Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

Caught Stealing 

This film is both a perfect blend of homage to two separate filmmakers in the best way. Now Darren Aronofsky has crafted a film that melds both of those in a way that dose not feel in any way like a rip off or remake but is very much it’s own thing. The film is a melting pot of all the great things that come to memory of 90’s crime thrillers of that decade and it feels like time capsule of a film we don’t really get anymore and it is a pressure cooker of a film that revolves around maybe 3 days and the suspense and pressure of what happens to this guy just continuously gets worse and worse and we as the audience have to see how he can get himself out of this tricky situation. Caught Stealing is a film that is a callback to old cinema crime thrillers of the past while giving viewers an experience that will have them on the edge of their seat the entire way through. 

Firstly, The film does not have a ton of character depth for the supporting characters that surround the main character but this is a film that does need to as the pacing of this film is so rapid fast their are big names in this film that contribute greatly to the screen with their characters for the amount of time they have. For instance Matt Smith is amazing in the film but maybe has 15 minutes of screen time for the entire film but once he leaves the frame you ache for more but I love how they perfectly placed each actor in this film as they all help move the plot along even if they aren’t in it for long. The film has themes of Trauma, addiction, family and owning up to your past and it is greatly shown in emotionally raw detail the way Darren has perfected the craft of showcasing that in his films over the years. The film shows bits and pieces of this nightmare that Austin Butler’s character has throughout the film that calls back to something traumatic that happened to him and he does not talk about it or emotionally open up about it until much later but the whole arc of that was greatly shown through the course of the film and the way it was handled by Austin onscreen was amazing. The tone and style of this is hard to put into words but I keep coming back to punk rock as that is what the characters and overarching tone feels to me like a punk rock dialled up to the loudest frantic feeling that has you not knowing what will come in the next few minutes for these characters. the viewer will have no idea that comes around the next corner as it keeps you on your toes the entire time and keeps you guessing on how this film will wrap up. The film is a frantic high octane film that has you stressing out about Austin’s character until the final frame and the way the film just progressively escalates and we see things just getting harder for him worked so well as we see how his character acts in these emotional tough situations which presents Butler in places emotionally we had not seen him tap into before to this extent. The film also has a great sense of comedy that arises out of the seriousness of the situations he is constantly finding himself in and it is done in a very dry way that works and never felt out of place. The comedic wit and seriousness of the film compliment each other that is why so many will draw comparisons to films like Snatch and the Gentlemen due to the witty crime nature of the film that Guy Ritchie has perfected. The whole creative team involved did a great Job at evolving this troubled main character and fleshing him out greatly on an arc that has you rooting for him and seeing all these wild characters that surround him that are also as interesting and many are scene stealers in their own right but again the film gives this old rugged look at filmmaking in the crime action category we don’t really see anymore and you can feel the passion pouring out of Darren Aronofsky who captures the paranoia and troubled youth of this character amazingly onscreen. Overall the tone and the way this film is structured is so fun and fast paced it moves a mile a minute in the best way possible while also delving into deep rooted themes that are shown in very emotionally honest ways. 

Secondly, The cast of this film is huge and all of them contribute greatly to the film in their own special way! Now the film of course revolves around Austin Butler who I think gives one of his strongest performances we have seen so far in a role that has him go through the full spectrum of emotions and we see him rattled to the core of how the situation he is thrust into impacts him. The highlights that stood out for me in the great cast was firstly Matt Smith he plays this over the top shady character who is not really in the film for much he maybe shares 15 minutes of screen time but when he is onscreen he lights up the frame with his great onscreen presence and commanding charisma. He plays this fast mouthed witty personality that is dealing with some questionable characters but we don’t learn that until much later he walks into the scene in the beginning with such energy you can’t help but want to see more from him. He does show up later on but disappears shortly after he comes back and they had the perfect amount of length for his character as he was great in small amounts and when he was offscreen he made you want to see more of him as he leaves such a lasting impression in the film. You can clearly see Matt Smith having the time of his life letting loose and playing this unpredictable character that does and says what he wants when he wants and we never fully know the extent of who he is and I love that. Matt Smith delivers a hilarious and memorable performance to this film that I would say is among one of my recent favourites of his. Then you have Zoe Kravitz who plays in many reasons the voice of reason for Austin Butler’s character. Austin’s character does not listen to her advice despite her many efforts to try to help him and Zoe Kravitz’s character clearly wants to go deeper into the relationship they have and not have it be just psychical but have it go somewhere on an emotional level and she voices that to him in a great scene early on. If he listens is one thing but she voices what she values in a relationship and sure Zoe is not in the film a great deal but the reason he thinks with his heart in many ways is in large part due to how she got him to open up as before her he was a very closed off person that held things close to the chest. Zoe brings an emotional guidance for him while also doing her best to flesh her out as much as she can in this small part she has she did a great job! Then you have the star of the film Austin Butler who I think gives one of his finest performances of his career with his work on this film. He packs such an emotional punch in this film cementing himself as a bonafide movie star that isn’t just a pretty face but can actually show quite an amazing range and is a force to be reckoned with in the new wave of actors being ushered in Butler is sensational! Now the rest of the cast of the film is superb but the main person that walks away with this film in term of performance is Austin Butler. 

Lastly, Caught Stealing is one of the best crime Thrillers I have seen all year! Darren Aronofsky has crafted an homage to a old school way of filmmaking that we don’t see anymore within this genre while Also serving up fresh ways of presenting his plot without it falling into the tropes and stereotypes of this genre that has been visited to many times over. It has great thrills and twists and turns and brings you places narratively you don’t see it going along with truly hilarious comedy that is placed in the right areas for it to work. It has the style feel Of Scorsese’s After Hours and Wit of a Guy Ritchie film with a truly well centred performance by Austin Butler Caught Stealing is one of the most energetic crime thrillers I have seen all year and one I can see becoming a classic in years from now. I recommend anyone who again is fans of Scorsese and Guy Ritchie to check this film out it very much feels in the same vein of both filmmakers while still being it’s own thing.

This film surrounds around a troubled young man who is told to look after his neighbours cat for the weekend but when people from his neighbours life come knocking he quickly learns he has been brought into a situation he couldn’t of expected. 

Rated R : (Some Sexuality/Nudity|Pervasive Language|Brief Drug Use|Strong Violent Content

Austin Butler : Butler delivers what I think is his best onscreen performance yet and yes even better than his work in Elvis! Now here’s the thing he really blew up in 2022 with Elvis as his performance from that film was the talk of the film and well deservingly so as his hard work and dedication to bring the king of Rock and Roll to life was no easy task and he gave a sensational turn in that film their is no disputing that. That being said he has slowly but surly been building an amazing body of work since then from Dune part II, the Bikeriders, his small role in Eddingtion to now Caught Stealing he has been constantly finding new roles that challenge him as an actor to stretch his emotional abilities with new characters. Here he plays this guy who is just getting by but we learn he was a baseball prodigy that lost his shot at the big times due to a tragic accident he went through many years earlier and so that is why he is working at a bar and has a small apartment and has a girl he sees when he can having this quiet life that you can clearly see he enjoys. It isn’t until his neighbour goes away for a weekend and asks him to watch his cat that things start to shake up his life in ways he couldn’t even imagine and when two thugs show up demanding answers he is thrown in a whirlwind constantly trying to find answers to piece together what is happening and from that moment on his situation we see just gets progressively worse and harder and he is met with emotionally gutting moments that would break most people. We see throughout the film he is having night terrors and seeing an accident play out in these nightmares but their fragments of bits and pieces and isn’t until much later we learn what that is and I love the whole aspect of that being a full arc for his character to come to terms with. His girlfriend even has a moment where she tells him flat out that she wants a relationship that will have deep connection and not just be psychical  love and he has a tough time communicating his feelings to her as he is a pretty guarded guy which only his relationship with her become strained due to his lack of clear commutation to her about his feelings towards her. He has so much bad things happen to him one after the other their comes a moment when he is on the beach and just punches his leg over and over and just lets out this blood curling scream coming deep from his soul letting out all of that pain he has just been getting crushed by for the last couple of days and you can feel every ounce of it in that moment. Austin Butler brings this emotional restraint to the role for a good half of the film and as the film progresses the film peels layers back of why he holds so much to his chest. He has been plagued by tragedy early in his life and seeing him deal with all this stuff only makes him have to revisit those old feelings and in many ways have to deal with his untreated trauma.  Their is a moment where he comes to term with his past in a great full circle moment later on but again Austin shows such fierce emotional rawness and he bears his soul onscreen in ways we have not seen him do before and I love that he just plunged himself emotionally into this character to keep raising the bar on what he can do as an actor. He goes through the full spectrum of emotional hardships from denial, sadness, being totally numb, anger and then acceptance and Austin is able to channel each emotion with such great believability through his speech and his body language he Is truly fantastic in this film. I cannot stop praising his work In the film I also have said and I stand by this his work in this film also shows he is not just a pretty faced actor but is a legitimate actor with great range and versatility as he stretches himself from both ends emotionally to give audiences complex characters and here he shows he is a bonafide movie star. Austin shines in this film when he is constantly knocked on his ass multiple times he gets up and finds a way out of this tough spot he finds himself in and the way he brings this emotional tenderness through this character was brilliant and I think it is his finest work we have seen from his so far Austin is amazing in this film! 

Darren Aronofsky : Darren gives his nod to 90’s crime thrillers of the heyday with his work on this film! Now I have been following this director ever since 08’s the Wrestler and ever since I saw that film I have constantly loved his approach to storytelling and his ability to show characters at their most vulnerable. As he has tackled some incredibly hard subjects in his films and here I will say it is the most lighthearted he has been in terms of emotional exploration if that makes sense. As I mentioned he has gone to some very dark places tone wise in the past and here he still has some very deep tones but not to the extent of his past work. He is having fun creating a crime caper that is about a guy who’s back is constantly against the wall and has to find his way out of a very hard situation and as I mentioned earlier you can feel the homage to Scorsese’s After Hours and I know their will be tons of companions to that film and the style of Guy Ritchie’s snappy dialogue in this film. It never felt like a rip off of his other colleagues other work but more of a tip of the hat as this film is still very much his own and I love that he went for an approach that is very kinetic and fast paced with over the top characters that never feel cartoony but have a great deal of comedic value to them for the audience to laugh at through the serious moments as a breather. Their are so many big names in this film and a ton of colourful characters that all give great impressions on the screen but they never overstay their welcome they help push the story forward and then they leave like Matt Smith his character is so wild and fun but we don’t see a ton of him he rather leave the audience wanting more and not grow sick of him by having him in for too long I respect that. The film deals with alcoholism, numbing ones pain in order to not deal with the past but ultimately having to confront one’s past in order to move past it. As the Austin Butler character has never been the same since the accident he had earlier in his life and that gets explored In great detail but what is so great about his arc is he constantly shuts down about his pain on the topic until later on you can see he has to deal with it or else he will never ever be out of pain because of it. The film also has great comedic relief their is some genuinely great laughs that emerge from the serious moments or the actors themselves having great timing in when to give a joke and it never makes the serious scenes feel deflated by the comedy but it works for this type of film that they are going for that is able to balance drama and comedy in a perfect blend in the way Snatch or the Gentleman does. Seeing a fun crime caper film like this we don’t really see on a large scale like this anymore and I love that Darren wanted to recapture the magic of that genre once again and I think he did a terrific job at it giving one of his most lighthearted but still deep films where audiences can have fun but still feel emotionally moved Darren soars once again with another greatly directed film. 

Weapons 

This is one of the most brilliant Horror films I have seen all year! Now Zack Cregger gives us the follow up to his horror breakout film Barbarian with this fresh new story called Weapons which was a terrific follow up to his previous film. As this picture cements himself as one of the best original voices in the horror genre that is among one of the best filmmakers working today. As what stands out greatly about this film is the ability to think you know where the story will go and then it goes in a totally different direction you never expected. This film keeps you on edge from the first frame to it’s final shot Weapons will stay with you long after it is over and it is one of the most brilliant films within the genre I have seen all year from Writing, performance, score and direction Weapons is a terrific film that I can easily see being on people’s favourites of the year. 

Firstly, Now this film is going to be talked about I feel all year for how it can be interpreted with the story. The film is told in a non linear form of storytelling which I love as their are some films that use that way of narrative explaining that works and some they just do it for a stylistic way but it does not work for that specific kind of story here it works in the best ways. As they sync up previous character arcs with the next so it feels like it comes back around to the exact same moment again and the film follows multiple adults within the backdrop of kids who one night just went missing and it takes place a month after the occurrence happened and the strain emotionally and mentally it has taken on the people closest to the kids. The film has this dreading feel to each frame you can sense within how each character carries themself as Judy Gardner has developed a drinking issue due to her stress, Josh Brolin has become utterly obsessed with finding someone to Balme in an attempt to find answers and we see all of these people’s stories overlap with each other. The way the film deals with the loss of a child and the sense of not knowing what to do in those uncertain times is greatly brought to the screen. The film is much different then Barbarian his last film but I will say that film made such a huge impact on the success of this film because that previous film was so different stylistically and the way that it approached it’s storytelling made such a impression on audiences people have been aching to see what he has in store for his latest film and Weapons does not disappoint if anything he has outdone himself in terms of growth as a filmmaker since then. This film has stronger character growth, tighter writing both for the narrative and its characters and the performances are so damn good from everyone involved. Weapons has this eerie presence always lurking in the frame and it is able to greatly discuss the grieving process of loss and how it effects others in different ways and the many shapes and forms that can take on the human spirit. There is horror and scary elements for sure but for me the quiet moments about the character’s pain and how they go about dealing with it stuck with me longer than the horror aspect of the film. It walks a great line between social commentary and also giving those chills and thrills we expect from this type of film and it has so much to say to the audience I am so happy to see this film spark serious conversations as their is so much to think about when walking away from this. The way Zach Cregger approached this film in terms of style, writing and direction was masterfully brought to the screen in what I think is his best written film yet and the reason why this film stands out so much and is getting so well received is due to the incredible way this film was put together creatively. 

