I’ll cut to the chase this week. On to the reviews!
I was so afraid the mystery movie was going to be The Fabulous Four based on it being a Bleeker Street film, but I was so, so happy when it leaked early Monday that Sing Sing was the film this time. There is a very good reason where in many circles this is the frontrunner for Best Picture. This film centers around the Rehabilitation Through the Arts program at Sing Sing Maximum Security Program and it the inmates within it putting together another stage show. It is exceptional. A year ago this week, when I got out of Oppenheimer (the first time), the first thing I said to the people that went with me was “Give Cillian Murphy the Oscar now!” I tell you this now after watching Sing Sing: Give Coleman Domingo the Oscar now! He is equal parts uplifting and heartbreaking in this and really makes you forget that he is in a maximum security prison, even though we are led to believe he is there for a crime he didn’t commit.
That feeling is true for the entire cast though, but there is something very interesting about the majority of the cast: they were former alumni themselves of the Sing Sing theatrical program. By choosing this route for the film, it breathes a real sense of realism that makes this film really work in a beautiful way. Of those alumni, Clarence “Divine Eye” Maclin really shines. His turn as a hardened gangster to what he becomes by the end of the film is such a great thing, and it wouldn’t be that much of a reach to say we might hear his name in awards conversations once we get to that season. There is just so much to love with this one. The are no weak spots, with every little thing being paid off by the end of the film. You will leave the film with such a great feeling that by opening up yourself to others, you can turn into a better more complete person. How we are now doesn’t have to be the end all be all.
I’ll start with this: I love the original Twister. I have watched it more times than I can count, and like Jurassic Park, the CGI still holds up well almost 30 years later. So, going into the sequel, I kept my expectations at a reasonable level. I was pleasantly surprised. There are many parts of Twisters that surpass the original. Even more than that, I’m not sure there is much about the new film that is worse than the original. Glenn Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones are very good as our new leads. I thought they even had more chemistry than Paxton/Hunt (setting aside that those two reportedly hated each other after they finished the 1996 film).
The one part that I think was missing was the tone of some of tornado scenes. In the original, each tornado was scary, and a “monster” that haunted everyone. In the sequel, while the big EF-5s are terrifying, the smaller ones are played off as “fun” ones. It just threw off the tone a bit. Also, the antagonist of the film was so underwritten that they didn’t even seem like they were part of story. Does a disaster movie really need a villain though? Mother Nature is a big enough antagonist in most of these movies. This was definitely a fun watch though, and one that should be watched on the biggest, loudest screens. I saw it on IMAX, and the big set pieces really played well on that format. I’m not sure it will be the same watching it at home when it becomes available.
Growing up in the 90s, I was right in the heart of the golden age of the Disney Channel Original movies. For movies like Smart House or The Luck of the Irish, part of their small budget was part of the charm. It was a made for TV movie after all. It was also close to 30 years age. Times hav changed. For the most part, the Amazon Originals have been films that could have (for the most part) been released in theaters. Then along comes Space Cadet. This was terrible, and felt like we went back in time where this kind of movie was more common. Emma Roberts plays an “inventor” that longs to go to space, and through the meddling of her bast friend, gets accepted into the NASA astronaut program. You can probably guess what happens just by reading that premise. The thing that really stands out here is nothing is close to realistic. This doesn’t have to be a bad thing normally, but in this film it is an issue. NASA is this cartoon place with only a dozen people working there and the only people they can send to space are new recruits that just went through training. That quick turnaround is usually seen if an asteroid is coming for us. Everyone in the cast ranges from pointless to so annoying I wish their character got sent adrift in space. Also, once they go to space, I’m sure there are high school productions that have a more believable space station set. I know. This isn’t meant to be believable, so loosen up. I get it. The issue with ignoring believability is the story and characters have to make up the difference. They very much do not here. This is best to just float off into the Amazon Prime library, never to be heard from again.
Is it even a question what movie wins the weekend next week? The only question is how much money it makes.
- Deadpool & Wolverine
- Twisters
- Inside Out 2
- Despicable Me 4
- Sing Sing
Now, it’s just a long wait until Thursday and the return of the merc with the mouth. before that one though, it’s a Screen Unseen tomorrow night, and I finally see Fly Me to the Moon most likely Tuesday after it got pushed back on my schedule a couple weeks ago. Also, the next tournament is Wednesday, and it obviously will be a battle of Marvel movies.
Mitten Film Nerd 
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