J.R. Stokes and Brandon Fagan. © 2023 Sidscinematics. Directed by J.R. Stokes.
Watched it on YouTube
Is Solitude The New Lover? (Last Film Review of 2023!) Experimental films are always intriguing to see and this short film twisted my expectations. This feels like The Banshees of Inisherin but mixed with The Lighthouse. It is a psychological take on the grief of loss and love but it is also philosophical on existentialism through the protagonist's mind. It is a slow-burn short film but it keeps you engaged till the end. Let's go back to the early 1900s in Ireland and see how this guy loses his mind. Story: Set In Early-1900s Ireland, A Troubled And Delusional Young Man Dependent On The Attention Of His Mother, Grows Increasingly Obsessed With The Mysterious Death Of His Wife. According to the film's subtitle, it is a psychological film but the way I see it, it is a philosophical film due to its exploration of existentialism and a bit of personal identity. However, at its core, it is still a psychological film from the early stages of the protagonist's grief to his insanity in the final act of the short film. When watching this short film, I always feel like the protagonist is in a state of existentialism in which life is meaningless and he's losing his mind almost every day. There is a nice monologue in the middle where he is smoking and he talks about his wife but his grief and sadness are slowly taking him over. Every day, his mind gets deranged with hallucinations and it is fucked up in certain moments. He keeps talking to himself about a life without meaning because of his wife's death. The way it was executed was solid and it lets the audience get into the mind of the character. Plus, the philosophy of Love is tackled here in an interesting psychological way due to the protagonist's behavior and the film's horror atmosphere. Besides the philosophical and psychological elements, the characters are solid with their motivations and weaknesses in the film. I do not think there is any strength in any of the characters in the film. Everyone has their weakness taking over them, including the graveyard guy who keeps being a dick. I cannot lie, I like Brandon Fagan's performance and even his character. It is mysterious, yet there is some wit behind his character. With his character, he has that dark humor edge to him. His delivery with some of the F-bombs is hilarious. I do not know if that was intentional but I laughed several times throughout the film. Even if the film was not intentionally funny in some parts, it kept me engaged with the cast's performance and its storytelling pacing. The first act of the film is very slow but by the third act, the tension was kicking in. I was genuinely surprised and a bit spooked at certain moments with the protagonist's actions on himself or at a different character. Those scenes reminded me of certain Ari Aster and Robert Eggers films because of the way it was shot and directed. Sometimes, the horror needs to be through sound design and the film nails it on that aspect well. It is a unique story structure for this type of psychological film but I'm glad it kept me engaged till the end. What struck me the most with this project is the visuals itself which is a treat.
The visuals are amusing and sharp for a thirty-minute short film that is horror, psychological, and slow. The colors fit so well with his film that I do not think it would work with black and white. It adds flavor to the visuals and I love that. I even predict that this was shot on a Sony DSLR or a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 4k camera because of the visual movements and quality of the image. Yet, it looks great with its colors and high shutter speed. The sound design is also nice with that crisp old film tape sound and the "crappy" audio for dialogue made it natural for the setting and period of the film. If this is an experimental film or even just a narrative short film, the production elements clicked well and for a presumably, an indie student short film, this is amazing. However, like every student's short film, not every element will click.
Going into this short film, I know this will be slow because of its visuals and even the title. If you are not into slow films, this one will drag for you. As for me, I had no issues while watching this film but the film could have used more shot variety to keep the audience engaged. Plus, certain moments can be trimmed down easily but you can still have that slow pacing as intended. The editing got much better in the final act which picked up the pacing up a bit. In terms of storytelling, even though the synopsis included the mother, I felt like there was a huge lack of the presence of the mother. I am a bit confused with the female voice-over in the background. Could it be his mother or someone else? I believe it could be the mother but there is no definitive answer unless I missed something. The audio mixing easily could have been fixed because I couldn't hear certain sentences from the protagonist but for the graveyard guy, I can clearly hear him. Due to some of the muffling with certain lines, I could not get the entire context of certain scenes so I had to rewatch it to make sure if I was hearing it right or wrong. Lastly, the film could have easily used a lot of character development for the protagonist and even for the mother and wife as well. They are important to the protagonist so as the audience, we want to learn more about those characters but it was left out in the dust which was disappointing. It could be intentional but I would love to even see at least one scene with the husband and the wife together in a flashback. Yet, with those issues I have mentioned, the film kept me engaged with its direction and style of filmmaking. I have seen many student short films that are great to okay at best, but this one hit the landing with its unique psychological story and even philosophical interpretation. Solid performances, solid direction, and splendid visuals that hooked me till the end. Props to the team behind this production and I cannot wait to see what the director does next!
