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Godzilla

Godzilla remains the king of the monsters
Godzilla 1954 kicked off an entire franchise of Kaiju films
Godzilla 1954 kicked off an entire franchise of Kaiju films

Hello internet friends it’s been a while. Slick Dungeon here, back to review one of the most memorable and impactful films of all time, the one and only Godzilla. There will be spoilers for the 1954 version of the film. Multiple versions of this movie exist so to clarify, I am sticking to the one currently available for viewing on HBO Max. If you don’t want spoilers, run like there is a giant lizard monster about to stomp down your local cinema and watch the movie then come back here to read the review!

What is Godzilla About?

Put simply, Godzilla is easy to summarize. A giant lizard creature is awakened and stomps around Japan causing death and destruction in its wake. Heroic scientists debate about whether they should kill the creature or take nature’s warning in stride.

If that was all Godzilla was about there is no way this film would have the staying power it does. For a film about a giant monster, full of innovative effects for the time, and tons of insane destruction, this one goes deep. There are multiple levels upon which to understand the film and the eponymous creature.

It’s helpful to remember the context of when this movie was made. This is a post World War II film made in Japan smack dab in the middle of the cold war. It was a frightening time. And what country understood the dangers of nuclear powered weapons better than Japan? The whole film can be seen as a metaphor for nuclear armament.

What Happens in the Film?

Technically there are a few storylines happening in the movie. First we have the story of a little fishing island that has seen Godzilla and tries to warn the rest of the world. There is the story of a love triangle between a woman and two scientists, one of whom has made a discovery that could not only end Godzilla, but all of humanity. And there is the story of Godzilla.

His origins are murky as in the film he is referred to both as a creature who lived in the Jurassic era and as something new awakened by H-Bomb testing. Either way this creature is deadly.

The main draw of the film is watching Godzilla destroy everything in his path. Knocking over buildings is no problem for the creature. Bullets, electricity, and other types of weapons do nothing to slow his path. But there is a scientist named Dr. Daisuke Serizawa who has made a remarkable discovery. He has invented a device capable of sucking all of the oxygen out of water. Serizawa knows his invention is lethal and in the wrong hands could lead to the death of humanity.

I won’t give away if he uses this weapon or not just in case you haven’t watched the film. But if the fact that there are over 30 movies in the franchise tells you anything, seems like this solution wasn’t permanent.

Is Godzilla Worth Watching?

As the first true Kaiju film this is essential viewing. It’s emotionally deep, works on multiple levels, and simply put is one of the greatest monster films ever made. The effects seem quaint by today’s standards. But don’t let that fool you. This film has a lot going for it. One of the standout moments is a group of schoolgirls singing after much of the destruction has happened. In short, while this is a creature feature, it is one with real heart.

In Conclusion

You’ve probably seen a Godzilla movie. But not everyone has seen the original. It’s absolutely worth watching and upon each viewing I find a little more to appreciate here. It is in black and white and you likely have to read subtitles unless you speak Japanese but it is worth the effort. Almost all of the Godzilla movies are on HBO Max now so if you’re at all interested, start there with the first Godzilla movie.

Monstrously yours,

Slick Dungeon

PS If you liked this review check out my review of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre!

Posted on by slickdungeon

Soul to Squeeze

Soul to Squeeze
Soul to Squeeze stars Michael Thomas Santos
Soul to Squeeze stars Michael Thomas Santos

Hello internet people, Slick Dungeon here back to review another film for you all. Just a quick note that I was granted a screener viewing of it by the production company but I was not paid or compensated in any other way for this review.

Soul to Squeeze is a new experimental film available on Amazon Prime created by W.M. Weikart and Andrew Rivas. It stars Michael Thomas Santos as the main character Jacob.

What is Soul to Squeeze about?

This is a film that is a bit hard to pin down. It is about a man named Jacob who has signed up for an experimental psychological treatment. In the treatment, his physical body exists inside of a physical manifestation of his subconscious. Rather than go through lengthy talk therapy, Jacob dives deep into the physical reality of his own mind, confronting challenges small and large. The subconscious doesn’t always make sense on first glance. That’s represented in both the visuals and the story.

The film is also experimental on the visual level. As Jacob goes through his treatment, the aspect ratio of the film changes. The further he goes to confront his issues, the wider the screen becomes. Some might consider this a gimmick but in this case it serves more as a storytelling technique.

While there is a story here and we gather bits of information along the way, the film isn’t exactly linear in the delivery. The film makers trust the audience to fill in the blanks and a lot of what happens in the movie feels surreal. This is absolutely intentional.

Most of the time the film does a good job of allowing us into Jacob’s mind without belaboring the point. There are a few gross moments in the film but nothing the average adult can’t handle.

The Good

I always like to see film makers try new things. And while this is low budget, it is decidedly trying something new.

Michael Thomas Santos delivers a strong performance here and had to go through some physical challenges, such as gaining and losing weight, for the film. And the effort pays off as he’s quite watchable in the film.

For a low budget film the effects in the movie are quite good and there are some striking visuals that will stay with you after viewing.

The Bad

For this film, I don’t see a lot of bad here. It’s more a matter of taste. To enjoy the movie there are a few things you’ll need to be comfortable with.

First, you’ll need to be okay with watching something that is experimenting so as the film makes some bold choices you have to be ready for that.

Second, the pacing is fairly slow. But this makes sense as the majority of the work is done by one actor in the film. There are a few other actors but there are a ton of scenes with just one person in a quiet environment.

Third, this film is dealing with psychological issues from every day anxieties to outright guilt and grief so you’ll need to be okay delving into those topics.

But if you can handle all of those things, you’ll find value here.

The Ugly

If I don’t see a lot of bad in the film, I’m not going to find a lot of ugly here either but I do have just a couple of words of caution for anyone considering watching this. As I said before, there are some gross out moments. Things I would call very light body horror, although this is not a horror film. There are also several moments that dive into bits of our psyche which can be frightening. But I would in no way call this a psychological horror or thriller.

It also deals with some loss so if that’s something that might bother you as a viewer, use caution before watching.

Soul to Squeeze In Conclusion

In a time when it’s harder and harder to find a film trying to do something new, Soul to Squeeze is a refreshing view. It’s a short film (around 90 minutes) so it’s not a big time investment. But this is not for everyone.

If you are the type of person who likes experimental films, this is a good one to watch. It’s low budget but the budget was used quite effectively here, not just in service of shock value, but also as a storytelling technique.

Personally, I’d like to see what someone like W.M. Weikart would do with a larger budget and a bit more of a linear story. The only way that will happen is if people rent or buy Soul to Squeeze. It’s $10 to buy and $3 to rent so typically not a huge financial hit to support these film makers.

If you do end up watching it, I’d love to hear what you thought in the comments!

P.S. Want to see another review of an independent film? Check out my review of The Plastic Men.

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The Plastic Men

James Preston stars in The Plastic Men
James Preston stars in The Plastic Men

Hey movie fans, Slick Dungeon here! I’ve got another independent psychological thriller/horror film to review for you. This time I watched a movie called The Plastic Men.

I was offered a screener copy in exchange for a fair review for this film. I’ll let you know what I think the strengths of the film are and where it could use some improvement. There will be spoilers but I will keep them mild. If you want to know more I’ve included the trailer below. You can find the film on Amazon on March 11th.

What is The Plastic Men about?

It’s the Vietnam war era and Johnathan Teller, played by James Preston, takes a trip with his buddy to Mexico. Unbeknownst to Jonathan, his buddy has purchased some illegal drugs. Before he knows it, Jonathan is pulled over by the cops, his buddy is dead and a judge gives Jonathan a choice. He can either go to prison for a long time or serve in the Vietnam war. Teller chooses Vietnam.

Upon his return from serving, Teller has a difficult time adjusting to everyday life. He’s haunted by things he did, sometimes prone to hallucinations, and the country looks down on his service. He turns to support groups to help but most of those men are just as traumatized as he is. On more than one occasion Teller contemplates suicide until a chance encounter changes everything for him.

The good

This film is on a shoestring budget but it’s a period piece. And it actually looks like it is set in the time it’s aiming for. The vehicles, the clothing, and even the supermarket Teller works at all feel like they are from another era. It’s nice to see such care taken in production value for a low budget film. And they make effective use of old news footage to make the time feel even more realistic.

James Preston has to go through a lot of emotion in this film, playing a man who is at the brink of a psychological break but still portraying his humanity. And he does a great job with the character. Teller feels like a real person who has a complicated background, much of which he regrets, but is trying to become a better man. And at the same time, Teller faces prejudice from the community around him, forced into a bad choice with few positive sides to it.

The film also makes good use of tried and true practical effects. There’s nothing groundbreaking here but those effects are tried and true for a reason. They work to convey the message, add a bit of shock value, and drive the story forward. There are a few images that will likely stay with you for a while after viewing.

The bad

Teller himself is a bit of an unreliable narrator. He is prone to hallucinations brought on by PTSD after all. Add to that the jumps forward and backward in time, and sometimes it’s a bit of a struggle to follow if the story is taking place in the present, past, or even in reality at all. It doesn’t ruin the film by any means but it is slightly confusing.

This is advertised as based on a true story but it’s quite hard to know how much of this is real. The film is based on an old Craig’s List ad where a Vietnam veteran was hoping to reunite with a woman who saved him from suicide decades ago. But the veteran and the woman he speaks about never identified themselves publicly after that so much of the film is still fictional. This is fine but take the “based on a true story” tag with a grain of salt here.

The ugly

There’s not a lot of ugly here. The film does hold up surprisingly well for such a low budget project. But, there are times this leans into the trope of the disturbed veteran returning home. I can’t fault the film too much for that because this is something that really does happen and especially did in the Vietnam era.

The other problem with the film lies in exactly what Teller did while serving. We get enough glimpses and pieces of it to have an idea. But it’s not altogether clear exactly what happened and why one incident in particular seems to stand out to Teller more than any other. Some of that again has to do with the fact Teller is not a completely reliable narrator but I feel the film loses some of the impact it could have had if we had a better idea of the circumstance that most haunts the main character.

Overall, these are relatively minor problems with a film like this but take them into consideration before renting.

The Plastic Men in conclusion

This film is worth watching if you like a good independent film. It’s low budget but they use all the best methods to make you forget that. Teller has an interesting story which leaves us on a pretty hopeful note.

And while much of this is clearly fictional, it does represent a lot of what the country felt upon the return of soldiers who served in Vietnam. The mundane could go from peaceful to horrible for many of these soldiers and there was a country who did not appreciate the trauma they went through. James Preston does a great job conveying the character to us. And while there are times the narrative is a bit disjointed, that doesn’t really harm the movie. So, if you’re considering renting a movie and are tired of the big budget same old stuff, give The Plastic Men a shot. At the very least, you’re supporting film makers who are trying to do something different, even if you don’t love the movie.

If you do watch the movie, I’d love to know your thoughts in the comments.

Independently yours,

Slick Dungeon

P.S. Want to see my thoughts on another independent film? Check out my review for Thou Shalt Kill!

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The Substance

The Substance
Demi Moore stars in The Substance
Demi Moore stars in The Substance

Hello film fans! Slick Dungeon here. We’re just a couple hours away from the 2025 Oscars so I just have time to slip in my review of The Substance. It’s a great film but it’s decidedly horror so be warned before you watch.

Content warnings

Before I go into the plot of the film, as a good horror movie reviewer, I have to give you the content warnings of why not to watch this movie. Because this is a body horror film and there is no denying it. If you can’t stand gross out scenes, you are going to hate this movie. Also, if you don’t like needles, you are going to spend a lot of this movie with your eyes closed. And, if you don’t like watching a bunch of ugly men deciding who is beautiful and at what age women get to be considered worthy of being on camera, well, this is not for you either. Truly there is some shocking blood, gore, and body horror all over this film. Don’t go in not knowing that.

What is The Substance about?

As far as the plot is concerned it’s the story of a body transformation gone wrong. Elisabeth Sparkle, played by Demi Moore has turned fifty. She was once an adored Academy Award winner but now she hosts a workout program on daytime television. And the male producer of that show, Harvey played by Dennis Quaid thinks Elisabeth is too old to be on television anymore.

Elisabeth is frustrated and upset but she finds out about something called the substance. This stuff allows you to become a “younger, more beautiful, more perfect” version of yourself. I probably don’t need to tell you this sounds too good to be true.

What the substance actually does is birth, in horrifyingly graphic visuals, a new person directly from your spinal column. The old you has to be nurtured and cared for while the new you gets to go out and be the younger, more attractive version of yourself.

When Elisabeth takes the substance, the new version calls herself Sue. Sue is popular with Harvey and lands a prime television gig immediately. But there’s a catch. Every seven days, Sue has to switch places with Elisabeth. The movie shows us the bad stuff that happens when manufacturers instructions are not followed exactly. And boy does it get ugly.

The Awards

Any time a horror film is up for an Oscar, I’m happy about that. It’s the most popular genre of film yet it wins the least Oscars because, well, sometimes people look down on horror. (Almost all the time actually) So it’s great that The Substance is up for five Oscars this year. It’s up for Best Makeup and Hairstyling, Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Actress, and Best Original Screenplay.

As far as makeup and hairstyling goes? There are major accolades to be given here. But it’s competing with Wicked and I’m not sure which will win.

I hate to say this but I don’t see a world where The Substance wins best picture. It has too much competition and it’s a genre film so the odds are stacked against it.

I could see a win for best director though. This film took a lot of work as far as directing goes and it pretty much nailed every scene.

For both best actress and best original screenplay I see a possible win. No guarantee but I don’t think anyone would be shocked if either of those went to this film.

The Substance in conclusion

While I am happy a horror picture is being considered, this is not a perfect film. For one, it’s making a statement about beauty standards but it’s using Demi Moore, often considered one of the most beautiful actresses of all time to do it. And she’s 62 but playing a 50 year old so she just might not be the best representative to talk about beauty here. But she does nail her part extremely well.

I will also say, the movie kind of plays into this but the men in the movie are allowed to look, be, and act as ugly as they want with no repercussions. That’s often true in the entertainment industry but there is also a male standard of beauty that is hardly addressed in the film. I would have liked to see that be touched on just a little more here.

And there is a big snub here as far as the Oscars go. Margaret Qualley as Sue is fantastic. But she didn’t get a nomination for best supporting actress and that’s a real shame.

Ultimately, if you can stand body horror you’ve got to see this movie. It’s great. But if you’re squeamish about such things, stay as far away as you can.

Awardingly yours,

Slick Dungeon

P.S. Want to see what I thought of the Best Picture winner last year? Check out my review of Oppenheimer!

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Anora

Anora
Mikey Madison stars as Anora
Mikey Madison stars as Anora

Welcome to Oscars day movie friends! Slick Dungeon here and I’m back to review another Oscar nominated film. This time I’ll be talking about Anora. It’s a fast paced and frenetic film with one standout performance. Let’s get into it!

What is Anora about?

On the most basic level this film is a Pretty Woman story gone wrong. It follows the story of Ani who is an exotic dancer who hooks up with the son of a Russian oligarch. Ani happens to speak Russian because her grandmother was Russian. Her given name is Anora but she goes by Ani and that’s where we get the name of the film. After Ani hooks up with this wealthy Russian, he wants to see her more and more. And she gladly obliges. Ultimately the guy proposes to Ani and they get married in Las Vegas. From her perspective, her feelings are genuine for this guy. But his family finds out that he’s married and they are not happy about it. They are especially unhappy she has a history of sex work.

The remainder of the film is basically the dude running away and Ani being bossed around by a bunch of thugs until they can find her husband again and straighten out the situation.

Every year there is one film in the Oscar pool that I just can’t figure out why it’s there. This year is an exception because I do think Anora is worthy of being considered. But I think this is the least worthy film in the bunch. I’m not saying it’s a bad film. Obviously lots of people enjoy it. I just think I would have preferred to see a movie like Love Lies Bleeding nominated instead.

To be fair to this movie, I am probably not the target demographic for it and that’s fine. No movie has to be made for my age cohort to be a great film. And also to be fair to the movie, there are a few reasons to watch the movie.

The good

One of the best reasons to watch the film is this deals with sex workers in a non-insulting and humanizing way. It’s not exploitative (although fair warning there is nudity if that offends you) and it doesn’t treat any of these workers as one dimensional. That’s something refreshing to see in a film made for adults.

But the best reason to watch Anora is tied up in one standout performance. And it’s my guess that this performance is most of the reason this movie is even considered for best picture. Mikey Madison has a stellar performance in the title role of Anora. She brings a hard edge to the character but also a kind heart in the more subtle scenes of the film.

While this movie wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, I think watching this film for Madison’s performance is a must.

The bad

Mikey Madison’s performance aside, I found a lot of this film to be a bit of a mess. There’s a ton of bilingual shouting in Russian and English which sometimes confuses the plot in an attempt to add in realism. That’s a somewhat minor issue but it became trying after a while.

