The Souvenir Part II Review: A Great Ending For A Long And Uninteresting Journey

Release date: November 12, 2021
Running time: 107 minutes
Directed By: Joanna Hogg
Starring: Honor Swinton Byrne, Jaygann Ayeh, Richard Ayoade, Ariane Labed, James Spencer Ashworth, Harris Dickinson, Charlie Heaton, Joe Alwyn, and Tilda Swintons 

In the aftermath of her tumultuous relationship with a charismatic and manipulative older man, Julie begins to untangle her fraught love for him in making her graduation film, sorting fact from his elaborately constructed fiction. Joanna Hogg’s shimmering story of first love and a young woman’s formative years, The Souvenir Part II is a portrait of the artist that transcends the halting particulars of everyday life — a singular, alchemic mix of memoir and fantasy.

The Souvenir Part II will be an indie filmmakers type of movie, with an interesting take on storytelling that definitely melds the real and the imaginary.  It feels often like the film itself is playing out on screen in the interactions.  And as you get deeper into this endeavor those lines blur even more.  And despite the film often feeling like it is building towards the final film project that will never actually occur, when you see glimpses of it coming together it is an impressive endeavor.  

The problem, though, is that in between you have what feels like a lower budget indie film to work with.  The Souvenir Part II feels decidedly indie, with a strange aspect ratio and look that often feels like the film student project it is emulating.  The story is slow to develop, there are several plot threads that come in and out, and there are several over the top characters that we meet throughout this endeavor that feel like actors trying to pile it on.  And overall, this film just feels weird to be weird.  I appreciated a lot of what it did, but the film had very little drive.  The film has inconsistent delivery, a lack of interesting subject matter, and just an overall esoteric feel that did not appeal to me.  I couldn't tell if it was a drama, a comedy, or an avante garde project; often it felt like some of all.  It has an amazing payoff but the journey to get there is just not worth it.

The Souvenir Part II is an indie film through and through, with a strange setup and a film project look and feel with a great payoff that is just not worth the slow and confusing story.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

The Souvenir Part II is in theaters and on November 12, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

The Emperor's Sword Review: Sharp Action Dulled By Heavy CG

Release date: November 9, 2021
Running time: 93 minutes
Directors: Yingli Zhang and Haonan Chen
Starring: Fengbin Mu, Yilin Hao, Qihang Zhao, and Qiyu Yang

During a time of peace, a deadly sword that bestows great power upon its wielder was divided and hidden. After the emperor dies, a deranged rebel seizes power and stages a massacre during his search for the blade, leaving only one survivor. Now, the young daughter of a great general is all that stands between a tyrant and his quest for domination.

The Emperors Sword revolves around a powerful weapon, and as you would expect, the action in this movie is pretty good.  I liked the hand to hand combat and especially some of the tense scenes.  There were several encounters that took place in fields where vision was obscured.  You would just hear an arrow whizzing through the sky and hope that the target was able to dodge it in time.  The film also has some very nice camera work, including several one shot sequences that make sure the viewer stays in the action.  It had this interesting way of circling the room that was fun to see and kept the viewer engaged.

However, despite the action being generally pretty good, the effects are hit or miss.  The film has some poor CG and some effects that are obviously computer generated or even low resolution.  It was really strange to see this on the Blu Ray and I had to rewind just to make sure I was seeing this correctly.  Now the film is not shy about showing the CG roots of it, in fact it highlights the CG in some impressive ending credit scenes showing the before and after.  And although these are impressive feats, they don't translate into impressive scenes.  Additionally, outside of the action, the story is slow to develop and confusing.  This could have just been unfamiliarity with the subject matter, but I had trouble following everything that happened.

The Emperor's Sword has some tense action and interesting camera work, but the heavy use of effects and noticeable CG dull this otherwise sharp action film.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

The Emperor's Sword is available on Blu-Ray, DVD, digitally, and on demand on November 9, 2021.  

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

Seagull Review: A Mysterious Thriller That Doesn't Quite Soar

Release date: September 27, 2021
Running time: 84 minutes
Written and Directed By: Peter Blach
Writers: Jessica Hynes, Gabrielle Sheppard, Adam Radcliffe, Miranda Beinart-Smith, Rosie Steel, Paul Forman

In a rundown seaside town, Geoff looks after his partner Janet, her daughter Violet, and his beloved 8-year-old granddaughter Lily. One day Geoff is confronted by Thorn, an aggressive stranger, who runs away leaving a note from Janet's other daughter Rose, who has returned after disappearing 8 years ago. Thorn pushes Rose towards violence and, as her campaign of intimidation intensifies, Geoff’s measured life spirals out of control. Why has Rose returned and what is Geoff really scared of? As the seagulls settle for the night, the 8-year-long rift between Rose and Geoff is about to be settled – once and for all.

