Hello again! Welcome to another Catching Up post where I review all the films I've seen within the last week. We had two films from the podcast this week, as well as the usual smattering of others I happen to watch as well. One of the films we reviewed already showed up in one of my Catching Up posts, so I'll link it below. Let's not waste time, and dive right in to the podcast reviews this week!
Inside Out (2015) REVIEWED ON THE PODCAST
SCORE: 95/100 (MUST WATCH)
Directed By: Pete Docter, Ronnie Del Carmen
Starring: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, Lewis Black
Synopsis: After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions - Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness - conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
Quick Review: Thoughtful, emotional, funny, and incredibly imaginative, Inside Out resides toward the top of Pixar’s catalogue for a reason.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on Disney+.
Episode Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2m1GGcTCVQ
Planet of The Apes (2001) REVIEWED ON THE PODCAST
SCORE: 18/100
Previously reviewed on here at https://garrettokeeffefilm.blogspot.com/2021/10/catching-up-week-ending-103.html
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on Prime Video.
Episode Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2m1GGcTCVQ
A Silent Voice (2016)
SCORE: 99/100 (MUST WATCH)
Directed By: Naoko Yamada
Starring: Miyu Irino, Saori Hayami, Aoi Yuki
Synopsis: A young man is ostracized by his classmates after he bullies a deaf girl to the point where she moves away. Years later, he sets off on a path for redemption.
Quick Review: I wasn't expecting this film to affect me as much as it did, and it almost brought me to tears. The story is so touching, and brings up a few things that really hit home for me, that it very nearly brought me to tears a few times. Shoko and Shoya's stories were far more similar than I was anticipating, even toward the end of the film. As for animation, A Silent Voice is a beautifully drawn film that shows unparalleled detail, especially in its quiet moments. The animation studio behind it, Kyoto Animation, crafted an incredible piece that I'm shocked isn't more celebrated here. But what else is new with anime in the States, no matter how much I talk about this movie I guarantee not a single person will actually watch it. Which is a shame, because this film would be totally celebrated if made in live action here in the states. Please watch this movie, put aside any ideas about anime films and watch a beautifully moving and emotional piece that I will most certainly be buying.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on Netflix.
M (1931)
SCORE: 98/100 (MUST WATCH)
Directed By: Fritz Lang
Starring: Theo Lingen, Peter Lorre, Otto Wernicke
Synopsis: When the police in a German city are unable to catch a child-murderer, other criminals join in the manhunt.
Quick Review: M is an incredible film with a complex, layered performance from Peter Lorre. He injects a real level of pity but also horror in the character of Hans, and his introduction is nothing short of film perfection. My only real complaint is that the film can drag a little at times, but Lang is clearly taking his time to tell a layered story that feels real. This is absolutely something that could and would happen today. Hell, we've seen mob mentality take over earlier this year at the Capitol. It was also a central point of Halloween Kills recently. I love it when stories turn the light on the audience and ask, "Are you truly better?". It's a haunting sentiment that permeates throughout the movie and fills you with a sense of unease. If you can, watch the film in German which is the original language. I'm not aware of an English version, but I feel that it would ruin the performances in the film.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on HBO Max.
House on Haunted Hill (1959)
SCORE: 44/100
Directed By: William Castle
Starring: Vincent Price, Carol Ohmart, Richard Long
Synopsis: A millionaire offers $10,000 to five people who agree to be locked in a large, spooky, rented house overnight with him and his wife.
Quick Review: House on Haunted Hill is a staple classic of the horror genre....and I can't tell why. It's a murder mystery masquerading as a horror film, and it doesn't nail either of the genres or tones down. Vincent Price is his usual, charismatic self, and is definitely the highlight of this movie. The other actors are just there to be either fodder, or to play into a completely ridiculous murder plot. It feels a little bait-and-switchy to market it as a horror film. While it has a few tense moments, one in particular that shows a skeleton floating around, it never reaches the heights of what I'd say horror is. The film is well worth it for people who are into the genre who want something retro, but mainstream movie fans can pass this one by.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on Shudder and Prime Video.
Booksmart (2019)
SCORE: 85/100
Directed By: Olivia Wilde
Starring: Kaitlyn Dever, Beanie Feldstein, Jessica Williams
Synopsis: On the eve of their high school graduation, two academic superstars and best friends realize they should have worked less and played more. Determined not to fall short of their peers, the girls try to cram four years of fun into one night.
Quick Review: Booksmart has to be one of the last major comedy films to come out in the last two years that I hadn't seen yet. I had heard to many good things about it before watching it, and I'm so glad I did. It feels really nice to see a comedy film from recent times that's actually funny. This is helped in large part by its awesome cast, but particularly its amazing leads Dever and Feldstein. Their chemistry is so on point that it really feels like they're as deep friends in real life as they are here. In addition, the other high school teens are all funny and well acted in their own right, offering more than just necessary filler or side laughs. However, the film does tread into predictable territory with its narrative structure, but the humor and chemistry keep it from losing its way. This is way more than just a female Superbad, it's better, and I think it's far more in touch with modern teens than most people realize.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on Hulu.
The Ruins (2008)
SCORE: 57/100
Directed By: Carter Smith
Starring: Shawn Ashmore, Jena Malone, Jonathan Tucker
Synopsis: A leisurely Mexican holiday takes a turn for the worse when a group of friends and a fellow tourist embark on a remote archaeological dig in the jungle, where something evil lives among the ruins.
Quick Review: By all intents and purposes, The Ruins should be far worse than it actually is. What would normally be a run of the mill horror film that isn't worth your time, it differentiates itself by utilizing its setting and circumstances effectively. The "villain" here is incredibly unique, and I don't want to spoil it, and makes this film have an almost "The Thing"-like feel to it. It's more body horror than jump scare, and I would not recommend watching the film if you get squeamish. However, it is a horror film involving teens, so they continue to make stupid decisions that make you question their reasoning skills. It's also far less interesting and deep than its source material, a book written by Scott Smith, which has far more in terms of story and meaning. So while the film feels hollow compared to its book counterpart, it's differentiated from regular horror in a satisfying enough way that it can be worth a watch based on your film interests.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on Paramount Plus.
21 Jump Street (2012)
SCORE: 74/100
Directed By: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller
Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Ice Cube
Synopsis: A pair of underachieving cops are sent back to a local high school to blend in and bring down a synthetic drug ring.
Quick Review: It's been a hot minute since I had seen this film, and upon seeing it on Netflix I thought I'd rewatch it. It's certainly funny still to this day, and you can see the DNA of Lord and Miller starting here that carried on to LEGO Movie and Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. Here, they're unhinged and allowed to go full R. What follows is awesome chemistry between it leads, hilarious supporting performances, and a particularly awesome drug trip sequence. While I still find it funny, I don't think it's as funny as I remember it being when I saw it in High School. It doesn't feel as consistent with its jokes, and there's also some questionable activity regarding Jonah Hill and a High School student played by Brie Larson. All together it's still a fun movie, and well worth your time.
If you'd like to watch it, it's available on Netflix.
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