Secondly, The performances from the whole cast is amazing! So first off they’re Julia Garner who gives a sensational turn as a woman who is falling out emotionally every passing day due to the overwhelming emotional distress she is put under by the entire town. Julia Garner shows this woman who is just wanting the kids to be alright like the rest of them but is an unfortunate target due to the public thinking she had a hand in their disappearance. Overall Julia Garner gives an emotionally devastating and raw performance that stays with you. Then their is Josh Brolin and if she embodies the sadness and emotional weight of hurt by what is going on his character is the embodiment of anger of the parents as he wants his kids back like everyone else but just like when a child goes missing parents will do things they normally don’t do in order to get answers. Josh Brolin targets Julia’s character as he thinks she is hiding things and you can see the sheer seething anger in his eyes and the determination for him to find his child and Brolin brings the required emotional depth to properly bring this character to the screen and show the sheer emotional frustration he goes through he is absolutely terrific. Then lastly there is Amy Madigan who brings a terrifying and relaxed presence to the screen that sent chills through my spine. She has this command to the screen she is in that you have not any idea what she will do or say next and she does the most horrifying things with a grin on her face and soft spoken tone and it makes for a much more terrifying performance then if she was to be constantly screaming or yelling her calm like state while doing terrible things was so unsettling. Her supporting turn in this was a scene stealing performance that will be talked about all year in terms of horror films that just sticks with you she is a highlight of the film and one of the strongest parts of the film. The whole cast is terrific there is no weak link in the entire film all of them give their absolute all. 

Lastly, Weapons is one of the most layered and well structured horror films that stays with you long after it is over. You can see Zach Cregger has grown greatly as a filmmaker since Barbarian and has woven deep rooted themes in this film for people to pick about and study for years to come while still giving those signature scares he is known for without just feeding the same thing we have already seen. This non linear picture is about grief, desperation and what lengths parents would go to in order to get answers to find their child with supernatural elements wrapped around it as well and all of it is greatly explored. Weapons is by far one of the best horror films of the year and the sheer writing that is behind it is one of the defining reasons why this film is so damn good Weapons is phenomenal! I recommend anyone who enjoyed Zach Cregger’s previous film Barbarian to check this out as he serves another dish of great horror and social commentary messages once again. 

This film revolves around the disappearance of a classroom of children who one night went missing never to be seen again and after a month of them being gone we see the impact of their disseverance has had on the town around them

Rated R : for strong bloody violence and grisly images, language throughout, some sexual content and drug use.

Julia Garner : Julia Garner is freaking brilliant in this film! Now there are tons of great characters in this but the way she goes about exploring her character’s arc really left an impression on me! She has had quite the year with this and Fantastic Four this summer she is on quite the hot streak. She plays this teacher that is dealing with being hated on by the entire town as they think she knows why the kids went missing and has all the answers when in reality she is as confused and lost as everyone else is. She has no idea why they all one day got up and left and she feels this need to talk to the one kid that didn’t go missing but the school and parents have said it’s in her best interest to have distance between the two and not engage with the kid as he also has gone through a lot emotionally and is trying to navigate his feelings through what has happened. You can see the emotional stress just crushing her heart from the inside out as she resorts to drinking to numb the pain she has dealt with for over a month now and lives very much in isolation and does not talk to people as she think she will be screamed at if she engages with anyone or scolded in some way. We see the life totally drained from her as she can’t take anyone else thinking she is this terrible person and Julia has a great way of conveying so much of what her her heart is saying through her eyes and that turmoil she is experiencing without having to say much words. She feels in a way she has to prove to people she is not crazy or did not do anything wrong by those kids and even if it means not listening to people that advise her to stay away she will do what she has to in order to find out what happened to these kids. As she lives in fear each night as her car gets vandalized she feels like she is always being watched and knows that is no way to live so she has to do something about it and move the eyes off her as she can’t take it anymore. Julia Garner brings this tragic person who seems like a good person that is going through a tough time to the screen in a heartbreaking realness that just makes you feel for her and want to hug her. She has this weight on her chest and brain that is eating at her as she is on the verge of tears in the film almost constantly and it isn’t to feel pity but to understand that a human being can only endure so much hate from people until they feel suffocated and paranoid that they could be hurt from such hatred and the way she wraps herself in that within the role really was striking and she goes through emotional hell and we see her just in the purest way wanting to know the kids are okay. She has no bad intentions like the town is painting her to be and the emotional vulnerability she brings to the character is astonishing Julia Garner is the lead of this film I would say and out of her two performances this and Fantastic Four she blew me away with her work on this as she just chews up the scenery and owns every scene she is in. Garner shines in this film delivering a devastatingly brilliant turn in what I think is one of her strongest performances to date. 

Zach Cregger : Cregger delivers a film that will studied for years due to the complexity of the story he has created! Now he has grown hugely since his work in Barbarian and has cemented himself as one of the best voices in horror for this decade! Now when he made Barbarian many had never heard his name before so the impact of his last film was huge as so Many people saw that film due to the positive word of mouth. Here he paints a film about children disappearance and the maddening affect it has on parents when they are gone for a long time with no answers. As yes this is a picture that has scares and horror but it is more of a psychological horror and not your traditional spooky flick it has quite a lot of commentary to say about the strain it takes on a parents heart when their child is gone and the sheer unusual activity they would do to find them. The film does still give the dark and terrifying scares you’d expect but he does not want to just repeat that he has already done he tries to find new ways into the horror genre he has yet to explore which I greatly admire. He is trying to show how each parent and adult is dealing with the impact of the situation and how emotionally their carrying themselves and putting in under the landscape of a horror setting I think is a great use of this topic as in so many ways it is horrific. Then he throws in supernatural elements that mixes in with the drama to heighten the suspense of the first theme and has this eerie feeling to it that just works and the sense of dread lingers in each shot of the film. Zach Cregger is able to have hard discussions about erratic behaviour adults do in order to find their kids but also is Able to work even deeper to show the depths of grief desperation and anger that comes along with that and then adding as I said scares to it makes it pop in such a engaging way. I think this is far better then Barbarian which is a huge compliment as a I loved that film when I saw it when it came out and he has outdone himself for sure and he is only getting stronger as a filmmaker. I can see this film getting dissected and analyzed to the 100th degree due to the many messages in the film which will spark deep conversations about it which I love and I cannot wait to see what he does next. His ability to insight terror in the audience with limited blood and gore but just from the impeccable story he lays out for the audience is so impressive it is the same kind of storytelling Jordan Peele does where it is more psychological terror and it is so effective in it’s execution overall Zach Cregger has crafted one of the best horror films of the year and a film with such multi layer complexity that is astonishing. 

The Fantastic Four : First Steps 

This film is honestly one of the best films marvel has ever put out! Now their have been 3 films that have come out this year from Marvel and I will say two out of the three they have released I would put in the discussion as being some of the best work they have put out period on the big screen. Now their is so much I have to say about this so I will mention right now this film has some of the best production design, costumes, world building and has an overarching great sense of escapism through the time it takes place it you feel totally transported back to where the film is set. The score is also a highlight all 4 main cast members do a tremendous job at showing great onscreen chemistry while this film as I will delve more into deeper on this focuses more on the heart of the characters rather then just the spectacle of their powers which is what makes this film for me such a compelling film. Marvel is on a high right now in terms of good quality storytelling and this is for me one of their strongest character films aside from Thunderbolts we have had in ages. 

