All posts by Tarek Fayoumi…The Paterson of his Craft!

I am someone who strives to become a professional critic. I watch and review many movies. I view the eyes of movies as something as an art form. I have followed many critics over the years, but once I was thirteen I knew writing film reviews was going to be my passion. I learned from watching multiple episodes of Ebert And Roeper in my teen years, and then in middle school I began writing film reviews for a newspaper club. I am also an avid fan of the arts of Chicago including Theatre, Comedy, and music. Films, however, are my primary focus.
Film reviews

It Ends with Us Review

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This is a romance based on a book. The film is played out with feelings of love in a period of happiness during younger days. It Ends with Us is a title with several meanings such as disconnectand confusion which gives the audience something to think about. The most positive aspect of the film is that its two female stars are Blake Lively and Jenny Slate. Lively is the lead in the film, and Slate is in the supporting role. It Ends with Us involves falling and getting back up which is somewhat poetic. Throughout the film, there are a trail of questions that swerve and struggle to stay in their lanes.

The setup is around love. The plot is strongly set on Lively’scharacter, Lily Blum. She has lived a rough life of turmoil and abuse. Her name inspires her to open a flower shop. In the back of her mind, Lily remembers what it means to fall in love and feel a surreal connection. At one point she was in love with a man named Atlas Corrigan, played by Brandon Sklenar. Their connection made her feel safe. Later, she meets Ryle Kincaid, played by Justin Baldoni. Lily just wants to live a successful life and run her flower shop. Her friends, Allysa (Slate) and Marshall (played by Hasan Minhaj) try to be there for her. Lily continues to have reminders of the abuse due to the Ryle’s behaviors. How bad is it though?

It Ends with Us is clear in its patterns of distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy behaviors. Lily is unhealthy most of the time with Ryle. When Lily has Atlas on her mind she feels at ease. Their paths do cross again. When that happens, does Lily’s turmoil have a revelation? The positive aspect of the film being focused on Lily falls flat due to the tackiness of romance.

The film is built upon accidental moments. Those scenarios feel repetitive. This can be seen when Lily falls down the stairs when she has an argument with Ryle. After that happens, he tries to act like it does not exist. This may seem like a spoiler, but this is a pattern of repetition to expect in It Ends with Us. The conflicts keep trying to find fulfillment in a desperate romance which makes the film cheesy and predictable. However, it still has good writing, editing, and pacing which is centered on the path to happiness.

Overall, the theme of connection is what keeps being traced back repeatedly in It Ends with Us. There are moments when arevelation seems possible, but then it resorts to conflict andimmediate dismissal which is overly predictable. The romance vibes are not especially unique or special. Lively and Slate are great in their roles, but the film’s dynamics keep going awry.

With Lively and Slate playing close friends, I found magic in their relationship in terms of having a friend to talk with or figure things out with. Their friendship also paints a clear portrait that demonstrates happiness is possible. Unfortunately, too many scenes in this film lacking and there is too much predictability which is a pet peeve of mine. Two out of four stars for It Ends with Us.

Film reviews

Trap Review

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I am a fan of M. Night Shyamalan. Some of his films can be hit or miss for many, but all of them have are unique in his sense of directing. This was not the case with Trap though, as it truly repeated. If audiences have seen the trailer or TV spot numerous times, then the film itself may be a disappointment. I found myself feeling like each outcome was already in the back of my mind. The mediocrity of Trap is its layout—a concert with thousands of people and one target. That whole outline was already presented in the trailer. There is no misleading or captivating misdirection to find a joyful aspect of suspense in Trap.

The film is focuses on Cooper (played by Josh Hartnett), and his daughter Riley (played by Ariel Donoghue). Cooper takes his daughter to a pop concert at an arena type venue. There are thousands of people and all kinds of security. The high amounts of personnel make Cooper feel curious and uneasy. He does a lot of looping around in and out of the concert to put the pieces together. Apparently, there is a killer on the loose, and the concert is a hole for him to fall into. Cooper goes through all kinds of corridors to get answers. The question soon arises if he himself is the killer.

