“Da 5 Bloods” Movie Review

    It hasn’t been an easy few months for us film buffs thanks to the global pandemic which has sadly affected much of the world and has taken far too many lives.  Longing for the days of going to the theater seems a bit selfish and unrealistic at the moment.  Luckily, we can all enjoy a little bit of normalcy in the form of original streaming content.  While a great deal of the films that premiere on the streaming services are on the subpar side, occasionally acclaimed filmmakers decide to try their hands at more non-traditional filmmaking using Netflix or Hulu.  One such filmmaker with a film hitting Netflix recently was the controversial Spike Lee.

    The film focuses on four aging African Americans who return to Ho Chi Minh City for the first time since the Vietnam War.  The men were members of a unit of American soldiers self dubbed “the bloods” which was led by their now deceased squad leader Norman.  The men are searching for gold they left buried there during the war.  Unfortunately, the quest for the lost treasure ends up tearing the friends apart and the men may not make it out of Vietnam this time.

    With a predominately African American cast, this film has been released at an important time in modern politics with the Black Lives Matter movement becoming an increasingly powerful and moving voice in the United States.  It also illustrated the fact that the horrors of war knows no race.  War doesn’t discriminate and scars any race, religion, and side it touches.

    My father was a Vietnam veteran who suffered mildly from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and this film did a good job depicting the impact it has on some veterans.  Sadly, you can take the men out of the war but you can’t always take the war out of the men sometimes.  Spike Lee’s handling of PTSD was handled very well through the film in my opinion.

    The film wasn’t perfect despite some interesting concepts.  The editing is some scenes was bit rough and could have been handled a bit better especially during the battle scenes.  The score was also rather bland for a war film.

    While the cast of actors did a magnificent job in their roles, I wasn’t a fan of Lee using the same older actors in flashbacks.  I found this to be very distracting and I would have used younger actors to be younger versions of them.

    “Da 5 Bloods” is a film about how sometimes war never ends for some soldiers.  It is also a film which explores the brotherhood of a group of African American soldiers living through a war no American should have been involved with.

GRADE: B+

“The Aeronauts” Movie Review

    When you live in Michigan and a snow storm hits the state, it sort of limits what you can do and where you can go.   On a bad snow day, you can literally be stuck in your house for hours or even days.  On a snow day like that, you aren’t left with a lot of options for entertainment.  Of course, my old fall back is watching a movie, of course, and the film I decided to watch was called “The Aeronauts”.  The movie is currently available as an Amazon Prime exclusive and this will be the first Amazon Prime exclusive film I review!  We live in exciting times!

    The film tells the story of Amelia, an aeronaut and courageous adventurer, who agrees to help a young man named James Glaisher who seeks to prove he can successfully predict weather patterns from the air using scientific methods.  Amelia and James start to bond over the voyage and everything seems to be going well until they find themselves unexpectedly caught in the middle of a storm.  The pair will have to fight for their lives after the storm causes damage to Amelia’s hot air balloon.

    Amazon Prime has shown promise the past few years in the development of it’s tv shows.  “The Boys”, “Jack Ryan”, and even “The Tick” have shown that Amazon knows what it takes to craft good television, but would “The Aeronauts” show they can tackle a film successfully?  Well, that is a little bit yes and a little bit no.  There are aspects of the film that work, but the film as a whole really does not.

    This film is based on a book entitled “Falling Upwards: How We Took to the Air” by Richard Holmes.  The book and film were ‘inspired’ by true events and it’s here where the term ‘inspired’ is used with a lot of liberties.  James Glaisher really took a flight similar to the one depicted in the film, but not with a woman named Amelia.  James Glaisher took his voyage with Henry Coxwell, not Amelia.  The film forsakes historical accuracy for a strong female lead.  Despite this switch which should make the movie at least more compelling, the film remains fairly boring.

    The film’s leads, Felicity Jones and Eddie Redmayne have excellent chemistry together and clearly enjoy working together.  Jones and Redmayne previously appeared together in the acclaimed film “The Theory of Everything” so perhaps their chemistry together shouldn’t come as too much of a shock.  Aside from the cast, the visuals are also often quite good throughout most of the film (although there are a few poor visual effects shots sprinkled in the film that sour the well done ones a bit for me).

    “The Aeronauts” isn’t on par with Netflix’s best, but it is also a cut above Netflix’s worst so it isn’t a complete wash for Amazon Prime’s original films.  Still, this film leaves a lot to be desired overall and contains all the excitement of a history or science class taught by a drunken feminist revisionist substitute teacher.

