The Menu is a psychological mind f*ck with a heaping dose of satire from director Mark Mylod and and writers, Seth Reiss and Will Tracy.
There is something very bourgeois simmering at Hawthorne, an exclusive restaurant located on a private island and run by Chef Julian Slowik (Ralph Fiennes). Being an invite-only event, 12 guests are ready for a dining experience they’ll never forget.
The movie is intentionally pretentious to the max, with Fiennes giving such a hilarious yet utterly maniacal performance. While this “eat the rich” message is gaining momentum in a lot of movies, execution is key and at times, I just felt a bit of boredom with some of the character roles, waiting for the next scene to hopefully draw me back in.
Giving a big middle finger to the thumb-nosed elites, everyone in the room serves a purpose and holds some juicy secrets that get their psyches messed with. The majority of the movie is confined to the restaurant setting, so there are many little yet important details to watch out for.
By now, we know what’s going on, or at least have an inkling, but there are some twists you might not see coming. The pace in the movie adds a lot of suspense and although as mentioned above that I didn’t take interest in some of the characters, there were some good moments with Margot (Anya Taylor-Joy) and surprisingly, Elsa, the restaurant manager played by Hong Chau. So, I still wanted to get through till dessert.
Before Chef serves each course, he presents a full commentary, and so every dish, even the Breadless Bread Plate, which sounds as ridiculous as it looks, was created purposefully.
Despite some criticisms, The Menu does deliver, but I do recommend the cheeseburger.
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Big Foot is directed by Robert D. Krzykowski, and this movie is a mouthful to say and states the obvious premise, but holds a lot more for the audience to digest.
Sam Elliott plays Calvin Barr, an American hero who assassinated Adolf Hitler in an undercover operation. Now, living a very solitary life with his furry companion, while dealing with the after effects of PTSD from war, he is approached by the government to kill the Big Foot. This creature carries a virus that will wipe out the world and so since Calvin is the only person who is immune and is now the chosen one.
I think the idea of Big Foot could have been explored much differently to reflect the tone of the film, as the second half really just felt tossed in for simply a weird turn of events. This kind of took me out of the movie at times, as it was just silly. However, the redemption is just watching Sam Elliott’s riveting performance. It kept me engaged in his character and wanting to watch till the very end.
There are so many emotional punches throughout that were hijacked by the whole Big Foot tale, but if you’re going to watch this, go for Sam Elliott’s performance, and forget the Sasquatch.
💜The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The BigFoot Trailer
The Fabelmans is told through the eyes of one of the greatest film directors, Steven Spielberg and co-written with Tony Kushner. This movie very much felt like Spielberg’s personal diary, told through the eyes of a young boy who becomes obsessed with film-making in order to escape the world around him. It is after all, semi-autobiographical, so that does hold some truth.
Sammy Fabelman (played by Gabriel LaBelle) gets his first taste of film, being brought to the theatre by his parents, only to be frightened yet amazed at a rather traumatic scene, and we get to witness the making of a born director. Spielberg has a great way of telling this coming-of-age story and the often rocky road to pursuing your dreams.
There’s no shying away here from a lot of confusion and pains of adolescence either. There are some weirdly yet a little off-putting comedic scenes tossed in with Sammy’s first real crush, Monica, (Chloe East) who is a young religious fanatic with an appetite for sin.
Michelle Williams is incredible to watch, as Sammy’s mother Mitzie. She dreams just as big, and we can see her come alive when in the presence of her husband's best friend, Bennie (Seth Rogan). However, something is missing from her life, as husband and workaholic Burt (Paul Dano) keeps uprooting them to provide what he thinks will be a better life, yet their strained marriage continues to crumble.
Judd Hirsch has a very small part, as Sammy’s eccentric Uncle Boris, who presents an omen that art and family are always going to be opposing forces. He echoes the words “family, art, it will tear you in two!” and we witness a devastating family secret that makes his warning, a true reality.
In a world where at times it feels like we're being surrounded by selfishness, hatred and greed, The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari, directed by Rory Kennedy is a compelling documentary that gives hope for humankind. Off the coast of New Zealand, on the island of Whakaari (also called White Island) we get to see the beauty and terror of mother nature in action.
The December 9th, 2019 volcanic eruption came with profound loss, as 22 lives were taken. However, as we grieve for the ones left behind, the incredible sacrifice, resilience and survival under the most terrifying conditions remain at the heart of this documentary.
We get to hear from the survivors and how such an event reshaped their lives, as well as the brave responders who could have turned their boats and helicopters around, but chose to risk it all to save the lives of faces they never even knew.
Once considered the perfect Instagram selfie for tourists, this still active volcano could erupt at any point in time. The island remains closed to visitors.
💜The Volcano: Rescue from Whakaari
💜Special Mention: Bank of Dave (currently streaming on Netflix)
Bank of Dave is a wonderfully uplifting film that shows us the true meaning of wealth. Directed by Chris Foggin, and written by Piers Ashworth, this movie has a number of fictional elements (sorry Def Leopard fans!) but was still inspired by the story of Dave Fishwick (played by Rory Kinnear), a wealthy businessman, who decided to start a community bank in his town of Burnley, in order to help support the local businesses and residents who were being pummeled by the big banks.
Joel Fry is also a darling addition, playing Hugh, Dave's lawyer. Audiences will just fall in love with him on screen for his awkwardness and sweet performance.
Despite all odds against him, in the film and even in real life, Dave's tenacity and love for his town really shows us what we can do when we all work together for the common good.
💜Get to know more about the real life of Dave
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