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Space Jam: A New Legacy (2021)
Not my Jam!
It's a rare occurrence when the kiddos and I aren't on the same page when it comes to movies. It seems as if animation studios have learned to cater to adults as well as children when it comes to kids' movies, and that's a great thing as a parent. But then a movie like Space Jam: A New Legacy comes along which gives parents nothing to grasp on to and makes you feel every minute of its excessively long two-hour running time. As for the kiddos though, they absolutely loved it!
In Space Jam: A New Legacy LeBron James basically plays an exaggerated version of himself, treating his two boys like basketball teammates, rather than acting like a father, in a very overbearing and demanding way. Although one of his children likes playing basketball, his youngest Dom (Cedric Joe) would rather stay in his room building video games. LeBron is having none of it and demands that Dom constantly practice as well as attend an upcoming basketball camp. It is then, after a series of strange events, Dom & LeBron get sucked into a computer program run by Al G. Rhythm (Don Cheadle), with their only hope of returning to the real world if LeBron can beat Al G. In a basketball game. It may sound easy, but with James only having Looney Tunes characters as teammates and Al bringing in NBA & WNBA stars on his team, this may be a game that LeBron can't win.
THE GOOD
Not a penny has been spared in making this one of the most colourful, beautifully animated features ever seen on film. Animation has come a long way from 1992's original Space Jam and in this sequel of sorts, all the usual Looney Tunes characters return, but this time, have been given a 3D-style makeover. If only some of that money was spent on producing a decent script!
Mr. 10: This film was awesome. I loved seeing all the Looney Tunes characters come to life and seeing Porky Pig rap was my favourite. There were also lots of funny jokes, which was good too.
Mr. 7: All the Looney Tunes characters are so silly and it's really funny when they're constantly fighting with each other. I like how they all team up together to play basketball against the bad guys.
THE BAD
With a script that sounds more like a Public Service Announcement, rather than an entertaining movie, I actually thought I was listening to something that a bunch of sixth-graders had put together rather than a Hollywood movie. While a lot of animated movies may cater to adults this film does not even bother, keeping everything low-brow and very childish from start to finish. I have no problem with this because my kiddos loved it, but what I don't understand however is just why you'd bizarrely put in scenes from The Matrix, Mad Max, and Casablanca. Mr.10 and Mr. 7 were continually leaning over in their chairs asking me what all these strange scenes were. Not only were kids not born when these films were originally released but they're not even in the age range to watch these films NOW!
Mr. 10: The only part of the film I didn't like was Al G. Rhythm because he didn't make any sense. Sometimes he's really strong and then sometimes he's really weak. If you run the computer program shouldn't you always be strong?
Mr. 7: I didn't like the bad guy because he kept changing the rules so he could win and LeBron would lose. It didn't seem very fair.
THE UGLY
If you want to see a film whose main reason to exist is based wholly and solely to market toys to kids, then Space Jam is that film. From start to finish there is always a product brand, toy, or game perfectly positioned on the screen to face the audience with a character on the screen saying something along the lines of "hey will you pass me that LeBron James branded basketball?" 'Yes, I can pass you this LeBron James branded basketball'. This may be a slight exaggeration but watch this film and you'll get my drift.
I knew that Space Jam: A New Legacy wasn't going to be good but I just didn't expect it to be that bad. From wooden acting (by the human cast) to Looney Tunes characters with voices completely different than the ones I grew up with, this movie was quite the slog to sit through. In saying that though, my kids enjoyed every minute of it and I'm happy to admit that not every film is made for me.
TWO AND A HALF LEBRON JAMES BRANDED BASKETBALLS OUT OF FIVE
Mr.10: This film was awesome. The Looney Tunes characters were really funny and it was great to see them all team up together. Porky Pig was the best. Four and a half out of five.
Mr. 7: I liked seeing all the Looney Toon characters turn from cartoon to 3D and they were all really funny. But I didn't like how long the film went for or the bad guy. Four out of five.
Cousins (2021)
Nothing can break the bond of a loving family!
There's something about New Zealand-made films that really resonate with me. Much like French movies they have something a little different about them that helps them stand out from other cinema features. I'm not sure if it's the quirky humour, the beautiful scenery, or just the wonderful ability to tell a good story, but films like Once Were Warriors, Black Sheep, Hunt for the Wilderpeople and now Cousins, show that New Zealand is definitely on the forefront of great, original movie making.
Based on the bestselling novel by Patricia Grace, Cousins tells the story of three girl cousins and the three very different paths their lives take. Makareta has been brought up in a well-off family and is being set up for an arranged marriage unbeknownst to her. Missy is the tomboy of the group and has to make tough decisions that are best for her and the family, while Mata has had the toughest upbringing. Being handed off to an orphanage by her father, she struggles to find her way in the world and is being brought up by an uncaring, unloving guardian who refuses to teach her the ways of the world. This abuse, of course, stunts Mata's growth as a person, and her being unable to function properly in society eventually leaves Mata out on the street and barely able to get by. But the bond of these three cousins is so strong that Makareta sets out to look for Mata while Missy protects the land on which they grew up. In a story filled with so much heartbreak, hardship and tears we're left to discover whether these cousins will ever be able to truly find one another again.
THE GOOD
Cousins is a film where everybody - from the actors to the directors to the composer to the cinematographer - were all on point. I'll have to admit that I was hooked when the music to the trailer for this film hit me and gave me shivers. It's a heartbreaking tale but one told with a gentleness and a very light touch of humour that you can't help but be drawn into this fascinating tale. Marta is the centrepiece of the film and her abusive upbringing is the catalyst that the story is based around. The main characters are each given three different timelines exploring their stories (child, teenager & adult) and although they're all exceptional in their roles, it's the three children who really stand out. Bringing a wide-eyed innocence to the film, it's amazing how natural they play off each other on camera. On the other hand, the adult actors bring a lot of heart to the script and leave you begging for a happy ending even though it seems near impossible.