Seagull has a mysterious start with a brief introduction to the main character and her predicament.  The film doesn't just start mysterious, it keeps plenty from you as the story progresses, causing the viewer some confusion as it goes through the mystery.  And the film has a definite indie feel, with a small town mystery and predicament.  And although the film has a sense of dread, it just doesn't have enough dread to make this a horror movie or a mystery. 

But Seagull just isn't that interesting.  There is a mystery that becomes pretty obvious after about the first half.  By the time that there is a big reveal, you have already figured out what is happening.  And overall the writing and storytelling just aren't that compelling. It seems like the production did what it could with the budget and time that it had, but for me it just wasn't something that held my interest.  And the investigation into the psychological aspects, while noble, just didn't do much to enhance my enjoyment.  I will say that the antagonistic entity in this film is well done; it looks like an evil corruption of one of the main subjects of the film; but it also is just not that scary.  And despite the film being named The Seagull, the connection to the bird and the title is not concrete.  Overall, I wanted to like this film but it didn't have enough in it to make it a compelling experience.  

Seagull has a mysterious setup and exploration of grief and psychology, but the mystery and story do not do enough to hold the viewer's interest. 

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Seagull is available in digitally and on demand on September 27, 2021.  

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

The Crickets Dance Review: Some Charming Leads But An Inconsistent Story

Release date: October 26, 2021
Running time: 91 minutes
Director: Veronica Robledo
Starring: Kristen Renton, Maurice Johnson, Bill Oberst Jr, Sandra Ellis Lafferty, Bobbie Eakes, William Mark McCullough, KateLynn Newberry, and Kevin Mikal Curry

A southern attorney discovers a lost diary, one that changes her life and helps her find true love after she’s nearly killed in a brutal attack, in a new film starring Sons of Anarchy’s Kristen Renton.  If Angie Lawrence, an attorney, and southern beauty, ever hopes to find love she needs to do two things: let a man walk her to the door and let go of the past. She sadly gets the opportunity to do both when she inherits a stunning southern antebellum mansion. While moving in, she discovers a diary hidden in the attic. It dates back 150 years. She becomes entranced with the diary’s history of slavery, brutality and how the bounds of time and injustice were overcome by love. 

The Crickets Dance starts with a cute opening that lets you get to know Angie and her dating predicament.  It shows a few things about her character: that she has a plan, is prepared, and is in control of the situation.  And I enjoyed Kristen Renton as Angie with her charm, understanding, and relentless pursuit of what she wants.  And I also really liked seeing Johnson alongside Renton, as he also had a good demeaner.  And the two had chemistry on screen, making for some fun interactions.  And the setting of the Cricket's Dance does allow for some beautiful scenes of Georgia as the pair explore to try and follow the 150 year old journal.

However, the Crickets Dance has a lot of issues.  For one, the acting is hit or miss.  Renton, Johnson, and several others are good and fun to watch, but there is some pretty bad delivery and dialogue in this film.  The story cuts back and forth in time, causing you to meet and follow characters that get into dramatic situations pretty abruptly.  It also means we don't get to spend much time with the characters that we have become invested in.  And the story is scattershot, jumping around a lot and not quite allowing the viewer to follow along.  The film also has pretty poor effects that draw you out of the film  There are not that many of them, but the ones that are used just don't look that natural.  And overall, the story just isn't one that will grab you.  I found myself looking at my watch multiple times, not a good sign for a movie that is only an hour and a half.

The Crickets Dance has a charming cast and some beautiful locales, but the inconsistent delivery and effects, as well as a story that feels long despite the short run time, might make you want to wait until the next song.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

The Crickets Dance is available digitally and on demand on October 26, 2021.  

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

Every Last One of Them Review: A Missing Person That Might Need To Remain Missing

Release date: October 22, 2021
Running time: 82 minutes
Director: Christian Sesma
Writers: Alistair Cave, Matthew Thomas Edwards, Chee Keong Cheung, Christian Sesma
Cast: Paul Sloan, Jake Weber, Taryn Manning, Mike Hatton with Michael Madsen and Richard Dreyfuss

Ex-Black Ops soldier Jake Hunter (Sloan) is desperate to find his missing daughter. As Jake uncovers the terrifying truth surrounding her disappearance, he goes on a merciless quest for revenge, bringing those responsible to justice in this gripping thriller.

