Emily The Criminal - A Solid Story

 

Streaming on Netflix 

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

    Criminality is an aspect of the human condition that too many people (especially those in politics) either don't understand or willingly ignore its true nature. While plenty of people commit crime merely because it's fun or they can freely get away with it, a greater motivation to commit a crime isn't out of an evil nature or malevolent desires but plain and simple desperation. Regardless of what self-righteous idiots like Jack Thompson would have you believe, economic disparity plays a more significant role in the perpetuity of crime than most people in authority would care to admit. 

    Emily The Criminal is a beautifully realized story encompassing precisely that point. While it may not be as profound or as nuanced as it aims to be, the characters and commentary are enough to elevate this straightforward narrative. 

    The story follows a young woman named Emily (Aubrey Plaza) working for a catering service, struggling to pay off her excessive student loans while attempting to find a better means of employment. One day, a friend offers her a chance at a better-paying gig. Said opportunity is operated by a man named Youcef (Theo Rossi), who employs people to serve as middlemen for a credit card fraud operation. He pays you a fixed flat rate to use a stolen credit card number to purchase an expensive item and return it to him for a higher resale. While Emily is initially reluctant, she quickly learns the ropes and appears to find some solace in this dangerous new hobby. Will she find happiness in this new life, or will it come back to hurt her? 

    The movie is pretty solid overall. There's really not much I can say about it beyond that. The performances are believable, the writing is stellar, and the direction is spot-on. I know that seems lazy of me, and it might give the impression that the film is lacking in some areas, but that's not the case. It may not be a masterpiece, but it is solid in all the right areas to make noticing its flaws too challenging to point out. 

    Emily The Criminal is a decent film with a real story that hits all the right notes. It's probably one of the few films on Netflix that can justify maintaining a subscription for another year at least. Give this one a shot. 

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

Poker Face - A Poor Hand

 

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

    On a recent episode of the podcast How Did This Get Made, the hosts discussed the 2014 film, Winters Tale, starring Collin Farrel, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Russell Crowe. While discussing Russell Crowe's unusual performance (along with his ridiculous excuse for an Irish accent), one of the hosts commented that he appears to be suffering from a terrible case of "Marlon-Brando-Desiese." A common condition among actors who have become so engrossed in their own apparent greatness that they delude themselves into believing little effort is required to maintain talent and skill. Often resulting in unnecessarily flat performances, followed by delusions of grandeur, typically manifested by their sudden appearance in the director's chair. 

    While Russell Crowe has proven himself capable of directing and still able to put effort back into his performances (see his 2014 film The Water Diviner for proof of concept), it would seem that same sense of conviction and passion has not made its way towards Russell Crowe's latest offering, Poker Face. A film that seriously should have been so much better than it is; it's almost insulting that it's not. 

    The story follows a tech billionaire named Jake Foley (Russell Crowe), who has an affinity for fine art and card games, specifically poker. One day, he invites a group of his childhood friends to his cliffside home for a unique poker game with the highest stakes they've ever played with. Despite this game's unusual circumstances, his friends all decide to play. As the night unfolds and the chips fly around the table filled with laughs and conversation, the group of friends begins to feel uneasy, not just because of how much money they're playing with. It turns out that the game is part of an elaborate plan devised by Jake to confront some past demons with his long-time friends. Soon, the true motivation behind the game reveals itself, and his friends may prefer to change where it goes. 

    This sounds like an engaging and textured plot that would make for a great and entertaining film, and that's because it seriously is. However, it takes the film nearly forty-five minutes to begin and establish that plot. Minor spoilers, but the film spends the first third of its runtime with pretty but seemingly unrelated montages of ocean waves and Russell Crowe experiencing a Peyote high. Sure, it lines up with events depicted later in the film and does appear to set the intended mood, but it fails to provide any substantial reason to care for the eventual proceedings. It would have made more sense for the film to begin with the friends arriving at the house for the game and occasionally edit these opening moments throughout the runtime to introduce an element of mystery to the story, thereby adding to the tension. 

    When the plot finally does get off the ground, it does such a poor job of introducing the other characters and maintaining its mysterious twists that it all feels incredibly hollow, however unintentionally. 

