Thursday Night at the Movies
Behind Again
Published on December 8, 2018 by Christa BassLeave a comment
I'm still reviewing Halloween movies here firmly in December and that's because I've been busy and lazy, a wonderful combination. So I'm going to have to squish some of my To Do list into one post, which I kind of hate but what can you do?
Here's what I've been watching since the end of October:
I waited for what feels like forever for this 40th anniversary sequel and… I can't say I was disappointed. A lot of it doesn't work, some of it spectacularly (looking at you fake Doctor Loomis/terrible podcasters) but all in all David Gordon Green's offering is a lot of fun and that's what I wanted.
Jamie Lee is dope as the deeply affected, original Final Girl™ Laurie Strode. A lifetime of paranoia has made her into a reclusive survivalist and she is barely holding onto her family as a result. But what happens when all that preparation finally comes to fruition? Well, you'll find out when Michael Myers busts out of the institution that has held him for the last four decades – and the whole thing is as gory and tense as you'd imagine. Plus, there's something truly disconcerting about the humanisation of The Shape just before shit kicks off.
4.5/5. Probably for nostalgia more than anything.
In my opinion this movie suffers for not featuring enough Jack Black but IT's Jeremy Ray Taylor does a fine job as a mini version of the man himself. If I'm honest, I don't remember too much about the plot (I think because I saw The House with a Clock in its Walls right before it and they've sort of blended into one) but I did enjoy its childlike Halloween wonder.
The effects are very good – plenty of inventive monsters and sadistic gummy bears – the kids are fantastic and Slappy is a dollop of mischievous fun. I think I'll always be here for the Goosebumps movies honestly, they're charming. I'll definitely be hitting this up with a re-watch as soon as possible.
3.5/5. Witches be crazy.
Based on the YA novel by Angie Thomas which I have half read, THUG is a pretty solid adaptation, if a little heavy-handed in its delivery. Starring the ridiculously talented Amandla Stenberg as our main protagonist Starr and the ridiculously cool Regina Hall as Starr's ferocious mother Lisa, this movie examines subject matter that is all too relevant. I enjoyed the ride and also cried like a baby throughout.
While I could never understand what Starr and her family and community have to deal with, I was pumping the air with triumph as Starr stood up for herself and her lost friends in the most dramatic, tense scenes imaginable. Not only does this movie look at the horror of racism and police brutality, it also hones in on the insidiousness of subconscious prejudice, particularly within Starr's own friendship group. Russell Hornsby is fantastic too as Starr's wise old ex-gang member father.
4/5. Powerful stuff.
Meh. This, sadly, was a steaming pile of nothingness and given the cast, I'm surprised. It's just not that memorable, funny or endearing – and takes an age to get going. When it does there are a couple of okay moments but there's not enough to make it worth the effort. Sorry, Nick Frost, I still love you.
2.5/5. A real stinker.
My takeaway from this is that Viola Davis should be cast in every film from now on. Literally every single one. As freshly widowed Veronica, she is mesmerising – the perfect blend of vulnerability and strength – I couldn't keep my eyes off her. She is matched perfectly though by Elizabeth Debicki as Alice, who steal scenes left and right, even from the Queen herself.
I enjoyed this film very much, it follows the lives of a handful of women left devastated by the death of their husbands, a band of bank robbers. But as with most crime capers, there are twists at every turn and danger lurking in every shadow, not least the terrifying Manning Brothers, Jatemme and Jamal (played, respectively, by two of my favourite actors, Daniel Kaluuya and Brian Tyree Henry).
4/5. Girl power at its finest.
I avoided this for a few weeks before finally relenting and I enjoyed myself. Rami Malek nails Freddie so convincingly that it is ridiculous. Honestly, I knew he was good but this guy needs to take home Oscar in the Spring or there is no justice in the world.
There are a few things wrong with this biopic and it's exaggerated in places I'm sure but it's also moving, triumphant and seriously satisfying. The music is ace (as you'd expect) and did I mention the central performance is pretty decent?
4/5. Don't think I didn't go home and listen to the entire Queen back catalog.
What have you been watching?
Categories Biopic, Comedy, Crime, Drama, Horror, Musical, Thriller, Young Adult•Tags Amandla Stenberg, Angie Thomas, Behind, Biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, Brian Tyree Henry, Catching Up, Crime, Daniel Kaluuya, David Gordon Green, Drama, Elizabeth Debicki, Featured, Goosebumps, Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween, Halloween, Horror, Jack Black, Jamie Lee Curtis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Michael Myers, Nick Frost, Queen, Rami Malek, Regina Hall, Slappy the Dummy, Slaugherhouse Rulez, The Hate U Give, The Movies, The Shape, Viola Davis, Widows
Published on September 23, 2018 December 8, 2018 by Christa BassLeave a comment
A Simple Favour (2018)
IMDB Synopsis
A woman seeks to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of her best friend.
