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.
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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])
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Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, and Rebecca Ferguson. © 2023 Paramount Pictures, Skydance, and TC Productions. Directed by Christopher McQuarrie.
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 IMAX @ AMC Theaters
The Biggest Mission Begins... Since the franchise got its foot into the blockbuster landscape, it has been going on a high rise with each film entry. From one simple crazy stunt to an airplane stunt, to a helicopter stunt, and now a motorcycle jump stunt, the franchise never stops innovating. All thanks to the legend himself, Tom Cruise. This franchise goes to all places of the world and in this film, it's even more. While more is good, what makes this franchise consistent is its characters and that's what this film more special. Especially the main crew and this film proves that its fuel is not out yet. Join me on a world mission to stop AI and watch Ethan Hunt jump from a hill with a motorcycle. Story: Ethan Hunt and the IMF team must track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity if it falls into the wrong hands. With control of the future and the fate of the world at stake, a deadly race around the globe begins. Confronted by a mysterious, all-powerful enemy, Ethan is forced to consider that nothing can matter more than the mission -- not even the lives of those he cares about most. Ethan Hunt always goes rogue in every mission but in this entry, being rouge was necessary because of the precautions that this new threat might change the world. If this new threat was the plot for a spy film in the early 2000s, it would've been cliché or dumb. However, in today's technology and industry, this new threat definitely works very well. That new threat is AI. The use of AI in terms of storytelling really made the conflict more impactful to certain characters including Luther Stickell and Benji Dunn due to their computer hacking craft. This story impacts every character from Ethan Hunt to a smaller character like Degas played by Greg Tarzan Davis (Top Gun: Maverick). However, this isn't the only new threat in town. Ethan's old enemy Gabriel (Esai Morales) has returned and while this is our first time seeing him in this franchise, it resembles the culmination of this long-running franchise. An old enemy to finish the job. This story is much stronger than the previous entry but I still feel Fallout is the best directed film in the franchise. However, this film doesn't shy away from its characters and connection to this new threat because this will carry on to the next film and it does a good job balancing those elements. Every character has a play into this unknown threat and while it's focusing on Ethan and Gabriel, this threat lurks around the shadows and it's going to be central for the sequel. Every character here is given a moment to shine and the cast is amazing. The new standout would be Pom Klementieff as Paris and she killed it with her action sequences. The main cast including Tom Cruise and Hayley Atwell were fantastic and Hayley's character is so interesting and exquisite in a deadly way. I really liked that Ethan is showing her the new ropes as an IMF agent and their chemistry works very well. There is a lot of character development for Ethan Hunt and a lot of screen time for Hayler's character Grace. However, Ilsa Faust (Rebecca Ferguson) is still a crucial part of this franchise and her impact really determines the fate of Ethan Hunt and the mission itself. While we don't get a lot of screentime with her, she really packs a punch during her scenes and her character grows even more in this entry. Ethan himself is amazing and Tom Cruise really helps this character really develop and go to areas that we've never seen from his character's past. It's all about his past coming back to him and even we get one of the original actors from the first film to reprise their role which is Henry Czerny as Eugene Kittridge. All of those missions are connecting together for something greater and overall, the story is done very well by balancing action through character storytelling and development.
The action here is fantastic and it's mind-blowing that the majority is all practical and it's done very well without any really fast cuts or shaky cam. The Rome chase is one of my favorite action sequences in this franchise and it gets more intense with the train sequence. It's a balance of over-the-top but still realistic due to the practicality and work behind it. Props to the stunt team for creating long yet creative action sequences that feel fresh but still familiar to the franchise. Also, of course, we still see Tom Cruise running in three or more scenes. There is a bunch of inspiration from other forms of media including Uncharted and The Bourne films. The cinematography really elevates the action sequences and I really liked the tight yet wide-angle fight sequences including the night sequences. Plus, it looks like this is Fraser Taggart's first feature film as Director of Photography and he really killed it. You still get the stylish dutch angles and close-ups established by the franchise. The sound design is also very good and the iconic score still goes hard. The editing is solid throughout the action sequences and the production design is amazing with a lot on location and practically, especially with the entire train sequence. Overall, the production is amazing and they keep the technical action sequences to the max. However, even with those action sequences and great character development, I still have some issues.
