Double Feature Review

    That's right, my beautiful readers, it's time for another round of Double Feature! 

    Today, we will be looking at two brand new movies released this past week. Both films feature similar elements of minimalism and pulse-pounding thrills. Similar enough to share the same review spot here on my blog. Which one do I favor more? Keep reading to find out.

    The first item on the docket: 

Streaming on Hulu 

    Based on the novel by Taylor Adams, the story follows a young recovering drug addict named Darby (Havana Rose Liu) on her way to see her mother, who's in the hospital after a brain aneurysm. While on the road, she's stopped by violent winter winds and heavy snow blocking the highways and finds herself directed to a nearby visitor center to wait out the storm. After greeting some of the other travelers finding themselves stuck together, Darby attempts to find a cell signal outside to call her sister and check on the situation. Things take a scary and unexpected turn when she discovers a little girl tied up and screaming for help in the back of an old van. Now, Darby must figure out who the kidnappers are and call for help unless she can find the courage within her to save this little girl's life herself. 

    The film succeeds in making the most out of its minimalism: taking place in predominantly one location with a handful of talented actors utilizing the whole environment to tell a nail-biting yarn. Darby succeeds in becoming an unlikely hero with a satisfying character ark that makes you glad to eventually root for her, even if it can take a little while to get there. Havana Rose Liu delivers a spectacular performance and sells every moment she's on-screen. 

    While the violent moments (few and far between) can be pretty graphic, they never overwhelm the overall narrative. It's a compelling premise with skilled actors and a sharp script. I genuinely hope to see more of Havana Rose Liu in the future. 

    Totally check this one out. 

    Next up is something similar but not quite as engaging. 

For rent on Apple TV, Amazon, Google Plus, and YouTube 

    Some artists and other such creative types can best be described as "one note": they do one thing and one thing only, but they do it incredibly nicely. Even so, that doesn't mean that it can't get boring or overdone at times. Such appears to be the case with the latest offering from screenwriter Chris Sparling, whose previous works include Buried (a movie set entirely inside a small box with a single person trapped inside) and ATM (a film about three people trapped inside a self-enclosed ATM for fear of getting killed by a mysterious hooded stranger if they try to leave). Therefore, it should come as no surprise that his latest film, The Desperate Hour, spends most of its time with a single actor running through the woods while on her phone. I'm starting to notice a pattern. 

    The story follows a mother named Amy Carr (Naomi Watts) who receives a series of calls about an incident at her son's school while on her morning jog in the woods. She hears of an active school shooting and must make her way there, only she's about five miles away with no car. So, she has to run back, all the while making frantic calls to various people trying to piece together what's happening. 

    As you might have inferred, about 85% of the film is just various shots of Naomi Watts running through the Canadian forest while on her iPhone. Granted, the tense situation does add some drama, and the various drone shots from above the trees are pretty cool, but there are only so many ways we can watch someone screaming into an earpiece while on a hiking trail. 

    To be fair, Naomi Watts does a fantastic job as usual. The film does get some bonus points for at least trying to commentate on the tragedy of school shootings and how not enough is being done about them. Still, for a film like this, if there's something incredibly intense going on in another area, and you spend the vast majority of your time focusing only on one part of it, you tend to lose tension rather quickly. 

    A valiant effort made unintentionally dull. I still recommend checking it out for yourself but don't expect anything nuanced. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Upcoming Theme Month - March Memories

 My beautiful readers, 

    Recently, I took a look back at some of my earlier movie reviews here on this blog. Upon doing so, I was, admittedly, a bit embarrassed. I clearly wasn't bothering with proper format control at the time, nor was I taking reading quality into consideration. While I feel I have come a long way since then, I need to continue learning from my mistakes and grow as a writer and a person. 

    Therefore, I thought it would be fun to revisit some of my earlier reviews and present a kind of "do-over" for those I'm the least proud of. I will likely continue to stand by my criticisms therein, but I intend to do a better job presenting and justifying them than before. 

    I may even go further back to when I was reviewing movies in video form and reevaluate my stance on a few things. 

    I will admit that part of this idea is due to the lack of interesting new material as of late. Hopefully, that will change in the coming weeks. Don't worry; I will continue reviewing new content between my revisits. 

