Black Widow

 

8.5/10

In Black Widow's first feature film, which takes place between Captain America: Civil War and Avengers: Infinity War, the titular superhero spy (played by Scarlett Johansson), ends up dealing with her tragic past as she goes up against the organization that trained her.  

This is definitely the darkest Marvel movie, even more so than Infinity War.  Think of this like the franchise's version of a modern James Bond film. Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff has a compelling backstory and personal journey in this. Although we get the traditional action-packed finale to a Marvel film, I appreciated that the emphasis still remained with story. That having been said, I do think that too much emphasis was put on Black Widow's past personal experience with her allies. I would have liked to seen more explanation of how the Black Widow program operated. Also, this movie does a good job of successfully filling in elements of BW's backstory hinted in the past without feeling crammed in or being disappointing (like with how the reveal of how Nick Fury lost his eye).

Johansson again does a confident, cool performance as her character. What's fresh is Florence Pugh's performance as Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), another member of the Black Widow program whose got a past with Natasha. She's the funny one in comparison to the straighter Natasha, and has most of the best lines. 

Speaking of Natasha's humorousness, though she's fun, I admit her more jovial attitude doesn't line up with her tragic backstory of being trained as a soldier since her childhood. The character of Alexei/the Red Guardian, though Stranger Things' David Harbour does well in the role, is supposed to be a comedy relief and redemptive character, but it's hard to forgive him based on his past actions. Based on the man he started as, I think the script could've done more to make him remorseful. 

The main villain Dreykov (Rey Winstone) isn't the most stand out antagonist in the MCU, but he's not underwritten like some of weaker ones such as Thor the Dark World's Maliketh. Dreykov has the honor of being Marvel's single most hate-able villain. A lot of villains in the MCU you can understand where they're coming from, though you can't condone their actions, but this villain is just refreshingly horrible.

This is a Marvel film, so there are the traditional big action set pieces, including a couple grand visuals. They have that traditional Marvel feel, but don't do enough to differentiate from other films in the franchise. The editing during the action also feels too quick. On t.he plus side, the hand-to-hand fighting fairs better than the other action parts. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this. The story definitely kept my interest, and it was definitely nice to finally see a movie go into Natasha's past. However, I admit that the plot set up might not work for everyone.

Luca

8/10 

In Luca now on Disney+, Luca Paguro (voiced by Jacob Tremblay) is a young Italian sea monster who's curious about the human world. (Yes, the sea monsters have regular people names. It's best not to think about it too much.) He meets the adventurous, uninhibited sea monster Alberto Scorfano (Jack Dylan Grazer) who introduces him to the surface world, and the two end up deciding to visit a human town (they can take human form) where they befriend a human girl Giulia Marcovaldo (Emma Berman). 

Now, this lacks some of that special narrative backbone or innovation that the best of the Pixar films have. The plot is not the most original what with having clear Little Mermaid similarities, a "learn-to-look-past-people's differences" message that makes the ending predictable, and a traditional bully protagonist with two lackeys. In fact, I was thinking of rating this a notch lower at first. Then the third act came, and they hit all the emotional beats out of the park. The biggest strength to this is the relationships between the three kids and you become invested in their goals and the changes in their journeys.

Giulia's father Massimo (voiced by Marco Barricelli), a large, imposing, yet caring guy, is a fun character, though he isn't in this that much. I also got to give director Enrico Casarosa credit, he does not shy away from the occasional moment of the boys getting physically hurt. I mean it isn't something that happens a lot, but this isn't something you see in many animated children's films.

Being a Pixar movie, Luca looks really, really good, managing to captures the old-timey Italian seaside. The character design is probably the most cartoonish of all the Pixar movies. Yeah, I mean as cartoon characters they all look cartoonish, but the designs really go for the simple, stylized look. Have you seen the Pixar short Luna? Casarosa directed that too; same style.

Again, not one of the best of the Pixar movies but definitely a good watch. I think children will especially love this. Recommended.

The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard

4/10 

In this sequel to the Hitman's Bodyguard, bodyguard Michael Bryce (played by Ryan Reynolds) is roped into saving kidnapped hitman Darius Kincaid (Samuel L. Jackson) by his foul-mouthed, nutty wife Sonia (Salma Hayek). 

