Joker: Folie a deux (2024)

Title: Joker 2 
Year: 2024
Director: Todd Phillips
Country: US
Language: English

Todd Phillips Joker (2019) was a cultural phenomenon when it was released. It was a huge hit with critics & audiences, raking in over a $1 Billion in Worldwide gross revenue. I was at Toronto Film Festival, where Joker made its North American debut, and there were entire city blocks worth of people in Joker cosplay. Such a hit meant a sequel was inevitable. Would Joker: Folie a deux live up to the hype? Nope!

Struggling with his dual identity, failed comedian Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) meets the love of his life, Harley Quinn (Lady Gaga) , while incarcerated at Arkham State Hospital.

There's a lot of discussion about how Todd Phillips went out of his way to make an anti-film; deliberately trolling the audience by making a film that is the exact opposite of their expectations. I think this is giving too much credit to the Director of Starsky & Hutch (2004). Joker 2 is awful, not because it doesn't give the audience what it wants, but because the writing is incomprehensible garbage. Harley Quinn's motivation is all over the place; plot points are introduced and abandoned at a whim; entire scenes serve no purpose but to fill time. 

Joker had a lot of misses in its writing as well, such as implying that Thomas Wayne was his father, but it stole enough from Martin Scorsese to make the film as a whole work. Folie a Deux's concept has been done before, it was inspired by The Singing Detective, but Todd Phillips and co. aren't talented enough to Tarantino themselves into a good movie twice. 

The only thing Joker: Folie a Deux might do well is serve as a test to weed out pretentious cinema snobs. Is your friend convinced that this film is actually a Kaufman-esque avant guard anti-cinema masterpiece? There's a bridge you may be able to sell to them!

Leave Her to Heaven (1945) Review

Title: Leave Her to Heaven
Year: 1945
Director: John M. Stahl
Country: US
Language: English

Have you ever watched a classic movie and thought "How did THIS get made!?" Not because of quality, but rather, subject matter. How did Leave Her to Heaven pass the unrelenting censors of the Hays Code when other pictures had to recut entire scenes to make theatrical distribution? This film has one of the most perverse and remorseless femme fatales in the history of cinema. 

A writer falls in love with a young socialite named Ellen Harland (Gene Tierney) and they're soon married, but her obsessive love for him threatens to be the undoing of them both as well as everyone around them.

While most femme fatales have driven motivations - money, security, love - Ellen Harland's issue is more psychological and Freudian. She desires to conform to traditional femininity, but her impulsive emotions and obsession make this an impossibility. She is at odds with her society, and thus finds her self succumbing to madness. 

Filmed in beautiful technicolor, Leave Her to Heaven has the look of a Douglas Sirk melodrama (John Stahl is known as a director of "women's pictures") , but its as cold as Double Indemnity.  Tierney is a beautiful woman, often thought of as one of the most beautiful women in cinema, but her actions definitely make us forget about the beauty. 

Leave Her to Heaven is a well made film with a remarkable script and stunning cinematography. This picture transcends what you thought a noir could be, albeit at nearly 2 hours it feels a bit long. If this film cut 20-30 minutes it would be one of the best colour-noirs of all time. Overall it's a fascinating one-time viewing. 

Challengers (2024) Review

Title: Challengers
Year: 2024
Director: Luca Guadagino
Country: US
Language: English

With Call Me By Your Name (2017) and Bones and All (2022) in his filmography, it would seem Director Luca Guadagino is no stranger to portraying complex, multi-faceted relationships unfold on the big screen. Using tennis to portray a love-triangle is bold, and easily could have fell apart with a poor screenplay, but thankfully Guadagino works with Past Lives (2023) playwright Justin Kuritzkes to weave a fascinating character study of three intense athletes. 

Tashi (Zendaya) , a former tennis prodigy turned coach, transformed her husband (Mike Faist)  into a champion. But to overcome a recent losing streak and redeem himself, he'll need to face off against his former best friend, and Tashi's ex-boyfriend (Josh O' Connor).

The film's narrative leaps back and forth, between present day and the past. The structure does a great job at slowly revealing the positions of each participant in this love triangle. Advertised as the "sexy threesome" movie; Challengers is far more interested in how body language and subtle conversation add to the story structure & creates an engaging work of art. 

The cinematography, by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, provides an array of unique camerawork that makes a tennis match feel like a visual epic event. The electronic score, by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, gives Challengers a pulsating, energetic feel that intensifies the emotions onscreen. 

Challengers proves that Zendaya should be a big star. Her ability to emote through small shifts in her body language is outstanding. Faist (West Side Story) & O'Connor (God's Own Country) are also perfectly cast. This may become my favourite film of 2024, it is superb in every way. 

The World is Not Enough (1999) Review

 Title: The World is Not Enough
Year: 1999
Director: Michael Apted
Country: UK
Language; English

The World is Not Enough is a tearjerker, but not for the reason you'd expect. This was the last feature film of Desmond Llewelyn, who played Q throughout the Bond franchise. He had been a staple of the series since From Russia With Love (1963). and many fans looked forward to his scenes, which often featured him giving Bond a ridiculous gadget. Seeing his last scene  At 85 years old, he lived a long life, but we all wish he lived a lot longer. 