    Because of this, there is a massive disconnect between audience engagement and the intended theme of the story. While most of the performances and bits of the dialogue prevent the film from becoming a complete and total disaster (hence the two-star rating), this unfortunate trainwreck might not have deserved the time of day. 

    Poker Face is the worst kind of film to review in a negative light. It has a fantastic idea for a story with otherwise talented people trying their damndest to make something memorable out of forgettable presentational aspects. If you must watch a movie about the dangers of gambling with engaging poker scenes, watch Maverick instead. At least that movie has Mel Gibson at his finest. 

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

I'm Still Here

 Hello everyone, 

    I'm so sorry for my longer-than-predicted absence. Life has a nasty habit of interfering with many things too often. 

    You may be glad to hear that I did manage to accomplish lots of writing for the next book's first draft, but unfortunately, I could not complete the first draft within my ideal time frame. I recently decided to divide my time between the next book and writing a script for an eventual graphic novel adaptation of Come See The Light. 

    Furthermore, one of my good friends, who recently recovered from cancer (many congratulations to you), is now reading the book and is interested in narrating an audiobook adaptation. 

    As for the future of this movie blog, well, that's kind of up in the air at the moment. Many things are interfering with my free time, more so than usual, and managing it has become increasingly challenging. While I am still interested in keeping it going, there's a good chance it will slow down for the foreseeable future. 

    Between my day job (which I love), obligations outside of work, and a few other unexpected adventures, finding the time to watch & review movies, especially new ones, has become a challenge in and of itself. 

    Whatever may be in store for the future of this blog, I hope you will continue to join me on this journey. 

    In the meantime, I wish you all a happy holiday and a better new year. I'll see you all when I can.

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

Spooky Special - Seconds (1966)

 

Streaming on Kanopy 

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

    Halloween may have come and gone, but that doesn't mean we can't still talk about a classic thriller for the spooky season! 

    As I've mentioned a few times, Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. While it's chiefly regarded for its mysterious nature and macabre attitude, I prefer its sillier side, exploring unknown territory and letting loose for a little while. Also, despite what some may say, you're never too old to dress up in elaborate or subtle costumes. 

    The list of classic movies to enjoy on Halloween is by no means a short one, and I do have a few regular favorites. Today, however, I'd like to tell you about a more recent discovery I made. A classic film from one of my favorite directors that not only has a captivating story with a surprise performance from a classic Hollywood star but also encompasses the true nature of Halloween without resorting to spookhouse scares or elaborate frights (glorious and enjoyable though they are at times). 

    Today, we're looking at a masterclass of a psychological thriller by director John Frankenheimer, Seconds. 

    The story follows a middle-aged banker named Hamilton (John Randolph) who is incredibly unhappy and dissatisfied with how things have turned out for him despite having a decent life. He waddles through his life with no hope of change. That is until he gets a call from an old friend with an opportunity at a new life, except his old friend had been dead for some time. Despite this shocking revelation, Hamilton goes to the location given to him by his friend and discovers what this new "opportunity" really is. 

    It turns out that a secret organization offers wealthy enough clients the chance at a brand new life. For a hefty fee, they will fake your death, change your face & voice, and provide you with a new identity, complete with a home and a new profession, based on your evaluation. 

    Hamilton accepts the offer and is transformed into a younger man, given the name Wilson (Rock Hudson), and granted a luxurious house by the beach. All seems well despite Hamilton's difficulty adjusting to his new life. Made all the more strenuous by his newly-found desire to better understand his past mistakes so he may do better in this new life, but the company rules stipulate that no such action is allowed. Will Hamilton find solace in his new life, or will he soon regret his decision? 

    What makes this movie such a perfect Halloween film, and a great film in general, is the surreal visuals, engaging story, and direct commentary on the human condition. All of these make the film, in my opinion, a genuine horror experience. 

    Horror has gained a terrible reputation (unfairly) as being all about gore and jump scares with elaborate monsters and horrific blood splatter. While that is part of the horror identity, it is a mere fraction of the overall genre. True horror is in the exploration and presentation of the aspects of the human condition that many of us choose to ignore or deny. In other words, being confronted with our fears and how we choose to react. 