Grade: D

“Togo” Movie Review

    Sled dogs have a very special place in my heart and always will.  This year, I unfortunately lost both of my Siberian Huskies within months of each other.  Though they were both older and I knew their time was near, the pain from losing two of my best friends was devastating.  While I was very much looking forward to this film, I knew that it would be an emotional experience regardless of how the film turned out.  That being said, I also felt like my dogs would have wanted me to watch this film in their honor.

    The film tells the story Leonhard Seppala and his team of sled dogs led by Togo as they brave death to deliver antitoxin to Nome, Alaska during the diphtheria epidemic of 1925.  During their run, the film uses flashbacks to depict the relationship between Leonhard and his lead dog Togo.  During these flashbacks, we learn a great deal about the complicated relationship between Leonhard and Togo.

    I thought this movie was extremely well done and I am a little surprised this was released on Disney+ instead of given a theatrical release.  I feel like this movie would have been profitable enough given Disney’s past success with dog centric films.  I also honestly feel like “Togo” would have been more likely to be an awards contender if it was released in the multiplex (I still think there is a chance it could garner some awards if it is given enough of a push).

    While most people associate the serum run of 1925 with Balto due to the children’s animated movies made featuring him (and the statue of Balto in New York), many mushers and dogs were responsible for saving countless lives during the epidemic.  Leonhard and Togo were responsible for covering far more miles than any other musher on the relay however.  The film does a terrific job showing the possible cost of life the epidemic might have cost without the sacrifices Leonhard and Togo risked to save the town of Nome.

    Perhaps what the movie showcases best is the character development Leonhard goes through in the film.  Leonhard starts the film as a harsh and even sometimes cruel musher due to the unforgiving nature of Alaska.  Leonhard doesn’t like Togo at first, seeing him as an unhealthy runt not fit to survive and then a trouble making Hell hound as he grows older.  After unsuccessfully trying to give Togo away, Leonhard begins to realize Togo has the heart of a survivor and is lead dog material.  As time passes and Togo gives more and more of himself to Leonhard and to the serum run, Leonhard begins to regret how he had treated Togo and grows as a person to be more loving and less harsh.

    The film has a lot going for it aside from a great story.  The music is haunting and the cinematography is marvelous.  The only complaint I would have is that the computer animation is less than stellar and the film relies on the subpar computer animation a bit too often in key scenes.

    The cast is led by Willem Dafoe as Leonhard Seppala and he does a magnificent job.  Dafoe has a way of conveying normal dialogue in an almost Shakespearean manner that shouldn’t work but Dafoe somehow pulls it off.  Julianne Nicholson also delivers a strong performance as Leonhard’s wife.

    Disney has a streaming hit on their hands with “Togo” in my opinion and I am glad I got to see it.  If “Togo” is any indication of the quality Disney+ movies are going to have, perhaps Netflix should be very worried.

Grade: B+

“Marriage Story” Movie Review

    When you love passionately in love with someone and decide to spend the rest of your life together as husband and wife, does that love ever die, even in the face of divorce?  Can you love someone as much as you grow to hate them?  “Marriage Story” is a character study of a couple in the middle of a divorce and how the separation effects each of them and their child.  Divorce is a painful and heartbreaking experience that is far to common these days so this movie is sadly very relatable to a large chunk of audiences.

    The film tells the story of a young married couple named Charlie and Nicole currently going through a divorce.  The couple have a child and decide to keep things simple and negotiate anything between themselves.  Things grow complicated when Nicole hires a divorce attorney on the recommendation of a friend and things spiral out of control.  Rival lawyers, court dates, skyrocketing costs, and broken dreams are only but a few of the hardships face in order to start new lives apart.  Unfortunately their child is caught in the middle in a nasty custody battle when all the couple really wanted was for child not to be caught in the middle of their divorce.

    This film isn’t a movie I would normally be much interested in and if this wasn’t on Netflix, I wouldn’t have went out special to see it.  Films such as “Kramer vs Kramer” are well done and beautifully acted but they don’t tend to emotionally connect with me.  Much to my surprise, “Marriage Story” actually managed to connect with me and left me caring about the couple.

    A lot of the strength of this film comes down to the performances of Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson and how vulnerable they make their characters feel.  This isn’t about a couple trying to destroy the other person (though on the surface it might appear that way), this is about a couple terrified to have to start all over again and admit their own failings.  Added to Driver and Johansson’s powerful performances, Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta all deliver strong performances as the couple’s lawyers.

    What makes this film standout is that it plays all the characters as real and avoids going over the top.  Each character is deeply flawed but also lovable.  You could understand what the couple saw in each other and loved, and also what tore them apart.  The film also sends an important message about the importance of communication in a successful relationship and marriage.  Once someone builds walls up, they can’t always be torn down.

    I also preferred that the film decided to focus more on the couple’s love for their child and how that can turn toxic over the couple’s hatred over each other.  The divorce gets ugly but only to prove their love for their child.

    “Marriage Story” isn’t a movie I would normally enjoy which is perhaps the best testimony to how powerful it is.  With some of the strongest performances of the year, Netflix has another win this awards season.

Grade: B+

“Klaus” Movie Review

    Over the past few years, it has seemed like less and less Christmas movies have been released in theaters.  I looked forward to possible new Christmas classics but they seem to be few and far between these days.  Sure, you get a movie like “Last Christmas” this year, but nothing that really screams Christmas tradition.  When I saw Netflix released “Klaus” this year, I knew I had to give it a shot.

    The film tells the story of a spoiled post officer worker named Jasper Johansson who gets assigned to the small freezing town of Smeerensburg by the head postmaster (and Jasper’s father) in the hopes that the job will straighten him out.  Jasper has to make the town’s post office successful before he is permitted home.  When Jasper encounters a local woodsman named Klaus, Jasper hatches a scheme to make his post office a success by manipulating the townspeople and their children.

    This film is an interesting spin on the Santa Claus legend and is very unique as a result.  Sometimes a break from traditional Christmas stories make for the best new traditions.  “Klaus” manages to teach children the values of the holiday while still telling a new origin for Santa Claus that is original.

    What helps “Klaus” the most is it’s animation style which isn’t like anything you have seen before.  It is an English language film made by Spanish animators.  Sergio Pablos actually made his directorial debut with this film and he certainly impresses.  Pablos managed to obtain a skilled voice cast led by Jason Schwartzman as Jasper and J.K. Simmons as the title character Klaus.

    “Klaus” has the honor of being Netflix’s first original animated film and it couldn’t have been more impressive.  It should be noted that “Klaus” clothing can actually be currently purchased at an Old Navy by you.  The film is a winner all the way around and is destined to be a new Christmas tradition for many families.

Grade: B+

“The Irishman” Movie Review

    I have been waiting to see Martin Scorsese’s “The Irishman” since it was announced.  I have to admit that I was surprised to learn that it was going to be a Netflix film since Scorsese is such an old school filmmaker.  I will fully admit that on Tuesday night, I stayed up so I could watch the film (although at roughly three and a half hours, I ended up having to finish it in the morning).  This film has received wide spread acclaim so I had to see if the film is really the masterpiece it is being made out to be.

    The film tells the story of Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran and his connections to the Mafia and the labor unions under the leadership of the infamous Jimmy Hoffa.  Sheeran gets his start in the criminal underworld working under Mafia boss Russell Bufalino.  Sheeran quickly gains favor with Russell and becomes one of this most loyal hitmen.  Bufalino introduces Frank to Jimmy Hoffa and the pair become friends shortly after their introduction.  Frank becomes Hoffa’s primary bodyguard while he is head of the Teamsters.  The film chronicles Frank’s torn loyalty to his friend Hoffa and his boss Bufalino as Hoffa begins to clash with the Mafia families who helped him rise to power.

    Let me start this review by stating that this movie is long.  That isn’t to say the film doesn’t make the best of every second or that I necessarily think it would have been better if they edited the film down, but at the three and a half hour long runtime, it is still difficult to take it all in during one sitting (I couldn’t even manage to do so).  One advantage to this being a Netflix film is that it is possible to pause it and come back to it if you have to take a bathroom break without missing any of the film.  I would recommend taking a bathroom break roughly one hour into the film right before Jimmy Hoffa is introduced (it makes for a good intermission in my opinion).

    The film definitely feels more like a classic Martin Scorsese film in the vain of “Goodfellas” and “Casino”.  Scorsese is definitely the master of the Mafia epics and this film joins the long list of his classics.  Scorsese has always been a very visual storyteller and this film is greatly enhanced by his eye for detail.  The depiction of Detroit, Michigan during the mid 70s was very accurate for instance.

