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cineview · 5 years

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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Review: One of Tarantino’s Best?

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follows the Tate murders conducted by the Manson family. How does it hold up and is it one of Tarantino’s best work?

Story: 4/5

If you know anything about Tarantino, then you know he loves his dialogue. His dialogue is witty, funny, and engaging, but above all else he doesn’t just write it to progress the plot. He writes his dialogue to add flesh and blood to his characters, to make them feel like real people.

For that reason, Once Upon a Time spends a majority of its runtime with just talking. Most scenes are just a pair of actors sitting down and chatting. If that’s something that you’re not into, you might find the first couple hours a bit of a bore, but I disagree. Yes, the film got slow in a few parts, but overall the dialogue and the performances were enough to keep me engaged. I really felt Rick’s dilemma and pain, and I really understood the lives of these people. In essence, Once Upon a Time does an excellent job at describing what life is like for these characters, much like what Moonlight did in 2016.

Something that I think really benefits the viewer is a knowledge of events. If you don’t know what happened to Sharon Tate on the night of August 8, 1969, then I would highly recommend doing research on it beforehand — it adds to the suspense and really immerses you into the film. The thing about Once Upon a Time is that it doesn’t cover a widely known event or time period like Inglourious Basterds did, so audiences might find the film ambling without some prior knowledge.

The last forty minutes or so are cinema gold. I loved every minute of it. So even if you don’t like the beginning, I think you’ll find the ending quite satisfactory.

Acting: 5/5

Leonardo DiCaprio. Brad Pitt. Margot Robbie. Kurt Russell. Al Pacino. With those kinds of names, what other score could I give?

DiCaprio gives a performance of a lifetime in this film, making us really feel for his character and his desire to save his fading Hollywood career. His performance, conjoined with Tarantino’s excellent dialogue, brings Rick Dalton to life.

Brad Pitt also delivers in this film, portraying his badass stuntman persona perfectly.

A particular standout performance is from Julia Butters. I won’t say who she plays for the sake of spoilers, but once you get to her scenes she absolutely steals the show.

Cinematography/SFX: 5/5

In traditional Tarantino fashion, this film is shot beautifully and the special effects are marvelous. The cinematography really helps capture the glitz, glamour, and ugliness of Hollywood life in the ‘60s.

When things start to ramp up and fists begin to fly, Tarantino delivers again with his trademark violence. There isn’t a whole lot of it in this movie, but when it happens he doesn’t hold back.

Soundtrack: 5/5

Once again, Tarantino selects an excellent soundtrack to complement his film. Song choice is memorable and fits perfectly with what’s happening on screen. He absolutely packs this film with ‘60s hits, and I love it.

Conclusion: 95% = A

So in conclusion, Once Upon a Time delivers a fantastic story that really captures what life was like, once upon a time in Hollywood.

#once upon a time in hollywood #quentin tarantino #leonardo dicaprio #brad pitt #margot robbie #al pacino #kurt russell #action #drama #thriller #sharon tate #manson family #1960s #film #filmmaking #analysis #review

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cineview · 5 years

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Spider-Man: Far From Home Review: A Solid Entry into the MCU

Tom Holland reprises his role as Spider Man. In this film, he goes on vacation and tries to just have a normal vacation with his friends. But, in traditional superhero fashion, things don’t go according to plan. Does the latest entry into the MCU live up to its hype? Let’s find out.

Story: 4/5

In line with the rest of the Marvel movies, Spider-Man once again delivers a wonderfully fun thrill ride. We get great jokes and quips. We get characters that we really root for because they feel grounded.

One concern that I’ve had lately with superhero movies is how plots have become stale. Bad guy shows up. Superhero comes to save the day. After some trouble, the hero learns something and beats the baddie. Fortunately, Spider-Man doesn’t follow this now-overused plotline. Rather, the film offers a story full of twists and turns that keeps you on your toes. I think Marvel knows that superhero movies need these twists and turns nowadays — and its movies are better because of it.

However, with those twists and turns and layers comes sacrifice. In order to fit all of those twists in this runtime, we don’t get to experience a lot of time as Peter Parker. The only personal thing we follow Peter through the film is his attraction to MJ. This is a farcry from the many layers of character development that we experienced in Spider-Man: Homecoming.

In order to avoid spoilers, I will say only one thing about the villain: I saw it coming pretty early on in the film, and the big twist really didn’t resonate with me. It’s still executed well, but it really wasn’t that big of a shock.

These two things will cause me to knock a point off for story.

Acting: 5/5

Tom Holland is Spiderman. He really owns this role, and despite how little time we get to grow with Peter, Holland delivers a grounded and beautiful performance as both Peter and his superhero self. He truly feels like a teenager going through teenager things.

The rest of the cast is great, with standout performances from Zendaya, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Jon Favreau.

