Dear Santa (2024) Film Review!

A young boy accidentally mixes up his spelling and sends his Christmas list to Satan instead of Santa.

Dear Santa is directed by Bobby Farrelly who by himself directed Champions (2023) and with his brother Peter Farrelly directed Dumb and Dumber (1994), There’s Something About Mary (1998), Osmosis Jones (2001) and many others. 

The only reason I’m even aware of the existence of Dear Santa is because someone on Twitter was complaining about Satan being in this movie and how it’s propaganda. Well Satan is definitely in it but let me tell you most people who decide to watch this will probably turn it off immediately before Satan even appears on screen. Because good lord this is one of the worst movies of the year. 

Look the whole idea of a kid accidentally sending a letter to Satan instead of Santa could have been funny, however the writing is some of the worst you will hear in a movie this year, it goes back and forth between jokes that are aimed for adults and jokes that are way too juvenile for adults. It’s an incredibly odd and out of place mishmash of nonsense that leads to none of the jokes landing. 

Jack Black should be excellent here but due to the writing he gives a terrible performance, Satan spends the whole movie making terrible jokes, being a Wish.com version of Beetlejuice and Black’s performance is just a dull take on Satan. The movie wants you to laugh at the antics going on here but doesn’t give any justification of why you should, this is all lazily done in the worst possible way. There’s scenes in this movie that had they actually been written decently could have been funny, but they go about as well as you would expect. 

The main character Liam Turner (played by Robert Timothy Smith) is a very nothing character, sure later on we learn about why he’s troubled but that is until halfway through the movie. Mind you Turner had not mentioned it up until that point, it’s such a whiplash of tone and kind of sums up the exact problem with this movie…who is this for? 

This most certainly isn’t for children given a lot of the raunchy humor (even some pedophillia jokes) and it’s not for adults given that juvenile humor is placed all over this movie. This honestly felt like it was trying to be Good Boys (2019) in some areas, I’m not even that huge on that movie but at the very least it was funny and actually pretty alright. There was at least a level understanding how to make your audience laugh and knew who their audience was. Dear Santa does absolutely none of that which leads it to be one of the worst movies of the year. 

Avoid this.

Dear Santa is available on Paramount+ 

Disgrace To Cinema F

Quick Review: Watchmen: Chapter II (2024)

Former heroes face threats. The Comedian is dead, Dr. Manhattan exiled to Mars, Ozymandias survived an attack and Rorschach is arrested.

Watchmen: Chapter II is directed by Brandon Vietti director of Superman: Doomsday (2007), Batman: Under the Red Hood (2010), Scooby-Doo! Wrestlemania Mystery (2014), Batman: Death in the Family (2020) and Watchmen: Chapter I (2024)

Much of what I said in my review for Chapter I can be applied here for Chapter II. It’s a very serviceable retelling of the Watchmen comics and much like the previous movie is decently fun and somewhat interesting. 

Also much like the previous movie the animation is what sticks out the most, there’s definitely some hiccups at times but for the most part the animation is consistent from the first part and does have some really great moments. The voice acting is fine enough here, Phil LaMarr is probably the standout as his narration gets your attention quite easily. Outside of LaMarr there really isn’t anything particularly special about the voice acting, it’s fine enough and gets the job done. 

This movie wraps things up from the previous movie and it’s done and told in an a competent way, the two parts together paint a very competently told way to tell the story of Watchmen it’s not a bad place to start for newcomers. There are parts where admittedly the movie does sort of feel rushed particularly towards the end which is an odd decision given how the pacing of the rest of the movie was balanced decently well. 

Overall not bad, but I don’t think I will ever come back to this movie nor its predecessor. 

Watchmen: Chapter II is available on all VOD platforms.

6/10 C+

Elevation (2024) Film Review!

Post-apocalyptic survivors find refuge in the Rocky Mountains to hide from giant, insect-like creatures that can’t live above 8,000 feet. However, when one needs life-saving supplies, they risk it all to venture into the danger zone.

Elevation is directed by George Nolfi director of The Adjustment Bureau (2011), Birth Of The Dragon (2016) and The Banker (2020).

Didn’t have a lot of expectations going into Elevation and well it’s exactly how you think it is if you simply watched the trailer. It’s a bare bones copy of A Quiet Place (2018) just with a little less horror and more action, so there really is not a whole lot to be said here. 

Anthony Mackie, Morena Baccarin and Maddie Hasson do a fine enough job here but due to the lacking script that’s filled with cliche character types, there’s no depth here to make their characters interesting or to bring the viewer in. It’s a huge problem that becomes incredibly noticeable by the middle section of the movie, where despite being only 90 minutes long you feel like you have learned absolutely nothing about these characters. 

The Rocky Mountains backdrop is beautiful at the very least and there was some potential to really mix it in with the story in such exciting ways, it’s just such a shame that the movie executes the story in such lackluster ways that are way too similar to a lot of post apocalyptic films. There’s never any risks or any sort of moment that could surprise the viewer, it’s all just cliches that you can see coming from a mile away. 

Despite that however I don’t think Elevation is a horrendous movie, the acting is fine enough, the camerawork has beautiful moments and the locations are often great. The movie just suffers from introducing an interesting premise and really not doing much else with it. 

Elevation is available on all VOD platforms.

4/10 D+

A Different Man (2024) Film Review!

An aspiring actor undergoes a radical medical procedure to drastically transform his appearance. However, his new dream face quickly turns into a nightmare as he becomes obsessed with reclaiming what was lost.

A Different Man is directed by Aaron Schimberg director of Go Down Death (2013) and Chained For Life (2018). 

A Different Man is brilliant, both in execution and how it uses the themes of exploitation and identity. Combine that with some of the most masterfully done performances of the year and you have something truly special. 

Sebastian Stan and Adam Pearson are both absolutely incredible here, for Stan this is a career best worthy performance. He starts out as this actor who is suffering from neurofibromatosis, the makeup done here is absolutely phenomenal and really does a fantastic job of capturing the frustration and pain that of the condition. Stan shows all of this through the makeup which just makes his performance all the more impressive, the next part of his performance comes in when he gains a cure and when Adam Pearson enters the film. Pearson is comfortable in his skin and is more well liked than Stan is which sends him into pure jealousy as well as bitterness, Stan plays this part so well and gives his characters Edward and Guy so much depth and we do get to see in the mind of someone incredibly jealous which is just fascinating. This is a performance I would love to see in the best actor conversation at the Oscars.

Adam Pearson is the best part of the film, the rest of the film is brilliant as I said before. But Pearson brings something truly incredible to the table, his character Oswald constantly one ups Guy mostly from self-confidence and just being charming, a good person and funny. It’s the traits any person loves, the two different personalities of Oswald and Guy setup some darkly humorous scenes and just completely capture how investing the film really is. What sold this film for me is when Adam Pearson sings “I Wanna Get Next To You” it’s not only the best moment of the film but one of the best of the year, this is the prime example of self-confidence that Oswald has going up there not caring what anyone says and starts singing. It’s such a brilliant scene that displays Pearson’s charm as an actor and truly makes me excited to see what he’s going to do next. Pearson deserves a best supporting actor nomination as this is truly a beautiful performance. 

The film’s writing is magnificent, as I said earlier there are moments where it’s darkly humorous and I’m happy to say those moments don’t take away from the more dramatic ones. If anything the humorous moments add to the dramatic ones, they create the many conversations the characters have with each other, the set up plenty of memorable moments between Guy and Oswald. The writing creates this contrast of the two giving us both perspectives and really giving the viewer so much information in such brilliant ways. 

The cinematography combined with the way New York is portrayed is absolutely beautiful, it’s very authentic from the people to the personalities it’s all there. The moments inside the bars are especially a nice touch, you have an ice cream truck blocking the ambulance it’s all there in this fun and quite investing picture. The film itself and its shots almost feel like you are digging through old photographs, maybe it’s because the way it’s shot, but I feel like at any moment I as the viewer want to be dragged into said old photograph and witness the event unfold. 

Finally Aaron Schimberg is such an excellent director, the way he creates this authentic world and creates these characters who tell a story on their own is so mesmerizing that you never want to look away. The script from Schimberg as I said before is masterfully done, almost immediately when the film begins you know you’re in for something truly special. The interactions these characters have is so down to earth and completely drags you in. 

Overall A Different Man is one of the best films of the year, it’s one of those films you are going to remember for a long time after viewing. I really can’t wait to see what Schimberg does next in his career. 

A Different Man is available on all VOD platforms.

10/10 A+

The Outrun (2024) Film Review!

After living life on the edge in London, Rona attempts to come to terms with her troubled past. She returns to the wild beauty of Scotland’s Orkney Islands where she grew up, hoping to heal.

The Outrun is directed by Nora Fingscheidt director of System Crasher (2019) and The Unforgivable (2021). 

The Outrun is one of those films where the more time you spend with it the more it connects with you as the viewer. Especially when you combine all of the elements that really make this heartbreaking yet hopeful painting. 

I’ve always said that Saoirse Ronan is one of the best actresses of her generation, no matter what role she’s given she is always able to turn into something fun, creative and just an absolute delight to watch. Her performance as Rona is no exception, she gives such a multilayered and heartbreaking performance that is so touching. It captures every part of the film so perfectly and really gives the film this raw touch that adds to the the film’s theme of the challenges to being on the road of recovery. This is an absolute career best worthy performance from Saoirse Ronan, she gives such authentic portrayal of someone going through alcoholism. You can see the many different emotions from Saoirse Ronan just from looking into her eyes, the quiet moments where she’s reflecting on her situation and finally the way she effortlessly nails the dialogue with her interactions with the rest of the cast truly makes this one of the best performances of the year. I hope this performance does not go ignored this award season. 

The cinematography from Yunus Roy Imer is absolutely gorgeous and some of the best I’ve seen this year. It shows off the location which is the Orkney Islands of Scotland, there’s tons of beaches, some towns and such that really complement the film incredibly well. When Rona wants to be alone you can find her near the beaches these are some of the film’s biggest moments, Rona is trying to move on but the past keeps coming back to haunt her. Seeing moments of her alone battling the past is incredibly investing and really puts into Rona’s mind, the filming makes sure to get every detail it can to really give the viewer the full picture of what is exactly going on. 

The film might seem like a simple road to recovery story, but the non-linear narrative and the challenges that Rona faces make this so much more raw and investing than a lot of other similar films. It’s a story that really shows the viewer the struggles and challenges of trying to recover, it’s nowhere near as easy as it sounds and The Outrun does a fantastic job of explaining that to the viewer. We see Rona go through so much, wanting to get better and trying to turn everything around.

The film is also hopeful especially during the final moments of the film we can see Rona feeling herself and hopeful, it’s an incredibly powerful ending that really connects with you especially given that we were on this journey with Rona throughout the film. It’s such a beautiful way to wrap up such a huge film. 

Overall The Outrun is one of the best films of the year, it’s one of the best portrayals of alcoholism and just a beautifully put together film. Give this one a watch if you haven’t. 

The Outrun is available on all VOD Platforms.

10/10 A+

The Wild Robot (2024) Film Review!

Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.

The Wild Robot is directed by Chris Sanders director of Lilo & Stitch (2002), How To Train Your Dragon (2010), The Croods (2013) and The Call Of The Wild (2020). 

The Wild Robot honestly surprised me, for a film that tells a very simple story it’s quite beautifully made plus told and actually powerful as well. The film is a huge crowd pleaser but also a film that really touches the heart in such beautiful ways. 

