Film Review: "Sly" (2023).

"Meet the man behind the hero" in Sly. This documentary film directed by Thom Zimny and written by Aidin Sayar Sarie. For nearly fifty years Sylvester Stallone has entertained millions with iconic characters and blockbuster franchises, from Rocky to Rambo to The Expendables. This retrospective documentary offers an intimate look at the Oscar-nominated actor-writer-director-producer, paralleling his inspirational underdog-story with the indelible characters he has brought to life.

On July 6, 1946, American actor and filmmaker, Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone was born. He has received numerous accolades including a Golden Globe Award as well as nominations for three Academy Awards and two BAFTA Awards. Stallone is one of only two actors in history (alongside Harrison Ford) to have starred in a box-office No. 1 film across six consecutive decades. Struggling as an actor for a number of years upon moving to New York City in 1969, Stallone found gradual work in films such as The Lords of Flatbush (1974). He achieved his greatest critical and commercial success starting in 1976 with his iconic role as boxer Rocky Balboa in the first film of the successful Rocky franchise, which he also pen the script. In 1977, he became the third actor in history to be nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay and Best Actor. He portrayed the PTSD-plagued soldier John Rambo in First Blood (1982), a role he would play across five Rambo films (1982–2019). From the mid-1980s to the late 1990s, Stallone would go on to become one of Hollywood's highest-paid actors acting in action films such as Cobra (1986), Tango and Cash (1989), Cliffhanger (1993), Demolition Man (1993), and The Specialist (1994). Stallone continued his established roles in Rocky Balboa (2006) and Rambo (2008) before launching The Expendables film franchise (2010–present), in which he starred as the mercenary Barney Ross. In 2013, he starred in the successful film Escape Plan and appeared in its sequels. In 2015, he returned to Rocky again with Creed, in which a retired Rocky mentors former rival Apollo Creed's son Donnie Creed. The film brought Stallone widespread praise and his first Golden Globe Award, as well as a third Academy Award nomination, having been first nominated for the same role forty years prior. Since 2022, he has starred in the Paramount+ crime series Tulsa King.

The series makes for fun viewing while bringing an earlier time alive as well as selling the American dream of being anything you want if you put your mind to it. The series is absolutely one of the better documentaries on Netflix that explore the life of one of the most successful action heroes of all time and does so in a way that's creative and inspiring. Stallone's unwavering determination and ability to manifest his dreams through a unique open mindedness are undeniably awe-inspiring, but the series is not without its flaws. No matter how well you know this man’s story, it’s a special kind of joy to have him retell it, given how incredibly magnetic and charming his screen presence is to this day.

Simon says Sly receives:

Also, see my review for Bruce Springsteen's Letter to You.

Film Review: "Yellow Door: '90s Lo-fi Film Club" (2023).

Before the renaissance of Korean cinema, there was the film club, Yellow Door. Thirty years later, the story behind director Bong Joon Ho's first short film and Korea's first cinephile generation. This is Yellow Door: '90s Lo-fi Film Club. This documentary film directed by Lee Hyuk-rae. This intimate documentary explores a bygone era of cinematic passion and the emergence of young film enthusiasts in South Korea, including Bong Joon-ho.

On September 14, 1969, South Korean film director, producer and screenwriter, Bong Joon-ho (봉준호) was born. His filmography is characterised by emphasis on social and class themes, genre-mixing, black humor, and sudden tone shifts. He first became known to audiences and achieved a cult following with his directorial debut film, the black comedy Barking Dogs Never Bite (플란다스의 개) (2000), before achieving both critical and commercial success with his subsequent films: the crime thriller Memories of Murder (살인의 추억) (2003), the monster film The Host (괴물) (2006), the science fiction action film Snowpiercer (설국열차) (2013), which served as Bong's English language debut, and the near-universally acclaimed black comedy thriller Parasite (기생충) (2019), all of which are among the highest-grossing films in South Korea, with Parasite also being the highest-grossing South Korean film in history. All of Bong's films have been South Korean productions, although both Snowpiercer and Okja (옥자) (2017) are mostly in the English language. Two of his films have screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival—Okja in 2017 and Parasite in 2019; the latter earned the Palme d'Or, which was a first for a South Korean film. Parasite also became the first South Korean film to receive Academy Award nominations, with Bong winning Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay, making Parasite the first film in the award's history not in English to win Best Picture. In 2017, Bong was included on Metacritic's list of the 25 best film directors of the 21st century. In 2020, Bong was included in Time's annual list of 100 Most Influential People and Bloomberg 50.

What makes the film really work is the even tone with which it treats its subjects. The club and its members are never ridiculed nor are they held up as a grand artistic achievement and movement. The film is less an ode to Bong Jong-ho than a long form exploration of the fantastical manifestation of the inner lives of the members of Yellow Door. This is a remarkable story, certainly most entertaining for fans of Bong Joon-ho and South Korean cinema. Still, it's fascinating to watch the archival footage of the members in their youth and the interviews of the members now. The joy of the film is the ingenuity with which the kids face filmmaking challenges, from finding and transcribing film text books to creating a library of VHS tapes of their favourite films.

Simon says Yellow Door: '90s Lo-fi Film Club receives:

Film Review: "Dumb Money" (2023).

"When Wall Street rigged the game, he changed it." This is Dumb Money. This biographical comedy-drama film directed by Craig Gillespie, written by Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, and based on the 2021 book The Antisocial Network by Ben Mezrich. The film is the ultimate David vs. Goliath tale, based on the insane true story of everyday people who flipped the script on Wall Street and got rich by turning GameStop (yes, the mall videogame store) into the world’s hottest company. In the middle of everything is regular guy Keith Gill, who starts it all by sinking his life savings into the stock and posting about it. When his social posts start blowing up, so does his life and the lives of everyone following him. As a stock tip becomes a movement, everyone gets rich – until the billionaires fight back, and both sides find their worlds turned upside down.

In January 2021, it was announced that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM) had bought the rights to Mezrich's book proposal about the then-recent GameStop short squeeze. In May, Blum and Angelo were hired to pen the script. In April 2022, Gillespie was hired to direct, with the intention of filming to start later that year around summer or fall. In September, it was announced that the film was retitled to Dumb Money, and production was set to commence in October, with MGM dropping out, while Black Bear Pictures acquired financing and sought buyers at the annual Toronto International Film Festival. In October, Sony Pictures bought the domestic and select international distribution rights to the film for $20 million. By October, Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Vincent D'Onofrio, America Ferrera, Nick Offerman, Anthony Ramos, Sebastian Stan, Shailene Woodley, Seth Rogen, Dane DeHaan, Clancy Brown, Kate Burton, and Olivia Thirlby were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in November. Filming took place throughout New Jersey.

The film stars Dano, Davidson, D'Onofrio, Ferrera, Offerman, Ramos, Stan, Woodley, Rogen, DeHaan, Brown, Burton, and Thirlby. Even a talented cast cannot make this labyrinthine topic fully understandable unless the viewer is already modestly familiar with the subject matter. The standout, however, is Paul Dano's righteously angry Keith Gill. Dano was primarily known as both a comedic and dramatic actor, but he's been moving back and forth between the two for a while now.

Trying to keep up with all of the fast market talk and financial blather wore me down. And there’s so much emphasis on it that the movie comes off as overstuffed and missing the human element which would have given it a more powerful punch. There isn't a sense of winning or losing - merely weathering the periods of time when the villainy of giant corporations and the righteousness of average joes are at their most extreme. Smart, funny, scary, ingeniously populated and a rollicking good time, the film was such a left-field bolt from the blue and an enormously entertaining few hours in the cinema.

Simon says Dumb Money receives:

Also, see my review for Cruella.

Film Review: "Pain Hustlers" (2023).

"An American excess story." This is Pain Hustlers. This crime drama film directed by David Yates, written by Wells Tower, and based on the 2022 book The Hard Sell by Evan Hughes. Dreaming of a better life for her and her young daughter, Liza lands a job from Pete at a failing pharma start-up, where Liza’s charm, drive, and guts catapult her into the high life and the company into the center of a criminal conspiracy with dire consequences.

