MOVIE REVIEW: SATURDAY NIGHT

 

Tensions run high as producer Lorne Michaels and a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers prepare for the first broadcast of "Saturday Night Live" on Oct. 11, 1975.

Director: Jason Reitman

Cast: Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, Cory Michael Smith, Ella Hunt, Dylan O'Brien, Emily Fairn, Matt Wood, Lamorne Morris, Kim Matula, Finn Wolfhard, Nicholas Braun, Cooper Hoffman, Andrew Barth Feldman, Kaia Gerber, Tommy Dewey, Willem Dafoe, Matthew Rhys, J. K. Simmons

Release Date: October 11, 2024

Genre: Biography, Comedy, Drama, History

Rated R for language throughout, sexual references, some drug use and brief graphic nudity.

Runtime: 1h 49m

Review:

Jason Reitman's manic Saturday Night captures the frenetic vibe that must have permeated that first show told in a manner that feels more like mythmaking than actual reality.  Reitman manages to create a pulsating energy from the start as we get a sense of how much of a highwire act the entire process of putting on a live show especially doing it for the first time.  Sure the story weaves together a rather convenient series of events and encounters that may or may have not happened as presented but for the film it works to recreate the feel of that faithful night.  The ensemble cast lead by Gabriel LaBelle's anxiety ridden, endlessly stressed out Lorne Michaels is a joy to watch from start to finish.  LaBelle's performance is the film's beating heart as he rushes from one crisis to another with a dogged determination that's easy to root for.  He's surrounded by a collection of strong supporting performances that do an impressive job of emulating their real life counterparts.  Cory Michael Smith gets the biggest spotlight as a young Chevy Chase and he delivers a fascinating performance that captures his comedic timing and brimming sense of ego and self importance.  Smith is always the most interesting performer onscreen particularly when J. K. Simmons' Milton Berle dresses him down in a particularly effective scene.  Ella Hunt gets less screentime but she does the most with her time as she gives Gilda Radner a soulful, live in the moment appreciation that feels like a tribute to the late comedian.  Lamorne Morris isn't quite as lucky with Garrett Morris who's underserved by the script which has him questioning why he was cast while never delving into the possible reasons with any seriousness.   Matt Wood, Emily Fairn, Dylan O'Brien, Kim Matula all get small spots to deliver spot on turns as John Belushi, Laraine Newman, Dan Aykroyd and Jane Curtin.  They are small but impactful moments with O'Brien's Aykroyd screaming for more screentime just like Matthew Rhys all to brief appearance as George Carlin.  Nicholas Braun pulls double duty as Andy Kaufman and Jim Henson but much like his costars the movie doesn't give them enough time to really settle in as little more than glorified caricatures.  Rachel Sennott's Rosie Shuster, Michael's ex wife, also begs for a bit more fleshing out but the film moves at a frenetic pace that you get the sense large chucks were excised like many a skit from the show's master wall.  That doesn't lessen Saturday Night's impressive cinematic energy that's sure to please long time fans of the show.

B+

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: APARTMENT 7A

 

An ambitious young dancer, Terry Gionoffrio, dreams of fame and fortune in New York City. But, after suffering a devastating injury, an older, wealthy couple welcomes her into their home in the luxury apartment building, the Bramford. 

Director: Natalie Erika James

Cast: Julia Garner, Dianne Wiest, Jim Sturgess, Kevin McNally

Release Date: September 27, 2024

Genre: Horror, Thriller

Rated R for some violent content and drug use.

