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Sous la Seine (2024)
Not the most exciting shark movie but a few great moments.
When it comes to shark movies, there's a lot of misses and only a handful of hits. Jaws, obviously, is the gold standard by which every single movie is measured, and so far, arguably, none has dethroned the king at the top of the mountain.
This one definitely won't either.
With that out of the way, let's focus on the good, bad and ugly...
Let's start with the bad... If only people in survival movies weren't that stupid, may be they'd live... And it's always the same. Of course, if they were smart, the movie'd be much more boring because people would seldom die and nobody wants that in a shark movie. But some of these people wouldn't have made it past puberty with that level of stupidity in their gene pool.
The CGI could be better, but I've seen way worse in movies 3 times the budget this one probably got. There's situations, shots & angles in there clearly "borrowed" from other shark movies, such as Jaws of course, but also Deep Blue Sea and The Shallows, but they usually work so they get a pass from me.
The characters are pretty one dimensional, and performance is a crapshoot going from pretty good from Berenice Bejo to acceptable from the male lead, to forgettable ( to be nice ) from secondary characters, to really stiff and bad from extras and really small part actors, so that gives a very unbalanced feel from the movie in that department.
The ugly... it's a snooze fest for at least half of the movie, and tension is pretty low except for a couple of moments. 20 minutes in and I thought about switching the TV off, but it became slightly more exciting for a minute and I decided to give it a shot and watch the whole thing. It gets better for about 30 minutes, then a little dull again, then exciting again for the last 30 minutes. But these are 30 intense minutes and that's obviously the movie's climax and ending.
The good... when the movie delivers, it really does deliver. Some great shots, really intense action, some gore, and I think the ending is really really cool and unexpected. Living in Paris, that ending gave me goosebumps and it's quite original as its reference in the movie realm is really different from any other shark movie and is both open and works as a closed chapter too if they decide not to give this a sequel. Bejo is a great actress, and makes the part work. The movie looks good, and if you're a shark movie afficionado, it's one to watch and enjoy, while keeping in mind that any shark scientist will be screaming at their TV because scientifically nothing holds up, but that's not why we watch these now, is it ?
Ripley (2024)
This is the series you didn't know you've been missing.
There's something to be said for classic movies.
Yes, they look old, and the acting feels a bit stiff... But they were also incredibly creative in the camera angles, the thrills they gave you, and the tension they could deliver from any situation or story they were telling...
What if someone could take a classic story, take everything that was great in the old movies from that golden era and make it relevant and modern while keeping what made these movies classics ?
What if they could bring back all of these feelings, that intensity, that tension, that are sorely missing from a lot of modern movies, and bring in actors that had the qualities that could span both eras, old and modern, to create a "new old style" of cinematic experience ?
Well... someone just did.
Ripley looks classic, but never dated. If anything, it brings back camera angles and storytelling that have been forgotten in modern movies for decades and makes them relevant again as they give the show a completely unique pace, look and feel.
Andrew Scott is a fantastic actor, I've never seen him "average" in any movie or show, but this is simply one of the very best performances I've seen from any actor in the last decade at least. The range and control that guy has is mind blowing...
Every actor in the show delivers an incredible performance to be honest, but Scott is simply perfect in the role of Ripley. I'd be surprised if he doesn't get nominations and awards for this one.
Dakota Fanning is as sweet and soft as you'd expect Marge to be, and subtly way smarter than she lets on initially, of course and I had no clue who Johnny Flynn was but he is fantastic in this too. Suave and sophisticated yet not quite likeable... not that easy to achieve as an actor I'm sure.
The pace is deliberately slow because it must be, but the show is never boring. You feel the characters, you experience the situations with them, the weight of the lies and deceptions, the fear, the tension, the hatred and suspicion... Everything comes through to make you experience the moment the way the characters experience it.
This is not an "easy" series, but it is a rewarding one. Unfortunately it can't really influence other shows because the instant it stops being unique in its approach, every show that tries to emulate what it does will be called out for jumping on the bandwagon. The approach could be used once, and they chose the perfect story to use it. Smart.
