Prickly
the young hair of a Chia pet doesn't properly convey
how much bite your sting infected me.
nor, does my lie, that there was anything worth
surmising with tangles of telephone cord.
handset was torn off the wall as your cacti skin
rubbed against my cheek and i could not, for the life
of me see a way to change how i felt. so i might say
that you are cast out, though it be more true that
i am the castaway. so when the sun bites me with
energetic notions of warmth and vitamin D, i will refuse
and slip in arsenic to provide as a salve for my skin.
be it tomorrow or yesterday there is not enough in god's
blue marble to warrant my own persecution. looking
myself in the eye as blades scratch off peach fuzz
from a face unable to construct the semblance of manhood.
secondary sex characteristics limited to groin, and no
way of fathoming how i ever got to a place where i cared
to man-scape for your sake. let's back off a moment as i hang up
the phone and drop it down among coiled snake of cord
and realize that there was nothing new. the old story
retold the rebuked, rebuked again, and this ultimate
story leading to isolation. and a hedgehog scurries
forward and plants itself upon my wrist and there
is no topside to poke and prod me but a soft underbelly
that might make him indistinguishable from his distant
cousin - the guinea pig. i am suited fine to this life,
watching fiction unwind, slasher knives penetrate victims
but id rather cry at romances that last, and your birthday
present sits ten years on, a Chia pet that stings me
but has yet to be thrown away.
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Inktober #24: Chop (October 24th, 2018)
Chop
How I begin,
edit...
How I began this story was to tell a whole truth
edit....
....tell a false truth
edit.....
a false half truth, but the whole truth in a sense
edit....
.....truth in a sense is what you made of it, but I'm certain of my stance
edit....
I have no idea what my stance is
edit....
I naively bask in the consequences of my action though they do not fully have evidenced outcomes
edit....
My existence is futile...
edit....
My life is forfeit....
edit....
My life is my own and exists for as long as chance and happenstance let it be
edit....
......as long as I'm secure in hiding out like hermit in my house
edit.....
....as long as I'm secure in slinking back when fights become imminent
edit....
fighting is a false flag operation...
edit....
fighting is politics of personal finance....
edit.....
fighting is the politics of personal compassion fatigue because another mass shooting strengthens a fist around a gun
edit.....
....compassion fatigue is my krytponite
edit....
.....compassion fatigue the ricochet of sound waves that peal back my coat of venom
edit....
my coat of furs that's splashed with blood....
edit....
that's splashed with the sweat of little boys and girls in faraway lands
edit....
....in houses next door to mine, in a country just next door to mine
edit...
just next door to mine.
How I begin,
edit...
How I began this story was to tell a whole truth
edit....
....tell a false truth
edit.....
a false half truth, but the whole truth in a sense
edit....
.....truth in a sense is what you made of it, but I'm certain of my stance
edit....
I have no idea what my stance is
edit....
I naively bask in the consequences of my action though they do not fully have evidenced outcomes
edit....
My existence is futile...
edit....
My life is forfeit....
edit....
My life is my own and exists for as long as chance and happenstance let it be
edit....
......as long as I'm secure in hiding out like hermit in my house
edit.....
....as long as I'm secure in slinking back when fights become imminent
edit....
fighting is a false flag operation...
edit....
fighting is politics of personal finance....
edit.....
fighting is the politics of personal compassion fatigue because another mass shooting strengthens a fist around a gun
edit.....
....compassion fatigue is my krytponite
edit....
.....compassion fatigue the ricochet of sound waves that peal back my coat of venom
edit....
my coat of furs that's splashed with blood....
edit....
that's splashed with the sweat of little boys and girls in faraway lands
edit....
....in houses next door to mine, in a country just next door to mine
edit...
just next door to mine.
Inktober #23: Muddy (October 23rd, 2018)
Muddy
Reality check you've been duped again
as you cozy up to a snake in grass
and let airs of encouragement permeate
swiftly down upon the rigid fractures of friendship.
It's a costly endeavor to betray trusts
of lifelong acquaintances but then again
even family has spouted falsehoods in the names
of getting their ways, but you thought you knew better.
There's a reason that time is the enemy
and that is due to the muddied waters
that awash me in various phases when
rains come pouring down and whisk away the drudge.
