Football Week 12 Recap

Another great week of football has come and gone. We're here to give you al full recap of everything you need to know!

AFC Recap:

Top Teams through Week 7:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (10-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3)

4. Baltimore Ravens (8-4)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)

T-7. Denver, Houston (7-5)

8. Miami Dolphins (5-6)

9. Indianapolis Colts (5-7)

10. Cincinnati Bengels (4-7)

T-13. NYJ, Cleveland, Tennessee (3-8)

14. New England Patriots (3-9)

T-16. Jacksonville, Las Vegas (2-9)

AFC Highlights:

- The Chiefs (10-1) seal a surprisingly close game against the Panthers (3-8) in a 30-27 victory with a 31 yard FG from Spencer Shrader

- The Ravens (8-4) take a much needed win over the Chargers (7-4) in a 30-23 victory. Lamar Jackson accounts for 3 TDs

- Bo Nix, Broncos (7-5) continues his ROY race with 2 TDs and 273 Passing Yards in a 29-19 win over the Raiders (2-9)

AFC Offensive Stats:

Passing Yards: Lamar Jackson (BAL) - 3,053 yds

Passing TDs: Lamar Jackson (BAL), Joe Burrow (CIN) - 27 TDs

Pass Interceptions: Patrick Mahomes (KC) - 11 INTs

Rushing Yards: Derrick Henry (BAL) - 1,325 yds

Rushing TDs: Derrick Henry (BAL) - 13 TDs

Receiving Yards: Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) - 1,056 yds

Receiving TDs: Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) - 12 TDs

AFC Defensive Stats:

Tackles: Zaire Franklin (IND) - 123

Sacks: Trey Hendrickson (CIN) - 11.5

Interceptions: Marlon Humphrey (BAL) - 5

NFC Recap:

Top Teams through Week 7:

1. Detroit Lions (10-1)

T-3. Philadelphia, Minnesota (9-2)

4. Green Bay Packers (8-3)

5. Washington Commanders (7-5)

T-8. Arizona, Atlanta, Seattle (6-5)

T-11. Tampa Bay, LAR, San Francisco (5-6)

T-14. New Orleans, Chicago, Dallas (4-7)

15. Carolina Panthers (3-8)

16. New York Giants (2-9)

NFC Highlights:

- The Lions (10-1) has another dominating win against the Colts (5-7) in a 24-6 victory. Jahmyr Gibbs rushes for 2 TDs and 90 Yards

- SaQuon Barkley, Eagles (9-2) makes his way into the MVP race as he rushes for 255 Yards and 2 TDs in a 37-20 win over the Rams (5-6)

- Minnesota (9-2) and the Bears (4-7) battle it out in Overtime as the Vikings win 30-27 on John Parker Romo's field goal

NFC Offensive Stats:

Passing Yards: Geno Smith (SEA) - 3,035 yds

Passing TDs: Baker Mayfield (TB) - 24 TDs

Pass Interceptions: Geno Smith (SEA) - 12 INTs

Rushing Yards:  - 1,392 yds

Rushing TDs: Jalen Hurts (PHI), David Montgomery (DET) - 11 TDs

Receiving Yards: Justin Jefferson (MIN) - 939 yds

Receiving TDs: Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) - 9 TDs

NFC Defensive Stats:

Tackles: Budda Baker (ARI) - 107

Sacks: Dexter Lawrence II (NYG), Jonathan Greenard (MIN), Andrew Van Ginkel (MIN) - 9.0

Interceptions: Kerby Joseph (DET), Xavier McKinney (GB) - 7

Award Races:

Lombardi Trophy: Detroit Tigers

Super Bowl MVP: Jared Goff (DET)

George Halas Trophy: Detroit Lions

Lamar Hunt Trophy: Kansas City Chiefs

MVP: Josh Allen (BUF)

OPOY: SaQuon Barkley (PHI)

DPOY: TJ Watt (PIT)

ROY: Jayden Daniels (WSH)

CPOY: Kirk Cousins (ATL)

COTY: Mike Tomlin (PIT)

 

