Film reviews

Bad Hombres Review

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Bad Hombres is one of those thrillers that starts out very promising. It sets up with a foundation of exploring the lives of people working to feed their families and finds a direction of conflict. The problems that arise are disastrous in finding employment with a certain immigration status and landing in dangerous territory. To an extent though, the writing feels like a blur that just fills up missing spaces in between the action. Problems arise in the film and there is a rush to find a solution with little regard for a quality story. This film hits uncharted territory and struggles to remain on pitch.

The movie opens on a setting where there are immigration problems, and many illegal immigrants are desperate for an income. Lack of money and citizenship struggles set the tone for Bad Hombres. It takes place in Lucera, New Mexico, a landscape of dry lands and empty fields where just a few people own many plots of land. The owners though, may not be as trustworthy as the audience may think. The tone of trusting no one with anything is set in Bad Hombres.

The film opens with the story of Felix (played by Diego Tinoco). He is an immigrant trying to put food on the table for his family. He teams up with Alfonso (played by Hemky Madera) and they both agree to do work for Donnie (played by Luke Hemsworth) and Steve (played by Paul Johansson). Felix and Alfonso begin the work of digging holes in the desert for Donnie and Steve. The job becomes unsettling as Donnie starts to show signs of strange personality traits and innuendos towards Felix and Alfonso. After a drastic and life-threatening incident with an individual getting shot, Felix and Alfonso make a run for it trying to hide from the crime scene they witnessed.

With Felix being one of the shooting victims, his injuries become the central conflict of the film. Alfonso is the one that aids Felix in finding a way to survive the dangers following them after their incident with Donnie and Steve. Felix refuses hospital treatment because he fears being deported. Regardless, everyone will suffer…if they are caught. The life of Felix and Alfonso is on the line—the authorities, illegal immigration operations, and criminal activity are the moving parts of one wild and destructive ride in Bad Hombres.

The film shifts a lot and the writing is lacking here. It feels as if it just keeps finding ways to fill time instead of moving the story along with quality content. The film does not have the surprises most would expect in a thriller like this. It is an experience where the suspense builds and anxiety-provoking stressors are anticipated yet not executed properly. This is one of those films where I feel it had much more potential to be more astounding, but fell short through weak attempts to thrill. Bad Hombres is a ride where the suspense is shaky and keeps halting in its tracks leaving moviegoers disappointed.

Bad Hombres is dark and brutal with floppy writing. The moving parts never come together and result in a ride of uncertainty and frustration. It is an unsatisfying experience. The acting is promising and realistic, but the realism of the film is not in its direction of brilliance. I thought there would be more backstory to the characters in the situation of immigration conflicts. Sadly, there is none of that. The film relies on action and suspense alone in trying to find conclusions and it misses out on providing a full story. Two out of four stars for Bad Hombres.

Film reviews

Cult Killer Review

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This film revolves around a young detective finding purpose in a misdirected life. It starts out with the story of a rough upbringing and finding a mentor that helps. Cult Killer begins with a vibe that feels like an extended episode of Cold Case and then moves in an eerie direction where silence and hidden secrets have a purpose. It is a special brand of thriller. Sadly, it does not take the cake.

The film focuses on the characters of Cassie Holt (played by Alice Eve) and Mikhail Tellini (played by Antonio Banderas). Tellini is a private detective that helps Cassie get back to her roots in life. He helps her to get past her alcoholism stages and to see the brighter sides of her existence. Cassie is a woman who has hustled and done all kinds of shady activities to make ends meet. Mikhail though, helps her climb out of that pattern and then shockingly is murdered. With Cassie saddened and dealing with grief, she is assigned by Rory McMahon to solve Mikhail’s murder. She finds herself discovering a world of evidence she did not know existed. She also realizes the corruption of law-enforcement surrounding Mikhail’s case. With shady executives Victor Harrison (played by Matthew Tompkins) and Wallace (played by Kim DeLonghi) working against Cassie solving the puzzles to Victor’s murder, a trail of questions and answers slowly come along in Cult Killer, yet the story remains lacking.

