a beach. Overall, <i>Peter Pan & Wendy</i> is not a bad time, but much like the other Disney live-action remakes, it completely lacks the magic of the original.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Peter Pan & Wendy is streaming on Disney+.</i></b></span></p></div>Davis Mathishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02367297845689231191noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-83967685703982453662023-05-01T18:30:00.001-04:002023-05-01T18:30:00.301-04:00“Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret” is a Classic Adaptation Done Right (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I should start out by saying I have never read the classic Judy Blume book that <i>Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret </i>is based on. It was a valuable part of the childhoods of many, and so beloved that Blume was resistant for nearly half a century for the book to be adapted to film. It took the brilliant brain of legendary writer/director/producer James L. Brooks (<i>The Simpsons, Broadcast News</i>) and the keen eye of writer/director Kelly Fremon Craig (who burst onto the scene in 2016 with the marvelous coming-of-age story <i>The Edge of Seventeen</i>) to convince her that it deserves to be brought to life on the big screen.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/aytg-unit-23098rc3-1-644c2073125b1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="370" src="https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod/images/aytg-unit-23098rc3-1-644c2073125b1.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>This is Craig’s first film in seven years, and what a fantastic project this is to mark her return to the directorial landscape. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Are You There God?</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> tackles the struggles of a young pre-teen girl, and contextualizes them with other massive life changes happening, both at her age and in the early 1970s. It follows sixth-grader Margaret Simon, whose family moves from metropolitan New York to the suburbs of New Jersey, and who finds herself religiously torn within her family (one of her parents is Christian, while the other one is Jewish) and struggling with her oncoming puberty.</span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There are three brilliant performances at the film’s heart. Abby Ryder Fortson, who up until now was best known as Cassie Lang in <i>Ant-Man </i>and its sequel, plays Margaret, the titular character who shoulders a world of internal and external conflict that never seems to let up. Rachel McAdams (of <i>Mean Girls </i>and <i>The Notebook</i>, among other award-winning films) is Barbara, Margaret’s mother, who has the most compelling arc aside from Margaret’s — I suppose when you have Rachel McAdams, you better make full use of Rachel McAdams’ multifaceted talents. Kathy Bates plays Margaret’s grandmother Sylvia, who has her own ideas for what Margaret’s life should be, but still maintains an excellent maternal relationship with her granddaughter. Benny Safdie also stars as Margaret’s father Herb, though the three generations of Simon women are (justly) the film’s focus.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2023-01-12-at-11.09.16-AM.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="800" height="290" src="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2023-01-12-at-11.09.16-AM.png" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>I am certainly not in the demographic that this movie was intended for, and I was somewhat surprised to find that that didn’t matter in the slightest. I still found it sweet and effective, and I was incredibly impressed at how the film handles its subjects, including religion and sex education, in the least offensive way possible while also being noticeably frank about how they affect young women. It deals very well with implication and word choice — even when it verbally dances around certain topics (almost certainly to stay within the bounds of a PG-13 rating, though the film</span>’s content should not have warranted the harsher rating),<span style="font-family: inherit;"> you still know exactly what they’re talking about, and it never loses any of its effectiveness along the way.</span></div><div><div><br /><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret </i>is an absolute triumph. It’s undyingly adorable, and feels like it was created with the love and care that this story deserves. It’s honest and sweet, with three dedicated leads and a host of remarkable supporting performances to anchor it. Despite being a period piece, the timelessness of the source material ensures it remains an engaging tale for modern audiences.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is playing now in theaters.