(Movie Review) Logan - One Last Snikty Snikt

Logan (2017)

Action, Drama, Sci-Fi

Directed By: James Mangold

It's been seventeen years since Hugh Jackman's Wolverine first appeared on screen, seventeen years and now we finally have the movie fans have always wanted from his character. Thanks, in large part to the massive success of Deadpool last February, James Mangold was finally allowed to make the movie this character deserves. Boasting a hard R rating which, trust me is more than necessary, we for the first time get to see what this character is all about. Logan is an insane, hyper-violent, fresh take on comic book cinema that opens new doors for the future of the genre.

Following in franchise tradition, the movie picks and chooses the details it wants to acknowledge and utilize from previous films. It's 2029 and Logan (Hugh Jackman) is working as a for-hire limo driver on the border of the U.S. and Mexico. Most of the mutant population is extinct but he has secretly been keeping Professor X (Patrick Stewart) alive south of the border. He has a plan to get them somewhere safe that they can live out their few remaining days, but the unexpected appearance of a new mutant kills any ideas for a peaceful end they had in mind. Whether Logan likes it or not they now have to get this girl someplace safe before some bad people get their hands on her. 

Right from the start, this doesn't feel like any "superhero" movie we've seen before, and that's probably because it isn't one. Though it's steeped in X-Men lore it doesn't rely on your previous knowledge of this world in order to work. Sure, the more familiar you are with these characters and the world the more of an emotional payoff you get in the end, but at the most basic level anyone can enjoy this as a ultra-violent, sci-fi-action-western, and that's pretty incredible in an age where everything is in a "shared universe" 

Let's talk about that R rating, is it necessary? because that's the only thing that matters, and in this case, it's a requirement. When you see this movie, in the first minutes it is made abundantly clear just how necessary that rating is for telling this particular story.  It's not just that they spew a lot of blood and drop a ridiculous amount of curse words, which is fantastic, it's that those things help create the true portrait of who Logan is and how his long, violent life has weighed on him this entire time. 

This is a true genre film, pulling from all different kinds of western, action, and even horror movies creating something, unlike anything we have seen in the genre before. The action is on a level that makes even the most violent of comic book movies pale in comparison. It's not just graphic and gruesome, it's brutally real. Where movies like Deadpool and Blade made their ultra-violence fun, this movie makes it painful. When Wolverine's claws go to work they leave behind a long trail of blood and body parts. 

When Jackman first appeared in the role on 2000 he instantly owned the part and now seventeen years later he is better than he's ever been. If this is actually his last go-around as Wolverine is as good of a send-off as you could ever have. The same goes for Patrick Stewarts Professor X, these iterations of the characters have been around for most of my life and it's amazing to see that almost two decades later they care just as much, if not more, than when they first began. 

Logan also introduces us to the young actress Dafne Keen, who plays Laura aka X-23, the new young mutant who throws a wrench in Wolverines plans. Her performance is incredible, especially considering the only time she opens her mouth, for the most part, is when she's screaming bloody murder has she dismantles a batch of mercenaries. If anyone from this movie goes on to be in future X-Men films, it needs to be her. 

At 137 minutes this is certainly not a short film, and you feel the length of it, but not necessarily in a bad way. Though it feels like it starts to drag in a few moments around the mid-section, there is nothing I would want to see cut out. Every scene feels necessary on the journey to its big ending and really, who can complain about more screentime between Wolverine and X-23? 

These spin-off stories have never felt like they were that intertwined with the main X-Men franchise, but this one even more so than the others feels totally detached, even with the small nods here and there to other films. Logan succeeds with just the basic knowledge of who the character is and nothing more. This is a critical analysis of Wolverine in all of his forms and how his tortured life affects him and the people around him.  

If you go into this looking for the same thing you got out of Deadpool last winter, you may come away disappointed. The hyper-violence will surely satisfy you, but the slow burn of the story and the examination of deeper themes makes this a much more exhausting watch, and I mean that in a good way. Logan takes the genre into new areas and blazes new trails for future stories to go down in what may be the greatest achievement in the X-Men franchise to date.   

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

(Movie Review) I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore - Sundance Got it Right

I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore (2017)

Crime, Drama, Thriller

Directed By: Macon Blair

Of all the indie movie tropes, I think "ordinary person thrown unexpectedly into an extraordinary situation" might be my favorite. It's one thing to watch Hollywood characters be put into an out-of-this-world situation, it's something else entirely to watch characters who look, feel, and act like real people put into the same scenario. The latest jury prize winner out of this year's Sundance film festival does exactly that, showing us what happens when depression and bad timing clash together in the perfect shit storm of bad luck.

Ruth (Melanie Lynskey) hasn't been doing too good with her ride through life, in fact, she drinks herself through most days of it. That is until she returns home from work to find her home trashed and burglarized. Though the thieves didn't get away with anything too life-shattering, it ignites a fire inside of Ruth that sends her on a crazy manhunt for the assholes who stole her crap and made a mess of her home. It has nothing to do with the stolen goods and everything to do with her crumbling sanity in this shallow, merciless life.

