Movie Reviews: The Circle, Colossal, Their Finest
A young woman lands her dream job when an incredibly powerful Internet corporation hires her. She quickly becomes successful and popular, but at the expense of her privacy and freedom.
Emma Watson leads an incredible cast that features Tom Hanks, John Boyega, Bill Paxton, Karen Gillan, and Patton Oswalt. Behind the camera is James Ponsoldt, a director who hasn’t made a bad movie in his career, until now. "The Circle" isn’t just bad, it may very well be the worst film made by people of talent in 2017.
It’s a film that looks sleek and modern, but its ideas are old news. "The Circle" feigns intelligence, but adds nothing new to the conversation about security and surveillance. Tonally, it’s a mess, too. Ponsoldt has made a movie that feels constantly at odds with itself—not sure if it’s a satire or an earnest drama. The actors do the best with what they’re given, but no one escapes this trite and lazy movie unscathed.
Verdict: 1 out of 4 stars
"Colossal"
I doubt that many of you were ever pining for a movie-mash-up of Garden State and Godzilla, but if you were, boy, are you in luck. "Colossal" tells the story of an unemployed party-animal who discovers that her drunken antics are connected to a giant monster that’s wreaking havoc on a city in South Korea.
This delightfully unusual film dips its toes into a lot of different genres, including science fiction, drama, and comedy. It’s a movie that shouldn’t work, but somehow, director Nacho Vigalando pulls it off, giving us a surprisingly layered film that’s as much about addiction as it is about monsters.
Jason Sudeikis impresses in his meatiest role to date, but it’s Anne Hathaway who really shines. This oddball movie gives her the opportunity to showcase her tremendous range, and she rises to the occasion.
Verdict: 3 out of 4 stars
Directed by Lone Scherfig, this WWII dramedy tells the story of a woman who lands a job as a screenwriter for a British propaganda film. Like Scherfig’s most famous film, "An Education," this is a romantic drama that’s uncommonly charming and intelligent.
Gemma Artertron is stellar in the leading role, but she’s nearly upstaged by a boisterous and hilarious Bill Nighy—which is somewhat problematic given the film’s feminist themes. But, as it conveys its message, "Their Finest" is able to empower and uplift its audience without ever preaching to them.
"Their Finest" is a charming crowd pleaser, though not without its darkness. A contrived tragedy thrown in at the last minute threatens to de-rail the film entirely, but the movie is able to regain its footing by the end.
Verdict: 3 out of 4 stars