Month: July 2023

Reviews of Two Modern Thrillers: “The Voyeurs” (2021) & “Sanctuary” (2022)

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The Voyeurs (2021) starring Sydney Sweeney, Justice Smith, Ben Hardy, & Natasha Liu Bordizzo

Pippa {Sydney Sweeney) and Thomas (Justice Smith) move into their dream apt [in Montreal, Quebec]. They notice that their windows look directly into the apt opposite- inviting them to witness the volatile relationship of the attractive couple across the street. But when they attempt to anonymously intercede in their lives, they unwittingly set in motion a chain of events that will lead to disaster.

Have y’all seen any of the Amazon original content? I recently saw one ep of the (V pricy) spy series Citadel; it was mainly mindless action. I have low tolerance for Priyanka Chopra (who was huge in Bollywood some yrs. ago). Richard Madden is wasted; maybe he needs a new agent (as he has been getting stuck in action/superhero roles). As for The Rings of Power, those are hrs. I’ll never get back; even the CGI and action looked unimpressive! However, I had (some) hopes for this erotic thriller after hearing an interview w/ the director (Michael Mohan) on the Fatal Attractions pod.

The setting is urban; the production design is sleek, clean, and modern. All of the actors are young, fit, and attractive; they dress, act, and speak like today. Pippa (an optometrist) and Thomas (a musician who now composes for commercials) have lost the spark in their relationship after a few yrs. together. They joke around a LOT and act more like besties than lovers. You’ll be reminded somewhat of Hitchcock’s Rear Window, as they get TOO interested in their (sexy/dramatic) neighbors- a hunky fashion photographer named Seb (Hardy) and his elegant wife- Julia (Liu Bordizzo). After some time, we see problematic elements in these strangers’ marriage. Spying on them is no longer fun for Thomas (who was the most sympathetic character), though Pippa gets more obsessed (after meeting Julia at her eyeglass store). In the last act, the movie goes off the rails (you can see for yourself)! There are explicit scenes and nudity; this could put off some sensitive viewers. Sadly, the plot drives the story, NOT the characters (who needed to be developed more). The running time (nearly 2 hrs) felt TOO long.

[1] The story gets preposterous at the end, I feel like it had one too many twists, literally just one less at the end and it’ll be fine by me. […]

As a whole, feels like it was stuck in-between two minds, whether to make it an erotica or not.

[2] I liked the overall tone, aesthetics, cast, acting, concept… But the ending was too much. The unreal twists have kind of broken the spell for me. I’d love to see this movie with a simpler more realistic third act.

[3] I really think that the twists and turns that come after were put in as an afterthought when the director realised nobody was going to buy what he had sold up to that point.

He should have just made an erotic thriller. […] The attempts at seriousness or social commentary come to nothing, and in the final act, are totally abandoned.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Sanctuary (2022) starring Christopher Abbott & Margaret Qualley

Follows a dominatrix and Hal, her wealthy client, and the disaster that ensues when Hal tries to end their relationship. -Synopsis

This indie film is available for rent on Amazon Prime; I learned about it from TIFF vids on YT. I had high hopes here, BUT it failed to impress me. It’s hard to care about the two characters. We keep wondering IF Hal (Abbott) and Rebecca (Qualley- daughter of Andie McDowell) are just playing a game or if they could be in love. One reviewer commented that it looks like Film School 101. The movie was filmed over 18 days in one location (an elegant hotel room). The dialogue is (sadly) NOT strong and some of the directorial choices didn’t make sense. Hal’s daddy issues are V obvious. If you’ve seen HBO’s comedy Girls, you know that Abbott (who mainly works in theater and indies) is a pretty good actor (who can convey vulnerability). Both actors throw themselves into the story. There is no nudity here (and it lacked heat/sexual chemistry); there are strong words (insults) tossed about that may be offensive to some viewers. The ending was unexpected and ineffective!

I think the movie is about performance in so many ways. There are so many lines in the movie where characters say, “Say the words that I told you to say, the words don’t matter,” or, “I wrote the scenes, all you did was say the words, this is the question that you’re supposed to ask me next, I want you to stick to my script.” It’s funny because when I was developing the script with Micah Bloomberg, there was never any conversation where we were like, “Oh, this is about filmmaking or acting!” That never came up, but in retrospect, gosh, that is all over the story. -Zachary Wigon, director

[1] It’s an up and down ride of domination and submission, game or no game. Freedom or going with the narratives you’re assigned in life.

It’s also a love story of sorts, maybe not the healthiest, but that’s how it goes sometimes in life.

[2] Margaret Qualley is the indisputable show stealer here… […]

However, the film failed to create a similar impression.

And that’s mainly because the writing, the narration, it all felt too obtrusive, too pretentious.

