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 - Spider-Man: No Way Home

Director: Jon Watts
Genre: Action/ Adventure
Runtime: 148 minutes
Year: 2021
Starring: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jacob Batalon, Jon Favreau, Jamie Foxx, Willem Dafoe, Alfred Molina, Benedict Wong, Tony Revolori, Marisa Tomei, Angourie Rice, Thomas Haden Church, Rhys Ifans, J.K. Simmons

Description: With Spider-Man’s identity revealed, Peter (Tom Holland) asks Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) for help. When a spell goes wrong, dangerous foes from other worlds start to appear, forcing Peter to discover what it truly means to be Spider-Man.  

Review: “Spider-Man: No Way Home” begins where the previous installment ended. The identity of the New York hero is out in the streets and his reputation is blackened by videos from The Daily Bugle. This has such a negative impact on the lives of Peter and his friends that he decides to visit his friend Dr. Strange, who morosely agrees to use magic to make everyone forget that he is Spider-Man.

*** WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS ***

This, of course, goes disastrously wrong, and the result is that a whole group of villains from other universes (the other Spider-Man movie series) enter the scene. From the Green Goblin to Otto Octavius.
Marvel and Sony flawlessly tap into the nostalgia of a generation that grew up with the Spider-Man films from the early 2000s. And it’s a delight to see some of the villains return. Dr. Otto Octavius is one of them, but seeing him wasn’t that big of a surprise, since he was in the trailer. Electro, who was in “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, is a lot more interesting here then he was in the other film. And Jamie Foxx seems to be having more fun too. We also see Lizard and Sandman, who don’t have major roles but are pleasant additions to the group of villains. The real stunner though is Willem Dafoe, who surprisingly returns as Norman Osborne aka The Green Goblin. His maniacal face expressions and laugh really make him the great villain that he portrays in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”.
The thing I most liked about the film was the return of Tobey Maguire and especially Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/ Spider-Man from other universes. It would have been amazing if it was a complete surprise, but social media really ruined that for me with all its spoilers. But it was still a great moment when both of them entered this universe. And can we take a moment to talk about Andrew Garfield. Because, even though he is only in the movie for a short time, he was the highlight for me. I’ve always said he was the best Spider-Man of the three, even with his movies not being the best of the bunch. Garfield has the best comedic timing, he uses his intelligence to defeat his enemies and is the most confident and charismatic of the three. I like Maguire and Holland as well, don’t get me wrong, but I clearly have a favorite. And Garfield’s Spider-Man has a beautiful redeeming moment, where he managed to save MJ, reminding us of the fact that he wasn’t able to save his girlfriend Gwen.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” comes off as surprisingly dark and mature and that makes an impact. But there is still room for some comedy.
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” is the best film in this series, with Tom Holland as Spider-Man, who again does a very good job. The film has a character-driven plot, which I loved, and I enjoyed the returning characters. This movie put a smile on my face.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

10s Movie Review - Easy A

Director: Will Gluck
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 92 minutes
Year: 2010
Starring: Emma Stone, Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Dan Byrd, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, Stanley Tucci, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Malcolm McDowell, Fred Armisen

Description: A clean-ct high school student relies on the school’s rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.

Review: High School student Olive is a wallflower and is pretty much invisible. Her best friend Rihannon gets more attention after she told everyone she had sex. Olive thinks it wouldn’t harm anyone if she starts a rumor herself, about losing her virginity. This rumor spreads faster than she could have ever imagined.
The story doesn’t sound all that special, but it’s the execution of this story that is almost brilliant. And Emma Stone is fabulous in “Easy A”. This is the movie that introduced me to her and I have been a major fan ever since. Her portrayal of Olive is just great and she is actually one of my favorite female movie characters. Her parents, played by Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson, are great too. They are so funny, I love them in this film. And Amanda Bynes, as Jesus freak Marianne, is really funny as well.
I’m not a fan of romantic comedies, but when there is more com then rom, I tend to like them more. “Easy A” is one of those films, I love this movie! “Easy A” gets an A+!

Rating: 5/ 5

10s Movie Review - The Peanut Butter Falcon

Director: Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz
Genre: Adventure/ Drama/ Comedy
Runtime: 93 minutes
Year: 2019
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Zack Gottsagen, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, John Hawkes, Thomas Haden Church, Jake Roberts, Jon Bernthal, Mick Foley

Description: Zak (Zack Gottsagen) runs away from his care home to make his dream of becoming a wrestler come true.