THE BAD
The whole aspect of child custody and land rights is prominent in this film and I was left to wonder: A) if it was true and B) what was left to come for this family as the end credits rolled. Don't get me wrong it was a movie that was well told but it seemed that a lot of the big questions were left unanswered. It's by no means a film that needs a sequel but one in which doesn't give a lot of answers or resolution to some of the story threads.
THE UGLY
The plight of the Maori people seems eerily similar to those of the Indigenous people of Australia. Being treated differently because of the colour of their skin, being made to feel lesser, and being ostracised from the community as a whole seems a characteristic which unfortunately transcends borders all around the globe. Raw and real, it may be tough to watch at times but it's definitely worth seeing and hopefully learning from.
Cousins is by no means an uplifting story but has uplifting elements to it. A movie in which everyone, in front and behind the camera, seemed to be on the same page will teach you things about the Maori culture that you may have never known and is a film that puts family above all else. In this day and age that seems like a very important lesson to learn.
FOUR AND A HALF SILVER FERNS OUT OF FIVE.
La odisea de los giles (2019)
An Argentinian Italian Job!
It's a tale that's been told many times before. Lovable underdogs being screwed over by the greedy elite and having to take matters into their own hands because nobody will help them. Now usually I may stay away from a film like this (if it came out of Hollywood) but hearing that it came from Argentina I was intrigued as to how it may play out. I can't say I've seen too many Argentinean films before but if they're anything like Heroic Losers, I'd more than willing to watch more!
Set in the year 2001, just before the Argentinean bank collapse, we find ourselves in the small town of Alsina, Argentina. With no work or young people staying put, it's a place that is slowly dying and one in which the older residents realise that something must be done in order for it to survive. But an idea by Fermin Perlassi (Ricardo Darin), the town's retired soccer hero, just might be good enough to save it. By forming a cooperative, each of the townsfolk put in some money so that they may be able to purchase the abandoned silo, bring it back to life and create local jobs. Of course, the plan seems to be going flawlessly until a shifty bank manager and his friend the mayor (Andres Parra) get wind of it. Having inside knowledge of the banking collapse they, in a form of legalised thievery, take the cooperative's cash for themselves, hiding it in an underground vault in the middle of a cow paddock. After much anger and heartbreak Perlassi and his friends do some digging and, after discovering where the money is hidden, now must devise a plan to get their money back without tipping off the mayor or the authorities.
THE GOOD
Heroic Losers is the Argentinean version of such heist films as The Italian Job and Oceans 11 without the big budget or the big names. The story is based on real-world events and blends the fictional elements into it seamlessly. When the banking collapse happens you feel for the people of Argentina. And when the townspeople get ripped off your heart breaks at their helplessness, as no one is willing to help them. It's a movie that is very clearly black and white. You have your heroes and your villains and all the way through their trials and tribulations you can't help but barrack for the heroes as they battle in vain to get their money back. Sometimes the simplest stories are the best and Heroic Losers takes this concept and runs with it.
THE BAD
I could talk about heist films ALWAYS following the same old formula of needing an eclectic class of characters to work together to complete the mission but in Heroic Losers it really works. Yes, you do have your goofball brothers (like Oceans 11) and the slightly unhinged demolitions expert but they all add something to the story and play a valuable part in the film. There is one scene at the end of the film which hits you rather abruptly and came across as highly unnecessary, but on the whole Heroic Losers is a film that is enjoyable from start to finish.
THE UGLY
Some parts of this film feel all too real and although in movies you can put a funny spin on it, in reality, the people getting ripped-off by shifty businesses can't 'pull a heist' to get their money back. In this day and age it's the rich getting richer and the Heroic Losers, so to speak, getting kicked to the curb and forgotten about.
Who would have thought that a little Argentinean film about mostly old folks trying to get their money back would turn out to be one of my favourite films of the year? It just goes to show that if you can tell a good story and can make the audience feel something from your actors (who all play their parts wonderfully) then you have the perfect recipe for a successful movie.
FIVE PESOS OUT OF FIVE.
In the Heights (2021)
Big, colourful & fun its a bright shining star in a world filled with dreary, dark movies!
If you mention musical movies to me I'll probably start rolling my eyes. I didn't particularly enjoy watching La La Land and the thought of having to sit through Russell Crowe warbling in Les Miserables absolutely terrifies me. But I have a confession to make in that the In The Heights movie was an absolute joy to witness. Uplifting, colourful and fun, it's the type of film that will leave you dancing in your cinema seat and smiling from ear to ear.
Based on the hit Broadway show of the same name and created by current 'it boy' Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, Mary Poppin's Returns), In the Heights is a very down-to-earth story told in a big, bombastic, spectacular way. Set in the New York borough of Washington Heights it's a story told through the eyes of Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), a small-time bodega owner with dreams of owning a bar on the beaches of the Dominican Republic where his parents once lived. But Usnavi isn't the only one with big dreams on this block. Hairdresser Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) wants to move to downtown New York to open a fashion business, Nina (Leslie Grace) wants to attend Stamford to become a successful Lawyer, while Usnavi's young cousin Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV) just wants to have enough money to attend school to get a good education. As we soon discover, all the people in this little community have big dreams but all also have something holding them back from achieving it. Over the course of this two-and-a-half-hour movie we sing, dance, rejoice, and mourn with them all, as they do their best to overcome their fears and finally start believing in themselves to achieve the success they crave.
THE GOOD
What a surprising delight this film turned out to be. The songs are catchy, the screen is alive with colour and the choreography for the many dance scenes is off the charts. Even the surliest movie viewer will find a song or dance number they'll fall in love with. It's a simple story that's been made better by the magical musical Miranda touch and helped immensely by great direction from Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians). And what really helped my enjoyment of the story was that all the characters were so likable that you can't help but barrack for them as they search for a way to achieve their dreams.
THE BAD
In yet another instance where a director seems to have forgotten to use a film editor, In The Heights clocks in at a completely unnecessary 146 minutes. My movie buddy and I discussed several scenes that weren't needed, especially Lin-Manuel Miranda's character Piraguero who seems to have been created so he can get his head on screen. His character actually has nothing really to do with the story but manages to squeeze out a couple of songs and a lot of screen time with the only reasoning being that it will help sell movie tickets. It was also slightly disappointing to realise that some of the characters didn't even manage to finish their story arcs in this exorbitant amount of movie viewing time. So as much as I may praise director Chu I feel he may have faltered in some areas too.
THE UGLY
I can't believe that this film was turned down by so many movie studios because they only thought it would be successful with a Latino star like Jennifer Lopez or Shakira playing a role. It has taken from 2008 up until now to be produced and a big thumbs-up should be given to Warner Brothers for taking a chance on it and releasing it with unknown actors in the lead roles. After watching In The Heights I couldn't see J-Lo or Shakira doing a better job than the amazing young actors in the film who all deliver amazing performances.
In The Heights is a bright and shining star in the middle of a dark and dreary time in the current world we live in. It may not be the perfect film, but the talent on display, the music, and the colour all brought a big smile to my face and I'm betting it will do the same for you too!
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It (2021)
The devil is in the details
I wonder if the studio executives at Warner Brothers knew that they had struck gold when The Conjuring was released way back in 2013. This worldwide phenomenal franchise is basically a license to print money and has produced such successful spin-off movies as Annabelle, The Nun, and The Curse of la Llorona. Since 2013 Warner Bros has kept this money machine going by releasing a Conjuring-related film every year, except for 2020, which is where The Conjuring 3: The Devil Made Me Do It comes into the frame. Originally scheduled for a September 2020 release, covid put a stop to all that before the franchise came back on track with this latest 'based on a true story' thriller which takes its premise from a real-life murder case from forty years ago.
The year is 1981 and Ed and Lorraine Wilson (Patrick Wilson & Vera Farmiga) are helping with the exorcism of an 8-year-old boy (Julian Hilliard) in the small town of Brookfield, Connecticut. With the demon inside little David refusing to leave and causing havoc throughout Glatzel's family home, the boyfriend of older sister Debbie Glatzel (Sarah Catherine Hook) demands the evil spirit leave the boy's body and take him instead. What Arne Cheyenne Johnson (Ruairi O'Connor) doesn't realise though is that this demon will take over his body and ruin his entire life. This evil spirit possesses Arne to such an extent that he murders his landlord before leaving its host to face the full extent of the law. The Wilson's realise that Arne is not the one to blame here and, as the title suggests, the devil made him do it. But how will they prove this in a court of law and just how does a similar murder not far from Brookfield tie into Arne's defence?
THE GOOD
With the phrase 'the truth is stranger than fiction' the writers and director of The Conjuring 3 have used this real-life story and created a screenplay around it which, if you don't think about it too hard, is quite devilishly entertaining (pun intended)... in a sick and twisted kind of way. The original premise of the film, Arne being possessed, is fascinating, and hearing the actual audio of the exorcism (during the end credits) will send chills up your spine. Wilson and Farmiga know how to play their characters all too well and do a great job in portraying the serious nature of their business. It's just unfortunate, however, that the story does lose its way in the end.
THE BAD
It's all fine and good to keep this film grounded by basing it on a true story but it completely loses its way as well the audience, when ridiculous and quite frankly unbelievable events occur that take you right out of enjoying the film. If you have at least half a dozen witnesses watching someone levitate and smash out all the windows in a prison, wouldn't that somehow make it onto the news? Wouldn't you use these witnesses in your court case to defend your client? Apparently not, because once it was all over nobody spoke of it again. Conjuring 3 is a film that begins with an interesting and true-life story but which quickly descends into fictional utter nonsense and common horror tropes to pad out its two-hour running time.
THE UGLY
Rule number one for creating a 'who done it' storyline must be to have all the characters in play so that the audience can stay enthralled in the film from start to finish. There's nothing worse than feeling cheated as an audience member but that's exactly how Conjuring 3 made me feel. I'd love to know if other audience members felt the same way after watching it!
The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It was enjoyable enough to watch that I never got bored. Unfortunately, there weren't many scares to be had, and what starts off as an entertaining horror story transforms into a love story for some bizarre and unknown reason. Talking about it afterward with my movie buddy, the deeper you look into the storyline the more glaring plot holes arise. Strictly for horror and Conjuring fans only!
THREE & A HALF EXORCISMS OUT OF FIVE.
Mortal Kombat (2021)
A flawless victory in video game filmmaking!
It's not often that I'm beaming with pride before going in to see a movie, but that's exactly how I felt when I sat down to watch the South Australian-made Mortal Kombat movie. The feeling talking to other South Aussies was similar. This movie with a big budget, based on a world-renowned video game, had an absolutely amazing trailer that raised my expectations that it was going to be great. And after watching the fantastic SA-made film Escape from Pretoria starring Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), I knew that this state could provide the skills and filmmaking ability that would rival any country in the world. With a diverse cast and some great Australian talent in front of and behind the camera, it's fair to say that my expectations with Mortal Kombat weren't just met but exceeded!