*Minor spoilers*
This film is by far my favourite lately, if not all year – and there have been a pile of really good films so far. It just appeals to my bitchy nature with its zingy dialogue, incredible appearance and genuinely tense thriller vibe. It will be hard to talk about this without dropping #spoilers so I'm going to remain as enigmatic as possible – just like Blake Lively's mysterious Emily Nelson.
Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick) is a slightly irritating mommy blogger who one day meets and befriends the chic and charismatic Emily Nelson at her son's school. The two quickly bond over martinis and secrets. One day, however, Emily calls Stephanie for a simple favour – to pick up her kid while she deals with an emergency.
The most glamourous staring contest of all time had just begun
Days later and no sign of Emily, Stephanie is forced to contact her husband Sean (Henry Golding again), who is in the UK tending to his ailing mother. The two of them become closer as they try to work out what happened to Emily – and let me tell you I'll probably have to stop myself here just to be safe. Let's just say that Stephanie's secrets aren't the only ones out there – what could Emily's be?
The story unravels via a series of vlogs put together by Stephanie whose views increase tenfold the more she updates her audience on the Emily case. This is a play on the 'screen life' format most recently used in Searching and I think it's really fresh, although it doesn't all play out on screen, we also visit present time and flashbacks to build up the story.
I must say that I went into this knowing I'd be impressed but not really knowing what to expect – Paul Feig's filmography contains a lot of broad comedy which I love but didn't expect in this movie. Which I was right about, the humour is pitch black and sharp AF but it's more sophisticated than usual.
Same, Anna. I'd be the same
Blake and Anna have never been better than here. They look great but they bounce of each other so well and the dialogue they're given to play with made me cackle throughout. There's a scene in which Stephanie confronts Emily's fashion designer boss that was priceless and an excellent showcase for Kendrick's comic timing.
Helen and I left the cinema just saying "Wow" to each other dozens of times. It's just done very well and hopefully, along with the aforementioned Searching, will pave the way for more smart arse thrillers, I feel like they might be having a moment.
As for the costuming, don't think I'm going to sign this off without swooning over both women's wardrobes. More so Blake who rocks sharp tailoring like nobody's business. Is there anything sexier that a woman in a well cut suit? I think you'll find not. Anyway, I'm quite prepared to spend more time in the theater re-watching this movie because it's bloody great and exactly what I wanted.
There's a crafter in my kitchen what amma gonna do?
Whatever you do, go see this.
Categories The Movies, Thriller•Tags Anna Kendrick, Black Comedy, Blake Lively, CInema, Drama, Film, Henry Golding, Paul Feig, The Movies, Thriller
Searching (2018)
After his 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a desperate father breaks into her laptop to look for clues to find her.
This morning I learnt that there's a name for films using this all-on-the-screen format and it's "Screen life". So not only is this an interesting film, it's also been highly educational. Kinda.
Anywho, Searching is a very tense thriller in which David Kim (the gorgeous John Cho) fights tooth and nail to find his daughter Margot (Michelle La), who has mysteriously disappeared. As he picks at the threads of her life, he realises he barely knows her at all – which doesn't help when he's expected to unravel the truth about what happened to her.
With the help of determined Detective Vick (Debra Messing), David delves deeper into Margot's social media account, messages and emails to paint a picture of where his daughter might be – and who she really is.
I really enjoyed this though I will admit to getting an inkling of the truth half way through. That said it makes you doubt every character you come into contact with, even David himself. And while it centers around Margot's disappearance it also sets up their relationship really well. The beginning is genuinely touching and gave me the feels not ten minutes in.
I'm trying very hard not to hone in on any of the details for a reason but this was impressive and the screen life format kept my interest throughout, much as it does in Unfriended. I think it might get tired quicker than found footage but here it successfully builds up suspense – and makes you want to upgrade your five-year-old acer laptop for something quicker and shinier (just me?).
Categories Crime, Drama, The Movies, Thriller•Tags CInema, Crime, Debra Messing, Drama, Film, John Cho, Michelle La, Mystery, Searching, Technology, The Movies, Thriller
Your Reviewer
I've not met many shark movies I didn't like
I'm a massive horror fan and a poor reviewer – yet here I am, passing judgement anyway.
I love shark movies, Creature Features and Korean cinema the best – and I'm madly in love with Stephen King too.
I'm not here for film snobbery, all I ask is to feel something – which is the only thing I'll be keeping in mind when I post.
Behind Again December 8, 2018
Venom November 11, 2018
A Star is Born November 11, 2018
The House with a Clock in Its Walls November 11, 2018
The Wife November 11, 2018
American Animals… on American Animals
Behind Again –… on The House with a Clock in Its…
Christa Bass on A Star is Born
Meghan on A Star is Born
Christa Bass on American Animals
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