'Hotel Artemis' Review

Hotel Artemis is a movie that I was pretty confident that I would enjoy. Everything about it is right up my alley. Neo-noir dystopian future? Check. Hyper-violent action scenes? Check. Goldblum? You betcha. Thankfully my high expectations din't lead to disappointment because Hotel Artemis is great.

Set in 2028 Los Angeles, where society has been torn apart by riots and street violence, we follow the story of 'The Nurse' (Foster), whom, with the help of her man mountain orderly Everest (Bautista) runs the 'Hotel Artemis' - a secret, members only emergency room for criminals. Tensions start to rise as the patients begin to rub each other the wrong way, threatening to break the rules that the establishment is based upon. The situation reaches boiling point when news that the infamous Wolf King of LA (Goldblum) is on his way. 

The cast of this film is absolutely stacked, and the interplay between them is one of the film's strong points. The differing personalities of Charlie Day's obnoxious arms dealer, Sofia Boutella's cold hearted assassin and Sterling K. Brown's calculated bank robber bounce of each other really well and lead to some humourus yet tense interactions. They all have different agendas, not all of which are going to allow for overlap. Jeff Goldblum is suitably menacing and unhinged as the apparent big bad. Dave Bautista is ever present and as usual he is responsible for most of the film's biggest laughs. 

The crowning jewel, though, is Jodie Foster, who is truly outstanding. Beneath the hard exterior shell that she portrays to her patients (she greets most of the terrible events that come her way with flippancy - 'Just another Wednesday'), is a fragile, vulnerable old lady who has been through immense tragedy and become tied to the hotel herself as though it's a part of her. There is huge pathos associated with her character and Foster convey's it perfectly. You can sense the weight of responsibility upon her. Even when surrounded by some truly awful people, her willingness to help people is rock solid, which further endears us to her. Her performance really elevates this movie, and she fells like the linchpin that holds the whole thing together. 

The action throughout is also strong. We get brief glimpses of extremely visceral violence, but most set pieces are stylised and almost cartoonish. They're not edited as well as some other examples of modern fight scenes, but the idea of cramming such dangerous people in such a confined space adds another element to the stakes and the impact of the action. In fact, the Hotel itself is just as important as it's inhabitants. The blood stained cushions and rickety elevator feel a thousand miles away from the high tech world outside, but this only adds to the intrigue and mystery about the screws the hotel is hiding. 

I feel like I've been saying this a lot lately, but this is yet another impressive directorial debut, this time from Drew Pearce. Hotel Artemis is a stylish, uber-violent action film, which main strength lies within the interactions of the stellar cast, anchored by an excellent performance from Jodie Foster.

4/5 Stars


*Also please be sure to follow me on Twitter (@T_F_T_S_R) and Letterboxd (theboymarshall) for more film related fun.

'Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again' Review

I'm not ashamed to admit that I have a certain affection for Mamma Mia. I think it boils down to the idea that it's so bad that it's good. In some ways, the sequel is much of the same. However, there are some seemingly intentional precautions taken that lift this movie to heights that the first one never reached.

The story is split between the past and the present day. As Sophie (Seyfried) prepares for her own daughter to enter the world, we learn more of her mother's story through flashbacks of a young Donna (James) arriving on the island. The interwoven stories are actually executed really well, with certain scenes intentionally mirroring prior/future events. There is good balance between the screen time of the old guard and their younger counterparts, although I personally found the flashback sequences far more interesting that the continuation of the present story. One of the biggest improvements is that the whole affair feels more knowing. Fun is poked at the preposterousness of the plot in a way that wasn't the first time round. It certainly feels more like we are laughing with the movie rather than at it. But even with the self referential tone, there are still some really emotional moments. In particular, the ending scene in the church caught me of guard with it's tenderness and heart.

