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Film reviews

A Complete Unknown Review

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The song, The Times They Are A-Changin’ is one of brilliance through the voice of Timothee Chalamet in his role as Bob Dylan. Director James Mangold brings us the story of the 1960s era revolutionized by Dylan himself. A Complete Unknown is prolific in its approach of having Dylan as the focus. A well-written story with the many political factors bringing hope, A Complete Unknown is one of the most cinematic and breathless performances from Chalamet—he is the right choice to portray Dylan.

The appreciation I have for A Complete Unknown is how it is presented in the context of an unknown coming from nothing and then unexpectedly having a fan base. Around all that, are the choices and errors in the process of fame. It is not only stunning in the musical sense, but it is also stunning in the fact that persistence is key to the film’s story. Going back to the era of Dylan’s days on the streets, the purpose of having a craft and love for music comes together poetically in A Complete Unknown. It starts from scratch and finds emotional and cinematic building blocks along the way.

With Chalamet as Dylan, the film takes opens with where it all began. It starts when Dylan meets Pete Seeger (played by Edward Norton). From there, the steps of the musical dreams unfold in Dylan’s eyes. With Dylan meeting his hero Woody Guthrie (played by Scoot McNairy), the inspiration growsswiftly in A Complete Unknown. Dylan’s relationship with Sylvie Russo (played by Elle Fanning) is one that is a more hit or miss notion in the film. Dylan’s relationship with Joan Baez (played by Monica Barbaro) is also presented in that form as well. However, Dylan’s troubles with relationships are not the focus, but it leaves room for the growth of the more revolutionary moments of the film.

Mangold’s approach has a tone of positivity and a following to fuel the film’s fire of fame. The dynamic side of Dylan’s relationship is lacking; however, this brings the audience even closer into the story of Dylan’s rising life. The elements of that “rising life” are connected to the genre of folk going down the path of electric. The place of worship for that is the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. That festival is the road to the top of the mountains in A Complete Unknown.

To touch on the understanding of performance, there is the feeling that Dylan is irritated with many he is close with. This includes his relationships with Russo and Baez. The musical scenes though, are the moments where he tries to find a sense of reconnection where a lot of the attention falls on Baez (since they tour together). Ultimately, though, writing becomes acompetition for fame and, overall, the good-hearted side of heartbreak flows in a poetic way. It just does not find the context of love as he moves on to bigger fame.

With the setup of the uniqueness of the era of the film, the delivery of Chalamet’s performance feels like hearing something new for the first time. There is a moment of a question which goes, “Are you God Bob?” The answer to that question is Chalamet, in his performance as Dylan, on many fronts—his creativity, his voice, his vision, performance— is all spellbinding in its musical force of appreciation. A Complete Unknown will inspire to never lose hope.

A Complete Unknown may not gear on its relationship dynamics well, but its performances are a revelation. Chalamet and Norton shine the brightest here. Their portrayal of musical icons solidifies in a fascinating gem that will be remembered for ages. A Complete Unknown does not hold back in its faithfulness tothe portrayal of the history or the songs. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.

Film reviews

Nightbitch Review

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The title Nightbitch initially came across as harsh. I thought the meaning might mean point to  women showing their worst behavior after dark. Surprisingly, evening hours take on a whole new meaning in Nightbitch. Written and directed by Marielle Heller, an auteur force who has an eye for capturing bizarre conflicts with class. She did so with The Diary of a Teenage Girl, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, and What the Constitution Means to Me. My respect for Heller comes from her persistence in taking tolerance to a breaking point. Nightbitch has classical moments that fall apart drastically and are incredibly enticing.

Amy Adams is Mother in Nightbitch. Mother is her character’s name, and she appears to experience bipolar feelings. During moments of rage, the film has narrations using Adam’s voice on her point-of-view. Adams plays an introverted mother that hates the label of stay-at-home mom. Nightbitch is a unique approach of showcasing hidden frustrations waiting to be unleashed. The perception of a boring life goes through silly and clever changes. Despite the many thoughts in the mind of Mother, she has one massive concern, i.e. she has signs of turning into a dog. Is Mother losing her mind due to weird hormones clouding her thinking process? If anything, transforming into a dog may mean there are many messes in her future. Nightbitch has plenty of unexpected clean-ups. Heller’s writing is effective in illustrating how irritations can be overcome by fictional and humanistic factors.

