Tag Archives: Movie Review

Action, Crime, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

THE EQUALIZER 2 (2018): The Things I Liked…

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The Equalizer 2 (2018), Denzel Washington
The Equalizer 2 (2018), Denzel Washington

In The Equaliser 2, Denzel Washington’s Robert McCall is, as always, more than ready to protect the exploited and oppressed. Since in director Antoine Fuqua’s sequel, one of the oppressed happens to be someone McCall loves dearly, he wastes no time in setting up a series of smart manoeuvres that prove arguably as thrilling and unexpected as in the first movie, The Equalizer (2014).

With a well-chosen supporting cast that includes Ashton Sanders (Moonlight 2016), Pedro Pascal and Melissa Leo, I particularly enjoyed the dynamic and chemistry between Denzel and Pascal’s characters. My favourite of the most thrilling moments involves the ‘panic room’ scene. A scene that was almost too intense and suspenseful for my little thriller loving heart to bear.

What unfortunately ensures that The Equaliser 2 is not quite as memorable as the first movie includes the fact that it’s a sequel and therefore has the element of familiarity strongly fighting against it. The other reason for me personally is how the beginning portion of the film felt a little disconnected from the rest of it. 

Overall, there’s still enough good stuff going on to make The Equaliser 2 a worthy film. You will certainly be thrilled, moved, and possibly feel lucky/grateful. Especially for all the good, helpful people you’re knowingly and unknowingly connected to.

Watch it if you’re so curious.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Comedy, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

FINDING YOUR FEET (2018): The Things I Liked…

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Finding Your Feet (2018) Celia Imrie, Imelda Staunton

Finding Your Feet, the comedy/drama about a judgmental, middle-class snob, who’s forced to live with her sister in an impoverished inner-city council estate, is a pleasant serving of quintessential Britishness.

Starring Imelda Staunton, Celia Imrie, Timothy Spall and Joanna Lumley, director Richard Loncraine’s movie isn’t necessarily the most memorable and the story isn’t especially unpredictable. Nevertheless Finding Your Feet is a nice ‘easy viewing’ reminder of the gift of siblinghood, the ones you’re born into and the ones you choose. 

I enjoyed the very British dialogue and its often rather well-timed delivery. One particular line that stood out would be the words: ‘It’s not a panic attack, I’m not that sort of person. I just had a bit of a turn.’ 

Another highlight was seeing beautiful shots of places in London, England that I recognise.

For the Britishness, humour and siblinghood, etc., watch Finding Your Feet  if you’re so curious it does have a certain charm.

Happy Film loving,

G

Drama, Horror, Mystery, No Spoiler Reviews

MOTHER! (2017): The Thing I Liked…

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Mother! (2017), Jennifer Lawrence
Mother! (2017), Jennifer Lawrence

Mother!, the Darren Aronofsky-directed mystery/horror film about uninvited guests who disrupt a couple’s tranquil existence, is a weird movie. 

Starring Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris and Michelle Pfeiffer, the acting is great, of course. But what I enjoyed most about the film has nothing to do with acting. As controversial as this is, the beautiful single braid on Lawrence’s head is so effortless and gorgeous. That’s my favourite thing about Mother! 

Part of my issue with Aronofsky’s movie is that I can’t say I fully get it. I found myself getting mad at the close-up shots, and about an hour into the film, I was thinking: ‘Resolve this mystery already!’ 

What’s also quite unfortunate about me not really understanding Mother! is that I’m definitely not interested enough to watch it again on the off-chance that I may finally get it.

The way Lawrence and Bardem’s characters were so obviously grossly mismatched as a couple rather annoyed me. Bardem’s character’s lack of consideration towards his wife really made me mad and because I didn’t understand why he was being that way, it simply made matters worse.

If you’re an Aronofsky fan, I say give this movie a chance because you may like it. Just remember that Mother! is definitely more mystery than horror, so don’t let the word ‘horror’ dissuade you or get you too excited.

If you think I totally missed the point of this movie, you’re very welcome to enlighten me in the comments below. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Adventure, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

JURASSIC WORLD – FALLEN KINGDOM (2018): The Things I Liked…

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Jurassic World - Fallen Kingdom (2018), Chris Pratt
Jurassic World – Fallen Kingdom (2018), Chris Pratt

As was the case with Jurassic World (2015), I enjoyed Chris Pratt’s brand of charm in this J.A. Bayona-directed sequel Jurassic World – Fallen Kingdom. Yet, surprisingly, even more than that, I really liked the screen time dedicated to the dinosaurs. In particular the way Bayona’s movie not only told us about the intelligence of the dinosaurs, but we got to see a well-executed display of said intelligence.

Another key highlight is the final and unfortunate scenes on ‘the island’ towards the end. Particularly, the way it reminded me of how the movie, Kong – Skull Island (2017), made me feel. By this I mean that both films are fun and thrilling, but they also made me sad because the creatures in both were either existing/resting peacefully until human interference.

Just like in Jurassic World, in Fallen Kingdom Pratt and Howard’s character’s romantic connection was a plot device that I found myself unenthused by.  Particularly because it felt even more unnecessary this time around.

Definitely watch Jurassic World – Fallen Kingdom, especially if you liked the first movie. It’s still quite fun overall and even more so if you like dinosaurs.

Happy Film Loving

G

Drama, Music, Musical, No Spoiler Reviews

A STAR IS BORN (2018): The Things I Liked…

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A Star Is Born (2018), Bradley Cooper
A Star Is Born (2018), Bradley Cooper

A Star Is Born stars Bradley Cooper as Jackson Maine, an ageing, alcoholic musician in a downward spiral, while Lady Gaga plays the talented young singer he helps find fame.

I’ll start by saying that I definitely misread the film’s duration of ‘one hundred and thirty six minutes’ as ‘one hour thirty-six minutes.’ Luckily though, in the end the longer than average two hours 16 minutes total length barely proved punishing.

As for why this movie appealed, I had to watch it to see how well Cooper fared in the dual leading actor/director role. The good news is, A Star Is Born is a well-executed story that’s heartbreaking, funny, layered, well-captured, and it features some rather memorable music. In fact, my favourite song on the soundtrack is called Shallow, and I’ve listened to it many times since.

I absolutely bought Cooper’s tortured character’s emotional journey. I also believed him as a rock star because of the good music in the film and how his character presented physically – including the way he moved – both on and off the stage. I especially enjoyed the first time Shallow is performed on stage; a pretty glorious experience that’s very beautifully shot.

Besides Cooper’s well-executed dual roles, other highlights include the deep bass in Cooper and co-star Sam Elliott’s voices. There’s also a memorable, perfectly timed funny moment that involves one of the two/three times Frank Sinatra is mentioned.

As for the not-quite-great things about A Star Is Born, my suspension of disbelief was briefly interrupted by the uncomfortable close-ups near the beginning of the movie. Close-ups that luckily either eased off as the film went on, or they somehow bothered me less. There were also one or two moments of dialogue that felt awkward during Cooper and Gaga’s early interactions. Thankfully, though, that awkwardness also eased off as the film continued.

Watch A Star Is Born because it’s good, handles well themes linked to different kinds of relationships, familial, business, healthy, unhealthy, poisonous, etc. Lastly, if you’re not already in love, there’s a reasonable chance that A Star Is Born will make you want to be – and likely with a musician. So, good luck with that!

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch