Movie Man Darian Watching All Night Long

The Odyssey

This is one of the greatest works of filmmaking I have ever seen in my life! Now this film has been talked in the same breath as Lawrence Of Arabia and Ben Hur that is not something people compare really any films to as those are very specific grand old fashioned Hollywood epics that are never really crafted these days. So when I heard that it for sure had my attention and after seeing the film I can understand why it is being spoken to that degree as this is a massive scale epic that is a culmination of all the previous films Nolan has done that has led up to this very project. The Odyssey is a sprawling adventure with cyclopses, battles, witches and the undead it feels like a great scale fantasy that pulls you in within the first frame and has you go through all the emotions you can experience and by the last frame have you just sit with it and be in total awe of what you have just witnessed. The way that Nolan tells this story of Family, determination, honour and love at the very essence of it and how to treat one another with tenderness and not a fist of hate is so vital and themes which are so relevant in today more then ever. There is so much I cannot wait to discuss about why this film is so amazing it is monumental storytelling at the highest degree and truly a film for the ages. 

Firstly, when I heard years ago that Nolan was adapting the book of the Odyssey I knew so many historians, and book fanatics were going to be so quick to judgement because of the fear of it being “historically inaccurate” i will say the online discourse he has received from this film is very similar to how Scorsese was treated when Temptation of Christ came out in the 80’s so many people were fuming because it did not align with their view of Christ just like how the people who are passionate about this book felt even before this was released that it was not a proper representation of what they thought of in their head and all I will say to that is this. This is Nolan’s take on the story and his interpretation of how he would visualize it and personally the man that gave us Inception and The Dark Knight I think he knows what he is doing he is one of if not the most striking filmmaker to emerge out of the 2000’s and carve the name as a force of nature putting his name aside the likes of Kubrick and Spielberg a honour very few people can say. Now that is discussed and over with I wanna say the way Nolan crafted his take on this was done in such a way that I feel no other filmmaker could of done a better job at it then him as sure it would of been a different take but Nolan has such a specific eye for high brow old fashioned filmmaking him tackling this specific story makes so much sense. This film is a story of God and Monsters and it feels so much deeper then the text Nolan is covering as Chris digs deeper past text to reveal it is about the treatment of how we view each other as a society and by treating strangers and people you meet on your journey with respect as you never know what their inner struggle is. Along with showing that sometimes man can be as dangerous and disrespectful as a monster As the film is very much about also living with the repercussions of your actions and knowing you caused harm and feeling that responsibility on your shoulders and do what you can do to write those wrongs right. What the film presents to the audience that is so incredible was the entire metaphor of the Trojan Horse and how that is so symbolic to the overarching framework of the film and how we view what the battle of Troy meant to people. As Matt Damon’s character just wanted to get home but he has to first come to terms with the ugliness he has witnessed and put not just himself through but others and if he feels worthy of warmth and comfort after that. As so many other films look at the battle of troy as this big epic grand thing Nolan does not do that he shows how ugly, violent and messy that entire thing would of been from the others point of view as people were murdered and their culture taken away and the feeling of erasing others to position others in a higher place of power and it was not a moment of great triumph for him but of utter darkness that he witnessed that night.  The way he executes these themes are so subtle but deeply profound. The feeling of such immense guilt and sorrow within the heart of feeling that you didn’t do all of what you could to better the outcome of a situation and having that really crush your soul and eat at you for each person that feels like a direct responsibility under your command is amazingly fleshed out another great takeaway is the sense of loyalty to hope even when people give you every reason to cave and give up as years go by they have every reason to give up that their commander will be back but after everything from beatings, verbal assaults and yet they do not waver and the catalyst of hope is present in Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and John Leguizamo perfectly capture that sense of undying hope and I love how it is such a important theme that is so moving. Then in terms of Romance how love is so present is through the loyalty I mentioned as Anne Hathaway’s character refuses to stop believing in the hope her man will come back for her and the family they have made and to love someone is to have a firm grasp of hope and I love how incredibly emotional that was tapped into. The sheer volume of this film is staggering their is so much going on and it also never feels overlong it is a 3 hour long epic and it flies by as your so locked into the story you can’t look away Nolan pours everything he has learned up to this point as a filmmaker and give this incredible adaptation that I could make the argument is the greatest single piece of literature adaptation I have ever seen brought to the big screen. The film is truly a monumental piece of filmmaking and I would go as far as saying it is the greatest film Nolan has ever brought to the screen the way he explores the story, themes and tone of this film is on another level we have not seen from him before. 

Secondly, The performances from the entire cast is superb! Now the actors that stood out to me was Matt Damon who gave his best performance in well over a decade, Anne Hathaway and John Leguizamo give their best work of their respected careers as Anne gives a tender but stern look at a woman grappling with the loyalty to her man and John is also one who refuses to let go of hope and they show the strain it takes on them mentally in sensational onscreen performances that rise above anything in their body of work they have crafted in their careers. Robert Pattinson delivers a sensational turn as the antagonist of the film chewing up every scene he is in and you cannot take your eyes off of him. Samantha Morton and Elliot Page are both in very limited screen time and are truly outstanding Elliot gives an five to six minute monologue that blew me away and Samantha Morton had me utterly terrified and my jaw on the floor giving great onscreen presence. Everyone in this film is solid but John Leguizamo I would say though gives the most stunning performance of the film that really stuck with me but the entire cast is terrific. 

Lastly, The Odyssey  is one of the greatest achievements of filmmaking I have ever seen in my lifetime! Christopher Nolan gives a rare feat that rivals his last which I went on record at the time saying was his best film I truly do think he has outdone himself and given us a film that tops even the levels he went to with Oppenheimer. This is his grand scale epic that will be talked about in 40 years from now this is his Lawrence of Arabia it will be a feature that a kid aspiring to get into filmmaking will use this as a reference point of why they fell in love with the craft of filmmaking I think it does have that reach which very few films can say. The Odyssey is beautiful, it is moving is is the best film of the year and one of the decade this is truly a tremendous piece of filmmaking. I beg you please see this film on the biggest screen you can with the best sound and if you can see it in 70mm it is meant to be seen in that format do yourself a favour and see it multiple times I feel this film massively benefits from the rewatch stand point. 

This film centres on a father who is trying to get home and the wild journey that follows him 

Rated R : for language and violence throughout 

Matt Damon : Damon delivers one of his most tender and emotionally affective performances in a very long time! Damon is one of those actors that I know can deliver top notch performances but he hasn’t been doing that for a while he was in this weird limbo of films like the Great Wall then the film The last Duel and even The Rip but too be fair he also gave us Oppenheimer and Air which are solid performances but I am talking really dig deep and give something along the lines of Talented Mr Ripley or Good Will Hunting and we haven’t seen that from Damon in a Long time. Here he plays a father full of such sadness and regret in his heart of what he has caused and he just at the core of it is looking out for his family and so much unravels because of it. Due to the war he just wanted to help put an end to it but the way of getting back home he had an idea it may of been tough but nowhere near what it ended up becoming. You can see that he knows in his heart if he never came back he has to find peace with that but there is still a itch in him knowing that having that warmth and comfort from his loved ones is irreplaceable. Damon is a emotional force of nature that can say so much by saying so little as you can see the sorrow and raw ache of emotional distress in his eyes and even when he could of acted emotionally he thinks with his heart even when his heart wants to tell him something else entirely he tries his best to listen to reason. we see him go through so many mental and psychically exhausting situations that would of broken even the strongest person but due to his incredibly strong wilded mind he never gave in as he knew he had one thing in his mind his family and knowing their waiting for him even when he gets lost their are fragments of his brain missing and memories missing and he is trying to still find ways to make it all make sense so he can finally be with them. Damon channels this man with such deep and emotional grit that refuses to stay on track of what he set out to do but at the same time as time passes he starts becoming tired with the guilt of what he has put his men through and the things he has seen has  haunted his heart  so if he comes back he will never be the same man that left and be forever changed due to his experiences. Damon for me shines amazingly well in the last hour of this film their is a scene with him and Hathaway in the last 10 minutes of the film that is a very long monologue and the way he goes about telling the story made me want to break down and cry as he wants to be welcomed back with open arms but is he deserving is the way he thinks. Even when he returns regardless of the utter disrespect his family has been shown including himself he refuses to let into to the emotion he wants to impulsively do even though most would have he knows timing is everything. Damon restrains himself psychically to let the others that doubt him make that terrible mistake until he knows it is the right moment to correct them. Damon shines amazingly well as it is a performance that shows strong masculinity with such tenderness and a heart full of love and it is genuinely one of my favourite all time performances of his. The way he approaches the mindset of the character is that of a family man who yes is a leader but refuses to let cynicism ever enter his heart and to not let the world break him down. It is a quite inspiring performance in so many ways and Damon deserves all the award recognition for his work in this it is full of such emotional grit that presents So many layers of this very engaging character that is more then what you see on the outside. Damon is outstanding and a true force of nature showing people after all this time he still has that hunger and charm that made us fall in love with him so long ago Damon is extraordinary! 

Anne Hathaway : Hathaway gives one of the best performances of her career in this film! Also can we acknowledge that she is on a incredible run of films from her other box office smash Devil Wears Prada 2 to now this and has already released 3 films and has 2 more to go this year shaping up to be one of her best years of her entire career. Here she plays the unshakable mother and wife that refuses to give in to any man just to get an ounce of warmth in the absence of her husband. Anne for a good bit of the film is not seen much but when we get to the second act and the men start thinking maybe its time she remarries their is a great scene with her and Pattinson where he tries to persuade her to give him the chance to be her man and instead of shutting him up she does hear his pitch but the moment he mentions having a child of his own with her she dismisses him entirely as she knows that he would want to replace her own son she has with her man. Anne has this crushing sensation that her heart is breaking and knowing the fact her man is out there regardless of people telling her otherwise she knows he is mentally strong that he would find himself back to her. The strength she shows is so admirable and there are multiple scenes she shines in the one that really stuck with me is the one she shares with Holland about who has been sitting on the throne. You can see the shakiness in her eyes that she is utterly terrified if she was wrong that her man may not come back but she also knows she has the strength to keep going even If it tears at her from the inside out and that paranoia does start eating at her piece by piece which is what makes that scene so emotionally impactful. Anne has not many scenes but for wart she is given she shines So well in them providing a great portion of the hope that is vital to keeping the faith for Matt Damon’s character and personally I found it to be one of y favourite performances of the film I have not seen her give such a soulful performance like this in  a while and I will not be slightly surprised if she gains award attention due to it as she is simply terrific. Anne Hathaway gives one of the best performances of her career as the anchor to Matt Damon that keeps the place in order in his absence. 

Robert Pattinson : Pattinson delivers another astonishing turn as one of the most well done unlikeable characters of the year! He has already provided another stellar performance earlier this year with the Drama and now we get to see him as the main antagonist of a greek story Told by Christopher Nolan so yes saying I was excited is a understatement. Pattinson presents who he is so well within the first scene we see of him he is a sleazy, calculated snake in armour that will do what he can to try to impress the right people in order to put himself in a higher liked position of power. Pattinson shows that he has zero remorse for anything and anyone very early on when we see the mistreatment of a dog take place he laughs it off and thinks of no mercy or bad has come to the animal even though he is clearly in pain showing right away that he gets off at seeing anyone or anything in pain. As the film progresses we see that as the time goes by that he should stop just bullying the staff and put his mind to use and try to wow the wife so he can weasel his way into the family in some way if it benefits him in the long run he will do it. He thinks because of his ability to work a room to its knees that he can also impress the queen but her sense of knowing who she is and her loyalty to her man he can see and he finds that to be such an admirable aspect of her personality and as the film goes on and he hears news that the man that runs the place they have tarnished for years and abused may be coming back that sense of smart restraint totally tarnishes and he begins to do whatever he can to make sure he remains as the one in order of things and that sense of over confidence and arrogance is eventually what leads to his downfall. Pattinson channels that cocky attitude that makes your skin crawl with such an authentic believability and he he sparks him to life off the page with such passion and as likeable as he is you cannot look away from him and what he is delivering onscreen. We have seen Pattinson play morally grey characters before but this is his first time revisiting the role of the main antagonist since 2020’s The Devil All The Time. I think it is so fun to see Pattinson getting the chance to chomp at the bit of taking on such a unlikeable character as he has such a great range as an actor he can make any character he plays the audience drawn to which just goes to show how solid of a performer he is and here is no different. Their are quite complicated shades to this character that has a history with Matt’s character and I love how that unravels and is explored so by the time we get to the third act when they come face to face it is such a satisfying full circle moment and had me cheering in my seat. Pattinson leaps off the screen with a grin of unlikeability that makes you  repulsed by his actions but you cannot help but find yourself drawn into what he is doing onscreen giving another truly amazing performances that I would rank as one of his all time best he works the room in each scene changing the climate in every frame he is in Pattinson is a tour de force. 

John Leguizamo : John gives what I think is the best performance of the whole film and was my favourite character to follow in terms of an arc that had me totally stunned! I have always been surrounded by this man’a films since I was a kid and I feel he is more of a great character actor that never got the big amount of attention he deserves because whenever you see him in a film he always adds to the greatness of a film and you enjoy it ten times more. Here he plays a visually impaired man that is nothing but loyal to the family and will do what he can to find out the true intentions of the suiters and what they are up to in order to be steps ahead of them. John plays this wise man that wants the best for the family and he is willing to put himself on the line in order to make sure the house is put first and always made a priority. This undying loyalty is not something that goes unchecked as he is mocked and laughed at multiple times for being lower then most of the people that occupy that space by the suiters and even after all the segregation and verbal assaults he finds himself involved in he never wavers. He refuses to let in just because someone wants to gain a negative reaction out out of him as he knows if he gives into those people he will prove them right and the family will just see him as one that would bend a knee to anyone but by staying that strong it shows to the family they can trust him with their lives. John gives a kind of performance that we have never seen ever before and he imparts wisdom to the ones that will listen and he has witnessed some of the best moments of the family and the uglier sides too but point is he has bared witness to both sides of that coin. He has at moments a dry sort of wit to him but it never clouds the emotional levity of how you are supposed to view him as and the way he walks to the soft tenderness in his voice he changes every single thing we think we know about him as performer and tweaks it to a very different persona that left me totally awe struck. He like Anne has a supporting turn but he chews up all of the scenes he is in and is given limited screen time but in a lot ways is one of the vital aspects of the film and among a stacked cast really stuck out to me which goes to show how good he was. John transforms into this role putting his mind body and soul through the ringer to give the most authentic kind of take on this character that he could give and all the things we are used to seeing him do he puts as the backseat and presents a whole new side of him which he has never explored that had me in almost tears as he is a loyal friend of the family with a soft heart that wants the best for them. John gives such a wholesome performance that moved me and truly is the centrepiece of the film in terms of performance and I cannot express enough how much I love his work in this a sensational turn that I think is the finest work of his career! 

Samatha Morton : Morton is tremendous! Now Samantha is not in this film very much at all she may have I think not even 10 minutes of screen time but she commands the screen with such fierce emotion that once she is gone her impact is felt on the overall feeling of the picture. Morton plays a character that presents a false true to these men and it turns into something scary and dark that made my jaw drop for her entire screen presence as she gives a terrifying monologue with Damon which she goes toe to toe with him and the sheer raw emotion that pours out of her lips and pierces the screen with her eyes had me totally floored. She has such a complex personality for someone that is not given much screen Time but as I always say it’s not about the amount of screen time it’s how you use it that matters. Samatha gives this amazingly layered emotional movement of a venomous creature that just wants them to take the bait in such a deliciously twisted role that has you hooked the moment you see her. Morton is tremendous and gives a screen prescience that swallows the frame whole if I had to give someone a heavy award campaign for essentially one scene it would be her she is truly phenomenal and gives one of the strongest performances of the film that is talked about long after the film is over which goes to show the impact she has had on audiences with her limited performance. Overall Samatha Morton delivers a terrific turn that is among one of my all time favourites shown in a Nolan film. 

Christopher Nolan : Nolan has given the film that he has been trying to craft for his entire career! Christopher you can see has been building up to this for quite sometime and it came at the perfect time for him I feel as he has matured greatly as a filmmaker where he knows that he can use all the skills he has learned over the years from his previous experiences on other films to apply to this in order to make it the best book adaption of this material that has been brought to the big screen. Nolan has crafted a epic on a scale that will be studied dissected and analyzed  by film students, stunts in history classes and so many more of how this film was made, the themes, the sheer look of it I do not think he knows the reach this film will have will be massive. Now what do I think this is his best film? I will tell you as it is comparable to lord of the rings, Lawrence of Arabia and films of scale as it is a story of monsters and gods that has so much and yes the text itself is rich to adapt but the way he went about doing it was masterful. As it is a very straight narrative of a father trying to get home but he didn’t make it so simple in its execution he layers it in such nuance and complexity with great tone and themes that are so deep and emotionally touching. As it is at the core of it about the treatment of others and to be kinder to the people across your journey as you don’t know their story and to be gentle in a world of aggression and lead with tenderness. I felt that throughout the entire film and I love how he made the family so important to the main characters arc as he didn’t throw any character into the background as a throwaway they all served a purpose to the overall outcome of the story. Nolan gave each actor their time to shine and really bite the screen in half with their presence and for the people who think this film is overlong for me personally I never felt not locked into the story as the moment it started I was totally engaged with the story that unfolded in front of me. The themes of family, love, loyalty and deep regret is shown on such a human level that brought me teary eyed and I found very affective in its execution. I do firmly believe he is the most important filmmaker of this century due to his flawless filmography that has covered so many genres and he has knocked them all out of the park and given such a unique spin on whatever he tackles but the thing is this film is so gigantic and amazingly well done where do you go from here as I feel he has reached the ceiling and that is one of the highest compliments I could give any filmmaker. It is incredibly exciting though from a creative place as it goes to show whatever he does ends up being in the conversation of the best he has ever done and then he tops each previous film making the next one better and better showing he is never satisfied with just one thing he is constantly trying to find new avenues to explore creatively to give audiences fresh stories each time. I do think that where he goes in the Odyssey ranks among the highest as a writer, director and all around filmmaker from the action, the emotional beats of the story and the set pieces he just poured each part of his heart into each frame and it is sop vibrantly felt and Nolan has shaped a greek tale that will stand the rest of time due to the sharp direction and incredible vision that just has left people myself included in total amazement of what he has accomplished with this version of the story. Even if you have read the book or not you will not be prepared for the places this film will take you and also from a technical point of view it is perfect from the cinematography, costumes, set design, and score his ability to be as accurate to the time the film is set in and still after all this time still ringing true to practical old school filmmaking never fails to amaze me Nolan transports you back to this time and digs deep into the source material to give a film that will be talked about forever a masterpiece if I had to find one word to describe it Nolan you are such a gifted filmmaker and I cannot wait to see what the next one will be simply beautiful filmmaking from the most important filmmaker of this generation. 

