Film Fight 2021: December

#FF21 Surge isn't what I expected and you should go in largely blind.

Ben Wishaw is great, both frightening and vulnerable as the situation continues. That's enhanced by the discordant audio, and tight camera angles that make the film claustrophobic.

Very good.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) December 11, 2021

#FF21 The Power of The Dog is an excellent, compelling film.

Strong performances from all of the leads mix with beautiful visuals.

The script is the real winner, though: lots of little turns that were signposted, in retrospect. Will reward a repeat viewing.

Excellent.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) December 11, 2021

#FF21 Infinite was worth than I expected, and my bar was set very low.

Poorly shot action, bad acting and dialogue, and a silly plot that doesn't hold up its own premise particularly well; a "clever" concept that never delivers on anything it sets up.

Avoid.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) December 11, 2021

#FF21 In The Earth takes Ben Wheatley back to quiet, creeping, horror.

The small cast, remote location, and weird moments give the whole thing an otherworldly feel.

There are a few moments that are a little cliched, but an enjoyable and uncomfortable watch overall.

Very good.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) December 11, 2021

#FF21 The Card Counter left me colder than it intends.

Despite a solid cast, the performances don't work: a flat affect as disjointed dialogue is delivered without care, to a disconnected soundtrack. The threads of the story don't cohere, and nothing satisfies.

Bad and boring.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) December 11, 2021

#FF21 Spider-Man: No Way Home is a good Marvel film in its own right and a nice cap on an ongoing story.

While it can be self-indulgent, the nods and winks to the past generally work well. The plot is a little overstuffed and the editing a bit loose, but it works.

Enjoyable!

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) December 20, 2021

#FF21 The Matrix Resurrections is so much worse than the sequels.

Barely a plot, slapped together with bad dialogue, uninteresting action, poor acting (Moss excluded), uninspired visuals, a wonky conceit, and pointless callbacks and characters, strung out for too long.

Terrible

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) January 1, 2022

#FF21 Don't Look Up is a fine, but broad, piece of satire.

It lacks any sort of subtlety but is an infuriatingly accurate take on how the world handles crisis. A strong cast, and snappy pacing, make this a pleasant viewing experience.

Watch.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) January 1, 2022

#FF21 Azor is a study in disaffected politeness covering up societal evils.

Following a Swiss banker during the Argentinean regime change, as he goes on social visits to politely discuss a number of concerning issues without discussing them. Beautifully shot and told.

Good.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) January 1, 2022

#FF21 Seven Stages of Achieving Eternal Bliss has a good premise: a weird cult wanting to kill themselves in a couple's bath tub.

Heavy handed progression, and uneven performances, detract from what could've been a solid comedy.

Pretty forgettable.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) January 1, 2022

#FF21 Being The Ricardos is a fascinating look at Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

It's clearly a Sorkin film: the "one vital week" structure, studded with flashbacks, a great cast delivering snappy dialogue, and solid visuals. A fun drama. A serious comedy.

Very good.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) January 1, 2022

#FF21 Encounter is a disturbing, skin-crawling look at losing your sense of self.

Riz Ahmed is excellent, but it's the shot choices and editing that bring out the creeping tension of the unseen threat. You'll see where it's going quickly, but that scarcely matters.

Great.

— Gary Fleming (@garyfleming) January 1, 2022