malachiweaver Reviews

One Day (2024)

Instant charm that builds into an emotionally rich story

[9/10 · 19 February 2024]

From the start it's a fun, easy watch with charming characters. But by the end it develops into something heavier with real emotional depth.

The chemistry between the main characters (Dexter and Emma) is compelling to watch. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Tilly and Ian. Their quirks added a lot of color and humor to the show.

I love the format of each episode occurring exactly a year apart and watching the characters get older and change in subtle ways. This show's depiction of growing up in your twenties after college felt relatable to me. Some parts were quite funny, and others parts were genuinely sad. Nothing was too heavy-handed or unnecessarily dramatic though.

The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)

A Glimpse Into Something Real

[10/10 · 31 January 2024]

This is everything I want from a documentary. It was both informative and entertaining, and it gave me a brief glimpse into something raw and real. It effectively captures the feeling of being in that recording studio on that specific night in the company of the biggest names in music at the time - the exhilaration but also the pressure and tension felt by everyone in the room (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, Bruce Springsteen, Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Bob Dylan, Diana Ross, the list goes on and on). I felt like I got to know each of these artists a little bit better because of their raw emotions and vulnerability that were on display in the footage.

I wasn't alive when "We are the World" was released in 1985. However, I distinctly remember when the 25th anniversary rendition was released in 2010 and being instantly enthralled by the sheer power of so many iconic voices united for one important cause. I've watched that video over and over, and I get the same visceral feeling every time. This documentary adds depth and context to that feeling, and I now have even more appreciation for the original song.

Fellow Travelers (2023)

A Compelling Piece of Historical Fiction with Some Flaws

[6/10 · 24 January 2024]

What I liked most about this show was the powerful depiction of the Lavender Scare during the mid 1900s - the sheer lunacy of the moral panic and its detrimental impact on individuals inside and outside the U. S. government.

In my opinion, many of the supporting characters (especially Marcus and Frankie) were more compelling than the main characters (Hawk and Tim). The Hawk and Tim storyline was captivating at times, but also exhausting to watch unfold. I think the story would have worked better as a movie or perhaps just a shorter miniseries. I felt it dragging towards the end. Thankfully, the final episode did stick the landing in its last few scenes in a way that was emotionally effective.

The Curse (2023– )

A Captivating Work of Art

[9/10 · 13 January 2024]

I have immense respect for Nathan Fielder as a visionary force among TV creators. This is his boldest, cringiest, most heavy-handed satire work yet. As a whole, I loved it. The themes of morality and human nature that appear in his previous work, particularly The Rehearsal, are explored further in this show. The Curse is his first fully scripted show, however, which seemingly allows him to put a finer, sharper point on these ideas. I thought the creative choices in here were genius (for example, the use of odd camera perspectives to emphasize a certain tone). Even the aspects I felt somewhat negatively towards upon initial viewing (mainly the back half of the finale), I still respect for the role they play in the overall creative statement of the show. The end result is a captivating piece of art that I will think about for a long time.

Sidenote, Emma Stone is flawless in this. What she's able to convey through her nuanced facial expressions is fascinating to watch.

Oppenheimer (I) (2023)

A spectacular feat of filmmaking

[8/10 · 29 December 2023]

A powerful message delivered through a spectacular feat of filmmaking on all fronts. The music and sound design in particular were breathtaking, especially at the climax of the film. I will say that at certain moments, I found the dialogue difficult to make out (which is typical for a Christopher Nolan film). I prefer to watch everything with subtitles, but this being a dialogue heavy movie makes them that much more essential - for me personally 😛.

I thought the writing was good overall. However, I would like for there to have been more exposition for the characters in the beginning.

The acting was top-notch. Cilian Murphy deserves all the praise he's been getting as the leading role. I do wish Florence Pugh had a larger role though. I don't think she was utilized well in this movie. Robert Downey Jr was especially astounding, delivering a far more serious performance than I've ever seen from him. Give RDJ his Oscar for this!

Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)

A Euphoric Viewing Experience

[9/10 · 29 December 2023]

Probably the best animated film I've ever seen, and unquestionably one of my favorite movies of the year. Like the first movie, the animation style is stunning - I love the vibrant color palette and the blend of hand-drawn elements with CGI. The visuals combined with Metro Boomin's soundtrack make for a euphoric viewing experience. This film is everything a sequel should be, by expanding the universe (or spiderverse in this case) while also delving deeper into the main character arcs. I was immersed in the story and wasn't ready for the movie to end when it did. The final installment of this trilogy can't come soon enough!

Fred Claus (2007)

Most Underrated Christmas Movie of All Time

[9/10 · 23 December 2023]

I watch this movie every year, and it never gets old. It's chock full of quirky humor, memorable characters, and heartwarming themes. Also, the song choices for the soundtrack are on point, including "Christmas Wrapping" by the Waitresses, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" by The Jackson 5. The most iconic scene, however, is towards the end of the movie when Sinéad O'Connor's rendition of "Silent Night" plays over a montage of children opening their presents, and Nicolas tells Fred he's the best big brother anybody could ever ask for. It's a moment that could have fallen flat or come off as cheesy, but Paul Giamatti and Vince Vaughn play their roles so earnestly that I can't help but get emotional every time I watch this part. This is the most underrated Christmas movie of all time. I said what I said.

Past Lives (2023)

A Breath of Fresh Air

[9/10 · 23 December 2023]

I really loved this movie because it was simple, yet also deep. I love how the characters freely and openly explored their past lives and grappled with the decisions that brought them to their current life. To me, the movie is equal parts happy and sad, but the feeling I had when it was over was akin to a breath of fresh air. It's so refreshing to see characters communicate effectively and express rather than suppress their emotions.

I particularly appreciated how Nora's husband gave her the freedom to reconnect with her past love and was able to trust her because of their ability to communicate with one another. And he stayed by her side, allowing her to grieve the life she let go. I think it's beautiful that she made a definitive choice to stay with him rather than chasing a life she gave up years prior. This choice was a great act of love for her husband, but also Hae Sung who can now hopefully move on in his life while holding on to the love and beauty they shared in past lives. This movie is a good demonstration of how love, grief, and loss are all intertwined.

May December (2023)

It's a slow burn, but give it a chance!!

[9/10 · 23 December 2023]

First off, I would in no way consider this movie a comedy, so don't go in expecting that. It has a dark premise and a lot of building tension, with a few comedic moments scattered throughout. I found this movie to be quite sad and unsettling, yet fascinating. The music score with the campy piano riffs contributed heavily to the unsettling, psychological-thriller tone of the movie. Far and away the best aspect of the movie was the acting performances though. Out of the cast, Natalie Portman gave the most Oscar-worthy performance in my opinion; Julianne Moore was fantastic as well, but the performance that has stuck with me the most is Charles Melton - I found his portrayal of an adult with childlike innocence grappling with trauma deeply moving. There are many scenes that have continued to stick with me weeks after watching this movie. In my opinion, the movie delicately handles the tough subject matter, and sends an impactful message about the long-term effects of manipulation and abuse.