Category Archives: Film reviews

Film reviews

Oh, Hi! Review

Leave a comment

Romance and a relationship finding itself to be sabotaged are the themes in this fling of a romcom.  This is Oh, Hi!. Written and directed by Sophie Brooks, she creates turmoil in relationship direction that tries hard to find common ground. Deep below the surface though, there is uncharted territory to be navigated in a friendship that is hard to bear. It follows one relationship assumed to be serious with an odd turn that brings the film into a context of curiousness. Why is there a lie in a relationship? Why does a romantic plan have bad news at the most unexpected time?

Its main characters are Isaac (Logan Lerman) and Iris (Molly Gordon). A couple on a getaway at a cabin. A rendezvous type of adventure. One with some weird moving parts right from the beginning. Especially with the fact that an apple stand is knocked over accidentally in route for the trip. Once Isaac and Iris arrive, they show up and are in their lovie dovie mode. However, all the romance and connection all tend to be flawed. 

Even though they appear to be a strong couple, Isaac tells Iris he does not want anything serious. This leaves her in the mood to keep him locked to bed. Yes, a rather strange setup in navigating the situation. It is like a foreplay comedy trying to get truth be admitted in the form of writing lies in terms of how some may feel when dishonesty is hidden. Iris continually tries to play mind games with Isaac to get his mind and perspective to change—desperation in love is the thriving tone here.

The writing is creative in building a scenario of figuring individuals out. Especially with Iris continuously trying to look appealing while Logan is tied to a bed. She treats him like a slave but in the tone of being polite and all. That is where there is mediocrity. More just because many times audiences will wonder when the cuffs come off. This is where psychotic behaviors begin to get out of hand. It is both funny and haunting. Especially with the fact that it is all displayed in such a quirky light. Romance cannot be true via tying someone up.

If I had to elaborate, I felt a lot of the context was more around young love finding fulfillment. Also, forcing that aspect. Especially with the fact that Iris continually loses her mind while leaving Isaac handcuffed in bed. The longer Isaac is trapped, the more of a psycho Iris pans out to be This is one-of-a-kind silliness, but it is nowhere near a masterpiece. It is mediocre in its attempt to be an experimental form. A silly and comedic direction where boundaries are never established,especially since Iris continues to not untie Isaac. The act of becoming a grown-up is dismissed. A boring film trying to find its fair form in writing with no revelation. Clever premise and personalities but writing that lacks the quality to make this feel joyful or fulfilling.  Two out of four stars.

 

 

Film reviews

I Know What You Did Last Summer Review

Leave a comment

This is a continuation where alumni of its cast hold strong, but the momentum falls flat. I Know What You Did Last Summer has the thrills and terror to be a blockbuster and to continue in the vein of its 1997 title almost thirty years later, and with a plot that is the most predictable yet. Overall, though, I found some joy in the fact that many of the once young celebrities were back in a feature based on what made them famous back in the day. My issue though, is how I was able to predict every single outcome. I have to say I knew that going in, but the downside is that it dismisses the fundamentals of misdirection in a feature like this.

The focus of the film is on five friends, and they are Danica Richards (Madelyn Cline), Ava Brucks (Chase Sui Wonders), Milo Grifin (Jonah Hauer-King), Teddy Spencer (Tyriq Withers) and Stevie Ward (Sarah Pidgeon). They are involved in a horrid accident, and an indescribable creeper keeps stalking them making them their prey. The same setup is used as in the 1997 version with the town being back in Southport. The terrorizing event of the past is referred to as “The Southport Massacre of 1997.”  This is a tale with revisited events and alumni returning to help these new younglings in moving forward with the threat of the killer and the risks of the town finding itself in limbo.

The returned characters are Ray Bronson (Freddie Prinze Jr.), Grant Spencer (Billy Campbell), Julie James (Jennifer Love Hewitt), and a brief glimpse of Helen Shivers (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Ray, Grant, and Julie bring more to the table though since they have confronted a treacherous murderer before. The question though, is who can be trusted? The small town of Southport tries to keep the silence in strong forms. With the increased flow of quiet, more kills tend to happen, and with thatmore news spirals around town. It is set up where personalities mingle, and there are secrets that are looking to be uncovered. I Know What You Did Last Summer is fun in its foundational chills, however the downfall is that it leans toward being cheesy. “Cheesy” as in its writing lacks quality. The plus side though, is how it has a majority of its 90s alumni to help maintain some standards.

There is a darkness in the kills with slashing stabs. There are moments of misbelief. The tread of the depths of terror is deep and steady. The puzzle from the previous events keeps the focus at a high level. The outcome though, is mediocre. Even though I accepted the silliness, it felt good to see its cast from back in the day reliving the terrors through and upon others. Especially with Campbell and Prinze Jr, because nowadays their projects go seemingly unheard of. At least this is a fun comeback adventure for them. Overall, though, this film is rushed, funny, and kind of a bore. The gutsy scares of this script did not carry the same quality as its predecessor. I will say that my rating falls at two out of four stars for I Know What You Did Last Summer.

Film reviews

Eddington Review

Leave a comment

Creative and domineering. This film is a masterclass from a director who can tango with true events and attach them to a fictional story. From the mind of Beau is Afraid, Ari Aster brings his audiences Eddington. A story based on a setup of the COVID-19 pandemic mixed with political class and surprises that test limits fuel a wicked grandeur of fun and limitless sensations. Aster  puts all his moments in one bowl which transpires into an array of different flavors. Some moments are funny, others serious, and certain ones blurry, which leaves the door open for unanticipated events.

Before going into detail about the plot and other spellbinding moments, I do want to mention that the film loops in the political issues faced in the world because of COVID-19. It also ties in the Black Lives Matter scenarios and covers the political fiasco of masking and other safety precautions. So, scenes in Eddington are insensitive. However, those scenes add fuel to the fire and help cross-examine anarchy in an interesting way. Thanks to Aster’s mind, there is no blind for joy in Eddington.

Eddington is the desert town where the film is set. The two characters of focus are a sheriff and a mayor. The sheriff is Joe Cross (Joaquin Phoenix) and the mayor is Ted Garcia (Pedro Pascal). Phoenix returns to working with Aster after Beau is Afraid and plays an anti-vaxxer in this role. Pascal as the mayor displays safety concerns which range from masking to social distancing to eliminating anything that might spread the virus. Many patterns and habits that were common during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic are refreshed in the audiences’ minds in Eddington. I found this look back at history fascinating. Even though the pandemic was a hard time for everyone, Aster’s vision gives it a creative side with a suspenseful aspect to look back at. 

Joe, the sheriff who is very set in his ways, decides to take on the task of trying to run for mayor. Eddington is a world of political war in a small town. Aster utilizes the tension of real-life COVID events which makes this dark comedy irresistible and exhilarating. A lot of the film falls back on the performance of Phoenix—his personality is the success factor. Pascal’s performance is revolutionary as well. They are both the kings of their political views, and it makes Eddington shine with hysterical vengeance.

My respect for Aster has grown to new heights. Eddington reminded me of my nightmares and turned them into poetic portraits. COVID-19 made my mind boil and seeing it portrayed in a fictional setting felt like a form of revenge. “TAKE THAT COVID!” Aster takes realistic political scenarios and makes his audience feel the heat of the hard times while reminding them to be present in Eddington.

Eddington has characterizations that seem like they’re in comic-book form. Two other characters that add to the film’s intensity are Louise Cross (Emma Stone) and Vernon (Austin Butler). Louise is the wife of Joe, and she is back and forth in bipolar mode and unaware of her husband’s practices. Vernon is a podcaster trying to build a following based on his wild, yet ridiculous beliefs. The setup of Eddington is slightly satirical, but it leads to the best outcomes even when events fall apart. This film is a sensational adventure that has politics interweaving over obstacles. It is a rollercoaster that is lethally stunning. Eddington is one of the best films of 2025. Aster’s world of COVID is accurately portrayed and is bound to boggle minds and invigorate his audiences. Four out of four stars for Eddington.