Category: Movie Reviews

“Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes” Movie Review

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General Information

Directed by – Wes Ball

Written by – Josh Friedman

Release Year – 2024

Starring – Owen Teague (Noa), Freya Allen (Mae), Kevin Durand (Proximus), Peter Macon (Raka), Eka Darville (Slyva), and William H. Macy (Trevathan)

Synopsis – 300 years after the reign of Caesar, Noa is determined to fight for his clan alongside a human he is surprised is more evolved than previously believed.

 

Review

Now, I have to admit, I was never interested in any of the Planet of the Apes movies until I saw the trailer for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.  I just thought they were silly monkey movies with obnoxiously long titles.  It was my boyfriend that said they were actually pretty good films.  So we indulged in watching the trilogy and man were my original thoughts wrong.  I fell in love with these films – how they were able to tell such human stories while not being told by humans.  We start with humans being the main characters, but as the trilogy continues, the apes take center stage.  By the conclusion of this story arc, the apes have taken over with their leader, Caesar, passing away.  While this was a perfect and beautiful ending to these impressive films, I was excited to see how this next group of movies would take the story, and it is already off to a strong start.

 

Generations after Caesar’s passing, apes are the dominant species with humans believed to be mostly gone with those remaining being feral.  This film follows its new protagonist, Noa (Owen Teague), a young ape who is a part of a clan that raises eagles.  They are a generally peaceful group of apes that keep to themselves.  As soon as the film starts, its visuals stand out.  Since these movies first released in 2011, how realistic the apes look has always been a standout.  With some special effects trying to be so realistic that they come off looking more fake, it is so nice to see a studio and artists who put dedication into making sure the film looks as stunning as it does.  And with this film specifically, most of the human buildings and creations have been overgrown, so there are so many beautiful landscapes of jungles and beaches that take over the world.  How stunning everything looks is reason enough to check out this film.

As part of his clan’s coming-of-age ceremony, Noa and his friends, Soona (Lydia Peckham) and Anaya (Travis Jeffery), have to collect eagle eggs and keep them safe until the ceremony.  After the collection, Noa notices a human scavenger has invaded his clan to steal things and he tries to catch them.  In their scuffle, Noa’s egg breaks and unless he gets a new one before the ceremony, he will have to wait a whole year to get his eagle.  Noa decides to sneak out at night to get a new egg, but as he does that, he runs into another clan of apes who like to raid other ape clans.  These apes claim to do damage in the name of Caesar and travel to Noa’s clan to destroy it and kidnap his people.  When I heard them mention Caesar’s name after their killing and destruction, I audibly gasped in the theater.  It just came as a shock to me because after falling in love with Caesar, I knew this is not what he would have wanted.  While I think that Caesar and his legacy should stay within the original three movies, I did not mind that his ideas are still a driving factor for the war-hungry apes is a great way to transition to this new world we are exploring.

 Noa, having survived the massacre and capture of his clan, seeks revenge and wants to bring them home.  His journey takes him all over the beautiful landscapes the apes have created over the last 300 years.  Along his trek, he runs into two individuals that would impact major aspects of his actions for the rest of the film; Raka (Peter Macon) who teaches about what Caesar’s word really meant and Mae (Freya Allen), the human scavenger who ends up not being as feral as originally believed who is also seeking the same clan as Noa.  Together, they will venture in hopes to take down King Proximus (Kevin Durand) and save the clan.  One of the most interesting components of this trio is how much Raka seems to do in the name of Caesar just like Porximus’ clan.  But both have a completely different interpretation of what he stood for.  A lot of figures in history have had their works dissected for centuries, but we will never know what the true meanings of their works are as we can never talk to them.  We can assume, but in the end, interpretation is up to the individual.  Both Proximus and Raka follow the words of Caesar but in two extremely different ways.

Just like the previous installments, there are so many appealing aspects to this world.  The first, Rise of the Planet of the Apes had a great story that set up the premise for what would become this reboot franchise while the second and third, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes, respectively, had masterful direction to tell the rest of Caesar’s story.  All three together make for one of the strongest film trilogies ever created.  Rumors have it that there will be a total of nine movies in this fresh take on the original story broken up into three trilogies similar to the Star Wars franchise.  If that is true, this has the potential to be one of the strongest franchises of all time that deserves its flowers.

One of the most frustrating things about these movies – along with others that focus heavily on motion-capture technology – is that the actors never seem to get as much praise as the actors never seem to get as much praise as the “human” actors. Owen Teague as Noa gives one of the greatest performances of the year.  There is so much naivete and hurt that jumps out during his scenes you forget it is a human being with a bunch of dots on their face in a skin-tight suit.  Every ape actor has so much dedication to their role and it is so easy to tell.  If anything, they have to work extra hard because they do not have the luxury of getting into a physical costume to bring the final elements of the character together.  I could tell every emotion the apes were feeling and that is because of how well those actors are.  Motion-capture performances need to be more recognized in the film industry.

Besides the apes, Freya Allen as the human, Mae, gives one of my favorite performances from a human character in this franchise.  While it seems obligatory to have a human when I would be perfectly fine with a movie of just apes, Allen is able to show audiences in more ways than one why her species is still vital to the franchise.  At this point in the timeline, apes and humans have essentially switched roles in the ecosystem.  So it comes at quite a shock when Mae is actually able to speak.  The best part about her is how unreliable she can be.  She always gives off an aura of not knowing if you should trust her or not.  Having a character like this makes for an interesting view on character development for those around them, keeping you on the edge of your seat at all times.

Noa is the clear standout amongst the ape characters, but two performances that should be overlooked are Raka and Proximus.  Both of them view Caesar as a great being for their kind, but it’s their opposing approaches to him that make them both fascinating characters.  Raka wants the apes to be stronger when they are working together, but Proximus wants to become essentially what humans were in history.  This can be seen with what type of literature they both decide to study.  It is with them how fascinatingly human they are.  All of the apes are able to show the same emotions that it makes it easy to connect to any of them.  It just reminds us how close we truly are to one another.  Hopefully, one of these movies will have all of the apes just having a good time.  But as we can tell from this film, for every Raka there will always be a Proximus.

The film’s biggest issue is its pacing.  Kingdom has one of those issues where every scene feels necessary but how they are laid out makes the film drag in certain places.  There is maybe one or two that I can think of that could have been cut for time, but even then everything felt necessary to have to move the story forward.  This could have potentially been fixed with a little more showing instead of telling, but even in the more dialogue heavy scenes did not seem unimportant.  If some scenes were pulled together tighter, it could have felt better paced.  The action sequences, however, are executed perfectly with great focus on making sure we know exactly why it is taking place.  The final battle is built up throughout the film that the process of it is so satisfying.  There is so much thought that goes into what needs to be expressed to move the franchise to its end goal.  Hopefully its creatives realize that more is not always better; just having a good story no matter how long is what the fans need.

