GUNPOWDER MILKSHAKE REVIEW

 *MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Gunpowder Milkshake was one of my most anticipated films of this year, mainly because of its cast and the action packed story. It was released in cinemas and on Netflix in the United States in July and, unfortunately, received a mixed response with critics saying that it “runs dangerously close to being a pure sugar rush with no substance”. Despite this, I was still looking forward to watching Gunpowder Milkshake 
Sam (Karen Gillan) was only 12 years old when her mother Scarlet (Lena Headey), an elite assassin, was forced to abandon her. Sam was raised by The Firm, the ruthless crime syndicate her mother worked for. Now, 15 years later, Sam has followed in her mother's footsteps and grown into a fierce hit-woman. She uses her 'talents' to clean up The Firm's most dangerous messes. She's as efficient as she is loyal.  But when a high-risk job goes wrong, Sam must choose between serving The Firm or protecting the life of an innocent 8-year-old girl, Emily (Chloe Coleman). With a target on her back, Sam has only one chance to survive: Reunite with her mother and her lethal associates: The Librarians, Anna May (Angela Bassett), Florence (Michelle Yeoh) and Madeleine (Carla Gugino).  These three generations of women must now learn to trust each other, stand up to The Firm and their army of henchmen, and raise hell against those who could take everything from them.

Although it’s not as great as it could have been, due to a weak and predictable story, Gunpowder Milkshake is still worth watching for its thrilling action and strong performances by its talented cast. The film is at its best during the action sequences, most of which involves Sam and Emily. An early scene that takes place in a bowling alley is easily one of the highlights as it sees Sam fighting off a trio of henchmen sent by her boss, Nathan (Paul Giamatti), after she fails to return his stolen money. Director Navot Papushado doesn’t shy away from the gruesome violence. Those who are squeamish are best off avoiding Gunpowder Milkshake as it’s filled with violent fights. A stand out action sequence sees Emily forced to help Sam drive after a doctor numbs her arms. Despite her age of eight and three quarters, Emily gets involved in some of the action. 

Gunpowder Milkshake features a cast of talented actors who each leave a lasting impression. Since appearing on Doctor Who as Amy Pond in 2010, Gillan has successfully made the transition from television to the cinema by portraying Nebula in Guardians of the Galaxy and its sequel, Vol. 2, and as video game character, Ruby Roundhouse, in both of the Jumanji sequels, Welcome to the Jungle and The Next Level. In Gunpowder Milkshake, Gillan portrays Sam as a bad-ass fighter but also a caring sisterly figure for Emily. Like Gillan, Headey is also best known for her work on television, after appearing as Cersei Lannister in the epic fantasy series, Game of Thrones. As Scarlet, Headey delivers a fierce performance. Bassett, Yeoh and Gugino are equally as impressive as three librarians.

What I admired the most about Gunpowder Milkshake was that it focuses on women who team up to defeat the antagonists. For far too long in films, women have simply been included as the love interest for the male main character. It’s refreshing to watch a film like Gunpowder Milkshake where women aren’t love interests and are interesting individuals. Although the characters are underdeveloped, I still enjoyed watching them all in action, especially during a shoot-out that takes place in the library. The cast are all clearly having a lot of fun working together and making the film and, as a result, I had fun watching them. 

Following my watch of Gunpowder Milkshake, I’m surprised by the lukewarm reception it’s received since its release. Although I agree that both the story and character development could have been improved, I still thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced and exciting action and seeing women teaming up and getting involved in the action.

7/10

BIRDS OF PREY: AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Suicide Squad was one of the most anticipated films of 2016, unfortunately, it was disappointment. While I liked it more than most people after my first watch, I can definitely see its flaws following a recent rewatch. While the film isn't that great, I think everyone can agree that Margot Robbie's portrayal of Harley Quinn was the stand-out aspect. Now, she has her own film, Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn, however, is it better than Suicide Squad?

Birds of Prey is a twisted tale told by Harley (Robbie) herself, as only she can tell it. When Gotham's most nefariously narcissistic villain, Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor), and his zealous right-hand, Zsasz (Chris Messina), put a target on a young girl named Cassandra Cain (Ella Jay Basco), the city is turned upside down looking for her. Harley, Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), Black Canary (Jurnee Smolett-Bell) and Renee Montoya's (Rosie Perez) paths collide, and the unlikely foursome have no choice but to team up to take Roman down.

Birds of Prey is a significant improvement over Suicide Squad. Director Cathy Yan fixes some of the issues that people had with the latter and has created a film that is fun, full of energy and thoroughly entertaining. A common criticism with Suicide Squad was its dull visuals and poor cinematography, which meant it was hard to figure what was going on at times. In contrast to the dark and gloomy looking Suicide Squad, the scenes in Birds of Prey are bright, colourful and vibrant. Every scene pops out with eccentric art direction, costume design and effects.The film is like a comic book crossed with graffiti art. The fact that this is Yan's fiirst big-budget production makes Birds of Prey's visual style all the more impressive. I can't imagine fans of the comic books being disappointed with Birds of Prey.

Robbie's portrayal of Quinn was one of the few highlights of Suicide Squad, however, in Birds of Prey, she improves and successfully captures her character's eccentric and quirky personality. Since the release of Suicide Squad in 2016, Robbie has portrayed a wide range of characters and prove she's one of the most talented actors working today. She's received two Academy Award nominations, one for her portrayal of ice skater, Tonya Harding in I, Tonya and she's currently nominated at this year's Oscars for her performance in Bombshell as Mikayla. She has also delivered memorable supporting roles as Queen Elizabeth I in Mary, Queen of Scots and as the late Hollywood actress, Sharon Tate, in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Her portrayal of Quinn in Birds of Prey further proves there's no end to Robbie's talents. Quinn isn't a perfect individual, however, she is a lot of fun to watch. While it is Robbie who stands out as Quinn, the rest of the cast all leave a lasting impression with their performances, including Smollett-Bell as Dinah Lance/Black Canary, who is Sionis' driver, however, she teams up with Quinn in order to protect Cassandra; Winstead as Helena Bertinelli/Huntress, who is a vigilante and seeks revenge on the mobsters that murdered her family and Perez as Montoya who is a detective working at the Gotham Police Department and is building a case against Sionis. While I think that these characters would have benefited from more screen time in order to develop their characters, they each deliver a solid performance and I would like to see more of them in a future sequel. Known mainly for his leading roles and for playing the 'hero' type, especially in the Star Wars prequels as Obi-Wan Kenobi, McGregor plays against type as the main villain, Sionis who is also known as Black Mask. While he's not a scary or menacing villain like the Joker, he still proves to be a threat to Quinn. 

Featuring exciting action and violent fight sequences throughout, there's hardly a dull moment to be found during Birds of Prey's 109 minute runtime. A problem with Suicide Squad was its PG-13 rating which prevented the characters from being too violent and the action scenes were generic and failed to excite. Fortunately, this isn't the case with Birds of Prey. While the violence isn't graphic, it is still quite intense, which makes it unsuitable for the faint-hearted and those who are squeamish. The climatic sequence is where Birds of Prey is at its best as we see Quinn fight alongside the titular Birds of Prey. All four characters show off their fighting skills and prove that they work well as a team. Fans of the comic books will be happy to know that the Birds of Prey's fighting gear make an appearance, with Quinn using her famous baseball bat and mallet and she also uses other insane weaponry, like a grenade launcher that shoots beanbags and confetti. The fighting gear that Black Canary, Huntress and Montoya all use throughout the film are in line with their source materials.

While there's been a lot of praise towards Birds of Prey, prior to watching it, I did notice a lot of people having issues with the story and the frequent flashbacks in order to develop certain characters. While I can understand why many had an issue with this, I liked it as the story is being told from Quinn's point-of-view and she narrates throughout. The narrative structure works for Birds of Prey and, because Quinn's mind is unhinged, it makes sense that her story would jump around. While she isn't the most focused narrator, the plot and motivations are never incoherent. Even when Quinn backtracks to explain someone's back story, she does it in such an entertaining way it's hard to complain.

A problem with Suicide Squad was that it was too dark and its attempts at humour failed as they felt out of place. This isn't the case for Birds of Prey which couldn't be less serious and features several amusing and witty one-liners from Quinn.  The tone is similar to Deadpool so fans of that film will find something to enjoy in Birds of Prey.