</span></i></b></p></div></div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-60549299639002258942023-04-24T09:00:00.018-04:002023-04-24T10:44:39.121-04:00“Sisu” is a Wickian Action Story of Epic Proportions (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I always respect when a film is willing to commit to a bare bones narrative. Not only does that instantly set it apart from most complex blockbusters of the modern era, but it allows the filmmaking team to focus on making the final product as aesthetically appealing and narratively satisfying as possible. This isn’t to discount complex stories (that umbrella comprises most of my favorite movies), but there’s something special about keeping things simple.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://schoolgirlmilkycrisisblog.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/sisu___freezing_point_oy_photographer_antti_rastivo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://schoolgirlmilkycrisisblog.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/sisu___freezing_point_oy_photographer_antti_rastivo.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">That is exactly what <i>Sisu </i>does. At risk of calling it “the Finnish <i>John Wick</i>” (especially because the studio is very content to promote it that way), I will say that <i>Sisu </i>shares only the broad strokes with its counterpart, and that is the arc — the mostly silent protagonist has a personal mission, and that mission involves killing several bad guys along the way. These two movies are proof that you can have a brilliant, incredibly simple story to work with, but you must have the filmmaking prowess to back it up and ensure that it gets told in a visually interesting way.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Sisu</i>, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last year, definitely has a capable team behind the camera with the skills to make the thrilling entertainment they seek to achieve. Our protagonist is the Finnish veteran Aatami Korpi (Jorma Tommila), who strikes gold — literally — and begins the long trek to the nearest bank to deposit his stash. However, it’s 1944, the Lapland War is raging strong, and Nazis roam the Finland wilderness, killing anyone in their way. The Second World War is only a backdrop for the events that unfold, but the overarching threats are still felt, and we learn so much about the state of the world with the environment and everything we see around our main character as he embarks on his journey.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">As you might be able to guess, the Nazis cause some trouble for<i> </i>Aatami Korpi, so what can he do but cause even more trouble for them? It’s a “man against the world” type story: he has a mission, and he’s going to stick to it and do whatever it takes to get there. Korpi is a former Finnish military commander who lost everything in the Winter War (which lasted from 1939-40), so he has the skills to take down these Nazis in a series of brutal clashes of bloody chaos.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/image.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="800" height="370" src="https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/image.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p>A common criticism of modern action movies is that our heroes withstand far more than would be humanly possible, only to get back up and keep on fighting. Korpi’s military history and undoubtedly intense training and experience are a solid explanation for how he is able to survive so much, but </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Sisu </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">goes out of its way to remind us that he's not infallible or indestructible — in fact, he gets hurt and wounded quite a lot, but his endurance and will to live is so off the chain that every time you knock him down, he keeps getting back up.</span><div><i style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></i></div><div><i style="font-family: inherit;">Sisu </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is, by premise alone, an absolute banger of an action flick. It has absolutely stunning production quality (as well as one of my favorite shots in a movie from this year), and action sequences that had me chuckling from their sheer awesomeness. It’s hyper-violent, but not in a ridiculously graphic way (I will admit though, it can get excruciating). The score does a great job of getting you excited and hyping up the impending action, and I feel that </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">Sisu </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">lived up very well to what the trailer promised: a bloody thrill-fest in which action-oriented fun is paramount and Nazis get what they deserve for a solid 90 minutes. </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">This </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">is how you make a movie.