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.
Now Playing Only in Theaters and on Peacock!
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])
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Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. © 2023 Paramount Pictures, Apple Original Films / Apple Studios, Imperative Entertainment, Sikelia Productions, and Appian Way Productions. Directed by Martin Scorsese.
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.]
Press Screening
Watched it in Dolby Cinema @ AMC Theaters Martin Scorsese is back once again to tell a tragic real-life story that shaped America from the 1910s to the 20s. Scorsese loves to elevate the cinema format and this time, he dials it up to one hundred. This is a monumental film that explores the representation of the Indigenous community and the tragedy of these murders through the eyes of Ernest Burkhart and Mollie Burkhart. Let's go back to Oklahoma and investigate the murders that are caused by an old white uncle. Story: At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. People immediately complained about the long runtime of the film which clocks in at 3 hours and 26 minutes. I didn't feel like this film was that long, however, the pacing of this runs smoothly which gives that feeling of a two-hour film. All thanks to the fantastic editing done by Thelma Schoonmaker which made the scenes gripping yet engaging with some of the slowness in certain scenes and sequences. Plus, the parallel editing is very strong by cutting between the murders to the "peaceful" life of Ernest and Mollie is truly heartbreaking. There are moments in the editing that push you to see the horrors and truths of these murders while still presenting a normal life. The editing moments of each Indigenous death are very respectful and beautifully edited. It takes you into the moment of their death and sees their final moments before the film cuts back to reality. A lot of brilliant editing choices and Schoonmaker's editing still captivates every crucial moment that will impact the entire film till the final frame of the film. Uncovering the Osage story is a huge feat for Scorsese not only because you are telling one of the most important events in American history, but one of the most tragic events that affected Indigenous Americans forever. A heartbreaking story of love, betrayal, and truth. Screenwriters Eric Roth and Scorsese created a slick crafted screenplay that has weight and detail that make each scene vivid and emotional. There is a lot of character development within the film and for the first 45 minutes of the film, it's just straight pure character development within the first act. The relationship between Ernest Burkhart and Mollie Burkhart is very well constructed and engaging thanks to the incredible performances from Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone. There were a lot of side characters in the film but each served its purpose while not staying overlong into the jam-packed story. The world-building of bringing the Osage story from text to the silver screen is also engaging and well-written. There is so much rich history behind the Osage Nation that the film wished could've had more screentime to dedicate that history. One element in the film that not a lot of people are talking about is the usage of Osage language. It's very effective in scenes that don't have subtitles and scenes with subtitles. Scorsese wants authenticity on-screen and subverts people's expectations of the usage of Osage language. Plus, the culture and the representation of Indigenous Americans are authentic and fresh to see on screen, especially in a big-budget studio film.
There is a lot going on in this film, however, the flow of the story is effective and it gives enough time for each act to tell certain events that connect to the overall story. Since this film was based on a book that focuses on both the Osage murders and the BOI investigation, having the Osage story being the main centerpiece of the film rather than the BOI investigation is a smart move. There's more going on with Mollie's life and her family being affected by the murders around her and Ernest, even though Ernest is the one who is part of the killings. The antagonist of the film who is behind the murders, William King Hale, played by Robert De Niro, was so ruthless and devious that I hated him by the end which worked based on how the character was written. Plus, De Niro's performance is fantastic and probably one of the best performances in his entire career. A lot of great things in the story that they managed to put into a three-hour epic film.
