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

  1. The comedy – very funny film. Possibly now a current favorite horror comedy. 
  2. 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. 
  3. 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

  1. It’s definitely a film of convenience. Set up too perfectly. 
  2. Some exposition to explain dumb things people did, seemed unnecessary. 
  3. 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

THE TRAILER

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

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

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

  1. The special effects of a bear are really bad. For a movie with this kind of budget….come on. Really?
  2. The lack of consistency with using Native American language and “English” and accent or no accent.  
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

  1. The story – Very compelling story and I really like the way it was presented. 
  2. The comedy – really funny film. Impeccable comedy and funny characters. 
  3. 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

  1. 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.
  2. 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. 
  3. 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

Review: DC League of Super-pets

DC League of Super-Pets (2022)
PG ‧ Animated Action Adventure ‧ 106 minutes


Written by John Whittington

Directed by ‎Jared Stern

THE CAST

Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Kate McKinnon, John Krasinski, Vanessa Bayer, Natasha Lyonne, Diego Luna, Thomas Middleditch, Ben Schwartz, and Keanu Reeves.

THE STORY

(In their own words) Krypto the Super-Dog and Superman are inseparable best friends, sharing the same superpowers and fighting crime side by side in Metropolis. However, when the Man of Steel and the rest of the Justice League are kidnapped, Krypto must convince a ragtag group of animals to master their own newfound powers for a rescue mission

THE BEST


The BEST things about the film

  1. Humor, lots of animated physical comedy. I watched it with two of my kids, one six and one four, and they both laughed a lot during it.  Especially in the first 20 minutes. 
  2. There are some touching moments such as when Krpyto (Dwayne Johnson) and Ace (Kevin Hart) connect over Ace’s traumatic moment that led to him being sent to a rescue.
  3. Really nice family friendly superhero story you can bring kids to so they can enjoy super-heroes in the theater.  
  4. Fun characters. 

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

  1. As much as it’s being advertised as a buddy comedy between Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart, We know since it is an animated film, we know that they record their voices separately. You aren’t going to feel this chemistry between them.  That is marketing. For some reason, this film more than others you don’t get a sense of chemistry between characters. And I’m honestly not sure why I get that feeling. 
  2. There’s not a lot memorable about the film.  
  3. I find animated films a bit hard to connect with overall, but this one truly didn’t spend the time in making a strong connection and relatability with the audience.

THE REVIEW

I wanted to like this. I really did. I’m a big DC fanboy. I like a lot of the films in the DC universe that most people don’t. It was lighthearted, but unmemorable. It had some fun characters like the evil bald guinea pig hellbent on world domination, but we really don’t care enough about them to emotionally invest. The main protagonist Krypto, played by the charismatic Dwayne Johnson, somehow wasn’t very likable. And I love Dwayne John. Too bad dogs can’t do the People’s Eyebrow. 

I did laugh out loud a few times with my kids. I will admit that. But 90% of my enjoyment of the film was based on their reaction. It’s a kid’s cartoon. Which is okay. I get a lot of enjoyment watching my kid’s enjoy movies. I hope this spurns a love of movies for them. 

THE LESSON

Love isn’t about spending every moment together, but rather what you would do for the person you love. 

THE FINAL WORD

A less than memorable animated film that may be better suited for a night out with kids. Yet, still better than Justice League. Maybe the grown up superhero films need more pets. 

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

I give this a Lose It for Adults but A Like It for children. 

THE TRAILER

Review: NOPE

NOPE (2022)
R ‧ Horror/Thriller ‧ 2 Hours 11 Minutes


Written and Directed by Jordan Peele

THE CAST

  • Daniel Kaluuya
  • Keke Palmer
  • Steven Yeun

THE STORY

(In their own words) Caretakers at a California horse ranch encounter a mysterious force that affects human and animal behavior.

THE BEST


(from left) OJ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya), Emerald Haywood (Keke Palmer) and Angel Torres (Brandon Perea) in Nope, written, produced and directed by Jordan Peele.

BEST things about the film

  1. The anticipation
  2. Incredibly imaginative
  3. Wonderful acting
  4. Perfectly timed comedy and terror
  5. It has its own genre
  6. Great messages underneath

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

  1. THERE ISN’T A DAMN THING WRONG WITH THIS FILM.
  2. See number one.
  3. See number two.
Daniel Kaluuya as OJ Haywood in Nope, written, produced and directed by Jordan Peele.

THE REVIEW

Nope is a lot of things. It’s a horror, it’s thriller, it’s comedic, it’s…..a Jordan Peele film. While other filmmakers are out there just crafting new stories, Peele is out there creating his own genre.

This marks director and writer Jordan’s Peele third film and third horror film….with the Peele style. This is easily his best work yet. A clear story, great characters, great performances and underlying themes and messages that will not be obvious to everyone when they first walk away. But there is a lot there. I think this film will be studied and studied. It’s a very layered film. 

The trailers for this film frankly give too much away, and yet, tell you nothing. It’s kind of amazing. I didn’t watch trailers for NOPE since the first teaser until after I watched the film. I’m glad I got fully surprised. 

The film is incredibly imaginative, well crafted, and full of suspense. The film flew by as I was on the edge of my seat from anticipation of the entire film. 

How scary? Like Silence of the Lambs? Gory at all?

I feel like if I say it’s not gory, people will come after me. I think the gore is actually minimal but it is used incredibly and effectively.

I’m not sure how scary it is. I walked in planning to pee my pants. I was pretty tense the whole time.

THE LESSON

Keep your head down.


THE FINAL WORD

Nope is a “yep”. 

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

NOPE gets a LOVE IT. 

THE TRAILER

THE REVIEWER


When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Review: Thor: Love And Thunder

Thor: Love and Thunder  (2022)
PG-13 ‧ Action/Adventure ‧ 2 Hours 5 Minutes


Written by Taika Waititi(story by) Jennifer Kaytin Robinson

Directed by ‎ Taika Waititi

THE CAST

Chris Hemsworth; Christian Bale; Tessa Thompson; Jaimie Alexander; Taika Waititi; Russell Crowe; Natalie Portman.

THE STORY

(In their own words) Thor embarks on a journey unlike anything he’s ever faced — a quest for inner peace. However, his retirement gets interrupted by Gorr the God Butcher, a galactic killer who seeks the extinction of the gods.

THE BEST

(L-R): Natalie Portman as Mighty Thor and Chris Hemsworth as Thor in Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.


BEST things about the film

  1. The Direction- It is probably the first Marvel movie with such a distinct voice of the director. This is no doubt a taika Waititi film. It is quirky and funny and takes unexpected approaches to the situation.
  2. Special Effects – Excellent special effects that’s becoming par for the course for Marvel films.
  3. The comedy – This is a very fun film. It really leans into comedy, which director Taika Waititi.
  4. Story – The story has a huge level of magnitude and will have huge impact on the future MCU. I think I now know what the direction of Phase 4 is, especially after the two post-credit scenes.
  5. Christian Bale – Holy moly. I totally forgot he was in the film and I didn’t realize that was him until the film ended and I saw the credits. Incredible transformation as an actor

THE WORST

WORST things about the Film

  1. Lack of relatability – This film deals with a lot of “Gods.” Similar to The Eternals, we are starting to deal with less “grounded” characters that we can relate to. Which makes it tough to really feel relatable.
  2. Jane -You know from the previews that Jane somehow gets the power of Thor in this film. I was super excited about this, but it kind of hurt the film by making everyone super powered. Suddenly, we don’t have our relatable character to side with. Jane needed John, someone to look after that would be more vulnerable.
  3. Villain – We hear a lot about the villain, but don’t get to see a lot.  I don’t feel like they properly built up the big bad for this film. He was there, present, but I didn’t have a strong feeling of caring. Without a good villain, we just don’t care if the hero wins. The origin of him they showed was fantastic, but we needed to see him as the villain longer before we intro’d the heroes to fight him. 
Christian Bale as Gorr in Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

THE REVIEW

This will probably be the most polarizing marvels film we’ve had yet.  In fact, I could see this movie being as polarizing as the Star Wars film The Last Jedi.  Some people will love Thor Love & Thunder for its quirky, offbeat filmmaking style, it’s continuous use of comedy throughout, the stretching of the established characters’ personalities, and the unexpected direction this film goes with its story.  Others will hate the film for the exact same reasons. 

