Michael Peña and Rosa Salazar. © 2023 Amazon MGM Studios and Select Films. Directed by Alejandra Marquez Abella.
Early Screening
Dreams Can Take You Outer-Space I had no expectations going into this film. The only thing I knew about this film was that Michael Peña was going to star in the film. After seeing the film and also rewatching to analyze the authentic Mexican representation on-screen, this is one of the most surprising films of this year. Easily a crowd-pleaser of a film and I'm shocked that this was dumped on Prime and not in theaters. This could've been an easy contender for small film awards. This film is electrifying from start to finish and it's easily an emotional film, especially for Latino viewers. Let's head to the NASA space center and shutter off to outer space! Story: A biopic about Jose Hernandez and his path from a farm worker to becoming an engineer and an astronaut. A tale of perseverance, community, and sacrifice to accomplish a seemingly impossible dream. If you want to go into this film with an open mind, I recommend going in blind. This is a beautiful small biopic Latino film that we haven't seen in almost a decade since Cesar Chavez (2014). A simple biopic with heart and emotional weight. Plus, the film is funnier than I thought. A lot of Hispanics will recognize some of the visual and verbal comedy elements but what struck me the most is its authentic representation. I haven't seen this type of true simple Mexican-American representation in a film for a long time. From Jose (Michael Peña) working in the fields to becoming a NASA astronaut. It's a beautiful and heartwarming story about succeeding and pushing yourself to reach that goal. Seeing this from a Hispanic perspective really makes this story authentic. Director Alejandra Marquez Abella brought a rich screenplay that gives depth not just to Jose, but his journey and his family all around him. Every person in his family from his wife to his elementary teacher, really helped him move forward and the execution of those elements really worked. Plus, the film subverted my expectations by avoiding its use of biopic cliches and other small tropes that could have held back the authenticity of the film. The creative vision is seen throughout with a unique camera and acting direction. Abella uses those crucial moments as a breather while still giving emotional weight and checkpoint on Jose's journey. The night conversation scene with the creative VFX graphics on-screen was the best scene in the film. That scene really was a personal reflection for me on my career as a filmmaker and critic, and I was emotionally invested in the rest of Jose's journey from there.
The performances are fantastic in this film including Michael Peña and Rosa Salazar. I really loved their dynamic and chemistry as these real-life people and it felt very authentic. Each of the characters that Jose helped him in his life have their own moments and it's refreshing for the protagonist to reconnect with the people who helped me throughout his journey. The story also isn't sugarcoated which allows the pacing to flow even better and get to scene after scene. Some scenes feel fast yet it has weight and importance to the overall story. For a two-hour runtime film, it flew by quickly but I was enjoying it throughout. Funny enough, I saw with a crowd of student filmmakers and they were hooked on some of the emotional, funny, and redeeming moments of the film. Watching this with other student filmmakers made the viewing experience more fun. It was a heartful experience to see this story play out and I felt like there were barely any crumbs with its story. Especially with its Mexican representation of this story, there was real care and thought into it.
The technical production of this film is also very well constructed with its time period progression. Plus, by bringing the authentic Mexican representation on-screen, the set design really captured the Mexican traditions and lifestyle of Jose and his wife Adela. The major stronghold through the set design is being on-location which makes the journey feel lived in. It was really cool to see the NASA facilities in the film and it gives authenticity to the story through technical filmmaking. The cinematography is also very great with a lot of interesting lighting and color decisions during pivotal moments. Some shots reminded me of older 90s films due to the framing and lighting. You can easily tell that the vision was alive through the cinematography alone. I also liked the song choices in this film and it made me smile and gave me literal goosebumps hearing it through transition sequences or emotional scenes. Plus, it wasn't overused and it was used at the right moments. The editing here is also very solid with its calm yet fast flow of the film's pacing. Overall, the production of this film was very well constructed with care behind this project. There aren't many flaws with this film but this is by no means a perfect film. The film follows a simple tradition with its biopic storytelling. Nothing too crazy with its portrayal of this story but the authentic representation really sells this movie well. Nothing too critical with this film and I'm happy it was told in an authentic yet engaging true story. Watching this film was a joy from start to finish. The authentic Mexican representation on-screen really captivated Jose's story and with the great performance from Peña, it struck my emotions heavily. The film is well written with great pacing, unique direction, and overall, an engaging and captivating story that should be looked at. This is a perfect film to watch with your family and if you are Latino, you will immediately be hooked right when the film starts.
