The_Dman313 Reviews

Sigur Rós: Heima (2007)

Something Personal.

[9/10 · 1 January 2019]

I will try my hardest to find words to critique this film, but quite frankly "Heima" is one that almost lacks the ability to be analyzed. Instead, and the true beauty of it, is that it exists almost solely as an subjective experience. No 2 people can possibly view this film the same way. Each sequence, communicated as an encompassed feeling of the moment, is guided by your own impulses and tastes. I find that you put something of yourself into it, as these filmed moments start to feel as if something of your own memories.

I will however attempt to state what I had liked about this film, and why it had hit me as something unique. One reason is that the entirety of the film harnessed the purity that it is music, and the instant emotion that comes as a result. They do this first through their editing. It all seems to move with the present feeling, as it lingers at soft moments and intensifies with the added energy of speed. Each song is then accompanied by a different place, each one altering the sound of the song being performed and the performance by the band members themselves. It was in these moments that the beautifully executed cinematography hit me, as it made me sense the presence of the environment of each varying place. This made it feel as if I was there at the concert, and that itself was a journey to me. Past midnight at my house, when I first experienced this film on New Years, it all felt like I was on my own transcendent vacation, one that I've yet to experience.

Something that this film managed to communicate to me was a love for people. Within each crowd is a face the film writes, and each face harnesses something of a diverse experience. Like us, each person is viewing this event differently. We see this through the unfocused children running around and playing, who don't yet know how much this experience might mean to them. To the elderly audience members, watching it with unblinking concentration, aware of the rarity that such beautiful moments will penetrate their lives again. I reveled in the individualism of the crowd, and connected to the beauty that is one's own experience of life.

In conclusion, this is the type of film that you slip into on a lazy Sunday afternoon, and in the process experience something far more transcendent than normal life. It's one that hit me on a personal level, and I hope that everyone reading will soon be able to experience something as beautiful as this film. Whatever that may be.

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)

A Good (But Flawed) Innovation

[7/10 · 31 December 2018]

The idea of an interactive movie is ingenious! There are just so many aspects that add to the cinematic experience. Most notably is that it's involving. I couldn't help but feel that I was in total control, that I was the character, and that all these moments and memories were truly my own. I found myself caring more for each individual scene than I had for any movie prior. This all helps to heighten the story, as I found the funny scenes funnier and melodramatic scenes all the more hard hitting than they would have been without the interaction. Another added aspect is that it's just simply fun to have control. It began to encompass the allure of video games as I watched (and played!), finding myself on the edge of my seat with each decision.

Now for the actual movie which I found to be great, kind of. The pace throughout was excellent, with the loud/over-the-top and quiet character building moments to be perfectly built up to, while at the same time managing to co-exist simultaneously. I also found the cinematography, although a bit more restrained than show, to be extremely well shot. In many moments the filmmaking was extremely close to the main character, as it felt like the camera was studying him the most personal of ways. I also found the way it visualized repetition to be extremely interesting. It's communicated fast so we get the gist, and yet in many moments, especially when dealing with the trauma of a certain past event, it lingers as it communicates more and more detail throughout.

There are a few disappointing aspects however. There's the dialogue which, although certainly isn't bad, didn't hold to the normal standards of Black Mirror. It's definitely competent, but it all just felt very restrained especially when dealing with such situations. I never actually found what the characters were saying to be that interesting, and it all seemed to lack the ability to create tension as much as it was trying to. I also found the escalation of the story, with the exemption of a very clever 4th wall breaking scene, to be rather dull. Not that it needed an especially messed up moment that most episodes possess, but I felt that with this story it could have definitely gone farther.

There is another flaw, but even as I write this now I'm debating whether it was one or not. I'll start with an aspect that I loved and that was how personal this movie became. It perfectly internalized the mental decline of the main character, along with garnering sympathy through his traumatic past. However, I find this to be more of a testament to the movie's interactive abilities, because quite honestly the main character is not that interesting. Besides his ability to exemplify sympathy, I never necessarily found him to be that likable. He's incredibly reserved, rarely showing glimpses of personality. And maybe it's because I knew that I could always start again, but I never actually felt remorse when he was in danger or something terrible happened to him. And yet despite this I'm still hesitant on claiming that this is something wrong with the movie. Yes, the character is somewhat dull, but would this movie have actually benefited from a strong minded and completely unique individual? That approach, although may have worked, may also have created an alienation between us and the character. Maybe the current character is the best they could have had for a story like this. He's easy to get along with (which is vital, especially when considering the fact that you're basically put in his place), and because so little is actually revealed it's easy to understand him making contrasting decisions. In a sense the character acts like a blank template, as you insert pieces of yourself into him. These are all vital characteristics for a main character, when creating a story that truly is a "chose your own adventure".