I am so grateful that I was convinced to give this franchise a chance despite the silly long titles.  All of the films tell such a human story even when humans are not the main characters.  I hope this new saga continues with as much love and dedication that have been put into the first four, as it seems like we are about to get interesting very soon!

“Rushmore” Movie Review

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General Information

Directed by – Wes Anderson

Written by – Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson

Release Year – 1998

Starring – Jason Schwartzman (Max Fischer), Bill Murray (Herman Blume), Olivia Williams (Rosemary Cross), Seymour Cassel (Bert Fischer), Sara Tanaka (Margaret Yang) and Luke Wilson (Peter Flynn) 

Synopsis – On the verge of getting expelled from Rushmore, falling in love with the new teacher, and befriending a millionaire, Max Fischer is in for an interesting school year.

 

Review

After the success of “Bottle Rocket”, Wes Anderson followed it up with a film that continued to elevate his career as a filmmaker.  Reviving the career of Bill Murary and launching Jason Schwartzman as an actor, “Rushmore” cemented Anderson as one to watch.

 

Max Fischer (Schwartzman) is the most involved student at Rushmore Academy, but not the most academic.  He is threatened with expulsion, but that does not keep him down.  He befriends the father of twins in his class (Bill Murray) who takes him under his wing.  But that friendship falls apart when they both develop a crush on the new first grade teacher, Rosemary (Williams).

Compared to Bottle Rocket, Rushmore feels a lot more like a classic Wes Anderson film.  We still haven’t reached full Wes yet, but with the delivery of character lines, the cinematography, and the first of many montages it would not be surprising if some people assumed this was Anderson’s debut film.  Title cards between scenes have also been introduced, which is one of my personal favorite touches of any of his films.  You can tell that he wanted to start standing out as an auteur and go away from the more traditional style of movie making he utilized in his first film.

 

Max as a main character perfectly encapsulates what it means to be an over-enthusiastic teenage boy.  You want to be involved in everything to make a name for yourself.  At this point in your life, you are in this weird in-between place where you are no longer completely at the whim of your parents but also discovering who you want to be before you are completely on your own.  Being a teenager can be a lonely experience even when you are surrounded by those you love and care for.  Your emotions and hormones are also all over the place that it is not insane that Max falls in love with the new teacher.  While inappropriate as he continues to pursue her after her constant rejections, he learns some tough lessons when it comes to love and loss that every teenager needs to experience.

It is also inspiring to see how involved Max wants to be with his extracurricular activities.  Not only is he an active participant in clubs like Model U.N. and a variety of sports, but he also runs and creates clubs seemingly every other day.  If you are of the millennial and older gen-z age range, you have probably been told over and over that colleges want to see students who are the most involved inside and outside of school because that will be your best way of getting into the school of your dreams.  While it is good to be a well-rounded individual, it comes at a detriment to Max’s grades.  To stay in Rushmore Academy, you need to maintain a certain grade point average and Max falls below that because of being too involved.  It is a double edged sword I still see as a teacher today; kids are trying to be this “perfect” student, sacrificing important things like sleep, mental and physical health, and potentially their sanity.  This can be seen through Max and how he has this desire to be seen as perfect, but parts of him are being sacrificed.

 

One of the aspects of a classic Wes Anderson film that we first see here is the mentor-mentee relationship.  Usually between an adult man and teenage boy, they form a bond based on either proximity or similar interests.  We see this relationship form between Max and Bill Murray’s character of millionaire Herman Blume.  Not only is he the father of some of Max’s peers, but Max finds inspiration in him as an underdog.  Max doesn’t fit in with the other rich kids and Blume is that shining light in his life.  They form a bond that allows each to be fully themselves.  However, they become too similar to each other as they begin to fall for the same woman at the school, Rosemary.  This puts a riff in their relationship, starting a prank war montage.  It comes across as a silly feud, but something Anderson puts in his movies a lot is the theme of being lost.  Both are lost in the world – not sure what their place is – and they are able to find solace in this one crush.  The chemistry between Schwartzman and Murray make their scenes so enjoyable to watch, whether they are connecting with each other or hating each other.  It makes you want to root for them to get over their silly feud so they can have more happy scenes together.  If one of them was cast differently, it would have taken away from this film’s natural charm and charisma.

With a much better flow and pacing compared to his first film, Anderson gives us a heartfelt and quirky story about what it means to find friendships while also finding yourself.  A lot of classic Wes is felt in this film, and it is always an enjoyable watch from the moment you hit play. 

“Poor Things” Movie Review

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General Information

Directed by – Yorgos Lanthimos

Written by – Tony McNamara

Release Year – 2023

Starring – Emma Stone (Bella Baxter), Mark Ruffalo (Duncan Wdderburn), Willem Dafoe (Dr. Godwin Baxter), Ramy Youssef (Max McCandles), Christopher Abbott (Alfie Blessington), Kathryn Hunter (Madame Swiney) and Jerrod Carmichael (Harry Astley)

Synopsis – After being brought back to life after her suicide, Bella rediscovers the world around her from a new perspective, learning what it means to be a human being.

Review

Yorgos Lanthimos is not an auteur that chooses to tell stories you would expect from the average filmmaker.  What makes him special is that he selects stories that may come off as “weird” and enhances them to be masterpieces – captivating audiences enough that they are brought into his unique worldview.

 

Based on the novel of the same name, Bella Baxter (Emma Stone) has been given a second chance at life after Dr. Godwin Baxter (Wllem Dafoe) finds her lifeless body due to a suicide.  In a tale similar to Frankenstein, Bella is reanimated, given a new life to live.  When we meet her, Bella is walking and talking like a child instead of the 30-year-old woman she is supposed to be.  Over the course of the film, we watch Bella grow and develop into a new woman again.  Stone is able to portray this perfectly; the way she waddles and babbles like a toddler you would have thought Lanthimos aged-up an actual two-year-old.  Stone’s performance is full of naivete that makes you wish it was easy to see the world as a kid again.  We are able to see this child mature into a marvelous woman who not only explores what the world has to offer but also not falling for its traps that we are sometimes forced to accept.

