Review: Mank

It's been six years since the last David Fincher film. The longest gap between any Fincher project since his debut in 1992.

Almost all of his films have become either cults favourites, timeless classics or major awards contenders.

With this latest feature covering how one of the greatest films ever made was written, cinephile's like myself would naturally be intrigued by something like this.

I think going into this appreciating or at least watching Citizen Kane will help as I cannot see this being marketable to the masses. So for me, there was a lot to like for me.

It is most certainly a well made film. It has that perfect mix of showing similar imagery to Citizen Kane whilst also having that Fincher touch. I also liked some of the nods to certain filming techniques that were used from the time period. From the cigarette burns, to the style of music by Trent Raznor and Atticus Ross, to the way it is edited at times. It felt very much of the 30's and 40's. There was even a drunk/drowsy sequence that copied the style of certain late 20's early 30's filming techniques which was nice to see.

The screenplay by Fincher's late father Jack is very well written. There's lot of strong back-and-forth sequences that Aaron Sorkin would be proof. It gives solid development to many characters to at least have one memorable moment on screen. It also covers certain stories that would intrigue film historians.

While there are several theories on certain aspects that the film covers, I think because it is executed in an effective and dramatic way, I don't think it mattered too much whether what they portray on screen is the cold hard facts as this is a drama rather than a documentary.

The performances were pretty good on the whole. Gary Oldman is great in the lead and I wouldn't be surprised if he has another year as an Oscar contender. Amanda Seyfried surprised me and had great moments in here and could also sneak a major awards push. Lily Collins fitted the role perfectly and had memorable chemistry with Oldman. Charles Dance was a nice surprise and had real presence whenever he was on screen.

It's biggest drawback is sadly the lack of emotional drive with the story. While the story was very interesting, I could not see myself wanting to watch it again straight away or anytime soon expect for maybe doing some analysis of the techniques involved.

That for me is where it will be seen by general audiences as slow, dull and boring which is entirely understandable.

It's gorgeously made and that is probably why I highly appreciate this film. But I would fit this under style over substance unfortunatly. I love how it looks, how it was made and the topics it cover and for that reason I have to give it an outstanding rating. But missing that impact with my emotions and not having the pacing that gives it steady flow makes more of a prestige film than a one for the masses.

I can see this being nominated for a lot of Oscars. But I feel unless you love the art of film-making, go to a media studies class or you love Citizen Kane, I can't see anyone else being interested or engaged by this.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Wonder Woman 1984

After the success of Patty Jenkins' 2017 first outing. I was intrigued to see how the sequel would fare, as the original was one of the few films within the DCEU that I would happily own a copy of or watch again.

After the pretty cool prologue, the start did have me fearing the worst. While it was cool seeing the mid 80's portrayed on a cinema screen in 2020, the campy tone did have me getting similar vibes of 'The Amazing Spider-Man 2'.

But it did also feel like it was paying homage to those silly 80's comedies. So I remained hopeful that there would be a payoff.

I felt I eventually got something that was worth watching. The narrative and its themes is definitely something we've all experienced on another film or TV show. But I felt the execution was solid enough and the timing of this film made it somewhat refreshing and welcoming.

What made it work for me was that I could feel the stakes and threats involved and able to accept most of its moments of quirkiness and disbelief.

Gal Gadot still proves how great of a casting choice she was as Wonder Woman. Her perfect mix of beauty and strength continues to be ideal. Seeing Chris Pine reprise his role will have many questioning the reasoning for this despite how his character ends in the first film. But I felt it eventually made sense and again paid homage to those hammy comedies of the time period. Pine might have partly lacked that charisma you usually get from him. But it was perfectly function for what his character had to do in this one. Kristen Wiig is basically playing a role we've seen Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey and Uma Thurman do in similar superhero films. But I felt Wiig did well with what she was given. Her development was solid, there were moments where I felt she was a good match for Gadot until at the very end when her transformation felt sudden and almost undeserving and incoherent. Pedro Pascal was a nice surprise given his character is over-the-top. His transformation was well executed and I think he eventually fitted the tone rather well.

There is a nice little touch to end on during the mid-credits scene. It certainly put a smile on my face and I can see a certain chunk of audience enjoying it.

From the technical side, the production, costumes and make-up are as high-quality as you would expect. The 80's period setting was right on the money. However, the pacing felt uneven for the most part and I  would say its 2hrs 31mins is far too long for what it was trying to say.

