THE CLOVERFIELD PARADOX (2018)

Directed By: Julius Onah 
Written By: Oren Uziel 
Story By: Oren Uziel & Doug Jung 
Cinematography By: Dan Mindel 
Editor: Alan Baumgarten, Matt Evans & Rebevva Valente 

Cast: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Chris O’Dowd, Daniel Bruhl, David Oyelowo, John Ortiz, Ziyi Zhang, Donal Logue, Roger Davies, Elizabeth Debicki 

Orbiting a planet on the brink of war, scientists test a device to solve an energy crisis, and end up face-to-face with a dark alternate reality.


There are parts of this film remind one of the science fiction movie LIFE that came out the year before. Only that movie was somewhat original and similarly Cliche ridden but at least was more entertaining overall with impressive special effects. It also didn’t try to be as emotional and dramatic as this film. It also had one hell of an ending.

This film also has way too good a cast to be this bad and disappointing. They are diverse and international. Not necessarily due to them is his movie a failure. Just a story that believes itself more clever then it actually is. As the film even before it’s Release tried to seem like it was more a studio sci-fi film before it was figured out to be another film in connection with the CLOVERFIELD series of movies. So once figured out it added CLOVERFIELD to the title. In the end it plays more like all hype.

The film essentially plays too basic and familiar so you get the sense you have seen all of this before.

The film being tied to a bigger series of films. That this is more a prequel of sorts that could be a sequel to anything. That is how devoid of personality and material it is. Where most of the film feels like filler for a few certain scenes that tie it together and really are what the movie is about.

Though more built around actress Gugu Mbetha-Raw character. No one in the cast comes through as memorable. Except Chris O’Dowd and that is only because he is more the comedic relief and is involved in one of the more impressive special effects sequences. The later being the bigger reason I remember him.

It’s a shame that a sci-fi movie that has a bigger than usual cast of minorities is so basic and non descript. Even the direction and production design doesn’t seem inspired.

The film ends up feeling like a hodgepodge or ideas and plots of other movies. Even by the ending it feels like this was a general sci-fi movie. That had an added ending to tie it to the CLOVERFIELD universe. As at least the other films in that universe added a different and original point of view to the typical alien invasion film. This feels more expected. Even if at first it tries to stay focused on the science more than anything.

Do these film not exist in that universe. It even trying to do anything different or special. The film isn’t even scary it’s more dialogue then anything at first. It’s also a movie that tries to be emotionally manipulative late in the game after an initial set-up and doesn’t come off as stylish at all.

This seems like a film that will play on the syfy channel for a while. As it seems like a bigger budgeted version of a film they would produce only without an exploitive angle.

This is definitely the weakest of the three films

GRADE: F

DINNER FOR SCHMUCKS (2010)

Directed By: Jay Roach
Written by: David Guion & Michael Handelman
Based on the original screenplay “Le Diner De Cons” by: Francis Veber 
Cinematography: Jim Debault 
Editor: Alan Baumgarten & Jon Poll

Cast: Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, Zach Galifinakis, Jemaine Clement, Bruce Greenwood, Larry Wilmore, Andrea Savage, Lucy Punch, David Williams, Stephane Szostak, Ron Livingston, Kristen Schawlow, Nick Kroll, Randall Park, Chris O’Dowd, Jeff Dunham, Octavia Spencer, Rick Overton 

When he finds out that his work superiors host a dinner celebrating the idiocy of their guests, a rising executive questions it when he’s invited, just as he befriends a man who would be the perfect guest.


While I quite enjoyed the french original it was smaller scale and crueler. Limited in its locations and hijinks. 

As Well the lead was less likable and by the end, all that happens seemed more like a well-deserved comeuppance. Though after a while you Could feel his pain

This American remake is opened up more to allow more characters and situations. That makes the film feel more Bloated than it needs to be.

