Hey everyone! First I want to apologize for being so late in getting you my Sundance recap. It's 28 films and taking me longer to get it done than I hoped for. In the meantime I have some other films to catch you up on. So let's get to it! 
Orion and the Dark
Due to its Netflix-only strategy I predict Orion and the Dark will end up being one of the more under-appreciated films of 2024. And this is a real shame because it's a special little animated film from DreamWorks. It tells the story of a little boy named Orion who has high anxiety. One day in the midst of his panic he meets his greatest fear personified- The Dark. They then go on a journey together to help him overcome his fears.
The script for this film is written by Charlie Kaufman of Adaptation fame and his imprint is all over the place. The way it addresses anxiety with honesty and empathy is wonderful for kids (second movie this year to do so with Inside Out 2 coming out with a character named Anxiety.) I also loved the animation with a similar flat style that we saw in Abominable or Captain Underpants (both underrated.)
I also had the pleasure of interviewing the composers for this movie after I saw it and that interview will be on Rachel's Reviews youtube and at rotoscopers.com later this week. I wish we could have seen Orion and the Dark on the big screen but it's definitely worth a watch over at Netflix. I think it will not only entertain but help kids process their feelings in a very positive way. Love it!
8 out of 10
Smile Worthy
American Fiction
I finally checked American Fiction off my to-watch list this week. It's not that I'd been avoiding it. I just missed the screening and this time of year once you miss it it's hard to catch up! Overall, I really enjoyed this lively little piece of satire. It's at its strongest when it is poking fun at academia and literary hipster circles. It's less effective when it tries to be about the lead character "Monk's" family and personal life. That felt more cliched and tired.
Still, the performances are excellent especially Jeffrey Wright in the lead. He's trying to do the right thing but also the world keeps telling him they don't want his best- they want the cliched book he wrote as a joke. It's kind of funny in a way that it's up for all these awards because the script criticizes the very people who vote for such awards! It's very ironic. Nevertheless, this is a good example of how you can do contemporary satire effectively and keep it funny/non-woke for lack of a better word. I'd watch it again and I can't say that about that many movies like this. Erika Alexander, who I used to love on The Cosby Show is excellent as Monk's girlfriend.
7 out of 10
Smile Worthy
Molli and Max: In the Future
Last year one of my favorite movies at SXSW Film Festival was Molli and Max: In the Future. I had the chance to rewatch this clever take on When Harry Met Sally in space and I still really enjoyed it. In fact, I've kept in touch with the director Michael Litwak over this year and recently had him on the Hallmarkies Podcast to talk about the movie. I really enjoyed our discussion about the movie and rom-coms in general. Check it out above or wherever you listen to podcasts.
The movie itself is very inventive and fresh. I can't believe all they were able to do on a nothing budget creating a unique and immersive world that feels like Doctor Who meets Tron. There are some segments that drag a little too long like a section on a reality game show but even there the world-building is creative enough to keep me invested. Zosia Mamet and Aristotle Athari are wonderful in the leads and their friendship and chemistry is believable.
If Molli and Max is playing near you I'd love for you to support it. It's the kind of bootstrap filmmaking with hard and humor I'd love to encourage and support. A gem of 2024.
8 out of 10
Smile Worthy
Lisa Frankenstein
Next I saw Lisa Frankenstein which is a genre mashup romantic comedy, horror film in the vein of Edward Scissorhands, Shaun of the Dead or Warm Bodies. I don't think this is as strong as any of those films but there was enough positives for me to recommend.
The best thing about this film is the aesthetic and enjoyable performances. It is set in 1989 and it really feels like a creature of that time in all its aesthetics. I also liked all of the performances especially Kathryn Newton as Lisa and Cole Sprouse as the Frankenstein. Carla Gugino and Liza Soberano are great in supporting roles. The dry sense of humor in the script by Diablo Cody is also pretty entertaining.
The problem lies in the story. The script doesn't give them enough to do. It seemed like a lot of the movie is just the characters hanging around the house waiting for something to happen. It's also not as effective a love story as it could have been because Lisa's pining away for a different boy most of the movie. Recently I saw Your Monster at Sundance and that was a much better genre mashup. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this enough for a mild recommendation. If it seems like your thing than you'll enjoy yourself.
6 out of 10
Smile Worthy
Bob Marley: One Love
Finally we have a new musical biopic about reggae legend Bob Marley called Bob Marley: One Love. Unfortunately this is a by the numbers biopic that doesn't give us much new that we didn't already know about Bob or the music he created. The biggest insight I gained was learning about how he died (I've always heard he died of a stubbed toe that got infected but it was evidently cancer that came from the stubbed toe.
The leads are decent with Kingsley Ben-Adir and I suppose if you are a big fan who knows nothing about Bob Marley it might be entertaining enough at home but I mostly was bored and wishing it would wrap it up sooner.
4 out of 10
Frown Worthy
So there you have it. What about you? What have you been enjoying at the theater or on streaming? I would love to hear your thoughts!
No comments:
Post a Comment