Don’t Look Up (2021), Leonardo DiCaprio, (Netflix)
Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio are the stars of new drama/comedy/sci-fi movie Don’t Look Up.
Directed by Adam McKay; at the centre of the story are two low-level astronomers who must go on a giant media tour to warn mankind of an approaching comet; the kind that will completely destroy planet Earth.
Great title for a movie about an ‘end of the world event’ coming from above, right?
I’m very ready for the comedy and dramatics that this wonderful cast is going to deliver. Also happy to see Lawrence back. These days I just love seeing DiCaprio in non-biographical movies. I think I got my fill with Catch Me if You Can (2002), The Aviator (2004), J. Edgar (2011); which all seemed to happen in quick succession.
Gina Gershon, Matthew Perry, Mark Rylance, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Jona Hill also star.
Starring Tom Holland, Zendeya, Marisa Tomei ,Benedict Cumberbatch, and directed by Jon Watts, Spider-Man – No Way Home; a.k.a. Spider-Man 3 has a rather good looking new trailer. One that has amassed more than sixty six million views since its release, three weeks ago.
Tom Holland has played Spider-Man for nearly four years, and only now am I ready to watch his first movie as the webbed crusader? Wait, I’m sure ‘webbed crusader’ isn’t right. Anyway, I haven’t watched a single Spider-Man movie since Tobey Maguire played the much-loved superhero between 2002 and 2007. As for why that is, the trailer’s starring Andrew Garfield just didn’t feel as though there was enough newness to them, for me – and it certainly didn’t feel as though enough time had passed to consider the new releases worthwhile.
Fast forward to now, it’s arguable that fourteen years is more than sufficient time between Maguire’s films and Holland’s Spider-Man No Way Home, and I probably agree. However, more than the years between the movies, I finally have a Spider-Man trailer that offers me something intriguing enough that I want to watch the story all over again. I’m certain there’ll be a semi-healthy level of newness to enjoy, even if it is only technological, which I’m thinking it’s not.
The thing that has me most curious is the idea of a world where Spider-Man’s identity is no secret to anyone. Then there’s the enlisting of Doctor Strange to get things sorted – lastly, the suggestion that Strange’s involvement is just ‘too dangerous‘.
Based on what many have been saying, I’m sure I won’t regret it starting someday soon by watching Spider-Man – Homecoming. Fingers, toes and everything crossed.
How do you tend to decide when to give up on a TV show/series? I usually quit for typical reasons. For example, there’s an actor in the show that I find annoying; that’s a generally typical reason, right? Another would be if the story is silly and not in an enjoyable way. Or the writing is lacking, the location, music, plus the editing is uninspiring.
Additional explanations for why I’ve had to abort viewing sessions include the subject matter leaning too far into the dark side, and I’m neither in the state or mood to endure the onslaught.
I’ve even been known to watch and enjoy all of the first season of a series, only to realise that I must have been especially vulnerable and needy at the time. Because now that season two is here, I find the show thoroughly annoying, plus I’m having difficulty figuring out how I could have liked it so much the previous year. This latter predicament has occurred just once, and the unfortunate series in question wasNew Girl. (2011-2018)
More recently, I’ve started watching a show I’ve heard so many people talk about positively. Successionis the name, and it’s an HBO drama series about a family known for controlling the largest media/entertainment company in the world. It’s specifically about how things change when their father steps down as the head of the company.
Succession (2018), Jeremy Strong, HBO
I’ve progressed as far as finishing episode one of the first season – and watched one-third of episode two.
Starring Brian Cox, Sarah Snook, Jeremy Strong and Kieran Culkin, the talented cast is certainly more than capable. The writing is noticeably good, and the theme tune (which happens to be my favourite thing about the series so far) is just perfect. As such, my aversion to continuing withSuccession might be that I do not want to see families in serious conflict right now. Especially considering how much the anxiety-inducing sibling relationships in Succession leave much to be desired.
I’d probably have relished the chance to watch all of Succession, if I’d come across it at a time when I was still super curious about the dynamics of various kinds of families, particularly that which is different from my own. I may also be mistakenly feeling a little too well-versed in the ins and outs of the human condition. Therefore, I am too sure about how this story is going to turn out.
Or, maybe I’m just not connecting well enough to any of the seemingly unsympathetic characters, yet, and I’m being judgemental. Whatever the truth may be, what I do not want is to quit Succession too early. Could I hold on for the corporate dramatics? Or have I seen a a fair amount of that in other shows like Suits (2011-2019)?
Have you watched Succession? Is it worth continuing with the series? Which shows have you had to quit early recently and why?
The Matrix Resurrections (2021), Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Warner Bros. Pictures
The long awaited forth instalment of The Matrix finally has a trailer, and goo/promising are the words.
The Matrix Resurrections, an action/sci-fi film directed by Lana Wachowski stars Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II.
Very little about the original Matrix movies comes to mind when I try to remember. I’ll be watching because of Reeves, the promise of great special effects and the fact that this is one of the major movie events of 2021. One I just happen to be rather curious about.
I’m hoping like crazy that this will be worth the wait. And in between all the hoping, I’ll rewatch the first, second and third Matrix movies.
Jessica Henwick, Neil Patrick Harris, Jada Pinkett Smith, Ellen Hollman, Telma Hopkins, Max Riemelt and Daniel Bernhardt also star.
Jake Gyllenhaal, Ethan Hawke, Bill Burr and Paul Dano are the stars of director Antoine Fuqua’s latest, The Guilty.
And action/thriller, the story follows Joe Baylor (Gyllenhaal), a demoted police officer assigned to a call dispatch desk. Baylor finds himself conflicted when he receives an emergency phone call from a kidnapped woman.
I’m pretty sure that Dano and Gyllenhaal are only ever in good movies. I sometimes say things like: ‘I didn’t know I missed (insert name of great actor) until this new trailer.’ But, I’ve been needing an intense Gyllenhaal film for a while now. And knowing that Fuqua, the director of the excellent Training Day (2001) and The Equalizer (2014) is behind this movie has me that little be more excited.
I also happen to have a special place in my heart for 911 responders. Nevertheless, I didn’t miss the part where this trailer states something along the lines of ‘there’s more to the story than meets the eye.’ I guess we’ll have to wait and see just how likeable Gyllenhaal’s character is by the end. I, for one, can’t wait to find out.
Byron Bowers, Riley Keough, Bill Burr, Peter Sarsgaard, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, David Castañeda, David Castañeda, Terence J. Rotolo, Edi Patterson, Adrian Martinez also star.
As far as movie disappointments go, Suicide Squad (2016)is up there for me. And since I’m one of those ‘once bitten, twice shy’ people, I took my sweet time to watch The suicide Squad (2021); DC’s James Gunn directed attempt to redeem themselves.
My main hope with Gunn’s movie was for the story to be great. And for the finished film to be worthy of Margot Robbie’s super captivating take on Harley Quinn. If you’ve seen the Suicide Squad Comic-Con trailers, then you understand.
I can say without hesitation that The Suicide Squad is unequivocally better than Suicide Squad (2016). But, did I love it? Well, my favourite characters are played by Robbie and Idris Elba; no surprises there. Robbie’s Harley Quinn isn’t even featured particularly heavily. But, thankfully, when she was on screen, missing her a little in other scenes proved just about worth it.
Story-wise, I had more fun with this second movie, thanks in part to one or two surprise twists and turns. There’s also the moments of excellent camerawork, stunt work, special effects and a particularly well-executed last quarter.
The Suicide Squad (2021), Idris Elba, Warner Bros. Pictures
The parts that made my experience less than desired include the rather annoying characters who worked closely with Viola Davis’s Amanda Waller. There’s also a specific emotional scene between Elba and Cleo Cazo’s Ratcatcher that felt forced and not entirely earned. Lastly, I don’t love rats, AT ALL. But that weasel!
Perhaps I should just be grateful that this movie did a better job of weaving a story around many hardly known characters than the 2016 film. By ‘hardly known’, I mainly mean hardly known by non-readers of comic books, such as myself, of course. I’m certainly glad that Gunn’s movie is an improvement on the Suicide Squad story. Even if the film still has a somewhat empty/surface-level quality to it.
Besides The Suicide Squad being quite fun, particularly towards the end, both films are fixed in my mind as reminders of just how difficult it must be to deliver a truly great story, one that features many comic book characters.
Watch it if you’re curious. There’s definitely some fun to be had.
Red Notice (2021), Gal Gadot, Dwayne Johnson, Netflix
Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot and Dwayne Johnson’s latest action/crime/comedy, Red Notice tells the story of an Interpol agent. One whose job it is to track the world’s most wanted art thief.
From writer/director Rawson Marshall Thurber; additional key cast includes Vincenzo Amato, Ivan Mbakop and Ritu Arya.
Talk about a super generous injection of charisma in one movie! How will I stay calm when I sit down to watch this? Not so easily is the answer.
Before I realised just how great this cast is, the other thing I noticed right away is Johnson’s brown leather jacket. Perhaps it’s the combination of the jacket and his character’s law enforcement status. But, the sight took me right back to the very fun early scenes of The Other Guys (2010).
Back to Red Notice: I’m even more excited for this one because Thurber directed one of my favourite comedies. We’re the Millers (2013). And, the happy news doesn’t end there, because We’re the Millers 2 is officially on the way.
May both movies be as fun as my greedy heart desires.
Technically, precisely 67 days have passed. It’s just that I tend to embellish ever so slightly by saying 200 years for almost all periods of time that feel ridiculously long.
The reason for my absence from blogging isn’t as simple as being burnt out. I’m also unlikely to ever become tired of movies. However, life did become a tad more hectic than usual. So, I took the necessary 200 years to simplify my daily routine.
It would be great to say that I took the time to travel abroad and explore during half of the 67 days. Except, that I’m one of those people who’ll need more time before I can feel comfortable being on a plane/away from home again. One of these days I might even do some domestic travelling! Until then, quality time with friends and family is vacation enough for me, especially when I get to annoy my nearest and dearest to no end. They love it!
I spent some of my time away from blogging listening to podcasts. Naturally, I listened to – and continue to listen to a few that are linked to show business. For example, SmartLess, a funny, fun podcast hosted by filmmakers Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett; three friends who have enviable chemistry and lots of witty banter, and that’s before I mention their many great guests. Interviewees such as Ryan Reynolds, LeBron James, Reese Witherspoon and Robert Downey Jr., to name just a few.
SmartLess Podcast, Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes and Will Arnett, Simplecast
A handful of random things I’ve learned since becoming a regular listener of podcasts include, but are not at all limited to, how much many of my Americans brothers and sisters apparently LOVE Target as a place with isles to enjoy walking down, particularly late at night. The second thing listening to podcasts made me realise is that podcasting is harder than it looks, because the art of great conversation is no easy thing.
The third and perhaps, most important thing that’s happened is I’ve reached a controversial conclusion. Specifically, that big fans of burger restaurants In-N-Out and Five Guys are as deluded as each other. Yes! This is fighting talk, and I’m certainly no fighter. Still, I had to say it. Even more so because I’ve eaten at both places, and I’m convinced that the patrons of each have dead taste buds, in different areas of the mouth. With that said, could the 200 years away made me braver? Or something else? 😁
Whatever the answer, I say all the above to say that I’m back, dear movie lovers. And I look forward to catching up with your blogs to see what I’ve missed. Fingers crossed that you’ll enjoy the movie content along with the occasional non-movie specific topics I cover.
Which are some of your favourite podcasts? They don’t have to be about movies. Though, it helps if they’re funny.
