Review by Camden Ferrell As a comic book character, Echo was introduced to audiences in 1999, and she had her live-action debut in the 2021 Disney+ series Hawkeye. Echo, a new miniseries for Disney+ and Hulu, kicks off 2024 for the MCU. Featuring some solid storytelling and mostly entertaining TV-MA action, this spin-off series is enjoyable even if it's not completely captivating After her last appearance, Maya Lopez finds herself returning to her hometown where she must face her past. She aims to reconnect with her Native American roots while also confronting the family she left behind. All of this happens while an even more sinister threat looms over her life. This is a spin-off that doesn’t initially feel needed on paper, but Maya is an interesting character that could be worth exploring if done properly. Since Maya is deaf, the show relies more on visual storytelling than other MCU efforts. This is noticeable within its first episode, and the show manages to keep a tight pace and find creative ways to convey ideas and emotions. This limitation brings out the best in the series and helps it thrive when the script can be lacking. The story itself does a decent enough job balancing the different challenges Maya faces, but the beats are just too familiar and safe to grip viewers the way it was intended to. The one thing that stands out the most in this show is Alaqua Cox’s leading role as Maya. She is engaging to watch in moments of flashy action and subtlety alike. Admittedly, she isn’t given the best material, but she makes the most of it. While most people will focus on some fan-favorite characters in this series, the rest of the supporting cast is entertaining as well. Specifically, Tantoo Cardinal and Chaske Spencer are enjoyable to watch in these episodes.
With its TV-MA rating, the show manages to slightly push its boundaries with violence. It’s not a bloodbath by any means, but it’s nice to see the MCU embrace more violent onscreen action. The stunts and fight choreography are also strong and ambitious. This ambition is its strength, but it’s also its main shortcoming. Certain fight scenes sacrifice realism and proper pacing for the sake of flashy camerawork, but it’s a tradeoff that’ll be acceptable depending on the viewer. Echo will not blow viewers away. However, it is a decent enough story that might be the last bit of MCU content we get for a few months at least. Even with its flaws, Alaqua Cox is a solid lead, and there’s more working for this series than against it. Echo is now on Disney+ and Hulu January 9. Three out of five episodes have been reviewed. Rating: 3.5/5
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Review by Camden Ferrell The 1972 Andes flight disaster is globally known and has been referenced and adapted in numerous pieces of media since then. The newest film from J.A. Bayona is the most recent attempt to tell this harrowing story of survival. Society of the Snow had its premiere at the 2023 Venice International Film Festival, and it is the Spanish submission for Best International Feature for the upcoming Academy Awards. An impressive feat of storytelling and visual effects, this movie will shock you with its brutality and surprise you with its abundant humanity. A Uruguayan rugby team finds themselves embarking on a trip to Chile with other passengers when the plane collides with the Andes mountains, killing several and stranding the rest. In unbearable temperatures and with minimal food, the remaining survivors must battle the elements and grapple with their own morality in order to persevere and live to see another day. This story is widely known, but it’s still fascinating to get an in-depth look at what they experienced on a day-to-day basis and learn more about their stories and humanity. Based on Pablo Vierci’s book of the same name, this movie was written by Bayona, Nicolás Casariego, and Jaime Marques. These writers do a great job with balancing the different conflicts in the movie. It’s a classic tale of man vs. nature while also being an emotional saga of man vs. self. The characters feel fleshed out which make the brutal elements they face feel more brutal and visceral. The emotional moments are earned thanks to the great and subtle characterization done by the writers. It has some great moments of dialogue throughout as well which keeps this movie feeling fresh despite taking place in mostly one location. This movie thrives off of its talented ensemble with great chemistry. It would be remiss not to give credit to everyone in the cast for bringing these characters to life. However, the highlights of this movie are Enzo Vogrincic Roldán, Matías Recalt, and Agustín Pardella. They have the most screen time of the cast, and they are commanding in their respective roles. They perfectly portray the horror, desperation, and sorrow of these characters. They’re captivating to watch and round the movie out nicely.
While the humanity of this story is on full display, one must also commend the amazing VFX work of this film. Throughout the movie, everything feels so immense in scale and spectacle, but the effects maintain the film’s realism which heightens its brutality. In addition to this, Pedro Luque’s work as a cinematographer is brilliant from start to finish, featuring some creative shots and imagery. And Michael Giacchino’s tender and emotional score rounds out the film beautifully. Bayona has outdone himself with Society of the Snow. It’s a chilling and gripping tale of survival that audiences will have a hard time looking away from. It is a technical marvel and a storytelling marvel as well. It’s one of the finest survival thrillers in recent years, and a heartfelt testament to the survivors and victims of this horrible tragedy. Society of the Snow is in theaters December 22 and streaming on Netflix January 4. Rating: 4.5/5 Review by Camden Ferrell American Fiction sees Emmy-winning writer Cord Jefferson into the director’s chair for the first time. It is an adaptation of the Percival Everett novel Erasure. This comedy-drama had its premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival where it won the People’s Choice Award. Currently eyeing awards and Oscar recognition, this film has some insightful ideas about race and the commodification of art, but it also can sometimes falter due to its family drama elements. Monk is a novelist who resents the lack of integrity in the reading habits of consumers. He detests how best-selling books reduce Black people to outrageous stereotypes and how it limits the ability of his own work to flourish or be published. Fed up with this status quo and dealing with issues in his personal life, Monk uses a pen name to write a “Black” book that unexpectedly launches him to new heights and moral dilemmas. Despite being based on a book that’s over 20 years old, this premise still remains topical and one worth exploring deeper. Written by Jefferson, the film starts out strongly. It balances the social commentary with some compelling family drama, and its dialogue is well-paced and witty. While the commentary stays sharp throughout, the personal elements of Monk’s life become less compelling as time goes on. Instead of fleshing out his character like it initially does, it eventually feels like it’s bloating the runtime without too much benefit. Despite its flaws, Jefferson approaches the main social issues of this movie with nuance and great insight. One of the most memorable parts of this movie is Jeffrey Wright’s amazing turn as Monk. Regardless of whatever flaws are in this movie, Wright is a powerhouse of an actor who always makes the most of it. His performance is funny, emotional, and most importantly frustrating. He grapples with the lack of integrity in the way Black stories are marketed and sold, and this is shown in subtle and un-subtle ways. The supporting cast is also quite strong with some notable highlights being Sterling K. Brown, Issa Rae, and Leslie Uggams.
The way Jefferson satirizes these issues of race can occasionally be hit or miss. The insight is present and clear, but the humor of the movie doesn’t always land as intended. There are some genuinely funny moments throughout, but some jokes aren’t as successful. However, it does succeed in being provocative and inspiring important conversations about how we commodify art and sometimes celebrate offensive and tired tropes that are detrimental to marginalized communities. American Fiction isn’t perfect, but it has great analysis of important social issues while being quite funny more often than not. Jeffrey Wright is a memorable lead, and it proves Jefferson might have a lucrative career as a director in addition to his accomplished writing career. This is one you’ll likely see referenced a lot in awards season, and it’s definitely worth checking out despite its flaws. American Fiction is in theaters December 15. Rating: 3.5/5 Review by Camden Ferrell DK Welchman and Hugh Welchman are a married directing duo who are most known for their 2017 film Loving Vincent, which garnered them an Oscar nomination. It was notable as the first fully painted animated film, and their new film, The Peasants, employs a similar animation style. Based on the novel of the same name, it had its premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. This movie is visually captivating while telling a compelling yet familiar and conventional story. In a 19th century Poland village, Jagna is a young woman married off to a much older man despite being in love with his son. Through this marriage and other turmoil in the village, she endures resentment and hostility at the hands of those around her. The film is told in four parts, one representing each season, and each section sees Jagna as she grapples with ire, gossip, and abuse as she tries to make the most of the situation in which she finds herself. Written by the Welchmans, the script is fairly standard. It doesn’t try and mess with the narrative structure or play around with its dialogue and interactions in any way. It seems they likely wanted to keep it as straightforward as possible. Even though it works within the context of the film, there are some sluggish and familiar moments that can sometimes bog down the pacing and enjoyment of the film. However, when a film is so engrained in its complex visual style, I suppose it makes sense to keep the narrative as conventional as possible. The performances in this movie are all strong. While the entire ensemble elevates the film with some truly hostile and condescending performances, it’s hard to deny the show-stealer is Kamila Urzedowska who plays Jagna. She leads the film with a sensitive yet powerful portrayal of our protagonist. She captures a wide range of emotions from passionate love and happiness to heartbreaking and soul-wrenching pain. It’s a demanding role due to its brutal and uncomfortable nature, and she handles it fantastically.
