Film Review: "Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso" (2023).

From the director of The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea comes Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso. This crime documentary film directed by Rob Sixsmith. The 2016 cyanide-coffee murder case in Indonesia, involving Jessica Wongso and Mirna Salihin remains a mystery to this day. Has the real killer been caught or the influence of social media has sent an innocent person to prison? 

At 3:32 p.m. on January 6, 2016, Wongso, , a former permanent resident of Australia, arrived at Grand Indonesia shopping mall in Jakarta to meet her friends at 5 p.m., including Salihin. After making a reservation at the Olivier Cafe and doing some shopping, Wongso returned to the cafe at 4:14 p.m. and ordered drinks, including the Vietnamese iced coffee that allegedly killed Salihin. Wongso waited until Salihin arrived at 5:16 p.m. and during this time the drinks were hidden from the view of the security camera with shopping bags Wongso had placed on the table. Soon after arriving, Salihin took a sip of the coffee and complained that the coffee tasted horrible before losing consciousness shortly after. An ambulance was called to the cafe and Salihin was rushed to Abdi Waluyo Hospital in Menteng, Central Jakarta, where she later died at 6 p.m. On January 10, evidence of bleeding was found in Salihin's stomach during the autopsy conducted at Kramat Jati Police Hospital. The police claimed that cyanide was found both in the coffee Salihin drank as well as in her stomach. On January 30, 2016, Wongso was charged with the premeditated murder of Salihin and was taken into police custody pending trial. The Australian Federal Police handed over confidential files regarding Wongso's psychological state, amongst them a restraining order against her made by an ex-boyfriend, to Indonesian authorities. Wongso’s lawyer Yudi Wibowo denied her client's involvement in Salihin's death. On June 15, he trial began, approximately a month after Wongso was named a suspect. The nearly five month trial was broadcast live and became a national spectacle. On October 27, 2016, after one-hundred and thirty-five-days, Wongso was found guilty of the murder of Salihin by putting cyanide poison into Mirna’s coffee. She was sentenced to twenty years. After a lengthy appeal first being rejected at The Jakarta High court and then again in the Supreme Court presided over by Judges Artidjo Alkostar, Salman Luthan and Sumardiyatmo who unanimously turned down Jessica’s cassation appeal.

A series of archive footage, reconstructions, and more recent interviews revisit the case of the strange murder of Mirna Salihin in this true crime documentary. Though we applaud Sixsmith for a naked examination of a horror story and for eschewing the impulse to add any notion that Mirna's family found justice, we also admit that we have trouble recommending this to most audiences for those same reasons. This is a solid true crime documentary about a shocking and horrific story. The film details how detectives eventually uncovered the truth behind Mirna's death, and it’s fascinating to watch.

Simon says Ice Cold: Murder, Coffee and Jessica Wongso receives:

Also, see my review for The Raincoat Killer: Chasing a Predator in Korea.

Film Review: "The Creator" (2023).

"From the director of Rogue One" comes The Creator. This science-fiction action thriller film directed by Gareth Edwards, and written by Edwards and Chris Weitz. Amidst a future war between the human race and the forces of artificial intelligence, Joshua, a hardened ex-special forces agent grieving the disappearance of his wife, is recruited to hunt down and kill the Creator, the elusive architect of advanced AI who has developed a mysterious weapon with the power to end the war… and mankind itself. Joshua and his team of elite operatives journey across enemy lines, into the dark heart of AI-occupied territory only to discover the world-ending weapon he's been instructed to destroy is an AI in the form of a young child.

In November 2019, development began when Edwards signed on to direct and write an untitled science fiction project. Plot specifics are currently undisclosed, though sources say casting is underway and the hope is shoot by summer 2020. After Rogue One (2016), Edwards began developing several projects, wanting to make sure his next project was the right one before committing. Sources say New Regency jumped at the opportunity once he took his mystery project to the market. A test shoot and location scouting was conducted that year in Vietnam, Cambodia, Japan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Nepal, with Edwards using it as the opportunity to envision the look of the film. In February 2020, the film was officially announced. He cited Akira (1988), Apocalypse Now (1979), Baraka (1992), Blade Runner (1982), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Paper Moon (1973), Rain Man (1988), and The Hit (1984) as this film's sources of inspiration. By mid January 2022, John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Sturgill Simpson, Allison Janney, Ralph Ineson, Marc Menchaca, Veronica Ngo, and Madeleine Yuna Voyles were cast. Benedict Wong was originally cast but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts. He was ultimately replaced by Watanabe. At the same time, with a budget of $86 million, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late May. Filming took place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England and throughout South East Asia under the working True Love. The film was shot on the prosumer Sony FX3 camera and in the 2.76:1 ultra-wide aspect ratio. In mid July 2023, Edwards confirmed that Hans Zimmer was hired to score the film. The visual effects were provided by Industrial Light & Magic, Wētā FX, Folks VFX, MARZ, Misc Studios, Fin Design + Effects, Supreme Studio, Outpost VFX, Crafty Apes, Jellyfish Pictures, VFX Los Angeles, Frontier VFX, Outpost VFX and Clear Angle Studios.

Washington and Voyles are genuine characters who spend all their screen time contemplating serious platitudes about how humanity sure looks different when you see it from the perspective of artificial intellegence.

Beautifully shot and capably handled, Edwards' fourth cinematic directorial effort is a heartfelt and touching exploration of two well-drawn, troubled characters, which just happens to feature artificial intelligence as a backdrop to the central narrative.

Simon says The Creator receives:

Also, see my review for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

Series Review: "Who Killed Jill Dando?" (2023).

"What was the motive? How is it still unsolved?" This is Who Killed Jill Dando? This crime documentary series directed by Marcus Plowright. British broadcasting legend, Jill Dando, was killed by a single bullet on her doorstep in 1999 in broad daylight. Despite one of the biggest homicide investigations in British history, the murder remains unsolved. 

On November 9, 1961, English journalist, television presenter and newsreader, Jill Wendy Dando, was born. She spent most of her career at the BBC. At the time of her death, Dando was among those with the highest profile of the BBC's on-screen staff, and had been the 1997 BBC Personality of the Year. Furthermore, her television work included Breakfast Time, Breakfast News, the BBC One O'Clock News, the Six O'Clock News, the travel programme Holiday, the crime appeal series Crimewatch and occasionally Songs of Praise. On the morning of April 26, 1999, Dando left Farthing's home in Chiswick. She returned alone, by car, to the house she owned in Fulham. She had lived in the house, but by April 1999 was in the process of selling it and did not visit it frequently. As Dando reached her front door at about 11:32, she was shot once in the head. Her body was discovered about fourteen minutes later by neighbour Helen Doble. Police were called at 11:47. Dando was taken to the nearby Charing Cross Hospital where she was declared dead on arrival at 13:03 BST. Forensic study indicated that Dando had been shot by a bullet from a 9mm Short calibre semi-automatic pistol, with the gun pressed against her head at the moment of the shot. The cartridge appeared to have been subject to workshop modification, possibly to reduce its charge. After the murder, there was intense media coverage. An investigation by the Metropolitan Police, named Operation Oxborough, proved fruitless for over a year. Making it the biggest murder inquiry conducted by the Metropolitan Police and the country's largest criminal investigation since the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper. Dando's status as a well-known public figure had brought her into contact with thousands of people, and she was known to millions. There was huge speculation regarding the motive for her murder. Within six months, the Murder Investigation Team had spoken to more than two-thousand five-hundred people and taken more than one-thousand statements. At the time of her death, Jando was engaged to Alan Farthing, gynaecologist turned Queen Elizabeth II's personal physician, after she met him on a blind date set up by a mutual friend in December 1997. The couple had announced their engagement on January 31, 1999. Their wedding was set to take place on September 25.

Life is never about one truth. The work of one man brought clarity to the tumultuous murder of one of Britain's most well known TV personalities. Knowing about Dando's life, and what led him to her death, is absolutely thrilling. The narrative is carefully fitted on to TV news imagery of Dando at work, her photos and, of course, video footage, albeit grainy, of some of her iconic works.

Simon says Who Killed Jill Dando? receives:

Film Review: "No One Will Save You" (2023).

From the director of Spontaneous comes No One Will Save You. This science-fiction horror film written and directed by Brian Duffield. A lonely woman battles extraterrestrials who threaten her future while forcing her to face her past.

In 2019, Duffield wrote the film as a spec script. By April 2021, it was reported that 20th Century Studios had acquired the script, with Duffield set to direct and Kaitlyn Dever attached to star. At the same time, on an estimated budget of $22.8 million, principal photography commenced and wrapped in June. Filming took place in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

The film stars Dever. Dever gives one of the best performances of her career. She is on top form, and there are some genuinely terrifying moments that will have you cowering behind your popcorn. This is one of her finest, most mature and heartfelt performances and it won't go unnoticed come Awards season.

