The Reelist

Tag: movies

  • “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” review

    “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” review

    It’s no secret that the Marvel Cinematic Universe has been struggling for a while. There’s been a few hits here and there since Avengers: Endgame, but overall, the quality has been lacking. A new Spider-Man movie is almost always a safe bet to turn things around. So, the question is, does Spider-Man: Brand New Day provide the spark that Marvel Studios needs to build momentum towards the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday? Luckily for them, it does.

    Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, is probably the most personal and introspective Spider-Man movie since Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2. Set four years after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home, Peter is a bit of a lost cause. No one remembers him and he has no social life. The only thing that fulfills him is being Spider-Man and fighting crime in New York City. But there’s limits to that, and eventually all the pressure and responsibility start to affect him physically in unexpected ways. At the same time, a new threat emerges that is unlike anything he has encountered before.

    Tom Holland as Peter Parker

    Where Brand New Day truly shines is how grounded and personal it is. It’s got the usual big set pieces you would expect from a Spider-Man movie, but at its heart it’s a tale about loneliness, isolation, and how it’s okay to ask for help. This gives the film some emotional depth to an extent not seen in a Spider-Man movie since Spider-Man 2. While I don’t think it reaches the height of that film (not many superhero movies do), it feels refreshing to get a more grounded and personal superhero movie that deals with some timely themes. 

    Performances usually aren’t a noteworthy thing to point out when discussing superhero movies, but there’s a rare exception here. Tom Holland gives one of his best performances as a vulnerable Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He really sells a broken Peter Parker trying to find his place in the world. Jon Bernthal also shines as Frank Castle/The Punisher, giving one of his best performances as well as displaying good chemistry with Holland. The rest of the cast, notably Sadie Sink and Zendaya, also do a solid job in their roles. 

    Where I think Brand New Day stumbles a bit is that I think it has too many characters, and some characters are thrown in for the sake of being there. For example, from the trailers, it looked like Scorpion and The Hand were going to play big roles in the movie, but they ended up not being much of a factor. The movie would have been the same without them. Without going into spoilers, there’s also the fact that Sadie Sink’s character steals a bit too much of the focus away from Spider-Man. It sort of feels like Marvel was trying to introduce and set her character up for the future while also telling a Spider-Man story. It works to an extent, but the film still could have been more focused.

    Jon Bernthal as Frank Castle/The Punisher

    Overall, Spider-Man: Brand New Day is a bit of a rarity: a superhero movie with a brain and heart, despite its tendency to feel overstuffed. While it is very much a fun summer popcorn flick, it’s also a thoughtful examination of loneliness and the effects it can have on someone. Combine that with heartfelt performances and thrilling action, and the result is a real treat. Hopefully Marvel Studios can continue this momentum with Avengers: Doomsday at the end of the year.

    Rating: 4/5

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  • “The Odyssey” review

    “The Odyssey” review

    Any time Christopher Nolan releases a new film, it feels like an event. This is no different with his latest release, The Odyssey. To put it in perspective, tickets for IMAX screenings went on sale last summer, a year before release, and they sold out pretty quickly. With the insane amount of hype leading up, it begs the question, does The Odyssey live up to it? It most certainly does. 

    The Odyssey is an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem, Odyssey, which tells the story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home following the end of the Trojan War. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, Odysseus is presumed dead after being away for twenty years, which leaves his wife, Penelope, and their son, Telemachus, to deal with a group of unruly suitors competing for Penelope’s hand in marriage.

    Matt Damon as Odysseus

    Since this is a direct adaptation of an existing work, the foundation of the story is already laid out, so it ultimately comes down to execution. This is where The Odyssey truly shines. The sheer size and scope of a film like this would intimidate almost any director, but Nolan doesn’t back down. Early on, Nolan made the decision to film The Odyssey using IMAX cameras entirely, which was unprecedented and had never been done before. Even though it was a huge financial and technical endeavor, his commitment to IMAX pays off here. The film looks and sounds amazing. And because of Nolan’s devotion to using more practical effects instead of CGI, there is a level of authenticity to the film that makes it even more impressive. The combination of epic scope, visuals, and sound creates a level of immersion that’s rarely seen. It almost felt like I was actually on the journey with Odysseus.

    The movie also takes us on a journey through different genres. It has plenty of action and adventure sequences, romance, and even some horror scenes sprinkled in here and there. The horror scenes are particularly effective and well done, especially the one involving pigs (if you know, you know). If Nolan ever decides to do a horror film, he’s shown that he’s more than capable of pulling it off. 

    There are a couple gripes I have with the film, but they’re closer to nitpicks than anything else. As typical in Christopher Nolan films, the dialogue can be hard to hear at times, even in quieter, less action-oriented scenes. Also, in terms of how the narrative is told, I would have preferred more linear storytelling instead of Nolan’s typical non-linear approach. The film often goes back and forth between different time periods instead of telling it in chronological order. The story isn’t hard to follow, so it’s not a huge deal, but I do think a more linear, streamlined approach would have been better, especially for more general audiences. 

