The One and Only Ivan Film Review

Directed by Thea Sharrock

Starring: Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Phillipa Soo

Rated PG for mild thematic elements

The One and Only Ivan is a new film exclusively on Disney +. In this film, Ivan (voiced by Sam Rockwell) is a gorilla who is a performer at at a circus at a mall. He, along with other animals such as rabbit and seal, preform for Mack (played by Bryan Cranston). One day a new baby elephant, Ruth (voiced by Brooklynn Prince), arrives and starts to impress the crowds. Ivan soon realizes that he and his animal friends do not belong in a cage and yearns to be free.

The One and Only Ivan sets their focus on Ivan and all the other creatures he interacts with. It goes without saying that training a real gorilla would be challenging, so the filmmakers resorted to using CGI. The CGI in this film is impeccable as it is barely noticeable. Ivan is well designed and has characteristics like a real gorilla would. Sam Rockwell voicing the gorilla also helps us believe Ivan is actually on screen. Rockwell sounds natural voicing the character. Never does it feel like Sam Rockwell is voicing a gorilla, more like a beautiful gorilla is present on screen. Ivan also interacts well with the other animals such as Bob the dog (voiced by Danny DeVito) and Ruth. While Bob serves as a sidekick for Ivan, Ruth serves as the reason why Ivan wants to be free.

The film can be best described as adorable film that serves well with children. While children may enjoy the film, there are some glaring issues with the writing. At first, we see see Ivan is the main star of the show at the mall circus. When Ruth arrives, we see that Ivan has been replaced as the main star of the show for her. We get the impression that somehow Ivan is jealous of this new change. The audience is set to believe that this will be film that features Ivan and Ruth vying for the top billing. This narrative is soon changed to Ivan wanting to be free in the wild. While having this plot is not harmful, its not placed in the forefront at first. Instead, this narrative is brought to the film about 30 minutes in the film.

Throughout the film, we see Mack present the show. Cranston, as always, does an excellent job in the role as the man selling his show. My only gripe with the film being we do not see enough of this character. I know Ivan is the main star of the film and we have to focus on him, but the film misses on an opportunity to reflect on Mack. In the third act, we see protesters calling for the release of Ivan. Mack is seeing the group at the mall and we only see a facial expression. The next scene cuts to a newspaper headline saying Mack would release the animals. This would have been a perfect opportunity to see Mack’s way of thinking. There was no way he made the decision to release his animals after watching the news. There had to be thought and consideration on his part. Instead of exploring this concept, we jump straight ahead to the end result.

While I have some issues with the writing of the film, its still a decent watch. Ivan, along with all the other animals in the film, are appealing and bring joy to the film. The voice work done behind these animals are also well done and you never get a sense that an actor is voicing them. If you do not think too critically about the film and take it as it is, The One and Only Ivan is a charming little film that brings joy to the screen.

3/4

Project Power Film Review

Directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback

Rated R for violence, bloody images, drug content and some language

Project Power is an action sci fi film starring Jamie Foxx as a man trying to find the source of a powerful new drug. A new unknown drug that gives the user a unique superpower for five minutes hits the streets of New Orleans. Art (played by Jamie Foxx) teams up with Robin ( played by Dominique Fishback) in finding the supplier of this new drug. Frank (played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt) is also on a mission of finding the source of the drug, but is also seeking Art, as Frank believes he is the supplier of the drug.

The film’s main star, Jamie Foxx, absolutely sells this film as he is the best part of it. As always, Foxx delivers in a role that, quite honestly, doesn’t require too much range. But Foxx gives it his all in a role that could have been done without an emotional depth. Dominique Fishback is also a main player in the film and does an excellent job. While she has not done too much work and is considered a newcomer, she certainly holds her own against veteran actors Foxx and Gordon-Levitt. She leaves a mark on the film mostly due to the type of character she plays. The film doesn’t treat her character as a sidekick and never stoops down the be the damsel in distress. Fishback is perfect in the role of Robin, we can only hope we see more of her in future roles.

