Category: 2024-2025

“Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1” (2024) starring Kevin Costner, Sienna Miller, & Sam Worthington

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The story of a nation unsettled. -Tagline

Hey y’all, can you believe it’s already SEPT (Fall)? Also, can y’all believe I wasted 3+ hrs. watching this Western (streaming on Max)!? It took me 2 nights to get through it last wk; I think this could be a cure for insomnia. As on viewer put it so clearly: “It felt like it belonged on TV as a miniseries in the late ’90s.” Actor/director/co-writer Kevin Costner reportedly spent a LOT of his own money to make this $100M movie. There are 2 more chapters being made; it’s NOT certain that those will get theatrical releases. I have to admit that I find Costner to be a limited actor (though I liked No Way Out and Bull Durham); I’ve also never seen his recent Paramount+ series- Yellowstone.

There a 3 or 4 separate groups (so far) that we meet in this sprawling/epic mess. The settings are several Western states in the time period of 1861-1865. The opening act is quite tense/exciting (I have to admit); Costner’s teen son (Hayes) plays a role. The 1st set of characters we meet incl. a mother, Frances Kittridge (Sienna Miller), her teen daughter Elizabeth (Georgia MacPhail), and a regiment of Union Army officers lead by Lt. Trent Gephart (Sam Worthington). I know what y’all are thinking: whoa, Worthington works outside of the Avatar franchise! The 2nd group are an Apache tribe going through division/conflict; 2 sons of a chief have differing views on how to deal w/ the White settlers (who are growing w/ each day). The 3rd grp incl. a horse trader, Hayes Ellison (Costner); he doesn’t ride into the story until 1 hr. goes by. He comes to a small mining town and meets a prostitute, Marigold (Abbey Lee), who is taking care of the baby of Ellen Harvey (Jenna Malone), while she goes on some business w/ her hubby (Michael Angarano). The 4th grp. is a wagon train heading to the (fictional) town of Horizon; these settlers are lead by Matthew Van Weyden (Luke Wilson). No, that is NOT a joke- they expect us to believe that Wilson belongs in a historical piece! There are 2 British/snobby/clueless marrieds who are objects of humor.

There are maybe 3 scenes which carry some interest, thanks to Danny Huston (a Union general), Michael Rooker (a Union officer), and Jamie Campbell Bower (a gunslinger/son of a crime family). Bower also the only actor who looks like he’s having fun w/ his baddie role. Huston seems to be a fan of Westerns; he recently played the mayor in The Dead Don’t Hurt (2023). Most of the dialogue here is SO cliched that it’d make a HS English teacher cringe. There is little to no character development, so we end up caring nothing re: the plight of these folks. Worst of all is the the editing; it is disjointed, so creates confusion in the audience! The music is TOO grand in scale for such a lame movie.

[1] Sorry, Mr. Costner, I cannot recall seeing a more disjointed 3-hr saga in my life. There’s no opportunity for character development or story continuity, and to be able to keep track of where all the characters are (some go missing without explanation) nope… You might need a spreadsheet to keep track.

[2] The US Army parts felt a little too modern. The use of the word “indigenous” just did not sound right for that time. Also we have never been shown US Army compassion from that time period before.

The playful addition of African Americans seems very modern as well. No doubt they were there, but living harmoniously with whites is hard to believe.

[3] I was particularly irritated by the inappropriate loud glorious/triumphant music played during the Indian village massacre and several more minute at the end. It really upset me they would play such music over the top of the horrific depictions of violence against innocent women and children. It was like they were celebrating it.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“The Dead Don’t Hurt” (2023) starring Vicky Krieps, Viggo Mortensen, Solly McLeod, Garret Dillahunt, & Danny Huston

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The Dead Don’t Hurt is a portrait of a passionate woman determined to stand up for herself in an unforgiving world dominated by ruthless men. -Excerpt from synopsis from Shout! Studios

I saw an online ad for this feminist Western drama recently; it was written/directed by Viggo Mortensen. He also composed the musical score- wow, talk about wearing many hats! Though this story is set in the 1860s (Civil War era), it asks Qs that men and women are facing today. At the center is this issue: How does one navigate a romantic relationship w/o losing one’s own personality and independence? To add weight here, the leads are already mature (middle-aged) and have lived according to their own wishes for some time. In an NPR interview, Mortensen (who plays Holger Olsen) said that Vivienne Le Coudy (Vicky Krieps) is partly based on his (French-Canadian) mother: “As w/ her time, she was a mother and a housewife. But she was not going to let anyone tell her how to think.”

