SISTER MIDNIGHT (2024)

 

Written & Directed By: Karan Kandhari

Cinematography: Sverre Sordal

Editor: Napoleon Stratogiannakis

Cast: Radhika Apte, Ashok Pathak, Chhaya Kadam, Smita Tambe, Subhash Chandra, Navya Sawant, Uma Katju, Vijay Kaushik 

A genre-bending comedy about a frustrated and misanthropic newlywed who discovers certain feral impulses that land her in unlikely situations.

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This is a film that is best to go in blind as the title and the poster make it seem like a vigilante movie from the 1970s even though it is far from that it does feel like a more original project and product that could be from that time That is obviously more modern. A ready made cult movie of sorts.

The film plays and styled like a Wes Anderson film. Only set in Mumbai, India. As it has the same visual style, and the same comedic beats. Though offers it’s own takes and vision. 

There is no traditional indian music on the soundtrack. It has more Indie and oldies rockabilly. As it seems the director wanted to have things that don’t necessarily go together. For the multiple genre movie. 

As this film is meant to be, one won’t say horror, though it leans that way it’s more of a fantasy or a fairytale, as it is filled with the supernatural, which only adds to the hijinks. though at heart it’s more comedic than anything. 

Even though it starts off as a kind of romantic comedy involving an arranged marriage and it’s slowly going downhill before something fantastic happens and sets the film on a new path or course, but still has that original element anchor in.

We I habit and learn about this world as well as the revelations through the main character played by Radhika Apte. As the lead and truly the audiences guide.

The film has a lot of inspired visuals and touches of silent comedy that also feeds off of culture and environment.

The one of the weaknesses of the film is there nothing is ever explained things just seem to happen randomly, but it works so well within the genre that you just go with it.

Their scenes of animation in the film, which you stop animation that work well within and only adds to the films, eclectic and oddball nature which truly sets the film apart as an original offering. As it might not necessarily life ok smooth or expensive, but sets to show it’s different or not normal.

The film offer several different genres, and it never goes where you expected to and ends up being quite subversive, though it might be too whimsical for some.

This feels like a film that at certain points is moody yet more fantasy or science fiction. Yet wears the disguise of being a horror film mroe 

For most audiences, it might be a breath of fresh air, pulling in elements of films. They might not normally watch and tinkering with them enough to be more acceptable in this harsh podge of a film.

Grade: B+

THE LAST SHOWGIRL (2024)

 

Directed By: Gia Coppola 

Written By: Kate Gersten 

Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw 

Editor: Blair McClendon And Cam McLaughlin 

Cast: Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Billie Lourd, Kiernan Shipka, Brenda Song, Dave Bautista, Jason Schwartzman, Linda Montana 

A seasoned showgirl must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.

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This from falters, but it’s not entirely its fault, as the film was heavily hyped to be a comeback vehicle but then when it was released, it was a whimper, though the way it was talked about by the few who didn’t see it you expected so much more and better than it had this kind of hype about it and then, when you watch the film, Kenmore has a light touch but you were already expecting to see so much more now you can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

Which is why it’s usually best to go in with no expectations and hopefully most of you will go into this film with not too many expectations then maybe you can get into it but for me it felt like a lost cause almost.

This film could easily be compared to a star in trying to say some thing about her career in popularity, where the main character is a former show girl who has always lived that kind of lifestyle gotten by on her luxe, and try to support herself and her daughter throughout the years and now that she’s older kind of being pushed out as the show that she stars in is being canceled and can’t seem to get a job In any other shows, though she has experience, she doesn’t have the formal so-called education for the jobs, and also due to her age.

It’s a film that’s sad man tries to give the character dignity even though throughout, she seems to be a pushover who seems to only want to stand up to the wrong people the people who actually care about her, but are making her answer for her flaws and mistakes. Unfortunately they’re asking while the world seems to be against her.

The film has a guerrilla style camera work, and it does have a story deep down in there, but it just doesn’t feel like a very strong as the film try to be more of a slice of life that’s not going to please everyone and more revolves around Pamela Anderson’s character than us really getting to know too many of the other characters.

