2067 (2020)

 

 

Streaming Service: Hulu

Movie Name/Year: 2067 (2020)

Genre: Sci-fi, Mystery

Length:  1h 54min

Rating: Unrated

Production/Distribution: Screen Australia, XYZ Films, Futurism Studios, The South Australian Film Corporation, Adelaide Film Festival, Create NSW, Elevate Production Finance, Grumpy Sailor, Kojo Productions, Freedom Films, Arcadia, RLJE Films, Netflix Australia, Hulu

Director: Seth Larney

Writers: Seth Larney, Gareth Davies, Galvin Scott Davis, Davie Paterson

Actors: Aaron Glenane, Andy McPhee, Checc Musolino, Damian Walshe-Howling, Deborah Mailman, Finn Little, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Leeanna Walsman, Matt Testro, Ryan Kwanten, Sana'a Shaik

 

Rotten Tomatoes Blurb: When Earth's air becomes unbreathable, a message from the future sends a man on a dangerous mission to an unknown world to save the human race.

 

Cat’s Point of View:

Have I mentioned before that I’m a sucker for Sci-Fi? If the concept is even remotely interesting, or if I’m drawn to members of the cast, I’m down to watch (even if I know it’s going to be questionable).

2067 was one of those movies that I had a few question marks in my mind about but wanted to see it all the same. It helped that Ryan Kwanten (Them, Expired, Glorious) was in it. He’s not just another pretty face, though. As a fan of the books, I was an avid watcher of True Blood (2008-2014), and Kwanten got my attention through his take on Jason Stackhouse. (Yes, I know True Blood didn’t follow the books. Let’s not get stuck on that.) Since then, I’m generally down to watch anything he’s in. He tends to be underrated as an actor, in my opinion. I digress…

 

I had enough reason to expect a decent performance from Kodi Smit-McPhee (ParaNorman, Slow West, Alpha) as well, even though I wasn’t as familiar with his work. 

While 2067 didn’t make Selina’s Top 20 list for October 2020, the production was a solid #12 for me. 

Without further gilding the lily, I’d have to say that 2067 was alright. Just alright.

I wish I could be doing cartwheels for it or something like that, alas it just wasn’t exactly as thrilling as I thought it might be from the trailer. This was actually my 2nd viewing of 2067. I remember watching it back in 2020 as soon as it became available through one of my streaming services or cable network. Here’s the thing though… I only remembered after my daughter piped up and reminded me. We had watched it together back then, too. I’d utterly forgotten. 

 

The message about the environmental damage that mankind has wrought upon the planet is clear. It pretty much gets beaten over our heads while at the same time encouraging hope and highlighting the ingenuity of human desperation. 

The effects were actually surprisingly good for what had to be the shoestring budget they were working with, too. I believed every minute of the visuals of this dystopian future… for the most part. There were a couple things associated with a plot hole or so that took me out of the movie for a few moments, but it wasn’t enough to wreck my experience. There were just a few flaws in the fundamental science of the story.

 

The plot was twisty, but not entirely unpredictable. Unfortunately, at this stage I can’t tell if that was because I remembered my first watch-through and thus already subconsciously knew the twists and how things turned out. 

If you like time travel paradox type Sci-Fi, 2067 isn’t a horrible way to spend a couple of hours, though the concept has been explored more successfully by other films in the genre for sure. 

 

 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 31%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 39%

Metascore – 39%

Metacritic User Score – 5.7/10

IMDB Score – 4.9/10

 

Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3/5

Trust the Dice: Parental Advisory Rating – PG-13

 

Movie Trailer:

Needle in a Timestack (2021)

Streaming Service: Amazon Prime
Movie Name/Year: Needle in a Timestack (2021)
Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi, Romance
Length: 1h 51min
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: BRON Studios, Creative Wealth Media Finance, Ember20, Montana North Media, Lionsgate
Director: John Ridley
Writer: John Ridley, Robert Silverberg
Actors: Leslie Odom Jr., Freida Pinto, Cynthia Erivo, Orlando Bloom, Jadyn Wong, Ulka Simone Mohanty, Elizabeth Weinstein, Gourav Shah, Laysla De Oliveira
 
Blurb from IMDb: Nick and Janine live in marital bliss until Janine's ex-husband warps time to try to tear them apart. As Nick's memories disappear, he must decide what he's willing to sacrifice in order to hold onto - or let go of - everything he loves.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
There was a lot to like about Needle in a Timestack, but it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
 
At the very start of the flick, I got a distinct ‘commercial’ feel from it. The way the cameras zoomed in on the various pieces of technology felt more like they were trying to sell something than tell a story. That’s something Black Mirror (2011-2019) also does a lot of to showcase whatever tech they’re using in the plot. I understand why it’s done, but there’s got to be a better way. It takes me out of the story, at least a little, every time.
 
The feeling didn’t last throughout the whole movie. When the first time event hit, it caught me off guard. I loved what they did with it. Not only did it look cool, but they managed to explain the entire situation without making me feel like I was sitting through a ton of exposition. That’s impressive for a science fiction.
 

You also can’t fault any of the acting, either. Leslie Odom Jr. (Central Park, Glass Onion, Harriet), Cynthia Erivo (Harriet, Luther: The Fallen Sun, Roar), Jadyn Wong (Debug, Scorpion, Cosmopolis), Freida Pinto (Slumdog Millionaire, Mr. Malcolm’s List, Hillbilly Elegy) and Orlando Bloom (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Outpost, Unlocked) played their parts perfectly. I didn’t see any of their past performances while I was watching, they became their characters completely. That’s saying a lot because I’m a huge fan of Hamilton (2020). To not see Odom as Burr is usually an issue for me.
 
That’s where the good news ends. The story behind Needle in a Timestack was just kind of mid. It wasn’t bad, but it also didn’t grip me like a good story should. It was a lot of romance tropes, and a very familiar plot, with some interesting sci-fi aspects tossed in. They could have done so much more with the concept.
 
As a romance, Needle in a Timestack is watchable, but it doesn’t really stand out as much as one would hope.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
Needle in a Timestack had an interesting concept. I haven’t read the Robert Silverberg (The Twilight Zone: To See the Invisible Man, Amanda & the Alien, Bicentennial Man) short story it was adapted from, but it intrigued me. I adore sci-fi and playing with time and technology are some of the cornerstones of the genre. I mean, I am also a die-hard Whovian so the concept of time travel and its inherent quirks is something that feels very familiar.
 
Alas, while the sci-fi element was certainly not amiss from the story, it was more heavily leaning on the dramatic side of romance and relationships. Time travel was more like a set piece as a fixture already well-established in the film’s world. There were some thought-provoking moments, however, and the characters were portrayed well. It was just hard to keep my attention because the drama pulled out the time to where I felt like I spent well over 2 hours watching Needle in a Timestack.
 

I did love how much care went into the characters. You got a good window into how each of them worked so that each shift in the story hit just right. Time shenanigans were subtly worked into the environment through the character connections as well as the surroundings. Needle in a Timestack also handled doling out a serious case of Deja vu to its audience, as well.

 
I just wish that it had more to offer in the excitement department to help me not play “The Room Where it Happens” in my head over and over when I saw Leslie Odom, Jr. on screen.
 
While this production doesn’t have me jumping at the chance to watch it again, I did like it. Fans of single-genre romantic dramas might get significantly more out of this story than I did.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 37%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 54%
Metascore – 42%
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score –5.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

The Adam Project (2022)

Streaming Service: Netflix
Movie Name/Year: The Adam Project (2022)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
Length: 106 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Production/Distribution: 21 Laps Entertainment, Maximum Effort, Skydance Media, Netflix
Director: Shawn Levy
Writer: Jonathan Tropper, T.S. Nowlin, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin
Actors: Ryan Reynolds, Walker Scobell, Mark Ruffalo, Jennifer Garner, Zoe Saldana, Catherine Keener, Alex Mallari Jr., Braxton Bjerken, Kasra Wong, Lucie Guest
 
Blurb from IMDb: A time-traveling pilot teams up with his younger self and his late father to come to terms with his past while saving the future.

Selina’s Point of View:
March is a big month for science fiction, and The Adam Project was pretty high on my list of must-sees. It was even higher on the list for Cat, who put it as her #2 movie to look out for.
 
We were both right, but is that all that much of a shock? It’s a Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool, Red Notice, Free Guy) film. It was destined to – at the very least – be fun.
 
On that subject, my very first thought was that it must have been difficult to find a kid that could play Ryan Reynolds as well as Reynolds plays himself. The casting director, Carmen Cuba (Stranger Things, The Martian, The Power of the Dog), should be proud of herself. It definitely felt like tiny Adam and adult Adam were the same person in every scene where they interacted.
 

Walker Scobell had no business being as good as he was. At 13-years-old, in his full-length feature film debut, he held his own with one of the most beloved actors of our time. That’s insane. I had to look up his age because I didn’t believe he wasn’t older and just playing a kid. It’s going to be interesting to watch what he does next.
 