My daughter watched the press screening with me and she said it didn’t feel like a Marvel movie to her.  And I get that.  It is the first Marvel film I can remember that feels distinctly different because of the director & writer’s style. Most of Disney’s Marvel movies director’s point of view gets generalized by the powers that be.  They don’t want anything to be too unpredictable, that’s why so many Marvel movies feel the same. For this one they clearly let director Taika Waititi have free reign.  

THE LESSON

Love, above all else.

(L-R): Tessa Thompson as Valkyrie and Natalie Portman as Mighty Thor in Marvel Studios’ THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER. Photo by Jasin Boland. ©Marvel Studios 2022. All Rights Reserved.

THE FINAL WORD

Thor: Love and Thunder is a mixed bag. It’s got a lot of elements I really, really liked. It had big shoes to fill after Thor: Ragnorok, and I think it might fall short of expectations in that regard. However, it is still a quirky, fun Marvel film. You haven’t seen anything like this yet. Don’t think too hard and enjoy the action and story. This film is setting up the next big phase of the MCU, so don’t miss out on it. 

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

Thor: Love and Thunder gets a Like It.

THE TRAILER

THE REVIEWER

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Review – The Unbearable Weight Of Massive Talent

The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022)
R ‧ Action/Comedy ‧ 1 Hour 47 Minutes

Written by  Kevin Etten &‎ Tom Gormican

Directed by ‎Tom Gormican

THE CAST

  • Nicolas Cage
  • Pedro Pascal
  • Sharon Horgan
  • Ike Barinholtz
  • Alessandra Mastronardi
  • Jacob Scipio
  • Neil Patrick Harris
  • Tiffany Haddish

THE STORY

(In their own words) Unfulfilled and facing financial ruin, actor Nick Cage accepts a $1 million offer to attend a wealthy fan’s birthday party. Things take a wildly unexpected turn when a CIA operative recruits Cage for an unusual mission. Taking on the role of a lifetime, he soon finds himself channeling his most iconic and beloved characters to save himself and his loved ones.

THE REVIEW

Nicholas Cage is obviously a massive talent. He has what most actors dream of….a distinct voice and style of acting that draws people. 

Above all though, he’s an artist.  I believe that it takes true artistry to be self-reflective and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent is a great opportunity for Nicholas Cage to be self-reflective and self-deprecating.  Nicholas Cage shows he is not afraid to make fun of himself and how self aware he is of how the public at large sees him.  The film is a clear fictional version of Cage, but clearly painted with a lot of truth. Truths that lesser men may not be able to handle. 

The essence of the story is that a financially struggling Nicholas Cage takes a million dollar paycheck to attend a fans birthday party. While there, he learns that his fan may be a high profile drug lord and the FBI wants his help to save a woman they believe is being held on the estate. 

The results of this are a wonderful, refreshingly original comedy. Cage is a comedic force in the film. It’s a great tribute to Nicholas Cage that will be enriched by how many films of his you have seen, the good and the bad. The film is part buddy comedy, part action comedy, but whatever it is doing, it is consistently funny. 

I love how self aware the film is…, it’s so layered. It’s almost a movie within a movie within a movie. Are we watching what happened or a story told about what happened? 

There are really only two points of the film I didn’t care for. One, is that I think a film focusing on the celebrity of a Hollywood actor shouldn’t have so many other recognizable faces co-starring. I think it takes us out of the film. It constantly reminds me that the story isn’t real because Nicholas cage is pretending he’s talking to an agent when it’s obviously Neil Patrick Harris. Give us unknown actors for these roles. 

The second point is the end of the film. I can’t tell if they just ran out of time, or just weren’t sure how to end it. But I felt as if I was robbed of a solid ending to the film with a little bit of slight of hand. 

