MOVIE REVIEW: RESPECT

 

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin's career -- from a child singing in her father's church choir to her international superstardom -- it's the remarkable true story of the music icon's journey to find her voice.

Director: Liesl Tommy

Cast: Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Marlon Wayans, Audra McDonald, Marc Maron, Tituss Burgess, Saycon Sengbloh, Hailey Kilgore, Skye Dakota Turner, Tate Donovan, Mary J. Blige

Release Date: August 13, 2021

Genre: Biography, Drama, Music

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, strong language including racial epithets, violence, suggestive material, and smoking

Runtime: 2h 25min

Review:

Aretha Franklin was a seminal star whose impact on the musical world still reverberates through the musical world.  Unfortunately, Liesl Tommy’s biopic is a paint by the numbers affair that plays more like a high end Lifetime film with better actors.  The film’s structure is a painfully predictable with melodramatic moments that will make most have flashback of Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.  The film’s saving grace is it’s cast with Jennifer Hudson leading the way with her spectacular voice making the musical sequences the highlight of the film.  Hudson is ready made for these types of roles which highlight her voice over her acting ability.  She’s a capable actress but the script isn’t interested in any sort of deep dive into what made Aretha tick as it only scratches the surface of her trouble upbringing and relationships with men.  Still, she’s able to shine in the moment where she belts out Franklin’s songs.  The film stages those moment with the type of loving affection that they deserve.  The supporting cast do solid work with Forest Whitaker making the biggest impression.  Whitaker is the type of performer that can take small moment and imbue them with emotions that range from menace to tenderness.  When he and Hudson share the screen the movie pops in a significant way that makes the rest off the film feel like a bit of a letdown since it never maintains that type of quality.  Respect, sadly, ends up being a run of the mill biopic that doesn’t do anything truly meaningful deserving of it’s subject.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: DON'T BREATHE 2

 

A blind veteran must use his military training to save a young orphan from a group of kidnappers.

Director: Rodo Sayagues

Cast: Stephen Lang, Brendan Sexton III, Madelyn Grace, Adam Young, Bobby Schofield, Rocci William

Release Date: August 12, 2021

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Rated R for strong bloody violence, gruesome images, and language

Runtime: 1 h 38 min

Review:

Fede Alvarez's Don't Breathe was surprisingly effective horror thriller that used it central conceit to maximum effect.  Stephen Lang delivered a memorable turn as the murderous rapist killer.  The sequel wants you to forget some of nastier parts of what we saw in the original and decides to turn The Blind Man into an antihero in a series of increasingly ludicrous set pieces.  Rodo Sayagues takes over directorial duties from Alvarez and he does a solid job mimicking his visuals and overall style.  Sayagues creates some inventive set pieces but he never achieves the sort of nail biting tension needed to make the sequences work.  They are still as brutal and gory as the original film but they don't have the same visceral effect.  It doesn't help that the script for the sequel is decidedly stupider than the original.  The first film required a certain level of disbelief but the sequel doesn't bother with that or any semblance of reality especially once it hits the final act.  Stephen Lang does his best to carry the film and you get the distinct impression that he really enjoys playing the character.  Unfortunately the supporting cast isn't nearly as committed or strong.  Madelyn Grace tries her best as The Blind Man's adopted daughter but she never comes across as authentic or believable.  Brendan Sexton III's turn as the villain is laughably bad especially once his character's motivations are revealed.  Don't Breathe 2 falls into the category of forgettable follow ups to infinitely better originals.  

C-

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Suicide Squad

My dear reader(s): The weekend just passed brought us the latest installment in DC Comics' extended cinematic universe, the Suicide Squad.

A collection of the criminal and the criminally insane embark on another secret mission.

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers or a general familiarity with the product.

Technically, I believe the Suicide Squad is considered a sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad. In reality, minus Jared Leto's Joker and with an almost completely new cast, it feels more like a do-over. The original was universally reviled (though I didn't hate it), so putting maximum artistic distance between the two probably was in the best interest of the new movie.

