HotlineSF Reviews

La La Land (2016)

entertaining and spellbound

[10/10 · 23 December 2016]

Fantastic movie. It's about a jazz pianist (gosling) and aspiring actress (stone) who meet and fall in love in LA while pursuing their dreams. Nothing really new story-wise, and I think we're all familiar with the trope of people painstakingly following their dreams in a metropolis and overcoming obstacles along the way.

That said, I found this movie absolutely mesmerizing. Won't comment much on the musicality since I don't watch many musicals, but the songs are catchy and Gosling/Stone sing well. As anyone who's seen Crazy Stupid Love knows, these two have really good chemistry, and this movie definitely benefits from two great characters who are charming and endearing.

The cinematography is gorgeous, the choreography and set pieces are great, the acting is sincere, pretty much everything about this movie is well executed. If you appreciate well made movies or entertaining musicals, I think you'll like this one. And as an added bonus, if you enjoy Jazz and heartfelt melancholic romances like I do, you'll love this movie!

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Nice grittier and darker addition to the Star Wars Franchise

[8/10 · 19 December 2016]

This is a direct prequel to the original Stars Wars film and focuses on the mission to steal the plans for the Death Star from the Empire. We all know how this movie will end, and it doesn't bode well for our heroes.

It's pretty cool how the folks upstairs embraced the gravitas and dread this mission deserves. No happy go lucky characters in this one, and this is the darkest Star Wars movie, with morally ambiguous characters and unrepentant killing. I actually think the lack of a Jedi amongst the main cast helps the movie feel more intense (anyone can die at any moment), and at times this feels more like thriller or spy film than the standard Star Wars adventure fantasy.

The two main leads have good chemistry, Mads is always awesome even in a smaller role, and one of the bright spots is definitely the new robot character, who's effortlessly sarcastic and entertaining without ruining the mood.

My biggest gripe is that in the latter half, this movie succumbs to the Hollywood cliché where characters have long drawn out death scenes a la Sean Bean from LOTR. It happens a bit too often, which makes it predictable and saps some of the tension from critical moments in the story.

Otherwise, still a good movie! I can see why ppl say it's the most un-Star Wars movie, and hopefully this is a sign that subsequent films will also be original and creative.

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

better than Into Darkness! A refreshing new direction for the series.

[8/10 · 24 July 2016]

Some complain that the new Trek films are just blockbuster action movies, that they lack the wonder and sense of exploration of Gene Roddenberry's vision.

Star Trek Beyond is still a blockbuster action movie. However, it's a refreshingly new and self-contained story that avoids the pitfalls of it's predecessor. For the most part Justin Lin and Simon Pegg steer clear of the annoying things from Into Darkness: the silly plot turns, the cheap drama and bickering between Spock and Uhura, and the annoyingly shallow and unimaginative fan service tributes.

The best part of this film is the renewed emphasis on the relationships between Spock, Kirk, and McCoy. The interplay between these characters is entertaining and feels natural. There's less melodrama in this movie. And why should there be? Star Trek has been never been the soap opera that Star Wars is.

The rest of the movie is pretty solid. The action and music has always been great. The bio weapon employed by the enemy is inventive and terrifying. Each character in this ensemble cast has ample screen time, however none of it feels forced or unnecessary. It's a well-directed fun and streamlined movie.

I think one of the best decisions made with this movie was to write a new original story. After Into Darkness I was worried about the direction this franchise would take. Would they make a sequel, or would they continue to rehash old story lines and characters in a bid to milk our wallets dry with fan service mediocrity? It was a great move to bring in new blood (writer + director), and hopefully the next films will explore newer ideas and boldly go where no one has gone before!

Where to Invade Next (2015)

decent, but rambling, uneven and superficial

[6/10 · 15 February 2016]

the premise is Michael Moore "invading" other countries (mostly European) to highlight what they do better than America ,whether it's healthcare, education, prisons, drug enforcement, or all of the above. He then proposes that we "steal" these things to make our country better.