As for the script, while it wasn't anything spectacular, it was perfectly fine for the vibe Jenkins seemed to be going for.

So to conclude, yes the type of story and its themes is something we've seen done by several films of TV shows and people will see this plot device as lazy. But I still felt fairly entertained by it. The characters felt well developed. I could feel the stakes involved and some iconic parts of Wonder Woman that were introduced on the big screen for the first time were great moments.

I agree that it is nowhere near as thrilling or meaningful as the first Wonder Woman and it doesn't reach the same heights of emotion. But sometimes, films don't need to match those heights and I still felt entertained by this.

There is definitely a homage to quirky 80's comedies. With the added themes, this film felt like a mix of Bruce Almighty, the quirky comedic side to Richard Lester's Superman features, the romantic side of Richard Donner's Superman from 1978 and even one scene that is straight out of Raiders Of The Lost Ark. That last sentence won't work to everyone's tastes. But it certainly will appeal to certain demographics. In an age where people expect seriousness to their superhero films, it was nice to get a reminder of the superhero films of the 80's that were successful and weren't afraid to be quirky at times.

It will be interesting to hear other views of this. Quite a lot of people did give the previous installment a lot of high praise. I can expect some disappointment as the tone is fairly different and its more light-hearted then you might expect. So while it may come across that I'm trying to defend the film. I'm actually saying that there is definitely an audience for this.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Wolfwalkers

Irish animation studio Cartoon Saloon are starting to become a big favourite within its genre and are challenging other studios such as Aardman Animation, Laika, Studio Ghibli, Pixar and Disney in relation to high quality animation and story-telling.

So far, we have had nothing but great features from them such as The Secret Of The Kells and the Oscar nominated films Song Of The Sea and The Breadwinner.

Now, it's back to Ireland with folklore adventure stories for the studios fourth project.

From the first minute I felt instantly at ease, knowing I was in safe hands and ready for an entertaining story. The hand-drawn animation is so pleasing and comforting that the entire duration was an incredibly relaxing experience.

The themes of love and loss and the separation of our connection with nature made it an enchanting and gripping story. As the film went on, the animation almost manages to evolve as well. The shapes and symmetrical look it has as well as the choice of colours really shows you why Cartoon Saloon is standing out from other animation studios.

The voice work is very good all across the board. Honor Kneafsey and Eva Whittaker did a great job as the two main characters and showed great natural chemistry. Sean Bean is instantly recognisable with his voice and supported the story well. Another voice work that was recognisable and done well cast was Simon McBurney, who always fits the bill well as a villain.

Also, the score by Bruno Coulais fits the period perfectly and really soothes you. It will certainly be a score that I'll listen to multiple times over the next few years at least.

But the star of the show is the animation. Every frame was a pure feast for the eyes. The entire animation department should be so proud of themselves as this is probably the best looking film from this studio.

There was only gripe that I was having towards the end and that was not feeling a great deal of threat from the main antagonist. There were moments that reminded me of Claude Frollo from Disney's version of The Hunchback Of Notre Dame. But I rarely felt that character could compete with the protagonists.

Like with all of Cartoon Saloon's previous films, this just warms the heart so well. The story is well structured and developed, the themes are universal and relatable, the characters are engaging, the score is satisfying and the animation is absolutely glorious.

It's a completely satisfying  and reassuring viewing experience for all the family and it is one of those films almost cleanses you of all of your negative vibes which is lovely story.

I don't think it's the complete package that Song Of The Sea was. As mentioned before, I felt the villain wasn't strong enough to be a big of a threat to our protagonists. But it is still a film that I would highly recommend, especially if you're feeling down.

Rating: 8/10

Review: The Whaler Boy

Over the past several years, I have seen a healthy amount of Russian films or films set in Russia to get by in building my culture. But I have never seen a film set in very north east of Russia towards the legendary Bering Strait that separates Russia and America.

Along with seeing a brief synopsis of the plot, I was intrigued to see how this film would go.

On paper it sounded like a road comedy. But it actually ended up being a profound drama with themes that reminded me of British drama God's Own Country. That feeling of isolation and wanting to see what's out there and almost going mad knowing that they don't have the guts to take that step into the unknown.

It was interesting seeing this way of living in that part of the world and the conflict our central character was facing as the story developed. Admittedly, it gets slow at times. But I think what was keeping me going was the metaphors it was presenting.