The debut film from writer/director Macon Blair (Blue Ruin) is nihilistic in nature, but with an underlying charm that keeps it from becoming a soul sucking downer. He is able to blend the real and surreal seamlessly and it allows for this story have an authenticity often lost on bigger Hollywood properties. Ruth, and even Elijah Wood's eccentric character Tony, feel like real people which makes the unreal scenario they have found themselves in feel the exact opposite. 

The film opens feeling like your typical indie movie, Ruth is depressed and her life sucks, but it quickly dives down a rabbit hole you don't see coming. Having been an actor in each of Jeremy Saulnier's (Green Room) films, Blair has a touch for hyper-violence and taking a queue from Saulnier, he knows how and when to use it most effectively. This is hardly a non-stop action movie, but when it unexpectedly falls down that hole it is never afraid to get graphic. 

The violence put on display here is not graphic in a gratuitous way like many movies these days though. When it does occur it is often in a stumbling, almost accidental way that is relatable to real life. We see characters react far more severely to simple acts of violence here  than we would see in more stylized movies where they walk away from it without as much as a wince. This goes a long way in setting the tone and getting us on board for the screwball ride he is about to take us on. 

Everything in this story lives and dies by its two lead characters, specifically Ruth played fantastically my Melanie Lynskey. She sells misery and mundanity of Ruth and the life she lives incredibly well and her interactions with all of the people around her are authentic. Then there is Elijah Wood's Tony, a character that oddly blends the real and surreal. Im sure we have all met a weird loner like him, who has strange hobbies and a quirky personality, but Wood also adds a level to him that allows the character to break this mold when necessary. He steals every scene he is in and gives what is maybe my favorite performance from him to date. 

As a first feature, I Don't Feel at Home in this World Anymore proves that Macon Blair more than knows what he is doing behind the camera. He is able to capture raw humanity just as easily as he gets the brutality of real life violence, and both are on display throughout this movie. The dialogue he has written doesn't at all feel like your typical heightened speech we usually see, instead the characters are holding conversation we could see ourselves having. He lays down the perfect groundwork so that when the finale goes for broke it never seems forced or out of place, it just feels right. 

It's easy to see why this movie was the jury prize winner this year at Sundance. It plays with a cache of indie movie tropes and cliches and takes a number of turns you don't expect. It captures the reality we love to see in these kinds of movies, but in a brutal and quirky way we aren't necessarily used to. Blair delivers a tight script that he executed brilliantly, so much so that I am now much more excited about Macon Blair the filmmaker than Macon Blair the wonderful actor. Thanks to the folks at Netflix, this movie is already available on their streaming service to be seen by millions of people, I suggest you take the plunge as soon as possible. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

(Movie Review) Get Out - A Thrilling Ride Through Our Terrifying Reality

Get Out (2017)

Horror, Thriller

Directed By: Jordan Peele

When news first got to me that Jordan Peele, of Key & Peele fame, was going to write and direct a horror movie as his filmmaking debut, I couldn't have been more excited. For starters, anyone who follows Mr. Peele close enough knows that this guy is a die-hard fan of the genre and anything he does within it is going to be handled with absolute care and love. Secondly, if you are familiar with the work he and Keegan Michael-Key did on their show, you are aware that he has a cinematic eye. Their show was far better staged than it had any right to be so the transition for him from TV to film only feels natural.

Coming out of the gate hot as hell, Peele uses his first film to tell a story as old as time and as relevant as it has ever been in 2017. It's the story of a young, black man going with his white girlfriend to meet her suburban bound parents. A situation we have seen played out in countless sitcoms and bad comedies (and that I'm sure some of you have lived yourselves) is used as the perfect tool to tell a tight, stress inducing thriller that just so happens to be a bitter reflection of our own reality. 

Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and his girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) have finally hit the point in their relationship where Chris gets to meet her parents. Though Allison assures him that they are as liberal and as welcoming as can be, Chris knows better than to take her word for it. From the moment they arrive in her parent's small suburban town he knows something isn't quite right. It's not the lack of other black people in the community, it's that the few others around him are acting peculiar, to say the least. What he comes to find by the end of his weekend trip is more twisted and terrifying than anything he could have imagined. 

The less knowledge about the plot of this film you know beforehand, the more rewarded you will be by its outcome. The film winds its way down a road full of twists and turns, each one more fulfilling than the last, but not every twist is monumental, and some are even a bit predictable. It's the way they all come together that makes for a truly original piece of horror cinema. 

Jordan Peele's script for Get Out is one of the most impressive I have seen, not just in the genre but in all of film, in some time. He didn't only craft a thrilling horror flick, he also used the story to bring to light a lot of issues we are currently facing as a society. The way he depicts casual, almost unconscious racism in Allison's parents and their friends is so incredibly real it is sure to make you squirm. It is clear beyond a doubt that Mr. Peele has himself been in situations like these numerous times in his life. 

