Action, Action Adventure, Adventure, Animation, DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: “SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE

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I know I’m supposed to love this “SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE UNIVERSE” and be drooling all over this film directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson, because everyone is, as well as hailing it as the greatest movie ever. Now those, as we like to joke are, ‘fightin words’ and something that just cannot be uttered by me – not for this film at least. And yes, I know I will probably get crucified for not agreeing. But then again, following and loving something just because the crowd does, has never really been my forte’. As well, I’ve always been pretty good in standing my ground and here will be doing just that and also noting that it’s okay to have differing opinions. It keeps things like movies interesting.

Now first off, don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed Across the Spider-Verse way more than I thought I would, but I mean who knew there were so many Spidermen besides Tobey Maguire Andrew Garfield & Tom Holland. Well I just found all this out in Spider-Man:Across The Spider Verse that there are a vast amount of them – and it took over two hours to do so. That I was not ready for and my initial question was why? And then I answered it myself by noting “this is what comic books are” a fantasy world, in this case, universes – then it also became clear that that is literally the point of showing all those comic book stills inbetween. So while I still had that unsatisfied feeling when I realized I was watching the first half of a really long movie, I feel like I understand it a lot more after thinking about it. Doesn’t mean it’s in my wheelhouse, but sometimes, getting out of said wheelhouse is what needs to be done.

Jessica Drew (Issa Rae), Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), Peter B. Parker (Jake Johnson) and his daughter Mayday in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE.

Having not seen the first one, I picked up pretty quickly what was happening in this new web-slinging, multiverse-traveling adventure. It clearly takes place a year or so after the events of the first one – ‘Into the Spider-Verse’; and sees Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) back. Having been Spider-Man for about a year now after being bit by a mutant spider, his parents still have no idea, even though his father, Jefferson (Brian Tyree Henry), is a cop who frequently works with “Spider-Man” to stop other villians with super powers. He is once again teaming up with Spider-Girl Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld), trying to fix something he clearly thought had been fixed before that wasn’t fixed properly. Included in all this is a whole lotta other Spider-People of this multiverse (that I’m trying to piece together and understand), for a big high stakes mission. This time around, the Spider-People face off against villian The Spot (Jason Schwartzman), whose powers threaten the stability of the entire this Spidey multiverse as he is able to move through spots he creates from one place to another, very quickly and simply. Issues are amplified when Miles and the Spider-People, led by Miguel O’Hara (Oscar Isaac), disagree on how to best deal with this new threat.

Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) and Gwen Stacy (Hailee Steinfeld) take on The Spot (Jason Schwartzman) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE.

A lot of this moves at a pace that is zip-flash fast so keeping up is key. The parts that probably worked the best for me as a first time viewer were the family ones. One of the most effect scenes on an emotional level is Miles’ relationship with his mother Rio Morales (Luna Lauren Velez), as he wrestles personally with the idea of revealing his superhero Spidey-alter ego to his parents, a decision that creates great conflict within his family. Watching Miles’ struggle to come out as Spider-Man in a particularly moving scene with his mother that is so heartbreaking and is bound to resonate with many who have struggled to reveal things of themselves to others, whatever it may be. Meanwhile, Steinfeld’s Gwen Stacy also has some intense family matters lll for her character, especially as it pertains to her relationship with her father Captain Stacy (Shea Whigham), regarding her suposed murder and loss of her Peter Parker (Jake Johnson), (whose animated character looks surprisingly a lot like Jake Gyllenhaal). Intially thinking Gwen was a lead character and the films focus would be on this, as she has a pretty extended opening focusing on solely on just her, but then with it doing a round-about and not going that direction was confusing at times, but as they say ‘All’s well that ends well”.

The animation is incredible, especially during a long intro scene in a different universe, along with the action and soundtrack. There are so many different styles and techniques. Some again, took time of afterwards for processing if you don’t know the stories, to digest and make logic of. As well, some of the dialogue gets to be a bit too corny and tries to hard to be quirky and fast-talking, which seems to be a Marvel staple now. My other issue is that the story felt a little messy and all over the place, and there were moments that felt weren’t really necessary to the plot of the movie itself. That plus the fact it was almost two and a half hours, which was a longer than it needed to be, only then to realize at the end it’s only essentially half of a movie. So now we’ll have to wait an see how the second part pulls it all together or the five parts which are sure to follow that one. Which leads me into my “Think about your favorite movies”; now imagine that when you saw them for the first time, someone cut it off halfway through and made you wait a year for the rest. A truly great movie needs to be able to stand on its own. Also, no post credits so no need to stay after this two hour plus run time.

Spider-Man/Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) in Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animations’ SPIDER-MAN™: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE.

So for those in the back who feel differently, I am saying that it was a good movie, but it wasn’t the greatest one and to call it that just seems so out of place for me. I did have a good time watching it and it’s by no means a bad movie, just not the “Masterpiece” everyone is building it up to be and is certainly not, “The Greatest Animated Movie Of All Time”. I think you have to be a BIG DC Universe fan or comic book one to understand why alot of it is happening to be sure. A lot of it just didn’t resonate to me and the windup into it started to really drag in the middle, all to just to get to a point where they basically said “see ya next time”.

And yeah, I will go see the next one in two years – hope you will too as who knows, maybe it will be the one to reveal all.

Grade: B-

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“SPIDER-MAN:ACROSS THE UNIVERSE” FROM SONY PICTURES IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, JUNE 2, 2023

Review Screening: Tuesday, May 30, 2023 ~ Courtesy of Sony Pictures

Adventure, Animation, Family, Fantasy, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: “THE LITTLE MERMAID” (2023) DISNEY PICTURES

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By now we all know the story of “The Little Mermaid”. Created by Hans Christian Andersen and animated by Disney in 1989, this beloved classic has finally gotten the live action remake treatment. Over the years, this ‘treatment’ works at times, others not so much so treading lightly here was de rigeour’. With so many interested in seeing where they’d take one of the top five Disney flicks of all time, you also want to keep your mind open to all the options as no one wants to be let down if that doesn’t work out. Luckily that wasn’t the case here as Halle Bailey is perfect as Ariel and when I mean perfect, I mean humanly perfect as it is – because she is human and flawed that makes her perfect in this role beyond just her beautiful singing. And beautiful it is – taking each and every song to its absolute heights with the material being paid massive homage.

The visual effects are stunning – yes there was a lot of CGI, but not to the point where they are bothersome. I mean this is a story of mermaids so you must take your imagination to its heights as is. The vibrant colours of life under the sea were beautiful and you are completely transported away into this world once again that makes you wanted to pack your bags and become a mermaid yourself.

The best part of the film, was of course, Halle Bailey. This is her film. All the people who were skeptical can step aside because Bailey excels at playing Ariel.. She made the role her own while also incorporating bits and pieces from her origin. The facial expressions, mannerisms and yes, her voice. Her voice is as close to perfection as one can get. Her rendition of “Part of Your World” is sure to send chills down anyone’s spine. In addition to Bailey, we have Jonah Hauer-King as Prince Eric, an almost perfect clone of his animated counterpart except this time well, he finally gets a song here and does adequately well.

As someone who always has loved the side characters in this film, the rest of the casting choices fit as well: Javier Bardem as King Triton was powerful at times, though underused and possibly the weakest point of the film. His scene where he gives Ariel her ‘legs’ lacked the enthusiasm of the original in a big way.  Jacob Tremblay as Flounder was cute and ever so diligent towards Ariel, though much less of a part here than the original. Awkwafina is laugh out loud hilarious as Scuttle, hitting each mark to its point. Melissa McCarthy’s Ursula is campy fun at times, again one big scene with her coming to – so to speak – just lacked to its counterpart. There is a great cameo by OG Ariel, Jodi Benson.

The stand out by far however, was David Diggs as Sebastian. Every single moment of his was pure gold. He made sure we ALL knew and understood the assignment here by giving it the Caribbean flavour served up on a platter. The timing was perfect on every Sebastian moment. And the rap, I mean come on – it was perfection in abundance. If Halle was the show, Daveed held the spot and was the master of ceremonies. Props must be given to Alan Menken and Lin-Manuel Miranda as well. The new songs were tons of fun and the new lyric rewrites are good in their own.

While they tried to bring this story into the 21st century, some of the updates worked, some we already knew and made the run time a tad long. All that being said; The Little Mermaid was much better than I think most ever thought it was going to be. Seeing this story come to life is a major nostalgia trip in the best way possible and do think this is a step in the right direction for Disney going forward and hope it sticks. It is truly just a lovely, gorgeous movie and I wouldn’t be mad if they gave us a ‘Return to the Sea’ sequel with this cast. It is hard to put it above the original animated one, and comparisons are always going to be up to each individual, but it certainly can be put it alongside it.

As far as live-action/hybrid Disney remakes, The Little Mermaid is one of the better ones. True enough to the original animated film without being an exact interpretation.  Screaming out loud “We Are In The Caribbean” gave the much needed edge and I was here for all of it. The material not only pays homage to its predecessor, but it is good enough to make you want pack your bags to go be a Mermaid – and isn’t that the point?

Grade: B

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“THE LITTLE MERMAID” FROM DISNEY PICTURES IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2023

Review Screening: Wednesday May 24, 2023 ~ Courtesy of The Walt Disney Corp

bad movie, Comedy, Female Director, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: “ABOUT MY FATHER” (2023) LIONSGATE

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“About My Father” is a 2023 comedy film directed by Laura Terruso and stars comedian Sebastian Maniscalco as essentially himself. The tag-line is it’s a comedy based on his life in Chicago and connection with his father, Salvo Maniscalco (Robert De Niro), an over-the-top Chicago hairstylist. A few of the cast here, including De Niro and Kim Cattrall, are what drew my attention and having just seen the excellent film done by Ray Romano ‘Somewhere In Queens’, I thought this would be a great addition in that category. Therein lies my first mistake. Lightening rarely strikes twice.

The film follows Sebastian, who in real life is apparently quite a successful stand-up comedian, here though, he works at a hotel. As he prepares to propose to his girlfriend, Kelly (Leslie Bibb). Salvo isn’t happy about this and even less so that Sebastian is heading out of town to Kelly’s wealthy family home, to be with her eccentric family, right-wing Senator Tigger Collins (Kim Cattrall), and hotelier Bill Collins (David Rasche), and brothers Lucky (Anders Holm), and Doug (Brett Dier) for the 4th of July, something they always spend together in the city. So it comes as no surprise that the gathering soon goes awry. And so begins the collision-of-the-families movie where both sides are faced with a clash of class and culture between Salvo’s blue-collar immigrant worldview – where he gives the inevitable old guilt speech of how he scrambled to come here to give his son a better life-song and dance. Then there is Ellie’s family’s bubble of born with a silver spoon affluence, finding Sebastian in the middle between both sides hoping they’ll be able to see eye to eye. This is where the hijinks is supposed to begin as Salvo does what he can to try and sabotage the relationship.

Kim Cattrall as Tigger, Leslie Bibb as Ellie, and David Rasche as Bill in About My Father. Photo Credit: Dan Anderson

Now, fair play here – I’ve never seen Maniscalco’s full comedy act so I can’t judge it on the whole, I have however seen a few clips and some of his interviews, most particularly the one where he puts down his wife abhorrently to her face. It’s not a pleasant watch, but I went into this with open arms again, mostly for De Niro and Cattrall. What I got was De Niro starting off the film in a bad wig, trying to de-age his character into the 80’s with ZERO success. He basically phoned in this performance. The film itself doesn’t even extend the courtesy of trying most of the time, it just crashes and burns almost harder with each scene — almost like it’s run on autopilot. Shot like mediocre sitcom, with jokes and scenarios so dull you can practically feel the energy being sucked out of the theatre while you have resigned yourself to just sitting and watching it happen.

Maniscalco might be a successful stand-up but his screen presence is paltry by comparison, and the script he’s co-written with Austen Earl is bland in its comedy and vapid in its saccharin message about the importance of family. Throw in a quick thread about how this is the heartwarming coming-together of “two different types of immigrant stories” in the eleventh hour when one of those stories is so hilariously tone-deaf, it almost has you grinding your teeth in dismay. Every decent comedic performer is underutilized, even Cattrall tries to work with the material she’s given and has a moment or two, De Niro is so sadly used here it should be illegal.Though a shout-out is owed to David Rasche who earns the most genuine laughs (mind you these are short and few) as Ellie’s overbearing father, doing all he can to save the scenes he is in.

Sebastian Maniscalco as Sebastian and Robert De Niro as Salvo in About My Father. Photo Credit: Dan Anderson

Beyond that, nothing here will come at a surprise to the viewer, not the beginning, not the middle, not the end, so whether the jokes somehow land with them or not is for each to decide. With the film being slow at times, picking up the pace into absurd-ness at others. I wish I had laughed more than once.

Grade: D

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“ABOUT MY FATHER” FROM LIONSGATE IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, MAY 25, 2023

Review Screening: Thursday, May 11, 2023 ~ Courtesy of Lionsgate

Action, Action Adventure, Adventure, CGI, Crime, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: FAST X (2023) UNIVERSAL PICTURES

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Harkening back to the days of old when the Fast franchise first started Tyrese was still a supermodel,Ludacris was still a rapper and Jason Momoa was running around shirtless on the beaches of Baywatch – Here, Fast X begins 10 years in the past making it the end of Fast Five which was the one that found Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel), and his impromptu family pulling off a heist against Brazilian drug lord Hernan Reyes (Joaquin de Almeida). Turns out Reyes had a son, Dante (Jason Momoa), who has spent the last decade growing up planning an extravagant scheme to avenge his father’s death. It also features a touching memory of how it all started including of course, the stunning Paul Walker and it truly was glory days being all about the cars. Now the “family” now possibly has more branches than Game of Thrones.

Fast X, directed by Louis Leterrier.

Similar to its predecessors in the lengthy franchise history, and its spin-offs, the benign plot is beside the point in contrast to the stunt-tastic CGI spectacles. This one is full of the usual cars action, but that’s what it’s all about – as let’s be real, no one is going to a Fast and Furious movie for the acting or the dialogue,and here is no different. There are points where the audience is laughing, but it’s more at the movie absolute ridiculous delivery of dialogue (yes, I’m looking directly at Vin Diesel here), than with it. The plot, quickly explained without spoilers, involves Dante going after the family. He lures Dom, his wife, Letty (Michelle Rodriguez), and their pals Roman (Tyrese Gibson), Tej (Chris “Ludacris” Bridges), Han (Sung Kang), and Ramsey (Nathalie Emmanuel) to Rome, where a bomb goes off right outside the Vatican. The explosion gets pinned on them, forcing them to split up in different directions and go into hiding. Meanwhile, Dante has set his eyes on revenge with Dom and Letty’s son, Little Brian (Leo Abelo Perry), who goes on the run with Uncle Jakob (John Cena). Yep, you got it, it’s all over the place.

Back also is Mr. Nobody’s daughter Tess (Brie Larson), trying to spring Letty from a blacksite prison, where she’s being held alongside none other than ruthless cyber-terrorist Cipher (Charlize Theron), who isn’t the villian in this one. Little Nobody (Scott Eastman) is here as well; Diogo (Luis Da Silva Jr.) also as quick cameos from Queenie (Helen Mirren), Mia (Jordana Brewster), Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), and of course, Shaw (Jason Stathom). It’s like they threw everyone and then the kitchen sink in for good measure. But wait, we aren’t done – Abuelita (Rita Moreno), is also here for a quick family scene (you thought I was joking about more family sides than GOT), Bowie (Pete Davidson – yes, Pete Davidson is in it), and adding in some new supporting role faces with one of the better characters here, Aimes (Alan Ritchson), and Isabel (Daniela Melchior), a Brazilian street racer.