    What makes “The Irishman” so captivating is it’s performances.  Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci all deliver powerhouse performances in this character driven motion picture.  Robert De Niro knocks it out of the park as Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran right on the heels of his standout performance in “Joker”.

    In a supporting role, Al Pacino is the best he has been in years.  Pacino’s Jimmy Hoffa is a charismatic leader without the foresight to know when to quit.  It was nice to see Al Pacino actually care about a role for a change.  It was great seeing Pacino and De Niro’s natural chemistry together on screen.  Rounding out the main cast was Joe Pesci.  Pesci has famously been retired for years and had turned down several projects before Martin Scorsese was able to persuade him out of retirement.  On a side note, I thought it was interesting seeing someone playing David Ferrie in this film was a bit distracting considering Joe Pesci famously played Ferrie in the movie “JFK”.

    The film digitally de-aged it’s three lead actors for several scenes fairly successfully.  There were only a few scenes with an uncanny valley effect but it was primarily with De Niro’s scenes and it was one of the best uses of de-aging technology overall I have seen to this date.

    “The Irishman” deserves the acclaim it has received and is a return to form for many of the actors headlining the film.  Though the runtime makes it feel a bit more like a mini-series than a movie, it is an excellent character study.  If you have a free afternoon (or day), “The Irishman” is worth the watch.

Grade: A-

“In the Tall Grass” Movie Review

    It’s official, 2019 in now officially the year of Stephen King adaptations.  What is most amazing is that many of them have actually turned out well.  So when Netflix released their own Stephen King adaptation, “In the Tall Grass”, I felt extra compelled to check it out.  After watching the film, I also felt compelled to write this review.

    This film starts with siblings Cal and Becky (who happens to be pregnant) as they stop by a church.  From the nearby field, they hear the voice of a small boy named Tobin who appears lost in the grass field.  The pair are concerned as they hear Tobin’s mother pleading with him not to call for help.  Cal enters the field and Becky soon follows.  The siblings are separated and the distance between the pair seems to increase by the second.  The pair try to make their way back to the road but neither of them can find their way out.  While in the field, Cal encounters Tobin around the same time Becky comes across Ross, Tobin’s father.  Things clearly aren’t as they seem as Travis, the father of Becky’s baby, goes looking for them in what seems to be one day later but is actually weeks later for Travis.  The things the group discovers next can only be explained as supernatural as they try their best to find a way out of the tall grass.

    The film is based on a novella by Stephen King and his son Joe Hill and is full of all the suspense you might expect from the duo.  The film is sometimes shocking and horrifying in ways that took me aback some.  These graphic moments sometimes go a bit too far in my opinion but the film doesn’t shy away from some stomach turning moments so if that is your cup of tea, you are in luck.

    The film is intriguing from the beginning, giving the viewer the same sense of confusion that the main characters are going through.  The film does a good job of keeping the audience’s attention until revelations start to unfold.  While this style of storytelling does a decent job of retaining the viewers attention, it unfortunately creates a great deal of pacing issues throughout the film.

    The film definitely has an interesting premise but the answers provided in the film felt too simplistic to justify the film’s overall runtime.  As a storyteller, I personally believe that you shouldn’t open a mystery box if you aren’t willing or are unable to provide satisfactory answers.  It’s a shame since the field being at the center of a space and time warp of some kind is an interesting plot device.

    “In the Tall Grass” was directed by Vincenzo Natali and this film feels very much like one of his works.  I found his directing a bit frustrating in this film because he had some really interesting shots throughout some of the film but they were so poorly lite that it was hard to make out what was going on in the film.  As for the cast, they all do serviceable job with only Patrick Wilson really standing out.  Patrick Wilson is so over the top in this film and hammy yet it somehow works perfectly.  The man can do no wrong.

    The film is definitely not the best Stephen King adaptation this year but far from the worst overall.  The film doesn’t hit the heights the premise suggests it could but it is still enjoyable.  If you are looking for a spooky film with some good scares, this film is definitely worth a watch.

Grade: C+

“The King” Movie Review

    Like most major studios, Netflix has waited until this winter to release their own possible award contender films.  One of the films Netflix seems to feel most strongly about is “The King” which just recently hit the streaming service.  After being blown away by “Dolemite Is My Name”, I had to check this film out as well.

    The film depicts the early life of Prince/King Henry V as he goes from being the unwanted heir to the throne to the king of England.  Upon becoming king, Henry V aspires to lead his people differently than his father and usher in a more peaceful reign in England.  Things become increasingly more complicated however when it appears that France is provoking Henry V.  Before long, England and France end up clashing at Agincourt and the outnumbered English army end up managing to win the battle.

