MOVIE REVIEW: ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood visits 1969 Los Angeles, where everything is changing, as TV star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his longtime stunt double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt) make their way around an industry they hardly recognize anymore. The ninth film from the writer-director features a large ensemble cast and multiple storylines in a tribute to the final moments of Hollywood’s golden age.

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley, Timothy Olyphant, Austin Butler, Dakota Fanning, Bruce Dern,  Al Pacino

Release Date: July 26, 2019

Genre: Comedy, Drama

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

Runtime: 2 h 45 min

Review:

Once Upon a Time In Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino’s 9^th film, is a gloriously unfocused tome that takes the audience back in time to another era.  Tarantino’s film feels like a unrelated assembly of story vignettes which ultimately do converge in an interesting and unexpected fashion.  While the finale will get a lot of buzz but the journey is just as enjoyable.  The film is anchored by Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt who are both clearly having a blast in their roles.  They both share some amazing chemistry that keeps the film watchable and enjoyable for the duration.  Their takes of their character layered, subtle and ultimately lots of fun.  There’s a huge whose who of faces that pop up through out the film that boost the film at just the right times.  You can almost feel Tarantino’s gleeful energy come through the screen as some of the screen legends pop up on the screen.  There might be a bit of a complaint about how unfocused the whole thing is and in comparison to his other films, the story here isn’t the strongest.  Still it’s hard not to enjoy this dazzling stroll through a bygone era brought back to life by one of films most talented directors.


A-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE LION KING

Simba idolizes his father, King Mufasa, and takes to heart his own royal destiny on the plains of Africa. But not everyone in the kingdom celebrates the new cub's arrival. Scar, Mufasa's brother -- and former heir to the throne -- has plans of his own. The battle for Pride Rock is soon ravaged with betrayal, tragedy and drama, ultimately resulting in Simba's exile. Now, with help from a curious pair of newfound friends, Simba must figure out how to grow up and take back what is rightfully his.

Director: Jon Favreau

Cast: Donald Glover, Seth Rogen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Alfre Woodard, Billy Eichner, John Kani, John Oliver, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, James Earl Jones

Release Date: July 18, 2019

Animation, Adventure, Drama

Rated PG for sequences of violence and peril, and some thematic elements |

Runtime: 1 h 58 min

Review:

First and foremost, I have to admit that I’ve never seen the original Lion King.  It’s a film that’s become so ingrained in the cultural zeitgeist that it almost doesn’t feel necessary.  None the less, I understand it’s a much beloved property that many people have incredible affection for so it makes watching this remake a strange experience.  The film itself is a technical marvel, all the animals are beautifully realized throughout.  The film’s voice cast is a who’s who of big stars who all do serviceable work in their particular roles with nobody really standing out.  A handful of the legendary songs reappear with some strong staging but all of it feels strangely hollow.  Unfortunately the whole thing feels rather soulless much like most of Disney’s ongoing money making scheme of remaking all their animated classics.  Jon Favreau’s film isn’t a terrible film by any stretch but it’s strangely uninspired.  Some of that might come from the fact that by making the film photo realistic the animals lack any sort of real expressive features, something that’s much easier in an animated feature.  As such it feels like you are watching one of those old 90s Homeward Bound films with much better production values.


C+

MOVIE REVIEW: STUBER

When a mild-mannered Uber driver named Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) picks up a passenger (Dave Bautista) who turns out to be a cop hot on the trail of a brutal killer, he’s thrust into a harrowing ordeal where he desperately tries to hold onto his wits, his life and his five-star rating. Directed by Michael Dowse, this action-comedy from 20th Century Fox also stars Iko Uwais, Natalie Morales, Betty Gilpin, Jimmy Tatro, Mira Sorvino and Karen Gillan.

Director: Michael Dowse

Cast: Dave Bautista, Kumail Nanjiani, Iko Uwais, Natalie Morales, Betty Gilpin, Jimmy Tatro, Mira Sorvino, Karen Gillan

Release Date: June 28, 2019

Action, Comedy, Crime

Rated R for violence and language throughout, some sexual references and brief graphic nudity

Runtime: 1 h 33 min

Review:

Stuber is one of those stupid mindless action comedies that seemingly pops up every summer.  Michael Dowse’s film knows what it is and never really pretends to be anything else especially anything resembling serious.  The action is loud, kinetic and surprisingly bloody for some reason.  Still it all carries very little weight in terms of gravitas.  It’s all played for fun and both the leads are more than ready to go all in.  Dave Bautista, aka Mr Monotone, uses a schtick similar to his Guardians of the Galaxy routine which works well here.  His massive size compared to Kumail Nanjiani’s plays right into the film’s general hook.  Nanjiani is perfectly neurotic as the hapless uber driver who’s commandeered for the drive around the city.  Together they make for a fun pair delivering a low rent 48 Hrs. or Running Scared.  Ultimately, the film does sort of feel like a throwback to those 80’s buddy comedies even if doesn’t quite reach classic status.