Jason Momoa as Dante in Fast X, directed by Louis Leterrier.

The film takes you from Los Angeles, to London, to Brazil to Rome and location-wise, it’s all done fairly well. The biggest addition by far is Jason Momoa, as he takes what would usually be just another running on fumes ending – channels his inner Jack Nicholson, and blasts this villain role right out of the full ham sandwich, flamboyant sociopathic park. He brings this whole film up a plus level grade all on his own and makes it worth the watch. The film pretty much ends telling you what to expect next and even though they claimed this is the last of the Fast & Furious many, many incarnations – it will most likely go on for many years to come in various forms. Lastly, a little bit of a surprise plot twist at the end – a surprise guest star as well, to wrap it all up, though not as neatly as one would think.

As usual..stay for the credits.

Grade: C+

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“FAST X” FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2023

Review Screening: Monday, May 15, 2023 ~ Courtesy of Universal Pictures

1990's, Biography, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Drama, Independent Feature, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: “BLACKBERRY” (2023) IFC FILMS

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“Send me your BBM”

On January 9th, 2007, when Steve Jobs took to a worldwide stage to make the biggest announcement of the tech industry as we knew it, What did he do? Well he announed the iPhone and the world was forever changed. But before all this, there was the “BLACKBERRY”, and most audiences really don’t know much about the story of the man nor the company behind this invention this one time status symbol.  Like many others, never having owned a Blackberry myself, one can only remember when someone said “Send me your BBM” and we looked at them in possible confusion. We also never knew the story of the BlackBerry to this depth, thankfully, this movie portrays that very well with its dark comedy and anxiety-inducing writing. While we all know that BlackBerry doesn’t exist anymore, Director/co-star Matt Johnson does a good job of showing how the IPhone destroyed this Canadian-based company, and how the fall from grace for those behind it all was actually more of a boom! than just a blip.

BlackBerry is not your by the numbers biographical drama of a company as the film is structured into three segments based on major shifts at the company, Research in Motion (RIM). The film follows the duo of tech boy wonders Mike Lazaridis (Jay Baruchel) and Doug Fregin (Matt Johnson), are the heads of a the very almost child-ish start-up, in which they’ve essentially just hired their friends to hang out with them and do “movie night”. Somehow during all this movie time – they have developed a phone capable of sending and receiving emails in a pocket-sized device you can hold in your hand – an idea that at the time that was deemed as a pipe dream.

As with anything new in the tech market – funding, support, and distribution are important to the plan and they duo head out to do get just that. Both are incredibly unprepared, to pitch their idea to Jim Balsillie (Glenn Howerton), who despite not having a tech background, gets it instantly, but feels they aren’t worth his time – until he has a interesting little incident of insubordination in the presence of his boss (Martin Donovan), which needless to say, gives him a bit of a career setback. He ends up meeting them again in a diner, where in a scene typical of how these two interact, Doug counts out change for the check from a Ninja Turtles wallet. Still Jim, offers his services to RIM in exchange for a large share of the business and the status title of co-CEO. Doug completely loses it, but Mike, who is clearly gets the bigger picture as payroll checks are bouncing, realizes they need each other.

What’s good about this film is how perfectly it captures the rise and fall of this once innovative company, highlighting the heart at the core, and of its inevitable demise. Fans of earlier films running this gamut like The Social Network or this years Tetris, will feel right at home here. Just like those films, this multi-faceted one is not just for the technology gurus out there, as co-writers Matt Johnson and Matthew Miller wrote it to integrate technological jargon into a narrative that everyone can understand and follow, not just those tech gurus. BlackBerry, is not just a film about the creation of the world’s first smartphone, but also works as an exploration of friendship, community, and power that never shys away from references to where they were located (what we here is the U,S. would call ‘the boonies), of Waterloo, Canada, and it never falls short of things like the constant praise of its hockey origins.

Where is falls a bit short at times is leaving out a background of the people themselves. If these people have homes or families we never see them. Jim has a loyal assistant, who is one of two women with basic speaking parts in the film. The other being Michelle Giroux as Dara Frankel, the SEC investigator who ends up bringing the axe down on RIM. All the other team members, with the exception of Rich Sommer as Paul Stannos, an engineer poached from Google and Michael Ironside as Purdy, another terrifying character made COO, otherwise blend into the same basic background. For all this movie’s pride in being Canadian its true home is plain old cutthroat capitalism. The various men in suits like Saul Rubineks’ John Woodman, or Cary Elwes as Carl Yankowsky, all are at various points just yelling at each other in their own colourless corporate settings, Making what I say next more than obvious that what stands out in all these films, not just this one but in all the films about the major innovators of our time, from Steve Jobs to Mark Zuckerberg, to Jim Balsillie, and eventually even Mike in this film, (taking into consideration they are correctly portrayed), are always some of the most horrid people to everyone around them. They were the times when this type of leadership was not only accepted, though that’s no excuse for being a unhuman human, it was the norm and women in the boardroom were a rarity. It is essentially the creation of the coporate overlords that we now know today.

