Three Sentence Movie Reviews – Page 6

Soul: Meditations on the Zone

Soul

Directed by Pete Docter and Kemp Powers
Written by Pete Docter, Mike Jones, Kemp Powers

The review:

Not so much a movie that people in middle age should watch if they feel like they are trudging through their life never having found their thing,* but otherwise this movie is an interesting look at personality, passion and the zone. It’s got usual excellent details expected from a Pixar movie.** I also appreciated that the story centered on a middle-aged Black man and his New York City life.***

The verdict: Good

Cost: Disney+/Hulu bundle ($12.99) (We have this because Matt wanted to watch the Mandalorian)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*For them, I worry it will cause a level of anguished tears equal to mine at the conclusion of L’Illusionniste.
**I loved the look of the counselors in the Great Before, plus the fact they were all named Jerry.
***The middle school band scenes felt very familiar.

Questions:

What personality badges would you have been assigned in the Great Before?
Who was your favorite voice?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Animators used footage of several music performers, including jazz composer Jon Batiste, performing as reference for the film’s musical sequences. By capturing MIDI data from the sessions, animators were able to retrace the exact key being played on the piano with each note and create the performances authentically.

(I appreciate this as it bugs me when I can tell the actor isn’t playing the instrument.)

Other reviews of Soul:

Wendy Ide, ScreenDaily
Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter

Mad Max Fury Road Crackles. Plus, That Guitar Guy!

Mad Max Fury Road

Directed by George Miller
Written by George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nico Lathouris

The review:

If you, like me, held off from watching this 2015 film because you hadn’t seen the other Mad Max movies, worry not because you’ll catch on right away.* What makes this better than a lot of films that try to be like this is that 1) it’s got a great story at its core with a lot of humanity and 2) the inventive set design combined with its never stop never stopping pace means this movie is a sensory treat. Populated with a lot of actors who are known for, you know, acting** and not just being action movie stars this is the one action film you should watch this year.***

The verdict: Recommended

Cost: HBOMax monthly fee ($12.99) (We’re still living off our month we signed up for due to WW84.)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*It’s an action film, after all, so the nuance is not great.
**Charlize Theron! Tom Hardy! Nicolas Hoult! Zoe Kravitz! Riley Keough!
***Assuming you didn’t watch it back in 2015, like I should have.

Questions:

What was your favorite set detail?
Which of the bad guys do you think was the worst?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Editor Margaret Sixel, is married to director George Miller. When she asked why he thought she should take on this project, as she had never edited an action film before, Miller replied, “Because if a guy did it, it would look like every other action movie.” Sixel’s work paid off; she received an Academy Award for Best Editing.

Also this gem:

The cake-decorating company Wilton makes a decorative “Color Mist” in silver that is meant to be sprayed onto baked goods to give them a silver sheen. Before May 2015, the Amazon listing for this product contained a few pages of reviews only from bakers opining on the quality of the product when used as intended (on cakes). After the release of Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), both the comments section and FAQ on the Amazon listing were filled with comments from users posting as though they were War Boys or Immortan Joe “reviewing” the product that the War Boys spray onto their mouths before going into battle. As of mid-June 2015, there were nineteen pages of Mad Max-related “reviews” of the Wilton product on Amazon.

Other reviews of Mad Max Fury Road:

Dana Stevens, Slate
Claudia Puig, USA Today

Orange background with a white frame. Text: If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die historic on the Fury Road! —Mad Max Fury Road. Read the three sentence movie review: 3SMReviews.com

Top Movies: December 2020

(12 movies watched, 1 rewatched)

Rewatched: Emma. The last movie I saw in the theater and the third time I’ve seen this film this year.

December! The month where things were fine! But not amazing!

A pie chart showing most movies watched in December 2020 were good, with a small amount Skip, and some were Recommended.

Click on any linked title to read the full review.

Mank

Maybe not so much for the title character.

Arthur Christmas

Maybe just for the opening sequence alone.

Bessie

Maybe for insight into a legend.

The Christmas Chronicles

Maybe for the blues at the jail scene.

The Prom

Maybe to see Jo Ellen Pellman not get overwhelmed by stars.

People Places Things

Maybe because you are having a hard time too.

Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom

Maybe for further insight into a different legend.

Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. A star with text Recommended. An arch with text: 3SMReviews.com: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Happiest Season

Maybe for some powerhouse acting.

Wonder Woman 1984

Maybe for the clothes modeling scene.

Let Them All Talk

Maybe because you love talk-y movies.

Tenet

Maybe because you like to puzzle things.