While Birds of Prey probably won't appeal to everyone, it's still worth seeing for a lot of films, mainly the all-female ensemble team, both on-screen and off-screen. Unfortunately, it's rare that a film like this, one that features female main characters, a female director and a female writer, is successful at the box office. While there have been female led action films in the past, including the Ghostbusters remake, Ocean's 8 and last year's Charlie's Angels, they failed to impress at the box office. Even if Birds of Prey doesn't look appealing to you, it's worth giving it a watch as you may be pleasantly surprised. You don't necessarily need to have read the comic books in order to enjoy Birds of Prey.
An improvement over its predecessor, Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey is an energetic, lively and fun follow-up that benefits from Margot Robbie and her unforgettable portrayal of Harley Quinn.
7/10

RICHARD JEWELL REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Although he's best known for appearing in iconic Westerns such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Dirty Harry, recently, Clint Eastwood has been doing more work behind the camera as a director. Most of his features tell interesting and compelling stories and feature strong performances from its cast. With Richard Jewell, Eastwood brings the true story of its titular character to the big screen.

Richard Jewell is a story of what happens when what is reported as fact obscures the truth. "There is a bomb in Centennial Park. You have thirty minutes." The world is first introduced to Jewell (Paul Walter Hauser) as the security guard who reports finding the device at the 1996 Atlanta bombing-his report making him a hero whose swift actions save countless lives. But within days, the law enforcement wannabe becomes the FBI's number one suspect, vilified by press and public alike, his life ripped apart. Reaching out to independent, anti-establishment attorney Watson Bryant (Sam Rockwell), Jewell staunchly professes his innocence. But Bryant finds he is out of his depth as he fights the combined powers of the FBI, GBI and APD to clear his client's name, while keeping Jewell from trusting the very people trying to destroy him.

While Richard Jewell is far from one of Eastwood's best features, it's still a solid drama that tells the story of an ordinary man who performed an extraordinary heroic act and saved hundreds of lives. Unfortunately, instead of being praised, he is treated as a suspect by the FBI, lead by Tom Shaw (Jon Hamm) and the media with journalist Kathy Scruggs (Olivia Wilde) writing the stories 

Because Richard Jewell takes place in 1996, a year before I was born, I was unfamiliar with this news story and I found it to be an unpredictable watch for most of its 123 minute runtime. I can imagine there will be a lot of people who, like me, don't know who Jewell is or why his story has been made into a film directed by Eastwood. At the time of the events of Richard Jewell, the titular character was an ordinary security guard who was simply doing his job when he discovered a suspicious backpack that had been left unattended at a concert in Centiennial Park and his suspicions are confirmed when an explosives expert discovers that it contains three pipe bombs. Before the bombs go off, the security, including Jewell, are able to clear the area, with hundreds of lives being saved. This quickly becomes a major news story, with the media praising Jewell's actions, unfortunately, the FBI are quick to label him as a suspect and believe he planted the bombs in order to get attention. Because we know that Jewell isn't guilty, we side with him and feel his fear that he may be sent to prison for a crime he didn't commit. He loses his privacy with the FBI invading his privacy and his home. 

In many films, including Spotlight, which won the Best Picture Oscar in 2016, the media has been portrayed in a positive light, however, with Richard Jewell, Eastwood shows another side to the world of journalism. Scruggs is a struggling journalist who quickly reports on Jewell's story, however, she sides with the FBI and portrays him as a suspect. This proves that not every story you hear about on the news or read about in the newspapers is true as Scruggs is more interested in making money instead of getting to know the truth and whether or not Jewell is actually guilty. The obsession from the FBI and media has an impact on Jewell who can't even leave his house without being harassed by a group of journalists. 

Like most of Eastwood's films, Richard Jewell features a cast of talented actors who all deliver solid portrayals of their characters, with Rockwell and Kathy Bates standing out as Jewell's attorney, Bryant, and his mother, Bobi, with the latter earning a Best Supporting Actress nomination at this year's Academy Awards. Her best scene takes place towards the end when she delivers a moving speech about her son. However, it's Hauser who impresses the most with his sympathetic portrayal of the titular character. The actor has made small appearances in I, Tonya, BlacKkKlansman and Late Night, however, his portrayal of Jewell proves that he's capable of handling a leading role. When the project was first announced in early 2014, producers Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill were attached to star, with the latter portraying Jewell, While I think both are talented actors, I don't think either would've been right to portray the characters as they're too well known. Because Hauser isn't well known, his performance of Jewell is convincing.

Judging by the trailer, you'd be understood for thinking that Richard Jewell was a serious drama, which it is, however, Eastwood includes moments of comic relief, including Bryant's many digs at Agent Shaw. Jewell's social awkwardness makes for some funny scenes, including when the FBI search his home and he is a little too honest and helpful to them, despite Bryant telling him not to speak.

I found Richard Jewell to be similar to Just Mercy as both films focused on an innocent individual who is accused of being a suspect or guilty of a crime. While I think the latter had a stronger emotional impact, the former still provides solid drama and tells the interesting story of an ordinary man who, after performing a heroic act, is accused of being a suspect by the FBI.

While it's far from one of the best films Clint Eastwood has directed, Richard Jewell is still a compelling drama and tells the extraordinary true story of its titular character with an impressive performance from Paul Walter Hauser.

7/10

THE IRISHMAN REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

While its 209 minute runtime may prevent people from watching it, Martin Scorsese's latest feature, The Irishman, is worth watching for his directing and the strong performances from Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. 

This biographical crime thriller follows Frank Sheeran (De Niro) as he recalls his past years working for the Bufalino crime family. Now older, the World War II veteran once again reflects on his most prolific hits and, in particular, considers his involvement with his good friend Jimmy Hoffa's (Pacino) disappearance in 1975.

At the time of writing this review, The Irishman has received an impressive ten nominations at this year's Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director for Scorsese and Best Supporting Actor for both Pacino and Pesci. It's not surprising that it's received so many nominations as it's the type of film that gets recognised by the Academy, an epic drama that tells an original and compelling story and features stand out performances from a cast of talented actors and great work from one of the best filmmakers. While it's tough to say what awards it will win on the night of the Oscars, I can't imagine The Irishman walking away empty handed. 

The stand out aspect of The Irishman are the performances delivered by De Niro, Pacino and Pesci. As Sheeran, De Niro delivers one of his best dramatic performances in recent years. The story is told from his character's point of view and is given the most background. With this role, De Niro proves that he's at his best when he's working with his friend, Scorsese. The Irishman marks the first time the two have worked on a feature-length film since Casino which was released in 1995. It may be hard to believe but The Irishman also marks the first time that Pacino and Scorsese have worked together. As Hoffa, Pacino delivers an unforgettable portrayal and, as expected, dominates every scene he's in. Pesci is best known for his role in Scorsese's film, Goodfellas, which was released in 1990 and earned him his first Oscar. In The Irishman, Pesci reunites with the director and leaves a lasting impression with his portrayal of Russell Bufalino. It's difficult to say whether Pacino or Pesci will win an Oscar, however, I think that the winner will most likely be Brad Pitt for his supporting role in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, as he's won at previous award shows including the Golden Globes.

The Irishman showcases Scorsese at his best, creating a compelling crime-based drama that, despite its three and a half hour runtime, rarely loses its viewers' attention. The Irishman marks the first time the director has created a film for the streaming service, Netflix, however, I think that the film is better suited to home viewing, where the pause button is available for those who find it difficult to watch long films in one sitting. Although I've only seen a few of Scorsese's most recent features, including The Aviator, The Departed, Shutter Island and Hugo, I can understand why he’s considered to be one of the best filmmakers. The Irishman has encouraged me to watch Scorsese's previous features, including Goodfellas, Taxi Driver and The Wolf of Wall Street, which have been described as his best work. 

An issue for some people may be the 209 minute runtime, however, I can understand why the length of The Irishman is so long as the story can't be told in under two and a half hours. The story focuses on an elderly Sheeran looking back on his life, with the majority of the film taking place in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Scorsese succeeds in keeping the viewer’s attention. The characters are all interesting individuals and the story covers important events from the past, including the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. This event is shown from the point of view of Sheeran and Hoffa, who hear about the news on the television. The news of Kennedy’s death shocks everyone in the room, including Hoffa who, for once, is speechless. 

The story for The Irishman is based on Charles Brandt's book, I Heard You Paint Houses, which is a mob term for killing people, the paint being the blood  that splatters when bullets are fired into a body. The book was first published in 2004 and contains 71 pages of backmatter largely detailing independent corrobation of Sheeran's confessions. While a lot of films take roughly two years to make, The Irishman has been in production since 2009 when Brandt received a phone call from De Niro. This lead to a meeting a month later between the two of them, Scorsese and screenwriter, Steven Zaillian. Getting Brandt's book made into a film wasn't an easy process. Because the story for The Irishman is based on real people and events, De Niro has had to defend the writing process and stated that they're not telling the "actual" story. While The Irishman includes scenes that imply what happened to Hoffa, Scorsese isn't saying that this is what happened as no one knows for sure.

While The Irishman explores aspects of Sheeran's life, including his job, I felt that it didn't explore his relationship with his daughter, Peggy (Anna Paquin), enough for it to have an emotional impact. With its long runtime, I do feel like Scorsese could've spent more time focusing on the relationship between Sheeran and Peggy. An issue with The Irishman is that it lacks strong female roles, with actresses such as Kathrine Narducci and Aleksa Palladino filling out the "faithful wife" parts. Paquin is a talented actress, unfortunately, she is underused. 

Although I was apprehensive about The Irishman prior to watching it, mainly because of its lengthy runrime, Martin Scorsese's latest feature beat my expectations and proved to be an engaging crime-based drama with strong performances from Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci.

8/10

QUEEN & SLIM REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Every now and then, my local cinema holds exclusive secret screenings of unreleased films. This can be a great way to get a wide range of viewers to see films they might not normally see or haven't even heard of. The latest secret screening was Queen & Slim, which isn't due to be released in the UK until the end of January. Prior to watching this feature, which is written by Lena Waithe and directed by Melina Matsoukas, I only knew small details about the plot and didn't know what to expect.

While on a forgettable first date together in Ohio, a black man, Slim (Daniel Kaluuya), and a black woman, Queen (Jodie Turner-Smith), are pulled over for a minor traffic infraction. The situation escalates, with sudden and tragic results, when the man kills the police officer in self-defense. Terrified and in fear for their lives, the man, a retail employee, and the woman, a criminal defense lawyer, are forced to go on the run. But the incident is captured on video and goes viral, and the couple unwittingly become a symbol of trauma, terror, grief and pain for people across the country.

Because I didn't know much about Queen & Slim, I found it to be unpredictable for most of its 132 minute runtime. The opening introduces viewers to the titular characters who are on a date, however, they don't share any chemistry so Slim decides to drive Queen home but are pulled over by a police officer. While Slim obeys the officer, Queen, being a defence attorney, knows he hasn't done anything wrong leading to a fight breaking out between the three that ends with Slim shooting the officer in defense. This opening is gripping and intense. Following the shocking outcome, Queen and Slim are forced to go on the run. 

For the majority of its runtime, Queen & Slim is never anything less than compelling and thought-provoking. As Queen and Slim are forced to rely on the help of others in order to hide from the police, it will make viewers wonder what they would do in their situation. Not everyone will agree with their actions and decisions, however, a film is meant to divide opinion and make people think. With their story being reported on the news, Queen and Slim struggle to hide from the police and change their appearance, with Queen cutting all her hair off. Their journey is unsettling as we never know if they're going to get caught or if they're even going to survive. 

Racism is, unfortunately, still a major issue and Waithe's script captures the discrimination people of colour face. I found Queen & Slim to be very similar to last year's underrated drama, The Hate U Give, as both stories focus on the conflict between a white police officer and a person of colour. Both films handle these difficult subject effectively. Being white, I do feel fortunate that I don't experience prejudice for the colour of my skin, however, I do wish it wasn't this way. While the viewers will understand that Queen and Slim aren't bad people, the media portrays them as evil criminals who murdered a police officer for no reason. A lot of people are quick to believe what they hear on the news or read in the paper, however, Queen & Slim proves that not all stories that are reported are true or accurate representations of the individuals involved. 

While Queen And Slim is a powerful and thought-provoking drama, the ending may be seen as too depressing, however, I respected the film for ending this way as it would've been unrealistic to have a happy ending for its characters. As Matsoukas explained in an interview, people of colour don't always get a choice and found the ending, written by Waithe, to be an authentic way to end the film. The ending is heartbreaking, however, that's the point of Queen & Slim, it's meant to make you feel sad, angry and think about the world we're living in. 

Both Kaluuya and Turner-Smith deliver strong, dramatic performances. Following his Oscar-nominated performance in Get Out two years ago, Kaluuya has continued to impress with his acting ability. Last year, he appeared in the crime-based thriller, Widows, where he portrayed Jamal, the brother of a crime boss. As Slim, Kaluuya successfully captures his charm and his knack for trying to make light of a dark situation. He's scared but tries his hardest to be brave for Queen. In her first feature, Turner-Smith leaves the biggest impression with her portrayal of Queen. Both characters lack chemistry in the beginning, however, their journey brings them closer together.

Despite being released during Oscar season, I do think that Queen & Slim will be overlooked in some of the major categories, however, that doesn't mean it's not worth watching. It's so easy to look at the poster and dismiss it but Queen & Slim is one of those films that needs to be seen. It's a powerful and well-acted drama that features a thought-provoking story by Lena Waithe.

8/10

KNIVES OUT REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

For a mystery-based film to succeed, it has to keep the viewer guessing throughout and make it hard for them to correctly predict the outcome. If the revelation is correctly guessed before its revealed, it can lead to a boring watch. Fortunately, this wasn't the case for Rian Johnson's latest feature, Knives Out, a highly entertaining film that features a star-studded cast.

When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death.

Johnson is best known for directing the underrated sci-fi feature, Looper, which was released in 2012, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which received a mixed reception from fans of the franchise. Although I like both films, I think that Knives Out is Johnson's best feature yet. In 2010, he expressed interest in making a murder mystery film and planned on making one following the release of Looper, however, he went on to make The Last Jedi. Johnson cited several classic mystery thrillers and mystery comedies as influences on Knives Out, including Murder on the Orient Express, Death on the Nile, Something's Afoot, Deathtrap and Clue. His script pays tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie so fans of her novels will certainly enjoy what Johnson has created with Knives Out, a fun, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. Knives Out succeeds as a mystery as it keeps its viewers guessing throughout and, because of the many twists and turns that feature within the story, it makes for an unpredictable watch. 

What I liked most about Knives Out was that it didn't take itself seriously. The tone is very tongue-in-cheek with its over-the-top and eccentric characters. The humour makes Knives Out all the more fun to watch, despite the serious themes of murder and suicide. 

The stand-out aspect of Knives Out is the star-studded cast, with Craig delivering an amusing portrayal of Detective Blanc. His performance makes you forget that he's also the most famous spy, James Bond, a role he's set to reprise in No Time To Die, which is due to be released next year. Familiar names include Chris Evans, who is perfectly cocky as Ransom, Jamie Lee Curtis as Harlan's eldest daughter, Linda, Michael Shannon as her brother, Walt, Don Johnson as Linda's husband, Richard and Toni Collette as Harlan's daughter-in-law, Joni. With this many famous names in one film, it would be easy for the film to feel overcrowded, however, each actor delivers a strong portrayal of their characters and they all get their moment to shine.  While the Thrombey family are affected by the death of Harlan, the story focuses on his caretaker and nurse, Marta (Ana de Armas), who vomits every time she tries to lie, however, Blanc believes she knows more about Harlan's mysterious death. Jaeden Martell's character, Jacob Thrombey, who tweets hate speech online, was inspired by angry Star Wars fans on Twitter that Johnson encountered following the release of The Last Jedi.
A marketing scheme that is used to promote a film is interviews with the cast. It's an effective method at getting people interested in the film as they hear the cast discuss what it was like on set and reveal details from behind the scenes. Judging from what I've seen from interviews with the cast for Knives Out, they all worked well together and that's why the film itself is such a success. It's not hard to see the actors having fun with their characters they're portraying which makes it fun for the audience to watch.

Following its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival in September, Knives Out has received critical acclaim, with the majority of them stating that the film shows Johnson at his best. Because of this and its impressive ensemble cast, it quickly became one of my most anticipated films and, fortunately, it didn't disappoint.