There is a ton of kinetic energy in this film. If you’ve seen Uncut Gems you’ll know what I mean. It’s got a lot of motion to it, characters talk and move pretty fast and things are paced against the clock of the Russian parents returning. On its own that’s fine but it never seemed to go anywhere. At least with Uncut Gems there was one hell of a payoff at the end.

The ugly

The more I think about this movie, the more I realize there is one section that just killed it for me. Ivan who is the husband, played by Mark Eydelshteyn, at one point runs away. He’s separated from Ani. The only chance of escaping the thugs who have Ani is for her to find Ivan. It’s already been established early on in the movie that Ivan is a major party boy who goes to clubs constantly.

Yet there is a full third of the movie where everyone runs around chasing after Ivan looking everywhere but clubs he is known to frequent. And of course, they find him at the club where he met Ani. Why would you not start there? Just why? That whole section of the movie frustrated me to no end because it just went on and on. It felt like a waste of time, and ironically, Anora has one of the shortest run times of all the Oscar films this year.

Finally, I know this is subjective but I think this was supposed to be a comedy somehow? I didn’t really find anything funny here although there was a trend towards the ridiculous at times. But maybe I’m just not getting the joke, and that’s fine.

The awards

Anora is up for six Oscars this year. It’s nominated for Best Picture, Best Directing, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing.

I don’t see this getting best picture, directing, or supporting actor. Those were all fine but none so strong that I think it has a real shot. I could see a win for original screenplay or maybe even editing but it’s not my top guess here. The one spot I see a real chance is for Best Actress. Mikey Madison really does stand out and any parts of the film that work are because of her.

Anora in conclusion

This was my least favorite Oscar film this year. But it is still a decent movie. If you have time to watch it, watch it for the performance of Mikey Madison. If you happen to be streaming it, at the point you start to wonder if they’ll ever catch up with Ivan, do yourself a favor and fast forward a whole third of the film and save some time.

I’m sure there are lots of people who disagree with me on this one, and you’re totally entitled to your opinion, no shade from me. But I just don’t recommend this for anything other than the lead performance.

Awardingly yours,

Slick Dungeon

P.S. Want to see what I thought of the Best Picture winner last year? Check out my review of Oppenheimer!

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Wicked

Wicked
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in Wicked
Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande star in Wicked

Well hello there film fans, Slick Dungeon here. I’m back to review another Oscar contender and this time I’ll be talking about the big, bold, beautiful musical Wicked. Even if this doesn’t win best picture it is well worth watching. Let’s get into it.

What is Wicked about?

Wicked is the film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name. Confession time. I’ve loved the musical since I first saw it in previews at the Curran theater in San Francisco in 2003. I saw it with the original cast and was blown away by it. You might think this would predispose me to love the film but it’s actually the opposite. I went into the film assuming no one could perform the two main roles better than Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth.

So imagine my surprise when I watched the film and realized just how good Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande are in this movie. The whole film is just pure joy, start to finish.

As far as the story goes this is the story of the famous wicked witch of the west from The Wizard of Oz. We see where she came from, why she is the way she is, and how our original perception of her was mistaken. And it’s told in musical form. With some of the best Broadway songs around. This film is best enjoyed in a theater but you should see it however you can. Although, to be fair, if you hate musicals you won’t like this one either.

My only issue with the movie is the runtime. The theatrical production is about five minutes longer than the film but the film is just the first half of the play. Considering the excessive run times of other films this year (I’m look at you The Brutalist) I feel like they could have made this just a bit longer and released one movie instead of breaking it into two parts. But that’s a minor problem. And I’m looking forward to part two.

The awards

Wicked is up for an impressive ten Oscars. It’s up for Best Makeup & Hairstyling, Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Visual Effects, Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.

There are some categories here I think Wicked wins easily. Makeup and Hairstyling was fantastic for this movie. For original score? If Wicked doesn’t win that’s an absolute shame. Costume design should also be an easy win here.

Then there are some categories where I could see it winning but it’s not a guarantee. It has fantastic visual effects so I could see it winning but Dune: Part Two also had incredible visuals. The same goes for Best Sound and in that case, I think Dune is the more deserving of the two. This may win for best editing but it does have some competition from other films. Production design is great for this film but there were several films with a lot going on in the production design. I see Wicked winning but it’s a close call.

