Rachel's Massive Movie Catch Up on Christmas Part 1

Rachel's Reviews

Dec 25

Hey friends! I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas day with family and friends! I have been beyond busy lately trying to get all the awards contenders watched so I could vote for the various groups I am a member of and covering all the holiday films for Hallmarkies Podcast. I would love to have longer reviews for all of the films I've seen but that's just not possible so here goes. (I am going to divide this up into several parts, so here is part 1)

Dream Scenario

Dream Scenario is one of those movies that's a more clever in theory than execution but it's fun enough. It's about a mousy professor played by Nicolas Cage who ends up one day in everybody's dreams for no apparent reason. It comments on social media and modern-day relationships and Cage is more relatable than you might expect. It's the kind of movie that would have made a better short than feature but I enjoyed what it had to say and the lead performance from Cage.

6 out of 10

Smile Worthy

The Color Purple

I have actually seen The Color Purple twice and I hope to do a longer review soon but I'm very grateful to the screening company for allowing me to see it twice. I was very tired the first day and despite enjoying the movie felt I didn't get the whole experience because of my fatigue. The second time I was well rested and able to fully appreciate the film. It's interesting because they were initially selling it as a 'crowd pleaser' which confused me given the subject matter. However, after seeing the film I understand what they were saying. They have successfully flipped the script from the novel and original film from a trauma narrative into one of inspiration and overcoming the toughest of challenges. As a musical lover I also appreciate how seamlessly the songs are integrated into the story. It's similar to Fiddler on the Roof in that way that for many of the numbers you can imagine the characters actually singing at that moment and the entire cast is incredibly talented. I am not always a huge Taraji P Henson fan but she was great in this and Danielle Brooks steals the show with her role and song "Hell No." I haven't seen the Broadway show this is based on but I hope I get to some day. Even if you don't normally like musicals you might enjoy this one. It's perhaps a little more drawn out than it needs to be but I still thoroughly enjoyed it.

8 out of 10

Smile Worthy

The Zone of Interest

The Zone of Interest is a tough film to review because I admire much about it but I don't necessarily think it all comes together. The concept is compelling about a seemingly normal German family in 1943 that lives an idyllic existence next to Auschwitz concentration camp. I do think if this film doesn't get nominated for best sound at the Oscars than the award has no meaning. No other film from this year does sound play such a key character in the storytelling. As events are happening to the family we hear explosions and other noises from the camp and it's very chilling. All that said, I felt like it made its point rather quickly and then didn't have enough to say for a feature film. It would have been a lot stronger as a short. Still, for the attempt and the conversation it inspires I do recommend watching this unusual film.

6 out of 10

Smile Worthy

Ferrari

I don't know what I expected from Michael Mann's Ferrari but I didn't expect it to end up on my worst of the year list but that's what happened. Aside from some impressive makeup there isn't much for me to praise in this film. Adam Driver is fine as Enzo Ferrari but the script is so clunky and poorly done that I couldn't appreciate his character work much. Penelope Cruz does what she can as the weepy wife but Shailene Woodley is terribly miscast as his mistress Lina. The accents are embarrassing and the racing scenes aren't even well done. A real miss

3 out of 10

Frown Worthy

Next Goal Wins

I'd heard a lot of negative buzz around Next Goal Wins before getting a chance to see it so maybe that is why I was surprised how sweet and charming it turned out to be. This is by no means an awards contender or anything like that but if you are looking for an underdog sports movie to root for you could do worse. Michael Fassbender plays a convincing surly bitter coach who is given the rag-tag group of soccer players to form into a team. It really should be called First Goal Wins because that's the main goal of the Samoan soccer team to score one goal. Kaimana as Jaiyah the trans player of the team is probably the highlight. This one won't change your life but is perfectly pleasant and enjoyable.

6 out of 10

Smile Worthy

Monster-

One of the more under-appreciated directors working today is the great Hirokazu Kore-eda who always seems to do well at festivals like Cannes but get little love elsewhere at the Oscars and other audiences. However, he consistently makes thoughtful films full of humanity and gets excellent performances out of his actors. His new film Monster is no exception. In it, he takes the Rashomon approach and tells the story of a boy getting struck in class from 3 perspectives- the Mother, the teacher and the child. All 3 teach us something different about the incident and present us with 3 compelling characters. If you get a chance to see it I highly recommend Monster.

9 out of 10

Smile Worthy

Fallen Leaves-

Fallen Leaves is one of those films that some people will find to be boring but others will love. I'm in the latter group. It doesn't have a ton of plot but the characters are so easy to relate with and their relationship so winning that it's a joy to watch. Coming from Finish director Aki Kaurismäki we follow 2 single grocery workers who meet and begin dating. They even go on a date to The Dead Don't Die (which I hated) and they don't seem thrilled with the movie. I just loved following these 2 for 81 minutes and rooting for them to find happiness. If you like the Before Sunrise series you might like this.

9 out of 10

Smile Worthy

Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget

I'm a big fan of Aardman animation and the original Chicken Run film. I love the animation and the homage to prison escape films like The Great Escape. One of the highlights of my career was interviewing the creator of Wallace and Gromit Nick Park for rotoscopers and I will always look forward to an Aardman film. So it is with some disappointment that I say Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget is just ok. I'm not sure what they could have done to make it better but they basically just rehash the original film with them going back to Mrs Tweedy's farm to free their daughter imprisoned there. It's pleasant and I enjoyed seeing the characters again but it's also highly forgettable and nothing I will remember going forward like the original film. I wish they had chosen a new villain and given us a new story.

5.5 out of 10

Smile Worthy (barely)