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, Top Ten Lists

Tarek’s Top Ten Films of 2023

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2023 has been one wild ride of diverse movie experiences. I have seen countless movies, attended festivals, and expanded my horizons. While the biggest movie weekend of the summer was titled Barbenheimer (because of Barbie and Oppenheimeropening), 2023 was filled with many films that gave viewers moments to remember. The wide array of interesting movies required me to think quite hard before compiling my annual list. By analyzing the options from my role as a critic, those that made my list combined realism and unforgettable messages.

Film number one is Oppenheimer. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is one of the most influential and stunning experiences of 2023. Nolan’s technological and cinematic abilities are on full display in Oppenheimer. The performance of Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer is superb. Nolan’s use of 70 MM projection in Oppenheimer is invigorating and astonishing. The audience is made to feel like they are in Oppenheimer’s mind facing the many frustrations in his world. Oppenheimer is invigorating and it goes deep. The film’s pace is in tune with its cinematography which leads to a dramatic and spellbinding effect. The creation of the atomic bomb and the other struggles of Oppenheimer left me breathless.

Film number two is Past Lives. Directed by Celine Song, Past Lives is a humanistic experience of disconnection and finding connection again. Past Lives is one of the best films on friendship I have seen. It shows how keeping the friends we have known for a long time reminds us of what to be grateful for in life. It is a monumental achievement. The film is strong in portraying connections and memories, but also demonstrates how the past can play a positive part in the present. The story is riveting, the goal is moving, and the film itself is a revelation.

Film number three is BlackBerry. Directed by Matt Johnson, the evolution of phone technology is the focus of this true story about business and success. The development of the BlackBerry provides a riveting and stressful rollercoaster ride. The turmoil caused by marketing and sales is where the film has anxiety-provoking moments. Since the leaders cared most about profit and margins, they didn’t think enough about the risks. Therevelations in this in-depth story are intriguing.

Film number four is Anatomy of a Fall. Directed by Justine Triet, this film’s many moving parts requires audiences to think. Anatomy of a Fall is an emotionally realistic experience with an enticing vibe of disconnect. The story includes family dynamics and conflicts. These two elements create an experience of sadness, empathy, and hope while investigating a death case.The film paints a portrait of how far people go to help the ones who are most important to them.

Film number five is Maestro. Bradley Cooper is the star and the director of the film, and his performance shines with brilliance. The film will take viewers deep into thought as the film captures many captivating moments in the life of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein (played by Bradley Cooper) and his relationship with his wife Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (played by Carey Mulligan). Bernstein had a lot to live for, buthis life came with many struggles. Maestro is simply majestic in its stellar experience of grandeur and music galore.

Film number six is Saltburn. Directed by Emerald Fennell, Saltburn is one of the most unexpected visual experiences I have had in ages. The performance by Barry Keoghan is haunting and exhilarating. The story goes down a dark rabbit hole in a sinister direction which leads to many surprises. The director of Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell, strikes again with a thriller filled with shocks and awes. Saltburn is one of the most thought-provoking and daring films of the year.

Film number seven is Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. Directed byDavis Guggenheim, this is one of the most touching and inspiring documentaries I have ever seen. The story of Michael J. Fox and his challenges with Parkinson’s disease come to life in a touching narrative. An unforgettable journey that dives into the joys of Michael’s life before and during the many years of struggling with Parkinson’s. The message in the film reminds viewers to never give up. As an advocate for those with disabilities, I found the film mesmerizing thanks to the beautiful direction of this well-known actor. It is a riveting real-life story that speaks to many and will stand the test of time.

Film number eight is Killers of the Flower Moon. Directed by Martin Scorsese, he is back with a masterpiece starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. The film is unique and authentic after many years in the making. The murder-thriller brought mixed feelings and a load of suspense. The chemistry that DiCaprio has with De Niro is almost like the chemistry DiCaprio had with Jack Nicholson in Scorsese’s The Departed. This movie has a similar vibe, but the intensity is more mentally invigorating than the extreme violence in The Departed. Killers of the Flower Moon is relentless, thought-provoking, and truly dazzling on a psychological level.

Film number nine is The Holdovers. Directed by Alexander Payne, it is a comedy where a teacher must deal with helping students cope with turmoil at a boarding school. Paul Giamatti is the lead, and he delivers an impressive performance as the instructor. The movie is funny, touching, and clever. It is true toPayne’s style with meaning and empathy coming from some of the best narrative and most hysterical writing this year. The Holdovers has many scenes which will make audiences laugh,but the meaning of unexpected connections will leave a lasting impression.

Film number ten is Priscilla. Directed by Sofia Coppola, Priscilla is a true story based on the 1985 novel Elvis and Mewritten by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. The film takes its audience through a vast landscape of happiness, sadness, and confusion through the eyes of Priscilla as she endures her relationship with Elvis Presley. Cailee Spaeny plays Priscilla, Jacob Elordi plays Elvis, and both of their performances are superb portrayals of the heights of young love and the lows of dealing with the insanity that becomes their life. The movie is a dramatic ride at the finest level.

2023 was a strong year for movies with meaning. There weremany unforgettable moments and extremely emotional experiences based on a inspiring line-up of films. Finally, the quality and quantity of movies jumped up many levels after theaftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was definitely a year that made it worth going back to see movies in the cinema. I look forward to seeing what 2024 has to offer!

