Spring has officially sprung, and while there’s still a good amount of snow left on Twin Cities streets and yards, winter is quickly in the rear-view mirror.
We got an early look at a few upcoming movies and as usual, will also make mention of the musical content in each--
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Us Read More
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Us
This much-anticipated follow-up to writer/director Jordan Peele’s Get Out suffers no sophomore slump and does not disappoint – you’ll never think of the May 1986 Hands Across America event, in the same way.
Black Panther alumni Lupita Nyong'o and Winston Duke play the mother and father of a well-to-do West Coast family off to vacation in their summer home, along with friends Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker (in a very different role since we last saw him on stage locally) who become confronted by their own scissor-wielding doppelgängers.
Peele (of comedy duo Key and Peele) stylishly and masterfully sets the tone, then builds the tension in a fresh and original story that, along with his previous film, now establishes him as the premier modern storyteller of this genre.
There are some other underlying layers to the story, about privilege, race, and our potential darker selves left in the shadows, but the film allows you to consider those topics or not, as it’s just as enjoyable to sit back, buckle up, and let the scenes take you where they will.
The third act suffers a bit, as things are fully explained and (mostly) resolved with an end reveal (I saw it coming) which also leaves the door open for another chapter, but it’s a minor complaint on an otherwise solid film.
Composer Michael Abels, who scored Peele’s Get Out, also provides the score here, with memorable scenes resurrecting hip-hop classics like 1995’s ‘I Got 5 on It’ by Luniz and N.W.A.’s ‘F—k tha Police’, as well as songs from Janelle Monae, Noname, and even The Beach Boys’ ‘Good Vibrations’.
Us is from Universal Pictures and opens in theatres today
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (W♥M rating – 9 out of 10 hearts)
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Shazam Read More
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Shazam
These are golden times for any comic book fan - who would have ever dreamed there would be two Captain Marvel feature films in less than a month? Ok, so it’s not exactly the Fawcett Comics character that was so popular in the ‘40s, then was sued and acquired by DC for a ‘70s rebirth, with a few reboots since then.
The grown up Billy Batson (played by Zachary Levi) this time is the New52 version complete with hooded cape and light-up lightning bolt (similar to TV’s Black Lightning costume) which doesn’t exactly elicit any nostalgia.
Comic book movie veterans Djimon Hounsou (of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy/Capt Marvel and DC’s Aquaman – who’d of thought he’d be in both Captain Marvel films?!) and Mark Strong as arch-villain Dr. Sivana (who as Sinestro in Green Lantern was a film highlight, and was also in Kiss Ass and Kingsman) are also in the adult cast. The child acting cast (led by 16yr old Asher Angel as Billy) are fine, but not standout.
Set in Philadelphia (??), the film gives us the origin from the comics and culminates with a battle against Sivana (who isn’t too recognizable from the comics version either) with The Marvel Family appearing a bit too suddenly to help out with things.
Grounded in a good heart and set mostly in an adoption group home (Jerry from Walking Dead is the dad), it mostly plays things for laughs- maybe the studio antidote to so many of DC’s adaptations being so dark.
The comedy moments are entertaining, but often seemed forced, and the character is one you can never really emotionally bond with, or take very seriously.
As with most comic book films, there are two post-credit scenes- the first, a mid-credit scene setting up the villains for the possible sequel (not that the similar scene in Justice League will probably ever come to fruition) and a quick end credit scene done strictly for laughs. And no, Black Adam does not appear.
Minimal easter eggs for comic fans to pick up on (unfortunately), the film seems to value its silly and dumb tone over everything, so it can wait for a rental viewing or streaming, as the big screen doesn’t add much to the experience. The other Captain Marvel film (while it starts confusingly and is far from perfect) is the better choice.
Composer Benjamin Wallfisch did the movie’s score, previously collaborating with director David F. Sandberg on his previous Lights Out and Annabelle: Creation as well as doing additional music for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Soundtrack songs are mostly forgettable except for Kendrick Lamar’s 2017 ‘Humble’. Other songs include those previously released by Imagine Dragons, NF, Rise and Jay Rock (zzz...)
Shazam is from Warner Brothers/New Line/DC and opens on April 5-
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ( W♥M rating – 6 out of 10 hearts)
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The Best of Enemies
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The Best of Enemies
A surprisingly good film based on a true story set in 1971 in Durham, NC as a KKK leader and black activist organizer are forced to work together, after a fire at a local elementary school sparks debate on whether their schools should be racially integrated, on not.
The film’s veteran cast includes Taraji P. Henson, Sam Rockwell, Babou Ceesay, Anne Heche, Wes Bentley, and Bruce McGill and is adapted from the book by Osha Gray Davidson. Robin Bissell (born in Minneapolis) is the first-time director, adapting his own script for the project.
This is a feel-good and often inspiring story that in parts, would be too good to believed, if the story didn’t actually happen. Rockwell and Henson play well off each other, and the compassion about doing the right thing for their children, helps them find common ground when seemingly, none exists. Footage of the actual people is played just before the end credits.
Musically, Brazilian composer Marcelo (Wonder, Fences) Zarvos provides the film score with memorable montage scenes in the film set to Roy Orbison’s ‘Blue Bayou’ and Bill Withers’ ‘Grandma’s Hands’. Other songs from the 1971-era pepper the scenes and John Legend’s recent single, ‘Preach’ is part of the end credits.
The Best of Enemies is from STX Entertainment and opens April 5.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (W♥M rating – 8 out of 10 hearts)
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