In conclusion, despite a couple of disappointing aspects I still absolutely loved this movie! Netflix was the perfect platform for an idea like this to be implemented and I find this all to be a huge innovation for the film industry. I eagerly await to see more of it in the future, whether it be for a Romance, Horror, Comedy, Sci-Fi, or any other genre they may decide to try next.

Back to School (1986)

Fun, Funny, and Feel-good

[7/10 · 29 December 2018]

What I liked: +Amazing opening! Not only does it establish and juxtapose the rest of the film, but it exerts a nostalgic, photographic, black and white style not seen for the rest of the film. Although it's disappointing that the director didn't keep the creative mojo up, this single sequence still shows his inventiveness and feels purely his own.

+The cast is full of colorful characters! Some with limited screen time still make their character quirks come out, striking it as memorable. These characters are entertaining to watch, and it's through their performance that they actually feel even plausible. This adds sincerity to these roles, where at times they seem to lack on the page.

+The cast works well off each other. With each character comes a sense of predictability (I say this in a good way), making us savor and expect each response. Each response then feels like a situation that deserves our attention.

+Rodney Dangerfield is charming! Maybe it's his happy go lucky attitude or the fact that he's actually a nice guy with intentions, but he's just really likable and fun to watch. It makes the whole film all the easier to laugh at.

+This is a film with respect for it's style. Yes, it's over the top, but it's consistent with that. They give each emotion the right amount of sensitivity. With each joke they always fit it into the context of the story, feeling true throughout.

What I disliked: -There are some dumb plot points. They never truly feel representative of real people, which sucks since the film is full of interesting people who could use depth. Still, it established the plot fast and doesn't hinder the entertainment value too much.

-A couple of side characters whom held importance could have had more screen time and depth. This is evident with the son's girlfriend who is just a cliche.

White Christmas (1954)

An Encompassed Feeling Nearly Lost in Time

[8/10 · 25 December 2018]

Watching White Christmas is like a remembrance of past nostalgias. It all brings me back to a time when I was young, where Christmas was the single most magical event there ever was. It was a time of endless and unbreakable euphoria, a feeling nearly unattainable with my age. And yet, this film managed to incite even more from me. Through its difference it comes to represent not only the past, but also the present. To show how these past nostalgia have shaped us into a hopeful and wiser version of ourselves, making me all the more grateful for today. Hidden beneath this glamorous portrayal of Christmas and performance, is something of true human sincerity and the ever present love for the moment, propelling the film into something extraordinary.

First off, one aspect that sticks out about this film is it's dialogue. Upon hearing the back and forths it is all purely fun! The dialogue is witty and always feels as if it's consequential, as it's constantly building up to the next event. However, the main staple is how revealed these characters become through communication. Every piece of banter between each character gradually leads up to one being sincere. Slowly but surely the essence of each character begins to break through. We can't help but feel that they actually pondered the situation with the intelligence of a real person and simply stated what they felt deep down. It's a testament to this film on how much it respects and communicates the true human essence of each character. In a way, and like all great films, the dialogue felt like a reflection of real life. How so many of our conversations feel light hearted, with an emphasis on humor, and yet it's through these discussions that staples of who we truly are end up seeping through.

It's because of how well defined each character is that the humor with it worked all the better. It's like a sitcom cast that you're well acquainted with. It's not the specific joke written, but the character actually saying it. The feeling that these real people, with all their complexities known to us, are actually saying these lines as if it was thought up in the moment. This can't help but propel life into it, containing the human aspects lacking on paper.

Another notable aspect is its cinematography. In this case the camera felt like a character. It always seems to be reacting with the most insightful responses. It pans from thing to thing, highlighting the individual in the room and detailing them through their telling movements. It also embodies the mood of the room. This is ever present when the said mood is romance. The camera always seems to start with a subjective wide shot, encompassing the characters within a large room, as it seems to get seductively closer and closer. Pretty soon it's all built up to the max of anticipation. And then they kiss, making us feel as if it was truly worked for. But it's not all personal. There's glamour to the musical numbers, as these fantasy like moments are perfectly communicated through the camera that seems to soar as it takes up each bit of beautiful scenery. It all then becomes fulfilled with the beautiful and seamlessly intricate dances.