Film reviews

The Beekeeper Review

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The title seems self-explanatory, yet this is a film layered withconnections to bees and one who deals with them daily. A hidden element is that there can be mass destruction that awaits when bees get angry. Jason Statham brings on that fury in The Beekeeper. With an opening introduction of archived science reels related to bees, the film may feel like it is a scientific experiment at first. The story unfolds though in a direction of violence and fatalities. The Beekeeper is bee extermination with a twist. The bees do not get exterminated, the bad guys do as The Beekeeper goes on a hunt that is relentless and lethal leading to absolute mayhem.

In the film, Statham is Adam Clay. He is a man that is a beekeeper for a woman named Eloise Parker (played by Phylicia Rashad). Adam does bee projects on Eloise’s property. Eloise becomes the victim of hackers and all of her bank accounts are drained. This leads Eloise to commit suicide. Her death puts Adam on a journey of vengeance. He hunts down the company that scammed Eloise. The daughter of Eloise is Agent Verona Parker (played by Emmy Raver-Lampman), and she is a detective. She is on the case along with her partner Agent Matt Wiley (played by Bobby Naderi). They try to hunt down the hackers, however Adam is ahead of the game. He burns down the building where the call was made which led to Eloise’s death. The man who runs the whole hacking game is a wealthy entrepreneur named Derek Danforth. He is one of the heads of Danforth Enterprises. Derek is a punk, rich boy and money has always been his way out of his problems. His ego is out of control, but is it enough to stop Adam from coming to kill him and put a deadly halt to his hacking operations?

Adam states, “I take care of bees,” and he sure does. His words declare his faith to Eloise because she meant a lot to him. The film’s writing is true to the revenge genre. Derek has an assistant with him at all times. That assistant is Wallace Westwyld(played by Jeremy Irons). Wallace is like an Alfred to a young Bruce Wayne, but for the wrong reasons here in his relationship with Derek. He tries to talk sense into Derek however, Derek’s ego is still too ahead of him. Wallace tells Derek that Adam’s goal is “To kill his way to the top of the hive.” His lethal huntwill not come to an end until the ones who caused others to suffer will suffer themselves.

The Beekeeper kills rapidly and leaves a minimal trail of destruction. That is because the pieces come together quickly. It mimics the fascination of a bee hive, yet takes a turn into a killing spree. The premise of evil lurking is the main vein of the writing in The Beekeeper. It is an unstoppable and mind-boggling thriller that is different and pure Statham.

Statham is The Beekeeper, and he will not stop until everyone that is an enemy suffers. Irons is the one who knows the layers of meaning of a beekeeper—he knows the philosophies, sayings, actions, and how bad the dangers will get for Derek. This is a journey where the action is non-stop and it invites you along for the ride. There were moments where my mind felt that it was kind of predictable however, there was a revolving door of unexpected outcomes that managed to blow my mind. This is a different experience for a Statham thriller. The layer of having a fascination for bees created a platform for the damaging aspects and a rollercoaster ride of craziness. Three out of four stars for The Beekeeper.

Film reviews

He Went That Way Review

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This film is based on a true story. The film’s approach causes viewers to wonder what the journey is going to entail. He Went That Way opens with a narrative that is sarcastic and negative. It continues with a blurry and somewhat bizarre approach. Surprisingly, the film gets slightly more attention-grabbing as it progresses. The movie pushes the limits of mental stressors due to its blindsiding moments. Director Jeffrey Darling (who died on March 27, 2022) delivers a film based on actual events where the tension caused by heightening dangers is extreme. He Went That Way is full of unexpected surprises which make it quite entertaining.

The film takes place in the 1960s and features Jim (played by Zachary Quinto) who is traveling with his chimpanzee Spanky. Jim and Spanky do circus shows, but they have hit some plateaus and are struggling. While Jim is trying to make his way to Chicago with Spanky, he faces some financial burdens which only add to his mental frustration. His tension grows worsewhen Bobby (played by Jacob Elordi) joins him on the road trip. Bobby has been discharged from the Air Force due to his dangerous behavior and is involved in some crime scenarios. Once Bobby enters Jim’s car, he puts Jim and Spanky at risk. Bobby holds Jim hostage for the duration of the trip and threatens to kill him. As the trip continues, Jim continuously tries to negotiate with Bobby.  This leads to a detrimental ride of unnerving tension that proves irresistible in He Went That Way.

The road trip experience makes the audience curious about the logic in the story. What is on the other side for Jim and Spanky? What is on the other side for Bobby? Is Bobby truly going to put Jim’s life at risk? The car ride and the personality clash between the two lead characters shifts back and forth. The writing is strong and does its part to keep the audience feeling nervous about what may happen if things go into a downward spiral. With the turmoil and anxiety rising, I kept wondering who would pull the trigger. Will it be Bobby or Jim? Or will Spanky go into maniac mode? The three of them all have certain threatening traits which keeps things interesting.

I found the experience of watching He Went That Way exceeded my expectations. There are moments where it feels mediocre, but the dangerous parts are attention-grabbing. The film’s direction is anxiety-provoking as well as clever, interesting, and engrossing. With Jim and Spanky in danger, I kept wondering if the chimpanzee would go bananas. Or would Bobby? Who will have an outburst first? The suspense leads to a whirlwind of a ride.

The film is quite nerve-wracking because it consistentlyblindsides the audience. He Went That Way is not amazing buthas some unexpected twists even though the film’s writing is all over the place. Because I enjoy some adventure mixed with danger, I was enthralled. Three out of four stars for He Went That Way.