Cinematography/Special Effects: 5/5

The cinematography and effects are what you’d expect from a Marvel movie, meaning they are both pretty great. While the shots won’t be winning any awards any time soon, they tell the story well and the effects are realistic and cool.

Soundtrack: 5/5

The score for Spider-Man is pretty good as well, with more songs than other Marvel movies in recent memory (with the exception of Guardians of the Galaxy). It’s heroic and delivers a good atmosphere for the scene.

Conclusion: 95% = A

Spider-Man: Far From Home delivers, once again, a fun and exciting addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, despite some undercutting in character development.

#marvel #spiderman #far from home #spiderman far from home #mcu #filmmaking #review #tom holland #jake gyllenhaal #zendaya #superhero #comics #analysis

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cineview · 5 years

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Captain Fantastic Review: The Film that Will Likely Change Your Life

If you’re like me, you probably don’t know what Captain Fantastic is. It’s a film that largely fell under the radar for most, despite premieres at Sundance and Cannes. After watching it, though, I can almost guarantee that you will not regret the 118 minutes you spent watching it. It’s a wholly transformative film that will provoke your thoughts on life, family, and education.

But, without further ado, here are my thoughts on the nitty gritty details:

Story: 4.5/5

In sum, Captain Fantastic follows a family led by Ben (Viggo Mortensen) and his wife Leslie. The couple decided to raise their kids on their own, teaching them various life skills and knowledge that would be deemed untraditional in society. Leslie’s death thrusts the family into the real world again, and the film details their life in this new world. That’s all I’ll say about the plot for spoilers’ sake.

The story is beautifully crafted; each winding turn that the plot takes is often unpredictable and intriguing. The plot is carefully paced, giving us ample time to truly feel and understand each and every one of Ben’s (rather large) family.

The dialogue is witty and is the epitome of what a script should be. The characters come to life because of what they say and add to the realism of this film.

What’s more impactful is what the film is trying to say through its story. It’s frustrating that I can’t spill it out in this review in order to avoid spoiling it, but it’s a script that will provoke one’s thoughts on virtually everything that people have experienced in our lifetimes—about what’s considered normal and not normal, and whether they really should be that way.

My only gripe with the film is the occasional plot hole; otherwise, it’s a fantastic script.

Acting: 5/5

The acting in this film is brilliant. Viggo Mortensen delivers a fantastic performance as Ben, and we really, truly feel the pain he goes through. He portrays Ben in an arrogant yet gentle way that really brings the character to life. It’s an Oscar worthy performance—but it’s a shame that he didn’t get the recognition he deserves for this film.

The rest of the cast is great, with Ben’s many children all delivering believable and touching performances. What’s crazy is that despite the crazy number of them, the actors and the script mold together in such a way as to make the audience understand and know each and every one of them.

Cinematography: 5/5

This film is shot beautifully. The shots convey the story brilliantly and the lighting is quite beautiful throughout the film. I’ll link a few great shots:

Soundtrack/Sound: 5/5

The soundtrack is good and song choice is excellent. I especially love the family’s rendition of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child O’ Mine”. No complaints here.

Conclusion: 97.5% = A+

Captain Fantastic is a beautifully directed, acted, and shot film that leaves the audience questioning, much like Ben and his wife Leslie, what we should really be doing with our lives. It’s a definite recommend from me, and it may go down as one of my favorites of all time. I so wish that I’d seen it sooner.

I will leave you with a glowing recommendation for this film and a quote from Ben: “Live each day like it could be your last. Drink it in. Be adventurous, be bold, but savor it. It goes fast.”

#captain fantastic #film #movies #analysis #review #filmmaking #cinematography #dialogue inspiration #scriptwriting #drama #comedy #viggo mortensen #cannes #sundance

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cineview · 5 years

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A Quiet Place Review: An Interesting Concept that Falls Short on Story

The moment I saw the trailer for A Quiet Place, I knew that I had to go see it. It’s not hard to understand why, for the film pitches an interesting idea: a horror film scenario, but you can’t scream. The idea of a sound-sensitive monster certainly turns the traditional trope of screaming and running away from the monster on its head. However, does the rest of A Quiet Place deliver?

Story: 2/5

Again, the overall premise of this film is wonderful and unique (of course, until Bird Box took another of the five senses away), but the overall plot is just super weak.

We’re given a very quick introduction to the characters with very little background as to who they are or what their goals are (other than to survive). This is likely a side-effect of the whole no-talking thing, but I really think the film could have developed these characters more and made them really feel like flesh and bone and not just characters on the screen. As we progress through the film, we do get to know them more and more, which does make the film more emotional as we go along. But before then, we’re stuck with these 2D characters that we really don’t feel for. The singular connection the audience has with these characters is only the desire to survive — that’s all.