8/10

JOKER REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Because of his twisted personality and unpredictable actions, the Joker is probably one of the most well-known villains. The character has been portrayed by Jack Nicholson in Tim Burton's 1989 film, Batman, Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight and Jared Leto in Suicide Squad. Of the three, Ledger's portrayal is the most memorable because of his dedication to the role. Sadly, the actor died prior to the film's release, however, he was received a posthumous Oscar. Each actor delivered their own unique portrayal of the Joker, however, the film themselves never explored his background or how he became the iconic villain we all know him as.

Todd Phillips' Joker is a suitably dark and disturbing thriller that shows the man behind the clown-like make-up. That man is Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix), a mentally ill, impoverished stand-up comedian disregarded by society. The story focuses on Fleck and shows audiences how he became the Joker.

While I still think that Ledger delivered the best portrayal of the Joker, Phoenix's performance is, undoubtedly, the strongest aspect of Joker. He is considered one of the most versatile actors working today and has played a wide range of characters, however, I think that his portrayal of the Joker might be his most impressive. By losing 52lbs and covering his face with vibrant clown-like make-up, Phoenix's appearance changes drastically and becomes the iconic villain. I respect actors who dedicate themselves to a role and take drastic measures such as losing weight as it can't be easy. Because of Phoenix's weight loss, filming could only be done once, with no opportunity for reshoots. The Joker's laughter is a known trait and Phoenix has said that perfecting that iconic laughter was the toughest part. However, by watching videos of those suffering from pathological laughter, Phoenix has succeeded in recreating the Joker's laugh. Despite being nominated for three Oscars for his performances in films such as Gladiator, Walk The Line and The Master, Phoenix is yet to win. However, I can definitely see him receiving another nomination at next year's Academy Awards where hopefully he'll be recognised. The supporting cast includes Robert DeNiro as talk show host, Murray Franklin, and Zazie Beets as Fleck's neighbour, Sophie. Unfortunately, neither has enough screen time to leave much of a lasting impression.
Unsurprisingly, Joker has caused controversy since its premiere at the Venice Film Festival at the end of August, mainly for its heavy use of violence and take on mental illness. I understand why people will want to avoid Joker as it is very dark and disturbing and there is a lot of violence towards the end. I'm not the biggest fan of violence, which is why I've always avoided Quentin Tarantino's films until recently as his films are known for being extremely violent, however, I mainly wanted to watch Joker to see Phoenix's portrayal of the villain. I had also read a lot of positive reviews. While I didn't love it and wouldn't watch it again because of the violence, I do think that it's a well-made film. However, without the violence, I don't think that Joker would have left as much of an impression. This is why Suicide Squad and Venom were disappointments as, to reach a wider audience by having a certification rating of PG-13, the violence was toned down. This was a bad decision as the comic books, that the films were based on, are known for being violent. The character of the Joker is known being dark, twisted and disturbing so it's only right that the film should be, too. As for its take on mental illness, I think it was portrayed in a realistic way and shows how differently society treats those struggling. We see Fleck frequently visiting a social worker and opening up about his feelings, however, the funding for the mental health facility is cut off, which means he can't get access to his medication. Joker shows how much harder life is for those with a debilitating mental illness and how badly they get treated by society. In other films that featured the Joker, I always perceived him as nothing more than a comic book villain, however, in Joker, I saw him more as a human being.
Joker succeeds at being thought-provoking. I can't imagine anyone watching this and then not talking about it. It's probably one of the most divisive films this year. However, while not everyone will like it, it's definitely got people interested which is why it's currently making a lot of money at the box office. I also find it amusing that people are arguing over someone who is a fictional character from a comic book. The world that Joker is set in feels so real that you forget that. With films like The Dark Knight, you know you're watching a superhero film as it feels unrealistic, however, that wasn't the case for Joker.
What I also liked about Joker was that it's a stand-alone film with no intention of a sequel being released. I think that there are too many unnecessary sequels that lack the quality of its predecessor. While Joker has an ambigious ending that will most likely have audiences talking, Phillips has confirmed that there will be no sequel and that Phoenix's portrayal of the Joker won't be appearing the DC Extended Universe. It's refreshing to see a mainstream Hollywood film, based on a popular character from a comic book, that isn't part of a larger story or cinematic universe. Joker functions as a masterful stand-alone story and conveying everything we need to know about Fleck in just over two hours. Joker can also be watched by those who are unfamiliar with Batman and the titular villain as it's set in 1981, when Bruce Wayne was a child. From their viewing perspective, Joker can be seen as a film about a failed stand-up comedian who is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure. There are brief glimpses of Wayne and the scene where his parents are murdered in front of him is shown.
The story focuses on Fleck's downward spiral as he and the city around him descend into chaos. It's full of twists that I didn't see coming and succeeds at being unpredictable for the majority of its 122 minute runtime. I think that Phillips has created the perfect origin story as it's suits the Joker's personality, who is known for being unpredictable.
Although I didn't love Joker and wouldn't watch it again, mainly because of its violence and dark and disturbing tone, I'm glad I watched it as I understand why it's being talked about. It's not the easiest film to watch, however, I think that it's worth watching for Phoenix's unforgettable portrayal of the titular villain.
8/10

JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Since the release of its first film in 2014, the John Wick films have become one of the most successful action-based franchises, with each film receiving critical praise and impressing at the box office. A common trait with most sequels is that the quality decreases and they fail to match the quality of its predecessors, however, is that the case for John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum?

uper-assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin's guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world's most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.

The follow-up to John Wick: Chapter 2 is just as successful as its predecessors as it features more of the same, including exciting action sequences, violent fights and a fierce leading performance from Reeves as the titular character. 

Prior to watching Parabellum, I was concerned that, because it features more of the same, it would become boring. Fortunately, I was proven wrong. The fight and action sequences are where Parabellum is at its best. Those who are hoping for more violent fights will not be disappointed with ‘Parabellum’. With so many assassins after him, Wick must think quickly and use the nearest weapons in order to defend himself. In an early scene, Wick finds himself in a room filled with revolvers from the 19th century. Desperately, he swaps parts of the revolvers, listens to the mechanisms as he twirls the cylinders and cocks the different hammers. This is a homage to a similar scene in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly where Eli Wallach’s character, Tuco, is assembling revolver to suit his taste. Those who simply watch the John Wick films for its exhilarating action and intense fight sequences will be impressed with what returning director, Chad Stahelski, has delivered.

Last year, a picture that was released saw Wick riding a horse during one chase sequence. This immediately had people interested and wanting to see Parabellum just for that scene alone and, fortunately, it doesn’t disappoint and is one of the most memorable chase sequences.

One thing I think that the John Wick films have lacked in is a strong female presence. In the first sequel, there was Ruby Rose, who portrayed Ares, a mute assassin, unfortunately, her character was undeveloped. Parabellum features several female characters, including the Adjudicator of the High Table (Asia Kate Dillion), who seeks to punish those who helped Wick, the Director (Anjelica Huston) and Sofia (Halle Berry), an assassin who helps Wick in his desperate time of need. Of the three, Berry leaves a lasting impression and shows off her strong fighting skills. I’m always disappointed when female characters are written as solely a love interest for the male protagonist and I’m happy this wasn’t the case for Parabellum, which shows that Wick is still very much in love with his late wife, who passed away in the beginning of the first film, and has no time in his life for romance.

Apart from its thrilling action sequences, the main reason why the John Wick films are so successful is because of its main character and Reeves' performance. Wick is a compelling figure and has been developed into an interesting individual. The films also feature several memorable supporting characters, including Winston, the manager of the Continental hotel, Charon (Lance Reddik), who is the concierge, and the Bowery King (Laurence Fishburne). For the first two films, Charon mostly provided comic relief in between the action, however, he is finally given more to do, especially during the final climax where he helps Wick defend the Continental from assassins.

Despite only being released a week ago, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum has already received impressive success, including a positive reception from critics. It's also knocked Avengers: Endgame off the top spot at the box office. This has lead to a fourth instalment being announced and is due to be released in May 2021. 

Overall, John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum is a successful sequel and features more of the same, including thrilling action, violent fight sequences, and a strong performance from Keanu Reeves as the compelling titular character.

7/10

IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Two years ago, there was a shock at the 89th Academy Awards, when the wrong winner for Best Picture was announced. It was believed to be Damien Chazelle's musical, La La Land, however, it was revealed that Barry Jenkins' drama, Moonlight, was the true winner. Whilst I loved La La Land, I was hoping for Moonlight to win Best Picture and I'm happy it did. Because of the impressive success that Moonlight received, both with critics and at the Academy Awards, expectations were high for Jenkins' next feature which is If Beale Street Could Talk, based on James Baldwin's novel of the same name. However, does it live up to expectations or is it a disappointment?

