MOVIE REVIEW: INFINITY POOL

 

Guided by a seductive and mysterious woman, a couple on vacation venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism and untold horror. A tragic accident soon leaves them facing a zero tolerance policy for crime: either you'll be executed, or, if you're rich enough to afford it, you can watch yourself die instead.

Director: Brandon Cronenberg

Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman, Jalil Lespert, Thomas Kretschmann, Amanda Brugel

Release Date: January 27, 2023

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated R for graphic violence, disturbing material, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and some language

Runtime: 1h 57m

Review:

Infinity Pool is a nightmarish, hallucinogenic fever dream of a film that keeps you off balance throughout.  Brandon Cronenberg's is disorienting almost from the moment it starts and it rarely lets the gas off the petal as it descends further into twisted tale.  His film borrows inspiration from the work of Kubrick, Polanski, Giallo and his father's earlier films.  Together it makes for strangely beautiful collection of wonderfully composed shots of horrible images that leave a lasting impression.  A handful of scenes area a full-on assault on the senses which will leave your retinas burning if you don't break into an elliptic seizure.  This is the type of film that delivers certain sequences which will be burned into your mind and linger long after the film's finished.  The madness onscreen wouldn't work as well if you didn't have such committed turns from the film's leads.  Luckily, Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth are locked in throughout delivered layered but gonzo performances.  Skarsgård's uses his general good looks to his advantage by playing against type as the film's reveals the sad sack of man his character truly is.  It’s incredibly effective especially since the film keeps you wondering who or what we are watching make great use of the unreliable narrator.  Mia Goth continues her recent hot streak with another fascinating turn that ranges from alluring to manipulative to malicious.  Goth moves so easily between these different emotions and attitudes that you can't keep her eyes off her when she's onscreen.  Skarsgård and Goth make for an excellent juxtaposition as his turn is far more subtle and measured while she slowly reveals the extent of her character's manic depravity with impressive aplomb.  The story once you have a moment to gather your thought is thematically dense enough to leave you thinking about what it’s trying to say about the excesses of the rich among other things.  Infinity Pool isn't the kind of film that will be for everyone but that doesn't make it any less impactful or effective.   

A

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-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Godzilla vs. Kong

My dear reader(s), the week just passed brought us Godzilla vs. Kong, a film that — by its very name — made a return to the big screens of the cinema seem imperative.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or if you've ever watched a monster movie before.

As the title indicates, Godzilla vs. Kong pits one giant creature against another, with puny humans serving as catalysts and comic relief.

A disclaimer: I wanted to see this movie on the big screen. I had every intention of seeing this movie on the big screen. I think this movie is 100% worth seeing on the big screen. BUT...for reasons including (but not limited to) Easter weekend always being crazy busy and my cinema still having weird Covid hours, I was forced to watch it on my reasonably-large television. *sadface*

For a movie like this to meet my needs, all it really has to do is have huge creatures, solid effects, and well choreographed battles. Plot doesn't mean much, and people are merely a distraction. Godzilla vs. Kong executes its mission to a "T." Both titular titans look very big and very, very good in this film. Showdowns between the two are magnificent. There are a fair number of consequential humans ("consequential," for my purposes, meaning named characters with at least a little dialogue), but the people are mostly unobtrusive, despite being portrayed by such notable names as Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Demian Bichir, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler, Millie Bobby Brown, and Alexander Skarsgard. Sound effects are nearly as impressive as visuals; however, in order to get the dialogue even barely audible, I had my volume so high that action sequences and music rattled the walls. I find that's the norm these days, both with movies and with television, and I have to think it can't be so hard to do better. Godzilla vs. Kong is fun and well paced, a series of epic action jewels strung together with thin human string. Oh, and the *real* titan here is Elvis Presley, whose "Loving Arms" makes a...peculiar...appearance.

Godzilla vs. Kong clocks in at 113 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of creature violence/destruction and brief language."

