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4k releases, Capsule Reviews, Film reviews, the criterion collection

All of Us Strangers on the Criterion Collection Collection

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All of Us Strangers, A Closer Look

From the Criterion Collection, All of Us Strangersin its 4K UHD format provides a welcome reminder  that there is always someone that cares. As one who  found  inspiration and love for Andrew Haigh’s film in 2023, the restored 4K cut adds a great deal for those who thrive on art and creativity. The life of a British screenwriter named Adam anchors the tragically romantic film. Adam is an isolated character, played by Andrew Scott (Ripley and Oslo), who finds himself in love with a man named Harry, played by Paul Mescal (Normal People, Gladiator II). Despite loneliness and fear, Adam’s connection deepens as his desire to feel love grows. The cinematography and lighting creates the solo factors to feel realistic and touching. There are also many featurettes that deliver multiple opportunities to go deeper into the characterizations and setup of the film.

Criterion Features

With loneliness and separation weaving back and forth poetically, these emotions are evident in the packaging of the film. With an essay by film critic Guy Lodge, audiences can read how to get a better understanding of how the personalities of Adam and Harry experience their individual moments of  lightness and darkness. What is also included is an interview with the director Andrew Haigh and author and critic, Michael Koresky. So much to dive into in terms of finding the light with empathy of All of Us Strangers. Ultimately, the biggest component is the interview with cinematographer Jamie D. Ramsay. That is because the cinematography throughout the film flows in patterns of mesmerizing grandeur. Audiences can grasp the idea of the new world they are taken into with All of Us Strangers from the Criterion Collection.

Purchase or Pass?

Haigh’s film is touching and mesmerizing, and reminds its viewers that there is happiness in  unlikely places. It is worth it for its format and its special features. That is because viewers will be able to keep looking back at moments of the film that seem deeper than other moments. It is an artistically vibrant film that will bring much cinematic value to its consumers.

Review is also available MovieArcher at the link below:

https://www.moviearcher.com/movie-archer/classic-targets-in-4k/all-of-us-strangers-2023

Film reviews

The Toxic Avenger Review

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The title has “Unrated” in it because the film was released in that mode. It went for an uncensored release, because if it had gone through the hurdles to receive a proper rating, its audience would be limited. The Toxic Avenger Unrated has unlimited violence and mayhem, but at the same time there are many clever quirks that are all just perfect. Silliness often has strokes of brilliance that I appreciate.

The film is directed by Macon Blair. As I watched The Toxic Avenger, the 1984 version came to mind because much of the hideousness still lingers throughout. The presentation is cheesy, but it manages to rise above this horizon which is comprised of a vast landscape of dry land, a dead town, and one man with his own problems who is bound to make a difference. A hero is still found in The Toxic Avenger, and he rises rapidly, but the green skin is also his tactic. The film goes full throttle with gruesomeness and payback filled with enthralling grandeur.

The film focuses on a dwarf named Winston (Peter Dinklage). He is just a man with his own problems trying his best to raise his stepson Wade (Jacob Tremblay). Winston’s life is full of bad news due to various illnesses. He despises his CEO, Bob Barbinger (Kevin Bacon). Bob is also a criminal leader with his accomplice brother Ritz (played by Elijah Wood). The Barbinger family leans on wealth and lies to fuel their own life of luxury. This all changes when Winston finds himself stuck in a pit with chemicals. Soon, his skin flairs up and he finds himself big, green, ugly, yet powerful. Hence the title, Winston is “The Toxic Avenger” and makes it his mission to save others. He goes after Bob and Fritz to save his own life as well as the townspeople they have betrayed. With the help of another furious colleague named J.J. (Taylour Paige), Winston goes on a rapid quest for violence and criminal-hunting to rescue the town from the lies of the Barbinger brothers.

The film is silly like a comic book with characters and continuity combining in comical ways. Dinklage is like a new version of Spiderman, but with a green gauntlet and ugly skin as his powers he still kills. There are a lot of quirks and quotes to go along with the film. The writing is vast which keeps the comic sense boiling in the minds of the audience. The dynamic of a town falling apart due to a family that has always cheated on the system is interesting. Bacon plays the role of a greedy entrepreneur well, and Wood does phenomenal playing a shy criminal.

It is a film of misfits that all make the audience laugh but also cheer for victory. Along the way, there are scenes with flying body parts, offensive quotes, and a whole lot of disgust. Thefilm’s repulsiveness may get to some viewers, but I love the quirkiness which both scares and humors. Three out of four stars for The Toxic Avenger Unrated.

Film reviews

Trust Review

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Celebrity life has challenges since privacy rarely exists. It also requires expert assistance in dealing with the media. The positives and negatives of star power swing back and forth in Trust. Directed by Carlson Young, the hostage-type dynamic was mediocre in this film, especially because of how it threw in despicable tangents. There were clever hostage scenarios and a clever plot, but the execution in Trust was full of major flaws. The point of view was not appealing, and yet it did build some momentum. Much of Trust was a blur due to writing that appeared as if it could have been quickly scribbled on pages of paper.

The film focuses on a young, high-profile actress, Lauren Lane, played by Sophie Turner. She has enjoyed many years of famebut finds herself in a scandalous bind with her co-star Peter, played by Billy Campbell. An unexpected turn of events leads Lauren to want to step away from the spotlight. Her assistant encourages her to go on a retreat in a remote cabin to escape the harsh reality and negative media around her. However, when she steps foot into her humble abode of a place for an escape, evil arises.

Then, unfortunately, the film begins to get cheesy. With the lead actress in a place to get away from the influencers in her life, some bad people break into her home. Darren (played by Rhys Coiro), Merg (played by Forrest Goodluck), and Marcus (played by Gianni Paolo) are all dangerous people. When the bad guys gain access to her Air B and B, Lauren locks herself in a room. While she is locked up and trying to find a way out, the entire film becomes about bad people (including her co-star) trying to find out what her worth is. At the same time, she is fighting for her own survival in the claustrophobic and treacherous environment she has thrown in herself into. All these scenes seem like a poorly done version of Panic Room. In this case, the film’s writing evolves poorly as the suspense attempts fulfillment. Instead of being fulfilled, I asked myself repeatedly about a wall or door breaking for survival which was not suspenseful either.  

This is one of the most aggravating thrillers and badly written suspense films I have seen in ages. Much of this was caused by the boredom of seeing a celebrity hiding in an attic setting the entire time. I did at times appreciate the tone of suspense, but the development fell completely flat. Silliness thrives and the film dies. This was a boring adventure with little excitement.Although I understand the idea of a celebrity hiding from reality because of the world we live in today, there was simply no justice in Trust. One-and-a-half out of four stars.