Showing posts with label winona ryder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label winona ryder. Show all posts

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Destination Wedding movie review


I very much enjoyed Destination Wedding, as it worked for me in a bunch of ways.

Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder have great chemistry as the two leads (and essentially only characters in the movie). Sure, the movie is like a stage play, but it's reminiscent of Birdman in that it's better/best served as a movie; and similarly, it's about two less-than-likeable-but-very-endearing people.

DW flips the classic Hollywood romance story, where two folks are in a remote location and "fall in love." Here, the characters are highly opinionated, intelligent and flawed. There's no real "romance" in this romance movie - but there are connections and understanding; it's genuine human interaction (by two of society's "outsiders.")

Plus excellent word play and comedy. Have I praised the intelligence of this movie, yet?

Another element I really appreciated was the restrained cinematography - everything is shot crisp, with intent. Yes, pretty much every shot is a wide duo, but there's strategy in the execution that I rarely see in other movies, and relates to the narrative (journey of the characters). And, mild spoiler, but there's a specific shot around half-way into the movie involving a hill that has one of my favorite visual gags in a long time.

Beyond the acting, writing and visuals, I generally enjoyed the music by William Ross and presentation. I would gladly spend another weekend with Lindsay and Frank if it were done like this, wherever their journey takes them.

Conclusion: HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. It's a tight 90-minute film that does lose a little steam around the 2/3rds mark, but the general pacing and overall execution won me over.

Streaming on Amazon Prime, as of this writing.

Sunday, July 17, 2016

Stranger Things review - thank you, more please!



SEMI-SPOILERISH WARNING (but not specifics)

A big YES to Stranger Things! A very fun and enjoyable 80s throwback filled with Spielberg, John Carpenter and Stephen King references, among others (it has a more kid-friendly True Detective season 1 vibe, as well as a bit of a darker The Lion, The With and The Wardrobe vibe). It might have some familiar tropes and and a slightly anti-climactic ending, at least with regards to the bad guys, but the 8-episode season leaves me wanting more, which is ultimately a good thing. It's a great start to the world and characters.

Two particular highlights are the John Carpenter-meets-Daft Punk synth soundtrack and the opening title sequence. On the whole, though, it has great sound design and visual aesthetic.

RELEASE THE SCORE! I WANT TO LISTEN TO IT MORE! (please)

I can't wait to see what the second season has to offer!

Hopes for the second season:

1. A slightly more cohesive story or a jump to an anthology-style series
2. Creative consulting (or episode direction) from either Cary Fukunaga (True Detective) or David Robert Mitchell (It Follows)
3. While they're 90s shows, any aping from either Twin Peaks or Eerie, Indiana
4. Character flashbacks that may be based more on forshadowing rather than in-the-moment emotional bits, or dumping them (they were nice, but also fluffy)
5-10. Other fun references to the 80s (Wes Craven?), maybe some gaming stuff
11. Generally, more of this

Highly recommended, flaws and all!