The Holdovers (2023)

The Holdovers (2023)

 8/10

 

Starring

Paul Giamatti

Da'Vine Joy Randolph

Dominic Sessa

 

Directed by Alexander Payne

 

No pandering can be found in the plot, just a little slice of life glazed with just the right amount of comedic tonic, making this comedic drama, The Holdovers, an enjoyable masterpiece. I enjoyed how well the acting in this movie draws you into their lives, and you wish you could reach into the screen and hug them.

The story is well written to make you feel you’ve got the plot figured out as the movie develops, then it takes a turn. A helicopter arrives, and we are left with the three leads. The plot pulls you into the story of three different people, but balances the plot to ensure you get enough fun and drama from their stories and struggles. It does not wave a Hollywood magic wand at the end, where everyone gets the ending we all wish for. Instead, it ends and lets you decide how you think it is going to play out for each of the characters.

This movie’s key power is not just the story, but the acting is also magnificent. Paul Giamatti is clearly having the best time of his life as an actor, doing all the movies he wants, in the way he wants.

Set in the 70s, the movie explores the intertwined lives of three people in a private boarding school. Giamatti’s character, Paul, is a strict teacher disliked by both students and teachers in the school. During the Christmas break, he is left to care for five students whose parents cannot accommodate them for the holidays. Helping him is Mary, the cafeteria manager and a bereaved mother, whom Paul is fond of.

The three characters whose lives become entwined are Paul, Mary, and Tully. Tully is left behind at school because his mother wants to go on a honeymoon with her second husband.

Together, the three find a way to bond over their differences, challenges, and unfortunate situations as they spend Christmas and New Year’s together.

The movie received five nominations at the 96th Academy Awards and was listed among the top ten movies of 2023 by the American Film Institute. You will enjoy this movie very much, as it will not give you the sense that you can guess how it will end from the way it starts. At the very end, after all the bonding, you can piece together what the characters might do next, but the joy lies in the journey of watching this movie.

The Fall Guy (2024)

The Fall Guy (2024)

 

7/10

Starring

Ryan Gosling

Emily Blunt

Aaron Taylor-Johnson

Hannah Waddingham

 

Directed by David Leitch

 

It has been a while since I saw a movie that had nothing to do with politics, pop culture, or trying to stay woke. This movie is pure action/comedy with just the right dose of romance to ensure it isn’t an all-out macho show. If you're looking for something logical or realistic, then I’m sorry you’re sitting in the wrong cinema seat. This movie was made purely for enjoyment. Out of nowhere, the main character gains fighting skills, can withstand injuries and drugs, all to foil the “bad guys’” plans.

The movie boasts amazing explosions, stunts, scenery, and acting that will make you feel like you’re back in the 90s, reliving the action movies of that era.

The plot follows Colt (Ryan Gosling), a stuntman who has built a reputation as a talented performer behind the scenes. He works as the stunt double for Tom Ryder (Aaron Taylor-Johnson), a wealthy and famous actor. While working on a film with his girlfriend, camerawoman Jody (Emily Blunt), an accident leaves Colt severely injured.

He falls into a dark place, abandoning the stunt world and Jody for eighteen months.

Now working as a valet, Colt gets a call that Jody has landed her first big break as a director and has asked for him to be part of her project. He hasn’t spoken to Jody since the accident, and the idea of working with her again prompts him to accept. Upon arriving, Colt learns that Jody doesn’t know he’s there and never requested him. Producer Gail (Hannah Waddingham) lied to bring him on board. She reveals that Tom has gone missing, and without him, Jody won’t be able to finish the film. Gail convinces Colt that, as someone who knows Tom well, he’s the best person to find him. Keeping this under wraps is crucial to prevent the studio from shutting down production. This guilt-tripping by Gail worked on Colt and instead of being smart and speaking with Judy first, he decided to jump on the wagon to find Tom.

His search for Tom plunges him into a dark web, leading to a murder he didn’t commit and forcing him to go on the run.

It’s an amazing movie, the acting is fantastic and the way the story is laid out for us to see is also fun. The only thing is the movie didn’t stay in theatres long enough for more people to see it. Thankfully, it’s now available for streaming.

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare (2024)

 

7/10

Starring

Henry Cavill

Eiza González

Alan Ritchson

Alex Pettyfer

Hero Fiennes Tiffin

Babs Olusanmokun

Henry Golding

Cary Elwes

 

Directed by Guy Ritchie

 

I, for one, am happy and fortunate not to have lived through the Second World War. The tragedy and unbelievable events that occurred during the war form the basis of many movies and heroic film characters we see today.

Even though war and violence still persist, with even more unspeakable acts being committed, I consider myself fortunate not to have directly witnessed them (only through TV and the internet). It remains deeply sad that such atrocities continue.

This film tells the tale of Gus March-Phillipps and his team, who were sent on a mission that played a part in helping Europe defeat Hitler. It is based on Churchill's Secret Warriors: The Explosive True Story of the Special Forces Desperadoes of WWII.

The way Guy Ritchie crafted this film is what I love about it. There’s an intensity that comes from the team striving to achieve something seemingly impossible, coupled with the fear of what might happen to any one of them. I intentionally distanced myself from the story to focus on the entertainment aspect, not worrying about which characters were real or fictional. It was worth it. The film’s well-crafted dialogue made it easy to follow the plot. The visuals also added to the experience, as the scenes conveyed additional subtext and character development alongside the dialogue.

The plot revolves around how British intelligence persuaded the Americans to join the Allies during World War II. German U-boats were preventing American ships from reaching Europe. To counter this, the British devised a plan to sink the U-boats by targeting their supply ship, which was docked in a neutral region. Since the area was neutral in the war, bombing it was not an option. Gus March-Phillipps and his team were tasked with destroying the supply ship. Operating on neutral soil meant they couldn’t be linked to the British government, they were entirely on their own. The film depicts their planning, failures, and improvisations, highlighting the political stakes and showing how the success of the war hinged on their mission.

With a moderate budget, it’s surprising that this film isn’t raking in millions at the box office. However, it will likely appear on streaming platforms soon, and I encourage you to watch it, it’s worth your time.

It’s easy to imagine how busy Winston Churchill must have been during the war, given all the events we’ve read about or seen in movies. Similarly, the Germans, as portrayed in many World War II books and films, must have been highly technologically advanced and well-prepared. Without worldwide efforts like this one, the war might have ended differently.