The stadium setting of the film is probably the point of scarcity. The rest of the film is a blur. There is direct dialogue that seems comical and witty, which does add to the fun, but not to the peril which the audience might expect. With Shyamalan being a man of limits and set in his ways, Trap has that approach and relies almost too much on that style to carry it through. The concept of thinking about a concert and a strange personality with Hartnett’s performance is the proper tactic where audiences will grasp the most from the story.

Questions of fear stroll through Trap. What if Cooper is the killer? Does that interfere with the concert moment for his daughter? Does that put others in danger? Are there other aspects of his personality that are hidden. The characterization of Hartnett’s performance has him in a continuously twitchy and nervous mode (this is also seen in the trailer). As I have said before, if audiences have seen the trailers, most of the film is kind of given away. It is just not unique as it searches for tactics of surprise for the audience. It would have been better to have more originality within the concert setup from Shyamalan.  It would have taken it in a direction completely opposite than how Trap progresses and falls flat.

One of the most dreadful (almost two hours) I have had recently. A film that felt like a long concert with no attention-grabbing dialogue. Only a quiet mode of Tetris trying to find an escape and survival. Trap is one of the least engaging films from Shyamalan. There are so many rushed moments throughout andalso many that do not seem to make sense at all. “Sense” in the direction of finding the routes for what may seem appealing and entertaining. Two out of four stars for Trap.

Film reviews

The Instigators Review

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Matt Damon ( left) and Casey Affleck (right) in The Instigators

A flick with a heist and troublemakers always has quirky misdirection when its characters are alumni of Good Will Hunting. That film is The Instigators, directed by Doug Liman. Matt Damon and Casey Affleck reunite for the thrill ride of many errors of spellbinding fun. The Instigators made me feel “instigated.” With all the routines of questioning behavior going awry and no end in sight, there is a lot in The Instigators. It is like Damon and Affleck revisiting their hometown in Boston, and their behaviors have gotten more dangerous since Good Will Hunting. It is not detrimental to show and is to make money. The Instigators will boil the screen of the comedic aspects of Damon and Affleck.

In The Instigators, Damon is Rory; Affleck is Cobby. Rory is an ex-Marine; Cobby is an ex-con. Rory has debt. Rory has scenarios ranging from divorce, child support, missed fees, and just debt piling up. Cobby is just one who needs to get his life together, and he feels he does not find common sense in his daily routines. Cobby’s time is at a bar at all hours of the day. He even fakes his breathalyzer tests. The hardship side of its characterizations loops in a conspiracy to have a heavy component in The Instigators—if it goes well, everyone goes home with money to help them get by.

The crime boss is Mr. Besegai (played by Michael Stuhlbarg). He assigns the game plan of the heist to Rory and Cobby. The plan involves Mayor Micelli (played by Ron Perlman). The robbery went wrong. Rory and Cobby are on the run after the failed mission. They are searching for places to hide. They stroll through the Boston area repeatedly. As this goes on, the feds are after them, and on top of that, Mr. Besegai finds himself in a pattern where he considers trying to run or hide. That is sadly more difficult than it seems. Especially with how national news takes over, and the city of Boston has tons of witnesses. The superior character to the feds is Francis (played by Ving Rhames). Francis has got the tanks, and the crew, and it is more than Boston could handle. The question is who survives.

The film keeps its momentum of rollercoaster fun. It keeps the misdirection of events turning into circles, characters questioning who to trust, and the ball rotates courts throughout the failed crime. The chase builds. The biggest twist is Rory’s therapist takes part in this runaway. The therapist is Dr. Donna Rivera (played by Hong Chau). Her presence in all of this brings in a layer of thought. There are conversations where she mentions liability, insurance, and her duties—how much damages will be compensated for all the typhoon madness in The Instigators? Liman’s direction always has a knack for selecting characters that are street smart. Not those who are book smart. “Street smart” works to the advantage of the title itself. The many rounds of car accidents and explosions are continuous throughout The Instigators. It is unstoppable in its tracks.

The Instigators is an adventure. It is joyful and entertaining for a flick with Damon and Affleck. It is silly in moments. The writing is dry in some. I enjoyed it, but I did not love it. I feel, however, that it is the right approach to tying in an exciting adventure with Damon and Affleck reunited once again. How crazy is the heist? How smart is everyone associated? Is there a cut in the money? Find out in The Instigators. Two-and-a-half out of four stars.