One of the strongest draws to Mamma Mia was it's extremely likeable cast, which is only further bolstered by the new recruits. Jeremy Irvine, Josh Dylan and Hugh Skinner all do solid jobs of capturing the essence of Sam, Bill and Harry, but the lovely Lily James is the star. Her heavenly voice and bubbly screen presence are responsible for much of the films joy. Most of the original cast up their game too. Julie Walters and Christine Baranski are both hilarious. Brosnan's improvement vocally is pretty impressive - he sounds far less like a terrible David Bowie impersonator and offers genuinely emotional moments. In fact, the film as a whole does a good job of making you feel exactly what you should in any given moment. Special mentions must go to Omid Djalili, who's expertly dead-pan persona steals every scene he is in.

My criticism of the film might be due to a fault in myself rather than the movie. I'm a fairly passive Abba fan - I enjoy a lot of their songs but I'm by no means a super fan. As a result, a lot of the songs were unfamiliar to me. Now I understand that I would be a mistake to simply repeat the soundtrack from the first movie song for song. Variety is the spice of life and all that. Yet, another part of me feels like you've got to stick to the hits. Other than the obvious: Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, Fernando etc, there weren't many songs I recognised which left me a feeling a little disengaged during some of the musical numbers. But as I said, that's probably my fault. One the whole the music is really good and there are noticeable improvements to the choreography.

It may not be spectacular, but Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again is a solid movie. It's a definite improvement from the first movie - the performances, the musical set pieces and the overall tone are all significantly better. As far as feel-good, summer movies go, it's certainly one of the better ones.

3/5 Stars

*Also please be sure to follow me on Twitter (@T_F_T_S_R) and Letterboxd (theboymarshall) for more film related fun.

'The Incredibles 2' Review

The Incredibles is one of Pixar's many nailed on 5 star classics. It's popularity made the possibility of a sequel a near certainty. Now, after taking several forms in the development merry-go-round over a whopping 14 year gap, the Parr family are finally back in action. Whilst Incredibles 2 doesn't quite reach the same heights as the original, it's still a hugely entertaining movie.

Unlike the 14 year break between films, the story picks up immediately after the first film ends. Supers are still illegal and their reputations are being further tarnished by media. The Parr's fear they will be forced back into hiding, until they are approached by two wealthy benefactors who want to put superheroes 'back in the sunlight'. The catch is that whilst Elastigirl is out trying to catch the mysterious 'Screenslaver', Mr Incredible is left at home to deal with all the obstacles that come with a anxious teenage girl, a hyperactive pre-teen boy and polymorphic baby.

It was a smart move from Brad Bird to resist moving the universe forwards along with the real world. The opening scene of this film comes literally seconds after the epilogue of the first with the Underminer attacking the city. Whilst it might have been fun to the the superheroes with a bit more autonomy (we undoubtedly will down the line), continuing the story in the already well established world gives this movie a point of difference from other superhero films. The heroes' pent up frustrations at the hostility and scepticism thrown their way and their subsequent attempts to break free from them was one of the first film's most joyful elements and it's good to see that concept continued here.

Bird also develops the family drama aspect of the series to good effect here. Pixar movies in general have always been great at blending the ordinary with the extraordinary and this film is a prime example. Among the action and chaos, the movie isn't afraid to slow down and show some more intimate family moments. Certain beats like Mr Incredible struggling to help Dash with his homework because they have 'changed math' and Helen and Bob discussing the intricacies of her new job through mouthfuls of toothpaste feel relatable and familiar, which makes the dynamic of the family all the more genuine.

The action throughout this film is really great and there are some extremely entertaining and humorous set pieces. All of Elastigirl's new assignments are engaging and tense, keeping up with the Bond esque tone established in the first movie. The powers of the Parr family and the new roster of heroes are used in some really clever and inventive ways, with Void being my pick of the new bunch. The star of the show, though, is Jack-Jack. His seemingly unlimited range of powers are at the forefront of many of the movies best scenes, including one particular sequence with a racoon that had my howling with laughter. He is hilarious (almost always unintentionally) and I'm eager to see what they do with his character going forward.

