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Film reviews

Relay Review

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This is one of those unique thrillers of a hidden masterpiece. Directed by David Mackenzie, espionage and payback have quiet writing to remain intriguing and captivating. Relay has traits what tasks entail to have justice be served. I was sold on this captivating spy-thriller. Much of that was because of how it kept me in tune with what was going on. Much of the film contained continuity and a foundation around moving blocks for leverage. It is a film with a time length of just over an hour-and-a-half of stellar and attention-grabbing moments. When one operation falls into the wrong hands, it only takes one to work and do the steps to make it right.

The plot of the film focuses on Ash (Riz Ahmed). He is someone that does communications whistleblowing operations. He uses a two-way form of communication. He utilizes technology for the hard-of-hearing to help send over his messages for tasks he chooses to assist with. He is one of solitude and knows the moving parts to what is lethal of espionage. A girl named Sarah (Lily James) finds herself in deficits. Her previous job has let her go and she has obtained documents to try and get out her message that she may have done wrong. At the same time though, others are out to get her for revenge. A team led by a man named Dawson (Sam Worthington). The telecommunication system and messages of correspondence between Ash and Sarah is the key to serving justice and finding the path to redeem what was once lost.

Time is of the essence in Relay. Truly in each form of instruction the thrilling moments are precise. “Precise” with purpose. Every minute of every step counts vividly in Relay. When there is a moment to go wrong all the operations go wrong. What makes the film enticing is how every time there are talks (between Sarah and Ash), she must keep following the orders of Ash via his telecommunications system. The bizarre setup makes it stressful for her. More because audiences can tell it takes up a lot on her mind.

The film’s solo and in-depth approach was one I appreciated. It kept me thinking about stressors among technology and who to trust. “Who to trust” as in if the accuracies are truly where they stand or if it can fall in the wrong hands. A stellar foundation of obstacles that are working to find resolution and justice. Deep-down though both the operations go among the norms of the law. From the heartfelt perspective of Ash, he does not have it in him to give up. In his head it is his civic duty to help Sara.

Relay takes its approach with grains of salts and has moments to twist the thoughts for its audiences. Overall, it succeeds moderately well. The uniqueness of the suspense in the film’s writing is what made my head wonder poetically. Relay is a form of creative success. A stylized thriller of purpose. Three-and-a-half out of four stars for Relay.

Film reviews

Lurker Review

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Making connections in the music industry is explored in a deeply immersive way in Lurker. This film comes from the mind of director writer, producer, and director Alex Russell (producer of The Bear and Beef). A film where obsession hits a deadly path that is hard to follow but just keeps going. An odyssey of fame and popularity that seeks growth within the depths of the film’s writing and characterizations. The story is a a stunning portrait of favoritism that is mind-boggling with competition. The music industry creates an environment in Lurker where the competition and envy feel surreal. 

The plot of the film focuses on a boy named Matthew, played by Theodore Pellerin. Matthew is a regular retail store employee in California who has a solitary life yet fancies his creative side when he is able. His life changes instantly when he becomes part of a crew for an artist that is on his way to fame. That artist is Oliver, played by Archie Madekwe. Matthew finds himself in the mix while helping to shoot footage and hanging out withOliver’s cool gang. However, plateaus are encountered because fame becomes everything for both Matthew and Oliver. At the same time, the popularity Matthew seeks is what he utilizes to his advantage. This leads to turmoil that becomes life-threatening.

Russell’s directing features layers of competition that keep the portrait of trial-and-error in focus during Lurker. I thought a lot about how the series The Bear showcases competitive moments in the kitchen with culinary stuff. The difference is the industry. Every small measure seems to be taken extra seriously in the music industry. Russell’s artistic eye creates a silent obsession for Matthew that grows dangerously in Lurker.

The film feels mentally disturbing. It is not very violent, but it captures the stressors through its characterizations of disconnect. When Matthew starts feeling unwanted within the team, thingsspiral. Russell’s cinematography fuels the emotion sparked byan outsider wanting more of the credit success in the music industry. The common ground in this film are the conflicts andthe dynamics required to keep fame and popularity on the rise.

What audiences will feel is the frustration between Matthew and Oliver. Matthew wants to feel cool and connected. Oliver wants to keep his fame on the horizon. Deep down the mental struggles and stressors of human values are at the core. Fame and agreements are the central flaws, but Matthew’s loneliness fuels the fire. The high life that Matthew never anticipated to have a mess with his choices. Matthew mixed feelings about his reputation because in his mind the generosity coming towards him feels fake.

With music, friends, and connections, desperation is at the center of Lurker. Matthew’s choices of Matthew appear to be irreparable, but at the same time his creative value is at the core of his choices. The film has a vivid and compelling vibe. Lurker is an intriguing portrait of how reality can be seen through the eyes of an artist. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Honey Don’t! Review

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Actresses Margaret Qualley and Aubrey Plaza are a hurricane of fun and mysterious characterizations. Honey Don’t! is a unique crime thriller and dark comedy. This film feels experimental-because it pushes all kinds of limits while also finding humor in moments that should not be so funny. Directed by Ethan Coen, horrid behaviors thrive in an immersive way. It is like Fargo with some hidden gems, but in the end is unable to fulfill its potential brilliance.

The film focuses on Honey O’Donahue (Qualley), a lesbian detective making all kinds of eerie choices while also navigating weird crimes. Many of the issues are entangled with a church run by the mysterious Reverend Drew Devlin (played by Chris Evans). He is a reverend up to all kinds of shady activities when he is off duty. With murders and various crimes occurring, Honey’s mind is boggled.  In addition, she is busy trying to find love for a colleague, MG Falcone (Plaza). The two establish a secret. loving relationship. At the same time, the small-town that Honey patrols remain at odds given the murders and the shady Reverend Devlin. As the story progresses, the circumstances surrounding the unexplained crimes get even messier.

It is a film in which all the characters are two-sided. The elements needed to explore trust in relationships are perfect for this set of characters, but the execution falls short. This is likely due to how Ethan writes his scripts which normally entailtragedy and sad endings. At other times, Ethan’s scripts leave his viewers twisted. There is much that is twisted in Honey Don’t!, including Honey’s bad choices. Not one of the characters is up to par in this film. However, Honey Don’t! is vibrant with interesting layers of tragedy that continue to make attempts to get to the truth. Unfortunately, things fall apart quite early, which has an impact on the film’s overall enjoyability.

The storyline veers away from the crime scenarios to try to focus more on the risky behaviors in pursuit of adding somejoyfulness in the film. This was a turn off for me because I was expecting lots of laughs from cleverness since it is written by one of the Coen brothers. I did not get much of that but instead got a whole lot of intimate moments that seemed unwritten. The performances were magnificent, but the connection to the plot was limited. In the end, the film fell short of its potential.  

Honey Don’t! became increasingly strange as it went on due to the detective wanting her own desires to be fulfilled. The sameissue applies to the Reverend. The roles of superiority should befunny and attention-grabbing, but their characterizations were written poorly. Also, there were too many random ideas that fell in and out of place which were equally flawed because their outcomes were predictable. This is far from my favorite film byEthan Coen, but at least the writing was effective in generating some momentum. Two out of four stars for Honey Don’t!