Martin Scorsese elevates his directing to another level with a grand scope of the true-life story while still being authentic and real. His vision of this historical story really captures the horrors and truth of these tragedies while still being not over the top with its violence. The violence presented here is realistic. Scorsese has moved away from the graphic violence in his crime films into a more suitable realistic view of violence while still presenting them as raw as possible. Scorsese really loves to make almost every screen very important while still keeping those scenes engaging and possibly thrilling. The way he captures the horrors of these murders is a bit haunting yet real and gripping. However, he still cares about the representation of Indigenous Americans on-screen which is the backbone of the story and it was told effectively. I really loved Scorsese's vision and direction of the film. It's authentic, doesn't sugarcoat the story, and creates a lot of themes that people will take away from. Some people will like it, others won't, yet everyone agrees that Scorsese pulled off a story in a huge scope that many directors won't take unless it's Scorsese. The performances are all fantastic from across the board. Lily Gladstone is the stand out of the film including Jesse Plemons as Tom White who is the BOI agent that solved the Osage murder case. It's funny to see Brendan Fraser here after he won his Oscar for The Whale. He was also great but he was in a very small role in the third act. The indigenous actors who played their respective roles are also fantastic including Cara Jade Myers who gave an amazing underrated performance for her character of Anna Brown. Once again, a lot of characters support the flow of the story but the three core actors of the film that played its respective characters, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Lily Gladstone are all fantastic and I hope they each receive their Oscar nomination. The production of this film is masterfully crafted. Once again, the editing is very strong in this film with a lot of unique choices to keep the long story as engaging as possible while still being tense. The production design is flawless. Costumes look very vivid and unique to the Indigenous culture. The sets are incredible and detailed, especially with certain houses like Molly's House and Ernest's home. There is so much care behind the technical elements that it would take more hours to write this review. The cinematography is rich and I love the usage of brown and orange colors in this film. A lot of unique shots and interesting camera movements that captures the Scorsese style of filmmaking. The score is also fantastic with a lot of memorable songs, especially the final song which captures the heart of the Osage nation. Overall, the production and technical craft of this film is absolutely insane and rich. You can tell almost all of that 200 million dollar budget went on screen. It's insane how they pull America in the 1920s once again but with rich detail to feel like you are present in there. That's why people should appreciate more of the technical side of filmmaking because that's all the hard work on-screen by many people. While this film is very well executed in all of its departments, I still had some issues with the film. One of those flaws in this film would be the long runtime. Easily this film could've been cut out by a few scenes, including repetitive scenes that we know what's going to happen. While I respect the decisions that Scorsese and Schoonmaker made, I feel like they could've reduced some of the important scenes that feel redundant or even a bit out of place. Besides the runtime, one of the small controversies that it's only seemingly on film Twitter is the representation of Indigenous people. I'm not an indigenous person but as a Mexican-American filmmaker and critic, I can agree that the film was a bit more through the point of view of Ernest rather than Mollie. I wish we could've gotten more of Mollie's side of the murders rather than Ernest because Mollie is suffering not just the death of her community, but her family that she grew up with. I will give huge credit to Scorsese for tackling this kind of story through the perspective of an American but I wished it leaned more on the side of Mollie to make this film feel more personal. Still, Scorsese vision worked here and I was engaged throughout. A jam-packed yet well-paced film that has authenticity and representation, Killers of the Flower Moon is a fantastic feat of a film that will be looked at for many years to come. Martin Scorsese is truly one of the last few filmmakers who pushes the boundaries of cinema and brings rich stories that need to be told to see the reality of our world including connecting with today's conflicts. Enriching directing, flawless production work, fantastic performances, and a well-crafted screenplay that brings together a monumental film that explores truth, culture, and love. Now Playing Only in Theaters in IMAX and Dolby Cinema! 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])
WINNER - BEST MOTION PICTURE (3RD ANNUAL VIZEIT FILM AWARDS)
Cillian Murphy. © 2023 Universal Pictures, Syncopy Inc., and Atlas Entertainment. Directed by Christopher Nolan. Vizeit Reviews is in solidarity with the WGA & SAG, however, SAG will allow film critics to continue their normal movie critiques as usual but with certain restrictions.