Road House (2024)
It's really not as bad as some reviews would make you believe.
First of all, don't expect 1989 and you're off to a good start. The pitch might be more or less the same, but this is 2024.
Two things work against it IMO. The filming of some parts of the fight scenes is WAY too frantic and McGregor is just not good trying to oversell the crazy in Knox.
Gyllenhaal got in insane shape and is believable as a fighter. There are good one liners in the movie, most of the action is intense and fun to watch, and unlike some other recent action movies, I didn't feel like I wasted 2 hours of my life watching this one. It could have been 10-15mn shorter as some bits drag a bit but nothing serious.
I knew what I was signing up for and I got pretty much exactly what I expected, so I enjoyed the film for what it is, and at least it's not trying to be something else.
Oppenheimer (2023)
There are good films, great films and there's masterpieces. This is the latter.
Christopher Nolan has created something truly unique. A biopic that is deep, intense, emotional, complex, makes you think, and actually hits you physically through sound... At least in Imax...
This is a movie for the ages. There are so many incredible bits, lines, moments, some that feel frozen in time and make you actually "feel how they felt"... The casting is simply A++ list, including a few surprises, and they're all on their A++++ game... Robert Downey Jr delivers like his life depended on it, Hartnett reminds you of why he was such a hot topic back in the day, Damon is perfect, and Murphy... I mean... it's about time somebody gave that guy a role of this magnitude because he was born for this level of acting....
This is one of the "must watch" movies of a lifetime. I can see why it wouldn't vibe with some people, but I'm sure most folks will experience the movie in a very intense, rewarding way.
Glass Onion (2022)
Loved it. Very different but clearly from the same mind as the first.
I loved Knives Out.
Going into the second instalment in the series, I knew that it had to be a different movie to live up to the first one for me. And that, it did...
There are so many layers in this Glass Onion, pun very much intended, that I can't really dig too deep without spoiling anything... but there's a story inside a story inside the story with a clear truth at the center of it all. And that's how the movie is built, that's how the environment for the characters is built, that's how the story is built, and that's how each character is built... It is a bit convoluted, but it works...
Again, it is a study of character and characters even more than a whodunnit, but there's a murder inside a murder inside a murder... a hole in a donut with a donut with a hole in it, if you will...
Craig is having way too much fun playing Blanc and it shows, his portrayal is fantastic, the rest of the cast is perfect and the camera and light work is spectacular.
And the movie is genuinely funny.
Another Rian Johnson movie I'm going to enjoy watching multiple times, on a large screen because when details matter to the author, they should matter to the audience.
Another solid 10 for me.
Prey (2022)
Great visuals, slow burn, very cool pay off. Best Predator since Arnie.
First of all, the movie is absolutely beautifully shot, lit, and color graded. If only for that, this should have hit the theaters and not be streaming.
The story is pretty typical, nothing super original there, but it is built, and it takes some time establishing the groups' dynamics, the battleground and the individual characters, including the Predator and his motivations.
We also get the best Predator vs humans scene in the whole franchise, and it's fantastic and creatively done.
Acting is great, photography is beautiful, the movie doesn't drag, and we get plenty of Predator action.
What's not to like ?
The Batman (2022)
He... is... THE Batman.
Let's cut to the chase and just say it. This is the best, most faithful rendition of the Batman character in a movie, period. The movie is a film noir, a detective story, a thriller, a character centric essay and it is beautiful. Matt Reeves understands Batman.
Yes, the movie moves quite slowly, but when the pace picks up, it doesn't hold back. The car chase you get a glimpse of in the trailer is absolutely fantastic and feels fast, dangerous, and loud.
The general atmosphere is super dark, the cast is nothing short of amazing, Pattinson is incredible, Paul Dano should be given an award for his portrayal of the riddler. Zoe Kravitz is a fantastic CatWoman, and Jeffrey Wright is a great Gordon.
That one scene with Pattinson and Dano you see seconds of in the trailer is a masterclass in acting.
