Triple February Cheese : Birds Of Prey, Sonic The Hedgehog, Fantasy Island Reviews
With not much of anything going on this Q1 saw several films of similiar quality and in some vengeful ways similiar so to simplify summarize and score :
Birds Of Prey( and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn:
Director : Cathy Yan
Cast Headliners : Margot Robbie , Ewan McGregor, Jurnee Smollet-Bell, Rosie Perez, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ella Jay Basco
Original Release Date : February 7th, 2020
It seems that ties to the past DCEU aren't done just yet nor will be ahead forgetting not only it's lore and characterizations on-screen but also it's trend towards brighter sillier fun. It's also a smart choice for the focus of a spin-off to be Harley Quinn who is so distinct. As a whole decent if flawed ... Margot Robbie is as humorously insane as ever this time as punk clown Harley bringing in some of her own quirks and past and she doesn't need anyone else . Her fellow antiheroine peers are a really mixed bag from an alright Smollet-Bell as a suave edgy Black Canary , MEW as seldom seen yet badass Huntress , with Perez copy Montoya and Basco pickpocket Cain being very stereotypically cheesy. Ewan McGregor's antagonist Roman Sionis / Black Mask varies between flamboyantly insanely evil to the overly hammy kind ...so to does little more than thug minion Zzsaz ( Chris Messina ) . Director Yan makes some exciting neon soaked action scenes at times however even if not enough powers or hyena or jokes attempted or hinted at ...silly cheesy fun 7.7 outta 10
Sonic The Hedgehog
Director : Jeff Fowler
Cast Headliners : Ben Schwartz, Jim Carrry, James Marsden
Original Release Date : February 14th, 2020
Real talk one of the best video game based movies ever despite the questionable existence and delays to be closer to the long running icon. Ben Schwartz is spot on as Sanic even if a bit ridiculously powerful and fast and overly cheesy meme or CGI effects dropping ( at least he's accurate the whole time). Jim Carrry as villian Dr Robotnik is very good literally moustache twirling evil with some fun writing at times that gets more accurate as he gets more mad and insane. Human elements, including Marsden's cop Tom, are not the good kind of cheesy nor is the basic plot S a whole however it's easy breezy approach is enjoyable for the fast and or slowmo speed of cameo references for the whole family. 7.8 outta 10
Fantasy Island
Director : Jeff Wadlow
Cast Headliners : Maggie Q, Michael Pena, Michael Rooker , Lucy Hale, arguably no others
Original Release Date : February 14th, 2020
This attempted reboot of the old television series has almost nothing to do with it aside an admittedally gorgeous tropical setting and wish granting core conceit. Otherwise what's found is one of the worst movies in recent memory that wastes a cool concept on repeated lackluster ideas and scares that aren't even cheesy enough to be fun....and comedy that is scary how fun it isn't . Unlikeable characters, confusing contexts , hollow action , boredom ... it's best not to waste time describing or seeing it. 4.66 outta 10
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Saturday, February 8, 2020
Oscar Awards 2020 Predictions / Dreams
The Academy Oscar Awards 2020 Predictions / Dreams
It's finally
that time again seemingly already of final battles of cinematic
achievement. It can easily be said that this is some of the finest
batches of films / components with in them so it'll be a really
close, and understandable, call within a few...and happy with most.
And a season where I've seen the most too which makes it that much
understandable. Without further ado what they are, who I think will,
and who I would want to win for most major:
Best Picture:
Best Picture:
- “Ford
v Ferrari”
- “The Irishman”
- “Jojo Rabbit”
- “Joker”
- “Little Women”
- “Marriage Story”
- “1917”
- “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
- “Parasite”
Who Will: This is an extremely tight one, as most of the show will be , between Joker vs 1917 vs Once Upon A Time In Hollywood clean sweeping in most awards with some dark horse potential of Parasite, The Irishman, and Little Women. I still think that,of the sweep, it'll either be 1917 with the strongest lead and either Joker or Once Hollywood second...should be interesting.