We can agree with Moore that there many things Europe does better than us, but the problem is he doesn't offer any in-depth analysis or solutions to these issues. He argues we can fix our problems by doing what the Euros are doing - and in some cases I wholeheartedly agree - but he makes no effort to present the other side of the coin or to explain why these changes haven't occurred yet. if you're well-versed in worldly affairs this movie may affirm many things you already know, but it doesn't offer any new insights and doesn't really tell you anything you don't already know.

thematically, this picture's a bit uneven. it lacks the focused compelling vision that Bowling for Columbine had. But it's also lightheartedly entertaining and there are amusing and funny scenes, with an examination of the perks of Norway's prisons being a highlight.

as Moore often does, this feels more like propaganda than an impartial documentary. it's clear there's an agenda here and stuff is often taken out of context or manipulated to support his case. For example, he touts Scandinavian schooling as the pinnacle of education, yet conspicuously fails to mention any Asian countries, who also have superior education, because it doesn't support his case for more liberal and unstructured schooling.

at it's best, this can be a fun and entertaining look at the questions American society faces. just don't expect any thought-provoking results or actual answers to these questions.

Deadpool (2016)

wickedly funny and relentless

[10/10 · 14 February 2016]

this is the third of Marvel's recent comedic superhero movies (the previous two being Ant Man and Guardians of the Galaxy) and it's the funniest one yet. they might be on to something here...

The humor is crude, vulgar, and sophomoric (think Family Guy or Superbad), but it's mostly hilarious and all of the meta and Fourth Wall jokes are pretty awesome.

That's not the only thing this fantastic movie has going for it. the action's good, the banter between Deadpool and other characters is top-notch, and the pacing is silky smooth. The movie's less than 2 hours, doesn't have any dull or slow moments, and it grabs your attention from beginning to the end. They flawlessly incorporated Deadpool's fourth wall antics, and from a storytelling perspective the plot moves along smoothly and flashbacks work well when this character's interacting with and guiding the audience throughout.

and finally, we'd be remiss if we didn't talk about Ryan Reynolds. It's tough to overstate how challenging this role is. The whole flick is good, but it's success relies heavily on a protagonist who's in 95+% of the scenes and and spends a large bulk of that time rambling and talking to the audience. And Reynolds kills it. He's so convincing it's hard to see anyone else doing this role.

So go see this movie! They put maximum effort into it, and it's very entertaining.

Ip Man 3 (2015)

super entertaining kung fu movie!

[9/10 · 4 February 2016]

This movie has all the great elements from the first Ip Man, and it's a welcome return to form after the rather mediocre second film in the series.

There's some pretty awesome and diverse fight choreography, with the classic Hong Kong street gang melee in a shipping yard, fight scenes incorporating wing chung vs traditional boxing, wing chun vs a thai fighter, and more use of weapons than the previous films.

Nothing out of the ordinary in terms of the acting/story. Donnie Yen plays the same reserved and respectful Ip Man as in the past. He's not going to win any Oscars, but I think he does a good job conveying the philosophical teachings of Wing Chun. Action slows down around half-way through the movie as it focuses on familial issues, and some viewers might find these parts a bit boring, but I thought they put in a good effort addressing a major part of Ip Man's life.

Some of the funnest scenes involve Mike Tyson's real estate bad guy character and his #1 Gangster Henchman (don't remember his name but he's dressed in red). Between Tyson's hilarious attempts to interject Chinese into his conversations and this Henchman's over the top mannerisms, it's nice to see they're not taking themselves too seriously.

All in all, this is a great movie! Hopefully this isn't the last time we'll see Donnie Yen kicking butt on the big screen. The man's still got it!

Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

entertaining, but too similar to the first Star Wars

[7/10 · 20 December 2015]

this movie has great action and effects, and the new characters are interesting enough that I look forward to seeing what happens to them in the future. the beginning is fantastic, and for the most part the first 45 minutes or so are exhilarating.

Unfortunately, as the plot unfolds, we begin to realize that this movie borrows heavily from the first star wars classic. A good chuck of themes and even plot points are heavily influenced by the original, to the extent that this is essentially a very well executed and produced action movie, but isn't particularly bold or new. this leads to a predictable and underwhelming final arch in the story.

The decision to base so much it on the original Star Wars reminds me of JJ Abrams' work on Star Trek - Into Darkness, another film that's exciting and well made, but ultimately too derivative to reach it's potential. It's disappointing that the film makers weren't more adventurous and creative with this storyline.

That said, the directing and acting is good, and this movie is already much better than the previous 3. With an intriguing crop of new characters and Rian Johnson hemming the next film, I'm looking forward to what the sequel brings.

The Tree of Life (2011)

a spellbinding life-affirming movie

[10/10 · 6 December 2015]

i think the best way for me to describe watching this movie is that it's like eating at an expensive fine dining restaurant for the first time. I don't really understand what I'm eating (why are the portions so small, and what are all those strange multisyllabic words the waiters use to describe my food?), but the meal is delicious, the experience is memorable, and somehow we appreciate the skill and craftsmanship displayed.

there isn't much of a story, and the little plot that exists consists of short slice-of-life scenes depicting Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain raising their 3 boys from infancy to teenagers, presumably someplace in the south. Terrence Malick's films are notable for having dazzling cinematography, and many scenes of ppl frolicking with nature and animals, and this one is no exception.

