Blind Spot 96: Trading Places

| Rachel's Reviews

I have now done almost 100 posts for in this Blind Spot series and one continuing trend is me not enjoying classic comedies particularly from the 80s. I didn’t enjoy Beverly Hills Cop, Troop Beverly Hills, Lethal Weapon, Slap Shot, National Lampoons Vacation, the list goes on. So it was with some hesitation I added Trading Places to my 2023 lineup but there aren’t that many Christmas-themed movies I haven’t seen so I decided to give it a shot. Now after having seen the film I am glad to say it mostly still works. There are outdated elements but as a piece of social commentary it still feels sharp and incisive.

Trading Places tells the story of two gentlemen, one a rich stock broker and one a small-time criminal, who are entered into a social experiment by 2 richer stock brokers to try and decide the debate of nurture vs nature. Dan Akroyd playing Winthorpe the broker is suddenly stripped of his position, power, money and everything else while Eddie Murphy’s Valentine is given all those things. This is of course very upsetting to Winthorpe and he tries to defend himself which only makes him look more crazy to the uppity people he used to call friends.

Valentine on the other hand is suddenly given power and he does quite well with it. He uses his street smarts to read the room and get better deals than the Wall Street types can achieve. There is also Jamie Lee Curtis playing a prostitute named Ophelia who has pity on the miserable Winthorpe.

What works best about Trading Places is the friendship that emerges between Winthorpe and Valentine once they get on the same side and want revenge on those who orchestrated the social experiment. It’s a movie that might be called woke today because it has something to say about race, class, and other social issues but it doesn’t forget to make you laugh along the way.

The only major problem with the movie is some of the R rated elements feel too vulgar for the tone of the script. I particularly thought the number of times they have Ophelia go topless for no reason seemed excessive. I know she’s a prostitute but it felt too much for a character they were trying to humanize and defend only to then exploit her to try and titillate (literally) 80s male audiences.

There is also a scene of Winthorpe in blackface that is unfortunate. It’s not a particularly funny scene nor does it have that much to say so it makes the entire scene feel gross.

Other than that Trading Places is a good time at the movies and holds up quite well. I want to say it’s one they could remake but it would be impossible with how sensitive everyone is these days when it comes to sensitive issues. We aren’t good at laughing at each other now so we don’t learn all we can from each other.

RACHEL’S MASSIVE MOVIE CATCH UP ON CHRISTMAS PART 2

| Rachel's Reviews

So we are back! Time to catch up on some more recent movie reviews. I forgot to share my Best of the Year video in my last post but don’t miss it!

Here’s the reviews:


Anatomy of a Fall-

I honestly put off seeing this movie because it seemed very pretentious but when I actually went to see it it was actually quite accessible and engrossing. In fact, it almost made my best of the year video but was a strong honorable mention. Basically Anatomy of a Fall is a compelling crime courtroom drama where we are asked to question if a woman killed her husband or is it the accident she claims. The movie keeps you guessing to the end as it layers clues through court testimony and flashbacks. It’s the kind of movie multiple people could watch and have different opinions about. Sandra Hüller is excellent (and very good in Zone of Interest that I reviewed in the last post) as the main protagonist as is Milo Machado Graner as her son Daniel. It’s the kind of movie Hollywood would ruin with poorly staged melodrama instead of trusting the audience with ambiguities and flawed characters. It is an R rating but I think a lot of people would be entertained by this film. It’s not the arthouse niche film I thought it was at first.

8 out of 10

Smile Worthy

The First Slam Dunk

As a lover of anime I am always looking for ways to introduce friends to the artform in accessible and engrossing ways. The First Slam Dunk is such a film and one of my favorite films of 2023. It’s a simple movie that tells us the story of a high school basketball team that’s trying to compete and manage the stresses of their personal lives. As we get to know the players on and off the court director Takehiko Inoue does a great job of building the importance of the big game and even the big shot so we are waiting with baited breath to see what will happen. The game scenes are so well done my only regret is having to watch it at home and not on the big screen (it was only at my theater for one weekend and I missed it which I bitterly regret.) Even so what a compelling film that almost anyone will enjoy. My only flaw with it is I think the character designs look like professional athletes rather than high school students. I guess that’s the way the manga is but it did take me out of the story a couple of times. Still, I highly recommend The First Slam Dunk.

