Elle (2016)

Elle

Finally was able to watch the final of the Oscar buzz films that I needed to see prior to the ceremony. Just in time too. While the film was dropped from the Best Foreign Film category after gaining traction, Isabelle Huppert can very well walk away with an Oscar for her performance in this film. Its a strong, outstanding performance from her for sure.I thought the film was mostly good and a return to a bit of form for Paul Verhoeven. Despite this, I still the think the film could have been better.

I am going to start with the negatives since they aren't many. The film is quite long and not always focused. The main plot is about a video game company executive named Michele who gets raped in her home. She tries to go about her life as if nothing happened but then finds herself drawn to the rape and the future instances, which really blurs the line between rape, consent, and submission to sexual desire. The film doesn't always stay focused on what it is at heart. Its honestly hard to pinpoint what the film is really about since there's a few points of focus. I felt the film doesn't have many likeable characters. And why would it? Its littered with characters who fall into a theme of philandering. I think the film introduces ideas of religion and the psychopathic nature of Elle's father; all of which was unnecessary.

The film is long and clouded by things that didn't exactly meaningfully add to the story. I wasn't really sure what the film was going to be about. That said, there's definitely a strong erotic basis for the film which is Verhoeven at his best. The film flirts with the idea of cheating, rape, and consent throughout. Its a pervasive film but its exactly what you would expect from the filmmaker. People will find this film to be disturbing and at times quite vulgar but it remains alluring and pretty hypnotic. As I stated earlier its a return to form for Verhoeven because he plays to his strengths by tackling a sexually charged film once again.

I know Isabelle Huppert isn't exactly a household name but she should be after this film. Its a magnetic performance. Michele is a bitch at times but very assertive and strong. She explores her sexual desires and boundaries and can handle her life in a very stone faced manner. She has a very complicated past and even mentions she may be a psychopath. Michele is a complex character: honest and at times scathing but its a wonderful portrayal. The film isn't perfect but I think film lovers need to check it out and form their own opinion on this.

7/10

Collateral Beauty (2016)

Collateral Beauty

 

Collateral Garbage. Seriously. I'm going to break this down though. When I first saw the trailer for this film, my immediate thoughts were "wow this looks like a really emotionally manipulative film". And that is exactly what it is. But its even worse. This film was panned by most critics and I can see why. However, being the film lover that I am I decided to watch it to form my own opinion. Boy oh boy, I wonder why so many credible actors took the role for this film.

First things first, the trailer for this film is incredibly misleading. Talk about manipulating right off the bat. Love, Death, and Time are three actors hired by Edward Norton, Kate Winslet, and Michael Pena to follow Will Smith's character and prove that he is crazy so he can give up his position in a flailing company. Why is the company failing? Smith's character recently lost his daughter to a rare disease and has been depressed and unfocused since. While the film may sound like it has heart, it does not. Its so misguiding and you can't even forgive how ridiculous the premise of the film is.

I hate when trailers set you up for a certain film but then throw a bad curveball. This is the case with this film. I also feel bad for the acting talent (Knightley, Mirren, Winslet, Norton) who probably didn't look at the script before signing on for this film. I think Will Smith is a solid actor but he almost always picks bad films (especially recently). This film becomes downright infuriating at times. I can't get into it much because it would spoil the film but wow the end of this film is so, so stupid. There's multiple "twists" for the sake of being quirky but its really bad writing. 

This film is so misguided. The writings bad, I think someone should have checked it and edited it before putting it out there as the final product. If you are interested in the film based on watching the trailer be forewarned, that this film will pull a punch on you. Its an over-emotional, sappy, and at times incoherent but convenient mess. I am so glad that my number one BAE Rooney Mara did not follow through on this crap.

5/10

Passengers (2016)

Passengers

Two of Hollywood’s current top stars finally come together in this sci-fi adventure from Morten Tyldum. Its not a name that rolls right off the tongue or is too familiar but I have seen his previous effort, The Imitation Game. While it was  a technically well made biopic about an important man, it wasn’t all that interesting. I wasn’t too impressed with the trailers for Passengers as it looked like a cookie cutter sci-fi film coming in a time where these types of films are really popular.

