Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor. © MRC, T-Street Productions and Star Thrower Entertainment. Directed by Chloe Domont. Netflix will distribute the film soon after Sundance.
Watched it at Sundance Film Festival 2023 Online through Eventive (Sundance #1)
A Engagement Can Turn Sideways For The Better or Worse... Just the two lead characters, the producers behind it, and the plot itself got me interested in this film. Oh boy, it was a wild independent film. If Uncut Gems and The Notebook had a baby and their son Money Monster met this film, it's no wild surprise that this film couple will be exploding money and hooking up until someone breaks their point. It's an intense film from start to finish and with the wild lead performances, let's say the film can be viewed from many points of view. Join me in the big apple and explore this couple who are about to have the wild ride of their life. Story: Hot off the heels of their new engagement, thriving New York couple Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) can’t get enough of each other. When a coveted promotion at a cutthroat financial firm arises, supportive exchanges between the lovers begin to sour into something more sinister. As the power dynamics irrevocably shift in their relationship, Luke and Emily must face the true price of success and the unnerving limits of ambition. This was a sleek film from the editing to the direction and to the performances. This was a wild ride and be prepared to get romanticized the fuck out of you. The story of this film is very original yet strong with its great direction from Chloe Domont. I really loved how we get immediately to the engagement part but the drama that keeps this couple together is the wall street job itself. It mirrors the strengths, weaknesses, and struggles of being a wall street broker while maintaining a relationship. Plus it was unexpected and it goes downhill from there. I love that the film balances these two characters' motivations and struggles while keeping the work intact. The plot gets wacky in the second act but in a good way. It goes deeper into the rabbit hole of money, numbers, drinking, and bets. I love that it doesn't shy away from the dangerous parts of being on wall street and with these side characters, it makes it rawer and feel lived in. What made the plot more interesting mid-way through is that it explores the greediness of these people and the environment of a workplace. The production design of the offices is amazing and with the cold difference living inside an NYC apartment is so interesting. Just the production design alone carries the symbolism of NYC, Wall Street, and the lives of these characters living in. The characters in this film are amazing. I really loved Phoebe's performance and her final scene really brought the film full circle. Her character shows how she worked hard to be in this career while showing some of her darkest sides and sexual obsession. With the costume design in the film, it showcases Phoebe's character that she is willing to take on being the most smartest and badass broker in the office and take power. While for Alden's character Luke, it's a completely different story. Alden's performance is absolutely amazing. It's been over three years since his silver screen performance in Solo: A Star Wars Story and he really made a screaming returning debut in this film. His performance was over the roof and his character was pretty calming but when he breaks, he breaks. His character shows the conflicting aspects of being a broker and working way harder than you can but not achieving the golden aspect that is required. Some of his breaking point scenes are the best and it shows that his character skills and relationship are not holding up well because of one stupid promotion. It's so done well and it mostly comes around with jealousy. Jealously can break a person easily or slowly if the thing starts to show in front of you constantly. Jealously is the name of the game and I love how in the end, you must forget about it or it can badly damage a part of your life. I haven't seen Jealously been taken seriously in film for a while and this film handles the theme alongside the subjects of marriage, work, and social life very seriously. The screenplay is very strong with its slick dialogue and editing. The humor is very smart but literally smart. Not the cliche critic-type quotes you see but this film delivers the comedy and swearing on point. I love that. The cinematography is so well done and once again, the production design alone really carries the weight of the film to show some of its symbolism and feelings of these characters around some of these environments. Since this is an indie film, there may be some trips along the way. The "villain" of the film was pretty weak but I enjoyed his performance from Eddie Marsan. The pacing was a bit weird in the second act of the film in which case it almost got lost but it got back on track when the couple wasn't together. I thought it would be an Uncut Gems vibe from what critics hear but it wasn't the style. I got misled but in a good way. I was mixed with the cold opening of the film but when they got to work inside wall street, that's where the good shit starts to get heated up. Some people might be mixed with the ending but I really loved how it ends. It's a damn good watch. This was definitely a wild erotic ride from start to finish. Full of marriage problems, money, sex, power, and jealousy are all over the place in this film. It's a well-crafted independent film with slick cinematography, dialogue, and editing to make the tensions high constantly. I really loved the two lead performances and this is a fantastic directorial debut from Chloe Domont. I cannot wait for her next project and what she has in store for the future. It's also nice to see Rian Johnson producing this as well! Coming Soon on Netflix. Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
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Gideon Adlon. © 2022/2023 Peacock, Blumhouse Productions, and Outerbanks Entertainment. Directed by John Hyams.
