Hello everyone and welcome to the final edition of Looking Back at the Films of 2019. And this is my biggest one yet with reviews of Richard Jewell, 6 Underground, Uncut Gems, Cats, Spies in Disguise, and 1917. Without further a do let's get started.
Why Didn't I See Richard Jewell?
Now even thought I was interested in the movie because it was going to be directed by Clint Eastwood, one of my favorites I sadly had to be let down because my theater didn't have a showing.
What is Richard Jewell?
Richard Jewell is a biographical drama movie based on both the 1997 Vanity Fair article American Nightmare: The Ballad of Richard Jewell and the 2019 book The Suspect: An Olympic Bombing, the FBI, the Media, and Richard Jewell, the Man Caught in the Middle. The movie was produced by Malpaso Productions, Appian Way Productions, Misher Films, and 75 Year Plan Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. Richard Jewell was written by Billy Ray and directed by Clint Eastwood. The story is Richard Jewell has been framed for the 1996 Olympic bombing. Now thanks to both the media and the FBI Richard is being called a criminal and his life is in turmoil, Richard calls his lawyer friend Attorney Watson Bryant to help and clear his name.
My Thoughts
The Good: One great thing about the movie is the performances. Mostly from Paul Walter Hauser, Sam Rockwell, and Kathy Bates. All of three of them were amazing. Hauser and Rockwell had good chemistry and even though Katy Bates is in a supporting role she was fantastic. Especially when she has to do a press conference scene she absolutely nailed it. Another thing I want to praise the movie on is Clint Eastwood's directing. Now I'll admit I haven't seen a lot of Clint Eastwood directed movies but from what I've seen from Richard Jewell I'm very interested to go back on see what else Eastwood has done as a director. What I also liked about the film was how you felt sympathetic towards Richard and his friends/family. Now yes when you here the real story of Richard Jewell is a sad one, what I'm saying is the writer did a great job with making us feel something in this movie. My final praise and this my biggest one for Richard Jewell is this a great story about bad journalism. Because that's basically what happened here in matter of fact this is something that's still happening to this day. So this movie/the real story is going to be timeless because journalist today much like they were during this even were doing a whole ask questions later sort of thing.
The Bad: None.
The Okay: Now the first I wanna say 20 minutes are pretty slow. But you're willing to forgive that because once the bomb scene happens the movie really picks up.
Final Verdict: Great
Why Didn't I See 6 Underground?
My reason for this one is the same reason why I didn't see The Irishman. Wasn't really invested in reviewing this from Netflix even though the director has done somethings I've liked it the past. Yes I like Michael Bay movies. I'm not one of the people who think he's the worst thing to happen to filmmaking.
What is 6 Underground?
6 Underground is an action thriller film. The movie is produced by Skydance Media and Bay Films and distributed by Netflix. 6 Underground was written by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese and directed by Michael Bay. The story is six people have been selected for their specific skill that they're the best at. Their mission this time around is to take out dictator Rovach Alimov and make his imprisoned brother the country's new leader. Will they succeed or are they as good as dead?
My Thoughts
The Good: Now even though I'll have a slight issue with Michael Bay's directing later on I gotta say I really liked the action in this film. That opening car chase was fun and there was this really awesome scene involving a boat and a magnet. What I also liked about 6 Underground was the humor. Yeah you get quite a lot of laughs going into this movie. I think my favorite was during the car chase and we had some not so forgiving nuns. It was quick but it was so hilarious. The last thing I'll give this movie credit for is the acting. I really think this cast (Ryan Reynolds specifically) did a really good job in this movie even if some people didn't think the script was all that good.
The Bad: None.
The Okay: One okay thing with the film is the characters. They're not developed all that much in matter of fact we don't care know the entire team's origin stories but their fine as they are. The other grey area is Michael Bay's directing. Now I like Michael Bay movies and I will never be ashamed to admit to that but here I didn't like some of the choices he made here. For instance there was some shaky-cam and I don't recall Bay doing that very often.
Final Verdict: Good
Why Didn't I See Uncut Gems?
My reason for not seeing Uncut Gems is a general of disinterest. Granted I know regret not trying to see it because of the wonderful things I heard about.
What is Uncut Gems?
Uncut Gems is a crime thriller movie. The film was produced by A24, Elara Pictures, IAC Films, Sikelia Productions, and Scott Rudin Productions and distributed by A24. Uncut Gems was written by Josh Safdie, Benny Safdie, and Ronald Bronstein and directed by Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie. The story is Howard Ratner is a gambling addict. He needs to pay off his debt, now Howard must find a way to get his life together even if that means doing the things that got him into this mess in the first place.
My Thoughts
The Good: One of the highlights to Uncut Gems is Adam Sandler's performance. Wow, I had no idea Adam could pull off such a serious role. I mean yes I heard he's been in serious stuff before but I've never witness that until this movie. But I gotta say after watching this I definitely want to see more of his more dramatic stuff. Another thing I want to praise the movie for is how nervous it makes you. Throughout the entire runtime you're so stressed out, in a good way. I gotta give the filmmakers praise for that because that's when you know you made a good movie, when even us the audience are just as on edge as the characters. What also made the movie great was the directing by the Safdie brothers. Now I've never seen any previous films by them before but much like Sandler's performance I do want to go find what else these guys did previously. The last thing I'll give the movie credit for is the shocking ending. I won't give it away even if the it's a year old, all I gotta say is I didn't see it coming.
The Bad: None.