In August 2021, Sony Pictures announced the development of an adaptation of Hughes’ New York Times Magazine article, The Pain Hustlers from May 2, 2018 and his subsequent book released in January 2022, to be directed by Yates and penned by Tower. In May 2022, Netflix acquired the film, which was titled Pain Hustlers, in a deal worth at least $50 million. By late August, Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Catherine O'Hara, Andy García, Jay Duplass, Brian d'Arcy James, and Chloe Coleman were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late October. Filming took place in Central Florida, as well as Atlanta, and Savannah, Georgia, USA.

The film stars Blunt, Evans, O'Hara, García, Duplass, James, and Coleman. Blunt lives it up like the queen of lies and swaggers into a staggering performance. Blunt and Evans make an oddly perfect on-screen duo, as their dryly humorous performances throw contrast to the film's real comedic bread and butter, all of the eccentricities flying around them. Evans is a marvellous fit for the role, and his slimy charisma could charm even the steeliest of souls. It made me not love but utterly loathe Liza - a moral victory, perhaps, but also something of a problem, because a character who is simply detestable rapidly becomes uninteresting.

The film depicts an intriguing and marvelously loathsome human beast in its natural setting, where the verdict on its judgment lies in the hands of its audience. The film doesn't want to be lovable. It just wants to remind you how excessive greed can get and catch you being entertained by it. You can't target excessiveness to hate without being excessive in its depiction. The weakest of the director of the final four Harry Potter films. There's little here that expands on corporate raider Gordon Gekko's mantra that "Greed ... is good." This is a fantastic exploration of greed, money, and a truly flawed character that spent much of the 2010s on a jaw-dropping but pernicious thrill-ride. Movies shouldn't provide moral instruction but the best incorporate competing philosophies. Unfortunately, there is no one Yates can bring himself to be quite as interested in as Liza. For me the film is somehow less than the sum of its parts, with no palpable sense that these men are doing anything more contemptible than living life to the full. The result is the indulgent treatment of an overindulgent character that feels more Penthouse Forum fantasy than morality tale. Perhaps that's precisely the point.

Simon says Pain Hustlers receives:

Also, see my review for Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.

Film Review: "The Killer" (2023).

"Execution is everything" in The Killer. This neo-noir action thriller film directed by David Fincher, adapted by Andrew Kevin Walker, and based on the French graphic novel series of the same title by Alexis "Matz" Nolent. After a fateful near-miss, an assassin battles his employers and himself on an international manhunt he insists isn't personal.

In November 2007, it was reported that Fincher would be directing an adaptation of the Matz's French comic book series, with Allesandro Camon penning the adaptation. The film been a passion project for Fincher for nearly twenty years. Fincher was considering numerous projects for his follow-up to Mank (2020). However, it wasn't until he met with Michael Fassbender and they had several meetings together about this project. After having many in-depth discussions and seeing how committed Fassbender was in doing it, Fincher decided to make the film. By February 2021, Fincher had taken the project to Netflix, where he had signed an overall four-year deal, with Walker now penning the adaptation and Fassbender attached to star in the lead role. This is the second collaboration between Fincher and Walker following Se7en (1995). However, Walker did uncredited writing for Fincher's The Game (1997) and Fight Club (1999). By June, it was reported that Fincher was planning to begin filming in November 2021. By early November, Charles Parnell, Sala Baker, Tilda Swinton, and Arliss Howard rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in late March 2022. Filming took place throughout Illinois, U.S.A. and Dominican Republic, as well as Los Angeles, California; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Paris, France. In February 2023, it was reported that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were hired to compose the film's score. In September, it was confirmed that the soundtrack will feature songs from English rock band The Smiths.

The film stars Fassbender, Parnell, Baker, Swinton, and Howard. Fassbender is the coolest killer to hit the screen since Alain Delon, a neo noir loner for the post modern era, in Fincher's austere neo-noir action thriller. Fassbender, who may be attacked by some narrow-minded reviewers for being stiff, is perfectly cast here, displaying a cool, calm demeanor at first, then an equally calm desperation as his mission gets more personal.