But, it isn't enough to be cleaned once or twice
whenever the storm comes to call, eventually
there's a day when the signature on contracts isn't enough
and its time to end this love affair whatever it is because its just more of the same.
Overreaction may be the meal of the day but I will not swallow
this poison anymore, as for shits and giggles you've pushed my buttons
and I've slowly but surely made my own way,
so fuck off where you came from and slink back into your hole
I don't need you any more.
Reality check you've been duped again
as you cozy up to a snake in grass
and let airs of encouragement permeate
swiftly down upon the rigid fractures of friendship.
It's a costly endeavor to betray trusts
of lifelong acquaintances but then again
even family has spouted falsehoods in the names
of getting their ways, but you thought you knew better.
There's a reason that time is the enemy
and that is due to the muddied waters
that awash me in various phases when
rains come pouring down and whisk away the drudge.
But, it isn't enough to be cleaned once or twice
whenever the storm comes to call, eventually
there's a day when the signature on contracts isn't enough
and its time to end this love affair whatever it is because its just more of the same.
Overreaction may be the meal of the day but I will not swallow
this poison anymore, as for shits and giggles you've pushed my buttons
and I've slowly but surely made my own way,
so fuck off where you came from and slink back into your hole
I don't need you any more.
Tuesday, November 6, 2018
My 2018 Movie Memories
Movies seen (as of 11/13/2018):
underline = favorites
Black Panther
Paddington 2
Game Night
Tomb Raider
Pacific Rim: Uprising
Isle of Dogs
Ready Player One
A Quiet Place
Avengers: Infinity War
Deadpool 2
Solo: A Star Wars Story
The Incredibles 2
Tag
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Skyscraper
Sorry to Bother You
Eighth Grade
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
The Meg
BlacKkKlansmen
The Predator
Mandy
White Boy Rick
Venom
The Hate U Give
Bad Times at the El Royale
First Man
Bohemian Rhapsody
Overlord
The Apostle
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Mary Poppins Returns
Widows
Aquaman
Vice
Annihlation
Love, Simon
First Reformed
Hereditary
Sorry to Bother You
Blindspotting
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindwald
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
Hearts Beat Loud
Favorite Moments in:
Sound:
First Man - If there is one spot that this film is going to clean up on it is the sound quality, and the sense of claustrophobia it creates. While I was underwhelmed overall with the straightforwardness of the story and the more subtle touches of Goslings acting, the sequences inside the various space and landing crafts made you feel in the moment, more so, I think, than the cinematography.
Ready Player One - The trailers for the film were being released, the marketing material highlighted by a Rush Song, and all that jazz, but I was still put off by the very cartoony visuals, which make absolute sense in the film, and I am not one to judge a film for that, but I wasn't sold on the tangibility of the world. Sitting in the theater and hearing the various bells and whistles come alive during the opening race was one of the most gratifying moments I had this year that added the extra layer to the visuals to make me believe in them.
Bad Times at the El Royale - The soundtrack for this film is killer, and the score intense enough but not overblown just enough to add to the tension. But what really sells this movie is the voice of Cynthia Erivo, she captivates the characters who interact with her singing and it actually works into the plot well.
Bohemian Rhapsody - It's a bands biopic, so of course its going to blast us with a what's what of greatest hits, and they sound fantastic in the theater, exploding out in surround sound, and that final 20 minute stretch of concert, the icing on the cake.
A Quiet Place - Another contender for sound awards, all those purposeful and effective sound effects in that stark and empty sound scape, make you crawl, make you tense, and make you pay attention.
Overlord - The sound design in this film was overall impressive. The very first scene with the troop transports flying through the air is super effective, and the general carnage of war, and the various sound effects, and it was just very nicely put together, and added a lot to the atmosphere.
Widows -
Cinematography/Editing/Mise-en-scene:
Game Night -The fact that they shot this film with a very film noir feel, a tense suspense thrillers eye, but with a quirky and darkly funny story, lends it a level of realism that makes us become more involved, and adds to that quirk in its comedy that might have just been shrugged off if it was shot in a more traditional comedy manner.