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Vizeit Score: "Highly Recommend"
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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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Sofia Boutella. © 2023 Netflix, The Stone Quarry, and Grand Electric. Directed by Zack Snyder.
Watched it on Netflix
There Are No Heroes. Only Rebels. The answer to an adult-oriented Star Wars franchise is here from the visionary Zack Snyder. However, the answer wasn't exactly as you expected. It is an original sci-fi film for sure, but unfortunately, this feels like A New Hope but with no flavor and complexity in its story. It does have the classic Snyder direction, but the film falls flat when the story takes over the stage after an action scene is over. For this being a part one of a new larger-scale story, I don't know about this one chief. Let's travel to the outer galaxy and explore the Motherworld. Story: When a colony on the edge of the galaxy finds itself threatened by the armies of the tyrannical Regent Balisarius, they dispatch a young woman with a mysterious past to seek out warriors from neighbouring planets to help them take a stand. What Snyder does well with his direction is delivering unique world-building and eye-gazing visual sequences that will glue you to the end. Snyder proves with each film that he still has the high intense visual flavor with his stylized action sequences and beautiful eye-popping cinematography. Since his first time being the director of photography with Army of the Dead, he continues his DP work by bringing his unique visual direction with its action and drama sequences. His iconic slow-motion style is still present in this film and it is utilized well here which is a major positive since he typically overuses it a lot in his previous work. There are some wonderful and dazzling shots with raw and gritty gun-play action and fight sequences. His gun-play action sequences are the strongest ones, especially the smaller fight scenes which feel visceral and effective. Besides the action and visuals, the strongest parts of the film are the protagonist Kora (Sofia Boutella), and the world-building of Rebel Moon. I enjoyed Kora's journey and her backstory which revolves around her deadly work with the Motherworld. Boutella's performance was solid and honestly, one of the few performances that worked here alongside the main villain. Kora's personality works for Boutella's performance and her character progression worked decently throughout. However, there is nothing uniquely special besides her being a bad guy at first and turning herself into a rebel. There is another character trait from Kora with someone being related to her but that's a spoiler. Even with that spoiler, if you have seen A New Hope, you can guess what will happen immediately which waters down her backstory. Yet, her entire character backstory connects to the larger world of Rebel Moon which made me appreciate the world-building. Especially with the flashback sequences, I was eager to learn more about Snyder's new out-galaxy universe. The main story, including Kora's backstory, utilized the world-building very well. We get a sense of the huge epic scale of this galactic universe while learning the new lore that Snyder is providing us. The world-building also happens in the background while it doesn't overtake the main story and conflict. Overall, it is seamless and unique which breaths originality to this universe. Even though this concept was initially a Star Wars project, it felt distinct and completely different due to its production design and technical filmmaking behind it. Snyder's production of his films is always insane and this one is no different. The production team brought a unique flavor to the set designs, costumes, and props used in the film. It is more gritter than I expected but it adds to a level of realism and tactical look onto the world's atmospheric look. Some of the makeup of certain characters look solid and the attention to detail on certain set work looks very impressive. Luckily, the score wasn't half-baked and there was epicness behind the music. Junkie XL knows how to pull off an energetic score into an action sequence and even a slow-dramatic scene. His music always adds an epic feel to it, no matter the scene. Through just the production alone, I got to give my hats to the team who made this world feel alive in certain sequences. However, even with all of that cool production design and work, the film stumbles upon a missile and blows itself up with its bland story, underdeveloped characters, and even its rough visuals. Not even Snyder himself can save his DP work with its rough VFX work.