While the movie has a lot working for it, the main attraction is its animation. The painted technique is used to a captivating extent here. Each of the frames are meticulously painted and animated to enhance a rather standard story. This technique is beautiful and engaging to watch, and it adds an indescribably mesmerizing quality to its more chaotic and dynamic scenes. Without its unique animation, The Peasants would just be a solid drama, but its approach to animation allows it to flourish and become a memorable viewing experience. It’s a difficult movie to watch due to its graphic content, but it’s an engaging story that overcomes its flaws with its visual style and superb leading performance. The Peasants is in theaters December 8. Rating: 4/5 Review by Camden Ferrell For the last several decades, the International Chopin Piano Competition has been held every five years. It is one of the most prestigious classical music competitions, and it’s a showcase for some of the most talented young pianists in the world. Jakub Piątek’s gives us an intimate look at the 2021 competition in his documentary Pianoforte. This movie premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, his second movie to do so. This is a straightforward yet entertaining documentary that gives a spotlight to emerging young talent among the backdrop of a stressful yet rewarding competition. The competition takes place in Poland, and the film gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the competition and what each of the contestants go through during this time. The film primarily focuses on a handful of pianists from all over the world as they navigate the competition and their own personal lives. This premise is one that will interest fans of classical music or those who enjoy the spirit of competition and unmitigated passion. The narrative structure of this documentary is very conventional, but it works for the story that is being told. It’s a straightforward story that is easy to follow and told in a simple and linear manner. This allows the film to properly capture the contestants’ mindset and behavior at each individual stage of the competition. As candidates begin to get eliminated, it’s easy for us to root for the subjects of this film as we see them grow and try and prove they’re the best. Piątek plays it pretty safe as a director, but it’s ultimately to the film’s benefit. The subjects that we follow are all unique and interesting in their own ways. Viewers will likely find at least one contestant with whom they can relate. Even if you don’t relate to them, it’s easy to see how passionate they are about their craft, and when someone loves what they do that much, it’s hard not to be invested. I was most invested in Hao Rao, a young Chinese pianist as he travels across the world with his longtime teacher. He perfectly captured the familiar combination of dynamic and confident onstage presence and the critical and reserved player offstage. Each contestant brings something new to the table, and the documentary balances them well, to prevent the film from feeling slow and oversaturated in certain areas.
Obviously, a documentary of this nature should have good musical scenes, and it does for the most part. The works of Chopin are classics to the entire world, and it’s fascinating to see these young players perform them. However, I feel like these scenes aren’t nearly present enough in the film. We get plenty of insight into their lives offstage, but the scenes of their performances are mostly abbreviated more than I would have appreciated. Clearly, it’s senseless to include entire performances in a movie, but it definitely could have been more fleshed out. Pianoforte is a simple yet effective documentary about one of the most prestigious piano competitions in the world. We get a glimpse at some of the most impressive young musicians around today, and it gives audiences an idea of what they’re going through at every stage of the competition. We revel in their success, and we empathize with their missteps. It’s an entertaining documentary more than anything, and it is a strong showcase of Piątek’s storytelling abilities. Pianoforte is in theaters December 1. Rating: 4/5 Review by Camden Ferrell Frederick Wiseman is seen by many as one of the most significant and important figures in documentary filmmaking. His influential work dates back to the 1960’s, but he’s still in full force, making movies at the impressive age of 93. Menus – Plaisirs — Les Troisgros is his newest film that had its premiere at the 2023 Venice Film Festival. At four hours, this is a hefty documentary that goes by rather swiftly thanks to sharp editing and an engrossing and compelling subject. The Troisgros family is a dynasty of culinary prestige, owning and operating three restaurants in central France. Troisgros, the restaurant at which this film predominantly