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Film reviews

Problemista Review

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This is a one-of-a kind creative film with loads of artistic value. Writer/director Julio Torres is also the lead and audiences will enjoy falling into his invigorating world in Problemista. Time is of the essence in this surrealist experience that is attention-grabbing. Problemista addresses real-life struggles and exploresmoments of desperation but leaves a trail of hope. The film is an immersive tale of wonders that succeeds thanks to the innovative direction and performance of Torres.

In Problemista, Torres plays Alejandro, an individual doing what he can to make ends meet as a toy designer. Alejandro comes from El Salvador and keeps hitting plateaus with the opportunities he is pursuing. The harsh world of rejection is very frustrating in Problemista. However, Alejandro gets a chance when he meets Elizabeth, played by Tilda Swinton. She is an inspired artist with a wild and egotistical sense of humor who serves as aa role model for Alejandro. She is also the one person who may be able to help Alejandro overcome his work visa conflict while also finding ways to approach his career path.

The scenes in Problemista are colorful. The writing has anaudacity of grandeur that is deep within the narration of the film. Isabella Rossellini is the narrator, and her voice has a tone which fuels the audiences’ faith in the artistic life of someone who has grown desperate. Problemista is revolutionary and engrossing. It is a portrait of the bigger picture of an artist trying to find work in a difficult field. 

The story provides context which helps demonstrate how who you know in a complex job arena can make all the difference when it comes to landing a job or an opportunity. Alejandro has limits due to his work visa and New York is a complicated and costly city to navigate.  Alejandro must stay close to Elizabeth and keep sucking up her in order toimprove his status and chances of growth and employment.

As someone who loves the arts, the story of Alejandro’s struggles enthralled and moved me. Problemista offered a landscape that caused many questions to come to my mind. Is Alejandro’s art repetitive? Are Alejandro’s ideas not in-demand? Is Alejandro’s voice enticing enough to pitch to the level it needs for fulfillment? While Alejandro’s works to complete his tasks, Elizabeth proves overwhelming for him to work with. Although she provides needed benefits. She provides the benefit of consistency so that Alejandro has someone to fall back on when he hits plateaus with his visa and art projects. Will Elizabeth remain true to Alejandro? Problemista offers a realistic look into an arena where the right voices and connections to the right people truly count. 

There is a long road of irritations for an individual who is hopento broaden his path into something more worthwhile. Problemista shows how tolerance and perseverance matter.Alejandro is destined to find his dream, and Elizabeth is his guide to that. Does art eventually lead to bigger aspirations? Find out in Problemista. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Drive-Away Dolls Review

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Drive-Away Dolls, a film by Ethan Coen in his solo directorial debut, has a bizarre setup with tons of weird moving parts and, unfortunately, a plot that is not executed properly. It tries to be funny and clever, but neither element comes through in the film’s writing or structure. It’s also supposed to be suspenseful with laughter, but it devolves into turmoil, and the dynamics among the characters is simply a mess.

Drive-Away Dolls focuses on a girl named Jamie, played by Margaret Qualley. Jamie is lesbian and she is getting over a break-up with a girlfriend. She feels the need for an escape, and she gets together with her friend Marian, played by Geraldine Viswanathan, to make that happen. Jamie is more of the party-type and is into voyeurism, while Marian is a lot more introverted. Jamie is about finding sex parties with other women, and she wants Marian to join her. They sign up for a “drive-away” car service to take a client’s car to Tallahassee, but they get the wrong car. Unbeknownst to Jamie and Marian the car they’re driving has a briefcase in the trunk containing some “valuable” items, and this mistake puts them in the path of many criminals, including Arliss (played by Joey Slotnick) and Flint (played by C.J. Wilson), and a criminal boss known as “The Chief” (played by Colman Domingo). There is also a character named Gary Channel (played by Matt Damon), who is a United States senator.

There actually are many suspenseful moments in Drive-Away Dolls, and many that have the potential to be hysterical if done properly, but the film is just dreadfully written. Like other Coen films, its pacing is dark and narrative has cues for laughter. But this one is a blur, and the laughs never come. 

