Blinded By The Light
Director: Gurinder Chadha
Cast Headliners: Viveik Kalra, Kuvinder Ghir, Meera Ganatra, Hayley Atwell
Original Release Date: August 16th, 2019 (USA / Limited....saw bit early!)
Who doesn't know the music of Bruce “The Boss” Springsteen. Blinded By The Light perhaps answers that question while also exploring the drama of the lives of a Muslim British-Pakistani teenager in the United Kingdom who both finds escape from his music as well as deals with the events of his life around him in 1980.
This movie is inspired by the life of BBC journalist Sarfraz Manzoor but here is given the fictional name of Javed Khan(Viveik Kalra). In the small English town of Luton he lives with the rst of the Khan family including strict traditionalist father Malik(Kuvinder Ghir), hard working mother Noor (Meera Ganatra) and his sisters Yasmeen(Tara Divina) and Shazia(Nikita Mehta). Javed struggles with the demands of a father who wants him to be more Pakistani than British and a high school (college as they call it across the pond) where he's trying to find friends and love.
He finds some solace in those outside his family in Luton including childhood white friend Matt(Dean-Charles Chapman) and his father(Rob Brydon in a nice comedic role) as well as at his school in love interest Eliza(Nell Williams), encouraging kind teacher Ms.Clay(Hayley Atwell) and sikh music enthusiast Roops(Aaron Phagura).
It's through Roops that Javed discovers the music of Bruce Springsteen and where the film proper begins. Javed is dismissive at first but soon finds himself incredibly enthralled by the lyrics of the New Jerseyian. It inspires him as the poetic writer he is and helps him escape a stressful life.
This is the two main aspects of what makes up the entertainment of the film. There's the Bruce side of things of course. The soundtrack is rocking if one is a Bruce fan. So many of his famous songs are used in scenes very effectively (with even a new lost song in the credits). At times this can be a bit of an artsy musical approach as lyrics are shown on-screen an the characters sing the songs. It can definitely be cheesy. Some other choice period music is used but Bruce takes the majority. It helps inform the other side of the plot as well in a mostly interesting (if never too deep) manner. Some alright direction by Gurinder Chadha adds to the greyness of small town life and spaces in the UK although it's typical.
So much of the film is about Javed's relationship with his family and moreso his father. Most of the performances in the film are nothing to write home about (with just some quips and exposition) but the main pair of Kalra's Javed and Ghir's Malik have some dramatic scenes. Its a great story for anyone who's had to deal with the expectations of strict parental goals or the immigrant experience. One will be laughing or rocking at other scenes but will be feeling stressed or crying from the emotion of these two. Its a very rocky road but it tells a bit of a solid (if seen many times before) tale of the family. There's some harrowing scenes with the racist NF residents of the town as well that add further occasional terror and depression when the film isn't being heartwarmingly charming. This range is what the film does best aside the occasional melodramatic cheese.
Hardcore Bruce fans will probably be checking this film out anyways but it's recommendable for some of its acting and drama. This may be the best use of “Born To Run” on film in awhile as the teens run through the streets. Something to make us smile and inspired at times in the world of today. 7.3 out of 10
Friday, August 16, 2019
Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark Review
Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark
Director: Andre Ovredal
Cast Headliners: Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Zajur, Dean Norris
Original Release Date: August 9th, 2019
There's two ways to look at Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. One is as a total outsider where it appears to be an interesting teen-centric horror tale of stories coming to life. However to this writer there's the real world ties of this. This was a pretty popular novel series of childrens horror stories that were found in elementary schools. It was like R.L Stine's Goosebumps but brought to a next level of terror and gore. It's really surprising this was allowed on shelves of schools across the USA especially with their incredibly grim / grotesque artwork. This unique identity would perhaps make for a bit hard to adapt film but this manages to do it more or less.
There's a bit of a unique ambiance to the film as its set during a Halloween night in 1968 bringing in vibes both retro and fall-like spooky in the heat of the summer release season. Horror and prankster loving outsiders Stella(Zoe Collettii), Auggie(Gabriel Rush), and Chuck(Austin Zajur) mix their costumed hijinx with running from bully Tommy(Austin Abrams) and his jock friends. They soon meet outsider on the run Ramon(Michael Garza) and find themselves investigating a haunted mansion with a cursed past.
A semi-major consideration of the film is that its rated PG-13. This makes it something that can be enjoyed by all ages but also it holds itself back just a bit in terms of gore yet depth too. The script is often juvenile but it can be funny and the leads have chemistry and humor in a play to perhaps be like IT / Stranger Things (particularly Colletti's Stella, Zajur's Chuck, and Garza's Ramon). They mainly have laughs but there's some occasional emotional depth as well especially Stella with her father Roy(Dean Norris in a rare friendly loving role next to his usual gruffness) as they discuss an absent mother. Some other roles around town include Chuck's sister Ruth(Natalie Ganzhorn) , mysterious old Lou Lou(Lorraine Toussaint), and Chief of Police Turnet(Gil Bellows) but most of these exist to just be victims of the spookiness at play.
Which it must be noted there definitely is much terror to be had despite its rating. The film has the aforementioned effective ambiance with some nice scenery by main director Andre Ovredal. Some of the horror comes from the bit lazy jump scare or pulse pounding variety but there's some decent messed up qualities about what happens at play with the book shtick. For the curse of the mansion is that there's a book and the curse of the book is that its stories come to life.
This format leads to what is a bit of an anthology without being a anthology. It's “monster of the week” but in “monster of the act” as various fearsome tales become true as the book's ghostly host Sarah Bellows messes with the world the teens find themselves in. It's through these creatures that the touch of producer Gueillermo Del Toro is felt. While often times in film “produced by” doesn't mean much creatively with Del Toro it very often means he has some craft and effort put into the process. The use of practical effects is his trademark and the designs of Harold the living scarecrow, the Pale Lady, and the Jangly Man all feel like both something from the original novel's illustrations as well as other works in the Del Toro repertoire. One almost wishes for a little more than what appears(ignoring some bit silly sequel setup) but there's some inventive spooky sequences aside from some occasional cheese or mundaneness. Frequent Del Toro music friend Marco Beltrami makes a haunting and at times alrightly beautiful score alongside Anna Drubich as well that helps set the dark mood.
The plot itself and film as a whole won't be remembered in any legends of its own but it provides some simple summer, more even better for a Halloween rewatch, scares. It's a bit unique while also a bit stupid but still the good makes it better than some things out there. One intrigued by the premise should get what they want if they don't mind turning back the clock and rating a bit. Strap in for the scares. 7.74 out of 10
Director: Andre Ovredal
Cast Headliners: Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Austin Zajur, Dean Norris
Original Release Date: August 9th, 2019
There's two ways to look at Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. One is as a total outsider where it appears to be an interesting teen-centric horror tale of stories coming to life. However to this writer there's the real world ties of this. This was a pretty popular novel series of childrens horror stories that were found in elementary schools. It was like R.L Stine's Goosebumps but brought to a next level of terror and gore. It's really surprising this was allowed on shelves of schools across the USA especially with their incredibly grim / grotesque artwork. This unique identity would perhaps make for a bit hard to adapt film but this manages to do it more or less.
There's a bit of a unique ambiance to the film as its set during a Halloween night in 1968 bringing in vibes both retro and fall-like spooky in the heat of the summer release season. Horror and prankster loving outsiders Stella(Zoe Collettii), Auggie(Gabriel Rush), and Chuck(Austin Zajur) mix their costumed hijinx with running from bully Tommy(Austin Abrams) and his jock friends. They soon meet outsider on the run Ramon(Michael Garza) and find themselves investigating a haunted mansion with a cursed past.
A semi-major consideration of the film is that its rated PG-13. This makes it something that can be enjoyed by all ages but also it holds itself back just a bit in terms of gore yet depth too. The script is often juvenile but it can be funny and the leads have chemistry and humor in a play to perhaps be like IT / Stranger Things (particularly Colletti's Stella, Zajur's Chuck, and Garza's Ramon). They mainly have laughs but there's some occasional emotional depth as well especially Stella with her father Roy(Dean Norris in a rare friendly loving role next to his usual gruffness) as they discuss an absent mother. Some other roles around town include Chuck's sister Ruth(Natalie Ganzhorn) , mysterious old Lou Lou(Lorraine Toussaint), and Chief of Police Turnet(Gil Bellows) but most of these exist to just be victims of the spookiness at play.
Which it must be noted there definitely is much terror to be had despite its rating. The film has the aforementioned effective ambiance with some nice scenery by main director Andre Ovredal. Some of the horror comes from the bit lazy jump scare or pulse pounding variety but there's some decent messed up qualities about what happens at play with the book shtick. For the curse of the mansion is that there's a book and the curse of the book is that its stories come to life.
This format leads to what is a bit of an anthology without being a anthology. It's “monster of the week” but in “monster of the act” as various fearsome tales become true as the book's ghostly host Sarah Bellows messes with the world the teens find themselves in. It's through these creatures that the touch of producer Gueillermo Del Toro is felt. While often times in film “produced by” doesn't mean much creatively with Del Toro it very often means he has some craft and effort put into the process. The use of practical effects is his trademark and the designs of Harold the living scarecrow, the Pale Lady, and the Jangly Man all feel like both something from the original novel's illustrations as well as other works in the Del Toro repertoire. One almost wishes for a little more than what appears(ignoring some bit silly sequel setup) but there's some inventive spooky sequences aside from some occasional cheese or mundaneness. Frequent Del Toro music friend Marco Beltrami makes a haunting and at times alrightly beautiful score alongside Anna Drubich as well that helps set the dark mood.
The plot itself and film as a whole won't be remembered in any legends of its own but it provides some simple summer, more even better for a Halloween rewatch, scares. It's a bit unique while also a bit stupid but still the good makes it better than some things out there. One intrigued by the premise should get what they want if they don't mind turning back the clock and rating a bit. Strap in for the scares. 7.74 out of 10
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw Review
Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw
Director: David Leitch
Cast Headliners: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba
Original Release Date: August 2nd 2019
There's perhaps an inevitability in Hollywood today that any blockbuster franchise with a big enough scope or cast of characters is going to result in a side-franchise or spinff within it. Vin Diesel's ridiculous Fast and Furious film series may as well now be a cinematic universe up there with the likes of the MCU or Jurassic Park so it makes since that something as silly as Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw exists. In essence it distills the manliest car-racing-est nonsensical franchise into its core elements.... the most tough of dues, the most straight forward of plots, and little else. It's of course not of an objective quality of recognition but oh is it sure fun.
One can pretty much jump right into this film but it helps to have seen the redemption arc of these former antagonists / anti-heroes FBI agent Luke Hobbs(Dwayne The Rock Johnson) and Deckard Shaw(Jason Statham). Events transpire(after some fun / neatly side cut together solo adventures) where these two gruff men must set aside their dislike each other and team up to save the world...for a 9th time as a whole. Expect a lot of comedic “Hey I'm not working with him!” gruff jokes through the film as the two balance their attitudes with each other.
The plot in question actually introduces some more of Shaw's family. The main part of the trio ends up being Shaw's sister Hattie(Vanessa Kirby) who has part of a secret biological super-weapon trapped within her. They're pursued in a villainous fashion by the mysterious Eteon super-criminal organization and their main cyborg-like enforcer Brixton Lore(Idris Elba) who hunts them with his team of elite armored mercenary commandos everywhere. He's about as generic as a villain as can be although he is menacing. Yes, this series was once about car racing. There's actually no car racing in this film at all which gives the film a bit of its own flair although cars do get used...in crazy ways.
That's probably the main appeal of these films anymore in that one always is surprised and wonders what comes next for how disbelief will be suspended and logic thrown out the window. New-to-the-series David Leitch is here (of John Wick and Deadpool involvement!) and he's a fair fit. There's plentiful action and admittedly it can be very gritty fun. It's at its best when there's punches or gunfights but there's some wild larger stuff. CGI is of course, and perhaps as wanted, a bit poor but adds to the crazy scale. There's actually a bit less “HAHAHHAHAHA WHAT THE HECK HOW” moments in this film than the past and most were in the trailers but they're in there especially as the end approaches. This is especially true in the lush visualed American Samoa based finale that must be seen firsthand.
So too is the comedy not the series' best but it has its fun. As mentioned Johnson's Hobbs and Statham's Shaw are at their usual best, especially with the great chemistry with each other as well as Kirby's Hattie. They quip they argue they make plans all in typical decent if generically so sense. There's actually some more attempts to build out their characters with family and friends. Hobbs deals with not only his daughter Sam (Elliana Sua) but also his mother Sefina(Lori Pelenise Tuisano) and many brothers and cousins including Jonah(Cliff Curtis) and Mateo(Roman Reigns of the WWE too) . Former cameo superstar Shaw family mother Queenie(Hellen Mirren) shows up for Shaw who shows some cheesy backstory scenes for the siblings. Also be on the lookout for great bit parts in CIA agent Locke(Ryan Reynolds!) and air marshal Dinkley(Kevin Hart) who's jokes are some of the films few un-covered until the last minute in press fun bits that fit so well.
None of this really sets any bars and it's all incredibly dumb but it will provide the entertainment to its target audience especially if they don't mind those two characters. It's simple dumb summer action comedy fun that perhaps purposefully is a bit less of a stride or fresh than the last few yet also having its own interesting perks. It's still fast and furious, or so, when it tries. 7.5 out of 10.
Director: David Leitch
Cast Headliners: Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Idris Elba
Original Release Date: August 2nd 2019
There's perhaps an inevitability in Hollywood today that any blockbuster franchise with a big enough scope or cast of characters is going to result in a side-franchise or spinff within it. Vin Diesel's ridiculous Fast and Furious film series may as well now be a cinematic universe up there with the likes of the MCU or Jurassic Park so it makes since that something as silly as Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw exists. In essence it distills the manliest car-racing-est nonsensical franchise into its core elements.... the most tough of dues, the most straight forward of plots, and little else. It's of course not of an objective quality of recognition but oh is it sure fun.
One can pretty much jump right into this film but it helps to have seen the redemption arc of these former antagonists / anti-heroes FBI agent Luke Hobbs(Dwayne The Rock Johnson) and Deckard Shaw(Jason Statham). Events transpire(after some fun / neatly side cut together solo adventures) where these two gruff men must set aside their dislike each other and team up to save the world...for a 9th time as a whole. Expect a lot of comedic “Hey I'm not working with him!” gruff jokes through the film as the two balance their attitudes with each other.
The plot in question actually introduces some more of Shaw's family. The main part of the trio ends up being Shaw's sister Hattie(Vanessa Kirby) who has part of a secret biological super-weapon trapped within her. They're pursued in a villainous fashion by the mysterious Eteon super-criminal organization and their main cyborg-like enforcer Brixton Lore(Idris Elba) who hunts them with his team of elite armored mercenary commandos everywhere. He's about as generic as a villain as can be although he is menacing. Yes, this series was once about car racing. There's actually no car racing in this film at all which gives the film a bit of its own flair although cars do get used...in crazy ways.
That's probably the main appeal of these films anymore in that one always is surprised and wonders what comes next for how disbelief will be suspended and logic thrown out the window. New-to-the-series David Leitch is here (of John Wick and Deadpool involvement!) and he's a fair fit. There's plentiful action and admittedly it can be very gritty fun. It's at its best when there's punches or gunfights but there's some wild larger stuff. CGI is of course, and perhaps as wanted, a bit poor but adds to the crazy scale. There's actually a bit less “HAHAHHAHAHA WHAT THE HECK HOW” moments in this film than the past and most were in the trailers but they're in there especially as the end approaches. This is especially true in the lush visualed American Samoa based finale that must be seen firsthand.
So too is the comedy not the series' best but it has its fun. As mentioned Johnson's Hobbs and Statham's Shaw are at their usual best, especially with the great chemistry with each other as well as Kirby's Hattie. They quip they argue they make plans all in typical decent if generically so sense. There's actually some more attempts to build out their characters with family and friends. Hobbs deals with not only his daughter Sam (Elliana Sua) but also his mother Sefina(Lori Pelenise Tuisano) and many brothers and cousins including Jonah(Cliff Curtis) and Mateo(Roman Reigns of the WWE too) . Former cameo superstar Shaw family mother Queenie(Hellen Mirren) shows up for Shaw who shows some cheesy backstory scenes for the siblings. Also be on the lookout for great bit parts in CIA agent Locke(Ryan Reynolds!) and air marshal Dinkley(Kevin Hart) who's jokes are some of the films few un-covered until the last minute in press fun bits that fit so well.
None of this really sets any bars and it's all incredibly dumb but it will provide the entertainment to its target audience especially if they don't mind those two characters. It's simple dumb summer action comedy fun that perhaps purposefully is a bit less of a stride or fresh than the last few yet also having its own interesting perks. It's still fast and furious, or so, when it tries. 7.5 out of 10.
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