Lastly is the acting. Jay Barucshel and Matthew Johnson were both wonderful in a corporate Ying-and-Yang relationship, though Johnson steals the show with his mockery and comedy. But the complete show stopping film stealer is Glenn Howerton as the corporate tough guy. Coming from a comedic background shows through here as his timing of every single scene scream roast is impeccable, it’s truly dark comedy at it’s best. He can stop the whole show with just a showstopping look. I can only say to everyone watching, let’s remember this performance come Awards season. Together, the three of them drive the story from its lowest points to its dizzying heights. All the supporting roles fit in as needed, as again, it’s like they hired a group of friends and funnily enough, a post Q & A with Director Matt Johnson confirmed just that.

Overall ‘BlackBerry’ is a fun entertaining picture, that may not be completely accurate, but for those who don’t know the details, it won’t matter or to the point, detract from the story at hand.

Grade: B

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Review Screening: Sunday, May 7, 2023 ~ Courtesy of CAA/IFC Films

“BLACKBERRY” FROM IFC FILMS IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, MAY 12, 2023

Action, Action Adventure, CGI, Comedy, Marvel Comics, Movie Reviews, Movies, Super Hero

REVIEW: “GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 3” (2023) DISNEY/MARVEL STUDIOS

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Good superhero movies are hard to make with the market for them as oversaturated as it is. And for me, it is a bit harder as it’s hard keep them all straight, and now along with all the different universes, you have to watch a TV show to understand them. It feels like work at times rather than just plain fun to watch a film. But “GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY“ series has never felt that way for me from it’s first film to now it’s last with “GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 3” attempts to do the one thing that most MCU trilogies have failed at: giving all of its characters a satisfying ending. While many of the plots are similar in all these films, here in it’s last outing, they threw a bit of a wrench into it all. So it’s not going to be a spoiler to say that director James Gunn made it a Rocket Raccoon – centric story.

Rocket (voiced by Bradley Cooper) in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

The film finds the opening reintroducing the ensemble rebuilding their lives in a post-Thanos world, with team leader Peter Quill (Chris Pratt), in a dark place wallowing in drunken self-pity over losing girlfriend Gamora (Zoe Saldaña). Like the previous two Guardians films, it opens with a song. This time however, it’s not the usual uplifting song or classic rock song hit, but a very somber version of Radiohead’s Creep, that is set over a walking sequence of Rocket Racoon (Bradley Cooper), alone making his way throughout Knowhere. While the rest of the Guardians; Gamora’s step-sister, Nebula (Karen Gillan), single worded vocabulary tree-creature Groot (Vin Diesel), dimwitted but loveable Drax (Dave Bautista), and empath with the antennas, Mantis (Pom Klementieff), are all turning to a more connected type group while others, not so much.

Initially, everything seems to be going okay for the Guardians, all things considered. That is until Adam Warlock (Will Poulter), son of Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki), suddenly attacks Knowhere. If you remember as honestly I did not and someone had to tell me, but they had vowed revenge during one of several post-credits scenes in Volume 2. So Adam it seems, has been tasked to capture Rocket on the request of the man who tortured and made Rocket what he is today, the High Evolutionary (Chukwudi Iwuji). Rocket is injured so badly that he lapses into a coma and his Guardian friends can’t do anything to help him without the passcode required to access his heart. And herein lies the rest of the story – which to tell you would just spoil the whole film. I’m sure you can safely assume there will be fight scenes, galactic battles, jokes and possibly a bit of romance. But while there is a process to the story, the tone of it all at times also veers all over the place with scenes of true emotion to battle scenes, with the flip of a proverbial switch. One minute you’re seeing beautiful scenes of Rocket with his friends that will just truly get to you, the next minute the High Evolutionary is going a bit hammy, screaming off his rocker and it confuses the storyline at heart. There are also some really violent scenes that seem a little off-putting as some are genuinely traumatic and honestly kind of disturbing moments. There are the jokey one-liners you’re expecting as well, along with some really corny scenes. All these moments work in separately, but put together here in GOTG Vol. 3, it’s all a bit like an orchestra being led by a conductor who’s just rolled out of bed and needs his coffee I.V. before he can swing his wand correctly.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo by Jessica Miglio. © 2023 MARVEL.

Needless to say it’s the animals who rule this film and along with Rocket there is a sweet one in Cosmo the Spacedog (Maria Bakalova), a telepathic Soviet canine who helps the Guardians. This is truly where the emotion kicks in and some scenes are even hard to watch as cruelty towards animals, even animated ones, are a hard watch and will even get the ‘heart of stone’ people in all the right places. Sylvester Stallone also returns though blink and you might miss him, as Stakar Ogord, who leads a team of Ravagers that includes Michael Rosenbaum as Martinex and Daniela Melchior as Ura. But they are very much side characters here.

