venusmaxximus

I cannot possibly give this show enough praise. One of the best new television shows I have seen in a very long time. The writing is smart, well paced, titillating and hilarious. A dream cast who are all giving some of their best performances. The guest stars playing themselves really makes you feel like you are immersed in the film industry. It's also so lovely to see Seth Rogan and Evan Goldberg's writing to have evolved to such a polished, smart, but still unbelievably hilarious place. I've always been a fan of their work, so to see how far they've come is incredibly satisfying. This is their legacy project. You will laugh. You will be on the edge of your seat. You will not regret getting on this inane thrill ride.

I am a musical theatre enthusiast and a transgender woman. Despite all of the negative criticism and press, I attempted to go into this movie with an open mind. That negative hype is real. It's like a balloon that instantly deflates. Its attempt at surrealism is as lazy and misguided as its attempt to create interesting or frankly listenable music. The songs are incredibly boring, to the point that it's baffling. The character and plot development is flat and shallow. I truly could not find anything redeemable about this movie. Zoe Saldana has some strong acting moments, but the writing is so bad that it cancels it out. Selena Gomez is embarrassing to watch (and I am a massive fan). Karla Sofia just straight up cannot act. I also couldn't help but feel that the version Mexico that the film builds was teetering on the side of racist. But above all it commits art's worst sin: it's boring. It is as dry as a cracker that's been left out overnight. The accolades this film is receiving cannot be interpreted as anything incredibly tone deaf pandering. Save your time and skip it.

This is not Robert Eggers' strongest film, but I think it's mostly due to the level of excellence we have received from him in the past. It was still an incredible watch, but, I don't think we can expect him to knock it out of the park every time.

That said, I loved it. Its strongest element by far is the visuals. The production design, costuming, makeup, cinematography etc all worked together beautifully to create a visually stunning film. It all evoked the gloomy uneasiness of the narrative while still maintaining a seemingly very detailed dedication to historical accuracy.

Obviously it is a remake, but the plot was nothing new, and I can't say Eggers' take on it added a new layer or perspective, but I didn't really care. The beginning was a bit slow, but as the film progressed it felt like there was an intentional approach to the pacing that got faster and bigger as the film progressed, like a snowball running down a hill.

I was completely entranced and lost in it by the end. After the movie ended, I realized I had forgotten I was in a theatre. I got that feeling I get after watching every Eggers film for the first time - a deep uneasiness that makes me feel like I've been disturbed and shifted in a way that can't be undone. So to me, that made it successful.

Here's why I think it was excellent.

1) Despite what I said earlier, Eggers' direction is strong, it was definitely a love letter to past iterations, and I felt like I was transported to another place. I love homage in art, so it worked for me.

2) The acting is phenomenal. Lily Rose-Depp was unbelievable and I marveled at the range and difficulty of her performance. Her sorrow is deeply felt, and in the night scenes, she is moving and contorting her body in ways that are perfectly disturbing.

Bill Skarsgard was not in this movie. He was completely lost to the entity he was playing. It was exceptional. The makeup / costuming must have been incredibly difficult to work in, and he seemingly move through it with ease. I had to look up if he used a voice double because I couldn't believe that was him speaking. He was completely terrifying and spooked me to my core. It made Pennywise seem like a clown at a child's birthday party in comparison. I felt his longing and obsession, and he masterfully brings that emotional component to a disturbing place.

This is completely worth your time. It is breathtaking, disturbing and put me in a trance, but like Nosferatu himself. I got the Robert Eggers experience I was hoping for.