Matt-Canalcon
Highlights
2011 Oscars
Lifetime Total
25+
Lifetime Trivia
1+
Lifetime Image
5+
IMDb Member
16 years
Reviews
It Lives Inside (2023)
Unleashing the darkness... and the clichés.
Right from the opening with its macabre long take, "It Lives Inside" establishes a sense of dread that persists throughout this descent into hell. Competent but derivative, the final result takes us into familiar formulas and a predictable rhythm that prevent us from fully immersing ourselves in the madness.
The direction allows for terrifying imagery and creative camera movements, which are, however, trapped within a poorly woven script. The demonic presence is there, the great strength of this film lies in the grim atmosphere soaked in red and black. Indian customs and Hindu mythology add personality and richness to the film, which is greatly appreciated even if the potential is not fully realized.
There's something to be said about the work on the practical special effects, considering the production budget. Despite a certain lack of originality, the supernatural manifestations follow one another, delivering an allegory about depression and an interesting message about cultural acceptance. A feeling of déjà vu? "It Lives Inside" borrows current themes that appear in several modern horror films and stumbles slightly in execution. Eventually, we fall into a zone of predictability and a trap of clichés that prevents the final work from reaching its full potential.
Also worth noting is the presence of the young lead actress, Megan Suri, who should catch Hollywood's attention after her performance. All in all, it's an intriguing mix of satanic incantations, cultural immersion, and teen horror that should find its audience upon its theatrical (or streaming) release.
The direction allows for terrifying imagery and creative camera movements, which are, however, trapped within a poorly woven script. The demonic presence is there, the great strength of this film lies in the grim atmosphere soaked in red and black. Indian customs and Hindu mythology add personality and richness to the film, which is greatly appreciated even if the potential is not fully realized.
There's something to be said about the work on the practical special effects, considering the production budget. Despite a certain lack of originality, the supernatural manifestations follow one another, delivering an allegory about depression and an interesting message about cultural acceptance. A feeling of déjà vu? "It Lives Inside" borrows current themes that appear in several modern horror films and stumbles slightly in execution. Eventually, we fall into a zone of predictability and a trap of clichés that prevents the final work from reaching its full potential.
Also worth noting is the presence of the young lead actress, Megan Suri, who should catch Hollywood's attention after her performance. All in all, it's an intriguing mix of satanic incantations, cultural immersion, and teen horror that should find its audience upon its theatrical (or streaming) release.
Platonic (2023)
Binge-worthy comedy on relationships
Sure, it's nothing special in terms of recipe, but the final dish is refreshingly sweet and honest.
Platonic is a mostly feel-good and charming look at adult relationships, friendship and midlife crisis shenanigans with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen's chemistry elevating the material. If you're not into the Seth Rogen brand of humour you might actually be surprised by this performance which shows a more mature Seth Rogen who's still able to pull out some genuinely funny moments of comedy when necessary. In terms of exploration of adulthood, don't expect anything too deep but everything is flowing so smoothly that I ended up watching one episode after the other over two days.
Will (Seth Rogen) just got out of a divorce and is a owner of a brewery while Sylvia (Rose Byrne) is a stay-at-home mom of three kids who's clearly bored with her life, they both end up reconnecting after spending a few years apart. It's a light and entertaining Friday night watch with some good performances all-around. When Rose Byrne channels her inner comedic side she can be effortlessly hilarious and it's almost as if Seth Rogen brings out the best of her which allows her to unleash her wild side.
I got attach to them pretty quickly thanks also to the writing which is not flashy but can be clever at times. It wins you over with the smaller moments that speaks volume. Maybe it's because I just hit my 30's or maybe it's because I always liked Seth Rogen, but this resonated with me without saying I was emotionally moved by the series it does get you hooked with the blend of drama and comedy, all thanks to Byrne and Rogen's charms and wits.
I just think this works without being special or ground-breaking, it immediately becomes some sort of comfort food. In some ways, this might've benefited from the whole season dropping the same day but the first three episodes will be releasing on May 24th. It might lose some people along the way with the week-to-week format. By the end of the series, I was a bit underwhelmed by the finale, it left me wanting more. I still think it was a good watch overall.
Platonic is a mostly feel-good and charming look at adult relationships, friendship and midlife crisis shenanigans with Rose Byrne and Seth Rogen's chemistry elevating the material. If you're not into the Seth Rogen brand of humour you might actually be surprised by this performance which shows a more mature Seth Rogen who's still able to pull out some genuinely funny moments of comedy when necessary. In terms of exploration of adulthood, don't expect anything too deep but everything is flowing so smoothly that I ended up watching one episode after the other over two days.
Will (Seth Rogen) just got out of a divorce and is a owner of a brewery while Sylvia (Rose Byrne) is a stay-at-home mom of three kids who's clearly bored with her life, they both end up reconnecting after spending a few years apart. It's a light and entertaining Friday night watch with some good performances all-around. When Rose Byrne channels her inner comedic side she can be effortlessly hilarious and it's almost as if Seth Rogen brings out the best of her which allows her to unleash her wild side.
I got attach to them pretty quickly thanks also to the writing which is not flashy but can be clever at times. It wins you over with the smaller moments that speaks volume. Maybe it's because I just hit my 30's or maybe it's because I always liked Seth Rogen, but this resonated with me without saying I was emotionally moved by the series it does get you hooked with the blend of drama and comedy, all thanks to Byrne and Rogen's charms and wits.
I just think this works without being special or ground-breaking, it immediately becomes some sort of comfort food. In some ways, this might've benefited from the whole season dropping the same day but the first three episodes will be releasing on May 24th. It might lose some people along the way with the week-to-week format. By the end of the series, I was a bit underwhelmed by the finale, it left me wanting more. I still think it was a good watch overall.
Cocaine Bear (2023)
A solid comedy wtih some teeth
The film generated a lot of interest on social media due to the crazy nature of the concept which gives flashbacks to Snakes On A Plane released in 2006 for those who remember it. Unlike Snakes On a Plane, Cocaine Bear manages to deliver the goods on its bonkers concept.
Right from the opening sequence we are introduced to the sharp and cruel sense of humor of the filmmakers as a pilot unloads a shipment of cocaine which leads to a farcical misadventure. Cocaine Bear knows exactly what type of movie it is: an hilarious and gory slasher where the main star is a coked up bear. Just like its titular drug, it starts very high and runs out a bit of steam by the end but it was utterly glorious and satisfying to witness the carnage of the lead star. One of the film's strongest qualities is its ability not to take itself seriously.
Director Elizabeth Banks knows how to introduce a cast of entertaining, cartoonish characters that will serve as a main course for Cocaine Bear who's completely out of control. Everyone adds their two cents and contributes to the success of the many gags.
Cocaine Bear finds many ways to surpass expectations and entertain even if the movie can't hide all of its flaws. In terms of editing, the challenge was to follow different separate characters in several places while keeping a certain momentum and this is not always mission accomplished for Elizabeth Banks. That being said, the strength of the film is when you see the same character in several places at the same time because he was dismembered by Cocaine Bear and the good news is that the gore does not disappoint even if the horror elements are slightly neglected.
The music by Mark Mothersbaugh also add to the 1980s vibe with energetic synthesizers, no surprise coming from Devo's keyboard player who's a wise choice as the composer for the film. All in all, it's an experience one can enjoy with a cheering midnight crowd and director Elizabeth Banks understands what people want from a movie called Cocaine Bear, something Snakes On A Plane didn't have. Including in 2006. Victory goes to the bear with the help of a little cocaine.
7.5/10.
Right from the opening sequence we are introduced to the sharp and cruel sense of humor of the filmmakers as a pilot unloads a shipment of cocaine which leads to a farcical misadventure. Cocaine Bear knows exactly what type of movie it is: an hilarious and gory slasher where the main star is a coked up bear. Just like its titular drug, it starts very high and runs out a bit of steam by the end but it was utterly glorious and satisfying to witness the carnage of the lead star. One of the film's strongest qualities is its ability not to take itself seriously.
Director Elizabeth Banks knows how to introduce a cast of entertaining, cartoonish characters that will serve as a main course for Cocaine Bear who's completely out of control. Everyone adds their two cents and contributes to the success of the many gags.
Cocaine Bear finds many ways to surpass expectations and entertain even if the movie can't hide all of its flaws. In terms of editing, the challenge was to follow different separate characters in several places while keeping a certain momentum and this is not always mission accomplished for Elizabeth Banks. That being said, the strength of the film is when you see the same character in several places at the same time because he was dismembered by Cocaine Bear and the good news is that the gore does not disappoint even if the horror elements are slightly neglected.
The music by Mark Mothersbaugh also add to the 1980s vibe with energetic synthesizers, no surprise coming from Devo's keyboard player who's a wise choice as the composer for the film. All in all, it's an experience one can enjoy with a cheering midnight crowd and director Elizabeth Banks understands what people want from a movie called Cocaine Bear, something Snakes On A Plane didn't have. Including in 2006. Victory goes to the bear with the help of a little cocaine.
7.5/10.
Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Never Doubt James Cameron!
It's not without its issues but completely spectacular visually, Avatar: The Way Of Water is a fantastic welcome return to form for James Cameron with game-changing special effects and his sixth sense for entertainment that is shining on screen. It's not perfect but people are gonna love it. Fans of 2009's Avatar are going to be under a spell revisiting this world with the 13 years of technological advancement, Cameron was clearly hard at work behind the camera. The theme of the new sequels seems to be clear: it's about family.
With the gap since the last movie it was important to recreate the magic of Pandora right from the start and the film does take you right back into it from the first scenes with amazing visuals: the colors are popping, the scenery is magnificent and similar to its predecessor, Way Of Water sets the bar very high for special effects in future blockbusters. You can trust James Cameron with rich world-building but also for directing action that feels realistic and this movie gives you one hell of a ride in terms of spectacle. At times Cameron is paying homage to its own movies and I was totally on board with that. It is an absolute achievement on a technical level without a doubt.
I was able to see the film in IMAX 3D (HFR Experience in 48fps) and I'm going to get into a minor nitpick that doesn't affect my overall judgement of the film. I am not a fan of high-frame rate (60fps instead of the usual 24 frame per seconds), and the screening I saw had some shots going back-and-forth between 48fps and 24fps which was distracting for me at first. I doubt this will be an issue for most people, and this might actually not apply to every screenings as it's going to be showing in Regular 3D and 2D everywhere, but this is something that bothered me, I'm not going to lie. It's as if someone was turning the motion smoothing on and off as you're watching a scene. That is the only technical nitpick I would have to add and this is why I want to see it again this weekend to get a better judgement.
I don't want to say too much about the story and the characters because Cameron is clearly building something big that everyone needs to experience by themselves on the biggest screen possible. I would also suggest rewatching Avatar before going into this new one. Will it have the same effect that the original Avatar had? I guess we're going to find out in a couple of days, but my guts tell me that the audiences worldwide are going to love this movie and this is only the beginning for this franchise. Sure, a lot of this movie felt like setup for the future, but it's absolutely gorgeous to look at and never boring. Welcome back Mr. Cameron, we missed you!
8/10.
With the gap since the last movie it was important to recreate the magic of Pandora right from the start and the film does take you right back into it from the first scenes with amazing visuals: the colors are popping, the scenery is magnificent and similar to its predecessor, Way Of Water sets the bar very high for special effects in future blockbusters. You can trust James Cameron with rich world-building but also for directing action that feels realistic and this movie gives you one hell of a ride in terms of spectacle. At times Cameron is paying homage to its own movies and I was totally on board with that. It is an absolute achievement on a technical level without a doubt.
I was able to see the film in IMAX 3D (HFR Experience in 48fps) and I'm going to get into a minor nitpick that doesn't affect my overall judgement of the film. I am not a fan of high-frame rate (60fps instead of the usual 24 frame per seconds), and the screening I saw had some shots going back-and-forth between 48fps and 24fps which was distracting for me at first. I doubt this will be an issue for most people, and this might actually not apply to every screenings as it's going to be showing in Regular 3D and 2D everywhere, but this is something that bothered me, I'm not going to lie. It's as if someone was turning the motion smoothing on and off as you're watching a scene. That is the only technical nitpick I would have to add and this is why I want to see it again this weekend to get a better judgement.
I don't want to say too much about the story and the characters because Cameron is clearly building something big that everyone needs to experience by themselves on the biggest screen possible. I would also suggest rewatching Avatar before going into this new one. Will it have the same effect that the original Avatar had? I guess we're going to find out in a couple of days, but my guts tell me that the audiences worldwide are going to love this movie and this is only the beginning for this franchise. Sure, a lot of this movie felt like setup for the future, but it's absolutely gorgeous to look at and never boring. Welcome back Mr. Cameron, we missed you!
8/10.
Emancipation (2022)
Emotional Tour-de-Force from Will Smith
Ten years ago, Will Smith was offered the role of Django in Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained and declined it because "of the violence", a decision that he later regretted. This must've been eating him up because he finally decided to make his own slave movie with director Antoine Fuqua (Training Day, The Equalizer), a much anticipated movie for different reasons. I'm going to address the elephant in the room, and then we can move on, this is the first Will Smith movie since the infamous slap at the Oscars which banned him from the ceremony for the next 10 years.
I don't know about the Oscar nomination (it's still possible) but honestly I don't really care, because no matter what Will Smith poured his heart and soul on screen and gave us another powerful role that is worth seeing. Emancipation is led by the thrilling cat-and-mouse game between Will Smith & Ben Foster with their commanding performances and the inspiring story based on real events. It's an emotional journey that can be difficult to watch at times but it gets the job done and manages to be fulfilling.
Because of the heavy nature of the subject, it's sometimes tough to watch but this is a part of history that needs to be shown, it adds an emotional weight once you get immersed into the story. Do we have enough films about slavery by now? Maybe, but Emancipation has its own tale to tell with a religious message, Peter (Will Smith) is hanging on to his faith in order to survive but he also has his strong courage. Make no mistake, Will Smith also gets a chance to show his action chops in this movie. There's something extremely satisfying about seeing Will Smith beating a racist plantation owner, chopping his hand off with a shovel and fighting a crocodile in a swamp.
The horses, cowboy hats, railroads, stagecoaches, old-fashioned campsites: it has a pulse even though the desaturated look of the film sucks some life out of it. I wished they went full black-and-white or color because I was bit thrown off at first but eventuenally I was on board mostly because legendary cinematographer Robert Richardson was able to pull off some miracles as usual. I'm not going to lie, by the end of the film I don't know if someone was cutting onions but I did get the watery eyes. Even though it doesn't fully soar I just think it's an important story well-told with great values, there's also a roaring and powerful finale. By the end, this all felt very liberating and I really liked it.
8/10.
I don't know about the Oscar nomination (it's still possible) but honestly I don't really care, because no matter what Will Smith poured his heart and soul on screen and gave us another powerful role that is worth seeing. Emancipation is led by the thrilling cat-and-mouse game between Will Smith & Ben Foster with their commanding performances and the inspiring story based on real events. It's an emotional journey that can be difficult to watch at times but it gets the job done and manages to be fulfilling.
Because of the heavy nature of the subject, it's sometimes tough to watch but this is a part of history that needs to be shown, it adds an emotional weight once you get immersed into the story. Do we have enough films about slavery by now? Maybe, but Emancipation has its own tale to tell with a religious message, Peter (Will Smith) is hanging on to his faith in order to survive but he also has his strong courage. Make no mistake, Will Smith also gets a chance to show his action chops in this movie. There's something extremely satisfying about seeing Will Smith beating a racist plantation owner, chopping his hand off with a shovel and fighting a crocodile in a swamp.
The horses, cowboy hats, railroads, stagecoaches, old-fashioned campsites: it has a pulse even though the desaturated look of the film sucks some life out of it. I wished they went full black-and-white or color because I was bit thrown off at first but eventuenally I was on board mostly because legendary cinematographer Robert Richardson was able to pull off some miracles as usual. I'm not going to lie, by the end of the film I don't know if someone was cutting onions but I did get the watery eyes. Even though it doesn't fully soar I just think it's an important story well-told with great values, there's also a roaring and powerful finale. By the end, this all felt very liberating and I really liked it.
8/10.
Willow (2022)
Warwick Davis is back!
I was able to see the first 4 episodes. The series will likely please die-hard fans of the original film because I mostly enjoyed what I was able to see, it takes some time to get used to the new characters & the modern look of the series but they don't waste too long getting the adventure started with some fun action, comedy & heart. I love Warwick Davis and it's great that they bring him back in this role, he hasn't lost his touch. If you fell in love with Willow during your childhood, you are going to be more than happy to see that he's just as inspiring and courageous as he was back then. I think the pacing is on-point so far, the world was fresh in my head after watching Willow the night before but they use the mythology very well to build the foundation for this season.
Not all the characters work for me but the spirit of the original film is there and that's going to be sufficient for people who've been waiting a long time to see Willow back on the screen. I feel confident to say that people who are not really familiar with Willow can jump into the series without seeing the original film, even though I recommend watching the original film before because the series act very much like a sequel to 1988's Willow. The people at ILM are having a blast with visual effects building this world with new goggles and some of the new creatures really benefit from the technological advancement.
If you're not exactly sold after the first episode, I feel like it gets better as it goes along because you get attached to everyone and they actually took the time to write an engaging story. Episode 4 was the last one I saw before writing this review, it might be my favorite episode so far. There are some nice surprises in there for fans of Willow and you can expect the same balance of emotions you found in the 1988 film. I didn't love everything about the series but I know I'm going to stick until the end of this season to see where this is all going. I was quite surprised because this is not usually my type of series, but Warwick Davis is the big draw here. We're back into his element!
7/10.
Not all the characters work for me but the spirit of the original film is there and that's going to be sufficient for people who've been waiting a long time to see Willow back on the screen. I feel confident to say that people who are not really familiar with Willow can jump into the series without seeing the original film, even though I recommend watching the original film before because the series act very much like a sequel to 1988's Willow. The people at ILM are having a blast with visual effects building this world with new goggles and some of the new creatures really benefit from the technological advancement.
If you're not exactly sold after the first episode, I feel like it gets better as it goes along because you get attached to everyone and they actually took the time to write an engaging story. Episode 4 was the last one I saw before writing this review, it might be my favorite episode so far. There are some nice surprises in there for fans of Willow and you can expect the same balance of emotions you found in the 1988 film. I didn't love everything about the series but I know I'm going to stick until the end of this season to see where this is all going. I was quite surprised because this is not usually my type of series, but Warwick Davis is the big draw here. We're back into his element!
7/10.
12 Kilometers (2016)
A promising director!
It all starts with my cousin sending me a link to a video where a guy talks about the movie 12 Kilometers, a film you need to contact the director by private message and list your 3 favorite horror movies, if you pass the test... You are allowed to watch 12 Kilometers. Right from the start I think it's a pretty cool concept that makes sure the preferred audience watch your movie.
I was also really surprised by the short film, it was actually a lot of fun, Mike Pecci seems to be a director with good instincts and solid cinematic knowledge, 12KM is a weird sci-fi/horror mindtrip with great sound design and editing. Give this man an episode of Cabinet Of Curiosities, because this was very promising!
I mention Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities because this is something that could very well exist in the anthology that was released this October, it's like an attack to the senses and the brain. He uses some inventive imagery and editing tricks to melt your brain and I was all-in for that. The actors in the short are all very competent, I feel like Mike Pecci made the best use of its budget this is why I'm curious to see what he could do with a bigger budget and creative freedom.
Strongly recommend trying out this experience.
I was also really surprised by the short film, it was actually a lot of fun, Mike Pecci seems to be a director with good instincts and solid cinematic knowledge, 12KM is a weird sci-fi/horror mindtrip with great sound design and editing. Give this man an episode of Cabinet Of Curiosities, because this was very promising!
I mention Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities because this is something that could very well exist in the anthology that was released this October, it's like an attack to the senses and the brain. He uses some inventive imagery and editing tricks to melt your brain and I was all-in for that. The actors in the short are all very competent, I feel like Mike Pecci made the best use of its budget this is why I'm curious to see what he could do with a bigger budget and creative freedom.
Strongly recommend trying out this experience.
Echo 3 (2022)
A gripping war drama with highs and lows
I'm going to start with the positives here, the action is excellent and every episode that I saw has at least one thrilling action sequence that's worth watching. Luke Evans is playing a very serious role here and I think he's the star of the show, he makes a solid pairing with Michiel Huisman as two co-workers with a family bond. The show starts with Huisman's character (Prince) marrying Luke Evans' (Bambi) sister played by Amber Chesborough, they are both black ops working together. They get a call to jump on a mission, and things goes south from there.
The sequence in the snow had me on the edge of my seat and I was on board for a great show, the sound design is really on-point and I always think it's bonus point when it's shot on location, which they do a lot here. This leads me to some of the issues I have with the series so far, keeping in mind that I've only seen three episodes. Everything else surrounding those action sequences can be lackluster in parts, it's a very cold series and not all characters are likeable which makes it tough sometimes to be attached emotionally. It has some strong moments but not all of it is working, it's at its best during the action sequences.
The story involves a lot of characters because of the political intrigue and I don't think everyone gets their moments to shine so when the action kicks in, there's a certain lack of emotional connection to the spectacle unfolding. Despite some solid acting & directing, I can't help but feel like this is not reaching its full potential, yet. I feel like it's not hitting the target with its political commentary. After 3 episodes, I still want to see where this is going and even if the only reason I'm still on board is because of the impressive action sequences, that's enough for me to stick around a little bit more because they hit with a bang.
My score after 3 episodes: 6.5/10.
The sequence in the snow had me on the edge of my seat and I was on board for a great show, the sound design is really on-point and I always think it's bonus point when it's shot on location, which they do a lot here. This leads me to some of the issues I have with the series so far, keeping in mind that I've only seen three episodes. Everything else surrounding those action sequences can be lackluster in parts, it's a very cold series and not all characters are likeable which makes it tough sometimes to be attached emotionally. It has some strong moments but not all of it is working, it's at its best during the action sequences.