Gotham feels dirty, grimy, and dangerous, and for once you actually get to experience the city.
Let's take a minute to praise the soundtrack as well. Amazing work by, probably, the best film music composer in activity today
Michael Giacchino.
Not just a great Batman movie, but a great movie period. And probably the best Batman movie ever. I hope there's a sequel that remains faithful to this fantastic take on the story.
I need to watch that movie again. And again...
The Witcher: Family (2021)
Season 2 is absolutely fantastic as a whole...
Is it faithful to the books ? Or game ?
I'd say it's faithful to the spirit of whatever came before it, and while based upon the previous material, it's carving its own path.
No spoiler, but the ending of the last episode is a little predictable if you pay attention, but it doesn't deter from the sheer fun and intensity of the action and storytelling.
A really really great show, and a great season 2.
Supernatural: Carry On (2020)
It had to end someway or another. This is one way, and it's a good way.
Of course some people are going to hate it. It doesn't mean it's bad, it just means it's not the way they would have ended it. I feel the writers had three main options. Open ending : the brothers ride into the sunset and we never know what happens. Closed ending : they kill them off in a blaze of glory, voice over tells of the Winchesters' legend, roll credits. They chose the middle ground. Dean was always going to keep hunting and end up this way, and Sam was always the family guy at heart, they were each a half of John's soul, and they had to be each a part of John's story retold. I feel balance was achieved in this episode, every character ends up getting what he wants, we get a proper ending, we learn of every major character's fate. That's what endings should be. This was one of the better ones.
Interstellar (2014)
Absolute Masterpiece.
It took me 6 years to finally catch this one, but what a grand movie it is.
The cast is second to none, as are their performances, the cinematography is superb, the storyline is complex yet clearly exposed... There are a couple of slower moments, but no dragging moments, the score by Hans Zimmer is probably one of his best ones of all time. It takes you on a journey, deals with issues we can clearly envision as part of our potential future, explores philosophical concepts but never stops becoming an incredible entertainment piece. 100% recommended... if you like movies that challenge you at least a little bit. I can see this being a little too involved and demanding for some folks, but those who get it are in for a top level experience.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Was not expecting much. Pleasantly surprised.
Not a masterpiece, but definitely not the utter crap some people make it to be. The movie has great moments, a few meh moments, and a couple WTF, super cringy moments... But it's a proper send off to characters we've loved for 42 years. I usually intensely dislike JJ's style, but I must say in this movie, he did a very good job. It's visually stunning, entertaining, and the fan service is intense but smarter than in TFA, so it's not as disturbing. Don't believe people who say you will love this if you hated TLJ. I loved TLJ for what it tried to accomplish, I thought TFA was pretty bad overall, and I think this one is pretty good and stands on proper foundations to make a good Star Wars movie. Could it be better ? All movies have flaws. Is it worth seeing in the theater ? Absolutely.
Joker (2019)
A film like no other in this day and age
Joker is a difficult film to review, as it will be a difficult film to enjoy for some people because it's not a single layered story, and it does not try to help you understand it. It requires your involvement to pay attention, question things, look for clues regarding what's really happening in the story. Before the final act, it does answer one important question so that everyone is more or less on the same page, but it blurs the lines once again in its ending as to what really happened in that final act. It's a tough movie. It depicts mental illness, its perception, its management, its treatment, its place in society, in a cold, hard, brutally realistic manner. It's not glamorized, or "sweetened" to make it more likable or relatable. It's not a super hero, or super villain story. It's a downward spiral into the mind of a very sick individual who tries to stay above water but eventually gives in to his inner demons because no other option is there for him, it's a movie about where we stand as a society when it comes to treating each other, it's a movie about kindness, the absence thereof, and its effects on people who need it. Some will love the movie, some will hate it, a lot just won't get it. Nothing to do with being smart, it's just a matter of experience with mental illness, which is played so brilliantly by Joaquin Phoenix in this movie.
Ready Player One (2018)
A great story, a trip down memory lane, a great director... when 140 minutes feel like 60...
