MOVIE REVIEW: JOKER: FOLIE A DEUX

 

Struggling with his dual identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn, while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital.

Director: Todd Phillips

Cast: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Steve Coogan, Harry Lawtey

Release Date: October 4, 2024

Genre: Crime, Drama, Musical, Thriller

Rated R for some strong violence, language throughout, some sexuality, and brief full nudity.

Runtime: 2h 19m

Review:

Joker: Folie à Deux is a strange sequel that brings excellent production values and strong performances but its oddly listless and uneven throughout.  Todd Phillips brings back the oppressive sense of depression and desperation albeit in a more claustrophobic setting.  The visuals leave an immediate impression with its stark imaginary of the dank interiors of Arkham that an emaciated Arthur Fleck inhabits.  It connects easily with the first film's sensibilities until the musical numbers slowly start to kick in as delusional disconnects from reality.  They maintain a very 70s aesthetic which fits the film's real world setting but Phillips fails to take advantage of going full bore into fantasy.  As a result some sequences feel far more mundane than they should with a Sonny and Cher inspired sequence working best overall.  Joaquin Phoenix easily slips back into the central role with a physical transformation that echoes Christian Bale's in 2004 The Machinist.  Phoenix brings a tortured authenticity to the character with a measured turn that displays the depth of despair he lives in for large swathes of time.  He's always the most interesting performer onscreen even with the addition of Lady Gaga as Lee.  Gaga is equally impressive but her character is underserved by the script that gives her very little to do.  Its a huge missed opportunity since this iteration of Quinn seems ripe for exploration outside of being a serial killer groupie by way of the Manson Family.  The story overall deals with the dangers of martyrdom and demagoguery and movements that spring out of them but it never engages with the topic in a serious or meaningful manner.  This leaves Joker: Folie à Deux feel like a weird mashup of Natural Born Killers and Chicago with far less sequins.  

C

MOVIE REVIEW: HOUSE OF GUCCI

When Patrizia Reggiani, an outsider from humble beginnings, marries into the Gucci family, her unbridled ambition begins to unravel the family legacy and triggers a reckless spiral of betrayal, decadence, revenge -- and ultimately murder.

Director: Ridley Scott

Cast: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek, Al Pacino, Reeve Carney, Jack Huston

Release Date: November 12, 2021

Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller

Rated R for language, some sexual content, and brief nudity and violence.

Runtime: 2h 37m

Review:

Ridley Scott's House of Gucci is a massive Shakespearian soap opera that indulges in its opulent excesses to a fault.  Scott's directs his film with a steady hand, delivering a glossy vision of the 80's that uses every cliched song imaginable.  The shots are meticulously constructed which allow you to appreciate the incredibly lavish fashion and art direction on display.  There isn't the usual grittiness typically associated with Scott, here he's clearly going for a very specific look and feel that's reflective of the fashionista royalty on display which fits perfectly for the film.  It should come as no surprise to anyone that Lady Gaga fits perfectly as real life femme fatale Patrizia Reggiani.  Gaga is clearly committed to the role as she channels Lady MacBeth in 80's couture.  It’s a showy role for her, more so than her turn in A Star is Born, and she does well delivering a steely, ferocious turn that works as the anchor of the entire film.  Adam Driver delivers one of his better performances by playing against type and not relying on his masculinity like he usually does.  

Driver is surprisingly believable as Maurizio Gucci who starts out being overly naïve before he becomes more savvy to his wife's machinations in the family business.  Jared Leto's much talked about transformation is cartoonish but in the film it works since the film is populated with performers going big with their characters.  Al Pacino and Jeremy Irons are prime examples of this with each delivering some fun but hammy turns as the Gucci partners.  Jack Huston, Reeve Carney and Salma Hayek round out the cast with more measured turns which flesh out the world.  If this all sounds like a lot, well it is and narratively speaking its overstuffed with Scott cramming 30 years of story into a two and half hour film.  The performances and production make it easy to overlook the fact that there isn't much palpable tension or drama even with all the betrayals and backstabbing going on. 

