Hotel Artemis

Released: June 8, 2018
Director: Drew Pearce
Writer: Drew Pearce
Cinematographer: Chung-hoon Chung
Starring: Jodie Foster, Sterling K Brown, Sofia Boutella, Jeff Goldblum, Charlie Day, Dave Bautista
Bechdel Test: Passes
Worth Seeing, Though Not Necessarily On the Big Screen

I fucking love Sofia Boutella so seeing this was a no-brainer for me from the very beginning. When I saw the rest of the cast of course I needed to see it in a theatre. And when I heard it was Cyber Punk (consider it Cyber Punk lite) I basically rushed out to see it. It's definitely not the best movie to grace the screen lately but it's certainly the most original I've seen in ages. Actually, this may be the first original movie I've seen all year in that all the other's I've seen have been sequels, or based off of something, or remade from something else. Nothing wrong with that, but having something fresh is and was an absolute treat.

Hotel Artemis is doubly good because it is a quick film. The speed does leave some waisted potential but it also doesn't dwell on anything long enough to ruin it. Surprisingly, even with the speed, the cast of the characters and the plot are balanced well, even if the audience never really emotionally connects with any of them. Jodie Foster, unsurprisingly, is stunning in the role and steals the spotlight the entire time she is on screen. Sterling K Brown is also fantastic (again, no surprise) and reminds everyone that he can act his ass off. All the supporting actors also pull their weight, though seeing Zachary Quinto playing a whiny child was more than a little strange and off-putting.

Visually the movie is quite good and while The Artemis itself is easy to fall in love with it did feel paper thin the entire time. Truthfully, setting it in the near future didn't do anything for the plot except texture it and allow for some pretty awesome set design, which is something to be appreciated. The soundtrack, too, was on point.

Going in I thought the movie would have more stylized violence so it was disappointing that it really wasn't that bloody. I did like the water-riots that were happening outside the Artemis and I applaud the film makers for translating anxiety well onto the screen. The ending was something I worried about while watching it, but it pays off and the whole story is well-rounded. All-in-all it really is worth it to check into the Artemis.

Opening Weekend: Incredibles 2

Released: June 15, 2018
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Craig T Nelson, Holly Hunter, Samuel L Jackson, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Catherine Keener, Bob Odenkirk
Bechdel Test: Technically Passes
Worth Buying A Ticket For

I knew going into this one that there was no way it was going to be better than the original no matter what all the people online have been saying. The Incredibles is one of those rare, near-perfect films that came out at exactly the right time. Now that's not to say I wasn't excited for this one, because I was incredibly excited I just went into it with rather low expectations.

The animation is a step up, particularly with Elastigirl's fighting scenes which are some of the best action scenes of the summer. Initially the newer animation, which isn't different than the original per-se just cleaner in a lot of ways, was jarring but is easily adaptable.

While Helen and Bob get heaps of character development and continue to grow in this film Dash and Violet are left by the wayside and even Jack-Jack, who's absolutely adorable and fits in surprisingly well, felt as if the writer's weren't sure what to do with them. Do they play an important part in the climax? Yes, but it would have worked well without them and a few minor tweaks to the plot and otherwise they have nothing to do except exist. As for new characters they were all pretty predictable and none of them felt quite as original, probably due to Superhero fatigue.

This movie has a bunch of fan service but doesn't go over the top with it. No one is over-used or under-used and the whole thing is a fun, family treat layered with good morals. Again, it's no original, but it's a movie worth seeing in theatre's and seeing with friends and family because it'll make you happy and that, after all, is what a film like this is for.

P.S. To all the people online complaining about the children in the theatre for this movie: shut up. Movies aren't meant to be seen in a void, they're made to have reactions and audience, and the audience for this movie is children just as much as it's the now-adult fans of the original.

I, Tonya

Released: January 19, 2018

Director: Craig Gillespie

Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney

Bechdel Test: Passes

Worth Spending Money On

I actually watched this because I thought it would a somewhat light fare to end my night on. I had heard it was a dark comedy, but no one had told me that it was erring closer to the side of dark than comedy. There were certainly moments where I chuckled but nothing got me really laughing the way I had expected. And I guess I've been an easy crier lately because I teared up more than once while watching this film.

Tonya Harding is no longer a familiar story so it's an interesting movie to sit down for. The fact that it chronicles her life from a young age helped set the stage for the "incident" as they call it throughout the film. But watching her grow up is not easy due to the abuse she receives throughout most of her life. Where this could easily have been filmed as an underdog story the ending negates any and all accomplishments she makes and the fact that she never really had a chance reveals the tragic reality that is competitive sports like this.

Everyone in the film is a dream. Not one person miscast or out of character and the interviews scattered between were well timed. That all these characters are real people is remarkable. The film also managed to capture the era so well, partly due to the fantastic soundtrack and mostly due to the wardrobe and makeup. The only thing that's a bit jarring is something that should have set it apart: when the cast addresses the audience. It could have been a brilliant move but it felt scattered and besides the final lines it didn't really pack any punches the way it should have.

Tonya Harding today would be a different story, and in the light of #MeToo I think her story has the best chance of resonating with audiences. It's best that she's not depicted as a hero, or as innocent, but it's also best that she's depicted as a woman in trouble, and those jarring lines about her audience being her abusers, too... that's the moment when everything really falls into place. This is a movie worth watching and a woman worth apologizing to.

A Wrinkle in Time (2018)

This movie has gotten a lot of poor reviews but I honestly can't relate. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and actually spent a large portion of it crying because of how touched I was. It's one of those weird children's film's that will probably age, be lost for a little, and then discovered by precious little ones and kept like a gem, not unlike The Neverending Story.

The first half of the film is rushed and feels very thrown together and a lot of that has to do with the info-dumping that needs to take place and the character set up. But as poorly as it's done it's done and the second half really pays off because of it. Meg's character in particular reflects the events of the first half. Another reason it's not the best beginning is because the stakes don't feel real and the direction it moves in doesn't have much momentum. Once the Missus' leave and the kids are on their own the stakes are immediately elevated and the search for the missing father becomes the much more active rescue mission.

Visually the movie is beautiful and colorful. The stylization works well for how weird the film is over all and how many seemingly random events happen. It made the movie fun and more enjoyable because even if the pace is off and the plot is weak it's a delight to view and it's a shame not to watch it on a larger screen. Later, when the tone gets darker as do the colors it's balanced well and rather than just show the darkness by having more shadows the film employs more matte and empty-feeling colors, such as a dull orange.

While it's not a perfect movie by any stretch of the imagination it's an empowering movie for young girls-- especially young girls of color. Meg is an amazing protagonist that breaks and mends your heart many times. I think it's easy for any woman to see part of their childhood in Meg and to appreciate the way she grows.