Watched it in 70mm Film & in IMAX @ Cinemark
The World Forever Changes World War II was such a critical event in human history. The conflict was so grand that it defied expectations of violence, politics, and the future of the world. All because of one man, J. Robert Oppenheimer. The man who rumbled the earth and the face of Barbenheimer. No pink in the film which sucks but it didn't stop Christopher Nolan from bringing this story come to life in the biggest format possible. Experiencing this film on IMAX and for the second time in an actual 70mm film theater was fantastic. Both formats really brought the story to a grander scale that no biopic film has ever done in years. This is the film that I have been waiting for in 2023 and I'm happy to say that, like in World War II, it destroyed my expectations. Let's go back to 1940s New Mexico, to the vast empty lands and witness together the first nuclear test in history. Story: During World War II, Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves Jr. appointed physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer to work on the top-secret Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer and a team of scientists spent years developing and designing the atomic bomb. Their work came to fruition on July 16, 1945, as they witnessed the world's first nuclear explosion, forever changing the course of history. Before the first ever footage was released alongside NOPE, I was already hyped to see how Christopher Nolan would tackle a real-life scientist about his work on the atomic bomb. I think the film could've been epic, big, and realistic. Well, after watching the film twice now, I was right. However, this film didn't have a lot of action, but it did have intense dialogue and direction that made the dialogue scenes feel like action scenes. Now that's incredible. Some audience members will be lost during the dialogue sequences but Nolan tries to elevate that with magnificent visuals to keep the audience engaged. However, even if Nolan didn't direct this film, Nolan's screenplay of the film is fantastically written. Since the screenplay book came out, it points out that the film is half objective and subjective. The book also indicates that the color sequences are all in first-person point of view from the perspective of Oppenheimer. All of that together combines an intense screenplay that Nolan or maybe even Oppenheimer would've imagined how these events and moments would be viewed before the bomb. The screenplay takes a deeper look into the relationships between Oppenheimer, his friends and colleagues, and the intricacies of their work as they toiled to create the bomb. The film then follows the trial that happened after the end of the war. One little detail that made Oppenheimer's POV distinctive is the inclusion of Oppenheimer's wife's point of view since she's the only personal attachment to Oppenheimer. Even a tiny bit from Oppenheimer's ex-girlfriend before he met his real wife. Even though the film is heavily on Oppenheimer's view, it changes to the objective point of view through the eyes of Lewis Strauss. However, it's not just his POV, but the real-life facts of Oppenheimer's trial, including how some of the public viewed him during the crucial events. The black & white sequences really brought Oppenheimer into a different view that may change the audience's perspective while watching the film. It's a smart and interesting move that will make the dialogue more action than tension and it opens the life of Lewis Strauss into a lighter or darker side depending on how people view the film. Strauss's scenes felt very villainous and seeing the hardcore facts about the trail felt like a documentary. With the intense dialogue from Strauss and how the scenes were filmed like a documentary, it felt like two movies at once. I really loved that Nolan tried something new from his previous film, especially when he started to change his story structure from Interstellar. Both the color and black & white sequences served to flesh out the differing perspectives that exist within the story. The time-jumps were not confusing to me because of the in-depth research I did around the film, and by the third act, I had started grasping the storytelling technique Nolan was using (you might be aware of his directing style that involves non-linear and anachronistic stories like Memento for example). I started to think that the formats were a tool to distinguish facts from public opinion. It's brilliant in many ways and the way it ends in color with its final scene really impacted the whole message of the entire film. All of this wouldn't happen without Nolan himself. Christopher Nolan elevated the biopic sub-genre into something more epic. A simple biographical story turned into a cinematic action film had never been