There are a lot of movies and music that I have been wanting to see/listen to. Unfortunately, I just don't have the time to dedicate a full review to all of them, so I'll just have to stick with shorter reviews. Here they are!
Movies
"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
It's been way too long since we've had a Spider-Man movie I could call truly excellent. "Homecoming" is the only one in recent memory that came close to that marker, and at that it was still only good. I personally think the film is fine, and honestly the high school comedy aspects of it work better than the superhero aspects do. But now we have "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse". I think I can comfortably say this is the best Spider-Man film we're ever going to get. For all the love I have for Sam Raimi's trilogy (the first two in particular), this film is in a league of its own. First and foremost, I adore the theme of this movie: anyone can wear the Spider-Man mask. On its surface level this theme could be cheesy. But thankfully, we have the writers of the ingenious "Lego Movie" on board, so there's nothing to worry about. They put enough weight on the idea of heroism being universal, while also putting a comedic spin on it. This movie has multiple types of Spider-Man's which is awesome. There's so much with this hero that hasn't been done, and this movie explores that in ways that are smart and laugh out loud hilarious. For a Spider-Man movie, this film is surprisingly funny. There are so many moments here that are clever meta-commentary on other Spidey films, and then there's jokes that work well just within the universe of this film. The voice acting here is also great. Shameik Moore was a perfect choice for Miles Morales, giving to the audience an incredibly likeable protagonist who you endlessly root for. He's one of the most delightful characters I've watched all year, and I hope to see him in more films. Jake Johnson gives to us the best Peter Parker I've seen; once again, this is a character I could watch for hours. Hailee Steinfeld continues to have a successful acting career playing Gwen Stacy, and Nicolas Cage and John Mulaney are great (and often hysterical) in their respective roles as well. And man, the animation in this movie is something else! This film easily rivals any of the best animated Pixar or Dreamworks movies, and even surpasses some movies by both of those companies. I don't think I've ever seen a film animated like this. It's so interesting to see CGI animation married with some classic hand-drawn aspects. It gives this movie a timeless feel to it. Plus, this is the first Spider-Man film where it actually looks like a comic book. I was so awed watching the animation, and there's so much going on that I know I'll have to watch it again. The only flaws I have with the film is that there are some slightly cliched moments (the reveal of one of the villains wasn't as surprising the more I thought about it), and the main villain Wilson Fisk isn't as interesting as he could be. Still, the wonderful iterations of Spider-Man in this film, the stellar animation, and the masterful comedy throughout all make this film excellent. It's the best Spider-Man film, perhaps one of the best Marvel films, and certainly one of the best films of 2018.
"Blindspotting"
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
It is a hard art to address racism and white privilege in film without the theme sometimes coming across in obvious ways. Not so with the excellent film "Blindspotting". What this movie does so well is that it balances its dramatic, heavy moments with a really good amount of comedy. Racism is never treated as a punchline, but sometimes funny situations are played out to show how different races don't understand one another's culture. When this movie needs to have serious moments, though, it certainly has them. There are some haunting, brutal moments here that deliver some much needed messages. Those messages work because of the relationship between the two main characters. Collin and Miles are both very likeable characters, and you like their friendship even though the two couldn't be any more different. I loved watching these two work off one another; they felt so natural and like people you could encounter any day on the street. That's really due to the great performances. Daveed Diggs is instantly memorable as the main character Collin, showing to the audience the complexities of the black experience in the United States. You feel for this character so immensely and want him to succeed. You can at least sympathize with his struggles. That's due to how well director Carlos Estrada visualizes them. There are some excellent visual moments in here that symbolize Collin's fears, and they all work well (particularly a poignant dream sequence that is both theatrical and haunting). Rafael Casal is also great as Miles, offering an interesting counterpart to Collin. Whereas Collin is more reserved and thoughtful, Miles is very extroverted and vocal. This character's development is very fitting in context of the movie's theme. I really like where both characters ended up at the last part of the film. It's somewhat tragically reminiscent of America's environment today, but at the same time we see both characters at least coming to an understanding with one another. It's one of the more powerful moments in movies of 2018. I definitely recommend you see this one.
