Pieces of a woman

Once I heard this film was coming out, I was very excited. I always look forward to any film Shia Labeouf is doing and I'm a big fan of Vanessa Kirby and like the idea of her doing something different than action movies.

Starting off the positives, easily the two lead actors are the best thing about this film. They deliver incredible and award winning performances. Vanessa Kirby shows she is more than an action film star and she is a true authentic and incredible actress.

Now I understand Shia Labeouf has been controversial over the years but I still like watching him mainly due to nostalgia. I always enjoyed the films he was in during the mid 2000s but I may start checking out his independent stuff because he is just fantastic in this film. I'll have more to say about his character later on but his performance as a grieving father is just fantastic.

This film also has an incredible opening act where you become engrossed in the film during the first 30 minutes. I honestly couldn't take my eyes off the screen. The cinematography is just so captivating and we get one of those filming styles where it seems it's filmed in one take and whilst it may not have been and just edited to seem like it, it's so believable and realistic.

Finally I really appreciate this film doesn't hold back and goes for really gritty and hard to watch scenes. There's one scene in particular where I had to turn away. This film doesn't sugarcoat the subject matter and I always love it when films do that.

Onto the mixed aspect of the film, first it's just to say this is not and I mean, not for everyone. In fact I will strongly urge those who have been through stillbirths and baby related events not to watch this film because as I said before, this film doesn't hold back and for certain people, this film will be too difficult to watch.

Also I found myself really mixed on Shia Labeoufs character. Whilst he gives a fantastic performance and you sympathize with his character because of the events of the film, his character is also very unlikable and does a lot of questionable things throughout the duration of the film.

Onto the negatives now and there's a few things. First off, this film never seems to live up to its first 30 minutes. After it's first act, there's so many points where the film drags on scenes and slows to a halt.

Also I wasn't a fan of some of the story directions for some of the characters. Where the main story I found captivating and extremely powerful, the direction for the characters, particularly Shia Labeoufs character, is just frustrating and slightly distasteful.

Overall this is a beautifully made, powerfully acted but tough to watch film that i would recommend but only to a certain range of people due to this films subject matter.

⭐⭐⭐

Wonder Woman 1984

I have been anticipating but also worried for this film for a long time. I love the first Wonder Woman but this film has suffered multiple delays and whenever a film has more than one delay, that's a sign it's gonna be a bad film. And whilst this film isn't a bad one, unfortunately it's not great either.

Starting off the positives, the best thing about this film is most of the cast. Gal Gadot is really good in this film. She does everything she did as good in the first film but she's got to do it all a little bit more especially when we get to the emotional scenes.

Chris Pine is also a welcome return because I was worried how Steve Trevor was supposed to return considering he died in the first film and I'll elaborate more about that later on but Chris Pine was really good. He has good comedic timing and he has a fair amount to do and I just love his chemistry with Gal Gadot. I have never understood critics stating their forced chemistry because for me, it feels completely natural.

Pedro Pascal is also very good as the main villain Max Lord. Now I do have thoughts on his character but I cannot fault his performance.

I also like the 80s vibe and setting as it's very fun to see Wonder Woman running around in the daylight. The previous wonder woman was very grounded setting wise and tone wise whereas this one has a lot more freedom.

Now I do have issues with the main story but I loved Steve Trevors return sub-plot. As I stated before, I was worried how Chris Pine was supposed to return and whilst I fully admit this return does cheapen his original death scene in the first film, I think they executed it really well. It feels like a natural progression to Wonder Womans character development and he feels like a pivotal part in the story. He helps with the action, he is good with the comedy but the emotion is where it all feels earned. You can predict how this story will end but it all feels earned.

I also really loved Han Zimmers score and the great action scenes. I don't really have much to elaborate on them but I did really enjoy them and I also enjoy that as it goes along, the stakes get bigger especially for Wonder Woman.

Onto the mixed aspects now and there a few things. First is the main story. Now I won't spoil what it is but I love the idea of it as it has an interesting premise to it and at times, it's executed very well but other times, it's executed feels very cartoonish and bizarre at times.

That brings us to the tone. Now I do really like the less groundedness of the first film and lighter tone but this film struggles to balance the tone between light and cheesy. At times when I was watching, I kept thinking " did Patty Jenkins really direct this? This feels too different from the first film"

Finally I do like Party Jenkins as a director but I think she has a problem with ending her films. Now this is a better 3rd act than the first film considering there was reported studio interference and this 3rd act fits with the story but it's just so exposition heavy.

Onto the negatives now and there's quite a bit. First I'll start small. The opening first act should have been cut because it doesn't feel needed. It has no reason to be in the film and just feels like filler to fill in the runtime.

Now I'll transpire from what I said about the tone and this film feels very cheesy a lot. From an action scene in the first act to how some of the villains are, it feels just feels like very cheesy and cartoonish.

That's brings us to the villains. Max Lord could have been a great villain and whilst I like Pedro Pascals performance, the character is very cartoonish (that's pretty much the theme of this review) and over the top. The character also has unclear motivations where you can't pinpoint why he's doing what he's doing. It feels very unfocused.

Now I will admit to pure biasy but I have never liked Kristen Wiig as an actress. It's nice to see her do a different role but like Jesse Eisenberg as Lex luthor, she feels miscast and I just can't buy her as the character she's supposed to play. She's better than Jesse Eisenberg but not by much for me and her final villain transformation just feels really unnecessary and once again cartoonish.

Finally this film is the reason I avoid trailers because the marketing showed way too much. I didn't laugh at the comedic elements because they were spoiled in the trailer. A lot of the scenes I expected to see because they were revealed in the trailer. I really wish the studios would not release so many trailers and not reveal so much. It baffles me why they do this.

So overall this is a frustratingly one for me because there are elements to this film that are better than the first film but the film as a whole package is a big step down and is a little disappointing.

⭐⭐⭐