Tag Archives: Film reviews

Film reviews

Holland Review

Leave a comment

Holland, Michigan, provides a happy, pleasant, old-school setting for this film. The writing thrives in Holland which is one of the best dark comedies so far this year. Directed by Mimi Cave, who effectively plays with fire by creating a vivid dynamic between those who tango. Holland is one of the best dark comedies of 2025. A lot of my fascination came seeing things in a new light. When there is a movie with actors including Nicole Kidman, Matthew Macfayden, and Gael Garcia Bernal, there is no doubt that characterizations will have illogical reactions.

The film focuses on Nancy (Kidman) and Fred (Macfayden) Vandergroot. Nancy is a teacher, and Fred is an eye doctor. They have one son, and his name is Harry (played by Jude Hill). Nancy is finding suspicious signs that Fred may be up to no good. There are frequent long absences and unexplained travel. These signs create a portrait that Nancy is having a hard time understanding. The brilliant part is the fact that Nancy wants to believe what she is thinking is not true and that she is overreacting, i.e., her suspicions are unfounded. The anxiety-producing side of Holland has an interactive approach that results in a grandeur of joy. Moving forward, Nancy has her friend Dave (Bernal) help her undertake some spying operations on Fred. They begin to see strange signs of dishonesty and more ugly truths. There is more than the audience will anticipate going on with Fred in Holland.

The valuable part of Holland occurs when things spiral indementedly hilarious ways. The performances of Kidman, Macfayden, and Bernal provide a bonkers level of enjoyment. While it seems like Macfayden is the antagonist, Holland is really about a town of full of hidden skeletons uncovered by a long road of discoveries. Holland is an intriguing and well-written satires that finds ways to test its audience. There has been mixed buzz around the film, but I was sold due to how it remains vividly in tune given all of it bizarre qualities.

This film offers a tale of wonders and a scavenger hunt for lies that do not want to be believed. What is it that Fred is hiding? What is it that Nancy believes? Why is the family in turmoil? The many answers are to be found in Holland, a one-of-a-kind comedy that is almost a home-run achievement. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Death of a Unicorn Review

Leave a comment

This is one of the craziest retro films I have seen. It is full of colors, wonders, and quirky revelations all centered around a unicorn. Death of a Unicorn is one bonkers ride filled with elements of surprise. Written and directed by Alex Scharfman, The Death of a Unicorn is a film where one incident loops in theories and leads to silly outcomes. For a new director, it is visionary yet achieves more fantasy than value. Scharfman utilizes his directing skills to bring audiences on an invigorating adventure in Death of a Unicorn.

The film focuses on Elliott (played by Paul Rudd) and Ridley (played by Jenna Ortega), who play a father and daughter. They are in route to visit a wealthy pharmaceutical CEO when they hit a unicorn. They hide the unicorn in their vehicle which leads to an unimaginable ride once the unicorn goes bananas. It is a bizarre but enticing foundation because the unicorn has power. Once someone touches the horn of the unicorn magic is revealed which impacts each individual in a unique way. With the dynamics between the father and daughter who are visiting a wealthy family, lots of questionable judgment ensues. Egos collide which causes the fun to spiral and plays a key role in the massive joy in this film. It is especially entertaining when the middle-class tries to impress the upper-class and neither class knows what hit them Death of a Unicorn.

The story is a suspenseful ride that borders on insanity due in part to the wealthy family in the film. The family includes Odell (played by Richard E. Grant), Belinda (played by Tea Leoni), and Shepard (played by Will Poulter). Their butler is Griff (played by Anthony Carrigan). Elliott makes it his dream to satisfy this family, but when he brings the chaos of the unicorn tragedy to them. To an extent, it is clever that he cares so much about sucking up to this family because their silliness is over-the-top. They act like the world is in their hands, but the unicorn’s destruction puts an end to that. The wrath of vengeance unleashed in magical moments is out-of-this-world. Scharfman knows how to create new comedic trends in Death of a Unicorn.

There are special effects in the film that are worth noting. For example, touching the unicorn’s horn creates a world that looks like a Neil DeGrasse Tyson space. Those who touch the horn end up in a mind-boggling space-like universe. Effects like these are correlated with behaviors that make Death of a Unicorn feel interactive.

Overall, the film feels a bit cheesy perhaps because it tangles chronological events. The story starts with hitting the unicorn, then visiting the wealthy family, and then the unicorn wakes up. From that point on, more realizations and chaos evolve. Death of a Unicorn offers more than what audiences might anticipate.Some (i.e. members of the wealthy family) think there is a benefit to the presence of a dead unicorn, and others (i.e. Elliott and Ridley) see it as a bad sign of more destruction. In the end, the film is a jousting climax of unicorns, millionaires, and plenty of mesmerizing moments. Three out of four stars for Death of a Unicorn.

Film reviews

The Ballad of Wallis Island Review

Leave a comment

Two musicians who have lost what was once a positive vibe finds a path of empathy and redemption in The Ballad of Wallis Island. The film is directed by James Griffiths and it is written by Tom Basden and Tim Key—Basden and Key are also the leads in the film. Basden plays Herb McGwyer and Key plays Charles Heath. This is one of those unique tales that has a subtle path in forming continuity. A lost musician finding his path backis where The Ballad of Wallis Island is artistic in its form—the artistry is its main musician finding his roots to feel the success he once had. 

The setting of The Ballad of Wallis Island is on a remote island. Charles Heath is the host of the island, and he has won a lottery. His prize is getting a private performance by his two favorite musicians. Herb McGwyer is one of them and Neil Mortimer (played by Carey Mulligan) is the other. Herb is frustrated thathis musical career has had downfalls and he is hopeful that this gig will get him back on his feet. He ends up having a close relationship with Neil though and with both of them present on the island, many revolving doors begin to open.

With the writing focusing on hardship and starving artists having an opportunity to thrive, The Ballad of Wallis Island presents astructure of continual improvement. Herb and Neil actually find themselves in moments where they feel most lost. They arelooking to experience a revival of the talent that they once hadonce had.  “Revival” is a key point of connection in The Ballad of Wallis Island. With the setting of solitude, the pieces of Herb and Neil keep fueling moments of their positive past into the present.

The dynamic of the screenplay is in the context of friendship and bonding— fulfilling one’s lottery win based on past fame is a chapter with a fresh beginning. The Ballad of Wallis Island is set in a location where the musical creativity comes strongly. The remote island is also a place of resources to be used for good reasons. What captivated me was the process of getting to the island via the boat. I always felt that the boat arriving on land was a moment of friendship to be made. That is how Herb builds his relationship with Charles. With Charles as the host of the island, it becomes a place where quietness fuels musical inspiration. The Ballad of Wallis Island has motivational tracks in that it has the notion of falling and getting back up. It is a story fueled by empathy and characterizations. There is also the concept of keeping promises and a hope to the highest level of faith portrayed in this film.

The style of the music being performed is folk, which gives the film a more precise context. There are some dragging moments, but in the end, they are written to inspire. It is just a film where the taste is acquired—those who have a background in music or any forms of arts will find a sense of loving aspiration with The Ballad of Wallis Island. It is a film that is considered a drama with small additions of some comedy, yet its tracks of two people having a past with musical themes flow vibrantly. I was inspired and delighted by The Ballad of Wallis Island. Three out of four stars.