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

Moana 2 Review

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A sequel from Disney that keeps the positivity going through its musical scenes. Moana 2 is a sequel that has a lot of joyful moments and is a continuation where the grandeur of Disney stays on track. With oceanography flowing through the fantasy settings, Moana 2 still holds loving moments for families across the world. The plot of the film is just rushed more than usual.

Moana (voiced by Auli’I Cravalho) has returned. Her mission is one that requires her attention after a call to her comes from her ancestors. This means that Moana’s perilous adventures must continue. Her journey takes her to the many seas of Oceania where more restoration at hand. With Maui (voiced by Dwayne Johnson) in his own trap of struggling to escape, it will not be long before Moana and Maui team together again for many voyages in Moana 2.

In this sequel, there are more water sequences. It does not disappoint with its captivating technological imagery. The film thrives on the ambience of love and connection with both empathy and humor in the friendship of Moana and Maui. While the movie is only above average overall, it manages to fuel joy through positivity.

For the holiday season, Moana 2 is fun to sing-along to and make an empathetic connection. I felt the same way with the first film in the franchise back in 2016. Overall, the moving parts of this sequel are skimmed over, and the presence of the central conflict tends to be clouded by the moments of fantasy and wonder. This is a Disney sequel that will make bank based on its family values more than a plot construct. In the end, there may have been no real need to place emphasis on the plot because it is all about the musical moments.

The film has waves, love, and treasures. It has happy voices of dialogue from Cravalho and Johnson.  Their voices are where Moana 2 finds its most soaring moments. It is a joyful holiday sequel that does not have to be taken seriously since the fun is simply continued from the first film. Three out of four stars for Moana 2.

Film reviews

Gladiator II

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This is a sequel that still leaves moments to conquer. Through the eyes of director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II carries the weight of the Colosseum at its peak but finds itself ready to topple over. It is a continuation of events from the first film in the franchise. It has a settled approach that keeps a historic vibe of emperors and kingdoms at large. The conflict, however, is that it’s mostly about the warfare and violence than the plot. With an all-star cast, the heightened games go full throttle in Gladiator II.

The new opponent who steps foot in the Colosseum is Lucius (played by Paul Mescal). He comes from Rome and is makinghis footsteps towards redemption. Lucille (played by Connie Nielsen) is back after the devastating events of Maximus (played by Russell Crowe) in the first film. Lucius may be the one who stands under what Maximus has achieved before. Is Lucius destined for the games? In an era where tyranny is in the depths of Rome, the battles in Gladiator II have an eerie awakening. As expected, Scott knows how to label characters and establish their authority.

The Master of the Gladiators is Macrinus (played by Denzel Washington). Washington’s performance as one ruthless emperor with a pontificating nature aids the film’s consistencyin keeping the battles coming. The king out for positive glory on behalf of the greater people is Marcus Acacius (played by Pedro Pascal). Between these two hierarchies, the battles are what makes sense in finding who stands tallest in Gladiator II. With all the civilization and prophecy themes, Gladiator II cares more about the suspense in the Colosseum than finding a sophisticated the plot.  Therefore, the historical aspect in this film is lacking.

With Mescal playing the hero out for glory, he is a positive addition to this sequel. His character has a heartfelt and consistent attitude as well as kind-hearted spirit dedicated to a better purpose. Even though the context lacks during most of the movie, he still manages to provide some enjoyable parts. WithWashington promoting the ruthless matches, the characterizations of heroism for both the good and the bad tumble ferociously in Gladiator II.

Most of the characters outside of Mescal and Washington do not fit in this film. The two emperors who play brothers, Emperor Greta (played by Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (played by Fred Hechinger), cause the film to suffer. They are the most overrated emperors in a film by Scott. Their characters kill the film’s chances of being taken seriously. Gladiator II seems to care more about creating Hollywood buzz than creating a historic vibe. This is disappointing for a film by Scott, especially a sequel. He does well in the beginning, but then the pattern shifts and the writing before and after the matches hits frequent roadblocks. The battles are the best part of the movie, but not enough to make up for the other parts. Two out of four stars for Gladiator II.

Film reviews

Emelia Perez Review

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What genre speaks to audiences the most? Is it crime, comedy,musical, or a thriller? Emelia Perez is a quadruplet of each! Directed by Jacques Audiard, it is a film of a blend that I found to be instrumental. There is characterization of perfection and detail with the main characters. There is also a clarification of the film’s central plot. Emelia Perez deserves attention on the big screen over its streaming platform Netflix. The odyssey of depth is not the same without seeing it on the big screen.

As I have mentioned, it is one for cinemas, that is because its setup is theatrically inviting. The setting of Emelia Perez is Mexico. Its character of importance is a lawyer named Rita Moro Castro (played by Zoe Saldana). She is an over achievingattorney who is under employed in her career. She spends herdays working at a large firm, when she could have her own. This is where the film goes into a musical track of her elaborating on the curiosities to why she is working for nothing.

The film continues on the track of playing the musical card. The serious depths of the plot are continuously tackled by theatricsand moments for songs to begin. The flow of the film gets more serious when Rita receives a job offer. A cartel boss offers to help Rita get rich if she helps him get a sex change. The crime lord is Manitas Del Monte/Emilia Pérez-both played by Karla Sofia Gascon. Rita accepts this mission, and she goes on an adventure visiting doctors who perform this type of operation—a platform for the musical theatrics to combine the crime and comedy sides. Emilia Perez’s brilliance lies in unforeseen switching of gears.

The film though, finds its moments where legalities and family ties hit a plateau. Manitas Del Monte/Emilia Perez has a partner named Jessi—she is played by Selena Gomez. Emilia Perez has a clever eye for those who are trying to put a bad past behind them. Finding the truth is a mind-boggling puzzle, as themusical tracks and authentic continuity get drastic on a cinematic and surreal note of melancholy. It achieves this with championships of its combined genres.

The life of Rita and Manitas Del Monte/Emilia Perez is a journey of deceit meeting its maker in the setting of a culture that is vibrant, colorful, and extraordinary. A film where the viewer is moved by many of its fragments finding its paths via its theatrical and musical notions. The changes of gender open tochanges of many spiraling yet inviting factors. Emilia Perez is all about being blindsided. Blindsided by the notion that a new life could come easy. Emilia Perez fuels misdirection to the level of curiosity—there is always the thought of an artistic note along the way in the film’s journey toward a new life. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Emilia Perez.