Review: Shazam! Fury Of The Gods

Action, Adventure, Film Reviews, Film Reviews 2023, Superhero, Uncategorized ‐ ‐ March 17, 2023
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Review: Shazam! Fury Of The Gods

Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (2023)
PG-13  ‧ Action/Adventure ‧ 2 Hours 10 Minutes

Written by Henry Gayden, Chris Morgan

Directed by David F. Sandberg

THE CAST

Zachary Levi, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Rachel Zegler, Adam Brody, Ross Butler, Meagan Good, Lucy Liu, Djimon Hounsou and Helen Mirren

THE STORY

(In their own words) Bestowed with the powers of the gods, Billy Batson and his fellow foster kids are still learning how to juggle teenage life with their adult superhero alter egos. When a vengeful trio of ancient gods arrives on Earth in search of the magic stolen from them long ago, Shazam and his allies get thrust into a battle for their superpowers, their lives, and the fate of the world.

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

  1. The comedy. It is a very funny film. For the majority of the film, the comedy is played really well. By that I mean the acting is played with purposeful intention with complete seriousness by the actors. The situation is funny and funnier because of how truthful and earnestly the actors are going at it. What doesn’t work for comedy is when the actors are “playing for laughs.” 90% of this film, they do the superhero comedy right. Honestly, there are a lot of ways they handle humor that I think Marvel could learn from. They let serious moments be serious, and comedy be comical. 

  2. Pacing. The film really moves quickly and keeps you fully engaged. 

  3. The actors. There are some top-notch actors in this film. Helen Mirren as a villain is just a wonderful treat. Make the best actors the villains because it just raises the stakes so much. 

  4. Story. The story really is interesting. They managed to keep it feeling a bit fresh for a superhero film because it is just different enough in tone. I really think it helps that they are leaning into the comedy aspect rather than just making it a super serious film that breaks up serious moments with a random joke (cough, MCU, cough).

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

  1. The overacting for laughs. As mentioned above, 90% of the film, the comedy is done right. But when it is done badly, it’s really hard to watch and I can’t stand the actor the moment they do it. At times it makes it feel like the actors are in different universes. The director has to be consistent and decide if the film is gonna have a slapstick over-the-top Nickelodeon kids’ comedy or it’s gonna be a good comedy.

  2. The ending. I am not really too pleased about how they make the moment at the end happen. I could write an essay about what is wrong with just the ending.

  3. Cringy age difference for love interests. I don’t want to get too into it and spoil things, but I will definitely talk about this in a discussion episode. 

  4. Too many characters. With all of the foster family kids superheroes now, there just isn’t enough time to really care about each of them. I think if they are going to continue this franchise, it might run better on the small screen as a series so we can get invested in all the characters. 

THE COMMENTS

The sequel to any film is really a challenge. Origin stories are usually always more interesting because there’s a lot of fun in watching characters discover who they are becoming. This sequel does a really good job in continuing the energy as Billy Batson is now comfortable with his powers but trying to figure out where he fits in the world as a superhero. He is at a crossroads of looking at graduating high school and not knowing if he can be with his superhero family much longer. The beauty of using teenage characters as superheroes is they are trying to figure out so much more than just their superpowers. They don’t even know who they are as a person and the powers and new responsibility just add to their personal chaos. 

THE LESSON

True power comes from working together. 

IS IT REWATCHABLE?

Yes. Very fun film. 

THE FINAL WORD

Lightning may have struck twice for this superhero sequel. They lean in strong on the comedy and it works 90% of the time. This franchise has probably done the best job of creating a comical world to play in. Really strong actors as our villains with Helen Mirren and Lucy Liu playing the daughters of Atlas really elevate the film. Shazam also manages to be one of the better sequels in the DC world. They manage to keep some of the naivety that origin stories typically have and bring it into the sequel. A benefit of having teenagers as the superheroes.
This isn’t a groundbreaking superhero film, let’s be clear on that. But it does have surprises, a level of freshness, and an extreme level of fun.  

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

Shazam! Fury Of The Gods gets a Like It.

THE TRAILER

https://youtu.be/AIc671o9yCI

THE MEME REVIEW

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Film Club – Peanut Butter Falcon

Uncategorized ‐ ‐ March 16, 2023
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Film Club – Peanut Butter Falcon

Film club is a discussion episode of one of my friend’s favorite films. This edition I brought my friend Leah Lee on the program to discuss the film Peanut Butter Falcon. Available as both a podcast and video. See below for your favorite way to view/listen.

