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Challengers (2024)
A Captivating and Incredible Sensual Love Triangle
A combination of great lead performances, energetic direction and a smart script filled make Challengers incredibly fascinating and entertaining.
The narrative jumps back around between a crucial match between Art and Patrick and the origins of their relationship with Tashi. Friendships are tested, alliances shift, and all the stuff you expect in a love triangle film like this. What elevates it is the script. First, it mostly manages to justify its non-linear storytelling by using the flashbacks to elevate tension. Secondly, the characters feel real and the fun of the film is understanding how each choice affirms their individual personalities. As the film goes on, you understand this is less of a relationship and more of a three-way power struggle. The film is erotic in nature, and without having overt sex scenes manages to be intensely sensual (One particular three-way scene got audible reactions from the audience).
I adored the direction and cinematography. The tennis matches are lensed in increasingly creative ways, especially in the third act. There were also some small mid 2000s period details I was tickled by. Sound design is great, every time a tennis racket was used, I felt it. Music functions less as traditional score and more like a driving heartbeat, which works well enough. Occasionally the music choices were distracting. Another weakness is the inclusion of a daughter for Tashi that was ultimately superfluous. Still, The character interactions make this film very rewatchable for me, and I'm sure a deeper appreciation will follow. Don't miss this movie in theaters!
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)
Good but Not Great and That's not Necessarily a Bad Thing
This was a solid WWII film that just wants to have fun, and I have a place in my heart for films like that. Its great cast distracts from the weak characterization in the script. Standouts are Henry Cavill (of course), Eiza Gonzales and Alan Ritchson. It's a very plot driven movie, but the plot is interesting (especially considering it is loosely based on real events). If the script made us care more about the people, this would have been great movie. Instead everyone comes off as "movie characters;" I'm sure the actual people involved were far more interesting than that. In some ways, the movie highlights a fascinating mission from WWII while doing a disservice to the men involved.
Those script issues aside, the movie's direction and tone are very fun. There's a great musical sequence I very much enjoyed and I did find myself invested in the mission as the third act neared. Don't expect to be on the edge of your seat as this is less about suspense and all about style. But it was a fun time at the theater and I think it's worth seeing for that alone.
Side note: YMMV but save for a bloody moment or two, it's far less graphic than the R rating may lead you to believe.
The First Omen (2024)
The First Omen gets under your skin in all the best ways
Most people had little to no expectations for this, but there were two things for me that signaled this might be something special: 1) the involvement of Nell Tiger Free and 2) one of the best teaser trailers in recent memory (the one with "If I Had a Heart"). So this movie has been on my radar, and I was happy to hear it get great word of mouth despite a late embargo drop.
I'm a newbie when it comes to horror, but my interest was so strong it actually got me out to a theater to watch it myself. The film is permeated with a never-ending sense of dread and anchored by a strong performance by Free who is pitch perfect. It's a gorgeous movie with incredible locations and sets, shot beautifully by Aaron Morton. The sound and score also deserve much praise for creating an unnerving sense to each scene.
The childbirth sequences are horrifying, but the most haunting image for me was in a dark room where something approaches out of the shadows. It's a movie that hasn't left my mind since it ended. It deserves support especially considering the depressed box office right now, so go see this movie if you haven't already! Let Hollywood know we want more movies like this!