Tag: Jessica Chastain

ARMAGEDDON TIME (2022)

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Written & Directed By: James Gray
Cinematography: Darius Khondji 
Editor: Scott Morris 

Cast: Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, Jeremy Strong,  Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway, Andrew Polk, Tovah Feldshuh, John Diehl, Jessica Chastain, Domenick Lombardozzi 

A deeply personal coming-of-age story about the strength of family and the generational pursuit of the American Dream.

While this coming-of-age story is enriched with culture and the time period, as well as plenty of emotion. It is devastating in its own way. As there rarely seems to be any joy and mainly downtrodden. So that it works as an unflinching portrait.

Unfortunately, it comes off a little dull, just as muted as its Colors. The film doesn’t have to be sentimental, as it never is and never floats in any kind of nostalgia either. So that after a while you wonder what is the point.

It is based on the director’s childhood and experiences. So it is deeply meaningful to him and a way for him to open up. 

Other than some cultural landmarks and a song or two, there aren’t too many attempts to let us be saturated in the times. As the film tries to make its Points. Though you are also left with the feeling unfortunately this story could still play out the same way at any time. Especially today only with more cellphones and different slang 

It plays out more like a tragedy to show on a personal level the rampant racism that was around and how the system was always set up in its own way for him to make it, but his black best friend was doomed from the start and never had any opportunities to turn it around. No matter what his parents believed or the constant barrage of adults telling him to make it all you have to do is pull yourself by the bootstraps. As his friend does do that but gets slapped down each time.

As a coming-of-age story, the adults are around but come in and out, and while more than just caricatures they often come off more as portraits than anything. You can feel the burdens and hardships of their lives and their feelings for one another, but there seems little for them to do than be there and react. We never learn too much about them. 

We might hear about it but rarely see it. Though he has recognizable actors in the roles. So that you have familiarity and hopefully warmth for them automatically. 

It fits in with writer/Director James Gray’s other films. There is a coldness and stillness to his films. Here this is more of a film that tries to have some happiness and hope but it is still under a cloud of despair. Then it just ends.

Having Darius Khondji as the cinematographer. Might seem like a waste for a story that isn’t small in scope. Him being a grandmaster of the art. Maybe as this is small scale it is meant to be more of a snapshot, not necessarily a portrait. As to why it feels so tiny. Yet it sets particular roots for the future that will be world-changing. He uses the camera and coloring to make it more intimate and not call attention to itself. As it moves along 

If this is only part one of future autobiographical films that ending makes sense. As he tackles more of his life story. Which hopefully gets more upbeat, but even if not. You can applaud that he made an unsympathetic coming-of-age tale. This is rare and throws the audience off a bit, but certainly stands out. 

Having so many recognizable actors does garner interest, but their roles are small, yet so important to the story. You can see why the actors signed up. 

In the end, I have to say the film leaves you slightly disappointed 

Grade: B-

AVA (2020)

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Directed by: Tate Taylor
Written by: Matthew Newton
Cinematography: Stephen Goldblatt
Editor: Zach Staenberg

Cast: Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Common, Colin Farrell, Ioan Gruffund, Geena Davis, Jess Weixler, Diana Silvers, Joan Chen 

Ava is a deadly assassin who works for a black ops organization, traveling the globe specializing in high profile hits. When a job goes dangerously wrong she is forced to fight for her own survival.

The film offers an interesting character where you wish she had a more exciting tale to go with it. So that it feels like you have a good lead character looking for a better film.

Jessica Chastain is full of energy here. Though the film and character strength are not too much of a challenge for her. 

The film soon gets to the point and stays there. Where you have no doubt what will happen. Even though for a film that is supposed to be an espionage tale it feels more small-town gritty. Like more of a mob tale

The filM comes across at times as mroe domestic drama and not as interesting as it thinks it is. With some action scenes that take place In Interiors particularly small rooms. Make the film more small scale yet fits the Netflix action aesthetic. 

The casting of Geena Davis playing the mother to a character similar to the assassin Charli Baltimore she played in THE LONG KISS GOOD NIGHT. Which makes it feel a bit like stunt casting. 

Unfortunately, this is another middling movie from director Tate Taylor that sounds mroe interesting and fun than it actually is.

The film includes a strange romance that doesn’t seem like it would hav been that exciting even if it had made it to theaters.

