The Reelist

Tag: review

  • “Marty Supreme” review

    “Marty Supreme” review

    As far as sports dramas go, Marty Supreme is one of the most unique and entertaining ones out there. Directed by Josh Safdie, the film blends multiple different genres together to subvert expectations on what a sports drama can be. Couple all of that with another award-worthy performance from Timothee Chalamet, and the result is one of the best films of 2025. 

    Marty Supreme is loosely based on the life and career of American table tennis player Marty Reisman. Set in the 1950s, the film follows Marty Mouser (yes, there’s a name change) as he goes from working as a shoe salesman to becoming a prolific table tennis player with dreams of winning multiple tournaments to bring American attention to the sport. This does not end up going smoothly, as many issues both personally and professionally threaten Marty’s dreams of becoming the top dog. 

    Timothee Chalamet as Marty Mouser

    First, let’s get the obvious out of the way: Timothee Chalamet is brilliant as Marty Mouser. This might be a career-best performance from him in a young career already featuring multiple outstanding performances. He is no doubt going to once again be in the thick of the Oscar race. The rest of the cast holds up their end of the bargain, but this is Chalamet’s movie through and through. Where he goes, this movie goes, and he soars very high here. 

    At its core though, this is a film with much more to offer than just an excellent star performance. One of its many strengths is how it blends multiple genres to create something that feels fresh and entertaining. The film works as a sports drama, but it almost feels like a heist movie as well, similar to Safdie’s Uncut Gems. Without going into too much detail to avoid spoilers, Marty is very often on the move due to circumstances involving money, which creates feelings of tension and on-edge. The pacing also helps with this, as the movie is fast paced, but never too fast. This allows enough time to flesh out the characters while also keeping the plot going at a relentless, intense pace. There’s also some sprinkles of comedy here and there to keep things light enough. Safdie’s script, which he co-wrote with frequent collaborator Ronald Bronstein, is sharp, quick-witted, and consistently engaging. 

    There isn’t much at fault with the film. With a runtime of 150 minutes, perhaps it could have been a little shorter. With how well it’s paced though, it’s not too much of an issue. Again, it’s a testament to how well written it is. I fully expect this film to get nominated for and win multiple awards come award season time. Chalamet will be up for best actor of course, and I can see it at the very least getting nominations for screenplay, production design, cinematography, best picture, and probably a few others. There’s no question that Marty Supreme is an impressive piece of work in many aspects. 

    Rating: 4.5/5

  • “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

  • “Primate” review

    “Primate” review

    I managed to attend a screening of director Johannes Roberts’ new horror film, Primate, at the Philadelphia Film Festival on Saturday, October 25th. The synopsis sounded interesting and I thought there could potentially be something here, not to mention it’s a good time of the year to watch a horror flick. Unfortunately, Primate squanders its potential with a tonally inconsistent script, despite solid visual effects and a suspenseful atmosphere. 

    Primate centers around a girl named Lucy who is traveling back home for vacation with a few friends, just as her father is leaving for a business trip. It is revealed early on that the family has a pet chimpanzee named Ben, who, unbeknownst to them, becomes infected with rabies around the time Lucy arrives back home. The infection turns Ben into a crazy, murderous beast as he hunts down the group one by one. 

    Johnny Sequoyah as Lucy

    There are some things that this film does well. The opening scene is effective and chilling enough to set the tone for the events that follow. The film also has a condensed atmosphere that adds to the tension. The smaller scale helps keep the audience on edge because the threat of Ben is lurking at every corner. The visual effects and CGI are well-done, especially when it comes to the gore that is quite plentiful throughout. 

    My main issue with the film is that it is tonally inconsistent. It tries to blend some comedic elements into the horror, so what ends up happening is that the film is neither truly scary nor funny. The filmmaker’s main focus seems to be horror, but the horror is never fully achieved due to this weird mix. Sure, there are some moments, but the moments don’t add up to a complete experience. This movie, like many others in the horror genre, also suffers from some really dumb writing, as in the characters making several dumb decisions. It would be easy to overlook it if there were one or maybe two instances, but there are several throughout. Many other horror films have this problem, but that doesn’t excuse this one. 

    This is a frustrating film in some ways. It’s not that it’s not interesting or entertaining. At a brisk 89 minutes, it’s paced pretty well and never feels dull or uninteresting. It’s mainly that it’s not quite sure what it wants to be and never fully leans in one direction. It turns out that Primate doesn’t have much bite after all. 

    Rating: 2.5/5

  • “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

  • “What the Hell Happened” review

    “What the Hell Happened” review

    This past Saturday, October 18th, I was planning on attending the screening of Case 137 at the 34th annual Philadelphia Film Festival. Something came up at the last minute and I couldn’t go, so I quickly decided to attend the screening of What the Hell Happened later that night instead. Nothing against Case 137, but boy am I glad it worked out that way. What the Hell Happened is a wonderful tribute to friendship, love, resilience, and the rollercoaster known as life. 