If massive creatures, colossal clashes, and unimaginable destruction are your cup of tea, Godzilla vs. Kong is just the ticket. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Godzilla vs. Kong gets eight.

Godzilla vs. Kong is now playing in cinemas and streaming on HBO Max.

This review is dedicated to my wonderful friend David, a Godzilla scholar who has probably forgotten more about this character than I could ever know, and to my dad, who would have loved this movie more than anything.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: GODZILLA VS. KONG

 

Kong and his protectors undertake a perilous journey to find his true home. Along for the ride is Jia, an orphaned girl who has a unique and powerful bond with the mighty beast. However, they soon find themselves in the path of an enraged Godzilla as he cuts a swath of destruction across the globe. The initial confrontation between the two titans -- instigated by unseen forces -- is only the beginning of the mystery that lies deep within the core of the planet.

Director: Adam Wingard

Cast: Alexander Skarsgård, Millie Bobby Brown, Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Shun Oguri, Eiza González, Julian Dennison, Lance Reddick, Kyle Chandler,  Demián Bichir

Release Date: March 26, 2021

Genre: Action, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of creature violence/destruction and brief language

Runtime: 1 h 53 min

Review:

Godzilla vs. Kong is the type of film that is very open about what kind of film it is and it never pretends to be anything else.  Adam Wingard’s film uses the thinnest of a story to get the action moving.  Wingard moves the film at a steady pace so that you don’t think about the exposition heavy human sequences too much since it’s all fairly nonsensical.  Wingard is smart enough to see that people who sit down to see Godzilla vs. Kong want to see the two titans fight in epic fashion.  He delivers some truly impressive action set pieces between the two behemoths in well staged mayhem.  These action sequences are the primary lifeblood of the entire film so if they didn’t work the film would be a failure.  The human side of these films are typically afterthoughts at best and the same holding true here.  The cast is populated with familiar faces who are barely straining one ounce of talent into their roles.  Demián Bichir does manage to leave a lasting impression in the villain role that’s only missing a dash of mustache twirling.  Deft actress Kaylee Hottle leaves the biggest impression in a small but pivotal role. Her portion of the story with Kong is the beefiest of story threads but it’s not explored in any great depth.  Godzilla vs. Kong isn’t the type of film that’s interested in any sort of in depth storytelling just massive mayhem and it delivers the big dumb action you’d expect from these types of films. 

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: LONG SHOT

Fred Flarsky is a gifted and free-spirited journalist who has a knack for getting into trouble. Charlotte Field is one of the most influential women in the world -- a smart, sophisticated and accomplished politician. When Fred unexpectedly runs into Charlotte, he soon realizes that she was his former baby sitter and childhood crush. When Charlotte decides to make a run for the presidency, she impulsively hires Fred as her speechwriter -- much to the dismay of her trusted advisers.

Director: Jonathan Levine

Cast: Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Andy Serkis, June Diane Raphael, Bob Odenkirk, Alexander Skarsgård

Release Date: May 3, 2019

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Rated R for strong sexual content, language throughout and some drug use

Runtime: 2 h 5min

Review:

Every once in a while a romantic comedy manages to bust out of that genre’s general mediocrity.  Long Shot isn’t one of the best but it is a funny film that overcomes its short coming.  Once you get over the clearly outlandish premises, the script and cast really make the material shine.  The film ends up coming off as softer kinder version of Veep melded with a gender reversed Pretty Woman.  Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen have surprisingly solid chemistry, on paper it shouldn’t work but it does thanks to both of them.  Theron, in particular, continues to show an amazing ability to work in any role and genre.  Rogen is in his wheelhouse, of course, so it’s an easy fit for him.  O'Shea Jackson and June Diane Raphael fill in as the leads respective sidekicks which each making the most of their screen time.  The plotting hits on all usual rom-com mile markers, making everything fairly predictable.  It does start to overstay its welcome in the final act and could have used a tad bit of trimming.  Regardless, it’s a fun raunchy comedy that’s enjoyable enough to keep most people laughing.

B