</span><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i></i></b><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sisu begins a limited theatrical run today.</span></i></b></p></div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-79686147075548792342023-04-20T10:00:00.000-04:002023-04-20T10:00:00.204-04:00Little Richard Documentary “I Am Everything” Spares No Expense in the Life of a Superstar (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am ashamed to admit that before watching <i>Little Richard: I Am Everything</i>, my awareness of the rock and roll legend was limited to Kennedy Davenport’s portrayal of him on the Snatch Game during Season 7 of <i>RuPaul’s Drag Race</i>. When given the opportunity to watch this documentary about the life and influence of the queer, black icon, I was excited to expand my knowledge and regretful that it took so long for me to truly become aware of his legacy. To my surprise, the documentary eased my guilt, highlighting exactly how important Little Richard was to rock and roll while also acknowledging the lack of recognition he has received over the years. If the film’s primary goal was to convince the audience why Little Richard was a trailblazer despite never being given the credit he deserved, I would call it a success.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/z6x5gb2qxLittleRichard_IAmEverything-Still1-H-2023.jpg?w=1296" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/z6x5gb2qxLittleRichard_IAmEverything-Still1-H-2023.jpg?w=1296" width="550" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Little Richard’s complex relationship with his own sexuality, made even more complicated by his relationship with his father and with religion, is at the forefront of the documentary. In a tactful choice, the film chooses not to pass judgment on Little Richard’s later attempts to denounce his homosexuality, but instead contextualizes them and encourages the audience to empathize with his position. The discussion is not lacking in nuance however, with the ultimate conclusion being that even though Little Richard was unable to accept himself, his existence and self expression was liberating to so many.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The film’s star-studded cast of interviewees features rock and roll icons, queer and black activists, and personal friends and family of Little Richard himself. Mick Jagger, Billy Porter, John Waters, Nona Hendryx, and Nile Rodgers all speak about Little Richard’s influence on the industry as a whole and on themselves personally. The mix of industry professionals, friends and bandmates of Little Richard, and scholars with unique perspectives on queer and black history paint a well-rounded picture of the star and his cultural impact.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">While the message and the cast are absolutely stellar, the film itself is not without its problems. Likely in an attempt to honor Little Richard’s love of all things glitzy and over the top, the editing is indulgent and, at times, completely baffling. But while Little Richard’s over-the-top appearance is a form of self expression and liberation, the editing choices (such as putting a sparkly filter over talking head interviews) read more as a hollow and poorly conceived imitation of what makes Little Richard an icon. I often found myself wishing that while figures such as Mick Jagger (!) spoke about how Little Richard pioneered rock and roll as a genre I could see Mick himself talking, or, even better, I could see Little Richard performing. Instead, while hearing about how Little Richard was the blueprint that inspired Mick Jagger, Elvis, and David Bowie, I was distracted by visuals of flowers blooming and volcanoes erupting. And yes, I understand that this was to celebrate Little Richard as the creator/god of rock, but the execution was too weak to be powerful and too earnest to be camp, so ultimately it felt like a weird detraction from the story that really mattered.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://statcdn.fandango.com/MPX/image/NBCU_Fandango/554/863/thumb_D7297FFB-5B22-4268-83D9-C69A7DF80D88.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://statcdn.fandango.com/MPX/image/NBCU_Fandango/554/863/thumb_D7297FFB-5B22-4268-83D9-C69A7DF80D88.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I ultimately think that the archival footage of performances and interviews from Little Richard himself as well as the talking head interviews with those who knew or were inspired by Little Richard came together to tell a powerful and important story about a man who deserved more recognition than the world was willing to give him. While the editing and pacing could have been much tighter, and many moments that deserved elaboration were quickly mentioned and then abandoned, Little Richard as a person and a figure (as well as the strong cast of guest appearances to speak on his life and influence) are strong enough to keep the documentary compelling.