And of course, the dancing and music is perfect. This is all obvious when including such professionals. Of course it will be perfect! But what about the "why" of it? How does it communicate the present emotions of the story? Well, pretty amazingly and it's the reason why it holds up so much as a musical. The dancers themselves felt suave, respectable, and yet harnessed this child like fun to it all. They use this to perfectly communicate the almost funny feelings of love, the unrelenting and yet seamless energy towards passion, and (most beautifully) the true joyful feeling of the present moment, where everything right seems to hit you all at once. Music all adds to this, through its communication of the joyfulness, the melodrama, the energy, and the liveliness of Christmas! It's all very glorious, as both communicated these feelings far greater than it could have been done any other way.

As I write this now it is Christmas Eve. Having seen this movie I feel as if part of my past spirit of childhood has been restored to me. I'm bewildered on how much a film like this could instill into a person, and I'm so grateful to have seen it. As I go to bed tonight, restless and anticipating Christmas Day, I have no doubt that I'll be counting my blessings instead of sheep.

And on a final note: Happy Holidays to whoever is reading! Whether you be young or old, or have the holiday spirit or not, I wish you the best!

Fahrenheit 11/9 (2018)

Abrasively Above Average

[8/10 · 23 December 2018]

Fahrenheit 11/9 is a political documentary from the always controversial Michael Moore. It's focus: the Trump administration. Nowadays this seems almost like a cliche thing to do. What more could be said that has not been mentioned already? We have seen plenty of critiques on Trump, and to devote an entire film to him seems almost exhaustive. However what could have been rehashed propaganda is instead intelligent, witty, tragic, and challenges the audience with immense sincerity.

What captivated me was how Michael Moore intertwined several tough subjects all at once. It was not just Trump, but an array of current issues from gun control to political liars of all stripes that show our leaders may not be doing the best job of serving the American people.

Definitely one of the most sickening of these topics was the water crisis in Flint, Michigan in which over 10,000 children who made up the population of the city got lead poisoning. This all started off when Rick Snyder became the new governor of Michigan. Although Flint already had clean water, he switched the pipeline which brings in all of Flint's water to one that was dirty, for what the film assumes was for his financial gain.

Michael Moore takes a deeper dive into this. The water contained lead which even in the smallest amounts can cause a drop in IQ, fatigue, nausea, and even death. When the parents take their kids and the elderly family members to be tested, every single person ranked above the safe amount (the safe amount of lead being 3.5). Government Snyder's people simply changed the results to say they were in the healthy range.

It gets all the more lucrative, when pretty soon after that the water starts to erode the automobile parts being manufactured for General Motors. A $200 billion company that was able to quickly get the clean water privately pumped to their factories while the people of Flint remained poisoned for years. Even when President Obama later on flew in to Flint and declared the water safe, his unwillingness to drink more than a sip of water shows that both Republicans and Democrats are willing to put presentation over substance. This is the recurring theme of Fahrenheit 11/9 .

The film handles complicated topics like these effectively, from the school shootings in Parkland, Florida that made teenagers stand up for what they believed in, to those who are getting into politics for the first time. Michael Moore focuses on the solutions that are already there instead of just stating the problems that already exist. In Fahrenheit 11/9 everyday people win by fighting against the odds, from teachers all over country fighting for a raise, to students organizing protests that lead to thousands of schools demonstrating against gun violence and the NRA.

This film, while being tragic, also has its fair share of humorous moments to balance it out. One in particular was in the beginning by showing the differences between the Trump and Hillary rallies the night of the election, where the changing music shows how Trump's victory was completely unexpected. The film does a lot of little things like that to get its point across, which build on both humor and emotion. These moments have always been a part of filmmakers Michael Moore's work and have been his trademark for decades.

If there is one weakness with Fahrenheit 11/9 it is with using extreme points in making extremist opinions. Near the end, the documentary shows old footage of Hitler giving a speech to the Nazis while using Trump's voice from a campaign speech. The film then goes to explain the similarities between Trump and Hitler. Although he does back up what he's saying with some comparisons between the two it still feels like an overstatement.

