cinemapersonified

Rating - 5.9: Overall, while Amanda Seyfried delivers a standout performance and the musical numbers are well-executed, the problem with 'The Testament of Ann Lee' is that the concept just isn't interesting enough to make a movie about; there is a reason Ann Lee's Wikipedia page is like two pages long because there just isn't that much of a story to tell, and it shows on screen with how stretched out the plot is.

Direction - Decent to Pretty Good: The direction on a macro scale is good, as they build the world well and execute well-choreographed musical sequences that are woven well into the story; The direction on a micro scale is decent, as it emulates the time and the struggles of the character; The storytelling is the biggest issue for this movie because there just isn't that interesting a story to tell, as they try to stretch out the plot farther than it can go, to where the second half of the movie just feels completely void of anything meaningful going on; Even though there isn't much plot, the musical sequences are woven well into the movie to progress the story; They build tension poorly because they do a poor job of building stakes because this just isn't that interesting a main character or story to follow

Story - Bad: The crux of why this movie isn't that good is that the concept just isn't that interesting; there's a reason why Ann Lee's Wikipedia page is like two pages long and why the Shaker religion is basically extinct because there really isn't that much of a story to tell; the plot structure is interesting in the exposition as they build up Ann Lee's character and backstory, but the second half of this movie just feels pretty boring and stretched out because there really isn't anything going on, with the ending feeling anticlimactic despite how stressful they set it up; character writing is pretty good for Ann Lee as they paint her as this new reincarnation of Christ come back to save her followers, but the remaining characters in this movie are given no material to make you care about them as they all just mold into the same generic period drama character

Screenplay - Bad: The dialogue is very period drama and off for the time; The symbolism is hard to believe because the journey you go on for this character kind of makes this movie feel pointless because there is just no significance or impact of Ann Lee on religious or American history, that's why nobody knows about her or the Shakers; The foreshadowing is pretty bad as it just solidifies that there was no reason to make this movie because it builds up to such an anticlimactic ending

Acting - Pretty Good: Amanda Seyfried - Good to Very Good (Carries the movie well, as everything revolves around her; She accurately portrays a Mancunian who leads a group of religious hopefuls to the new world; She shows the hardship needed for someone being persecuted religiously; Shows off her experience carrying musicals, as they are well executed because of her; Has pretty good chemistry with the whole cast), Lewis Pullman - Decent to Pretty Good (Plays his role well and has pretty good chemistry with Amanda Seyfried, he's just given no material to work with), Thomasin McKenzie - Decent (The narrator for the movie, but that is basically all her speaking dialogue as she is basically a background character), Christopher Abbott - Pretty Good (Character shows the power struggle he faces when Seyfried begins to control and dictate the relationship after she gains influence; He has decent chemistry with Seyfried), Tim Blake Nelson - Decent (Maybe he has, like, two lines in this movie), Rest of the cast - Decent (Everyone in this movie just feels the same as there is no individuality in the supporting cast; The background in the musical numbers does help show how intricate and well executed they are; The cast really doesn't have that much chemistry in the dramatic moments because everyone just feels like they are there)

Score - Good: Helps make the movie feel musical and does incorporate the themes throughout the movie to help establish the tone and time period

Soundtrack - Pretty Good to Good: The musical numbers were well executed and did play an integral part in helping move the story forward, there just weren't any memorable songs from this movie The musical numbers were well executed and played an integral part in helping move the story forward, there just weren't any memorable songs from this movie

Cinematography - Good: Well shot and executed helps make the musical numbers feel well executed with its blocking and ability to capture what is on screen

Editing - Pretty Good: Fine for the most part, it tries to have some seamless cuts but fails to capture what it was trying to do

Sound - pretty Good: Helps with establishing how musical this movie is

Production Design - Good to Very Good: Helps with recreating the time period in both Manchester and colonial America

Makeup - Good: Helps show the characters aging and the effect time has had on them

Costumes - Very Good: Help with recreating the time period and what these characters would wear in Manchester and Colonial America

Pacing - Pacing is pretty good for the first half, but feels incredibly slow in the second half as they try to stretch out plot and storylines that are just not there or are interesting; The musical numbers do not slow this movie down as they are integral to helping tell the story

Climax - Climax is underwhelming because they do a bad job building up the stakes for Ann Lee and her mission; to the point where you don't really care what happens to them in the end

Tone - Tone is very 1700s England and America, as there are many shades you would see from a period drama during that time; the movie very much is a musical, but it is not so in your face about it because it is integral to the story

Final Notes - Saw premiere at Austin Film Festival.

