Movie Review - The Wild Robot

Director: Chris Sanders
Genre: Animation/ Science Fiction/ Adventure/ Family
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Lupita Nyongo’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, Mark Hamill, Ving Rhames, Catherine O’Hara
 
Description: After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz (Lupita Nyongo’o) is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 52: A FILM THAT’S A 2024 FAVORITE FOR MANY PEOPLE
 
Review: At the center of “The Wild Robot” there is Roz, a robot that seems far too complicated to serve as a household helper. But would probably be given that function in most cases. Were it not for the fact that this particular one is stranded on a desert island. As far as people go, that is. This island is inhabited by animals and most of them see her as an enemy. Until she finds a goose egg.

When the egg hatches, the little goose latches on to Roz. She needs to teach him how to swim and fly and eventually get ready for migration. Roz makes it her task, with the help of Fink, an seemingly unreliable fox that feels just as an outsider as Roz does.  

Robots are supposed to be emotionless, trying to solve problems with logic, using algorithm. But when Roz’ algorithmic thought processes fail, she must learn to rely on her intuition and feelings. On the contrary, the animals of the island do nothing but act from gut instinct. They must learn to turn off their instincts in order to survive together. And it turns out that programming and instinct are not so different after all.

The sympathy you feel for Roz, from the start, is partly due to Lupita Nyongo’o’s excellent vocal performance. With only her voice, she manages to convey so much feeling and nuance. As Roz develops, we see her create her own consciousness. Her character growth is accompanied by universal themes of parenthood, friendship, belonging and (self-) acceptance, with the story emphasizing that the relationships we form are enough to lead fulfilling lives.

The breathtaking animation, vulnerable emotions and moving story are perfectly brought together. This results in countless enchanting scenes that really make something happen to you. I felt every emotion while watching “The Wild Robot”. Director Chris Sanders has outdone himself once again with this wonderful Dreamworks animation and it is indeed my favorite film of 2024.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - It Ends with Us

Director: Justin Baldoni
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 130 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Jenny Slate, Brandon Sklenar, Kevin McKidd, Hasan Minhaj
 
Description: When Lily’s (Blake Lively) first love (Brandon Sklenar) reenters her life, her relationship with a charming, but abusive neurosurgeon (Justin Baldoni) is upended and she realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 51: A FILM FROM A GENRE YOU DON’T WATCH THAT OFTEN
 
Review: With more than twenty-million books sold, Colleen Hoover is one of today’s best-selling authors. No wonder Hollywood is eager to adapt her books into films. The first one is “It Ends with Us”.

Meet Lily Bloom, who decides to move to Boston after a traumatic childhood. There, everything seems to be going for her. Not only does she open her own flowe shop, on the roof of an apartment building Lily meets Ryle with whom all the boxes really can be checked off. Ruggedly attractive, sweet, solid job. The two start a romance that makes the sparks fly. But then Ryle turns out to have a dark side. And just then Lily runs into her childhood sweetheart Atlas.

If I have to believe Colleen Hoover fans, director Justin Baldoni (and also the actor portraying Ryle) was very faithful to the book. I never read it, nor will I ever read it. And after seeing the film, I’m sure I never will.

Even though I have nothing but praise for Blake Lively’s performance, the story just felt off. Somehow I saw red flags with Ryle from the start (not knowing the details of the plot yet). I have never experienced any form of physical abuse myself, but somehow I don’t believe that someone suffering from it herself, or at least witnessed it up close, would see signals of it earlier on in their relationship. And I don’t feel like Ryle is such a catch, even before his dark side really surfaces. I found him very creepy from the moment Lily met him. It’s also very clear from the start, that Atlas is actually the man Lily is supposed to be with. And even though I like Lily’s friendship with Allysa, the way they become friends feels very unrealistic.

Fans of the book will love this movie, and I’m so happy for them. It’s always a wonderful thing to see a favorite book being turned into a movie, that is actually following the book closely. I’m not the right audience for this film. I know Baldoni tried to make a film with such a heavy theme with a lot of respect. And it’s not his fault that the story feels so wrong, because it’s the source material. Which follows a very toxic relationship, a relationship you know is wrong. And this film was marketed poorly, selling it as a romance to go see with your girlfriends, when it’s actually a drama about domestic violence. The film hints at a sequel, since there is also a second book. But it does not look like there is going to be one.