As alluded before, this a film that has a plot of a new drug giving its users a unique superpower. This concept has originality and is worth exploring in a film. Unfortunately, this concept is not fully explored in the film until the final act. Having a drug giving users superpowers is an excellent concept and the film could have gone all out with it. Throughout the film, we only hear of stories on the radio of drug users creating chaos throughout the city. While we get a few glimpses of people taking the drug and using the power, we can only imagine how others react to the drug. A filmmaker’s main goal is “show, don’t tell”, meaning show us the action, don’t tell us it happened. The film’s main flaw is its telling us what happened to drug users, not showing us. I am not sure if the film decided not to show us how powerful the drug is due to budget constraints or not wanting to go full superhero film, but it fails in leaving a mark in its respective genre.

Since the film doesn’t utilize its original concept until the final act of the film, it mostly falls flat. Having Art and Robin search for the source of the drug in its first two acts of the film feels like your run of the mill mystery film. Yes, there are some instances in the first two acts where someone takes a pill and we see their power, but its only a few characters. Just imagine if two characters took the pill and we see two powerful beings engage in a brawl. Once again, there could have been more done with this concept. But the film not exploring its ideas to the fullest does not take away enjoyment from the film. With all the flaws of the film, it does have its moment and it is a simple watch. I would be lying if I did say I did not enjoy some moments or some of the action. When the action hits the screen, it does grab the viewer’s attention. While some of the action does feature of subpar CGI, the CGI necessary doesn’t take away from the film. It is noticeable and it is worth pointing out.

Project Power is a film that works due to its stars who give excellent performances and its straightforward action. While an original idea such as the one presented in the film should have been a home run, unfortunately, it fails to delivers. Since the film decides to play it safe and not go all out, Project Power is an forgettable film that only succeeds due to the cast and action sequences. Project Power is worth a watch if there is nothing new to watch on Netflix, but don’t expect to get much out of this project.

2.5/4

12 Angry Men Film Review

Directed by Sidney Lumet

Starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam

12 Angry Men is a courtroom drama, directed by legendary director Sidney Lumet, that follows 12 jurors. These 12 jurors have to deliberate and decide whether a young man is guilty of murdering his father. All jurors except juror number eight (played by Henry Fonda) think the young man is guilty. What ensures is all the jurors talking it out and trying to figure out if the young man committed the murder.

Based on the teleplay by Reginald Rose, the film mostly plays out as a play. The setting of the film takes place in one room as the jury has to decide on their verdict. As the film takes place in one room, most of the film’s charm comes from the actors and the sharp dialogue. As the majority of the film takes place in one setting, its would be natural for all 12 characters to get lost in the mix. Instead, all the characters in the deliberation room have personality and they make the effort to stick out. This is mostly done due to the screenplay, written by Reginald Rose, as the background of the characters is sprinkled throughout the film. At the end of the film, you recall all the personalities such the foreman who is a high school coach or the quiet, but firm, stockbroker who wears glasses.

With the background of the characters established, we can tell how each character would react in each scenario. We get a mixture of calm and collective characters who wants to hear the facts and are willing to change sides. On the other hand, we also get a mixture of angry, hot headed characters who are quick to deliver a guilty verdict and are certain this man did the crime. We also see characters from different backgrounds react to the case and how their backgrounds have an effect to the case. Watching these characters interact is fantastic as we get to see different personalities and ideals clash. They bicker and argue and have different opinions when listening to the facts. They are not lying about the facts but see the facts from a different perspective and form different opinions.

The main star of the film is legendary actor Henry Fonda as juror eight. Fonda somehow transforms himself to an regular everyday man who is not certain that the young man is guilty and is willing to talk out the decision. Because of his relaxing demeanor and is willingness to have an open dialogue, this juror is able to slowly convince other jurors of a not guilty verdict. Fonda’s character is one we all strive for as his character is one that doesn’t get upset easily. He knows there is a possibility that an innocent man is being sentenced and disputes the facts as they do not add up. Juror eight’s polar opposite is juror 3 (played by Lee J. Cobb), a man who is loud and brash. Juror 8 sees the facts of the case, but uses these facts as a front for his decision as he actually uses personal reasons to make his guilty decision.

