MOVIE REVIEW: IN A VIOLENT NATURE

 

When a group of teens takes a locket from a collapsed fire tower in the woods, they unwittingly resurrect the rotting corpse of Johnny, a vengeful spirit spurred on by a horrific 60-year old crime. The undead killer soon embarks on a bloody rampage to retrieve the stolen locket, methodically slaughtering anyone who gets in his way.

Director: Chris Nash

Cast: Ry Barrett, Andrea Pavlovic, Cameron Love, Reece Presley, Liam Leone, Charlotte Creaghan, Lea Rose Sebastianis 

Release Date: May 31, 2024

Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller

Unrated

Runtime: 1h 34m

Review:

In a Violent Nature is a fascinating experiment in the slasher genre which flips the script by focusing on the killer's point of view which methodically delivers gory kills but little substance.  Chris Nash's film doesn't break any new ground as much as it gives us another perspective of a well worn genre with this film borrowing heavily from the Friday the 13th series with a small smattering of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.  His film makes great use of the Canadian wilderness as we follow the killer's steady stroll from location to location in long extended shots.  Those short on patience are likely to be frustrated as the film features a bevy of these sequences with little dialogue and no music with some inventive kills interspersed in between.  A handful of those kills are fairly creative and they are sure to make gore hounds happy especially since they're laced with hints of dark humor throughout.  It helps that the collection of young adults that serve as meat for the grinder are written as stereotypically as possible with each going out in a predictable manner.  The steady pace has a headstrong precision that mimics the killer's single mindedness but those expecting any sort of exploration of the genre or central killer will be left wanting as the entire thing is fairly thin outside of its novel approach. In a Violent Nature seems more than content to deliver its simplistic thrills and impressive visuals as a treat to the long time fans of the subgenre.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: I SAW THE TV GLOW

 

A classmate introduces teenage Owen to a mysterious late-night TV show -- a vision of a supernatural world beneath their own. In the pale glow of the television, Owen's view of reality begins to crack.

Director: Jane Schoenbrun

Cast: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Ian Foreman, Helena Howard, Fred Durst, Danielle Deadwyler

Release Date: May 24, 2024

Genre: Drama, Horror

Rated PG-13 for violent content, some sexual material, thematic elements and teen smoking.

Runtime: 1h 40m

Review:

Jane Schoenbrun's latest feature, I Saw the TV Glow, is another challenging arthouse piece that’s sure to earn as many fans as it frustrates with its methodical approach.  Those familiar with Schoenbrun’s style will find this film slightly more accessible than their previous films, especially with its recreation of 90s young adult TV shows.  This story within the story is one of the more intriguing approaches Schoenbrun uses in service of the larger story at play which doesn’t come into full focus until the final act.  There are plenty of allusions and clues that Schoenbrun drops along the way about the message of the film, but it works on a more universal level as well.  It’s a challenging film that will test the patience of more than a few people who will disengage from the film well before the finale.   The visuals, fourth wall breaking and multi layered, time jump approach won’t be for everyone especially as it meanders in the third act making the whole thing far longer than its run time.  Justice Smith and Brigette Lundy-Paine serve as the center of the story with each working well off each other even with the hushed, monotone exchanges employed for most of the film.  Smith’s understated, almost anesthetized delivery fits perfectly for the character while Lundy-Paine is given more range to play with as a counterpoint.  They are fascinating performances in film that’s almost overly constructed to the point of exhaustion but I Saw the TV Glow is sure to leave a wide variety of impressions from confusion, annoyance or self-reflection.  

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: FURIOSA: A MAD MAX SAGA

 

Snatched from the Green Place of Many Mothers, young Furiosa falls into the hands of a great biker horde led by the warlord Dementus. Sweeping through the Wasteland, they come across the Citadel, presided over by the Immortan Joe. As the two tyrants fight for dominance, Furiosa soon finds herself in a nonstop battle to make her way home.

Director: George Miller

Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke, Alyla Browne, Lachy Hulme, Nathan Jones

Release Date: May 24, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated R for sequences of strong violence, and grisly images.

