Starring: Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe, Ed Norton, Kate Hudson, Katherine Hahn, Dave Bautista, Madelyn Cline, and Leslie Odom Jr.

Director: Rian Johnson

Plot: 7.5/10

This plot followed the cookie-cutter format of most Hollywood movies. And I liked it. It’s refreshing to watch a movie that isn’t trying to create a new earth-shattering form of filmmaking. But, the storyline was a bit more predictable than Knives Out. In Knives Out, they had a great ending where Benoit Blanc unravels the whole mystery for the audience, but in Glass Onion the mystery was being solved throughout the movie so the ending was not as surprising. I think they should have added another crazy turn to offset the audience. The biggest surprise of this movie was how not surprising it was. But, I liked how different and complex each of the characters was.

Acting: 8.5/10

The cast of this movie was pretty phenomenal for such a small group. I thought that Kate Hudson, Kathryn Hahn, and Janelle Monáe had the best performances and that Leslie Odom Jr. fell short. I had never heard of Ed Norton since I have never watched Fight Club, but I thought he perfectly fit the mold of a clueless rich guy who can scam other clueless rich people. While Dave Bautista did continue his streak of playing a dumb meat head I am excited to learn that he is will be branching into more dramatic roles because he has great potential.

Set/Costumes: 9/10

I thought the costuming fit each character’s personality very well and mostly included extravagant and bold designs/colors. The island and house featured the most outlandish decor and art, which makes sense for the character of Myles Bron because he had recently come into a lot of money. This symbolized that money cannot buy taste and style.

Score: 7/10

Honestly, I did need to look up a recording of the score in order to rejudge it because it was not the most memorable music. But after re-listening, I realized the music complements the movie very well. It centralizes the classical piano sound and is used throughout the movie. It is very versatile for different situations and doesn’t feel redundant.

Overall: 8/10 (Paige Approved)

With the recent heavy rains and flooding, this movie is perfect to watch on your couch with friends and family. Although Netflix has been mass dumping a lot of content, most of it rancid garbage, there are always some wins. This movie is satisfying, not too dark, and fun for all ages.

Dear Movie Snobs:

Prior to watching Glass Onion, I was given MULTIPLE warnings to not watch this movie. They claimed the movie was too predictable and wasn’t original. After watching and seeing no major issues with the movie, I was able to recognize that those people are snobs and wannabe intellectuals. Everyone loves to bash classic concepts because lately it has been a trend for people to assume a movie is good when they are left utterly confused. But, I am glad that I now have the skill of being able to see through these people and take their input with a grain of salt. We need to protect all types of movies and allow people to form opinions on their own.

Starring: Florence Pugh, Harry Styles, Gemma Chan, Nick Kroll, Olivia Wilde, and Chris Pine

Director: Olivia Wilde

Plot: 8/10

This mild thriller follows a 1950s housewife, Alice (Florence Pugh), as she notices her life is not as “perfect” as it seems. She tackles flashbacks, manic episodes, and warnings from a neighbor, all while being invalidated by her friends and husband, Jack (Harry Styles). This metaphor for the oppression of women in everyday life keeps your attention and makes you wonder if the technology depicted is a near possibility. I always appreciate a movie that leaves me thinking and forces me to unpack all the hidden elements that you can only notice once you know the ending. While this movie is unique, it is by no means monumental or one of a kind. To sum up the plot, I would call it a woman’s Get Out.

Cinematography: 8/10

Matthew Libatique’s camera work is very intriguing, especially in the scenes where Alice is starting to have hallucinations. He had a lot of shots that featured mirrors that did not actually mirror what was happening in real life but instead contrasted with what was happening in Alice’s head. It was also interesting to notice how whenever we were in the Victory Project, the digitalized perfect world, the camera had a creamy yellow hue that made everything seem idealistic. Whereas, when we saw the real world it had a much harsher and grim lighting effect. Well done, Mr. Libatique. Don’t think I wouldn’t notice.

Acting: 6.5/10

The sole reason why this score is above the surface is due to Florence Pugh’s performance. She is one of my favorite actresses and it makes sense why she has been booking project after project since 2018. She has the most amazing range that can vary from witty banter to deeply dramatic screaming matches. Mr. Harry Styles on the other hand gave a modest performance. I’m not going to be too harsh knowing that he has had minimal experience, besides his small feature in Dunkirk, but I have to admit that his novice acting was at some points distracting. During a dark scene, I heard audible laughter from the audience when he would deliver a line. But, I am willing to give him a second chance and give My Policeman a fair shot. As for polished actors Chris Pine, Nick Kroll, and Gemma Chan, they were as solid as ever.

