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Film reviews

MountainHead Review

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Written and directed by Jesse Armstrong who mesmerized viewers around the world with the HBO series Succession. Succession ran for four seasons and took home many nominations and awards. Armstrong’s powerhouse capability is to showcase his characters’ motives in business which often involve greed and morals. These issues are also featured in his newest film MountainHead. The setting is a weekend getaway for CEOs and corporate executive where there is much at stake to gain or lose. MountainHead made me feel like an avalanche of success or betrayal was going to be triggered at any moment.

The many wonders of MountainHead spiral amongst four friends: Randall (Steve Carell), Souper/Hugo Van Yalk (Jason Schwartzman), Venis (Corey Michael Smith), and Jeff (Ramy Youssef). These distinguished gentlemen decide to have a getaway at a high-end mansion in the snowy mountains of Park City, Utah. The millionaire’s dream home is outfitted with fancy fireplaces, a bowling alley, and a screening room. However, do these gentlemen want to have a weekend to party?

The stressors of the film start almost instantly. There are bad vibes due to AI technologies in Venis’ business, many of which take place overseas. Bad information spirals which has the potential to lead to all kinds of powerful impacts. The film’s writing is dazzling in MountainHead due to the characterizations of the friends’ relationships. For example, when it becomes clear that there is a potential financial gain for Jeff, Randall, Souper, or all, a line of betrayal and misinformation often follows. The envy and power at play boils down to one critical question…who has more to lose?

The film’s dynamic is bold since these individuals are successful and able to find loopholes in the system. I expected this pattern from Armstrong, because it is similar to Succession. CEOs take risks and executives deceptively go behind each other’s backs. Each move has positive and negative consequences. The legality of the choices will determine the outcome in MountainHead. Who will play the cards right? Will Venis find a way out of his corruption? Will Jeff use Venis as a means for gain? Will Randall blindside anyone? Finally, how does Souper feel about the whole host of issues? The news spirals throughout their getaway and MountainHead leaves its audience wondering if the men are friends or foes.

The film has a creative foundation that is amplified by the conflicts among databases and AI usage. The traffic leads tointense debates and theories among the four friends. Souper uses the filthiest verbiage, and Jeff leans on accuracy from the present outlooks. Randall and Venis view themselves as extremely intelligent. The competitive powerhouses weave together a landscape of knowledge that is irresistible. Media branding and individuality is at the center of the story in MountainHead. 

The fears, theories and anxiety as they await an outcome are all critical. As seen through the performances of Carell, Schwartzman, Smith, and Youssef, there is no clear equation to calculate what profits can be achieved or salvaged for these business moguls. The movie is like Succession on a weekend getaway adventure. When electrical output slips through the cracks, the media begins to rise which reveals weaknesses and sends cinematic jolts in MountainHead. The film is invigorating because it successfully mixes mental stressors and risks. Four out of four stars for MountainHead.

 

Film reviews

Karate Kid: Legends Review

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It was good to see Ralph Macchio back in the franchise, especially in his role helping someone fulfill a destiny. Karate Kid: Legends is a continuation that should have happened years ago. Directed by Jonathan Entwistle, he brings the dynamic of what shapes a team and provides mentorship to a new level in Karate Kid: Legends. After the success of Cobra Kai, the franchise focused on teamwork in a more realistic way this time around.

The most essential remaining aspect from The Karate Kid(1984) is consistency as taught by Mr. Miyagi. I fondly remember the late Pat Morita’s famous lines, “Wax on, right hand. Wax off, left hand. Wax on, wax off. Breath in through nose, out of the mouth.”  Sadly, he passed away in 2011. The legacy of patience as a virtue stands the test of time in Karate Kid: Legends. Daniel LaRusso (Macchio) is one of the individuals promoting success now along with Mr. Han (Jackie Chan). Karate Kid: Legends is a new universe with potential.

