When the Oscar Noms were out, I had not seen even one of the films nominated. Here's my quick views on all the films. Some deserved to be there, and some are as always poor picks for reasons only the academy knows.
Spoilers ahead..
Don't Look Up
Directed by : Adam Mckay
We really did have everything, didn't we? I mean, when you think about it.
Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence), an astronomy grad student along with her professor Dr Randall Mindy (Leonardo DiCaprio) discover a comet that is on direct collision course with Earth and there's only some months time left to do something or the planet Earth will be destroyed. The probem however is, when Kate and Dr Mindy go on to warn people, no one cares, and that includes the President Orlean (Meryl Streep) and her son, also the Chief of Staff, Jason Orlean (Jonah Hill), or the media where Brie Evantee (Cate Blanchett) one of the host that interviews both Kate-Dr Mindy, is rather more interested in her growing lust for Dr Mindy and even makes out by asking him to say the words 'We are going to die'.
Usually satire dark comedy movies are my favourites, this one didn't really entertain me. Possible reasons could be that it got tiring to see crazy President, media and citizens all unwilling to open their eyes and see the disaster coming their way. I feel maybe director went little overboard with the concept, though I do agree many people exist who are this crazy to ignore a simple warning given to them from professionals. Think the intention was to draw parallels with global warming, you could also connect same movie with 'Covid idiots' (ones who believed Covid was never real, who knows if those ppl still live in the delusion). The craze people have over celebrities than any other important news is pretty well captured though it was irritating to watch for obvious reasons.
Both Meryl and Jonah (who I believe were portraying Donald Trump and his Chief of Staff) felt hammy to me. I enjoyed Leonardo a lot and so did Jennifer who clearly was a character that echoes most of us viewing this film as to why the hell people are so ignorant. However the show stealer for me was Mark Rylance whose dialogue delivery style was so hilarious that for a moment I had to pause the film and think if he's really doing that. I am happy that his prediction over death of President Orlean turned true and Dr Randall one didn't. One complaint I had was over editing, the abrupt cutting off a scene that hasn't finished to move to next happens way too often, if its a style he follows then certainly it effected my movie viewing too often. Overall, 'Don't Look Up' gives some good laughs but its very underwhelming given the great starcast it boasted off, I certainly wanted lot more than what I got.
My Rating : 6/10
The Power of the Dog
Directed by : Jane Campion
Bronco Henry told me that a man was made by patience in the odds against him.
Set in 1925, with the backdrop of Montana where brothers Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch) and George Burbank (Jesse Plemons) own a cattle ranch. During one of their cattle drives, while dining at a restaurant they come across waitress Rose Gordon (Kirsten Dunst) and her son Peter Gordon (Kodi Smit-McPhee). George soon falls in love with Rose and marries her, but Phil who hardly likes anyone isn't happy when Rose comes to their place after marriage. Rose has no idea how badly her and her son's life may get affected with the non-accepting nature of Phil.
I liked the initial scenes of Rose and George, also the drive one when they are heading home. It felt like the movie will keep their relation going rather the plot shifts totally towards Phil's equation with Rose eventually leading to her mental state being disturbed while George almost goes missing for large portion. The Peter-Phil bonding didn't really work for me. Infact Benedict Cumberbatch for once I found very boring. Every year there's always one film that despite being a well made movie never clicks for me like it does with others, for instance 'The Theory of Everything', 'Moonlight', '1917', 'Nomadland' to name a few, and 'The Power of Dog' joins that list. Overrated to my liking, though happy its not got a high rating at Imdb. Except for the 1st act and that too in patches, I couldn't enjoy or feel anything in this film.
My Rating : 3/10
Being the Ricardos
Directed by : Aaron Sorkin
I am Lucille Ball. When I am being funny, you will know it.