All in all, despite a few exaggerations, this was an extremely well put together documentary, finding new facts in a world where honesty isn't always easy to find. It saddens me that very few people seem to be giving it a chance, basing their opinions only on what they thought it was going to be, and in the process missing the opportunity to learn of many other issues of which can be overcome by the human spirit. Fahrenheit 11/9 grossed only $3 million opening weekend. Compare this to Michael Moore's Previous film Fahrenheit 9/11 which tackled the Bush administration, which in its opening weekend made $27 million and is the highest grossing documentary of all time. Was it possibly because nobody in the media at the time was recognizing the questionable things going on with George W. Bush? Is it the opposite for Trump, and does Michael Moore's criticism of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton turn away Democrats who may be sympathetic to Michael Moore's new movie? The hate for all of them, Moore included, has become almost exhausting. Fahrenheit 11/9 shows opportunity within tragedy but even if it offers that beacon of hope, the near empty movie theater I visited reflected the fact that most moviegoers just don't care.

Mary Poppins (1964)

A Classic of Classics

[10/10 · 21 December 2018]

There were times in all our lives where we needed Mary Poppins. That nanny that could guide us through life, yet still make sure that we did not forget to have fun. One that could help us grow up and learn, no matter our age.

Of course in real life, since she does not really exist, we never truly will get those magical experiences. However, it is movies like this that help fill in that void, making us feel that we too have been affected by Mary Poppins.

What sticks out most about this film is Julie Andrews portrayal of Mary Poppins, whom, dare I say, is practically perfect in every way. Not only does she perfectly encapsulate the requests of the children, being rosy and delightful throughout, she also fulfills the requests of Mr. Banks, striking a balance for the stern and disciplined nanny that he wanted.

Throughout the film there is a mysteriousness about Mary Poppins. She performs these magical feats without too much of an explanation or acknowledgement. There are times in the film where she would completely deny these adventures had even happened. She also possess a sly intelligence, being able to manipulate anyone, but only in her best intentions, and only to help the family. What truly works about this odd portrayal is what it produces from the other actors. Slowly but surely, you truly believe these characters to be swept up from this magic that she conjures, giving each character depth and change as they become affected by it. This all helps to propel the feeling of family. You see how fondly she treats all of them, the warm feeling she entices, and how everything she does is to help lead to this family becoming close. Although she will never admit it, she loved them all more than anything.

What can say? The songs are practically perfect in every way too! Each one seems to encapsulate the story's present atmosphere perfectly. This provides an instant and pure emotion with each song. Look at the song "Spoonful of Sugar", it is fun and magical mood which made cleaning fun to me as a child. "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious", which attempts to describe an indescribable joyful feeling that can only be put into words through music. Then there is "Chim Chimney". This strangely enough gives me the feeling of joyful loneliness, like staying up late and reading a book. However, it is my personal favorite (and Walt Disney's too) that perfectly encapsulates the film's more touching moments, "Feed the Birds". We see an content old woman sitting on the steps of a tall building, that seems almost to engulf her, as birds fly all around it in the darkness. Throughout it we hear the soft voice of Julie Andrews, as she sings slow lullaby like toon. It all gives off a feeling of togetherness, beauty, and sadness. I feel there is also a message to be taken with this song, that we should stop and appreciate all that we have now, as due to time it may be lost before we know it.

There are some aspects to this film that I did not come to realize until recently with age. One thing that stood out to me is how the film bridges its point of view, allowing insight into multiple characters. In the film's first half it focuses on the children, with fun sequences of animation, dancing, and magic. Throughout this time, the film communicates the children's fear of their father, whom they do not understand. He seems to only want to shape them into adults, doing away with necessary childhood happiness. It is then in the film's second half that they focus more on Mr. Banks, whom we realize there is more to than what we and the children perceived. We learn that deep down he needs the exact thing that the kids need. The movie comes to communicate that everyone, no matter what age, need people to look out for them. This keeps the whole film from being just for kids. By providing knowledge that is wise and applicable for older audiences, there is always something different to take with you depending on where you are in your life. Making a movie that truly changes with age.

Now, being a highschooler, there are many messages that this film communicates to me. It communicates that you should work hard, but never to forget to enjoy the fun life has to offer. It communicates to respect and even try to understand parents, that who, like everyone, need someone to look after them. Finally it communicates that through everything that goes on, to stop and appreciate all that I have now, for I may someday not have it. If I was to describe the feeling of watching this again, it would be like a warm embrace from a forgotten friend. New, exciting, and wiser than before.