The film knows what it's like to witness the end of the world on television and the twisted catharsis that comes with the world not actually ending. A masterclass in creating tension, Duffield's "House of screams" – given his later travails, predictability and sometimes laughable conceits – now, two decades on, seems like it was the high-water mark of his endeavours. I'm a sucker for an effective scary movie that involves aliens and if you're gonna tell me that you didn't jump during that scene in the basement with the alien arm, I'm gonna call you a liar. An emotional, yet old-fashioned scary movie punctuated with terror and psychological suspense, the film will have you holding your breath, biting your nails and sitting on the edge of your seat - even long after the film has ended. For the most part, the script is extremely well written, allowing each character to shine and developing some interesting ideas. It is also, frequently, very funny. A thoroughly engaging story about fear and faith, which also happens to be a first-class hair-raiser from a moviemaker with a taste for the Hitchcockian tease. The work of a filmmaker who has secrets buried at the heart of his story and knows how to take time revealing them. Strange occurrences build in the mind of the viewer and take on extreme urgency. Rather than succumb to a lot of direct interaction with the beasties, Duffield creates tension by remaining on horror's outskirts. Using the theorem that less is more, Duffield creates a psychologically frightening movie taut with emotional tension and ripe with fear. Without ever touching on a cliche (except to poke fun at it), Duffield skillfully builds the film on several layers -- personal redemption, human drama, community-in-crisis, world on the brink. That the movie works as well as it does, despite an outlandish plot, is a tribute to Duffield's prowess as a director, and to a fine acting performance. Duffield's masterful direction makes the film succeed. What scares us out of our seats is not what we see or hear, but what we think we might see and hear.

Simon says No One Will Save You receives:

Also, see my review for Spontaneous.

Film Review: "Spy Kids: Armageddon" (2023).

"Meet the next generation" with Spy Kids: Armageddon. This spy action comedy film directed by Robert Rodriguez, and written by Rodriguez and Racer Max. It is the fifth installment in the Spy Kids film series. Spy suits. Safe houses. Super-cool gadgets. When Patty and Tony discover their parents are secret agents, it's time to become kid spies-in-training to save their parents, beat the bad guys, and save the world.

In January 2021, a reboot of the Spy Kids franchise was revealed to be in development with Rodriguez returning as writer and director. The film would involve a plot that centers around a multicultural family. . In March 2022, Netflix acquired distribution rights, making it the second Spy Kids project produced for the platform. The title was revealed to be Spy Kids: Armageddon, which was the original name for the previous film installment, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World (2011), with Rodriguez and his son penning the installment. By mid June 2022, Gina Rodriguez, Zachary Levi, Billy Magnussen, D. J. Cotrona, Everly Carganilla, and Connor Esterson were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late August. Filming took place in Austin, Texas.

The film stars Rodriguez, Levi, Magnussen, Cotrona, Carganilla, and Esterson. This is a shoddy affair with anodyne first-timers Carganilla, and Esterson almost as annoying as Ricky Gervais's phoned-in voiceover of an animatronic terrier with a poop obsession in the previous installment.

With any luck, the pre-teen audience will have as big a lark as Rodriguez but this fifth film does seem cruder and ruder than the first four in the series. No matter how many crazy images you slap on the poster, there's no accounting for lazy workmanship. Can Rodriguez please make Sin City 3 now? The mind boggles before being lulled into a stupor of inanition by this latest instalment of Rodriguez's increasingly cheap-looking franchise. Rodriguez directs the movie with his trademark kineticism, but a flimsy and uninventive script means there's little investment in the characters or their actions. Rodriguez's family franchise about underage secret agents limps into its fifth installment with shiny CGI and frequent fart jokes to hold the attention spans of the underage and undemanding. Rodriguez's various family-geared movies - notably the Spy Kids series - have been annoying creative clunkers, the one area where doing things his way has seemed like an iffy way. An endless series of scatological jokes saps the charm out of nearly every scene, and there's little effort to create an interesting mystery at the movie's center. The rhythm is off, a predicament Rodriguez addresses with copious - nearly constant - excrement and evacuation humor, and sudden turns into wide-eyed sincerity. Feels more like straight-to-DVD filler than a chapter in one of the last decade's most entertaining and sophisticated family-film franchises. I was apparently dealt a faulty card and could not pull up any discernible aromas other than those of flop sweat and mild embarrassment.

