Tom And Jerry: Cat On A Hot Hotel Roof

Written by Luke Barnes

Tom And Jerry is a live action hybrid animation film directed by Tim Story. The film serves to bring back the classic cartoon duo, but now in the real world fighting over hotel rooms. Yes, that’s right.

So before, I get into this I just want to acknowledge that this film is aimed at kids, you can tell it is in several ways such as the constant references to youth culture (that feel very much hello there fellow kids), and just the whole vibe of the film, and that’s fine maybe kids would enjoy the mindlessness of it, but anyone else would be a much harder sell.

I did not think that this film was bad, nor did I think it was good, if anything I thought that it was painfully average to the point of being a bit boring. If you compare the spectacle of the old cartoons, and the escalating fight scenes that Tom and Jerry used to have this film feels even tamer. The best sequence would probably be when Tom is trying to get into Jerry’s room for the very first time and things escalate to them wrecking the room, but even then it feels basic.

Perhaps most damning of all is that I actually preferred the human characters to Tom and Jerry. Chloe Grace Mortez as Kayla was a lot of fun and had quite a few great moments: I hope Mortez hitches her wagon to this franchise and appears in any sequels going forward, as she has a good emotional rapport with the characters which is hard to establish as they don’t talk- yet she finds a way. Likewise Michael Pena is entertaining as the film’s villain Terrence, though Pena gets stuck with most of the hello fellow kids dialogue he also manages to have a few funny moments, and actually makes the film bearable.

Overall, if you need something to show your kids that’s bland, stick them in front of Raya and the Last Dragon (which is actually better than this), but if you don’t want to pay for premium access on Disney + then I guess this will do. Though don’t try and watch this if you are over the age of 10 as it might put you to sleep.

Pros.

Mortez

Pena

Cons.

The cartoon was better

This feels overly tame

The soundtrack is distracting

It is mind-numbing

2/5

Zack Snyder’s Justice League: The Day Is Finally Upon Us

Written by Luke Barnes

The Snydercut or as it is sometimes more formally known Zack Snyder’s Justice League is a superhero film directed by Zack Snyder, serving as a remastered cut of the 2017 Justice League film that Snyder had to step away from due to personal reasons. The plot focuses on the formation of the Justice League in an attempt to fight off the invading forces of Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds) and Darkseid (Ray Porter).

So as many of you know, I have thought for a long time that this film was going to be bad, or at the very least unnecessary. However, I can admit when I am wrong and am pleased to tell you this film is a vast improvement over what we got in cinemas 4 years ago: now I am not saying it is perfect, but I am saying it is a marked improvement, buckle up this is going to be a long one.

Firstly I want to address something that for me was a glaring issue with the film and that is the overly sexualised nature of the female characters. Sorry Snyder fans this is going to upset you, but there is a recurring theme in Snyder’s work of ogling women and that is very much here as well. Wonder Woman’s (Gal Gadot) skirt seems shorter, the Amazonians are basically just wearing fancy metal underwear in some cases with their midriff fully exposed, because that is wise in battle? Iris West (Keirsey Clemons)is included just as a plot device and a damsel to be saved by Barry (Ezra Miller), and of course I would be remiss if I did not mention the camera’s fascination with Gadot’s behind.

Though Cyborg (Ray Fisher), is given more to do, his look and crucially the CGI aspects of it are still quite a ways off and are distracting throughout the film, if they could remove the light in his forehead it would look infinitely better. The same can be said of Steppenwolf the other major CGI character who looks like he has come straight out of a videogame and is again distracting.

The film does benefit from better pacing with the 4 hour runtime allowing the film to feel grander and more epic. I feel that by stretching the film out more a lot of things that didn’t make sense the first time around through lack of context suddenly do, and the world as a whole feels better explored and created.

Oddly enough despite the sexualisation Snyder seems to understand Wonder Woman better than Patty Jenkins, and after watching this I think the reason the first Wonder Woman film was so good and the second was so bad was Snyder’s involvement. Snyder gives Wonder Woman a lot of good character work that makes her feel far more central to the narrative, and also far more interesting. Moreover, by redoing the bank scene and the Amazonian battle scene Snyder it able to make both more inspiring and appear better on screen; the shortening in the Whedon cut really hurt the film.

