Tag: Alex Wolff

A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (2024)

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Written & Directed By: Michael Sarnoski 

Story By: Michael Sarnoski and John Krasinski 

Based on characters created By: Bryan Woods & Scott Beck 

Cinematography: Pat Scola 

Editor: Andrew Mondshein and Gregory Plotkin

Cast: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff, Djimon Hounsou, Elaine Umuhire 

After the events and revelations of ‘A Quiet Place’ and ‘A Quiet Place: Part 2,’ it is time to go back to ‘Day One’. Following Sam, as she’s on a group trip in New York City, everything is going fine, until the invasion that sends the world into silence begins. Can the city stay quiet and can Sam and Eric. a new unlikely friend, make it somewhere safe? But no matter what happens, don’t make a sound and you might just find out what happens. 

This film does what it’s supposed to do. So there isn’t much wrong with it, except. At this point why is this franchise still going? As you got enough of a story from the first two films. So what is the point of this one? To see the invasion from the beginning in a new land that is more of a city landscape that is vast yet familiar? From a different character point of view other than the same family? I thought part 2 offered some of that.

I understand Hollywood is a business and while there are no problems with the filmmaking in hiring director Michael Sarnoski to helm this film, which has him going from more independent productions to this big-budgeted film. Offers the film to have. A more intimate feel between the characters and also the Audience. Not feeling so big and impersonal. The director here has a vision. 

Though just as it tries to offer a different story in the same world. It’s a sequel not many were asking for or offering anything new. Ultimately it feels hollow. Though offers some good filmmaking that one wishes could have been used on a better and more original project. 

Not every story needs a sequel. Most are fine as stand-alone. Even if there is a sequel there should be a reason other than financial to ultimately tell a story. The same thing with reboots maybe audience attendance is down isn’t just the sequels, reboots. It’s the material and not feeling like something we have already seen many times over and over. It insults the audience with bad to stupid films that have bad scripts and the only reason they are made is because they can get two stars or a few to co-star in it. While being paid ridiculous amounts of money.

The film is visually beautiful and quite the production, but it’s also familiar and not scary. Even the jump scares are put In falsely as a kind of cop out and it feels that way. 

As this is more of a modern-day disaster film with a minor science fiction twist. Fans do these films won’t be disappointed. Though not as much of a family story as the previous films. 

One can also admit while this film was going and having seen all of them so far. There were still some questions overall. Not enough that there needs to be another film to answer them. Just trivial ones. 

The film is solid in the franchise it’s just not needed and by adding a score. It makes it feel more like a byproduct of a studio. Rather than a truly original piece of filmmaking. Part of the magic of the first film was that it lacked a score or soundtrack. That forced the rhetorical audience into silence similar to the characters in the film. Here that has been taken away.

One loves that Lupita Nyong’o gets to be the lead of another horror film. That is a major Hollywood production. One only wishes it let her use her talents better. No matter the quality of the movie. I am rarely disappointed by her performances.

Though she is arguably the lead and the hero. While Joseph Quinn is more the damsel in distress though does get to have a harrowing scene or two of his own. Which is the only truly original element this film has to offer.

One can at least say that the films never cheapen the experience and each new film feels like much care and design went into it and makes them each noteworthy in their own way. 

Grade: B- 

MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 2 (2016)

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Directed By: Kirk Jones

Written By: Nia Vardalos

Cinematography: Jim Denault

Editor: Mark Czyzewski

Cast: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael Constantine, Lainie Kazan, Andrea Martin, Elena Kampouris, Gia Carides, Louis Mandylor, Alex Wolff, Joey Fatone, Bess Meisler, Rita Wilson, John Stamos, Rob Riggle, Mark Margolis, Ian Gomez, Bruce Gray, Jayne Eastwood

Still working in her parents’ Greek restaurant, Toula Portokalos’ daughter, Paris, is growing up. She is getting ready to graduate high school and Toula and Ian are experiencing marital issues. When Toula’s parents find out they were never officially married, another wedding is in the works. Can this big, fat, Greek event help to bring the family together?