done in that style before in Hollywood. Especially for this kind of story which includes WWII but does not take place on the frontlines of the bloody war. Nolan directs this film like it's a typical Nolan film but he changes up his style with the two different color formats and also presents this film as a mix of documentary and fiction. Nolan wants to make every scene feel impactful. The way he directs dialogue gives you the impression that you are immersed in an action sequence. That pacing is emphasized by the work of fantastic editor Jennifer Lame (Black Panther, Marriage Story, Tenet). Nolan takes every opportunity to try something new with this film and it keeps working in terms of directing actors. For example, Nolan keeps his supporting actors like background characters for a bit until something critical comes up to them. Plus, he focuses only on tow points of view: Oppenheimer and Lewis Strauss. These two differing views created a connective tissue that made the story easier to follow. Nolan worked not to spread himself too thin. The way Nolan directs his lead actor Cillian Murphy really elevates the character but gives Murphy the chance to try new things and lead the cast. Cillian and Nolan are the real leaders of this film and Nolan takes this opportunity to make a simple story with a packed cast into a cinematic epic that will live on for decades. Besides directing his actors, Nolan changed his visual directing to a whole new level. Sometimes, Nolan operates the camera and goes crazy in his visual direction. More than any Nolan film, there are a lot of close-ups and wide shots and there's a reason why. Since this is about Oppenheimer, the film leans into the psychological side and Nolan captures tight close-ups of Oppenheimer to capture his feelings. Not only that, Nolan mixes in practical effect shots of the nuke, radiation, and other scientific elements to show what Oppenheimer is really thinking and make certain scenes more intense without any action elements. Nolan also utilized epicness in the most critical scene of the entire film which was the Trinity test. That scene alone really elevated the scope of the film after the test sequence and set the biopic sub-genre to its peak. The scope itself brought the film to new territories that no filmmaker had ever encountered before. It's quite a challenge for Nolan but he managed to bring a huge action-level scope into a grounded biopic film by making smaller scenes feel personal, bigger dialogue scenes shot like an action film, and emotional scenes feel like documentary yet cinematic. It's all the flavors into one and Nolan balanced it out very well to make this film stand out from just a normal war story into a once-in-a-lifetime event film that has to be seen in the biggest theater possible. I'm happy that Nolan took this story into an epic but he cannot do it without the special use of his good old IMAX cameras and his collaborator since Interstellar.
Nolan really loves to use his IMAX 70mm film cameras and it was expected that he will use those cameras again for this film. However, since it was a biopic, it would be an interesting challenge for Nolan to take on. However, Nolan's frequent DP, Hoyte van Hoytema, really took Oppenheimer's visuals to a whole new level and made it feel as authentic as possible. Hoytema used the IMAX format in new territory that IMAX had never explored. The biggest one being the use of B&W film in IMAX 70mm film. Kodak collaborated with IMAX to create it for this film and it looks absolutely fantastic, especially on IMAX 70mm film or on standard 70mm B&W film. Since there were no action scenes with the exception of the nuclear test sequence, the IMAX scenes were used constantly during wider shots and important dialogue sequences. The shallow depth of field really supported the huge scale of the film and the gritty look of Oppenheimer tailed what Nolan envisioned for the visual storytelling. Not only that, but the audio in IMAX is also very explosive and great. I'll go a bit in-depth with the general audio later on but in the IMAX format, it was definitely very loud. Especially during the nuclear test sequence which is the main selling point of the IMAX experience. Overall, the IMAX image looks unreal, however, after seeing the film in both standard IMAX and 70mm film, I would say 70mm is the way to go. The 70mm film image looks clear and crisp with unique colors different from standard digital. While it's not a bigger image, I was still sucked into the story with the beautiful raw cinematography and feeling that it was taken back in the 1940s. Watching a film in a real 70mm film feels very different from IMAX and I'm glad I saw both. Hoytema really stepped up his game with this film and I cannot wait to see what he will innovate next with IMAX and the future of film.
