akarmiotis-94922
Joined Mar 2017
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Ratings8
akarmiotis-94922's rating
Reviews7
akarmiotis-94922's rating
A barrage of bullets and one liners, Free Fire is another success in Ben Wheatley's growing filmography of brilliant films yet, even with the quality of his previous works, this tale of a gun trade gone wrong may just be my favourite: bringing wit, gore and a tighter pace than any film this year.
Wheatley has created a bottle style narrative to focus on a small cast of extremely compelling characters; brought to life by an equally compelling cast of both Hollywood and British talent, signalling the continuing move of Wheatley into popular cinema with stars like Brie Larson and Armie Hammer. Both give terrific performances as do the rest of the cast but it is the less know talent of Michael Smiley and Sam Riley that give the two strongest performances in my opinion. Wheatley master the two poles of violence and comedy masterfully, weaving together hilarious dialogue (thanks to Wheatley and Amy Jumps strong script) and some of the most brutal action I've seen in a while. Despite the endless onslaught of gunfire, each bullet is given significance and impact with pitch perfect sound design and realistic, gory injuries. Another strong element is the 70s setting, a personal appeal of mine due to the aesthetics and music of the time; both brought to life on screen in great detail.
While the relentless thrills of the film are constantly escalating and keeping you engaged, the climax itself is unfortunately almost anti climatic, unable to capitalise on the preceding action set pieces and leaving you on a very sudden, ambiguous final shot. Despite this, the characters keep the story constantly fresh, each bringing their own motivations and personality to the chaotic meeting in that fateful warehouse. Even with the escalating violence of the situation, they all remain fun and the witty rapport between each of them never stops, especially with Sharlto Copleys childish leader Vern, who gets some of the films best lines. The compression of the action into almost real time keeps everything tight and relentlessly compelling from start to end with every action registering as a vital moment in the bigger, bloodier picture.
Free Fire is a violent yet hilarious thriller that shows how action on a small scale can have so much more impact than a worldwide epic. Hopefully Wheatley continues to expand his filmography and further perfect the merging of British Charm and American talent.
SWEET
Visit https://sweetorsaltedmoviereviews.com/ for more.
Wheatley has created a bottle style narrative to focus on a small cast of extremely compelling characters; brought to life by an equally compelling cast of both Hollywood and British talent, signalling the continuing move of Wheatley into popular cinema with stars like Brie Larson and Armie Hammer. Both give terrific performances as do the rest of the cast but it is the less know talent of Michael Smiley and Sam Riley that give the two strongest performances in my opinion. Wheatley master the two poles of violence and comedy masterfully, weaving together hilarious dialogue (thanks to Wheatley and Amy Jumps strong script) and some of the most brutal action I've seen in a while. Despite the endless onslaught of gunfire, each bullet is given significance and impact with pitch perfect sound design and realistic, gory injuries. Another strong element is the 70s setting, a personal appeal of mine due to the aesthetics and music of the time; both brought to life on screen in great detail.
While the relentless thrills of the film are constantly escalating and keeping you engaged, the climax itself is unfortunately almost anti climatic, unable to capitalise on the preceding action set pieces and leaving you on a very sudden, ambiguous final shot. Despite this, the characters keep the story constantly fresh, each bringing their own motivations and personality to the chaotic meeting in that fateful warehouse. Even with the escalating violence of the situation, they all remain fun and the witty rapport between each of them never stops, especially with Sharlto Copleys childish leader Vern, who gets some of the films best lines. The compression of the action into almost real time keeps everything tight and relentlessly compelling from start to end with every action registering as a vital moment in the bigger, bloodier picture.
Free Fire is a violent yet hilarious thriller that shows how action on a small scale can have so much more impact than a worldwide epic. Hopefully Wheatley continues to expand his filmography and further perfect the merging of British Charm and American talent.
SWEET
Visit https://sweetorsaltedmoviereviews.com/ for more.
Martin Scorsese's new passion project Silence is an incredible exploration of human endurance and the lengths with which one will go to protect their faith. On the surface, this may seem a religious film, risking artistic integrity in an attempt to promote Christian living. However, the undoubtedly human story at its heart makes the faith that drives the films characters to risk everything universal as a symbol of freedom.
Years in the making, Silence follows two Jesuit priests as they journey to Japan to spread the catholic faith and find their missing mentor. This mission pushes their bodies and their sanity to the limit, unveiling both the strength and the horror humanity is capable of. While marketing has pushed Liam Neeson's role in the film, the true star is Andrew Garfield in an incredible performance that invokes such empathy the audience is left stunned. He is the focal point with which we see man's drive and will, following the risks and sacrifices he makes for what he believes is right. Scorsese brilliantly makes his choices and his faith ambiguous, highlighting the flaws with religious practice along with the joy it can bring. The film is not about faith but about the freedom to choose what you believe in. This film is a detailed examination of humanity and Scorsese has set out a methodical journey for his protagonist, a long and slow paced character study. We feel each struggle and each breakthrough with Garfield; Silence is in many ways an experience and it will leave you trembling. My love for what Scorsese had done is matched only by a desire to lock it away for many years. It simply takes that much out of you.