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i>Little Richard: I Am Everything begins a limited theatrical release this Friday, before an eventual streaming release on HBO Max.</i></b></span></p>Davis Mathishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02367297845689231191noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-69298563258025209352023-04-18T17:06:00.000-04:002023-04-18T17:06:45.163-04:00“Renfield” is a Fun, Tonally Uneven Gore-Fest (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Universal hasn’t been doing well with their monster-related cinematic universes since the 1950s, when the overlapping and screen-sharing came primarily in <i>Abbott and Costello </i>crossover movies. The “Dark Universe,” which was supposed to kick off with 2017’s <i>The Mummy </i>(a favorite of both critics and fans), was a catastrophic failure. It’s astounding when you think about it — you’d think that a studio that owns the rights to such iconic characters and stories would know how to handle them, and give them the films they deserve.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://storage.googleapis.com/afs-prod/media/fa6e7cbcbd7b44b686aec40d741c3f73/3000.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="370" src="https://storage.googleapis.com/afs-prod/media/fa6e7cbcbd7b44b686aec40d741c3f73/3000.webp" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The solution? Begin again, of course — but not overtly. Start off with a film that establishes the world in a unique and exciting way, but could function as a one-off if it all goes south. Throw in Chris McKay, director of <i>The LEGO Batman Movie</i>, and <i>Rick and Morty </i>writer Ryan Ridley and you have a certifiably bonkers movie on your hands.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Renfield </i>is actually a legacy sequel, or “requel,” to the original 1931 <i>Dracula</i>, which famously starred Bela Lugosi as the blood-sucking Count. The connection is made through expertly-recreated black and white footage, replacing Lugosi with Nicolas Cage, and Dwight Frye (the original Renfield) with the new film’s star, Nicholas Hoult. While <i>Renfield</i> does end up retconning its “predecessor” in terms of characterization and tone (<i>Renfield </i>is an undeniable comedy, and Cage’s Dracula is the very definition of hammy scene-stealing…but what else would one expect when casting Cage as this iconic figure?), the connection itself is a fun twist.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/refield-nicolas-hoult.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="800" height="280" src="https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/refield-nicolas-hoult.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I won’t lie: on paper, <i>Renfield </i>has a lot going for it. It plays with vampire lore and explores the comedic possibilities of its premise very well — but some choices it makes on a path to a predictable ending are downright baffling, and bring down what otherwise could have been a fantastic experience.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nearly a century after coming into Dracula’s employment, Renfield has had enough. He’s realized that his relationship with the Count is toxic and abusive, and he needs to do something about it. He teams up with traffic cop Rebecca Quincy (played by Awkwafina of <i>Crazy Rich Asians </i>and <i>Shang-Chi</i>), who is a similarly frustrating point in her life, to take down a local crime family, led by Bellafrancesca (<i>The Expanse</i>’s Shohreh Aghdashloo) and her immature son Teddy Lobo (a perfectly-cast Ben Schwartz).</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I like Awkwafina — when she’s cast in the right roles. Her character in <i>Renfield </i>seems like it was written for her, but the character itself feels out of place when put into context with the film’s other story elements. The mob storyline is fun at points (almost exclusively when Schwartz is living it up), but it often feels dragged-out, entirely separate from the film’s fantastical storyline, and not in a good way.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nicolas Cage is, as you might expect, the highlight. But he’s so much of a highlight that <i>Renfield </i>feels slow and plodding when he’s not on-screen, even though we know that Nicholas Hoult is a capable performer that is capable of commanding the screen on his own. He’s fantastic as Renfield, but he has the disadvantage of serving Nic Cage both as a character and a performer, even if the latter is unintentional.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://sf.ezoiccdn.com/ezoimgfmt/www.praguereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/renfield-2023-nicolas-cage-nicholas-hoult.jpeg?ezimgfmt=ng%3Awebp%2Fngcb1%2Frs%3Adevice%2Frscb1-2" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="370" src="https://sf.ezoiccdn.com/ezoimgfmt/www.praguereporter.