The Irishman Film Review

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci

Rated R for pervasive language and strong violence

“I Heard You Paint Houses”. Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro are one of the greatest director/actor duos in the history of film. Films such as “Taxi Driver”, “Raging Bull”, and “Goodfellas” are excellent films that still hold up. The last feature film the pair made was in 1995 with “Casino”. So another collaboration between Scorsese and De Niro was overdue 24 years after “Casino”. “The Irishman” is the result of the new Scorsese and De Niro film, but is “The Irishman” as good as previous Scorsese and De Niro collaborations?

“The Irishman” is stars Robert De Niro, as Frank Sheeran, as truck driver gets involved with the mob with the help of Russell Buffalino (played by Joe Pesci). As his time in the mob, Sheeran is also involved with union leader, Jimmy Hoffa (played by Al Pacino), who infamously disappeared.

“The Irishman” has a excellent cast. Of course Robert De Niro is a legendary actor who works well with director Martin Scorsese. De Niro plays the usual character who is involved with the mob, such as “Goodfellas”. But Scorsese regular Joe Pesci is also excellent in the film, but is vastly different from we are used to seeing him. Pesci in Scorsese film is usually a mobster who is prone to anger. But in “The Irishman”, Pesci is a calm and collective mobster who doesn’t burst in anger. It was quite refreshing to see Pesci not play his usual character, but a different one who is quiet the opposite. In addition to De Niro and Pesci, Al Pacino is also quite well in the film, but there are some instances where Pacino plays his usual self. These days, the joke is how Pacino always yells in his films. This film does have Pacino yell at scenes, but it feels like a comedian doing a Pacino impersonation. Although his character was likable, scenes having Pacino yell feel like skits. Not that this is Pacino’s fault, but it feels like a tired trope.

Anyone who has seen Scorsese films know the usual tropes he likes to do. Having the long take, playing music over narration, the violence, etc. are all present in the film. I enjoyed these tropes and makes a film like this different and stand out from other films. But Scorsese films are known to be long as well, which does not bother me at all. But “The Irishman” is a very long film, clocking in around 3 and a half hours. This is a film that cannot be played in the background, it needs to be viewed without distractions. But since this film is so long, it is best viewed in two viewings. I watched the first half of the film one evening and finished the film the following day. Having the film over three hours does not mean the “The Irishman” is less of a film or should be ignored, but this is something that should be in mind when viewing the film.

“The Irishman” is also known for having a large budget, mostly due to de-aging technology used in the film for De Niro and Pesci. Unfortunately, the de-aging does yield mix results. Very early in the film, De Niro’s character is supposed to be a young man fixing a car. Pesci’s character approaches him and calls him “kid”. But De Niro looks like he was in his 50’s, so I am not sure if Pesci’s characters call everyone “kid” or if De Niro’s character was supposed to be in his 20’s or 30’s in this scene. If he was supposed to be in his 20’s or 30’s, then the film did a terrible job showing this. This technology is fairly new and I expect the technology to advance over the years, but in this instance it does not work at times.

Director Martin Scorsese returns to form by bringing back Scorsese regulars Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci in “The Irishman”. The film is filled with exceptional actors who, of course, deliver strong performances. As much as their is enjoyment in the film, the film is very long film that features de-aging technology that works well and not so well at times. “The Irishman” is a film that as good as previous Scorsese/ De Niro collaborations that is worth a watch on Netflix.

3.5/4

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood Film Review

Directed by Marielle Heller

Starring: Tom Hanks, Matthew Rhys, Chris Cooper

Rated PG for some strong thematic material, a brief fight, and some mild language

The very moment “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” begins, the audience hears very familiar musical notes. The film begins as it were an episode of “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood” and Tom Hanks appears on screen singing “it’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood...”. The audience instantly feels nostalgia for the days of when they were a child watching Fred Rogers. The nostalgia carries on throughout the film in a emotional filled film.

