OverlyHonestMovieReviews
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Where To Watch: shown at the 2024 FilmQuest Film Festival, available to stream here: YouTube
RAVING REVIEW: MEAT CLEAVER! Emerges as a flawless film, brilliantly encapsulating the visionary talents of Jared Asher Harris. Harris has seamlessly transitioned from creating stunning music videos into the intriguing and warped world of short films, presenting a fresh blend of horror, comedy, and fantasy that captivates audiences. His unique approach has transformed this vibrant and whimsically eerie film into a standout phenomenon within the indie film scene.
The film's grab for the Best Horror Film award at the LA International Shorts Festival underscores its appeal and the magnetic pull of Harris's narrative craftsmanship. The balance Harris achieves between humor and horror does not merely entertain; it enhances the film's suspense and enriches its depth.
The heart of MEAT CLEAVER! Is its poignant reflection of Harris's life adversities-battling chronic illness and personal losses-which he channels into his filmmaking. This personal investment infuses the film with authenticity and passion, making it more than a cinematic venture; it's a narrative of resilience and artistic metamorphosis. His journey from directing music videos, notably with Hozier, to creating a narrative film marks a pivotal evolution in his career, with MEAT CLEAVER! As a testament to his refined artistic vision.
Visually, the film is nothing short of mesmerizing. Harris' vivid colors and meticulous details create a surreal, hauntingly beautiful world that blurs the lines between life and the afterlife, pulling viewers into an immersive experience. Among the standout performances is Jessica Ruth Bell's portrayal of Wendy, whose journey through the quirky horrors of the afterlife is portrayed with an equal measure of heart and passion. Her character's cunning and confusion as she navigates this bizarre realm highlight the need for more unique and powerful female roles like Wendy in cinema. Bell's screen presence and charm are captivating; the world needs more of her! Her performance, alongside supporting roles of David Fyne, Socorro Jones, and Rob Moore, creates the perfect balance, adding humor and gravity to the unfolding outlandish elements.
Any critique you could find in this film pales in comparison to the film's imaginative scope and the emotional weight of its narrative. This debut showcases Harris' profound understanding of human emotions interwoven with existential musings, explored through a tale that is both engaging and enlightening.
Harris has a bright future, and whoever sees this potential and backs his next project will reap the rewards of welcoming a new visionary into genre filmmaking! His ability to intertwine his unique vision with universal themes gives the film a distinctive quality that resonates with audiences. Whether he expands this captivating narrative into a full-length feature (PLEASE let this happen!) or explores new creative avenues, his trajectory in the industry is marked by significant growth and influence. His knack for blending visual beauty with deep emotional narratives promises further success and potentially more groundbreaking films.
MEAT CLEAVER! Is a welcome conversation about overcoming adversity through creative expression. The film establishes Harris as a significant voice in contemporary cinema. It sets a high standard for the innovation and depth we should expect from the films of tomorrow. The world needs more of Wendy and the rest of the cast, along with the inventive realms Harris dares to explore, pushing the boundaries of genre and storytelling to thrilling new heights.
RAVING REVIEW: MEAT CLEAVER! Emerges as a flawless film, brilliantly encapsulating the visionary talents of Jared Asher Harris. Harris has seamlessly transitioned from creating stunning music videos into the intriguing and warped world of short films, presenting a fresh blend of horror, comedy, and fantasy that captivates audiences. His unique approach has transformed this vibrant and whimsically eerie film into a standout phenomenon within the indie film scene.
The film's grab for the Best Horror Film award at the LA International Shorts Festival underscores its appeal and the magnetic pull of Harris's narrative craftsmanship. The balance Harris achieves between humor and horror does not merely entertain; it enhances the film's suspense and enriches its depth.
The heart of MEAT CLEAVER! Is its poignant reflection of Harris's life adversities-battling chronic illness and personal losses-which he channels into his filmmaking. This personal investment infuses the film with authenticity and passion, making it more than a cinematic venture; it's a narrative of resilience and artistic metamorphosis. His journey from directing music videos, notably with Hozier, to creating a narrative film marks a pivotal evolution in his career, with MEAT CLEAVER! As a testament to his refined artistic vision.