    The film is based on “Henry IV, Part 1”, “Henry IV, Part 2”, and “Henry V” by William Shakespeare.  While the basic stories of his three plays remain intact, the film removes Shakespeare’s dialogue.  While I certainly understand changing William Shakespeare’s dialogue to make his work more accessible to modern audiences, this film fails at doing so in my opinion because it removes the Bard’s dialogue for it’s own weighty and bloated dialogue.

    The cast of this film is something of a mixed bag.  Rising star Timothee Chalamet stars in this film as Henry V.  While the young actor did a respectable job as the king of England, he also didn’t wow me either.  This film certainly doesn’t give me faith in his leading man status at this point and leaves me a bit worried about the upcoming “Dune” remake for which he stars in.

    As for the supporting cast, Joel Edgerton (who also co-wrote the script) shines as Flastaff, a close friend and confidant of Henry V.  Edgerton is without a doubt the highlight of the film.  Sean Harris also delivers a memorable performance in the film as well. Lastly, Robert Pattinson co-stars as the Dauphin of France and delivers the most talked about performance in the film (with some people loving it and others finding it cringe worthy).  To me, Pattinson’s accent and performance was a bit over the top and jarring compared to the other performers (which is why so many people hated it) but I think he gave that performance to make his character more accessible to a modern audience (which is why some people consider it a highlight).  Honestly, I personally thought it was the best part of the movie while also becoming a bit worried about his performance in “The Batman” at the same time.

    There are a lot of nice visual shots in the film and the costume design is excellent.  I do wish director David Michod would have made the battle of Agincourt feel larger in scale.  I am sure Michod provided a more realistic approach to the battle, but with battle scenes, sometimes more is more.  With that being said, when the battle scenes are more tightly focused on character actions, they are very well shot and provide a scene of danger to the characters.

    At the end of the day, if you are going to watch a William Shakespeare light film like “The King” on Netflix, you might as well skip this and just go full Shakespeare with Kenneth Branagh’s “Henry V”.  If you feel lost watching “Henry V”, you won’t find “The King” any more approachable.

Grade: D+

“Shaft” (2019) Movie Review

    It’s fair to say that this year’s “Shaft” film left little impact in theaters and with audiences since it seemed like almost no one bothered to watch the latest film in the long running franchise.  I was curious about the film upon it’s release but even I didn’t bother seeing this film in theaters (I can only see so many films at the multiplex).  Now that it is out on home video, I finally got a chance to check out this film and I had several thoughts after finishing this film.

    The film follows John Shaft’s son JJ as he is informed that one of his childhood friend’s overdosed and died in Harlem.  Knowing that his friend was clean, he travels to Harlem to figure out what really happened to his friend.  Once arriving in Harlem, he quickly realizes he needs help in investigating the possible murder so he ends up turning to his father for help.  The pair clash over style and culture but work together to get to the bottom of what is going on.  Over the course of the investigation, the two learn to accept and appreciate each other and the pair realize that family comes first.

    Now, the original “Shaft” film was historical and one of the most successful blaxploitation films ever made.  It was also a good movie which even now stands the test of time.  This film will not be remembered anywhere near as fondly primarily because it turns the franchise into a bit of a farce.  I don’t mind a good action comedy one bit and this film has enjoyable elements, unfortunately those elements come at the expense of the legacy of the franchise.

    This is the fifth theatrically released “Shaft” film (there were also a number of made for television films) and the second soft reboot.  I do appreciate the fact that none of the “Shaft” reboots negate previous films and that makes “Shaft” one of the longest running action franchises still going.  Other remakes could learn a lesson from this franchise.

    Now for the film itself, it unfortunately fails in many aspects.  Samuel L. Jackson once again returns as John Shaft after nineteen years but plays the role a lot less seriously than he previously did (which is on par with the less serious overall tone of the film).  Jackson does seem to have fun to his credit.  Jessie T. Usher is enjoyable as Shaft’s son JJ and has good chemistry with Jackson.  The highlight of the film is Richard Roundtree’s small cameo as the original John Shaft and JJ’s grandfather (this retcon from Shaft’s uncle to father is acknowledged in this film).

    Much of the humor of this film falls flat as it tries for edgy non politically correct comedy that just doesn’t stick the landing and comes off as crude.  It probably doesn’t help that a lot of the film’s style and references are a bit outdated at this point.  This film actually ended up being released directly to Netflix outside the United States and it is easy to see why.

