Plane - Not as Generic as it Sounds

 

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

    A practice in movie making that is too often discarded or even discouraged is the subversion of expectations. More often than not, some movies, particularly action films, have a set list of clichés and expectations depending on the story: the know-it-all jackass who causes more problems, the one "in charge" who won't bend the rules for the sake of circumstances, etc. These elements are too often expected in most action movies and can lead to a less-than-stellar experience because we've seen it all done before, better in some cases. 

    Today's subject, simply titled Plane, features most of the familiar beats found in movies of this caliber but succeeds in subverting just enough of your expectations to render a fresh and enjoyably entertaining romp. While I might have preferred a bit more texture in some areas, there is enough clever subversion of expectations to make this film worth seeing, but only partially worth the $20 rental price. 

    The story follows an airline pilot, Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler), who is piloting a New Year's Eve flight with fourteen passengers from Singapore. Before the Plane can take off, he is presented with a last-minute additional passenger, a recently arrested suspected murderer named Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter). Once in the air, they unsuccessfully fly over a massive thunderstorm, get struck by lightning, and are forced to make an emergency landing on a nearby Island. Little do they know that they happen to have landed on an Island populated by an army of separatists with a history of intimidation and kidnapping rackets. With the Plane's radio and transponder out of commission and wanting to ensure the safety of the surviving passengers, Torrance takes Gaspare with him to search for a nearby building that hopefully has a phone or radio. Can they call for help before the separatists find them, and can Gaspare be trusted despite his mysterious criminal history? 

    The film does a decent job of creating immediately relatable characters with tangible stakes and an even better job at enhancing their likability as the story progresses. The film also succeeds in utilizing the supporting characters. Each one has the right amount of screen time and uses it within the story just enough to avoid overstaying their welcome. Even further enhanced by everyone's excellent performances. 

    The action scenes are especially noteworthy. In an age of rapid-fire-editing and nausea-inducing shakey cam, Plane opts for a more coherent and stable style of executing the action. The first fight scene in the film is presented in a single take with a wide field of view, creating a stable sense of immersion and tension. Bonus points to the fight choreographers and stunt coordinators for their excellent work.

    The MVP award goes straight to Mike Colter for his delightful performance and engaging screen presence. Even though the film never goes into his backstory, he does a fantastic job conveying a sense of nobility. While I preferred a bit more texture to his character in some backstory, there is enough here to render his character satisfactory. 

    Although my favorite supporting character has to be Scarsdale (Tony Goldwain), the one brilliant character in the situation room who recognizes and adequately responds to the unusual circumstances of the situation and isn't afraid to tell the corporate idiots in the room to shut up. He is my new favorite example of how to properly subvert expectations. 

    Despite not having as much texture to some of the supporting characters as I might have preferred, and maybe one or two questionable moments & special effects sequences (not to mention an overly generic title), Plane is a satisfying little adventure with enjoyable characters and enough action set pieces for a lazy afternoon. Although I recommend it, waiting for the rental price to drop slightly might be preferred. But if there's nothing else, Plane is a viable option. 

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

She Said - Take Him Down!

 

Streaming on Peakock 

Rent on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, and YouTube 

    Harvey Weinstein is one of the most pathetic, horrendous, and irredeemable wastes of human life to ever walk the Earth! He is a failure to the arts, an incompetent businessman, and a monster in every sense of the word. He deserves whatever punishment he receives while he spends the rest of his pathetic life rotting alone and forgotten in his cold, dark, damp prison cell! His only talent has been convincing himself that his inhumane and evil actions deserved no consequences. 

    Anyway, let's talk about the movie! 