If I had one complaint, it would have to be the villain. The limitations of the antagonist might be the only thing separating this film from the quality of the first. Yet, whilst Syndrome was an original and interesting villain, Screenslaver falls a little flat. The idea of the character is a fairly intriguing one, but the 'reveal' of their real identity comes far too late into the story and is signposted so heavily throughout that even the youngsters will see it coming.

Overall, I had a great time with The Incredible 2. It may have a weak villain, but the enthralling action, charming family dynamic and Jack-Jack's antics ('Jack-Jantics' if you will) ensure this is a highly entertaining film that the whole family can enjoy.

4/5 Stars

*Also please be sure to follow me on Twitter (@T_F_T_S_R) and Letterboxd (theboymarshall) for more film related fun.

'Jurassic World:Fallen Kingdom' Spoiler Free Review

Jurassic World is, to me at least, one of the most distinctly average movies of the last decade. It did a decent enough job of kicking off this new set of Jurassic films and there are a bunch of fun moments in it, but there's no denying that it's a flawed film. Still, that didn't stop it from becoming one of 2015's biggest financial hits and making the possibility of a sequel a near certainty. Whilst Fallen Kingdom suffers many of the same pitfalls as it's predecessor, it's certainly an improvement from the last one and is a film that I had a really good time with.

As a volcanic eruption threatens to wipe out the remaining life of Isla Nublar, Claire (Howard) and Owen (Pratt) are enlisted to assist a rescue operation to evacuate the dinosaurs from the island. However, more sinister motivations are at play that result in some good old fashioned dino-madness to ensue.

One of the strongest elements of Jurassic World was the dinosaurs. Thankfully, they are still the main attractions in the sequel. There's a strong blend of returning and new breeds which are all very entertaining. The new big bad 'Indoraptor' is suitably terrifying. The Stygimoloch (look, I had to google it okay - it's the one with the big dome on it's head) is a bit of a breakout star. The creatures are used in some innovative ways and are at the centre of the movie's two best scenes.

As hinted at by the promotional material, the standout set pieces are the chaotic escape from the volcano and the mansion sequence. J.A Bayona does a terrific job with both of these moments. He has expressed in recent interviews his desire to use the third act in the mansion to emulate the horror elements of Jurassic Park, which he has certainly achieved. It's not scary as the original, but the gradual building of tension is used well and there are plenty of effective scares. The escape from the island is also great and a welcome burst of action after a fairly slow start.

However, this movie is another example of overexposure in marketing having a detrimental effect on a film. With only a few exceptions, all of the best moments are in the trailers. The impact of certain action beats, jokes and 'twists' in the story is significantly lessened by the fact you've already seen them, which is a real shame.

Whilst the dinosaurs are used very well throughout, the human characters still aren't really up to scratch. I'm a fan of both of the lead actors, but the charisma of Howard and Pratt only goes so far. A lot of the writing for their character's dialogue is stilted and cheesy. I often find my self struggling to identify any defining trait or motivation of their's, or any other character for that matter. The new cast members over little more, with the new sidekicks Franklin and Zia offering annoyance rather than the intended levity. Rafe Spall does a solid job as the antagonist, but he's just a handlebar moustache away from being the most clichéd of movie villains. Even the painfully brief return of Jeff Goldblum as Dr Ian Malcom can't save the human roster. The saving grace is young Isabella Sermon, who does a great job.

Fallen Kingdom is on the whole a really solid movie. It has issues - the plot suffers from pacing issues and the human characters are pretty poor. But let's face it, we aren't there for them. We're there for the dinosaurs and they really shine.

3/5 Stars

*Also please be sure to follow me on Twitter (@T_F_T_S_R) and Letterboxd (theboymarshall) for more film related fun.

'Cargo' Review

Netflix is having a huge impact on the cinematic landscape. The appeal of having a movie streamed straight to the comfort of your own home in undeniable. Unfortunately, as of the late the quality of the Netflix originals hasn't been that high. Bright, Mute and The Cloverfield Paradox were all pretty underwhelming. Thankfully, Cargo is a step in the right direction, as it's a really great movie.