The voice cast are all fantastic, the standouts being Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal and Kit Connor.  Lupita Nyong’o who makes the lovable main character Roz come to life is truly fascinating. The viewer quickly grows attached to Roz due to just how much power Nyong’o puts into the performance, she brings this wonder to a character who is trying to learn new things and it really fits with the film’s whimsical atmosphere. She’s also able to capture the themes of parenthood, survival, kindness and coexistence in such beautiful ways throughout the film. There’s one particular moment that I’ll get to later that really sums up how excellent she really is here. 

Pedro Pascal voices Fink and I have to say for a character that at first comes off as a very standard mischievous fox character we see in a lot of media. Fink is actually quite well developed, sure there might not be any ground breaking character writing. But between Pascal’s voice acting and Fink’s bond with Roz he really does quickly connect with the viewer quickly much like Roz did. Plus admittedly there was a certain scene involving Fink that did make me tear up a bit. 

Kit Connor voices Brightbill an orphan runt Canada Goose that Roz takes care of, as the film progresses Brightbill becomes a really lovable character that you just want to root for. The one particular scene I mentioned earlier with Roz is when Roz is teaching Brightbill to fly in preparation for hibernation, while this montage plays “Kiss The Sky” by Maren Morris plays in the background and it’s quite honestly one of the best scenes from a film I’ve seen this year. It made me tear up and really summarizes the film’s theme of parenthood in a nutshell, it’s a huge showcase of Roz, Fink and Brightbill as characters and their bond. Brightbill really shines here and this montage is such a special transformation for him as a character. 

The animation is absolutely stunning, it compliments the film’s world incredibly well and captures the heartfelt atmosphere that is strongly present throughout the film. The little details of the trees and water are such a beautiful touch and capture the feel of an actual island, there’s so many shots here that are jaw dropping due to just how tremendous they really are. There’s this sense of scale throughout the film, like the film’s world is massive even though we are restricted to the island for a lot of the movie. There’s so much more to explore and this sense of wonder it gets you incredibly excited. 

Finally the film combines its themes masterfully, parenthood, survival, kindness and coexistence are all present throughout the film and not only are they shown through the characters actions but you can easily tell through the emotions as well. Blending all these themes together in such a heartwarming story was truly the best move and results many moments that bring the viewer to tears.

Overall The Wild Robot is a beautiful film that I haven’t stopped thinking about since I watched it. This is one that you absolutely should check out!

The Wild Robot is available on all VOD platforms.

10/10 A+

Conclave (2024) Film Review!

Cardinal Lawrence is tasked with one of the world’s most secretive and ancient events — participating in the selection of a new pope. Surrounded by powerful religious leaders in the halls of the Vatican, he soon uncovers a trail of deep secrets that could shake the very foundation of the Roman Catholic Church.

Conclave is directed by Edward Berger director of Jack (2014), All My Loving (2019), All Quiet On The Western Front (2022) and a few others. 

Conclave has a simple setup, the pope dies so Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (played by Ralph Fiennes) organizes a papal conclave to elect the next pope which leads to uncovering the secrets and scandals of each of the  candidates. The film has many twists and turns that I really got to say that I did not see coming and turns a straightforward thriller into a wild and thrilling ride. 

For starters the performances are all quite fantastic, even if a lot of the actors and actresses have limited screen time they still contribute to the film. Ralph Fiennes is no doubt the standout, his character Thomas Lawrence is who we follow throughout the film. Fiennes gives an incredible performance, he captures the atmosphere of the film very easily. Even the interactions he has with the rest of the cast is truly great and displays a lot of his excellent talent as an actor. The voting scenes are some of his biggest highlights, even when he’s just sitting there with a pen and piece of paper thinking about the current events of the film. You get the feel of his character and enter his mind, it’s some of the film’s most suspenseful moments and really reflects how incredible Fiennes work here really is (an absolute shoe in to be nominated for Best Actor this award season). 

Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini are all quite great here as well, Rossellini is not in the film that much but she does give a big scene that’s pretty important for the story being told. John Lithgow and Stanley Tucci overall just give very strong performances, much of what I said about Ralph Fiennes can be said about these two (although on a smaller scale for Lithgow since he’s not in it as much as Tucci) the interactions between Fiennes and these two are excellent especially backed by strong writing. 

The film’s main theme here is corruption and the film makes that quite clear, over the course of the film we learn about each of the candidates and it becomes clear that there are so many secrets, lies and scandals even some backstabbing just to get into position of power. It shows that some people especially candidates when going for a position of power will do anything to get the throne even if it means sabotaging others chances, the way this is shown is incredibly thrilling and reflects in the atmosphere. I can’t help but feel like the location does some talking here and combined with the beautiful cinematography from cinematographer Stéphane Fontaine paints a very thrilling picture. 

The score from Volker Bertelmann is incredibly fitting, one particular moment is when one of the pieces “innocent” plays which is during one of the film’s final moments, the track alone does a really solid job of capturing the suspense and whole theme of the film. The score itself fits incredibly well with the location and much like the location and cinematography helps build this thrilling picture that’s present throughout the film.

Finally there’s the ending which is going to land for some people and for others it’s going to miss. For me it lands mostly due to what came before it, that’s all I’m going to say about the ending because it’s best to experience this for yourself. But trust me when I say this but there is nothing that will prepare you for how this ends. 

Overall Conclave is one of the year’s best films, it’s thrilling, well acted, well written and has so much going on for what seems to be a simple setup. 

Conclave releases on all VOD platforms tomorrow.

10/10 A+

We Live In Time (2024) Film Review!

Almut and Tobias are brought together by a surprise encounter that changes their lives. As they embark on a path challenged by the limits of time, they learn to cherish each moment of their unconventional love story.

We Live In Time is directed by John Crowley director of Intermission (2003), Boy A (2007), Is Anybody There? (2009), Closed Circuit (2013), Brooklyn (2015) and The Goldfinch (2019). 

We Live In Time is about enjoying the time you have and cherishing it, the way this is shown and done is absolutely beautiful and turns what is a simple story into something truly special.

Andrew Garfield and Florence Pugh are both absolutely fantastic here, they both give such down to earth performances that almost immediately makes you connect with them. The two have undeniably beautiful chemistry that oozes with so much charm, the simple conversations of the two sharing their experiences with one another is already interesting due to the film’s natural dialogue that comes off as sincere. You really do buy that both Tobias (played by Andrew Garfield) and Almut (played by Florence Pugh) really do love each other and when it’s reveled that Almut has cancer there’s this sense of support that truly is beautiful. They create memories that will last forever, which leads into the final moments of the film that are truly heartbreaking yet absolutely beautiful at the same time. 

The direction is incredibly well done, John Crowley does a really great job of making this as sincere and down to earth as possible. A lot of films like this tend to have writing that goes a bit off the deep end at times, but luckily that’s not the case here. We get some real conversations and actions from two lovers who are trying to remain positive but sometimes break down in frustration and in tears which is incredibly natural. Seeing your loved one in so much pain is one of the most devastating feelings a person can feel, the film also gives the perspective of Almut who is trying to remain positive but is quite clearly in pain and breaks down later in the film. It’s an emotional roller coaster that is very grounded especially when it comes to situations like this. 

The film also does a fantastic job of capturing the idea of love and how challenges can forge unbreakable bonds between two people, we see that with Tobias and Almut throughout the film. There’s so many challenges and obstacles but the two stay connected and really show how much they love each other even in the more quieter moments, it’s truly beautiful and really does show how much writer Nick Payne completely captures the viewer in the story as well bringing this balance of heartbreak and beautiful moments. 

