Movie Review - Wake Up Dead Man

Director: Rian Johnson
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Runtime: 144 minutes
Year: 2025
Starring: Daniel Craig, Josh O’Connor, Josh Brolin, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Jeremy Renner, Thomas Haden Church, Mila Kunis, Cailee Spaeny, Jeffrey Wright, Daryl McCormack
 
Description: Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) returns for his most dangerous case yet.
 
Review: Director Rian Johnson has never made a secret of his deep-rooted love for old-fashioned murder mysteries. That make two of us. His “Knives Out” films, this being the third in the series, are a clear tribute to Agatha Christie, with the only regular being Benoit Blanc, as a contemporary Hercule Poiroit.

“Knives Out” became an instant all-time favorite, having rewatched it many times already. The second film, “Glass Onion”, took some time to get used to, mainly because the setting felt less Christie-esk, but loved the mystery jus as much. And I absolutely loved “Wake Up Dead Man”. This film feels a bit more like “Knives Out”, when it comes to vibes and atmosphere, and yet again a clever whodunnit with a stellar cast and lots of humor.

The atmosphere is grim and leans towards a gothic mystery, with a church in New York State as a setting. The script is great, full of humor, witty dialogue and social commentary (the Christian right wing and tolerance being highlighted).

That Daniel Craig is great as Benoit Blanc, is a given by now. I actually think this is his best role ever, and not James Bond. I know, a hot take. The star-studded cast deliver solid performances, such as Glenn Close, Josh Brolin, Jeremy Renner and Kerry Washington. But Josh O’Connor as priest Jud is particularly noteworthy. His complex characters often steals the show and he forms a great duo with Blanc.

Some critics say it’s the best film in the franchise, or at least almost as good as the first film. Well, I am officially giving this film a 5-star rating, just like the other two. Making it a strong, solid, amazing murder mystery series. And I will be rewatching this film many time over.

Rating: 5/ 5

20s Movie Review - The Deliverance

Director: Lee Daniels
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Runtime: 112 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Andra Day, Glenn Close, Mo’Nique, Anthony B. Jenkins, Calen mcLaughlin, Demi Singleton, Omar Epps

Description: An Indiana family discovers strange, demonic occurrences that convince them and their community that the house is a portal to hell.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 8: A FILM WITH GLENN CLOSE
 
Review: Films about demonic presences and exorcisms. More often unsuccessful. Where “The Exorcist” (1973) has introduced cinema audiences to this horror subgenre, it know one has done it better since then. This also goes for “The Deliverance”, because it’s not a very good movie.

“The Deliverance”, directed by Lee Daniels, is based on the story of Latoyra Amons. He changed the names, details and settings. Using a hefty dose of social realism, Daniels slowly allows the arduous struggle for survival of Ebony and her family to degenerate into farcical situations without a shred of realism.

Ebony struggles. Her absent husband is a soldier in Iraq, and live=in mother Alberta is a cancer patient. She can barely take care of her three children and her kids struggle with to connect with their peers. Just having moved into a new home eventually makes everything even worse, because some strange things are happening.

Why this movie was dropped as a horror film, doesn’t get clear until the very end. Because “The Deliverance” is never scary, and I scare easily when it comes to horror. Daniels left it for the final 30 minutes, no exorcism cliché is shunned.

“The Deliverance” starts out promising, especially with names like Glenn Close and Mo’Nique attached to the project. But in the end the film is pretty dull and unscary for a horror movie, trying to save it in the final act. When It’s already too late. Did not enjoy.

Rating: 2/ 5

20s Movie Review - Four Good Days

Director: Rodrigo Garcia
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 100 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Glenn Close, Mila Kunis, Stephen Root

Description: A mother (Glenn Close) helps her daughter (Mila Kunis) work through four crucial days of recovery from substance abuse.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2025 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 5: A FILM WITH MILA KUNIS
 
Review: That motherly love knows no bounds can be seen in again in “Four Good Days”, in which heroine addict Molly is back on her mother Deb’s doorstep after yet another failed rehab attempt. Deb hesitates at first, but eventually relents when Molly turns out to be eligible for a drug that combats addiction. For this Molly has to stay clean for four days and she can’t stay at the clinic. Deb has to help her survive these crucial days.

It's a gripping drama, that frustrates at times, escpeciallu since not all of Deb’s actions are equally believable. The story of Deb and Molly reconnecting, trying to rekindle their bond and having to fight this battle together, is touching and emotional. But I never felt emotionally invested in either of them. And the ending was very rushed.  Good performances by both Glenn Close and Mila Kunis though.

