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

Misty Green Review

Leave a comment

Written and directed by Chris Rock, the world of Hollywood has a strong presence in Misty Green. The film focuses on a woman trying to get back on her feet after being previously famous. Rosalind Eleazar plays the character of Misty Greene who is a force of nature. Rock’s direction is both dramatic and comedic.  Misty is surrounded by good and bad influence as she struggles to find her way back to fame. The script is well-written and the story mirrors reality. 

The plot involves Misty Green trying to navigate her way back into Hollywood. Her experience is impacted by the irreparable consequences of past personal issues which makes it challenging to get doors to open again. The people in her life also cause her path to be difficult. Her filmmaker friend, Zach (Adam Driver), is addicted to drugs. Her brother, Jay Green (Daniel Kaluuya), is an ex-con. Misty’s best friend is Naomi (Anna Kendrick). Misty’s previous talent agent is Randy (Topher Grace). Rock also puts himself in the film, playing Jordan, Misty’s casting director. Some are committed to helping Misty, and some are not. The film is ultimately about the following Misty on her journey to a comeback which is filled with trials and errors.

Rock’s direction highlights how tumultuous it can be for people in show business. When striving for fame, there are always complicated dynamics in the industry, especially between those who are very famous versus barely famous . Misty is trying to achieve mid-level fame, primarily because her actions have landed her on a slippery slope. Regaining what she once had is not easy in Misty Green. The moving parts of her various conflicts makes this film riveting. 

I appreciate Rock’s take on struggling in Hollywood. Even though the film has some flaws, there are reminders that connections in show business matter. Misty is still recognized, but her image and reputation are impacting her ability to succeed. She is trying to land a role that allows her to reboot. Given scenarios from her past, she has burned bridges which add to her uphill battle in Misty Green. 

The film also explores the issue of keeping people close. I valued this conflict in the story because I have  encountered similar situations in my life. I have found that there are times when people in our lives cause frustrations with the limits they want to impose on us. However, we may choose to tolerate these people to maintain positive relationships and shared connections. For Misty to make her comeback, she must keep in touch with her agent Randy. She must also keep her brother in close contact, so he does not stall her. These relationships become a bit much and lead to various disasters which halt a clear path to glory. Misty Green has some ugly moments where despair reigns.  

There is one scene where Misty is trying to help her brother with his legal issues. There is another one where she is trying to hound her agent to help her land a part that does not feel below her. Neither of these situations represent easy processes. While she has fame and recognition, it is not on a level that makes her hirable in the industry. It doesn’t help that she often looks like she’s in the bag which she does about eighty percent of the film. She pops pills and snorts coke, believing those habits will help boost her positive high. Her bad habits only serve to make success harder to reach. Eleazar plays the role well and  performs with realism. Still, the film is flawed due to a number of repetitive breaks. Two-and-a-half out of four stars for Misty Green.

62nd Chicago International Film Festival, Film reviews

Wild Horse Nine Review-62nd Chicago International Film Festival

Leave a comment

The last film I saw by Martin McDonagh was The Banshees of Inisherin at the Chicago International Film Festival in October of 2022. Wild Horse Nine has gained much attention at a variety of film festivals this year. The film was screened at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival, the 53rd Telluride Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the 49th Mill Valley Film Festival, and the 15th Montclair Film Festival. It is also slated to premiere at the 62nd Chicago International Film Festival, the 17th Twin Cities Film Festival, the 29th SCAD Savannah Film Festival, and the 39th Tokyo International Film Festival. McDonagh’s writing makes for excellent festival material and creates plenty of awards’ buzz. McDonagh knows how to grease the wheel with tensions and unnerving conflicts that result in surreal entertainment that is twisted and vibrant. His fans saw a friendship falling apart with a dark comedic tone in The Banshees of Inisherin. Now they get a look at his approach with CIA colleagues in Chile.

John Malkovich plays Chris and Sam Rockwell plays Lee, two men working together as CIA agents. Their boss is MJ, played by Steve Buscemi. There is a bond of a friendship yet trust is on the fritz in Wild Horse Nine. The love versus hate vibe is written with much wit along the way, especially in the performance of Malkovich. His stereotypical character unleashes classy innuendos and pontificates like a master of success in Wild Horse Nine.