After becoming infected in the aftermath of virulent pandemic and being given only 48 hours left to live, Andy (Martin Freeman) must struggle across the Australian Outback to try and find a new home for his baby daughter.

Considering this is the directorial debut of both Ben Howling and Yolanda Ramke, the themes and tropes of this movie are handled in really mature and assured ways. It is, technically, a zombie movie which is usually enough to make me groan. To me, zombies have always been an unsparing and boring movie villain, that have already been done to death. Yet this film, rather similarly to A Quiet Place, puts the monsters on the back-burner to let the audience's main focus be the family tragedy at the heart of the story. The zombies are very apparent as a side effect of the disease in this world, but their presence never detracts from character driven story, which makes the narrative all the more compelling.

In fact, there are a few noticeable similarities to A Quiet Place (which is a big compliment considering how much I loved that movie), from an ex member of The Office in the lead role to the creative methods of staying quiet to avoid detection from the creatures. Speaking of the lead, Martin Freeman is really great here. The whole film is centred around some complex human character arcs and Freeman's desperation to protect his daughter at all costs is the crowning jewel. There are strong performances throughout in fact, with special mention going to Simone Landers as Thoomi. The insight into the lives of aboriginal Australians living in the Outback is one of the film's most intriguing elements and she is a big part of that. She also spends much of her screen time going to toe to toe with Freeman, which she handles very well.

Overall, I really enjoyed Cargo. The restraint shown by the creators to hold back on jumps scares and the overcrowding of zombies leaves the story plenty of room to breathe. It's a gripping family drama with some very touching moments and a terrific central performance from Martin Freeman.

4/5 Stars


*Also please be sure to follow me on Twitter (@T_F_T_S_R) and Letterboxd (theboymarshall) for more film related fun.

'Solo:A Star Wars Story' Spoiler Free Review

The odds seemed stacked against Solo from the very beginning. When it was first announced, it was labeled 'pointless' by many. Admittedly, even myself. Then there was trouble caused when Phil Lord and Chris Miller left the project due to 'creative differences'. Next, stories emerged from within Disney that they were preparing for Solo to bomb at the box office and even it's creators had no faith in the project. Given all that, it's miraculous that Solo: A Star Wars Story is as good as it is. It's certainly nothing groundbreaking, but it's a perfectly entertaining and fun movie.

Much of the slickness and brevity of this film must be credited to charisma of it's leading man. Alden Ehrenreich faced the near impossible task of taking on a role that Harrison Ford perfected back in the original trilogy, but he breathes new life into the character. He has pluck and charm by the bucket load and it's fascinating to see a more wide-eyed and hopeful Han. Ehrenreich deserves some serious kudos for sticking to his guns and never once falling into the trap of just trying to impersonate Ford, he gives the role his own spin and is extremely successful in doing so. So much so that I'd quite like to see him don the jacket again. Alden's performance is elevated even further by his interactions with his furry friend Chewbacca. Witnessing the humble beginnings of their friendship is one of the most joyous elements of the film and gave me numerous goofy smiles.

This movie jumps around different locations and events a lot, keeping the audience constantly on their toes. As in Rogue One, we get to see the more grim and gritty corners of the Star Wars universe, that the episodic films tend to omit. We get an industrial wasteland on Corellia, a WWI esque war zone and the mountainous snow planet is home to arguably the best set piece in the film - the train heist. The action throughout is well-scaled and given a real sense of purpose and excitement. Disney also deserve some credit for being willing to zoom out and tell a 'fun little one'. Without the presence of a mega-weapon or the fate of the world being at stake, you're able to just kick back and have buckle up for the ride.