James Bond (Piece Brosnan) uncovers a nuclear plot while protecting an oil heiress from her former kidnapper, an international terrorist who can't feel pain.

The last James Bond film of the Twentieth Century, The World is Not Enough features a great opening song by Garbage & is one of the most impressive of t007 features when it comes to thrilling, pulse pounding action scenes. TWINE is fast-paced, with the 2 hours feeling like 20minutes.

I like Bond Girl Christmas Jones, if only for the name & associated puns. "Christmas came early this year."  & I think Pierce Brosnan has a better developed personality than his previous two outings. I would argue that the plot is a bit weak; the story itself is not very engaging or providing a lot of depth. TWINE is very much style over substance.

The World is Not Enough is a pretty average film that is enjoyable, but not very memorable. Cinephiles often site 1999 as one of the best years in film history, but that's because of The Matrix, American Beauty, and The Sixth Sense. Nobody claims 1999 was great because of Bond. 

Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Review

Title: Tomorrow Never Dies
Year: 1997
Director: Roger Spottiswoods
Country: UK
Language: English

Roger Moore's first two Bond films of the 1980's  (Octopussy & For Your Eyes Only) were too conservative for my liking. They were too influenced by  the Reagan/Thatcher politics of the time. Tomorrow Never Dies comes during a more liberal 90's when Tony Blair (US), John Chretien (Canada) & Bill Clinton (UK) were in charge. Concerns became more focused on technology, rather than the pointless "war on drugs".

James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) sets out to stop a media mogul's plan to induce a war between China and the United Kingdom.

Tomorrow Never Dies takes Bond into the Information Era and is shockingly relevant considering politics of today. Perhaps it is the most relevant film in the franchise, and that is including the most recent No Time to Die (2021). There are many examples (*cough*FoxNews*cough*) of media being manipulated in order to influence our elections. Brexit was partly driven by media influence. 

Michelle Yeoh's stock has risen immensely since Tomorrow Never Dies. She won Best Actress at the Academy Awards in 2023 for Everything Everywhere All At Once. It is fascinating to watch her in an earlier role where she is kicking ass along with Bond. She is a great Bond girl. 

Tomorrow Never Dies is a fast paced, thrilling Bond film that is an underrated gem in the franchise. Its impressive set design, exquisite cinematography and jaw-dropping fight choreography make this entry a contender for one of the best Bonds. 

Goldeneye (1995) Review

 Title: Goldeneye
Year: 1995
Director: Martin Campbell
Country: UK
Language: English

Ah, Goldeneye! Most of us millennials know of this 007 entry as our favorite childhood video game. We spent countless hours on the N64 beating our friends in "slappers only" combat. Nobody played as Oddjob, because his small stature was considered cheating. Many of us didn't ever end up seeing the film Goldeneye, which is a shame, because it's a damn good movie!

When a powerful secret defense system is stolen, James Bond (Pierce Brosnan) is assigned to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using it.

The first Bond film made since the end of the Cold War, Goldeneye was an ambitious project for the producers to make. Mel Gibson, Hugh Grant and Liam Neeson were all offered the part of Bond, but they all passed. Pierce Brosnan accepted the role. He's a good middle0ground between the goofy camp of Moore & the extreme seriousness of Timothy Dalton. Brosnan is an instantly credible Bond.

"I think you're a sexist misogynistic dinosaur. A relic of the cold war." - M

Goldenye updates the Franchise to reflect attitudes of the time. This entry is the first time Bond is called out, and made fun of, for his outdated views. It's also the first entry to feature a female M, which was huge at the time. The film itself has an adequate script, but is visually impressive. Its impressive cinematography, intense fight choreography and outstanding set design give Goldeneye an epic feel that is rarely matched throughout the Bond Franchise. 

Famke Janssen as Xenia Onatopp is a memorable femme fatale. Sean Bean as Trevelyan is an iconic Bond villain. I love how personal Trevelyan & Bond's showdown is at the end of the film. Goldeneye is certainly worthy of being highly regarded. 

 

Licence to Kill (1989) Review

Title: Licence to Kill 
Year: 1989
Director: John Glen
Country: UK
English: English

While Roger Moore's Bond was busy shagging every lady who could find, Timothy Dalton's James Bond was practically abstinent. Reporters at the time wondered if the AIDS epidemic had contributed to 007's reduced sexuality. Dalton initially denied these claims, but decades later he admitted this was true. Dalton's Bond would be darker, grittier and more of a killer-for-hire than the previous incarnation.  

A vengeful James Bond (Timothy Dalton) goes rogue to infiltrate and take down the organization of a drug lord who has murdered his friend's new wife and left him near death.

Licence to Kill feels like the true sequel to On Her Majesty's Secret Service, rather than the atrocious Diamonds are Forever (1971).  The events of Lazenby's film gave 007 a relentless desire for revenge against his enemies. It turned this quirky ladies man into a cold blooded killer. Dalton really has an intensity that no other Bond actor has had since. Its easy to tell that he came from a Shakesperean acting background. 