Who Should: As said a close one but of the bunch I'd have to go with Hollywood or Joker kudos to Irish, Marriage, or Parasite however
- “The Irishman”
- “Jojo Rabbit”
- “Joker”
- “Little Women”
- “Marriage Story”
- “1917”
- “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
- “Parasite”
Who Will: This is an extremely tight one, as most of the show will be , between Joker vs 1917 vs Once Upon A Time In Hollywood clean sweeping in most awards with some dark horse potential of Parasite, The Irishman, and Little Women. I still think that,of the sweep, it'll either be 1917 with the strongest lead and either Joker or Once Hollywood second...should be interesting.
Who Should: As said a close one but of the bunch I'd have to go with Hollywood or Joker kudos to Irish, Marriage, or Parasite however
Lead
Actor:
-
Antonio Banderas, “Pain and Glory”
- Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
- Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
- Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
- Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”
Who Will: Real talk there's been so many wins to date that it's probably a thing where another Joker will win for Phoenix...however if that's viewed as typical DiCaprio or Driver make strong cases too.
Who Should: For all that is society please, Phoenix the Joker although I wouldn't be upset with either...
- Leonardo DiCaprio, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
- Adam Driver, “Marriage Story”
- Joaquin Phoenix, “Joker”
- Jonathan Pryce, “The Two Popes”
Who Will: Real talk there's been so many wins to date that it's probably a thing where another Joker will win for Phoenix...however if that's viewed as typical DiCaprio or Driver make strong cases too.
Who Should: For all that is society please, Phoenix the Joker although I wouldn't be upset with either...
Lead
Actress:
-
Cynthia Erivo, “Harriet”
- Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
- Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”
- Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”
- Renee Zellweger, “Judy”
Who Will: This one's tricky... statistics would show it's Zellweger but almost close for Johansson or Ronan too. A bit of dark horse Theron.
Who Should: Actually probably Theron impressed me the most although after that, Johansson or even Erivo.
- Scarlett Johansson, “Marriage Story”
- Saoirse Ronan, “Little Women”
- Charlize Theron, “Bombshell”
- Renee Zellweger, “Judy”
Who Will: This one's tricky... statistics would show it's Zellweger but almost close for Johansson or Ronan too. A bit of dark horse Theron.
Who Should: Actually probably Theron impressed me the most although after that, Johansson or even Erivo.
Supporting
Actor:
-
Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood”
- Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
- Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
- Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
- Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Who Will: Without much doubts at all, Pitt for his powerhouse turn in Hollywood. However if not that anyone from The Irishman.
Who Should: Exactly as said above!! Wouldn't be too upset with Hanks Rogers either.
- Anthony Hopkins, “The Two Popes”
- Al Pacino, “The Irishman”
- Joe Pesci, “The Irishman”
- Brad Pitt, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
Who Will: Without much doubts at all, Pitt for his powerhouse turn in Hollywood. However if not that anyone from The Irishman.
Who Should: Exactly as said above!! Wouldn't be too upset with Hanks Rogers either.
Supporting
Actress:
-
Kathy Bates, “Richard Jewell”
- Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
- Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”
- Florence Pugh, “Little Women”
- Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”
Who Will: This one's a bit trickier but things have been seeming Dern is the favorite. Possibly Pugh or Robbie.... or Johansson although her up for main category may make this an instant no.
Who Should: I would be totally happy with Dern too or Johansson...some I definitely don't think should be up there at all.
- Laura Dern, “Marriage Story”
- Scarlett Johansson, “Jojo Rabbit”
- Florence Pugh, “Little Women”
- Margot Robbie, “Bombshell”
Who Will: This one's a bit trickier but things have been seeming Dern is the favorite. Possibly Pugh or Robbie.... or Johansson although her up for main category may make this an instant no.
Who Should: I would be totally happy with Dern too or Johansson...some I definitely don't think should be up there at all.
Director:
-
Martin Scorsese, “The Irishman”
- Todd Phillips, “Joker”
- Sam Mendes, “1917”
- Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
- Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”
Who Will: This one's as tightly close as the rest ...it may trend towards best picture also does so Mendes or Phillips but really its hard to say .
Who Should: Tarantino or Scorsese were easily the most impressive but also it feels like this is something for Joon Ho .
Animated Feature:
- Todd Phillips, “Joker”
- Sam Mendes, “1917”
- Quentin Tarantino, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”
- Bong Joon Ho, “Parasite”
Who Will: This one's as tightly close as the rest ...it may trend towards best picture also does so Mendes or Phillips but really its hard to say .
Who Should: Tarantino or Scorsese were easily the most impressive but also it feels like this is something for Joon Ho .
Animated Feature:
- “How
to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World,” Dean DeBlois
- “I Lost My Body,” Jeremy Clapin
- “Klaus,” Sergio Pablos
- “Missing Link,” Chris Butler
- “Toy Story 4,” Josh Cooley
- “I Lost My Body,” Jeremy Clapin
- “Klaus,” Sergio Pablos
- “Missing Link,” Chris Butler
- “Toy Story 4,” Josh Cooley
Who
Will: Pixar or Disney usually has this on lock, especially the Toy
Stories, although Klaus and I Lost My Body have been getting some
traction.
Who Should: As a fan, Toy Story of course although How To Train Your Dragon and Klaus were damn good too.
Who Should: As a fan, Toy Story of course although How To Train Your Dragon and Klaus were damn good too.
Adapted
Screenplay:
- “The
Irishman,” Steven Zaillian
- “Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi
- “Joker,” Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
- “Little Women,” Greta Gerwig
- “The Two Popes,” Anthony McCarten
Who Will: Once again a best picture thing especially Joker / Irishman / Women...however Jojo Rabbit's been popular in the undercard
Who Should: Joker without a doubt for its inventiveness
- “Jojo Rabbit,” Taika Waititi
- “Joker,” Todd Phillips, Scott Silver
- “Little Women,” Greta Gerwig
- “The Two Popes,” Anthony McCarten
Who Will: Once again a best picture thing especially Joker / Irishman / Women...however Jojo Rabbit's been popular in the undercard
Who Should: Joker without a doubt for its inventiveness
Original
Screenplay:
- “Knives
Out,” Rian Johnson
- “Marriage Story,” Noah Baumbach
- “1917,” Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
- “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino
- “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han
Who Will: See above... best picture spilloff 1917 vs Once Hollywood vs Joker vs even moreso Parasite here.
Who Should: This seems like a great place to honor the originality of Parasite but really Knives Out should get it for that regard too to honor Johnson.
- “Marriage Story,” Noah Baumbach
- “1917,” Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns
- “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Quentin Tarantino
- “Parasite,” Bong Joon-ho, Jin Won Han
Who Will: See above... best picture spilloff 1917 vs Once Hollywood vs Joker vs even moreso Parasite here.
Who Should: This seems like a great place to honor the originality of Parasite but really Knives Out should get it for that regard too to honor Johnson.
Cinematography:
- “The
Irishman,” Rodrigo Prieto
- “Joker,” Lawrence Sher
- “The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke
- “1917,” Roger Deakins
- “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson
Who Will: This one seems more clearly narrowed in on Irishman or 1917 but sure Once Hollywood and Joker are possible too.
Who Should: The Lighthouse for its only nom!! Btu would be happy with either of those... Once Hollywood or Joker most of al
- “Joker,” Lawrence Sher
- “The Lighthouse,” Jarin Blaschke
- “1917,” Roger Deakins
- “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” Robert Richardson
Who Will: This one seems more clearly narrowed in on Irishman or 1917 but sure Once Hollywood and Joker are possible too.
Who Should: The Lighthouse for its only nom!! Btu would be happy with either of those... Once Hollywood or Joker most of al
Visual
Effects:
- “Avengers
Endgame”
- “The Irishman”
- “1917”
- “The Lion King”
- “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
- “The Irishman”
- “1917”
- “The Lion King”
- “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker”
Who Will: It's hard
to say.... traditional thinking would give this to The Lion King for
their love of Favreau or Irishman or 1917 for other, here a bit
trolly, praises...however maybe they'll honor the end of a saga.
Who Should: While would be happy with Star Wars of course(more apt for not-listed-sound), this is the place for Endgame give the MCU what it deserves!!
Let's see how it all goes gonna be interesting!
