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

Shelter Review

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I appreciate the many action flicks with Jason Statham in the lead, especially because he possesses an attitude of no empathy and unleashes all kinds of chaos. With his new film Shelter though, it was by far one of the dryest of thrillers. My mind was bored. I felt like I was watching paint dry in increments. It is not horrible, but the pacing is off. Shelter carries the fundamentals of an espionage flick with secrets, however, putting together the parts to execute a cohesive film keeps failing. There is a form of confusion that runs through Shelter. Where is the meaning behind all of the danger? There is little detail about why and how the events unfold.

The film’s main character is Michael Mason, played by Jason Statham. He lives in a lighthouse with peace and solitude. This all changes when a girl falls into his life and becomes his responsibility. Her name is Jessie, played by Bodhi Rae Breathnach. She ends up with Michael because he saves her from drowning. He tries to maintain a low-profile in her presence, because his history is one where there are many people after him.  This is where the pacing is in shambles.

Shelter maintains a strong suit of suspense. Especially in the dynamics of the performances from Statham and Breathnach. It was steady in moments, but overall, the film jumps to conclusions quickly. To elaborate, they go from a lighthouse setting to those who are part of operations of a spy organization hunt them—the solitude of Statham’s performance does not fit. The film opens with a man pursuing vengeance and works to make itself feel like some form of a James Bond movie. In the end though, it is just Statham playing his usual self.

Shelter jumps from authorities being tackled over to traps beingset in place, and continues on a rollercoaster of disaster action. Again, not horrible, but the pacing of trying to be mesmerizing or spectacular is not there whatsoever. The shambles of poor writing are above and beyond with Shelter. I was not sold. With that, my rating falls at two out of four stars.

 

Film reviews

Send Help Review

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There is nothing more daunting than having a boss that is way over their head. There is also nothing worse than ending up on the same island with that superior. Directed by Sam Raimi, Send Help is a film where The Office meets Cast Away. Quirky and boisterous—Raimi knows how to feature egos which lead tofearless suspense. Send Help is a unique gem. While it is not mesmerizing, the flow of unexpected surprises makes it funny.

 In an island setting where peril abounds, Raimi knows how to create hate and consequences for humorous effect. Between the performances of Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien, Send Help is a boxing match for power, shelter, and survival. Survivor kept coming to my mind during Send Help, because Raimi is keen on showcasing one-of-a-kind groovy and sophisticated nature scenes. This time he does it with an employee who isstuck with their boss on an island off the grid.

Rachel McAdams plays Linda Liddle and Dylan O’Brien plays Bradley Preston. Linda tries to go above and beyond, and Bradley is her new boss with a pompous attitude. She displays the go-getter personality, and he displays the belittling personality. Right from the start, he is not fond of her. As they depart on a plane for a business trip, they find themselves stuck on an island. They realize that working together is going to improve their chances of survival. At the same time though, desperation is felt down to the core. With two colleagues and different personalities, the dynamic is nature vs. power. Bradley wants to maintain the power of overseeing Linda, yet Linda is more skilled outdoors. Their quirky interactions are stylized with laughs and crazy scares, especially when it comes to hunting wild boars and limited resources from the land.

This film is like a version of Cast Away for Raimi…with two colleagues. It works because it is a scenario where there are no other options. However, the element of hatred between the characters is built into the film’s writing and leads to many trial-and-error moments in the performances of McAdams and O’Brien. It is well-done from a creative perspective with no boundaries given the unexpected tracks the film journeys down.

The fact that these two colleagues stuck on an island already harbor resentment gave Raimi a door to explore jealousy in route to finding common ground. The film is enhanced by the fact that it takes place in a setting where there is no one to voice concerns. Send Help is a title that speaks for itself, because no one knows when assistance may or may not arrive. It could be days, weeks, or months. The question is how much pot stirring can be tolerated.

The island dangers carry sparks of intrigue where the anger and hatred between the boss and employee dazzle in Send Help. The island is eventually treated like the new normal. One character is equipped with the necessary skills to survive, and the other is not. The role of McAdams is the smart one on the island, and the role of O’Brien is dim-witted. Raimi knows how to successfully make the two interact with messy and clever misdirection. Send Help is astonishingly clever with fuming tones of joy. This is an island adventure with no limits and insanity that is off the charts. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Send Help.

Film reviews

Pillion Review

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With quite a bit of buzz from the Cannes Film Festival and the BFI London Film Festival, Pillion is a film where love and connection are hidden, but it also contains a deeper meaning below the surface. I was visiting London, United Kingdom in late December of 2025. I knew of the title Pillion and knew that it has a release date to be wide in February of 2026. However, after my many adventures on the tube trains, and seeing the ads all over the tunnels, I had the opportunity to see this during my travels. The term “pillion” refers to the passenger sitting behind a motorcyclist. Harry Melling is “the passenger” and Alexander Skarsgard is “the motorcyclist.” Pillion is a journey of two men trying to find what their hearts wants, but their expectations are the complete opposite—a power of love narrative combating to find what love truly is.

The film takes place in Bromley and other regions around London and the United Kingdom. Harry Melling plays Colin—he is introverted, shy, good-hearted, and hopes to meet someone that gives him the loving attention he longs for. His parents are very supporting of his sexuality. They are Peggy (Lesley Sharp) and Pete (Douglas Hodge). Peggy has some health issues, and she prays that her Colin finds a man that fulfills his happiness. That may come along for Colin, as one night he meets a man in a bar who rides a motorcycle. Alexander Skarsgard plays Ray—he is high strung, mellow, and starts to bring Colin in his life. Once Colin and Ray begin to spend time together though, Ray begins to show different behaviors outside of what Colin expects.

The film is one that keeps its audiences thinking. Especially because of how it is focused on a relationship between two men. The fact that Colin wants to love someone and feels Ray might love him back creates a mixed message.  Ray has Colin pick up groceries for him, do chores for him, and makes him sleep in the opposite bed—Colin may just be Ray’s submissive. Is that what Colin wants? He is blinded by being with Ray making him feel that he has a community and a purpose. 

The LGBT side of Pillion creates a portrait of timing. There may be some good times for Colin and Ray, but is Colin truly happy with Ray? Does Ray have feelings for Colin? When Peggy begins to see her son is taken advantage of, she starts to question his happiness. Pillion is a film where love requires more than just loving someone for who they are, it also creates a claritythat sees that common ground is important as well. For Colin, the physical side of feeling warmth is seen as he is the passenger riding on Ray’s motorcycle. Beyond that, any form of connection is how Ray is feeling. There is no clear context to why Ray acts like this, but also at the same time, it does not mean he is a bad person. The display of his sense of shame or guilt is written in a context that creates melancholy that craves release.

The film is written as a dramedy where the chemistry is foundbetween the lines. Melling and Skarsgard are two forces that tango with surreal emotions. In a tale where romance of the same gender struggles to see eye-to-eye, the guide to life does not lie. Pillion brings fuel to the fire with the emotions of Colin as he continuously wishes that Ray would treat him differently. Ray can, but does he want to? The film continues to build a landscape of questions throughout this unique dynamic that it creates among these two men. Is it love or is it just a servant-type relationship? Overall, though the tension steams on and off the motorcycle. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Pillion.