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” stars Matthew Rhys ,as Lloyd Vogel, as tough journalist who is tasked with writing a piece about children television host Fred Rogers (played by Tom Hanks). All while slowly learning what Fred Rogers is all about, Vogel uses his teachings and applies it to reconnecting with his father ( played by Chris Cooper).

As previously mentioned before, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” begins as it were an episode of “Mister Roger’s Neighborhood”. When Tom Hanks appears on screen, it threw me off because all I could see was Tom Hanks. But Hank’s performance as Fred Rogers quickly changed my mind and any doubts I had about him. Tom Hanks used Fred Roger’s mannerisms and voice to get into the role of Fred Rogers. I also applaud Matthew Rhys as Lloyd Vogel. Rhys is a Welsh actor who does a great American accent. No one would think this actor is from Wales because he doesn’t show signs of doing an American accent. But Rhys does a perfect job carrying the film. The film is not a Fred Rogers biopic, its a film that shows family conflict with Rogers being on the outside looking in. Rhys is the main actor of the film and his performance is as well done as Hanks.

Each time Hanks and Rhys are on screen, they are a joy to watch. Rogers is trying to get to Vogel to open up, yet Vogel just sees Rogers as another interview he has to conduct. But slowly, Vogel sees that Rogers doesn’t play a character in his television show. Rogers plays himself and actually cares about humans. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” shows Rogers sparingly, as he is not present for every scene of the film. The other half of the film displays a family drama that many of us may be familiar with.

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is a sweet, emotional film that sparks nostalgia the moment it starts. Actors Tom Hanks and Matthew Rhys have great chemistry when they are on screen together. The message that Rogers presents of being kind and forgiving is a message we can all get behind in this day of age.

3.5/4

Jojo Rabbit Film Review

Directed by Taika Waititi

Starring: Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, Scarlett Johansson

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, some disturbing images, violence, and language

Writer and director Taiki Waititi brings the novel, “Caging Skies”, to life in this dark comedy, “Jojo Rabbit”. “Jojo Rabbit” stars Roman Griffin Davis as a Hitler Youth, an organization for young children ran by the Nazi Party. Jojo is a 10 year old boy who loves his country and is willing to fight on the battlefield. But one day he discovers a young Jewish girl (played by Thomasin McKenzie) living in his house. Jojo, along with the help of his mother (played by Scarlett Johansson) must hide the young Jewish girl towards the end of World War 2.

“Jojo Rabbit” is a very funny film. Most of the jokes come at the expense of Nazis and their ridiculous ideas. But there is an issue with the film portraying Adolf Hitler and his Nazis as fun. In the beginning of the film, we see the real Adolf Hitler being adored by the German people, to the tune of the German version of “I Want to Hold Your Hand”. It’s one thing to show how brainwashed the German people were into seeing Adolf Hitler as a savior, but the upbeat music of the Beatles portrays him, well as he was John Lennon himself. I understand this is meant to be how the German people saw Hitler as the Beatles and how brainwashed they were, but the way it was convey makes viewers uncomfortable. It is scenes like this take me out of the film and questions Waititi’s comedic direction at times.

But just because the comedy of the film is uncomfortable at times, doesn’t mean that the film is unfunny. It is quite funny and very sweet. Waititi is a writer who knows how to write jokes that works. Not only are the comedic sides of the film great, but the writing as well. There are multiple scenes of tension and sadness that work great and have the viewer engaged. When a moment of sadness is presented on screen, the audience sympathizes with the characters, not only because of the acting, but because of how written those scenes are.

The acting in “Jojo Rabit” is top notch. Scarlett Johansson as Rosie, steals each scene as Jojo’s mother who is secretly against the Nazi government and hopes the war ends soon. Although her role is very brief, her presence on screen leaves a big impact long after she is gone. Sam Rockwell also stars in the film as an Army officer who was wounded in the war and is now tasked with running the Hitler Youth camp. His role is very comedic and quite likable, considering what he is an officer for the Nazis and has disparaging things to say about Jews. The reason why he is likable is probably because of his final scene in the film that makes him redeemable.

Roman Griffin Davis and Thomasin McKenzie, as Jojo and Elsa respectively, have a great chemistry on screen. Jojo is a character who is sympathetic to the government’s cause and even talks to an imaginary version of Adolf Hitler. Elsa is a young Jewish girl who is trying to hide from the government and from Jojo. So when they are first on screen, the viewer wonders what would Nazi sympathetic Jojo would do next. But slowly we see these two characters get along and form a bond, which I really liked. Once the film ended, I just wanted more from these characters and felt hopeful for their futures.

Although “Jojo Rabbit” has some uncomfortable aspects, it is still an enjoyable film. The excellent writing and the superb acting stand out from a film that deals with a sensitive topic not too many filmmakers would like to touch. “Jojo Rabbit” is certainly a top contender for the upcoming awards season and its writing and acting are certainly the reasons for that.

3.5/4

Terminator: Dark Fate Film Review

Directed by Tim Miller

Starring: Linda Hamilton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mackenzie Davis

Rated R for violence throughout, language and brief nudity 

It is unfortunate to say that the Terminator series has had more flops than hits. “The Terminator” first premiered in 1984 to positive reviews. Years later, “Terminator 2: Judgement Day’ was released to high praise and some state it is one of the best action films of all time. But ever since “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machine” was released, the series has gone downhill, mostly because James Cameron, the director of the first two films, was largely absent from the films going forward. But Cameron has returned back to the series, as a producer, but does that mean that “Terminator: Dark Fate” has returned to its former glory?

“Terminator: Dark Fate” is the continuing saga of the “Terminator” series. In this installment, Grace (played by Mackenzie Davis) is sent back to time to protect Dani (played by Natalia Reyes) from REV-9 (played by Gabriel Luna). The REV-9 is also sent back in time but to kill Dani. Grace and Dani are also joined by Sarah Connor and T-800, (played by Linda Hamilton and Arnold Schwarzenegger, respectively).

If the story of “Terminator: Dark Fate” sounds very similar to “Terminator 2: Judgement Day”, that’s because it is a carbon copy of the “Terminator 2”. The first twenty minutes of the film are almost identical to “Terminator 2” and it’s buildup at the mall. Not to mention that the story is just a re-write of the second film, but the story just ignores the entire film of “Terminator 2”. Without giving out any spoilers, but the first five minute of “Dark Fate” throws away the entire film of “Terminator 2”. Not only is this sloppy done, but this bold choice in the film made fans of the series angry. I was baffled of why this decision was done as well, it adds no context to the story being told. The terrible decision to rewrite “Terminator 2” into “Dark Fate” and making a bold decision in the first five minutes in the film makes the story poorly written.

Fortunately the actors of the film are a saving grace in the film (no pun intended). Going into the film, I was skeptical of the new characters being introduced. But to my surprise, the new characters are quite enjoyable. Gabriel Luna as the new Terminator is actually quite menacing and an actual threat to the characters. His character has the capability of splitting into two forms and it was enjoyable to see all the characters fight off these forms. Dani and Mackenzie’s story line was okay to see, the actors in the roles are done well.

Being a big fan of “Terminator 2”, I very much enjoyed seeing Linda Hamilton back as Sarah Connor. Hamilton played the role of Conner as she did in “Terminator 2”. The same goes for Schwarzenegger as the T-800. Although in the first two films, the Terminator was unable to feel emotions. But somehow, now he is able to feel something as close to emotions. It is just boggles me of how the excuse was made up of why he feel certain things. But in the end, it all comes down the screenplay. The screenplay feels like a cheap attempt to not only shock the audience, but it needs to rely on the past films to make this film work. The film would have been a return to form if it were not for the screenplay.

“Terminator: Dark Fate” is ultimately a film that yield mixed results. The actors do a fantastic job as their respective roles and the action is fun to view, but the story is executed sloppy. The foundations of any film is the story and if the story cannot stand on its own, then the film will fail as well. “Terminator: Dark Fates” proves that James Cameron was not the missing puzzle to the piece, but instead a step in the wrong direction.

