Tag Archives: Movie Reviews

Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

THE BOYS IN THE BAND (2020): The Things I Liked…

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The Boys In The Band (2020), Jim Parsons, Netflix
The Boys In The Band (2020), Jim Parsons, Netflix

Starring Matt Bomer, Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto and Andrew Rannells, the first great thing about director Joe Mantello’s The Boys In The Band is all the performances. 

Second is all the funny moments with great comic timing, and how very well-written and paced it is. 

I love the way the story unfolds like a beautiful play. A truth that makes sense since The Boys In The Band is a film adaptation of Mart Crowley’s play of the same name. A play that features several interesting characters, and manages the tension in scenes so well, that you can’t wait for all to be revealed. 

In addition to capturing several moments of heartbreaking truth brilliantly, other personal highlights include the set design and the way the production is lit. Even though almost all of the action takes place during a party in a New York City apartment in 1968, there isn’t a moment when you find yourself wanting a change of scenery. All because what’s happing inside is thoroughly engaging, thanks to the very watchable complex characters.

Characters with understandable complexities, especially considering the difficulties they faced during that particular time in American history. A time when just being themselves was a far less accepted thing. And it is this reality that’s the underlying fuel. Fuel that results in a perfectly watchable film, thanks to great writing and brilliant performances by all.

Watch The Boys In The Band because it’s good. 

Happy Film Loving 

G

Crime, Drama, Mystery, No Spoiler Reviews

ENOLA HOLMES (2020): The Things I Liked…

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Enola Holmes (2020), Millie Bobby Brown, Netflix
Enola Holmes (2020), Millie Bobby Brown, Netflix

Enola Holmes, a drama/mystery about the teenage sister of famous detective Sherlock Holmes is not a terrible film.

Focused on Enola’s search for her newly missing mother (Helena Bonham Carter), which then leads to the teenager becoming a super-sleuth in her own right, Millie Bobby Brown is great in the lead role.

Henry Cavill and Sam Claflin as Enola’s big brothers Sherlock and Mycroft Holmes are also quite entertaining to watch; as are the moments of fun dialogue. Yet, overall, it’s really during the first two or three action sequences that I had the most fun.

Director Harry Bradbeer’s movie is quite engaging at first. It’s just that once the film’s first action sequence had taken place, I found myself disappointed because, not too long afterwards, my engagement started to drift, only to peak again during other physical scenes.

A young woman’s journey to choosing her path in life, regardless of pressures from many around her is what Enola Holmes is really about. I generally enjoy stories like these. Neverthless, even though there are moments in this movie that I’ll remember fondly, the story edit and pacing didn’t leave me as content with the finished product as anticipated.

Watch Enola Holmes if you’re curious. It is quite charming and Sam Claflin is great at playing unlikably cantankerous aristocrats. If you’ve seen him in The Riot Club (2014), you understand.

Happy Film Loving 

G

Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

THE DEVIL ALL THE TIME (2020): The Things I Liked…

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The Devil All The Time (2020): Tom Holland, Netflix
The Devil All The Time (2020): Tom Holland, Netflix

The Devil All the Time, director Antonio Campos’s drama/thriller about sinister characters in postwar Southern Ohio is a film I found adequately entertaining.

Tom Holland’s turn as Arvin, a young man devoted to protecting those he loves in a place teeming with corruption and brutality, is one of the film’s highlights. Bill Skarsgård’s performance earlier in the film is another bright spot.

The most memorable moment of all has to be when Arvin gets picked up while hitchhiking for the first time. The tension in the car is masterfully executed, to say the least. Other small favourite highlights include one of the town names ‘Knockemstiff’ and Sebastian Stan’s character’s delivery of the line: ‘Some people were born just so they could be buried.’

Thematically, The Devil All the Time is a tad too dark for what I like to watch these days. Yet, honestly, what did I expect, exactly, with a title like that? Perhaps that will teach me to choose to watch a movie mainly for the talented cast, rather than prioritising the story.

Overall, I may not have found the story edit of Campos’s film to be as masterful as my favourite movie featuring various characters that all end up cleverly connected (Magnolia (1999), but I liked the way this film revealed some of the key connections.

If you don’t mind dark tales, then you’ll likely have an even better time than I did with The Devil All the Time. Give Campos’s film a chance if you’re curious. I doubt I’ll watch it again, but I’ll always have my favourite moments to fondly remember.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

THE KISSING BOOTH 2 (2020): The Things I liked…

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The Kissing Booth 2 (2018), Jacob Elordi, Joey King, Netflix
The Kissing Booth 2 (2018), Jacob Elordi, Joey King, Netflix

Director Vince Marcello’s sequel to the hit teen movie The Kissing Booth (2018) focuses on Joey King’s) character, Elle’s attempts to juggle a long-distance relationship with her boyfriend Noah (Jacob Elordi), while she’s also applying for college. Also, there’s a new friendship with a handsome classmate that could really complicate things.

Considering how I felt about the first movie, I wasn’t sure what to expect with The Kissing Booth 2. Luckily, to my very pleasant surprise, I had a good time. Even though it’s still not perfect, I found this sequel to be funnier and certainly better written than the first movie. I found myself especially glad that I didn’t encounter any stand out bad acting moments.

I like how the story unfolded, including the moments that surprised me, big or small. As a long appreciator of good teen movies, this one I’ll remember fondly; thanks to the overall execution and the fact that it didn’t force me to question any of Marcello’s decisions. I was simply too busy enjoying the results.

Lastly, I’ve always appreciated how good teen stories can transport us back to our teenage years (not that mine are extremely far behind me, mind you). As the characters grow up before our eyes, making mistake after mistake, I often wonder whether I was equally clueless at their age. Or was I close to being as wise as I feel I am today? I know what I want to believe. I also know what’s highly likely.

Give The Kissing Booth 2 a chance if you’re curious, and for all the reasons above.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Drama, Family, No Spoiler Reviews

MULAN (2020): The Things I Liked…

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Mulan (2020), Yifei Liu, Walt Disney Studios
Mulan (2020), Yifei Liu, Walt Disney Studios

Even though I’m aware of the legend of Mulan, I’m not a hundred per cent sure I’ve seen the classic animated version before watching the new live-action film. What I’ve always been aware of, however, is how popular the story is. And that, combined with the stunning trailer visuals of the Niki Caro-directed live-action remake, is the reason I was always going to watch it.

As a fan of stories about underestimated characters who end up going far beyond all expectations, I enjoyed this element of the Mulan story. The tale of a young Chinese maiden who disguises herself as a male warrior to save her father.

The beautiful visuals, vibrant colours and Yifei Liu’s physical performance as Mulan are the things that stood out most about Caro’s movie. There’s also the well-scored scene where the triumphant stair climb takes place.

The things I wish were different about Mulan include some of the editing, which didn’t quite flow as seamlessly in parts as I expected. For example, the transition from Mulan thinking about taking her father’s place to the moment she’s in his armour felt abrupt.

My main issue with Mulan is how strangely soulless it felt. For me, Caro’s film didn’t dive deeply into anything. I say this, of course, as someone who hasn’t seen the animated Mulan movie. Nevertheless, I didn’t feel as emotionally captured by the story. At least not in any way close to how Cinderella (2015), my favourite Disney live-action movie, made me feel. But I still cheered for Mulan. I only wish the story didn’t feel as surface-level as it does.

Watch Mulan if you’re curious. and certainly for the visuals and gorgeous, rich colours.

Happy Film Loving,

G