Tag Archives: Film Review

Biography, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

EXTREMELY WICKED, SHOCKINGLY EVIL & VILE (2018): The Things I Liked…

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Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019), Lily Collins, Zac Efron
Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019), Lily Collins, Zac Efron

Ted Bundy, one of America’s most infamous serial killers, is very much at the centre of director Joe Berlinger’s film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile. Yet the story is really told from the perspective of Bundy’s longtime girlfriend, Elizabeth Kloepfer. As such, like Kloepfer, we don’t get to be there with Bundy as he commits his shockingly evil crimes (thank goodness!) We also don’t get to know any real shocking details about the crimes until the trial, towards the end. What we do get is a front row seat to watch Bundy sometime after he commits a crime and pretends to be as normal and decent as the next guy. It’s sad, but like a true psychopath, he succeeded at it. A lot.

Starring Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Jim Parsons and John Malkovich, I watched Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile because of the very interesting subject matter and the new perspective. Another reason is to see Efron succeed in a more serious role than he’s taken on in recent years. I’m happy to say that he does well. I was particularly impressed during the moments he gave the audience a glimpse into the true darkness within his character’s soul. His time at the dog’s home is one such example.

I don’t believe there was a single dull moment during this movie and contrary to what the trailer made many feel, I don’t consider Berlinger’s film to be one that glorifies or celebrates Bundy. It’s instead a movie that portrays Bundy as he was known to be and part of that is that he was sadly almost as charming as he was wicked, evil and vile.

I say watch Berlinger’s movie. Just don’t watch it expecting explanations and/or deep dives into Bundy’s past that highlight what could have led him to such darkness. For this is a film about Bundy, but the focus is on Kloepfer’s experience.

Parsons and Malkovich’s characters are memorable. Overall though, it’s really Collins by whom I was most impressed. She may be an actor with a forever youthful face, but the lady has great instincts. Her telling of Kloepfer’s story will have you mad at Kloepfer, sad for Kloepfer and by the very end, a little surprised, but definitely extremely relieved for Kloepfer.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

GRETA (2018): It’s…

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Greta (2018), Chloë Grace Moretz, Focus Features
Greta (2018), Chloë Grace Moretz, Focus Features

Greta, a Neil Jordan-directed drama/thriller about Frances (Chloë Grace Moretz), a young woman who befriends a lonely widow and lives to regret it, is a film I’d hoped to enjoy. 

Also starring Isabelle Huppert and Maika Monroe, the experience of watching Jordan’s movie left me wanting for a more thrilling, even, clever, better-written and structured film.

The mere idea of Greta’s lunacy proved more terrifying than what the story and acting delivered. I found Moretz’s acting to be generally quite awkward. Huppert didn’t perform terribly, but I don’t think the script’s surface-level feel helped her much either. 

The few glimmers of hope in this otherwise mostly disappointingly executed film include the clever set-up that leads to the syringe scene and the dancing that immediately follows. Reason being, this is when we get a little glimpse into the extent of Greta’s ‘crazy’, even though it’s never properly explained. The other kind of highlight is the moments in the film that play on Frances’s reality.’

Overall, besides reminding me of ‘stranger danger’, especially in a big city like New York, Greta confirmed that everyone really ought to be aware of their own vulnerabilities. Especially if people close to you haven’t helped to lovingly point them out.

Watch it, if you’re really curious.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Comedy, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

WINE COUNTRY (2019): It’s…

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Wine Country (2019), Netflix

Wine Country is a comedy about long time friends who gather for a 50th birthday party in Napa. Having not been together in their group in a while, as one might expect, tensions soon arise.

Directed by Amy Poehler who also stars alongside Maya Rudolph, Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch, the premise of the story is the main reason I was interested. Especially since it reminded me of two memorable comedies. Namely Bridesmaids (2011) and Girls Trip (2017) – both of which are focused on the often unspoken tensions between us and our very closest friends.

Poehler’s film is one that started with some promise. It’s just that approximately fifteen minutes in, my interest started to wane. The story, dialogue and some of the character development proved not quite engaging enough to keep me focused.

I enjoyed the few scenes that featured Fey, and I recall laughing a couple of times in between. Yet, overall, the characters of Wine Country just didn’t capture my imagination and heart the way the ladies from Bridesmaids and Girls Trip did. It certainly didn’t help that some jokes were dragged out for too long, and the seemingly endless sing-alongs proved annoying.

It’s really mainly the sunshine-rich location and Fey’s character that were the key highlights of Wine Country. Almost everything else, particularly the comedy felt as though I’d seen it before but executed in a more memorable way.

I say watch it if you absolutely must. Who knows, perhaps you’ll find more to love, and if you do, you’re very welcome to let me know in the comments precisely why I missed the goodness within.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Adventure, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY (2014): The Things I Liked…

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Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014), Chris Pratt
Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014), Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel are among the stars of Guardians Of The Galaxy. A James Gunn-directed action/adventure/comedy about a group of intergalactic criminals and their attempt to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.

The main reason I wanted to see this film is that I’d really like to watch the last two Avengers movies, but I’m behind. And I’ve never been one to jump to watch a sequel before seeing the films that came before.

I’m sure that the following opinion isn’t popular, but as Gunn’s movie played, it wasn’t too long before the thought ‘I don’t think I like this.’ came to mind. As I wondered why, a number of reasons began to surface.

Reason one, it feels quite a lot like Star Trek. I’m not saying that I hate Star Trek, but I’m also not overly enthused by it either. Reason two, some of the humorous moments work, but there are a bunch of others that feel as though the script is trying too hard to be amusing, to the point where several attempts to make the audience laugh came across as forced.

Thirdly, I found that out of the four or five main sentimental moments, I only really appreciated two of them, the one on Earth and the one involving Groot. The rest just felt rather corny, for want of a better phrase.

As for the things that stood out most in a positive way, those include Zoe Saldana’s physical performance, Karen Gillian as the less favoured sibling, and of course, the visual effects that show what space actually looks like.

Knowing Guardians Of The Galaxy as a movie that many people love, I mostly see it as a reminder that fantasy is definitely not my favourite genre. Especially when most of the actors are sporting plenty of make up/prosthetics. Nevertheless, to everyone who had a great time, I’m seriously very pleased for you.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

JOHN WICK (2014): The Things I Liked…

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John Wick (2014), Keanu Reeves, Lionsgate
John Wick (2014), Keanu Reeves, Lionsgate

Everything that happens at the start of John Wick may not feel as well-put-together story-wise as one might prefer. The reason is this, the main focus of John Wick is the fight choreography, stylish shots and shoot-out fun. The story is merely secondary. 

Directed by Chad Stahelski and David Leitch, I liked seeing Keanu Reeves as a highly-skilled and certainly well-dressed hitman. I had fun as the camera followed him when he moved around the city of New York, enacting revenge against the people who killed his precious dog.

It’s clear to me now, why before I watched John Wick, the question ‘All that for a dog?‘ came up so frequently for many viewers. The story could have been written in a way that meant such a question never came up at all. But, the filmmakers had other plans. And anyway, the way I see it, the killing spree wasn’t so much about the dog, but rather, everything the precious canine represented.

All-things-considered, John Wick isn’t my favourite revenge movie, but it also isn’t the worst. In terms of good cinematography, the scenes that feature a noticeable light blue wash over the film’s imagery were particularly memorable. I appreciate how the colour of the lights communicate the coldness of the characters and their actions.

I’m quite sure that it’s not just me who kept picturing how good a John Wick video game might look as I watched the movie. Fans of Shoot-out games, fake graphic violence and stylishly executed action sequences will likely have had the same thought and certainly have a great time.

Happy Film Loving,

G