Armageddon Time

If director Gray thinks Reagan mentioning Armageddon was traumatic, he ought to talk to those of us who lived through the Cuban Missile Crisis! Other than being scared by the suggestion of nuclear war rather than actually being on the brink of it, this film is lackluster and derivitive. Nothing original and nothing new to say, with pedestrian direction, and an uninspired script. This is a movie that thinks it has a lot to say but it just doesn't have anything interesting to say. It's hard to become invested in such silly, shallow, and self-absorbed characters. An excellent cast does the best they can but it all adds up to very little indeed.

James Gray really can write psychologically and morally complex characters better than the vast majority of filmmakers working today. The central family portrayed in his latest film showcases this.

The people in Gray's 1980 New York are all remarkably flawed with objectionable traits and tendencies, yet they have tangible human qualities that make watching them a constantly riveting experience. They struggle to live and love and Gray gives them all little satisfying moments to grow.

As for the performances, they're equally awe-inspiring, especially Anne Hathaway and Anthony Hopkins. But the young boy, Banks Repeta, is also a standout and manages to carry most of the film on his own.

Plot-wise, however, the film is seriously lacking in momentum and substance. There really is no inviting incident nor is there even a real central conflict in the film; just small subplots that begin and sometimes come to an end over the course of the movie.

The lack of tangible pacing and progress makes the story's conclusion feel a bit hollow and empty, but the journey itself is packed with little rewarding moments and powerful scenes that make the overall experience a mostly satisfying one.

You've seen it many times before, watching other people grow up's such a chore, we've all been adolescent, distracted and pubescent, it's a boring set of takes and you will snore. Perhaps if it had something new to say, portrayed a family more uniquely in their way, a novel circumstance, to catch your eye, a second glance, not monotony of children in their play. If you make it to the end you might just wonder, why fine actors chose to loot your time and plunder, must be quite a fallow year, to want to make this and appear, in something that's so dull, it makes you want to slumber.

Although it also makes you wonder whether an aging Welshman is the only person who could have filled that specific role.

A dull and boring film which ended with me thinking "what was the point" and what a waste of time. A complete mystery as to what was the story and more importantly what was the moral of the story. Even Anthony Hopkins could not save this film. I kept on waiting for the wisdom of Hopkins' character to be revealed and passed on to his grandson given his obliquely alluded to family history of terror during the Second World War at the hands of the Nazis during the Holocaust. All Hopkins' character could come up with was a single reference to "be a mensch". We had to put up with two extremely annoying adolescents.

Armageddon Time (2022)

I don't understand why I didn't enjoy this film because normally I love these kinds of coming of age stories. Moreover, I watched this primarily for Anthony Hopkins' and as always, he delivered a terrific performance which should have sealed the deal and yet, it didn't. The director's intention is clearly there but when all the elements come together, the experience feels watered down as the film fails to have a clear focus.

Armageddon Time is a story a young boy who lives with his big family and that's about it. He is a mischievous and to some extent, an entitled brat who seems to only respect his grandfather. The movie tries to make us connect with the boy by showing various adventures and while some moments feel humorous and joyful, they barely make an impact. The sequences with the family are definitely the most enjoyable because of the great cast, particularly Anthony Hopkins who steals every scene he is in.

However, the whole experience feels like a half measure because the director was scared to show anything truly emotional or powerful. It's as if he couldn't decide whether to portray a tender relationship between a the boy and his grandfather, give an audience a lesson on morality or demonstrate the importance of achieving success in life. As a result, the movie falls flat and ends without leaving any sort of impression, inspiration or emotional aftertaste.

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