The story involves a lot of characters because of the political intrigue and I don't think everyone gets their moments to shine so when the action kicks in, there's a certain lack of emotional connection to the spectacle unfolding. Despite some solid acting & directing, I can't help but feel like this is not reaching its full potential, yet. I feel like it's not hitting the target with its political commentary. After 3 episodes, I still want to see where this is going and even if the only reason I'm still on board is because of the impressive action sequences, that's enough for me to stick around a little bit more because they hit with a bang.
My score after 3 episodes: 6.5/10.
Spirited (2022)
Overwhelming, but a fun Christmas movie
You hope for a Christmas movie to warm your heart like a cup of hot chocolate with marshmellows by the fireplace on a cold December night, but Spirited was more like entering the mall and hearing a Mariah Carey Christmas song for the 20th time of the season, so that's not so bad.
Will Ferrell & Ryan Reynolds' chemistry is what elevates it above average despite the lively & colorful musical numbers this felt slightly overdone & overcooked. At the end of the day, it made me laugh and made me feel happy. A fun modern twist on the classic story.
Another big positive is the music, for fans of musicals there is a lot to unpack here and surprisingly both Ferrell & Reynolds can hold their own singing and dancing. So I'm not going to be a Grinch here and say I didn't like it, because I did. It's just... a bit much at times.
6.5/10.
Will Ferrell & Ryan Reynolds' chemistry is what elevates it above average despite the lively & colorful musical numbers this felt slightly overdone & overcooked. At the end of the day, it made me laugh and made me feel happy. A fun modern twist on the classic story.
Another big positive is the music, for fans of musicals there is a lot to unpack here and surprisingly both Ferrell & Reynolds can hold their own singing and dancing. So I'm not going to be a Grinch here and say I didn't like it, because I did. It's just... a bit much at times.
6.5/10.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
A big challenge that Ryan Coogler overcame!
I want to start by saying I haven't been the biggest fan of this Phase 4 by Marvel that started with Black Widow in 2020, it's been hit & miss for me so I was nervous for the sequel to Black Panther. I'm happy to report that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a success. I think Ryan Coogler and his team hit a home run with Wakanda Forever by paying tribute to Chadwick Boseman and moving the story forward respectfully.
I won't go into spoilers, but the movie starts with an emotional bang. Wakanda Forever builds on the great fondation that was established in the first Black Panther, a visual feast with breathtaking production design, fantastic costumes and impressive action sequences. The music from Ludwig Goransson is once again phenomenal, he creates a signature to this film that gives us the iconic sound of Wakanda while incorporing new themes for this sequel.
Similar to the first film with Wakanda, there's a lot of world-building with the newly introduced Namor and the underwater world. This allows director Ryan Coogler to let his vision shine on the screen, it's spectacular to look at and the way they filmed the underwater sequences was truly astonishing. Ironically, most of superhero movies depend on their villains in order to succeed, they nailed it with Killmonger and what they did here is just as good, if not better.
I don't think it's a perfect film, with a hefty runtime of 161 minutes, there are some moments that were dragging in the middle for me, but I think it was necessary for this film to be a bit longer than usual. Every character has their shining moments, Shuri is at the heart of this movie but Nakia, Okoye, M'Baku and Queen Ramonda all get their shining moments and a solid story arc that is rewarding by the end, so I don't really have an issue with the movie being this long.
I have some other nitpicks that are spoiler-y, so I cannot really discuss them at the time. Everyone's motivation is clear and the main story is so engaging that I didn't really care for Marvel doing their usual "laying the ground for the future" stuff with certain characters (without getting into details). However, I can say that Namor was a terrific character, I absolutely love what they did with him storywise and visually. He absolutely slays during the action sequences, Tenoch Huerta is a great actor that fits the role perfectly, no surprise with the spot-on Marvel casting there.
This is a movie to see on the big screen, without a doubt this is the best film the MCU has delivered in the Phase 4. The scale is epic but the film feels very intimate and personal because of what happened with Chadwick. The fact that they incorporated his passing into the story beautifully was so important & crucial. Ryan Coogler is probably the best director working for Marvel right now and I'm very excited to see what he does next after this big win.
8/10.
I won't go into spoilers, but the movie starts with an emotional bang. Wakanda Forever builds on the great fondation that was established in the first Black Panther, a visual feast with breathtaking production design, fantastic costumes and impressive action sequences. The music from Ludwig Goransson is once again phenomenal, he creates a signature to this film that gives us the iconic sound of Wakanda while incorporing new themes for this sequel.
Similar to the first film with Wakanda, there's a lot of world-building with the newly introduced Namor and the underwater world. This allows director Ryan Coogler to let his vision shine on the screen, it's spectacular to look at and the way they filmed the underwater sequences was truly astonishing. Ironically, most of superhero movies depend on their villains in order to succeed, they nailed it with Killmonger and what they did here is just as good, if not better.
I don't think it's a perfect film, with a hefty runtime of 161 minutes, there are some moments that were dragging in the middle for me, but I think it was necessary for this film to be a bit longer than usual. Every character has their shining moments, Shuri is at the heart of this movie but Nakia, Okoye, M'Baku and Queen Ramonda all get their shining moments and a solid story arc that is rewarding by the end, so I don't really have an issue with the movie being this long.
I have some other nitpicks that are spoiler-y, so I cannot really discuss them at the time. Everyone's motivation is clear and the main story is so engaging that I didn't really care for Marvel doing their usual "laying the ground for the future" stuff with certain characters (without getting into details). However, I can say that Namor was a terrific character, I absolutely love what they did with him storywise and visually. He absolutely slays during the action sequences, Tenoch Huerta is a great actor that fits the role perfectly, no surprise with the spot-on Marvel casting there.
This is a movie to see on the big screen, without a doubt this is the best film the MCU has delivered in the Phase 4. The scale is epic but the film feels very intimate and personal because of what happened with Chadwick. The fact that they incorporated his passing into the story beautifully was so important & crucial. Ryan Coogler is probably the best director working for Marvel right now and I'm very excited to see what he does next after this big win.
8/10.
Causeway (2022)
Solid handling of a heavy subject
I don't know if Causeway will be talked about during the Oscar season, but I thought the film was pretty solid. It's a slow examination of PTSD & the frustrating process of rehabilitation with strong performances from Jennifer Lawrence & Brian Tyree Henry at its core, their dynamic is what made the movie work for me even though it can be a tough watch at times considering the nature of the subject.
Jennifer Lawrence's character suffers from an incident in Afghanistan and she still has to deal with the repercussions now that she's back home, a place that she doesn't necessarily like to be. It's mostly a quiet film but it has some strong moments of emotions, especially towards the end where I felt like they did a good job making us care about the characters. The people in this movie felt very natural and that's just good casting & acting. A good reminder that Jennifer Lawrence can act.
The relationship between Jennifer Lawrence's character (Lynsey) and her family & friends is what drives this film. She has some work to do on her physical & mental health and we witness her journey as she tries to adjust to her new life. The bond she builds with Brian Tyree Henry is heartfelt as they share a similar trauma and are trying to help each other. It's not something I would be willing to watch again in the near future, it's a heavy subject, but at least there's some light in there to give us hope and make us appreciate the material.
7/10.
Jennifer Lawrence's character suffers from an incident in Afghanistan and she still has to deal with the repercussions now that she's back home, a place that she doesn't necessarily like to be. It's mostly a quiet film but it has some strong moments of emotions, especially towards the end where I felt like they did a good job making us care about the characters. The people in this movie felt very natural and that's just good casting & acting. A good reminder that Jennifer Lawrence can act.