Power Ballad

This is as of writing this my favourite film of the year! John Carney has captured a tender film once again about the power of music and the impact it plays on people’s lives in a very deeply personal way. The film provides I think is Paul Rudd’s finest hour as an actor he’s tremendous in this. Nick Jonas also gives a terrific performance of an artist struggling to remain relevant and there is so much depth of the character he can apply his personal life to the character. Power Ballad is a film I feel will come and go and if not for word of mouth will be overlooked entirely. Which is a shame as the film is in my opinion one of the most heartfelt and best films of the year that has stuck with me since I’ve seen it and keeps growing as a fantastic film that I wanna go back and revisit. 

Firstly, The film’s themes of self worth, ownership over your art and personal drive Is amazingly touched upon in the film. As the film explores both spectrums of it we see Paul Rudd’s character who has very little but you can see he has always dreamed for more than what he is doing in terms of a musical career. Then you have Nick Jonas’s character that has everything he could want but feels emotionally very unsatisfied with his situation. The film shows greatly how both bond over their love for music but when they collectively collaborate together on a song which was initially Paul’s song they find a great wavelength but sadly since their both career driven Nick’s character goes to a low to release the song as if it was his and not credit Paul Rudd’s character as the initial writer on the track. What I love about this concept and premise is that its about writing ownership and essentially about owning the piece of art you made and when proper due credit isn’t given how it can alter your life and brain chemistry and truly do lasting damage to how you perceive success. The way this story is executed I think was incredibly touching and moved me to tears. John Carney captures the artistic pain of wanting to be credited in such a raw and emotionally expressive way that so many people that are artistic in any sense can relate to. I love how the film constantly shows the contrast between both of their lives and how music individually impacts them and the way the story is presented really impressed me some of the best parts of this film lies in the writing which is a true standout. 

Secondly, in terms of the performance’s Paul Rudd is sensational! Now there are a ton of great amount of actors in this film but it is very much the Paul Rudd show. He gives an emotionally tender performance that is unlike something he has ever brought to the screen that both works to his strengths comedically but also we see parts of his dramatic heart shine through in ways that haven’t been brought to the big screen in this kind of way. He I still think gives his all time best performance here and I would love to see more roles like this given to him as he is so so good when he gets parts like this. Nick again is also so strong in the co lead role of a struggling musician I don’t want him getting overlooked either but it is very much the performance from Rudd that walks away with the film. 

Lastly, Power Ballad Is an emotionally powerful film that speaks from the heart and delivers a powerhouse of tender moments that will stay with you all year! Paul Rudd delivers a sensational turn that is among the best work of his career and John Carney delivers once again another astonishing heartfelt film about the power of music and the impact of ones art has on another’s life regardless of how big or small that person may feel it will make ripples in their life and this film greatly shows that, Power Ballad is sensational! I recommend anyone who follows this directors filmography will love this film as his entire body of work surrounds music and this film is no different I feel the need to have to tell people to seek this film out or else no one will know about it see this on the big screen if you can.  

This film is about a small Time wedding band singer who bumps into a world famous singer and when they are throwing ideas around for a song he takes this wedding singer’ song and releases it as if it was his own and never credits him and the whirlwind of craziness ensue 

Rated R : Some Drug Use|Language Throughout

Paul Rudd : This is his finest hour as an actor! I have been following his career as a performer since the early 2000’s from his raunchy comedies with Seth Rogen and into his big franchise films like the Ant-Man films he has popped up here and there in small dramatic roles like Perks Of Being A Wallflower or the comedic offbeat film Friendship that I thought was just fantastic. He always is on point with his comedic chops but there is a sincerity to him under the surface you can tell that is aching to just come out. Here he finally puts his heart on full display with his role in Power Ballad a role that just works tremendously well to his strengths as he is still able to give that signature Paul Rudd wit we have come to love from his previous roles but still able to explore new emotional sides to him that we have not seen him tap into before. He plays this wedding singer that you can tell his vibrating full of ideas creatively he wants to express but unfortunately feels so limited by his resources around him that let him do these things. As the film begins we see him playing an original piece and he gets instantly shut down for even trying something a little different from the setlist they usually do and then when we see him meet the Nick Jonas character we see that he feels in his element because someone is finally encouraging that spark he has been trying to put more effort into. But when his creative expression gets taken advantage of it feels so grossly inappropriate and he feels so used in a way that makes him at first feel utterly shocked someone would take something that to him or any artist really is very personal and intimate and try to make it their own as they can’t relate to that art as they themselves never built it but is just exploiting it for their own success. Paul Rudd goes through a many amount of emotional peaks and valleys from as I mentioned shock, denial, then came the anger where he just starts spiralling totally out of control and lashing out on the ones that were his support system and because of that emotional embarrassment  he feels the need to have to get a direct answer from the person that wronged him so he can finally be at peace. When we see Rudd go through the motions of this all their is so much he is taking on and you feel every ounce of that emotion as it is so telling in his eyes and voice you can see the pain the sorrow the sadness behind those eyes of his and he is tremendous and being able to present it in a way that feels so raw and genuine. When we see him finally confront the singer he has no want for fame or any of the materialistic  things but the fact he just wanted the truth so he knows he can rest easy knowing that he himself knew he wasn’t going crazy and that all of this emotional stress was not for nothing. Paul is able to show how frustrating it is a creative to be wronged and not credited for ones work and how that really can mentally take a toll on your brain and the way it impacts those around you in a very big way. As I mentioned he was so hopeful in the first 30 minutes but as this whole drama goes on he starts going on a very tough journey but he learns so much about himself as a person and the way he can be at peace with his art though moving forward and knowing that sure he may not be super famous but the little life he carved out for himself is enough to fill his cup. Paul has a great arc that goes through hell but he is able to as I mentioned go through a full spectrum of emotions that we the audience have not seen him dig so deep into his soul life this before and he bears his heart on the screen in a way that genuinely moved me. Anyone that has been creative in any aspect of their life if its writing, film, music can to a extent relate to the creative frustration he feels so the audience has a direct link to him and the viewer can see themselves so much in this character I think Paul delivered a sensational role that is truly the best work of his career! He should take on more roles like this I do love though that his body of work is so vast that it is not just one type of role he plays he loves taking on roles that are sure fun but challenge him and this is the kind of role that I feel will be talked about for the rest of his career he is tremendous at bringing this creatively stunted wedding singer to the big screen with a emotionally charged heart that will move you to tears Paul Rudd is terrific! 

