Film reviews

The Wizard of the Kremlin Review

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Director Olivier Assayas always brings in politics to create intriguing projects which feel either compelling or overwhelming. I have seen this the most in Personal Shopper and Clouds of Sils Maria. He is good at creating a narrative where the focus is on an individual becoming a bigger human. However, the outside world is where the layers of conflict interfere. Many moments in his films are bold and daring. The Wizard of the Kremlin brings in falling from power over success. The film takes place in Russia with a backstory that starts with revolutionary dynamics.

The film begins with Rowland, played by Jeffrey Wright. He is a journalist visiting Russia. The narration begins with him primarily covering the landscape in Russia where the dangerous territory is. The story expands when Rowland meets Vadim Baranov, played by Paul Dano. Vadim has had much success in the arts and producing movies in Russia. However, things get tainted when he partners with Vladimir Putin (Jude Law). As the film moves forward, the scenes in Russia travel back to the past. It goes through the times when Vadim had success, and he explains all of this to Rowland. Assayas’ direction is faithful regarding how politics operate and often collapse instead of delivering anything positive. The politics in Russia continue to evolve and lead to nail-biting. The Wizard of the Kremlin pushes the narrative, yet I felt that the storyline kept sinking from superb to the point where things simply fell out of focus.

This is not Assayas’ best or his worst project. The artistic value and realism simply do not see eye-to-eye. There was phenomenal acting, but the misconstrued ends are too bold. Overall, it is still cinematically enticing given his tight grasp of complicated subject matter. Still, many aspects could have been improved upon. I felt there should have been more historical background provided instead of focusing on the abuse of power to fulfill the narrative. Overall, two out of four stars for The Wizard of the Kremlin.

Film reviews

Hokum Review

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For the first time in my life I felt really scared while watching a movie. The haunting experience of is still vibrating in my brain. Hokum is a journey where surreal terror reigns. Written and directed by Damian McCarthy, this story delivers scenes where mental health and creativity clash. McCarthy has a vision for showcasing stress and life scenarios that take a continued toll. Adam Scott plays the lead role. I am grateful that I got to see him speak and promote Hokum at CinemaCon this year during the Neon presentations. Hokum is an audacious film full of unexpected delights.

Adam Scott plays Ohm Bauman, a book author with a mixed reputation. He spends his lonely hours writing and utilizing his deep thoughts to add layers to his writing. As he consumes glasses of whiskey, his search for a story is always on the horizon. For Ohm, however, finding the keys to his story puts him in a bind. After the loss of his parents, he decides to visit an Irish Inn. He does this so he can go and scatter their ashes. He also wants to dedicate more time to his writing in the solitude of the Inn. The whole experience takes a considerable toll on his mental health because the Inn apparently has strange, disturbing things happening in it. With a closed Honeymoon Suite and other weird circumstances, Ohm finds himself in the center of danger.

For Ohm, the terrors of his childhood rumble. His stay at the Inn continues to alter his mind to a point where his mental condition is seriously impacted. He develops a friendship with a staff member named Fiona (Florence Ordesh) and with an outsider named Jerry (David Wilmost). The sketchy employee of the Inn is named Mal (Peter Coonan). When Ohm begins to realize that different elements are shifting, Mal is always trying to cover his tracks. What did Ohm walk into? Was going to Ireland the right choice? What is he trying to get with his story? Is the trip even about his story? Did he walk into a new nightmare? The doors of terror open and slam shut in the most gut-wrenching and spellbinding ways. Hokum involves deep searches for answers and survival.

Hokum blew my mind. I was invigorated by the mazes presented throughout the movie and the weird angles of the Inn. Scott also kills it. His attitude as a struggling writer adds depth to the terror especially since he is playing someone unaware in the beginning. But then as evidence evolves, he finds himself trying to put the various pieces together. It is somewhat like his performance in Severance, but this time the things he is encountering are really happening and leading to inevitable nightmares. He cannot escape his unforgettable and negative past. However, his new mission is to find what he walked into and deal with it. He can still be a good person and a good writer if he can escape what he’s lurking in this nightmare of a location. Three out of four stars for Hokum.

Film reviews

Hekla Review

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This is a film that I truly adore. The Chicago setting is filled with vibrant, unforgettable scenes. The cinematography is shot in black and white with transitions in between moments. This is Hekla. Written and directed by Michael Smith, the film was also co-written by Elizabeth Stam. Stam is the fantastic star of the film. Hekla channels the life of a starving artist. It explores her trials and errors with consistency as it highlights her life. An intriguing portrait is painted of the reasons consistency and acceptance play vital roles in tolerating life’s difficult moments.Hekla displays an essence and meaning that is purely gold.

Elizabeth Stam plays Hekla Gudmunstdottir. She is an actress in Chicago that is always inspired to work until she lands a role. Through many auditions, life scenarios, and a frustrating relationship, the landscape she navigates is filled with turmoil. Wendy Robie is the narrator of the film, and her voice brings empathy and awareness to the rough patches Hekla is going through. Hekla’s personal vision is admirable, but the outside world brings her unsatisfactory results. In addition to limited success in acting, she endures an up-and-down relationship with her partner Tyler Hrabosky, played by Mary Tilden. Hekla spirals in an intriguing manner while facing these matters.

My admiration for Hekla comes from the way Smith has the vision of portraying the life of an actor who must accept mixed messages. The result is an individual who is always over-thinking. This is exhibited well in the characterization of Stam’s performance. Hekla imagines herself as a queen with a pink dress in moments that feel inspirational. Smith is wonderful at utilizing the senses which are triggered frequently in Hekla. During auditions, and when highlighting relationships and conflicts, a colorful sense of a rainbow is beneath the surface. The one-person narrative direction is so enticing in this film. I could not take my eyes off the consistency of Stam’s performance. She is truly a gem that audiences will admire.

The scenes in which Hekla is commuting on the CTA trainsallow time for reflection. As Hekla goes from audition to audition at a variety of places, she goes deep into her mind thinking about success and rejection. I felt a sense of solitude in those moments spent on the CTA train because sometimes those moments are the ones where the moving of trains can deliver value by moving thoughts throughout the day. The concept of channeling emotions is powerful in Hekla.

I thought about two important themes while viewing Hekla, i.e., persistence and presence. Both themes are tied with encouragement. Hekla’s life focus is acting. She wants nothing more than to land a project that is going to make her shine. However, with her over-thinking, that is where the problems arise as well. The writing often transitions to Hekla trying to figure out how to put her best forth in her auditions while also struggling with her relationship with Tyler. The challenge to remain realistic shows up frequently in Hekla in a fascinating way.

Hekla is an exploration of passions, relationships, rejections, acceptance, and self-worth. Elizabeth Stam portrays these components perfectly in Hekla. Every moving part of Hekla is written for inspiration. It is destined to become a film known for delivering artistic meaning and is one of the best Chicago-based arthouse films I have seen. The starving artists’ vibes deliverartistically and dramatically. The reels rolled with emotions that made me come alive. Four out of four stars for Hekla.

Treating cinema in many forms of art!