Review: Coming up with an original road movie isn’t an easy task, because it often comes to two total opposites during a trip from A to B. In “The Peanut Butter Falcon” a fugitive fisherman is stuck with escapee Zak, who has down syndrome. The ‘Southern’ atmosphere and the chemistry and dynamic between the two leads make this a loveable feel good film.
Zak has no family that can take care of him. Because there is not place for him, he lives in a retirement home. Zak constantly tries to break out, to find his idol Salt Water Redneck and become a wrestler. His caretaker Eleanor tries everything to make him feel at home, but Zak manages to break out anyway.
A few miles ahead, fisherman Tyler gets in a dispute with the people he works with. Out of revenge, Tyler burns their warehouse and flees on a boat. And it just happens that Zak was hiding on this boat. Tyler isn’t really in the mood to have a traveling partner, but the two develop a special friendship and help each other.
“The Peanut Butter Falcon” is an atmospheric, modern scoundrel tale, set in the Southern part of the US. Shia LaBeouf is fantastic, but Zack Gottslagen is the real star in the film. The chemistry between the two is amazing and that is what makes this film so great, heartwarming and unforgettable. Without a strong cast like this, the film would easily have been standard.

Rating: 4 / 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 107: We Bought a Zoo

Director: Cameron Crowe
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Family
Runtime: 124 minutes
Year: 2011
Starring: Matt Damon, Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Colin Ford, Angus Macfadyen, Elle Fanning, Patrick Fugit, John Michael Higgins

Description: Set in Southern California, a father (Matt Damon) moves his young family to the countryside to renovate and re-open a struggling zoo.

Review: Director Cameron Crowe is mostly known for his film “Almost Famous”. “We Bought a Zoo” is his first family film, based on a true story where a widowed man and his two kids move and buy a struggling zoo.
Benjamin Mee doesn’t have a lot of experience as a parent, because for his job as a journalist he was on the road a lot. He quits his job writing and eventually finds a beautiful house that comes with a zoo. And he buys it.
Matt Damon plays the lead and I loved his character. It’s really easy to relate to him, a man just trying to deal with his wife’s death and his kids. Especially his son, who he just can’t seem to reach. Him buying a zoo is part of the process Benjamin is going through. Scarlett Johansson is also good in this film, I also sympathized her character a lot. And the little girl Rosie, so adorable!
“We Bought a Zoo” is such a great film, very underrated. Okay, it’s bittersweet, but who cares. I loved the film and I think everyone should see it sometime. It put a big smile on my face in the end.

Rating: 5/ 5

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 6: Sideways

Director: Alexander Payne

Genre: Drama/ Comedy

Runtime: 124 minutes

Year: 2004

Starring: Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh

Description: Two men reaching middle age (Paul Giamattis, Thomas Hade Church) with not much to show but disappointment, embark on a week long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip down the aisle.

Review: When “Sideways” is released, director Alexander Payne is relatively unknown in Hollywood. He has made praiseworthy films “About Schmidt” and “Election”. “Sideways” is a great follow up. We follow two friends who spend a week in the Californian wine area. It’s a very simple set up, which results and a realistic and convincing film.

Jack is about to get married and takes his buddy Miles on a trip to the Californian wine area. It is his last week as a ‘free man’ and Jack takes that very seriously. The two are very different. Jack is an actor, mostly for commercials, a ladies man and someone who enjoys life to the fullest. Miles is a depressed newly divorced failed writer, who spends his days teaching English and enjoying wine.

As a real wine expert Miles wants to teach Jack to enjoy the perfect Pinot or Cabernet and protects him from cheap Merlot. Miles has it all planned out: a week of wine tasting, fine dining, a little golf and enjoying the nice weather. Off course the weekend goes a little different as planned, because Jack has set a goal to find a nice girl to have some fun with. And he wants Miles to do the same. They meet Maya and her friend Stephanie, both wine lovers as well. Jack and Stephanie have an instant connection, but Miles and Maya’s bond is of a different caliber.

“Sideways” is a beautiful drama, but also a delightful comedy. The balance between these two genres is perfect and none of it is overdone. A film that manages to make you feel for and with the characters for over two hours and you share their happiness and pain. “Sideways” is an endearing and honest film. Because the main characters are people you can relate to, so we’re all rooting for a happy ending. Director Payne manages to avoid certain clichés.

Paul Giamatti is great in “Sideways”. You just want to hug his character and tell him everything is going to be okay. Thomas Haden Church, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh all perform very well.

“Sideways” is in a way a coming of age film, but then with men that are a little bit older. A definite must see.

