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brendanmckenzie
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57 Seconds (2023)
This movie is so bad it's amazing
I had such a great time with this movie just because it was so ridiculous. You don't normally get a good BAD movie, but this here is one of the few.
Acting is fine, dialogue is atrocious. At times I think some of it was even improvised. So many unintentionally funny moments. One of the most unnatural relationship progressions I've ever seen, and yet I'm also rooting for them because it's just so ridiculous.
I couldn't tell if it was self aware bad, but I don't think it was. Either way I enjoyed this movie for all the reasons it wasn't intended (I think) and you will too. Please go and watch this movie.
Scream VI (2023)
Scooby Doo for adults
If you've seen the film, and you remember the final 15 mins you'll understand what I mean.
I had a good time and it was certainly entertaining. Laughed out loud, grabbed my partner's hand during the tense moments, but overall it felt like something was missing (and no, I'm not talking about Neve Campbell).
One thing I've always commended the Scream FRANCHISE for is its characters and their ability to make smart choices under pressure. Of course this doesn't apply to everyone, but there's always been this self awareness to the series when a character is making a dumb decision, and while certain scenes do address this, most don't.
In NYC, one of the largest cities in the world, it takes the police a century to arrive at the scene of a crime. Ghostface feels unstoppable even when he/she/they shouldn't. This is America, no? How do these traumatized survivors not own a single gun? And am I the only one who feels like Gale's story arc was completely botched upon her introduction into this film? I nearly cried when she made amends with Sydney in the last film because it showed her character growth from the first instalment to now, which was huge. Someone explain to me how it makes sense that someone as big a legend as herself is still working as a news reporter. Furthermore she is incredibly insensitive to the victims and serial killings she is all too familiar with.
I could go on and on but I don't want to. I left the cinema feeling disappointed. It was the first time I felt like everything was far too convenient for the killer to succeed and the characters were far too dumb to know what to do in any of these situations in order to survive.
So dear writers, go the extra mile next time. Please. Be smarter. Make these people smarter. Then make Ghostface think even one step ahead of them. You know? Don't unintentionally insult the intelligence of your audience next time. Scream is a FRANCHISE famous for its self awareness, but also its characters who are so relatable because they make the choices we want them to in order to survive. And when they don't survive, it's because Ghostface outsmarted them, and us. And that's what makes him scary.
This time, I was rooting for Ghostface and not the victims so much (besides Gale, bc I will always love Gale). He had it easy this time. If there's a next time, remember how important this story is to the audience, and please please, take your time, and write that incredible story I know y'all are capable of doing!
In any case, thanks for giving this series a new life and for another fun and entertaining instalment if nothing else.
Tiempo compartido (2018)
"There is nothing worse than being alone in this world"
Time Share is writer and director Sebastian Hoffman's second feature film (his first; Halley 2012), a dark comedy/mystery/thriller available now on Netflix.
"Do it for him" Gloria says, holding onto Andres in the darkness of their home. He's been weeping. We later find out that Gloria and Andres lost their son.
5 Years Later
Introducing: The Alvarez family. Pedro, Eva and their son Pedrito are newcomers at the Everfield International Time Share. Soon, they are interrupted by another family, the Bonillas. Abel, the father of the Bonillo family, insists that they too booked the time share and also possess a key, just like Pedro. Moises, an Everfield manager, offers Pedro a deal - one month free later if he chooses to accept the offer and stay with the Bonillo family, who he finds to be primitive and dumb. He agrees to stay with them and resolves that he doesn't need to spend much time in the villa anyway.
From the beginning, it appears that Pedro is the only one having a difficult time adjusting - unable to relax and enjoy the resort, while his wife and son unwind and make friends with the Bonillo family members. Pedro is so focused on making his family vacation perfect and avoiding the Bonilla's that he never loosens up. But his resistance might pay off.
Gloria and her husband Andres who are both employees of Everfield, are making their way up in the timeshare business. Gloria is preparing to pitch a sale to the Alvarez family, which is going to be her big break. Her husband on the other hand is still emotionally caught up in the death of their son.
In one scene, an Everfield manager is coaching Everfield Employees on how to use personal traumatic stories as a way to win over buyers. He even encourages Gloria to conjure up her feelings over her deceased son and use them as an asset to her sales pitch. Andres is hurt by this and discovers more about the secrets of Everfield on his own. He learns that here, "you either become waste, or you are spared." Gloria is already too far gone.
As the story progresses, Pedro becomes more frustrated by how close his wife and son are becoming to the Bonillos. It all seems innocent, but to Pedro, something nefarious is going on - the timeshare and the Bonillos are trying to take his family away from him. He is the only one who can see this and he must protect them.
In Time Share, our characters are divided by two beliefs. Pedro and Andres who are devoted to their families - and their wives who are driven by the promise of "paradise". A sort of jovial sounding score adds to the absurdity of the mood, reminding me of "The Lobster". A gorgeous and tropical setting, dense with lush green foliage is presented in beautiful, still wide shots coloured by glowing neon blues and reds - blue being the most prominent, while red brews ominously in the foreground. Whether it's a hellish reflection on the palm trees or a scarlet light cast on the looming pyramid itself, the colour red seems to represent the ill-intentioned Everfield; Ever-present and always watching.
Although there is a story here and it is interesting, there weren't too many moments that made me feel much of anything. While Pedro's character, who slowly deteriorates into insane paranoia over losing his family is somewhat comical, it isn't enough to carry the weight of this packed film. And to be honest, I just feel bad for him. He does something really nice for his family, but doesn't seem to get much appreciation for it.
Whether the choice is REAL family, or the Everfield family, there is "Nothing worse than being alone in this world". The message is clear, but the film itself is flat and leaves me feeling disconnected. The colours and shots are much more vibrant and captivating than its characters, but it isn't enough so that I would watch this one again. I would like to see what Sebastian Hoffman comes up with next time, because it's clear he is an artist with a unique vision.