Tag Archives: Ridley Scott

Film reviews

The Dog Stars Review

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Based on the novel by Peter Heller and directed by Ridley Scott, The Dog Stars is exceptionally invigorating. The director of Gladiator and Kingdom of Heaven strikes again with another creative  thriller that explores uncharted territory. The Dog Starsmade me think of COVID and how evidence is left behind. The film is set in a post-apocalyptic world where there are dangerous, roaming scavengers and scarce resources for survival. Scott’s direction includes a thrilling puzzle. With an all-star cast, the dynamics are impressive.

The film stars Hig (Jacob Elordi) and Bangley (Josh Brolin), two guys living together in a world that is now at a standstill. Hig had a previous life with a wife and a decent career, but his reality has shifted.. He has had to learn to adapt to the new norms of the pandemic and the aftereffects of what it has done to humanity. Hig and Bangley hunt and  keep supplies. They have to protect themselves because whatever roams at night can have treacherous effects.

Hig decides to fly and look for more resources, and he meets two other survivors. They are Cima (Margaret Qualley) and Pops (Guy Pearce). Hig lands on their property with his airplane, and they realize they are on the same page in their fight for survival. The writing is vivid in the way it describes how the characters come together.. Scott has the ability to create a conflict and correlate it with a puzzle about which sides characters are on.  Hig, Cima, and Pops are all looking for the same thing…safety in a place that is trustworthy and gives them hope.

The aspects related to the plague in this movie are not written all that well. Luckily, the continuity of the film is quite satisfying  because it is grounded in context about Hig’s prior life. He was once happy and on the right path, and then the world stopped. Once that happened, his life became a blur where is forced to find resources to survive. He begins to build a relationship with Cima. However, the thought of a new beginning proves challenging, because even love is difficult in a post-disaster world. 

Bangley, on the other hand, is geared up for action in the post-world conflicts. Brolin’s performance makes his character destined to be the hero. With a pompous attitude and ample weaponry, he has his mind set on destruction. Ridley Scott is still strong as a director and I have great respect for his talent. He creates memorable scenes based on reality and turns a fictional story into a spellbinding film. Three out of four stars for The Dog Stars.

Film reviews

Gladiator II

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This is a sequel that still leaves moments to conquer. Through the eyes of director Ridley Scott, Gladiator II carries the weight of the Colosseum at its peak but finds itself ready to topple over. It is a continuation of events from the first film in the franchise. It has a settled approach that keeps a historic vibe of emperors and kingdoms at large. The conflict, however, is that it’s mostly about the warfare and violence than the plot. With an all-star cast, the heightened games go full throttle in Gladiator II.

The new opponent who steps foot in the Colosseum is Lucius (played by Paul Mescal). He comes from Rome and is makinghis footsteps towards redemption. Lucille (played by Connie Nielsen) is back after the devastating events of Maximus (played by Russell Crowe) in the first film. Lucius may be the one who stands under what Maximus has achieved before. Is Lucius destined for the games? In an era where tyranny is in the depths of Rome, the battles in Gladiator II have an eerie awakening. As expected, Scott knows how to label characters and establish their authority.

The Master of the Gladiators is Macrinus (played by Denzel Washington). Washington’s performance as one ruthless emperor with a pontificating nature aids the film’s consistencyin keeping the battles coming. The king out for positive glory on behalf of the greater people is Marcus Acacius (played by Pedro Pascal). Between these two hierarchies, the battles are what makes sense in finding who stands tallest in Gladiator II. With all the civilization and prophecy themes, Gladiator II cares more about the suspense in the Colosseum than finding a sophisticated the plot.  Therefore, the historical aspect in this film is lacking.

With Mescal playing the hero out for glory, he is a positive addition to this sequel. His character has a heartfelt and consistent attitude as well as kind-hearted spirit dedicated to a better purpose. Even though the context lacks during most of the movie, he still manages to provide some enjoyable parts. WithWashington promoting the ruthless matches, the characterizations of heroism for both the good and the bad tumble ferociously in Gladiator II.

Most of the characters outside of Mescal and Washington do not fit in this film. The two emperors who play brothers, Emperor Greta (played by Joseph Quinn) and Emperor Caracalla (played by Fred Hechinger), cause the film to suffer. They are the most overrated emperors in a film by Scott. Their characters kill the film’s chances of being taken seriously. Gladiator II seems to care more about creating Hollywood buzz than creating a historic vibe. This is disappointing for a film by Scott, especially a sequel. He does well in the beginning, but then the pattern shifts and the writing before and after the matches hits frequent roadblocks. The battles are the best part of the movie, but not enough to make up for the other parts. Two out of four stars for Gladiator II.

Film reviews

Napoleon Review

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After 23 years director Ridley Scott and Joaquin Phoenix are reunited in Napoleon. Phoenix starred as Commodus in Scott’s Gladiator in 2000. Twenty-three years later Phoenix rises as Napoleon Bonaparte, a role where he simmers with that quiet tone of anger and power. The seriousness of Phoenix’s performance led Scott to rewrite the script. But even with the rewrites, Napoleon is one of the most historically and chronologically accurate biopic adventures audiences will experience. With outstanding cinematography and faithful writing, Napoleon soars with wonder.

The plot of Napoleon gears of course on French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, a daring character who refused to lose and always got what he wanted. Napoleon embarks on a journey of power and conquering. He initiates a military campaign that is unparalleled in human history.

In addition to his military activities, the film also focuses on Napoleon’s relationship with his wife, the Empress Josephine (played by Vanessa Kirby). Even Josephine cannot bear the reputation he is gaining as he creates a landscape of despair that serves to benefit Napoleon, but not those around him and certainly not the people he conquers. That doesn’t matter to Napoleon though, as his self-absorption burns up the screen through the eyes of Joaquin Phoenix’s performance, with the film’s audience knowing that there is going to be more and more war, and more tension between Napoleon and Josephine.

Napoleon is enthralling to an almost overwhelming extent, but it is a film that is hard to look away from. Napoleon proves that he is a person with incredible power and authority. But to gain all that he is involved in corruption of politics that causes the film to become a rollercoaster, especially around the historic moments the film visits. The events range from the invasion of Russia to the Battle of Waterloo. Violence is of course the tactic that Napoleon uses and Scott’s directing speaks volumes in Napoleon.

Although there are many battle sequences in Napoleon, they are not repetitive like some may anticipate, especially if they have seen Scott’s other films ranging from Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Last Duel (2021), and more. Here there are realistic fight scenes that only Scott could produce. The weaponry in Napoleon has an impact, but so does the weather. The lighting is often surreal, especially where there is a war on a winter front. In one scene there is a stampede of war over a frozen river blended with a treacherous snowstorm that is stunning. There is gun powder, cannons, and ultimate destruction to the masses. Napoleon’s lust to conquer serves him well for his evil purpose of as his power continues to rise.

As I mentioned, the film is two-sided, showing his warring powers contrasting with his relationship struggles with the Empress Josephine. As she gives him what he desires but also questions what he is doing on the battle front, she proves that it is impossible to fulfill Napoleon’s satisfaction. Being a ruler is the only thing that really matters to Napoleon. Not Empress Josephine’s happiness, but his lust for power.

Napoleon is simply a triumphant adventure of history and a mind-blowing experience. The film soars with wonder, and it starts with Joaquin Phoenix’s amazing performance. It is simply unforgettable. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.