The relationship between Jennifer Lawrence's character (Lynsey) and her family & friends is what drives this film. She has some work to do on her physical & mental health and we witness her journey as she tries to adjust to her new life. The bond she builds with Brian Tyree Henry is heartfelt as they share a similar trauma and are trying to help each other. It's not something I would be willing to watch again in the near future, it's a heavy subject, but at least there's some light in there to give us hope and make us appreciate the material.
7/10.
Raymond & Ray (2022)
A surprising dramedy with a dark sense of humour
RAYMOND & RAY was actually pretty great, I didn't expect to laugh this much in a movie about grief, Ewan McGregor & Ethan Hawke are so endearing and they really fit as this odd couple of half-brothers. It's a darkly funny look at the process of losing a close one.
They have a down to earth approach that makes this dark comedy relatable, it has a morbid sense of humor at times and they have to dig up a few skeletons in the closet that adds to the family drama. Great actors, good laughs in a pretty grim premise but I ended up enjoying it a lot.
If I can add something I thought the music in the movie was also really good, a jazzy/blues score that also fits in the narrative of the movie with Ethan Hawke's character having a musical background they did a good job incorporating that to the story.
Maybe not for everyone but if you can take some dark humour this could be some good entertainment for you!
7.5/10.
They have a down to earth approach that makes this dark comedy relatable, it has a morbid sense of humor at times and they have to dig up a few skeletons in the closet that adds to the family drama. Great actors, good laughs in a pretty grim premise but I ended up enjoying it a lot.
If I can add something I thought the music in the movie was also really good, a jazzy/blues score that also fits in the narrative of the movie with Ethan Hawke's character having a musical background they did a good job incorporating that to the story.
Maybe not for everyone but if you can take some dark humour this could be some good entertainment for you!
7.5/10.
Cheaper by the Dozen (2022)
Lazy and unfunny.
Surprisingly, I was seated for both Cheaper By The Dozen flicks with Steve Martin in theaters as a kid when they came out, so I gave this one a shot.
If you're looking for some decent entertainment, try to avoid it. If you're forced to watch it with the kids, good luck... it's bad. Eye-rolling, lazy, unfunny, I felt bad for the actors involved because Zach Braff & some of the kids are actually trying. It's a sad excuse for shameful product placements and creating uninspired content from an existing IP.
If you're looking for some decent entertainment, try to avoid it. If you're forced to watch it with the kids, good luck... it's bad. Eye-rolling, lazy, unfunny, I felt bad for the actors involved because Zach Braff & some of the kids are actually trying. It's a sad excuse for shameful product placements and creating uninspired content from an existing IP.
Kimi (2022)
A modern Hitchcockian thriller
Steven Soderbergh is such an efficient & creative filmmaker and he proves it again with Kimi, a timely paranoid techno-thriller with well-crafted sound design, an eerie score & a captivating performance from Zoe Kravitz. Part Rear Window, part Blow Out I thought it was terrific.
We're all tired of the pandemic so needless to say we don't have to address it in every movie... That being said KIMI integrates it in the story in a smart way with the paranoia and the isolation, it served a purpose in what Soderbergh was trying to say and I loved it
Honestly my favorite of 2022 so far by a mile, I did not expect to love it this much... The word is used a lot but it is an Hitchcockian suspense with a modern twist. Soderbergh creates miracles behind the camera, the music by Cliff Martinez adds to the atmosphere, great ending.
We're all tired of the pandemic so needless to say we don't have to address it in every movie... That being said KIMI integrates it in the story in a smart way with the paranoia and the isolation, it served a purpose in what Soderbergh was trying to say and I loved it
Honestly my favorite of 2022 so far by a mile, I did not expect to love it this much... The word is used a lot but it is an Hitchcockian suspense with a modern twist. Soderbergh creates miracles behind the camera, the music by Cliff Martinez adds to the atmosphere, great ending.
Home Team (2022)
Better than expected...
Happy Madison released a new Netflix film with Kevin James, HOME TEAM. On paper the idea of approaching the true story of the Saints scandal with their stupid brand of humour sounds like a disaster but it was not as bad as I thought, I actually had fun with it.
You do have Rob Schneider in a completely useless, unfunny and over-the-top character as usual, but they kept it down to earth compared to their other films, and the biggest surprise to me is that I actually laughed a few times, the kids had good chemistry together.
There's one gross-out scene that was also pointless and was typical bad Adam Sandler humor. Honestly it's the kind of film that Dads will watch with their sons during this NFL playoffs season and most likely will have a good time bonding over football.
You do have Rob Schneider in a completely useless, unfunny and over-the-top character as usual, but they kept it down to earth compared to their other films, and the biggest surprise to me is that I actually laughed a few times, the kids had good chemistry together.
There's one gross-out scene that was also pointless and was typical bad Adam Sandler humor. Honestly it's the kind of film that Dads will watch with their sons during this NFL playoffs season and most likely will have a good time bonding over football.
Malignant (2021)
A creepy & brutal return to horror for James Wan.
Malignant was marketed as James Wan going back to the horror genre, teased with some giallo flavor and a mystery involving a murderer, some visions, and maybe connections with our protagonist played by Annabelle Wallis.
Let's start with the obvious... Holy crap, the third act of this movie had my jaw dropped to the floor and I've seen a lot of horror flicks. It's special in a way that even though you might have an idea of where it's going, the final act will surprise the hell out of you... and it's brutal, scary & intense. I loved where they went with this story.
It's not always hitting the right notes, best example is the use of the Pixies' Where Is My Mind? That felt totally out of place, and they bring it a couple of times during the movie. It's a minor nitpick but Malignant does have the feeling that it's turned up to 11 most of the time and it embraces its campiness. I won't deny that it's messy in parts but I was thoroughly enjoying myself watching it, it's a ballsy film by James Wan. If you're a fan of horror you'll definitely notice some homages & winks but it's never overwhelming, you can tell he's trying to tell his own story, and boy did he nailed it for me.
This won't be for everyone, but I feel like it was made for crazy people like myself.
Let's start with the obvious... Holy crap, the third act of this movie had my jaw dropped to the floor and I've seen a lot of horror flicks. It's special in a way that even though you might have an idea of where it's going, the final act will surprise the hell out of you... and it's brutal, scary & intense. I loved where they went with this story.
It's not always hitting the right notes, best example is the use of the Pixies' Where Is My Mind? That felt totally out of place, and they bring it a couple of times during the movie. It's a minor nitpick but Malignant does have the feeling that it's turned up to 11 most of the time and it embraces its campiness. I won't deny that it's messy in parts but I was thoroughly enjoying myself watching it, it's a ballsy film by James Wan. If you're a fan of horror you'll definitely notice some homages & winks but it's never overwhelming, you can tell he's trying to tell his own story, and boy did he nailed it for me.
This won't be for everyone, but I feel like it was made for crazy people like myself.
OSS 117: Alerte rouge en Afrique noire (2021)
The weakest entry in the franchise still manages to entertain!
I have to say upfront I am a huge fan of the 2 previous movies directed by Michel Hazanavicius, I was nervous for this one because I hold them in high regards, and director Hazanavicius was not coming back because "he didn't like the script".
I'm pleased to report the movie still succeed to make us laugh and entertain, Jean Dujardin is back in strong form. His comedic timing is always golden and his facial expressions haven't changed. The aesthetic was also a treat, like the 2 previous movies the set design, color palette and exotic locations makes it a beautiful film to look at. Maybe not as good as the other ones but still solid.
I would say that the story/plot is probably the weakest point of the film, it drags a bit with a 2-hour runtime and they try to introduce a new agent played by Pierre Niney that feels a bit forced and didn't really work for me, it was hit & miss (mostly miss) with this character. It feels like they didn't really knew how to end this movie, but it didn't really take away from my enjoyment of it.
This type of comedy can be tricky in today's politically correct day & age, but I thought they stayed true to Hubert and didn't held back. Now that he's going to Africa you can expect him to be maladroit... and he is. It never feels mean however, you can tell he's just an idiot who doesn't know better.
Overall even though it does feel inferior to Rio Ne Répond Plus and Caire Nid d'Espions, it's something I know I'm going to watch again for Jean Dujardin's star performance as Hubert. Bonisseur De La Bath.
I'm pleased to report the movie still succeed to make us laugh and entertain, Jean Dujardin is back in strong form. His comedic timing is always golden and his facial expressions haven't changed. The aesthetic was also a treat, like the 2 previous movies the set design, color palette and exotic locations makes it a beautiful film to look at. Maybe not as good as the other ones but still solid.
I would say that the story/plot is probably the weakest point of the film, it drags a bit with a 2-hour runtime and they try to introduce a new agent played by Pierre Niney that feels a bit forced and didn't really work for me, it was hit & miss (mostly miss) with this character. It feels like they didn't really knew how to end this movie, but it didn't really take away from my enjoyment of it.
This type of comedy can be tricky in today's politically correct day & age, but I thought they stayed true to Hubert and didn't held back. Now that he's going to Africa you can expect him to be maladroit... and he is. It never feels mean however, you can tell he's just an idiot who doesn't know better.
Overall even though it does feel inferior to Rio Ne Répond Plus and Caire Nid d'Espions, it's something I know I'm going to watch again for Jean Dujardin's star performance as Hubert. Bonisseur De La Bath.
Death Note (2017)
Entertaining, but not exactly what the fans might be looking for...
I want to preface by saying that this movie was my introduction to Death Note, my friends were big fans of the original material so I knew what it was about but I never read the manga or watch the anime. I understand they are also not very interested in this film, anyway the movie just launched on Netflix so I watched it. I thought Adam Wingard overall did a good job, it's not a great movie by any means, but I thought it was well-directed and entertaining, even though it's also largely flawed.
The biggest problem with this film might be the tonal changes and the pacing, the movie had trouble finding its voice and is trying to move to fast. There was moments of horror, followed by a quick comic relief and then serious conversations. Tonally, I have to admit it was a little bit all over the place. The performance by Nat Wolff was uneven for me, part of it was great, for example, no spoilers, but there's a scene with his father at the beginning where I thought he was nailing it, but I'm not sure I was into all the screaming and over-the-top reactions, which goes back to the problem with the tone of the film. The script is also messy and might be the sole reason why this movie did not exactly land.
Regarding Ryuk, Willem Dafoe did a nice job voicing him, but I guess I was hoping to get more of his flavor into the character, the effects on Ryuk looked great in the shadows, but sometimes he's sitting on a bed clearly and you can notice some imperfections, but that might only be me because he was definitely a strong part of this adaptation. I'm curious what the fans of the original thought of Ryuk in this movie, because I get the feeling that overall most of them might be disappointed. Yes the script is problematic but, Wingard knows how to direct a movie, loved the visuals, the soundtrack, it was interesting and I slightly enjoyed it.
6/10
The biggest problem with this film might be the tonal changes and the pacing, the movie had trouble finding its voice and is trying to move to fast. There was moments of horror, followed by a quick comic relief and then serious conversations. Tonally, I have to admit it was a little bit all over the place. The performance by Nat Wolff was uneven for me, part of it was great, for example, no spoilers, but there's a scene with his father at the beginning where I thought he was nailing it, but I'm not sure I was into all the screaming and over-the-top reactions, which goes back to the problem with the tone of the film. The script is also messy and might be the sole reason why this movie did not exactly land.
Regarding Ryuk, Willem Dafoe did a nice job voicing him, but I guess I was hoping to get more of his flavor into the character, the effects on Ryuk looked great in the shadows, but sometimes he's sitting on a bed clearly and you can notice some imperfections, but that might only be me because he was definitely a strong part of this adaptation. I'm curious what the fans of the original thought of Ryuk in this movie, because I get the feeling that overall most of them might be disappointed. Yes the script is problematic but, Wingard knows how to direct a movie, loved the visuals, the soundtrack, it was interesting and I slightly enjoyed it.
6/10
Santa Clarita Diet (2017)
Bloody new comedy by Netflix
I was looking for something to watch on Netflix before I go to bed when I saw they just released the new 'Santa Clarita Diet' show. The marketing material looked interesting, and I'm always intrigued when they drop a new show! I am three episodes in and about to start the fourth one, so far I like it.
The show is very watchable in my opinion but the production value is pretty average in general. In fact, compared to other Netflix shows, you can tell the money went to the cast, which is great by the way. Even though you have Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Patton Oswalt and Nathan Fillion appearing, I was expecting a little bit more from the performances given so far.
The story is amusing, there's a very attractive premise but it doesn't quite get there for me, however I'm having fun with the show, the comedy is mostly working. Props to the special effects, the blood and the vomit are definitely gross! I could see this grow on me as I'm watching it. If you are in the mood for a decent dark comedy, this is a different show by Netflix that might not be for everyone!
6.5/10
The show is very watchable in my opinion but the production value is pretty average in general. In fact, compared to other Netflix shows, you can tell the money went to the cast, which is great by the way. Even though you have Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Patton Oswalt and Nathan Fillion appearing, I was expecting a little bit more from the performances given so far.
The story is amusing, there's a very attractive premise but it doesn't quite get there for me, however I'm having fun with the show, the comedy is mostly working. Props to the special effects, the blood and the vomit are definitely gross! I could see this grow on me as I'm watching it. If you are in the mood for a decent dark comedy, this is a different show by Netflix that might not be for everyone!
6.5/10
La La Land (2016)
Finally ending 2016 on the right note...
Yes, "La La Land" is a perfect movie and it's destined to be a classic in my opinion. I went to see it last night and I had to go back today because I kept thinking about it and humming the songs. This is a perfectly crafted film, I have only have positive things to say about "La La Land", the movie I needed all year long. Just by watching the trailers I could smell something special with the amazing cinematography and the beautiful music. No need to say the movie exceeded my expectations.
The casting of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling is simply genius, I heard rumours that they initially had Miles Teller in mind for this movie, but it wouldn't have been the same without Gosling/Stone. This is the third movie with them together as the leads, with the underrated 'Crazy Stupid Love', and the disappointing 'Gangster Squad'. You can tell they were made for this musical, even though Ryan Gosling is not a natural born singer, the performance and the dance numbers wouldn't have been the same without their chemistry. Pretty sure Emma Stone is a lock for Best Actress.
Obviously, the production design and the visuals are breathtaking, this is a movie I'm going to watch over and over again for the musical numbers. Most of the times it feels like you are watching a dream and I think this is exactly what Chazelle was aiming for, he succeeded at every level. The synergy between the music, the colours, the camera-work, the editing, the costumes and of course Gosling/Stone made this experience incredibly unique. There is also a lot of layers to 'La La Land', the story was essential to bring those numbers alive. Without spoiling anything, the ending was beautiful.
I was not a fan of 'Les Misérables' and 'Chicago', but 'Singin in the Rain' and 'The Sound of Music' are the best musicals ever made. La La Land deserves a place among them, of course we will give the movie some time to breathe, but to me this already is a classic. There's so many things I have to say but I will let the smarter people talk about it. It's funny, engaging, beautiful, don't miss it!
