zondag 24 maart 2024

Book Review - Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl

Title:
Neverworld Wake
Author: Marisha Pessl
Genre: Young Adult/ Mystery/ Fantasy
Published: 2023
 
Description: Once upon a time, back at Darrow-Harker School, Beatrice Hartley and her five best friends were the cool kids, the beautiful ones. The the shocking death of Jim, their creative genius and Beatrice’s boyfriend, changed everything.
 
One year after graduation, Beatrice is returning to Wincroft - the seaside estate where they spent so many nights sharing secrets, crushes, plans to change the world – hoping she’ll get to the bottom of the dark questions gnawing at her about Jim’s death.
 
But as the night plays out in a haze of stilted jokes and unfathomable silence, Beatrice senses she’s never going to know what really happened.
 
The a mysterious man knocks on the door. Blithely, he announces the impossible: tim for hem has become stuck, snagged on a splinter that can only be removed if the former friends make the harshest of decisions.
 
Now Beatrice has one last shot at answers… and at life. And so begins the Neverworld Wake.
 
Review: “Neverworld Wake” is a book that takes you to a world between reality and illusion. I didn’t have any expectations, but the book took me by surprise.
 
Beatrice hasn’t seen her friends in a year. Once they were a close group and very popular in school, until the unexpected death of one of them changed everything. When Beatrice is invited to a private party with the old group, she decides to go, hoping to learn more about her boyfriend Jim’s death. When there, a mysterious man knocks on the door. He tells them they are stuck in time, a problem that can only be solved if they make an impossible decision.
 
I do read Young Adult novels from time to time. This book felt so much more mature though. The story is very original and I love the constant mysterious atmosphere. You have no idea what will happen next and it has some good twists (besides from the ending, I kind of predicted that one). But still, the book didn’t blow me away and there were some moments that dragged.
 
Rating: 3,5/ 5

zaterdag 23 maart 2024

Movie Review - Road House

Director:
Doug Liman
Genre: Action/ Crime
Runtime: 121 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Connor McGregor, Billy Magnussen, Jessica Williams, Lukas Cage, Austin Post
 
Description: Ex-UFC fighter Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a bouncer at a Florida Keys roadhouse, only to discover that this paradise is not all it seems.

Review: These days, Hollywood finds its inspiration in old films, deciding to remake a lot of them. “Road House” is one such remake that gives a popular film of the past a modern twist. This often does not lead to the most original and good films, but maybe this action spectacle will make you forget about the 1989 version with Patrick Swayze. News flash: it will not.  

In “Road House” we meet Elwood Dalton, a former UFC fighter who takes a job as a bar in Florida. This bar is troubled, with guests constantly breaking into brawls. But Dalton finds out there is more behind this constant violence.

Of course, you should not take this movie too serious. The film in general looks fine, the fights are nicely choreographed and it has some smooth editing. But aside from Jake Gyllenhaal’s character Dalton, you don’t get to know any of the side characters. Giving them no background, they are just there, all very disposable characters.

Jake Gyllenhaal carries this one through. He is one of my favorite actors, he is in some of my most beloved movies. But even he could not save “Road House”.  

The antagonist in the story is Knox, a psychopath who uses violence just for the sake of violence. He is portrayed by MMA fighter Conor McGregor. Please, for the love of God, never let this man on a film set ever again. Talking about over-acting. He feels like a caricature. His character is most implausible thing you will find in an already implausible film.

You are left with nothing but silly entertainment. Thank goodness for Jake Gyllenhaal, but I prefer the 1989 version.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

Movie Review - Anyone But You

Director:
Will Gluck
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 103 minutes
Year: 2024
Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Alexandra Shipp, Hadley Robinson, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Gata
 
Description: After an amazing first date, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben’s (Glen Powell) fiery attraction turns ice-cold, until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.

