Tag: 2021

The Year the Film Was Released

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Movie Review

Social Media Monster (2021) Movie Review

Social Media Monster – Movie Review

Beware the Social Media Monster. Dive into their sinister world as they unleash chaos and destruction on a small town, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.

Director: Peter John Ross

Plot: Prepare to pass through the looking glass where one man without a job, who lives in his car, can leverage his phone and free WiFi at McDonalds to tear apart the fabric of people’s lives. And he can do it all without consequence.

Runtime: 1 Hour 28 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Verdict on Social Media Monster

Social Media Monster is a documentary following a person who claims to be a journalist and activist. They target a small town and attack anyone who doesn’t believe what they are saying. It follows them attacking a small town that has disagreed with what they wanted. This involves targeting councilmen, restaurant employees and fellow journalists.

It ends showing this person had been doing this for years targeting people from around America. However, this isn’t just about them, it is about how someone can fund this and how nothing seemed to prevent them. The documentary explores internet trolls and how they thrive from behind their keyboard.

This movie explores victims of troll behaviour online, and how they have their lives turned upside down. It causes a ripple effect in their lives, which could ruin their honest reputations. This explores how little can be done to stop them and how this one person caused so much trouble in their lives.

The scary side to this documentary is people involved have still been attacked, and people who promote it have been targeted too. It proves that trolls can become aggressive and look to cause harm towards people’s person life. The scariest thing about this movie is that if the person did something to somebody, this movie would become one of the most important ones out there.

Final Thoughts – Social Media Monster reveals the lasting effects of trolls online.

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Movie Review

The Last Letter From your Lover (2021) Movie Review

The Last Letter From Your Lover – ABC Film Challenge – Female Director – L – The Last Letter From your Love – Movie Review

Last Letter From your Lover

Director: Augustine Frizzell

Writer: Nick Payne, Esta Spalding, Jojo Moyes (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: A pair of interwoven stories set in the past and present follow an ambitious journalist determined to solve the mystery of a forbidden love affair at the center of a trove of secret love letters from 1965.

Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Last Letter From Your Lover starts when an ambitious journalist Ellie Haworth (Jones) is looking for her latest story. She learns of a series of secret letters from Jennifer Stirling (Woodley) in 1965. The more Ellie dives into the letters, the more secrets about this famous married woman she learns of.

When Ellie learns of the secret affair with Anthony O’Hare (Turner) she wants to learn more. This leads her down a rabbit hole of more letters, where she can put together a story of their love together.

Verdict on The Last Letter From Your Lover

The Last Letter From Your Lover is a romantic drama following a journalist trying to learn more about a secret love of a famous person. She gets access to her secret letters and starts looking for a new story, all while finding love herself.

This is a movie that gets to explore the fascination with forbidden love and wanting the perfect love. It shows us how the characters get caught up in the middle of trying to find a story. There isn’t too much to go on with the fact it was meant to be a private affair that leads into the bigger love story. It feels like Ellie is just filling her empty life with a love story between two wealthy people.

Final Thoughts – The Last Letter From Your Lover is more focused on the fantasy of love than understanding it.

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Movie Review

Best Sellers (2021) Movie Review

Best Sellers – ABC Film Challenge – Female Directors – B  – Best Sellers – Movie Review 

Best Sellers

Director: Lina Roessler

Writer: Anthony Grieco (Screenplay)

Cast

 

Plot: A cranky, retired author reluctantly embarks on a final book tour to help out a young publisher.  

Runtime: 1 Hour 42 Minutes  

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review 

Story: Best Sellers starts when struggling publisher Lucy Stanbridge (Plaza) turns to one of the oldest clients. However, Harris Shaw (Caine) hasn’t published anything in decades. After the two meet, Lucy finds out what the trouble is and now she must risk the whole business on his latest book.

Once an agreement is put in place, Lucy finds out that Harris is a lot more difficult than she could ever imagine. However, as they spend time together, Harris starts to show a different side to himself. This leads to Lucy trying to break the troubles her business is facing.  

Verdict on Best Sellers

Best Sellers is a comedy-drama following two people from completely different worlds coming together for a new book release. It sees a publicist with her back against the wall turning to one of her family’s oldest clients for a book. However, the journey is a lot more complicated than she imagined.

This is a story about never knowing the people who made the biggest impact on your life. It shows the unlikely friendship created between people from different generations. The idea is that someone could leave their voice behind for the next generation of authors and it is about making sure you get it out there for people to hear. Michael Caine and Aubrey Plaza are both wonderful throughout the movie. 

Final Thoughts –Best Sellers is an enjoyable story of an unlikely friendship.

