Come To Daddy

This review may contain spoilers!

A delightfully well-made gore/horror that loses itself significantly less than halfway through the feature. I would give Come To Daddy a 6.5/10.

Come To Daddy follows a young man, Norval, who is invited to reconnect with his absentee father in a remote beachside cabin. The film has a really unique narrative style, blending mounting thriller elements with a very witty sense of humour. This especially works strongly in the films brilliant first act which explores the disjointed relationship between Norval and his father. The dynamic between these two characters is a blend of really complex emotions, nervousness, a desire to impress, vulnerability, indifference and a violent sense of disdain. I think the film examines this strange relationship in a way that is wholly unique and quite simply the defining strength of the feature. The cinematography for the film is stunning, taking advantage of stylistic sets to show enchanting and attentive detail. The score for the film is a light poignant melody that grows gradually discordant as the plot progresses, it is a musical descent that really does wonders for the tone.

Elijah Wood, who played Norval Greenwood, is a really fascinating protagonist who seems desperate to achieve his onscreen father's acceptance or approval; Wood is uncertain and not the most confident characters which craft a very grounded and relatable role. Garfield Wilson, who played Ronald Plum, is extremely entertaining as the fairly incompetent police officer; Wilson's intentional mismanagement of dealing with grief creates one of my favourite scenes of the film.

However, the best performance came from Stephen McHattie, who played Gordon. McHattie is a very stoic, intimidating presence who sets you at edge almost immediately. I found myself trying to read McHattie and who he actually was throughout the feature and I liked that he was impassive enough that it was hard to really know. The moments of connection between him and Wood seem like an extreme effort for McHattie, there isn't a chemistry there so much as an understanding. This approach to forging a relationship works wonders for what we ultimately come to understand about the two roles. Gordon is an unpredictable drunk who leaps to violence and suffers no fools, he never really feels like a father figure and in a lot of ways it's probably the most honest thing about Gordon we come to understand.

The film really suffers once we come to understand the 'big twist' about the truth of Norval's father, both his identity and his past. I felt let down because up until that point the film had been delivering a really complex character study of a father/son relationship; suddenly I was left with a slasher thriller in which our main protagonist was slowly and methodically picking off a small band of criminals. This fight for survival storyline was very derivative and didn't offer any surprises. At this point the film being so humorous started counting against it too, the antagonists came across as witless goons who didn't possess the ability to intimidate the audience. The editing for the film set a pace that tended to be slower than the film really needed to be, cuts took too long to happen and the run time really stretched out.

Madeleine Sami, who played Gladys, is very monotonous in her approach to her coroner role; the chemistry between her and Wood feels a bit forced and Sami isn't given enough opportunity to work in some comedy which would have been her strength. Martin Donovan, who played Brian, is extremely bland as Wood's onscreen biological father; Donovan only manages to embrace one type of supportive mood and conforms to a generic father figure persona. Michael Smiley, who played Jethro, is the films main antagonist and probably the one most in need of a recast; Smiley is supposed to be the biggest threat of the lot but he approaches every scene with his comedic foot forward which really undercuts the essence of most of his scenes.

Sonic The Hedgehog

This review may contain spoilers!

I have little else to say except this is one of the family live-action cinematic events of the year. I would give Sonic The Hedgehog a 7.5/10.