You can see this even in the way he shoots the film, how he switches between wide shots and close-ups to convey the energy being passed between the two parties. For example, when they show the first meeting between Chris and the parents, he chooses to show it from a wide angle showing off the suburban facade these people have created around them. It also plays up the meaninglessness of how her parents would present themselves in that first encounter. Suburban racism doesn't show itself right away, in fact, they will hide it and play up their "liberalism" as long as possible, which is something we see clearly in this shot as Dean, played brilliantly by Bradley Whitford, gives Chris a giant man hug the minute he walks up to the door, playing up their facade that much more.  

The social satire described above would make a highly interesting film in its own right, so for it to be just a part of a masterfully crafted horror-thriller like this is something truly special. The uncomfortable paranoia caused by this casual racism sets the perfect backdrop for a heart-pounding thrill ride. With every interaction he has with the neighbors, the more anxious we as an audience grow. We all know something terrible is going to happen from the start, it's just a matter of when and what will happen, and trust me, you won't see the final twist coming. 

What took me most about this film was how real everything felt, from his relationship with Allison in the beginning of the film to each and every one of the interactions he has with the white folk over that weekend. This script comes from a place of experience, it's obvious Peele has had almost these exact conversations with self-proclaimed "woke" white people and the way he crafts them into his narrative is a thing of beauty. 

If you are doubting this movie, or have pre-conceived notions due to Peel's background in comedy throw all of that crap out of the door. Anyone who knows anything about horror and comedy knows that the two are far more similar than most would think. Both are almost entirely predicated on timing, to pull off a good joke or a good scare it's all about timing. A second too long or too short and the moment is lost and we all know Peele has incredible comedic timing, Get Out proves he can translate it over to horror without even batting an eye. 

That being said, his comedic touch is not lost on this film as it hits some big laughs at the right moments. Chris' best friend Rod (Lil Rey Howery), who he has selective contact with throughout the movie, provides the film with some wonderful comedic relief. Rod calls in to check up at all the right moments and is often saying exactly what we as an audience are thinking. What makes him a great addition to the movie though is that he isn't just there for laughs, his character of an overconfident TSA agent works his way into the story in some really fun ways and becomes an integral part of the overall arc.  

Rod is one of many incredible side performances highlighting just one more thing Peele nailed in his first go-around behind the camera. He managed to pull stunning performances from everyone in the cast. Kaluuya and Williams are fantastic in the leads and Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener bring their best as they always do as Allison's mysterious parents. Betty Gabriel, Lakeith Stanfield, Lil Rey Howery, and Caleb Landry Jones round out a stellar supporting cast, all giving knock-out performances. Especially Betty Gabriel as the housemaid, she delivers most of the films creepiest, and downright unnerving moments. 

This isn't only impressive as a debut film, this is a damn good movie by any standards and we should look forward to many more flicks from the wonderfully twisted mind of Jordan Peele in the near future. I'm looking for a bad thing to say about Get Out and I simply cannot find it. I was never bored, I was most certainly always engaged, and the hook totally took me by surprise. Fans are always crying for fresh, original takes on the genre and you couldn't ask for a better example of that than this. Get out to the theater this weekend and let's make this movie a bonafide hit. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on Twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

(Movie Review) John Wick: Chapter 2 - Welcome Back to The Continental

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

Action, Crime, Thriller

Directed By: Chad Stahelski

As movie fans, whenever we hear the word "sequel" we can't help but assume the law of diminishing returns would take effect. Yeah, there is the rare, great sequel that matches or even outdoes its predecessor, but they are few and far between. The thing about John Wick, however, is that it had laid down a rich, yet lightly touched upon mythology that us diehard fans simply wanted to know more about and that could easily be built upon in future films. Our thirst to learn more about The Continental and the management who runs it became as large as our desire to see Wick popping more headshots. 

Two years later, writer Derek Kolstad, director Chad Stahelski, and star Keanu Reeves are all back to tell the next chapter in John Wick's tale. Picking up shortly after the first movie ends, Mr. Wick finds himself being drawn right back into the world he has been trying his best to retire from. A dark figure from his past re-emerges to cash in on a debt owed to him from long ago and he has no choice but to once again pick up his guns and do what he does best, kill. The mission isn't so cut and dry though and in true John Wick fashion, it leads to a hefty price being put on his head. 

John Wick: Chapter 2 is the rare sequel that succeeds on every level it needs to, whether you are a fan who enjoyed the original just for the insane "gun-fu" action then there is plenty for you to go crazy for in this new story. From the opening scene to the last Wick is relentlessly kicking more ass than you can imagine and the ways in which he is doing it are stunning. Director/choreographer/stunt-man Chad Stahelski and his now long-time collaborator Keanu Reeves have crafted stunningly gorgeous action sequences that stand apart from most anything you've seen before. It's game changing for American action films and we are sure to see countless rip-offs in the near future. 

Watching this new movie I couldn't help but relate the structure of the action sequences, and even major parts of the story, back to classic first-person-shooter video games. Much like in those games, John Wick is, in a way, going through different levels, with each becoming gradually harder. After every couple, he finds himself in a higher stakes fight with a "boss" character that has a greater chance of defeating him and usually leaving him with physical damage. This just furthers my theory that the best "video game movies" will always be the ones not based on any game at all, but on original ideas like these. 

