"A Journal for Jordan" stars Michael B. Jordan, Chanté Adams, Robert Wisdom, Johnny M. Wu, Jalon Christian, and Tamara Tunie. Releasing on December 25, 2021, the film is about a woman who shares her late husband's journal with her son. The film is directed by Denzel Washington, who also directed "Antwone Fisher", "The Great Debaters", and "Fences". It is based on the memoir of the same name by Dana Canedy. No gift's more thoughtful than a father's journal. On some occasions, you just want to spend the holiday season watching a film that brings a tear to your eye. This year is that occasion. Denzel Washington has proven time and again that he's not only one of the most talented and charismatic actors to date but also one of the finest filmmakers. Since 2002, Washington has been quite successful with his directorial efforts, especially the 2016 film adaptation of August Wilson's "Fences", which I thought was fantastic. Now, he's seeking to continue his winning streak with a film that tells the true story of Dana Canedy and her husband's wholehearted gift to their son. The film doesn't hit theaters until Christmas Day, but I happened to score an opportunity to attend an early access screening at my cinema a while ago. I can tell that all of you Denzel Washington fans are incredibly jealous, but on the bright side, you get to know how good it is very early from yours truly. To quote Maui: What can I say except "you're welcome"? With that said, let's see if this latest drama is a lovely Christmas gift for the actor's followers. The story centers on Dana Canedy (Adams) and her husband, Charles Monroe King (Jordan), a U.S. marine. One day, King is deployed in Iraq, leaving Dana to take care of their son Jordan (Christian) alone. King wrote a journal of love and advice to share with his son before his tragic death on duty. Dana reflects on her romance with King while Jordan learns about his father via his journal. Denzel Washington has directed the last three films he also starred in. However, for "A Journal for Jordan", Washington only takes over directing duties while Michael B. Jordan leads the cast, making this the first film for Washington to do so. Based on my experience with "Fences", I had a hunch that he would handle this challenge without any problems regarding his direction. After watching it for myself, it turned out that my hunch was correct. While it's far from Washington's best work, the film delivered plenty of subtlety and inspiration to make this a good date movie. The film is about as traditional as any boy-meets-girl movie can get when it comes to the story. It featured a non-linear narrative involving Dana sharing Charles's journal with Jordan and flashbacks depicting Dana and King's relationship. It's an ordinary romantic drama that didn't offer anything new to the table and got a bit too carried away with its two-hour-plus runtime. Fortunately, Washington's execution for its formula has enough merits to carry out its duty in providing a kind-hearted and charismatic reflection of love and honor. Instead of going extreme with the drama, Washington went with a more delicate approach, not just for the concept but also for the characters' conversations. He displayed the emotions calmly and sincerely instead of having the characters scream or overreact towards each other every few minutes, all while focusing on making the cast as endearing as possible. Even though his direction might not fit well for everyone regarding its pacing and lack of tension, it did help in delivering a more comfortable and inspiring experience for those who needed a break from the superhero action and frenetic cartoons. Michael B. Jordan was just as stunning as always, thanks to his performance as Charles. Jordan portrayed Charles as an honorable and serene soldier who's torn between the love of his life and the duty he swore to perform. It may not be a perfect representation of the character, but it did show further proof that Jordan is still one of the most talented actors working in Hollywood today. However, the real star of the show was Chanté Adams, who assumed the role of Dana. Adams was tasked to carry the film with her performance, whether Jordan's alongside her or not, and admittedly, she did a suitable job fulfilling that task. I hadn't seen that much of her in her other films except last year's "The Photograph", so I'm hoping this movie helps her land more roles soon. Jalon Christian also didn't do too bad as Jordan. As for its screenplay by Virgil Williams, it's pretty much what you would expect out of a romantic drama: heartfelt yet a bit corny in some places. Thankfully, the dialogue is suitable enough to carry its emotional weight effectively without going too deep into Hallmark movie territory. Overall, "A Journal for Jordan" is an appealing and uplifting drama that's suitably romantic and subtly comforting. It's a step down from Washington's previous film, "Fences", regarding its formula and runtime. Nonetheless, it's a thoughtful portrayal of love and the remembrance of those who inspired others to share it. Thanks to its solid cast, Washington's direction, and endearing script, the film proved to be an acceptable choice for date night this holiday season. If you want to watch something more relaxing and heartwarming than a movie filled with explosive action and singing animals, make sure you check this one out when it releases on Christmas. B
