"Saltburn" Review

 

by John Zenoni

What is there to say about the much talked about, hyped-up and scandalous/controversial film, ‘Saltburn’ that has not already been said? Is it noise-worthy for some of the more controversial scenes? Yep, definitely, as there are several shocking moments for sure. Is the storyline truly original? Not necessarily, as one other film that comes close in nature that I thought of immediately - as has been referenced by others in reviews - is ‘The Talented Mr. Ripley.’ Is it is a good film? Well, I'm still trying to decide as I'm still trying to get over and digest the shock value of all that's in the film. And that, I think, takes away from the storyline and plot of the film itself. I think certain moments were purposely included to create a lot of drama, hype and controversy and it was all really unnecessary, as the story could have played out and been told without those particular scenes.

I will say that some of the performances were very good (Jacob Elordi, as spoiled, handsome, millionaire heir, Felix Catton; Rosamund Pike as the Lady Elspeth Catton; and Archie Madekwe as cousin Farleigh, all did a great job), while others were very odd and out of place (such as Richard E. Grant as Sir James Catton and Carey Mulligan as Pamela) but the one character/performer who definitely cannot be ignored is that of Barry Keoghan, who plays the poor, unappreciated (and definitely underestimated) Oxford student, Oliver Quick.

Oliver befriends the wealthy Felix, who invites him to stay with him and his family at their estate, Saltburn, for a while. Little does anyone realize what will play out while Oliver is visiting this wealthy, eccentric bunch and how things will end. Keoghan is a great young actor and he really gives it his all (literally and figuratively) in his latest performance. I personally still prefer his previous performance in 2022’s ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ compared to this one but he still does a great job here as well.

The director did a great job also, including the beautiful camera shots and scenes of the estate, although I'm not sure how this can be considered a thriller/comedy film. I've seen references to it as a dark comedy as well but I just don’t see it as such. It's dark and extremely sad, in my opinion, but that's just me. Just know going into this one that it's not a family film by any means and be prepared for some heavy, adult themes. Whether one likes it or not, this is definitely a film that will be talked about for quite awhile.

"Dream Scenario" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Well, I've seen some strange films in my lifetime but I have to say that the latest starring Nicholas Cage, ‘Dream Scenario’, is without a doubt one of the strangest. The premise is actually pretty good and original.

Cage plays a tenured professor at a major university, has two daughters that he adores (but they are at that awkward teenage stage where parents are more annoying than cool) and a wife who he loves very much, when people begin to tell him that he's suddenly showing up in their dreams. The odd thing is - besides the fact that so many people are seeing him appear - that he's just there and doesn't do anything in the dreams. Initially, he and his family find it strange and annoying but then he becomes a local legend and he begins to enjoy the attention. But eventually people begin to report that he changes and in the dreams begins to become violent so people turn on him and he becomes a ‘monster’ to them.

The way the film plays out is so odd; and don’t even ask me about the ending, as I still don’t understand it. But with that being said, Cage does give a great performance and I can see why he's getting accolades. If you choose to see the film, do so for his performance. But I wouldn't recognize it otherwise.

"G*dzilla Minus One" Review

 

by John Zenoni

I never thought I could get into a ‘Godzilla’ movie again - especially after the last couple of clunkers that were put out - but the latest by Japanese filmmaker, Takashi Yamazaki, is actually quite good! Just a note for those who are not aware: the film does have subtitles but I have no issue with that, so didn't find it distracting at all.

The story is very good - set in the WWII time period, a young kamikaze pilot lands his plan on a Japanese island where the planes are repaired and the mechanic looking over the soldiers' plane finds nothing wrong with it and confronts him, knowing he is abandoning his duty to kill himself during the war. During their confrontation, they encounter the deep sea monster, Godzilla, and escape, not expecting to cross paths again but will do so at a critical time later in the film.

What I like about the film is the story centers not only on this young pilot and what he's going through but also brings in Godzilla in a way that makes sense and works. The acting is very good, as are the conflict scenes with Godzilla. As for the special effects and Godzilla himself, I thought everything looked great and kept my attention!