Runtime: 1h 42m

Review:

Apartment 7A works better than it should as a companion piece to Rosemary's Baby, albeit unnecessary, thanks to competent and efficient direction and a strong turn from Julia Garner.  Natalie Erika James does her best to recreate the creepiness of the original while avoiding outright mimicry of Roman Polanski's original with a few fascinating flourishes that stand on their own.  She would have been better served to pave her own path more often throughout the film's brisk runtime in order for this entry to stand on its own.  There are just too many checkbox moments where the original's events or people are referenced even if it doesn't serve this particular story.   The set up is different enough to give this story a different angle but it never takes full advantage of it before it starts down its final, predetermined path.  It feels like a missed opportunity especially since the cast is more than up to the task.  Julia Garner brings a level of ambitious paired with trepidation to her character that makes her performance incredibly watchable throughout.  Garner's talent is on full display as her character goes through subtle, emotional turns as her plight gets more precarious.  It’s a solid performance that mostly avoids any Mia Farrow imitations outside of a late stage moment that the film could have done without.  Kevin McNally and Dianne Wiest turn in their best impressions of Sidney Blackmer and Ruth Gordon as the Castevets.  McNally does a great job of capturing Blackmer's appearance and intonation in his line delivery.  Likewise, Wiest captures the distinctive voice from Ruth Gordon's Oscar winning turn as Minnie while giving her performance more of an outright menacing quality.  They'll never measure up to the original performance, but they are competent enough to work within the context of this film.  The same could be said for the film as whole since it’s well crafted and acted but never does enough to make it required viewing.

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: THE WILD ROBOT

 

Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.

Director: Chris Sanders

Cast: Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Catherine O'Hara, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames

Release Date: September 27, 2024

Genre: Animation, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG for action/peril and thematic elements.

Runtime: 1h 42m

Review:

The Wild Robot is simplistic in its storytelling, but its eye-catching visuals and emotional punch makes it one of the most impressive, animated film from Dreamworks in a longtime.  Chris Sanders' film has a dreamlike look to it thanks to an impressionist animation style for the backgrounds and non robot characters.  Its visually impactful throughout as there's nary an inch wasted onscreen as the island vibrantly brought to life.  There's an impressive efficiency to it all as he gives you a sense of the geography as we're introduced to the colorful cast of anthropomorphized animals.  The character designs are naturalistic which serve in contrast to the shipwrecked robot at the center of the story Roz.  Her slinky arm and legs give the character a fun sense of motion, particularly as she emulates the varied wildlife she encounters.  Her large camera lens eyes paired with wonderful voice work from Lupita Nyong'o really make the character live and breathe.  Nyong'o has an ability to bring a sense of humanity and authenticity to all her performances and it serves this film as the beating heart of story.  It makes the character's emotional arch as a surrogate mother even more impactful which makes certain moments, especially in the final act, primed to elicit waterworks from even the most cynical viewer.  The supporting cast is solid, particularly Pedro Pascal, but its Nyong'o that holds it all together from start to finish.  It helps that the story is unafraid to show all aspects of the circle of life in an honest way that doesn't pander the way some animated films.  There are hints of Wall-E, especially as we are exposed the futuristic human world that exist outside of the island.  Much like that film, there's an elegance to The Wild Robot's story and overall production that set it a cut above most animated family films.  

A

MOVIE REVIEW: NEVER LET GO

 

When an unspeakable evil takes over the world, the only protection for a mother and her twin sons is their house and strong bond. Needing to stay connected at all times -- even tethering themselves with ropes -- they must cling to one another and never let go. However, when one of the boys questions if the evil is real, the ties that bind them together are severed, triggering a terrifying fight for survival.

Director: Alexandre Aja

Cast: Halle Berry, Percy Daggs IV, Anthony B. Jenkins, Matthew Kevin Anderson, Christin Park, Stephanie Lavigne

Release Date: September 20, 2024

Genre: Drama, Horror, Thriller

Rated R for strong violent content and grisly images.