Where do I start? I don't know, maybe the most crucial part of the film which is the story itself. Snyder's storytelling is distinctly unique and questionable than any blockbuster filmmaker's work I've seen in recent memory. Snyder loves to stretch his stories to the limits and while his recent film went back to his filmmaking roots with Army of the Dead, by creating a simple heist zombie film with depth characters and interesting consequences, in his new film, he does the opposite. Did it work? Not fully but at least he tried to compete against Star Wars. I'll give him props for the world-building of this new universe but even with all of that, the plot couldn't save the film's blandness through its tone, emotionality, and even the fucking visuals. It is chaotic but not in a good way.
The story is remarkably similar to A New Hope but it changes a lot through its plot and certain character decisions. Yet, it feels too predicted and it doesn't challenge anything new besides its world-building and lore of the story. There is this one robot who is voiced by Anthony Hopkins who voiceovers the lore of the universe but it's done well through its visuals. Even Kora's flashbacks were solid but it felt cheap, just to drag the film. Even the execution of those flashbacks was done poorly and it could've been a simple sequence by not letting Kora tell the audience in which we know what the hell is happening on-screen. You are literally telling us what happened and we know what's happening on-screen. The classic "show, not tell" rule is being broken here. I know what Snyder is going for but it is too repetitive in its execution throughout the plot. Speaking about the plot, it is simple to follow but it is not complex enough where you know what is about to happen in the next scene. The only thing I was kind of surprised about, yet expected what was going to happen was a cliche plot twist with one of the side characters. It was expected, yet Snyder hid it well so I'll give props to him. The plot feels rushed and sometimes, lacks depth with certain character moments for the progression of the story. There are multiple scenes where we get to see a character moment but only one and that's it. They are just present in the background with nothing else to do but fight. The lack of depth killed a potentially awesome story and by the end, I couldn't give a shit anymore. You can tell there were cut sequences and even shots in the film that could've added depth but we have to wait for the R-rated cut soon. Like, c'mon? Seriously Netflix? Even if this was the final cut that Snyder approved, the screenplay really lacks its side characters and even its plot progression of the film. Some say it could be its structure but I don't see that being a negative. Yet, with all of those issues from the screenplay, I was thinking to myself watching this PG-13 cut thinking, "Snyder should've gotten another writer and written more drafts of the script." However, to my surprise, it is written not by one, but two different screenwriters. They have worked with Snyder in the past and I was hoping they would fix Snyder's common story issues but it is still the same. Snyder wants that complexity but he still hasn't cracked it fully unless it is a long ass cut. At this point, I want Snyder to go back to his old filmmaking roots by creating smaller-scale stories with characters that I want to connect. Unfortunately for this film, I couldn't care less for the others. Even with all of these script and story issues, the visuals itself is a mixed bag to a degree. Snyder's visuals are always satisfying to watch but even with the praise I've given earlier in the review, I found new issues with Snyder's cinematography that not many will take it lightly. The dream lenses being used here weren't as effective as Army of the Dead. In that film, it worked because of its dreamy reality look of the zombie apocalypse and the shining lights of Las Vegas. It also worked due to the realistic feel of the zombie city. In Rebel Moon, it works but in certain sequences, it feels way too flashy and even unnatural in certain settings. I liked the anamorphic look but the visual flair dies off right in the final act which is disappointing. Plus, I feel like having a different DP could've worked better for certain action and drama sequences. Even with those issues, the VFX in certain shots looks unfinished and slapped on calling it a day. There is one certain world where it appears to be full of galactic long brick houses that look bland and honestly, dull. I get that the film is limited on a certain budget but at least they could have added detail. Luckily, the film didn't have a lot of shaky cam compared to his previous film. However, there are still some issues with its technical filmmaking which is the editing of the film. The editing is bizarre and unfocused throughout. In certain action sequences, the editing is way too chopped up, especially in fight sequences. Good thing the editing didn't butcher during the important drama scenes. But the biggest "oh well" moment I've witnessed in the film is the ending itself. It felt so cliche and unfinished in the story sense. I felt nothing and worse, I thought the film would end on a particular note but it kept adding shit, and the film does it like twice. It's like 3 endings into one but unfocused with its editing. When the actual credits rolled, I just shrugged and turned off the television. Don't even get me started with some of the color-grading issues. That could be a Netflix issue but still, in the end, this was a total disappointment. I don't know why Netflix couldn't just release the full R-rated cut in the first place. I could've liked it even more but unfortunately, they want to ride that Snyder cut release format to make fans please even more. Note for Netflix, just release the entire film unless you were planning it for a theatrical release. I can hear Snyder fans babbling but I can tell you this. They only released it in under ten theaters. At this point, I don't know what was Netflix's release goal for this film. Taking all this in from the story, production, and even with the weird Netflix release, in the end, I feel empty and my excitement for the sequel is low. I had high expectations for this film to be a potential Star Wars competitor, but my expectations fumbled down every thirty minutes while I was watching Rebel Moon. Even if this wasn't a Star Wars competitor, I expected solid storytelling in this vast new rich universe. Unfortunately, it hasn't reached it yet and it is going to take a while. Hopefully, the second part of the film will focus on major character development for the side characters and Kora while giving us some good old stylized Snyder action. This was a rocky film to watch but I'm still hopeful for Snyder to cook something up good. Unless the film is in slow motion for half of the runtime.
