Finally, I feel like I had a worthwhile weekend in film! Honestly, I thought I was going to get at least one more in, but I let catching up on some sleep win out.
F1 – It took me far too long to catch this in theaters, but I am so glad that I finally did! I don’t know what it is about racing movies that speaks to me, but I don’t think I’ve met one yet that I’ve disliked. This one is certainly no different. In the world of F1, Brad Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, is a has been. He had his moment to shine, but his reckless driving habits eventually derailed his promising career. Some 20 odd years later, a fellow competitor from back in the day is desperate to save his team from being sold by his board, so he manages to sell Sonny on taking the number two spot. His fellow driver, Joshua Pearce, has got a lot to learn, but hos stubbornness is reminiscent of Sonny’s own. These two do manage to find success, but the journey there is one that just made my heart squeeze in happiness. I definitely will be lobbying to get my dad to watch this with me at some point. Highly recommend!
Eddington – Somehow, this is the first and only Ari Astor film I have ever seen. Hereditery seems too scary, I read about Midsommer, which was enough for me, and Beau is Afraid seemed weird in a way I wouldn’t understand or like. But a comedy-western really sold me. That, and the outstanding cast. In this film, set in March of 2020, Eddington, New Mexico’s small population is full of the most extreme versions of people. You’ve got a teen spouting out all of the internet jargon she can about all of the issues that went down in that crazy time, but then on the opposite end of the spectrum you’ve got local sheriff, Joe Cross. He’s yelling all of the things the maskless idiots did back then. He’s even decided to run for mayor! But that’s when things really start to go off the rails for him. This movie took such a wild turn that I was truly shocked. It was maybe a bit confusing as for why, but gosh if it didn’t grab my attention (though it was never lost). This is certainly not for everyone, but I can’t help but feel that this had a nod to Fargo for some inspiration.
The Fantastic Four: First Steps – I don’t believe I’ve ever actually seen any prior Fantastic Four films, so my knowledge of these particular Marvel heroes was basically nothing. It was cool to see this film take place in the 60s if just for the styling alone, but it made their mission that much more interesting. Richard, Sue, Johnny, and Ben have been heroes to Earth for the last four years, but they are really put to the test with the appearance of the Silver Surfer, who lets everyone know that their planet will be destroyed soon by Galactus, a being with an insaitiable hunger. Richard and Sue’s soon to be baby could save the entire planet, but they are not willing to give him up. They are sure there is another way. Of course there is, because otherwise that wouldn’t be very good franchise material. What’s got me most intrigued is what this baby is capable of. A part of me wonders if he will be a future villain, and I’m sure comic book readers everywhere are screaming at me right now, but I don’t know if I’ll be bothered to research further before the next film gets released. Definitely one of the stronger entries Marvel has put forward in recent years.
Blow the Man Down – Praise be movie club! Thankfully I had some backup on trying to get this film watched, and we succeeded! I haven’t actually come back to this film since its initial release in 2019, but I’m so glad I got to now. Priscilla and Mary Beth have just buried their mother, who essentially left them broke and homeless. Rather than get along, even at their mother’s funeral, Mary Beth skips early to hook up with some sleeze. Who also might be a killer. Mary Beth gets the one up on him though, but that means she and Priscilla have a lot of work to do. Things get even stickier when Mary Beth finds a fat stack of cash that belongs to a local brothel owner who used to be close friends with their mother. Though this is a quick film, the ride is a wild one, set in such a small seaside town that even I was itching to get out for them. Again, reminiscent of the best of Fargo, so there is really no way you can be disappointed in watching this. So do it!