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

Blue Heron Review

Leave a comment

Contemporary and deeply emotional, Blue Heron is a film in which family dynamics contain matters that require deep-thinking. Children’s behaviors and tough love are explored along with the psychologically of various approaches. Through it all, the loving heart of a family still exists. Blue Heron is a different drama, because it captures what reality looks like when facing a bigger picture. The question of judgments adds to the complex components in Blue Heron.

This brilliant film is about a family trying to navigate life and stay afloat. The writing and directing of filmmaker Sophy Romvari have a deep essence. He captures the difficult aspects of parenting and goes to the depths to reveal the challenges of dealing with children’s concerns. The film has several scenes that demonstrate tough hurdles and messy conflicts.

The mother is played by Iringo Reti, and the father is played byAdam Tompa. Their children are Sasha (young Sasha is played by Eylul Guven and adult Sasha is played by Amy Zimmer), Jeremy (Edik Beddoes), Henry (Liam Serg), and Felix (Preston Drabble). They are a Hungarian family that relocate to Vancouver Island. The main issue in the story is Jeremy’s behavior. There are frequent moments when he causes harm primarily through lashing out and getting in trouble with the authorities.  Sasha sees the light and the darkness of her brother. She witnesses her parents working to get on the same page regarding how to move forward with Jeremy.

Blue Heron has an autobiographical approach that is just beautiful. It is based on Romvari’s own childhood. Through the vast areas of solitude and turmoil, Blue Heron has a definitive landscape that explores human frustration while searching for peaceful resolutions. Jeremy is in the center of the family struggle, but deep-down love prevails.

Throughout the film, Jeremy’s behavior is erratic. Some of the time he is mellow, but then at other times he acts out. When that happens, the clock starts ticking and his parents then must make decisions. Do they need to find him more resources? Do they need to be harder on him? How much discipline is enough to help cool his frustrations? The answers to these are unclear, but they remain persistent. Not giving up on family is the message in the film that feels most vivid. There are themes of heartache and pain and times when the parents cannot see eye-to-eye.

The exploration of behavioral patterns is where Blue Heron stands out as work-of-art. The film looks closely at the impact of Jeremy’s behavior. Not only the personal impact, but also on his family. Their desire to help keeps encouragement strong. At the same time, the audience knows that conflicts are a big deal. These are serious matters not to be dismissed. The element of support is written about with inspirational elements. The film dazzles with heartbreaking realism.

Blue Heron is a force of natural and cinematic nature about the potential for growth. It is a intriguing artistic ride filled withlove. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Blue Heron.

Film reviews

The Devil Wears Prada 2 Review

Leave a comment

Twenty years later, and the competitive fashion world is still bringing the heat. The Devil Wears Prada 2 has class. It is an enticing sequel in which themes from the first film are woven into something bigger. The dynamics between the mean boss, Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep), and awesome assistant, Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), are a knockout. I was compelled by The Devil Wears Prada 2 because the direction is original and the message has a purpose. The A-team of actors still glimmer with  glamour and success.

Andy has been working in the journalism industry and chasing stories. She finds her way back to a job with the fictional high-fashion magazine, Runway, under the supervision of Miranda. The compelling aspect to this storyline is that Andy is focused on finding stories. However, her stories may get ugly due to the rivalry with Emily Charlton (Emily Blunt). The two women were competitive co-workers under Miranda back in the original Devil Wears Prada. The fashion industry may be in shambles, and the luxurious world they live in may be inturmoil. Overall, the new film maintains its unique glory by creating a sequel based on many of the same accomplishmentsthat made the first film so popular.

From stylized dresses to clingy egos, The Devil Wears Prada 2 pours like an expensive bottle of champagne full of delights. Watching Andy navigate the complicated game of fashion and journalism under Miranda again is a treat. Thankfully she still has Nigel (Stanley Tucci) by her side. The amazing clothing and last-minute travels still speak to audiences. When the conflict between Andy and Emily gets going, the heat is on. The two characters continue to struggle with a love/hate relationship that viewers enjoyed from the first film. At the same time though, there are several reminders throughout the movie of how industries have changed channels over the past twenty years. This natural evolution was handled creatively in the narrative. Still, there are scenes that feel overwritten, yet the setup is still stellar. I was fascinated throughout The Devil Wears Prada 2because the film has so much to offer. I was sold on many fronts.

Audiences will find themselves curious about Andy primarily because her new priorities put her in places to pitch more stories. In the first film, she was dealing with Miranda and her wardrobe, this time she is trying to play a major role in the story about wardrobes. While Andy deals with her writing, she also must deal with Miranda (as her boss) and Emily (as her rival). The film is a glorious sequel. The personal connections and incredible fashion still manage to rise and shine. Three out of four stars for The Devil Wears Prada 2.

 

Film reviews

Mother Mary Review

Leave a comment

This film is like a fantasy where the lines between talent and reality are blurred. The artistic side seems universally magnificent. However, the pacing and characterizations are out of tune. Directed by David Lowery, he creates places of power and love and adds layers of a Kingsman era. Only Mother Mary is strictly female. There are moments of openness which express artistic talent, yet the meaning behind it is tainted. The film combines a mixture of various moments in which nothing gets accomplished. Cinematically wonderful, but the writing side…a flop!

The main characters are Mother Mary (Anne Hathaway) and Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel). The film follows suffering iconic pop star, Mother Mary. She finds herself getting together with her costume designer Sam. Mother Mary is on the verge of regaining her fame by performing. Her costumes and her appearance have elements that she questions. The film becomes an odd and bizarre journey of self-discovery. Unfortunately, I found continuity and creativity lacking.

The film has some imaginative dynamics. In Hathaway’s performance, she portrays a character who is pursuing her destiny by pushing above and beyond. In Coel’s performance, she demonstrates a persistent desire to compete. At the same time, they are both females with interesting creative narratives, and they adequately fit their roles. The dynamics of the film have potential which are not fully harnessed. Specifically, the cinematography and choreography are impressive in parts. The rest of the film…trash! It starts by using wonderful elements and then throws them down the drain.

I am trying to be positive about this film, but it is not easy. I thought the pop and dance stuff would lead to a Black Swan or Moulin Rouge type of experience, but it didn’t. What I got was a film where imagination and a comeback fail to see eye-to-eye. Hathaway’s performance of struggle speaks, but the rest of the film fails to comply. Mother Mary is a pop concert filled with confusion, silliness, and wasted creativity which never delivers. The film does have some scenes with very cool red lighting. In the end, they’re also a waste since this rest is so lacking.

Mother Mary should have built on the cinematography. But the artistry in the characterizations is some of the worst I have seen. I came prepared to appreciate the performances. It is a pity that they fall apart. Two out of four stars for Mother Mary.