Speaking of these characters, they are incredibly passive for most of the movie. The plot meanders from setpiece to setpiece but never once do we truly understand why the characters are where they are and what the purpose of the scene really is. What’s left is a jarring experience for the audience, for we are thrust into each scene with little connection from the previous ones. Once the characters are there, they seem to be solely reactive to their situations (understandably), but there appears to be little planning as to truly dealing with their predicament until the very end of the film, which just left me frustrated.

In the end, A Quiet Place merely offers a patchwork of scenes that don’t quite fit, round pegs that don’t fit in square holes.

Cinematography: 3/5

Charlotte Christensen provides an adequate cinematography with the occasional standout frame, but otherwise the cinematography is rather forgettable. I’m not saying it’s bad, for it’s well lit and color is fine, but there is very little that separates it from other films in the genre.

Acting: 5/5

The acting is truly genuine and the chemistry between the characters is fantastic.

Each actor brings out the wants of their character (whether it be survival, love from one’s parents, or the wellbeing of the children) and I have no complaints there.

Score/Sound Design: 4.5/5

For a film with little dialogue, A Quiet Place makes up for its excellent sound design.

With each step or movement, we hear each little possible detail in sound. Each time we wonder if it will set the monsters off. It’s a truly remarkable thing to experience.

As for the score, I found it to be rather generic for a horror film. It doesn’t do much to differentiate itself but it does the job, providing a haunting melody when needed and also knowing when to be absolutely quiet in moments of tension.

Conclusion: 77.5% = C+

In conclusion, A Quiet Place is a solid attempt at subverting the horror movie genre with its interesting premise, excellent acting and sound design, but one that unfortunately falls flat in the story department. It’s a film that I ultimately forgot shortly after, which is a real shame.

#a quiet place #horror #movies #review #filmmaking #analysis #john krasinski #emily blunt #thriller #suspense

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cineview · 5 years

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Captain Marvel Review: An Entertaining Film with a Substance Issue

Captain Marvel was easily one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, not only because of its close release date to Avengers: Endgame but also its role as the first Marvel Studios film to feature a female lead. And while it does have some good moments, there are some times where it just falls short.

Story/Screenplay: 3.5/5

Overall, Captain Marvel has a fun story, but certain things did bug me.

By far, this has to be one of the best Marvel movies in terms of comedy. The jokes that are said are funny and witty, and I don’t recall any of them not landing for me.

There is a fish-out-of-water scene in the film after Captain Marvel first lands on Earth that I found thoroughly entertaining, and a fight scene on a ship where she tries to escape was one of the most memorable moments of the film for me.

However, the story’s virtues sort of end there. My first issue with the film was its lack of emotional weight. There’s a scene in the movie where a character we’ve been following is shot, but the story doesn’t have the guts to really push emotional weight and have the shot have any real consequences. We are tossed from tone to tone with no real feeling whatsoever. One moment we’re in a buddy cop film, the next a long-lost friendship sort of deal. As standalone scenes, they’re great; but as a whole, it just shows a lack of tone. Secondly, Captain Marvel herself certainly seems very very static herself. I didn’t see many moments of vulnerability, and that’s a big problem with a superhero film. (I’d argue there is a similar issue with Wonder Woman.) My last real issue with the story is the plot twist. I will not spoil it, but I will say that it happened way to early and its execution again, had no weight.

In sum, the film has a fun story. But its pros basically end there.

Cinematography/Special Effects: 4/5

I wish this could be higher, but I just can’t give it a 5.

Visually, the film does little to set itself apart. Other Marvel films do a wonderful job of showing off a dazzling plethora of light and color that is candy for the eyes, but in Captain Marvel we don’t see that. We see the characters being filmed but that’s it. There is no visual flair to the film, and that is such a shame for a character deserving of it. In addition, some action scenes are, simply put, shot poorly. There’s a scene on a ship where Captain Marvel is fighting a bunch of bad guys, but because of how dark it is, you can’t tell who is who and what’s happening to who.

Other aspects are fantastic, however. The CGI to make Samuel L. Jackson and Clark Gregg younger was practically not noticeable, and the visual effects on Captain Marvel herself are well done.

Acting: 5/5

Say what you want about Brie Larson, but she delivers a solid performance here. With the material given to her, she delivers a charismatic and wonderful performance.

Other highlights include Samuel L. Jackson’s usual charismatic self, Ben Mendelssohn, as well as Akira Akbar’s cute performance as Maria’s daughter, Monica.

Soundtrack/Sound Effects: 5/5

As is expected from a Marvel movie, we get great sound effects, so nothing to really complain about there.

The score is interesting. Its unique sound and use of electronic components certainly sets Captain Marvel apart, and the 90s song choices were perfect in my opinion.

Conclusion: 17.5/20 = B+

In the end, you’ll probably end up watching Captain Marvel; that is, if you’re into this kind of movie and are anticipating Avengers: Endgame. The unfortunate thing about Captain Marvel is that that’s clearly what it is: a prequel to Endgame. We need to know who this new chick that seems super overpowered is, so let’s make a movie about her before the big show against Thanos.

