Tag: 2020

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Movie Review

Centigrade (2020) Movie Review

Centigrade – ABC Film Challenge – Thriller – C – Centigrade – Movie Review

Centigrade – ABC Film Challenge – Thriller – C – Centigrade - Movie Review

Director: Brendan Walsh

Writer: Daley Nixon, Brandan Walsh (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A married couple find themselves trapped in their frozen vehicle after a blizzard and struggle to survive amid plunging temperatures and unforeseen obstacles.

Runtime: 1 Hour 29 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Centigrade starts when author Naomi (Rodriguez) and her husband Matt (Piazza) find themselves snowed in their car. They have no way to communicate with the outside world and a limited set of resources. The pair decide to wait it out in the car, however, the days tick by and nobody has found them.

As the day continues to tick by, the challenges become even more difficult. Naomi ends up having her baby and the conditions continue to get worse.

Verdict on Centigrade

Centigrade is a thriller based on a true story following an author on a book tour getting frozen in with her husband. They try get find help, however, things get more complicated as they face different challenges.

This is a real slow movie, considering it is already a short movie. It uses the true story to show the difficult situation they find themselves in. However, nothing much happens, a few arguments and the typical panic, but it never feels like a true edge-of-the-seat survivor thriller. It plods along at a painfully slow pace, where nobody tries to do anything to escape.

Final Thoughts –Centigrade is a slow uneventful movie.

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Movie Review

Wander Darkly (2020) Movie Review

Wander Darkly – Movie Review

Explore the emotional journey of Wander Darkly, a thought-provoking movie about love, trauma, and the power of memories.

Director: Tara Miele (Starving in Suburbia)

Writer: Tara Miele (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: New parents Adrienne and Matteo are forced to reckon with trauma amidst their troubled relationship. They must revisit the memories of their past and unravel haunting truths in order to face their uncertain future.

Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Wander Darkly starts when Adrienne (Miller) and Matteo (Luna) find their relationship on the rocks. They have just had a baby and struggle to find time for themselves. When they get a night out, they are involved in an accident.

Adrienne starts questioning her existence in the world, going on a strange journey to figure out her life. However, the connection to a more natural trauma continues to expose the challenging relationship the pair have.

Verdict on Wander Darkly

Wander Darkly is a mystery drama following a couple who find their relationship tested after an accident. It follows them as they try to understand their life and question whether they are still alive. All while jumping through a lifetime of memories they haven’t had yet.

This movie looks to challenge people’s understanding of the world. It looks at how we can doubt ourselves and question a lot of what happens around us. This helps the journey of uncertainty and dealing with trauma become easier to understand. While keeping us guessing as to what might be the truth about the accident. We get strong performances from the two leads in a movie that keeps us wanting to see more.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – Wander Darkly is a nice journey through the uncertainty of life.

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Movie Review

The Roads Not Taken (2020) Movie Review

The Roads Not Taken – Movie Review

Discover the thought-provoking movie 'The Roads Not Taken', directed by Sally Potter and starring Javier Bardem and Elle Fanning.

ABC Film Challenge – Female Directors – X (Xenia)

Director: Sally Potter (The Tango Lesson)

Writer: Sally Potter (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A day in the life of Leo and his daughter, Molly, as he floats through alternate lives he could have lived, leading Molly to wrestle with her own path as she considers her future.

Runtime: 1 Hour 25 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Roads Not Taken starts as Molly (Fanning) visits her father Leo (Bardem). He is suffering from a distortion of reality as he imagines different lives. Leo struggles with a normal day and Molly helps him manage everyday situations. He dreams of a more successful life where he is happy, as he battles depression and a sense of meaning.

Elsewhere, Molly finds herself questioning her role in his life, as she is losing out on the opportunities she created. However, she loves her father and wants to make sure he can remain safe, as his mentality is getting worse.

Verdict on The Roads Not Taken

The Roads Not Taken is a drama following a man who struggles with mental health problems. His mind creates more interesting realities, while his real-life sees him unable to achieve much without help from his family. It has been reflecting on his daughter who finds her life put on hold, while she is supporting him.

This movie shows the struggles people have with mental health. It shows how it can suck the life out of people and how it can hold back loved ones too. Everything we see in this movie highlights the battle which goes on in someone’s head. It proves it can become impossible to describe the feeling of the mindset going through the problems. This feels like a much more important drama than it comes off on the surface.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – The Roads Not Taken is a brilliant depiction of the challenges with mental health.