2.5/4

Dolemite is my Name Film Review

Directed by Craig Brewer

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Keegan-Michael Key, Mike Epps

Rated R for pervasive language, crude sexual content, and graphic nudity 

The life and career of Rudy Ray Moore is a fascinating one. Moore was a comedian and movie star that was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas. After serving in the US Army, Moore moved to Los Angeles to achieve his dreams. “Dolemite is my Name” highlights Moore’s career from a record shop employee to a comedian and movie star in the black community.

“Dolemite is my Name” stars Eddie Murphy as Rudy Ray Moore, a man who is wanting his break in life. He finally achieves this break when he creates a character, Dolemite, for his stand up comedy. His comedy is successful, he eventually wants to become a film star as well. Eddie Murphy is also joined by an A list cast with the likes of Keegan- Michael Key, Mike Epps, and Wesley Snipes, just to name a few.

“Dolemite is my Name” is surprisingly a great film with a message almost everyone can relate to. Moore has always been rejected when trying to get his comedy records sold. But Moore moved on and eventually got his records sold and played because he worked so hard to do so. And when he did sell his records, he tackled a film. Moore produced a film almost for cheap and was once again rejected by major film studios when trying to sell the films. Eventually Moore achieved his dream of making a film and he made a successful one. The theme is what sticks out the most after the film is over. I loved the film because of the message it does display. “Dolemite is my Name” displays how Moore sold his apartment and become indebted just to get his name out there. And this is not expected when coming into the film. I expected the film to be Eddie Murphy doing his comedy bit, but I was so surprised how inspirational this film is.

But the reason why this message works in the film is because star Eddie Murphy sells it so well. For the past several years, it was embarrassing to see Eddie Murphy go to new lows. The most notable thing Eddie Murphy as done in the past ten years was the voice of Donkey in the “Shrek” series. But “Dolemite is my Name” is a triumph return of Murphy to his comedic roots. Murphy is not only quite hilarious as the role of Moore, but also a sympathetic character. The entire time I was rooting for Moore to succeed in his goals. Murphy delivers his best roles in years and this proves that Murphy can deliver a strong performance when given the right material.

As mentioned before, “Dolemite is my Name” has an A list cast from Snoop Dogg to Craig Robinson. The supporting cast also deliver a strong performance, in particular Wesley Snipes who plays D’Urville Martin. Martin was a veteran actor who agrees to direct the Dolemite film. Snipes plays Martin as the director who has little enthusiasm for the film for he is directing. Although Snipes’ role is brief, it was a joy to see Snipes back on the screen.

“Dolemite is my Name” is a fantastic film with a message everyone can relate. This is done well by the spectacular job of star Eddie Murphy. Hopefully this is the beginning of a new leaf for Murphy and continues this momentum. Also, while it may be slim, I genuinely think Murphy should get an Oscar nod as Rudy Ray Moore. Coming into this film, I had no idea of Moore, but now after watching “Dolemite is my Name”, I am edger to learn more about him.

3.5/4

Zombieland: Double Tap Film Review

Directed by Ruben Fleischer

Starring: Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Emma Stone

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

In 2009, “Zombieland” was released at a time the zombie craze was beginning to emerge. “The Walking Dead” was a year away from becoming the hit it was. And while the original “Zombieland” was a fun success at the box office, a sequel was made ten years later, years after the zombie craze has died down. Yet, as “Zombieland: Double Tap” is a sequel that is years late, it is still a fun comedy like its predecessor beforehand.

“Zombieland: Double Tap” is a sequel to 2009’s “Zombieland” in which a group of survivors try to stay alive in the zombie apocalypse. Tallahassee (played by Woody Harrelson), Columbus (played by Jesse Eisenberg), and Wichita (played by Emma Stone) go in search of Wichita’s younger sister, Little Rock (played by Abigail Breslin), who has run off with with a musician to a peace loving community.

The best thing about “Zombieland: Double Tap” is Woody Harrelson, who is hilarious as the role of Tallahassee. Tallahassee is a no nonsense guy who is there to kick ass and does a good job doing so. Every line that Tallahassee quips is funny and it shows that he is having a good time in the apocalypse. If there were a spin off film with just Tallahassee, I would watch it in a heartbeat. This just goes to show that Woody Harrelson is great doing drama and comedy.

Zoey Deutch joins the cast as Madison, a not so smart person who somehow has survived the apocalypse for this long. Her personality is vastly different from the trio she interacts with, but it somehow works because it is so different. Deutch plays Madison as a clumsy and clueless person who is actually a joy when she is on screen. The fact that Tallaheesee and Madison on the different spectrum, they are fun to watch to when they are on screen. Rosario Dawson also joining the cast as the love interest of Tallahassee. She’s not as funny as the mentioned Madison and Tallahassee, but still works in the film as Tallahassee’s counterpart. Finally, Luke Wilson and Thomas Middleditch are joining the cast, but unfortunately they do not leave a mark on the film as they are not in the film for too long.

“Zombieland: Double Tap” is a funny and enjoyable sequel to the original “Zombieland”. The original cast still has their comedy chops that they had ten years ago and brings their comedy to a fun, gory zombie film. “Zombieland: Double Tap” is a great film to watch this Halloween season as it’s hilarious and gory fun.

3/4

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie Review

Directed by Vince Gilligan

Starring: Aaron Paul, Matt Jones, and Charles Baker

Rated TV-MA

Six years after acclaimed TV show Breaking Bad went off the air, it still holds up in popularity. Critics and fans rave about the show, how great of a masterpiece it is. Fans were treated to a spin off “Better Call Saul”, another acclaimed show, in 2015, yet fans were still craving for more. After rumors of a Breaking Bad movie in the works, we get “El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie”. After viewing Breaking Bad and its subsequent film, fans can rejoice that we get new Breaking Bad material.

“El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie” follows Jesse Pinkman’s arc after the ending of the series finale of Breaking Bad. Spoiler alert for the show, but the last time we saw Jesse was him escaping the prison-like complex after Walter White’s rescue. Now, is it necessary to view Breaking Bad in order to understand this film? Not really, but the viewer will have a better understanding and appreciation for the characters. One can view this film without seeing the prior show and still follow the plot as there are multiple flashbacks that fill out the gaps. But this film was made for the fans of the series as there are multiple Easter eggs from the show.

As always, Aaron Paul delivers as Jesse, a man who has been beaten down, literally and mentally, and needs to pick himself up in order to move forward. The reason why Paul succeeds as Jesse is because he played that role for years and even won Emmys for his acting on the show. Paul jumps back into the role of Jesse after a six year absence and does not miss a note. The character that we loved in the series prior is in different from his show’s counterpart, as he does everything in his power to survive.

But the main star here is Vince Gillian, the writer and director of “El Camino”. Gilligan has a way of creating something riveting with the great writing and director. In a tense moment of the film, two characters are about to embark in a Mexican standoff. The intense music and camera work make this sense all the more suspenseful. It is also Vince Gilligan who decided to take a risk with this film as well. Breaking Bad is considered to have a perfect ending, so why take the risk of adding more to the ending? I applaud Gilligan for actually taking the risk and succeeding in the long run.

In a recent interview, Aaron Paul stated that he would only do this film if it was perfect. And that what this is, perfect. Not the film itself, but the story that so many viewers were waiting for. “El Camino” works best if the viewer has seen the series it came off, “Breaking Bad”. “El Camino” is great fan service to fans of the series, viewers will get great pleasure returning to the characters they love.
3.5/4

Joker Review

Directed by Todd Phillips

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Robert De Niro, Zazie Beetz

Rated R for strong bloody violence, disturbing behavior, language and brief sexual images

I am in shock and awe of what director Todd Philips is able to achieve when given the right material. This is not a dig at Philips, but it proves that the director of “The Hangover” is able to make a dark and disturbing villain origin story. But “Joker” is not just a Batman villain origin story, but it’s a story that so much to say and sparks a dialogue. “Joker” takes place in the early 1980’s, but the message of the story feels so relevant to the present day.