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“House of Gucci” stars Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, Salma Hayek, and Al Pacino. Released on November 24, 2021, the film depicts the events leading up to the murder of Maurizio Gucci. The film was directed by Ridley Scott, who also directed films such as “Alien”, “Blade Runner”, “American Gangster”, and “The Martian”. It is based on the 2001 book The House of Gucci: A Sensational Story of Murder, Glamour, and Greed by Sara Gay Forden. It looks like the Madrigals weren’t the only family that celebrated Thanksgiving last week. Back in October, Ridley Scott delivered a thought-provoking historical drama that harkens back to one of his earlier classics, “Gladiator”. That film was “The Last Duel”, a star-studded epic that impressed many of Scott’s fans but failed to connect with modern audiences regarding its box office. This week, the filmmaker is looking to try again by exploring another piece of history with a new batch of A-list actors. Like my experience with “The Last Duel”, I wasn’t familiar with the story it’s referencing and the people it’s portraying until I discovered the film’s existence. I decided to look into it beforehand, and I was fascinated by what happened, mainly Maurizio Gucci’s death caused by his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani in 1995. With Scott in the director’s chair and a bunch of award-worthy stars, I was interested in seeing how the film will translate this story. With that in mind, let’s see if it’s as murderously devious as Reggiani’s crime. The film follows Patrizia Reggiani (Gaga) and her journey to fame and fortune. She romances Maurizio Gucci (Driver) and marries her way into the family business. Gucci is part of the dynastic Italian luxury fashion brand held by his father, Rodolfo (Irons), and his uncle Aldo (Pacino). Throughout her years as a Gucci member, Patrizia schemes to gain control of Gucci, leading up to her putting herself at odds against Maurizio. This resulted in Patrizia hiring a hitman to murder Maurizio. The movie had proven to be controversial before its release, primarily due to the actual Gucci family’s dismissal of “House of Gucci”. Long story short, they’re not happy with how the film represents the family and their business. But I’m sure you’re not here for my thoughts about that. You’re here to see if this star-studded crime drama was worth my time or not. I admired plenty of good things in this intriguing tale of legacy and murder. However, there were also a few elements that prevented the film from rising to the top, such as its story and runtime. In other words, I would say that it was somewhat of a mixed bag. While Scott showed his best efforts to provide his signature style and let the actors run the show, “House of Gucci” unfortunately fell short of delivering a fashion show for the ages. It’s an overly bloated and uneven drama that’s as stylish as their costumes but also as unintentionally campy as a high school play. I did not think I would find anything amusing about a film that involves a businessman being murdered by his ex-wife, but for some reason, Scott happened to find a way, for better or worse. Unsurprisingly, one of the only elements that I happened to enjoy was the cast, primarily Lady Gaga as Patrizia. She’s absolutely stunning, not just because of her looks but also her engaging performance. If you want another reason why Lady Gaga can act as well as she can sing, try watching this film. She offered a subtle flame in her dramatic chops that’s nearly impossible to resist without overdoing the melodrama. The fact that this was her second central role after 2018’s “A Star Is Born” makes it even more impressive in my eyes. I thought her performance in “A Star Is Born” was better, but her role here came pretty close. Adam Driver was also magnificent regarding his performance as Maurizio and his appealing chemistry with Gaga. Jeremy Irons and Al Pacino were both talented as Rodolfo and Aldo, respectively, and Salma Hayek made a solid impression as Giuseppina Auriemma. Sadly, the only actor that left me conflicted was Jared Leto as Paolo, Aldo’s son. Granted, he did put on quite a show with his performance and comical moments, but he was also one of the reasons why the film’s tone struggled to find its footing. Despite him making me laugh a few times, Leto’s acting wasn’t balanced well with its quality, resulting in some jarring moments that can be a bit hard to swallow. I’m sure that other people would enjoy Leto’s ridiculous playacting more than I did, even though he’s acting like he’s in an Italian comedy instead of a serious drama. In addition to the cast, “House of Gucci” should also be remembered for its makeup designs and costumes. They worked marvelously in transforming the actors into the