The film is set in 1999, a year when I was a young man, and it did have me thinking about good times back in the day. I felt that the film was spot on in picking up the social vibes of that time. But not much else was executed well. The film attempts to be funny with its explicit sexual moments. These scenes are not necessarily offensive, but the context of the film is undefined and much of the premise made no sense, including the road trip, the ridiculous items that were supposed to be of such value, and criminals who seemed to not have a clue what they are doing. Although I’ll admit that the many absent-minded characters may be the only mildly entertaining aspect of the film.

Drive-Away Dolls is a suspense film with no thrills, and it has a foundation and dynamics that are pure confusion. There were a number of what I would call “Coen moments”, but the writing on this one is completely out of focus. The setting of 1999 adds some interest, but not much class, and at times seems to actually add to the confusion. Is Drive-Away Dolls supposed to be a love story, or an escape story? I couldn’t tell. There may have been times to laugh in the film, but it was too disorganized to know when those times were. I did find many moments, however, where I was wondering whether the film was worthy of my time. Two out four stars for Drive-Away Dolls.

Film reviews

Spaceman Review

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This is a space adventure that is not a normal space movie. Spaceman dives into the world of lost connection. Directed by John Renck, Spaceman explores the unsettling notion of loneliness and boredom while an astronaut is solo in space and deep in thought. Spaceman causes its audience to think deeply about how that individual is feeling. I was mesmerized by the film’s stunning cinematography that heightened the emotions that flow through the film’s narrative.

Spaceman focuses on an astronaut, Jakob Prochazka (played by Adam Sandler). Jakob is alone in space, but famous back home on Earth. His fame comes from the fact that he is from the Czech countryside and is the country’s first astronaut. He is on his way to do research on a mission in Venus. Back home, however, there is conflict with his wife Lenka (played by Carrey Mulligan). Jakob has not made his wife a priority, because he was focused on his life as an astronaut. Based upon Jakob’s background which involves a tainted relationship with his father,a Communist informer, he feels he needs to prioritize his mission…no matter the costs.

Jakob is in space to research ancient dust. His assistant Peter (played by Kunal Navyar) communicates with Jakob about anything aboard the spacecraft. Jakob’s knowledgeable colleague is Commissioner Tuma (played by Isabella Rossellini). Lenka, Peter, and Commissioner Tuma are all back on Earth. Jakob’s solitude causes him to have deep and dramatic thoughts. All his thinking begins to shift when a giant alien spider comes aboard with him. Jakob names the creature Hanus (voiced by Paul Dano). Once Jakob is with Hanus, Hanus helps guide his thinking and helps him realize how he can be a better person. The bond between Jakob and Hanus is one of empathy and compassion—two friends alone in space examining life far away.

Hanus becomes Jakob’s savior and allows him to be fulfilled. As Hanus says, “Perhaps my presence can lessen your solitude,” Spaceman transitions into a world of revelations as Jakob discovers truths which help bring him happiness once the mission in space is accomplished. As The film alternates between life on Earth and life in space with details that are in-depth and compelling.

The thorough exploration of feelings in Spaceman and their impact left me breathless. The performances of both Sandler and Mulligan are knockouts. Dano delivers the voice of wisdom as the creature companion in the film. The dynamic of mixed relationships with mentorship from Hanus creates a space odyssey in which sadness find a purpose. Will Jakob make things right with Lenka when he returns home? Do Jakob’s accomplishments make him feel important? Is Hanus there to encourage Jakob? There is the saying in the film that goes, “I have lived a life for all the wrong reasons.” From the film’s point-of-view seen through auteur direction, those reasons should not mean giving up.

With all the doubts, trials, and errors, Spaceman is a poetic deliverance. The friendship of Jakob and Hanus is like the Wilson connection from Cast Away. The astronaut loves the creature as much as Tom Hanks loved the Wilson ball. Spaceman beautifully portrays solitude and the desperation to have friendship and company. With the scenes of hardship and sadness so amazingly directed, Spaceman hit close to home for me. It made reflect upon how the past cannot be undone but there is still hope for things to be better in the present and the future. Will Jakob truly find love with Lenka after his mission? Find out in Spaceman. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.