Stone is accompanied by a strong supporting cast that helps her character explore her story.  Dafoe adds another weird role to his repertoire as the doctor responsible for bringing Bella back from the dead.  A professional in his field, God – as Bella calls him – has a tragic past that leads him to being the father of all of his adventurous creations.  He’s very protective of Bella and does not want her to venture outside of the comfort he has created for her in his home.  Also observing Bella is Godwin’s assistant Max McCandles (Ramy Youssef).  Youssef adds such a kind and gentle approach to Bella, feeding into her curiosities about the world while falling for her.  Both Godwin and Candles show compassion for Bella, but it is Youssef’s kind nature that makes you fall for him every time he’s on screen.

 

However, everything changes for the three of them when Duncan Wedderburn (Mark Ruffalo) comes into the picture, also falling for Bella and wanting to swoop her away on an adventure.  Ruffalo in this role is utterly hilarious while driving you mad with how rudely he treats Bella.  You know you are in for a good time when Ruffalo appears on screen.  There is something about his performance that contains so many layers of comedy and drama that makes it a perfect role for him without even originally thinking this was a role he needed.  Along their journey around the world, Bella and Duncan run into a wide range of characters that, in their own way, guide Bella on the ways of the world.  These include Harry Astley (Jerrod Charmichael), who shows her the disgusting aspects of what happens to those who are poor, and Madame Swiney (Kathryn Hunter), who takes her in and teaches the value of herself and what it means to earn a wage.  Bella treats each of these people with respect and curiosity for their knowledge of the world.  And every actor brings their all no matter how big their part may be.

This film is one of the most visually pleasing and fantastical looking of the year.  For the first act, the film is black and white and as the film transitions to the second act, it remains fully in color.  The black and white scenes mostly take place in Godwin’s house as we are being introduced to who Bella is through the eyes of her “creator.”  After she demands to travel around the world with Duncan, both us and Bella are opened up to a whole new world.  She is seeing what it is like on the outside for the first time, and I love how this message is shown through Robbie Ryan’s cinematography.  There is also the use of a fisheye lens, showing how Bella’s world is so small before she steps out with Duncan to expand everything around her.  Cinematography choices is a film craft that has taken me a while to fully understand what exactly goes into making certain decisions compared to a director’s vision, and this film really helped me appreciate this outstanding art form. 

Not only is Poor Things visually stunning with its cinematography, but it stands out in the costumes, production and visual effects as well.  Even though the film takes place around the Victorian era, there is such a fantasy-feeling aspect that is felt through the designs.  The costumes are loud and colorful when Bella explores new places – which are also mystical in their own right – until she finds the simplicity of life and thus her wardrobe changes to fit.  The color palette is not too extreme that it blinds the audience but satisfies those who enjoy yellows, greens, and blues.  Even though the film takes place in places like Lisbon and Paris, you feel as though you are somewhere completely created in the mind of Lanthimos.  He was not afraid to expand upon commonly known places to be able to create a world all his own.

Taking what could have been a disastrous concept and making it accessible for adult audiences, Poor Things is a masterpiece of  spectacle.  With stunning performances against the backdrop of beautiful set pieces, you should seek out this award-winning film.












“Bottle Rocket” Review

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General Information

Directed by – Wes Anderson

Written by – Owen Wilson and Wes Anderson

Release Year – 1996

Starring – Owen Wilson (Dignan), Luke Wilson (Anthony), Robert Musgrave (Bob), James Caan (Mr. Henry) and Lumi Cavazos (Inez)

Synopsis – After being released from a mental hospital, Anthony’s friend Dignan has a 75 year plan for them which includes going on a crime spree to be able to afford everything, even if they don’t really know anything about committing crimes.

Review

Whenever I have spare time, I like to have movie marathons.  Since my boyfriend was out for a bachelor party, this was the perfect time to dive right into a marathon I have done before.  I decided to rewatch all of Wes Anderson’s filmography.  He is my favorite director for a plethora of reasons and since we had a random snowy and icy weekend in the middle of March, being bundled and watching Wes was the perfect way to spend my weekend.  My marathon began by watching his first feature film “Bottle Rocket.”

 

“Bottle Rocket” focuses on best friends Dignan (O. Wilson) and Anthony (L.Wilson) as they reunite after Anthony is released from a mental hospital he checked himself into.  Dignan is determined to fulfill his 75-year plan for the two of them, involving heists to set them up for life.  With the help from neighbor Bob (Musgrave), the three set off on a crime-filled adventure, with many, many bumps along the way.

Even if you are not familiar with Wes Anderson’s filmography, you may know that he has a particular style when it comes to his movies.  Deadpan humor, ensemble casts, flat space camera movements, symmetrical shots and sets that look like dollhouses are just some of the techniques that immediately distinguish his films from other auteurs.  So it is jarring to go through all of his films and have his first one look so “regular”.  It would take a few films before he latched onto his signature style, but even in this first one there are little nuggets of “Classic Wes” that his admirers have come to know and love.

 

Anderson is one of those directors that can seem to get anyone and everyone to be a part of his films.  Over the years, his casts have gotten larger and larger.  This first one, however, really just focuses on the Wilson brothers as best friends in their debut roles.  After being assigned as roommates in college, Anderson and Owen would eventually become frequent collaborators on nearly all future projects together.  Luke would also continue to appear in many roles throughout his career.  Not only does Anderson’s style evolve as he begins to create more films, but the Wilsons also grow to his style as actors, becoming one of the many staples that makes a Wes Anderson film.

The dynamic between these best friends is what gives the film its heart.  Luke and Owen bounce off of each other so well that it’s hard to believe this is their first role.  They are accompanied by witty dialogue that just makes it seem like everyone involved is having fun.  The focus on friendship gives the film the ability to have this light and fluffy appearance on the outside, but there is something so much deeper to these characters.

 

The film opens with Anthony checking out of a mental hospital.  We learn that he willingly checked himself in due to “exhaustion”.  There is so much that we experience as humans that, at times, it can feel as though we can never catch a break.  Life keeps coming at us and there is no way to make it stop, leading some people to hit their breaking points.  Anthony does not want to elaborate past the reason he has given on why he felt the need to do this.  It is not uncommon to want a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  Maybe it leads to checking yourself into a mental hospital.  Anthony wants to start over and get into new routines – to enjoy the simpler things in life.  We see this when he falls head over heels for the housekeeper, Inez (Cavazos), and just spends quality time with her.  It is the simple life, all he could ever ask for.