Visually, the film is nothing short of mesmerizing. Harris' vivid colors and meticulous details create a surreal, hauntingly beautiful world that blurs the lines between life and the afterlife, pulling viewers into an immersive experience. Among the standout performances is Jessica Ruth Bell's portrayal of Wendy, whose journey through the quirky horrors of the afterlife is portrayed with an equal measure of heart and passion. Her character's cunning and confusion as she navigates this bizarre realm highlight the need for more unique and powerful female roles like Wendy in cinema. Bell's screen presence and charm are captivating; the world needs more of her! Her performance, alongside supporting roles of David Fyne, Socorro Jones, and Rob Moore, creates the perfect balance, adding humor and gravity to the unfolding outlandish elements.
Any critique you could find in this film pales in comparison to the film's imaginative scope and the emotional weight of its narrative. This debut showcases Harris' profound understanding of human emotions interwoven with existential musings, explored through a tale that is both engaging and enlightening.
Harris has a bright future, and whoever sees this potential and backs his next project will reap the rewards of welcoming a new visionary into genre filmmaking! His ability to intertwine his unique vision with universal themes gives the film a distinctive quality that resonates with audiences. Whether he expands this captivating narrative into a full-length feature (PLEASE let this happen!) or explores new creative avenues, his trajectory in the industry is marked by significant growth and influence. His knack for blending visual beauty with deep emotional narratives promises further success and potentially more groundbreaking films.
MEAT CLEAVER! Is a welcome conversation about overcoming adversity through creative expression. The film establishes Harris as a significant voice in contemporary cinema. It sets a high standard for the innovation and depth we should expect from the films of tomorrow. The world needs more of Wendy and the rest of the cast, along with the inventive realms Harris dares to explore, pushing the boundaries of genre and storytelling to thrilling new heights.
MOVIE REVIEW
Meet Cute
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance Year Released: 2022 Runtime: 1h 29m Director(s): Alex Lehmann Writer(s): Noga Pnueli Cast: Kaley Cuoco, Pete Davidson, Deborah S. Craig, Sierra Fisk Where To Watch: Releases exclusively on Peacock on September 21st
I'm a big fan of Kaley Cuoco (THE BIG BANG THEORY, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT) and, to my surprise, have been impressed with Pete Davidson (THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND, BODIES BODIES BODIES) far more than I had ever thought. So when I saw they would be in a romantic comedy, I jumped on the opportunity to screen it.
To my surprise, this was nothing like what I was expecting! It started pretty straightforward but quickly took an interesting twist that I wasn't expecting! This is thanks partly to not reading anything about the film ahead of time and just going in based on the cast. I suggest not reading anything about the movie if you plan to watch it. Without giving anything away, this is the second film I've seen this year that uses the same unconventional device to set up the entire plot. Although it isn't unheard of, there was a film (and even a sequel almost a decade ago that used something in a similar style.) Yes, I'm being vague intentionally to let you enjoy the surprise!
Cuoco gave a fantastic performance here that was in stark contrast to her BIG BANG THEORY character. I haven't seen her in much outside of that, so this was a fun watch, just in part because of that. I do have to mention that the movie deals with some heavier topics than I had initially assumed. That adds a lot of depth to it, but there could be a minor trigger warning for some. My only real knock on the film was how things were wrapped up in the end; I was hoping for a more significant twist; instead, it was pretty straightforward.
I honestly would've liked to have seen a little more of a deep dive into the film; with an hour and a half runtime, they glossed over the same aspect repeatedly; I think there was a lot of potential left on the table. However, it was still an interesting, unique, and enjoyable film.
For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews
Follow me on Instagram, Letterboxd, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.
I'm always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.
- star
Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance Year Released: 2022 Runtime: 1h 29m Director(s): Alex Lehmann Writer(s): Noga Pnueli Cast: Kaley Cuoco, Pete Davidson, Deborah S. Craig, Sierra Fisk Where To Watch: Releases exclusively on Peacock on September 21st
I'm a big fan of Kaley Cuoco (THE BIG BANG THEORY, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT) and, to my surprise, have been impressed with Pete Davidson (THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND, BODIES BODIES BODIES) far more than I had ever thought. So when I saw they would be in a romantic comedy, I jumped on the opportunity to screen it.