Mortensen did NOT intend to act in the film, BUT “late in the game,” the actor who’d originally been cast left to work on a different project. Krieps (originally from Luxembourg; based in Berlin) suggested he take the role himself. Olsen was then aged up and made Danish (like his own father). The war which Olsen fought in was presumably the First Schleswig War (1848-1851) in which Denmark fought the German Federation for control of the regions of Schleswig-Holstein; Denmark was the winner. As he noted on The Late Show, the knight that appears in young Vivienne’s dreams carries a familiar sword: Anduril- Aragorn’s sword from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003).

The film has some beautiful landscapes/scenery; it was shot in Vancouver, British Columbia and Mexico (w/ a mostly Mexican crew). Four languages are heard: English, French, Spanish and Danish; in some scenes, languages are mixed w/in the same line of dialogue. Y’all immigrants and 1st gen Americans will relate to that! The cast is international: in San Fran, we see “old money” gentleman Lewis Cartwright (Colin Morgan: Irish); in the Western town, Mr. Jeffries (Garret Dillahunt: American) is the powerful businessman; his son Weston (w/ a strong resemblance to Dillahunt- Solly MacLeod) is a newcomer from Scotland seen in S1 of House of the Dragon); and Mayor Schiller (Danny Huston: American/son of John Huston). These men are on the taller side (close to/over 6 ft.) Fans of Deadwood (HBO) will recognize two characters played by W. Earl Brown and Ray McKinnon.

I thought that there was great (natural) chemistry btwn Mortensen and Krieps; you really buy them as a couple! Krieps is slim and tall (5’9″), so well-matched physically w/ Mortensen. The film takes time to get going w/ its plot; we get to know the characters. There are time jumps, BUT I didn’t think those posed any problem. The main issue is its pacing; otherwise, I was impressed w/ the film as a whole. I look forward to seeing more of Mortensen’s directing!

Spoiler-Free Reviews: Summer 2024

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Civil War

Don’t watch it- to be brief! I saw this (on VOD) b/c I loved writer/director Alex Garland’s earlier movie- Ex Machina. Woo boy, it this a (disappointing) departure! The dialogue (aside from one tense/interesting scene) is predictable, the characters (played by Kirsten Dunst, Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, etc.) have V little development, and there is almost no plot. The setting is a dystopian future, though NOT too far from our present. Garland is a Brit, so perhaps doesn’t have the broadest view of the US and its politics; I think he was given TOO much freedom w/ this movie.

Inside Out 2

This is a good time for ALL ages; I think kids who are 10+ would understand the story (centered on the changes that become when we enter our teens). I went to see this sequel w/ a handful of gal pals (incl. a therapist/former social worker) at Alamo Drafthouse (Arlington). We saw a LOT of parents w/ elementary school age kids. Some of my friend’s clients related to it, so she was eager to see it also. There are a few new voice talents, incl. Maya Hawke (who plays Anxiety).

A Quiet Place: Day One

I went to see this at my local theater during 2nd wk it was out. I’m a fan of the 1st movie in this cinematic universe; the 2nd one wasn’t V memorable. Here, we see that Lupita N’yongo is FAB (as some of y’all already know); this sequel will also make you appreciate (British up-and-comer) Joseph Quinn. The actor (who burst onto the scene in Stranger Things) is having quite the year; he’ll be seen as an emperor in Gladiator II and is currently filming Marvel’s Fantastic Four. There is NOT much dialogue after the 1st act, BUT the actors do a LOT w/ their eyes and facial expressions. Also, cat owners will be pleased by the (fine) feline acting!

Twisters

Do you like Glen Powell and/or (another British up-and-comer) Daisy Edgar-Jones? Were you a fan of the (original) movie- Twister– and enjoy SFX? Then, I recommend this movie to you. Otherwise, I don’t think you’ll care too much. Most of the characters (many who are fresh faces) are drawn w/ a broad brush. Some commented that Anthony Ramos’ hairstyle and (toned down) charisma didn’t work for them, though they liked his previous work. The new Superman actor, David Corenswet, plays a one-note character. The directing (by Lee Isaac Chung) is quite good; this will put the (indie) Korean-American veteran director in the mainstream.

“Challengers” (2024) starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, & Mike Faist

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SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Challengers.

From visionary filmmaker Luca Guadagnino, “Challengers” stars Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, a former tennis prodigy turned coach and a force of nature who makes no apologies for her game on and off the court. Married to a champion on a losing streak (Mike Faist – “West Side Story”), Tashi’s strategy for her husband’s redemption takes a surprising turn when he must face off against the washed-up Patrick (Josh O’Connor – “The Crown”) – his former best friend and Tashi’s former boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, Tashi must ask herself, what will it cost to win? -Synopsis (MGM)

Tashi: You don’t know what tennis is.

Patrick: What is it?

