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Film reviews

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinnochio Review

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I have watched Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio twice. The first time was in digital projection and the second time was in 35mm projection. Both editions were mesmerizing. As the wonderful world seen through the eyes of Toro grasped my attention, I felt like a young kid again. I love and feel connected to the characters of Pinocchio and Geppetto.  There are so many amazing voices in this atmospheric adventure including Pinocchio (voiced by Gregory Mann), Geppetto (voiced by David Bradley), Sebastian J. Cricket (voiced by Ewan McGregor), Spazzatura (voiced by Cate Blanchett), Candlewick (voiced by Finn Wolfhard), Count Volpe (voiced by Christoph Waltz), and Dottore (voiced by John Turturro). Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio is a world of wonder and joy with an imaginative storyline. Toro knows how to connect his audience to the love Pinocchio wants in the film.  It is simply a grandeur of cinema creativity and magic.

The story begins with a woodcarver, Geppetto who has recently lost his son. Filled with grief and despair, he puts his woodcarving skills to work to create a boy figure. Suddenly, that boy comes to life and calls himself Pinocchio who is full of energy and spreads love all around. At first Geppetto struggles to accept that Pinocchio has come into his life. Over time, however, Geppetto starts to feel like a father again. Pinocchio has some difficulties because he struggles to understand right from wrong in the world. He also finds it difficult to understand he is much different than the people around him. Despite all the differences Pinnochio is eager to feel like a real human being. His encounters with good influences including Sebastian J. Cricket, Candlewick, and of course Geppetto are the ones that care about Pinocchio the most. Sadly, Pinocchio does not understand who truly cares about him which causes him to run away with the evil Count Volpe in hopes of finding attention. With Geppetto still suffering from depression from the loss of his son, he sets out on a journey to get Pinocchio back.

Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinnochio is an adventure of love, peril, and deceit. In between the happy and sad moments, there are many wonderful musical moments that are just extremely heartwarming. Toro’s direction is incredible in the way it makes the audience sense the love around Pinocchio.  Of course, as people know from the famous story, Pinocchio’s biggest issue is that when he lies his nose grows. Pinocchio’s nose is at the center of him learning to make the right choices during this joyful ride of magical animations.

The adventures which are filled with confusion, frustration, and sadness for Pinocchio and Geppetto are spellbinding. I was captivated with the disconnect the film displays in many loving ways. Toro knows connection and imagination. He creates a picture where love is enticing for everyone in the film. He even portrays admirable moments during the perilous scenes. Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio has many moments which deliver silver linings, but the best ones are between Geppetto and Pinocchio which is why I adore Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio. It is about connection, love, discovery, and acceptance portrayed in many endearing scenes.

The second time I saw Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio, I attended the 35mm format at Music Box Theatre. The best part about this experience was that the director attended virtually along with the audience. Hearing Del Toro talk about his imagination and the process of making the film was captivating and surreal. Del Toro is not afraid to throw his creativity into full swing. He is also not afraid to do what it takes to make his audience feel a sense of connection to his projects. Both of his strengths are in full display and spot-on in Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio. Come experience the love with Geppetto, Pinocchio, and many other wonderful characters in this not to miss movie. Four stars.

Film reviews

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Review

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Director Rian Johnson invites his audience along for a new adventure. After the extravagant fun of Knives Out (2019), his new film Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery takes the adventure to a more enticing and dangerous level. The COVID-19 pandemic plays a small role in the entertainment and the setting of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The cast line-up is spectacular. Daniel Craig is Benoit Blanc (the continuing detective), Edward Norton is Miles Bron (the host of the grand party), Kathryn Hahn is Claire Debella, Leslie Odom Jr. is Lionel Touissant, Jessica Henwick is Peg, Madelyn Cline is Whiskey, Kate Hudson is Birdie Jay, Dave Bautista is Duke Cody, and Janelle Monae is Andi Brand. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a detective story full of wild realizations and unforgettable twists.