Alright... This film does so much for the audience that I don't even know where to start... Yes, it's probably different from the book... but hey ! it's a movie. Not a book. Yes, stories needs adaptation to work on screen, and to work in a 140 minutes time frame in this case... The Shining was different from the book, and the movie was great, Jaws was different from the book, and yet again, great movie... This is another fine example that proper screenwriting can make a great movie from an equally great book, even though they have differences. Only thing you should ask yourself is are you enjoying the ride ? I sure enjoyed this one. The soundtrack is great, the directing is great, and holy s**t is that movie beautiful ! It asks obvious societal questions, offers a satisfying ending, has likable characters, despicable characters, fun characters, and characters you feel for, and is tons of fun. If you don't like fun, throwbacks to the 80's and 90's, you're gonna hate this movie. If you want to spend 2 hours and 20 minutes of pure fun, enjoyable science fiction, stunning visuals, with tons of Easter Eggs ( pun totally intended ), this is the movie for you. Gonna watch it again ASAP.
Rogue One (2016)
The SW movie everyone has been waiting for since Empire came out.
Alright, disclaimer first : I HATED The Force Awakens. I thought it was a bad rehash of Episode IV with some elements of V mixed in, had too much painfully obvious fan service, and a lightsaber is NOT a Harry Potter magic wand that calls upon a force user. Kyber crystals might initially in the SW lore but that's it, so that bothered me tons, plus I'd rather watch a well written movie poorly executed than a great looking movie with a crappy scenario. Now, R1 is exactly the mix of a great script AND awesome execution by the director. We all know the backstory. But to have such great writing meeting great directing is a rare thing, especially in the recent SW history. The coolest part of the movie is that it feels like classic SW, the characters are great, the universe is gritty and tangible to an extent, the story is compelling, the battles are intense, and Darth Vader is the ultimate bad-ass we never got to see before this movie. Sure there are a couple of flaws in the movie. CG Grand Moff Tarkin is meh. They can't really pull off CG human characters 100% yet and it still bothers me, but his part is important so it's kind of a small trade off and it serves the story, so I can live with it. Not a fan of Forest Whitaker's character either, but again, it still works and makes sense, so it's all subjective. But I'll tell you one thing : the last 15 minutes of the movie are a 10/10. They make the whole story, all movies, work together and connect so smoothly that it's just perfect. If you don't get shivers watching those last few moments, you must me dead, I don't see any other explanation. In my book, it's a home run. I'll be watching this one many more times. Also the score is great and memorable. That's also a welcome change from TFA. 9.5/10 for Rogue One. I just LOVED it.
The Exorcist (2016)
A really great show... can't understand the low viewership.
By far the best surprise of this fall, along with stranger things, as a fan of the original movie. This show has it all. Great story, twists, fantastic acting and great direction. I really struggle to understand how it hasn't found a huge audience as it will be considered classic in years to come. I'd be very disappointed if it is canceled, but as long as they wrap up the story line in this season, it can be self-standing, but it will be difficult to follow up on this precisely because of the story line if they decide to do a sequel at some point. Either they wrap it up and that's it forever, or they don't and they're screwing up future sequels if they don't get renewed right away. Recommended.
MacGyver (2016)
Getting much better over time.
While a lot of the early reviews rate this show as awful, I disagree to an extent. It's based on a common concept as the original show but does walk its own path, and a lot of the negative reviews out there are basically "it's not the old show, so it's bad". But once you let the old show nostalgia go, you realize the new one is not bad at all, even thought the first couple of episode were trying to find their pace and tone, the latest episodes are actually quite good if you're watching the show for its intended purpose : an entertaining, fun, escapist show. Lucas Till, George Eads and their co stars do a good job at portraying the characters, who don't have much in common with their previous incarnations from the old show, but it's OK. If the producers had changed the show's name to something else and chosen different character names, everyone and their sister would be saying "oh this show is trying to be MacGyver" and ranting about it. Honestly, give it a fair shot, it's not a deep, insightful, game-changing show, but It's still a fun show to watch, and sometimes that's all you need.