actual people they were portraying. Heck, I hardly recognize Jared Leto because of that. As for its flaws, the film had a lot of beef in the story regarding its runtime. It’s two-and-a-half hours of dialogue-driven moments that involve family drama and business. The pacing can be sluggish at times, and a couple of scenes are complex. Thankfully, the main stars managed to keep things enticing without putting me to sleep. I already mentioned that the film’s tone was imbalanced, but I’m going to bring it up again. It had a hard time maintaining the dramatic elements without being unintentionally comedic in some places. As a result, it wound up being an inconsistent melodrama that lacked the emotional core in its provocative themes and storytelling. Overall, “House of Gucci” is far from a fashion disaster, but it’s also not a fashion marvel either. The cast and Ridley Scott’s style are the only elements that make the film shine like a diamond. Everything else, in particular, makes this a pale imitation of better movies with similar themes. With its middling story, uneven tone, and beefy runtime, the film is an unfortunate misstep for Ridley Scott after delivering the goods in “The Last Duel” back in October. However, if you like the stars involved and are interested in Gucci’s downfall, you’ll probably enjoy this one more than I did. C+"Tick, Tick… Boom!" stars Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesús, Joshua Henry, Judith Light, and Vanessa Hudgens. Released on November 12, 2021, the film is about a theatre composer who endures a quarter-life crisis. The film featured the directorial debut of Lin-Manuel Miranda, who composed music for productions like "In the Heights" and "Hamilton". It is based on the semi-autobiographical musical of the same name by Jonathan Larson. When you get close to a specific age, and you're not getting anywhere with your career, there's a good chance you might be on your way to awards glory. Today, I'm looking at another film that's pleasing its audiences with its drama and a whole bunch of musical numbers. Not only that, but it is also another movie that sees another musical jumping from the stage to the screen. This time, with Lin-Manuel Miranda in the director's chair for the first time. If you can't tell already, I've been constantly amazed by Miranda's previous works, notably in the music and acting departments. So seeing him take on the role as a filmmaker made me feel both ecstatic and curious as to how he'll pull it off. Based on the reviews it's been getting, it appears that his directorial debut may be as delightfully dynamic as his music. Now that I found the time to watch it on Netflix, let's see if it lives up to the hype. The film takes place in 1990, where Jonathan Larson (Garfield) was preparing for a new musical called Superbia while working at the Moondance Diner. He hopes to succeed in the production before his 30th birthday like his idol Stephen Sondheim (Bradley Whitford). When tasked with writing a new song for Superbia, he feels pressured as he only has one week to come up with something grand. With the support of his friends and his girlfriend Susan Wilson (Shipp), Jonathan will have to race against the clock to accomplish his goal. The events are narrated by Larson, who performs the rock monologue of the same name at the New York Theatre Workshop. While the film is based on Larson's life, it includes several fictional sequences for dramatic (and musical) purposes. So it's no different than any other fact-based film. For a film adaptation of a musical to succeed, especially the dramatic ones, it needs two things: a story that lives up to the source material and an emotional core powered by its themes and songs. Some of them succeed with those qualities like "Grease" and "In the Heights", while others hit plenty of sour notes regarding their execution, including 2019's "Cats". I would consider "Tick, Tick… Boom!" to be one of the movie musicals that succeed in a significant way. I would even call it the best movie musical of the year. Aside from his work on Rent, I knew little to nothing about Jonathan Larson and his career before watching the film. Now that I viewed it, I felt that I learned plenty about the late theatre composer, even though some scenes are fictional. This was all thanks to its riveting screenplay by Steven Levenson, who also wrote "Dear Evan Hansen" and Miranda's direction. It explored Larson's creative struggle in an energetic and highly distinctive way. It also wasn't afraid to show off its dramatic side during the second half regarding the dialogue. There were times where the two different tones were at risk of overshadowing each other. Still, Miranda provided enough stability in his style to envision a lively and fun musical with a timely message. It represented a creative process that every writer has been through when coming up with something new. More importantly, it showed that time plays a crucial role in the story regarding Larson himself. He was constantly on the clock to write a new song, only to realize later on that his time was also running short on his