    She Said is a dramatic account of the New York Times article that ultimately provided Harvey Weinstein's downfall. Weinstein, then owner of the production companies Miramax and The Weinstein Company, had a reputation for questionable business practices and contradictory artistic decisions with the films he produced: making unusual demands like cutting specific scenes or adding unnecessary padding for seemingly no sound reason other than he had the power to do so. It wasn't until much later (regrettably) that we all discovered his power extended to repeated acts of sexual assault and misconduct on most of the women in his employ, including known figures like Ashley Judd and Gwenith Paltrow. Because of Weinstein's incredible power and influence within the Hollywood system, many of his victims were too afraid to go on the record, having either witnessed or experienced the consequences of speaking out against him. 

    What made the matter worse was the number of people who knew of Weinstein's inhumane actions and did nothing about it! Treating the situation as though it were "expected" in the industry. As if we didn't need any more reason to believe the Hollywood system was nothing more than a toxic wasteland. 

    The film does a remarkable job of maintaining interest and audience engagement. Movies about journalism can be challenging to present, as they often require specific and even expected techniques to create a strong sense of motion. Journalism, while a noble profession, can be tedious and boring to portray on screen. The vast majority of journalism involves gathering information through interviews & phone calls and compiling said information into an article for publication. This means most of the runtime is spent watching people talking (either in person or on the phone) and typing in front of their computer screens (or sometimes typewriters). 

    She Said takes all the essential notes from previously successful films about journalism like All The Presidents Men and Spotlight: creating a sense of motion in stillness and unraveling mysteries one layer at a time, revealing increasingly unsettling details. Not to mention diligent performances from the entire cast, steady & witty dialogue, and firm direction guiding it all. 

    While She Said may not offer much nuance in films about journalism, it is nonetheless an important story that needs to be seen and remembered. Those sensitive to stories about sexual assault may be comforted that the film never delves into a complete depiction of any instances of assault, preferring the power of implication to convey the severity of the incident. 

    Totally check this one out. 

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

Marcel The Shell with Shoes On - A Little Heart going a Long Way

 

Rent it on Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, and Amazon.

    There is a moment in this film when the main character, Marcel, says to the person filming him, "Guess why I smile a lot...'cause it's worth it!" This exchange of dialogue is this movie in a nutshell; a charming and unusual character who carries an entire movie on his shoulders and is only one inch tall. This kind of movie warrants the phrase, "they don't make 'em like this anymore!" With fascinating animation work and clever storytelling, a simple tiny shell purchased from a hobby store has been transformed into a delightful story of perseverance, family, and hope. 

    Said story follows a sentient shell named Marcel (Jenny Slate) who lives with his grandmother Connie (Isabella Rossellini) in a house for rent on Airbnb. One of the more recent tenants, an amateur filmmaker named Dean (Dean Fleischer Camp), decides to make a documentary about Marcel and his life. Dean learns about Marcel's sudden and accidental separation from the rest of his family and community and tries his best to help Marcel find them through online videos asking people to share any insight. Meanwhile, Marcel provides some heartwarming and intriguing insight of his own. 

    The film succeeds in making a tiny sentient shell feel tangible. It's a fantastic demonstration of how much character carries more weight than anything else in a narrative. Because Marcel feels so much like a relatable person, it's easy to forget that he's animated. A fantastic feat I haven't seen done so well since the first Toy Story. 

    Speaking of the animation, while it is top-notch and beautifully executed, I am left wondering why it was nominated for an Oscar for "Best Animated Feature." Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it was nominated for something, as the film indubitably deserves it, but how does a film receive a nomination in this category when 98% of the film was captured on traditional live-action cameras? I would like to know where this logic was when we all supported an Oscar nomination for Andy Serkis for his role in the Planet of the Apes reboot films. 

    Despite this somewhat confusing situation with its Oscar nomination, Marcel The Shell with Shoes On is a delightful film with plenty of heart to brighten your day. Absolutely worth the rental price. 

    Check it out. 

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

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever - A Beautiful Send-Off

 

Streaming on Disney+

    In 2018, Marvel Studios released their most outstanding achievement in superhero movies (and the world of cinema in general), Black Panther! The story of a secret nation led by a noble king who was handed the emotionally charged task of facing the mistakes of his ancestors and setting out to right the wrongs of the past. Under the watchful eye of co-writer & director Ryan Cooglier, along with the powerful performance of legendary actor Chadwick Boseman as the main character T'Chialla (aka the titular Black Panther), the first Black Panther film became a cultural touchstone in more ways than one can realistically count. 