One can't expect less from a film that has been sintered by dozens. But there's something about the contemporary world that hypnotizes the viewer, few protagonists in the history of cinema have the presence of Fassbender. An absolute must-see. Minimal and breathtaking, Fincher's new film features an icy and smoldering lead performance from one of the coolest human beings to ever grace the big screen: Michael Fassbender. Working with and against genre conventions, Fincher's movies are hushed, dark abstractions of space and gesture, restrained, refined, a palette reduced to essential colors and compositions. Fincher is much more interested in procedures than action. The film is so stripped down that we learn as much as we need to know about Fassbender's titular character in the film's first five minutes.

Simon says The Killer receives:

Also, see my review for Mank.

Film Review: "Killers of the Flower Moon" (2023).

"Based on a true American story." This is Killers of the Flower Moon. This epic Western crime drama film directed by Martin Scorsese, adapted by Scorsese and Eric Roth, and based on the 2017 book of the same title by David Grann. At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart and Mollie Kyle, the film is an epic western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal. 

In early March 2016, Imperative Entertainment won the bidding war to make a film adaptation of Grann's nonfiction book of the same title and paid $5 million. In April 2017, it was revealed that Scorsese, Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro were attached to the film, with the adaptation penned by Roth. The film would mark the sixth feature film collaboration between Scorsese and DiCaprio and the tenth between Scorsese and De Niro, as well as the first collaboration for all three together. Scorsese said that when he read Grann's book he knew that he had to make it into a movie. In July, production designer Dante Ferretti revealed that filming would begin in early 2018. However, until October 2018, production stalled when it was announced that the film would be Scorsese's next effort after completing The Irishman (2019). At that point, filming was due to begin in summer 2019. In June 2019, it was announced that Paramount Pictures would distribute the film. In late July, Scorsese traveled to the Osage Nation in Pawhuska, Oklahoma to meet with Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear for several hours to discuss how the Osage Nation could be involved with the film's production. In December, Scorsese's cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto confirmed that the film was expected to start principal photography in March 2020. In April 2020, it was announced that the filming of the film had been postponed indefinitely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Scorsese had reached out to Netflix and Apple TV+ to finance and distribute the film, as Paramount had concerns about the film's budget reaching $200 million. Paramount was still open to a deal to be involved with the film alongside an additional partner. In May 2020, Apple TV+ was announced to co-finance and co-distribute the film, with Paramount remaining as distributor. By late April 2021, Lily Gladstone, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, John Lithgow, Brendan Fraser, Louis Cancelmi, Scott Shepherd, Sturgill Simpson, Gary Basaraba, Pat Healy, Elden Henson, Katherine Willis, Gene Jones, and Larry Fessenden rounded out the film's cast. Though the role of Tom White, the lead BOI agent, was initially written for DiCaprio, DiCaprio pushed to instead portray the nephew of the film's primary antagonist played by De Niro. As a result, it was reported that Plemons was cast as White to replace DiCaprio, while DiCaprio was cast as Burkhart. Gladstone was in the process of registering for a data analytics course and entering her credit card information when a Gmail notification alerted her to a request for a Zoom meeting with Scorsese. As this was during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gladstone was considering a career change due to a dry spell. According to DiCaprio, "There was no reading. Marty just instinctively knew Lily was the one. There was a truthfulness in [her] eyes that he saw even over a computer screen. I've never known [Scorsese] meet somebody and then immediately afterwards have this gravitational pull and instinct to say, 'Let's not wait another minute.'"

At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in earl October. Filming took place in Osage County and Washington County, namely Pawhuska, Fairfax and Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Filming was originally expected to begin in February 2021. In a news release before the beginning of filming, Scorsese said: "We are thrilled to finally start production on Killers of the Flower Moon in Oklahoma. To be able to tell this story on the land where these events took place is incredibly important and critical to allowing us to portray an accurate depiction of the time and people. We're grateful to Apple, the Oklahoma Film and Music Office and The Osage Nation, especially all our Osage consultants and cultural advisors, as we prepare for this shoot. We're excited to start working with our local cast and crew to bring this story to life on screen and immortalize a time in American history that should not be forgotten." In mid May, De Niro suffered a quadriceps muscle injury off-set and returned to New York City for medical attention; production was not delayed, as De Niro's subsequent scenes would be filmed in June 2021. In late March 2022, Osage Nation Principal Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear told the Tulsa Press Club "he was advised Killers of the Flower Moon is tentatively slated to film additional scenes of a traditional community dance in mid-May in Osage County." In January 2023, Gladstone said that the input of the Osage Nation greatly changed the film from what Scorsese had originally envisioned and that their collaboration had positively affected the film, stating in an interview at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival that "The work is better when you let the world inform your work". The film would mark the final completed film score of requent Scorsese collaborator Robbie Robertson of the Band before he passed away in August 2023. The film was originally set to open in select theaters on a October 6, 2023 release date, before going wide on October 20, 2023, by Apple TV+ (under their Apple Original Films label) and Paramount Pictures. However, the limited release was later scrapped, with the film set to receive a global theatrical rollout on October 20.

