1stReviews

I Care A Lot is a film that sees Rosamund Pike starring as the ruthless Marla Grayson, a legal guardian who, with the help of her partner Fran (Eiza Gonzalez), builds a business off of abusing the system to take advantage of elderly people for profit. She eventually targets the wrong person, and her pursuits lead to an interesting cat-and-mouse game versus the crime lord Roman Lunyov (Peter Dinklage). The film feels like it took a lot of inspiration from the TV show American Greed, which is CNBC's shocking true crime series that examines the dark side of the American Dream. The film overall is quite engaging and the plot is sure to keep you thoroughly captivated with its interesting twists and turns. Rosamund Pike wonderfully plays another vicious, cunning character similar to her past work in Gone Girl (2014), and as a viewer, you may either really hate her or respect her hustle, but no matter what she does a great job at leading the show with her skills. Peter Dinklage, who although shows his continual tact and range as an actor in the film, I felt that his character was written in such a way that seems too unrealistic for a ruthless leader of a criminal organization. This goes for all characters in the film related to the criminal organization since they come off as rather weak. The story is rooted in exploring the lives of people with no morals, so if you can't get past that behavior, then I'd say do not watch this movie, but if you don't mind seeing a ruthless scammer at work and a crime boss coming after her, then be prepared for an entertaining watch, where you always want to know what will happen next.

Sound of Metal is a story about Ruben (Riz Ahmed), a drummer in a metal band who begins to suffer from severe hearing loss, and the film takes us on his journey through such a life-changing event. This drama is thoroughly engaging as it features a great story, top-tier acting performances, an intriguing theme, as well as probably the best sound design of the year. (Warning: Spoilers Ahead) The flow of the story is constant and feels highly realistic, which kept me thoroughly locked in on the characters and wondering where the plot was headed next. With Riz Ahmed's character at the center of the film, he shows off some top-tier acting while portraying the raw emotions that Ruben is going through, making the audience feel every bit of anger, frustration, and other emotions on this rocky road on the path to acceptance of his hearing loss. The theme of acceptance is where the movie genuinely excelled since it hammers home that being deaf is not a problem at all, it is our thoughts about it, wherein lies the real problem. The driving force of this great message certainly has to be Joe (played by Paul Raci), who is a teacher at the deaf community that Ruben joins. His calm, collected, and soothing persona provides the film with the perfect guide for both Ruben and anyone watching the film on the path to enlightenment. Changing the way that Ruben thinks about his 'problem', was the only solution to finding his inner stillness, and letting go of all the negative emotions he was dealing with. Now, even though there's more than enough reason to watch this movie from the details provided above, what takes the cake as the element which weaves the entire film together, is the exceptional sound design. The sound throughout the film is fused seamlessly with the story elements and emotional landscape of every scene. From the simple sounds of breathing or body movement to the simulated screechy noise that Ruben experiences after getting hearing implants, all the way to the moment of silence, the craft behind the use of sound in this film was world-class.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Boss Level is a new addition to the time loop genre, with a twist. Ex-special forces officer, Roy Pulver, played by Frank Grillo, relives the same day until he dies. Every day he is hunted by assassins and when killed, he wakes up back in his bed where he started, only to have to try and survive all over again. Roy has no idea why he is stuck in this infinite time loop but he must do what he can to survive, and the longer he survives, the more he uncovers about his particular situation. Unlike most action films that take time to build up, this film gets right into it and offers tons of non-stop combat sequences that would satisfy any lover of action films. Its erratic flow makes for some fun action scenes which come out of nowhere since Roy can expect the assassins to attack at any moment. If you play video games often and have ever been stuck on a level for hours or even days, you know the feeling of having to repeat the same thing over and over again until you finally figure out how to pass the level easily the next time. Boss Level pays homage to this as Roy moves further in time after many attempts to beat a person or try to gather more information on how to solve a dilemma. The assassins are a really fun part of the film and help add a nice range of action that constantly feels fresh. I