I really feel that Captain Marvel had a lot that it could have done better substance and depth wise, for I really struggled to really care or connect to Carol Danvers in her (very) occasional moments of doubt and despair.

Captain Marvel is a great superhero and popcorn flick, but that’s about as much credit as I’m going to give it.

#captain marvel #brie larson #jude law #samuel l jackson #shield #avengers #avengers endgame #endgame #superhero #movies #marvel #comics #film analysis #film #review

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cineview · 5 years

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The Hateful Eight Review: A Powder Keg Story Done Right

We’ve seen the story told in The Hateful Eight many times. People are trapped and there’s a mole among them. It’s a race against the clock to find it before the whole place goes down. John Carpenter’s The Thing did it well, and the style was imitated throughout cinema, from TV shows like The X-Files to film, like The Hateful Eight. How does Tarantino’s eighth film fare? Here’s my take.

Story/Screenplay: 4/5

The Hateful Eight builds its suspense effectively. We are first introduced to our characters, their backgrounds, and potential enemies. Once they arrive at Minnie’s, which will be snow bound, trapping everyone inside, we know things aren’t going to stay merry. The way Tarantino builds the suspense and has us looking out for potential red flags is masterful and has us rooting for our protagonist.

One thing I do have issue with is how the narrative is structured. Around a third of the way through, the film breaks into narration, which I really believe could’ve been omitted. The story easily could’ve been rearranged to omit the narration. I think what bugs me is not necessarily the narration itself but the fact that the film isn’t consistent with it. If you’re going to have narration, put it throughout, not just in certain sections.

Other than that, I feel that the beginning can be a bit slow. I love that we get to really connect with the characters, but the way we do so could’ve been sped up a bit more.

Acting: 5/5

All of the acting in this film is great. Samuel Jackson delivers one of his best performances in the last decade, and I have to give tremendous kudos to Jennifer Jason Leigh, who really brings her character and her mischievous nature to life.

Cinematography/Special Effects: 5/5

The shots in this film are just as good as the rest of it. I don’t have much to say about them other than the fact that they’re breathtaking. The special effects are great in traditional Tarantino fashion.

Soundtrack: 5/5

Ennio Morricone brings a great environmental and ominous score, giving an unsettling feeling to the audience. It’s the cherry on top for a wonderful suspense thriller.

Conclusion: 19/20 = 95% = A

Despite its slow start and unfortunate choice to use narration, The Hateful Eight successfully combines claustrophobia, distrust, and great chemistry between its actors to deliver an unforgettable thrill ride.

#the hateful eight #quentin tarantino #action #suspense #thriller #samuel l jackson #kurt russe #jennifer jason leigh #walton goggins #channing tatum

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cineview · 5 years

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Atomic Blonde Review: A Hot Mess

Atomic Blonde looked promising to me. From the trailer, I could tell it was shot magnificently and it had a great cast to support it. But after the credits rolled, my impressions were less than stellar. It’s a movie with a lot of potential that unfortunately falls flat.

Story/Screenplay: 2/5

The only area where the film really falls apart is its story. The beginning of the film really drags, and the overall structure of it fails as well, with constant cutting back to an interrogation scene that I feel could have been omitted.

Character motivations are also an issue with the film, and I was thoroughly confused throughout about why people were doing things. The film doesn’t do a good job with explanation, and I just felt lost.

Another issue is with the narrative. It’s the same old story all over again.

Acting: 4.5/5

The acting is pretty good overall, with Charlize Theron delivering a great performance as Lorraine. My only issue with her performance were the various accents she tried to portray but never quite pulled off. For a spy of Lorraine’s caliber, I felt that she really needed to get the accent down. Other than that though, she was charismatic and I believed her performance. James McAvoy also delivered a charismatic and mysterious performance, portraying his character perfectly. Those two were the highlights of the film.

Cinematography: 5/5

Dear lord is the cinematography for the film beautiful. The colors used are breathtaking and the shots are magnificent. I feel like I could take some frames from this film and hang them up on a wall.

The action scenes are shot with purpose and thankfully don’t employ shaky cam — we understand exactly what is going on and don’t get dizzy in the process.

Soundtrack: 5/5

I loved the soundtrack for the movie. It fits what’s going on and the different styles of songs used were great.

Conclusion: 16.5/20 = 82.5% (B-)

Overall, Atomic Blonde is a hot mess. It looks great and is acted great. But once again, it falls apart once you get to its narrative.

#atomic blonde #action #film #movies #review #charlize theron #james mcavoy #spy #analysis #filmmaking #comics

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Deadpool 2 Review

Deadpool 2 is the 2018 follow up to the original, starring Ryan Reynolds. I finally got around to watching both films recently, after picking up both Blu-Rays on Black Friday. Here are my thoughts.

