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Reviews
I'm Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
As society delves, so does the mind's review of itself.
Fragments, edges and textures. These are what the sub-layers of A.I. look like that make up the 'entity' with the final ability to recognize the image of a cat vs a dog.
The human mind too, has those layers of fragments, existing within some kind of memory-consciousness continuum.
This film is a unique mirror into what the life of a mind-without-consciousness might wander back to; traversing its very structures, and the nodes and moments it believes gave meaning to it; coolly observing the meaning it gave to itself.
This story is presented as: life as a sandcastle of sorts; built upon layers of its own self, varying in form -from the events it encountered, and shaped by the meaning it co-created at those events.
Time, space, geometry, persons and subsequence -except emotion, are trivialities to a mind looking at itself -and all that it was; when at or near its end.
It, and what it experiences are no more scary nor disorienting than mortality itself; norso even the thought of it, or those thoughts which immediately precede its onset.
"I'm thinking of ending things" means many things; and many things and many meanings are the substrate of the mind. One substrate; many paths. This film portrays that statement; as all art must, for the audience to witness, ponder and share: in what 'meaning' remains; previously unseen, previously unknown. Especially about that which is never perfectly graspable, never perfectly known. -Adriel Wool
It Chapter Two (2019)
Superiority of execution -in multiple ways
Score: Brilliant, lush and beautiful
Script / Dialog: Both on-the-cuff and off; carrying the story, while giving itself allowances to maneuver
SFX / Sound Design: Powerful, interesting
Pacing: Not rushed
Casting: Unbelievable (might be the first time you'd think "they got it right")
VFX: Far beyond expectation in execution and artistry
Originality: Meets expectations, exceeds projections
Transitions: Synchronous, hypnotic
Emotional shifts: Rich, if not slightly exhausting
The scares were exhilarating and did not leave the imagination wanting for any greater payoff than what was abundantly delivered.
The scare-reveals far exceeded expectation in their detail, artistry and morbidity.
The score was markedly brilliant and matched the theatrical expectation of a cinematic experience.
The sound design and voice modulation SFX were crisp, with rich harmonics, overtones and punchy bass.
The casting decisions prove: that careful effort will produce amazing results
for continuity-in-storytelling and suspension of disbelief; expertly executed here -in multiple ways.
The presentation of victimization by the antagonist is so talent-fully executed,
the audience feels split between sadness and satisfaction as characters meet their demise.
One scene, truly emulates what it might be like for a mammal to act like a reptile;
and how it might go about doing so -right at the exact moment its prey finds itself
entirely inside that predator's kill zone (cheers to the actor, director and editor).
This film genuinely straddled two incompatible worlds fluidly; one of horror, shock, torment and terror; with another of actuality per how humans speak and think, how they make decisions differently from each other, and somehow too;
a parallel world where humor remains a legitimate mode of thought even despite
any level of absurdity-of-circumstance.
This film can be watched -easily once every year and half or so, with friends or by oneself; and not be bored. Other films like 2001, The Goonies, Caddyshack -all also have this quality.
The theater staff DID float a red helium filled balloon inside the room during the film; causing the words "oh (hell) no, oh (hell) no..." to be audible from folks in the back of the theater LOL!
All in all; very satisfying.
Emotionally; this felt like a roller coaster ride with a LOT of highs!
Enjoy!
Cold Pursuit (2019)
This story defies triviality
This film blows passed tropes and trigger points with such a high rate, that one feels reminded of timelessness despite trends. Definitions of character re-become truths about life and its stories. With value of life and relationships between the most duty-bound colliding with the whim and will of life's possessors and takers; its arc takes form. Cheers to all participating in this wonderful and challenging reflection of life; what we take, and what gets done to take back what was taken. Reminding us that if we knew better in the first place, we would be without burden of such. Double cheers!! :) :)
Hidden Figures (2016)
'Adoration' was never a better used word.
My first thought was 17... a little girl had skipped that number, and there was a pattern unfolding.
I began to become infuriated at exactly 4:45 seconds for reasons very integral to the story's context.
The film makers showed their first maneuver of brilliance before the end of that very scene! Bravo!
A hint of how reference, inspiration and self-felt-pride matters, and (possibly) can transcend even the deepest of painfully-rooted biases.
The set-design and wardrobe have already expressed prime expertise, and still the quality holds tight and strong at the introduction of the primary location of the story.
The first (main) line of Costner's Harrison character is all of complex, authoritative and surprisingly shakespearesque; a great way to establish the man's skills and frame of mind.
I'll shhh... now because a little voice inside is saying, "please Oscar, please Oscar best picture please.." :0)
'That' means my objectivity is gone, so I'll not say more. Enjoy!
AJW
The Accountant (2016)
Un-abashed in its suggestion that new stories need be told.
As a man who cannot definitively say to what extent he feels attraction to another man; I can comfortably still say that: The lead actor was extraordinarily interesting, if not even enticing in some ways here. ( I could not have imagined that I would have been lead to say that out loud.)
I find this character to be simultaneously the least laborious, and also the most appealing of his, to date.
I thoroughly found (reason to consider) the decisions of the character's father to be the assertion that: the intuition of a child's male parent; (ought) be free to be expressed as not only valuable, but indispensable to the well-being of their male child. I applaud the studio for not tampering with the writer's intent in this.
This is a film for each to: "not waste our thought process by needless attachment to prior memories of the actor who has its lead." We have the opportunity for (the exploration of) a significant condition which is, and will affect the children of us all; while with a compassionate and encouraging disposition of their potential paths that(which) await them.
This reviewer found the film to be immensely satisfying, compassionate, thorough, of-resolve and UN-abashed in suggesting that we (the audience ought) be open to new stories, about new types of characters, when for all other reasons (that/when) fiction be (necessarily) NOT true; that this fiction, be unavoidably true for reasons that appear to be unchangeable. (hence, worthy of such consideration.)
Spectral (2016)
Rock solid; Enjoyable.
Loved the performances from the soldiers, their voices were extremely believable; they spoke with clear intent and purpose throughout.
The action was well choreographed. I found the sound design to be well done and matched the FX (visual) and corroborated the story being told.
The dialog made good sense, and there was an excellent focus on information being conveyed back and forth throughout the characters' interplay, and for the story itself.
I found the revelations and discoveries to be quite interesting, feasible, believable, and relatively congruent with science to be satisfying.
The first film (for this individual) which relied heavily on "on- the-ground" military action that I felt was non-offensive, nor hyper-stylized...
I applaud the film-makers here! Rock solid; Enjoyable.