EdTV:
Ed is played by Matthew McConaughey, and the casting could not be more spot on. While McConaughey has spent the better part of the last decade in more serious roles, back in the nineties he was the king of comedy. He is the perfect pick to play this Texas-born basic dude, who spends his free time lounging around his dilapidated apartment. Sounds like a terrible TV show, right? Much to the television executive’s surprise, Ed’s television show takes off. As a romance ensues between Ed and his older brother’s girlfriend, Shari, the American public becomes entranced with Ed's life, constantly tuning in all hours of the day. The plot of the film is fairly straight-forward from there, and essentially shifts to a romantic comedy about Ed and Shari’s relationship. .
If you’re looking for a super high-quality, critically acclaimed film, definitely look elsewhere. “EdTV” is strictly here for some silly entertainment. The plot is super predictable, and there are positively no surprises. That being said, the one-liners completely make this film worth the watch. Between the funny script and McConaughey’s exceptional delivery, you’re certain to crack up throughout the movie. If you want something light-hearted and fun, “EdTV” is certainly a good choice!
The Peanut Butter Falcon:
When the movie begins, we meet Zak, desperate to break out of his assisted living and become a wrestler. His cheeky roommate, played by Bruce Dern, assists Zak with his great escape. Wearing nothing but his underwear, Zak runs into Tyler, who is on the run from some crab fisherman who took over his turf. The pair embark on a grand adventure as Tyler heads to Florida seeking out a new life, and promises to drop Zak off at his dream wrestling school on the way. Meanwhile, Zak’s social worker, Eleanor (Dakota Johnson) works tirelessly to track Zak down and return him to his care facility. Eventually their paths intersect and the adventure continues!
“The Peanut Butter Falcon” is a hopeful and heartwarming story. It is the kind of story that could be saccharine and unbelievable. However, it is done in such a brilliant way that you fully believe in and support these characters every step of the way. Throughout the story, a beautiful friendship blossoms between Tyler and Zak. Tyler is the first person not to patronize Zak, treating him as an equal. We see tremendous growth in both characters throughout the film, and it is a joy to root for their successes along the way. They have a great rapport, and Tyler is always finding creative ways to include Zak in various shenanigans. Zak comes into his own as he feels open to be himself around Tyler. His confidence and gusto to follow his dream is awe-inspiring. Tyler and Zak definitely bring out the best in each other. It is so clear that these characters were well-developed by the writers and brought to life by Zack Gottsagen and Shia LeBeouf.
While in my eyes almost every aspect of this film was perfect, it was Shia LeBeouf’s performance that really set “The Peanut Butter Falcon” apart. He was positively exceptional in his role as Tyler. He nails his southern accent, and looks perfectly unpolished in his dirty clothes and tattered baseball cap. The emotion he displays in this role took me by surprise. Tyler undergoes a lot of character development throughout the film, learning from his companion along the way. His character has undergone heartbreak and tragedy, and as a viewer you can feel the weight that Tyler carries with him. His performance is raw and captivating. It is one of the best emotionally charged performances I’ve seen in a long time.
This is a movie where the setting serves as a major component of the film. The cinematography depicting the Outer Banks is unbelievably gorgeous, and truly transports viewers, the way swampland is an integral part of “Beasts of the Southern Wild”. The lighting is absolutely gorgeous, showcasing the exceptional beauty of this land. Another great element of “The Peanut Butter Falcon” was the soundtrack. Throughout the film, terrific bluegrass and folk music accompanies the characters. This added to the atmosphere, fully immersing the audience in The Outer Banks.
“The Peanut Butter Falcon” is the perfect blend of humor, heartbreak, and charm. As cliche as it is, you will laugh and you will cry. It is the ultimate feel-good film about found family and the beauty of friendship. It is laugh-out-loud funny and I guarantee it will make you smile. I would watch it every day if I could! Of all the movies I’ve seen, I can wholeheartedly recommend this film to everyone. I cannot think of a single soul who wouldn’t love this film! It is absolutely fantastic through and through. Go watch it and spend the rest of your evening with a grin on your face! “The Peanut Butter Falcon” is emotional, heartwarming (I cannot stress this enough!) and just outstanding!!
Vox Lux:
Now, let me preface this post by acknowledging that I honestly don’t know how or why “Vox Lux” made it into my movie jar. I think when this film first came out I wanted to see it and never got around to it. Anyway! “Vox Lux” is a film like no other. It is about Celeste, a pop singer who was launched to fame after a tragic incident in her childhood. As you may be able to tell by my tone up until this point, I was absolutely not a fan of this movie. It seems like a movie that desperately wanted to be unique and artsy, and its message was muddied in the odd artistic choices and hair-brained plot.
The movie opens with a horrific school shooting scene, depicted as a rather casual and routine occurrence. The way in which this scene was crafted disgusted me. There was no indication in the trailer that this would happen in the film, and I feel it is the kind of subject matter that has to be disclosed first. It just was done in very poor taste, as it was exceptionally graphic and had no emotional gravity. Essentially, I was skeptical about this film from the get-go but somehow powered through. Spoiler alert- it was not worth it. I think the point of this opening scene was to capture the newfound normalcy of school shootings, but it just struck me as offensive and disrespectful.
Celeste performs at a church service after the school shooting, and this performance launches her career as a pop star. The rest of the film tells the story of her life in the spotlight, emphasizing the corruption in the entertainment industry. The adult version of Celeste (played by Natalie Portman) is entirely different from how she was as a child. She is short-tempered, selfish, and volatile. This represents how the cruel environment she grew up in, under the scrutiny of the public eye and shuffled between her manager and publicist, warped her sense of self. Frankly, I found this very annoying to watch. The plot leaps from tragedy to tragedy, with dialogue between awful self-involved characters in between. The plot is not cohesive and I don’t think the artistic decisions (such as recasting the actress playing young Celeste as adult Celete’s daughter) add anything of value to the film. This one just didn’t work for me! I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone, even those with a proclivity for artistic and unique movies. There are simply so many other avant garde films that would serve you better! Until next week- happy movie watching to you all!
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