I know people think critics are at our computers relishing every chance we get to tear into popular films. We are like the evil mad scientists of the arts world. Alas I must be a weirdo because I much prefer championing films, especially small underdogs, rather than tearing them down.
That said. I will always be honest. No matter how beloved a film or franchise may be I will tell my readers what I actually think- good or bad. Unfortunately today is on the negative side. I saw Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes which is a sequel to previous trilogy in the series. For the record, I enjoyed the Andy Serkis led trilogy especially Dawn of the Planet of the Apes(it has one of my all time favorite movie scenes when Gary Oldman’s character is able to turn on his ipad and see photos of his kids. Devastating.) The last in the trilogy, War for the Planet of the Apes, was a little overwrought and heavy-handed but the characters were compelling enough for me to stay invested.
Such was not the case with the new Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes. I cannot overstate how uninterested I was in the story for this one. It’s not really that it was slow (which it is) but the nice bird monkey fighting with the fascist monkey was the opposite of compelling. I obviously won’t spoil anything but suffice it to say they did not make me care about what was happening with this old human electrical plant or the rants of the fascist monkey. It was so boring.
The other problem is (aside from a cameo) Andy Serkis isn’t in this film and you can tell. He is a master at creating emotion and a full performance in motion capture. These actors portraying the apes aren’t nearly so gifted. It’s similar to the problems of 2019’s The Lion King with animals coming off as flat, bland and emotion-free as possible. Unfortunately the human characters are even worse with Freya Allan being completely bland in the lead role of Mae. It would be one thing if she is supposed to be a feral type human creature but she’s vocal and has a personality- just not much of one.
I seem to be in the minority on Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and far be it for me to deny people the joys of watching animals fight over a power plant. However, I certainly didn’t get it. Honestly I’d prefer the Tim Burton version of this story. At least that is bad in more interesting ways (and it’s bad.) I couldn’t wait for it to be over.
3 out of 10
Frown Worthy
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I can’t believe next month will mark my 100th entry in this Blind Spot series! What a fun journey this has been! And it’s been made recently even cooler by my friend Manda joining me to talk about the movies each month on my podcast. I really value her friendship and love talking to her about these films.
This month we have the Western classic from director Sergio Leone entitled The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Whether Eli Wallach as Tuco is ugly may be up for debate but I think you could easily call all 3 “The Bad.” Referring to anyone as “The Good” in this movie is a bit of a stretch. That’s for sure!
Last year I reviewed A Fistful of Dollars for blind spot and found it to be a stronger entry from Leone than this one. First of all it is a lot shorter so that makes it more palatable and it has a lot more memorable lines than this one. My favorite line from this one is “when you have to shoot, shoot. Don’t talk”
Still you have to admire the craft that is on display in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. The incredible long tracking shots and brutal violence have obviously been very influential on many modern directors and were masterfully done by Leone. Also the iconic score by Ennio Morricone is one of the most famous in film history.
The ending with Blondie shooting Tuco off the noose is also very memorable. “You’re a dirty SOB” and he is so it all works!
If you love Westerns than you will enjoy any movie from Leone including The Good The Bad and The Ugly. I’m glad I checked it off my blind spot list and I suppose I will have to watch A Few Dollars More next year (I realize I got the order totally messed up! Oh well.)
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It’s always nice in months like April when releases slow down a bit and us critics can catch up on some smaller films and indies that we might miss in the busyness of the summer season. Today I have 3 recent films to report on and will let you know how they succeed in telling their unique stories.
Challengers
Challengers is the new film from Luca Guadagnino and it’s one of those movies that’s hard for me to write about because I think it is just ok. I liked it as a sports movie and competitive rivalry narrative than I did as an erotic thriller. In fact, it was not the spicy movie the trailers had led me to expect. Most of the sensuality in the film stays squarely on a pg13 level with the R rated elements coming from a locker-room scene and language more than the sensuality. Of course, this is fine but I just felt the trailers had led me to expect an escapist romance and that’s not really what you get.
That said the 3 actors Zendaya, Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist have terrific chemistry and the competitive side of it is compelling- how each member of their friendship group tries to one up each other and it’s hard to determine who is in control over the course of the movie.
