MOVIE REVIEW: MARTY SUPREME

 

In the 1950s, young Marty Mauser pursues his dream of becoming a champion table-tennis player.

Director: Josh Safdie

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, Fran Drescher

Release Date: December 25, 202

Genre: Drama, Sport

Rated R for language throughout, sexual content, some violent content/bloody images and nudity.

Runtime: 2h 29m

Review:

Marty Supreme is a chaotic but propulsive film from Josh Safdie that boasts a kinetic turn from Timothée Chalamet which drives the entire experience.  There’s an instant jolt of energy that pops off the screen as it takes off to a running start, rarely letting up during its two hour and half hour runtime.  Safdie quickly establishes the setting and cast of characters before moving into an impressively shot table tennis tournament.  The story moves at such a frenetic pace that only a few ill-advised musical choices take you out of the experience before you notice you’ve been fully engaged in a story about table tennis.  Timothée Chalamet magnetic central turn makes the entire engine churn as we follow his non-stop journey to achieve success.  Chalamet simply dissolves into the character who’s utterly charismatic and driven but incredibly flawed at the same time.  It’s a fascinating turn that shows off how talented he is as the film serves as a character study Marty’s drive and desires.  The character is ready made to be dissected as an example of what goes on in the head of a relentless competitor or even as a metaphor for the country as a whole.  There are plenty of layers that can be peeled off once it’s all said and done but Chalamet is simply the most interesting performer onscreen.  It helps that his character is given the largest amount of depth while the supporting characters prove to be far more one dimensional.   Gwyneth Paltrow and Odessa A'zion are both solid as respective love interest but we are given painfully little depth that leaves them feeling slightly underserved.  Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma and Abel Ferrara likewise make the most of their screentime but there’s very little to any of them outside the superficial aspects offered up.  In the end, Marty Supreme is all about Timothée Chalamet’s performance, which creates the kind of cinematic gravitation pull that’s so enveloping that the rest feels almost unnecessary.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

 

In the early 1960s, 19-year-old Bob Dylan arrives in New York with his guitar and revolutionary talent, destined to change the course of American music. Forming his most intimate relationships during his rise to fame, he grows restless with the folk movement, making a controversial choice that reverberates worldwide.

Director: James Mangold

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd Holbrook, Dan Fogler, Norbert Leo Butz, Scoot McNairy

Release Date: December 25, 2024

Genre: Biography, Drama, Music

Rated R for language.

Runtime: 2h 20m

Review:

A Complete Unknown serves as a time capsule that focuses on four formative years of Bob Dylan's career in the 60s that places you firmly in the moment although it never gives you any insight into his headspace.  James Mangold's second foray into musical biopics finds the director in his wheelhouse as he recreates the look and feel of the early 60's folk music scene that Dylan walks into.  He directs the performances with ease allowing the performers and music to take center stage while avoiding some of the more obvious pitfalls and tropes that Walk The Line fell into.  There aren't nearly as many contrived moments were moments immediately lead into the creation of signature songs although there is still of relationship melodrama which just seems baked into these kind of stories.  As a result, the film has a more naturalistic and organic feel to it as we follow Dylan's rise from obscurity to mega stardom.  Interlaced into his personal journey are newsclips woven into the background about the major political and cultural events occurring during these nascent years of his career.  We assume these moments lead to the creation of some of Dylan's most famous songs but the film never overtly connects the two.  This is partly due to the fact that we are kept at arms length from Dylan's internal motivations as the audience is given very few glimpses into his psyche outside of being a mysterious, ambitious iconoclast.  There's painfully little insight provided throughout the film's runtime perhaps by design as we get little more than he's a genius but self centered jerk.  The supporting characters don't fare much better as we're given only the most basic information about everyone we meet.  Its a testament to the cast that they're performances are as engaging and effective as they are given the script's shortcomings. Timothée Chalamet leads the film by dissolving into Bob Dylan's mannerism and vocal inflections to deliver a truly impressive bit of cinematic mimicry.  Where his performance truly shines is during the musical portions of the film as Chalamet sings and plays Dylan's songs rarely missing a bit along the way.  Its an impressive fully formed performance that goes the extra step above the usual imitation game although you wish the script had given him a bit more meat to work with.  Edward Norton's Pete Seeger proves to be more fleshed out as the folk stalwart that is desperately hoping to fight back the electrical musical revolution.  It's a measured and thoughtful turn that humanizes the character by giving him varying levels of depth.  Elle Fanning and Monica Barbaro deliver strong performances as parts of the central love triangle although neither is given much depth on their own and an on stage moment between Dylan and Baez that feels lifted from Mangold's own Walk The Line comes off as overkill. Boyd Holbrook is solid in spots as Johnny Cash while we are left wishing Scoot McNairy had been given a bit more to do as Woody Guthrie.  A Complete Unknown lives up to its name as it gives the audience just enough about the people we are watching while never letting us truly understand them in any meaningful way.  