Runtime: 2h 28m

Review:

George Miller's Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga doesn't bring the same level of action overload that Fury Road brought but it does deliver a level of visual storytelling rarely seen in summer blockbusters.  Miller brings a mythic approach to the central character's story which permeates every frame of this film as we traverse the apocalyptic wasteland.  It’s a more methodical approach overall as Miller splashes a succession of striking visuals with a handful resembling a series of crazed renaissance paintings.  There's still plenty of teeth rattling action although much more contained to three large set pieces replete with an insanely large amount of stunt performers flying around on a variety of vehicles.  It’s hard not to marvel at the logistical choreography on display during these extended action scenes which beg to be seen on the big screen although those expecting a full two and half hours of these breakneck sequences will be slightly disappointed.  While Furiosa's overall backstory is fairly simple and straight forward it’s clear that Miller has a deep affection for the character as he takes his time with her journey with Anya Taylor-Joy not showing up until the one hour mark.  Alyla Browne carries that first hour doing solid work showing the fledgling ferocity that blossoms in the film's second half.  Once Anya Taylor-Joy does take over she proves to be more than capable of embodying the character with impressive intensity, nearly matching Charlize Theron's singular turn in Fury Road.  She makes wonderful use of her large expressive eyes, readily suited to reflect the character's dogged determination and steely gaze for the role which is fairly light on dialogue.  Chris Hemsworth gets much more dialogue to work with and he's clearly enjoying himself playing the film's villain.  He steals every scene he's in and the film sorely misses his energy when he's offscreen.  His bombastic turn is over the top and twisted but there's still a sliver of humanity that comes through exemplified in a late stage sequence between him and Taylor-Joy.  The rest of the supporting cast kind of pale in comparison to the central pair with Tom Burke, who get a decent amount of screen time, failing to leave a real mark as Furiosa's mentor/love interest.   Minor issues like that keep this film from reaching the heights that Fury Road achieved but that doesn't keep it from working perfectly as an excellent companion piece to that film.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: THE STRANGERS CHAPTER 1

 

After their car breaks down in an eerie small town, a young couple is forced to spend the night in a remote cabin. Panic ensues as they are terrorized by three masked strangers who strike with no mercy and seemingly no motive.

Director: Renny Harlin

Cast: Madelaine Petsch, Froy Gutierrez, Richard Brake, Ema Horvath

Release Date: May 17, 2024

Genre: Horror

Rated R for horror violence, language and brief drug use

Runtime: 1h 31m

Review:

The Strangers Chapter 1 is a tired retread of the original film which offers little intrigue for the already completed next two Chapters which leaves you wondering why a prequel exists or even necessary.  Renny Harlin is a capable director, but this film is terribly bland from start to finish, leaving it a lifeless experience.  It doesn't help that the film never delivers any sort of tangible tension or scares.  It’s all entirely predictable with the victim doing some truly stupid things throughout which might have more than a few people rooting for the killers.  Madelaine Petsch and Froy Gutierrez do the best they can with the material they've given as the couple being terrorized.  They have decent chemistry together, but their characters are so terribly stereotypically written that there's very little to the character that makes them interesting or engaging.  Once the main action gets going, Petsch does show some strong potential as a scream queen with a believable sense of playing terrorized paired with an impressive scream.  It’s a shame its wasted on this uninspired opening entry in the coming trilogy which might make more sense once everything has been released.  As a standalone film, The Strangers Chapter 1 doesn't offer anything new to the franchise which gives the "Why are you doing this to us?  Because you were *here*" exchange near the end of the film a weird sort of meta context that could be applied to the audience.

D-

MOVIE REVIEW: IF

After discovering she can see everyone's imaginary friends, a girl embarks on a magical adventure to reconnect forgotten IFs with their kids.

Director: John Krasinski

Cast: Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, John Krasinski, Fiona Shaw, Alan Kim, Liza Colón-Zayas, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., Steve Carell

Release Date: May 17, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG for thematic elements and mild language.

Runtime: 1h 44m

Review:

John Krasinski’s first foray into family films, IF, has plenty of ideas for its saccharine sweet story but its unfocused nature keeps it from really being something special.  Krasinski's film does have a certain earnestness that's endearing enough to carry the film through some of the film's slower moments.  However, there is a somber undercurrent that pervades the film's narrative as it deals with the trauma of loss and grief which stands in contrast to the candy-colored visuals onscreen.  It works in sections but for a film that's only an hour and forty-four minutes it feels decidedly longer than it actually is because it can't maintain a consistent rhythm.  It’s a shame because you're left feeling there's a better film in there somewhere if Krasinski had focused on the original trauma angle and storyline instead of pivoting to rediscovering your inner child theme in the back half of the film.  Story issues aside he's blessed with a game ensemble cast of Cailey Fleming, Ryan Reynolds, Steve Carrell and Phoebe Waller-Bridge doing solid work throughout.  Fleming has a likable screen presence throughout which makes her easily relatable as we follow her journey.   Reynolds plays against his usual sarcastic type here playing more of a straight man against the CGI creations that pepper the screen.  Steve Carrell and Phoebe Waller-Bridge carry the lion's share of the voice work as the imaginary friends who get the most screen time with both doing strong work even if their characters could have benefited from some added depth.  Louis Gossett Jr. manages to leave a strong paternal impression with his final screen credit as an elderly teddy bear who sets up a retirement home for forgotten Ifs.  A bevy of other A listers voice cameo as other Ifs which makes for a fun game of whose who as they pop up onscreen.  You can't deny that IF has its heart in the right place and it delivers some emotional punch in spots, but it proves to be more of a middling experience when compared to something like Monsters Inc. which covers some of the same territory.

