20s Movie Review - His Three Daughters

Director: Azazel Jacobs
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Natasha Lyonne, Carrie Coon

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 14: A FILM WITH ELIZABETH OLSEN
 
Description: This tense, touching and funny portrait of family dynamics follows three estranged sisters as they converge in a New York apartment to care for their ailing father and try to mend their own broken relationship with one another.

Review: First things first: why is no one talking about this movie? Because it’s amazing. A true hidden gem, on Netflix, released in 2023.

In the intimate, domestic drama “His Three Daughters’, in impending goodbye forces three sister to look each other in the eye again after a long time. Separated by their career choices, family lives and clashing personalities, the women face a difficult task: caring for their dying father in unison, and ultimately grieving in unison. The austere setting does half the job, but it is the three leading actresses who take the film to the next level.

When the stilted Katie begins an argument in the pithy opening scene about the care status of her ailing father, it takes a moment before we see who she is talking to. The camera catches her in a stately shot and refuses to bring the rest of the room into view; the healthcare professional who patiently listens to her is given his own speaking frame only moments later.

After the first few cuts, the camera takes some distance and the women poarticipate in the conversation also come into view together. Of the three sisters in the room, only Rachel was already living in the apartment where their father is spending his final days. Katie and younger sister Christina traveled to the place to help out.

The separate shots of the three women are apt for the attentive manner in which director Azazel Jacobs proceeds in “His Three Daughters”. The film shows the relationship between family members in a situations of transience.

The conversations between Katie, Rachel and Christina quickly expose how different the characters of these women are, and it is not surprising that the first cracks in their rapport quickly follow. Whereas Katie prizes responsibility and labels, Rachel lives a wasted life; she smokes at least foir joints a day, bets on several sports games at once and is comfortable leaving her dishes out all day. The sensitive Christina stands literally and figuratively between her two sisters.

For over an hour Katie, Christina and Rachel bicker and grieve over a man who is carefully kept of screen for most of the film’s runtime. Focusing on the daughters, their emotions, they way each of them deals with the situation and the grieve. And how they deal with each other. It’s a character study, of the individual women, but also about their relationship as sisters.

It is a delight to see these three women in their sister roles. Elizabeth Olsen, Carrie Coon and Natasha Lyonne are all fantastic in their roles. With only an apartment as the décor and a fairly simple story, these three actresses leave a big impression and lift the film to a high level. And I think everyone should see this film.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Movie Review - Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Director: Sam Raimi
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 127 minutes
Year: 2022
Starring: Benedict Cumberbatch, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, Bruce Campbell, Patrick Stewart, Hayley Atwell, John Krasinski
 
Description: Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) teams up with a mysterious teenage girl (Xochitl Gomez) from his dreams who can travel across multiverses, to battle multiple threats, including other-universe versions of himself, which threaten to wipe out millions across the multiverse. They seek help from Wanda the Scarlet Witch, Wong and others.

Review: With “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, a new era for the MCU has begin. The multiverse is open and that brings with it a whole host of expectations for the film. But does it live up to those expectations?

After the evens of “Spider-Man No Way Home”, it’s time to dive further into the multiverse with Doctor Strange. As the title reveals, the film is a little crazy, but that’s not a negative. For example, one of the bigger surprises is that this film is a lot darker and more focused on horror than previous Marvel films.

The shift in tone is largely due to director Sam Raimi, who we of course already know from the original Spider-Man trilogy with Tobey Maguire, a collection of solid horror films and true classics like the “Evil Dead” series (some might even recognize “Evil Dead”’s Bruce Campbell in a funny cameo). At first glance, the coice of Raimi seems very good, as a horror aspect lends itself very well to the characters of “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”, but there are a few problems.

Let’s start with what is rock solid in the film: the acting. In particular Elizabeth Olsen, who once again pays the role of Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlet Witch. She deserves a lot of credit for her performance and she even overshadows who is supposed to be the star in the film, Benedict Cumberbatch.

 Cumberbatch is strong as well, but where he is supposed to be the star, Olsen clearly takes the spotlight.
The fact that every actor and actress gives a fantastic performance is also due to the excellent writing of the film. It is clear that a lot of thought has gone into this film. And even though it’s over 2 hours long, you hardly notice it.  

