And in a shocking display of productivity, the November roundup arrives right around the proper end of the month. I’m as stunned as the next person. Tackling a backlog on reviews, transcribing an interview, and getting lyrics together left me desirous of something that didn’t feel like heavy lifting. Yet, it’s always the things that seem the easiest which can prove the hardest. Suffice it to say, I just wanted to do some fun writing. As such, let’s dive into the pile.
Heretic kicked off the month with a press viewing at the Alamo Drafthouse here in Chicago. It’s always a mixed bag attending screenings there. The theater is fine, and although the concessions can be a tad pricey, press often get a few freebies. When I saw Maxxxine, for instance, they gave us complimentary cocktails, a signature concoction composed for the occasion. Heretic involved similar perks. They even pumped in the aroma of blueberry pie during one particular scene. My problem with the venue is the location.
Heretic kicked off the month with a press viewing at the Alamo Drafthouse here in Chicago. It’s always a mixed bag attending screenings there. The theater is fine, and although the concessions can be a tad pricey, press often get a few freebies. When I saw Maxxxine, for instance, they gave us complimentary cocktails, a signature concoction composed for the occasion. Heretic involved similar perks. They even pumped in the aroma of blueberry pie during one particular scene. My problem with the venue is the location.
Smack dab in the heart of Wrigleyville, the Alamo Drafthouse is situated in the one of the worst neighborhoods in all of Chicagoland. That is, depending on what doings are ah-transpirin’ at nearby Wrigley Field. If the Cubs are playing or a concert is going down, well, Chicago police decided long ago to just shutdown roads for blocks in all directions. Wrigleyville essentially becomes an open-air mall for falling down drunks, many of whom are looking to beatdown, bang, or barf. Sometimes all three (i.e. slap, fuck, vomit). Traffic becomes a molasses slow nightmare, parking nonexistent, and the pedestrians are walking examples for any argument against human existence. But that night, with Wrigley Field quiet, so was the neighborhood.
Heretic is an excellent thriller. The primary draw is Hugh Grant as a loquacious villain. The film is great at leaning into his disarming charm despite the increasing obviousness that something is amiss. Yet, the moviemakers behind this fright flick hold the pace, never rushing as the tension builds. Amazing cinematography combines with excellent camera work to enhance the atmosphere. However, it might all fall to pieces if the two leading ladies didn’t provide astonishingly subtle performances. The exact details are in a longer, spoiler free review over at Film Obsessive.
Heretic Conjures a Special Dread | Film Obsessive
Heretic is an excellent thriller. The primary draw is Hugh Grant as a loquacious villain. The film is great at leaning into his disarming charm despite the increasing obviousness that something is amiss. Yet, the moviemakers behind this fright flick hold the pace, never rushing as the tension builds. Amazing cinematography combines with excellent camera work to enhance the atmosphere. However, it might all fall to pieces if the two leading ladies didn’t provide astonishingly subtle performances. The exact details are in a longer, spoiler free review over at Film Obsessive.
Heretic Conjures a Special Dread | Film Obsessive
After that I saw Maria. This is a tricky film to criticize. On the one hand, this fictionalized biopic contains an award-worthy performance by Angelina Jolie. I have no doubt she’ll receive numerous nominations and possibly several prestigious wins. She provides a raw emotional portrayal of legendary opera star Maria Callas that is captivating in its tragedy as well as endearing in its vulnerability. It’s one of the greatest displays of acting all year. Unfortunately, this remarkable accomplishment is in service of a film so astonishingly mediocre it almost put me to sleep.
Maria is a film that aims to have operatic qualities alongside poetic surrealistic visuals. It never captures those qualities, and the ho-hum ways it endeavors to do so are pathetic at worst, pretentious at best. The movie never does anything deserving of Jolie’s performance, yet it benefits entirely from her, riding her acting into the appearance of heights the filmmakers never earn.
I recently received a for-your-consideration package for this film. It included Maria on disc as well as the script. The amount of awards the people behind this picture think they deserve recognition for is laughable. And I say that because I literally laughed out loud reading the list. For more on the one thing which worked and the great many bits that don’t, check out my detailed spoiler free review by clicking the link below.
Maria Is Nothing Without Angelina Jolie | Film Obsessive
Maria is a film that aims to have operatic qualities alongside poetic surrealistic visuals. It never captures those qualities, and the ho-hum ways it endeavors to do so are pathetic at worst, pretentious at best. The movie never does anything deserving of Jolie’s performance, yet it benefits entirely from her, riding her acting into the appearance of heights the filmmakers never earn.
I recently received a for-your-consideration package for this film. It included Maria on disc as well as the script. The amount of awards the people behind this picture think they deserve recognition for is laughable. And I say that because I literally laughed out loud reading the list. For more on the one thing which worked and the great many bits that don’t, check out my detailed spoiler free review by clicking the link below.
Maria Is Nothing Without Angelina Jolie | Film Obsessive
As is often the way, November didn’t have things scheduled until the end of the month. I went from doing little to being booked solid all day every day for two weeks. Live shows intermingled with personal responsibilities alongside work. However, it’s hard to complain about being busy when a lot of that work is simply watching shows, especially the good ones.
Full discloser, I wasn’t really looking forward to seeing Wicked. Granted, critics are supposed to review things objectively, but I’ve found objectivity to be a bit mythical. I can’t recount how many times, before a flick started, I’ve heard the press pool already talking about what they think of a film, positively and negatively. Yet, I try to review things with as open a mind as possible. If nothing else, I will attempt to figure out who the film is for then if that audience would enjoy it. Sometimes I am that audience which makes it easier. Another thing which makes things easy is actually having a good time.
Wicked caught me entirely off guard. To a certain extent, I think it helped that I’d already read Gregory Maguire’s Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Though that said, it’s a marvelous movie from start to finish. That’s especially important because the flick is dreadfully long. Just as it starts to become intolerably lengthy the whole thing wraps up on a rousing rendition of “Defying Gravity”. Still, I couldn’t believe how hooked I was from the opening number.
Curiously, perhaps because of that unexpected enjoyment, I’ve become somewhat sharply aware of negative reviews. Glancing around social media, I see a lot of folks having enjoyed the movie. But a few critics caught my eye. Now, people are free to disagree with me. I mainly read the first negative review curious to see what soured their viewing. This particular critic complained that the film featured production design that was too fantasy based. In other words, the merry old land of Oz seemed set too much in a fantasy realm. They also complained how Wicked is an origin story for a villain – wailing something like, “Why, oh why, can’t evil just be evil‽” – which is odd since Elphaba isn’t ever a villain.
Essentially, I found negative reviews seemed stuck on nitpicking details or gave telltale signs the critics weren’t really paying attention to the film. At best, they appeared to have stopped watching once they made up their minds. At worst, they went in to cherry pick things to detest. Like the one who sneered at the way the colors were too balanced, insisting some of them should have stood out. Apparently, Elphaba being the only green person in all of Oz didn’t make her stand out enough. She should have been a blazing neon while Glinda’s pink should have stabbed the eyes as well.
Frankly, the reek of contrarianism came off most sentences, writers refusing to like something guaranteed to be popular. It’s a pity really. They went in expecting the worst, and they got it. I didn’t go in anticipating anything fun, but I stayed open to the possibility. Perhaps that’s why I enjoyed the movie as much as I did.
Wicked is Over-the-Rainbow Excellence | Film Obsessive
Full discloser, I wasn’t really looking forward to seeing Wicked. Granted, critics are supposed to review things objectively, but I’ve found objectivity to be a bit mythical. I can’t recount how many times, before a flick started, I’ve heard the press pool already talking about what they think of a film, positively and negatively. Yet, I try to review things with as open a mind as possible. If nothing else, I will attempt to figure out who the film is for then if that audience would enjoy it. Sometimes I am that audience which makes it easier. Another thing which makes things easy is actually having a good time.
Wicked caught me entirely off guard. To a certain extent, I think it helped that I’d already read Gregory Maguire’s Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. Though that said, it’s a marvelous movie from start to finish. That’s especially important because the flick is dreadfully long. Just as it starts to become intolerably lengthy the whole thing wraps up on a rousing rendition of “Defying Gravity”. Still, I couldn’t believe how hooked I was from the opening number.
Curiously, perhaps because of that unexpected enjoyment, I’ve become somewhat sharply aware of negative reviews. Glancing around social media, I see a lot of folks having enjoyed the movie. But a few critics caught my eye. Now, people are free to disagree with me. I mainly read the first negative review curious to see what soured their viewing. This particular critic complained that the film featured production design that was too fantasy based. In other words, the merry old land of Oz seemed set too much in a fantasy realm. They also complained how Wicked is an origin story for a villain – wailing something like, “Why, oh why, can’t evil just be evil‽” – which is odd since Elphaba isn’t ever a villain.
Essentially, I found negative reviews seemed stuck on nitpicking details or gave telltale signs the critics weren’t really paying attention to the film. At best, they appeared to have stopped watching once they made up their minds. At worst, they went in to cherry pick things to detest. Like the one who sneered at the way the colors were too balanced, insisting some of them should have stood out. Apparently, Elphaba being the only green person in all of Oz didn’t make her stand out enough. She should have been a blazing neon while Glinda’s pink should have stabbed the eyes as well.
Frankly, the reek of contrarianism came off most sentences, writers refusing to like something guaranteed to be popular. It’s a pity really. They went in expecting the worst, and they got it. I didn’t go in anticipating anything fun, but I stayed open to the possibility. Perhaps that’s why I enjoyed the movie as much as I did.
Wicked is Over-the-Rainbow Excellence | Film Obsessive
After Wicked, I buckled down on an article about Young Frankenstein. The fifty-year-old film is a comedy classic. Its golden reputation is well-earned. However, in the decades since its release there’s little left to say. And I didn’t want to simply rehash the gags everyone loves. Too many anniversary articles seem to go that route. They recount the film everyone already knows then, if lucky, add one sidewise detail that’ve never been known. The downside with most Mel Brooks movies is that he’s been very generous with interviews, especially lately, and his commentary tracks on discs are equally full of anecdotes, details, and elaborations. The point being there isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said. Plus, it’s more enjoyable hearing a lot of this from Mel Brooks directly.
