Review – The Whale

The Whale(2022)
R ‧ Psychological Drama ‧ 1 H 57 M
Written by Samuel D. Hunter
Directed by ‎Darren Aronofsky

THE CAST

Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins, and Samantha Morton.

THE STORY

(In their own words) From Darren Aronofsky comes The Whale, the story of a reclusive English teacher living with severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption. Starring Brendan Fraser and based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter

WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS

It’s adapted from a play.
There’s a lot of criticism about the film right now because some people are claiming it is “fatphobic” due to its depiction of the over 600 lbs English teacher. So perhaps a trigger warning for this for people who have or are dealing with issues around weight and food.
The film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.
Brendon Fraser has already been nominated for a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for his performance.
Most of the film is shot in 4:3 ratio, which is what pre-wide screen televisions were.

THE BEST
The BEST things about the film

The writing. Just great writing. The dialogue, it’s grounded, it’s honest, and draws you into the story.
Brendon Fraser’s performance is magnificent. Definitely Oscar worthy.
It’s impactful. Both myself and my guest were moved to tears.
It’s honest. From the writing to the acting, the whole film feels very honest. It’s even a theme of the film.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

Its single location makes it feel like a play, in that the story isn’t a grand story. Often people want movies to change locations a lot. This just isn’t that kind of story.
It can be hard to watch, but I think that is part of the point. It’s hard because you empathize with how hard of a time the main character, Charlie, is going through. I’ve myself had a complicated and difficult relationship with food. The story hit home in many, many ways.

COMMENTS

I feel like many of the complaints about the fatphobia in the film are coming from many people who don’t suffer from weight issues. They are accusing the film of making someone feel bad for being fat. This film isn’t just about him being overweight, at 600 lbs he’s not just needing to lose weight. The character in the film is someone who has suffered severe emotional trauma that he needs to cope with. He’s not dealing well with it. This is closer to a mental health issue than a body issue. In some ways, I feel like the fatphobia comments are being misdirected by some people who themselves may have it.

THE LESSON

Honesty matters.

IS IT REWATCHABLE

Certainly for the performances and the writing. It’s not necessarily a pleasant film. It will likely be one I reference to people quite a bit.

THE FINAL WORD

The Whale is a wonderfully written, emotional, and moving tale starring Brandan Fraser, who deserves an Oscar for his performance in this film. Adapted from the play, restrained to mostly one setting, and then presented in mostly 4:3 aspect ratio, the cinematography gives you the feeling of being trapped, as is the main character, Charlie. While much of the film is dealing with Charlie’s 600+ lb weight health related issues, it is really more about the mental health issues that manifested in his size. The weight holding Charlie down is the emotional baggage from his past, something we can all connect with.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

I am a sucker for a film that combines incredible acting with great writing. For this, The Whale gets a Love It.

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Review – Avatar: The Way of Water

Posted in Action, Fantasy, Film Reviews, Film Reviews 2022, Genre, Scifi by Silas Lindenstein – December 13, 2022

Avatar: The Way Of Water (2022)
PG-13 ‧ Sci-fi/Action ‧ 3 Hours 12 Minutes

Written by James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver

Directed by ‎James Cameron

THE CAST

Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang

THE STORY

(In their own words)

Jake Sully lives with his newfound family formed on the extrasolar moon Pandora. Once a familiar threat returns to finish what was previously started, Jake must work with Neytiri and the army of the Na’vi race to protect their home.