    I hope you will enjoy my revisions of reviews past. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Retro Review - Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) SPOILERS

 

Streaming on Amazon Prime 

For rent on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube 

    Once upon a time, there was a little boy. Having been diagnosed (sort of) with ADHD and hyperactivity, he was a bit of a handful for everyone around him. Although the boy was always happy to be playful, he found it confusing that most adults (aside from those closest to him) didn't seem to share his energy or boundless enthusiasm for what would later be known as "legal insanity." But then, one day, the boy stumbled upon a little movie starring a young and promising comedic talent named Jim Carry. The movie was Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, the story of a wacky adult who dedicated his life to protecting animals and solving mysteries. The boy grew fond of this movie, and its titular character, as he related to the detective's wackiness both as entertainment value and as a sense of reassurance that it's okay to be weird. 

    The movie has remained a favorite in the boy's collection ever since. Even when the boy got older, rewatched the movie again, and realized something about it that, well, let's just say parts of the movie haven't aged well. But we'll get to that in due time. 

    Alrighty then, on with the review! 

    Yes, it may come as no surprise to any of my beautiful readers that Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is one of my favorite comedies of all time. It's one of those movies I enjoy rewatching (for the most part) because it's one of those films that embraces its silliness, thereby encouraging the audience to have fun. Many movies, even today, seem to be afraid or ashamed to be silly, for one reason or another. As if it was something to avoid. Except being silly doesn't always mean being ridiculous. Gemini Man is enjoyably silly because of its far-fetched premise, but it works because everyone involved embraced the concept and had fun with it. Resulting in a film that succeeds in delivering fun action and an excellent concept. 

    Ace Ventura: Pet Detective is very much the same in that regard. It has an outrageous concept and has tons of fun with it, rather than try to reshape it into something that would be considered "conventional" or "acceptable." This kind of risky attitude towards producing movies has sadly declined far too much in recent years, and I'd argue that it's one of the many ways Hollywood could potentially revive itself once again. 

    For those who don't know, the story follows a wacky private detective named Ace Ventura (Jim Carry), who specializes in mysteries involving animals. His latest case involves the disappearance of a Dolphin named Snowflake, the mascot of the Florida-based Football team. This incident could not have happened at a worst time, as the Miami Dolphins are preparing for the next Super Bowl, and the team's owner is concerned about the effect on the team's morale (being just a bit superstitious). So, they seek out Ace Ventura to crack the case. At first, they don't think he's as professional as they had hoped, being so unusually silly as he is. Still, he turns out to be more insightful and intelligent than they had hoped, as he eventually uncovers someone's devious plot to take revenge on the Miami Dolphins. Despite many obstacles thrown his way, including the aggressive and antagonistic Lt. Einhorn (Sean Young) of the Miami Police Department (much more on her in a minute), Ace Ventura will stop at nothing to rescue Snowflake and solve the case. 

    Who is this angry individual, and why would kidnapping a live Dolphin be part of the plan? Usually, I would encourage you to watch the movie to find out, but I'll make an exception in this case. 

    Why? Again, I'll get to that soon. 

    Overall, the movie is an enjoyable watch! It has a decent mystery, convincing performances, and a subtle commentary on the dangers of rabid sports fandom. Not to mention some of the wittiest writing (for the most part) ever put to screen. Part of which is the result of the movie's co-writer and star, Jim Carry. 

    There was a time when Jim Carry ruled the world of comedy. Starting out as an original cast member of the skit show In Living Color, his career skyrocketed with his first major feature film, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. From there, he went on to star in other comedy classics such as The Mask and probably my personal favorite, Liar Liar. Jim Carry carries himself (no pun intended) with a fully embraced sense of silliness very few people have ever been able to match. His style of comedy is reminiscent of classics such as Monty Python, where silliness is the order of the day. Even today, after a few hits, some misses, and a couple of misguided decisions, he's still one of the funniest people working today. At least, in my opinion.

    Okay, I think I've avoided this part of the review long enough. There's no way to discuss this movie today without mentioning its more... let's say unfortunate & outdated perspective on something. It's time to discuss the elephant in the room, which means not only a spoiler warning but a trigger warning as well. 