DiCaprio, De Niro and Gladstone, all three of them the finest actors of their generation, do prevail against the relentless scale and movement of the production.

Scorsese's film is an unforgettable work full of heartfelt sincerity and pointed commentary about America's bloody history of hypocrisy, greed, and racism.

Simon says Killers of the Flower Moon receives:

Also. see my review for The Irishman.

Film Review: "The Devil on Trial" (2023).

"Did the devil do it?" This is The Devil on Trial. This crime documentary film written and directed by Chris Holt. The film explores the first – and only – time "demonic possession" has officially been used as a defense in a U.S. murder trial. Including firsthand accounts of alleged devil possession and a shocking murder, this extraordinary story forces reflection on our fear of the unknown.

On November 24, 1981, Arne Cheyenne Johnson was convicted of first-degree manslaughter for the killing of his landlord, Alan Bono, in Brookfield, Connecticut. According to testimony by the Glatzel family, eight-year-old David Glatzel allegedly had played host to a demon. After witnessing a number of increasingly ominous occurrences involving David, his family, exhausted and terrified, decided to enlist the aid of Ed and Lorraine Warren in a last-ditch effort to "cure" the child. The Glatzel family, along with the Warrens, then proceeded to have multiple priests petition the Catholic Church to have a formal exorcism performed on David. The process continued for several days, concluding when, according to those present, a demon fled the child's body and took up residence within Johnson. These events were documented in the book The Devil In Connecticut by Gerald Brittle. Several months later, Johnson killed his landlord during a party. Johnson's trial, also known as the "Devil Made Me Do It" case, is the first known court case in the United States in which the defense sought to prove innocence based upon the claim of demonic possession and denial of personal responsibility for the crime. His defense lawyer argued in court that he was possessed, but the judge ruled that such a defense could never be proven and was therefore infeasible in a court of law. Johnson was subsequently convicted, though he served only five years of a ten to twenty-year sentence. The trial attracted media attention from around the world and has obtained a level of notoriety due to numerous depictions of the events in literature and television.

The film is sparse on deep diving into the details, but if anything, it chronicles a family broken by a shared experience and a person who is no longer here in connection to it. The first half gives a lot history that’s necessary for the story to make sense, but it isn’t presented in an interesting or refreshing way, while the second half that gives the film its title leaves way too much on the table to be satisfying. Instead of challenging assumptions, exploring implications or discussing the difficult questions here, Holt merely mines the material for superficial shock value and lurid titillation. For a family that has long been excluded from the overall discussion and whose adolescent years continue to be capitalized on by others, the film rights a wrong by allowing them to reclaim their narrative. The film delivers a fairly interesting look at a bizarre murder case that made headlines for being tied up in occult claims of possession.

Simon says The Devil on Trial receives:

Series Review: "The Fall of the House of Usher" (2023).

"The creator of The Haunting of Hill House" comes The Fall of the House of Usher. This gothic horror drama miniseries created by Mike Flanagan, and loosely based on the short story of the same title and other works by Edgar Allan Poe. Ruthless siblings Roderick and Madeline Usher have built Fortunato Pharmaceuticals into an empire of wealth, privilege and power. But past secrets come to light when the heirs to the Usher dynasty start dying at the hands of a mysterious woman from their youth.

In October 2021, Netflix announced that Flanagan was developing a new miniseries based on Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher and other works. By late January 2022, Carla Gugino, Frank Langella, Zach Gilford, Mary McDonnell, Willa Fitzgerald, Lulu Wilson, Carl Lumbly, Malcolm Goodwin, Samantha Sloyan, T'Nia Miller, Rahul Kohli, Kate Siegel, Michael Trucco, Henry Thomas, and Mark Hamill were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and wrapped in early July. Filming took place at The Bridge Studios in Burnaby, as well as Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. In April, Langella was fired from the series after a misconduct investigation, with his role set to be recast. By the end of the month, Bruce Greenwood was cast to replace Langella.

The series stars Gugino, Greenwood, Gilford, McDonnell, Fitzgerald, Wilson, Lumbly, Goodwin, Sloyan, Miller, Kohli, Siegel, Trucco, Thomas, and Hamill. If we didn't care so much about these characters-even the ones who do terrible things and then continue to be terrible - the series wouldn't be as moving and suspenseful as it is throughout. The most interesting characters are not just the Usher family members but also Dupin (Lumbly), Pym (Tamil), and Verna (Gugino).

The series is, as Flora from The Haunting of Bly Manor would say, perfectly splendid. It's not a ghost story, but, unambiguously, a terrifying story of karma. It's also a tale about greed and power that powerful people possess and abuse. The series is more of a slow burn than its predecessor but, like its predecessor, there's plenty to gleefully enjoy, especially if you love gothic stories. The series is a haunting familial horror story (in the most literary and dark sense of the word) that stays with you after it's finished. I expect we will be seeing the fifth Netflix series from Flanagan before long and I hope it is as distinct from the first four shows. This is absolutely a ghost story but will redefine what we consider horror in the best way. Do not go into this series expecting the same haunted house thrill ride we got with Hill House and Bly Manor, this tale is more a haunting and poetic gothic tragedy, one that had tears streaming down my face by its terrifying final moments. Even though it doesn't reach the heights of Hill House and Bly Manor, the series is still a grim and entertaining ghost tale with a talented cast, grat direction and flawless aesthetics.

Simon says The Fall of the House of Usher receives:

Also, see my review for The Midnight Club.

Film Review: "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial" (2023).

From the director of The Exorcist and Killer Joe comes The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial. This legal drama film adapted and directed by William Friedkin, his final cinematic effort, and based on Herman Wouk's 1953 play of the same title and 1952 novel The Caine Mutiny. Barney Greenwald, a skeptical lawyer, reluctantly defends an officer of the navy who took control of the Caine from its captain, Lt. Philip Francis Queeg, while caught in a violent sea storm. As the court-martial proceeds, however, Greenwald increasingly questions if it was truly a mutiny or rather the courageous acts of a group of sailors who could not trust their unstable leader.

In September 2021, Friedkin announced plans to develop an adaptation of Wouk's play and novel, and that he was beginning the process of casting the film. In August 2022, Deadline Hollywood officially reported that a new adaptation of Wouk's novel, adapted and directed by Friedkin, was in the works for Paramount Global Content Distribution and Showtime Networks. Kiefer Sutherland was attached to star, with Friedkin having altered Wouk's script himself to reflect a more modern timeline, setting it in the Persian Gulf, as opposed to the original's World War II setting. By January 2023, Jason Clarke, Jake Lacy, Monica Raymund, Lance Reddick, Lewis Pullman, Jay Duplass, and Dale Dye rounded out the film's cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced. Friedkin was given fifteen days to complete the shooting. He had finished shooting at the fourteenth day. According to Del Toro himself, he served as back-up director on the film for liability reasons, due to Friedkin's age, and had sat beside him every day during the shoot. Since the production had been operating on a tight schedule, Friedkin expected that everyone come to the set prepared so as to avoid doing any retakes. Rather than scold a particular actor who stumbled over a crucial line several times, Friedkin instead asked, "You wanna do it in an hour or so? Or we pick it up tomorrow?" On March 17, Reddick passed away and, on August 7, Friedkin passed away. On September 3, 2023, the film had its world premiere at the 80th Venice International Film Festival where it screened out of competition.

The film stars Sutherland, Clarke, Lacy, Raymund, Reddick, Pullman, Duplass, and Dye. The cast and Sutherland’s performances in the climactic scene was so powerful.