The movie would be much better if it was trimmed down from 131 minutes to 90 minutes. It screams of a tighter edit as many scenes are repetitive and we start to care less about the characters. The score is memorable by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, however, it can be overwhelming at times. I don’t know anything about tennis but the games all looked convincing to me and I was drawn into the matches. It’s just the tit-for-tat of the romance that could have been more exciting. It’s probably one you could wait and rent if it sounds interesting to you.
5 out of 10
Frown Worthy
Hard Miles
Hard Miles is another athlete movie coming out this week which is worth checking out. I’m a sucker for an inspirational true sports story and there is a nice one at the core of this film. I wish it was a little sweeter and cuddlier but that’s not the kind of movie they were trying to make.
Matthew Modine plays Greg Townsend a social worker at a juvenile detention center who decides to take some of his teens on a bike ride from Denver to the Grand Canyon. This helps them believe in themselves and come together as a group.
The adult cast is very strong in Hard Miles with Modine capturing a flawed but determined leader. Sean Astin and Cynthia Kaye McWilliams are fine supporting players. By the end we want these boys to succeed and make something of their lives and its gratifying to see them climb every mountain on those bikes.
The only downside to the movie is that it feels too long and in particular takes forever for the cycling to start. Some of the acting from the boys wasn’t on the level of the older actors. However, it’s definitely worth seeing for the performances and gritty true story.
7 out of 10
Smile Worthy
My Divorce Party
The last few years we’ve gotten a number of films about female friendship and for the most part I’ve enjoyed them. Last year I particularly enjoyed Joy Ride which I found surprisingly sweet along with the raunchy humor. Even this year we already have the disappointing Drive-Away Dolls which was all about female friendship.
The latest entry is My Divorce Party which is written and directed by Heidi Weitzer and stars Desiree Staples in the lead role. Staples plays Xan a woman who is sick of her marriage and decides she wants to burn all her assets in a divorce party with her friends so that her ex-husband will not have access to it. Her friends gather with her over the weekend for the Divorce Party and talk her off the ledge, convincing her there is life after divorce.
A movie like this depends so much on the cast and this one is strong with the likes of Rumer Willis and Laith Ashley. It’s also filmed with energy and color that makes it pleasing to watch. Obviously a film like this is on a small budget but I had a good time with it. Not every joke lands but enough do that it works as a comedy. Most importantly the friends group felt real and authentic. There is a particularly funny gag about an eagle statue I won’t spoil but trust me- it works.
My Divorce Party would be a great movie to watch with your girlfriends and reminisce about the good and bad times that you’ve been through together. It’s worth checking out.
7 out of 10
Smile worthy
(I interviewed Desire and Heidi for Hallmarkies Podcast and it was super fun. Look for it coming out next week here)
So there you have it. 3 new movies to check out. Let me know what you think if you get to see any of them.
If you enjoy my writing please support me on patreon and you will get some great perks along the way! I cannot do it all on my own. Please take a look at the patreon here.
This time of year is always an interesting time for movieogers. It’s a bit too early for summer blockbusters (even though that’s getting earlier and earlier each year) and past the point for Oscar season. Instead it ends up a mishmash of genres and ideas and sometimes some of them end up being some of my favorite movies of the year. Today I have 3 movies to talk about and it ended up being 3 films I enjoyed.
Spy x Family Code: White
It’s always a tricky thing going into an anime film without having seen the series the movie is based on. However, some of the franchises are more stand-alone than others. Spy x Family Code: White is one of the more accessible entries (My Hero Academia is the gold standard in that department.) It’s a lot of energy for nearly 2 hours but overall I found it to be pretty cute.
It’s basically about a fake family that are living undercover executing a mission called Operation Strix. Through various contrivances they end up on the run from military antagonists who are upset when the little girl Anya eats an important piece of microfilm.
I highly doubt Spy x Family will win over anti-anime skeptics because it is big and loud and doesn’t take much of a second to breathe. That said it’s also funny and especially the last act the action is visceral and exciting. I enjoyed it but I can see that it won’t be for everyone. I could have done without all the toilet humor. That’s something you usually don’t see in anime but I suppose they were trying to entertain the little kids.
If you are looking for chases, races and some energetic animation you’ll have a good time with Spy x Family Code: White.
