At the Movies with Kane and BN

[Kane52630]

Jiu Jitsu

A true direct to video junkfood trash. It's essentially a Predator knockoff that doesn't have the budget to pull off what they want to do with this concept. Nic Cage, Frank Grillo, Tony Jaa try to salvage any bit of entertainment out of this movie, but it's not clearly enough considering Alain Moussi plays the lead. Even the action manages to be dull and unexciting especially considering the plot revolves around a Mortal Kombat like tournament. Overall, outside from a few bits and pieces, it's a forgettable timewaster.
1.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Alone

A really well done barebones survival thriller that does a lot without saying much. It's as if somebody combined Duel with Hush. Not to give away the plot, but I like how the story is relatively simple, but it's really effective for what it does and and the issues it presents. It pretty much uses the fears of going on a long road trip alone to great effect. Jules Willcox does a phenomenal job and gives off some serious Carrie-Anne Moss vibes. Overall, a very solid thriller that's worth checking out.
3.5/5

 

[Black Narcissus]

Tenet

First viewing.

I really liked the score on this, a nice change from the usual Zimmer and Nolan collab. Man, this is one beautiful looking film. Nolan took his original idea and mixed it with Bond and it almost worked. JDW wasn't given enough good material for him to really chew on imo, but his cool charm and charisma came through in small moments, he was great in all the action//physical fights tho. For once, I had no issue with any of the fight sequences in a Nolan movie, he improved on that on this one. Pattinson is good here and the material he was given didn't really challenge him either, but he looks good in a suit, especially in a particular scene which he looked his most Bruce Wayne like. Elizabeth Debicki's character here is just meh to me, at least Nolan tried to give her more to do than his other female characters, she did look weird from a height pov next to JDW. Kenneth Branagh doing his best bad Bond villain impression, he might be Nolan's worst villain so far. I admire the idea of TENET more than the actual finished film. Nolan is the only mainstream director who could've gotten 200 million budget to make this movie and for that, he deserves credit.

I also want to point out that I had no problem with the audio.
A solid 7.

Black Bear

Aubrey Plaza gives her best performance as an actress on film. I didn't read reviews or watched a trailer, I went in blind. I don't want to give anything away, but when this change happens, it caught me by surprised, it then over stay it welcome just a bit for me, only to make another turn and bring it back and finished the movie in a satisfying way. Sarah Gadon is really under rated as an actress, she has a weird-sexy look about her and Christopher Abbott once again in another great role for him.

8/10

 

[Kane52630]

Greenland

In a shocking turn of events that's very on brand for 2020, Gerard Butler was actually in a really good movie. It's manages to be a seismic disaster movie, but it primarily focuses on the human side of it all. Essentially, it has the scale of the movie 2012 or Armageddon, but with the emotional depth from other disaster movies like The Mist & Deep Impact. It does a great job setting up a doomsday scenario in the modern day and who get selected (and how) to a safety bunker. There's some solid performances from Gerard Butler & Morena Baccarin, but I really dug what they did with Scott Glenn. They don't sell those emotional moments short which I dug. I also like how it doesn't really go overboard with the special effects disaster porn, so when those moments do happen, the impact felt much greater. My only issue for this might be the budget, you can tell they kinda ran out of money when they get to the big special effects towards the end. Overall, it's a movie that I totally did not expect to love much less like and while it might be too soon for a movie like this in 2020, it's very much apt to the anxieties everybody has been feeling for the past several months.
4/5

 

[Kane52630]

Love and Monsters

A fun creature feature adventure film that takes the tone and post-apocalyptic nature of Zombieland with giant mutated animals and insects. I really enjoyed the world they've set up and the first hour of this was probably my favorite part. Dylan O’Brien is pretty good here as the lead who plays it like if Peter Parker was in the apocalypse. And also because of Dylan O’Brien, the movie plays kinda like a 4th Maze Runner movie. Michael Rooker & Ariana Greenblatt pretty much steals the show once they showed up as two experienced monster hunters... it's too bad they weren't in the movie that much. It's also got an incredibly well trained dog that does a lot in here. Overall, I had zero expectations going in, but I really had fun with this. It's kinda a shame this never got a theatrical release, It would've had a solid word of mouth following.
3.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Kajillionaire

It's a intriguing quirky indie drama about a family of grifters that tackles issues like loneliness and the dysfunctional family. It's got full of eccentric performances especially by Evan Rachel Wood who's just short of talking like Beavis and Butthead. I also really dug Gina Rodriguez in here despite her character making some hard to buy decisions early on. While I dug what the movie is really about, some stuff kept me from really loving it. Overall, it's a decent indie romp.
3/5

 

[Kane52630]

Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

A phenomenal movie that is based on a stage play that feels like a stage play... which can be good depending on what you want out of it. It's essentially a collection of solid performances where almost everyone is out chewing scenery, especially Viola Davis and the late Chadwick Boseman... who for his last role plays a character that he hasn't really done before. It's a very electric off the wall performance by Boseman and it's on 24/7. It's without a doubt one of the best performances of the year. Viola Davis as Ma Rainey is a force of nature and they do a great job building up the tension between her and Chadwick Boseman's character. If I had any complaints, it would probably be the limited scope of the story, but I get it considering it's a stage play. Overall, a very solid movie with tremendous performances.
3.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Time

A documentary that captures the effects of mass incarceration of 20+ years by Fox Rich. It's a incredibly well edited, well directed doc that tells a lot through that black and white filter. It's mostly through Fox Rich's perspective and her battle to get her husband out of prison. In a way, it's one of these kinds of docs that harkens back to the old ways of making experimental documentaries and one that feels like you're watching a journal come to life. Overall, a phenomenal doc by Garrett Bradley who for sure is gonna get some award season recognition.
4/5

 

[Kane52630]

Wonder Woman 1984

To answer Maxwell Lord, I wish this movie was really good. Hell, I wish this movie was really bad...sh** give me something to keep my interest afloat. It's a bloated 2 and a half hour superhero movie that is somehow undercooked and overcooked at the same time. It spends too much time on literal winks and nods to other superhero moments and not enough making new ones that feel fresh. The cheesy tone feels dated and it's not because it's set in 1984. Not to give it away, but the overall plot comes off feeling like it came straight out of a 80s Saturday morning cartoon that goes on for too long and the message of the movie at the end feels so phony and contrived. They don't give Gal Gadot much to do or say and a lot of the screen time seemingly belongs to Pedro Pascal, Chris Pine, and Kristen Wiig who are all carrying this movie. The most of the action scenes are mostly mind-numbingly plain and repetitive. Now, the two things I did really like out of this was the opening scene (which is a pretty good scene on its own) and the overall 80s production design. Overall, this movie might have worked 30 years ago, but now, it's feels like a bad novelty item considering how far this genre has progressed since.
1.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Soul

Pete Docter manages to deliver yet another PIXAR classic that taps into our existential dread. It pretty much transcends in all aspects, from the phenomenal animation to the well written story... to even character designs and music. The use of jazz in the story they're trying to tell makes perfect sense and it's amazing how they were able to check all the boxes that PIXAR is known for. The voice acting is great and you almost couldn't tell it was Jamie Foxx & Tina Fey doing them. While I did notice some aspects of the movie felt borrowed from Inside Out and surprisingly Wreck It Ralph, I thought here it felt even more effective and it's probably because of Kemp Powers who co-wrote and co-directed it. Overall, one of PIXAR's best by a long shot.
4.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Bad Education

A entertaining crime drama that is also a dark comedy about a real life high school embezzling scheme. It's so great how Coen brothers-esque this is with the way it's directed and written... Cory Finley is two for two so far. Really enjoyed Hugh Jackman & Allison Janney in this who are electric together and Geraldine Viswanathan is probably the MVP of the movie. They do a great job giving you the pieces to put together and how something like this even happens. Overall, a fun watch.
3.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

