Movie Review - Boston Strangler

Director: Matt Ruskin
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Mystery/ Thriller
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Keira Knightley, Chris Cooper, Carrie Coon, Alessandro Nivola, Rory Cochrane, David Dastmalchian
 
Description: Loretta McLaughlin (Keira Knightley) was the reporter who first connected the murders and broke the story of the Boston Strangler. She and Jean Cole (Carrie Coon) challenged sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city’s most notorious serial killer.

Review: The ‘Boston Strangler” murders and leaves them all the same way, strangled and with a bow around their necks. Loretta McLaughlin sees the connection between the first three victims and wants to write a piece on the case at all costs. Being a woman, however, he boss says she is especially suited to write for the lifestyle section of Record America. When she picks up the article on her own time, the ball starts rolling. Because of her lack of experience with murder cases, Loretta must team up with Jean Cole, and the two dive deep into the case.

This true story of a journalistic quest is carried by Keira Knightley. “Boston Strangler” is as solid as you would expect when her name is attached to a project. Solid, but at the same time at no point exceptional. Knightley and Carrie Coon play their roles convincingly, the premise is gripping enough and the direction is fine. The color palette is a bit on the dark side to evoke extra tension. With all these elements, this film in particular feels like a somewhat bland rip-off of rock-solid thrillers like “Zodiac”.

Occasionally, the script shows potential. Unfortunately, those more unique angles are not fleshed out enough. The script is embellished with the struggles of women in the 1960s in the male dominated world of journalism, but at the same time it abandons that aspect relatively quickly. The effects the murders have on the women in Boston is also touched upon in a few short scenes.

Although “Boston Strangler” comes with a number of twists, its suspense is moderate. Some of the hints are very obvious and strongly indicate the direction Loretta eventually ends up going. It doesn’t bother too much, however, as Loretta is never portrayed as a brilliant journalist. She is persistent, but not without faults, which is particularly revealed in the way her relationship with Jean is outlined.

The chemistry between the two journalists is the heart of the movie. Jean is more experiences and teaches Loretta. Although Loretta sometimes tries to push her away, it is nice to see these two woman in a man’s world helping each other rather than fighting. The likeable main characters combined with an interesting serial killer plot, make “Boston Strangler” a fine film, but one that does not rise above the genre.

Rating: 3/ 5

10s Movie Review - Disobedience

Director: Sebastián Lelio
Genre: Romance/ Drama
Runtime: 114 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola, Anton Lesser, Allan Corduner

Description: Ronit (Rachel Weisz) returns to her Orthodox Jewish community that shunned her for her attraction to her female childhood friend Esti (Rachel McAdams). Once back, their passions reignite as they explore the

Review: A forbidden love between two women in an oppressive Orthodox Jewish Community. Based on a book by Naomi Alderman. At the start of “Disobedience” a rabbi explains why people are unique. They are the only beings with a free will, he claims. It means that they are the only ones that choose to be disobedient.
His daughter Ronit made a choice, with consequences. She got away from the Orthodox Jewish community and started a new life in New York, as a photographer. When her father dies and she returns to London for his funeral, she isn’t really welcome. Although no one will tell her that to her face. Ronit is an outcast, someone who has been erased from the community.
Why she chose the path that she did, we see later on in the film. There are uncomfortable meetings, especially with her former best friends Dovid and Esti, who are now married to each other. But when Esti kisses Ronit, we learn that this is story of a forbidden love between two women. The perspective shifts and a complicated love affair starts, where Esti is the one that has to make choices.
Director Sebastián Lelio creates his first English-language film with “Disobedience” and shows how oppressive the community is, with its dark color palette and disapproval at each street corner.
The actors perform solid, but somehow the love between Ronit and Esti doesn’t feel that passionate. Even with that somewhat uncomfortable love-making scene. I think it’s because the character of Ronit is more developed than Esti’s is.
“Disobedience” is an overlooked film, but it’s also pretty mediocre.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

Movie Reviews - The Red Sea Diving Resort

Director: Gideon Raff
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 129 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Chris Evans, Alessandro Nivola, Haley Bennett, Ben Kingsley, Greg Kinnear, Michael Kenneth Williams, Michiel Huisman, Alex Hassell

Description: Israel’s Mossad agents attempt to rescue Ethiopian Jewish refugees in Sudan in 1977.

