Dir - Joseph Kosinski
Overall: MEH
The same year that he got behind the lens on the mega blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinksi also delivered the dystopian, quasi-science fiction thriller Spiderhead on Netflix; a formulaic, plot-hole ridden adaptation of George Saunders' short story "Escape from Spiderhead". Somewhat tweaking the "pharmaceutical companies are bad" narrative, the film begins with an interesting set up on a super hi-tech, isolated, island penitentiary where the incarcerated enjoy a leisurely lifestyle so long as they voluntarily subject themselves to experimental drugs at the hands of Chris Hemsworth's clearly up to no good, overtly charming scientist. While each of the main character's backstories are well detailed, it all ultimately dissolves into a generic mad scientist romp that tosses its themes of forgiving one's own grievous sins somewhat into the ether. Because Hemsworth's character never once comes off as anything but completely shady, there are no jaw-dropping gasps to be had by discovering what he has in fact been up to the whole time, so how he pulled it off, why he went to such tactics to do so, and what/how the good guys handle it all raises several messy questions. It also does so while abusing the obnoxious trend of throwing way too many famous pop songs on the soundtrack for inappropriate comic relief. With a slick production design and charismatic performances, it at least wastes an hour and seven minutes of your time efficiently enough as far as popcorn munching schlock goes.
Dir - Chloe Okuno
Overall: MEH
After a series of shorts including a segment in V/H/S/94, writer/director Chloe Okuno delivered her full-length debut with the ultimately textbook thriller Watcher. Throughout large portions of the film, an almost overwhelming theme of paranoia is masterfully conveyed. As the fish out of water American wife to a marketing executive having recently moved to a country in which she does not speak the language, Maika Monroe's character gradually struggles more and more with her perceived notions that someone of unwholesome intent is spying on and following her. Just before the third act wraps up, it seems as if the audience will be left guessing and frustrated just as she is, which comparatively would have been a marvelous and unique way to go out. Regrettably though, the air is deflated with a weak ending that just makes the movie one of countless others that hammer home the cliche of nobody believing a woman's insistent "delusions". Clearly this is the point that Okuno is trying to make and the movie is flawlessly acted and photographed as well as being persistently moody in the best possible way. Still, it almost achieved something far more singular than it does and in turn only stands as a slightly above average entry into its well established genre.
Dir - J.J. Perry
Overall: GOOD
A particularly silly and bombastic debut from director J.J. Perry, Day Shift does not do much that can be considered substantially clever to the vampire mythos, but it is ham-fisted camp in the best, most knowable way. Script wise, this is as formulaic as A-list driven, popcorn movies get nowadays, with an easily digestible story where pretty much every likeable character makes it out with a few wise cracks in tow and hardly any of them take the stakes very serious. It all leans heavily into comedy as well as loud, implausible action sequences that cause a combination of amusement and a sense of numbness for those of us that have seen such ridiculous kicks, flips, punches, and superhuman weapon marksmanship countless times before. The plot holes are certainly there yet unimportant since it is all genuinely funny and in on its own deliberate, B-movie charm. Jamie Foxx has proven himself rather ideally equipped to handle any sort of material and he makes a solid, down on his luck undead hunter here with Snoop Dogg oozing his usual, effortless cool, Dave Franco making a gag of peeing his pants in the comic relief role, and Karla Souza chewing the scenery with her flashy fangs.
No comments:
Post a Comment