Rating - 7.6: Overall, a pretty good drama that uses its actors and script to bring to life the grief the main character feels being estranged from her father, but nothing really blew me away with "Sentimental Value" because I feel like I have seen this movie done better before.

Direction - Pretty Good to Good: The direction on a macroscale is pretty good, as it does set up this world well; The direction on a microscale is good, as it allows the actors to act and share their emotions, which is necessary considering the movie is really built on its interpersonal scenes; Storytelling is pretty standard, nothing special; Tension is built emotionally and well

Story - Pretty Good: The concept is interesting as it uses its homage to filmmaking and acting to build this world, but at its core, this movie is about an estranged father-daughter dynamic; tbh, I feel like I have seen this movie done better before; the plot structure is pretty standard; character writing is strong as it does create characters you can empathize with as you see how complex these characters are, especially the lead two

Screenplay - Good: The dialogue is pretty strong and mixes Norwegian and English well; The humor is faint but does help lighten the mood at times and make this movie feel human; The symbolism is strong, as it deals with the emotions and feelings you experience from an estranged father daughter dynamic and how both sides experience pain from it; The symbolism for this movie makes it feel more human; The foreshadowing is pretty good, which makes the ending make sense from an emotional standpoint

Acting - Good: Stellan Skarsgård - Good to Very Good (Uses his experience as an actor to guide this performance, as he is one half of this estranged father-daughter dynamic, creating good chemistry with the cast and especially Reinsve), Renate Reinsve - Good to Very Good (Shows how she carries this trauma and heartbreak from her estranged relationship with her father well, as she is the emotional compass for this movie; She has good chemistry with the whole cast, and especially Skarsgård), Inga Ibsdotter Lilleaas - Pretty Good to Good (Plays her role well and has good chemistry with Reinsve, but is not given that much material that really showcases her), Elle Fanning - Good (Feels like a big American name to help sell this movie, and she does a good job playing her role as an outsider trying to insert herself in this troubled family dynamic), Rest of the cast - Pretty Good (Everyone plays their role well as this movie is really about letting the actors act with the script they are given, no true bells and whistles; The chemistry in the cast is pretty strong)

Score - Pretty Good: helped with establishing the tone and tension of the movie

Cinematography - Good: Felt like it came from an experienced and established director; Really enjoyed the lighting and sunsets and sunrises they used because it helped with establishing the mood

Editing - Good: Felt like it came from an experienced and established director, but nothing special

Pacing - Pacing is a bit on the slower side as this movie is more of a slow burn; There are many scenes that I felt could have been cut, saving maybe 10-15 minutes

Climax - Climax helps resolve things from an emotional standpoint, but nothing really blew me away

Tone - Tone is very much a standard drama, helping bring to life these characters dealing with human emotions

Final Notes - Saw premiere at Austin Film Festival; I feel like I've seen this movie done better before.

Rating - 8.2: Overall, the definition of what a comedy-drama should be as 'Is This Thing On?' is so raw and in-your-face with its cinematography as it amplifyies Will Arnett's performance, who uses stand-up comedy as a therapeutic outlet for his character's divorce; even though some of the storylines felt useless, this is a redemptive effort for Bradley Cooper, as he does a full 180 from Maestro by being more hands-off and letting the actors and the script play.