It comes as no surprise, then, that Suicide Squad and *the* Suicide Squad are two very different films. As mentioned, gone is Leto's deeply divisive Joker. While that's a significant character to remove from the mix, I don't think the movie misses him. Gone, also, is Will Smith as Deadshot. The team's new leader is Bloodsport, portrayed by Idris Elba. Will Smith is cool, but I can't say there are many actors I wouldn't happily swap for Elba, and Mr. Smith is no exception. (Sorry, Will. Love ya.) Margot Robbie makes her third big-screen appearance as Harley Quinn, and — given the character's psychoses — it feels inappropriate to say she's delightful, but delightful she is. She's come to own the character, and certainly she owns the screen whenever she's on it. Joel Kinnaman returns as Rick Flag, and Viola Davis as Amanda Walker, but most of the other faces are new to the property, if mostly familiar to movie-goers. Notable are the brilliant Peter Capaldi, John Cena, and David Dastmalchian, a favorite of mine since he named Rachel Dawes as next on the Joker's hit list in the Dark Knight. (Dastmalchian and co-star Michael Rooker have also done time in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.) Sylvester Stallone is a scene-stealer as the voice of King Shark. Most of the performances can fairly be called terrific without a "for the genre" qualifier. The Suicide Squad uses a solid score by John Murphy and an interesting selection of tunes to underscore its dark mood, another important distinction from the original, which often felt more like a series of music videos than it did one cohesive film. The movie has its fair share of juvenile humor, but an equal helping of legitimately funny bits. CGI is decent throughout, and action scenes are exciting and don't wear out their welcome. Harley Quinn features in a fight sequence that is right up there with the Freebird/church scene in Kingsman: the Secret Service as a new classic and maybe an all-time great.

While the 2016 and 2021 Suicide Squads are very different, they're also quite similar. Both are very, very violent, though in a stylized way that doesn't seem as much about the gross-out as it does about interesting visuals. Both have a bright comic-book look to them, with colorful graphics and bold text. Both feature an abundance of bad language and disturbing content. (Why does James Gunn hate birds??) Both play Harley Quinn's insanity for laughs when, really, hers is a grotesque and unsettling story. If the houses ended up looking quite different, it's clear their foundations were the same.

The Suicide Squad is now playing in cinemas worldwide, and streaming on HBO Max through the first week of September. It runs 132 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use, and brief graphic nudity."

The Suicide Squad is good fun for those who aren't squeamish about extreme content, a definite improvement over the original. Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Suicide Squad gets seven and a half.

Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: THE GREEN KNIGHT

 

King Arthur's headstrong nephew embarks on a daring quest to confront the Green Knight, a mysterious giant who appears at Camelot. Risking his head, he sets off on an epic adventure to prove himself before his family and court.

Director: David Lowery

Cast: Dev Patel, Alicia Vikander, Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury, Sean Harris, Ralph Ineson

Release Date: July 30, 2021

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy

Rated R for violence, some sexuality and graphic nudity

Runtime: 2 h 10 min

Review:

David Lowery’s deconstructed Arthurian tale is a methodical pensive take that’s moody and visually stunning.  Lowery’s film isn’t going to be for everyone since his pacing is deliberately slow as he lets visual and moments linger on screen for an extended amount of time.  Everything moves at a slow simmer allowing the thematic meaning to seep into your mind.  It’s the opposite of a blockbuster film since it asks you actively digest what’s being presented on screen. Dev Patel leads the film ably in a understated but thoughtful turn as Sir Gawain as he tackles destiny and life during his journey. Patel’s dialogue is sparse but he communicates a books worth of emotions via his eyes.  The supporting cast is equally effective with Alicia Vikander making the biggest impression in a duel role one of which leaves her nearly unrecognizable. David Lowery’s film fits nicely next to John Boorman’s classic Excalibur and much like that film it’s a visual feast that will leave you thinking about it long after the film is over.    

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE SUICIDE SQUAD

 

The government sends the most dangerous supervillains in the world -- Bloodsport, Peacemaker, King Shark, Harley Quinn and others -- to the remote, enemy-infused island of Corto Maltese. Armed with high-tech weapons, they trek through the dangerous jungle on a search-and-destroy mission, with only Col. Rick Flag on the ground to make them behave.