Cassie finds herself experiencing many flashback moments with Mikhail. She remembers times when he encouraged her to explain things and helped her find resolutions to problems. These moments come up in Cassie’s mind as she moves through her investigation into Mikhail’s murder. He had been stabbed repeatedly and as Cassie deals with grief and the inquiry into her mentor’s death, she also remembers to have her guard up.

In the shadows of Cult Killer, fascinating evidence hides throughout the anxiety-provoking writing of the film. Politics and people from within the case remain prejudicial with the exception of one person named Jamie Douglas (played by Shelley Hennig). Jamie guides Cassie into the deep alleys throughout the film. She explains shady places and situations to Cassie, yet she does it so sporadically and with an ego that leaves her suspect as to whether she can be trusted or not. There is uncertainty about her possible involvement in Mikhail’s murder.

The murder case of Mikhail grows to become a conspiracy theory involving those who are connected to gain success from being deceitful. Jamie begins a cat-and-mouse game which is likely to lead to a trap. It should be thrilling, but ends up more of a boring experience as time begins to run out in Cult Killer. The obstacle here is continuity in that it crams so many other confusing dynamics into the case in the film. It ends up a hot mess of details which are unclear in their accuracy and relevance to the plot of Mikhail’s murder. There is not much of a “cult” feel in Cult Killer. The writing hits a plateau and then simply quits.

The action moments of violence create a picture of a predictable outcome. The rabbit hole does get deeper and darker in Cult Killer, however the revelations are not so invigorating as I anticipated. There are too many moving parts of two-sided hierarchies that keep getting thrown into the mix. They take away from the aspects of the film that the audience anticipatesand desires. The characterizations of the main players get lost along with the storyline. It starts off well, but then becomes a trail of misdirection in the form of mediocre writing. Cult Killer has got a slick idea with a promising premise, but it does not execute well in its continued suspense.

The film disregards the murder case and goes down the road of personal deceitfulness instead. It just does not work here. I will say the cleverness is bold, but the premise of Cult Killer deteriorates quickly. The feeling that no one to be trusted unfolds in ways that make no sense. This should be a straight shot experience, yet it misses in its mark in its of direction of triumph. Two out of four stars for Cult Killer.

Film reviews, Top Ten Lists

Tarek’s Top Ten Films of 2023

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2023 has been one wild ride of diverse movie experiences. I have seen countless movies, attended festivals, and expanded my horizons. While the biggest movie weekend of the summer was titled Barbenheimer (because of Barbie and Oppenheimeropening), 2023 was filled with many films that gave viewers moments to remember. The wide array of interesting movies required me to think quite hard before compiling my annual list. By analyzing the options from my role as a critic, those that made my list combined realism and unforgettable messages.

Film number one is Oppenheimer. Directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is one of the most influential and stunning experiences of 2023. Nolan’s technological and cinematic abilities are on full display in Oppenheimer. The performance of Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer is superb. Nolan’s use of 70 MM projection in Oppenheimer is invigorating and astonishing. The audience is made to feel like they are in Oppenheimer’s mind facing the many frustrations in his world. Oppenheimer is invigorating and it goes deep. The film’s pace is in tune with its cinematography which leads to a dramatic and spellbinding effect. The creation of the atomic bomb and the other struggles of Oppenheimer left me breathless.

Film number two is Past Lives. Directed by Celine Song, Past Lives is a humanistic experience of disconnection and finding connection again. Past Lives is one of the best films on friendship I have seen. It shows how keeping the friends we have known for a long time reminds us of what to be grateful for in life. It is a monumental achievement. The film is strong in portraying connections and memories, but also demonstrates how the past can play a positive part in the present. The story is riveting, the goal is moving, and the film itself is a revelation.