Hereditary (2018)

The Loneliness of Loss

[8/10 · 21 December 2018]

It is quite rare that you get a horror film that is both scary and complex. One that takes a deep look into human emotions and then shifts it into a tense thrill ride. This rarity has arrived just this year. Its name: Hereditary.

This diamond in the rough film centers on the character of Annie (played by Toni Collette), a mother who finds it hard to cope with the loss of her mother and another family member. She is accompanied by her son Peter (played by Alex Wolff), a regular stoner teen, and his dad, Steve (played by Gabriel Byrne), who has trouble dealing with his wife's questionable behavior. From this, I cannot give too much away. I will say that this film is in fact quite scary, with many of its supernatural moments destined to get a scream out of audience members. I will also say that it includes many themes of loss all communicated with immense creativity, as it infests the story metaphorically in various different ways.

Starting off, one obvious pro of this film is its acting. It is incredibly life like, making all the supernatural moments all the more disturbing to sit through. Definitely the stand out in this film is that of Toni Collette. She goes through a wide variety of emotions, all of which to the greatest extreme, including depression, happiness, hopefulness, and insanity. Each is done with such precision, that it feels similar to watching a dancer pull off an incredibly complex dance, hitting each move perfectly. Another standoff performance would have to be that of Alex Wolff who plays Peter. From the beginning he does an exploratory job of manifesting the stoner teen, but it's when the film continues, and he is introduced to more and more of the horrors that this film has to offer, that he is allowed to truly shine. Alex himself has even stated in an interview for Goldderby, "I have never been this vulnerable; if someone touched me I would bleed.".

What compelled me most when it came to this film's scares was simply how unconventionally it dealt with it. For example: around ¼ of the way into this film a character, while in a car, gets decapitated. While most R rated horror films from here would have its focus be the gore, how the body looks and how much blood there is, Hereditary instead focuses completely on the character driving the car. The camera lingers on his shock ridden face and his shaky hands, holding there for about a minute, simply letting the actor portray everything about the character in that moment. Not only is this scene scary, but it allows viewers to take a breath with the character and try to comprehend how this action will affect everyone for the rest of the film.

Yet another aspect that this film excels at is its visual style. The majority of the scenes inside the family's house is filmed from a distance, encompassing the entire room, and in the process engulfing the characters. This gives us a view as a spectator, making us feel as if they are dolls inside of a doll house. To me, this gives a whole new perspective of how the film should be viewed, giving off a paranoia that possibly we are not the only ones viewing it, that this is from the evil spirits point of view, viewing them all as inconsequential dolls that they have control over.

That is only one of many interpretations, which viewers will probably have many of. This is largely due to the fact that the film is very vague with what is actually going on, leading to more questions than it does answer. This works to the film's benefit for the most part, until the last 10 minutes of the film. It is at this point that I felt as if this film was jumping the gun, leading me to question what exactly was going on, and most likely prompting many viewers to look up "Hereditary ending explained" on Youtube.

I will end on a warning: for those movie-goers expecting a horror movie that dwells on its blood, gore, and exploitation, you may not enjoy this. For those movie-goers expecting an array of jump scares from scary demons, you may not enjoy this. And finally, for those expecting a clear, fully explained story that offers many answers, you may not enjoy this. For although this film may not be any of these things, it is instead patient, complex, and one that I feel will stay in the viewers minds for quite some time.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

A Near Flawless Disappointment

[8/10 · 11 November 2018]

This may have been the best a PG-13 commercial film about Queen could have been. I say this both with praise and disappointment. Praise because, despite a few obvious flaws, this film was incredibly entertaining. Disappointment because although the quality seems to have on the surface, it lack internally, failing to capture the true spirit of Queen, especially it's main member Freddie Mercury. This film stars Rami Malek (known for his leading role in the TV series, Mr. Robot), playing the lead role of Freddie Mercury, the lead singer of the widely popular band Queen. It chronicles the band as it first shows when Freddie first got the part of lead singer of Queen, to the creation of their songs, to Freddie's lifestyle, which eventually led to him contracting AIDS, ending on the band's legendary performance at Band Aid in 1985. Despite some obvious criticism that I will later get into, coming out of the theater I am still overjoyed that they decided to make Freddie Mercury's life into a biopic. He had an interesting life. Going from a pakistan teen with buck teeth to the multi millionaire icon singer is an exciting rags to riches story. His life also includes tragedy when he was first diagnosed with AIDS, which led to his death at the age of 45, showing yet another star who left us all to soon. This all adds up to an interesting story. This film definitely has it's great aspects. Most notably, Rami Malek in the role of Freddie Mercury is electrifying! His presence is always felt on screen, through his iconic look, way of speaking, catchphrases (Darling is one), and body language. He shares the same presence on screen as Freddie did on stage, really adding depth to the character. I then find it likely that Rami Malek will be nominated, if not win, the oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role coming next Oscar season. The film also includes a fair share of comedic moments, mostly coming from the dialogue. The characters in this film always seem to have something to say at always the right time. Look at this set of dialogue for an example:

Brian May: That's a nice fancy dress, Fred. Freddie Mercury: I've got to make an impression, darling! Brian May: You look like an angry lizard!

It's the light hearted dialogue like this that helps make the film entertaining and enjoyable to all. Yet another aspect that really made this film stand out as something great was how it portrayed the live performances from Queen. It's in these concerts that all the elements come together and work. Almost magically these concerts communicate, triumphs for the characters, humor, powerful emotions, and all let's the camera work truly pop. Being this is a biopic of as popular of a band as Queen, the film has a wide variety of great music to use, and how creatively did they use it! The music always seem to heighten all the elements to create real movie magic. Despite how many things this film gets right, and I do admit this to be a well made movie, there are some considerable flaws. One being the pace. For a film dealing with decades of strong detailed material, two hours and fifteen minutes seems almost too short. This definitely shows, as the film seems to jump around from highlight to highlight in the band's career, never going in depth into the events. Another major flaw with this movie, is the fact that it is a PG-13 commercial film. This majoraly hinders the film, as it seems to gloss over all the sex and drugs that had an impact on Freddies life. I then find it quite interesting when considering that this film was originally meant to star Sacha Baron Cohen (Famous for portraying the raunchy character Borat) and that it was meant to have a hard R rating. Some people however feel that this kind of biopic would be problematic and not have nearly the amount of wonder as this film did. Although that is certainly possible, I feel that by actually portraying Freddie Mercury how he was it would have humanized all the more, giving more weight when it affects his life, and add depth to where it was lacking before. I can't help but think back to a scene in this film where the song Bohemian Rhapsody was first shown to a music producer. The dialogue was as follows:

Ray Foster: It goes on forever, six bloody minutes! Freddie Mercury: I pity your wife if you think six minutes is forever.

Somehow I feel as if the same situation happened with many of the producers of this film, rejecting anything risky that could affect how much money this film made. Instead of doing something daring and exciting, like all of Queen's music did, filmmakers decided then to stick with something much more conventional and in the process did not encapsulate the spirit of Queen.

Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018)

Mission Impossible: Fallout Aims High and Hits its Target

[8/10 · 3 September 2018]

The lights start to dim, the movie screen widens, and I am subjected to the many company logos that made this film possible. Suddenly, as I sit there in the movie theater, notepad by my side, the iconic Mission Impossible music begins to play and immediately I am sucked in.

Mission Impossible: Fallout is the 6th film in the Mission Impossible franchise and by all accounts the best one yet. It follows Ethan Hunt, played by Tom Cruise;who has been playing this character since the first Mission Impossible, back in 1996. He's the type of heroic character that we have all grown used to. He's smarter, stronger, and wittier than any of the bad guys that he fights, and has a habit of getting out of any situation in just the nick of time. This time, after a mission goes wrong, him, the IMF team, along other familiar faces will have to combat the terrorist group known as "The Syndicate". With one or 2 characters from the previous movies, this time he'll be accompanied by the loyal Luther Stickell (Ving Rhames), the tech expert and comic relief Benji Dunn (Simon Pegg), and the arrogant August Walker (Henry Cavill), who seems the get in Ethan's way more than he can help.

With that I can't give anymore away, without spoiling the last two films in the process . I do find it necessary to watch the last 2 films, (Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation). For the fact of how much it adds to the film to know the relationships and backstories of these character, and in order to understand the characters involved and the role of which "The Syndicate" plays and the characters involved and they are also both solid movies that deserve at least part of your time.

One of the defining aspects of this movie is the action. From the opening mission gone wrong, to the skydiving sequence that seems to all happen in one uninterrupted shot, to the harrowing helicopter chase near the end, this is a story that's told through its action.