Starting off in ancient Japan we witness the demise of the mighty Shirai Ryu clan at the hands of the evil Bi-Han (Joe Taslim). The reasons for this are unexplained but we later find out that it has to do with a historical tournament between the Earthworld and the Outworld known as Mortal Kombat. Cut to the modern-day and we find that MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan) is somehow involved in this ages-old battle. Carrying a dragon scar since birth, it seems that he has unknowingly been chosen as one of Earth's defenders. But for a guy who can't even win a fight in an MMA cage, how can he have a hope against Outworld's mighty combatants, led by the nefarious Shang Tsung (Chin Han)? Enter Sonya Blade (Jesicca McNamee) and Jax (Mehcad Brooks): these two allies help Cole discover who he really is, and with the help of the spiritual Liu Kang (Ludi Lin) and Lord Raiden (Tadanobu Asano), he may just have a chance of keeping Earth from the evil Shang Tsung's hands.
THE GOOD
First-time movie director Simon McQuoid has done a wonderful job of telling an interesting story, keeping old-school video gamers like myself happy without making the film feel corny whatsoever. If you've played the game before you'd probably know all the classic lines and scenes from it. Mortal Kombat provides a lot of fan service but in a way that makes sense, while keeping it entertaining, fun and very brutal. The story is kept relatively simple - classic good guys versus bad guys - the special effects are amazing and all the characters are given time to develop and shine.
Surprisingly the stand-out performance comes from Josh Lawson (The Little Death, Anchorman 2), who plays the mercenary Kano. Maybe it's my Aussie bias coming through, but his character is hilarious and broke up what was a film that initially seemed to be taking itself a little too seriously. This actually worked in the movie's favour as there was no joking around in the first act so when the laughs hit in the second act, they hit hard. As for the violence, well, you can't make a film like Mortal Kombat without it. That's what made the game popular and that's what people want to see. The great thing though is that McQuoid doesn't just do it for the sake of shock value but in a way that makes complete sense within the story being told.
THE BAD
From such a strong start to the story, it does lose its way a little at the end. It's hard to discuss without giving spoilers, but the audience is given a lot of information about this big event that never materialises (maybe they're saving it for a possible sequel?). What also irked me slightly was that the bad guys in the film seemed to be breaking the holy rules of battle whenever they felt like it while the good guys stuck to the motto that the rules of battle must be followed. Now I know that's just good storytelling but as an audience member, I was invested in it so much that it was incredibly frustrating.
THE UGLY
With an estimated budget of $50 million dollars to make this movie, I have a certain amount of paranoia that comes from Mortal Kombat's no-doubt success. Because as we know with sequels, there's usually a bigger budget, and that means that film companies probably don't need smaller filmmaking locations like South Australia to make their big-screen popcorn movies. Hopefully, with Mortal Kombat's release, production companies see the South Aussie quality and passion that goes into making films like this, which will lead to bigger and better things in the future.
Mortal Kombat is a film where it seems that everyone was on the same page. Director Simon McQuoid mentioned that the mantra of making the Mortal Kombat film was to 'respect it and elevate it' and that's exactly what everyone (in front and behind the camera) has done. From its youngest actor (SA's own Matilda Kimber in her feature film debut) to its oldest (Hiroyuki Sanada in his 111th film), the performances are outstanding, and although it may have a couple of minor storytelling issues, it definitely doesn't take away from the movie as a whole.
Tenet (2020)
Looks pretty but its a confusing jumbled mess. Should be called FIVE-ET!
One of my great joys is walking into a cinema excited with anticipation for a movie that I've been waiting months to see. Christopher Nolan has won world-wide acclaim as a director for the Batman trilogy, Inception and Dunkirk so it's fair to say that Hollywood would allow him to make anything he'd like at the moment, and that's where Tenet comes in. Written by Nolan it's a look at the world through futuristic eyes, much like Inception, and, if you've seen the preview, gives off some seriously weird vibes from the use of its special effects to explain time travel. Moviegoers have had to wait a long time to see this film (being delayed due to the covid crisis) but the wait is finally over and Hollywood's first big blockbuster post-covid release is here. But does it live up to all the hype?
In its entire two hour and thirty minute running time Tenet doesn't give us actor John David Washington's name in the film, he is simply known as The Protagonist - a Special Forces type undercover operative in the mould of James Bond but without the digits. His mission, much like Bond's, is to save the world from total annihilation. It seems as if the villainous Russian known as Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh) has found a way to travel back and forth through time and will bring about Earth's demise if he isn't stopped. Making matters worse for The Protagonist is Sator's wife Kat (Elizabeth Debicki). Being held captive in a loveless marriage she's willing to help him get close to Sator but only if she can get what she wants in return, to escape with her son. With such big stakes at play can the Protagonist succeed in his mission as well as play hero to an abused wife? With time travel involved anything seems possible as this literal race against time twists, turns and reverses to its ineluctable ?? conclusion.
THE GOOD
With a budget of $205 million dollars you can rest assured the Nolan has made this movie look as beautiful as any film that has come before it. From the huge sweeping landscapes to the rough and tumble of the ships in the ocean, no expense was spared in the making of this film and the intense action and amazing special effects will blow your mind. Not one green screen was used throughout the film's shooting as Nolan wanted to give the movie a real-life feel. So when you see a 747 plane crash, it is actually a 747 plane crashing. The filmmaker's purchased a plane with the intent to crash it instead of using computer generated special effects to do the job. That's dedication to the craft right there!
As for the actors, John David Washington is good in any role but surprisingly it was Robert Pattinson, playing scientist/engineer/undercover agent Neil, who really won me over. I don't think he's ever made a film which I've really enjoyed (his films just aren't for my tastes) but with this performance (plus I've just seen his trailer for the new Batman film) he definitely has a fan in me.
THE BAD
Where to start? Nothing is more frustrating as an audience member than being made to feel like an idiot by a director who is quite blatantly trying to show you that he is the smartest guy in the room. Tenet will make you feel like an idiot. And it's not in the "I don't know what's happening but I'll find out by the end of the film" way but more in the "I don't know what happened and it's three days later and I still don't know what happened" way. This film is the equivalent of someone telling you they know a secret but they can't tell you what it is. Then they come back 15 minutes later and say the same thing again. Now picture this going on for two and a half hours and this is how I felt walking out of Tenet. I even saw three people in my screening get up and leave the cinema halfway through the movie, never to return. I can completely understand how those people felt because it's at about the halfway mark that you realise Nolan isn't going to give you any answers. The time travel is what it is, the actors all talk really smarmy and really fast, like they're cops in an episode of Law & Order, and the audience is left looking at all the pretty pictures on the screen having no idea what is actually happening. I thought rule one of film making was not to make your audience feel stupid!
THE UGLY
I think my movie buddy Lanie put it best when, 20 minutes after the film had finished, she mentioned "I don't think I've ever seen you so angry after watching a film before!" I responded "Well A) you never saw me after Batman/Superman: Dawn of Justice (I was so irate I had to go home and lie down for two hours) and B) I don't enjoy watching films like Tenet where the whole audience is meant to clap and cheer for a movie made by a brilliant director all because he is a brilliant director." This film is a two and half hour precocious, self-centred, egotistical, conceited mess that I never expected but had really high hopes for but which never came close to fulfilling. And thus my anger still burns!
So what do you give a film that looks remarkable, has some truly amazing scenes and fantastic acting from the likes of Pattinson and Debicki but makes zero sense to anybody once the end credits roll?
Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
Bill & Ted Face a Very Bad Film!
Let's be honest here folks, was anyone really crying out for a third Bill & Ted's movie? I'm sure the creators of the characters were. Chris Matheson and Ed Solomon wrote the first two movies and would have loved the payday they would have gotten to write the third. I'm sure Alex Winter would have enjoyed it too. Having not acted on film since 1993, he has spent more time behind the camera (directing small budget documentaries) than in front of it. But the most puzzling question is just why Keanu Reeves signed on to reprise his role of Ted Theodore Logan once again? After watching this film I found my answer. It must have been the truckload of money that he was paid, because there are absolutely no other endearing features to this third movie that would want to make anyone be a part of or want to be remembered for it!
Taking place 25 years after Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey we find our two heroes did not actually 'write a song to save the world' as the prophecy foretold. Bill S. Preston Esquire & Ted Theodore Logan (Alex Winter & Keanu Reeves) are still writing and recording songs in their garage trying to find the perfect song, but not everybody is on board with their life-long mission. Ted's dad thinks his son is a middle-aged loser, while Bill & Ted's wives have taken the boys to couple's counselling in order to separate the duo and find another purpose in their lives. It seems that the only ones supporting Bill & Ted's quest are their daughters, Thea (Samara Weaving) and Billie (Brigette Lundy-Paine). Things only get worse for the guys when a time-traveller from the future arrives to tell Bill & Ted that they must write a song to save the universe in only 80 minutes or the universe will collapse in on itself. But how can Logan & Preston create a universe saving song in one hour and twenty minutes when they weren't able to do it in twenty-five years?
THE GOOD
In a film bereft of laughs or any real direction for the two main characters, it's left up to the Thea and Billie to bring in some semblance of storyline to this feature. And, for the most part, Samara Weaving and Brigette Lundy-Paine do a good job with what they've been given. Weaving has won me over in the past 12 months, with her starring role in Ready or Not and alongside Daniel Radcliffe in Guns Akimbo. In Face the Music, alongside Lundy-Paine, she brings some much needed interest into the story and a few laughs as well.
THE BAD
Apparently the script was ready for this film to be made in 2010 but the writers were unable to find a production company or distributor for it. I can definitely see why because it seems what may have been funny in 1989 is not so funny when it's repeated in 2020. This movie bordered on torture for me as an audience member as Bill & Ted repeated the same boring catch phrases over and over again while running backwards and forwards in time and contributing nothing to the storyline. In fact, if you didn't have Bill & Ted in this film it would have made no difference to the plot whatsoever. It's quite the shame because Keanu Reeves has been box office gold recently with roles in popular films such as John Wick, Toy Story 4 and Always Be My Maybe. In Bill & Ted's he just looks like a 50 year old man hobbling around yelling 'Dude!' or 'Excellent!' whenever he's on the screen.
THE UGLY
When you're sitting in a cinema full of people watching a comedy movie and it's pretty much quiet for the entire 91 minute running time.
I had an awful feeling about Bill & Ted Face the Music when I first saw the trailer. My feeling only got worse when I tried to watch the original Bill & Ted's last week and only lasted 20 minutes before changing the channel. Maybe I'm getting too old for this type of comedy or maybe... just maybe... this is just a really bad film with lazy writing, bad acting and a studio more focused on chasing some quick nostalgia cash rather than delivering something decent for cinema goers.
My Spy (2020)
Quite a nice spy!
So as the school holidays comes to an end in Australia we finish off with yet another release of a children's film. The funny part is that it's a bit like a recipe, as it contains parts of all the other films I've reviewed already these summer holidays! You take the machismo of Playing with Fire, add the silliness of Farmageddon, plus a touch of heart from Frozen 2, not forgetting some funny one-liners from Jumanji, finish it off with some espionage from Spies in Disguise, garnish it with the child-friendly action of Star Wars and you have a perfectly satisfying film called My Spy. Mr. 9 and I ate it up (and reviewed it) last week when we saw it at Palace Nova cinemas!
JJ (Dave Bautista) is an undercover CIA agent who is not exactly inconspicuous. After a weapons deal goes horribly wrong he is assigned to surveillance duty with tech-specialist Bobbi (Kristen Schaal). Their job is to keep an eye on a mother and daughter who may be in danger if a global terrorist finds out where they live. But JJ isn't exactly qualified for surveillance duty and it's not long before he is caught out by clever 9 year old Sophie (Chloe Coleman), the girl he is supposed to be watching. The two work out an arrangement where Sophie won't tell her mum Kate (Parisa Fitz-Henley) that they are being watched, but only if JJ teaches Sophie how to become a spy. The two don't exactly get along but over time a friendship develops, much to the chagrin of Bobbi who knows that this is a serious breach of the CIA surveillance rules. But, as expected, trouble inevitably finds its way into Sophie and Kate's life and we are left to see whether the spy training that JJ gave this precocious 9 year old will succeed or fail spectacularly.
THE GOOD
For a film like this, with a storyline that has been done to death plenty of times before, I was actually surprised at how much I liked My Spy. But my enjoyment didn't come so much from former WWE wrestler Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Stuber) but the confidence and acting ability of kid actor Chloe Coleman (Big Little Lies). In a lot of these 'kids teaching adults to be kids' films the child usually comes across as bratty and unlikeable but Coleman finds a great balance of clever, likeable and entertaining which Mr. 9 and I really found appealing. Also when you have a great comedy support cast like Kristen Schaal (Gravity Falls, Toy Story 4) and Ken Jeong (The Hangover movies) the laughter also lifts a notch too.
Mr.9: I really liked Sophie in this film when she is learning to become a spy. The part where she keeps looking at the explosions behind her was really funny because JJ had to keep turning her head around.
THE BAD
Bautista seems to have found his niche in Hollywood at taking characters who are large, muscle-bound, meat heads with not much going on upstairs. Alongside professional comedians like Schaal and Jeong his comedic acting can sometimes be painful to watch as he tries to compete with them for laughs but comes across more forced than natural.
And for those of you looking for an action film this is not entirely the case with My Spy. Although it is bookended with big, action, set pieces it is more a romantic comedy as much of the film is taken up with telling the story of JJ's budding friendship with Sophie and finding a possible love interest with her mum, Kate.
Mr. 9: It got really boring in the middle because there was no action happening. The bad guy was there at the start and then disappeared until the end of the film. It seemed different from what the trailer showed.
THE UGLY
For those of you who are familiar with Dave Bautista you would know that he is bald up top. Yet for some unknown reason the hair and makeup team decided to either spray paint or put a toupee on top of his head which is jet black and extremely short. It looks so unnatural and left me staring at the top of his head for most of the movie. Somewhat in shock and somewhat in fascination I couldn't stop looking at this unusual follicle choice.
I didn't have high hopes for My Spy after seeing the trailer but walked out pleasantly surprised at how a completely unoriginal film could be so enjoyable. Bautista's charm and Coleman's likeability really carry this film above 'just another comedy'. An enjoyable film to finish off the school holidays!
THREE AND A HALF TOUPEES OUT OF FIVE
Mr. 9: All the spy stuff was fun and the movie was also pretty funny although it had a lot of swearing for a 'PG' film. Three and a half out five.
1917 (2019)
War is hell, this film is NOT!
After reviewing movies for many years I have a sort of formula when it comes to writing about the films I watch. If the movie is really bad I tend to write the review straight away so I can get it out of my mind and never have to think about it again. When a film is good, as I find most are, then I tend to wait two to three days to collect my thoughts, do some background research and write it with a clear mind. But occasionally I see a film which absolutely blows me away. These types of films come around rarely but when they do I have to really sit back, take a deep breath and comprehend just how I'm going to convey how good it is in words. 1917 is that type of film - a movie that displays technical wizardry behind the camera and amazing work in front of it. It's been six days since I've watched 1917 and I'm still in absolute awe of what I witnessed!
The year is of course 1917. Deep in the heart of France British soldiers battle the Germans in what appears to be insurmountable odds. It's on the battlefield that we meet two young soldiers, Lance Corporal Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) and Lance Corporal Schofield (George Mackay). They've just been assigned an impossible mission by General Erinmore (Colin Firth): travel by foot behind enemy lines, avoiding German snipers and artillery, to find a British battalion that is about to walk into a trap set up by the Germans. It's a task so dangerous it will probably cost both men their lives, but if they fail it will lead to the massacre of 1,600 British soldiers. Adding to the urgency of the assignment, Blake's older brother is one of the 1,600 soldiers about to walk into the ambush!
THE GOOD
After reading the above description you're probably wondering what makes this film so spellbinding. Well it's the way that it has been filmed that really puts it above other war films. Director Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) and cinematographer Roger Deakins (Skyfall, Blade Runner 2049) have collaborated to come up with a style of filming that makes it look like one long tracking shot that never takes a break or cuts away.
We follow soldiers Blake and Schofield all the way through their mission in real time: walking though crowded bunkers, dodging snipers and crawling through mud as if we are there with them. As an audience member it's disorienting, confronting and an absolute cinematic masterpiece like I've never witnessed before. This is a film that just HAS TO be seen in the cinema to get the full experience. It's a movie that really shows the horrors of war with scenes that will shock you and sounds that will scare you. A lot of people may compare it to Saving Private Ryan but I think it may even be better than that!
THE BAD
Apart from a couple of nit-picky things there is nothing bad about this movie. There are cameos galore where the famous actor always has his back toward the camera and then dramatically turns around as if to say 'look it's me!', and a lot of the story does fall into place rather too nicely, but nothing took away from my enjoyment or made me feel as I was watching 'just another movie'. Throughout this film's two hour running time I felt as if I was on this mission with these two soldiers and absolutely nothing took me out of it until the very end credits.
THE UGLY
Mendes has managed to capture the horrors of war in full, gory detail. From dirty, rat infested bunkers to brutal deaths and amputations, nothing is off limits as 1917 definitely doesn't glamorise what these brave men in the British armed forces had to go through. It may not be easy to watch for those of you with a weak stomach but it is probably a very accurate portrayal of what really happened in World War One.
