MOVIE REVIEW: TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM

 

After years of being sheltered from the human world, the Turtle brothers set out to win the hearts of New Yorkers and be accepted as normal teenagers. Their new friend, April O'Neil, helps them take on a mysterious crime syndicate, but they soon get in over their heads when an army of mutants is unleashed upon them.

Director: Jeff Rowe

Cast: Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu, Brady Noon, Hannibal Buress, Rose Byrne, John Cena, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Natasia Demetriou, Ayo Edebiri, Giancarlo Esposito, Post Malone, Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Maya Rudolph

Release Date: August 2, 2023

Genre: Comedy, Sci-fi, Animation 

Rated PG sequences of violence and action, language and impolite material

Runtime: 1h 39m

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem is an energetic reboot that breathes new life into the long running franchise.  Jeff Rowe's film has a kinetic energy from the start and he manages to maintain that level throughout.  The animation style and characters designs are beautifully rendered with a grungy style that makes each scene pop.  They're inventively done to give them a fresh new vibe while staying true to their classic designs.  Using real teenagers to voice the titular trio pays dividends since Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicolas Cantu and Brady Noon all have great chemistry together.  Their youthful energy comes through as they bounce off each other naturally.  It helps that the script is snappily written even if its not terribly deep, light and straightforward but genuinely funny.  Ayo Edebiri makes for a fun April O'Neal who still a stalwart report but just can't handle her nerves on screen.  The rest of the supporting cast is made up of stars clearly having a ball voicing the slew of mutants that pop up on screen.  Jackie Chan and Ice Cube get the largest play with both delivering hilarious turns as the mentor and villain.  The cast provides a fun dynamic which works throughout making Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem a fun lighthearted animated ride that's sure to make long time fans happy and make new ones at the same time.  

 

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: TALK TO ME

 

When a group of friends discovers how to conjure spirits by using an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill -- until one of them unleashes terrifying supernatural forces.

Director: Danny Philippou, Michael Philippou

Cast:  Sophie Wilde, Alexandra Jensen, Joe Bird, Otis Dhanji, Miranda Otto, Zoe Terakes, Chris Alosio, Marcus Johnson, Alexandria Steffensen

Release Date: July 28, 2023

Genre: Horror Thriller

Rated R for strong/bloody violent content, some sexual material and language throughout

Runtime: 1h 35m

Talk to Me is slick enough to make for an entertaining thrill ride but its only sporadically scary and hampered by predictable turns and characters who make the worst possible decisions.  Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou direct their debut film with a surprisingly confident hand as they deliver an efficient film that sets up its scares with an energetic verve that's impressive.  They don't waste much time setting the table before they move into the general premise of the story which is effectively dumb kids keep messing with a Ouija Board type deal.  They make strong use of sound design and camera moves to give each sequence a disorienting feel with each moment capped off with shocks or brutality.  This isn't the kind of horror film that's subtle or nuanced instead it's more interested in old school approaches to make you jump or squirm.  The brothers touch on interesting concepts throughout like possession going viral or reality bending moments but they never lean into them enough to make the most of those moments.  The script suffers from a similarly scattered approach as it switches its thematic focus from one theme to another which feels like a missed opportunity.  The film moves at such a steady pace that it's easy to overlook these faults especially since the cast is fully committed especially Sophie Wilde in the lead role.  Wilde's large expressive eyes work perfectly for the role as she gives her a character a simmering unresolved pain that feel authentic.  The supporting cast isn't asked to do much but Miranda Otto makes the most of her moments onscreen by giving her character a nice bit of depth.  Ultimately, Talk to Me is the kind of film that wears its inspirations on its sleeve for better or worse since it makes for some solid moments but not very many surprises.

 

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: THEY CLONED TYRONE

 

A series of eerie events thrusts an unlikely trio onto the trail of a nefarious government conspiracy.

Director: Juel Taylor

Cast: John Boyega, Teyonah Parris, Jamie Foxx,  David Alan Grier, Kiefer Sutherland

Release Date: July 14, 2023 

Genre: Action, Comedy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated R for pervasive language, violence, some sexual material and drug use

Runtime: 2h 2m

Juel Taylor's directorial debut is a surprisingly funny and effective amalgam of some tried and true sci-fi tropes paired with an old school blaxploitation feel.  Its gritty look and feel immediately echo those 70s films as it starts out as a fairly straight forward urban crime drama before it reveals something more insidious lurking underneath.  John Boyega plays the titular drug dealer with a steely hardened facade with hints of emotional depth scattered throughout his journey.  He's the straight man to Jamie Foxx and Teyonah Parris bigger more cartoonish roles which makes for a fun dynamic once the trio start their investigation into craziness of their situation.  Foxx is in rare form here as he unleashes his comedic talents onscreen with the sort of unrestrained energy were his trademark of his early career.  Parris is having just as much fun as the Nancy Drew loving, soon to be retired proustite.  Their Motley Scooby Doo crew make the film work far better than it should since the reveals are fairly predictable.  That's not to say the script doesn't have a lot to say, it does, but the messaging gets a bit jumbled in its messy final act which borrows bits from Black Dynamite, Dark City and Westworld.  While it doesn't stick the landing, They Clone Tyrone does so much right that you can't help but appreciate this initial effort from Taylor and his cast, enough to make the tease at the end all the more intriguing.