A biopic that follows lives of Lucille Ball (Nicole Kidman) and her husband Desi Arnaz (Javier Bardem) when they are shooting for their famous show 'I Love Lucy' at a time when Lucille is pregnant and wants that included in the final episodes of the show. There's also a newspaper article that has termed Lucy as a communist which may effect everyone's lives and also a matter of Lucille feeling that Desi is having an affair. I really enjoyed watching all behind the scenes we are shown of the 'I Love Lucy' show where Lucille tries to dominate and control the proceedings. Its fun watching how she in her mind creates those black and white visualisation of the scene, how she gets so picky to have a scene done the way she wants. Also, the sexism at display and this being a 1950s based movie, a time when clearly women who won't try to say something won't be able to put over their point which clearly Lucille was doing. Unfortunately though, whenever the narrative went towards Lucille-Desi marriage, or their flashbacks, it just felt too average and dull. I don't know if its the writing to blame entirely, or maybe Javier Bardem wasn't right choice to play Desi. Nicole Kidman though was very good, even if I won't say it was among her great performances of past. Overall, 'Being the Ricardos' works in patches mainly the television drama and creative arguements that take place between leads, supporting actors, producers and the directors, maybe the entire story could had stayed on it only.
My Rating : 5/10
Coming 2 America
Directed by : Craig Brewer
Walk your own path. Be not the prince of Zamunda. Be the prince from Queens.
Prince Akeem (Eddie Murphy) goes to America with Semmi (Arsenio Hall) after learning he has a son (bastard son as they call it) Lavelle Junson (Jermaine Fowler). Akeem's father recent demise means he will be the new king of Zamunda and the throne of new prince as per their outdated rules can't go to his 3 daughters so its important to find his son Lavelle and avoid the threat of General Izzi (Wesley Snipes) who would rather wanna take the place. I haven't seen the original film whose sequel this is. There are some funny scenes, mostly involving Lavelle specially when he comes to Zamunda and tries to fit in or learn what tests he has to pass to become a Princi that involves a walk, a tiger sequence and much more. Lets be clear, from the first scene onwards you can see its a very bad film, yet it had in it to be a guilty pleasure film if not for too many of gross scenes or humour that just is hard to enjoy. The love angle of Lavelle with hairstylist is predictable but still gives some nice moments. Morgan Freeman special appearance is very forgetabble and the daughter of General Izzi I am not sure what that was, kind of speechless. Maybe I would give the original movie a chance in future, this one is easily avoidable if you haven't seen yet.
My Rating : 2.5/10
Cruella
Directed by : Craig Gillespie
They say there are five stages of grief. Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. Well, I would like to add one more. Revenge.
Estella (Emma Stone), since teenage time wanted to be a fashion designer. At 12 after losing her mother, she reaches London and befriends two amateur thieves Jasper (Joel Fry) and Holace (Paul Walter Hauser). After 10 years, with help of Jasper.. Estella lands herself a chance to work at a popular fashion designing place and later on leading to work with The Baroness (Emma Thompson). Just when it looked like she was winning the heart of her new boss, she learns about a deep secret related to her mother's death and her alter ego Cruella De Vil is born who will leave no stone unturned to seek revenge.
Its an interesting film, one that I didn't feel I would like, having no idea about who Cruella was so it was a new territory for me. We see Estella with half head hairs white and other half black, and then her new name having 'De Vil' aka 'Devil'. The way Cruella sabotages every fashion event of The Baroness is fun and stylish specially that garbage sequence. But it all comes at the expense of not caring for the loved ones, as both Jasper and Holace could feel Estella has changed a lot. Revenge comes at a price, making Cruella dislikeable character even when we are enjoying her little wins over The Baroness. Emma Stone does a commendable job, while Emma Thompson on the other hand was so so for me, didn't quite work out. The costumes and songs choices were another plus point of the movie. Overall, Cruella is one of those films that you will like and dislike at same time, good enough though to pass time.
My Rating : 6/10
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
Directed by : Michael Showalter
And remember, never forget it. You know what I am going to say. God loves you. He really, really, really does.