Tenet: Fresh Blood, Usual Confusion

Tenet

★Directed by Christopher Nolan
★Written by Christopher Nolan

The review:

I managed to see Tenet in the year 2020, even though for many months that wasn’t a sure thing,* and I can say it’s a quality Christopher Nolan film.** Both John David Washington and Elizabeth Debicki were great additions to the usually-white-and-male Nolan players, and I had fun with swarmy and evil Kenneth Branagh. While I couldn’t tell you precisely what happened, it was a fun ride while I was in it.***

The verdict: Good

Cost: $1.80 (we were all ready to pay $19.99 for VOD, but I had a look at Redbox while buying New Year’s Eve supplies and lo, it was there.)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*Things we contemplated: driving to Salem to watch in a theater there; driving to Washington to watch in a theater there (which turned out not to be feasible because Washington switched their level of open); paying the big bucks to rent out an entire theater (which AMC was doing in the fall).
**I mean, he’s a known quantity by now, so you are either in (I love barely holding on to what the heck is happening!) or out (Jesus, man, just make things a bit more clear!) and I’m in.
***And my head did hurt from concentrating.

Questions:

Can you sum up the plot for an interested party?
What do you think of films that don’t have a name for their main character?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

The production team purchased and then crashed a real 747 airplane into a hangar. The stunt was all practical effects, with no visual effects or CGI. Director Christopher Nolan had originally planned to use miniatures and set-piece builds; however, while scouting for locations in Victorville, California, the team discovered a massive array of old planes and it became apparent that it would actually be more efficient to buy a real plane of the real size and perform the sequence for real on camera.

Other reviews of Tenet:

Hanna B, Film Threat
Emily Zemler, Observer

Let Them All Talk: Three Great Actors and a Luxury Liner

Let Them All Talk

Directed by Steven Soderbergh
Written by Deborah Eisenberg

The review:

A Soderbergh movie written by a woman, starring three women I love to watch* that’s a bunch of talking while on a luxury liner? Yes, please.** Overall, this is an amusing frippery that I won’t remember much of in a few years’ time, but man was it good going down.***

The verdict: Good

Cost: HBO Max monthly cost (12.99)****
Where watched: at home

Further sentences:

*Plus Lucas Hedges
**You have no idea how much all of those things thrilled me.
***Though I adore Dianne Wiest (she who imprinted on me in Footloose) it was Candice Bergen who was the most fun to watch.
****We have it for a month due to treating ourselves so we could watch Wonder Woman 84.

Questions:

Which of the three women would you have liked to be?
If your friend from long ago offered to take you on a cruise, would you go?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

For the most part paying Queen Mary 2 passengers were unaware of the film being shot. Signs were placed around live shooting locations. They were met with mostly indifference.

Other reviews of Let Them All Talk:

Karen Gordon, Original CIN
Karen Han, Slate

Orange background with a white frame. Text: When I read this novel, it's impossible for me not to think what a miracle it is That the universe emerged, what a miracle it is that consciousness emerged. And what a miracle it is that Blodwyn Pugh, her thoughts and experiences, that they could reach across time and reach into my consciousness. That's a miracle. —Let Them All Talk. Read the three sentence movie reivew. 3SMReviews.com

Wonder Woman 1984: A Fun Outing

Wonder Woman 1984

Directed by Patty Jenkins
Written by Patty Jenkins, Geoff Johns, and Dave Callaham

The review:

The great moments in Wonder Woman 1984 are the bits that come along with being female in the world that are highlighted in passing* as the story unfolds.** Overall, there are two stories here, one with a pyramid scheme guy and one with a antiquities specialist and I enjoyed the latter more than the former.*** But that is not to say that I didn’t enjoy this movie, it was a fun outing.****

The verdict: Good

Cost: HBOMax monthly fee ($14.99)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*From the joy of young Diana trying to beat the course to the catcalls and unrelenting attention of the grown Diana (and Barbara Minerva) it’s a low and high thing.
**Also joyful? Chris Pine’s clothes modeling scene which mimicked Diana’s exasperation with WWI-era clothes in the previous movie.
***Also, I didn’t recognize Pedro Pascal and spent the film wondering if that was Nathan Fillion with a prosthetic nose, which was a little distracting.
****It’s also the longest Matt and I have gone without watching a new superhero film in more than a decade. Our last one together was Spider-Man: Far From Home in July of 2019! (Though Matt did see Birds of Prey earlier this year)

Questions:

Lotta flight in this film. Necessary?
What was your favorite Wonder Woman moment?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

As first reported by Variety, actress Gal Gadot was paid $10 million for this film (which she also produces)—33 times more than what she made on the first film, Wonder Woman (2017) ($300,000).

(To which both Matt and I said, “$300,000? She was the star of that film!”)