9 out of 10

Smile Worthy


The Iron Claw

I am not a wrestling fan but my friend Ryan Cam is and he had prepared me for this upcoming film The Iron Claw and the intense tale it is telling. I know people hate spoilers but this is a film where I do think knowing what you are getting into is a good idea particularly with how triggering it could be for some individuals (2 characters commit suicide.) The crazy thing is in real life there was another brother in the Von Erich family that committed suicide that they left out! I have rarely been more angry at a character than I was at the father played by Holt McCallany in this film. You think about all the people who would do anything for a child and then to see the way this man manipulates and abuses his children it’s infuriating. The only thing he cared about was wrestling not the humans he was entrusted with. Zac Efron is excellent as one of the brothers Kevin as is Jeremy Allen White as Kerry. It’s a tough sit but extremely moving and I do recommend it if only for the incredible performances.

8 out of 10

Smile Worthy (a crying smile)


Migration

I really disliked the first trailer for Migration because it felt like another middling entry from Illumination. After being disappointed by their The Super Mario Bros Movie earlier this year my hopes weren’t high for this bird movie but then the trailers started to get better and with director Benjamin Renner at the helm I had more confidence and that optimism was not in vain! This is probably my favorite film from Illumination and ended up being a very enjoyable family film. The story is pretty basic with the road trip and the neurotic parent scared to leave the nest but the script by Mike White is funny and the voice acting is all well done. The only thing I would change is we didn’t really need the over-the-top chef villain. He’s fine for the restaurant scene but didn’t need to stay throughout the film. There’s enough drama going on with the journey we didn’t need a supervillain complicating things. But this is an entertaining, funny, well-written adventure the whole family will love.

8 out of 10

Smile Worthy


Robot Dreams-

I actually hadn’t watched Robot Dreams when my colleagues at UFCA nominated it for best animated film. I’m the animation girl so I was a little embarrassed they selected something I hadn’t seen so I immediately watched my screener dvd for it and am so glad they selected it! What a delightful animated film. It instantly went up my list of the best movies of 2023. I’m so sad that not many have seen this film because it is so charming. It’s a simple story of a dog that makes a robot to be his best friend and the amazing summer they have together. I love the hand drawn animation by Pablo Berger and the way the movie uses music is so endearing. It might be my favorite use of “September” by Earth Wind & Fire ever in a movie. This movie is joy in movie form and I adored it. Keep an eye out for it if you can see it in a theater or on streaming.

10 out of 10

Smile Worthy

The Peasants

I actually wasn’t a big fan of 2017’s Loving Vincent. While the visual style of using Van Gogh’s paintings to make an animated film was impressive the story was not captivating for a feature film. If you loved that film I am not sure what you will think of the team’s follow-up The Peasants but it also wasn’t for me. While the visual style is unique it feels slicker and less arresting than Loving Vincent and the story here is so relentlessly bleak it was hard to watch. This is an animated film for adults where a young teen begins an affair with a married man and ends up marrying his father and things get expectedly messy with rape and assault involved throughout the picture. It’s very depressing without the moving moments of something depressing like The Iron Claw. I just really didn’t enjoy it despite the impressive visual achievement.

5 out of 10

Frown Worthy


Rebel Moon- Part One: A Child of Fire-

It’s no secret to anyone who follows movies that director Zack Snyder can be very divisive in his films. He has a huge hive that devotedly follows everything he does and then a large group that can’t stand most of his work. He’s normally not my favorite but I do like some films like his most recent Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Now he is releasing a new sci-fi epic that was evidently originally pitched to Lucasfilm as a Star Wars film but was not accepted and sent over to Netlflix. I was able to see it on the big screen and left confused by what Snyder had put together. For an epic sci-fi film it was surprisingly small in feel for most of the movie. A lot of the first half is spent on a farming planet and people confronted with a Nazi type character played by Ed Skrein and what they are going to do about it. Then Sofia Boutella’s Kora goes out into space to try and find warriors ala The Magnificent Seven and Seven Samurai but in space. The second half does get more epic in feel but it’s still arrive at a planet, talk to people and maybe have a little bit of action. Small when I expected big. I guess Snyder has an entirely different cut of the movie which is very annoying especially when a film has a limited theatrical so it doesn’t need to be PG-13. It feels like a phony attempt to create a ‘Snyder Cut’ movement where none needed to occur. Still, the movie is fine if you like sci-fi but nothing special. It’s not offensively bad. Just forgettable. I’d rather just watch Star Wars even though that franchise has been pretty bad lately. At least it has occasional characters and places I care about. This is bland and left me pretty meh for part 2, which I think says a lot.

5 out of 10

Frown Worthy


The Boy and the Heron-

I would like to put in a longer review of The Boy and the Heron particularly when I get the chance to see it again when I am more rested. I actually saw it opening night at a midnight screening so I was pretty tired and did struggle to stay awake throughout the entire movie. Still, it’s definitely an impressive visual achievement full of imagination and creativity. The type of film only Miyazaki could come up with. I also loved the music by Joe Hisaishi and I hope the Academy will finally recognize his genius with a nomination. The story was a lot and kind of all over the place but it left me intrigued to see it again and study its themes. It also has a lot of weird birds which aren’t exactly my favorite! Still, I have a feeling it’s a movie that will grow on me the more I see it and it’s always a treat to see a Miyazaki film in the theaters. More please!

