Impulse Control

I am reminded
of my cunning
which has long slept

reptilian this

narrowing 

to base appetite

which resurfaces

not for cause

merely opportunity

the compulsion- calculated,

leering, avaricious- 

flares, crests

then recedes

a warning

of destruction's allure

'Fast X' A Review

Fast X is an action melodrama, the latest in the Fast and Furious saga. The FAMILY is threatened when Dante(Jason Momoa), the son of the villain from Fast Five, goes after all of them.

At this point in the series the cast is absolutely bloated and they get back every single person they can, to the point where it is clear that the unwieldly cast size effected the shooting schedule with many scenes being shot clearly when both actors weren't present at the same time. It's stilted and sucks some of the energy out of the movie on top of that the kind of odd tone of saccharine sincerity-meets-outrageous action(so successful in installments 5 through 7) is very much delivering at diminishing returns. The cast is too big and the narrative too preposterous for anything to approach emotion recognizable as reality.

The action set pieces are still a lot of fun but at this point, reasonably, there seems to be a lack of originality(after going to space where can you possible go after that?). There's also simply not enough of them. There are way too many scenes where stoic characters talk blandly about family and summarize plot from the previous movies. It drags. Due kudos to the stunt teams and action coordinators but beyond that the movie looks and sounds like a generic version of itself.

For a simple piece of action entertainment it isn't nearly enough actual fun.

Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.

Don't See It.

'Bama Rush' A Review

Bama Rush is a documentary that follows four young women over the course of a year as they prepare to rush at University of Alabama. Through taking head interviews with the subjects(as well as active Sorority members and a few experts), archival footage, and fly-on-the-wall sequences following the women along their process a story of image, acceptance, and a desire for community unfolds.

Although seemingly sensational, the ads are kind of akin to Netflix's Cheer, the documentary is much more sedate and thoughtful. This is perhaps partially a result of the director Rachel Fleit being iced out by the University and Greek system during actual rush but even so it is clear she has issues she wants to explore(sexual assault, body image, class, race) but this is by no means a hit piece. All four subjects speak honestly and simply about their experiences and what they are looking for out of the Sorority system. As the movie goes along that changes and morphs and we follow these four young women over this formative year(for two their senior year of high school into their freshman year of college, for the other two freshman at UA into their sophomore year).

The history of the Greek system, some of the questionable history at UA in particular is explored but this is more about these four women- their thoughts, desires, struggles, and trajectory- then it is about Sororities or UA. And it's really compelling. Perhaps the indictments won't be explicit enough for some and the fact that their is a fair amount of questioning and implicit criticism at all will be too much for others but overall it is a compelling, thoughtful, exploration about young women trying to find themselves and community.

Understated, insightful, a pleasant surprise.

Currently streaming on Max.

See It.

The Boy and The Bike

While parking downtown
a boy passing with his family

asked me to rev my engine
saying only "vroooom!"
and making the universal throttle sign

with open fist and turning wrist

I responded "you want to do it?"

popping the bike in neutral

and returning the gesture, instructional

tentative he approached

spurred on by his dad and uncle

then snake-quick he reached out

and thrust the throttle down

making the bike roar and echo

off the indifferent stone of the Art Institute

ecstatic but possibly in shock

he backed cautiously away

and his brother, older, not to be out done

marched up and did the same

planting the seed perhaps

of future riders, motorcyclists to come

'Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania' A Review

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a superhero movie, the third in the Ant-Man series and part of the greater MCU sprawling saga. Scott Lang(Paul Rudd) is settling into his life after saving the world with his family in San Francisco, promoting a book and generally being a low key good guy. But his daughter Cassie(Kathryn Newton) thinks he's given up being a hero and has ambitions of her own. One of those sucks the fam(including Evangeline Lilly as Hope, Michael Douglas as Hank, and Michelle Pfeiffer as Janet) into the quantum realm which Janet has kept secrets about. QUANTUMANIA!

The returning cast are still fun and effective, aside from Lilly who doesn't get much to do and is a bit stiff, Pfeiffer thankfully is given more to do in this installment and it's wonderful to see her do more. There is a hole that Lang's old crew filled but it's taken up with some nice cameos from some talented actors(as well as one bonkers surprise return that it's best not to spoil). There's an interesting tension in the movie which the cast all navigates relatively well, it can't quite decide if it wants to be an Ant-Man comedy or the dark brooding launching point for Jonathan Majors new big time heavy Kang The Conqueror(given recent news it wouldn't surprise if this was completely abandoned), and the result is surprisingly entertaining.

The visual are the movies biggest problem, as almost all of it takes place in the quantum realm it is all shot with green screen on a sound stage there is extensive CG and its uneven. There a couple well rendered and kinetic sequences but in and around them the only thing you can think is "that is Paul Rudd in front of a back drop". Again, given recent news about the visual effects departments for the MCU being underpaid and overworked it is now surprise in this CG heavy installment that this stands out as a problem. But the movie clips along(the shortest MCU runtime in quite awhile), has enough laughs and heart to keep you mostly engaged and only suffers from attempting to split it's narrative difference to introduce Kang.

Goofy, a bit uneven, but entertaining enough.

Currently streaming on Disney+.

Stream It.

'Fool's Paradise' A Review

Fool's Paradise is a satirical dramedy about a mute simpleton(Charlie Day also writing/directing) who looks identical to a famous actor who dies while the man called Latte Pronto(after someone says that near him) is working as his stand in. Latte then gets taken in, chewed up, and spit out of the Hollywood machine.

Day hamstrings himself by making the character mute and then not really making any physical choices at all. It's a bizarre choice in a movie that is in part homage to silent era stars like Keaton and Chaplin(the other clear inspiration is Being There) there is really no physical set piece gags or sequences at all. There is ultimately no purpose for the character not to speak or to have the mental acuity of a child. So Day, in effect, takes him out of his own movie. The cast is stacked with talent but other than Ken Jeong no one has much screentime(Adrian Brody, Malkovich, and Kate Beckinsale are all great). Jeong absolutely goes for it but the result could not be a worse clash in tone. He plays like it a straight up melodrama and it doesn't fit at all with the other failed throughlines of commentary or comedy. Quite frankly its a total mess.

The production design is limited and it becomes clear Day had little time and less money to make his movie. We see multiple locations multiple times in a way that it is clear the scenes were shot on the same day and returning there has more to do with limited location availability rather than actual narrative. All in all the impression is of shoddy incoherence.

A clear passion project for the talented Day, perhaps compelling for how profoundly wide it misses the mark.

Currently in theaters, coming soon to VOD.

Don't See It.

At My Funeral

Play that
iPad Air commercial
with Robin Williams

a bit on the nose

maybe

but that thing slaps.