Bad Times at the El Royale - A film students dream. Everything in this film is structured to lend some meaning to the double nature of its plot. The two-faced hotel, two-faced guests, there placements in the frames, the graphic matches on mirrors and windows, and just the beautiful colors in it.
Bohemian Rhapsody - Mainly its the reenactment of the Live Aid concert that steals the spotlight, providing great feelings of urgency, earning its run time of 20 minutes by setting up our emotional response to Freddy's news to his band mates, and its a tour-de-force of just camera movements, editing, and the power of cinema.
BlacKkKlansmen - The parallel cuts between the watching of Birth of a Nation and its racist legacy, juxtaposed with images of the clan watching it, and the black students listening to a civil rights leader describe the racist fallout is a powerful message to the power of cinema, and the perversions and powers of hatred.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout -The maniacal and mad chase sequences are ridiculous. The jumping out of the plane, the car chase through European streets, and the eventual helicopter nonsense, happening simultaneously with the hunt for a mastermind are incredibly done, and just take your breath away, mindless entertainment or not. The surprise hit of the year.
Eighth Grade - I can't believe this is Bo Burnham's directorial debut, the feel and strength in the subtlety here is not lost, and reflects that sense of realism that makes the movie a pain and a joy to watch. Exploring properly a place in our lives that seldom gets looked at.
Isle of Dogs - Its Wes Anderson through and through. Beautiful, quirky. You know it had to be here.
Mandy - I didn't like this movie, but you can't say it didn't have a visual flair all its own, and it was ridiculously and disturbingly beautiful, just a little too out there for my taste, but it was experimental alot, and it stands out in that department.
Widows -
Annihlation - Acting:
Game Night (Jason Bateman & Rachel McAdams) - The chemistry between these two was contagious and really carries the movie. I completely bought into their love for each other and their absurdity and it helps ground the film as it gets more and more stupidly complicated.
A Quiet Place (Entire Cast) -There wasn't a sour note in the casting in the film. Krasinski found levels of pain and fierceness I've never seen him show. Emily Blunt is always a presence and really does a lot with so little. And both children sell their horror convincingly.
Bohemian Rhapsody (Rami Malek) - Coming from a very monotone but chilling portrayal in "Mr. Robot" I began to feel shocked at the trailers with how much emotion and feeling was coming out in the images, the final film didn't disappoint in that department. He embodies those subtle touches, physical body language, and manic stage presence. The Live Aid concert again, just an extra helping of talent sprinkled on an already impressive portrayal.
First Man (Ryan Gosling & Claire Foy) - Ryan Gosling has an acting style that I both love (Drive, Blade Runner 2049, Lars and the Real Girl) and dislike sometimes. It's subtle and understated and that's fine, often it feels like he's ready to explode and once again, it is effective here. Giving us those early smiles, and early tears within the first fifteen minutes of the film to properly tell us whats bubbling under that steely surface. It doesn't always make for the most dynamic film but you can still feel it. Claire Foy steals most of the explosion of emotions, allowed to be more pronounced in her stresses, and they create a good foil for eachother that keeps the movie going when at times - i felt - it started to lose its momentum.
Bad Times at the El Royale (Entire Cast) - This is truly an ensemble film, the lobby scene where the dialogue just bounces off one another with Jon Hamm's cocky vacuum salesman, the understated timidness of Cynthia Erivo, the not all he appears to be priest played by Jeff Bridges, and the awkward bell boy all add a layer of dread (given the opening sequence, and trailers) but also alleviates with great touches of humor. Not to mention when everything starts going to shit each character properly shines in their own private segments but in the end its Chris Hemsworth who scares the pants off of us as one of the best villainous portrayals in the movies this year.
The BlacKkKlansmen (Adam Driver) - Driver plot wise is given the most to stretch his legs on. The sequences with his undercover cops dealing with the clan, in particular the lie detector scene offer a level of reproach and defensiveness that he is very good at portraying. (those who discounted his acting in The Last Jedi, should take note of this film, even though his "please" delivery in the space opera was beautiful). He is very good at injecting a "real" sense of sarcasm and anger to his lines that I think highlights the range of his acting that people tend to miss.
