Movies
Godzilla: Minus One 🐉 ゴジラ-1.0
#TohoStudios
This was everything I never knew I needed from a Godzilla movie.
We are taken back in time to a post World War II Japan, where we follow Kōichi Shikishima, a kamikaze pilot who has had trouble coming to terms with the decisions he made during the war, and now must face the reality of a new terror, a terror known to those only through folktales as - Godzilla.
Not only was this one of the best movies of the year, it’s THE greatest Godzilla/Kaiju movie of all-time.
That's not hyperbole, it's just a fact of life.
For the record, I’m not the biggest Kaiju movie fan. They’re serviceable but at the same time it just ends up being CGI-fluff that never emotionally attaches you to any of what’s going on, or they end up rehashing stories (King Kong I’m looking at you) that feel too similar to the movies that have come before it.
This takes the devastating nature of the Kaiju seriously, and actually allows Godzilla to be the intimidating monster we rarely get to see him as.
Most of the time he’s like a shadowy figure who lurks until the end of a movie, but in this he leaves his mark from the very beginning. That beginning to me was equivalent to seeing the T-Rex in the original Jurassic Park for the first time. Godzillas intimidating stature, and ferocious power is on full display, which is one of the many reasons I suggest you watch this in IMAX.
Godzilla is an apex predator, and it was about time we started treating him that way.
Both this and Oppenheimer are set during World War II, but it was interesting to see the way each navigates this time period.
Oppenheimer to me, is a movie searching for perfection.
It’s undeniable in quality, performance, and direction - like a steady hand that never needs to pack a punch, because it’s better utilized carefully crafting this meticulously designed capturing of a moment in time.
This is it's polar opposite.
Godzilla: Minus One chooses to rock the boat with one of the most memorable, roaring cinematic experiences of the year.
This is not a movie searching for perfection, it will captive audiences in spite of its imperfections.
It’s perfectly, imperfect.
We rarely get non-superhero, event/blockbuster type theatre experiences anymore - this is that.
Godzilla: Minus One is a heartfelt, edge of your seat drama, a survival epic that immerses us into this world where we learn the difference between living to die & dying to live.
Enjoy!
8.9/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs04mins
Where: In Theatres December 1st.
Godzilla: Minus One Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Godzilla #Kaiju #Japan #Movie #MovieReview #GodzillaMinusOne
Dream Scenario ☁️
Have you ever wondered what if Freddy Krueger was just a normal guy who didn’t intentionally enter dreams but somehow ended up being the bad guy in everyone’s dreams anyways?
Yeah me neither, but #DreamScenario shockingly delivers an oddly compelling story for how a situation like that would potentially unfold.
Dream Scenario stars Nicholas Cage as Paul Matthews, an unassuming evolutionary biology professor at a university who ends up getting caught in a worldwide phenomenon where everyone begins to have dreams of him. Initially these dreams don’t have much going on other than making him a familiar face, but as his fame increases the dreams begin to take a much darker turn.
I have no idea how this movie flew completely under the radar because this is a buzz worthy film that definitely deserves the fan fair set to come its way.
When I was younger I used to have the wildest dreams, and one of my favourite parts about dreams is trying to interpret what they meant. In this case dreams play out like an astral projection, as Paul Matthews begins to feel the weight of his invisible existence as an average Joe, and somehow unconsciously lets others see how he sees himself.
There’s an acknowledgment of the fact by the collective that these are dreams, but as things progressively get worse a hint of fear terrorizes the world as they start feeling more like lived experiences. A sort of hive mind synchronicity plays out where the world tries to make sense of the dejavu, Mandela effect of it all leading to wild journey for a man who never willingly took any of this on.
I think that’s the only part I wish I knew more about but also simultaneously glad they kept it ambiguous to leave a little mystery, where like a dream - we’re left to interpret how this all plays out, or what any of it truly meant.
This may be listed as a comedy but it has so much more going on than just the end of any of its jokes, and I’m not one for toilet humour but this has one of the best uses of a fart I think I’ve ever seen, the comedic timing couldn’t have been any better.
Dream scenario is the sleeper hit of the year, as a humbling tale of a man who might’ve been better off being the zebra hiding in the herd, rather than being all consumed by his own self interest.
Enjoy!
8/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr40mins
Where: Playing in Select Cities November 24th, Opening Nationwide December 1st.
Dream Scenario Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#MovieReview #Movie #NicholasCage #Dreams #Nightmare #A24 #DreamScenario
Wish 🌟
When you wish upon a star, it makes no difference who you are - and Asha is really hoping that’s the case. Ashas grandpa Valentino will be turning 100 in a few days, and she’s trying to convince the Sorcerer King Magnifico that her grandpa is worthy of his magical ability to grant wishes. When Asha realizes her plea is falling on deaf ears she takes it upon herself to free her families wishes, turning her towns King into formidable foe, while making an unlikely ally along the way.
This film capped off the 100th anniversary year for Walt Disney Studio, and like most of Disneys 2023 - this film fails to impress beyond its surface level resemblance to the (animated) Disney movies that have come before it.
That’s not to say it’s not worth watching, as the real magic of the film is Ariana Debose commanding performance of Asha, a character who could’ve fell completely flat but instead soared with a voice that will definitely enchant moviegoers.
I think that will be the legacy of this film, the songs are some of the best Disney has put out since Frozen but as good as the songs are the irrational motivations of the characters, and the lack of buildup for a story that seemed to have higher ambitions than its end product, leaves a lot to be desired.
Those ambitions seemed to hint at a much larger world, and characters from all across Disneys rogue gallery that ended up being more winks and nods, than any potentially epic execution.
It had a chance to play out the Shrek style fairy-tale verse, that would’ve instead used Disney characters, which would have been a thunderous way to end off their 100th year but we are left with a story that seems to admire it’s past, while forgetting to do what’s it’s always done - which is trailblaze it’s future.
Wish is going to be a huge hit for those looking to get a quick Disney fix, that may be loved by some and leave others unmoved, but gave me enough of the classic Disney goodness to leave the theatre satisfied.
Enjoy!
6.5/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr35mins
Where: In Theatres November 22nd.
End Credit Scene: ✅
Wish Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
Disneys Wish Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#WishMovie #MovieReview #Movie #ArianaDebose #ChrisPine #AlanTudyk #Wish #Disney #Animation #Disney
Bottoms 📚
It’s not that they’re gay, it’s that they’re “untalented and ugly.”
Best friends PJ (Rachel Sonnet) and Josie (Ayo Edebiri) are about to enter their senior year of high school plagued by the thought they might end the year virgins. Instead of remaining the awkward outcasts they’ve always been, they’ve decided to start a school club with the hopes it’ll introduce them to girls, and get them laid. The club? a “self-defence” fight club.
This was as if Superbad and John Tucker Must Die had a love child, it was incredible! I honestly don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard.
Bottoms does not work without the palpable chemistry of the two main leads. Rachel Sonnet continues her reign as the new queen of comedy, as Ayo Edebiri proves she’s can’t miss on the big screen (and small).
The story of best friends in high school who don’t fit the traditional mold of what it means to be lady-like is something we don’t see on screen enough, showing the side of girls who can be just as bro-y and horny as their male counterparts.
They do such a good job of flipping the script, showing these girls trying to finesse their crushes into joining the club using any sales tactic they can possibly think of like “lack of female solidarity at the school.” with the clear and hilarious intention of trying to get in their pants.
For some the end, that plays out like some outlandish fever dream, might not work but for me it just added to the great absurdity of everything that goes in this movie.
From No Hard Feelings, Joy Ride, and now Bottoms - this years batch of female-led comedies has given us the best year the genre has had in forever - with Bottoms being the best comedy we’ve had in over a decade. Highly recommend!
Enjoy!
7.9/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr33mins
Where: Streaming on Prime Video November 21st.
#MovieReview #Movie #RachelSennot #AyoEdebirib #PrimeVideo #Bottoms
Napoleon 🇫🇷
Napoleon is based on the real life story of a French military commander turned Emperor, and how the love of his life would end up shaping the man the history books would remember him as.
This movie isn’t half as serious as it needed to be, to be the historical-drama epic it wanted to be.
It’s disorienting because the cinematography is phenomenal, the opening scene immediately immerses you into 1800 France but then we get Joaquin Phoenix as an Americanized version of Napoleon Bonaparte, and you find yourself wondering how this poor attempt at a British (?) accent was even allowed to make it on screen.
That’s the problem with the whole movie, it orbits around Joaquin Phoenix performance so as good as someone like Vanessa Kirby was - it inevitably didn’t matter. It wasn’t just him though, it’s a lot of the choices to make accents universally ambiguous - that at times took away from who was who in battle.
Ridley Scott has made some interesting choices as of late, from the Last Duel to House of Gucci - it feels like accents isn’t a detail that worries him.
It’s also worth noting that if you don’t have general knowledge of Napoleon I think a lot of the more redeeming qualities of this movie will go over your head, especially the wink-wink jokes made at his expense.
I’m harping on one point but there are some creatively shot battle scenes in here that are taken in a way that entrenches you in the battle just as much as any of the soldiers on screen. It really put an emphasis on the strategic aspect of the battles rather than just the brutality of it all which I appreciated.
The way this story abruptly movies through certain times in Napoleons life makes it quite obvious that this was shortened for its theatrical release. The much talked about four-hour cut probably would’ve helped with the whiplash pace of the first half. It does get better in the second half but by that point it’s hard to get emotionally invested in any of what’s going on.
Napoleon is a complicated watch, that looks the part but never gets the performance out of its lead to be the historical epic it had the potential of being.
Enjoy!
6.5/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs38mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
Napoleon Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#MovieReview #Movie #France #French #SonyPictures #Napoleon
The Marvels
The Marvels follows Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel), Monica Rambeau, and Kamala Khan (Ms. Marvel) as there powers suddenly get tangled together, forcing them to swap places - while getting caught up in the new Kree leaders plan to make a move against the Skrulls.
There’s been a lot of preemptive discourse around this movie regarding potential box office bombing, and poor reviews, but I for one found this to be a fun, chuckle filled buddy-comedy. It’s that simple.
This may not dive into anything special emotionally, or add anything to change the universe as we know it but the chemistry between the three leads, and the comedic timing of Iman Vellani allow this movie to be the romping adventure that it clearly set out to be.
Iman Vellani showcases that her shoulders are worthy of carrying a feature film, in a performance that cements her as the superhero she’s always dreamed of being.
Carol Danvers character still feels a bit hollow, with a lot more show than tell in regards to her power but that’s less on Brie Larson and more on the stories she’s been added into.
I do wish we got more of Teyonah Parris, she’s a tremendous actress that’s star is on the rise but after seeing the mid-credit scene (the best we’ve gotten in ages - worth waiting 👀 ) I’ll happily hold and wait on the story she has to come.
My biggest worry going into this was what they were going to do with my guy Park Seo Joon, and though he had limited screen time - they gave him the perfect role in a truly swoon worthy performance.
This isn’t perfect, it has a forgettable villain, and it’s another comic book story that most likely deserved a larger scale of story but the bond between the main three, and the loveable Khan family - was enough for me.
The Marvels is a lively story about sisterhood, that will be better remembered for its mid-credit scene - that will act as a bridge for the epic story that’s to come.
Enjoy!
7.2/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr45mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
Mid-Credit Scene: ✅
The Marvels Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#MCU #MarvelStudios #CaptainMarvel #Disney #Movie #MovieReview
The Killer 🔫
The Killer follows Michael Fassbender as a hit man for hire, who must face the consequence of a hit gone wrong.
Have you ever wondered what a hitman is thinking leading up to, during, and after his hit? Well look no further because David Finchers latest thriller takes us deep into the mind of a hired Killer.
The stoic nature in which Michael Fassbender plays The Killer character is the driving force that allows this movie to methodically pace itself without ever feeling like it’s dragging.
I was really into the way they used the inner dialogue of the main character to guide us through the path he takes, showing that sometimes it’s just as simple as a man his gun, a name, and a body.
It also does a great job of reverse engineering this simple yet reflective story, which is told in a way that makes you feel like you’re experiencing the burden of his mistake with him.
We normally get the highlight reel in a spy type thriller but this does the exact opposite by giving us a look into the more mundane moments in his day, to the eventual adrenaline rush that comes from the many counter measures placed against him.
This action-thriller flips the script isolating you through a momentum of decisions that will make or break the willpower of a man out for revenge, who is dead set on setting the record straight - he’s undeniable, untraceable, and will do anything to protect the ones he loves.
Enjoy!
7.5/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr55mins
Where: Streaming on Netflix Friday
The Killer Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#MovieReview #Movie #Action #Netflix #TheKiller
The Boy and the Heron 🦢 君たちはどう生きるか
The Boy and the Heron follows Mahito, a 12 year old boy who while grieving the loss of his mother is forced to relocate to a small town in the countryside, so that his father can aid Japans military efforts during the Second World War.
Mahito struggles to fit in with the locals and isolates himself from the world at large, but when a creature begins to berate him about his late mother - Mahito takes it upon himself to journey out to the forbidden tower where this Heron resides - where he gets transported to a world far beyond his wildest dreams.
There’s just something about the richness of the worlds Studio Ghibli and Hayao Miyazaki create, and the escapism they provide, that has been dearly missed in the world of cinema.
This creation is one of Miyazakis most reflective pieces of work yet.
In its own unique way it captures the mind of a man stuck between two realms of thought. The childlike wonder that continues to run through his veins, and the legacy one leaves behind.
You’ll notice hints, winks, and nods to a lot of Ghibli films like Kiki’s Delivery Service, Howls Moving Castle, and My Neighbour Totoro - which was done with clear intention.
I felt like the idea of legacy being played out in this was a way for him to come to terms with his son not being able to live up to his expectations, and him acknowledging that his son should probably carve out his own path in life.
I’ll admit I may be way off on all of this, but when I think about all the moments in this movie and that potentially being the meaning behind everything, it makes the whole story more impactful.
The average viewer may not know the strained relationship between Miyazaki and his son Goro so I’m not sure if the surface level, beautifully hand drawn animation, and mystical world we get to explore will be enough.
Even though I was unsure of how I felt leaving the theatre, giving myself the time to ponder the deeper meaning of the movie made me appreciate it in ways I didn’t initially.
I’m still playing catch up on Studio Ghibli movies, but this is definitely near the top of my list.
This is a wonder-filled, inspiringly crafted tale of the eternal battle one has with Father Time, the legacy we leave behind, and coming to the realization that you may have no control over how much time you have left - but what you can control is how you use that time.
Enjoy!
7.9/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs05mins
Where: In Theatres December 8, 2023.
The Boy and the Heron Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
君たちはどう生きるか Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Movie #MovieReview #Anime #Manga #Ghibli #HayaoMiyazaki #StudioGhibli #VIFF2023 #TheBoyandtheHeron
Speak No Evil 🐇
Speak No Evil follows a quiet Danish family in Bjørn, Louise and their young daughter Agnes, who befriend a rambunctious Dutch family, while on vacation in Tuscany. A few weeks after being back home, the Danish family receive a surprise letter from their new friends inviting them over for a getaway that quickly turns into a nerve wracking trip from hell.
The decisions made in this movie are enough to drive anyone mad, but it’s also what makes this movie so good.
Horror movies are at their best when characters throw caution to the wind, especially when it comes to obvious warning signs. In this it’s less obvious, more of a strong gut-feeling but as the Danish family begins to realize, maybe they should’ve listened to their guts.
Bjørn and Louise are clearly at odds with life, leading them to be passive to their own needs in favour of the world around them. Those passive tendencies are part of the pent up energy coursing through the veins of this family, which is the quiet pulse that drives this story forward.
This slow burn will cook you into a panic inducing paranoia, gripping you with an unshakable tension, and shocking you with an ending you won’t see coming. If this movie teaches us anything it’s that we should leave our vacation on vacation, and that sometimes bad things happen to us because we let them.
Enjoy!
7.3/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr37mins
Where: Shudder
Speak No Evil Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Thriller #Horror #Movie #MovieReview #SpeakNoEvil
Fair Play 💵
Fair Play follows Luke and Emily, a young couple that are both trying to make it big at a hedge fund but when one gets a promotion over the other, their relationship gets put to the ultimate test.
Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich deliver two of the most gripping performances of the year, grabbing your attention from the start and not letting go - even when the credits roll.
It’s a masterful exploration of the dynamics in an office romance.
The story starts off as workplace and romance, but as they begin to bleed into one another you start to notice the fractures of a once budding relationship.
We have Luke, who seems stuck trying to live up to the expectation of a man in Wall Street and Emily, who manages what it’s like being in a male dominated industry with sheer grit and determination - demanding respect with no remorse.
The power dynamics of a relationship are on full display, as an insecure man most come to terms with playing second fiddle to his ambitious, hardworking partner - which quietly takes its toll on him.
What I adored most about this movie is how raw and honest the portrayals were. The performances used body language to perfection, showing the subtle signs of exhaustion from pent up frustration, and patterns of abuse that aren’t often seen until one gains hindsight. None of that can be achieved without the incredible performances by Phoebe Dynevor and Alden Ehrenreich.
There’s something so tragic about the cyclical nature of how this story unfolds. You can’t “unspill blood.” defines the entirety of this spiralling saga of heartbreak.
Fair Play eclipsed so many movies I’ve watched this year, jumping straight into my Top 5 of 2023. It’s a sexy, daring, tornado of toxicity - in a story about a relentless pursuit for power, and love.
Enjoy!
8.5/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr53mins
Where: Toronto International Film Festival & Streaming on Netflix October 6th
Fair Play Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#MovieReview #Movie #Netflix #TIFF2023 #FairPlay
Anatomy of a Fall 🏕️ Anatomie d’une chute
The 2023 Cannes Palme d’Or winner Anatomy of a Fall is about a woman who becomes the main suspect in the mysterious death of her husband, and the key to this case is her partially blind son - who is the only witness.
This movie starting off with the Bacao Rhythm & Steel Bands cover of 50 Cents P.I.M.P. threw me off but also ended up being the perfect hook to sink my teeth into this wildly engaging family drama.
As the case unfolds you begin to gain intimate details of what this family was like behind closed doors, and it’s easy to judge what may be true - but what you begin to see is the years of context that are lost to those only observing through the trial.
The more that’s uncovered the more suspicious everything becomes, and as the potential motives begin to unravel you as the viewer have a harder time remaining neutral against the undeniably damning evidence.
It is a deconstruction of the nuclear family in a way I’ve never seen on screen.
I appreciated the honest way in which the story distorts the framework of a seemingly content family and is able to depict the individual components for what they truly are, people who willingly come together for good intentions but are not just mother/father/son or writer/teacher/student - they are much more complex than the boxes we want to put them in.
The core of this story is about resenting the life you’ve lived, longing for the life you had, and enduring the life you’re living.
This is the first Palme d’Or film I’ve enjoyed since 2019s Parasite, catapulted by a remarkably emotional performance by Milo Machado Graner.
No stoned is left unturned in this profoundly captivating procedural drama about a family at a cross roads, leading you one way, convincing you of another - all while keeping you guessing until the very end.
Enjoy!
8.3/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs32mins
Where: Vancouver International Film Festival & In Theatres October 20th.
Anatomy of a Fall Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
Anatomie d’une chute Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#Movie #MovieReview #VIFF2023 #AnatomyofaFall
The Creator 🌾
The Creator is set in the year 2069 and follows Joshua, an American Solider who is sent undercover to New Asia to find the puppet master orchestrating the continued creation of Artificial Intelligence - a movement America is dead set on stopping.
Gareth Edwards (Director of Star Wars: Rogue One) has carefully crafted one of the most uniquely original worlds to grace the big screen since the original Avatar.
It’s an achievement of epic proportions being able to create something from scratch, that may take inspiration from sci-fi stories that have come before it but is still fully realized and rooted in its own identity.
I especially loved what they did with New Asia. It made a continent feel like one country, using advancements in technology to allow people to communicate with each other without having to rely on a singular language.
Then we the Americans, who oppose the continued relationship New Asia has with AI on a philosophical level - but more so because of the potential shift in power that can create since they’ve banned all use of it.
The story of a global pro and anti AI movement feels timely and is a fair cause for concern, unfortunately the inconsistencies in the plot take away from what could’ve been a worth while story. This may have the scale of something that is larger than life but I recommend an AI story more along the lines of Mars Express (a French animated film that will be coming to theatres soon) that really nails the dynamic between human/AI and what our intertwined futures could look like.
I’d compare this to something like Bladerunner, where what you’re seeing on screen is so ambitious that if you’re like me, you’ll be willing to give a pass to the story losing itself in its misguided “heroes” journey.
This has some of the most awe-inspiring world building of any epic sci-fi story/movie in recent memory, deserving so much praise for its originality, and though story didn’t quite do it for me - I can’t deny the escapism this world provides.
Enjoy!
7.2/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs14mins
Where: In Theatres Tomorrow
The Creator Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#MovieReview #Movie #20thCentury #TheCreator
Dumb Money ⚖️
Dumb Money follows the true story of Keith Gill, known to some as Roaring Kitty or r/DeepFuckingValue, and his battle against a group of billionaire hedge fund CEOs, who had to gang together to stop the incredible rise of the GameStop stock.
I’ll be honest, this played more like a horror movie than the comedy it’s presented as because it became a reminder of how much money I potentially lost out on during the pandemic. 🥲 I’m only half joking, but in all seriousness this movie is cut from the same cloth as Air and Blackberry, movies that give real life underdog stories the highlight bravado they ultimately deserve - making this one of the most fun watches of 2023.
Air was before my time, BlackBerry I was too young to understand or care about, but Dumb Money is a story that I think majority of viewers will have lived through.
The pandemic was an interesting time for obvious reasons, one of them being the rise of stocks, crypto, and NFTs. Your friends, neighbours, coworkers - everyone seemed in on it, it was inescapable. What Keith was able to do by simply presenting his thoughts in an honest and earnest way, overtime gathering a cohort of believers through YouTube and Reddit is an incredible feat.
I appreciated how they showed all of the other types of people who became invested in this moon stock movement, galvanizing the internet to fight against the gatekeeping big wigs. To not sell when you’re making 10x the amount you put in for the sake of the principle of the matter, takes some serious balls and clearly earned a lot of respect. By the end of this you’ll have nothing but admiration for Keith Gill, and come to the conclusion that all hedge fund CEOs are scumbags, that clearly manipulate the market for their own self interest.
This modern day David vs Goliath story is a ridiculously entertaining watch, a true crowd-pleaser that will have those (like myself) who missed out on the Gamestop stock, feel like they missed a chance to be a part of history.
Enjoy!
7.8/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr44mins
Where: In Theatres
Dumb Money Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Movie #MovieReview #ElevationPictures #DumbMoney
It Lives Inside 🪔
It Lives Inside follows Samidha, an East Indian teenager that begins to shift away from her culture in an attempt to fit in at high school. All of that changes when her childhood friend pleas for her help, claiming the scary stories they used to hear as kids from their parents, weren’t just stories - they were true, and they are coming after her.
There’s a goldmine of stories in East Indian culture to mine from that deserve the Hollywood treatment, and though this had the makings of a classic horror movie, it just couldn’t put the pieces together.
Megan Suri (Samidha) deserves all the praise, as disjointed as this story is, her performance is the stabilizing force that allows the viewer to feel the fear of her character - that the story isn’t able to provide.
The connective tissue between the cases involved lacked any consequence, which took away from the seriousness of the sinister nature of whatever demonic spirit was at play.
The second generation relationship to the motherland, and the passing on of cultural values is something we don’t see too often - and its true to how a lot of kids react when having their parents push traditions and values that they have no connection with.
As you go through life there’s a want to know where your family comes from, that I felt this story could’ve dived into more. I felt it would’ve allowed the relationship between Samidha, her mom, and her culture the chance to come full circle - and tie into the evil that was lurking throughout this story.
I love getting scared, and watching scary movies, but in this I felt the idea what was happening was more scary than whatever I was seeing on screen.
It creeps and haunts more than it scares, taking western minds through an East Indian folktale that is meant to terrorize the souls of the non-believers.