Through two movies they have also adopted a distinct aesthetic using bold lighting, booming music, and a vibrant color palette. The hyper-stylized design of the film helps us to open up our minds to the some of the wackier and more unbelievable aspects of this world. Take the club scene from the first film for example. You aren't so concerned with the collateral damage of him murdering two dozen men in cold blood while you are being visually assaulted by vibrant teal neons and booming electric music.

What makes this second chapter truly great though is the furthering of the fascinating mythology from the original. For the fans who saw John Wick as something truly special because of the fantasy world it created, this movie has so much for you to love. They don't just go back to The Continental and reintroduce us to management, they introduce us to entirely new sides of the world we had no idea existed. Whether it be little things, like the Hotels "sommelier", or major things, like the strict rules management has put in place ad how they affect them all, they are constantly giving us new nuggets to chew on.

The addition of all of this extra information and mythology is not without its costs, though. In order to take us deeper into this world they, at times, have to sacrifice interesting characters to populate the world around Wick. The addition of Common and Laurence Fishburne is great but even so, I felt none of the new characters had an impact as big as Alfie Allens "Iosef" or Michael Nyqvist's "Viggo". The closest I felt the film came to a truly memorable new character was Peter Stormare as Viggo's brother Abram, but he sadly barely has any screen time in the movie. 

This is a minor quibble for me as plenty of the original cast of characters reprise their roles from the first film. Aside from Keanu returning in the title role, side characters like Ian McShane's Winston and Lance Reddick's Charon are back to ease us into the world of assassins we fell so deep in love with the first time around, both bringing their A-game as usual.  I believe it goes without saying that Mr. Reeves is more than stellar reprising the title role and I for one could watch him in this role for another five movies. 

Is Chapter 2 better than the original? Who Knows, and really, who cares? Both are phenomenal hard-R-rated action movies that deliver on both carnage and story. The creators of this new franchise know exactly what they want out of it and are delivering it to us in a near flawless way. These movies may not be for everyone but for those who find their kicks in watching Keanu Reeves break skulls than this is sure to dominate your weekend/month/year/life, bring on chapter 3.  

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find em anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

(Movie Review) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - Emphasis On the 'War'

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Sci-Fi, Action, War

Directed By: Gareth Edwards

This time last year most Star Wars fans were losing their minds as Episode VII hit theaters, the first film in the franchise in a decade. The Skywalker story had officially been brought back and the fans embraced it with open arms, but this year the fandom celebrates something quite different. This December we finally get to see the first 'spin-off" movie in the galaxy far, far away. For the first time, we are seeing a Star Wars movie that focuses on something other than the Skywalker epic. They aren't straying too far away, however, as this latest movie tells a tale most of us fans already know the ending of, the story of a band of Rebels stealing the plans to the Death Star.

Right out of the gate Rogue One wants you to feel a different way, after the iconic "a long time ago..." card pops up the movie hard cuts right into the opening sequence, no opening crawl, and no classic theme song. This isn't the epic space opera you have become so familiar with over the past few decades, this is something new. We may know a group of rebels is about to steal the coveted Death Star plans, but how they do so, and how they got to the point of doing so is what this movie is all about. 

I'm not going to run down the plot, there is no point. We all know the basics of the story and the fun is watching how all of the gaps in between get filled. From start to finish they have littered the movie with wonderful easter eggs and character cameos, there are endless little details for life long fans to obsess over because this is a film made for them. They chose to do this particular story first for a reason, this one was for all of us who have been (probably) too enamored with this franchise for most of our lives.

That being said, this isn't a perfect movie and the first two acts have some flaws. They take their time getting started, which is fine, but that also means the film has to do a little more work to get us into it as well. Without any Jedi, or any lightsaber wielding people of any kind around it takes a bit to remember you are in fact watching a Star Wars movie. Once this clicks, though, the film moves a mile a minute and puts forth some of the best work we have seen in this world so far.

We had heard since the film started production that it would have a much different tone and style than we are used to, director Gareth Edwards had been adamant that this will be a war film, and a war film it is. Rogue One aims to show us this world from the soldiers perspective and what it was like for those without the powers of the force at their side. We get to see the toll it takes on their lives and how they justify the fight, even when the odds seem impossible. 

This leads the movie to also have some of the most spectacular battle/action sequences in all of Star Wars. Throughout the film, we see displays of power by The Empire as well as the scrappy battle tactics of the Rebel Alliance used against those forces. It all builds to a truly epic finale, a battle between the full Rebel force and the Empires arsenal that is some of the most intense, jaw-dropping action I've seen from this franchise. Even if you aren't sold on the first half of the movie, the final act has all the potential to blow your mind regardless.