I'm Your Woman

A really well made grounded 70s crime drama that would've been an over the top exploitation movie if it had came out in the 70s. It centers on the gangsters wife's journey (played really well by Rachel Brosnahan) with her baby as things start getting heated with the rival gangs. Julia Hart does a phenomenal job directing this and I really dug the attention to detail to all the little flourishes from the 70s. The atmosphere and production design is really on point. Aside from Rachel Brosnahan, Arinzé Kene & Marsha Stephanie Blake bring in some much needed and nuanced performances that help make this movie stand out. Overall, a must see for the year.
4/5

 

[Kane52630]

The Midnight Sky

It's a sci-fi film that has all the ingredients to make a profound statement like Moon or Solaris about the human condition with beautiful visuals, but it's missing subtly, pacing, and a better ending. George Clooney has kinda the right idea of tackling this kind of movie, but it uses some bad/shorthand exposition to get there. What you end up getting is a okay movie that drags until it gets to the ending that you've already figured out. The three plotlines don't really come together as well as it should. I'll say I still enjoyed the cast for what it was and the visuals are really nice. Overall, I wish it could've been better.
2/5

 

[Kane52630]

The Croods: A New Age

A fun family animated feature that is as good as the first Croods (if not better). The basis of the movie essentially uses a particular Addams Family/Beverly Hillbillies formula that takes a sitcom approach to the liberal & conservative lifestyles. There's some solid social commentary going on that works and there's a couple of cliches they avoid for the better. I really love how well it's animated and designed, especially the skin textures... and it does deliver the over-animated zaniness that usually comes with a movie like this when needed. And I liked the gags that they used here. The voice cast was great yet again like Nic Cage & Emma Stone and with some newcomers to the cast like Peter Dinklage and Leslie Mann. Overall, a lot of fun and it's exactly the kind of light animated movie that works for anyone.
3.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Proxima

A phenomenal character driven feature about a female astronaut who's in preparation to take a trip to Mars while taking care of her daughter. It feels like a perfect companion piece to First Man which also tackles issues of loneliness and sentimentality. It's by far one of Eva Green's best roles in a while and the actress who plays the daughter also does a wonderful job. The movie also serves as a great insight into the procedures that go into being an astronaut and what psychological stress that can come with that. Overall, despite some contrivances in the 3rd act, it's ultimately a touching movie about a mother and a daughter's relationship that mostly works.
4/5

 

[Schlosser85]

Proxima

A phenomenal character driven feature about a female astronaut who's in preparation to take a trip to Mars while taking care of her daughter. It feels like a perfect companion piece to First Man which also tackles issues of loneliness and sentimentality. It's by far one of Eva Green's best roles in a while and the actress who plays the daughter also does a wonderful job. The movie also serves as a great insight into the procedures that go into being an astronaut and what psychological stress that can come with that. Overall, despite some contrivances in the 3rd act, it's ultimately a touching movie about a mother and a daughter's relationship that mostly works.
4/5

What did you watch this on?

 

[Kane52630]

What did you watch this on?

You can find it on Amazon

Watch Proxima | Prime Video

 

[Kane52630]

Let Them All Talk

It's a light & breezy dramedy by Steven Soderbergh that takes an actual cruise out as the setting for a group of old friends dealing out their issues. Soderbergh does a great job showing off cruise life that feels authentic because it does feel like you're in another part of the world with free food and activities at any given moment. The script feels very mumblecore given how almost all the dialogue starts and ends. As for performances goes, it's pretty good especially by Candice Bergen, Dianne Wiest, Gemma Chan, & Lucas Hedges. Pretty much everyone except for Meryl Streep, who I found is the least interesting character in the movie. Overall, a pretty decent movie.
3/5

 

[Kane52630]

Big Time Adolescence

A really well done coming of age drama/comedy that gets into friendships with the older crowd and peer pressure that come with it. Griffin Gluck is and Pete Davidson (who kinda plays a lesser version of his character in King of Staten Island) is really great here and their dynamic really sells the movie. The rest of the cast was also solid like Sydney Sweeney, Jon Cryer, Oona Laurence, and shockingly Machine Gun Kelly. They do a great job with the pacing and I like how some of the plot gets resolved with the characters while other stuff doesn't. Overall, it's really great.
4/5