To my surprise, this was nothing like what I was expecting! It started pretty straightforward but quickly took an interesting twist that I wasn't expecting! This is thanks partly to not reading anything about the film ahead of time and just going in based on the cast. I suggest not reading anything about the movie if you plan to watch it. Without giving anything away, this is the second film I've seen this year that uses the same unconventional device to set up the entire plot. Although it isn't unheard of, there was a film (and even a sequel almost a decade ago that used something in a similar style.) Yes, I'm being vague intentionally to let you enjoy the surprise!
Cuoco gave a fantastic performance here that was in stark contrast to her BIG BANG THEORY character. I haven't seen her in much outside of that, so this was a fun watch, just in part because of that. I do have to mention that the movie deals with some heavier topics than I had initially assumed. That adds a lot of depth to it, but there could be a minor trigger warning for some. My only real knock on the film was how things were wrapped up in the end; I was hoping for a more significant twist; instead, it was pretty straightforward.
I honestly would've liked to have seen a little more of a deep dive into the film; with an hour and a half runtime, they glossed over the same aspect repeatedly; I think there was a lot of potential left on the table. However, it was still an interesting, unique, and enjoyable film.
For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews
Follow me on Instagram, Letterboxd, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.
I'm always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.
TV SERIES REVIEW
WeCrashed
3 out of 5 stars
Genre: Biography, Drama Year Released: 2022 Rating: Somewhere between TV14 and TVMA Cast: Jared Leto, Anne Hathaway, O-T Fagbenle, Kyle Marvin Where To Watch: Apple TV+ (starting 3/18 with a three-episode premiere)
Usually, you'd see a movie review here, but with my recent acceptance to the Apple Screening Room, I wanted to make sure to take full advantage of my options. I will say that reviewing a TV series takes a lot more work than a film. On average, a movie is an hour and a half to two hours; this series consisted of eight episodes, each running from 50 minutes to a little over an hour.
The series stars Jared Leto (Adam) and Anne Hathaway (Rebekah) in a limited series about the rise of WeWork, one of the most valuable startups the world has ever seen. While I didn't know much about the story behind the film, it was arguably predictable to see how the story would go.
Initially, I found Leto's accent a little offputting; however, after seeing interviews with the real Adam Neumann (who Leto played in the series), I found he was pretty much dead on with the accent. I've made this mistake before, thinking that Lady Gaga's accent in HOUSE OF GUCCI was off(upon further review, I will be listing films, books, TV shows, etc. In all caps instead of quotes,) but again, watching the interviews with her real-life counterpart I found her to be perfect.
The series itself was very well made and what we as an audience have come to expect from streaming service originals. There weren't any moments that I was watching where I felt like I wasn't watching a Hollywood film. Having talents like Leto and Hathaway only enhances the experience; the only issue I had with Hathaway's appearance was that she felt like she was playing herself instead of the character she was trying to portray. A nice bonus was the addition of America Ferrera, who I've missed after she departed from the TV series SUPERSTORE.
Usually, I'm not too fond of limited series, I feel like they drag stories out, and this was no exception. I feel like the same impact could've been made in a six-part series just as easily. Several segments just felt like the directors knew they had to fill an hour, so they expanded a scene that could've taken thirty seconds into several minutes. I feel like this method ended up hurting the series more in the long run; I found myself trying to mentally jump ahead in the story when they would slow the progression.
The irony is that the truth behind this story is tailor-made for a drama of this caliber; the real larger-than-life characters were nearly unbelievable. WeWork manages over four million square meters of shared office space in 121 cities. An initial valuation of the company targeted it at 47 billion dollars; while not the most significant valuation in history, it was still pretty impressive and made for an appealing startup that many bought into. Along with the shared workspace model, the company branched out into many other ventures, which the series didn't cover in great detail. They opened gyms, schools, shared living ventures, and bought out a lot of their competition.