    “Shaft” is an overly formulaic film that is very rough around the edges and lacks charm.  It certainly isn’t the worst film I have ever seen, but Samuel L. Jackson typically brings more to the table and this film is easily the weakest in the “Shaft” franchise to date.

Grade: D+

“Dolemite Is My Name” Movie Review

    I have to admit that I have not seen the film “Dolemite” nor have I had much of a desire to see it.  Still, I have always found Rudy Ray Moore to be a rather fascinating celebrity so when I heard there was going to be a movie based on his life, I knew I wanted to see that film.  Interestingly enough the film ended up becoming a Netflix original film even though I have a feeling it might have made a decent amount at the box office had it graced the silver screen.

    The film depicts Rudy Ray Moore’s life from just before he invented the Dolemite character to the opening of the first “Dolemite” movie.  The film opens with Rudy working at a record store and also working at a local nightclub as the establishment’s announcer.  Rudy is hungry to showcase all of his vast skills, but is constantly overlooked.  After listening to some stories of the local homeless community, Rudy creates the character of Dolemite which he debuts at the nightclub he works at (unknowingly to the own) to vast acclaim from the audience. From that moment on, Rudy sets his sights high and decides to bet on himself.

    Being a Netflix film, I really didn’t expect a great deal from this film, but the film ended up far exceeding my expectations.  “Dolemite Is My Name” is currently the best Netflix original movie I have seen this year (if not ever).  I would even go as far as to say the film is one of the best movies of the year.  Everything about the movie clicked in all the right ways and created an entertaining look at one of the most popular figures in African American entertainment.

    The film’s script is sharp and funny and paints Rudy Ray Moore as a very relatable person with big dreams.  I think it was interesting how Rudy Ray Moore was constantly pushed aside when he tried to do a more traditional act (his boss at the nightclub even told him he didn’t want his vaudeville act) and he didn’t achieve recognition until he created a foul mouthed character in Dolemite.  It’s ironic because Rudy even mentions disliking Redd Foxx early in the film because he cursed so much in his comedy act.

    The cast of the film was beyond stellar.  This was the best film Eddie Murphy has done in a long time.  Even though Eddie Murphy doesn’t resemble Rudy Ray Moore much, Murphy does manage to capture his energy and spirit.  The supporting cast is amazing as well.  Da’Vine Joy Randolph is a revelation as Lady Reed and holds her own among many other seasoned professionals.  Keegan-Michael Key is hilarious as screenwriter Jerry Jones.  It also enjoyed the glorified cameos Chris Rock and Snoop Dogg provided in the film.  To my amazement, the biggest treat in this film besides Eddie Murphy in this film is Wesley Snipes.  Wesley Snipes absolutely steals every scene he is in as D’Urville Martin.

    The film is helmed to perfection by Craig Brewer who will next helm Murphy and Snipes again in the sequel to “Coming to America”.  Brewer succeeds in his ability to both showcase the importance of the blaxploitation movement in Hollywood while still providing enough levity to poke fun at how ridiculous elements of it were.  You can’t make a movie about Rudy Ray Moore without loving his work and Brewer clearly appreciates the legend.

    So this is officially an end of an era for me, because I can now officially say I love a Netflix original movie.  I hope I can say the same about “The Irishman” when I get to see it later this month, but I believe this is the first Netflix movie of the year that is a real awards contender.  It’s really that good.

Grade: A

“Velvet Buzzsaw” Movie Review

    Sometimes it can be hard to decide what to watch before bed, especially if you want to watch something you haven’t seen before.  Fortunately, Netflix makes life a little easier in that regards.  Unfortunately for me, Netflix usually doesn’t have the highest quality of films.  That being said, I remembered Netflix ‘released’ a film earlier this year that looked interesting and I just had to remember the name.  After a few minutes and some exploring, I happened to find the film I was looking for, “Velvet Buzzsaw”.  With a name like that, it had to be interesting, right?

    The film follows art critic Morf Vanderwalt as he rekindles a relationship with Josephina.  Josephina works for an art gallery owned by Rhodora Haze before she is terminated for being late after discovering the dead body of her neighbor Vetril Dease.  As it turns out, Dease had an apartment full of his paintings he asked to be destroyed after his death.  Josephina steals the paintings and when the art community sees them, they go crazy for them.  Morf agrees to write a book about Dease to gather the art more attention in exchange for a few pieces.  Strange happenings begin to happen to people associated with the art and it turns out there may be something supernatural to the paintings.