Simon says Spy Kids: Armageddon receives:

Also, see my review for Hypnotic and Spy Kids: All the Time in the World.

Film Review: "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" (2023).

"Discover the hero just beneath the surface" in Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. This computer-animated action-comedy directed by Kirk DeMicco and Faryn Pearl, written by Pam Brady, Brian C. Brown, and Elliott DiGuiseppi, and produced by DreamWorks Animation. Sweet, awkward sixteen-year-old Ruby Gillman is desperate to fit in at Oceanside High, but she mostly just feels invisible. She’s math-tutoring her skater-boy crush, who only seems to admire her for her fractals, and she’s prevented from hanging out with the cool kids at the beach because her over-protective supermom, has forbade Ruby from ever getting in the water. But when she breaks her mom’s #1 rule, Ruby will discover that she is a direct descendant of the warrior Kraken queens and is destined to inherit the throne from her commanding grandmother, the Warrior Queen of the Seven Seas. The Kraken are sworn to protect the oceans of the world against the vain, power-hungry mermaids who have been battling with the Kraken for eons. There’s one major, and immediate, problem with that: The school’s beautiful, popular new girl, Chelsea just happens to be a mermaid. Ruby will ultimately need to embrace who she is and go big to protect those she loves most. 

In June 2021, it was reported that a film originally titled Meet the Gillmans was in production at DreamWorks Animation, with casting taking place and a 2022 release date. According to producer Kelly Cooney Cilella, the film has been in the works for several years. It was first pitched to DreamWorks about a family of sea monsters that were moved to the land and are hiding in plain sight. Paul Tibbitt was announced as the director, with Brady confirmed to pen the script. Production was also expected to start in 2022. In mid March 2023, the cast and crew were announced. Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Annie Murphy, Colman Domingo, Jane Fonda, Sam Richardson, Will Forte, Jaboukie Young-White, Liza Koshy, Blue Chapman, Eduardo Franco, Ramona Young, Echo Kellum, and Nicole Byer were cast. Furthermore, DeMicco and Pearl replaced Tibbitt. Finally, the film's official title was also announced as Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken. DeMicco stated that he cited John Hughes films, Easy A (2010), Lady Bird (2017) and Booksmart (2019) as his inspirations. Pierre-Olivier Vincent serves as the production designer, taking inspiration for the main character from the body of an octopus and bringing the "curviness to all the design language of the film", from the cars to the underwater world.

The film stars the voice talents of Condor, Collette, Murphy, Domingo, Fonda, Richardson, Forte, Young-White, Koshy, Chapman, Franco, Young, Kellum, and Byer. The film works moderately well thanks largely to the voice talents of Condor and, to a lesser extent, Fonda. Condor delivers this tongue-twisting patter with a happy eagerness that is both amusing and ingratiating.

Despite nifty re-packaging of the animated-feature formula--seemingly daring premise; casually multicultural, international story that's seldom pandering; memorable hero - Ruby Gillman, for all its snappy colours and crackles of joy, never quite pops.

Simon says Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken receives:

Also, see my review for Vivo and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

Series Review: "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal" (2023).

From the director of The Pharmacist comes Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal. This true crime series directed by Jenner Furst and Julia Willoughby Nason. The Murdaughs were one of South Carolina’s most prominent families, but the death of teenager Mallory Beach in a drunken boating accident began the unraveling of their legacy. When Paul Murdaugh – the alleged driver of the boat – and his mother Maggie are found brutally murdered, a century of corruption, power, and cover-ups in the Low Country is brought to light. The three-part series will feature first-hand accounts from those on the boat that fateful night, many of whom have not spoken about the crash or double homicide of Maggie and Paul until now, including: Paul Murdaugh’s longtime girlfriend, Morgan Doughty; Mallory Beach's childhood friends, Miley Altman and Connor Cook; Mallory's boyfriend, Anthony Cook; and, several others.