Review: Bea and Ben meet by accident, which leads to a spontaneous date. Due to an awkward misunderstanding, things end badly and they never see each other again… until Bea’s sister gets married to Ben’s friend. The wedding takes place in Australia where Ben and Bea are forced to be around each other. Their plan: pretend to be a couple to solve their problems.

It's a enemies-to-lovers and fake dating trope that has been done many times before. It has been done better, but definitely worse too. A romcom fails when the two lead have no chemistry. That’s one thing they do have: Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney are great together and sparks fly. There are genuine romantic (and sensual) moments as well as good jokes. So, with these elements “Anyone But You” wins.

But, it’s just not refreshing enough. And way too many romcom cliches. Which I don’t mind, when done well. It’s also way too predictable. And aside from Ben and Bea, no character feels like an actual person. They feel like fictional characters and have conversations that would never be real. It feels cartoonish.

It is a typical romcom, perfectly watchable with two fun leads. But also pretty forgettable.

Rating: 2,5/ 5

80s Movie Review - Terms of Endearment

Director:
James L. Brooks
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 132 minutes
Year: 1983
Starring: Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, Danny DeVito, John Lithgow

Description: Follows the hard-to-please Aurora (Shirley MacLaine) looking for love and her daughter’s (Debra Winger) family problems.

I WATCHED THIS MOVIE FOR MY 2024 MOVIE CHALLENGE.
WEEK 12: A FILM THAT HAS WON AN ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST PICTURE
 
Review: Aurora and her daughter Emma are all by themselves after their husband/ father passes away. Emma is about to get married to Flap, a man Aurora finds not to be right for her. Flap also seems to hate Aurora. While Emma marries him, seeing that he is boorish and unfaithful, Aurora tries to live a life without her daughter. Eventually falling for her next door neighbor Garrett.

“Terms of Endearment” won 5 Academy Awards in 1984. Shirley MacLaine won for her role as Aurora and Jack Nicholson for his portrayal of Garrett. But it also took home the Best Picture Award, which I really don’t understand. Unpopular opinion, but I did not like this movie and I don’t believe it’s really that good. The fact that it has drama in it and I did not care about a single character, says enough. This is one of those Oscar-winning movies that I just can’t get behind.

Rating: 2 / 5

90s Movie Review - A League of Their Own

Director:
Penny Marshall
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 128 minutes
Year: 1992
Starring: Geena Davis, Tom Hanks, Lori Petty, Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Anne Ramsay, Anne Cusack, Megan Cavanagh, Bitty Schram, David Strathairn, Jon Lovitz, Bill Pullman

Description: Two sisters (Geena Davis, Lori Petty) join the first female professional baseball league and struggle to help it succeed amid their own growing rivalry.

Review: “A League of Their Own” is a movie I grew up watching with my family. 

When World War II threatens to shut down Major League Baseball, a candy manufacturing magnate decides to create a women’s league to make money. Dottie Hinson is a terrific hitter and gets an offer to tryout, but she is content where she is. He younger sister, pitcher Kit, loves the game so passionately but is not as much of a talent. Kit gets to tryout, but only if Dottie comes too. Both women eventually go and get into the team, that is led by drunkard and former baseball player Jimmy Dugan. More and more people start showing up to the games and it becomes a huge success. 

I always found “A League of Their Own” so much fun to watch. It reaches a broad audience, because it mixes up things many people love: comedy, drama and sports. 

Tom Hanks is my favorite actor and he can’t do anything wrong in my eyes, but even non-fans have to admit that his portrayal of coach Jimmy Dugan is hilarious and very memorable. ‘There’s no crying in baseball!’ I also loved Geena Davis in her role. The rest of the acting is maybe not that fantastic, but the cast works really well together and they make it work. 

“A League of Their Own” is a fun film, a film that never bores. A definite favorite.

Rating: 5 / 5

Book Review - The Fury by Alex Michaelides

Title:
The Fury
Author: Alex Michaelides
Genre: Mystery/ Thriller
Published: 2024
 
Description: Lana Farrar is a reclusive ex-movie star and one of the most famous women in the world. Every year, she invites her closest friends to escape the English weather and sped Easter on her idyllic Greek island.
 