Similarly, Snyder finally seems to understand Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill), here as well, moving away from some of the edgy aspects of their characters from his previous films and giving us a more comics accurate portrayal.

I think the tone is much better here than it has been in a lot of the other DCEU films as there are moments of levity amongst an otherwise serious affair, but they aren’t treated like dumb cringey jokes like in the original version of Justice League here they feel far more natural to the characters and importantly work.

I think this film is improved by being a Snyder film and from having his sensibilities applied to the project, I think his trademark use of slow motion is often used to great effect especially with the Flash stuff. I also feel like this film could be viewed as somewhat of a spiritual successor to Watchmen,also directed by Snyder, and think it would make for an interesting double bill.

Ezra Miller’s flash does still stand out for all the wrong reasons, and I do hope in future films they tone down the character and his awkwardness as it does become cringe at times, but not as much as in the previous version. Likewise, I also found the amount of problematic people cast in this film off putting as you have Miller (who choke slammed a fan allegedly), Amber Heard (who is the internet boogeyman) and Jared Leto (look it up), all rubbing shoulders with each other in a troublesome trifactor. Though I will give Snyder the benefit of the doubt the incidents involving two of them didn’t come out until it was too late to change it, but it is a shame.

The score by Junkie XL is terrific and really does bring the film together, with the music really adding a lot to the fight scenes in particular; with the new motif they have for Wonder Woman probably being my favourite.

Sadly, there is a large amount of product placement in this film that really does cheapen the film to an extent, admittedly only brief sections feel almost like adverts within the film.

The things added that have made this film R rated are a mixed bag, the blood does add to the intensity of the battle scenes, though the swearing really adds nothing and on the whole the film does not need to be R rated.

Moreover, the reach around line from Joker, is creepy and needless and should have been left out of the film.

Finally, I just want to talk about some of the stuff from the end of the film. Batman’s attempted self-sacrifice does still feel needless though it is handled better here, and the Nightmare section feels forced in at the end for no real reason. With the nightmare section it is clearly Snyder setting up for another film that he does deserve but most likely won’t get. Furthermore, the film does not really neatly address the Flashes’ warning from the previous film, and there are a number of other outstanding questions left to be answered as well.

Overall, a moment of triumph for the DCEU, something far better than the recent offerings (BOP and WW84), though sadly let down by sexual objectification, poor CGI and product placement.

Pros.

Solid world building

Good character work

The battle scenes are far more intense

A lot of the scenes flow better with more context which is allowed for with the longer run time

Cons.

The sexualisation and using of women as a plot device

The reach around line

The poor CGI

The product placement

3.5/5

Making And Unmaking: A Frank Conversation With A Filmmaker

Written by Luke Barnes

Making and Unmaking is a candid documentary short film directed by Shaun Rose. The film sees Rose open up and discuss various triumphs and sets backs he had whilst making his feature film Upstate Story.

If you have an interest in the production side of film, then I would say this is a must watch.

Those of us who have made a film before, are presented with an earnest and frank conversation that we all know well, making a film is one of the hardest things a person can do. As Rose details the events surrounding the production of the film, he paints us a vivid picture of the place his life was in, his fight to get this film made. Touching is not enough to describe this film, but as someone who has made short films before (and would dread the pressure of making anything longer), I can say that this film is incredibly relatable.

Moreover, if you have never made a film before this is still immensely enriching, as it provides a very honest look into the sort of things that filmmakers go through, and what life is really like on a film set.

Overall, this is a very special film in a lot of ways, and it brought a tear to my eye. A beautiful story that needs to be heard.

Pros.

The honesty

The raw emotional weight

A useful educational tool

Very relatable

Cons.

Those not into film production may find less to be interested in here

4.5/5

Cursed Camera: Video Killed…. Well Everyone

Written by Luke Barnes

Cursed Camera is a horror short directed by Hunter Farris. The plot sees a group of budding filmmakers become the unwitting victims of a demon after they start using a cursed camera that kills those who appear on its lens.

This is what horror cinema is all about, the wonderful shorts that breath life back into the genre! I greatly enjoyed this film for the short time it was on, as I thought it was very clever and it made me laugh.

If you have ever made a short yourself before, then you will find the premise itself quite hilarious and more than a little relatable. Moreover, I think the film’s lampoon of possession tropes is spot on, and I was laughing for the entire runtime of the film.

I thought the acting was also quite good, and even though each character was only on screen a minute amount of time before they are killed off most still have their moment to shine and for the most part nail it.

Overall, this was a lot of fun to watch and if you have a spare few minutes you should definitely check it out, eagerly awaiting what the filmmaker does next.

Pros.

A novel premise

A strong lampoon

Many funny scenes

The cast are strong

The ending perfectly sets up more fun

Cons.

None

5/5

The Parish: Nuns Are Always Creepy

The Parish is a horror film directed by David S. Hogan. The plot sees single mum Liz (Angela DiMarco), and her daughter move after Liz’s husband dies- looking for a fresh start. However, upon arrival Liz and her daughter quickly find themselves caught up in a decades old mystery as well as a millennium long battle between good and evil.

The main thing that drew me to this film was Bill Oberst Jr. I am a big fan of the films of Rob Zombie (particularly the Firefly trilogy), so seeing his name attached instantly attracted my attention. Oberst Jr, does not disappoint and is as good here as he is in the final instalment in that trilogy, stealing damn near every scene he is in and managing to be the coolest thing about the film.

Another strong point about the film is it’s scares. Though the film starts off slow, by the twenty minute mark you can see things are a miss, and when Liz starts having horrific nightmare that’s when the film really starts getting going: the nightmares provide the film with some strong horror visuals, but it is the general scene of creepiness brought about by the atmosphere and the plot that makes the film unsettling. This film sat with me for a while after I watched it, which is always a good sign for a horror film.

Overall, a terrifically creepy affair with an excellent, as always, turn from Bill Oberst Jr.

Pros.

Oberst Jr

DiMarco

The scares

The mystery

The final showdown

Cons.

The opening is a little slow

4.5/5

Reviewed by Luke

Body Brokers: The Human Trade

Written by Luke Barnes

Body Brokers is a crime thriller film directed by John Swab. The plot revolves around the for profit drug rehabilitation system in the United States, and the various predatory tricks and cons people within the industry are using to stay rich.

This film serves to do for the drug rehabilitation system what The Big Short did for the stock market. Providing us the audience with an in-depth, albeit it fictionalised, view into the world of body brokers, characters who prey off junkies going in and out of treatment centres to make their money through various contracts.

Honestly, the fact that this is a thing in the real world is terrifying, and it’s the same kind of terror that you had when you realised that I Care A Lot also has a lot of grounding in reality. Our systems are deeply flawed.

I thought the performances were all very good here, Frank Grillo was the stand out, but he was supported nicely by Michael Kenneth Williams and Jessica Rothe, who is definitely the scene stealer of the film. My one complaint on this front would be that the main protagonist Utah (Jack Kilmer), is fairly bland and predictable

Overall, this film is harrowing, and it opens your eyes to just how easily corrupted our systems are- filling you with even more existential dread and terror of the world around you.

Pros.

The premise

Exposing the injustices and the wrongs of the drug rehabilitation world

Making a few strong points

Rothe, Williams and Grillo

Cons.

Kilmer

The ending is manically depressing

4/5

I Care A Lot: A Sociopathic Super Heroine

Written by Luke Barnes

I Care A Lot is a dark comedy film directed by J Blakeson. The plot follows the efforts of Marla Greyson (Rosamund Pike), a court appointed guardian, who defrauds those in her care for personal gain. However, one day she picks the wrong target and invokes the ire of a mob boss.

I did not care for this film at all.

The only pro I can give for this film is that, as usual, Pike is on excellent form and gives one hell of a performance. However, there character is unlikeable and there is really nothing the audience can connect to in her. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as you don’t always have to like the protagonist of the films you watch, but it becomes an issue when we are supposed to care about her survival. Personally, I found myself relating more to Peter Dinklage’s mob boss character.

Moreover, the writing is incredibly unbelievable to the point of Marla almost becoming a sociopathic superhero at times. We are supposed to view Marla as a crafty predator, who outwits her opponents, however in a physical sense she is shown to just be a regular human and yet she can’t seem to die; literally she survives definitive death after definitive death, and it gets a bit laughable after a point.