The Okay: I'm probably gonna get into some sort of trouble with this but, while there's no doubt that the score is good for me it just felt so odd. Like the opening theme sounds like something for a sci-fi movie and then there's a scene where Howard is talking to Kevin Garnett and I swear I'm hearing something that sounds like tribal drums. Like I sound I do love the music but it just felt weird.
Final Verdict: Great
Why Didn't I See Cats?
Now I was interested in seeing this movie because I thought the posters looked but then that trailer came out with the uncanny valley faces and I just lost all interest in seeing it.
What is Cats?
Cats is a musical fantasy film based on the 1981 Tony Award winning stage musical of the same name. The movie was produced by Working Title Films, Amblin Entertainment, Perfect World Pictures, Monumental Pictures, and The Really Useful Group and distributed by Universal Pictures. Cats was written by Tom Hooper and Lee Hall and directed by Tom Hooper. The story is a young cat named Victoria has been dropped off in the streets of London. Later on Victoria meets a tribe of cats called The Jellicles. They believe that if they win a competition they'll ascend to a new life to what they call the Heaviside Layer. Now Victoria gets to witness such an event even though she's not part of the tribe.
My Thoughts
The Good: The only good thing about the movie is the songs. And that's it.
The Bad: The first negative thing about the movie is the CGI. Now I don't think it's the horrifying nightmare a lot of critics are making it out to be but yes, it's bad. This is one of the times when having the actors in makeup/costumes would've been far better. Another thing that made the movie not very good is what I'm calling "tone whiplash". Here's how it goes, one moment in the movie things are dramatic and then what feels like the very next second it's whimsical. Then we're back to dramatic and right back with playfully adventure. It's like the filmmakers just didn't know what tone they were going for so they said "F*ck it! Let's do both!". What also made the movie even worse was the casting of Rebel Wilson and James Corden. Now they're good actors and can sing but they really shouldn't have been here. They didn't help boost the movie nor was any of the comedy they provided funny. The last thing I'll negatively say about Cats is the plot comes in far too late. A good portion of the film of the movie is introductions. We don't get a story until I wanna say the last half hour.
The Okay: Now I did enjoy the dancing in the movie, it would've been better had it not been for the bad CGI.
Final Verdict: Bad
Why Didn't I See Spies in Disguise?
My reason for not seeing Spies in Disguise is well it was Christmas. I wasn't going to work on reviewing movies when my family wanted to spend time with my on the holiday season. I mean what kind of son/cousin/grandson would I have been if I blew off my family to see a movie.
What is Spies in Disguise
Spies in Disguise is a 3D animated movie loosely based on the short film Pigeon: Impossible. The movie was produced by Blue Sky Studio, 20th Century Fox Animation, and Chernin Entertainment and distributed by 20th Century Fox. The story is super spy Lance Sterling is the best agent in the business. One day Lance is framed for something he didn't do so he teams up with outcast young scientist Walter to help him disappear so it'll be easier for him to work on the cast. Unfortunately Walter accidently turns Lance into a pigeon. Now not only does Lance have to clear his name but him and Walter need to find a way to change him back into a human.
My Thoughts
The Good: One the best things about the movie is Will Smith & Tom Holland's performances. They were fantastic as their characters. Not to mention but they also had a great chemistry with each other. Another thing that made Spies in Disguise an enjoyable movie was the animation. It was very colorful and fluid. It also had a nice design and style to it, I really loved it. The last thing I'll praise the movie for is the humor. There were a lot of times when I just found myself laughing for a good amount of time.
The Bad: None.
The Okay: Now the villain for the movie was cool and all but the writers really did need to give him more development. We get a backstory but other than not much else.
Final Verdict: Good
Why Didn't I See 1917?
This is reason is the same exact one as Spies in Disguise. It released on Christmas and I preferred to spend time with the family instead of seeing a movie.
What is 1917?
1917 is a British war movie. The film was produced by DreamWorks Pictures, Reliance Entertainment, New Republic Pictures, Alibaba Pictures, Mogambo, Neal Streets Productions, and Amblin Partners and distributed by Universal Pictures and Entertainment One. 1917 was written by Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns and directed by Sam Mendes. The story is it's the days of World War I. Two British soldiers named Thomas Blake and William Schofield have been giving a mission, this task to deliver a message to call off a doomed offensive attack. Now it's a race against time to send the message and save the lives of 1,600 soldiers before it's too late.
My Thoughts:
The Good: One thing that made 1917 so great was the acting. Our leads George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman are amazing. They provide good performances not only by speaking but through their body language. Another fantastic aspect of the film is the realism. This might be the most realistic take on a war story I've ever saw. Everything going looks/feels like something that would happen in a real warzone as suppose to a more Hollywood looking one. If any by any chance know what I mean. What also makes the movie great was the action. By what made so special here as suppose to previous war films is nowhere in this entire movie did our characters feel like they were safe. A majority of the movie is either they have to fight for survival or they have to haul ass out of what situation they're in. It was really intense and nerve wracking to watch. Another thing that I loved about 1917 is the character development. But as suppose to talking about it the filmmakers showed it to us. That's a very different/great way to do that. At first I didn't notice it but when I looked back at it I realize how brilliant that is. The last thing I'll praise the movie for is Sam Mendes. This guy's directing was amazing. And I don't how he pulled off all of those continuous shots or what technology/tricks he did to make those scenes look like continuous shots either way Mendes did a fantastic job with this film.
The Bad: None.
The Okay: None.
Final Verdict: A Must Watch
Okay. That's going to do it for me. Come back on Monday, Jan 11th for my The Most Anticipated Movies of 2021. Until then enjoy your New Year's Eve party and let's hope next year will be way better.
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