Smile 2 | Review by: Benjamin Garrett

Smile 2 opens with a phenomenal, heart pounding sequence and concludes with a jaw dropping showstopper of a finale. Everything in between can’t help feeling like a retread of the first movie, although that’s not entirely a bad thing.

Picking up shortly after the events of the first film, this sequel hits the ground running with one of the best opening scenes of the year. An exceptionally well orchestrated long take that had me on the edge of my seat, everything about it felt bigger and bolder than the first Smile. From there, we are introduced to our protagonist, Skye Riley - a pop icon with a troubled past. Being centred around a celebrity is a refreshing angle, but the plot hits so many of the exact same beats as the first movie, making it feel kind of stale.

If you’re looking for some good old fashioned jump scares, this movie’s got you covered. Most aren’t super creative, but they don’t feel cheap either. The practical and visual effects are greatly improved, giving us some absolutely gnarly moments that don’t hold back. As with the first film, the direction, score and cinematography are quite impressive, elevating the production value above what you’d typically expect from this type of horror. There are a few too many fake-outs, however, that undermine a lot of what the movie does well. I appreciate a good reveal or twist, but they aren’t all executed well here.

I’ve seen some of Naomi Scott’s work, but until now I wouldn’t necessarily call myself a fan. This movie changes that, with an easy career best performance from the young actress. Not only is she believable as a pop sensation, but she carries Skye’s history of trauma and substance abuse in a way that allows her to feel grounded. Scott expertly captures the crushing feeling of isolation and paranoia, as Skye’s reality crumbles around her.

Smile 2 can’t shake the familiarity of the first movie, leading to an often stale rehash of something we’ve already seen. Still, this sequel is well built, offering fun jump scares, gruesome moments and a sensational turn from Naomi Scott. I didn’t leave the theatre smiling, but it was decent enough to evoke a slight smirk.

3/5

Review by: Benjamin Garrett

The Mandalorian Season 3 Review

Listen, I love Star Wars. I will always love Star Wars. The original and prequel trilogies were a big part of my childhood, and helped shape my love of cinema. While The Mandalorian isn’t among my favourites in the franchise, I thought it had a promising first season and a significantly stronger season two. Season three had so much potential, but a frustrating lack of focus held it back from greatness. This show’s always had a bit of an identity crisis, but it’s never been as clear as it is here. Does it want to be a procedural-style adventure of the week, or tell an epic, multi-season spanning arc? Season one leaned toward the former, while Season two found a satisfying balance of both. Season three tries to find that balance, but the overarching story it wants to tell is bigger than the few episodes allotted to do so. There are only 8 chapters, some barely over 30 min. That’s a fair...

Boss Level Film Review

Boss Level is a new addition to the time loop genre, with a twist. Ex-special forces officer, Roy Pulver, played by Frank Grillo, relives the same day until he dies. Every day he is hunted by assassins and when killed, he wakes up back in his bed where he started, only to have to try and survive all over again. Roy has no idea why he is stuck in this infinite time loop but he must do what he can to survive, and the longer he survives, the more he uncovers about his particular situation. Unlike most action films that take time to build up, this film gets right into it and offers tons of non-stop combat sequences that would satisfy any lover of action films. Its erratic flow makes for some fun action scenes which come out of nowhere since Roy can expect the assassins to attack at any moment. If you play video games often and have ever been stuck on a level for hours or even days, you know the feeling of having to repeat the same thing over and over again u...

Better Man | Review by: Benjamin Garrett

What at first feels like a CGI gimmick allows Better Man to climb and swing it’s way beyond standard biopic conventions. This larger than life musical is worth a watch even if, like me, you needed to ask “Who the hell is Robbie Williams?”. A pop icon in the UK who didn’t quite make a household name for himself in North America, Robbie Williams bares his life (the good the bad and the drug fueled ugly) in this dazzling account of his rise to fame. Musician biopics often focus too heavily on the creation of the artist’s work, and not enough on the actual artist. Better Man gives audiences a sobering portrait of the man behind the monkey, with his songs placed in pivotal life and career moments to move the narrative forward. This works especially well if you aren’t entirely familiar with Williams’ work, because you won’t find yourself waiting to hear specific needle drops. Instead they flow organically into the story, with gorgeously choreographed musical numbers. And bo...

1st Reviews

Search This Blog