Quick Reviews: Kinds of Kindness, Furiosa, Inside Out 2, Bad Boys Ride or Die, In a Violent Nature, Under Paris, Thelma, The Bike Riders, A Quiet Place: Day One
Hey! I’ve been a way for a minute, but during that time I did see a few films I wanted to mention that were recent releases. This will be a quick run through several titles, but I will be back to more detailed reviews in the coming weeks. Thank you for reading as well, it’s truly always appreciated. :)
“Kinds of Kindness”
Yorgos Lanthimos is a terrific filmmaker with a sharp eye for composition. And yet he’s very hit and miss for me when it comes to his filmography. Love “The Favourite” and “Poor Things”. Hate “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” and the was not overly impressed with “The Lobster”. When I saw the trailer for “Kinds of Kindness” I was enthusiastic as it had a series of beautiful shots, an all-star cast, and Emma Stone, who starred in two of his best efforts, was returning for this film as well. This time it’s three 40 minute to one hour stories, all loosely connected and with the cast playing different roles in each, with an absurdist tone to the humor throughout. And there’s elements of the film I enjoy: Jesse Plemons is excellent in each story, and Emma Stone continually seems to get the tone Lanthimos is aiming for in each project they work together on. But Lanthimos also has a way of making his films, while admittedly well-composed and often effectively acted, feel so pretentious it can come off as alienating to the viewer. While the three stories aren’t entirely sabotaged by this detail, each story is adversely impacted by this quality. As a result the almost three hour runtime proved to be a grind in the theater. There’s enough of interest here to give it a viewing on streaming (particularly a hilarious dog montage in the second story and Plemon’s and Stone’s performances overall). I would even go so far as to say despite it not being to my tastes, I am glad films like this are being produced. But while it doesn’t rank as Yanthimo’s worst it isn’t anywhere near his best as well. 6/10
”Furiosa”
Is it as good as “Mad Max: Fury Road”? Not quite, but then again few modern films are. But is it pretty damn close, with dazzling action sequences, a hellaciously cool performance from Anya Taylor-Joy, and Chris Hemsworth chewing up the scenery as a truly hilarious yet haunting villain? You bet. Director George Miller continues to confirm his supremacy as one of the best action filmmakers in cinema and the feminist subtext of “Fury Road” is strong in “Furiosa” as well. While the previous film very famously had no fat on the bone and remained taut and focused for the entire run time, the story in this effort does feel a little misguided at times, though overall it is highly satisfying. It’s a film bursting with an energetic pulsed and I dare say it not only honors “Fury Road” with the choices it makes but even strengthens that film. The movie gives you just a bit more detail on who Furiosa is without ever giving too much away so she keeps that air of mystery that makes her so appealing. While prequels are often maligned in film, “Furiosa” ranks as one of the few prequel efforts that truly elevates the established mythology. 9/10
”Inside Out 2”
I loved the original film and the way it took the concept of emotions and employed creative ideas as to how they would function under pressure if they were personified. While some films exploring complex ideas can feel very segmented, the original film had a strong three act structure and the payoff at the conclusion of the film was very satisfying. The sequel not only matches the quality of the original film, but in many ways might even surpass it as this film delves into puberty and the torrent of new emotions one develops during adolescence. This is best exemplified by Anxiety (voiced by Maya Hawke), who is the highlight of the film and the much talked-about panic attack scene is so clever but also so evocative of what that situation truly feels like, it has caused many adults, myself included, to become emotional in the theater. The animation itself also looks gorgeous, as the concept allows for a vibrant palette and rarely does Pixar not deliver in that regard. The “Inside Out” films now rank behind “Up” and “Wall-E” as my favorite Pixar outings, and stand as a great example of what the studio can do that no studio can really capture in the same way. 10/10
”Bad Boys: Ride or Die”
“Bad Boys: Ride or Die” is like all of the Bad Boys movies: silly, ridiculously melodramatic at some times and firing buddy cope trope jokes at others, and pretty thoroughly entertaining throughout. The strength of the movies rests almost entirely on the chemistry of Martin Lawrence and Will Smith, who continue to have a very effective form of onscreen chemistry. Based on the box office success of the film this is being perceived as somewhat of a comeback film, which makes sense and plays to Smith’s strengths. While he’s a competent solo actor, Smith is always the most interesting when he can play off someone who is an effective form of a straight man and can be a focus of his wisecracks. Whether it’s Tommy Lee Jones, Jeff Goldblum, or Martin Lawrence, it seems to be the position that best utilizes his talents. 7/10