 

[Kane52630]

Journey to China: The Mystery of Iron Mask (or Iron Mask... or Viy 2: Journey to China)

Possibly the most mismarketed and confusing film of 2020. It's apparently a sequel to a Russian film that has a lot of fantasy elements and it now it's set in China with Jackie Chan & Arnold Schwarzenegger who are only in it for maybe 15 minutes. It tries really hard to be a fantasy epic like Lord of the Rings and the Pirate movies, but it mostly falls on its face. There's a lot of horrid dubbing and ADR that keeps you wondering who is this film for. The humor is very dated and the gags are something you've seen countless times before. The movie is really centered on is Helen Yao's character as Cheng Lan and what you get at the end of the day is a very off brand version of Mulan. The only scenes worth seeing are the parts with Jackie Chan & Arnold Schwarzenegger even though it comes off as two old dudes fighting. Overall, it's a very long and cheesy fantasy epic that doesn't know what it wants to be.
1.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Shadow in the Cloud

A fun pulpy synth style bottle film that is also a creature feature set in WWII. It's essentially Nightmare at 20,000 Feet meets Gremlins with a ton of 80s B-movie campiness. Chloe Grace Moretz holds her own as the lead and because it's a bottle film, she carries the entire film. Really dug the rising tension as the movie goes along. The movie also deals with sexism, but in a over the top way that fits the tone of the movie. The synth score is phenomenal and it keeps you in that EC Comics mode as you're watching it. The creature design for the gremlin is really inspired and they do a lot with it that fits in with the plot. The only knock I have against it is the plot a bit too simplistic for its own good especially with the ending. Overall, it's a mostly solid movie that would be a perfect appetizer/double feature with Overlord.
3/5

 

[Kane52630]

The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart

A solid yet mostly standard music documentary that takes you through the years and the history of the Bee Gees and how that Saturday Night Fever soundtrack got made. It mainly focuses on the sibling dynamic as rising star musicians and they also do comment on the Disco scene that started and ended when the Bee Gees were around along with the backlash they received. Really dug the remastered archived footage that they used and it's well edited and directed together. Overall, it's worth checking out even if you're a little bit interested.
3.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

The Babysitter: Killer Queen

Much like the previous movie, this continues the "try hard" meta horror film where it's mostly references to other movies with over the top gore. McG tries to make this movie like the Scott Pilgrim for horror, but it ends up being another bad Scary Movie sequel where the comedy is nonexistent. Like with the last one, you don't really care for any of the characters other than maybe Samara Weaving who's barely in this sequel. Overall, it's a oversaturated annoying movie that miss the mark by a lot.
1.5/5

 

[Kane52630]

Pieces of a Woman

A mostly phenomenal portrait of a woman struggling to get her life back together after a really devastating loss. The first 30 minutes of it is essentially a long and intense prorogue that illustrates a home birth in almost real time. It's by far the best part of the movie which is a bit sad to see that the rest of the film (as good as it is) doesn't really match up to it. Vanessa Kirby is pretty much locked for a best actress nod (if not win) and it kinda overshadows any major problems this movie has. The first half does a solid job making the scenario as realistic as possible however the 2nd half goes into movie world and it loses some of its effect. The rest of the cast did pretty good especially Ellen Burstyn and Shia LaBeouf despite the filmmakers not knowing what to do with Shia LaBeouf which was another problem I had with it. Overall, it's one of best performances of the year despite some the problems I had with the story.
4/5

 

[Kane52630]

Dreamland

It's a decent Bonnie and Clyde clone that has somewhat of a different spin to it and style. I will say it's beautifully directed by Miles Joris-Peyrafitte and it does (at times) try to be a lot like The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Performances are pretty solid even though it's heavily melodramatic, but Margot Robbie pretty much overshadow all of them. One big knock I have against it is the melodramatic plot. It felt like the fake movie that gets played in another film where it parallels the two main leads. Outside of that, it's mostly a solid film.
3/5