In the Lowcountry region of South Carolina, the Murdaugh family is prominent as three generations named Randolph Murdaugh served consecutively as circuit solicitor (the elected prosecuting attorney) for the state's 14th judicial district between 1920 and 2006; the family's status led locals to call the five-county district "Murdaugh Country". In 1910, Randolph Murdaugh Sr. founded the civil litigation firm that is now the Parker Law Group LLP in Hampton, South Carolina, which now specializes in personal injury litigation. Richard "Alex" Murdaugh and other members of the Murdaugh family have been the subject of investigations involving wrongful death, murder, corruption, fraud, witness intimidation, theft, and drug and alcohol-related charges. In 2019, Alex's son, Paul Murdaugh, and some of his close friends were implicated in a fatal boating accident, with later allegations of special treatment. In June 2021, Alex Murdaugh shot and killed his wife Maggie and their son Paul on the grounds of "Moselle," the Murdaugh hunting estate. Alex was subsequently charged with their murders. Alex was also accused of embezzlement from his law firm and resigned in September. After being incarcerated since October 2021, Murdaugh's murder trial began in January 2023 and ended in March with Murdaugh being found guilty of murdering his wife and son and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison without the possibility of parole.

The popularity of easily digestible true-crime narratives has led to a glut of stories such as this one, ambitious and rote and unable to indulge in the skepticism or the soul-searching that subjects as consuming as the opioid epidemic merit. The series shows how sheer abuse of power, fueled by greed and corruption, can drive one family to absolute ruin, even if it's in their absurd belief that they can hide behind the facade of justice. Although that could be the docuseries's fatal flaw, it isn't: What the series lacks in suspense and speed it makes up for in heart, emotional resonance, and ultimate gratification. What started as an effort to record a moment in history became, by the end, a documentary of the moment we're living now. If ever a series had enough material for a second season, sadly this is it.

Simon says Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal receives:

Also, see my review for LulaRich.

Film Review: "Blue Beetle" (2023).

"Jaime Reyes is a superhero, whether he likes it or not." This is Blue Beetle. This superhero film directed by Ángel Manuel Soto, written by Gareth Dunnet-Alcocer, and based on the DC character of the same name created by Keith Giffen, John Rogers, and Cully Hamner. It is the 14th installment of the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). Recent college grad Jaime Reyes returns home full of aspirations for his future, only to find that home is not quite as he left it. As he searches to find his purpose in the world, fate intervenes when Jaime unexpectedly finds himself in possession of an ancient relic of alien biotechnology: the Scarab. When the Scarab suddenly chooses Jaime to be its symbiotic host, he is bestowed with an incredible suit of armor capable of extraordinary and unpredictable powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the Super Hero - Blue Beetle.

By late November 2018, Warner Bros. Pictures and DC Films were developing a film based on the titular character with Dunnet-Alcocer penning the script, which was set to be the first DC Extended Universe (DCEU) film. By December 2020, DC Films was planning to release several mid-budget films a year exclusively on the streaming service HBO Max, rather than in theaters, as part of new DC Films president Walter Hamada's plan for the DCEU, with Blue Beetle listed as one such project in 2021. In February 2021, Soto was hired to direct. In April, Blue Beetle was included on DC's slate of films with a 2022 or 2023 release date. In December, Warner Bros. revealed that the film would be receiving an August 2023 release date instead of being produced directly for HBO Max. By late May, Xolo Maridueña, Adriana Barraza, Damián Alcázar, Raoul Max Trujillo, Susan Sarandon, George Lopez, Elpidia Carrillo, Bruna Marquezine, Belissa Escobedo, Harvey Guillén, and Becky G were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late July. Filming took place at Wilder Studios in Decatur, Georgia, as well as Atlanta, Georgia and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico during the COVID-19 pandemic. Soto also took inspiration from the New 52 comics, Blue Beetle: Graduation Day (2022-23), Infinite Crisis (2005-06), Injustice 2 (2017), and the Mission: Impossible and Indiana Jones franchises. The visual effects were provided by Digital Domain, Rise FX, Rodeo FX, and Industrial Light & Magic with Kelvin McIlwain as visual effects supervisor.

The film stars Maridueña, Barraza, Alcázar, Trujillo, Sarandon, Lopez, Carrillo, Marquezine, Escobedo, Guillén, and Becky G. The direction from Soto and the performances from the cast eloquently rewrote the characters with the worst of latino cinema and culture. Maridueña lacked all the necessary depths to make his role of Reyes far from just your garden-variety Marvel protagonist.

For those who are fans of basic and paint-by-numbers superhero origin stories, the film will be perfect but for anyone expecting anything fresh or new, keep looking. A superhero flick that, despite several exciting interludes, feels more mechanical and less spontaneous than nearly every DCEU title that preceded it.

Simon says Blue Beetle receives:

Also, see my review for Charm City Kings and The Flash.