Tashi: It’s a relationship.

Patrick: Is that what you and Anna Mueller had today?

Tashi: It is, actually. For about fifteen seconds there, we were actually playing tennis. And we understood each other completely. So did everyone watching. It’s like we were in love. Or like we didn’t exist. We went somewhere really beautiful together.

Grab a snack (banana, breakfast sandwich, or churros) and watch this film from Italian director Luca Guadagnino and 1st time screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes (a playwright/hubby of Celine Song)! Josh O’Connor recently explained that Patrick taking a bite of Art’s churro was unscripted; he was starving (it was his 1st time eating churros). This movie was completed in April of 2023, but was delayed until April 26, 2024 due to the SAG-AFTRA strike. There are time jumps, BUT I didn’t find them hard to follow; the characters age from 18 to 32. While the two men are in love w/ Tashi, she’s more in love w/ tennis! After her injury in college shatters her dreams, she lives vicariously through Art.

Zendaya (who is also an EP) spent 3 mos. working w/ Brad Gilbert (former coach to Andre Agassi). On a break w/ family in Ohio, Faist decided to take tennis lessons for 4 wks. (before officially starting work). The trio had 3 wks. to rehearse in Boston w/ their director (V rare for today); this also helped create chemistry. Each actor worked out V seriously (as tennis players are quite fit athletes); they also had tennis doubles. The majority of the balls hit are CGI, as it was too difficult to achieve the cinematic style using real balls. You may wonder: Is that sweat (prominent in the movie) all real? According to O’Connor, the sweat on Faist was all his (as he worked out hardest on/off the court).

Art: Where does your swagger come from? I mean, you come in here swinging your dick around like I’m suppose to be afraid of it, but… Do you realize how embarrassing is that you are here right now?

Patrick: Not quite as embarrassing as you being here.

Art: I’m just stopping by, man. This is where you live.

Wow, what a burn (above) from Art! In the sauna scene before the (low stakes) Challenger event, Art gets the (rare) upper hand on Patrick. Though I thought all three co-leads did a FAB job, my fave was Patrick (the bad boy), and NOT just b/c of the curly/dark hair and amazing physique. Patrick is charming, self-deprecating, and (maybe) a better player than Art. However, Art is V disciplined w/ the way he lives his life; he lets Tashi steer his career. Back in the dorm room breakup scene btwn Tashi and Patrick, he exclaims: “I’m your peer!” So, he’s NOT the type of man who’s easy to influence/control. I’ve seen some of O’Connor’s movies/shows; he transforms himself for each role!

This feels/looks like a V modern film; it’s playful, sexy, and- sometimes- funny. There is V little nudity, BUT this movie is hot (one viewer was reminded of erotic thrillers)! Zendaya has a “no nudity” clause in all of her contracts. The score of this film (composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) is V effective, it contributes to make viewers tense (as if watching a thriller). Even though I’m NOT into this style of music (electronic), it really fit here!

[1] Wow, “Challengers” is the visual definition of a modern film. The rhythm of the scenes, the change of pace, the editing, the use of the score, the match camera, the variation of the time line. All of this merges into essentially two core concepts: Energy and aesthetics.

[2] Exhilarating. Energetic. Excellent.

Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers” is a riveting, pulse-pounding, thrilling sports romance-drama that blew my mind. I loved, loved, LOVED “Challengers” – didn’t know what to expect, and walked out of the theater totally buzzing. It’s smart and sophisticated while still poppy and propulsive.

[3] …as usual, Guadagnino’s direction is a tour de force of exciting choices that push his actors to the limits of expression, presented to us against the backdrop of visually arresting aesthetics. The standout performances are definitely those of Zendaya and Josh O’Connor, but all three protagonists have an intense, seductive chemistry with one another that reads as so authentic, so fervent, so genuine, that the love scenes (which really only extend to kissing) caught me off guard.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Dune: Part Two” (2024) starring Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Austin Butler, & Florence Pugh

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SPOILER ALERT: Don’t read this post if you haven’t seen, or don’t want to know, details from the movie Dune: Part Two.

Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet) unites w/ Chani (Zendaya) and the Fremen while on a warpath of revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice btwn the love of his life and the fate of the known universe, he endeavors to prevent a terrible future only he can foresee. -Synopsis (WB)

Are y’all ready for sand, flowing capes, intricate headgear, and swords!? I saw this movie during the 2nd week of its release (w/ a good-sized crowd at AFI). I didn’t see it in IMAX; I was still impressed w/ the visuals and the music. I enjoyed it, as I did w/ the 1st part released in the pandemic (streamed on MAX). A LOT more happens here; the story (which picks up the moment after the end of the 1st movie) becomes more expansive. Paul has grown-up more; he’s learning new skills, adapting to the new environment, and working to fit in w/ the Fremen leadership, esp. Stilgar (Javier Bardem), who some viewers dubbed Paul’s “hype man.” Stilgar is the 1st one to believe in Paul as “the prophet.” In a pivotal scene, we see Paul take on the name “Muad’Dib” (desert mouse). Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) gains power of her own and gets much more to do; I was eager for her scenes. Paul and Chani admire and respect each other; they fall in love; I found it to be done in a quiet and gentle manner.