This latest film is also keeping with the new trend of the series of having totally infectious and lovable characters. They have, much like JJ did with The Force Awakens, populated this film with countless characters you only want to spend more time with. Felicity Jones is absolutely wonderful as the lead, Jyn Erso and her relationship with Diego Luna's Cassian is a real highlight of the movie. Alan Tudyk puts in wonderful motion-capture performance as the reprogrammed Imperial droid K-2SO, but the real standouts, at least for me, were Donnie Yen as Chirrut Imwe, a one-time protector of the Temple in the city of Jedah, and his heavily armed right-hand man Baze Malbus played by Wen Jiang. The two steal every moment of the movie they are on screen with some of the most dazzling action set pieces of the film. 

From the start, this movie had a nearly impossible task, in telling a story most of us know the ending to they had to somehow still manage to capture the intensity and suspense that would go with a heist like this, and get us to feel it as well. Gareth Edwards and everyone involved managed to make this happen, regarldess of knowing the outcome the final fifteen minuets are some of the tensest moments I have seen in the theater this year. 

As the first installment of the new "Star Wars Story" side of this world, Rogue One does a fine job introducing us to a new side of this universe while also keeping the feeling of familiarity we all want with these films. They told a story all of us already know in a way most of us didn't expect and with all of the little easter eggs it's hard for me to believe many fans will leave this movie without a massive smile on their face. I mean, that last act is one for the ages and if we are going to have more stuff on the level of that in the future then I cannot wait for more off-shoot stories like this. I think I speak for us all though when I say let's hope this is the last major Death Star movie, I think we've had enough at this point.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on Twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: Moana

Moana (2016)

Animation, Adventure

Directed By: Ron Clements, Don Hall, John Musker, and Chris Williams

Let's skip the usual spiel about how Disney has been trying to bring the "princess" story into the twenty-first century and what was problematic about them in the past, yadda, yadda, yadda. By now, we have all heard the complaints and have complained ourselves, and Disney has no doubt heard them. Both Tangled and Frozen played as literal responses to these issues, but still, they suffered from some of the key aspects bogging down some of their classics. Well, Disney has seemingly finally found an answer to those problems and it comes from ancient Polynesia. 

On the small Polynesian island of Motunui, the daughter of the chief, Moana (Auli'i Cravalho) is poised to be the next leader of the people, but her heart lies somewhere else. Ever since she was a child she has been drawn to the sea, where she believes great wonders await her. After uncovering her people's lost lineage and realizing the darkness that awaits them in the future, she realizes she is the only one who can save the island and her people inhabiting it. To do so she must recruit the help of shamed demigod Maui (Dwayne Johnson) and his magic fish hook so together they can restore life to the world.

Disney has always kept a good balance with their animated films jumping between "princess" stories (which tend to be the musicals) and the adventure style stories. What makes Moana so unique is that it is a brilliant blend of both. Though I wouldn't call this a "princess" movie it definitely draws from the best aspects of those kinds of stories. Small things like Moana realizing she doesn't need to stand for the patriarchy, and that sometimes following your heart is a smarter move than following your mind. In fact, Moana at one point in the film points out that she is not a princess, and she is definitely no damsel in distress. 

Voiced incredibly by newcomer Auli'i Cravalho, Moana is a leader, which is why she goes on this adventure, she knows it is her duty as such to go out and save her people. This sets her on an epic adventure rooted in deep ancient mythology, making for a thrilling piece of cinema. From the demigod, Maui, voiced wonderfully by Dwayne Johnson, to the wild monsters they encounter along the way the film is never short of excitement. 

What drew me to this movie from the start was the inclusion of Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda on the soundtrack. I am admittedly obsessed with his Hamilton musical so I could not wait to see what he would do with Disney. To put it simply, the music in Moana is some of the all-time greatest they have ever brought to a film. Lin's influence is felt on nearly every track and there isn't a bad song in the bunch. Even The Rock manages to charm our pants off in his song "You're Welcome" and Jemaine Clement brings his best Bowie impression to one of the truly great Disney villain songs. 

One of the biggest improvements Disney has made over the past decade or so is their ability to do 3D animation. What was once dominated by Pixar is now rivaled by everything they put out, and this is the biggest swing yet. Moana is an absolutely gorgeous movie to look at and if it weren't for Kubo and the Two Strings being released in the same year I'd say it was hands down the best-looking film of the year. 

Disney has been crushing it as of late in just about every aspect of their studio, but the animation even more so. Moana was their second release this year and having dominated its opening weekend the two films have proven to be massively successful. It has also been revealed that Lin-Manuel Miranda is also working on another secret animated movie for Disney as well, so the hype going forward for these guys is huge. Disney has once again regained its place at the top of the animated world, and I for one welcome it with open arms. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016)

Adventure, Fantasy

Directed By: David Yates 

When the final Harry Potter film hit theaters just five years ago many long-time fans of the franchise, like myself, thought we were done seeing the wizarding world on the big screen. Without any more books, it just seemed like an impossibility, so when news broke that J.K. Rowling herself was going to pen the script for a new spin-off series the fandom got excited. There are infinite stories that could be told within this world and starting it off with the tale of famed Wizard Newt Scamander seemed like the perfect place to start.