Enjoy!
6.3/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr40mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
It Lives Inside Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#MovieReview #Movie #ItLivesInside #ElevationPictures
A Haunting in Venice 🔮
A Haunting in Venice follows world renowned detective Hercule Poirot, who while trying to settle into retirement life in Venice, continues to be berated by the city locals to solve crimes he no longer has interest in. That quickly changes when an old friend invites him to séance on Halloween night to help spot the con of an infamous psychic - but they quickly learn that whatever it is that’s going on, is rooted in something much more sinister.
For some people it’s Sherlock Holmes, for others it may be Benoit Blanc - but my favourite detective is Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot.
This was a welcomed return to Hercule's world of murder mysteries, and a HUGE step up from what was an underwhelming sequel in Death on the Nile.
I love how it didn’t shy away from the spiritual aspect of the haunted palazzo, instead they chose to double down on the spookiness and create a traditional haunted house feel, leaning into tropes that felt like they were from a bygone era - but worked really well within the story being told.
This also reunites us with Belfast (2021) stars Jamie Dornan and the young but extremely talented Jude Hill, in another father/son pairing. Jude Hill proves that Belfast wasn’t a fluke, as he stole every scene he was in, outperforming all the adults in the room. I was honestly blown away at the maturity in his performance.
The cast as a whole don’t have a whole lot to do, but because the tension building is so strong and the atmosphere is so eerie you won’t be able to help but get swept up in wanting to know who the culprit is.
I will say the ending does does a feel a tad bit rushed but the buildup alone is worth heading to the theatre for, especially if you enjoy a good jump scare.
Murder on the Orient Express is still the best of this series, but A Haunting in Venice is a close second.
This is a quintessential watch for the Halloween season, in a murder mystery filled with the perfect amount of thrills, and chills reminding us all that if you hide from your ghosts - they will find you.
Enjoy!
7.6/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr47mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
#MovieReview #Movie #KennethBranagh #MichelleYeoh #JamieDornan #KyleAllen #TinaFey #20thCenturyStudios #AHauntingInVenice
Gran Turismo 🏎️
Gran Turismo follows the true story of Jann Mardenborough, an online gamer who gets scouted by Nissan to participate in a ‘gamer to racer’ contest that will allow him the chance to live out his dream - a dream of going up against professional racers - that’s if he can beat his gamer counter parts first.
Either I’m living under a rock, or not a big enough deal was made about this unbelievable true story.
The amount of kids out there that at some point have a dream of somehow turning gaming into a profitable profession I’m sure is a lot, but for someone to not only do that but then parlay it into a transferable skill of living the game they’ve played is incredible!
It’s a lot of story to pack into two hours of movie, which makes for some jumpy moments that kind of speed run through and gloss over plot points that would’ve helped develop the character more for a general audience.
For myself, I always enjoy underdog stories (as cliche as they may be) and the true story factor allowed me to just vibe with what the movie wanted to be without judging it for its inability to hold a moment.
If anything this movie left me wanting more car-centric Initial D type stories, and less of these larger than life Fast and the whatever type series.
Also - Orlando Bloom may not be giving Legolas, but he’s definitely does a tremendous job of channeling his inner Christian Horner.
This may not be the greatest movie you’ll ever see but in the same vein as a Dungeons and Dragons it’s a pleasant surprise, that I can see inspiring a whole new generation of gamers, and drivers.
Gran Turismo is packed with bass heavy car races, that will infuse audiences with adrenaline, in a true story that drives home a worthwhile theatre experience.
Enjoy!
7.3/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 2hrs15mins
Where: In Theatres Aug 25th
Gran Turismo Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Cars #Racing #ArchieMadekwe #DavidHarbour #OrlandoBloom #MovieReview #Movie #SonyPictures #GranTurismo
Strays 🐶
Strays follows Reggie, a happy go lucky dog who ends up getting abandoned in a random alley by his lowlife owner, Doug. Reggie ends up meeting other stray dogs in Bugs, Maggie, and Hunter, who show him that there may be more to life than being a good boy.
If you’re a dog owner, lover, or advocate - you’re going to get a kick out of this movie.
Obviously you’ll have to enjoy raunchy, toilet-humour type comedy but I thought it actually played well when combined with the relationship dynamics between different dogs, and especially when they’d create these personalities out of specific dogs breeds, that had me howling.
Okay, maybe not howling but I definitely was in a chuckling “what the f am I watching?” type state for most of the movie.
There’s also a wholesome factor to this that makes it feel like a parody of a what would normally be a Disney type, dog-centric story, then the absurdly out of pocket moments hit and you’re reminded of what you’re actually watching.
This won’t be for everyone, but I personally was in the right head space after a long days work to just enjoy some dumb fun humor, and I’m a dog guy so that helped as well.
Strays does not strive to be anything more than what it is, serving its purpose as a feel good comedy that will have you leaving the theatre ready to remind your dog what a good boy, or girl they are.
Enjoy!
5.9/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr33mins
Where: In Theatres
Strays Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Movie #MovieReview #JamieFoxx #WillFerrell #IslaFisher #RandallPark #WillForte #Comedy #Dog #UniversalPictures #Strays
The Blackening ♟️
The Blackening follows a group of friends who’ve rented out a remote cabin to celebrate Juneteenth together, but this seemingly innocent weekend getaway quickly turns into a night from hell when a board game found in the basement begins to decide the fate of each member of the group - forcing them to rely on their scary movie knowledge to stay alive.
This was such a dumb, fun watch.
It was like a spoof of I Know What You Did Last Summer, with stereotypes of characters you’ve seen in scary movies before. The funny part is they feel they’re so above everything that’s going on that they spend most of their time rolling their eyes at the formulaic horror tropes that ensue, while simultaneously trying to tough the whole situation out.
That’s not to say that the scares aren’t there, they just feel second fiddle to the comedic timing of everything else going on around them.
The story is also an interesting take on cultural identity, poking fun at the notion that one’s blackness isn’t something that can be quantified or dictated because of one’s interests (or lack of), and shouldn’t be the driving force in casting someone aside for not fitting into the stereotypical norms.
For me the buildup is what makes this movie worth the watch, because by the end the jokes become repetitive and the momentum it had built up - ends up fizzling out.
Regardless, I think there’s fun to be had for anyone willing to give this a shot. It’s a classic horror/comedy from a bygone era - that will have you second guessing who you invite to your party.
Enjoy!
6.8/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr36mins
The Blackening Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#Horror #Comedy #MovieReview #Movie #LionsgateFilms #TheBlackening
Shortcomings 🌳
Shortcomings follows best friends Ben and Alice, who are both having trouble dating in San Francisco. Alice finds herself running away from commitment, while Ben has become this overbearing boyfriend who finds himself at odds with the fact his girlfriend Miko, wants a break.
The two friends end up exploring worlds outside the ones they’ve grown comfort in, just to come to the bitter realization that maybe they were the problems all along.
If you have someone in your life that has a lack of self awareness, take them to watch this movie.
I can’t remember the last time I was so frustrated and annoyed at a character, but Ben was able to bring those emotions out of me.
He is hyper aware of the issues plaguing the world, is also quick to make moralistic generalizations, but is completely unaware of the fact that the lens he views the world in is jaded because of his inability to amount to more than those around him.
The story is able to capture the exhaustion that comes with being around someone like that, someone who moves through life using self deprecation as a wall to guard against their own shortfalls, so that they can take power away from the pain they would feel if someone else were to acknowledge it first.
This has been a great year for Asian-led storytelling, where we have movies like this, Past Lives, and Joy Ride, all three handling the same ideas of male/female dynamics and Asian representation in completely different, yet refreshing ways.
Also, Stephanie Hsu is really coming into her own. She has so much command in the scenes she is in, and has developed a really engaging screen presence. I’m excited to see where her career takes her.
Shortcomings navigates the Asian diaspora in a way that provides a unique perspective, becoming a heavy handed gut punch of a reminder that some people need to hit rock bottom - to get a real dose of reality.
Enjoy!
7.3/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr41mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
Shortcomings Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#JustinHMin #AllyMaki #SherryCola #JacobBatalon #StephanieHsu #RonnyChieng #MovieReview #Movie #SonyClassic #Shortcomings
Slam Dunk: The First Slam Dunk 🏀
Slam Dunk: The First Slam Dunk follows the point guard of Shohoku High School, Miyagi Riyota - as he reminisces back on his personal struggles leading up to the inter-high championships, where he is set to face off against the most dominate team in the country, Sannoh High School.
Will the years worth of hard work, heartbreak, and dedication be enough? Or will Sannohs championship pedigree be too much to handle?
This was one of the best in theatre experiences I’ve ever had. People were cheering at every made basket, sighing at misses, and literally slow clapping at the end like it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals. It was awesome.
The movie starts off like a real game, and unfolds just the same, but in true anime fashion - throughout the battles taking place on the court, we get some incredible flashbacks to provide extra context and insight into the importance of this moment for these high school players.
I remember trying to watch the original anime series and getting a few episodes in before I dropped it, but after watching this I wish I had powered through because this is some of the smartest on-court storytelling I’ve seen. Using the battle through a pick and roll, or the dive for a loose ball to tell a story within the story, about teammates who may have been at odds but found respect for each through their common goal, was so beautifully told.
When I saw the trailer for this I was skeptical about the animation style but I’m glad I was proven wrong. The fluidity of the movement, and the details in emotion, to the perfectly captured sound of the sneaker hitting the hardwood and the bass in the bounce of the ball created a realistic atmosphere that will transport you into this gymnasium and have you ready to root for these underdogs.
It’s an inspiring story about comradery, about the lessons that come with wins and losses, and learning not to use that chip on your shoulder as a crutch, but as a building block for a better future.
I can’t wait to watch this again!
Enjoy!
8.7/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs04mins
Where: Now Playing In Theatres
Slam Dunk: The First Slam Dunk Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Basketball #NBA #Anime #Manga #SlamDunkMovie #アニメ #漫画 #SlamDunkTheFirstSlamDunk
Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem 🥷
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem follows four teenage turtle brothers who are stuck living in the sewers of New York with their Rat father, who continues to plead that they stay underground because the human race is not accepting of their kind.
These knuckleheads choose not to listen, instead they take up a high school journalist on her offer to document their good deeds, with the hope it gets them the acceptance they’ve always wanted.
What the Spider-Verse franchise did for Miles Morales, this is going to do for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
It’s a movie that is truly of its time, with this zany tiktok-er type energy that is matched alongside what can only be considered negative rizz, which ends up capturing the heart and soul of what has always made these four turtles so lovable - but for an entirely new generation.
The story contrasts two different journeys of revenge and peace, for characters who unknowingly are down the same path - one needing the other to understand the error of their ways - and to realize that being yourself will always be enough for the right people.
Personally, I connected with the entirety of the turtle-centric story but the design and execution of the villain just wasn’t for me. That’s personal preference more than anything, and it would’ve probably leaped over Spider-verse if it wasn’t for my lack of interest in that aspect of the story.
Even with that, I’m excited to see more of these characters over the next decade, and after that tease of what’s to come, I need the sequel sooner rather than later because I AM HYPED.
From it's neon-infused animation style, the New York centric soundtrack, and the energetic nature of these Ninja trained turtles - this is undoubtedly going to be a summer hit - and birth a whole new generation of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle fans.
Enjoy!
7.6/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr49mins
Where: In Theatres Wednesday
Mid-Credit Scene: ✅
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#JackieChan #SethRogen #AyoEdebiri #JohnCena #IceCube #PaulRudd #MovieReview #Movie #Animation #TMNT #TMNTMovie #Paramount #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtleMutantMayhem
Theatre Camp 🎭
Theatre Camp follows a summer camp set to take on another year of students, but when the camp founder falls ill it’s up to her head in the clouds son to come in and take charge. This proves to be a great ground for his entrepreneurial influencer content, but may end up being a complete disaster for everyone else.
Did I take drama in school? Yes. Was I an oversized Lord Farquaad in the Shrek school play? Maybe.
Even with all that, I personally could not connect with this movie.
