Bohemian Rhapsody

Let me start off by saying Queen was my favorite band growing up, so I was cautiously excited to watch Bohemian Rhapsody. I made sure to not get too excited and I didn’t read many reviews before going in. I knew nothing was ever going to compare to the real life Queen and Freddie, but wow, I was extremely disappointed. The possibilities they had to make this film remarkable were limitless (ARE limitless). The story was flushed out, the edits were rushed, and the script was all over the place.

How are you going to showcase sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll in a PG-13 movie? If it was rated R, this review probably would’ve been VERY different. The first quarter of the film was close to embarrassing. It seemed like they already knew the audience loved Freddie, so they weren’t going to waste their time telling his story. Freddie deserves so much more.

They tried to nail every aspect of Freddie’s life; his childhood, his family, his sexuality, his relationships, and his career. The problem with that is that there was too much, too much of everything. They didn’t focus on one thing (other than his music) throughout the entire film. I understand this was a celebration of Queen, but give us more.

Now–it wasn’t ALL horrible. The cast was ideal; Rami Malek was fabulous and his fellow band members were just as good. They worked so well together and I think if the storyline was more about them as a group and their contributions, it could’ve been solid. The music was, well..amazing since it was Queen. I wish they played a little bit more of every song, specifically Bohemian Rhapsody since that’s the title of the movie.

Do I think this movie is a waste of your Friday night? No, definitely not. Queen’s music should live on forever and every generation should get a glimpse of royalty. At the end of the day, nobody can ever do justice for Freddie Mercury, but that’s what makes him a legend.

6/10

Checkout this doc on the story of Queen – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OWPADFASFM

Penpal

Penpal by Dathan Auerbach

This non-linear novel follows the story of an unnamed narrator who learns the secrets of his dark past.

The protagonist believed he lived a normal life, just like any other child, but when he begins to put the pieces together of his mysterious childhood, he wishes he can forget what he learned. It all started with an innocent kindergarten activity—releasing a balloon with a note.

If you’re into reading creepy and disturbing stories then Penpal is for you. It’s an easy and quick read that will allow the reader to use their imagination and detective skills while expanding their curiosity. The protagonist is an extremely likable character and as a reader, you’ll only want to help him make sense of what happened. There were certain nights where I had to put the book down because of its overwhelming eeriness, but even when I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. I had to make sure to restrain my curious and impatient eyes from skimming future pages. It had me internally screaming, “I need to know!”

The first half of the book is much scarier than the second half. There were certain sections in Penpal that had me dosing off, but most of it was intriguing and captivating. Auerbach knows how to effectively spook the reader, but some of the story was a little unrealistic. Knowing that it was a fiction novel, I kept wishing it was a true story so it seemed more practical. With that being said, I really did love the book. I mean I did finish it in three days so it obviously did something right. Definitely looking forward to reading more from Auerbach.

If you don’t feel like purchasing the book, you can read a shorter version on HERE.

7.5/10

Get Out

Get Out – Director Jordan Peele

When an interracial couple decides to take their realtionship to the next level, things get a bit uncomfortable.

Chris and Rose have been dating for a few months, so Rose decides that it’s time Chris meets her family. At first Chris is a little nervous about meeting his white girlfriend’s family, but Rose assures him that her family doesn’t care about the color of his skin. When he first arrives at their estate, things seems to be running smoothly and better than he expected, but after having an odd encounter with Rose’s mother, things take a turn for the worse.

This satirical thriller will be sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The storyline is genius and relevant, while the dialogue is witty and eerie. The film seems to be more of a comedy than a horror, but that’s what makes it so scary. “Get Out” has an excellent way of making the viewer feel uncomfortable about societies cultural appropriation. The cinematography is clean, sharp, and satisfying. The film’s score is definitely one of my favorites. American composer, Michael Abels, is what holds the film together the whole way through. Included in the score, there’s some blues, folk, rap, and traditional African chant. The cast was great and genuinely captured the films flow. The relationship between Chris and his best friend Rod was perfect and refreshing—they had the audience cheering from beginning to end.