Set in early-1970s Harlem, If Beale Street Could Talk is a timeless and moving love story of both a couple's unbreakable bond and the African-American family's empowering embrace, as told through the eyes of 19-year-old Tish Rivers (KiKi Layne). A daughter and wife-to-be, Tish vividly recalls the passion, respect and trust that have connected her and her artist fiancé Alonzo Hunt, who goes by the nickname Fonny (Stephan James). Friends since childhood, the devoted couple dream of a future together but their plans are derailed when Fonny is arrested for a crime he did not commit.

While I think Moonlight is Jenkins' best film, his latest feature, If Beale Street Could Talk doesn't disappoint and tells a heartfelt and heartbreaking love story. I hadn't read Baldwin's book and I'd only heard about the feature at the end of last year so I didn't know what to expect. Fortunately, like I was with Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk proved to a pleasant surprise. If there's one thing Jenkins is talented at, it's creating a moving and powerful story that will make you feel all kinds of emotions during its runtime, including happiness, heartbreak, sadness and hopefulness. That's what If Beale Street Could Talk had me feeling anyway 

While Moonlight was a huge success at the Academy Awards in 2017, winning Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Mahershala Ali and Best Adapted Screenplay. What surprised me the most about If Beale Street Could Talk was the fact it wasn't nominated for more Oscars. At the time of writing this review, it currently has three nominations at this years Academy Awards, including Best Original Score, Best Supporting Role for Regina King and Best Adapted Screenplay. Of the three it's currently nominated for, I think King is most likely to win for her supporting performance as she has won a Golden Globe and I wouldn't be surprised if the Academy awarded her. While she doesn't have much screen time, King leaves a lasting impression as Tish's loving and supportive mother, Sharon. After seeing If Beale Street Could Talk, I was shocked when I realised it hadn't received a Best Picture nomination. I'm happy with the majority of this year's nominees for Best Picture but if I could replace any of the nominees with If Beale Street Could Talk, it would be Vice. As much as I liked Adam McKay's feature, I agree with those who don't think it's Best Picture worthy. Considering Jenkins won the Best Picture award two years ago, I'm surprised his latest feature was overlooked. However, I am glad that it's received three nominations and I hope that it wins.

The aspect of If Beale Street Could Talk I was most impressed by was the acting, especially that of King and the films' two leads, Layne and James, who share chemistry and are convincing as a couple. Their relationship drives the film and why it is successful as a romance. I was surprised to discover that this was Layne's feature film debut as she gives a strong dramatic performance as Tish. While James has appeared in more films, this is the first feature I've seen him in and he gives an empathetic performance as Fonny. While Tish is optimistic and hopeful that Fonny will be released soon, he isn't as positive and becomes increasingly worried that, during the birth of his first child, he'll be behind bars. It's a heartbreaking situation that no one should have to face, unfortunately, because the accuser, Victoria Rogers (Emily Rios), has run away to Puerto Rico, they can't question her and ask her to free an innocent man. 

The only thing I'm disappointed by is the reaction of some people to If Beale Street Could Talk. While everyone is entitled to their opinion, I do find it unfair that a lot of people are calling it 'boring'. It's a drama, it was never going to be a fast-paced, action-packed film like so many of our audiences are used to. While I do enjoy films such as Avengers, I appreciate features like If Beale Street Could Talk because they are realistic, tell original and moving stories that tackle subjects such as racism and provoke thoughts in its viewer's mind. 

Overall, with strong performances from KiKi Layne, Stephan James and Regina King, Barry Jenkins brings James Baldwin's novel, If Beale Street Could Talk, to the big screen and creates a moving love story.

8/10

CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME? REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

For most of her career, Melissa McCarthy has become known for her comedic roles in films such as Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy, Identity Thief and the 2016 all-female Ghostbusters remake. In her latest role, she makes the transition from comedy to drama and proves that she's capable of handling dramatic and serious roles. 

Lee Israel (McCarthy) made her living in the 1970's and 80's profiling the likes of Katharine Hepburn, Tallulah Bankhead, Estee Lauder and journalist Dorothy Kilgallen. When Lee is no longer able to get published because she has fallen out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception, abetted by her loyal friend Jack (Richard E. Grant). An adaptation of the memoir, Can You Ever Forgive Me?, relays the true story of the best-selling celebrity biographer (and friend to cats).

I think that a lot of people will be surprised by McCarthy's performance in Can You Ever Forgive Me? as they're so used to seeing her in comedies and giving over-the-top performances. As Israel, she [plays the role mostly straight and it doesn't take us too long to forget that we're watching McCarthy. Grant gives a solid supporting role as her friend, Hock, and, because he's only mentioned briefly in Israel's memoir, it proved to be a challenge, nevertheless, Grant succeeds and makes Hock a charming character who brings humour. Both actors are currently nominated at the Academy Award and they are, without a doubt, the strongest aspect of Can You Ever Forgive Me?.

In the beginning of Can You Ever Forgive Me?, we see Israel struggling with paying rent and treatment for her sick cat. Her biographies aren't selling well so she takes desperate measures and sells a personal letter she received from Hepburn. While conducting research for a novel about Fanny Brice, Israel finds a letter from Brice in a book and she sells it to a book dealer who says that she would've given Israel more if it had interesting content in. This leads to Israel forging and selling letters by deceased writers, playwrights, and actors, lacing them with intimate details to command a higher price. She succeeds and begins making the most money she's made in a while but things take a sour turn when the book dealers become suspicious. Despite committing a crime, Can You Ever Forgive Me? doesn't portray Israel in a negative light as she was desperate to make money. We understand why Israel did 

Because Can You Ever Forgive Me? is set in the early 1990s, I wasn't aware of who Israel was, however, I found her story to be very interesting. Prior to watching it, I didn't know what to expect, fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised and found Can You Ever Forgive Me? to be a compelling and unpredictable watch. McCarthy's on-screen chemistry with Grant is a big highlight as it's essentially a two-character piece, with 50% of the dialogue being between their characters. Unfortunately, their friendship meets a bitter end when Hock stays in her apartment to look after her cat whilst she travels to a library to steal authentic letters and replace them with fake ones. When Israel returns home, she is shocked to discover that Hock has failed to look after her cat and ends their friendship. The scene where Israel discovers her dead cat is a heartbreaking scene as we know how much she cared for it. It also changed how we perceived Hock as he went from charming and funny to breaking Israel's trust. Although Israel is furious at Hock, she continues their partnership out of necessity. 

Can You Ever Forgive Me? is directed by Marielle Heller, whose previous feature was The Diary of a Teenage Girl, an indie drama starring Bel Powley, Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgård. She makes New York City into an intimate place and manages the challenging task of exploring the subject of writing, which isn't an inherently cinematic thing, without boring her audience. With a runtime of 107 minutes, the film moves at a brisk pace and doesn't drag, which is a problem with a lot of biopics that run at over two hours. Israel's story is one that can be told effectively in under two hours. 

Can You Ever Forgive Me? succeeds mainly because of Melissa McCarthy, who, after a career of starring in comedies, gives her most impressive performance yet. The entire film is worth watching just for her portrayal of Lee Israel and her on-screen chemistry with Richard E. Grant is a highlight of the film.

8/10

WIDOWS REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Based upon the 1983 ITV series of the same name, Widows is a 2018 heist film directed by Steve McQueen from a screenplay by McQueen and Gillian Flynn and features an ensemble cast that includes Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell and Daniel Kaluuya. 

Widows is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities. Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Davis), Alice (Debicki), Linda (Rodriguez) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.

Surprisingly, prior to watching Widows, I had never seen any of McQueen's previous features, which includes 12 Years A Slave (which won the Academy Award for Best Motion Picture in 2014), Shame and Hunger. Because of this, I didn't know what to expect with Widows, fortunately, the feature beat my expectations and I'm even more convinced to give McQueen's previous films a watch as he has proven himself to be one of the greatest directors working today. As well as directing, he wrote the screenplay, along with Flynn, who is known for her best-selling novel, Gone Girl, which was adapted into a thriller starring Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck in 2013. Together, McQueen and Flynn have written a compelling drama that features interesting characters and shocking twists, resulting in a successful film. 

