Hong Chau – Cut To The Chase

Directed By: Doug Liman

Written By: Casey Affleck and Chuck Maclean

Cinematography: Henry Braham

Editor: William Goldenberg, Saar Klein, Brett M. Reed and Tatiana S. Riegel

Cast: Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, Hong Chau, Ron Perlman, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alfred Molina, Ving Rhames, Jack Harlow, Paul Walter Hauser, Toby Jones

Rory and Cobby, who team up to rob a corrupt politician but end up in a chaotic escape after the heist goes wrong. Pursued by police and crime bosses, they enlist Rory’s therapist to help them survive.

Considering the cast involved and the director, this film should’ve been much better.

While he plays like a perfectly good crime caper with a good helping of comedy. It also feels like it’s all over the place, especially totally as when it does try to be more action oriented or gritty crime incomes the more comedic elements out of nowhere and then when it’s resting on its more comedic elements, it’ll have the odd intense action sequence.

Also, with its full cast, it feels like most of them are guest starring in the main plot like this is an ongoing series as very few remain throughout the film and only seemed to be there for a senior or two before disappearing and are quickly forgot not that they’re bad in their roles but again there just doesn’t seem to be that much significance for them even though they are just a piece of the puzzle

So that our main stars Casey act like who also who wrote the film and Matt Damon just seemed to be too strangers thrown into this caver together that ends up being more of a buddy comedy as they are different types of thrown in together just trying to survive all of this. Representing their hometown

Now this should’ve worked, especially as of course, representing its location of Boston and the characters in the neighborhoods of that town but the film just feels a little too quick paste. It never seems to quite slow down for you to get a grip on what is happening or what has happened. So it’s hard for you to get your bearings, even though it shouldn’t be that confusing.

It just seems to flash here in there in the editing, intense not to focus on anything so it even feels faster than the classic 2000s MTV flash editing which only reminds you that this feels more like content more than an actual film. Which might be the result of having four editors on this film, who each might have been aiming at something different. Asbeverything feels so disposable and familiar even when trying to put a new spin or at least anspin on certain conventions.

Again the leads and cast are likable enough. You just wish that this was a film that wasn’t afraid to take its time had more consequences and was quite a bit tougher as the film is more comedic and not darkly comedic more just comedic.

It has spectacle when the film should’ve been more detailed, smaller and tighter. Noah tries to be gritty. It comes across more as a Hollywood production. Then it should which throws all credibility out the window and turns it more into a romp.

there is a certain irony that lays throughout the film whereas Casey Affleck is a best actor Oscar winner here playing more the co-lead and being more comedic or as Matt Damon, who is more thought of as a serious actor is playing the more serious role here and while he has more prestige, he does not have an Oscar for best actor, even though he does have an Oscar for writing. Yet Casey Affleck who has the acting prestige is the Co-Writer here.

This obviously isn’t there first pairing on screen they have paired up in various projects, but this is the first time where they’ve been costars as a lead in a more comedic, an original production of their own as they were in the film GERRY as costars, and also really, the only leads in that film, as well as one of the only actors in that film

The film has come across as the type of body crime caper comedy that felt more at home in the 70s and 80s try some modernize it, but it has way too much going on for it to truly ever be centered or quite understandable

Grade: C

Directed By: Yorgos Lanthimos

Written By: Yorgos Lanthinos and Effhimis Filippou

Cinematography: Robbie Ryan

Editor: Yorgos Mavropsaridis

Cast: Jesse Plenmons, Emma Stone, Hong Chau, Willem Dafoe, Margaret Qualley, Hunter Schaffer, Mamoudou Athie, Joe Alwyn, Yorgos Stefanakos

a triptych fable, following a man without choice who tries to take control of his own life; a policeman who is alarmed that his wife who was missing at sea has returned and seems a different person; and a woman determined to find a specific someone with a special ability, who is destined to become a prodigious spiritual leader.

Fresh off the heels of his critically acclaimed Hollywood films director Yorgos Lanthimos seems to be Going back to his more experimental type of films bringing with him acclaimed actors.

On the one hand, I applaud him as he exposes more general audiences to experimental films and brings them a little more into the norm. As much as he can. Where he not only actually challenges audiences and their expectations. As well as providing material that is deeper and more thought-provoking than most. Letting them make their own minds on the stories and not hand-holding them throughout.

One only wishes that one could say it feels worth it. While one can enjoy the dynamic aspects and camerawork of his filmmaking. Though have never been the biggest fan of his early experimental work. There always seems to be a challenging renegade spirit to his work.

Here he presents three different tales that have not only the same cast but the character of RMF to connect them. Essentially a minor character but revolving around various characters. Each tale has a theme, but all seem to include toxicity and love of some kind

The first story revolves around a character

Reliant on a boss so much in aspects of their life. What happens when true freedom is offered to them and not know how to survive because we have become so dependent on them. Some might say this story is an analogy of capitalism.

The second story involves a cop whose wife has gone missing at sea and he is not taking it well. Once his wife is back he is overjoyed but becomes convinced something is off and that she is an imposter. We see him seemingly break down as he tries to convince others she is not who she says she is. This story like the one before it revolves around control how comfortable one might be with it and what happens when they are not in control. It also shows how relationships can work and break once your partner makes their own decisions and doesn’t fit the ideal anymore of their partner and how people will stay in an Avis or relationship in hopes of things going back to the way they used to be and are willing to practically sacrifice themselves to make the other happy.

The third take involves a cult. The members believe in two leaders. Who they can only have sex with. Who are in search of a young woman who can bring the dead back to life. While one of the members keeps running into their ex-husband and daughter. Eventually kicked out one member believes they have found the miracle and then plays like a tragic comedy.

This one shows our reliance on others to make us feel whole and keep us safe give us some kind of meaning and how those who love us can easily break us or betray us for their own comfort and happiness.

Throughout all do these tales the ensemble cast plays different characters. Some of the biggest names in the cast might be the star of one tale and then a minor character in another.

The title gives away the themes, of how there are different kinds of kindness and how they can be used for good and how some use them to hurt others or have power.

As a whole, these short films coming together make an alright feature. Though separately they might not be as strong or powerful and might either come off as pretentious or offer ideas the audience already knows.

The cast is clearly having fun and in their element throughout. One only wishes it was mutual for the audience. As the film goes along the shocking moments become defining and also expected. It finds the director and cast more at play than offering anything truly strong or solid. It doesn’t seem wasteful, though it doesn’t come off as anything more than a healthy budgeted experiment.

I seemed to have not enjoyed it as much as others, especially critics.

Grade: B-

Tag: Hong Chau

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