7 out of 10

Smile Worthy


Anyone But You-

Obviously I’m a big fan of rom-coms and for the most part this year has been a really good year for the genre both on the big and small screen, so I was excited for Anyone But You. An R rated modern take on Much Ado About Nothing seemed like just my thing, but I came away thinking it was just ok. The parts where it leans into the Shakespeare play work the best and Glen Powell is so good as your romantic lead. Unfortunately Sydney Sweeney felt very wooden and that impacted the chemistry between the two. The physical comedy didn’t really work and the supporting cast is mostly wasted. Fans of the genre will enjoy it but it just could have been so much better.

5 out of 10

Frown Worthy


Salaar: Part 1- Ceasefire-

Lately I have been enjoying Indian action cinema a lot more than what Hollywood is providing. They have a spectacle and excitement you don’t get in many American films these days. This is why I jumped at the chance to see the new film from Prashanth Neel starring Prabhas called Salaar: Part 1- Ceasefire. It’s a mouthful of a title and a whole lot of movie to match but it mostly was a big bombastic fun time at the cinema. Prabhas is such a titan in these roles and the action is visceral and extremely bloody (if you are squeamish about blood don’t see this one!) It does get confusing and the subtitles felt very fast but overall I enjoyed the experience of this crazy wild film. I do wish it had dance and music like other Indian cinema I’ve seen like RRR and the  Baahubali films but this is enjoyable as well.

7 out of 10

Smile Worthy

So there you have it! I did it! That’s all the movies I’ve seen in the last few weeks! Merry Christmas to you and thank you for supporting my career and everything I do. 

If you enjoy what I do please consider supporting at patreon where you can get tons of fun perks. https://www.patreon.com/hallmarkies

Rachel’s Massive Movie Catch Up on Christmas Part 1

| Rachel's Reviews

Hey friends! I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas day with family and friends! I have been beyond busy lately trying to get all the awards contenders watched so I could vote for the various groups I am a member of and covering all the holiday films for Hallmarkies Podcast. I would love to have longer reviews for all of the films I’ve seen but that’s just not possible so here goes. (I am going to divide this up into several parts, so here is part 1)

Dream Scenario

Dream Scenario is one of those movies that’s a more clever in theory than execution but it’s fun enough. It’s about a mousy professor played by Nicolas Cage who ends up one day in everybody’s dreams for no apparent reason. It comments on social media and modern-day relationships and Cage is more relatable than you might expect. It’s the kind of movie that would have made a better short than feature but I enjoyed what it had to say and the lead performance from Cage.

6 out of 10

Smile Worthy


The Color Purple

I have actually seen The Color Purple twice and I hope to do a longer review soon but I’m very grateful to the screening company for allowing me to see it twice. I was very tired the first day and despite enjoying the movie felt I didn’t get the whole experience because of my fatigue. The second time I was well rested and able to fully appreciate the film. It’s interesting because they were initially selling it as a ‘crowd pleaser’ which confused me given the subject matter. However, after seeing the film I understand  what they were saying. They have successfully flipped the script from the novel and original film from a trauma narrative into one of inspiration and overcoming the toughest of challenges. As a musical lover I also appreciate how seamlessly the songs are integrated into the story. It’s similar to Fiddler on the Roof in that way that for many of the numbers you can imagine the characters actually singing at that moment and the entire cast is incredibly talented. I am not always a huge Taraji P Henson fan but she was great in this and Danielle Brooks steals the show with her role and song “Hell No.” I haven’t seen the Broadway show this is based on but I hope I get to some day. Even if you don’t normally like musicals you might enjoy this one. It’s perhaps a little more drawn out than it needs to be but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

8 out of 10

Smile Worthy


The Zone of Interest

The Zone of Interest is a tough film to review because I admire much about it but I don’t necessarily think it all comes together. The concept is compelling about a seemingly normal German family in 1943 that lives an idyllic existence next to Auschwitz concentration camp. I do think if this film doesn’t get nominated for best sound at the Oscars than the award has no meaning. No other film from this year does sound play such a key character in the storytelling. As events are happening to the family we hear explosions and other noises from the camp and it’s very chilling. All that said, I felt like it made its point rather quickly and then didn’t have enough to say for a feature film. It would have been a lot stronger as a short. Still, for the attempt and the conversation it inspires I do recommend watching this unusual film.

