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.

10s Movie Review - Broken City

Director: Allen Hughes
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 109 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Russell Crowe, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jeffrey Wright, Barry Pepper, Alona Tal, Natalie Martinez, Michael Beach, Kyle Chandler

Description: In a city rife with injustice, ex-cop Billy Taggart (Mark Wahlberg) seeks redemption and revenge after being double-crossed by its most powerful figure: Mayor Nicholas Hostetler (Russell Crowe).

I WATCHED THIS FILM FOR MY 2022 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 11: A MURDER MYSTERY
 
Review: “Broken City” begins with a trial in which private investigator Billy Taggart is charged with murder. Nicholas Hostetler, the mayor of New York City, gets him off by suppressing evidence and preventing a witness from speaking. After all, Billy is a hero since the victim was a rapist. The mayor is well aware that it is an election year and does everything he can to keep the voters on his side. After his release, Billy goes back to work and notes the mayor calls him for a job. Hostetler suspects that his wife is cheating on him and wants to know all about it. Billy indeed finds out that the first lady of New York is having a secret relationship, after which her lover is found dead.
The first thing that stands out is the great cast they managed to assemble for this film. Mark Wahlberg does his tough guy routine perfectly. It may be a copy of previous roles, but why change something that works? Russel Crowe is also in good form. He visibly enjoys his role as a sleezy politician who thinks only of himself. The best moments are the cold scenes between Crowe and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who plays his wife. Their hatred for each other is very visible and it’s a shame they don’t get much screentime together. Other roles are played by Barry Pepper, Jeffrey Wright and Kyle Chandler. Still, despite the fantastic cast, “Broken City” has not become a top-notch film. The story just isn’t engaging enough. It’s clear that director Allen Hughes and screenwriter Brian Tucker have tried to make it a contemporary “Chinatown”, but that level is nowhere met. At times the plot seems to get complicated, only to be too simple again.

Rating: 2,5 / 5

00s Movie Review - High Fidelity

Director: Stephen Frears
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 109 minutes
Year: 2000
Starring: John Cusack, Jack Black, Iben Hjelje, Joan Cusack, Lodd Louiso, Lisa Bonet, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Tim Robbins, Lili Taylor, Sara Gilbert

Description: Rob (John Cusack), a record store owner and compulsive list maker, recounts his top five breakups, including the one in progress.

Review: Everyone who grew up in the eighties, early nighties, recognizes something in Rob Gordon and his store Championship Vinyl. Rob is a 30-something guy, dresses okay, pays his bills, has a good education but is also a little stuck in life. And he is especially crazy about music, all sorts, preferably vinyl or cassette tape. Rob doesn’t care about his career, he rather works with his friends. Of all the important things that happen in his life, he makes top five lists. You might call it juvenile, but it can also be called authentic.
“High Fidelity” is the adaptation of the book by the British author Nick Hornby. The record store moves from North London (book) to Chicago (movie), but that’s not a problem.
John Cusack plays Rob Gordon. I’ve always had a thing for Cusack and I think this is the movie that it all began with. Rob is a sympathetic guy, he doesn’t really do a lot of useful stuff but you like him anyway. Rob just does what he likes to do. The fun thing about “High Fidelity” is that Rob breaks the fourth wall. He talks to the camera, to us viewers, making us a part of his story. Rob is in the middle of a break up with Laura and through flashbacks we see that it’s probably his fault it ended. John Cusack is perfect as Rob, who here portrays one of my favorite male movie characters. Jack Black is fun as Barry, an exhibitionist music freak who wants to be in the music business himself.
“High Fidelity” finds a good balance between humor and drama, but is mostly carried by the music and the meaning of it in the character’s lives. I think it’s an underappreciated movie, more people should love it. As Rob, I’m an avid top 5 list maker and “High Fidelity” is definitely in my top 5 of all-time favorite movies!

Rating: 5/ 5

00s Movie Review - Ocean's Twelve

Director: Steven Sodenbergh
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Comedy/ Thriller
Runtime: 120 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac, Scott Caan, Casey Affleck, Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Carl Reiner, Shaobo Qin, Elliot Giuld, Vincent Cassel, Bruce Willis, Don Cheadle, Albert Finney

Description: Danny Ocean (George Clooney) once again teams up with experts so he can pull off three major European heists.

Review: Steven Sodenbergh’s “Ocean Twelve” demonstrates the difference between actors and movie stars: the film clearly lacks content, but is filled with beautiful images and gorgeous people. Loads of star power in this film, but rarely do they show their acting skills.
Where “Ocean’s Eleven” has a clear vision and plot, “Ocean’s Twelve” doesn’t really seem to care about the plot. Because it’s really of no importance at all. Danny Ocean and his companions are yet again trying to pull off three major heists. This time in three European countries: The Netherlands, Italy and France.
The other story that we follow is that of an elusive thief called Night Fox. He is in everything the cliché of the flamboyant jewel thief: a rich French baron who was trained by the best thief of all time, he steals purely for fun and leaves a small stone fox statue at the places he robs.
I really enjoyed the first film, but “Ocean’s Twelve” really dragged and was even boring at times. I did like the added humor, especially when Tess Ocean (played by Julia Roberts) had to pretend to be Julia Roberts. And with all those amazing stars in the film, it’s sad that actos like Don Cheadle and Elliot Gould don’t get the screen time they deserve. Because they are true scene stealers.
Overall, “Ocean’s Twelve” was just another cash grab.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 26: Side Effects

Director: Steven Soderbergh
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime
Runtime: 106 minutes
Year: 2013
Starring: Rooney Mara, Jude Law, Channing Tatum, Catherine Zeta-Jones

Description: Emily Taylor (Rooney Mara) becomes severely depressed with emotional episodes and suicide attempts. Her psychiatrist, Jonathan Banks (Jude Law), after conferring with her previous doctor, eventually prescribes an experimental new medication called Ablixa. This medicine has some strange side effects, which will change Emily’s life.

Review: Soderbergh has a great variety of genres and themes. “Side Effects” is a psychological thriller full of complots, deceit and twists.
The movie starts as a drama, when 28-year old Emily welcomes home husband Martin after him being in prison for four years. When things should get better, Emily’s depression gets worse and she even tries to commit suicide. She comes in contact with Dr. Jonathan Banks, who prescribes her Ablixa, a medicine that isn’t on the market yet. Emily starts to experience some side effects, which lead to her doing something that can never be undone. From there on the movie takes a different turn and it leaves the viewers gasping for air.
Like I said in the beginning, “Side Effects” starts as a drama but makes a switch to a psychological thriller halfway through. The unexpected plot twists are what make this film exciting and unpredictable. You can not see it coming. Although some of the storylines are a bit absurd and especially towards the end it feels a bit improbable, it doesn’t take the tension and surprise element away.
Soderbergh decided to stop making films, but this is a good movie to end off a series of movies he made in the last 24 years. He gave the audience a worthy goodbye, because “Side Effect” is a movie that surprises and shocks you. It’s definitely more than meets the eye.

Rating: 3,5/ 5