Wonder Woman 1984 Film Review

Directed by Patty Jenkins

Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig

Rated PG-13 for sequences of action and violence

Wonder Woman 1984 is the second installment in the Wonder Woman series. In this film, we see Wonder Woman/Diana (played by Gal Gadot) in Washington D.C. in 1984. After coming in contact with a stone that grants anyone a wish, Diana wishes for her former lover Steve Trevor (played by Chris Pine) to return. Not only does Trevor return but the stone’s power is embodied into businessman Maxwell Lord (played by Pedro Pascal). With everyone getting a wish, the world turns into chaos.

Wonder Woman 1984 is a fun and exciting film, with some drawbacks. First, Gal Gadot is near perfect as Wonder Woman. She embodies the character and makes it her own, akin to the same way Sean Connery did with James Bond or Arnold Schwarzenegger did with the Terminator. Gadot is Wonder Woman and I cannot imagine another actress in the role. She is kind, funny, and tough when she needs to. It would be an understatement to say Gadot brought energy to the film and is the reason why the film works so well. In addition, the supporting cast is excellent. Pedro Pascal, who is slowly becoming one of my favorite actors, is fantastic as Maxwell Lord. Pascal brings a charm to his character and makes him quite likeable. You somehow root for the character although you know he’s the villain. This can be attributed to the fact that he is given some personality. We see why he acts the way he does and sympathize with him.

While I enjoyed the actors in Wonder Woman 1984 and have a soft spot for some of the story elements presented, I was not the biggest fan of the entire story. Unfortunately, the film does throw a lot at the viewer and asks of them to keep up. We have Steve Trevor coming back, Maxwell Lord having the power to grant everyone’s wishes, and Barbara (played by Kristen Wiig) who is slowly losing her identity, but also wants to become like Diana. While all of these plot lines are connected, it can become overwhelming at times. The film should have stuck to the Max Lord plot and maybe hinted at the Barbara/ Cheetah story for the next film. Speaking of Cheetah, she is only in the film for mere minutes. It’s disappointing to see Wonder Woman’s arch enemy on screen for a few minutes and its not done well. Again, the film should have saved this for a potential sequel and focused on Max Lord.

It also goes without saying that the CGI were not too great. In particular, the graphics on Cheetah were a miss. Normally, I wouldn’t mention an element like this as it does not take away from the film. However, considering Wonder Woman 1984 has been placed on the shelf for months due to the ongoing pandemic, you would have thought director Patty Jenkins would have saw this as a perfect opportunity to fix these the sloppy graphics. The CGI doesn’t ruin the film, but it does stick out like a sore thumb. And because how long the film has been collecting dust, I have to call out the mistakes of the filmmakers.

There are some clear issues with Wonder Woman 1984, but there is still fun with the film. Gal Gadot and the rest of the cast are clearly having fun with the film and rightfully so. It is an enjoyable piece that we sorely need right now. While fun and exciting on the surface, issues start to arise for Wonder Woman 1984 the deeper you look into the film.

3/4

Hubie Halloween Film Review

Directed by Steven Brill

Starring: Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Julie Bowen

Rated PG-13 for crude and suggestive content, language and brief teen partying

In Hubie Halloween, Hubie Dubois (played by Adam Sandler) is a social outcast who gets picked on by everyone in town. On Halloween night, Hubie is a self proclaimed safety monitor, for the town of Salem, who watches over the kids treat or treating. But this Halloween night, people start disappearing mysteriously. Now its up to Hubie to find the missing townspeople and save Halloween.

Since Hubie Halloween is a Happy Madison/Adam Sandler film, you can tell what type of film this will be. While this film is by no means excellent or well crafted, it also is not the horrendous Sandler film we are all used to. However, there are some glaring issues. First, the plot is all over the place. I understand Sandler films are not well known for their plot and I am not expecting a complex plot. I actually support the simple plot the film has here. But did we really need all these side plots? For example, Hubie’s neighbor, Walter (played by Steve Buscemi) may or may not be a an actual monster. This side plot did not have to occur, it adds nothing to the story. The film has too much going on in the background and too many side characters. It’s nice to see Sandler offer film roles to his friends, but there’s a point where too much in the background can distract from the main story. If the film had condensed all these side plots, it would have made for a more cohesive story.