Film Review: "El Conde" ("The Count") (2023).

"Things are about to get bloody..." This is El Conde. This Chilean dark comedy horror film directed by Pablo Larraín and written by Larraín and Guillermo Calderón. The film is a satire that portrays a universe in which Augusto Pinochet, a 250-year-old vampire who, tired of being remembered as a thief, decides to die.

By late June 2022, Jaime Vadell, Gloria Münchmeyer, Alfredo Castro, Paula Luchsinger, Catalina Guerra, Marcial Tagle, Amparo Noguera, Diego Muñoz, Antonia Zegers, and Stella Gonet were cast in a new Chilean dark comedy horror film penned by Larraín and Calderón and to be directed by Larraín. At the same time, principal photography commenced and took place throughout Santiago, Chile.

The film stars Vadell, Münchmeyer, Castro, Luchsinger, Guerra, Tagle, Noguera, Muñoz, Zegers, and Gonet. An audacious reimagining of history. Strong comic performances are highlighted in a film that is both frightening and funny at the same time. Larraín handpicked these actors one at a time, and you can tell. Every actor fits the role like a tailored suit set to one ideal set of mannerisms. That's high-class skill. It is a very funny comedy with an inspired cast that makes sure the political component will not dilute but neither monopolize the plot too much. The film serves up the cringe comedy of tyranny, where much of the humor lies in the way that the characters twist themselves into hopeless knots as they navigate a Chilean wonderland.

This is what great satires do: make us laugh while giving us glimpses of our own reality. The film is a truly funny and absurdly smart film. The brilliance of Larraín's limber tonal shifts is that he can switch between them in an instant, keeping a sharp audience on edge, while never losing our investment in the film. It may be cringe-worthy at times, what with its propensity for showing the Chilean world of violence, torture, and bloodletting, but for those who like their parables to be challenging and salty, do not miss this exceptional film. The film is a clever, intelligent bit of political comedy, history played for laughs, that is a refreshingly change from the usual low humour comedies of recent years. The brutal legacy of Pinochet's regime is hardly the stuff of comedy [but] the script successfully negotiates a balance between dark comedy and absurdist horror. This is black humour at its blackest and best. It shoots a taproot down to our deepest humanity, and it does so, ironically enough, by revealing the hellish sources of our own inhumanity. Paralysed by fear, the right answer now the wrong answer; the Chilean Politburo sounds a lot like Twitter. Moving from panic to farce and biting one-liners, it's crammed with sharp performances. The film is one of the funniest, most absurdly dark and frighteningly relevant political satires I've ever had the pleasure of viewing. When the film ends, Larraín seems to have invited us to rethink our relationship with the past and with present politicking. It's to his great credit that he does it all while making sides ache from laughing.

Simon says El Conde (The Count) receives:

Also, see my review for Lisey's Story.

Film Review: "A Haunting in Venice" (2023).

"Death was only the beginning" in A Haunting in Venice. This supernatural mystery film directed by Kenneth Branagh, adapted by Michael Green, and based on the 1969 novel Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie. It is the sequel to Death on the Nile (2022). Set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve, now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, celebrated sleuth Hercule Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

In February 2022, Branagh stated that discussions for additional films were ongoing. The filmmaker and star stated that he hopes the film series becomes a franchise of films including other characters created by Christie. In March, 20th Century Studios president Steve Asbell confirmed that a third movie was in development. with Branagh returning as director and star, and Green returning to pen the installment. The film will see a lesser known Poirot story be the basis for the plot, with the setting changed from the UK to post-war Venice, Italy. It is the first film adaptation of the story. By late October, the film was officially announced with Kyle Allen, Camille Cottin, Jamie Dornan, Tina Fey, Jude Hill, Ali Khan, Emma Laird, Kelly Reilly, Riccardo Scamarcio, and Michelle Yeoh rounding out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in January 2023. Filming took place at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England and throughout Venice. Unlike its predecessors, which were both filmed in Panavision Super 70mm in the widescreen 2.39:1 aspect ratio, the film was shot digitally, with Sony Venice cameras in the taller 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Branagh worked with the technical department to cause surprises for the cast. The actors were not warned about lights going out suddenly, or gusts of wind and slamming doors on the sets in which they worked, causing genuine confused and startled reactions from the actors to appear in the film. In April, it was revealed that Hildur Guðnadóttir was hired to score the film's score, marking the first in the series not to be composed by Branagh's frequent collaborator Patrick Doyle.