'Gladiator II' Review

Ridley Scott's sequel to the iconic Gladiator film is out TODAY! I was lucky enough to see it last night with a surprise appearance from Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen, & Fred Hechinger. The 11pm IMAX screening was packed with an energetic audience and the film did not disappoint:

Plot 10/10
Acting 10/10
Directing 9/10
Writing 10/10
Cinematography 9/10
Soundtrack 8/10
Effects 9/10
Lighting 9/10
Color 8/10
Emotional Impact 10/10

Overall: 92/100

WOW! I was worried about this one. Truly, I was. I'm a huge fan of Gladiator, but Ridley Scott hasn't exactly been on a hot streak as of late. But I think it's safe to say we are so back. The film follows Hanno (Paul Mescal) whose home is conquered by the Roman Army. He survives after witnessing the death of his wife and vows to kill General Acacius (Pedro Pascal). Macrinus (Denzel Washington) promises Hanno the General if he will be his muse as a Gladiator. Hanno really doesn't have a choice so he concedes. The film then follows Hanno's journey to revenge and it's revealed that he is actually Lucius Verus, the son of Maximus & Lucilla and the rightful heir to Rome. He learns that the General isn't the one to get revenge on, but actually the two Emperors and Macrinus. The plot is compelling, original, and fresh. I was worried it would just be the plot of Gladiator again, but it really builds off the first one in a masterful way. The performances are stellar with particular standouts being Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, and DENZEL. WASHINGTON. He has become a QUICK front runner for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. As of right now it's a two-man race between him and Yura Borisov of Anora and I'm excited to see who gets the gold. The directing is stellar and the writing is exciting and jazzed UP! The technical elements are great, especially if you just fully give into the film and appreciate it for the grand-scale of everything. Some of the effects don't look the best, but in general I'd say it's grade-A. I was coming off a long work day with no sleep since 8:30AM and I was AWAKE by the time the film was wrapping at around 1:45am. That should tell you all you need to know!

Thanks for Sitting on the Sidelines!

Zeke H. Bennett

  

 Football Week 11 Recap

Another great week of football has come and gone. We're here to give you al full recap of everything you need to know!

AFC Recap:

Top Teams through Week 7:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)

2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)

4. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)

T-6. Baltimore, Texans (7-4)

7. Denver Broncos (6-5)

8. Indianapolis Colts (5-6)

9. Miami Dolphins (4-6)

10. Cincinnati Bengels (4-7)

T-12. NYJ, New England (3-8)

T-15. Tennessee, Cleveland, Las Vegas (2-8)

16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-9)

AFC Highlights:

- The Bills (9-2) become the first team to top the Chiefs (9-1) this season in a 30-21 victory led by Josh Allen.

- The Steelers (8-2) sneak past the Ravens (7-4) in a 16-14 victory where kicker Chris Boswell goes 6/6 in FG attempts racking up all 18 of the Steelers points 

- The Chargers (7-3) continue their hot-streak in a 34-27 win against the Bengals (4-7). Joe Burrow has a monster game of 356 yds, 3 TDs but it isn't enough

AFC Offensive Stats:

Passing Yards: Joe Burrow (CIN) - 3,028 yds

Passing TDs: Joe Burrow (CIN) - 27 TDs

Pass Interceptions: Patrick Mahomes (KC) - 11 INTs

Rushing Yards: Derrick Henry (BAL) - 1,185 yds

Rushing TDs: Derrick Henry (BAL) - 13 TDs

Receiving Yards: Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) - 1,056 yds

Receiving TDs: Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) - 12 TDs

AFC Defensive Stats:

Tackles: RoQuan Smith (BAL) - 110

Sacks: Trey Hendrickson (CIN) - 11.5

Interceptions: Marlon Humphrey (BAL) - 5

NFC Recap:

Top Teams through Week 7:

1. Detroit Lions (9-1)

T-3. Philadelphia, Minnesota (8-2)

4. Green Bay Packers (7-3)

5. Washington Commanders (7-4)

6. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)

7. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)

T-10. San Francisco, LAR, Seattle (5-5)

T-12. Chicago, Tampa Bay (4-6)

13. New Orleans Saints (4-7)

T-15. Carolina, Dallas (3-7)

16. New York Giants (2-8)

NFC Highlights:

- The Lions (9-1) look unstoppable in their dominating 52-6 win over the Jaguars (2-9). Jared Goff goes for 412 yds, Amon-Ra St. Brown 161 receiving yds.