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/renfield-2023-nicolas-cage-nicholas-hoult.jpeg?ezimgfmt=ng%3Awebp%2Fngcb1%2Frs%3Adevice%2Frscb1-2" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Half of <i>Renfield</i> is a fully-rounded, fleshed-out horror/comedy with some solid messaging and really fun (insane) action violence. The other half feels like a first draft, half-baked and neither entertaining nor funny. The two Nic(k)s are phenomenal, which is what I was expecting and hoping would be the case. More silly Universal monster movies, please!</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Renfield is playing now in theaters.</span></i></b></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-58405502342331454982023-04-16T18:40:00.021-04:002023-04-24T10:38:03.954-04:00You’re Not Ready for the Final Season of “Barry” (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">There have been very few times in my life that I have been so floored by a television series that I want to sit with it for a while before going out and telling everybody about how absolutely incredible it is. The only show that has done that more than once (to the best of my knowledge) is HBO’s <i>Barry</i>, which is now in its fourth and final season.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYk3JpAjf173stHqfiix6E5jg7qATfc2ci2H8z_d3TzWsG39ltvxjpf1v5o6EbgN27kP2LFuk6w99_4K305wOkSWWwfe5djs3xTUlxwlz_mKFS8-GCXlPLIjbLN8ELziu-gHu1fukQa5VdL1tQwMnIf89sNYJcC893iSY4xdWjXi5MuscT-SQiXD5/s1920/bill-hader.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYk3JpAjf173stHqfiix6E5jg7qATfc2ci2H8z_d3TzWsG39ltvxjpf1v5o6EbgN27kP2LFuk6w99_4K305wOkSWWwfe5djs3xTUlxwlz_mKFS8-GCXlPLIjbLN8ELziu-gHu1fukQa5VdL1tQwMnIf89sNYJcC893iSY4xdWjXi5MuscT-SQiXD5/w640-h426/bill-hader.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of WarnerMedia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Barry, which premiered in 2018, stars former <i>SNL </i>star Bill Hader as the titular ex-military hitman who struggles with anxiety and focus in the very profession he’s gifted in. After a job goes awry, Barry decides to dedicate his life to acting, choosing to forsake the world of crime in favor of taking a class with washed-up performer Gene Cousineau (<i>Happy Days’ </i>Henry Winkler). Soon after, Barry begins to learn it’s not that easy to quit the world he’s so deeply ingrained himself in, and maintaining a life in both of his chosen worlds is only viable for so long.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Through a complex web of events, Barry has found himself in prison by the beginning of the show’s fourth season, as his relationship with nearly every single other character has been irreversibly changed and, in some instances, destroyed entirely. There’s an air of seriousness and solemnity settling over this season, as every choice that every character has made thus far comes back to haunt them. Maybe it’s the fact that it’s <i>Barry</i>’s final season, and it’s the last chance for bold tonal swings — but maybe it’s because everything that has happened in the show’s first three seasons causes the stakes to feel so real and grounded (and sometimes downright scary), in addition to being even more crucial for the eventual outcome. The words ‘final season’ only add more urgency.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I forgot to mention that technically, <i>Barry </i>is a comedy. There’s drama, and the comedy is almost always insanely bleak, but it’s been a true-blood comedy through and through. Season Four flips the script and prioritizes the drama above all else. Instead of a comedy with somber moments, it’s a drama with funny moments. This is a change that began taking over the series during the last season (which premiered almost exactly a year ago), but it’s even more noticeable now as the quality bar continues to be raised. This is a call <i>Barry </i>is more than capable of answering.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_MBS8-SD-cFveMclk-G6lf5MbiIrm2eKxncQMSmhImFjtc16BaVhBljMTV4wtH-69OlSkCj-lDykmPMJPkBduP6BIeZwLm1u5Mve9NDOJUdP06TucOVUN-yOSvOZL6xbUnQE640mmvDOMYp6y5_1Wm6uvvK0AVohGilK6bN9aUeDu3NcD8cG_zto/s1920/stephen-root.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_MBS8-SD-cFveMclk-G6lf5MbiIrm2eKxncQMSmhImFjtc16BaVhBljMTV4wtH-69OlSkCj-lDykmPMJPkBduP6BIeZwLm1u5Mve9NDOJUdP06TucOVUN-yOSvOZL6xbUnQE640mmvDOMYp6y5_1Wm6uvvK0AVohGilK6bN9aUeDu3NcD8cG_zto/w640-h426/stephen-root.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of WarnerMedia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The writers of <i>Barry </i>know we’re hooked. They know we’re hanging on every line of dialogue, every twist, every turn, and every reveal. The series maintains its excellent continuity, and features astounding supporting performances from Henry Winkler, Sarah Goldberg, Stephen Root and Anthony Carrigan (whose storylines I couldn’t discuss even if I wanted to — the weight of each and every surprise is just too good to give away!). In a show full of big swings, the final season goes places I never expected, bundling our knowledge of the show with our expectations built up over three seasons, and throwing all of it completely out the window.