It could be the fact that before this film a few year earlier Nia Vardalos tried to turn this into a franchise with a follow up television series 

Considering they tried s sitcom after the first film this feels like they just took story threads or ideas from there and tried to make a movie with a framing device and theme

As this film feels all over the place, like it want the audience to be updated on the families notice after all these years with her other film Connie and Carla not doing well wanted a guaranteed hit

It’s a feel good film with no real stakes. so while it’s nice to see the characters again they are left with little to nothing to really do as we just enjoy and laugh at their antics

The fil m can be considered fun for those who l led the original

Though the first film was better content wise as it had a love story and a story of self Confidence. That was familiar and well structured and could be identifiable by mining a culture under represented and giving them representation even with it’s stereotypes that come off as loving

It might have been seen as a clash in as the audience for the first film has come of age and are dealing with their teenage children and the prospect of them leaving the nest. So again a bit updated and identifiable for that generation 

The problem is as familiar as the first film was; this one jsit feels generic. A script that tries to have a best of or greatest hits quality to it’s scenes the first film the characters came off as quirky here they come off more as caricatures of their former selves playing it more for laughs. 

You could say that this feels like a victory lap. While it keeps it’s innocence and a little charm. That keeps it safe 

Grade: C 

OLD (2021)

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Written for the screen & Directed By: M. Night Shyamalan
Based on the graphic Novel “SANDCASTLE” By Pierre-Oscar Levy & Fredrik Peters
Cinematography: Michael Gioulakis
Editor: Brett M. Reed 

Cast: Gael Garcia Bernal, Vicky Krepis, Rufus Sewell, Abbey Lee, Ken Leung, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Alex Wolff, Thomasin McKenzie, Eliza Scanlen, Embeth Daviditz, Aaron Pierre 

A vacationing family discovers that the secluded beach where they’re relaxing for a few hours is somehow causing them to age rapidly, reducing their entire lives into a single day. 

I can admit lately M Night Shyamalan is a filmmaker who has gotten more interesting with age. I loved UNBREAKABLE but was never really hooked by any of his other films until THE VISIT came around and truly left me transfixed.

This is a movie that is good entertainment even though its story night feels far-fetched for some. Keep in mind this is a movie meant to enjoy and keep your interest. As the film goes along it manages to do that with some shocks, twists, and turns. 

The exotic locale is one of His first films set outside of Philadelphia, his hometown even if the main character’s family is from there. Even if filmed during the pandemic this is the perfect film for watching as it seems inspired by it. Even if this film is based on a graphic novel written years before.

The film is an ensemble even though we mainly follow one family: the parents and kids. How they are changing and reacting and we see others change also. Even though the title and trailers give away the major plot. This is a good film to go in and discover.

As yes there are some over-the-top elements and some do unintentional camp which seems to be something of a regular occurrence in his films. 

This film seems inspired as an either overlong TWILIGHT ZONE episode, a less technical BLACK MIRROR or inspired by LOST. The later of which really hits home with a similar cast member Ken Leung 

Abby Lee’s character seems to always have the worst fate in movies she is in. As she has the most memorable scene in this film that is done with special effects and similarly in NEON DEMON. She has scenes of grotesque violence. She is a sight to see here and comes back hard later in the film. In one of the most truly terrifying scenes. 

As an ensemble, you can already pick who is most likely to be the off-centered crazy one eventually. Just as you can usually predict who will be the victims. The only mystery is when and how. Which might be why most of the cast seems to be foreign actors as too many recognizable names and faces would only leave us to guess more. Whereas here the actors mostly come with no baggage. 

The math of aging doesn’t always seem to match up, but the actors’ performances are always believable and heartfelt. 

There are certain aspects that are easy to predict but the film does offer what seem to be what some might expect exclusively from writer/Director Shamalayan: a twist and a certain darkness. Though I must say that as dark as his material can get there is usually an uplifting ending or an element of one for the characters in the long run.

The ending offers a good explanation that could easily have been something that most could see happening. 

This movie is best viewed without any expectations. Shyamalan’s style is very smooth when it comes to framing, Camerawork, and presentation. Over the years he has maintained twists but they seem less forced and expected. They now feel more natural with the rest of the film. Not necessarily hinging on it as in the past. As his films feel more than that these days. They feel more well-rounded.

By the end this feels like a fun guilty pleasure filled with chills.

Grade: C+