I think it will be hard to beat the amount of movies that I did in January (thank you, Sundance), but that does not mean what I’m watching isn’t of quality and that’s all that really matters. While a good chunk of these are new, I did swing back to one of my favorites from 2020. I also managed to get the last best picture nominee in over the weekend! Let’s take a look, shall we?
The Father – Freaking finally! This drama, based on a play of the same name, has been eluding me for months and months! Obviously, the pandemic was partly to blame, but the other part was the release schedule! It’s like no one at Sony Pictures Classics actually wanted anyone to see this film before Oscar nominations got announced. In any case, I finally got to and it truly was worth the wait. This film was equal parts devastating and thrilling, which sounds strange, I know. But you have to understand, this movie was about an older father who is living with extreme dementia (devastating), but the story is also told through his perspective. That means there are days he doesn’t even recognize his own daughter or what time in the day it is! Several actors and actresses assume different roles throughout the film and as the viewer, I was almost as disoriented as Anthony was! This could be a tough watch for people, but it is absolutely incredible!
Boss Level – Another fun and unique take on a Groundhog’s Day-esque film! As I heard star Frank Grillo describe it, it’s almost like a cross between Groundhog’s Day and Die Hard. I’ll give it to him! Grillo plays Roy, who from the second the film starts, is fighting off assassins only to meet his end at approximately the same time every day. Of course there are variations to the deaths, and that’s what adds some humor to all the action! Aside from the action, gore, and humor, there is also an element of heart that I wasn’t anticipating. Sure, I figured he’d try to reconnect with his ex-wife, who still seems to care about him a lot, but the real connection came between Roy and his estranged son, Joe (played by Grillo’s real son, Rio). Add in Mel Gibson as the bad guy and you’re left with one hell of an entertaining film!
Pixie – I only just saw the trailer for this gangster/adventure film last week, and was pleased to see I could watch it so soon! Although it debuted across the pond last fall, we only just now get the opportunity to watch it, and I’ve got to say, I thought this movie was really fun! Olivia Cooke makes our lead Pixie look like a dream girl really. She’s whip-smart, but fun and sarcastic, too! She was looking to get out of Ireland when her ex-boyfriend thwarts those plans, thus gets involved her gangster family. It probably doesn’t help that she’s hit the road with two local guys, Frank and Harland, who’ve accidently killed the ex, who’s now stuffed in the trunk of a car. The trio get into some pretty wild and often hilarious shenanigans, but there’s enough shoot-outs to level everything out. This movie was reminiscent of Free Fire to me, so obviously I would recommend it!
Trust – Oof, look. This was an impulse rental, solely based on the fact that two Shadowhunters stars were leads. Not that it was awful, but it just didn’t really go there. Trust is based off the stage-play, Push, about a couple, Brooke and Owen, with some serious trust issues! A large part of me was wondering why the couple was even together in the first place if they were this insecure about each other. Although, they were both going through some big shifts in their lives. Brooke is just about to open a gallery featuring a very good-looking artist who is all about the hook-up. Meanwhile, Owen feels like he’s reached a stand-still with his news career. Both are keeping secrets and both think the other is being unfaithful. How does Brooke try to figure that out? By hiring someone to flirt with him! No duh this isn’t going to end well. Like I said, this was an interesting concept with some fun twists, but the script just didn’t make anyone go for it.
Yes Day – I knew this was a family film going into it, but when you have Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez as the parents, obviously I’m going to watch. And truthfully, it was pretty decent. Jennifer Garner’s Allison has reach dictator-level parenting and her kids all sort of loath her for it, so at the suggestion of a school counselor, they agree to give their kids a “Yes Day.” With stipulations, of course. While a couple of the Yes Day activities they participated in seemed fun, there were some that shot my anxiety levels through the roof. Who goes through a car wash with the windows down?! There’s no way that doesn’t just ruin it. Anyway, I really enjoyed the dynamic between everyone, and it was interesting to see Ramirez in a comedy.
The Vast of Night – Ah, this beaut came out on Amazon Prime last year and I instantly fell in love. I don’t recall ever watching the trailer for this, but I saw it was sci-fi and honestly I just loved the title. That’s all it really took to get me to watch. Turns out this first time director really knew what he wanted to make and delivered! In a series of long shots, we focus on Fay and Everett in the 1950s as they walk through town to the switch board and local radio station, respectively. Pretty soon some weird sounds start coming through the switchboard and the pair decide to investigate. First, they get an eerie story from a caller, and then they meet with someone else who’s heard the sounds before. As the ending draws nearer, so does the tension, and we’re all left to assume that Fay and Everett have been abducted. It was intense! And the little details throughout the film really add up to make something special. This is a must-watch, especially for all you Prime subscribers!