Category Archives: No Spoiler Reviews

Comedy, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

I CARE A LOT (2020): The Things I Liked…

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I Care a Lot (2020), Rosamund Pike, Amazon Prime Video
I Care a Lot (2020), Rosamund Pike, Amazon Prime Video

I knew that crime/thriller I Care a Lot was about Marla Grayson (Rosamund Pike), a despicable woman who takes pleasure in draining the savings of her vulnerable elderly clients. What I didn’t know is I’d end up detesting Marla quite as much as I did.

To say I was extra impatient to see her get her comeuppance feels like an understatement. Furthermore, I’m not sure if I’ve ever been more incensed by a character the way I was with Marla. OK, maybe Guy Pierce’s Charley Rakes in Lawless (2012) is even more despicable. I mean, I truly, deeply hated him. I digress. 

Written/directed by J. Blakeson, I Care a Lot is generally well-acted. However, there are parts of the story I didn’t fully buy. Specifically, occurrences that seemed to happen how they did, simply to serve the plot. Only, ironically, they ended up doing the movie a disservice because I didn’t believe them. Much of this takes place once Marla became more involved with Peter Dinklage’s character.

There are very few, if any, clear-cut ‘good people’ in this movie. This is a truth that made watching I Care a Lot more uncomfortable than anticipated. Maybe I wouldn’t have felt so slightly shortchanged had I been able to connect more with any character’s story, so I could identify with them on a less-than-surface level.

As for my favourite things about Blakeson’s film, Chris Messina is great as the Lawyer and I found Marla’s style delightfully noteworthy; as is her general badassery. There’s no doubt that her place in the list of tough female movie characters sporting blunt bobs has a corner in my mind. I only wish it had one in my heart too.

Watch I Care a Lot if you’re curious.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Action, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

UNDERWATER (2020): The Thing I Liked…

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Underwater (2020), Kristen Stewart, 20th Century Fox
Underwater (2020), Kristen Stewart, 20th Century Fox

It’s the promise of thrilling action sequences that take place at the bottom of the ocean that drew me to Underwater; an action/thriller about a group of researchers trying to survive after an earthquake devastates their subterranean laboratory.

The good news is that I got the well-executed and thrilling scrambling to safety scenes I’d hoped for. The bad news is that besides the initial scrambling and the face-to-face encounter with the monster towards the end, there isn’t much else about director William Eubank’s film that I found particularly impressive.

Starring Kristen Stewart, T.J. Miller and Vincent Cassel; the elements that proved most disappointing include the design of the underwater monster, which, for me, seemed relatively basic and not particularly new. Furthermore, overall, the special effects could have been better. And unfortunately, some of the acting is questionable.

I know that Underwater is a thriller and not a traditional horror movie. Yet, I expected the monster to be scarier than it is. Or, at the very least, for the encounters with the monster to be more terrifying than they are. It certainly didn’t help that we barely see anything, each time the camera is pointed at the monster.

Much of the dialogue felt quite flat, which in part led to the moments that should have been more affecting, i.e. the death of key characters proved rather underwhelming.

Watch Underwater, but only if you absolutely must.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Action, Biography, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

FORD V FERRARI (2019): The Things I Loved…

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Ford v Ferrari (2019), Matt Damon, 20th Century Studios
Ford v Ferrari (2019), Matt Damon, 20th Century Studios

Director James Mangold’s action/drama about the battle between car manufacturers Ford and Ferrari, to win Le Mans in 1966 is a movie I’m glad to have finally watched. Especially considering that post-viewing, I don’t have anything negative to say about it.

Starring two of my favourites, Christian Bale and Matt Damon, it’s ultimately the verbal gymnastics in Ford v Ferrari that I enjoyed most. The well-written dialogue between the key characters resulted in plenty of entertaining testosterone, ego and passion-fuelled wordplay.

Additionally, there’s the beautiful friendship between Damon’s Carroll Shelby and Bales’s Ken Miles. And lest not forget the high adrenaline, edge of your seat and excellently captured driving footage.

Mangold’s ensemble cast which includes Jon Bernthal, Caitriona Balfe and Noah Jupe is fantastic. As are the several standout scenes. Including the all-important meeting with Enzo Ferrari, Italian motor racing driver and entrepreneur, plus the founder of the Scuderia Ferrari Grand Prix motor racing team.

If you haven’t already, watch Ford v Ferrari, because you too may just find yourself with the words, ‘Well, that was super badass and sexy’ escaping your lips.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

TRUE MOTHERS (2020): The Things I Liked…

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True Mothers (2020), Aju Makita, Film Movement
True Mothers (2020), Aju Makita, Film Movement

Hikari, the teenage biological mother of a young boy decides to contact her son’s adoptive parents to get him back. Such is the premise of director/co-writer Naomi Kawase’s Japanese drama; True Mothers; a film that proved to be quite a pleasant surprise.

During the first third of True Mothers, I found the story structure/editing a tad awkward. However, by the halfway point, Kawase’s film is more engaging. A truth I attribute in part to the story’s focus on Hikari, who’s rather well-played by Aju Makita.

I liked the surprise of the direction True Mothers took in the second half. The way the film revealed itself as Hikari’s coming-of-age story. And as heartbreaking as some moments are, watching her journey from innocent fourteen-year-old to the unexpected way things progress is an experience I don’t regret. 

True Mothers is indeed a story about motherhood and all the various ways the word mother can be applied. Watch it if something about the story particularly intrigues you. And don’t be surprised if, by the end of the movie, the thought ‘How wonderful it is to be loved’ crosses your mind. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

MALCOLM & MARIE (2021): The Things I Liked…

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Malcolm & Marie (2021), Zendaya, Netflix
Malcolm & Marie (2021), Zendaya, Netflix

There are some rather good things about Malcolm & Marie; director Sam Levinson’s drama/romance starring Zendaya and John David Washington.

The first is the two lead performances, which, for me, represent some of the actors’ best work. The second is some truly great moments of dialogue that had me thinking, ‘If only I could express myself this clearly during disagreements.’ 

I’m glad to confirm that there’s humour to be enjoyed early on in Levinson’s story about the night a director and his girlfriend decide to iron out the issues in their relationship. I was most amused by the scenes when Malcolm failed to notice that all was not well with Marie.

As tensions escalate, there are triggering scenes when you’ll find yourself appalled at Malcolm’s behaviour. Especially when his ego is shinning incredibly brightly and he’s unable to admit any dependence on Marie. Nevertheless, you soon realise that both parties are flawed and in desperate need of sorting through the issues stemming from their codependent relationship; one in which an imbalance of power is undeniable.

Along with the moments of great dialogue in Malcolm & Marie, some scenes had me incredibly frustrated. To the point where I had to pause the film and do something else. Even though the movie is one hour and forty-six minutes long, at approximately thirty-seven minutes into the couple’s argument, I’d had enough. And as much as I appreciated the self-analysis and honest dialogue they were having, it all began to feel unbearably self-indulgent.

Watching Malcolm & Marie soon had me feeling like someone who couldn’t leave their arguing friends because the three of us were in the middle of nowhere and they’re my ride home.

This one is a movie to watch if you’re particularly curious. For me, I wish the whole experience had been more tightly edited and far less frustrating, overall.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch