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])
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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])
Felix Kammerer. © 2022 Netflix and Amusement Park. Directed by Edward Berger.
The War Ain't Pretty Until You Become Part of It.
Quick Review: After securing over 9 nominations at the Academy Awards, I had to check it out! I had it on my watchlist for a while and after watching it, I can safely say this was a great war film. There's a lot of dedication to the filmmaking craft and the story behind it. It's another adaptation from the book but with modern technology, it captures what was told from the original source material. There are a lot of creative and beautiful sequences that really stuck with me. The snow sequence really got me very well and the second war battle sequence is by far the strongest sequence in the film. The film uses a lot of long takes and it brings you into the bloody battle of WWI. There are moments that will definitely surprise you for the better or worse. The performances in this film are pretty great with Albrecht Schuch playing Kat being the standout. I really loved the cinematography and the production design of the trenches. The side characters are actually pretty good but not as strong as I hoped for. The film can be quite long with its pacing in the middle but the final 30 minutes really bring this film home. While it's another "war film" that you have seen a bunch of times, including the "anti-war" message behind it, you can't deny the technical aspects that went into this film. It's grounded, effective, brutal, and memorable. I can see this film taking two Oscars and it's one of those war films that will leave you depressed or thinking about the messages behind this film. This was a very solid flick and I bet there will be more war films to come. Now Streaming Only on Netflix Vizeit Score: "B+" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
Alden Ehrenreich and Phoebe Dynevor. © MRC, T-Street Productions and Star Thrower Entertainment. Directed by Chloe Domont. Netflix will distribute the film soon after Sundance.
Watched it at Sundance Film Festival 2023 Online through Eventive (Sundance #1)
A Engagement Can Turn Sideways For The Better or Worse... Just the two lead characters, the producers behind it, and the plot itself got me interested in this film. Oh boy, it was a wild independent film. If Uncut Gems and The Notebook had a baby and their son Money Monster met this film, it's no wild surprise that this film couple will be exploding money and hooking up until someone breaks their point. It's an intense film from start to finish and with the wild lead performances, let's say the film can be viewed from many points of view. Join me in the big apple and explore this couple who are about to have the wild ride of their life. Story: Hot off the heels of their new engagement, thriving New York couple Emily (Phoebe Dynevor) and Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) can’t get enough of each other. When a coveted promotion at a cutthroat financial firm arises, supportive exchanges between the lovers begin to sour into something more sinister. As the power dynamics irrevocably shift in their relationship, Luke and Emily must face the true price of success and the unnerving limits of ambition. This was a sleek film from the editing to the direction and to the performances. This was a wild ride and be prepared to get romanticized the fuck out of you. The story of this film is very original yet strong with its great direction from Chloe Domont. I really loved how we get immediately to the engagement part but the drama that keeps this couple together is the wall street job itself. It mirrors the strengths, weaknesses, and struggles of being a wall street broker while maintaining a relationship. Plus it was unexpected and it goes downhill from there. I love that the film balances these two characters' motivations and struggles while keeping the work intact. The plot gets wacky in the second act but in a good way. It goes deeper into the rabbit hole of money, numbers, drinking, and bets. I love that it doesn't shy away from the dangerous parts of being on wall street and with these side characters, it makes it rawer and feel lived in. What made the plot more interesting mid-way through is that it explores the greediness of these people and the environment of a workplace. The production design of the offices is amazing and with the cold difference living inside an NYC apartment is so interesting. Just the production design alone carries the symbolism of NYC, Wall Street, and the lives of these characters living in. The characters in this film are amazing. I really loved Phoebe's performance and her final scene really brought the film full circle. Her character shows how she worked hard to be in this career while showing some of her darkest sides and sexual obsession. With the costume design in the film, it showcases Phoebe's character that she is willing to take on being the most smartest and badass broker in the office and take power. While for Alden's character Luke, it's a completely different story. Alden's performance is absolutely amazing. It's been over three years since his silver screen performance in Solo: A Star Wars Story and he really made a screaming returning debut in this film. His performance was over the roof and his character was pretty calming but when he breaks, he breaks. His character shows the conflicting aspects of being a broker and working way harder than you can but not achieving the golden aspect that is required. Some of his breaking point scenes are the best and it shows that his character skills and relationship are not holding up well because of one stupid promotion. It's so done well and it mostly comes around with jealousy. Jealously can break a person easily or slowly if the thing starts to show in front of you constantly. Jealously is the name of the game and I love how in the end, you must forget