    Seconds examines this phenomenon by asking, what would you do if you could start over? Would you embrace the new beginning and leave your old self behind, or would you be tempted to try and do better based on your old mistakes? The movie takes this concept further by asking if you would be willing to risk the consequences of either action. While I won't spoil exactly how this film explores that idea, nor what the consequences are, I will say that I found its creative choices spot on. 

    The cinematography is by far one of the many highlights of this gem. Photographed by James Wong Howe, the film incorporates many unusual and fascinating camera tricks that were likely ahead of their time. One particular trick is the use of what's known as the snorricam. 

    This device attaches the camera directly to the subject's body, creating an effect of disorientation wherein the subject appears stable and almost stationary. At the same time, the whole world around the subject is in constant motion. Creating an effect that is unsettling and a little crazy. 

    The performances are the film's greatest strength. Rock Hudson delivers a tour de force that showcases his acting ability. Rock Hudson tried to expand and demonstrate his potential range when most leading men didn't have much opportunity to do anything outside of looking glamorous. A defect of the Hollywood system to this day. 

    Seconds is a must-watch for any Halloween movie night or any screening event. It has an engaging story with striking visuals and a valuable lesson about life that everyone should take to heart. It will be a proud addition to your film library. 

    Check this one out. 

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

Temporary Leave of Absence

 

My beautiful readers, 

    Please don't worry; I am not retiring this blog. I intend to share my thoughts and feelings about movies and the like on this platform for as long as I can type. I am, however, going to take a little break away from reviewing movies for the foreseeable future. Primarily until the end of October. 

    I will take a little less than two weeks off my day job for something important: writing the first draft of my next book. I will spend most of my time putting together the basis for the next story in my future history series, which must take top priority now. 

    I will keep a regular blog update of my progress on my website. I encourage you all to please visit frequently and leave a comment on the blog additions there if you are so inclined. You will find a link to said website down below. 

    Rest assured, once the first draft is completed, I will be returning to my "regular scheduled program" as it were of reviewing movies and discussing all thing cinema on this blog. Until then, I wish you all a delightful Fall and a very Happy Halloween! Keep an eye out for a potential sooky special towards the end of this month, just in case. 

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

https://www.normanluce-writer.com/ 

Trailer Reaction - The Last of Us

 

    For my beautiful readers who are not regular gamers, The Last of Us is an excellent reputed video game title, heralded by many as a near-perfect example of nuanced storytelling interwoven with seamless gameplay; a post-apocalyptic story about guilt, survival, and facing an uncertain future with just enough hope for the betterment of humanity. It is one of my favorite video games of all time and was part of the inspiration for my book, Come See The Light (shameless plug). 

    In the years following the game's release back in 2013, several interested parties have eagerly attempted to produce a film adaptation. For a while, a feature-film project was in the works with producer Sam Raimi (known for the original Spider-Man trilogy and The Evil Dead) set to make it all happen. However, the project was ultimately shut down due to several disagreements between Raimi, Sony (the game's original publisher), and Neil Druckmann (the game's primary writer and creator). Long story short, the producers wanted to turn a complex dramatic story into a dumb action flick, which Drukmann was firmly against. 

    A few days ago, HBO Max dropped a trailer for their new series, an adaptation of The Last of Us. Based on what could be gleaned from the two-minute video, it would appear that the wait might have been well worth it. While we won't know how the adaptation favors on its own merits until its release next year, I can comfortably say that I am probably more excited about a video game adaptation than I have ever been before. 

    Film and television adaptations of famous video games have typically been, to put it mildly, nothing worth writing home about. Most of the time, the creative teams in charge of adapting a video game either miss the point of the game entirely or try too hard to reshape the game into something they would prefer to make, resulting in a jarring presentation that resembles the original game in name only. The closest we've ever gotten to a decent film adaptation of a highly acclaimed video game was Prince of Persia from 2010, and that's only because the director, Mike Newell, actually played the game seeking inspiration for how to best handle the film. 

    In the case of HBO Max's upcoming adaptation of The Last of Us, there is enough present in this one trailer to give me hope. 

    The most noticeable aspect thus far is the casting of Pedro Pascal as Joel, one of the game's protagonists. While Pascal is an incredibly talented actor with plenty of remarkable performances under his belt (The Mandalorian and The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, to name a few), he's not entirely what most fans of the game would think of as the first choice. And before you even think it, no, it has nothing to do with his Chilean heritage. 