6 out of 10
Smile Worthy
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
I must admit I am not the biggest fan of director Guy Ritchie. Often his stylistic choices get in the way of decent stories and entertaining performances. I particularly haven’t liked his period piece work in films like his Sherlock Holmes movies and his King Arthur movie. No thanks. It is for these reasons I was skeptical going into The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare. It’s a period piece in WWII and I anticipated Ritchie’s annoying use of shaky cam and slow motion to make a good story hard to watch.
Well, to my surprise the director held back on those signature touches I don’t care for and actually produced an entertaining and engaging film. While one should not look to this film for historical accuracy it was a good, campy fun time at the cinema.
Loosely based on a true story of an underground operation organized by Winston Churchill that had the mission to stop the supply boats for the German U-boats, which were stopping American ships from getting to Europe to assist England with the war.
I really enjoyed the crew Ritchie assembles for this operation with huge charisma from the likes of Henry Golding, Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson and Alex Pettyfer. Elza Gonzalez is fine as the femme fatale used to tempt the German officers but her scenes at times stopped the fun action which was the highlight of the film.
There isn’t much attempt to be realistic with our band of merry men wiping out Germans like they were playing at target practice but if that doesn’t bother you it’s an entertaining action romp. I liked it way more than I expected.
7.5 out of 10
Smile Worthy
Musica
And now for the new release you probably haven’t heard of but should absolutely watch it’s called Musica. If this isn’t in my top 10 of the year than we have had an amazing year of film. I absolutely loved this creative, whimsical, romantic look into a creative’s mind and heart.
Written, directed and starring Rudy Mancuso he takes you into his experience with synesthesia which is a neurological condition where you are highly aware of your senses. In the case of Rudy everything around him is a rhythm or a music. I am sure this is a highly cinematic version of this condition but it makes for some enchanting scenes of the world coming alive around Rudy through music.
Meanwhile Rudy is trying to figure out his job, his Brazilian culture and his relationship with a woman named Isabella played by Camilla Mendes (they met while filming and are currently dating which explains their endearing chemistry.)
Musica is hopeful, positive and a burst of creativity and at only 91 minutes it doesn’t outstay its welcome. I wish I had seen it at SXSW because it is not getting a theatrical release. Still, I hope you watch it on Amazon prime as it is a truly special experience. I am so excited because I am intervivewing Rudy on Wednesday. Keep an eye on Hallmarkies Podcast for that interview.
9 out of 10
Smile Worthy
So there you have it. What have you been watching? If you’ve seen any of these films let me know what you think.
If you enjoy my writing please support me on patreon and you will get some great perks along the way! I cannot do it all on my own. Please take a look at the patreon here.
Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. I haven’t updated in a bit because I’ve been sick and busy with taxes and other responsibilities. (Also one of these films I really struggled with my thoughts on it so have been procrastinating but I will do my best.)
First up I had a 4 movie day at the Megaplex on April 2nd so I was able to catch up on some of the movies I’d missed while at SXSW and when I was sick. I did a video review on these 4
In summary Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is an overstuffed mess, Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire is a boring entry in the disappointing franchise with very little Godzilla! Challengers is a good sports/competition movie but not as sexy as the trailers are making it seem. Felt a little repetitive after a while but I’m not a sports/tennis person. Lastly, Luca is an underrated delight and I loved getting to see it again on the big screen (I was fortunate to see it once before at Animation is Film Festival.)
Someone Like You
Someone Like You is one of those movies that I didn’t love but I do think there is an audience for this type of film. It’s what a lot of people think Hallmark movies are like but they actually rarely are (not many dramas on Hallmark.) It’s more along the lines of a Nicholas Sparks type movie which I know can be very popular. My friend Terry and I just did a ranking episode of all the Sparks movies and that was a lot of fun. This looks nice, with beautiful people and it tries to tug at the heartstrings with lots of death and walks by the water.
The thing I didn’t like about Someone Like You is I think it is too long. It really should clock in at the 80-90 minute mark and it goes to nearly 2 hours. Also, the way they treat egg donation as on the same level as a fully birthed adoption was really strange to me. I guess that’s the way some Christians view it but they were acting like she had found her actual parents by finding out who donated the genetic material that her Mom carried and birthed into her. The way they kept talking about egg adoption was just very unfamiliar to me and not how I view the process and kept catching me off guard.
