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Reviews
Circus Maximus (2023)
Glorified performance video
I wouldn't be as disappointed if I wasn't scammed into going out of my way literally to watch a movie that claimed to be a psychedelic soundscape which was instead a collection of 4-5 music videos and then a budget burning live performance video in some old ruins. It wasn't that Travis Scott is a bad performer, though there were some sequences during the performance video that I literally started laughing in the theatre because I didn't understand how I ended up here. It's the fact that reading the logline for the film is a complete misconception for what the video actually was. My friends and I were scammed to think this classifies as a film and I would love to hear what Gaspar Noe, Harmony Korine and Nicholas Weinding Refn have to say about calling it that. Anyway wow. I've never rated a film this low but if we're calling it a film then it's a 1. I hope they never do that again.
How to Blow Up a Pipeline (2022)
A Thin Line of Tension
It was a well crafted film from start to finish by Goldhaber, fuelled by a young and talented cast, especially in Lucas Gage's performance. The choice of flashbacks were sensibly done, something I'd normally avoid saying. It was a cheeky move executed confidently by Goldhaber using peak points of tension to cut back and learn about the characters. It worked, and strengthened the audience's connection with each character. The film had a hard time finding a consistent level of maturity. It plays more as a YA novel wanting to be like Mission Impossible. The stakes were high, but it lacked some unexpected sacrifice that would come with an emotionally charged team, driven by revenge to attack the oil industry in Texas. The reason it still worked is because the cast was so youthfully motivated and their energy kept things grounded in plausibility.
This cast and crew did a spectacular job in creating a sense of a blockbuster with a festival film. And though my phone screen was found to be shattered after the screening was over at TIFF, I enjoyed the film. Looking forward to more from the filmmakers.
El agua (2022)
The Film Slowed Itself Down
El Agua about and shot in Riera's hometown in Southern Spain, was driven by the nuances of the peoples' complicated sexual history as well as oranges and cursed water (and a ton of cigarettes). I respect that Riera took a risk by including real interviews with ladies from the town but upon seeing the first interview the film lost its momentum. Followed by long bouts of dialogue, it carried on for far too long to the point where the emotional arcs of each character became uninteresting. Riera did a great job using symbols and fables sprinkled throughout the film but didn't trust the audience enough with them. Those narrative themes felt forced through plenty of dialogue with what were otherwise very grounded performances all around. The scenes with Ana and her grandmother (Luna Pamiés and Nieve de Medina) were particularly easy to enjoy.
There is faith that Riera will return with a better film.
The Batman (2022)
A 9 on the Superhero Scale
Yes, the film was dark but rightfully so. The shadows were perfect. The visuals so raw, especially for a blockbuster (the cinematographer Greig Fraser ran the footage through a film pass as part of the post processing to elevate the grit). There's also a particularly awesome car crash sequence involving a Maserati and an angry new Bat Mobile.
From Batman's sweat streaked eye makeup to Cat Woman's chic wardrobe, Alfred's confidence in his role atop Wayne Manor against Falcone's calm demeanor, the film took a realistically grounded approach to highlight the kinds of people that would fill such a broken Gotham City. Its clear need of a deep cleanse is forced to the viewer by the constant rain. The Riddler's reasoning actually made sense while he did his thing, making his presence even more chilling; the fact that you almost want to agree with the villain is terrifying.
The film was held back by the lack of deep character relationships. The wonderful acting helped to balance those problems since the casting was top notch (really across the board, surprising choices proved themselves). However, many characters were so lost in themselves that it made it difficult to see any genuine emotion come through when dealing with others. Maybe it was a testament to the state of the city, but I doubt that. Christian Bale's Bruce and Michael Caine's Alfred had the connection to potentially move you to tears at times. That missing emotional interlocking made it difficult to really cling on to the high steaks of the film, but there was enough to leave me satisfied at the end of the 3 hour experience.
The Batman is high on the list of comic book films: taking risks with visuals, staying edgy with its genre and narrative and not making a story about humans feel so godly. With that cast and crew, they can afford to build on those emotional connections to make the second film truly something special. The seed is planted.
Licorice Pizza (2021)
Tough to Look Away
This absurd love story was fully engaging. Its loose plot was held together by youthful emotions that guide the viewer along. It stayed authentic and made use of fun cameos wedged in between the generally unproven cast. It never took itself too seriously and felt personal to the people who made it. It may have even tried too much to follow a strict story line for what it wanted to be but that is a personal taste. It was an unconventional story told well.
Last Night in Soho (2021)
Fun movie, weak ending
The film was captivating and very native to Edgar Wright's playful form of filmmaking. It was well cast and there was particularly one moment in the film that truly had me in awe (there is an initial introduction to the alternate world that Ellie experiences). The set and wardrobe design felt authentic and grand all in the same beat.
However, after about halfway through the parallel story, it started to lose itself (similar to the main character). What started as a sophisticated weave turned into a tangled knot, leaving many setups in the main plot line without a conclusion and it ultimately lead to a typical big budget ending. Feel free to take the ride if you're ok to forget about it once it's over.