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Film reviews

The Ballad of Wallis Island Review

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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.

Film reviews

Black Bag Review

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Director Steven Soderbergh has an eye for making his characters fly suspiciously below the radar. He has a sense of direction that sends off vibes that allow audiences to know there is an operation that does not make sense. He has done this successfully with his films ranging from Sex, Lies, and Videotape to Erin Brockovich to Solaris to Contagion to Presence. The major difference is that Black Bag centers around espionage—which adds a layer of confidentiality to its writing. There are moments of vividness in this film, but the pacing tends to fall off the tracks in some parts.

Black Bag centers around the core theme of betrayal mingled with loyalty and deception. The film focuses on Kathryn St. Jean (played by Cate Blanchett), an undercover agent. Her husband is George Woodhouse (played by Michael Fassbender), an agent as well. There is a sense of a nation at risk due to dishonesty involving the spy tactics of Kathryn and George. However, the picture is painted showing Kathryn as the one making the matter seem harmful. The other characters involved are Clarissa DuBose (played by Marisa Abela), Freddie Smalls (played by Tom Burke), Dr. Zoe Vaughan (played by Naomie Harris), Col. James Stokes (played by Rege-Jean Page), and Arthur Stieglitz (played by Pierce Brosnan). All these characters are key to the film’s primary puzzle. The cat-and-mouse game approach proceeds along a professional track. To clarify, there are no haunting surprises or outbursts of truth. Neither would be the style I would expect from Soderbergh.

The film labels Arthur as the superior of the spy operations. With George and Kathryn as husband and wife, the curiosity related to who they trust and can communicate with provides on going questions. Some moments one seems more trustworthy than the other. Audiences will want to focus on the personalities and tactics of everyone involved—that is the key to the film’s underlying pattern. In retrospect, there is the fear of something to lose which is the subject of the breach. To some extent, the story keeps trying to cover up the answers through the characters’ egos and professional backgrounds. The two-faced dynamics that every character possesses offers additional lines of questioning in Black Bag.

As someone who has always been fascinated by Soderbergh, I was pleased with the calculation of focus in this film. Unfortunately, the methods of execution and ultimate resolutions led me into a state of disarray. Even though many moments are quirky and slow as expected, there is no proper meaning to the conclusion. It is almost like a more serious version of 12 Angry Men. The primary differences are the people and their jobs which cause lingering issues with the level of trust. At various points I had the notion that I was going to figure out that everyone is at fault—which is not the case. The dynamics of this film had me sold, however its subtle approach is written in a way that felt dry. Overall, it is a fun Soderbergh flick with plenty of interesting scenes. Two-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Last Breath Review

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When it comes to a film at the depths of below the water, it is a world where many revolving doors come into play. Different environments, oxygen only by tanks, and communication—Last Breath is based on those elements to the extreme. It is a true story that captures the essence of how serious a situation can get. Last Breath is not technically amazing but is a portrait of capturing what is impacted and prioritized to ensure safety and survival. Director Alex Parkinson prioritizes detrimental water conditions to claustrophobic heights to lead-on with mind-boggling suspense.

The film focuses on three diving colleagues/friends. They are Duncan Allock (played by Woody Harrelson), Dave Yuasa (played by Simu Liu), and Chris Lemons (played by Finn Cole). They are all bound to embark on a journey that is hundreds of feet into the ocean. The setting is around the Scotland, Uk region. Once they are submerged in the water, the moving part for peril comes through. It is not an easy journey.

The cause of the conflict is the conditions and storms. This is what makes the film one of the obstacles to hazardous safety. That opens the door for teamwork. The thoughts (which came to my mind) was sacrificing and times for quick-thinking—that is because one of the divers is stuck below with limited oxygen. From above the surface his diving friends must keep navigating the tracks to help him remain alive. It is many feet away from safety, and it is many feet away to bringing someone back.

The dive is the treacherous part of the film; however, it continues to fulfill its tracks (of being suspenseful) with just moments of the journey being rocky from above and below the surface. There are written words to keep the audience in tune with safety. I felt that direction gave an emphasis on how to help the audience think about the peril in front of them. The words, “Time without oxygen” is the scarcest part of Last Breath. That is because the more time lost, the less likely saving a life decreases. The waters and natural causes are the heat of the film’s core adventure for survival.

It is one of those films where teamwork and the buddy system go hand in hand. It is looped in from the top of the film (on dry land) and below the waters. Even though the pattern of the film is predictable, it captures the characterizations in a profound and appealing matter. It displays that it is what is counted on in Last Breath. As one who is not so well-versed with diving, the film makes me scared to even consider trying a diving expedition. I do not even intend to do diving classes. This is not a representation or an encouragement to not do this activity (FYI), just how I felt after the dive excursion and mission of the film. It is one where the eyes are the limit. What the main characters cannot see, the audience cannot see either—there are lurking corners of darkness that do not go unnoticed in The Last Breath. Two-and-a-half out of four stars.