Since this is a two-part film, the ending left an unsweet taste while still being conclusive. It's like a mission is completed but there's another mission still waiting to start. Still, the ending is conclusive and it opens up to what comes next. I wish we could've gotten more screen time for Rebecca Ferguson as Ilsa Faust and we are still missing Jeremey Renner. Like c'mon, where the hell is he? The action sequences are still fantastic but I feel like the previous entry had more weight and intense action drama while this one was more of a moving-to-next-location sequence. I feel like the pacing was a little bit draggy but it still managed to balance out the action with proper character-to-character drama. The only thing I hope we can get more of is Benji and Luther working together because those scenes are intense and well done. The airport scene is a great example of intensity that the franchise should continue with their next film. Besides those small issues including pacing, I still found myself on the edge of my seat. Tom Cruise keeps pushing this franchise to its limits and it's fantastic to see how each entry is getting bigger yet more intense than ever. Fantastic action sequences, great performances, and loads of fun! This is definitely one of the best films of this year and action cinema is thriving than ever! From John Wick: Chapter 4 to Mission Impossible 7, this is definitely a great year for cinema and practical production too as well! I cannot wait for the next entry and see where Tom Cruise goes next in his crazy stunts. Now Playing 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])
Peter Cullen. © 2023 Paramount Pictures, Skydance Media, Hasbro, New Republic Pictures, Di Bonaventura Pictures, and Bay Films. Directed by Steven Caple Jr.
Watched it in IMAX @ AMC Theaters
Unite or Fall The Autobots have returned once again for another world-ending battle which is the same plot as every Transformers film ever since. However, it's a fresh continuation from Bumblebee and it's smaller scaled now with more emphasis on the relationship between the Autobots and the humans. Did it work? Well, it did in certain areas but it still needs improvement. Let's journey back to the 1990s and once again join the Autobots on another world-saving mission to save Earth and Cybertron. Story: Optimus Prime and the Autobots take on their biggest challenge yet. When a new threat capable of destroying the entire planet emerges, they must team up with a powerful faction of Transformers known as the Maximals to save Earth. Growing up in the early 2000s, my look at Hollywood is pretty different from today's standards. I love big practical effects heavy shit but in a good way that doesn't seem cheap. Now in days, we have cheap overdone CGI shit with the WGA on strike while having VFX artists work overnight. However, there's one franchise that still has a soft spot in my heart. The Transformers franchise is my childhood. The toys I played with while my Pixar Cars toys were dusting into the sunset. It's magical that this franchise is still going strong and I'm happy to say that this latest entry really got me back into the good old times of the original bay trilogy. One of the elements that they are improving since the latest entry is the human characters. Recently, the human characters in Transformers are dull or not distinct like with the main protagonist Sam Witwicky. Mark Wahlberg just acted like himself and the other side characters are just dumb. However, Bumblebee changed the story in a completely different way and this latest entry followed the same track with Anthony Ramos as Noah Diaz. I liked his character in this film and his emotional stakes and relationship work this time in this franchise. The other side character which is played by Dominique Fishback, did a solid job and while it was a cliché character, the duo worked. The biggest change was its story point of view. It's now both sides of the coin including reducing the human characters' focus from 8 or 9 to just two people. It's a drastic change that made the story better and put more focus on the Autobots. It really worked and I felt like the conflicts worked between the Autobots and the humans. Especially with the Maximals. The Autobots get more character depth now which is very great for this franchise and I'm happy it's leaning toward the lore storytelling that I miss from the original trilogy. However, those are not the only elements that I missed.
The action in this film is going back to the classic type of action I missed but on a smaller scale. While we do still get the big final action set piece like in every Transformers film, this one felt like it was set off in its own little backyard in a good way. It's not gigantic but it's still a big final battle that has its stakes. The VFX is pretty solid here and while it can be very noticeable, I still enjoyed the action. It has that flavor of Bayhem but in its own way and direction. Small battles here and there but they are entertaining and nostalgic. It feels like the classic 80s Transformers but in live-action. The story here is straightforward but the plot unfolding in this film was not that bad. It still has its franchise cliches but it's less dumb and simple. The ending of this film is still questionable but let's see where this franchise is heading too next. Besides the improved story here, the production of this is very solid. I liked the VFX here with some practical effects to make the action more believable. The sound design is well done and the way it was shot was a huge improvement from the shaky cam and overcut shit that Michael Bay was using. I felt like the wider and still shots worked in this film and the type of direction it was going for. The cinematography is also solid but I wished it had more epic flares since it's a stable in this franchise. The music here was also good and overall, this film really improved every storytelling element that I could think of. The technical elements are still great but it's a much better improvement from the 4th and 5th films and good thing it's following the footsteps of the latest entry. However, it still has its classic Transformers flaws.