In that same opening scene, we see Dignan attempt to help Anthony “break out” of the mental hospital.  He has this elaborate plan, not just for the hospital escape, but for the next 75 years of his and Anthony’s lives.  Anthony plays along with Dignan’s plan as that is what best friends do.  But even as everything continues to fall apart, Dignan’s hope does not seem to fade.  He is headstrong in making sure everything works the way it’s supposed to.  However, this drives Bob and Anthony away.  Dignan has the future laid out and refuses to make any changes that derive from his original idea.  So many of us feel as though we need to have a step-by-step way to live our lives that if one random step goes wrong, there is no way to recover from it.  We set ourselves up for failure when we strive to the point of completion that we put up blinders from how our plan affects the people around us.  Dignan thinks everyone will go along with his ideas because he is the one with the plan, but that is his fatal flaw.  Over the course of the film, thanks to Anthony, he learns that sometimes plans have to change for you to end up where you belong.  Even though  Dignan is not where he thought he would be at the end of the film, he is content that this is what was meant for him.



Luke and Owen are surrounded by some strong supporting characters.  The first is Robert Musgrave as their neighbor Bob who Dignan has a dislike for but requires his assistance as he is the only one with a car.  He is excited to be involved in the plans, but gets frustrated when Dignan takes advantage of him.  He has every right to be mad at Dignan and you start to side with Bob as Dignan’s tunnel vision takes over the story.  After one of their crime heists, the three end up at a motel to lay low for a bit.  This is where we meet Inez, the housekeeper.  She acts as a love interest for Anthony, showing how their language barrier can be overcome by their affection for one another.  While she may not have the most character depth – something Anderson has issues with across a few of his films – she is still a delight to have on screen. Her scenes with Luke show how great their chemistry is with one another.  James Caan also has a small role as Dignan’s idol, Mr. Henry, who brings a lot of first-half-of-Elf energy to this memorable part.   

The biggest issue with the film is its pacing.  Even though it is only 90 minutes long, it drags in the middle when the gang heads to the motel.  Even though this includes a majority of the cute scenes between Luke and Cavazos, it is at this moment where you can tell it originated from a short film.  A lot of directors get their film debut starts by expanding a short film they have previously created.  Sometimes this works; you are able to have a bigger budget and expand a story and characters that have already been created.  However, if not executed properly, it can be noticeable that you are trying to draw out the narrative.  While I still enjoy what Anderson did with this film, it can feel like a lot to get through in the middle between crime heists.

 

While the story has its issues by feeling like a drag during the second act, “Bottle Rocket” still conveys the feeling of having a plan in your life may not always go your way.  With memorable characters and the beginning inklings of what would become his staple style, Anderson’s first feature film is one to remember.

“The Killer” Movie Review

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General Information

Directed by – David Fincher

Written by – Andrew Kevin Walker

Release Year – 2023

Starring – Michael Fassbender (The Killer), Sophie Charlotte (Magdala), Tilda Swinton (The Expert), Charles Parnell (The Lawyer), Arliss Howard (The Client), Kerry O’Malley (Dolores) and Sala Baker (The Brute)

Synopsis – After a mistake on the job, The Killer needs to right his wrong before it becomes too much – both in his professional and personal life.

 

Review

Whenever you see David Fincher’s name attached to a film, you are going to be in for some type of wild ride.  You never know how the final product is going to turn out.  ‘The Killer’ is another entry of neo-noir films that will stand out over the test of time.

 

Based on the French graphic novel of the same name, ‘The Killer’ follows the titular character (Michael Fassbender) makes a mistake on the job as a paid assassin.  It is because of this that now his girlfriend, Magdala (Sophie Charlotte), is put in danger.  Now, The Killer is seeking revenge on everyone who caused this to happen to Magdala, making sure they know not to mess with him again.

Fassbender knows how to captivate you from beginning to end as the character of The Killer.  With constant identity changes and moving from location to location, you would think it would be hard to connect with this ever-changing character.  But even without a name you can feel how human he is.  He is not the typical kind of paid assassin that comes to mind when you hear what he does for a living.  His pre-job yoga and playlist full of The Smiths makes him seem like a more real person rather than a killer.  Fassbender sells it too with how precise yet awkward his personality feels.  All of it works perfect for the story being told – a human who wants to protect his love.

 

While Fassbender dominates every second he is on screen, he is greatly supported by an outstanding cast.  Most of the sequences throughout the film focus on Fassbender interacting with just one other person.  Everyone feels like they have a purpose to the story that is being told.  The back and forth between Fassbender and his scene partners makes your heart race, whether or not an action scene is taking place.  The supporting performances elevate Fassbender and he elevates them just as much.  This cast is as compelling as it can get with constant chemistry and bouncing off of each other that plays perfectly to the story.

The story itself is perfectly paced from beginning to end that you would think you would feel lost but it keeps you wondering what will happen next.  Even with constant location changes that could be overwhelming, you know exactly where you are at and why these events are taking place.  Even with the serious nature of what is happening, we are met with moments of dry humor to perfectly break the tension.  It is a fun script that plays on the traditional stereotypes of this genre of film that matches what audiences are looking for in their entertainment.

 

Even though his character is not sympathetic due to his line of work, ‘The Killer’ has an amazing cast and fun script that plays on the noir genre for a refreshing film that will be remembered highly within Fincher’s filmography. 

“The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes” Movie Review

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General Information

Directed by – Francis Lawrence

Written by – Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt

Starring – Tom Blyth (Coriolanus Snow), Rachel Zegler (Lucy Gray Baird), Josh Andres Rivera (Sejanus Plinth), Viola Davis (Dr. Volumnia Gaul), Peter Dinklage (Dean Casca Highbottom), Jason Schwartzman (Lucky Flickerman) and Hunter Schafer (Tigris Snow)

Synopsis – Based on the prequel novel of the same name, ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ takes us back to the world of Panem when 18-year-old future President Snow is a mentor for Lucy Gray ahead of the 10th Annual Hunger Games, which is very different from the Games we know over 60 years later.

 

Review

Eleven years after the release of ‘The Hunger Games’, Lionsgate has brought us back into the world of Panem.  This has caused a resurgence within the fandom, bringing back fan theories, screen grabs being shared, and an overall obsession with the characters.  The franchise took the world by storm and Suzanne Collins and Francis Lawrence were able to pull us right back in.

 

Set 64 years before the first film, ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ follows Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) through his final year at The Academy, including being a mentor for Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), learning more about his potential future with Dr. Gaul (Viola Davis) and a life changing decision by Dean Highbottom (Peter Dinklage) that turns him into the President Snow we are familiar with during Katniss’s story.

The story is formatted into three parts: The Mentor, The Prize and The Peacekeeper.  Each is designed for the viewer to learn how Snow developed into the evil dictator of Panem that we learned over the course of four films.  There were a lot of questions on why Collins decided to write the next installment from Snow’s perspective when there are so many other characters it would have been interesting to learn more about.  Looking from Snow’s perspective, we are able to explore the early days of the Hunger Games and how power and corruption can bring out the evil in anyone.

 

This film is led by the extraordinary performance of Tom Blyth, playing 18-year-old Snow as he is trying to figure out his future.  A star in the making, Blyth dominates the screen with so much emotion and conflict.  You never feel bad for him as his true evil comes out in layers but you are drawn to him as a character and it is thanks to how great Blyth’s screen presence is.

 

By his side giving just as powerful a performance is Rachel Zegler as his tribute from District 12, Lucy Gray Baird.  Zegler has proven time and time again that she deserves every role she gets because of what she brings to the screen.  As Lucy Gray, all of her strengths are put on display as she can be quirky while also breaking your heart.  Zegler is also showing us how much of a range she has with her vocals as she gets the chance to sing outside of her well-known musical theater range.  Alongside Blyth, their chemistry radiates with ease and their shared scenes are some of the best in the film.

Blyth and Zegler have a strong supporting cast behind them that elevates the film.  Peter Dinklage as Dean Highbottom gives a haunting performance, hiding his secrets from the audience until the final act when all is revealed in a moving monologue.  Viola Davis adds to the creepiness that illuminates the games as the current gamemaker.  The perfect “mad scientist”, your heart pounds with nervous anticipation of what she will do next.  Jason Schwartzman as Lucky Flickerman gives the film some much needed comedic breaks that play perfectly into his personality without taking away too much from the film.  Josh Andres Rivera gives so much heart and soul to the role of Sejanus Plinth that it makes you want to root for him anytime he is on screen.  Hunter Schafer offers that perfect balance for Snow as his cousin Tigris, helping him by trying to see his good when the world just brings out his bad.  The cast, overall, is just exquisite and a powerhouse when working together for this film.

 

As the film is so nicely divided into three parts, we are able to easily see the pacing change after the first two parts.  The excitement is the games and the buildup to it, but that does not mean that anything outside of that should be dismissed.  But the way the third act feels as though it dragged while also feeling as though parts were missing and needing more context to continue.  This chapter is an important part of Snow’s story, but its disconnect from the pace of the rest of the film pulls it down.

 

The film’s costuming and sets light up the film with the most amount of color the franchise has had.  Being set in the Capitol, it is not a surprise that everything feels like it is on a much grander scale than the previous entries based on our previous knowledge of its residents.  While the visual effects may have been spotty in certain scenes during the games, this film is absolutely visually stunning.

With a standout cast and amazing production visuals, the new entry in ‘The Hunger Games’ franchise falls due to the third act, but that does not completely take away from what the rest of the film was able to do. 

“Priscilla” Movie Review

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General Information:

Directed by – Sofia Coppola

Written by – Sofia Coppola

Starring – Cailee Spaeny (Priscilla Presley), Jacob Elordi (Elivs Presley), Ari Cohen (Captain Beaulieu), Dagmara Dominczyk (Ann Beaulieu), and Luke Humphrey (Terry West)

Synopsis – Based on the memoir “Elvis and Me”, ‘Priscilla’ follows the life and love of Priscilla Presley, from meeting Elvis across the sea in Germany to moving into Graceland and starting a life with the rock ‘n roll sensation.

 

Review:

I did not know that the early 2020s was going to be the Elvis Presley renaissance.  In back to back years we have gotten two critically acclaimed films focusing on the Presley name.  In 2022, we saw Austin Butler star as the King of Rock ‘n Roll in his breakout and Oscar nominated performance in Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Elvis’.  This year, instead of watching another biopic of the man himself, Sofia Coppola dove into the story behind his partner, Priscilla Presley.  Based on her memoir, ‘Priscilla’ goes behind the curtain on the controversial relationship between the superstar and this everyday girl, showing us how everything is not always as it appears to be.

We are introduced to our characters right off the bat as Terry West (Luke Humphrey) invites a 14-year-old Priscilla (Cailee Spaeny) to a party at Elvis Presley’s (Jacob Elordi) house, as both of them are stationed in Germany.  The two are instantly drawn to each other and begin a relationship despite their 10 year age gap.  Elvis then eventually convinces Priscilla’s parents to spend her senior year in Graceland living with him and continuing their relationship together.  While at Graceland, the once dreamy relationship is hit with a hard reality as there are a lot of rules and regulations when it comes to dating The King.  When isolation and infidelity rumors begin to take a toll on Priscilla, her rose-colored glasses that have been clouding her relationship begin to dim.

The absolute standout of the film is Spaeny as Priscilla.  This is a movie that is dedicated to telling the life of Priscilla Presley and no one could have captured her essence throughout the majority of her life like Spaeny can.  The relation between the Presleys takes place over the course of Priscilla’s formative years, starting from when she was a freshman in high school and going until her late 20s when she eventually decides to leave Elvis. Spaeny plays Priscilla during this entire time frame.  Spaeny has this innocent presence about her performance during the first half of the film when Priscilla was in high school that it does not feel like someone in their mid-20s is playing the part.  Instead of casting a younger actress, we are able to follow the same actress throughout all of the years the film takes place.  There is a clear difference in her performance form when she first meets Elvis – soothing and admiration for her new love – until the last years of their relationship when she is trying to break free of his grasp.  This stark difference and maturity in her performance is what makes her perfect for this role.  

This is Priscilla’s story but we still need to include Elvis to really know what their relationship was like.  Elordi steps into the role of The King, but with the Elvis-centered biopic so close in people’s memories, there have been a lot of comparisons between Elordi’s Elvis and Butler’s Elvis.  To me, I do not think we should be comparing them; yes, they are playing the same person, but each film is presenting his story in a different way that trying to look at both in the same light cannot be done.  This film is presenting Elvis in more of his life behind the scenes while he was not off performing for audiences in concert.  There is a darker tone to Elvis than we saw in Luhrmann’s film, but that does not take away from what Elordi was able to do.  His performance captivates you from the beginning, displaying his charisma in the early years of their relationship, but as soon as he gets Priscilla to Graceland, we see a controlling figure begin to take over.  The person Terry West introduced to Priscilla, and us as the audience, is not the same man we know by the end of the film.  Elordi takes his transformation to the next level; there are moments of genuine fear when he is on screen because you are not sure how he is going to react to a situation.  Elvis was not a perfect person for many reasons and ‘Priscilla’ was not afraid to show us those darker sides.  Elordi gives us many layers to the person that was Elvis, the perfect way to portray him for this film.