    You have been warned! 

SPOILERS 

TRIGGER WARNING: transgender phobia, possible homophobia, and hetero-normativity. 

     Okay, so the perpetrator turns out to be none other than Lt. Einhorn, who is also not who she claims to be. In reality (that is to say, the film's reality), Lt. Einhorn is, in actuality, a former Miami Dolphin kicker named Ray Finkle. 

    In the story, Ray Finkle caused his team to lose Super Bowl 17 (by one point) by missing a 26-yard field goal. Finkle blamed fellow teammate Dan Marino for his botching of the kick because he believes Marino held the ball laces in instead of the typical practice of holding the ball laces out. After the NFL refused to renew his contract, Finkle was ostracized and harassed by the fans, to the point of being driven mad and committed to a mental hospital in Tampa. Eventually, Finkle escaped and assumed the identity of a missing/presumed dead hiker named Lois Einhorn, undergoing plastic surgery to become a woman, and joined the police force, biding his time, waiting for the opportune moment to strike back against his former team. 

    His first move was to kidnap Snowflake the Dolphin. Why? Because the team gave Snowflake Finkle's number and trained him to make a field goal, which he took a little too personally. His next step was to kidnap Dan Marino and "punish" them for his pain. All of this had to be at the right time, the time that would hurt them the most; Super Bowl time! 

    Now, this twist comes as a massive shock to Ace Ventura mainly because, well, before the revelation of Lt. Einhorn's true identity, this happened: 

    In this scene, Lt. Einhorn is aware of Ace Venture closing in on the case and decides to try and seduce and dissuade him from going further into solving the mystery or anything else. 

    So, when Ace Venture eventually discovers Lt. Einhorn's true identity and sex, his reaction is...well...perhaps it would be better if I showed you:

    Click the link below to see what I'm talking about. Skip to 1:25 in the video's timeline to go straight to the reaction. 

Einhorn is a Man!

    Have you seen it? 

    Okay, let's talk about it. 

    There really isn't any other way to describe that moment other than as "a product of the not-as-progressive-as-we-remember '90s." Even in this presentation as a "joke," it's still not and has never been funny. The sad fact is that this scene contributes to unwarranted transphobia, homophobia (however unintentional or indirectly), and unjustified hetero-normativity, by establishing heterosexuality as the standard and only "proper" form of human sexual identity. A concept that is as harmful and toxic as anything that comes out of an insurrectionist's mouth. 

    This very moment in the film, along with the similar moment proceeding it, is the reason I cannot, in good conscience, give the movie a total four-star rating. It's the kind of situation I utterly despise because I still enjoy the rest of the movie for its creativity, energy, and comedy (the actually funny stuff, that is). To have this tasteless "joke" in the movie turns my stomach inside out. 

    To play devil's advocate for a moment, one could argue that the joke was not that Ace Ventura or anyone else was disgusted at the mere existence of a transgender person, but rather at having been fooled into getting intimate with a specific sexual orientation they did not identify with. A kind of extreme-mistaken-identity joke rather than a phobic one. Admittedly, this was my initial interpretation of the joke, as I've never found the idea of gender identification, even back then, to be all that strange or disgusting. Unfortunately, as much as I would prefer this to be the case, the sad fact is that it likely wasn't the interpretation or intention of the writers at the time. 

    But, to be fair, at least it's not as bad as what came next. 

The less said about this, the better! 

    Despite this unfortunate aspect of the film (and despite my spoilers), I still recommend checking out the movie for yourself. It is an incredible showcase of the kind of comedic talent Jim Carry is and is loaded with enough genuinely funny moments to outweigh the lesser ones. I do not believe that this movie should be hated or banned because what the writers believed was funny at the time, misguided though they were. Instead, let this moment serve as a reminder of how important it is to think very carefully before committing to an idea. 

    We can't change the movie; we can only learn from it. 

    Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop - Bad Child's Play

 

For rent on Apple TV, Google Play, Amazon, and YouTube 

    When the late director Joel Schumacher made the infamous flop Batman & Robin in 1997, it was reported that he would preface almost every call for action with, "Remember: we're making a cartoon!" While I have no way of confirming this attitude towards the production of today's film, Miss Willoughby and the Haunted Bookshop, it certainly seems like a distinct possibility. Nearly every aspect of this film feels like it's trying too hard to be taken seriously despite its child-like execution. This may have been intended as a severe mystery for adults, but it feels more like an episode of a kid's show, and not the excellent & entertaining kind either. No, I'm talking about the kind of kid's show that talks down to you rather than engages you. 

    The story follows Miss Willoughby (Natalie Cox), a young woman raised by her legal guardian Robert Thompson (Kelsey Grammer), trained in martial arts, literature, and deductive reasoning, establishing herself as a local detective. One day, she discovers a friend of hers, who owns a local bookshop, is experiencing strange encounters with the ghost of her late father and fears herself going mad in the process. It's up to Miss Willoughby to solve the mystery and help her friend before something terrible happens. 

    This is the kind of negative review I dislike having to give. Because while I enjoy small productions like this and find most of them to be better than most Hollywood affairs, it pains me to see these more petite movies executed in such a terrible way. 

    For starters, the performances from most of the cast are amateurish at best and too over-the-top at worse. Save for the ever-reliant Kelsey Grammer, who is always entertaining in just about anything (yes, even Money Plane), most of the cast is hamming up their performances in the worst possible way. I was going to say it's high-school play levels of bad, but I've seen high-school plays with better performances than this. 

    The cinematography is terrible. Photographed by Ross W. Clarkson, the lighting is too bright, too uniform, and lacks any kind of interesting texture in every scene. Resulting in an experience that feels less like a movie and more like a canceled Nickelodeon pilot from the '90s.

    The writing, while not incredibly terrible, feels rushed and unpolished. Also, parts for possible interesting moments feel overlooked or ignored. For example, early in the film, we are shown the main character being trained in martial arts and self-defense. Checkov's Gun dictates that this should build up to a great fight scene later in the film, showcasing her honed skill and contributing to saving the day. Instead, all she does is hit one guy over the head and punch another person in the nose...both within the last ten minutes of the movie. Define "letdown." 

    A few more technical and artistic choices are made in this film that hinder its potential for decent entertainment, but it would take too many paragraphs to sum them all up. Bottom line; this film is a tragic waste of time and a lost opportunity for what might have been a fascinating series. If you find yourself in the mood for a mystery story with a potential supernatural twist, watch The Ninth Gate. At least that movie has Frank Langella hamming it up in the best way possible. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Trailer Reaction - Jurassic World: Dominion - You Can't be Serious!

 

    I have tried to give the modern Hollywood system the benefit of the doubt. I have tolerated and forgiven many faults from Tinseltown. I have sought to find a semblance of hope for creativity, individuality, and artistic integrity within the movie-making business dominated by the Los Angeles-based industry that has inspired many of us for generations. If there is any light at the end of this tunnel, I am having a more challenging time seeing it than usual! 

    While I will always have a fondness for cinema, genuine enthusiasm for the art of making movies, and an ever-growing interest to continue making my own films in whatever form I can, I have finally lost all hope for what once was the shining example of artistic freedom, creative risk-taking, and (dare I say) authenticity. Making movies may be a business, but there has to be a proper balance between making a profit and producing quality content for the consumer. Hollywood has gone incredibly off-balance in the worst possible way. 

    Please understand; I am not approaching this as a die-hard fan of the original Jurassic Park movie, nor am I expressing this level of disinterest as a hater of pop culture. I still enjoy the Marvel movies, the occasional Fast & Furious sequel or spin-off, and I absolutely love just about anything with Leonardo DiCaprio and/or Matt Damon (both gentlemen have been heroes to me for as long as I can remember). 

    The most toxic poison Hollywood has become addicted to is the dreaded and aggressive need for name recognition. Everything must be linked to a recognizable property; otherwise, nobody will care. At least, that's what every underpaid Hollywood executive gasping for air in the focus group meeting room seems to think. 

    How can we expect to find new voices if those in charge actively ignore them far too often? 