”In A Violent Nature”
Felt like a campy grindhouse slasher produced by A24, and it was all the better for it. While there are moments where the third person perspective gimmick felt a bit overused, especially in long walks throughout the woods, but it is apparent through the course of the film that this was somewhat the point. The film offers a fresh take on the genre since the entire film is from the killer’s perspective, which while that has been done before (Peeping Tom, Leslie Vernon), it hasn’t really been done in this fashion. Also while the atmosphere and cinematography are taking the material very earnestly, the writing is clearly having more fun with the content, and there’s a healthy does of gallows humor throughout. Perhaps no scene better exemplifies that more than the much-discussed “yoga girl” scene, which by itself is worth the price of admission. 8/10
”Under Paris”
Netflix advertised this French shark attack movie as "the best shark film since "Jaws". This attempt to return to the old-fashioned monster movie with a yarn about killer Sharks in the Seine has a handful of moments and shots that I did genuinely appreciate and thought it revealed some understanding as to how to provide a sinister aura to the sea predators. But a flimsy script provides little character for the actors involved in this effort, and much of the CGI is pretty dreadful, at times laughably so. It doesn't plunge to the depths of quality in the same ironic way that something like "Sharknado" does, which is to the latter film's benefit, and yet the film appears to be just as campy while trying to play the scenario straight. Whereas the aforementioned "Jaws" was a master class in suspense building and utilizing a less-is-more approach, "Under Paris" falls flat by trying to deliver a spectacle but not developing the components or special effects budget to bring that spectacle to fruition. 4/10
”Thelma”
94-year old June Squibb has made a late-stage career resurgence out of offbeat, often hilarious supporting roles in a variety of movies, most notably in “Nebraska” for which she received a well-earned Oscar nomination. “Thelma” is the first starring role she’s had in her career, and Squibb is such a delight in the role. The story concerns Thelma being fleeced of a large sum of money by someone posing as her son over a phone call, and Thelma's determination to receive her money back from these con artists. The film uses this premise to create what is essentially an action movie headed by a woman who is over 90, and it is precisely as funny, bizarre, and even endearing as it sounds. Squibb is lovely in the lead role, and she nails the comedic beats, both with a script full of zingers and some impressive physical comedy as well. Her relationship with her grandson is likely the highlight of the movie for me, as it gives the entire film an emotional core and a measure of heart to boot. And while I won't spoil the ending, the conclusion proves to be wildly satisfying. 9/10
”The Bike Riders”
A fairly paint-by-numbers picture revolving around a biker club inspired by the real-life Chicago biker club, the Chicago Outlaws. The film is essentially a love triangle, with the biker Benny (Austin Butler, who continues to impress) having to choose between his love for his wife (Jodie Comer) and the bike club he’s a part of, headed by his mentor, Johnny (Tom Hardy). Having Tom Hardy, Austin Butler, Michael Shannon, and several other character actors have a ball sharing scenes and playing an array of quirky characters can make for entertaining viewing, and the film certainly romanticizes the bond of being on the open road together on these metallic chariots with how it is presented. Perhaps the film’s biggest shortcoming is throughout the story feels like one that has been seen before. All the elements that are there work properly and tell a cohesive story but there doesn’t seem to be much new in how it is presented. Then again, sometimes that brings a sense of comfort for the viewer. If the direction is competent, the performances are good, and the pacing is consistent, following a formula isn’t necessarily a bad thing. 8/10
”A Quiet Place: Day One”
This series continues to prove that with filmmakers and a script that knows how to build tension and establish characters you can connect to, PG-13 horror can still be effective and dare I say vicious. Lupita N'yongo was incredilble in Jordan Peele's "Us" and shows again she delivers in a horror setting. Lupita is one of the most expressive actors working today, able to speak volumes with just her eyes and her face, and that is certainly on display in this film. She's wonderful in this, as is Joseph Quinn as her human companion in the film, but they both play second fiddle to the star of the film: Frodo the cat. This cat, pet to N'yongo's Sam (Sam and Frodo, get it?), has so much personality, and they way they utilize the cat throughout feels organic and natural, and also is the source for some of the most suspenseful moment in the film. The "Quiet Place" franchise is always quick to action and rarely lets up, and while that's one of the strengths of the franchise, at times it can make for some muddled moments in the story. But this series isn't showing any signs of decline, and I for one cannot wait to see the next entry. 8/10