If you are unfamiliar with the Harry Potter lore, no worries, this film is easy to get into regardless of your history with the franchise. The movie tells the story of famous wizard Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) as he travels the magical world studying the creatures that inhabit it in preparation for his book, 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them'. This first movie (as of now there are going to be four more) starts at the beginning of his journey in 1920's New York where his trip collides with a dark force currently threatening the city. With the help of some new friends, he must navigate an area of the wizarding world he is unfamiliar with in order to keep the peace between the magic and non-magic worlds.

It's important to state upfront that this movie is not Harry Potter. What I mean by that is this story, though in the same world, feels quite different in tone than the franchise so many have come to love. There is plenty to remind you that this is once again the wizarding world of J.K. Rowling's mind but they do a great job of allowing this to exist on its own without being bogged down by set-in-stone mythology.

Rather than shape itself into an epic story on the scale of its predecessors, Fantastic Beasts is totally fine with existing as a thrilling adventure tale. Think of Newt Scamander as a kind of Indiana Jones of this world, while the rest of the wizarding community is focusing on "big picture" issues Newt is roaming the streets in search of rare and powerful creatures. This, in turn, introduces us to the true scale of the magic world outside of Hogwarts.

Centering in on Newt and his research proved to be the right move as it was refreshing to follow someone in this world that isn't one of, if not the most powerful wizards alive. Watching a story unfold that isn't all about "the chosen one" was a good change of pace, knowing our main character is rarely the most powerful person in the room added a different level of tension that wasn't there before. In the Potter movies whenever the going got tough we always knew Harry would come out on top, whether because of luck or natural power whereas with Newt the outcome is never certain.

This time it isn't just about the witches and wizards, though, as the title boasts this film is chock full of magical creatures. Upon Newts arrival to New York, a handful of them escapes his nifty briefcase and he must find them all before they wreak havoc on the people living there. The creatures themselves are wonderful and the designs look gorgeous. The CG doesn't hold them back and they all fit seamlessly into the magic world and all add their own charms to the movie. 

Academy Award-winning actor Eddie Redmayne heads the cast as Newt Scamander and owns the part. Some people may be turned off by his quirky shyness and inability to look just about anyone in the eyes but I found it to be an interesting take. After watching eight movies with the "fearless" Harry I thoroughly enjoyed following a lead who was just as unsure of himself all of the time as the people around him were. 

Aside from Newt, who most Potterheads were already familiar enough with, the movie also introduces a handful of new and interesting characters like Graves, played by the always fantastic Colin Farrel, a nasty Auror in the American wizarding world. Maybe the most compelling of those side characters is the muggle Kowalski played by the brilliantly funny Dan Fogler. We rarely get to focus in on the "no-maj" folk in these stories so to see one follow them along the entire movie was a unique treat. 

Katherine Waterson rounds out the main cast of the film as former Auror Tina. She is fighting to do whatever she can to be reinstated and before long she becomes a fine ally to Newt. Her performance is great and I look forward to seeing more of her character in the future. The rest of the cast is populated with all kinds of familiar faces (and voices) like Ezra Miller, Jon Voight, and Ron Perlman each adding their own unique flavor to the mix. These characters help set much of the groundwork needed for future installments in the franchise.

At this point in time, director David Yates (who directed the final four Potter movies) has got more than a handle on this world. The magic battles are visually wonderful and exciting and all of the "magical jargon" works regardless of how ridiculous it sounds. Though it would be interesting to see someone else's take going forward it's hard to complain about him being the guy to helm the entire series.

Going into this movie I think it's safe to say what most of us wanted most was to see the world of magic expanded far beyond the limits of Hogwarts and England and to get an idea of how this society operates all over the known world. Though this movie only takes us to New York, giving us a glimpse into the American side of things, it teases us with the idea of so much more. This is a massive universe with so many things to explore and this movie is only the beginning. Going in I was skeptical of the five movie run Rowling is claiming this will have, but upon leaving the theater I was ready for the next four. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: Arrival

Arrival (2016)

Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Directed By: Denis Villeneuve

The idea of how to handle the first contact with an alien race has been one of our favorite "what if" scenarios to explore in science fiction for as long as the idea has been around. Popular movies like Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind implanted the idea that if aliens were to ever come here, how we try to interact with them will be the most important hurdle to overcome. You can't get through an "alien invasion" movies these days without some form of this scene taking place, but what if you dedicated an entire movie to the reality of what that first contact would actually look like? Denis Villeneuve digs deep into this idea with his latest film Arrival, a realistic as can be alien invasion movie that explores the difficulties and importance of intelligent communication. 

When twelve mysterious UFO's make landing all over the planet the U.S. government enlists renowned linguist Dr. Louis Banks (Amy Adams) to help them create a dialogue with the mysterious aliens to try and find out why they have come here. With the help of theoretical physicist Ian Donnelly (Jeremy Renner)  and a team of other scientists and linguists, they attempt to open a communication that both species can understand in hopes of discovering why they have come here and what their intentions are. 