A biopic on the televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker (Jessica Chastain) that shows her rise and eventual fall into PTL scandals and much more. One of those films that I saw to know a part of history rather than actually been interested in it with all the God religion angle. For me both lead characters were very dislikeable, Tammy atleast shows human side on many occasions, specially the aids scene or her views towards the LGBT that is brought out often. Also, you can't help but feel its her blind faith in her husband Jim Bakker (Andrew Garfield) that mostly resulted in the life she had because he clearly all the while was interested to be on camera and become wealthy with the 'God wants' angle always a joke or atleast it appeared so. Jessica was highly unrecognisable for me in this role, and even though I love her a lot.. I still feel this isn't the film I would had liked her to win Oscar. On the other hand Andrew Garfield for once was highly irritating, and again its not his performance issues but a character that you just don't wish to see at all. 'The Eyes of Tammy Faye' is watchable, its just not a film that I could like.
My Rating : 4/10
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
Directed by : Destin Daniel Cretton
Lead with your breathe. Look into your heart, the light and the dark. To know yourself, you must face them both.
Xu Wenwu (Tony Chiu-Wai Leung) leads an organisation called Ten Rings and always lusts for more power until he meets Li (Fala Chen) falling in love at first sight. But Li's death one day makes Wenwu return to his old ways even more deadly than before seeking revenge of his wife's death. Wenwu's children Shaun (Simu Liu) and Xialing (Meng'er Zhang) grow apart from him, while Shaun along with his friend Katy (Awkwafina) work as a valet. Wenwu sends his men to find Shaun as he believes Li is still alive and kept trapped by her own people in a place called Ta Lo.
Two action sequences totally standout, one is where Wenwu meets Li first time resulting in a martial arts kind duel.. have to admit it reminded a lot of the Baahubali scene between Prabhas and Tamannah but this one worked lot better for me specially because Wenwu who felt immortal finally met someone with more powers than him. And other scene ofcourse is the bus one where Shaun fights with men of his father and Katy learns the real identity of Shaun. Sadly, the rest action sequences comes nowhere close and the climax was a total misfire for me. The story however works a lot, whether its the part where both Shaun and his sister Xialing feel neglected eventually leading them to run away at a teen age from their home. Or the part where Shaun feels changing name is enough to run away from his family or how Shaun's aunt Ying Nan (a brilliant Michelle Yeoh) tells him how he has to let go things to really succeed.
The scenes between Li and young Shaun are very touching and play key role to the emotional side of the movie. Simu Liu is good as the first Asian lead of MCU universe, though he doesn't have that screen presence or confidence I would have liked but I will still give him chance in future films. Awkwafina is hilarious and too good, she reminds me of Michael Pena from Antman, the energy way I mean. Though I found that last scene where Shaun is welcomed to the Avengers along with Katy as pretty stupid, I mean she hardly did anything and that arrow shoot was just a fluke. Aneways, its Tony Chiu-Wai Leung who steals the show, in every frame he is so good in displaying all variety of emotions, I felt bad that he had to die in the end, he may have gone wrong direction but in love everyone does it, wish they kept him alive. Overall, Shang-Chi is a good addition to the MCU universe, minus a very poor CGI based final fight that ruined the movie a little, still entertaining enough to be seen and certainly better than Captain Marvel.. I will still rate it below Doctor Strange (yet to see Black Widow).
My Rating : 6.5/10
Cyrano
Directed by : Joe Wright
Have you ever wanted something so badly you cannot breathe? Have you ever loved someone madly?
Cyrano de Bergerac (Peter Dinklage) is not only brilliant at swordplay but is wonderful with words coming up with great poems. He has always been in love with his friend Roxanne (Haley Bennett) but always feels he's not good looking to get her approval. Finally he decides to tell his feelings only to find Roxanne herself has fallen in love at first sight with Christian (Kelvin Harrison Jr) who is a new recruit in Cyrano's guardsmen. I haven't seen this play or read the story before, but the main plot of a friend helping another guy get the girl they both love has been done many times. Yet that scene where Cyrano is so happy and excited only to be heartbroken moments later works wonderfully. Infact Peter Dinklage performance was worthy of a Oscar nomination, maybe its his singing that let that not happen, otherwise his acting and expressions of a person in deep love were very spot on.