takes place, has been around for 93 years and has maintained three Michelin stars for 55 of them. This film follows the present chef and staff as they prepare for service at their restaurant. This might sound like a simple premise, but Wiseman is able to dissect this premise and allow the viewer to closely analyze the minutiae that goes into operating a restaurant of this caliber. The subject itself lends itself well to narrative storytelling. There’s no ambiguity in the process of running these restaurants. The film’s lengthy runtime allows us to see every tiny aspect from start to finish. We see the purchase of vegetables in a local market, the visit to a cheese processing center, the creation and preparation of their dishes, etc. For example, the movie is able to spend several minutes on the nuances of different ingredients and their effects on an almond purée without feeling like it’s at the expense of something more important to the overarching story. It’s a behemoth of a process to capture in a movie, and the narrative structure works very well in achieving its goal. Passion and skill combine to make the people in this film engaging to watch. We get to see Cesar Troisgros carry on his family’s legacy, and seeing this generational honor blend with his genuine fascination and expertise with food is something truly special. He surrounds himself with individuals who are knowledgeable about their fields of work, and it’s clear that they love what they do. This enthusiasm is what prevents this movie from dragging in places it otherwise would have. Even for someone like me who doesn’t partake in fine dining, this is an excellent group of people to watch and learn from.
The first two hours of this movie are absolutely engrossing and masterful, and it makes a strong case for being the best documentary of the year. However, in the latter half of the movie, there is an abrupt shift outside of the restaurant, as the story detours to the source of the restaurant’s wine and cheese. This tangent is relevant but not particularly necessary. It disrupts the ethereal momentum that the movie had built up, and it doesn’t ever fully recover from that. The movie still finishes strong, but it feels like there’s a 210-minute movie here that would have worked better. Menus – Plaisirs — Les Troisgros boasts a daunting runtime, but it flies by far faster than one would expect. Watching the people in this documentary do what they love never gets boring, and there are some almost mesmerizing sequences throughout the film that will make the most stubborn cynic of fine dining fall in love with the craft briefly. At the age of 93, Wiseman has made a movie that is mature yet energetic, and it’s a testament to his abilities as a filmmaker that a movie this strong feels almost effortless on his end. Menus – Plaisirs — Les Troisgros is in theaters November 22. Rating: 4/5 Review by Camden Ferrell Whether they started reading the comic book in 2003 or started watching the television adaptation in 2021, everybody agrees that Invincible subverts the genre in unique and violent ways. The two-year wait is over, and the show is finally returning for more bloody superhero hijinks. This second season continues to prove why it’s one of the most exciting shows on TV, and it will be a thrill for longtime fans of the comic as well as those experiencing the story for the first time. Omni-Man is no longer on Earth, and Mark needs to adjust to his new status quo. In addition to losing his father and dealing with the guilt of last season’s tragedy, Mark is ready to prove that he is not his dad all while dealing with regular teenage problems like girlfriends and graduating high school. This new season also brings the highly anticipated introduction of Angstrom Levy, an exciting new character that will bring a new dynamic to the series while giving Mark more problems to deal with. The writing of this show continues to be witty and enjoyable more than anything. It still retains the personality that Robert Kirkman had in his comic, but it does a great job of modifying interactions and polishing the dialogue and storytelling. This new season also juggles a lot more from a narrative standpoint, and at times it can feel like certain parts of the story are getting slightly neglected, but this doesn’t impact the quality since it doesn’t feel like a single second is wasted. One of the best parts of this adaptation is how amazing the voice actors were, and this season is no different. Steven Yeun returns as the titular hero, and he knocks it out of the park once again. Of the returning cast members, Sandra Oh stuns as Debbie, and she is given some emotionally heavy material where she gets a chance to shine. This season brings along countless new voice actors to be excited about, but Sterling K. Brown as Angstrom Levy is already one of the best castings they’ve had so far.
Like the first season, this newest season follows the original storyline very closely, so fans of the comic book series will likely see many things coming. However, this does not at all undermine how brilliantly violent and exciting these episodes are. Even as someone who has read the entire series, I found myself captivated by every episode as if I was experiencing this story for the first time. Those who are not familiar with the source material are in for many shocking and brutal moments that will have them itching for more. Invincible comes back with a bang in season two. It picks up swiftly with some killer action and superhero antics, but it also reflects a more mature and emotional side than it had last season. It’s a delight to watch these characters grow in their own unique ways, and one can only watch this season and be grateful that we get to see these crazy events animated beautifully for all to enjoy. Invincible premieres the first episode of season two on Amazon Prime on November 3 with the following 3 episodes releasing on subsequent Fridays with the remaining 4 to premiere in 2024. 4 of 8 episodes have been reviewed. Rating: 5/5 Review by Camden Ferrell Life inside of North Korea is a cruel yet enigmatic experience that most could not begin to comprehend. Their atrocities and indoctrination are things of horrifying infamy, but due to their isolated nature, there is still a troubling mystery around the lives of their citizens. Director Madeleine Gavin aims to pull back the curtain on these people as she documents several of their journeys as they attempt to defect from North Korea. This is an undeniably harrowing documentary that is one-of-a-kind and full of dramatic tension as well as profound and upsetting emotion. Seungeun Kim may appear to most as a mild-mannered Pastor, but he also spends his time aiding defectors in North Korea on their quest for freedom. This includes people like the Roh family who must travel through multiple countries to safety as well as Soyeon Lee, a defector in South Korea who is trying to get her son out of North Korea safely. These stories are told and balanced with insightful commentary and revolutionary secret never-before-seen footage from inside of North Korea. These are fascinating stories that highlight the struggles faced by North Korean citizens while also providing captivating insight from people who have spent their lives in isolation from the rest of the world. From a filmmaking standpoint, nobody can deny how well the narrative of this movie is crafted. It feels like something pulled out of a thriller movie. The anxiety and fear are present in the viewer as they watch the perilous quest out of North Korea, and Gavin excels in grounding the film, so audiences truly understand that these are real people who are under the all too real threat of death and torture for trying to seek freedom. The inherent empathy of this story’s realism is paramount to making this film work, and Gavin deeply understands this. The subjects of this film are able to maintain the audience’s attention in a gripping way from start to finish. Their own unique experiences are interesting to hear, and one must commend the subjects’ bravery in allowing themselves to be candid and vulnerable about their experiences in North Korea. Pastor Kim is a sympathetic and lovable person in this movie, and it’s easy to empathize with his mission and goals. It’s impossible to truly understand what they have been through, but their testimony is as close as one could ever hope to get to understanding.
Even in a movie filled with the nail-biting suspense of escaping from North Korea, the most harrowing aspect of this film was witnessing the effects of indoctrination on multiple generations of defectors. Growing up in a country completely cut off from the rest of the world and having a leader who is defied in every home can have a substantial impact on the way one views the world, their society, and themselves. This documentary gets first-hand accounts of these effects on young children and the elderly alike. It’s a brilliantly sad experience that is profound and heartbreaking and must be seen to be appreciated. There has never been a documentary like Beyond Utopia before. The footage captured within the borders of North Korea is fascinating, and the stories told through this film are powerful and essential viewing. Madeleine Gavin has constructed one of the best documentaries of 2023 and perhaps one of the most important ones ever made. This is a film that deserves to be seen even if it breaks your heart. Beyond Utopia is in theaters October 23. Rating: 4.5/5 THE PIGEON TUNNEL -- A Comprehensive but Not Completely Accessible Account of John le Carré's Life10/18/2023 Review by Camden Ferrell Errol Morris is an Oscar-winning filmmaker, and his solidified himself as a significant American storyteller. With films like The Thin Blue Line and The Fog of War, he has proven that he can craft a compelling narrative. His newest movie is about someone who also has experience with telling stories. The Pigeon Tunnel tells the story of John le Carré and while it’s very cinematic in nature and visually appealing, it may not be the most accessible to those only casually familiar with his work. John le Carré is a pen name associated with novels like The Spy Who Came in from the Cold and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. He was born David Cornwell and has lived a life as adventurous as one of his novels. Morris tells the story of his life and unique experiences in all corners of the world, and the audience gets to experience this life, intimately told to us from the man himself. It’s an accomplished and impressive life for just one man, and this is a story that many people may not know much about and is as interesting as it sounds. Despite it being a fascinating subject, the movie does feel a bit too rushed for its own good. Clocking in around ninety minutes, it feels like he has done so much in his life that it couldn’t possibly be covered in this brief runtime. Even though it does tell a cohesive life story, there are moments that feel rushed or omitted for the sake of time that make the story feel like it has the occasional missing piece. I think this is mostly done at the expense of people like me who knew next to nothing about le Carré coming into this film. le Carré does prove to be an entertaining subject. Even at his advanced age, he told his life story with lots of energy and eloquence. Even if some parts feel sluggish for other reasons, he still brings a lot of life into this film. It’s a blessing that he was able to film these interviews before his passing in 2020 because I can’t say the movie would work quite as well without his insight and narration.