Rating: 4,5/ 5

Quotables: "Easy A"

When I read the synopsis of “Easy A” I thought it was going to be one of those standard teen comedies, with oversexed teenagers. Well, it wasn’t anything like that. It’s one of my favorites of all-time and it made me love Emma Stone. And she’s the star, with a lot f fantastic quotes. Here are my favorites.

Olive Penderghast: I just thought of the funniest thing. My name is an anagram for "I love".
Anson: What... what's an anagram?
Olive Penderghast: [stares in disbelief for a second before recovering] Look it up big boy.

Brandon: Is there an Olive here?
Rosemary: There's a whole jar of them in the fridge!

Principal Gibbons: This is public school. If I can keep the girls off the pole and the boys off the pipe, I get a bonus.

Dill: The family member of the week gets to pick the movie.
Olive Penderghast: You get family member of the week every week.
Rosemary: And there's a reason for that.
Olive Penderghast: Yeah, you pick family member of the week!
Rosemary: Are you accusing me of nepotism?

Olive Penderghast: Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80's movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I wanna ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80's movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life.

Dill: After we watch "The Bucket List," remember to cross "watch 'The Bucket List'" off our bucket list.

Olive Penderghast: I used to be anonymous, invisible to the opposite sex. If Google Earth were a guy couldn't find me if I was dressed up as a 10-story building.

Woodchuck Todd: Screw all these people, Olive!
Olive Penderghast: Haven't you heard? I already did.

Rosemary: Not to mention how have you been dressing this past few day. No judgement, but you kind of look like stripper.
Olive Penderghast: Mom!
Dill: [to Olive] A high-end stripper, for governors or athletes.

Rhiannon: George is not a sexy name. George is like what you name your teddy bear, not the name you wanna scream out during climax.

Olive Penderghast: Ironically, we were studying "The Scarlet Letter", but isn't that always the way? The books you read in class always seems to have a strong connection with whatever angsty adolescent drama is being recounted. I consider this. Except for "Huckleberry Finn", 'cause I don't know any teenage boys who have ever run away with a big, hulking black guy.

Olive Penderghast: That's the beauty of being a girl in high-school: people hear you had sex once and BAM - you're a bimbo.

Rosemary: We're a family of late bloomers - I didn't until I was 14 and nor did Olive.
Chip: Why does that matter - I'm adopted!
Dill: [Freaking out] What! Oh my god! Who told you? Guys we were going to do this at the right time!

Olive Penderghast: [to Brandon as she takes off her panties] Relax. Jesus. What is with you gays? Are you really that repulsed by lady parts? What do you think I have down there? A gnome?

Olive Penderghast: I might even lose my virginity to him. I don't know when will it happen. You know, maybe in five minutes, or tonight, or sixth months from now, or maybe on the night of our wedding. But the really amazing this is, it is nobody's goddamn business.

Movie Moments: "Easy A"

I really love this movie... a whole lot!! Emma Stone rocks and she plays one of the most awesome characters ever. Here are my favorite scenes from "Easy A".

Moment # 1: Opening monologue
We meet Olive, a high school student who used to be invisible and as she says she’s a nobody. There are two sides to every story and this is her story. The right one.

Moment # 2: How Olive spends her weekend
Because Olive is trying to get out of spending the weekend camping with her friend Rhiannon and her parents, she makes up a guy named George who she’s meeting over the weekend. Than we see how Olive really spends her weekend. She receives a card from her grandmother playing the song “Pocket Full of Sunshine” by Natasha Bedingfield. Olive says it’s the worst song ever, but she starts singing it the entire weekend.

Moment # 3: “I’m adopted”
Olive, her brother Chip and their parents are sitting in the kitchen. When Chip tells Olive he likes her pants, Olive tells him he can have ‘em when he’s bigger. Mom Rosemary says it didn’t happen to her and Olive until they were 14. Than Chip says he’s adopted, so It wouldn’t be the same for him. Dad Dil says “Oh my God, who told him”.

Moment # 4: Abominable twat
When in class, Mr. Griffith is talking with his class about the book “The Scarlett Letter”. How the leading lady wears a red A for adultery. One of Olive’s classmates, Nina, gives here a sneer. Olive response: “You abominable twat”. With that Olive gets sent to the principal’s office.

Moment # 5: Grounding Olive
Olive tells her parents about what happened in school and that she got punished for saying a bad word in class. Because her brother can’t hear what she said, she has to spell it with her pees. Parents say it is a bad word and try to ground her, because they clearly can’t think of a descent punishment.

