MOVIE REVIEW: IN THE HEIGHTS

In Washington Heights, N.Y., the scent of warm coffee hangs in the air just outside of the 181st St. subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies a vibrant and tight-knit community. At the intersection of it all is a likable and magnetic bodega owner who hopes, imagines and sings about a better life.

Director: Jon M. Chu

Cast: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, Jimmy Smits

Release Date: June 4, 2021

Genre:  Drama, Music, Musical 

Rated PG-13 for some language and suggestive references

Runtime: 2h 23min

Review:

In The Heights is rousing celebration of community heritage and striving for a better life.  Jon M. Chu's film is a vibrant wall to wall musical that's filled with easy to love musical numbers that'll elicit a wide range of emotions throughout its runtime.  The musical numbers written by Lin-Manuel Miranda have an energy to them that feels personal and heartfelt with numbers like 96,000, Paciencia y Fe and Carnaval del Barrio leaving a lasting impact.  Chu's direction takes full advantage of the spectacular choreography during some of the larger ensemble pieces and veers into fantasy in select spots without going full Baz Luhrmann.  The story itself is fairly straightforward but covers a broad array of topics from gentrification, cultural identity and self discovery. This broadness extends to the characters who play more as types than fully realized people.  As such, the characters relationships, especially the main love story, doesn't connect emotionally the way it should.  The impressive part about the film is that it overcomes this shortcoming thanks to it's engaging cast lead by Anthony Ramos who posses a natural performers charisma that shines through the screen.  The supporting cast is made up of an array of Hispanic Broadway actors or singers including Olga Merediz who reprises her role from Miranda's original stage play and shines in spotlight.  The rest of the ensemble are given their chance to shine throughout the film's extensive 2 hour plus run.  Throw in a few moments where you might experience a sensation of déjà vu with the film adaptation of Rent.  That being said, In The Heights feels like more complete adaption of its source material for the big screen. 

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE CONJURING: THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT

 

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren take on one of the most sensational cases of their careers after a cop stumbles upon a dazed and bloodied young man walking down the road. Accused of murder, the suspect claims demonic possession as his defense, forcing the Warrens into a supernatural inquiry unlike anything they've ever seen before.

Director: Michael Chaves

Cast: Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga, Ruairi O'Connor, Sarah Catherine Hook, Julian Hilliard, John Noble

Release Date: June 4, 2021

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Rated R for terror, violence and some disturbing images.

Runtime: 1 h 52 min

Review:

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It is an effective if less impactful entry in the main series.  Michael Chaves does his best James Wan impression by delivering a film that has a 80s horror feel to it with an opening sequence that pay homage to a horror stalwart.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t maintain that level of intensity throughout its runtime.  There are plenty of strong set ups and jump scares but the story doesn’t ever really find its footing in a meaningful way.  As such the story never produces that sensation of dread or foreboding that top tier religious horror films elicit.  It’s still incredibly watchable due to strong work form Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga.  By this point in the series both actors inhabit the skin of their characters with a palpable level of authenticity.  Outside of the scares, this series has primarily been about this couples marriage and love story.  It’s the beating heart of the story and the main reason these films work even in lesser entries like this.  The biggest issue here is that a lot of the story and tropes have all been done in better films.  It doesn’t really break any new ground and doesn’t explore a tantalizing story thread with John Noble’s character with it choosing for a more straightforward approach.  This third entry in The Conjuring franchise works but most hardcore horror fans will be left wanting for more. 

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: CRUELLA

 

A live-action feature film following the evil exploits of Cruella de Vil, the villain from the Disney film, "101 Dalmatians'. 

Director: Craig Gillespie

Cast: Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, Joel Fry, Paul Walter Hauser, Emily Beecham, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Mark Strong

Release Date: May 28, 2021

Genre: Comedy, Crime

Rated PG-13 for some violence and thematic elements 

Runtime: 2 h 14 min

Review:

Disney's live action remakes haven't been more than cynical cash grabs.  The films themselves have been bland retreads with little to no innovation to justify their existence.  Craig Gillespie's Cruella manages to break the mold by delivering a visual feast for the eyes and story filled with hefty character development and pathos.  Gillespie channels everything from Tim Burton, Lady Gaga, The Devil Wears Prada and even a touch of Cathy Yang's Birds of Prey to create a vibrant dense character study that exceeds all expectations.   It shouldn't work as well as it does and it'll probably bore plenty of the smaller kids expecting something much lighter and funnier.  Gillespie's direction is impressive but it wouldn't work as well as it does if it weren't for spectacular turns by Emma Stone and Emma Thompson.  Both are clearly having a blast glamping it up as the dueling fashionista with their interactions being the high points of the film.  It's be easy to go broad and coast through the film and it'd still be moderately fun but both actresses give their characters so much lived in depth which makes them all the more interesting.  Throw some award winning costumes and it's a feast for movie lovers who enjoy great performances from stars at the top of their game.  The film even manages to give Cruella's sidekicks more depth and characterization than expected with Joel Fry and Paul Walter Hause turning in strong performances as well.  Once the film ends you are sort of left gobsmacked by the quality of the entire production as your reminded this is still a Disney production which started with the most basic of intentions.  Sure it could have used a few trims here and there but the cast and crew all rise above their trappings to deliver something devilishly delightful.