One of the aspects I appreciated most about this movie was its cinematic nature. Morris helps tell his story using reenactments of scenes from le Carré’s life, and these are visually strong and give a distinct character to the film. There are some moments where the movie doesn’t work on a narrative level, but the cinematography ensures it still works on a superficial level if nothing else. However, despite all that work’s in this movie’s favor, it ultimately feels a little too inaccessible to those who are not already fans of the film’s subject. It tells a competent story, but it doesn’t do too much beyond that. The Pigeon Tunnel finds le Carré divulging an intimate account of his life prior to his death, and it’s competently made if nothing else. There are some great things happening with his narration, the cinematography, and Morris’ signature storytelling, but something just feels missing at times from the movie. It’s not bad by any means, but it’s not as innately captivating as I hoped it would be. The Pigeon Tunnel is streaming on Apple TV+ October 20. Rating: 3/5 Review by Camden Ferrell Rick and Morty has firmly established itself in pop culture with its unique brand of humor and storytelling since 2013. In recent months, it has definitely been the center of a lot of attention and not always for the right reasons. Co-creator and voice actor for the titular characters, Justin Roiland, has left the show due to personal and legal issues that I won’t get into here. Needless to say, this show is entering a new chapter, one that includes the loss of a previously pivotal individual. Despite this, the show still remains quite enjoyable and creative and the new voice actors are mostly indistinguishable from what fans are used to. After last season’s set of adventures, Rick and Morty are back to do more weird things. We know a little bit more about Rick Prime and our main Rick’s backstory, but as always, the show picks and chooses when to be serialized, so these first two episodes are isolated adventures. These episodes don’t feel like the show’s best, but they definitely don’t feel like the show’s worst either. Season six was admittedly the show’s weakest season ever by a long shot for me, so I was keeping my expectations in check. This season isn’t going to blow away fans or convert anybody to the show, but the writing is solid. It has some decent gags, and its fast-paced humor is still present. The jokes don’t always land super well, but it does succeed more than most adult animation shows do. The elephant in the room is the replacement of Roiland as the two main characters. Fans will be happy to hear that the voices are incredibly similar. There are a small number of lines that sound the slightest bit off, but it’s otherwise uncanny. Audiences likely would barely notice these changes if it wasn’t so publicized. The rest of the cast returns and gives solid performances as always, so that’s some consistency that fans might enjoy if they do have a problem with the new actors.
Just in these first two episodes, we see plenty of familiar faces as well as some new cameos. These returns and debuts of certain characters are the most enjoyable part of these episodes. Even though the show is called Rick and Morty, the recurring characters are some of the most enjoyable parts of the show, and it’s great to see them back. However, I do think the minimal interaction between Rick and Morty make the episodes feel slightly off in an indescribable way. The show works well when they’re together, and we’ve yet to see much of that so far. The seventh season of Rick and Morty is solid television even if it can’t hold a candle to the show’s peak. Thankfully, it shows some promise of what’s to come, and will hopefully be better than its previous season. Fans will enjoy these episodes and callbacks, but it won’t win over any new fans in the process. Rick and Morty premieres its first episode of season seven on October 15 with new episodes premiering on Sundays. Two out of ten episodes have been reviewed. Rating: 4/5 |
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