cmconnexion Reviews

American Nightmare (2024)

DON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU SEE IN THE MOVIES

[8/10 · 8 April 2024]

When we watch movies, we see government agencies which are slick, sophisticated, that never leave any stone unturned. This indeed, isn't always the case-for when there are members of law enforcement who solve the seemingly unsolvable of crimes, there are others who monumentally blunder their way through an investigation to the point of pinning a crime on the most convenient person available. This is what we see in this documentary.

A home break-in. An assault. An abducted woman. Her traumatised boyfriend. His 18-hour interrogation. "It's always the boyfriend." This is the tunnel vision by police investigators hell-bent on pinning her disappearance on the boyfriend to wrap up this case as quickly as possible and to wash their hands of it. Then the unthinkable happens. The abducted woman is returned.

Law enforcement pivot their focus to the woman. Not buying her story of abduction, drugging, held captive, and raped, expressed to the media that she orchestrated an elaborate hoax, and that she is a liar who recklessly wasted valuable police and FBI resources. Then, by sheer luck, other cases pulled from files are cross referenced which reflect similar and identical details; proving this abduction was true.

It was later revealed that there was not only conflicts of interest by law enforcement, there was also misconduct. It appears that the rancid contamination of police procedure and miscarriage of justice runs far deeper than what's presented in this documentary.

One saving grace was the work of one female officer. Through her curiosity and her devotion to protect and to serve, she connected the dots, and blew the case wide open. While this documentary does not convey whether this officer was commended or promoted for her outstanding efforts, it does disclose that an officer who is on record violating police procedure in the most egregious way was later awarded a level of distinction unbecoming of a detective of unscrupulous principles. This was brought to light by the excellent defense attorneys of the accused. Rarely are their attorneys who would believe a client with the most unlikeliest of stories. Thankfully, these attorneys did.

While there are many members of law enforcement and government agencies who are to be applauded for their tireless efforts in solving crimes and ensuring the safety of citizens, there are unfortunately many dim-witted yet corrupt and putrescent individuals who have lied and bribed their way through the ranks; and are now in charge of departments with power resources at their disposal. The US Presidential Cabinet is a clear example.

An excellent documentary which is as much thought-provoking as it is frustrating. It will no doubt have you thinking twice about who you can trust, and who has your best interests at heart.

Inside (I) (2023)

CURIOSITY IS WHAT FACILITATES THIS MOVIE

[6/10 · 3 April 2024]

DaFoe, the One Man Show. The premise swiftly kicks off within the first few minutes. After tripping the security system of a million-dollar penthouse apartment, Art Thief "Nemo" is sealed inside with no exit. Trapped like an animal for weeks, he is in a battle between his wits and his sanity to stay alive long enough to escape.

This movie was indeed intriguing. A simple premise with no real story, the film was completely character-driven by an A-class actor-an actor who is who will take on interesting roles in small, independent film. Willem Dafoe is one of the few actors able to keep an audience engaged.

The penthouse is owned by a renowned artist. The art on the walls is the only color within this cold, austere environment of steel, glass, and concrete. I would have liked to have seen the art play a more significant role. Could the art give him clues or inspiration to escape? Could it be mocking him and have him believe that he is the subject of some elaborate piece of "Live Art" being recorded or broadcast as a "Reality TV Art"? Does he find insight and knowledge from the art of the person he's robbing? Could the art be a reflection into himself? After all, his moniker is "Nemo" is Latin for "nobody".

This movie had my mind going in 100 places at the same time on what the "Nemo" should do. Why are you doing that? Why aren't you doing this? At times it got a little frustrating. A sophisticated thief like this would have an expert understanding on electronics, be able to adapt to a situation, and use their street-smarts to laterally think their way out.

Dafoe did so well with so little, though I would have liked more ingenuity by necessity, and more significance and depth from the art on the walls. An excellent premise, though there were too many plot holes with the plausibility of even having an apartment such as this up to a standard of code to not only be safe to live in, but to also be safe enough to have a child and a large dog living there.

As I said, Dafoe and curiosity is what facilitated this movie for me. Now that there's no curiosity, I am left to wonder how much further this film could have been elevated both cerebrally and surreally, had the script had just one more re-write?