6 out of 10

Smile Worthy


Ferrari

I don’t know what I expected from Michael Mann’s Ferrari but I didn’t expect it to end up on my worst of the year list but that’s what happened. Aside from some impressive makeup there isn’t much for me to praise in this film. Adam Driver is fine as Enzo Ferrari but the script is so clunky and poorly done that I couldn’t appreciate his character work much. Penelope Cruz does what she can as the weepy wife but Shailene Woodley is terribly miscast as his mistress Lina. The accents are embarrassing and the racing scenes aren’t even well done. A real miss

3 out of 10

Frown Worthy


Next Goal Wins

I’d heard a lot of negative buzz around Next Goal Wins before getting a chance to see it so maybe that is why I was surprised how sweet and charming it turned out to be. This is by no means an awards contender or anything like that but if you are looking for an underdog sports movie to root for you could do worse. Michael Fassbender plays a convincing surly bitter coach who is given the rag-tag group of soccer players to form into a team. It really should be called First Goal Wins because that’s the main goal of the Samoan soccer team to score one goal. Kaimana as Jaiyah the trans player of the team is probably the highlight. This one won’t change your life but is perfectly pleasant and enjoyable.

6 out of 10

Smile Worthy


Monster-

One of the more under-appreciated directors working today is the great Hirokazu Kore-eda who always seems to do well at festivals like Cannes but get little love elsewhere at the Oscars and other audiences. However, he consistently makes thoughtful films full of humanity and gets excellent performances out of his actors. His new film Monster is no exception. In it, he takes the Rashomon approach and tells the story of a boy getting struck in class from 3 perspectives- the Mother, the teacher and the child. All 3 teach us something different about the incident and present us with 3 compelling characters.  If you get a chance to see it I highly recommend Monster.

9 out of 10

Smile Worthy

Fallen Leaves-

Fallen Leaves is one of those films that some people will find to be boring but others will love. I’m in the latter group. It doesn’t have a ton of plot but the characters are so easy to relate with and their relationship so winning that it’s a joy to watch. Coming from Finish director Aki Kaurismäki we follow 2 single grocery workers who meet and begin dating. They even go on a date to The Dead Don’t Die (which I hated) and they don’t seem thrilled with the movie. I just loved following these 2 for 81 minutes and rooting for them to find happiness. If you like the Before Sunrise series you might like this.

9 out of 10

Smile Worthy


Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

I’m a big fan of Aardman animation and the original Chicken Run film. I love the animation and the homage to prison escape films like The Great Escape. One of the highlights of my career was interviewing the creator of Wallace and Gromit Nick Park for rotoscopers and I will always look forward to an Aardman film. So it is with some disappointment that I say Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is just ok. I’m not sure what they could have done to make it better but they basically just rehash the original film with them going back to Mrs Tweedy’s farm to free their daughter imprisoned there. It’s pleasant and I enjoyed seeing the characters again but it’s also highly forgettable and nothing I will remember going forward like the original film. I wish they had chosen a new villain and given us a new story.

5 out of 10

Frown Worthy

So there is part 1 with many more to come! 

If you enjoy what I do please consider supporting at patreon where you can get tons of fun perks. https://www.patreon.com/hallmarkies

 

Aquaman vs Godzilla the Mediocre vs Excellent Blockbuster (Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, Godzilla: Minus One)

| Rachel's Reviews

This time of year is an intense time for me as a critic and podcaster. Between my holiday coverage at Hallmarkies Podcast and getting all the awards contenders watched I am woefully behind on my reviews. Therefore, over the next few days you are going to be seeing a lot of shorter reviews as I try and get my opinions out into the world. In this post we are looking at 2 recent blockbusters- one that feels like the last tired push from a corporate behemoth and one that continues on a decades-long tradition of moviemaking with heart and soul. Let’s talk about Aquaman vs Godzilla.

Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom

For a long time I was one that defended comicbook movies against folks who said they aren’t cinema but it has become increasingly more difficult to do so in 2023. What should be explorations into popular mythmaking and escapism have turned into soulless corporate exercises of mundanity and money-calculated blandness. Such is the case in our last entry for the year Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. In this final entry in the DCEU director James Wan has given us a laborious, reverential, self-serious slog.

