MOVIE REVIEW: THE NORTHMAN

 

Prince Amleth is on the verge of becoming a man when his father is brutally murdered by his uncle, who kidnaps the boy's mother. Two decades later, Amleth is now a Viking who raids Slavic villages. He soon meets a seeress who reminds him of his vow -- save his mother, kill his uncle, avenge his father.

Director: Robert Eggers

Cast:  Alexander Skarsgård; Nicole Kidman; Claes Bang; Anya Taylor-Joy; Ethan Hawke; Björk; Willem Dafoe

Release Date: April 22, 2022 

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, History, Thriller

Rated R for strong bloody violence, some sexual content and nudity

Runtime: 2h 16m

Review:

The Northman is a visually striking, blood soaked, revenge epic that's sure to leave an impression long after the film's finished.  Robert Eggers most expensive film to date is also his most accessible with a straightforward Viking Hamlet tome that still allows him to engage in his signature folklore flourishes.  Eggers peppers his film with paganistic mythology which pairs perfectly with the imposing Irish vistas subbing in for Iceland.  There's a brutishly beautiful tone set from the start and maintained for the duration which plays like a grimier Gladiator with sprinkles of Clash of the Titans and Excalibur.  Alexander Skarsgård is a hulking mass of revenge whose intensity screams through the screen the moment he appears.  Its not necessarily a challenging role since there's not much depth to his character, none of the characters in the film are, but Skarsgård still makes for a imposing and engaging figure.  Anya Taylor-Joy channels a more mature version of her character from The Witch which makes for a fascinating turn even if her and Skarsgård don't share much onscreen chemistry.  Ethan Hawke, Björk and Willem Dafoe have small supporting turns which adds texture to the film.  Nicole Kidman also has a small but pivotal role that gives her a scene that allows to flex her incredible talent.  The Northman may not have the thematic depth and reach of Robert Eggers first two films but that doesn't make it anymore impactful memorable due in large part to his creative vision.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: FANTASTIC BEAST: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE

 

Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald's growing legion of followers.

Director: David Yates

Cast:  Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Callum Turner, Jessica Williams, Katherine Waterston, Mads Mikkelsen

Release Date: April 15, 2022 

Genre: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Rated PG-13 for some fantasy action/violence.

Runtime: 2h 22m

Review:

Fantastic Beast: The Secrets of Dumbledore, the third entry in this prequel series, is lavishly directed and filled with strong turns from its string of A list stars.  None of which should come as a surprise, what is surprising is how this series made a sharp turn into more adult themes and tones.  David Yates, a veteran of the Potterverse, delivers another well crafted entry into the overall series.  His direction is methodical, allowing you appreciate the craftmanship of the production from the sets to wardrobe which makes the world feel real and lived in.  The action set pieces are impressively staged with the dinner escape sequence being a highlight in the film while a particularly gory sequence in a prison is likely to give some kids nightmares crabwalks aside.  The cast is equally committed with each member of the ensemble getting a moment to shine.  Eddie Redmayne, who was the original lead of the series, takes more a secondary role here as the focus shifts to Jude Law's Dumbledore.  Redmayne still manages to make to the most of his screen time especially when paired with his onscreen brother Callum Turner.  Jude Law gets a bigger spotlight here and his take on the character is thoughtful and measured with only a few fleeting moments early on really letting us in.  Mads Mikkelsen, who takes over for Johnny Depp, delivers a strong more menacing turn as the central villain. Mikkelsen can play these type of characters in his sleep so he's hardly flexing but that doesn't mean he's any less fun to watch.  Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler and Jessica Williams are the film's secret weapons by stealing every scene their in and infusing some life in a mostly dour affair.  There in lies the issue with the film, its a decidedly grim affair for the better part of its overlong runtime.  Additionally, this entry is steeped in mythology which might make it inaccessible to the casual fans.  Fantastic Beast: The Secrets of Dumbledore offers plenty to like and appreciate even if the story feels bloated and incomplete by design.  

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT

 

Unfulfilled and facing financial ruin, actor Nick Cage accepts a $1 million offer to attend a wealthy fan's birthday party. Things take a wildly unexpected turn when a CIA operative recruits Cage for an unusual mission. Taking on the role of a lifetime, he soon finds himself channeling his most iconic and beloved characters to save himself and his loved ones.

Director: Tom Gormican

Cast: Nicolas Cage, Pedro Pascal, Ike Barinholtz, Alessandra Mastronardi, Jacob Scipio, Neil Patrick Harris, Tiffany Haddish

Release Date: April 15, 2022 

Genre: Action, Comedy, Crime, Thriller

Rated R for language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and violence.

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a treasure trove of Nicolas Cage career Easter Eggs and meta humor, packaged in fun self aware film.  Tom Gormican's film has a light tongue in cheek vibe to it from the start.  He takes a hands off approach by simply moving along the plot with very few visual flourish to distract from the performances on display.  He knows that Nicolas Cage is the central attraction who is more than game poking fun at his persona and career.  There are plenty of references to a bevy of his film's with some references being more overt while more subtle are peppered throughout the film.  Cage playing an outsized version of himself might sound like a lot but he plays it with a measured hand, a de-aged imaginary version of a Wild At Heart era Cage lets him really let loose, for the better part of the film.  The real treat here though is his chemistry with Pedro Pascal who steals multiple scenes throughout the film. Pascal is incredibly versatile actor and with this role he shows off another side of himself by playing a nebbish Cage fanboy who might also be a huge arms dealer. The bromance that grows between Cage and Pascal's characters make up the backbone of the film with both clearly having a ball playing off each other.  The script occasionally veers into super meta territory, you might be left wondering if any of the events in the film actually happened by the end, while never fully embracing it with more inspired flourishes like Cage's imaginary Cage.  As is, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is the kind of film that's easy to enjoy due to its stars and meta concept.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE

 

When an interdimensional rupture unravels reality, an unlikely hero must channel her newfound powers to fight bizarre and bewildering dangers from the multiverse as the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

Director: Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert

Cast: Michelle Yeoh, Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, Jenny Slate, Harry Shum Jr., James Hong, Jamie Lee Curtis

Release Date: March 11, 2022

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Rated R for some violence, sexual material and language

Runtime: 2h 12m

Review:

Everything Everywhere All At Once is a wildly imaginative bonkers film that will leave you looking at hotdogs and everything bagels in a new way.  Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert direct the film with a freewheeling kind of energy that's infectious and captivating because of the sheer audacity of the entire thing.  This is the type of film that has no problem throwing everything at the audience but the biggest bit of cinematic alchemy is the amount of heart at the center of it all.  A hefty amount of credit for that goes to Michelle Yeoh who anchors the film with a performance that runs the gamut of emotions.  She's entirely committed to the role and rolls with everything her character goes through with incredible ease, displaying the kind of singular talent she is.  She is the beating heart of the film aided by some strong supporting turns from Ke Huy Quan, Stephanie Hsu, James Hong and Jamie Lee Curtis who is clearly having a ball.  They share incredibly strong chemistry together which makes the insanity on screen easier to digest.  If there is a small complaint, the film is unfettered on every level and probably could have benefited from some trims here and there to make it a more effective film.  Still, Everything Everywhere All At Once stands as a beacon of originality in a sea of diluted ideas. 

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: AMBULANCE

 

Needing money to cover his wife's medical bills, a decorated veteran teams up with his adoptive brother to steal $32 million from a Los Angeles bank. However, when their getaway goes spectacularly wrong, the desperate thieves hijack an ambulance that's carrying a severely wounded cop and an EMT worker. Caught in a high-speed chase, the two siblings must figure out a way to outrun the law while keeping their hostages alive.

Director: Michael Bay

Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Eiza González, Garret Dillahunt, Keir O'Donnell

Release Date: April 8, 2022

Genre: Action,Crime, Drama, Thriller

Rated R for intense violence, bloody images and language throughout

Runtime: 2h 16m

Review:

Michael Bay is the kind of director whose better known for his cinematic excess more than the fact that he can create a fun big screen thrill ride.  Glossy, frenetic and over the top can describe pretty much any movie on his resume.  Ambulance sees Bay at his best and worst anchored by some fun performances from his central cast who are clearly having a blast playing in this wheelhouse. Bay directs this film with a coked out frenzy that starts immediately and rarely lets up during its overlong runtime.  The film works best during it's opening act bank heist which suits Bay's talents perfectly.  The camera flies around every scene like it can't stop or it'll die.  The action is loud and glossy with random dips into stark violence which is jarring when it pops up.  Still, its hard to ignore the insane cinematic energy on display especially when the cast is on the same page as the director.  Jake Gyllenhaal channels 90s Nic Cage by going all in on the crazy energy that last for the entire film, it's an impressive display of stamina to say the least.  Yahya Abdul-Mateen II is more subtle and measure, something rare for a Bay film, in his turn as he gives his character far more depth than the script does.  Eiza González fares far better than most of the female characters in a Bay film.  Sure she's the best looking EMT you've ever seen with make up that never smears regardless of what kind of madness she's gone through.  Like everyone else, her character is more of a caricature than anything else but then again nobody ever goes into a Michael Bay film looking for a character study.  Bayhem is in full effect once the movie hits the road with an assortment of car chases and crashes which are increasingly ludicrous as the film goes on.  Bay is the type of director that just can't help himself with the final act displaying his directorial hubris.  Ambulance works really well as cinematic junk food but its like watching fireworks for 2 hours, sometime less is more. 

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: MORBIUS

 

Biochemist Michael Morbius tries to cure himself of a rare blood disease, but when his experiment goes wrong, he inadvertently infects himself with a form of vampirism instead.

Director: Daniel Espinosa

Cast: Jared Leto,  Matt Smith, Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal, Tyrese Gibson

Release Date: April 1, 2022

Genre: Action, Adventure, Horror, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence, some frightening images, and brief strong language

Runtime: 1h 44m

Review:

Morbius is the kind of paint by the numbers, forgettable comic book origin story whose main purpose is to set up future installment.  Daniel Espinosa film is both glossy and undercooked at the same time.  His direction borrows from a bevy of comic book films mainly from the early 2000s which isn't the greatest source for inspiration.  The plot moves at a surprisingly quick pace which maybe intentional so you don't notice how nonsensical the whole thing is.  Jared Leto, an actor known for throwing himself into roles, is surprisingly understated and uninspired in the central role.  His performance gives you the impression that he'd rather be anywhere else but there.  Matt Smith, on the other hand, seems to relish chewing up scenery as the requisite friend/villain who ends up with the exact same power as the hero.  Supporting players Adria Arjona, Jared Harris, Al Madrigal and Tyrese Gibson all show up for a quick paycheck while bringing very little to their undercooked characters.  At least Morbius has the common sense to not overstay it's welcome with its quick runtime that still includes two post credit scenes that feels more like the result of corporate deal than some sort of big revelation.

C-