Fired from the National Security
Agency, Frans Balder recruits hacker Lisbeth Salander to steal FireWall, a
computer program that can access codes for nuclear weapons worldwide. The
download soon draws attention from an NSA agent who traces the activity to Stockholm. Further problems arise when Russian thugs take
Lisbeth's laptop and kidnap a math whiz who can make FireWall work. Now,
Lisbeth and an unlikely ally must race against time to save the boy and recover
the codes to avert disaster.
Rated PG-13 for thematic
content, some drug and sexual references, and for language
Runtime: 1 hr. 42 min.
Genres: Crime, Drama,
Thriller
Review:
The Girl in The Spider’s
Web serves as a sort of reboot / continuation of Dragon Tattoo story with Clair
Foy taking over the main role. Claire
Foy seems like she’s miscast at first glance but she’s actually more than capable
to carry on the role from Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara. Foy has a quiet intensity that fits the
character perfectly even if the character has been mainstreamed a bit to make
her more easily digestible to the general public. Still, Claire Foy is able to give this
iteration of Lisbeth enough of an edge to keep the spirit of the character
alive. Not fairing as well is this films
version of Mikael Blomkvist. Sverrir
Gudnason is decidedly bland as the stalwart journalist who mostly just blends
in with the background. LaKeith
Stanfield does give the film a nice boost with his strong on screen presence
even though I wish the film would have given us a bit more of him and Foy
together. Still, Fede Álvarez and his
cast deliver an interesting and engaging entry into the franchise which still
shows signs of life especially with Foy in the lead.
On the eve of D-Day, American paratroopers drop behind enemy lines to
penetrate the walls of a fortified church and destroy a radio transmitter. As
the soldiers approach their target, they soon begin to realize that there's
more going on in the Nazi-occupied village than a simple military operation.
Making their way to an underground lab, the outnumbered men stumble upon a
sinister experiment that forces them into a vicious battle against an army of
the undead.
Director: Julius Avery
Cast: Jovan Adepo, Wyatt Russell, Mathilde Ollivier, John Magaro, Gianny
Taufer, Pilou Asbæk, Bokeem Woodbine.
Release Date: November 9, 2018
Genres: Action, Horror, Mystery
Rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing images, language, and
brief sexual content
Runtime: 1h 49 min
Review:
Overlord is a schlocky B movie that hits all the right notes. Julius Avery directs the film with a steady
hand. The film opens with an amazing
aerial sequence that will make some people think of the opening sequences in
Saving Private Ryan. As the film settles
in, you get the feeling you are watching a well made World War 2 film as the
film introduces us to classic war movie types.
These types could typically come off as clichéd but the performances
from the cast makes them all interesting and engaging. Avery and his cast establish an excellent
sense of atmosphere and the feeling that something is just a tad bit off. Once the film takes its right turn, which has
been highlighted in the trailers, it turns into a full tilt horror film and
does it quite well. It calls to memory
the reaction people had to From Dusk till Dawn, some people will go with it
others will be turned off by where the film ends up. Those that stick with it will find plenty to
enjoy because as a horror film it’s an effective gory ride.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the strange-bedfellows double-bill of The Girl in the Spider's Web and Dr. Seuss' The Grinch. Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First up: The Girl in the Spider's Web. Lisbeth Salander finds herself tangled in a dangerous plot with a personal twist. Well, dear reader(s), about the nicest thing I can say about The Girl in the Spider's Web is that I had the theater to myself, but for one other couple that sat far from me, so I really enjoyed that bit.
Otherwise... The Girl in the Spider's Web is a joyless, violent exercise that fails to engage on any level. I'm not such a ninny that I expected sunshine and lollipops from the Dragon Tattoo series, but...yeeesh...almost everything about this is deeply unlikable. The plot holds no surprises, and the performances frankly aren't that interesting.
That's not to say Claire Foy doesn't do a fine job in a role that's fraught with physical and emotional challenges; it's just that there's nothing, really, to make it stand out from a dozen others who will undoubtedly compete for the big hardware come awards season. (The trailer for Nicole Kidman's Destroyer that ran beforehand only served to underline that point.) Wallander alum Sverrir Gudnason is appealingly earnest as journalist Mikael Blomkvist, and the bleak landscapes and grim, fractured score provide a perfect backdrop for the film's misery, but otherwise there's not much good to be said about this one. I struggled mightily just to stay awake. The Girl in the Spider's Web runs 117 minutes and is rated R for "violence, language, and some sexual content/nudity."