This was made specifically for the diehard theatre kids who would sacrifice a bit of their childhood for the chance to get closer to their dreams of being part of a big production, and about honing and respecting the craft of a stage play by putting in the work to be the most well rounded performer they can be.
Juxtapose that against the camp teachers, who were in the same space not too long ago but now find themselves living vicariously through their students, knowing deep down inside they’d much rather be the performer.
We need more movies like this, that don’t try to pander (or be approved) by a large audience, but be made for a targeted one who will eat every bit of it up.
My score isn’t indicative of the quality (or story) but more so my own personal enjoyment of what I watched.
This is a reminder, if anything - that not every movie needs to be for everyone.
I respect the hell out of any movie for being unapologetically what it wants to be. This had an endearing quality about it that will either inspire some to take up acting, or make those who’ve lived that life - feel seen.
Enjoy!
5.9/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr32mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
Theatre Camp Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#TheatreCampMovie #MollyGordon #BenPlatt #JimmyTatro #AyoEdebiri #Searchlight #TheatreCamp
Talk to Me 🤚🏽
Talk to Me follows a group of high school friends who set out to take on the latest viral trend, grabbing the hand of an embalmed shaman, that based on the videos circulating around town - will get you in touch with the dead.
On the surface this comes across as a traditional horror story filled with jump scares, the presence of tortured demonic spirits, all through the lens of teenagers with a naive sense of invincibility - but it’s actually a lot deeper than that.
It was a microcosm of how fast life can spiral out of control, especially after a handful (pun intended) of fun-intentioned, bad decisions.
After giving it some thought, I THINK the story was a metaphor for drug use as a teenager, use that is driven by the urge to fit in instead of standing out, that in it’s own twisted way acknowledges that one wrong dose or even the potential of catching an addiction - can make that one moment an eternity.
I’m not sure if that’s what the movie was getting at but the horror elements were a lot more haunting looking back with that in mind, than it was while I watching it.
I think if you’re naturally a fearful person this movie will definitely get you to bite on the scares, and for those who are a bit too logical during watches and have trouble suspending disbelief - you’ll find yourself laughing at a lot of the ridiculous shock factor moments sprinkled throughout this movie.
Initially I left the theatre underwhelmed but after giving it more thought I appreciated the creative take on the subject matter, that will admittedly come across as random if you don’t sit with it for bit.
It’s a morbid take on youthful exuberance gone awry, in a tale about one’s misplaced conviction - that will have you giving serious thought to the risky decisions you make in your life.
Enjoy!
6.8/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr36mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
Talk to Me Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#A24 #Horror
They Cloned Tyrone 🔮
They Cloned Tyrone follows a local drug dealer from a broken down home, an elusive pimp who is down on his luck, and a sex worker aspiring for more than the city blocks she’s been confined to. The three lives become intertwined after unveiling a mystery that will shock the city, and country - to its very core.
I’ve always enjoyed Netflix shows but other than ROMA, Klaus, To All the Boys I Loved Before - the movies have have been inconsistent.
The premises are usually interesting but then halfway through the story will take an unnecessary turn, or the CGI will be garbage, and then I just check out.
They Cloned Tyrone is none of those things, with a strong through line, a style that defies genre, and a compelling story that really captures the misinformation/conspiratorial times we are in.
I loved it!
This was like Boyz n the Hood meets Stranger Things, with a bit of Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys thrown in.
If someone had made that comparison before I started watching it, I wouldn’t have watched it but it’s better than it sounds I promise.
Even Jamie Foxx, who at times feels like he’s acting in a different movie, is such dumb fun and relentless that by the end you won’t help but be caught up in the finesse of the one and only Slick Charles.
I’ll preface this by noting that this won’t be for everyone. A lot of references will go over your head if you’re not familiar with Blaxploitation films of the 70s, or
the cultural connection between things like purple drank, friend chicken, and hip hop.
But if you’re a conspiracy theorist, or have ever dived into that rabbit hole, wondering things like if pigeons are governments drones - you’re going to eat this right up.
This is one of my favourite Netflix movies in years, in an eerie mystery adventure in the hood, that acts as a reminder that sometimes - we are our own worst enemy.
Enjoy!
7.8/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr55mins
Where: On Netflix July 21st
They Cloned Tyrone Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Movie #MovieReview #JohnBoyega #JamieFoxx #TeyonahParris #Netflix #TheyClonedTyrone
Oppenheimer 💣
Oppenheimer is a true story that follows the life and mind of Robert Oppenheimer, a man who struggled to find a creative outlet for his bubbling genius but with a World War raging on, he decided to take up his countries offer to join the cause - allowing him the opportunity to finally showcase his full potential. This leads to a creation that would change his life, and the world - forever.
In a career defined by masterful creations, Christopher Nolan truly outdid himself.
It’s the real life story of a Prometheus-like figure who introduces mankind to a ‘fire’, that was never meant to be altered into the evil it eventually becomes.
I didn’t know much about Oppenheimer going into this but I was immediately fascinated in this story of a man who felt shackled as an academic, who in his own way was a tortured genius, and though he was able to compute formulas and make sense of the seemingly incomprehensible - his inability to get in touch with the human element in the equation of his discoveries ended up being his inevitable downfall.
His life is contrasted against the eternal admirer in Lewis Strauss, in what I believe to be a career defining performance by Robert Downey Jr. He was able to show off every tool he has as an actor, getting the chance to flex and remind audiences that he’s more than the man in the metal suit.
It also does a great job of not just romanticizing the rise, but demonizing the fall.
There's the stress of the creation, to the aftermath and consequences that took place soon after, that dives into the geopolitical issues that arose because of the disruption in the ecosystem of war - forcing countries into split second adjustment period, and America into a frenzy. I couldn’t get enough.
This was Nolan’s best work since Inception, in a somber but willfully ignorant/self-convincing take on the delusions that comes with war, and a haunting reminder that “people burn in the sun, but power lives in the shadows.”
Enjoy!
9/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 3hours
Where: In Theatres Friday
Oppenheimer Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#ChristopherNolan #Movie #MovieReview #CillianMurphy #RobertDowneyJr #FlorencePugh #EmilyBlunt #MattDamon #History #UniversalPictures #Oppenheimer
Barbie 👠
Barbie follows the story of the stereotypical version of Barbie, who while going about her daily routine in Barbieland begins to have intrusive thoughts that leads to an existential crisis, forcing her to come to terms with who she is - and who she wants to be.
I was so ready to have a blast with this movie, but it tried to do so much that it eventually gets lost in its own ambition.
There’s still a lot of fun to be had, especially with the Kens in the movie who bring a ridiculously chaotic energy (in the best way possible) that will have men reevaluating themselves and their relationship with, and towards women throughout the entirety of the movie.
Side-note: I’m definitely guilty of shaming people into watching The Godfather but I do it equally amongst all genders like a real man should.
After a while though that well runs dry and we’re forced into the Barbie story that felt underwhelming when put up against the other stories at play.
Which leads to America Ferrera who has the most powerful monologue of the movie, and really captures the message this movie is trying to convey, which is the exhausting double standards women face in society and how blind men are at the ease in which they walk through life.
A great message that at times felt bogged down by exposition, especially the self referencing nature of its storytelling, like a Matrix: Resurrections - where the movie is relentless in trying to finesse its self awareness onto you, like you aren’t watching what’s going on right in front of you.
I also think the marketing for this movie did the movie a disservice. It would’ve been so much more fun watching actors you know pop up randomly in this movie, instead of having their faces plastered all over the promotional campaigns - especially when some of them are only in the movie for a short period of time.
Even saying all that, this was worth it for the Ryan Gosling performance alone, where he absolutely crushes it as the lovable, unknowing heartthrob.
In the end it’s a movie that teaches you to exist outside the world you’ve confided yourself in, and not letting what you like be your identity, and though it may be titled ‘Barbie’ - the heart is all Ken.
Enjoy!
6.7/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr55mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
Barbie Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#MargotRobbie #RyanGosling #MovieReview #Movie #SimuLiu #WarnerBros #Barbie
Dream ⚽️ 드림
Dream follows Yoon Hong-dae, a professional soccer player who ends up having to do damage control after getting kicked off his team for fighting with his teammate, during a nationally televised game.
With his reputation in shambles a PR agency picks him up and advises him to partake in a documentary that will allow him the chance to change the narrative, fixing his public image through recorded community service, which will consist of him ‘coaching’ a group of homeless men to the Homeless World Cup of soccer.
I was surprised to find out that the Homeless World Cup is an actual event that takes place annually, with the goal of bringing awareness to homelessness, showcasing the misunderstood nature of people who are capable of reintegrating into society - but they need to be given an opportunity first.
This movie delivers that message in a corny, comedic, and heartfelt way - really driving home that there are people out there working hard for a second chance, with some owning that they may not deserve one - so they’d rather help those that do.
The premise and delivery is definitely goofy but it has one of my favourite actors in Park Seo-Joon, so I had to give it a shot. He plays the brooding hot shot, who while trying to fake his way through this coaching stint ends up in the midst of a soul searching journey that humbles him into appreciating what truly matters in life.
This is just a classic, feel good, underdog story about those who may fall short of their goals, who may be down on their luck, but are willing to continue to put the work in for one more chance.
Enjoy!
7.1/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs05mins
Where: On Netflix July 25th
Dream Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
드림 Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#KDrama #SouthKorea #MovieReview #Movie #Soccer #Comedy #ParkSeoJoon #IU #박서준 #Netflix
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One 🕹️
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning reunites us with Ethan Hunt, who after being tasked with finding an old friend gets caught up in a battle against an invisible foe, a foe that opens up old wounds - turning this mission into a trip down memory lane.
I’m not the biggest fan of the Mission: Impossible franchise but Tom Cruise is just an undeniable action star, who grabs your attention and finesses you into believing in whatever cockamamie plan (and real life stunt) he wants to execute next.
Part of the appeal to me is the fact this guy is 61 years old and is willingly driving a motorcycle off a mountain cliff, into a parachute landing, and with the inconsistent quality of CGI right now, I admire the craftsmanship he puts into wanting to create an authentic feel for the audience.
As a story, it’s a fun goose chase where they have to defeat an entity that is ‘everywhere, nowhere and has no centre’ while creating a “your next decision will decide the fate of the world” every other scene - but it works.
Even when some scenes run a bit long, the entertainment level never dips, continuing Paramount Pictures hot streak of movies that are worth the price of admission.
If I were to nitpick at anything it’s probably the convenience of a plot that thinks it’s smarter than it is. It is a MacGuffin centric story that doesn’t dive deep enough into what could’ve been a compelling take on where technology is going, and how crime will be effected. I was able to buy in, but I don’t think everyone will.
A lot of the strength in this movie comes from the charming chemistry between Tom Cruise and Haley Atwell. Tom Cruise may be the star, but Haley was the one that stood out as the pickpocketing vixen, who may have the chops to take the baton - that’s if Cruise would ever want to move on, but after this - why would he?
This is a welcome addition to the franchise, and the definition of a summer blockbuster, in a story about a man who will “live and die in the shadows.” - all for the greater good.
Enjoy!
7.1/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs43mins
In Theatres July 12th
Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part 1 Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#TomCruise #HayleyAtwell #RebeccaFerguson #MissionImpossible #MovieReview #Movie #Action #ParamountPictures #MissionImpossibleDeadReckonin
Joy Ride 🚘
Joy Ride follows Audrey Sullivan as she prepares to seal a deal that will get her the promotion she’s been dreaming of, but in order to get it she will have to travel to China and unwillingly get in touch with her roots - that’s if her friends don’t get in the way first.
With No Hard Feelings, and now Joy Ride - women are leading the charge in the raunchy comedy resurgence of 2023.
In the same vein as a Hangover, it is a chaotic debauchery filled road trip, where a group of girls come together for one person, but along the way they begin realize that the longevity of the friendship may be the only thing keeping them together.
It tries to tackle that aspect of friendship as well as the varying degrees of being an Asian woman, and the stereotypes that come along with it.
Certain cultures have outdated expectations for women, and what I think this was trying to do is put a spotlight on the fact that women are just as capable of a alcohol/drug fueled, sexually driven night out, as guys are - and in its own WILD way, it felt commendably progressive.
