Top 20: Favorite Movies of 2022

It wasn’t the best movie year, but we did get some gems. Like every year, I created a list of my 20 favorite films. It’s based on Dutch release dates, so you might see some movies on this list that are originally from 2021, but came out in 2022 in The Netherlands. And if you miss some movies, it’s possible that it won’t be released here until 2023 or I just haven’t seen it. Since I don’t get to see EVERY film made in 2022. Here is my list, the 20 best films of 2021, according to moi!
 

20. Hustle
Sports movies are not my go-to subgenre, but “Hustle” was a surprise for me this year. We follow basketball scout Stanley Sugarman (Adam Sandler) who discovers a diamond in a rough on the streets of Spain and then tries to get the boy ready for the NBA. It’s not the most innovative story when it comes to sports, but it is a very strong film that shows us again the range that Adam Sandler in fact has. Click HERE for my full review.
 

19. Nightmare Alley
America, 1939. Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper)  is a man with a dark past, desperate for a better future. Among the “freaks” at a carnival, he finds peace for a while, but he does not become truly satisfied or happy, and soon he wants more. After which he moves to the big city with Molly (Rooney Mara). A wonderfully sinister fairytale about deceit and how people want to be deceived. Directed by Guillermo del Toro, so you know what you’re in for. HERE is my full review.
 

18. Don’t Worry Darling
The team behind the successful teen comedy “Booksmart” (director Olivia Wilde and screenwriter Katie Silberman) returns for this ambitious thriller about a picture-perfect neighborhood called Victory, where people still live like they did in the 1950s. The man goes to work obediently every day and the woman is a happy and obeying housewife. But something is not right, as Alice (Florence Pugh) soon discovers. And her husband Jack (Harry Styles) cannot be trusted so it seems. It’s a curious mix of “The Stepford Wives”, “Black Mirror” and “Get Out”, which  looks wonderful and is very ambitious. Read my full review HERE.
 

17. Werewolf By Night
The first special by Marvel came out for Halloween. A short film which is an homage to the classic monster movies of the 1930s and 40s. A group of monster hunters come together for a game. But one of them has a secret. The use of black and white images and a lot of practical effects, create a great atmosphere, which is even a bit remiscent of the work of Boris Karloff in the original “Wolfman”. A great Marvel film just over fifty minutes. HERE is the full review.
 

16. Barbarian
In “Barbarian” we meet Tess (Georgina Campbell), who booked a Airbnb in a neighborhood in Detroit. When she arrives, a man named Keith (Bill Skarsgård) is staying at the home and they realize that it was double booked. Keith offers to sleep on the couch so Tess can take the bed, since it’s the middle of the night and there is no chance that she will find a different place to stay for the night. When Tess is asleep, her door suddenly opens and she finds it harder and harder to trust Keith. The best way to experience this film, is to know as little as possible. This film surprises, shocks and disturbs. A creepy horror thriller. You can read my full review HERE.
 

15. The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special
The second Marvel special, this time Christmas themed. Drax (Dave Bautista) and Mantis (Pom Klementieff) believe that Peter (Chris Pratt) could use some cheering up, so they think of the best Christmas present they can get him. Like the other “Guardians of the Galaxy’ films, this one is filled with humor. It focuses on Drax and Mantis this time and the story has some crucial plot points. The film has a lot of heart and I really enjoyed the 40+ minutes it was playing. You can find my full review HERE.
 

14. See How They Run
The story revolves around a murder mystery behind the scenes of “The Mousetrap”, an Agatha Christie play, in 1950s London. Where Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockwell) and his partner Constable Stalker (Saoirse Ronan) investigate this murder, which is filled with references to the play, sharp dialogues and amusement. A fantastic whodunit that nobody is talking about. And I simply don’t understand why. My full review is HERE.
 

13. Avatar: the Way of Water
We only had to wait thirteen years for this sequel, but it was worth it. Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) have made a life together, now parents of four. When their life is threatened, Jake needs to protect his family, which means moving away from their beloved home. The film focuses on the children and the family connections, which gave it great emotional layers. Again, the film looks stunning and the 3+ hour runtime is no punishment whatsoever. HERE you can read my full review.
 

12. Im Westen Nichts Neues
This is the third adaptation of Erich Maria Remarque’s famous war novel “All Quiet On the Western Front”. Unlike many other war movies, which present soldiers as heroes, director Edward Berger chose to show only the horror, futility and misery of war. We follow Paul Bäumer (Felix Kammerer) during the final months of World War I as he sinks deeper and deeper into the misery of the trench battle. Visually stunning, but also somewhat bravely filmed according to genre conventions war dramas. Click HERE for the full review.
 

11. Bullet Train
On a high-speed train from Tokyo to Kyoto, there is a motley crew of international assassins. All of them on a mission, with something in common. Director David Leitch previously made “Deadpool 2”, so if you didn’t like that action and humor, you can skip this. This film was so entertaining and really surprised me in how much I eventually liked this film. You can read my review HERE.
 

10. Everything Everywhere All at Once
Chinese-American Evelyn (Michelle yeoh) is a jaded fifty-something who runs a laundromat with her husband. One day she discovers that she is able to visit parallel universes in which she has made very different life choices. This is without a doubt the weirdest film I have seen this year, but this kind of bizarre is good. It has pop culture references, life lessons and social criticism and is a wild ride. HERE is my full review.
 

9. The Batman
Yet another film featuring vigilante Batman, which I was skeptic about when I heard that Robert Pattinson was going to play the dark knight. It’s a very solid and strong film, with an intriguing mix of neo noir and whodunnit. And I never would have thought Pattinson would make such a great Batman. Read my full review HERE.
 

8. Belfast
The Troubles in Northern Ireland, where a bloody battle took place between Catholics and Protestants starting in 1969, seen through the eyes of a nine-year-old boy. That boy’s name is Buddy. He comes from a Protestant family and lives in Belfast. Writer/ director Kenneth Branagh based the film on his own childhood memories and thus zooms in not on the political circumstances, but on Buddy’s world. Thus we witness not only the chaos and the misery of the conflict, but also Buddy’s first crush, his parents' fiery but shaky marriage and the warm affection of his grandparents. This film was so heartwarming and beautiful. HERE you can read my full review.
 

7. Nope
Jordan Peele is doing so well as a horror movie director. “Get Out” and “Us” were both very successful, original and innovative for the genre. And “Nope”, although my least favorite of the three, does it again. But “Nope” is much more, because it has science fiction elements as well. OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) and his sister Em (Keke Palmer) raise horses on a remote farm just outside Los Angeles. Business is bad, but then OJ spots a something in the clouds. If they just get a sharp image of whatever is in those clouds, their money trouble would be solved. So they think. Again, you’re in the dark for a long time and the story is innovative and new. But Peele also manages to say some important things about the danger of attention, greed, family ties and more. Read my full review HERE.
 

6. Top Gun: Maverick
The sequel no one thought they needed. The 80s film “Top Gun” wasn’t all that great, especially when you revisit it so many years later. “Top Gun: Maverick” did something that a lot of sequels never succeed at: surpass the original. In this sequel (made 36 years after “Top Gun”) Maverick (Tom Cruise) is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads Top Gun’s elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it. Great visuals and more understanding of Maverick as a character. HERE is my full review. 
 

5. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
Nicolas Cage amusingly ridicules his own career and image in this meta-comedy that cleverly balances between comedy and homage. The eccentric Hollywood star plays a variation of himself who travels to an island for lack of money to attend the birthday of a wealthy fan (Pedro Pascal). However, the millionaire in question turns out to be a gangster, and Cage is employed by the CIA to spy on him. This film was fantastic and it had been a while since I laughed so hard over a film, when it actually is hilarious and a fun time. Nicolas Cage and Pedro Pascal are amazing in this film. Check HERE to read my full review.
 

4. The Northman
Young Viking Prince Amleth sees his father murdered by his half-brother Fjölnir. Years later, Amleth now a well-trained fighter, finally gets the change to carry out his plans to avenge his father, save his mother and kill Fjölnir. It’s a Norwegian heroic tale, which inspired Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. David Eggers has yet to disappoint me with a film, his films are remarkable. It’s a very violent, bloody film, so not for the squeamish. Read my full review HERE.
 