Watched it on Peacock (Written on Letterboxd)
Quick Review: This was quite a thriller film. Also a bloody one as well. I really had a good time with this film. It was bloody entertaining with a lot of suspense and thrills. The cast is good but what stands out are the chase scenes. Those scenes are the strongest and the film went full-on “Dead by Daylight”. The opening scene was very strong and the world around the pandemic was very interesting. I love how they make fun of the COVID rules, people wearing masks, and trying to quarantine. The social commentary here is interesting but it didn’t quite catch up as what I hoped for. It’s a fast-paced short film and it gets right to its point. But I wished we explored more of these characters. Especially for the protagonist's friend who is here and cares about the environment during COVID. It could've been fleshed out but I liked the character DJ. There was quite a good dramatic moment there. The killer's motivations were weak and while it connected to the COVID subject, it was just a quick exposition. I wish we could’ve seen the party scene to make it more dramatic and get a point of view of the Killer. I didn’t care about the emotional stuff with the villain trying to reach his goal but their morals on COVID rules were hilarious. I felt like the COVID environment felt nostalgic in a bad way but it didn't quite hit me. It felt a little bit too late and too early. But it still added dramatic and funny moments to the film and its social commentary. It’s a film that will get laughs and thrills but remind you that COVID is still out there infecting people. Unless you have the vaccine but no one will tell. Nonetheless, it was pretty entertaining from start to finish with some good old bloody violence. If you need to quarantine, well this is the film to watch while being sick. Get it? Ok, this review is over, I'm going to eat chips now. Now Streaming Only on Peacock Vizeit Score: "B-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
Cate Blanchett. © 2022 Focus Features, Standard Film Company, and EMJAG Productions. Directed by Todd Field.
Watched it on Blu-Ray
Vizeit Film Awards Nominee (4 Nominations Including "Best Motion Picture Film") Get To Know The Greatest Female Conductor/Composer In Modern Music History. The world of musicians is staggering but no one can beat the great conductor who is redefying music. Unless she goes crazy and ruins her reputation. That's what Todd Field explores in his new latest film after years without directing a feature film. But that wait is over and it was worth the wait. This is his magnum opus and this film is very psychological from start to finish. It may not be for everyone but with the captivating lead performance and beautiful direction, this is an interesting film for every cinephile, filmmaker, and music student. Let's journey into the mind of Lydia Tár. Story: Renowned musician Lydia Tár is days away from recording the symphony that will elevate her career. When all elements seem to conspire against her, Lydia's adopted daughter Petra becomes an integral emotional support for her struggling mother. But she's also facing accusations of her recent past and the future of her symphony group. This film was tense and entertaining from start to finish. The opening is quite interesting which may throw off some audiences which is understandable. But when the real film starts, it gets way more interesting and it fiddles with some interesting subject matters. There are a lot of moving parts within its dialogue but it doesn't focus on the plot rather focuses on the protagonist trying to deal with her personal life and career. It's the downfall of her career which starts with the amazing one-take scene of Tár explaining the artist vs the art itself. It's a beautiful and well-constructed scene that explains how today's art including cinema culture has changed. You can cancel someone in real life but you can't delete their work because it changed cinema or another art form. But the person can be a douchebag so it's reasonable. Back to the scene, it's brilliant because it explores how students are reacting to the truth and with Tár being lesbian, it's more stronger with its message. Her teaching is raw and wants the best for everyone. Good thing she ain't Gordon Ramsey. Tár herself played by Cate Blanchett is fantastic. Her performance really carries the movie and she brings a lot of energy during her dramatic scenes and emotional weight to the film. Watching her from just trying to enjoy life into destroying her life is pretty dark and sad. The human struggle of her trying to face a new society, facing death, and haunting past. Plus she is facing the darkest sides of her career and it's very haunting during those scenes she is facing. Even in the small moments, you can witness her being