THE BEST
The BEST things about the film

Imaginative.
Visually stunning at times.
Creative world building at a massive level.
Probably the best 3D effects ever made yet.
Best motion capture ever made.
I surprisingly ended up caring for more of the characters than I thought I would.
Pacing is decently quick.
I haven’t been to Imax in a long time. I really liked the 3D – glasses.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

It’s really, really long.
Most of the time, the film is being shown at 48 frames per second. Which basically gives that soap opera effect to a film. It’s that over-smoothing effect you see on a television when someone has the refresh rate too high. It’s awful. It should be illegal. I hated every moment I could see it. It isn’t in the whole movie but it is a lot. It does help with 3D looking better. But if your film is relying on 3D to be good, it’s not a good film. I really would only look to watch a film in 3D as a novelty or as a second viewing if I have a choice. I don’t have a choice for this film. I don’t watch movies to see obvious special effects. I watch to see shot composition tell a story. 3D distracts from that. The 48 frames per second, just distracts from the entirety of the experience.
Story is super predictable.
The dialogue is horrid at times, mediocre at its best.
I’ve never been so thoroughly entertained and bored at the same time at this level.
Going to a movie, I prefer my characters three dimensional over the characters.
There are no surprises about character, plot, or emotion.

THE REVIEW

Every film and every filmmaker makes a choice on what a movie should focus on. James Cameron clearly chose to focus Spectacle and action. If that is what you like to watch in a movie, you’ll probably like this.

I have no doubt that most people will like this film. I’m just not one of those people. It is more of an experience. Bad film, good experience, maybe? Cause if you strip away all the special effects, it’s just a kind of boring, predictable story. Maybe it would be considered an imaginative book?

Sometimes people are worried about going into a 3 hour movie and don’t know if or when to use the bathroom because they don’t want to miss anything. In this film, go whenever you want. You won’t miss any of the plot. You’ll get it. Honestly, After the first thirty minutes, you can probably predict everything that will happen in the next 30. Once the seeming ending starts, maybe stick around. The last hour is the most interesting.

This movie plays like a 3 hour cut scene of a video game.

If there was a mute button for the dialogue, you could press that, miss everything said, and still enjoy the movie the same if not better. I don’t think you’d miss much of the plot. Cameron is a visual storyteller, so he does a good job with telling a story visually. It’s just that his dialogue is crap and his story is mediocre and predictable.

THE LESSON

Family sticks together.

IS IT REWATCHABLE

Watchable. Yes. If you have time. SO LONG.

FAVORITE LINES THAT AREN’T SPOILERS

Not one memorable line was spoken in the film.

THE FINAL WORD

Director James Cameron delivers a stunning visual feast that will make viewers salivate at the spectacle so much that they won’t take a bite and see how bland and hollow the food in front of them is. The most impressive part of this movie is that it is over three hours long but lacks one single memorable line of dialogue. The fact that you can predict almost every minor and major event that happens manages to make this one of the most entertaining films I’ve ever been bored watching. If you like spectacle, you’ll see the film in the theater, because it doesn’t have much to offer without the 3D effects. Great Technical achievements, good experience, mediocre film.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

Avatar: The Way Of Water is a mixed bag.
I Like It as an experience.
I Lose It as a film.

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Review – Empire Of Light

Empire of Light (2022)
Rated R ‧ Romance/Drama ‧ 1h 59m
Written by Sam Mendes
Directed by ‎Sam Mendes

THE CAST

Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Monica Dolan, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth.

THE STORY

(In their own words) A romance develops in a beautiful old cinema In the south coast of England in the 1980s.

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

Character Driven – This is a character driven piece. It was very nice examining these characters.
Olivia Coleman is great. She’s a magnificent actor and her roller coaster of emotions in this film seem spot on.
Well directed. The pacing and the moments are really nice.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

The story feels like it meanders a bit.
No oomph. There is no feeling at the end of it like we accomplished anything big with the film.

MY THOUGHTS

Most films are about one or two elements. This is really a character driven piece about an unlikely romance between a middle-aged white woman and a college age young black man in the 1980s. The film seems relatively simple, but I think it’s a lot more complex than most people will give it credit for. This film delved into mental health, workplace sexual harassment, racism, and taboo matters of the heart. At first it seems like it’s just going to be another film about the joy of cinema, when there’s actually more discussion about how the main character won’t take time to go sit and watch a movie. The story moves swiftly and your affection for each of the characters grows in complex ways, much like what happens between the characters.