 

One of the major things that stood out to me about this film that truly made one of the biggest impacts on the story was the makeup, hairstyling and costuming.  Makeup and hairstyling, done by Jo-Ann MacNeil and Cliona Furey respectively, were the contributors to helping Spaeny become the various ages we see Priscilla as.  Her style contributes to that too thanks to the costume designer Stacey Battat.  When the film begins and we are introduced to Priscilla as a teenager, she is dressed very prim and proper with very simple hair and makeup.  As her relationship with Elvis begins to take over her life, we see her style and hair change with her.  Gone is her schoolgirl looks as we are introduced to bigger hair, bolder makeup and glamorous clothing.  While it all seems nice at first, we begin to see how it is things like the way she presents herself is so heavily controlled by Elvis and his estate.  She does everything he wishes and yet she is still so alone.  When Priscilla begins to take more control of her life towards the end of their relationship, we see her regain control of her style.  Priscilla ventures away from the trap of Elvis by wearing colors and dresses that he used to forbid her from dressing in.  her makeup and hair also become more simple that better match her personality.  Makeup and costuming is the easiest way to help relay someone’s age or journey they have been on and ‘Priscilla’ does this perfectly.  There is a distinct difference between all of the major milestones we see from Priscilla that we get from how she is styled.  It seems like such a simple observation but if done wrong could halt the story you are trying to tell.

Another technical aspect that stands out is the way the film is shot.  In the beginning, it feels like we are in a dream that Priscilla is having.  With the light colors and rose-colored tint, we are right there feeling how she is feeling.  This is new love, with a celebrity nonetheless, and everything seems picture perfect.  Then as we start to really learn the darkness behind their relationship, that dreamy feeling fades away to a more dark-looking film.  We go from this childlike sense of whimsy and wonder to the bleak and sadness that hides underneath.  Those dark undertones come to the forefront when Priscilla’s relationship continuously gets worse with Elvis.  The cinematography was a great way to subtly display her feelings that you are trying to be conveyed to your audience. 

Some may try to use this film as someone trying to attack a famous and well-liked man after he has been long gone.  In no way is this film trying to downplay the impact Elvis had on the music world.  This film is a focus on Priscilla and her life while she knew Elvis.  It was not as glamorous and fabulous as dating a powerful celebrity might seem like.  It took a lot out of her physically and mentally and that is what this film is supposed to be about.  How she was with Elvis and how that impacted her life was the driving force of the story.  Of course, some criticism will come for Elvis, as he was the one who pursued someone ten years his junior, but in her memoir the real Priscilla talks about how she did have love for Elvis.  It is now time to tell her story and have it be heard from a director known for enhancing women’s voices.    

“Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper” Review

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General Information:

Directed by – William Lau

Written by – Cliff Ruby and Elana Lesser

Starring – Kelly Sheridan (Princess Anneliese and Erika), Melissa Lyons (Princess Anneliese singing), Julia Stevens (Erika singing), Alessandro Juliani (Julian), Mark Hildreth (King Dominick), Mark Luna (King Dominick singing), Ellen Kennedy (Queen Genevieve) and Martin Short (Preminger)

Synopsis – Loosely based on “The Prince and the Pauper” by Mark Twain, two girls from completely different lives realize they not only look similar but have similar goals, until one goes missing, the other must take her place before the kingdom is taken over by the evil advisor.

 

Review:

Since 2001, Mattle has been releasing a variety of computer-generated films focusing around one of their most recognizable faces – Barbie.  They have ranged from stories about Barbie and her sisters going on adventures to recreating fairy tales with Barbie, as an actress, in the starring role.  “Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper” was the fourth installment in the Barbie Cinematic Universe (BCU) but is culturally significant as it was the first musical put out by the studio.  It was, in a way, the blueprint for a lot of the future movies to come from Mattle, which is why you will find it near the top of a lot of favorite Barbie movie lists.

 

In the same kingdom, two girls who look exactly alike end up meeting.  Even though they come from completely different lives – Anneliese is a princess about to be married off to a stranger and Erika works in a dress shop to pay off her parents’ debt – they have similar goals of being free.  Preminger also has a goal…to run the kingdom.  To do this, he concocks a plan that involves kidnapping Anneliese.  When her tutor, Julian, begins piecing the puzzle together, he asks Erika to take Anneliese’s place and meet King Dominick.  But Preminger and his goons won’t stop until he is king. 

 

The animation – especially of the older movies – is not up to par compared to what was coming out from studios like Disney and Pixar at the same time.  Fans of these films usually ignore how clunky some of the scenes look.  If anything, sometimes it adds to the charm of the movie; some scenes look so awkward but it makes sense for the craziness that is currently taking place.  It is most noticeable when it comes to the way some of the animal sidekicks move.  Sometimes their body parts go through walls or floors or the movement of their hips just does not match with how their feet are moving.  But the story makes all of the outdated (even by 2004 standards) animation a thing of no concern.

The idea of having two characters that look alike switch places with each other is not a new concepts.  The BCU even uses it multiple times throughout their 42 different movies.  But this movie has such a fun allure to it thanks to a relatively simple story.  This could have easily been super corny or a really bad premise but is saved thanks to how enjoyable each of the characters are.  Princess Anneliese understands her duty to her kingdom, which is why she agrees to marry a stranger to help the people once the gold runs up in the mines.  But along the way, we learn about how she cares deeply about her studies and helping her people of the kingdom.  While she may have been a little naive at the beginning of the movie about how hard some of her people are struggling.  We also have Erika, working a horrible job for a horrible boss who dreams of being a traveling singer.  She acts as the relatable character for the audience as she learns what it means to be a princess, being goofy and silly along the way.  Julian as Princess Anneliese’s tutor and best friend is one of the best leading men in the BCU because of how kind and caring for not just Anneliese but all of the people around him.  He wants to make sure that the kingdom is fully supported and that is done by being more of the “regular man” in the palace.  King Dominick does not have much to do with his limited screen time, but still brings charm during his scenes.  But of course the absolute standout is Martin Short as the villain Preminger.  If the budget didn’t go to the animation, then it definitely went to paying Short for his voice performance.  Having big names as the villains is not new for a few of the older movies, but none of them hold a candle to what Short is giving.  He is crazy, sporadic, intense and just overall steals every scene he is in.  If anything, his wacky performance should be the only convincing you need to watch the movie. 