Even though this franchise is improving its past mistakes, I still believe the human dynamic is still weak in this film. Especially with the relationship between Noah and Elena. The writers don't find a way to stick the landing if these characters are friends or in a love relationship. It loses balance. What also concerns me about the future of human characters in this franchise is to make compelling human characters that have a different backstory that hasn't been explored yet. At first, I was into the idea of a scientist being part of this journey, but it felt like a McGuffin in a different way. The trait got weakened by the second act and I completely forget about it. That is a major problem with this franchise. There needs to be brand new traits that make these characters distinct and connect more with the Autobots. Speaking of the Autobots, I'm disappointed that they didn't use Bumblebee a lot in this film. Like literally, Bumblebee was your main Autobot in the last entry and you made him sit on the sidelines?! That's a big "bruh" moment. The Decepticons aren't that bad but they were the same as last time. They could've at least improved their motivations or even character traits but they kept it the same. Cliché writing is written all over this franchise. Besides the plot and characters, sometimes the cinematography felt bland which is not good. However, some of the VFX saved it from rubble. Overall, it's a much better improvement from the 4th and 5th entries and a solid continuation from the latest entry. Still, it has its cliché flaws that keep this franchise shining much brighter. While this franchise is trying to heal itself, it's a vast improvement from the older entries and a better continuation from Bumblebee. It's the best Transformers film since the first (including the latest one) and I'm happy it's trying to fix its mistakes from this ever-bloated bandaged franchise. The ending may be a shell shock for some fans, but it got me pumped up for the next entry. I cannot wait to see Optimus Prime kill more Decepticons while committing war crimes. Now Playing Only in Theaters. Vizeit Score: "B" (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-Cheif/Owner of Vizeit Reviews | (Chicago Indie Critics Member [CIC])
Melissa Barrera, Jenna Ortega, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Mason Gooding, and Devyn Nekoda. © 2023 Paramount Pictures, Spyglass Media Group, Project X Entertainment, Radio Silence Productions. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett.
The Slashing Continues In The Big Apple.
Quick Review: Horror films are on an uprising this decade and this latest entry is amazing. This franchise is never heating down and they keep ramping up the violence while trying out new things to keep every film fresh. This film is bloody and it's insane until the end. I had a good time with this film and this cast made the horror much more fun. I feel like this movie was more of an action-horror film rather than a slasher but it still had some horror in it. The story is very good and the plot is still unique like in every entry. There are moments that are changed to make the suspense even more gripping and the opening is by far the best in the sequel. It subverts your expectations and makes you think even more about what's to come. The meta-commentary on horror films is very funny and smart. I love how they make fun of film bros and Gen Z filmmakers. Scream's social commentary keeps the series strong and their new interpretation worked here well. The cast is very great as always. Jenna Ortega gets more of a spotlight and I loved Melissa Barrera's character even more. The new cast of characters is also very good and it's nice to see the legacy characters back in this franchise. While we don't see Sidney Prescott (Neve Campbell) back, it's nice that we hear a mention of her character. The plot is very interesting. There are a lot of unexpected moments that will leave you questioning who's going to live or die. However, there are a bunch of plot holes that make the plot deform in the final act. The reveal was unexpected but I was half-sold on the motivations since we have seen it done before and it was kind of predictable. However, the ending was satisfying. The cinematography is a step up from the latest entry and the pacing of this film was pretty great. Overall, this film is a great entry into the franchise. While I believe last year's entry is still the best sequel in the series, this one was unique. More bloodier kills and more fun! That is what the Scream franchise is and the steam won't end. 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 film website.) Copyright © 2023 Vizeit Reviews / Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. |
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