"Bad Times at the El Royale"
Rating: 4/5 Stars
If you're missing Quentin Tarantino-styled movies, then Drew Goddard's "Bad Times" will more than give you your fix. It's clear throughout the film that is who he was inspired by, but it doesn't mean he copies his style. This film is still highly original and interesting. Visually, the El Royale itself is quite interesting to behold. It's a product of the 70's and 80's while still having a bizarrely modern flare to it. The weird visual styles of the motel do a good job at representing how things are always off there, and the place is seemingly cursed to be one where bad things can and will happen. The characters that come into the hotel are just as colorful and interesting. Jeff Bridges is predictably great as Father Daniel Flynn, a priest who has more to him than meets the eye. I really liked what Bridges did with this character, making him mysterious enough that you want to know more, but not do detached that you don't understand a thing about the character's motivations. Dakota Johnson sheds herself of her "50 Shades" movies by delivering a performance that deserves admiration. I'm really glad she got put into a good movie, as her turn here more than proves that she can give a great performance when given an actually good character to play with. But honestly the highlight of the film might be Jon Hamm as Laramie. This character was not at all what I thought he was going to be, and I loved him for that reason. Hamm really knocks it out of the park in this role, giving us someone that is so cool to watch at every turn. I even like Cynthia Erivo as Darlene. I've never been a particularly big fan of her as a performer, but this type of role seems perfect for her. Because all of the main characters are so interesting, you like watching them interact. I only wish there were a couple more scenes besides the beginning one that gave the characters a chance to all be in the same room together. There were only a few roles I didn't care for as much. I think Chris Hemsworth did fine with the role he was playing, but his character was really just a cliched religious nut. He's the type of character we've seen hundreds of times before. I also felt that Cailee Spaeny played Rose a little too unbelievably. She wouldn't be an easy character to play, but I still wasn't entirely convinced by how Cailee played her. Still, if you're looking for an engaging watch, "Bad Times" is the movie for you.
"Roma"
Rating: 5/5 Stars
If there was a movie that could define what a year as harrowing as 2018 needed, this is it. This movie is jaw dropping and masterful because director Alfonso Cuaron isn't making an effort to be either of those things. In fact, he calls this film his most personal to date. It is both epic and intimate, huge and simple. There aren't many movies that can navigate those extremes, but this one does. Cuaron might right now be more known for "Gravity" and "Children of Men". And it makes sense: those two movies have more inherent commercial appeal to them. "Roma" doesn't necessarily have that same appeal, but I think it may still be better than both of the other movies (which is really saying something, because I adore "Children of Men"). Powerful waves of emotion washed over me as I watched main character Cleo going through her life as a servant for a middle-class family. When something big happens to her, she has to figure out how to balance this even with her complicated economic state. Cleo is an endlessly compelling character, a portrait of enduring strength married with a real vulnerability. This gamut of emotions is shown in heartfelt ways by newcomer Yalitza Aparicio. Her performance is so understated and nuanced that you may not even realize she is acting. I certainly only ever saw Cleo, and that was the amazing thing about her turn. She developed in a very natural way, being affected by events around her. She doesn't overact or anything, and sometimes can give you a sense of what her character is feeling simply through a subtle facial expression. Marina de Tavira as Sofia is also excellent in this film, and perhaps the best part about it. Her character has a lot of big emotional arcs to go through as well, and Tavira hits all the right notes. Even the child actors are great in this film, particularly Carlos Peralta as Paco. The film is shot entirely in black and white, which I thought was fitting. It gives this movie the right atmosphere it needs. Plus some of the shots are just so unique and gorgeous, and will probably be ingrained in my memory for years to come. Still, like everything else, the cinematography isn't trying to show off. Oftentimes, the camera simply lingers over an event, letting you take it in. Cuaron lets you naturally feel the emotions of what you're watching. There's no forceful musical cues or sudden camera angles. That embodies exactly what I love about this film. I feel like there's not enough to describe how much I love it. Please, please, watch this. It may just be the best film of the year.
Music
"Burning Alive" by Crazy Eighty-Eight
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Comedian and YouTuber Jarrod Alonge has created a side project along with fellow YouTuber Lauren Babic and As It Is lead vocalist Patty Walters. Because of this arrangement of pretty well-known individuals, I was very interested to see how this project turned out. I was not disappointed. This whole album is a tribute to both classic movies and early 2000's metalcore (heck, the name of the band is inspired by "Kill Bill"). Every track here connects with a movie, with some of them being more clear than others. I actually really liked how the band used the movies as inspiration for song subjects rather than just reiterating plot points of the movie. They don't ever mention movie characters or anything like that, rather they incorporate some of the themes the movies had. I like this album a bit more musically, though, as the band derives inspiration from metalcore groups like Underoath. There are a lot of good things to say about the album. The best moment here is easily "Nitroglycerin", a banger of a track that is endlessly listenable. I've had this song on repeat for the past couple of weaks. Babic is incredible on the mic here, having some of the most brutal screams I've ever heard from any vocalist, male or female. Her cleans are also really good, having a raw talent to them. The epic "My Friends, You Bow to No One" is another significant highlight, drawing inspiration from the equally epic "Return of the King". I love the guitar work in this song, as well as the interesting musical sequences the song goes through. Other highlights include the powerful rock ballad "Tears in Rain", the catchy punk/rock styled "I Am Tetsuo", and the brutal "Bastard from a Basket". There are a couple of weak points, such as the somewhat underwhelming acoustic cut "Hannah" or the overall forgettable instrumental segments. The good parts of this album are really good, though, and make it more than worth a listen.
Favorite Songs: "Nitroglycerin", "Tears in Rain", "My Friends You Bow to No One", "I Am Tetsuo", "Bastard from a Basket"
Least Favorite Songs: "300 Pages", "The Shimmer", "Hannah"
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