12 Angry Men is a classic film that is driven by its smart screenplay and top notched acting. Bound to one setting, the film doesn’t rely on twists or flashy camera movements to tell a story. 12 Angry Men is a simple story of 12 men having to decide whether or not a man is guilty of murder. It sticks to this plot and it does it well. The plot is delivered by actors who give personalities to their roles. They make their characters stand out in a film filled with a large cast. 12 Angry Men is one of those must watch classic films that everyone will enjoy.

4/4

Palm Springs Film

Directed by Max Barbakow

Starring: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons

Rated R for sexual content, language throughout, drug use and some violence

Palm Springs is a the directorial debut of Max Barbakow. In this comedic fantasy film, Nyles (played by Adam Samberg) relives the same day over and over again and lives a miserable life. After an odd incident, Sarah (played by Cristin Milioti) also gets stuck in a time loop with Nyles and soon shares a miserable life with him. Despite whatever these two pair do, whether it is attempt suicide or fall asleep, these two awaken to the same day. They must learn to live this unsettling life and make the best of it.

Palm Springs is an enjoyable comedic film that works well due to its main leads. The two main leads, Samberg and Milioti, work well together and bring out a good laugh. While the film isn’t laugh out loud hilarious, it does bring out a good chuckle every once in a while. It’s unfortunate that the film isn’t as comedic as I hoped it would be. But this doesn’t take away any enjoyment the film has going for it. In addition to the main leads, J.K. Simmons have a small, but memorable role as Roy. Roy is also in the same situation as Nyles and Sarah and wants revenge for being trapped in the time loop. As stated before, Roy’s role is very brief and I would have preferred he have a much larger role. But for the short amount of time he is on screen, he certainly made his presence known.

While the film is certainly a fantasy film, and it doesn’t hide this fact by going all out, it is still somewhat relatable. When we learn that Nyles has been reliving the same day over and over for some time now, we realize why he wakes up so lifeless at the start in the film. It soon dawns on us that life can get this dull for some people and it all becomes repetitive. It’s odd to say a film that embodies Groundhog’s Day has a relatable quality, especially in these times we are living in. I credit writer Andy Siara for this achievement, along with writing an engaging screenplay.

While Palm Springs was released on Hulu, it feels like this film was swept under the radar. The film is unfortunately getting little attention now, but Palm Springs almost seems destined to be a cult classic years from now. Palm Springs is definitely worth a watch as there is much enjoyment to be had in this comedy film.

3/4

Quick Film Reviews for 7/27/2020

Over the past few days, I have seen multiple films on streaming services. Instead of a lengthy review that deeply explores each film, I instead decided on quick reviews for each films that get straight to the point.

Stand and Deliver

Stand and Deliver is the true story of a math teacher who teaches at a school that is ran by gangs and receives little government funding. Jamie Escalante (played by Edward James Olmos) is new to James A. Garfield High School in East Los Angeles. The students at the school are barely taught and as a result receive poor grades. But Mr. Escalante knows the students can be taught and decide to teache the kids calculus. But after taking an rigorous AP calculus exam, the students are accused of cheating. But they soon are out to prove that they are not cheaters and are capable of passing an AP calculus exam.

Stand and Deliver can be best described as a feel good, inspirational film. The lessons taught in this film can be applied in everyday life. At the start of the film, no one believes in these kids except Mr. Escalante. He proves that with determination and patience, anyone can achieve anything. Edward James Olmos is the main star of the film and certainly delivers as the role of the energetic math teacher. Not only is he smart, but also is witty and knows how to engage the students and the audience as well. Stand and Deliver could have been another by the books film. Instead its an uplifting film that everyone can relate to.