can sense the enjoyment the creative team had when creating each assassin. Every one of them has a particular set of skills, represents a different style of fighting, and has a unique costume to fit their overall esthetic. They also each represent many tropes found in video games. For example, one of the bosses is a carbon copy of Roy played by actor Eric Etebari. Their encounters are hilarious as they both are constantly dressing alike and put up a consistent fight. One of my favorite assassins was named Guan Yin, played by Selina Lo. She is this bad-ass sword fighter who gives Roy a run for his money. I must add, she was equally funny and her signature catchphrase was a nice added touch that had me laughing each time. It made me think of many famous catchphrases like "get over here" from Street Fighter. Guan Yin wasn't the only funny character, the film also boasts the comedic power of Will Sasso and Ken Jeong and offers many hilarious bits in their unique style. The uniqueness doesn't stop there as the films acting range includes Mel Gibson, Naomi Watts, Michelle Yeoh, Rampage Jackson, and the double touchdown scoring Rob Gronkowski from this year's Super Bowl. I was pleasantly surprised for the film to have such a warm and enjoyable side plot that saw Roy rekindle his relationship with his son, Joe. As the two bonded over video games like Street Fighter and Defender, it gave the film a nice even buffer in between the action sequences, as Roy progressed through the game. Fun fact, Joe, played by Rio Grillo, is Frank Grillo's son. Many of these scenes show us the leading man that Frank Grillo is. and the dynamic range he has which is only starting to shine through in his latest roles. I was first introduced to Joe Carnahan's work from Smokin' Aces and have been following his work ever since. His balls to the wall action style and fast-paced filmmaking fit the time loop genre well. That is one of the reasons why Boss Level worked so well. He also has a great relationship with Frank Grillo after working on many projects together over the years. Boss Level is a really fun action flick that does not take itself too seriously and pays homage to action films and video games in really awesome ways. I am Stefano Bove, and I have written this! If this joke does not make sense, watch the film and come talk :)

Minari is one of the most inspirational family films I have watched in years. This exceptional cast pushes the limits of their family dynamic, as well as our hearts, as we see them struggle with everyday life problems. Jacob, played by Steven Yeun, moves from California to a Farmland in Arkansas with his family. The goal is to build a sustainable farm and live the American dream while dealing with many real-life issues that test the resilience of the household. He and his wife, Monica, played by Han Ye-ri, are recent immigrants from Korea in search of a better life for their kids. Jacob's dream of owning a farm brings the family to Arkansas with the purchase of a large farm and a house made out of an eighteen-wheeler. Monica is not fully happy with this plan for many reasons but goes along with the move to keep the family together. Director Lee Isaac Chung wrote and directed this semi-autobiographical film in 2018, ironically around a time he was considering retiring from directing. Though not a factual documentary, Chung included many memories into the film based on his childhood home in Arkansas. The fact that the film is based on many important moments in Chung's life is the driving force of the film. Early memories help to define who we are and Chung uses Jacob's son, David, as our guide through the film, allowing the audience to witness all these beautiful moments in his life unfold before their eyes. Moments of discovery, moments of understanding, and moments that teach him life lessons. Every member of David's family teaches him something important about life at some point in the film and these moments will define him for the rest of his life. Many of these important life lessons come from his relationship with his grandmother Soonja, who he spends all day with while his parents are at work. The two often travel down to the creek where they have started a small garden of their own with a plant from Korea called Minari, echoing the much larger garden of American vegetables that Jacob has grown. Their kids Anne (Noel Cho) and David (Alan Kim) are at a very delicate age in their lives and Monica knows that their new environment will be a major change for them. One of her fears is the loss of their Korean culture because there are only a few Koreans in the new town they live in. Monica's mother moving in to help out with the kids is one of the ways they try and keep the Korean traditions thriving in the house. David also has some unexplained medical issues early on and living in the middle of nowhere poses an issue in the case that a hospital is needed for him. All of these issues are just some of the things that the family deals with which are easy to sympathize with. The family is also