Story wise I felt it tried to do a bit too much, and the extremes they went to for a laugh sometimes worked - and other times fell embarrassingly flat. It’s honestly a mixed bag that will either make you laugh out loud and have you heaving, or make you chuckle a few times - which to me was good enough.
As an aside, Stephanie Hsu was in-freaking-credible in this. Going from Everything, Everywhere, All at Once to this showed how talented she is, and how much range she has - making Joy Ride worth it for her performance alone.
Also - this had one of the most random NBA related cameos, that honestly felt so out of place but because of that, it made that players scene that much funnier.
For the right audience this movie will be a treasure trove of unforgettable WTF/LOL moments, with a story about being vulnerable enough to explore a world outside your own, and remind you to appreciate the people who stick by your side - no matter what.
Enjoy!
6.5/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr32mins
Where: In Theatres July 5th
Joy Ride Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#Movie #MovieReview #AshleyPark #StephanieHsu #SherryCola #SabrinaWu #Comedy #JoyRideMovie #LionsgateFilm #JoyRide
No Hard Feelings
‘Sometimes you need to push in to get out.’
No Hard Feelings follows Jennifer Lawrence as Maddie Barker, a 30 something year old who is down on her luck until she stumbles upon a Craigslist ad that may solve all her problems, but it comes with a catch - she has to ‘pretend’ to date a 19 year old, who is fresh out of high school.
This starts off like a horny x-rated adult film, with the most random premise you’d only find on pornhub, but it uses that as a crutch to slowly build up this budding friendship that becomes so much more than what you’re led to believe it will be.
I loved the dynamic between these two, as the socially awkward virgin who has been held back by his helicopter parents, begins to break out of his introverted shell with the help of this extroverted, promiscuous, surfer girl - who is dead set on making a man of out of a boy.
They may not have been close in age, and had different approaches to life, but the perspective they are able to lend to one another is exactly what they needed to grow past the point they’ve been stuck in.
I know this won’t be for everyone, and the story runs a little dry in the third act, but any movie that’s able to get more than a chuckle out of me is definitely worth the watch.
It delivers unfiltered hilarity, as if it were cut from the same cloth as the raunchy comedies of the 2000s, that tells a relatable story about not just moving on - but moving forward.
Enjoy!
7.2/10
Runtime: 1hr43mins
Where: In Theatres June 23rd
#JenniferLawrence #AndrewBarthFeldman #MovieReview #Movie #NoHardFeelings #SonyPictures
The Flash ️
‘Don’t live your past, live your future.’
The Flash follows Barry Allen as he continues to settle into his role as a member of the Justice League, but with his home life in shambles he begins to look for a way to fix his families problems, and sometimes the only way forward - is backwards.
I FREAKING LOVED THIS MOVIE!
For context, the only thing I’ve ever liked about The #Flash was the Flashpoint Pardox story, as I was never big on Ezra Miller’s portrayal of the character in any of the movies he’s shown up in.
This story gave the character some much needed room for growth, while playing around in a wildly ambitious and enjoyable time travel story.
It was a like a mix between Back to the Future and Spider-Man: No Way Home.
Back to the Future is an all-time great movie, so I’m not saying it’s on that level, but the fun of the time travel and the high jinks nature of the story was alive and well in this. As for the Spider-Man: No Way Home comparison, this did what that movie tried to do - but better.
While it’s definitely an overdose of nostalgia and fan service, those moments provided the highest of highs that will have any fan of DC and its characters on cloud nine.
The Batman stuff we got in this was everything I didn’t know I needed, the last scene being the cherry on the cake.
In a recent interview Chris Miller (Director of Across the Spider-verse) said “I don’t believe it’s superhero fatigue, I believe it’s ‘a movie that feels like a movie I’ve seen a dozen times before’ fatigue”
I enjoy all Marvel movies for what they are, but I can’t deny the formula is obvious and has begun to be a bit too predictable.
This had a distinct identity and flavour, separated from anything we’ve gotten from a comic book in recent memory, and though not all of it worked for me, the stuff that did - worked wonders.
It’s a story rooted in getting closure from a past that you cannot change, that is true to life - as we close the door on the DCEU, and usher in this new era of DC Films.
Enjoy!
7.7/10
Runtime: 2hrs35mins
End Credit Scene? Yes.
The Flash Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#MovieReview #Movie #ComicBooks #DC #EzraMiller #BenAffleck #SashaCalle #WarnerBros #TheFlash
Elemental
Elemental follows the story of Ember Lumen, who has to manage her parents expectations of her taking over the family business with a budding romance she knows they will disapprove of, that will test the foundational rule they have all come to know - some elements just do not mix.
The last batch of Pixar movies have been underwhelming to say the least, so it was a nice surprise to watch what felt like a return to form for one of the most beloved animation studios.
This story of star crossed lovers provides a heartfelt take on one’s first love, and is able to capture the butterfly feeling of that connection, and all the little moments that make that love so precious. That somehow make the world you already knew, that much better.
I will say the characters do more for the story, than the story does for the characters, but the more intimate, lighthearted moments - will make up for the roundabout way it gets to its ending.
What I enjoyed the most was watching as each detail was unveiled of this fully realized and functioning world. The characters somehow made so much sense, and were crafted out of an idea I’ll admit I was very skeptical of - that I ended up wishing we had the chance to explore even more.
This hits on a lot of the same beats as Zootopia, but still unique unto itself - as an endearing story about coexisting with the world at large, understanding that getting to do what you want is a luxury, and turned what could’ve been a Shakespearean tragedy of a lovers peril, into a happily ever after.
Enjoy!
7.3/10
Runtime: 1hr46mins
Where: In Theatres June 16
Elemental Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Disney #Animation #Animated #LeahLewis #MamoudouAthie #CatherineOHara #Water #Fire #Movie #MovieReview #AnnecyFestival #Tribeca2023 #Pixar #Elemental
Deep Sea 深海
Deep Sea is a story of a young girl named Shenxiu, who while trying to process her parents separation, ends up having to join her remarried father and his new family on a cruise.
On that cruise, she begins to hear the song her mother used to sing to her roaring against the waves - which ends up whisking her away into a mysterious underwater world - where she will set out on a journey beyond her wildest dreams.
This is one of those movies I wish I could watch again for the first time.
It’s a visual escapade that magically transports you into this whimsically crafted world, packed to the brim with colourfully rich detail - like a wet canvas, that just drips off the screen.
What Spirited Away is for a lot of people, this was for me.
It tragically captured the unintentional defence mechanisms children create to cope with neglect, or in this case - feeling abandoned.
At times it plays like a bout with depression, making you think you’ve shaken off the dark cloud hovering over you - just to end up facing the thrash of a wave, that pulls you back in.
Even with all that, it does a great job of contrasting its mature themes with a family friendly story, a story you’ll wish was never ending.
The main reason you’ll wish it never ends is because it introduces us to of one of the most loveable characters of the year in Chef Nanhe, who I promise you’ll miss as soon as the movies over.
I’ll admit this does drag a bit in the middle, but that also felt like it’s time to flex its incredible animation, and give the viewer the chance to admire the piece of art Deep Sea truly is.
This is one of the most vibrant, entrancing, spectacles you’ll see this year. It’s an experience to behold, with a story that is just as inspiring as its animation - both showcasing the true power of a child’s imagination.
Enjoy!
9/10
Runtime: 1hr52mins
Where: Tribeca Film Festival & Annecy International Animation Film Festival
Deep Sea Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Animation #3DAnimation #Anime #Cartoon #Movie #MovieReview #China #Chinese #AnnecyFilmFestival #TribecaFilmFestival #Tribeca2023 #AnnecyFestival
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse 🕷 🕸
‘A beautiful web of life and destiny.’
Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse reunites us with our friendly neighbourhood web-slinger from Earth-1610, Miles Morales.
While Miles continues to hide his identity as Spider-Man, his parents begin to plan his future, but those plans may be in jeopardy when an enemy emerges from the shadows - forcing Miles to face the ultimate test - coming to terms with what it truly means to be Spider-man.
This is the most ambitious comic book movie I’ve ever seen.
It starts off slow by table setting what happened in Into the Spider-Verse, then shows us what everyone has been up to since, but after that - it’s full steam ahead.
Imagine the relentless, hard-hitting nature of a John Wick movie, maneuvering through what feels like a kaleidoscope trip through the multiverse. It’s wild.
The onslaught of epic moments are heightened by the most mesmerizing, mind bending animation ever to grace the big screen. Like the first movie, this is dead set on revolutionizing the industry, and redefining what an animated movie is capable of.
As for the story, it felt like Captain America: Civil War where a bunch of well intentioned people have a conflict of ideologies, that require some seriously heartbreaking sacrifices.
That conflict is spearheaded by Miguel O’Hara aka Spider-Man 2099, who is dealt the impossible task of managing disturbances in the multiverse.
This is an Infinity War waiting on its End Game, so I can’t really compare this to the other Spider-Man movies without it having a true ending, but if what we got in this is indicative of what’s to come - Mile’s is ready to stake claim to the number one spot.
Across the Spider-Verse is one of the rare times the sequel is better than the original, it’s a whirlwind of incredibly creative converging art styles, that is filled to the brim with Spider-Man goodness.
I promise, you’re in for a treat.
Enjoy!
8.6/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs20mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Spiderman #SpiderVerse#MovieReview #Movie #Marvel #MCU #Comics #Animation #Animated #Art #ShameikMoore #OscarIsaac #DanielKaluuya #HaileeSteinfield #IssaRae #GretaLee #SonyPictures
Past Lives 🏡
It’s better to have loved and lost, than to never have loved at all.
Past Lives follows Nora and Hae Sung, two elementary school sweethearts who are forced apart when Nora’s family leaves South Korea for America.
The two reunite during different periods in their lives, with the deep connection still there, they must evaluate whether it’s worth moving forward together - or move on knowing they gave it all they had.
This is the best love story we've gotten in over a decade.
The way it travels through time in an organic and grounded way, allowing you to feel the range of emotions that would naturally build up over a decade spanned romance - will hit you right in the feels.
What Director Celine Song is able to capture through seemingly small intimate conversations, as simple as a conversation at a bar - is what makes this such a powerful watch.
From an early age, having every emotion being heightened because you don’t know how to communicate your feelings, to navigating distance through effective communication but the physical absence being too much to overcome, then being hyper aware of reality and losing the naivety that comes with maturity. Past Lives nails it all.
You can tell every moment they spend together is a moment they wish they could last forever, but it’s true to life where sometimes it’s the right person at the wrong time.
It’s also a great period piece, encapsulating the 2000’s through the tragedy that was slow as hell internet speeds, with the worst connection - which was a genius way to parallel what was going on between them during that time.
None of this works without the incredibly subtle nuanced performances of both Greta Lee and Teo Yoo.
Greta Lee does an incredible job with her balancing act of being the Korean girl she was raised as, and the American girl she turned into - masterfully juggling both identities to perfection.
What I loved about this the most is that it takes its time, it’s patient, but like a great love - it rewards you in the end.
It’s a story about a love lost, a love found, and a love that will stand the test of time.
This is everything I wanted it to be, a sweeping love story, a modern day masterpiece - and now my favorite movie of 2023.
Enjoy!
9.1/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr42mins
Where: In Theatres June 2nd in 🇺🇸 and June 9th 🇨🇦
Past Lives Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#GretaLee #TeoYoo #JohnMagaro #Drama #Love #Romance #MovieReview #Movie #Korean #ElevationPictures #A24
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts 🦍
When an inferior being, meets a higher power.
Transformers Rise of the Beasts follows man of the house Noah Diaz, as he attempts to find a job so that he can support his mom and help provide a better life for his younger brother, but after another failed job interview - he decides to take a friend up on an offer to steal luxury cars for cash.
Little does Noah know, that the car he is going to steal is part of an ongoing intergalactic war between rival alien-robots - that will take him on a ride he will never forget.
With a roaring 90s hip hop soundtrack, dumb/funny one-liners that will leave you chuckling, and action scenes that pack a serious a punch - this was the quintessential popcorn flick of the summer.
