Tag: Review

REVIEW: Blue Jay (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - The Orchard; Netflix
Theatrical Release Poster – The Orchard; Netflix

The following is a quick review of Blue Jay – directed by Alex Lehmann.

Blue Jay follows Jim (played by Mark Duplass) and Amanda (played by Sarah Paulson), two former high school sweethearts, after they run into each other in a supermarket. They decide that they should go have some coffee together and talk about their lives. Amanda is married and has become a stepmom to her husband’s two sons. Jim, on the other hand, works on houses for his uncle and hasn’t got anyone. They decide to spend the rest of the day together to discuss old memories and to reconnect. Continue reading “REVIEW: Blue Jay (2016)” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “The Bicameral Mind”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler review of the tenth episode of Westworld – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the final episode of the first season of Westworld, Ford (played by Anthony Hopkins) presents his new story to the Delos board, we finally find out who Wyatt is, Teddy (played by James Marsden) finds Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood), and Charlotte (played by Tessa Thompson) tries to force Ford to retire. Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “The Bicameral Mind”” →

REVIEW: Fifty Shades of Black (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - Open Road Films
Theatrical Release Poster – Open Road Films

The following is a quick review of Fifty Shades of Black – directed by Michael Tiddes.

Fifty Shades of Black follows Hannah Steale (played by Kali Hawk), a college student, who has been sent to interview the wealthy Christian Black (played by Marlon Wayans). They eventually fall for each other, but it turns out that he’s not the guy she thought he was. So, yeah, this is a parody of Fifty Shades of Grey. Continue reading “REVIEW: Fifty Shades of Black (2016)” →

REVIEW: Arrival (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - Paramount Pictures
Theatrical Release Poster – Paramount Pictures

The following is a review of Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival – based on a short story by Ted Chiang.

The very best directors can do anything. They aren’t just locked in on a single genre, they master multiple essential ones. They also aren’t ‘filmmaking slaves’ to a single franchise. While they may operate within a franchise from time to time – like Alfonso Cuarón did with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – they don’t dedicate their careers to them. Continue reading “REVIEW: Arrival (2016)” →

REVIEW: The Commune (2016)

International Release Poster - Nordisk Film
International Release Poster – Nordisk Film

The following is a quick review of Thomas Vinterberg’s The Commune (Danish Title: Kollektivet).

The Commune takes place in Denmark in the 1970s and it follows Erik (played by Ulrich Thomsen) – a lecturer who teaches architecture – and Anna (played by Trine Dyrholm) – a television newsreader – who are married to each other and have a young daughter named Freja (played by Martha Sofie Wallstrøm Hansen).

When Erik inherits a large family house, Anna suggests that they could invite friends in to live with them, as that would be the only way for them to afford to live there. Erik somewhat reluctantly accepts, but soon he feels like he has lost his connection to his wife. Soon their relationship takes a turn for the worse.  Continue reading “REVIEW: The Commune (2016)” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “The Well-Tempered Clavier”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler recap/review of the ninth episode of Westworld – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the ninth episode of Westworld, Ashley Stubbs (played by Luke Hemsworth) tries to find Elsie Hughes (played by Shannon Woodward), Bernard’s (played by Jeffrey Wright) earliest memory is revealed, and two central characters reach the city once swallowed by sand. Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “The Well-Tempered Clavier”” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “Trace Decay”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler review of the eighth episode of Westworld – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the eighth episode of Westworld, Bernard (played by Jeffrey Wright) starts to cover his tracks, Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) needs more help from Felix and Sylvester, and William (played by Jimmi Simpson) and Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood) reach their destination.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “Trace Decay”” →

REVIEW: Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - Universal Pictures
Theatrical Release Poster – Universal Pictures

The following is a short updated review (2022) of Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016).

Mockumentaries can be absolutely hilarious. I love the general idea behind that entire genre, in that it can lampoon the level of gravitas that documentaries can sometimes have. The excellent original Borat film managed to be both outright funny, but also revealing about the reaction real people have to their jokes and characters. So when I found out that the brilliant The Lonely Island guys were doing a mockumentary somewhat inspired by Justin Bieber’s musical documentary and concert film Never Say Never, I was as excited as I could possibly be. This felt like a great kind of documentary to have fun with. For some reason, when I first saw the film, it didn’t really click for me, and so my original review indicated that it was merely ‘okay.’ However, on subsequent viewings, it has improved significantly for me. I think it’s brilliant. Continue reading “REVIEW: Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016)” →

REVIEW: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Theatrical Release Poster - Warner Bros.
Theatrical Release Poster – Warner Bros.

The following is a review of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.

Five years after the end of the Harry Potter film series, Warner Bros. is ready to bring you another story in the wizarding world of the Rowlingverse: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Make no mistake, this film does not feature Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, or Ron Weasley. In fact, Fantastic Beasts takes place in the 1920s – a very long time before Hagrid told Harry that he was a wizard. Continue reading “REVIEW: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)” →

REVIEW: Westworld – “Trompe L’Oeil”

westworld-review

The following is a spoiler review of the seventh episode of Westworld – Developed by Jonathan Nolan & Lisa Joy

In the seventh episode of Westworld, Theresa (played by Sidse Babett Knudsen) and Charlotte (played by Tessa Thompson) meet to discuss a presentation, William (played by Jimmi Simpson), Dolores (played by Evan Rachel Wood), and El Lazo (played by Clifton Collins, Jr.) are attacked by Confederados, and Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) looks for Clementine (played by Angela Sarafyan).
Continue reading “REVIEW: Westworld – “Trompe L’Oeil”” →