Rating: 2/ 5

Movie Review - Blink Twice

Director: Zoë Kravitz
Genre: Thriller/ Mystery/ Horror
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Naomi Ackie, Alia Shawkat, Channing Tatum, Christian Slater, Haley Joel Osment, Simon Rex, Adria Arjona, Geena Davis, Kyle MacLachlan
 
Description: When tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum) meets cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) at his fundraiser gala, he invites her to join him and his friends on a dream vacation on his private island. As strange things start to happen, Frida questions her reality.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 49: A DIRECTORIAL DEBUT
 
Review: If you like a mysterious horror/ thriller with some female rage, Zoë Kravitz got you covered. In her directorial debut everything seems normal, but you know something is fundamentally wrong. Lots of red flag, but not sure why. It’s best to know as little as possible going in, because it will leave you gasping for air at the end.

Frida, a waitress at a gala hosted by Slater King (mocking Elon Musk, maybe?), can’t take her eyes of this charismatic man. She knows he has a dark side, as he went into therapy after an unspecified incident and apologized a thousand times. But Frida is ambitious and quite willing to get to know him. Fortunately, Slater also has an eye for her and, after some hesitation, he invites Frida and her best friend Jess to accompany him and his entourage to a Mexican island he just bought.

On site, Slater has all cell phones confiscated. A week of crazy fun begins. The guest enjoy the weather, the finest mansion with luxury chalets, a large pool, tasty dishes and champagne and drugs galore. Frida’s happiness is unstoppable, although she senses that another female invitee is jealous of Slater’s attention for her. This seems like a spring-break version for adults, but somewhere also the salutation of an impending plot from a mystery novel.

Kravitz takes her time. In doing so, she’s taking a risk, because except for Slater’s dark past and the confiscated phones, for a long time there’s no trouble. But little bizarre details nevertheless create this ominous tension and you are certain something is bad will happen. And you will never predict what it is.

“Blink Twice” is exciting, has occasional dark humor, has some satire to it, criticizes society very subtly and is really original. Nothing but praise for Zoë Kravits, who really succeeds with her first directing job. Same goes for Naomi Ackie, who carries the film on her strong shoulders. Her performance will hopefully launch her to the A-list in Hollywood. Channing Tatum, the all American boy, surprises in a role that is atypical for him,

Most of the other actors don’t stand out much, their characters are drawn very superficial. But it didn’t bother me, because in the and most do have a purpose in the film.
When the film starts, you have a feeling that something is wrong, but you can never predict the direction this film is heading. Such a good film, that will especially please female horror/ thriller fans.

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Michael Clayton

Director: Tony Gilroy
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 2007
Starring: George Clooney, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Sydney Pollack, Skipp Sudduth

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 48: A FILM FROM AN ACADEMY AWARD WINNING/ NOMINATED DIRECTOR
 
Description: A law firm brings in its "fixer" (George Clooney) to remedy the situation after a lawyer has a breakdown while representing a chemical company that he knows is guilty in a multibillion-dollar class action suit.

Review: “Michael Clayton” is the directorial debut of Tony Gilroy. It’s a prestige film that is praised by the American critics.

In “Michael Clayton”,  immoral selfishness of big companies is being dealt with. Michael Clayton is a fixer and the right man to stop those people, who do whatever it takes to keep their power and status.

“Michael Clayton” is good especially because of the acting. Clooney is fantastic in the title role, as well as Tilda Swinton, Tom Wilkinson and Sydney Pollack. They paid a lot of attention to the development of the characters and that is pleasant. The story is somewhat conventional, it’s nothing like we haven’t seen before. In the end, the film doesn’t leave he impression you would have hoped for. But “Michael Clayton” is definitely a good film, mostly because of George Clooney.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

90s Movie Review - Random Hearts

Director: Sydney Pollack
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Mystery
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 1999
Starring: Harrison Ford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Charles S. Dutton, Bonnie Hunt, Dennis Haysbert, Sydney Pollack, Richard Jenkins, Paul Guilfoyle, Peter Coyote, Dylan Baker, Bill Cobbs, Kate Mara

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 46: A FILM FROM YOUR TEEN YEARS
 
Description: Police Seargeant Dutch Van den Broeck (Harrison Ford) and U.S. Representative Kay Chandler (Kristin Scott Thomas) lose their spouses in a plane crash, and they soon discover that their partners were having an affair with each other.