All that said, if you are Christian and like Sparksian type narratives (this is by fellow cheese-provider Karen Kingsbury) give it a try. You’ll probably like it.
6 out of 10
Smile Worthy
Civil War
The new film by Alex Garland, Civil War, is the one I have really struggled on what my feelings with it are. Even as I am writing I’m not entirely sure whether I will go smile or frown worthy on it. I will try to figure it out as I write.
What’s interesting is Garland has made 2 previous films I did not like. Annihilation was ponderous with too many ideas and Men was one of the most unpleasant and heavy-handed movies of recent memory. Going into Civil War I was expecting an annoying and preachy movie that would be more of what I haven’t enjoyed in his previous films.
To my surprise instead I got a rather safe film that has engaging scenes but left me kind of hollow and empty in the end. The weirdest part is in an election year having almost no metaphors to our current politics within the civil war at the head of this movie. It might as well be in the Hunger Games for how dissimilar it is to our current situation.
That said there are some tense scenes with the journalists that are covering this dystopian fake war. All the acting is good especially a bone-chilling scene with Jesse Plemons. I said in my out of theater response that Civil War felt like one of the Olympus Has Fallen movies but with an A24 skin over it and I stand by that.
While I think that is an interesting choice, I don’t know if it is one I can really recommend. If Garland does make another movie maybe next time he can come somewhere in between this and Men and have the perfect film? Good luck to him
5 out of 10
Frown Worthy
One Life
One Life is what I like to call a Sunday movie. It’s the kind of wholesome feel-good movie I could watch with my parents on a Sunday and they’d love. I really enjoyed it and was able to watch it on VOD if you can’t get out to the theater (I was sick.)
The film tells the story of Nicholas Winton who between 1938-1939 saved thousands of children out of the now Czech Republic from the Nazis. Anthony Hopkins plays an older Winton who was reunited with the now adult children he saved in an episode of That’s Life! in 1988.
Johnny Flynn puts in another dynamic performance (underrated actor!) as the young Winton and Helena Bonham Carter is wonderful as his Mother.
Surprisingly I actually knew about this story because it was part of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas presentation they did with Sir David Suchet which I was grateful to be able to attend.
It’s nice when Hollywood occasionally makes a movie about an ordinary but good person and that’s the case with One Life. It’s a little dry in spots but I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it.
8 out of 10
Smile Worthy
Housekeeping for Beginners
Housekeeping for Beginners is one of those movies that the title can be a bit confusing. I knew nothing about the plot going into it and assumed from the title it was going to be a sweet family story. There’s an air of whimsy to the title but it actually is a very sad gut-wrenching family story. It’s well done but lays on the trauma narrative pretty thickly.
The film is directed and written by Goran Stolevski and was Macedonia’s submission for the 2023 Oscars. It tells the story of a woman who’s girlfriend dies and leaves her with 2 children to raise. There’s a young man that also lives with them and another man who becomes her fake (and also gay) husband to help take care of the children.
There’s lots of drama going on with all these people and personalities but I was mostly engaged. If you are in the mood for a totally different tear jerker than Someone Like You than you might appreciate it. I thought it was just ok.
6 out of 10
Smile Worthy
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Any regular traveler will tell you that some trips feel cursed or at best don’t turn out the way we have planned. This was basically my experience with the second half of my SXSW trip and in fact I’ve been hesitant to write about it at all because I didn’t want to appear ungrateful or rude. I think I made the best of things and I’m beyond appreciative of my friends and their support but it was a frustrating experience.
The main problem started a couple of days into the visit when I noticed myself dragging and starting to have the basic symptoms of hay fever. It’s weird because I’ve been to Texas twice before, including last year for the festival, without many problems but allergies can be weirdly random like that. I did take a covid test to make sure I wasn’t contagious and it was negative.
My trip was a long one at 9 days and as each day commenced I got more sickly with eventually my eye puffing up and getting swollen and red. I could get some momentary relief from medicine but then I felt tired and groggy which is not ideal for attending a film festival. It was just a big bummer and I wish things could have turned out differently but that’s life.
Even a week later I am still purging my body from the effects of the outbreak I experienced. This is why I haven’t reviewed the new Godzilla or Ghostbusters movies. I can only do so much and people don’t like when someone is sniffling in the theater.