Then there are the categories where I’d like to see this win but I’m not sure it will. So far, this one is my favorite for Best Picture but The Brutalist would also be a good choice. Cynthia Erivo makes a strong case for best actress this year and I’d love to see her win. As far as supporting actress? Can we please just hand Ariana Grande the trophy now? Because she damn well deserves it. She absolutely nails the part of Galinda.

Wicked in conclusion

This is the most joyful film experience you’ll have this year and it’s not even close. This is full of bright, beautiful colors, it has a deep and meaningful story about friendship. And it has songs that will never leave your head, in the best way. And can this cast sing? Oh yes, they can. It’s a monumentally impressive film and I just wish I could see part two right now. Get out there and see this one as soon as you can.

Awardingly yours,

Slick Dungeon

P.S. Want to see what I thought of the Best Picture winner last year? Check out my review of Oppenheimer!

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Emilia Perez

Emilia Perez
Zoe Saldana shines in Emilia Perez
Zoe Saldana shines in Emilia Perez

Hello movie lovers, Slick Dungeon here! I’m back to review yet another Oscar contender. This time I’ll be talking about Emilia Perez. Out of all of the Oscar films I have watched so far, this one has surprised me the most. I didn’t know anything about the movie going into it so I was a bit shocked to learn Wicked is not the only musical up for best picture this year. Let’s get into it!

What’s Emilia Perez about?

Just to get this out of the way, this is a musical. I had no idea. If you hate musicals, don’t watch this. The story is pretty interesting but I’m not sure this entirely succeeds as a movie worthy of a best picture nod.

The film follows the story of two people. Rita Mora Castro played by Zoe Saldaña is a brilliant but undervalued attorney. The men in her office give her no credit even though she’s the one writing the arguments that win their cases. Zoe Saldaña really shines in her part here and I think she might be the best part of the movie.

The second person involved in the story is Juan “Manitas” Del Monte a cartel kingpin with loads of money and power. Manitas wants to make a major life change. He wants to become a woman. What I find interesting here is Manitas wants to change not to evade the law, although it certainly helps with that, but because Manitas truly feels like a woman.

It takes some effort but Rita arranges for Manitas to get the necessary operations and get out of the country. Manitas also has a wife and kids who he sends away for their protection. Rita fakes Manitas’ death and Manitas from that point on becomes Emilia Perez.

Emilia Perez is everything Manitas wasn’t. She’s kind and caring and tries to help people. But eventually Emilia decides she can’t be away from her children. From that point on things get complicated. I won’t ruin the movie for anyone but if you think reuniting with your children and wife when they all think your dead is a bad idea, you’d be right.

While the story is decent, it’s also kind of predictable. Most of the people singing here have decent voices and it works on that level. But I feel like there were probably other movies out more deserving of a best picture nomination than this one.

The Awards

This movie is up for a jaw dropping 13 Oscars. It’s up for Best International Feature, Best Original Score, Best Song x2, Best Sound, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Editing.

If Wicked could be up for Best Song it would win in that category. But since it can’t this movie has Best Song all but locked up, although it is splitting the vote against itself which could be a problem. This is not going to beat Wicked for best score either. This one or I’m Still Here is bound to win best international feature although my money is on the latter. I could see Karla Sofía Gascón winning for best actress but I know there’s been some controversy surrounding her so who knows? I do think Zoe Saldaña really deserves a win for her performance as best supporting actress. I’d be surprised if this won adapted screenplay, cinematography or best editing. There are just more impressive films out there this year, Wicked included.

Emilia Perez in conclusion

This is definitely a unique film. And it’s entertaining. The story is a little surprising but you can see most of it coming at you from a mile away. I think the reason this didn’t resonate with me personally as much is because of the predictability. The one thing that surprised me was that it was a musical. There are a few good performances here but other movies have some more impressive performances. And this year this movie is competing with the musical juggernaut Wicked. Unfortunately for Emilia Perez when it comes to musical comparisons, Wicked is going to win every time.

Awardingly yours,

Slick Dungeon

P.S. Want to see what I thought of the Best Picture winner last year? Check out my review of Oppenheimer!