"Napoleon" Review

 

by John Zenoni

‘Napoleon’ is one of those films I could not wait to see after watching the trailer, knowing Joaquin Phoenix was starring in it and it was directed by Ridley Scott. Scott has directed so many great films, including ‘Gladiator’, ‘ Alien’, ‘House of Gucci’ and ‘The Martian.’

While ‘Napoleon’ is a very good film, in my opinion, it's not great as I was hoping for or expecting. I've been reading many mixed reviews, some justifiable and some not, but can see why this is happening. From a storyline perspective, I'm torn about it. The film focuses on Napoleon’s rise to power, and is fascinating, but it also focuses on the relationship between him and his beloved, Josephine. The political and war part of the film is my favorite, whereas the relationship side of the film -- not so much.

There are some great war moments and the battle scenes are amazing. It's a long film and has some really great moments but falls flat in others. As far as Phoenix’s performance, he's such a great actor and he does a great job in his portrayal but there are moments where I don't know if the intention was for the audience to laugh or not. It's still a film worth seeing, even with its minor faults, so I definitely recommend it.

"The Super Models" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Linda Evangelista - for anyone who grew up in the late 80’s, early 90’s, if these names don't ring a bell then you must have been living under a rock. These were THE - well, with the exception of Brooke Shields in my opinion, as I had a tremendous crush on her - super models of the day. There was not an advertisement, article, magazine cover, newspaper ad, or music video in which these women did not appear, and in many cases, they were all together. 

Out of curiosity I decided to catch an episode of Apple TV’s series, ‘The Super Models’, which focuses on these super ladies, and was immediately intrigued. Very well done in terms of capturing what was so appealing about these women and how they became so connected and such good friends. Of course, as this was at the height of their fame, the series touches on the famous George Michael video for the song, ‘Freedom! 90’, and how these ladies became involved in it. There is also talk about the infamous quote by one of these ladies that she, ‘Didn’t get out of bed for less than $10,000 a day.’ Needless to say, this backfired on her and caused quite a bit of controversy and cost her some jobs. Also, great insight into how they became as famous as they did and how each had to stand up for herself - and for each other - in certain situations. Best thing was seeing how they ended up coming back together and have gone on with their lives after their modeling careers.

"The Girl in the Eagle's Talons" Book Review

 

by John Zenoni

For those who are huge fans of the Millennium novels, such as I am, I can only imagine that most will agree that the latest in the series, ‘The Girl in the Eagle’s Talons’, by Karin Smirnoff, is not on the same level as the previous novels. This one was a tough read from the start, as it didn't capture you or draw you in early on as the others. Plus, honestly, it was confusing from a storyline perspective and didn't connect the dots like I would have expected and hoped. Eventually, things began to come together but this was just not as enjoyable a read as the others. And I didn't even feel like the two primary characters in the saga, Lisbeth Salander, an asocial computer hacker with a photographic memory, and Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist and publisher of a magazine called Millennium, were the focus of the story. Definitely not the novel I was hoping for.

"Killers of the Flower Moon" Review

 

by John Zenoni

I'm sure I will be in the majority on this but having read and being a huge fan of the excellent novel, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’, I have to say I'm truly disappointed in the Martin Scorsese film version. In looking at other reviews, there is one that captures my thoughts perfectly and that is that the film is a ‘soulless epic.’

The novel is a long one, sure, but all the details were vital to the story, in my opinion. It all worked so well to explain a piece of American history that should not be forgotten. I was really excited when I heard the story was coming to the big screen and was even more excited when I heard who was directing it. Then my excitement reached a frenzy when I saw the trailer. But wow, what a let down after watching it and I will explain.