Story/Screenplay: 4.5/5

The story for this film is super refreshing. Much like the original, the film loves to break conventional stereotypes of superhero stories.

The film starts off very bleak, and Deadpool and other characters’ transformations over the course of the film really makes you love them more. The antagonist is by no means conventional — those of you who have seen it will know what I’m talking about. Cable’s clear motives for doing what he’s doing, and how he also changes over the course of the film is very refreshing to see. (This is unlike Brolin’s other role, Thanos, who remains quite static in my opinion). Russell’s character arc over the film made you really sympathize with his situation, and Deadpool’s role in shaping Russell’s character also boosted the morality of Deadpool. He’s not just a katana-wielding man in red spandex.

My only issue is with the mid-credits sequence. If taken as canon, the after-credits scene sort of ruins, in my opinion, Deadpool’s entire motivation throughout the film. It’s a lovely moment and I really did like it, but I felt it hindered the rest of the film.

Acting: 5/5

As is expected from this cast, the acting is brilliant. The new faces were also great surprises, and I especially loved Zazie Beetz and Julian Dennison’s performances as Domino and Russell, respectively.

Cinematography/Special Effects: 5/5

The cinematography is brilliant in traditional Deadpool fashion. The beautiful slo-mo shots and effects bring the film and Deadpool’s personality to life.

Soundtrack/SFX: 5/5

Two words: Céline Dion. Her song in the opening credits sequence, Ashes, was absolutely great.

The rest of the soundtrack complemented the mood of the scenes perfectly.

Conclusion:

19.5/20 = 97%, an A+ on my scale. This film is honestly one of the best superhero films I’ve seen in recent years, and its unconventional plot and action is refreshing to see in a sea of superhero films with the same kind of characters and the same kind of plot. It’s a must-see film.

#deadpool #deadpool 2 #ryan reynolds #josh brolin #cable #superhero #marvel #action #movies #filmmaking #film #review

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cineview · 6 years

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Predator (1987) Review

Predator is well known as a sci-fi/action classic, as well as how it spawned all of its sequels (even though those weren’t quite as good). It’s also well known for Arnold Schwarzenegger and the now-famous line “Get to the choppa”. As The Predator opens this week, I wanted to take a look back at this classic.

Story/Screenplay: 4/5

I know this is supposed to be a “dumb” action movie. But as I watched it, I couldn’t help but point out some issues in its story.

I almost feel like the plot of the film is almost too simple. Maybe I’m looking too far into it, but the lack of any major subplots or depth sort of irked me.

Some character motivations and actions were also sort of weird to me, but they weren’t too jarring to the point that it made me dislike it.

Overall, Predator has a good screenplay and story. It builds suspense throughout, and once we reach the climax, we get a wonderful action extravaganza. The entire last 30 or so minutes of the film is told with maybe one or two lines of dialogue, and it’s absolutely brilliant.

Acting: 4.5/5

Arnold Schwarzenegger delivers an incredibly charismatic performance, probably some of his best work aside from T1 and T2. I loved every second he was on the screen.

The rest of the cast is pretty great too, with standouts being Bill Duke and Carl Weathers.

My only gripe is sometimes it felt like some of the supporting cast was overacting a bit. If it was dialed down just a tad, the acting would be perfect.

Cinematography: 4/5

A lot of shots in this film are excellent, and some are even breathtaking. They capture the mystery of the predator very well, and add to the overall suspense. I love the decision to give the predator thermal vision.

The special effects are excellent as well, with the predator’s camouflage being especially great. The effects still hold up today.

There are a couple things I’d like to point out though.

There is a setpiece that I understand wasn’t directed by director John McTiernan, and the result is obvious. We get still shots almost the entire time, which makes that setpiece a bit uninteresting. I still liked it overall, but the shots could have been better there.

Finally, at the end, the filmmakers sort of go over the top with the thermal vision, and it becomes a tad difficult to understand what’s going on.

Score/Sound Design: 5/5

Alan Silvestri’s score is amazing. It really exudes the ‘80s action feel and also adds to the suspense. I immediately added the theme from Predator to my Soundtrack playlist on Spotify right after viewing the film—it’s that good.

Sound design is equally as good; we really feel like we’re right there with Dutch and his guys, and the predator’s weapons sound great too.

Wrap Up

Tallied up, Predator gets a respectable 17.5/20, an 87.5%, or B+.

Overall, it builds suspense beautifully, and its actors really sell the story. Only some minor gripes in regards to story, acting, and cinematography put it down a bit.

I’d recommend Predator. It’s a fun and thrilling ride of a movie, and I’d certainly watch it again for its great characters and performances.

#movies #filmmaking #film #review #analysis #scifi #action #horror #alien #predator #avp #arnold schwarzenegger #carl weathers #bill duke #john mctiernan #80s

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cineview · 6 years

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Tomb Raider (2018) Review

Tomb Raider could have been a complete reshape of the video game-to-film genre. While it might be one of the better video game adaptations out there, it still has issues that need to be addressed. Overall, I laud the effort made by the filmmakers here, but if a few things had been fixed, this would have turned out a much better film.

Screenplay/Story: 2/5

I wish I could grade this higher.

Tomb Raider has a lot of issues story-wise. The beginning is interesting in that it establishes Lara Croft as a determined young woman trying to make a living, and as someone who won’t give up on the idea that her father, who disappeared 7 years prior, is still alive. It builds a lot of character that the previous Angelina Jolie installments didn’t do. But the problem is it sort of heaves its way from plot point to plot point, making it a bit of a messy affair. Once we get to tomb raider-ing, the film falls on lots and lots of cliches to the point where it gets tiring.

The screenplay cracks some jokes that land, and some that don’t. Sometimes it even gets cringey. Overall the jokes probably didn’t need to be there, and the film probably would’ve been better without them.

Some relationships between characters were not drawn out well enough, nor did they seem too close well enough either.

In the end, the story left me wanting more, in the sense that I know it could have been done better. Really, with everything that went into this film, the screenplay is what makes it suffer the most.

Acting: 5/5

Alicia Vikander is amazing as Lara Croft. Some will say she doesn’t have the physique or whatever, but I think she does amazing here. She has lots of charisma on screen, and displays her brilliant acting chops by making the most out of the terrible screenplay she was given. Her performance really makes you feel for Lara as she tries to find out what happened to her father.

Dominic West is great as Richard Croft, and Walton Goggins does great as the villain. Goggins has an especially memorable scene where he really has to sell his lines, which on paper could be interpreted as maybe even caring—but he sells it into the proper “creepy” territory.

Cinematography/Special Effects: 4/5

The cinematography is great and it’s clear that they really cared about it. Some shots are incredibly artsy and fun, and they capture the grit of the situation really well. Action scenes are well shot as well.

The CGI is where some things collapse. It’s a bit hit or miss, and it can take away from viewing.

Score/Sound Design: 5/5

The score and sound have no issues with them, so I have nothing to really mark them down for. The sound design is good and captures the moment very well. There is a very suspenseful moment in the film, and the sound at that point adds a whole other layer to the scene that really gets your heart pumping—I especially loved it there.

Wrap-Up

16/20 translates to an 80%, a B-.

This film really could’ve nailed it out of the park. It had the talent to do it. It had the set design. It had the cinematography.

But there is no film without a story, and no matter who you have on board as the cast or crew, there is no way of getting a good film if your story is shoddy. And that’s the real shame of the film—I know it could have been better. With this story, it seems like a real waste of Vikander—an Academy Award winning actress. That being said, I would love to see her portray Croft on the big screen again, just this time with a better story.

#lara croft #tomb raider #alicia vikander #filmmaking #film #movies #review #analysis #video games #action

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cineview · 6 years

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Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Review

I never got around to watching the recent Planet of the Apes trilogy. I never even bothered looking up reviews for it. That is, until I decided to watch Dawn of the Planet of the Apes. In fact, I’m glad I went in completely blind. I was thoroughly taken aback by how good this film was. I know this film isn’t even the first in the trilogy, but man is it good.

Screenplay/Story: 5/5

The story for Dawn is mesmerizing and dare I say beautiful. There are so many twists and turns that you think it’ll go one way but then the film takes off in a different direction entirely.

The pacing is brilliantly suspenseful. As it makes its way to its climax, Dawn feels like a ticking time bomb and I was engaged with each and every frame of this film.

Above all else, the story has a lot to say in regards to humanity, and its themes come out in ways that really make you think. This film has a lot of heart, and its story is one of the strongest I’ve seen in recent years.

Another thing I love about this story is how the characters are molded. Each of the main characters has a purpose and a reason for doing what they do, and they aren’t evil or good for the sake of being evil or good. You feel for each of the characters, and you understand why they’d do such a thing.

Acting: 5/5

Andy Serkis delivered an outstanding performance as the apes’ leader Caesar. Caesar, being an ape, doesn’t say a whole lot, so Serkis really had to deliver in terms of facial expressions and charisma, which he does very well here. I even feel it’d be Oscar worthy, but the Academy doesn’t nominate this type of film.

Other standouts include Gary Oldman and Jason Clarke, as well as Toby Kebbell. Their acting brings their characters to life and makes the audience really empathize with the cause they believe in.

Cinematography/Special Effects: 5/5

A lot of the shots in this film are incredible. There is one with a 360 pan on a tank that is breathtaking, and many of the shots are serene and really help capture the moment.

The motion capture done to create the apes, along with the CGI, are great. You almost can never tell the apes are CGI, and watching BTS footage of the actors in their mocap suits can be somewhat hilarious considering how incredible the apes were brought to life.