3/4

Stand and Deliver is now on Netflix.

The George McKenna Story (Hard Lessons)

The next film is The George McKenna Story, later re-titled Hard Lessons. Similar to Stand Deliver, this made for TV film tells the story of a troubled school struggling to change its image. But instead of focusing on a teacher, we focus on a principal. George McKenna (played by Denzel Washington) is new to George Washington High School and has the daunting task of changing the environment at the school. He soon finds out this task is more difficult than expected. But with perseverance, he is able to change the school.

This film is also an inspirational piece, but unlike Stand and Deliver, Hard Lessons is, unfortunately, not as enjoyable. In fact, this film is a cheesy film that plays out exactly how an 80’s TV movie would. While film making techniques such as playing sappy music over a montage would have worked in the 80’s, it has aged terribly 34 years later. The film also quickly glances over some important issues such as McKenna’s marriage not working out. We see McKenna and his wife growing apart due to work. They are soon separated, but the film never mentions this again. The film gives more time to an English teacher’s love for Shakespeare, rather than the subject of McKenna’s personal life.

The film would have worked well if it were an actual film, whether it was direct to DVD/VHS or a theatrical release. With the restraints of being a TV film and having to be under two hours long, with commercials included, the film is unable dive deep in major plot points. The film’s main draw is its star Denzel Washington, who was early in his acting career. Without Washington at its helm, the film would have been largely forgotten.

2/4

Hard Lessons is now on Netflix.

The Good Liar

The Good Liar is a thriller staring Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen. Roy (played by Ian McKellen) is a con artist who soon starts dating Betty (played by Helen Mirren). Roy is trying to swindle Betty out of her money by having her transfer her money into a joint bank account. But Roy soon realizes that this is not as easy as it looks and is soon tricked himself.

The Good Liar is a film that is filled with multiple twists and turns. The audience expects the film to go one route, but ends up going down another route. The surprises are sort of expected by the way some of these characters behave, but genuinely come out nowhere. These surprises are sold well by its star Mirren and McKellen, who are in top peak who are believable as an older couple. These two show that despite their older age, they can still handle their own in a thriller. This is an intriguing film that is worth a watch. It’s pleasantly enjoyable film with two great actors.

3/4

The Good Liar is now on HBO.

“Hitch” Film Review

Directed by Andy Tennant

Starring: Will Smith, Eva Mendes, Kevin James

Rated PG-13 for language and some strong sexual references

Hitch is a romantic comedy starring Will Smith as the titular character. Alex “Hitch” Hitchens is a dating coach who helps men land a date with the woman of their dreams. Hitch helps Albert (played by Kevin James) get a date with Allegra Cole (played by Amber Valletta), a wealthy celebrity whose’s love life is on tabloid papers. While helping Albert, Hitch is also dating Sara (played by Eva Mendes), a gossip columnist who takes an interest in reporting Cole’s love life.

Hitch is a great hilarious film that brings a good chuckle out of me every once in a while. Will Smith was on top of the world during this era, coming fresh out of Bad Boys II and I, Robot. Smith proves that he is more than capable than starring in action films and can go back to his roots in comedy. Smith brings wit and charm to the role of the dating coach. It’s not hard to believe that Smith can cleverly pick up a date as his charisma works in his favor. In addition, Smith works best with his co stars Kevin James and Eva Mendes. The scenes with Smith and James are very humorous as their polar opposite personalities somehow works well. Meanwhile, the scenes with Smith and Mendes are adorable they are almost magnetic and work well off each other. These two are both charming and smart in their own way and you want to see these two succeed together.

While the film is a fine watch, it does have its typical cliches that are common in rom-coms. These cliches are not bothersome nor do take away from the enjoyment from the film, but its worth mentioning as the film does go by the numbers. Also, the ending is a bit too Hollywood for me. How do I mean? Well, the ending is a bit unrealistic and feels a bit forced. I know its customary for rom-coms to have a happy ending and I am certainly not asking for a gloomy ending, but something more realistic would be nice for a change.

Overall, Hitch is an enjoyable two hours filled with lighthearted and amusing moments. It’s stars Smith, Mendes, and James bring a good chuckle to the role every once in a while. Smith is certainly in top form here at the height of his popularity. Hitch is sweet comedic film that is certainly worth a watch.

3/4

“The Old Guard” Film Review

Directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood

Starring: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts

Rated R for sequences of graphic violence, and language

“The Old Guard” is a Netflix fantasy film directed by Gina Prince- Bythewood. In this action filled film, Andy (played by Charlize Theron) leads a army of four mercenaries who are immortal and have been on Earth for hundreds of years. They take a new solider, Nile, under their wing (played by KiKi Layne) as they try to keep their immortality a secret and defend themselves from a company trying to obtain their powers.

While “The Old Guard” is a fun and exciting film, there are some minor issues that plague the film. The first 15 or 20 minutes of the film goes by too fast and doesn’t let the audience take a breath. The film begins as we see the army lead by Andy meeting Copley (played by Chiwetel Ejiofor) as he offers the team a job to save kidnapped school girls being held captive by an armed militia. After a quick scene, the team is in South Sudan trying to rescue the girls. They soon find out the job was a set up and the team is quickly killed by gunfire. But we soon learn these characters are immortal, so they are still alive. While I do not have any problem with this scene or how it was executed, as it is a great scene,I have more of an issue of the lead up to the scene. Most films begin with an exposition, the audience is introduced to the characters and setting and then we slowly get to the plot. But the film seems to skip this and introduces the characters for a few minutes then gets to the plot rather quickly. It is understandable that the film has to get started and shouldn’t waste any time. But in the first few minutes of the film, we should learn that the characters are immortal and want to keep their secrets. But once the film gets to introduction of Nile, the film finally stops speeding and finally finds its own pace.

The very fast pacing of the 15 minutes of the film doesn’t take a toll on the film as its very engaging, especially in the second half of the film. Most of the excitement come from its star Charlize Theron who plays a tough mercenary who knows how to take command of her team. Theron seems to get more and more comfortable with these action roles and it certainly shows. She looks at ease in the film and gives a fantastic performance in the film. The rest of the team is also great as they certain hold their own and are able to succeed in hand to hand combat. In addition, the action sequences are quite fantastic. In the second half of the film, things really start to pick up and we see how great the team can function as a whole. When it comes to the action, these scenes are not only gruesome but also fun and energized.

“The Old Guard” works best as a Netflix film as its one of those films that can be viewed on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The end of the film certainly sets up the possibility for a sequel or even trilogy. I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel to the film, seeing the team on screen and actually engage in warfare, as most of the characters have done in the past. I recommend viewing “The Old Guard”, as its enjoyable, fun, and exciting for all audiences.

3/4

“Hamilton” Film Review

Directed by Thomas Kail

Starring: Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr.

Rated PG-13 for language and some suggestive material

Hamilton is a live recording of the 2015 Broadway musical of the same name. In Hamilton, we see the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton (played by Lin-Manuel Miranda) from the days of the American War of Independence to his deadly duel with Aaron Burr (played by Leslie Odom Jr.). During the musical, we see his relationship with other Founding Fathers such as Thomas Jefferson (played by Daveed Diggs) and his wife, Eliza (played by Phillipa Soo).

It’s difficult to review Hamilton as a film because the film is basically a live recording of the musical. This is not a live adaption of the musical as it take place in a theater. In the near future, we can only hope we get a live adaption of the musical. Nonetheless, the audience of the film can feel as if they are in the audience at the Richard Rodgers Theater (the theater where Hamilton was preformed) as we can hear the audience’s reaction at the end of each number. While it is wonderful to see the musical at its height of its popularity, I personally don’t feel as I’m with an audience watching the musical, but more of a recording of a musical. The reason being is when one is watching a musical, the audience can look at the entire stage and choose what they want to see. They are not limited to what they can view. As supposed to a film, a director will place the camera on a certain part of the stage and make the audience watch what needs to be watched.