The detective work in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is showcased in scenes focused on the personalities of the characters. With Craig playing the detective, his characterizations prove he can narrow down the personalities of those who are trustworthy and those who are shady. His personality adds layers to the twisted suspense as do the behaviors of all the characters involved. Everyone has a side that appears to be questionable, but who is most dangerous to everyone at the party?

In Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, the adventure takes place in Greece. That is where Blanc is invited to investigate a suspicious case. The problem, however, is that the location is filled with people on a weekend getaway, most of whom have had to pass through strange Customs due to the pandemic. Everyone involved is technically breaking the rules of lockdown. Bron is the host of all the guests at the party. They’re all wealthy to some degree due to success in business. The house owned by Bron is equipped with sensors and high-end artifacts. A variety of factors make the audience aware that Bron is a victim of crimes. The twist involves whether he really is.  A murder happens and heads start to role. This is when Blanc’s clever, opinionated tone kicks in and when Bron’s wealthy attitude mode also kicks in. When one person is killed, everyone loses their minds and pointing fingers as they wonder how much of the fancy home of Bron is truly safe. From that point on, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery only gets more fun, complex, and invigorating.

Craig’s performance as Blanc portrays a vibrant, intelligent man with attitude. He can put together pieces easily and read victims’ minds, while also being a self-absorbed man. Norton as Bron displays wealth as well as many suspicious personality traits. The characterizations and suspicions are calculated. The self-centered traits of the characters played by Craig and Norton are at the center of the film’s many questions which makes the film inevitably captivating. I found myself repeatedly asking who, why where, and how, and then having to re-think those questions during catastrophic, yet humorous, situations in the movie.

With random deaths and serious incidents happening, Blanc can put all the pieces of the puzzle together. His tactics are precise, but with many of the guests being considered high-profile, his calculations tend to have both accuracy and errors. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is a joyful ride in a pandemic era. Many of the situations have answers that have shock value, but also many filled with witty joy.

Is Blanc a genius? Can Blanc solve the case? Is Bron more smart than Blanc thinks? What else is dangerous in Bron’s home? Do any of the other victims have issues to share? Join the mystery and put together the puzzle in Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. The many technological advancements in the movie’s high-end mansion truly step up the game of cat and mouse, not just for Blanc’s investigation, but for everyone who involved. Four stars.

Film reviews

The Good Nurse Review

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Being employed in the medical field is serious business. There are a lot of rules and regulations surrounding confidentiality, not just for patients but for medical professionals as well. The Good Nurse is a true story that shows how wrong things can go when those rules and regulations allow someone who can’t be trusted to care for seriously ill patients. As someone who has family that works in the medical field, this film spoke to me. And it shows how hospitals have changed since the true events of The Good Nurse.

Although The Good Nurse is a feature length film, its cinematography is like watching a hospital TV show. Many scenarios are rushed and the dialogue is not really enthralling. The plot of the film introduces us to nurse Amy Loughren, played by Jessica Chastain. She is a workaholic nurse with two children, and works constantly to make ends meet. Amy has a good heart with her patients and has a good home life. A new nurse, Charlie Cullen, played by Eddie Redmayne, joins Amy’s ward. He appears to have positive and caring qualities that lift Amy’s spirits when she gets down at her job. But as their patients start to die one-by-one, Amy starts to believe that Charlie is the one causing the deaths. Detectives Danny and Tim (played by Nnamdi Asomugha and Noah Emmerich) are assigned to the case, but confidentiality at the different hospitals where Charlie previously worked makes it an ordeal to get proof to put an end to Charlie’s terrible acts.

Redmayne’s performance as Charlie is sinister with a charm. He rides his evil side. Hospital confidentiality has protected him over the years and has allowed him been able to just move to another hospital when he was fired. And that confidentiality has also allowed him to continue in his evil ways.

The Good Nurse is not exactly brilliant, but it is haunting. The many patients who died makes the film disturbing. We fear for the safety of the patients, and also the safety of Amy. Chastain’s performance as Amy is breathtaking and daring, but the film is depressing. It is certainly not a feel-good movie, although I will say it is faithful to its harrowing story. It was worth a watch but it may be hard to watch again. Two and a half stars for The Good Nurse.