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Reviews
Dunkirk (2017)
"Wars are not won by evacuation."
Just by its opening scene, Dunkirk is already an extraordinary Nolan film. Dunkirk follows allied soldiers as they are surrounded by the German Army. That's all I'll say. You can watch the film and find out more. But really matters is that it's a Christoper Nolan film. He's a master of film and he really delivers his best.
What strikes me about Dunkirk is its non-linear storytelling. There are three perspectives. The mole, the air, the sea. That's truly unique because instead of just focusing on the soldiers, Nolan decides to focus on the people too. Harry Styles was really good in this movie. He has a great performance and I hope he acts in more movies. What's also interesting is that this film is focused on suspense than dialogue. The entire film feels like the final battle of a larger film. The dogfights in the Air are so intense and well done, probably due to the practical effects they used. It's well-paced considering its 106 minutes, which is pretty short for Nolan's typical runtime. The only issue I have with this film is that we don't get enough character development. We know Harry Styles became a soldier, but how? But other than that, this film is perfect. It's pure Nolan, I should say.
Overall, Dunkirk is another home run for Nolan himself. Everything's perfect. Hans Zimmer's music, the suspense, the action. It's just that we want more screen time for the characters. But hey, this sure doesn't disappoint.
Tenet Letterboxd review comes out tomorrow, and the video review comes Friday! I have seen the film last night and I can't wait to share my thoughts!
Interstellar (2014)
"Mankind was born on Earth. It was never meant to die here."
This isn't a movie, it's art. What can I say about Interstellar that has probably never been said about anything else I've reviewed? It's a landmark in film history. This film is so flawlessly made. Christopher Nolan has reached that point. I can't wait to see what he does with Tenet.
The story takes place in the future, where Cooper and his crew must explore a wormhole in space in order to save humanity. It's survival. I loved this film for so many reasons. When you watch a Christoper Nolan film, you can expect it to be fantastic in visual terms. I didn't see this in theaters, which is my biggest regret. I watched the 4k Blu-Ray which looks magical and stunning. The visuals are glorious to look at, the audio and Hans Zimmer's terrifying but beautiful score is out of this world, and the film is one to be remembered for many years.
Matthew McConaughey is brilliant. So is all the other cast. That scene of him watching the videos on the ship always gets me. This film is emotionally draining with its scenes. It's not an action film, it's a slow science fiction masterpiece. The only problem I have with this film is its long-running time of 169 minutes. There is some material that could've been cut down. But overall, this is a film. It's a shame this wasn't nominated for Best Director and Best Picture in the Academy Awards.
Overall, Interstellar isn't a film, it's an experience. It's an emotional tale of humanity's survival and the goal to make it through. I love everything about this film. I cannot wait for what Nolan will do for Tenet.
Survive the Night (2020)
Survive the Movie!
Well, Survive the Night is not a movie, it's garbage. This is another one of those movies you find on Redbox and Netflix. Except someone bought it on Blu-Ray and me and my family watched it. Those are 90 minutes I'm never getting back. Why buy it on Blu-Ray anyways? The cover is not that great anyways.
Well, what is this film about? It's a family held hostage in their house by two robbers who happen to be brothers. One of the family members is a doctor and he is forced to help one of the robbers who is seriously injured. It's like Trespass with Nic Cage. It's a home invasion film. Everything is dull about this film. The story is uninteresting, you don't care about the actors and to be honest, it's a boring film. Not to mention the video for the Blu-Ray looks ugly. It's yellow and orange and I don't like it. Bruce Willis is the one you're cheering for but he doesn't really help the family. The doctor is not that good. The two robbers are idiotic and I couldn't care less when they died at the end. The family is ok acting. Just a really ugly looking film and a forgettable one.
Overall, Survive The Night is a disposable film. I can't recommend this. Please do yourself a favor and don't watch this. You can watch more excellent movies on Netflix and other streaming platforms. This was a waste of time. A big one, that is.
There Will Be Blood (2007)
"There's a whole ocean of oil under our feet! No one can get at it except for me!"
Family, oil, and greed play a grand part in There Will Be Blood. I got to say that this is a beautifully shot film with the greatest method acting I've seen so far. It's a story of an oilman on a long quest for wealth during the late 19th century. This is by far Paul Thomas Anderson's best work. I really like this film and how it is really unique in its themes.
Daniel Day-Lewis is a really great actor. He gives a realistic grounded performance and the Oscar he received was deserved. He did method acting for this also. He turned himself into his character before the film even began production. I admire that and he gives a phenomenal performance for decades to come. Paul Dano gives a great performance as the supporting actor. He has both good and bad sides in his character. The lack of women disappoint me as a little bit of diversity always makes a great film.
Otherwise, There Will Be Blood is a fantastic film with beautiful cinematography, a riveting screenplay, marvelous performances from Day-Lewis and Dano, and an ending that remains one of the bizarre and greatest endings in film history. I highly recommend you see this on Netflix. It's definitely a great film to watch on quarantine. I hope to release more reviews soon!
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Unique quirky animated film starring a fox!
"We're all different. Especially him. But there's something kind of fantastic about that, isn't there?"
