Review by Camden Ferrell
Encounter is the sophomore feature from writer and director Michael Pierce, whose first movie, Beast, earned him a BAFTA Award. His newest movie had its premiere at the 2021 Telluride Film Festival and assembles a talented cast. Despite its interesting and mysterious premise, it reveals its hand too early and can often suffer from less than stellar execution.
Malik is a military veteran and a father of two young boys. One day, he decides to take his kids on the run from the military as he attempts to protect his children from a looming alien parasitic invasion. This is an interesting premise that mixes elements of family drama and sci-fi thrills, and it has a lot of promise to be a unique spin on a body snatchers story. The script, written by Pearce and Joe Barton, is decent, but it makes some significant mistakes in structuring its story that ends up being one of the film’s biggest pitfalls. One of the main draws of the film’s opening act is its mystery and suspense. However, the film doesn’t seem to see this is a valuable asset, and it unfortunately reveals its hand far too soon. Aside from that major flaw though, there are a handful of meaningful moments dispersed throughout that let the actors shine occasionally.
The acting is above average, but it is somewhat underwhelming considering the talent featured. The movie is led by Riz Ahmed, who most recently was nominated for an Oscar for his amazing role in Sound of Metal. His work is almost always exquisite, which makes his performance here feel disappointing in comparison. He is accompanied by young actors, Lucian-River Chauhan and Aditya Geddada who are both fairly talented but don’t have a whole lot to do in this movie. The film also features Octavia Spencer in a supporting role, but like Ahmed, it feels like she isn’t on the top of her game either.
Without giving too much away about its plot, the movie stumbles in terms of execution. It sometimes doesn’t know how best to handle its premise and construct its narrative. It can also drag a fair amount for a movie under two hours. It also doesn’t do a whole lot of world building which could have helped further develop a movie such as this. Encounter has its charms and intrigue, but it’s mostly brought down by a questionably constructed narrative and not quiet memorable performances from its talented cast. Some sci-fi fans might find things to enjoy in the film’s aesthetic and inspirations, but most viewers might find it to have too many lulls. Encounter is in select theaters December 3 and on Amazon Prime December 10. Rating: 3/5
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Review by Sean Boelman
Adapting the Diary of a Wimpy Kid book series into films was always going to be a difficult task, as the perpetual middle school misadventures of Greg Heffley would be hindered by the actors aging out of their roles, but this new Disney+ adaptation avoids that by utilizing the animated medium. And while it does have some shortcomings, the charming nature of the source material shines through.
The movie follows an imaginative kid who struggles to fit in with his peers during the first year of middle school. The film follows the story of the first book in the series, although it only hits on the main beats of the arc, cutting out a lot of the subplots. But it was these small one-off jokes which were omitted from the adaptation that won most of the young fans over. One of the most frustrating things about this adaptation is that it doesn’t seem to understand its protagonist. The books were about a selfish kid learning to care for the other people in his life who were important to him, but in this movie, he’s a genuinely terrible person. There are so few redeeming qualities to the character in this film that he becomes unlikable. The filmmakers made the interesting choice of making this adaptation under an hour in length. On one hand, since the movie is so short, the laughs come very consistently, but it also ends up being quite rushed. This feels more like the pilot to a television series than a cohesive feature film, and ultimately, it would be pretty well-suited to a feature format.
That said, there is still a very positive message in the movie about the power of friendship. Young kids, in particular, should definitely be reminded of why it is important to be kind. That said, given the abbreviated nature of the story, there’s not a whole lot of room in the film for these themes to be explored in depth.
There aren’t any recognizable names in the voice cast, but the actors do a good job of bringing many of these characters to life. The way in which they embody these people is somewhat uncanny at times. This is especially the case when it comes to the side characters, like Fregley and Rowley. The animation of the film feels like a 3D animated version of the illustrations from the books, and that is perfectly fitting for what this is. The playful nature of the books was really a highlight, and the movie’s visual style is full of brightness and color in a way that gives it the energy it needs to win audiences over. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an enjoyable enough adaptation, and while the popularity of this title has waned in the years since the books’ initial release, it will definitely be a delight for kids to watch. It’s very short, but that’s both a blessing and a limitation. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is now streaming on Disney+. Rating: 3/5
Review by Dan Skip Allen
West Side Story is the latest film by Steven Spielberg, one of the greatest directors of all time. It's another film in a long line of reboots of classic films from the bygone era of cinema. The only difference is the original won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1961. So why reboot it you ask? When Speilberg says he wants to do it, you don't argue and 20th Century let him go because it's Speilberg.