I expected The Adam Project to be funny and to have some decent action sequences. It lived up to all that. I wasn’t, however, expecting to be called out quite as much as I was.
 
There were serious gut-punches that led to tears. On top of that, there were some moments of reflection that have given me things to talk to my therapist about. “It’s easier to be angry than it is to be sad.” I mean, yeah, but – shut up.
 

I had a good time watching The Adam Project. Everything was so well done: from the story to the acting, to the script, to the subtle pop-culture nods. There was a little something for everyone.
 
That said, it’s time travel. I, personally, enjoyed the take on it – but it’s a hot-button issue for sci-fi fans. Everyone has a very strong opinion on how it’s shown and not everyone is going to agree with this specific way. I don’t think it should hurt anyone’s enjoyment of it, but it’s worth noting.
 
The Adam Project was a great flick for just about anybody. An inherent interest in sci-fi is not required.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 69%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 81%
Metascore – 55%
Metacritic User Score – 7.0
IMDB Score – 7.2/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

The Tomorrow War (2021)

Streaming Services: Amazon Prime Video
Movie Name/Year: The Tomorrow War (2021)
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Length: 140 minutes
Rating: PG-13
Production/Distribution: Skydance Media, Lit Entertainment Group, New Republic Pictures, Phantom Four Films, Amazon Studios, Paramount Pictures International, United International Pictures (UIP), Universal Pictures International (UPI), Amazon Prime Video
Director: Chris McKay
Writer:  Zach Dean
Actors: Chris Pratt, Yvonne Strahovski, J.K. Simmons, Betty Gilpin, Sam Richardson, Jasmine Mathews, Edwin Hodge, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Keith Powers, Mary Lynn Rajskub, Mike Mitchell, Jared Shaw, Alexis Louder, Rose Bianco, Seychelle Gabriel
 
Blurb from IMDb: A family man is drafted to fight in a future war where the fate of humanity relies on his ability to confront the past.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
More of this please.
 
Normally, my attention drifts when I watch movies. The post-it notes on my monitor draw my eye, my phone will vibrate, I’ll need a drink, I’ll have to fix the temp in my office… really, anything will make me look away for a couple of seconds here or there. I find myself rewinding films a lot in order to ensure I don’t miss anything.
 
Not with The Tomorrow War.
 
The Tomorrow World hooked me from the beginning. It had some cute bits of character development at first. Not too much exposition, just enough so that the audience knows what’s happening. Then it drops us into the action, and horrors, of war.
 
I was shocked at how good the aliens looked.
 
The kind of CGI needed for creatures, like the ones showcased in this flick, is incredibly difficult to get right. It’s so easy for the aliens to come out campy, or unbelievable. When it’s done wrong, it becomes difficult to take the film seriously. Not an issue with The Tomorrow War. The graphics were all gorgeous, but especially the creatures.
 

The fight scenes were intense, but pretty much every moment worked well for creating tension. It was brutal, emotional, and – in a lot of ways – realistic. Instead of throwing civilians into a war and showing them immediately knowing how to kick ass and take names, the script gives us some gems of realism. I definitely thought most characters had reasonable reactions to the situation they were in.
 
I was impressed by the acting, the directing, and the writing. Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy, Jurassic World, The Magnificent Seven) really made me believe in his dedicated father, ex-military character – just as much as J.K. Simmons (Invincible, Palm Springs, Klaus) made me believe in his deadbeat-dad. Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale, Angel of Mine, Stateless) was bad ass, while Betty Gilpin (The Hunt, Stuber, The Grudge) brought across the desperation of a wife scared to lose the person she loves. Sam Richardson’s (The Good Boys, Hooking Up, Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.) mostly comic relief scientist was played beautifully, while my heart broke for the jaded and traumatized soldier played by Edwin Hodge (Mayans M.C., Bumblebee, Six).
 
This is the kind of film I would watch for fun, not just for the blog.
 
I’m well aware of the reception.
 
Let me urge you, once more, to compare the scores from critics with the scores from general audiences. There is a HUGE discrepancy – and it’s the same on every review site that tracks both. Critics are giving The Tomorrow War awful reviews – but the general audience (which is the majority of people who watch movies) is loving it. NEVER take the critic reviews over those of people actually paying for their tickets. (This film may not have released in theaters, due to Covid-19, but I would have paid for it if I could have.)
 
If you have access to Amazon Prime Video, definitely watch this one. It’s long, but the time passes SO quickly.
 

