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Reviews
Maybe I Do (2023)
Well-meaning but lacking vision
The one thing i wanted to comment on about this movie is its dull visual style. There is almost no visual language at all. Every shot lacks almost any dynamism/movement. The color palette is fairly bland. The lighting is purely utilitarian. The weather is not used in any visually suggestive or symbolic way. There is a lot of grey, dark tones, shadows. In short, its dull visual quality only highlights the more talky and pedantic aspects of the script. It was originally a stage play and it's almost as if director Michael Jacobs-whose background is in TV-doesn't realize that a stage is at least well-lit. This is his directorial debut so I'll cut him some slack (as though he cares what I think lol), and I will admit I laughed a number of times. Macy gets all the good lines. Gere is stuffy and somnambulistic. Keaton is very good. Sarandon is okay too. I think Luke Bracey was the worst piece of acting in the film, and I imagine it's because he wasn't given enough takes, or that he didn't fully understand his character, which I would cut him some slack for because I didn't fully understand him for most of the film either. So, you can watch this movie, but I recommend stopping in the middle to get to bed and then forgetting to watch the rest.
Outlaw King (2018)
Braveheart for stupid people
I was excited to see a period drama that essentially continues the story of "Braveheart" show up on Netflix. However, based on recent historical and biopic films that try to be all things to all people at the expense of depth and humanity, I kept my hopes at bay. And I'm glad I did.
This movie suffers from wooden dialogue ("I'm a damned man." "Lower her down.") and endless battlefield order dialogue that does nothing but explain what the film is incapable of showing, or what it thinks the audience may not understand. Similarly, characterization is extremely shallow, and Robert's character is no exception. We see and hear virtually nothing that would inspire someone to fight a war for him. In addition, his first few actions, such as agreeing not to fight Valence on a Sunday, only to be horrifically ambushed later, almost demonstrate his ineptitude. Unlike William Wallace in "Braveheart," he doesn't inspire or dominate at all. It is not that Chris Pine's characterization or presence is, of itself, weak. It is just that we don't see Robert actually DO anything inspiring or awesome, but rather things happen TO him. This lack of competence plagues others characters' developments as well.
As an example of a missed opportunity: there is a scene at the end when the dying Scottish boy gives Robert his crown, and the king looks into the boy's eyes as the latter passes into the next life. This shot, powerful on its own, would've been actually poignant if we ever got to know who this boy was or, more importantly, why he was inspired to fight for Robert. But we aren't. All we are given is an image, nearly devoid of content. This is the entire film, practically.
Along the same lines, Robert and his men are absolutely obliterated within the first third or half of the movie, long before we have gotten to know and care about either him or them. It is generally a mistake to saddle the protagonist with terrific challenges early in the film; it shouldve happened in the middle, after some successes. Perhaps the filmmakers were hueing closely to historical facts, but unfortunately it makes for an underwhelming trajectory.
Moments of extreme violence, perpetrated by good guys and bad guys alike, as well as an early sex scene, occur before we have really been given much context or characterization. Rather than incompetence on the part of the filmmakers, this appears to be more of an effort to make a movie for people who like gratuitous sex and violence rather than audiences seeking actual subtlety or historical perspective.
Without a doubt, "Outlaw King" has unbelievably gorgeous costumes and sets, and much good photography. Chris Pine is earnest and trying his best. Additionally, he is extremely handsome. But even his piercing blue eyes can't save this film from the grip of mediocrity, thrust upon it by the Netflix-enforced necessity for mass appeal. It would have been nice if it was a strong, rich, character-driven historical drama, but it was not meant to be.