Without sounding redundant, West Side Story is about a group of caucasian teens in New York City who have a beef with a bunch of Puerto Rican teens. They think that the Puerto Ricans are trying to take over their section of New York. What accentuates the situation is that Tony (Ansel Elgort) from the Jets is infatuated by Maria (Rachel Zegler) whose brother is the leader of the Sharks, the rival gang who's fighting for territory in the neighborhood. There are a few differences between the original and the new version of West Side Story though. One of them is that the store owner in the new film is played by Rita Moreno and in the original, he was played by a man. And in the original, Rita Moreno played Anita which is played by Ariana DeBose in the new film. Also, there is a similar feel and tone to the music in the new version of West Side Story because Leonard Bernstein created the music for the original, and Gustavo Dudamel mirrored a lot of what Bernstein did in the new version. It is a great score by everyone involved.
Some of the things this new film does right that the original didn't was the set production and production value as a whole. The New York streets came to life in this version and that helped make this story more realistic as well. Every little detail was thought of from the people on the streets walking by or driving their cars to the little details like laundry hanging from windows, trash cans, fruits, and vegetables on shop corners. Even store signs and so forth were all very authentic to the time and place this film is supposed to take place in. The clothes and housewares are also spot on. Spielberg spared no expense on the details of this version of West Side Story.
The cast is filled with relative nobodies except for Elgort, Zegler, Moreno, and Brian Darcy James as Officer Krupke and Corry Stoll as Police Lt. Shrank. The kids in the cast, actually adults, do a solid job on the singing and dancing. The choreography is on point throughout the film. The songs are great as well from the original film, like "America", "Tonight", and "Maria". The new version of West Side Story is very good. It pulls a lot from the original but it has its charm and feel that sets it apart from the original like the set production and production value. The new songs are catchy as well. The acting is fine from all involved, not great but also not bad either. The score is amazing even though it's very similar to what we already saw. There are a lot of new aspects to the score that makes it one of the best of the year. West Side Story hits theaters on December 10. Rating: 4/5
Review by Camden Ferrell
Nightmare Alley is the newest movie from director Guillermo del Toro. His most recent film, The Shape of Water, received an Oscar for Best Picture and also earned del Toro an Oscar for Best Director. Even though his newest feature has some great ambiance, visuals, and a phenomenal leading performance, the story and execution drag too much to stand with his best works.
Stan is a man who joins a carnival and discovers a unique talent for reading and manipulating people. With his newfound gift, he meets new people and engages in new endeavors that are as perilous as they are alluring. This is based on William Lindsay Gresham’s novel of the same name, and it’s an interesting premise that could seemingly work well with del Toro’s distinct style. One of the first things that’s noticeable is the remarkable cinematography and composition. Dan Laustsen once again serves as director of photography for del Toro, and his work is as strong as ever. The film has a really profound use of lighting especially in its first half, and it creates an immersive atmosphere in which the story can unfold.
Another one of the most distinguishable aspects of the film is its star-studded cast. It stars the likes of Willem Dafoe, Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, and Toni Collette. However, the true stand out is Bradley Cooper who leads the film as Stan. He is utterly phenomenal in this movie, and it may be one of the best performances of his career. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast doesn’t do much to make their appearances memorable, and they pale in comparison to Cooper’s great work.
The film’s script is mostly decent, but it is still riddle with problems. Written by del Toro and Kim Morgan, the script does a great job of building up its world and introducing characters, but it doesn’t do well beyond that. Many characters feel underwritten and underdeveloped, and its plot doesn’t explore its premise to its fullest potential. There are also some plot points that don’t flow well together and throw off the overall rhythm of the entire film. One of the biggest disappointments of the film is how del Toro’s execution is inconsistent and drags the film down. He’s usually a fantastic director which is why it’s surprising for this film to meander so much especially in its middle sections. While the first hour is great, the rest of the film lacks the creativity and imagination for which del Toro is renowned. Nightmare Alley might be too indulgent for general audiences, but fans of del Toro and noir might find something to enjoy even though it may not live up to his standards. Despite some of its flaws, it’s a visually beautiful film that features an astonishingly great performance from Cooper. Nightmare Alley is in theaters December 17. Rating: 3.5/5 Reviewed by Adam Donato [L-R] Lucy Punch, Hardy Griffin Davis, Roman Griffin Davis, Gilby Griffin Davis, Keira Knightley, Matthew Goode, Annabelle Wallis, Davida McKenzie, Rufus Jones, Kirby Howell-Baptiste and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù in the drama/horror SILENT NIGHT, an AMC+ and RLJE Films release. Photo courtesy of AMC+ and RLJE Films. Silent Night is the first full length picture written and directed by Camille Griffin. It’s a story about a group of family and friends who come together to celebrate one last Christmas together. The cast features some recognizable faces in Annabelle Wallis, Kiera Knightley, Matthew Goode, Lily-Rose Depp, and Roman Griffin Davis. The film is labeled as a comedy-horror, but plays mostly like a drama. Does this Christmas flick have enough to make it stand out among the rest this holiday season? This movie is actually really good. It’s reasonable to see audiences thrown off by the tone of the movie since it’s labeled as a horror-comedy. There’s plenty of dark humor in this movie, somewhat akin to that of Krampus. Also, if the movie is a horror movie, it is not your traditional jump scare horror with killers, monsters, or ghosts. It’s more scary because of the ideas that the characters discuss throughout the movie. They all know they are going to die because of a widespread environmental disaster and there’s an exit pill they each have that will assist them in ending their lives without suffering. The moral debates that are had between the characters about this situation are very intriguing. The main emotion induced from this movie would have to be sadness. So where there are elements of comedy and horror. The family drama is really where this movie shines. The performances are all very good. This is a big part of the movie’s success as it is just ninety minutes of a dozen characters locked up in a big house the entire movie. Roman Griffin Davis is certainly the biggest standout. He really burst onto the scene in Jojo Rabbit and it's exciting to see him sustain this level of quality. It’s definitely an ensemble, but the kid is given the most to work with and takes advantage of it. Goode and Knightley are both also holding their own in this movie. Their actions seem off until it’s revealed the context of the situation and from then on everything they do is so heavy. They just wanted to have one last great night. While it was funny to enjoy the disaster that is a family and friends holiday gathering, it’s depressing to see them act like this during their final hours.