As its name suggests, Silence employs stellar use of atmosphere, the sudden troughs of quiet amidst a sea of frenzied sound recreate the moments of religious realization and wonder for our protagonist, we become sympathetic to his deluded ideas of grandeur threatening to taint his morally sound character. All this complexity is grounded with beautiful visuals that merge realism with subtle stylistic qualities that gives the landscapes of 17th century Japan an almost mythic aura.
Silence is extraordinary; the beauty and refinement of the production matched only by the beautiful yet harrowing tale at its core. Scorsese has again created a cinematic masterpiece that will bury itself within your mind for quite some time to come.
SWEET
Visit https://sweetorsaltedmoviereviews.com/ for more.
Years in the making, Silence follows two Jesuit priests as they journey to Japan to spread the catholic faith and find their missing mentor. This mission pushes their bodies and their sanity to the limit, unveiling both the strength and the horror humanity is capable of. While marketing has pushed Liam Neeson's role in the film, the true star is Andrew Garfield in an incredible performance that invokes such empathy the audience is left stunned. He is the focal point with which we see man's drive and will, following the risks and sacrifices he makes for what he believes is right. Scorsese brilliantly makes his choices and his faith ambiguous, highlighting the flaws with religious practice along with the joy it can bring. The film is not about faith but about the freedom to choose what you believe in. This film is a detailed examination of humanity and Scorsese has set out a methodical journey for his protagonist, a long and slow paced character study. We feel each struggle and each breakthrough with Garfield; Silence is in many ways an experience and it will leave you trembling. My love for what Scorsese had done is matched only by a desire to lock it away for many years. It simply takes that much out of you.
As its name suggests, Silence employs stellar use of atmosphere, the sudden troughs of quiet amidst a sea of frenzied sound recreate the moments of religious realization and wonder for our protagonist, we become sympathetic to his deluded ideas of grandeur threatening to taint his morally sound character. All this complexity is grounded with beautiful visuals that merge realism with subtle stylistic qualities that gives the landscapes of 17th century Japan an almost mythic aura.
Silence is extraordinary; the beauty and refinement of the production matched only by the beautiful yet harrowing tale at its core. Scorsese has again created a cinematic masterpiece that will bury itself within your mind for quite some time to come.
SWEET
Visit https://sweetorsaltedmoviereviews.com/ for more.
Moana is a return to the classic Disney formula, the clichés and characters ripped from a number of other animated films. However, the pure beauty and skill of the production rises the old story into new heights.
Following from the success of Zootropolis, Moana follows a more traditional narrative we know and love; the princess who wishes for something more and is whisked on a supernatural adventure. We know this story so well yet Moana seems fresh and thrilling as if the plot was innovative. Perhaps this is due to the Polynesian setting or the morally ambiguous Maui, played perfectly by Dwayne Johnson, but most likely it is it the simple magic of Disney – the wonder for both children and adults has reached its peak with the perfection of the classic formula. For once, the clichés make the film more enjoyable. The quality of the animation helps too: it's clear they have reached the pinnacle of blending realistic textures with stylised designs, creating an aesthetic beauty that few other companies can match – Disney have mastered water to the point it looks better animated than in real life! Even the music has been perfected here, the annoying catchiness of Frozen's tunes replaced by memorable but effective songs that fit the culture and setting of our adventure. A childlike warmth was awakened in me and many other adult members of the audience as the film brought the emotional highs of the Disney renaissance without the modern subversion of the classic tropes. While Moana sometimes threatens this with pop culture references, the film thankfully keeps to mostly traditional values and morals; a step above many children's animated films released today.
Moana is good, old fashioned Disney magic; the traditional narrative and morals updated with stellar animation and an awareness that's effective but never overpowering enough to threaten the integrity of the Disney formula.
SWEET
Visit https://sweetorsaltedmoviereviews.com/ for more.
Following from the success of Zootropolis, Moana follows a more traditional narrative we know and love; the princess who wishes for something more and is whisked on a supernatural adventure. We know this story so well yet Moana seems fresh and thrilling as if the plot was innovative. Perhaps this is due to the Polynesian setting or the morally ambiguous Maui, played perfectly by Dwayne Johnson, but most likely it is it the simple magic of Disney – the wonder for both children and adults has reached its peak with the perfection of the classic formula. For once, the clichés make the film more enjoyable. The quality of the animation helps too: it's clear they have reached the pinnacle of blending realistic textures with stylised designs, creating an aesthetic beauty that few other companies can match – Disney have mastered water to the point it looks better animated than in real life! Even the music has been perfected here, the annoying catchiness of Frozen's tunes replaced by memorable but effective songs that fit the culture and setting of our adventure. A childlike warmth was awakened in me and many other adult members of the audience as the film brought the emotional highs of the Disney renaissance without the modern subversion of the classic tropes. While Moana sometimes threatens this with pop culture references, the film thankfully keeps to mostly traditional values and morals; a step above many children's animated films released today.
Moana is good, old fashioned Disney magic; the traditional narrative and morals updated with stellar animation and an awareness that's effective but never overpowering enough to threaten the integrity of the Disney formula.
SWEET
Visit https://sweetorsaltedmoviereviews.com/ for more.