Every Last One of Them has a strong opening in Jake's quest to find out what happened to his daughter, and a brutal set of circumstances for him to overcome.  The film chronicles this journey and the lengths that he had to go to get the truth.  I liked the main character and some of the supporting folks and the journey that Jake went on was brutal.  It required him to confront more than he anticipated and thankfully he has the training for this.

However, Every Last One of Them has a story that is not that exciting, despite the dire consequences of what he is trying to accomplish.  And even with there being some decent action sequences, often the action feels staged with less than stellar effects.  The effects are hit or miss, with some of the later sequences being much better done than an earlier one.  And there is a gunfight that feels like it progresses in slow motion, definitely not the speed of a special forces soldier.  And through this all you have a story that is both overly complicated and too simplistic.  It has several set pieces but also has some convenient conclusions and insights from Jake that seem almost clairvoyant.  

And most of all, Every Last One of Them has a fairly generic overall structure.  There wasn't a lot to pick out that it did very well, from the setting, to the action, to the overall story.  It is not bad, just doesn't do anything very memorable.  The characters are fine, but some of the lines and delivery sound forced.  The action is serviceable, but some of the effects are off or the speed is off.  And the story provides enough interesting situations and structure, but it just doesn't excel in any respect.  Overall, this is just not a memorable film experience.

Every Last One of Them has a dire situation and a skilled protagonist, but the film's overall structure and inconsistent action make this a missing person that you don't have to find.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Every Last One of Them is available in theaters, digitally, and on demand on October 22, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

Silent Hours Review: A Long And Confusing Hunt

Release date: October 8, 2021
Running time: 120 minutes
Directed By: Mark Greenstreet 
Writen By: Aharon Keshales, Kai Mark, and Navot Papushado
Starring: Hugh Bonneville (Downton Abbey),  Indira Varma (Game of Thrones), Susie Amy, Tom Beard, Annie Cooper, Elizabeth Healey, and James Webber Brown

When three women are brutally murdered in four nights, private detective John Duval, ex-lieutenant commander in Naval Intelligence, finds himself the prime suspect in a police hunt for the sexual killer stalking Portsmouth's silent hours.

Silent Hours has a complex, mysterious story and a sinister, noir vibe.  The film's main protagonist, a private detective, is tasked with watching and stalking individuals; so the main theme of a serial killer who is also watching victims is a symbiotic one.  And the voyeuristic aspects are interesting, with the private detective watching some very intimate details, presumably for his job.  The film also has a decent amount of intrigue and mystery as you try to solve these murders, and decent practical effects for the murders themselves.

However, Silent Hours is a long, convoluted story and part way through it just did not keep my interest.  The film is far too long, with many arcs, some reveals, and a whole other segment after the main one.  The story is mysterious but also the mystery is intentionally obfuscated.  The protagonist is a good type A personality, but the story eventually devolved to women throwing themselves at him.  I'm not sure if this was part of the story or just a riff on the old noir films that inspired this, but either way it just felt manufactured.  And although the practical effects are well done, there are certain body parts that just look off.  And the non practical effects are not well done, mainly a flashback that the main character experiences that really broke my suspension of disbelief.  

Silent Hours is not a bad way to kill time, but the long story and overly complicated case might make this a mystery you don't want to solve.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Silent Hours is available in theaters, digitally, and on demand on October 8, 2021.  

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

The Manor Review: A Good Setting That Doesn't Quite Keep You Committed

Release date: October 8, 2021
Running time: 80 minutes
Written and Directed by: Axelle Carolyn
Starring: Barbara Hershey, Bruce Davison, Nicholas Alexander, Jill Larsen, Fran Bennett and Katie Amanda Keane

A malevolent force preys upon the residents of a sleepy nursing home in The Manor, a gothic tale of terror with a modern twist. When a mild stroke diminishes her ability to care for herself, Judith Albright (Barbara Hershey) moves to Golden Sun Manor, an assisted living facility with a sterling reputation. But despite the best efforts of the staff, and a budding friendship with fellow senior Roland (Bruce Davison), strange occurrences and nightmarish visions convince Judith that a sinister presence is haunting the massive estate. As residents begin to die mysteriously, Judith’s frantic warnings are dismissed as fantasy. Even her devoted grandson Josh (Nicholas Alexander) thinks her fears are the result of dementia, not demons. With no one willing to believe her, Judith must either escape the confines of the manor, or fall victim to the evil that dwells within it.