THE LESSON

If you move fast enough you can’t see the darkness

IS IT REWATCHABLE

Yes

THE FINAL WORD

Olivia Coleman shines as the lead actress is this character driven romance drama set at a film house in 1980s England. Sam Mendes directs this film with much care and attention to careful pacing and tender moments between characters. Very much a character driven piece it is interesting, thoughtful and full of partial explorations of the challenges within a complicated relationship and mental health issues. A well-done film that meanders at times and lacks a huge understanding of why we are seeing this story. Nonetheless, it is worth seeing for Coleman’s performance, insight into the 80s in England, and exemplary film direction.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

Empire Of Light gets a Like It.

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Review – The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry

Review – <strong>THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY</strong>

THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. FIKRY (2022)
PG-13 ‧ Drama ‧ 1 Hour 45 Minutes
Written by Gabrielle Zevin
Directed by ‎Hans Canosa

THE CAST

Kunal Nayyar, Lucy Hale, Christina Hendricks, Blaire Brown, Lauren Stamile, with David Arquette and Scott Foley

THE STORY

(In their own words) Based on the New York Times best-selling novel, bookstore owner A.J.Fikry’s (Kunal Nayyar) life is not turning out as he expected as he struggles both emotionally and financially. After his wife’s tragic death, he feels lost and left behind in the rapidly evolving world of today. As he tries to keep his store afloat, he begins to drink his sorrows away, ultimately hitting rock bottom when his most prized possession, a series of Edgar Allen Poe poems, are stolen. But when a mysterious package appears at the bookstore, the unexpected arrival gives Fikry a new lease on life, and love, that are greater than he ever imagined. The film also stars Lucy Hale, Christina Hendricks, Scott Foley, and David Arquette.

THE BEST
The BEST things about the film

The characters are likable. Everyone in the film has a bit of charisma that you kind of like. Even the characters that maybe you aren’t supposed to that much. It really did succeed in getting me interested in the characters in film.
The art direction. The film did a really great job of bringing to life this quaint little island town.
The messages – The messages involving finding something to live for and putting love first in your life make for enjoyable stories.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

Didn’t show the most exciting things. The most interesting things in the story seem to happen during the times of AJ’s life that we don’t see. He finds the baby, decides to foster her, then they jump forward in time like 8 years. Whoa, when do we get to see him learn how to parent and learn how to love after losing love. You know how a good movie trailer is supposed to show you enough of a film to get you interested in the movie, but not show you the exciting parts. It was almost like this film was a trailer for the book. It made me want to read the book so I can experience the exciting things that happened. I hope they are in the book, otherwise I don’t know why I’m reading it.
Films should be about what’s happening. This film is more about what happened since the last time you saw them. I watch movies to see how people deal with life, not to hear a summary from years later. That’s an epilogue. It’s like this film is just a bunch of epilogues.

THE LESSON

Never give up on finding love. In all its forms.

IS IT REWATCHABLE

Yes. It isn’t bad. It’s kind of pleasant. I would watch it again if someone wanted to see it for some reason. But I’m more likely on my own to give the book a try.

THE FINAL WORD

It’s a pleasant enough film. The characters are likable and the set up for the story is interesting. This film adaptation of the book of the same name feels more like a trailer for the book because it skips over the most interesting moments of the characters lives, making it feel more like a series of epilogues. It’s not a bad film, it just feels incomplete. I would rewatch it, but I’d rather read the book and see if it offers anything more.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

I give a The Storied Life Of AJ Firkry a tentative Like It.

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Review – The Fabelmans

The Fablemens (2022)
PG-13 ‧ Drama/Coming Of Age ‧ 2 Hours 31 Minutes

Written by Steven Spielberg & Tony Kushner

Directed by ‎Steven Spielberg

THE CAST

Gabriel LaBelle as Sammy, with Michelle Williams, Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, and Judd Hirsch

THE STORY

This is a semi-autobiographical film loosely based on the adolescents of Steven Spielberg. It’s the story of a young aspiring filmmaker Sammy Fabelman, as he discovers the power of film in creating emotional moments and feelings in those around him and how he can see into people deeper through his lens than most can in real life.

