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Movie Review

Murder, Anyone? (2022) Movie Review

Murder, Anyone? – Movie Review

Murder, Anyone?

Director: James Cullen Bressack

Writer: Gordon Bressack (Screenplay)

Cast

  • Kristos Andrews (Battle for Pandora)
  • Galadriel Stineman (Until Dawn)
  • Maurice LaMarche (Futurama)
  • Charles M Howell IV
  • Carla Collins

Plot: Two playwrights, George and Charlie, are tasked with the challenge of creating the next “avant-garde, surrealistic, mind-bending neo-noir thriller”. As they write, the story comes to life in real-time. However, their own emotions and arguments also begin to manifest on film, creating sharp twists and turns that affect the entire movie. Filled with hilarity and chaos, Murder, Anyone? is a comedic play-within-a-play-within-a-movie that contemplates the complexities of language, art, theatre, film and more.

Runtime: 1 Hour 20 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Murder, Anyone? Starts as two playwrights George (LaMarche) and Charlie (Howell IV) are putting together their next play. The pair bring the characters to life, as we follow their writing process and creative changes.

Inside the play, we meet Bridgette (Stineman) and Cooper (Andrews) as they become the pawns in the writer’s hands. Each scene offers up a discussion about which direction the play should go.

Verdict on Murder, Anyone?

Murder Anyone? Is a comedy mystery taking us back behind the curtain to the creative process. It follows the two writers as they look to get their latest idea onto paper, leading to them trying to create twists and turns along the way. The pair discuss what they want to bring to the play and listen to both sides’ points of view.

This is a very clever comedy, that dives into the creative process. It shows us how characters and scenarios can be created and spiral out of control. Leading to a lot of fun as we see the different situations the characters find themselves in. throughout the process, we get wakey turns that don’t always make sense. Deep down, this seems to have a little dig at studio interference in movies and taking the writer and director’s creative visions away. It is a lot of fun and doesn’t hold back the laughs. The performances are strong too, with them needing to have the ability to do the ‘wink, wink, nudge nudge’ moments in the film.

Final Thoughts Murder, Anyone? Is a lot of fun and brings plenty of laughs.

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ABC Film Challenge

Argentina 1985 (2022) Movie Rob’s Review

ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nomination – A – Argentina 1985 – Movie Rob’s Pick

Argentina 1985

“The History was not made by guys like me.” – Julio César Strassera

Number of Times Seen – 1 (1 Feb 2023)

Brief Synopsis – Following the establishment of Argentina as a democracy in the mid-1980’s, two of the countries top lawyers are charged with prosecuting the military injustices committed by the previous regime and their military underlings.

My Take on it – fascinating idea that doesn’t work as well as one might hope despite still giving a clear idea of what was happening in Argentina during that time. The trial is done well, but it isn’t as animated as one might expect after watching Law & Order for decades or other similar procedurals on TV and in the Movies.

They do a great job showing the fear that everyone was under during the trial.  Not only were the witnesses scared to be tortured (again), but the families of the legal team and the men and women of the team themselves were under constant threat from those who supported the previous government. Unfortunately, this isn’t the kind of trial that could be shown any other way and this was the best choice of how to present it.  I definitely understand how and why this movie won Best Foreign language Film at the Golden Globes but unfortunately it looks (as of now) as if they will have to suffice with an Oscar nomination in that category since it is not the front-runner.

Recommended!

MovieRob’s Favorite Trivia – After winning the Golden Globe for best non-English language film, fellow actor Peter Lanzani revealed that Ricardo Darin used his “lucky charm” for awards ceremonies and told the cast and crew to think, “Don’t worry, we’re not going to win, we have no chance, we’re losers, be calm, we won’t have to make a speech, we won’t win.” (From IMDB)

Rating – Globe Worthy (7/10)

Categories
ABC Film Challenge

ABC Film Challenge – Oscar Nominations – A – A Star is Born (1954) Movie Recommendation

Director: George Cukor

Writer: Moss Hart (Screenplay) William A Wellman, Robert Carson (Story)

Starring: Judy Garland, James Mason, Jack Carson, Charles Bickford, Tommy Noonan, Lucy Marlow

Plot: A film star helps a young singer and actress find fame, even as age and alcoholism send his own career on a downward spiral.

Runtime: 2 Hours 34 Minutes