[3] Two good performances by Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott weren’t enough to save me from this bloated talkfest that I felt just became more repetitive and unbelievable as it progressed. […]

It’s hard for me to surmise that all this photographed dialogue would be any more effective had the film have been shaped as a play; instead, I think “Sanctuary” would have had more impact as a twenty-minute short rather than increasingly struggling to stay on its feet for a full 96 minutes.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Ant-Man” (2015) & “Ant-Man & The Wasp” (2018)

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Ant-Man (2015) starring Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, & Corey Stoll, & Evangeline Lilly

Armed with a super-suit with the astonishing ability to shrink in scale but increase in strength, cat burglar Scott Lang must embrace his inner hero and help his mentor, Dr. Hank Pym, pull off a plan that will save the world.

I’m sure that some of y’all regular readers are surprised that I watch (a few) Marvel movies- LOL! In recent yrs, I’ve liked Doctor Strange and Black Panther (both of which I saw in theaters); I felt that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (watched on streaming) was uneven (will do a review later). I have to admit, I would NOT have checked this out if charming/likeable Paul Rudd (Scott Lang) and Corey Stoll (Darren Cross- the main baddie) weren’t in prominent roles. I wanted Darren to have a BIT more character development; he does a good job at being a villain. The OG Ant Man is Dr. Hank Pym (Michael Douglas); I was a BIT surprised to see him (after many yrs). In the opening scene, VFX are used to make Douglas and Martin Donovan (who plays his rival) look younger. Scott’s trio of (diverse/formerly criminal) pals) add to the humor: Luis (Michael Pena), Kurt (David Dastmalchian), and Dave (rapper T.I. Harris). Scott’s young daughter, Cassie (Abby Ryder Fortson), is cute, bright, and a natural actor; she has great chemistry w/ her on-screen dad. Scott wants to better himself for his child, which is V touching and something which many parents/caretakers can relate to. I liked the directing style, action scenes, and special effects (esp. when the shrinking tech was used). The (unnecessary) kiss btwn Scott and Hope Van Dyne (Evangeline Lilly) at the end didn’t work; I think they should’ve stayed (platonic) friends. Yeah, we see that Rudd looks FAB (in the shirtless scene), BUT Scott and Hope don’t have romantic chemistry. You can watch this movie w/ your fam and have fun!

Ant-Man and The Wasp (2018) starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, & Michael Pena

In the sequel, we get most of the cast back, and few more are added (incl. some surprises). However, it didn’t do anything much different w/ regards to style from the 1st movie. Scott (confined to house arrest at the opener) has a great relationship w/ Cassie, ex-wife Maggie (Judy Greer), and her cop bf- Paxton (Bobby Cannavale). The Wasp suit (worn by Hope) is even more advanced than the one we 1st saw on Scott; it was originally worn by her mom, Janet (Michelle Pfeiffer), who is thought to have died on a mission. I was glad to see that Pfeiffer is back on the big screen! As a protective dad, Hank is V reluctant to have Hope wear this suit; their relationship was complicated/strained over the yrs. Here we have new baddies (who aren’t as scary or interesting as Darren): a mysterious/disappearing woman- Ava (Hannah John-Kamen)- and a Southern criminal businessman- Sonny Burch (Walton Goggins)- w/ a crew of (diverse) henchmen. We also meet a prof- Dr. Bill Foster (Laurence Fishburne)- a former associate of Hank’s; I wanted to know more about him. I wasn’t as impressed here; this movie is NOT as memorable as the original and the baddies aren’t that intimidating. Also, there are a few slow scenes (which could’ve been cut) involving Scott’s pals (w/ whom he now runs a security business). Most of the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) movies need better editing, from what I’ve seen and heard (from entertainment critics I follow).

Mature Women/Mature Dramas: “Fleishman is in Trouble” (Hulu), “Dead Ringers” (Amazon Prime), & “The Diplomat” (Netflix)

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Fleishman is in Trouble (2022) starring Jesse Eisenberg, Claire Danes, Lizzy Caplan, & Adam Brody

“Fleishman Is in Trouble” follows recently-separated surgeon Toby Fleishman as he enters the world of app-based dating and finds more success than he ever had the last time he was single. When his ex-wife Rachel disappears, he’s left with their kids and no hint of where she is or whether she plans to return. Balancing parenting, friends, a long-awaited promotion at the hospital, and all the eligible women Manhattan has to offer, he realizes that he’ll never be able to figure out what happened to Rachel until he can more honestly examine what happened to their marriage. Libby is Toby’s long-time friend and the narrator. -Synopsis (The Hollywood Reporter)

During a JAN 2023 interview w/ Tonya Mosley on NPR’s Fresh Air, Taffy Brodesser-Akner (a 1st time showrunner/creator) confirmed that many of the main cast were chosen at least partly b/c they’d been well-known as teens and were now middle-aged: “It was so intentional. It was–you know, there was this idea that these actors were too young to play these roles. […] But most of all . . . if I don’t, as a 40-year-old, yet understand what is happening to me in my life, the idea that Jesse Eisenberg–yes, from The Squid And The Whale, yes, from The Social Network–that it’s happening to him, too, that it’s happening to Claire Danes from My So-Called Life, that it’s happening to–oh, my gosh–to Adam Brody [from The O.C.], to Lizzy Caplan [from Mean Girls], to Josh Radnor–all these people that we knew so well as very, very young people. It hits home for me so much to say, oh, my God, this is a force you cannot fight–if you’re lucky. If you’re lucky and you get to live, this is a force that you won’t be able to fight. We’re all going to get old.”