friends. It's always important to find the right time to work on your career and support your loved ones. I thought this message was handled very well in the film and should resonate well with many people finding success. Another thing that impressed me the most was the cast, especially Andrew Garfield as Larson. This might be the best performance of Garfield's career so far, outshining his previous role in "The Eyes of Tammy Faye" by a mile. I could think of a bunch of reasons why I loved his performance, but I'm only giving you readers a few. He's immensely charismatic, his dramatic chops were terrific, and his singing voice was so heavenly that he deserves to have a solo album. Yeah, he's that good. Alexandra Shipp and Robin de Jesús also delivered outstanding performances as Susan and Michael, respectively, regarding their speaking and singing. Vanessa Hudgens was just as talented as ever as Karessa Johnson, who accompanies Jonathan with his monologue and Superbia. Since her "High School Musical" days, Hudgens has impressed me in almost every movie she's in, and her role here is no different. Then there were the songs, which Larson himself wrote. Spoiler alert: they were ecstatically marvelous. Each song was highly engaging and emotional without slowing the film down, and the musical numbers that accompanied them were wonderfully directed by Miranda. Overall, "Tick, Tick… Boom!" is a time bomb that explodes with emotion and joyous music. From Garfield's show-stealing performance to the musical numbers, the film is a vigorous and thoughtful depiction of a writer's creative process. Lin-Manuel Miranda has been churning out some great music for as long as I can remember. This movie showed that his role behind the camera might be just as admirable as his songs. If you have Netflix and are familiar with Jonathan Larson's work, this is the production that deserves your attention this awards season. A“Encanto” stars Stephanie Beatriz, John Leguizamo, Maria Cecilia Botero, Diane Guerrero, Jessica Darrow, Angie Cepeda, and Wilmer Valderrama. Released on November 24, 2021, the film is about a young woman who attempts to save her magical family. The film was directed by Bryon Howard and Jared Bush, both of which directed "Zootopia". It is the 60th film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. Wow. When someone says we each have a special gift, they really mean it. The wonderful world of Disney has returned with another original animated movie that got every family together for Thanksgiving. The best part? It's about a family. But wait! It gets better. It's about a family with superpowers. I could already smell a potential crossover with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This film sees the Mouse House's attempt to transport its audiences into the fantasy realm of Colombia, continuing its impressive track record in providing stunning worlds based on cultural history. This is one of the things I loved about some of Disney's recent releases like "Moana" and "Raya and the Last Dragon", and I'm pleased to see that continue with "Encanto". But as usual, the film would have to have more than just world-building to receive its seal of approval. So was the film magical enough for me to recommend to everyone? Let's find out. The story takes place in a town in the mountains of Colombia. A family, known as the Madrigals, resides in a magical house that grants each member a unique ability such as super strength and communicating with the animals. Unfortunately, the only person who didn't get a special gift is Mirabel (Beatriz), a quirky young woman whose only ability is being ordinary. One day, the house begins to fall apart, resulting in the Madrigals losing their powers. With time running short, Mirabel must go on a perilous journey to restore their magic before it vanishes forever. It's very easy to know what to expect from a Disney animated movie, mainly the musical ones. You got the charming characters, a mixture of comedy and drama, and toe-tapping songs that'll likely become infectious earworms in the future. It's a formula that has been working wonders for 84 years, and to no one's surprise, it has also worked in "Encanto". Disney has always taken the phrase "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" seriously regarding its formula, and the results usually turn out extremely well in its favor. The same should be said for the studio's 60th animated feature. You read that right. They made 60 of them, and trust me. They will be more in the future. "Encanto" is an enchanting blast of color and magic that represents a good depiction of Colombian culture and the importance of family. Although, I wouldn't call it one of the studio's best. Compared to the likes of "Zootopia" and "Raya and the Last Dragon", "Encanto" went for a more straightforward approach in its plot and scale. Most of the film occurs in the Madrigals' Casita and the village, where Mirabel attempts to solve a mystery behind Casita's impending doom. The characters never went anywhere else beyond those settings. There are also no surprising reveals in its story, and they're certainly no shocking villain twists. It's just a simple animated film that relies more on family drama rather than high-stakes conflict. On the one hand, it was another suitable change of pace for people who're tired of Disney delivering mature themes and turning likable side characters into cold-hearted assholes, like Prince Hans from "Frozen". Eight years, and I still flipping hate that guy. On the other hand, it can lead to some moments that were easy to predict or lacked the distinctiveness in its narrative. Now, I don't mind by-the-numbers storytelling as long as the narration quality is good enough to be enjoyed by kids and adults. That's pretty much one of my main rules of reviewing films like this. Fortunately, "Encanto" managed to be more than good enough as it delivered a thoughtful and entertaining story filled with gorgeous visuals, fun characters, and inspiring messages. While it may seem like a Colombian version of "X-Men" on paper, the film is more along the lines of a family drama about a gift that's more powerful than super strength and weather manipulation: appreciation. "Encanto" is another film that celebrates people's differences and teaches audiences to appreciate what they do have instead of what they should have. That is the case with the main character Mirabel. Despite being the only Madrigal without a gift, she always strives to help her family in a time of need, even though her family didn't give her enough credit. She didn't care about getting her powers herself; she only focused on putting her family ahead of her needs. That alone is what makes Mirabel another strong and charismatic role model that'll inspire many kids for years to come. She's wonderfully bizarre and incredibly relatable due to the direction and Stephanie Beatriz's remarkable performance. The fact that she isn't a Disney princess makes this element a whole lot better. At least, in my eyes. The film also gets major props for having a supporting cast with Hispanic heritage, including John Leguizamo and Wilmer Valderrama. Like Beatriz, they all did an outstanding job with their roles, especially María Cecilia Botero as Abuela Alma Madrigal. Leguizamo was also surprisingly enjoyable as Bruno, Mirabel's excluded uncle who can see the future. Bruno wasn't in the film that much, but the writers made a noticeable effort in making his role essential to Mirabel's quest. In addition to the characters, the story is also powered by its beautiful animation. From its imaginative visuals to the vibrant backgrounds, the animation is just as dazzling and energetic as a fiesta. It may not be as immersive as "Raya and the Last Dragon", but the animators worked with what they had regarding its limited environments, and the result was nothing but spectacular. The songs in "Encanto" were written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, who also helped with the film's story. If you've listened to Miranda's other music from his previous works, you'll already know what he's offering here. While the songs may not be as unforgettable as the ones from "Frozen" or "The Lion King", they're still enjoyable enough for me to dance along to in terms of the film's style and Colombian music. Overall, "Encanto" is another delightful and thoughtful piece of Disney magic. It's not the most ambitious in terms of storytelling, but in cases like this, it didn't have to be. It just needed to be thoroughly entertaining for the kids and respectively tolerable for their parents, and the film managed to accomplish that goal with ease. This is another solid hit from Disney due to its voice cast, animation, strong messages, and decent musical numbers. It's another family movie that I would highly recommend to…well, all types of families. B+"Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" stars Kaya Scodelario, Robbie Amell, Hannah John-Kamen, Avan Jogia, Tom Hopper, Neal McDonough, and Donal Logue. Released on November 24, 2021, the film has a group of people surviving a zombie outbreak. The film was written and directed by Johannes Roberts, who also directed films such as "Hellbreeder", "The Other Side of the Door", "47 Meters Down", and "The Strangers: Prey at Night". It serves as a reboot of the "Resident Evil" film series, which is based on the video game series of the same name by Capcom. It looks like someone was late for the Halloween party. While the families got together to celebrate Thanksgiving, these people came together to battle the undead. When it comes to video games, "Resident Evil" has always been known for its compelling stories, characters, and creepy horror imagery. Unfortunately, the franchise is also known for its slew of mediocre but successful film adaptations that were as brainless as the zombies themselves. With how much money these movies made, it should come as no surprise that Hollywood wants to keep the undead train going, whether we like it or not. It wasn't that long ago when Paul W.S. Anderson concluded the far-fetched video-game-based franchise in cruddy fashion with "Resident Evil: The Final Chapter". A movie so headache-inducing and so cheesy that