John Carney : Carney has again crafted another beautiful film about the impact of Music! Now I have loved his filmmaking style since 2006 when he came on the scene with his tender and intimate film Once which changed my brain chemistry and truly opened my eyes to independent music films. As he loves showing the way that music can touch ones life and make a profound impact on it if its Once, Sing Street or even Begin Again he just loves telling great narratives through the genre of Music which I freaking love. He this time shows the intense and complicated  relationship between artist and the art they themselves craft and how if not getting proper credit can change everything. I love the fact he shows the contrast between both of their lives and how they see themselves very differently and sure Nick Jonas’s character have tons of money and success is nice but if he can’t speak his mind creatively nothing will satisfy him and keep him stuck and then you have Paul who has very little but knows he can do so much more but does not have the means to be able to have that a reality. So when they finally cross paths and he takes advantage of Paul in a creative sense their is this great focus on how it can ruin a person’s view of themselves creatively after that makes them not want to sing another song and become so angry because they never got that break in life and it could of changed their entire life for who the other person is just a throwaway thing is world changing for the other. John Carney explores these two people’s lives in a really well done way that shows how tortured creatively they are and how they both view themselves when it comes to art. I love the journey he brings the viewer on with Paul’s character and how he goes through so many stages of emotions and by the final act their is this incredibly moving part where he comes to peace with the life he has and I think their is so much the viewer can take away and learn from this film. At the same time he is never repeating other films he has done he keeps finding new ways to explore the complicated relationship that is music and how it is never simple and presenting these relatable characters to the screen with amazing music that plays as the heartbeat of their respected films and John Carney has once again crafted another modern masterpiece with Power Ballad that is both relatable with artists, and also a moving story about art that truly is profound and I think one of the best films he has brought to the big screen. I love that he never does a film each year but waits a while until he knows he has a genuinely strong idea that is worth pursuing and then knocks it out of the park Carney crafts another truly great film that I hope is not overlooked as this is a brilliant piece of filmmaking and he once again gives another astonishing film with such great direction.  

Obsession 

This film is one of the most multi layered and truly thought provoking films of the year! Now I remember when this went to the festival in Toronto last year and it made its world premiere. Since then it has had a quiet release in May and has taken the Internet by storm and word of mouth has spread like wildfire in terms of this films’s success and growing popularity. Curry Baker has crafted a film that is not your traditional cookie cutter horror film it is a genre film that takes on the topic of Consent, mens view of woman in romantic ways and how they go about it when they desire them and it shown through the lens of a thriller like lens that makes for a very striking result. Obsession is a film that has such solid performances but the one specific performance everyone has taken away is the Star making performance from Inde Navarrette who gives an all timer performance in terms of leading performances from this type of genre film she blew me away and chews up each scene she is in. She is monumental and a force to be reckoned with as a whole Obsession is one of the strongest most originally compelling films of the year that is bound to be among so many people’s favourites of the year when best of lists are made in December and I can understand wide Obsession is terrific from top to bottom. 

Firstly, This film has so much to dissect and analyze that I wanna talk about. The film is yes shown through the lens of a thriller but it is at it’s core about the view on how men treat woman when it comes to their bodies and their ideology with love in the modern dating world and the toxic aspect of that. The film has you really sit with the ideas of what is being said as their are two ways people will view this story either that the girl is psychotic and the guy was within every right to tell her that her ways of being fixated on him has gone to far or you see him as the antagonist due to how he went about approaching his feelings towards her that can be viewed as incredibly problematic. The film tackles the intense passion of desire and what happens when you’re in love with the idea of what someone presents but not the person themself. The film talks on a grand scale about if he went about expressing his feelings the right way sure it may of felt like an awkward conversation but that is the healthier way to go about it. The main character we follow instead takes it upon himself to use what is essentially a spell to have her want him in a very strong way that when she does it he enjoys this fantasy he has painted in his brain for so long but once it gets “creepy” and borderline scary in his eyes he starts withdrawing from the relationship but as the viewer you are confused because isn’t that what he quite literally asked for a girl to be utterly obsessed with him? And when she becomes that very thing that he asked for it he rejects it because he enjoys her for a while yes but he never as we learn genuinely cared for who she was as a person he wanted her for what she had not for what she is on an emotional level. I do feel that is the important takeaway because so many will be yes quick to judgment and say oh no she was psychotic and he was within his right to label her as so but if you look at it from her perspective the whole concept of what he is doing is essentially non consensually getting her to have these intense feelings about him against her will so nothing is ever really her choice it is forced onto her. The film deeply delves as I have mentioned into the emotional minefield that is the face of idolizing someone for what they present at surface level but never really wanting to be with them and support them as a person. As I picked up on it he enjoyed the emotional high it gave him finally getting what he wanted yes but he could of went about it in a healthy way that benefited both parties but by doing what he did not only is he forcing her against her will it is an entirely selfish act on his part that says more about his intentions and who he is as a person then it ever does about her. I think this is such an important film for people to watch especially if your in your early to mid 20’s about the fantasy of what people think love is and the entire topic of desire as Curry Barker has crafted a film that is so complex and rich with subtext that this film will be deconstructed for years as I love that the internet and people are responding so strongly of the heavy meaning that is being spoken about within the film and sparking great online discussions. The themes of love, idolization and consent is greatly touched upon in ways that is essential for people to learn from as Horror and thrillers are one of the best genres that give fantastic social commentary on todays important topics I find and Obsession has some of the most compelling writing and storytelling I have seen that will for me at least rank among some of the best of the year as their is so much to take from this story. 