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s a bold statement, but I can confidently say that the final season of <i>Barry </i>is one of the best seasons of television I’ve ever seen, and certainly one of the very best final seasons. With most shows, I’d be worried about their ability to stick the landing, but I would never doubt <i>Barry</i> — especially with Bill Hader doing stunning work both in front of and behind the camera. The show’s spectacular final season is only further proof that he can do no wrong.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahJRG_lZyi_dCDlw61Xmz-SeahLQaZDuoPzx8EpMfRTJVIxogIQdoIybR1aJYnMqnrrcrx9D2EcFGb87enJPs6Spb4ion8EE-q0pbALWBW4WV8H08hyL9xdB79B5TNgw15HopfeGnD-NSFGSkFG9yybN9Yq77uTq3znf9ZKtktOx9G4bGshQwCJKU/s1920/anthony-carrigan-michael-irby_0.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahJRG_lZyi_dCDlw61Xmz-SeahLQaZDuoPzx8EpMfRTJVIxogIQdoIybR1aJYnMqnrrcrx9D2EcFGb87enJPs6Spb4ion8EE-q0pbALWBW4WV8H08hyL9xdB79B5TNgw15HopfeGnD-NSFGSkFG9yybN9Yq77uTq3znf9ZKtktOx9G4bGshQwCJKU/w640-h426/anthony-carrigan-michael-irby_0.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of WarnerMedia</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">The final season of Barry premieres tonight at 10pm on HBO and HBO Max. Seven episodes were screened for this review.</span></i></b></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-5721731906670780602023-04-04T13:10:00.023-04:002023-05-01T18:22:59.498-04:00Disney+ Original “Chang Can Dunk” is What a Kids Movie Should Be (Review)<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whether or not Chang actually </span><i style="font-family: inherit;">can</i><span style="font-family: inherit;"> dunk I will not reveal, but this movie is about what hard work can achieve in the abstract. It’s not about whether or not a miracle will occur, it’s about a boy working the hardest he possibly can to reach his goal. At least ten minutes of the runtime is just dedicated to Chang doing workouts.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/images/pp_disneyplusoriginals_changcandunk_1568_b05e9798.jpeg?region=0,0,2048,878" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="343" data-original-width="800" height="240" src="https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/images/pp_disneyplusoriginals_changcandunk_1568_b05e9798.jpeg?region=0,0,2048,878" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chang is one of the easiest-to-root-for protagonists I’ve seen in a while. Despite the classic “main character gets so overhyped on his success that he forgets to prioritize the people he cares about” trope that I tend to despise, Chang spends the majority of the movie effortlessly making you fall in love with him. He’s passionate, driven, and a little bit dorky about it. He’s articulate about his needs and his feelings, and he’s respectful of others (except for a notable few, but to be fair they are actively bullying him). He also does a fantastic job throughout the film of taking accountability and apologizing when he needs to, and then he follows those apologies up with actions that prove his sincerity.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Another reason why I love this movie, and Chang, so much is the way the romance is handled. Chang and his love interest Kristy are sweet, compatible, and incredibly healthy in their interactions. Kristy makes her wants and expectations very clear and she knows exactly how she deserves to be treated. She and Chang value each other for genuine reasons beyond just “girl is cute” or “boy does sport.” There’s one moment at the start of the film that blew me away. There is a set up for a love triangle, which are always exhausting in movies for tweens, and it results in Chang and Matt (the main antagonist of the film) getting into a public altercation. The next day, Kristy expresses how she found the whole display disrespectful for her (way to stand up for yourself!) and Chang’s response is essentially “I’m sorry. I understand how that put you in an uncomfortable situation. That was super uncool of me and it won’t happen again. I hope I can make it up to you.” Look at how healthy that interaction was! So little drama! Such a great example for young people to see on their screens!