“Joker” is the origin of Batman’s most famous villain, the Joker. Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix) is a middle aged man who has unfortunate events after events come into this life. Fleck has never given a golden ticket in life and is on the verge of breaking down at any moment. This is a different Joker, as we know the backstory and the reason why the Joker is what he is.

The clear standout in “Joker” is the acting abilities of Joaquin Phoenix. Phoenix had a daunting task of taking on a role that has been done multiple times, with different angles. But Phoenix’s Joker is not the same as Nicholson’s or Ledger’s or even Leto’s Joker. Mostly because the Joker is not in the film until the final act of the film. The entire film is a character study of Arthur Fleck, a mentally ill man who keeps getting beaten down by life. Phoenix’s role as the character makes him so sympathetic and makes Fleck so human. It is so unfortunate to see event after event bring down Fleck but he wants to keep a smile, as his mother tells him. His dreams of being a stand up comedian are dashed when talk show host, Murray Franklin (played by Robert De Niro) insults and berates Fleck’s comedy bit.

But back to Phoenix’s impeccable acting skills. Phoenix is almost unrecognizable as Fleck. As mentioned before, the last act of the film is Fleck as the Joker. When the Joker is on the screen, I almost forgot that Phoenix was acting on screen. There are multiple moments of Phoenix having to laugh uncontrollably, I just ponder how exactly Phoenix got into character. There is nothing but praise for Phoenix, there is not one false note in his performance and this role just reinforces the fact that Phoenix is one of the greatest actors working today. If this role doesn’t win him an Oscar, then I don’t know what will.

I also want to praise the storytelling of Todd Philips. Once again, it amazes me that the director of “Old School” was able to tell a complex story like this. Along with screenwriter Scott Silver, Philips tells more than a story of how the Joker became to be. It has a message of how mental illness should be taken seriously. Without revealing too much, Fleck visits a therapist and is given medication for his mental illness. But the city decides to cut this on their budget, therefore Fleck not having access to medication and a therapist. In addition to this, it has a comment on how a revolution is started. A viewing of the film makes this message so self explanatory, I don’t think it would be fair to talk about this point without giving any spoilers.

The supporting roles of Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz are well executed as well. But their roles were very limited, I would love to seen more of them on screen, however, this is a character study of Arthur Fleck.But I will admit that Beetz’s role as a love interest did not add much to the film, I would have preferred more from her or the role be cut altogether. But speaking of De Niro, the final act of the film brought so much tension and suspense that I have not experienced in a long time. It felt as if I were watching a horror film.

In short, “Joker” is a career defining role for Joaquin Phoenix who brings humanity into a villainous role that has been taken on multiple times over the decades. “Joker” will leave the audience guessing what will happen next and have them ask more and more questions as the film progresses. “Joker” is not only a film that commands to be seen but it’s one of the best film of the year…thus far.

4/4

Ad Astra Film Review

Directed by James Gray

Starring: Brad Pitt, Tommy Lee Jones, Ruth Negga

Rated PG-13 for some violence and bloody images, and for brief strong language

“2001: A Space Odyssey” meets “Apocalypse Now”. In the near future, humans are still set to find intelligent life outside the Solar System. They have colonized Mars and the Moon are set to move forward. But when a surge hits the Earth and threatens our planet, Major Roy McBride (played by Brad Pitt) is set to the edge of the Solar System to find his father, Clifford McBride (played by Tommy Lee Jones), who is the key to the survival of Earth.

“Ad Astra” is a beautiful movie to the eyes. The visual effects are extremely well done and it has to be as the majority of the film takes place in space. There were numerous shots of beauty being shown on the screen. From the outer atmosphere of Earth to the rings of Neptune, the visuals shine in a way I have not seen on film. In addition to the visuals, the cinematography is also a standout. Hoyte van Hoytema does the camera work here and it is beautifully shot. So many shots are reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey from the colors to the futuristic technology. Finally, the sounds of the film were so different than the rest of sci-fi films. The opening scene of the film features an explosion, which sounds so different. The typical sci fi film has the same explosion sound effects that we are so used to. Not only the visuals, but the sounds of the film elevate the film to realism.

