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Film reviews

The Peasants Review

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This animated film is set during a harsh era, yet it brings the viewer into a beautiful world of pure artistry. The Peasants is magnificent in its art-form direction. The whole movie is like viewing one massive painting taking the viewer through a story of desire and conflict. In The Peasants, all the moments were captured on a camera. The film is compiled of eighty-thousand paintings and many gallons of paint. It is all combined to build an experience where the audience will feel the vibrant feelings in the essence of the film’s historical setting with its central point of view. Directed by Dk and Hugh Welchman, The Peasants is one of the most prolific achievements I have seen in a highly creative film that crafts its story to be strong and meaningful. It all feels very real as the visuals around the film crank up the volume of the emotions that weave throughout this extraordinary and unique spectacle.

The imagery grasps the art truthfully. It does so right in the beginning of the plot. The film takes place in a Polish-village in the late 19th century. The village is a town filled with tons of rumors amongst its people. There is also a great disparity between the rich and the poor. Many of the inhabitants live by tradition and patriarchy. Patriarchy is the most dominating factor of conflict in The Peasants. Jagna Paczesiowna (played by Kamila Urzedowska), is a beautiful girl living her life in the belittling village of The Peasants and she finds herself in a situation where is forced to marry Maciaj Boryna (played by Miroslaw Baka). Maciaj is a wealthy older man and a landowner who only dwells on his wealth and his desires. Maciaj’s children question his judgment and despise him for it. His son is Antek Boryna (played by Robert Galaczyk), and he falls in love with Jagna. Despite his love and feelings for Jagna, he also has that attitude of thinking that he wants what his father has…Jagna (the woman he loves) and the land (which partially belongs to him). A journey of love and deceit begins that must travelthrough many barriers. This is experimental film of magnificence in dramatics with many layers of painted visuals adding to the richness of the tale.

I loved the astounding visuals of moving colors of wonder that is consistent in The Peasants. The depths and determination of Jagna’s detrimental lifestyle is where The Peasants adds fuel to its fire. It is a film where the flaws of corruption and love boil down truthfully and faithfully. Does Jagna truly love Maciaj? Does Maciaj truly love Jagna? Is Antek truly in love with Jagna or just want his father’s land? Everyone fights for their desires in The Peasants.

The father and son hatred between Maciaj and Antek is what keeps the conflicts growing among the villagers and for Jagna.  The different classes have different points of view as a war wages for the acres amongst political corruption when it comes to Antek and Maciaj. Jagan is both a pawn and a target because of her beauty. The dynamics of the film have its characters constantly having serious thoughts of what their future holds.

There is that sense of pervasive sadness in The Peasants. It is continuously poetic to make each moment count in its exploration of truth and love and family dynamics. The film goes through the seasons of autumn, winter, spring, and summer—the shifts of the many seasons are a landscape of challenging journeys fighting to find light in. As Jagna is the center of hatred for the villagers, will she find a way out of the lifestyle her life has fallen into? Is there truly love between Antek and her? Will the Polish village find piece? How frequently do the colors shift to create a reminiscence of amazing wonders and suspense? The Peasants is a most thrilling and colorful experience with a breathtaking story. Four stars for The Peasants.

Film reviews

Dune: Part Two Review

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“A longstanding dream of mine is to adapt Dune, but it’s a long process to get the rights, and I don’t think I will succeed.”

-Denis Villeneuve.

An exhilarating and unforgettable experience continued. Dune: Part Two defines the craft of cinematic filmmaking from writer and director Denis Villeneuve. Not only is the writing invigorating, but the film is a fantastic continuation filled with fascinating moving parts. I remember reading a condensed version of the novel back in middle school. Dune: Part Two focuses like a book with components that make the film feel like an exploration of literary devices. The direction of protagonists and antagonists is a visionary tale that creates an atmosphere that is surreal for its audience. Villeneuve has accomplished his dream and is a director of expert craftsmanship which resulted in an unparalleled and vibrant sci-fi adventure. The setting and futuristic feel is enticing and breathtaking in IMAX. My experience of Dune: Part Two blew me out of the water. Villeneuve’s technical direction of shooting the entire film for IMAX immerses its audience deeply within the story. Further, a rotation of aspect ratios shows what going to the movies is all about.