    All in all, The Odyssey is a masterful example of what happens when you combine talent with a director that truly cares about their craft. It stands tall as one of the year’s best and one of Christopher Nolan’s finest achievements. And with a filmography as impressive as his, that’s really saying something.

    Rating: 4.5/5

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  • “New Fears Eve” review

    “New Fears Eve” review

    In the horror genre, there have been many films that have taken place on different holidays. We’ve seen them take place on Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and even Valentine’s Day. Writer/director P.J. Starks teams up with co-director Eric Huskisson to take a unique approach with New Fears Eve by setting it around New Years. The result is a brutal, entertaining, yet underwhelming callback to old school 80s slashers. 

    The plot of New Fears Eve is pretty simple. There’s been a string of murders lately by a masked killer known as “The Doctor,” whose appearance resembles the “plague doctor” from centuries ago with the prominent bird-like mask. While that might sound silly, the costume does have an eerie look to it, especially in the more distant shots. Anyway, the film centers on a trio of friends: Leslie, Brian, and Moses, who become targeted by this mysterious killer and must survive the ensuing New Year’s Eve bloodbath. 

    The main highlight of the film is the creative and brutal kills. There are plenty of kills, and the filmmakers somehow find a way to out-do the previous kill every time in terms of sheer shock value. It’s the primary reason why the film manages to stay entertaining throughout its 90-minute runtime. 

    Unfortunately, the positives stop there. Like I mentioned previously, the plot of New Fears Eve is simple, yet too simple. The characters aren’t fleshed out enough (no pun intended), which makes it hard to get attached or even care about them at all. It also doesn’t help that the acting is wooden, with shaky dialogue partly to blame for that. There’s also the fact that, without going into spoilers, the film sidesteps a proper ending to set up a sequel instead. That would have been fine if the ending was better and not so abrupt.

    All in all, New Fears Eve is a pretty mixed bag. The creative nature of the kills is a highlight that will entertain audiences for sure, and the killer’s look is unique and creepy. Unfortunately though, the film feels underdeveloped and ultimately underwhelming. That being said, the film knows what it is and leans into it, so if you’re looking for brutal, entertaining kills, New Fears Eve certainly delivers in that department.

    Rating: 2/5   

  • “The Drama” review

    “The Drama” review

    The Drama is quite the drama, all right. It’s been a while since a movie has been so heavily marketed a certain way, only to go in a completely different direction by the middle of the movie. The unconventional nature of this rom-com ends up being both a strength and a weakness, resulting in a flawed, yet entertaining film that will leave you thinking about it for quite some time. 

    The Drama, directed and written by Kristoffer Borgli, stars Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as couple Emma and Charlie. Emma and Charlie meet at a café, and two years later they are engaged. During the week of the wedding, they go out with their maid of honor, Rachel, and best man, Mike, for drinks. While talking, Emma makes a shocking revelation that makes Charlie question whether he really knows her and if he wants to marry her. 

    Zendaya and Robert Pattinson as Emma and Charlie

    As with practically every rom-com, the film rests heavily on the chemistry between the two leads, and both Zendaya and Pattinson deliver here. Their chemistry feels natural and unforced, and it results in the viewer being able to buy into Emma and Charlie’s relationship. It makes Emma’s sudden revelation more impactful too. This twist is sort of the film’s superpower because it is a catalyst in the plot while also being what makes the film unique to a certain extent. It’s definitely a good thing in that sense. 

    Where the movie suffers a bit is in regard to the timing of the twist. It’s revealed around the half-hour mark, which I think was too soon. What ends up happening is two things. First, it minimizes the impact of Emma’s revelation a bit. While it is still impactful to an extent, it would’ve been even more so if the film took more time building up to it. The second thing that ends up happening is that, because the reveal happens so early, Charlie spends so much time dwelling on it that the film ends up becoming very repetitive. It’s almost like the filmmakers didn’t know what else to do with the remaining runtime, so they re-hash the same thing over and over again and it eventually gets tiresome. Perhaps a better script could have avoided this, but unfortunately that’s not the case here. 

    Despite being repetitive, The Drama does remain interesting and entertaining. There is a good amount of comedy sprinkled in, and the film is pretty thoughtful overall. Many might find themselves in Charlie’s situation (though not quite to that extent), asking if they truly know their partner, or having doubts leading up to a wedding. In the extremeness of The Drama, there is some relatability and thoughtfulness in regard to dealing with the potential anxiety of marriage and commitment to someone you may not think you truly know.   

    Overall, The Drama is a decent but flawed rom-com. It does some things right, namely the chemistry between the leads, but its repetitive nature will lead to some viewers feeling exhausted after a while. That being said, the film is still good and entertaining enough to be an enjoyable time at the theaters. 

    Rating: 3.5/5

  • “Eternity” review 

    “Eternity” review 

    In the age of endless sequels and franchise installments, Eternity, directed and co-written by David Freyne, feels like a breath of fresh air. Not only is it a breath of fresh air, but it’s a good breath of fresh air. Mixing in a nice balance of romance and comedy, solid performances, stellar cinematography, and a thoughtful script, the result is one of the best rom-coms of the year that is sure to tug at your heartstrings. 

    Eternity opens with an elderly couple, Larry and Joan, on their way to a gender reveal party. While there, Larry chokes on pretzels and dies. After his death, Larry finds himself on a train to an unknown location. When he arrives, he meets his afterlife coordinator, Anna, who informs him that he is dead and is now at a hub, and that he must decide within ten days where he wants to spend his eternity. The caveat is that while each eternity is unique, it is final and escaping it would result in being thrown into a void. Larry decides to wait for Joan, as she has terminal cancer and it is only a matter of time before she passes. Joan eventually passes and reunites with Larry at the hub, while also spotting her first love, Luke, who died in the Korean War many years ago. Joan now faces a decision between Luke and Larry on who she wants to spend her eternity with.  

    From left to right: Elizabeth Olsen as Joan, Miles Teller as Larry, and Callum Turner as Luke

    The film’s concept is creative, and it finds just the right balance of drama, romance, and comedy. The jokes land for the most part, and the drama, especially towards the end, makes you feel something. I ended up becoming attached to these characters and caring about what was going to happen next. Of course, this is helped greatly by a solid cast, highlighted by the trio of Elizabeth Olsen as Joan, Miles Teller as Larry, and Callum Turner as Luke. Teller does an especially good job by essentially playing an elderly man in a younger man’s body, and he keeps it believable.

    One aspect of the film that I enjoyed is how thoughtful the screenplay is in regard to how Joan tackles her decision and the decision she ultimately makes by the end. It gives the experience more emotional weight compared to many of the other entries in the rom-com genre.  

    Another aspect of the film that is unexpectedly noteworthy is the cinematography by Ruairi O’Brien. This is a very good-looking film in many ways, and the use of color in particular is impressive. The opening scene with the elderly Larry and Joan uses a duller color palette, aligning with the reality of a couple close to the end of their lives. When Larry arrives at the hub, the colors are more vibrant but not overly so. The most colorfully vibrant scenes are the ones in eternity, as it’s supposed to represent eternal bliss. It’s small details like this that add to the overall experience of the film. 

    All in all, Eternity is a solid experience filled with laughs and emotion, backed by a stellar cast and superb visuals. Despite a predictable ending, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it by the end. If this is what eternity actually looks like, then count me in. 

    Rating: 4/5

  • “Christy” review

    “Christy” review

    Going into the screening of this film at the 34th annual Philadelphia Film Festival, I didn’t know much about Christy Martin or her story. I didn’t really watch any of the trailers either. I did know that Sydney Sweeney was starring and that the film had gained some traction at various film festivals, so that piqued my interest. While it is another one of those safe, cliched biopics, Christy does a good enough job of honoring Martin’s career and story, with a standout performance from Sweeney. 

    Sydney Sweeney as Christy Martin

    This is a sports biopic, so naturally it follows the template of many of the other biopics that have come before it. We are introduced to a young Christy in 1989, who has a passion for boxing but is unsure if she wants to pursue it as a full-time career. Her parents are skeptical as well, not only about boxing but about who she is as a person. Christy is in a relationship with a girl named Rosie, and her parents (her mom especially), do not approve. Eventually, she gets a break when boxing promoter Larry Carrier offers her her first professional fight. It’s around this time when she meets her trainer Jim Martin, who she eventually marries. Her career takes off from there, though it’s not without struggles, both on and off the ring. 

    To be completely honest, this movie wouldn’t have worked nearly as well without a strong cast, especially Sydney Sweeney in the title role. She gives a career-best performance here, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see her in the Oscar race coming up in a few months. This role demanded an intense, committed performance, and that’s exactly what we got. Ben Foster as Jim Martin also deserves recognition, as his presence on screen is intense and unsettling, particularly towards the end of the film. 

    Ben Foster as Jim Martin

    Many of the truly good biopics are the ones that resonate emotionally and sometimes even personally. This is one of those that works on both levels. It’s emotionally resonant in a sense that Christy had to overcome a lot to get to where she ended up being. It’s a classic underdog story that everyone knows and loves but holds some more weight due to her experiences that many can relate to. This includes things such as sexuality and domestic violence, which are slowly unveiled over the course of the film. The film’s pacing does get bogged down a bit when it strays away from the ring though, but it luckily stays on track just enough to not feel like a slog. 

    Ultimately, the most important thing that Christy accomplishes is that it feels like it’s a solid tribute to Christy Martin. Not only does it tell the story of her career, but it also shows what was going on outside of her career and how those experiences shaped her, which is arguably just as important. While many might consider it to be on the safe side, even I would describe it as “solid yet unspectacular”, there is a limit on how much one can do with a sports biopic. Christy is yet another good addition to a large catalogue of them at this point. 

    Rating: 3.5/5