I greatly respect Scorsese’s interest in this story of the injustices committed against the Osage Nation and his attempt to bring it to the screen. However, the first issue I have is that it was way too long. In this instance, capturing every detail and element was really overreaching and not needed. When the pace of the film is such that you're looking at your watch, then you know there is an issue, at least for me. Another problem I have is that I didn't feel the film, ironically, focused enough on the plight of the Osage Nation and how they came into the oil production. that they did then began to be overshadowed. Yes, we saw a snippet at the beginning but from there it immediately went into focusing on the primary characters of Ernest Burkhart, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and William Hale, played by Robert De Niro. Which then leads me into my other issue: and that is that this was really a film in which we were watching to see who could out act each other - De Niro or DiCaprio. Were they good? Yes, if not great. But the film should have focused on the mystery of the murders and been more suspenseful. That, I think, is what I missed - more of the suspense that I was expecting.

As far as the others actors, Lily Gladstone, who plays DiCaprio’s wife Mollie, does a fine job, as does Jesse Plemons, Brendan Fraser, and John Lithgow, none of whom I realized were in the film. The cinematography was great and provided us with wonderful views of the countryside, so that was a plus. All in all, while a good film, not great and definitely not Scorsese’s best.

"No One Will Save You" Review

 

by John Zenoni

If you want to watch a really good, creepy, sci-fi alien flick then you have to watch ‘No One Will Save You’, currently streaming on Hulu. It's so much better than I expected and is one you should put on your list. It's one I think would be perfect to watch around Halloween for a few good scares.

In the film, we only have one primary character - Brynn, played by Kaitlyn Dever (probably best known from the television series ‘Last Man Standing’) - who lives alone in a house and has no other immediate family that we know of. A flashback reveals her mother did live with her at one time but has passed away. We also learn - via looks, stares and an interaction with a policeman and his wife when Brynn runs into town - that she's hiding another story, as people are avoiding her. That story will be revealed in flashback as well as the film goes on and plays a central part in how the film ends. The craziest thing about this film though, is there is practically no dialogue! I was told about this ahead of time and thought how horrible it would be, but it actually works out very well. All the emotions, scares, insights into what the characters (and aliens) are thinking and feel come across perfectly in just their acting and actions.

Speaking of which, Dever does a great job in this film, carrying it pretty much all by herself, other than the strange beings she encounters. As for other aspects of the film, the tone, noises and special-effects are great as well and left me wide-eyed on a couple of occasions. And the ending will blow your mind! It can probably be interpreted in several ways. But I'll just say that I ‘got’ it as far as what I was expecting.

"Point Break" is not the movie G.O.A.T.

 

by Robert Zenoni

I initially called this the GOAT of movies but truth be told…. I wasn’t being completely honest. Although I am a huge fan it’s 100% not the goat. I’m sure everyone has seen this and if you haven’t, hop on it. I’m sure if you have a keen eye for mistakes and continuity errors you’ll notice them.

But Point Break is about Johnny Utah's journey to find bank robbers and resorts to any means necessary to find them. However, there’s an issue: he ends up becoming friends with the criminals and tries to mediate until it ends poorly for everyone. Starring a young Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze (along with Gary Busey), this is a very good film. But like I said, there’s some noticeably bad editing and it’s a little hard to watch once you notice it. I’m just a fan of how fun the movie is, the cinematography is well done and the soundtrack is decent. Acting by some of the characters needs a little carrying from Swayze and Reeves but overall it's a solid movie; it’s in my top 15.

"The Equalizer 3" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Denzel has done it again (although I have read this is to be his last entry in the franchise -- but I hope not) with ‘The Equalizer 3!’ Yes, it says ‘Final Chapter’ but you never know. I thoroughly enjoyed this slow-building, slow-burning action thriller and love that he is given the chance to explore himself as a person and question why he has had to do the things he has done. As always, Denzel is great, as are the other actors in this film. It is indeed slower to get to the action but in this film, with the storyline, it works and it makes it worth the wait. I definitely recommend this one if you're looking for a good revenge film.

"9/11: One Day in America - The South Tower" Review

 

by Robert Zenoni

So this isn’t a movie, per say, but it’s a documentary about 9/11 and since we're coming off the 22nd anniversary of the travesty, I decided to watch it. This is “9/11 Day 1 South Tower”. This series covers more than just what happened, but also the people these events happened to. It’s very sad, obviously, but it’s good to know these people, while filled with the fear of dying, still went out of there way to help others. And it really instills the human condition of humans always wanting to help others. Nobody wants to see others fail, or in this case, lose their life.