Cat’s Point of View:
I do not regret listing The Tomorrow War as my #2 on July’s Top 20 Movies to Look Out For. If Black Widow (2021) weren’t releasing this month, it could have easily been #1. I can only hope that all of the movies that I’m looking forward to in July have the same amazing payout.
 
The graphics were consistently good throughout and the acting was stellar – even the minor supporting roles. Those that got airtime made the most of every second. 

This was a solid sci-fi offering and probably one of the best I’ve seen in a long time. It’s got crazy scary creatures and time travel surrounding a story about family, forgiveness, and perseverance. There are even splashes of comedy here and there to take just a little of the edge off – and it was seriously appreciated in a few places. I swear there was a moment that my heart was about to leap from my chest but one comedic element had myself and my daughter laughing unexpectedly.
 
I know I always try to find the positive in a movie and highlight it, even when the rest of it is a stinker – no such thing here. I can’t think of a single thing wrong, really. If there were flaws, I apparently was quite happy to look over them because the rest of The Tomorrow War had me so enthralled.
 

There are so many kudos to pass around here. I’m not even sure where to start. Let’s go from the top down. Chris Pratt picked an awesome movie to be his first as an Executive Producer. Chris McKay (Titan Maximum, Robot Chicken: Star Wars III, The Lego Batman Movie) doesn’t have a lot of film credits so far, but his direction of this film was a great addition. It makes me excited to see what he’s going to do with the projects he’s slated to work on in the near future.
 
Can we pause for a moment, though, and consider that The Tomorrow War is only the 3rd cinematic screenplay that Zach Dean (Deadfall, 24 Hours to Live) has credited on IMDb? Just the 3rd. I want to watch his previous 2 now, and can’t wait to see what he does as his career takes off. (No pressure or anything man, sorry.)
 
My appreciation for Sam Richardson’s character, Charlie, from the trailers has only expanded a thousand-fold now that the final credits have rolled. He is a gem and without him, this film would have been entirely different.
 
The Tomorrow War is bloody brilliant, and it’s free to Amazon Prime subscribers. If you’re looking for a great and exciting movie for this weekend – or anytime, really. Check it out!
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 53%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 81%
Metascore – 44/100
Metacritic User Score – 6.6/10
IMDB Score – 6.9/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5
Trust the Dice: Cat’s Rating – 5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

Synchronic (2020) - In Theaters

Streaming Services: In Theaters
Movie Name/Year: Synchronic (2020)
Genre: Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
Length: 96 minutes
Rating: R
Production/Distribution: Patriot Pictures, Pfaff & Pfaff Productions, Love & Death Productions (LDP), Rustic Films, Well Go USA Entertainment, Signature Entertainment, Umbrella Entertainment
VVS Films
Director: Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead
Writer: Justin Benson
Actors: Jamie Dornan, Anthony Mackie, Katie Aselton, Ally Ioannides, Bill Oberst Jr., Natasha Tina Liu, Aaron Groben, Martin Bats Bradford, Devyn A. Tyler, Betsy Holt, Lawrence Turner, Shane Brady, Kate Adair
 
Blurb from IMDb: Two New Orleans paramedics' lives are ripped apart after they encounter a series of horrific deaths linked to a designer drug with bizarre, otherworldly effects.
 

Selina’s Point of View:
I had the opportunity to see Synchronic yesterday, and I absolutely jumped at the chance.
 
Now, if you are in a part of the world where COVID cases are on the rise – don’t go to a theater, even if they’re open. If the numbers are steady or declining, but the theater does not have safety procedures in place that are strictly followed – DON’T go. Only go to the theater if it is as safe as possible for you and everyone around you. After my review, I’ll go into the safety precautions in place at my local theater.
 
On to the review.
 
I was seriously looking forward to Synchronic. I adore Anthony Mackie (Altered Carbon, Avengers: Endgame, IO) and I enjoy a good time bending sci-fi. So, this was right up my alley.
 
The first thing I latched onto was just how organic the dialogue was. When Mackie and Jamie Dornan (Robin Hood, Untogether, The Fall) are bantering, their lines feel natural. Sometimes they joke about sensitive subjects or roast each other, but it always feels like a friendship thing. It never comes off as obnoxious or heavy-handed. That’s not a simple thing to accomplish. It’s a testament to how talented the writer is, if it was pre-written, or the director, if he simply allowed them to ad-lib.

Am I now obsessed with the directors/writer, Aaron Moorhead (The Endless, A Glaring Emission, Spring) and Justin Benson (The Endless, Spring, Resolution), the way coming attractions insisted I would be? No. I’m a little more curious now than I was at the end of V/H/S Viral (2014) – but hardly obsessed.
 