As one would expect with the film revolving around him, the MVP must be Rocket, who is one of better developed characters in GOTG franchise to be sure. His sad backstory here is the core of this movie and it was a good choice. Pratt and Saldana are fun, but without their crazy romance chemistry, it just isn’t the same. It’s hard to pinpoint anyone here truly who does better than Bradley Cooper voicing Rocket as he gives him life here. The Adam Warlock character almost felt like a waste as he’s portrayed as a really strong character at the beginning, only to disappear to the sidelines for the whole movie, momentarily popping up here and there until the end. Sadly it seemed like Poulter ‘worked out’ for nothing, as he was just background noise. As well as villian playing Iwuji, who has strong moments, but also truly cheesy ones, leaving you trying to put your finger on if he is a really good at this villian role or not. But truly when Gunn is on form – as most notably, the truly breathtaking Beastie Boys-backed fight scene and Rocket rescuing the baby raccoons, the film works well, but there are too many moments that drag, often as a result of skewering in different directions and some comedy that doesn’t quite hit. But yet again, it’s the music that saves a movie and as per usual, the soundtrack is impecable. The music by John Murphy is epic and catchy, blending orchestral with classic rock songs that fit the tone and mood of each scene. But the icing on the cake was by far the change of soundtrack towards the end with Florence and the Machine, The update of music leading away from the usual seventies & eighties rock makes a moving scene all the more so. Kudos to that.

Cosmo (voiced by Maria Bakalova) in Marvel Studios’ Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Photo courtesy of Marvel Studios. © 2023 MARVEL.

The film features plenty of action and explosions, but at times it feels like there are too many of them. The plot also has a few flaws, with some of the storylines feeling rushed or underdeveloped. However, there are also strengths with it – and yes, the surprisingly dark themes at times. Parents be warned here – this is not a movie for young children – honestly with some of the graphic scenery I would hesistate taking anyone under the age of thirteen hence the PG-13 rating. Still, sure, it was sweet.. and looked good… with cute characters…and it’s generally a success. Maybe tugs on the heartstrings a little too aggressively, but a lot of it works. I liked how they handled all the characters, besides what has been pointed out. The storyline is otherwise sound and it’s a pretty good end to what’s been a nice trilogy.

Grade: B

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Review Screening: Courtesy of Disney/Marvel Studios

“GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL 3” FROM DISNEY PICTURES/MARVEL STUDIOS IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2023

Movie Reviews

REVIEW: “ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET” (2023) Lionsgate Films

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You Must… You Must… You Must… see this movie!!

To say girlhood is never easy is an understatement and possibly never has a film spoken to young girls more than “ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET”– Judy Blume‘s classic coming-of-stage story. The film is set in 1970 but its themes of growing up are truly timeless.

The film starts right after Margaret Simon (Abby Ryder Fortson), finishes summer camp between fifth and sixth grade. She returns to her families New York City apartment where her Grandma Sylvia (Kathy Bates), blurts out that she is moving to New Jersey i.e., ‘the burbs’ (oh the horrors!). Her father Herb (Benny Safdie), has a new job, and her mom her mother Barbara (Rachel McAdams), well she is going to join the PTA. Before they can even unpack, Nancy (Elle Graham) is at the door and they rush off to become quick friends, with Elle using her knowledge of puberty as a form of control. And before long, Margaret and the others in the ‘secret club’ members, Janie (Amari Alexis Price) and Gretchen (Katherine Mallen Kupferer), believe getting their first period and growing breasts are the only path toward happiness. The club also gossips – mostly about which boys they are obsessed with, but also about one of their shall we say, more developed classmates, Laura Danker (Isol Young).

Photo Credit: Dana Hawley

Life comes at you fast–this is a reality that young Margaret and her friends find out in so many different ways and the script simply follows Margaret along as she attempts to navigate a new school, a difficult task for anyone, but here the focus from director Kelly Fremon Craig, is wielded towards showing it can be funny to anyone who witnesses it from the outside, whether it be Nancy or even Margaret’s parents. Her mother taking her to shop for a bra, while Margaret mostly hides what she really feels from Nancy and the others. Her secret crush on Moose (Aidan Wojtak-Hissong), and how it’s portrayed is perfectly done with a sense of curiosity and hilarity all at the same time.

But the easy subjects are what are the point here. It’s the harder ones as when Margaret has to leave the Grandma she adores, and finds out about why she’s never met her other side of grandparents. The questions that arise in her about religion leading into her asking the primary question we’ve all probably asked at one time or another “Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret”. Along with a developing body that one just doesn’t know what to do with, and the feelings that come with finding out who your friends just might really be, they all flow out here in at a pace that isn’t too slow and not too fast – all coming together to make these things handle all of this simplistic adventure so well to many audiences.

Photo Credit: Dana Hawley

Truly this is how you make a faith based movie. Where instead of preaching to the choir and having it thrown in your face – you demonstrate challenges and questions for the character to fill in your own interpretations, bringing about a discussion for the audience and characters alike. Adding in that the film has brilliant comedic pace giving each moment proper of time to be enjoyed or again, pacing itself enough to cause you to feel with each and every character along with the drama and stress of each situation Margaret faces.