The film is basically what I had feared that it would be. First, let me talk about the positives. I had no problems with the effects in the film. I thought the space scenes looked good and the set and production design was excellent. The spaceship looked sleek, modern, and alluring. The score was also nice. Both Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence work well together and put in good performances. I think Lawrence overacts in the really emotional moments but its fine because she’s good elsewhere here.

The film suffers from pauses and lagging for the first hour or so. Its repetitive at times ad just seems really inconsequential. Nothing goes on for a majority of the film and it drags a slight bit. I did not feel like the film really explored amazingly new ground. Films like Interstellar and Moon covered similar concepts and in a much better way. Its easy to question and scratch your head at some of the motivations of the characters (and androids). About an hour in I was really struggling to continue with the film but soldiered through.

If you are a fan of Pratt or J-Law you may want to check this out. If you are like me and an avid sci-fi/space film fan you may be sorely disappointed by the generic and familiar nature of a film that should have really dazzled with the stakes that the film seemed to offer. Still, I guess you could find some enjoyment out of this film despite it being pretty flawed. Not every film is going to be a masterpiece, I just expected this film to offer something better and more engaging.

6/10

A Cure for Wellness (2017)

A Cure for Wellness

 

Gore Verbinski is a bit of a hit or miss director. I think The Ring was a fantastic horror film but The Pirates of the Caribbean films aren’t that great (outside of the first one which is fun). He’s a visual filmmaker as you can tell from a work like Rango but can also  bomb miserably like he did with The Lone Ranger. I was so intrigued by this films posters and trailer. After experiencing this film I will say that this film is visually fantastic as the scenes are shot so beautifully even if most of it is dark and grim looking. This film will divide audiences, I can see many hating it and becoming impatient with it. I for one, thought it was very good and worth the time and money.

The film is about a man named Lockhart who travels to a wellness center in the Swiss Alps to find his boss who mysteriously just disappeared to that location. When he goes there he immediately notices that things aren’t what they seem and that the facility harbors a very dark secret and the film spends time exploring all the crazy stuff that occurs. I want to keep this as spoiler free as possible but I have to share a bunch of things I really liked about this film. First off, let me say that this film doesn’t feel wholly original. I kept thinking of Shutter Island when watching the film. That’s fine because the film has a lot more going for it. The cinematography of the film at times is just gorgeous. I believe most of the film was shot out in Germany. All the scenes that show the facility and the mountainous terrain in the foreground are just wonderful. Its a visually beautiful film even if it is confined to the ugly graying white walls of the sanitarium like facility.

I haven’t seen Dane DeHaan in much but he was very solid in this. It’ll probably be a breakout performance for him and Mia Goth. Mia I’ve seen in Nymphomaniac Vol. II but she’s a star in this. She’s naturally and innocently gorgeous in this film. She’s a simple yet extremely alluring figure. This film itself is very alluring. Its dark and disturbing and tries to maintain appearances (much like the staff in the facility). The film is slow and long but I think it builds up nicely towards dark secrets. While I’d say the twists and turns aren’t very surprising, I really enjoyed everything I saw. There’s a bunch of creepy imagery and the film doesn’t shy away from sudden violence. Its all lovely in the darkest way.

I think this is Verbinski’s best film to date because he captured complete institutional madness. Its visually symmetry is so enchanting, so many of these images are gorgeous. However, I felt like the third at of the film is a bit of a weak point. The story gets a bit muddled, predictable, and head scratching all at once. I think this is what holds it back from being a solid 8 out of 10, however I think this film will get an improved rating on a second watch. It’s one of those that needs time to sink in because there’s just something special lingering about it.

7.5/10

John Wick: Chapter 2

John Wick: Chapter 2

The highly anticipated sequel to a very popular action film has arrived. John Wick as sort of a sleeper hit that came out of nowhere and really blew a lot of peoples minds. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the film but it was a solid action film that was very sleek and really established Keanu Reeves as an action hero. If you have any doubts about his credibility as an action star, you should probably see John Wick: Chapter 2.

This time, no one kills John Wick’s dog. Thank god. Wick is visited by a gangster who wants Wick to serve him because of a blood oath taken years ago. When Wick refuses, his house gets blown up. Wick then goes out for revenge and must face bounty hunters and a bunch of trained assassins. I’d say the sequel has more going on storywise as it involves much more involving a crime lord and the underside of what it entails. The sequel does a good job of maintaining fantastic, frenetic action with a balanced story and dialogue (or lack of it in Ruby Rose’s characters instance).

The film doesn’t always flow strongly as characters sort of appear without question but this is an action film and you shouldn’t worry too much about what makes sense and what doesn’t. As you’d expect, the film is very sleek and has eye catching action. The scenes are shot with flashing neon lights and plenty of sick shooting with blood. If this is your sort of thing you will absolutely love it. The car chases and hand to hand combat scenes were fantastic. The whole exchange between Common and Reeves in the subway was just hilarious.

My main complaint is that the film is longer this time and sometimes feels its length. Its not such a bad thing. This film is a really solid sequel, I may just prefer the original but its close. The action, blood, and style is really turned up in this edition and you just know we have an action star and franchise in our hands. I don’t mind it, Keanu Reeves can rock the three piece suit and he’s even better kicking major ass in it.

7/10

Logans Run (1976)

 

Logan’s Run

Here’s a sci-fi film that I have been meaning to catch for a long time. Luckily TCM is doing the 31 days of Oscar films marathon so I can catch up on good stuff I’ve never seen. Sci-fi’s of the past decades are usually great because they are creative and high concept. I know this is based on a novel but I think the film was still pretty great regardless even though some of it was flawed. Logan’s Run is a sci fi film that takes place in a dystopian future and I’d have to say this film must have influenced many modern day films.

The film is set in a world where people only live until 30. Once they hit 30 they are exterminated.  A man known as Logan 5 goes on the run who becomes 30 after a medical procedure goes wrong. He goes on his run with a beautiful compatriot named Jessica 6. The film has futuristic gadgets and concepts and really felt slightly ahead of its time. I say slightly because we started getting a lot of the original sci-fi films around this time. Logan’s Run had a few themes I noticed and also a few similarities to some other sci-fi films of the time.

The film really reminded me of Soylent Green in the fact that it has a theme of population control through killing off human beings in a ritualistic/efficient way. The film also shared similarities with Planet of the Apes, mostly through the viewing of the desolate ruins of Washington DC. The effects are at times quite dated, which is understandable considering the time. The film does have a few memorable moments and enough romance going for it to keep you interesting.

I’d say the first half of the film has a lot going on but its quite interesting but its important to stay focused or get lost. The second half where Logan and Jessica go on the run doesn’t always engage but its mostly nice to see the connection between the two. Overall, its quite a fun film with some interesting viewpoints and issues addressed for its time. While effects are dated and the focus isn’t always perfect it’s a good experience.

7.5/10

Shut In (2016)

 

Shut In

I like Naomi Watts a lot but boy does she really need to pick and carefully choose what she wants to be in. I thought she was really fantastic in Mulholland Drive (probably my favorite film of all time). She's also been in a number of great memorable performances. i  fact, shes even been in good horror in the past. Years later she's in a really awful "horror" film that doesn't offer any thrills or chills but rather just insists on wasting your time.

This film is about a psychologist, played by Watts, following a car accident that killed her husband and left her son paralyzed (played by Stranger Things' Charlie Heaton). She starts to think that someone is inside her house trying to harm her. Who could it be though? Her son is paralyzed and immobile? The plot doesn't even sound interesting and there really isn't anything in the film that you could actually enjoy. The film is devoid of any actual chills, the scenes meant to make you jump are set up in a way that is so manufactured over the years, where you know exactly what to expect.

The film just kind of throws characters into the mix and you are left wondering what purpose they really serve? Poor Jacob Tremblay, going from a wonderful performance in Room, to being thrown into something like this. The twist ending is so awful. Its half expected but doesn't bother offering any consolation for wasting your time. There's honestly too much going on in this film, its too busy with people and trying too hard to deliver a substantial story but it comes off really uninspired, tired, and boring. The twist also offers some really weird awkward moments too.

Check this out if you want but there's really nothing to see here. Shut yourself out.

4/10

Funny Games (2007)

Funny Games

 

A film that I was supposed to watch back in 2007 but just never got around to. Oddly enough this is the American remake of the Austrian film of the same name directed by the same filmmaker. Apparently, this film is a shot for shot remake of the previous incarnation. While I can't judge how it holds up to the original, I can say this film is a rather elegant torture porn film.