Review: The new Netflix original film “The Red Sea Diving Resort” premiered on July 31st. The film tells the true story of a group of heroes that rescued big groups of Ethiopian Jewish refuges by working from a hotel in Sudan.
The Ethiopian civil war caused a lot of people their lives. It’s 1977. At the time, Ethiopian Jews could use the so-called ‘Law of Return’: they had the right to settle in Israel and become an Israelian citizen. In “The Red Sea Diving Resort” we see how a group of Mossad agents, led by Ari Levinson, save groups of Ethiopian Jews at the start of the 80s. Their cover: a abandoned hotel near the Red Sea, in Sudan. And since actual tourist start visiting the hotel, it’s the best cover they could ask for.
Netflix managed to assemble a great, strong cast. Chris Evans carries the film, as Ari Levinson, but is well supported by Haley Bennett, Michiel Huisman, Alessandro Nivola, Ben Kingsley and Greg Kinnear. Also worth mentioning is Michael Kenneth Williams, who also did a fantastic job in another Netflix jewel, “When They See Us”.
The civil war in Ethiopia is one of those “silent wars”, that no one was talking about and didn’t get attention. Simply no one really cared, even though a lot of people died here. The story can be compared to films like “Argo” and “Munich”, where they used an every day thing as their big cover, to rescue people. I think Ari Levinson and his group are the real heroes, also people that we never talk about. And they actually made a difference. At least to the many refugees that manage to find a safe haven because of them.
The film has a heavy theme, but manages to have some light moments here and there. For example the moment where they have to actually work in the hotel, when a group of tourists unexpectedly arrives. And there is a great montage in the film that shows how they manage to run a hotel as well as saving the refugees.
I think stories like this should never stay untold. And the perfect way is through film, because you will reach a big audience. I really loved this film, it’s a very solid movie.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - You Were Never Really Here

Director: Lynne Ramsay
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 90 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Alessandro Nivola, Judith Roberts, Ekaterine Samonov, Alex Manette, John Doman, Jason Babinsky, Vinicius Damasceno, Kate Easton, Jonathan Wilde, Dante Pereira-Olson, Leigh Dunham

Description: A traumatized veteran (Joaquin Phoenix), unafraid of violence, tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, Joe's nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered leading to what may be his death trip or his awakening.

Review: Scottish director Lynne Ramsay doesn’t scare away from controversy. In her films she often takes on themes like poverty, suicide and grief.
In “You Were Never Really Here”, she uses another heavy theme: the illegal sex industry and the exploitation of children within that world. And there is also a strange fight for power going own, if that’s not enough.
We follow lead character Joe, a war veteran whose mission is to rescue the girls from the hands of the perverse people working in the industry.
Joe is played by Joaquin Phoenix, who gives away an intense performance. He has his own demons to deal with, but he goes a long way to save the children from this nasty world. His inner rage make him reach his goals.
Ramsay doesn’t scare away from violence either. Joe’s rescues are brutal and graphic. But the violence is not just there for the violence. This film is not for the faint of heart and the overall film isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.
“You Were Never Really Here” leaves a lot of questions unanswered and at the end, I didn’t really know what I just saw. It’s a strange film, that somehow reminded me of “Drive” or Scorsese’s and DePalma’s oeuvre.
The film is heavy on the eyes, there is a lot you need to take in. And even with the film being only 90 minutes long, it feels like three hours. “You Were Never Really Here” is a film that I probably need to watch again sometime, because I found it pretty weird and hard to digest.

Rating: 3 / 5

00s Movie Review - Jurassic Park 3

Director: Joe Johnston
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 92 minutes
Year: 2001
Starring: Sam Neill, William H. Macy, Téa Leoni, Alessandro Nivola, Trevor Morgan, Michael Jeter, Laura Dern

Description: A decidedly odd couple (William H. Macy, Téa Leoni) with ulterior motives convince Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill) to go to Isla Sorna (the second InGen dinosaur lab.), resulting in an unexpected landing...and unexpected new inhabitants on the island.

