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Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated The Nightingale (2018) in Movies
Dec 4, 2019
Misery Loves Company
Nightinglale is a harsh, cold, relentless and constantly traumatizing tale of revenge and sadness. Athough I would say this film is one of this years best films and a must see by any serious film fan I can not stress enough just how disturbing and extremely hard to watch it can be at times. Realistic depictions of brutal violence and savage rape chill to the bone and while its tempting not to persist past such horrible scenes they really give the film purpose, such a raw/realistic tone and force you to feel every single emotion felt by its characters. A deep cold and sadness engulf the entire film throughout creating an uneasy atmosphere that constantly feels like a burden weighing on your shoulders making you feel uncomfortable and vulnerable just like the lead character. Acting is magnificent with everyones eyes alone seemingly telling you what kind of person they are or if they are genuine. A film that depicts racism, loss, grief, revenge, power abuse and most of all entitlement perfectly it shows just how much evil and hatred lurks in peoples hearts and the world we live in. Its very much like Hatred, Lady Mcbeth and The Witch infact and just like those films every character feels so real and well developed. A running theme that everyone feels like they are owed something runs throughout and even though we sympathize with our main character she too can prove to be just as cold/heartless and selfish as the main villian that is until she progresses and learns to open her eyes to it all. Dream like scenes also litter the film and show how disturbed/haunted by every encounter she is sometimes apearing just in time to motivate her or be her only escape to the perfect life that she now can never have. Its ever so fascinating stuff and has so much to say that its impossible for me to cram all of it into this review. Nightingale is without a doubt such an important film right bow (especially with how the world is today as the subjects it deals with depict how we have almost in a way have gone backwards in some of our ways). All in all a fantastic piece of film that shows us when we have everything taken from us and feel like giving up theres still beauty and pure souls somewhere in the world to give us hope, new life and help keep our dreams alive.
Neon's Nerd Nexus (360 KP) rated Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) in Movies
Feb 8, 2020 (Updated Feb 12, 2020)
SWING BATTER BATTER BATTER!
Birds Of Prey is yet another win for the DC universe and a huge step up from one of the most hated films of all time Suicide Squad. Right off the bat Birds Of Prey is an absolute blast and what you will notice immediately is just the sheer amount of explosive energy it has has to offer. Its this energy that constantly gives you the feeling of being on a rollar coaster travelling through a circus of pure amusement, the visuals are loud, the colour pallet is striking and vibrant, the sound is immersive/atmospheric and the soundtrack brings everything together beautify using old classic songs that have been remixed with a modern day kick which help to really give the film pace. Fight scenes are really fun, violent and also well choreographed with a nice crunch to all the impacts too. Infact fights do all feel very John Wick inspired becoming more of a beautifully synchronised dance routine flowing perfectly like the ice skating scenes from itonya rather than using messy quick cuts. BOP also seemingly borrows from Deadpool too as far as plot, humour and mature content go but im happy to report it works really well and manages to feel much more at home/gritty and adult here and less forced/childish than it is in Deadpool in my opinion. Margot robbie shines as Harley Quinn even more so than she did in suicide squad, she really has got this character down to a T now and its so so satisfying to see her own the screen as her again as she struggles to find her independence and make a name for herself. Ewan Mcgregor is also magnificent in a part that he clearly enjoyed playing beacuse boy was he entertaining as hell as a guy thats almost an obsessive man child whose only feared and powerul because of his status and money. Hes also unpredictable with a spoilt brat like temper and the way the film shifts in tone when he becomes angry can be chilling especially when its mixed with such savage and brutal violence. Plot is fairly basic and not the most intresting but that doesnt matter here because the movie holds its own with the constant thrills/variety it provides and just like a looney tunes carton its such pure addictive madness that it will suck you right in and leave you with a chelsea smile from ear to ear. Possibly the most enjoyable and visually awsome comic book adaptations yet well worth seeing.
Kirk Bage (1775 KP) rated Ghosteen by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds in Music
Mar 3, 2020 (Updated Aug 6, 2020)
My intention was to listen to this twice through and then tell you what I thought about it. In the past, I have always admired Nick Cave more in theory than in practice. Finding his heavier touches a little too “noisy”. Typified by the 2004 release Abbatoir Blues / The Lyre of Orpheus, where I listened to the latter, gentler side over and over, and largely left the more raucous tracks on the former alone.
Because of this personal preference, I have ended up virtually listening to Ghosteen on loop for a full week, as it leans very definitely towards the softer side of his soul – at times almost ambient dreamscape, washing over you like tired thoughts just before sleep. And, often, that is what it became for me: a night album to drift away to.
It is an album about grief, regret, spirituality and humanism. There is a misconception that it is wholly inspired by the death of Cave’s son Arthur, but, in his own words, it was more the death of band member Conway Savage that allowed the themes and lyrics to become the work.
As always, it is Cave’s poetry that emerges as the backbone and soul of every song. The melodies wash over you, at times indistinguishable as separate tracks, and you begin to feel invited into a man’s heart and mind as he explores mortality, shifting between anger, acceptance, fear and hope, in a segue of sound that feels ultimately like a mood painting, defying criticism.
At times listening feels like an intrusion; like these thoughts are too personal to eavesdrop on. At other times, you feel taken by the hand and invited to look at something beautiful. If you allow yourself to be taken on this journey willingly, your empathy will be coaxed and encouraged, and it will be safe. Sadness is only one part of grief, seems to be the message, and it’s a message I relate to and adore.
Labels such as “art-rock” and “post-punk” get thrown at Cave, in futile efforts to pin him down. I think it best not to try. For me, he is truly one of a handful of musicians alive who can be called an artist without hyperbole. His work has texture and emotion that goes beyond how we normally judge music. Making it ok to not “like” a song, as long as it tells part of the story.
