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

Drop Review

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The title describes the action I would take with this film. The setup is predictable, and the entire movie is filled with flaws. Directed by Christopher Landon, this thriller had ample chances for improvement, however the sloppiness kept the film from establishing any form of suspense for its audience. Drop is one of the most poorly written thrillers I have seen this year. Given the various puzzles and moving parts in the fight for someone’s life, there are far too many hats in the air to allow this film to succeed.

The film is set in Chicago, and is focused on a widowed mother, Violet (played by Meghann Fahy).  She is going on a date with a man named Henry (played by Brandon Sklenar). They are in a fancy high-rise restaurant where the ambience would be the perfect setting for an unforgettable date night. All that changes though when Violet receives anonymous texts and finds herself in a situation involving blackmail. Her date, Henry, and her youngest son are at risk. Many threatening messages continue to come through her phone, and she draws unwanted attention to herself. The writing tries to build anxiety, but the execution fails to produce the desired result. 

Throughout the film, the on-screen chemistry seems silly. The characterizations are a joke because their minds are not on par with the detrimental elements set up in Drop. One bad move leads to another bad move and one bad message sends another bad message. It is a cat-and-mouse game via text with no hope of achieving something more intense. The film is probably supposed to frighten audiences with all the eerie text messages, but that is an epic fail when it comes to Fahy’s performance. Overall, the time spent watching this movie created a mental roadblock that I could never get past. 

Now if there was any redeeming quality in this flawed film, it the dynamic that Violet and Henry have occasionally in some limited scenes. While their chemistry is humorous in the moments where Violet keeps freaking out at her phone, it is not really believable. The direction is simply messy and never improves during the entire film. 

The whole experience was a massive blur which started with the lack of context for why these threats are happening on a date night. There is some evidence of Violet’s harsh past and loss of her husband, but her history is not set up to correlate to other outcomes. The whole film does not have any big revelations. It just continues down a path that starts with a date, some eerie issues, an unlikely surprise, but all forgettable. It is such a poorly written thriller that I felt my eyes were sore as Ianxiously waited for the whole thing to be over. The credits rolling made me feel sorry for the long list of film and production workers who could have devoted their time to a suspenseful adventure that delivered more than what Drop has to offer. One out of four stars for Drop.

Film reviews

A Nice Indian Boy Review

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There is a feeling in this film that love and disconnect are connected through embarrassment. A Nice Indian Boy showcases bravery in the face of fear when trying to gain acceptance from family. Directed by Roshan Sethi, A Nice Indian Boy is an unexpected masterpiece that highlights cultural elements. It is an inspiring and fulfilling journey in pursuit of what a heart truly wants. The film is a one-of-a-kind love story that demonstrates resilience while dealing with boundaries. It features knockout performances from both Karan Soni and Jonathan Groff as the couple finding their roots to fulfill their happiness.

The film’s main character is Naveen Gavaskar (Soni), an introverted doctor that hides behind many closed doors. He comes from a traditional Indian family, has no social life, and is not very energized. He has a very loving mother, Mega Gavaskar (played by Zarna Garg). His father, Archit Gavaskar (played by Harish Patel) is quiet and passive aggressive. His sister, Arundhathi Gavaskar (played by Sunita Mani) is married and has her own issues. The film is ultimately about Naveen’s hope to find love in his family. His greatest dream is to have the perfect traditional wedding to the man of his dreams. 

The film’s journey flows freely and is filled with layers of meaning. The audience feels a sense of wonder for Naveen especially during his moments of loneliness when he contemplates changing his life. The lights begin to shine when he goes to the temple to pray.  When he gets on his knees, a gentleman prays next to him, Jay Kurundkar (Groff). This may be the man that Naveen longs for. Can he overcome his sensitivity and listen to what his heart wants?

When the hidden corners of love reach the surface, the characterizations and chemistry are dazzling. Jay has been adopted and raised by an Indian Family. The bond of shared traditions begins to create more revelations. The story reveals love in patterns. Their personalities and the stages of getting acquainted with each other and their extended families is where A Nice Indian Boy excels in surreal charm.

Groff, who I know well as detective Holden Ford from the Netflix series Mindhunter maintains a clever personality. His explosiveness, however, is in his facial expressions which make clear he is a talented actor. For his role as Jay, he was required to learn a limited number of lines from the song “Tujhe DehkaToh,” a musical piece from a Bollywood movie called Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. Since Groff is an artist and has much theatrical background, he memorized and recited the entire song. His ability to portray love is vivid and displayed in such a positive light in A Nice Indian Boy. Exploring the shared cultures and traditions result in classical fun in a entertaining fashion. 

Another important aspect to A Nice Indian Boy comes from the shy and irritated side of Naveen. Soni’s performance dives into a look at respect for societal class issues as he deals with the importance of traditions. Thanks to Groff’s character, he is encouraged to break through these cultural barriers.  There are several mixed dynamics and challenges faced that teach connection and self-acceptance instead of focusing on what others may feel about the relationship. The film about the mystery of love waiting to be unraveled is resilient, mesmerizing, and funny. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for A Nice Indian Boy.

Film reviews

Warfare Review

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Written and directed by Alex Garland and Ray Mendoza, this is Warfare. The film is one of the most astounding and instrumental portraits of how war feels. It blends desperation and darkness in ways that weave together the emotional and drastic side of being in a war zone. It is humanistic to the extent that audiences feel a deep personal response. Warfare is a hard watch, and at the same time it is unmissable.

The film focuses on Navy SEALS and features characters ranging from Ray (played by D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai) to Eric (played by Will Poulter) to Elliott (played by Cosmo Jarvis), to Sam (played by Joseph Quinn). There are other soldiers, however, the primary focus is on these individuals most of the time Warfare. They are in uncharted territory. The opening shows the soldiers going around doing surveillance, using scopes, and making sure they are ready for when an attack happens. When an explosion occurs, their mission becomes more critical. 

This film is based on a true story and takes place in one place. Accuracy is used as an element that helps to raise curiosity. The setting is a place in a world that is in and of itself mind-blowing, Ramadi, Iraq. The Navy SEALS based there are one of several contributors to stressors in Warfare. During each invigorating aspect or detrimental moment in the story, I knew there were other layers that were bound to boggle my mind. There was always another moving component swerving back and forth in my head during the time I viewed Warfare.

Since this film is an adaptation, the seriousness of the matters takes on a surreal sense. When soldiers are injured, the momentum shifts and the matter of staying alive becomes more crucial. Throughout the streets of Iraq, Warfare has many inevitable moments that practically made my blood boil. The continuity drives desperation to the most vivid level because survival is the weapon that matters in Warfare.

Garland and Mendoza know how to push the limits of combat. This is especially the case in situations when choices must be made in a timely manner.  There are no right or wrong answersonce scenarios burst wide open in Warfare. The film makes an impact and will likely cause audiences to have different responses. Some may be shocked, some may be mortified, and some may be blown away. I was all three after seeing Warfare, because it is one of the most chilling, aching, and cinematic thrill rides I have seen. Warfare displays action that can be anxiety-provoking when traps unravel. 

There comes a time to fight back and push adrenaline to the max. Warfare is all “adrenaline!” There is no holding back. The entire focus is making it out alive for all including those who are compromised. There is a vast amount of fear that can be dismissed, but there are lives on the line. The film’s key component is a cinematic jolt based upon what steps must be taken. It is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. Four out of four stars for Warfare.