Rating: 3/ 5

Movie Review - Heart of Stone

Director: Tom Harper
Genre: Action/ Crime/ Thriller
Runtime: 122 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Gal Gadot, Jamie Dornan, Alia Bhatt, Jing Lusi, Paul Ready, Enzo Cilenti, Sophie Okonedo, Matthias Schweighöfer, BD Wong, Glenn Close
 
Description: An intelligence operative (Gal Gadot) for a shadowy global peacekeeping agency races to stop a hacker from stealing its most valuable and dangerous weapon.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 41: A NETFLIX ORIGINAL MOVIE
 
Review: Rachel is part of a small spy team, but secretly of a larger secret organization created to keep global peace. That organization uses the most powerful software in the world, so whoever controls it is basically the supreme world leaders. Someone has discovered that and is going to try to steal that power.

The film opens with an action sequence in which an arms dealer in hiding must be captured. Rachel is the computer wizard of this small theme, her team members not knowing yet that she is part of a larger organization where she does way more than just hack a computer.

The title is supposed to make sense, but Rachel’s last name is Stone and she works for Heart. So Stone of Heart would have been more accurate. But that’s just nitpicking. The overall film is really just so-so. Which is not the fault of Gal Gadot. She is an extremely skilled actress, very good as an action hero as well. The script is the real problem. Is uninspired. It feels like a lame rip-off of the “Mission: Impossible” movie series. The film tries to add some twists, but you at that point, you really don’t care anymore. Zero surprises.

Jamie Dornan is also not that great. I never really liked him as an actor, but he impressed me in “Belfast” and managed to portray a very convincing villain in the TV-series “The Fall”. Here, he is just as uninspiring as the script. I did like Alia Bhatt. Her character still has some conflict with a bit of layering, and she conveys it well.

I don’t think you’re missing out if you don’t watch “Heart of Stone”. Mediocre action flick that lacks inspiration.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Albert Nobbs

Director: Rodrigo García
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 113 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Glenn Close, Mia Wasikowska, Aaron Taylor Johnson, Brendan Gleeson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers

I WATCHED THIS FOR MY 2023 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 12: A MOVIE FILMED IN A PLACE YOU VISITED
 
Description: Albert Nobbs (Glenn Close) struggles to survive in late 19^th-century Ireland, where women aren’t encouraged to be independent. Posing as a man so she can work as a butler in Dublin’s most elegant hotel, Albert meets a handsome painter and looks to escape the lie she has been living.

Review: Nineteen-century Ireland was a poor and sad country. The difference between the poorest and richest was enormous and many people, especially single women, lived a poverty-stricken life. One way for a single woman to live an independent life was to dress up as a man. And that is exactly what Albert Nobbs did. Albert had been working as a butler in various hotels since she was 14. With her breasts strapped tightly under a corset, she serves guests in the hotel like a true gentleman. Her secret keeps her from forming friendships and relationships, yet deep inside she years to live a normal life. Preferably with a partner.

In 1982, Glenn Close already starred in a play based on the short story “The Singular Life of Albert Nobbs”, and it has always remained a part of her.

The film starts with no introduction. The task for the viewer is to observe how the main characters in the film are served. We see Albert’s averted gaze, the appreciation the guest have for him and the staff’s fear of making mistakes. “Albert Nobbs” leans mostly on details and on Glenn Close. She did a wonderful job portraying Albert.

But even though the performance by Close is memorable, “Albert Nobbs” itself isn’t. The plot itself doesn’t manage to captivate as strongly as the protagonist. As a result, feelings of emptiness and loneliness prevail once the credits roll.

Rating: 3 / 5

80s Movie Review - The Natural

Director: Barry Levinson
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 138 minutes
Year: 1984
Starring: Robert Redford, Robert Duvall, Glenn Close, Kim Basinger, Barbara Hershey, Robert Prosky, Richard Farnsworth, Michael Madsen

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR THE 2021 MOVIE CHALLENGE
WEEK 13: A SPORTS MOVIE

Description: A middle-aged unknown (Robert Redford) comes seemingly out of nowhere to become a legendary baseball player with almost supernatural talent.