B

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Venom and A Star is Born

  

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the "strange bedfellows" double-bill of Venom and A Star is Born.

 

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

 

First on the docket: Venom.

 

A down-on-his-luck video-journalist unwittingly merges with an alien life form, turning his world upside down.

 

Venom is a disaster. It's a big miss from Marvel, a company noted for not missing even when all it has to offer is Ant-Man. If not for the supreme good fortune of having Tom Hardy in the lead, the movie would be utterly unwatchable. Thankfully, Hardy seems to be having a blast, which makes at least his performance good fun. The rest is, unfortunately, so stupid as to be no fun at all. With its horrific-looking aliens and an overload of carnage, the movie's PG13 rating feels disingenuous; maybe if they'd tossed in an extra F-word and gone full R the finished product wouldn't seem so lame. A told-to-death backstory, underwhelming effects, and idiotic humor ruin any chance of caring about the characters or what is happening to them. If the Captain Marvel trailer made me think a time is coming when comic-book movies will no longer be must-see for me, then Venom certainly drove home the point. In the immortal words of Nathan from The Full Monty, "That were crap."

Venom clocks in at 112 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for language."

 

Venom ranks among the worst movies I've seen in 2018. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Venom gets two.

 

Next up, the third big-screen rendering of A Star is Born.

 

A superstar musician takes on a talented protege, and romance ensues.

 

Dear reader(s): A Star is Born forces me to offer warring disclaimers. If I'm predisposed to view romantic films with disdain, I'm (at least) equally inclined to love any movie about music or musicians. It is to this film's credit that it's so good I don't think either had much influence on my opinion of the whole.

 

There are a great many positives here, so we'll start with the most obvious: the performances of the film's leads, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. I dig Bradley Cooper. Since The A-Team came out in 2010, my ringtone has been Steely Dan's Reelin' in the Years, so when the phone rings I can hope it's Bradley Cooper. (Spoiler alert: It's never Bradley Cooper.) I will watch Cooper in anything, and I think he elevates any project lucky enough to have him. At this point, it should be no surprise to anyone that he is amazing, though at times I still worry he's so ridiculously good-looking as to be sold short. Here he's no less than Oscar worthy, and (now that Gary Oldman has his!), I genuinely hope that this is Cooper's year. In his debut behind the camera, his top-notch direction may garner him additional hardware. Gaga is also terrific. She's served well by her own experiences, and I won't be at all surprised if she, too, bathes in awards love this winter. The picture's original songs are solid, though I much preferred the guitar-driven numbers performed by Cooper's band to Gaga's epic ballads. If you're still having a hard time getting over all the accolades heaped on LaLa Land's lackluster songs and middling vocals, this movie should be the cure for what ails you. The film runs a bit long, and the story is sort-of hokey at times--as love stories are--but it's well told enough and the characters so engaging that it's a petty quibble. I don't think it's spoilery to warn that A Star is Born is a tearjerker--the woman behind me was sobbing so hard I thought we were going to have to call the EMTs--so bring the Kleenex.

 

A Star is Born runs 135 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout, some sexuality/nudity, and substance abuse."

 

A Star is Born offers a new take on a timeless tale, showcasing some truly extraordinary performances and firing perhaps the first real shots of this awards season.

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, A Star is Born gets eight.

 

Fangirl points: Look, there's really no need for me to say any more about Bradley Cooper, but...did I mention Bradley Cooper with long hair and a guitar? *sigh*

 

Until next time...

 

MOVIE REVIEW: A STAR IS BORN

Seasoned musician Jackson Maine discovers -- and falls in love with -- struggling artist Ally. She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer until Jackson coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jackson fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.