Score/Sound Design: 5/5

Once again, the way the filmmakers bring the apes to life is incredible. The way they can mimic the noises apes make in real life is amazing, and that, on top of the stellar performances by the actors, delivers a very real feel to the apes.

Michael Giacchino delivers a score with as much heart as the film itself, with tracks that really amp up the tension and others that are tear-jerkingly beautiful.

Wrap-Up

Yes, this film deserves a 100%. The film’s themes last way after you’ve finished the film, and makes you really think about humanity. For a film about apes, it has a lot of heart. And I cannot wait to watch the other two films in the trilogy.

#planet of the apes #dawn of the planet of the apes #filmmaking #film #movies #action #drama #monkey #ape #caesar #andy serkis #gary oldman #jason clarke #review #analysis

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cineview · 6 years

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Mission: Impossible - Fallout Review

Mission: Impossible - Fallout is the sixth installment to the franchise - and it might be the best one yet.

Story/Screenplay: 4.5/5

Overall, I feel like Fallout has the strongest screenplay of all of the films. It finds a way of connecting previous films like no other installment has, and it does so in a cohesive manner. The story is also much more personal this time around, which has us rooting for Ethan more than just being along for the ride.

The way the story really has us rooting for the characters makes this film that much better; we really care this time around.

My only issue with the story is the exposition is a big heavy-handed and the beginning is a bit clunky as a result. Mission films have always seemed to have a bit of an issue here.

Acting: 5/5

As you’d expect from this cast, we have brilliant performances across the board. I was constantly reminded throughout how that is actually Tom Cruise doing those stunts. He’s actually jumping across rooftops and piloting a helicopter. His devotion to realism is what really sells this movie and just adds that extra layer of suspense. It’s why I continue to respect him and why he’s one of my favorite actors.

The rest of the cast is excellent as well, with standout performances from Rebecca Ferguson and Henry Cavill. Both of these characters have a sense of mystery to them, and both actors sell that very well.

Cinematography: 5/5

For an action film and even as a film in general, the cinematography is excellent. The lighting and camera movement are all breathtaking, with particular standouts being the entire Paris sequence and the many chase sequences throughout.

Score/Sound Design: 5/5

The score is magnificent, with little hints of the theme trickled in throughout the movie’s runtime. The sound design is excellent in creating realistic sounds and immersing the audience in the action.

Wrap-Up

19.5/20 translates to 97.5%. Once you get pass the clunky and heavy exposition (which in and of itself is necessary to understand motivation and the story), Fallout shows us why Mission: Impossible remains to be one of the best action franchises today.

#mission impossible #movies #fallout #film #analysis #review #filmmaking #christopher mcquarrie #action #spy #tom cruise #simon pegg #ving rhames #rebecca ferguson #michelle monaghan #sean harris #henry cavill #alec baldwin #angela bassett

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cineview · 6 years

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Shaun of the Dead Review

Shaun of the Dead is directed by Edgar Wright and stars Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Kate Ashfield. In brief, it’s a comedic twist on the end-of-the-world zombie apocalypse flick. And it’s brilliant.

Story/Screenplay: 4.5/5

The story is overall pretty excellent. I was engaged the entire time and I was thoroughly entertained by the story. The pacing is good overall and I had no complaints there.

The many layers of interactions between characters is realistic and executed well. Nothing falls on cliches like some other movies in this genre tend to do.

My only issue with the story was there were some relationships that seemed sort of shoehorned in that could have been developed more; that would make what happens more grounded and emotional.

Acting: 5/5

The acting in this film is absolutely brilliant. Every actor delivers a great performance and nothing feels tacky or over the top. Pegg delivers a stand out performance, as does Frost.

Cinematography/Effects: 5/5

The cinematography is equally as excellent. It’s not too flashy, but some shots were really impressive and it really grounds you into the film. It captures the grit and horror of the situation perfectly.

The effects are also realistic and add another layer to the situation our protagonists are in.

Sound/Score: 5/5

The sound is top notch and I have nothing to really give but praise here. Zombie moans are realistic and sound effects are done professionally.

The song choice is marvelous, especially when they decided to play “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen.

Wrap-Up

19.5/20 translates to a 97.5% on my grading scale.

With the combination of its stellar acting and screenplay, along with its amazing score, Shaun of the Dead is a marvelous time. Well done, Edgar Wright.

#shaun of the dead #edgar wright #filmmaking #film #analysis #zombie #apocalypse #disaster #comedy #horror #cornetto #simon pegg #movies #review

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cineview · 6 years

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Changes Coming to Cineview

This post is going to highlight some of the changes that are coming to this blog, mainly with the way reviews are going to be structured. I’ve been thinking about how I’ve been managing my reviews, and I wanted to take a slightly more mathematical approach.

