Nathan Needs A Username

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: It: Chapter 2

Director: Andy Muschietti

Writer: Gary Dauberman

Stars: Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Martell, Wyatt Oleff, Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor

I’ve been putting of writing this review for a little while now. That’s because no film this year has left me more conflicted after leaving a screening as this one. To be transparent this was high on my most anticipated films of the year after the first film proved to be a surprisingly, emotionally resent and enjoyable horror film. Given the source material I was prepared for the second installment to be more muddled than the first but I was not prepared for just how meandering, uneven and freaking long it turned out to be.

It is easiest to talk about this film in chucks, so to start with the introduction is sloppy and strangely rushed given the overall run-time. It is hear that it becomes clear that the new cast are what is going to carry this film with Bill Hader and  James Ransone in particular filling the screen with their presence right out of the gate. This is a well cast film with all the actors working well together and managing to capture some of the personality of their younger counterparts. 

Once the losers club is reunited the problems start to show themselves. Most of this film consists of heavy dialogue scenes in darkly lit rooms with over the top and often corny lines being delivered in surprisingly engaging ways followed by big CGI horror set pieces that feel rejected from one of the Insidious sequels. These scenes will then be followed by one or two of the main cast walking in an unrealistically empty street for way to long, rinse and repeat for the better part of two hours before we get to the big climactic ending (which for obvious reasons I wont get into here).

The film also features extensive flashback scenes with the cast of the first instalment. For the most part these get in the way of the main plot and could have done with being cut down a fair bit but it is still nice to see first hand the connection these characters had as kids (even if the de-aging and voice manipulation gets pretty distracting after a while).

Don’t get the wrong idea from this review however, this is one of the films it is easier to talk about the bad stuff than the good stuff but there is some really good stuff in here. As I mentioned before Bill Hader and James Ransone are both brillant and the rest of the cast also does a great job in their respective roles. I also think that  Andy Muschietti is a great director, the movement of the camera and overall visual flare of the “scary” scenes makes me wish I could see him direct something with a much better script. 

Steven King’s classic horror novel is a strange, meandering mess that will forever be divisive. There is something to said about how both mainstream adaptations have been exactly the same.

6/10

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood

Director: Quentin Tarantino

Writer: Quentin Tarantino

Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Emile Hirsch, Margaret Qualley,  Timothy Olyphant, Austin Butler,  Dakota Fanning

I’m going to state my bias right here, right now: I absolutely love Quentin Tarantino. There are a handful of film-makers that I discovered when I was first developing my tastes in cinema (Edgar Wright, Wes Anderson, Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Stanley Kubrick, The Coen Brothers and of course Tarantino), these directors will always have a place in my heart and as a result I may be easily persuaded to recommend their latest work. That being said Tim Burton’s Dumbo isn’t exactly going to be making my top 10 this year so don’t take too big a pitch of salt when I tell you that I might have a new best of the year contender. 

I would be interested in how this film would be received by someone who is unfamiliar with the previous 8 (or 9 depending how you count them) Tarantino films. I think a large part of my love for this film is down to how it messes with the standard formula of a Tarantino movie while still offering many of the trademarks that have made his style iconic, however I have seen many critics and fans saying they were disappointed in the film for similar reasons. Either way it is clear that this film can only be read effectively through the eyes of the kind of person who knows what like a virgin is really about, what a quarter ponder with cheese is called in Paris and can recite Ezekiel 25:17 by heart. 

This is probably the slowest film that Tarantino has brought out to date, large amounts of screen-time are dedicated to watching the characters drive through the painstakingly real looking sets or to fairly mundane conversations with no real baring on the overall plot. This has been an issue I have seen in many reviews but I have to say that it didn’t bother me, the cast are fantastic and so even the most pointless dialogue exchange feels engaging and as I mentioned before the attention to detail in the set design as well as the wardrobe makes every scene a treat to watch.

There are a couple of scenes that have caused controversy for this film. In the interest of keeping this spoiler free I will not go into detail here but lets just say that I don’t see what the problem is. 

I do want to talk briefly about the ending, I will try to keep this as vague as I can but if you really want to go in blind then ignore all of the text in bold.

A lot of people have compared this film to a fairy tale, given the unexpected and cathartic ending as well as the ‘Once Upon a Time’ title. For me this film reminded me more of a well told joke. A great comedian is able to keep their audience engaged for a long period of time while telling a seemingly mundane story, they will throw in little jokes and go on funny tangents only to come back at the end with the punch line. At the end of the movie when the sub-plot comes in focus and everything goes full Tarantino everyone in my cinema as laughing hysterically. I think that is what Tarantino wanted and what many critics are missing.

Ultimately, this a really great film. You should go see it.

9/10 

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: The Dead Don’t Die

Director: Jim Jarmusch

Writer: Jim Jarmusch

Stars: Bill Murray, Adam Driver, Tom Waits, Chloë Sevigny, Steve Buscemi, Danny Glover, Caleb Landry Jones, Tilda Swinton, Selena Gomez, Austin Butler, Luka Sabbat 

My first thought as this film warped up and the credits began to roll was “people are going to hate this”. I shared this sentiment with my friend who I was with and he seemed to agree.

To start with most of the marketing centered on the rather impressive cast, the posters bosting the tag-line “The Greatest Zombie Cast Ever Disassembled” and honestly just scroll back up to see why. This marketing approach does give of the impression that audience will be treated to a light-hearted Zom-Com featuring a group of interesting and bizarre characters. This is only sort of true, The film has a dry wit to it that often makes it difficult to tell whether or not what you are watching is supposed to be funny, at multiple points I found myself having to contain my laughter despite the fact the nothing particularly funny was happening on screen but that does suit my sense of humour.

The jokes being delivered in a unique way is not what I think will divide audiences (although it will contribute) one thing I did not expect was just how much Jarmusch wanted to say about our current society. The film jumps from being about consumerism to the environment to even folding back in and commenting on itself constantly. It hits you on the head with obvious messages about not harming the planet, being nice to people and not allowing brands and products to define you but also has the nerve to feature meta comedy and bizarre side-plots that go absolutely nowhere. 