3. Help
In a nursing home in Liverpool, young Sarah (Jodie Comer) turns out to be perfect as a caretaker for dementia patients. With the relatively young Tony (Stephen Graham) she gets along very well. Then, in March 2020, come the first reports of the Covid 19 virus. A drama with great performances by Comer and Graham, that sows us the initial ignorance, growing unrest and panic faced with the British healthcare system, that lacked funding and manpower, which made everything considerably more difficult. Every year there is that one movie that leaves me speechless. This was the one for 2022. Click HERE to read my full review for this film. 
 

2. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
In this sequel to the successful murder mystery “Knives out”, Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is the only recurring character. When he is invited to a game of live Clue on the private island of a pretentious billionaire (Edward Norton), it soon turns out there is a real killer on the loose. Murder mysteries really are my jam, I always love a good whodunit. The non-linear storytelling, sharp and satirical script, fantastic cast and ingenious plot make for yet another amazing murder mystery starring one of my favorite new movie detectives Benoit Blanc. The movie did everything I was hoping for, did not disappoint and made me love it just as much as “Knives Out”. And Janelle Monáe is fantastic in this film by the way. Check out my full review HERE.
 

1. Boiling Point
An hour and a half from the hectic life of restaurant owner and chef Andy (Stephen Graham), who on the busiest night of the year has to keep an awful lot of plates in the air in his East London restaurant. The film was shot in one long, uninterrupted take, which only adds to the already hectic pace. The film changes perspectives, we follow different people during the shift. “Boiling Point” might not be the most spectacular or exciting film on this list, but in my opinion it was the best film of 2022. Click HERE for my full review.
 
Honorable mentions: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Enola Holmes 2, I Came By, The Tinder Swindler, Elvis

Rewatching My 100 Favorite Movies - Update 19

I decided to rewatch my 100 favorite movies of all-time. What those are, you can check HERE. I watch them in random order, there is no rhyme or reason there, just watching those movies I love so much.
 

64/ 100: Pride & Prejudice (2005)
Sophisticated film adaptation of Jane Austen’s story of Elizabeth Bennett, a modern woman in a traditional setting. With five daughters, Mr. Bennet and his wife have a lot on their minds. For Mrs. Bennett it’s mainly that all her daughters get married as soon as possible, preferably to a wealthy man. Elizabeth is not like other women and only wants to marry someone she truly loves. It’s based on my all-time favorite book and this is my favorite adaptation of the story. See my full review HERE.
 

65/ 100: Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” follows thief Harry Lockhart, who accidentally ends up at a movie audition and gets an offer. In order he has to tag along with private detective Perry, to get some training. The two get involved in a murder mystery. “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” is a modern film not style murder mystery, with dark humor and a great cast. HERE is my full review.
 

66/ 100: Big (1988)
One of Tom Hanks’ best performances. We meet 12-year-old Josh, who wants to grow up as quick as he can. At a carnival, he makes a wish to be big and the next morning he wakes up as a thirty-something man. But emotionally he is still that 12-year-old boy. This movie has so much heart and is a coming-of-age movie with a twist. Check out my full review HERE.
 

Still to watch: 34

00s Movie Review - Pride & Prejudice

Director: Joe Wright
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2005
Starring: Keira Knightley Matthew Macfadyen, Brenda Blethyn, Donald Sutherland, Tom Hollander, Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, Judi Dench, Rupert Friend, Carey Mulligan, Kelly Reilly, Talulah Riley, Penelope Wilton

Description: Sparks fly when spirited Elizabeth Bennet (Keira Knightley) meets single, rich, and proud Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen). But Mr. Darcy reluctantly finds himself falling in love with a woman beneath his class. Can each overcome their own pride and prejudice?

Review: After the 1940 version with Laurence Olivier and Greer Garson and the successful mini-series from 1995 with Colin Firth, this is the newest incarnation of Jane Austen’s literary classic “Pride & Prejudice”.

Keira Knightley, as Elizabeth Bennet, plays her biggest role to date. She is the point of your attention and Knightley shows us she can handle the pressure. Especially in the more dramatic scenes she stands strong, even if she shares the screen with the experienced Judi Dench.

The chemistry between Keira Knightley and her on-screen Mr. Darcy, portrayed by Matthew Macfadyen, is great. Every time the two get closer, you feel butterflies in your stomach. Just a look or response is enough to know what they feel.

Both Knightley and Macfadyen are perfectly cast in their roles, but Rosamund Pike also did a wonderful job. She shines and this is the movie I discovered her in. Judi Dench plays her role as arrogant and respectable Lady Catherine very well, like we expect from her. Tom Hollander as the typical Mr. Collins, is responsible for a more humoristic touch. His character is incapable of saying anything spontaneous, which is especially funny when he has to share some more emotional matters. Then there is Brenda Blethyn as the neurotic Bennet mother, who wants only one thing: her daughters to be married with a preferable wealthy and good looking man.

The camerawork is impeccable and the music fits the style and time period of the film perfectly.
As a fan of the novel, I’m very pleased with this movie version of “Pride & Prejudice”. You might call me a hopeless romantic, but it’s one of my favorite films of all-time.

Rating: 5/ 5

Book Review - I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy

Title: I’m Glad My Mom Died
Series: -
Author: Jenette McCurdy
 
Description: Jenette McCurdy was six years old when she had her first acting audition. Her mother’s dream was for her only daughter to become a star, and Jenette would do anything to make her mother happy. So she went along with what mom called “calorie restriction”, eating little and weighing herself five times a day. She endured extensive at-home makeovers while mom chided, “Your eyelashes are invisible, okay> You think Dakota Fanning doesn’t tint hers”? She was even showered by mom until age sixteen while sharing her diaries, e-mail and all her income.
 
In “I’m Glad My Mom Died”, Jenette recounts all this in unflinching detail. Just as she chronicles what happens when the dream family comes true. Cast in a new Nickelodeon series called “iCarly”, she is thrust into fame. Though mom is ecstatic, Jenette is riddled with anxiety, shame and self-loathing, which manifests in eating disorders, addiction and a series of unhealthy relationships. After her mom dies of cancer, Jenette embarks on a recovery and decides for the first time in her life what she really wants.
 
Review: When Jenette McCurdy was two years old, her mother Debra was diagnosed with breast cancer. From then on, Jenette felt she had to take care of her mother and did everything her mother wanted, to make her happy. Her mother’s dream was to make Jenette famous, and so Jenette was forced into acting.
 
To fit into the perfect picture of Debra and Hollywood, Jenette’s mother talked her into an eating disorder. At 14, Jenette had to start counting calories from her mother to stay young. As a result, according to Debra, she would get roles more often. In addition, her mother did not want Jenette to grow up, because then she could no longer dictate to her what she wanted. Jenette had to be weighed five times a day and on Sundays she measured her upper legs with a tape measure.
 
Debra was a control fread and still wiped Jenette’s butt until she was 10 years old. Furthermore, she regularly performed medical check-ups to make sure Jenette din not have cancer. Debra did this by feeling Jenette’s breasts and vagina. In addition, Debra showered Jenette up until she was 16 years old and did the same to Jenette’s youngest brother Scott.
 
In her book, Jenette writes that she never wanted to act and wanted to quit doing so. She told this to her mother before she was cast for the hit series “iCarly”, but she became hysterical. Jenette continued acting. When she finally stars in the show, Jenette was severely exploited. She had to wear bikinis and was forced to kiss. Her self-worth diminished. In contrast, her bond with co-star Miranda Cosgrove has always been good and she has been incredibly supportive of Jenette.  
 
While starring on the spin-off series “Sam & Kat”, Jenette was comparing herself to counterpart Ariane Grande. She was jealous of her career and youth and at first didn’t even know she was going to be a part of the show. She thought the spin-off was just about her. And Grande was paid more than Jenette for the same amount of acting.
 
When Debra died in 2013, Jenette was only 21 years old. Soon after Jenette suffered a relapse of her eating disorder and later alcohol addiction. She still adhered strictly to her mother’s rules in order to keep her legacy alive. She went to therapy several times and had to face her life as it was. Jenette had been abused by her mother and is now living with the consequences. And where people think the title of the book is tasteless and disrespectful, Jenette McCurdy things very differently. She claims that people who have been abuse by their parents understand this title. And people with a sense of humor understand the title. This book is meant for them.
 
I’m not a big memoir reader, but I believe this should be read by everyone. It touched me, grabbed me and I felt heartbroken about her story. The way McCurdy writes her story is so honest, raw and heartbreaking. I read this while listening to the audiobook, which is narrated by McCurdy herself. Would recommend, it’s such a beautiful book.
 
Rating: 4,5/ 5
 

Movie Review - Avatar: the Way of Water

Director: James Cameron
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 192 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Cliff Curtis, CCH Pounder, Joel David Moore, Edie Falco,
 
Description: Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) and the army of Na’vi race to protect their home.

Review: It has been thirteen years since James Cameron revolutionized motion capture animation. “Avatar” was a prestigious project in every conceivable way. Such revolutions are becoming increasingly scarce as technical possibilities grow. But “Avatar” still works and is even one of my favorites movies of all time. And the wait for “Avatar: the Way of Water” is finally over, and boy did it pay off.

Jake Sully is now a real Na’vi, though the five fingers on each hand betray his human origins. He and Neytiri have started a family and are now the parents of four children. Meanwhile, villainous Quaritch has been resurrected as a Na’vi and is ready to take down Jake. This means that Jake needs to protect his family and move away from their beloved home.

“Avatar: the Way of Water” is over 3 hours long, but it’s not a punishment. The focus is not on Jake and Neytiri, it’s on their children, mainly the two sons and their eldest daughter. Because we already got to know Jake and Neytiri well in the first film, it’s a fresh take to focus on different character now. And you get to know them pretty well.

Like the first film, there is also a lot of focus on the emotional layers. This time mostly the family connection. And it can hit hard. Environmental issues are also dealt with, which made an impact on me before and again in the second installment.

“Avatar: the Way of Water” is definitely worth the wait, it is a beautifully looking film with a good message and strong family dynamics. It doesn’t reach the level of “Avatar”, but is very close.

Rating: 4/ 5

TV Show Review - Wednesday (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Mystery/ Crime
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2022

Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Emma Myers, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Christina Ricci, Luis Guzman, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Jamie McShane

Description: Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) attempts to master her emerging psychic ability by solving a mystery at her new school.  

Review: Just a year ago, the last adaptation of the well-known Addams Family stories released in the form of an animated film. This film didn’t succeed to bring the world to life. At least not as much as the creators of “Wednesday”, which focuses on the daughter of the Addams family.

With the knowledge that Tim Burton directed half of the episodes, it can come as no surprise that the series is visually stunning and incredibly interesting. The character Wednesday is notorious for her penchant for the monochromatic and yet the world around her is colorful in a special way, completely true to Burton’s style.

The series is set at Nevermore Academy, where Wednesday’s parents met when they were young. After Wednesday unleashes a bunch of piranhas in her high school pool, Morticia and Gomez decide it’s best for Wednesday to go to Nevermore. At this school, supernatural misfits meet. Whereas the Addams family was always out of place in previous versions, the change of scenery allows us a fresh look into their own world.

Even for viewers unfamiliar with Addams Family traditions, “Wednesday” has plenty to offer, as the series is still interesting as a standalone. Fans of the mystery genre of the supernatural will be in for a treat. We follow Wednesday Addams in the role of an amateur detective as she tries to solve multiple murders around Nevermore Academy against all warnings while trying to find her place in the world.
By the end of this season, the major storyline surrounding the murderous monster is neatly wrapped up, but jokingly introduces new questions and mysteries that could be fleshed out in a second season.

Jenna Ortega plays the role of Wednesday and knocks it out of the park. She is so good in her role, really captures her character and it looks like no other actress could have done it better. I also loved seeing Chrisina Ricci in supporting role, she played Wednesday in the 1991 film. And Gwendoline Christie as the head master of Nevermore Academy is fantastic as well.

“Wednesday” is such a good series, I can’t wait for the second season to start.

