A Star is Born (2018)

 And this week's Friday night movie has been... A Star is Born (2018)!

Original image located here. Accessed 27th March 2026

AKA: The one with Lady Gaga in it.

Once again, the question I posed previously persists: Given that there are four versions of this movie, what is it about it that keeps bringing people back to it?
I have mentioned the potency of the source material, the potential for real-life parallels and how easily this movie can adapt to the times. But another reason comes to mind: The role of the female lead is one that any actress can really sink their teeth into - Indeed, it is telling that each remake is defined by who plays the female lead. I guess it's fair to say Judy Garland ended up setting a benchmark that many an actress has sought to match.

Of the four this is the most recent and, without a doubt, the one most people will be familiar with - after all, that's what star power does for you. So, lets bring this little experiment to a close.

Of the three predecessors, this one owes the most to the 1976 version. And it's not just the rock music framework: A lot of the plot points were reiterated quite closely. And that is odd given that each of the previous iteration has something of their own to say. It is telling that Jon Peters, producer of the 1976 version is also credited as producer here too (still no sign of a giant mechanical spider though).
Still, this does have what worked previously: The instance of a first timer with something to prove (director Bradley Cooper and star Lady Gaga) The real-life parallels with Cooper and Gaga showing chemistry both on and off screen and the implication of a rock star being surpassed by a modern form of pop music. 

But does this movie has something of it's own to say? Well yes: Lady Gaga delivers a stellar performance and her afore-mentioned chemistry Cooper does indeed sparkle. But hey, this is tried and tested material so you know it's going to work.  

Sorry to Bother You

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Sorry to Bother You!

Original image located here. Accessed 29th July 2022

I once saw a video on YouTube wherein the YouTuber proposed that that the movie Sorry to Bother You was better than Idiocracy. Now I haven't seen Idiocracy - I have heard a lot about it and have so far resisted - but I did see a challenge in this claim. And one worth rising to at that.

And this......

....it's a strange one.
On one hand there is decent satire with some delicious jabs taken at race, privilege and businesses that overwork employees. The surreal humour is also quite funny and there is indeed a excellent sense of creativity.
But on the other hand, there is a lot of meandering and the film seem directionless at times. Sure there are some good laughs to be had but when the movie slows down, it can be a chore to get through.
So yeah, not bad but could've been better....

Mirai

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Mirai!

Original image located here. Accessed 10th July 2020

We're taking another trip into the anime well today. And another look into the mind of one my favorite anime creators, Mamoru Hosoda. I loved Wolf Children, I loved Summer Wars, I loved the Girl who Leapt through Time and Boy & the Beast was pretty good too. So can the Midas touch strike again?

No way around this: This is a movie that demands time. At first I didn't know what to think of it but slowly (and surely) this movie does reveal itself.
The strongest in this movie is it's depiction of families. Granted this is a strength of Hosoda's work but here, we are shown a family through a young child. The child in question may be loud, obnoxious, threatened by the arrival of a younger sibling and frustrated by unhelpful adults but that's the point. I have seen plenty of depictions of children in animated form but this certainly is the most realistic approach. Furthermore, the life lessons taught over the course of the movie are interesting and, the conclusion still works, proving that self-acceptance is a ploy that will never fail.
This may not be the most welcoming of movies but when it hits, it knocks it off the park. I know some people didn't like Boy and the Beast but having seen Mirai I think it's fair to say that Hosoda may be back on track. So what will he do next....?

Crazy Rich Asians

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Crazy Rich Asians!

Original image located here. Accessed 12 June 2020

I know more than few people who have been talking up this one. But I was cautious as it's intent is clearly spelled out in the title. Therefore I was concerned that this wouldn't be for me as I am a) white and b) not having money to burn

Thankfully that wasn't the case. For a movie that was telling a story through an Asian perspective, it is indeed universal and quite a lot of fun. It could be observed that the formula for the rom-com, which is movie is running on, is indeed rock-solid but, at the same time, challenged in numerous ways to present a healthy perspective on romance. But the real meat in this movie is the cast themselves, least not Michelle Yeoh, delivering stellar performances and giving them a chance to shine on their own terms.
At first glance, there may appear to be a lot stacked up against this movie but it comes out with it's head held high.

Free Solo

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Free Solo!

Original image located here. Accessed 14 June 2019

I think we all know this one: The documentary showing rock climber Alex Honnold climbing the El Capitan, a 900 metre cliff face in Yosemite National park, as Free Solo (as in no ropes, no support; just the climber, the cliff face and a guy with a black cloak and a scythe waiting at the bottom).