    I'm pretty sure I won't even bother sitting through this upcoming trainwreck, which, at this point, can only be worse than the last two attempts and making a classic intellectual property relevant again, forcing us to believe that Chris Pratt is a movie star and reminding us of the wasted opportunity no one seems to have considered. 

    I mentioned this before in my review of the last Jurassic World movie, and I'll repeat it: the story should be from the Dinosaur's perspective at this point. Blue, the raptor-compadre featured in both films, is significantly more interesting, textured, and sympathetic than any of the idiot cardboard characters we've been forced to follow. Not to mention, despite Chris Pratt revealing himself as one of the most limited talents working today, his face makes a lot of money in the 16 to 35 demographic. Which appears to be more important to the producers than anything else. 

    While I have no faith in this upcoming trainwreck, as challenging as it may be, I continue to have some faith in the better side of humanity that is struggling to have its voice heard within the Hollywood system. Because it is far too easy (and even lazy) to dismiss an entire enterprise without recalling that it is still, at its core, a human creation. As such, it is just as prone to all of the same faults and pitfalls as any living thinking person. But, it is also just as capable of revitalization and redemption. 

    Hollywood, as we once knew it, has imploded. Let us look forward to what may rise from its ashes in the future.

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

Station Eleven - *snore*...I'm sorry, what happened?

 

Three Episode Test - FAIL

    I like post-apocalyptic stories; I like cinematography that primarily utilizes available light; I like the idea of a traveling theater troupe; I like Mackenzie Davis and Himesh Patel. All of these things put together should result in a great series I can totally enjoy beyond measure. Instead, I was hooked with the first episode, disappointed with the second, bored with the third, and finally gave up about twenty minutes into the fourth. Each subsequent episode I watched seemed to spend more time building up another plot point and side story and less time showcasing how they were all supposed to be interconnected. Not to mention occasionally stopping dead in its tracks to show a short scene that doesn't appear substantial to the episode at the moment. Don't get me wrong, I understand the show is kind of an anthology with interconnected stories that all kind of merge towards the end, but it feels like the series is taking the needlessly long scenic route when it could have taken the highway once in a while. I just got tired of how long it took to get where it wanted to go. 

    As a friendly reminder, I tend to initially measure the quality of a television show with what I call the Three-Episode-Test. If the show retains my interest after the first three episodes, I will continue to watch it, as I find it exciting and engaging. If it loses me before the first three episodes, I'll maybe try and give it a few more, but most of the time, it's already too late. This is why I have no star rating for the show; I can't provide a complete & comprehensive review of the show. I can only offer my initial impressions. 

    The main story takes place in a potential future where civilization has collapsed as a large portion of the human population is wiped out by a mysterious variant of the flu (points for relevancy). The main character, a young actress named Kristen (Mackenzie Davis), lives a peaceful life with her traveling theater troupe. The series cuts back and forth between periods ranging from before, during, and after the pandemic. Parts of it chronicle Kristen's childhood growing up during the apocalypse while occasionally spending time with one of the supporting characters at a specific time. Occasionally cutting away to moody atmospheric shots, possible hallucinations, and cults somehow connected to a poetic graphic novel one of the characters wrote and illustrated.  

    If that all sounds confusing and disjointed to you, don't worry, that's how the show feels most of the time (at least in the first three episodes). 

    The main issue with the show is that it's taking too long to connect all the dots. Yes, slow-burn stories can be good, and I enjoy a good one myself. But this feels like a textbook example of doing far too much way too soon. While the characters are mostly likable, the imagery is pretty, and the production design is appropriate, the narrative felt too preoccupied with less attractive filler and excessive build-up. It's like baking a cake while reading excerpts from a poetry book in between every ingredient. Yes, the poetry is lovely, but it's forcing us to anticipate the deliciousness far too much more than reasonable. 