But with that being said, Hamilton is a fantastic musical. The biggest component that stands out is the music and lyrics, which was written by Lin-Miranda. The songs convey the dialogue and story that needs to be told and does it without confusing the audience. The musical successfully inserts raps into its book and a key example being the rap battles between Hamilton and Jefferson. Miranda has this scene, which is supposed to be a debate to convince George Washington (played by Christopher Jackson), play as a rap battle to make a usually boring scene stand out and be exciting. These battles are well crafted and executed with some deep digs and some light humor incorporated into them. In addition, the songs itself can be moving when it needs to be. This is mostly due to the strong vocal performances given the by actors and displaying their emotions on the stage.

It goes without saying that Hamilton has a near perfect cast of actors. In the large cast, there was not one false note and almost every actor stood out. While much praise should be given to Lin-Manuel Miranda for his strong performance as Hamilton, he largely gets overshadowed by other actors. The actor who stood out from the rest of his peers is Daveed Diggs as Thomas Jefferson. Diggs brings humor into the role of the Founding Father and largely succeeds. He certainly knows how to impress the crowd with his humor, acting, and vocal abilities. Every moment he was on the stage, the scene became more engaging. Other stand outs include Leslie Odom Jr. who plays Burr. Odom Jr. brings cockiness and wit to the role of Burr. His vocal abilities is flawless and can make the audience pay attention whenever he is on the stage.

In addition, Anthony Ramos shines as John Laurens and Philip Hamilton due to his fine singing abilities and acting as well. His final scene was certainly emotional and I would have liked to see more of Ramos. Also, Jonathan Groff makes his presence known whenever he steps on the stage. Only on stage for a few scene, Groff is a memorable character as King George III. His role is more humorous more than anything and can make an audience laugh whenever he needs to. And when is singing, well, there’s a reason why he gets cheers from the crowd.

Hamilton is a engaging musical with interesting songs that is delivered by an impeccable cast. This is one of those films that cannot be viewed as it plays in the background as every second of the film gives information. While the film is over two and a half hours, it is best viewed with a little break during the intermission, like the audience at the real musical did. Hamilton is a film that is worth watching and see what the hype was all about all those years ago.

3.5/4

“Eurovision Song Contest:The Story of Fire Saga” Film Review

Directed by David Dobkin

Starring: Will Ferrell, Rachel McAdams, Pierce Brosnan

Rated PG-13 for crude sexual material including full nude sculptures, some comic violent images, and language

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga is a comedy film starring Will Ferrell and Rachel McAdams. They play Lars and Sigrit, two Icelandic singers who try everything to succeed in the music industry. They are finally given a chance when they participate in the Eurvision Song Contest, a annual contest that showcases the best singers from all participating European countries. The only issue is that these two are not too particularity good and the country of Iceland has very little faith in the duo winning the contest.

What works well in Eurovision is that Ferrell and McAdams surprisingly have good chemistry. It’s not great, but is passable for a film in which they spend the majority of screen time together. They both work great off each other and whenever they are not on screen together, the film slows down. It’s as if the film requires these two to be together at all times and if they are not, then it doesn’t work. But just because these two are together for the majority of the film, doesn’t mean that the film always succeeds. I also have to give credit to the music. In a film that is centered around music, it certainly works. This is due to actual past Eurovision winners lending their voices to a few songs. It also helps that a great singer such as Demi Lovato makes a brief appearance and also lends her voice.

