Quick Fire Reviews (First half of 2019)

Movie reviews (2019)

By starting to write my thoughts down half way through 2019, I have let a lot of movies slip through the eye of judgement and go without critique on this page. It would be wrong for me to try writing full reviews by going back and attempting to remember everything I thought and felt while watching the movies that have gone by this year. But, as people have started posting their best and worst lists of the first half of 2019, it is the perfect time to do some quick fire reviews. So, here are some snapshot thoughts of the best, worst and mediocre movies of 2019 so far.

The Favourite: phenomenal. This quirky masterpiece was not only delightfully funny but exceedingly thought provoking. Watching the two characters fight for power and dance to the beat of the Queen's demands was greatly entertaining and also demonstrated the lengths the women would go to have better lives. Never has my allegiance hopped around three characters so quickly and so effortlessly as it became clearer that they were all selfish and not to be trusted. Though the chapter structure got a tad tedious at times and the ending wasn't as satisfying as some may tell you, it was most certainly a fantastic watch. Also, no review can talk about the movie without mentioning the rabbits scene; Olivia Coleman thoroughly deserved the Best Actress Oscar for instilling a frail and vulnerable human behind the usually manic character.

US- If the movie didn't lose focus half way through, then this would be another home-run for Jordan Peele. The duality of people is presented interestingly in this movie with the story grappling between identical family's: the one we present to society and the more animistic/scared person we like to hide away from. It raises questions about society, class and how we interact with problems presented in the world while still being a chilling horror movie. Most of the suspense and horror comes from the tight focus on one family and their battle to stay alive when alone in their holiday home. But, the film falls a part as soon as Peele loses focus of these tight restrictions. When the movie moves out of the holiday home and we see that the rest of the world also has a doppelganger, the whole premise feels less personal and a bit silly. The choice opens more questions than we get answers and the whole horror arc falls a part for a more comedic angle. If the movie stayed with the family in the holiday home, then much more in-depth analysis could be written about the premise and therefore Peele could have had another Oscar nomination; however, US is left feeling a half baked idea that was aiming for more than it achieves.

Captain Marvel- Captain Marvel encompasses all the problems that a bad Marvel movie has, you could say she is the Captain of Marvel flaws. No stakes. No consistent tone. Unneeded puns in poorly timed places. Overpowered hero. Poorly written bad guy. Convoluted plot. What makes the movie worse is its placement in the Marvel wider universe as coming off of the past movies (Black Panther, Infinity War) that are exempt of Marvel's usual flaws they make Captain's failures even more garishly obvious. When other Marvel movies have had the same problems, fans have had the opportunity to say ''You can't hold it to high standards as it's only a marvel movie, they're not meant to be anything other than fun,'' but it's clear from Kevin Feigie's recent releases Marvel can be much better than this and most certainly should be for the amount of money they make.

Shazam!- Captain Marvel but better in every single way. An interesting analysis on the dynamics and influence of family in developing a person. As a child we all wished we were a superhero and we often believed we wanted to escape from our family because ''they just don't understand me'' or ''I don't belong with them''. This movie puts these beliefs to the big screen in a well crafted romp that is heightened by the flickers of horror throughout the movie. Because the film is grounded in real life with the family themes, the stakes feel real and the story is convincing. In addition, the hero is flawed and the bad guy has reasonable motives that relate to the protagonist and makes sense in a none convoluted manner. Yes, at some points the script leans into a poorly timed comedic moment and loses some integrity of the stakes/threat, however these moments are fleeting and do not destroy the sense of danger the characters are in. In addition, it is quite funny.

Dumbo- A live action remake that actually has a reason to exist. I have a problem with Disney's latest idea of re-releasing their classics in live action because they feel like a lazy cash grab based off of nostalgia alone. None of the remakes have given a reason for its existence other than the parameters stated above (especially the latest Lion King). However, this is less of a remake and more of a Tim Burton re-imagining. Taking the artsy style of a beloved director and putting it to a classic tale actually creates an interesting movie. I wouldn't say the choices were daring or overtly out there changes to the original, but Burton certainly gives it his own flair and a slick of paint that is more distinct than imaginative. For a live action remake, it is good. Is it worth a trip to the cinema when you probably already own the original Dumbo DVD? Certainly not.

