Thu, 20 Feb 2025 01:24:21 -0500WeeblyThu, 20 Feb 2025 00:10:33 GMThttp://oscartwoten.com/movie-blog/the-monkey-when-a-killer-premise-falls-flatI’ve been anxiously awaiting The Monkey ever since the film was first announced. It’s based on a short story by my favorite author, Stephen King, and even more importantly, it was made by the guy who wrote and directed last year’s horror hit Longlegs. That movie captured the essence of evil in a way most horror films can only dream of, so when the credits began to roll, I immediately started looking forward to the director’s next project. I obviously had no idea what it would be, but I knew I had to watch it as soon as it hit theaters. That time is finally upon us, and after catching an early screening of the movie, I’m sad to report that it’s incredibly disappointing.

The Monkey was written and directed by Osgood Perkins, and it stars Theo James, Tatiana Maslany, Christian Convery, and Colin O'Brien. In the film, two twin boys, Hal and Bill, stumble upon an instrument of pure evil. They find a toy monkey left behind by their father, but as you might be able to guess, this thing isn’t just a toy. It has the power to cause random, Final Destination-esque deaths, and no matter what the brothers do to get rid of it, it always finds its way back to them.

On paper, that might sound like an intriguing premise for a horror movie, but a film can’t get by on its premise alone. It has to build an intriguing story around its bare-bones concept, and that’s where The Monkey falls short. This movie is about an hour and forty minutes, and for the first hour or so of its runtime, it doesn’t have much of a discernible plot.

It’s basically just a string of deaths caused by the titular monkey, and what little story there is (even in the final forty minutes) feels more like an excuse to showcase these gruesome kills than a worthwhile narrative in its own right. To make matters worse, none of the characters in this film are particularly likable. Few of them stick around long enough to make much of an impression, and the ones that do are as bland and one-dimensional as you’d expect from a story this light on plot.

The closest there is to a bright spot is actor Theo James’s performance as the adult versions of Bill and Hal, but even he’s very much a mixed bag. On the one hand, his performance as the socially reclusive Hal is quite good. The guy has an awkward, almost nerdy air about him, so James makes you believe that he really does try to avoid people as much as possible.

Unfortunately, that’s all there is to the character, so even though James’s performance is admirable, Hal still ends up being as flat as everyone else. In contrast, Bill is a complete trainwreck. He’s just as uninteresting as his monotonous brother, but this time, we don’t even get a good performance. He feels more like a caricature than a real person, so whenever he was on screen, I simply couldn’t take the movie seriously.

On top of those boring characters, The Monkey also features some pitch-black humor. The deaths and their surrounding circumstances are often played for laughs, and if you don’t enjoy this kind of comedy, you’re probably going to be very uncomfortable for most of the film. Personally, I enjoy dark humor, so I got a few good chuckles from these gags, but only a few. Most of them simply fell flat in my eyes, so while a number of people in my theater laughed out loud at almost all the jokes, I mostly just sat there with a disappointed look on my face.

Next, we have to talk about the horror in The Monkey. If you’re familiar with Osgood Perkins, or even if you just saw Longlegs, you’re probably expecting this movie to be an intensely atmospheric slow burn, but that’s not at all the case. Sure, the filmmaker’s characteristic atmosphere pops up every now and again, but it never stays for very long. It’s just there for a few brief shots, and then it disappears.

Instead, this film takes a much more slasher-esque approach to its horror. Like a typical slice-and-dice flick, this one is all about the kills. It revels in dispatching its victims in gruesome and creative ways, and it expects the audience to enjoy this kind of low-brow horror as well.

To be fair, I’m not completely against this brand of terror. As I said in my Heart Eyes review, I’m generally not big on slashers, but there are a number of exceptions (including Heart Eyes itself!). I just don’t like slashers that are all about the kills. I need something more–like an intriguing story, likable characters, or knee-slapping comedy–but The Monkey doesn’t have any of that. The horror is the only thing this movie does well, but unfortunately, it’s not the kind of horror I typically enjoy on its own.

Last but not least, I want to talk about the message of The Monkey. Given my problems with the film, you might not expect it to have any sort of deeper meaning, but it actually does. The randomness and unfairness of the toy monkey’s kills is supposed to be an allegory for the way death operates in the real world, and if you ask me, it’s pretty spot-on.
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Sure, we Catholics believe that God can bring good out of even the greatest of tragedies, but that doesn’t mean he actually causes these tragedies. He simply uses them the way a master painter can incorporate stray marks into a beautiful picture, but on their own, they really are random and unfair. There’s a reason the Hail Holy Queen calls this life a “valley of tears,” and on a thematic level, The Monkey absolutely nails that uncomfortable truth.