The Point System

In order to get more mathematical, I’m going to be dividing reviews up into four sections, each worth five points: Story/Screenplay, Acting, Cinematography, and Sound Design/Score. That way, I can touch on more than just the general what I liked and the what I didn’t like, and you can see my opinion on each aspect of the film more closely.

The Grade System

This will probably take you to high school with this grade system—once I get the raw score out of 20, I will multiply that by 5. This will get me a score out of 100, which then can follow the chart below for the letter grade:

A+: 97-100

A : 94-96

A-: 90-93

B+: 86-89

B : 83-85

B-: 80-82

C+: 76-79

C : 73-75

C-: 70-72

D+: 66-69

D : 63-65

D-: 60-62

F: 59 and under

Hopefully this new system can enhance the way my reviews are structured so that they can be more in depth, and I look forward to sharing my thoughts on film with you all!

#movies #analysis #review #critique #film #filmmaking

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cineview · 6 years

Video

youtube

In honor of its 10th birthday, here’s a video from Lessons from the Screenplay that highlights how The Dark Knight works so well.

#the dark knight #christopher nolan #batman #comics #movies #analysis #the joker #heath ledger #christian bale #aaron eckhart #lfts

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cineview · 6 years

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Pulp Fiction Review

As I’ve been going across Quentin Tarantino’s filmography, I of course had to watch 1994′s Pulp Fiction. And in short, I think I’ve found a contender for my favorite film of all time.

The Pros

In traditional Tarantino fashion, the dialogue in Pulp Fiction is absolutely stellar. The dialogue helps you connect with the characters on a more human level. And that’s saying something, since most of these characters wouldn’t be likeable on first glance and given what they do for a living. The dialogue is also some of the most quotable things I’ve ever heard, and I found myself quoting the movie a ton after watching.

The acting, given its star-studded cast, is top notch as well. It’s what you’d expect out of Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, and Ving Rhames. The supporting cast is also equally as good.

The non-linear structure of the film sort of flipped Hollywood on its head when the film came out. I really enjoyed thinking after the film and piecing all the elements in my head into the correct chronological order. The benefit of this structure is that you get to see how the pieces fit together for continuity each time you view it.

This film’s tone is great. It’s witty and funny throughout, and I enjoyed every second of it.

The Cons

To be honest, I really can’t find much wrong with Pulp Fiction. It’s a perfect movie as it is. Really. I’m not kidding.

The Conclusion

If you haven’t seen Pulp Fiction, you don’t know what you’re missing. It’s the ultimate combination of amazing dialogue, characters, and storytelling. I also think it might be one of the most rewatchable movies of all time.

Pulp Fiction easily gets an A+.

#pulp fiction #quentin tarantino #movies #filmmaking #review #samuel l jackson #john travolta #uma thurman #ving rhames #bruce willis #action #crime #thriller

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cineview · 6 years

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The Mummy (2017) Review

The Mummy was a film that I went into with a relatively open mind. Its predecessors certainly didn’t have much in terms of redeem value and mostly have become guilty pleasure films at most. In other words, they’re not set to win any “Best Film of the Decade” awards anytime soon. But I was optimistic, considering the fact that it had a star-studded cast consisting of Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, and Sofia Boutella. Unfortunately, I left the film with mixed feelings at best.

The Pros

There aren’t a whole lot of these, so here we go.

In terms of special effects, this film is pretty good. The mummy had menacing qualities about her and the way she scampered around was good. The way she sucked the life out of her victims and made them turn into zombies was done well.

The acting was good for the most part. Sofia Boutella is great as the mummy, and continues to show that she’s great in everything she’s in. Tom Cruise once again delivers a charismatic performance, as does Russell Crowe.

The Cons

This film is a mess of a story. We are caught in a back and forth between the linear plot and then the exposition that the film thinks is necessary for us to understand. I get that exposition is necessary, but at times I felt like the film was beating me over the head with its exposition. If it left some of it up to mystery and allowed us to learn about it with Cruise along the way, then maybe it’d make for a more interesting film.

The lead female role is complete trash. Annabelle Wallis delivers a good performance, but the character that was written for her is just plain sad. She’s a damsel in distress for the majority of the movie, and is almost entirely passive. She serves almost no major role in the film whatsoever, and that to me is disappointing.

The film is also confused tonally. I feel there are times where the film tries to be serious, but then there are times where it cracks silly jokes and overall just doesn’t mesh well. With a screenplay by three people and a story by another three, it’s no surprise that this tonal inconsistency exists.

There are several issues with the plot as well, but in order to avoid spoilers I won’t discuss them in length. Essentially, it boils down to character motivations being stupid and characters behaving in ways that the story does not explain at all.

The Conclusion

The Mummy was a disappointing film. The good performances of its cast and exceptional special effects cannot outweigh the major issues in its plot and characters.

The Mummy gets a C.

#the mummy #tom cruise #sofia boutella #russell crowe #movies #filmmaking #review #analysis #horror #thriller #fantasy

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