Hiep Tran Nghia, Dustin Nguyen, Phi Vu, and Dali Benssalah. © 2023 K Period Media and Thunder Road Films. Directed by Sing J. Lee.
Watched it at Sundance Film Festival 2023 Online through Eventive (Sundance #2)
A Simple Overtime Job Gone Wrong. If I was the uber driver in this film, I would've been dead but this grandpa knows how to calm down in a situation like this. But the situation goes into a complete direction full of heart, drama, and grief behind a director that has full of potential. This film really surprised me mid-way through and I was hooked due to its direction. What makes it more special is that it's inspired by real-life events so I was intrigued by its plot and oh boy, it was sure a well-surprised indie film. Join me on a Uber ride and explore the conflicting lives of these men and the old grandpa just trying to live his life. Story: Long, a Vietnamese driver in Southern California, answers a late-night call for a ride. Already in his pajamas, he reluctantly accepts, picking up a man, Tây, and his two companions. But the men, recently escaped convicts from an Orange County jail, take Long hostage at gunpoint, thrusting him into their getaway plan. When complications arise, the fugitives and their hostage hole up at a motel, and a tense waiting game unfolds. This definitely had that independent film feel but at the same time, it felt like a mid-budget film with excellent camera work and depth writing. I was intrigued by the story of this film and since it was inspired by real-life events, it makes this film rawer. The plot itself was very surprising and it went in a completely different direction that really worked for this type of film. It's a huge scope of a film but when the plot changes in the second act, the film gets smaller but for the right reasons. The film wants the audience to connect with these characters and I was so invested in their journey. The grandpa was very great and I liked his calm performance. His character backstory was quite interesting and it explored a path of redemption while mentioning his past failures. The visual storytelling of his backstory was well done. I really loved his relationship with one of the criminals. Dustin Nguyen's performance was very great and his chemistry with Hiep Tran Nghia who played the grandpa as Long Ma was well done. Their relationship grew from being serious to a father-son relationship. It's heartwarming and it shows that small moments with words and actions can change people's lives. The other two criminals were also pretty good but the one that stood out the best and can potentially get some awards buzz is actor Dali Benssalah as Aden. Dali gives a gut-wrenching performance, especially during an emotional scene between him and Long Ma. That scene inside the motel was haunting and just raw. That scene alone sold me for the entire film with his fantastic performance and amazing directorial debut from Sing J. Lee. Lee lets the scene play out and lets the actors take control of the scene while giving it space to let the director create a distinct look for each scene. I really liked his directing of the film and his drama direction really made it more real and dark while not being over the top. It's a calm drama film but it has weight to it throughout the film. The cinematography is very great with its film look and with the orange lighting and natural lighting, it pops out. I'm glad that my expectations took a turn for the first time in a while and this film really brought what I love about independent films by using huge-scope stories but making it small as possible. Even every little indie film will have some problems along the way which is normal. I would say the pacing of this film was pretty mixed. It was fast in the first 20 minutes but it slowed down but it was fast again but slow again. It was all over the place and I felt like the pace really made me think that the film felt dragged. I wished we could've gotten to know more of Eddie Ly who is the younger robber in the crew. I felt like there was some missing runtime with his character. Plus, the plot felt lost midway through the film but the slower dramatic yet touching moments kept the film focused on the characters rather than the plot which helps the film a lot. Besides that, I thought this was a very well-made independent film. Don't expect some wild action sequences, it's a much deeper film that will either love or might be disappointed. I really was surprised by this film's plot and characters. This was a well-made independent film with love and passion behind this project. Filled with great performances, gut-wrenching scenes, and beautiful cinematography. This was such a pleasant experience and I hope we get more films like this in the future. It's such a nice treat to see more Asian filmmakers in the indie spotlight. Coming Soon... 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.
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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.
David Earl. © 2022 Focus Features, BFI, Film 4 Productions, and Mr Box Productions. Directed by Jim Archer.