Three quarters of the documentary is dedicated to showing who Alex is and what kind of preparation he goes through. We see his background and get a glimpse into what kind of physical shape this guy is in, in order to face such a demanding task.

But really, everything leads to the final quarter which is ...astonishing to say the least. The camera work is jaw-dropping, the tension is unbearable and the effort Alex is putting in is monumental. Indeed, such a reaction is the kind that some action movies can only dream of.
Looking at the Wikipedia page of this movie, one notices a whole cabinet's worth of awards this movie has won. And it earned every last one of them.

Won't You Be My Neighbor

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Won't You Be My Neighbor!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th May 2019

As someone of the non-US persuasion, Fred Rogers has been something of an enigma. I never saw his show, I never grasped his life lessons and he was never consistently there dispensing wisdom and guidance when needed. Yet it would seem more than a few people in the US grew up watching Fred and still hold him in high regard, So maybe this recent documentary may introduce me to someone new?

Of course it can.
Much like the man himself, this documentary is honest in it's approach, showing it's audience (in particular to outsiders like myself) who Fred was and his beliefs. We see his commitment to Children's television, his implacable sincerity, his challenge before Congress when they threatened to cut funding, and just how willing Fred was to push the boundaries of what could be said on a Children's television program.
But i think the greatest impression this documentary imparts is Fred's tireless message in being yourself and finding self-worth. And in an age where everyone is falling over themselves to say what you can't do and what you can't do, such a message still resonates more than ever. In fact it's not just a message for children - some adults may benefit from such reassurance as well.

Stan and Ollie

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Stan and Ollie!

Original image located here. Accessed 5th April 2019

Once again, I see John C Reilly in a biopic. The difference here however is whilst Walk Hard was a parody, this however is done serious.
I can't say I know a lot about about Laurel (Stan) and Hardy (Ollie) beyond their status as legendary comedians and Hardy's catchphrase ("This is another fine mess..."). But i was curious about this movie because I heard some good things about it.

And you know what? I'm glad I did.
As mentioned above, i know next to nothing of Laurel and Hardy's comedy routines but I was impressed to see this routines replicated. Even more impressive is that i found routines nearly a hundred years old really funny.

But ultimately, the weight of this movie lies on the shoulders of Steve Coogan and John C Reilly as they recreate Laurel and Hardy with freakish accuracy, you'd swear you were watching the real thing.
However the humour and and recreation does not hide that this is a bittersweet movie about a partnership that's at the end of the line. That sense of finality does hang throughout this movie and certainly gives it an emotional punch.

So yeah, great movie and one of the best I've seen so far this year (meaning Endgame has it's work cut out for it)

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse!

Original image located here. Accessed 18th January 2019

Calling it: Best Spiderman movie ever made. Better than Homecoming and better than the Sam Raimi Spiderman movies.

Not really much else i can say really: There's some great ideas, some amazing creativity, and a delight in seeing many art styles thrown together and interacting with each other. Its funny, action packed and astonishing in it's animation.
Mind you, watching this after Aquaman, one gets the feeling that the MCU set the bar high to a point where their rivals are rising to the challenge and lifting their game.
Needless to say, Far From Home has a serious challenge to face up to....

Aquaman

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Aquaman!

Original image located here. Accessed 11th January 2019

So, can Jason Mamoa have enough clout as a leading man? Apparently so.

Well, this is indeed a step in the right direction for DC - and certainly counts as one of the hits after numerous misses.
One gets the impression that seeing Aquaman is a low tier DC hero (and in some cases a joke hero), the people behind this decided that they had a clean slate and they could do what they liked. So yes, there is a sense of fun - and Lord knows the DC movies needed it. There is some great action, some interesting villains, imaginative designs and a cast boasting members that are made unrecognizable.

I'll say it again: This is indeed a step in the right direction for DC. So it remains to be seen whether they can capitalize on this...

Bumblebee

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Bumblebee!

Original image located here. Accessed 21st December 2018

I've never really cared much for Bayformers but I have to admit that this was...... an improvement.

Yes, I'm finding it hard to believe myself. So lets cut to the chase and use dot points:
- This was unexpected: It had humour, heart and some touching moments. Unusual for this particular franchise and even more unusual in that they actually work
- Having a rockin' eighties soundtrack didn't hurt either
- Funny thing: When I originally saw the first Bayformers movie i was frustrated that there seemed to be more focus on the human characters than the Transformers themselves. Here, i have the opposite problem XD
- No way around it: Hailee Steinfeld carries a lot of this movie - so much so i want to see what happens next with this character
- Watching the end credits I noticed this movie was written by a woman, Christina Hodson. If this was a gamble then it clearly paid off
- Ultimately this seems a better movie than it ought to be. And after five attempts, they finally got it right. So what now?

Mortal Engines

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Mortal Engines!

Original image located here. Accessed 14th December 2018

I knew little about this movie going in. But it was only after I saw this movie that i became aware it's actually based on a series of children's fantasy books - I think the mention of Scholastic Publishing in the opening credits may have been a giveaway.

I have to admit that there is a lot of creativity at work here, there's some decent art direction and the opening scene is incredible. But in the end, the movie is a rather empty experience. Get past the flashy effects and, like a lot of other movies, there's not a lot else. The protagonists are dull, the commentary is on the nose and everything's running at a pace so rapid you'd think it was frightened that the audience will fall asleep.
Special mention however must go to Shrike. He is flat out the best character. He is the most interesting character having a level of tragedy and complexity that would've done Shakespeare proud. Why isn't the movie about him?

Fahrenheit 11/9

And this week's Friday night movie has been....Fahrenheit 11/9!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th November 2018

It all began during my Uni days: i was flicking through the channels on TV when i stumbled across this guy called Michael Moore. I was fascinated by his humor, his anger and his stunts that always ended with him getting kicked out of some major place. In recent years, I thought he'd gone silent but no: Here we are with his latest celluloid rant.

Going after President Trump would indeed be an easy target but somehow Moore makes it interesting. Highlights included:
- The opening which shows the Hillary supporters on election night thinking they've won - only to be hit with the result which makes it painful to watch.
- The debacle that was the Bernie Sanders campaign
- Moore's own meeting with Trump
- A comparison with 1930s Germany that actually make sense
- The horrors of the water system in Flint Michigan
- And the rising up of youth to take a stand for themselves.

I may know little of US politics (but then again, my country isn't doing that much better) but this was an eye opener to say the least.
Still, imagine what would happen if Michael Moore didn't have something to get angry about

Bohemian Rhapsody

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Bohemian Rhapsody!

Original image located here. Accessed 9th November 2018

I tend to approach biopics with caution: On one hand, for any filmmaker attempting one, they have a responsibility to meet as they are drawing from history and people will take the final product as gospel (not to mention the people online who will whinge about each and every inaccuracy). But on the other hand, the finished product must still adhere to a proper storytelling structure and see some numbers in the audience.
It's a tricky balancing act that few can pull off. So can the current darling of cinema pull it off?

Weeeeeeelllllllllllll....................uuuuuuuummmmmmmmm.......
Let me say this: I love me some Queen and their story may be a gold mine to make into a movie but I can't help feeling that said story is shown here in a sanitized light. Everything moves at an abrupt pace, there are some timing issues (Freddie appeared to have such a busy day on the day of Live Aid), and some glaring inaccuracies.
Not a bad movie - there are indeed some mindbogglingly accurate performances - but somehow I felt this could've been more.......

The Predator

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....The Predator!

Original image located here. Accessed 28th September 2018

As a franchise I love a love/hate relationship with the Predator. On one hand, we have a fantastic creation with the titular character and a series of movies that tries something new with each iteration. But in the other hand, the execution of said movies can be patchy at times. So how does this new one fare?

As stated above, I like the Predator as a creation with it's abilities and mythology built up. Thus, there are plenty of directions you can take it. And clearly the makers of The Predator felt the same as there is a lot going on here. But at the same time it does come across as incoherent. Furthermore, I'm not really buying this idea that the Predators, as a race, are into evolution - or at least trying to advance it. And I'm especially not sold on the Predators thinking an autistic child is the next step in evolution.
Still, the actions great, the quips are entertaining, there a call-backs to the original and I like the idea of the Predator facing a bunch of PTSD-inflicted soldiers. But is this the reboot the series needed? Probably not but, much like Predators, it does leave the door open for some new ground to be covered.

Incredibles 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Incredibles 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 27th July 2018

In a way i was dreading this: The first movie was fantastic, without question, but the presence of a sequel is problematic: The original a) has no room for a sequel and b) is a ridiculously tough act to follow.

But somehow, this movie still won me over. The strengths of the previous movie are still in full flight here (the family dynamic and each of the characters), the animation is still top-notch, the direction is excellent, the jokes are hilarious and the commentary on an adult life is welcome.
Sure the movie comes across as covering ground it's already traversed but as a character-driven story it's a winner.
And if I must be honest, this is more a movie for adults - moreso than the previous one. And, in all honesty, is the better for it.