Review: The wife of tough Internal Affairs Sergeant Dutch was killed in a plane crash, as was the husband of politician Kay. Kay and Dutch find out that their spouses were sitting next to each other on the plane, but were also having an affair. Dutch wants to find out why.

On paper, this film sounds interesting. But in practice, it doesn’t work. Mainly because it does not really know in which direction it wants to go. At first, it’s a drama. Two people losing their other half in a tragic accident. Then it turns into a mystery, when they are trying to discover why they were on that plane and why Dutch’s wife didn’t use her real name. And eventually some romance is sprinkled in as well. And it has some strange side-plot of this case that Dutch is working on, that has nothing to do with the actual plot. It just feels very messy. And it’s also very boring, especially given that this film is over two hours long.

Great cast, making the best of it. But really a dull film with little to interest me.

Rating: 2/ 5

80s Movie Review - 1984

Director: Michael Radford
Genre: Science Fiction/ Drama
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 1984
Starring: William Hurt, Richard Burton, Suzanna Hamilton, Cyril Cusack, Gregor Fisher

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 43: A FILM WITH A STRONG PHILOSOPHICAL OR EXISTENTIAL THEME
 
Description: In a totalitarian future society, Winston Smith (William Hurt), whose work is re-writing history, tries to rebel. He meets a kindred spirit named Julia and they fall into a love affair.

Review: Based on George Orwell’s classic novel “1984”, in which civil servant Winston Smith fall in love with dissident Julia completely against the law of the totalitarian state. Smith expresses his doubt to a member of the party, but a nightmare awaits.

Willaim Hurt is strong in his role as Winston, and Richard Burton is brilliant as the party man. The film pictures the vibe of the book well, with its grim and dark décor. It’s a depressing dystopian story, much better than the 1956 version.  

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Monkey Man

Director: Dev Patel
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Dev Patel, Sharlto Copely, Pitobash, Sikandir Kher, Sobhita Dhulipala, Ashwini Kalsekar
 
I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 41: A FILM THAT’S PART OF A FILM FESTIVAL’S OFFICIAL SELECTION
 
Description: An anonymous young man (Dev Patel) unleashes a campaign of vengeance against the corrupt leaders who murdered his mother and continue to systematically victimize the poor and powerless.

Review: The directorial debut of Dev Patel, who obviously already has a number of gems to his name as an actor, opts for a surprising genre: the action film. Patel hasn’t kicked a lot of ass in his films yet, but if anything becomes clear, it’s that he can do it very well. A film that doesn’t hide its inspiration without becoming a copycat. Incredibly brutal action mixed with plenty of personality and sentiment.

“Monkey Man” follows the story of an anonymous young man sometimes called Kid. In the slums of India, he makes money  with street fights. He gets a job at a loca restaurant, where shady things happen behind the scenes. He is out for revenge on various figures in positions of power who have personally made his life miserable in the past.

The story is simple, yet effective. Its build-up and sufficient sentiment set it apart from other action films. The pace and flow of the film are perfectly matched.

The inspirations are obvious and Patel doesn’t try to hide them either. He is clearly a fan of films like “John Wick”, “The Raid” and “Oldboy”. “Monkey Man” excels in its action scenes. They are gruesome, raw and hugely original. The choreography is thoughtful and fast-paced.

The only downside is the somewhat messy second half. But as a whole, the film is stylish, exciting and rock solid. Well done Dev Patel.

Rating: 4/ 5

00s Movie Review - Crazy Heart

Director: Scott Cooper
Genre: Drama/ Romance/ Music
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2009
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell, Robert DuVall, Paul Herman

Description: A faled country music artist (Jeff Bridges) is forced to reassess his dysfunctional life during a doomed romance that also inspires him.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 40: A FILM ABOUT MUSIC
 
Review: Jeff Bridges plays Bad Blake, a middle-aged country singer reveling in his past success. Years ago he was one of the most successful singers of his generation with an impressive repertoire, but now he is but a shadow of himself. He lives in cheap motels, playing in pubs and bowling alleys, drinking a lot of alcohol. At one of his gigs he meets Jean Braddock, a single mother trying to make it as a journalist. A romance develops between Blake and Jean, but it remains to be seen whether Blake can leave his unhealthy lifestyle behind for good.  

It's a pretty straightforward film, with not too surprising plot developments. A once successful music artists, trying to make a comeback but failing drastically, until someone enters his life and changes it for the better. Director Scott Cooper didn’t take any risks here. “Crazy Heart” is one of those films where the performance of the lead actor is better and more memorable as the film itself. Jeff Bridges, who won an Academy Awards for his performance, is excellent. He shines in every scene he is in. This is what you will remember about “Crazy Heart”, the story is quite forgettable.

Which doesn’t mean it’s not good. Bridges is the one who makes it better, if not for him, this would be a straight-to-DVD type of film. Because they story is predictable and very cliché. But Bridges lifts it to a whole other level and makes it worth watching. And somehow, Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal work really well together too.

Rating: 3,5 / 5

10s Movie Review - Queen of Katwe

Director: Mira Nair
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Maldina Nalwanga, David Oyelowo, Lupitio Nyongo’o

Description: Living in the slum of Katwe, Uganda, is a constant struggle for the young Phiona (Maldina Lawanga) and her family. Her world changes when she meets Robert Katende (David Oyelowo), a missionary who teaches children how to play chess.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 39: A BIOGRAPHICAL FILM
 
Review: Phiona grew up in the slums of Uganda, she never went to school and yet she made it to chess champion in her country. ESPN-journalist Tim Crothers chronicles her impressive life story in a bestseller, which Disney, together with director Mira Nair, then turned into this colorful and cheerful feel-good film.

Phiona lives with her mother, older sister and two younger brothers in the slums of Uganda. Her father has died and mother Harriet is working hard to provide for her children. Because Phiona has to help her mother out, she never went to school. One day, she stumbles upon a group of kids that are playing chess, thought by Robert Katende. Phiona joins them and it turns out she has a talent for the game. Eventually being able to go to a tournament with her new friends.

This film has such a big heart. It’s a feel-good film, with the exception of a few sadder moments, and just warms your heart. It’s an inspirational story, which is probably a bit dramatized, but I loved “Queen of Katwe”. The cast is outstanding. Lupita Nyongo’o, who plays Phiona’s mother Harriet, has become a favorite over the years. She is so strong in this film. As is David Oyelowo, as Robert Katende. Maldina Lawanga portrays Phiona and she does a great job. She knows how to stand strong and is excellents in her role.

A hidden gem from Disney, “Queen of Katwe” is definitely the perfect film if you want a pick-me-up.

Rating: 5/ 5

Movie Review - Trap

Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Genre: Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Night Shyamalan, Ariel Donohue, Alison Pill, Hayley Mills, Johnathan Mills
 
Description: A father (Josh Hartnett) and his teenage daughter (Saleka Night Shyamalan) attend a pop concert only to realize they’ve entered the center of a dark and sinister event.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 38: A FILM FROM 2024
 
Review: With director M. Night Shyamalan, you never know. Somethins the makes great films that really keep you on the edge of your seat and sometime he makes film that are pretty bad. I have liked most, loved some, hated a few. “Trap” is his latest thriller.

Teenager Riley is attending the sold-out concert of world star Lady Raven, together with her dad Cooper. Her dad is acting a bit weird, and somehow that is not strange, since the place is swarming with police. Soon Cooper realizes that they are looking for a serial killer named The Butcher. In fact, the FBI thinks he is at this concert today and they are doing everything they can to capture him.

Josh Hartnett was up and coming in the late 90s, early 2000s. I always loved him as an actor, but he hasn’t done anything major for a while. He was in an episode of the latest season of “Black Mirror”, which was fantastic and where he again showed what he could do. And now he’s starring in M. Night Shyamalan newest film. He plays Cooper and he is kind of perfect for this role.