Despite its brief running time, it’s a fine exploration of how men who are trapped aboard a military vessel with an increasingly unhinged leader deal with their situation. It’s an absolute joy to watch. Although toned down in comparison with the book and the play, Wouk's seagoing drama is still a compelling thing in Friedkin's (sadly) final directorial effort. This courtroom drama, an adaptation of Wouk's novel and play, features Sutherland in one of his most intense and neurotic performances. A classic wartime drama / courtroom gripper that I'm ashamed to admit I'd never seen before last week. And now that I have, I'm a fan.

Simon says The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial receives:

Also, see my review for The Devil and Father Amorth.

Film Review: "The Exorcist: Believer" (2023).

From the director of Halloween Ends comes The Exorcist: Believer. This supernatural horror film directed by David Gordon Green, written by Green and Peter Sattler, and based on the characters created by William Peter Blatty. The sixth installment in The Exorcist franchise, it serves as a direct sequel to The Exorcist (1973). Since the death of his pregnant wife in a Haitian earthquake twelve years ago, Victor Fielding has raised their daughter, Angela on his own. But when Angela and her friend Katherine, disappear in the woods, only to return three days later with no memory of what happened to them, it unleashes a chain of events that will force Victor to confront the nadir of evil and, in his terror and desperation, seek out the only person alive who has witnessed anything like it before: Chris MacNeil. An actress who has been forever altered by what happened to her daughter Regan five decades before.

In August 2020, it was reported that Morgan Creek Entertainment would be producing a new installment in The Exorcist franchise. A tentative theatrical release window of 2021 was planned by the studio. In December 2020, it was clarified that the project in development would be a sequel to the original film, with Green hired to direct and Blumhouse Productions producing. In July 2021, it was reported that a trilogy of sequels were concurrently in development with Green hired to direct the first of the new installments, from a script he penned with Peter Sattler, from an original story from him, Scott Teems and Danny McBride. The projects are joint-venture productions between Blumhouse and Morgan Creek with Universal Pictures distributing. Universal collaborated with Peacock to purchase distribution rights for $400 million total. Parts two and three of the trilogy were optioned as potential Peacock exclusive films. By October 2021, Green expressed his intentions to direct all three films, with script outlines completed for the latter two films that he co-wrote with Sattler. Prior to acquiring the series' rights from Morgan Creek, the writing team and Blum spent early 2020 devising the story over Zoom. By October 2022, Leslie Odom Jr., Ann Dowd, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, Lidya Jewett, and Olivia Marcum were cast with Ellen Burstyn reprising her role. Burstyn had turned down reprising her role and was then offered double the salary. She eventually accepted, using the salary to fund an MFA scholarship for actors at Pace University where the Actors Studio teaches the program. Burstyn is a lifelong member of the Actors Studio and a co-president. At the same time, with a budget of $30 million, principal photography commenced and wrapped in February 2023. Filming took place in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia. The film was set for an October 13 release date, before being moved up a week earlier.

The performances pretty much lives up to the direction, writing, and acting -- it's all annoying. Thus, makes the film about as scary as a June wedding.

The material's bizarrely retconned conceptualization, absurd twists, and overall fanfiction quality are self-consciously clever, distractingly so.

Simon says The Exorcist: Believer receives:

Also, see my review for Halloween Ends.

Film Review: "Race to the Summit" ("Duell am Abgrund") (2023).

From Netflix and Germany comes Race to the Summit (Duell am Abgrund). This Germany documentary film directed by Nicholas de Taranto and Götz Werner. Fearless alpine climbers Ueli Steck and Dani Arnold enter into a daring rivalry to set speed records on the great north faces of the Alps.

On October 4, 1976, the Swiss rock climber and alpinist, Ueli Steck, was born. He was the first to climb Annapurna solo via its South Face (though this is disputed by some), and set speed records on the North Face trilogy in the Alps. In 2009 and 2014, he won two Piolet d'Or awards. Having previously summitted Mount Everest, Steck died on April 30, 2017 after falling during an acclimatizing climb for an attempt on the Hornbein route on the West Ridge of Everest without supplemental oxygen.

