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lmoralescook
Reviews
No One Will Save You (2023)
Worth the verrrry long wait for the reveal
Yes, this is a terrifying and tense film with aliens and jump scares. And yes, it's a story about survival. But my take on the movie is unlike many of the reviews here, which compelled me to comment. SPOILER ALERTS notice the physical size of the aliens, ranging from small to incredibly large. To me this means they took different approaches to reaching Brynn - the size of a young teen (same age as Brynn at the time of the traumatic event); a house-sized alien (scaled to the house where Brynn took refuge); mom-sized; taking the shape of her neighbors...They tried different ways to get her attention and communicate with her. That abduction was their herculean attempt to get through to her, to force her to deal with her grief and learn to accept herself. The high shot of various alien spaceships beaming to different places on the landscape is a cue that these aliens were addressing others who are grieving or filled with self-doubt. The scene in which Brynn met Brynn represents her self-inflicted wounds. That final scene, while it looks exaggerated to the viewer (us), reflects the profound shift Brynn feels within herself. Those aliens were like angels, not demons. The abduction scene even included a conversation among the aliens and their divine beings (they looked up for guidance). This is a unique film dampened not by the ending as others have suggested, but for the verrrrrry long path to get to the point. I'd watch it again, maybe fast-forwarding not through the alien interactions but the long beats in between.
Into the Woods (2014)
An astonishing display of talent
An incredible two hour ride worthy of live theater. Seriously, it's still playing off-Broadway, and all I wanted to do after witnessing the show on the screen was to run to the stage version (about a ten-hour drive from where I am right now). Bewitching as a fairy tale, sharp as a cautionary tale, and catchy as a Sondheim score. So much of the cast seemed perfect for their role, and each voice a pleasant surprise in song. There was a little too much Tim Curry in Johnny Depp (with Mr. Curry as the incomparable of the two), but after this film I'm devoted to whatever role Emily Blunt chooses in the future. I also understand why my daughter likes Anna Kendrick so much. And while most expect perfection from Meryl Streep because she's Meryl Streep, I found her voice to be far stronger and more convincing than her turn in "Mamma Mia!" several years ago.
"Into the Woods" is like a love letter to the original source material. It's clear Mr. Marshall knows his live musical theater. The production was absolutely wonderful, stoking a wide range of emotions. I was thrilled, moved, tickled, pickled, and delighted to sit with my daughter on one side, mom on the other - lots of feels and post-credit discussions. May my sincere appreciation for this film, and all the talent who threw themselves into this work, persuade many to just go...into the woods.
Loved it.