The final act I think is what sealed it for me. It ends in a very profound and moving way that I was not expecting.

The minimal cast across the board all do a pretty good job. Vladimir Onokhov gave us a highly interesting lead character and the constant innocence he gave off felt both sweet and sympathetic. He was a very effective lead and really made the style work.

Other aspects that I certainly appreciated was the camerawork by Mikhail Khursevich and Yakov Mironichev. Making the film feel both small and grand in its scale was impressive to see.

So even with the aforementioned slow parts of the film, I found this to be an effective and memorable watch. It's intimate in its look. But with the vast landscape, it also manages to be immersive and cinematic. I can certainly see myself liking this film the more I think about it afterwards and this will be a big favourite with fans of arthouse cinema.

Rating: 7/10

Review: Kill It And Leave This Town

We have another film where I have no idea how to review this let alone introduce it.

I think what intrigued me to this was the strange choice of animation and some of the surreal imagery that I saw in small clips beforehand.

After seeing it, I think if I knew I was going have that kind of viewing experience, I wouldn't have checked this out.

It took me a long time before I began feel anything for the film or even work out the story and its themes.

I can tell it's a very personal creation that certainly has an audience for it somewhere in the world. But it is most definitely not a highly accessible feature.

I'd be lying if I said I was pretty confused by this. I eventually got something out of it in the end. So by the time I got a grasp of what film is portraying, I somewhat appreciated it. The animation and imagery is effectively disturbing, and almost as if I was watching a nightmare.

But I still struggled to be interested or engaged by it. It wasn't helped that it is pretty depressing through out and I felt nothing for the characters.

The animation I think fits the tone of the film. It was almost like watching a Pink Floyd or Beatles video. The vibe felt like a poor man's Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. So I would definitely put it in the category of 'it's better when you're high watching it'.

To conclude, it's not rubbish. There is something there to talk about and appreciate. But I just did not feel anything for it to give it a pass unfortunately.

Rating: 6/10

Review: Romy's Salon

Dutch cinema is certainly an industry that I have experienced very little of. In fact, it is only one film that I recall watching that was a Dutch production.

That was the great war thriller Black Book.

With this being more of a straight drama set in the present, this was a much different viewing experience.

Thankfully, it was almost as equally enjoyable.

While this film is covering a topic that sounds heavy, the way it is told gives it a heartwarming vibe that manages to make it suitable for family viewing. It helps as the story is told from the perspective of the child.

However, it does not shy away from the distressing moments. But it manages to make it rewarding viewing from an educational point of view for people who don't how to react in this type of situation.

It's also helped by the strong performances of Vita Heijman and Beppie Melissen as well as their chemistry. Heijman showed a great mix of innocence and maturity in her performance, felt authentic and was never annoying which is a great strength to have as a child actor. As for Melissen, she developed her character's mental state really well and showed her characters glowing personality that made her very likable and sympathetic.

I could be cruel and say that its simple in its story-telling, a bit too melodramatic for its own good, you could see how the story will pan out and there's little in its subtlety.

But I still found it a charming and effective watch. The topics covered were well told and the performances and tone gave it emotional weight.

This is great for family viewing and will be a rewarding watch for people of all ages.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Collective

The best experience of watching a film in any genre is seeing something that stays with you and you knew nothing of it beforehand.

That feeling is what keeps us going in the belief that originality is still alive and well.

In the case of film documentaries, it is stories that had little or no coverage at the time. But when made into a film, it's exposure through this medium gives it the best coverage the respective story ever had.

That's exactly how I felt after seeing this Romanian documentary of a story this is not only extraordinary as to how it happened. But also, the coverage that director Alexander Nanau managed to get and was allowed to show.

What's amazing is that there's no real style or added touch to the story being told. It's procedural in its structure and the camerawork is more for just observational purpose. The documentary is all about the story.

The only aspect of film-making to be seen is how it told the story from the viewpoint of the decision makers as well as the journalist that uncovered the story. Seeing their developments throughout and how it mixed and intertwined the two was well edited and constantly engaging.

This entire film documentary is the very definition of 'fly on the wall'. This is certainly a documentary that deserves the widest exposure possible. It has to be seen to be believed. Not just because of the story. But also, the unprecedented coverage that they manage to film. It also shows the every importance of investigative journalism and why it needs to still exist. 

While the lack of style was a noticeable choice that was made, they made it up for it with the shocking content that was presented.