On February 22, 1984, Swiss extreme mountaineer, Dani Arnold, was born. He is famous for his fast climbs, holding speed records on several routes including the Matterhorn in Switzerland and the Cima Grande di Lavaredo in Italy.

Sometimes, a blur is the best way to convey the mechanics of motion. Sometimes, physical momentum is the only way to express emotional stillness. The best outdoor documentaries can thrill you like you've been on the mountain yourself, without having to leave the comfort of your own couch, and the film does just that. The film shows us the teamwork, the dedication, the national pride, the astonishing vistas, and the reason that Steck and Arnold deserve to be as renowned as Sir Edmund Hillary, maybe more. This is an unforgettable documentary about a free-spirited nonconformist who lived his life to its fullest while engaged in the extreme dangers of free solo mountain climbing. It's an intriguing insight into a particular kind of obsessive drive, and a portrait of a man who, as one of his contemporaries remarked, feels almost too comfortable on the side of a mountain. By raising questions not only about our fascination with these climbers, but also about their pursuit of life-threatening challenges, the film reaches new heights. Steck and Arnold's stories go in a slightly different, somewhat unexpected direction. The film-makers' enthusiasm for their clarity of purpose is all well and good, but it does leave the film prone to hyperbole. The film is an interesting balancing act between giving the subject the space he requires and capturing some of the boldest climbs in history. The filmmaker clearly finds catharsis in telling his own story, but moviegoers will discover value, too, in this poignant glimpse into the allure of danger, and the grief that can be left behind. If there's a bit of slick corporate impersonality to the Netflix packaging, the content remains involving, and the swift editorial pace has no lulls to risk losing viewer attention. When de Taranto and Werner used a camera to capture Steck and Arnold's remarkable feats, there's something poetic about them employing it once more for what seems impossible.

Simon says Race to the Summit (Duell am Abgrund) receives:

Series Review: "Beckham" (2023).

From the director of Palmer comes Beckham. This documentary film directed by Fisher Stevens. With never-before-seen footage, this docuseries follows David Beckham's meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom.

On May 2, 1975, English former professional footballer, David Robert Joseph Beckham was born. Known for his range of passing, crossing ability and bending free-kicks as a right winger, Beckham has been hailed as one of the greatest and most recognisable midfielders of his generation, as well as one of the best set-piece specialists of all time. Due to his talent and achievements for both club and country, Beckham is additionally lauded as one of the greatest Manchester United footballers of all time, as well as one of the best English players in the history of the sport. He is the first English player to win league titles in four countries: England, Spain, the United States and France. In 1992, at age seventeen, Beckham's professional club career began with Manchester United, where he made his first-team debut. In 1999, with United, he won the Premier League title six times, the FA Cup twice and the UEFA Champions League. He then played four seasons with Real Madrid, winning the La Liga championship in his final season with the club. In July 2007, Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy. While a Galaxy player, he spent two loan spells in Italy with AC Milan in 2009 and 2010. He was the first British footballer to play 100 UEFA Champions League games. In May 2013, he retired after a twenty-year career, during which he won nineteen major trophies. In international football, Beckham made his England debut on September 1, 1996, at the age of twenty-one. He was captain for six years, earning fifty-eight caps during his tenure. He made one-hundred and fifteen career appearances in total, appearing at three FIFA World Cup tournaments, in 1998, 2002 and 2006 and two UEFA European Championship tournaments, in 2000 and 2004. Until 2016, he held the England appearance record for an outfield player. A global ambassador of football, Beckham is considered to be a British cultural icon. In 1999, he was runner-up in the Ballon d'Or, twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year (1999 and 2001) and in 2004 was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. In 2008, he was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame, and the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021. Since 2005, he has been a UNICEF ambassador since, and in 2015 he launched 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund. Beckham has consistently ranked among the highest earners in football, and in 2013 was listed as the highest-paid player in the world, having earned over $50 million in the previous twelve months. In 2014, MLS announced that Beckham and a group of investors would own Inter Miami, which began playing in 2020.

It’s vastly entertaining, taking you into the very fascinating world of Beckham's world, family and friends and even the tumultuous ups and downs of the football star's career and personal life.

Simon says Beckham receives:

Also, see my review for Palmer.