New Film Review: Sound Of Metal

THE SOUND OF METAL

Directed by Darius Marder

Screenplay by Abraham and Darius Marder

A heavy metal drummer world gets thrown upside down when he starts to use his hearing.

Sometimes, and it usually happens to me once or twice a year, I am surprised. This was a surprise. I go in thinking that this will be a artsy film where I will not care about anyone just by seeing the trailer. I leave loving every one.

Let me get to the positives:

The acting...

Riz Ahmed as Ruben playing a deaf person, learning sign language for the part. Learning drumming for the part. Saying so much with his eyes. This is really really a wonderful performance.

Paul Raci as Joe Ruben's mentor. Such a wonderful soft performance also often done in sign language.

Lets not forget the thankless role of Olivia Cooke as Lou. Her life changes drastically also as her boyfriend loses his hearing. It's also life altering. Her performance is so soft and delicate, its a shame it gets ignored when people talk about this film. She is very good.

The screenplay...

The story is so different, your heart hurts for all involved and you still have hope if they do the right thing.

The screenplay is also not afraid of silence. Which is an important part of telling this story and it works

I only have a couple of negatives:

I wish while Ruben was in this encampment, we would have cut back to Lou and find out about her path. We do get a hint of where she is in life toward the end but I would like to see her developments along the way.

I also don't like the open ending, no spoilers, I will leave it there.

4 out of 5 stars for the wonderful Sound Of Metal

From the shadows thanks for your time.

New Film Review: Land

LAND

Directed by Robin Wright

Screenplay Jesse Chatham and Erin Digman

A woman seeks a new life alone in the mountains in Wyoming.

Okay this may be short, because I want to keep it spoiler free.

Positives:

Amazing job by Robin Wright as the lead and directing this film. She puts you in the middle of the beauty and the struggles of it all. She plays Edee as almost a mystery. She is brave, yet we find a bit naive. She reminded me a little bit of Cheryl Strayed in the film/book Wild played by Reese Witherspoon.  

The Cinematography by Bobby Bukowski...no words..just watch the film...so good.

Then there is Demian Bichir as Miguel. I mean has he ever given a bad performance? Here as Miguel he becomes a hero; a companion; and also he, like Edee holds a secret.

Negatives

I watched this film twice and I like the film more the second time. I still find the story is nice and beautiful, yet we really don't know the back story of Edee, we only get pieces. I kinda wish Wright made the decision to do what was done in the film Wild, to slowly bleed in the background story of her life before her isolation on the mountains. We really don't know her. Then we really don't know, no spoiler, where she goes from here.

Still, this 90 minute film flies by, you will have tears at the end and a little hope which I loved. Robin Wright is so good in this film, I just loved her and felt for her. 

4 out of 5 stars for just a wonderful piece of work by Robin Wright.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

New Film Review: The Marksman

THE MARKSMAn

Directed by Robert Lorenz

Screenplay by Chris Charles and Danny Kravitz

Liam Neeson is Jim, a rancher on the Arizona border, stumbles on a young Mexican boy running from the cartel. He sets off on trying to keep the young man alive.

This is a Liam Neeson action film. You know this going in. Is it good? Yes its pretty good. Not one of his best. Not great. Its serviceable as a movie. 

Liam gives a really good performance, often acting without saying much. He has really good chemistry with this Miguel played by Jacob Perez.

The movie is predictable, You know there is going to be a clash at the end, but like I noted, it gives you what you pay for , at the same time...it is kinda forgettable. I thought often while watching this, Liam is getting a bit old for these types of films lol.

2 stars out of 5 for this action movie that gives you the feels a bit at the end. You could do worse I guess.

From the shadows as usual thanks for your time.

New Film Review: The Trial Of The Chicago 7

THE TRIAL OF THE CHICAGO 7

Direction and Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin

The story of seven people on trial for various charges surrounding the uprising around the 1968 Democratic National Convention.

I do not get it!! The love for this film!! Where do I start?

There are only two interesting characters worth paying attention to here:

Bobby Seale played wonderfully by Yahya Abdul-Mateen. Seale got arrested  just because he was there and black. Its so ridiculous yet the film almost totally ignores that story. He becomes a side note!!!!!!!!!! Ugh!!

William Kuntsler played by the great actor Mark Rylance. Kuntsler is just exasperated trying to defend a bunch of assholes (more on that later) and trying to help Seale who has shitty representation. As always Rylance is great.

I hated this film. A film that went no where because in the end, if you watched it, meant nothing because everything was over turned anyway...and we do not see that.

Here is the thing, and it is happening now in our society, just because you march for a good reason does not give you the right to be an asshole or because you are out marching does not not hide the fact that you may be already an asshole. In this film...almost everyone is an asshole except for the two previously mentioned characters. the six on trial unlikable. Politicians are unlikable. The judge crazy and unlikable. The film is unlikable.

Now I really do not get the love for Sacha Baron Cohen. I get the feeling he mostly plays characters who are jerks because it is easy for him because I get the feeling in life he is a jerk. My opinion from reading interviews.

I also want to note the costuming and hair. The costuming and hair for this film is god awful. It looks like it was done by a local high school production of HAIR. I mean just look at Jeremy Strong. Lets have every one dress as well tailored hippies lol.

I want to throw a thumbs up to Eddie Redmayne as Tom Hayden who is kinda stuck in this web but acting circles around the "6".