Firstly, Now Marvel for decades has been trying to perfect the formula on the first family of the universe they created for many years now with the failed film from the 90’s that was straight up cancelled then you have them attempting to do it with improved CGI and at the time a up and coming cast with 2005’s Fantastic Four which also ushered in Chris Evans into the world of Superhero films and even though for people from my generation that film was a lot of fun their still were things to work on in order to get it just right. Then in 2015 Sony once again tried another attempted with another on the rise cast this time with Michael B. Jordan and Miles Teller and the only difference was that film went in a very different direction stylistically and tone wise that was not at all in the vein of the comics and it was critically panned and a financial flop. So after all that time people have been thinking will we ever get a fateful adaptation of this team on the big screen when Marvel finally acquired the rights to the characters back it did give hope but it has been years since that announcement was made public and we have been sitting holding our breath to see if this version after all this time will do the characters justice and I can say with full confidence that it 100 percent does. This film drenches itself in everything about the characters and its world it inhabits as the film takes you back to the 1960’s and the way they capture the colourful atmosphere of that time was brilliant and down to the way the camera has this grain like quality to the image was perfect. The film much like Superman is not an origin story it is pre established and we are brought into a world where the Fantastic Four are looked up to as big time celebrities that society looks up to which is nice to see as many other versions have been about how they were rejected due to their powers so using an approach where they are looked at in a positive light was refreshing. Now granted it is not changing the text of how these characters struggle their plenty of inner conflcit going on for each of their respected arcs and it is explored in great detail the filmmakers found a way to achieve showing Galactus in a way that is both accurate to the comic and also be truly menacing was amazing as it was a dream to see him done proper and the way the captured it is truly outstanding. The film does not try to over complicate its plot by having too much going on or tons of side character introductions it is more focused in on telling a solid story that has great character development. For me the biggest strength this film has is in the character work. The film excels due to not letting the style and cool theatrics of the film get in the way of a solid story the film’s central focus is on making sure these characters are brought to life in accurate ways that best reflect the way they were written in the comics. You have Johnny Storm who people see as the sarcastic one that refuses to take a moment seriously constantly having to prove to the group he can do more then just give well timed quips but actually supply something worthwhile to team efforts. Then you have Sue Storm gearing up for motherhood and the exciting journey that will entail and she goes on I think the most emotionally gripping arc of the entire team. Then their is Ben who enjoys the fame and being beloved by the public but you can see he wants someone to grow old with two and even if it is not verbally said it is written all over his face and then you have Pedro Pascal who like Sue is prepping for the coming of their child only difference is he is utterly terrified of how this child may turn out and is thinking of each possible outcome in case things go south with their new child. All of them are dealign with emotional arcs the entire time and the film focuses on that and not really the big overarching action of the film which their is still plenty of their is a outer space sequence in this film that I think is one of the best chase set pieces Marvel has put onscreen in a while. The film takes care of its core characters first and making sure we believe they can be a unit and be seen as a family while also delving into their own personal journey’s and they never comprise that for theatrics which I think is so important as by the time the film ended I felt like I had understood each character and had gotten so greatly invested in all of them individually. None of them felt like they fell into the background this is the second time this year where Marvel has done great Job at focusing on the heart instead of the cool factor of the film as Thunderbolts also was character driven this and Fantastic Four proves that they can do great character building and also have gripping action without one outweighing the other in it’s execution while still delivering the thrills people come for. Fantastic Four soars in terms of writing, the technical aspect of how it totally brings you into the setting that it takes place in while also greatly exploring the highs and lows of each character and getting you to fall in love with each single one of them and investing into how they operate as yes a family but also how they go about showing their love for one another. The Style is great but it is the heart and sharp attention to character depth that makes this film as special as it is. 

Secondly, The cast are all so greatly in tune with who they are playing! Now as I previously have stated each core member of the film is marvellous at how they put their spin on their character now I will though mention for me the two real standouts of the film. First off we have Pedro Pascal who plays Reed Richards the man who is never not thinking of work and here he is still that workaholic that he is known for being in the comics but this time he cannot shake the uneasy feeling that something could go wrong for him and Sue and when they bring a child into this world and he becomes obsessed with always finding the right idea in order to keep them one step ahead of the bad guys. Pedro is able to channel this stress riddled man that is also incredibly family focused and you see the stress slowly eat at him until he becomes all consumed in what he needs to do to protect what he loves. I think Pedro did a terrific job and I am so excited to see what more of the character we will see him explore going forward. Then you have Vanessa Kirby who gives what I think is one of her strongest performances I have ever seen with her take on Sue Storm she plays the Mother and backbone of the team with such emotional sincerity that it moved me and almost brought me to tears. She knows that she is going to be brining a child into this world but she won’t ever let anything comprise that child’s well being but she also knows she has responsibilities to the city she swore to protect but she can do both without having to comprise anyone’s life. Vanessa Kirby soars in one of her all time best performances with her role as the mother who will stop at nothing to protract her child. Joseph Quinn and Ebon Bacharach both give tremendous performances in their respected roles but it is the work from Pedro Pascal and Vanessa Kirby that walks away with this film in terms of emotional electricity that is brought to the screen. 

Lastly, Fantastic Four : The First Steps is one of the best Marvel Films that they have put out in a while this and Thunderbolts is among one of the best back to back films the studio has put out in a very long time. The film operates as a film that does not to retread water of its origin’s but hits the ground running in an already established world with the characters and it explores the highs and lows of their family dynamic and what makes them strong both within powers but emotional strength as well. This film focuses more on the emotional beats of the storyline and not the big cool factor of it all which is where this film is different than most recent Marvel entries. Fantastic Four is able to be pulse pounding, thrilling but also emotionally impactful all at the same Time while giving the most comic accrete depictions of the characters we have seen so far. Overall Fantastic Four : The First Steps is a truly outstanding film and one that will be among so many’s favourite when discussing this phase of Marvel movies. I recommend fans of the Marvel fanbase and just casual movie goers to check this out it is immersive and just fun and if you can see it with a huge screen and  a fantastic audio system you will get the full experience of this film the way it is meant to be seen. 

This film takes place in a world where the Fantastic Four are already established as superhero’s and are looked at as basically celebrities but when a force by the name of Galactus comes to threaten their way of living they have to find a way to save the world and the future of their child is on the line 

Rated PG - 13 : Some Language|Action/Violence

Vanessa Kirby : Kirby is the heart of this film in so many ways and her performance was my favourite out of the entire cast for a multitude of reasons.  Now Vanessa Kirby has always been an actress I have been fond of due to her great choices in the roles she picks that best suits her acting range and constantly finds new ways to present new sides of herself to the audience. Here she plays Sue Storm the heartbeat in so many ways of the team and this time she is tackled with the responsibility of brining a child into this world while also making sure she never compromises the lives of the public but at the same time her material instincts will never her let her jeopardize her loved ones under any circumstances. Their are multiple scenes she shines the core beliefs and values of the character in great detail that will move you for instance when the public is terrified of what is going to happen to them and they have become quite divided over their thoughts on how the Fantastic Four will act she does something she knows in her heart is right which is to go outside and face them head on and speak from the heart. She knows that in order for them to not feel so afraid and angry at them she needs to connect to them on a level where they can relate to as they have powers so the public can support them and cheer them on but then cannot relate to them on a basic level so when she speaks about why having a child to her is so emotionally important to her and stripping away the parts that make her a superhero for a few minutes and to just view her as a mother and a human being shushes any negative words from the crowd and she speaks from her experience that they can understand and after that moment their is a newfound respect for her they have and the group as she is just as scared as the public but they need to know that she and the team are humans that feel the full spectrum of feelings just like them. It is one of the best scenes if not the best acted scene from her she brings this warm and emotionally raw feeling to the frame that makes you feel each line she is constantly at fear what will happen to her child she knows how hard it was to bring it into the world and their is a battle sequence later in the film where her child’s life is on the line and she very much knows if she pushes herself to the full extent to use everything she has she could die due to using to much of her energy but in that moment she is not thinking in terms of herself she just sees her child is in peril and will act to do anything to protect it. She pushes it way past the limit she is supposed too and she is able to contain the threat from putting her child at great risk and the whole team tells her not to do it but uses every ounce of blood sweat and tears to make sure her son is okay even if it means she won’t be. We see her as a wife yes and as the older sister to Johnny but a lot of the film is about her going through the motions of being a mother and the mental, emotional and psychical toll it affects her after her kid is born. Vanessa Kirby does as spectacular job at bringing the character to the screen as she as I mentioned is able to show so many sides to the role that never felt one sided we see her romantic relationship with Reed Richards and how the birth of their child makes a huge impact on their relationship along with how they go about making decisions as a team going forward. Kirby is able to show the importance of motherhood through the lens of Sue Storm while also remaining to the glue that keeps this family intact and remind each other that they are still just people that make mistakes like the next person and as long as they all have each other they can get through anything together. Kirby shows in her eyes how scared she is for her child but also is excited their is a storm of emotions swirling around her brain and her heart at all times and she is able to present that emotional frustration by having it seep out of her eyes and her fragile emotionally well timed delivery. Vanessa Kirby shows why she is the heart of the team while also exploring parts of the character that goes to vulnerable  places we have never seen the role at least on the big screen and she does an effortless job at it by wearing her heart on her sleeve the entire team and giving what I think is the strongest performance of the entire film. I am so excited to see where her arc goes from here but she gives a tremendous first impression Vanessa Kirby is truly terrific as Sue Storm. 

