Tag Archives: Movie Reviews

Action, Crime, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews

AVA (2020): The Thing I Liked…

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AVA (2020), Jessica Chastatin, Madman Films

Starring Jessica Chastain, Colin Farrell and John Malkovich, Ava is one of those films I watched to the very end for three reasons. Firstly, because it’s Chastain, Farrell and Malkovich. Second, even though I wouldn’t call Ava good, I hoped to find something I’d like about it. Lastly, each quarter managed to do just enough to hook me so I’d stay curious enough to want to find out how the next moments would unfold.

Directed by Tate Taylor; Chastain is Ava, a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organisation. While abroad on a high profile hit, things don’t go according to plan and soon our protagonist finds herself a target.

The main issue I found with Taylor’s film is the hugely underdeveloped story and dialogue. There are unfortunately next to zero impressively smart, surprising elements in Ava. A reality that made the movie feel like one of the most ‘basic’ action movies I’ve ever seen.

Even though the three leads can certainly act, none of it proved enough to save Ava. Everyone did the best they could with both the script and stunt direction. Yet, sadly, the action sequences much like the rest of the movie offer minimal delights.

The parts I did enjoy most are the last interactions between Malkovich and Farrell’s characters. It was also great to watch Farrell use his natural Irish accent in a movie again. The last time I saw him do that was in In Bruges (2008).

If you’re extremely curious about Ava, do what you must. Otherwise, maybe watch Atomic Blonde (2017) instead.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Adventure, Animation, Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

THE ONE AND ONLY IVAN (2020): The Things I Liked…

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The One and Only Ivan (2020), Walt Disney Studios
The One and Only Ivan (2020), Walt Disney Studios

Starring Bryan Cranston, Angelina Jolie, Helen Mirren and Sam Rockwell, I was drawn to Disney’s partly-animated adventure/comedy The One and Only Ivan, because I knew that the ending was going to be a happy one. What I didn’t know until I saw the movie is that The One and Only Ivan is based on a true story.

Set in a circus at the mall, at the heart of the film is Ivan, a gorilla who’s trying to piece together his past as he and his elephant friend Stella (Jolie) plan to escape from captivity. Though director Thea Sharrock’s movie is quite predictable, I found that I didn’t mind too much. Especially since my main motivation for watching the film was to see a bunch of animals get their happy ending. 

There’s no denying, though, that a faster pace would have helped my enjoyment overall. And it did prove arduous watching the animals get excited about their initial plan to escape captivity. Particularly considering how clear it was to adult viewers just how dangerous an actual escape would be for Ivan and friends.

Perhaps, since The One and Only Ivan is ultimately a movie for children, it may be that the futility of the initial escape plan wouldn’t be so obvious to a young audience, meaning those scenes wouldn’t prove as taxing for them as they did for me.

The good news is that even with the elements that bothered me, I’m glad I stuck with The One and Only Ivan, because of the happy ending I wanted. 

As for the question of whether I’d call The One and Only Ivan a great Disney film. No. Yet it’s also not completely terrible. As such, if you’re curious enough, give it a chance. Just don’t leave your patience at the door. And remember, it is ultimately aimed at children. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Action, Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi

TENET (2020) Review: The Things I Liked…

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TENET (2020), John David Washington, Warner Bros. Pictures.

Tenet, Christopher Nolan’s latest action/sci-fi movie is, as expected, a notable cinematic experience. Nolan’s story of a protagonist on a mission that unfolds beyond real-time, as he journeys through a world of international espionage is a film that pulls you in immediately in a brilliantly immersive way, thanks to the engaging action and powerful musical score.

Like in Nolan’s much-loved Inception (2010), you will need to pay close attention as Tenet plays. The complexity of the story and great production demands it. Yet, whether or not you’re a science expert, you will still be able to follow what’s going on enough to enjoy it, just as long as you pay attention.

Another bit of good news is that even though both Tenet and Inception are action/sci-fi movies that sometimes aesthetically appear similar, I’d say that’s mainly due to the filmmaking team being the same, because the stories are quite different.

Forced to choose a favourite of the two, I’d opt for Inception because I connected to the story, and especially DiCaprio’s Dom Cobb character, more than I did to John David Washington’s ‘the protagonist.’

As for specific highlights, the character I enjoyed watching most is Kenneth Branagh’s Andrei Sator. Once you meet him, you won’t soon forget. At least I did not. For me, the main stand-out scenes happen towards the end, starting with a memorable sequence that involves several vehicles on the road, including a fire truck. Everything after that just gets better and better until the satisfying end that may or may not leave the door wide open for a sequel.

There are just two things I didn’t love about Tenet. The first one being that I wasn’t fully convinced by the ‘love connection’ between Elizabeth Debicki’s Kat and the protagonist. And by love, I don’t mean romantic love. I simply didn’t understand why he cared so much for Kat, a seemingly random woman, even though her story is empathy-inducing. Perhaps it’s due to time being non-linear in Tenet. Meaning all I needed to see to understand why he cared so much happens in another timeline, one that’s not shown in the movie. Considering my limited understanding of how time travel works, I can only hope that I just made sense.

The second thing that would have made Tenet better for me is similar to the first; I wanted to connect to Washington’s character more and sooner. It seemed as though too much of his personal story was kept a mystery.

Overall, there’s certainly more to love about Tenet than not. As such, watch it because there is only one Christopher Nolan, and we must enjoy his creative gifts while we can!

Lastly, I will be watching Tenet again next week because I want to experience everything that it does so well all over again.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, Family, Fantasy, No Spoiler Reviews

THE SECRET GARDEN (2020): The Things I Liked…

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The Secret Garden (2020), Julie Walters, Studio Canal

I had hoped that watching The Secret Garden would take me back to the pre-teen phase of my life. A period when I loved to read.

Having now seen this remake of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel, about an orphaned girl who discovers a magical garden hidden at her strict uncle’s estate, director Marc Munden’s film did take me back. It also reminded me that The Secret Garden was a book I recall having to read for school. However, even though it featured a magical garden, which I imagine young me would have loved. I don’t remember particularly loving the book – and this is why I shouldn’t be surprised to realise that I don’t love Munden’s movie either.

The actors, including Colin Firth, Julia Walters’s and Dixie Egerrickx performed well enough. I just found this version of the story to be quite simplistic and lacking in depth. In fairness, it is based on a Children’s story. Yet I had hoped to find it more than just watchable at best.

My favourite thing about The Secret Garden is the actual garden itself. I mean, who wouldn’t want their own lush, colourful secret garden with magical properties?

Besides my issues with the story, my only other complaint is about the moments the musical score seemed to be unnecessarily loud and overbearing.

Watch The Secret Garden if you’re especially curious. Or, you could watch the 1993 film adaptation of The Secret Garden instead. I hear it’s much better.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

TED LASSO (2020): The Things I Liked…

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Ted Lasso (2020), Hannah Waddingham, Jason Sudeikis, Apple TV+
Ted Lasso (2020), Hannah Waddingham, Jason Sudeikis, Apple TV+

As a Jason Sudeikis fan, thanks largely to Horrible Bosses (2011) and We’re the Millers in 2013, I’m happy to report that his latest comedy series, Ted Lasso on Apple TV+, has earned a place in my list of favourites of his works.

What makes Ted Lasso, the story of a US American Football coach who arrives in the UK to manage a struggling London soccer team, worth watching? Well, firstly, there’s the crazy premise that seems utterly ludicrous. Yet you find yourself wanting Lasso (Sudeikis) to succeed, regardless of his poor knowledge of soccer. Second, the truly wonderful cast and their great chemistry. Third, the good humour, editing and writing. Last but in no way least, everybody loves an underdog story. And Ted Lasso has more than one of those going on.

I know that we’re only three episodes in, out of ten, so far, and with a new one scheduled each week. Nevertheless, let’s just say that, already, I’ve had such a good time that by the end of episode three, my main thoughts were:

‘I feel robbed of my freedom to binge the entire season of Ted Lasso all at once. I mean, aren’t these especially challenging times? I need Lasso and all his goodness. That’s ALL of it, right away!’

I’ll not be tuning in each week just for one twenty-minute episode. Instead, I’m aiming to wait seven long weeks; all so I can binge the last seven episodes all at once.

Watch Ted Lasso because of all the great reasons above and for Sedeikis’s character’s thoroughly adorable accent, plus his positive, thoughtful and generous disposition. I certainly do not know enough about the backstories of each character just yet, but I’m saying it anyway: ‘I think I’m in love with Ted Lasso!’

Happy Film Loving,

G

Source: JustWatch