Tag Archives: No Spoilers Review

Comedy, No Spoiler Reviews

THE BOSS (2016): Best, In Trailer Form…

1 Comment
The Boss (2016), Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell
The Boss (2016), Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell

The Boss, directed by Ben Falcone who co-wrote the story with his wife Melissa McCarthy is a comedy that isn’t quite as unwatchable as Tammy (2014) – the couple’s last collaboration, but that doesn’t mean it’s good either

What’s undoubtable by now is McCarthy’s comedy skills. Unfortunately,  I just see The Boss as another movie that’s actually more enjoyable in the format of short comedy sketches. I.e. the film’s trailer or something like an episode of Comedy Central’s Inside Amy Schumer. 

The good thing about the comedy sketch/trailer format for this movie is that nobody would have to put up with what in the end feels like story telling, minus the commitment required to make it good enough.

The Boss (2016), Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell
The Boss (2016), Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell

As for the notable amount of profanity in the movie, I enjoy creative use of cuss words as much much as most, but in this film, it’s used so much that it actually stops adding to the comedy and borders on tedious and lazy.

I was really hoping that The Boss would have me raving about how much fun it is – as  I did with McCarthy’s last movie Spy (2015). Sadly, The Boss just feels kind of empty and instead makes me want to re-watch Horrible Bosses (2011), a really, rather good comedy.

Mary Sohn, Timothy Simons and Kathy Bates also star.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Adventure, No Spoiler Reviews, Sci-Fi, Thriller

THE 5TH WAVE (2016): The Things I…

3 Comments
The 5th Wave (2016), Chloë Grace Moretz
The 5th Wave (2016), Chloë Grace Moretz

Starring Chloe Grace Moretz, The 5th Wave, a story about aliens trying to claim our planet as their own is a film that could have been so very good. But instead I found it boring, unsurprising and lazy.

My key issues with the movie lie in the script, editing, performances, story and  general execution. It ended up feeling like a film that was rushed and made long before the story and script were ever properly ready.

Performance-wise I can’t really fault Liev Schreiber and a few others. Chloe Grace Moretz on the other hand… I’ve seen her in four movies so far. For two of those films I have zero complaints. But for the other two, one of which is The 5th Wave, I found her performance to be varying levels of unconvincing. To be fair, Moretz isn’t the only one that I feel didn’t adequately embody their character, but she is the key protagonist, hence my focus.

One unfortunate script/editing faux pas that sticks to mind happens towards the end, as three characters converse. One of them, let’s call him person A; he says, ‘My plan is to do such and such.’ All three people continue to talk amongst themselves for a minute. Person A then leaves. Within a few seconds, person B says to person C, ‘We better go, because I think person A is going to do such and such’. In my mind I’m thinking ‘Er… there should be no thinking he’s going to do it, because he just told you he’s going to do it, no?!

My disappointment had now peaked, but still, I calmed down enough to recognise that the main target market for The 5th Wave is clearly young adults and teenagers. in other words, not me. As such I wonder what they think about it all. What are their thoughts on the seemingly forced romance/ love triangle that unfortunately is just too much like The Hunger Games (2012)?

Mad is not how I’d feel if I were to find out that a sequel to The 5th Wave is not going to happen. Of course, that all depends on how much money this movie, however bad it may be, actually made.

Directed by J Blakeson and based on the book by Rick Yancey. The 5th Wave is a film you watch if you absolutely must. Otherwise, honestly, just enjoy the trailer instead.

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Source: JustWatch
Drama, No Spoiler Reviews, Romance

COLONIA (2015): For The Tension & Suspense…

1 Comment
Colonia (2015), Emma Watson
Colonia (2015), Emma Watson

The cult setting of Colonia, the latest movie starring Emma Watson and Daniel Brühl is one of the things that drew me to the film. It’s probably wise to add that my interest in this movie is much like the way most people are curious about the minds of serial killers. And less like ‘let me join a sect and see’

Well-paced and acted, my favourite things about director Florian Gallenberger’s movie are the tension and suspense, which builds up nicely till the very end. Another highlight is the information about the dynamics of power and the madness that often takes place within the walls of cults such as Colonia Dignidad.

As you watch this movie, you may experience feelings of gratitude. First because, you’re not trapped inside a cult. And second, you’ve never had to join one that may be impossible to escape, all so you can try to save your risk taking, ‘act now, think later’ boyfriend.

I’m glad that I can finally say I’ve seen Emma Watson in a film I like; a film other than Seth Rogen’s This Is The End (2013), which I love. In case you were wondering, ‘what about Harry Potter?’ Yeah, unfortunately, I’m not into those films, at all.

Watch Colonia because it’s gripping.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi

THE MARTIAN (2015): For The Time-Sensitive Problem Solving Fun…

1 Comment
The Martian (2015) Matt Damon
The Martian (2015) Matt Damon

I myself would never want to typecast anybody against their will, but I did find myself  very glad to learn that in The Martian, Matt Damon gets to play the role of a hero once more. Having to ‘hate him’ in Interstellar (2014) proved more challenging than expected.

Directed by the rightfully celebrated Ridley Scott, and based on Andy Weir’s best selling book of the same name, The Martian is a predominantly Mars-based adventure with a sprinkle of funny moments.

As you might imagine, similar to Interstellar (2014), there’s a fair amount of ‘science speak’ in the film. Most of it I personally will probably never understand, but you don’t need to in order to have a good time. The movie works, thanks to the story and the likability of its star.

The thing I enjoyed most about The Martian is all the scientific problem solving that Damon’s character, astronaut Mark Watney and the wider NASA team do in the effort to bring him home in one piece. I like the movie for this reason and as a story of teamwork and survival. I’ll also confess to getting quite a kick from seeing the female commander, played by Jessica Chastain take charge.

You may have heard that a few awards bodies placed The Martian in the comedy category. About that, there are a few funny quips here and there – and by ‘a few’ I don’t mean ‘a good few’ in the way that some people use the phrase to mean ‘a lot’. I do actually mean ‘a few,’ meaning no more than 5 laughs/giggles at most – which, in my mind doesn’t equal to a comedy. But, hey, trust the studios to find loopholes so that their film gets a chance at an award.

Science fans will likely enjoy this movie most, but everyone else will be pleased also, for the topic of surviving on Mars is a relevant and interesting one at this time. With that said, watch it because it’s good. Another reason would be to find out for yourself whether categorising The Martian as a comedy is at all justified. I remain unconvinced.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kate Mara, Donald Glover, Sebastian Stan, Mackenzie Davis and Benedict Wong also star.

Happy Film Loving,

G

Biography, Comedy, Drama

THE BIG SHORT (2015): For The Entertaining Dialogue & Great Performances…

1 Comment
The Big Short (2015), Steve Carell
The Big Short (2015), Steve Carell

You’d think that trying to wrap my ‘non-numbers-oriented’ head around the financial market speak of The Big Short might be the hardest thing about the movie. That would be incorrect. Because being forced to endure the musical tastes of Michael Burry, Christian Bale’s eccentric character proved far more challenging.

Burry’s penchant for heavy metal aside, the story about the men who saw the credit and housing bubble collapse coming – and proceeded to profit from it is one I enjoyed quite a bit. The narrative structure, dialogue, pace, editing and performances all came together beautifully. Steve Carell was particularly entertaining as Mark Baum. A performance I see as a great follow-up to his notable work in Foxcatcher (2014).

Like The Wolf Of Wall Street (2013), the Wall Street setting of The Big Short is very much a boys’ club and from such situations often comes the opportunity for rather entertaining banter, hence my appreciation for the film’s dialogue.

Director, Adam McKay’s movie didn’t teach me anything new in terms of how the world works. What it did do is remind me that it pays to have a good understanding of the reality of the bank’s priorities and what that can come to mean for the average person.

Some people have called The Big Short depressing. The reality the film deals with isn’t the kind of news that’ll make your day. However, there’s humour here and the information within the movie, plus its creative execution makes the experience worthwhile.

The Big Short is based on a book of the same name by Michael Lewis. Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell, Brad Pitt and Christian Bale are the main stars. Watch it if you’re curious.

Happy Film Loving,

G