With a grim tone and the new horror aspect, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” not only manages to surprise, but also manages to set a new standard for Marvel films. While the film is very good and takes two steps forward for Marvel, it unfortunately also takes a step backwards.
The horror genre has been plagued by terribly chewed out clichés and cheap jump scares for decades. Dramatic sound effects are added to those jump scares and various characters make stupid decisions. There is nothing worse for a film than overused clichés, and this is the biggest weakness for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”.

With a rock-solid story, exceptional acting and surprising new elements, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” manages to live up to most expectations. In fact, the film manages to exceed many of them. Besides all the spectacle, there are also more than enough easter eggs to be found and for Marvel fans it will again be an absolute delight to see Doctor Strange in action.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

TV Show Review - WandaVision

Season: Mini-Series
Genre: Adventure/ Action/ Comedy/ Drama
Number of episodes: 9
Year: 2021
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Bettany, Kathryn Hahn, Teyonah Parris, Kat Dennings, Randall Park, Debra Jo Rupp  

Description: Blends the style of classic sitcoms with the MCU, in which Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and Vision (Paul Bettany) begin to suspect that everything is not as it seems.

Review: Wanda Maximoff and Vision find themselves in their ideal dream world inspired by sitcoms from different eras. Slowly but surely Visio begins to doubt this reality and we must see this mystery unravel.
With “Avengers: Endgam”, Marvel put a stop to their so-called ‘infinity saga’. To which the next film, “Spider-Man: Far From Home”, functioned as a kind of epilogue to this. After a break of over a year and a half, Marvel is back with their first miniseries on Disney +: “WandaVision”. The start of a new phase of superhero stories that are all connected, both on the small and big screen.
The approach of “WandaVision” is highly original and manages to present something we have not seen before within the superhero genre. After the tragic loss that Wanda suffered in the previous Avengerd films, she has, with the help of her magical powers, created an ideal dream world with her husband Vision. She also ‘broadcasts’ this as a kind of television program to the outside world, hence the name “WandaVision”. Each episode sets a new era and is thus and ode to sitcoms of the past and present. For example, episodes are spefically inspired by: “The Dick van Dyke Show”, “Bewitched”, “The Brady Bunch”, “Family Ties”, “Malcolm in the Middle” and “Modern Family”.
In addition to this unique angle and fun nods to various shows, the core of this stoy is a mystery regarding Wanda and how exactly she created this world to her liking. We see subtle hints that tell us something is wrong or ‘mistakes’ are made in the TV shows. It is difficult to describe “WandaVision”, as I want to keep spoilers to a minimum, but many Marvel fan will be rewarded for their patience through the episodes.
“WandaVision” is the most original project Marvel Studios had produced. Completely unique in its execution and a rich viewing experience for superhero fans. Even though the series has ended, Wanda’s story continues in the upcoming “Doctor Strange: in the Multiverse of Madness”.

10s Movie Review - Wind River

Director: Taylor Sheridan
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 111 minutes
Year: 2017
Starring: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Graham Greene, Jon Bernthal

Description: A veteran tracker (Jeremy Renner) with the Fish and Wildlife Service helps to investigate the murder of a young Native American woman, and uses the case as a means of seeking redemption for an earlier act of irresponsibility which ended in tragedy.

Review: Together with “Sicario” and “Hell or High Water”, “Wind River” belongs in the so-called ‘American frontier’ threesome by screen writer Taylor Sheridan. With the screenplays of these three films, Sheridan describes today's America, where there is no compromise and where poverty, violence and a struggling government are still present. And again, this third movie, is a strong crime thriller.
The crime scene is in the Wind River reserve, in the state of Wyoming. An area known for its cold and silence. During one of his track runs, tracker Corey Lambert finds the lifeless body of a young Indian girl, miles away from civilization. The girl isn’t wearing any shoes and coughed up a lot of blood. Suspicious circumstances, so he calls it.
Help arrives in the form of inexperienced FBI agent Jane Banner, who labels this as a homicide. Together with Corey she decides to solve this crime, but she hasn’t realized yet what world she has entered.
The authorities hardly have any interest in this crime, which means that every victim will take the matter in their own hands. For a thriller like “Wind River”, that’s an excellent starting point. The message at the end shows us that native Americans gone missing don’t get registered. And that’s why this is an important film.
“Wind River” is a movie that flew pretty much under the radar in 2017. And it’s definitely a film you need to see. The writing is excellent. It’s not an original story, because it’s based on actual events. But the film makes you feel like you’re watching a literary novel come to life. Psychological depth, no clichés, real people struggling with complex emotions like guilt and loss. The dark poetic tones of the dialogue matches perfectly with the images of the snowy landscapes.
“Wind River” has a limited runtime, but manages to punch you in the face with the emotional load its carrying. Sheridan makes it believable and you feel the impact a homocide investigation like this can have on the people involved. The film is never rushed and is never really sentimental. With that we get an amazing performance from Jeremy Renner, probably in his best role to date. “Wind River” is a movie you should definitely add to your watchlist, it’s a crime thriller at its best.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 69: Captain America: Civil War

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Runtime: 147 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Renner, Chadwick Boseman, Paul Bettany, Elizabeth Olsen, Paul Rudd, Tom Holland, Emily VanCamp, Daniel Brühl, Frank Grillo, William Hurt, Martin Freeman, Marisa Tomei, John Slattery, Alfre Woodard

Description: Political interference in the Avengers' activities causes a rift between former allies Captain America (Chris Evans) and Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.).

Review: The brothers Joe and Anthony Russo did a great job on “Captain America: Winter Soldier” and I was really excited when I found out they were also directing the third installment of this franchise. They really understand the Marvel universe.
The film opens with a scene in Lagos, Nigeria. There the memers of the Avengers are chasing down bad guy Crossbones. The mission ends in a blood bath. And after their actions in New York, Washington and Sokovia, the United Nations wants to close the Sokovia Accords. This means the Avengers can only work on request by the UN.
Tony Stark signs the documents. Steve Rogers thinks it’s a bad plan. Together with Scarlet Witch, Hawkeye and Falcon, he doesn’t sign. During the ceremony, where all the others do sign, the king of Wakanda is killed in an attack. The main suspect is the Winter Soldier. The hunt for Steve’s friend tears the Avengers even further apart.
This Marvel film is mostly about loyalty, family and friendship. Steve Rogers is the one we focus on, of course. He stands for loyalty and friendship and would never abandon his friend Bucky. Steve never doubts Bucky’s story and wants to defend him no matter what. A great thing about “Captain America: Civil War” is that both teams, team Captain America and team Iron Man, have good points and bad points. You would expect that as a viewer you have to lean towards Steve Rogers, but Tony Stark also has some good points. The most awesome part of the film is the showdown between both teams, on a airfield in Leipzig. Well shot, great action, perfectly choreographed fight scenes and humor. And it’s fun to see new heroes Spider-Man, Black Panther and Ant-Man here too.
There is a lot going on in “Captain America: Civil War”, which sometimes makes it feel a bit messy. Lots of characters, old an new ones. But the movies shines when it has to shine: the action and fight scenes and the comedy.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 41: Martha Marcy May Marlene

Director: Sean Durkin
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Sarah Paulson, Hugh Dancy, John Hawkes, Christopher Abbott, Brady Corbet

Description: Haunted by painful memories and increasing paranoia, a damaged woman (Elizabeth Olsen) struggles to re-assimilate with her family after fleeing an abusive cult.

Review: Martha is her real name. The members of the commune she joined call her Marcy May. When women answer the phone they always introduce themselves as Marlene. Martha flees the commune at the start of the film. Completely confused she calls her older sister Lucy. Together with her new husband she has temporarely moved into a summerhouse by a lake. The two sisters haven’t had contact for a couple of years. Lucy doesn’t know what Martha went through.
The cult was led by the charismatic Patrick, who lures people into his commune by telling them stories about complete sacrifice and solidarity. Fear is the most purest emotion, because it makes you aware of yourself. Every new girl has a ‘special night’ with the leader, which really means they loose their virginity and are basically raped by Patrick. Why Martha joins them is still the question. Why she leaves, we see through flashbacks. Sister Lucy doesn’t find out why Martha’s behavior is so strange an why she gets panic attacks. Ted, Lucy’s husband, wants less and less to do with Martha because of her behavior.
“Martha Marcy May Marlene” is the debut of director Sean Durkin. It tells two parallel episodes of the life of the troubled title character. Her reunion with her family and the experiences in the cult. This way of storytelling is very effective in this film. The story unfolds and you eventually understand why Martha is the way she is.
Elizabeth Olsen is fantastic as Martha. Her silence, her introvercy. But then also her hysteria and emotional breakdowns. The focus is on her struggling personality and her reunion with her sister. This gives the scenes in the cult even more tension.

Rating: 4,5/ 5