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Film reviews

Remembering Gene Wilder Review

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“It is everything that family movies usually claim to be, but aren’t: Delightful, funny, scary exciting, and most of all, a genuine work of imagination.”

-Roger Ebert on Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory

Remembering Gene Wilder is a wonderful documentary where I felt I was, “In a world of pure imagination,” exploring the life of an astonishing actor who was one-of-a-kind. The documentary begins with Gene’s voice and reminds viewers of the many doors that were opened in Gene’s world. Directed by Ron Frank, this documentary covers various projects Gene was involved in  and highlights entertaining twists and hidden pleasures on movie sets with Gene.

The film begins during the days when Gene worked with Mel Brooks, and his early days on Broadway in New York where he worked with Anne Bancroft. Remembering Gene Wilder caused me to remember fondly how curious I used to be about Gene’s acting style. He had a way of being unpredictable which was part of his genius and incredible ability to spread happiness through his comedic ways. Gene once said, “Being on stage was a thing that saved me from myself.” While practicing his craft may have saved him, it was a also a true gift to his audiences. 

The mesmerizing exploration in the documentary provide a chronological order of events which include interviews with celebrities and filmmakers. Gene had a keen vision of excitement that was like no other, and Brooks elaborated on this when he stated, “When he got excited, he was a volcano.”  I have always been particularly fond of the many movie memories of Gene where he was a “volcano.” He was able to portray empathy, pride, courage, misdirection, and craftmanship in a meaningful way. From my perspective, Remembering Gene Wilder is a mosaic of the unique authenticity in his acting style. 

When reminiscing about Gene’s personality and traits as an actor, his 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factorystill delights whenever the film is revisited. Peter Ostrum played Charlie Bucket in the film, and he discusses he landed the role of Charlie at the last minute, and how working with Gene is a memory he will forever cherish. He elaborates on Gene by saying, “He was always doing something unexpected. Even if it was going down, three steps coming back two.” Gene’s colleagues learned to love his creativity and artistry. Remembering Gene Wilder details Gene’s role as Willy Wonka with a great deal of specificity.

Ben Mankiewicz, Alan Alda, Michael Gruskoff, and others contributed commentary about what made Gene and his films unforgettable. The fact that there was always laughter in his many personalities in all his projects is truly memorable. The discussions make this experience feel like a walk down memory lane of Gene’s life. The documentary highlights his projects through various cinematic eras including his projects withRichard Pryor. Their comedic chemistry in films like Silver Streak (1976) and Stir Crazy (1976) was amazingly successful because of how well their senses of humor blended.

Despite Gene slowly losing his memory, his loving heart was always there. The entire film is simply wonderful and upliftingdue to the many reminders of Gene’s talent and nature. The final few minutes of the documentary are one of the saddest endings I have ever experienced. In the end, there is a light and Gene always found the good…no matter how difficult, challenging, or detrimental an event was for him. He loved his wife Gilda Radner (who died in 1989) and he also loved his second wife Karen Boyer (his widower). Gene loved life for what it was. Remembering Gene Wilder shows audiences how much Gene put himself into the stage, into his movies, his friends, and hiscolleagues, and how he always had a touch of nostalgia that inspired many. Four out of four stars for Remembering Gene Wilder.

Film reviews

Immaculate Review

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Immaculate is about faith being tested. The story is not so much about making religious or culturally-influence choices, but more about dealing with choices involving betrayal. The movie is directed by Michael Mohan and written by Andrew Lobel. Immaculate is audacious in portraying how difficult it is to maintain the faith especially when things begin to go south. The trailers caused me to anticipate that this film was going to be a bumpy ride of surreal terror which it was. The psychological tracks in Immaculate are destined to break norms and barriers.

The film introduces its audience to Cecilia who is played by Sydney Sweeney. Cecilia is a young American who is devoted to religion and takes a position at a convent in Italy. She has faith that this is her new Safe Haven until the attitudes of the other nuns and the staff start to create a pattern of disturbing questions. The Father at the convent is played by Alvaro Morte. He tries to convey that Cecilia is now in a place that is extremely safe. However, as Cecilia gathers facts and information from other nuns, she increasingly feels that the convent has some very unsettling vibes which are both devilish and life-threatening.