Director: James Gunn

Cast: Margot Robbie, Idris Elba, John Cena, Joel Kinnaman, Sylvester Stallone, Viola Davis, Jai Courtney, Peter Capaldi

Release Date: Rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and brief graphic nudity

Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy, Sci-Fi

Rated R for strong violence and gore, language throughout, some sexual references, drug use and brief graphic nudity

Runtime: 2 h 12 min

Review:

James Gunn's The Suicide Squad is a visually aggressive Dirty Dozen grindhouse film in the guise of a superhero film.  Gunn's Guardian of the Galaxy was one of first Marvel films that had a decidedly unique feel to it but those expecting something similar in DC universe will be surprised.  In this film Gunn has gone back to his gory roots by mirroring his first film's, Slither, story and using his refined directorial talents to great effect.  He delivers some truly beautiful sequences which will leave a lasting impact, Harley's escape is colorful collage of carnage.  His story is goofy, bloody but heartfelt at the same time even if all those elements don't hit the mark perfectly.  The character arches are filled with lingering mommy and daddy issues which doesn't give the ensemble much depth outside of being an outcast.  Robbie's Harley fares the best since her character has had three films to evolve into herself.  Idris Elba instantly feels like a more natural fit for this film than Will Smith did in the original film. Elba has a natural toughness that oozes through the screen which works perfectly for his character.  John Cena's Peacemaker should be the stand out of the piece but the script doesn't give him much to work with so he's not as impactful as the script wants him to be.  Daniela Melchior's Ratcatcher 2 ends up being the beating heart of film with her and Bloodsport's relationship providing the emotional string to the film.  Joel Kinnaman's Col. Rick Flag gets an expanded role here which makes him feel more like a complete character even amongst the insanity of Sylvester Stallone's, R rated Groot, King Shark or David Dastmalchian's Polka Dot Man.  Gunn's film embraces the insanity full bore by the final act by delivering the kind of big budget midnight movie madness which you have to appreciate for its sheer audacity.  

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Sparks Brothers

 

My dear reader(s) — assuming I have any left, given my lengthy absences — among the pandemic's ripple effects not noted by the CDC, a big one for me has been my "conscious uncoupling" from the cinema. Even in rare cases where a new release interests me, it doesn't interest me enough to get out and see it on the big screen. The few recent movies that might have gotten me out to the cinema haven't played on any big screens locally; thus, I come to my (so far) most anticipated release of 2021, Edgar Wright's The Sparks Brothers, via Amazon Prime.

The incredible true story of "your favorite band's favorite band."

I'm not sure you can actually spoil a documentary, but if you're concerned, best watch before reading.

Edgar Wright has become my favorite director, largely due to his uncanny feel for music. Nobody can put the right song in the right place in the right movie like Edgar Wright. When I heard he was doing a straight-up music documentary, my tiny heart soared. I am pleased to report The Sparks Brothers does not disappoint.

Wright mixes live and video footage of Sparks with terrific new interviews and clever animated sequences. In addition to "the Sparks Brothers" (Ron and Russell Mael), band members past and present and artists/fans across media and genres weigh in with anecdotes and opinions. There's a dry — but never cynical — sense of humor about the whole that is both expected and surprising for a band that is simultaneously hugely influential and a great mystery. It speaks volumes that former band members seem to carry no hard feelings (regardless of the circumstances of their dismissal) and that the Maels are not bitter about the many times their strange art has been less appreciated than they might have liked.

A documentary is a strange animal, seemingly a harder sell than a scripted movie for viewers who are not previously invested in the subject matter. The enthusiasm of The Sparks Brothers is contagious and more than up to the challenge of entertaining old fans and winning over new. This is a film crafted with the greatest affection, but for everyone, not just for those who already share that affection. There's also a generosity not often found in today's "gatekeeping" fandoms. These people love Sparks, and they want you to love Sparks too, even if you've only just heard of them or only know one song. If the story of Sparks sometimes seems too strange to be true, this telling is simply magical from start to finish.

The Sparks Brothers runs a delightful 140 minutes and is rated R for language.

The Sparks Brothers is now playing in cinemas (somewhere) and via streaming services worldwide.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Sparks Brothers gets all nine.

Fangirl points: Beatles, Beatles, Beatles! Duran Duran! The god Todd Rundgren! Nick Heyward!

Until next time...