Now don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved the film, but it was way too predictable for me. Twenty minutes in, I already knew exactly what was going to happen and how it was going to end. I only wish that they kept the concept more on the subtle side and harder to predict. Nothing makes me love a film more than its twists and turns, but unfortunately, “Get Out” didn’t have any of that. Aside from its predictability, I loved everything else about it. It seems to be a modern-day version of “The Skeleton Key” meshed with the satire from “The Visit”.

This is 100% a must watch.

8/10

Lion

Lion – Director Garth Davis

After losing his family in the outskirts of India, Saroo makes it his life mission to reunite with his long lost family. When Saroo was five-years-old, he accidentally got separated from his brother, Guddu, and traveled on a train thousands of kilometers across India. He learns to survive on the streets before being adopted by a couple in Australia. Over the span of 25 years, Saroo is determined to find his family back in India—that’s if he remembers where they live.

This true story grabs the viewer from the opening credits. The cast in its entirety is wonderful, especially both actors who play young Saroo, Sunny Pawar, and older Saroo, Dev Patel. While the first act is being filmed in India, it feels like a documentary; so vivid and so real. The scenery is eye opening and really exposes the lifestyle in certain parts of India, a life style that not many people are familiar or aware of. The Indian soundtrack adds a taste of culture throughout the movie, symbolically bringing Saroo back to his roots. The cinematography is much like “Slumdog Millionaire”, simple yet complex showcasing India’s environment.

“Lion” is genuinely heartwarming. The theme of home is in the entire film; no matter how far you travel, you’ll always have a connection to your home. Sunny Pawar (young Saroo), has to be one of the most mature yet adorable young actors I have ever watched. He’s what makes the audience fall in love with the story and the reason why they root for him. I think we did miss out on the relation and character development with Saroo’s adopted family (Nicole Kidman and David Wenham). There was a strong emotional connection to his adopted mother that as a viewer, I wish I witnessed first hand. The second act lacked the intensity carried through in act one and act three. I also think that the character of older Saroo’s girlfriend, Lucy (Rooney Mara), was unnecessary and the movie would’ve sufficed without her.

There’s also a greater theme to grasp from this film – Each year, over 80,000 kids go missing in India. The #LionHeart campaign has been collaborating with organizations around the world to protect these children. For more information on how you can help, visit http://lionmovie.com

I wish I can say this might win Best Picture, but unfortunately, I don’t think it will. The lack of captivating dialogue and development in act two really did the film injustice. With that being said, this might be one of my favorite movies of the year. You can’t help but fall in love with everyone that took a part in creating “Lion”. Plus at the end of the film, you get to see real footage and pictures from the actual story, which really makes the whole thing come together.

8/10

Moonlight

Moonlight – Director Barry Jenkins

“Moonlight” follows the life of Chiron, a young black man who comes from a troubled neighborhood in Miami while coming to terms with his sexuality. It is told in a three-part chronological story through Chiron’s young adolesence, teenage, and young adult years. While Chiron lives at home with his drug addicted mother, he befriends an older man, Juan (Mahershala Ali), who becomes his father figure. Chiron struggles through the years of being bullied, falling in love, and figuring out who he is rather than who he should be.

Chiron is played by three different actors who all stay consistent to the characters mannerisms, characteristics, and physical appearance. All three actors were superb and true to the idea of Chiron. The rest of the cast such as Juan, Kevin, Teresa, and Paula are what really drives the film to success. The cinematography is aesthetically pleasing and true to Miami. Like most indie films, they rely more on sounds rather than music. The sounds throughout the whole movie resemble much of what is going on in the main characters head. The story is simply beautiful and touches upon themes like sexuality, race, and coming of age. The dialogue is authentic and effortless, making it seem almost real.