There’re also stories from the people on the ground who got hit by debris from the planes. There’s a story about a lady who got hit by one of the landing gear of United 175 (the plane that hit the South Tower). The horror of this day didn’t just belong to the victims of the attacks but also to the people who were sent to try and preserve life. And you see even 20 years later they still battle the PTSD they gained from what they experienced. If you enjoy history and want to get a better idea of how the people on the ground view these events, watch this series.

National Geographic made it -- they released Episode 2 for free on YouTube. There’s a whole season of this documentary, each 45 minutes to an hour long. While most of what I told you about stems from just Episode 2, the whole series is great and I recommend it. I just love to hear the stories, because I was too young to understand what was happening; so different outlooks are healthy to really understand why the United States is the way it is.

“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

– George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905.

Al

"A Haunting in Venice" Review

 

by John Zenoni

I absolutely loved ‘A Haunting in Venice’, another Kenneth Branagh film about the famous crime detective Hercule Poirot. In this latest film, Poirot - who is supposedly retired - gets invited to a Halloween party/seance by a writer friend - played by Tina Fey - and ends up investigating a murder that takes place while he is in attendance. The seance takes place at a supposed haunted house in Venice, Italy.

This film has it all - suspense, mystery, laughter, murder, intrigue - including a great cast. Besides Branagh and Fey, other cast members include Kelly Reilly, Jamie Dornan, Emma Laird and Michelle Yeoh. Yeoh is yet again amazing in her latest role and really she almost steals the show as the psychic who leads the seance. I only hate that her part was not longer. But she shines during the time she's in the film. I truly hope the Poirot series will continue, as this one has left me wanting more.

"A Million Miles Away" Review

 

by John Zenoni

If you are looking for an amazing and heartfelt story - based on real life events - then you have to check out ‘A Million Miles Away’, starring Michael Pena. Pena portrays Jose Hernandez, born to migrant workers in California, who kept moving from place to place for work; so he never had a steady, stable life. That is, until he meets a particular teacher in school who realizes the amount of potential he has as a student. She convinces the parents to settle down in one place so Jose can focus on his studies. He does and goes on to be the first in his family to attend college and dreams of becoming an astronaut. He eventually gets married and begins applying to NASA, only to be turned down year after year until he perseveres and finally gets in. That will be when his life changes forever.

This is a great, inspiring film that everyone should see. Highly recommend and I hope that Pena gets recognition for his outstanding performance!

"Golda" Review

 

by John Zenoni

The newly-released film ‘Golda’, starring Helen Mirren, is about the late Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, the only woman in that country’s history to hold that leadership position, and it definitely gives a chance for Mirren to shine in this role. The film takes place during the Yom Kippur War of 1973, when Israel was attacked by Egypt and Arab forces, during the holiest time of the year for the country. This put a tremendous amount of stress and frustration on Meir, and we get to see how she struggles with and makes key decisions that will impact her country. She even takes on the United States Secretary of State at that time, Henry Kissinger, in some pivotal scenes that are key to the outcome of the war.

Mirren does look very similar to Meir in the layers of heavy prosthetics, including the swollen legs and shoes Meir was known for, as well as the constant cigarette smoke, as Meir was a known chain smoker. Her performance is one to be recognized, although at times it does seem a little ‘forced’ and over-the-top. While I liked the other actors, this film focuses primarily on Mirren, and while her performance itself is something I enjoyed, the film itself was lacking overall in the excitement/suspense categories. While an interesting film on someone famous in history, not a great one, although I will say the mixing of true film footage in with the film was well done.

"Remarkably Bright Creatures" Book Review

 

by John Zenoni

‘Remarkably Bright Creatures’ is a clever, heartwarming novel by Shelby Van Pelt, one which has garnered a lot of attention lately and I can understand why. It's the story of a unique relationship between a cleaning woman at a local aquarium and an octopus that has the ability to understand humans, identify their fingerprints left on the glass, and steals or sneaks items left behind by the humans and hides them in its den. What also works about this novel is how the various characters end up being connected in ways you would not expect. Perhaps not very realistic but it works nonetheless and makes for a good read. Very enjoyable!

"The Last Voyage of the Demeter" Review

 

by John Zenoni

By no means is ‘The Last Voyage of the Demeter’ a classic horror/Dracula film, but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised that it was better than I expected. The story - as should be obvious from the trailer - takes place on a ship sailing to England with mysterious cargo on board, more dangerous than anyone would expect. The Captain and crew were warned by villagers from the beginning, when they saw symbols on the crates being loaded, that evil was going to be on board. But of course no one listened.

What makes this film work are the creepy setting/scenes of the ship and ocean at night, the makeup and special effects, including a very nasty-looking Dracula, and the acting of the main characters. Everyone does a really good job holding their own, particularly Corey Hawkins (of ‘Straight Outta Compton’, ‘The Walking Dead’ fame), who's the leading actor/hero of the story. The only aggravating thing is there are moments where you want to scream at the characters for some obvious things they should do (like, quit trying to chase this thing down at night when it kills, how about go down and open every cargo/coffin lid during the day!) but part of that is the fun too.

While this film is miles away from Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’, it's still worth a watch for a few scares and jumps.

"Hijack" Review

 

by John Zenoni

‘Hijack’ is an intense, nail-biting drama on Apple TV+ and is one of the best series I have seen on that fairly new platform, in comparison to how long the other streaming sites have been around. Once again, Idris Elba is excellent, as always, and he delivers a knockout performance!

Elba plays a corporate negotiator who gets on Flight KA29, which is on a seven-hour journey from Dubai to London. When the plane is hijacked, he tries to use his professional skills to save everyone on board. While you might go into this series thinking it's a plane hijacked for ransom or a political or religious cause, hang in there, as the latter part reveals a completely unexpected twist. Needless to say, the intensity and suspense only grows, as things begin to be revealed and the passengers become increasingly alarmed, scared and ready to do anything to stay alive. In addition to Elba, all of the other cast members do a great job as well. This is one worth watching!

"Only Murders in the Building" Season 3 Review

 

by John Zenoni

I'm so glad I decided to stick with this series - it took me about 5-6 episodes to really begin to enjoy it - and now I'm hooked. Martin Short and Steve Martin are hilarious together. And Selena Gomez adds that perfect go-between to bounce off the chemistry between the other stars. Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep are great so far! But I was actually most excited to see Noma Dumezweni in the cast! Absolutely love this woman and great actor who has stolen the show in everything I've seen her in. I hope to see her more around in this season (third) of the show!

"Oppenheimer" Review

 

by John Zenoni

‘Oppenheimer’, directed by Christopher Nolan, is without a doubt a modern day masterpiece in terms of filmmaking. The direction, lighting, cinematography, special effects, editing, sound - all are just amazing and so in-synch with each other it's just like a smooth machine. That's really the best way I can describe it. Even the smallest scene involving a green apple and the image of what appears to be water - but is actually medicine - flowing out of and down the side of the apple is captured perfectly.

The acting though, by everyone in the film (of which there is a laundry list of first-rate actors), is absolutely brilliant and is what stands out, particularly the performances of Robert Downey, Jr., who portrays Lewis Strauss, and Cillian Murphy, who portrays J. Robert Oppenheimer himself. These two are at the heart of the film and both do an amazing job, especially Murphy. Murphy truly outdoes himself and he definitely should be a shoo-in as a nominee for the Best Actor Oscar category (if not the winner) this coming year. He gives an absolute tour-de-force and is to be commended for his role.