But a good message can’t salvage a bad movie, so at the end of the day, I have to say that The Monkey left me sorely disappointed. It was one of my most anticipated films of the year, but its overemphasis on creative deaths, to the detriment of the characters and the story, makes for one of the most unsatisfying cinematic experiences of the year so far.]]>Thu, 20 Feb 2025 00:07:23 GMThttp://oscartwoten.com/movie-blog/paddington-in-peru-the-sweet-end-to-cinemas-most-wholesome-trilogyIf you’ve never seen the first two Paddington movies, do yourself a favor and give them a watch. They’re truly some of the most charming and heartwarming films ever made, so naturally, Paddington in Peru was high on my most-anticipated list coming into 2025. It had the chance to cap off one of the greatest cinematic trilogies of all time, and I couldn’t wait to see if it would deliver. I bought a ticket for opening weekend as soon as I got the chance, and when the time finally came for my screening, I was way more excited than you’d ever expect a man in his 30s to be for a movie about an animated bear.

Paddington in Peru was directed by Dougal Wilson, and it stars Hugh Bonneville, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Madeleine Harris, Samuel Joslin, Carla Tous, Olivia Colman, Antonio Banderas, and the voice of Ben Whishaw. In the film, Paddington and the Browns take a family trip to Peru to visit Paddington’s elderly Aunt Lucy, but when they arrive at her retirement home, they receive terrible news.

Lucy has gone missing, and the nuns who run the place have no idea where she went. All they know is that she seemed to be conducting some intense research before her disappearance, so they surmise that the elderly bear has gone looking for something. Upon hearing all this, Paddington and the Browns decide to head deep into the Amazon to find Lucy, and their journey leads them to an unexpected discovery.

I’m not going to bury the lead. Like the previous Paddington movies, Paddington in Peru stands or falls largely on the strength of its characters, and to the surprise of no one, they’re just as delightful as ever. Let’s start with Paddington himself. The titular bear has always been the standout of this franchise, and he’s lost none of the irresistible charm that made his first two big-screen outings so great.

Actor Ben Whishaw somehow manages to voice this character in the most wholesome way imaginable, so whenever you hear Paddington speak, it’s like taking in a large bowl of chicken soup for the soul. It's sure to melt even the hardest of hearts, and the knee-slapping shenanigans this bear gets himself into will endear him to you even more. He's pretty much a perfect protagonist, so if you ask me, his presence alone is enough to make Paddington in Peru a fun time at the theater.

Thankfully though, this film doesn’t rely solely on its ursine lead. His supporting cast is awesome as well, and I have to mention two characters in particular. First up, we have Henry Brown. He’s the father of the Brown family, and as always, actor Hugh Bonneville is fantastic in the role. He imbues the character with just enough of the typical “stupid dad” trope to be funny, but he never comes across as a genuine idiot. You can clearly tell that he’s a loving, competent father, so he perfectly complements Paddington’s edifying vibe.

In contrast, his wife, Mary, doesn’t provide much comic relief, but she more than makes up for it by being the emotional core of the Brown clan. She embodies Pope Pius XII’s teaching that the woman holds “the chief place in love” in a family (Casti Connubii 27), and actress Emily Mortimer brings her to life brilliantly.

I’m not going to lie, I was actually a bit worried about this character. In the first two Paddington movies, Mary was played by Sally Hawkins, and I wasn’t sure how a new actress would do in the role. But thankfully, that fear ended up being completely unfounded. Mortimer imbues Mary with the same lovable heart and charisma that Hawkins brought the first two times, so if I didn’t know any better, I wouldn’t have even noticed the change.

On top of those great characters, Paddington in Peru also features an awesome message about the value of family. I can’t get into specifics without spoiling the film, but suffice it to say that the final act will warm your heart as only a Paddington movie can. Not only does the titular bear find way more than he expected, but some of the other characters also learn an important lesson about what truly matters in life, so this movie is just as edifying as it is entertaining.

All that being said, I have to acknowledge that Paddington in Peru isn’t quite perfect. In fact, if I’m being honest, I think this is probably the weakest film in the franchise. The story just isn’t as good as the other movies, so it doesn’t quite run on all cylinders the way those first two films do. It has a couple of brief lulls here and there, but as I’m sure you can guess, those minor flaws aren’t anywhere near bad enough to ruin the experience.

They’re little more than glorified nitpicks, so at the end of the day, I’m happy to report that Paddington in Peru is a worthy entry in this already storied series. It has all the heart, humor, and charm we’ve come to expect from a Paddington movie, so if you’re a fan of the franchise, I think you’re going to love this latest entry. Even if you’re not already a Paddington aficionado, I suggest giving this film a shot anyway. It’s that good, and you don’t need to see the previous movies to understand what’s going on in this one.]]>Wed, 19 Feb 2025 23:52:19 GMThttp://oscartwoten.com/movie-blog/brave-new-cap-does-sam-wilson-soar-as-the-new-captain-americaAnybody who knows my taste in movies knows I’m a massive fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. For over a decade, there’s been at least one MCU film at or near the top of my best-of list every single year, so naturally, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the latest installment, Captain America: Brave New World. Granted, I didn't love the idea of Steve Rogers handing the mantle of Captain America over to someone else, but I was willing to judge the movie on its own merits rather than on my own preconceived ideas of what should or shouldn't happen. I bought a ticket for opening night as soon as I got the chance, and now that I've finally seen the film, I'm happy to report that it does not disappoint.