B-

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of The Beatles Let It Be & The Idea of You

My dear readers: With apologies for the lengthy radio silence, this Mother's Day weekend I offer my takes on a pair of streaming options: Let It Be and the Idea of You.

Spoiler level here will be mild.

First on my weekend agenda, a restoration of the maligned 1970 Beatles documentary, Let It Be.

A disclaimer: The Beatles are my whole life, and I debated whether to watch the new Let It Be. I remember being traumatized by the movie's depiction of strife within the band when I was a kid, but - with the context provided by Peter Jackson's Get Back documentary, and with an adult understanding of the complexities of adult relationships - I hoped the film might hit differently. I'm pleased to say it absolutely did. The members of the Beatles often were at cross-purposes during this time, but their disagreements seem much less the focus of the movie than I remember. Truly, the film spends most of its time on the birth of now iconic songs from the Beatles' Let It Be and Abbey Road albums, culminating on the rooftop with their final live performance. It is not a particularly well-crafted documentary, especially in light of last year's Get Back, but it is an important piece of Beatles history, and I'm grateful to see it restored for the next generation of Beatlemaniacs...and the next and the next.

On the heels of Get Back, Let It Be feels like the CliffsNotes version of this story, but you can't go wrong with 90 minutes of Beatles music.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Let It Be gets seven.

Let It Be is now streaming on Disney+.

Next on the docket, the May-December romance the Idea of You.

A young pop star and an older art museum owner become romantically involved.

A qualifier on this one, too: A rumor persists that this film is based on a Harry Styles fanfiction. I refute this picture based on it being sourced from a Harry Styles fanfiction that is not Tired Tired Sea. However, Anne Hathaway is a perpetual favorite of mine, and Nicholas Galitzine is a new favorite of mine, and the movie is free on Prime, so who am I to say no?

The Idea of You is a big ol' cliche, or, more specifically, a bunch of littler ones. There are a many cringey artistic choices (the lingering stares physically hurt me), and more cringey dialogue. The film survives on the charm of its leads, but even this much charm barely gets it off life support. It's certainly not something I could see making it to the big screen in "the before times."

There are no surprises in the Idea of You, but maybe when you settle in with a movie like this you want comfortable more than surprising. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Idea of You gets four.

The Idea of You is now streaming on Prime Video.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES

 

Many years after the reign of Caesar, a young ape goes on a journey that will lead him to question everything he's been taught about the past and make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

Director: Wes Ball

Cast: Freya Allan, Owen Teague, Kevin Durand, Peter Macon, William H. Macy

Release Date: May 10, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence/action

Runtime: 2h 25m

Review:

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes is a technical marvel with its impressive motion-capture performances and visceral action set pieces, but it’s grounded by strong storytelling that makes you care about the digitally created characters.  Wes Ball takes the reigns of the revived franchise with a solid sense of direction and confidence as he opens up a new chapter in the story.   Ball clearly has a love for the franchise as he peppers his film with a bevy of nods to the original film in both visual and musical cues throughout.  His most impressive feat though is managing all the visual effects while never losing focus on the characters.  The film only contains three major action sequences which are visually dazzling but there's a degree of care taken in between to make sure those moments matter.  Owen Teague is tasked with filling the massive shoes left by Andy Serkis as the new lead character.  His performance is thoughtfully authentic and heartfelt as he gives the character a believable sense of guilt and self-doubt that plague the accidental hero.  It’s an engaging, likable turn that forms a tangible emotional connection with audience from the opening sequence with Lydia Peckham's Soona and Travis Jeffery's Anaya.  Peckham and Jeffery make the most with their limited screen time, leaving a noticeable impression which bodes well for future installments.  Likewise, Peter Macon's turn as the orangutan Raka is surprisingly effective which leaves the film missing his presence once he's off the screen.  Kevin Durand's Proximus Caesar makes for an intriguing villain but the film doesn't spend enough time on him to make him as layered as they could have before becoming full on murderous in the final action sequence.  The concept of having Caesar's ideals being warped in the years after his death is fascinating but the story doesn’t explore it in any serious way which feels like a missed opportunity.  Freya Allan serves as the main human actor for the majority of the film and does solid if unremarkable work compared to her costars.  William H. Macy makes a late stage appearance but doesn't really make much of an impact outside of having a familiar face relay some background exposition.  The final act does have a strangely rushed feel to it especially since the previous two acts had a measured more methodical pace.  It’s not bad enough to make the story collapse but a noticeable stumble getting to the finish line.  

