Tag: film review

Exploring The Life of Chuck: A Review of a Fantasy Drama

Hi, my readers, I hope you are having a good weekend. This is a different kind of film I watched recently that I found quite entertaining. And maybe you’ll like it too.

The Life of Chuck is a 2024 American fantasy drama film written for the screen, co-produced, edited, and directed by Mike Flanagan. It is based on the 2020 novella of the same name by Stephen King. The film stars Tom Hiddleston, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Karen Gillan, Mia Sara, Carl Lumbly, Benjamin Pajak, Jacob Tremblay, and Mark Hamill, with narration by Nick Offerman.

The film’s plot follows the formative moments in the life of Charles “Chuck” Krantz, chronicled in reverse chronological order, from his death, depicted as the end of the universe, to his childhood.

The film’s greatest strength is its unconventional narrative design. The story unfolds like a memory being gently rewound, each chapter revealing not only new information but also new emotional context. What initially feels mysterious and even abstract gradually becomes intimate and profoundly relatable. The structure isn’t a gimmick—it reinforces the film’s central idea that every life, no matter how ordinary it seems from the outside, contains multitudes.

There are chapters to the film. The first is Act 3, Thanks, Chuck

Chuck mostly doesn’t appear in this Act. Middle school teacher Marty Anderson notes unusual things happening around the world, from natural disasters to the worldwide loss of the Internet. Several billboards and advertisements popping up everywhere display a picture of an accountant named Charles “Chuck” Krantz, accompanied by the words “Charles Krantz: 39 Great Years! Thanks, Chuck!” Marty’s ex-wife, Felicia Gordon, calls him, and they ponder if the end of the universe is upon them. Marty describes Carl Sagan’s Cosmic Calendar, a method to visualise the age of the universe in a single calendar year. Both of them begin seeing more disasters and supernatural occurrences.

After losing telephone service and electricity, Marty goes to Felicia’s home so they can stay with one another in the universe’s final moments, watching as the stars vanish one by one. The end of the universe is revealed to be connected to 39-year-old Chuck, who is bedridden in a hospital, dying from a brain tumor. He is accompanied by his wife, Ginny, and his son Brian. Chuck passes away as Ginny tells him, “39 great years. Thanks, Chuck. Meanwhile, Marty tells Felicia, “I love you,” just as the universe abruptly ends.

You realize that what you have been watching is the destruction of Chuck’s mind.

The next two Acts deal with important moments in Chuck’s life, both sorrowful and joyful. By the end, you realize that Chuck was no boring accountant, but lived a full life. Even if he died at just 39 years of age.

I give it four stars out of five. Now, stop wasting your life, and go watch some TV!

Documentary Review: I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not

Those of my readers around in the eighties will probably remember Chevy Chase. I remembered him from comedic films from the time period, but it had been many years since I even thought of him.

So, I said I’d give this documentary film a try. Its name is “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not.” From the start, it becomes clear that his bad reputation as a coworker will be a big focus, as well as his past drug abuse.

The film does an excellent job of reminding you just how seismic Chase’s impact on comedy really was. Saturday Night Live doesn’t just get a nod—it gets a victory lap. Watching early clips of Gerald Ford tumbling down stairs and Chase anchoring Weekend Update is like seeing comedy history being invented in real time, mostly held together with duct tape and confidence. The documentary smartly lets these moments breathe, trusting the material to remind you why Chase was, for a time, the funniest man in America.

Then come the movies, and oh, what a parade it is. Caddyshack, Fletch, National Lampoon’s Vacation—the documentary rolls through them like a greatest-hits album where every track is either iconic or inexplicably quotable. There’s a genuine joy in revisiting how Chase perfected the art of the smug, clueless, yet weirdly lovable leading man. His comic persona—equal parts charm and chaos—gets the credit it deserves as a blueprint for generations of comedians who followed.

But then there are the drugs. And he did a lot. And he could be mean. The drug abuse, his comedy, and this meanness all likely have one source – an abusive mother. He developed it as a coping mechanism. It is one he still uses as he makes jokes to deflect difficult or awkward moments, even in his eighties. Still, even his meanness comes off as him being a bit of a rascal.

When the stories get messy. You come away with the sense that Chase’s imperfections didn’t cancel out his contributions—they complicated them, humanized them, and, strangely, made his successes even more impressive.

By the end, the documentary feels less like a verdict and more like a well-earned, slightly crooked standing ovation. It celebrates a man who made millions of people laugh, sometimes by falling down, sometimes by being the joke, and sometimes by being in on it all along.

It gets four out of five stars from me.