Captain America: Brave New World was directed and co-written by Julius Onah, and it stars Anthony Mackie, Danny Ramirez, Shira Haas, Carl Lumbly, Tim Blake Nelson, and Harrison Ford. In the movie, Sam Wilson, the new Captain America, gets invited to a special event at the White House along with two of his closest allies: Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon, and an old super soldier named Isaiah Bradley.

At the event, Bradley tries to kill President Thaddeus Ross, but soon afterwards, he has no memory of ever doing it. It seems like he was somehow being controlled or possessed, and that sets off a huge red flag for Sam. To make matters worse, the assassination attempt kick-starts a chain reaction that just might cause World War III, and when Sam investigates these shady goings-on, he uncovers a dark web of secrecy, deceit, and sci-fi tech only an unfathomable genius could create.

As you can might be able to guess from that plot synopsis, Captain America: Brave New World is a relatively grounded (by MCU standards, that is) action thriller that eschews aliens, the multiverse, and magic in favor of political intrigue, and it works wonderfully…well, mostly. From the moment Isaiah Bradley got out of his chair and shot at the president, I was all in. The mystery surrounding his actions had me on the edge of my seat, and as the film added more layers to this already captivating puzzle, I became more and more hooked.

I couldn’t wait to find out who was behind it all, but unfortunately, when the big reveal finally comes, it’s a bit of a letdown. I can’t get into specifics without spoiling the movie’s secrets, but I can tell you that the villain’s motives are pretty underwhelming. They don’t fit the grand scale of his evil schemes, and that mismatch almost makes him come across as petty. It’s a weird way to feel about a supervillain, so it takes a bit of the wind out of the film’s sails.

There are also a number of smaller issues I could nitpick about all day, but thankfully, none of these problems ruin the entire experience. There’s still enough fun to be had with the political intrigue that the good in it handily outweighs the bad, and the great characters and awesome action decisively tip the scales in the movie’s favor. In particular, Captain America: Brave New World revolves primarily around three major players, and they’re all fantastic.

Let’s start with Thaddeus Ross. He’s brought to life by Harrison Ford, and he’s exactly what you’d expect. Ford imbues the president with just enough of his signature curmudgeonliness to be fun, but he also hits all the emotional beats the role requires. As you might remember from The Incredible Hulk, Ross is estranged from his daughter Betty, and when the topic comes up in conversation, Ford makes you believe that he desperately wants to see her again.

On the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we have Joaquin Torres, the new Falcon. He’s a young up-and-comer who loves what he does, and actor Danny Ramirez is perfect in the role. He just oozes the kind of youthful, almost flippant exuberance you’d expect from a guy living his dream life, and that joy is pretty contagious. He quickly became one of my favorite characters in the movie, so I can’t wait to see this guy again in future MCU projects.

Next, we have to talk about the titular hero, Sam Wilson. He’s been a highlight of the MCU ever since he was first introduced as a secondary character in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and now that he’s the star of the show, he ups his game tremendously. Actor Anthony Mackie plays the part with enough charm to make the character an absolute joy to watch whenever he’s on screen, but when things get serious, he also has the gravitas to make you believe he’ll get the job done.

On top of all that, Sam also exhibits the strength of character that made Steve Rogers such an important part of the MCU. Steve often functioned as the Avengers’ moral compass, and Captain America: Brave New World made me believe that Sam can (and probably will) have a similar role in future movies. Again, I can’t say much without spoiling some key plot points, but I can say that Sam upholds human dignity in a way that would make his predecessor proud, so I walked out of the theater with a newfound respect for the character.

Last but not least, I have to say a few words about the action in Captain America: Brave New World. It doesn’t reach the heights of the previous two Captain America films, but it’s pretty good. Anthony Mackie proves himself to be a legit action star, and when Sam and Joaquin take to the sky, their aerial fights are genuinely thrilling.

It’s a great combination of (relatively) grounded hand-to-hand combat and outlandish sci-fi fun, and it puts the icing on the cake of this awesome new chapter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Sure, Captain America: Brave New World isn’t top-tier Marvel, but it did what it needed to do. The movie made me accept Sam Wilson as Captain America, it thrilled me and entertained me, and it added a dash of moral substance into the mix as well, and when you put that all together, you get another solid entry in this long-running franchise.

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