Tag: Movies

Movie reviews

“Juror #2” (2024) starring Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Kiefer Sutherland, & Zoey Deutch

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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 Juror #2 (streaming on HBO MAX).

While serving as a juror in a high-profile murder trial, a family man finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma, one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict or free the wrong killer. -Synopsis

In Savannah, GA, Justin Kemp (British up-and-coming actor Nicholas Hoult) is a writer at a lifestyle mag who is called in for jury duty. He tries to get out of it, explaining to the judge (Amy Aquino) that his wife- Allison (Zoey Deutch)- is in the 3rd trimester of her pregnancy. The judge isn’t moved, noting that this won’t take more time than his (9-5) job. The case is the murder of a young woman, Kendall Carter (Francesca Eastwood); the defendant is her on-again/off again bf- James Sythe (Gabriel Basso). The prosecutor, Faith Killebrew (Toni Colette), is running to be DA; she’s V confident that this will be an open and shut case. She has a (friendly) rivalry w/ the defense attorney, Eric Resnick (Chris Messina). In flashbacks, we see that Justin- on the (stormy) night that Kendall died- hit something w/ his car!

Are y’all feeling nostalgic for those 1990s (EX: John Grisham) legal dramas? Then, this is (new-ish) movie (from Clint Eastwood- still working) is for you. I have to admit, the premise looked interesting, so I checked it out over the recent holiday break (on HBO MAX). Also, many critics/viewers have commented that (mid-budget) dramas like this for a grown-up audience are lacking from theaters in recent yrs. Don’t look for any big thrills or even much tension. This is a case of missed opportunities (directing choices) and lackluster dialogue (basic screenwriting). Even the musical score is nothing memorable.

This movie is also a reunion btwn. Hoult and his (onscreen) About a Boy (2002) mom- Collette. The actors are doing the best they can w/ the material; however, Collette’s Southern accent is a BIT uneven. The jury is V diverse (reflecting a mid-sized city in the modern era), BUT there is V little character development. Small roles are played by Kiefer Sutherland and J. K. Simmons; I guess LOT of actors want to work w/ Eastwood. You may’ve heard that there is an unexpected ending, BUT that can’t save the film.

[1] For one, the case itself seemed pretty weak to begin with. It was mostly circumstantial and no direct evidence linking the defendant to the crime.

[2] This cast is doing their best, but the material is so incredibly dumb. The elevator pitch of the plot is intriguing, but it’s got the silly execution of a CBS crime procedural.

I watched it for the cast, and for the moral dilemma and mystery of the premise, but the trailer had more actual plot clarity than the movie itself.

[3] I was surprised how 2D some of the characters on the jury were, and pretty simplistic and dated stereotypes.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

“Gladiator II” (2024) starring Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Connie Nielsen, Joseph Quinn, & Fred Hechinger

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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 Gladiator II (available on VOD).

After his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find strength to return the glory of Rome to its people. -Synopsis

This sequel directed by Ridley Scott (and one of the most anticipated movies of 2024) is a hot mess! As we saw in promos/trailers, Paul Mescal (who plays the lead- Lucius) and Pedro Pascal (Gen. Acacius) do indeed look hot (esp. w/ those added muscles). However, as time went on, I got worried; Napoleon (2023) was also written by David Scarpa (pls get a new job)! I saw Gladiator II about 2 wks after its theatrical release; I’d planned to go during Thanksgiving break (but screenings were mostly full).

I re-watched Gladiator (2000) in mid-NOV; I was entertained (joke intended), though the SFX didn’t hold up. Crowe owned that role, as a LOT of critics/viewers noted (over 20+ yrs). As Maximus, he had a movie star presence/charisma and confident line delivery. FYI: The script was weak when filming began and there was much improv from the actors. As for the baddie, Commodus (Joaquin Phoenix) was a strong foil to Maximus (the man he felt usurped his role and his father’s love).

Macrinus [to Lucius]: You will be my instrument!

IF you’re a big fan of Denzel Washington (like me), you MAY enjoy some of this movie; the veteran actor plays Macrinus (a wealthy/charming owner of gladiators). He’ll remind you somewhat of Proximo (Oliver Reed) from the 1st movie; the actor (an alcoholic) died before filming ended. Lucilla (Connie Nielsen) and Gracchus (Sir Derek Jacobi at aged 85- wow) are the only returning characters; Crowe appears in flashbacks (archive footage). Pascal and Joseph Quinn (Emperor Geta) will also be seen in MCU’s Fantastic Four as Reed Richards (Mr. Fantastic) and Johnny Storm (The Human Torch). Quinn was cast after Barry Keoghan dropped out to work on an indie film instead (smart move).

The gates of hell are open night and day;

Smooth the descent, and easy is the way:

But to return, and view the cheerful skies,

In this the task and mighty labor lies.

-Lines from John Dryden’s 1697 English translation of Vergil’s epic poem Aeneid

The acting is ALL over the place; it’s as if Scott gave totally different guidance to each of the cast! Washington, Quinn, and Fred Hechinger (Caracalla- 2nd of the twin emperors) are having a fun time w/ their (scenery-chewing) acting. These twins don’t have strong motivations for why they act as they do (unlike Commodus); they act like crazed/drunken frat boys. Pascal is taking it all V seriously; Acacius comes off as weary, morose, and disillusioned w/ military life. I know some ppl liked his portrayal, BUT I wanted to see some charm. Nielsen doesn’t have a LOT to do (yet more than in original); I felt something was missing from Lucilla, though that mostly comes down to the writing. As for Mescal, it takes time for him to grow into his role, so that made me wonder ask: why didn’t Scott allow for more takes? As for the “rage” that Macrinus keeps mentioning, we don’t see much of that from Pascal. Was he miscast here (some have wondered)?

This sequel follows much too close to the original; there is even a graphic depicting key moments from that story in the opening credits. In the 3rd act, Maximus is referred to as Lucius’ father many times- I had to roll my eyes. Some fans wondered: since Maximus was so big on “honor,” why’d he cheat on his beloved wife (w/ whom he had a son nearly the same age as Lucius)!? For such a pricy movie, I expected the SFX to be much better! Many were cringing (or laughing) re: the (unrealistic) baboons, BUT that’s NOT the only case of shoddy effects work. The one-on-one fighting scenes, esp. the one w/ Mescal and the super-sized warrior in the emperors’ tent was V impressive. If anyone disses you for saying that The Last Duel was well-made, just point them to his epic disappointment!

Lucius: Know this: where death is, we are not. Where were are, death is not! By my sword, strength and honor!

There is some BTS controversy to explain, as those of you (like me) who’re always online MAY know. In May of 2023, Variety reported that Egyptian-Palestinian actress May Calamawy had been cast. Deadline Hollywood reported that Calamawy’s character would be V important to the story; Scott did a broad search before she was finally cast. She was featured in the official trailer, BUT for unknown reasons, she ended up w/ a non-speaking background role. Calamawy is NOT credited in the end credits and wasn’t part of the promo tour. Contrary to gossip on social media, she wasn’t replaced by Israeli actress Yuval Gonen, who plays Arishat (wife of Lucius).

[1] There seems to be a trend these days when making follow ups to beloved classics that you need to add more. More characters! More action! But that doesn’t always equal better. It’s almost like filmmakers these days think we’re stupid and want more of everything but all this does is sacrifice quality.

What made the original such a classic was the relatively simple plot, a protagonist you cared about and action that felt earned and impactful.

This one is so overstuffed it feels rushed. The plot feels like a lazy retread of the first but I didn’t care about any of the characters. Paul Mescal was so wooden it sounded like he was reading his lines. If this is how he acts, I really don’t see what all the fuss is about with him. Am I missing something?

[2] I approached this movie truly trying to give it a fair change on its own by not holding and comparing it too much to its original, But this movie just pulls of A Force Awakens and has 80% just recycled nostalgia bait its impossible to not compare them.