Funny that I haven't even got to the performance because that's where the heat of the film is really located. From the moment that Cillian Murphy was announced as the lead, I was immediately hooked on what type of cast Nolan would take on. Every month until the release of the film, a lot of big talented, and recognizable rising stars took onto the film, and in the end, it became one of the biggest ensemble casts of all time. This huge ensemble cast is fantastic on every level. Everyone in this cast did an amazing job or gave their best performance in their careers. Nolan really pushed everyone to their limits through their respective characters and it shows that through their chemistry with Oppenheimer or other characters around. Before we get to Cillian's performance and character, the supporting cast really brought the background to life and made Cillian's performance more impactful than ever. One of the standouts would be Josh Hartnett's performance as Ernest Lawrence. His performance really shined and his friendship with Oppenheimer was the strongest. Easily Hartnett's best career performance and that includes many other actors in the film. Tom Conti as Albert Einstein was surprisingly very good and he had quite some screentime than I expected. I enjoyed Gary Oldman's quick cameo as President Truman since he is a frequent collaborator with Nolan in The Dark Knight trilogy. I loved Benny Safdie's performance including the other scientists in the room with Oppenheimer like Jack Quaid, Josh Peck, David Krumholtz, and many others. The government personnel as well including standout performances from Dane DeHaan, Jason Clarke, and obviously Matt Damon. There are so many recognizable actors in the film that it felt like a genuine real old cameo. Emily Blunt as Oppenheimer's wife was also fantastic and I can easily see her snagging an Oscar nomination soon. Florence Pugh's chemistry with Cillian Murphy's character was also solid but I wish we could've got more of her on-screen. Yet, for the time she was given, it was great! Matt Damon really brought his A-game into the film and I was surprised the given screen-time he had. He did a terrific job of bringing this character into a likable view with Oppenheimer and his friendship with Oppenheimer was also very great. The main antagonist Lewis Strauss, played by Robert Downey Jr., was absolutely amazing and it's Downey's best performance in his career and probably since Tropic Thunder. His character attempts to crush Oppenheimer but with the counter results in the final act, the way he takes it was so satisfying which elevated Downey's performance and what future will his real-life character will take into. Overall, the supporting cast is fantastic but we cannot forget the main lead which is Cillian Murphy himself as Oppenheimer. Murphy really delivered a career performance with his complex representation of a real-life person that shaped not just the war but the future itself. He is in almost every scene in the film and it's surrounding him. He is at the forefront of the creation of the bomb. It feels like this is the true Oppenheimer on-screen and Murphy made sure that his character stays true to its core. It's phenomenal and easily the best performance of the decade so far. So much work to bring this character to life, however, Murphy took it very seriously and in the end, he was born to play this role. I'm so happy that he finally got his chance to shine as the main role in this epic Nolan film. Even though the actors and the director are at the forefront of this epic film, the whole production team really put all of their effort into creating a beautiful production that looks straight out of the 1940s. Bringing these events to life isn't easy for the big screen but the fantastic film crew really made it as authentic and epic as possible. The production design is fantastic with the recreation of Los Alamos and bringing the nuclear test site to life. Everything is almost practical and the costume design here is flawless. I really liked Oppenheimer's different clothing he wore during his time and seeing each period changing through sets, clothing, and props. I'm glad that Nolan relocated the budget to the sets to make the film as authentic as possible. The make-up is also very well done, especially during the final act of the film. As I mentioned earlier, the editing is great for this type of film and it kept the pacing strong throughout the film. The music is absolutely jaw-dropping. Ludwig Göransson's music really elevates certain moments in the film to fill that epicness bubble and to create a feeling that this is an event that will change the future. His rhythmic style is still present to create this intense feeling and by the end of the film, you would immediately play the entire soundtrack and recognize which music was composed for a certain scene. Lastly, the practical effects and VFX here are amazing and I'm happy that the bomb recreation was all practical with some VFX to bring up the energy on screen. Overall, the production is fantastic and I'm happy to see Nolan utilizing every penny on screen to make this film as authentic and epic as possible on a $100 million dollar budget. Now that's dedication. I cannot forget the sound design which is a controversial thing now in Nolan films. This time, however, it was much better than Tenet, and seeing this film in IMAX was definitely a huge improvement. Even though I really love this film, I still have some issues which is typical. The third act really started to take it slow with its story but it didn't ruin the overall pacing of the film. There are some moments that could've been shortened or cut out completely but I was still invested in them. I can't think of another flaw but overall, this film was epic from beginning to end. Christopher Nolan delivers another bombastic epic film with fantastic career performances, beautiful IMAX cinematography, and fantastic production design to bring Oppenheimer's story come to life! This was an absolute ride from start to finish and I was floored by every aspect of this film. The scope is bigger since Interstellar and this is Nolan's best film since The Dark Knight. One of the best cinematic experiences in a theater and on top of that, doing the Barbeheimer double feature was very special. I cannot wait to see what Christopher Nolan will cook next for the future of cinema. Now Playing Only in Theaters and in IMAX 70mm! (selected cinemas around the world) 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])
Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling. © 2023 Warner Bros, Heyday Films, LuckyChap Entertainment, NB/GG Pictures, and Mattel Films. Directed by Greta Gerwig.