Sonic The Hedgehog follows the title character, who has been forced to leave his home dimension and has made his way to Earth, where he has lived in hiding for several years. When the government discovers evidence of Sonic they send Dr. Robotnik to capture the super fast rodent and bring him in for study. With the help of a small town sheriff, Sonic must stay one step ahead of the evil doctor and escape Earth for a safer dimension. This film was pretty special to me because it had heart in spades, it really new how to depict onscreen friendships that felt meaningful and easy to connect with. The developing friendship between Sonic and Tom was so pleasant to see play out and evolve, this is a pair of characters looking to run away from what is essentially their home and it's such a heartfelt connection that enables them to stay. I really liked how aware of itself this film was, it knew that Sonic as a character was going to come off as quite camp, and at times cheesy and so it didn't go to great lengths to be taken too seriously. This meant that the film had a sense of humour that enhanced the narrative, a cast of characters who could deliver some really entertaining dialogue and scenes that I will not forget any time soon because I was laughing so much. This film really knew how to balance a genuine tale of little hero against big threat villain with a genuinely comedic script. The cinematography really enhanced the visual effects heavy film, mapping dialogue and action scenes with it's CGI lead in a gripping way. The visual effects for the film are worth applauding, especially after the Sonic design was completely overhauled and redone in such an appealing way.The soundtrack for the film is a lot of fun and greatly enhances the comedy in a number of scenes, while the score bolsters the action-blockbuster elements in quite the epic manner.

Ben Schwartz, who voiced Sonic the Hedgehog, is a lot of fun as the main leading role; Schwartz puts a lot of energy, passion and excitement into the character and I think that made for a role I was constantly engaged in. Tika Sumpter, who played Maddie Wachowski, has a lot of chemistry with Marsden and the pair feel like a genuine supportive couple; I also really liked Sumpter's more sarcastic approach to comedic delivery as it brought a new edge to some scenes. James Marsden, who played Tom Wachowski, Lee Majdoub, who played Agent Stone, was a nice foil who worked well alongside Carrey's leading antagonist; Majdoub had a calm, mild manner that complimented Carrey's more over the top performance to great effect. Adam Pally, who played Billy Robb, is just in his element as one of the films leading sources of comedic relief; Pally playing a completely befuddled deputy who is in a bit over his head is such a genuinely funny role to watch. Natasha Rothwell, who played Rachel, really embraces the meanstreak of her disapproving sister-in-law character; Rothwell's character is certainly quick to throw the boot at her onscreen brother-in-law and has some real gems of dialogue that make her side character stand out.

However, the best performance came from Jim Carrey, who played Dr. Ivo Robotnik. It was nice to see Carrey back in a role that let him play to full zany effect while also maintaining a really engaging character. This character has an exorbitant ego that he constantly wields as a weapon and a point of pride, the levels of self-satisfaction we go through are pretty funny to watch. I also found the way Carrey delivered lines was quite interesting, it was hard to tell what intent you were going to get from him in a scene and he played things in a random, unpredictable fashion to keep you guessing. I was fully hooked on Carrey's Robotnik as a leading antagonist; you really believed he was this vindictive narcissist who could back up any threat he laid down. Carrey is as naturally comedic as ever but can still lay down one of the most interesting character performances of the year on top of that.

Sonic The Hedgehog is going to be one of the more entertaining family films I've seen this year but it still falls prey to some of the lazier plot points of these types of movies. I often felt the set up for the feature left a lot to be desired; while Sonic and Tom are so great to watch throughout, the manner in which they come together feels pretty flimsy. There are multiple points where you wonder at Tom's motivations and it's hard to see why he sticks around other than to serve the plot initially. While I also enjoyed the humour the film does manage to work in a lot of corny material that can oversaturate or just flat out ruin some scenes. The film sets a low bar for itself, dealing with robotic adversaries and the villain using the heroes own power against him, but these tired elements are at odds with a script that obviously shows a lot of passion and wit.

Birds Of Prey

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I'm tired of seeing bad films adapted from DC Comics, there is no reason to just throw a half-baked idea into production and hope it sticks. I would give Birds Of Prey a 3/10.

Birds Of Prey is the latest film from the DCEU, focusing on Harley Quinn's fate after Suicide Squad and her subsequent break-up with the Joker. In this adventure Harley and an unlikely team of anti-heroines band together to protect a young pickpocket from the wrath of a murderous Gotham crime lord. The action sequences for this feature are staggeringly good, a number of fight sequences felt unique and really well-pieced together for maximum effect. The cinematography for the film wasn't hafl bad either, there were some really interesting shots that often highlighted the more intensive and outlandish comic book elements. The soundtrack for Birds Of Prey was the real highlight however, I'm still heavily invested in a number of the tunes that really hook you in.