The saying 'you have to see it to believe it' is an accurate statement when talking about 1917. Nothing I write will do justice to the film which definitely requires a second viewing to fully take it in. It's war and it's ugly but the way it has been told is just as engrossing as what is being told. A must see at the cinema!
FIVE MILITARY MEDALS OUT OF FIVE
Dreamstate (2019)
Dream start!
Made by 18 year old aspiring director Ethan Hickey, Dreamstate is a thrilling short film that stays with you long after you finish watching. It's the story of one policeman's slow decent into madness and blurs the lines between illusion and reality. Bill (Trevor Ketcheson) is a cop who is having visions. Seeing himself in the people around him and the crooks he is chasing, we follow Bill as he tries to figure out what is happening in his life. But his search for the truth may come at the price of losing his sanity, or worse, his life!
Coming from a family with an aspiring filmmaker in it myself (my older brother) I can completely relate to the many joys and challenges that Hickey may have had in the making of this film. Budget, actors, lighting and props are all extremely important but it's the storyline that really has to shine through and grab the audience. And, for the most part, Dreamstate does its job.
The first act is really captivating, drawing the audience in to the madness happening on the screen. Credit should go to the framing of the scenes as it really adds to the tension. And as the strangeness of the story continues and you've reached your bizarreness limits the second act hits and we are given an explanation as to just what is happening in Bill's weird world. But what begins as a strong story quickly dissipates into confusion as the third act appears slightly rushed. I usually pride myself on being a discerning film viewer but had trouble understanding what was happening in the last couple of scenes. This is where I think Dreamstate deserves a second viewing. Not just to try to understand what happened at the end but to also enjoy seeing an aspiring filmmaker and crew produce a good film, learn their craft and do it well. I'm looking forward to more big things to come from Hickey in the future!
What Men Want (2019)
What Meh-n Want!
It's the year 2019 and it looks like Hollywood is continuing its love affair with 'gender swap remakes' of previously successful films. Thinking back a couple of years has it ever really worked? Apart from Ocean's 8 (starring Sandra Bullock & Cate Blanchett) films like Ghostbusters and Overboard didn't come across so well with audiences. So with the new release of What Men Want, a remake of What Women Want starring Mel Gibson, it's fair to say I was a little apprehensive about what I was about to watch. Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures, Empire) is a fine actor but could she carry a film on her own? Would this just be an exact re-make or add something different from the original? And most importantly of all, would it actually be funny?
Working in a male-dominated sports management agency Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) is finding it hard to get ahead in her world. Constantly being looked over for promotions and cancelling on her friends she is blaming everyone else for the problems happening around her. All that changes when she attends her friend's bachelorette party and is given mysterious male mind reading powers by a fortune teller named Sister (Erykah Badu). Now that Ali can read men's minds she goes about setting things right, as she sees it, while getting revenge on the men in her life. But as she works her way up in the business world she soon discovers that her love life and friendships are falling apart. With wise words from her father Skip Davis (Richard Roundtree) and the realisation that change starts from the inside Ali goes about trying to set things right again, the only problem is that she may be too late!
THE GOOD
Taraji P. Henson has always shown in her work that she could act but carrying a movie on her own was another question entirely. In What Men Want she shows that she can not only carry it but lift the whole film on her back from start to finish. While the star-laden support cast are good it seems that when Henson is not on the screen the movie falls a little flat. She gives all of herself to this film, not scared of playing the fool as well as showing her well-credentialed dramatic side when the story asks for it. Her scenes with Richard Roundtree (the original Shaft) are particularly poignant and really take hold of the audience's attention. Roundtree has a really commanding presence on the screen.
THE BAD
When you have at least five different writers on this film you know it's going to be a struggle. Add to that director Adam Shenkman (whose films Cheaper by the Dozen 2 and The Pacifier didn't really break boundaries) and this film pretty much doesn't stray too far from the well worn paths of most other romantic comedies. It seems as if the writers and the director think that if the characters on screen constantly swear or finish a punchline with "I'm on crack" then that's a joke. Sorry to say folks but not one of your 15 or so 'crack jokes' was even a slightly bit humorous no matter how much you milked it. Just because you make a film crass doesn't mean that the audience is going to laugh. I'm by no way a comedian but once you've set up a joke how about a witty ending instead of an 'F this' or 'F that' finish? It may take a bit more thinking but the silent cinema audience may enjoy the film a little bit more.
THE UGLY
Is there a rule somewhere written that if a film has a group of ladies in it then they must go to a club and have a dancing scene together? I don't see this so often in movies with groups of guys but it appears that the default position for a woman led rom-com is 'please set 10 minutes of the film aside for a women-only trip to a nightclub where they will dance and possibly conduct a choreographed number together' *insert deep sigh here*.
What Men Want is a nice, safe, enjoyable film. There is nothing new or groundbreaking about the storyline but Henson makes the movie fun enough that you don't get bored watching the story go down the clichéd path that so many have gone down before. If you can handle the many cringeworthy sports celebrity cameos then you'll find a pretty decent film.
THREE WOMEN DANCING AT A CLUB OUT OF FIVE
The Grinch (2018)
Now is the time to read The Grinch review (ALL IN RHYME!)
Welcome dear readers, you're in for a treat,
So get in your bed or pull up a seat.
The new Grinch film is out, so now is the time,
To write a review, all done in rhyme.
So Grinch is the movie, I'm reviewing today,
And my kids are with me, I hope that's ok?
Written by Dr. Seuss, The Grinch is quite mean,
He lives high on a mountain, and is rarely seen.
When Christmas comes around, he gets awfully mad,
He takes it out on Whoville, it's really quite sad.
There's also one little girl, with one wish to make,
She doesn't want presents, just her mum to get a break.
The Grinch though is different; he has other things on his mind,
And we are shown in flashbacks, just why he's so unkind.
He thinks of an evil plan, to steal Christmas from the Who's,
Hoping that they will also feel the blues.
