🎥Civil War (2024) 💥🇺🇸
As a loyal follower of Alex Garland since Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Men, among other works, I had high expectations for Civil War, his most powerful and ambitious offering to date.
Set in a not-too-distant future where the United States is fractured by a new, highly intense, and violent Civil War, we follow a group of journalists on a “Road Movie” of sorts, filled with death, militia warfare, and extremely brutal confrontations, en route to the White House. Moment by moment, we are immersed in a constant and unsettling sense of danger.
Thanks to the nature of constantly capturing the war’s testimony from the group of journalists, the film presents and captures truly interesting and well-crafted scenes amidst a desolate landscape. This is something I have always admired about Garland: his direction, cinematography, and the ability to find beauty in the most terrible places.
However, I also have the impression that his skill as a screenwriter leaves much to be desired. After seeing his last three films, I am convinced that, on this occasion, he probably did not make a significant effort to deliver a coherent narrative and well-constructed characters. This leaves the film as a collection of good and intense scenes, with solid performances, but unfortunately, not much else to cherish. Once again, I expected more from Garland and his always interesting concepts.
⭐ 8 / 10 Cinemas
🎥 Unfrosted (2024)🕵️♀️🥣
I have always been and will probably always be a fan of Seinfeld, which I consider to be the best sitcom of all time. Therefore, anything that involves its creator, Jerry Seinfeld, piques my interest, even though I’m aware that it will never reach the same level of humor that he and Larry David created together in the past. That’s a pedestal that only the series Curb Your Enthusiasm has managed to achieve.
This comedy film delves into the fierce competition between Kellogg’s and Post to become the leading cereal brand in the United States during the 1960s, and particularly how the famous and widely consumed Pop-Tarts were created.
In addition to being directed and starring Jerry Seinfeld, Unfrosted features a plethora of faces not only from the comedy world but also cameos from some tremendous actors whom I will not mention because I believe that part of the fun is “discovering” them playing the most bizarre characters possible.
With a setting that blends corporate comedy, espionage and international intrigue tones, and a lot of reminiscence of a more naive and healthier past, Unfrosted is not the hilarious or irreverent film I was expecting, but it certainly managed to hold my attention and put a slight smile on my face throughout its duration.
⭐ 8 /10 Netflix Exclusive
🎥 On the Rocks (2020)🍸💍
Sofia Coppola’s latest film, “On the Rocks,” is a subtle comedy set in New York City. Bill Murray, reprising the success of “Lost in Translation,” returns to a paternal role, this time with Rashida Jones as his co-star and daughter.
Jones plays Laura, a woman who finds herself in an uncomfortable situation filled with suspicions of infidelity involving her husband, who is at the helm of a successful marketing company with a promising future and a very attractive and efficient assistant.
Upon discovering the situation, Laura’s father, Felix (Murray), decides to get involved and expose her husband’s infidelity using his creativity, charming personality, and extensive network of contacts. This leads to a reunion filled with adventures, exciting and hilarious situations, and a journey that explores themes of marriage, father-daughter relationships, and generational differences.
Unfortunately, the film left me wanting more, not only in terms of dramatic intensity but also in plot development. Its attempt to be “cool and funny” falls short, in my opinion.
⭐ 6 /10 Apple TV+