Finally, the narration seems to think it is clever and deep, yet it comes off as just the opposite of that and if anything a little try hardy. Not everyone can be American Psycho, stop trying.

Overall, Pike is giving the performance of her career so far, sadly it is in a deeply unlikeable film.

Pros.

The premise

Pike

Cons.

The audience has no way to connect to the character

You don’t care about the character, so it takes away from any tense or life and death sequences

The narration is not as smart as it thinks it is

Marla basically has superpowers as the result of bad writing

1.5/5

Todd: The Life Of A Budding Killer

Todd is a thriller film directed by Aaron Warren. The plot follows the titular Todd (Hans Hernke), as we see his decent into becoming a budding madman/ killer, due to intense social isolation and abuse.

I appreciated this film not taking the easy road, they could have made a film that used all the evil kid, budding serial killer cliches for Todd and made him out to be an unsympathetic, obvious monster. However, instead the film explores the character further and takes a more nuanced approach to the discussion, showing that he has layers and that his situation has driven him to do what he does.

I thought the tense stalking sequences of the later film were also well done, too often is the term ‘on the edge of your seat’ used, but here I would describe a similar feeling. There is a lot of great suspense around how far will Todd go, when will he be caught. As such the cat and mouse game that escalates from it is very fun to watch.

Overall, the writing really helps to elevate this film beyond mediocrity and make it memorable and dare I say it, impactful?

Pros.

Layered writing

A lens towards society

A strong sense of tension

Cons.

The character’s other than Todd are all quite weak and poorly fleshed out

A few pacing issues

3/5

Luz: Romance Behind Walls

Written by Luke Barnes

Luz (directed by Jon Garcia), is a romantic drama film about the friendship and romance between two men, which blossoms within the walls of a prison.

This is a heart wrenching film for so many reasons. It is both beautiful and soul crushing.

I think in terms of representation this film is very needed, as LGBTQ+ love stories are often sorely over looked in the romantic drama genre, and yes to a degree that is being rectified in recent years, but there is still a noticeable gap, and films like this are filling that- and I for one think that is commendable. Hopefully, soon the romance genre will be more reflective of all kinds of relationships.

The love story was very powerful and effecting, I thought the writing was just right as it managed to walk that line between expertly playing with your emotions, but also never feeling overly sentimental.

The leads have a great deal of chemistry, and you do believe that they are genuinely in love, which adds to the emotional impact of the film. I thought both performances, commanded my attention and impressed me.

Overall, a fantastic and powerful romance film, with a real heart and soul.

Pros.

The chemistry

The representation

The emotional weight

The performances

Cons.

The side characters are a little underdeveloped

4.5/5

The Edge Of Seventeen: High Fidelity In A Classroom

Written by Luke Barnes

Edge Of Seventeen is a coming of age comedy film directed by Kelly Fremon Craig. The plot sees socially awkward teen Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld), navigate a world of depression, rejection and family strife, all whilst figuring out who she wants to be- I promise it is happier than that sounds.

I enjoyed this film so much, that it has quickly supplanted its way into my top ten films of all time.

For me, this is one of the best if not the best teen film of all time. There is something so painfully true about this film that really reached me and felt reflective of my own high school experience. The idea of teenage mental health is not something that you often see come up in coming of age fare beyond the usual idea of angst, however, it is really done justice here.
Where this film pips something like Lady Bird, is that it is more relatable. There is a quiet middle class privilege to Lady Bird, yes I said it, that though present here also is lessened to a point whereby it feels like a closer mirror to how a lot of people actually experience highschool.

Steinfeld is terrific here truly. I know True Grit was the film that put her on the map for a lot of people, but this was the film for me that made me stand up and take notice. She makes the characters so complex, but also so likeable, so charming and yet so self-destructive. Moreover, the level of chemistry she has with Woody Harrelson, who plays her teacher, is off the charts- they must be cast together in more films.

Overall, a film that spoke to me on a personal level and reminded me why I love film.

Pros.

Focusing on teenage mental health

Steinfeld

Harrelson

The writing is sharp and witty

It feels painfully true

5/5