Movie Review - Barbarian

Director: Zack Cregger
Genre: Horror/ Thiller
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Georgina Campbell, Bill Skarsgård, Justin Long, Matthew Patrick Davis, Richard Drake
 
Description: A woman (Georgina Campbell) staying at an Airbnb discovers that the house she has rented is not what it seems.

Review: What happens when you go to see a movie that is said to be so scary, it made people sick? You watch it do find out of it really is that scary. Most of the time, it’s not really as scary as they say is it. But “Barbarian” really is extremely creepy and disturbing. When seeing this, it’s best to know as little as possible, because this way it will shock you to the core.

Tess rents a house in an abandoned Detroit neighborhood, because she has an important job interview. When she arrives, it appears to be double-booked. A guy named Keith seems as surprised as she is, when he discovers they both booked the same house. There is not really anything else to find last-minute, since it’s the middle of the night, so Keith offers to sleep on the couch when Tess can take the bedroom. When Tess is in bed, her bedroom door suddenly opens and it seemingly gets harder and harder to trust Keith.

To give away more would be a shame, because the strength of the film is that you are in the dark about what will happen next. You have no idea what is coming, because you have no idea what’s going on.   
By putting Tess in an unfamiliar house with a stranger who is trying very hard to gain her trust, the unease quickly creeps in. That tension lingers and builds quietly.  Until very quickly it goes from second to fifth gear.

What eventually transpires is disturbing, but also sad. It creates mixed feelings, but that is clearly the intention of the creators. The evil in a horror film, in any form, is more beautiful when its not black and white.

“Barbarian” is a very creepy movie, at least on the first viewing. It would probably not be as scary when you’re watching it a second time. The acting is really strong, especially from Georgina Campbell. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of her in the future. “Barbarian” is one of the best horror movies I have seen in a while.

Rating: 4/ 5

80s Movie Review - Big

Director: Penny Marshall
Genre: Comedy/ Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 104 minutes
Year: 1988
Starring: Tom Hanks, Robert Loggia, Elizabeth Perkins, John Heard, Debra Jo Rupp, Jared Rushton, Jon Lovitz

Description: When a boy wishes to be big at a magic wish machine, he wakes up the next morning and finds himself in an adult body.

Review: It has been done several times: characters that wake up in a different body. “Freaky Friday”, “13 Going on 30”, “Vice Versa”. “Big” is from 1988, but still the best film with this theme. “Big” is original, funny and touching. Because who hasn’t dreamed of being big as a kid?

Josh is a 13-year old teenager from New Jersey. While visiting a carnival, he is too short to go on a cool ride. He feels humiliated. As frustrated as Josh is, he throws a coin in a machine that claims to grant wishes. He wishes to be big. The next morning Josh wakes up in the body of a 30-year old man. Because nobody but his best friend Billy believes him, he decides to go to New York. He finds a simple job at a toy manufacture. Josh gets a promotion and co-worker Susan falls in love with him. Josh realized that being an adult is a lot harder than he thought.

For most people Tom Hanks became famous in the 90s, but in the 80s he showed us his comedic talent. Just look at “Splash”, “Bachelor Party”, “The Burbs” and ”Money Pit”. “Big” was probably his big break, not only because of his humor, also for his sense of drama. And Tom Hanks is constantly believable as a boy trapped in a man’s body.

What makes this such a strong film, besides the script and Tom Hanks’ performance, is that “Big” speaks to both kids and adults. For kids the film is funny and relatable. Adults will realize that you should never lose the kid inside and that adulthood is not easy. “Big” is an ode to childhood.

“Big” is a classic in the comedy genre and is filled with humor. Tom Hanks is without a doubt one of the best and most believable actors in Hollywood (to me THE best) and he proofs that in “Big”.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - The Woman King

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
Genre: Action/ Drama
Runtime: 135 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedo, John Boyega, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Jordan Bolger, Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Jimmy Odukoya, Masali Baduza, Jayme Lawson
 
Description: A historical epic inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

Review: For three centuries, a small but powerful kingdom was located in the south of what is now the West African country of Benin. Dahomey was protected by an elite army made up of female warriors. They had to fight off the soldiers of the neighboring kingdom of Oyo. The army and their leader Nanisca form the core of the historical drama “The Woman King”, based on true events.