The film tries to be different by offering a mroe domestic story, but it feels like I needed melodrama. To make you identify snd care more about the characters. Especially the more supporting ones 

Nothing really sets this movie apart from average and familiar. Though it does leave itself open to sequels that hopefully would flesh it out especially the supporting characters. Who gets no chance to shine here it seem to be set up for greater things later in the film Only for nothing to really happen.

Sort of like the movie FASTER which left itself open to spinoff sequels but wasn’t quite as popular that was expected. So this is most likely a solo effort. Though a sequel Would help improve on the material.

This film seems like it could have been more fleshed out and given for room. Especially with it’s more recognizable cast. Who all end up here for a paycheck more than anything.

GRADE: D+

IT: CHAPTER 2 (2019)

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Directed by: Andy Muschietti

Written by: Gary Dauberman

Based on the novel “IT” by: Stephen King Cinematography: Checco Varese

Editor: Jason Ballentine

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, James Mcavoy, Jay Ryan, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone, Bill Skarsgard, Jack Dylan Glazer, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lilis, Jaeden Martell, Xavier Dolan, Jess Weixler, Peter Bogdanovich 

Defeated by members of the Losers’ Club, the evil clown Pennywise returns 27 years later to terrorize the town of Derry, Maine, once again. Now adults, the childhood friends have long since gone their separate ways. But when people start disappearing, Mike Hanlon calls the others home for one final stand. Damaged by scars from the past, the united Losers must conquer their deepest fears to destroy the shape-shifting Pennywise — now more powerful than ever.

While the film is certainly entertaining. This is barely a film as it does love up to it’s Title. As it feels more a continuation or Second half. Rather then a movie of It‘s Own merits that could stand up without part one. 

As there is information to let us know about the characters and their motivations. It really more helps if you have seen the previous films

The film feels repetitive. As each of the characters faces their defeats or are terrorized individually. They each go through a horrifying adventure. Then the film moves onto the next character and this takes up a good amount of running time.

It also seems to still treat the character of like who stayed in town and is the only African American character with short change. He gets them all to come back and has theories but has little else to do. As he is haunted but we barely see him or what exactly he is haunted by as much. 

The stars are all here to play the Adult characters. They all do good with the characters though Bill Hader is the one who stands out the most and gives off the strongest impression. As well as a kind of unrequited love story and a deeply held secret that it seems no one else knows nor is really revealed to any of them.

While certain aspects are left out of the film from the book that serves as motivation stronger in the book but not in the movie. Bill’s wife is majorly Absent from the film and she plays a big part in the finale of the book. Though she seems Removed to give more romantic tension between the characters of Ben and Beverly

Though it is funny when the movie is filled with all these stars and one of the lesser-known acting leads played by Jay Ryan is actually the one who has the more traditional movie star looks and is supposed to be the grown-up version of the overweight character.

The film is more scary and terrifying then violent though the few times there is violence it is shocking especially when towards children who are dispatched in rather shocking yet similar ways.

The opening scene of the movie seems random And unneeded though does give the film. A certain ugly reality and informs us of it feeding off of fear, anger, and hatred. Though it still makes the opening hard to watch.

Director Andy Muschetti is certainly able and good with visuals but while the film feels rich but seems to lack a proper structure. So that whole it feels freewheeling and random and sticks to a story. It allows itself to jump around. Which is convenient but might confuse the audience.

There is no three-act structure and even when absent that this film tries to get off on atmosphere which gives a scary vibe that quickly becomes repetitive and even if it has art film Aspirations it would generally be about something. This film is supposed to be about endings. Though it stretches them out until it seems more about making cheap thrills then General quality entertainment. It feels like entertainment that tries to seek itself overwhelmingly towards agreeability and worse feels somewhat manipulative trying to make the audience get forget the points it is skipping. Instead of trying to make them even feel constantly in a challenge or a game. Forgetting This is a film and we are supposed to be watching a story.

It’s a continuation. It doesn’t feel like a film of it’s own. That can be enjoyed and understood independently. It needs the previous film to be a whole. So even as a sequel, it can’t stand up on it’s own two feet. So while entertaining it is never it’s own entity. No matter how it’s Presented or forced to be

In the end, this is a fun horror film to watch that whole gruesome still feels more mainstream, but luckily has stars to distrAct but also achieves the mood and scares it tries for.

Grade: B-