There's an interesting dynamic between Pitt, Chastain, and their eldest son, who grows up to be Sean Penn (hmm, i don't see a resemblance ;) Pitt's character is overbearing, a military disciplinarian, and Chastain's is happier and carefree, and their oldest son grows up to be rebellious and defiant in this environment. There's a lot of play, rough housing, disciplining, teaching, all the fun stuff of growing up.

His films are notorious for having characters deliver numerous cheesy (some say pretentious) inner monologues. I don't pay much attention to them. The best way to enjoy this meal is to sit back, have an open mind, and just enjoy the experience. Every scene is stunningly beautiful - the close-ups, the use of shadows, the way the camera lingers on it's subject for the just the right amount of time before fluidly moving on. Malick has a unique visual aesthetic I haven't seen in other movies. also, The classical music incorporated works extremely well. this was a bit surprising to me, b/c i don't remember anyone raving about the music during awards season 2011. all the pieces fit together very well in this exquisite and fascinating picture.

tldr: fans of terrence malick will love this. ppl looking for a conventional narrative, a strong plot, or explosions may want to look elsewhere. to the average moviegoer this may be like watching abstract art in the museum: i'm not sure what's the story here, but it looks damn good!

Funny Games (1997)

a disturbing yet mesmerizing home invasion movie

[9/10 · 8 November 2015]

If seeing bad things happening to good people in a movie makes you squeamish, you should stay away from this one. It's a bit like the torture porn Saw films except the abuse is mostly psychological and you actually care for the characters.

A pair of psychotic youngsters hold a family hostage in their vacation home and force them to play sadistic games. It's a harrowing 108 minutes, and at some point I'm sure many viewers will ask "what's the point of all this?", but for some reason I found this movie strangely compelling. The suspense is palatable, and the banter between the two deranged captors is somehow perversely fascinating. It was like watching a train wreck in slow motion - I couldn't take my eyes off it.

As the anguish endured by this poor family worsens, and we become more and more invested in their survival, it begins to feel like the director himself is playing his own twisted game with us; as if he's fully aware of the torture he's putting this family (and us) through, and he's stringing us along and testing our limits.

Steve Jobs (2015)

great premise bogged down by relentless focus on jobs' family life

[7/10 · 25 October 2015]

the premise is that instead of a linear plot-driven portrayal of Jobs' life, this film is split into 3 segments providing a behind-the-scenes look at preparations for the product launches of the Mac, Next Computer, and the iMac. It's a fantastic idea. Those who read Walter Isaacson's biography Steve Jobs - on which this is apparently based - know the man was incredibly driven and consumed by his work, often to the detriment of friends and family. This is a good opportunity to show him in his element, while providing subtle glimpses into the contentious relationship Jobs had with his family.

The execution falls short of this premise. There are good scenes throughout, including a bit where Jobs argues the necessity of ensuring the Mac speaks the word "hello" to the audience. These bits focusing on the inner struggles at Apple and the intense charismatic performance of Fassbender work in the movie's favor.

Unfortunately, there's a deliberate push to make Jobs relationship with his ex-gf Chrisann and their daughter Lisa a big part of the film. In this movie it feels like Chrisann and Lisa have backstage passes at every Apple event, and they just show up hours beforehand to hang out and argue about Steve's parenting. The extent to which they focuses on Jobs' familial problems, especially within the context of these supposed product launches, feels forced and unnatural. You know it's bad when Joanna Hoffman (Jobs' top aide in the film) deliberately takes precious time out of their preparations to berate him on his fatherly responsibilities.

It's clear the writers made a concerted (and heavyhanded) effort to inject drama into this story, but it's unnecessary and ultimately results in a good, but uneven product.

thoughts on sorkin: prepare yourselves! this film has no real plot, and it feels like the producers gave Sorkin carte blanche, so the whole thing is like a long stereotypical Aaron Sorkin scene, with characters walking really fast while constantly bickering and dispensing caustic one-liners. I'm a huge fan of The Social Network, but parts of this flick felt a bit too Sorkiny for my tastes. "everything in moderation", as they say.