There is also a documentary coming up that will be released on Hulu on April 2. Sadly I haven't been able to get early access to that to compare the two, although I will most definitely be checking it out when I get the opportunity.
As a new addition, I will add my thoughts about what I would have done differently. In this case, I would have explored the inner workings of the employees at the company instead of just the higher-ups.
For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.
I'm always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.
#wecrashed #jaredleto #secondstomars #annehathaway #echelon #thekill #wework #appletv #morbius #justiceleague #alexander #mrnobody #lordofwar #requiemforadream #houseofgucci #snydercut #fromyesterday #america #suicidesquad #joker #walkonwater #colinfarrell #abeautifullie #thirtysecondstomars #shannonleto #appletvplus #adamneumann #dangerousnight #california.
Genre: Biography, Drama Year Released: 2022 Rating: Somewhere between TV14 and TVMA Cast: Jared Leto, Anne Hathaway, O-T Fagbenle, Kyle Marvin Where To Watch: Apple TV+ (starting 3/18 with a three-episode premiere)
Usually, you'd see a movie review here, but with my recent acceptance to the Apple Screening Room, I wanted to make sure to take full advantage of my options. I will say that reviewing a TV series takes a lot more work than a film. On average, a movie is an hour and a half to two hours; this series consisted of eight episodes, each running from 50 minutes to a little over an hour.
The series stars Jared Leto (Adam) and Anne Hathaway (Rebekah) in a limited series about the rise of WeWork, one of the most valuable startups the world has ever seen. While I didn't know much about the story behind the film, it was arguably predictable to see how the story would go.
Initially, I found Leto's accent a little offputting; however, after seeing interviews with the real Adam Neumann (who Leto played in the series), I found he was pretty much dead on with the accent. I've made this mistake before, thinking that Lady Gaga's accent in HOUSE OF GUCCI was off(upon further review, I will be listing films, books, TV shows, etc. In all caps instead of quotes,) but again, watching the interviews with her real-life counterpart I found her to be perfect.
The series itself was very well made and what we as an audience have come to expect from streaming service originals. There weren't any moments that I was watching where I felt like I wasn't watching a Hollywood film. Having talents like Leto and Hathaway only enhances the experience; the only issue I had with Hathaway's appearance was that she felt like she was playing herself instead of the character she was trying to portray. A nice bonus was the addition of America Ferrera, who I've missed after she departed from the TV series SUPERSTORE.
Usually, I'm not too fond of limited series, I feel like they drag stories out, and this was no exception. I feel like the same impact could've been made in a six-part series just as easily. Several segments just felt like the directors knew they had to fill an hour, so they expanded a scene that could've taken thirty seconds into several minutes. I feel like this method ended up hurting the series more in the long run; I found myself trying to mentally jump ahead in the story when they would slow the progression.
The irony is that the truth behind this story is tailor-made for a drama of this caliber; the real larger-than-life characters were nearly unbelievable. WeWork manages over four million square meters of shared office space in 121 cities. An initial valuation of the company targeted it at 47 billion dollars; while not the most significant valuation in history, it was still pretty impressive and made for an appealing startup that many bought into. Along with the shared workspace model, the company branched out into many other ventures, which the series didn't cover in great detail. They opened gyms, schools, shared living ventures, and bought out a lot of their competition.
There is also a documentary coming up that will be released on Hulu on April 2. Sadly I haven't been able to get early access to that to compare the two, although I will most definitely be checking it out when I get the opportunity.
As a new addition, I will add my thoughts about what I would have done differently. In this case, I would have explored the inner workings of the employees at the company instead of just the higher-ups.
For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews
Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews.
I'm always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about all things movies.
#wecrashed #jaredleto #secondstomars #annehathaway #echelon #thekill #wework #appletv #morbius #justiceleague #alexander #mrnobody #lordofwar #requiemforadream #houseofgucci #snydercut #fromyesterday #america #suicidesquad #joker #walkonwater #colinfarrell #abeautifullie #thirtysecondstomars #shannonleto #appletvplus #adamneumann #dangerousnight #california.