Now Streaming Only on Netflix!
Vizeit Score: "C"
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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])
Colman Domingo. © 2023 Netflix, Higher Ground, and Bold Choices. Directed by George C. Wolfe.
Watched it on Netflix
Own Your Power I remember back in elementary school, I learned about the civil rights movement, especially the certain events that led to the Civil Rights Act. However, I barely knew about the person who organized the March on Washington until this film came out. This is the story of Bayard Rustin—the person who organized the March on Washington in 1963. With the film led by Colman Domingo, this film reaches its height but sometimes misses its mark in what the film can offer. Yet, it still succeeds in certain elements. Let's travel back to 1963 and follow the creation of this march and learn about the man behind one of the most crucial events in American history. Story: Bayard Rustin, advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., dedicates his life to the quest for racial equality, human rights, and worldwide democracy. However, as an openly gay Black man, he is all but erased from the civil rights movement he helped build. The powerful performance from Colman Domingo brings this film to its emotional core with the characters and the story of the March. Right from the beginning of the film, we not only get to see Rustin's personal life but also his work life and how he manages his personal and private life. The story is straightforward by letting us know the crucial people within this march and the events leading to that event. It doesn't sugarcoat it which I appreciate it because some biopics add unnecessary stuff that ruins what a biopic should be. However, some films still add more real-life moments from a person's life but I feel like this film benefits it by just showing the events leading to the march. It is effective with its short runtime but its editing pacing helps make the film flow even better. As for the characters, the cast delivers solid performance with Domingo leading the cast and being the best of all the bunch. Yet, everyone had a shining moment to drive the emotional core of the film. The personal conflict between Rustin's relationships with Tom, his current lover, and Elias, one of the helpers of a civil rights organization was the strongest element in the film. It's written well and it is balanced out well with the main central conflict of the story. Outside of that, there's nothing new or unique to offer. Still, it is a solid story that serves what it can deliver and I was invested throughout.
The technical side of this film is solid. I liked the make-up and costume design of the characters. Some of the cast were unrecognizable but I cannot lie, Chris Rock's make-up looks goofy. The cinematography is nothing special but it is good nonetheless. The production design is solid with its time period of the 60s and the song choices are pretty great. Overall, this is a well-made film in the technical side of filmmaking but through the story, there were some issues that prevented the film from growing stronger.
While this film doesn't waste its time with its story and the personal conflicts that Rustin is facing, I feel like we are missing more of the backstory of Rustin before he became an important figure in the civil rights movement. Even with that chunk missing, the film feels like a basic biopic. While Rustin's life was the strong core of the film, outside of that, it feels like we have seen this type of story about the March on Washington from a different film. I was hoping for a strong balance between Rustin's life and the March being more intense with its tone but it feels too safe. Selma will always still be my favorite civil rights film of all time but this is still a solid film that depicts this crucial time in American history. It doesn't do anything new in terms of the direction of the story of the creation of the March on Washington but the personal story of Rustin really strengths the overall story and it delivers a fine film. Even with its weakness and bringing nothing new to the table, it is still a powerful film that delivers solid performances and a strong emotional lead performance from Domingo. This film will probably be an underrated Netflix awards film that will be slid in many people's radar and they should watch it just for the performances alone.
Now Streaming Only on Netflix!
Vizeit Score: "B-"
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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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