A-

MOVIE REVIEW: A QUIET PLACE PART II

 

Following the deadly events at home, the Abbott family must now face the terrors of the outside world as they continue their fight for survival in silence. Forced to venture into the unknown, they quickly realize that the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats that lurk beyond the sand path.

Director: John Krasinski

Cast: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Noah Jupe, Cillian Murphy, Djimon Hounsou

Release Date: May 28, 2021

Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi

Rated PG-13 for terror, violence and bloody/disturbing images.

Runtime: 1 h 37 min

Review:

A Quiet Place Part II is a solid if flawed follow up to beloved original.  John Krasinski turns in another impressive directorial effort with this well constructed exercise in a tension building.  The pretense of not seeing the monsters being exhausted in the original leave the door open for more monster action.  Smartly, Krasinski doesn't go totally overboard by forgoing tension for all out action.  The set pieces are impeccably constructed with a smart use of setting and sound to deliver jump scares that feel anything but cheap.  The cast is equally strong with Millicent Simmonds taking a more central role in this entry.  Simmonds displays some impressive acting chops even when she's onscreen with actors like Emily Blunt and Cillian Murphy.  Blunt's character takes more of a secondary role here but she still manages to shine in her limited screen time.  Cillian Murphy is appropriately intense even though his character feels terribly underwritten.  Murphy does what he can with the role but the character is simply there to advance the story and little more even though there are nuggets of backstory which are never expanded on.  Djimon Hounsou is just as underused in what amounts to a throw away role, written with little to no depth.  Ultimately, the script is this sequels biggest drawback by delivering thinly written supporting characters and character who simply do incredibly stupid things for no good reason.  The original benefited from Krasinki's strong direction, excellent central performances and a simple but efficient script with some logical leaps you could overlook.  A Quiet Place Part II works on most of the same levels but the script and story here are far more lacking.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: NEW ORDER

 

Members of a wealthy family gather for a wedding as a nearby protest escalates into violence in Mexico City.

Director: Michel Franco

Cast: Naian González Norvind, Diego Boneta, Mónica Del Carmen, Fernando Cuautle

Release Date: May 21, 2021

Genre: Drama

Rated R for disturbing and violent content, rape, graphic nudity, and language

Runtime: 1 h 26 min

Review:

Michel Franco’s New Order bleak dystopian tale is a message movie that can’t quite decide what it’s trying to say.  Franco’s film feels like a Michael Haneke on a larger more political scale.  It’s unnerving from the onset and there’s nary a sign of hope in its entire runtime.  As a result the film’s short runtime feels longer due to the story’s increasingly oppressive nature.  It’s the type of film that is filled with stark and shocking images which will stay with you long after you leave the theater.  The cast deliver authentic performances even if the characterization are overly generic types.  Naian González Norvind is given the spotlight for the better part of the first half before Fernando Cuautle takes over in second half as the story shifts its focus.  The film’s biggest issue is its general lack of focus, story threads start and end abruptly.  The story threads sole purpose being to sledgehammer home the film’s worldview.  Sadly, it’s hard to dismiss the film as unrealistic given recent history which leaves this an uncomfortable viewing experience. 

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: ARMY OF THE DEAD

 

After a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries takes the ultimate gamble by venturing into the quarantine zone for the greatest heist ever.

Director: Zack Snyder

Cast:  Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Omari Hardwick, Ana de la Reguera, Theo Rossi, Matthias Schweighöfer, Nora Arnezeder, Hiroyuki Sanada, Tig Notaro, Raúl Castillo, Huma Qureshi, Garret Dillahunt

Release Date: May 21, 2021

Genre: Action, Crime, Horror 

Rated R for strong bloody violence, gore and language throughout, some sexual content and brief nudity/graphic nudity

Runtime: 2h 28min

Review:

Army of the Dead represents a return to the genre that made Zack Snyder a name in the movie business.  His remake of Dawn of the Dead is a film that shouldn’t have worked on multiple levels but ended up becoming something special.  It was enough to make him a marketable director so his return, after his somewhat grueling trek through the DC Extended Universe, to genre is intriguing enough.  Freed of having to navigate established character, you can feel Snyder clear his palette on screen.  In doing so, he channels a slew of sources like Michael Bay’s Armageddon, James Cameron’s Aliens, Romero’s Day of the Dead and Land of the Dead with a splash of Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive for good measure.  It is all draped in a heist film with larger splatter effects and for a large chunk of its runtime works even with some readily apparent pacing issues.  The characters are sufficiently fleshed out, so they don’t feel like fodder for meat grinder.  Dave Bautista leads his motley crew effectively even if he’s given one too many dramatic sequences which he can’t quite nail.  He does have a specific sort of quiet, pensive intensity that gives him a level of authenticity which works well for his character.  He has solid chemistry with his on-screen daughter, Ella Purnell, and love interest, Ana de la Reguera.  Each storyline is given enough time to play out even with some unexpected surprises.   Omari Hardwick and Matthias Schweighöfer also make a fun onscreen duo of lethal philosopher and safecracker who have some of the best comedic moments.  Theo Rossi and Garret Dillahunt both turn in mustache twirling levels of villainy which is fine, but you’re left feeling that the film could have used them to better effect.  The large ensemble keeps the whole thing moving even during some of its slower moments but there some obvious fat that could have been cut.  Zack Snyder’s Army of the Dead feels refreshing but it also displays some of his directorial excesses in this love letter to genre filmmaking.

B-