With Sweeney in the lead role, she has a very cute and innocent personality as a young practicing nun. Due to her youthful and pleasing style, the audience hopes she finds a way out of the convent before it is too late. The film periodically traces back to the practices of the convent and shows various times when many of the nuns are held back from going elsewhere. Whateverdetrimental actions and behaviors are happening at the convent,it appears that the more likely of the same is likely to occur. Immaculate is a movie about religion and faith where a trail of lies highlight the journey with their shock value.

With the setting in Italy, the language barrier also contributes to the tension in Immaculate. Cecilia cannot understand what is being said through most of the movie. What she sees and feels cause  her stress and uneasiness. Immaculate is an experience that is quite unsettling. Can Cecilia save herself from the terrorswaiting for her? Will her faith sustain her? What is the evil that lurks in the convent? Immaculate made me feel like I was in a historic church being subjected to extreme darkness which wasquite unsettling. The film is not an easy psychological thriller to absorb. It takes some mental preparation and toughness especially due to the violence and realizations that further put Ceclia’s safety in jeopardy.

Immaculate is a daring movie for a daring actress. Sweeney’s role is filled with pure adrenaline. However, the film overall was not amazing. It is one of those terror flicks that keeps trying to throw violence in to heighten the effect. In the end, I did not feel as satisfied as I had anticipated I would when I left the movie was over. Two out of four stars for Immaculate.

Film reviews

Arthur the King Review

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A film with Mark Wahlberg doing what he can to fulfill a dream is one that resembles a role that fits him faithfully in Arthur the King. With Wahlberg (in real-life) as one who works out consistently and so multiple times a day, the perseverance path of success is the enthralling fragment of Arthur the King. Its foundation has moments of repetition and faith along the lines of athletics and being a winner. The other half of the film tends to fall to a blur. The personality of Wahlberg’s character, determined and frustrated for achievements remains in staying persistent in Arthur the King. The film does have inspiration in terms of personality. It is just the pattern of connection in achieving a dream is not as patriotic.

The film is based on the non-fiction novel Arthur-The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home. Wahlberg plays Mikael Lindnord. Mikael is set to establish a dream of completing a race that is over four-hundred miles long along the Dominic Republic. A race of obstruction of treacherous dangers. Mikael believes that he can do this race. His wife Helena (played by Juliet Rylance) supports Michael’s dream. With Michael’s past of not having the best race results, sponsorship begins as a struggle for him. With luck though, his friend Liam (played by Simu Liu) teams up with Mikael and they do embark on this perilous adventure of a race—a competition of physical damage and many loops to complete. With the race having its moments of hardship and aggravation, a dog follows Mikael. The dog saves Mikael and his team from moments of dangers the dogs alertness keeps the endurance of Mikael to accomplish his ethics. Mikael names the dog Arthur. That is why the film is titled Arthur the King.

Once the dog enters the theme of the film, there is that interpretation that the dog is the full-on hero of the race. That is true in some circumstances. The approach of Arthur though, does not enter the film until later in the film…much later that the film even makes its audience forget that it is the title is geared on a dog. The film goes through the hurdles of the rough terrain of competition than emphasizing Arthur. The moving parts of adrenaline and endurance navigate the faith of winning over Arthur’s presence. Expect a lot more excitement from Wahlberg’s performance over having empathy for Arthur the dog.

The film is in the context of a race for sacrifice, and a race for connection. There Mikael finds empathy for Arthur in the moments of the dangers of the competition. I felt more empathy for Arthur over the film’s main character. That is more because I felt sorry by the lack of presence that is put into the focus of Arthur in the film. Too much Wahlberg finding his moments of achievement over the dog being the hero. The hero of the film is the neutrality of how its continuity flows. That is because with the lacking characterizations I found there must be praise for both the dog and Wahlberg.

The film does leave the trail of deep thinking. Who is more important? Mikael or Arthur? Who is a true hero making it to the finish line properly? There is not much of a king premise, more of a get through a situation premise. One that finds its components to think poetically and is rushed for an empathetic path. It does not do justice, but there is inspiration in the eyes of Wahlberg’s performance. Two out of four stars for Arthur the King.