It recycles quotes, plot, narratives, even very same camera shots.

And yeah, alas, the first did absolutely everything, every single aspect better to much better and most definitely story/drama character wise. […]

This movie definitely looks glorious and expensive and had a big grandeur (although some CGI looked comically fake), but it fails to have a coherent driven plot.

[3] The “games” in the Colosseum are superbly presented and yes, exotic animals and water battles were really fought there in Roman times. The twin Emperors are superbly crazy… […] I was initially disappointed with Paul Mescal’s performance, but in hindsight I now wonder if it’s character rather than his performance that was disappointing. Hanno is no Maximus – no leader of men, no charismatic warrior – in fact he tells as much a number of times in the film. But maybe that’s Scott’s point this time? Even a simple soldier can achieve great things?

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Noir City DC 2024

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Introduction

Hey y’all, how is this Winter going (so far)? It’s NOT fun for me; I’m recovering from a bad cough/cold (after Thanksgiving). I’m also way behind on blog posts. As DC area noir-istas know, my local (AFI) theater had a festival in OCT; Eddie Muller (TCM) came to introduce the movies during the opening wknd. This yr, the festival had double features (2 movies) which revolved around the same themes; 5 out of the 6 noirs I saw were new to me.

Thanks for reading!

-EMMA

***

Union Station (1950) starring William Holden, Nancy Olsen, & Barry Fitzgerald

A secretary traveling from Connecticut to NYC, Joyce Willecombe (Nancy Olsen), grows suspicious of 2 men boarding her train. She is referred to Bill Calhoun (William Holden), head of the Union Station police; the no-nonsense Calhoun is initially skeptical, BUT the men (who escape) prove to be involved in a kidnapping case. Calhoun calls in his boss/mentor, Inspector Donnelly (Barry Fitzgerald), BUT the ruthless kidnappers stay one step ahead of them. Most of the action centers around busy/fast-paced Union Station.

Holden and Olson also co-starred in Sunset Boulevard in the same year- 1950. Joyce plays Calhoun’s conscience, concerned that the interests of the victim don’t get overlooked in the hunt for the criminals. This is a (lesser-known/low budget) film noir; Holden was on the cusp of stardom. This was Lyle Bettger’s 3rd film; he played a LOT of baddies in his career. The platinum-blonde/wide-eyed Jan Sterling has a small role as his (TOO loyal) gf. Fitzgerald (who always played Irish cops or priests) brings in the humor. You can find this noir on streaming services (or rent on YT).

Cairo Station (1958)

Qinawi (Youssef Chahine), a physically-challenged peddler who makes his living selling newspapers in the central Cairo train station, is obsessed w/ Hanuma (Hind Rustum), a curvy/pretty young woman who sells drinks. Hanuma treats Qinawi kindly and flirts w/ him re: a possible relationship. However, she’s already engaged to Abu Siri, a burly/macho porter struggling to unionize his fellow workers to combat their boss’ exploitative treatment. The movie has a large cast (portraying Egyptians of disparate classes) and does NOT fall easily into one genre. Some viewers commented that the climactic scenes reminded them of Hitchcock! Chahine (an Egyptian of Christian heritage) also wrote the story and served as director. If you’re familiar w/ the characterization, visual style, and themes often seen in Bollywood, you should check it out.

[1] The work sometimes recalls Jean Renoir’s “La Bete Humaine,” but with more attention to detail. […]

Let’s underline the importance of the wide screen, which makes the director look like an entomologist watching an ant hill with a magnifying glass…

[2] It’s not hard to see why “Cairo Station” was banned for 20 years in Egypt. It gained much recognition in Berlin, being nominated for the Golden Bear…

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

***

Le Samourai (1967)

In Paris, Jef Costello (Alain Delon) is a solitary hit man who works under contract. He’s hired to kill the owner of a club, and soon becomes the prime suspect of that murder. His gf (Jane), one of her clients (Wiener), and the Black singer of the club (Valerie) are questioned by the police. Jef is chased by henchmen (sent by the same man who hired him) and by cops. He seeks out who has hired him to get revenge. There is NOT much of a plot, characters have little development, and there isn’t much dialogue. I heard of this film yrs. ago, BUT this was my 1st time seeing it. As Gen Z may say, this movie is “all about vibes.” Sorry IF you’re a fan of thing kind of stuff, BUT I didn’t connect w/ it.