However, the constant switching between time and place means that eventually different ideas and plot threads begin to tangle and seem to become stuck by the third act. Along the way, some of the supporting cast get lost amongst the frantic pace of the story. Characters such a Thandie Newton's demolitions expert Val and Phoebe Waller-Bridge's (of Fleabag fame) social justice droid L3-37 dip in and out too quickly to really be enjoyed and the case could even be made that even Lando, who's played superbly by Donald Glover to nobody's surprise, feels just a little under utilised. Yet, on the whole the cast are all solid, with Harrelson and Bettany being the real standouts.

After the controversy of The Last Jedi you can hardly blame Disney for returning to a more formulaic and safe narrative. But despite the familiarity of the story, there is still plenty of fun to be had. This is a brisk and lively adventure, which is propelled by the performance of Ehrenreich at it's core.

3/5 Stars

'Deadpool 2' Spoiler Free Review

Making a good sequel is an extremely difficult task. As Wade is eager to remind you, Deadpool was such a runaway success that it became one of the highest grossing R rated movies of all time. How exactly are you supposed follow that up? Well, Deadpool 2's answer is to go bigger, bolder and ballsier. All too often when a sequel attempts to up the ante, it ends up losing sight of what made it's predecessor so great. Thankfully, this is not the case here. Deadpool 2 is a full-on and hilarious romp.

After tragedy befalls Wade Wilson (Reynolds), Mr Pool must enlist the help of some familiar faces and his newly assembled X-Force to help protect a teenage mutant (the always entertaining Julian Dennison) from Cable (Brolin), a fellow mercenary from the future.

The most noticeable difference between this movie and the first is the scale that the significantly larger budget allows for. Everything is bigger: the action, the gag reel, Deadpool's appetite for cocaine - everything has been dialled to eleven and impressively so. Gone are the days of leaving the ammo bag in the taxi 'by mistake' and in it's place we get some frantic, full-throttle set pieces. As you might expect from the man that brought you John Wick and that kickass hallway fight in Atomic Blonde, David Leitch crafts some delightfully brutal fight scenes that show off both the physicality of Cable (seriously, how is Brolin in such great shape at ... he's 50?! God damn!) and the invincibility of Deadpool. There are numerous fun and engaging action beats throughout - one chase sequence in particular is truly enthralling. You could argue that showcasing set pieces of this scale detracts from some of the simplistic charm of Deadpool, which may at times be true, but when the action is this good it's hard to care.

Yet, amongst the explosions, the humour that made everyone fall in love with this character shines through. I might even dare to say it's funnier than the first. There is something for everyone to laugh at. Extremely graphic slapstick? Check. Unapologetically crass testicle humour? By the barrel load. The jabs at the expense of movie studios and the superhero genre are back in full force. The movie also deserves credit for leaning fully into the bizarreness of the source material and including some of the more ridiculous characters in the X-Men roster. There are so many jokes and they are pretty much all funny. Personal highlights included the end credit scenes (which are oh so worth sticking around for) and an extended gag in the middle of the film that provoked the biggest laugh I've heard in a cinema in a very long time.

Perhaps the most surprising element of this movie is the inclusion of some surprisingly emotional moments. Between the curse words and dick jokes we get some really moving moments between the characters and the creators show some real restraint to avoid undercutting the tenderness of these moments with a joke, which gives this sequel a sense of stakes that the first may have lacked at times. In fact, all the character work is really strong. Josh Brolin gives a sinister and menacing performance, whilst putting in the effort to distinguish Cable from a certain other big baddie that he played recently. Zazie Beetz really shines as Domino and her personality elevates her character to one of the stars of the film. Of the retuning members, TJ Miller and Stefan Kapicic's Colossus are the standouts. Despite the strength of the supporting cast though, this is still very much Ryan Reynold's show, as he continues to demonstrate why he was born to play the merc' with a mouth.

Deadpool 2 is an extremely entertaining movie, without even a whiff of 'bigger-and-better-itus'. It takes everything that you loved about the first outing and quadruples it, adding some fresh and exciting elements along the way. It may even be better than the first.

4/5 Stars