Don't be surprised if you watch this with your mouth open in shock for the majority of the duration.

Rating: 8/10

Review: Dear Comrades

Stories about the Soviet Union are usually cold and grim affairs. But when done right, it can be an impactful watch.

Director Andrey Konchalovskiy manages to give his latest feature some weight and emotion around all the usual Russian bleakness.

It starts as something that I was fearing. A story that should be interesting, but isn't quite captivating me.

But despite the setting usually considered to be dark and bleak, the way the story evolved enhanced virtually every department. The way its shot gave it the bit of scope it needed. The characters became a lot more memorable and really helped the film mean something. Also, the neat editing, cinematography by Andrey Navydenov and the choice of presenting the story in black and white made it quite gripping viewing.

In the middle of all this seriousness, I also noticed a surprising amount of comedy in small portions. This gave it a refreshing edge and a sense of realism. It shows that even in the most darkest of times, people can still bring out a sense of humor to the situation.

One reason for this being a memorable watch, was the great leading performance by Yuliya Vysotskaya. It felt like a true reflection of the minds of citizens from that era. As the character develops, it is her intensity that made her incredibly watchable and fitted the tone perfectly. It made me really care for everything that was happening and gave the tragic sequences a lot more weight and emotion.

So while there were still moments that did not do enough to fully engage me, this managed to produce many memorable sequences to give this solid rewatchability. It tells a story that just isn't mentioned enough in mainstream media anymore and the way it was told made it a lot more relatable to current affairs then I expected. The whole vibe it was giving off managed to hold my attention and I can see it being a lot more accessible then I initially thought.

Rating: 7/10

Review: And Tomorrow The Entire World

There are certain countries that I can usually rely on for high-quality films, and Germany is one of them.

They can tell some really hard-hitting stories and not be afraid to tell it in a mature way.

As for this latest German feature, this crept up on me to make me realise this was a great watch instead of just good.

The start is quite ordinary and introduces our main character in a perfectly functional. But as soon as they enter a different world, virtually the entire production changes.

The pacing moves up a few notches, the handheld camerawork gets more extreme, the tension mounts and the energy went to places I was not expecting.

You could really feel the danger our characters were in as it was almost like someone was shouting at your face for about an hour.

Then I think what gave it the icing on the cake was the poignant ending. It showed great realism in the topics being covered. Also, it portrayed the constant struggle that people who live this sort of lifestyle in a very relatable way.

It seemed that this type of story was made for director Julia Von Heinz. Everything just seemed to fall into place and be the right project for Von Heinz and her team.

In terms of the acting, while the performances are pretty solid all-round by the ensemble cast, Mala Emde's leading role is pretty strong. The young German talent had a great screen presence and a natural engagement about her. Her story arch felt complete and I feel the best of her performance was managing to tell the story without saying a word.

The whole experience felt aggressive, muscular, angry and quite tense at times in many ways. It's very well developed, its topics are very interesting and it certainly made me appreciate that way of living a lot more. It managed to be a very rewarding watch.

Rating: 8/10

Review: The Bears' Famous Invasion Of Sicily

One possible reason for family films to be successful, is that the themes in the story can be very educational for the younger demographic. It can help them learn the ways of the world.

This French-Italian animation certainly fits into that category.

The first aspect of the film I had to get to grips with, was the animation. It's definitely the type of animation you don't see. It almost felt primitive at first. But as you get engrossed with the story, the animation style feels more and more right with the rest of the film and almost becomes quite charming in its look in certain sequences.

The story structure and message its saying is one we have seen before. One obvious comparison is a story many people from my generation would have been taught at school. But when done right, this structure and message can be very effective and timeless. This film did absolutely that.

It opens up nicely. It's set the scene, introduces us to characters that are memorable and you can get invested with them. The way the landscape is designed and shot makes for some nicely executed sequences.

Then when we get into more depth and into the psychological side of the story, the film is given much more of a meaning then I was expecting. All of that I felt was enhanced well by the bittersweet ending, which is something you rarely see in family films.

I was really surprised how moving and effective this film was. It has that perfect mix of balancing education and entertainment for both kids and adults. It teaches you about the relationship between society and nature, the class system, the power of greed and equality.

It's lovely to look at, the pacing is nice, it has a snappy 82 minutes duration and there are well developed characters. This was a really nice surprise.

Rating: 8/10