The story includes themes of sexism, police brutality and interracial marriage, all of which it handles really well. Most of the women in Widows are interesting individuals, especially Veronica. After the death of her husband, Harry (Neeson), she is threatened by Jamal Manning (Brian Tyree Henry), whose money Harry stole. Now, Veronica has to finish her late husband's job, leading her to enlist the help of the other widows, Linda and Alice. The film frequently cuts to scenes of Veronica's relationship with Harry and we learn that the couple suffered a tragedy when their son was murdered by a police officer who thought he was reaching for a gun. Because of this, I felt a lot of sympathy and respect towards Veronica. Any other person in her situation would have crumbled, however, Veronica remains strong and brave throughout. Those who watched the original ITV series, that aired in 1983 and 1985, will enjoy McQueen's adaptation as I felt that the tone of Widows was similar to that of a drama you watch on a Sunday evening. Despite the 129 minute runtime, Widows keeps viewers engaged throughout, due to its interesting characters and a unpredictable story. 

Aside from McQueen's directing and the story, the aspect of Widows that impressed me the most was the acting, which is strong across the board. The stand out is Davis who gives a fierce and unforgettable performance as Veronica. As the two other widows, both Rodriguez and Debicki give solid performances. Initially, the two women are unsure of Veronica and don't know whether to follow her plan of stealing the money, however, after discovering the lives are at risk, they are soon convinced. Earlier this year, Kaluuya gained recognition for his Oscar nominated performance as Chris in Jordan Peele's horror/comedy, Get Out, and was a likable protagonist. As Jamal's violent brother, Jatemme, he gives a darker and more twisted performance. Recently, Cynthia Erivo appeared in Drew Goddard's thriller, Bad Times At The El Royale, and gave an impressive performance. In my opinion, I think that her performance in Bad Times was better as she had more screen time but, in Widows, Erivo still gives another great performance as Belle, who babysits Linda's children and soon becomes involved with the group. Farrell, Robert Duvall and Jacki Weaver round out the cast. Overall, there isn't a bad performance to be found. 

While Widows is a brilliant film and further proves why McQueen is a great director, I can't imagine it appealing to everyone. It has a dark and gloomy tone to it and there are some scenes of violence that makes it unsuitable for the faint hearted. However, it's definitely one of those films that deserves to be seen on the big screen and is worth watching for its strong ensemble cast and compelling story. At the time of writing this review, Widows has received critical praise, which it deserves. This months sees the release of sequels and remakes, while they're not necessarily bad films, they can be predictable and unoriginal. This is why I appreciated Widows as it's different to any film that has been released recently. To others, Widows may come across as your average heist film but I think that it's so much more than that. The heist itself doesn't take place until towards the end of the film and even then it doesn't last long. That's not a bad thing though and McQueen is more interested in characters and their stories rather than creating a boring and predictable heist film. It's hard to say whether Widows will be remembered at next year's Academy Awards, however, I think that Davis' performance should definitely be considered as, without her fierce portrayal of Veronica, Widows would've been boring. 

8/10

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2012, Drew Goddard released his directorial debut, The Cabin In The Woods, which was a thriller that surrounded a group of young adults who stay at a remote cabin, however, they soon get more than they bargained for. The film featured a lot of shocking twists and was a success, both at the box office and with critics. Six years later and Goddard has followed up with Bad Times At The El Royale.

In the late 1960s, an aging priest, Father Daniel Flynn (Jeff Bridges), suffering from early onset dementia, a struggling female singer, Darlene Sweet (Cynthia Erivo) a talkative salesman, Laramie Seymour Sullivan (Jon Hamm), on vacation and an unfriendly young woman, Emily Summerspring (Dakota Johnson) who may or may not be a hippie, arrive by chance on the same day at Lake Tahoe's "El Royale", a once glitzy but now rundown roadside motel lying on the very border between California and Nevada, and operated by a single troubled staff member, Miles Miller (Lewis Pullman), who holds many dark secrets. Throughout the day, it becomes increasingly clear that almost no one there is exactly who they seem, but things really go from bad to worse in the evening when heavy rain hits and someone much worse than those inside arrives to find "a friend" and bring hell to all those unlucky enough to be there at the time.

The best aspect of Bad Times At The El Royale is the cast, which includes familiar names and new faces. The most impressive performance comes from Erivo in one of her first features, the other being Widows, which is due out next month. Prior to appearing in Bad Times At The El Royale, Erivo was known for her performance as Celie in the 2015 Broadway revival of The Color Purple, for which she won the 2016 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical as well as the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album. As Sweet, Erivo shows off both her talented singing and acting skills. As previously mentioned, Erivo will next be appearing in Widows so I doubt this will be the last we see of her. Bridges has had a successful career that spans almost seven decades and has received a total of seven Academy Award nominations and won his first Oscar in 2010 for his performance in Crazu Heart. While his performance as Father Flynn isn't his best, he still proves that he's a great actor who is, in my opinion, yet to give a disappointing performance. Recently, Johnson has become known for appearing in the raunchy Fifty Shades films, however, as Summerspring, she proves that she can give a good performance. Hamm is very charismatic as the salesman, Sullivan, however, his fans may be disappointed to learn that his appearance is limited. Before watching Bad Times At The El Royale, I was surprised to discover that Chris Hemsworth doesn't make his first appearance until towards the end of the film, however, he leaves a lasting impression as cult leader, Billy Lee. Overall, there's not a bad performance to be found in this ensemble cast.

Aside from the cast, another aspect of Bad Times At The El Royale that I liked was the production design, especially that of the titular hotel.  The 1960s period detail is accurately captured through the setting and costume. It can be a challenging task to recreate a setting from decades ago, nevertheless, the production team have succeeded. It is annoying to see anachronisms in films as it's obvious that the filmmakers haven't paid attention to the setting which makes me appreciate the small details in films that try and recapture that of the year it's set in.

Like Goddard's previous feature, The Cabin In The Woods, Bad Times At The El Royale is full of twists that all leads to an intense final act that involves Billy Lee and the remaining guests at the El Royale. During this final act, secrets are revealed and characters' lives are at risk. The majority of the film is mostly driven by the characters, who are all hiding a secret. Because of this, we're never really sure if we can trust or believe anything they say. Through flashbacks, we learn what some of the characters went through prior to them arriving at the El Royale. Father Flynn is looking for a bag of money that his brother hid somewhere in the El Royale and Sullivan is actually an FBI agent named Dwight Broadbeck who was sent to investigate the hotel. Because I hadn't seen The Cabin In The Woods before seeing Bad Times At The El Royale, I didn't know what to expect and I was pleasantly surprised. By focusing more on the characters, I found it to be an interesting watch. Mainly because of the twists that feature within the narrative, I thought it was unpredictable and the final act was intense. I doubt those who liked The Cabin In The Woods will be disappointed with Bad Times At The El Royale as I can imagine it's just as thrilling. 

With a runtime of 141 minutes, I wouldn't be surprised if many people thought that Bad Times At The El Royale was too long, however, I think that this is the kind of film that needs to be over two hours, in order to give each character enough screen time and allow the plot to develop. While the beginning of the film does feel a little slow, the characters are interesting enough to keep our attention. 

This year, we've seen a lot of unoriginal films, including remakes and sequels. While these type of films aren't necessarily bad, they can be boring and predictable so it's refreshing to see a film that's as original as Bad Times At The El Royale which wasn't based on a book but written by Goddard himself. Those looking for something new to watch should definitely seek out his latest thriller. It is disappointing that it's not receiving the same level of appreciation that blockbuster films get.

Despite what its title suggests, viewers will certainly have a good time watching Drew Goddard's Bad Times At The El Royale as it features a great ensemble cast who each play interesting individuals. While it's not the best film that's released in the cinemas, it's definitely one of the most thrilling and original, which is why I'd recommend seeing it. 