    Many fans, myself included, eagerly awaited the follow-up to this sensational story. Then, in late August 2020, Chadwick Boseman sadly passed away. 

    Shortly after his untimely passing, debates swelled over how to proceed with the next chapter. Do they recast T'Chialla with a new actor, deep fake Chadwick Boseman's face onto a double, or write off his disappearance as being away on some distant mission somewhere? All these thoughts cluttered the minds of both fans and the creative team in charge. 

    Finally, after a few announcements and detailed riddled trailers revealing the story and direction of the next film, it became clear that Black Panther: Wakanda Forever would serve three purposes: provide a loving send-off to a dear friend, tell a socially relevant story, and solemnly promise to continue the legacy of what made the first film so impactful. While the next chapter in the story of the Black Panther delivers all of this in spades, despite not entirely living up to the incredible awesomeness of the first film, it is hands down the best possible way to move forward. Mr. Boseman would have been proud. 

    The story opens with the unfortunate passing of King T'Chialla, leaving the kingdom of Wakanda vulnerable and without a primary protector in the Black Panther. T'Chialla's mother, Ramonda (Angela Bassett), has been reinstated as Queen and has done her best to maintain Wakanda's security. Primarily in retaining sole ownership of the rare metal known as Vibranium, a powerful resource that powers their technology and society and is the envy of many other nations.

    Efforts by other nations to forcefully secure Vibranium from Wakanda or find any outside their borders have left many efforts empty-handed. Until one such discovery also reveals the existence of a secret nation deep within the ocean, led by a powerful ruler named Namor (Tenoch Huerta), who will stop at nothing to protect his people and homeland. His efforts lead him to an attempt to negotiate a partnership with Wakanda, asking for their help in wiping out the entire surface world for their past aggressions towards their ancestors and their potential aggressions towards their resources. 

    Meanwhile, Princess Shuri (Letitia Wright), brother of T'Chialla and heir to the throne & mantle of Black Panther, continues to mourn her brother's death and struggles with how best to handle the many conflicts around and inside of her. The weight of the many piles on her shoulders as she attempts to come to terms with her future. As tensions between both nations rise, can she find a solution to bring peace, or will she fall into the same dark pit of vengeful anger as Namor? 

    Right off the bat, the film takes a brutal hit toward the horrors of colonialism and the serpent's tail dangers of the ever-so-tiresome "sins of the father" mentality that can easily plague one's heart and mind. The film also does not shy away from the unfortunate passing of its previous star. It makes the right choice to openly acknowledge his passing and plan the story accordingly. Like the first film, it holds no punches. 

    Director Ryan Cooglier brings out his creative voice with more extraordinary passion and energy than before. His emphasis on performance, witty dialogue and the occasional long take make this feel more like his film, further demonstrating his talent as a storyteller. 

    The film's overall story can sometimes feel like something that's been done before. While stories of past transgressions and present anger have been told many times before, it becomes more relevant here than in any other time, past or present. With the social and political climate being the way it is now, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever uses its cultural relevance to remind audiences why these stories are always important and worth being reminded of.

    Namor's motivations and reasonings are relatable and sympathetic, even though you likely disagree with his choices in addressing the conflicts he faces. Furthermore, like the first film, it provides an antagonistic force that isn't evil but understandable. It is yet another fantastic effort by the storytellers to remind audiences of the importance of more excellent thought beyond one's base motivations. Because choosing to fight fire with fire at all times will only make you as cynical and heartless as those who wronged you before. 

    While this film doesn't have quite the same energy and impactfulness as its predecessor, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever stands strong as another triumph in its own right. It may not be the film we expected, but it is the film we needed. 

    Absolutely worth checking out! 

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

Wakanda Forever!