I’m a strong believer that when it’s not in the movie, it’s dead. I kill darlings, and it’s painful for me. Sometimes I remove shots and I say, “I cannot believe I’m cutting this out.” I feel like a samurai opening my gut. It’s painful, so I cannot go back after that and create a Frankenstein and try to reanimate things that I killed. It’s too painful. When it’s dead, it’s dead, and it’s dead for a reason. But yes, it is a painful project, but it is my job. The movie prevails. I’m very, I think, severe in the editing room. I’m not thinking about my ego, I’m thinking about the movie. -Denis Villeneuve, explaining that there would be no deleted scenes released

Contrary to the usual practice, Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two (2024) were NOT filmed back-to-back, and the studio’s approval of the 2nd film very much hinged on the success of the 1st, which was complicated by a fixed release date and the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, Denis Villeneuve (director) said that production company (Legendary Pictures) loved the 1st film, so was “ready to go to war to make the second one.” The sequel was officially greenlit on October 26th, 2021, 4 days after Dune (2021) had its US release. The language of the Fremen is named Chakobsa in Frank Herbert’s novels, which derives from IRL Arabic; it also contains some French, Greek, Romani, and Slavic (w/ heavy alterations of Hebrew and Sanskrit). The filmmakers often chose desert locations based on specific sand dunes having a certain shape that Villeneuve wanted, or the perfect sun orientation that Greig Fraser (cinematographer) needed. The crew had to walk in tight corridors, so NOT to disturb the sand w/ footprints before filming. Afterwards, a special “sand team” would sweep the sands to erase the prints for the next morning.

I’ve definitely in the past, w/ Elvis (2022), explored living w/in that world for 3 yrs and that being the only thing that I think about day and night. With Feyd, I knew that that would be unhealthy for my family and friends… So I made a conscious decision to have a boundary. It allowed for more freedom between action and cut b/c I knew I was going to protect everybody else outside of the context of what we were doing. That’s not to say that it doesn’t bleed into your life. But I knew that I wasn’t going to do anything dangerous outside of that boundary, and in a way that allowed me to go deeper. -Austin Butler

When the camera was on, it was like you were possessed. When the camera was off, you were still maybe 25 or 30% Feyd. Just enough to still be present and focus but removed enough that you didn’t kill anybody on set. -Denis Villeneuve

There are several new characters to meet; perhaps the most interesting is Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler), the young nephew to Baron Harkkonen (Stellan Skaarsgard). Butler put on 25 lbs. (on his typically slim/6′ frame) to play a warrior w/ a lust for blood. He has a liaison w/ the cool/calculating Lady Margot Fenring (Lea Seydoux); this was planned by Bene Gesserit- Mother Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling). In one scene, Feyd-Rautha kisses his uncle (as a show of loyalty); this was improvised by Butler! Beast Rabban (Dave Bautista) is jealous of his cousin; they have an antagonistic relationship. Fraser suggested the idea to shoot the scenes in Giedi Prime (the Harkonnen planet) w/ infrared cameras to give the skin a translucent texture. Feyd-Rautha’s flight is seen in B&W, induced by a black sun that Giedi Prime orbits around.

Some were surprised to see that Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh) didn’t have a meaty role; we’ll see much more of her in the 3rd installment. As I’ve noted before, I’m a fan of Pugh; she has a quiet (internal) role here. The Emperor (and Irulan’s father) is played by stage/screen veteran Christopher Walken; some viewers thought that he wasn’t quite right for this part. Many were surprised to see Anya Taylor Joy on the red carpet during the premiere; she wore a gauzy white gown w/ a head covering. She she has a short (yet pivotal) cameo; more will be done w/ her character (Alia) in the future.

Paul is more of a “gray” character (anti-hero); maybe y’all book readers already knew this. The scene where he rides the huge sandworm was pretty cool! Instead of heeding Chani’s warning, Paul drinks “the water of life.” This desert mouse can roar (for sure), and isn’t as humble as he pretended, as we see in the last act. Of course, I was a BIT shocked when Paul chose the princess for marriage (a stranger, yet politically advantageous) over Chani (who doesn’t believe in the prophecy, seeing him just as a man)!