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

Eddington Review

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Creative and domineering. This film is a masterclass from a director who can tango with true events and attach them to a fictional story. From the mind of Beau is Afraid, Ari Aster brings his audiences Eddington. A story based on a setup of the COVID-19 pandemic mixed with political class and surprises that test limits fuel a wicked grandeur of fun and limitless sensations. Aster  puts all his moments in one bowl which transpires into an array of different flavors. Some moments are funny, others serious, and certain ones blurry, which leaves the door open for unanticipated events.

Before going into detail about the plot and other spellbinding moments, I do want to mention that the film loops in the political issues faced in the world because of COVID-19. It also ties in the Black Lives Matter scenarios and covers the political fiasco of masking and other safety precautions. So, scenes in Eddington are insensitive. However, those scenes add fuel to the fire and help cross-examine anarchy in an interesting way. Thanks to Aster’s mind, there is no blind for joy in Eddington.

Eddington is the desert town where the film is set. The two characters of focus are a sheriff and a mayor. The sheriff is Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and the mayor is Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal). Phoenix returns to working with Aster after Beau is Afraid and plays an anti-vaxxer in this role. Pascal as the mayor displays safety concerns which range from masking to social distancing to eliminating anything that might spread the virus. Many patterns and habits that were common during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic are refreshed in the audiences’ minds in Eddington. I found this look back at history fascinating. Even though the pandemic was a hard time for everyone, Aster’s vision gives it a creative side with a suspenseful aspect to look back at. 

Joe, the sheriff who is very set in his ways, decides to take on the task of trying to run for mayor. Eddington is a world of political war in a small town. Aster utilizes the tension of real-life COVID events which makes this dark comedy irresistible and exhilarating. A lot of the film falls back on the performance of Phoenix—his personality is the success factor. Pascal’s performance is revolutionary as well. They are both the kings of their political views, and it makes Eddington shine with hysterical vengeance.

My respect for Aster has grown to new heights. Eddington reminded me of my nightmares and turned them into poetic portraits. COVID-19 made my mind boil and seeing it portrayed in a fictional setting felt like a form of revenge. “TAKE THAT COVID!” Aster takes realistic political scenarios and makes his audience feel the heat of the hard times while reminding them to be present in Eddington.

Eddington has characterizations that seem like they’re in comic-book form. Two other characters that add to the film’s intensity are Louise Cross (Emma Stone) and Vernon (Austin Butler). Louise is the wife of Joe, and she is back and forth in bipolar mode and unaware of her husband’s practices. Vernon is a podcaster trying to build a following based on his wild, yet ridiculous beliefs. The setup of Eddington is slightly satirical, but it leads to the best outcomes even when events fall apart. This film is a sensational adventure that has politics interweaving over obstacles. It is a rollercoaster that is lethally stunning. Eddington is one of the best films of 2025. Aster’s world of COVID is accurately portrayed and is bound to boggle minds and invigorate his audiences. Four out of four stars for Eddington.

 

Fathom Entertainment, Film reviews

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (50-Year Anniversary) Review from Fathom Entertainment

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This is a film that has spanned the ages and captured audiences around the world. The story includes good times and bad, both of which have shed light on a variety of psychological and emotional issues. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is five decades old and it still holds a life-changing place in my heart. I have seen this film many times, and I have read the book. Reading the book was a hard, but captivating read for me as I tuned into the words on the page and correlated them with aspects of the movie. There is light and darkness that interweave poetically in this film set in an institution full of troubled minds.

Of course, the movie is known for the mind-boggling performances of Jack Nicholson (as R.P. McMurphy) and Louise Fletcher (as Nurse Ratched), a dynamic duo whose ongoing boxing match has invigorated the film’s fans for years. Given the many events that happen in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, I always contemplate, “What is fair?” The film is based on the novel by Ken Kesey and directed by Milos Forman. It is a masterpiece intended to be produced on stage but that touched a larger audience on-screen.