The film stars Branagh, Allen, Cottin, Dornan, Fey, Hill, Khan, Laird, Reilly, Scamarcio, and Yeoh. Branagh’s third performance as the infamous detective is fine, casual and he allowed each actor -- and there are many -- to have a moment in the spotlight.

All who enjoy Agatha Christie novels for the cleverly put-together puzzles and familiar characters, are sure to be disappointed with this version. A sequel that is slightly superior to the predecessor when Branagh takes Poirot's magnifying glass, but its whodunit mystery on the Nile is not able to hide the weaknesses that sink its plot into a regular and predictable canal. Might take forever to get going with its extremely long first act & gives to many indicators to who the killer will be making it obvious before the murder happen but still I found it surprisingly entertaining in the back half.

Simon says A Haunting in Venice receives:

Also, see my review for Death on the Nile.

Series Review: "Dear Child" ("Liebes Kind") (2023).

From Germany and Netflix comes Dear Child (Liebes Kind). This German crime mystery thriller drama series adapted and directed by Isabel Kleefeld and Julian Pörksen, and based on the novel of the same title by Romy Hausmann. Escaping captivity in a basement, a young girl and her unconscious mother are found at the site of a car accident. But the regained freedom offers neither salvation nor security.

The series stars Birge Schade, Christian Beermann, Kim Riedle, Naila Schuberth, Julika Jenkins, Haley Louise Jones, Justus von Dohnányi, Hans Löw, Sammy Schrein, Özgür Karadeniz, Seraphina Schweiger, Eskindir Tesfay, Florian Claudius Steffens, and Nagmeh Alaei. Riedle delivers a stunning performance, playing on many levels at once, her growing disbelief as she understands she has spent much of her prime so isolated, convincing and heartbreaking. Despite the intentional opacity of Riedle's character in many scenes, she is fantastic, delivering an intensely physical performance that illustrates how often trauma manifests in the body. Schuberth's performance -- as a twelve-year-old with a confidence and wisdom twice her age -- is beautiful. She can be endearing, mystifying and aggravating, sometimes in the same moment. She'll keep you coming back to a mystery that grows darker with every revelation. Switching from subdued to rageful, Riedle convinces you of both Jasmin's fears and her feral side. Riedle delivers a compelling portrayal as Jasmin, who, even in the grip of terror, projects an air of dangerousness.

The premise for Netflix's latest German release is simple: kidnapped woman miraculously escapes her captor after years living in fear. But the story that unfolds is much more complicated. The crime itself is supposed to be one of the major alluring elements of the show, but the more we learn about the case the less enticing it becomes. One of the great things about this series is that it forces you to confront your own lazy habits of thought, like judging characters in circumstances about which you know nothing. The series is somewhat of a retread of other television series with similar abduction/returned premises, though it is made better by the performances of its core cast. Creepy, measured, and mesmerizing, this drama takes a cliched premise and makes it fresh and absorbing with finely drawn characters played by magnetic actors. Despite the well-worn premise, it's still intriguing enough to keep one wondering what will happen next and who's up to what, which is saying something. Adapted and directed by Kleefeld and Pörksen, the six-part series is most magnetic when the camera - no matter if it's lingering on a close-up or framing her in a corner - captures the subtly changing nuances of Jasmin's face. For a crime story it is unusually gentle and generous toward its characters; it is not cynical or despairing - indeed, it is in the end a love story, or rather, several interlocking love stories set in contrast to the pathological mockery of one. We respond so immediately to any story about a missing woman that we may even overlook weaknesses in writing, performances or direction. That isn't a problem with the show.

Simon says Dear Child (Liebes Kind) receives:

Film Review: "The Nun II" (2023).

"The greatest evil in The Conjuring Universe." This is The Nun II. This gothic supernatural horror film directed by Michael Chaves, written by Ian Goldberg, Richard Naing, and Akela Cooper. It serves as a sequel to The Nun (2018) and the ninth installment in The Conjuring Universe franchise. 1956 – France. A priest is murdered. An evil is spreading. The sequel to the worldwide smash hit follows Sister Irene as she once again comes face-to-face with Valak, the demon nun.

In August 2017, producer James Wan discussed the possibility of a Nun sequel and what its story may be. In April 2019, it was announced by producer Peter Safran that a sequel was in development. Later that month, Cooper was hired to pen the sequel. In February 2022, Taissa Farmiga stated that she had had discussions with Warner Bros. Pictures to reprise her role from the first film while stating that the restrictions on the film industry as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic had delayed the project. By late April, Wan confirmed that Bonnie Aarons would be reprising her role. Furthermore, Warner Bros. Pictures officially announced the movie as a part of its upcoming slate at the 2022 CinemaCon. In addition, Chaves was hired to direct the sequel. In September, Goldberg and Naing was hired to rewrite the script. By early October, Jonas Bloquet, Storm Reid, and Anna Popplewell rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and took place at an abandoned church in Couvent des Prêcheurs, Aix-en-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France.

The film stars Farmiga, Bloquet, Reid, Popplewell, and Aarons. Its characters are not as boring as the previous ones, and the fact that Farmiga has trouble moving on from the previous film's event generates a series of very stimulating stress situations.

Chaves has effectively built a thrill ride, but he didn't build the right kind, as its thrills amount to little more than flaccid giggle-inducers. Maybe an immobile doll isn't the right vehicle for frights. In The Conjuring universe, the film is one of the weakest link riding on the success of its previous films. It certainly answers the demon nun's origin story, but it does so with unnecessary froth. Too fixated on the explosive and bombastic properties of shock horror to understand the kind of fear truly effective horror movies leave in their wake. Pounds one creepy moment after another, more concerned with piling up scares than actually trying to make characters the audience can relate to. Perhaps it's the film's inability to provide a clear understanding of its own internal logic. How is a viewer supposed to feel tension if the film's events feel random and inconsequential? For when we discover the true origin of the spirit inside the doll and how it connects with the story of the previous film, the characters cease to make sense in their actions. If we forget the plot, Chaves manages to generate an interesting and macabre atmosphere. But it's far from the quality of The Conjuring.

Simon says The Nun II receives:

Also, see my review for The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It and The Nun.

Film Review: "Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America" (2023).

From the director of Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet comes Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America. This documentary film directed by Brian Knappenberger. Survivors, whistleblowers and experts recount the Boy Scouts of America’s decadeslong cover-up of sexual abuse cases and its heartbreaking impact.

In 1910, The Boy Scouts of America (BSA, colloquially the Boy Scouts), was founded. It is one of the largest scouting organizations and one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with about seven-hundred and sixty-two thousand participants. Since then, about one-hundred and ten million Americans have participated in BSA programs. BSA is part of the international Scout Movement and became a founding member organization of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1922. The stated mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to "prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law." Youth are trained in responsible citizenship, character development, and self-reliance through participation in a wide range of outdoor activities, educational programs, and, at older age levels, career-oriented programs in partnership with community organizations. For younger members, the Scout method is part of the program to instill typical Scouting values such as trustworthiness, good citizenship, and outdoors skills, through a variety of activities such as camping, aquatics, and hiking. To further these outdoor activities, the BSA has four high-adventure bases: Northern Tier (Minnesota, Manitoba, and Ontario), Philmont Scout Ranch (New Mexico), Sea Base (Florida, US Virgin Islands, and Bahamas), and Summit Bechtel Reserve (West Virginia), as well as nearly one hundred separate camps and reservations specifically dedicated to scouts. The main Scouting divisions are Cub Scouting for ages five to eleven years, Scouts BSA for ages ten to eighteen, Venturing for ages fourteen through twenty-one, and Sea Scouts for ages fourteen through twenty-one. The BSA operates Scouting by chartering local organizations, such as churches, clubs, civic associations, or educational organizations, to implement the Scouting program for youth within their communities. Units are led entirely by volunteers appointed by the chartering organization, who are supported by local councils using both paid professional Scouters and volunteers. Additionally, Learning for Life is an affiliate that provides in-school and career education. In 2019, the Boy Scouts of America renamed its flagship program, Boy Scouts, to Scouts BSA to reflect its policy change allowing girls to join separate, gender-specific troops.

Netflix is ensuring that the BSA's disturbing story will be known by millions – and while some may be hesitant to watch due to the disturbing nature of its conflict, it’s a show that demands to be seen. Driven by a litany of talking heads from all corners of the justice world - not to forget to mention from the organisation itself, the film is an exposé about institutional failure. As a true journalistic effort, the film doesn't shy away from the messiness of the truth, especially when efforts to prevent another incident like the scandals with the BSA prove not enough.

Simon says Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America receives:

Also, see my review for Web of Make Believe: Death, Lies and the Internet.

2023 Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa: Northern Kāhu vs Whai Part 2.