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Vizeit Score: "A-"
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Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
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Sophie Wilde. © 2023 A24, Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival Investment Fund, Head Gear Films, Metrol Technology, and Causeway Films. Directed by Danny Philippou & Michael Philippou.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
Ok...Talk to me. When I saw who was directing this project, I knew right away this was going to be an instant banger. After seeing the film twice, this is going to be an interesting review to write because this is the freshest horror story I've seen in a long time. The creativity on screen is immaculate and the horror aspects are through the roof. This is a film that hardcore horror fans and even movie fans will absolutely enjoy and be glued to the screen. The film doesn't just do horror right, but it allows you in on the characters' emotions, struggles, and addiction. Let's go to a wild party and test out this weird magic hand that you may encounter dead people through...or become the dead person itself. Story: When a group of friends discover how to conjure spirits with an embalmed hand, they become hooked on the new thrill and high-stakes party game -- until one of them goes too far and unleashes terrifying supernatural forces. Directors Danny Philippou and Michael Philippou took a simple horror concept and twisted it to its limits. The sheer amount of violence, horror, and insanity is present throughout this film. The Philippou brothers used their camera and directing magic from the YouTube videos they created and turned this film into a cinematic horror-fest. While this film isn't the huge gore fest and crazy camera work from Philippous' original content, there is still the flavor of RackRacka that is through the excellent camera work and direction with the characters and story. Speaking of characters and the story, the story is very engaging from start to finish. There is emotional weight and consequences behind every action these characters commit. The main character Mia (Sophia Wilde) has a unique character arc that goes in different directions that you may never expected to see. Wilde's performance really captures the teenager experience and her dynamic with her friends feels natural. I really loved how we get to experience these events through the eyes of Mia by following her every move with the hand object and how every action she takes will affect others. Plus, her personality makes her character more engaging and the performance feels fresh and vivid. The supporting cast is amazing including Alexandra Jensen as Jade. Miranda Otto is also great in the film as Sue. While she doesn't get to do much, she really encapsulates her presence between Mia and Jade. Overall, the performances here are some of the strongest I've seen in a horror film this year. With those performances into a gripping and haunting story, it makes the film more special and chaotic, in a good way. The story is simple yet refreshing to see in a unique horror film that anything can happen. The opening prologue sold me for the next hour and a half of the film. All in one take, setting up the vibe, atmosphere, and bloody horror of the film, I knew that I was going in for a treat. The film's pacing of the story was very smooth with no filler in between important scenes and character moments. It lets the story digest the world, characters, and the myth of the hand object. Plus, the hand object lore isn't explored a lot but the film gives you a quick rundown of the history behind this object and it's enough that you want to theorize more later. Certain plot points get very juicy when certain characters start to play with the object way too much where at a point, chaos starts to erupt. By the hour mark, the tension and horror don't stop and it holds you until the end. It's written so well by letting every scene and moment feel it has weight and it lets the audience digest each moment that has importance to the entire story. While the film is about supernatural beings and friendship, the film is really about trauma, grieving, and broken relationships. Plus, it's about fixing the broken things that have been broken for quite a while and you can't seem to fix it until you literally become broken. That is what I analyzed through the film's ending. Without spoilers, it's a heartbreaking ending that will let you think about your current relationships and how far can we maintain them until we destroy them with one action. Or even an action further. The story doesn't get too convoluted which is great because there's so much mystery behind this hand but it's really about these characters trying to get out of a situation that they shouldn't even be then in the first place. Even if the characters are not part of the situation with the hand object, they are still affected by the consequences of certain characters which makes the stakes of the film feel tight and real. With the addition of the horror aspects, it makes certain sequences feel haunting and fucked up. It's not full-on RackaRacka violence, but it gets you there at a point where you are in for a wild fucking ride.
That wild ride is carried by its horror elements. The camera work is fluid throughout the horror sequences with interesting shots and angles. Plus, the RackRacka flavor and directing makes these sequences feel like action sequences but in this case, through horror. The make-up effects of the creatures beyond the hand are scary and disgustingly good. Even some of the gore effects are pretty gruesome and deadly impactful to the story. The cinematography is very slick with interesting lighting choices and coloring use of muted and bright blues and reds. The editing here is also surprisingly great for a horror film. The pacing of each scene flows well and it doesn't waste its time on certain moments. However, when there's a crucial scene in the film, it slows down yet, with the strong directing from the Philippou brothers, the pacing through those scenes feels fast yet slow and meaningful. The score of this film is also solid alongside its interesting music choices. Nothing too crazy with its production design but I really like the simplicity of the possessed hand figure and to think that thing is real on the A24 shop is insane. Overall, the production and technical work of this film is amazing. With this film costing under five million dollars, it's incredible how they pulled off some of the biggest set pieces throughout the film while giving us an impactful terrifying story that expands on horror elements with a unique taste.
While there aren't a lot of flaws in this film, the one thing I could point out is the father dynamic between Mia and her father. I feel like there was something missing. Even though I loved the scenes between her and her mother because that's the core of the film, the father's storyline felt weak. Yet, I was still hooked in their scenes when they got into an argument about their mother's passing. Besides that, there could be some logical issues with its story decisions, but I was still invested from beginning to end. Haunting, darkly vivid, and gripping, Talk to Me is what horror films in this new era of cinema should be doing. Creating simple horror films with unique twists and turns that audiences won't expect. It passed beyond my expectations and I loved every second. This is a horror flick that many cinephiles and general audiences should watch. It's also emotional with its story and by the end, you will be asking more adventures of this hand fucking up people's lives. A definite must-watch horror film.
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Vizeit Score: "A"
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Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Josh Hutcherson. © 2023 Universal Pictures, Blumhouse Productions, and Scott Cawthon Productions. Directed by Emma Tammi.
Watched it at AMC Theaters
Can You Survive The Five Nights? After waiting for almost a decade, it's finally here. Bouncing from different studios and directors, was it worth the wait? As a fan of the video game franchise, this was worth the wait. As a casual viewer who doesn't know the lore and even the general idea of this franchise, proceed with caution. Yet, you will find some enjoyability with the adorable killing animatronics. This is another win for the continued success of video game adaptations and this is another stepping stone for more future projects to come. Join me at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza and let's see the animatronics up close in person. Well, not that up-close or you will get bitten. Story: The film follows Mike, a young man who is troubled to find a job after a work incident. While Mike is taking care of her little sister Abby, Mike finds a night guard shift that will help pay his bills while still taking care of Abby. However, during this night shift, he witnesses unusual events that may connect to some murders in the past. With the help of Vanessa, a local police officer, they uncover clues that may be connected to Mike directly. This video franchise will always have a special place in my heart. Seeing the iconic animatronics come to life in live-action is fantastic. The detail of these animatronics is astonishing. Freddy, Chica, Bonnie, and Foxy are all amazing and sometimes, deadly adorable. The production design done by Marc Fisichella alongside his art crew really captured the design of the pizzeria with many details and easter eggs that fans will catch on to. From the little posters to a huge animatronic, they really made sure that the world of FNAF really captured the essence and atmosphere from the games to film. Plus, since the game is very lore-heavy, they eased on the lore easter eggs so new fans can join the mystery. But what mystery? Well, the mystery being unfolded in this film is interesting because not only does it take story elements from the game, but it mixes them with new and easy FNAF lore elements that make the plot easier to follow. In the original game, it's just a click-and-point game but there was hidden lore when you started to get through the five nights. However, the game progressed into a lore-driven game, and taking those elements into cinematic elements was going to be difficult. Seeing this story now come to life on the big screen was worth the risk as a fan of the game. The story was unique in terms of branching Mike's story which makes his personality and character more deeper. We not only get to see him working at the pizzeria surviving the night during his night shift, but we get to see his personal life with his young sister. Plus, the big thing that really made me care about his character is the custody battle between him and his aunt. That small story really comes into full play with the main story of the film and it adds character to Mike's personal struggles. Plus, Mike's trauma which we explore through flashback sequences helps connect the lore and the main plot throughout the film. The film takes unique routes within its screenplay and it's done mostly well to help new audiences explore this unique story and lore. Besides Mike's story, the supporting characters are solid. I really liked Vanessa's storyline which intertwines the whole story. Abby's storyline was good but it really focused on her relationship with Mike. There is one side character that I want to mention but for the sake of spoilers, he's important throughout the arc of the story. Overall, the story lands on its own by providing its spin on the lore and the plot doesn't get sidetracked which is a major positive since many video game adaptations feel off from that.