If you think too hard, you’ll be able to tear this movie to shreds for its overly convenient plot devices, that move the story into directions that take away any of the stakes they had just built up - but this movie doesn’t care, and neither did I - because it all led to some of the best action this series has ever given us.
I fully believe that Transformers would be better off taking the Planet of the Ape route, and just have machines vying for supremacy over each other - rather than try to shoehorn in a repetitive human story we’ve gotten in every movie - that takes away from the larger than life story I think most of us would rather see.
But based off that mid-credit scene, they have some ambitious plans for their future - and Noah Diaz is set to be a big part of that.
Hopefully that future also includes Pete Davidsons Mirage, who may be my new favourite Transformer - giving Bumble Bee a serious run for his money.
I also want to note that I freaking love what Paramount Pictures has been doing this year. Every movie they’ve released has been tailor made to be a fun time at the movies, that never takes itself too seriously - and it’s all the better for it.
#RiseoftheBeasts is it meant to be overly dissected, just sit back, relax - and let these big machines duke it out.
Enjoy!
7/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs16mins
End-Credit Scenes: ✅
Where: In Theatres this Friday
Transformers Rise of the Beasts Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Transformers #RiseoftheBeasts #MovieReview #Movie #OptimusPrime #BumbleBee #AnthonyRamos #PeteDavidson #DominiqueFishback #MichelleYeoh #ParamountPictures
The Little Mermaid 🧜♀️
Not wanting to settle for what life is,
instead choosing to dream about what it can be.
The Little Mermaid follows the youngest daughter of the King of the Seven Seas - Ariel, as she day dreams about a life grander than the one her father has confined her in - a life under the sea.
I’ve been very pessimistic about this as each Disney remake of the animated classics has ended up being a huge let down.
So I went in hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst.
I’m happy to report back that not only was this the best Disney live action remake yet, it was a great evolution of the the classic tale, building on what was loved about the original, and adding some worthy back story that gives the romance between Eric and Ariel even more to work with.
& let it be known - Halle Bailey IS Ariel.
From her voice to her body language, they were able to recreate so many of the iconic scenes from the original because of Halle’s ability to capture the true essence of what Ariel was, a wide eyed girl in search of a world larger than her own.
My only nitpick was that her hair wasn’t red enough, it felt faded and didn’t pop like the rest of the world they were in. She needed that Ice Spice orange.
Then there’s Jonah Hauer-King as Eric.
The charm he exudes as Eric, and the chemistry between the two leads is why this movie works as well as it did.
Like the rest of the remakes, the uncanny valley of the animals talking is tough to get through, but in this I felt it was a little more tolerable because of how great the voice acting was.
The Little Mermaid was never one of my personal favourite (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lion King in that order) so I had to go back and rewatch the ending of the original after I saw this ending, and like I said before, they did a great job of recreating so many of the shots from the original but I forgot how bad the ending was.
Original or remake, it’s a tough departure going from the grounded story it is to then becoming a damn Kaiju fight.
Regardless, I think this was a honourable reimagining of a Disney classic, that may not have been one of my favourites growing up - but has had me humming Part of Your World since I left the theatre. I’d call that a success.
Enjoy!
7.2/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 2hrs15mins
Where: In Theatres Friday
The Little Mermaid Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#HalleBailey #MelissaMccarthy #JonahHauerKing #JavierBardem #Awkwafina #Disney #WaltDisney #Disneyland #DisneyWorld #Movie #MovieReview #DisneyStudio
Fast X 🚗
The real treasure was the frenemies we made along the way.
Fast X follows Dominic Toretto and his crew who get hired for a job in Rome, but that job quickly takes a turn for the worst when a ghost from their past comes back for revenge, ready to take everything Dom’s worked for - his family.
This was a chaotic, overly stuffed, parody of what these movies have become, but it was also self aware enough to acknowledge that fact - which made it hilariously entertaining.
At times I didn’t know if I was laughing at or with the movie, but I don’t think it even matters.
That’s spearheaded by what I found to be one of the better villains in the Fast franchise, and the best part of this movie - Jason Mamoa.
Imagine Jack Sparrow in this world based on family, faith, and cars - going up against the cliche 80s macho, action hero in Dom. It won’t work for everyone, but I found him to be the perfect way to highlight how ridiculous these movies have become.
I still can’t wrap my mind around what a departure these films are from the first movie. It feels like they’ve made Dom into this Superman figure that exchanged a cape for a car, and NOS is his superpower.
If you enjoy cameos, we have a few familiar faces returning that I think will have fans pleased. I also have a feeling they’re going to try and do some CGI, face swap stuff to bring Paul Walker back.
This isn’t based on any rumor, leak, or a spoiler - it’s just based on my gut feeling and the fact he was mentioned more in this movie through casual conversation, then he has been since he left.
We also have the addition of Brie Larson, which in all honestly felt like a waste, BUT I’m going to guess that her character has a larger role over the final two films that are meant to wrap up the series.
This trip down memory lane will require some serious suspension of disbelief but will entertain those who are willing to sit back, relax, and let this NOS-fueled ride take them any which way this story will randomly desire.
Enjoy!
7/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 2hours21mins
Mid-Credit Scene: ✅
Where: In Theatres Friday
Fast X Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#VinDiesel #JasonMomoa #CharlizeTheron #JohnCena #Cars #Movie #MovieReview #UniversalPictures #FastandtheFurious
White Men Can’t Jump 🏀
It’s never too late to follow your dreams.
White Men Cant Jump is a bromantic tale of polar opposites in Jeremy and Kamal, two pickup basketball players in LA that at one point had a chance of making it big in basketball, but life had other plans.
They now have an opportunity to redeem themselves at a local tournament but must first overcome their differences, and the obstacles life had initially put in their path, that had stopped them from making it in the first place.
I get what they were going for with this, but like a bad basketball - it falls completely flat.
It has the right moments but doesn’t put them together well enough to make them hit the way they’re supposed to. I had the same issue with Netflix’s ‘You People’ (both movies are written by Kenya Barris so it makes sense) where the jokes were funny but the story lacked any sort of heart.
As someone who grew up with a diverse group of friends that made fun of each other equally, I appreciated the comedic attempt of using race relations between Black and White Americans as a way of creating understanding through their learned differences.
But because the movie relied so heavily on that, it would’ve been better off creating an original basketball story rather than piggy backing off of the brand of beloved classic.
This goes without being said, but we need more Vince Staples in our lives. His delivery and comedic timing is always worthy of a good laugh.
& Jack Harlow was actually decent for it being his first acting role, but it wasn’t enough to save this overly formulated paint by numbers watch.
It’s honestly just an uninspired reimagining of a classic, that lacks any sort of originality.
I’ve watched a lot of bromance movies and basketball stories so my tolerance level for something that feels like it’s going through the motions is low, and though this didn’t work for me - it may still hit the right chord for you.
Enjoy!
5.7/10 🍿 🎥
Runtime: 1hr42mins
Where: Disney+ or HULU
White Men Can't Jump Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#JackHarlow #SinquaWalls #LanceReddick #LauraHarrier #TeyanaTaylor #VinceStaples #Movie #MovieReview #Basketball #NBA #DisneyPlus #Hulu
Blackberry 📱
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
Blackberry is the true story that follows Mike Lazaridis, Douglas Fregin, and Jim Ballsillie - the founders of the Canadian mobile phone company Blackberry, as they go from obscure broom closet modem sellers, to one of the most coveted cell phones in the world.
I don’t know if we’ve ever had a movie that puts a Canadian success story on the map quite like this.
We always revert back to a war from 19-something, or a monumental hockey game that had big stakes (which I always enjoy), but to see a company that bled red & white get its one shining moment on the big screen is something I couldn’t help but feel patriotic about.
For someone like myself who didn’t keep up with Blackberry as a company, and didn’t know why things ended up the way they did, I thought they did a great job of being equally informative as it was entertaining.
It felt like a mix between the Social Network without the Ivy League prestige, and Air - without the happy ending.
We also get what I thought was a career best performance by Jay Baruchel, and a welcome introduction to the career of Glenn Howerton, who is a scene stealing mad man that I couldn’t get enough of.
This story as much about the rise and fall of a moon shooting juggernaut, as it is about a man letting his ego get the best of him.
It's a frantic paced, passion filled, business conception story that provides an edge to Canadian cinema - that continues to fire on all cylinders.
Enjoy!
7.6/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr59mins
Where: In Theatres May 12th, 2023
Blackberry Movie Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#Movie #MovieReview #Canadian #Canada #MatthewJohnson #GlenHowerton #JayBaruchel #SungWonCho #ElenaJuatco #RhombusMedia #ZapruderFilms #ElevationPictures #Berlinale
Marvel Studios Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 🚀
Be not as you are, but as you could be.
Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 reunites us with the ragtag group of Galaxy misfits who are now trying to settle into a normal life, but when they find one of their own on the brink of death, they set out on one last adventure to find a cure - and hopefully save their friend.
This is the first Marvel movie since End Game where I felt emotionally invested in the story.
For context, I’ve never been the biggest fan of the Guardians series.
I loved the first chunk of Vol. 1 but the dance battle at the end ruined it for me, and Vol. 2 was forgettable, so as a whole - this might be my favourite of the three.
Though it feels disjointed at times, and repetitive with the Gamora/Star-Lord storyline running its course - the Rocket backstory shines through with its emotional depth, delivering what felt like a Pixar-nightmare.
That story isn’t what it is without the incredible menacing performance of Chukwudi Iwuji, as the High Evolutionary.
He’s pure evil, with a god complex that justifies his actions by poetically indoctrinating his people to believe “I’m not trying to conquer, i’m trying to perfect.”
This may be a hot take because I know people adore the music heavy soundtrack that’s become a part of what these movies are, but it felt forced in this - where the score actually does more for the movie than the song choices do.
Regardless, this found family adventure delivers on what’s made the Guardians so beloved, silly banter between friends, comedic-action sequences (the hallway fight scene is *chefs kiss*), and a villain I hope we haven’t seen the last of.
This story allows the Guardians to liberate themselves of their past, stepping forward in search for new beginnings - with the peace of mind knowing they’ll always have a place to call home.
Enjoy!
7.5/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 2hrs29mins
Where: In Theatres
Post-Credit Scenes: 2 ✅
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer.
#ZoeSaldana #JamesGunn #Marvel #DC #Disney #Avengers #ChrisPratt #MovieReview #Movie #WillPoulter #KarenGillian #BradleyCooper #DaveBautista #ChukwudiIwuji #GOTGVol3 #MCU
Polite Society 🪔
The girl who cried wolf.
Polite Society follows Ria, a quirky YouTubing high schooler that is aspiring to be a stunt woman, but her focus begins to shift when her sister gets set up in an arranged marriage - with a man who she’s convinced - isn’t who he says he is.
This Pakistani/British, kung fu heavy, coming of age story felt more like a parody than a comedy, and I think it misses its mark because of that.
The pacing is ridiculously fast, and it stumbles on its inability to capture what’s meant to be the heart of its story - a bond between sisters.
I will say, I did love the dynamic between the trio of friends in Clara, Alba, and Ria. It was refreshing to see girls who normally get stereotyped into being overly sassy, get the chance to deliver some hilarious, foul-mouthed banter between friends.
Which is honestly the saving grace of the film. The action fizzles but the comedy will have you chuckling the entire way through.
Though I didn’t vibe with it the way I had hoped, I do think there’s fun to be had for the right audience willing to indulge a girl who is being told her unorthodox nature, will be her downfall - but ends up being the reason she soars.
Enjoy!
6.75/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr43mins
Where: In Theatres April 28th, 2023.
Polite Society Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#Movie #MovieReview #Pakistani #British #UK #RituArya #PriyaKansara #NimraBucha #NidaManzoor #FocusFeatures
Suzume 🪑
すずめの戸締まり
The most important jobs are the ones people don’t see.
Suzume follows Iwato Suzume, who after meeting a stranger on her way to school begins to notice something the other students cant, an imminent natural disaster set to cause mass destruction. This leads her and a few newly made friends on a whimsical adventure that will help her move on from her past - while trying to save the worlds future.
I never thought I’d have an emotional connection to a chair but here we are.
This was the much anticipated return into the natural disaster filled mind of the great Makoto Shinkai. In this story he takes a more mystical approach, adding in elements of Japanese folklore gods and the convergence of two realms, all while sending a high school kid on a much needed journey of self discovery.
That sounds like a lot but this story is much more personal than you’re originally led to believe. It just requires some unintended soul searching to untangle the cobwebs from a neglected past, and a trauma that was never fully grieved.
Admittedly the connective thread throughout this story isn’t the strongest, but the personalities we meet along the way help bridge the moments together, capturing the essence of what it means to grow through your mistakes.
As I always say, (most) movies are only as good as their endings – and Suzume hits it out the park. It actually felt like the whole story was built around its end, and they had to piece together moments that would allow the end to hit the way it ultimately does.
For me, the aesthetically pleasing animation, and its perfectly orchestrated score alone made this worth the price of admission.
The only nitpick I would have is that the disasters animation style felt uninspired and lacked the fear of impending doom it was meant to convey.
Regardless, this story is a wondrous tale of being the help you need - that is a must watch for fans of the genre.
Enjoy!
7.8/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 2hrs2mins
Where: In Theatres
Suzume Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#MakotoShinkai #YourName #SuzumeIwato #SotaMunkata #Anime #AnimeReview #Animation #アニメ #漫画 #日本#Suzumenotojimari
The Super Mario Bros. Movie 🍄
A little self belief goes a long way.
The Super Mario Bros. movie follows plumbing brothers Mario and Luigi as they look to become the number one plumbing team in Brooklyn, but when a massive flood takes over the city their attempt to help turns into an otherworldly adventure - transporting them into a world far beyond their wildest plumbing dreams.
They did it.
I had my concerns when I first heard the idea, but I was also super excited at the possibility, listing it as one of my most anticipated movies of 2023 - and this was everything a Mario fan could’ve hoped for.
The way they built the story up is the perfect homage, that allows each generation to have its Mario game moment - that hits all the nostalgic feels, as the score weaves in and out of every Mario game imaginable.
That being said, this is an understandably favours the people who have played Mario in any capacity because if you haven’t - the story might not do enough for you to care about what’s going on.
I’m the target audience for this, and I ate it all up.
I could’ve watched another few hours, and travelled to a few more locations and hung out with Toad forever!
It’s nostalgia bait in the best way, and I appreciate the creators for creating a movie that’s unapologetically Mario.
A lot of content these days is trying to appeal to a large audience, but by doing that it loses the core of what makes it so beloved in the first place.
What the story lacked as a whole, the moments made up for. It’s packed to the brim with fan pleasing Easter eggs, gorgeous animation, and a score that will transport you to whatever console introduced you to the two most lovable plumbers.
I can’t wait to watch this one again.
Enjoy!
8/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr32mins
Where: In Theatres April 5th
End Credit Scenes: 2 ✅
The Super Mario Bros Move Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
Universal Pictures + Illumination Entertainment
#SuperMario #Mario #Luigi #Toad #Bowser #VideoGames #Games #Nintendo #MovieReview #Movie #Animation
Air 👟
“Rule #3 - Perfect results count - not a perfect process.”
Air follows Sonny Vaccaro, a sports executive at Nike who is trying to save their basketball division from getting shutdown. After a few bad years he’s getting one last shot at picking the right athletes to endorse basketball for the company, and though his team wants to spend the money on three elite NBA rookies, he has his eyes set on just one - North Carolina’s, Michael Jordan.
I haven’t left the theatre feeling this inspired in a long time.
This is about the conception of Michael Jordan to Nike, the birth of the Air Jordan shoe, and how it wasn’t just your typical sales pitch, but a bunch of stumbling misfires that eventually led to a risk that paid off in ways no one could have predicted.
From Ben Afflecks portrayal as the overly philosophical Phil Knight, to one of my favourite performances of the year in Chris Messina as David Falk, the fired up agent - it’s just fun, unadulterated moxie all the way through.
It’s also a perfect time capsule that rips, roars and rocks with an unapologetic 80s flare that will have you grooving to the rhythm, that at times plays like a Rocky training montage, which I thought was part of its charm.
The energy and passion from the jump of guys being dudes (with big money at stake) will have you itching to get started on (or finish) whatever your passionate about, see it through to the end, and even if you fail - at least you gave it all you had.
Yes, the year is still young, but this is the best movie I’ve seen in 2023 & one I hope you all make time to see.
Enjoy!
8.5/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr52mins
Where: In Theatres April 5th
Prime Videos Air (2023) Review, The Richmond Reviewer
#BenAffleck #MattDamon #ChrisTucker #ViolaDavis #JasonBateman #MichaelJordan #MJ #Nike #Sneakers #Shoes #AirJordan #Basketball #NBA #MovieReview
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves 🐉
March has been an excellent month for movie lovers, and the momentum continues on with Dungeons and Dragons.
This story follows Edgin (Chris Pine), Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) and their band of misfits, who go an adventure to seek out a lost treasure that will hopefully change their fortune - from the societal outcasts they have now become.
I understand why Paramount Pictures wanted to show off Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves two weeks before it’s release… because it’s a FREAKING BLAST!
This is legitimately the most fun I’ve had in a theatre since - I don’t know when.
I had my doubts about this cast together but the chemistry is there across the board.
& I finally understand the Regé-Jean Page hype now. That guy is charming as hell.
It hits on every aspect of its story, and is the perfect change of pace from every other fantasy/adventure we’ve gotten recently.
I’ve never played the board game but to me I feel like this plays to what my idea of the game is, where you let your imagination wander into becoming the character while still having your own biases and judgements on what’s presented throughout your playing experience.
It’s a world that felt fully realized, that can continue to be built upon in future instalments with the same, or different actors rotating through.
Honestly, it was just nice not to worry about continuity, or be curious about what every moment meant in the long term - and just enjoy a story for whatever it wanted to be.
I know it’s early but I think it’s safe to say this is the most fun you’ll have in the theatre this year.
Enjoy!
7.8/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 2hrs20mins
Where: In Theatres March 31st
Dungeons and Dragons Honour Among Thieves (2023) Review, The Richmond Reviewer.
#BoardGame #Games #DandD #DnDMovie #MovieReview #Movie #ChrisPine #MichelleRodriguez #regejeanpage #JusticeSmith #HughGrant
John Wick: Chapter 4
To take life, and give death.
John Wick 4 reunites us with Baba Yaga himself - as he looks to find freedom from a world that his held him captive for far too long. In his search for freedom he makes one wrong move, requiring him to rely on the aid of some old friends - some who have been tasked to hunt him down for freedom of their own.
This movie is a globetrotting, action-packed masterpiece, that I can confidently write and say - is one of the greatest action movies you’ll ever see.
Somehow they were able to level up - packing more punch than any of its previous instalments, slicing/dicing & keeping that trigger finger (bloody) wet the entire way through.
The way they were able to creatively innovate and use set pieces to its advantage, for the choreography of its fight scenes, like the original John Wick - is going to inspire and test the boundaries for what action movies can be moving forward.
There’s a scene at the Arc de Triomphe that is one of the most wildly ambitious action scenes to ever grace the big screen. I promise you’ve never seen anything like it.
& Keanu is Keanu, but Donnie Yen is going to be what a lot of people remember from this movie.
I can’t get over how smooth he was, it was like a graceful ass-kicking waltz the way he manoeuvred through this movie.
As a story John Wick in my opinion peaked in its first chapter, but what this movie does by growing the mythology, creates intrigue around the new characters - that will allow this world to endure well passed the foundation Wicks story created.
The fourth chapter in the John Wick series is an action epic that will have you on the edge of your seat, as you’re reminded that “Wick is just a ghost in search of a graveyard.”
Enjoy!
8.2/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 2hrs49mins
End Credit Scene: ✅
Where: In Theatres March 24th.
John Wick 4 (2023) Review - The Richmond Reviewer.
#KeanuReeves #DonnieYen #HiroyukiSanada #IanMcShane #BillSkarsgard #LanceReddick #Action #Movie #MovieReview #JW4
Kill Boksoon 🩸 길복순
Even the best knife will dull over time.
#KillBoksoon follows Gil Bok-soon, a single mother to a moody-teenage daughter by day, and South Koreas top assassin by night.
As her contract nears its end, she begins to ponder retirement - until she gets mixed up in a mission that will forcefully make that decision for her.
This month has been a blessing for fans of action movies.
Gil Bok-soon has to navigate motherhood with her god given talent of being a natural born killer, and Jeon De-yeon balances that fine line so well.
Watching her as she plays in both worlds, trying to gain understanding in one, while practically being in god-tier autopilot mode in the other - creates the perfect “heroes” dilemma.
There are 2-3 scenes in this that I’ll remember for a long time, that are just off the charts in creativity, originality and brutality. I was so into how they used the gift of foresight as a storytelling device to create suspense in a way that was fully grounded in reality - but simultaneously created this dream like state.
There are two parallel running stories in this, one I felt does a disservice to the overall movie, but the other makes it worthy of every second of your time. My biggest gripe would be that the score didn’t match the epic nature of some of these wildly aggressive fight scenes.
Even with that, it’s a movie that will leave you wanting more - and a world I hope we get to see more stories in.
Enjoy!
7/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 2hrs17mins
Where: Streaming on Netflix March 31st
Kill Boksoon Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#JeonDoyeon #SolKyunggu #Action #MovieReview #Movie #KDrama #Korean #Koreanmovie #최성은
Rye Lane 🛝
One woman’s loss, is another woman’s gain.
Rye Lane follows Dom, a heartbroken twenty something year old guy who ends up meeting a vibrant costume designer at an art show, who will test his willingness to open up - in this new found friendship.
This felt like a return to form for Rom-Com that’s as simple as two people with immense chemistry, hitting it off while navigating the complications that come their way.
Complications such as the awkward period of post-grad life in your early-twenties where you’re expected to adult but at times still feel like you have no idea what you’re doing, while also processing the void left behind by someone you invested so much time in.
It’s like stocks where you want some return on investment for all that time you spent on that person, but the fortune for these two is the experience they gained - that led them to each other.
This movie is the personification of the perfect hang, that could have just lasted an hour, that turned into two, that continued on like a healthy addiction - impatiently waiting for the next time you got to see them.
All of that paired with its UK setting, and hip-hop score made this the perfect bite sized watch, with a runtime that gives you no excuse not to watch.
Enjoy!
7.4/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr23mins
Where: Streaming on Disney+ & Hulu on March 31st
Rye Lane Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#DavidJonsson #VivianOparah #RomCom #Romance #UK #London #MovieReview #Movie #BBC #BBCFilm #BFI #SearchlightPictures
Until Branches Bend 🍑
Short term gains, for long term losses.
Until Branches Bend follows Robin, a peach quality grader from a small town who stumbles upon an invasive insect in one of the peaches, but when the head of the facility turns a blind eye, Robin is forced to take the issue into her own hands - for better or for worse.
These are the type of stories that go untold.
It’s essentially small town folk, with little to no education, who are forced into being over reliant on the companies that pay them - and don’t want anything effecting their bottom dollar.
Robin understands this, but the personal issues she’s going through, added with past problems that have effected previous crops in the town show her true actions to be a mix of being for the greater good of society as a whole, and doing right by the future generations to come.
The fact that this probably happens more often than we will ever know, is the sad reality that makes this story so compelling.
It’s an all consuming issue that could plague her town, but like what she’s going through personally - it’s a burden and a blessing only she can carry.
At its core it’s about having the strength to endure, when everything around you is telling you to give up. Though the story starts off slow, the eerie build up of tension that inevitably reaches its boiling point powerfully showcases the true force nature can be.
Enjoy!
7.2/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr38min
Where: Playing in select theatres across Canada until May 27th.
Until Branches Bend Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#SXSW #MovieReview #Movie #Canada #Canadian #VIFF
Residents of Arcadia
When the life you want, isn’t the life you have.
Residents of Arcadia follows Steve and Anika, a couple trying to follow their life’s dreams from the comfort of their own home, when a mysterious clock appears - ticking down to an event that will change their reality as they know it.
This is what I wish Westworld was.