B-

MOVIE REVIEW: MIDSOMMAR

With their relationship in trouble, a young American couple travel to a fabled Swedish midsummer festival where a seemingly pastoral paradise transforms into a sinister, dread-soaked nightmare as the locals reveal their terrifying agenda.

Director: Ari Aster

Cast: Florence Pugh, Jack Reynor, William Jackson Harper, Vilhelm Blomgren, Will Poulter

Release Date: July 3, 2019
Genre: Drama, Horror, Mystery

Rated R for disturbing ritualistic violence and grisly images, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use and language

Runtime: 2 h 27 min

Review:

Midsommar, Ari Aster’s 2^nd film, is a singular movie watching experience.  It’s the type of film that’ll stick with you for a long while afterward.  Aster’s direction is self assured and methodical while never being boring even with the film’s glacial pace.  There’s a steady sense of dread from the outset and it never really lets up throughout the better part of the film.  While this film isn’t quite as strong in the horror category as Hereditary was its still filled with plenty of starkly bleak imagery and iconography.  At its center is Florence Pugh who carries the film and elevates some of the weaker portions of the film’s plot.  Pugh’s ability to emote pain and grief comes through the screen which some of the film’s more trippy sequences all the more powerful.  As for those hallucinatory sequences they are some of the most discombobulating and outright weird sequences I’ve seen on film.  It's easy to compare Midsommar to the original Wicker Man, it does share various similarities with that film, but ultimately it’s it own wonderfully weird amalgam of that film and the 1981 film Possession, destined to become a cult classic in it's own right.

A-

Cindy Prascik's Reviews of Spider-Man: Far from Home

Yesterday I took an (involuntary) break from back-to-back Rocketman screenings to check in with my friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.

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

To no one's surprise, Peter Parker's plan to participate in a school trip like any normal teen goes awry.

Like almost all Marvel product, Spider-Man: Far from Home trades heavily on the capital of its star's charisma and real-life personality. Tom Holland is an absolute jackpot in this regard, having proved as charming off-screen as on, and--while Andrew Garfield remains my perfect Spidey--the more age-appropriate Holland carries a big franchise film with the ease of someone far more experienced. His supporting cast is fleshed out this time with the always-wonderful Jake Gyllenhaal, as well as recurring turns by Marisa Tomei, Zendaya, Samuel L. Jackson, and Coby Smoulders. The movie's got flaws, but not a single member of this cast is among them.

Far from Home represents a sort-of torch-passing, following the events of Avengers: Endgame. The film features spectacular disaster and creature effects, yet somehow Spidey himself looks weirdly CGI-ed even when it's probably a live actor or stunt person performing. The movie is never boring, precisely, but it's too long before it even gets out of its first hour. There's a big "twist" that manages to serve its purpose while probably not being much of a surprise to most fans. Some great action sequences, an engaging cast, and spot-on humor make Far from Home a fun movie, but, ultimately, it's nothing special.

Spider-Man: Far from Home clocks in at an excessive 129 minutes and is rated PG13 for "sci-fi action violence, some language, and brief suggestive comments."

Far from Home is another fun-but-unremarkable outing from Marvel that you'll forget before the next fun-but-unremarkable outing from Marvel. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Spider-Man: Far from Home gets seven.

Fangirl points: My best boyfriend Jake (obvs.)! Martin Starr! The Ramones!

MOVIE REVIEW: SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME

Following the events of Avengers: Endgame, Spider-Man must step up to take on new threats in a world that has changed forever.

Director: Jon Watts

Cast: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Zendaya, Cobie Smulders, Jon Favreau, J. B. Smoove, Jacob Batalon, Martin Starr, Marisa Tomei, Jake Gyllenhaal

Release Date: July 2, 2019

Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence, some language and brief suggestive comments

Runtime: 2 h 9 min

Review:

Spider-Man: Far from Home has the simple task of tidying up the events of Avengers: Endgame while also moving forward Spider-Man character’s story.  It’s a hefty task and the film’s only partially able to pull it off, even though it’s at the cost of other elements.  Jon Watts’ film is a light and breezy affair with nary an air of heft or weight to it. They’re never any moments where you wonder if the hero is in any real danger, which is a common occurrence is these single character films but here it feels even more obvious.  That’s not say to there isn’t plenty of superhero action to go around along with some impressively staged sequences, particularly in the third act.  Tom Holland is still excellent as Parker/Spider-Man but while he gives more angst teen drama this entry, it feels more inorganic and stilted than it did in Homecoming.  Zendaya is relegated to a more standard love interest role than she did before and no amount of snark can hide it.  Jake Gyllenhaal is an interesting addition to the film but he’s a retconned villain from Spider-man villain who could just wear a sign around his neck stating “Don’t Trust Me” during the first half.  His reveal is interesting and it’s hard not to see the screenwriters taking swipes at a certain someone in the current political zeitgeist with the villain’s primary motivation.  It’s an interesting take and something that would have been more interesting if it’d been explored more but as is it’s a solid film.  Ultimately, it does close out this “phase” of the Marvel universe but does so in a workman like function.  That being said there are 2 post credit sequences that actually have bearing on the film you’ve finished watching so it’s worth staying all the way through the credits in this one.   

B