The film is about two psychopaths (straight from the synopsis describing the characters) who invade a family's home and torture them, while playing sick and sadistic games with them. It's hard to say more about the film without really spoiling things, so I'll refrain from talking much more about the plot. The film is not for people who can't deal with ubcomfortability in film; there's a whole lot of it. Let's face it, the film is quote grim. This isn't really a hopeful film and you kind of have to expect that before going in.

The film is slow and prodding, often calculated. It's tense, and meant to be that way. There's a lack of things going on but it helps enhance the reality of the situation that the victims are in. This film has great performances from Naomi Watts and Michael Pitt. I bet this is what got Pitt his role on Boardwalk Empire. The filmmaker employs single takes which cover longer scenes. The camera is also quite personal to the characters plights. There's a lack of score for giant portions of the film, it's honestly a paced out horror film which isn't very scary but gets you to root for the survival of its protagonists. The antagonists and their backstory could have used some exploration but I guess it wasn't meant to be.

This film sort of fits in a sub genre of its own, and reminds me of more successful films like Vacancy and The Strangers. While there are aspects of the film which really work, I still thought the film feels very long and the lack of progression can hurt your attention to the film. At times the film is an arduous task. Off the bat, this film is a one time watch and probably not anything to rave about. It's not a poorly made film by any means, one could point to it as a better film of the survivalist horror family.

6.5/10

Rules Don't Apply (2016)

 

Rules Don't Apply

 

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I immediately felt like this would be something that I’d enjoy. A film about 50’s Hollywood revolving around a romance intertwined with the life of the very fascinating and enigmatic Howard Hughes. I can’t say I’m too happy with the final product; its a mixed bag all around. Well acted, nice set pieces, however with puzzling motivation, and poor execution.

The film is about a romance between an aspiring young actress and her driver. Both of whom are under the employ of the legendary Howard Hughes. The film does well to capture the essence of the era, which is not hard to do these days. Its got a great cast, some of the talent is heavily underutilized and minimized to glorified cameos. The lead cast are perfectly fine. I think this is the strongest Lily Collins performance to date. I was very critical when I saw her early work because she wasn’t very convincing. I also like seeing Warren Beatty on screen but maybe he should stick strictly to acting.

I’ve never seen any of Beatty’s directional efforts but if this is any indication of what his work is, then I’m in no rush to check out his filmography. The film is largely uneventful. It takes a witty and quirky humorous approach but its largely lost in the shuffle of a not so entertaining film. The actors do their part but the script fails them. Especially the later parts of the second and third act which drag. I admire Beatty as an acting talent, I will never forget his role as Clyde Barrow but I question his ability to bring forth a strong and entertaining film.

I’m still kind of enamored by the life of Howard Hughes, he was without a doubt a mysteriously entertaining figure. I think the film kind of uses his iconic character as a crutch to supplement a love story that’s not quite there. I’m disappointed because I really felt this film had the quality to genuinely entertain me. I may check out some of Beatty’s other work to see if something else can spark a fun time.

6/10

Fifty Shades Darker (2017)

Fifty Shades Darker

I might get a lot of hate for this but I actually liked it. Hear me out though. It’s still stupid and has incredibly dumb moments. However, the entertainment factor has been upped since the first film. The actors are more comfortable in their roles and it shows. There is also more of a charm to this film and the love scenes and cinematography are much more sleek. Its all around stronger than the first. I think your reaction to the first and the genre in general will effect your reaction to Fifty Shades Darker though.

This film picks up where the last one left off. Christian Grey tries to rekindle his romance with Anastasia Steele. Their bond becomes stronger but there are new variables and explorations of Christian’s past. But through all this the two endure and actually hit relationship milestones. This film is definitely more sweet amongst the darkness. The leads are in a happier place and they reach a place of certainty emotionally and sexually. The love scenes are more exquisite and are supplemented with great music. I love that song by Zayn and Taylor and loved hearing it during the boat ride. Some of the locality is amazing and it shows in the cinematography.