Javi Gutierrez’ (Pedro Pascal, left) and ‘Nicolas Cage’ (Nicolas Cage, right) zooming through the mountains of Mallorca, Spain. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate

THE BEST


BEST things about the film

  1. Original
  2. Self-Aware
  3. Pacing
  4. Very funny.

THE WORST

The WORST things about the Film

  1. I don’t feel like we get the ending we deserve. 
  2. I wish other actors in the film were not so well known. I really like the idea of Nick Cage the movie star being amongst all these regular people. But having other semi-stars around him takes away the potential realness feelings of some of the scenes. I really wish the roles played by Tiffany Haddish, Neil Patrick Harris, and Pedro Pascal were played by unknowns, even though they do a fine job. 

THE LESSON

Being a Hollywood star doesn’t mean life is easy. 

‘Nicolas Cage’ (Nicolas Cage) greets ‘Javi Gutierrez’ with a ‘Palm Hold Fist’ salute as he arrives in Mallorca, Spain. Photo Credit: Katalin Vermes/Lionsgate

THE FINAL WORD

A very funny love letter to Nicholas Cage that could only work being starred by Nicholas Cage himself. It is hilarious, self-aware, and very inventive. 

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

Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent gets a Love It.

THE TRAILER

THE REVIEWER

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.

Review – Fantastic Beasts 3: The Secrets of Dumbledore

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022)
PG -13 ‧ Fantasy‧ 1 hour 42 Minutes

Written by David Heyman

  • J. K. Rowling
  • Steve Kloves
  • Lionel Wigram
  • Tim Lewis

Directed by ‎David Yates

THE CAST

  • Eddie Redmayne
  • Jude Law
  • Ezra Miller
  • Dan Fogler
  • Alison Sudol
  • Callum Turner
  • Jessica Williams
  • Katherine Waterston
  • Mads Mikkelsen

THE STORY

(In their own words) Professor Albus Dumbledore knows the powerful, dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald is moving to seize control of the wizarding world. Unable to stop him alone, he entrusts magizoologist Newt Scamander to lead an intrepid team of wizards and witches. They soon encounter an array of old and new beasts as they clash with Grindelwald’s growing legion of followers.

THE REVIEW

Returning to the world of Harry Potter created by JK Rowlings is always a treat.  The third film in the Fantastic Beasts spin off franchise welcomes us back to the magical universe as Newt Scamander delights us with even more fantastic beasts as he and his companions, including Dumbledore, set off to foil the plans laid out by the notoriously evil wizard Grindelwald.

I really did enjoy the fim. It is always fun taking a journey in the Wizarding World that Rowlings created. Fans will have a great time continuing this story. The pacing is fast, the characters are interesting, the special effects are surprising and delightful,  and the story is one that really hooked me in for the film. 

That said, overall it feels like a rushed story. The film doesn’t know if it’s a middle act or the end of a trilogy. We have many subplot lines from previous films wrap up as if it’s the end, despite them still having more that could be worked on, but major plot lines are still up in the air.  Originally planned as a 5 part film series before the creator of the world JK Rowlings’ offscreen Twitter antics have somewhat put a damper on the value of the Wizarding World property and potential future. So it may be that they tried to finish off some of the stories prematurely in case they don’t get a fourth or fifth film. 

The other spot hurting the film is the events around the casting of Grindelwald. The first two films the part of Grindelwald was played by Johnny Depp, but because of offscreen events, Depp was replaced by Mads Mikkelsen, which is disappointing on several levels. While Mikkelsen’s take on the role is fine, he is a completely different energy than Depp and it makes his storyline a bit disconnected from the previous. I really would’ve loved to see the chemistry between Judd Law (Dumbledore) and Johnny Depp as we’ve waited for three movies to see them together but are let down with that never getting to happen.

THE BEST


Three BEST things about the film

  1. It’s just an amazingly fun world to get to see people play in. 
  2. The Character’s journeys
  3. Jude Law’s Dumbledore is very impressive

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

  1. It completes too much without finishing the story. Odd to know whether this is the final film or more to come.
  2. Unfortunately Johnny Depp’s presence is missed. Mads Mikkelsen is too big of a change of actor to keep continuity.
  3. A little bit overdone in its comparison to modern day politics. Could have been more subtle

THE LESSON

Never underestimate the ability of the general public to be easily manipulated.

THE FINAL WORD

This visit to the world of Hogwarts is still fun though not extraordinary. It is a fun world to see the world further explored, though from a story point of view the film struggles not knowing if it is the final act or the middle of the story. 

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

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore gets a Like It.

THE TRAILER

THE REVIEWER

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.



Review – The Lost City

The Lost City (2022)

PG-13 ‧ Action/Adventure/Comedy ‧ 1 hour 52 Minutes

Story by Seth Gordon, Written by  Oren Uziel; Dana Fox; Adam Nee; Aaron Nee

Directed by ‎Aaron Nee, Adam Nee

THE CAST

Sandra Bullock; Channing Tatum; Daniel Radcliffe; Da’Vine Joy Randolph; Brad Pitt; Oscar Nuñez

THE STORY

(In their own words) Reclusive author Loretta Sage writes about exotic places in her popular adventure novels that feature a handsome cover model named Alan. While on tour promoting her new book with Alan, Loretta gets kidnapped by an eccentric billionaire who hopes she can lead him to an ancient city’s lost treasure from her latest story. Determined to prove he can be a hero in real life and not just on the pages of her books, Alan sets off to rescue her.

Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum star in Paramount Pictures’ “THE LOST CITY.”

THE REVIEW

Let me get straight to it with film because it’s been a while since I’ve been this excited about a comedy. The Lost City is easily the best comedy I’ve seen this year and I honestly can’t imagine enjoying another film this year as much as I did this one. It ls laugh out loud funny, perfectly paced, wonderfully acted, and had the audience I watched the film with absolutely rolling from beginning to end. 

Sandra Bullock returns to this genre that she absolutely owns in The Lost City playing romance novel author Loretta Sage. While I wouldn’t have really considered Channing Tatum as a good pairing for her, this movie showed me that these two need to work together a lot more. The comedic timing and chemistry between these two was flawless.  I don’t think there is another current leading actress who performs physical comedy as well as Sandra Bullock does; from her awkwardness of sitting on a stool to rolling out of a hammock, she finds a way to bring laughter to such simple movements. Her reactions to her circumstances or Channing Tatum’s butt are never too far keeping her grounded in the real world, but stretched just far enough to milk the scene for all the comedy she can. 

Daniel Radcliffe shines as the villain of the film, billionaire Abigail Fairfax. While Radcliffe’s charm makes you instantly disarmed, that only feeds into making his villainous acts a little unexpected and therefore impressive. He’s a wonderful comedic villain, which I wasn’t expecting, and really wants me to see him as a bad guy in a more serious film. 

The Lost CIty is an adventure that I don’t want to spoil. Is some of the plot a little predictable? Yes. Do they take quite a lot of liberties in dealing with plane flight times? Yes. But those minor elements are easily dismissed when you are presented with such a wonderful, well-crafted, fun adventure.  And there are enough unexpected surprises in the film to make up for anything. Also, when predictable moments happen, the comedy that they create out of the situation is superb.

Sandra Bullock and Daniel Radcliffe star in Paramount Pictures’ “THE LOST CITY.”

THE BEST

Three BEST things about the film

  1. Very funny. Extremely. I was shocked at how much I laughed at this film. Probably the funniest comedy of the year. 
  2. Lots of unexpected turns that are also memorable. 
  3. Wonderful chemistry between leads. 

THE WORST

The three WORST things about the Film

  1. Minor issue with ending. 
  2. Some predictable moments.
  3. Lacks logic to timeline of events.

THE LESSON

Don’t be afraid of opening the door and seeing what’s next.

THE FINAL WORD

Easily the funniest film of the year and I find it hard to imagine anyone with a heart and soul not liking this film. 

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

The Lost City gets a Love It. 

THE TRAILER

THE REVIEWER

ABOUT SILAS

When he’s not reviewing films or interviewing people for the Black & A Half podcast, Silas Lindenstein can be found in the greater metro Seattle, WA working as a real estate agent helping people buy and sell homes, or performing stand up comedy to fellow nerds. He has a wife and three children and desperately wants to learn to make the perfect homemade pizza.