THE BEST
The BEST things about the film

Overall Quality – it’s just a really well made film. Steven Spielberg is obviously a master of his craft. Everything about this film is excellent; cinematography, direction, acting.

Direction – Well paced, emotional moments are there that give you the right feelings at the right times. Spielberg is a master. He knows how to get you emotionally through the camera movement to the music, he knows how to make you feel in that very moment.
Timeline – I really liked that when choosing something autobiogrpahical, Spielberg chose to pick a relatively short amount of time. Too often filmmakers try to craft biopics covering way too many decades of their or other people’s lives and it always ends up feeling flat. Picking this one influential time allowed us to get a full satisfying story.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

It doesn’t stay with you. While great in the moment, I question whether this is a film or story that gives you a long term emotional impact. The next day, I honestly forgot I saw the movie until someone asked me how it was. Still I was like, “oh,it’s really well done, Spielberg really executes it flawlessly, there’s some really neat discussion points about art vs science, and honestly I wish I was just 10% as good at anything as Spielberg is at directing.” And then immediately I forgot I watched the film.

THE LESSON

I think the lesson from a film is also a line from the film:

You can’t just love something, you also have to take care of it.

IS IT REWATCHABLE?

Yes. It’s really good. I don’t think it has that huge, “ I can’t wait to see this again feeling, but it’s solid.

FAVORITE LINES THAT AREN’T SPOILERS
You can’t just love something, you also have to take care of it.

We mashuga for art

Movies are dreams you never forget.

Guilt is a wasted emotion.

Sometimes we can’t just fix things and we have to suffer.

THE FINAL WORD

A beautifully filmed, well-paced, and very nice story. This semi autobiographical film is about a semi-dysfunctional family and Sammy Fabelman’s discovery in the power of film making during his adolescence. It raises semi-timeless questions such as pursuing a life in science vs a life of art. Despite being incredibly well made, the film doesn’t leave a lasting impact on the viewer, making it semi-memorable.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

The Fabelmans gets a Like It.

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Review: The Menu

The Menu (2022)
R‧ Horror Comedy ‧ 1 Hour 46 Minutes

Written by Seth Reiss, Will Tracy
Directed by ‎Mark Mylod

THE CAST

Ralph Fiennes as Julian Slowik
Anya Taylor-Joy as Margot
Nicholas Hoult as Tyler
Hong Chau as Elsa
Janet McTeer as Lillian Bloom
Judith Light as Anne
John Leguizamo as Movie Star
Reed Birney as Richard Liebbrandt
Paul Adelstein as Ted. Lillian’s editor
Aimee Carrero as Felicity
Arturo Castro as Soren
Mark St. Cyr as Dave
Rob Yang as Bryce
Rebecca Koon as Linda
Peter Grosz as Sommelier

(From L-R): Judith Light, Reed Birney, Paul Adelstein, Janet McTeer, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, John Leguizamo, Aimee Carrero, Rob Yang, Arturo Castro, and Mark St. Cyr in the film THE MENU. Photo by Eric Zachanowich. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

THE STORY

“Young couple Margot and Tyler travel to a remote island to eat at Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant run by celebrity chef Julian Slowik, who has prepared a lavish molecular gastronomy menu where food is treated as conceptual art, although his approach to cuisine has some shocking surprises for the wealthy guests.”

