Tag: Nicholas Braun

SPLITSVILLE (2025)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Directed By: Michael Angelo Covino 

Written By: Michael Angelo Covino & Kyle Marvin

Cinematography: Adam Newport-Berra

Editor: Sara Shaw

Cast: Kyle Marvin, Michael Angelo Covino, Dakota Johnson, Adria Arjona, Nicholas Braun, Charlie Gillespie, David Castaneda, O-T Fagbenle, Nahema Ricci, Tyrone Benskin 

When Ashley asks for a divorce, the good-natured Carey runs to his friends, Julie and Paul, for support. Their secret to happiness is an open marriage; that is, until Carey crosses the line and throws all of their relationships into chaos.

Even though this is more supposed to be a broad relationship comedy, I dislike most of the characters for different various reasons throughout as most of them come across as so selfish and vain, especially Adria Arjona’s character who could be seen as a hot blooded stereotype, but if anything, she more sums up spiritual or wellness seeking characters who are supposed to be about inner peace, but if you ever get to know them come across more self initially because it tends to be all about them in their pleasure rather than others emotions, especially those who are in their lives or love them. Though she is undeniably, jaw-droppingly attractive. Then again maybe as I have had experience with those types it’s a bit too familiar. 

Though for her character makes sense as a life coach and the initial opening scene the accident that happens in the results it would seem natural for something like that to shake the boundaries and look for a rebirth or at least a change in their lives as that being assigned of it.

Not to mention, knowing the two male characters are the writers and directors of the film. They set the bar high with who they cast as their girlfriends and wives in this film as the women come across is too beautiful for them believably but again it’s a film so we do see the qualities that make them fall for them.

Though everyone throughout comes across as so reprehensible yet wise, but might hit upon an ugly truth throughout, that might be painful for certain members of the audience to hear, especially those who are more romantic and believe in monogamy as the film is certainly cruel to more the supporting character characters

Then there is one character who thankfully is minor who is openly trying to pick up Dakota Johnson’s character at a carnival with their own chikd that I thought the movie was gonna do more with him, but is only there for one scene. It seems almost more like a prop or antagonist to get the most out of the main characters or add to the weirdness and silliness of the situation.

This film is downright funny though you have to be on its wavelength of just strange situations. It feels like another BOB, CAROL, TED AND ALICE. For  the modern day age, but not trying to be as revolutionary or introduce the audience into a different way of thinking.

As it feels like a Woody Allen comedy played as a romantic comedy. As tinwaht happens after the happily ever after.

For all the qualities that make the film work there’s also things that just make you not like not necessarily the movie but the characters but then again it makes you uncomfortable and awkward, which the film seems to want to rest on sort of like a curb your enthusiasm, but where everybody is treated equally and each has their own personality disorder so to speak. 

The two characters who stand out are Dakota Johnson surprisingly as she seems to be one of the more decent characters who gets confused and just can’t make up her mind and the character of Casey played by Kyle Marvin, who is just seems or comes across as an innocent and nice guy who gets pulled in to this situation and keeps trying to make the best of it, but at heart is just a romantic and who some will see as just too nice, but he comes across the most authentic and you can understand why people fall for him and trust him.

Even thevfilmmaking is quite impressive. on a technical level as the camera work is beautiful and it’s angles inventive, even the rhythm of the scenes which can go from intimate to slapstick on a moments notice. still manages to work and be perfectly blocked as the camera always knows where it’s supposed to be.

This is a film for the more adventurous, even if it seems like it’s gonna play more suburban and it isn’t as sexual as dirty as the premise or the trailer might make it look or sound there is nudity, but it’s more male nudity than anything and just examines the absurdities of relationships and the selfishness that can result in them, especially in the complications of trying to PLEASE a partner or seemingly open up for their pleasure and you might be sabotaging your own relationship

I am a fan of the filmmaker, Michelangelo Covino and Kyle Marvin in their previous film, the climb, and just as with that film here they play best buddies who’s romantic entanglements rule them and also the characters tend to switch partners who are their friends previously partners in the main characters tend to bicker, be ruthless to each other yet still come together and maintain that friendship that feels like slapstick, but also has a bit of truth behind it.

this one is no exception as it almost feels like a continuation of their previous film only with different characters and situations so again it has that kind of Seinfeld or curb your enthusiasm, energy and vibe while entirely being its own entity and personality

Grade: B- 

CAT PERSON (2023)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Directed By: Susanna Fogel

Written By: Michelle Ashford

Based on the Short Story by: Kristen Roupenian

Cinematography: Manuel Billeter

Editor: Jacob Craycroft

Cast: Emilia Jones, Nicholas Braun, Geraldine Viswanathan, Isabella Rossellini, Hope Davis, Christopher Shyer, Liza Koshy, Fred Melamed, Donald Elise Watkins, Michael Gandolfini

When Margot, a college sophomore goes on a date with the older Robert, she finds that IRL Robert doesn’t live up to the Robert she has been flirting with over texts. A razor-sharp exploration of the horrors of dating.

Well, I am a big fan of the short story and the book it’s part of I was looking forward to this film, and it’s no surprise, that your pails and comparison, and is ultimately a disappointment compared to the original short story, which is more ambiguous, and might be one of the short story strength or as this film it’s hard to be ambiguous, totally and keep the audience interested and engaged not saying it’s impossibleit’s just that that quality was not expressed.

In the third act, it seems like the filmmaker and film decided to make a thriller or add thriller elements to the film kind of making all the paranoia and awkwardness she felt before come true but also since it’s based on a short story, the first half of the film is based on that actual story, and this is more where the filmmaker decided to go, maybe as a narrative choice, or to start to make the film, seem conventional, taking some sort of inspiration from the movie adaptation, wherein the third act it’s questionable but it becomes more conventional

As before this, the film seems more like an alien, awkward romance between two awkward people, one just beginning their adult and one well in the middle of it, and not seeming to have any anchors 

This film, a modern generation film, that certainly could open up many conversations, especially in a battle of the sexes and dating would’ve been a bit more interesting, and a third act tries to break up the monotony of that, but feels right and wrong at the same time 

As you can see, both sides of the story, though it doesn’t allow itself to get there. Some of the behavior is so extreme that you can’t truly forgive it or give the character credit.

There is a challenging and interesting movie very deep inside here. Fortunately, it just doesn’t seem to be well. Translated as the film is kind of a chore at times to sit through as you feel it length throughout.

Some scenes do work, but they’re also scenes that you look forward to and should be highlights that seem to fall short the intimate evening, for instance, is one of them.

While it tries to be moody. It also seems to decide to be one-sided and then in the end broaden up its view but onto with a few details and still Makes her justified in her beliefs. 

The film delves into the paranoia and boundaries of modern dating from a woman’s perspective. Especially for a young woman who is not as seasoned making her way through the world. 

Though watching it, I kept thinking how much different or even better it might have been if this was made by a director like Todd Solodnz as it has a kind of coldness to it, but then again a sense of belonging or wouldn’t have been seen differently if Geraldine Viswanathan who plays the main characters best friend, had played the main role. Would the film then explore not only different sexes but also different cultures?

Isabella Rossellini doesn’t even really need to be in this movie. As her role comes off as a cameo and maybe a star name to add to the cast for a bigger budget. 

This could have been a defining movie though unfortunately it does itself in and sells itself short. As it dulls any sharpness it might have and makes the proceedings dull all around for the most part. 

Grace:  C-

ZOLA (2021)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

Directed By: Janicza Bravo 
Written By: Jeremy O. Harris 
Based on the Tweets by: A’Ziah King 
Based on the article “ZOLA TELLS ALL: THE REAL STORY BEHIND THE GREATEST STRIPPER SAGA EVER TWEETED” By: David Kushner 
Story By: Andrew Neel & Mike Roberts
Cinematography By: Ari Wegner 
Editor: Joi McMillon 

Cast: Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Coleman Domingo  Nicholas Braun, Jason Mitchell, TS Madison, Sophie Hall

A stripper named Zola embarks on a wild road trip to Florida. Based on a true story and tweeted on Twitter.

You think the film is going to be one way. Another downtrodden downbeat story that is exploitive and feels like tragedy porn In an urban community. But it isn’t it’s not as wild as some might have thought from the toro view but it is pretty out there. As this isn’t a sympathy story. It is more of a day in the life of characters in an extraordinary situation. Where each plays a substantial role.

The film Manages to be stylish and feel like a kind of pulp tale with it’s own voice that has to be true because it is too identifiable and crazy at the same time to be entirely made up. 

Riley Keough’s performance is memorable as the instigator who seduces her into this tawdry trip and also as a character who would normally be a disposable comedic character but here she is knowing yet naive. Someone who causes her own destruction and those around her. As her character has a so-called blaccent which feels like a new dangled version of blackface that her character takes pride In. She comes off as poor white trash or a person of low Intelligence and comes off as one of the worst characters in a film with plenty of dangerous ones. 

Even in the scene where she retorts and tells her own version of the story that we have seen so far. When she is at one of her lowest points. She tries to come off as innocent and the opposite of how she has been portrayed but will insist on insulting Zola like a character with a lot of race-based if not racist overtones in her version of the story. Filled with stereotypes and insults about hygiene. Especially when early in the film we are privy to see just who is the unhygienic one.

The filM Humanizes the characters no matter how outlandish or loathsome. Making the drama feel more full-fledged. Even though it is more of a humorous movie. That feels like a kind of relapse for the audience and the characters. Despite all the fear in all the craziness.

Zola constantly is the smartest character in the room but even she knows she is in over her head. As she tries to make it work for her as she is stuck. When Zola realizes she is in a pimp situation. She realizes she is in too deep and is just trying to survive the situation with unsteady factors. 

The film has little sex but plenty of sexuality and it tries to go into some erotic but is sold cheaply to us. While we see some female glimpses of nudity. We see full frontal of men 

There is grace. There is erotic and it is sexual but there is nothing quite sexy about it as anytime it might veeer towards that it reveals just how gross and messy the situation and awakens you from any fantasy you might try to derive out of it. Sometimes crudely and sometimes humorously. 

Even when the film has a mankind of being cuckolded and while you feel sympathy for him. He also comes off as one of the more comedic elements in his dumbness. As he is constantly humiliated not only by the woman he loves but by her so-called male friend who is more of a pimp and she pledges her love to the pimp over everything in front of him. Then the pimp introduces his other woman and Stefani still stays loyal. You wonder why he doesn’t just leave. 

While the film is crazy it’s not as off the wall as you might expect. Again you  have to go with what is happening and where it leads. 

When a line from the original Twitter feed is used. Usually in dialogue, There is a kind of alarm from Twitter. The film does have many memorable lines. 

Towards the end the film feels a bit like some Miami Vice episode. Though it still feels more homegrown. 

The film is short and to the point. As an on-screen adventure with only an indulgence or two. We learn very little about anybody’s past. There are little revelations when needed.

This is a movie that is definitely waiting to be discovered by an audience and deserves to be. As if the film Is given a chance most would find it entertaining, funny and definitely memorable 

Grade: B

DATE AND SWITCH (2014)

~ jbg ~ Leave a comment

dateandswitch

Directed By: Chris Nelson
Written By: Alan Yang
Cinematography: David Robert James
Editor: Akkiko Iwakawa-Grieve & Tia Nolan

Cast: Nicholas Braun, Hunter Cope, Zach Cregger, Dakota Johnson, Ray Santiago, Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman, Larry Wilmore, Gary Cole, Sarah Hyland, Dustin Ybarra, Rob Huebel, Aziz Ansari, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Brian Geraghaty

High school seniors Michael and Matty make a pact to help each other lose their virginity before their high school prom. Their plan hits a snag when Matty tells his best friend that he’s gay. Michael’s supportive but awkward attempts to help Matty fit in put a strain on their decade-long friendship. Their friendship is further tested when Michael falls for Matty’s former girlfriend and Matty falls for a guy whom Michael wouldn’t approve of. Prom looms and Michael and Matty have to repair their friendship and then figure out their love lives.

Continue reading “DATE AND SWITCH (2014)” →