To add icing to the cake is the powerhouse performance by Abby Ryder Fortson as without this beautiful interpretation by her, this film would not be as almost perfect as it is. Along with her cast of friends, Elle Graham playing that bossy almost teen is just too pefect for words. Kathy Bates, while not being on screen as much as we’d like her to be, makes an impact, as well as McAdams playing the ‘cool mom’ and Safdie pulling up the rear as a just overall good dad. Without these performances this movie just might not have worked as well as it did. And lest we forget the soundtrack – which is nothing short of badass. It helps to propel the film forward and creating something that when the music plays, it fills the screen and works to supplement the characters, and the narrative. The songs help to develop and set the tones throughout the course of the film.

Photo Credit: Dana Hawley

“Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret” should win over audiences of all ages through its likable cast, and its sweet approach to potentially challenging material. Whether it be sex, religion or purpose in life the film dives into the innocence of these subject matter and how they would be experienced by so many – capturing that anxiety, joy, and pain in pefect harmony.

Grade: A

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Review Screening: Courtesy of Lionsgate Films

“ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT’S ME MARGARET” FROM LIONSGATE IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023

Action, Comedy, Dark Comedy, Family, Female Director, Independent Feature, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: “POLITE SOCIETY” (2023) FOCUS FEATURES

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“POLITE SOCIETY” is writer-director Nida Manzoor‘s first film – as we best know her from her hit TV show “We Are Lady Parts” – a personal favourite of mine from Peacock. She stays within the Pakistani community culture that she knows and does so well with again here, giving us a very smart, yet super stylised, inventive and sometimes over the top familial story. Manzoor divides the film into five chapters – entitling each with the theme at hand such as “Khan vs. Salim” or “Khan vs. Khan”, highlighting what each chapter will offer up.

4167_D039_00291_R Priya Kansara stars as Ria Khan and Ritu Arya as her sister Lena in director Nida Manzoor’s POLITE SOCIETY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Priya Kansara, a newcomer to the big screen, stars as Ria Khan, a Sophomore/Year 11 private school student, Ria is highly determined to achieve her goal of becoming a working stuntwoman. She remains laser-focused on this despite her teacher and parents parents Rafe (Jeff Mirza) and Fatima (Shobu Kapoor), laughing it all off as nonsense and trying at every turn to re-direct her towards becoming a doctor. Ria also adores her older sister Lena (Rita Arya), who has recently moved back into her parents home after dropping out of a prestigious art school. Ria is worried about her as she seems to be drifting in life. So instead, together they film Ria’s stuntwoman ‘practices’ all the while she sends letters to top professional stuntwoman Eunice Huthart expresses her love for all things stunt related, and yet at some point, her life intertwines in them as well.

Things change quickly for everyone as at a meet & greet aka match-making soiree’ as Salim (Akshay Khanna), a doctor and every mothers dream match for their daughters, steps in and begins wooing and winning over Lena. Ria senses things aren’t right with the relationship and is also convinced that Lena should resume her dreams of being artist, rather than be with the too-good-to-be-true Salim. And then there is Salim’s mother Raheela (Nimra Bucha), who raises every red-flag visable as the overbearing mama’s boy mother. Of course, Ria suspects things aren’t all on the up and up here and sets out to prove it with her two best school friends Clara (Seraphina Beh) and Alba (Ella Bruccoleri), who get some of the best one-liners of the film. And the fun begins as they strategize and scheme to undercut the relationship, but they are no match for Salim’s mother.

4167_D018_00093_R Seraphina Beh stars as Clara, Priya Kansara as Ria Khan and Ella Bruccoleri as Alba in director Nida Manzoor’s POLITE SOCIETY, a Focus Features release. Credit: Parisa Taghizadeh / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

While the story might have it’s over-the-top moments to be sure, the acting never does. Kansara and Arya are perfectly paired here and clearly are having fun as they execute the physical martial arts sequences beautifully, yet also show promise in the more serious moments switching back and forth flawlessly. And the supporting cast which we have yet to mention the school bully turned partner in crime Kovacs (Shona Babyemi), who offers some wonderful comedic relief helping the three friends out in their wily scheme to ‘free’ Lena. All these ladies need to be put on everyone’s “Actresses to watch for” lists – as well as filmmaker Nida Manzoor on their Female Directors to watch list. Anyone who can entertain at this level deserves the opportunity to do so as frequently as possible.

In the end, after all the kicks, punches, and schemes, ‘Polite Society’ is about culture, friends, sisterhood and being true to who you are with Nida Manzoor giving us extremely creative film with a balance of themes that proves immensely entertaining.

Grade: B

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Review Screening: Courtesy of Ginsberg/Libby PR

“POLITE SOCIETY” FROM FOCUS FEATURES IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023

Biography, Drama, History, Independent Feature, Movie Reviews, Movies

REVIEW: “CHEVALIER” (2023) SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES

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The life of Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges is definitely one that needs to be told. He was an accomplished man, a scholar, fencer, a virtuoso at the violin, besting even the likes of one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, or so the story goes. Most of all, he was a composer and a much sought after one at that. All this took place from 1745-1799 to be exact, during Marie Antoinette’s reign. But because of who he was, his storied life was all but erased from history as we know it thanks to one little guy named Napolean Bonaparte’ when he reinstated slavery in France.