I tell you this because you may think you know this story. You probably read about it at the time, - it caused a real stir in the tabloids, if you remember. It had all the necessary ingredients for a press a celebrity; a private island cut off by the wind… and a murder.
 
We found ourselves trapped there overnight. Our old friendships concealed hatred and a desire for revenge. What followed was a game of cat and mouse – a battle of wits, full of twists and turns, building to an unforgettable climax. The night ended in violence and death, as one of us was found murdered.
 
But who am I? My name is Elliot Chase, and I’m going to tell you a tory unlike any you’ve ever heard.
 
Review: Lana Farrar leads a reclusive existence, after a tumultuous life as a famous actress. Every year she invites her best friends to her idyllic Greek island to celebrate Easter and escape the English weather. But this year, the seven friends are beset at night by the fury, a local storm that rises suddenly and cuts the island off from civilization. A night that will end in violence and murder. One of them must be the culprit, and old friendships give way to hatred, jealousy and vindictiveness. A cat-and-mouse game ensues
 
I like the setting of a remote location, where retired actress Lana Farrar stepped out of the spotlights and left Hollywood. You quickly learn that there is a lot of drama between all these friends. Jealousy, secrets, secret admiration, revenge, vicious schemes, toxic relationships, poor choices and lots of manipulation. It goes from bad to worse. And I love reading about rich people drama.
 
I’m a big fan of Alex Michaelides previous books: “The Maidens” and especially “The Silent Patient”. So my expectations were really high for “The Fury”. The story is told through the character Elliot Chase, who tells his story as it were to you, the reader. He tells you from the start that he can not be trusted. I really liked this form of narration, it felt fresh. Michaelides has thrown in several plot twists, but unfortunately I found these twist a bit disappointing. In this regard, I found “The Fury” to be nothing like his previous thrillers.
 
The story had a lot of potential, the setting and all the drama felt promising. And I did enjoy these elements. But as the story progressed, I began to realize that the story didn’t really grab me. Although I did like the narrative style very much. This was just an okay mystery thriller for me.
 
Rating: 3/ 5

zondag 17 maart 2024

20s Movie Review - Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves

Director:
John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Genre: Fantasy/ Adventure/ Action/ Comedy
Runtime: 134 minutes
Year: 2023
Starring: Chris Pine, Michelle Rodriguez, Sophia Lillis, Justice Smith, Hugh Grant, Regé-Jean Page

Description: A charming thief (Chris Pine) and a band of unlikely adventurers embark on an epic quest to retrieve a lost relic, but things go dangerously awry when they tun afoul of the wrong people.

Review: After a theft that went wrong, Edgin and Holga try to get their lives back on track. This is harder than expected, as one of their friends seems to have betrayed them. To set things right and prove himself to his daughter, Edgin joins Holga and other magical misfits on an epic adventure full of bizarre monsters and plans that don’t always go according to plan.

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” is a blockbuster the way we know them: special effects, action spectacle, funny main characters and an okay story. Yet the film distinguishes itself by cleverly making fun of both the game on which it is based on and the fantasy genre. The simplicity of the story and characters are also a definite plus.

Although a wide audience can enjoy this film, fans of the original game are rearded. Many typical things from the game occur: spells, failed plans and unnecessarily long backstories give the film a fairly authentic tone. But the writers took some creative liberties and this worked really well.

The magical side of the world where the story takes place is used in the craziest way. It gives the film a refreshing quirkiness. Aside from the CGI, there are also lots of practical effects and remarkable costumes.

“Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves” makes for a great viewing experience, which I now wished I had seen in the cinema. A strong cast portraying fun characters, and enjoyable world and setting with an entertaining story. A movie I will definitely rewatch at some point.

Rating: 4/ 5