March Review Round Up
John Wick: Chapter 4 – After being betrayed by his old friend, Winston (Ian McShane), John Wick (Keanu Reeves), seeks a new way to escape his fate from the assassin organisation known as, the High-Table. The John Wick series may be the most consistent and entertaining franchise in recent memory. With every instalment, the scale and the world building of the Wick universe gets bigger, yet, never loses sight of its identity or the thrills. John Wick: Chapter 4 is the franchise’s magnum opus. Every frame looks grand, operatic and is dripping with style, with much of the credit being attributed to director, Chad Stahelski and cinematographer, Dan Lausten. The creativity and the extensiveness of every action scene is astounding, with an exceptional stunt ensemble coming together to bring some of the most chaotic and over the top action in Hollywood cinema. Keanu Reeves continues to be one of the most enjoyable and likeable action stars and brings tremendous physicality to the role. There is real pathos and introspection to John’s character this time round, a welcome inclusion that gives purpose to the film’s villain too. Bill Skarsgård shines as the Marques, a villain almost as over the top as the film itself and Donnie Yen’s, Caine, is also an excellent addition to the ensemble, bringing both depth to the plot and action. John Wick: Chapter 4 is the best kind of action spectacle. One that demonstrates the collaborative effort of cinema and the brilliance that comes from a truly committed crew with a sole vision.
Score: 9/10
Pearl – A prequel to one of 2022’ most exciting horror films, X; Pearl, takes us back to 1918 to uncover the true nature of X’s antagonist. Pearl (Mia Goth) is young and has aspirations of becoming a star but is forced by her Mother to care for her sickly father and the farm. Yet, once, Pearl, meets a cinema projectionist (David Corensweet), Pearl’s aspirations grow and will stop at nothing to attain them. Infused with a vibrant, technicolour aesthetic and grand, swooning, overly romantic score; Pearl, is a true throwback to the golden age of Hollywood, instilled with a twisted grotesqueness. Much like X’s intertextual references to horror classics like, Friday the 13th, Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre; Pearl takes its inspirations from classics such as, The Wizard of Oz, Carrie and, most intrinsically, Sunset Boulevard. The obsession with fame is shared across both X and Pearl, however, it is Pearl that looks deeper into the delusion of the self’s talents. Mia Goth is astounding in the titular role, bringing the spirit of childlike innocence weaved with an ever-growing darkness. Goth’s true power creeps up on you, and by the third act, you soon realise the pathos Goth and West have given to someone so twisted. Amidst the brutality both given and received by Pearl, this is the film’s best quality, its ability to find a soul within the sinister.
Score: 8/10
Sanctuary – Rebecca (Margaret Qualley) has played Hal’s (Christopher Abbott) dominatrix for some time. Their meetings are meticulously pre-meditated in order to serve Hal’s desires. Everything is going smoothly until, Hal, decides it is time to move on to a new phase of his life, leaving Rebecca behind. Of course, this does not sit well with Rebecca, and soon her mind games begin and Hal’s night spirals out of control. Directed by Zachary Wigan, Sanctuary, is a wild blend of drama, erotic thriller, and comedy. Micah Bloomberg’s fun, energetic script and Wigan’s controlled, seamless direction, manage to maintain the film’s momentum, with every act exploring new facets of Rebecca and Hal’s relationship. Qualley and Abbott’s chemistry sizzles, playing off each other’s rhythms, keeping you engaged at every twist and turn. Qualley is especially hard to decipher, manipulating the situation so both Hal and the audience are lost between fact and fiction. Sanctuaryexplores the dynamics of power in humorous, while simultaneously being quite tense. However, Sanctuary’s fascination with fantasy and its ability to reveal truths in ourselves, that makes Sanctuary unique in its exploration of the erotic. Coming in at a trim 90 minutes, Sanctuary, zips by without a wasted minute. Fun, electric and punchy, Sanctuary is simply a blast.
Score: 8/10
Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves – After a heist goes terribly wrong, the widowed Harper, Edgin (Chris Pine) and his loyal friend, Holga (Michelle Rodriguez), enact an escape plan in order to save Edgin’s daughter from the devious Forge (Hugh Grant). Dungeons & Dragons is 2023’s biggest surprise. The film’s marketing sold this as an annoying, generic fantasy feature. While it does not break the mould, Dungeons & Dragons is witty, imaginative, and filled with a fun, adventurous soul. What really makes this picture though is the ensemble assembled here, spearheaded by the charming Chris Pine, an actor who truly captures a palpable star quality. Michelle Rodriguez brings an impressively physical performance as Holga while also bringing sensitivity to the film and the friendship between her and Edgin is believable and refreshing. Justice Smith’s insecure sorcerer, Simon, and Sophia Lillis’ committed, Doric, round out the dynamic group, along with Regé-Jean Page’s, Xenk, an unbearably perfect nobleman who brings a solid comedic jolt to the second act. Hugh Grant is also in scene stealing form as Forge, a villain who brings some of the film’s biggest laughs. The use of practical effects, sets and real location shooting provide the film with a real tangibility that is lost in many modern day fantasy films. Directors John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein have cited The Prince’s Bride and Indiana Jones as some of the film’s inspirations and in turn makes Dungeons & Dragonsfeel like and old school adventure with some modern zest. It may not be perfect, but it is immensely likeable; filled with heart and a real spirit of adventure.
Score: 8/10
Creed 3 – Years after Adonis (Michael B. Jordan) has retired from his boxing career, a face from his past returns seeking more than a helping hand from his old friend. Creed 3 is yet another solid entry in the Creed/ Rocky franchise. The film is strongest when focussing on the complicated conflict of Adonis and Damien (Jonathan Majors), bolstered by two eye-grabbing performances from Jordan and Majors. These are not just physically demanding roles, but emotionally taxing too. The film’s boxing sequences are engaging, with the film’s final fight being particularly stylish, stirred with anime sensibilities. At times, Creed 3 does feel rather clunky, lacking slight rhythm between scenes. This is also illuminated by the film’s uneven, and at times, rushed pace. Creed 3, is still an enjoyable, rousing sporting flick, heightened by two powerhouse leads.
Score: 7/10
Scream 6 – One year after the massacre in Woodborough, sisters, Sam (Melissa Barrera), and Tara (Jenna Ortega), move to New York city to start their new lives. Their past soon catches up with them however, when new Ghostface killings begin to happen around them once again. The Scream sequels have never really reached the heights of its first instalment: a fun, brutal and ingenious post-modern take on the slasher genre. While some of its sequels can be fun, the dwindling quality has been apparent for some time now – with Scream 6 being the antithesis of beating a dead horse. All the elements of a Scream film are here: a group of young adults, the everchanging line of suspects and a meta narrative of franchise filmmaking. Yet, it all feels so toothless, like an A.I. generated instalment. This new cast of characters established in the previous entry lack any of the original trio’s charm or conflicting character dynamics. Perhaps the greatest sin the film commits however, is that it takes itself far too seriously, losing any of that tongue and cheek playfulness this franchise used to have. Even the meta-narrative of franchise filmmaking is lazily handled, seldom mentioned and, in fact, has already been dissected in the franchise’s very first instalment. There really is nothing left for this franchise to do or explore, and, at this rate, the Scream universe’s Stab franchise would probably be a more engaging watch.