Brad Pitt has a very limited role but does an exceptional job with the role he has. The acting is not done by the words he says, but the emotions in his face. In particular, the scene where Pitt’s character, Roy McBride, has to convey a message to his father. The emotions and tear that run on McBride’s face says it all. It shows sadness, along with a longing for the past. Along with Pitt, the supporting cast of Donald Sutherland, Ruth Negga, and Tommy Lee Jones shine with the limited role their have. Unfortuantely they are only shown on screen for about ten to fifteen minutes each and don’t share enough screen time. It is understandable that McBride is the main character, but I would love to seen more of the supporting characters.

“Ad Astra” is a visual spectale that has to be seen on the big screen. The visual effects, along with the sound mixing, acting, and cinematography is what makes “Ad Astra” stand out from other sci fi films. As Oscar season quickly approaches, my hopes are that we see “Ad Astra” get a few technical nominations for the fantastic work behind the camera. This is a must see.

3.5/4

The Peanut Butter Falcon Film Review

Directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz

Starring: Shia LeBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Zack Gottagen

Rated PG-13 for thematic content, language throughout, some violence and smoking

“The Peanut Butter Falcon” is a comedy-drama starring Shia LeBeouf and Zack Gottagen as two young men running away from their problems to find comfort in another place. LeBeouf plays Tyler, a young fisher, who is still haunted of the memory of his brother passing away, running away to Florida. Gottagen plays Zak, a young man with down syndrome who is escaping his home in a retirement home to chase his dream of becoming a wrestler. All this while two men and Zak’s friend, Eleanor, tries to find the pair.

The best way to describe to this film is sweet and heartwarming. The main leads of LeBeouf and Gottagen have incredible chemistry, I am almost certain that the pair are friends in real life. Gottagen plays Zak as a wonderful character who is destined to go to the wrestling school in a video he has watched so many times. Zak realizes he is young and full of energy and won’t let down syndrome get in the way of that. I certainly appreciate the type of character Zak is, every moment he graces the screen, it was a pleasure to watch.

On the other hand, LeBeouf’s Tyler is a man who is running away from his problems and wants to start anew in Florida. Tyler had just recently been laid off from work and the memory of his brother dying is still fresh in his mind. But when Tyler meets Zak, he is almost reminded of his brother and almost sees Zak as a brother. It is the smart writing that creates this incredible chemistry between the pair. Not once when I was watching this film did I feel like I saw two actors on screen play characters. I saw two friends who were on an adventure.

Coming into this film, I did not know what to expect. I read great reviews of the film, but that does not mean that I will enjoy the film as well. But when I left the theater, I was surprised how much enjoyment I had. For most films, there is a section where things begin to slow down and pacing falls flat. I never got bored or felt that things were slowing down. Each scene of the film was well paced and very humorous, when it needed to be.

The rest of the cast are top notch. Dakota Johnson, who plays Zak’s caretaker, plays her role very well. Every moment she is on screen, especially the last act, she has fun with the role. She was a joy to watch and this role proves that Johnson is capable of acting. John Hawkes is also in the film but his role is very limited. I was surprised to see Bruce Dern and Thomas Haden Church in the film as well. Both actors play their respective roles with much charm, both actors have great scenes with Gottsagen. In addition to the great cast, there is a fun little cameo that most wrestling fans will admire. But in short, there is not a false note in the cast.

“The Peanut Butter Falcon” was a shock to me. I did not realize how much I would have fun I would have with this film. It’s a shame that this film will not reach the masses but it certainty deserves to be viewed. “The Peanut Butter Falcon” is a humorous and touching film with exceptional casting, that certainly deserves to be viewed.

4/4