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! 

Fixing Elijah Stone -or- How to Resist A Rookie Mistake

 

    One of my favorite Network TV shows is The Rookie starring the ever-reliable Nathan Fillion. It's the story of a former contractor who, after a near-death experience facing down the gun barrel of a would-be bank robber, decides to take his life in a new direction by becoming a police officer. The show features a wide array of primarily textured characters and relatable stories, along with occasionally well-timed commentary about the necessity of proper policing and cop culture reform. While it may not get to be as gritty or as down-to-earth as it might otherwise like to be (it is owned by Disney, after all), it's still an entertaining and enjoyable show to this day. It has the prestige of lasting five seasons without jumping the shark, at least not yet. A rare accomplishment for many a Network TV shows.

    Like all good things, it has some flaws. There's the occasionally less-than-stellar writing and reoccurring supporting characters who do nothing but remind you how much you hate them. Then there are the characters who are the most frustrating, the ones with the most wasted potential. 

    Case in point, Mr. Elijah Stone! 

    Diligently portrayed by Brandon Jay McLaren (late of The Killing and Tucker and Dale Vs. Evil), Elijah Stone is a crime boss with, sadly, not much personality beyond any given typical evil & sociopathic crime lord seen in almost any cop drama ever devised. That's not to say that the character is pointless or doesn't bring anything substantial to the table; instead, what he does bring is insultingly overused and undermines many of the otherwise boundary-breaking (somewhat) narrative choices made in the show. 

    Allow me to provide some context for those who do not regularly watch The Rookie. SPOILERS from here on out.  

    In the show's fourth season, one of the supporting characters, Detective Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz), was kidnapped and spirited away across the border by a ruthless Mexican drug cartel. Her husband, attorney-at-law Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore), sought a means of finding his kidnapped love. His efforts lead him to a meeting with notorious crime boss Elijah Stone, who agrees to help him find his wife in exchange for a "favor." After a successful rescue mission, Elijah moves on Wesley to cash in on their agreement. 

    This setup, in and of itself, is a good one. It's an excellent way of building new stories and adding texture to the characters and overall narrative. 

    Instead, we end up with the typical and insanely overdone crime-boss-milking-a-favor schtick for far too long! 

    Don't get me wrong, it is highly likely, and even expected, for any given criminal overlord to take advantage of the innocent and exploit the vulnerable. But there, my beautiful readers, lies the problem; it was expected! 

    Part of the show's appeal, at least to me, is that it does its best to avoid (within reason for Network TV) things typically found in most cop shows. The overall narrative of a middle-aged man trying to pull a 180 on his life dictates that notion. And a stereotypical crime boss continuously milking the efforts out of a reluctant victim of circumstances, while realistic, does not fit with the spirit of the show. At least, not in my opinion. 

    What would have made Elijah's character more interesting and more likely to maintain audience engagement is if he was more of an "old-fashoned" crime boss, not unlike Don Vito Corleone from The Godfather. He helps Wesley as a favor (singular) in exchange for another favor (also singular). Any exchange after that would be brand new and cause additional engaging storylines. Maybe Elijah could be more of a practicalist and finds benefits in maintaining a "working" relationship with the police, creating opportune stories for commentary on the moral grey areas between law and criminal. 

    While I still enjoy the show to this day, a grand opportunity was missed for no sound reason other than the writers & producers either needed more creative freedom, talent, or courage to subvert expectations and offer bold narrative choices. This subplot, as it stands, may annoy me, but with a bit of hope, it can be done better in another show in the future. Only time will tell. 

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

The Last of Us: Pilot - Worth the HBO Max Subscription (so far)

 

    Tonight marks the release of the first episode of the HBO Max original series, an adaptation of the acclaimed video game The Last of Us. Those who regularly follow my blog will recall my reaction to the show's announcement via their first trailer, which dropped back in September. My initial reactions mostly centered on my concern for the history of video game adaptations and the intriguing casting choice for one of the stories' protagonists. Since then, I have made many efforts to avoid any other mentions or discussions of the series, preferring to begin my experience with as much of a clean slate as possible. So far, my patience has been well worth it. 

    This adaptation begins with an auspicious and edge-of-your-seat thrilling introduction. Within the first fifteen minutes, the show promises an accurate adaptation of the source material with the same level of commitment and verisimilitude as its game counterpart. While fans of the game will notice sections of different and seemingly (at first) unnecessary story moments and scenes, they all serve the greater purpose of introducing the critical story and character elements. Thanks in no small part to the original games creator and writer, Neil Drukman, acting as producer and co-writer for the series.  

