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

TAR Review

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The tempo is strong, there is non-stop excitement, and Cate Blanchett’s performance in TAR will blow her audience out of the water. TAR is a work of art that displays brilliance on many levels.

In TAR, Blanchett is Lydia TAR, a composer-conductor and first-ever female director of an important German Orchestra. With a focus on Western classical music, she has a ton of projects and new evolving talent to be shown to the world. She has an assistant named Francesca (played by Noemie Merlant), and a partner Sharon Goodnow (played by Nina Hoss), and she feels her successful life is never going away. Slowly though, issues begin to arise as her ego takes over her. She begins to reject evolving talent among the musicians. The social media about her begins to show some red flags, and she feels Francesca is going behind her back. Regardless, TAR, the accomplished composer and musician, does not stop to deal with her problems. She keeps going, and Blanchett’s performance takes the film to new levels.

The tensions in TAR are harsh, and the problems are realistic. TAR always needs be the hero. She never lets anyone in to discuss her errors or the other talents around her. It is all about her. And her self-absorbed mindset carries irreparable consequences, including an emerging musician committing suicide.

I was astounded by the writing of TAR. Blanchett’s character is honest, if flawed. The film shows how cutthroat many artists can become, and how those who are accomplished become more into their own accomplishments than supporting others. The question of the film is whether TAR’s career is on the line and, sadly, it may be. Her defense to being fired centers on her background, her fan base, her awards, and her tenure track. But will this be enough?

Director Todd Field knows his approach to TAR, displaying the actors’ knowledge, craft, and their egos. Blanchett’s role has a massive ego. Her performance is enthralling and she is amazingly concise with her tone of voice and speech in the film. TAR is directed with marvelous vision and, again, Blanchett’s performance is astonishing. TAR may be the best film of the year. It is visionary and daring, and I loved it. Four stars for TAR.

Film reviews, Music Box of Horrors 2022

Music Box of Horrors 2022: A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night

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The film is monotone, and its silence is surreal with terror. The subject of a vampire is deadly. It is vicious with lighting that is engrossing. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is a horror experience that is unique and chilling. Its structure is blending vampire horror with a western feeling. Its black and white cinematography is where the terror lures beyond many forms of direction in terms of horror. The crazy part about A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is that it is focused on one vampire. That individual vampire haunts the screen with unexplained tensions and dangers which are invigorating.

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night is proper in its pacing. The film keeps its audience on edge. The film contains minimal dialogue. That factor is one that keeps the flow of being scary surreal. As I had my experience with A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night, I knew there was darkness that was only going to become more treacherous. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night develops its characteristics of its individual vampire. Its development has chills and jump scares in the many unexpected fragments throughout the film.

In A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night the film takes place in a small town of Iran. One that is described as an Iranian ghost-town. A town with a generous amount of poverty, depression, and many individuals who are in a bad place. The solitude and sad life for many though gets a lot more harrowing. That is because the city has a lurking vampire. The Vampire is played by Sheila Vand. The targeted man is Arash (played by Arash Mandi). Arash is a young teen that struggles at home. He has a father that is a drug addict Arash suffers all kinds of emotions due to his troubles at home. When he meets the girl vampire, both feel there is a sense of light and happiness. The issue though, is that the vampire may not be able to prevent herself from biting. With her tendencies of craving people who deserve to suffer for bad behavior, Arash may or may not be a target of hers.

What I love about the film is all its form of noir. Noir blended with vampires is a catchy vibe and direction. It also drives the chances of fatalities from the Girl vampire. A Girl Who Walks Home Alone at Night grows its darkness as the lighting keeps its negative colors in many of its moments. It is unpredictable and exhilarating.

The moment that spoke to me the most was also the most terrifying I have seen in a vampire flick. When the vampire starts a conversation a boy that is creepy, and she asks him, “Are you a good boy?” My heart started pounding. That is because from there, I realized the vampire’s sweet tooth for flesh are bad people. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night lays out its foundation of who is to suffer from vampire deaths.

At the Music Box Theatre, this was one of the most exhilarating experiences I have had. It also had me festive wanting more scares. The Girl Who Walks Home Alone at Night will enthrall its audience with powerful evil. If there are fans of scary movies, this one is one that is essential. That is because it does vampirism right. Three and a half stars for The Girl Who Walks Home Alone at Night.

Film reviews

Amsterdam Review

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David O’Russell is a director who delivers unique and brilliant aspects to his directing style. With Amsterdam, O’Russell brings a strong narrative with a variety of characters whose backgrounds are genius, who relate well, and who add pros and cons to the film’s central conflict. Amsterdam also has an inviting, catchy plot. But my issue with Amsterdam is that it’s less exciting than O’Russell’s previous films. The storyline is on par with its conflict, but the presentation just seems a bit mediocre. Despite the mediocrities, though, Amsterdam’s narrative remains concise.

Among Amsterdam’s impressive lineup of characters is Burt Berendsen (played by Christian Bale), Valerie Voze (played by Margot Robbie), Harold Woodman (played by John David Washington), Milton King (played by Chris Rock), Detective Hiltz (played by Alessandro Nivola), and other big names in the film. Of all these amazing characters, I would give Bale credit for the most brilliant acting. And not only is his characterization and performance unique, but he does the narration in many parts of Amsterdam. Burt explains his relationships with many of the other actors, and how they all go way back. O’Russell shows in Amsterdam that he knows how to keep background as a steady focus while staying in tune with the present focus.

The time frame in Amsterdam is the 1930s. For those who find the film’s characters sketchy, many of the characters have an odd background, making the film even sketchier. Three of the characters— nurse, a doctor, and a lawyer—witness a murder, and they end up being framed for the murder. The incident spawns all kinds of political and other underlying issues due to the racism of the times.

I felt like O’Russell was trying to take almost a Wes Anderson approach with this film. His narration felt at times like a version of The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), one of my favorite Anderson films. At other times Amsterdam felt like a lighter version of O’Russell’s American Hustle (2013). And even though Amsterdam is less exciting than O’Russell’s other films, the much-detailed background from the narrative is vibrant.

So unlike some of O’Russell’s other films, don’t expect to jump from your seats much with Amsterdam. Again, the film has an inviting narrative, but it’s just not very exciting. It’s quirky, but not so much with the suspense or danger. In my view, Amsterdamjust lacks enthusiasm. Two and a half stars for Amsterdam.