    In the game, Joel is an older man with a tragic past that reinforces his character and the choices he makes on his journey. He is also a very tall, very built, and very intimidating individual who will kill you without a second thought should you prove to be a threat to his survival. It's the kind of role that calls for someone like Harrison Ford or Denzel Washington: actors with a unique presence that never makes you question their validity on screen. Pedro Pascal has shown his potential for acquiring such a presence but hasn't yet had the opportunity to seek it out. Perhaps this will be the role that permits him the chance to stretch his range. In any case, I eagerly await what he will bring to the show. 

    Here's to looking forward to 2023 and hopefully justifying the renewal of my HBO Max subscription. In other words, please don't suck! 

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

https://www.normanluce-writer.com/

Beast - The Lion Won't Sleep...Until You're Dead!

 

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

    One of the most helpful and underrated artistic philosophies I've taken to heart is "elegance in simplicity." More often than not, it doesn't take too much to create a compelling narrative or an epic presentation. Example: we never needed to know how or why The Force works in Star Wars because we're more interested in the development of Luke Skywalker as a character. Plus, The Force is, among other things, the embodiment of agnosticism: basically accepting the notion that we can't prove nor disprove something, but the idea (whatever it may be) is fascinating in its own right and worth exploring for ourselves. It is easy to forget that the most unusual and (at times) horrifying things can happen for the simplest of reasons, which I think is significantly more relatable and gripping than any explanation. 

    Today's subject, Beast, is a prime example of this very notion. The story of a broken family fighting to survive an elementary yet deadly natural reaction to human folly. It's simplistic storytelling at its finest. 

    Dr. Nate Samuels (Idris Elba) is taking his two young daughters to visit their deceased mother's home village in the Savanna. They meet up with their "Uncle" Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley), who works with a local wildlife reserve and acts as their Safari guide. While touring the area and admiring the wildlife, they find a small village with most of its people eviscerated, seemingly by a Lion. As they attempt to make their way back to home base, they are confronted by the same Lion, enraged by a blood thirst for vengeance. It turns out that the Lion is the lone survivor of an attack on its pride from poachers, and it seems to have snapped & gone rogue, hellbent on killing all of its enemies. Nate must do what he can to save his daughters and, in the process, make amends for his past mistakes. 

    There are many kinds of "human vs. nature" movies, and many of them tend to be unintentionally silly (not the fun kind). Most of them will typically have some kind of animal bigger than natural, the result of an experiment gone wrong, or feature an entirely fictitious animal (usually Bigfoot) that may be scary in context but lacks any relatable terror. While these movies are fun and enjoyable in their own right (I am a fan of Anaconda myself), I find that it's much more visceral and relatable when the natural element is more down to Earth, as it were. It reinforces a sense of plausibility that makes the proceedings more relatable and, by extension, more terrifying. 

    What sells the movie is, somewhat surprisingly, the camera work. Cinematographers Philippe Rousselot and Baltasar Breki Samper utilize many long takes with the camera constantly following the action. This causes the audience to scan the whole frame, wondering what's on the edge of the screen. Adding to the tension of being hunted down by a rogue Lion! The camera seamlessly glides and transitions between scenes and moments, adding a subtle sense of realism to the film. It may not be as excellent as the perceivable one-shot presentation of 1917, but its quality of execution is equally impressive. 

    Of course, the acting also contributes to the relatability of the characters. The entire cast has remarkable chemistry and works off each other incredibly well. Despite spending most of his career as a grizzled tough guy, Idris Elba showcases his range as a relatable flawed man trying to do better. Sharlto Copley provides an excellent performance as a loving uncle and may very well be the best supporting character of the film. Then again, I can't recall when Sharlto Copley wasn't ever entertaining. Plus, the two young actresses playing the daughters get a few moments to shine as characters and contribute more to helping the situation than you might expect. A delightful treat indeed. 

    While the film loses a few points for occasional moments of annoying repetitive dialogue, along with one or two standard thriller clichés, Beast is a much better film than you might expect. It's a simple story of a family with an internal conflict given external form in an equally relatable situation, along with a profound reminder of the potential consequences of disregarding nature in the world and within ourselves. 

    Well worth the price of admission. Check this one out. 

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