Cinema Playground Journal 2023: Week 1 (My Cinema Playground)

The Theatrical Experience

Now playing in theaters, for those who like to go out and see stuff on the big screen.

M3GAN

⭐⭐⭐

Genre:  Horror, Comedy

Director:  Gerard Johnstone

Starring:  Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Amie Donald, Jenna Davis

M3GAN is the best movie of the year.  And now that I've gotten that dad joke out of the way, this movie is an absolute gas.  While it's another "tech-gone-mad" story featuring a killer toy, bearing more than a little similarity to 2019's remake of Child's Play if it starred Sim-Pal Cindy from 2000's The 6th Day, it's a film that boasts efficient direction and a darkly humorous script that isn't afraid to dial its parody up to 11 for a guaranteed laugh at the expense of corporate greed, marketing, and even tech-reliance creating social withdrawal.  The movie is legitimately funny in ways you wouldn't expect, even as it mines some horror tropes that might be tired, even if it wields them effectively.  Conversely, the film has a few narrative hiccups that make the story a bit of a bumpy road, which is keeping me from praising it to the level that I want to.  But it's also a movie that gets by on charisma, and if you're in the market for a fun horror flick, it's an effortlessly entertaining one.

A Man Called Otto

⭐⭐⭐

Genre:  Drama, Comedy

Director:  Marc Forster

Starring:  Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rolfo

A Man Called Otto is an Americanized remake of the Best Foreign Language Academy Award nominated film A Man Called Ove, and readaptation of the novel of the same name.  It's a solid "cold heart melted by warm people" story that tugs at the heartstrings of people who just want a cozy story to fuel their soul while watching Tom Hanks work his magic.  Hanks is solid here, playing a suicidal man who just won't be left alone by his friendly neighbors.  Also worthy of note is Mariana Treviño, who plays the consistent pest in his business, as her charisma and chemistry with Hanks helps sell the story.  Narratively, it doesn't reinvent the wheel, but is just looking to fill a few hearts with joy and maybe jerk a few tears.  It will give the audience that seeks it out exactly that.

Netflix & Chill

With this section I try to watch at least one new streaming release per week for those homebodies who just want movies without the theater hassle.

The Pale Blue Eye

⭐⭐

Streaming On:  Netflix

Genre:  Thriller, Mystery

Director:  Scott Cooper

Starring:  Christian Bale, Harry Melling, Gillian Anderson, Lucy Boynton, Robert DuVall, Timothy Spall, Toby Jones

This thriller from the director of Antlers features Batman, Dudley Dursley, and Agent Scully, as a murder at a military academy in the early 1800's, where a detective is called in to solve the case with the help of a cadet named Edgar Allan Poe.  Yes, that Edgar Allan Poe.  The Pale Blue Eye has a lot going for it, including strong performances from Christian Bale and Henry Melling, handsome cinematography, and excellent direction.  It faces an uphill battle in maintaining viewer attention, though, as it is a thriller that isn't that thrilling and features a mystery that it doesn't seem too attentive to, even if it does have an intriguing conclusion.  The movie does quite a few things right to prevent it from being a complete wash, but it doesn't seem entirely interested in its own big picture, which makes it a bore.

Movies Still At My Theater

Avatar:  The Way of Water ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Babylon ⭐⭐

Black Panther:  Wakanda Forever ⭐⭐⭐1/2

The Fabelmans ⭐⭐⭐

I Wanna Dance with Somebody ⭐⭐1/2

The Menu ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Puss in Boots:  The Last Wish ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Violent Night ⭐⭐⭐

The Whale ⭐⭐⭐

New To Streaming

The Menu ⭐⭐⭐1/2

Prey for the Devil ⭐1/2

Tár ⭐⭐⭐1/2

New To Physical

Armageddon Time ⭐⭐⭐

Black Adam ⭐⭐1/2

Prey for the Devil ⭐1/2

COMING SOON!