Night Shyamalan is known for his twists, that, when they deliver they DELIVER! Since the trailer for this movie already showed us a big twist, you would think that there is more to it. I was a bit disappointed that they showed us that twist already, because it really changes the viewing experience. Even though it does have a few surprises, I was still waiting for the final, crazy, unexpected twist. But sadly, that never came. A lot of the things happening in the film, are very convenient for story telling and this way the film loses its credibility a bit. But the first hour of the film is filled with tension and does keep you on the edge of your seat. After that, the tension drops a bit.

Not one of Night Shyamalan’s best films, but it’s certainly not on the list of bad movies. I enjoyed it for the most part, but was disappointed that we didn’t get a better twist. Or any twist for that matter.

Rating: 3/ 5

20s Movie Review - The Wonderfull Story of Henry Sugar

Director: Wes Anderson
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Runtime: 40 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Ben Kingsley, Dev Patel, Richard Ayoade, Ralph Fiennes

Description: Chronicles a variety of stories, but the main one follows Henry Sugar, who is able to see through objects and predict the future with the help of a book he stole.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 36: A FILM FROM A DIRECTOR KNOWN FOR THEIR VISUAL STYLE
 
Review: “Fantastic Mr. Fox” from 2009 didn’t only mark Wes Anderson’s first full-length stop-motion animation, but also his first adaptation of a story of Roald Dahl. Initially, “The Wonderful Story of henry Sugar” was intended to be a full-length feature film. Anderson backtracked on that by making it part of a four-part series of short Dahl adaptation.

We first meet a storyteller, played by Ralph Fiennes, telling us about the wealthy Henry Sugar, who finds in a book about a man from india who can see without his eyes. He acquired this technique, refined over many years, from a Yogi. So, a story within a story within a story withing a story. But Anderson manages to let these complex artifices sink in surprisingly smoothly.

“The Wonderful Story of henry Sugar” has few dialogues and consists almost entirely of renowned actors addressing the camera to tell the story.

It’s a ludicrous story, which we are used to from Roald Dahl and makes perfect material for Wes Anderson. I loved how this story was told, with backgrounds changing rapidly, making it almost magical. There are three more films on Netflix, that are based on Dahl’s stories and directed by Anderson. Them being : “The Swan”, “Poison” and “The Ratcatcher” and I will most definitely watch them all.

Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Find Me Falling

Director: Stelana Kliris
Genre: Romance/ Comedy
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Harry Connick Jr., Agni Scott, Ali Fumiko Whitney, Tony Dimitriou
 
Description: After a failed comeback album, rock star John Allman (Harry Connick Jr.) escapes to a dreamy Mediterranean island, only to discover that his new cliffside home has an unfortunate notoriety that attracts unwanted visitors and an old flame.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 35: A ROMANCE FILM OR LOVE STORY

Review: Unless it is an emphatic theme, it is easy to argue that coincidence does not exist in fiction. Character make utterances that recur later in a story, object or events become relevant later and all help make for a nicely rounded story. Proof of this statement is undeniably provided in the romantic island film “Find Me Falling”.

Rocker John Allmann, after a failed comeback, has set his guitar aside and traded his lucurious rock ‘n roll life in New York for a lonely hut on the coast of Cyprus. What the real estate agent didn’t tell John is that the cliff in front of his house is a popular spot for desperate souls to end their lives. So there is little choice but to build a substantial fence to prevent depressed souls from taking their own lives. Years ago, John already visited the island and left an unforgettable impression on some residents of the nearby village.

John meets the young Melina, who delivers his groceries. The girl turns out not to only speak English without an accent, she is also a very gifted singer. When Melina performs in the town tavern, John comes face to face with an old acquaintance.

I found this a so-so romcom. I liked the fact that it’s people getting a second chance in love and life, in a later stage of their lives. But the romance wasn’t my favorite part of the film. It was actually the bond between John and Melina. And the whole premise of the film, with the cliff side, is rarely touched upon aside from a few short moments. It’s okay for a mindless movie night, but it’s very forgettable.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

20s Movie Review - Strange Way of Life

Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Genre: Western/ Drama
Runtime: 31 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Pedro Pascal
Description: After twenty-five years Silva (Pedro Pascal) rides a horse across the desert to visit his friend Sheriff Jake (Ethan Hawke). They celebrate the meeting, but the next morning Jake tells him that that reason for this trip is not to go down the memory lane of their friendship.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 34: A FILM FROM 2023
 
Review: It is clear that Pedro Almodóvar wants to make a statement, making “Strange Way of Life as a classic western, one of the most masculine film genres out there. From the sets through the characters and to the music breathes the Wild West.

The dhort film begins promisingly, with the introduction of the two men and a mesmerizing version of the title song “Extraña forma de vida”.

There is murder, there is blood vengeance and honor, there is family loyalto. And there is a secret that took place twenty-five years earlier between the two men, sheriff Jake and hitman Silva. The film focuses mainly on the interaction between these two main characters, who have taken different paths yet never forgot each other.

But even though the film is only half an hour long, it feels like it contains unnecessary scenes. The flashback scene was not needed, from the interaction alone you can figure out what happened all those years ago.

I love both Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal as actors, and these is an attraction between the two. But it doesn’t feel like a deep, inescapable connection. The dialogues feel a bit flat.

“Strange Way of Life” is undeniably solidly made, the camerawork is impeccable, as is art direction, editing and music. But it stays too much on the surface. Perhaps this movie would work better as a full-length film instead of a short movie. Hawke and Pascal do make up for a lot, individually.

Rating: 3/ 5

20s Movie Review - She Said

Director: Maria Schrader
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson, Andre Braugher

Description: Jodi Kantor (Zoey Kazan) and Megan Twohey’s (Carey Mulligan) quest to break the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 32: A FILM FROM 2022
 
Review: In 2017, the New York Times wrote an article that ultimately contributed greatly to the #MeToo movement. “She Said” follows the story of journalists Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor on their search for the truth behind the scandalous behavior of film producer Harvey Weinstein. A good script and even better performances contribute to a gripping film that captures the seriousness of these crimes ironclad.

With film adaptations of true stories, the questions soon arises: why isnt’this a documentary? After all, the facts are most important. The answer to this is usually drama. It is not just about the events, but how they were experiences. By combining the facts with drama, it is easier to show exactly what the victims went through and how these women dealt with these traumatic experiences.

Another strong aspect is the heavy emphasis on journalism. “She Said” does not simply go from victim to victim to a sudden article. It shows the difficult process of finding people willing to talk and what this requires of them emotionally. Other interesting aspects of journalism are also covered, such as competition, secrecy and Harvey Weinstein nipping you heels. They provide tension and realism.

Although emotions run high, the film falls somewhat short dramatically. For example, it fails to deepen the two main characters with snippits from their private lives. My only nitpick.

“She Said” carefully and powerfully exposes the painful nature of this serious social issue. The rock-solid acting, by Carey Mulligan, Zoe Kazan, Patricia Clarkson and Andre Braugher specifically, proves the emotional impact. The film’s purpose is never compromised and speaks pliantly about the woes that went on behind the scenes. I seem to be drawn to films about investigative journalism and this is yet another gem that a lot of people might even know about. WATCH IT!!!

Rating: 4,5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Brick

Director: Rian Johnson
Genre: Crime
Runtime: 110 minutes
Year: 2000
Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lukas Haas, Emile de Ravin, Meagan Good, Nora Zehetner, Noah Fleiss, Mat O’Leary, Noah Segan

Description: A teenage loner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) pushes his way into the underwold of a high school crime ring to investigate the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 30: A CRIME OR DETECTIVE FILM
 
Review: We meet Brendan, a loner, who just broke up with his girlfriend. He has a feeling she is in trouble. When she goes missing, Brendan decides to investigate himself. Getting himself into a dangerous crime ring and a web of lies.

It’s Rian Johnson’s directorial debut, who we now know for films like “Looper” and “Knives Out”. “Brick” is a low-budget film and it’s cool to see what Johnson managed to do with it. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is so good in his role as Brendan and the film has some clever twists.

A really strong crime film, I don’t think known to many.

Rating: 3,5/ 5