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Movie Review

Boxing Day (2021) Movie Review

Boxing Day – ABC Film Challenge – Romance – B – Boxing Day – Movie Review

Boxing Day – ABC Film Challenge – Romance – B – Boxing Day - Movie Review

Director: Aml Ameen

Writer: Aml Ameen, Bruce Purnell (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Melvin, a British author living in America, who returns home to London for Christmas to introduce his American fiancée Lisa to his eccentric British-Caribbean family. Their relationship is put to the test as she discovers the world her fiancé has left behind.

Runtime: 1 Hour 49 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Boxing Day starts when author Melvin (Ameen) proposes to his girlfriend Lisa (King). His latest promotional work sees him returning to London, where he gets to invite Lisa to his estranged family.

However, things take a turn when Lisa learns that Melvin’s ex-girlfriend is a singer superstar Georgia (Pinnock). This leaves Lisa questioning everything, despite Melvin trying his best to be honest with her. Even if his family are covered in traditions Lisa is used to.

Verdict on Boxing Day

Boxing Day is a romantic comedy following an English author who returns home with his new fiancée. However, once he returns, his fiancée learns about how close his family is with his celebrity ex-girlfriend. We see how they look to overcome their problems and make love happen.

This is a fun romantic comedy that gets to explore the troubles in relationships. We get a typical series of problems when it comes to meeting family and loved ones. It uses a family tradition to make it possible and leaves us wondering how the relationship will end up going. We strong performances we get a fun movie.

Final Thoughts –Boxing Day is a fun and enjoyable romantic comedy.

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Movie Review

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021) Movie Review

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar – Movie Review

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

Director: Josh Greenbaum

Writer: Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Lifelong friends Barb and Star embark on the adventure of a lifetime when they decide to leave their small Midwestern town for the first time – ever.

Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar starts when lifelong friends Barb (Mumolo) and Star (Wiig) lose their jobs. They find everything they have is going away from them, while a friend suggests a holiday away. The two have never left their small town before and decide to risk it all.

Meanwhile, Edgar (Dornan) has been sent to Vista Del Mar to complete a terrorist revenge plan from Sharon Gordon Fisherman (Wiig). The two best friends start trying to get involved with the same man, leading to their first-ever fight. However, when they learn the truth, they must put their differences behind them to save the guests at the resorts.

Verdict on Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is a comedy following two lifelong friends on their first big holiday together. However, when they start trying to date the same guy, they find themselves fighting for the first time. Although they learn there is a bigger reason for them to be fighting back.

This is a comedy that gets to play into the odd idea of people who never managed to step outside their comfort zones. It gets to use the comedy ideas of being misunderstanding leading to everything going wrong. Elsewhere, we get to see things have a certain style that feels that if you don’t normally get, you might not click with all the comedy. It all ends up being odd and wacky but clicks for what it is trying to achieve.

Final Thoughts –Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar is an odd and wacky comedy.

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Movie Review

Operation Mincemeat (2021) Movie Review

Operation Mincemeat – Movie Review

Operation Mincemeat poster

Director: John Madden

Writer: Michelle Ashford (Screenplay)

Writer: Ben Macintyre (Book)

Cast

Plot: During WWII, two intelligence officers use a corpse and false papers to outwit German troops.

Runtime: 2 Hours 8 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Operation Mincemeat starts with two intelligence officers Charles Cholmondeley (MacFadyen) and Ewen Montagu (Firth) looking for their next plan to outwit the German troops. The mission sees the pair plant a dead body of a fallen soldier in a location the Germans will find it. It will have a letter planted on it with plans on where the next attack will happen.

As the pair look to get their operation done, they come across a few problems along the way. However, because of how farfetched it has become, it seems impossible to make up. The only question left is whether the Germans will fall for the trick.

Verdict on Operation Mincemeat

Operation Mincemeat is a war drama following the behind-the-scenes operation by the British to trick the Germans. It follows the two intelligence officers looking to make an elaborate plan work. As well as seeing how much risk was put on the mission if things didn’t work out.

Based on a true story, we get to see how this incredible story unfolded. Seeing how the men and women involved managed to pull off one of the great deceptions of all time. Everything it told well, however, seeing it play out isn’t as clever as it could be. There is a lot of one moment, leading to the next, rather than showing how we got there. With not much focus being placed on how the Germans would have read the letter. This is still an incredible story of thinking outside the box to change the results in the war.

We get a stacked cast too, with Colin Firth and Matthew Macfadyen taking centre stage. The supporting cast adds plenty to the movie, showing how things are starting to spiral out of control if things don’t come together.

Final Thoughts –Operation Mincemeat is an interesting story of real-life war events.

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Movie Review

Blue Bayou (2021) Movie Review

Blue Bayou – Movie Review

Blue Bayou

Director: Justin Chon

Writer: Justin Chon (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: As a Korean-American man raised in the Louisiana bayou works hard to make a life for his family, he must confront the ghosts of his past as he discovers that he could be deported from the only country he has ever called home.