Anyway, I say all of this to give context to the last part of my SXSW reviews. I’m not going to upload them to rottentomatoes because I felt like garbage and was sleepy and not at my best for the viewing experience. While I still think I got an overall feeling for the movies it’s not fair to those that worked so hard to give them a weakened watch.
All that said here goes:
Animated Shorts
Animated shorts at festivals like SXSW are always a bit of a mixed bag. While I enjoy supporting the animators they are often too arthouse and strange for my taste. These 10 were no exception. My favorite was probably Bug Diner and Sweetmeats but I wasn’t in love with any of them. At least they were better than most of the Academy nominated shorts this year (especially the winner!)
5 out of 10
Frown Worthy
The Greatest Hits
I really like the premise for this new film but it may have just been my fatigued condition at the time but it didn’t really draw me in like I was hoping. It stars Lucy Boynton as a young woman who can time travel through songs to different spots in her relationships especially with her ex who died in a tragic accident. At first she is trying to save her love but then things get more complicated when she meets a new beau in the present and then must decide whether going back is still wise.
The music is obviously a big draw to this film and it is fun to see David Corenswet in a few scenes as he is going to be the new Superman going forward. It just felt like they didn’t do enough interesting things with the premise and the characters kept having the same conversations over and over again. I wasn’t as engaged as I thought I would be but I plan on giving it a rewatch when it comes to hulu and seeing how I feel well rested. We will see
5.5 out of 10
Frown Worthy
Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story
Next up I got to see the first episode in a documentary series on hulu entitled Thank you, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story. This is your standard musician biodoc but I enjoyed it and it was fun to have the whole band there and then doing a Q&A. I’d definitely watch the remaining episodes which I think is a good test. I hope the other entries go more into other members of the band and not just Jon. Even so, I had a good time with this documentary.
6 out of 10
Smile Worthy
How Music Got Free
Back in the late 90s I got super into the whole Napster/music thing. At the time I didn’t view it as serious. It was no different than borrowing an album from my friend which I did all the time. However it obviously had insane repercussions. This documentary, How Music Got Free, goes through the impact on the industry with interviews from the people involved. It’s all quite interesting and one people around my age should enjoy.
The only major problem with this documentary is the narration was really corny and hurt the overall flow for the film. It made it all have a cheesy and cheap feel to it. Still, it was interesting enough to recommend.
6 out of 10
Smile Worthy
The last one is called The In Between and this has some things going for it. I like that it was made by 2 siblings after their bother died and chronicles the life of various citizens in Eagle Pass, Texas. The problem was most of vignettes felt pointless and I kept wanting them to get back to the siblings and how they were dealing with their grief. That was the most interesting and poignant aspect. Not watching random people play soccer or run a parade. I get you need some of that to establish tone and atmosphere but the ratio was off.
5 out of 10
Frown Worthy
So there you have it. Those are the films I saw at SXSW Film Festival. Make sure you check out part 1 where I was less sick for those films. I hope you all are avoiding most of the allergies this season and having a wonderful spring!
Thanks to the Chandlers and Whitmans for having me and helping me when I wasn’t feeling great. Sure love you all
If you enjoy my writing please support me on patreon and you will get some great perks along the way! Especially for things like festival coverage I cannot do it all on my own. Please take a look at the patreon here.
Many people are shocked to find out I have never seen any of the John Wick movies. The first one came out in 2014 and as I’m not the biggest fan of strong violence and wasn’t a critic then I didn’t watch it. Then by the time I was reviewing films as a professional critic it was 2019 and the 3rd movie was coming out. It’s overwhelming to catch up on so many movies so I just never watched them. Now for this blind spot series I have seen the first movie from 2014.
I think the biggest asset you can take away from John Wick (2014) is the old adage to keep it simple stupid. Action movies these days have often gotten increasingly convoluted with AI, staring at screens and other mumbo-jumbo. This makes something like John Wick appealing. It’s a simple revenge story where a hitman is on a rampage after his wife is killed as well as their beloved puppy. We don’t get deep inside John or learn much about who he is or what he wants out of life. His motivations are simple, pure and easy to understand.
The one thing did surprise me, however, is how much of the movie takes place at night or in dimly lit night clubs. This is no doubt due to the small budget of 20-30 million as dark scenes camouflage a lot of flaws. For the most part this works with the overall aesthetic as John Wick is the hitman in black with a gun but it did negate some of the wow power of these scenes for me at least.
