Tag: Kiernan Shipka

THE LAST SHOWGIRL (2024)

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Directed By: Gia Coppola 

Written By: Kate Gersten 

Cinematography: Autumn Durald Arkapaw 

Editor: Blair McClendon And Cam McLaughlin 

Cast: Pamela Anderson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Billie Lourd, Kiernan Shipka, Brenda Song, Dave Bautista, Jason Schwartzman, Linda Montana 

A seasoned showgirl must plan for her future when her show abruptly closes after a 30-year run.

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This from falters, but it’s not entirely its fault, as the film was heavily hyped to be a comeback vehicle but then when it was released, it was a whimper, though the way it was talked about by the few who didn’t see it you expected so much more and better than it had this kind of hype about it and then, when you watch the film, Kenmore has a light touch but you were already expecting to see so much more now you can’t help but feel a little disappointed.

Which is why it’s usually best to go in with no expectations and hopefully most of you will go into this film with not too many expectations then maybe you can get into it but for me it felt like a lost cause almost.

This film could easily be compared to a star in trying to say some thing about her career in popularity, where the main character is a former show girl who has always lived that kind of lifestyle gotten by on her luxe, and try to support herself and her daughter throughout the years and now that she’s older kind of being pushed out as the show that she stars in is being canceled and can’t seem to get a job In any other shows, though she has experience, she doesn’t have the formal so-called education for the jobs, and also due to her age.

It’s a film that’s sad man tries to give the character dignity even though throughout, she seems to be a pushover who seems to only want to stand up to the wrong people the people who actually care about her, but are making her answer for her flaws and mistakes. Unfortunately they’re asking while the world seems to be against her.

The film has a guerrilla style camera work, and it does have a story deep down in there, but it just doesn’t feel like a very strong as the film try to be more of a slice of life that’s not going to please everyone and more revolves around Pamela Anderson’s character than us really getting to know too many of the other characters.

As even the younger stripper, she works with her costars in the show kind of looked at her to be a mama hen even though her own daughter feels like she neglected her when she was growing up even though Anderson’s character was trying to do the best that she could add time is, it might’ve been selfish, but it was some thing that she loved where she had to choose between her to loves, and she gave one more attention than the other.

There’s nothing bad about the film, but I believe your interest in the film will be as how much do you really care about her character or any of the characters and while I applied it for a showing a film about a woman dealing with feeding beauty and it seems like aging makes you feel you’re made to feel useless

Especially with the supporting role played surprisingly by Jamie Lee Curtis in a way to tan overly made up cocktail waitress who used to be a dancer, but had to go to waitressing and still misses the days of dancing, but also seems to have other personal problems of living, a fast lifestyle even though she can give good life advice, and somehow is worse off than Pamela Anderson’s character though like her characters make up, she might be a bit much, but what is needed a contemporary for Pamela Anderson’s character to truly talk to you and deal with.

One wishes they could’ve gotten into the characters more, as it seems to deal with surface level, but it never really makes you wanna go deeper than the surface of what is shown even though the main point of the film is to go underneath that to see the person and not the beauty or the Luxury or the faded glory but it feels like something that could’ve been told and still manage to have a little bit more to it.

As one remembers her at the peak of her popularity with a bombshell, she was one of the bombshells to reference over the years that has truly asked her to act, even if the character is familiar

This film was talked about as a possible. Oscar consideration. Slow down, would have fooled the industry just because she shows herself with no make up written for her in mind. 

As it even struggles to keep the audiences interest at 89 minutes as there’s just not enough, this feels like a film that would’ve done gangbusters in the 1990s independency but here it just feels like fluff and sort of a gift to Pamela Anderson for making it in Hollywood after all these years as it’s the first time I’ve seen with her that really and challenges are even though it feels also custom-made for

Grade: C

TWISTERS (2024)

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Directed By: Lee Isaac Chung 

Written By: Martin L. Smith 

Story By: Joseph Kosinski

Based on characters created by: Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin 

Cinematography: Dan Mindel 

Editor: Terilyn A. Shropshire 

Cast: Daisy Edgar-Jones, Glen Powell, Anthony Ramos, Sasha Lane, David Corenswet, Katy O’Brian, Tunde Adebimpe, Maura Tierney, Kiernan Shipka, Brandon Perea 

As storm season intensifies, the paths of former storm chaser Kate Cooper, lured back to the open plains after a devastating encounter years prior, and reckless social-media superstar Tyler Owens collide when terrifying phenomena never seen before are unleashed. The pair and their competing teams find themselves squarely in the paths of multiple storm systems converging over central Oklahoma in the fight of their lives.

Let me just say upfront, I saw the first Twister movie in theaters in fact on opening day, and I was heavily disappointed in that film. so I was very jaded early on hearing about this film and then finally decided to give it a try.