Speaking of video game adaptations, this is another win for this type of adaptation. As an OG fan of the game, this is a great translation from game to film. From the set design, animatronics, characters, and lore, it successfully builds off what the game established. What more video game movies are doing recently is taking the source of the game and completely translating it while adding a spin to it. The Super Mario Bros successfully does that and now with FNAF, filmmakers are actually respecting the source material. In addition to that, they are building more story and deep personalities to the characters or adding more world-building. Before studios started to take notes on this, filmmakers created their own stories and it pissed off many fans from the games they are adapting. However, if the story is entertaining and engaging, it works like Sonic The Hedgehog. With FNAF in particular, it adds on new material from the established material from the game. Plus, the biggest factor to include is that the original game creator, Scott Cawthon, is part of the entire production process. He's credited as a writer and producer. This is huge for an indie game developer to oversee the project, yet, give the creative freedom to Emma Tammi on the project. Overall, it creates a great relationship between the filmmaker, the creator, and most importantly, the fans. In the end, it worked and it brought many great easter eggs, twists, and changes from the lore onto the silver screen, and added story elements to make the characters have more depth. It's a huge win for this type of adaptation.
At the beginning of the review, I praised the film's production design but the other technical elements in the film that I didn't mention are also solid. I really liked the cinematography in this film. It's interesting they went for a 1:85:1 aspect ratio. The music is also excellent and I liked the opening theme of the film. What I'm surprised by is that they edited this film in under six months because the film wrapped in April. Kudos to the editors behind this film. It's a solid Blumhouse technical film and with the budget being under 20 million dollars, it looks very good. I hope the film gets a budget bump. Even with all of this praise, I still have some critiques that many will agree on. One of the biggest things that disappointed me as a fan of the game is the horror aspects of this adaptation. In the first game, the atmosphere, sound design, and even the coloring of the game felt very haunting and real. In this adaptation, the horror wasn't sparking. I didn't feel scared at all. I just felt excited. While having that excitement is positive, I didn't feel any huge tension with the animatronics on screen. The final act saved that heavily which sucks because I wanted to experience and feel that horror in the first two acts, not the final act. Some of the side characters were a bit underwhelming, especially with the aunt character. While that wasn't the most important storyline in the film, I feel like they could've improved it well with its writing. Even some of the character's arcs could've been sharper. Also yes, there are plot holes that could be answered in the sequel. But the biggest thing that I wish they could've tweaked is the story structure of certain characters. Especially with the main villain and I feel like the build-up was good, but it didn't feel impactful. Even as a fan of the game who knows the villain of the franchise, I felt like his entrance wasn't that impactful. Plus, the story was predictable and easy to figure out. Yet, I was still engaged and enjoying seeing these characters interact with one another. I still found enjoyment with these flaws and I hope they take them seriously for the next entry in this new franchise. Beyond the terrifying adorable animatronics, this is a great addition to the video game film adaptation collection. It successfully adapts what worked in the game and translates it into film. The characters are solid. The technical elements, especially the production design are great. The directing is very solid and overall, they made this film fun and engaging for new audiences and fans of the franchise. This is another win for Blumhouse and I cannot wait to spend more nights with these killer creatures. I hope Springtrap isn't at the next location.
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Vizeit Score: "B"
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Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Barry Keoghan. © 2023 Amazon MGM Studios, MRC, LuckyChap Entertainment, and Lie Still. Directed by Emerald Fennell.
Watched it at 59th The Chicago International Film Festival @ Music Box (CIFF #2)
Q&A Section Included We're All About to Lose Our Minds After the amazing crazy film from Emerald Fennell's directorial debut, she amps up the eroticism and insanity of her characters which leads to unexpected turns. That is what best defined for Fennell's sophomore feature Saltburn. It takes approaches that are risky yet rewarding through the protagonist and the characters surrounding him. Not a lot of people will approach and take away from this film in a positive light but it sure does serve a pack a punch throughout its daring sequences. Let's go to Saltburn and see the wonderfulness of this unique broken estate. Story: A student at Oxford University finds himself drawn into the world of a charming and aristocratic classmate, who invites him to his eccentric family's sprawling estate for a summer never to be forgotten. The sensation of this film is all over the place but in a good way. Fennell's unique screenplay really delves into the psychological mind of Oliver (Barry Keoghan) and his insane love for Felix (Jacob Elordi). His character arc starts slow but as the film progresses, the flow of the energy doesn't stop. The relationship between Oliver and Felix is very well written. There is nuance through Oliver's point of view of the palace