uncomfortable during a moment. Little moments like these make the character much grander and the experience quite interesting. The cinematography is very great and I liked the still shots a lot. The color palette seemed to be changed from the previous edit but it still looks great in capturing Tár's emotions. The production design is pretty great and I really loved the score in this film. But I have mixed feelings about it. Besides that, the directing is very strong in this film. I really loved how he stays within the conversation of these characters like normal but with fewer cutaways. Todd Field makes it clear that he wants to give a tense tone that will make Tár more uncomfortable and make her crazier as possible. I really loved the hallway tunnel scene. I thought that scene was so well directed and it's the breaking point of Tár. There is a lot of symbolism and interesting themes presented in this film on the main title character but that will be for another time. Overall, it's a strong film that explores a downfall, the psychology of having art over life, and the cautionary tale of real-life events and subjects that make this film worth a watch. There are some critiques I would like to give as usual. The runtime was fairly long and it was a bit draggy right in between the middle and third act. Could've cut the less important scenes. I was a bit lost during some of the conversations in the film but it quickly paced back up with a dramatic scene. I wish we could've got more of the daughter relationship with Tár and the family together. A few story nitpicks but it was still a very interesting film. I really enjoyed this tense film that explores the psychological state of an artist and the world around her. It's very theme heavy and it's haunting at certain moments. I was really captivated by Cate Blanchett's raw performance and I can see her winning an Oscar. It's a well-written drama with a fantastic lead performance, simple yet sleek cinematography, and seeing a video game cameo in a film is not what I expected from this arthouse film. Now Streaming on VOD and available on 4K/Blu-Ray. Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
© 2022/2023 IFC Midnight, Shudder, BayView Entertainment, Mutiny Pictures, and ERO Picture Company. Directed by Kyle Edward Ball.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
In This House... Quick Review: If Paranormal Activity was an arthouse film, this is the answer to that question. This is one of the weirdest films I have seen in a long time. Plus it's a return for me to watch horror movies in theaters that actually freaked me out. This was so fucked up and I wasn't ready for it to be honest. It's a very slow horror film that lets to live in the environment and tone of this house. But some of it it's through the point of the kid's vision of these nightmares. The cinematography is quite interesting. There are a lot of bland, wall, fuzzy shots that make you uncomfortable. It's low and high exposed in camera terms and there's a lot of film grain throughout. The sounds of the grains will make you uncomfortable and uneasy sitting through the film. It's mostly dead shots with nothing going on. But when the weird stuff starts to show on screen, it's haunting and scary. There are clever editing moments that really got me and jump scared me. However, I felt like I wanted the film to end because of the well-directed horror but also being so long. This could've been an hour of the film and there are shots or sequences that could've been cut. I would say I wasn't quite bored. I was just waiting for something which made my experience a little bit disappointing. But the final 10 minutes of the film were the most shocking and terrifying. It made me so uncomfortable and it achieved it. It's a fucked up film from start to finish and if you are looking for something to get spooked at night, well this is the film to watch. It won't be for everyone since there's barely any narrative or music. Funny thing is that there's one couple who walked out of the movie in which case I knew that this film won't be pleasing to major audiences. At least watch the trailer or read a review to know if this is worth watching. Overall, this film was quite interesting. It's mostly dead shots, a few jump scares, grainy shots, open domain footage, and Legos. I hope LEGO sponsored this film because that's great marketing. This was quite an experience watching an arthouse film at my local theater and I'm happy that this film is getting the attention it deserved.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. © 2023 HBO, Naughty Dog, Sony Pictures Television, and PlayStation Productions. Directed by Craig Mazin. Show Created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann.
A Video Game Phenomenon Turned Into A Dark Gritty World With No Rules.
Pilot (Series Premiere) Review: I wasn't expecting that one of the best video games of all time turning into a series would be that good. But it sure is that good because of one reason. The reason is that they actually faithfully adapted it from the video game. Not just atmosphere, action, and characters. But the story itself with a person who is a fan of the video game. This is the best video game adaption in film/television ever and there is a lot to discuss. Pack up your backpack because we are about to go to travel across post-apocalyptic America and try not to get killed by clickers. Story: 20 years after an infectious disease has taken over most of the world's population, Joel finds himself traveling through what's left of the US with a girl who may just have the answer to bringing mankind back to life. The only problem is they aren't the only ones trying to survive through these desperate times. It's up to Joel to protect this girl in order to save humanity. As a huge fan of the video game, I was nervous going into this show. But with the original creator and Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) behind the camera, I had their trust and faith in adapting this beloved game into a show. But man oh man, after the pilot ended, I knew that immediately this is the best video game adaptation of all time. Without spoilers, the first half of the episode is a recreation of the opening act of the game but with added context. But the new content in this show helps expand the world and get more emotionally attached to these characters. I really love the opening sequence in this show. While it wasn't in the game, it builds up the tension of the rest of the show but also adds social commentary on the virus, health, and society when they begin reacting to some kind of fungus virus. There are brilliant moments in this show that help build the atmosphere and tone of the show. The aerial vehicles shown were haunting and it made the scene a little bit scary. When the infected are starting to kill people, that's when the show starts to show the dread of this virus. While the pacing is slow at first, it's done right to build up the relationship with these characters. When Joel, Tommy, and Sarah start leaving the house, that's where the pacing starts to pick up. The first half of the show is just amazing and it still holds the emotional impact from the first game. What really sold me at the end of the first half was that while I know what was going to happen, I still feel the impact because of the performances of these characters and their relationship together in the beginning. The old common quote "If ain't broken, don't fix it". They kept it faithful but added the style of Mazin to keep it fresh. Craig Mazin really directed the hell out of this show and maintained the core of what TLOU worked. It's beautifully done and the heartbreaking scene still hits hard. But there's more in the second half.
The second half of the show is also amazing and the production design of the show is absolutely masterful. I really loved how the world and society are now just tired and dying. The greenery and brownish show how this world is collapsing. The VFX on this show is incredible for television and I loved how they relied on sets rather than just VFX. It shows that the executive producers really gave a shit about making an actually good adaption and they overachieved it. There are some plot moments that have changed and it's fast-paced in the second half. But those changes really add dramatic tension to some of those moments. For the characters, it added personality and character to what they have gone through. I really love those raw moments when it's people trying to survive for just one damn moment. There are clever directing and editing moments that reshape Joel for the better and it adds to the relationship between Joel and Ellie. The plot is mostly the same as the games but with some new content and altered moments that really help keep this story fresh while being faithful to the original story. This is what adaption should be and they achieved it very well. On its entertainment value, it's very great and I really loved the dramatic action sequences in this pilot. I cannot forget about the performances and cast because the casting director really nailed it. Pedro Pascal as Joel is so fucking good. While he kind of looks like Joel, his performance really captures who Joel really is and I was so into his portrayal of this character. Gabriel Luna as Tommy is the perfect casting choice because of his performance and voice. Literally, it sounds almost like the exact voice from the video game and I bought his personality. Bella Ramsey is also fantastic as Ellie and she captures how Ellie would react and the voice is legit perfection. She really captures the character very well and it goes for the rest of the cast as well. The only actor from the video game that came back to reprise their role in live-action was Merle Dandridge as Marlene. Her performance was so natural and it felt so uncanny at some points because it's the exact character and actor from the original video game. Everyone in the cast did a wonderful job including Nico Parker as Sarah by bringing a powerful performance. I can smell an Emmy nomination for the best guest actor. I cannot praise enough the production of this pilot. The world feels so lived in because of its production design once again. The sets are amazing and I dig the cinematography in this show. I can't lie that the cinematography looked like a Netflix show for a bit in the beginning but once it got to the night scenes in the first half, it looks incredible. I hope in future episodes they go crazy with the cinematography and lighting. While it's just the first episode, I cannot praise the world they have built and I'm happy they are exploring more of this virus because I love when shows or movies explore the creation and lore of this virus. I cannot wait for what's to come into this show. It's going to be a wild ride from start to finish.
I would say the only nitpicks would be the cinematography in the beginning but besides that, I can't find any more critiques. There will be some critiques in the future but I hope they continue to give us a wild faithful adaptation. This is a groundbreaking television series not just for video games but for television as well. It's completely faithful to the original game with heartbreaking performances, beautiful production, and amazing direction to make this show as fresh as possible. I cannot wait for more episodes every Sunday and I hope they make it more heartbreaking because why not. This show is too good. Thank you, HBO for making an actual amazing video game adaption, unlike Uncharted. Big bruh moment for Sony. Now Streaming and on cable only on HBO and HBO Max. Vizeit Score: "A+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. |
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