Matt Shakman : Matt gives an outstanding fully realized vision of this world With his debut in the MCU! Now this director has made only 3 feature films before this and both not critically well received so in terms of comic book storytelling he is a fresh face and to give him the keys to The Fantastic Four was a bold move that is something Marvel did back in the early days when they would get an unknown director to take on a huge character. It is. Risk that paid off as his fresh mind really brought new things to this film that made this film one of the best films in recent memory for the studio. Having the film be in large part a film of it’s time that takes place in the 1960’s I think was such a great move as that is when the first issue came out and it never felt corny or like a clique due to the incredible world building it does and the amazing attention to detail within the costume designs, sets and thrilling score that runs through each scene. The film feels like a true life representation of the Fantastic Four in every sense of the word as the film is not an origin story and I am so fine with that because we already know the story so their is no need to go back over what we already know. The film Is set up in an established world where the Fantastic Four are already bonafide celebrities with big marketing brands and are looked up by the public and what is the biggest thing going on in their life right now is Sue Storm expecting a child and the whole way they go about dealing with that. The film explores the areas of each character without one feeling shoved to the background or lacking depth each character onscreen gets their time to shine which is what I love so much about this film. As mentioned you have Ben Grim dealing with wanting to pursue a romantic relationship but also never voicing that to the team but instead keeping it to himself but how long can he go on doing that until it starts eating at him to share that with the others. Then theirs Johnny and his way of always feeling he needs to prove himself to the team and not be looked at as the Team’s jester but can actually be taken seriously and be able to contribute things of value. Reed Richards becomes all consumed in prepping for his child’s arrival when he knows Sue is pregnant as he is worried their could be complications with it’s birth and wants the kid to live a life that is more normal then what he was dealt. Then Sue Storm is excited about bringing a child into the world but at the same time she knows the huge responsibility that lies ahead for her in order to protect that child. So again Matt Shakeman is showing all of their individual obstacles they face and also spend a great deal of the film showing them as a unit and how they lean on each other to lift each other up when they need each other which has always been a core value the characters have represented since the comics. Now the action is great thrilling even their are amazing sequences of action that will have you on edge at times but the driving force of the film that I think makes the film is the sense of emotion and heart that is woven into the writing that really makes the film pop. It is full of easter eggs for the die hard fans of the comics that are all over this film that is so fun to look out for but this finally feels like the Fantastic Four we have been longing for and it never feels over the top with too many characters thrown into the mix it is able to focus in on the characters and sure set up the next set of adventures but it wasn’t messy or distracted it felt very keyed in on what it wanted to tell in terms of story and themes which it executed greatly. Matt Shakman’s energetic and colourful landscape was a perfect match for this material and he proved he was the right person to usher the first family of the marvel universe to the big screen in this MCU and he proved he understands the love people have for these characters and Stan Lee and Jack Kirby would be so proud Matt Shakman did a terrific job. 

Eddington

This film is another polarizing story told through the lens of Ari Aster! Okay I have so so much I wanna express about this film I will say this film is very polarizing and will divide people on what they think of the contents of this film due to it’s heavy handed political tone that is woven into the narrative but just like Alex Garland’s no sugar coating attitude when it comes to filmmaking Ari Astra is in that same mindset when he crafted Eddington. Their is tons of themes that are touched on in this film about the COVID pandemic and how we all socially lost the ability to treat people normally when speaking to one another and how so many people became to slip into a sense of frantic behaviour due to the overwhelming stressful situation that was surrounding the world and that paranoia and anxious fear he captures so well with this story and some may say it is his worst film some may say it is his best film I think it is one of his strongest structured films for sure and also at the centre of it has a great leading performance from Joaquin Phoenix giving a fantastic job onscreen Eddington will have people torn on their thoughts on it but film is supposed to spark conversation then Ari Astra did his job at having this create deep rooted discussions picking apart the themes of what he had to say with this well layered film about the human condition during a pandemic.  

Firstly, This film delves deep into the emotional turmoil people felt during the Pandemic times and how hard it was on people mentally to wrap their head around it and their has not been a film to really depict that social shift that we all went through and Ari Astra captures it so damn well as I was watching the film I was sitting shaking my head and feeling so seen in terms of the way we all saw how people were to one another during that time. The fear of not knowing and then the conspiracy theorizing that went on online was intense along with the protesting in the streets and then the stuff with the police authority it was a lot to take on and Ari Astra wanted to stuff as much as he could about how that impacted this small town and explore the mental depths of it. A ton of people will feel this film is to politically charged and feels it is hitting you over the head with what it has to say and how it goes about doing it but I like the blunt way of storytelling he is not holding back he wants to show how at times how ugly we were towards people and how to an extent we forget our ability to treat others with respect and be civil and it is shown through the lens of the characters of Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal and I think the way he explores it was so well done it never felt preachy to me as I have seen his past work he likes delving into deep thought provoking stuff I will admit this is the most he has ever gone into political themes and that is maybe why seem so off put by it but somebody eventually was going to say something about the nature of living we all went though at some point. The film does not operate as a horror film like his past works have this film is more a slow burn about this sheriff who slowly looses his mind due to his way of dealing with his issues and his entire world unravels around him. Their are themes of abusive of power, gaslighting others, broken relationships and so much More that is the forefront discussions being had in this film as the centre of the film is when faced with a global pandemic how torn people became and put under the magnify glass of Ari I thought was greatly presented and he really calls out a ton of people and makes them feel seen through the relatability of the content that is being covered or the characters to an extent. The way this film goes about telling its story was greatly done and I think it is for sure one of Ari Astra’s strongest films in terms of storytelling and exploration of themes. 

Secondly, The casting for this film was huge! You have the likes of Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, Austin Butler and Pedro Pascal now that is a massive amount of big name actors that being said the only gripe I give the film is not giving some actors more screen time to properly become attached to them. For instance Austin Butler comes in for a very deep monologue halfway through the film and then we don’t really see him until the last few minutes of the film after that and Emma Stone also has a supporting role too where we barley get to know her arc which is a missed opportunity as I was hoping to see more from those two. Now the real anchor of this film is very much Joaquin Phoenix who plays this sheriff with erratic ways of dealing with things and only goes further and further into madness as the plot progresses and Joaquin slowly turns the dial up on his level of denial and insanity throughout the course of the story which I think is one of his strongest performances in the last couple years. Everyone else gave a great performance but the show is very much stolen from Joaquin in terms of performance. 