about it or it can badly damage a part of your life. I haven't seen Jealously been taken seriously in film for a while and this film handles the theme alongside the subjects of marriage, work, and social life very seriously. The screenplay is very strong with its slick dialogue and editing. The humor is very smart but literally smart. Not the cliche critic-type quotes you see but this film delivers the comedy and swearing on point. I love that. The cinematography is so well done and once again, the production design alone really carries the weight of the film to show some of its symbolism and feelings of these characters around some of these environments. Since this is an indie film, there may be some trips along the way. The "villain" of the film was pretty weak but I enjoyed his performance from Eddie Marsan. The pacing was a bit weird in the second act of the film in which case it almost got lost but it got back on track when the couple wasn't together. I thought it would be an Uncut Gems vibe from what critics hear but it wasn't the style. I got misled but in a good way. I was mixed with the cold opening of the film but when they got to work inside wall street, that's where the good shit starts to get heated up. Some people might be mixed with the ending but I really loved how it ends. It's a damn good watch. This was definitely a wild erotic ride from start to finish. Full of marriage problems, money, sex, power, and jealousy are all over the place in this film. It's a well-crafted independent film with slick cinematography, dialogue, and editing to make the tensions high constantly. I really loved the two lead performances and this is a fantastic directorial debut from Chloe Domont. I cannot wait for her next project and what she has in store for the future. It's also nice to see Rian Johnson producing this as well! Coming Soon on Netflix. Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
Christian Bale. © 2022/2023 Netflix, Cross Creek Pictures, Streamline Global Group, and Le Grisbi Productions. Directed by Scott Cooper.
Every Night Tells A Tale
A creepy old tale with a murder mystery on the side, that sounds interesting. This film captures the aesthetic of the 1800s with Scott Cooper's signature style of atmosphere. It's an interesting tale of murder, religion, and the past. All of this combines together into an interesting tale that audiences will either enjoy or won't. This was quite a tale so join me into the 1800s and explore the murder of this fry guy and drink some beer afterward. Also, try not to get attacked in the middle of the night. Story: Veteran detective Augustus Landor investigates a series of grisly murders with the help of a young cadet who will eventually go on to become the world-famous author Edgar Allan Poe. This was quite a detective story and I really enjoyed it. It's a slow film that takes its time with the mystery and getting connected with the main characters. But what kept the pacing consistent was the drama and the suspense during the murder scenes. That's where shit starts to get more serious and interesting. The plot itself is pretty good and there are interesting plot twists that really got me good. I thought the film was over at one point but I'm glad that they mentioned some character moments back to close the story. I hate when films forget some of the backstories or small important details that connect to the main plot. The characters in this film are pretty good as well. I thought Edgar Allan Poe was very strong in his character development, especially carried by his performance. Harry Melling does a great job with his character and trying to do good while searching for the darkest secrets. His confrontational scene with Augustus Landor was the best one emotionally. But the scenes with Lea Marquis were pretty sweet but it gets dark very quickly without spoilers. I thought Christian Bale was very great as well in the film as always. His portrayal of Augustus Landor was very good and his backstory was quite interesting. But his performance really carried the character very well. The supporting cast was good as well including Toby Jones. The directing was very solid and I liked the atmosphere of the film. The atmosphere really bought my attention to this film and Cooper's direction really captures it very well. The production is very great and I like the production design of the film including its costumes. It's a technically great movie in film terms but it can use a little bit more work on its story.
The story itself was quite interesting but some of its plot elements didn't reach me out very well. The religion part was interesting but it was quite an overthrow at the last second. The first 20 minutes were strong but the middle act was very slow and it didn't know where to go until the second kill was shown on screen. I felt like the story could've been something special but I felt like some of the execution didn't quite reach that level. Plus I thought some of the side characters weren't that interesting, unfortunately. While it's not a disappointing film, it could've picked up some of the pacings and it could've been shorter to make this mystery tighter with its suspense. I felt like the overlay was there but it could've been tighter with its screenplay to make the mystery more entertaining. But the final scene with the two main characters was the strongest part of the film to finish up loose ends. It was quite a mystery for sure.
Overall, this was an interesting film with solid directing, great two-lead performances, and a very haunting atmosphere of a film. It can use a little bit more with its plot and some of its side characters, but the performances really carried the film. Plus the production really makes the film more pleasing including the cinematography. It's a very solid film and I'm looking forward to Scott Cooper's next film. Now Streaming Only on Netflix. Vizeit Score: "B" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. |
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