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: UNFROSTED

 

In 1963, Kellogg's and Post, sworn cereal rivals, race to create a pastry that will change the face of breakfast forever.

Director: Jerry Seinfeld

Cast: Jerry Seinfeld, Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Max Greenfield, Hugh Grant, Amy Schumer

Release Date: May 3, 2024

Genre: Biography, Comedy, History

Rated PG-13 for some suggestive references and language

Runtime: 1h 33m

Review:

Unfrosted, Jerry Seinfeld's directorial debut, is a fictional farce fueled by nostalgia and an endless supply of celebrity cameos but it's noticeably lacking on the story side.  Right off the bat, the film has a goofy, surreal tone that only becomes more prevalent as the film goes on, making it readily apparent that this story is mostly detached from reality outside of a few incidental exceptions.  Instead, it leans heavily into a cartoonish series of outlandish sequences, there's even an absurdist take on the events of January 6th, played out by equally cartoonish characters that gives Seinfeld's collection of famous friends a chance to ham it up throughout.  It makes for a mixed bag of results with some bits working better than others as the story uses the skeleton of The Right Stuff as a loose map for the entire thing.  Seinfeld is clearly having a ball as he embraces ever silly instinct and a cast who is more than willing to go along with it.  Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Max Greenfield and Amy Schumer get the largest share of screen time and they're surprisingly uneven especially early on as the story tries to find some sort of comedic footing.  Hugh Grant fares far better as the Shakespearean actor slumming it as a cereal mascot with the film perking up every time he pops up.  It’s a recurring theme as the film hits its highpoints during some of the extended cameos that pepper the back half of the film with one in particular being the biggest surprise even though it’s the most obvious crossover once it occurs.   A recurring joke with Walter Cronkite is equally effective but it’s not enough to keep the comedic energy going making the film feel much longer than it actually is.  It all makes Unfrosted feel like a missed opportunity that never takes full advantage of the impressive amount of talent assembled.  

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: THE FALL GUY

 

After leaving the business one year earlier, battle-scarred stuntman Colt Seavers springs back into action when the star of a big studio movie suddenly disappears. As the mystery surrounding the missing actor deepens, Colt soon finds himself ensnared in a sinister plot that pushes him to the edge of a fall more dangerous than any stunt.

Director: David Leitch

Cast: Ryan Gosling, Emily Blunt, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Teresa Palmer, Stephanie Hsu, Winston Duke

Release Date: May 3, 2024

Genre: Action, Comedy, Drama

Rated PG-13 for action and violence, drug content and some strong language.

Runtime: 2h 5m

Review:

David Leitch's The Fall Guy is a breezy sort of blockbuster, packed with massive stunts and a pair of perfectly matched stars.  The film uses its madcap set up as an excuse for Leitch to lovingly show his appreciation for the stunt side of the movie business which he came from.  The plot serves as little more than an excuse to move from one action sequence to another with the central romance serving as the propulsive force behind the whole thing.  There's a heavy rom-com feel to the quieter moments that relies heavily on its two leads to carry the momentum.  Thankfully, the film is blessed with Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt's inherent charm and charisma.  Gosling brings his goofy, likable energy to the lovelorn stuntman who's willing to do what it takes to get the girl.  The film noticeably perks up when he and Blunt share the screen, be it in person or by way of old school split screen.  Their interchanges possess the kind of natural ease that makes it easy to believe the two care for each other in spite of the artificial obstacles the plot presents them with.  The onscreen couple are destined to be together from the start which is sort of refreshing in its lack of contrived conflict that usually pops up in rom-coms.  It’s a fun pairing that makes the film far better than it should be since the story's twists aren't terribly surprising since they are telegraphed fairly early on.  This is a film that leans heavily on its cast with the supporting players made up of familiar faces like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Hannah Waddingham, Winston Duke and Stephanie Hsu.  Johnson and Waddingham are clearly having a ball hamming up it as Hollywood stereotypes.  Winston Duke makes for a solid wingman for Gosling’s character but the film doesn't make the most of the pairs natural chemistry.  Stephanie Hsu makes the most of her limited screen time, especially in one big action sequence.  It all makes for a fun film that's never too deep or weighty which makes it the kind of disposable summer blockbuster that might not linger in your memory too long afterwards. 

B-