10/10
The casting of Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling is simply genius, I heard rumours that they initially had Miles Teller in mind for this movie, but it wouldn't have been the same without Gosling/Stone. This is the third movie with them together as the leads, with the underrated 'Crazy Stupid Love', and the disappointing 'Gangster Squad'. You can tell they were made for this musical, even though Ryan Gosling is not a natural born singer, the performance and the dance numbers wouldn't have been the same without their chemistry. Pretty sure Emma Stone is a lock for Best Actress.
Obviously, the production design and the visuals are breathtaking, this is a movie I'm going to watch over and over again for the musical numbers. Most of the times it feels like you are watching a dream and I think this is exactly what Chazelle was aiming for, he succeeded at every level. The synergy between the music, the colours, the camera-work, the editing, the costumes and of course Gosling/Stone made this experience incredibly unique. There is also a lot of layers to 'La La Land', the story was essential to bring those numbers alive. Without spoiling anything, the ending was beautiful.
I was not a fan of 'Les Misérables' and 'Chicago', but 'Singin in the Rain' and 'The Sound of Music' are the best musicals ever made. La La Land deserves a place among them, of course we will give the movie some time to breathe, but to me this already is a classic. There's so many things I have to say but I will let the smarter people talk about it. It's funny, engaging, beautiful, don't miss it!
10/10
The Neon Demon (2016)
Gorgeous, weird and scary
I went to a screening of 'The Neon Demon' in my town this afternoon. I should start by saying that it was a particularly fun screening since I was alone in the room and it kind of helped with the atmosphere of the movie.
'The Neon Demon' is the new feature film by NWR (as it was stylized in the opening title). I was a big fan of 'Drive' and I also enjoyed 'Only God Forgives' even though most people didn't like. I knew going in that the movie didn't receive the praise of 'Drive' so I was expecting something like 'Only God Forgives' and it's pretty much what I got.
Elle Fanning plays a young (underage) model trying to make it big in the city of angels. The opening scene will dive you right into this world with great cinematography and a very cool song. I actually thought that the visuals, the acting and the soundtrack were by far the best aspects of this movie.
This is a pretty dark movie, but I actually found myself laughing a couple of times. Keanu Reeves' supporting character has a couple of good lines and the movie itself also has an interesting commentary about the world of fashion... even though it's delivered in a radically surreal way.
Saying that the visuals are great is an understatement: the art design is impressive, the lighting is perfect in multiples scenes and the colour palette is really "in your face". There are two 'mind- trip' scenes in the movie that are worth the price of admission alone.
I had a couple of issues with the character development of our main character (Fanning) in the script. I hate when art films immediately gets stamped 'style over substance', and I don't think it was the case here neither. However, I don't think NWR did a good job at portraying her evolution through the movie. Without getting into spoilers, Jesse (Fanning) is initially portrayed as being timid and insecure. At some point in the film her character experiences a sudden shift in personality that I didn't exactly bought.
Even though you might think the movie is a bit long at times, stick to it until the end, the final act is pretty crazy and rewarding. Jena Malone's performance was amazing to say the least, she went totally wild in this film.
All things together I liked 'The Neon Demon' even though I had a couple of issues here and there. It's a cool "horror" movie with a very twisted and subtle sense of humour. Maybe not the perfect date movie, but it's definitely worth a watch!
7.5/10
'The Neon Demon' is the new feature film by NWR (as it was stylized in the opening title). I was a big fan of 'Drive' and I also enjoyed 'Only God Forgives' even though most people didn't like. I knew going in that the movie didn't receive the praise of 'Drive' so I was expecting something like 'Only God Forgives' and it's pretty much what I got.
Elle Fanning plays a young (underage) model trying to make it big in the city of angels. The opening scene will dive you right into this world with great cinematography and a very cool song. I actually thought that the visuals, the acting and the soundtrack were by far the best aspects of this movie.
This is a pretty dark movie, but I actually found myself laughing a couple of times. Keanu Reeves' supporting character has a couple of good lines and the movie itself also has an interesting commentary about the world of fashion... even though it's delivered in a radically surreal way.
Saying that the visuals are great is an understatement: the art design is impressive, the lighting is perfect in multiples scenes and the colour palette is really "in your face". There are two 'mind- trip' scenes in the movie that are worth the price of admission alone.
I had a couple of issues with the character development of our main character (Fanning) in the script. I hate when art films immediately gets stamped 'style over substance', and I don't think it was the case here neither. However, I don't think NWR did a good job at portraying her evolution through the movie. Without getting into spoilers, Jesse (Fanning) is initially portrayed as being timid and insecure. At some point in the film her character experiences a sudden shift in personality that I didn't exactly bought.
Even though you might think the movie is a bit long at times, stick to it until the end, the final act is pretty crazy and rewarding. Jena Malone's performance was amazing to say the least, she went totally wild in this film.
All things together I liked 'The Neon Demon' even though I had a couple of issues here and there. It's a cool "horror" movie with a very twisted and subtle sense of humour. Maybe not the perfect date movie, but it's definitely worth a watch!
7.5/10
The Conjuring 2 (2016)
Scary and Entertaining
I am a big fan of 'The Conjuring' and I think it's the best horror movie of this decade so far. The expectations were high for the sequel with James Wan returning, but I also knew that the track record for horror sequels in general is not very good. As a horror movie, I think 'The Conjuring 2' succeeded at being entertaining and scary.
The camera-work from James Wan is as good as it was in the first entry. The build up to the scary scenes is well-made and I love his establishing shots of the house. Something as banal as a chair can become scary in this movie. To me the best part of this movie was clearly James Wan's direction.
In fact, there's a lot of good in this movie, but I was not a fan of the script. I know it's not necessarily fair to compare it to the first one, but we didn't get the big 'Annabelle' or the basement scares that we had in the first one. I also felt like the demon was not very threatening.
To me the first 30-45 minutes were really scary and entertaining, at some point I was telling myself "Well, this is almost on par with the first one', but things got a little bit out of hands in the last act. Without giving up spoilers, at some point in the film there's a new ghost entity that reveal itself. When you'll see the movie you will understand what I'm talking about. It took me a little bit out of the story, especially since they kept telling us it's based on a true story. But it was a cool ghost nevertheless.
All things together, there are some great performances (I liked the little girl playing Janet) and spooky filmmaking by James Wan. It's not very fair to compare this with the first Conjuring, but if we compare it with other horror movies coming out these days, "The Conjuring 2" prove itself to be a worthy sequel.
8/10
The camera-work from James Wan is as good as it was in the first entry. The build up to the scary scenes is well-made and I love his establishing shots of the house. Something as banal as a chair can become scary in this movie. To me the best part of this movie was clearly James Wan's direction.
In fact, there's a lot of good in this movie, but I was not a fan of the script. I know it's not necessarily fair to compare it to the first one, but we didn't get the big 'Annabelle' or the basement scares that we had in the first one. I also felt like the demon was not very threatening.
To me the first 30-45 minutes were really scary and entertaining, at some point I was telling myself "Well, this is almost on par with the first one', but things got a little bit out of hands in the last act. Without giving up spoilers, at some point in the film there's a new ghost entity that reveal itself. When you'll see the movie you will understand what I'm talking about. It took me a little bit out of the story, especially since they kept telling us it's based on a true story. But it was a cool ghost nevertheless.