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: DUNE PART TWO

 

Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family. Facing a choice between the love of his life and the fate of the universe, he must prevent a terrible future only he can foresee.

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Javier Bardem, Austin Butler, Florence Pugh, Christopher Walken, Léa Seydoux

Release Date: March 1, 2024

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some suggestive material and brief strong language.

Runtime: 2h 46m

Review:

Denis Villeneuve's Dune Part Two is a sci-fi epic in every sense of the word filled with mesmerizing visuals, a stellar cast and a beefier story than you'd expect from a blockbuster of this size.  Villeneuve, now free of the first film's exposition dump, moves his film at a steadier pace delivering massive action set pieces that are impressively staged and far more engaging than the first film's offers.  Paul's first ride on a sandworm is wonderfully set up and executed to create a thrilling and visceral experience, something the battle sequences can't quite match.  Visually, you can see Villeneuve pulling inspiration from other legendary sci-fi films such as 2001 or Star Wars for Arrakis and contrasting it with the Harkonnen's which clearly draws inspiration from H.R. Giger early work from Jodorowsky’s failed attempt to bring the film to the screen in the 70's.  There are a bevy of shots that are sure to join the pantheon of the memorable shots in cinematic history.  Overall, the film and story move at a brisker pace with the full scale of the story's themes and relationships unfurling at steady pace leaving very few dead spots throughout the film’s hefty runtime.  The film's ensemble cast shines throughout with each delivering strong performances regardless of screen time.  Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya get the lion's share of the screen time with both doing fine work albeit their romantic chemistry isn't quite as strong as it should be likely due to their romance being rushed thru in the opening act.  It’s a minor issue especially with the amount of story they have to work through and both still deliver the goods on the dramatic sides.  Rebecca Ferguson gets a meatier role here as her character takes a darker more ominous tone which she's more than capable of conveying.  Javier Bardem also gets more to do this go around after his extended cameo in the first film.  Bardem is fun every time he's onscreen thanks to his general charisma which works for his character's unwavering zealotry.  Austin Butler proves he doesn't have to be Elvis in everything with an impressive about face as the psychotic Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.  Florence Pugh does well in her limited screen time even though the character is mainly used for exposition dumps, but you get the sense there's more on the horizon if a third film comes to fruition.  Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Josh Brolin and Charlotte Rampling return from the first film with much smaller but important roles with each making those small moments far more impactful.  It’s a testament to the scale of Dune Two that these actors serve as garnish to its cinematic cornucopia which delivers on multiple fronts while leaving you wanting to see the story's final act.   

A

MOVIE REVIEW: WONKA

 

Armed with nothing but a hatful of dreams, young chocolatier Willy Wonka manages to change the world, one delectable bite at a time.

Director: Paul King

Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Calah Lane, Keegan-Michael Key, Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas, Mathew Baynton, Sally Hawkins, Rowan Atkinson, Jim Carter, Tom Davis, Olivia Colman,  Hugh Grant

Release Date: December 15, 2023

Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Family, Fantasy, Musical

Rated PG for some violence, mild language and thematic elements.

Runtime: 1h 56m

Paul King's Willy Wonka prequel, Wonka, is an utterly charming film that brings a wonderful sense of whimsy and wonder that's hard to deny.  King's musical confection is a wonderful assault on the senses with a series of well staged albeit old fashion, song and dance numbers.  Its a visual feast for the eyes and ears that's like a lovely elixir that guaranteed to put people in a good mood.  King's film is light and airy with a palatable sense of infectious optimism that fits perfectly with a younger Wonka who hasn't become the more cynical and scarier version of himself from the Gene Wilder classic.  Timothée Chalamet is perfectly suited for this version of the character with his boyish looks and general charm.  He mimics some of the mannerisms and movements of Wilder's take but plays him with more wide eyed optimism and naiveite.  Its works well for this film and story even though some looking for bits of the character slightly sinister side will be left wanting.  The supporting cast delivers equally strong work with fun turns from Olivia Colman and an impressive film debut from Calah Lane.  Paterson Joseph, one of the handful of Peep Show alums, chews up every bit of the scenery as the film's villainous chocolatier.  Likewise, Hugh Grant is clearly having a ball playing a CGI Oompa-Loompa so much so that you wish he'd be given a slightly larger role.  It all makes for an undeniably fun film which fit more with the beloved original than the Tim Burton remake which is sure to please plenty of fans.

, 

A-

Cindy Prascik's Review of Dune

My dear reader(s), this weekend gave me a rare bit of time for watching and writing, so I decided to check out Denis Villeneuve's latest, Dune.

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

Chronicling the grim interplanetary shenanigans of some absurdly beautiful people.

I will surprise no one by admitting I did not: a) revisit the source material, or b) revisit the original, before diving into Dune 2021. In fact, I remembered so little about the 1984 movie that I had to resort to IMDB to remember who was in it. No, this weekend's choices came down to going to the cinema for over two and a half hours of James Bond, or staying home for over two and a half hours of Dune. I was equally excited (or not) for both, so - as is my norm these days - I opted to stay home. Having said that, I really wanted to like Dune, and was disappointed to find that impossible.

First, though, the good.

Dune boasts a magnificent score by Hans Zimmer. It grabbed me from the very first minute and never let go. The film is visually stunning, the special effects are nifty, and the fight choreography is quite sharp. The cast features a bunch of folks you probably know and love from other things, which leads us to...

...the bad.

Bad acting that is. With the exception of Jason Momoa, who always manages to entertain, everyone is either wooden as a marionette or overacting wildly. No real in-between. (And, no, I'm not saying Momoa is the best actor here by any means, just that he fares best with what he's got to work with.) It's nice to see David Dastmalchian turning up in everything these days, though. The movie is pretentious and far too long. I imagine you're meant to be entranced by the relationships and conflicts among characters and groups, but...nah. I was bored by the 30-minute mark, and completely checked out with about 45 minutes left. With a mighty display of will, I finished it, but it definitely didn't have anything close to my full attention for that last third(ish). Maybe James Bond could have done better.

Dune clocks in at a bloated 155 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sequences of strong violence, some disturbing images, and suggestive material."

Dune is a feast for the eyes, but fails to engage otherwise. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Dune gets three.

Dune is now playing in cinemas worldwide, and streaming on HBO Max until mid-November.

MOVIE REVIEW: DUNE

 

Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive.

Director: Denis Villeneuve

Cast:  Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem

Release Date: October 22, 2021

Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing images and suggestive material

Runtime: 2h 35min

Review:

Denis Villeneuve's Dune is a massive movie in everyway shape and form.  This second attempt at adapting Frank Herbert's notoriously dense tome is an opulent feast for the eyes with each scene and sequence leaving a lasting impression due to sheer amount of craftsmanship on display.  It's the kind of cinematic worldbuilding that is bound to leave plenty of people in awe due to the visual bounty on screen.  The cast is peppered with A list talent across the board with each delivering strong if self serious performances.  Oscar Isaac's stoic but loving father/general plays perfectly into his wheelhouse.  Likewise, Josh Brolin's stern solider fits him perfectly just like Jason Momoa's Duncan the caring but fierce warrior.  Dave Bautista's animalistic Harkonnen savage and Stellan Skarsgård's nefarious Baron Vladimir Harkonnen serve as the primary villain's in what amounts to an origin story for Timothée Chalamet's Paul.  Chalamet's performance is strong but subdued landing somewhere in the Hamlet territory.  Rebecca Ferguson though is the real life blood of film as her character and performance is always the most interesting thing on screen even in the mist of the visual cornucopia.  There's an air of Shakespearian tragedy to the story and overall approach.  It's all very self serious and methodical in it's approach which might be off putting to people who aren't pulled immediately into the story which is admittedly dense.  There is also a Kubrick like clinical distance from the characters on screen making it difficult to connect to them on an emotional level.  Additionally, Dune is merely setting the table for the real action to kick off in it's sequel.  That doesn't make it any less of a cinematic achievement that's sure enrapture and dazzle audiences.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: LITTLE WOMEN

In the years after the Civil War, Jo March lives in New York and makes her living as a writer, while her sister Amy studies painting in Paris. Amy has a chance encounter with Theodore, a childhood crush who proposed to Jo but was ultimately rejected. Their oldest sibling, Meg, is married to a schoolteacher, while shy sister Beth develops a devastating illness that brings the family back together.

Director: Greta Gerwig

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep

Release Date: December 25, 2019

Genres: Drama, Romance

Rated PG for thematic elements and brief smoking.

Runtime: 2h 15  min 

Review:

It's impossible to not walk away from Greta Gerwig's adaptation of Little Woman feeling uplifted.  Sure it's a story that's been told multiple times before but Gerwig's take feels fresh and timely.  Some alterations to the story make it feel more modern and the film overall is better for it.  She shuffles up the chronology of the novel which makes the familiar story much more interesting and engaging.  Gerwig is blessed with a stellar cast which makes the whole thing incredibly watchable.  Her muse, Saoirse Ronan, couldn't be better suited to play the head strong Jo.  It's easy to forget that she's only 25 since she's so naturalistic and engaging as an actress.  Florence Pugh is just as strong in this film even pulling off the incredible feat of of making Amy less annoying and interesting.  Emma Watson and Eliza Scanlen round out the other tow sisters with their performances being solid but more subdued.  Ultimately it's Ronan's film and she carries it with great ease even though we already know the majority of the story beats.  The story does start to drag a bit near the end of it's run time and it's easy to see where 15 or 20 minutes could have been shaved off.  Regardless, Gerwig's film is a fine example of how to bring something new to a well worn story but keeping it's spirit at the same time.  

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: LADY BIRD

An outspoken teen must navigate a loving but turbulent relationship with her strong-willed mother over the course of an eventful and poignant senior year of high school.

Director: Greta Gerwig

Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein

Release Date: Nov 3, 2017

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Rated R for language, sexual content, brief graphic nudity and teen partying

Runtime: 1h 34min

Review:

Lady Bird is the kind of indie gem that pops up from time to that perfectly nails the coming of age story.  Coming of age stories are a dime a dozen but Greta Gerwig’s film captures the flawed humanism of that makes these characters feel thoroughly authentic. She directs an efficient film that never feels rushed even though it’s just over an hour and a half long.  At its center is Saoirse Ronan who’s perfectly loveable as the titular Lady Bird.  Her performance is subtle yet totally convincing.  Laurie Metcalf’s turn as Lady Bird’s mother is just as impressive.  Her ability to juggle the many facets of her character, from the passive aggressiveness, loving and perpetually frayed, seamlessly is impressive to watch.  Tracy Letts is a solid counterpoint to Metcalf’s character as the loving but depressed father.    There’s very little to dislike about this charming tome even if the story plays out exactly as you’d expect with little to no surprises.  It’s a testament to the talent at work that’s it still manages to engage the way it does.

A-