The one who tries to be there for Mother is Husband. Husband is his character’s name, and he is played by Scoot McNairy. He is the bread winner who struggles to understand his spouse. The bipolar episodes occur sporadically as Adams plays a witch of an unprecedented and surreal nature in Nightbitch! She even says, “I am Nightbitch!” and later, Husband tells her, “Happiness is a choice.” The many ups and downs in Nightbitch keep viewers focused on Adams and her performance is worthy of careful attention.

This is one of the most messy and unusual roles I have seen Adams in. She has the ability display a presence where she can be happy, but internally she is a ferocious dog wanting to come out of her doghouse. Her performance is a new and artistic look at a mid-life crisis scenario.  The added and unique component is the risk that it is likely she is turning into a dog. It is like female hormones raging but with dog fur added leading to a twisted werewolf theme in Nightbitch. It is compelling with unexpected scenes, various outbursts, and all kinds of weirdness. Somehow it manages to flow and be intriguing. However, it resorts back to over-dramatizations a bit too frequently. Does the dog transformation completely happen? Nightbitch goes through a transition to seriousness that is close to brilliant and the fulfillment of the plot centering around the transformation leads to significant gratification. While it is unexpected and just a bit off-track, overall, two-and-a-half out of four stars for Nightbitch.

Film reviews

Nickel Boys Review

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Directed by RaMell Ross, this is one of the most spellbinding literary adaptations that will be remembered for ages. Nickel Boys is based on the Pulitzer winning novel written by Colson Whitehead. Nickel Boys is a revelation in the eyes of an authenticity—it weaves its audience into the journey of its main characters. Revolving around rough times in the 1960s, it is in an in-depth exploration that is remarkable. Ross wrote the screenplay with producer and writer Joslyn Barnes—together, they loop in cultural tides fighting to find the light in a troubled world.

The view point of Nickel Boys has its camera set up in a one-point perspective. It is seen through the eyes of its main characters as if the audience is in the role of a first-person shooting video game. Instead of playing as the “first-person” they are watching them. The two main characters are Elwood (played by Ethan Herisse) and Turner (played by Brandon Wilson). They are two friends who are as close as brothers. Elwood is wrongly accused of a crime and he is sent to the Nickel Academy where the boys meet. The friendship of both Elwood and Turner grows in the reform school they are attending. As they correlate and connect, the film’s approach to taking a stand is real—two African American men fighting for their rights is the dynamic of the friendship in Nickel Boys. 

Through rules and barriers looking to be broken, I found Nickel Boys to be one that finds a strong voice for fairness and equality. The frustration of racism and segregation goes full throttle for Elwood and Turner to stand tall. The notion of unfair treatment due to false accusations thrives with an award-winning achievement from the mind of Ross—the presence of suffrage and friendship are the bond which makes Nickel Boys Oscar-worthy. Barriers are meant to be broken, and once they are, thedoor is open to a point of no return. This creates a humanistic form of filmmaking that I have never seen before—it is elegant, focused, and heroic.

The rebellious nature of the film keeps the evolvement of purpose flowing rapidly. My appreciation for Nickel Boys is the hope and resilience that it brings through its entirety. I was dazzled by the film’s compelling form of writing, directing, and acting, as all three of those elements work to keep the film’s purpose intact. Set in a time when opportunity for education waslittle to none, the pattern of persistence and hope pervades here. Nickel Boys spirals with despair that turns vigorously into ambition.

Not only is Nickel Boys one of the best films of 2024, but it may also be the project of Moss’s career. A cinematic phenomenon that reminds its audience to not lose faith and reminding them of this era that was one of consistent trial and error through which one had to keep fighting. The reform school may be presented as a halting place of terror for two friends, but it is also the placewhere they can make a difference for themselves. Four out of four stars for Nickel Boys.