Lastly, Eddington is one of the most polarizing and honest depictions of the madness that was 2020 and how everyone socially lost sight of how to treat people with decency and the sheer obsessions we had during that time is greatly captured in blunt honest depictions from Ari Astra’s point of view. In many ways it is shocking how badly some of us treated people and the sheer anxiety of the times that went on and it is all strung together by great tackling of themes and the solid performances from the entire cast involved especially Joaquin Phoenix. Eddington is one of Ari Astra’s strongest films and sure it may divide viewers on the quality of the content but I think it is his most creatively well written film since Hereditary overall a truly great depiction about social hardships we all faced during the pandemic and it is a solid film I  enjoyed. I recommend anyone that Is a fan of Ari Astra’s work to check out this film I find there is so so much to enjoy with what he has to say with this film. 

This film centres around May of 2020 and with COVID protocols going into place a sheriff in a town called Eddington resits at the changing social times and tries to make things be as they used to be but once he does so is met with a ton of challenges that come his way

Rated R : for strong violence, some grisly images, language, and graphic nudity.

Joaquin Phoenix : Joaquin gives his finest work I have seen in quite a while which is shocking for me to say as I usually praise most of his performances but lately he has had quite the slump with Napoleon and then Joker 2 so to see him bounce back with Eddington made me happy to see.  He plays the Sheriff of the town who is constantly at this emotional tug of war with the current Mayor and his handling of making people Mask during the Pandemic as he finds the behaviour to far and that it shouldn’t have to be a mandate people need to follow. First time we meet the character he is having a disagreement with authorities about following protocols in terms of mask wearing and when he sees that it is a new reality for people he becomes more and more upset about this whole thing and rejects the mask regulations and tires going about his life like nothing affects him. Eventually he does snap and feels that he needs to spread his “truth” and become mayor in order to bring balance back to the town and in his mind he feels if he is put into a political position order will be restored which is the opposite effect that happens when he goes about running for Mayor he creates mayhem and total madness due to his really eccentric ways of getting people to listen and to gain attention. He feels if he just stirs up anger in the town they will rally behind him and he can win this election by creating controversy with the current mayor by poking into his private life and exposing that but in the long run it just shows he is playing dirty to just get his way which then as the audience we see him go to these lengths to oblation political power but where is the line he won’t cross as he passes moral and ethic things that most people wouldn’t dare cross in order to get what he has always wanted. But by doing this destructive behaviour he destroys everything in his path his reputation is tarnished after trying to expose his political enemy only for it to backfire, his personal life is a disaster and his colleges only seem to listen to him out of fear. The more frustrated he gets within his personal life he brings that burden into his work life and it shows as the state of what is also going on in the world at the time also is unraveling around him which again only makes him even more agitated. As with the protests in the streets over Black Lives Matter he starts questioning the loyalty of his black police officer and he starts making it a racial thing at work he just cannot help himself he becomes so consumed in what he feels he wants he does not see the huge damage he is doing to others around him and when he eventually sees the disaster he has caused it is to late for him the damage is done by then. Joaquin Phoenix channels this bubbling sense of anger from the moment we are met with him we know he hates listening to authority and will do what he feels is best for him and it is frustrating to see his character progress as he just constantly is making things worse for himself and he does not need to be so difficult but he chooses to be that is the thing he is so self obsessed with his own things he has going on he has no sense of social awareness or boundaries when speaking to people. again Joaquin is able to bring that social deafness to the screen in a believability that makes your blood boil as he hears what people are saying to him but chooses to ignore it. We see how he treats his colleges he semi respects them but not really and his political targets he just will do whatever he has to to squash them and the searing jealously he has for them you can see is written all over his face even though he refuses to acknowledge that his deep rooted anger and jealousy will eventually be his downfall. Phoenix plays the role with such a great sense of denial of what is going on around him and he explores the layers of this man that basically goes about destroying is own life without knowing he is even doing it and it is one of the most compelling and despicable characters I have seen him play and you can see all the areas of the character that he explores and he goes across the full spectrum of emotions with this character from madness, anger, anxiety, depression all of it and shown in such raw ways. He never makes the character sympathetic but he has you learn to an extent why he is the way he is and again I think this is one of Joaquin’s strongest performances we have seen in this decade if I am being totally honest it is one of the most interesting characters he has played and he really sunk his teeth into this part Joaquin is truly astonishing in this role. 

Ari Astra : Ari Astra takes on a far different approach in terms of style with his latest film Eddington! Now he is known for Horror films that are not your typical scares he likes working in the places of psychological horror and having deep rooted messages and themes put into his stories as Hereditary was about grief, Midsommar was about the worlds worst boyfriend I am kidding it was about a pagan cult. And here the film is about what happens when a community crumbles and has no idea how to treat one another when in a crisis like a pandemic. He really decided I want to put all the most hot topic issues in one film from Black Lives Matter protest, police brutality, sexual scandals in the political arena, political angst and the COVID pandemic I don’t know many filmmakers today that would take on all of those themes I just named in one singular film and be able to not have it be taken as controversial or a hot topic film especially in the climate we are in. Ari Astra felt he had to acknowledge the poor human behaviour that went on as each character in this film has things going on and to a extent you can all disagree with their ways of handling things but at the centre of what the film is about his how socially we didn’t know how to treat others during the pandemic and also the amount of heavy social issues that were going on it eventually made some people go a little stir crazy and the film shows that yes to a extreme extent in many ways but their is still a layer of reliability  to the material that is being talked about onscreen. Their is no redeeming quality about any character in this film all of them are horrible people because they all go about their business in the wrong ways especially the main character played by Joaquin he thinks his racist, anti government stance will make people support him due to his strong disagreement with the COVID pandemic and a ton more of his opinions he puts online yes he causes quite the ruckus in his town but not in the way he intended it to go. What I like so much about the film is that so many people are disagreeing with the film I feel because they see themselves to much in the content that Is in the film Ari Astra is not sugar coating anything he is saying it for how it is and I respect that he shows the social awareness going on was so poor people became essentially unaware of how to treat people like decent humans. He didn’t just do another horror film he instead went out of his zone and made a bold move to make a film about the social shifts that happened in a backdrop of the COVID pandemic and sure some may of just wanted a straight up horror film like usual but I like the fact he is finding new ways to tell new narratives without him just repeating what he has already done. Ari Astra wants to explore different genres and not be confined to just one thing and I love that I give him massive credit for going to the places thematically he did with this film it may not be his best film but writing wise it is pretty close the film feels at times like a Neo noir western mixed with a slow burn drama he does a exceptional job with this film both from a writing point of view and direction.  

Superman (2025)

This film is everything I wanted it to be and so much more! Now I have so much I want to discuss about this film but first off I want to say this will be one of the most talked about, celebrated and successful superhero films we have seen in a long time all due to the sheer love passion and respect the creative team had for the title character and it’s assumable of characters that surround him. David Corenswet is Superman he perfectly embodies the glee, respect, love and happiness that has been absent from this character for many decades I would go as far as saying it is the best version of the character we have seen maybe ever he is that good. Rachel Brosnahan gives a focused in take on the reporter that wants to prove she is always on the search for the truth and giving people the story that does not misinform the public but tell them what they need to hear and that fire in her heart is shown greatly onscreen by Rachel In what may be the best take on Louis Lane we have seen. Then their is Nicholas Hoult who gives a sensational turn as Lex Luthor and their are bits of Gene Hackman you can see in his performance along with other versions of actors he has studied to place into his performance onscreen he is mesmerizing giving a great take on this complex and diabolical villain we love to hate. James Gunn has crafted a film that fans of the comic will leap out of their seat in glee with the feeling knowing that DC has finally cracked it on getting the representation of this beloved character right and sure their is still much to see from Superman but this film puts DC in a bright direction that gives me hope that is is in the right hands creatively. 

