Tag: 2023

THE YEAR BETWEEN (2023)

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Written & Directed: Alex Heller 
Cinematography: Jason Chiu
Editor: Harrison Atkins

Cast: Alex Heller, J. Smith-Cameron, Steve Buscemi, Emily Robinson, Wyatt Oleff, Kyanna Simone, Rajeey Jacob, Anne Hollister 

Clemence Miller is coming home to live in her family’s basement after dropping out of college with a newly diagnosed mental illness. Having to face her battered relationships and responsibilities of adulthood, she is driving everyone around her… crazy.

The one thing about this film is its Cookie cutter surroundings and times that it plays like a racy sitcom. It always feels devastatingly honest. 

The film is like a suburban heartfelt confession. That offers no real answers. As it doesn’t have any to give. It is just what works for the main character, as this film is autobiographical. This might be what works. 

The film shows that no matter what. No one is perfect and they are trying to do the best that they can. That most are opportunistic and there is always a chance for opportunity open.

You know how it most likely will turn out from the title alone. Which doesn’t offer up a finality but seems more like a midpoint. Which could be the ingredient or the meat of a Sandwich. The most flavorful and tasty. 

It also offers a look at what isn’t necessarily Tackled in films about main characters with illnesses mental and physical. Which is the toll it takes on those around you. As the world still goes around. Even when you are dealing with things that are holding you back. 

The film points out that not everyone has the same Opportunities or chances and choices, but the film still doesn’t explore their options or chances. Then again the film Isn’t their story. Which makes the character identifiable a bit maybe not the situations. 

Alex Heller writes, directs, and stars. At times her mental illness comes across more as a Comic persona but seems to be her truth. As she doesn’t come across as likable but she is understandable. As she shows warts and all her downfall and many rock Bottoms, not also Her trying to get better and the ups and downs of that.

Grade: B 

INFLUENCER (2023)

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Directed By: Kurtis David Harder
Written By: Kurtis David Harder & Tesh Guttikonda 
Cinematography: David Schuurman 
Editor: Rob Grant & Kurtis David Harder 

Cast: Cassandra Naud, Emily Tennant, Sara Canning, Rory J. Saper, Justin Sams, Paul Spurrier 

While struggling on a solo backpacking trip in Thailand, social media influencer Madison meets CW, who travels with ease and shows her a more uninhibited way of living, but CW’s interest in her takes a darker turn.

The film l lives up to its title as everything in this film is pretty yet shallow. 

The film follows a familiar trend when it comes to a lot of thrillers recently involving the internet and revolving around it. Characters who are Influential on Social Media. 

The film is fairly predictable throughout. Despite trying to throw some twists that never amount to Much. Here at least the film tries to humanize the victims.

The film has a glossy Veneer which keeps it visually interesting. As it tries to say something about the shallowness of Social media before branding itself as kind of the same. 

As you only feel sympathy for the first victim and at times her boyfriend but he always seems To remain on the fence about how you should feel about him.

The only trace of originality is that it takes place overseas and that the main actress has a noticeable birthmark on her face.

Though the villains’ motives are never truly explained or revealed. Is she jealous of them?

Does she just want to live in their identities for a bit to see how the other half lives? Is it done for survival? Or is she just a psychopath? 

The film makes everything look good. Even the lead is much sexier than her victims and shows the most skin throughout. Though ever completely and set up a kind of sex scene. That is the most revealing she or the film Gets.

Cassandra Naud gives a believable performance and stays captivating throughout. Hopefully, she gets better material in her future films. 

This is a nice film for those beginning into thrillers or wanting one with not too much violence. So that it feels like a Lifetime Movie but maybe a little bit harder-edged.

Back in my day, we would’ve considered this a CW movie as that channel used to have television shows with very young casts that were model-looking or would have adults playing teenagers and adult situations. Everything in this film is picturesque at times too pretty to be believed. This film seems to want to showcase the darkness that runs underneath all that shines.

Grade: C –

KILL BOKSOON (2023)

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Written & Directed By: Sung-Hyun Byun 
Cinematography: Hyung Rae Cho
Editor: Kim Sang- Beom

Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon, Esom, Koo Kyo-Hwan, Hwang Jung-Min, Lee Yeon, Si-ah Kim, Sol Kyung-Gu, Fahim Fazli, George Tsai, Elyse Dinh 

Single mother Kill Bok Soon is one of the world’s deadliest assassins thanks to her 100% success rate on contract killings. Bok Soon works for M.K Ent, which is run by the man that taught her, Cha Min Kyo. The pair hold mutual respect for each other, but Kill Bok Soon understands that a moment’s notice could take everything away from her. Just before Kill Bok Soon is due to renew her contract, loyalties are put to the test when Bok Soon is involved in a kill-or-be-killed incident.

This has a bit of JOHN WICK in it. Only when it comes to the action. Which is more hand-to-hand than guns, though guns are used frequently. It more leans into the facts of that film’s world-building or an organization of assassins of which there seem to be many. Which has its own set of rules.

The action sequences here are noteworthy for not only the choreography and staging but for some of their humor. One, In Particular, takes place in a bar/restaurant where various killers are after only one person and end up sometimes sabotaging themselves. While other males testimonies as they perish.

The film definitely has a sheen and polish. That puts it a little above the rest. As it isn’t gritty but just as dirty as some others of Its genre 

The film does end up feeling too long at over two hours. You, unfortunately, feel it, so it’s not a smooth journey. As the film plays like a contained epic with many levels. It starts to feel endless. Especially when it plays up more the melodrama of the relationships.

Which is expected though strangely a bit strong for an action film about assassins. It is also that element at the heart of the film and pushes the running time. It might be a case of trying to be more than what is expected.

As the film makes the case of showing why maybe as a paid killer it doesn’t always help to have Friends to get to close to your colleagues

Though not a Netflix original. It feels like their brand of recent action films. Similar to GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE only without the all-star cast. 

Grade: C+

BOSTON STRANGLER (2023)

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Written & Directed By: Matt Ruskin 
Cinematography: Ben Kutchins 
Editor: Anne McCabe

Cast: Keira Knightley, Carrie Coon, Chris Cooper, Alessandro Nivola, Rory Cochrane, David Dastmalchain, Peter Gerety, Robert John Burke, Ryan Winkles, Morgan Spector 

Loretta McLaughlin was the reporter who first connected the murders and broke the story of the Boston Strangler. She and Jean Cole challenged the sexism of the early 1960s to report on the city’s most notorious serial killer.

The film is well shot almost like an episode of the show MINDHUNTER. This might be why it feels like an R-rated tv-movie, but it lacks the drama, tension, and strength of that television show. 

In fact, it ends up representing those made for cable movies of the 1990s and 2000s. That was meant to be an event. where they got an all-star or established cast of recognizable names.

The movie plays like it’s own version of SHE SAID, though instead of tackling the Harvey Weinstein case. There is two female reporters who are looked down upon. One established and one rookie, cracking a case wide open that established reporters didn’t. As they are even the first to notice a pattern. 

Similar to that film we get to see their domestic lives while also tackling this story. Only here Kiera Knightley gets more screen time. As the rookie and how this case is also disrupting her domestic situation. 

The film short changes Carrie Coon a bit. As she is the mentor to Knightley’s character. We learn a bit less about her. She also doesn’t have as much screen time or moments. 

I can admit so far I have never been a fan of the movies based on this true crime case. Including the film THE BOSTON STRANGLER from 1968 

Directed by Richard Fleischer and starred Henry Fonda, Tony Curtis, and George Kennedy. Though that movie focused more on the killer and the police detectives. 

As a true crime movie, you could easily look up the case to discover the ending as well as the ins and outs. What the film does actually do successfully is offered up the surprise of the suspects and the realization of how many men got away with murder using the M.O. of the strangler, but when not being able to be linked with the other crime of the strangler were let go.

As towards the end, a character pretty much defines what the movie is about and sums up the point of this dramatization. Which is the changing times and realizations of things either kept hidden, quiet or never acknowledged. That was unfortunately showing that society could never go back to being so innocent. 

Though the film at least offers some hope for two female reporters challenging the status quo and finding courageousness and leading a way for females in the future. Even as they are pretty much the prey out there at that time. 

Grade: C+

INFINITY POOL (2023)

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Written & Directed By: Brandon Cronenberg 
Cinematography: Karim Hussain
Editor: James Vandewater

Cast: Alexander Skarsgard, Mia Goth, Cleopatra Coleman, Thomas Kretschmann, Jalil Lespart, Adam Boncz, Amanda Bruegel, Jeff Ricketts, John Ralston, Caroline Boulton, Anita Major

James and Em Foster are enjoying an all-inclusive beach vacation in the fictional island of La Tolqa, when a fatal accident exposes the resort’s perverse subculture of hedonistic tourism, reckless violence, and surreal horrors.

When it comes to the films of Brandon Cronenberg so far at least for me is that I like his films but I believe I like the concepts more than the follow-through.

So far they have focused on body horror usually through some kind of transaction, rather than a natural occurrence. That helps you to believe that the characters bring it on to themselves.

This film is not really any different. Though it seems to speak to more positions of class. Through its twists and turns, as well as double crosses it is like a more disturbing version of the movie THE GAME without a happy ending.

Mia Goth is good in her role, one that she seems perfect for. As her character is more alluring, and seductive than in X Or PEARL. Though in those movies her characters had more of innocence. Here she always knows what she is doing and is in command.