- The Eagles (8-2) are looking like strong contenders in a 26-19 win over the Commanders (7-4). Saquon Barkley rushes for 146 yds, 2 TDs.

- The Falcons (6-5) suffer a rough 38-6 loss to the Broncos (6-5). Bo Nix goes for 307 passing yards, 4 TDs.

NFC Offensive Stats:

Passing Yards: Kirk Cousins (ATL) - 2,807 yds

Passing TDs: Baker Mayfield (TB) - 24 TDs

Pass Interceptions: Jordan Love (GB), Geno Smith (SEA) - 11 INTs

Rushing Yards: Saquon Barkley (PHI) - 1,137 yds

Rushing TDs: Jalen Hurts (PHI) - 11 TDs

Receiving Yards: Justin Jefferson (MIN) - 912 yds

Receiving TDs: Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) - 9 TDs

NFC Defensive Stats:

Tackles: Zack Baun (PHI) - 102

Sacks: Dexter Lawrence II (NYG) - 9.0

Interceptions: Kerby Joseph (DET) - 7

Award Races:

Lombardi Trophy: Detroit Tigers

Super Bowl MVP: Jared Goff (DET)

George Halas Trophy: Detroit Lions

Lamar Hunt Trophy: Kansas City Chiefs

MVP: Lamar Jackson (BAL)

OPOY: Derrick Henry (BAL)

DPOY: TJ Watt (PIT)

ROY: Jayden Daniels (WSH)

CPOY: Kirk Cousins (ATL)

COTY: Mike Tomlin (PIT)

 

'Red One' Review

A new Christmas-Action flick has hit the big screen starring The Rock, Chris Evans, and JK Simmons. The films staggering $250 budget has gotten it some heat online for a poor opening weekend. But what did I think of Red One? Let's see:

Plot 5/10
Acting 7/10
Directing 4/10
Writing 5/10
Cinematography 4/10
Soundtrack 5/10
Effects 8/10
Lighting 6/10
Color 7/10
Emotional Impact 10/10

Overall: 61/100

Okay. So to tell you the truth... I loved my experience seeing Red One. That's not to say I enjoyed the movie; but, I enjoyed seeing it in IMAX with my friends and just cracking up at every awful joke or sometimes good jokes! The movie follows Santa (JK Simmons) and his team as he prepares for another Christmas. Santa ends up getting kidnapped and his top E.L.F. (The Rock) enlists the help of the top Black Market Tracker (Chris Evans). These two are very different and Chris Evans' character is a Level 4 on the Naughty List, but throughout the movie he becomes a good person and his Christmas cheer is revived. Whatever, right? Basic Christmas movie plot. The acting is... fine? I might have rated it higher than it actually is, but like it's just such a fun, stupid movie to see with your friends. JK Simmons yells SOMETHING(?!?!?!?) every time he flies the Reindeers and NO ONE could figure out what it was. It was hilarious. The movie is shot like your basic buddy comedy with a lot of similar jokes and styles, but just... Christmas! Regardless, I highly recommend seeing this movie and laughing throughout the whole thing with your friends. It's a great experience to just go and forget about life and enjoy a weird, bad(?), Christmas/action movie. Highly recommend.

Thanks for Sitting on the Sidelines!

Zeke H. Bennett

 

'The Piano Lesson' Review

Another August Wilson play-to-movie adaptation has released, featuring Denzel Washington's sons, John David and Malcolm! My ratings are as follows:

Plot 9/10
Acting 9/10
Directing 7/10
Writing 10/10
Cinematography 8/10
Soundtrack 9/10
Effects 8/10
Lighting 8/10
Color 8/10
Emotional Impact 8/10