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Movie Review

Shadow in the Cloud (2020) Movie Review

Shadow in the Cloud – ABC Film Challenge – Female Directors – R (Roseanne Liang) – Shadow in the Cloud – Movie Review

Shadow in the Cloud

Director: Roseanne Liang

Writer: Max Landis, Roseanne Liang (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A female WWII pilot travelling with top secret documents on a B-17 Flying Fortress encounters an evil presence on board the flight.

Runtime: 1 Hour 21 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Shadow in the Cloud starts when female pilot Maude Garrett (Moretz) joins a fighter plane’s journey home. The crew aren’t happy about having a new body on board and reluctantly accept her on board. She needs to deliver a top-secret parcel ignoring anything the harassing men say.

However, the flight takes a dark turn when they come under attack from a mysterious creature. Maude must convince the men to believe her if any of them are going to make it out alive.

Verdict on Shadow in the Cloud

Shadow in the Cloud is an action horror movie following a female pilot trying to transport a secret parcel during World War II. However, her plane home comes under attack by a mysterious creature and the enemy. This leads to a battle to survive against the odds.

The movie is a tight 1 hour 20 minutes of pure suspense and action. It creates a contained environment, two real threats and twists in the story. For a large part of the movie, we only see and hear the events from Maude’s point of view. Chloe Grace Moretz is great in the movie, needing to spend a lot of the movie alone. This ends up being great entertainment throughout the movie.

Final Thoughts – Shadow in the Cloud is pure mad action-packed hour and 20 minutes.

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Movie Review

Miss Marx (2020) Movie Review

Miss Marx – ABC Film Challenge – Female Directors – M – Miss Marx – Movie Review

Miss Marx

Director: Susanna Nicchiarelli

Writer: Susanna Nicchiarelli (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Bright, intelligent, passionate and free, Eleanor is Karl Marx’s youngest daughter. Among the first women to link the themes of feminism and socialism, she takes part in the workers’ battles and fights for women’s rights and the abolition of child labor. In 1883 she meets Edward Aveling and her life is crushed by a passionate but tragic love story.

Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Miss Marx starts as Eleanor Marx (Garai) is speaking at her father Karl’s funeral. She wants to continue with his work and starts to understand the grander problem in life. Eleanor meets Edward Aveling (Kennedy) who also sees these problems and the two start their talks around the country.

However, as Eleanor tries to continue the work, she sees her own problems in the world. These go against everything her father taught and she starts to use her position to try and help change laws holding people back.

Verdict on Miss Marx

Miss Marx is a biographical drama following the youngest daughter of Karl Marx. It shows how she looked to escape the life she was meant to have to lead change in the world. She wouldn’t accept the living standards she is left with and leads a campaign to change everything.

This is told in a strange punk rock way using the music in the soundtrack a lot. However, going into the more important part of the movie, it shows us how someone used their position to try and change things. With this, we get to see how working conditions and equality standards could start getting talked about in a way others don’t want to accept at the time. This is a clever idea with a strong cast throughout.

Final Thoughts –Miss Marx gets to show an important message of someone taking a stand.

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Movie Review

How to Deter a Robber (2020) Movie Review

How to Deter a Robber – Movie Review

Discover the thrilling movie 'How to Deter a Robber' and join Madison and Jimmy as they become unlikely suspects in a small Wisconsin town.

ABC Film Challenge – Female Directors – H

Director: Maria Bissell

Writer: Maria Bissell (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: In a desolate town in Northern Wisconsin, a stubborn young woman and her naïve boyfriend face off against a pair of amateur burglars.

Runtime: 1 Hour 25 Minutes 

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: How to Deter a Robber starts when Madison (Marano) and Jimmy (Papac) discover somebody going through the neighbour’s home. They try to report it but find themselves becoming the prime suspects. However, when Madison’s Uncle Andy’s (Mulkey) house has also been robbed.

Madison and Jimmy are left to stay with Andy when they become the victims of the latest robbery. They must figure out how to stay ahead of the robbers before it is too late. However, they learn it is much more serious than they imagined.

Verdict on How to Deter a Robber

How to Deter a Robber is a crime comedy following a teenage couple who uncover a string of robberies near their home. However, they must prove who is behind them, or see themselves becoming the prime suspects.

This is an oddball comedy that gets the laughs from the awkward situations more than anything else. We have a Scooby Doo-like investigation, which soon turns more into trying to stay ahead of the robbers. It can work in places, but at other times it can feel like a spark is missing. The movie uses the setting well and shows how being a suspect in a crime can hold up the next stage of family life too.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – How to Deter a Robber uses the oddball feeling well throughout the film.