This is the point where I tell you that I actually quite enjoyed how off-center and comically nonsensical the experience was. If like me you have seen many zombie movies and are looking for something fresh then this might just be what you are looking for and if not at least there’s a pretty sweat Night of the Living Dead reference in it.

This film certainly is not for everyone but I recommend watching it anyway to see if you find something to like, however if you do watch it and hate it don’t tell me I didn’t warn you.

7/10

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Spider-Man: Far from Home

Director: Jon Watts

Writers: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers

Stars: Tom Holland, Samuel L. Jackson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jon Favreau, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Tony Revolori, Angourie Rice, Martin Starr, J.B. Smoove

With this being the 8th Spider-Man film to have been released in the last 17 years it is safe to say that I like most people have started to find it difficult to get exited whenever Spidey is back on the big screen. That being said I am a big fan of 2017′s Spider-Man: Homecoming so I was fairly curious to see what director John Watts was planning on doing next with the character. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the overall quality of this film. Watts seems to realise that both Spider-Man and the MCU as a whole are seen as a little played out by this point, he attempts to breath new life into both in a way that may not sit right with everyone but personally made me love this movie. There are so many jokes, one-liners and light comedic jabs aimed at the conventions seen in this franchise that it almost borders on self parody. Given the grand nature of many of the most recent MCU films it is refreshing to see something like this that is able to take a step back and point out how ridiculous the whole thing is. Martin Starr and J.B. Smoove have so much more screen time than I would have expected and really get a chance to deliver some funny material. This could be a turn off to some comic book fans but I think they do a good job with the comedy throughout and so it never bothered me. 

That is not to say that the film never takes itself seriously, in fact the character interactions and dialogue in this film are consistently sharp and well written, with a few moments even allowing Tom Holland to fully show of his dramatic skills. Peter Parker’s groups of friends are also just as fleshed out and interesting s they were in Homecoming with some of them even getting more screen time ans baring on the plot this time around. 

Jake Gyllenhaal (despite appearing like he has never seen any of these movies) delivers a characteristically brilliant performance bringing a fan favourite character to life in a unique an genuinely entertaining way.

My favourite aspect of this film is best not talked about in a spoiler free review but I do have to give major props to the special effects department.

While I feel like this does not have quite as much replay value as Homecoming this is well worth checking out as a fun summer blockbuster with some moments of genuine brilliance. Hardcore fans of Spider-Man may not be happy with the direction that the MCU is going with this character but personally I think if they keep making movies that are this good then I don’t have much of an issue. 

8/10

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

MCU From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/mcu-from-best-to-worst/

Spider-Man From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/spider-man-from-best-to-worst-1/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Murder Mystery

Director: Kyle Newacheck

Writer: James Vanderbilt

Stars: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Evans, Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton

I have had no interest in watching any of Adam Sandler’s output since his company made their deal with Netflix. Nothing in particular made me actively decide to avoid Happy Madison’s films after the Netflix deal, in fact I didn’t really have that big an issue with the films they were making before this point with the likes of Blended and Pixels coming across as nothing more than mediocre. In all honesty I just lost any sense of intrigue regarding the output of this company. 

Sandler has made 4 films with Netflix beofre this one (not counting Noah Baumbach’s great indie drama,The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)) at no point did it hit me that I had missed such a large amount of his work until the auto-play trailer for his latest began playing while I searched for my remote in order to find something to watch. For whatever reason curiosity got the best of me and I decided to sit down and see for myself what I have been missing. 

It’s nice to see that somethings never change.

Murder Mystery is another perfectly serviceable but equally perfectly forgettable Happy Madison film. Despite it’s different premise it still hits all of the same story beats as you would expect when Sandler and his friends are involved. The mystery aspect is underdeveloped which leads to all satire of the genre feeling lacking and uninspired. There honestly ins’t all that much to say about this film, I just watched it yesterday and I have already forgotten most of it, I will say that at no point did I feel offended or outraged nor did I feel that I had fully wasted my time. If you are really just looking for something to put on in the background while you do something else and you don’t care about having an original plot or clever writing then this might just have to do.

Although I’m giving this a pretty bad score (spoiler alert) I want to stress that this isn’t Jack and Jill or Grown Ups 2. Real effort was put into this production by at least some of the people involved, this gave me the same empty feeling as Blended, Just go with it and Pixels. I know that Sandler can do better than this, if you haven't seen his recent stand-up special “100% Fresh” then absolutely check it out, I’m also aware that he doesn't have to do better than this to get people to watch his movies. It’s hard to be as outraged about that fact nowadays as it was a few years ago since these films are going straight to Netflix. 

As long as Sandler keeps doing his brilliant dramatic roles every few years then I honest don’t care about his mediocre comedies anymore. I look forward to seeing his performance in the upcoming Safdie brothers film but until then this is whatever.

3/10

Also as an aside, I didn't know where to put this in the review but I noticed a lack of Sandler’s usual friends in this. David Spade, Rob Schneider, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Norm Macdonald,  Kevin Nealon and Tim Meddows are all completely absent. Maybe I should check out another one of his Netflix films to get the full Happy Madison experience. This isn't really a criticism of Murder Mystery rather just a thing I noticed any way I guess I’ll paste the letterboxd links that no one clicks under this bit.

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Booksmart

Director: Olivia Wilde

Writers: Emily Halpern, Sarah Haskins. Susanna Fogel, Katie Silberman

Stars: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams, Jason Sudeikis, Skyler Gisondo, Billie Lourd

There are a handful of movies that I have always wished I could have seen in the cinema when they first came out. Certain films feel so important and ingrained in the year that they were released that I feel tangible amounts envy towards the people that got to experience them at them at the time they were most relevant. Near the top of this list for me is 2007′s Superbad. I was 6 when Superbad was released and so naturally I didn't get to see it until much later, the point of that film would have likely went over my head at that age as well, I wish I could have been leaving high school when that film was out so I could experience it at its most impactful. I can only image how emotional and relatable the story of two best friends trying desperately to make it to the last party before graduation would have been for teenagers who were going through the same types of situations at the time. 

Well as I said, I was 6 when Superbad was first shown in cinemas. I am about to turn 18 and I honestly feel like I have just walked out of my Superbad. I left high school early but was still invited to my prom which I went to just 6 days before seeing this film, there was a strange feeling that filled the room as if it had only just dawned on a lot of my old classmates that meeting up and hanging out was going to made a lot harder after this summer due to everyone having different plans. Although I didn't stay for my final year at that school I would be lying if I said that this wasn't a feeling that hit me too at a certain point in the night after running into some old friends I hadn't spoken to in a few months. 

To get more to the point (and actually talk about the movie I’m meant to be reviewing) that is the feeling that I got while watching Booksmart. This film expertly captures the feeling of moving on after high school in a way that most films aimed at teenagers completely fail to do. 

The characters feel like real teenagers, with real teenage problems. The performances are all fantastic especially from the two leads who are both destined to become stars after this. The tone is far from bleak despite what my intro may have had you think. I compared this to Superbad for a reason, it tackles it themes of separation and moving on in a mature way but it is still absolutely hilarious. The interactions between Dever and Feldstein are continuously funny, aided by what appears to be a heavy focus on imporv. The side characters also offer a lot of comedic potential that is rarely missed. Despite not appear much in the film Jason Sudeikis is at the top of his comedic game whever he is on screen however the best moments tend to come from  Billie Lourd as Gigi. Lourd is a complete scene-stealer in all of the best ways as she commits 100% to a character that, if handled poorly, could have become insanely irritating. Honestly considering that I had only seen Lourd as  Lieutenant Connix in the recent Star Wars sequels, a pretty forgettable role that she was given because her mother was Princess Leia, I did not expect her to be this great.

This is also the feature debut for actress turned director Olivia Wilde which you would not guess from how well this film is put together. I would not be at all surprised if Wilde decides to change course with her career much like Greta Gerwig seems to have opted to do. 

I don’t see this film garnering much awards buzz at the end of the year but, with the risk of spoilers for my 2019 retrospective, this is absolutely my favourite film of the year so far. I only really had an issue with one scene in particular where the score takes over way to much but that is all I will say about that so as to avoid spoilers. I highly recommend checking this out although I do admit that this may have just been the right film at the right time for me personally, but Isn’t that the real joy of film?

9/10

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Always be my Maybe

Director: Nahnatchka Khan

Writers: Michael Golamco, Ali Wong, Randall Park

Stars: Ali Wong, Randall Park, James Saito, Michelle Buteau, Vivian Bang

This was a pleasant surprise for me, having heard some positive buzz online and then finding myself with a couple of free hours I thought I’d check it out. My expectations were fairly low given how played out the romantic comedy genre has gotten by this point but I have to say that even though I am not a big fan of the genre I have to give a recommendation for this one.

Ali Wong and Randall Park are both very funny people in their own right and they bring their A game to this film. Both of the two main stars have writing credits and so the film can at points feel like a vessel to showcase their talents as comedians. This can be a positive or a negative depending on your existing opinions about the work of the two leads, for me this was absolutely a good thing with he pair firing on all cylinders throughout.

Another thing this film has going for it is an attention to detail that is rarely seen from movies of this nature. The bay-area setting is used to full advantage and impacts on how the characters interact with each other and the situations they find themselves in. For example this film uses the trope of the failing musician, other than having the character’s band sound like a generic rom-com soft rock band they build of the hip-hop style soundtrack. The three original songs performed by the fictional band feel as though they would fit perfectly within the Bay Area sound and I instantly added them all to my party playlist. 

As far as the story goes it is incredibly generic, while this is a fresh feeling film, it isn't exactly breaking new ground with any plot details. If you are tired of the rom-com formula then maybe this could be an issue for you but personally I think that this has enough good jokes and heart to keep you engaged. 

Don’t watch the trailers if you are planning on checking this out as they spoil the best part of the movie and the revel works so much better if you don’t see it coming. 

I think this is a really entertaining Rom-Com showcasing the talents of its two leads. If it sounds like your thing give it a shot.

7/10

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: The Perfection

Director: Richard Shepard

Writers: Eric C. Charmelo, Richard Shepard, Nicole Snyder

Stars: Allison Williams, Logan Browning, Steven Weber

As soon as I saw the reports that multiple people had complained to Netflix that this film had made them physically sick due to its graphic content I knew I would be doing myself a disservice as a horror fan by not checking it out. As normal these reports seem to have been largely exaggerated, this happens all the time as a new horror film is said to have gone ‘over the line’ and disturbed audiences for the actual film to be pretty standard in its themes and content. The Perfection is destined to be seen alongside the original Saw and Hostel in that general audiences seem to have gotten the image of something truly horrific and disgusting when in reality the gore is used sparingly as a way to enhance the dark subject matter.

This film has so many twists in it that the final act feels as if you are watching a completely different movie. After a while I personally think that it bites of more than it can chew by trying to tackle a very serious subject matter despite still being a fairly goofy horror film. The first half is absolutely brilliant and I was honestly ready to call it a best of the year contender until the twists started to drag the film down a little. At first when the plot begins to unravel and things are shown to not be how they first seemed it feels fresh and interesting but after a while it gets in the way of the storytelling and I felt less and less invested in the plot despite the fact that the themes were getting darker and more serious.

Allison Williams is absolutely remarkable in this film. There is a sequence towards the middle of the film where she really gets to shine proving that between this and Get Out she has the potential to be the best thing to happen to horror since Anya Taylor-Joy. Logan Browning is also great in this movie and I hope that she is able to use this as a stepping stone to better things. 

This film was clearly a big risk. The experimental presentation pays of greatly in some areas and can get in the way in others. I will always support new and interesting steps forward in the horror genre and even if I don’t think this is as good as it maybe could have been I still recommend checking it out if you are looking for a good new horror. It is absolutely not as graphic or disturbing as the internet will have you believe but it is worth watching.

7/10

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Most Overlooked Movies in Oscar History

Well guys, its official, Green Book was awarded the highest honour a single film can be given. Best Picture. If you spent any time on Twitter the day after the 91st Academy Awards you will have noticed that film nerds were not exactly thrilled by the decision, film Twitter immediately erupted into a discussion about all the films that didn’t receive the nomination that may have been more worthy winners than Green Book. Films like Eighth Grade, The Miseducation of Cameron Post and If Beale Street Could Talk appear to have benefited far more in regard to free publicity than any of the actual nominees. Of course, this isn’t the first time that the academy has failed to acknowledge the real best of the year and it certainly won’t be the last. So, in the spirit of being mad at the Academy let’s take a look at some of the worst historical snubs of all time.Well guys, its official, Green Book was awarded the highest honour a single film can be given. Best Picture. If you spent any time on Twitter the day after the 91st Academy Awards you will have noticed that film nerds were not exactly thrilled by the decision, film Twitter immediately erupted into a discussion about all the films that didn’t receive the nomination that may have been more worthy winners than Green Book. Films like Eighth Grade, The Miseducation of Cameron Post and If Beale Street Could Talk appear to have benefited far more in regard to free publicity than any of the actual nominees. Of course, this isn’t the first time that the academy has failed to acknowledge the real best of the year and it certainly won’t be the last. So, in the spirit of being mad at the Academy let’s take a look at some of the worst historical snubs of all time.

The Avengers (2012)

Actual nominations: Argo, Amour, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Django Unchained, Les Misérables, Life of Pi, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty.

The Academy has historically looked down on superhero films with no comic book adaptation receiving a Best Picture nod before Black Panther earlier this year. While The Avengers may not have been the most artistic or dramatic film of 2012 it is hard to deny it’s impact. When future generations look back on the films of the 2010s The Avengers will likely stand out as one of the most important releases. With the Marvel Cinematic Universe feeling like a part of everyday life it can be hard to remember just how big a risk this movie was at the time. Think pieces were all over the internet about how the film would ultimately end up as an unwatchable, convoluted mess of ideas that would end Joss Wheadon’s career. How wrong they were.

If the Best Picture award is supposed to honour the greatest and most important achievements in modern cinema then The Avengers absolutely deserved to end up on the ballot, but we don’t live in the universe where The Academy does cool stuff like that.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Actual nominations: Million Dollar Baby, The Aviator, Finding Neverland, Ray, Sideways.

How on earth did this happen? It truly amazes me that more members of the academy felt that Finding Neverland deserved more acclaim than Eternal Sunshine. Going of the assumption that the ‘best picture’ should be the film with all its filmmaking elements working perfectly together then Eternal Sunshine should win every year. Charlie Kaufman won the award for original screenplay and Kate Winslet received the only other nomination for lead actress, this film didn’t even receive a nomination in any of the technical categories. The treatment of Michel Gondry’s masterpiece by the Academy should be seen as a permanent black spot on the ceremony’s reputation.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)

Actual Nominations: Rain Man, The Accidental Tourist, Dangerous Liaisons, Mississippi Burning, Working Girl

Hear me out on this one. Roger Rabbit is one of my all-time favourite movies and for that, I’ll admit, I’m a little bias. That being said I truly believe that this is one of the finest achievements in cinema history from a purely technical level. The nominees for the 61st Acadamy Awards are solid (for the most part wtf is going with The Accidental Tourist?) but none of these films are as impressive as what Robert Zemeckis and his team were able to achieve by mixing live action film with 2D animation. Roger Rabbit is more than just a gimmick however, this a very entertaining and genuinely compelling detective story at its core. Once again, the term ‘Best Picture’ feels perfectly defined while discussing this film, a film that wasn’t even considered for the award.

Donnie Darko (2001)

Actual Nominees: A Beautiful Mind, Gosford Park, In the Bedroom, Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Moulin Rouge

Excuse my language but Donnie Darko is a fucking great movie. Here is another year where the nominees were pretty solid but come on you can’t tell me that Donnie Darko was too weird and abstract when you nominated Moulin bloody Rouge! Donnie Darko is the sort of film that is still being discussed to this day with so many incredibly well thought out details both in the direction and the screenplay. When you ask a film lover what is so special about the medium it is films like this that they will point to, with an excellent score, great performances, hypnotically simple editing and masterful direction it doesn’t put a foot wrong. Do I really have to spell out what the words ‘Best Picture’ mean again?

WALL.E (2008)

Actual Nominees: Slumdog Millionaire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, Milk, The Reader

Let’s talk about animation for a bit. Only three animated films have ever been nominated for top prize (Beauty and the Beast, Up and Toy Story 3) considering the amount for excellent animated film are not those three I had a lot to choose from. With the likes of My Neighbour Totoro, Toy Story, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Princess Mononoke and The Nightmare Before Christmas going completely unnoticed the academy has found a way to further segregate the medium of animation from live-action film by introducing the ‘best animated feature’ award at the 2002 ceremony. This addition has led to films like Spirited Away, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, Frozen, Inside Out and most recently Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse receiving an award without having to let them compete with live action films. There are no academy rules that state animation cannot be considered for Best Picture it just doesn’t happen. I have singled out WALL.E because I think it showcases exactly what modern animation has achieved. WALL.E is a largely silent film with gorgeous visuals and a strong environmental message that is still accessible to general audiences, including children. Surly one of Pixar’s finest achievements deserves to be held in just as high regard as David Fancher’s 8th best film.

 Ps. You will notice a distinct lack of The Dark Knight in the 2008 nominations as well.