and his feelings towards Felix's family. It touches on each one of them through Oliver's point of view and it's well-balanced to see how he feels about the family. The structure here in the film is similar to her past film but a bit longer which does add depth to Oliver but also adds tension to each character's dilemma. Alongside her unique script, Fennell's directing here is amazing. There are unique moments in the film that give an artsy vibe while giving a thriller or horror vibe. Her creative decisions here could be polarizing because there are scenes in the film that will leave you a bit traumatized or disgusted. However, it lets you get inside the mind of the character in those scenes which opens the vulnerability of that character. It's clever writing and direction with the support of the amazing performances from each actor. Barry Keoghan is great in the film. He gets to play a unique character who is seeking love and something more erotic. His performance is wild in the second half but he really encaptivates the character and it's a wild ride from start to finish. Jacob Elordi is also surprisingly great. After only seeing him in Euphoria (thank god I didn't watch The Kissing Both), I was hoping he would play a character that would not only fit his personality but play a character that allow a bit of character freedom. What I can report back is that this is his best performance since Euphoria. His character and performance are charming in a way that could be very jocky. Yet, his chemistry with Keoghan's character is very daunting and intimate. The supporting cast here all around are great. The biggest standouts would be Rosamund Pike and Richard E. Grant. They elevate the drama and comedy in the film. Plus, their chemistry with each other characters is unnatural yet good. As I mentioned in my last paragraph, the screenplay alongside its story is well written. There are interesting unique twist and turns that elevates the plot and the climax. The plot lets you be with the characters in the good and weird moments while the eroticism and beauty start to take over the story. You can even look at this film's story as a chaotic party family drama but really, it's a vampire story. Without spoilers, during a Q&A panel with Fennell, she said "We just knew exactly the kind of gothic, sort of, sexy. kind of, erotic thing, we wanted to make. And I think with Suzie Davies, the production designer, and with everyone else too, I think the thing is if we are making something this kind of, I suppose, knowingly aesthetic, that kind of took place on sort of beautyism and literature, your sort of acknowledging things but also making your own thing." (Taken from a Post Q&A during the Chicago International Film Festival 2023).
With the aesthetics and gothic storytelling that inspired this original story, Fennell wants audiences to be clear that when Keoghan's character journey begins at the estate, it's going to be erotic, chilling, and jolting. See the film for yourself and you will come out with many reactions all at once. Even with its psychological story, Fennell made sure the technical side of the film hits the spot to bring this story to life.
Fennell went all in with the cinematography, production design, and even editing of this film. I really dig the academy aspect ratio which allows the beauty of the production design done by Davies to be shown in its full glory. Plus, Linus Sandgren's camera work here is beautiful and colorful as well. I really love the mixture of orange, red, and blue colors including the close-ups in this film. The estate is pretty enormous and the way they shot it is very smooth. Plus, there are interesting framing choices that allow the audience to delve into a certain character. The editing here is also great with its smooth pacing and the score feels so romantic yet daunting and un-natural. The costume designs here are underrated, especially during the big party scene. Overall, it's a very well-made technical film that helps bring the story to its full potential. However, there are flaws behind this magnificent estate of a film. The film can be a bit of a mess with its plot. There is a lot to take in and while it keeps you entertained, it can be a bit too much all at once. There were moments when I had no idea what was going on yet, but I was still entertained. Again, there are interesting directing choices that people will be divisive on but I thought they were darkly smart. However, the film tries to juggle some ideas or plot strings that need to match the overall story or even the intentions of the protagonist. The biggest scene that people will love or hate will be the ending. For me, I thought it was a solid ending but it left me questioning about the state of the protagonist and the world around him. Even with those small flaws, I was still thrilled by the film's nature of its story and characters. Beyond the beautiful darkly estate full of emotions and desires, this is Fennell's most unapologetic sexy, and daring film that she has made. Filled with great performances from Barry Keoghan and Rosamund Pike, alongside its unique screenplay and story, it's a film that dares to tackle unique subjects and themes that ultimately surround desires and temptation. While this film will slip under the radar during awards season, it is sure a film that doesn't hold back on anything it is showing. Especially that grave scene...yeah, I drank bleach right after that.
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Vizeit Score: "A-"
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Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Sandra Hüller and Swann Arlaud. © 2023 NEON, Les Films Pelléas, and Les Films de Pierre. Directed by Justine Triet.
Vizeit Reviews is in solidarity with SAG, however, SAG will allow film critics to continue their normal movie critiques as usual but with certain restrictions. [WGA has reached their deal with the AMPTP.]
Watched it at 59th The Chicago International Film Festival @ AMC Theaters (CIFF #1)
Did She Do It? The mysterious fall that everyone keeps talking about but we have the same question in our minds? Did Sandra kill her husband or was it just an accident? This film deeply explores a lot of themes of marriage but also trust, love, and identity. Anatomy of a Fall is a film that has a lot to unpack from but with the stellar performances and direction, you will find yourself glued to the screen. Let's visit the courtroom and listen to the unraveling truth of this "fall" while listening to 50 Cent. Story: A woman is suspected of her husband's murder after a mysterious fall. However, during trial, her only witness is her blind son which leaves the mother and the son in a moral dilemma. Suspense fills the air throughout this film and director Justine Triet captures it very effectively. The atmosphere and tone of the film are dreading and every second leads to something very important that the audience will miss in the background. Triet uses interesting yet beautiful and insane shots to make some of the most vital "evidence" in the film surprising. Simon Beaufils's beautiful camera work with Triet's great direction brings up certain moments that elevate each character's view of the murder. Even with the slick editing from Laurent Sénéchal, it allows the audience to become one of the jury members to witness the evidence presented during court. All of that is accompanied by Sandra Hüller's amazing performance which she lets her character bring her judgment into the picture and unravel who she is which answers the question of her husband's mysterious death. Even with the supporting cast of the film, Swann Arlaud was one of the highlights of the film which brought the tension higher and engaging. The writing of Hüller's character is so depth and nuanced that you already connect to her character in the opening of the film. A lot of well-put-together writing pieces make the prediction a bit more difficult in a good way to allow the audience to engage more with the story. Plus, the writing of the film doesn't overstuff certain character backgrounds and traits which allows the fluid of the film to be more thrilling and certain around the protagonist. The dialogue feels so natural and also the comedy here is intentionally and unintentionally funny which makes the dialogue and acting feel natural in its presence. Yet, some overlooked filmmaking elements should be highlighted in this review. The sound design here is interesting because it takes silent and loud moments which adds to the mystery of each scene. Even the opening sequence alone with the loud PIMP song by Bacao Rhythm & Steel Band can make the scene feel more tense and annoying in a good way. The distractions that Triet applies in each scene will force the audience to look beyond the picture through sound and interesting directing cues. When this is also applied through the courtroom scenes, it will make you think of what evidence is presented through each sequence. The courtroom sequences are well executed with a lot of intense drama and well-paced scenes that will leave you hooked. That piece of drama included in the film is its themes which capsulates the protagonist's story and the whole case surrounding this mysterious death.
Anatomy of a Fall has interesting themes about identity, marriage, and trust in and out of the courtroom. Since Sandra's accusation of her husband's death, she begins looking back on the decisions she made with her husband. The mother-father relationship is heavily discussed with the relationship of their child. Sandra's only child who can help her and himself to get out of this trial. However, Sandra's past was being discussed with her bisexual relationship with other women and we see her flirting actions right in the opening scene. It opens up on how Sarah really is at the point of her marriage and the matter the fact is that she's not happy with her relationship. Without any spoilers, the ending answers Sandra's marriage and identity problems in the opening scene. However, Sandra's struggle with trust makes the courtroom scenes more tense due to her blind son's lack of trust in her mother. All of those themes combined bring up a question, is Sandra really a trustworthy mother and wife? The answer speaks for itself in the film. Through all the narrative elements, the technical filmmaking here once again is sleek and amazing. The coloring of this film is very beautiful and saturated yet realistic. The production design of the house is unique and cozy as well. Technically, it's a well-made film but with its narrative, it is a strong foot. However, I have some criticisms that could've made the film much faster.
The film's pacing can be very slow in the second act of the film. There is tension to the scenes but sometimes, the tension can drag a bit which almost kills the suspense in the room. The film feels a bit long so that's why I felt like the film's pacing was slow right in the middle. There are easily some scenes that could've been shortened but not cut out because all of them were very essential. However, the one thing that I wished the film had was more energetic moments in the courtroom. There for sure were energetic moments outside of the courtroom scenes but during the trial, the energy felt mixed yet, the energy was still heated. Still, even by the final shot of the film, I was surprised at how this film hooked me till the end. Chilling, tense, and sophisticated, Anatomy of a Fall delivers a well-executed court drama that will leave you questioning the justification of the murders and Sarah's personal life. A lot of great thematic elements that add depth to Sandra's relationship with her son and husband. With the unique direction from Justine Triet, it elevates the courtroom sub-genre into a new direction in which other films will follow suit. Also, this is the right time for Sandra Hüller to get the Tár treatment during awards season.
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Vizeit Score: "A-"
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Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Editor In-Chief/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC]) |
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