The first Dune (2021) ended with victory and the expectation that there was more to fulfill. The range of characters in these films creates a story with many levels of dynamics. Timothee Chalamet is Paul Atreides, Zendaya is Chani, Rebecca Ferguson is Jessica, Josh Brolin is Gurney Halleck, Austin Butler is Feyd-Rautha, Florence Pugh is Princess Irulan, Javier Bardem is Stilgar, Dave Bautista is Beast Rabban, Chrisopher Walken is Emperor, Lea Seydoux is Lady Margot Fenning, Souheila Yacoub is Shishakli, Stellar Skarsgard is Baron Harkonen, and Charlotte Rampling is Reverend Mother Mohiam. The ensemble of this cast of characters is of great importance to the film’s foundation which involve new dangers from previous events in the first Dune. However, Dune: Part Two has a whole new level of authority and factors that collide for an adventure that is one of the best experiences yet from Villeneuve.

I recall from the book that the timeline would go back to the 19thcentury. The fascination behind the continuing saga in Dune: Part Two is the result of Villeneuve’s vision and creative mindwhich brings his audience even further into the world of Dune. Villeneuve is faithful to making the fictional setting and the various moving parts sync up with the novel.

The plot of this sci-fi thriller that defines mesmerizing wondersis worth diving into. The film begins with Paul, Jessica, and Chani. They are with the Fremen. With Paul’s victory and powers of evolvement, he seeks revenge. Paul still has the power to see visions into the future. The turmoil he sees motivates him to become a conqueror and stop events from happening. Stilgar trains Paul to fight with their people. Since Paul comes from a high-ranking powerful family, the struggle involves his acceptance of equality. He must learn to do what is right for him given he was the victor in the first film.

Baron Haronken and his nephew Feyd-Rautha are the conquerors and the ones that Paul seeks vengeance with. Paul’s love for Chani is questioned. The fate of the future that Paul envisions is inevitable. He is willing and bound to take risks. While wanting to avenge the death of the ones he loved, he must understand the reality of his choices. Dune: Part Two is a literal and visual experience for the masses. Paul’s dreams still have a mental impact on him. Learning to handle the new ropes heightens the excitement in this film’s uncharted territory. As Paul screams, “SILENCE,” the wrath of his past makes Dune: Part Two an amazing and unforgettable experience. Rage, power, corruption, and politics are at the boiling point in this sensational film. Dune: Part Two is a journey of wonders that is pure adrenaline. Four stars!

Film reviews

Miller’s Girl Review

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What is appropriate when it comes to teachers and students? What behaviors cross a line? How awkward or uncomfortable can situations get? In Miller’s Girl boundaries are crossed when there is an inappropriate relationship between a teacher and student. When things take a turn for the worst in the story, things become misconstrued as the characterizations and dynamics are an utter mess. Overall, the film’s presentation falls flat. While Miller’s Girl is rich in context and dialogue, the continuity is lacking. There is limited background to explain why the scenarios end up being so dreadful and miscalculated. As someone who respects boundaries, Miller’s Girl was a-disappointment.

The film takes place in a rural Tennessee. Jonathan Miller (played by Martin Freeman) is an English teacher. He is lucky to have his job because the school he works at has difficulties with funding. His friend Boris (played by Bashir Salahuddin) is a science teacher and they both end up in a strange dynamic with two female students. Cairo Sweet (played by Jenny Ortega) and Winnie Black (played by Gideon Aldeon) both have uniquepersonalities with Cairo being stranger. Jonathan assigns Cairo to write a paper about an author that speaks to her. The author she chooses is Henry Miller which is a red flag. This choice is questioned by Jonathan because of the context of the novels written by Miller. There is a level of closeness that Cairo learns about from Winnie. Both girls figure out ways to be seductive for their own benefit. Cairo’s goal is to have her piece grasp a lot of attention to help her have a bright future. This is where the real trouble in the film sets in. The seductive relationship between Jonathan and Cairo crosses boundaries. From this point on, Miller’s Crossing turns into an unbearable mess with poor writing and limited continuity.

The film is poorly displayed, and the connections happen too quickly. The seductive scenes are just thrown in. Even the teachers have poor judgment. The story includes one poor choice after another. Miller’s Girl just keeps repeating the same bad mistakes. To add to the mess, weird personalities overtake the film’s writing. The sole purpose seems to be to expose the stupidity among its characters, including the sexualized brains of the students.

There is a scene where Cairo adapts her essay about Henry Miller and correlates it to the seductive (and inappropriate) experience she had with Jonathan. This is an example of how this movie displays mediocrity at its finest. Comparing a famous author and linking it to a teacher with poor morals seems wrong. Although the basic idea behind this movie had promise, it is the approach it took to become enticing or haunting that failed. Miller’s Girl is not only poorly written but also poorly executed.

The film finds no resolution to any of the foolish conflicts. Although there is some seductive chemistry, it seems rushed. When boundaries are crossed, there are irreparable consequences. The story goes around in circles. In the end, this film was a poor experience because it was disgusting and confused. One out of four stars for Miller’s Girl.