This makes the mistake that some comedy sequels do by making the film less grounded and more broad in its humor, so much that the movie feels detached from the last film. The writers' stance appears to be: an hour and thirty-nine minutes of bad stuff happening to Bryce = comedy. It's too bad. Reynolds starts off funny, but they write so many jokes for him that his character gets real old, real fast. Plus, the movie makes the frustrating choice of throwing out any character journey he had in the last film and just put him back where he started from but in an even worse situation.  Plus, his romantic interest is just dropped without a mention.  

The plot feels inconsequential and half-baked, because the writers just care about having the characters get into shenanigans, but said shenanigans aren't strong enough.

Frank Grillo plays an Interpol agent who's whole shtick is that he's an angry Boston guy. He's soooooo badly written. The last movie had Gary Oldman as the villain in a role so lackluster that it seemed they hired such a fine actor for a role anyone could've played. Here Antonio Banderas plays a rich Greek guy with plans to destabilize Europe. I feel that at least here the actor was in a role that was written for him. However, he appears so rarely and does so little that you don't really feel anything for him.   

Also, this has some of the most obvious stunt double moments I've ever seen, and they have a moment where Hayek uses a terrible English accent.

On the plus side, there are some funny moments, including a fun montage with Bryce and Sonia. I was worried that since they boosted Hayek's role that she could become overexposed. However, I thought she fared the best of the three leads. She brings such energy to the character's instability.

I do not recommend this. The movie started promisingly, but I got more bored and frustrated with the it's decisions as it went on, and I was eventually hoping for it to end soon.

Rutherford Falls- Season 1

 

7.5/10

In the comedy Rutherford Falls on Peacock, Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms) runs the Rutherford Falls historical center and is the descendant of the town's founder. He is a big fan of the Rutherford line and accomplishments. However, the town plans to remove the founder's statue which has become a traffic issue. An upset Nathan acts to keep the statue. Meanwhile, his best friend Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding) just wants to improve the Minishonka tribe's barebone cultural center.

The story to this is compelling. There are a lot of twists and turns with several distinctive people all with their own goals that sometimes align and sometimes cross each other. There is a focus on the lives of Native Americans in modern America, the sugarcoating of the history of American Colonialism, and the concept of heritage.

However, the show is more interesting than it is funny. Correction, the last third finds its footing and gets fairly amusing, it's the first two thirds that only have sporadic laughs. The show is co-created by comedy guru Michael Schur (Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place), but this doesn't have quite the style his other shows do if that's what you're looking for. Admittedly, that expectation is a little unfair to the specific voices brought by co-creators Ed Helms and Sierra Teller Ornelas. 

The show goes a little too all in on Nathan. It is fascinating how things keep getting worse and worse for him and how he'll often dig his own grave. His obsession with glorifying the past and inability to create an identity for himself is an interesting character piece. Plus, you can feel for him during the emotional moments. However, the character is so pigheaded that it gets tiresome. I think the mistake was having him being controlling or stubborn in areas outside his obsession with the Rutherford line. If it was just his obsession that blinded him, it would've been easier to like him.   

The best character in this is definitely is Minishonka casino owner Terry Thomas (Michael Greyeyes). He's got a very "nothing personal, it's just business" attitude. He can be completely ruthless in achieving his goals, and yet he yet he has sympathetic reasons and holds no ill will against anyone he has to manipulate or go up against. It's just fascinating figuring out what he's going after and how'll he achieve it. His solo episode is by far the best one of the season.

Overall, Rutherford Falls is an interesting watch, just don't expect this to be a laugh riot.

Things Heard & Seen

6/10

In Things Heard & Seen, based on the novel All Things Cease to Appear, Catherine Claire (played by Big Love/Mank's Amanda Seyfried) uproots her life and moves to Hudson Valley when her husband George (James Norton) gets a new lecturing position. She has to deal with the loneliness of being a new person in rural New York and begins to suspect something is wrong about her house.   