struggling with their faith in the film. Having moved to a new town, working new jobs, and balancing new priorities, Monica worries that the kids are not going to practice their faith as often due to the town not having a Korean Church, but they choose to attend the towns Sunday mass in order to provide their children with an outlet to continue practicing their faith as well as interact with other local kids. Ironically, as everyone struggles with their issues, the one character that seems to be the happiest is also the most faithful in the film; Jacob's farm helper, Paul, is an extremely dedicated Christian who carries a cross around town each Sunday. To the Yi family, he comes off as a nut but he is often the voice of reason and offers his opinion in many situations, even though he is often discredited. As the head of the household, Jacob often has to deal with very difficult decisions that sometimes put the family at risk, and he often makes these decisions without even discussing them with Monica. Jacob's desire to succeed sometimes clouds his judgment and puts his family in harm's way but that he lives with his choices and continues to fight tomorrow. Regardless of how big or small; any choice you make in life has a repercussion and many of the choices made by the characters, seem to come full circle in the film. They often present themselves as new problems or make situations worse, however, it is the family's determination to learn and grow through these decisions that is most important. I really connected with this film and the Yi family, so much so that each member taught me something about myself in one way or another. Minari is now available on all Video on Demand platforms.

Saint Maud packs a rather large punch in its short runtime. I was expecting a straightforward horror film about a woman possessed to do evil deeds, but Saint Maud is much more than that. It is a rather new psychological horror that focuses on the danger of mental illness left unchecked. Maud is a troubled young woman who suffers PTSD from a very traumatic event with a patient while working at a hospital. Maud turned to faith for guidance and now dedicates herself to God in an effort to cleanse herself of the traumatic event. Now working in hospice care, and longing for something or someone to connect with, Maud is given her first patient to care for. Amanda is a cancer patient who requires 24-hour care but she has a past that does not align with Maud's religious beliefs. Like any good horror film, you spend most of your time watching tensely for something to happen, but Saint Maud isn't as giving as most. The pulse-pounding soundtrack keeps you on your toes, constantly implying something petrifying will happen only to make each scene as gruesome as possible. The lighting and cinematography do their part to add unsettling mystery to each moment. Maud is not one for many words but this is important not only to her character but to the flow of the story, we only truly get to understand her as bits of information begin to come out. In some cases, we even get the full story just through a few short visual flashbacks which is more impactful than her telling us anything at all. Morfydd Clark delivers an exceptional performance filled with tension, anxiety, and sorrow. I really felt sorry for Maud, as you could feel her loneliness and longing for any human connection throughout the film. There are a few scenes in the movie where she does try to connect with others but she knows her troubled past is a barrier to any further human contact. One particular scene that stood out to me was when Maud was at a bar having a drink. For a moment, I let my guard down but it was a turning point for me that showed just how far gone Maud was. Even just a casual scene of people drinking made me disgusted. This bar scene showcases the incredible execution behind the scenes using lighting, music, and visuals to make even the simplest of moments grotesque. This is the first feature-length film for Rose Glass who also wrote the screenplay. She delivers to show us a very vulnerable time in Maud's life that many people go through after trauma but it is how you cope with the events in your life that will dictate your future. People often turn to religion after near-death experiences or traumatic events and as long as it is bringing you comfort and helping you cope, that is the most important thing. As someone who has thought about my faith a lot over the years, this film showcases the danger of religion when radicalized to do something in the name of God. Saint Maud is worth a watch if you are a fan of horror or psychological horror films. It is a great addition to the genre and also goes into depth about the importance of mental health.