Now I’m someone that didn’t like the original but here they’ve doubled down on the burdens of Arthur ruling Atlantis and the back and forth of Atlantean politics. There are a few nice moments between Jason Momoa and Patrick Wilson who plays his brother Orm but mostly this felt like a bunch of attempts to try and be epic without any epicness to back it up. Also why they chose to screen it to us in 3D I’ll never know. The whole thing looked cloudy and it was hard to make out what was happening in some scenes. This one is a definite skip from me

Frown Worthy

3 out of 10


Godzilla: Minus One

If you want to see an actual good blockbuster with compelling characters and action look towards Japan and Godzilla: Minus One. I have not seen all of them but I do think it is the best Godzilla movie I’ve ever seen. Ryunosuke Kamiki plays Koichi who is disgraced when he fails to be a kamikaze pilot in WWII and he cannot shoot the Godzilla monster that attacks his crew. This gives the entire story an emotional weight beyond the typical monster movie trappings of the franchise. Minami Hamabe steals any scene she is in as Noriko Oishi, Koichi’s partner.

Like all the good Godzilla movies Godzilla: Minus One has something to say about war, nuclear arms, the environment and toxic masculinity. What does it mean to be a hero? This is something that plagues Koichi almost as much as the giant monster throughout the film! I also appreciate that all of the monster action is clear and I can see what is happening unlike the recent Godzilla: King of the Monsters made here in America. The music is also excellent. I never thought a Godzilla movie would be one of my favorite films of the year but that’s where we are.

9 out of 10

Smile Worthy

So there you have 2 would-be epics at theaters right now. I know which one I’d recommend and see again if given the chance! Happy moviegoing! 

If you enjoy what I do please consider supporting at patreon where you can get tons of fun perks. https://www.patreon.com/hallmarkies

‘WONKA’ or It’s an Uneven Concoction But Worth Eating

| Rachel's Reviews

Hey everyone! It’s no great secret that the internet loves hyperbole. Most movies are either total disasters or masterpieces these days and yet I am still surprised when I see that reaction to a movie I think is a decidedly mixed bag. This is how I felt about the new film Wonka. In fact, when I told a friend I had mixed feelings on it they responded ‘oh that’s too bad.’ Again, mixed feelings. I thought some things were fantastic in it and other aspects didn’t work for me. I’ll say it again- MIXED.

Let’s talk about the strengths first. My biggest takeaway with Wonka is I think I’m finally squarely on the  Timothée Chalamet hive. I’ve enjoyed him in films like Little Women and Call Me By Your Name but never been completely won over like I was here. He is charming with a wink in his eye that reminded me of Gene Wilder in the original Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. He always seems like a nicer person than the Wonka in that film but it is appropriate since this is a prequel and he hasn’t been as embittered by the world.

I also loved the musical sequences and have no idea why the studio is hiding the film’s greatest asset. Not a song to be found on youtube or in the marketing. It’s bizarre and speaks to a troubling trend in promoting musicals which can be seen in Wonka, The Color Purple, and the upcoming Mean Girls: The Musical. Barely any songs to be found in the trailers for musicals!

Most of the cast in Wonka is enchanting along with Chalamet including Calah Lane as a little orphan girl named Noodle,  Sally Hawkins as his mother, and Hugh Grant as the Oompa-Loompa. All together they kept me rooting for the characters and invested in their story.

As far as the downsides to the film I didn’t love the plot they chose involving Willy becoming an indentured servant to Olivia Colman’s Mrs Scrubbit. I know Roald Dahl stories always have horrible female antagonists but she wasn’t fun in an over-the-top way and it just wasn’t whimsical or ghoulishly entertaining. I also couldn’t stand a series of fat jokes and suits involving Keegan-Michael Key’s policeman character. I am not someone that requires body positivity in characters but it’s also not inherently funny to have someone get progressively more obese for laughs.

My other complaint is admittedly more of a nitpick: they didn’t make the chocolate look very tasty. Whenever Willy gave a character a chocolate or ate one himself it looked like hard plastic. I know you could say that about the original with the rivers of chocolate water but there were moments the candy looked good like when he eats the tulip cup or the mushroom with marshmallow in it.

I always thought this mushroom looked particularly good

I just wish the movie had been a little more escapist when it comes to the confections. It would have added to the whimsy of it all.

That said, Wonka is still a whimsical musical with a great leading performance that helps overcome any of its flaws. I will be curious once general audiences get to take a look at it. Will they be as enchanted as most critics seem to be or leave with a more bitter taste in their mouths? We will see. As for me it’s flawed but worth a taste!

7 out of 10

Smile Worthy

If you enjoy what I do please consider supporting at patreon where you can get tons of fun perks. https://www.patreon.com/hallmarkies

Exmas or How to do the Holiday Hijinks Right

| Rachel's Reviews

Today I want to give my quick thoughts on the latest Christmas comedy to hit Freevee app, which is a spinoff of Amazon prime. It is one of the many holiday films I am reviewing as part of Hallmarkies Podcast and one of my favorites of this initial batch for 2023. It’s interesting because usually the family shenanigans brand of holiday film isn’t my favorite (not a big fan of The Family Stone for instance) but this one stayed just grounded enough to be able to relate with and kept the characters likable enough to enjoy the experience.

In the movie Robbie Amell plays a man who after he tells his family he isn’t coming home for Christmas they invite his ex who they were close with to stay with them for the holidays. This all seems great until surprise Amell comes to visit after all and then must spend the holiday with his ex (who of course he still harbors feelings for since she dumped him.)

Some may find this to be an outlandish premise but I don’t. I could totally picture my parents inviting an ex they had grown close with to stay for the holidays if they had been reassured the child who dated them wasn’t coming. That’s a clever and funny premise to start the movie and the antics continue on from there.

Exmas wins because it has the energy of the old screwball comedies from the 50s and it never allows our leads to be too mean-spirited or judgmental. It’s always kept within a space where we believe them falling in love again by the end of the film. There are also a lot of funny family moments with everything from ice fishing to a hilarious sequence where they all accidently get high.

With everything going on in the world right now we can all use a good-hearted laugh and that’s what you get with Exmas. It’s romantic, funny and gives you all those holiday feels. I really enjoyed it.

8 out of 10

Smile Worthy

If you enjoy what I do please consider supporting at patreon where you can get tons of fun perks. https://www.patreon.com/hallmarkies

 

Blind Spot 95: ‘A Fistful of Dollars’

| Rachel's Reviews

This month’s blind spot is an interesting one because it’s not only checking off a classic film off of my watch list but it’s my introduction to an entire genre. It’s the first spaghetti western I’ve ever seen. I have never seen a film by director Sergio Leone, and I don’t believe any other westerns made by Italian directors. Today we are looking at perhaps the most famous spaghetti western- A Fistful of Dollars.

This movie is a pretty iconic one, a film I can recognize the famous scenes even though I hadn’t seen it. In particular the final duel where the Stranger has the metal plate on and the bullets bounce off I’d definitely seen before.

Clint Eastwood is perfect for this role of the Stranger with a brooding sense of coolness and confidence. This isn’t a nuanced performance but it works for the gravitas of the movie. It’s also only 99 minutes where today it would definitely be stretched out to an interminable runtime.

It is a very bloody movie with the Stranger becoming involved in a feud between 2 families in Mexico. I honestly started to lose track of who was taking revenge on who and for what reasons but it doesn’t matter because it’s not a movie you see for the plot. It’s all about these western duels and Eastwood’s charisma with a gun. His draw is so fast and he’s so quick with his pistol that it makes him a threat in any situation. You can certainly see why everyone is intimidated to go against him!

There’s not that much more to A Fistful of Dollars. If you want a bloody movie with a memorable star turn from Eastwood give it a watch. It also has the terrific music from Ennio Morricone, so that adds a layer of enjoyment. If it sounds like your kind of thing you’ll definitely enjoy it.

7 out of 10

Smile Worthy

If you enjoy what I do please consider supporting at patreon where you can get tons of fun perks. https://www.patreon.com/hallmarkies

WISH or Can I Wish for Something Memorable? (Disney Movie 62)

| Rachel's Reviews

Some that are  new to my writing might not know that my whole journey as a critic started with reviewing the Disney Canon. I had torn my ACL and needed something to occupy my time so leading up to Big Hero 6 I reviewed all the Disney animated classics. This is why my site was originally called 54Disneyreviews. Once I finished that project I enjoyed writing about film so much I decided to keep it up and eventually that expanded to youtube, podcasts etc and my whole life changed.

I mention this history only to say that an animated Disney musical that pays homage to 100 years of filmmaking should be right up my alley. This is what they promised to produce with their latest offering Wish but unfortunately what they have given us is something truly forgettable. Even today just a few days out from seeing it I am struggling to remember anything remarkable. That was not the case with other recent animated offerings. For example, I was humming “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” and thinking about some of the moments of that film for weeks after I saw it. I guess there was Strange World but it’s not a throwback princess musical that I should have loved!

I actually don’t think Wish is a terrible film. There is nothing offensive or woke about it so alarmists can calm down. It just wasn’t memorable or special. It honestly reminded me of the Disney renaissance copycat films made by other studios like a Swan Princess but I prefer that film over this. Someone in my comments accused me of hating on a film that I’m not in the ‘target demographic’ for but I don’t think that is it. I wouldn’t be surprised if kids end up feeling restless and disengaged from it. The story just isn’t there (I’d like to remind that person I enjoyed both Paw Patrol movies outside of my demographic.)