    Let me start by saying I am torn by how I feel about this film.  The film is interesting and does sort of pull you in but, for the most part, the characters are unlikeable and I wasn’t invested in their fates (though the actors really do a fabulous job despite not playing emotionally accessible characters).  I know the movie is a bit of a satire of the art community and how pretentious artists and critics can be, but it is hard to relate to the characters as a result.

    The cast was solid and they were all convincing in their roles, perhaps too convincing at times.  Jake Gyllenhaal delivered a great performance and his character was the most likable in the film.  Gyllenhaal gave a delightfully unhinged performance he hasn’t given since “Donnie Darko”.  It was also nice to see Rene Russo deliver a solid performance in a lead role.  Russo is a talented actress and this film proves she is still an awards worthy performer.  My only complaint is that the great John Malkovich was severely underused in this movie.

    Writer and director Dan Gilroy developed this film years ago while working on Tim Burton’s “Superman Lives” (which you can actually see him do an interview on that subject in the movie “The Death of Superman Lives”).  I enjoyed the film’s successful transition from a look into the current art scene into a supernatural suspense thriller.  In some respects, this film very much reminds me of “Eyes of Laura Mars” in both subject matter (art) and genre (horror/thriller).  I wonder if Gilroy was a fan of that film or if it just happens to be a coincidence.

    “Velvet Buzzsaw” is an interesting experience and a film I recommend watching around Halloween.  The film is a step up for Netflix in my opinion.  While I wish the film’s characters were more likable, the film is fascinating enough on it’s own to make for an enjoyable viewing experience.

Grade: B-

“The Toys That Made Us” Television Review: To Binge or Not to Binge

    I freely admit that I am a massive toy collector and while I am currently trying to pair my collection down, I still have a ton of toys and they still temp me to this day.  While many people grow up and leave their toys behind, some of us embrace our inner child with nostalgia.  Remember the sense of wonder you had playing with an action figure?  Remember how much imagination went into playtime with your dolls?  Why do adults like myself still collect toys?  Some of us find inspiration in our childhood playthings, some people find them to be interesting display pieces, and others are still just kids at hearts.  Regardless the reason, this show is dedicated to everything regarding toys.

    The show is a documentary focusing on different toy subjects each episode.  Episodes range from Star Wars to Barbies and showcase how each toy line has changed and evolved over time.  You will hear interviews from toy developers and collectors to get a better sense of the complete history of each line.

    This series success far better than most other documentary style shows because it has fun with it’s subject and can be very funny at times.  I found myself fascinated with episodes involving toy lines I have and never will have any interest in.  When an episode about Barbie or Hello Kitty can hook me for a hour, you know the show is something special.

    The show perfectly captures what drives collectors crazy about toys.  Though some adults just see mounds of plastic, collectors see a gateway to their childhood and a way to show their fandom.  This show depicts collectors as a form of fun loving historians which isn’t far off.

    What I love most about the show is how it details the history of each toy production.  The show’s focus on the development of each toy line helps show why each brand has managed to stay relevant over decades.  The format Netflix embraces is perfect for this series.  This show once again proves that while Netflix’s original movies still need a lot of work, it’s television shows are still a step above a lot of network television currently airing.

    “The Toys That Made Us” will make you feel like a kid all over again.  It’s worth a watch at any age and you will want to learn the history of every toy possible.  Who knew learning could be so fun!

Overall Grade: A

To Binge or Not to Binge Verdict: BINGE

“El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” Movie Review

    The television show “Breaking Bad” became a hit and a critical darling for a good reason, it was well written and crafted.  Once the story of “Breaking Bad” ended, the franchise continued with the prequel series “Better Call Saul”.  It seemed like the story of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman concluded with the finale of the show until the development of this movie was announced.  Thanks to “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”, we finally have an epilogue to the series which follows the fate of Jesse Pinkman after he escapes captivity.

    The movie primarily focuses on the character of Jesse Pinkman after he escapes from Todd Alquist.  Arriving at the house of Skinny Pete and Badger in Todd’s El Camino, Jesse cleans himself up and sets off to start a new life.  Jesse must first find Todd’s stash of cash and ditch the El Camino before he can afford to pay for a new identity and start fresh somewhere else.