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Conclave

Conclave
Ralph Fiennes stars in Conclave
Ralph Fiennes stars in Conclave

Hello movie fans, Slick Dungeon here! We’re just one day away from the Oscars so I’ve got another movie review for you. This time I’ll be talking about Conclave, the film that examines what happens when the pope dies and it’s time for a new one to be elected. Let’s get into it.

What’s Conclave about?

On the surface Conclave is a simple story. The pope dies and the cardinals elect a new pope. But the film has subtlety and nuance and brings into view what is mostly an opaque process. We see political maneuvering, secrets exposed, and surprising revelations with the main characters along the way. Leading the process is Cardinal Thomas Lawrence played brilliantly by Ralph Fiennes.

There are two basic factions of cardinals in the movie. One side are traditionalists who want the papacy to go back to some of the older attitudes of the church. On the other side are the liberals who want to move some of the ideas of the modern day world into the church.

In both of these factions there are people trying to become pope but they have to advocate for themselves very carefully. After all, it doesn’t seem very humble to say you want to be pope.

As the film progresses we watch as the tides shift one way or another and allies are made and broken. And the end has kind of a twist to it but I still haven’t decided if that twist was entirely necessary here. I don’t want to spoil the ending but I’ll just say there is something surprising about the person who is ultimately elected.

The Awards

This movie is up for a very healthy eight Oscars. It’s up for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, Best Editing, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.

While this is a contender for Best Picture, I don’t see it winning. It’s a great movie but it has some heavy competition. Ralph Fiennes has a strong shot at Best Actor and I would say he is in the top three to win. My bet is on Adrien Brody for the Brutalist. Isabella Rossellini is up for Best Supporting Actress. She does a fine job but she’s hardly in the movie so I don’t think she’ll win either. I could be wrong though. I could see this winning for Best Adapted Screenplay. It’s a subtle film done well. I could also see it winning Best Original Score as it fit perfectly. While the editing was fine, there were other films that had to be much harder to edit than this one this year. The production design is incredible in this movie. But I think that’s going to go to Wicked. Ditto for costume design.

While all these nominations are great, there was one snub here I can’t quite get over. Stanley Tucci is absolutely fantastic in this movie. But he was not nominated for Best Supporting Actor. I think that’s a shame because he steals every scene he is in.

Conclave in conclusion

This is a fantastic film and well worth watching. There are powerful performances here and it has a lot to say about faith, commitment, humility, and ambition. It’s also gorgeous to look at with an incredible production design and perfect costuming. Unfortunately for this movie, there are other movies out this year that did even better. But I strongly recommend checking this one out. It’s a great film.

Also, considering the state of health of the current pope, it has to be said this film could become a whole lot more relevant in short order. So the timing here is pretty interesting giving a lot more reason to watch it.

Awardingly yours,

Slick Dungeon

P.S. Want to see what I thought of the Best Picture winner last year? Check out my review of Oppenheimer!

Posted on by slickdungeon

A Complete Unknown

A Complete Unknown
A Complete Unknown tells the story of Bob Dylan
A Complete Unknown tells the story of Bob Dylan

Hey movie fans! We’ve come to the required musical biopic portion of the Oscars review. This year it’s the Bob Dylan story about one of the key moments in the history of music in A Complete Unknown. I’ll give you my thoughts about the movie but heads up if you don’t like folk music or you hate Bob Dylan songs, this movie is not gonna be for you.

What’s A Complete Unknown about?

If you are looking for a musical biopic that goes deep into the personal life of Bob Dylan, this isn’t it. When Dylan started his career he burst forth on the folk music scene along with people like Pete Seeger and Joan Baez. But Dylan’s vision was larger than that. We do see a few glimpses of his turbulent dating life at the time but the movie focuses on the events leading up to the Newport Folk Festival in 1965. To put it simply, he brought an electric guitar to an acoustic fight.

And he won. Bob Dylan is a music legend who was right when he said, “The times they are a changin’.” Dylan used his influence to get his songs out to the larger public and it was a very controversial move at the time. It almost seems silly now but Bob Dylan could play more than one type of song. But along the way, there are some people he didn’t treat as well as he could have.

Timothée Chalamet stars in the film and puts on a mumbly affectation that works quite well. And he does the vocal work in the movie as well. And he does a great job but for those of us who are a little older, he’s never going to be Bob Dylan. Why? Well, seems a little mean to say but his voice, like his face, is not rough enough. Bob Dylan seemed like the voice of a generation because he looked and sounded like the average guy.