The Manor starts off with some nice imagery as the house itself is foreboding and imposing looking, with an oppressive feel right from the start.  It also begins with a lot of mystery as you try and figure out what is going on in this retirement community.  There is clearly something amiss but you don't quite get a handle on it until later.  Unfortunately, when you do get a handle on it, it is just not that interesting.  The film has a decent build up but the payoff is not worth it.  And the journey to get there also has plenty that could have been better.  

The Manor just is not that engaging of a film.  The story itself is ok, but the writing and dialogue just didn't keep my interest.  There are jokes and humor in this film but none of it really was that entertaining or funny.  And the delivery is scattered which contributes to the feeling that this is just not that good of a film.  The build up is slow, but also doesn't quite have the impact to keep your interest or the natural dialogue to make me want to see where it goes.  And there isn't much excitement in this film, which makes this feel like a very slow movie.  The Manor has an interesting kernel underneath, but it just doesn't do enough to grow and keep the audience engaged.

The Manor's unsettling start and good setting are let down by its slow pace and dialogue that doesn't keep the viewer entertained or engaged. 

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

The Manor is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

Lamb Review: A Good Film That Derails In The End

Release date: October 8, 2021
Running time: 100 minutes
Directed By: Valdimar Johannsson 
Starring: Noomi Rapace, Hilmir Snaer Gudnason, Björn Hlynur Haraldsson

 A childless couple in rural Iceland make an alarming discovery one day in their sheep barn. They soon face the consequences of defying the will of nature, in this dark and atmospheric folktale, the striking debut feature from director Valdimar Jóhannsson.

Lamb is a tough movie to judge because it does so much right.  The film has a really great sense of dread and tension right from the start.  The unease is perfectly set and it is made all the better by the farm setting and the many sheep co-stars.  I really loved the close up shots of the animals because it had this wonderful unsettling feeling.  Seeing a close up lamb's eye just gives this feeling of unease because you can't tell what the animal is thinking or what will happen next.  And Lamb also has some really good cinematography and acting.  It is a dramatic role for Noomi Rapace who rises to the occasion and provides an interesting character to follow.  And the film has a wonderful, deliberate cinematography that brings the Icelandic nature and isolation of this farm right into focus. 

But where Lamb fails is in the story department. The film has a great build up and sense of dread, but this doesn’t lead to any major events or a satisfying conclusion. I really was hoping there would be more to the story but it didn’t seem to progress throughout.  And although the ending does jump into some strange territory, it really came out of nowhere.  It introduces some new behaviors that seemingly come out of left field, only to not revisit those in the strange ending.  And the actual final scene just doesn’t have the emotional weight that I think it was supposed to, and just left me wondering what happened.

Lamb births a unique scenario with a great sense of dread, but the story doesn’t live up to the production values and the strange ending leaves ewe wondering what happened.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

Lamb is in theaters and on demand on October 8, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

The Addams Family 2 Review: A Very Random Sequel

Release date: October 1, 2021
Running time: 90 minutes
Directed by: Conrad Vernon and Greg Tiernan
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Nick Kroll, Javon 'Wanna' Walton, Wallace Shawn, with Snoop Dogg as 'IT', with Bette Midler and Bill Hader

Everyone’s favorite spooky family is back in the animated comedy sequel, The Addams Family 2. In this all new movie we find Morticia and Gomez distraught that their children are growing up, skipping family dinners, and totally consumed with “scream time.” To reclaim their bond they decide to cram Wednesday, Pugsley, Uncle Fester and the crew into their haunted camper and hit the road for one last miserable family vacation. Their adventure across America takes them out of their element and into hilarious run-ins with their iconic cousin, IT, as well as many new kooky characters. What could possibly go wrong?

The Addams Family 2 has the same characters as the first film (and the classic series) in an entirely new scenario.  I do like the animated style of this as I think it translates better on screen.  I also like the kids angle as this gives kids a very different but equally funny set of characters.  It does seem to deal with some more grown up topics than I would have expected in a kids show, which was a nice change.  Having a smart, determined female lead character (as this movie is really a Wednesday Addams show) was a nice focus, and I did like that she was very different than what I'm used to.  And the story, although being quite random, does go to a lot of interesting places.  The road trip aspect is fun, though I did hope that there would be more association with "spooky" locations.  It seemed like that is the start, but after the first stop, they just seemed to go to conventional tourist areas.  