My issues with film rather was firstly the story post the death of Christian, it kind of goes nowhere and that end didn't work for me even if thats how its in the play. And other main problem I had was the backdrop of war and battle looming, that just wasn't used in a way that it keeps the romantic plot going. Also, what was that scene where Cyrano gets through a army of men without getting killed. And I get the point behind that long song of the men at war reading the letters of their loved ones (a kind of Sandhey se aate hai from Border), but in a film that has Cyrano-Roxanne-Christian love story, this track just feels like a hiccup more than to invoke feelings. I enjoyed Haley Bennett act, while Kelvin was so-so to me. In a musical, the songs need to be really good.. here they work well with the narrative specially 'Madly' and 'Wherever I fall' but they aren't tracks you would otherwise listen to. Cyrano is a decent watch, that mainly works for Peter Dinklage performance.
My Rating : 5.5/10
Spencer
Directed by : Pablo Larrain
Well here, there is only one tense. There is no future. The past and the present are the same thing.
Its 1991, Christmas weekend when Diana Spencer (Kristen Stewart) who has been struggling with her mental health joins the Royal family at their Norfolk estate. The entire plot revolves around Diana feeling trapped and not willing to go through all the routines that one expects from her, whether its about what dress at what time of the day she must wear, what she must eat, where she must go or not go etc etc. At one stage her husband even warns her to get her act together and try to manage 2 lives because thats the only way to survive. I personally felt very tired watching Diana throughout the movie go through what she does, from her hallucinations to the unsuccessful attempts to breakfree, and also I wasn't fully sold by the performance of Kristen Stewart though some of that has to do with the fact that I have never seen Princess Diana footage in real before. If you are able to manage these 2 issues then most likely Spencer will work a lot better for you. The scenes of Diana with her children were kind of respite I wanted, giving some nice lighthearted moments. Mostly I prefer a biopic that rather shows a particular event of person's life then show the entire span in chronological order but Spencer still ends up as a mediocre movie for me.
My Rating : 5/10
Free Guy
Directed by : Shawn Levy
Don't have a good day, have a great day.
Guy (Ryan Reynolds) lives a same loop kind of life starting from waking up to greeting the fish Goldie to choosing a blue shirt, some routine happenings on the way to bank where he works that ultimately results into heist scenario. He is happy with his friend Buddy (Lil Rel Howery) until a chance encounter happens with Millie (Jodie Comer) when he feels she is the girl he had been all the time dreaming of his entire life. But, Guy is not aware yet that he is actually a NPC (non playing character) and its a video game 'Free City' he is living his life in, not a real world.
I quite enjoyed the movie mainly for Ryan Reynolds who always cracks you up whether he is playing Deadpool or not. Also, the other star of movie is Jodie Comer who is brilliant in every frame whether its the part she plays inside the game or the real world where she is trying to prove that the game actually has her and her friend Keys (Joe Keery) codes used without any mention by Antwan (Taika Waititi) for whom Keys actually works for now. Taika Waititi was highly irritating character for me and Joe Keery I felt got too sidelined as a result his romantic angle never really worked for me. Another issue I found was the film doesn't try to tackle the toxic environment these kind of games have, rather presents it as something fun and entertaining to enjoy. I am not much into Gaming or specially these kind of simulation games, so did felt little confused at places. Yet, I won't deny Free Guy is a good movie to sit through, some of the visual effects are appealing, jokes on Hulk-Captain America comeby too, a wonderful action sequence involving Guy and Millie on bike, plus there are few moving moments too involving Guy specially.
My Rating : 6.5/10