By the way, anyone else get an Uncle Walt vibe from Winston?

Sunshine on Leith

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Sunshine on Leith!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th July 2018

Yep, it's the musical based on the music of the Proclaimers.

I've never been a fan of the so-called 'jukebox musicals'. This is because they always seem to come across as if the writer spent more time on song selection than the rest of the script. Thankfully, this is an exception.

There's a lot to like here: The songs are used to great effect, there's some great characters, Scottish accents ("X-berks"), a script with some drama and some genuinely touching moments. I especially like how never once the songs tend to drown out the story completely and it gives time to develop characters and give them agency.
And the finale, to (unsurprisingly) 500 miles, is truly a thing of joy.

On a more personal note however, I recall having the Proclaimers big album (of the same name) playing a lot in the house when i was a little kid. So it's certainly something to see these songs that i recognized being presented in such a manner.
So yeah: Great movie and a shining example of a Jukebox musical done right.

Ant-Man and the Wasp

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Ant-Man and the Wasp!

Original image located here. Accessed 13th July 2018

I have to admit: I actually like this better than the first one. Maybe it's due to the sense of focus from having a singular director from beginning to end, but this was a lot of fun with great humor, solid performances all round, the Wasp stepping up to be a great character, and another interesting villain that suggests a catch-up on Marvel's part.
But I swear, I saw more of Scott Lang than I did of Ant-Man.
Was that intended in order to get more of Wasp?
(not that I'm complaining)

Solo: A Star Wars Story

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Solo: A Star Wars Story!

Original image located here. Accessed 1st June 2018

I have discovered two things with the entrants in the Star Wars franchise: a) every movie that has followed Empire Strikes Back has divided audiences like no other and b) those which challenge the template set by Lucas and take risks come out stronger (ie Rogue One, Knights of the Old Republic and Clone Wars). So how does this one match up, production dramas and all?

Actually it was pretty good. Sure there are some dodgy lines, sure there are some lousy cinematography and sure there are moments where it shows it's origins as a movie made by a director who was switched partway through. But it's an enjoyable romp and loaded with some actions scenes that somehow come as a relief after the dour Last Jedi and Rogue One. There's some callbacks and some decent character moments and it was a lot of fun.

Not much more I can say except I suddenly want a remake of Star Wars: Droids - only one that has, instead of R2D2 and C3PO, the adventures of L3-37, K-2SO and HK-47

Dead Pool 2

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Dead Pool 2!

Original image located here. Accessed 25th May 2018

Well there's isn't a lot i can say about this movie: Same fourth wall breaking, same jabs at super hero movies, same jokes and references.. Really it's the same joke told differently - but somehow it's still a laugh riot.

I think the only thing i can say about this movie is the same reaction I got to the original movie: How on earth did this movie get made?
Allow me to elaborate: I've heard stories of how movies get stuck in development hell. Nearly all of them follow a set pattern: Some genius comes up with a great idea for a movie and bashes out a script; said script then makes it's way to a producer who hires someone else to rewrite it; if the producer DOES read the script, they will impose a whole lot of changes in the form of mandates; more mandates come in the form the director and any actors interested; and with such mandates (not to mention those that contradict one another) the film ends up being dropped completely or makes it out as a toothless husk of the original idea.
That being said, it is difficult to imagine both Dead Pool movies being put through such a process. Did the success of the MCU movies provide a new benchmark for everyone to reach? Or is the era of Hollywood producers who don't know jack *coughJonPeterscough* truly over?
If it is then good riddance to it.

Avengers: Infinity War

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Avengers: Infinity War!

Original image located here. Accessed 4th May 2018

Once again, it's going to be tricky to talk about this movie without giving anything away. I will do my best:

- There's a lot of characters in this movie. That may be stating the obvious but seeing how people are grumbling about omissions, I've found that some of the characters already present don't have a lot to do. Seriously did anyone notice how few lines both Steve Rogers and Black Widow had?
- But in spite of the large cast, Thanos steals the show (as well as the gemstones). Its pretty much his movie, amirite?
- It's a breathless pace through one action scene after another - meaning that when the bad stuff hits, it hits hard (I noticed a few gasps from the audience in the screening i went to).
- Clearly this is a movie that works for those who have seen the eighteen movies preceding it. Well i did and I enjoyed Infinity War a lot - although one can only wonder how those who haven't seen the eighteen movies preceding it will fare.
- So! When's the next one?