The new young warrior is Li Fong (Ben Wang). He moves from China to New York. His mom, Dr. Fong (Ming-Na Wen), hopes Li can dismiss his fighting as they adapt to their new lives in the USA, but the combat finds Li. Some positives do happen for Lias he forms a friendship with Mia (Sadie Stanley) who works at a pizza parlor with her father Victor (Joshua Jackson). As Li navigates new routes in New York, he realizes the chance to fight is just around the corner. His mentor is Mr. Han and that is who he learns most of his motives from. Karate Kid: Legends is filled with interpersonal dynamics that lead to a bond that is stronger than I expected.

Before continuing into details about the dynamics, I want to touch upon the fact that the film’s writing may feel like it is trying to be a blockbuster. Unfortunately, I found it somewhat lacking especially when it came to the pacing of the franchise’sbiggest alumni…Daniel LaRusso. Macchio is the gem of the franchise. He is a mentor, learner, and someone reevaluating his own combat. Kung-fu and karate have separate terminology, but they find common ground in their juxtaposition. When Li is about to enter a competition, he plans to go up against a bully/jock by the name of Conor (Aramis Knight). With much uncertainty given the various relationships, Li finds himself in the middle—trying to settle the conflict by competition. I believe this is where Karate Kid: Legends highlights the mastery of martial arts and persistence in a dazzling way.

There is no easy way out for Li. The world of New York is his playground, and he uses the streets and subways as his training ground for becoming a winner. The encouragement of champions is presented in a captivating way. Karate Kid: Legends is not mesmerizing, but the message it sends to never give up is a knockout. Three out of four stars for Karate Kid: Legends.

Film reviews

Bring Her Back Review

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This is one of those psychological rides that takes a new approach with layers of uncertainty below the core. With terror that shocks and surprises, it has treacherous backstory behind it. The sense of authenticity sparks incredibly, as Bring Her Back justifies itself to being one that will truly creep out its audiences and inevitably horrify them. It is not only the plot though, it is the fact that there is depth and pieces to put together. They are predictable, but the promising side of speculation is what makes it so engrossing.

Written and directed by Danny and Michael Philippou. These two filmmakers try to move up the ladder to new levels of excruciating and immersive scares in their continued projects. It sure notches up a few in Bring Her Back. To compare, Talk to Her correlates to Bring Her Back, but the premise has been twisted, they have added more truths and secrets in Bring Her Back. This is a guardianship scenario that is ignited with wrongdoings, and it must be stopped before it gets more out of hand. What captivates me with the Philippou duo is their forms of writing. They have a craft for creating fake or disturbing characterizations that are bound to be a lie—that is their key approach to creating their invigorating suspense in Bring Her Back.

The film centers on a brother and a sister, Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong). Their father has passed, and Andy is still too young to be a guardian to Piper, who also happens to be blind. They get paired with Laura (Sally Hawkins), a foster mom that delivers an eerie vibe. She also has another boy in the house named Oliver (Jonah Wren Phillips), and he displays characteristics that are concerning. Andy begins to see the dangerous side of Laura, who has an intrusive nature and is always placing blame on him. She is doing it to turn Piper against him. After the death of their father, the pattern of the house creates a nightmare portrait for Andy. He can see it clearly, but Piper cannot due to her disability. Did Laura kill their father? Why does Laura have Oliver in concerning patterns of behavior? Why does Laura have bizarre rituals? Why is Laura encouraging abusive matters? Laura does have a motherly personality, but the writing is on the wall of the lies behind that façade.

The context of Bring Her Back presents itself as a truth that does not want to be believed. The audience will not want to believe all of what is happening, and neither do the characters themselves. The juxtaposition of terror disbelief drives forwarda unique brand of a nightmare in Bring Her Back. Many of the characteristics link to wrong choices, a lot of which are from Laura, who loops into action to create a more detrimental experience for Andy and Piper. 

 Bring Her Back delivers imagery that is hard to get out of viewers’ heads. Without giving away spoilers, I will say do not watch the film on a full stomach. It may leave some aching moments, however, it is also surreal, invigorating and inviting. Three out of four stars for Bring Her Back.