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If Hubie Halloween would have been more cohesive, the film still would have failed due to it being unfunny. It’s a shame to say that a film filled with a great cast who have been known to be funny are just not. It took about twenty minutes before the film could get a chuckle out of me. However, the film does bring a few decent jokes. There is a brief Shaq cameo, which was the funniest bit in the film. It was very unexpected and the man actually knows how to bring a laugh. Also, I would say Mrs. Hennessy (played by Maya Rudolph) did bring a few chuckles as well. The film certainly has its moments, but not enough to turn the tide on the unfunny moments.

While I had many issues with the film, I would be lying if I said Hubie Halloween wasn’t fun. This is a type of film that is meant to be a good and enjoyable time and the film does succeed in that aspect. While I wouldn’t recommend watching this film for the humor, I would recommend watching it to get in the Halloween spirit. The film is lighthearted, isn’t a total trainwreck, and it does have a few decent moments. Hubie Halloween isn’t the best Sandler or Halloween themed film, but it does get the job done as it is does keep the audience entertained.

2/4

Red Dragon Film Review

Directed by Brett Ratner

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes

Rated R for violence, grisly images, language, some nudity and sexuality

Red Dragon is a prequel to The Silence of the Lambs, directed by Brett Ratner. In Red Dragon, Will (played by Edward Norton) is pulled out of retirement from the FBI and is tasked with help finding the “Tooth Fairy”, a serial killer who murders families. Will is forced to seek Dr. Hannibal Lector (played by Anthony Hopkins), a cannibal who was captured by Will years prior, and hear his advice on who the serial killer may be.

Red Dragon serves as a prequel to The Silence of the Lambs and while viewing this film, I could not help noticing the similar plot points to it’s predecessor. While both films are based off the novels by Thomas Harris, I am not sure how much part of the film was from the book and how much of it is original. It goes without saying that Lambs is a fantastic film and I could see the filmmakers wanting this film to be on par with the other. While this film is not on par with the other film, it does stand out on its own and is very enjoyable to watch. For one, Edward Norton is a very likable character the audience roots for. He is given a family, so that is something that makes him relatable. He knows Lector well and doesn’t take his shenanigans from him. While in Lambs, Lector had control over Starling, mostly due to being a trainee at the FBI, Lector has no control over Will. I would go as far as saying as these two are equals, but on the opposite ends of the spectrum.

Anthony Hopkins, as Dr. Lector, also stands out in the role, mostly due to playing such an iconic character. While he is not as menacing as he was in the previous films, he is still frightening. He is very intelligent and knows how to exploit someone’s weakness. While is he mostly restricted to being behind a cage, he is not as terrifying as the main villain, the “Tooth Fairy”. Francis Dolarhyde (played by Ralph Fiennes) is a serial killer who had a tragic upbringing. He was raised by an abusive grandmother which still affects him well into his adulthood. He is made to be more human when he has a romantic relationship with Reba (played by Emily Watson), a blind woman who is oblivious to his crimes. The romantic relationship brings his character down to be a bit more human, instead of being a full monster who is unsympathetic.

The film is a pleasant watch and is a bit suspenseful when it needs to be. Unfortunately there are some elements of the film that are very unbelievable that almost take the audience out of the film. For example, in the beginning of the film, we see how Will captured Dr. Lector. This capture includes Will getting brutally stabbed and Dr. Lector also getting stabbed and getting shot multiple times. While these two characters eventually survive, it is a bit ridiculous that someone can survive what they had to endure. I know this is a film and its all made up, but this moment almost took me out of the film. Also, the film does have a few notable cliches such as a retired law enforcement agent being pulled back in for one last job or the few jump scares the film tries to do. These elements do not take away enjoyment from the film, but it is worth mentioning as it does stick out like a sore thumb.

But disregarding that, Red Dragon is still an intriguing thriller. The film features a great cast who all turn in a wonderful performance and try to make their characters relatable or sympathetic. It also has a lot of twists and turns that will make the audience on the edge of the seat. The film knows that it won’t be on the same level as The Silence of the Lambs, but the film still attempts to a worthy addition to the Hannibal Lector series. I would say anyone who enjoys The Silence of the Lambs would like Red Dragon and find appreciate the film.