That said, the film still has narrative problems. The dialogue (while better) is still cliched and predictable. Motivations are still questionable, some side characters are still thrown into the mix and so underdeveloped. Where the fuck did Rita Ora come from? Shes is probably in the first but I can’t recall right now. None of the supporting cast is there for a long time and are not given enough say. Some plot progression just happens so suddenly that you are there just scratching your head like “wtf”? Two key events (if they can even be called that) are so incredibly stupid. The film isn’t that smart at times but lets face the truth. Its based on probably very awful books so something must be going right if the film is somehow enjoyable.

I know I’m in the complete minority with liking this film. I think the first is a guilty pleasure and kind of in the bad its good territory. Its more of the same with this film but its definitely a more unified and sleeker production. There’s not a lot of urgency in the film but I don’t know if that’s how the adapted material is supposed to be. The film somehow does set itself up for a third one though. Overall, the film is exactly what its marketed as: a popcorn date movie that ladies and some guys will enjoy as a mindless but nice looking film. Also big P.S. Dakota Johnson is a sexy, sexy goddess.

7/10

The Secret Garden (1993)

 

The Secret Garden

I finally got an HBO subscription so now have many films at my disposal (I’ve seen most anyways but still). I also had this film on DVD lying around somewhere but finally decided to watch it. I wasn’t very clear on what the film was about beforehand but the premise sounded like the family friendly fantastical tale that could be worth the watch.

The Secret Garden is about a spoiled girl who lives in India until her parents untimely death. She is then relocated to her uncles mansion where she discovers she has a recluse cousin (who is hidden away) who is sealed off because he is ill and can’t walk. They both travel out to a secret garden which seems to improve his health mysteriously. Along the way, the two form a connection despite initially butting heads. The film is based off the novel of the same name.

The verdict is that this film makes for an enjoyable time. Its an older film so the film could use some digital enhancing to make some of the scenes more vibrant (ahem Blu-Ray treatment). The film has the charm of 90s children fantasy films that movies of today cannot really recreate. While thee child acting is not great and the accents (especially of the child maid) are horrible its forgivable when you think of the films market. The film’s fantastical elements are undertold as it relies on the magic of the garden and placing faith in its spiritual abilities without actually seeing much on screen, which is fine.

The film isn’t an absolute must watch by any sense, nor is it something that many people will have heard of. It is however, a harmless film that captures a bit of the essence of children’s films of the past while establishing inspiration amongst curious kids as they journey into something fantastical together. There’s plenty of cute animals and naturalistic shots for those who would appreciate that sort of thing anymore. Its not a film that would be successful today because of its simplistic presentation and understated visuals, but its solid.
7/10

Gold (2017)

 

Gold

 

Well, The McConaissance had to end sometime. Its also not really surprising that it comes to a screeching halt with Gold. I didn’t really enjoy The Free State of Jones either but thought The Sea of Trees was interesting, even if it tried to tug on your emotions. With Gold you have a film that is too long, too uninteresting, and one that just fails to leave a lasting impression. its definitely a January dump film disguised as something that could be award worthy.

Gold is inspired by a true story of a down out of luck guy who thinks he strikes gold in the jungles of Indonesia, only to find out this is not really what it seems. Matthew McConaughey stars as Kenny Wells, a very awkwardly balding man who needs something big to happen and becomes optimistic when it seems like it does. This sounds a bit like a film I saw recently called The Founder, but with much less payoff. I cannot really blame McConaughey for his committed performance in the film, I just wish he would spend his time on better projects. He was on a hot streak early on in the decade and he was in great works. This is a completely forgettable film that becomes frustrating as it goes on .
There is an impressive cast, whose strengths are mostly underutilized because the film has to try to go forward with a narrative that tries to shock but is nowhere near gold. There’s nothing amazing about the cinematography, I would have at least expected gorgeous scenes of the Indonesian landscape. At times the dialogue is too subdued and slow for me, the film tries your patience. I think Bryce Dallas Howard is great but there wasn’t any real chemistry between her and McConaughey. Its just a film that everyone involved should move forward from.

Stephen Gaghan is an ordinary writer and filmmaker, I’m sorry but its true. His films subject matters do not offer enough engagement for a wide audience nor are his films really memorable. Yes, I’ve seen Syriana and stills and by that. I’m not overly offended. You got a real view of what the film would be like from the trailer, and if you thought otherwise you were chasing Fools Gold (I just had to try to pun another awful McConaughey film with a similar title here).