Vizeit Reviews is in solidarity with the WGA & SAG, however, SAG will allow film critics to continue their normal movie critiques as usual but with certain restrictions.
Watched it in Dolby Cinema
She's Everything. He's Just Ken. After Greta Gerwig's two successful and critically acclaimed films, she's onto a new adventure by bringing dolls to life. Well...did it work? It did, in a big way. From many cinephile points of view, it's a Drive sequel because of Ryan Gosling. For the general audience, it's Margot Robbie as a Barbie. Barbie is a wonderful film for every type of audience and Greta understands the world around Barbie but also expanding what Barbie really is. Greta and Noah Baumbach really took the doll and created it something that people will relate to, no matter what you are. Let's explore Barbieland and see what all the Barbies and Kens are doing in their daily lives. Story: Set in the colorful Barbie Land, stereotypical Barbie lives a perfect life every single day. One day, she shows signs of being...a human. She decides to go to the Real World to find the cure in order to make herself perfect again. Since the announcement of this film with Greta and Noah attached to the project, I was immediately hyped to see how these indie filmmakers would tackle this project. Well, they made this film hilarious, emotional, and fun! One of the biggest elements of this film that really worked for this film is the satire of modernization. We know that Barbie is mostly for girls but it's also for some boys too with Ken being part of the collection. However, Barbie really takes it to the next level by applying modernization to kids' toys and making them hilarious yet so real and true. After the second act, we see Kens acting way different and it questions the look of men through the eyes of the world. Feminism is a big key in this film and while I'm a guy writing about a Barbie film review, it worked on both parts. I loved the way how Greta took the version of Ken and made it relatable while still making it feel real in the context of Barbie. Those ideas that Greta played with, really shaped a different story from what the trailers promoted. Right into the second act, I thought the film was going to be over but I'm happy they kept going the momentum before arriving to the third act. The main themes presented in this film really started to kick in within the third act and by the end, it's a satisfying payoff that audiences will be pleased with. I loved the ending and the way Greta directed it was emotional and right into the core of the brand. By the end, I wanted more but I feel like that is a great ending that doesn't need to overstretch its runtime. The plot overall really worked and seeing it progress from a simple story into something greater and personal really made the theme and overall message more impactful with its ending. That really made this film from great to fantastic and I was worried that this film will go into The Lego Movie route. Even though I love that film, I hope they won't do a cheap plot route on that beloved animated film. However, it took its own spin and went more deeper since this film is more lenient to audiences who grew up on Barbie. Even though it's a PG-13 film, the message is aimed at all ages and it worked great. I didn't even get to the cast of the film but everyone did a fabulous job with their roles.