3/4

Black Panther Film Review

Directed by Ryan Coogler

Directed by Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o

Rated PG-13 for prolonged sequences of action violence, and a brief rude gesture

After hearing the shocking news of actor Chadwick Boseman’s unfortunate passing, I decided to revisit the film that arguably made him a household name, Black Panther. Black Panther is a Marvel superhero film directed by Ryan Coogler. In this film, T’Challa (played by Boseman) is the new king of Wakanda, a country that lives in secret and also harbors the world’s supply of vibranium. After becoming the king, T’Challa is challenged for the throne from Kilmonger (played by Michael B. Jordan), T’Challa’s cousin who was an orphan after an incident.

Black Panther is probably Marvel’s finest film. To start off, the film feels isolated in its own universe, mostly due to its setting. As where other Marvel films have easter eggs to previous films and sometimes even rely on the audience to view the other films, Black Panther does not have this feature. Anyone can jump into this film without having to view the other films and the audience would not miss anything. Also, this is the first film where it actually feels like the director wants to stand out from the other Marvel films. With the notable exception of the Russo Brothers and Taika Waititi, this is one of the few times where the director is memorable and leaves his mark on the film. Director Ryan Coogler brings Michael B. Jordan, an actor who has appeared in all of Coogler’s films. This film also features a wonderful costume design and production design. I cannot count the multiple times I was in awe of the sets or the costumes the characters were wearing. This is all due to the excellent work of customer designer Ruth E. Carter and set designers Hannah Beachler and Jay Hart. All there individuals were awarded Oscars for their fantastic work.

The film also features a stellar cast who is impeccable. From the likes of Boseman to Martin Freeman, there is not one false note in the casting. The standouts in the film are actually the villains, Michael B. Jordan and Andy Serkis. While Serkis only appears for the first half of the film, Jordan appears throughout the film. They both work excellent together when they are on screen together. And when Jordan is the only remaining villain in the film, he still makes his presence known. Killmonger doesn’t come across a typical cliche villain, but a misunderstood man who is actually going about his mission the wrong way. Killmonger is one of Marvel’s best villains because his motivations are understandable. While Wakanda has sat on the sideline for centuries and has let the world fight their own battles, Killmonger has the idea that Wakanda should not be silent anymore. He is on a mission to stop Wakanda’s isolationism and help people fight their oppressors by giving them weapons. While Killmonger has the right idea, he is going about it the wrong way. This is what makes Killmonger standout from the rest of the other Marvel villains.

In addition to Serkis and Jordan, Boseman is also a standout. He takes the character of Black Panther and makes it his own. His character is a humble man who is also willing to fight others to protect his ideals and values. He has a deep affection for friends and family and they define who he is. He interacts well with his sister Shuri (played by Letitia Wright). These two naturally work well off each other and I always get the impression they are truly siblings. While viewing the film, I never got the impression these two were just actors, but I felt the sibling connection most siblings have. In regards to characters connecting well, there is one flaw and that is T’Challa and Nakia’s (played by Lupita Nyong’o) relationship. I never got the impression these two used to have a romantic relationship, only having a professional relationship. It is mentioned once that Nakia is T’Challa’s ex, but besides that, there was not much connection between these two. I don’t blame the actors here, I place blame on the writing that missed an opportunity.

Speaking of the writing, the film has a great screenplay all due to Coogler and Joe Robert Cole. The film never drags and the film keeps moving forward at a steady pace. The screenplay brilliantly sets up the exposition by having it being told by a character as a bed time story. Also, as mentioned before, the film is written so anyone can jump into this film without having to view any of the other Marvel films. It educates the viewers on what happened in the previous film by showing flashbacks. Furthermore, I got the impression that I was watching a James Bond film. I am not sure if Coogler and Cole were influenced by those films, but the film does have the same set up of a Bond film. By having T’Challa be given a mission to go to a foreign country, visiting Shuri to get his gadgets, to having a villain who is set on world domination, it does have the same elements a Bond film would have.

Black Panther is one of those films that is pleasant and satisfying to view. Coogler brings his best work to the director’s chair by making a standout Marvel film. All the actors in the film bring their A game and are clearly having fun with their roles. Upon revisiting Black Panther, it is no surprise why this is the best Marvel film. Not only does it propel black culture forward, but is has one of the best superhero performances. Even if one Black Panther film is made, Boseman’s legacy is left on this film. His role as the titular character is one that will not be forgotten throughout the years.

4/4

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.

“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