Video

https://youtu.be/nHXKAyyF154

Audio only

https://audioboom.com/posts/8265335-film-club-peanut-butter-falcon

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Review: Scream VI

Film Reviews, Film Reviews 2023, Horror ‐ ‐ March 11, 2023
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Review: Scream VI

SCREAM VI (2023)
R  ‧ Slasher Horror ‧ Hours Minutes

Written by James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick

Directed by Tyler Gillett, Matt Bettinelli-Olpin

THE CAST

Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, Jenna Ortega, Hayden Panettiere, and Courteney Cox.

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream VI.”

THE STORY

(In their own words). Four survivors of the Ghostface murders leave Woodsboro behind for a fresh start in New York City. However, they soon find themselves in a fight for their lives when a new killer embarks on a bloody rampage.

THE PREFACE

Okay, I have to make a confession before I start this review. I have only seen Scream 1 & 2, and to be completely honest I don’t even remember Scream 2 much. I also have a vague recollection that in some film in the franchise they started doing a thing where they were making a movie about the events in Scream but it was a fictional world within the fictional universe of Scream. But I didn’t know how it went. So I went into this film not knowing a lot of what is going on. I thought,  “A good film should stand on its own and make me just want to go see the films I missed. 

Jenna Ortega (“Tara Carpenter”), left, and Melissa Barrera (“Sam Carpenter” star in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream VI.”

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

  1. The thrills. I was thrilled the entire movie. It was just super exciting. I don’t know if it’s because I was in the dark from the past movies, or if it was repetitive, or if there were swerves from the last film that I wasn’t picking on. All I know is that I was fully engaged and riveted the entire film. It works on its own. Having not known about a majority of the cast, I never felt lost. There were times I figured I should know more, but I think they did a great job of keeping the film self-contained while bringing in information that we need to know.

  2. The humor. I was honestly shocked to go back and look and see that none of the previous films are labeled horror comedies.  There’s this element of self awareness and meta humor within it that I was sure it was also a comedy. The creators just identify each of the films as a slasher horror, but this film I really do think has enough humor to get the horror comedy label.

  3. The ensemble. I think this is a pretty terrific ensemble of friends that we get to watch in this film. The acting between each other is nice, they come off as truly having a long term friendship that works well together. The acting across the board is pretty good.

L-r, Mason Gooding (“Chad Meeks-Martin”), Jenna Ortega (“Tara Carpenter”), Jasmin Savoy Brown (“Mindy Meeks-Martin”), Devyn Nekoda (“Anika Kayoko”) and Melissa Barrera (“Sam Carpenter”) star in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream VI.”

THE WORST

The WORST things about the film

  1. This is pure entertainment. I think the best horrors, the best comedies, the best of filmmaking happens when there is a social commentary being made. To say that this film is trying to get out a message  would be a paper thin argument.

  2. There’s some real twisting of laws of physics and common sense that needs to happen in order to make a lot of points of the film move forward. Suspension of disbelief needs to be pushed really far for this. 

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream VI.”

THE COMMENTS

I don’t know how this ranks in the series. I need to see the rest of the series. I have no idea how much this film repeats itself from other films. All I know is that what was presented to me was pretty exciting. This film has made me want to go back, watch the original, then see all the ones I missed.

THE LESSON
The past comes back to you. 

IS IT REWATCHABLE

Yes. In fact, I want very much just to see how well the ending works/makes sense. And I will rewatch as I go back to view the whole series.  

Ghostface in Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream VI.”

THE FINAL WORD

A thoroughly entertaining thrill ride. I have not seen the last three films in this series and it made me want to run out and watch them all. It’s a pretty exciting film with a really terrific ensemble of actors. While it certainly has the violence for a slasher label, the film is full of really funny moments. In fact, there are elements that seem so absurd, I was a little surprised to discover it isn’t labeled a horror comedy. I could never have predicted the sixth installment of any horror film would be something I’d have been happy to have seen. But this one got me, it really got me. You scream, I scream, we all scream for Scream VI. 

. 

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

Scream VI gets a strong Like It. 