Psycho (1960)

Actual Nominees: The Apartment, The Alamo, Elmer Gantry, Sons and Lovers, The Sundowners

Another genre historically left out of the running is horror. Only 6 horror films have ever been up for the award (The Exorcist, Jaws, The Silence of the lambs, The Sixth Sense, Black Swan and Get Out). Horror is a genre that is often looked down upon in the film community for being ‘low-brow’ and not as artistic, a similar struggled as the one faced by the superhero genre. With important releases such as: Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Suspiria, Halloween, Alien, The Shining, Let he Right One In, Night of the Living Dead and perhaps most surprising, Psycho going unnoticed by the academy it is clear to see that there is a bias against the genre somewhere in Hollywood. Psycho is also emblematic of another problem with historic best picture nominations. What on earth is the academy’s issue with Alfred Hitchcock? Psycho is not the only of Hitchcock’s classic films not to receive the nomination, in fact North by Northwest, Vertigo, Rear Window and Dial M for Murder were all snubbed.

On a related note despite being nominated 5 times Hitchcock never received the Oscar for best director putting him in the prestigious company of: David Lynch, Terry Gilliam, Ridley Scott, Wes Anderson Quentin Tarantino, David Fincher, Edgar Wright, Spike Lee, Charlie Chaplin, Orson Wells and Stanley Kubrick. So, I guess you could say that it isn’t just the Best Picture category that doesn’t make sense.

 These were 6 examples I felt I could make a point out of, it is important to remember that many more examples are out there of revolutionary masterworks that went unrecognised come awards season. People don’t take into consideration what happens behind the scenes at the Oscars. The ceremony needs good ratings, The Academy needs to honour films with progressive messages that are easily digestible, and everyone has an agenda and wants to see their friends win. The Oscars are a lot of fun, it gives people like as a chance to talk about the films we loved that year hopefully see our favourites given some well-deserved recognition but let’s not take it more seriously than we should. Next year when the Academy inevitably choses to honour mediocrity remind yourself that The Third Man wasn’t nominated in 1950 or you could remind yourself that Singin’ in the Rain wasn’t nominated in 1953, alternatively mention that 2001: A Space Odyssey was snubbed in 1969, The Matrix in 2000, Back to the Future in 1986, Pan’s Labyrinth in 2007, Cool Hand Luke in 1968. Or if you want your could run into the street and shout about how, Duck Soup, Modern Times, His Girl Friday, Night of the Living Dead, The Shining, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Oldboy, Reservoir Dogs and The Big Lebowski all weren’t nominated for god dammed thing.

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Avengers: Endgame

Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely

Stars:  Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Don Cheadle, Paul Rudd

The MCU has meant quite a lot to me over the years, this is the franchise the more than any other shaped me into the film nerd that I am today and in many ways is the reason I do this at all. I still have my Iron Man poster that I bought in the cinema in 2008, just before my 7th birthday, back when I had no idea what an ‘expanded universe’ was and a film as ambitious as this  was just a pipe-dream for Kevin Feige.

With that being said it shouldn’t too difficult to see how reviewing this film is pretty difficult for me. At the time of writing I have seen the movie once so here are my initial reactions, I’ll try to stay spoiler free but if you want to go in blind I recommend avoiding all reviews.

This film is a complete mess, but in a good way. I can’t think of a more fitting conclusion to this era of the MCU than to just mash all of the plot points together and just see what happens. At this point the MCU feels like a 90′s comic run where to appreciate the grand narrative and subtle character moments you have to have read every previous issue plus all of the spin off issues about each individual character until you just give up entirely reread Watchmen. If you have ever successfully kept up with a comic like that then you know how satisfying it feels to read the issue where all of the character end up in the same place and fight the bad guy as a team. That is the feeling that Endgame gave me, satisfaction. 

This is a movie for fans, not for film critics, that’s is why I am so lost for words on this one. I would be lying to say that certain scenes didn't make me choke up a little and other didn’t make me smile uncontrollably having had 11 years of context pay off in very entertaining ways. That being said the film lover in me has to point out the issues in the Russo’s directing style which comes to haunt much of this film, The Russo brother have too modes: funny and depressing. This works perfectly on Community with the episodes directed by them being some of the best sitcom episodes of all time (don’t believe me watch the ‘A Fistful of Paintballs / For a Few Paintballs More’ two parter). Here it can be jarring with hard cuts between scenes that are dark and grimy looking were the actors get to show of their dramatic skills to bright, lighthearted scenes of physical comedy and one-lines. Occasionally the writers slip in some great character moments into the more comedic scenes but if you already don’t like Marvel humor then you might start to feel that run-time.

Those are really the only observations I feel comfortable giving this early without having seen the movie again or allowing time for others to see it. I think that the issues with tone will matter to me less once I see it again but it still needs addressed.

Really it should come as no surprise to you that I would say you should see this film and don’t take my rating as gospel here (or ever) as I will probably change my mind on it later.

For now:

8/10

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

MCU From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/mcu-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Shazam!

Director: David F. Sandberg

Writer: Henry Gayden

Stars: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer

This is by far my favourite DC universe movie. Shazam! showcases the sort of quirky and exiting content that could only come out of an expanded universe in the same way Guardians of the Galaxy did. David F. Sandberg appears to have taken ques from other superhero directors, namely James Gunn and Mathew Vaughn, and made something fun, heartwarming and altogether a blast to watch.

Zachary Levi is pitch perfect in the role of Shazam, in every scene he is believable as a kid in an adults body. The psychical humour and sharp dialogue work perfectly but don’t take away from the real character moments. At no point did it feel as though there was a disconnect between Asher Angel and Zachary Levi’s performances which is insanely impressive. 

My one flaw comes with the villain played by Mark Strong. Although the set up is good the conflict with his character doesn't really start until the end of the second act and so his character sort of disappears for a long time. When he does show up again it feels as though it kills the momentum of the film but this is made up for with a fantastic finale.

The real joy of this film comes from the fact that DC have realised that realism doesn’t have to mean dark and brooding. All of the kids at Billy’s foster home feel real and fleshed out and the character’s struggle is believable. This manages to have realistic characters and yet still feels fun which is a crucial element that has been missing from this franchise for a long time.