Will his plan succeed? You'll have to watch to find out,
I don't want to spoil the ending, the finish I will not flout.
THE GOOD
Let's get to the good stuff, and tell you what my kids liked,
Mr. 8 loved the dog Max, while I thought the animation was out of sight.
Mr. 5 said he liked everything, especially when Grinch was caught,
I think he was more interested in the chocolate I had brought!
THE BAD
Now onto the bad stuff, this film feels quite long,
To stretch a small book makes it boring and wrong,
Mr. 8 felt the movie stretch, so did the kids in the crowd,
While Mr. 5's one complaint was that it was too loud.
Overall I must say, the kids did like the movie,
While me and my wife, thought it wasn't so groovy.
I'm not the target market, I think or I guess,
If my boys enjoyed themselves, that's fantastic god bless.
Mr. 8 says it was great, a four out of five,
While Mr. 5 gives it four, I was just glad to survive.
A three is what I'll give the Grinch, it was just fine,
Story way too long, but animation sublime.
So that finishes my review, I hope it brought you some cheer,
All that's left to say is.... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
The Mule (2018)
This Mule has quite a kick!
It's amazing that at almost 90 years of age Clint Eastwood is still directing, producing and acting in films. While most people of that age are taking a well deserved break, Eastwood is still busy producing high calibre work that has seen audiences flocking to cinemas to see his latest release The Mule. Add to that the amazing cast that want to work with him. From the likes of Bradley Cooper (A Star Is Born), Laurence Fishburne (Mystic River), Michael Pena (Ant-Man), Taissa Farmiga (The Nun), Diane Weist (The Birdcage) and Andy Garcia (Ocean's 11) the list of famous names in this movie is astonishing. And while most of them take a back seat to Eastwood's portrayal of drug mule Earl Stone, their small but vital roles play a part in telling a wonderful story.
The film starts in the year 2005 where we find Earl Stone running a successful flower business, travelling to all parts of America selling his wares. He scoffs at people selling flowers on the emerging internet market and always puts his work before his family, even skipping his daughter's wedding so he can attend an awards ceremony in his honour. He is an attention-seeker: any chance he can get the spotlight on himself he takes it.
Fast forward 13 years later and we find the internet has destroyed Earl's business and he is estranged from his family. The years of stubbornness and neglect have caught up with Earl and have left him broke and homeless. Through a chance encounter he finds a job running drugs from Texas to Chicago for a Mexican drug cartel. Discovering that he is good at his job, as well as receiving positive attention from the cartel which he has always craved, Earl's drug running becomes even more daring as he begins taking larger shipments across state lines. But with the DEA closing in, a health crisis in his own family and a change in cartel leadership all coming to a head at once, a gripping conclusion awaits that will turn Earl's world around and change his way of thinking.
THE GOOD
Even being the oldest member of the cast Clint Eastwood still steals the show. Portraying Earl as a spritely, quick witted and no nonsense 90 year old he manages to get the audience to have empathy for his character even though he was a terrible father who is doing a terrible deed. His character seems very much like the one he played in Gran Torino. Tell it like it is, racist and not caring about anyone but himself. With the same script writer working on both of those films (Nick Schenk) I'm guessing that's where the similarity comes from.
I also love that a top star in Bradley Cooper basically takes a backseat in his role of DEA agent Colin Bates in his performance. It's a classic case of less is more, and his scenes with Eastwood in a cafe evoke memories of the film Heat when Pacino and De Niro come together and discuss life from their perspectives. Alison Eastwood does her best trying to portray Iris, the daughter of Earl (that's a joke... as Alison is the daughter of Clint!). The one actor I'm really enjoying the rise and rise of is Taissa Farmiga. I wrote about her wonderful performance in my review of The Nun recently and although she plays a minor part in this film it's still strong enough to get the audience's attention. Seemingly oblivious to what is going on in her family she takes a stand when needed and brings some heart to a wonderful story.
THE BAD
This film is said to be 'inspired by a true story'. I know I've written about this before but it's such a cop out. Whether it's 'based on a true story' or 'inspired by true events' the writer and directors always take the liberty of turning the story into what works for them and not on what really happened. Bohemian Rhapsody is a prime example of how a director told events in order to gain sympathy even though it wasn't factually correct. With The Mule Eastwood has kept the bare bones of the real story while adding other elements to the plot to add layers and generate a reaction. I can completely understand why studios use the 'based on' or 'inspired by' taglines because it adds credibility to the story and gives the marketing team something to work with. But I get frustrated when the director tries to pull the wool over our eyes by showing that Earl did not know he was running drugs for the cartel until his fourth run. That just borders on ridiculous.
It also caught my attention that although the movie runs for nearly two hours it seemed to come to a very hurried conclusion. The storyline between Earl and his friend Julio just disappeared without a trace. One minute they were having a serious discussion about getting out of the drug business and then Julio's character just seemingly vanished. A scene where the cartel captures Earl and then lets him go seemed straight forward but then Earl is shown driving with blood all over his face. It's as if scenes were cut and storylines shortened which left me rather confused as to what The Mule's ending was supposed to be.
THE UGLY
You can tell that Clint Eastwood, at 90 years old, is the director of a film when he puts himself in not one but two scenes involving a ménage a trois with two twenty something year old ladies. Highly unnecessary and adding nothing to the story really. It garnered a few laughs in the cinema but I think that was more embarrassment from what was being seen on the screen.
Chalk this one up as another highly entertaining Clint Eastwood film that he has either acted in or directed. I'm not sure how many more we are going to get but you can always count to them to be highly entertaining, at times very funny and beneath the surface delivering a message about an important issue in today's world. At its heart The Mule is about family and as we go on this journey with Earl we discover that sometimes what you need in life has always been in front of you the whole time.
NINE KILOS OUT OF KILOS
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