THE TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ie2qmAOc6Q

THE MEME REVIEW

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Review: Champions

Comedy, Film Reviews, Film Reviews 2023 ‐ ‐ March 09, 2023
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Review: Champions

Champions (2023)
PG-13  ‧ Comedy ‧ 2 Hours 3 Minutes
Written by Bobby Farrelly
Directed by Mark Rizzo

THE CAST

  • Woody Harrelson as Marcus, a disgraced G-league basketball coach

  • Kaitlin Olson as Alex, Johnny’s sister and Marcus’ love interest

  • Matt Cook as Sonny, an assistant coach

  • Ernie Hudson as Phil Perretti, a fellow coach and Marcus’ friend

  • Cheech Marin as Julio, the manager of the rec center where the Friends practic

  • Mike Smith as Attorney McGurk

  • Scott Van Pelt as himself

  • Jalen Rose as himself

THE STORY

(In their own words) A former minor-league basketball coach receives a court order to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. Despite his doubts, he soon realizes that together they can go further than they ever imagined.

THE BEST
The BEST things about the film;

  1. All of the intellectually disabled actors are played actors with those disabilities and they do a fantastic job. 

  2. This movie made me smile the entire time. It was just such an enjoyable movie to watch. Touching, poignant, funny…it really hit all the right notes for me. 

  3. Woody Harrelson does a wonderful job acting and working with all of the actors/players and brings a level of prestige to a film.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film;

  1. The writing isn’t the best. It borders on an after-school special level. It’s not intolerable, but that is I believe in large part due to the actors bringing more to the script than is there.

  2. While mostly really respectful to the  actors with the disabilities, there was one female character where I didn’t think the jokes worked because the humor may have been more directed at her than with her. 

THE COMMENTS

  1. This is an English-language remake of the 2018 Spanish film Campeones directed by Javier.

  2. This is a film that is elevated by the actors. The script itself is a bit predictable, mildly preachy, and razor this with its premise believability. But the actors elevate this out of what it could have been. 

  3. My biggest fear about the film would be the misuse of the intellectually disabled actors and would be them making a lot of jokes at their expense. But that isn’t what happened. The film is very respectful. 

  4. I think casting Woody Harrelson in the coach position was perfect because of my knowledge of him as a person made me feel okay watching it. I assumed that he wouldn’t do a film that made fun of the players. Also, in my personal universe the film would take place in the same universe as White Men Can’t Jump.

THE LESSON

Being a champion has nothing to do with outcome, it’s a way of living. 

IS IT REWATCHABLE

Absolutely.

THE FINAL WORD

Watching Champions is giving yourself an opportunity to smile for two hours. Heartwarming story and performances that elevate the script made it a solid sports-comedy film. The actors in the players in the film are in real life part of the intellectually disabled community and it was fantastic to see them have an opportunity to show a story with respectful portrayals and fully developed characters.  Give yourself an opportunity to be happy and see this film. 

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

Champions gets a Like It. 

THE TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCHiWnj5Oek

THE MEME REVIEW

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Film Club – The Big Lebowski

Comedy, Crime, Film Club ‐ ‐ March 02, 2023
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Film Club – The Big Lebowski

Comedian Andrew Steiner joins Silas for this film club edition to discuss one of his favorite movies, The Big Lebowski. This is a spoiler filled episode. These film club episodes are designed for everyone to watch the movie and then listen or discuss the film. So go ahead and watch The Big Lebowski, then come have a listen. Or maybe it’s one of your favorites already and you can just jump into the conversation.

Available as both an audio podcast and video

Video

https://youtu.be/Pi_y0hsa6_U

Audio Only

https://audioboom.com/posts/8256876-fc-the-big-lebowski

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Review: Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Action, Comedy, Film Reviews, Film Reviews 2023, Genre, Superhero ‐ ‐ February 16, 2023
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Review: <strong>Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania</strong>

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

PG-13  ‧ Action, Adventure, Fantasy, Comedy ‧ 2 Hours 5 Minutes 

Written by Jeff Loveness

Directed by ‎Peyton Reed

THE CAST

Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Jonathan Majors, Michelle Pfeiffer, Michael Douglas, Kathryn Newton, David Dastmalchian, William Jackson Harper, Katy O’Brian, Bill Murray

(L-R): Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man and Kathryn Newton as Cassandra “Cassie” Lang in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

THE STORY

(In their own words) Ant-Man and the Wasp find themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that pushes them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.

THE BEST
The BEST things about the film

  1. Visually stunning. It’s like everyone’s imaginations have just come to life. 

  2. I think it’s the most appropriately funny of the films. While all Marvel has comedy, I feel like Ant-Man is built for it.

  3. Great new villain in Kang the Conqueror. I’m very excited to see where this goes. 

  4. Paul Rudd continues being a very relatable superhero. He gives us that glimmer of hope that we might one day be able to fill his shoes. He’s a regular guy who happens to surround himself with brilliant people who will help him be a better man.

  5. The whole film either met or exceeded my expectations. 

THE WORST

Jonathan Majors as Kang The Conqueror in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

The WORST things about the Film

  1. The beginning of the film is great, as we are learning about the world, then it tapers off a bit quickly and I don’t feel entirely fulfilled by the things I learned. Some of “the world” just wasn’t explained enough. 

  2. While it does a wonderful job of spectacle, I don’t think the film was great for character development. I don’t think any of the characters really changed to any significant degree over the course of the film. It just really squanders the opportunity to elevate it over just another event and be a powerful film.

  3. As much as I liked the film, I feel like it’s starting to feel redundant. It’s like the dopamine hits the films used to provide are just not lasting as long. I’m watching incredible visual films and in the back of my head I’m thinking. Is this it?

  4. I really wanted to get into Kang’s backstory more. If he is being set up as a villain, they really need to show us why he’s doing what he’s doing. The best hero stories really invest the time in developing the villains, and for me, they just didn’t do that in this film.

THE COMMENTS

The MCU has hit a dangerous spot. Endgame was such a masterpiece with so much building to it, it doesn’t seem like that is something it could ever replicate again, but it has to try. They are releasing so much content, it’s hard to keep track. This film should have had a huge wow factor, but as creative as it was, you get the feeling like you’ve seen this before. The introduction of Kang The Conqueror is interesting because he seems to be different. We don’t know completely what is behind his motivations, but it seems to have potential. I really wish they had gotten more into Kang’s backstory, because I wasn’t invested in rooting against him enough. 

(L-R): Paul Rudd as Scott Lang/Ant-Man, Kathryn Newton as Cassandra “Cassie” Lang, Evangeline Lilly as Hope Van Dyne/Wasp in Marvel Studios’ ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2022 MARVEL.

THE LESSON

Keeping secrets is never a good idea. Keep communication going and you won’t accidentally be sucked into the quantum realm. 

IS IT REWATCHABLE

Yes. There’s so much to take in visually, I don’t think you can catch it all at once. 

THE FINAL WORD

A thoroughly entertaining and visual spectacle of a film that is propped up by really solid actors. This film is clearly the set up for the next big phase of Marvel films and you get that the studio really wanted to wow the audience with visuals and potential for the future. Disappointing is the lack of character growth within the story. It’s really a missed opportunity since it was full of such talented actors. Jonathan Majors is excellent with what he is given for the role. I look forward to seeing what he has to offer the franchise and just hope Marvel Studios will not forget what got the films so popular in the first place.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

THE TRAILER

https://youtu.be/ZlNFpri-Y40

THE MEME REVIEW

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Film Club – A Man Called Otto

Comedy, Drama, Film Club, Film Discussions, FIlms ‐ ‐ February 08, 2023
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Film Club – A Man Called Otto

Wake Lloire was Silas’s guest for the inaugural edition of “Film Club”, where Silas discusses guest’s favorite films . This week they discuss a recent movie, A Man Called Otto starring Tom Hanks.

Available in Video and audio-only podcast format below. Subscribe to the ways you like to hear it.

Video

https://youtu.be/lVt06z-d1Fw

Audio Podcast

https://audioboom.com/posts/8244212-film-club-a-man-called-otto-discussion

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Review: Knock At The Cabin

Film Reviews, Film Reviews 2023, Holiday, Thriller ‐ ‐ February 02, 2023
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Review: Knock At The Cabin

Knock At The Cabin (2023)
R ‧ Mystery Horror ‧1 H 40 Minutes
Written by M. Night Shyamalan, Steve Desmond, Michael Sherman
Based on the 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay

Directed by ‎M. Night Shyamalan

(from left) Adriane (Abby Quinn), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird), Leonard (Dave Bautista) and Redmond (Rupert Grint) in Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

THE CAST

  • Dave Bautista as Leonard

  • Jonathan Groff as Eric

  • Ben Aldridge as Andrew

  • Nikki Amuka-Bird as Sabrina

  • Kristen Cui as Wen

  • Abby Quinn as Adriane

  • Rupert Grint as Redmond

THE STORY

(In their own words) While vacationing at a remote cabin in the woods, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand they make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. Confused, scared and with limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

Kristen Cui as Wen in Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

  1. The actors. In particular, Dave Bautista. This is perhaps his best performance yet. He isn’t the only one though, the acting was really good from everyone and  really the entire Ensemble worked really well together.

  2. The story – it was tense, suspenseful, a good balance of thriller and horror, I really wanted to know how it was going to end, and with this Director, I really had no idea which made it extra fun.

  3. The Direction – I really like the way the story was told, bouncing between the current events and back to moments between the parents to learn more about their love for each other and how they got their daughter. The pacing was really nice, the tension and the thrills were constant. I never knew where it was going to go nor could I predict the ending. I genuinely was tense trying to guess how he would end the film. 

(from left) Eric (Jonathan Groff) and Leonard (Dave Bautista) in Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

  1.  It’s very serious and if you are hoping for some comedic moments to break tension, you wont get it.

  2. Do not watch the trailer. Too much given away from the trailer. Your enjoyment will be based on how little you know.

THE REVIEW

Okay, confession time. I am a sucker for apocalypse movies. I don’t know why. Perhaps it’s because of my own fears of the afterlife and confusion with religion, so I embrace these types of films and really try to get into them and find it a source of entertainment rather than fear. I don’t know. So, I went into the film wanting to like it. I mean, I do most of the time, but I have a fondness for M. Night Shyamalan, so this was extra. This was more of a, “don’t disappoint me, M., and I’ll like it. And I wasn’t disappointed and I really liked it. 

For me, there’s a lot to like about this film. The acting is solid, the story is interesting, the pacing moves fast, and we get a morality tale and discussion points. It really hits all the points well that I like in a movie. I think this is in the upper half of M. Night Shyamalan films.

I really can’t say too much about the film without giving away important points. If this was a baseball game, I think the film hit a standing double. I think it will be rewatchable and age well. While it has tone of a lot of the director’s previous movies, he does some things differently that are an improvement.

And NOT SPOILING……even after a full day to think about it….I really like the ending. Not everyone will, but I really did. 

(from left) Leonard (Dave Bautista) and Wen (Kristen Cui, back to camera) in Knock at the Cabin, directed by M. Night Shyamalan.

THE LESSON

Less of a lesson and more of something to think about; What will you sacrifice for love and what won’t you. 

IS IT REWATCHABLE

Yes. And unlike a lot of M. Night Shyamalan films, the whole film doesn’t rely on some giant twist. That would make it less enjoyable the next time. 

THE FINAL WORD

M. Night Shyamalan delivers a solid, tense, thriller/horror that stays within the spirit of his previous works, but also packs a punch without relying on his old tricks. David Bautista is a stand out performer in this with his best performance to date. This terrific ensemble gives us a fast paced pending apocalypse story that will keep you wondering how this will end all the way to the last moment. While this may not be Shyamalan’s best work, it’s probably in the upper half of his filmography. 

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

Knock At The Cabin gets a Like It.

THE TRAILER

https://youtu.be/gv_QhoUy-xc

THE MEME REVIEW

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Review: When You Finish Saving The World

Film Reviews, Film Reviews 2023 ‐ ‐ January 20, 2023
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Review: When You Finish Saving The World

When You Finish Saving The World  (2023)
R ‧  Coming-Of-Age Comedy-Drama ‧ 1 H 28 M
Written by Jesse Eisenberg

Directed by ‎Jesse Eisenberg

THE CAST

  • Julianne Moore as Evelyn Katz

  • Finn Wolfhard as Ziggy Katz

  • Alisha Boe as Lila

  • Jay O. Sanders as Roger Katz

  • Billy Bryk as Kyle

  • Eleonore Hendricks as Angie

THE STORY

(In their own words) Evelyn and her oblivious son Ziggy seek out replacements for each other as Evelyn desperately tries to parent an unassuming teenager at her shelter, while Ziggy fumbles through his pursuit of a brilliant young woman at school.

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

  1. The Acting – Each of the actors does a really good job, especially Juilianne Moore. I was really impressed with the earnestness with which she pursued trying to become important to this young man because of the rejection she felt from her own son. Her performance is very clear, specific and she’s a pleasure to watch.

  2. The Writing – The script on this was really good. I really liked the way the relationships were created. I like the dynamics it created with the relationships that both Evelyn and Ziggy are trying to create. They are trying to force bonds with new people when they could simply be trying to repair the relationships they already have.

  3. The Direction – The film was really nicely paced and had some quite wonderful moments. The director really allowed the scenes to play out and let us discover who these people are. It is a carefully crafted story, yet feels very natural.

