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Film reviews

May December Review

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May December explores important societal boundaries. Those moments when making the right choice affects a life’s trajectory in a big way. Broken rules of conduct have implications that last forever. This is the case in the film May December. Director Todd Haynes is known to take on the challenge of dark subject matters, and this is one of his most daring and question laced experience for moviegoers yet. It is a film where wrong choices are made and the outcome is devastating. There is a pervasive tension among those associated with the story. The deep natureof May December reaches a point of being overwhelming in its subject matter, because it confronts the issue of pedophilia wrapped in the experience of portraying the abuser.

The approach of the film delivers a haunting odyssey of disturbing music in frequent fragments of the film. Haynes’ approach gives his audience the feeling that the scenario is not right and the consequences are irreparable. The film’s cinematography feels ominous with colors that seem overly saturated, which heightens the darkness and the storyline’s dark direction. The tragedy of May December is that it is a true story. It is based on the account of Mary Katherine (also referred to as “Mary Kay”) Schmitz Letorneau Fualauu. In the mid 1990’s, she sexually assaulted a coworker that was age twelve. The most disturbing part of this story is that they stayed together, built a family and have lived with the controversy. It sparked all kinds of negative attention and although names have been changed, the narrative follows true events.

The film begins with an actress named Elizabeth (played by Natalie Portman). She is set to play the role of Gracie (played by Julianne Moore), who assaulted her young coworker. She spends time with Gracie and her husband Joe (played by Charles Melton) who is the young man that Gracie seduced. They are married with kids and have lived with a bizarre and disturbing dynamic for many years. Elizabeth tries to get insight into how the events came about for Gracie and Joe and their relationship. She tries to immerse herself in their current and past lives to help feed into her upcoming role. She learns a lot about Gracie and Joe and the details of their affair. She also learns about who it impacted, and how they are perceived. However, her immersion into the uncharted territory of their relationship (based on sexual assault) is where the waters are tested for Elizabeth.

The film becomes eerie as it continues in the direction of Elizabeth finding the harsh truth. Her exploration of their livesbegins to create tension between Joe and Gracie. Joe starts to realize that he was forced into this relationship he has with Gracie. Gracie starts to realize that her fake happiness only creates more inner turmoil. It is not pleasant to watch. Elizabeth also begins to realize that there is more to the story that can only be damaging for everyone involved. The fact that love and acceptance is forced upon the nature of a negative situation is the crux of May December.

The film becomes eerie as it continues in the direction of Elizabeth finding the harsh truth. Her exploration of their livesbegins to create tension between Joe and Gracie. Joe starts to realize that he was forced into this relationship he has with Gracie. Gracie starts to realize that her fake happiness only creates more inner turmoil. It is not pleasant to watch. Elizabeth also begins to realize that there is more to the story that can only be damaging for everyone involved. The fact that love and acceptance is forced upon the nature of a negative situation is the crux of May December.

Film reviews

Napoleon Review

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After 23 years director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix are reunited in Napoleon. Phoenix starred as Commodus in Scott’s Gladiator in 2000. Twenty-three years later Phoenix rises as Napoleon Bonaparte, a role where he simmers with that quiet tone of anger and power. The seriousness of Phoenix’s performance led Scott to rewrite the script. But even with the rewrites, Napoleon is one of the most historically and chronologically accurate biopic adventures audiences will experience. With outstanding cinematography and faithful writing, Napoleon soars with wonder.

The plot of Napoleon gears of course on French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, a daring character who refused to lose and always got what he wanted. Napoleon embarks on a journey of power and conquering. He initiates a military campaign that is unparalleled in human history.

In addition to his military activities, the film also focuses on Napoleon’s relationship with his wife, the Empress Josephine (played by Vanessa Kirby). Even Josephine cannot bear the reputation he is gaining as he creates a landscape of despair that serves to benefit Napoleon, but not those around him and certainly not the people he conquers. That doesn’t matter to Napoleon though, as his self-absorption burns up the screen through the eyes of Joaquin Phoenix’s performance, with the film’s audience knowing that there is going to be more and more war, and more tension between Napoleon and Josephine.