The Hate U Give (Amanda Stenberg & Russel Hornsby) - This socially concious teen film, real life parable wouldn't be nearly as effective if it wasn't for the lead performance by Amanda Stenberg and the man who plays her father Russel Hornsby. Their dynamic together is tangible and it carries most of the film, and Stenberg's individual scenes, and boiling resentment play out beautiful, in one of the most important and heartbreaking films of the year.
White Boy Rick (Matthew McConaughey) - While the full film is a little bit hit and miss in its effectiveness. McConaughey is committed and heartbreaking, loving and foolhardy, and above all a loving father, despite any glaring flaws or miseducation he might bring, you always feel like he's trying to do the right thing with cards he's been given, even if those right things are misplaced. He's incredibley sympathetic and tired, and I was thoroughly impressed with every scene he was in.
Widows (Viola Davis & Elizabeth Debicki) -
Vice (Christian Bale) -
Blindspotting (Daveed Diggs) -
Action/Suspense:
A Quiet Place (Entire Film) - The entire atmosphere of this film is what sold it. As mentioned by the sound section, the lack of sound, the heightened sound effects, the waiting, and listening incorporated levels of susepsne that were not based upon a cheating score, or on jump scares, but of anticipating and waiting, and listening.
Ready Player One (Opening Race, Final Battle) - Again mostly due to the sound, the opening race was a great way to sell the fullness and reality of the gaming world the movie presented. It shouldn't be understated just how effective and important the sound was in this sequence, the clashing of cars, engines revving, the film wouldn't work without that sound, and more CGI heavy films should take note of that extra dimension good sound really offers to compliment the visuals. The final Battle is just a chaotic fun mess, that takes joy in just the pure carnage of escapist cinema, paying lip and fan service to a myriad of different pop culture references and just overall being a silly battlefield that gains importance because of the stakes of the plot.
Avengers Infinity War (Hulk vs. Thanos, The Foiled Plan) - Although it is brief the fight between Thanos and the Hulk was my favorite overall fight of the film. There was weight to the characters, the sound was amazing, and it felt more grounded in a reality than some of the later fight scenes seemed, even though I did like those sequences I felt that the first small fist fight was the best. A close runner up is the ingenuity of everyones favorite Avengers and Guardians coming together to "defeat" Thanos, the way each member got to be involved in the overall fight and the final drop of Mantis onto Thanos' head via a Strange portal was my favorite part. It was smart, and you could tell that a lot of thought went into the designing of the plan, and it pays off.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Indoraptor in the Display Room) - Overall many of the sequences in this film were alright, there was good cinematography involved but what really had me going was the sequence inside the displays in the mansion. The use of light against a window and just the overall haunted house atmosphere I thought was very well done, and more original than most of the moments.
Eighth Grade (Parked Car) - Stomach turning, painful, scream at the screen sort of stuff. This is a real life sort of terror that just left me muttering "no, no, no" under my breath that the predatory high school punk wouldn't get our beloved lead, and take advantage of her quests for social acceptance. At that point in the film it felt that the scene could legit go either way, given the context of the story, and the seriousness and realistic portrayal of its story, and I was legit nervous as all hell the entire time.
Mission Impossible Fallout (Everything except the opening) - The opening sequence left me worried. It was unfocused, odd, and just not a very exciting place. I got relaxed in my seat, was prepared for disappointment. Then, the shot of halo jump and the beautifully seemless drop through the sky to the roof of the target site, and I was in. Everything that followed was jaw dropping and tense. (more on that fist fight later) and there was just no stopping the momentum of the film as it ducked and dived around expectations, and just got more and more ludicrous ending up with one of the silliest most awe inducing helicopter chases in recent movie memory. An action/adventure classic now. Who woulda thought after several films in a franchise it would still surprise.
The Hate U Give (the shooting, protesting, the gun) - Knowing where the film is going may lend to the feeling of dread going into the sequence, but by providing a victim who doesn't follow exact instructions, and arguably ignores his friends protests added an extra layer to an already tense scene, there is just enough in the sequence to let you sympathize slightly with the officer so as to not make him simply a cold blooded killer but also make his judgement and paranoia reprensible, adding that extra layer to the tragedy caused more of a stomach turn. Then the shots rang out, and frigthened me, an effective use of sound effects, and build up. The other big moment comes during the protest sequence with the face-off with police, now i didn't expect things to go terribly for the protagonist, but her boiling up and giving her speech really gave a punch to everything. Then the child with the gun, a movie with a message could go in any direction, and instead leaves it with the prospect of stuff going down and that gives a enough of a stop to the heart over anything else.
Bad Times at the El Royale (Singing Distraction, Billy Lee) - the most intense singular moment happens as Dakota Johnson's character stares through the two way mirror and ponders shooting our singer, unsure who is good and who is bad. She stands in the way of the mirror, the people on one side knowing whats going on with the mirrors, the woman on the other finding it out for the first time, and its a beautiful use of cinematography and voice to lend a length of dread to the proceedings. Then the big show, Chris Hemsworth's cult leader Billy Lee, and terrifying and prideful POS who enjoys having the upper hand over his victims, and shameless shoots one of the more righteous characters in the story. Chris Hemsworth steals the movie.
First Man (Inside the crafts) - Any of the sequences inside the crafts, shuttles, landing craft, are all superbly done, as mentioned before the use of sound adding to the atmosphere of claustrophobia. Then, in particular the tragic fire in the cockpit of the one of the crafts, a build up as you wait, then know things are going wrong, and then trapped as the pilots are, and then the cut away as the explosion occurs to an indent on the body of the cockpit. Chills.
Tear Jerking:
A Quiet Place (goodbye son, goodbye dad) -
Avengers: Infinity War (goodbye brother, goodbye spidey)-
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (goodbye long neck) -
Eighth Grade (good dad) -
BlacKkKlansmen (Birth of a Nation: commentary vs. exploitation) -
White Boy Rick (failed father)-
The Hate U Give (the shooting, speech, kids with guns) -
First Man (losing a child)-
Bohemian Rhapsody (sickness ,dad hug, finale)-
Bad Times at the El Royale (goodbye veteran) -
Humor:
Bad Times at the El Royale (lobby chit chat) -
Game Night ('fake' gun, removing a 'bullet', "not with that ass")-
Isle of Dogs (entire thing) -
Avengers: Infinity War (Thor and Starlord competition)-
Deadpool 2 (X-squad assault) -
Incredibles 2 (raccoon vs. jack-jack)-
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (tranquilized Owen) -
Ant-Man and the Wasp (mini-Rudd) -
Eighth Grade (painful awkwardness = "Gucci")-
BlacKkKlansmen (hey Mr. Duke guess what) -
Venom (Hardy's comedic mania, Venom's personality) -
Bad Ass Moments:
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Bathroom Fight) -
Bad Times at the El Royale (Just talk talk talk) -
Bohemian Rhapsody (Live Aid) -
Widows (Slaps) -
underline = favorites
Black Panther
Paddington 2
Game Night
Tomb Raider
Pacific Rim: Uprising
Isle of Dogs
Ready Player One
A Quiet Place
Avengers: Infinity War
Deadpool 2
Solo: A Star Wars Story
The Incredibles 2
Tag
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
Sicario: Day of the Soldado
Ant-Man and the Wasp
Skyscraper
Sorry to Bother You
Eighth Grade
Mission: Impossible - Fallout
The Meg
BlacKkKlansmen
The Predator
Mandy
White Boy Rick
Venom
The Hate U Give
Bad Times at the El Royale
First Man
Bohemian Rhapsody
Overlord
The Apostle
Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Mary Poppins Returns
Widows
Aquaman
Vice
Annihlation
Love, Simon
First Reformed
Hereditary
Sorry to Bother You
Blindspotting
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindwald
Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle
Hearts Beat Loud
Favorite Moments in:
Sound:
First Man - If there is one spot that this film is going to clean up on it is the sound quality, and the sense of claustrophobia it creates. While I was underwhelmed overall with the straightforwardness of the story and the more subtle touches of Goslings acting, the sequences inside the various space and landing crafts made you feel in the moment, more so, I think, than the cinematography.
Ready Player One - The trailers for the film were being released, the marketing material highlighted by a Rush Song, and all that jazz, but I was still put off by the very cartoony visuals, which make absolute sense in the film, and I am not one to judge a film for that, but I wasn't sold on the tangibility of the world. Sitting in the theater and hearing the various bells and whistles come alive during the opening race was one of the most gratifying moments I had this year that added the extra layer to the visuals to make me believe in them.
Bad Times at the El Royale - The soundtrack for this film is killer, and the score intense enough but not overblown just enough to add to the tension. But what really sells this movie is the voice of Cynthia Erivo, she captivates the characters who interact with her singing and it actually works into the plot well.
Bohemian Rhapsody - It's a bands biopic, so of course its going to blast us with a what's what of greatest hits, and they sound fantastic in the theater, exploding out in surround sound, and that final 20 minute stretch of concert, the icing on the cake.
A Quiet Place - Another contender for sound awards, all those purposeful and effective sound effects in that stark and empty sound scape, make you crawl, make you tense, and make you pay attention.
Overlord - The sound design in this film was overall impressive. The very first scene with the troop transports flying through the air is super effective, and the general carnage of war, and the various sound effects, and it was just very nicely put together, and added a lot to the atmosphere.
Widows -
Cinematography/Editing/Mise-en-scene:
Game Night -The fact that they shot this film with a very film noir feel, a tense suspense thrillers eye, but with a quirky and darkly funny story, lends it a level of realism that makes us become more involved, and adds to that quirk in its comedy that might have just been shrugged off if it was shot in a more traditional comedy manner.
Bad Times at the El Royale - A film students dream. Everything in this film is structured to lend some meaning to the double nature of its plot. The two-faced hotel, two-faced guests, there placements in the frames, the graphic matches on mirrors and windows, and just the beautiful colors in it.
Bohemian Rhapsody - Mainly its the reenactment of the Live Aid concert that steals the spotlight, providing great feelings of urgency, earning its run time of 20 minutes by setting up our emotional response to Freddy's news to his band mates, and its a tour-de-force of just camera movements, editing, and the power of cinema.
BlacKkKlansmen - The parallel cuts between the watching of Birth of a Nation and its racist legacy, juxtaposed with images of the clan watching it, and the black students listening to a civil rights leader describe the racist fallout is a powerful message to the power of cinema, and the perversions and powers of hatred.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout -The maniacal and mad chase sequences are ridiculous. The jumping out of the plane, the car chase through European streets, and the eventual helicopter nonsense, happening simultaneously with the hunt for a mastermind are incredibly done, and just take your breath away, mindless entertainment or not. The surprise hit of the year.
Eighth Grade - I can't believe this is Bo Burnham's directorial debut, the feel and strength in the subtlety here is not lost, and reflects that sense of realism that makes the movie a pain and a joy to watch. Exploring properly a place in our lives that seldom gets looked at.
Isle of Dogs - Its Wes Anderson through and through. Beautiful, quirky. You know it had to be here.
Mandy - I didn't like this movie, but you can't say it didn't have a visual flair all its own, and it was ridiculously and disturbingly beautiful, just a little too out there for my taste, but it was experimental alot, and it stands out in that department.
Widows -
Annihlation - Acting:
Game Night (Jason Bateman & Rachel McAdams) - The chemistry between these two was contagious and really carries the movie. I completely bought into their love for each other and their absurdity and it helps ground the film as it gets more and more stupidly complicated.
A Quiet Place (Entire Cast) -There wasn't a sour note in the casting in the film. Krasinski found levels of pain and fierceness I've never seen him show. Emily Blunt is always a presence and really does a lot with so little. And both children sell their horror convincingly.
Bohemian Rhapsody (Rami Malek) - Coming from a very monotone but chilling portrayal in "Mr. Robot" I began to feel shocked at the trailers with how much emotion and feeling was coming out in the images, the final film didn't disappoint in that department. He embodies those subtle touches, physical body language, and manic stage presence. The Live Aid concert again, just an extra helping of talent sprinkled on an already impressive portrayal.
First Man (Ryan Gosling & Claire Foy) - Ryan Gosling has an acting style that I both love (Drive, Blade Runner 2049, Lars and the Real Girl) and dislike sometimes. It's subtle and understated and that's fine, often it feels like he's ready to explode and once again, it is effective here. Giving us those early smiles, and early tears within the first fifteen minutes of the film to properly tell us whats bubbling under that steely surface. It doesn't always make for the most dynamic film but you can still feel it. Claire Foy steals most of the explosion of emotions, allowed to be more pronounced in her stresses, and they create a good foil for eachother that keeps the movie going when at times - i felt - it started to lose its momentum.
Bad Times at the El Royale (Entire Cast) - This is truly an ensemble film, the lobby scene where the dialogue just bounces off one another with Jon Hamm's cocky vacuum salesman, the understated timidness of Cynthia Erivo, the not all he appears to be priest played by Jeff Bridges, and the awkward bell boy all add a layer of dread (given the opening sequence, and trailers) but also alleviates with great touches of humor. Not to mention when everything starts going to shit each character properly shines in their own private segments but in the end its Chris Hemsworth who scares the pants off of us as one of the best villainous portrayals in the movies this year.
The BlacKkKlansmen (Adam Driver) - Driver plot wise is given the most to stretch his legs on. The sequences with his undercover cops dealing with the clan, in particular the lie detector scene offer a level of reproach and defensiveness that he is very good at portraying. (those who discounted his acting in The Last Jedi, should take note of this film, even though his "please" delivery in the space opera was beautiful). He is very good at injecting a "real" sense of sarcasm and anger to his lines that I think highlights the range of his acting that people tend to miss.
The Hate U Give (Amanda Stenberg & Russel Hornsby) - This socially concious teen film, real life parable wouldn't be nearly as effective if it wasn't for the lead performance by Amanda Stenberg and the man who plays her father Russel Hornsby. Their dynamic together is tangible and it carries most of the film, and Stenberg's individual scenes, and boiling resentment play out beautiful, in one of the most important and heartbreaking films of the year.
White Boy Rick (Matthew McConaughey) - While the full film is a little bit hit and miss in its effectiveness. McConaughey is committed and heartbreaking, loving and foolhardy, and above all a loving father, despite any glaring flaws or miseducation he might bring, you always feel like he's trying to do the right thing with cards he's been given, even if those right things are misplaced. He's incredibley sympathetic and tired, and I was thoroughly impressed with every scene he was in.
Widows (Viola Davis & Elizabeth Debicki) -
Vice (Christian Bale) -
Blindspotting (Daveed Diggs) -
Action/Suspense:
A Quiet Place (Entire Film) - The entire atmosphere of this film is what sold it. As mentioned by the sound section, the lack of sound, the heightened sound effects, the waiting, and listening incorporated levels of susepsne that were not based upon a cheating score, or on jump scares, but of anticipating and waiting, and listening.
Ready Player One (Opening Race, Final Battle) - Again mostly due to the sound, the opening race was a great way to sell the fullness and reality of the gaming world the movie presented. It shouldn't be understated just how effective and important the sound was in this sequence, the clashing of cars, engines revving, the film wouldn't work without that sound, and more CGI heavy films should take note of that extra dimension good sound really offers to compliment the visuals. The final Battle is just a chaotic fun mess, that takes joy in just the pure carnage of escapist cinema, paying lip and fan service to a myriad of different pop culture references and just overall being a silly battlefield that gains importance because of the stakes of the plot.
Avengers Infinity War (Hulk vs. Thanos, The Foiled Plan) - Although it is brief the fight between Thanos and the Hulk was my favorite overall fight of the film. There was weight to the characters, the sound was amazing, and it felt more grounded in a reality than some of the later fight scenes seemed, even though I did like those sequences I felt that the first small fist fight was the best. A close runner up is the ingenuity of everyones favorite Avengers and Guardians coming together to "defeat" Thanos, the way each member got to be involved in the overall fight and the final drop of Mantis onto Thanos' head via a Strange portal was my favorite part. It was smart, and you could tell that a lot of thought went into the designing of the plan, and it pays off.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (Indoraptor in the Display Room) - Overall many of the sequences in this film were alright, there was good cinematography involved but what really had me going was the sequence inside the displays in the mansion. The use of light against a window and just the overall haunted house atmosphere I thought was very well done, and more original than most of the moments.
Eighth Grade (Parked Car) - Stomach turning, painful, scream at the screen sort of stuff. This is a real life sort of terror that just left me muttering "no, no, no" under my breath that the predatory high school punk wouldn't get our beloved lead, and take advantage of her quests for social acceptance. At that point in the film it felt that the scene could legit go either way, given the context of the story, and the seriousness and realistic portrayal of its story, and I was legit nervous as all hell the entire time.
Mission Impossible Fallout (Everything except the opening) - The opening sequence left me worried. It was unfocused, odd, and just not a very exciting place. I got relaxed in my seat, was prepared for disappointment. Then, the shot of halo jump and the beautifully seemless drop through the sky to the roof of the target site, and I was in. Everything that followed was jaw dropping and tense. (more on that fist fight later) and there was just no stopping the momentum of the film as it ducked and dived around expectations, and just got more and more ludicrous ending up with one of the silliest most awe inducing helicopter chases in recent movie memory. An action/adventure classic now. Who woulda thought after several films in a franchise it would still surprise.
The Hate U Give (the shooting, protesting, the gun) - Knowing where the film is going may lend to the feeling of dread going into the sequence, but by providing a victim who doesn't follow exact instructions, and arguably ignores his friends protests added an extra layer to an already tense scene, there is just enough in the sequence to let you sympathize slightly with the officer so as to not make him simply a cold blooded killer but also make his judgement and paranoia reprensible, adding that extra layer to the tragedy caused more of a stomach turn. Then the shots rang out, and frigthened me, an effective use of sound effects, and build up. The other big moment comes during the protest sequence with the face-off with police, now i didn't expect things to go terribly for the protagonist, but her boiling up and giving her speech really gave a punch to everything. Then the child with the gun, a movie with a message could go in any direction, and instead leaves it with the prospect of stuff going down and that gives a enough of a stop to the heart over anything else.
Bad Times at the El Royale (Singing Distraction, Billy Lee) - the most intense singular moment happens as Dakota Johnson's character stares through the two way mirror and ponders shooting our singer, unsure who is good and who is bad. She stands in the way of the mirror, the people on one side knowing whats going on with the mirrors, the woman on the other finding it out for the first time, and its a beautiful use of cinematography and voice to lend a length of dread to the proceedings. Then the big show, Chris Hemsworth's cult leader Billy Lee, and terrifying and prideful POS who enjoys having the upper hand over his victims, and shameless shoots one of the more righteous characters in the story. Chris Hemsworth steals the movie.
First Man (Inside the crafts) - Any of the sequences inside the crafts, shuttles, landing craft, are all superbly done, as mentioned before the use of sound adding to the atmosphere of claustrophobia. Then, in particular the tragic fire in the cockpit of the one of the crafts, a build up as you wait, then know things are going wrong, and then trapped as the pilots are, and then the cut away as the explosion occurs to an indent on the body of the cockpit. Chills.
Tear Jerking:
A Quiet Place (goodbye son, goodbye dad) -
Avengers: Infinity War (goodbye brother, goodbye spidey)-
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (goodbye long neck) -
Eighth Grade (good dad) -
BlacKkKlansmen (Birth of a Nation: commentary vs. exploitation) -
White Boy Rick (failed father)-
The Hate U Give (the shooting, speech, kids with guns) -
First Man (losing a child)-
Bohemian Rhapsody (sickness ,dad hug, finale)-
Bad Times at the El Royale (goodbye veteran) -
Humor:
Bad Times at the El Royale (lobby chit chat) -
Game Night ('fake' gun, removing a 'bullet', "not with that ass")-
Isle of Dogs (entire thing) -
Avengers: Infinity War (Thor and Starlord competition)-
Deadpool 2 (X-squad assault) -
Incredibles 2 (raccoon vs. jack-jack)-
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (tranquilized Owen) -
Ant-Man and the Wasp (mini-Rudd) -
Eighth Grade (painful awkwardness = "Gucci")-
BlacKkKlansmen (hey Mr. Duke guess what) -
Venom (Hardy's comedic mania, Venom's personality) -
Bad Ass Moments:
Mission: Impossible - Fallout (Bathroom Fight) -
Bad Times at the El Royale (Just talk talk talk) -
Bohemian Rhapsody (Live Aid) -
Widows (Slaps) -
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