Ad Astra ... A space odyssey to Neptune

Ad Astra is without a doubt the hardest movie I’ve had to review so far. The movie stars Brad Pitt and every single second of his straight, emotionless acting. This is not a bad thing because that’s just how his character is, and not a result of bad acting. I will say that everything in this movie, much like actually being in space, is slow and deliberate. This works for the purposes of the film but large portions of the movie are silent, accurately mimicking the sensation of being in space. These moments of silence are assisted by the score and absolutely stunning visuals that both serve to try to keep the audience engaged when not a lot is actually happening on screen. When I mentioned that everything about this movie is slow and deliberate, this extends to those moments of silence and Brad Pitt voice over. The journey is almost a character analysis of Brad Pitt playing Roy McBride. To summarize the plot of the movie, it is essentially a journey to Neptune but what makes it interesting is the fact that Ad Astra is deep and philosophical. The ending leaves the audience feeling confused and these traits all serve to make its audience mull Brad Pitt’s journey over, making its audience really search their memories to discover what the movie is about. I personally enjoy these unique kinds of films that do something different and challenge what a movie can be about. However, I’m not the average movie viewer and I imagine that there would be a group of people who might just find this movie long and boring. For those who have seen it, the movie is like Gravity starring Sandra Bullock in the sense that a lot of the movie is simple on the surface, but there is a lot more happening emotionally. I will say that this movie is enjoyable if you like to watch deep philosophical movies or if modern, accurate space films are something that you enjoy seeing on screen. I believe that this movie has its audience, but I wouldn’t give it as much praise as other critics who say that it is a sci-fi masterpiece.

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Joker ... Witness the tragic origins

Joker stars Joaquin Pheonix as Batman's greatest villain the Joker. Even though this is a Joker movie there is no Batman in sight. This movie is part origin story, part tragedy, and part social commentary of modern society. The movie portrays the DC villain in a way that makes the viewer feel almost uncomfortable with how easy it is to understand how a fictional villain like the Joker could exist in modern society. As I mentioned previously this is also the Joker's origin story, which means it's told from the Joker's perspective and in his mind he's the hero of the story. This also plays to how it's a tragedy because the rising of The Joker is not an intentional move, he is almost brought into that role by those around him which makes him disturbingly relatable. The Joker's rise could even be attributed to the lack of funding or resources that is put into Gotham's mental health care services. This dives into the social commentary in the film. Joker may n...

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood ... A review of a fantasy

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood can best be described as a historical fiction, which is actually implied by the title of the film. The movie is a three-hour marathon, in true Tarantino fashion, but it is saved by two major factors that neatly divide the movie. The first part of the film that comprises a majority of the movie is in all honesty quite slow, which is a curious thing to say about a movie that is already 3 hours long. However, the film doesn’t feel boring because of its stylistic shooting, entertaining characters, and it's well crafted intriguing plot. The plot doesn’t seem intriguing on the surface yet the film gives the audience a desire to keep watching to find out what the movie is really about. The entire first part of the film essentially serves as a Chekhov’s gun for the approximately last 20 minutes of the film. The beauty of this set up is that nothing is wasted. These last 20 minutes are a completely wild and insane ride that calls upon every detail that was pre...

The Peanut Butter Falcon ... The journey to make dreams come true

The Peanut Butter Falcon is as interesting a movie as its title seems random. The movie stars Shia LeBeouf, Dakota Johnson, and Zack Gottsagen who all do great in the film. However, a special shout out needs to be said for Zack Gottsagen who is the first Down syndrome actor to star in a full length movie. There is a lot to unpack about this unassuming movie and I think it’s best to begin with the premise. Zack plays a Down syndrome run away who escapes an assisted living home in hopes to pursue his dreams of becoming a professional wrestler. On the other hand Shia plays a runaway criminal who meets Zack and the two of them go on a journey. The movie is filled to the brim with heart, entertainment, and a can-do attitude. I feel the need to draw a comparison to Mud which has a similar premise, but what this movie does differently is shine some light on the possible issues of Down syndrome and what belief can mean for someone. One huge notion that is ever present throughout the dur...

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