This Gun for Hire (1942)

Hit man Philip Raven (Alan Ladd), is kind to kids and feeds stray cats. He kills a blackmailer and is paid off by Willard Gates (Laird Cregar) in “hot” (marked) money. Meanwhile, a young/blonde entertainer, Ellen Graham (Veronica Lake), gf of police Lt. Michael Crane (Robert Preston) is enlisted by a Senator to help investigate Gates. Raven, while seeking Gates, meets Ellen on a train. Their relationship gradually evolves from that of killer and (potential) victim to an uneasy alliance against a common enemy. This is a well-known/low budget noir which I’ve seen before (on the small screen); it’s a quick/well-paced watch.

***

They Made Me a Fugitive (1947)

In this British noir (from Brazilian director Alberto Cavalcanti), a frustrated/cynical former RAF pilot, Clem Morgan (Trevor Howard), joins a criminal gang led by a nasty character nicknamed Narcy (Griffith Jones). On his 1st break-in job, the getaway car crashes and ends up killing a cop. Quickly, Clem is framed as the driver and sent to jail. Seeking revenge, he escapes prison and heads for London. Along the way, he breaks into a suburban home; a housewife named Mrs. Fenshaw (Veda Hope) helps him out, then asks him to murder her husband. Upon reaching London, Clem is sheltered by a blonde/petite dancer named Sally Connor (Sally Gray), who falls for him. He confronts Narcy and the gang in an abandoned warehouse.

[1] There is more attention to sound and camera-work than I’ve noticed in most British movies from the end of the war until about 1956 or so. Warner Brothers gets a huge credit at the start… So, it’s British, but it has American and continental style. […]

It’s scarier than the American gangster movies of the late forties.

[2] The general gloominess (a mainstay of thrillers emanating from the post-war era) is leavened somewhat by its constant flurry of hard-boiled dialogue courtesy of screenwriter Noel Langley. […]

Still, perhaps my favorite scene in the entire film is Howard’s surreal encounter with the zombie-like Vida Hope – in whose household he stumbles while on the run; she turns out to be deranged, and even tries to talk our hero into murdering her alcoholic husband (Maurice Denham)!

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews

Aimless Bullet (1961)

A couple of yrs. after the war in Seoul, a 30-something accountant’s salary is TOO small for him to even get his cavity fixed. He must somehow provide for his PTSD-affected mother, his pregnant wife, a younger brother (who can’t get work after serving in the army), a younger sister (who sneaks out at night to sell herself to American GIs), and 2 young children. This movie was banned in Korea b/c it was so realistically stark in it’s post- war depiction. You could tell that the locations were real; we see urban offices, outdoor cafes (for tea and drinking away sorrows), slums (located on the hilly areas near the city). The character development was V good, though the pacing felt a bit slow at times.

This film is depressing and it drives slowly towards its conclusion. On the other hand, compared to the often over-the-top melodrama present in other films I’ve seen from the era, Obaltan is a stark contrast. Owing more to Italian Neorealism than Hollywood, the film has many moments of mundaneness and potentially existentialist commentary. That Obaltan means “the aimless bullet” should give that away from the start.

-Excerpt from IMDb review

Movie & TV Series Trailers: Fall/Winter 2024

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NOTE: This post will be updated as more trailers are released and further details become available.