As even the younger stripper, she works with her costars in the show kind of looked at her to be a mama hen even though her own daughter feels like she neglected her when she was growing up even though Anderson’s character was trying to do the best that she could add time is, it might’ve been selfish, but it was some thing that she loved where she had to choose between her to loves, and she gave one more attention than the other.

There’s nothing bad about the film, but I believe your interest in the film will be as how much do you really care about her character or any of the characters and while I applied it for a showing a film about a woman dealing with feeding beauty and it seems like aging makes you feel you’re made to feel useless

Especially with the supporting role played surprisingly by Jamie Lee Curtis in a way to tan overly made up cocktail waitress who used to be a dancer, but had to go to waitressing and still misses the days of dancing, but also seems to have other personal problems of living, a fast lifestyle even though she can give good life advice, and somehow is worse off than Pamela Anderson’s character though like her characters make up, she might be a bit much, but what is needed a contemporary for Pamela Anderson’s character to truly talk to you and deal with.

One wishes they could’ve gotten into the characters more, as it seems to deal with surface level, but it never really makes you wanna go deeper than the surface of what is shown even though the main point of the film is to go underneath that to see the person and not the beauty or the Luxury or the faded glory but it feels like something that could’ve been told and still manage to have a little bit more to it.

As one remembers her at the peak of her popularity with a bombshell, she was one of the bombshells to reference over the years that has truly asked her to act, even if the character is familiar

This film was talked about as a possible. Oscar consideration. Slow down, would have fooled the industry just because she shows herself with no make up written for her in mind. 

As it even struggles to keep the audiences interest at 89 minutes as there’s just not enough, this feels like a film that would’ve done gangbusters in the 1990s independency but here it just feels like fluff and sort of a gift to Pamela Anderson for making it in Hollywood after all these years as it’s the first time I’ve seen with her that really and challenges are even though it feels also custom-made for

Grade: C

SWALLOW (2019)

 

Written & Directed By: Carlo Mirabella-Davis 

Cinematography: Katelin Arizmendi

Editor: Joe Murphy 

Cast: Haley Bennett, Austin Stowell, Elizabeth Marvel, David Rasche, Zabryna Guevara, Laith Nakil, Denis O’Hare, Luna Velez, Babak Tafti, Nicole Kang

Hunter, a newly pregnant housewife, finds herself increasingly compelled to consume dangerous objects. As her husband and his family tighten their control over her life, she must confront the dark secret behind her new obsession.

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Will admit, it took me a while to finally watch this film as frankly, one was scared or nervous about the material from reading the reviews of this show, though can happily say it’s not as gory or fitting into the body hard genre of grotesque as much as one fear.

This is more of a character study that at first seems like it’s gonna be more of a body horror film. As it’s focus seems to be more clinical clean, cut and direct. Everything seems sharp and clear in focus.

Tell as the film goes along, we see that the main character has her doubts and problems and seems to repress them, which might be why she has this eating disorder as she keeps everything in so this is a way for her to act out by swallowing small and animate objects as she’s taking them and holding them. The only thing is that eventually they come out as well as leaving damage to her body.

Which can be an analogy for the character herself she’s holding all of this emotions, anger, and despair in and eventually they’re going to have to come out as they are doing damage to her body more to the inner workings and brain

That was throughout the film as she breaks down, so do the characters around her her clean, cut, rich, family, surely shows they’re worth an ugly side as they want her to be the perfect wife, even though they belittle her or never take her truly into consideration other than a show piece, which shows And her look which is more 1950s and 60s even though this is a modern day set

Her loving husband who seems to care and be sensitive to her needs in the beginning as the film goes long his mentality seems to deteriorate, and if he truly loves his wife, he never shows it as he feels like money can take care of every problem and he can’t be bothered to put in too much effort as it makes him look bad.

As he slowly reveals himself to be the villain in this film, though it seems more in his nature, as he is even ready to throw a fit over a tie being ironed. Austin Stowell is subtle in this role, he is mostly quiet,but you can feel his menace

Haley Bennett, truly show her skills as an actress and her star power throughout as she inhabit a character who can be confusing, but you can’t help but care about no matter what and who you truly want to save or hope in someway that she can save herself.

Definitely a movie that could be characterized by class and some might see as partly political also

The film is hard to watch as we see her constantly be betrayed by those around her, which stays a common theme as her problem gets worse. The only people who seem to be decent to her are more random characters.

This is a very chilling film, luckily not as hard to watch as one thought it would be. It’s still a hard film to sit through only because of the more emotional violence and a little bit of self-destructive nature physically.

No, this is definitely a psychological drama thriller. It’s sharp in its own ways, though not as cutting edge as the audience might hope. 

GRADE: B 

THE RUNNING MAN (2025)

 

Directed By: Edgar Wright 

Written by: Michael Bacall and Edgar Wright 

Based on the book by: Stephen King 

Cinematography: Chung-Hoon Chung

Editor: Paul Machliss 

Cast: Glen Powell, Josh Brolin, Michael Cera, Colman Domingo, Alyssa Benn, Sean Hayes, Lee Pace, Katy O’Brian, William H. Macy. Emilia Jones  

A man joins a game show in which contestants, allowed to flee anywhere in the world, are pursued by "hunters" hired to kill them.

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Where to begin with this one? First off, let me say that I am a huge fan of director Edgar Wright. Though I have to say this is his most disappointing film from a personal standpoint.

Though it is not his fault, but throughout the film, the only time the film seems to have his madcap energy and directing prose is really in the scenes with Michael Cera. Which is where the film feels fun and unpredictable. Which is what you are kind of expecting the whole film to be.

This version plays supposedly a little bit more to the original book by Stephen King then the previously filmed the version of it starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

I can’t really say because I’ve never read the book .

Though while this story seems like it would do well on the big screen I prefer the previous version of the film maybe because while not sticking exactly to its material it does play well as a satire Moore in the 1980s of what the future might be 

Whereas watching this version of the film, the satire feel somewhat dated and beat you over the head with a message that I think or would hope most viewers already enough and furthermore, this film just feels like it didn’t need to be made. It just feels like such a big budget Entertainment but yet it lacks the death.

Worst of all, even though Edgar Wright, cockroach and directed the film other than the Michael Cera scenes this film felt like it could’ve been made by anybody any director worth their weight as that is how uninspired the story and visuals come across it just all feels colorful yet basic 

Now don’t get me wrong the film is perfectly entertaining for a popcorn movie but again if you’ve already seen the original from the 1980s, this is just a retread that has been updated and seemingly to have more action instead of inside of a studio more in the world and the villain has changed from the game show host to the CEO behind the scenes 

Most of the major actors seem more like they’re doing cameos that were done all for the paycheck and we’re finished in a day or two, though they are stitched into the film and storyline to be major players

The lead played by Glenn Powell does try but this feels like a film that definitely needs a known star who has a history within the action genre so you already know they can pull it off whereas Glenn Powell is a star who is somewhat known but does not have a big screen personality he is more of an actor so this every man surviving comes across more as a concoction, and then letting the audience believe it also, even though his character is supposed to be this angry man full of rage and that’s why he keeps surviving. The problem is that Glenn Powell comes across as such an affable guy you can understand his anger, but you don’t believe that he has that much built up inside of him that is just keeps pushing him ahead. He just seems like your average decent guy now whereas in the past, that would work for an action hero to be identifiable here it makes it seem all the more implausible.

Now while the film is never truly boring, it doesn’t run a bit long and could’ve easily been shortened by 20 minutes as it feels like the film just wanted to give you more action and that’s really the only reason for the length of time whereas the story could’ve been told a little bit shorter.

