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

Smile Review

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I have two words, and they are SAY CHEESE! Smile is a terrifying, daring, and creepy experience. It is one of those horror films where I felt stunned. There are lots of jump scares, several hidden terrors, and little evidence to fight the horror. With Sosie Bacon and Kal Penn as doctors in a hospital, it is an excellent partnership to face the terror of Smile. Throughout the film, I was wondering who is next to face horror. I will say, however, the horror is airborne. Better hope for more resources and psychological aspects if the horror keeps getting warmer.

The psychological shockers incorporated with Smile is where the darkness unravels. One scenario leads to a death or an accident. Then there is a layout of cases that make no sense but are linked to the same type of scenario. The unraveling puzzles in Smile is bizarre. I even found myself afraid if someone were to have happy looks around me. Smile really knows where to find its label for its haunting aspects

In Smile, Bacon plays Dr. Rose Cotter who just witnesses a traumatizing incident with a patient. Her colleague is Dr. Morgan Desai (Penn). Morgan believes that Rose should take a break from her job working with patients to help clear her head. That is because following the incident, Rose starts to see disturbing images in her head, and it is taking over her daily life. The disturbing images are people smiling. That  is what her patient was doing before the incident happened. Soon, Rose starts to see even more harrowing images in her mind, and it is invading her personal life as well. Her fiancé Trevor (played by Jessie T. Usher) does not know how to be on the same page as her, as do many others. This only puts Rose into a deeper hole as her terror is coming closer to her. Time is of the essence to confront the horror in Smile.

The pattern of Smile is like patterns of seeing ghosts. The concept of Rose seeing people with happy faces, and the past event from her traumatic episode is where the pattern becomes invigorating. As that continues, the more the problems for Rose are unexpected. The film’s trail is a landscape of a pattern that is supernatural with illusions. I love illusions, and Smile sold me on its illusions.

The context of terror is accurate in Smile. The many happy face in the film is a symbol of what is meant to be scary. It comes and goes in many enthralling fragments. Much of which is awry. No one can escape what is to come with Smile.

Two words, and they are, BE AFRAID! Smile had me afraid. It will have many afraid. Some of the film may be predictable. It is in some fragments. It is not though, in every aspect. There is many surprises waiting to come around with Smile. Just be ready for creepy faces. Three stars.

Film reviews

See How They Run Review

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See How They Run is a mystery and comedy thriller that contains many fun cliches. It also has that comedic detective vibe. It is rather clever. The film is a mystery that is not intended for seriousness. The film is presented in multiple laughing fragments (while the subject matter is serious). Therefore, the film is more geared on having fun with the mystery, instead of having shock or suspense for its audience.

See How They Run is directed by Tom George. A director who has directed TV series gearing on criminality and laws. With his series Defending the Guilty on BBC, George knows how to make his character scenarios correlate with harsh scenarios. He knows the right quirks to serious situations.  He also knows how to have unexpected surprises with See How They Run.

In See How They Run, the film takes place in London. The setting is the West End in the 1950s. A movie version of an award-winning play is in the works. The production hits a pause when one of the crew members has been killed. The detective assigned to this case is Inspector Stoppard, and he is played by Sam Rockwell. Another detective that is still new to the field teams up with Stoppard. She is Constable Stalker, and she is played by Saoirse Ronan. With many associated with the production, both Stoppard and Stalker find themselves putting together the puzzle of who the murder might be. The issue though, is that there are a ton of people involved. There is Leo Kopernick (played by Adrien Brody), Mervyn Cocker-Norris (played by David Oyelowo), Richard Attenborough (played by Harris Dickinson), and many more names. The case is a tricky puzzle. The crazy aspect is, that many of the people associated with the production do not have the minds of a murder. Most of them have their own strange personality, and none of which seem to make sense to neither Stoppard or Stalker.

My joyful moments with See How They Run was the pieces of the investigation being put together. The realizations are humorous. Most of them though, are harrowing. In the harrowing realizations, its presentation is filled with silly character reactions. That is why I enjoyed See How They Run. It is a film with a suspenseful event; however, it also knows its characterization process in terms of finding its funny.

See How They Run is an idea of a film that is almost brilliant. It just lacks in some development towards its conflict in the film. Overall, though the issues are sporadic and has misdirection. Most of the misleading factors is where it becomes entertaining. It knows how to make its audience laugh and it also knows how to make them ready for laughing resolutions.

The film is fun for the mystery. It is also fun for the many curiosities for its audience. See How They Run is unique in its approach towards a crime. Does not enter it serious, but it brings lots of entertaining value to the table of events in the film. Three stars for See How They Run.

Film reviews

Blonde Review

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The new film from director Andrew Dominik is rated NC-17, which means that—unlike R rated films—no one under 18 can be admitted to the film even with an adult. But what causes Blonde to be NC-17 instead of R? Is it sexual content or language? Is it violence or disturbing content? Again, why is Blonde rated NC-17, and not R? Viewers will need to see this brilliant film and decide for themselves.

Blonde is the story of the life of Norma Jeane, aka Marilyn Monroe. Ana De Armas plays Norma Jeane. The film opens with many harrowing moments from Norma Jeane’s disturbing childhood. Gladys is Norma Jeane’s mother, and she is played by Julianne Nicholson. After the disturbing events for Norma Jeane at a young age, the film jumps to her life of glamour and fame, when she becomes blond and takes the name Marilyn Monroe. From there, Blonde is an intense exploration of the good and the bad times of this complex woman. Dominik does not hold back on the drastic facts or information, which may be true or not, about the wild and dangerous life of Norma Jeane or Marilyn Monroe. It is lethally enticing.

Blonde is based on the award-winning novel by Joyce Carol Coates. With intense realism, the film is a blur of many emotions. As the film moves towards the fame days for Marilyn Monroe, the unsettling backstory continues. With quiet, sad, or harsh moments, the cinematography fades to black and white. These black and white fading transitions are one of the most effective film techniques I have seen in a life story adaptation in a long time.

Marilyn’s acting contracts and her relationships are the most cohesive aspects of her life, fueling the many emotions of the film’s storyline. Her relationships go in chronological order with those relationships involving Cass (played by Xavier Samuel), Eddy (played by Evan Williams), the ex-athlete (played by Bobby Cannavale), and the playwright (played by Adrian Brody). With all the odd or twisted relationships, and her mental health problems, Dominik’s direction makes the characterizations seem very authentic.

Dominik is also the screenplay writer for Blonde, and his writing is faithful to keep his audience in tune with the new chapters or new events in Norma Jeane’s life. And Armas is the true lady to portray the role of Norma Jeane. She has the voice, the looks, and the aptitude. She also stays in character and is amazing in her role. Her performance is Oscar-worthy.

Blonde was definitely one of the best cinematic experiences of the year for me. I have not seen a director who uses technology as well as Dominik does to shift the emotions of his audience. Viewers will certainly feel sorry for Norma Jeane, but Dominik also makes viewers hope that there is still light for her. Blonde’s tagline, “Watched by all seen by none,” is one that is important to the dark and uncharted territories for Norma Jeane. The film’s overall message is that money and fame are not the key to happiness. To the contrary, they can be the key to dark places and, for Norma Jeane, the can bring disconnect from family, mixed up relationships, and abuse.

From my experience, the heartbreaking moments on a film like Blonde can actually create a sense of connection for its audience. And as someone who appreciates film and cinema in many forms, I loved so much about Blonde. What I truly appreciate it for, though, is how it proves that even for the famous, that there can be times of tremendous struggle. Four stars for Blonde.