The main problem is with the screenplay. The heroine Asha lives in a city where subjects must give up their wishes to leader Magnifico who keeps them locked up so that he can grant wishes each month. Asha goes to Magnifico in hopes he will grant her Grandfather’s wish but it turns out he is a wish hoarder who controls his people rather than helping them. There’s also a troop of sidekicks, a Queen (who is probably the best character in the movie) and a talking goat.

Inside the wishes there are lots of nods to classic Disney films and unfortunately I found myself wishing I was watching one of them at all times. Even the songs, which are fine, had me wishing for other better songs of a similar vein. Ariana DeBose is a good singer and particularly “This Wish” is the standout which is why it’s the one song they’ve been using in the promos.

I do appreciate they made Magnifico a straight up bad guy and gave him a villain song “This is the Thanks I Get.” The Queen has a redemption arc, which like I said, works quite well but all the other sidekicks I found bland to outright annoying (especially Valentino. A little of him goes a LONG way.) For the most part I liked the 2D aesthetic to the animation and the design of the star character had a vintage appeal to it, so that was enjoyable.

And that’s all I really have to say about Wish. It’s a totally forgettable entry from Disney and a real missed opportunity to make their 100 year anniversary special. During the closing credits they have images of characters from those 100 years and while that was nice it only underscored how the film we had just saw wouldn’t be amongst those greats. I hate to say it but this one you can probably wait to watch on Disney Plus if you are curious.

5.5 out of 10

Frown Worthy

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Current Mini Reviews (Poor Things, Leo, Maestro, Napoleon, May December, All of Us Strangers, Trolls: Band Together, Down in Dallas Town)

| Rachel's Reviews

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well and are keeping busy like I am. These last few weeks have been very intense with daily screenings (sometimes more) plus everything I’m trying to keep up with at Hallmarkies Podcast. Needless to say it has been overwhelming and I have a ton of movies to catch you all up on. In an ideal world I’d be able to do longer reviews on all of these films but there just isn’t time. So here goes:

POOR THINGS

Poor Things is the latest film from Yorgos Lanthimos and like all of his films it is definitely not going to be for everyone. It’s a new take on the Frankenstein story with Emma Stone in the monster role (this time a woman brought back from the dead with the brain of a baby) and the movie follows her through each stage of her development from childhood to puberty to sexual and political awakening etc.

One thing that can’t be debated is Stone gives a fearless performance here not holding back whether she is playing a baby or a prostitute servicing clients in Paris. The rest of the performances are fine but she is this movie. The rest of the production is very impressive from the costumes to the fish-eye emphasizing cinematography. Unfortunately the movie is also self-indulgent and far too long. I wish they had cut the entire Paris section, not because it is sexually explicit but because it is very repetitive and doesn’t tell us much we didn’t already learn about Bella in the previous segment on the boat.

Still, the film was interesting enough and Stone committed enough to the role to recommend to the right moviegoer. If you are up for something ambitious and challenging maybe give this one a shot.

6 out of 10 (this film is a hard R rating so buyer beware)

Smile Worthy

MAESTRO


I have a feeling I might end up with an unpopular opinion about Maestro. It feels like this year’s The Fabelmans that everyone loved that I didn’t connect with. Indeed my main problem with both films is the same: authenticity. Like The Fabelmans, Maestro felt phony and inauthentic most of the time.

I can understand why Bradley Cooper chose to play Leonard Bernstein as a mannered, flamboyant character in parties and he and his wife Felicia putting on airs for their associates (mostly to hide his bisexuality and their open marriage.) What I don’t understand is why that needed to continue into their private conversations and interactions. I wanted them to be real for a few seconds and they rarely were.

There are nice moments of performance, particularly  a climatic one in a church and I enjoyed the way Bernstein’s music was used throughout but I left feeling frustrated with how shallow and one-note the screenplay was. No thanks

5 out of 10

Frown Worthy

LEO


Like a lot of Netflix films Leo ends up being a bit of a frustrating experience. There are some elements I really admire about it but the script is uneven at best.

First, what I like is that it shows the different it makes when parents and adults put down their judgmental caps and actually listen to children. Leo is a lizard that reveals to students he can talk when he thinks he is going to die. Each of the kids flourishes when they have someone in their lives who just listens to them.

The problem is the story really doesn’t work. Particularly when it comes to a substitute teacher that sometimes is a mean demon and other times we are expected to feel sorry for. Also the movie can’t decide whether to be a musical or not. Some songs are stopped mid-way through and we never hear the rest of the song and then other sequences are full-on from a musical.

This one is close but I can’t recommend it.

