Spike Fearn – Cut To The Chase

Written & Directed By: James L. Brooks

Cinematography: Robert Elswit

Editor: Tracy Wadmore-Smith

Cast: Ella Mackey, Woody Harrelson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Albert Brooks, Julie Kavner, Ayo Edebiri, Kumail Nanijani, Jack Lowden, Spike Fearn, Rebecca Hall,

An idealistic young woman juggles her family and work life in a comedy about the people you love and how to survive them.

I really wanted to enjoy this film. As I have grown up watching James L. Brooks films or productions, not to mention Emma Mackey in one of her first big screen leading roles after making such an impact on the series SEX EDUCATION

but this was a film that was hard to take.

It might be as it is so idealistic. It would have worked in the 1950’s or before, but in today’s political climate. It comes across as more of a dream. A high concept movie that might have come along or been passable in the 1980’s but feels grating and off rhythm in today’s cinema.

While it’s nice to watch a film that is idealistic and not so cynical in today’s climate. It can still be interesting, which unfortunately this film isn’t. It lacks an ingredient even though it has plenty of energy .

The film feels overwritten. As one of the characters says in the movie “You don’t have to articulate everything” one wishes the movie had taken its own advice.

As the film plays like more of a theatrical piece for the stage, especially with the characters saying their feelings out loud to one another. Theme there are so many plot threads that luckily revolve around the main character. So that they lead into one another.

It ends up feeling way too scripted an never natural. So that the characters have all these neurosis. Though they never Come across as natural or believable. They are slaves to the directions of the screenplay

One can understand Writer/Director Brooks is doing what he does best and aiming for an old school classic dramatic comedy that is more grounded and adult. Like the One’s he might have grown up with. Which is similar to his last big screen film HOW DO YOU KNOW. Though as that film was star studded but a bomb. This is truly worse than that film. As it is questionable what he saw in this story or film.

The film feels endless and boring after awhile. Where you get to the point where you don’t care what happens, you just want the film to end.

There Also seems to be some scenes missing as it sets up a romance for two characters. Which is obvious, but we never actually see them pursue it or watch it grow to show their chemistry. It’s implied and then in the end even them being a couple is presented in the same way. Was it controversial as it would be interracial? It’s just strange especially in a film that fees the need to over explain Everything else. That it gets modest there or leaves the audience to figure it out. As maybe the filmmaker feels he has been there way too many times before.

It plays like a romantic comedy but then tries to present itself as a comedic character study?

It’s ultimately like the film isn’t sure in which direction it should be or even wants to go.

Though luckily it fits into James L. Brooks filmography pedigree. Just not up to the quality of his previous works.

Grade: D

Directed By: Sam Taylor-Johnson

Written By: Michael Greenhalgh

Cinematography: Polly Morgan

Editor: Laurence Johnson and Martin Walsh

Cast: Marisa Abela, Eddie Marsan, Jack O’Connell, Lesley Manville, Juliet Cowan, Sam Buchanan, Anna Daras, Spike Fearn, Therica Wilson-Read

A celebration of the most iconic – and much missed – homegrown star of the 21st century, BACK TO BLACK tells the extraordinary tale of Amy Winehouse. Painting a vivid, vibrant picture of the Camden streets she called home and capturing the struggles of global fame, BACK TO BLACK honors Amy’s artistry, wit, and honesty, as well as trying to understand her demons. An unflinching look at the modern celebrity machine and a powerful tribute to a once-in-a-generation talent.

I was probably always going to be harsh on this film as I am such a huge Amy Winehouse fan and I feel like the documentary. AMY is a definitive and informative statement when it comes to her life.

When it comes to biofilms the best, don’t try to tell the whole story they pick a certain period of the person’s life and fill the drama, even if the drama comes from their past. As Amy lived such a short life there might’ve been room to fit in from birth to her unfortunate death at 27

Even after all these years, it still feels too soon for a biofilm as the scars are still there. So I will say the film isn’t as bad as I thought.

Marisa Abela is the best thing about this movie. She is amazing and mimics her vocal style impressively. There are no problems with her performance.

What hurts the film? Is that even at just a little over two hours? It still feels rushed half the time where you can’t tell what part of her career she’s at times. It would also help the love interest at least the film. Would Moore sweep her off her feet and you could understand why she is so attracted to him other than similar interest. as it plays here, he always constantly seems like a walking red flag, even if he might have some raw sexuality or a danger about him, but it never comes across as convincing that she would just give herself so to this character

Another problem in the film is that we see that she gets depressed over the death of her grandmother and the volatile relationship she has with Blake, but it still never quite explains the other parts of the downward spiral. Yes, we can say depression, but it helps if we’re given more evidence instead of kind of just being told in one scene, or constantly being lonely, we need a little more to flash out and to believe in this more.

Sam Taylor Johnson directed the John Lennon bio film NOWHERE BOY, so this isn’t new territory for her she lands the plane so to speak when it comes to this film, but it is quite a bumpy ride with plenty of turbulence that is more not the adventure of the story or characters, but more in the way the story is told it tries to have a smoothness where it feels like it’s not even trying Standard something a little bit more a TV production than a cinematic vision.

As in the end, it plays more like a sad romantic, love story. That is almost one-sided, though there was definitely passion and emotion somewhere in there.

One believes that if you are a Die Hard true fan of Amy Winehouse, you do not need to see this film. You should’ve already seen Amy but if you’re just curious as to ask her just a bio seems to be a trend. This feels more like a student rather than, someone who cares about getting the story straight and the facts down

Grade: C

Tag: Spike Fearn

ELLA MCCAY (2025)

BACK TO BLACK (2024)