Film Buffa: ‘Poor Things’, ‘Somewhere in Queens’, ‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ reviews
Romano Stone walked up to the Ruffalo monster and asked, “Show me a Russell!”
Movies are wonderful. A reminder that something can be thought of, created, and released in a single entity. Sometimes it continues with sequels and prequels, but there’s always a definitive end to the round. Television shows allow that story to be told in an expanded format; it’s like agreeing to 3-4 sequels at once. Each can provide that proper escape. This week, I offer two movie reviews and a look at the Godzilla show on Apple TV Plus.
Somewhere in Queens (Streaming on Hulu)
Co-written and directed by Ray Romano, its star as well, the indie comfort aesthetic suits the story of a tight knit Italian American family well. Romano’s Leo Rossi has a son who could play college basketball, and he bends over backwards, breaking and bending family relationships, trying to make it happen for his teenage son-or is he really doing it for some lost attention to himself?
Sebastian Maniscalco and Laurie Metcalf add strong support in a nice ensemble, but I wanted to watch college basketball with Uncle Petey. Jon Manfrelotti is a genuine hoot as the most interesting member of an edgy family. The only issue with the film is that the story keeps trying to force sentimental vibes down an audience member’s throat that never connects. It doesn’t help that the lead character isn’t that interesting.
Romano is a solid actor, but the juice of the plot never really picks up a pulse once the lengths to make his son a contender are reached. Like the screenplay, it’s a passable yet unremarkable blend of fine and simple. Leo’s aimlessness isn’t as intriguing as the first 35 minutes makes him out to be. I found Romano’s degenerate gambler on Maniscalco’s Max series Bookie to be more compelling than Leo, and he only had one scene.
A decent film that doesn’t really leave much of an impact. Metcalf and Manfrellotti make it a fresh cinematic visit.
Poor Things (in theaters)
If the events of the Queens movie run a little dry, this trippy fantasy picture runs the gauntlet of W.T.F cinema. Stone’s Bella takes a dive off a bridge, and is fished out by a mad doctor (Willem Dafoe, always good) and his apprentice (Ramy Youssef). The thing is she was pregnant when she jumped, and the two doctors Frankenstein her into a being with an adult body yet carrying the mind of the infant.
When she gains brains and runs off with a rich lover (Mark Ruffalo, chewing scenery), adventures ensue and relationships are tested. Coming from the director of Killing of the Sacred Deer and The Favourite, Yorgos Lanthimos, one should know they’re not buckling up for a Netflix comedy with this fresh dose of the darkest of humor. It’s dark, wicked, funny, and flat out there material that gathers steam as it progresses.
Once Bella gets out on the road and starts figuring herself out, the movie gets rolling. The themes and wildness settle in, and the third act brings a sense of pleasure that wasn’t optional early on. Harder to love than merely admire, Poor Things won’t be a revisited film, but one that cements the idea that odd creativity still has a way of making the leap from the page to the screen.
Just be ready for LOTS of sex, as in a lot of not-messing-around nudity. Stone reveals every bit of her body in a performance that truly stands out from anything she’s ever done. There’s a newfound fearlessness in her portrayal of a woman who was dealt the cards of life in a backwards format, yet finds her way. Poor Things isn’t my cup of tea, but it’s hard to not respect its ambition.
Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
What’s better than one serving of Kurt Russell? A double serving of Russell, including Kurt’s son, Wyatt. After coming into his own a bit with Disney’s Falcon and The Winter Soldier, the younger Russell gets to co-star alongside his dad in an entertaining Apple TV Plus series that centers on Godzilla and other various creatures.
Splitting the tale between the early 1950s and 2015, connecting characters from all the recent Kong and Godzilla movies, Chris Black and Mark Fraction’s show chews an impressive chunk of ambition off with its plot. After the big dragon-like monster shows his true colors to the world, a pair of siblings run off in search of their father’s legacy, one that could be tied to the hunt for creatures and a mysterious organization called Monarch.
The Russells play the same character in each part of the story, lending a dual-sided charisma to a show that overcomes a slow and less interesting middle section of its first season to bring the show to a thrilling conclusion on Friday. Kiersey Clemons, Mari Yamamoto, and Ken Watabe offer solid support in a show that gets its bread and butter from the non-human elements.
It’s still monsters and mayhem, but along with Godzilla Minus One, it’s getting more nuanced and making an impact.
What else is making an impact? The smells currently coming from my kitchen. Stroganoff, reloaded. The wife is pulling spices and herbs from every corner of the pantry to go along with a pound of meat breaking apart in a pan. The time to write is expiring, and the process of eating and collecting ideas will soon continue. As Chazz Reinhold said, it’s the circle of life.
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