For sure his best work for quite a while. At times, so perfect it seems churlish to judge it at all.
Because of this personal preference, I have ended up virtually listening to Ghosteen on loop for a full week, as it leans very definitely towards the softer side of his soul – at times almost ambient dreamscape, washing over you like tired thoughts just before sleep. And, often, that is what it became for me: a night album to drift away to.
It is an album about grief, regret, spirituality and humanism. There is a misconception that it is wholly inspired by the death of Cave’s son Arthur, but, in his own words, it was more the death of band member Conway Savage that allowed the themes and lyrics to become the work.
As always, it is Cave’s poetry that emerges as the backbone and soul of every song. The melodies wash over you, at times indistinguishable as separate tracks, and you begin to feel invited into a man’s heart and mind as he explores mortality, shifting between anger, acceptance, fear and hope, in a segue of sound that feels ultimately like a mood painting, defying criticism.
At times listening feels like an intrusion; like these thoughts are too personal to eavesdrop on. At other times, you feel taken by the hand and invited to look at something beautiful. If you allow yourself to be taken on this journey willingly, your empathy will be coaxed and encouraged, and it will be safe. Sadness is only one part of grief, seems to be the message, and it’s a message I relate to and adore.
Labels such as “art-rock” and “post-punk” get thrown at Cave, in futile efforts to pin him down. I think it best not to try. For me, he is truly one of a handful of musicians alive who can be called an artist without hyperbole. His work has texture and emotion that goes beyond how we normally judge music. Making it ok to not “like” a song, as long as it tells part of the story.
For sure his best work for quite a while. At times, so perfect it seems churlish to judge it at all.
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Emma @ The Movies (1786 KP) rated The Art of Racing in the Rain (2019) in Movies
Jun 20, 2020
Another crying dog movie... just what my life needs.
Denny picks up a golden retriever puppy from a farm and the two become firm friends. Enzo learns all about racing and is a constant fixture at the track, it's going to be the two of them forever feeling the wind in their faces.
Then one day Eve comes along, she's there a lot and it doesn't look like she's leaving. Can Enzo adapt to family life?
The card on the film states "scenes of emotional upset"... accurate, and right from the very start too. This was made by a savage person. Originally I had a quadruple bill planned but I wasn't sure I could do this film followed by The Sun Is Also A Star and come out the other end as anything but a gibbering wreck so I split it out. That was probably one of the most sensible things I've ever done, there was so much crying.
The way they show Enzo reacting to everything is spot on. If you've watched those dog videos on Facebook where they subtitle in what the dog's thinking, it's just like that but Enzo has a much better grasp of the English language and the sultry tones of Kevin Costner. Some of the moments are wonderful and it made me wonder if my dog did any of them, and then I cried a bit more.
Milo Ventimiglia plays out leading human, Denny, and he's very convincing with the obsession Denny has for racing. The flipside with the struggle of having to be a dad came across too and there are some poignant scenes that came off beautifully.
I wasn't overly engaged with Amanda Seyfried as Eve until the midpoint of the film. Perhaps I was indifferent about her on Enzo's behalf, we may never know, but at the point where it all turned I thought she gave a wonderful and respectful performance.
There's not a huge extended cast, but it's filled with talented actors who bring something great to their characters, Kathy Baker and Martin Donovan were particularly good as Eve's parents, though you can't help but hate them.
It's nicely done overall, nothing seems out of place, there weren't any frivolous scenes. The way we get to engage with the racing is brilliantly executed, especially the scene at the beginning where he actually races in the rain, very exciting to watch. It's a lovely crying dog film (at what point do we declare this an actual genre?), is it predictable? Yes, but it's still a nice easy watch if you've got a box of tissues handy.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-art-of-racing-in-rain-movie-review.html
Denny picks up a golden retriever puppy from a farm and the two become firm friends. Enzo learns all about racing and is a constant fixture at the track, it's going to be the two of them forever feeling the wind in their faces.
Then one day Eve comes along, she's there a lot and it doesn't look like she's leaving. Can Enzo adapt to family life?
The card on the film states "scenes of emotional upset"... accurate, and right from the very start too. This was made by a savage person. Originally I had a quadruple bill planned but I wasn't sure I could do this film followed by The Sun Is Also A Star and come out the other end as anything but a gibbering wreck so I split it out. That was probably one of the most sensible things I've ever done, there was so much crying.
The way they show Enzo reacting to everything is spot on. If you've watched those dog videos on Facebook where they subtitle in what the dog's thinking, it's just like that but Enzo has a much better grasp of the English language and the sultry tones of Kevin Costner. Some of the moments are wonderful and it made me wonder if my dog did any of them, and then I cried a bit more.
Milo Ventimiglia plays out leading human, Denny, and he's very convincing with the obsession Denny has for racing. The flipside with the struggle of having to be a dad came across too and there are some poignant scenes that came off beautifully.
I wasn't overly engaged with Amanda Seyfried as Eve until the midpoint of the film. Perhaps I was indifferent about her on Enzo's behalf, we may never know, but at the point where it all turned I thought she gave a wonderful and respectful performance.
There's not a huge extended cast, but it's filled with talented actors who bring something great to their characters, Kathy Baker and Martin Donovan were particularly good as Eve's parents, though you can't help but hate them.
It's nicely done overall, nothing seems out of place, there weren't any frivolous scenes. The way we get to engage with the racing is brilliantly executed, especially the scene at the beginning where he actually races in the rain, very exciting to watch. It's a lovely crying dog film (at what point do we declare this an actual genre?), is it predictable? Yes, but it's still a nice easy watch if you've got a box of tissues handy.
Originally posted on: https://emmaatthemovies.blogspot.com/2019/08/the-art-of-racing-in-rain-movie-review.html