Review: “Jurassic Park III” was probably made for commercial reasons, but didn’t manage to get Steven Spielberg to direct. The first two movies where a huge success, but in my opinion “Jurassic Park III” isn’t as bad as everyone says.
The third part isn’t based on Michael Crichton’s book. You can see that, because “Jurassic Park III” isn’t as original. Joe Johnston is the director of the film and it’s very different from the original movies.
At the end of “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” you get a glimpse of the Pterosaur, as a teaser for the sequel. This flying dinosaur has a big role in the third installment. A fan favorite, the Tyrannosaur Rex, has a small role and is hardly in the movie. He had to make place for the Spinosaurus. And off course the Velociraptors are present, but they look different from the previous movies. Because of paleontological research the looks of the raptors were adjusted.
Aside from the new dinosaurs, the story is a copy of the other movies. People end up on the dino island, they have to run from them, some are eaten and some live. When the characters are introduced, it’s already clear who will make it and who won’t.
Sam Neill returns as the beloved character Dr. Alan Grant. And Laure Dern, as Dr. Ellie Satler, also has a small role. William H. Macy, who is an excellent character actor, is added, but he never seems to feel comfortable in the movie. And Téa Leon, as the ex-wife, only has to be hysterical.
The movie looks good and the action scenes are solid. That’s because of Johnston. He had very big shoes to fill and he did an excellent job when it comes to the visuals.
Overall is “Jurassic Park III” definitely not the best in the series, but still very entertaining.

Rating: 3/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2017 - # 19: Selma

Director: Ava DuVernay
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 128 minutes
Year: 2014
Starring: David Oyelowo, Oprah Winfrey, Common, Tom Wilkinson, Giovanni Ribisi, Dylan Baker, Tim Roth, Alessandro Nivola, Cuba Gooding Jr.

Description: A chronicle of Martin Luther King's campaign to secure equal voting rights via an epic march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965.

Review: Racism is an issue that will always be a part of our society, even in a civilized world. And that’s why the Martin Luther King biopic “Selma” is still relevant, to this day. There will always be a certain inequality between people of a different race or religion. In “Selma” we meet Martin Luther King two years after his “I had a dream” speech.
“Selma” centers around the Alabama town Selma. Together the people wanted to fight for equal rights and the right to vote, for everyone. Formally the black people were allowed to vote. But in reality it was a lot more complex. We see this in one of the first scenes of the movie. Where a woman has to get through an impossible test to proof she has the right to vote.
Director Ava DuVernays shows with her script many situations with injustice. This is something you just can’t ignore. But the most interesting part is how she portrayed her leading character. King is a loyal idealist. But along the way we see his imperfections. Very well done and King is well portrayed by David Oyelowo.
“Selma” is a great picture based on one of the most inspiring men in American history.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 149: Junebug

Director: Phil Morrison

Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Runtime: 106 minutes

Year: 2005

Starring: Embeth Davidtz, Alessandro Nivola, Amy Adams, Scott Wilson, Ben McKenzie, Celia Weston

Description: A dealer in "outsider" art (Embeth Davidtz) travels from Chicago to North Carolina to meet her new in-laws, challenging the equilibrium of this middle class Southern home.

Review: Hollywood seems to have embraced the Indie film and with “Junebug” we have a real independent, small American film. The story follows Madeleine and George, a cultural couple from Chicago that travels to North Carolina for Madeleine’s job as an art dealer. While they are there they also pay a visit to George’s family, whom never met Madeleine. Two different cultures clash and bond.

Debuting director Phil Morrison got an insightful script from Angus MacLachlan, that isn’t very dramatic but shows us a nuanced observation of ordinary people. Positive is that the middle class and narrow minded Southern people are reflected in a more realistic way and not in a negative way. Like George’s mother, who is pretty annoying but the story allows her to be honest. No clichés.

The acting is very good. Embeth Davidtz is strong as the cold city woman. Alessandro Nivola as George and Ben McKenzie as grumpy Johnny are also very good. The star is Amy Adams as the pregnant Ashley. It’s probably the character with the least depth, but the most likeable and touching. She won at Sundance with this role and got an Academy Award nomination.

The film feels natural, great eye for detail and very relatable. “Junebug” is a film perfect for Indie lovers like me.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 47: Devil's Knot

Director: Atom Egoyan

Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller

Runtime: 114 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Alessandro Nivola, James Hamrick, Seth Meriwether, Kristopher Higgins, Amy Ryan, Robert Baker, Collette Wolfe, Rex Linn, Bruce Greenwood, Kristoffer Polaha, Matt Letscher, Michael Gladis, Stephen Moyer, Martin Hednerson, Ted Huckabee, Elias Koteas, Dane DeHaan, Kerry Cahill, Jet Jurgensmeyer, Paul Boardman Jr., Brandon Spink, Kevin Durand, Julie Ivey

Description: The savage murders of three young children sparks a controversial trial of three teenagers accused of killing the kids as part of a satanic ritual.

Review: “Devil’s Knot” is based on the book with the same name by Mara Leveritt. The author was inspired by real life events. The trial of ‘The West Memphis Three’ was the inspiration for both book and movie. Director Atom Egoyan decided to make it into a movie.

In 1993 three children were murdered, in a town in Memphis. After a few weeks the suspects were arrested. Three teenagers, The West Memphis Three, were caught and they were accused of using satanic rituals. They were convicted for the murders. The end? Not exactly, because a lot of facts were wrong and the police wasn’t thorough enough. The question is: are the teenagers really guilty? The movie is almost two hours long and this is simply not enough time to tell the entire story. It’s a complicated case and there isn’t enough room for the characters, because there are so many people involved in the case. Director Egoyan bit off more than he could chew.

Reese Witherspoon plays the mother of one of the murdered boys. She does a good job. She manages to show desperation and despair, but her character doesn’t really add anything. Colin Firth’s character has the same problem. The three suspects don’t get enough screen time, which is a shame.

Atom Egoyan tried, that’s a plus. He didn’t want to give us a boring history lesson. But the movie simply doesn’t work that wellm when the source material is so interesting. It’s just an okay film, which could have been so much better. Shame.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 24: A Most Violent Year

Director: J.C. Chandor

Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Action/ Thriller

Runtime: 125 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Oscar Isaac, Jessica Chastain, David Oyelowo, Alessandro Nivola, Albert Brooks, Elyes Gabel, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Peter Gerety, Christopher Abbott, Ashley Williams, John Procaccino, Glenn Fleshler, Jerry Adler, Annie Funke, Maathew Maher, David Margulies, Pico Alexander

Description: In New York City 1981, ambitious immigrant Abel (Oscar Isaac) fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history.

Review: The worldwide oil crisis in 1979 left its footprints years later. Higher prices, big competition and growing organized crime. This tough time forms the background of “A Most Violent Year”. Where these films normally show the point of view of the criminal, this time we see it through the eyes of an innocent oil dealer. But if he’s really that innocent…

“A Most Violent Year” slowly reveals itself. This works. It takes some time for it all to be revealed. The question of who’s good and bad slumbers subtle.

The oil dealer is Abel Morales, a very strong Oscar Isaac. Viewers don’t get to know that much about him at first. His business has brought him fortune, but still there are complications in 1981, which is known as a very violent year. His company is the victim of robbery, where they brutally steal oil trucks. And what game is his wife Anna playing? This is a wonderful performance by Jessica Chastain, she really shines.

“A Most Violent Year” does have some clichés, but don’t bother you that much. The calm way the story is told is strong. It’s a very good movie.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 95: American Hustle

Director: David O. Russell

Genre: Drama/ Crime

Runtime: 132 minutes

Year: 2013

Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Jennifer Lawrence, Louis C.K., Alessandro Nivola, Robert De Niro

Description: Con man Irving Rosenfeld (Christian Bale) and his seductive partner Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) are forced to work for wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). He pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia.

Review: This film by David O. Russell is full of crown jewels: rags and riches, beauties and beasts, charm and crime. All set in the sumptuous seventies and with a bit of slapstick. And then the great cast: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence and Jeremy Renner. “American Hustle” is filled with sexiness, scams and talent.

“American Hustle” grabs the audience, like Sydney Prosser gets her men. Together with Irving Rosenfeld she misleads people into making big investments. But then they are caught in the act by FBI agent Richie DiMaso. They are forced to work together.

The story is narrated by various characters, but as a viewer your attention is easily drawn to Irving Rosenfeld. Christian Bale is impressive in his role, with his beer belly and strange hairdo, he shows us again how he can get lost in a role. Amy Adams is very provocative in her role as Sydney Prosser and I enjoyed her performance. Together they are the ‘beauty and the beast’ of crime. Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, who stole the show and your hearts in Russell’s previous film “Silver Linings Playbook”, aren’t as impressive. They are not bad, but they are standing in the shadows of Bale and Adams. Jeremy Renner on the other hand, as mayor Carmine Polito, is excellent.

This film succeeds and pictures the seventees very well. “American Hustle” is a movie with a great cast, interesting story and some wonderful acting by especially Bale, Adams and Renner.

Rating: 4/ 5