However, this movie is very random.  It feels almost like it was written by multiple people who could not decide on one thread.  There is an overarching conflict, but this seems to be just a loose thread that is added on later.  Overall, the movie could have been a much more focused endeavor, with a greater care in where they went and the overall situations that they got in.  And there are several very convenient explanations and happenings that help them along, again contributing to the disjointed and slapped together feeling of the story.  And although I know that some amount of sibling abuse is part of the characters, here it felt a little extreme.  There is one scene where Wednesday legit smothers Pugsly until he doesn't move, which felt a little too violent for a movie aimed at kids.  The setting of traps in the older series was funny, but those were also geared towards adults.  For a film that is set more towards kids it really felt like something I didn't want my kids to see / emulate.  And the film also had several characters that seemed very stereotypical.  But I guess if kids are the final barometer, they did enjoy the film and laughed at some of the more random ridiculous stuff.  So maybe the Addams Family folks they know their target audience better than I do.  

The Addams Family 2 has beautiful animation and a variety of locales in this strange road trip, but the random nature of the story and the violent sibling animosity make this a trip you might not want to take.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

The Addams Family 2 is in theaters and on demand on October 1, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

When I'm A Moth Review: Some Beautiful Cinematography But Not A Bright Enough Flame

Release date: August, 27, 2021
Running time: 91 minutes
Directed By: Zachary Cotler and Magdalena Zyzak
Starring: Addison Timlin, 

From acclaimed filmmakers Zachary Cotler and Magdalena Zyzak, and starring Addison Timlin as Hillary Clinton, WHEN I’M A MOTH’s “what if…” scenario sees a young Hillary working as a fish monger in Alaska.  Possibly an un-biopic of Hillary Rodham set in 1969 Alaska. Possibly a collective dream about a young woman with only the most abstract connection to the politician. Possibly both.

When I'm A Moth is a strange film, and one that seems only vaguely grounded in reality.  The film looks at an alternate scenario where Hillary Clinton lived in Alaska and befriended two quiet Japanese men while working at a fish mill.  The film does have some good cinematography as the Alaskan wilderness is beautifully shown and the isolated nature of the work and the geography are brought to life.  This what if scenario also has a dreamlike quality to it as the film often has aspects that seem dreamlike, from some strange camera tricks to make the lens unfocused at times to a haunting, dreamlike soundtrack.  The film also has some very good low light scenes and beautiful camera work as this strange situation is depicted.  And the film also shows some of the brutality of the job as it  shows seemingly realistic depictions of fish being gutted.  

However, the film does not seem to really have much drive or purpose.  The dialogue often seems like it is form a play, with deliberate lines that can sometimes seem random.  I understood where they were coming from sometimes, but other times it just seemed like random lines form some eclectic characters.  And like a play, the film is slow with long scenes that often involve this awkward, disjointed dialogue.  The movie does not seem to really get its central point across to the audience, or if it is in there it requires a lot of work to really dissect it.  Much like the fish that our unbio protagonist guts, the film requires the audience to do the work of finding out what it is going for.  And in the end we are left with more questions than answers.  At least Addison Timlin's performance as Hillary is good, with an awkward, confident character that fits the protagonist but seems strange given the scenario. 

When I'm A Moth tells a dreamlike, alternate reality story but the lack of drive and playlike dialogue does not make this film a bright enough flame to draw viewers to.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

When I'm A Moth is available digitally and on demand on August 27, 2021.  

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

The Gateway Review: Big Ideas That Are Let Down By Execution

Release date: September 3, 2021
Running time: 91 minutes
Directed By: Michele Civetta (Agony)
Written By: Michele Civetta (Agony), Alex Felix Bendaña, and Andrew Levitas (Lullaby)
Starring: Shea Whigham (American Hustle), Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse), Taryn Manning (“Orange Is the New Black”), Mark Boone Junior (Donnybrook), Taegen Burns (Dumplin’), with Frank Grillo (The Grey) and two-time Academy Award® nominee Bruce Dern (The Hateful Eight).