The cast in this film is amazing and Margot Robbie really delivered one of her best performances since I, Tonya. Her performance captures what Barbie truly means to the fans and with Ryan Gosling as the addition as Ken, it captures the iconic duo in this crazy world of Barbie. Gosling's character goes way more campier in terms of tone while his character arc goes into an interesting route that you may never expected. America Ferrera was amazing in this film and her character really captured what older audiences missed about Barbie while Ariana Greenblatt represents the current generation's view of Barbie. It's two minds and worlds colliding into finding a route that will unite everyone who loves and hates Barbie. I really like their mother and daughter duo and Ferrera's speech was well done. The other cast members are also amazing and hilarious. The different versions of Barbie are pretty great including Issa Rae and Kate McKinnon. The different versions of Kens are also hilarious, especially Simu Liu and you cannot forget the underrated performance from Michael Cera as Allan. The cast together really brought out all the energy that the film was capturing and even with the human characters, everyone really made this film special and energetic. I bet the production was fun too because the production itself looks fantastic.
The production design is truly outstanding and it's mostly practical thanks to the production designer Sarah Greenwood. The world of Barbie is out of this world and the film captures the toy world into something grander than life. From the houses to the streets and even to the small toy details, it feels like you are living within their world. The costume design is also fabulous with each Barbie being unique to its own and seeing Margot Robbie in a cowgirl costume really made her character stand out during the real-world scenes. Even the makeup and hair design is also great for making each Barbie look different yet look the same. The cinematography here is also very great during the Barbieland scenes while still having the Gerwig visual look from her previous films. The original songs chosen here are also very good and the editing here is surprisingly very good. It's well paced and it doesn't overstay while still delivering the energetic flow of the story. Overall, the production of this film is fantastic but remember, not every film is perfect, even Oppenheimer. There are no major flaws but one of the elements that disappointed me was the visuals during the real-world scene. It looks dull which is intended but it feels dull on purpose and accidentally. I feel like the momentum was way much better in Barbie land rather than the real-world scenes but I was still invested in the journey of Barbie. Some of the jokes in the film didn't land for me and the film almost punched a needle into the politics but it did avoid that right in the final minutes of the film. That's all the negatives I have because this film really shined from start to finish. Being in Barbie land was fun but we have to move onto the nuclear test site before the nuke test starts. However, that being said, Barbie was an energetic film from start to finish. Greta captured the spirit of Barbie into something grander than life and brought some of the best material of this year and from her career. This is a outstanding third film from Greta and Margot Robbie keeps on killing it with her performances on each film she is in. Everyone did a great job in the film and I hope we get more Barbie films after this or just keep it like that because we need more female films before the studios realize it's the complete opposite. Can't wait to see what Greta Gerwig will cook next. Now Playing Only in Theaters! 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])
Jim Caviezel. © Angel Studios and Santa Fe Films. Directed by Alejandro Monteverde.
Vizeit Reviews is in solidarity with the WGA & SAG, however, SAG will allow film critics to continue their normal movie critiques as usual but with certain restrictions.
In Every Darkness, There's Always A Light
Hollywood is in a unique position due to the strike and other controversial events that changed cinema during the post-pandemic. However, one film came into the scene silently and it's roaring throughout July and that film is Sound of Freedom. This is the return of Jim Caviezel on the big screen and his performance really made this film more impactful. While this film is still getting controversy from a range of topics, this is still a film that Hollywood won't shine light on anymore and I'm happy it's getting released majorly. Let's dive into this film and see what's the controversy about. Story: After rescuing a boy from ruthless child traffickers, a federal agent learns the boy's sister is still captive and decides to embark on a dangerous mission to save her. With time running out, he quits his job and journeys deep into the Colombian jungle, putting his life on the line to free her from a fate worse than death. Right away, this is a hard film to watch due to the real-life subject matter. However, it doesn't push it to its limits which I very much respect because this film includes some of the most heartbreaking scenes of this year. This isn't an easy film to watch but Jim Caviezel brings light into the film and makes the viewing much easier. Jim's performance is fantastic throughout the film and his performance feels very shallow yet great. The way he brings the real-life hero Tim Ballard is so interesting because Jim's performance