Secondly, The performances from the whole cast is great but we all know who the stand out that has the internet ablaze is Inde Navarrette who presents one of the most powerful star making performances of the year! Now I will say I had not been familiar with her work prior to this film as I had known of her work on the streaming series 13 reasons why but that was my extent of her work I knew. She will be getting so many offers after the success of this film and not just because it is a well done film but her role itself is brilliantly executed as this is a performance that in many other hands could of been one note and annoying very fast but she accessed it in a way that felt so layered and explored so many spectrums of the internal conflict going on within her character. She steals every single scene she is in and makes you unable to look away from what she is delivering to the screen she has such a heartbreaking performance in so many ways that has you feel for her as she struggles to grasp a hold of her authentic self slipping away Inde Navarrete delivers a sensational turn that will be among one of the greatest of the genre. Michael Johnston gives a terrific turn as well as someone that at first feels he has control over her actions and the situation but as the film progresses we see he has no idea what he has done to her and the way he reacts to the situation is essential to how us the viewer view his moral ethics about her. Johnston presents what is essentially the “nice guy” persona but is in my mind a wolf in sheep’s clothing and we see those layered peeled back further and further and the way he presents that conflict to the screen was brilliantly done and his performance is truly tremendous and should be equally as applauded due to the complicated morally grey area his character operates in and he had to do it justice without being judgmental of his character. Johnston is tremendous and delivers such authentic emotional depth that is felt in each frame. Everyone else is truly terrific but it is very much the central performance from Inde Navarrette that walks away with the film in terms of the performances. 

Lastly, Obsession is one of the finest films of the year that has an incredible screenplay with rich depth that I would go as far as saying it feels like the 2020’s version of Get Out. What I mean by that is when that film came out so many were quick to call it a “horror” film but it is not a traditional horror film by any means that film was so impactful because it discussed the topic of race in America at that current moment in time and it hit so many people in a very real way. This I feel is very much similar in story structure to a Jordan Peele film and how it has something to say under the surface of a thriller and Curry Baker has done a phenomenal job at analyzing toxic love and magnifying it with a truly sensational performance from Inde Navarrette who dominates the screen in this role Obsession to many is a “horror film” but in my view point yes it is a horror film but the real horror is the way that Curry Baker executes the nice guy persona and shows what happens when they have ill intent that to me is the true Horror of the film. Obsession is one of the best films of the year and truly unique in its storytelling and tone that will linger with so many after it is over. 

This film centres around a guy that makes a wish that his crush was utterly obsessed with him and after he does that lets just say he gets what he asked for 

Rated R : Grisly Images|Brief Graphic Nudity|Pervasive Language|Sexual Content|Strong Bloody Violence

Inde Navarrette : Inde gives one of the finest performances of the genre with her turn in this film! Now she has been very well known on the small screen for her work in 13 Reason’s why but has not really made a transition to the silver screen until now. The layers that are peeled back about her character and the emotional complexity of her heart is staggering. As she is this very laid back person that gets along with everyone in the room she captures a very specific personality type that most to anyone can relate to having a friend like this and so the character itself is very much rooted in truth. Their is that friend people either have thought of or entertained the idea of more then a friend but never really acted on those thoughts and which that person is liked by the entire friend group and lights the room up by simply entering it. That is how Nikki is looked at through the first 20 minutes and you can’t help but be drawn to how she is presenting this character onscreen as she is simply magnetic and the flow of her emotional dialogue just rolls off her so naturally. When the film does switch up though and she essentially becomes a prisoner within her own body that is when we see her brain kind of switch into this alternate version of what Nikki is and how she presents herself going forward is more of a false truth of what she stands for. Inde has this constant need to feel validated by Bear in the film and her brain chemistry is solely focused on wanting to be seen by him and her actions that he deems is across the line or downright weird she views with a totally separate lens as she thinks everything she does for him is out of love and sheer devotion to him. So their is this really opposite way of what they view as appropriate ways of showing affection and in the beginning its all fun for her because he is presenting that love back to her but as he grows tired of her he starts rejecting her affection and you can see the mental strain it takes on her and Inde really in the second and final act of the film shows such a terrifyingly heartbreaking side to her that just shines through the frame in such a tremendous way that leaves you rattled. You can see her heart in conflict with her brain as she just wants to feel that she is being acknowledged but as I also mentioned she is very much is a prisoner within her own body and those cracks of her real self start to come out more and more and its horrifying and you can see her true self trying to come out but gets suffocated due to what he has done to her. Inde walks a tough line as so many other actors would of just gone knee deep in the campy way of presenting this character and just resort to a very cartoonish take on it but Inde knows exactly the emotional requirements needed to best execute this character without her feeling one note or repetitive in any way. She was able to go through so many levels of emotional tenderness while allowing herself to present it in a very real way that just vibrates off the screen the amount of pain and suffering in her tone just breaks your heart and Inde Navarrette delivers a performance that I can easily see going into the hall of fame of all time great performances from this genre. She will be Huge after the success of this film as she is the driving force of the film in terms of performance and she commits to each single frame and just devours every second of this role she is sensational and truly is one of the strongest performances of the year for sure Inde is sensational in what will become a legendary performance when we look back on this film in a couple years from now she is truly terrific and brilliantly heartbreaking. 