Other reviews of Wonder Woman 1984:

Molly Freeman, ScreenRant
Kate Erbland, IndieWire

Orange background with a white frame. Text: Nothing good is born from lies. And greatness is not what you think. —Wonder Woman 1984. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Happiest Season: A Lot of Great Performances by Women

Happiest Season

Directed by Clea DuVall
Written by Clea DuVall & Mary Holland

The review:

Astute readers* will remember how I’m always going on about the lack of good roles for women and I’m here to say that Happiest Season, a story about two women who love each other, who are heading to one of their family homes for Christmas, provides an entire movie with juicy roles for women.** This film captures a couple at a time in their relationship where it’s a little hard to root for them, but that just makes it all the more fun to watch.*** Aside from being big fans of most of the people in this movie, I thought Aubrey Plaza turned out her best performance in years.

The verdict: Good

Cost: Monthly Hulu charge of $6.00 (because bundled with Disney+)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Prom
Last Christmas
The Holiday

Further sentences:

*Or those just passing by.
**This inverts the usual formula. Rather than a bunch of men and one woman, we’ve got a bunch of women and one man playing a side character.
***Plus, it can give you some compassion practice. What if you hadn’t found the courage to come out to your parents yet? What if you had to juggle that with the usual going-home teenager-esque feelings? What if sibling relationships made everything more complicated? I get that Harper isn’t making good choices, but I feel for her. (Plus, Mackenzie Davis was in Tully, and I will love her forever for that.)

Questions:

Were you rooting for, or against?
Your worst acting-like-a-teenager-though-a-full-grown-adult-while-visiting-parents moment. Go!

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

In Harper’s old room there’s a poster of Josh Hartnett. The film’s director, Clea DuVall, co-starred with Hartnett in The Faculty (1998).

Other reviews of Happiest Season:

Elaine Lennon, Mondo Movies
Katy Rochelle, Oh So Geeky

Orange background with a white frame. Text: Have you managed to get a man's permission to take ownership of an adult, human woman yet? —Happiest Season. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is the Story of Levee

Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom

Directed by George C. Wolfe
Written by Ruben Santiago-Hudson

The review:

Despite the title, this is really the story of Levee (Chadwick Boseman), the trumpet player in Ma Rainey’s band, but Viola Davis is a commanding presence all on her own.* As the hot day gets hotter and the recording session drags on, a lot of stories spool out of Rainy, Levee, and the other band members. It’s a film full of hard truths, great performances, an atmosphere that can’t be beat,** and a couple good punches in the gut, like any great story should have.***

The verdict: Recommended

Cost: Netflix monthly fee $8.99
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Bessie
Ray
Straight Outta Compton
Probably Get On Up
Probably What’s Love Got to Do With It?

Further sentences:

*I’d love to see both Boseman and Davis get a slew of awards nominations for their work on this film.
**From the sweat on the musicians in the recording studio to the tent revival to the stage performance this movie brings all the details.
***It’s a solid play-to-screenplay adaptation, too.

Questions:

What did you think of Ma Rainey’s attitude during the recording session?
What was your favorite period detail?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Denzel Washington, who produced this film, had been a mentor to Chadwick Boseman since his college years. When Denzel Washington received his 2019 AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, Boseman recounted that he was one of nine of Phylicia Rashad’s Howard University acting students for whom Washington paid the full summer-program tuition at the British Academy of Dramatic Acting in Oxford.

Other reviews of Ma Rainy’s Black Bottom:

Moira Macdonald, Seattle Times
Jocelyn Noveck, Associated Press

Orange background with a white frame. Text: I know what I'm doin'. Let me handle them my way. —Ma Rainy's Black Bottom. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

All Movies Watched on Kanopy June—Present

Kanopy. Quality films for free.

Here are five movies I’ve loved that you can watch right now. For free!

Five Really Great Movies on Kanopy Now

The Secret of Roan Inish. Perhaps John Sayles’s most perfect movie.
The Last Black Man in San Francisco. Holding on to the family home amid gentrification. Pairs nicely with Blindspotting (which isn’t on Kanopy).
The Farewell. Check out Awkwafina’s performance, which should have been Oscar nominated.
You Can Count on Me. Aw. Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo twenty years ago.
Touchy Feely. Lynn Shelton’s amusing look at a Seattle family.

Good

Picture of Evan Rachel Wood, Callum Rennie, and Ellen Page in the film Into the Forest

Skip

A picture of Francisco Solorzano and Patrizia Hernandez with a sketch of NYC brownstones behind them

A picture of Kristen Wiig in the film Welcome to Me.

A Quiet Passion (September)
Welcome to Me (August)
Love Simple (July)

Top Ten 2020 Movies I Watched on my Couch

(While Missing the Movie Theater Experience)

A picture of my Ikea couch with my Roku TV which became ground zero for movie viewing in 2020

On the plus side, the cancelling of all activities combined with my unemployed status meant I had more time for movies this year. On the minus side, all but one 2020 film was watched right here, on this couch.