What they put out was good. Still, it’s not something I’ll look back on as a favorite.
 
Although it’s a very interesting take on the time bending sub-genre, there were some missteps.
 
The first half-hour of the film felt fragmented. The scenes didn’t really flow well, and it made time move very slowly as I fought to stay interested. It wasn’t until the story really began to delve into the purpose of Mackie’s character that I felt myself sucked into what I was seeing.
 
Regardless, I’d still recommend Synchronic. It was a great return to the cinema for me.
 

With that said, let me talk a little bit about the theater that I frequent. I go to a ShowcaseCinema. They are currently working with J.S. Held, which is a firm comprised of experts (including those from health and safety areas), to produce the best possible environment for movie goers to return to.
 
Their new safety regulations include sanitizing methods, social distancing, reduced capacity, a new air purifying system, contactless payment options, covered containers at concession stands, protective shields for their employees, and mask requirements. From what I observed, they are holding employees and guests strictly to their new rules.
 
I feel safe at the theater I go to. The managers and employees are working hard to keep it up to COVID standards. Still, if numbers in my area start going up again – I will still stop going (although I live in NY, I moved to ‘the sticks’ last year – I’m not near the hot spots anymore). If it seems like the company is starting to slack on their new rules, that would cause me to stop too.
 
Be safe. That’s the only rule right now. Everything will return to normal eventually. Just remember that.
 

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 81%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – None
Metascore – 68/100
Metacritic User Score – None
IMDB Score – 6.7/10
 
Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 3.5/5
 
Movie Trailer:

An American Pickle (2020)

Streaming Services: HBO Max

Movie Name/Year: An American Pickle (2020)

Genre: Comedy

Length: 88 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Production/Distribution: Point Grey Pictures, Gravitational Productions, Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE), Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Max, HBO España, HBO Max

Director: Brandon Trost

Writer: Simon Rich

Actors: Seth Rogen, Sarah Snook, Molly Evensen, Eliot Glazer, Kalen Allen, Kevin O’Rourke, Sean Whalen, Geoffrey Cantor, Carol Leifer, Jorma Taccone, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Alyse Zwick, Dalon Huntington, J Michael Grey, Liz Cackowski, Ian Poake

Blurb from IMDb: An immigrant worker at a pickle factory is accidentally preserved for 100 years and wakes up in modern day Brooklyn.

Selina’s Point of View:

This film surprised the hell out of me. It’s not at all what I thought it would be.

I’d call that a good thing, this time. That means that An American Pickle didn’t succumb to the pitfalls I worried about. As I mentioned in my Top 20, using the same actor for two characters, especially in silly comedy flicks, has a tendency to go spectacularly wrong.

Seth Rogen (Long Shot, The Disaster Artist, The Interview) makes it work here, though. I saw the difference in the mannerisms very clearly. Even in scenes where they’re supposed to look the most alike, Rogen carried himself in ways that helped define the two characters.

I’m not saying that it was Orphan Black (2013-2017) good. After all, that’s a serious show and An American Pickle very much is not.

There’s nothing serious about this film. The ‘science’ is yadda-yadda’d. We never even get to hear the explanation, which is fine. We’re seeing things through Herschel’s eyes at the time, and he’s a bit overwhelmed from being pickled for 100 years.

I mean, I don’t think anyone would watch this movie for science reasons anyway, but still.

The humor was outstanding. I loved the way An American Pickle compared the lives of people from a century ago to our time through the eyes of a Jewish immigrant time-transplant and his great-grandson. You get to see the way things have changed. This flick takes a look at religion, cancel culture, and family in ways that other films can’t really explore when they take a more serious tone.

Lightening serious subjects with humor is a good way to objectively examine them.

I do not understand the reviews for this film. From what I’m seeing, it’s incredibly underrated. I almost always agree with the audience over the critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but I can’t this time.

Whatever the reason audiences have to dislike this film, I think they’re wrong. I had a beautiful time watching An American Pickle. I started laughing at the beginning and only stopped once, near the end, because I got hit with some feels.

This is a great film. It’s hilarious. If I had paid money to see this on the big screen, I’d have been more than satisfied. Honestly? I think it’s worth getting HBO Max for.

  

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 74%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 47%

Metascore – 58/100

Metacritic User Score – 4.1/10

IMDB Score – 5.8/10

Trust the Dice: Selina’s Rating – 5/5

P.S.: There’s a short scene after the start of the credits.

Movie Trailer: