The End
The more I think about The End, the less I like it. While watching the film, I was having a pretty good time with it. I enjoyed the bizarre concept the film sets itself up as, a musical about the people who ended the world living in a bunker. As someone who hates movie musicals, I enjoyed the performances and all the musical numbers. However, upon further pondering, I find myself conflicted. The characters feel far too likable and nice for this kind of film, especially when they helped cause the end of the world. I don’t know if this is because of the script or because of how charismatic the ensemble is, but the film felt kind to them. Overall, I don’t know how to feel about the movie and feel like I need to rewatch it to better sort my thoughts.
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Happyend
So during this screening is when my brain decided it was bedtime, so for the first half of the film I was in and out of sleeping. However, when my brain decided to wake up, I enjoyed Happyend. I thought it was a fascinating concept tackling the concept of freedom vs. security, as well as racism in Japan. I won’t give this a full review, but I liked what I saw.
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The Wolves Always Come at Night
Sadly, this is another film where my body decided it was nap time. But, from what I did see, this is easily one of the most beautiful looking films that I have seen all year. The cinematography of the Mongolian wilderness is breathtaking. However, The Wolves Always Come at Night is not your standard documentary. It is a docu-fiction that blurs the lines between documentary and fictional storytelling.
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Jane Austen Wrecked my Life
As someone who despises romcoms, I thoroughly enjoyed Jane Austen Wrecked My Life. Even though you can predict the entire plot of the film within the opening minutes, it was still a cute film. The film was warm and cozy. The performances from the ensemble perfectly fitted the film’s tone. And with the title of Jane Austen Wrecked My Life, how can you not love it.
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The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot is one of the most beautiful films of the year. The animation is stunning as every frame is a painting as the film adopts the style of oil paintings to animate its world and characters. However, despite having some of the best animation of the year, the story feels a little flat. Obviously, it covers important themes such as found family, parenthood, and friendship that are great for families. However, these themes felt very surface level and safe. Overall, a great film that will definitely give Inside Out 2 a run for its money, but still a little on the surface for my taste.
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Emelia Perez
I admire Emelia Perez for its ambition. It really threw some concept at the wall to see if it stuck, and it mostly did. The crime musical about a cartel boss transitioning should not have worked but by some miracle it does. The musical numbers are mesmerizing and fun. The performances from the ensemble are fantastic. The direction and technical are all outstanding. However, despite this praise, I found the film was missing a very important scene regarding the morality of Emelia Perez. The moment she transitions, the film completely absolves her of all the wrong doing that she did as a cartel boss, and that puts a bit of bad taste in my mouth. If the film would have added a scene holding her accountable for her actions as she undoubtedly caused the deaths of hundreds of people when she was a cartel boss, it would have added the needed moral ambiguity to her character. Overall, I respect its ambition and I think it would have been great if it had that one scene.
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The Penguin Lessons
The Penguin Lessons is a heartwarming film about an English teacher rediscovering himself after he unexpectedly comes into possession of a penguin in 1970s Argentina. It is a heartwarming exploration of found family and the healing power of animals. Steve Coogan’s performance is filled with all the dry wit and nuance of tragedy expected of his character. However, the film does run into some bumps as it poorly does a commentary of fascism in Argentina. Outside of this hurdle, it is a cute film that makes for a simple crowd pleaser.
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The Friend
The Friend is not an outstanding indie flick nor is it a forgettable one. It plays out like a standard Hallmark movie, but it turns into something more. Our character is grieving the loss of her best friend and as she is processing her grief she takes ownership of her friend’s Great Dane, Apollo. Together they process their shared grief in a really heartwarming manner. Naomi Watts is great and Bing the Great Dane is equally as great. However, the film doesn’t dive into grief as much as it could have, but the film mostly works.
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The Seed of the Sacred Fig
The Seed of the Sacred Fig is one of the most courageous films to come out this year. Mohammad Rasoulof after serving several prison sentences from the Islamic Revolutionary Courts, he decided to make a film (The Seed of the Sacred Fig) about the unjust Iranian government. This film caused him to be sentenced to eight years in prison and subjected to public flogging. In response he fled Iran and claimed asylum in Europe. The Seed of the Sacred Fig is a vicious and important takedown of the totalitarian government of Iran. From the oppression of women to the killing of innocent civilians, the film does not hold back its subject matter. This subject matter is held entirely within a family household as the generational and religious divide begin ripping the family apart as protestors begin taking the streets. It makes for an engaging thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The performances across the board are outstanding. However, I do think the film loses a bit of steam in the final act as character decisions become questionable and the ending drags out much longer than it should. Overall, a very important film that could have used a bit of fine tuning.
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Riff Raff
Outside of a handful of scenes I found myself cringing throughout Riff Raff. Which is shameful given the film completely wasted Jennifer Coolidge and Bill Murray. I get that the film is supposed to be a comedy about how messy families can be, and you can see that premise shine at some points. But overall, I found myself indifferent to the film.
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Hold Your Breath
Bless Sarah Paulson in her ability to carry an entire film on her back, because that is what she did with Hold Your Breath. On paper I think Hold Your Breath is a really fascinating film. Setting the movie during the Dust Bowl is a perfect and underutilized setting for a horror movie. Hold Your Breath does utilize this setting pretty well with its bleak and desolate cinematography that perfectly encapsulates the Dust Bowl. It is just the rest of the film that is lacking. It has moments where it does hit its strides, but it mostly falls flat on its face, with Sarah Paulson being the single stand that keeps the film together. Overall, the movie showed promise, but sadly falls flat.
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Flow
Flow is visual storytelling at its finest. Without a single word spoken, it delivers a sweeping survival epic as we follow a lone black cat and fellow animals trying to survive a biblical flood. The animation is stunningly beautiful as the audience is immersed into this sweeping epic. Enhanced by its beautiful score, this film will pull the heartstrings of all animal lovers. Easily one of the best animated films of the year, as well as being one of the most stressful films of the year.
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