While Chris and Lee continuously work together, they both have their struggles. Chris has drug addictions and always itches for conflicts. Lee is also confrontational but tries to fly below the radar. The boundaries arising when the partners test each other are a revelation. When they get into conversation mode, they talk a lot about democracy, and the connections between countries and their cheeses. The conspiracies linger to full effect in Wild Horse Nine. McDonagh is skilled at combining layers that are laughable and at the same time maintaining a tone of darkness.

Chris and Lee encounter two students (Mariana di Girolamo and Ailin Salas) who fascinate them. They feel they are the only humans worthy of proper interactions on their CIA journey in Chile. However, the level of trust is not high, because Lee runs his mouth excessively, always relating subjects to himself and acting like he knows it all. Self-centeredness feels real in Wild Horse Nine. 

The film begins to take a proper shift around the issues surrounding Lee. Back home, Lee’s wife, Marge (Parker Posey), is a nervous wreck. She is always under the impression that they may be in danger. The chances are high that she’s right, but at the same time the enemies are quirky  and some possess a two-sided nature. Malkovich’s character is someone quite rebellious with an attitude. Given the combination of characters, drugs, and bad choices, the hatred is written in stone and leads to a bigger revelation. McDonagh has delivered another masterpiece filled with mind-boggling twists and turns. Four out of four stars for Wild Horse Nine.

Film reviews

The Social Reckoning Review

Leave a comment

Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, I went into this movie with high expectations. I am an avid user of  social media, posting regulalry on platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Linkedin. The Social Network sold me on the fascinating origin story of Facebook which also showcased the complex personal dynamics and egos behind the scenes. Even though The Social Reckoning is not directed by David Fincher, the compelling theme of legality is still mind-boggling. Jeremy Strong plays the role of Mark Zuckerberg and his performance reminded me of  Kendall Roy, his character from Succession transitioned. Except, this time around he is playing the king of Facebook. 

This film is based on real events which took place from 2019 to 2022. The timing coincides with the period in which Facebook’s leadership took over Instagram and other social media platforms. It is also set in the era when the COVID pandemic and the Insurrection of the Capital sparked lots of activity on social media. There is focus on current trends and real-world events during that time period in The Social Reckoning. 

Mikey Madison plays Frances Haugen. She works for Facebook and tries to get the word out that the organization has abusive tactics. Jeremy Allen-White plays Jeff Horowitz, an investigative reporter digging for a story on the subject of social media. The film has lots of scenes which jump back-and-forth featuring actual events in different years. Sorkin’s direction is one-of-a-kind because of the way he connects the elements that matter the most and that correlate with each other. Whether it is a story related to Frances, Jeff, or Mark—everything important comes together in a meaningful way in The Social Reckoning.

I found the way the subject of algorithms was featured in this film extremely interesting. This intriguing subject plays a major role in The Social Reckoning and audiences learn how events spark likes and/or comments which influence the algorithms.  Frances, Jeff, and Mark all experiment with algorithms. Mark also finds himself on a global broadcast dealing with Facebook’s safety policies. Strong’s performance is bold and impressive. He delivers a more intense version of Mark Zuckerberg than Jesse Eisenberg did in The Social Network based on his unique method of acting. 

There are repeated conflicts and the dynamics are potent.. Frances and Jeff want to keep flying below the radar, yet Mark wants his decisions to be final and never questioned. Much of the negativity is fueled by Charlie,  played by Bill Burr. He plays one of the legal counsels for Zuckerberg. They push each other to the brink. Bill Burr delivers some of his classic comedy punchlines in real-life situations in this film.  I have always loved Bill Burr’s live shows, so it’s great to see him in this film. Jeremy Strong and Bill Burr play men who subscribe to the hierarchy and are determined to never let their guards down. The fate of Facebook is the tipping point which leads to the cinematic climax in this movie. 

This is by far one of the best films of 2026. Taking audiences back to this era is a reminder of the challenges we have faced and the resilience we needed to survive. Although some moments in the film are less than perfect, the realistic storyline, believable performances, and well-planned pacing are inspiring. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for The Social Reckoning.