Contrary to what this movie's trailer would have you expect, this isn't so much a horror story as a dark drama. This is a well structured tale. It does a very good job of implying things rather than straight up spoonfeeding the audience. A lot of people online have an issue with how the movie ends. It is not the ending I wanted (I mean it when I say this is dark), but I understand what the director was going for.

The two hour run time does strain itself. You'll spend a lot of time watching stuff you might not be in the mood for, including some really reprehensible actions.

The character intelligence in this is weird. There are a couple moments where you'll question the characters' decisions. Yet, the townsfolk are surprisingly smart and aware. Usually in these stories, those around the main characters have no clue anything is going on or end up believing a different narrative.    

Great location settings in this; they have a rural beauty. Whereas a lot of the sets/buildings reinforce the dark/isolated tone of the movie. 

Overall, this is competently made. But, it's not something something I was looking for. I didn't have fun and the message wasn't enough to make this a strong "story that has something to say" deal. I can't recommend this to others, especially if you just want to sit back and be entertained.  

In the Heights

9/10

In the Heights is a film adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's first musical. (Although Hamilton made him a household name, this is what got him on the scene.) It follows the lives of of several residents of the neighborhood of Washington Heights in Manhattan.  

A lot of the musical numbers of movie musicals of the more recent decades lack a little something that those from the technicolor age of Hollywood had. Back then you had elaborate dance routines with large numbers of dancers. I'm very pleased to say that In the Heights recaptures the feel. The musical numbers are really, really good. Director Jon M. Chu, best known for helming Crazy Rich Asians, has had a history of dance in his works and he clearly knows what he's doing here. The intricate choreography is impressive. The sense of grandest is there with huge ensembles, and colorful, engaging settings. Plus the editing is very tight. A lot of effort went into meshing all these elements together. I'm really impressed with how the opening number was crazy ambitious with the the sheer number of locations they shot at. Though most of the numbers rely on the more grounded setting of the barrio, a couple of them get imaginative visually as well. 

The movie does a good job of telling the immigrant experience while keeping the characters individuals and not speaking points. I also rather liked the framing device of the film's lead bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) telling his story to a bunch of kids more than I thought I would as it blends in with the main story nicely. However, I don't know if everyone will have the attention span for this. The movie is two hours and thirty-two minutes long and between the songs a lot of this is just people talking with each other. 

The cast is great all across the board. This is actually a big break for a bunch of new talent who haven't gotten the chance to shine. Anthony Ramos in particular manages to sell his role. There are a couple known actors in here as well. NYPD Blue's Jimmy Smits gives a strong performance as father who wants what's best for his daughter, but disagrees with her on what that is. Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Stephanie Beatriz is part of a trio of salon owners along with Daphne Rubin-Vega and Dascha Polanco who serve as the show's more lighthearted characters. Though 99 viewers are more familiar with Beatriz's tough, reserved performance, she's got range and probably does the best facial expression work out of the entire cast. 

Overall, I really recommend this. I think this is one of the best put together movie musicals in recent years. 

P.S. Make sure to stay through the credits.

Love, Death & Robots- Season 2

9/10

It's the return of the adult animated anthology show that's the modern equivalent of Heavy Metal. (The show in fact initially evolved from the creators' original attempts to create a new Heavy Metal movie.) 

This season has been cut a little under half with only six episodes, unfortunately. Would've liked more, but can't complain with what I got. A lot of people have been complaining about the episodes this season, but I haven't had any trouble. I thought the shorts were interesting enough. I love how varied this show gets and no two stories are alike. My favorites are the future dystopian tale Pop Squad, the horror installment The Tall Grass, and the macabre Christmas story All Through the House. The Drowned Giant, about a dead giant found washed up on the beach, has a truly original concept, but I admit this segment suffers from a narration that tries too hard to be philosophical.

The largest difference between this season and the last is that the nudity and hard violence just for nudity and hard violence have been cut. Some people may miss that content, but this still isn't family fare if that's what you're worried about.

The show is as visually impressive as the last season. Money is clearly put into this as all the segments look great. There is a a lot of variation in style.

Highly recommended. Another creative season and something different from other animated TV fare. Even if the episodes aren't to your taste, they're short, so you're not wasting much time taking a chance on them.