Spaceman (I) (2024)

A JOURNEY INWARD, HALF A BILLION MILES AWAY

[9/10 · 26 March 2024]

Every once in a while, you come across a film that you not only not quite understand what you've seen, but leaves a residual print on your mind which provokes questions of your own life.

This movie touches on so many facets of humanity, through thoughts, feelings, knowledge and wonder. From an oblique angle peering through the looking glass of one's self - refracting and fracturing projected memories to discover the truths of one's self.

Adam Sandler's foray into drama has been nothing short of impressive-and this film takes his dramatic chops up another notch. A very difficult role for any actor to undertake, as his character Jakob shares no scenes with anyone. Though his character does have company in the form of a large, mysterious spider-type creature with the ability to ask the difficult questions Jakob has been running away from the answers.

Many great mysteries of this movie allow the audience to decide Jakob's experience and fate. Is Hanush real or merely a manifestation of his subconscious? Did Jakob return back to Earth? Did the extreme isolation of outer space coupled with the close proximity of Chopra facilitate Jakob's realisation of his own self-awareness?

Like the movie Donnie Darko, this film raises as many questions as it does answers. One profound thing about "Spaceman" is that we (as the audience) ask these questions about ourselves.

This fantastic, slow-burn through the cerebrum will definitely warrant a second viewing.

The Gentlemen (2024)

BRILLIANT! "It was emotional." Thank you Guy Ritchie!

[9/10 · 15 March 2024]

It took Guy Ritchie ("with a T") nearly thirty years to secure Ray Winston in one of his movies. It was worth the wait. Winston, along with an ensemble cast of actors from the British stable, along with Giancarlo Esposito from across the pond give electric performances in this riveting eight-part series inspired from Guy Ritchie's own "The Gentlemen".

Veteran Actors, Ray Winston, Giancarlo Esposito, Joely Richardson, Pearce Quigley, and Guy Ritchie's "go-to tough guy" Vinnie Jones compliment a slew of fresh faces on the international streaming circuit.

Diving into detail of the mechanics of weed production and distribution in true Guy Ritchie fashion, this series not only postponed my impending cancellation of Netflix, it had me riveted to my seat when it finally arrived. Brilliantly written, twists, turns, sophisticated yet snappy dialogue, and exquisite suits one could only expect from Guy Ritchie.

The standout performance would have to be from Theo James, playing the main character of Eddie; the unexpected heir to his Lord father's estate, and who unexpectedly inherits the burden of weed producers operating on his land. Theo gives Eddie a steely but likable character, who has more than his fair share of disconcert with this unwanted business, a drug-up lunatic brother, and deeper trouble with every turn, yet he has iron will to do what he must o preserve his family's legacy. If warm velvet chocolate could speak, it would be the smooth sound of Theo James.

I will be watching it again, for the third time. The more you watch, the more you notice the smaller details. A wonderful ensemble, phenomenal story and a great way for anyone to spend eight hours.

Lover Stalker Killer (2024)

Truth stranger than fiction? Fiction doesn't come close to this truth.

[9/10 · 9 February 2024]

Rarely is there a documentary that will take you on the most unpredictable journey of a police investigation. The evolution of this case as detectives and forensics peel away the layers only to be thrown into a completely different direction is, for lack of a better word, simply "incredible."

A lonely man named Tony, looking for female company is bombarded, harassed and threatened via text messages from an ex-girlfriend. She knows his everything he does, where he goes, and who he's with every second of the day. The abuse is horrifying and relentless. The problem is, nobody knows where this woman is. Then the threats extend beyond Tony to his current girlfriend and her children. Vandalism. Arson. Threats, Murder? Tony is living a nightmare.

My one observation is that had the victim of stalking not been a man, and the perpetrator not been a woman, action by law enforcement (dare I say) would likely to have been taken a little more seriously at the beginning, and may had resulted in solving the case much earlier. It's as if poor Tony was left twisting in the wind. Stalking is a serious matter for anyone.

That being said, the investigators were deft and strategic. Applying both physical and digital technologies in forensics, as well as psychology, coding, and the laborious tasks of reviewing and revisiting the thousands of photos and IP addresses in evidence is a testament to these three men's endurance and patience. Their professional dedication in finding justice came at considerable personal cost.

If this were fiction, then there would be a Hollywood ending, tying off all the loose ends. This isn't a movie, and unfortunately, there are still stones left unturned and people still unavenged.

This is one of the rare exceptions where truth is not only stranger than fiction, fiction couldn't come close to this truth.

Highly Recommended!

Lift (I) (2024)

The True Heist Was Stealing My Time

[4/10 · 13 January 2024]

There is nothing like sitting in front of a big screen TV, with popcorn and drink to watch a good old heist movie. Sorry, folks. This ain't it.

A crack team of professional criminals, each with their unique set of skills, plan to execute a high stakes, high danger, high reward job, though I found it difficult to care whether or not the team pulled it off.

The characters were two-dimensional, and lacked any endearing qualities, so I wasn't invested in them in whether or not they even succeeded. The banter between them was a futile attempt to make them seem likable to an audience, but lacked any true qualities to empathize with. After watching the movie, there is not one character name I can recall.

The characters were never really given a true chance to shine, and the underutilization of highly respected actors such as Vincent Donofrio and Jean Reno was the true crime in this movie. If the Kevin Hart character's exposition of his intelligence was scaled back somewhat, then it may have allowed two screen legends like Donofrio and Reno some room to move and give this film some substance.

LIFT was a reworked copy of another F. Gary Gray movie from 2003. Hints: Both have a boat chase through the canals in Venice. Both involve near impenetrable safes. Both safes contained bars of gold. Both involve a safe switch. Both have the lead female character punching an unlikable person in the face at the end.

The CGI was overdone and completely unconvincing. Some practical effects would not only have been cheaper, but would have sold the action with far more realism.

I am starved for a great action flick, or even just a good, memorable movie. This wasn't one of them. I wonder how long I'll be going hungry for quality entertainment in 2024?

Old Dads (2023)

Bill Burr says what everyone thinks. Now it's in a movie!

[9/10 · 22 October 2023]

It was only a matter of time before the thought process of Bill Burr was poured through the filter of insanity and put into a motion picture. That time has finally come, with the Bill Burr directorial debut, "Old Dads".

Bill is Jack Kelly, a middle-aged man on the verge of fatherhood for the second time. He's a loving husband and great father with one fatal flaw--an explosive, unrestrained temper. He and his two buddies, Connor and Mike built a successful business, only to have been pushed aside by new management, which is a generation half their age. These three old fish have been lifted out of their pond and dropped into a soy milk lake. It's obvious to the three that the world of political correctness has appeared to have also pushed them aside. With his son about to start kindergarten in a few months, Jack learns very quickly that the school system has changed quite a lot since he was a kid. What was once a "Suck it up! You'll be fine!" school motto has now become a system of mollycoddling run by overprotective, non-disciplinary helicopter parents that are now magnifying their somewhat misguided ideologies onto the next generation.

Anyone who is a Bill Burr fan will recognize a lot of aspects of this film were plucked directly from his comedy shows and podcast. As a fan myself, the Steve Jobs and the "pretentious fruit" gags did not go unnoticed, nor did "Bill Burr's Guide To Driving Etiquette." The driving scenes had me in stitches!

It was refreshing to see a movie that didn't shy away from verbalizing people's unfettered thoughts. The constant day-to-day tiptoe through the tulips of political correctness to accommodate for everyone's delicate sensibilities in a milquetoast society can be frustrating, especially to a generation who was physically hurt was told to "walk it off." Jack, Connor, and Mike were part of Generation X who were the first of the "Latch Key" generation, as well as being the bridge between the analogue and digital worlds. Though the digital world has exploded exponentially which not only have left these three men behind, it's advanced to the point of being absolutely terrifying.

This is a balls-out comedy though addresses some very important aspects of today's world. How every passing person feels the need to inject their parenting advice onto you. How little to no right's you have within the workplace. How the mountain of fine print with your contract of employment can blindside you for the most seemingly innocuous of reasons. How easily your personal information can be obtained and sold to the highest bidder. How criminal activities by corporations are completely acceptable, though your behavior in the privacy of your own home is considered criminal.

Only someone of the likes of Bill Burr can bring these sensitive and frightening issues together and weave them through his talent of comedy that will make you laugh 'till you cry! The film does have its flaws, like pacing, and I would have like to have seen some brief back story on Jack's business he had with his friends, and how hard they had to work to build it from the ground up. It would have made the impact of losing their business a lot harder, the loss of loyalty, and would have hammered home the favoring of cheap young labor over experienced veterans of the field. I would have also liked to have seen Jack, Connor, and Mike associate more Gen Z. How a little bit of tough love and a thicker skin can help boost self esteem and self reliance, and with a little give and take from both parties, start to turn this franchise around. Those few flaws are easily forgiven, and for his first trick at directing, Bill did a bang up job! The ending is also left slightly open for a real possibility of a sequel. I would love to see that!

Old Dads has definitely been one of the highlights on Netflix so far this year. Highly recommended.

Extraction II (2023)

Hemsworth, once again...putting the ACTION into EXTRACTION

[9/10 · 16 June 2023]

Every once in a while, you come across a movie like "Extraction" that not only exceeds your expectations, but takes you on a satisfying, heart-pounding thrill-ride. Then you hope they make a sequel. Then you are elated to discover that a sequel has been greenlit and put into production. Then there is the apprehension on whether or not it will live up to the expectations of the predecessor. Then, "Extraction 2" is released, and let me assure you that any doubts or fears of whether this sequel can hold a candle to the original are quickly extinguished. This action-packed, high-octane follow-up not only reaches the heights of the original, it blows it out of the water.

Grab your drinks and snacks, switch off all mobile devices and make sure your seatbacks are secured in the upright position, as this film will have you on the edge of your seat!

The film opens with a brief rollback of the previous film with Rake, dying of his injuries, taking a reverse swan dive off a motor bridge in Bangladesh. Then after a period of time convalescing, is put back into what Rake does best...extracting! His mission is to extract the wife and children out from a maximum security Georgian prison from under the nose of a powerful imprisoned gangster. What ensues is a kinetic, explosive rollercoaster ride on planes, trains, automobiles, elevators, choppers, all with spent shell casings trailing.

The hand-to-hand combat in this flick is brutally entertaining. The weaponry would make any gun enthusiast salivate. The car-chase sequences are nothing short of spectacular. The cinematography is absolutely jaw-dropping, and moments of Hemsworth's dry Aussie humour and charm will want to make anyone want to visit the land down under!

A big shout out to the dynamite Golshifteh Farahani and the slick Adam Bessa for reprising the roles of sibling team, Nik and Yaz. The chemistry between Farahani and Bessa with Hemsworth really shines through, and have audiences truly invested in their characters. A salute to director Sam Hargrave for another hard-hitting action flick and a big thanks for the "Thor" easter egg!

What makes this film great is that it has steered clear away from identity politics, meeting minority quotas, and trying to indoctrinate an audience with ideologies. The story itself may be thin, but sure as hell makes up for it in entertainment. Extraction 2 harkens back to a time where movies were made to entertain, and to allow the audience to take from it a great story, a thrill, catharsis, or be simply lost for words apart from "Wow!" Take note, Hollywood. THIS is how movies are to be made. Which begs the question: "When are they making Extraction 3?"

FUBAR (2023– )

This "FUBAR" stands for...Fun Unbashful Brilliant Arnie Revival!!

[8/10 · 25 May 2023]

Arnie as a spy. If you think that this is a show like True Lies, then you'd be wrong. If you think it's like the "Bourne" series, think again. This is an episodic delight which doesn't take itself seriously.

There is a very 1980s style formula in this show, with comedic small-talk between chunks of action, and a very playful nature in the banter between the clandestine operatives. There is a little "A-Team" fused with "Tropic Thunder" with a little '80s "Mission Impossible" vibe in thrown into the mix. Though there are several elements of "True Lies" this is far from the James Cameron film.

To watch this show, be prepared to switch off all intellect and enjoy the ride! Some of the writing is cheezy. Some of the scenes are a little oversentimental. Some of the comedy relief is overexaggerated. Some of the tasks are simplistic. This doesn't matter. What does matter is that it delivers that fun entertainment factor that we've starved for for so long. Take it for what it is and enjoy the show!

More often than not, I've found myself laughing hysterically at some of the verbal comedy, and if it isn't the line, it's Arnie's delivery, in the only way Arnie knows how!

Hearing Arnie complain about being "cuckolded" only to be responded to with the most famous line from "The Princess Bride" made me pause streaming, I laughed so hard!

The pop-culture Easter Eggs peppered throughout the season are always a great find. This show is engrossing, delightful, funny, and a breath of fresh air. The fight choreography and action is top-notch, and the characters are very likable.

With FUBAR, there is nothing to hate if you know what you're walking into. I certainly walked away with a smile on my face.

Thumbs up!

Hunger (II) (2023)

A story where simplicity is the best recipe.

[8/10 · 10 April 2023]

If you were to take the film, "Rockstar": where a naive yet hidden talent is is plucked from the shadows of obscurity and thrust into the spotlight of fame and notoriety, then this is that movie...only substituting the stage for the stove.

"Aoy" is a young woman, sweating as a fry cook in her father's run-down take-out shop in the slums of Thailand. Unhappy with her station in life, by a sheer chance encounter with a particular diner sends her destiny to the top of the food chain, led by the most famous and prestigious culinary master in the country..."Chef Paul."

Chef Paul's food is of the highest standard sourced from the highest quality suppliers. Aoy soon discovers in Chef Paul's meticulous, cutting-edge kitchen, there is no room for error, and nothing short of excellence. Only the most wealthy of society can afford Chef Paul's services. Aoy learns her culinary skills quickly, but also quickly learns where the line of quality meets pretentiousness. It's only when she crosses that line, that a plate of food for the soul is abandoned in favour of selling your soul on a plate.

I was not familiar with any of the cast, but I must say, their performances were outstanding. The central character "Aoy" played by Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying was absolutely captivating. Her stern yet flawed mentor, "Chef Paul", played by Nopachai Chaiyanam gave a riveting performance. The cinematography, set decoration, sound design, and locations gave as much colour and flavour as the food prepared in this movie. The costumes ranging from slum-wear to millionaire were flawless.

This type of movie is quite common as the proverbial, "Grass is Greener on the Other Side" film, though don't let this stop you from giving it a watch. It is a slow-burner, running at almost two-and-a-half hours, yet is excellently paced and never gives a moment to drag. Though, I would have liked to have seen the characters pushed a little further to emotional breaking point to learn what made them truly tick. We get this somewhat from Chef Paul, but not so much from the other characters.

Overall, this was a satisfying film to come out of from South-East Asia, Martial arts was substituted in favour of the culinary arts. The extensive range of food would satisfy any palette.

This is definitely a film the famous, Uncle Roger must review!

Still Time (2022)

How the sands of time can slowly slip through your fingers, or blow away

[6/10 · 31 March 2023]

The one thing we can either spend or squander but can never buy back is time. When we were young, it's something that what we once thought was an inexhaustible well. In youth, we live in the moment of ambition or idleness, caution or recklessness--so self-absorbed that the small things we neglect are always put off and attend to them tomorrow. The small things manifest over time, and when that tomorrow comes and it's time to attend to them, you are old, and you realise that the small trivial things once thought of as inconsequential have amassed into a large and wonderful piece of your life...which you've missed.

This is the dilemma of Dante: an ambitious, self-absorbed workaholic that has deluded himself into thinking that all will be well for the future if he works tirelessly in the present. He is the absentee boyfriend of Alice: an affectionate soul and aspiring artist who absolutely adores Dante. She makes him a morning birthday pancake and later throws him a 40th birthday party, to which Dante almost ruins by arriving late.

The following morning, Alice is in the kitchen, making Dante a special pancake for his 41st birthday. Alice is nauseous from morning sickness. By the time he adds up the clues and realises he's lost an entire year, he's wished a happy 42nd birthday, and is asked to tend to his infant daughter. At any given moment, Dante can turn a corner and another year is lost. Not being able to catch up with new technology or slow down for the most important people in his life, he is on an accelerated trajectory of his future which is quickly becoming his present, and even quicker, becoming his past.

There have been many movies which use this concept in one way or another. Though this movie is indeed solid, it lacked a certain panic or sense of urgency. Dante was being told about what changes have transpired between his time-jumps, yet never discovered them for himself. It scratched the surface of what he and other characters were feeling, but never really dug deep into the heart of what they truly needed. It would have raised the stakes for Dante, and ratcheted up the drama a few notches.

The film overall is a thought-provoking tale which makes one ponder and reflect on their own life, and how we spend and share our time. Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow may never come. All we have is now.

Faraway (2023)

EXCELLENT! A well written, highly entertaining movie of the life-nourishment through simplicity

[9/10 · 14 March 2023]

I'm not the type of person to attracted to the whole, "I have to get away to discover myself" movies. With Netflix being very hit and miss, coupled with the clichéd synopsis, the one component which compelled me to give this well-worn genre a watch was the stunning location of a Mediterranean island off the coast of Croatia. That alone was enough for me to hit play-and may I say, what a thoroughly enjoyable movie!

What surprised me first was a self-conscious, middle-aged wife climbing out of bed of a morning to quickly stuff her body into her shapewear like sausage meat before her husband woke up. This rings very true in real life but is never shown on screen. The way the scene was shot and performed had me in stitches! This was in the first ten minutes. It hooked me.

Naomi Krauss plays Zeynep; a woman barely living a life with her absentee husband, her unbearable teenage daughter, and her elderly parents. At breaking point after the death of her mother, she tears herself from her city grind to spend time in a primitive but charming cottage, high on the coastal ridge of a glorious Mediterranean Island. Completely unaware she will have to share the cottage with a gruff but internally complicated man, Josip, played by Goran Bogdan.

Zeynep and Josip have their fare share of altercations and petty feuds, which had me laughing in excess. The witty lines and the deft delivery by the two leads was nothing short of superb. The often blunt and sometimes boorish Josip is discovered to be a very generous, caring, and considerate individual. Zeynep not only discovers an appreciation for Josip and his primitive ways, she also discovers the simplest of lifestyles being the most fulfilling.

This movie is what the heart of cinema is all about. There are no starlets, no big names, no ripped actors, and no pretentiousness. Audiences are starved of small, personal, quality entertainment. Excellent screenplay by Jane Ainscough Alex Kendall. Elegantly directed by Vanessa Jopp, and outstanding, very honest performances by Naomi Krauss and Goran Bogdan. Their screen chemistry makes me want to see them together in more movies.

Whether you're alone, on a date night, or with your significant other, I definitely recommend this movie. I went from being highly skeptical to totally entertained. What a gem!

You People (2023)

What do you mean..."You People"?

[4/10 · 27 January 2023]

Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, Lauren London, David Duchovny, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Nia Long. What could go wrong?

A phenomenal cast with some surprising cameos. This film is reminiscent to "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner?" that has been soaked to the core in META. The two family world's colliding (Black Muslim vs White Jew) was the premise to be a hilarious riot. What could have been a hilarious comedy was more like an awkward cringe fest.

It was difficult to identify the distinction as to what to call this movie. It was a balancing act between comedy and drama, though the film fell from the high-wire quite early in the first act. This movie simply didn't know what it wanted to be. There was a definite comedic theme woven through the narrative, though when the comedy did step to the forefront, the ideology of the identity politics will hit you in the face so hard it will knock the fillings out of your teeth. The indeliberate racial rambling undertones of Julia Louis-Dreyfuss' character constantly digging herself holes as if she were in search for oil, made my head sink well into my body, as I was unable to stuff a sock in her mouth. Nia Long and David Duchovny were both underutilised. Their characters were both underwritten and two dimensional. A paycheck for a few days work.

Eddie Murphy was the biggest surprise for me in this film, though unfortunately, not in a positive way. His character, an overly protective black father to a daughter marrying a white man, had the potential to be more fleshed-out instead of such an internalised character. It was almost as if either Eddie was directed to play it completely straight, or simply phoned his performance in. His character could have had an absolute field day at the bachelor party in making his future son-in-law sweat with awkwardness and embarrassment after gate-crashing the party at the strip club. There was so much potential to have more, but their wasn't. The Bachelorette party had many missed opportunities, but hit the cringe-target dead center. You don't have a comedy cast like this to all play together and expect them to sit on their hands and play it straight.

What I would have loved was to see Eddie's character test, manipulate, and dig into Jonah Hill's character, the more he discovered about his future son-in-law, the more he would have recognised the similarities within himself, having the payoff of this discovery would have served the ending well. Having a few glimpses into Eddie's character's his backstory would have brought another dimension to his character.

An important element absent was the actual arc of the characters' growth and development. It seemed to remain static to the point of stagnation, only to have a rush of all lessons learned by all in the final minutes. There was no cross-examinations of the six lead characters which would have lent to some hilarious banter. It was obvious that many scenes in this movie was was improv due to a weak and bland script. Simply squandered talent.

With the black, the white, the Muslim, and Jewish elements-coupled with having some the finest comedy talent in America, what should have been comedy swinging for the fences was regrettably pulling it's punches. Instead of making the tip-toeing around political correctness a theme, it should have been made as a balls-out, PC-free comedy.

Entertainment should always comes before the message.

Land (I) (2021)

Castaway...but by choice.

[7/10 · 14 November 2022]

After cutting her teeth in directing episodes of HBO's House of Cards, Robyn Wright's directorial feature debut was pure visual storytelling.

Like the breeze over the snowcapped mountains, this movie was a breath of fresh air. The subject matter, though not original, was retold simply and poignantly, within a glorious vista straight out of a Bob Ross painting.

No spandex. No superpowers. No gender identity politics. Just a small tale of a damaged, ill-equipped woman (Eedie) running from her nightmares, only to be confronted with the blunt, harshness of reality as a mountain dweller.

Having no knowledge of survival or preparation for the unforgiving winter, starving and freezing to death, Eedie is brought back from the brink with the aid of a Native American nurse, (Alawa) and learns the necessary means to survive from a rugged and skilled mountaineer. (Miguel)

This film has a very small cast, is very light on dialogue and even lighter on backstory. This serves the story well in conveying the isolation, the loneliness, and the fear of speaking about the past. It was refreshing to finally see a central female character accept the help from a skilled man, heed his advice, and earn her means to survive, as opposed to becoming an expert in one afternoon. The absence of identity politics was replaced with recognizing inabilities and building capabilities. By movie's end, audience members are left in awe in Eedie's well deserved transformation from a morose and helpless individual to a seasoned hunter, agriculturalist, and rugged mountaineer. It's a testament and a reminder that a female character is allowed to be tough without losing her femininity.

If there was one positive thing to come from the pandemic, it was the return to the small, simple, elegant storytelling which had been buried by regurgitating remakes, disappointing sequels, unwanted reboots, and forgettable box office blockbusters.

Taking the helm of both director and lead actor over a tight schedule of only 29 days, Robin Wright is to be applauded and commended for producing a personal film with grand visual epicness. If this is the standard of a directorial debut, then it appears that Robyn Wright has one hell of a career to be had from the director's chair.

Blackout (VI) (2022)

"Discount Josh Brolin" Doing His Best Frank Grillo Impersonation

[3/10 · 25 October 2022]

After the first four minutes, I was so hoping this movie would get better. It didn't. Not long later, there was a hospital hallway shootout between our "hero" and two henchmen. All were brandishing automatic weapons. At least ten metres apart and around a hundred rounds shot off, it was as easy as shooting fish in a barrel, yet not one person was hit. It's as if these characters were failed and were dishonourably discharged from the "Stormtrooper Academy of Sh!tty Shooting." This bonehead shootout was undercut by the sniper shootout on the roof, and taking the top spot for "hitting everything but your target."

A poorly structured film with flashbacks at the most inopportune moments further stilted an already fractured narrative. It was almost as if the shooting script was the first draft. There was seldomly an action scene without gratuitous slow-motion shots- as if the director was trying to squeeze his money's worth from the slow-motion camera rental.

There is no reason a low budget film should be of such low quality, even though there was some decent production value in this movie. Practical effects were decent even though the rubber tips on discharged cartridges were clearly visible thanks to the slow-motion camera. The CGI bullet hits were as horrendous as the free software from "Sony Vegas."

I so wanted this movie to be better. Unfortunately, it was a Bollywood quality Jason Bourne flick with a Pulp Fiction briefcase MacGuffin stolen by a "discount Josh Brolin" doing his best Frank Grillo impersonation. Nick Nolte wheezed through his lines as if he was one cigarette away from keeling over and dying of emphysema. A lot of cliché, two dimensional villains used to fill in the gaps, pad the run time, and give the director a few more opportunities to use that "slow-mo" camera.