Firstly, Their is so much I wanna say about the tone of this film and the writing and how it tackles it’s characters and the way the story is shaped. Now before I dive into that I will say in a time where things have been divided and being kind to one another becomes more of a foreign concept more and more each day having Superman land on our screen’s at this time we are in I think was perfect timing to teach and show the audience that being a decent person who is filled with love and respect is lessons not just for young ones to learn from but everyone frankly should take away from this film. Superman is a man that just wants the best for people and to ensure their safety their is no divine reward he is chasing after and many call that corny but the character has always been that way and if being kind is corny then call me corny as I think we could use a lot more of Superman’s view of how to treat others right now more then ever. That is another thing people have gone out of their way to say this film is cheesy and done poorly in the tone due to it spreading it’s message of kindness but once again that is who the character is he is a pure soul that was the way he was written back in 1938 and who he remains to be today none of that has changed if you are a fan a true fan of the comics and what the character represents then you know this is an accurate representation of the character and not one that is cheesy but one that is true to the text. Seeing this tone of just colourful joy and it looks and feels like a comic sprung to life and I love the colour scheme they used for this film it has such rich vibrant colours that just bounce off the frame. The 2013 as entertaining as the film was to some people it is not a rightful presentation of who the character is supposed to be the damage Zack Snyder brought to the image of the caped crusader was huge as tons of people walk around with the notion that the character is supposed to be this big god like being that the people are supposed to bow down to. Now this film has such an inspiring outlook on the character that has been missing for a long long time that finally DC gets right in terms of character execution. What I love about the tone of the film is it borrows things from the Christopher Reeve films and even the depth of Smallville to present a version of the character that for audiences finally feels relatable that he hasn’t been since the 70’s and also make the Frame feel like a comic sprung to life in terms of how the action is presented along with the way the film tackles it’s story as it is not an origin story It already tells the audience we they are living in a world where Superman exists their is no need to have to go over a story we have seen covered a million times already it hits the ground running and I love that addition to the plot line. The way James Gunn and the entire team involved crafted a film with the visual flare of something that looks like it was ripped straight out of the comics and had the great vision to finally give Superman the ability to be seen as he was written was amazing. It felt like all of what we have come to love of the character all wrapped into this film in a celebration of the character and if this is how the DCU is going to continue sign me up as it seems creatively they are in the best hands by giving the keys to James Gunn as he knows how to tell a great story and this film is a damn good first impression that brings DCU out of the depths and into the light. The way the film tackles themes of respect, kindness and hate is greatly executed and I cannot wait to see this universe expand and be explored in greater detail the way this film looks was terrifically done.

Secondly, The performances from the whole cast are splendid! Now I think the whole main 3 cast members knocked it out of the park as I have already mentioned. Rachel Brosnahan gives a great turn as Lois Lane the reporter who will stop at nothing until she cracks the truth on a story. Now we have seen different takes on the character from Amy Adams, Margot Kidder and now Rachel what I like about her portrayal of the character is she gives the most comic accrete or closest to the original outline of the character we have seen probably ever. As much as I like Margot Kidder’s take and she is the classic representation of the character on the silver screen she gave a very warm and loving approach to the role no doubt that defined that generation that grew up watching the Christopher Reeve films. This Lois tho is able to still be as stern and passionate about her line of her work while still being the great love interest of Clark Kent and she is able to not just play the character as a one note damsel but is able to hold her own and really capture the magic of who Lois Lane is. I think her take on the character was spot on and I cannot wait to see what more evolves in terms of her character growth throughout this new DCU Rachel Brosnahan gave a sensational turn that may be the best of all time. Then you have the always charismatic and incredibly talented Nicholas Hoult who springs Lex Luthor to life in a presentation of the character that sprinkles in the charm of Gene Hackman the depth of Michael Rosenbaum and then makes the rest his own you can clearly see him paying homage to past takes on the character through this current performance but he does make it his own and it is one of the greatest supervillain  performances we have seen from DC I would say since Tom Hardy in Dark Knight Rises. As you can see the simmering resentment build up in his eyes and eventually spills out in the third act where he delivers monologue after monologue of searing hate for Superman and the sheer passion Hoult brings to the role was truly outstanding and one of the greatest parts of this film is the amazing ability he had at exploring the complexities of this great antagonist. Then you have David Corensweat who is so perfect as this character I cannot stress that enough I will talk in more detail of what made his performance so special but I will say this if we needed a positive, hopeful look on the character that perfectly embodies the hopeful nature of who the character represents since the comics he was so perfectly casted to bring this character to the screen as not only does he play the role incredibly well he understands at the core of it of why Superman is so beloved and he brought such amazing commitment to the role and this actor will be this generation’s Superman and I am so glad it is David as he is so perfect as the Alien Superhero we have come to love. Everyone in this cast was greatly cast and all brought their A game there is no weak link in the cast! 

Lastly, Superman comes out at a time where we need him more then ever and makes people believe want to believe in the good in people and to show people it is very cool to treat others with respect and to be gentle and use kindness wherever you go and I think that is vital at a time like this and the way James Gunn paid homage to the past versions of the caped character while also letting this be a spin in the style he is known for was just great. As you can see the amazing colours and vibrant feel to the frame that makes it feel so much like a comic book unfolding in front of your eyes all the while having this episodic feel to the story that makes it feel like one of the Saturday morning cartoons we grew up watching. Superman brought out the child in me watching this and I am so happy to say the DC universe is in great hands and with the great creative people working behind the scenes I think we are in for so many great stories to come ahead for this new universe full of great characters and I also am so eager to see what other places they can bring the character as the possibilities are endless. James Gunn understood the love and sheer passion the people have for this character and gave exactly what we wanted and so much more Superman will have you soaring on an absolute high of joy when watching this film and reminding you why you fell in love with Superhero films in the first place this is one of the best comic book films of the year and an absolute treat. I recommend everyone go see this on the biggest screen you can with the best sound system to get the full scope of this film. 

This film centres on Superman trying to take Down Lex Luthor as Lex is plotted to prove that Superman is not needed in modern society 

Rated PG - 13 : Language|Action|Violence 

David Corenswet : David is the Superman we have always dreamed of and wow is he truly awe inspiring in his take on the iconic character! For many years since the screen presence of Christopher Reeves DC has been constantly trying to recapture the magic of that set of films with whoever they cast in the role of Clarke Kent? Superman and we have had a few people dawn the cape from Brandon Routh, Tom Welling, Henry Cavill and Now David their have been many versions and all of them giving their own version of who they think Clarke Kent is like now I will say as a lifelong fan of the character this version in James Gunn’s vision is the most comic accurate we have seen of the character ever captured on film. David Corenswet understood what to bring to this character to make him unlike anything we had seem before in terms of comic accuracy. We see him already known with Lois as Superman and Clarke and their is a world that feels strongly about him but their are still doubters that feel his participation in the world shouldn’t be allowed due to him not being studied to a full extent of what he could do with society. Clark Kent is very much a guy that keeps his head down and works when needed but still is friendly among co workers and a great addition to the role I loved was David switched his tone of voice between Clark and Superman a small detail that has been missing from the films since the Christopher Reeve pictures. It is a small detail sure but it makes a big difference and shows how seriously he takes this role and knows how much it means to millions of people around the world. The version of Clark he represents is one that at the office is yes a nerdy guy with curly hair that is a wholesome bumbling guy that just passes by in the office but at home when he is with Lois that whole performance he puts on at work comes off and he can be more of who he really is which was amazing. There is a scene in the beginning of the film where he feels he has to justify his actions of why he got involved in a situation many felt could have been handled by the government without his help. The sheer amount of passion and the way he gets so defensive about how he only intervened because he was concerned people were going to die and how he just wanted to do good but that is not the headline people looked at they just saw a guy that positioned himself into a situation without the governments say so and to him their is no reason if people need saving why should he feel the need to ask. That entire monologue is beautifully written but more so it is excellently performed by David you can see the sheer frustration in his tone of he feels so upset that people are misreading  his stance on what he stands for as he just wants to spread kindness and be a good person and that raw emotion pierces through the screen with his tremendous line delivery. We also see him struggle to commit to his romantic life as Lois Loves him clearly but he is having a tough time communicating his true feelings for her and exploring that I think was great which shows that he is not this perfect person he is flawed but he does the best he can and that is such a touching characteristic that is greatly shown through the course of this film. Then when we see him as Superman flying through the city and in these amazing set pieces you are feeling like a kid again as he just embodies the sheer image of who the character is supposed to be and when he is Superman in that iconic outfit you can see his posture is more straight his tone is more sharper he is far more direct and David has such a crackling screen presence of the Superhero that sends chills down your spine. Yes the scenes of him as Superman are amazing but the exploration of his heart when he is out of the costume makes those actions scenes even better as the focus on him as a person being so vital is what made this version far more superior then previous versions. David Corenswet after many versions of the character embodies kindness, respect, love and spreading positivity and it radiates through Clark and Superman and he is able to be soft spoken, loving and a friend he is not a god like character but someone who can lift you up when your down and David understood that and gives a hopeful take on the character that genuinely moved me and their couldn’t be a better person to dawn the cape but him as he poured so much passion and hard work into this character to make sure he got him right and boy did he ever. David Cornswet is a revelation as Superman and gives truly one of the best leading Superhero performances I have seen in years from DC! 

Nicolas Hoult : Oh Nicolas did a tremendous job with his take on the billionaire villain that is Lex Luthor! Hoult has had a great run of films recently with Juror 2, The Order, Nosferatu and now Superman he is on quite the role of films and I am so happy to see it as he is one of the best talents of his generation that always turns in terrific performances and to see him get a big break to take on this massive Villain role of the DCU makes me so happy to see. He has had bit parts in comic films before like Beast in the prequel X-Men films and he had a supporting role in Mad Max but here he is literally top billing with David at being the big antagonist he goes against and we get to see him bring his version of the complex genius to the big screen. He plays the character with such a intense amount of hate for what Superman is and what he represents as he does not see the uplifting message he tries to spread in his mind he sees this reckless alien that could wipe everyone away if he one day decided too and see’s him as a national risk to the people of the city that should be put away behind bars. Nicolas Hoult understood the amount of resentment that was needed to channel the sinister side of Lex at the same time you to a degree can understand his logic of why he would see Superman as a threat but the scary reality is when he does these terrifying actions that put people in danger he believes they deserve it because they put their trust in the wrong person so they should suffer the consequences. He makes it so easy to dislike him and that is what you want from a villain someone that creates great obstacles that get in the way of the protagonist and to constantly challenge him and that he does do many times over. The great arc about Lex in this film is his exploration into insanity as you see him trying to go by the rule of the government to get their permission and their support to help lift Lex’s vision to reality and then when they decline he goes to drastic measures to make Superman look like a threat to the people by showing what makes him different from humans and then exploit that on a massive scale and get people scared then he pushes it even further by showing how dangerous he can be if he decided to act on anger one day instead of peace. That dial of his brain just goes further and further as the film progresses and we see him become more and more unpredictable in his actions which makes him that more scary as you have not any idea what course of action he will take next to bring down Superman. What matters to him is making an impact with his decisions but also his image is everything as if he does not have that he would be supported by political leaders and his credibility is out the window. You can see the jealously he has for how adored Superman is and even tho he refuses to admit it you can see it as when he is in the same room with Superman he has this spewing hate in his eyes and it consumes his thinking and how he operates on a day to day basis. Nicolas Hoult brings this character to the screen with such a strong aura to him and you want to know what made him become so disliked with Superman but at the same time he is able to explore the brain of this person and that he is not a one note villain but has many layers and sides to him and the way he delivers his lines with such fierce emotional believability that feels like it is coming from his soul was incredible. Nicolas Hoult I cannot wait to see where he brings this character next he delivers one of the best antagonist roles we have seen from the DC universe in a very long time. 

James Gunn : Gunn gives An amazing bright future for what DC. Holds! Now when I heard James Gunn was brought in to take creative control of the Cinematic universe of the DC landscape I was so eager to see how he was going to start this from the ground up and using their most iconic character with Superman I think was such a smart way to get DC off to a fresh start in order to rebrand the company. As it is no secret the studio has been in a bit of slump in recent memory with misfire after misfire and they finically couldn’t not afford another badly received film both in terms of box office and in critical reviews. James Gunn brings Superman into a place we have not seen from the DC brand in decades as they went the route of making him dark and gritty after the massive success of the Dark Knight trilogy which I thought was a massive mistake as Superman has never represented the dark he has always been a hopeful uplifting figure that prays and hopes for a better tomorrow. The amount of pressure riding on him to make this film work was overwhelming as if this film did not connect with audiences the entire brand of DC would no longer be a company that could crank out good content in terms of Superhero films and I cannot fathom the sheer stress he was under to make this film as good as he could and he succeeded in making a film that makes DC a reliable source of good comic content as the film felt like a comic book sprung to life the way that it was done. Now he does not do an origin story again as we have seen that time and time again their is no reason to have to repeat that same plot line instead it throws it’s viewers into a world where Superman has been around for a while which I thought was far more compelling then if they just made it another film from the very start of who he is. The film has a lot of characters some may say that it feels overstuffed with the amount we are introduced too but I feel it works and the reason it works so well is Gunn was able to balance all of it’s characters in a way where all of them had a moment to shine none of them felt demented to being just a side character that does not get much to do all of them serve a purpose to the over arching story we are thrust into. Then the messages and themes of the film he gives is about being a kind person and letting positivity be the thing to carry with yourself and not let people shame you for wanting to be a better person and also not letting your past define your future and all of that is shown in such an inspiring view that I thought was so well tackled. It is anchored by great performances most notably David Cornswet who gives in my opinion the finest take on the character James Gunn gives great action sequences and yes sets up the world of what is to come but he also let once again the main focus be on the characters and their growth and that is why his films stand out the way they do is due to his great amount of attention to character work and here we see the heart of who Clark Kent is and learning all of that first makes the Superman scenes far more satisfying after establishing the soul of the man and not just his powers. James Gunn has crafted one of the best comic book films in recent memory and at the same time brought DC out of a 4 year slump and has course corrected them in a place where people are eager to see what comes next I know I am and in the hands of James Gunn I am excited to see what comes next he did a great job at bringing this story to the screen.