Cinema marathon - four films in one day
I’ve wanted to do a cinema marathon for a while now, and, fellow readers, I can’t tell you how incredible the experience was!
After falling asleep during some recent screenings (Digger and Hoppers snoozefests), I had some justified fears about staying awake. I also questioned whether I’d properly take in movies three and four. Wouldn’t my head explode just a bit? But I persevered and, to my surprise, found it easier than expected.
I think I lucked out with my film selection. All four films were vastly different from one another: we had children’s animation, a British rom-com fantasy, a Japanese kaiju flick and, finally, a semi-biographical, dramatised crime thriller. It definitely helped that none of the films bled into one another narratively. And all four movies were genuinely good (to varying degrees). Is cinema back, guys? Are we back? I think we are!
But enough rambling. Let’s get to my thoughts on each film.
Wildwood
I thought this film was pretty decent and entertaining. It follows Prue, a headstrong teenager who ventures off into the wild woods see what I did there to find her kidnapped brother (abducted by a murder of crows, no less). I hadn’t watched the trailer for this one, but had seen it get some praise online, and I can see why.
It has some pretty adult themes, like grief, bureaucracy vs. spiritual living, and how far is too far when it comes to getting what’s important to you. It’s more grisly than your average children’s animated film, with much blood and death, which made it all the more adult-friendly. Some good comedy writing too, and a great mix of characters. I might’ve said this in my review of Flow, but I thoroughly enjoy it when animal characters take on the mannerisms of their species. I also liked how progressive the dialogue was at times; a playful Burning Man reference and a nod to all gender pronouns (teach ’em young!).
Though entertaining, I was not wowed by Wildwood. It felt like an amalgamation of popular fairy tales and other children’s films. An all-too-familiar recipe of talking animals, mysterious magic, questionable adult authority and enemies with more in common than they realise. To their credit, the film’s classic, old-school fairy-tale adventure feel is probably intentional, and it does have good emotional depth, but just not enough to blow me away.
Overall - 7/10
Wicker
This film was absolutely brilliant! I questioned how long it could keep up the momentum, but it never slowed down. Wicker is about an outcast fisherwoman who gets a local basketmaker to make her a husband. Yup, pretty bonkers. It’s a film that goes up against traditional marital roles, patriarchy and societal expectations. And it’s all handled very well. Satirical, witty, dark British humour. Honestly, what’s not to like?
The film is an adaptation of The Wicker Husband by Ursula Wills, and there’s a refreshing bookish feel to it. I really enjoyed Peter Dinklage as The Basketmaker, particularly his inner monologues and narration (is he gay in this film? Someone confirm this for me). I also love how the characters are named after their trades. Never seen that before in a film. I had my doubts about Olivia Colman as The Fisherwoman and the main character, but she delivered exceptionally well in both the comedic and emotional moments.
For such a wacky film, it was strangely romantic. It did a great job of delivering its anti-toxic masculinity message. Elizabeth Debicki gave a great performance as the spiteful Tailor's Wife. So too did Phil Daniels as the bastardly Butcher (so glad he got what he deserved).
There's not much wrong with this film. The pacing was great, and the atmosphere in the theatre helped elevate some scenes, with the audience being quite responsive and vocal. Maybe if it had been slightly longer, they could've dug a bit deeper into the characters' backstories. But that's a nitpick, to be honest.
Overall - 8.5/10
Godzilla Minus Zero
Next up in the marathon was Godzilla Minus Zero. God, I was so hyped for this! It was the film I was looking forward to the most. I’d watched its predecessor, Minus One, the night before and was blown away (probably by Godzilla’s heat ray). But alas, I came away a little disappointed, as Minus Zero didn’t quite live up to my expectations.
Although shot for IMAX, I had the pleasure of watching it on Vue’s more budget-friendly EPIC screen. And “epic” is probably the best way to describe this film. The monster scenes felt terrifyingly immersive. I couldn’t help but smile whenever they appeared on screen. And Minus Zero thankfully keeps the tradition of showcasing the monsters in the opening scene, immediately pushing you to the edge of your seat. The monster designs are also the best I’ve seen. Everything about them was just so expertly done.
There is, of course, the music. Man, is it exceptional. Maybe top three soundtracks of all time? So brooding, menacing, sinister and all the other scary adjectives. I can’t decide which I like more: “Eclipse” or “Godzilla Suite”. Both are very special. We all need to salute Naoki Satô. I hope Minus Zero gets some recognition for its score come awards season. I could write a whole post about the music, but I’ll save that for a later date.
Minus Zero places a stronger focus on its human narratives than its predecessor. And this is where the film gets a bit complicated. While I appreciate the team trying to push the emotional depth even further, it means the monsters don't get as much time to shine. Consequently, the threat they pose doesn't feel quite as disastrous as it did in the previous film. Rather than thinking, “These people need to stop this monster because it’s gonna destroy everything”, I found myself wondering, “What will the aftermath be once these guys stop the monsters?”
And on the subject of the human characters, I thought there were perhaps one too many plot points. The individual storylines were all very good, but when brought together, the film felt a bit try-hard, with some emotional scenes lingering longer than they needed to. It almost seemed as though the film was trying to make up for this with a long third act centred on the monsters battling each other, but the emotional weight didn't feel entirely earned. It's hard not to compare Minus Zero to the previous film, but Minus One was just a lot more seamless. Still, an amazing cinema experience.
Overall - 7.5/10
Primetime
Hmmm… Well, this was an interesting one. Primetime is essentially a closer look at the psyche of Chris Hansen, the man behind Dateline NBC’s hit show To Catch a Predator, as well as the toxic working environment of cable television. The film had its moments, but I found its portrayal of Chris a little muddled.
At times, Chris seems to be doing what he does for good and just reasons. At other times, he's obsessed with ratings. I wasn't sure whether his moments of righteousness were an act or whether he was trying to convince himself, and the people around him, that he was doing good. That mystery might've been the point of the film, but it was hard to tell.
As for the plot, it's difficult for the satisfaction of catching child sex offenders with their pants down to be undermined by a marital scandal (not that being disloyal in a relationship is in any way okay). I simply didn't care for this storyline when something far more disturbing is at play: the threat posed by child sex offenders. There is a scene in the film where a fan goes on a violent rant about what he thinks Chris Hansen should do to the predators, and I think a lot of people would share his opinion. A failing celebrity marriage simply doesn't compare to something as disgusting as the crimes these men have committed.
The underhanded dealings of the TV industry are ever-present. It's interesting to see those dynamics through the lens of a show like To Catch a Predator. In these moments, the acting was visceral and really immersed you in the story. The film was at its best when recreating the triumphant moments of catching the child sex offenders and exploring the production details surrounding their capture.
Perhaps Primetime was a provocative way to end my cinema marathon. I still don't know how to feel about it.
Overall - 7/10
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