Tag Archives: Ethan Hawke

Film reviews

Black Phone 2 Review

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Black Phone2 intensifies the suspense and horror. Directed by Scott Derrickson, the film meets the high expectations set by its predecessor. The first installment was only the beginning. This time, the phone calls target both Finn and Gwen. Mason Thames and Madeleine McGraw reprise their roles as brother and sister. Ethan Hawke returns as The Grabber. The new storyline adds more detail. I felt more scared than in the first film.

With the film moving forward, Finn’s nightmares carry a lot of weight into this sequel. Especially with the tones of a belittling attitude, and also the much horror he has experienced, he carries on with him. The visions of The Grabber have not left, but this time, Gwen is having her own nightmares. This brings them to realize that a place called Alpine Lake may have answers to the terrors of their dreams.

What electrifies Black Phone 2 is its spiraling momentum, pulling viewers deeper into a maze of recurring nightmares and lurking mysteries. The eerie phone booth at Alpine Lake becomes the epicenter of their fears. When it rings, reality and nightmare blur, unleashing supernatural horrors that thrive at the camp. Here, Finn and Gwen piece together the cryptic patterns from their visions, each nightmare a vital clue in their search for the truth.

The writing delves into the depths of evil lying in wait, layering the sequel with fresh, unexpected scares. The film is a labyrinth of campfire terrors and shadowy histories, each piece fitting into a larger, sinister puzzle. The Black Phone 2 masterfully maintains its surreal continuity, always hinting at new horrors to come. The Grabber’s chilling voice and twisted motives remain unforgettable, and Hawke’s wicked grin steals every scene.

Overall, The Black Phone 2 is vivid. One that still has a promising continuation. I adored all the extra evidence to maintain momentum. I will also say that I felt it had a heartfelt side with the brother and sister dynamic battling horror . Especially with one that is bound to continue. Three out of four stars for Black Phone 2.

Film reviews

Wildcat Review

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Written and directed by Ethan Hawke, Wildcat follows the true story of the writer Flannery O’Connor. Through the direction of Hawke, he casts his daughter Maya Hawke as O’Connor. It is an adaptation gearing on the real struggles of O’Connor boil. Artistry is divine in capturing verisimilitude. Wildcat soars with abundance as it searches for the talent of O’Connor to be recognized. It brings in the 1950s era with mental difficulty. It brings in the narrative of Maya’s voice as she battles her errors in her evolving writing days. The subtleness is superb. There is a reality that an in-depth invigoration precedes Wildcat.

The film begins with Flannery creating a story in her mind. From that point on, it goes to the reality that she is in. With facing rejections from her writing, the support around her is not hopeful. Her mother is Regina (played by Laura Linney). Regina tries to encourage Flannery to focus on other aspects of her life. Flannery’s writing is what brings meaning to herself. Her emptiness is sad and hard to bear. She is living in an era of many classes and segregation among races. She also is dealing with lupus. Her theme of writing is her life. 

Wildcat is breathtaking on Flannery to build her name. As her disease lingers, she only continues to form her creative mind. With some hopes for love, acceptance, and having a voice, Wildcat parallels all those values. The sense of Flannery in a blur is because of her window closing due to her disease. The narration continues through her moments of aches. Maya’s performance is revolutionary. Her portrayal of someone real delivers vast characterization. “Characterization” with constant thinking of connection. How though? Does Maya want to feel loved? Does Maya have other ambitions? Her disease and her voice are her focus.

My appreciation for Wildcat is its realism of encouragement. The “encouragement” is finding your voice. I try to find my voice as a critic every day. Flannery did her work. The theme of love serves as an important as well in Wildcat. Flannery finds herself in a moment with a man named Manley Pointer (played by Cooper Hoffman). At that moment, boundaries seemed blurred. Will Flannery be taken advantage of? Is that what Flannery wants? The cinematics of trial and error set the course of there being no defeat for Flannery to publish her story.

The vastness of moments is only the beginning of a triumphant story. When watching Maya perform as Flannery, the younger days of her father came to me. Ethan’s days in The Dead Poet’s Society and White Fang connect to his daughter. It does in the sense of having a gift and dealing with receiving little recognition. That is the inspiring factor of never quitting a craft of meaning.

Wildcat will enthrall its audience with a story of purpose. It keeps its momentum in keeping Flannery the focus of what she is striving for. Where does the story take its audience? Find out in Wildcat. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

58th Chicago International Film Festival, Film reviews

58th Chicago International Film Festival: Raymond and Ray Review

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Films that gear on siblings and struggles appeal to me deeply. They typically involve elements that are either harsh or easy to dismiss. Raymond and Ray are focused on brotherhood. It is a touching and inviting comedy which does not shine a light too brightly on its dark subject matter. I found it to be a compassionate film about two brothers reconnecting.

Director Rodrigo Garcia knows how to challenge culture and family dynamics in Raymond and Ray. His authenticity in directing correlates with his HBO series In Treatment (2008-2021). Garcia directed many of the episodes of In Treatment back when Gabriel Byrne was the main psychologist. Garcia always knew how to capture what hurts people. The concept of challenging truths of family and their underlying issues is where Garcia pinpoints the central struggles with Raymond and Ray.

In the film, Ethan Hawke is Ray and Ewan McGregor is Raymond, and their father has died. The main characters are half-brothers. They come together to get the funeral for their father set-up. The funeral must be carried out according to their father’s wishes. With the difficult task of having to dig their father’s grave, the brothers find themselves struggling with frustration and hatred towards their father.

The performances of Hawke and McGregor are surreal and touching. Hawke’s character is about having his cultured musical side, but sadly he could not hold down a job. McGregor’s character is an individual with a DUI record and issues with his wife and kids although those issues do not enter the film very much. The film focuses primarily on the brothers and how they deal with the funeral. The way the movie portrays them coming together to deal with an issue that is sad, stressful, and emotional makes Raymond and Ray especially powerful. The fact that life is not fair is a fact that both brothers grapple with.

Raymond and Ray will make viewers laugh and cry. While there is some resolution in the film, the major flaws of both brothers are a difficult subject matter. The film is dramatic throughout and despite its sadness, it has meaning. Three and a half stars.