</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/03/10/multimedia/chang1-vqgp/chang1-vqgp-videoSixteenByNine3000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="310" src="https://static01.nyt.com/images/2023/03/10/multimedia/chang1-vqgp/chang1-vqgp-videoSixteenByNine3000.jpg" width="550" /></a></div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Look, <i>Chang Can Dunk</i> is a kids movie. It is absolutely not perfect. It has plenty of corny moments and cringy dialogue. But it’s a kids movie with fantastic messaging and role-model characters, and that’s never something I’ll complain about. Chang is a beautiful example of positive masculinity, and I think that is one of the best things a piece of children’s media can do with a main character. In a time where it feels like so much content for kids is just a shitty cash grab, <i>Chang Can Dunk</i> rises above the pack as a movie that really says something worthwhile. It’s super accessible to the current generation, it’s got a lot of fun choices when it comes to directing and editing, and the characters are memorable and incredibly compelling. The representation is natural but not without intention or acknowledgement, the use of social media is imperfect but done well enough to feel believable, and it’s the closest thing I’ve ever seen to <i>Lady Bird</i> for 13-year-old boys. What’s not to love?</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Do I think it’s fantastic? No. But it’s fun and it’s easy to get into and it will be nothing but a positive influence on children who watch it. I’m glad it exists, and I’m glad I took the time to watch it.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i>Chang Can Dunk is streaming on Disney+. This review was written by Davis Mathis.</i></b></p>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4309018495762077275.post-88246077421359462932023-03-27T12:45:00.020-04:002023-03-27T12:46:47.521-04:00The Final Season of “Succession” Arrives with a F***ing Bang (Season 4 Premiere Review)<p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Succession </i>is my latest obsession. For years, I’ve been hearing all sorts of talk around every corner of the internet about how incredible it is, how it outpaces nearly every other HBO original series, and how it elevates every single one of its performers to the next level of their acting careers. In the second week of March, with three weeks until the premiere of the fourth and final season, I decided I would stop missing out. I pressed play, and my perception of what makes a dramatic series succeed irreversibly changed.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5s16RNlggGtGwFc6D1aebhc1OA6rrzxCMSUnKN5vJ7MM7ebGb2h1BC3P7GE17fjhZmBHPUWp_liMLM9U1rcbRcKPNXs6Ysga9yKgrgn_tNUtEk3n2sroTC0oDL3L95rPrsTEGeNaNmRRDHBFscaE41PfyEI4gsmLRckI8EYS2v1t_DM66czEafhKN/s1920/brian-cox.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5s16RNlggGtGwFc6D1aebhc1OA6rrzxCMSUnKN5vJ7MM7ebGb2h1BC3P7GE17fjhZmBHPUWp_liMLM9U1rcbRcKPNXs6Ysga9yKgrgn_tNUtEk3n2sroTC0oDL3L95rPrsTEGeNaNmRRDHBFscaE41PfyEI4gsmLRckI8EYS2v1t_DM66czEafhKN/w640-h426/brian-cox.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Warner Bros</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">On average, I watched two episodes a day, somedays so much as five. I became enthralled with its characters and fascinated with its penchant for playing out its biggest drama off-camera, instead primarily dealing with the way the characters react to these events. It’s something I’ve never seen before, and it’s one of the things that sets <i>Succession </i>apart from the rest in an incredibly unique way.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The final season premiere turned into an event. Even though I had just finished the show-stopping third season two days before, it felt like I had been waiting far longer to see how it would all resolve. And just like that, it’s back to live TV again — no more binging, no more auto-play that would resolve the previous episode’s cliffhanger in an instant. We have to wait a week to see how it all turns out, and that’s part of what makes shows like this work so well. They make you wait, they make you theorize, and they make you excited to see more.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every one of the series’ deliciously awful main characters are back, and they’ve all come to play. The power dynamics within central company Waystar Royco and the central Roy family have shifted many times since the series premiere, as allegiances change and favor flips at the drop of a hat. The Season 3 finale tipped the scales in a manner that perfectly sets up a plethora of avenues for the series to find its end, but as is the case with this show, that conclusion is nigh-impossible to predict accurately. <i>Succession </i>enjoys throwing curveballs, but I appreciate that everything still feels very grounded in reality — the stakes are not <i>Game of Thrones</i>-like in that anybody could die at any time, but because of <i>Succession</i>’s naturalism, it feels even more tense, as the terrible things that happen feel more tangible and likely to happen in real life.