 

The main reason fans of Barbie tend to love this film in particular is thanks to the songs.  Written by Amy Powers, Megan Cavallari, and Rob Hudunt and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra, every song shines during its moment in the movie.  Not only do they fit perfectly within the narrative of the film, but each one is just a bop.  You have the classics you would find in this type of movie – the “I Want” song, the villain song, the love song, etc.  But there is the perfect amount where the fact that it is a musical does not overstay its welcome.  The beginning half of the movie is more song-heavy than the later half, but it feels right with the way the story goes.  You will not be able to get any of these songs out of your head while also enjoying the important messages of being yourself, following your heart, and learning more about you.

 

Is this a high-brow and top tier animated film? No, not really.  But with its family-friendly fun story and some of the most memorable songs, it ranks among the most enjoyable for all ages.  It reminds me of singing along with my sister and sharing my love for the Barbie brand, making it a perfect movie for me.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” Movie Review

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General Information 

Directed by – Martin Scorsese

Written by – Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese

Starring – Leonardo DiCaprio (Ernest Burkhart), Lily Gladstone (Mollie Burkhart), Robert De Niro (William King Hale), Jesse Plemons (Tom White), Tantoo Cardinal (Lizzie Q), John Lithgow (Peter Leaward), Brendan Fraser (W.S. Hamilton), and Yancey Red Corn (Chief Bonnicastle)

Synopsis – After oil is discovered on their land, the Osage people have been mysteriously murdered without any investigation taking place, hitting close to home for Mollie as her family begins to be the next targets, calling in the FBI to help with her concerns.

Where to Watch – In Theaters

 

Review

The first time I came across the title “Killers of the Flower Moon” was doing research for a project involving Book of the Month.  Classified as “true crime” for the genre, it was their pick for April 2017 with the tags “heavy read”, “famous author”, “social issues” and “critically acclaimed”.  This book became the inspiration for the latest Martin Scorsese project.

 

Based on real life events, Ernest Burkhart (DiCaprio) moves to be with his uncle William “King” Hale (De Niro) in the state of Oklahoma.  Here, the Osage Native American tribe has “headright”, or ownership of property rights to receive payment for the oil that has been found on their land.  This has made the Osage people very wealthy while making them a target at the same time.  This is the main driver of the plot, as members of Mollie’s (Gladstone) family begin to die due to murder or suspected disease.  Determined to get down to the bottom of these crimes, Mollie travels to Washington D.C. to recruit Tom White (Plemons) to investigate.

 

The history behind this film is absolutely fascinating as it is something that I cannot recall learning about in school.  As the book has been classified as “true crime” you would think these cases would be more in the mainstream with the rise of YouTube and Tik Tok creators who focus on the genre.  A story like this, especially when it focuses on the Western expansion of the United States, should be taught to the general public.  We learn about how states came to be, but not about the consequences that follow as a result.  It is ugly and does not look good to those who pride themselves on knowing American history, but that does not mean it did not happen.  The fact that Scorsese wanted to bring these atrocities to the big screen is commendable, and while the story should have been told from an Osage creative, there is still a bias in Hollywood of who gets “Scorsese money” to tell this story; Scorsese should not be the one telling it but if anyone could tackle this topic, he was the correct choice.

 

The story starts off with DiCaprio’s character arriving to Oklahoma after serving in World War I.  It is from his introduction that we can interpret the exact man he is going to be.  A bunch of men are rough-housing with each other and DiCaprio, not even knowing whose these guys are, joins right in.  He is easily swayed to go along with whatever his surroundings present to him, so it is no surprise that he easily gets roped into his uncle’s schemes.  Even though his character is supposed to be in his mid- to late-20s, you believe that nearly-50-year-old DiCaprio is younger than he appears.  How he plays Ernest so spineless and dimwitted that it is believable that he would be convinced to do everything his uncle asks him to do.  By far one of his strongest performances, DiCaprio gives us layers upon layers of this unforgiving character that is a powerhouse whenever he is on screen.  He keeps you guessing that as his character ages, you never know what his true intentions or feelings are anymore.  Is he actually smarter and more sly the older he gets or is he so far down the rabbit hole that it is impossible for him to get out?  Everything about him is what makes DiCaprio a true star and no surprise Scorsese probably has his agent’s number on speed dial.

 

De Niro, another Scorsese staple of the last 50 years, plays DiCaprio’s uncle, who has been accepted by the Osage people.  Throughout the film, we see De Niro speak their language, attend meetings with the chiefs and other members of authority, and be welcomed with open arms.  Little do they know he is the one behind the entire operation of the genocide of their people.  With both of his nephews doing the dirty work, he conceives this plan to slowly gain control of the Osage people’s land and wealth by having the local white men marry the Osage women to gain “guardianship” of their wealth.  A law created in 1921 stated that Osage people needed to have a non-Osage person assigned to them to watch over their money if the government deemed them “incompetent” to manage their own funds.  This is the law that De Niro plans to exploit by having DiCaprio marry Mollie Kyle.  Working with the other white men in power in Fairfax, Oklahoma – like police and doctors – this plan seemed full-proof to gain and capitalize off of the Osage who were rightfully there first.  And if becoming guardians did not work right away, committing murder was the next best option for them.  De Niro plays Hale as one of the most menacing men in U.S. history perfectly, taking it to a whole new level.  You can tell how deep De Niro went to refine this role that you cannot picture anyone else playing him.  Every time he is on screen you feel this diabolical aura over the film, making it so much creepier and cynical than you would think possible.  His plot has been brewing since before DiCaprio arrived on that train and De Niro sells throughout the film.

 

The true heart and soul of not just the film but the entire story of the Osage murders is Gladstone as Mollie Burkhart.  Part of one of the wealthiest Osage families, Mollie falls for DiCaprio’s Ernest even though she is skeptical of him.  When her family members begin dying off – two due to “illness” (presumed diabetes) and two due to murder – she becomes concerned that she is the next target.  Traveling to Washington D.C., she begs someone to come to Oklahoma to investigate.  At the same time, she is suffering from diabetes as well, but the medicine she is being given is laced with poison, “slowing her down” as De Niro’s Hale puts it. While some may see a majority of Gladstone’s performance as subtle, it works for her character.  And the moments when she finds out her sisters and mother have died…you can just feel every ache and cry and emotion that she is giving off.  It makes your heart break for her while infuriating you because you know her husband is the one behind all of her pain.  The scenes where she is getting more and more sick also stick out as some of the best acting of the year.  Like the gentlemen that star alongside her, this film would not have been the same without Gladstone’s compelling performance.  Her final scene with DiCaprio will be stuck in my brain for the rest of time.

