Joker (2019) Movie Review

JOKER (2019) MOVIE REVIEW

Controversy can often result in casual movie goers and critics alike to be split when discussing the quality of any kind of film. In Jokers case, the rhetorical pot that writer and director Todd Phillips has stirred is nothing short of insane, much like this movie. Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) is resented and mistreated by society due to his profession as a clown and his mental status. Fleck continually loses his sanity as we are shown his eventual transformation into the clown prince of crime. 

The story we are taken on within Fleck’s mind is one not to be taken lightly. Beginning as an indifferent member of Gotham City and eventually becoming the cities’ most dangerous criminal is a journey that all involved handled to near perfection. Many have criticised the film due to expectations not being met and not what they expected from the movie. While this is valid, there is no denying the quality of film that was formulated and much of this can be attributed to the remarkable performance given by Joaquin Phoenix. With over 20 different actors having portrayed the infamous character, both voice actors and film included, Phoenix may very well be within the upper echelon. His uncontrollable fits of laughter, his mannerisms and the way he presented himself made for one of Joaquin’s greatest performances in a career littered with unforgettable and academy award nominated roles including Gladiator and his depiction of Johnny Cash in Walk the Line. Not to be overlooked are Robert De Niro and Zazie Beetz who both deliver masterful performances respectively. 

Cinematography can often make a film feel distinct for both good and bad reasons. The way a film looks can change a viewer’s perception of whether a great film is mediocre or vice versa.  Thankfully in Joker’s case, the camera work done makes the movie an oddly beautiful one despite Gotham City looking as eerie and repulsing as some of the violent acts committed throughout the runtime. 

Joker may be causing controversy now but don’t let that stop you from checking this instant classic. Thanks to beautiful cinematography, terrific performances and a subtle but startling score that builds up throughout Fleck’s descension into madness, Joker is the best film of 2019 so far and will be looking to clean up big at the impending Academy Awards next year.

OVERALL

8 / 10

Living with Yourself - Season 1 (2019) Series Review

LIVING WITH YOURSELF - SEASON 1 (2019) SERIES REVIEW

Netflix has been continually pumping out a seemingly never-ending supply of movies and television shows to become engulfed into. The streaming service released a brand-new series called Living with Yourself which has been making waves since being made available for all to enjoy last week. Everyday man Miles (Paul Rudd) falls in a depressive, uncaring state after years of a repetitive routine with his wife Kate (Aisling Bea). Following a spa trip recommended by a co-worker, Miles’ life soon becomes incomprehensible as he discovers he has a clone and must now learn to live with a new and improved version of himself. This dramedy blends both genres together in such a charming way considering the uniqueness of the overall concept. Creator Timothy Greenberg takes full advantage of both the comedic antics and the dramatic repercussions that can transpire with having a clone throughout this eight-episode series. 

Even though having been heavily advertised as a comedy, Living with Yourself has many layers underneath it’s comical exterior ranging from the ethicality of clones existing to the sheer distress it can have on friends and family. Housing numerous comedic actors including Paul Rudd and Aisling Bea, the humour manages to work on multiple levels even when the amusement doesn’t relate to the clone’s existence. Paul Rudd does a great job in portraying both of his characters seeing as each of them are near exact opposites to one another. Opposite Rudd and Rudd is Aisling Bea as Kate who was an unforeseen standout in the series. Beginning as a one-dimensional character, she slowly evolved into my favourite character on the show thanks to her natural performance and her character-focused episode being one of my favourites. 

Editing is one of the most important aspects to any kind of film or TV show as a single mistimed edit can result in a scene’s tone becoming messy and misconstrued. Living with Yourself is edited in such a way where the first halve of an episode focuses on one of the Miles’ point of view from the previous episode, resulting in a uniquely remarkable style of both editing and story-telling. Many have criticised Living with Yourself for having a weak debut episode which unfortunately is the show’s major downfall. If a series doesn’t have a strong first impression, audiences presumably won’t invest any more time into said show. This is a real shame too as the show is one of my favourite new releases to come onto Netflix. Thanks to a perfect blend of comedy and drama, superb performances from all and a narrative which beautifully conveys the saying ‘both sides of the same coin’, Living with Yourself is a breath of fresh air and should unquestionably be everyone’s next quick binge.