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Movie Review

The Craft Legacy (2020) Movie Review

The Craft Legacy – Movie Review

Discover the enchanting world of The Craft Legacy. Uncover the secrets of a group of teenage witches as they embark on a thrilling journey.

Director: Zoe Lister-Jones

Writer: Zoe Lister-Jones, Peter Filardi (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A group of high school students form a coven of witches.

Runtime: 1 Hour 37 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Craft Legacy starts when Lily (Spaeny) moves to a new town with her mum Helen (Monaghan). Helen is moving in with her new partner Adam (Duchovny) and her teenage boys. However, an awkward first day puts the spotlight on Lily.

Meanwhile, three witches Loudres (Luna), Frankie (Adlon) and Tabby (Simone) notice Lily has a power they want to complete their coven.

The four become close and start using their powers to deal with bullies. It begins with a bit of fun before they start seeing the changes that affect the people around them. However, deep down the girls must learn to control their powers, while learning secrets about the people around them.

Verdict on The Craft Legacy

The Craft Legacy is a fantasy horror following four high school girls who start dabbling in witchcraft. It begins harmlessly before things start getting out of control. However, their bond brings them closer than ever, despite the dangers they face.

This movie is a sequel to the popular cult favourite. It brings a new generation to the mix to learn about powers, with modern-day teenage problems. This keeps the basics the same, with the girls coming together as they grow up and learn about their powers. However, it doesn’t feel more than just an early entry into a high school drama with witches that would have been better suited for a television series. It could have flushed out the group’s characters more, as we only really learn about one of them.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – The Craft Legacy gives a basic modern take on the story.

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Movie Review

We Still Say Grace (2020) Movie Review

We Still Say Grace – Movie Review

Discover the suspenseful tale of 'We Still Say Grace'. Read our movie review of this gripping film that follows a religious family's encounter with three strangers.

Director: Brad Helmink, John Rauschelbach

Writer: Brad Helmink, John Rauschelbach (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: The teenage daughter of a religious fanatic attempts to escape her father’s delusional suicide pact after three strangers break down near her family’s remote rural compound.

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: We Still Say Grace starts when a religious figure Harold (Davison) prepares his family for their greater cause. His wife Betty (Zucker) and teenage daughters Maggie (Taylor) and Sarah (Volk). One day, they get visited by three strangers Fisher (Hart), Randy (Wolf) and Luke (Watson).

However, as the guys wait to fix their vehicle, Maggie starts having her head turned by the wider world she has never seen. Meanwhile, Harold continues trying to control the situation and ensure his family remains in line.

Verdict on We Still Say Grace

We Still Say Grace is a thriller following a religious family preparing to commit their right of passage. However, three strangers turn the heads of one of the daughters leading to a change in mentality and ruining the father’s plan.

This movie shows the dangers behind cult mentality and how it creates a desire to learn more, by controlling people. It creates an uneasy tension as one of the members of the family wants more from life after learning there is more. There is a feeling of dread as we wait to see what the father will do to protect his family. While, a threatening feeling when things don’t go to plan.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts – We Still Say Grace is filled with dread and uncertainty.

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Movie Review

Little Fish (2020) Movie Review

Little Fish – ABC Film Challenge – Romance – O (Olivia Cooke) – Little Fish – Movie Review 

Little Fish

Director: Chad Hartigan

Writer: Mattson Tomlin, Aja Gabel (Screenplay)

Cast

 

Plot: A couple fights to hold their relationship together as a memory loss virus spreads and threatens to erase the history of their love and courtship.  

Runtime: 1 Hour 41 Minutes  

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review 

Story: Little Fish starts when Emma (Cooke) and Jude (O’Connell) find their relationship tested in a way they could never imagine. The world has started seeing a mysterious virus spread that causes memory loss. While Emma isn’t affected by the illness, Jude starts showing the early signs.

As the world rushes to find a cure, they find themselves facing new problems. This is where their relationship starts getting tested as Emma does everything she can to support Jude. However, his memory is going and he can’t remember doing anything wrong.  

Verdict on Little Fish

Little Fish is a sci-fi drama following a couple dealing with the troubles of a virus spreading that causes memory loss. It follows them adapting to changes they must face as the world races for a cure. However, it isn’t going to be as easy as they imagined.

This is an interesting look at how a virus can cause problems in a relationship. It shows how quickly it can spread and see people’s lives turned upside down. However, it can come off a lot slower, as it deals with more an acceptance that life will change, rather than ever finding a solution. The performances are strong, even if the film does feel slightly slower than you would imagine. 

Final Thoughts – Little Fish is a slow-moving series of consequences of an unknown virus.