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

Air Review

Leave a comment

Miracles can happen with outstanding revelations. They can also happen with monumental moments. Both outstanding revelations and monumental moments are present in Air. Directed by Ben Affleck, Air is a slam dunk hit that audiences will rave about. The era of sports marketing takes its nostalgia and 80s vibe seriously in Air. The sports talks and statistics are spot on, the game clock ticks, and Air is a winner.

Air is the true story of shoe salesman Sonny Vaccaro, played by Matt Damon. In 1984 Vaccaro managed to get Michael Jordan to sign with Nike. With Phil Knight, played by Ben Affleck, as the CEO of Nike, Vaccaro has to overcome many constraints for the deal to go through. Vaccaro finds himself competing with other shoe companies like Adidas and Converse. Nike executive Rob Strasser (played by Jason Bateman) does what he can to help expand the Nike brand, but getting Jordan to sign was key. There is also the jerk and egotistical sports agent David Falk (played by Chris Messina). He made sure that nobody with Nike gear got near Jordan, unless they were willing to pay big fees. Vaccaro can find a way around Falk though, because he is resourceful and determined for Nike to have a form of innovation and excellence.

There are so many characters with big roles in Air, including some who were enemies of Nike. Air is structured like the good vs. bad in a faithful and compelling way. Vaccaro says that he is “willing to bet my career on Michael Jordan.”

It was amazing to see how many steps Vaccaro had to take to get Jordan to sign. The copyrights and licensing were complex and difficult to execute. And just to see how Nike grew with not just sneakers, but in terms of basketball and other athletes endorsements. It is epic and audacious.

With Affleck as the director and one of the leads, he creates Air to be almost an encouraging Good Will Hunting (1997) reunion. More encouraging because Affleck and Damon are together again in starring roles, and here they’re playing roles in a true era over a fictional era. Good Will Hunting is, to this day, still a masterpiece, and Air is on the same masterpiece level as Good Will Hunting. This true story in a key sports era is truly the right fit for the Good Will hunting alumni. They have not stopped making fascinating and joyful films.

But everyone in the film contributes to the success of Air. Each performance delivers a sense of acceptance and growth for fans. Air will certainly make Michael Jordan fans soar with love and appreciation. And everyone will be captivated by the representation of Nike in the film. The dynamics of the sports marketing business truly invigorates Air. There is trial and error, and there are frustrations, but there are ways to overcome the obstacles and attain the impossible for Nike. It all comes together in Air, which soars as a champion. Four stars.

Film reviews

The Super Mario Bros. Movie review

Leave a comment

As a lover of video games and the Nintendo brand with its many consoles, my anticipation was high for The Super Mario Bros. Movie. Yay! I can’t wait to see a film featuring my beloved video game characters including Mario, Luigi, Bowser. Unfortunately, my expectations were not fulfilled. There is a fine line between nostalgia and faithfulness in a project based on a video game character. That “line” involves thoroughness, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie couldn’t effectively establish action scenes or find clarity. The film simply jumps into a mode as if the audience is about to play a video game, and honestly, it’s more of that than a real movie.

In the film Mario is voiced by Chris Pratt, Princess Peach is voiced by Anya Taylor-Joy, Luigi is voiced by Charlie Day, Bowser is voiced by Jack Black, Donkey is voiced by Seth Rogen, and Cranky Kong is voiced by Fred Armisen. All are great voices in entertainment, but ones who do not define characterizations of good or bad guys by nature. Everyone’s voices seem on the feminine side, but that is beside the point. Therefore, I will continue my elaboration on the plot of this film even though it is fairly dry. The representations of Mario and Luigi are just the same as the video games, i.e., two brothers who are partners in crime. In the film, however, they own a plumbing business that goes awry. Shortly after a plumbing mistake, Mario and Luigi find themselves in Mushroom Kingdom with Princess Beach. There is Bowser who is evil and destined to make Princess Beach his true love, but Mario and Luigi play the good guys who will protect Princess Beach along with Mushroom Kingdom. Overall, the plot is generic and bland.

I went to the movie expecting a grandeur of nostalgia. While there is some nostalgia, it’s not in the form of cinematic brilliance. I felt the movie suffered an absence in foundation.There is no real setup, a lack of writing, the action just happens, and the film is rushed. Although there are some cool technicalities, they’re presented purely at fast speed with excitement that does not rise to awesome. The films could use more “awesomeness.” There could have been interestingfascinations to make The Super Mario Bros. Movie dazzle. But whatever the film’s directors tried to do for its audience did not “dazzle me.”

The one consistent element in the movie that did keep my attention was how much it reminded me of the many video games featuring Mario and Luigi. There are moments that incorporate Mario Kart, Luigi’s Mansion, Super Smash Bros., Mario Party—which represent franchising to the fullest. This is also where fond memories of Nintendo reside for fans around the world. Many moments feature Mario and Luigi on their adventures through their various universes.

Still, the pacing is not in tune which results in a true mess of disorganization. In the end, the movie does take its franchise wonders technologically seriously and has some scenes of joy, despite lacking qualities that would make it a successful film. I give The Super Mario Bros. Movie two stars.

Film reviews

How To Blow Up a Pipeline Review

1 Comment

Eco terrorism is the compelling and lethal theme in How to Blow Up a Pipeline, a film where environmental activists break the law for their convictions. How to Blow Up a Pipeline spoke to me because I grew up with family and friends who worked around chemicals. The film delivers revelations that are harrowing, and a foundation that is even more disturbing.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline is about young activists who come together to sabotage an oil pipeline. The cast includes: Xochitl and Shawn (played by Ariela Barer and Marcus Scribner), who become activists because they feel oil production has negatively affected their lives; Michael (played by Forrest Goodluck), a disgruntled oil field worker who has been living in poverty; Dwayne (played by Jake Weary), whose family and property have been impacted by pipelines; Theo (played by Sasha Lane), who has leukemia from being around oil production; Logan and Rowan (played by Lukas Gage and Kristine Forseth), a couple who have been involved in numerous criminal enterprises; and Alisha (played by Jayme Lawson), who is along to support the effort.

Everyone in this film has the same perception that the world around them doesn’t care about how the pipeline affects people, and this is why they all come together to destroy the pipeline. But how far will they go while risking their lives?

As the film progresses it transitions back to each of the characters’ backstories, and it’s clear that their pasts fueled the political and economic conflicts associated with their mission. The film is set around Texas oil fields, the epicenter for the the eco terrorists’ pipeline operation. It is also the place where the political vibe proves strong for Xochitl, Shawn, Michael, Dwayne, Theo, Alisha, Logan, and Rowan. The vast dry lands can handle all kinds of damage, but the pipeline is the target to be destroyed. How to Blow Up a Pipeline becomes more politically chilling as it goes along. The group feels that the government just never cared about them. The pipeline destruction is like a protest, but times ten with the damage it can cause.

The environment is certainly a factor in the group’s decision to destroy the pipeline, but it’s more about how the oil operations has had a physical and economic impact on them. How to Blow Up a Pipeline soars with scientific destructions and suspense parallel to real-life problems. It is a ride that is unforgettable, dark, and lethally enticing.

How to Blow Up a Pipeline is a grandeur of science and environmental causes that has a voice of its own. It is a ride that goes in all kinds of dark directions. Its shocking and the outcome is inevitable. How far will the young activists go to prove their environmental and political point? What will the repercussions be? Will their reasons be validated? Will their dangerous task prove any positive point? There are many questions that holds the key to the mission of the film. Find out the outcomes in How to Blow Up a Pipeline. Four stars.