The film sells itself as an alien invasion movie, which it is, but mostly on the surface. What it turns into by the end is a message to the world about the importance of clear and open communication and how our natural isolationism and nationalism divide us as a race. The film spits in our face, calling us out for all of the truly idiotic tendencies we have all before wrapping it up with a hopeful message that we can still change for the better. 

It's no secret that one of, if not the biggest dividing factors of our people is language. The inability to communicate with someone is a key factor in the division of the world, and it always has been. This proves itself throughout the film as Dr. Banks and her crew is constantly being stonewalled by countries like China and Russia, who have no desire to share information or hear out others opinions on the matter. As you can imagine, this proves to be one of the most difficult obstacles for them to overcome within the movie. 

Villeneuve keeps this film from being a total bummer, however, by keeping the hope alive whenever it all seems lost. Even when the worst happens they somehow find a way back and by the end of the film he has driven home the message he wants us to receive: listen. He begs us to simply just listen to each other and hear out what we all have to say. The sharing of ideas and culture has always been the fastest route to progression for humanity. 

The story, for the most part, revolves around Amy Adams character Dr. Banks and she has never been better. With the movie hinging on her performance it is important her character feels authentic throughout. The way she reacts to first contact and being on an alien spacecraft had to feel real and she sells it in a profound way. Jeremy Renner's Ian Donnelly more or less plays sidekick to Dr. Banks but proves to be the perfect companion for her on this journey. The two leads are also complimented by great performances from Forest Whitaker and Michael Stuhlbarg as the military men running the show. 

As with all Vllienueve films, we can't get out of here without talking about the gorgeous cinematography on display here. Bradford Young (Selma) captures the massive scale of the film with limited space, as most of it takes place in an open field in Montana, and with just a handful of locations is able to convey worldwide panic. Story aside this is just a gorgeous film to look at for two hours.

Though the story has its twists and turns to make it a compelling and authentic piece of science fiction you shouldn't get too caught up with that as a viewer. Rather than sitting there trying to crack the big twists enjoy what the filmmaker has to say about humanity and how the ideas he puts forth can be used in our actual lives. Focus on all of that and let the clever plot of the story surprise you in the end. If you can do that, I promise you will leave with a ton of ideas and theories to wrap your brain around that focus on much more than just an alien invasion.  

Though you probably won't leave the theater with a smile plastered on your face, Arrival is more or less the movie we need right now. It manages to scare the living hell out of us while also showing us that there is, and always will be, hope for change. What may be broken now doesn't have to be forever and if we can overcome these simple hurdles than we will be far better off as a people. Science fiction is at its best when it holds a mirror up to ourselves in an unlikely situation, showing us how obvious it is that we need to change, and right now we need to change the way we interact with each other.

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange (2016)

Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Directed By: Scott Derrickson 

When Marvel first announced a Doctor Strange movie I didn't know what to think, I had almost no familiarity with the character besides knowing he dealt in magic, but that was enough to make wonder how they were going to pull it off. Up until this point, the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) has been, for the most part, grounded in as much reality as possible. That was all going to change with this movie as Mordo tells us just twenty minutes into the movie to "forget everything we think we know" because this movie breaks every law of science you've ever learned. 

Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) is one of, if not the most prolific neurosurgeon in the world. His hands are literal miracle workers, that is until he gets into a severe car crash that would leave them useless. In an attempt to find any way to fix the one thing that gave him purpose he is led to Kamar-Taj, a temple of mystic arts run by The Ancient One (Tilda Swinton). Here he is taught to manipulate energy and magic before being recruited in the fight against a former student turned evil, Kaecilius (Mads Mikkelson) who is attempting to channel dark forces that want to destroy our world.

Directed by acclaimed horror filmmaker Scott Derrickson (Sinister), the film feels like the most standalone story in the MCU to date (with Guardians at a close second) and honestly, it's quite refreshing. Now, fourteen movies into the cinematic universe it felt good to see a story that isn't entirely entrenched in bigger picture implications. We saw a sequence of events that the Avengers will not only never know about, but probably never even had a whiff of concern about. 

The story is an origin, unfortunately, but is also totally necessary for this character. You couldn't just have Doctor Strange show up wielding magic powers without any backstory on how he came to have those abilities. Prior to this point magic hasn't been fully embraced by this universe so they kind of had to walk us through it hand in hand. The film does a fine enough job getting all of this information out in a quick fashion which allows us to enjoy the cerebral aspects of the movie that much more.

When it comes down to it, this movie is all about the cerebral high you get from the insane visuals and out-of-this-world plot. Strange and the other sorcerers are able to manipulate matter, time, energy, and so much more in ways you had never thought of and seeing it manifest on screen is like nothing you have seen before. You get a small glimpse into the visual insanity of the film from the trailers but man, it doesn't do it nearly enough justice. Every time they started manipulating their surrounding my jaw was on the floor, I have never seen visuals like this before. When CGI has become this good, it's hard to complain about its use anymore.

