There's a screenplay where this film isn't as overstuffed, callback heavy & "whoa, product placement" as its $320M budget implies. If you'd spend more attention to Giancarlo Esposito, Stanley Tucci & Holly Hunter's characters (& yes, Pratt & Brown more as supporting actors than lead), as they are the best things here, this easily could be a solid 3 1/2 star film with an $70M-80M budget.
Never read the book this film is based on, though, I imagine its depictions of free will,…
After watching Opus fail to hammer its point about creatives & self-absorbed cretins, I think it's time I apologize to a film, I admit, I didn't give a chance & that's Midsommar.
It took the third act for this script to grow up and attempt to give us a point, when "give a damn" left the building.
John Malkovich did his thing & he alone kept me invested. Sure wish the writing could've done the same for its other actors, especially Edebiri & Midthunder.
I mean, what the hell happened?
This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.
Screen Unseen at AMC Pompano Beach 18
Always felt before the delays hit this film for obvious reasons, regarding the leading man, Magazine Dreams was going to struggle to live up to the hype it was given in 2023.
With a new distributor (Formerly Searchlight Pictures, now Briarcliff Entertainment) & Jonathan Majors (post-MCU) doing a film about a man who wants to be the next Mr. Olympia for a new age. Lives with his grandfather, but alas, doesn't have a mother…
Not without its faults & shortcomings. Even with the Disney+ sheen on it, it's a functional film with damn good performances from Mackie, Lumbly, Ford & Nelson carrying this, throughout.
Whatever Marvel did to salvage this, considering the reshoots, I hardly noticed them, for the most part.
Laura Karpman's score a banger, too.
However, I'd be lying if I didn't notice some of the vagueness of the subplots & certain forgettable characters (Sidewinder & Sabra were certainly just there with very little to offer).…