Who Should: While would be happy with Star Wars of course(more apt for not-listed-sound), this is the place for Endgame give the MCU what it deserves!!
Let's see how it all goes gonna be interesting!
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Color Out Of Space Review
Color Out Of Space
Director: Richard Stanley
Cast Headliners: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Elliot Knight, Madeleine Arthur, Tommy Chong, SPACE
Original Release Date: January 22nd, 2020(limited)
One can just look at the formula of the Color Out OF Space and expect something that's some kind of entertaining.... the unique cult horror writer H.P Lovecraft adapted into a piece starring the sometimes manically amazing Nicolas Cage with lost-since-the-90s director Richard Stanley making a proper return to feature length material. Some aspects work well and some aspects very much do not however it's identity is felt when it needs to be.
In what feels both a bit clever yet also a bit archaic (drawn directly from the early 20th century original novella) premise a water surveyor Ward Phillips (Elliot Knight) has to come to a mysterious forested area where he meets the equally oddball Gardner family. This includes Wiccan-practicing teenage daughter Lavinia(Madeleine Arthur), stoner teenage son Benny(Brendan Meyer), curious youngest son Jack(Julian Hillard), cancer-remisssioned business-addict mother Theresa(Joely Richardson), and wackiest of all but kind-hearted alpaca farming-and-cuisine enthusiast father Nathan(Nicolas Cage). There's also an adjacent squatter on the large property in paranoid hippie Ezra(Tommy Chong who's delightfully silly in the few scenes he does get).
Their lives are soon changed by the impact of an ominous meteorite from space which draws lightning into it then releasing flashes of the titular “color” energy into its surroundings as its corrupts the plants, minds of the Gardners and others, and maybe more into something bizarre and alien before it somehow vanishes. This descent into various forms of madnesses is the main throughline of the film.
It's narrative conceit with its small set of locations and the mundane turned terrifying definitely brings to mind classic influences such as The Shining, The Thing, and even the contemporary Annihilation (especially in regards to the visuals mixing some picturesque beauty in with the mutations). These themes may seem like mundane tropes but one may wonder if its perhaps instead that these works were in part influenced by Lovecraft's work. It can be a slow burn at times but by the end it becomes overwhelmingly horrific and even exciting if held back by budget.
The small main cast, Cage aside, is nothing quite to write home about. Knight, Arthur, and Meyer do alright if slightly cheesily as teenagers facing the adversities that come. Richardson has some drama but the occasionally subpar script leaves these aspects feeling hollow so things work best when there's fear compared to emotion. There's various other smaller townspeople and civic service parts that are cheesy as well.
However where cheese mostly works is Nicolas Cage as Nathan. On a scale from “actually objectively amazing” to “So bad or weird he's amazing” he lands somewhere in the middle. Some wonderful bursts of his trademark manic-delivery do occur but they're not always used in the right ways. One will laugh often times on purpose actually which is surprising in the sci-fi horror at play but other times one will also awkwardly laugh at what the point of the thing they just witnessed which perhaps fits the unexplainable Lovecraftian nature of things. He is able to deliver some bits of caring emotion at rare times or otherwise fierce toughness.
One can't help but think of a recent Cage genre piece in 2018's Mandy which shares not only the rage of Cage but also some producers and a general ambiance. This film is inferior to that one due to slightly less “hell yeah” appeal and a more generic plot / aesthetic but it is shared in its use of colors, blood, and a synthy-score here by Colin Stetson. Both are set in dark backwoods and have things be more and more trippy although as mentioned its less purposefully crafted or filled with metaphor here due to the shallowness of its characters and no clear villains.
Director Richard Stanley's approach helps that ambiance although one can maybe see why he doesn't get a ton of work. He's best at the general vagueness of forests or mountains or the “Color”filled skies. Some up close work is shaky feeling . The CGI can be ….quite poor at times which is understandable due to its relatively lower budget. This takes away from some sequences which could be truly nightmare-inducing but perhaps its on purpose that things are seldom scene. However things improve by the climax with some final scenes that are truly beautiful.
It's a movie plagued by some crafting flaws aside from just its cosmic radiation. However fans of Cage or these vein of sci-fi will find some enjoyment to be sure if they understand the kind of approach its going for . 7.45 out of 10 .
Director: Richard Stanley
Cast Headliners: Nicolas Cage, Joely Richardson, Elliot Knight, Madeleine Arthur, Tommy Chong, SPACE
Original Release Date: January 22nd, 2020(limited)
One can just look at the formula of the Color Out OF Space and expect something that's some kind of entertaining.... the unique cult horror writer H.P Lovecraft adapted into a piece starring the sometimes manically amazing Nicolas Cage with lost-since-the-90s director Richard Stanley making a proper return to feature length material. Some aspects work well and some aspects very much do not however it's identity is felt when it needs to be.
In what feels both a bit clever yet also a bit archaic (drawn directly from the early 20th century original novella) premise a water surveyor Ward Phillips (Elliot Knight) has to come to a mysterious forested area where he meets the equally oddball Gardner family. This includes Wiccan-practicing teenage daughter Lavinia(Madeleine Arthur), stoner teenage son Benny(Brendan Meyer), curious youngest son Jack(Julian Hillard), cancer-remisssioned business-addict mother Theresa(Joely Richardson), and wackiest of all but kind-hearted alpaca farming-and-cuisine enthusiast father Nathan(Nicolas Cage). There's also an adjacent squatter on the large property in paranoid hippie Ezra(Tommy Chong who's delightfully silly in the few scenes he does get).
Their lives are soon changed by the impact of an ominous meteorite from space which draws lightning into it then releasing flashes of the titular “color” energy into its surroundings as its corrupts the plants, minds of the Gardners and others, and maybe more into something bizarre and alien before it somehow vanishes. This descent into various forms of madnesses is the main throughline of the film.
It's narrative conceit with its small set of locations and the mundane turned terrifying definitely brings to mind classic influences such as The Shining, The Thing, and even the contemporary Annihilation (especially in regards to the visuals mixing some picturesque beauty in with the mutations). These themes may seem like mundane tropes but one may wonder if its perhaps instead that these works were in part influenced by Lovecraft's work. It can be a slow burn at times but by the end it becomes overwhelmingly horrific and even exciting if held back by budget.
The small main cast, Cage aside, is nothing quite to write home about. Knight, Arthur, and Meyer do alright if slightly cheesily as teenagers facing the adversities that come. Richardson has some drama but the occasionally subpar script leaves these aspects feeling hollow so things work best when there's fear compared to emotion. There's various other smaller townspeople and civic service parts that are cheesy as well.
However where cheese mostly works is Nicolas Cage as Nathan. On a scale from “actually objectively amazing” to “So bad or weird he's amazing” he lands somewhere in the middle. Some wonderful bursts of his trademark manic-delivery do occur but they're not always used in the right ways. One will laugh often times on purpose actually which is surprising in the sci-fi horror at play but other times one will also awkwardly laugh at what the point of the thing they just witnessed which perhaps fits the unexplainable Lovecraftian nature of things. He is able to deliver some bits of caring emotion at rare times or otherwise fierce toughness.
One can't help but think of a recent Cage genre piece in 2018's Mandy which shares not only the rage of Cage but also some producers and a general ambiance. This film is inferior to that one due to slightly less “hell yeah” appeal and a more generic plot / aesthetic but it is shared in its use of colors, blood, and a synthy-score here by Colin Stetson. Both are set in dark backwoods and have things be more and more trippy although as mentioned its less purposefully crafted or filled with metaphor here due to the shallowness of its characters and no clear villains.
Director Richard Stanley's approach helps that ambiance although one can maybe see why he doesn't get a ton of work. He's best at the general vagueness of forests or mountains or the “Color”filled skies. Some up close work is shaky feeling . The CGI can be ….quite poor at times which is understandable due to its relatively lower budget. This takes away from some sequences which could be truly nightmare-inducing but perhaps its on purpose that things are seldom scene. However things improve by the climax with some final scenes that are truly beautiful.
It's a movie plagued by some crafting flaws aside from just its cosmic radiation. However fans of Cage or these vein of sci-fi will find some enjoyment to be sure if they understand the kind of approach its going for . 7.45 out of 10 .
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)