Even though a long film, right at 3 hours, the images, dialogue and scenes keep you engrossed. However, and I know many will probably disagree with me on this, I don't recommend seeing this film in a dome-type theater, such as a planetarium. I did this and - perhaps it was this facility itself - the seats were not comfortable and seeing it like that actually took away from the film for me. It was way too far stretched so I felt like I missed some scenes and had to strain my eyes and neck to capture it all. I wish now I had seen this in a regular theater with IMAX or RPX. But it's definitely an important film that I highly recommend!

"Sound of Freedom" Review

 

by John Zenoni

I have to say I'm very impressed with the Angel Studio release, ‘Sound of Freedom’ and can see why people are flocking to see it (it actually grossed higher money one weekend than the latest ‘Indiana Jones’ film and is still near the top of the box office). For one, it's very well-made and is not the ‘Hallmark-ish’, ‘Lifetime-ish’ type film I was expecting it to be. Second, and most importantly, it focuses on an important topic that impacts millions of lives today.

The film is an anti-human-trafficking movie made by filmmakers Eduardo Verástegui and Alejandro Monteverde and stars Jim Caviezel, who is most well known for portraying Jesus Christ in the film, ‘The Passion of the Christ.’ It's definitely a hard film to watch at times, with what's going on with the characters but also because you know the subject matter is real.

Caviezel portrays Tim Ballard, a government agent who helps track down online predators and in one particular case is able to help locate a missing child. When he learns that the little boy’s sister is also missing, he decides he has to take action to try and find her as well. Needless to say, he does all he can, including quitting his job, to keep on until he finds her. His life was even in jeopardy during his search for this little girl. The film is based on a true story, which also adds to its intrigue and makes you want to finish it to see how things turn out. Is this a great or excellent film? Perhaps not, but it's an important one and the acting, score, and direction are well done (you can't help but fall in love with the two main children, who are the primary focus in the film). I do recommend this as one to watch.

"Wham!" Review

 

by John Zenoni

As a huge fan of music and growing up in the 80’s era with pop, punk, new wave, etc., I had to check out the Netflix documentary about the pop duo, Wham!, as they definitely were a big name in the early part of that decade. Yes, while many will consider this short-lived duo (I didn't realize they were together musically for only 4 years) bland and lifeless, in terms of their music, one cannot deny the attention they received during their prime and especially the solo talent of George Michael (he has sold an estimated 100 to 125 million records worldwide, making him one of the world's best-selling artists of all time) that would come out of the pair. The fact that they were the only - at that time - Western pop stars to be allowed to perform in Communist China is interesting to note.

The documentary itself is very in-depth in terms of getting into the backgrounds of both Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael, such as where they grew up, how they met, what their goals were, etc. It showcases their early musical beginnings all the way up to the last concert and you cannot deny the friendship that existed between the two. Call the music fluff or sugary, they both were strong songwriters and knew how to make hits. Even Sir Elton John himself acknowledges this in the documentary when George Michael is presented with a songwriting award.

As Michael gets more into the spotlight, you can see Ridgeley realize that the public is focusing its attention on his friend and so willingly gives up the group without a fight (at least that's how it's perceived in the documentary). The music is also the star of this well-made documentary and definitely lightens the mood. At the end, there is an acknowledgment of Michael’s passing. It's hard to believe that the world lost this enormous talent at such a young age, who in my opinion had one of the best voices of his time. ‘Wham!’ is fun to watch for the music and reminiscing, if nothing else.

"Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Whether you have seen the previous ‘Mission: Impossible’ films with Tom Cruise or not, I definitely encourage you to check out the latest, ‘Mission: Impossible Dead Reckoning Part One’; it's so good in terms of the action sequences alone. The film is long - just over 2 hours and 40 minutes - but overall the pace is just fine (more on that in a minute) with the story, chase scenes, action and beautiful scenery.

It's definitely a wild ride once the action starts and you'll definitely enjoy the latter part of the film with the motorcycle and train scene in the Alps! Absolutely insane! The actors all do a fine job, as does, of course, Tom Cruise, and I cannot wait for them to come back in the follow-up (well, those who can). While I said earlier the pace was fine, there are a couple of scenes that could have been trimmed down to keep the film from lagging a bit, but I'm overlooking this because of everything else about the film. Definitely a summer film worth watching!

"Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" Review

 

by John Zenoni

I have not read any reviews of the latest Indiana Jones movie and do not plan to if I can help it, as I really enjoyed this latest entry, ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.’ No, it's not better than the original, by any means, but it's the best one since the original, in opinion. The storyline is great and I enjoyed the actors in their roles, especially the interaction and chemistry between Harrison Ford and his goddaughter, Helena, played by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. I really felt like this was a return to the roots of the original as far as the action, archeological hunt(s) and fight with the nemesis. I did hate the loss of one character early on but will not say which, so as to avoid any spoilers. As far as the use of the CGI, it didn't bother me as much as I had expected it would and think overall it was a job well done. This is a great popcorn flick!

"Asteroid City" Isn't Funny At All

 

by John Zenoni

I know a couple of people who are huge Wes Anderson fans, and honestly, I just don't get their fascination with his work. I don’t understand why critics rave over his films (well, the majority anyway) and actors all but fall over themselves - even reducing their salaries - just to be in his movies. I did give ‘The Great Budapest Hotel’ a try and admit I did find some of it amusing. The key word being amusing, not hilarious. I also watched the one about the fox as well as the one about the island of dogs and they were ok. But this latest, ‘Asteroid City’, is just flat out weird and not funny at all. I think I heard maybe one or two chuckles in the theater but that was it. Definitely wish I had saved my money on this one. Watch at your own risk!

"Chevalier" Is A Great Film

 

by John Zenoni

I hate it has taken me this long to review ‘Chevalier’ but I had a feeling I was going to love this one and I was right. I loved the music, the story, the characters, the drama, the actors - all of it. If there is anything regarding this film, based on the true life of composer Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, that I would like to have seen more of, it's the relationship between him and his mother, who he was taken from as a young boy. Bologne, the illegitimate son of an African slave and a French plantation owner, is an excellent violinist/composer and manages to rise in French society, even befriending Queen Marie Antoinette. Unfortunately, he falls in love with a young, married woman and his life takes a sudden turn for the worse. Bologne/Chevalier is portrayed by Kelvin Harrison, Jr., who gives an excellent performance in this starring role. Great film!

"Guardians of the Galaxy, Volume 3" Review

 

by John Zenoni

Not being a huge fan of the ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ series, having seen the original and its sequel, I figured I may as well go ahead and see ‘Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 3’ to see why this thing was making so much money! What I have found I do enjoy with these films is the music, and the latest was no exception. Definitely some great classics included in the soundtrack!

As far as the film itself, I did actually find the backstory of Rocket, and how he came to be, pretty interesting - sad, if not horrific, at times - and was rooting for him. The rest of the story and dialogue and film was ok. Not bad, but some of the dialogue was pretty corny and some of the humor felt forced at times. Some of the action was pretty good but the special effects were hit-and-miss and not consistently good, in my opinion. At this point, I think they should go ahead and close out this series.

"The Little Mermaid" is an Enjoyable Remake of a Classic

 

by John Zenoni

There is nothing I love more than taking my granddaughters to a movie and watching them look at the screen in wonder. And they definitely did that with the new live action version of ‘The Little Mermaid.’ What an enjoyable remake of the Disney animated classic! While it did follow most of the original, it also brought new things to the story, including great music and characters. The special effects were great as well as the cast of characters (all of the cast was great) and it provided a great new spin on the story. My family enjoyed this new version very much and appreciate it as a film on its own!

"The Boogeyman" Review

 

by John Zenoni

If you are into scary flicks, ‘The Boogeyman’ is one that I have to admit is pretty good. While not the best one made, it still has some moments that will make you jump a couple of times. The story itself is not too bad either and is pretty solid, with a good cast. The main character, the boogeyman itself, is a pretty ferocious monster as well. I know some will compare it to a couple of other modern day monsters (‘Stranger Things’, ‘A Quiet Place') but it's still pretty good on its own.