I truly enjoyed everything about “Moonlight”, from the story, to the characters, to the scenery. At moments, it’s a little hard to watch, but it really is a captivating and touching drama. I do believe the story and narrative got a little lost in the third and final part of the series. Not enough for me to dislike the film in any way, but I wish it stayed stronger to the narrative from beginning to end. Everything about the movie reminded me of “Boyhood” and I think it should’ve been filmed the same way as “Boyhood” was, truly chronological using the same actors in the span of 10 years.

I think “Moonlight” has a great possibility of winning Best Picture. I’m not sure if it will be my favorite from all the nominees, but it touches on a lot of important themes Hollywood has been lacking in. I’m also putting my money on Mahershala Ali winning Best Supporting Actor.

8.5/10

Manchester by the Sea

Manchester by the Sea – Director Kenneth Lonergan

Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) is forced to return home after the death of his older brother. Like his brother stated in his will, Affleck is obliged to become the new guardian of his nephew, Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Years prior, Affleck left Manchester to start a new life in Boston, but when he comes back to deal with the death of his brother, he is forced to cope with the memories of his dark past.

Honest and painful; I wouldn’t be able to describe this movie any other way. Affleck does an absolutely remarkable job portraying a hardworking, lonely man, meanwhile instilling some humor along the way. The cast is authentic, genuine, and sincere to each of their own character. The script is an analysis on the essence of grief and tragedy, exposing the complete and utter naked truth of trauma. The music and sounds are simple and natural. Most of the film score is made up of classical music, allowing the viewer to solely focus on the image and dialogue without any distractions. The cinematography resembles one from a documentary; frank and candid.

“Manchester by the Sea” is not for everyone. I’m sure some people believe it is too somber or too painful, but that’s life. It is beautifully done and tells a great story about life’s uncomfortable turn of events. Don’t get me wrong, you’re not going to leave the movie feeling depressed or anything, but instead, almost enlightened. If you enjoy laughing followed by crying, I highly recommend watching this film, especially those studying or involved in film and writing.

Best Picture? I don’t think so. I do believe it has a high probability of winning Best Actor and Best Screenplay, hopefully more. Casey Affleck is definitely someone to watch out for in the near future.

8/10

Arrival

Arrival – Director Denis Villeneuve

Twelve unknown crafts arrive at different locations around the world. What is their purpose? Why are they here?

Amy Adams plays an expert linguist called on by the government to translate and investigate the extraterrestrial visitor’s purpose whom inhabit the craft. While other countries retaliate on a more aggressive manner, the United States and Adams take a much more subtle and genuine approach. Not only do they need to learn their visitor’s language, but teach them the humans’ language and a way to communicate with each other.

An absolutely beautiful, simple, and placid film. The entire cast kept a gentle feel from beginning to end. The script was easy and understandable, the story is delightful and keeps the audience questioning. “Arrival” demands the viewers curiosity to run wild, literally out of this world. The special effects were not your typical like other sci-fi thrillers; they seemed naturally uncanny which is what made it so wonderful. The music and sound effects were borderline perfect and exactly what I’ve always wish aliens to sound like. The sound and music will give the audience goosebumps, but not in a frightful way.

I can understand how some people may think “Arrival” is a tad slow or even boring, but it’s more for those who appreciate beautiful cinematography and theoretical thinking. I’m not going to lie, I did dose off now and then, but was immediately brought back in. If you’re a fan of “Interstellar” and “Signs”, I’m sure you’ll enjoy “Arrival(s)” simplicity and concept.

Do I think this will win Best Picture? No, probably not, but it deserves the damn respect to be acknowledged as an overall beautifully done film. It does have a chance for winning Best Writing Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Sound Editing. And honestly, I’m just really happy an alien movie made it into this category.

8.5/10

The Oscars

With The 89th Oscars around the corner, it is my goal to watch, review, and analyze the films nominated for the category of Best Picture. During each film, I will mainly focus on the script, cinematography, effects, music/sound (my fav!), …