Avengers Endgame- When a movie boasts a 3 hour run time and that ''no moment can be missed for a toilet break'', I end up spending a good portion of my time thinking ''well was this scene really necessary?'' The answer, for many scenes, was no. A good subsection of the plot could be lifted or reworked to make the film less bloated; I admit the pacing is done very well, but some story-lines just feel unnecessary in the gargantuan film and 3 hours is too long for any movie. However, other than that, it is a very well crafted film that deserves a lot of praise. It juggles the troupe of characters expertly and has a well written story with satisfying arcs for many of them. After the success of Infinity War it felt unlikely that the Endgame was going to succeed in pleasing everyone, but it does and fantastically so. It is the perfect marriage of fan service and a well told story that a not so keen Marvel watcher like myself can enjoy.

Toy Story 4- I have never gone into a movie more pessimistic and come out more relieved. The Toy Story franchise seemed to come to a perfect stop with 3 that to hear they were releasing another sent panic to my core. In addition, Pixar's aim of getting the audience to cry has recently began to overshadow their aim of making a decent film. I had every fear they would do the same with this excellent franchise. To my joy, Toy Story 4 is a better movie than I could ever have expected. But, it never reaches the heights the other movies did. 4 is a good film, not an excellent one. I cannot see myself revisiting it any time other than if it happens to be on TV and I have nothing else to do. Though, it doesn't put a stain on the franchise and for that I love it so.

Wild Rose- A really quaint little film that is definitely deserved of a watch. It takes the well trodden tropes that A Star is Born so well tread not long before this, but it puts its own little Scottish spin on it that is so very British and so very heart warming. It is the less glitzy A Star is Born and is strangely better for it. This feels real and makes the ending hit home. A star is born is looking at fame through fame's glasses, this is fame through the eyes of a regular person from down the street. It's not the movie that will make people's top 10 lists as it doesn't have the knock your socks off moments that its glamorous counterpart does, but when the end credits roll you will be very glad you watched it.

Brightburn- An idea that sounds good on paper, but is not developed into a coherent or interesting movie. The sales pitch of ''what if child superman used his powers for bad'' is an interesting premise that would excite many. However, the film takes the idea nowhere. It takes that one line and stretches it so thinly that it resembles a movie, but actually has nothing of substance that is worth the cost of a cinema ticket. It doesn't say anything. It doesn't do anything. Why is the character bad? Oh no reason. Why do any of the characters do anything? Oh no reason. Is there any point in seeing this movie? Oh no reason. It wastes a perfectly good premise that other writers have used much better, so go watch The Boys on Amazon instead.

Midsommar- The film toes the line of artsy and distasteful surprisingly well. To point out moments in the script would leave the film sounding vulgar, uncouth and crass, but watching it in full pays off. Though at times it is difficult to watch, the more disgusting elements are not just there for shock value, but are actually built on and fit into place in the narrative. The movie poses difficult questions about culture, tradition and how far these two can be excuses for questionable things. It offers an interesting exploration of big topics such as religion and its cult-like tendencies, while still being a sophisticated horror. Without any jump scares it is definitely an interesting take on the horror genre as it makes the audience feel uncomfortable as it remains still on disgusting images longer than any other movie would dare. Even when nothing particularly horrific is on screen, the air of discomfort and fear looms over the bright picturesque world like a metaphorical shadow. It offers deep perspective on how uncomfortable and weird it may feel for some to experience a wildly different culture/world than they are used to. It is intelligent film making as in the hands of anyone else it would be a disaster.

Best: The Favourite

Worst: Brightburn

Mediocre: Toy Story 4