Tag: Francesca Reale

PARACHUTE (2023)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Directed By: Brittany Snow 

Written By: Brittany Snow and Becca Gleason 

Editor: Henry Hayes and Matthew L. Weiss 

Cast: Courtney Eaton, Thomas Mann, Francesca Reale, Kid Cudi, Dave Bautista, Joel McHale, Gina Rodriguez, Jennifer Westfeldt, Kathryn Gallagher, Lukas Gage 

Follows Riley, who has recently been released from rehab after struggling with addictions to food and body image. She meets Ethan and finds herself navigating the line between love and a new addiction.

This film is the directorial debut of actress Brittany Snow and it’s a very accomplished debut as you think it’s going to be a typical twenty-something romance, It reveals itself to be much more.

As there is a romance, it’s also a character piece. That deals with damaged characters throughout and the person who chooses to be with this character and it helps, but it’s not the healthiest relationship for either.

As the film goes along, we see what might have helped to cause Riley the female lead character  problems, and issues, and throughout we see her getting better, but also how she kind of sabotages herself and how the man who is in love with her might actually be hurting her and himself by enabling her

It seems like they might be good for each other, but at the wrong time and in helping each other, they’re only digging themselves deeper into their own problems as their romance is never defined though obvious to all.

We also see how her problems affect those around her friends, family, and even associates.

As what starts off as typical slowly reveals its depths and though it might only offer sketches of certain side characters, it does offer a reality and a look at all of their lives and how they affect one another 

The film is more nourishing than one might expect as you come for something lighthearted, and you get something quite heavy, and the performances of the leads are just so devastating Eaton. This is the first time that I remember her in a leading role and quite strong and affecting and Thomas Mann , who I remember from many teenage or of age films really steps into his own as an actor and his lead in the leading role of the suitor who buries his own misery, trying to help others, but only sinks himself, and the others even lower by not truly allowing himself to be happy. Teaching the power of letting go.

This is definitely a film to check out and really live with as it’s not typical even the ending isn’t typical, but it feels true and Its Own Way, Earnest with ambiguity and hope.

Grade: B+

MUSICA (2024)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Directed By: Rudy Mancuso

Written By: Rudy Mancuso and Dan Lagana 

Cinematography: Shane Hurlbut 

Editor: Melissa Kant 

Cast: Rudy Mancuso, Camila Mendes, J.B. Smoove, Francesca Reale, Maria Mancuso, Camila Senna 

A coming-of-age love story that follows an aspiring creator with synesthesia, who must come to terms with an uncertain future, while navigating the pressures of love, family, and his Brazilian culture in Newark, New Jersey.

This is an unorthodox yet familiar romantic tale. As it stays fun though it has very few or little stakes.

The film separates itself with its style of warmth, Goodwill, and positivity. its clear love of its culture.

The film is very surreal and an original inspiring musical. That is cultural yet universal, with him being the Co-writer, Director, and star as well as scoring the film, he is a one-man band that makes the film all the more personal allowing it to be imaginative and playful.

Special mention must be made for Camila Mendes is noteworthy here and a dynamic working actress seeing her in so many different projects recently. She is good and in each of them, she grabs her attention immediately, especially impressed with her range comes through despite the emphasis on her in certain roles. It’s all the glory for him but she is the one he chases and is inspired by. Who accepts him for who he is?

At times, the film looks like a dynamic avant-garde stage play especially in the middle, With many memorable and hilarious scenes that are heartfelt as well as identifiable.

The film plays with the tricky dimensions of the mind and obviously subtle comfortable ways that emphasize the lead character and imagination in the many ways to not only tell a story but illustrate one that might feel common sets itself as an individual.

The film’s strength is strong in the comedic, scenes. the romantic ones feel truly heartfelt and honest classic way made to be modern.

One Could complain about such extravagant use of such a small and simple story but one could also argue while pretty it’s what makes it so real that in life our stories might be small to others, but feel monumental to us in the moment and not only can be surreal, but what we see in our own minds, even if others don’t.

That you might wish would happen and you know you have found a connection when you are with someone who understands or speaks that same language and adds to it making memorable melodies yourselves

Grade: B

YES, GOD, YES (2020)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Written & Directed By: Karen Maine
Cinematography: Todd Antonio Somodevilla
Editor: Jennifer Lee

Cast: Natalia Dyer, Timothy Simons, Donna Lynne Champlin, Wolfgang Novogratz, Alisha Boe, Francesca Reale, Susan Blackwell, Parker Wierling

After an innocent AOL chat turns racy, a Catholic teenager in the early 00s discovers masturbating and struggles to suppress her new urges in the face of eternal damnation.

A star vehicle of sorts for actress Natalia Dyer of the television show STRANGER THINGS. That seems a little controversial but by the end might be shocked at how human and tame it ends up being.

The film is short but makes it presence filled just enough.

This presents itself as a kind of teen comedy about sex or at least puberty and feelings of sexuality and masturbation in particular. 

Though the film is small scale and feels a lot more Personal. As it presents a bunch of different problems for the characters but doesn’t offer all the answers. As the ones it does provide can be seen as right or wrong depending on the individual.

It takes it’s time but doesn’t offer much in the form of energy. As it plays more dramatic at times and has it’s own moments to ponder and take into account what has just happened.

Not a typical teen coming of age comedy. As the characters have a Hypocritical nature but you can understand the characters somewhat and see that they mean well 

What is honorable about the film is that not every character is good or evil. They are not right or wrong. They go with what they believe is the truth even if not living by those rules.

They live by what they believe is best for all. They aren’t doing it to be cruel just to help in their own way. 

The characters are allowed to be flawed and not totally good or evil. Though some might be more annoying and some just don’t know any better. Even the ones who are going to have it all together and know what they are talking about and strong, in the beginning, prove to be weak by the end. 

Finally what works is that even though some of the events come off as cynical throughout the film like it’s lead character never seems to go that route. They have faith and belief that they stick to despite it all throughout and by the end have their own kind of acceptance.

Grade: C+