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Our Idiot Brother (2011)
TJ Miller Steals The Show!
Half way through the film, after frantic cuts and short scenes, one wonders where it is all going. And then, in one glorious unravelling it becomes a melting pot of chaotic brilliance that is delightfully authentic and incredibly satisfying!
A feel good movie like very few. And amidst a number of excellent Laugh Out Loud moments, TJ Miller absolutely steals the show with some of the best acting I've seen in a comedy. Every move seems calculated and perfectly responsive to each scene he is in. TJ Miller as Billy was, for me, the standout actor in a truly all star cast!
But aside from him, hearty congratulations to all involved in what was a splendid picture! That was unexpectedly brilliant!
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Reminds Us That The Big Screen Is Cultural Heritage!
Top Gun: Maverick. Thoughts...
More than an ode to (military) aviation, it is an ode to cinema. To classic nineties & noughties movies that us Millennials & younger Gen-Xs grew up on.
Makes sense, because it was made by that generation's action god Jerry Bruckheimer.
(On the topic of Bruckheimer: The use of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" in the first dogfight training scene was an exquisite tribute to another one of his wildly popular shows CSI: Miami.)
Being crafted using classic nineties/noughties action formulae, Top Gun had its fair.
Share of cringe. But what makes it stand out as an exceptional piece is that Cruise & Bruckheimer used the crème de la crème of world cinema.
Look at the filmography of the film's producers and you'll see what I mean...
Editing: Kingsman
Production Design: Zero Dark Thirty
Art Direction: Grand Budapest Hotel
Casting (immense cast): Saving Private Ryan
And the primary feature of the film...
Cinematography: Benjamin Button & Life of Pi.
It's writing let it down. Dialogue was weak and kitsch, with a painfully thin plot. But that's expected for Bruckheimer (never my favourite movie producer).
If decent effort had been invested into the screenplay, this could have been a masterpiece. Instead, it was outstanding.
A cinematic marvel. Right up there with some of the best cinematography to grace the big screen (think Revenant, Tree of Life, Avatar, Blade Runner, 2001, Psycho etc.)
It's unfortunate that such a marvel couldn't be served a better script.
But what do Bruckheimer & Cruise care?
They don't. It's done its job. It is one of the most successful films of all time, and deservedly so.
But for those who appreciate a little more than just eyegasmic experiences and seek provocative inspiration, it let itself down. And for that reason, there is not a chance.
It will be nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.
Cinematography? Highly likely. Along with all of the other disciplines I listed above. Heck, even Cruise MIGHT get a nomination for his intense military training for the film.
When it comes to acting, the overall cast was, as mentioned, immense. Besides John Hamm (or perhaps his character?) letting the whole team down, the acting was extremely solid, with Jennifer Connelly absolutely stealing the show.
This was a movie that I would gladly see again in the cinema.
In a world overrun by miniature screens, Top Gun: Maverick reminds us that the big screen remains an important part of our cultural heritage.
Joker: Part II (2021)
Not Good Enough
Fair play to Jake Olive and his friends for trying something incredibly daunting, but there is just far too much wrong with this.
Jake seems to play Arthur Dent, and while his smoking persona in therapy is far, far better than the portrayal of Harley Quinn, it is too weak to be taken seriously.
That goes for the cinematography and sound editing too. All of it was just too weak to be taken seriously. The script is also weak.
If you have something powerful, you don't need to film the entire idea to prove it. It should speak for itself. And Jake, while I appreciate your bravado for trying this, your script should not have been tackled. It's best that you get some input and perspective from straight-talking friends before moving forward with this kind of work.
It gets a 4 for effort. There was a fair amount of effort in trying to take on this project. But the skill and experience involved was just too feeble to impress anyone.
I hope this a lesson for you to take, and that you go on and produce impressive material in the future.
Good luck to you Jake. Sorry if these words seem harsh. But welcome to show biz, buddy!
Also, for anyone wanting to review it themselves, you can do so by searching "Joker Part II by Jake Olive".
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018)
Surprisingly Philosophical!
I never really found the Coen brothers work to be philosophical. Perhaps I hadn't dug deep enough. But this collection of stories is an in-your-face examination of existential nihilism: Life is what happens between birth and our inevitable deaths.
"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs" is a little known Coen Bros gem that it is right up there with my favourite films!
Rick and Morty: A Rickconvenient Mort (2021)
Some of the Series' Best Writing!
Yes, note I said "the Series", not "season".
The episode's crescendo is some of the best character writing I've seen on this series, and is reminiscent of the tragic characters of Bojack Horseman.
That tragic moment of Morty awakening to the realisation that loving Planetina was in direct conflict with his own conscience was simply stunning, and produced poignant dialogue driven by equally poignant voice acting by Justin Roiland. It was crowned masterfully with the song of the season so far, Kishi Bashi's "I Am The Anti-Christ To You".
But that short, stirring moment that lasted less than a minute could never have held such passion without the journey the writers took us on throughout the episode. Crafting a simply brilliant juxtaposition of 'hedonistic gratification that can be overcome by love itself' to that of 'young love's raw power' all within the framework of the very essence of humanity - a magnificent construction!
I am an absolute sucker for these existentially nihilistic episodes that explore the human condition, and this is a jewel in the crown among Rick & Morty's many!
Joker (2019)
A Provocative Powerhouse
Joker is a phenomenal symphony of film leading up to a breathtaking crescendo.
Joaquin Phoenix absolutely outdoes himself. I didn't see him in "Her" or "The Master", but knew he was special after "Gladiator" and "Walk The Line" - and his 2010 year-long performance-art piece "I'm Still Here" cemented him as a modern acting great. He was just as spellbinding with this interpretation of the most famous comic book villain of all time. Arguably his best work to date.
But an actor can't be great without great material. And what (surprisingly) Todd Phillips has done with Joker is nothing short of genius. Not only has Phillips achieved what so few comedy film-makers do by crossing over into the provocative dramatic genre, he has produced a true masterpiece of movie material.
Not for the faint hearted. It is disturbing at times. A result Phillips and his team set out to achieve, citing that violence has become too socially accepted in our media. We shrug it off and accept it as part of our entertainment, but with Joker he has made what violence is: Disturbing. Deeply uncomfortable. Painful. He makes the audience feel. An outcome very few mainstream film-makers achieve these days.
The film is aptly titled. It is about absolutely no-one else other than its subject. Every character is simply crafted to present the film's focus: Joker. A deeply injured member of society who succumbs to his pain.
Masterful film-making in a world drowning in a sea of meaningless media. Todd Phillips selected the best of the best to paint his picture. The strangely haunting score (which fit perfectly into Phillips' world), the perfectly presented cinematography, the costume and set design, the acting, the editing (sound and film!), all masterfully mixed into one of the pieces of the year.
While it's unlikely Joker will walk away with Best Picture, don't be surprised if it gets a nomination. Plus a host of other category noms.
It's not for everyone. But for this sociological ponderer, it was almost perfect.
The Split (2018)
Best British Drama Series In a Long Time
The Split is far more than just an eloquently penned drama series about divorce in delicious high end London. It is a figurehead in a postmodern civil rights movement. In the age of #MeToo, men are still afforded far too much leeway in their daily dealings across society, but Abi Morgan and her spectacular team of writers (along with production team) ruthlessly call this out with a comment on women's power and prowess that leaves you breathless.
The Split is magnificent. It slowly peels away the facades of socety's expectations and by the end of Season 1 leaves you staring at the cold hard reality of what true love could actually mean. Continuously asking what "true love" actually is, let alone means, the series stunningly paints a picture of its interpretation that is only revealed in episode 6, and the audience are left to question what modern society has offered us.
As a conservative (but admittedly progressive) male, I'm all too aware that many in society aren't ready to face these provocative questions, especially from a predominantly female standpoint, but how many are indeed ready matters not. For what matters is truth. And truth stands the test of time. Eventually we will see if Abi Morgan's presentation of raw love is accurate or not. No matter what the conservative critics may say now.
Besides the existential dread The Split stirs within you, it is also a remarkably well written, shot, acted, and edited piece that deserves its place among the best British television has ever offered.
I cannot wait to see what Season 2 brings.
Captain America: Civil War (2016)
Visual feast for kids & inner kids which lacks substantial plot.
Captain America: Civil War was good and fun.
I'm not really into superhero movies (with the exception of Batman Begins & The Dark Knight) but love a decent flick nonetheless. This is no different.
It doesn't get much better for the inner-kid when Iron-Man, Spiderman, Captain America, Ant Man, Black Widow & tons of others are all on screen at the same time in one movie. But that's about it really: The inner-kid was excited. The special effects are what we've come to expect these days: Nothing short of phenomenal.
But these comic book stories just seem to be continuous fillers and preludes to the next movie. Never really delivering a satisfying plot. Which is something sorely lacking in modern cinema. I particularly enjoyed the cinematography of this Marvel installment in comparison to some of the previous films.
Overall it was good and it had its moments. A rather bland summary, which is just about fitting.
A solid 8/10 for me, but anything below 9 can wait till Blu-Ray anyway.