"Burden of Proof" Review

 

by John Zenoni

‘Burden of Proof’ is one intriguing, compelling and fascinating documentary that is hard to comprehend. A man goes on a personal mission to try and figure out what happened to his sister, who disappeared 37 years before, and has been restless about it ever since. The sad thing is the main people he suspects of having something to do with it are his parents. This is a mystery that has you thinking he's right but then some other twists come into play. Either way, the story is a sad one in that he does not have a relationship with his parents, nor they with their grandkids, and his sister is gone. You can only hope that he will eventually find the peace he needs.

"Unconditional" Review

 

by John Zenoni

‘Unconditional’ is a very heavy, sad and yet enlightening documentary that focuses on three families who are faced with physical and mental health challenges. The film is directed by a journalist, Richard Liu, whose father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and he took care of with the help of his mom and sister until the passing of his dad in 2021. In addition, the film profiles caregiving done by a husband whose wife is diagnosed with terminal cancer as well as a marathon runner helping her family and her military husband face the aftermath of war. The film talks with each family and gives insight into how they handle things each day and how hard it is on the loved ones who are struggling with a physical and/or mental challenge.

This is just a glimpse into the challenges everyday American’s face and it makes you appreciate your own life, particularly if you haven't had to deal with anything described in the film. Very well done!

"Hypnotic" is a Horrible Mess

 

by John Zenoni

It's amazing how an actor can make some really great films, give great performances, even get raves, including award nominations, and then turn around and make some absolute clunkers. That's exactly what Ben Affleck has done with the mess that is ‘Hypnotic.’ Horrible, horrible, horrible. It's one of the few films that I got about 35-40 minutes into and said, ‘I am done. I don’t even care how this turns out.’ It starts off so fast - I'm all about getting off to a good start - that you get very little intro about the main character and then you realize this ridiculous hypnosis is taking over people to cause them to do criminal things. And Ben Affleck’s performance, don’t even get me started. His dialect and voice is even a mess, not to mention his mannerisms.

All I'm saying is, in my opinion, don’t even stream this one. I haven't looked to see how much it cost to make it but I'm sure it's had to have lost quite a bit.

Don't Waste Your Money on "The Machine"

 

by John Zenoni

I didn't know who ‘The Machine’ (comedian Bert Kreischer) was prior to seeing the current film of the same name, but I can honestly say I have no idea what his appeal is. He's not funny, his gimmick of doing his onstage comedy with no shirt on makes no sense (and it is not funny either), and his actions and acting are atrocious. I almost didn't review this one but decided I had better in order to try and save others from wasting their money on this piece of trash.

"No Ordinary Thursday" Book Review

 

by John Zenoni

‘No Ordinary Thursday’, by Anoop Judge, is a well-written, family-driven story about Lena Sharma, a mother of two kids, whose life is turned upside down by an accident one evening. It changes not only her world but that of her children and friends as well. Lena belongs to a close-knit Indian community and some of the choices made by her kids, not to mention what happened to her, falls out of line with what the culture expects. But she is determined to keep her family together while surviving herself. This novel is one that touches on love, anger, disappointment and togetherness and ties it all together so well. Very well done and one I recommend.

"The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" Book Review

 

by John Zenoni

When I started reading ‘The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue’ I was intrigued by it at first but then it almost became a chore to read it -- so I stopped. It's not that the story was not interesting but I got lost on the going back-and-forth across the centuries of the main character, Addie.

As a young lady living with her family back in old, early eighteenth-century France, Addie is being promised in marriage to someone she refuses to be with. While outside one evening, she encounters a mysterious man, Luc, who promises her immortality, but in return, everyone she ever meets is bound to forget her. Needless to say, she has bargained her soul, which is what Luc wants and expects Addie to tire of her new ‘life’ and give in to him. As the years go on, Addie ends up meeting someone in New York in later modern times and she is stunned to learn that he doesn't forget her the next day after meeting again. Thus, she does fall in love but finds out an interesting twist in the relationship, as well as in the one she has with Luc.

Needless to say, I'm glad I went back and finished reading this, as it really is a very good story with a great ending.