Overall Shazam! is a wholesome, fun movie that is absolutely worth checking out. I can see this becoming many children’s favourite film in the next few years but that doesn't mean there isn't something for everyone to enjoy.

8/10

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Worlds of DC From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/worlds-of-dc-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

The MCU (So Far) Ranked

With Avengers: Endgame right around the corner now feels like a good time to talk about all 21 films that brought us to this moment.

#21 -  Thor: The Dark World (Alan Taylor) 

Rating - 3/10

Look, there always has to be one.

Thor: The Dark World suffers from the same problem that most bad comic book movies do it is simply forgettable, this is the worst type of film to write about because I have noting to say. Far from being insultingly bad but also far from being any good. Honestly if you ever plan on cramming these films again do yourself a favour and skip this one.

#20 -  The Incredible Hulk (Louis Leterrier)

Rating - 4/10

You can skip this one too. 

The Incredible Hulk is a product of its time, in the late ‘00s this was about as good as action movies not called The Dark Knight got. This one isn’t unwatchable and the bit were The Hulk kicks Tim Roth into a tree is pretty cool but given how little this film has effected the franchise going forward you really wont miss anything by skipping it.

#19 - Iron Man 2 (Jon Favreau)

Rating - 4/10

I get why they made this movie, but I’d rather they hadn’t.

Iron Man 2 is basically just a teaser trailer for the better movies that were about to come out. This movie consists of boring conversations between Tony Stark and Nick Fury and even more boring scenes with the villains that really kicked of the cliché that these movies have boring villains. The suitcase Iron Man suit is really dope though.

#18 - Ant-Man and the Wasp (Peyton Reed)

Rating - 6/10

Meh.

Ant-Man and the Wasp is actually pretty good. Paul Rudd is allowed to fully explore his comedic talent making this a very watchable film however the script lacks any focus and it is ultimately difficult to stay invested in anything happening on screen. It’s a mixed bag but it’s pretty fun.

#17 - Thor (Kenneth Branagh)

Rating - 6/10

Kenneth Branagh made a super-hero movie, this is about as good as that idea could ever have been.

Thor is a surprisingly small movie, revisiting this film now feels slightly strange given what we have since seen of the character. Branagh was always the wrong choice to direct a Marvel movie especially during a time were the studio had far more say than any of their filmmakers. It’s worth revising this film to set up the Avengers but other than that it isn’t anything special.

#16 - Avengers: Age of Ultron (Joss Whedon)

Rating - 6/10

It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that this movie is just ok.

Avengers: Age of Ultron should be so much better than it is but it ended up being the poster child for when a studio gets cold feet and tries to take over on directors vision. Joss Whedon is an excellent story teller but this does not so off his talents at all. Once again this certainly isn’t a bad film it just isn’t great, there is some good dialogue and the introduction of both Scarlet Witch and Vision is worth seeing.

#15 - Captain America: The First Avenger (Joe Johnston)

Rating - 7/10

Way more camp than I remember .

Captain America: The First Avenger feels as though it has taken the framework of a more conventional war drama and just thrown in some superhero stuff and I don’t necessarily think that is a bad thing. When this film embraces its campness it can be very entertaining. Chris Evans was a prefect casting choice for Steve Rodgers and this film does go in an unexpected direction by making Captain America basically just a mascot but once again the villain is weak and large sections of the plot are forgettable. Overall worth re-watching it is probably better than you remember. 

#14 -  Captain Marvel (Ryan Fleck, Anna Boden)

Rating - 7/10

I’m sorry, I like this one.

Captain Marvel might be the most controversial film in the whole franchise. I have some grievances with this one, namely lack of any style or originality in the writing or direction but the chemistry between Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson helps to make this an enjoyable watch. I know you probably don’t agree with me but this is my list and I like this movie, so there!

#13 - Iron Man (Jon Favreau)

Rating - 7/10

Not as great as I remember but still pretty good.

Iron Man will forever be remembered as a film that changed cinema witch is so weird to me having re-watched it recently. This is a rather slow and somewhat  cliché 2000s action flick with a paper-thin plot. Robert Downey Jr. and Jeff Bridges both give it their all and I have nothing but respect for Jon Favreau for turning RDJ’s mad ramblings into a coherent film.

#12 - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (James Gunn)

Rating - 7/10

I’m still not sure how to take this.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is the most visually stunning film in the MCU, almost every shot could be used as a laptop wallpaper. This also has quite possibly the strongest theming as its story about fatherhood and toxic relationships can bring a tear to your eye if you let it. So it is such a shame that this film is full of jokes that just do not land and weird side plots that feel like set-ups for movies that Marvel would probably never let James Gunn make. I kinda love this movie but this is as high as I can put it on this list.

#11 -  Captain America: Civil War (Anthony Russo, Joe Russo)

Rating - 8/10

The fight scene though!

Captain America: Civil War is one great fight scene that is all anyone ever wants to talk about. I think the rest of the movie is also pretty good, this was our first look at how the Russo brothers would handle a larger ensemble cast and every character gets the screen time they deserve. Really though the airport fight is amazing!

#10 - Doctor Strange (Scott Derrickson)

Rating - 8/10

The word Strange is in the title.

Doctor Strange has a remarkably safe plot given the source materiel, although that can all be forgiven given how amazing the visual effects are. This is a very entertaining film mainly for the creative and ingenious uses of special effects. This film can drag a bit but it is worth it to see something that gives the end of 2001 a run for its money.

#9 - Iron Man 3 (Shane Black)

Rating - 8/10

And you thought my views on Captain Marvel were controversial!

Iron Man 3 is great and I will not change my mind on that. This was the first team up between Robert Downey Jr. and screenwriter/director Shane Black since 2005′s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and it was worth the wait. The dialogue is sharp and the plot with Tony Stark dealing with P.T.S.D. after the events of The Avengers makes for a great character study. 