It's not completely clear how close to the truth this directorial debut of Gina Prince-Bythewood is. King Ghezo really existed and so did the army of female warriors. But General Nanisca is fictional.

This Nanisca is portrayed by Academy Award winner Viola Davis, who shows a completely new side of herself. She is fearless, brutal, wise and contemplative. In the opening, we see her army freeing a group of prisoners from the Oyo. Then, when they return to Dahomey, they are welcomed by the people. Legend dictated that you must not look the warriors in the eye.

Unlike its format and setting suggests, “The Woman King” is not a sweeping indulgence of the woke movement to show more diversity. The idea was suggested by actress and producer Maria Bello who was told the story after a visit to Benin. The story, set in 1823, sheds light on a side of Africa that many will not know.
Th structure of Prince-Bythewood’s historical epic is rather classic and offers disappointingly few surprises once the concept of a female elite army has sunk in. Niwa’s journey to aadulthood follows calibrated paths, and new additions such as the friendship she makes with a Brazilian nobleman do little to change this. The fact that African kingdoms enslaved and traded each other’s captives, for example, is only scantily discussed. The author prefers to string together action scenes rather than provide a coherent plot.

One attempt at the latter is made by having Nanisca make a revelation. It gives her character not only depth but also more humanity. Few will be surprised that there is something to be done with this later.
The main reason why “The Woman King” is worth your time is Viola Davis, who illustrates with the role that she can really stand out and easily carries the movie. Without her in this role, “The Woman King” would be easily forgettable.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Review - Glass Onion

Director: Rian Johnson
Genre: Comedy/ Mystery/ Crime
Runtime: 140 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, Kate Hudson, Edward Norton, Leslie Odom Jr., Kathryn Hahn, Jessica Henwick, Madeline Cline, Ethan Hawke, Hugh Grant
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 52: A MOVIE RELEASED THIS YEAR
 
    
Description: Famed Southern detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) travels to Greece for his latest case.

Review: The best murder mysteries have something to say about the world outside the mansion in which the murder takes place. It is the competing interests of people from all sorts of backgrounds, that provide most of the suspense and intrigue; the murder is merely the fuse to the bomb.

This was the strength of “Knives Out”, written and directed by Rian Johnson, which gestured to the cruelty and narrow-mindedness of white America via a bizarre murder in a wealthy family. The sequel “Glass Onion” is set on the private island of the wealthy tech entrepreneur Miles Bron, which is inevitable rocked by murder and intrigue. Once again, old-fashioned detective Benoit Blanc finds himself at the center of the mystery. And once again, the murder prompts digging into the ills of our society.  

“Glass Onion” has to take a few big leaps to get going, we meet all the characters. Not a family this time, but a group of old friends. All invited by Miles, we meet YouTuber Duke, controversial politician Claire, scientist Lionel, star Birdie and longtime associate Andie.  

“Glass Onion” mocks the very richest people, the characters are enhanced and fit perfectly into this crazy, sometimes hilarious murder mystery. Even though this film follows the same story telling structure as “Knives Out”, it being non-linear, “Glass Onion” is a very different movie. Besides the setting, the story is far from the family drama we had in “Knives Out”. Which makes it just as unique. I loved both movies equally.

Again, the film has a fantastic cast. Benoit Blanc is the only character we already knew, played fantastically by Daniel Craig. I think he is one of my newer favorite movie characters. I love his detective style, his way with words, the things that annoy him, the situations he gets himself into or gets into due to others. From the other guest, Janelle Monáe was the one that most impressed me and her character is the most interesting one. Up until the halfway point, her character Andie is a mystery. I loved that.  

“Glass Onion” is one of those films that you need to watch at least one more time, since there will be a lot of things you missed the first time. You have different things to focus on on second viewing, because of the non-linear storyline, things are revealed. On a second viewing, you will be looking for hints, if you could pick them up. And that’s why I love murder mysteries and whodunits like this.

“Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” was one of my most-anticipated films of 2022 and it didn’t disappoint. This might even be my favorite film of the year.

Rating: 5/ 5