While watching the film at a local cinema in the western suburbs of Chicago with Fathom Entertainment, I could feel that the audience was enthralled. There was laughter when anticipated, and shock and awe during many emotional moments, including when Nurse Ratched puts her foot down. The abuse of power showcases the wrath of uncertainty in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. McMurphy is the only one brave enough to challenge the system and prove Nurse Ratched wrong. But when she is wrong, she still wins. When that happens, the story takes viewers on a journey of questions and answers which lead to an outcome of tolerance deep within the narrative of the film.

Even though McMurphy’s character is a bad influence, aspects of his personality show layers of empathy especially because of his close bond with his inmates. His friendships with Billy (Brad Dourif), Taber (Christopher Lloyd), Martini (Danny DeVito), and Fredrickson (Vincent Schiavelli) form a special bond that makes the film encouraging. Even though all these characters have done wrong, there is a form of goodness and inspiration within the institution.

Despite all the frustrations, there is light for those seeking change in this setting. The changes that do occur are not just because of authority. The institution is a place of routine and structure, but through the actions of the patients, some of the rigidity is challenged. Nurse Ratched is always the one who brings down the positivity or catches those who are mischievous. Although her job involves laying down the rules,when she provokes anger in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, it builds the notion in McMurphy to rebel. This classic film still successfully thrives in its 50th anniversary restoration. Four out of four stars.

 

Film reviews

Ponyboi Review

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This is a crime drama that feels like a LGBT pride scene meeting Uncut Gems with the setup which includes a drug dealer, a transgender individual, and operations falling apart. Altogether, Ponyboi pushes the envelope to new and invigorating heights. Directed by Esteban Arango and written by River Gallo (also one of the leads), Ponyboi has a narrative thatfocuses on trying to find a way out of hardship and abuse. No matter what the situation is, there are inevitable consequences around every corner.

The shifting tones of hopelessness make Ponyboi spellbinding. It crosses barriers that most films fail to and takes risks with openness on LGBT issues. The story is an exploration of success and failure involving legal processes. Overall, it is a vivid portrait.

River Gallo is Ponyboi, a transgender individual working at a laundromat under Vinny (Dylan O’Brien). Besides being a staff member of the laundromat, they sell drugs and work as a sex worker to make ends meet. At the same time though, Vinny takes advantage of Ponyboi. Vinny is a Jersey-boy drug dealer who has a baby on the way with his lady Angel (Victoria Pedretti). Vinny relies on taking advantage of Ponyboi and uses his abuse of power to make ends meet to salvage his (semi) wealthy life.

Ponyboi takes a turn for the worse. A wrongful death situation with a client leads Ponyboi down a horrid road on Valentine’s Day. The times when Vinny has helped Ponyboi out becomes Ponyboi s nightmare. The film transitions to a place where the characters are consistently trying to run from all their problems. This is what makes it so enticing. The wrongful operations take a toll and the performances of Gallo and O’Brien test the limitsin this non-stop thriller that makes audiences’ heads spin.

When looking at the pattern O’Brien’s performance, I realized he has shifted his acting in the LGBT category. This is the second film I have seen in this genre. He played a closeted man in Twinless which I saw at the Chicago Critics’ Film Festival and had the opportunity to interview him about. Twinless will open later this year.  That LGBT film centered on disconnect and now this one is centered around getting rich. O’Brien’s attitude shifts dramatically from one film to the next. In Ponyboi, he is a gangster who is not be be messed with.

The film is a powerful look at hardship. With Gallo’s performance as the lead and as the writer, there is an exploration of livelihood being impacted. When bad events happen, many flashbacks occur which are essential to staying hopeful aboutfinding safety from irreparable consequences. The film is riveting, dark, and colorful. There is no easy way to explain what to expect from Ponyboi because it is centered around a scenario that may seem real-world to most of its audiences, especially those who identify as transgender.

The odyssey of regret and karma are combined as two key cinematic components in Ponyboi. Gallo navigates the road of horror and the struggles a troubled past. Also, there is an underlying conflict about a choice to be made, i.e., should they reconcile with their parents and go home. Consistent abuse fuels the opportunity for a fresh slate. Ponyboi soars with heightened emotions that are mind-boggling. At times, it made me anxious,because the pace and cinematography keep the momentum over-the-top. Overall, it is a realistic cinematic achievement with layers of emotions melded with a creative narrative that makes the heart race. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.