    All the aspects that made “Breaking Bad” a rousing success are present here in this film.  The great acting, writing, and character development help elevate this film above most other current Netflix films.  Writer and director Vince Gilligan caps off his saga in a satisfying and hopeful way.  While “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” isn’t an entirely needed film, it is definitely still a treat to it’s fanbase.

    Aaron Paul once again delivers an excellent performance as Jesse Pinkman.  Paul does a good job depicting the trauma Jesse is put through in the film.  The supporting cast is made up primarily of extended cameos from actors who previously appeared on the show.  Some of the cameos worked better than others, with Bryan Cranston’s glorified cameo being both a highlight and also somewhat disappointing with how short it was.

    What might be a bit of a letdown to some is that the majority of the film is largely told via flashbacks.  I personally think it worked since the film was largely a character study, but some audience members might want to see more of what happens with Jesse Pinkman after the “Breaking Bad” finale.

    As far as the feel of the film, despite some interesting camera work from Vince Gilligan, it still has an episodic feel due to it’s story structure.  With that being said, “Breaking Bad” had always had a more cinematic feel to it so perhaps the show just spoiled me.

    “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” is ultimately a good film that is almost handicapped by it’s excellent pedigree.  Fans of “Breaking Bad” will enjoy the film but the few people who aren’t aware of the show will likely feel lost.  I enjoyed the film but I am also a fan of the show, I would be curious to see how well the movie would go over to people who have never seen the show.

Grade: B-

“In the Shadow of the Moon” Movie Review

    I am pretty sure it isn’t much of a shock to say a good chunk of Netflix films aren’t particularly good since a lot of their original films are obtained just for content rather than quality.  Still, I always hope I find the rare gem among the bulk of forgettable films dumped on the streaming service.  After reading the description of “In the Shadow of the Moon” and seeing the cast, I had high hopes that this film might possibly be one of those rare gems but there was only one way for me to find out so I started watching it and ended up wanting to discuss this film more than I thought I would.

    The film starts off in 1988 and follows Officers Lockhart and Maddox as they discover a possible link between a few strange deaths one night.  When the toxicology report seemingly can’t identify the chemical that caused their deaths and all the victims having the same pattern mark on their necks, the police department officially declares the deceased to be murder victims and quickly gets a lead on the killer.  After Officers Lockhart and Maddox happen upon the suspect and give chase, only Lockhart is able to keep up as she tries to escape at a train station.  After Lockhart attempts to detain the mysterious woman, she jumps in front of a train and kills herself.  Nine years later, the police department gets a tip on a copycat killer and Detectives Lockhart and Maddox now take point on the case.  When Lockhart confronts the copycat, his world is turned upside down when he discovers that the copycat killer isn’t a copycat at all, she is the same killer who committed suicide nine years earlier.  Lockhart must now discover how any of this is possible while trying to catch this murderer all over again.

    Needless to say, the premise of this film is super interesting so it is easy to see how it got me hooked.  Perhaps I should have thought logically and wondered why it wasn’t picked up by a major studio because it unfortunately didn’t turn out too good despite an interesting premise.  To be fair, I feel like it would be near impossible for any film to live up to the story set up in the film.

    ::Possible Spoilers::  This film deals with time travel (which I am sure is easy to guess) and the film has a lot of tonal issues as a result.  The film tries too hard to stay a police drama even after the element of time travel is thrown in.  It is difficult to balance the science fiction elements of the story when the movie tries so hard to be taken seriously.  I know the filmmakers probably hoped that the heightened drama would make the time travel ‘twist’ more shocking, but time travel is sort of setup from the first scene so I am not exactly sure what the filmmakers were thinking on that front.  The film was just executed poorly in my opinion which is a shame because it had a lot of potential.

    The film sometimes looked very beautiful with interesting camera angles and mesmerizingly shot scenes.  Then there are other times the film has a very made for television feel.  Much like the Netflix film “The Dirt”, it feels as if the production ran low on (or out of) money as the film neared the end of it’s production.

    The movie was carried by Boyd Holbrook and he did a pretty good job with what he was given.  I have never been a huge Holbrook fan but if this movie is successful of anything, it succeeded in making me realize how gifted Boyd Holbrook can be as an actor.  I have to admit I was disappointed by Michael C. Hall in the movie.  I loved his work in “Dexter” and “Six Feet Under” but felt like he was completely wasted in this film.  I hope he at least got a decent check.

    This film proved to ultimately be disappointing but no worse than a lot of other Netflix ‘originals’.  It is just a shame this film turned out to be so forgettable despite it potential.

Grade: D