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of Oppenheimer

 

My dear reader(s), if you have been with me for any length of time, you will know that I’ve gone from a twice-a-week movie-goer to a twice-a-year movie-goer, and my reviews these days are mostly limited to streaming options. If ever there were a person who could get me to face the talkers, the seat-kickers, the popcorn-bag-rattlers, and the straw-slurpers at the cinema again, that person is Christopher Nolan, who last week presented us with yet another masterpiece, Oppenheimer.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn’t know from the trailers, possibly from real life, and from the paragraph above, wherein I pretty much spoiled my entire review. D’oh!

Yes, Oppenheimer is a masterpiece, among Christopher Nolan’s best work, and that’s a very high bar. It’s early goings yet, but people are already throwing around the “O” word (no, not *that* O-word, though Florence Pugh is pretty hot), and, with half the year behind us, I’d say that’s probably going to stick. Nolan makes a three-hour movie seem like three minutes, with mesmerizing storytelling, sharp dialogue, and a glorious visual landscape. Robert Oppenheimer is painted neither hero nor villain, but rather a man so consumed by whether a thing *could* be done, he failed to consider whether it *should* be done…until it was too late. While there are some gruesome images in Oppenheimer, there’s nothing over-the-top or gratuitous, and the movie never takes lightly the grave ramifications of the choices it depicts.

Cillian Murphy, of course, is brilliant in the title role. He’s never been less, and if anyone didn’t know that by now, this is their education. The whole cast really couldn’t be more perfect, and it’s a testament to the Power of Nolan how many big people took little roles just to be part of this project. Expect awards season to be lucrative for at least Murphy, Robert Downey, Jr., Emily Blunt, and (depending on the field) Ms. Flo, although her role is comparatively small. Exceptional work to a person, Oppenheimer left me breathless.

Oppenheimer clocks in at 180 minutes and is rated R for “some sexuality, nudity, and language.”

Oppenheimer is a masterclass in storytelling and performing, making fascinating work of a grim tale. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Oppenheimer gets all nine.

Oppenheimer is now playing in theaters worldwide.

Until next time…

MOVIE REVIEW: OPPENHEIMER

A feature biography from director Christopher Nolan, explores how one man's brilliance, hubris, and relentless drive changed the nature of war forever, led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, and unleashed mass hysteria. 

Director: Christopher Nolan

Cast: Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh

Release Date: July 21, 2023

Genre: Biography, Drama, History

Rated R for some sexuality, nudity and language

Runtime: 3h 0m

Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer is a heady, engrossing biopic that makes a series of conversations feel just as thrilling as any large scale action set piece.  Nolan's meticulous eye is laser focused throughout as he unveils a bendy narrative that jumps from two separate time periods and view points.  His sweeping visual style is more focused here, taking plenty of time on faces and subtle ruminations from the main characters as they tackle some truly world changing concepts and the repercussions they bring.  Cillian Murphy leads the film with a nuanced measured performance that maybe the best of his career.  Murphy's hundred yard stare conveys a bevy of emotions as the character carries the weight of the world as his mind juggles through the countless challenges and ultimate ramifications of what his work creates after the fact   Nolan uses his faces and expressions on more than a few occasions to communicate a slew of information occasionally without a single line of dialogue being uttered.  He's the driving force in the film but he benefits from some truly impressive turns from a stellar supporting cast.  Robert Downey Jr. gets the meatiest role as Oppenheimer's post war rival who is trying to secure a cabinet position.  Downey Jr. sinks his teeth into the role with impressive ease as he reveals the character's duplicitous nature.  His scenes play well in contrast against Murphy's more subdued, internalized sequences.  Matt Damon and Emily Blunt have smaller supporting roles with each doing the most with their screen time with the latter playing against time with great effect.  Florence Pugh is equally solid as Oppenheimer's mistress even if she is a bit young for the role.  A slew of other familiar faces pepper the film giving it a rich textured quality, Tom Conti, in particular, is fascinating in his limited screen time as Albert Einstein.  Their conversation revealed near the end of the film is particularly revelatory and devastating in its implications.  Its these kind of moments that Oppenheimer revels and delivers in a steady stream throughout with the cast and crew all working in top form.