For those hoping for the first truly great, interesting villain in the MCU... you may leave this film disappointed. Mads Mikkelson puts in a fine performance as always but the character is once again a one-note villain given a by-the-book's story arc that sets up the epic finale. I'd like to see Marvel figure out a more interesting and complicated villain going forward but Kaecilius works just fine for this film. This movie is about Strange discovering his powers and how to use them and Kaecilius works great as another tool to get him there.

What the film lacks in story and villain is more than made up for in the crazy visuals and a great cast of core characters. Benedict Cumberbatch owns the role of Strange and totally becomes the part, the cape just looks like it belongs on his shoulders. Tilda Swinton proves to be the perfect casting for The Ancient One, adding a certain gravitas missing from many Marvel films. Chiwetel Ejiofor is there to class things up as well as Mordo, who proves to be one of the most complex characters, not only in this movie but the entire MCU. Benedict Wong is also wonderful as Wong, pulling some the biggest laughs of the film and Rachel McAdams is amazing as always, I just wish she was given more to do.

Though improvements could be made to the story and the villain, Doctor Strange still manages to be one of the most entertaining movies in their entire lineup. From the opening scene to the last you will be kept in a state of wonder and amazement as you watch things you know to be impossible be made a reality right in front of your eyes. If you are like me and adore the trippy and the weird, then this movie is most definitely for you. Go in with a completlely opened mind and come out stunned at the visual mastery put on display here. See this movie as big and as loud as possible and preferably in 3-D, you won't regret it. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. You can find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!

MOVIE REVIEW: Hunt for the Wilderpeople

Hunt for the Wilderpeople (2016)

Adventure, Comedy, Drama

Directed By: Taika Waititi

Film is often at its best when you can tell the cast and crew had as much fun making the thing as we as an audience did watching it. That is constantly the case with the work of writer/director Taika Waititi, who is making some of the most entertaining, fun, and straight up lovable movies today. The New Zealand native has a knack for telling authentic human stories in a goofy, heartwarming setting and his latest is certainly no exception. 

Hunt for the Wilderpeople tells the story of a young orphan named Ricky Baker (Julian Dennison) who has bounced from foster home to foster home due to his bad attitude and reckless behavior. His troubled path leads him to his last hope before juvenile prison, a loving foster parent name Bella (Rima Te Wiata) and her rugged husband Hec (Sam Neill). Bella's untimely death threatens to send Ricky back into foster care however so he makes the insane decision to fake his death and run away into the New Zealand bush.  Hec chases him in and when an unfortunate accident immobilizes him they find themselves stuck in the bush for the next six weeks. A massive manhunt ensues while the two slowly find their way out of the wilderness. 

It's a clever plot and the way it all unfolds is a true testament to the writing powers of Waititi but the movie finds its true purpose in the character interactions between Ricky and his new foster parents Bella and Hec. Bella gets Ricky to come out of his shell in the first act of the film so we can see how much of a goof he is and the way they interact will melt your heart. The performance of Rima Te Wiata as Bella sells their entire relationship early on and the few major scenes she's in make a big splash.

The story really opens up in the second half when Ricky and Hec are stuck in the bush, before then the only real interactions we saw between the two were Hec telling Ricky to leave him alone. But once they are stuck in the wilderness together Hec is forced to learn who Ricky actually is and by the time his ankle has healed the two are seemingly great pals. So much so that Ricky is able to convince him to let him stay out there with him instead of going back to foster care.

This relationship is almost entirely sold by the performances of the two main actors. We all already know Sam Neill is a powerhouse talent but we haven't seen much like this from him before. It is a much more understated performance with significantly less dialogue than we are used to seeing from him. He is playing an uneducated man with a dark past and he makes us feel it in his performance. 

Then there is Ricky, played by the young and wonderfully talented Julian Dennison, who is the crutch of it all. He is hilarious, loveable, and sort of a bastard but it all feels real because of Dennison. This could have easily turned into a one-note cartoon character who constantly gets them into difficult situations but instead is an authentically troubled child with a lot to unravel beneath his colorful outfits. 

Though Waititi is telling a fairly serious story revolving around a missing child with legitimate issues, it never gets too heavy in its approach. He is known for making light-hearted, mostly comedic films and that certainly isn't lost here. To lighten the mood, for example, he turns the child services worker that is on the hunt for Ricky into a highly over exaggerated character who treats the manhunt, and her job, like a life or death scenario at all times. 

It's the little quirks and slight character adjustments like these that turn any one of his films into something wildly different than what you'd expect it to be. He manages to make each piece of his work a little slice of his home country as well, constantly showing us sides of New Zealand we weren't aware of and making us all fall in love with the place without ever having been there. 

Though they typically lean more towards the comedic side, his films are able to take us through the entire gamut of emotions so by the end of the story you have taken a truly satisfying ride through his mind. It may sound cliched but at the end of the day Hunt for the Wilderpeople will make you laugh hysterically, it will make you cry tears of both joy and sadness, and it will actually make you feel good about humanity, if only for a little while. In a crazy year such as this one, it is the exact kind of feel-good movie we all need to help forget about life for a while. 

As always, thanks for reading and I am Zach Who Watches Movies. Find me anytime on twitter @ZachWWMovies, smell ya later!