But if Eurovision has two good leads and excellent music, why am I not more enthusiastic about the film? Well, to start off, the film is a bit too long. The films clocks in at over two hours and you can definitely feel the runtime. A film should only be two hours if the story calls for it. There were multiple instances where scenes should have been left on the cutting room floor. In particular, the party scene at the mansion and the two scenes with the elves do not do anything for me. Also, as mentioned before, the films comes to a halt when Ferrell and McAdams are not on screen together. This rings true at the mansion party scene as the film starts to drag on. This is the point in the film where it becomes tedious to watch but fortunately, it soon picks up.

Will Ferrell Eurovision movie: 8 real-life moments that made the cut

With a comedic film like this one, the real question is not is the story decent, its “is the film actually funny”? Well, yes and no. While I found myself chucking at a few jokes, there are multiple instances where a joke missed a mark. The film also misses a lot of opportunities with some of its characters. For example, we get the hilarious Graham Norton who plays a commentator for the contest. Unfortunately, he’s not given too many funny lines, instead is given decent jokes and sometimes unfunny jokes that do not work at all. Why would the film have someone like Graham and waste his character only useless commentary? Another example is at the mansion party. In this scene, we see statues of Alexander (played by Dan Stevens) that have large penises. Instead of using this joke and maybe having a bit where he’s exaggerating or something to that extend, its only used a gag joke for that scene only that once again doesn’t work. These are just a few examples where bits are only used once and not further explored.

Coming into this film, I wanted to have fun and enjoyment with the film. With all the current events, we should all have a film to watch and have fun with. Unfortunately, Eurovison Song Contest is not that film. Yes, the film has great music and its two leads, Ferrell and McAdams, work great together. But these two aspects are not enough to save a dull film that has very little humor.

2/4

Snowpiercer Film Review

Directed by Bong Joon Ho

Starring: Chris Evans, Song Kang-ho, Ed Harris

Rated R for violence, language and drug content

Snowpiercer is a sci-fi film directed by Bong Joon Ho. In 2014, in an attempt to stop climate change, a chemical is released that backfires. Now in 2031, the entire world is frozen and humanity is living on an everlasting moving train. In this train, the rich people live in the front of the train while the poor ones live on the back of the train in horrible conditions. Curtis (played by Chris Evans) is now leading a revolution with the help of the other passengers in that section of the train and plan to overtake the train.

The story of Snowpiercer is quite a creative one. Based on the graphic novel Le Transperceneige by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette, the screenplay was written by Bong Joon Ho and Kelly Masterson. This is a creative story of how humanity now has to survive on a fast speeding train that never stops. The story is certainly filled with thrills and surprises for the audience. This screenplay also explores the idea of class divisions and how the poor have little to no opportunity to move up the financial ladder. This not only applies to the train the film and humanity in real life. This is a theme Bong Joon Ho would brilliantly later explore in his film, Parasite.

Chris Evans is of course excellent as the role of Curtis. Curtis is a man who has lived in the poor section of the train for 18 years. He is exhausted of living in poor condition. He leads a revolution to get the people he cares about to the front of the train and control it. He is joined by Tanya (played by Octavia Spencer) and Edgar (played by Jamie Bell) in an attempt to control the train. These characters interact with Minister Mason (played by Tilda Swinton), one of the high ranking officials on the train. Swinton certainly has fun with the character as she goes all out with the role. The only downside is that she is only in the first half of the film and doesn’t appear too much. I would have loved to see more of this character.

While this is an intriguing film, there is one downside to the film and it is a minor one. The CGI is not up to par to what it should be. Now I understand that visual effects are not the most important aspect in a character driven story. But this is a story that takes place in a future where the world is literally frozen. Sometimes seeing the outside world can take me out of the film because how it looks. But I said, it is a minor gripe and certainly does not drag the film down. But if there were a downside to the film, this would be it.

Overall, Snowpiercer is a creative story that is exciting and interesting. This all star cast from Chris Evans to Tilda Swinton and from Octavia Spencer and Song Kang-ho are on their A game in this Bong Joon Ho directed film. It goes without saying that Bong Joon Ho is a ingenious director and Snowpiercer proves this.

3.5/4