it made me feel dead inside. Despite its issues and the title, that film was successful enough for Hollywood to continue the franchise with a reboot that looks more faithful to the games than its predecessors. I haven't played a single "Resident Evil" game throughout my life, mainly because I get easily scared with horror games compared to horror movies. However, my experience with the films is good enough to look into this latest installment of the famous zombified franchise. So was this film scary and fun enough to get the series back on track, or was it proof that it should've stayed dead? Let's find out. The film centers on Claire Redfield (Scodelario), a young woman who returns to Raccoon City to reunite with her brother Chris (Amell). Claire attempts to warn Chris that the Umbrella Corporation has poisoned the city's water, causing the people to experience unpleasant side effects. Claire and Chris will have to survive against the horde of flesh-eating zombie-like creatures and escape the city before it gets decimated. During the process, they join forces with rookie police officer Leon S. Kennedy (Jogia) and STARS members Jill Valentine (John-Kamen) and Albert Wesker (Hopper). The "Resident Evil" films have been known for straying a bit too far from the games by focusing solely on Milla Jovovich's character Alice (who was created for the movies) and making them overblown, mindless action blockbusters. "Welcome to Raccoon City" seeks to fix those problems by focusing on the games' characters and adapting the stories from the first two "Resident Evil" games. This means that things are about to get a whole lot darker. These elements should please fans who didn't like the direction from the previous films, but it also needs something to lure in casual audiences. With the exception of "Detective Pikachu" and "Sonic the Hedgehog", movies based on popular games usually fail to impress both audiences due to some of the changes made and the filmmaking qualities like direction and screenplay. "Welcome to Raccoon City" was able to maintain the elements that worked in the first two games, including the atmospheric horror vibes and grim tone. Unfortunately, they're not enough to help the film survive the zombie apocalypse. While it may prove to be a tolerable installment for fans of the series, the movie is nonetheless a murky and thinly-plotted reboot that once again struggles to connect with general audiences like its predecessors. Regarding the direction, Johannes Roberts had the right idea on what made "Resident Evil" a classic for gamers. The atmosphere in its production design was fittingly bleak and nightmarish, and the zombie and creature designs were appropriately accurate to the ones from the games. It felt like an authentic experience of being in the middle of an outbreak, similar to the games. However, Roberts lacked the consistent thrills needed to pack a horrifying punch in the scenarios despite getting the elements right. What started as a good mixture of fun B-movie horror antics and adult-rated zombie action slowly descents into an underwhelming cup of nostalgia juice that's packed with mediocre dialogue, bland characters, and forgettable action scenes. Well, there was one scene involving Chris fighting off the zombies in the dark that was nicely directed by Roberts. Other than that, the action sequences did very little to raise the tension in the horror vibes. Another thing that didn't sit with me was the third act. From its brief climactic showdown to an ending that screams "Is that it?", the finale was a brutal tease that rushed through specific plot points without any hint of satisfaction whatsoever. Instead of making me feel relieved, the third act made me feel like an insipid corpse. On a positive note, aside from the production design, the actors that played our favorite "Resident Evil" characters were just okay. They're far from awards-worthy, but they're also not highly horrendous, especially Kaya Scodelario and Robbie Amell as Claire and Chris Redfield, respectively. Avan Jogia also didn't do too bad as Leon Kennedy, even though he doesn't look anything like the character from the games. As for Tom Hopper as Albert Wesker, let's just say that he tried. Overall, it's clear that "Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City" shows some love for the fans. Sadly, it forgot to share that love with casual moviegoers as well. Roberts did a suitable job at sticking close to the source material regarding its atmosphere and production design, unlike Paul W.S. Anderson's take on the franchise. Otherwise, it is another disappointing entry in the action-horror franchise. It's a film that's so busy catering to the fans, it forgot to provide a strong substance for newcomers to join in on the fun. Despite a fine cast, the film gets killed off rather quickly by a plague that's filled with weak dialogue, underwhelming sequences, bland characters, and a rushed finale. As someone who hasn't played the games, I don't think I'll be heading back to this zombie-infested world anytime soon. D |
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