Film reviews

Palestine’36 Review

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Written and directed by Annemarie Jacir, a profound surrealism is conveyed with Palestine’36. A film about a heavy topic that explores every angle for its conflict. The politics, the different religions, ethnic groups, regions—they all collide in a world of opposing obstacles. With the setting in year 1936, the stellar and invigorating tone is in the drama that fuels the fire. The focus is on the British Empire taking control. It does not put forth efforts to calm conflict down. The struggle is for power and control, and those who are innocent fight to have power as well. The writing is where the context of Jacir is spellbinding with Palestine’36, as it strongly imparts the theme of never giving up.

I was invigorated from the start of the film. It begins with archived footage of Palestine, delivering the message that there are unsettled conflicts–many of which continue today. The presence of hardship and lands in agony stirred my mind. The film’s main character is Yusuf, and he is played by Karim Daoud Anaya. Yusuf travels to the cities in hopes that he can have better opportunities, because his home continues to be impacted by conflicts. The British Empire impacts his people, continuously harassing his family, and everyone around it. The politics surround the Jewish and the Muslims and those closest to the center of Palestine where there is the majority of unrest. The unfairness and suffrage are surreal in their portrayal from the mind of Jacir. She is not afraid to present how damaging the hardship is to this society.

With all the unfairness of lands and politics, there is one man that sees the lands as opportunity for resources. That man is Thomas, and he is played by Billy Howle. Thomas consistently insists that the land should be used for its natural riches. Sadly though, this leaves him in the middle. With him being British he is linked to the British Empire and its interests. The faith of Yusuf and his family do not have high hopes with Thomas. He may be saying the land can be of good use, but that also means displacing or eliminating more individuals who live there. Ownership comes with a cost for Yusuf’s family, but so does Thomas and the teams he associates with.

The diversity aspect is one that seems to be two-sided. In a context that shows that faith is not strong with all that surrounds Palestine’36. It creates an atmosphere of chaos for good reasons because those who live on their land have their livelihoods thereas well. The big boss on British end of it all is High Commissioner Wauchope, played by Jeremy Irons. His performance is one that has a hierarchy that feels untouchable, as he goes by the rules of his regime. Segregation is the powerful component here. That does not stop Yusuf from fighting for land that is continuously shrinking.

A vivid and compelling portrait of the Middle Eastern setting is one that is just jaw-dropping. Faith and restoration find their angles. Overall, Palestine’36 is a film that may be hard for some viewers; however, it paints the portrait to not hate. It also paints a portrait of an understanding of why governments made harsh choices. Triumphant and exhilarating. I felt overwhelmed, but my faith kept being restored in Yusuf’s continuing journey in the film. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Project Hail Mary Review

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A breathtaking space adventure that will blow the audience’s minds. An audacious book adaptation that feels like a new world of spectacular elements. Project Hail Mary is glorious with vibrant motions and beautiful colors. The experience is best had in IMAX. Based on the novel written by Andy Weir, the film is directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. They put theirminds together and succeeded in making space look captivating. There are many themes that are hard to dismiss in Project Hail Mary. Especially given the focus on astronauts, the world in space is clearly different than the world below. In the end, the film comes down to science and persistence.

Project Hail Mary is aimed at a science teacher named Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Gosling. He wakes up in a space shuttle many miles away from home after being in a coma for years.His mission is to find a substance that is a threat to the sun. The threat is also a danger to the earth. Throughout the spacecraft he utilizes every inch of scientific resources. His life as a teacher is one of solitude filled with diverse challenges.

For Ryland, going home will take time. The direction of Project Hail Mary creates the sense that the space shuttle is the central environment. The cinematography and lighting have angles that make the atmosphere seem real. This film has the brightest and most shining space artistry that I have seen in a long time. The story and the subject of disconnect blended with science reinforces the realism of the film. The primary message in Project Hail Mary is to never lose hope. Faith does emerge in the adventures experienced in the story.

With scientific issues and other complex aspects being thrown into the mix, there is an unexpected element of surprise. Ryland befriends an alien-type creature who he gives the name Rocky. Actor Jamie Ortiz gives voice to Rocky. Ryland and Rocky work together to get home.  Their special friendship sold me. Finding a friend in space to travel with over many miles while creating memories was heart-warming. The confidence to make it home showcases the power of a wonderful friendship in Project Hail Mary.

Gosling is the king of space in this movie. He has a dramatic acting style which enables him to  play someone unprepared who is able to execute what looks to be impossible. Failure is not an option for Ryland in Project Hail Mary as he struggles through extreme hardships. Overall, this movie is a winner in terms of writing, science, and technology. The way it is presented makes the experience feel real. It is an incredibly audacious and vivid film that made me feel like I was floating into a new world of voyeurism. The IMAX experience enhanced the scenes in space and transported me to new world where I forgot everything else, but what was happening on the big screen. The vivid landscape was simply out of this world. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Project Hail Mary.

 

Film reviews

Reminders of Him Review

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Based on the novel written by Colleen Hoover, and directed by Vanessa Caswill, Reminders of Him keeps empathy and courage present. The foundation is established, and the film has feelings of disconnect looking to be rebuilt. The halting point is the life-changing error of a tragic loss. The film fuels its emotions through desperation spiraling. There is the sense that finding forgiveness is not in the cards. The courage to keep going persists. Some moments in the story felt cheesy, but I also felt a decent vibe through various parts of the film. As most know due to recent well-publicized controversy between actors, this is not the first adaptation of a novel written by Colleen Hoover.

The film’s main character is Kenna Rowan (Maika Monroe), and she has just been released from prison. An accidental error has caused her former love partner Scotty Landry (Rudy Pankow) to be die. Her life is blocked from Scotty’s family. His parents are Patrick and Grace Landry (Bradley Whitford and Lauren Graham). They do not want Kenna in their lives. They also want her to have nothing to do with her daughter Diem (Zoe Kosovic). However, Kenna finds a way to build a connection again. She becomes friends with a bartender named Ledger Ward (Tyriq Withers). Ledger is close to the Landry family and Diem and knows Kenna’s past.

The film becomes a journey of self-discovery. The direction of the film keeps the grieving prominent. Kenna tries to rebuild her life, but the thought of rejection is always in the back of her mind. There is also the fact that Patrick and Grace want nothing to do with her. Ledger is the only one trying to ensure Kenna hasa second chance. Reminders of Him intertwines the tragedies and the struggles which surround Kenna’s past and Kenna’s daughter. The pacing is appropriate. At the same time, there is a romantic dynamic in the mix involving Kenna and Ledger.

Finding love is the component of Reminders of Him that is all over the place. The theme is compelling and mesmerizing in the way it shows how light has the chance to shine again. Kenna wants to feel loved by her daughter, Patrick, Grace, and maybe even Ledger. However, the road to recovery and picking up the pieces are her hurdles. Kenna’s faults may stand in the way of her redemption and are the obstacles that linger in Reminders of Him.

Throughout the film, I felt the sense that refusing to forgive was very harsh. The backstory is tragic, but the facts and the evidence repeatedly get dismissed. I do understand that direction, especially since there is a fatality in the mix. Overall, from my vantage point, the concept of hate is too strong at times. Forgiveness is still possible, but I wish that Reminders of Him looped it in more gradually. I did not appreciate the pot of boiling hatred in this story, but the courage to never give up is spot-on. Three out of four stars for Reminders of Him.

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