Multiplex Madness
The First Omen
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Horror
Director: Arkasha Stevenson
Starring: Nell Tiger Free, Tawfeek Barhom, Sonia Braga, Ralph Ineson, Bill Nighy, Charles Dance
An Omen prequel seemed like a really bad idea. You don't have much of a story without Damien, and the premise they conjured up, centering on his conception and birth, seemed like something you really shouldn't do. First of all, the mystery behind where Damien came from is arguably spookier than explaining every fine detail of it. And even if it weren't, one of the big creepy reveals of The Omen is the allusion that (spoilers for a movie that's almost half a century old) Damien was born from a jackal. Giving him a human mother undercuts that reveal, and I honestly kinda hate it. That's not even getting into the fact that The Omen just isn't a very good franchise. The only movie that's worth a damn is the first one, and I don't even recall caring for that one that much. I did think the remake was passable, but it was also the first one I watched and had nothing to compare it to. Everyone else who has commented on the remake seems to disagree with me, so I just let it lie. I don't know why they've decided to continue this dead franchise, but studios also seem to be convinced The Exorcist should be a franchise, even though every movie in that series proves them wrong, so why not The Omen as well?
But to the surprise of almost everyone, especially me, The First Omen is actually pretty good. It might even be the best one, but bear in mind that I haven't watched an Omen movie in nearly twenty years, so I don't know whether any appreciation or depreciation of them would happen with time. I guess "6" really is the lucky number for this franchise.
Taking place in 1971, The First Omen sees a nun at an orphanage uncover a conspiracy that one of the children in their care may have been specifically bred to be the mother of the antichrist, and she seeks the help of Father Brennan to smuggle her out. I was surprised at the confidence in the production, which feels like a hybrid of a lot of influences. If I remember correctly (which I'm probably not), the original Omen was more of an unease horror than anything, as it scared through the implications of the story unfolding rather than trying to jolt you with frights. It would certainly go for a shocker moment with sudden deaths, and definitely blow your eardrums out with Jerry Goldsmith's bombastic score, but it's more dramatic than most horror movies. The First Omen pays homage to that style, sometimes recreating 1970's style editing and cinematography. It doesn't hedge everything on it, like last year's The Holdovers. They create something more unique out of it instead, crossing it with styles and tones that range from Giallo to J-horror, with imagery that is creepy in a subtle way without resorting to too many jump scares (though there are a few). There is even a sequence where the camera focuses solely on lead actress Nell Tiger Free and has her convulse for the camera for a lengthy, unnerving take, which feels like an homage to Isabelle Adjani's most memorable scene in the 1981 film Possession (which co-starred Sam Neill, who played Damien in the third Omen movie, The Final Conflict, the same year). This blend makes the film a subdued affair that can still get under your skin.
I also like how they slowly induct Jerry Goldsmith's score into the movie before blasting it at the end. It's like Damien is James Bond in Casino Royale.
The craftsmanship is top-tier, though its instances of pandering sometimes deflate my enthusiasm. The opening with Charles Dance is a bit much, which is a callback to Patrick "Doctor Who" Troughton's death scene in the original Omen, but it's just silly and unnecessary. There's also a "It's all for you" moment, and while I agree that's one of the most memorable moments of the original, I didn't need a recreation of it when it was already done to perfection. I'd also criticize the screenplay for taking a few turns that seem like twists but are actually predictable cliches, while also am curious about how the ending seems to set up a sequel that might happen parallel to the original Omen movie. I'm not sure if that last point is a knock against this movie, though. If they ever do a sequel to this that has potential to be as good, I'd be more than welcome to see if them try.
Monkey Man
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Genre: Action, Thriller
Director: Dev Patel
Starring: Dev Patel, Pitobash, Vipin Sharma, Sophita Dhulipala, Sikander Kher, Ashwini Kalsekar
Dev Patel writes, directs, and stars in this action flick that impressed Jordan Peele so much that he personally purchased it from Netflix so it could get a theatrical release. These guys get it. The film is a pretty standard revenge thriller, where Patel hunts down the leaders who destroyed his village and killed his mother and becomes an unstoppable action hunk along the way. Patel gets points for his grit and style because he is fully in the trenches creating the most brutal movie he possibly can, that is spry on its feet and funny in places, as well. The movie does get sluggish halfway through, and sometimes Patel's ambition puts him a little out of his depth (there is a kill scene with a CGI knife in Patel's mouth that looks like shit), but I have to respect him for holding nothing back. If nothing else, it's something that should get more producers banging on his door with more projects for him, which is the best possible outcome.
Wicked Little Letters
⭐️⭐️1/2
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery
Director: Thea Sharrock
Starring: Olivia Colman, Jessie Buckley, Anjana Vasan, Timothy Spall
This film takes place in 1920's England, where Olivia Colman is receiving angry, obscene letters from an unknown source. Everyone's gaze turns to Jessie Buckley, Colman's foul-mouthed, ill-tempered Irish neighbor, who is arrested for the harassment, though the town's one marginalized lady cop suspects that she isn't the culprit. Watching Wicked Little Letters requires a patience with its indulgence in tonal shifts, as it pivots between aloof comedy and moments that are surprisingly drama-heavy for a story this goofy. I'm having a hard time figuring out what the tone of the screenplay is supposed to be, because it could either be just a quaint little neighborhood story that was leaned into comedy in production based on its gifted, comedic performers, or it is a rambunctious comedy that also wants to feel like its stakes and emotion are serious enough to pack a punch. I'm willing to roll with the latter, but this story is a bit too small to carry some of its more thundering moments, and I find myself pining for it to reel itself in and just be a silly showcase for its talent. Also, it gives up on the intrigue of its mystery fairly quickly, opting to show the culprit long before any of the characters figure it out, which I feel is a mistake that makes the second half far less engaging than the first. Still, with a cast this good, this movie does achieve at being an entertaining piece for fans of its performers. Olivia Colman is delightful, Anjana Vasan is charming, and Jessie Buckley steals every scene she's in with her very colorful vernacular. It's a cozy evening watch, but it's a hard movie to love.
Art Attack
Io Capitano
⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Oscars Nominated: Best International Feature Film
Genre: Drama
Director: Matteo Garrone
Starring: Seydou Sarr, Moustapha Fall
Finally, I can cross off the last nominee for the International Oscar off my list, because Italy's Io Capitano (translates to "Me Captain" in English) has finally made it to Idaho. At least I got to see this one in a theater, which is more than I can say for Perfect Days (or Society of the Snow, but that was a Netflix movie, so that wasn't going to happen). Io Capitano is the story of two cousins from Dekar, who make a long trek to Italy in search of a better life. What follows is a heavy depiction of the lengths that people will go through to immigrate, as they face perils and hardships of their journey brought about by vast deserts and encountering those who wish them harm. It's a strong story of persistence, overcoming their fear, their uncertainty, and, in some cases, even their own compassion, all in the name of reaching their destination. The film's young stars, Seydou Sarr and Moustapha Fall, are both outstanding, holding this rich drama on their shoulders.
Movies Still Playing At My Theater
Arthur the King ⭐️⭐️
Cabrini ⭐⭐
Dune: Part Two ⭐⭐1/2
Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire ⭐️⭐️1/2
Immaculate ⭐️⭐️
Kung Fu Panda 4 ⭐⭐1/2
Late Night with the Devil ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Love Lies Bleeding ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
New To Digital
Imaginary ⭐️1/2
Knox Goes Away ⭐️⭐️
Snack Shack ⭐️⭐️1/2
Coming Soon!
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