At first, you think this show (a limited series w/ 8 eps) is all about Toby: his (newly) single life, job as a doc, and parenting 2 (adorable) kids. However, after 3 eps, the show dives deep into th the lives of his old pals, Seth (Brody) and Libby (Caplan), then ex-wife Rachel (Danes). This is a show centered on mature, intelligent, successful, and thoughtful women (perhaps reminding us of a gal pal or fam IRL). Libby is happily married to a loving/supportive hubby; she recently became a SAHM (stay at home mom), BUT this role leaves her dissatisfied. Rachel is NOT the villain that Toby paints her as in the early eps; she’s a V complicated woman who has suffered trauma. Danes is known for her ability to access (V strong) emotions in her acting; she continues to impress here. As one viewer wrote: “It is thought provoking and rich on several levels. Its main achievement is to get the viewer to sympathize with then later become cold towards certain characters. The subjectivity of perception is examined. I was reminded how quick we are to judge.” Other viewers noted being surprised (in good ways). There are moments that are just cringe-y, emotional, and/or funny (often coming off as too real). Though these are upper middle-class/ Jewish ppl living in NYC (and nearby ‘burbs), most of their struggles are universal. If you’re single (over 35), you may relate to Seth; he’s in finance (like many in NYC), extroverted, and dates often; he’s still hoping for a deep connection w/ a woman.

Dead Ringers (2023) starring Rachel Weisz

The Mantle twins, identical from head to toe, are on a mission to change the way women give birth. -Synopsis

Warning: This show is NOT for more “sensitive” viewers who generally avoid “body horror” (incl. blood), dysfunctional relationships, and dark themes. Are you a fan of the 1988 David Cronenberg film Dead Ringers? Then, you may want to check out this show (6 eps; limited series). I don’t think I’ve seen anything like this before; it was tough to watch sometimes! The Mantels are NYC-based OBGYNs on the cutting edge of their profession; their dream is to have a birthing clinic where pregnant women (of all incomes/backgrounds) can go to deliver their babies. Elliott and Beverly (Brits) are played by a woman (Weisz in a dual role); we know she can handle any type of role. Weisz explained that she’d shoot a scene as Elliot 1st, opposite scene partner/stand-in (Kitty Hawthorne- recently graduated from RADA), before heading back into hair/makeup to transform into Beverly. Then Weisz (who didn’t attend acting school) would act out the same scene w/ an earpiece in place (so she could hear her own lines). There are strong supporting performances; I was esp. impressed w/ Jennifer Ehle (who also played a key role in She Said) as a tough/uber-wealthy/businesswoman interested in investing in the clinic. The show is smart, atmospheric, and is centered on a (real-world issue)- maternal child mortality. However, there is a TOO much going; some scenes may be confusing (even if paying close attn) and a few characters aren’t well-developed. I wasn’t a fan of the (dark) lighting/filters used in certain scenes. Women (of diverse backgrounds) are prominent in front of and behind the camera. This is an ambitious endeavor, BUT certainly NOT for everyone!

The Diplomat (2023) starring Keri Russell & Rufus Sewell

In the midst of an international crisis, Kate Wyler, a career diplomat, lands in a high-profile job for which she is not suited, with tectonic implications for her marriage and her political future. -Synopsis

Are you a fan of The West Wing, Veep and/or political shows? Then this is the series (9 eps) for you! The showrunner (Debora Cain) worked on The West Wing earlier in her career. We are in a time when both the man and the woman in a relationship are in high-status/high-paying careers. Kate (Keri Russell- worked w/ Adam Driver on Bdwy in 2019) and Hal Wyler (Rufus Sewell) are an attractive/smart/mature “power couple” in diplomacy. They met on the job many years ago, BUT are now serious re: divorce (though keeping it quiet). These actors have great chemistry and play both comedy and drama well. Sewell (who still looks handsome) can do an American accent nicely; he’s perhaps best known for British period dramas. Russell and David Gyasi (who plays British Foreign Sect. Austin Dennison) also have great chemistry; we wonder what could happen when they have to work closely together. I think Gyasi (who in his mannerisms reminded me of Sidney Poitier) has a bright future ahead! Rory Kinnear (who plays Prime Minister Nicol Trowbridge) is also V interesting to watch; you never know what he’ll say. This show is intelligent, well-written, and easy to binge. I can’t wait for Season 2!