MOVIE REVIEW: AFRAID

 

Curtis and his family are selected to test a revolutionary new device, a digital assistant called AIA, that takes smart homes to the next level. As AIA begins to learn everyone's behavior and anticipate their needs, it soon makes sure nothing and no one gets in the family's way.

Director: Chris Weitz

Cast: John Cho, Katherine Waterston, Havana Rose Liu, Lukita Maxwell, David Dastmalchian, Keith Carradine, Lukita Maxwell, Wyatt Lindner Isaac Bae

Release Date: August 30, 2024

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller

Rated PG-13 for sexual material, some strong violence, some strong language, and thematic material.

Runtime: 1h 25m

Review:

AfrAId has a capable director and solid cast but it’s so incredibly generic, predictable and silly that you might wonder if this movie about AI was actually written by AI.  Chris Weitz's film has a breezy pace that takes very little time establishing the premise and characters before moving to the main plot.  The pacing benefits the film since it moves at such a breakneck speed you barely have time to register how increasingly silly the whole thing is.  Every hot topic headline story seems to be integrated into the plot from the dangers of AI, deep fake porn and swatting.  There's plenty of room for discussion on all these topics but here they are all treated in the most ham-fisted, generic manner that the dialogue becomes unintentionally funny as the film goes on.  The cast is earnest enough to keep the whole thing from going entirely off the rails.  John Cho and Katherine Waterston play straight from start to finish and you have to appreciate their dedication because they clearly think they are in a much better movie.  Cho is steady and believably leery of the whole set up while Waterson does her best with the underappreciated wife/mother role.  They both display some real talent to keep these thinly written characters even mildly interesting.  Their characters’ kids don't fare quiet as well with Lukita Maxwell, Wyatt Lindner and Isaac Bae doing what they can with equally underwritten roles.  David Dastmalchian and Keith Carradine have small supporting roles which honestly could have been played by anyone as the film never utilizes their talents at all.  Making matters worse is the fact that AfrAId is supposed to be a horror film but there's very little to be found throughout with the unintentionally comedy serving as the most memorable part of the whole thing.

D+

Cindy Prascik's Holiday Wrap-up Part I: The Matrix Resurrections & The Power of the Dog

 

My dear reader(s), following another lengthy absence, I've managed to squeeze a few movie screenings into my holiday break. Here in part one, I shall tackle a couple non-seasonal films: The Matrix Resurrections and The Power of the Dog. In part two, we'll have a peek at some Christmas offerings.

Spoiler level will be mild, nothing you won't have learned from trailers and advertisements.

First on my agenda: The Matrix Resurrections. 

New and familiar faces fight for reality...but what is the real reality?

It's fair to say science fiction and I are taking a break. We definitely don't love each other like we used to, and I'm not sure we ever will again. I elected to give the Matrix Resurrections a try anyway, based on: a.) my love of Keanu Reeves, and b.) being able to watch without leaving the house. If it's not as bad as I thought it was, I'm pretty sure it's not good, either.

Keanu has made a career of locking into roles ideally suited to his acting style. That's a backhanded compliment, but know I offer it with great affection. Carrie-Anne Moss is an inspiration, an action hero a mere year younger than I am. (Note: That's "old" in most people's books!) Despite my aversion to anything with the stink of Glee on it, Jonathan Groff is a pleasant surprise. Always. In everything. Effects are about 50/50, decent and comically bad. Callbacks to previous installments might be entertaining if this one didn't insist on pointing out each one so explicitly. Action is repetitive and gets old quickly, and — at nearly two and a half hours — the picture is extremely bloated. Anymore I'm never sure if social and political undertones are really present, or if I just see them everywhere because I so desperately want to avoid them for a hot minute, but I found them here...and I was well and truly bored before the halfway point.

The Matrix Resurrections clocks in at a whopping 148 minutes, and is rated R for "violence and some language."

If you're deeply invested in the Matrix series, you'll probably love the Matrix Resurrections; otherwise, you can give it a pass and rest assured you won't miss it. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Matrix Resurrections gets three.

The Matrix Resurrections is currently playing in cinemas worldwide, and streaming on HBO Max through January 21.

Fangirl points: Freema Agyeman!

Next on the docket: The Power of the Dog.

Exploring the contentious relationships among a contrary cowboy, his more agreeable brother, and the brother's wife and son.

The Power of the Dog is a deliberately-paced western that's in no real hurry to get anywhere. Benedict Cumberbatch carries the film with a mighty turn that may well win him his first Academy Award. Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, and Kodi Smit-McPhee are all terrific in support. Dusty western settings and a gloomy score reinforce the movie's uneasy atmosphere. The film tells an interesting enough tale, but I can't say it's one I'm glad I watched. Oh, and if you're an animal lover, maybe take a pass. Too many ugly moments to get past in that regard.

The Power of the Dog runs 126 minutes and is rated R for "brief sexual content and full nudity."

The Power of the Dog is a miserable little film, but worth checking out for some exceptional performances. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Power of the Dog gets five.

The Power of the Dog is now streaming on Netflix.

Fangirl points: Keith Carradine!

Stay tuned for some cinematic Christmas cheer!!