Bumblebee, Ralph Breaks the Internet, The Favourite, Green Book and Vice Reviews

Bumblebee

3 stars

So the Transformers franchise...

I actually really like the first installment. Yes, it still has Michael Bay's immature humor, and the plot is mostly ridiculous and it's too long. But the visuals (especially some of the practical effects) are amazing and the flick is a fun ride. And the sequels got even longer, and more incomprehensible, and more vulgar, until the whole series was steaming pile of garbage.

And then cam along Bumblebee with a new director and a new retro look. The trailer looked great and reviews were promising (93% on Rottentomatoes) so my expectations were set a little high. Overall the movie succeeds in a lot of ways. The transforming effect is fantastic, less weird indistinguishable jagged metal, and Hailee Steinfeld is likable. The soundtrack is killer and the story... well it's definitely coherent. The story borrows heavily from The Iron Giant (which is an extraordinary film) and the first transformers movie. And in parts, it seems like they were trying to make a John Hughes movie within a transformer movie (which could work) but it doesn't quite work. The movie feels choppy and at times it's too silly to be taken seriously, but it makes a hard turn into a serious action scene it doesn't come together. There is definitely a great movie in there and it does give me hope for the series. With some good characters and action, I'm back on board.

The Favourite

4 stars

A period piece released in December that didn't feel like pure oscar bait? Yes, The Favourite actually feels like complete film rather than one that is trying to get some nominations for it's actors. The setting of the royal palace is splendid. The lavishly indulgent palace is apparently surrounded by roads paved with shit. Every character in the film is petty, manipulative, and jealous. The 3 female leads are fabulous and Nicholas Hoult is brilliant as a nefarious politician. I found this film much more palatable that Yorgos Lanthimos las few (especially the Killing of the Sacred Deer which is very difficult to watch) but he keeps his flair for uncomfortable dialogue and despicable characters. A solid contender for Oscars in acting, set and makeup.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

2 1/2 stars

I LOVED the first Wreck-It-Ralph which had a clever script and was bursting with heart. Immediately when I saw the trailer for this film I was disappointed. One of the appealing aspects of the first film was that it created this magnificent world inside of a video arcade. Yes, it played on nostalgia, but it also gave the movie a timeless quality where it didn't matter when it took place. By moving into the internet and constantly referencing real website and apps, this movie immediately dates itself (and because of how quickly that landscape changes, the movie already seems outdated). While breaking out of the arcade could work, the movie goes all out with product placement and shameless self-promotion. I think their is a good story somewhere in there, about friendships evolving over time, but I was constantly distracted by the movie yelling, "HEY LOOK, THERE'S TWITTER! YOU LIKE TWITTER, RIGHT? THERE ARE BIRDS TWEETING! SEE WHAT WE DID THERE? ISN'T THAT CLEVER?" and don't get me started into when they visit to the Disney Website. Anyway, Ralph and Vannelope are wonderful characters with a beautiful friendship. It's a shame this movie got taken over by what is essentially click-bait.

Green Book

4 1/2 stars

A charming movie with fantastic interaction between the two leads. I really liked how the movie focused on the friendship between the two men while displaying the struggles and challenges of being a black performer in the 1960's. A true delight that chooses to show relational change and acceptance in this divisive time that focuses on outrage and controversy.

Vice

2 1/2 stars

Adam McKay's second film chronicling recent scandals in American history. The first one (The Big Short from 2015) was quite enjoyable, this most recent film is less successful. The cast is superb. Christian Bale disappears into the role and Amy Adams has a killer first scene of her chiding young Dick. Where does this movie go wrong? The hitting-you-over-the-head-so-much-that-it-hurts direction. The editing and story-telling goes from unconventional to purely experimental in parts. And McKay's "voice" is not subtle and ultimately takes away from the performances. And at one point he implies that every problem in America (Racism, ISIS, the immigration crisis, climate change, etc.) is Dick Cheney's fault. Next time, a little bit of subtext goes a long way.