Napoleon is enthralling to an almost overwhelming extent, but it is a film that is hard to look away from. Napoleon proves that he is a person with incredible power and authority. But to gain all that he is involved in corruption of politics that causes the film to become a rollercoaster, especially around the historic moments the film visits. The events range from the invasion of Russia to the Battle of Waterloo. Violence is of course the tactic that Napoleon uses and Scott’s directing speaks volumes in Napoleon.

Although there are many battle sequences in Napoleon, they are not repetitive like some may anticipate, especially if they have seen Scott’s other films ranging from Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Last Duel (2021), and more. Here there are realistic fight scenes that only Scott could produce. The weaponry in Napoleon has an impact, but so does the weather. The lighting is often surreal, especially where there is a war on a winter front. In one scene there is a stampede of war over a frozen river blended with a treacherous snowstorm that is stunning. There is gun powder, cannons, and ultimate destruction to the masses. Napoleon’s lust to conquer serves him well for his evil purpose of as his power continues to rise.

As I mentioned, the film is two-sided, showing his warring powers contrasting with his relationship struggles with the Empress Josephine. As she gives him what he desires but also questions what he is doing on the battle front, she proves that it is impossible to fulfill Napoleon’s satisfaction. Being a ruler is the only thing that really matters to Napoleon. Not Empress Josephine’s happiness, but his lust for power.

Napoleon is simply a triumphant adventure of history and a mind-blowing experience. The film soars with wonder, and it starts with Joaquin Phoenix’s amazing performance. It is simply unforgettable. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Wish Review

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Wish is one of those Disney films that has the potential to be a memory maker, however, it falls short. It combines many elements and connections from the franchise’s other films, yetcondenses them to a lacking point. With a length of only ninety-two minutes, Wish is an experience that feels like a shortened version of Aladdin. It opens with a feel of joyful positivity, fun character connections, and warmth all around. Its point of conflict though, is catastrophe and the story becomes lackluster. The musical moments are where this film shines. There is just not much of that Disney magic that some moviegoers may anticipate in Wish. The previous films of director Chris Buck, both Frozen and Frozen II were invigorating, with the Frozen being a stunning success. Wish lacks in its ability to captivate its audience.

The story of wish centers on a young girl named Asha (voiced by Ariana DeBose). She makes a wish upon a star one night however, she is taken by surprise by the one who controls the wishes. The overseer is Magnifico (voiced by Chris Pine). He blindsides Asha with the restrictions of how her wishes reallywork. Much to his chagrin she finds a light to make her wishes potentially come true. There is hope that comes around in the musical moments. The brilliant singing is where the film soars. With the help of her pet goat Valentino (voiced by Alan Tudyk),Asha goes on an adventure to make the wishes in her life come true. Unfortunately, this is a Disney experience that falls short with a weak storyline and script. Wish as an experience is nothing more than a magical bore.

The film attempts to be as innovative as its other Disney films. Chemistry is the problem. Where are the foundations around the settings of Wish? Where is antagonistic vibe and its impact onthe film’s friendly suspense? Questions abound in this trainwreck that is one of Disney’s most underwritten films of the year. It soars with animations and beloved songs however it only continues to go down its rabbit hole of feeling like a rushed experience.

A redeeming factor is the character of Asha as an icon for younger individuals who will see this film and find joy in it regardless. For others though (with more developed minds) the experience is one that will feel like a waste of time. There is nothing memorable in Wish to place it in the category of iconic classics with Buck’s other successes. The only joyful aspect is found in its music. Sadly, that may be the only category where this film has meaning.

A Disney experience of positive vibes, but not enough layers of happiness and innovation to make many memories. Wish does nothing more than keep the viewer curious to when the storylinewould pull together and build up its fascination. Sadly, it fails to accomplish that. Two out of four stars for Wish.