Moment # 6: Brandon loses fake virginity
After talking to Brandon, Olive makes a deal. She is going to pretend to have sex with Brandon, so everyone thinks he lost his virginity, because Brandon is actually gay and he gets picked on a lot.

Moment # 7: The red “A”
Because of the book “The Scarlett” letter and all the rumors going on in school, Olive decides to wear a red “A” on her clothes. With this she proves that she doesn’t care about what other people say.

Moment # 8: What happened to chivalry
While doing the livestream on the internet, Olive shares a thought. Quote: “Whatever happened to chivalry? Does it only exist in 80's movies? I want John Cusack holding a boombox outside my window. I wanna ride off on a lawnmower with Patrick Dempsey. I want Jake from Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he knows he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80's movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason. But no, no, John Hughes did not direct my life".

Moment # 9: Todd drives Olive home
After her date went wrong, Todd drives Olive home. She tells him everyone thinks she’s a whore. Todd tells her he never believed the rumors. When Olive finds out that Rihannon was Todd’s first kiss, she tells him she had feelings for him. Todd tells her he wants to kiss her, but she won’t let him. Not in this situation, Olive wants it to be perfect.

Moment # 10: Olive gets her 80’s movie
When Olive finishes her story, she tells everyone that Todd is waiting outside. She might lose her virginity, but when “that’s none of you goddamn business”. Todd is waiting with a boombox in the air like John Cusack, takes her away on a lawnmower like Patrick Dempsey and puts a fist up in the air like Judd Nelson.

Favorite Moment: Moment # 2: How Olive spends her weekend

In the Picture: The Characters from "Easy A"

I recently saw this movie and it's full of interesting characters. Here are the characters from "Easy A".

Olive Pendergast
Played by: Emma Stone
Olive is a clean-cut high school student. She's very smart, anonymous and (so she says) a nothing. After avoiding a camping weekend with her best friend Rhiannon and her parents by saying she has a fictive date, a rumor was born. Rhiannon thinks Olive had sex with this 'guy' so Olive lies about it. The rumors spreads so fast, everyone in the entire school knows about it. Because they are reading "The Scarlet Letter" in school Olive decides to wear a red A on her clothes and she wants everyone to know she doesn't care about the rumors. Olive is starting to like all the attention she gets and she helps guys in her school to 'lose their virginity'. Not for real, but they can mention Olive's name. Olive soon realizes that if you have the reputation of a skank, people will treat you like that too.

Marianne Bryant
Played by: Amanda Bynes
Marianne is the one who spreads the rumor about Olive. She leads this we-all-love-God-and-Jesus group and thinks Olive is repulsive for for what she's doing. Marianne want's to 'save' Olive and wants her gone.

"Woodchuck" Todd
Played by: Penn Badgley
When Todd and Olive where in 6th grade, they prentented to have kissed. Ever since Olive had a crush on Todd. Todd is a very kind guy and the school's mascotte. He is one of the only people who doesn't believe the rumors that are spread about Olive and admits to her he likes her.

Rhiannon
Played by: Aly Michalka
Unlike Olive, her best friend Rhiannon is populair and she did have sex. She is a real skank, but people aren't really paying attention to that. Rhiannon is pissed when Olive becomes more populair than her after the rumors. Especially when Olive goes on a date with Anson, Rhiannon's crush. Olive feels guilty about it, but after hearing that she was Todd's first kiss she doesn't feel that guilty anymore.

Mr. Griffith
Played by: Thomas Haden Church
Mr. Griffith is Olive's favorite teacher. He also doesn't believe all the rumors about Olive. He talks to Olive on a different level than the other students, because she actually reads to books for his class and understands them.

Mrs. Griffith
Played by: Lisa Kudrow
She's married to Mr. Griffith and the guidance counselor at school. Mrs. Griffith does believe the rumors and actually takes advantage of them after one of her students got chlamydia from her. Mrs. Griffith started an affair with one of the students, because she isn't happy in her marriage.

Dil Pendergast
Played by: Stanley Tucci
Dil is Olive's dad. He's a very open minded and 'cool' dad. He has a great sense of humor and truly gets Olive.

Rosemary Pendergast
Played by: Patricia Clarkson
Rosemary is Olive's mom. She's the perfect woman for Dil, because she's just as open minded. Rosemary is open about sex and talks about it with Olive. She even shares with her that she used to be a skank in high school and she slept with a bunch of people (mostly men).

Favorite Character: Olive Pendergast