Curry Barker : This guy has such a bright future ahead of him! Now he like a good handful of filmmakers in the last couple years has carved a name for himself from YouTube and gone on now to make a huge impression within the industry and sent shock waves due to his incredible work on Obsession. Now the only other filmmaker that is getting as much attention as him at the moment that also has made a genre film is Kane Parsons due to their age in their 20’s and they came up around the same time as content creators on the same platform making very successful debut films. Now what is so damn good about what Curry Barker has done with how he went about telling this story was he never complicated the narrative he does not bog down the film in heavy plot points he keeps it very simple and to the point. He takes a premise as simple as a guy wanting to tell a girl his feelings and he then he puts his original spin on what that would look like their is a ton of deep rooted themes and messages woven into the narrative but he does not try to achieve a million things he at the core of it is just trying to entertain the audience while giving them something to walk away with that can truly start conversations and he achieved that and so much more. He does not want to try to replicate others that came before him but create his own distinctive style which I respect so much as I have voiced already people have called this a “horror” it more is in my viewpoint a psychological thriller with deep rooted themes of consent but at the same time the horror landscape is so vast it can also fall under the umbrella of elevated horror due to its non traditional execution of the material. Curry captures such rich themes while also creating such a fantastic amount of lore so if he ever wanted to revisit this world he can expand upon it or leave it as a total original piece he was able to accomplish both things in the way he went about planting those seeds of his own story. The film is tremendously written as I have mentioned to a great extent already but the way he captures tone and sheer emotional uncertainty was great as you never knew where the story was going if it was going to switch up or rattle the audience the next he constantly keeps the audience on their toes and has them guessing where this film will end and having them truly locked into the characters arcs and what the eventual outcome will be. Curry Barker has demonstrated amazingly well that even with less then a million dollars he can wield a story to the screen that is well structured, has great pacing, fantastic tone and depth and scares that don’t feel cheap but genuinely are effective. Regardless of what he does next everyone’s eyes are on him to see what his next creative move is and for good reason he is a breath of fresh air to the film landscape and I cannot wait to see what he does next all I do know is I will be there opening night truly amazing direction and outstanding vision from Curry Barker. 

The Drama 

This film is one of the most powerful and important films A24 has ever made! Now when I heard this was in production a while ago I was so excited to see what the result would be as Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are among some of the hardest working actors together and to see their first onscreen collaboration together I felt would be something truly special and it did not disappoint. This film has some very hot topics that it discusses that is bound to spark heavy discussion told through the framework of a relationship that is being tested due to the strain that is on it from personal secrets. The drama is a film I feel will only age better as time goes on and people see how incredibly well structured and thought provoking the message and tone is executed. The film will shock and amaze you if it’s from the plot or the great central performances this is one to see on the big screen with a packed house. 

Firstly, Their is so much about this film I wanna discuss so I am just going to jump right in. Now something I feel I need to put out there is this is not like some rom com that is in the same vein of ones we have seen in the early 2000’s as some people felt mislead to believe that was the creative avenue this film was going for and that is not the case at all. When I saw the trailer for this film i felt their was some very serious dark undertones or themes that were going to be discussed not once did it give Drew Barrymore romance film vibes at all and I hope people don’t trash the film for feeling like the marketing led them astray. As it seemed very clear within the posters and the entire promotional run that this is not your traditional romance film sure it is surrounding a couple and their relationship but it is not a cookie cutter film in the slightest. Now the film discusses very heavy topics such as gun control, school shooting and deep rooted unsolved trauma and in todays political climate I can see why so many have been divided on their feelings on this film but they are very big concerns and they need to be discussed they cannot be just swept under the rug and pretend like this does not go on. As the film does not take on the topic lightly it charges it head on and shows the implications it would have on someones mental health if they had those thoughts on causing a mass shooting but never acting on it. The way it is handled is with such care and respect as well they Bring up the question would you look at someone differently or reevaluate your relationship with someone due to their mind once being in such a dark place but since it happened so long ago and their no longer that person can you still see them for the same person you thought they were before learning that information. The film raises some very big things and the way they show it through the lens of a couple that is about to get married but this information throws everything into question and The film shows how someone has evolved to be better then their dark past but once that ashamed moment of Sinister thoughts is brought to life they essentially have to revisit that dark part of their life and be totally judged for it even though they beg the people around them to not let it be a defining moment of their life. The film does not take sides of what is right and what is wrong they show arguments on both angles of the conversation and let the audience come to that conclusion on their own. I love how in such a divided time that a filmmaker was able to take this on and present it in brutal truth and is the film divisive oh for sure but the fact of the matter is the impact of this film was to spark conversation on this very real issue that surrounds America and that is what is happening because of the film that people are having those tough discussions so the film I would say was very effective with its intent on its audiences. The film has romance and shows the way they fell in love and then how they go about dealing with this when it effects their relationship greatly the way this film is structured and written is as impactful and important as Alex Garland’s Civil War and I think it stands next to that film as one of the most important films A24 has ever put out. Just like how Civil War divided audience but has since aged better as time has gone on I think this film will have the same kind of shelf live. 

Secondly, The performances from its two main leads Robert Pattinson and Zendaya are magnificent! Both of these actors are at the top of their game in terms of film choices and they are some of the hardest working actors of their generation so seeing them paired together was so exciting to see how they would work opposite of one another. Pattinson delivers this very emotionally confused and quiet performance of someone that is trying to piece everything in his brain for it to make sense all the while he is dealing with a whirlpool of emotions that he is trying to sort out on his own and I think it is one of his best performances he has brought to the screen. Zendaya I would say gives her second best performance next to her work in Challengers here as she goes through the whole spectrum of emotions and she is so fragile but also strong and she plays the character with someone that just wants to be loved for who they are now and not be judged for their past actions. Both of them give some of the greatest work of their respected careers and they are truly sensational and shout out to Alana Hamm for doing a great job at being one of cinemas best despised characters in recent memory she also is terrific but I feel won’t get as much air time as it’s two leads. Everyone in the film is terrific but the film rests solely on its leads and they do not disappoint. 

Lastly, The Drama is one of the best films of the year I am going to say it because I see myself talking about this film all year for the way I felt watching it and also just recommending to people it will for sure fall somewhere on my top 10 of the year. This film is masterfully acted, brilliantly written and brings a bi spotlight on very important issues that need to be talked about and the Drama has great twits and turns you never see coming while Also never talking down to the audience and I give massive credit to a24 for letting such a heavy political film be made because I could not see any other big studio take this on and I think again this film will age better and better with time The Drama is truly outstanding.  