Runtime: 1h 42m

Review:

Never Let Go's dark fable offers up a fascinating morality tale which is carried by a strong central performance from Halle Berry paired with surprisingly impressive turns from her young costars Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins.  Director, Alexandre Aja, delivers a beautifully crafted film that makes great use of sound design and setting to create a foreboding atmosphere throughout.  Aja made his name in the horror genre by being someone who's willing to push the boundaries of blood and gore but here he shows a solid level of restraint as he makes judicious use of the grotesque imaginary which works in the film's favor.  He's smart enough to set the table and let his cast do the rest.  Halle Berry is fully committed from the moment she appears onscreen as she gives her character a palpable sense of protective motherly energy with a crazed, off kilter undercurrent during every interaction.  There's a subtly to her performance that adds so much more tortured depth that might have been lost in the hands of lesser actress.  Her young costars, lead by Percy Daggs IV and Anthony B. Jenkins, prove to be more than capable of holding their own onscreen with Berry.  Daggs IV and Jenkins bring an easy naturalism to their performances that's rare for such young performers.  Jenkins gives the eldest son an unflinching belief in his mother's teaching while Daggs IV's is more inquisitive and open to question her.  The trio of performances elevates the script which doesn't offer the kind of surprises you'd hope for especially for such an intriguing set up.  The turn is telegraphed fairly on which makes the final act feel more perfunctory than revelatory even as Aja tries to leave things a bit more ambiguous.  Still, it doesn't keep Never Let Go from leaving a solid impression due in large part to a strong turn from its director and cast.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: TRANSFORMERS ONE

 

Brothers-in-arms Orion Pax and D-16 become sworn enemies Optimus Prime and Megatron.

Director: Josh Cooley

Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Scarlett Johansson, Keegan-Michael Key, Steve Buscemi, Laurence Fishburne,  Jon Hamm

Release Date: September 20, 2024

Genre: Animation, Action, Adventure, Family, Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Rated PG for sci-fi violence and animated action throughout, and language.

Runtime: 1h 44m

Review:

Transformers One is a rather impressive revitalization of the franchise by bringing it back to the animated realm on the big screen and smartly putting the focus back on the bots.  Josh Cooley's film possesses an engaging energy from start to finish as we follow the tragic journey of our central pair.  The animation is vibrant with each frame pulsating with life as he gives Cybertron an updated look that is still familiar enough to satisfy longtime fans but fresh enough to attract new fans as well.  It’s a tightrope he manages to traverse for the majority of the film's runtime with plenty of Easter eggs scattered throughout while still managing to tell a solid story.  It’s fun and light for a large portion of the first half before the story shifts thematically as we see Pax and D-16's worldviews diverge in starkly different ways.  Even though you know where the story is going, the script handles it so well that it makes sense in an organic way that leaves far more shades of grey on both sides.  There's a tangible amount of nuance at play as the whole thing unfolds which gives it far more emotional impact than you'd expect from this franchise.  There's plenty of heart baked into the script but strong vocal performances from Chris Hemsworth and Brian Tyree Henry make it all click.  Hemsworth is appropriately youthful, curious and heroic as the pre Prime Orion Pax.  He and Brian Tyree Henry share solid chemistry together which makes their brotherly relationship work especially with D-16 serving as a solid counter point to Pax's wide eyed optimism.  Henry does subtle vocal work as he establishes his character as a true believer who ultimately has the rug pulled out from under him.  Their dynamic together is subtly drawn even as the lighter action adventure portion of the film dominates the first two acts before the ultimate payoff.  Scarlett Johansson and Keegan-Michael Key are solid but a bit underserved by the script in supporting roles.  Johansson's Elita is the kind of strong willed, fearless character she could play in her sleep.  There's a definite sense that there was a lot more to the character than what we're given but she's definitely got plenty of room to grow in future installments.  Keegan-Michael Key is fun in spots as the motor mouth comedic relief in the form of Bumblebee but there are moments where his take on the character boarders on grating as its clearly aimed at the younger members of the audience.  Jon Hamm, Steve Buscemi and Laurence Fishburne round out the supporting cast with each doing well in limited screen especially Hamm who's perfectly suited to the traitorous Sentinel Prime.  Once it's all said and done, Transformers One proves to be one of the more pleasant surprises especially for an unabashed die hard fan like myself.

B+