Cleopatra Coleman is good here, I only wish the film had more for her to do. As she is such an onscreen presence. Though there seems to be no room for her here. As the film gives her the responsible kill-joy companion. 

WARNING There are spoilers ahead 

The film is a good example of showing class and how it works. As it has a seemingly well-to-do couple mixing with another that is rich or more the haves in a third-world country resort.

An accident happens when they break the rules in a car that was procured illegally and outside of the resort grounds which results in death. In this country, they have a choice whether they can be sentenced to death or a long prison term or if can pay the price. They will clone you and your clone is dealt the punishment for you.

After the first occurrence, it gives the main character is a failed writer who has married into money. A kind of second lease on life and he ends up meeting all these other wealthy characters. Who has had the same experience and now they form a little club where it quickly becomes hedonistic and unlawful. Believing they can do anything because they have the money.

At first, he is appalled and then joins in, but things get more dangerous and he gets pulled in more erotically and narcotically. Soon not only does he not know what is real and what is not. He begins to question who he really is, an original or a clone. Also is he with them or against them. As the group seems to feel a certain ownership of him.

By the end they do win him because they have done this so much their new game or jollies is getting someone who believes they are one of them and putting them through the wringer for their own entertainment and treating them almost like a pet or newly found toy and breaking them. 

Then by the end treat them like vacation friends like nothing happened. Asking if they are going to come back next year. Now they are more part of the group and the next year they can indoctrinate another new person into the group. 

Even in trying to get him under their thumb, they use and abuse or downright kill so many innocents. That they know they can get away with it because they have money. Those who they hurt are not seen as on their level. So they can be victims and never thought of as anything more than that. 

Which can also be seen as an allegory to what has happened in modern politics. Where you get a base of people riled up and fighting for the things you say. Making them believe that they and you are the same, but then once they have done the dirty work for you sell them out to a degree. 

The film is provocative in that way. As it pushed along the idea and story. While touching on many subjects vaguely. If it wasn’t so hardcore in Its material it would be a more accepted science fiction classic. 

Grade: B

COCAINE BEAR (2023()

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Directed by: Elizabeth Banks
Written By: Jimmy Warden
Cinematography: John Guleserian
Editor: Joel Negron 

Cast: Keri Russell, Margo Martindale, Ray Liotta, Alden Ehrenreich, O’Shea Jackson Jr., Isiah Whitlock Jr., Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ayoola Smart, Brooklynn Prince, Matthew Rhys 

An oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists, and teens converge on a Georgia forest where a huge black bear goes on a murderous rampage after unintentionally ingesting cocaine.

This isn’t Another SNAKES ON A PLANE.  where the title not only says it all but is more built on hype than story. As this is partially based on a true story. What It revels in are shocks and more shocking humor.

A dark comedy that some might consider a bit macabre. 

As going along with the title the film seeks to have a need to push things as far as they can with characters who represent a different part of the audience. Though In the end a lot of them come across more as caricatures set up for impending doom.

The film is more built on sensationalism. As that is what you feel as you watch it as it is more, check your brain at the door. 

The bear is a beast that seems to be like jaws as it shows up from time to time with no rhyme or reason except the script needs it to on its hint for more drugs that seem to drive it to be more aggressive than in the final act throws a curveball as to why it should be spared 

More of an ensemble than expected. As we see the reasons why some of them are there to either survive. We root for or see their demise in inventive ways. Either way, before long l we get to know them To some capacity excellent and bad 

The film Calls itself a horror comedy and while it has violent gore and jump scares it comes across as a  Violent comedy with surprises and thrills. That is meant to be fun more than anything. 

It thoroughly Exploits its Set time period of the 1980s overly but overtly 

For what it does offer there always seems to be the feeling that something is missing. It should be a bigger film or story. Though that might be personal for this reviewer. As it certainly provides enough for a cinematic experience and audience expectations.

As it goes the places you expect, there seems to be so much more that could have been done but too grandiose as this works better as more of a contained story. 

While you are still on the edge of your seat you never truly consider most of this believable. Like Jurassic park, it’s an animal world of nature. They know it as they live it. The characters just inhabit it and struggle to survive. As they were the ones to disturb it and throw it off-center.

Its strength stays in the attack sequences that are more like set pieces. The ranger’s cabin, The Ambulance sequence, and The Tree Climb, they are both massacres but also memorable comedic sequences that go over the top.

Cocaine bear is an example of a movie that promises to go balls to the wall but only

Goes so far. It’s when a film tries too hard to be campy and misses what makes most films campy in the first place. Just believing it knows. It’s more mainstream reaching to be more out there but not knowing exactly how

Grade: C+