7/10

A SIMPLE FAVOR REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

A Simple Favor, despite its title, is not as simple as you might expect. It features interesting characters and a plot that is full of twist and turns. Prior to watching A Simple Favor, I didn't know what to expect. The trailer didn't give too much away, which lead me to being surprised by some of the twists that feature within the plot.
A Simple Favor centers around Stephanie Smothers (Anna Kendrick), a mother who likes to make 'vlogs' (video blogs) and bake. She soon meets Emily (Blake Lively), after their sons, Miles (Joshua Satine) and Nicky (Ian Ho) have a play date together. At Emily's house, Stephanie discovers that Emily isn't your typical mom. She likes to drink martinis in the middle of the day, swears and has an unapologetic attitude. Despite their differences in personality, the two women bond and, one day, Emily asks Stephanie if she could do 'a simple favor' of looking after Nicky, which Stephanie accepts. However, after Emily fails to pick up Nicky or answer any of Stephanie's texts and calls, Stephanie soon begins to worry, leading to her and Emily's husband, Sean (Henry Golding), contacting the authorities. This leads to secrets being revealed, tension between characters and shocking revelations.
The best aspect of A Simple Favor of the performances of the two female leads. Kendrick and Lively both give strong performances. Kendrick develops Stephanie from a shy, timid mother to a witty, smart and confident woman. Lively’s Emily’s personality is similar to that of Rosamund Pike's Amy Dunne from the 2014 film, Gone Girl. She likes to drink in the middle of the day, specifically martinis, swears and is unapologetic about her behaviour. We never know what she’s going to do next. Kendrick and Lively's performances are why A Simple Favor is worth watching. They work really well together and are convincing as their characters, who are both interesting individuals. Henry Golding recently appeared in the successful romantic comedy, Crazy Rich Asians, and he proved to be charming as the leading man. I’ve heard criticism towards his performance in A Simple Favor which I think is unfair. His portrayal of Sean isn’t as good as his performance of Nick in Crazy Rich Asians, however, he gives a good performance. I wasn’t sure if his character could be trusted, especially after he makes a move on Stephanie, following a revelation about Emily.
The narrative for A Simple Favor is full of twists and turns, especially in its final act. This was a little confusing at first as I didn’t know who was siding with who. Kendrick gives her best performance during these scenes as we see that Stephanie isn’t just a cute vlogger, she’s smart and can outwit Emily. I thought that this was an interesting change in her character as, in the beginning, she’s your typical mom who likes to make videos, bake cakes and play with her son. By the end of the film, she has adopted some aspects of Emily’s personality and even begins wearing her clothes. This leads to an amusing scene where she struggles to take Emily's black dress off and she has to talk to a detective. Her body language during this scene shows how awkward she feels as she's not used to wearing sexy dresses. Most of the second act focuses on Stephanie as she tries to figure out what really happened to Emily. She does this by visiting the artist, Diana Hyland (Linda Cardellini), who painted a nude portrait of Emily, and Emily's mother who makes a surprising revelation. By this point, viewers will begin to get an understanding of who Emily really was and what happened to her.
A Simple Favor is a film that does struggle with its tone. Throughout my first watch, I wasn’t sure if it was a comedy or a thriller. After rewatching it recently, I know that, while it isn’t a laugh a minute comedy, it’s not a serious thriller either. Director, Paul Feig, whose previous features include Bridesmaids, The Heat, and the all-female Ghostbusters remake, handles the comedy well. Most of the comic relief comes from witty one liners or pieces of dialogue. I was more impressed with his ability to create a mystery based thriller. It’s not a perfect film, however, it is thoroughly entertaining.
Like most mystery-based films, tension begins to rise. After Emily is presumed dead, Stephanie and Sean become close and form a relationship. I was a little surprised by this as I expected them to be grieving, however, I soon realised that this was their way of grieving. A Simple Favor is at its most tense during its final act as it involves the three characters and a gun. At this point, I wondered if one of them was going to die and I was on the edge of my seat. I've heard a lot of criticism towards this final scene but I thought it was quite good as Emily thought that she had outsmarted both Stephanie and Sean. What she doesn't know is that Stephanie had a back-up plan. This scene made me like Stephanie more than I did in the beginning as it showed that she's not afraid to stand up to Emily.
While I haven’t read the book that A Simple Favor is based on, I do know that several changes have been made. For example, in the novel, Stephanie is a blogger but, in the film, she's a 'video blogger'. The ending has also been changed. I’m not sure if these changes were an improvement, however, if you have read the book, don’t expect A Simple Favor to be a 100% faithful adaptation. If I’m being honest, I’m yet to see a film that is 100% faithful to its source material.
I'm not sure if A Simple Favor will appeal to everyone, due to its tonal shifts, tongue-in-cheek humour and dark comedy and its inability to be taken seriously, however, I do think it's worth watching as you may be pleasantly surprised. Both Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively give impressive performances and develop their characters into interesting individuals, which makes A Simple Favor very entertaining to watch.
7/10
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HOTEL ARTEMIS REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

Drew Pearce is a name you're probably not familiar with, however, he's written for two very successful films, Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation and Iron Man 3. For most of his career, Pearce has mainly worked on TV Series and video games, however, he makes his directorial debut with Hotel Artemis, a thriller starring Jodie Foster, Jeff Goldblum, Sterling K. Brown and many others.

Hotel Artemis is set in a decade into the future and focuses on the titular hotel that is run by the Nurse (Foster). It is a secret, members-only emergency room for criminals that has several rules. Guests are referred to only by their room designation, fights aren't allowed and neither are weapons, and, for obvious reasons, cops aren't allowed in. However, these rules soon get broken and it doesn't take long for all chaos to break out.

I had no idea what to expect when I first watched Hotel Artemis, fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. I don't think that it deserves the mixed reception it's been receiving from both critics and audiences as it's not a terrible film. It's not a perfect film by any means. I think that the runtime could've done with an extra half hour as, at 94 minutes, it does feel a little short. Despite this, Hotel Artemis moves at a quick pace and it never overstays its welcome. At the time of writing this review, the films that are being released this summer are mostly sequels, including Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Sicario 2: Soldado, Incredibles 2, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again and Mission: Impossible - Fallout. While sequels aren't necessarily a bad thing, I appreciated Hotel Artemis for its originality and that's why it's worth watching. I recommend giving it a watch if you enjoy thrillers and the cast involved.

Speaking of which, the cast features some very talented actors, who each give solid performances. Foster, in her first feature film role since 2013's Elysium, is great as the Nurse. While, on the outside, she portrays a fierce personality, on the inside, she's grieving for her son, Beau, who died of a drug overdose. She's also suffering from a severe form of agoraphobia and struggles with anxiety whenever she leaves the hotel. This isn't one of Foster's best performances, however, it's far from a bad one and I'd even go so far to say that Hotel Artemis is worth watching just for her portrayal of the Nurse. I'm not familiar with Brown, I've only seem him in Black Panther, however, I think that he gives a good performance as Sherman. In the beginning of the film, he and his brother, Honolulu (Brian Tyree Henry) rob a bank, unfortunately, Honolulu gets injured, leading to Sherman taking him to the Hotel Artemis. While Sherman is a criminal, he's not a bad person and we see he cares deeply for his brother. Dave Baustista is best known for his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, however, he gives a solid supporting role as Everest who is the Nurse's assistant. As the 'Wolf King', Goldblum has more screen time here than in his brief appearance as Dr Ian Malcom in Jurassic World - Fallen Kingdom. As Nice, Sofia Boutella has an impressive fight sequence towards the end of the film.

Hotel Artemis is currently receiving mixed views from both critics and audiences, which is a shame as I think that it's worth a watch to those who enjoy thrillers and like the actors involved. I think a lot of people were expecting too much from this film, leading them to be disappointed, however, that doesn't make it a bad film. This is the first feature that Pearce has directed and I think that he has mostly succeeded. I'm not easily disappointed and I thoroughly enjoyed watching Hotel Artemis. It had an interesting story and I think it would benefited from a longer runtime and allowing the characters and story to develop. It did feel a bit rushed especially when it finished as I would've liked to seen more. The plot does suffer from a lack of unpredictability as it is quite obvious how things are going to turn out but that didn't spoil my enjoyment of Hotel Artemis. I watched this at a preview screening at my local cinema before its release in the UK and I've read reviews from people who attended the same screening and, from what I've seen, the reception was mainly positive. Hotel Artemis isn't an amazing film, and don't go in expecting to be wowed, however, it features a good story and a great cast.

7/10 

SICARIO 2: SOLDADO REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2015, director Denis Villeneuve released Sicario, a thriller starring Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro. It went on to be very successful both with critics and audiences. It was also recognised by the Academy and received three nominations for  Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Sound Editing and Best Original Score. When films are successful, sequels are made, with producers hoping for similar success. Unfortunately, many sequels tend to be disappointments as they lack the quality of the original. With Emily Blunt not returning as her character, Kate Macer, and Villeneuve being replaced by Stefano Sollima, is this the case for Sicario 2: Soldado?

