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We Forgot to Break Up (2017)
Nice Film
I felt like this film wasn't trying to say anything profound, but just shed light on the complexities of transitioning while trying to maintain old contacts and friendships. I'm sure Evan decided to leave his life when he did out of shame or guilt to go start his transition. I'm sure he found profound happiness, but realizing later on that he doesn't want to completely lose those people forever or out of nostalgia, wants to reconnect.
I felt Evans acting was on point for how he is probably feeling that night. He feels like he doesn't quite know how to act around his old friends, lovers, boyfriends. A little flat awkwardness is inevitable.
I'm glad this was shared with me! This was well put together. Selfishly, I wanted more closure at the end, but it wasn't necessary to understand the film.
Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)
Somehow Refreshing
I had a very good time with this movie; sure there are typical Marvel shortcomings, but they are quickly followed by moments that remind us why we love Marvel movies.
After some expositional dialogue to explain where we are at in the timeline of the grander narrative, the writers throw a joke at us in acknowledgement of what they are doing. This happens a few times in this film which actually didn't bug me as much as I thought it would given the light hearted nature of the film.
The shrinking and growing fight scenes, car chases, and tom foolery were fun to be a part of and the VFX team had a field day with being able to play in that universe.
Talking character, I think that Ghost was underutilized as a force of antagonism and I never quite got an accurate read on Bill. The payoff between the two of them was unclear as well. There was just some unnatural moments between their story lines, although I thought it was effective subplot that could have been explored more.
Very normal for about 80% of comedy landed with only a few scenes where it felt forced and some "ant" puns that were cringe-worthy.
The story felt like a game of hot potato with a shrunken building thats furniture must be bolted very securely to the floor. It was a bit hodge-podgy but all the key moments seemed to be there. This is probably indicative of deadlines in trying to push this film out the door. The bad guys got theirs and the good guys were successful, but honestly that simplicity didn't bother me.
The Marvel Archetype structure prevails!
The Florida Project (2017)
William Dafoe Show
The Florida Project is one of those movies that you just can't seem to look away from. Overall, I am not unhappy that I watched it (although I was initially), but it is not one I will be watching many times over.
In an interview Sean Baker talks about the empathy we feel for the mother and I'm sorry to say that I felt none for her because the filmmaker didn't let me. If they had allowed me to meet people in Halley's life that knew her before she ended up like this, it would have humanized her. I felt nothing for the mother (Halley) other than disapproval.
Moonee was hard to like throughout the film and the only reason I felt anything for her is purely the fact that she is a child in a situation that you would never want a child to be in. I don't think Baker did a good job directing her performance except for the last sequence.
The character I latched onto the most was William Dafoe's character because he was written with such a complexity and played in such a raw way that I was enamored throughout. The only reason this film came up at the Oscars was because of him clearly.
I have heard it compared to Barry Jenkins' Moonlight and my instant reaction is to push back on that. Moonlight was able to craft the coming of age tale in a creative and fresh way. Moonlight immersed you in real scenarios of pain and struggle as one of the characters. Meanwhile, The Florida Project made me feel often as a fly on the wall in the scenes I was more of an observer than embodying the character which made me just want to call the police and end the movie.
The most interesting concept the film touches on is kids growing up so close to "the happiest place on earth," but never going there and living in quite the opposite. It did a good job of plunging you into the area of the highway most people just pass right by. I love that the ending doesn't wrap up in a nice little bow and I like some of the scenes that explore childhood shenanigans.
I don't hate that this film exists, I think it is important that filmmakers explore this style of cinema veritas, but they can't forget that there still needs to be an affective screenplay (something that I heard Baker often deviates from). In my opinion this movie was close to being something great, but instead is just good. Adding some complexity rather than stubbornness to main characters would have helped.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
Lackluster
It's really a shame that such beautiful visuals and elaborate animatronics can be so meaningless unless they are nested in a good story. Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom is nothing but eye candy and that is where the entertainment comes from. Any audience member looking for a story with substance will cringe. Character choices feel forced, dialogue is poor, recycled plot points, and a lack of imagination in a universe that was forged on it.
The same sequences just done worse than before; for example: a dramatic brontosaurus introduction or hiding from raptors in a house. The only plot point that was different from other Jurassic movies before is the dynamic surrounding the young girl who is cloned. This to me was the only new fresh element to this movie and it takes a back seat the first hour of the movie.
There are too many plot holes to count so I will avoid getting into them. There are no risks to really explore any new themes in this movie, but took away any creative elements that might help us look past those. I really tried to go in with an open mind and hope the visuals would carry me through and they did, but start thinking for a second why characters are doing what they are doing and there really is no logical explanation.
This is an entire team of people working to polish and salvage something great out of poorly written screenplay. This, to me, falls on the shoulders of the writers and is just another indication that writers of large budget studio films need to simply care more. Hard to believe that Spielberg approved of this script.
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Wonderfully acted and directed: only one argument.
Manchester by the Sea is heavy on the heart. Kenneth Lonergan has my respect for directing Casey Affleck in such a way to unveil a genuine and emotional performance.
Many times the silence in this film is the most effective dialogue as we try and dissect the character of Lee Chandler who has suffered immeasurable trauma in his life. The way he handles conversations in the beginning is comical until we start to get the impression this isn't just a grumpy, cynical man, but a seriously shaken and disturbed man.
One thing worth mentioning is that our protagonist doesn't change; this can make a movie seem longer than it is. That is not to say Lee Chandler isn't put in pressured situations because he definitely is, but through everything he stays the same. I have to say that upset me a little bit, I was hoping to see something new from him at least.
The most powerful lines in the film for me were "There is nothing there" & "I can't beat it" Both of these lines coming during arguments defining how Lee views his life and current situation.
The cinematography is stunning, the acting is wonderful, an amazing move that had me emotional. Although I can't help but wonder if there was an opportunity to dive just a bit deeper and discover something else.
Side bar: Part of me wondered how Patrick was able to handle his father's death so well.
Riverdale (2017)
Interesting world with lackluster characters
The aesthetic of the show I really do enjoy, however, I can't help but cringe at some insulting stereotypes with moments of poor dialogue.
I was worried from the moment I heard narration and I was hoping that device would somehow payoff-it doesn't.
There are many moments between characters that don't seem genuine. For example, an insultingly stereotypical homosexual character stumbles upon a dead body at the riverbank and his first reaction is to perform an instant autopsy deducing that the boy had been shot in the head rather than show any sort of fear or concern. It is moments like this that will completely remove you from the story.
Archie, the protagonist, is as dull as he is handsome and his father is somehow even more dull. There relationship also seems forced and unnatural.
I understand these episodes are adaptations from the comic series, but I can't help but think that the writers aimed for corny and landed on expositional dialogue and fake moments.
Riverdale is as if characters from Glee jumped into the Pretty Little Liars universe and then tried to solve a murder.
All that being said, the cinematography is very attractive but lackluster moments in acting and story removed my interest frequently.