  4. The characters – These characters are ones that stick with you. When thinking back to the film, what really stands out is their behaviors and wrestling with what happens between each of them. Each member of the family is broken in subtle, relatable ways. The combination of the writing of the script and the performances of the actors really created some memorable characters.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

  1. It’s not an exciting film, but I don’t mean it is in any way boring. It just definitely leans on the side of exploration of characters. It’s helping to understand.

  2. There’s not enough backstory of how the family go to the way they are now.

THE LESSON

There isn’t a replacement for what you already have. 

IS IT REWATCHABLE?

Yes

THE FINAL WORD

A finely crafted film featuring nuanced performances, well-paced scenes, wonderful moments, and complex characters. The film sticks with you a little bit longer than you expect. Julianne Moore has an exceptional performance as a mother who can manage other people’s crises but not her own family.  First-time feature film director Jesse Eisenberg also penned the script and shows he can deliver a first-rate, personal, funny, and memorable movie. 

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

When You Finish Saving The World gets a Like It.

THE TRAILER

https://youtu.be/XbgJPKFxHXI

THE MEME REVIEW

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Review: Alice, Darling

Film Reviews ‐ ‐ January 16, 2023
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Review: Alice, Darling

Alice, Darling (2023)
R ‧ Psychological Drama/Thriller ‧ 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Written by Alanna Francis

Directed by ‎Mary Nighy

THE CAST

Anna Kendrick, Kaniehtiio Horn, Charlie Carrick, and Wunmi Mosaku.

THE STORY

(In their own words) In ALICE, DARLING, Oscar® nominee Anna Kendrick (Up in the Air) is Alice in this taut thriller about a woman pushed to the breaking point by her psychologically abusive boyfriend, Simon. While on vacation with two close girlfriends, Alice rediscovers the essence of herself and gains some much-needed perspective. Slowly, she starts to fray the cords of codependency that bind her. But Simon’s vengeance is as inevitable as it is shattering – and, once unleashed, it tests Alice’s strength, her courage, and the bonds of her deep-rooted friendships.

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

  1. Seeing Anna Kendrick in a very different role. I haven’t seen her do this emotional of a role before, one where she gets to dive into a character that is suffering from her current extremely unhealthy relationship. I think she does a fine job. 

  1. It jumps right in the middle of Alice’s story. You don’t see a lot of films that choose to do this part of an emotionally abusive story. Usually you see the start of the relationship and watch some of the time together and then watch them get out. Which really rushes the film. By starting with her in the midst of it, you are forced to focus on the after effects of the relationship without concern about why she got into it in the first place. It’s a refreshingly different choice for this type of movie and makes it stand out from the trappings of an often-told story.

  2. The intimacy of the film. This is a small cast. I really enjoy watching films with not a lot of actors as the main focus. There are other people in the film, but they are incidental interactions. This film gives a lot of opportunity for the actors to really play and act off of each other in longer scenes. 

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

  1. We never really get a chance to find out “why”. We want to know why Alice got into this situation and the steps it took to find herself in it. We get hints about what she was like before, but never learn what attracted her to Simon in the first place. In this type of film, we as the audience are looking for a clear lesson or warning that others can take away to not end up in the situation. But this isn’t a film that shows us the red flags early on, we are already in battle when the film starts.

  2. The film tries to bill itself as a thriller, but the way it plays out, it really feels more like a psychological drama. A lot of the ‘thrill” of it is a misdirection from the marketing and trailer. While Alice is definitely heightened in her nervousness and intensity, I wouldn’t call the film or story itself a thriller. 

THE LESSON

Friendships remind you of not just who you were, but how safe you feel when you are able to be yourself. 

IS IT REWATCHABLE

Yes.

THE FINAL WORD

Anna Kendrick does a fine job in an unexpected role playing a woman trying to reconnect with friends while in the midst of an emotionally abusive relationship. The film is very honest, accurate, tense, and at times, uncomfortable to watch. While it isn’t a profound film, its importance lies in seeing the trauma that this kind of relationship can have on someone. The film will be very triggering for some but possibly cathartic in watching a shared experience.  There’s a lot to like about this film; the writing, the performances, yet somehow I ended feeling like I only got half a story. I’m unsure whether that is the fault of the script or the fault of my expectations for what the story should be. 

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It. 

Alice, Darling gets a Like It. 

THE TRAILER

https://www.youtube.com/embed/2D2ZRfqKUD4

THE MEME REVIEW

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