Watched it on Peacock (Written on Letterboxd)
Quick Review: This was wholesome. It’s a small indie British film about a lonely man who creates a robot to have a friend around his life. It’s a small film but there’s a lot of heart in the film. It’s beautifully shot and the mockumentary style is pretty good. I liked how it switches from documentary to narrative. I really enjoyed the chemistry between Brian and Charles. It’s funny and sweet. The ending is emotional and happy. The coloring in this film is very great and it pops off when it’s blue. I liked the building of awkward relationships in this film including the love relationships. It got creative with its shots, directing, and pace of the film. While it’s definitely slow and takes time to get to know these people, it helps build relationships over time. It can be a little bit draggy and not going in any direction. I thought the bully was typical and I’m glad they got bullied back in the end. I would say that it was kind of empty between the second and third acts but the final act was the strongest part. The first 20 minutes were definitely the best part but after that, it was slow which bothered me. It’s not that slow but it can take a while to get to the good stuff of the film. In the end, this is just a buddy film with a robot and I liked it. It may not be for everyone but I thought it was pretty good overall. Could’ve used more cabbage. Now Streaming on Peacock and VOD. 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. John Boyega and Selenis Leyva. © 2022. Bleecker Street, Salmira Productions, EPIC Magazine, Little Lamb, and UpperRoom Productions. Directed by Abi Damaris Corbin. Watched it at AMC Theaters
Based on a true story, a veteran must rob a bank not to get his money, but to send a message. This film was riveting and there was something about this film that made me appreciate more and love this story and film. It's a sad story for sure but there is some truth behind it. True filmmaking care behind it and they respected the real-life story and people behind this tragic event. This is a film that will be looked at in the coming years when the VA or something about the US government gets exposed of something. This film really captivated me and today, you will read why this film could become truly special for these kinds of stories in the future. Plot: Desperate for money and running out of options, Marine veteran Brian Brown-Easley holds several people hostage inside a bank, setting the stage for a tense confrontation with police. But everything starts to turn when he notices the racial tension between the cops and himself. But there is someone who can help him to keep him alive and still get the money from the VA department. This story was very interesting when I read the synopsis and realized that it was based on a true story. I was going to watch it at Sundance but I rather wait to watch it in theaters and that was a great decision. This film felt it needed to be seen in theaters because of the great cinematography and great directorial debut directing. This film was really strong for an independent film and it passed my expectations. The story was sad yet tense and there was so much depth to make the audience care for the real-life character and they did justice. John Boyega's performance was very fucking good with a lot of emotions and he really made this person feel real on screen. John Boyega is such an underrated actor and he should deserve a lot of attention for this performance. The other side characters including the hostages and police chief were also great as well. The late Michael K. Williams was great in the film as well. I really enjoyed his performance and it hits differently when I see one of his final performances on screen. The characters were great, and we get to see their point of view of the situation, which gets very tense in the end. There was interesting racial tension as well with some of the cops and the FBI. They really did not hide that and that's really good. It can be a little controversial but when you watch the final words on the screen, it really changed the whole point of view of this story and film overall. The production of this film is really great as well. I liked the set of the bank and they had money to have badass cops around the bank. I really liked the cinematography and the color palette was very sleek. Overall, the production was very great and it managed to look like a mid-budget film. The makeup on John Boyega's character looked very similar to the real Brian Brown-Easley and they did a great job in that department of filmmaking. The story and characters are strong and they really brought the tension high to this film. But some of the tension didn't quite work out for me. One of the biggest flaws of this film is that some of the tension was starting to die down. Midway through, I felt like some of the tension was dying down due to lack of any new story development with some of the side characters or the cops not doing anything. There was some tension near the end but it died down quickly. The scenes with the ex-wife were interesting but they didn't quite grab my attention. Only the kid and the father were very important and not the ex-wife which kind of disappointed me. Plus, I wanted to see more of a reaction to the mother before the finale. Michael K. Williams's character was great but I felt like he didn't get enough screen time or character development to connect with Brian. But it came in full circle in the end with his final scene. We still don't know what led to Brian's death which is a real-life mystery but I wish they could've explained it more. Basically, in much simpler terms, the second act was slow yet felt empty. It started to lose its steam within its dramatic storytelling and I felt like there was something missing that keeps me holding back. There was tension for sure, but it didn't grab that full tension between Brian and the hostages. It was quite there but didn't quite catch it. But in the final minutes of the third act that leads to Brain's death, that's where the film starts to pick its pace up. Just some narrative story issues but still, this was solid overall. This is a very solid directorial debut and there was passion behind this unique project. Interesting real-life story with great performances, solid cinematography with a cool blue color palette, and great independent production. This was a great indie film and I'm happy that these kinds of films are still being produced and that's why I love about independent cinema. I recommend watching this film and this is a director that should be followed in the coming years. What an interesting independent film! Now Playing Only in Select Theaters. Vizeit Score: "B" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. Watched it on Peacock 🦚 (Written on Letterboxd) Quick Review: What in the hell did I just watch? Is this torture p**n or A24 horror but with a bad story? Uhhh, both. This film was empty with an unexplained message. While the ending did say the message, the second act was boring and meaningless. The fucked up scenes really got my attention but they didn’t do much with the story. Another fucked up movie called Men (2022) had those scenes but it made sense right away in the first act of the film. It's just narration with barely any dramatic story and even the performances didn’t save this film. I was pretty disappointed with the story and I wish they focused more on the story. However, the fucked up scenes really creeped me out which is good. Plus, the cinematography is very great. It's just wasted with this interesting story but the execution of it was not working. This film could’ve been more great if they didn’t harm that poor baby. Bruh, y’all fucked up. Go watch The Witch because it has a story and great characters. Not this, I'm sorry. Now Streaming on Peacock 🦚 and on VOD. Vizeit Score: "D" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2022. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr. |
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