OVERALL

7 / 10

El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie (2019) Movie Review

EL CAMINO: A BREAKING BAD MOVIE (2019) MOVIE REVIEW

Since the shows conclusion in 2013, fans of the worldwide phenomenon Breaking Bad have been clamouring for a follow up or at the very least resolution following the show's climax. Now six years later, we are given a direct sequel of sorts available now on Netflix to the series finale and fans of the show, including myself, could not be more excited. And with show creator Vince Gilligan at the helm once again, expectations are at an all time high and were thankfully more than met. 

After escaping his captures with help from a former friend, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) is now on the run from police as well as his inner demons. Taking place directly after the conclusion of a massive event is always a tough job to pull off. Many different elements have to align near perfectly like lighting and editing in order for the scene to make sense and recognisable to the viewer. Thankfully this opening sequence was done remarkably well and felt exactly like an episode of the show due to seem-less transitions and a natural flow to all the events taking place. After this escape the rest of the film follows Jesse's inner struggles and continuous flashbacks to his past which play an effective role in telling us what occurred during his capture and showing the pain Pinkman was going through. Perhaps the biggest criticism El Camino has been receiving is its reliance in the audience's knowledge of the series. In all honestly this critique is fairly void as prior to the film, Netflix provides a recap of the entire series leading up to the film's beginning which even for a fan of the show like myself, was much needed and quite handy. 

Aaron Paul returns in his most iconic role as the young drug-dealer Jesse Pinkman and does a phenomenal job in making the audience sympathise with his character, a trait his character was known for in the show. His facials are some of the most realistic and gut-wrenching put onto screen in quite a long time whether it be emotions conveying happiness, sadness or relief, all of Paul's characterisations are remarkably spot on and increase the quality all scenes in which he is featured which is thankfully most. Other acting credits to be given include Jesse Plemons as Todd whom appears in multiple flashback sequences in which his character conveys a strong sense of madness thanks to subtle acts of O.C.D and general acts of murder along the way. It's hard to say who else does a standout job in this film as everyone does a remarkable job in the film and feels human despite their personalities being the furthest thing from it. Cinematography was arguably Breaking Bad's highest praise and in El Camino it without a doubt was. Adapting techniques used throughout the show was a stroke of genius and makes the movie feel unique and eerily similar to that of the show. 

Although not on the same level as the show, El Camino still is a great movie. Filled with outstanding performances and story-telling that puts most theatrical releases to shame, this Netflix exclusive may just be one of the best films going on the service right now. Unfortunately if you haven't experienced Breaking Bad, the quality of the film may not be as good but if you are a fan of the series, El Camino is a must watch for you and gives one of the show's best characters a satisfying ending. 

OVERALL

8 / 10

Ad Astra (2019) Movie Review

AD ASTRA (2019) MOVIE REVIEW

Since the inception of film, space travel has often been a popular subject matter to tackle thanks to the broad canvas provided by the universe. An empty void like space can make for some of the most creative and, ironically enough, the most jam-packed stories to be told in any media. Ad Astra looks to be included in the list of great space films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Moon, however being in the same conversation as films like these isn’t as easy as rocket science. Astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) is tasked with completing a mission to find his long-lost father Clifford (Tommy Lee Jones) after learning that his father may be responsible for the impending extinction of the solar system. 

A seemingly simple story soon turns out to be much more as the overall plot is shrouded with mystery surrounding Roy’s father and if the rumours about his actions are true. Tommy Lee Jones does a good job in his limited role and conveys a sense of insanity but is overshadowed by our leading man Brad Pitt who is easily the film’s standout. Considering his character is the focal point of the film it’s easy to see how Pitt’s Roy is the most flushed out and best character in Ad Astra. Despite being the best character, his actions throughout the movie are non-sensical which results in multiple deaths and little to no comeuppance, ultimately damaging the plot. Space movies are often criticised for not being inherently realistic due to limitations brought about by the plot needing to move forward. Ad Astra handles this unavoidable problem as well as it can by keeping its focus near-perfectly balanced between the characters as well as the vast environs of space. 

Ad Astra translates to ‘to the stars’ in Latin which the movie more than achieves through its picturesque representation of the plain beyond our own. Awe-inspiring shots help make the scenery that much more stunning and could easily be in contention for numerous Academy Awards a couple of months down the track both for its visual and film making achievements. Ad Astra manages to be a thought-provoking film filled with dramatic tension and remarkable acting but unfortunately suffers due to the proverbial envelope not being pushed far enough. Director James Gray raises an abundant of questions which never seem to be fully answered by the movie’s culmination. Despite this, Brad Pitt’s latest endeavour proves to be an exciting and exhilarating space venture both fans of film and astronomy alike will remember fondly.

OVERALL

7 / 10

Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood (2019) Movie Review

ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD (2019) MOVIE REVIEW

Quentin Tarantino is back with his ninth feature film Once Upon A Time in Hollywood. From Reservoir Dogs to Django: Unchained to now, Tarantino has rightfully been earmarked as one of Hollywood’s best directors. Known for his impeccable casting and unique writing, the legendary director is still going strong with this latest endeavour by creating a controversial homage to the golden era of Hollywood filled with all the colourful characters one would expect from 1969 Los Angeles. 

Fading television star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) is trying to get back to the top in a world that keeps on passing him by. With the help of his stunt-double Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), they attempt to get Dalton’s career back on track in amongst this new but somehow familiar acting world consisting of new faces in and outside the world of film. Following this duo’s journey through L.A is one to behold and manages to carry much of the movie thanks to DiCaprio and Pitt’s magical chemistry. During times when the film slows down is when the writing truly begins to shine. Whether it be dramatic or down-right hilarious, the script rarely misses the mark and makes for some of the movie’s best moments. With Pulp Fiction being one of my favourite films, the vibes I got from said movie kept popping up all throughout Once Upon A Time in Hollywood because of the dialogue. Unlike Pulp Fiction however, the story felt incredibly jointed but in all the wrong ways. 

The overall plot itself was nothing too outlandish but still felt a little messy in places thanks to random cuts to Margot Robbie’s portrayal of Sharon Tate. This is where one of the controversies for the film lies as Margot Robbie featured heavily in promotional material for the movie as legendary actress Sharon Tate but in the end had very little dialogue and screen time to work with. Alongside the supposed mistreatment of the late 1960s, there was plenty of reason for critics to lambast Tarantino’s latest flick. These critiques I found to be void as the story felt more of an homage rather than an attack on the golden era of Hollywood. As for Robbie’s lack of screen time, minimal appearances often made her character more engaging and came full circle by the movie’s climax. 

Despite not being as strong as his previous films, by no means does this make Once Upon A Time in Hollywood a bad movie. Far from it in fact. Thanks to Quentin Tarantino’s impeccable writing and directorial talents, the Hollywood world brought back to life fifty years later truly is something beautiful to see and shows just how far films and television have come since their earliest days.

OVERALL

8 / 10

Hobbs and Shaw (2019) Movie Review

HOBBS AND SHAW (2019) MOVIE REVIEW

It is hard to believe that The Fast and the Furious franchise has been around for 18 years. For over a decade, the collection of now nine films have entertained a generation of action film fans with an emphasis on fast cars and insane stunts. Hobbs and Shaw takes full advantage of the previous film’s standards and amps it up to eleven in this entertaining, testosterone filled adventure. Fan favourite characters Luke Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) are forced to work together to stop cybernetic-enthusiast Brixton (Idris Elba) from changing humanity forever. This simple but effective plot about stopping cybernetic terrorism soon transpires into a story about family which while the film attempted to integrate naturally, the message feels more forced by the film’s climax.

Director David Leitch orchestrated brilliant humour in his previous picture Deadpool 2 and brought much the same to Hobbs and Shaw. Whether it be a quick quip or a built-up bellyacher, majority of the jokes do stick and was met with thunderous approval from the audience, myself included. Johnson and Statham’s Hobbs and Shaw are the real driving force behind this action-comedy by implementing their real-life personalities into their characters in all the right ways. Whether it be impromptu contests based around eliminating bad guys or pulling pranks through customs, these two both work tremendously together and against one another. Idris Elba fully embodies his villain role, unapologetically using this platform to have the most fun possible while still managing to be a consistent threat for our heroes. This hammy performance is aided by the film allowing itself to not take itself too seriously. Elba’s Brixton is perhaps the biggest attribute to this by having powers rivalling that of a superhero, literally referring to himself as ‘black superman’. 

Hobbs and Shaw features some of the craziest and most ludicrous stunts put onto the big screen but unfortunately sacrifices interesting and under-developed characters as a result. This would not normally be a problem, but when the film spends a lot of its two-and-a-half-hour runtime explaining minor story elements that have little to no impact, these problems stick out like The Rock on an undercover mission. In the end however, story is not where the appeal of a film like this lies. Throughout the movie people were laughing and having fun with this Fast and the Furious spinoff flick, and for good reason. Beautifully choreographed fight sequences, the chemistry between the two leads and a soundtrack filled with memorable beats makes Hobbs and Shaw yet another reason why The Longreach Star Cinema is worth checking out on a weekly basis.

OVERALL

7 / 10

Stuber (2019) Movie Review

STUBER (2019) MOVIE REVIEW

Uber may just be the most useful app to be released in recent memory. The ability to create jobs and have access to fast transportation at the press of a button has helped millions of people across the world. Its honestly surprising a major spoof of the app has taken this long to be created, but director Micheal Dowse has stepped up to the plate and made a surprisingly entertaining story filled with action, love and breaking of the status quo.

Mild-mannered man Stu (Kumail Nanjiani) gets thrust into a night of action as his passenger Vic (Dave Bautista) turns out to be a detective following a lead on a killer he has been searching for months. Unfortunately Vic receives this lead on the same day he gets laser surgery, meaning he can't properly see for 24 hours. As a result of this handicap, Vic needs the help of his driver Stu to follow the clues and find his man before he skips town. While the overall concept has been delved into numerous times, the way the story is set up feels semi natural and gives a good reason for Vic to be more or less on the same level as Stu in terms of usefulness. Adding Uber to the mix makes this simple and overplayed story a little bit more interesting and results in some really creative and funny moments involving the share-ride app.

Kumali Nanjiani and Dave Bautista are your comedy pairing for the movie and do a great job at playing off each other brilliantly. Genuinely feeling like polar opposites, both Dave and Kumali show this numerous times throughout the story and actually have some emotional moments by illustrating their respective insecurities. Alongside the buddy pair we have Natalie Morales who plays Vic's daughter who does a good job however I feel her performance was aided by the script. Weirdly enough her character's dialogue had some of the more emotional lines which is fair given the fact her and Dave's character have a struggling father/daughter relationship which is handled well and is easy to sympathise with as we gradually understand what both Vic and Nicole are going through. Speaking of great writing, writer Tripper Clancy understood that the movie wasn't going to be taken seriously and opted to head more towards the absurd end of the spectrum by implementing self-referential humour early on like how an electric car can have a gas explosion for example. Many of the jokes are also related back to the whole Uber concept involving different features including the total billing cost Vic receives for the whole movie. Spoiler alert, its a big one. 

Overall Stuber is a movie that exists. Its not one you have to go see straight out of the gates but if you're looking for an easy and enjoyable watch, this is one for you. Aided by the chemistry between Kumali and Dave as well as the script by debut writer Tripper Clancy, Stuber ended up being an enjoyable time at the cinema that made me smile for 90 minutes. And in my books, that is what the sign of a good film truly is. 

OVERALL

6 / 10