Still, it’s quite an impressive performance and it’s worth watching for that reason.

The awards

This film is nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound, and Best Costume Design.

As far as sound goes, well there’s a lot of music here so I could see it winning. But I still think Dune: Part Two makes a better case though. I will not be surprised at all if this takes Best Actor but my personal pick for that is Adrien Brody for The Brutalist. (I suppose I could change my mind as I keep watching these films but that’s where I am right now). Edward Norton has a great turn here as Pete Seeger. But I think the best performance here is from Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez. She plays a complex role with a good amount of subtlety here. I don’t think this is going to take home Best Picture or Best Director. While this film is ambitious, there are several this year that are more ambitious. I also think it’s not taking home best costume design, although the clothing here is very believable for the period.

A Complete Unknown in conclusion

Honestly, I’m tired of the musical biopic at this point. But I will give this film this much. It actually focuses on the music. The music is the central conflict here rather than just telling Bob Dylan’s life story. In fact, almost none of Dylan’s life story (outside of his dating life) is told here. That part was a little refreshing. The movie is worth your time but there’s no need to rush out to theaters for this one. When you’re in a Bob Dylan mood, give it a shot on a streaming service. I enjoyed the movie but it doesn’t feel that consequential to me.

Awardingly yours,

Slick Dungeon

P.S. Want to see what I thought of the Best Picture winner last year? Check out my review of Oppenheimer!

Posted on by slickdungeon

The Brutalist

Adrien Brody stars in The Brutalist
Adrien Brody stars in The Brutalist
Adrien Brody stars in The Brutalist

Hey film fans, Slick Dungeon here! With a massive running time of 3 hours and 35 minutes, The Brutalist is by far the longest of the Best Picture nominees this year. I’ll be reviewing this movie here so you can decide if it is worth an entire half day to watch.

What is The Brutalist about?

The film tells the story of a man named László Tóth played by Adrien Brody. He has survived the holocaust and made it to America to live with his cousin in Philadelphia. His wife and niece are also survivors but they are still in Europe at the start of the film. Tóth was an architect prior to the war and through his cousin he meets Harrison Lee Van Buren a wealthy American industrialist played by Guy Pearce. He is hired to complete an ambitious project but there are complications along the way.

The film is divided into two main parts, with an overture at the beginning, and an epilogue at the end added on. The first half of the story tells what happens when Tóth begins to work for Van Buren and tries to get his wife and niece to reunite with him in America. The second half shows what happens after Tóth’s wife and niece make it to America.

The overture, first and second parts of the film are beautiful and tragic all at once. The acting here is amazing and there is a reason three actors are nominated for the film. Hands down, this is Adrien Brody’s best work since The Pianist. And Guy Pearce is a surprisingly good supporting character. Felicity Jones also has a standout performance as Tóth’s wife.

But there is one major problem with the movie. The epilogue adds far more questions than it answers. It’s tonally different from the film and it never answers a huge question left at the very end of the second part of the movie. I would have been okay with an ambiguous ending but with the epilogue it feels to me like they didn’t complete the story. And it’s strange because the speech delivered in the epilogue is actually quite moving. It just feels like it skipped over way too much for the audience here.

Other than that, this is an amazing film. And it is worth watching for the acting alone. Just know you’ll need a heavy time commitment here.

The awards

This one is up for a whopping 10 Oscars. It’s up for Best Original Score, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Supporting Actor, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, and Best Production Design.

Personally I don’t think this takes Best Picture. But I think Adrien Brody has a great chance to take Best Actor. He is phenomenal in it. And I think Guy Pearce and Felicity Jones both have good shots at their awards. This might be the best film editing, just for the sheer length of the movie. And I would not be surprised if it won best original screenplay. For the other categories though, I don’t think it’s likely although I could see Brady Corbet sneaking in for best director.

The Brutalist in conclusion

This is an amazing achievement in film. The acting is so good in this movie that the performances are a little jaw dropping. And it is an emotional roller coaster. But don’t be surprised if the last bit of it leaves you frustrated over threads left dangling. I won’t say don’t watch all the way to the end but the epilogue really does have some problems here.

If you watched this one, what did you think of the ending? Let me know in the comments!

Awardingly yours,

Slick Dungeon

P.S. Want to see what I thought of the Best Picture winner last year? Check out my review of Oppenheimer!