You could also feel the budget in the cheap stock footage they use for the transitions of New York City but all that doesn’t matter because John is a compelling character and has a simple yet satisfying arc. I mean they killed his beloved dog! Who can’t root for such a man?
7 out of 10
If you enjoy my writing please support me on patreon and you will get some great perks along the way! I cannot do it all on my own. Please take a look at the patreon here.
It’s always fun when we get new rom-coms both in streaming and the theaters. Even if they don’t entirely work I like to see more content coming out in the genre and more risks being taken on different projects. So today let’s talk about 2 of the recently released films: Irish Wish and French Girl.
First up we have the new comedy starring Lindsay Lohan entitled Irish Wish. This is the second time Lohan has worked with Michael and Janeen Damien. The first time being 2022’s Falling for Christmas. In both movies the team capture a comedic energy that hails back to the old age of screwball romantic comedies. I can see why some critics say these movies are too silly or unrealistic but that is decidedly missing the point of this type of comedy.
In Irish Wish we have Lohan playing Maddie an editor who wants to become a writer but she has her heart set on marrying an author named Paul Kennedy who has taken her editing and writing skills for granted. When she is in Ireland for his wedding to her best friend she makes a wish that she is marrying him instead which when it comes true causes all kind of pandemonium.
Meanwhile Ed Speleers plays a photographer named James who meet-cutes it with Maddie before the alternate reality and who she is actually supposed to be with.
Like I said, what makes something like Irish Wish work is how it embraces its screwball comedy roots. We have Lohan diving into convertible cars and doing flips around Ireland. We have weddings being interrupted and over-the-top chases and races. It makes for a very amusing and enjoyable 2 hours of television and it doesn’t hurt that Speleers and Lohan have terrific chemistry.
My only qualm with the movie is they make it seem like her proposing instead of Paul in the alternate dimension is a huge red flag. It’s perfectly acceptable for the woman to propose these days so they probably should have gone with something else. Also Jane Seymour is used strangely as Lohan’s Mother.
Still I had fun with Irish Wish and look forward to what Janeen, Michael and Lindsay have in store for us next.
6 out of 10
Smile Worthy
FRENCH GIRL
While screwball comedies are a type of romantic comedy I typically enjoy supposedly elevated rom-coms like French Girl are decidedly not. The problem with movies like this is it attempts to tell a more complex or realistic love story but in so doing it ends up unpleasant with a lead couple we aren’t even rooting for- or at least I wasn’t.
French Girl tells the story of a schleppy teacher Gordon (Zach Braff) who is in love with a French-Canadian chef named Sophie (Evelyne Brochu.) When she goes back to Quebec to test with her former flame Ruby (Vanessa Hudgens) Gordon is riddled with all kinds of insecurities and jealousy and the whole thing is tedious and unpleasant.
So much of the conflict between Gordon and Sophie could be resolved by a simple conversation but instead they immediately start making out on the waterbed. Sophie ends up having more chemistry with Ruby but they are never really shown outside of a work setting which makes their interactions awkward.
They try to have some slapstick with Gordon and Sophie’s dead grandma but none of it lands and he becomes more needy and unlikable as the movie progresses. You honestly have no idea what Sophie sees in this sad sack guy.
In the end French Girl felt long, drawn out and just not very romantic or exciting. it’s a shame because it had potential but it goes unrealized.
4 out of 10
Frown Worthy
If you enjoy my writing please support me on patreon and you will get some great perks along the way! Especially for things like festival coverage I cannot do it all on my own. Please take a look at the patreon here.
Now that we’ve got the non-festival films out of the way let’s talk about what I’ve seen so far at SXSW. I wish I could do full posts on each of these films but I just don’t have the time right now. Perhaps I will down the road but here goes:
We Were Dangerous
I was a little nervous going into We Were Dangerous that it would be too intense for my taste (especially as the start to the festival) but it actually balances its competing tones quite well.
I don’t know if it is based on a true story but it is about a group of New Zealand teens in 1954 that are sent to a reform camp run by a cruel and sadistic matron. Eventually they plot their escape and the whole thing becomes quite thrilling and empowering.