Acclaimed film critic Roger Ebert from The Chicago Sun-Times described it best, when speaking on the 4th film Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, saying that it achieves a sort of action poetry. The script, for what it is, is great. One of the best parts about is is that it allows for these action sequences to happen one after the other, and this fast pace keeps the film from possibly being bogged down by its complex plot or use of exposition. Another thing to admire about the writing of this film is the constant use of the twist. Things in this film constantly change from being one thing to the other and the same with the majority of the characters. There are constantly moments in the film which lead to my jaw being dropped with an "oh my god" expression on my face.

If I were to give any flaws to this film, it would probably only have to do with the Mission Impossible franchise and the style of these movies as a whole. I find that some viewers might get annoyed with the overt complexity of the plot and action, feeling that what it leads up to could be done much quicker, instead of this film's length of 147 minutes (I must add that however long that may seem for a movie to be, it does not feel that way. The fast pace means that something is constantly happening to the point that this almost two and a half hour movie only feels less than two.). I can also understand some viewers becoming annoyed with some of the conveniences in this film, how Ethan Klein seems to get through everything even when by all accounts he shouldn't have, or how him and his crew always seem to get rid of the threat just 1 to two seconds before it would have been too late.

In conclusion, this is a film for just about anyone. Its action packed but it's well-written at the same time, it's funny but also serious and melancholy when it has to, and it's a crowd pleaser but at the same time critically acclaimed (look no further than the 97% rating on RottenTomatoes.com). I remember seeing an elderly couple at the showing I went to, and seeing them gasp at the same twists, laugh at the same jokes, and after coming out of the theater looking satisfied just as I had. This is a movie that I feel has a little bit for everyone.

The Greatest Showman (2017)

The Essence of P. T. Barnum

[8/10 · 14 January 2018]

From the beginning, cinema has always been about the magic of entertainment. Telling living stories, they are able portray events, moments, people, and show so many things that can never be seen anywhere else. This in essence was everything P.T. Barnum could have wished for.

Now, I'm writing this review mainly do to the recent divisiveness this movie created among critics (Look no further than the 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes) with the main critique among them all being the portrayal of the main character himself P.T. Barnum. They claim the showman to be a watered down version of the real Barnum and say even more so that the film glosses over much of the real life events that show him to be a much more complicated figure, than seen in the movie. Now this is a fair critique, character is portrayal is one of the key aspects when making a biographical picture, but in this case I think a more cheerful watered down version may have benefited it. Now I hate to sound condensing, knowing that I am not a professional critic myself, but I feel many of whom have missed the point. Barnum would not have wanted a serious, 60 year old, dialogue heavy portrayal of himself, if anything he would have loved Hugh Jackman's performance. He's excitable, happy, energetic and just like his ideas you could even call him magical. Same with the rest of the characters (Many of whom did not exist in real life) like the Anne Wheeler, the trapeze artist played by Zendaya, who has to deal with racism along with bigotry do to a romance. She too is in love with performance and has the same magical quality to her. Characters like these capture the scope of Barnum's ideas along with the imagination. If portraying real life versions of some the characters the movie (As Barnum would have hated) would have become grounded in realism taking away much of the wonder that Barnum thought was necessary for entertainment.

The movie also goes for a stylistic choreographed style seen in many musicals. This style is especially apparent during the musical numbers, full of lights, stunts dancing and complex camera movement. The movie looks great during these scenes and even when there isn't music or dancing it's still present by having great set design and mesmerizing colors. Everybody behind the scenes must have worked incredibly hard and it it really shows. This is movie reliant on these set pieces in which it definitely holds up. There is a part in the movie where someone tries to convince him that drama/plays are a definitive form of entertainment, in which (From what I remember) Barnum says something along the lines of "Who would want to watch people talk for 2 hours". Views such of these from Barnum is why I believe the filmmakers decided to make the movie such a flashy, cinematic, musical instead of a drama it could have easily been. This I believe captures what his shows meant and exactly the way Barnum would have wanted a adaptation such as this to be.

In conclusion, this movie did a great a great job capturing Barnum, not in sense of character, but more of sense of spirit and gives a grand cinematic retelling of his life. The movie is not perfect, it can be cliche at time and it's fast pacing can seem a bit sudden many times. However, this movie entertained me and memorized me many time and I would recommend a viewing (Especially while it still is in theaters). But be warned if you don't like musicals I doubt you'll like this.