    While I personally may not have enjoyed trying this show as much as I would have liked, I do still recommend you give it a shot for yourself. I very much want to try and continue to give this show the benefit of the doubt, but I kept falling asleep during the fourth episode, so maybe it's not worth it for me. There is a good chance you might get something out of the experience I could not. Even so, have a pot of good coffee at the ready, just in case. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

7/14/22

Reacher - Don't Get In His Way

 

Streaming on Amazon Prime 

    In 1997, author Jim Grant (under the pen name Lee Child) published the first of over twenty novels following the exploits of one Jack Reacher: a retired MP wandering the country who occasionally stumbles upon a mystery to solve or a person who needs saving. Reacher is described in the books as towering over six feet tall, incredibly built, and has a mind as sharp as Sherlock Holmes. He doesn't care about the law, only about what's right. Then, in 2012, writer/director Christopher McQuarrie, late of The Way of the Gun and Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, came out with a feature-film adaptation of one of the books (One Shot) simply titled Jack Reacher, starring...wait for it...Tom Cruise. 

    Yes, I know, everyone and their mother has gone on and on about how Tom Crusie looks nothing like Reacher as described in the books, and while I tend to agree that he wasn't the best person to play Reacher in terms of looks and build, I still commend him for at least playing the role to the best of his ability. At the very least, the rest of the movie compensated for his miscasting with a compelling story, decent action scenes, and the opportunity for Christopher McQuarrie to sharpen his directing skills. And, of course, the less said about the sequel, Jack Reacher: Never Go Back, the better. 

    I was intrigued by the character of Reacher and have been genuinely interested in seeing more of the character on screen. It took ten years for someone to get the ball rolling for reasons beyond my understanding. Well, having watched all eight episodes of the Amazon Original Series, I can proudly say it was well worth the wait. 

    Plus, they got a guy who actually looks like Reacher! 

    Based on the first book in the series, Killing Floor, our hero, Jack Reacher (Alan Richson), pays a visit to Margrave: a fictional small town in Georgia, after receiving word from his brother. Upon arriving, he is immediately arrested under suspicion of murder. After his alibi checks out, Reacher discovers not only the workings of a dangerous plot threatening the good people of Margrave, but the murder victim happened to be someone close to him. Now, Reacher is on the prowl for the criminals intending to make them pay however he can. 

    Jack Reacher can best be described as an empowerment fantasy character. Someone who can do many things well and has the power to make things happen and the fortitude to make things right, no matter how high the odds may be stacked against him. Many writers, mostly the insecure ones, tend to create characters like this, and most of them are incredibly dull. There is a tendency to want a flawless and super-powerful character who can literally do anything without fear of death. In most cases, these characters are boring and one-dimensional because they have no flaws or anything that makes them human or relatable. 

    In the case of Jack Reacher, while he is indeed a super-powered dude in his own way, he is far from dull. 

    Reacher is one of those rare power-fantasy characters who feels genuine and authentic. Mainly because he does things we all wish we could do and always does so not for money or anything selfish, but because it's the right thing to do. Many of us feel powerless against evil, but we often forget that we are not powerless at all. We all can be like Reacher in our own way; we just don't see it as clearly often enough. 

    The show does a remarkable job presenting Reacher as described in the books. More importantly, it also does a great job with everything else. 

    The mystery is exciting and genuinely tough to solve. The supporting characters are intelligent and relatable and are never made to be dumb for the sake of making Reacher look better. The action scenes are visceral with brilliant choreography and very little use of cheap gimmicks like shaky-cam. 

    If you have an Amazon Prime account, absolutely check this one out. It's totally binge-worthy! I genuinely hope to see more of this series in the future. 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading. 

7/14/22

Temporary Hiatus

 My Beautiful Readers, 

    I apologize for the lack of content as of late. As I alluded to before, many things have grasped my attention in the new year, including progress on my upcoming book. 

    The truth is that movies as a whole have taken a back seat in my list of priorities for the upcoming few months. While I have no intention of shutting down this blog nor quitting writing about cinema as a whole, I cannot say when I shall find myself back into a regular swing of reviewing movies. 

    I can promise you this: so long as there is breath in my lungs, mobility in my fingers, and a thought in my mind, I shall do my best to continue providing content on this blog and whatever other platform I may find myself using. 

    I thank you all for your patience and support during this uncertain year. 

    Don't forget; July 14, 2022. https://www.normanluce-writer.com 

Ladies & gentlemen, I am TheNorm; thank you all for reading.