Especially when they have scenes devoted to a seemingly satire of the Kardashians throughout, which seems there as alternative programming for viewers in the film to watch, as it is at least more innocent and less violent than most of the game shows that are presented as well as to just make fun of reality shows in general in the end feels unnecessary

Throughout this review, trying not to compare the two but also the introduction of a third act character who truly proves integral to the whole film feels random at best  and at worst like lazy storytelling that had to be put there because it was part of the story of the original and in the book. Has even as it seemed to pre-date AMERICAN GLADIATORS at least the villains. The hunters had personality whereas here, though they could be compared to ice they feel a bit more random and mysterious again, typical villain, who each seem to have a look, but only to come across in costume.

This one tries to be different and while it is much different then the original screen version and manages to set itself apart. It’s not necessarily for the better. When it’s difference really doesn’t help it and makes the co promised version we got, just a bit better. Even if it let the book’s fans down and not one of its stars favorite films. As he feels the movie is filmed too flat.

As by now there have been so many copycats, we borrowed from this story in plot and managed to do better and impress, and also do mean and go to the worst offenses of exploitation It’s pretty much hard to impress or top at this point.

It will easily connect with an audience with its anti-billionaire eat the rich message that runs throughout it that tries to play at satire that hits a little close to home for most of us

It’s quality entertainment as long as you don’t have your hopes up .

Grade: C+

PARTHENOPE (2024)

 

Written & Directed By: Paolo Sorrentino 

Cinematography: Daria D’Antonio 

Editor: Cristiano Travaglioli 

Cast: Celeste Dalla Porta, Silvio Orlando, Gary Oldman, Peppe Lanzetta, Dario Aita, Marlon Joubert, Luisa Ranieri, Isabella Ferrari

A woman born in the sea of Naples in 1950 searches for happiness over the long summers of her youth, falling in love with her home city and its many memorable characters.

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Director Paolo Sorrentino knows how to make things beautiful. He knows how to bring out natural beauty and what others might overlook this film, which looks more like a commercial at times with its images and characters, reminding one a film such as Terence Malik in this world there’s a visuals could be distracting , but also seem to be part of the storytelling as this film seems to more be about atmosphere and culture than anything else.

While this film is an epic in itself. It’s not as flashy as his previous films. As it is broad but feels a bit more modest and gritty. 

The lead character Parthenope played elegantly by Celeste Dalla Porta. which also has the name of the title was born in the sea. She seems to represent Naples, Italy itself, naturally, beautiful, and island separated from the rest of the world who either stare or wish to be near she must pay a price for her beauty as it causes Corruptions breakdowns, false promises, flirtations all around her as it tries to be itself, but at times can’t be selfish or all consuming not knowing its own power and strength and influence over others

The film provides many metaphors, but like it subject, it feels shallow and a bit too in love with itself as there is substance that doesn’t feel like it digs deep enough? As the audience takes us along its many paths. Though seems to get lost in itself. 

The subjects of the film, the director has explored before and deeper so much more so that this film that tries to be artistic comes across a little bit more mainstream, even with all of its indulgences

Gary Oldman is a selling point in his small role is writer, John Cheever, who you hope would help shape the story or being an interesting chapter as she would become amuse of his, but he seems more to help the film’s box office and as the only American character going with a recognizable screen presents Though seems more there as a memento or a devotion, a testament to the times

The lead actress is certainly beautiful and has a passing resemblance to actress Mia Sara she does what is expected of her as she continuously looks glamorous in bikinis and evening dresses, but through her journeys and some growth, you wish the film brought into focus more of the side characters like her acting teacher who shows up to give lessons, but truly proves to be nothing but smoke and mirrors

It feels like the film  MALENA by Giuseppe Tonratore as the film continuously focuses on her beauty, even when trying to show her as a full character whereas in that film, it humanized the title character, but we more got to see her from others point of view here the title character gets all these opportunities and meet so many influential characters because of her beauty and youth and constantly trying to figure everything out around her which also leads too many tragedies as she know so many

So that this film becomes a historic look at a beautiful woman overtime as well as the changing of the times of Italy that serves as a fictional biography of sorts. A romantic look back that surprisingly has little sex and isn’t as exploited as the directors previous films could be, but there does feel Like for all the access in this film. There’s also an emptiness to it.

Still a film to see, but not needed to be so lengthy when there isn’t that much to say 

Grade: B-