Score: 7/10

The score in this movie was tense and typical for a thriller. I think the few songs from the trailer and in the movie were very fun and transported us to the music culture of the 1950s. The “with you all the time” song played an integral part in the plot and leaves you with an eerie impression by the end of the movie.

Set/Costumes: 8.5/10

The costumes in this movie were very brightly colored and tailored perfectly to symbolize how controlled and idealized everyone involved in the Victory Project is presumed to be. I thought the costuming and makeup of Jack in the real world was shocking and matched the disgusting personality and insecurity the character has. The set was in the sunny Palm Springs area and included dry secluded areas. The geometric formation of the houses was satisfying but almost creepy since it was so uniform. Everything looked straight out of The Brady Bunch.

Overall: 7.6/10 (Paige Approved)

All in all, I do think this movie is worth the watch especially since it is now so accessible on HBO Max. It’s not too scary and offers a thrilling experience. The story is tidy, gives a clear message, and is bound to lead to great post-movie car ride discussions.

Is all press good press?

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t read every article, visit gossip accounts, and even watch the nanny’s 20-minute tell-all on the relationship between Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde. Do I think everything being said is true? No. But, you can’t say it isn’t fun to pretend it is. This relationship was so inappropriate and probably made filming unnecessarily uncomfortable. But, it is definitely the culprit of the $86,681,272 sitting at the box office. I don’t know if I’d be willing to have my private relationships out for everyone to feast on but the Bennys Olivia and Harry are sitting on as a result seem awfully comfortable. As long as they’re fine with the outrageous amount of press floating around, I feel fine being an active indulger.

Starring: Austin Butler, Tom Hanks, and Olivia DeJonge

Director: Baz Luhrmann

Plot: 7/10

I always knew the life of a rockstar is never perfect, but I was unaware of how tragic Elvis’ story is. It being told from the perspective of the antagonist, Tom Parker, was certainly an interesting choice but honestly made the storytelling weaker. It’s as if they had to use an evil-sounding accent and blatant dialogue to make people know the Coronel had bad intentions when it would still be obvious if they did it from the 3rd point of view. Still, I felt that the story was still touching and thorough. The last note I will include is that the movie was too long and dragged on for certain time periods.

Cinematography: 6.5/10

The cinematography was great for the concert scenes when they would show Elvis and then pan to the crowd’s reaction! But, there were times when I felt like I was going 100 mph on the tilt-a-whirl. When I say this, I mean that the camera work was jagged and moved too quickly at times.

Acting: 8.5/10

Austin Butler had the looks, accent, and dancing to the tee! I thought he did a great job and is an amazing performer. He certainly had the looking off into the distance expressions down as well, telling that he did it quite frequently. When you think of Tom Hanks, you think of him as ol’ reliable, who smashes every character he is presented with. Sadly, this was not the Tom I saw in theatres. I don’t know who signed off on that accent, but it was pretty insufferable. A new star I wish I saw more of was Olivia DeJonge! I thought she looked very similar to Priscilla and has the range to tackle an emotional scene.

Music: 9.5/10

Like my Grammy, I have always loved Elvis’ music and this movie introduced me to some new favorites. I’m not sure if Butler was the one singing or Elvis or a blend, but either way, it sounded really good!

Costumes/Sets: 8/10

The costumes were a lot of fun. Elvis had great concert outfits, and I thought the rest had wardrobes that matched the time era. The designers recreated even the most intricate suits of his. The set of Graceland was gorgeous and for the most part, the scenes were set on sound or concert stages.

Overall: 8/10

Overall, I think everyone should see Elvis at least once. It is not monumental or a completely unbiased portrayal, but it is a great way to appreciate a talented artist.

Austin Butler: A Method Acting Victim

Many have seen that Austin Butler has been bit by the Elvis bug a little too hard. I can understand a change in hairstyle or clothing, but voice and mannerisms are where I draw the line. Mr. Butler can no longer get through an interview without deepening his voice or caressing his face. I fear he may go so far as to copy Elvis’ untimely cause of death. It’s not off the table. In all seriousness, Method Acting can be very dangerous especially when given the role of a psychotic character. Luckily, Butler has shown no serious signs of this. At the moment.

Starring: Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Maitreyi Ramakrishnan, and James Hong

Director: Domee Shi

Plot: 9/10

The story told in Turning Red is hilarious, relatable, and tear-jerking. It tells the story of 13-year-old Meilin “Mei” Lee, a pre-pubescent Asian girl growing up in Toronto during the early 2000s. She is affected by the generational trauma from her mother by feeling a deep pressure to succeed in school, orchestra, and every other aspect of her life. The major twist in the plot is that all the women in her family turn into red pandas every time they feel a strong emotion. Mei is faced with the task of controlling her emotions, in order to mask her family’s secret identity, but chooses to exploit her secret to pay for her favorite band’s concert tickets.