In the drug war, there are no rules - and as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border, federal agent Matt Graver (Josh Brolin) calls on the mysterious Alejandro (Benicio Del Toro), whose family was murdered by a cartel kingpin, to escalate the war in nefarious ways. Alejandro kidnaps the kingpin's daughter, Isabel (Isabela Moner) to inflame the conflict - but when the girl is seen as collateral damage, her fate will come between the two men as they question everything they are fighting for.

When the sequel to Sicario was announced, I was surprised when I found out that Blunt wouldn't be reprising her role as Kate. She gave an impressive performance and one of the best of her career. However, the writer, Taylor Sheridan, explained that there wasn't any room for her character in the story. After seeing the film, I can understand that. However, Sheridan did say that there could be room for her character somewhere else down the road, which means she could return for another sequel. 

While Blunt doesn't return, Brolin and Del Toro both appear as CIA agent, Matt Graver, and hitman, Alejandro. They both gave solid performances in Sicario, however, they were overshadowed by Blunt. Brolin has had a busy year, appearing in both Avengers: Infinity War as Thanos and Deadpool 2 as Cable. Of the three performances, I'd have to say that Thanos and Cable were the stand outs, however, his portrayal of Graver proves that he's still capable of giving a serious performance. Del Toro, who also appeared in Avengers: Infinity War in a small role as The Collector, shows another side to Alejandro. In Sicario, he was mysterious and ruthless as he wanted revenge for the deaths of his wife and daughter. While he still has a ruthless and violent side, we see a more softer side to him as he protects Isabel. The rest of the cast, which includes Catherine Keener as Cynthia Foards, each give solid performances but nothing noteworthy.

In the three years since Sicario's release, Sheridan has proved himself to be talented at directing as well as writing. Last year, he released his directorial debut, Wind River, starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. Like Sicario, it was a gripping thriller with strong performances from its two leads. While Soldado's story is good, it lacks the heart-pounding thrills that Sicario had. However, it is still quite intense at times, with a few shoot-outs here and there. 

I'm not familiar with Sollima's previous directorial works, however, after a bit of research, I've noticed that he has directed thrillers before, including Suburra which was released in 2015. Because of this, I can understand why he was chosen to direct and, while he's not as good as Villeneuve, he's not bad. 

Since Soldado's release, it has received negativity and, to be honest, I can understand that. It's not on par with Sicario, however, I don't think it's an awful film. Not once during the film did I get bored and, in fact, I thought it moved at a quick pace. When it ended, I couldn't believe that it had been two hours. I was expecting it to be one of those films that seems to drag, however, I was pleasantly surprised. I think that Soldado is a worthy follow-up as it's got action, there are many intense scenes and the character-related moments are effective without seeming too sentimental. Surprisingly, Soldado manages to stand on its own as viewers don't need to have seen Sicario, unless they want background information on Brolin's and Del Toro's characters. The events that happened in the previous film aren't mentioned and neither is Blunt's character. However, I do think that it's best to watch Sicario before seeing the sequel so that viewers will know what to expect.

While it lacks the quality of Sicario, I think that Soldado is worth watching to those who enjoyed its predecessor and the performances of Josh Brolin and Benecio Del Toro.

7/10

OCEAN'S 8 REVIEW

*MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS*

In 2001, Steven Soderbergh released his first heist-based thriller, Ocean's Eleven, which was a remake of the original 1960 film of the same name. Featuring an ensemble cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia and Julia Roberts, Ocean's Eleven went on to become a success, impressing critics and receiving over $450 million at the box office. This lead to two sequels being released, Ocean's Twelve and Ocean's Thirteen. Now, eleven years after Ocean's Thirteen, an all-female follow-up has been released.

Upon her release from prison, Debbie (Sandra Bullock), the estranged sister of legendary conman Danny Ocean (George Clooney), puts together a team of unstoppable crooks to pull of the heist of the century. Their goal is New York City's annual Met Gala, and a necklace worth in excess of 150 million dollars. The team includes Debbie's friend, Lou (Cate Blanchett); Rose Weil (Helena Bonham Carter), a ditzy disgraced fashion designer who is deeply in debt to the IRS; Amita (Mindy Kaling), a jewelry maker who is eager to move away from her domineering mother; Nine Ball (Rihanna), a technical genius whose real name is Leslie; Tammy (Sarah Paulson), a suburban mom and profiteer and Constance (Awkwafina), a loudmouthed street hustler and pickpocket. Their plan involves Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway), an air-headed celebrity, who will be attending the Met Gala wearing a necklace that's worth $150 million. The team come up with a plan to steal the necklace and replace it with a replica, however, will they succeed?

The main reason why I wanted to see Ocean's 8 was because of its impressive ensemble cast. Bullock, Blanchett, Bonham-Carter and Hathaway of four of my favourite actors and I'm yet to see either of them give a bad performance. As Debbie, Bullock makes her a smart and cunning individual, however, we soon learn that part of her plan involves getting revenge on her former partner, Claude Becker (Richard Armitage), who framed her and had her thrown in jail for five years. This isn't Bullock's best performance, however, it's far from a bad one. She shares chemistry with Blanchett who portrays her friend, Lou. Bonham-Carter is best known for appearing in films directed by Tim Burton who she had a relationship with until they split a few years ago. She's portrayed a wide array of characters and is set to portray Queen Margaret in the Netflix series, The Crown. As Rose, she brings comic relief and, in the beginning, she think she's a failure but soon agrees to help Debbie. Rihanna is best known for her successful career in music, however, her first appearance in a film was the 2012 action film, Battleship, unfortunately, it wasn't best received. However, she makes a successful return to film and gives a solid performance as Nine Ball who can hack into the Met Gala's security system. Paulson is best known for her appearance in American Horror Story, however, as Tammy, she gives a very good performance. In the beginning, she isn't so sure of helping Debbie out but soon changes her mind when she hears about the money. Mindy Kaling appeared on the US version of The Office, and is best known for voicing Disgust in the 2015 Disney/Pixar animated feature, Inside Out. While she isn't given enough screen time, she still gives a decent performance. I'm not familiar with Awkwafina, however, I thought that she was great as Constance. While each actor gives a solid performance, they're underwritten and aren't given enough background. Hopefully, if there is a sequel, these characters will be more fleshed out. Of the performances, I liked Hathaway's the most. You could tell she was having a lot of fun playing a stuck up celebrity and there is a small twist to her character that results in her becoming the eighth member of the team. I don't think that's a spoiler as it's hinted in the trailer and posters that Daphne is becomes a member of Ocean's team. James Corden makes a small appearance as John Frazier, the insurance fraud investigator who looks into the theft. Previous characters from the Ocean's trilogy make small appearances including Reuben (Elliott Gould) and 'The Amazing' Yen (Shaobo Qin). If I'm being honest, it's a shame that Clooney decided not to reprise his role as Danny Ocean as I think he and Bullock would've worked well together, considering they both starred in the sci-fi feature, Gravity, in 2013. Matt Damon and Carl Reiner were also set to reprise their respective characters Linus Caldwell and Saul Bloom, but their scenes were cut. Many celebrities, including Anna Wintour, Kim Kardashian West, Kylie and Kendall Jenner and Heidi Klum, make appearances during the scene that takes place at the Met Gala.
The plot isn't as unpredictable as it does follow the same path as the previous Ocean's films, however, that doesn't mean it's any less entertaining. What I enjoyed most about Ocean's 8 was seeing several of my favourite actors working together. One of the aspects of the original Ocean's trilogy that stood out was the chemistry between the actors. The same can be said for Ocean's 8. They all seemed to genuinely get along, especially judging from their press interviews during the promoting of the film. This is why I would like to see them all return in a sequel as they seemed to be having fun.
Because he's best known for directing the first film in the Hunger Games franchise, Gary Ross may have seemed like an odd choice to direct an all-female remake of Ocean's 8, however, he succeeds in creating a heist-based film that is thoroughly entertaining. Steven Soderbergh, who directed the original Ocean's trilogy, opted out of directing but did produce the film.
Ocean's 8 isn't perfect and it's not the best film in the world but I wasn't expecting it to be. The original Ocean's trilogy were fun and entertaining heist films that featured a strong ensemble cast and that's exactly what Ocean's 8 is.
7/10