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOoW2r7iAp7RxBZq9ryo-b8iLqwH5gFVBRC4H30F9jnZyTzCfWbtxbDC0ed-zC3Syv6rNzNylZM0WjUkmk8IIA4Yg7dXO82ebBJ7ZoQy6_MW6x9szXEF-xsovWAHDIRC2_Q2YodGFbrA_Z-LsYYwliac69UzP1uZoG5U1hilSrqtT9lFHwLlZFkCO/s1920/jeremy-strong-sarah-snook-kieran-culkin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1277" data-original-width="1920" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOoW2r7iAp7RxBZq9ryo-b8iLqwH5gFVBRC4H30F9jnZyTzCfWbtxbDC0ed-zC3Syv6rNzNylZM0WjUkmk8IIA4Yg7dXO82ebBJ7ZoQy6_MW6x9szXEF-xsovWAHDIRC2_Q2YodGFbrA_Z-LsYYwliac69UzP1uZoG5U1hilSrqtT9lFHwLlZFkCO/w640-h426/jeremy-strong-sarah-snook-kieran-culkin.jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Warner Bros</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Everything that has contributed to the show’s success is returning in full force, especially the brilliant writing that has contributed endlessly quotable lines over the course of the show’s run. The best quips in the fourth season premiere belong to Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin), as they so very often do — and now, as Roman is spending his time with an almost entirely separate set of characters from the previous season, there’s plenty of untapped potential that I expect the series to explore in the remaining nine episodes.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The marriage between Tom Wambsgans (Matthew Macfadyen) and Siobhan Roy (Sarah Snook) is put on full blast, after seasons’ worth of strain and deterioration. Snook and Macfadyen, fantastic scene partners who interestingly only share the screen half the time — despite their characters being married — are giving the performance of a lifetime. I hope Snook is properly lauded at this year’s Emmys season; Siobhan (known colloquially as Shiv) has always been one of the show’s more fascinating characters, and it looks like her arc this season will be as compelling as ever. And I can’t discuss the cast without mentioning Brian Cox, who brings a new ferocity to the now-iconic role of Logan Roy, who comes into direct conflict with the combined front of his three youngest children for the very first time in Season 4.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKwd3gY2Zcmj09CJ60pT01-6hBA-w2rKfmZG0LgHmJyjlqf5UfK6MuRCFrm8n-rTddke3l4WysNBocxK-vnH7XnPUVkoet6jKDxviB0c1pYNMw3mg1jJa-d0PMBTY1Ny9HBsVpMDNV-zV7_3dMoGvSbImHhrZt6JOkyCtiY19YlcHIS5sq0mb3ETW/s1920/brian-cox-matthew-macfadyen_0%20(1).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1542" data-original-width="1920" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKwd3gY2Zcmj09CJ60pT01-6hBA-w2rKfmZG0LgHmJyjlqf5UfK6MuRCFrm8n-rTddke3l4WysNBocxK-vnH7XnPUVkoet6jKDxviB0c1pYNMw3mg1jJa-d0PMBTY1Ny9HBsVpMDNV-zV7_3dMoGvSbImHhrZt6JOkyCtiY19YlcHIS5sq0mb3ETW/w640-h514/brian-cox-matthew-macfadyen_0%20(1).jpg" width="550" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Image courtesy of Warner Bros</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I maintain that this series would be nothing without its excellently-built characters, and their relationships once again take center stage as the core of the drama. The series takes full advantage of everything that came before, in-keeping with its remarkably meticulous sense of continuity. As consistently incredible as it is, the highlight of the series is, as it has always been, the juxtaposition of ridiculous minor storylines with hardcore real-world brutalities of business. There are many ways <i>Succession </i>could end, but I think it’s best not to try and anticipate it. This is a show that functions best with surprise, and the fact that it’s ending on its own terms is a rare thing that should not be taken lightly. There are undoubtedly a wealth of surprises yet to come, and if the past three seasons are any indication, <i>Succession</i>’s final sprint will surely shock and awe.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><b><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">New episodes of Succession air Sundays on HBO and HBO Max at 9pm.</span></i></b></p><p class="p3" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 15px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><i></i></b><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out the latest episode of <i>Runtime, Babe</i>, where Rowan and Davis discuss the series in the lead-up to the fourth season!</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay *; encrypted-media *; fullscreen *; clipboard-write" frameborder="0" height="175" sandbox="allow-forms allow-popups allow-same-origin allow-scripts allow-storage-access-by-user-activation allow-top-navigation-by-user-activation" src="https://embed.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/6-the-state-of-succession/id1545531707?i=1000605898512" style="border-radius: 10px; max-width: 660px; overflow: hidden; width: 100%;"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Don<span style="background-color: white; color: #292f36; text-align: left;">’</span>t forget to subscribe to the podcast and give us a rating <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/runtime-babe/id1545531707" target="_blank">on Apple Podcasts</a>!</div>Rowan Woodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14788833529581191423noreply@blogger.com0