ANJ_

Y2K isn't really anything special as far as a story goes, it follows a pretty standard and default structure as far as a fight-for-survival end-of-the-world movie goes, but I don't really think it was meant to be anything special in that sense anyway. It reminds me a lot of This Is The End where the main fun of the film comes from the comedy of the star studded cast that take us through the standard plot, but in Y2K it's less comedy and stars and more nostalgia and unique design.

It's been fun to witness Kyle Mooney as he moves through Hollywood having been a fan of his skits and characters since his youtube days with GoodNeighborStuff, so for me seeing that he directed Y2K was one reason I wanted to watch it. Kyle still pulls certain characters from his youtube skits into his hollywood skits, like his stoner-hippie character in Y2K, but I think it would be more fun for him to bring his characters into his current works in a more direct way with his old characters rather than the similairity just being, (stoner). I'm also a 90's kid and if you were a 90's kid or teen during the time then you are this films target audience. I got a handful of nostalgia from the Dial-Up Internet, AOL Instant Messenger conversations, and trips to the off-brand movie rental store. Not only that but the depictions of certain common cliques you would find and features of songs from people like Sisqó and Limp Bizkit were fun little nostalgia nuggets. The sentient robot killing machines were also kind of fun and unique but I am dissapointed no one got "merc'd" by a killer furby.

All in all it was something to watch. I didn't really watch it with any plans to critique it and wouldn't suggest it for such a thing. It's a solid 5.5, 6 at best if you're the target audience. It fills the void of having any other quality film to watch, but it's a one time watch for sure and nothing to write home about.

I may be rating this a bit higher than I may feel it objectively deserves, but that's just because I'm happy to see A24 put out a good emotional and complicated flick again..

Lately I haven't been feeling the A24 releases, instead thinking the A24 heyday has passed and that their rise in popularity has resulted in a streak of mediocrity, but in my opinion A Different Man steers A24 back to it's tracks.

I haven't seen Adam Pearson in a film since Under the Skin and am happy to see a main character role prop up for him in a decent movie. On top of that I felt that Sebastian Stan did a great job at portraying the complex feelings we can only imagine someone may have as an outsider in their own skin. A great mix of paranoia, awkwardness, discomfort, insecurity, envy, regret and a whole slew of 'what-ifs' and 'what-could-have-beens' that our main character is constantly battling with. Combine that with the impossible-ness of attributing these battles to certain elements of our character, it leads to a great song and dance performance that makes you feel trapped inside Edward right there with him.

I very much enjoyed the ride with A Different Man, though ambiguity remains I still feel resolution enough was given to us in the end. The grainy-film style of this movie also fit well with it's atmosphere and provided some sense of nostalgia and grit. 7.5/10 for me. Want more A24 bangers like this.