Still, I’d made the pit I was in by pitching the article. Getting out meant going into the purpose of parody. Basically, the article is a retrospective that looks at how the film is lovingly composed by fans of the 1931 James Whale classic but also how, as is the case with most of Mel Brooks best comedies, Young Frankenstein skewers human behavior more than the genre. In recent years, that’s been the failing of so many attempts at cinematic satire. Instead of poking fun at the human condition, comedians mock the genre.
The article explains it better in more detail, so if interested please click the link below.
Young Frankenstein and the Depth of Parody | Film Obsessive
Still, I’d made the pit I was in by pitching the article. Getting out meant going into the purpose of parody. Basically, the article is a retrospective that looks at how the film is lovingly composed by fans of the 1931 James Whale classic but also how, as is the case with most of Mel Brooks best comedies, Young Frankenstein skewers human behavior more than the genre. In recent years, that’s been the failing of so many attempts at cinematic satire. Instead of poking fun at the human condition, comedians mock the genre.
The article explains it better in more detail, so if interested please click the link below.
Young Frankenstein and the Depth of Parody | Film Obsessive
Moana 2 was not a flick I expected to put on the chopping block. This family friendly flick from Disney seemed like it would be a homerun. At worst, an inside the park triple. So little in this sequel came together and none of it got near the high bar set by the first film.
It was a real shame. I remember telling the PR person on my way out, “It wasn’t terrible. I’ll give it a goodish review, but it wasn’t great.” And it is a movie that parents in need of something to distract their kids will be happy to have. However, it’s incredibly forgettable. Though Moana 2 never sinks, it barely treads water, and there are better ways to kill time. For more on what worked and what didn’t, check out the spoiler free review I’ve got at Film Obsessive.
Moana 2 Treads Water Instead of Sailing | Film Obsessive
It was a real shame. I remember telling the PR person on my way out, “It wasn’t terrible. I’ll give it a goodish review, but it wasn’t great.” And it is a movie that parents in need of something to distract their kids will be happy to have. However, it’s incredibly forgettable. Though Moana 2 never sinks, it barely treads water, and there are better ways to kill time. For more on what worked and what didn’t, check out the spoiler free review I’ve got at Film Obsessive.
Moana 2 Treads Water Instead of Sailing | Film Obsessive
Finally, I closed the month with a look at Heavier Trip. This joins the group of heavy metal inspired cult classics like Metal Lords, This is Spinal Tap, and Deathgasm. Films that lovingly poke fun at the metalhead community.
This is a sequel to the 2018 Finnish flick Heavy Trip. Both are essentially black metal Blues Brother movies about the band Impaled Rektum on a road trip full of absurd adventures. This time the musicians must break out of a prison to perform at Wacken to earn the money they need to save their guitarist’s family farm. Simple and to the point, the plot allows the comedy wheels to keep rolling without getting sidetracked. Along the way, the various band members encounter their own hilarious trials and tribulations.
A fan of the first film, I was thrilled to not only get to see this, but I also managed to land a chance to chat with the filmmakers. That interview is coming next week so will be a part of the December roundup. Otherwise, for all the details on why Heavier Trip is an absurd metal cult classic, check out the spoiler free review linked below.
Heavier Trip Brings Back Black Metal Absurdity | Film Obsessive
This is a sequel to the 2018 Finnish flick Heavy Trip. Both are essentially black metal Blues Brother movies about the band Impaled Rektum on a road trip full of absurd adventures. This time the musicians must break out of a prison to perform at Wacken to earn the money they need to save their guitarist’s family farm. Simple and to the point, the plot allows the comedy wheels to keep rolling without getting sidetracked. Along the way, the various band members encounter their own hilarious trials and tribulations.
A fan of the first film, I was thrilled to not only get to see this, but I also managed to land a chance to chat with the filmmakers. That interview is coming next week so will be a part of the December roundup. Otherwise, for all the details on why Heavier Trip is an absurd metal cult classic, check out the spoiler free review linked below.
Heavier Trip Brings Back Black Metal Absurdity | Film Obsessive
I saw a few other movies over the course of November. However, press embargoes prevent any comments about them until particular dates. Suffice it to say, there are some real treasures on the way. So, stay tuned, at the very least for the December roundup. Either which way, consider following me at Blue Sky. Then you can get the reviews as they come out.
Otherwise, I have to get back to fiction projects. Then tackling lyrics for the Beerfinger E.P. which I really hope to have out before year’s end. In the meanwhile, stay safe, keep weird, and always remember that seeing it all is a shame if you keep the details to yourself.
Otherwise, I have to get back to fiction projects. Then tackling lyrics for the Beerfinger E.P. which I really hope to have out before year’s end. In the meanwhile, stay safe, keep weird, and always remember that seeing it all is a shame if you keep the details to yourself.
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