I am happy to report that I am happy to give it a try as this film is probably the original or first Twister film needed. This film is not as obsessed with special effects or making this an event movie.

This film actually has a lot of heart and is filled with characters that you’re actually interested in and are two-dimensional and though there’s a lot of flirtation, this one is not as romantic or has that conflict in the middle of everything going on.

This film actually has suspense, and it has action in the form of storm chasing and the effects of it while being in the middle of it, but it also makes you care. The country and folk music on the soundtrack takes place in the Midwest most of the characters are from the Midwest and it feels like a film that lets nature take its course rather than being forced.

It’s not subtle at times and can be silly, but you go with it because it works it’s fun it’s entertaining, and most of all it makes you care about charity corporations don’t have as many and not as much violence or punishment for characters that deems evil or corporate.

In fact, the film starts off with the heroine on the corporate side out of a loyalty to a friend and you can tell that she’s corporate because her wardrobe is all buttoned up and making the more fun and naturalistic country. Boys and girls seem a little more into it out of business and as a form of excitement and challenge. Then, of course, as the film goes along the tables kind of turn, and she sees the error of her Waze and we know she’s had a change of heart throughout the rest of the film. She’s wearing more homegrown natural clothes, not the turtlenecks that she necessarily started off in.

Sort of like the films of old like let’s say the African Queen we have the female lead in the male lead at odds, but obviously attracted to each other, and then as the story gets deeper, we learn more about each of their past there seems to be a kind of flirtation and attraction that gets deeper as the film goes along, though it doesn’t overpower the story, which is the most important part The characters and the mission are more important than necessarily the Romance.

Not to mention, the romance comes about naturally and never feels forced and there’s a natural chemistry between the legs and hell even all of the characters.

Now I must note this film started to get more pressing come out. I wasn’t intrigued as it did seem like the type of summer fun blockbuster they just go out and have fun and be entertained letting a film come along and do it and not more but also an actress who I am a huge fan of and look forward to every time she is in a film, especially on the big screen, Sasha Lane now she’s not the lead, but she plays a fun supporting character and really she was the reason I got Tipped Towards going to see this film in Cinemas and I am all happier for it as this is a film that is best to be seen on the big screen.

It’s just more effective that way. Maybe the Director started off as a more naturalistic independent filmmaker whose films were based on character and made his way up more toward bigger budget stories with a little more action and special effects. Lee Isaac Chung the Director was obviously the right choice to take a chance on a Director who is of more independent means and might be a little more artistic and works within the genre.

Grade: B 

TOTALLY KILLER (2023)

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Directed By: Nahnatchka Khan 

Written By: David Matalon, Sasha Perl-Raver and Jen D’Angelo

Story By: David Matalon and Sasha Perl-Raver

Cinematography: Judd Overton

Editor: Jeremy Cohen 

Cast: Kiernan Shipka, Olivia Holt, Lochlyn Munro, Julie Bowen, Randall Park, Charlie Gillespie, Troy L. Johnson, Liana Liberto, Kelcey Mawama, Stephi Chin-Salvo 

When the infamous “Sweet Sixteen Killer” returns 35 years after his first murder spree to claim another victim, 17-year-old Jamie accidentally travels back in time to 1987, determined to stop the killer before he can start.

A movie that one can easily see why there is a comparison with the film FINAL GIRLS. Both involve trying to save mothers from a killer having a serial killer who seems unstoppable and being sent into a different period of world.

Though Totally Killer has its own identity and a mystery more at its heart as well as back to the future time travel element.

This movie really makes no sense but it also doesn’t try too hard to. It’s silly and funny as well as fun. This by the end comes across as a guilty pleasure. It is a horror film but feels more like a comedic send-up of slasher films as well as time travel films with some graphic violence.

It’s simplistic but half the humor Is having a character with modern sensibilities dealing with the less politically correct attitude of the past. As well as the movie is a bit tongue-in-cheek and has a sense of humor about itself. Though staying on the ball when it comes to the story and plot. As well as characters.

Kiernan Shipka is good in the lead role being equally dramatic and comedic when need be. It’s also nice to see a film that is more diverse when it comes to casting and not making it a big deal or obvious. 

Director Nahnatchka Chan’s second movie after the surprise hit ALWAYS BE MY MAYBE also brings along that film’s star and co-screenwriter Randall Park to play a small, pivotal supporting role in the film. 

This plays more like a teen comedy and is a film you have to experience to get the most out of it. Talking or reading about it doesn’t do it full justice. It has the right campy attitude with enough rebelliousness and inside jokes from the culture of that era and movies.

In the end, it is a mystery that has you guessing. Though when all is revealed it doesn’t feel like it matters as much as it should. 

Grade: B-