The Girl in the Spider's Web is yet another sequel that nobody wanted.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Girl in the Spider's Web gets two. Fangirl points: Stephen Merchant!
Next on the docket, Dr. Seuss' The Grinch. Benedict Cumbergrinch can come down my chimney any ol' time. The Grinch is one of those timeless holiday tales that could be made a hundred times for a hundred different generations and it'd probably always work. This current incarnation is a real joy, thanks to bright artwork, bouncy holiday tunes, and a delightful turn by Benedict Cumberbatch as the green holiday killjoy. Glorious visuals are the star of The Grinch, with cheerful holiday decorations coming alive to get viewers into the spirit LIKERIGHTNOW. Snippets of new and classic Christmas carols--while vexing to our anti-hero--pile on the cinematic cheer, culminating in a well-known, teeth-rottingly-sweet finale that hits you right in the feels no matter your age. There are some stocking stuffers for adults (note the tune Mr. Grinch is playing on the organ midway through) that willfully aspire to keep the movie from being kids-only fare, but, even minus those little winks, The Grinch is the sort of picture that should get pretty much anyone into a holiday frame of mind. Dr. Seuss' The Grinch clocks in at a quick 90 minutes and is rated PG for "brief rude humor." The Grinch has holiday magic to spare.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Dr. Seuss' The Grinch gets eight.
Fangirl points: Cumbergrinch said my name. TWICE. (Christmas is the only time it pays to be named after a resident of Whoville!) Until next time...
Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping
celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie
Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of
the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise
of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach
unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker
influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly
without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his
bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS
diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the
history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire
outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee,
Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech, Mike
Myers
Release Date: November 2, 2018
Genres: Biography, Drama , Music
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements,
suggestive material, drug content and language
Runtime: 2h 12 min
Review:
Bohemian Rhapsody is a serviceable if
sanitized rock biopic that’s helped greatly by great performances.Bryan Singer’s film bears some of his style
but there is a sense that after he was let go there was a bit of committee
thinking going on resulting in some generic decisions.Even though the film plays out in a
predictable paint by the number pattern, there’s plenty to love about it.Rami Malek makes the film by delivering a
star making performance.Malek
transforms into Mercury and he’s always the most interesting person on
screen.He captures the look and feel of
Mercury especially during the musical portions that it makes it easy to
overlook some of the film’s short comings.Helping matters is the supporting cast which delivers equally impressive
work as the rest of the band mates.The
music itself is irresistible and through some impressive blending of actual
singing and lip syncing you really feel the performances which drive the film
ending with the iconic Live Aid show.
Young American dancer
Susie Bannion arrives in 1970s Berlin to audition for the world-renowned Helena Markos
Dance Co. When she vaults to the role of lead dancer, the woman she replaces
breaks down and accuses the company's female directors of witchcraft.
Meanwhile, an inquisitive psychotherapist and a member of the troupe uncover
dark and sinister secrets as they probe the depths of the studio's hidden underground
chambers.
Director: Luca Guadagnino
Cast: Dakota Johnson,
Tilda Swinton, Mia Goth, Chloë Grace Moretz, Angela Winkler, Renée Soutendijk,
Ingrid Caven, Sylvie Testud
Rated R for horror
violence, disturbing images, language, drug use and brief graphic nudity
Genres: Fantasy, Horror,
Mystery
Runtime: 2h 32min
Review:
Remaking Suspiria was an
interesting choice and one that could have gone terribly wrong.The fact that a high end director like Luca
Guadagnino decided to undertake the task made the idea of a remake interesting
to say the least.Luca Guadagnino
decision to reimagine as oppose to simply remake it was a wise one.Fans of the original techincolor fever dream
may not enjoy this version for a variety of reasons.Guadagnino ditches the highly stylized
visuals and delivers a dense Polanski type horror film.It’s engaging and always interesting but it
feels overly complex and obsessed with itself at the same time.There are plenty of sequences that will leave
a lasting impression such as an early dance sequence which is beautiful, brutal
and vicious.Guadagnino talent as a
director is on full display but at times it does seem to lack forward
momentum.To say it’s a slow moving film
is a bit of an understatement, the film moves at a glacial pace and it feels
every bit of a it’s 2 and half hour run time.It can be a detriment but there is so much to appreciate in terms of
craftsmanship that you can enjoy it multiple levels especially once the final
reveal uncorks an insane sequence.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for The Nutcracker and the Four Realms and Bohemian Rhapsody.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on the docket: Christmas comes early with The Nutcracker and the Four Realms.
