Uncut Gems Review

An original film that’s both chaotic and magical

Uncut Gems, created by the Safdie Brothers, is a passion project that has been in the making for a decade and it shows. There has been hype surrounding the film ever since the trailer dropped and it was applauded at film festivals, but it’s now available everywhere and is a MUST-WATCH 2019 movie.

The story follows a gem dealer (played by Adam Sandler) in the diamond district of New York who makes a high stake bet including a rare gem and an NBA player to pay back his debts. Between the struggle of making it happen, he has to deal with both his family and his enemies.

And there’s a lot to unpack in these two hours of screen time. I was reeling coming out of the theater because it was seriously one of the most chaotic movies I’ve ever experienced. The intriguing part is, despite that, it was fairly easy to understand what was going on at all times. Part of what keeps that possible is brilliant, concise writing that holds it all together.

To bring that to the next level is an exemplary performance from the leading man Adam Sandler. When you think about Sandler, it’s usually comedies that come to mind, but he brings an intensity to the role that is unmatched. It’s sensational, I really can’t imagine anyone else playing this character to the extent that Sandler did.

Everything around him was great too. The supporting cast, including Kevin Garnett surprisingly, did very well. The shots and camerawork is brilliant. The score drives the pace of the movie forward in a way that only top tier movie score does. The overall feel of the movie is just fantastic. It’s also extremely unconventional, it does a lot that other films aren’t willing to do, even when it’s coming to a close in its jaw-dropping climax.

Uncut Gems is one of the best movies this year. It’s unique and outlandish, yet authentic and intimate. It’s extremely entertaining throughout, keeping you engaged from beginning to end, while also being extremely thought provoking. The Safdie Brothers brought their best to a project they’ve been working on for a LONG time and made it all worth it by creating a masterpiece to remember. It seems like people are divided over it, but it would be my top movie of 2019 if another work of art, Parasite, didn’t come out earlier in the year. Go watch this movie and form your own opinion, I promise it’s worth it.

The Hall Score: 10/10

January 5, 2020 0

Little Women Review

Greta Gerwig is amazing, that is all

Little Women has been made many times, but director Greta Gerwig created something truly special with this modern movie iteration of the classic book. She brought together a cast that is insanely talented to prove that there’s more magic to be brought to this story and wow, did it work.

For anyone who hasn’t seen or read this 150 year old tale, Little Women follows a family of four girls (played by Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, and Elizabeth Scanlen) who are growing up in the mid 1800s.

As I said in the beginning, the cast is what really brings the pizzazz. Each of the four girls bring their own style and shine in their individual moments. Ronan and Pugh are especially good, but that doesn’t mean Watson and Scanlen aren’t strong in their own ways. To complement them, you have an amazing supporting cast of Laura Dern, Meryl Streep, and Timothee Chalamet to really bring out the best of the wonderful writing of this film.

That’s also not to say that the acting performances are the only thing that make this movie enjoyable. The sets and shots and beautiful, which is where I send my compliments to Gerwig. She knows how to make a film both beautiful and fun, and she has done it multiple times now. Greta Gerwig is a name that anyone who likes movies should know.

It’s engaging, it’s satisfying, and it’s everything you’re looking for in an end-of-the-year holiday movie. I don’t know how memorable it will be in the long run with it being pretty formulaic and not bringing anything super new to the table, but you should get your family together and go see this movie in theaters anyways. It’s something that almost everyone will enjoy.

The Hall Score: 9/10

January 5, 2020 0

Rocketman Review

What Bohemian Rhapsody should have been

Following the mess that Bohemian Rhapsody was, my expectations for Rocketman were not exactly high. That being said, the movie was a pleasant surprise that exceeded my hopes in every way.

Directed by Dexter Fletcher, the man who tried to reclaim Bohemian Rhapsody from how Bryan Singer left it, Rocketman is a musical that tells the tale of Elton John’s rise to stardom with a heavy fantasy theme throughout.

The first thing that needs to be said is that Taron Egerton as Elton John is fantastic. He brings both the emotion and the flare that truly made you believe that this was Elton John. There’s no other way to describe his performance than wonderful and Oscar nomination-worthy.

The rest of movie wasn’t lacking either. The different musical numbers were grand and super fun to watch. The story is gripping and brings emotions of all kinds. He didn’t pull punches on how dark John’s life really was at times but he never went too far as to take away from the overall tone. Fletcher promised a fantasy and that’s exactly what he gave us.

The only real criticism I had was the first act of the film that felt a bit slow. It starts off going through John’s childhood and while it was nice to set the scene of how he grew up, it could have easily just started a bit later in his life. The movie just didn’t really find it’s stride until Egerton bursts onto the screen.

Overall, Rocketman is a fantastic musical that brings smiles, laughs, and tears. It doesn’t hold back, it doesn’t hide his sexuality, and it certainly doesn’t bore you. If you have any sort of love or appreciation for the music of Elton John, this one is a must-see.

The Hall Score: 9/10

July 14, 2019 0