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Jiu Jitsu stars martial arts skills in the lead role with Alain Moussi, Nicolas Cage, and other familiar faces, which all together form an ancient order of jiu-jitsu fighters who, every six years, battle a vicious race of alien invaders in order to save mankind. The movie itself sounds a bit ridiculous in terms of its plot, and I can assure you that it lives up to the description above. I'll give it to you straight with this review because if you're looking for an exceptional film with fantastic dialogue, interesting characters, top-notch acting, or intriguing themes, then this probably isn't the movie for you. However, there are some positives with the film that could have an appeal to many viewers around. Jiu Jitsu feels like one constant fight scene as it rarely takes a break from the skillful martial arts battles between the characters to lay the groundwork for something bigger. Therefore, if a martial arts action film is something that you like, then it may be worth a watch, since almost all the actors can seriously kick butt. The showcasing of the actors' skill in fighting is amplified by its cinematography, which features long takes of the fight choreography. In addition to the above, the film features some aggressive camerawork which keeps pace with the flow of the action, although it sometimes feel too over the top. In terms of acting, the cast didn't have much in terms of script to work from, but the non-lead roles tried to make the best of it with some small scenes where they can display some emotion, or provide fun comedic relief. In terms of the lead role, Jake (Alain Moussi), there never really feels like a moment where you connect with the character since it was written very one-dimensionally. The main character ends up coming off as a clueless actor standing on center stage, whose only job is to fight while everything happens around him. Jiu Jitsu is not very unique as it borrows heavily from past movies and seems to take a Jason Bourne-like approach to a Predator inspired plot. Although this may offer some intrigue, it was never executed with the level of tact that those films did. Overall, Jiu Jitsu is engaging enough to watch if you are solely focused on the action, but don't expect much more than that.

With the release of Soul, I can confidently say that Pixar has made me cry more times than any other film production company. Soul is a beautiful movie about a man named Joe who wants nothing more in life than to be a professional Jazz musician. After getting the opportunity of a lifetime, he does not feel the same way about it and questions his own existence. Joe then, unexpectedly, has an out-of-body experience that allows him to explore answers to many of life's questions about our body, soul, and if we have a purpose in life. Along with his new pal 22, they must try to get back to earth but not without first finding their purpose. Joe is a charismatic man who is such a relatable character; you connect with him right away. His new friend, 22, is a funny free-spirited character, and the two make for a great duo with contrasting ideologies about how to live life. Joe and 22 have an interesting journey in the film as Joe gets to see someone else live his life, and through this experience, Joe realizes that there is no exact formula to living life, and it's about the adventure, not the final result. Peter Docter returns to the director's chair to make you cry for the millionth time. Peter and Pixar seem to understand their audiences are not children anymore as the stories evolve with each film release. This understanding has allowed them to tackle very heavy questions about life, death, and our existence; more so than any other film I have ever watched. The script is beautifully written and is full of so many new unique inspirational quotes that just make you question life and your own decisions you have made. Atticus Ross, Jon Batiste, and Trent Reznor put together a gorgeous soundtrack that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster that compliments every aspect of the film. Soul is one of the best movies to come out of 2020 by far. It delivers such a powerful perspective on life and how we live it. Anyone who is a practicing artist, or has dedicated much of their life to a goal, should relate to these feelings of self-doubt that Joe goes through in the film. Sometimes you just have to live your life, have fun, and enjoy the ride. We all know life gets crazy and hectic, and are all guilty of letting it take control. We are so blessed to be living right now, and we often forget what it is like to look up at the stars, or to take in the wonderful scent of a flower, or getting lost in a beautiful song. Life is made up of small moments and as Joe says " I'm going to live every minute of it". Overall Rating: 5-star (9.2/10) Plot: 9/10 Theme: 10/10 Acting: 8/10 Script: 9/10 Directing: 9/10 Score/Music: 10/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Editing & Effects: 9/10 Uniqueness: 10/10 Rewatchability: 10/10

This film takes everything great from the previous 2 installments and really pushed those few elements in what is the best of the 3 films. Skylin3s is a fun and enjoyable action/sci fi film Lindsey Morgan is a great lead and a fan favorite in the genre with her badass portrayal of Raven in the 100.