Direction - Good: The direction on a macroscale feels very raw and personal as it accurately portrays the hustle of the New York Comedy Scene through the lens of a raw and in your face camera; The direction on a microscale is good as the movie feels therapeutic with the protagonist venting about his struggles through comedy, basically live action Bojack Horseman; The interpersonal scenes between Arnet and Dern felt real as it accurately captured their dynamic; Though the group setting scenes were kind of unnecessary and brought the movie down; This movie feels like a complete 180 from Maestro as it is stripped down to let the actors and the script do most of the work; Storytelling feels so raw and real as you are so close to this protagonist and his struggles, literally from a camera perspective, as you see he uses this newfound love of comedy as a therapeutic outlet to get through his divorce; Tension is built as it uses your emotional investment in the protagonist to make you feel for him as he goes through his struggles, and cringe when he bombs on stage

Story - Good: The concept is very interesting, as it is about a father finding a newfound love of comedy as an outlet to get through his divorce, which is amazing considering this is based on a true story; the plot structure is good for the A and B plot, but the C plot just felt very unnecessary and clouded this movie's story; character writing is very good, as it paints this protagonist as a character we can empathize with, as he finds his new wind in comedy he uses as a therapeutic outlet to get through his divorce, though Laura Dern's character felt a little flat

Screenplay - Good to Very Good: The dialogue is profound and funny, as this movie is what a comedy drama should be; The humor is really good, as it interjects stand-up comedy throughout the movie to make it feel topical and as if you're in the comedy cellar watching the main character; The symbolism is strong, as the movie does touch on therapeutic outlets and the concept of going through a divorce and trying to coparent; The foreshadowing feels a little weak and stretched out, but this is what happened in real life, so I will allow it

Acting - Pretty Good to Good: Will Arnett - Very Good (Basically, plays a live-action Bojack; Really brings to life this character as you can empathize with his struggles as you are interested in seeing his standup career come to life as a therapeutic outlet for his divorce; Has good chemistry with Dern and pretty good chemistry with the cast), Laura Dern - Good (Plays her role well and has pretty good chemistry with Arnett to show one side of the dynamic of this divorce; Her solo scenes and storylines are not that amazing in comparison to Arnett's story, but she does show her own grieving process for this marriage coming to an end; With her Oscar win as a divorce attorney in 'Marriage Story', it seems like she is very familiar with the topic to play with it), Andra Day - Decent to Pretty Good (Plays her role well, but her material is not the best as her scenes are not really that well written and are not that interesting), Bradley Cooper - Pretty Bad (Sadly, the worst performance in this movie was his, as he was relegated to this slapstick physical comedy character that doesn't use any of his strengths; it's good he is barely in this movie because his scenes are honestly some of the worst in the movie), Rest of the cast - Decent to Pretty Good (Everyone in the cast plays their role well and helps bring to life the underbelly and hustle of the New York comedy scene; The chemistry in this cast is fine, but scenes are really better in the one-on-one interpersonal scenes; The jumpscare cameo also does a pretty good job given his background, you will be shocked when you see who it is)

Score - Good: Does a good job at establishing the theme and tone of the movie as it feels like an extension of the raw and fast-paced culture you would see in the New York comedy scene

Soundtrack - Pretty Good: Uses Under Pressure well to make this movie feel wholesome

Cinematography - Great: The best part of the movie was that it was so raw and in your face in order to help amplify the emotions the characters were going through, as if you are with them experiencing these events in real time, which is also helped considering everything is done in handi-cam

Editing - Very Good: Felt raw and seamless at the same time as it is very clear this movie was stitched by a professional; does an amazing job in conjunction with the cinematography to make you feel like you are right there with the characters with how in your face it is

Sound - Pretty Good to Good: makes New York and the comedy scene feel like a character in this movie

Production Design - Good: New York is a character in this movie, as shooting in real locations helps personify the hustle of the New York Comedy scene, especially in places like the Comedy Cellar

Pacing - Pacing is fast-paced in the comedy moments to show the hustle of the New York comedy scene, but a little slower and drier in the group setting scenes

Climax - Climax is executed well as it captures what happens in real life, and ties a bow on the story; Could have been better but this is what happened so I'll let it slide

Tone - Tone captured the raw grittiness of the New York comedy scene, as it is so up close and personal to get the feelings of this main character, who uses his material as a therapeutic outlet to get past his divorce; This movie is what a comedy drama should be; This movie feels like a live-action remake of Bojack Horseman

Final Notes - "Saw premiered at Austin Film Festival"