A

MOVIE REVIEW: BARBIE

 

Barbie and Ken are having the time of their lives in the colorful and seemingly perfect world of Barbie Land. However, when they get a chance to go to the real world, they soon discover the joys and perils of living among humans.

Director: Greta Gerwig

Cast: Margot Robbie, Ryan Gosling, America Ferrera, Simu Liu, Kate McKinnon, Issa Rae, Rhea Perlman, Will Ferrell

Release Date: July 21, 2023

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Rated Rated PG-13 for suggestive references and brief language

Runtime: 1h 54m

Greta Gerwig's Barbie is a pastel painted surreal, meta comedy that's sharply written and perfectly cast.  Gerwig makes its clear early on that the film and story isn't going to be a simple bit of Mattel marketing with a rather wry opening that spoofs Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey.  Once the story starts in earnest and we are introduced to the colorfully constructed Barbieland utopia there’s a clear undercurrent of the kind of subversive storytelling, there's plenty that will go over younger kids heads, at play.  There are bits and piece that echo moments from Toy Story and The Lego movie, especially early on, but once the film finds its footing it reveals its own distinctive voice.  It’s a fanciful journey of self actualization as the film covers a bevy of themes from the nature of womanhood, gender roles, conformity and more along the way.  If this sounds like a lot for a film about a doll, it is but it’s a rather audacious swing from the filmmaker and the brand to go for something more substantial and meaningful than just a bit of brand cross promotion.  There's a lot to appreciate about what's going on behind the scenes in addition to what's onscreen.  Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in the central roles are pitch perfect with both delivering fun performances from start to finish.  Robbie fills the titular role with general ease which shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but she does give the character a thoughtful earnestness that's endearing and makes the character easy to like.  Gosling is a real surprise though not because he's a stretch as Ken but because he shows off some real comedic chops throughout.  He proves to be a scene stealer for the majority of the film especially in the back half of the story.  The film's real secret weapon though is America Ferrera who gets a wonderfully rousing monologue which is effectively pointed and meaningful.  It’s got the kind of refreshing edge you wouldn't expect from a film about Barbie but that's what elevates the whole production to unexpected heights. 

B+

Cindy Prascik's Review of A Christmas Mystery

 

My dear friends on the Nice List, in the interest of enjoying a little holiday cheer for Christmas in July, this weekend I checked out A Christmas Mystery.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailer.

When her best friend's father is unjustly accused of stealing the town's famous Jingle Bells, a girl uses her sleuthing skills to track down the real thief.

A Christmas Mystery is a by-the-numbers holiday tale, full of faces you'll know even if you don't quite know the names. It's fair to say no one's talent is over-taxed, but the familiar story is as comfortable as your favorite fuzzy Christmas socks. The sunny setting keeps A Christmas Mystery from feeling super Christmasey, and odds are you'll see the ending coming from as far away as the North Pole, but if you're looking for an easy, feel-good film, A Christmas Mystery will find a place on your Christmas list.

A Christmas Mystery clocks in at a quick 87 minutes, and is rated PG for "mild thematic material."

It won't exactly keep you on the edge of your sleigh, but A Christmas Mystery is a sweet story with a likeable cast, good fun for the whole family.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, A Christmas Mystery gets five.

A Christmas Mystery is now streaming on Max.

Merry Christmas in July, everyone!

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART ONE

 

Ethan Hunt and the IMF team must track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than the mission -- not even the lives of those he cares about most.

Director: Christopher McQuarrie

Cast: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Esai Morales, Vanessa Kirby, Pom Klementieff, Henry Czerny

Release Date: July 12, 2023

Genre: Action, Adventure, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some language and suggestive material.

Runtime: 2h 43m

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One delivers another sprawling action epic that shows the series is still firing on all cylinders.  Christopher McQuarrie's film is massive in every sense of the word with another set of incredibly impressive action set pieces from an insane Italy set car chase, my personal favorite of the film, to a thrilling train sequence in the film's latter stages.  Those sequences each deliver a mix of humor and thrills as they unfurl onscreen with each bringing enough variety to keep the whole thing from becoming monotonous.  They are huge sequences but McQuarrie smartly lets them breath and never loses sight of the characters while everything is going on.  Tom Cruise can play Hunt in his sleep by this point but he still carries the film with the steely determination and confidence he's brought to the role since day one. Ving Rhames and Simon Pegg once again join him as members of his team with solid supporting turns that give their interactions ring true as a team that's worked together for years.  Rebecca Ferguson returns as well but isn't given all that much to do as she pops in and out of the story.  Hayley Atwell joins the series as she brings her playful but self assured energy to her role which works really well for her role. Atwell and Cruise share fun chemistry together especially during the car chase sequence but the romantic angle feels a tad forced as the film rolls on.  Esai Morales and Pom Klementieff serve as the primary antagonist for this entry.  Morales is solid but his character never feels as dangerous or intimidating as he should be.  Pom Klementieff on the other hand does a lot with screen time as a mysterious female assassin who would have benefited from a bit more fleshing out.  Shea Whigham and Greg Tarzan Davis have a running sublot as a pair of agents chasing down Ethan for The Community who have some fun moments but we never get any explanations for Whigham's laser focus on Hunt.  The overall plot is surprisingly timely especially considering it was written a few years back which works in the film's favor.  While it works as a singular entry there's plenty of unresolved threads left for the second film by the time this one wraps up. On its own, Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One delivers nearly all the goods for a big screen blockbuster adventure with huge action and character moments which makes the film a breezy experience, a testament to the overall  quality of the film since its nearly three hours long.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: INSIDIOUS: THE RED DOOR

 

Josh Lambert heads east to drop his son, Dalton, off at school. However, Dalton's college dream soon becomes a living nightmare when the repressed demons of his past suddenly return to haunt them both.

Director: Patrick Wilson

Cast: Patrick Wilson, Ty Simpkins, Andrew Astor, Rose Byrne, Lin Shaye, Hiam Abbass, Sinclair Daniel

Release Date: July 7, 2023

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for violence, terror, frightening images, strong language and suggestive references

Runtime: 1h 47m

Insidious: The Red Door is a solid, if predictable, series closer for the long running horror series.  Patrick Wilson stars and directs the film with a confident steady, hand as he sets up a series of traditional scares where something is always lurking in the background.  Wilson's director debut leans on old school horror set ups by building tension before delivering a quick shock.  He proves more than capable of setting up these sequences even though you get a sense that he's using a rinse and repeat method that dulls the overall effect.   On screen, Ty Simpkins carries the lions share of the screen time with Wilson's character playing more of a supporting role in this entry along with Rose Byrne whose appearance is more of an extended cameo.  Simpkins, who grew up in the role, is solid throughout even if the trauma slant feels rather quaint by this point after a series of other horror films have covered the same territory.  Sinclair Daniel's turn as his roommates brings some fun to the proceedings even though her character's interest in helping him even if it puts her in harms way never really makes much sense.  Still, the pair are fun together especially a couple of sequences in a frat house.  The rest of the film does serve as wrap up for the overall story set up over the last four films.  As such, Insidious: The Red Door isn't the best entry point for newcomers since you'll need some knowledge of the previous films and mythology in order to understand why everything is happening. 

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: JOY RIDE

 

When Audrey's business trip to Asia goes sideways, she enlists the help of Lolo, her childhood best friend, Kat, a college friend, and Deadeye, Lolo's eccentric cousin. Their epic, no-holds-barred experience becomes a journey of bonding, friendship, belonging and wild debauchery that reveals the universal truth of what it means to know and love who you are.

Director: Adele Lim

Cast: Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, Sabrina Wu, Ronny Chieng, Meredith Hagner, David Denman, Annie Mumolo, Timothy Simons, Daniel Dae Kim

Release Date: July 7, 2023

Genre: Comedy

Rating: R, For strong and crude sexual content, language throughout, drug content and brief graphic nudity.

Runtime: 1h 32m

Joy Ride is a raunchy ride that isn't scared to push the envelope at any point during its brisk runtime.  Adele Lim's directorial debut has a sort of chaotic energy from the outset, something she has some difficulty maintaining as the film has some noticeable peaks and valleys during its runtime.  To her credit, Lim keeps the film moving at a steady pace so that when a joke or scene doesn't land it never lingers too long before we move on to the next bit of craziness.  The sequences that work hit that sort of amplified hilarity that these kind of films crave case in point a sequence in a hotel that rotates between all four characters.  There are other moments that are just as funny, but the film's marketing decided to use them in the trailer which lessens their impact.  If you haven't had any of those sequences spoiled there are plenty of laugh out loud moment that gives its ensemble cast plenty of time to shine.  Ashley Park, Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu and Sabrina Wu make up the main foursome with each set up as a particular character type.  Park does well as the straight-laced overachiever who's story is the driving force of the film.  Sherry Cola and Stephanie Hsu are clearly having a great time playing the more outlandish and bawdy characters while Sabrina Wu brings an understated sweetness to socially awkward character.  The four of them bounce off each with relative ease which gives them an organic, believable dynamic that works in the film's favor especially as it hits some surprisingly emotional beats in its final act.  It’s a testament to the cast and director that those moments work as well as they do since the film plays like Road Trip or Eurotrip from the early 2000's but it sneakily creates some tangible emotional connections with the characters.  

B