The concept/premise of this story really speaks to where technology is headed, and the search for perfection through our online self. Both those ideas come to head and act as reminders that no matter how perfect things may seem, the lived experience is more powerful that any digital reality you can create.
Though I believe that to be true, this story had me questioning my own philosophy on life.
If life is just a matter of perspective, why cant you live in a digital world that is the perfect version of what you always wanted, then close your eyes at the end of your life knowing you did exactly what you set out to do?
If my mind believes that the reality I’ve allowed myself to exist in for my lifespan has been real - then what difference does that make from the lived experience?
This is galaxy brain “we’re all in a simulation.” talk but I think the philosophical debate is what makes this story so appealing.
& to be clear, Westworld has a much bigger budget to work with so the quality may not be on par but I appreciated that it doesn’t just rely on its mystery the entire time but reveals it - and allows you to see the consequence play out.
The only thing I thought was missing was a score to match the big ideas at play. A score can take a good scene and make it a great one, and I felt some moments would’ve hit harder if they had that luxury.
Residents of Arcadia thought provoking, sci-fi story is a welcome addition to a memorable class of movies that came out of Canada in 2022.
Enjoy!
6.7/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr23mins
Where: Prime Video
Residents of Arcadia (2023) Review, The Richmond Reviewer.
#MovieReview #Movie #Canadian #SciFi #Futuristic #YVR #Vancouver
Chang Can Dunk
Comparison is the thief of joy.
Chang Can Dunk follows Chang, a 16 year old die-hard Kobe fan who decides to face his fears and make a bet with his childhood rival - that he will be able to dunk by homecoming.
I’m a sucker for a coming of age story about basketball, so this movie had me before I even pushed play.
For a Disney coming of age story, this was a really honest take on what it’s like when you’re good at a lot of things, but have never been great at any one thing - and the toll that takes on a kid living in the age of the Internet - where everyone’s highlights are in the palm of your hand.
Anyone who plays (played) basketball knows how tough it is to dunk, but to be 5’8 and even attempt to touch the rim seems like a fruitless endeavour.
That’s what this story tries to prove, is that with hard work, dedication and the mamba mentality - you can accomplish even the toughest of feats.
It delivers on its honesty by showing you the good, and bad of living for the admiration of others - and getting humbled in the process.
Story aside, the standout to me was Ben Wang, who may not have a had a huge usage rate in this but had a great presence in the scenes he was in. We’ll see him again very soon in the much anticipated American Born Chinese coming out on Disney+ this May.
If you’re looking for a well rounded, family friendly, life lesson filled watch - then look no further.
Enjoy!
6.95/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr49mins
Where: Disney+
Chang Can Dunk Movie Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
Riceboy Sleeps
To the mothers that endure, so that their children don’t have to.
Riceboy Sleeps is the selfless journey of So-Young, a single mother from Korea who moves to Vancouver so that she can provide her son with a better life. We follow this family as they face the trials and tribulations that come along with being immigrants in Canada during the early 1990s.
How this movie portrays the normally unseen little moments, is what leads to how great it becomes.
The subtleties in an Asian Mothers love language will go unnoticed until you’re old enough to understand what they truly meant by there actions. It may not be the traditional movie things like “I love you” or hugs, but instead it was working those extra hours, coming home and still finding the energy to make fresh food for you ever day.
But it comes at a cost.
This is as much a story of a mother, as it is about a son.
The resentment that follows of being a kid harden by his upbringing, while having his differences magnified by his peers, then inevitably trying to conform and fit in by whitewashing his differences away. They contrast the two journeys of mother and son so well, that if they were better at communicating, they would realize how similar their journey through life truly was.
My favorite moment in the movie was when the screen pans out from its boxed frame, signifying that they were finally free - which was such a creative/genius way of transitioning the change that was to come.
As someone who grew up with a single mother, this movie broke me. It's by far the best movie I've this year, but it will take the right audience to understand how powerful this story truly is.
Riceboy Sleeps is Canadian cinema at its best, and a story you will wish you could watch again for the first time.
Enjoy!
9/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 2hrs2mins
Riceboy Sleeps (2023) Movie Review The Richmond Reviewer.
Champions
It’s never too late to change.
Champions follows Coach Marcus (played by Woody Harrelson) who after getting fired from his gig as an assistant basketball coach, gets a DUI - and is forced to do community service in the form of coaching a group of young adults with disabilities.
The team will test his patience, his will to win, but also change his perspective on the sport he’s given his life to.
This movie was high-freaking-larious!
I don’t remember the last time I laughed this hard watching a movie. It’s laugh with, not at storytelling style works so well against the hard nosed coach who just wants to win.
& as someone who has coached (or led) programs with people who have disabilities, I thought this movie did such a great job of showing the different sides of each type they presented, and made the viewer understand that it may take more time, and patience - but they can be just as capable as anyone else.
The heart of this story is in a coach who comes in with negative preconceived notions on what disabilities are, and grows through the process and learns everything it can be.
I’m sure this raunchy comedy won’t do great at the box office, but don’t let that sway you because I guarantee this will be a home hit when it eventually hits streaming.
Enjoy!
7.3/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 2hrs03mins
Where: In Theatres
Focus Features Champions Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#WoodyHarrelson #Basketball #NBA #MovieReview #Movie #Comedy
Scream 6
Don’t let your past define your future.
Scream 6 follows Samantha Carpenter, who after the events of #Scream5 has moved to New York so that she can look after her college-attending younger sister Tara.
That proves to be difficult when a new Ghostface begins to terrorize the city, forcing the two (and their friends) back into a murder mystery, where everyone has become a suspect - even them.
This was a bloodier, bold, big city addition to what feels like a franchise that is rejuvenated, self-ware enough to double down on what makes it great - and own it the entire the way through.
That matched with the next generation fully taking the helm, made this one of my favourite instalments in the franchise.
I also love how they know exactly who their audience is, because while I was watching this I’d be in disbelief with some of the character choices, then immediately someone in the group would echo my very same thought, altering the potentially life ending decision.
The major development that will help this series flourish, is the change of scenery. There is just some things you can only do in a big city, compared to the everyone-knows-everyone, small town stories they’ve been telling us.
They do lay it on strong with the self referencing, which may be annoying for some, but I found that to be a part of this movies charm. Comparatively speaking, this is probably my second favourite (best being the first) build up to the reveal but the end didn’t hit the way I would’ve liked. That had less to do with the story and more of an acting choice.
If I’m going to nitpick, I’d say they have gotten a little too loosey goosey with which stabs kill, and which don’t - but that’s par the course for the franchise so it didn’t bother me too much.
In the end, the story and the characters were able to shake off the generational shackles of its legacy and move forward with its new core four - in what seems like a story that is just getting started.
Enjoy!
7.7/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime:
Where: In Theatres
Scream 6 Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#Scream #Slasher #Horror #MovieReview #Movie #JennaOrtega #MelissaBarrera
My Cousin Vinny
Beside every mediocre man, is a woman who will resentfully stick by his side no matter what.
My Cousin Vinny follows Vinny Gambini and his girlfriend Mona Lisa Vito, as they look to try and get Vinny’s nephew’s murder charges dropped.
That sounds a lot more serious than it is, as Uncle Vinny plays the save the day uncle - who ends up being in way over his head. I’m used to Joe Pesci being the overly bothered, angry mobster that when I watched him stumble and clutz his way through this court case, it was a bit jarring.
In my opinion this movie is less about him, and more about the incredible, styling and profiling performance of Marisa Tomei (aka Aunt May from Spider-Man) - who literally stole the show.
Its no surprise to find out that she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for this role.
Well it is a surprise given the goofy nature of this story that wouldn’t normally be an Oscar candidate, but for what could’ve been a dumpster fire of a movie - she was definitely the saving grace.
This movie is peak 80s/90s comedy, from the way it’s shot, to the dated jokes - which ended up being the charm of this surprisingly fun feel good story, that will have you rooting for the underdog.
Enjoy!
7.8/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr59mins
Where: @cravecanada
My Cousin Vinny Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#JoePesci #MarisaTomei #90s #MovieReview #Movie #CourtRoom
Mother Superior
Some things should remain lost.
Mother Superior follows Sigrun, a caregiver in 1975 who is using her career to find out where she came from - and learn why her families history was wiped away from existence.
The eerie nature of this story that combines witchcraft with what seemed like a post-war Nazi sympathizer, made for a seriously haunting viewing experience. This hallucination filled gothic trip does a great job of creating an ominous presence, that creepily maneuvered it’s way through this dark tale of a lost history.
There were some subtle moments that I think I was meant to understand as grander gestures, which would have required me to have a deeper understanding of the bible or Nazi history, which I admittedly don't have.
Even though the ending fell flat, I thought it was compelling enough story of a terrifying past, that continues to manifest itself - well after its existence.
Enjoy!
6.5/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr10mins
Where: Glasgow Film Festival
Mother Superior Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#GFF23 #FilmFestival #MovieReview #Movie #Europe #Austrian #German
Creed III
Your past will always find a way to catch up to you.
#Creed3 follows Adonis Creed in his post retirement life where he plays the role of promoter, building up the next generation of up and coming fighters. In the midst of all that, an old friend of Creed returns with the hopes of making up for lost time - and taking his chance at the boxing career he missed out on.
I’ve been shadow boxing since I left the theatre, so it’s safe to say I enjoyed this movie. 😂
It’s a story about two men who were once (metaphorically) brothers in arms, having to pick up the pieces of a now fractured relationship. This movie (like most of Rocky/Creed) is at its best with its training montages, and fight scenes.
Though the first Creed has a superior story, I felt that this movie packs a more serious punch - and those punches will be best felt through the heavy bass in a theatre experience. & Reading Michael B. Jordan’s interviews throughout his press run, you can tell how much anime inspired this movie.
Like in Naruto when Kakashi went up against Obito, the storytelling through the fight is much more impactful than any words the two could’ve said to one another.
For his directorial debut, Michael B. Jordan delivers a slugfest with a creative flair that will allow the Creed series to move forward from Rocky - with its own identity.
Enjoy!
7.4/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr56mins
Where: In Theatres
Creed 3 Movie Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#Boxing #UFC #MMA #MichaelBJordan #JonathanMajors #TessaThompson #Creed #Rocky #MovieReview #Movie #WarnerBros
Return to Seoul
Retour à Séoul
When the only way forward is backwards.
Return to Seoul follows 25 year old Frédérique Benoît (played by Ji-min Park) aka Freddie, as she travels to South Korea in search for her birth parents. Freddie’s story spans over 8 years as she goes through the adoption agencies process of finding her parents, while also trying to find herself - and her cultural identity in the process.
This was a gritty/raw, yet intimate look at someone’s personal journey of self discovery.
In this case it’s not being Korean enough for Koreans, while simultaneously feeling like her French identity wasn’t truly who she was - because of a lost past she is now trying to reclaim.
At times it felt like the more Freddie found out about herself, the less she knew, and the more isolated she became. It’s as if the answers she was seeking wasn’t enough to fill the void that seemed to grow with size as the story went on.
Her unsureness shows as she overcompensates each way, initially looking the part but not attempting to speak the language, followed by attempting to fit in by assimilating to the people she was around - knowing she was the eternal other and would most likely never be one of them.
To me this is storytelling at its best.
It depicts a situation that is based on real world events, and makes it as personal as can get so the viewer can understand the full scope of what this character, and people like her - went through.
& the fact that this is Ji-min Parks first acting role is wild. Her ability to convey the highs and lows of her emotions with such subtly is what makes this whole movie work.
I also loved the way they weaved in and out of French, Korean and English like a borderless world, which personified this story to perfection.
This journey of an isolated outcast, filled with resentment is one that will bring the viewer into a world that can only be fully grasped through a story as personal as this.
Enjoy!
7.5/10 🎥 🍿
Runtime: 1hr55mins
Director: Davy Chou
Return to Seoul Review (2023) The Richmond Reviewer
#France #FrenchFilm #SouthKorea #Korea #KoreanFilm #KoreanMovie #SonyClassics #Sony #Movie #MovieReview #서울로돌아가다 #영화 #ReturntoSeoul