MORE DETAILED STORY

(In their own words) A couple, Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and Tyler (Nicholas Hoult), travel to a coastal island in the Pacific Northwest to eat at an exclusive restaurant, Hawthorn, where the reclusive, globally celebrated Chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish tasting menu for select special guests. Joining the couple are three young, already inebriated tech bros, Bryce (Rob Yang), Soren (Arturo Castro) and Dave (Mark St. Cyr), an older wealthy couple and repeat clients, Anne and Richard (Judith Light and Reed Birney), renowned restaurant critic Lillian Bloom (Janet McTeer) and her slavish magazine editor Ted (Paul Adelstein), and a famous middle-aged movie star (John Leguizamo) with his assistant Felicity (Aimee Carrero). Hosted by the immaculately dressed front of house staff led by general Elsa (Hong Chau), the evening unfolds with increasing tension at each of the guest tables as secrets are revealed and unexpected courses are served. With wild and violent events occurring, Slowik’s motivation begins to rattle the diners as it becomes increasingly apparent that his elaborate menu is designed to catalyze to a shocking finale.

Anya Taylor-Joy and Ralph Fiennes in the film THE MENU. Photo by Eric Zachanowich. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

The story – It’s a very creative story, one that I don’t think I’ve heard before. It’s suspenseful, thrilling, really funny, and you have trouble predicting where it’s going to go. Wonderful satire.
The themes – There are just so many wonderful themes about class warfare. Rich vs Poor, Have vs Have Nots, Givers vs Takers. There are so many underlying themes, the more you talk about it, the more you see.
The writing – This is a really well written film. Subtle, great dialogue, and layers upon layer of meaning behind everything.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

More backstory of most of the cooks would have really helped understand more.

The cast of the film THE MENU. Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

THE LESSON

The rich don’t deserve bread.

THE FINAL WORD

This is a film that the audience should really devour. It is a tasting menu of satire, horror, comedy, thrills, and terror. Wonderfully written and speaks volumes about the role of class and the divide between the rich and the poor. This is not just another horror movie, it’s a warning that there is a breaking point and a message to the servant class about the power of saying ‘No.” Ralph Fiennes is a stand out as the celebrity chef Julian Slowik.

THE VERDICT

My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

The Menu gets a ‘Love It”

A course from the film THE MENU. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures. © 2022 20th Century Studios All Rights Reserved.

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Review: Bodies Bodies Bodies

Bodies, Bodies, Bodies (2022)
R ‧ Horror Comedy ‧ 1 Hour 35 Minutes

Screenplay by Sarah DeLappe
Story by Kristen Roupenian

Directed by ‎Halina Reijn

THE CAST

Amandla Stenberg, Maria Bakalova, Myha’la Herrold, Chase Sui Wonders, Rachel Sennott, Lee Pace, and Pete Davidson.

THE STORY

(In their own words)

When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game turns deadly in this fresh and funny look at backstabbing, fake friends, and one party gone very, very wrong.

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

The comedy – very funny film. Possibly now a current favorite horror comedy.
The suspense – Trying to figure out who the killer is, waiting for twists, waiting for the next death, trying to figure the whole thing out, was amazingly exciting.
The satire. The satire of the film to me seemed to be a commentary on the juxtaposition of the starring generation. This is a generation that is really in touch with their emotions and aware how their words can harm other people. Yet at the same time they feel empty.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

It’s definitely a film of convenience. Set up too perfectly.
Some exposition to explain dumb things people did, seemed unnecessary.
My lack of a time machine to go back in time and watch this again for the first time.

THE REVIEW

After every screening I see, I’m supposed to give notes to the PR firm holding the screening, let me share with you what I said to the things I told them:

“A refreshingly and surprisingly wonderfully done horror comedy, with an emphasis on the comedy.

Honest performances, never over the top, played for keeps never for laughs, but the laughs kept coming.

Pete Davidson is fantastic.

Wonderful ensemble! Acting, chemistry, they did it all so wonderfully.

Can’t wait to see it again.

It is the “do-not-miss horror of the year.”

Spot-on satire of a generation that has amazing levels of empathy and understanding of other people’s difficulties yet can’t find their own purpose.”

That should give you a sense of how I felt about this film.

They say it is a lot harder to write a review of a film you like than to write one for a film you hate. It’s really hard for me to write this review. I just want to gush over how much I enjoyed this.

I feel like I watch a lot of TV and film, and I just couldn’t predict this film. It’s horror, but it wasn’t as gory as I was afraid it would be. It showed it was also a comedy, but it was WAY funnier than I predicted. I thought I knew who the killer was, then I thought I knew who they were trying to make me think the killer was, then I thought I knew the red herring, cause it’s actually this other person….I was never right. I could just never predict what would happen. And that is absolutely exhilarating.

I don’t think the film will be considered a film to “change the genre” but it at minimum should set a bar of excellence because this film is truly wonderful. The writing is wonderful. The script is witty, the characters are fully developed, they are driven with clear motivations, they reveal things at just the right times, there are wonderfully developed social commentaries throughout the film, which is so wonderful to see in a horror comedy.

The acting is surprisingly awesome. Pete Davidson was just terrific and it makes me want to go watch his other films to see if I’ve been missing something.

THE LESSON

This movie is stacked full of lessons! It really is!

Lessons in white privilege, in ableism, in understanding the hardships others experience and trying to be an ally. But ultimately I came away with this:

Being an ally is great….but making yourself empty inside is horrible.

REWATCHABLE?

Absolutely. One of the first movies in a while that I can’t wait to watch again.

THE FINAL WORD

If you want a great laugh and scream movie, Bodies Bodies Bodies is it. It definitely has the blood and guts of a horror film. But it’s comedy makes me forget all that. This is close to the most fun I’ve had in a theater this year.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

Bodies Bodies Bodies gets a Love It

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Review: Prey (2022)

Prey (2022)
R ‧ Scifi/Action – 1 hour 39 Minutes

Written by Patrick Aison

Directed by ‎Dan Trachtenberg

THE CAST

Amber Midthunder as Naru, a young Comanche warrior who protects her tribe against a Predator
Dakota Beavers as Taabe
Dane DiLiegro as the Predator
Stormee Kipp
Michelle Thrush
Julian Black Antelope

THE STORY

(In their own words) In the Comanche Nation in 1717, a fierce and highly skilled warrior named Naru learns the prey she is stalking is a highly evolved alien with a technologically advanced arsenal

(L-R): Amber Midthunder as Naru and Dane DeLiegro as the Predator in 20th Century Studios’ PREY, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by David Bukach. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

THE BEST

The BEST things about the film

It’s a really cool addition to the franchise. Love the setting in the Native American world.
They are releasing the film in a full Comanche language dubbing. This is the first time ever for a feature film.
Love seeing an action film with a really strong female lead.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

The special effects of a bear are really bad. For a movie with this kind of budget….come on. Really?
The lack of consistency with using Native American language and “English” and accent or no accent.
Unlike the original, there doesn’t seem to be much of a deeper underlying message to the film. It’s just there for fun.

Amber Midthunder as Naru in 20th Century Studios’ PREY, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by David Bukach. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

THE REVIEW

I will admit, I rolled my eyes when I heard they were coming out with a fifth installment of the Predator franchise called Prey. Like, haven’t we mined this franchise for enough material yet? However, once I learned about the premise I became intrigued. This installment is technically a prequel to the others, set long ago in Native American land in 1717. From the trailer it was unclear if the Predator was the one hunting the members of the Comanche Nation or if it was the other way around. Which actually is kind of an accurate question even during the film.

The story centers around a young female warrior, Naru (Amber Midthunder) who’s trying to earn the respect of her fellow tribemates, when suddenly The Predator shows up. Seemingly, the Predator seems like he’s just there to find prey to hunt. To her, it’s a sign from the gods that she’s ready to be a hunter and she’s ready to capture him. But things don’t go as easily as she hoped.

Midhunter does a wonderful job in the lead role, showing herself to be a formidable opponent of the predator and someone who deserves the respect of it and her peers.

At this point, the success of the film and to an extent. really comes down to whether the story they tell with the Predator is a good one. We aren’t expecting surprises, we know what the Predator’s people can do…so it is really about did they come up with a good story and execute it well. I feel like they did on both counts.

The film was full of captivating drama and action, it gave us enough of a sense to not really know how it would end throughout. We didn’t know how these folks with less technology would stand a chance against the predator.

Dane DiLiegro as the Predator in 20th Century Studios’ PREY, exclusively on Hulu. Photo by David Bukach. © 2022 20th Century Studios. All Rights Reserved.

I enjoyed this film a lot. I’m not entirely in love with it, but it is probably the best entry into the Predator franchise since the original. I really enjoyed seeing the intersection of scifi/fantasy and the old technology living of the Comanche Nation.

This is a great popcorn film.

THE LESSON

Never underestimate your opponent.

If you won’t fight back, you may not be worth it.

THE FINAL WORD

The fifth installment of the Predator franchise is probably the best one in decades. Intense, action packed, and a creative 1717 Comanche Nation setting.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

Prey gets a Like It

WHERE TO WATCH

Prey will be streaming on Hulu in the U.S. on Friday, August 5.

THE TRAILER

Review: Gone In The Night

Gone In The Night (2022)
Rating ‧ Thriller/Mystery‧ 1 Hour 30 Minutes

Written by Matthew Derby and Eli Horowitz

Directed by ‎Eli Horowitz

THE CAST

Winona Ryder, Dermot Mulroney, Dustin Ingram, John Gallagher Jr., And Brianne Tju

THE STORY

(In their own words) Upon arriving at a remote cabin for a getaway, a woman and her boyfriend discover another couple already staying there. They decide to share the rental for the night, but the boyfriend’s disappearance sparks a race for answers.

THE BEST
The BEST things about the film

Winona Ryder – I will really watch anything she does. She definitely delivers and carries the film. Her performance is so nuanced, like early on in the film she does little things in the rearview mirror, subtle looks that later end up being very important.
Editing – The way they edited the film in a non-linear framework really made the mystery compelling. They also really tightly edited the film, it was nice and short and didn’t have extra fluff in the film. Kept the story direct and focused.
The suspense – The film is certainly suspenseful. Director Eli Horowitz definitely hit the tone of the film well. The first half of the film is especially intriguing.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

The main premise, the inciting incident of Kath (Winona Ryder) agreeing to stay overnight with a couple strangers was just kind of preposterous. I had a hard time getting over the fact that I didn’t believe she would be willing to stay. And then so easily accept the explanation for why her boyfriend disappears…fundamental foundation problems.
Predictability – The mystery didn’t take too long to start figuring out that something else happened than initially presented and we get a good guess on where it’s going. I can’t say I had a prediction for the end of the film, but with a smaller cast you know too quick who all the players will be.
The third act – The third act of the film is a bit of a head scratcher. Bizarre and possibly unearned. The film deserved better than the ending that we get.

THE REVIEW

The film feels like a late night movie you catch repeating on HBO a bunch so you finally watch it and wonder…”I thought Winona was doing pretty well at this point in her career, I wonder why she did this film. “ Winona Ryder is certainly the draw to the film and her acting is quite wonderful and nuanced…she didn’t need to do this film, but the film definitely needed her. She really does a wonderful job in the film. She is the source of making every seen engaging, mysterious, and you want her to solve the mystery. The film simply wouldn’t have worked without her cast in the film.

That being said, the rest of the cast does a really good job in their respective roles. Brianne Tju has a really interesting quality to her that brings an air of mystery. You always get the sense that there’s something she isn’t saying. She certainly has that “it” factor.

What the film does well is tone. It does a really good job of creating an intriguing atmosphere that while watching, you can somewhat go along with the story. But it’s one of those films that the more you think about it, the film starts to unravel.

THE LESSON

Learn to be okay within your own skin.