Review: New York, 1939. Unknown baseball player Roy Hobbs arrives at The New York Knights. A professional baseball team that loses more than it wins. Sixteen years earlier, Roy was a talented pitcher on his way to a promising career. Because of an incident, Roy was long forgotten. Now he’s back, hoping to finally get the baseball career he always dreamed of.
Robert Redford is perfect for his role as Roy Hobbs. Same goes for Robert Duvall and Kim Basinger. The story is cleverly crafted. Many different genres are blended in the film. It’s not just a sports drama, but also has romance, comedy and crime in it. It also sits well with its portrayal of the American baseball culture and its depiction of pre-war America.
The movie is entertaining, but one thing bothered me. The 16-year hiatus that Roy has, is never fully explained and we are left with too many unanswered questions. And the ending was a bit too cliché and predictable. This film could be a lot better, if those two problems were solved. Overall, “The Natural” is still a sports film worth watching.

Rating: 3 / 5

80s Movie Review - Dangerous Liaisons

Director: Stephen Frears
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Runtime: 119 minutes
Year: 1988
Starring: John Malkovich, Glenn Close, Michelle Pfeiffer, Swoosie Kurtz, Uma Thurman, Keanu Reeves, Peter Capaldi

Description: A scheming widow (Glenn Close) and her manipulative ex-lover (John Malkovich) make a bet regarding the corruption of a recently married woman (Michelle Pfeiffer)

Review: France, just before the revolution. To take revenge on an old flame, Marquise de Merteuil asks Vicomte de Valmont if he wants to seduce the innocent new fiancée of her ex-lover. If Valmont provides written proof of her conquest, he receives a reward. Valmont agrees, but has actually set his sights on the chaste Madame de Tourvel.
“Dangerous Liaisons” is a film based on the play by Christopher Hamtons, “Les liaisons dangereuses”, which was based on the novel by Choderlos de Laclos from 1782.
The film is stylish, seductive, clever and incredible entertaining. And the cast is fantastic. We see a very young Uma Thurman and Keanu Reeves. But Michelle Pfeiffer shines in her role as Madame de Tourvel. John Malkovich plays the manipulative Valmont, in an excellent way. But it’s Glenn Close, in one of her most vicious roles to date, that steals the show. Every scene she is in, belongs to her.
A film filled with intrigue, deceit and manipulation, all set in in 18th century France. With a really strong cast this film makes for an entertaining movie night.

Rating: 4/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2014 - # 100: Guardians of the Galaxy

Director: James Gunn

Genre: Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction/ Comedy

Runtime: 120 minutes

Year: 2014

Starring: Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista, Bradley Cooper, Vin Diesel, Lee Pace, Michael Rooker, John C. Reilly, Glenn Close, Benicio Del Toro, Djimon Hounsou

Description: After stealing a mysterious orb in the far reaches of outer space, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is now the main target of a manhunt led by the villain known as Ronan the Accuser (Lee Pace). To help fight Ronan and his team and save the galaxy from his power, Quill creates a team known as the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' to save the world.

Review: The popularity of the Marvel movies doesn’t seem to end. After big names like Iron Man, Thor and Captain America getting their own film, the spotlights are now for the heroes from “Guardians of the Galaxy”.

The gang of superheroes was created in 1969, even before “Star Wars”. In 2008 it got a reboot and that’s the focus of this movie. We first meet Peter Quill. The only thing that reminds him of earth is a mix taped with classic pop songs. Quill, aka Star-Lord, is on an expedition to track down a mysterious orb. During his quest he gets ambushed by the Kree, an alien race lead by Ronan the Accuser. Quill manages to escape, but is then attacked by assassin Gamora, who also wants the orb. Bounty hunters Rocket and Groot are after Quill, because of the price on his head. The four get arrested and end up in jail. They make a deal to split the money they get for the orb and Drax also joins the group for his own reasons.

Between all the reboots and sequels that premiered this summer, “Guardians of the Galaxy” is a breath of fresh air. It shows that this movie was made with so much joy, it’s hard not to tag along. The eccentric and nostalgic tone is perfectly complimented by the soundtrack. But it doesn’t only please your ears. “Guardians of the Galaxy” is a visual treat. Everything looks beautiful, the special effects are amazing and mind-blowing.

What really seperates “Guardians of the Galaxy” from its competition is the high dose of humor. People who watch “Parks and Recreation” already know that Chris Pratt’s a comedic talent. But also Rocket, Groot and the dry humor delivered by Drax will definitely make you laugh out loud.

With movies like this, it’s always hard to create depth in characters. That’s also a point “Guardians of the Galaxy” does extremely well. In the first hour the main characters are introduced and you immediately like them and relate to them. Although raccoon Rocket and tree Groot steal the show, all characters have their qualities and you easily fall in love with all five of them.

Marvel has done it again, it really exceeded itself. “Guardians of the Galaxy” is heaps of fun and you immediately want to rewatch it. I can’t wait for the sequel!

Rating: 5/ 5