Shea Whigham (American Hustle), Olivia Munn (X-Men: Apocalypse), and Frank Grillo (The Grey) star in this gritty, edge-of-your-seat crime-thriller. Whigham is Parker, a down-on-his-luck social worker who finds himself in over his head when he tries to protect his client from her recently paroled husband. Can Parker save the family from the violent threat of the maniacal drug dealer and his crew, desperate to reclaim their priceless stash?

The Gateway, like it's main character is a little rough around the edges.  The cast is a stellar one, with Bruce Dern being the biggest name on the roster, but having some great performances by Olivia Munn, Frank Grillo, and Shea Whigham.  I really liked the cast and loved Whigham as a grizzled ex-cop social worker.  And seeing Grillo as a bad guy was a lot of fun as well.  The story has a slow start, which is fine, but then kicks off with an odd raid type scene.  There is a lot going on and this was an exciting, but strange, highlight of the film.

Unfortunately for The Gateway, it was all downhill after the raid.  I liked the raid itself, but after this highpoint, the Gateway just seemed to become too disjointed.  The introduction of Zach Avery as Mike threw a wrench in the film, as his character caused lots of the problems but also had some pretty ridiculous solutions as well.  His character was very abrasive and seemed to create most of the problems in the film.  I can't help but think that a lot of this film just felt like manufactured drama from characters making poor decisions.  And this is not helped by writing that is a little overdramatic and some less than stellar delivery overall.  And the action itself doesn't redeem this film as it is too little and feels disjointed.  The film goes for a fast paced action, but that leads to lots of cuts and tough to follow scenarios; it makes what should be the most exciting parts of the film feel hectic and rushed.  And the movie also has a strange ending, that seems to try to push some greater ideas that the film was trying to highlight but wasn't quite able to.

The Gateway has a good cast and tries for an important message, but the story feels contrived, with some abrasive characters, poor decisions, and disjointed action.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

The Gateway is available in theaters, digitally, and on demand on September 3, 2021.  For showtimes, click here. 

For additional information about the film and to rent / buy it, check it out at the links below.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.  

The Card Counter Review: A Solid Turn But Doesn't Have Pocket Aces

Release date: September 10, 2021
Running time: 111 minutes
Director/Writer: Paul Schrader
Starring: Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan, Willem Dafoe

Redemption is the long game in Paul Schrader’s THE CARD COUNTER. Told with Schrader’s trademark cinematic intensity, the revenge thriller tells the story of an ex-military interrogator turned gambler haunted by the ghosts of his past decisions, and features riveting performances from stars Oscar Isaac, Tiffany Haddish, Tye Sheridan and Willem Dafoe.

The main draw of The Card Counter, and the best thing about it, is the stellar cast headlined by Oscar Isaac.  I really liked his poker persona and no nonsense, constantly gambling under the radar character.  He had a very distinct personality, quirks, and habits that made him compelling to see.  And all of his strange behaviors had reasons, though I didn't love the way that they were explained.  Haddish was a fun foil to Isaac, and her character is just as confident as him but much more outgoing and hoping to break him out of his shell.  And Sheridan was an entertaining addition to the cast though his character was not as well defined as the other ones. 

And the film also has a really great use of music.  Most of it is sort of a haunting techno type music, not unlike something that you would hear in a science fiction film.  Occassionally there are other types of music that willl draw your attention, like when it blares metal briefly.  And towards the end there is one poker hand where all the music stops and it is a striking effect.  But throughout you have some really wonderful music that propels the story forward.

However, the story is where The Card Counter is let down.  The story is mysterious and slowly reveals more about Will's strange mannerisms and backstory, but as you learn more it leaves more questions than it answers.  Will's presona seems well established, yet he has a pretty dramatic character change early on for seemingly no reason.  This does help to propel the story along but it seems like a strangely convenient shift.  And then the film kind of goes off the rails at the end completely.  The ending sequence does not leave the audience fulfilled and causes some very strange character shifts.  It really is a shame as the movie was interesting up until this point, but then just kind of jumped off the deep end.  And on top of this, the story is a slow one; which I normally don't mind except in this case there was no payoff for the slow character development.  

The Card Counter's style, music, and mysterious characters will bring you to the table, but the story and ending might make you fold early.

Pass on it.

If you liked this review and want to see more from Watch or Pass, please consider 

following us on our various social media platforms: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube. 

The Card Counter is in theaters on September 10, 2021.  For showtimes, click here.

This site contains affiliate links. //Commerce or this site may be compensated when you click through links on our site.