    On its own merits as a show, the overall presentation is fascinating. Successfully capturing the same tone and style of the original game while still feeling more or less like its own entity. For once, a video game adaptation does more than copy/paste the game's visual style without effort. 

    The cinematography by Nadim Carlsen is on par with the game's original presentation while still retaining its own personality. The lighting and color styles fit the broken world depicted in both iterations. 

    Unsurprisingly, and much to my delight, Pedro Pascal is the right choice for this role. He has been granted the opportunity to stretch his range and shows he can possess the kind of screen presence this role demands. I am excited and terrified (in the best way possible) to see where it will go from here. 

    Suppose you've been interested in this fantastic game series's story but are interested in something other than playing video games. In that case, this is the best non-game presentation of this story. At least it's off to a fantastic start. As the episodes are released, a complete and comprehensive review of this series will be forthcoming. Until then, this is a perfect time to consider an HBO Max subscription or try out whatever free trial they have. 

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

Double Feature Review

 

    That's right, my beautiful readers! We're kicking off the new year with a two-review special! 

    First, I hope you all had a delightful holiday and a safe & satisfying new year. I apologize for my unexpected absence, but life has a nasty habit of sometimes getting in the way of things. You may be glad to hear that I am still in the process of writing another book and a script to eventually adapt Come See The Light into a graphic novel. Here's hoping that eventually transitions into a movie. 

    Anyway, I've got two big movies to review for you today. Both are excellent in their own way and offer something fresh to the table. Let's start with the more recent release. 

Streaming on Netflix 

    Back in 2019, writer & director Rian Johnson (late of Looper and Star Wars: The Last Jedi) graced the silver screen with an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery film titled Knives Out: the story of a prestigious and classy detective named Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) who uses his Sherlock-like powers of deductive reasoning, keen observation, and his southern drawl, to solve the murder of a wealthy novelist, and in doing so, determine who of his family will inherit his considerable estate. 

    Like most of Rian Johnson's films, it was witty, beautifully structured, and delivered a clever mystery along with some delightful subversions of expectations. While some may criticize aspects of Johnson's writing (understandably so), there is no denying that it was a pleasant watch all the way through. 

    A few years later, Rian Johnson returns with a new mystery for the determined detective in the hopes of cementing the Knives Out subtitle as a regular film series. Frankly, if they continue to be as good as they have been, I would be delighted to continue seeing more. 

    Without going into too many details for fear of spoiling the mystery, Glass Onion is a spectacular step up from the first film and a pleasant showcase of Rian Johnson's growth as a storyteller. It's an all-around entertaining ensemble film with wittier dialogue, more robust characters, and better-constructed commentary. Not to mention a significant and remarkable plot twist I did not see coming. 

    I liked it better than the first film, mainly for the delightful improvement of Rian Johnson's ability and talent. Not to mention the overall enthralling performances from the entire cast. This is the kind of film that justifies maintaining a Netflix subscription. 

    Glass Onion comes highly recommended anytime. 

    Now, let's move on to the next film. 

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

    Some say to keep historical inaccuracy from getting in the way of enjoying a good story. While there are some negative exceptions to that idea, such as movies with such egregious inaccuracies as to insult the audience and subject matter of the story (I'm looking at you, Green Book), there are also plenty of positive examples. Namely, films that trade complete historical accuracy for presentations of historical wish fulfillment. A few prime examples would be Quentin Tarantino's classic Django Unchained and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Both films tackle some of history's greatest tragedies and darkest moments without shying away from their ugliness. Rather than simply ending with how it was, they present a "what if" scenario. And, in doing so, offer a call to action to learn from past mistakes and do better for the future. 

    The Woman King is also such a movie. A film with just enough historical accuracy to show its understanding of its subject material while providing a hopeful and uplifting lesson on moving forward. All delivered in what may be my unexpected favorite movie of 2022.

    Set in the 18th century, the story follows the kingdom of Dahomey and its all-woman warriors led by the bravest of the brave, Nanisca (Viola Davis). After taking in a new recruit under her wing, Nawi (Thuso Mbedu), the two women learn of a dark and previously secret bond between them. One that might change everything they believed about themselves and their perception of the world around them. 

    While the film does a spectacular job showcasing well-choreographed action set pieces, gorgeous costume designs, and an epic plot about tribal clashes and colonization, the film is ultimately about courage, inner power, and love. It presents a personal story in an engaging and heart-pounding experience. 

    This is one film that absolutely defines the word epic. The film shines brightest through its competent direction, sharp writing, and profound performances from everyone in the cast. While some may object to the bits of graphic violence, it is at least justified in this film, as it is there to enhance the story and is not present merely for its own sake.

    Check this one out! 

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