TV Series

The Day of the Jackal (Peacock: NOV 14th) starring Eddie Redmayne & Lashana Lynch

A ruthless assassin, the Jackal (Eddie Redmayne), makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer (Lashana Lynch) who starts to track down the Jackal in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving destruction in its wake. -Synopsis

Disclaimer (Apple TV+: OCT 11th) starring Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Sacha Baron Cohen, Lesley Manville, & Kodi Smit-McPhee

Blanchett plays Catherine Ravenscroft, a successful and respected television documentary journalist whose work has been built on revealing the concealed transgressions of long-respected institutions. When an intriguing novel written by a widower, played by Kline, appears on her bedside table, she is horrified to realize she is a key character in a story that she had hoped was long buried in the past, that reveals her darkest secret that she thought was hers alone. -Synopsis

Dune: Prophecy (MAX: NOV 17th) starring Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Mark Strong, & Tabu

Ten thousand years before Paul Atreides joined the Fremen to lead an uprising on Arrakis to take down House Harkonen, two sisters (Valya and Tula Harkkonen) create the mysterious all-female order called the Bene Gesserit. The siblings combat forces that threaten the future of humankind. -Synopsis

Nautilus (Amazon Prime: AMC+) starring Shazad Latif

The origin story of Captain Nemo and his legendary submarine, the Nautilus. An Indian prince robbed of his birthright and family, a prisoner of the East India Company and a man bent on revenge against the forces which have taken everything from him, Nemo set sail with his ragtag crew on board the awe-inspiring vessel, battling foes and discovering magical underwater worlds. -Synopsis

Movies

A Complete Unknown (DEC 25th) starring Timothee Chalamet, Elle Fanning, Edward Norton, & Monica Barbaro

Set in the influential New York music scene of the early ’60s, A Complete Unknown follows 19-year-old Minnesota musician Bob Dylan’s meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts — his songs and mystique becoming a worldwide sensation — culminating in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. -Synopsis

Gladiator II (NOV 22nd) starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielson, Joseph Quinn, & Fred Hechinger

After his home is conquered by the tyrannical emperors who now lead Rome, Lucius is forced to enter the Colosseum and must look to his past to find strength to return the glory of Rome to its people. -Synopsis

Trailer 1

Trailer 2

Nosferatu starring Bill Skarsgard, Nicholas Hoult, Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Emma Corrin, & Willem Dafoe

A gothic tale of obsession between a haunted young woman and the terrifying vampire infatuated with her, causing untold horror in its wake. -Synopsis

The Order (DEC 6th: limited release) starring Jude Law, Nicholas Hoult, Tye Sheridan, & Jurnee Smolett

In 1983, a series of increasingly violent bank robberies, counterfeiting operations and armored car heists frightened communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. As baffled law enforcement agents scrambled for answers, a lone FBI agent (Law), stationed in the sleepy, picturesque town of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, came to believe the crimes were not the work of traditional, financially motivated criminals but a group of dangerous domestic terrorists, inspired by a radical, charismatic leader (Hoult), plotting a devastating war against the federal government of the United States. -Synopsis

The Return (DEC 6th) starring Ralph Fiennes & Juliette Binoche

After 20 years Odysseus finally returns to Ithaca, where he finds his wife held prisoner by suitors vying to be king and his son facing death at their hands. To win back his family and all he has lost, Odysseus must rediscover his strength.

The Room Next Door (DEC 20th: limited release) starring Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, John Turturro, & Alessandro Nivola

Ingrid and Martha were close friends in their youth, when they worked together at the same magazine. After years of being out of touch, they meet again in an extreme but strangely sweet situation. -Synopsis

“Port Authority” (2019): From Executive Producer Martin Scorsese

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Port Authority is a love story set in New York’s ballroom scene, and follows Paul, a 20 y.o. from Pittsburgh, who arrives at the central bus station and quickly catches eyes w/ Wye, a 22 y.o. voguing on the sidewalk. After Paul seeks her out in secret, an intense love btwn them blossoms. But when Paul discovers Wye is trans, he is forced to confront his own identity and what it means to belong. -Synopsis (Variety)