Overall: 84/100

I was lucky enough to see The Piano Lesson in its limited release, prior to it moving to Netflix on the 22nd. The film is based off of August Wilson's Pulitzer Winning play of the same name and is a part of Denzel's life-goal to transfer all of Wilson's plays to the screen. The story deals with questions of generational trauma, black history in America, and the question of 'what do you do with your legacy, and how do you best put it to use'? Obviously the plot and writing were incredible as August Wilson is one of, if not the, greatest playwright of all-time. My only issue is the he was a PLAYwright, not a screen writer. And that is NOTHING against Wilson, but it's undeniable that his dialogue is more fit for the stage, in a beautiful way. Which I think has been my issue with a lot of these adaptations. Wilson is a poet with the way he writes, and he does it for the stage so masterfully, but the stage and screen are two different entities, so while the writing was incredible, I found it didn't work for the screen. The acting was fantastic and I could see John David Washington and Danielle Deadwyler in the running for Oscar Noms. Malcolm Washington did a fine job in his debut, I'd love to see how he would handle an original script because there was style to his directing, but it felt restrained due to the nature of the piece. All-in-all, this is a solid film with great performances and an incredible story!

Thanks for Sitting on the Sidelines!

Zeke H. Bennett

 

'Time Cut' Review

Netflix's newest coming-of-age film Time Cut has released! My ratings are as follows:

Plot 6/10
Acting 3/10
Directing 4/10
Writing 4/10
Cinematography 3/10
Soundtrack 9/10
Effects 5/10
Lighting 7/10
Color 7/10
Emotional Impact 3/10

Overall: 51/100

Time Cut is Netflix's newest 'what will go viral on TikTok?' film. It's repetitive, unoriginal, and Gen-Z. It's not good. The film follows Lucy, the younger sister of Summer, who was murdered in 2003 with the rest of her friends by a serial killer known as The Sweetly Slasher. Lucy never knew her sister as she was born several years after Summer was murdered. Her parents still mourn the death of their eldest daughter and don't pay much mind to Lucy. Lucy finds a time machine and accidentally travels back to 2003 where she meets Quinn, a nerd-type who went to school with Summer. Lucy spends a lot of time trying to get back to 2023, but when she befriends her sister, she decides she has to save Summer, even if it means she won't exist anymore. The acting in this is what you would expect out of a Disney Channel Show. The directing might as well be non-present. The writing is painful and not nearly 2003 enough. And everything else is just so mid. The only saving grace is the nostalgia from hearing early 2000s classics throughout the film, making up the soundtrack. Besides that, I'd avoid this one if you don't feel like wasting your time.

Thanks for Sitting on the Sidelines!

Zeke H. Bennett

 

 'Juror #2' Review

The legendary Clint Eastwood's newest film Juror #2 is out now! My ratings are as follows:

Plot 6/10
Acting 5/10
Directing 6/10
Writing 6/10
Cinematography 7/10
Soundtrack 7/10
Effects 6/10
Lighting 8/10
Color 6/10
Emotional Impact 3/10

Overall: 60/100

I was unfortunately disappointed with this film, which stunk because I'm a huge fan of Eastwood, Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, and J.K. Simmons. The film follows recovering alcoholic, Justin (Hoult) as he is called to Jury Duty for a hit-and-run case that ended up with a woman killed. Throughout the case, Justin realizes he was the one who hit the woman with his car. Feeling the guilt of this situation, Justin tries to fight for a 'Not Guilty' verdict amidst the other Jurors who are sure the man accused is the one who killed the woman. Anxiety and worry follow Justin as the movie progresses and the film ends on a cliffhanger. The acting is sub-par in this one. Hoult, Collette, and Chris Messina carry the weight of most of the acting and while Zoey Deutch and Simmons are great, they're not in the film enough to save what the rest of the Jury brings to the acting category. One of my favorite reviews that sums up how I feel comes from Letterboxd user Erik Anderson saying "A 'this could have been solved in a minute' case, a comically wonky script, and with a laughable jury group filled with dingbat performances." The film was truly and undeniably boring. There was no game to play as an audience member of "will he do the right thing or not?" Because the movie just isn't good enough to care about it that much. I'm sure a dad out there will love this thing and show it to his kids in 10 years, but this movie is not very good beyond a few strong leading performances (still not even close to any of their best).

Thanks for Sitting on the Sidelines!

Zeke H. Bennett

 

 'A Real Pain' Review

Jesse Eisenberg returns with his second directorial feature! Starring himself and Kieran Culkin comes A Real Pain. My ratings are as follows:

Plot 8/10
Acting 9/10
Directing 8/10
Writing 8/10
Cinematography 9/10
Soundtrack 8/10
Effects 7/10
Lighting 8/10
Color 8/10
Emotional Impact 10/10

Overall: 83/100

I was fortunate enough to see this film accompanied by an in-person pre-show greeting from Eisenberg & Culkin. The film is based off of Eisenberg's real-life trip to Poland with his wife. In the film we see cousins David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Culkin) who take a trip through Poland to reconnect with their roots and honor the recent passing of their Grandmother. Akin to Neil Simon's Odd Couple, the cousins could not be more different. Tensions arise between the two of them amidst their tour group and a heartwarming story ensues. The acting all-around was fantastic. Eisenberg tends to always do his thing, but behind his Kenneth Lonergan-esc writing and directing, it worked perfectly. Culkin stole the show in my opinion putting on a nuanced performance of a troubled, mid-life, extrovert. I would not be surprised if he grabs an Oscar nom for this one. The movie is quite stunning visually with a lot of stills of beautiful areas of Poland. I'd say the strongest scene for me is when the tour group visits a concentration camp and the movie goes silent. You could hear a pin drop in that theatre. It was an intensely tragic, but somehow beautiful moment in the film and theatre. Connecting with an entire audience of people because of what you're seeing on-screen is a special thing for a film to accomplish. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and highly recommend it to anyone!

Thanks for Sitting on the Sidelines!

Zeke H. Bennett

 

 Football Week 10 Recap

Another great week of football has come and gone. We're here to give you al full recap of everything you need to know!

AFC Recap:

Top Teams through Week 7:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-0)

2. Buffalo Bills (8-2)

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-2)

4. Baltimore Ravens (7-3)

5. Los Angeles Chargers (6-3)

6. Houston Texans (6-4)

7. Denver Broncos (5-5)

T-9. Indianapolis, Cincinnati (4-6)

10. Miami Dolphins (3-6)

T-12. NYJ, New England (3-7)

T-15. Tennessee, Cleveland, Las Vegas (2-7)

T-16. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-8)

AFC Highlights:

- The Ravens (7-3) edge out the Bengals (4-6) in a tight 35-34 win, where Lamar Jackson throws 4 TDs. Joe Burrow throws 4 TDs, Ja'Marr Chase catches 3 of them. 

- The Chiefs (9-0) remain undefeated with another sneaky win over the Broncos (5-5). 

- The Bills (8-2) survive the Colts (4-6) behind James Cook's 80 Yards and a TD. Josh Allen struggles with 2 Interceptions and 2 Sacks.

AFC Offensive Stats:

Passing Yards: Joe Burrow (CIN) - 2,672 yds

Passing TDs: Lanar Jackson (BAL), Joe Burrow (CIN) - 24 TDs

Pass Interceptions: Patrick Mahomes (KC) - 9 INTs

Rushing Yards: Derrick Henry (BAL) - 1,120 yds

Rushing TDs: Derrick Henry (BAL) - 12 TDs

Receiving Yards: Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) - 981 yds

Receiving TDs: Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) - 10 TDs

AFC Defensive Stats:

Tackles: Zaire Franklin (IND) - 105

Sacks: Trey Hendrickson (CIN) - 11.0

Interceptions: Marlon Humphrey (BAL), Calen Bullock (HOU) - 4

NFC Recap:

Top Teams through Week 7:

1. Detroit Lions (8-1)

T-3. Philadelphia, Minnesota (7-2)

4. Washington Commanders (7-3)

5. Green Bay Packers (6-3)

T-7. Atlanta, Arizona(6-4)

8. San Francisco 49ers (5-4)

T-12. Chicago, LAR, Seattle, Tampa Bay (4-6)

13. Dallas Cowboys (3-6)

T-15. New Orleans, Carolina (3-7)

16. New York Giants (2-8)

NFC Highlights:

- The Lions (8-1) remain atop the NFC with a 26-23 victory over the Texans (6-4) despite Jared Goff's 5 Interception game.

- The Eagles (7-2) destroy the Cowboys (3-6) in a 34-6 victory. Jalen Hurts was responsible for 4 TDs in only 202 Passing Yards.

- The Vikings (7-2) have a surprisingly close victory over the Jaguars (2-8). Sam Darnold throws 3 Interceptions as John Parker Romo makes all 4 of his FGs. 

NFC Offensive Stats:

Passing Yards: Kirk Cousins (ATL) - 2,634 yds

Passing TDs: Baker Mayfield (TB) - 24 TDs

Pass Interceptions: Jordan Love (GB), Geno Smith (SEA), Sam Darnold (MIN) - 10 INTs

Rushing Yards: Saquon Barkley (PHI) - 991 yds

Rushing TDs: Jalen Williams (PHI) - 11 TDs

Receiving Yards: Justin Jefferson (MIN) - 831 yds

Receiving TDs: George Kittle (SF), Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) - 7 TDs

NFC Defensive Stats:

Tackles: Budda Baker (ARI) - 100

Sacks: Dexter Lawrence II (NYG) - 9.0

Interceptions: Xavier McKinney (GB), Kerby Joseph (DET) - 6

Award Races:

Lombardi Trophy: Kansas City Chiefs

Super Bowl MVP: Patrick Mahomes (KC)

George Halas Trophy: Detroit Lions

Lamar Hunt Trophy: Kansas City Chiefs

MVP: Lamar Jackson (BAL)

OPOY: Derrick Henry (BAL)

DPOY: TJ Watt (PIT)

ROY: Jayden Daniels (WSH)

CPOY: Kirk Cousins (ATL)

COTY: Dan Campbell (DET)

 'Conclave' Review

Edward Berger has returned to the big screen, following his classic All Quiet on the Western Front, with Conclave. My ratings are as follows:

Plot 9/10
Acting 10/10
Directing 10/10
Writing 10/10
Cinematography 10/10
Soundtrack 10/10
Effects 7/10
Lighting 8/10
Color 8/10
Emotional Impact 9/10

Overall: 91/100

Conclave follows Cardinal Lawrence, Ralph Fiennes, who is tasked with leading the charge in electing a new Pope after the passing of the former Pope. Political turmoil and conspiracy taints the election as Lawrence deals with the inner workings of Cardinals who are doing anything in their power to take reign as the new Pope. The campaigning turns violent, evil, and sinful as Lawrence struggles to keep the conclave under control. The film had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. While I could see people being slightly bored while watching this, I found it extremely engaging, in large part due to the performances and directing. Ralph Fiennes is the front runner for Best Actor in my opinion with his performance in this film. Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini make up the supporting cast and absolutely deliver on all fronts. Edward Berger puts together another fantastic film and executes on all fronts. I can see a world where this soundtrack wins big at the Oscars as well. This film was genuinely very enjoyable and engaging and it's one that I want to watch again very soon. The twist at the end is unpredictable and fantastic. Highly recommend seeing this film in theaters with a group of people who are just as shocked as you with all that occurs.

 

'Anora' Review

Sean Baker's newest flick Anora has released to stellar reviews. My ratings are as follows:

Plot 10/10

Acting 10/10

Directing 10/10

Writing 10/10

Cinematography 9/10

Soundtrack 8/10

Effects 9/10

Lighting 10/10

Color 10/10

Emotional Impact 10/10

Overall: 96/100

Anora follows an exotic dancer Ani, Mikey Madison, who gets paid to stay and play house with Ivan, Mark Eydelshteyn, the rich son of a Russian businessman. Eventually he proposes to her and they get married in Las Vegas. Chaos ensues as the man tasked with watching over Ivan hears word of the marriage, gets in trouble with his boss and tries to get it annulled. Ivan runs away and Anora is stuck with the people hired to get this marriage over with. The story follows this groups pursuit in finding Ivan, as well as following Anora and her dealing with the grief of all that is happening. The acting is absolutely incredible. If we lived in a perfect world Mikey Madison and Yura Borisov would win Oscars for their Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor performances. Both of these performances are two of the best I have seen in a long time, with Borisov particularly being an incredible standout. While I don't see this being a Best Picture film, just due to the state of the Oscars, it is more than worthy for a nomination. Sean Baker also deserves a nomination for his writing and directing and I could see a win for Screenplay in there for him. The color and lighting of this film are spectacular, adding to the emotional effect of this film as a whole. It's really executed to a near perfect level. If you're going to see any film out of 2024, I would highly recommend to catch this while it's in theaters. It's an experience that I won't forget for quite some time. Beautiful story, characters, and execution. Just a beautiful film.

 'Woman of the Hour' Review

Anna Kendrick's directorial debut Woman of the Hour has released on Netflix... let's talk about it.

Ratings:

Plot 4/10
Acting 4/10
Directing 3/10
Writing 2/10
Cinematography 3/10
Soundtrack 2/10
Effects 5/10
Lighting 4/10
Color 6/10
Emotional Impact 1/10
Overall: 34/100

Clearly, I didn't like this film as much as others clearly have so far. I was pretty excited to see it at first because I love Anna Kendrick and the film was blowing up with positive reviews; but, when I finally saw it, I was extremely disappointed. The Plot follows a struggling actress, Anna Kendrick, who is about to give up on her career until she books a spot on a Dating Show. While she's not actually looking for love, her agent claims it will be a good way to get her likeness out there. At the same time, we see the workings and murders from serial killer Rodney Alcala, played by Daniel Zovatto. It's revealed that Alcala is a contestant on this Dating Show and eventually wins. Him and Kendrick's character go on an actual date where it's revealed just how scary this guy is. Eventually he's caught and sent to prison and Kendrick leaves LA and this horror behind her. Frankly, the plot was exciting until it just became repetitive and drab. There were so many ignored storylines, notably Nicolette Robinson's character trying to get attention on Alcala. The payoff for her storyline is to yell "Do your fucking job" at a cop which like... yeah? Everyone agrees cops should be doing their jobs (and often are not) but like, what a WASTE of a compelling storyline just to get that line into the film. It was just extremely messy and needed some cuts. The film really relied on the performances and story which were both just... fine. Nothing special in any sense of the word. Just a pretty basic "true story" serial killer film. I found that by the end of it all, the film had nothing to say and nothing to provide to the victims of this story. I'm shocked it's getting the praise that it has received. A 91% on Rotten Tomatoes???? You have to be KIDDING me.

 'The Substance' Review

I was able to see The Substance a couple weeks ago and I haven't stopped thinking about it since.

My ratings are below:

Plot 10/10
Acting 10/10
Directing 9/10
Writing 9/10
Cinematography 9/10
Soundtrack 9/10
Effects 10/10
Lighting 8/10
Color 9/10
Emotional Impact 8/10
Overall: 91/100

The film follows an aging actress, played by Demi Moore. She now acts for those classic, leg-warmer workout videos, but finds out from her boss, Dennis Quaid, that she's getting replaced for someone younger, sexier, and more appealing. Moore's character winds up taking what's known as The Substance, which creates an offspring of sorts that is everything she needs to be to keep her job. Her offspring is known as Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. And from that point on, the horrors of a woman aging in Hollywood ensue. The acting is phenomenal on all fronts with Demi Moore becoming a very strong contender for Best Lead Actress this year. Margaret Qualley could easily snag a nomination for Best Supporting Actress as well. Coralie Fargeat creates an incredible film as both the writer and director. Her vision and the story she is wanting to tell is so clear and she did not shy away from the big-swing that this film is. The shots in this thing are great and are clearly inspired by classic horror films like The Shining. The effects may be where the film truly shines as it slowly becomes a grotesque and incredibly gory body-horror film. I was warned about the last scene of the film, but still wasn't prepared for what I was about to witness. Just incredible. The message this film brings about aging in the entertainment industry, motherhood, parenting, and just being a woman in general is just incredible. It has a lot to say and sometimes movies with a lot to say can get muddy with how much content it's trying to show; however, The Substance is incredibly thought-out, executed, and put together. A must-see of 2024 and will hopefully get the recognition it deserves come Oscar season!