The Bikeriders αnd A Quiet Place: Day One
Here we are in the midst of summer, a season that used to be associated with the blockbuster. This year I’m not quite feeling it. Sure there have been some good movies but nothing has dominated or even gained momentum as the season has progressed. Consequently, I’m feeling nostalgic for the bygone summers of Spielberg (or even Barbie for that matter.) So which movies are worth your time?
The Bikeriders is a mashup of, Easy Rider, vintage Levi’s and Marlon Brando
20 minutes into this film and I started to get a sense of déjà vu. The imagery reminded me of a series of photographs I had seen at the AGO. My memory ended up serving me well because The Bikeriders depicts the lives of a motorcycle club inspired by Danny Lyon’s 1968 photo-book. This movie is not only an enjoyable ride but has one of the best casts I’ve seen in years, Firstly, Jodie Comer commands the screen. Her accent will blow your mind and leave you speechless with every event she recounts and every eyebrow raise she makes. Austin Butler oozes coolness as he balances an unhinged personality with an impressively coiffed head of hair. Meanwhile, Tom Hardy convincingly portrays the enigmatic club President, and in doing so channels Marlon Brando without becoming a caricature. What I particularly loved about this movie is the organic form of storytelling. Similar to a series of Polaroids, we are introduced to vivid characters (each acted exceptionally by an assortment of men,) and backstories that are quick, effective but never confusing. We see this club behind the veneer, we fear some if its members and we understand the desire to join. With such diversity to immerse yourself in, The Bikeriders it worth the trip.
A Quiet Place: Day One provides little excitement and a whole lot of boredom
As I settled in to watch this this film in IMAX I expected War of The Worlds meets Independence Day meets indie film…that is until everything went quiet. Am I missing the point here? The reality is A Quiet Place: Day One sets out to thrill us by taking us to where it all began, but boy does it miss the gut punch one would except on the first day of an alien invasion. The real problem with this movie starts in the first scene when we are introduced to Sammy, portrayed by Lupita Nyong’o. Immediately you know what is going to happen to her character and that destroys the entire trajectory of the film. Other plot line killers include the ridiculous speed in which it is determined that these aliens hate loud sounds and the reappearance of the same characters repeatedly. This is set in New York City, the most densely populated major city in the United States, what are the odds of running into Djimon Hounsou over and over again or finding a runaway cat three times. I did enjoy seeing Joseph Quinn (Eddie from Stranger Things) on the big screen but had hoped for a better role for him. Although there is some good acting, A Quite Place: Day One misses the entire point of taking us back to where it all began.
Next week I review The Last Timbit.
I remain in awe by which Timbit is considered “The Best”