Here is a brief description of Ball culture (via Wikipedia): The Ballroom scene (AKA Ballroom community, Ballroom culture, or just Ballroom) is an African-American and Latino underground LGBTQ+ subculture. Its origins can be found in drag balls of the mid-19th C. US, such as those hosted by William Dorsey Swann, a formerly enslaved Black man in D.C. By the early 20th C, integrated drag balls were popular in cities such as New York, Chicago, New Orleans, Baltimore, and Philadelphia. In the mid-20th C, as a response to racism in integrated drag spaces, the balls evolved into house ballroom, where Black and Latino attendees could “walk” in a variety of categories for trophies and cash prizes. Most participants in ballroom belong to groups known as “houses”, where chosen families of friends form relationships and communities separate from their families of origin, from which they may be estranged.

This coming-of-age drama is the directorial debut of Danielle Lessovitz; she made the movie w/ grants from the Torino Film Lab, CNC Cinema du Monde (France), and New York Council of the Arts. Paul is played by Fionn Whitehead, a dark-haired/brown-eyed Brit who was cast (at just 19 y.o.) in Dunkirk (2017) directed by Christopher Nolan. Whitehead began acting at 13 in youth theaters in his native London; he hails from a family of creatives. He is also the lead in Black Mirror: Bandersnatch; I haven’t seen this movie yet (though do like the Black Mirror streaming series). Wye is played by Leyna Bloom (a trans model/actress) who appeared in the FX series Pose; I’ve seen S1 (so far). Bloom hails from Chicago; she has a Black American father and Filipina mother. She trained in various styles of dance since 6th grade; at only 14 y.o. – she performed at the American Ballet Theater w/ Misty Copeland.

Martin Scorsese served as one of the executive producers; I learned this while listening to a Screen Drafts podcast ep on his work. Why would Scorsese be interested in this particular story, some may wonder? Well, this film is set in NYC and delves into group dynamics, power, violence, and masculinity (common in his directorial work). The group of young/white men that Paul comes to live/work w/ is led by Lee (McCaul Lombardi), who is handsome, street-smart, and a bit older (mid-20s) than the others. Late one night on the subway, Lee helps Paul out after the newcomer beaten up by thugs. Lombardi hails from Baltimore, is of Italian-American heritage, and appeared in American Honey (2016) directed by Andrea Arnold (a Cannes selection).

Our early 20s can be a challenging time; perhaps we go away from parents/home, attend college, enter the “adult”/work world, make new friends, etc. The characters here are facing poverty, housing insecurity, and violence on the streets (incl. for things they can’t control- race and physical presentation). Lee and his followers at the shelter hustle to make money by procuring/ selling furniture, electronics, etc, using their race privilege against poor POC/immigrants. Paul goes along w/ them, BUT gets more and more uncomfortable w/ their pushy tactics. On the other hand, Wye and her ball community are focused on self-expression, acceptance, and supporting each other.

Some critics liked the movie, BUT were disappointed that it was told from the POV of the cis/white man. Paul doesn’t feel like he has power over his life; we explains to Wye that he was in foster care and has “anger issues.” Falling in love opens Paul’s eyes up to a wider world; he’s in awe of his new feelings (and the filmmakers depict that well). Unlike him, Wye is comfortable in her own skin, moves gracefully, and has a found family in her “house” (where the young men are her “brothers”). I wanted to see more of the house “mother” (who had 2 good scenes). If you like gritty/realistic and intimate character stories, you can check this out on streaming (for free).

[1] The choice of close-up which make majority of the movie, makes it personal. You feel what the characters are feeling. Watch this movie if you like character driven dramas.

[2] I had the extraordinary opportunity to meet the director back in late 2019, in a Q&A that took place in the Official Language School right after the screening in Gijon’s Film Festival where I first saw the movie. She was so kind and committed to direct the film with heart and mind in the right place, taking a complex thematic involving the identity (in more ways than one) and staying true to the roots.

-Excerpts from IMDb reviews