All the Bright Places finds success on the shelves but not on the screen. This film is an adaptation of the New York Times best-seller YA novel, All the Bright Places, written by Jennifer Niven. The story explores the painful lives of two young high schoolers, Violet Markey and Theodore Finch, as they bond together in efforts to better navigate through their own turmoil. Continue reading “Review: ‘All the Bright Places’ Finds Success on the Shelves, But Not on the Screen”
The best summary of this film is style over substance. The sets, costumes, makeup, and CGI are gorgeous (by today’s standards). Things do not look realistic, but for a fantasy environment, the film pulls it off really well. The costumes, especially Maleficent’s, are stunning, and it is clear they put effort into all the little details. Sadly, all the other aspects of the film fail to live up to how it looks. The characters are bland. So much time is wasted on characters that do nothing, and Maleficent does not get near enough screen time. Aurora (Elle Fanning) and Prince Phillip (Harris Dickinson) are dreadful to have on camera. The characters are the opposite of charismatic and the actors don’t do anything notable with what they are given. It is hard to appreciate anyone but Maleficent and her raven lackey. They really carry the movie, but don’t get enough focus.
Continue reading “Review: ‘Maleficent: Mistress of Evil’ is Style over Substance”
In his directorial debut, Max Minghella’s Teen Spirit tells the all too familiar tale of the underdog trying to make it big. While I won’t give the film any points for narrative originality, its style and cinematography not only resonate strongly with the indie aesthetic, but are also bold and unapologetic in nature. Combined with great performances from Elle Fanning, Zlatko Buric, Rebecca Hall, and Agnieszka Grochowska, Teen Spirit is an honest homage to the dreams we hold on to growing up.
Continue reading “Review: ‘Teen Spirit’ Presents a Promising Debut for Max Minghella”