If you’ve seen it, what did you think?

Review of One Battle After Another (2025)

Well, readers, if ever there was a counter-culture film to Trump’s America, then this is it, It oozes wokeness, but, at nearly three hours long, is it any good?

It stars some great actors, Leonardo Di Capprio, Sean Penn, and Benicio del Toro. Di Capprio gives a great performance.

The film’s narrative grapples with ideas about legacy, revolution, and personal consequence. For many viewers, these themes may give the story a depth beyond surface-level action. Thrilling sequences are filled with moments that invite reflection on how past actions reverberate through personal and political life.

Ghetto” Pat Calhoun (Di Capprio)and Perfidia Beverly Hills are members of a far-left revolutionary group, the French 75. While breaking out detained immigrants from Otay Mesa Detention Center, Perfidia sexually humiliates the commanding officer, Steven J. Lockjaw, who afterward becomes obsessed with her. Pat and Perfidia become lovers. When Lockjaw catches Perfidia planting a bomb, he releases her after she agrees to his demand to later meet him for sex.

After Perfidia gives birth to a girl named Charlene, Pat tries to persuade her to settle down, but she instead abandons Pat and Charlene to continue her revolutionary activities. She is arrested after murdering a security guard in an armed bank robbery. Lockjaw arranges for her to avoid prison in exchange for the names and whereabouts of key French 75 members. Perfidia enters witness protection, while Lockjaw uses the information she provided to hunt down and summarily execute her comrades. French 75 member Howard Sommerville gives Pat and Charlene stolen identities as Bob and Willa Ferguson, while Perfidia flees witness protection for Mexico.

This covers the first third of the film, or so. French 75 are terrorists. They bomb courthouses and free illegal immigrants at the point of the gun. Their cited causes are no borders and bodily autonomy (against restrictions on abortion). And white people are bad, mostly.

There is a part that had me laughing. In the car early in the film, Perfidia asks Leonardo’s character Pat if he likes black girls. I knew that wouldn’t be a problem, but I wondered if she would be too old for him!

A weakness in the early part of the film is how easily Lockjaw can track Perfidia with little explanation given. Also, nobody in the movement seems bothered that the only person they kill is a black security guard.

Anyhow, sixteen years later, living off-the-grid in the sanctuary city of Baktan Cross, California, Bob (Pat) has become a paranoid stoner. He is protective of Willa (Charlene), now a free-spirited teenager who resents his substance abuse, and has led her to believe Perfidia was a hero. Through his vehement anti-immigration efforts, Lockjaw has become a colonel and a prominent figure within the U.S. security agencies. When Lockjaw is invited to become a member of the Christmas Adventurers Club, a white supremacist secret society, he seeks to kill Willa to hide his past interracial relationship with Perfidia. He hires the Indigenous bounty hunter Avanti Q to capture Howard, triggering a distress signal to be sent to the French 75.

What follows is some good action scenes. As with more modern films, Charlene saves herself to a large extent. There is little need for the father figure except as emotional support.

I score the film three stars out of five. In cinemas now.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Review

Well, I finally got around to seeing this. This lapse would be very difficult to explain to my ten-year-old self. But was it worth the wait?

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (also known as Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker) is a 2019 American epic space opera film produced, co-written, and directed by J. J. Abrams. Produced by Lucasfilm and Bad Robot, and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the third installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017), and the final episode of the nine-part “Skywalker saga.” And what a saga, it has proven to be.

Rey continues her journey with determination, compassion, and the kind of emotional resilience that would make any Jedi Master weep proudly into their robe. Her arc is full of self-discovery and inner conflict, and the movie treats her struggle with genuine sincerity. She’s not just swinging a lightsaber—she’s wrestling with identity, legacy, and the age-old Star Wars question: “What if my family history is… a lot?”

And in fairness, her family history is complicated to say the least. You see, it turns out Palpatine is her grandpa. These Jedi and Sith seem to be all related.

Meanwhile, Kylo Ren remains one of the most entertainingly conflicted characters in the entire franchise. Adam Driver commits so hard to every glare, whisper, and emotional breakdown that you half-expect the Force to file a noise complaint. His journey is dramatic, intense, and surprisingly touching—proof that no one does “angsty space villain with great hair” quite like him.

The one thing that doesn’t come off is the kiss between Rey and Kylo Ren or Ben at that stage. It comes out of nowhere, and to be frank, brothers and sisters have had more sexual chemistry in this saga.