I am aware that the general consensus is that the plot twist sucks but with Ben Kingsley’s fantastic performance and the wonderfully absurd way that it is reveled I can’t help but love it. In all honesty I just to big a Shane Black fan to hate this (the same logic does not apply to The Predator).

#8 - Ant-Man (Peyton Reed)

Rating - 8/10

I can only image how great the Edgar Wright version of this would have been.

Ant-Man is so much better than people give it credit for. The dialogue is constantly funny and the screenplay is paced perfectly so that the film never has a dull moment even in the quieter character scenes. Moments like the train-set fight and the first time Scott Lang uses the Ant-Man suit are among the best scenes in the whole franchise. Like most people I have to believe that the Edgar Wright version would have been better but I must say that Peyton Reed did a pretty great job piecing what he had together.  

#7 - Black Panther (Ryan Coogler)

Rating - 8/10

Marvel’s little awards season darling.

Black Panther is somehow one of the most important and talked about films of the decade and in all honesty it sort of deserves it. Coogler does what other MCU filmmakers would never do and dives head first into real world political issue, ending his film with a poignant note about free trade and open borders. Michael B. Jordan as Killmonger adds a nuance that is missing in most comic book movies. Overall Black Panther is a breath of fresh air in an over-saturated genre. 

P.S that soundtrack is awesome!

#6 - Thor: Ragnarok (Taika Waititi)

Rating - 8/10

How did this happen?

Thor: Ragnarok is everything I wanted it to be. Taika Waititi is one of the most interesting filmmakers working today and it is great to see a major studio allow such a unique voice to make the exact film that they wanted to without sacrificing their creativity. This is not only one of the best Marvel films but one of the best straight comedies of the decade. I cannot wait to see what Waititi has in store in the future.

#5 - Spider-Man: Homecoming (Jon Watts)

Rating - 8/10

Things are looking up for Spider-Man.

Spider-Man: Homecoming was my favourite Spider-Man movie up until very recently. This genuinely feels like watching an 80s John Hughes film in the 2010s that also happens to action sequences in it. The scene where Peter Parker and Adrian Toomes are in the car together is brilliantly tense and shows of the dramatic range of both Tom Holland and Michael Keaton. The characters feel real and fleshed out and the breezy feel of the editing brings the world to life through the naive eyes of a young Peter Parker. I honestly can’t believe how good this ended up being.

#4 - Avengers: Infinity War (Joe Russo, Anthony Russo)

Rating - 9/10

This simply should not have worked.

Avengers: Infinity War is one of the most ambitious films in cinema history. I have so much respect for the Russo brothers for managing to make a film with this many characters and this many plot points feels cohesive and endlessly entertaining. I think the real triumph of Infinity War is how watchable and fun this movie is despite being 2 1/2 hours long, full of characters and constantly hitting you in the face with really depressing stuff. Let’s hope that the Russo brothers can pull of the same trick twice. 

#3 - The Avengers (Joss Whedon)

Rating - 9/10

This movie isn’t given enough credit anyone.

The Avengers was a huge gamble back in 2012 and although it may now feel quaint given the achievement that was last year’s Infinity War Joss Whedon was able change the landscape of blockbuster cinema and make this whole thing possible. Almost every plot point in this film has since become cliché, Whedon and Feige laid out a blueprint for success that no one else has been able to copy since. The Joss Whedon humour and snarky dialogue  helped to pave the way that these characters would interact in the future and his unique approach to  utilizing an ensemble cast makes this film worth revisiting over and over again.  

#2 -  Guardians of the Galaxy (James Gunn)

Rating - 9/10

James Gunn hit the mainstream with a movie about a talking raccoon, I can never complain about the Hollywood system ever again.

Guardians of the Galaxy should not work on most levels but Gunn was just crazy enough to pull it off. The character interactions here rival the Wheadon penned interactions in The Avengers and the Gunn’s direction brings the strange worlds he has created to live in striking ways. Gunn was given a chance to showcase his humour and he ran with it, Guardians goes from dark and meandering to fun and rapidly paced within seconds and it is a complete joy to watch no matter how many times you have seen it.

#1 - Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Joe Russo, Anthony Russo)

Rating - 9/10

The Russo brothers came out swinging.

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is an entertaining, tightly directed, brilliantly acted, fast paced and well edited action film that just so happens to be a squeal to the First Avenger. Many of the best moments in the franchise are in this film including the elevator scene and the fight on the bridge, this film also has great character interactions especially with Steve Rodgers and Nick Fury. This feels like an update on classic James Bond stories with a modern edge, this is everything that a comic book movie could be and I highly recommend checking it out again if you haven’t seen it in a while. There is no question that The Winter Soldier is the best of the MCU.

Franchise Rating - 7.1/10

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Avoid At All Cost Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-avoid-at-all-cost/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Unicorn Store

Director: Brie Larson

Writer: Samantha McIntyre

Stars: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Joan Cusack, Bradley Whitford, Mamoudou Athie, Hamish Linklater

Brie Larson and Netflix have both been responsible for mild disappointment this year, so I guess Unicorn Store’s quality makes sense. 

I have been a fan of Brie Larson as an actress for quite some time now so seeing her overly stoic performance in Captain Marvel and especially her inconsistently overly the top character in this film was quite a shock. The problem seems to come from Larson’s direction, the film lacks focus and all of the performances feel unmanaged and all over the place. The film lacks the unique visual style that an indie film like this really needs to win over its audience and as a result it never manages to fully work for me.

The story itself should take some of the blame for this film just not working however as it is just not clear who the demographic for this is and what message the writer (Samantha McIntyre) wanted to give to them. On the outset this is children’s film or at least a family film but the countless office based scenes and sub-plot about sexual harassment make this a strange choice to show a child. 

Despite all this, Unicorn Store is far from the worst of the year. With a more seasoned director and maybe an extra re-write this could be salvaged. Indie films with stranger concepts have become classics. As it stands Unicorn Store joins a very select group of films that are both too quirky and too generic at the same time.