I will give this film 2 stars out of 5 mainly because of Redmayne; Rylance; and Abdul-Manteen. I love people jump on these films because it makes them feel good that they watched it. So they announce to the world I saw this and I loved it, look at me. Yea. Well. The movie is annoying. With a bunch of annoying people with no ending, because the ending happens after the film. Yes its a moment of history but, not well done.

From the shadows as always thanks for your time.

New Film Review: One Night In Miami

ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI

Directed By ...Regina King

Screenplay By...Kemp Powers

The film is a fictional story of  a night in Miami where Jim Brown; Sam Cooke; Cassius Clay; and Malcom X meet up.

The actors in this film...Here they are:

Kingsley Ben-Adir as Malcom X

Eli Goree as Cassius Clay

Aldis Hodge as Jim Brown

Leslie Odom Jr as Sam Cooke

They are all just wonderful.

The film works as almost a play on a Broadway Stage. Regina King keeps 90 percent of the film in a small motel room making the film feel intimate, like we are flies on the wall listening to conversations we are not suppose to be listening to. You also get a feeling it was a difficult shoot while filming these big gentleman in this small enclosure, there must have not been much room for movement. With the four wonderful performances and King behind the camera it kinda works.

The screenwriter, even though its fiction, gives a chance to see the personalities of these well known figures.

Still I kept going back to....its not true. It made the film feel a bit odd. Taking real people and then putting words in their mouths.

Did Malcom try to manipulate Clay that way?

Did Malcom bust on Cooke that much because white people like his music?

Would Jim Brown care that much about the other three?

I am just saying this may be just tension and rhetoric to make a film...this to me felt odd. Again putting words in their mouths.

I will give 3 1/2 stars out of 5 One Night In Miami, a well acted and well done film that really has no basis. It just feels odd.

From The Shadows thanks for your time.

New Film Review: All My Life

ALL MY LIFE

Directed by Marc Meyers

Screenplay by Todd Rosenberg

Starring: Jessica Rothe and Harry Schum Jr

The film (based on a true story) follows a couple, Jenn played by Jessica Rothe and Solomon played by Harry Schumm. as they meet and fall in love. Sadly things take a turn when Sol is diagnosed with liver cancer.

You read the description and you think...well this is a downer I am not watching this. I thought the same thing, so I put it off. I held onto the pass  and waited then on a slow night I went and gave it a shot.

Okay it was a downer, but there is something more there. The film does not lean on death or the illness fully; It leans life and celebration of love and friendships. This kinda surprised me. 

It works because the 2 leads have really good chemistry. It was interesting to see Rothe from the Death Day movies in a different role.

Yes there are tears but this film surprised me...All My Life gets 3 out of 5 stars. This is a movie that critics roll their eyes at because they want you to know how smart they are...I am saying its not great but there is something here worth watching. Celebrate Life/

From the shadows thanks for your time.

New Film Review: News Of The World

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR..lets hope to get these theaters opened!!

Quick housekeeping note:

I got messages from people wondering why less reviews on my blog. Well it is obvious....theaters are not open...and production companies are pushing back release dates. Here In The Shadows I only review films I see in the theaters. I support local theaters and national theaters. By supporting them you support the local workers within. 

I will have my best and worst of films I have seen in the theaters this year coming up soon, even though it is a small sample. Also the ever popular Shadow Awards. I promise at least one post a week this year, even if its films I suggest you should see from the past.

Well lets get started on.....

NEWS OF THE WORLD

Directed by Paul Greengrass

Writer Paul Greengrass and Luke Davies

Based on the book by Paulette Jiles

A gentleman travels from town to town reading to citizens of each town the news from outside of their area. Along the way he stumbles on a young girl in a wooded area and brings it upon himself to deliver her home.

I had a private screening of this in a movie theater which was strange yet nice.

What a wonderful job done here by Paul Greengrass. I mean the Greengrass who brought us the Jason Bourne action films, somehow pulled off this nice little quiet wide open slow paced film. The pace is nice. The cinematography is just perfect. The score he brought to the film (Dariusz Wolski) is beautiful. Greengrass broke out of his comfort zone for sure.

Lets get to Tom Hanks, he plays Captain Kidd (No Shit). I am starting to think Tom Hanks is our version in our times of Jimmy Stewart, The constant close up of reaction. The acting, taking breaths and pauses with his lines. Is he the best actor working during these times? Well he is in top 5 for sure...(Sounds like I will have to do a blog on that). Well here every reaction, in every situation, he is pitch perfect.

Now to the real star, Helena Zengel as Johanna. She is a fish out of water. She cant speak English so she has to act with her eyes and body motions. You cannot take your eyes off of her. The best compliment I can give about her performance is she holds herself up to Tom Hanks's performance. She never looks like she is out of her league here.

As for the story. It is believable. It moves slow but it often has suspense, so that keeps you interested. The characters are interesting within the story. You find The Captain is sort of sad as he moves from town to town, and Johanna, for the first time in years, gives him purpose.

NO SPOILERS so I cannot get deeper into it but I can tell you News Of The World is 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

Well worth the look...GO SEE IT IN THEATERS IF YOU CAN, ON THE BIG SCREEN. Trust me you are safer from Covid in the theaters than at the supermarket.

From The Shadows thanks for your time.