with his eyes and dead silence brings it all. Even though there are performances in different films that do that in which cases do work or don't, for this type of character, it fits perfectly, especially with the subject matter. There is some rewarding little humor to keep this film way too depressing but Jim really shines this film to its fullest. While there is some fictional material in the film, especially in the final act, the film faithfully recreates what Tim saw in some of the events he encountered. Especially during the island scene, which was a tense scene, really demonstrated how Tim had to keep himself in control and under-detected while saving these kids. While the final sequence is fictional, which takes place within a rebel forest, it's still tense on how Tim would approach it and it adds action to the film which makes it more thrilling. It's not so an action film but more on the thriller part with some inspirations from Narcos and A Private War. Besides the well-made tense sequences, Jim really delivered his best performance since The Passion of the Christ and the supporting cast here really made this film more powerful and thrilling. Bill Camp is amazing in his huge supporting role and his scene with Jim's character at the hotel was very emotional and it's one of the best scenes in the film. I love their duo friendship and it's very well done while still keeping Jim in the spotlight. Javier Godino has a small supporting role in the film but he does a great job with his performance. Mira Sorvino has a very small role in the film but her scenes with Jim really shine and give depth to the complexity of Jim's personal and work life. These performances really make this film tense and help make the subject of the film more prominent rather than underexposing it.
What I also love about this film is the directing which is done by Alejandro Monteverde. His way of telling visual storytelling here is unique. It's slow and somber yet fast-paced due to its well-crafted editing. There is a unique visual style here that is supported by its great cinematography, photographed by Gorka Gómez and Andreu Aec. It's a mix of light and darkness yet it shows signs of hope and faith. Alejandro lets its actors feel into the moment with the support of the film's production design and practicality. One thing I really liked about this film is that Alejandro lets Jim explore Tim's personality and creates some unique moments that give depth to the scene of his character or the situation of the scene. I found that very compelling and it adds little nice detail to the situation of the scene. Besides the directing, the production here is easily very well done for a low-budget indie film. Especially for a faith-based film, this is high quality and you can tell with its production design, on-location filming, well-shot cinematography, and score of the film. For the past 10 years, we have seen more crappy Christian films but I'm glad this film stepped out to show that it's possible with the right crew and the right director. I wouldn't even consider this film a faith-based film. Even though there are moments where it spreads its Christian/catholic faith, it's done very well while still keeping the subject matter front and center. The line "God's children are not for sale" is the hardest line in the film and from there, I knew I was in for a thrilling ride. It's also so weird seeing the same actor that played Jesus 11 years ago kicking ass in the film. Overall, the production is very great for a low-budget indie film and it shows that if you care about the story or subject matter but also utilize the cinema art form, you can create a good film in the end. While there are controversial parts of the film which case I won't discuss here, I still have some issues with the film itself.
The pacing of this film really holds some of the momentum of certain scenes. It gets a little bit stale in certain sequences with dead moments which bothered me, especially during some dialogue scenes. While this is still a plot/character story, it does get a little bit lost in between but still keeps the subject matter within context. Mira's character gets little screen time which was a bit disappointing but her small scenes add emotional depth to Tim's journey. There are some little screenplay issues in some parts and I wish it could've been shorter. Still, this is an engaging thriller that will be talked about for many years to come. With all the controversy and weird ass conspiracies behind it, if you look through the lens of the film, you will find many great things behind this unique production and story. Jim really helps elevate this film with its powerful story and keeps the film more thrilling. Well shot with great performances, and a well-made story that will be watched on for years to come. This is a film that will be sure to be looked at and be more appreciated to confront one of the darkest crimes in the world. In the end, this is a film that helps spreads its message about child trafficking and hopes that it reaches audiences around the nation and the world for the better to save children from the darkness and bring them to the light. Now, it's time for Jim Caviezel to start working on that long-awaited sequel of The Passion of the Christ. Now Playing Only in Theaters! Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for continuing supporting my indie cinema website.) 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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