This film centres around A couple that is about to get married but when they find out a secret from their past it throws everything into the air, 

Rated R : sexual content, some violent/bloody images, language throughout, and brief drug use. Sex & Nudity

Zendaya : Zendaya gives one of the best performances of her career with her work on this film! Now it would be my favourite if Challengers was not here but it is a compliment to her talents that she has such a rich body of work that its hard to pick that is a good problem to have. She plays a emotionally complex person that has buried a dark secret for a Long time and when socializing she reveals that she at one point was heavily considering shooting up a school and got very close to doing it but backed out at the last moment and when she revels this information the response from everyone is shock, denial and then builds up over to anger and her partner played by Pattinson is more in the mindset of trying to make sense of it all but I will discuss his emotional journey later. Zendaya plays this role very carefully as she has such a fragile heart and she wants people to see the fact she is better now shows that she is not that person anymore and regardless they hang her up on this and it alters how people interact with her and think of her going forward and she hates every moment of it as she does not want it to define who she is. Was it a terrible lapse in judgment yes but she knows it was wrong to think it but despite her explaining her feelings over and over it just makes it worse for herself as she drives the people closest to her away and it creates a huge strain on her relationship. Because we as the viewer are thinking the same things the people around her do we know her really and is she mentally sound now or is that a lie? It goes back and forth trying to explain both sides of that coin and it results in terrific emotional rawness for Zendaya to delve into and show aspects of her range as an actor we haven’t seen much from her. You can see how embarrassed she feels and how she could fall apart to the brink of tears within seconds if someone looks at her any longer with a judgmental stare. Zendaya is truly terrific baring her soul onscreen and digging into deep aspects of herself that are so tender to give this character the proper justice it deserves and it also just makes the performance that more authentic. Zendaya feels every line and springs it to life with such honesty that her delivery has such impact and she also can tell the audience so much without saying much either she truly blew me away in this film and what a great way to start her massive year ahead of her. I know she has more projects coming out this year but I can say with confidence that this performance will remain my favourite of hers by the end of the year out of the work she releases this year. Zendaya is magnetic and emotionally extraordinary. 

Robert Pattinson : Pattinson is far more louder in terms of his performance and I loved each second of it. Now Zendaya is more pulled back he is the more emotionally louder one out of the two and that never really happens usually Pattinson is more reserved but here he speaks his mind which was a nice change of pace. Pattinson I cannot stress enough is one of the greatest actors of his generation and people in 20-25 years from now will look back and see how incredible his body of work he has build up truly is. Here he plays a loving man that is about to get married when his entire relationship is thrown into hell. At first he is as I mentioned like the rest he is in shock at what he is hearing he actually thought it was a joke cause their is no way that it could be true which is when the denial sets in and then confusion, anger and acceptance he goes through so many spectrums of emotions and we see him hit each single one so strongly. The performance never felt over the top and cartoony but it was emotionally loud in a way that felt grounded and realistic. Pattinson wants to be there for his partner though this tough time for them and not be judgmental when they need them more then ever but he does his best to hide his real thoughts on the matter but the more he hides and ignores his emotions about it the more that it bleeds out of him in ways he didn’t want to. He becomes paranoid, has odd like visions starts seeing things that bother him in his day to day and it gets to a point where he can’t socialize with anyone without feeling totally emotionally compromised and overwhelmed.  Pattinson wears his heart on his sleeve and commands the screen with such visceral emotional realness that vibrates in each frame he is in. You see how he wants to be the loving understanding partner but the moment she told him that secret of hers without thinking about it the more he sat with it the more uneasy he felt about the fact he does not know her at all but he is doing his best to be there for her and not make it about him but he cannot help but spiral. Pattinson showcases a whirlwind of emotional vulnerability in his performance that I would say ranks among some of his best work of his career. He is magnetic onscreen and the performance is so greatly executed by him with such great exploration him and Zendaya also have such great chemistry and he can say so much like Zendaya in the quite moments but doing so little you can see the pain weighing on his shoulders as the story progresses and eventually he breaks down as he can’t carry all that weight anymore. He is truly amazing once again showcasing another strong performance that is truly terrific Pattinson shines amazingly in this film! 

Kirstoffer Borgili : Borgili captures such an incredibly important topic so tenderly onscreen! Now I have yet to see the amazing breakout film that is Dream Scenario but I know how highly respected that film of his is and he splashed onto the scene with such a distinctive flare that made him one to watch. Here he showcases the importance of gun violence told through the lens of a relationship. He talks about the delicate topic of gun violence in America and how the mental health with itself can impact a relationship and those around them. It is as I mentioned earlier a very hot topic that is quite sensitive to many which is the reason why this film has been plagued with “controversy” slapped on it. Now to be fair yes it is a sensitive and ongoing issue in America but it is something we should have deep conversations about so their can be ways to fixing the issue if we simply just ignore it and pretend it never goes on their will be zero progress made and by having this be such a big talking point of the film it forces the audience to have to confront these topics head on and if it makes them uncomfortable  that is the point. He is never disrespectful when discussing it but he is driving to show the glaring issue about it though and huge props to him as many would not dare touch this kind of topic in the polarizing political time we are in at the moment but I do see his vision of what he was trying to go for by tackling these themes. He wanted to ask the question if someone had these really dark thoughts and was so close to acting on them but didn’t and has since then become a better person should they still be looked down upon or should we demonize them still for even the thought of entertaining those ideas. It isn’t a easy question to pounder and I like that though it has started so much online discussion which was the point of all of this and it is not a traditional romance film but to be fair has A24 ever made a cookie cutter romance film? I like that he makes this really multi layered film about relationship strain and  having to deal with mental health  with having truly dark thoughts like mass shootings. I think the longer the time passes the more people will chip away at this film and see how smartly written it is and how amazingly well structured the tone is and it truly is a great think piece while capturing some of the most authentic and emotionally honest performances of the year through Pattinson and Zendaya. Kristoffer delivers such a tremendous film that has no issue asking big questions and you don’t need to have all the answers he wants to leave the questions on the table and have the viewer figure it out for themselves and I love that truly one of the smartest written and directed films of the year.