saadgkhan

Boy Swallows Universe is a modern Aussie classic you'll see it in every bookstore you can find displayed on top. Netflix shows are mostly a miss or strictly timepass, everyone watches it but noone talks about even remembers. I didn't knew in which category it'll fall into considering I finally read the book last year and absolutely loved it.

Oh boy, they did a pretty good job with the casting, production and the story itself. There are very few minor changes but it stick to the heart and soul of the book. I have to give to the writer Trent Dalton as its an Aussie beloved book he must have given rights on stipulation of done right and not just a cash grab. As not once it seems cheap or under budget. Travis Fimmel, Phoebe Tonkin, Simon Baker brilliantly supporting the young cast Sophie Wilde (Who just gave Aussie A24 horror hit Talk to Me) and the incomparable performances by Felix Cameron & Zac Burgess as Eli Bell; the heart and soul of the show. Talk about perfect transition, I many times wondered is it same kid did they waited for 5 years.

It really made us proud here down under. Nothing better than when the books are done right.

Just like almost everyone I love the Hunger games both books and movies. I recently rewatched beforehand and they still holds up and I totally agree with director the 3rd Mockingjay should have been one film instead of split into two. If it was one it could have been easily remembered as one of best trilogies.

I'm not huge fan of humanising the villains as we saw with Loki in Disney who killed thousands of people in Newyork and then becomes this funny caricature of a villain/Hero in later movies. So, I never read this book but here I would say Tom Blyth's screen presence and emotional turmoil sold this story to me. You can feel in his eyes how good & evil both live simultaneously inside us and you let one win over the other.

Rachel Zegler was amazing as she not only speaks in southern accent but sings too. She never fights in the whole movie not once as she rightly said that "Lucy Gray is a performer forced to fight and Katniss is a fighter forced to perform.". Her character is very from Katniss and she uses her singing as weapon which you never see in films.

The problem just like most viewers is the 3rd Act, as it slows down and then slightly rushed towards the end. I still immensely enjoyed the movie, and can't wait to see what Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler (besides Snow White as I'm over CGI fest remakes) do next.

Considering the hype around the film and interviews with Bradley Cooper and other actors praising Maestro I was expecting something original. However, I got the same narrative which we have seen and heard atleast a thousand times, a genius man, loving wife and cheating husband she tolerates because he is a genius.

On top of the formulaic storyline, the pretentious aspect ratio 1.33:1 to make it more artsy felt nauseatingly forced. This aspect ratio I watched first time in Xavier Dolan French Canadian brilliant "Mommy" as the only time screens widens during his happy memories with his mother but otherwise with this aspect ratio it gave this trapped claustrophobic feeling as a viewer. Same for the Lighthouse, it worked as both men feel trapped on an isolated island. Here and Saltburn ( A knock-off of Talented Mr. Ripley for Gen-Z), I don't understand the need; except that they're trying soooo hard to get that Oscar noms for something.

The only saving grace was Carey Mulligan. She deserves all the accolades. If this wins any Oscars it must be due to producer Steven Spielberg's hard campaign because this was unbearable. There is a whole argument between Bradley & Carey, where the camera was left behind the fences. Let that sink in, how badly Bradley wants that Oscar.