Sebastian

Good movie that makes it apparent Gyllenhaal and Peña did their “research” before acting in their roles. I respect the time they did ride-alongs with actual cops before shooting because it is very apparent in their subtle body language, mannerisms and speech. For people who complained about pacing issues, this makes no sense to me, it’s the perfect encapsulation of what a shift in emergency professions (EMS) or cops look like, normal chit-chat/boredom mixed in with the most intense moments of your life. I think the movie puts in a lot more action than typical anyways just to keep the broad viewer base engaged. Honestly, I thought the movie was over super quick, could have spent even more time in the car with Peña chattering about whatever. At times, I personally think Gyllenhaal’s handheld camera shots was a bit too much and it would have been nice to get some more camera work that wasn’t strictly first person or bodycam footage.  I really do feel like the story progresses out of hand super quick and the two cops should have paid attention to the details way harder. It doesn’t make sense from a certain point of view considering they have detectives, ICE and assuming possible FBI telling them to leave and forget, but the cartel keeps finding them. To me a lot of the actions taken by the pair seems to go way above their pay-grade, maybe this is just how things roll in LA though. Good movie, not sure how Gyllenhaal survives though. Actual Rating: 3.25 / 5.00

Obviously overhyped in my opinion. The second half completely outshines the first in terms of acting out the horror and suspense. We are introduced to four characters the whole movie, but Bear’s character throughout stays the same without any development at all, he’s a complete wash blown whichever way the wind of the person with the stronger opinion takes him. I find it weird that Nikki’s ‘obsession’ played out more as her controlling Bear, versus being totally okay with everything he wanted to do, maybe just a different in interpretation on my part I guess. The movie is really straightforward, I don’t think there’s anything super intricate or profound about it like most people are hyping it up to be. The only scenes that got a reaction out of me really were the Cat Sandwich and Sarah’s Kill. Congratulations to the director on such a success, I hope he is able to transform his career off this. As a typical suspense/horror movie it brings in a refreshed nuanced take in a way that’s creatively done, yet drawing from classical inspirations. The idea of losing control over one’s wishes/creations isn’t new, but this translated it into a modern conception, unfortunately a lot of people can relate to or understand.  The performances by the actors is good, not outstanding. I think the background actors really make this film feel genuine. Dialogue at the beginning was rough, but took a more realistic and authentic feel as the movie progresses, almost like the actors got more comfortable with one another as filming went on. Overall Rating: 2.00 / 5.00 Girl that springs onto the scene and loves Call of Duty? I’m not saying she’s a plant, but

Christopher Nolan's latest installment follows his typical signature style, solidifying his auteur style opposed to a mere director. The scale of this movie is unreal, everything seems so big, overwhelming at times, perfectly encapsulating Odysseus' feeling of disarray. What I appreciated the most was the use of immense practical effects opposed to CGI, especially the 60 foot tall mechanical puppet used for the Cyclops scene. The forced perspective at the island of the Laestrygonians was incredible, each of the giants being 7 foot tall people and the 'Greeks' being 5 feet tall really set the atmosphere, kudos to Matt Damon's stunt double who was a 5 foot tall woman. Also the use of jetskis to create the whirlpool, I appreciate that. Hoyte van Hoytema is a brilliant cinematographer, but I don't think the shots are anything insane in this movie, shots are mostly flat, keeping the subject matter almost perfectly center in most shots. However, the colors and use of lighting/shadows is what makes this movie visually stunning. The contrasts of white Trojan temple architecture versus the orange of fire, the stark brown of the horse, the alluring blues of the sea against the stark red sail, it was beautiful to look at. Shadows play a big role in this film, especially Agamemnon's entrance into Troy. What stuck out to me the most was the amount of fire used to set the ambience of the scene and the different reds, oranges and even times brief yellows that helped convey emotions of the characters. Focusing on a few of the negatives now, first off star-studded casts are completely unnecessary, least enjoyable part of the movie. Starting the movie with Travis Scott right off the bat was definitely a choice. I didn't really see Odysseus at all, I saw Matt Damon, and don't get me started on Telemachus. I think Robert Pattinson and Anne Hathaway did a good job though. I made the argument the first act feels a little too long, but it had to be for the audience to actually care about Telemachus' development and Odysseus' return being significant. A few story tweaks that frustrated me, mainly Cyclops not carrying out the 'Nobody' spiel (it's my absolute favorite) as well as not properly explaining he is Poseidon's son, this is arguably one of the most crucial plot points and it's glanced over by a deckhand. Odysseus should not have been exiled, he is supposed to resume his throne. I wish Ithaca would have had a little more around it, a few more houses, market, etc. it's very desolate with just a stone castle up on a hill. For me, the sound design was the best part of the movie, hearing the crash of waves against the ship, the crack of thunder, the roar of the cyclops, was incredible, Nolan is good at this and usually likes to overpower the viewer's ears anyways. Ludwig Goeransson is one of my favorite composers, but I would argue this is one of his least remarkable score's, this is a good thing though. The score works in tandem alongside the film and the sounds on screen, positively accencuating what happens on screen, rather than having to rely on the power of music for the viewer to care about things (Mando and Grogu). The Third act brings Odysseus' return to Ithaca, and it makes the viewer seem like the journey has been long, forcing us to remember how much time has passed since the decision to not follow Agamemnon home. How long ago the Cyclops took place, etc. it felt like I had travelled with Odysseus, tired and yet relieved that Ithaca was finally in front of my eyes again. This was a good movie to see in 70mm. Actual Rating: 3.75 / 4.00 If I had a nickel for every time Zendaya has been in a star studded large scale movie and only plays a role where she acts as a figment of the protagonist's visions, I'd have two nickels...