Director: Bradley Cooper

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle, Sam Elliott

Release Date: October 5, 2018

Genres: Drama , Music , Romance

Rated R for language throughout, some sexuality/nudity and substance abuse

Runtime: 2h 15min

Review:

Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, A Star is Born, is remarkable on various fronts.  Remakes are typically hit or miss with the majority of them paling in comparison to the originals.  Even more difficult is making an engaging remake of a film that’s been made three times beforehand with the 70’s Kris Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand film being the most recent.  Through strong performances and a steady hand behind the camera, Bradley Cooper pulls off the impressive feat of making this film engaging even though the entire thing feels incredibly familiar.  Cooper’s directorial style is an interesting mix of Clint Eastwood’s naturalism and steady sense of melancholy similar to Mike Figgis Leaving Las Vegas.  It’s a beautiful film to look at but his most impressive accomplishment is bringing out some incredible performances from his cast.  First and foremost, Cooper delivers one of the best performances of his career.  Cooper loses himself entirely in the part not mention he learned how to sing in order to perform the original songs.  Lady Gaga is equally impressive mainly because she turns in a naturalistic performance that feels real throughout even the film is pretty much a musical fairytale.  Gaga and Cooper are incredibly engaging together for the entire runtime but their supporting players that populate the film make the story feel lived in and real.  I expect a handful of people will be surprised by the performances turned in by Dave Chappelle, Andrew Dice Clay and Sam Elliott.  Each has small moments but they are all memorable with Sam Elliott delivering an awards worthy performance.  There are a few hiccups but they are minor.  The film could use a bit of trimming here and there, particularly in the last act, and a few cookie cutter characters which merely serve the plot.  Regardless, A Star is Born is a real achievement for everyone involved. 

A-

Cindy Prascik’s reviews of Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 and Machete Kills

Dearest Blog, this weekend's cinema schedule left me with two options: act like a real grownup with a movie blog and catch a pair of bonafide awards season hopefuls (Rush and Captain Phillips), or watch a cartoon and a splattery action flick with lots of cleavage and bad language.

Dear Blog, I think we both know where this is heading.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you haven't seen in the trailers.

First on today's agenda was Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2.

When scientist Flint Lockwood (voice of Bill Hader) finds out his most famous invention is wreaking havoc, he teams with his childhood hero Chester V. (voice of Will Forte) to put a stop to the chaos...with surprising results.

So...I half-remember seeing the first Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. I'm pretty sure I liked it, because I was reasonably eager to see the sequel, but I don't remember much about it. Now I'm sorta remembering why. Cloudy 2 is passable entertainment that's safe for the kids, but doesn't offer much for anyone else.

The voice talent in Cloudy is a bunch of folks I generally find pretty funny. In addition to Hader and Forte, there's Anna Faris, James Caan, Andy Samberg, Benjamin Bratt, Neil Patrick Harris, Kristin Schaal, and Terry Crews. I don't think the cast is to blame for a lackluster picture, but I can't say anybody jumps out and saves it, either. It's not unheard of for really beautiful art to salvage a so-so animated flick, but this unfortunately falls flat in that regard as well. There are some imaginative creations, but nothing all that memorable or special.

It may be that my expectations of "family" entertainment have become unreasonable, but when I see a family movie these days, I expect it to be just that: something for the whole family, not just something that's suitable for kids. I expect the gorgeous art and clever humor of Finding Nemo, Elton John's hit parade in Gnomeo & Juliet (which had me and all the other grownups in the room dancing and singing along), or something truly special like How to Train Your Dragon, a spectacular film that compares favorably to any other movie, animated or not. The kids in my cinema today seemed to be getting a real charge out of the goofiness and bodily-function humor in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2, but I think I only chuckled once...and I checked the clock three times. There's no invention that can turn that into anything good.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 clocks in at 95 minutes and is rated PG for "mild rude humor." It's suitable for kids, but is likely to bore adults to tears.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 gets four.

Next on my agenda was a sequel I more eagerly anticipated, Machete Kills.