The pacing of the movie is great. It’s a crisp ninety minutes and the movie is all the better for it. The writing is definitely one of the highlights of the movie. There’s a couple different subgroups at this gathering and they all have their own type of moral dilemma within their situation. Each of their conclusions feel satisfying as the ending in general is wrapped up pretty well. Silent Night is certainly a pleasant surprise of a movie. It will be interesting to follow Griffin as a writer/director to see what she does next. It’s too bad this movie is not getting a big theatrical run because it would definitely stand up among the rest and satisfy audiences. Hopefully this movie finds an audience on streaming because it is good enough to warrant viewership. It's much deeper than most other horror-comedies and a good time to watch. Silent Night hits theaters and AMC+ on December 3. Rating: 4/5
Review by Dan Skip Allen
Paolo Sorrentino has had a very eclectic career. His film Youth in 2015 wowed audiences and critics alike and showed what he could do as a director. He had a flair for the odd and different. He then moved into the realm of TV with The Young Pope starring Jude Law and other shows. Now he's back doing feature films again, including his latest, The Hand of God.
The Hand of God follows a family in Naples, Italy in the 1980s. They live, they love, they argue, and they enjoy getting together for various occasions. The film primarily focuses on one member of that family: a young teenage boy (Filippo Scotti) who is learning about life, women and he loves his soccer/football team, Napoli. He experiences a tragedy and it changes him irrevocably, mentally, and spiritually. This film has two distinct halves to it. The first part is a dramedy where the various members of the family interact at a gathering. They drink, sing, dance, eat and juggle, of all things. And the second half is a character study of a teenage boy who is dealing with a lot. He has to start to learn how to navigate this world on his own. The reason he's on his own is the tragedy right in the middle of this film. That's where the split in the tones comes in as well. It's like it's two different films in one. A key element of this film is the beautiful game, football, and arguably the greatest player to ever play the game, Diego Maradona. Maradona was at the height of his abilities and fame in the '80s. When he was available for transfer, everybody wanted him. He ended up at Napoli, the home team of those who live in the city and surrounding areas of Naples. That's the main kid in the film. He and his brother were very happy Napoli got Maradona. as well as the rest of the townsfolk.
Sorrentino has a distinct style while filming this movie. It has an up-close, in-your-face style. The scenes look very realistic and up-to-date even though it takes place in the '80s. The colors from dresses and backdrops like walls and street lights pop off the screen. The cinematography and camera work are amazing. There are some absolutely beautiful scenes. The water and cityscape scenes are breathtaking. This is some of the best cinematography of the year. It helped make the film better in every way possible.
The coming of age moments in the film are very surprising at times. The main character goes through some growing pains. The tragedy in the middle of the film hits him hard. He has some anger issues and sexual urges. The tender age he's at is one that most boys his age rebel and act out. He's a little lost though and it takes a while for him to find himself. Football isn't as important as it once was for him. He realizes what really matters in the world. I think a lot of youths this age have similar moments without the tragedy of course. The Hand of God is a pretty prophetic title. The meaning is what God decides to do regarding our lives means a lot. We're all given our own hand in life and that is at the core of this film. The fact that God decides our fate is a huge part of how and why this film works. We never know what our lot in life is going to be. And sometimes bad things happen and, God if you will, wants to see how we handle what we've been given to do in life. Some people handle it better than others. This film stands on this principle and it works in the end result. The result was a very good film. The Hand of God is a very good film and has a lead actor, amongst a fantastic Italian cast, that holds his own and makes us, the viewers, go along with him on his journey of self-discovery. The film's cinematography and camera work are breathtaking. It's a great way to get into this film at the start. Along with that is the score which is very good as well. It had some nice somber moments as well as some bigger moments. This film should be considered for the Academy Award for Best International Film next year at the Oscars. The Hand of God hits theaters on December 1 and Netflix on December 15. Rating: 4.5/5 |
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