On Christmas Eve, a grieving young lady is transported to a mysterious world where her help is needed.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms wants to know two things: How soon is too soon to go full Christmas? and: How is it possible to go so wrong with this story, this cast, and the full weight of Disney in your corner?
We'll start with the positives, because there are a few. The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a spectacular production with gorgeous sets and costumes, and the CGI is astonishing throughout, avoiding those missteps that have become common in even the priciest productions. The cast is top notch and mostly seems to be having fun despite the poor material. James Newton Howard's lush score perfectly compliments familiar excerpts from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite. All of those things ordinarily would keep the Four Realms spreading its cinematic cheer all the way through the new year, but...
...the Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a lousy movie. All the bells and whistles in the world can't offset a paper-thin story, an easy-to-spot twist, and a mysterious world that looks beautiful but feels more mundane than magical. An underused Helen Mirren is the only principal who seems to recognize just how badly it's all going to turn out, and she appears uncomfortable every second of her too-little screen time. The movie runs well shy of two hours, but feels very long indeed. Setting itself up as a new family holiday tradition, the Nutcracker and the Four Realms is likely to disappear from cinemas and from the memories of those who see it long before ol' Santa slides on down the chimney.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms clocks in at 99 minutes and is rated PG for "some mild peril."
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms is a criminal waste of some wonderful resources.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms gets three.
Fangirl points: Matthew Macfadyen! Jack Whitehall! Gustavo Dudamel! The divine Misty Copeland!
Next up, the much-anticipated Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody.
The story of one of the world's most revered rock n' roll bands, from inception through their performance at 1985's Live Aid.
Well, dear reader(s), as I've mentioned a time or twelve, I make every effort not to read reviews prior to writing my own, to ensure nothing outside of the film itself informs my opinion. Having said that, I spend a LOT of time online, and there's no avoiding headlines and friends' posts all the time. From what I've seen, it appears fans absolutely love Bohemian Rhapsody, and critics are somewhat less enthusiastic. I understand both sides, and I'll talk a little about each, but mostly I want you to know why I come down firmly on the side of the former.
Bohemian Rhapsody is less a grittily-realistic biography than it is a loving tribute to Freddie Mercury. While his less-flattering diva moments aren't entirely missing, they're easily outweighed by the affection with which the film presents him. The surviving members of Queen come off very well, as people who live to tell their own stories tend to do.
Though the trailers promised to tell "his story," Bohemian Rhapsody doesn't delve too deeply into Mercury's difficulties with a disapproving father, nor the painful reality of being a gay man in the 70s and 80s. It's all there, but none of it is really the focal point it might have been in a Very Serious Film releasing into awards season. It feels like filmmakers backed off a bit for fear of alienating the broader audience for which they clearly are aiming, which results in some unfortunate missed opportunities, but a happier film overall. Bohemian Rhapsody navigated a tumultuous road to the big screen, so of course there are those who feel it would have been better served by other talent that had been attached along the way. Personally, I think it does beautifully with the talent it has. Though they aren't necessarily A-List (yet), I am more than a little familiar with Rami Malik, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, and Joe Mazzello, yet I never saw anyone other than Freddie Mercury, Brian May, Roger Taylor, and John Deacon up on the screen, so effectively do they embody their characters. The supporting cast is equally extraordinary. If the film is guilty of glossing over some of the lower moments in the band's and Mercury's histories, it more than makes up for it with iconic performances, perfectly mimicked by four fantastic actors. Choosing to end on a high note--with the rousing Live Aid performance--might be considered contrived, but it's a fitting tribute to a legend and that's good enough for me.
Bohemian Rhapsody runs 134 minutes (could have gone another 134 with no complaints here) and is rated PG13 for "thematic elements, suggestive material, drug content, and language."
Bohemian Rhapsody may be a less-than-factual biopic, but it's a joyful tribute to one of the greatest bands of all time, and I enjoyed every minute. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Bohemian Rhapsody gets nine.
Fangirl points: Gwilym Lee!! Rami Malek! Tom Hollander! Aidan Gillen! (This might be my favorite cast ever!)