I compare this to some of the films that Zooey Deschanel would star in during the ‘00s, so if there is any hope Larson will star in her own (500) Days of Summer type satire of her current works. But until then this is what we have, here hoping that Endgame will give her some much needed positive attention, if not Room still exists. 

4/10

2019 From Best to Worst: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

[nathanneedsausername]

Still - Short Film

Cast: 

Simeon Nicholas 

Josh Keay 

Crew: 

Writer - Nathan Laing 

Director - Nathan Laing 

Editor - Nathan Laing 

Assistant Director - Abigail Ramage 

Original Music: "Long Road Ahead" - Written and Performed by Nathan Laing

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Captain Marvel

Directors: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Writers: Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck

Stars: Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, Annette Bening, Lashana Lynch, Clark Gregg

It certainly looks like the internet has broken into two camps over this movie. Either it’s an incomprehensible mess with way to on-the-nose feminist messaging or it’s a feminist masterpiece with great characters and bad-ass action scenes.

Personally I think it’s somewhere in the middle.

Boden and Fleck have proven themselves with character based indie films such as Half Nelson and Mississippi Grind. Captain Marvel is at it’s best when they channel that style, Larson and Jackson have great on-screen chemistry and watching the two becoming friends and solve the mystery of Carol Danvers’ (Brie Larson) past makes for a fun buddy type film. 

Ben Mendelsohn is clearly having a lot of fun playing a slightly different role than he is known for and it is  great to see Clark Gregg back on the big screen as Agent Coulson.

The 90′s nostalgia aspect of the film can come across pretty heavy-handed at points but I think for the most part it works. The soundtrack is full of great 90′s songs, even if one particular music cue was way too obvious. 

As far as the feminist undertones go I think this film did a pretty great job at incorporating a pro-female message without it ever feeling preachy. When the film does decide to focus on it’s feminist theme it tends to do so with a humours tone that feels even more satisfying after seeing the immediate backlash this film got from certain pockets of the internet.

Despite all this, the film does lack the unique visual flare of the past few MCU movies. At points Captain Marvel feels like it would be more at home with the phase one Marvel films with its lack of direction which is disappointing as I have already said that Boden and Fleck are talented filmmakers. Most action scenes are forgettable and without that extra visual element even the dialogue scenes can tend to drag and even enter melodramatic territory at points.

It should be said regardless of your opinion on the film as a whole that the special effects used to deage Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg are absolutely remarkable. For the most part the special effects are really good throughout the film, one model towards the end can look a little rubbery but compared to some of the character models in Black Panther this is absolutely an improvement.

Overall Captain Marvel is far from the best MCU film and certainly isn’t the masterpiece that many fans had hoped it to be but it also isn’t anywhere near the garbage-fire that many other fans where ready for it to be. I have to recommend this one on the basis of it being a fun buddy movie with a great cast.

7/10

2019 From Best to Worst - https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

MCU From Best to Worst - https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/mcu-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

[nathanneedsausername]

Movie Review: Isn’t it Romantic

Director: Todd Strauss-Schulson

Writers: Erin Cardillo, Dana Fox, Katie Silberman

Stars: Rebel Wilson, Liam Hemsworth, Adam Devine, Priyanka Chopra, Betty Gilpin, Brandon Scott Jones

This movie stole content from Lindsay Ellis so it feels appropriate to use a Lindsay Ellisism to open this review: 

Thanks, I hate it.

This feels like the kind of film that would be written by the sort of people that didn’t get the satire of 500 Days of Summer and complain about it’s use of the manic pixie dream girl trope.

This film feels the need to have Rebel Wilson explain all of the jokes directly to the camera, which only emphasises how unfunny the jokes are. The concept of being trapped in a romantic comedy world is not inherently a bad one, in the right hands you can get great satire out of that idea. This does not feel like satire but more like it’s just a bad rom-com. 

The problem really is with the fact that it plays the idea for comedy but doesn't offer enough laughs to justify itself. Where as something like 500 Days of Summer would introduce harsh realities into the rom-com formula in order to criticise the genre here you just get the exact same thing, with the same conclusion and the same watered-down, primary school message about love and self worth but Rebel Wilson makes bad one-liners about montages and slow motion.

I’m writing this review just hours after watching the film and honestly have nothing more to say, for a satire this had shockingly little impact on me. 

Just skip this one.

3/10

2019 From Best to Worst - https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/2019-from-best-to-worst/

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/

[nathanneedsausername]

Television Review: The Umbrella Academy S01

Stars:  Ellen Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Mary J. Blige, Cameron Britton

As far as graphic novels go Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s Umbrella Academy series is as pulp, eye-catching and absolutely insane as they come. For the most part Netflix’s new adaptation captures everything special and unique about the source material.

This is how an adaption should be done, every main character gets the right amount of screen-time and backstory to feel important and 3 dimensional. Most of the core ideas are present, including concepts as crazy as a 58 year old time-traveler with the physical appearance of a 13 year old. Other concepts are toned back to work for TV, with the ending especially taking liberties with the original source material.

The whole show is perfectly cast, Tom Hopper and Robert Sheehan have found their dream roles and relative new comer Aidan Gallagher makes his unbelievable character feel totally real.

There are a handful of incredible visuals including a handful of great action sequences and multiple dance sequences (the best of which coming in the first episode). Between these moments the camera work can be rather flat and basic but the elaborate set pieces tend to make up for this. 

Similarly the dialogue can be a little hit or miss with some scenes featuring great character interactions and memorable quotes and other feeling ripped from a typical soap opera.

Honestly that’s what is so fascinating about this show, it makes the crazy and unique stuff look easy and tends to trip up on the basics. 

Definitely check this one out if you feel like these stories have become stale in recent years, with brilliant performances, great visual effects and a story that feels fresh despite the X-Men similarities. I can’t wait to see where they go with season 2.

8/10

Nathan Needs A Username’s Must See Movies: https://letterboxd.com/nathan_r_l/list/nathan-needs-a-usernames-must-see-movies/