5.5 out of 10

Frown Worthy

NAPOLEON


When the first trailer for Napoleon came out some loudly complained they were painting a dictator in a heroic light. I, like many others, responded that there’s nothing wrong with making a movie about a flawed or even evil person depending on how it is done. Under the right hands a movie about Napoleon and his rise to power could be enlightening and fascinating. Unfortunately Ridley Scott was not such hands and he has given us a biopic of Napoleon that feels like 19th century propaganda rather than a serious exploration of a the impact of power on this general turned emperor.

I couldn’t believe how positive a portrayal of Napoleon this film is. The main conflict is not that his campaigns led to 3 million deaths as the ending card tells us but that he has to divorce his wife in order to produce an heir. The film spends so much time on his personal drama that you almost forget he is ruling people. Someone said ‘well he was a hero to the people.’ Unfortunately that is not a perspective demonstrated by Scott as they people are rarely heard from aside from a couple scenes with him and the soldiers.

The battle sequences are well staged although do not watch if you are sensitive to violence on horses. That scope of battle might be enough for some to enjoy Napoleon but it certainly wasn’t enough for me.

4 out of 10

Frown Worthy

TROLLS BAND TOGETHER


I have never been the biggest fan of the Trolls series. I like the aesthetic and some of the songs but the messaging always ends up feeling muddled and the characters annoying. I was hopeful the addition of NSYNC would help boost the latest entry Trolls Band Together but I think I actually liked it the least of the franchise. My main problem was Poppy and how relentlessly annoying she is. I know I’m not the target demographic for these films but oh my gosh she got on my nerves.

What is so grating about Poppy is she doesn’t listen. I’m fine with cheerful, upbeat characters but she steamrolls all around her including Branch until they give up and let her brand of music or way of doing things rule. I’ve always found it strange in these movies how freedom of expression is preached unless you do something differently than Poppy and then you need to change (Branch not wanting to dance in the first one, people liking rock music in the 2nd etc.)

I also felt the animation was strange in this one with some character designs not fitting in with the style of the movie. For example, the villains Velvet and Veneer looked like poorly rendered plastic rather than the textured characters of the Trolls worlds.

We are also promised things like Poppy’s sister and the NSYNC reunion that are delivered in an underwhelming fashion. I just couldn’t wait for it to be over.

2 out of 10

Frown Worthy

 

MAY DECEMBER

May December is the latest from director Todd Haynes who even if his films don’t work usually makes interesting works of art that give me something to think about. Such is the case with May December. It unfortunately becomes muddled and can’t decide what it is trying to say but it is an interesting misfire with everyone trying their best to make it work.

In the film Natalie Portman plays an actress who is playing a Mary Kay Letourneau type person pursued a young man when he was only 15 but they maintained a relationship with each other just like in the Letourneau situation. As Portman’s character becomes more involved with the family the line between research and obsession becomes more murky.

Like I said, the problem with this film is it becomes muddled. It at times wants to be an erotic thriller but then at other times it wants to comment on them (even with the music it seeemd to want to be a Lifetime movie but then held such exposes in disdain.) It wanted to be about sexual predators, women, victims, children raised in toxic environments, acting, etc. Sadly none of these topics get explored in a satisfying way leaving me confused with what Haynes is trying to say and what I’m supposed to get from this confused commentary on modern society. Charles Melton is very good as the victim and husband.

5 out of 10

Frown Worthy

ALL OF US STRANGERS


Going into All of Us Strangers I admit my expectations were high. I have loved all of Andrew Haigh’s films to date, particularly Lean on Pete from 2017. While I did like some things about his latest entry I left feeling disappointed with the execution and story structure.

What I did like is the chemistry between Paul Mescal and Andrew Scott. It really shines and I could have had even more scenes with them together and less of Scott visiting his parents. Jamie Bell and Claire Foy play his parents (it makes sense within the story) and mostly I found their scenes repetitive and the big reveal obvious.

It’s not a terrible film by any means but not one I will remember like I’ve remembered Lean on Pete.

5 out of 10

Frown Worthy

DOWN IN DALLAS TOWN: FROM JFK TO K2-


I love documentaries that take risks and try new things with the format. Such is the case with Down in Dallas Town a new documentary about the day JFK was assassinated and how it changed everything. What was particularly interesting is interviews with people who were there and one woman Mary Ann Moorman who took a photograph of shot that killed the president. She hadn’t been back for 50 years and her journey is moving.

Where the documentary is less effective in how it tries to bring the assassination into the current discussions on gun violence and especially homelessness. Some of the connections felt repetitive and a bit of a reach- like the filmmaker wanted to talk about the issues whether they really connected with the assassination or not.

Nevertheless, the elements with Moorman are insightful and provocatively enough to recommend.

6 out of 10

Smile Worthy

So there you have it. Watching all these films was a ton of work! Sorry I wasn’t more positive but that’s the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.

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