The film has a talented comedic cast, who all seem to go over the top and try way too hard to make the material work when not needed and steal the movie. It doesn’t feel so much as fun and entertaining. With each trying to top one another in a game of one up man ship that it feels grand in its upper-crust air. Though proves that some bits and pieces are good enough. Which is a shame because the cast is pretty solid. 

Steve Carrell feels too familiar with this role in THE OFFICE of being innocently annoying and stupid more silly here and bigger. While He is one of the stars he keeps getting scenes stolen from him by co-Stars.

Steve Carell does what he is supposed to do and can be a chameleon usually in roles you would never believe he would be cast in, but here he never quite makes a mark to pass into an original or a classic. 

The film certainly lacks any subtlety. The film still wants the main stars to be likable. So the film opens up the story for more hijinks. As well as padding out the cast and a third act showdown. Whereas the original could have been a theatrical stage piece.

One can give credit for opening up the Story but each new location most feels like a set up where you know things are going to go wrong. 

The film isn’t As snobbish or highbrow as this seems more broadly humored. 

Yet again though this is a remake made for now original the foreign language one was and other than it’s the Main point most is changed around for a more mainstream appeal that subtracts what made it so special in the first place. It’s never a good place to be, because if you follow too closely then it’s like the film

LET ME IN practically the same shots with different actors and in English with minor changes. Where you might as well watch the original as everything is pretty much the same. You just won’t recognize the cast and will have to read subtitles.

So if you have seen the original while this is bigger it comes off strangely and as even if you haven’t seen the original. This still will be way too familiar and you’ve seen it before and done better.

GRADE: C

CUBAN FURY (2014)

CUBAN

 

Directed By: James Griffiths
Written By: Jon Brown
Based On An Original Idea By: Nick Frost
Cinematography By: Dick Pope
Editor: Jonathan Amos 


 Cast: Nick Frost, Rashida Jones, Chris O’Dowd, Ian McShane, Olivia Colman, Rory Kinnear, Steve Oram, Alexandra Roach, Kayvan Novak

1987: A 13 year old natural born dancer with fire in his heels and snakes in his hips is working himself up to explode all over the UK Junior Salsa Championships. But then: a freakish bullying incident on the mean streets of London robs him of his confidence, and our young hero finds his life diverted down a very different path. So it is that 22 years later, an adult Bruce Garrett finds himself out-of-shape and unloved – trapped in a downward spiral of self-pity, repression and Nando’s take-outs. Only Julia, his smart, funny, gorgeous new American boss, gives him reason to live. But she’s untouchable. Out of his league, so he imagines, with her perfect smile and perfect life. Unknown to Bruce however, Julia has issues all of her own. Luckily for him, she also has a secret passion. Then there’s Drew, his alpha male colleague and horny king-monkey of the office. With Drew making no secret of his desire to get (his words) “all up inside Julia”, Bruce is forced into action. And thus, Bruce is once again brought face-to-face with the darkest and most powerful of his inner demons. Somehow, someway, and with a lot of hand-holding from loyal sister Sam Bruce must learn how to unshackle his dancing beast, regain his long lost fury and claim the love of his life…and he’s going to do it all On The Dance Floor…

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JULIET, NAKED (2018)

julietnaked

Directed By: Jesse Peretz
Written By: Jim Tayler, Tamara Jenkins & Evgenia Peretz
Based On The Novel By: Nick Hornby
Cinematography By: Remi Adefarisan
Editor: Sabine Hoffman & Robert Nassau
Music By: Nathan Larson 


Cast: Rose Byrne, Ethan Hawke, Chris O’Dowd, Ayoola Smart 


Annie is stuck in a long-term relationship with Duncan – an obsessive fan of obscure rocker Tucker Crowe. When the acoustic demo of Tucker’s hit record from 25 years ago surfaces, its release leads to a life-changing encounter with the elusive rocker himself. Based on the novel by Nick Hornby, JULIET, NAKED is a comic account of life’s second chances.


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