Voice Acting: 8/10

Rosalie Chiang is bound to be an overnight star! Her feature film debut is bound to impress the Disney audience. Sandra Oh fit the role of an obsessive mother perfectly and was enough to make me scoff at times. The most distinct voice in the group came from Never Have I Ever star Maitreyi Ramakrishnan. She had amazing comedic timing with her monotone voice. The most distinct voice that I was pleasantly happy to see included was the voice of James Hong! I love to see that he has crossed the bridge from Dreamworks over to Disney.

Animation: 10/10

I mean I can’t possibly have much to say much to Disney’s animation style. They’re literally the blueprint. The colors are vibrant. The clothes of the girls are super cute and I am glad they did not try to make them look overly mature. The red pandas are adorable and they made Toronto look like a fun and bustling city.

Music: 9/10

The ode to ’90s boy bands was a really fun decision. Billie Eilish and Finneas really knew what they were doing despite neither of them growing up during that era. I understand Mei’s love for the band, 4*TOWN.

Characters: 9/10

It’s always refreshing to see a diverse friend group with varying personalities. The friend group in Turning Red is a great influence on young viewers because the group is so accepting and confident! My favorite character dynamic in the movie is the complicated mother-daughter relationship. Two different forms are presented and mirror a Gilmore Girls-type dynamic.

Overall: 9.5/10

I think this movie is an important step in representation by Disney/Pixar! Some argue that this movie will not be relatable/enjoyable to everyone but I disagree. All audiences have and continue to find something to love in Turning Red.

My Absence:

Dear viewers, I apologize for my lack of posts lately due to me having to finish my Junior year strong. We started off so hot and now I’ve left you all cooling for far too long. It really must have been agonizing. You’ll be jumping to know that I will be posting rather regularly from now on and you will have MUCH more content to look forward to! Talk to you all soon.

Starring: Lady Gaga; Adam Driver; Jared Leto; Jeremy Irons; Salma Hayek; Al Pacino

Director: Ridley Scott

Plot: 8/10

The plot in House of Gucci is based on the true story of the Gucci family. We are introduced to the young Gucci heir, Maurizio Gucci, who falls in love with a middle-class woman, Patrizia Reggiani. Once the two wed, Patrizia forces Maurizio back into his family’s fashion empire and tries to expand it. This ultimately tears apart the Gucci family: leaving some in jail, some booted from the family business, and one killed. This story is shocking and I was surprised that I was never aware of the dark history of the biggest brands in fashion.

Acting: 7/10

I might still be having some growing pains seeing Lady Gaga on the big screen, but overall I think she played an excellent villain in the film. My only critique of her would be her accent, which sounded more Russian than Italian. Adam Driver does a great job playing the sheepish man that Maurizio is, but I too found his accent to cut out at times. Jared Leto was hilarious playing the runt of the Gucci family that gets deceived by Patrizia. His dedication to the look and weight change necessary for the role makes me feel both impressed and concerned. Salma Hayek plays a crazy fortune teller with dark connections, and I could never say anything bad about Al Pacino, mostly out of fear his army of fans.

Costumes: 9.5/10

Spectacular costumes were a must for a movie like this. Costume designer, Janty Yates, used authentic Gucci pieces, an array of ’80s accessories, and runway-ready outfits. In House of Gucci, the character Paolo Gucci, played by Jared Leto, designs his next vision for Gucci and hosts a runway show featuring tons of eccentric outfits. For these scenes, the costume designers made the outfits from scratch based on the ideas they thought Paolo may have had.

Sets: 9/10

The sets became more and more glamourous as it follows Patrizia’s greed towards expanding the Gucci empire. In the beginning, we are introduced to Patrizia’s father’s office, a single-story trailer surrounded by dusty buses. After Patrizia marries Maurizio, she forces her husband back to his family’s cut-throat business after she sees the luxury they live in. After that moment, the sets are only glamorous and the family is depicted in many penthouse apartments, chateaus, and mansions across the world.

Aesthetic: 7/10

The entire movie has a dark undertone as we are unsure of every characters’ intentions. The stakes grow higher as deceit comes into the picture. There is a cheating scandal, tax evasion, and hitmen hired. If that mafia-esque aesthetic is your style, I’m sure you’ll find comfort in House of Gucci.

Music: 6/10

The music in House of Gucci is a culmination of Italian classics, operatic pieces, and retro club music. The soundtrack is not something I see myself downloading since it is mainly unmemorable, but it fit the ’80s era and the location of Milan.

Overall: 7.5/10 (Paige Approved)

I was positively surprised with House of Gucci! The trailer truly does not do it enough justice. Prior to the film, I always imagined the Gucci family to just be well-dressed Italians, but this movie revealed a complex hidden story. You know a movie is good when it states real facts about what happens past the movie. One of those facts was how no Gucci member has any ownership over the company. This stands as advice to you viewers to not let wealth ruin a family you think is worth preserving.

A Fair Warning

I’m always looking for my viewers’ best interest and in order to do that I’ll give you all a heads up that there is an explicit scene between Lady Gaga and Adam Driver. A dear fried of mine had to persevere that scene beside her mother, and for that she is a true soldier. That dear friend is me.

Starring: Alana Haim, Cooper Hoffman, Sean Penn, Tom Waits, Bradley Cooper, Benny Safdie

Director/Writer: Paul Thomas Anderson

Plot: 7/10

The movie follows Gary, a child actor and entrepreneur, as he pursues one crazy business scheme after another. The hinted romance between Gary and Alana, his older love interest, is the foundation of the plot and shows an interesting dynamic with Alana being the adult but associating with children, while Gary acts like an adult. Sadly, halfway through the movie, irrelevant and off-topic scenes started to take place. There was a sweet storyline where Alana is trying to get her life together by working for a closeted politician running for Mayor of Los Angeles, but it was very out of rhythm with the plot and made the movie too long.

Acting: 9/10

Breakout actor Alana Haim is bound to be an upcoming star in Hollywood. Her character, also named Alana, likes to follow fifteen-year-old Gary and likes to assist Gary with his new businesses. Haim plays this role seamlessly, has great comedic timing, and depicts the life of a young woman who has no idea what to do with her life. Cooper Hoffman, son of Philip Seymour Hoffman, also made his debut and did not disappoint. Hoffman depicts a confident young child actor with a posse of friends that follow his new projects. He lives an independent life where he takes care of his younger brother, played by Milo Herschlag, and hangs around restaurants in the Valley. Hoffman easily depicts a character that exudes cockiness, but is ultimately innocent, as any teenager would be.

Costumes: 9.5/10

I personally loved the costumes in Licorice Pizza! They embodied the 70s time period and reflected the characters’ personalities. Gary was always wearing the most outrageously colorful suits, the worst being his pink and white suit that he wore during the opening of his Pinball Store. Alana is seen wearing eclectic outfits maybe reflecting her unsureness and never finding stability in her life.

Cinematography: 7/10

The cinematography was nothing out of the ordinary but never felt out of sync with any of the scenes. The movie was shot on 35mm film and converted to 70mm film so the picture would be larger when displayed in theatres. My favorite scene in Licorice Pizza was a scene where Gary and Alana are laying on a waterbed and the camera pans in on Gary’s hand inches towards Alana.

Aesthetic: 10/10

The aesthetic was like being transported back in time and I loved the amount of shots actually filmed in the San Fernando Valley. My mom grew up in Silverlake, a neighborhood in LA during the same time period and said that the aesthetic was accurate and captivating. I loved feeling as if I understood my mom’s childhood more.

Music: 8.5/10

I also really enjoyed the music. The intense drumming that occurred during scenes that would only be intense from the lens of a teenager was really funny. There wasn’t much background score in the movie, but the old music that played was upbeat and I was glad they didn’t just use the most popular songs in the ’70s. The main reason I was eager to even see this movie was due to the song “Life on Mars” by David Bowie that was played in the trailer. Excellent choice.

Overall: 8.5/10 (Paige Approved)

I will make this a quick overview. The story was a great homage to the Valley and the 70s and the characters are easily lovable. I’m sad that I have to warn you viewers of this but there is a bit of racism and sexual predatory acts that happen in Licorice Pizza. There are a couple scenes where they mock Asian accents and I don’t feel that the excuse of it “being accurate to the time period” holds up enough. Alana is also 25, while Gary is 15. This age difference was immediately alarming and I think it is best for Hollywood to not glamorize a relationship like this.

Best Quotes:

“I’m not gonna forget you. Just like you’re not going to forget me.” -Gary Valentine

“Do you think it’s weird that I hang out with Gary and his friends all the time? I think it’s weird that I hang out with Gary and his fifteen-year-old friends all the time.” -Alana Kane

The Bradley Cooper Catfish:

Last note, viewers. If you go into the theaters with the impression that the screen will be filled with many scenes of Bradley Cooper. You’re wrong. And I’m sorry that the trailer deceived you like that. He’s in it for a whoppin’ 20 minutes and that’s it. The scene he is in is funny, but don’t be going to see Licorice Pizza for Bradley Cooper because you won’t be walking out satisfied.