6/10

Let The Right One In (2008)

Let The Right One In

Vampires in film have been so saturated these days so its nice to see an effective film. I’ve been meaning to watch this for a while. I saw the American remake a few years back and thought it was solid but now I can see the source material was very good. There’s a few moments where the film is uneven but overall the imagery and relationship between the protagonists really make this film work.

The film is about a young boy who is bullied at school, who befriends a mysterious little girl who is actually a vampire. While its easy to grasp whats going on with her character there’s still a longing to know exactly what her past was. I think the connection with the characters are great and is probably the strongest point of the film. This is a vampire film that revolves on a young friendship, this is not something that we see very often.

There are some real evil characters in the film (namely the bullies). Its balanced real well with a vampire who feeds on and kills other but shes actually a hero at the end.  You feel connected to Eli and Oskar because the filmmaker but their relationship first and the film really builds itself on that. There are horrific moments in the film that occur so quickly and suddenly, that it leaves a lasting impression. The film doesn’t focus too much on gore but what we see is done very well.

I don’t always watch foreign films unless they get rave but here’s one I’m glad I saw. Its definitely better than the American counterpart and I feel like this film is probably one of the best foreign depictions of vampire culture. If I ever get a chance I may check out more of Swedish cinema because I already loved the original Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Millennium) trilogy. Sweden knocks another one out of the park.

7.5/10

The Love Witch (2016)

 

The Love Witch

I still can’t believe this film was made in 2016. I only just heard about the film today but thought it was right down my alley. I love films that are innovative in style and films that pay tribute to an earlier decade. The Love Witch is about a femme fatale-esque woman who tries to find true love. She gives men potions that make them fall in love with her. Things usually take a turn and they end up dying somehow. It can be said this film offers more style over substance but sometimes it doesn’t act as much of a detriment to the film. I feel like that is something that applies here.

Anna Biller calls back to the 60’s with films of the Technicolor era. You won’t even realize that this film was made last year. Everything from the camera techniques, picture quality, costume design, background music, and even the acting make you feel like you are watching a B grade campy, erotic, horror film. If you pay close attention though, you will realize the film is actually set today. Its a fantastic presentation of an earlier era. The shots are full of color, almost Argento-esque and its an absolute joy to look at. All the technical aspects of the film are really a giant reason as to why this film should be seen.

Samantha Robinson is gorgeously convincing as a flirty modern day witch. She is alluring to look at all the way through. She’s a sexy character but in control of her own destiny. She controls the men she hooks up with. This is actually a strongly feminist piece, despite the film involving stripping, scantily clad appealing women. Sometimes the themes are a bit too overt and on the nose but it’s not really a problem (mostly because I’m obsessed with the visual beauty of the film and was distracted by it).

The film clocks in at 2 hours and the film feels like its length. The first hour is great. I’d say around the time Elaine meets the detective and goes to the renaissance fair we get a bit of fluff and padding story-wise. It’s not too big of a problem although the film is very aesthetic so I don’t think the film will be for everyone. However, if you are a film lover like me I think you will appreciate the sexy look of erotic B-movie madness on display.

7.5/10

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017)

 

Resident Evil: The Final Chapter

Thank god that its finally over. I hope. Paul W.S. Anderson finally closes out the film series based on the very popular survival video game series. The video game series is actually excellent and tons of fun, the same cannot be said for the film series. I did enjoy Resident Evil and Resident Evil: Apocalypse as far as the films go, but I cannot say that I liked the rest at all. I wasn’t very keen on checking this film out but there was a curiosity to watch it be put out of its misery.

The film starts off with flashbacks to young Alicia Marcus and the creation of the T-Virus. I think this was necessary for people who may have forgotten how the outbreak and destruction even started. We then see Alice walking the streets of a desolate and ruined D.C. while fighting some monsters along the way. I immediately got annoyed by the headache inducing, rapid, editing. Its awful. It takes so much away from the action sequences as you can’t fixate on anything on the screen. You can’t even get a good look at the monster designs so its a real downer.

The situations are absolutely ridiculous. I know you have to suspend beliefs sometimes for action sequences but my god we get some really ridiculous fight scenes that are not only cliched to hell but ridiculously improbable. Alice maneuvering her way out of the moving laser beams had me rolling my eyes multiple times. The film introduces a side cast that nobody will ever care about. Ali Larter as Claire Redfield returns but she remains so underdeveloped that you won’t care to see her. There are multiple moments where Anderson tries to produce jump scares but they are so horribly predictable and out of place in this type of film. We’ve seen all of it a million times before and this film basically comes off as cheap. The editing will do your head in.

The films passages aren’t always interesting. The picture quality is mostly dark, dull and ugly. I don’t really rate Paul W.S. Anderson as a filmmaker but this was TV SyFy movie levels in terms of quality. Some questions are answered and I guess some loose ends are solved but its not anything amazing and remains cookie cutter. If you enjoy all the other films you will be satisfied with the film series’ conclusion. For me however, this film was the worst of the bunch but the silver lining is that the series has finally closed itself off.

5/10

The Founder (2017)

The Founder

This film is not really what you expect it to be. Upon first glance at the trailer you would think its the story of the founder of McDonalds who comes from nothing and works hard to start a global fast food chain. That’s really not what this was about. I would say this film is quite unique; I never expected  the roots of a popular fast food chain to get a film. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t intrigued to see the film though. Overall, I’d say its a mixed bag with a stronger first section than second.

Michael Keaton plays Ray Kroc, a down out of luck milk shake mixer salesman, who one day stumbles upon a restaurant owned by the McDonald brothers. This restaurant innovative service where orders are made in 30 seconds or less, through the technical setup of equipment, staff, and assembly line-like practices. Kroc becomes enamored with the idea of fast food chains and eventually sets into motion multiple stores around the country, much to the brothers behest. Kroc is not a loveable guy at all, if anything he is an extremely selfish, self-motivated snake who betrays his partners and family. Keaton is perfectly fine in this yet again continuing his acting resurgence.

There is betrayal and greed at every turn, thus the films marketing doesn’t prepare you for the type of greedy character seen in Kroc. It is what it is and this is probably how many business men get ahead in life. It was interesting to hear the McDonald brothers story and seeing just how the first store started up. As stated earlier, the film starts off very engaging but goes through lapses of being uninteresting despite being in an unfamiliar place from a storytelling perspective.

I wasn’t sure if this was going to be one of the Oscar season pictures but after seeing it I can see why it isn’t because it becomes too generic and doesn’t really offer much worth talking about besides a story that may be  shocking to people. I’m not really sure if its a film we needed but at the very least you may be interested to see the history of probably the most recognizable fast food chain in the world. They should rename this film The Thief.

6.5/10

Bleed for This (2016)

 

Bleed for This

 

The first thing that caught my attention in regards to this film was the promotion with Billy Squier's "The Stroke". I generally tend to enjoy boxing movies despite not really liking sports films. Boxing films can often be formulaic, cliched, or familiar but I really just enjoy a good underdog story with good boxing scenes. Even though I don't follow the sport at all anymore (the transition to UFC/MMA has been a blessing), I still think boxing movies can be a lot of fun.

Bleed For This is based on the true story of American Italian boxer Vinny Pazienza and his comeback from a near career ending spinal injury. I assume the film is pretty accurate as a biopic. Miles Teller as Paz starts off as an arrogant, brass, but dedicated boxer. At first he realizes the weight cut for his division was hard for him so he moves up two weight classes and takes on a champion (who also happens to be a favorite). Paz wins the title but shortly afterwards gets into a terrible car crash. From there the comeback story comes on.

In terms of treading familiar ground, Bleed for This is full of boxing cliches and tropes that we have seen in many films before. Not that its a bad thing, if you can stomach it. Its a decent boxing tale and a comeback story for a determined boxer. Its not really something you are going to think about after its done. In fact, the film may exit your mind entirely afterwards. What it does offer is a dedicated performance from Miles Teller, and transformative appearances from both Ciaran Hinds and Aaron Eckhart. I had a hard time recognizing either. I don't think I've really seen Christine Evangelista in much else but wow is she nice to look at. 

Overall, this film is exactly what you would expect. If you don't watch it you aren't missing anything. If you do watch it you will enjoy it for what it is even if the story has been told a million times. If you are like me (a film enthusiast who just has to watch everything) you will find a nice balance and really take the film for what it really is. And that is, a harmless sports film that looks to inspire and does enough to make a decent popcorn film.

7/10