All the girls are great and their chemistry feels natural and lived-in. Rima Te Wiata is unbelievable as the matron. There are so many times when I thought she was going to break and show some humanity and then she would double down on her cruelty. It is a very well calibrated performance- one could call her the New Zealand Nurse Ratched!
We Were Dangerous was a strong start to the festival, and I highly recommend checking it out when you get a chance.
8 out of 10
Smile Worthy
Whatever It Takes
The title Whatever It Takes doesn’t really sell the wild story of this documentary well. It should be called Stalked by Ebay or something like that. Anyway, it tells the story of an internet blogging couple who begin getting stalked by angry commenters online but it goes beyond online. They receive bizarre packages like cockroaches and a pigs head and are followed around their town. It was crazy and as the investigators start looking into it they find it goes way high up the Ebay chain of command.
I don’t know if we needed the complete lesson on the history of Ebay. going back to the 90s but when it is focused on the investigation it is gripping and as someone who has faced much milder internet-based violence I related to it quite strongly. People hide behind a screen and it can be terrifying.
7 out of 10
Smile Worthy
Diane Warren: Relentless-
Last year I had the privilege of covering the red carpet for the Disney Plus show A Small Lightat SXSW and I was hoping to have a similar experience this year but at first no opportunities came up. Then yesterday I got a surprise chance to cover the new documentary about song writer Diane Warren and I raced over to the venue in record time!
If you didn’t know Diane Warren is a song writer who has written some of the biggest pop hits of the last 30 years and she has been nominated for Oscars 15 times without a win (she has an honorary Oscar but no competitive.) I am working on the red carpet coverage video as we speak but it was a cool experience to get to meet Diane and she said my question was a good one (I’m not a trained journalist so that felt good!)
Anyway, the documentary Diane Warren: Relentless is a serviceable biodoc about her life and unlikely journey to become a hit-maker. I like these kind of Behind the Music style documentaries so I enjoyed it. However, I was surprised how focused on the Oscars she was and how the movie having an original song felt like a bit of a cheap ploy for her to finally win. Things like that have to happen organically. If it feels forced she will be less likely to win but this doc was entertaining enough for music and movie fans.
6 out of 10
Smile Worthy
Monkey Man
Next up we have the world premiere of the new action film starring (and directed/written) by Dev Patel called Monkey Man. I am probably the only person in that audience who hasn’t seen any of the John Wick movies so this isn’t exactly a genre of movies I’m super familiar with. However, I still found this to be a well made and exciting action movie.
I’ve been a big fan of Dev Patel for a long time and he is so charismatic and strong her in the lead. He said his goal was to be an underdog on a mission and he succeeds with this goal. There is almost never a moment where it doesn’t feel like his character is outmatched by his opponents but he keeps going. He was clearly influenced by The Raid but this had more mythology and story attached to it with the myth of the Monkeyman giving him confidence to go after the crooked people who killed his Mother.
Monkey Man is very well shot with long kinetic action sequences that are very exciting. I do wish from time to time he had widened the shots to give more scope to the fights but I’m sure especially action fans will have a blast with this movie. I also loved his use of color and creative camera techniques to tell the story. If you’re an action fan I highly recommend this one.
7 out of 10
Smile Worthy
The Fall Guy
Now for an action movie I did not like we have The Fall Guy starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt. I was very excited to see this film. In fact, it was my most anticipated movie of 2024. Perhaps my expectations were too high but the trailer really sold me on their chemistry and I was hopeful for a new action romance in the vein of Knight and Day or Romancing the Stone. Sadly it did not deliver on this potential and I left extremely disappointed.
The main problem with the movie is director David Leitch gives little purpose to much of the action he throws at us for nearly 2 hours (it felt much longer than that.) This makes it feel like we are seeing a stuntman highlight reel rather than an actual movie and I can do that on youtube for a couple of minutes of my time not hours.
The other big mistake is the movie is sold on its rom-com elements but then Leitch separates Blunt and Gosling for most of the movie! It makes all the mindless inane action dividing them feel all the more frustrating because they do have good chemistry- if only they were actually together on screen more!
Again I wanted to like The Fall Guy but instead I left bored and underwhelmed. What a disappointment!
4 out of 10
Frown Worthy
So there we have it. That’s SXSW so far! I hope the rest of the festival has more gems hidden in there. I will make sure to tell you about them in my next update.
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