    What the Hell Happened, directed by couple Matt Wilkins and Eliza Fox, follows a group of five friends: Tim, Doug, Anthony, Daniel, and co-director Eliza. Wilkins also serves as an unofficial sixth character, as his narration and occasional appearances help guide the material. The 98 minute documentary begins in the year 1992 in Iowa City and follows their lives over the course of three decades. In a sense it takes the audience on a journey through time, as we see advances in technology such as better cameras, which results in better video quality. It’s an interesting concept that hasn’t been done many times, at least not on this scale. In the beginning, we’re quickly introduced to these five completely different young adults. Tim, 22, has a B.A. in math but is living in a trailer and working at McDonalds. Doug, 21, has a B.S. in chemistry but ideally wants to be a comedian. Anthony, 23, works as a dishwasher but has bigger goals on his mind. Daniel, 17, who also happens to be Wilkins’ cousin, is the youngest of the group and is an unemployed high school dropout. And of course there’s Eliza, who’s a 22 year old mom that’s unsure about her place in the world. 

    What really struck me about this documentary is how raw, vulnerable, and relatable it is. A big part of that is how smartly structured it is. The film is separated into five acts, with the first act titled “Angst” and taking place in 1992. It concludes with act five, titled “Bruises”, which basically takes place in the present day and shows where the five friends are currently and how their life choices have affected them today. I was surprised by how moved I was by many of their journeys. In particular I was moved by Doug who, without going into too much detail, faces a serious health issue after years of smoking. We all, in some form or another, can relate to a situation like this, and it makes us care just as much as the filmmakers do. It’s the beauty of the power that film can have. 

    A reoccurring motif I noticed in the film was that of a river. Throughout the film, the river is constantly changing at the start of each act. I believe it serves as a reminder that no matter how good or bad things are, life goes on and things change, and it’s up to us to keep up or get left behind. While life may be rough right now, there is always hope on the horizon because nothing stays the same forever. 

    If there’s one criticism I have of this film is that I wish more was explored of their lives between the 90s and present day. More footage of what was going on in their lives in the 2000s and 2010s would’ve painted a more complete picture, but perhaps this was by design. I read somewhere that the first cut was six hours long, and it took multiple attempts to trim it down to 98 minutes. There’s a limit on how much one can include in a documentary, and what we got was one of the most heartfelt and enjoyable viewing experiences I’ve had this year. 

    Rating: 4/5

  • “Superman”(2025) review

    “Superman”(2025) review

    A hopeful start to the DCU

    Out with the old, in with the new. The first official release of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s new DC Cinematic Universe has arrived. Moving away from Zack Snyder’s darker vision, many will be wondering, does Superman stick its landing? Other than a few bumps, it mostly does. 

    What’s important to note right away is that this is not an origin story. Gunn smartly decided not to rehash Superman’s same old origin, instead quickly catching the viewer up with a few lines of text in the first scene, while also explaining where the hero is currently. The story follows Superman a few years into being, well, Superman, and his popularity has never been higher. However, there are a few conflicts going on. There is a war escalating between two foreign countries (sound familiar?), and we learn that somehow the villainous Lex Luthor is involved. Lex, played very well by Nicholas Hoult, has it out for Superman and is determined to bring him down by any means necessary. It’s a basic premise that has more layers than meets the eye. 

    Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor

    Where the film shines most is when it comes to its casting. The two leads, David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan, as Clark Kent/Superman and Lois Lane, respectively, knock it out of the park. Corenswet embodies the look and qualities of the title character, which leans more into the classic Christopher Reeve version that we all know and love. Brosnahan brings her own take to Lois Lane that feels fresh but also stays true to the character. It also helps that they have excellent chemistry, and many of the film’s best parts are when these two share the screen. I really wish we got more interaction between them, but unfortunately the film has to make room for other characters, and this is where things get a bit messy. It is established early on that there are other “metahumans” in this world, namely Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, and Mr. Terrific. Naturally, all three must be given some time to shine, and they do, but the issue is that it takes away the focus on Superman. This is his movie after all, and it would have been better if these characters were saved for the sequel instead. It’s not that these characters are in it a lot, but they are in it just enough to make the movie feel unfocused at times. 

    Another issue with this film is that it is ultimately sort of forgettable. There are some cool action scenes, but none that are memorable or stand out. Some of the film’s more interesting dynamics, like Lois and Clark’s relationship, don’t get enough spotlight. There are some interesting themes and ideas that are explored, notably the idea of Superman being an immigrant and trying to fit in. It’s a timely subject matter, but in the end it doesn’t get explored enough. Perhaps this is all just the nature of a popcorn action flick, where there’s more flash than substance. 

    All in all, Superman is a superhero film that, despite a few bumps along the way, delivers a solid start to Gunn and Safran’s DC regime. For many, it’s a welcome departure from the previous few movies featuring Superman and falls more in line with his classic interpretation. While I wished the movie was more focused and memorable, I left the theater hopeful and eager to see more of this universe. 

    Rating: 3.5/5