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

a bit bloated, but good action movie

[7/10 · 10 June 2015]

in a vacuum, this is a pretty good action movie, but being a sequel to "the avengers" means it will always invite comparisons to the original and be judged at a higher standard. Unfortunately, "age of ultron" doesn't live up to it's predecessor. The action and humor is still there. Joss Whedon excels at crafting these fluid elaborate action scenes where the camera pans between multiple characters kicking ass in their own way and then occasional teaming up to take down some bad guys. It's pretty impressive to see considering the size of the Avengers roster and the extreme differences in each superhero's powers. Humor-wise, we have typical Whedon jokes, but I'd argue that there's a bit too many going around in the midst of all the fighting this time. Some jokes felt forced, with characters spewing one-liners every time they got any screen time during an action scene.

Plot-wise, the writing is less focused than the first one. There's a scene where Thor goes into a cave somewhere, submerges himself in water, and starts having dream-like visions of the future, and this doesn't make much sense or seem necessary. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch are woefully underdeveloped, with a boring backstory and bad clichéd Eastern European accents. With all the details packed into this film, it seems like Marvel's trying too hard to connect the dots between all their properties and set things up for the future, and this comes at the expense of the movie as a whole.

One of the bright spots is James Spader's portrayal of Ultron. Instead of being this stereotypical cold, calculated, terminator-like villain, his personality is that of a spoiled, petulant, mischievous child, and it works pretty well.

Kung Fu Jungle (2014)

good hardcore kung-fu movie

[8/10 · 2 May 2015]

if you're a big fan of old-school kung fu flicks (i.e, stuff with Shaolin monks, Iron monkey, people doing fancy kung fu moves) you'll probably enjoy this movie. If not, your mileage may vary, and this movie may be a 6 or 7 out of 10 for you. Don't expect the more "realistic" fight scenes we've seen lately out of stuff like "the Raid", Bourne flicks, or Jason Statham. Even though this movie takes place in present day, it's in many ways a homage to classic kung fu movies of the past.

Donnie Yen plays an imprisoned martial artist who's released on the condition that he helps the police apprehend a serial killer hunting kung-fu masters. The plot develops like something you'd expect from a kung-fu film taking place centuries ago. The villain chooses his victims based on their mastery of the arts. He wants to defeat the best kicker, the best grappler, the best weapon user, etc.. in order to prove he is the greatest fighter in the land. The action scenes are pretty good - fast and frenetic, minimal apparent cgi/wirework, and well choreographed. I should also note the producers do a nice job finding and designing creative set pieces for the action, with various scenes taking place on a busy freeway, inside a dinosaur museum, etc...

Another plus is the characterization and portrayal of the villain (played by Wang Baoqiang). He's given enough depth and backstory to separate him from the typical one-dimensional baddies we've all seen, and Wang's earnest (although somewhat melodramatic) performance is one of the highlights of this movie.

I think it's apparent from watching this that the filmmakers put a lot of effort into making this a quality kung-fu movie. Sure, maybe it falls prey to some of the usual action movie tropes (this ain't high art we're talking about after all), maybe there's cheesiness here and there, and Donnie Yen isn't a great actor, but it's easy to appreciate the little details and work invested into this film that elevate it above random xyz action movies that have good fight scenes, but are otherwise unmemorable.

Furious 7 (2015)

not as good as the previous 2 movies, but good enough

[7/10 · 8 April 2015]

This is the first post Justin Lin Fast & Furious film, and I think it shows. Now obviously no one goes to these things for a great story or character development, but Lin's previous flicks (especially Fast 6, which I'd probably give an 8 or 9 score) were great examples of how to make super entertaining Hollywood blockbusters. The action scenes in those films were amazingly well crafted, very complex and creative. There were long intricate sequences involving modified F1 cars flipping other cars, cars driving through planes, driving off a moving train, cars battling tanks, etc... Unfortunately, the action in Fast 7 doesn't live up to these lofty standards. There's a particularly great scene with Paul Walker and Tony Jaa in a flipped bus, but otherwise the rest of the film is a bit inconsistent. There are even a few car chases that just end with two cars crashing head-on, anti-climactic and uninspired compared to the stuff we've seen before.

This isn't to say Fast 7 is a bad movie. It's entertaining enough and works well as a tribute to Paul Walker, but I think it suffers from having big shoes to fill, and some questionable writing. Much of the story revolves around the characters trying to retrieve a machine that allows you to monitor all electronic communications in an area and locate any target (like the machine in The Dark Knight). I have nothing against this concept per se (especially since it's relevant in today's privacy-centric/NSA spying world), but it's easy to see how such devices can lead to lazy writing in movies: "hey, we need to find this guy." "There are no leads..." "oh wait we have magic machine that can pinpoint the location of anyone in the area!!"