THE FINAL WORD

Winona Ryder is outstanding in this mystery that will have you on the edge of your seat for the first half of the film and then scratching your head for the last third.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

Gone In The Night gets a Like It.

THE TRAILER

Review: Bullet Train

Bullet Train (2022)
R ‧ Action Comedy Thriller ‧ 2 Hour 6 Minutes

Directed by ‎David Leitch

Screenplay by Zak Olkewicz. Based on the Japanese novel Maria Beetle (published in English as Bullet Train) by Kōtarō Isaka.

THE CAST

Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Brian Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, Hiroyuki Sanada, Michael Shannon, Benito A Martínez Ocasio, and Sandra Bullock.

THE STORY

(In their own words) Five assassins find themselves on a fast moving bullet train from Tokyo to Morioka with only a few stops in between. They discover their missions are not unrelated to each other.

THE BEST
Three BEST things about the film

The story – Very compelling story and I really like the way it was presented.
The comedy – really funny film. Impeccable comedy and funny characters.
Brad Pitt – Such an enjoyable performance. You could tell he was having fun with the role so it was fun for us to watch. He plays an “Assassin” who is trying to change himself and not kill people anymore. He’s been doing a lot of therapy and he just wants to do “grab and go” jobs now. He also thinks he is bad luck now, because people around him tend to die, even if they aren’t connected to the job he’s doing.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

Honestly, I don’t have many complaints about this film. My major issue is probably that we somehow filled this Japanese story set in Japan with a bunch of people who aren’t Japanese. I’m nearly positive that in the original book, they weren’t a bunch of American and British people in the story. However, there is also something to be said that this film likely wouldn’t have gotten viewed by many if it didn’t have a big star attached to it like Brad Pitt. Further, to a degree the race of the people doesn’t matter. It’s not like they cast white people in roles that really relied on being part of Japanese culture.
Violence. There’s a lot of violence in the film. If you are shy to violence, this may not be for you. Much of it is done in a comical way, but it’s still there. Is it gorey? Not exactly, but there is a level of exaggeration. Not as bad as The Kingsmen or Kill Bill, but there is a level of it that you have to be able to deal with.
I love Sandra Bullock and was looking forward to some Sandra Bullock physical comedy, however that’s not the role she has for this. She serves mostly as a voice actor for this film.

THE REVIEW

Bullet Train is a high speed adventure with surprisingly well rounded characters. In this kind of

action film, you don’t expect the arch of the film to take you through so much character building. We end up with some really fleshed out characters that make you root for them throughout.

The film is an exaggeration. That’s the “world of the play.” When looking and examining a film like this you can’t judge the action sequences by the terms of a realistic drama, you have to look at the world that is created for the audience. Does the movie stay within the laws and world framework that they establish early on. While Bullet Train is in an absurd world.
It is in a world of exaggerated violence, characters, and therefore it is not a stretch when the world of physics get pushed to their max, and beyond. There are people who will judge this film based on how realistic it is and that simply isn’t fair. If the film breaks its rules it has established, it is jarring and the audience can feel it, that never happens in the film.

Bullet Train is my kind of action film. It is smartly written, full of comedy, suspenseful all the way until the end, and has some hidden lessons. In this film it comes from Brad Pitt’s character, Ladybug, who is about teaching yourself to have a good mindset.

To me, the film is less of a “who dunnit, and more of a “who DIDN’T do it.” It is full of twists and callbacks to earlier actions, people, and items, so you really have to pay attention during the film.

Bullet Train is easily one of my favorite action films of the year.

THE LESSON

Thomas The Train can really teach you to know people.

THE FINAL WORD

Bullet Train is funny, suspenseful, and full of exaggerated displays of violence. One of Brad Pitt’s most entertaining roles in quite a while. Bullet Train is a fun ride that doesn’t disappoint. One of my favorite action films of the year.

THE VERDICT
My 3L system gives me the choice to Love It, Like It, or Lose It.

Bullet Train gets a Love It.

THE TRAILER