Even though this review won't contain spoilers, I highly recommend you watch the film before reading this review.
There's a lot of animated movies out there that I really love, but there hasn't been a single one that I've given 5 stars that weren't a Pixar film... until now. Fantastic Mr. Fox is a really unique type of animated film. It's stop-motion and it wouldn't be the last time director Wes Anderson using stop-motion. Isle of Dogs uses the same technique (look forward to seeing a review of that soon). This film also uses a lot of wide shots throughout its runtime. I'm not complaining since it helps create and how "fantastic" this film is.
Voice actors give great performances as their characters. George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Bill Murray, the list goes on! Such a unique cast for a really unique awkward but funny movie. I hope to see them in other movies by Wes Anderson. I adore this film of its quirkiness and creativity and this film is a really underrated masterpiece.
Overall, Fantastic Mr. Fox is a really good animated movie! I love the story, cinematography, voice acting, and the quirkiness of this magnificent fantastic story. Feel free to leave your thoughts on the comments below!
The Prestige (2006)
Twists and turns to be found in The Prestige.
Suspenseful, stunning, and full of tricks and turns, The Prestige is a fantastic but yet underrated film by Christopher Nolan. The premise of the film is simple. Two magicians duel against each other as they both have tricks that they want to find out about. This turns into an obsession, as it becomes more dangerous. This film is really underrated and it should be more recognized. Christopher Nolan has crafted this film beautifully with amazing cinematography, great performances from the two main leads, and a story that takes a simple premise but with turns you wouldn't see in a movie.
Hugh Jackman has always been seen as Wolverine by many people, but this is the first film where he is actually recognized as a great actor. This performance is one of his best, and it is like the role was meant for him. Christian Bale also gives a phenomenal performance. The fact that this film was released just a year after Batman Begins is bizarre. He is more realistic in this film and he deserves credit for this film. Michael Caine is also in this, but given the fact that he is in a Nolan film is pretty predictable. He gives a great performance as well. To be completely honest. Everybody in this cast gives wonderful performances. Overall, The Prestige is a twisty story with outstanding performances, blush cinematography, and an ending that you won't definitely see coming.
SPOILERS AHEAD
I want to discuss about the ending because man, it is a great one! So in the end, it is revealed that Christian Bale's character has a twin. That's how he can do the Transported Man. But at the same time, Hugh Jackman's character has duplicated himself every-time he has done the Tesla machine trick. This is really amazing and honestly a great twist ending, but there's also hints throughout the movie before the ending. In one of the scenes where Borden and Sarah are talking, Sarah says "Not today." This can suggest that Borden and Fallen switch places. Another hint is the scene where Borden gets his fingers shot. When he gets shot in the scene, we expect the bleeding to stop tomorrow. However in the next scene, Sarah talks to Borden and says that his hand has been bleeding again. The twins have been forced to have the same similarities as each other. There's no way in telling the difference. This is really intelligent writing. Christopher Nolan, you've done it again.
The Social Network (2010)
The simple story turned into an extraordinary film.
Intelligent, funny, and energetic. The Social Network is a spectacular film that David Fincher flawlessly crafts. This is probably the only film that I've given 10 stars and the film is just dialogue. The film is exciting with each line of dialogue. Jessie Eisenberg portrays Mark Zuckerberg as a smart, witty, and hilarious man who begins making his network without knowing how much money this network would make. The music is used cleverly and the editing is constantly extraordinary. Andrew Garfield also is wonderful and he gives an extraordinary performance near the end. The film is two hours and it never feels slow. I could even watch another half an hour of the film. It never is uneventful. It keeps your adrenaline pumping. They are able to tell a story that offers more than just dialogue. David Fincher directed this film with much care and I appreciate him for that. I hope I can watch more of his films soon. (I have only seen Seven and this film). Overall, The Social Network works and it takes a simple ordinary story and makes it better than any other film.
Extraction (2020)
Chris Hemsworth becomes a John Wick influenced killer.
Extraction sounds like a cheaply made film that you would find on Redbox. But since Chris Hemsworth is in the movie, it's a win-win. the film has a cliched plot that we've seen a ton of times. Interestingly, it takes it and does something different with it. The cinematography is average and the hand to hand combat is absolutely the best I've seen. One really outstanding scene from this film is the long 11-minute long take in one of the action sequences. Of course, it's actually simulated but they probably put it there for a reason. Another worthy aspect of Extraction is the acting performance by Chris Hemsworth. He is really great in the film and works. The complaints I have are the plot and feel of the film. It has that filter of a Mexican movie. Now there are some complaints about the violence being over the top. I didn't mind it since I have seen films that are more violent than this one. Overall, Extraction is an enjoyable action film that you can watch during the quarantine. It will just be another of those films that we forget throughout the week.
Arrival (2016)
Arrival is the Signs of this decade.
