BLACKBERRY (2023)

Directed By: Matt Johnson 

Written By: Matt Johnson And Matthew Miller 

Based on the Book: LOSING THE SIGNAL By: Jacquie McNish & Sean Silcoff

Cinematography: Jared Raab

Editor: Curt Lobb

Cast: Jay Baruchel, Glenn Hoverton, Matt Johnson, Martin Donovan, Saul Rubenik, Cary Elwes, Rich Sommer, Michael Ironside, SungWon Cho 

A company that toppled global giants before succumbing to the ruthlessly competitive forces of Silicon Valley. This is not a conventional tale of modern business failure by fraud and greed. The rise and fall of BlackBerry reveal the dangerous speed at which innovators race along the information superhighway.


This film isn’t as experimental as writer, Director costar Matt Johnson’s previous films. Though this one is more established it is still brimming with creative energy. 

Maybe, as this is based more on a true story rather than him making it up, so this demands to have a stronger narrative. Though he still finds a way to make it a little unconventional, more personal, and smaller scale taking place mostly in Canada.

No, he does get to keep a certain experimental style and more handheld camera work that gives Scenes More Intimacy and feels like a fly on the wall. It is an amazing true story. That goes into the whole corruption of the souls and values. To make the best product around. 

Though what most will be talking about when it comes to this film is actor Glenn Howerton’s performance mainly known for his performance in the Shell. It’s always Sunny in Philadelphia. Where he plays more of a narcissistic buffoon. Here he is a cold-blooded executive, who eventually becomes co-CEO of Blackberry and constantly seems angry and ruthless.

No, it is understandable, as he seems to be building this company as revenge for his recent termination, and believes in it so much that he is willing to risk his own future his mortgage to keep building this company so that even as Co-CEO he feels he is old, which is why he’s willing to even have to go through a legal means to keep this company growing.

What works is that he and Jay Baruchel’s characters are the Yin and Yang of each other who work side-by-side and off of each other, which helps the company work, but he has more influence over Baruchel character. 

As Baruchel’s character seems to slowly lose his morals and sense of character. Luckily, Baruchel holds his own in a more quiet, subdued way.

Matt Johnson plays more of a supporting character in the background that represents his past and moral center, which is why, when his character kind of accents the film, everything takes it down.

Grade: B+ 

COME TO DADDY (2020)

Directed By: Ant Timpson
Written By: Toby Harvard 
Cinematography: Daniel Katz
Editor: Dan Kircher

Cast: Elijah Wood, Stephen McHattie, Madeline Sami, Martin Donovan, Michael Smiley, Garfield Wilson 

A man in his thirties travels to a remote cabin to reconnect with his estranged father.


This is a movie that will take you by surprise and keeps you guessing. Don’t expect a big change in your thinking type of film but more than a secretive kid in the corner who shocks you with his talents but still seems creepy. As each time you believe you have it figured out it adds something. A film best to go in blind. 

As one of the main desires of the film is to keep you off-center. So that you end up just as confused as the main character. The twists come not only from the plot but from the characters. Though the film does have a dark sense of humor. 

This is a movie that gradually adds things as it goes along and still Manages to stay small-scale. Even though at times the film seems to be going towards the supernatural or at least spooky. It still manages to stay somewhat believable though it has its quirks.

It also feels a little hipster-Ish when it comes to the main character and its Style. Even if it had a more pure demented heart. 

This film feels full of ideas and imagination that feels lost. As it more feels like an oddity that more belongs in a previous decade but is oddly welcome in this time period and quickly sets itself up in modern-day. Yet managing not to depend on so many modern-day conveniences.

Though ultimately it does leave you a little disappointed because as it keeps building towards bigger things and you expect something huge but after a while, it seems to calm itself and stop. Then You realize this is it and you kind of were hoping it would keep going.

It also feels like at times they are making it up as they go along and try to work more on characters than story. 

Have to wonder sometimes if Elijah Wood internationally goes after movies that leave him tortured and somehow mutilated after this and the film PAWN SHOP CHRONICLES.

Grade: C

NURSE 3D (2014)

Nurse

Directed By: Douglas Aarniokoski
Written By: Douglas Aarniokoski & David Loughery
Cinematography By: Boris Mojsovski
Editor: Andrew Coutts 


 Cast: Paz De La Huerta, Katrina Bowden, Corbin Bleu, Judd Nelson, Niecy Nash, Boris Kodjoe, Adam Hershman, Martin Donovan, Kathleen Turner

By day Abby Russell is a dedicated nurse, someone you wouldn’t hesitate to trust your life with. But by night, her real work begins…using her smoldering sexuality she lures cheating men to their brutal deaths and exposes them for who they really are. When a younger nurse starts to suspect Abby’s actions and compromises her master plan,

Abby must find a way to outsmart her long enough to bring the cheater you’d least expect to justice. I have been waiting for this title for awhile I remember it being announced when the second season of boardwalk empire began and looking forward to it. As it sounded like a twisted fun film. Then over the years I forgot about it until all of sudden it was released after some years and I got my chance to see it.

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