Runtime: 1 Hour 57 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Blue Bayou starts as we meet tattoo artist Antonio LeBlanc (Chon) a Korean-American raised in Louisiana. He is married to Kathy (Vikander) and has a stepdaughter Jessie (Kowalske) with another one on the way. Antonio is trying to find a better career to support his family.

However, Antonio’s life faces a new stumbling block after he becomes a target Kathy’s ex-partner Ace (O’Brien). Antonio faces a difficult challenge to remain in America despite being in the country for most of his life following his adoption as a baby. He needs to fight to remain in the only place he has ever called home.

Verdict on Blue Bayou

Blue Bayou is a drama following a Korean-American with a family who finds his life turned upside down. He faces deportation from a vengeful ex of his wife and needs to find a way to keep his family together. However, he must decide which path he wants to follow, if he is to keep the life he built.

This is a drama showing us how easily the system in America can turn on people who have made a life there. It shows how difficult the system can be to fight and how one man can see his whole life taken away from him. Justin Chon gives us a fantastic movie written, directed and starring. This leaves us with heart breaking story concept that could change everything for a happy family.

Final Thoughts –Blue Bayou is a brilliant movie filled with heartache and pain.

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Movie Review

Hell Hath No Fury (2021) Movie Review

Hell Hath No Fury – ABC Film Challenge – Action – H – Hell Hath No Fury – Movie Review

Hell Hath No Fury

Director: Jesse V Johnson

Writer: Katharine Lee McEwan, Romain Serir (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: Branded a traitor by her countrymen, French national Marie DuJardin is rescued by American soldiers on one condition: to survive, she must lead them to a cache of gold hunted by the Nazis, the French resistance, and the Americans alike.

Runtime: 1 Hour 34 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Hell Hath No Fury starts in the aftermath of World War II. Marie (Bergman) is branded a traitor by her homeland of France for reluctantly helping the Nazis. Meanwhile, a group of American soldiers led by Major Maitland (Mandylor) look to take advantage of her situation by making her reveal the location of the gold hidden by the Nazis.

As the Americans search the graveyard, they find themselves facing competition from the French resistance and Nazis looking to claim back the gold they stole. Marie looks to take advantage of the people using her to get her own revenge on everyone who cost her everything during the war.

Verdict on Hell Hath No Fury

Hell Hath No Fury is an action war movie following three different sides in a post-war environment. We have Americans, the French and the Nazis hunting for gold. They find themselves in a standoff with a local woman branded a traitor, trapped in a graveyard for the gold they want.

This is a tight action movie that is happy to bring the three sides together in a bigger battle. The three sides battling over a small area shows how they can look to end their differences or let greed take over. It creates the shady side of war and what happens between the sides. When it comes to the action, nothing feels as big or fresh as it wants to be. It leaves you knowing where the movie will go pretty quickly.

Final Thoughts – Hell Hath No Fury is the standard contained action movie.

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Movie Review

The Boss Baby 2: Family Business (2021) Movie Review

The Boss Baby Family Business – Movie Review

Boss Baby

Director: Tom McGrath

Writer: Tom McGrath, Michael McCullers (Story)

Cast (Voice Talents)

  • Alec Baldwin (Glengarry Glen Ross)
  • James Marsden (Sonic the Hedgehog)
  • Amy Sedaris (Elf)
  • Ariana Greenblatt (Love and Monsters)
  • Jeff Goldblum (Jurassic Park)

Plot: The Templeton brothers have become adults and drifted away from each other, but a new boss baby with a cutting-edge approach is about to bring them together again – and inspire a new family business.

Runtime: 1 Hour 47 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: The Boss Baby Family Business starts as Tim and Ted have grown up, and Ted has become a successful businessman. While Tim has his own family being a stay-at-home parent. However, his youngest Tina has started showing signs of intelligence like her uncle Ted.

When Tina brings the brothers together, she recruits them in her mission to uncover the truth about her new teacher. Dr Armstrong seems to be pushing for the baby take over, as Ted and Tim go undercover in the school. Here, Tim gets closer to his oldest daughter Tabitha for the first time in years as the brothers look to solve the problem.

Verdict on The Boss Baby Family Business

The Boss Baby Family Business is an animated sequel. It takes the siblings back to their childhood age to help the next generation of the family. It sees the brothers needing to work together once again, despite their differences.

This movie brings together a couple of serious subjects. Them being, parental relationships and sibling relationships. When it comes to the villain plot, it almost becomes the second fiddle to the bigger stories going on in the movie.

This will end up getting everything it needs out of the casual audience. It is harmless fun that the younger audience should enjoy.

Final Thoughts – The Boss Baby Family Business is one for the younger audience to enjoy.