The first time I saw Arrival, I fell asleep. The second time, I didn't. Denis Villeneuve continues to impress his audience after Prisoners and Sicario (the latter I saw but not reviewed yet). The cinematography is what we expect Villeneuve's films to be like. It's stunning. The performances especially Amy Adam's performance. Don't go into the film excepting big laser battles and action because this is a slow-paced film. That's one little criticism I have with this film. It's a little slow. Also, the plot for some people may confuse people. It requires a second viewing upon first viewing. It took me a while to think about this review. Also, I can't stress enough how much this film reminds me of Shutter Island. I mean come on! They both use the same song "On the Nature of Daylight". The plots both seem familiar to each other. But hey, that's just my opinion. Overall, Arrival is a wonderfully directed film, with a great cast, and stunning production design. It's also a film that plays with our minds. And in my opinion, it succeeds at that.
Sergio (2020)
Sergio attempts but fails.
Sergio is a failed attempt on making a real-life person actually interesting. This film is the most Netflix film I've seen so far. They take the real-life events that this person has gone for and just makes it into a two-hour love story in the middle of this man's life. Like there are many scenes where they are seen talking and starting to be in love, but there are more important details in his life that we could be watching instead. I was hoping it would be an actual political drama. Not a love story. Ana De Armas' performance was great. I thought she was great in the film. I previously saw her in Knives Out and thought she was amazing in it. This film also can raise awareness of the real-life diplomat. It was also semi-interesting throughout and it's watchable at times. Some problems like I said is the way it's presented. It's honestly baffling. We cut through the present and past. Just begin the film in the past and end in the present! Overall, it's just your average drama flick that isn't good nor bad. Just strange.
Inception (2010)
Nolan impresses us with another masterpiece.
Inception is one of the best original films of the decade and probably of all time. Christopher Nolan is like one of the Leo DiCaprios of directors in the movie business. I could give almost all his films my perfect grade. He has teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page and Cillian Murphy and so many other great actors to make a very visual and narrative masterpiece. The cinematography of the film is stunning. You could take any shot of the dream sequences and it would look fine as a photo frame. The story is incredible and creative. I could not personally see people not getting it. It looks amazing and feels amazing, especially with Hans Zimmer's powerful score. This is an excellent film to watch in a home theater. Christopher Nolan continues to impress us with his narrative storylines, outstanding cinematography, and powerful performances from actors. Inception is one of them.
Mission: Impossible II (2000)
Ethan Hunt becomes a James Bond copycat.
Whereas Mission Impossible made Ethan Hunt interesting, Mission Impossible 2 does not. This film is a mess for me for a number of reasons. A cliched plot, similarities to James Bond, and OH MY GOD THE SLO-MO SHOTS. Right off the bat, this film is a drastic change from the first one. It literally feels like a 2000 film. It's got that lightning and cinematography of the Brosnan bond films. Speaking of Bond, this film is very similar to a Bond film. I mean, Hunt falling in love with someone? That just screams Bond. AND CAN WE PLEASE TALK ABOUT THE SLOW MOTION SHOTS?! They are distracting in this whole movie and they are really unnecessary. Something tells me that John Woo wasn't the best director for this film. The praise I can give the film is the spectacular action sequences that Tom has done himself! The score is excellent, and it's unbelievable that Hans Zimmer made the score for this film. Overall, it's a watchable film. It's just that it's 50/50 for me on this one. If this film was like the Brosnan Bond films, this would be the "Die Another Day" of the series.
Mission: Impossible (1996)
Mission Impossible starts strong!
Mission Impossible is a very energetic action flick that sometimes becomes much better than average action flicks during the 90s. First of all, this film would've been a 7 star movie. But since the wonderful Tom Cruise is in this film, this is a 8-star movie for me. One of the issues of the film is the plot. It's entertaining of course, but it becomes convoluted. Now I just came from watching the Pirates of the Caribbean and its convoluted storylines and I couldn't stand it. The other issue is the CGI at the end of the film. It just looks fake. The CGI makes this film look like a Spy Kids film. Overall, it's a fun action film with great performances by Tom Cruise and Jon Voight, thrilling action sequences, and a story that may not make sense in the end, but will keep you thrilled nevertheless.
Goodfellas (1990)
Goodfellas Movie Review
Not only is Goodfellas is a movie I can starch off my Martin Scorsese watchlist, but it's also one of the best films in the gangster genre. The story flows smoothly with its characters and the emotional connection that the main character played by Ray Liotta has with the gang he's in with Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci. These supporting actors give powerful performances that make this movie riveting. What stands out from Goodfellas is that much of the film is just characters having conversations. Of course, there are unexpected bursts of Scorsese violence and all, but Goodfellas is an energetic film that never goes off track. The film's nearly 150 minutes long, but the thing is that it didn't feel like it. I'd say that for me, it felt 105 minutes. Once again, Goodfellas gives stunning performances, extraordinary editing, and an energetic story that never is tedious. That's why this film gets 10 stars from me and goes on my list of top 10 films I've seen in my life.
Gisaengchung (2019)
A masterpiece that's not from America.
Parasite is a fantastic film made by the wonderful Bong Joon Ho. Every single frame is beautifully crafted and the story was investing throughout the entire two hour runtime. It is very darkly hilarious, smart, and overall excellent. It also has without a doubt one of the most realistic endings in film history. With a single flaw in sight, Parasite will be perfect for any movie-goer.