You wait ‘200 years’ for the most compelling story, and finally, it comes.
Written/directed by Benjamin Cleary; Naomie Harris, Glenn Close and Mahershala Ali are the stars of Swan Song, a new drama/sci-fi with a trailer so very intriguing that I dare not explain the premise, for it is best experienced.
To say that Ali is the perfect actor to play this role feels like an understatement. I am a massive fan of what he can do without words.
There’s no doubt that very big tears are going to flow while watching this one, but I suspect it will all be worth it.
I’m excited to find out if things turn out as Ali’s Cameron Turner expected. I sure hope the answer is yes. But considering that he signed up for something experimental, who’s to know?
In addition to season one of Ted Lasso (2020) and season one of The Morning Show (2019), this is definitely one of my favourites of all the trailers that Apple TV+ has ever released.
Tell me you’re as excited as I am about this very promising story. Tell me, at once!
Awkwafina, Lee Shorten, Nyasha Hatendi, Luke Camilleri, Adam Beach, Dax Rey, JayR Tinaco and Jessica Hayles also star.
The Guilty, Jake Gyllenhaal, Riley Keogh, Paul Dano and Ethan Hawke’s latest crime/drama/thriller about a demoted police officer assigned to a call dispatch desk is well-acted, though not exactly perfect.
Director Antoine Fuqua’s film is intense, and I like that it’s immediately clear that Gyllenhaal’s character, Joe Baylor, is far from the model police officer. I enjoyed how the intensity built up as the movie played, especially since the action takes place in two rooms. Nevertheless, at times I did find myself frustrated by the pacing.
Another source of frustration is the story edit towards the end, when we learn the truth of Keogh’s character. I’m not exactly sure what could have happened differently. However, I am sure that where the story went in those moments, and a few others, left me wanting.
The most expected thing about The Guilty, besides a good performance from Gyllenhaal, is the increase in my appreciation for the work that first responders do. Especially the ones who do absolutely everything they can to help.
I was surprised not to recognise any of the voices of the well-known actors. Specifically the ones the audience only get to meet through how they sound when they speak to Joe Baylor on the phone. I still can’t tell you which characters Paul Dano, Ethan Hawke and Peter Sarsgaard played. Is it just me?
Give The Guilty a chance if you’re curious. The story will break your heart in multiple ways, and the intense moments are a highlight, even if you end up wishing for a slightly different story edit.
If you want a brilliantly executed story set in one place, and where you only meet the other characters through their voice over the telephone, I can’t recommend Locke (2013) enough.
The Batman (2022), Robert Pattinson, Warner Bros. Pictures
From director Matt Reeves; the trailer for The Batman, Robert Pattinson’s first film where he’s suited up as the caped crusader is out – and I have semi-unexpected thoughts.
This trailer does have its highlights. Still, the best I can say after watching it is that I’m hopeful the movie turns out great. Right now, though, this edit simply isn’t giving me the same level of excitement that Christopher Nolan’s Batman trailers did. Not that a great trailer guarantees a fantastic film, of course.
It’s also not lost on me that I wasn’t initially sold on the first trailer for this movie back in October 2021 either, and that one eventually grew on me. So who knows? Maybe in a week or two, after another rewatch, I’ll feel differently.
At the moment, though, Zoë Kravitz as Catwoman is the element that most effectively grabbed my attention.
Are you still excited about The Batman after seeing this trailer? Let me know your thoughts.
Paul Dano, Colin Farrell, Peter Sarsgaard, John Turturro, Con O’Neill, Max Carver, Jeffrey Wright, Andy Serkis, Charlie Carver, Alex Ferns, Amy Clare Beales, Jimmy Star and Mark Killeen also star.
Director Wes Craven’s 1996 horror movie hit Screamhas a new instalment.
Directed this time by Matt Bettinelli-Olpinand Tyler Gillett, Scream 2022 sees the return of Courtney Cox, Neve Campbell and David Arquette, along with new faces including Jenna Ortega and Marley Shelton.
This new story has Sidney Prescott (Campbell), one of the survivors of the original Scream movies returning to her home town; a place where a masked killer has been committing a fresh batch of vicious crimes.
Scream is one of the movies that made me realise that slasher horror films are the kind of scary movies that don’t give me nightmares. As such, I’m watching this, in part for the nostalgia and to find out if this too feels as ‘made for me‘ as the original.
I plan to get happily lost in the story, and hopefully not end up missing all the great characters in the first film. Especially those played by Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich and of course, Drew Barrymore, in that iconic and perfect blonde bob.
Will you be watching this new Scream movie, rewatching the 1996 Scream or both?
Melissa Barrera, Dylan Minnette, Jack Quaid, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Sonia Ammar, Mikey Madison, Mason Gooding and Kyle Gallner also star.
As some of you may remember, comedy/drama Ted Lasso – season one; the story of a US American Football coach, who arrives in the UK to manage a struggling English Premier League soccer team is, without a doubt, one of the best things that happened to me in 2020.
Fast forward to now, when season two has both started and finished; let’s put it this way, I’ll make time for season three in 2022; however, I’ll be sure to calm myself right down should I find myself getting too excited about the third instalment.
Yes, season two of Jason Sudeikis and Hannah Waddingham’s Emmy Award-winning series did at times move me to laughter and tears. The problem is that it also made me cringe because some of what I adored about season one, such as the positive attitude and heartwarming kindness, in parts of season two, it’s written in a way that often felt forced. The most irritating example of this, for me, is the Christmas episode.
Ted Lasso (2021), Hannah Waddingham, Jason Sudeikis, Apple TV+
Another way that season two disappointed me is how it handled delving more into the lives of the less central characters. Rather than finding myself engrossed in some of these secondary stories, I was annoyed that I wasn’t learning more about Lasso himself. Additionally, during these departures from the main focus, when Lasso did feature, the writing leant into his eccentricities in a fashion that, for me, cheapened his character.
As creative and somewhat well-edited as the episode that focuses on coach Beard is, thematically, it just felt out of place with the rest of the season. Then there’s the fact that I did not believe the direction of Beard’s love story with the mysterious Jane.
Speaking of not believing, where Nate’s all-important character journey is concerned, I sadly neither liked nor did I buy it.
All in all, I’m sad to say that season two of Ted Lasso annoyed me more than it pleased me. Even though I was glad to learn more about Lasso’s history and struggles, the season is more reminiscent of the short-lived Sex and the City movie franchise than I’d hoped. Meaning, I loved the first movie, but my goodness was it abundantly clear that the second film was hugely rushed, resulting in a less than pleasing result.
There are actually no specific episodes that stand out as my favourite in season two. But almost all episodes of season one do. Luckily, I do have a favourite season two moment, and that is how Jamie Tartt’s all-important walk on to the pitch is captured and presented.
What do you think of Season two of Ted Lasso? Have I been too harsh? Let me know in the comments below.