Overall We Live In Time is a beautiful film, it’s one that will absolutely make you cry especially during the final moments of the film.

We Live In Time is available on all VOD platforms.

9/10 A

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story (2024) Film Review!

Actor Christopher Reeve rises to stardom when he lands the role of Superman in the 1970s. When a horse-riding accident leaves him paralyzed in 1995, Reeve spends the rest of his life searching for a cure for spinal cord injuries.

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is directed by Ian Bonhôte and Peter Ettedgui both of which directed McQueen (2018) and Rising Phoenix (2020). Bonhôte directed Alleycats (2016) by himself. 

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is a documentary about the life of Christopher Reeve after the horse riding accident that left him paralyzed and his work as an activist for disability rights. 

This is one that really made me tear up, Christopher Reeve’s story is already sad enough but this documentary really shows the viewer how much of a fighter Reeve was despite his situation. He had a heart of gold that really did seem like he wanted to make the world a better place, not only did he perfectly capture Superman as a character but even when he wasn’t acting he was by definition someone you could consider a hero. 

His activism for disability rights was truly beautiful and I’m truly happy the documentary made sure to talk about it, his legacy will always be that he was a good person. How much he fought for disability rights, he looked at his situation and thought of how he can help then proceed to do just that, it’s absolutely inspiring and after viewing it really does make you want to go out there and make change. Even if it’s the smallest thing, the documentary shows that anyone can be a hero and make a difference in the world. 

There interviews are of course spectacular, there’s Reeve’s family, actors such as Jeff Daniels, Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Whoopi Goldberg. To my surprise there’s also politician John Kerry. All the interviews are great and powerful, truly bringing home the point of just how incredible Reeve was as a person, the documentary also discusses the friendship between Christopher Reeve and Robin Williams which was honestly some of the film’s biggest highlights. 

A lot of this might be common knowledge but what helps this documentary mainly is how sincere it really feels, it never once feels like a celebrity documentary made by some PR team or that it’s trying to advertise something. It’s a documentary that really comes from the heart and is telling you Reeve’s legacy and why he is so celebrated, it’s an inspiring documentary that really touches the heart and will absolutely make you shed some tears. 

Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story is available on all VOD platforms.

9/10 A

The Shadow Strays (2024) Film Review!

Skilled in the art of killing, a young assassin defies her mentor to save a boy from a ruthless crime syndicate.

The Shadow Strays is directed by Timo Tjahjanto director of May The Devil Take You (2018), The Night Comes For Us (2018), May The Devil Take You Too (2020) and a few others. He’s also co-directed a few films such as Killers (2014), Headshot (2016) Macabre (2009) and a few others! 

Timo Tjahjanto is a director I always look forward to when I hear a new film of his is coming out. Tjahjanto is arguably one of the best modern action film directors, he very clearly has a passion for them and really goes all out with each of his films. The exact same can be said for his most recent film The Shadow Strays.

The performances are fantastic but the main standout by far is Aurora Ribero who prior to this film did drama and comedy films, so it’s really impressive to see how much she really goes all out here. You would think she had to have done at least a few action films before this considering how incredible she really is here. Ribero pours everything she’s got into this performance both emotionally and physically which leads it to be such a thrilling and exciting performance. Her character 13 or Nomi is very well developed and really brings so much emotion towards the end of the film which leads to one of the best choreographed one on one fights I’ve seen in a while. 

The action scenes are Tjahjanto’s specialty so it’s no surprise that they are once again top notch, they are just as violent and well choreographed as they have always been. Seeing Ribero crushing anyone in her path is just truly satisfying and really gets the viewer pumped and brought into the film. She’s on this journey and we are along for the ride, sure the action might be a bit more of the same thing from Tjahjanto’s previous work but if it isn’t broken don’t fix it. 

There really isn’t much more to say, if you love Tjahjanto’s work you already know what you are getting into with this one! 

The Shadow Strays is available on Netflix.

9/10 A