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Film reviews

Small Things Like These Review

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From director Tim Mielants and based on the book written by Claire Keegan, Small Things Like These is an adaptation with heart about a situation involving layers of uncertainty. The story is woven in a way that is thought-provoking. It weighs the choices a man must make when faced with secrets. The film is set in areas around County Wexford and County Wicklow in Ireland. The season of the film gives off a chilly feeling and thecinematography feels cold as well. There is a sense given the subject matter that there are complicated moving parts when it comes to choices that have serious consequences.

The film’s main character is Bill Furlong (played by Cillian Murphy). He is a father to many daughters with his wife, Eileen Furlong (played by Eileen Walsh). He works hard daily to feed his family. With a job as a coal merchant, Bill prioritizes his family. Even though he is presented as a family man, the dark era of his early days being raised by a single mother come back to him.

When part of holiday celebration doesn’t go as planned, and other eerie moments occur, Bill still behaves with a heart. He meets Sarah Redmond (played by Zara Devlin), a teenager whois pregnant. He finds her in a shed in drastic and cold temperatures, suffering in a way that Bill cannot accept. The place where this takes place happens to be a convent, run by Sister Mary (played by Emily Watson). This presents a portrait of what seems very inappropriate in the operations of the convent where the nuns belittle Sarah.

Small Things Like These creates a representation of a small town with very few places to hide. The writing and pacing are focused primarily on the intentions of Bill as he struggles with the harsh secrets and realizations regarding the convent. Small Things Like These transitions to scenes in Bill’s past, and then jumps back to the present. It shows him living life with his family and delves into his thought process about what he should be doing to help Keep Sarah safe. The artistic aspects of Small Things Like These illustrate the risks of doing a good deed, i.e., aiding Sarah in finding safety. Murphy’s performance is impressive as a character who demonstrates loyalty and respect in his efforts to break down barriers.

This film is a poetic force of a drama that is both dark and often unnerving. The drastic way lighting is used to illuminate specific moments of confusion and frustration experienced by lead character, Bill, is what especially dazzles during Small Things Like These. The past may not be able to be undone given the difficult reminders of prior hardship. Going forward, however,Bill’s dedication to being a father motivates him to do what is right. Using the small-town setting to help deliver a deeply emotional vibe, the film’s power lies in creating a nervous mentality that swerves vigorously. Three out of four stars for Small Things Like These.

Film reviews

Red One Review

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The holiday cheer of adventure has action. Red One is full of joy, laughter, and cheerfulness. The director is Jake Kasdan. He delivers a unique Christmas flick. It is one of the many essential components of Christmas: Santa Claus, a naughty/nice list, elves, and the North Pole. It brings in much anticipation around its holiday spirit. Despite its efforts, it is an average Christmas ride.

Santa Claus (played by JK Simmons) is an important character. He is on a mission to do his duties for his duties on Christmas Eve. His assistant is Callum Drift (played by Dwayne Johnson). Their world of the North Pole is like a virtual world video game of Christmas grandeur. The tradition of Christmas hits a plateau. There has been a kidnapping of Santa. Callum tracks down a bounty hunter to help him get Santa back. That man is Jack O’Malley (played by Chris Evans). He is a deadbeat dad with many technological skills. With two butting knuckleheads (Johnson and Evans), they must learn to work together to get Santa back before time runs out.

Red One is interactive through the many fictionalized settings of Christmas. The film brings in wonders of the Christmas extravaganza. The film consists of reindeer games, sleigh riding, and lots of quirks. The performances of Johnson and Evans make Red One feel like a mediocre and lighter version of Die-Hard movie. That is because its setup feels like Die-Hard. Its addition is the many Christmas miracles sprinkled on the top. There are also Christmas creatures, magic tricks, and lots of imagination.

Red One is fun for the mindsets of a Christmas in peril expectation. The fact that Santa is missing delivers the expectation that presents may not be under the tree (for its younger audience). Its twist is the presents may come to life. The directing consists of moments of toy transformations to assist in the battles of saving Santa. The definition of context of a “lighter version of Die Hard.” An approach with the festive and pleasant jeopardy of Christmas continues down the rabbit hole of mediocrity.

Johnson and Evans are the main forces of redemption for a miracle. Simmons has a moment of that (later in the film). With Johnson and Evans being labeled as the heroes, it is like watching Johnson on a break from the world of wrestling. Evans is taking a break from playing Captain America. Instead, they are putting forth the effort to get Santa back so Christmas can go on.

I found my experience with Red One captivating because of its moments of suspense in motion. I saw this in 4DX. My seat vibrated vigorously. Water would spray into the audience. I felt I had the rollercoaster ride of Red One for a North Pole movie feeling. That added lots of excitement and vibrations throughout my mind. The film itself was still cheesy. Red One is swell if audiences go in without expecting to take Red One seriously. Red One is average to find its hero tracks for a saved Christmas—two out of four stars for Red One.

Film reviews

Blitz Review

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Director Steve McQueen knows how to bring in real-life events to make audiences feel the impact. He did so with Hunger (2008), Shame (2011), and 12 Years a Slave (2013). He has had other projects, but these previous films and his newest feature Blitz illustrate the challenge of battling reality no matter what the cost. Blitz is a historic tale where peril is a risk that must be dealt with to survive. London during World War II provides the setting in which a deep form of barely controllable tough love is at play. However, the story is more focused on those running for their lives than the historical aspects of the film itself. McQueen’s use of disconnect eventually finding a path to reconnection is done well in Blitz. McQueen also wrote the screenplay, and this time around, it feels like he used a different approach as a director when creating this drama.

The plot of the film takes place in the 1940s. There are a group of Londoners experiencing the dangers of the British Capital Bombing during the war. The main character is Rita (played by Saoirse Ronan), and she puts her son George (played by Elliott Heffernan) on a train as the times are tumultuous. George escapes the train and finds himself facing various hurdles. When Rita finds out George is missing, the search process for home and love does not come easy in Blitz.

The harsh times the characters are living in are filled with uncertainty which translates into a mind-boggling feeling for theaudience. Ronan is the concerned mother taking the necessary steps to try and find her son. Heffernan is the young boy scared for his life, but also hoping to find those who he can trust to help him navigate the uncharted territory he never imagined he would have to endure. George meets an African American soldier named Ife (played by Benjamin Clementine), and he helps George a lot. Jack (played by Harris Dickinson) is an English soldier who is of some assistance to Rita. The film also reveals the obstacles caused by racism and segregation during that era.  Some characters have a sense of entitlement that causes Blitz to have more unnerving moments amid the ever-present dangers. 

This is not a masterpiece, but it is solid film filled with emotions. Blitz lacks McQueen’s normal intensity and is a lot lighter than his previous projects. The subject matter is heavy, but primarily geared on finding peace with the loved ones and resolution to endure the perils that the story reveals. The period of World War II is important, but the story focuses more on the impact on innocent lives than zeroing in on warfare scenes. This is a drama where all may feel lost, but there is still a chance for restoration. In the end, it is about staying the course and never giving up. Two-and-a-half out of four stars for Blitz.