Film number three is BlackBerry. Directed by Matt Johnson, the evolution of phone technology is the focus of this true story about business and success. The development of the BlackBerry provides a riveting and stressful rollercoaster ride. The turmoil caused by marketing and sales is where the film has anxiety-provoking moments. Since the leaders cared most about profit and margins, they didn’t think enough about the risks. Therevelations in this in-depth story are intriguing.

Film number four is Anatomy of a Fall. Directed by Justine Triet, this film’s many moving parts requires audiences to think. Anatomy of a Fall is an emotionally realistic experience with an enticing vibe of disconnect. The story includes family dynamics and conflicts. These two elements create an experience of sadness, empathy, and hope while investigating a death case.The film paints a portrait of how far people go to help the ones who are most important to them.

Film number five is Maestro. Bradley Cooper is the star and the director of the film, and his performance shines with brilliance. The film will take viewers deep into thought as the film captures many captivating moments in the life of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein (played by Bradley Cooper) and his relationship with his wife Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein (played by Carey Mulligan). Bernstein had a lot to live for, buthis life came with many struggles. Maestro is simply majestic in its stellar experience of grandeur and music galore.

Film number six is Saltburn. Directed by Emerald Fennell, Saltburn is one of the most unexpected visual experiences I have had in ages. The performance by Barry Keoghan is haunting and exhilarating. The story goes down a dark rabbit hole in a sinister direction which leads to many surprises. The director of Promising Young Woman, Emerald Fennell, strikes again with a thriller filled with shocks and awes. Saltburn is one of the most thought-provoking and daring films of the year.

Film number seven is Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. Directed byDavis Guggenheim, this is one of the most touching and inspiring documentaries I have ever seen. The story of Michael J. Fox and his challenges with Parkinson’s disease come to life in a touching narrative. An unforgettable journey that dives into the joys of Michael’s life before and during the many years of struggling with Parkinson’s. The message in the film reminds viewers to never give up. As an advocate for those with disabilities, I found the film mesmerizing thanks to the beautiful direction of this well-known actor. It is a riveting real-life story that speaks to many and will stand the test of time.

Film number eight is Killers of the Flower Moon. Directed by Martin Scorsese, he is back with a masterpiece starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. The film is unique and authentic after many years in the making. The murder-thriller brought mixed feelings and a load of suspense. The chemistry that DiCaprio has with De Niro is almost like the chemistry DiCaprio had with Jack Nicholson in Scorsese’s The Departed. This movie has a similar vibe, but the intensity is more mentally invigorating than the extreme violence in The Departed. Killers of the Flower Moon is relentless, thought-provoking, and truly dazzling on a psychological level.

Film number nine is The Holdovers. Directed by Alexander Payne, it is a comedy where a teacher must deal with helping students cope with turmoil at a boarding school. Paul Giamatti is the lead, and he delivers an impressive performance as the instructor. The movie is funny, touching, and clever. It is true toPayne’s style with meaning and empathy coming from some of the best narrative and most hysterical writing this year. The Holdovers has many scenes which will make audiences laugh,but the meaning of unexpected connections will leave a lasting impression.

Film number ten is Priscilla. Directed by Sofia Coppola, Priscilla is a true story based on the 1985 novel Elvis and Mewritten by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley. The film takes its audience through a vast landscape of happiness, sadness, and confusion through the eyes of Priscilla as she endures her relationship with Elvis Presley. Cailee Spaeny plays Priscilla, Jacob Elordi plays Elvis, and both of their performances are superb portrayals of the heights of young love and the lows of dealing with the insanity that becomes their life. The movie is a dramatic ride at the finest level.

2023 was a strong year for movies with meaning. There weremany unforgettable moments and extremely emotional experiences based on a inspiring line-up of films. Finally, the quality and quantity of movies jumped up many levels after theaftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. It was definitely a year that made it worth going back to see movies in the cinema. I look forward to seeing what 2024 has to offer!

Treating cinema in many forms of art!