While the story & acting is great, the visual presentation of Licence to Kill feels quite dated. It looks, and sounds, like a late 80's television show. It's like the cinematographer, set designer and costumer designer all decided to model this outing after Miami Vice. While a View to a Kill (1985) reminds viewers of the fun Cyndi Lauper era of the 80's that everyone is nostalgic for, Licence to Kill resembles a part of the 80's that only your grandmother liked.

If Licence to Kill had a visual presentation that didn't look like Dallas it would be a top tier Bond flick. Unfortunately, it looks dated & won't age gracefully as time goes on. I love the story however & I would tell everybody to watch it at least once. 

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) Review

Title: Deadpool & Wolverine 
Year: 2024
Director: Shawn Levy
Country: US
Language: English

With Logan (2017)  Hugh Jackman had decided to be done playing the character of Wolverine. He had been playing this part for 17 years; since X-Men (2000) However, he saw Deadpool 2 & expressed regret killing the character off, telling Ryan Reynolds that he wished their two characters could meet onscreen. Welp! Something something multiverse & we get Deadpool & Wolverine.

Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) is offered a place in the Marvel Cinematic Universe by the Time Variance Authority, but instead recruits a variant of Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) to save his universe from extinction.

When She-Hulk breaks the fourth wall, she gets cancelled. When Deadpool does it his movie earns a Billion dollars. That seems unfair. 

Crass, violent, and full of f***s to give out in every sentence,  Deadpool & Wolverine is a fun, goofy brainless film that will certainly work among those who want to see two immortal beings beat each other up for two hours. 

For everyone else the jokes are hit & miss. The fourth wall-breaking becomes tedious at times; like Deadpool will make fun of how stale the Marvel formula has become - only for the movie to fall into the same cookie-cutter plot tropes (ie. excessive cameos). The writing can be pretty bad at times, as some of the plot gets convoluted and confusing. Since when was "anchor beings" ever a thing in the MCU? 

This movie makes me reflect upon my distaste for the Disney series She-Hulk. I think my annoyance for that character was her reluctance to become The Hulk. "I'm great at controlling my anger." Then why am I watching She-Hulk? The Deadpool series is at least a fun time. If you can turn your brain off, you'll enjoy it. 

The Living Daylights (1987) Review

 Title: The Living Daylights
Year: 1987
Director: John Glen
Country: UK
Language: English

A View to a Kill (1985) did pretty good in the theatres, but it had become pretty obvious that Roger Moore had become too old for the role. The Producers decided to hire Pierce Brosnan as 007, but the TV Series Remington Steele decided to renew his contract for another season, and thus Brosnan wouldn't be available until Goldeneye (1995). For now the part of Bond would go to Shakesperean actor Timothy Dalton. 

James Bond (Timothy Dalton) is sent to investigate a KGB policy to kill all enemy spies, and uncovers an arms deal that potentially has major global ramifications.

Dalton's approach to Bond was similar to Daniel Craig. In The Living Daylights Bond is darker, more brooding and more serious than Connery & Moore. He is less focused on babes and booze; preferring to a "get the job done at whatever the cost" assassin. He gives an emotionally gripping performance that compliments the engaging plot & stunning cinematography. 

This Bond film is very topical for the time. By the late 80's the West's "War on Drugs" was in full swing. This was the time of "Just Say No." and D.A.R.E. The film also touches on the Russian War with Afghanistan and, interestingly enough, has Bond team up with a group that would later become the Taliban!

Dalton's Bond doesn't jump into bed with the ladies like previous Bonds', which I suppose reflects the AIDS crisis of the 80's. It's a fascinating time capsule film that proves to be pretty entertaining. 

Diamonds are Forever (1971) Review

 Title: Diamonds Are Forever
Year: 1971
Director: Guy Hamilton
Country: UK
Language: English

After On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1967) producers scrambled to find the new James Bond because George Lazenby did not want to renew his role. He felt the franchise wouldn't make past the sixties. Who better to play Bond than the original actor Sean Connery. Paid a record breaking salary at the time, Connery was the producers' best bet to introduce the beloved spy to a new decade. 

A diamond smuggling investigation leads James Bond (Sean Connery) to Las Vegas where he uncovers an evil plot involving a rich business tycoon.

On Her Majesty's Secret Service ended on such an incredibly emotional cliffhanger that I expected Diamonds are Forever (1971) to be a chilling follow-up where Bond is consumed by grief and desire for revenge. This isn't the case. The follow-up to OHMSS is such a letdown that it sours the experience of the former film. 

This version of Blofeld is the most boring in the 007 Franchise. Connery seems to have phoned it in as Bond in this film. He is far less charming than in Dr. No (1962) and Goldfinger (1964). The gay henchmen Mr.Wint (Bruce Glover) and Mr.Kidd (Putter Smith) are represented as all the worst homophobic stereotypes of the era. 

It is honestly hard to watch Diamonds Are Forever and still consider myself a fan of Bond films. I find it embarrasing, repulsive even. Die Another Day (2002) is at least a guilty pleasure "so bad its fun" viewing.  This film is just tedious.