And this is where “CHEVALIER” the film steps into play boasting a based on a true story – screenplay by Stefani Robinson that doesn’t escape the predictability of the usual bio-pic story structure, as well as the possible taking of a few liberties here and there. Director Stephen Williams does turn this into a surprisingly captivating look at the life story of the composer who grew up the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, Joseph Bologne (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). Bologne rises to improbable heights in French society hence him being crowned with the title of Chevalier, taking his suffix from his father, “de Saint-Georges”—named after a plantation in Guadeloupe—to become known as ‘Chevalier de Saint-Georges’. The film chronicles his talent, his supposed ill-fated love affair with Marie Josephine (Samara Weaving), and his falling out with Marie Antoinette (Lucy Boynton) and her court. Chevalier bucked the norm and competed to try to get appointed as the head of the Paris Opera at one point, but the Opera’s prima donnas, notably La Guimard (Minnie Driver), the Operatic Vocalist Queen of the time, went to Queen Marie Antoinette and halted his potential candidacy because they didn’t want to take orders from a ‘mulatto’ or Creole as he could be called. In the film, they show it as he would not bed the elder Guimard, again, possibly a small liberte’ taken here.

What is incredibly beautiful here is the music and the costumes. Both coming at you with such a vibrance with Harrison performing spectacularly on the violin in a fun opening moment. There is bound to be nominations for both of these, and Kelvin Harrison Jr., having been my one to watch a few years back, he has not failed me yet and delivers a ‘bonne performance’ here as well. Chevalier can feel drawn out at times and even predictable, and overall the pacing of the film is definitely a little strange occasionally, but the actors take it and make it the compelling story that it is.

Even with it’s ups and downs, It’s a sensitive topic, yet also tremendously inspiring narrative set to incredible classical music that allows it to have a powerful conclusion.

Grade: C+

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Review Screening: Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

“CHEVALIER” FROM SEARCHLIGHT PICTURES IS OUT IN THEATERS FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023

1950's, 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, Documentary, Movie Reviews, Movies, Music

REVIEW: “LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING” (2023) CNN FILMS

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A wop bop a loo bop a lop bam boom

Richard Penniman aka Little Richard was many things throughout his life. One of those things is he is undisputably the real King of Rock n Roll with this documentary not just celebrating his work, but also recognizing him for being, as Richard himself says, “The one that started it all.” Directed by Lisa Cortes “Little Richard: I Am Everything” puts much of it’s emphasis on the music first and formost. That galatic talent on the piano and some of the biggest names who followed in Richard’s wake, how others disregarded his talent, and his complicated legacy regarding race and queerness. I must say, while it’s not long in length, this documentary cuts to the nitty gritty of it all, and you learn from it.

The movie is a remarkable journey, that captures the spirit of Richard himself. We see everyone from Billy Porter, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, and Tom Jones, the latter three all one time members of Richard’s inner circle, and director John Waters whose insight into Richards life impacted his own with the copying of the infamous tiny mustache. The list of who he influenced is longer than that – as there would be no Elvis, David Bowie, who cameos here as well, Prince or even Harry Styles, without the influence of Little Richard. The film traverses the lines between Richard’s life as well as clearly his confusion between who he was, his religion and who he wanted to be, are all put forth to decipher.

Born December 5, 1932 in Macon, Georgia as Richard Penniman in a family that included twelve children in total and he grew up surrounded by blues music. Macon was also a religious town, and it was in a church where Richard first began singing. But along with that strict religion to conform to, his even stricter father who threw him out of his home at an early age. Richard was then taken in by the owners of a queer-leaning nightclub. An all-too-familiar situation that – as we later find out – likely impacted Richard. Soon though, he performed across the country (sometimes in drag shows) and later formed a band to record a demo tape of songs including ‘Tutti Frutti.’ From there, as his popularity began to soar, going into ‘forbidden’ terrority so to speak, so did the judgement. leading to ridiculous things like that same song being re-recorded by America’s religious darling at the time, one Pat Boone.

Ironically, it was a supposed sign from that very same religion that espoused him that led him to renounce himself more or less. He ended up at a conservative college, became a gospel artist, and even burned some of his old records. Then realizing gospel preaching didn’t pay, he flips the lid once again and gives that up for tours of Britain and a big, colourful comeback in the 1960s. And then, you guessed it, another reform again in the 1970s, turning his back fully on own homosexuality once again. All these back and forth renouncements and constant fluctuation represent Richard’s lifelong struggle to balance his love of Christianity, yet also speak strongly of his other maybe more real true love of rock-n-roll. One might ask why so many turnabouts – yet this answer is never revealed. most likely because Richard himself really never knew the answer himself sadly.

What the film does reveal is how Richard created an art form for ultimate self-expression, yet what he gave to the world he was never able to give to himself. Throughout his life, Richard careened like a shiny cracked falling star somewhere inbetween God, sex and rock n’ roll. The world tried to put him in a box, but Richard was another type of being altogether – and while he never received much of the deserved accolades or money until the end – he was unabashedly everything. All at once.

Grade: B+

Follow me on twitter: @pegsatthemovies or Instagram: Peggyatthemovies

Review Screening: Courtesy of Ginsberg/Libby PR

“LITTLE RICHARD: I AM EVERYTHING” FROM CNN FILMS IS OUT IN THEATERS AND VOD FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023

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