The supporting cast brings warmth, humor, and that classic Star Wars camaraderie. Finn is earnest and heroic, Poe is charmingly reckless, and their banter gives the movie a breezy, adventurous feel—even when the fate of the galaxy is, once again, hanging by a very thin thread. New characters slide in with confidence, while familiar faces return like old friends who immediately start helping you move furniture without being asked.

Visually, the movie is a feast. Lightsabers glow dramatically, starships collide with operatic flair, and the Force has never looked so… forceful. Every frame feels designed to be replayed, paused, and pointed at while someone says, “Okay, but that part was actually really cool.”

And yes—this film is emotional. It wears its heart on its Jedi sleeve. Themes of hope, legacy, redemption, and chosen family run through the story like the Force itself. It reminds us that the past matters, but it doesn’t have to define us—a message that feels very Star Wars and very earned.

This is a film for all ages that leaves you feeling all warm inside.

Four stars out of five from me. My ten-year-old self gives it a million.

Kiera Knightley Shines in ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ Review

Hello readers, I hope you are having a delightful day. I watched this film earlier today based on a book by the same name, and thought it was worth writing about.

Investigative Detective Blacklock, played by the still very beautiful Kiera Knightley, is going through a hard time. A source for one of her stories was recently murdered. So, she takes the opportunity to follow up on a fluff piece about a group of wealthy people, who will make a contribution to cancer research after one of them gets a terminal prognosis. Little does she realize that an ex is also on the boat.

I did wonder if they could make this film, with most of the action happening on a large yacht. But it pulls it off. Things go into high gear when our investigator sees a body in the water from Cabin 10. The only problem is that they don’t find it, and nobody is missing. Did she really see a body, or did her mind conjure it up? The rest of the people on the ship are definitely convinced it is.

What follows is a thriller full of intrigue and menace. Will our intrepid heroine figure it all out? It all makes sense at just the right time, turning into a classic tale of backstabbing and revenge.

As of October 2025, this film can be viewed on Netflix. I give it four stars out of five.

Have you seen it?

What did you think? Let me know in the comments.

Fast Cars and Star Power: Reviewing Sonny Hayes’ Racing Journey in F1 The Movie

Hello, dear readers, this is my review of a gem I watched during the week. I can still smell the oil and hear the roars of the engines. This is a testosterone-filled, macho film. It’s like being transported back to the eighties.

It is directed by Joseph Kosinski and stars the legendary Brad Pitt, who plays Sonny Hayes.

Sonny Hayes loves to race, regardless of the vehicle. He is called in to a failing F1 team as the last roll of the dice. He is an unlikely choice given his age and the fact that his first stint as an F1 driver was somewhat of a disaster.

The driving scenes in this film are incredible and set it apart. Brad Pitt is Brad Pitt, enigmatic, charming with sex appeal. It being 2025, the love interest is a forty-something racing director played by Kerry Condon with an unforgettably strong Irish accent. She has been warned that Sonny has had a few ex-wives, but let’s be honest, that would never stop her.

Sonny’s racing partner is a young black man with a great career ahead who just needs a bit of direction. The older white guy-young black guy is now something of a trope in films. It’s never a young white guy anymore. Such is life. The part is capable played by Adamson Alade-Bo “Damson” Idris. His character lacks any real depth, though, and just sets up Brad Pitt nicely.

He saves the team. It was never in doubt.

I give it four stars out of five. However, if you like fast cars, read my lips – You must watch this film. Whatever it takes.

Till next time..

And I’d love to hear back from you all. Have you seen it? Do you agree with my review?

Review of Night Call (film)

Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to discuss an excellent film I saw yesterday. One of the great things about the modern era is that you get to appreciate great art from around the world. This is a French-language film I watched on Sky Cinema.

The scenes flow naturally from one scene to another. It doesn’t feel contrived but like something that could happen to an unfortunate soul. From Wikipedia –

Night Call (La nuit se traîne) is a 2024 action thriller film directed by Michiel Blanchart in his feature directorial debut from a screenplay he co-wrote with Gilles Marchand. Set over the course of a night amid a Black Lives Matter protest in Belgium, a young locksmith is called for nocturnal assignment that plunges him into danger. It stars Jonathan Feltre, Natacha Krief, Jonas Bloquet, Thomas Mustin and Romain Duris. The film is an international co-production between Belgium and France.

Jonathon Feltre gives a superb performance as the locksmith. The fact that he is black is generally not referred to (2024 film, after all), but it plays an unmentioned role towards the end.

There are some great and unexpected action scenes. I especially liked the car chase towards the end. There is quite a lot of violence and the threat of more. All good. It is unconventional, and you are unsure how it will conclude.

I give it four stars out of five.