Chris Messina, who played Victor Zsasz, is the creepy dangerous counterpart to McGregor's Sionis; Messina plays well as this manipulating puppeteer who leechs off his partner's criminal enterprise.

However, the best performance came from Ewan McGregor, who played Roman Sionis. This role is presented as a composed, sophisticated crime boss at first who holds more of a hand as an entertainer than an enforcer. Yet it doesn't take long before McGregor reveals just how psychotic Sionis can be. This is a person who is entirely consumed by appearance and ownership, just a minor blemish against him can result in the death of a prisoner or a hysterical rage. I thought his relationship with Messina was very well done, their co-dependence on one another was a nice touch and McGregor played to being manipulated well. I think the real strength from this performance came from the fact that I could laugh in hysterics as he lavishly flaunted his wealth in a trivial manner but at the same time feel afraid of the character as he mercilessly threatens a patron at his club. This role was a saving grace that deserved more.

I can't honestly get onboard with the script for this film, it has to be one of the laziest attempts DC has done yet. The entire film wants so badly to be a Harley Quinn film you have to wonder why they bothered with the Birds of Prey characters at all; they certainly didn't commit to using them very often. For the majority of the feature Harley Quinn narrates everything that is happening to the audience as it's happening, in some places before it even happens. It's one of the big rules of storytelling: show, not tell. But for most of Birds Of Prey I was left having every aspect of the plot spoon-fed to me, worse than that was the monologues of exposition a number of scenes were filled with. Rather than tell us everything about the character through overbearing narration I would have preferred to see some of the side characters engage in conversation about their backstory, maybe even see scenes of the backstory. I imagine the film was prioritising the so-called main story but I wish they at least had something to show for that. The entire first act was just spent explaining Harley's state as a character and it took ages before we got into the hunt for this big, important diamond everyone wants. The big diamond/Cassandra Cain hunt is the loose character thread that draws everyone together but it feels boring and circumstantial. The scene in which Cain pickpockets this item comes together pretty poorly and it feels unbelievable that the films main events kick off because of this. By the time the team comes together you aren't really engaged in the Birds of Prey because none of them have had much screen time aside from Harley and Cassandra. Ultimately the film deals away with the main bad in a pretty disappointing way and the film ties up with, what else? A closing block of fantabulous narration from one Harley Quinn. Honestly if you want to see a half decent adaptation of Harley Quinn, go watch her new animated series, it's one of the best mature comedy shows out at the moment.

Margot Robbie, who played Harley Quinn, didn't really get the role in Suicide Squad and hasn't come along much; Robbie only plays to the craziness of her character when it suits the comedy of the scene but otherwise all we got was a pretty bad portrayal of a boozy kleptomaniac wearing the latest from Hot Topic. Rosie Perez, who played Renee Montoya, is constantly teased for being a stereotype in this film which would be amusing if it wasn't true; Perez deadpans more cliches than I have fingers or toes. Mary Elizabeth Winstead, who played the Huntress, is absolutely wasted away for nearly the majority of the film; Winstead didn't get a chance to even flesh out her role until the third act and by then she just got to play to one emotion and a garbled backstory. Jurnee Smollett-Bell, who played Black Canary, just doesn't feel like she has the presence for such a leading role; Smollett-Bell never gives you anything to make her role stand out and instead plays more comfortably in the background of a scene. Ella Jay Basco, who played Cassandra Cain, is probably one of the worst young performers I've seen in a recent film; Basco has no range and little chemistry with the rest of the cast, preferring instead to wander around with her mouth half open as if she accidentally wandered onto the set.

Seberg

This review may contain spoilers!

Far from the most arresting civil rights film I've seen, this is still a feature with an ensemble cast that deliver a powerful collective performance. I would give Seberg a 6.5/10.

Seberg is a biopic focusing on Jean Seberg, a French New Wave actress who became involved with the Black Panther group and, in doing so, became the victim of an FBI smear campaign against her. This film is most interesting when it focuses upon how the FBI infiltrated Seberg's life, intentionally causing scandal to humiliate and ultimately ruin her reputation. There is this brilliant sense of mounting paranoia as you see the lengths the FBI is willing to go to keep Seberg under surveillance, contrasted really well by the mania and anxiety Seberg becomes consumed by as she continues to be harassed. It's a perverse story to the backdrop of the civil rights movement that is certainly intriguing. I also found it really noteworthy how this film took a stance on fighting against discrimination through education, it really laid its argument out well through the narrative. The score for this film is a beautiful sombre piece that conducts the audience through the passage of Seberg's downward spiral, a very neat piece of music that I didn't expect from this film.

Kristen Stewart, who played Jean Seberg, really found one of her best roles yet in this features title role; Stewart had this confident streak that really gotten shaken and broken down throughout the feature. Yvan Attal, who played Romain Gary, was really interesting as the quietly supportive separated partner; Attal's had a mild manner towards scenes where his role grew upset that I thought was unique and showed calculating restraint. Margaret Qualley, who played Linette Solomon, really pushed O'Connell and unearthed the conflict in their shared storyline; Qualley really highlighted some of the issues a progressive women seeking education had to face in the 60s as well. Colm Meaney, who played Frank Ellroy, was a no nonsense stoic leader in the FBI; Meaney was very dispassionate and showed no remorse in creating antagonism for the title role. Vince Vaughn, who played Carl Kowalski, was a veteran FBI agent who served as a strong antagonist for the film; his disregard for decency and abusive manner towards his family created an oppressive presence throughout. Zazie Beetz, who played Dorothy Jamal, showed genuine passion towards a lot of the films messages around fighting for the future through education; Beetz also really seized onto the conflict between her and Stewart which lead to some of my favourite scenes in the film.

However. the best performance came from Anthony Mackie, who played Hakim Jamal. I think you can see the quiet passion Mackie puts into each and every role he portrays in this character, there is a steady resilience here that is present throughout. When first we are introduced to Mackie you get the bold stance against inequality towards black people and see him as a stoic, firm leader for the Black Panther group. Yet as the film carries on you don't fail to notice just how intelligent this man is, quietly conducting arguments about how to successfully fight your rights for future generations. The character is part of a spontaneous affair with Stewart's Seberg and the pair play off one another quite well, Mackie has a more playful chemistry in these scenes that enhances the relationship. This role was certainly one of the more engaging characters to watch.

While I found significant aspects of Seberg intriguing I think the film suffered overall from major pacing issues, quite simply because there just wasn't that much story to tell.Between the major scenes and plot points of the film there were a number of empty scenes that failed to achieve anything, or empty aesthetic sequences that added nothing at all to the film. The film never truly made a strong push for why the story mattered, it gave a very simple presentation of the events and then cut to black. My biggest problem with the film was some of the more dramatic tailoring of the events; adding the FBI agent with a redeeming side to him was a bit much. I thought the scene in which he interacts with Jane Seberg at the end of the film was particularly bad, it felt so far removed from reality that I was entirely drawn out of the narrative. The cinematography for the film really had a lack of vision to it, there were so many shots that felt bland or predictable. The editing for the feature didn't fair much better, it pushed the film towards a slower pace that really dragged things out. The soundtrack for Seberg wasn't the most inspired collection of songs, the tracks felt a little niche and never added a lot to the scenes they were used in.

Jack O'Connell, who played Jack Solomon, was quite disappointing as the lead for the FBI storyline; it often felt like O'Connell never found the true nature of his role and so wound up playing things quite inconsistently. Stephen Root, who played Walt Breckman, is a bit of an attaché to Stewart's scenes but never displays much screen presence; Root has a very mild presence and doesn't find anything engaging in his role to present.