Some other thoughts: - Jason Statham makes for a formidable enemy, but I can't help thinking that his character is more one dimensional and boring than his own brother and the baddie from fast 5. - I find Tyrese's character to be funny maybe only half the time, and he has a bigger presence in this movie. But humor's subjective. - Can't really tell when Paul Walker's brother is filling in for him (good job special effects crew!) - The Rock steals nearly every scene he's in. Seriously! He has some of the best one-liners and parts in this movie. He almost reminds me of a young Schwarzenegger here.

Anyways, go see this movie. It's Paul Walker's last, and it's a fine addition to the franchise.

It Follows (2014)

well-crafted cat-and-mouse horror tail

[8/10 · 29 March 2015]

this isn't the scariest movie, but it's definitely a creepy and well executed horror flick. the directing and cinematography is top notch (good pacing, fluid editing, great use of wide-angles, and smooth camera movement to create tension and suspense). the soundtrack is also terrific - a blend of standard horror music cues with an 80s synth vibe. The premise is that there's an STD going around whereby when you sleep with someone, you become the target of these slow-moving (they basically just walk. it's a good thing they can't run...)supernatural beings who won't stop until they kill you. To make matters worse, these entities look like regular people and can only be seen by the people who have this curse. They look normal, but most of them are disheveled/disturbed in some way so as to appear unsettling - kudos to the costume department! So what it boils down to is, you feel as if you're being followed by these creepy stalkers, but you can't really tell if it's an actual person or something that's trying to kill you, and you're friends can't see them, so they probably think you're crazy. It's an intriguing and I think refreshingly unique premise. The director and writers do good a job not trying too hard to explain how everything works, allowing the audience to immerse themselves into the story and the dilemma these characters face. Watch this movie!

House of Cards (2013–2018)

Season 3 - HOC has now jumped the shark

[6/10 · 17 March 2015]

big disappointment, especially considering the quality of the previous seasons (especially the first, which I'd consider must-watch material). Season one had the rise & fall of Pete Russo, and the Underwood's' gradual ascent to power. season 2 had the the underwood/tusk/walker duel and the Doug/Lucas/Rachel situation. Season 3 basically boils down a long examination of the Francis/Claire relationship. Nothing inherently wrong there, but that shouldn't be the main focal point of the season. Much of this season is about Claire trying to assume more responsibility than the first lady position affords. She convinces Frank to appoint her as a UN representative, and then there's a key moment early on when she betrays Frank's trust during a press conference with the Russians. It's a monumental screw-up. Problem is the reasons for her betrayal don't make sense - she acts completely different from what we'd expect from a character we've come to know. The writers lazily construct some framework to explain her reasoning, but it still doesn't ring true given the stakes involved. There are other moments like this (albeit on a smaller scale) throughout the season - moments where character motivations don't make sense, and you can feel that the writers are being lazy and just writing to create shock value or drama. Some other things that didn't work: -too much focus on characters watching CNN to provide exposition or move the plot (i don't remember it being this bad previously) -Remy doesn't do anything the whole season -Doug doesn't do really do anything either (sure they give him some busywork but there's no real payoff), and it takes way too long for the whole Rachel dilemma to resolve itself -i think this season relies too much on overt references to the current political climate. the Russian prez is an exact copy of Putin(that said, Lars Mikkelsen's performance as an over-the-top "Putin" is one of the few highlights), congress can't get anything done, unemployment is high, etc... the parallels are too easy to see, and there isn't enough subtlety employed.

TLDR: subpar writing and a boring story make for a weak season. Claire spends much of the season being annoyingly passive-aggressive, and Yoko Ono-ing her way through Frank's presidency.

The Salvation (2014)

entertaining bleak and dark Western

[8/10 · 13 March 2015]

this is probably one of the best western in years. It's a dark and harrowing film, a la "the proposition" or "unforgiven". This movie is not for the squeamish: innocent people are killed without a thought, and the film does a good job portraying the lawlessness and "anything goes" ethos of the times. Mads Mikkelsen is excellent as a hardworking taciturn Danish immigrant who's spent years trying to make a living in this land of opportunity. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes when he brings his family to the country, and then the rest of the film is basically about survival and revenge. At 1.5 hours, the pacing is good, and there are no unnecessary scenes or fat bogging down the story. Action scenes are realistic and very well done, and there's some pretty good cinematography throughout. All in all, a very well crafted and entertaining Western!