Machete is recruited by the US President himself when an ex-Cartel leader points a missile at the good ole U.S. of A.

Machete Kills is a smorgasbord of familiar faces, cartoonish violence, and uber-hot babes. Dear reader(s), you know how I'm always saying an honest trailer is the key to a good movie-going experience? Well, a trailer whose lynchpin is Sofia Vergara firing giant boob guns tells you all you need to know about this one.

Danny Trejo is enjoyable as always, sticking with the less talk and more action plan.

Charlie Sheen is a hoot as the President, and Oscar nominee Demien Bichir is way over the top as the guy with his finger on the trigger. It's always a pleasure to see Walton Goggins, however briefly. Michelle Rodriguez, Amber Heard, Sofia Vergara, and Lady Gaga are so hot I'm surprised the screen didn't melt. There's blood and silliness aplenty, and...did I mention boob guns? While the movie's not grossly overlong, I do think it would have been better had they trimmed it to 90 minutes.

Machete Kills runs 107 minutes and is rated R for "strong bloody violence throughout, language, and some sexual content." It is exactly as advertised: an explosive, silly bit of brain candy.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Machete Kills gets six. Oh, and...boob guns.

Until next time...



No, seriously...boob guns!

MOVIE REVIEW MACHETE KILLS

The President of the United States (Charlie Sheen) tasks indomitable ex-Federale Machete (Danny Trejo) with silencing a dangerous radical and taking out a wealthy arms dealer who seeks to destabilize the entire globe. Michelle Rodriguez, Mel Gibson, Lady Gaga, Sofía Vergara, and Amber Heard co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Robert Rodriguez

Cast: Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez, Sofía Vergara, Charlie Sheen, Lady Gaga, Amber Heard, Demián Bichir, Jessica Alba

Release Date: Oct 11, 2013

Rated R for strong Bloody Violence, Some Sexual Content and Language

Runtime: 1 hr. 48 min.

Genres: Action/Adventure

Review:

If Robert Rodriguez’s Machete offended your sensibility or stretched credulity then be forewarned to stay as far away from Machete Kills as possible. Rodriguez’s follow up is more insane and over the top than the original. It still works as an homage to Grindhouse films but with everything set to eleven. Honestly, the script is mostly secondary as it moves from one crazy action set piece to another, each more hilarious than the other. Rodriguez gives his film a steady vigor through the first 2 acts keeping you laughing at the manic insanity on screen. The third act hits a tad bit of a snag, bringing the film’s energy to a grinding halt because of Mel Gibson and his characters needless exposition. The third act may lose some people because it takes a sudden turn into slightly unexpected territory, they kind of tell you at the beginning of the film actually. It tries to recapture the energy of the first 2 acts but doesn’t quite pull it off. The cast lead by the granite faced Trejo is in fine form. Trejo, again, plays it all straight, regardless of how ridiculous the situation. Thankfully, Jessica Alba just stops buy for a cup of coffee and disappears quickly replaced by Amber Heard. Heard is having all kinds of fun in her role and naturally fits into her role. That being said, Demián Bichir and Sofia Vergara are the real standouts. Demián Bichir has always impressed me as an actor in dramatic roles but here he just lets loose. Bichir is clearly enjoying himself but he brings that extra bit in his delivery that makes his performance so much fun. The film sorely misses him the moment he’s gone. Sofia Vergara is underused while other actors got more to do in the last act; it’s a shame because she’s a screeching Colombian Valkyrie ready made for this type of film. The strange part about it is that the film overstays its welcome by about 15 minutes or so and probably could have worked better with a sleeker plot with less characters. That being said it’s a bloody mindless bit of good fun.

B-

[Trailer 2] Machete Kills

The new trailer for Machete Kills gives you a better idea of the general plot in all its goofy glory. We also get our first glimpses of the cast and who they’ll be playing including Mel Gibson’s villain. I’m looking forward to this more and more with each passing day.