Lucky for me, it only went for around ninety minutes, though unfortunately for me, it's ninety minutes of my life I will never get back.

Luckiest Girl Alive (2022)

Important subject matter presented in the most tedious way.

[5/10 · 21 October 2022]

This film had excellent performances from the main characters. Mila Kunis's performance was outstanding. The highlight of the movie was undoubtedly Jennifer Beals, who stole every scene she was in and gave the film gravitas.

The film itself was lack-luster. The story itself was of important subject matter-a frightening event in youth perpetuating turmoil with every ensuing year. It didn't translate to screen in an engrossing way to say that two hours of my time was well spent. This story could have benefited with twenty minutes of its run time on the cutting room floor to propel the story to far better engage an audience. A run time of this length would have seriously benefited from fleshing out some of the peripheral two-dimensional characters.

The narration was far too excessive, which is a trap of many adapted screenplays, and a clear indication of being used as a crutch for a poorly written script. A well-acted and directed film does not require so much superfluous narration.

This film had all the hallmarks of being an engrossing, cathartic, thought-provoking, and memorable film. The heroine was someone for whom you did want to see succeed in the end, though you struggled to invest in and root for throughout the course of the movie.

The movie was a half-decent shot at the hoop. The filmmakers brought the ball to the rim but just couldn't stuff it home.

Look Both Ways (2022)

A movie about hardships of reality which took a break from the hardships of reality

[4/10 · 18 August 2022]

My hope was to see a movie fresh, original, and a break from rip offs, sequels and remakes. By the end, it was evident that this movie unfortunately was nothing new.

The rehashing of parallels universe movies such as "Sliding Doors," young motherhood such as "Riding In Cars With Boys," and a slew of other "What could have been?" films in a copy/paste fashion I found irritating. The similarities and clichés, prevented this movie from being original and inspiring. There were no hardships, passion, fights, challenges. The true fight for survival in both career and motherhood were non-existent. The movie would have benefited from those hardships in this parallel tale, and would have carved completely different personal development, fears, and strengths in their analogous environments. The stakes and consequences weren't very high nor did they weigh heavily on the choices made by the main characters. I was deprived of reveling in any character's successes as I was unable to resonate with the characters as they never really pushed and persevered through struggles. Instead, this movie cushioned every blow, took us along a path already well travelled.

There is one character in the movie, who through tough love, rejected the main character for a job because she had taken on so many ideas and traits from other people that she lacked originality and hadn't developed her own voice. This sentiment echoes loud and clear the movie in general.

That being said, this isn't a terrible movie. There are far worse. The movie was well shot, the cast was fun, and the soundtrack will be stuck in your head for quite a while. At times it was difficult to follow the flow between distinct timelines. It will no doubt appeal to most females under the age of thirty. To a broader audience, it will no doubt fall short of hitting the mark of truly satisfying.

The Adam Project (2022)

WOW! What an enjoyable movie!

[8/10 · 11 March 2022]

There have been many disappointments coming out of Hollywood as of late, however, it is surprising and refreshing to say that this isn't one of them.

We've all wondered about the concept of time travel, and what we would do if we ever got the chance to travel through time. This movie explores some of the possibilities as well as the pitfalls. It has the love, the loss, the regret, and the hope.

The action scenes are top notch, and the quips from Ryan Reynolds are as sharp and hilarious as ever. That being said, Reynolds delivers a performance with layers of depth and emotion, which is a pleasant surprise from Reynolds.

Playing the peripheral characters were Zoe Saldana, Catherine Keener, Jennifer Garner, Walker Scobell, and Mark Ruffalo; whose solid performances breathed new life into to a genre we've seen time and again.

Whether it's a date night, family night, a night in with friends, or flying solo, this film is built to entertain.

Highly recommended.

The Tinder Swindler (2022)

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes

[5/10 · 5 March 2022]

An entertaining documentary, yet an eye-rolling experience to watch these gullible women chasing all that glitters. Conscious decisions were made in chasing "a rich, successful man" which ended with buyer's remorse.

A man of that wealth, stature, and access would never have the need to be on a dating app.

This documentary should be watched by both men and women as a reminder of the age old saying, "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is."