 

While DiCaprio, De Niro and Gladstone may be the stars, they are backed by an amazing cast that help bring the film together.  Jesse Plemons as Detective Tom White is the standout of the main supporting cast.  The second he appears on screen with his variety of very large hats, you know he is about to own the last third of the film.  His role was originally supposed to be played by DiCaprio, but I am glad that he decided to switch parts to be Ernest instead; Plemons is perfect as Tom White.  His crew of Merryman who disguise themselves as locals are also a fun time to watch as they surround Plemons with their charismatic personalities.  They are there to do a job but also have fun with each other as they are working through the investigation.  The gentlemen in cahoots with De Niro also bring a desperate and scared presence with them while some are not afraid to do exactly what Hale needs.  And then there are the members of Mollie’s family and the rest of the Osage tribe who all need to be in more films in general.  Every single character brings their all and I hope this film either jumpstarts or propels their future careers.  My personal favorite was Cara Jade Myers as Anna Brown, one of Mollie’s sisters who ignites the passion in Mollie to get justice for her people after Anna is brutally murdered.  Lovely cast, perfect performances, and just overall amazing cast chemistry all around.  No one felt out of place or that they should not belong, which makes the film even stronger.

 

The biggest aspect of the film that has been talked about to the end of time is the length.  Standing at 3 hours and 26 minutes, there is one person to thank for not feeling that long and it is the editor Thelma Shoemaker.  Every scene is so precise and flows perfectly with the story Scorsese is trying to tell.  It may have felt long after sitting on it after a viewing, but when you look back, there is no scene that I would have taken out or shortened.  Everything not only seemed like it was the perfect length but deserved to have its place within the runtime.  It will feel long, but that does not mean its length is not deserved.  The film also looks absolutely gorgeous from every technical aspect.  The cinematography pulls you in to make you feel like you are in 1920s Oklahoma and that is thanks to Rodrigo Prieto.  Jacqueline West and Jack Fisk bring their strengths as a costume designer and production designer, respectively, to also accentuate the characters and the story the film is telling.  Not only is it historically accurate, but the visuals of the costumes and sets bring to the screen absolutely stands out.  If I had the opportunity to visit that set and wear the costumes from the film, I would have been transported back to the 1920s.  When doing a historical film like this, you can so easily run the risk of looking like one of those old-timey photos your family gets on the boardwalk, but that is not the case here.  Everything is so real and authentic that you feel as though you are out of place simply by watching.

 

Scorsese wraps up the film in his own special way that, if anything , pokes fun at how we as a society – or at least an American society – view crimes.  With the rise of true crime shows and podcasts, everyone seems to have an opinion on the events that have happened or look to monetize off of the rising trend.  No one wants to dive deep into what has really happened; they are all focused on the “glamorous” or “pretty” cases that are more accessible to the general public.  I have learned so much about this stain on my country’s history, which started from watching this film and then continuing afterwards with my own research.  Everyone should not only see this film – while it can feel long – not just for the history behind it, but also to inspire those with power to pay more attention to people like Mollie.        

“Bottoms” Review

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General Information

Directed by – Emma Seligman

Written by – Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott

Starring – Rachel Sennott (PJ), Ayo Edebiri (Josie), Ruby Cruz (Hazel), Havana Rose Liu (Isabel), Kaia Gerber (Brittany), Nicholas Galitzine (Jeff), Miles Fowler (Tim), and Marshawn Lynch (Mr. G)

Synopsis – To avoid getting in trouble while also trying to get with their crushes, best friends PJ and Josie start a fight club for girls at their school who are afraid of the rival school the football team is playing, leaving the duo with a newfound popularity the jocks are not happy with.

Where to Watch – In Theaters

Review

2023 seems to be not just the year for raunchy comedies, but raunchy comedies starring and about women.  We have lived through years of “Hangover”s and “Ted”s, but now is the time for women to be at the front of these ridiculous kinds of stories.  High school and young adult females deserve to have their crazy antics shown on the big screen and “Bottoms” is another great entry to end the summer with.

The main premise of this movie is that the best friend duo of PJ (Sennott) and Josie (Edebiri) want to sleep with their crushes before they head off to college.  All of the performances from the cast are outstanding as they are as crazy and deadpan that fits with the tone of the film.  Sennott and Edebiri have amazing chemistry as best friends that if you told me they have known each other their whole lives I would absolutely believe you.  Sometimes, friend characters do not vibe with each other as much as they should but that is not a problem with these two.  They bounce off of each other’s energy in the best way possible, leaving room for some of the funniest moments between friends I have seen in film all year.  They also bring that awkward-around-your-crush cringe-worthy moments that had me reflecting on how I was as a young adult trying to find love.  Without the two of them, this film would not be as funny and enjoyable as it is.

The rest of the cast is also bringing all of the energy a film like this needs.  The crushes of Isabel (Liu) and Brittany (Gerber) play on the stereotypical roles of popular girls by making them have those traditional aspects of the character but also making sure they get development throughout the film.  You get to know more about them as people while they also continue to play into the popular cheerleader role we have seen so many times before.  Speaking of stereotypical roles, we have two traditional football characters in Jeff (Galitzine) and Tim (Fowler).  Not only do they have this role of being the manly football players the entire school looks up to, they take it to the greatest extreme.  Their characters are laughable about how ridiculous they can be and Galitzine and Fowler are the only ones that could have pulled it off.  You expect them to be football players but they are just so much more and I love every second they are on screen.  Each of the club members bring their own chaotic energy to the mix that never ends until the credits roll.  The standout is the third-in-command Hazel (Cruz), who is so dedicated to the club and not in on the plot like PJ and Josie are.  Then we end with the club advisor Mr. G (Lynch), recruited to be that advisor who would never show up but ends up becoming the new proponent of feminism.  Lynch is another athlete-turned-actor and surprisingly brings so much to his character that I cannot wait to see what he is in next.  Each of these actors matches their characters perfectly and makes for great cast chemistry, something that can make or break a film like this.  And it is thanks to their performances that the film performs the way that it does and has instantly become a classic in the teen girl genre of movies.

The other strong point of the film that brought this from potential cringe to enjoyably laughable, where you can feel for the characters while also understanding that what they did was wrong and should not have been done.  The script, written by Seligman and Sennott, is able to deliver some of the most chaotic lines that could have been unfunny if done incorrectly, and while not everything worked for me and it did try a little too hard in places, the majority of it will have you laughing.  There is an ending that I was not expecting because of how absolutely ridiculous it is, but it works with the movie and how they are trying to approach the subject.  There is a moment in this film for everyone, especially if you love classic female-driven films from the late 90s/early 00s.

Overall, this film is a fun reminder of how powerful stories about women by women are and that girls are allowed to have fun as well.  Come for the names behind the film and stay for the amazing performances who bring an enjoyable script to life.