All things together, there are some great performances (I liked the little girl playing Janet) and spooky filmmaking by James Wan. It's not very fair to compare this with the first Conjuring, but if we compare it with other horror movies coming out these days, "The Conjuring 2" prove itself to be a worthy sequel.
8/10
The Jungle Book (2016)
The magic of the jungle brought to life
I am coming back from the new 'Jungle Book' film and I thought it was amazing. What a great movie experience that was. I was not sold when I first saw the trailer, but if you had your doubts... go buy your ticket already! The extra money for 3D is totally worth it.
Let's start with the obvious: the visual effects are mind-blowing. Jon Favreau re-created the jungle in a perfect CGI environment. At multiple times during the film I was wondering if the animals and the environment were real or CGI. The fact that it's all CGI is very impressive. The muscular structure, the fur and the behavior of the animals were incredibly realistic.
But what's great about the Jungle Book is that the movie doesn't rely on the special effects to entertain. The best parts of the film can be found in the little moments. For example, I really enjoyed the scene where Mowgli and Baloo are working together to stack some honey. The interaction between the different species were very entertaining to watch.
Also, I raise my hat to Disney for the 'casting' of Mowgli and the voice-overs. It's not easy to cast a young actor that is going to play behind green screens, and actually pull it off. I'm really looking forward to watch the Blu-Ray featurette where they going to explain how they filmed some of the scenes.
It was not a perfect movie but Disney were able to make me care about those animals and the story. I was a bit tired before I went to the late showing but I didn't see the time past while I was watching it. I hope this is going to get some Oscar recognition for the Visual Effects. Looking forward to 'The Jungle Book II'.
8.5/10
Let's start with the obvious: the visual effects are mind-blowing. Jon Favreau re-created the jungle in a perfect CGI environment. At multiple times during the film I was wondering if the animals and the environment were real or CGI. The fact that it's all CGI is very impressive. The muscular structure, the fur and the behavior of the animals were incredibly realistic.
But what's great about the Jungle Book is that the movie doesn't rely on the special effects to entertain. The best parts of the film can be found in the little moments. For example, I really enjoyed the scene where Mowgli and Baloo are working together to stack some honey. The interaction between the different species were very entertaining to watch.
Also, I raise my hat to Disney for the 'casting' of Mowgli and the voice-overs. It's not easy to cast a young actor that is going to play behind green screens, and actually pull it off. I'm really looking forward to watch the Blu-Ray featurette where they going to explain how they filmed some of the scenes.
It was not a perfect movie but Disney were able to make me care about those animals and the story. I was a bit tired before I went to the late showing but I didn't see the time past while I was watching it. I hope this is going to get some Oscar recognition for the Visual Effects. Looking forward to 'The Jungle Book II'.
8.5/10
The Trust (2016)
Not your typical VOD flick!
I saw the trailer for 'The Trust' a few weeks ago and I thought it looked interesting since I'm a fan of Nicolas Cage. He had a lot of bad movies recently but also a few good under-looked movies (Joe, Frozen Ground, Drive Angry). It's fair to say that 'The Trust' is a good entry in Nicolas Cage's volatile filmography.
The ending might be the weak point of the film, maybe don't go in with too much expectations, but Nicolas Cage and Elijah Wood were really surprising. They had a couple of funny moments together, and they were definitely carrying this movie.
I love a movie with a cool soundtrack, and I thought the directors (Alex & Benjamin Brewer) did a nice job setting the tone for this Las Vegas caper movie with great music and funny scenes. Elijah Wood is playing a stoner cop and I thought it was a good role for him. The acting was really on point the entire movie.
The Bobo scene was hilarious, and the whole 'heist' takes different twists and turns.
Even though the first hour is the best part and it falls short in the last 30 minutes, I recommend giving 'The Trust' a try if you like crime/comedy movies, or if you're a fan of Nicolas Cage.
7.5/10
The ending might be the weak point of the film, maybe don't go in with too much expectations, but Nicolas Cage and Elijah Wood were really surprising. They had a couple of funny moments together, and they were definitely carrying this movie.
I love a movie with a cool soundtrack, and I thought the directors (Alex & Benjamin Brewer) did a nice job setting the tone for this Las Vegas caper movie with great music and funny scenes. Elijah Wood is playing a stoner cop and I thought it was a good role for him. The acting was really on point the entire movie.
The Bobo scene was hilarious, and the whole 'heist' takes different twists and turns.
Even though the first hour is the best part and it falls short in the last 30 minutes, I recommend giving 'The Trust' a try if you like crime/comedy movies, or if you're a fan of Nicolas Cage.
7.5/10
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
The secrecy made everything better! (NO SPOILERS)
First of all, if you want to watch '10 Cloverfield Lane', make sure to avoid any kind of spoilers on the internet. I will try to write this review without spoilers, even if it's a bit difficult considering the movie I just witnessed.
'10 Cloverfield Lane' is an amazing mystery/suspense movie that serves as a sequel to the 2008 hit 'Cloverfield'. I have to say, it's hard to tell if the greatness of this movie is going to hold up in 10 years because of how everything surrounding the movie made it better, but I really really liked it.
Me and my friend tried to avoid the spoilers on the internet and read as less as possible on the movie before we went to see it. Fortunately, the brilliant marketing campaign did not reveal anything about the story, and the fact that it was a sequel to 'Cloverfield' is going to make you constantly guess. Is it a traditional horror/suspense movie? Is it a monster movie? Where are the monsters? WHAT IS GOING? (Pretty much what I kept asking myself all along the movie)
John Goodman was incredible, definitely the standout of this movie. The soundtrack was great, some jukebox oldies and a thrilling score.
The movie starts with Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) driving off from her marriage and taking the road to leave her husband. This is made with a perfect montage, and there's no dialogue for the first 4-5 minutes of the movie. Then, things take a turn and we are transported to the bunker you saw in the trailers.
I will say it again, go watch this film, and don't read anything about it on the internet. I can't recall the last time a movie kept me guessing like this one. If you tend to get bored and tired by the usual clichés in movies, buy your ticket to '10 Cloverfield Lane' and enjoy your time at the movies.
Clever marketing, brilliant story, very good direction, great performance by the cast, it's hard to complain about this film!
9/10
'10 Cloverfield Lane' is an amazing mystery/suspense movie that serves as a sequel to the 2008 hit 'Cloverfield'. I have to say, it's hard to tell if the greatness of this movie is going to hold up in 10 years because of how everything surrounding the movie made it better, but I really really liked it.
Me and my friend tried to avoid the spoilers on the internet and read as less as possible on the movie before we went to see it. Fortunately, the brilliant marketing campaign did not reveal anything about the story, and the fact that it was a sequel to 'Cloverfield' is going to make you constantly guess. Is it a traditional horror/suspense movie? Is it a monster movie? Where are the monsters? WHAT IS GOING? (Pretty much what I kept asking myself all along the movie)
John Goodman was incredible, definitely the standout of this movie. The soundtrack was great, some jukebox oldies and a thrilling score.
The movie starts with Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) driving off from her marriage and taking the road to leave her husband. This is made with a perfect montage, and there's no dialogue for the first 4-5 minutes of the movie. Then, things take a turn and we are transported to the bunker you saw in the trailers.
I will say it again, go watch this film, and don't read anything about it on the internet. I can't recall the last time a movie kept me guessing like this one. If you tend to get bored and tired by the usual clichés in movies, buy your ticket to '10 Cloverfield Lane' and enjoy your time at the movies.
Clever marketing, brilliant story, very good direction, great performance by the cast, it's hard to complain about this film!
9/10