Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016)

Genre

Comedy

Director

Nicholas Stoller

Country

USA

Cast

Seth Rogen, Rose Byrne, Zac Efron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ike Barinholtz, Carla Gallo, Kiersey Clemons, Beanie Feldstein, Dave Franco, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, Jerrod Carmichael, Lisa Kudrow, Hannibal Buress, John Ealy, Selena Gomez, Kelsey Grammer, Brian Huskey, Clara Mamet, Nora Lum, Liz Cackowski, Billy Eichner, Abbi Jacobson, Sam Richardson

Storyline

When their new neighbors turn out to be a sorority even more out of control than the fraternity previously living there, Mac (Seth Rogen) and Kelly (Rose Byrne) team up with their former enemy Teddy (Zac Efron) to bring the girls down.

Opinion

Sequels, why do they even bother making them if the result is this poor? I know Hollywood is constantly looking for a way to make more money, but isn't this a bit insulting towards the audience?

And that being said, "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising" is easily one of the worst comedies of the year. And I'm sorry for saying that, because calling it a comedy is an insult to the other films of the genre.

Even though I didn't love "Neighbors", I was expecting - and I kind of wanted - this film to be like that one. Sure, the script was awful and loaded with clichés, and the dialogue was basically nothing but bad language. However, only now that I've seen this, I'm realizing how fun that one was. And I definitely had a good time watching it.

The same can't be said for this one. The script manages to be even worse, and while the first was just supposed to be a dumb film - at least I think so -, "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising" seems like it wants to put in contrast young versus old and naive versus experienced, but it never focuses on that, or at least not long enough to consider it valuable. It also tries to make a statement pro gay couples and marriages, but, once again, the script doesn't focus enough on that.

Unlike in the past, this time around I was able to take sides. And I stood with the old couple, played by Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne, because a, Zac Efron was helping them, and b, Chloë Grace Moretz's character was utterly annoying. And this is the second time this year she proves she is an awful actress.

I should have stayed away from this one, and I suggest you do the same. If you're in the mood of a no-brainy film, watch "Neighbors" instead. Like I said before, I didn't like it much, but I'd always pick that one over this one.

Red Dragon (2002)

Genre

Crime | Thriller

Director

Brett Ratner

Country

USA

Cast

Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes, Emily Watson, Harvey Keitel, Mary-Louise Parker, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Frank Whaley, Anthony Heald, Keng Leung, Frankie Faison, Tyler Patrick Jones, Ellen Burstyn

Storyline

To catch a serial killer (Ralph Fiennes) known by authorities as "The Tooth Fairy", retired FBI agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) asks for the help of his arch-nemesis, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), to bring the killer to justice.

Opinion

Watching "Manhunter" was a terrible mistake, not because it spoiled me the plot, but because I couldn't help but compare the two films throughout the whole running time, and now it's going to be impossible to review "Red Dragon" as a prequel to "The Silence of the Lambs" instead of as a remake to "Manhunter".

So, "Red Dragon" is a decent thriller on its own, but it's a completely pointless prequel, and really nothing if compared to the first film of the Hannibal series.

I still have not read the book, so I don't know whether this film is faithful or not to the material, but I like that there is more Hannibal Lecter than there was in "Manhunter". Because of that, the film has more to show, like the beautiful opening sequence where Dr. Lecter is captured.

But that's where the film's positive aspects end. FBI agent Will Graham isn't anything like I was expecting. While William Petersen did a great job in the role, I was much more excited about seeing Edward Norton because I'm a fan of his. Unfortunately, the average script didn't give Norton the change to do a good job: instead of being a very complex man with his inner demons, and psychological problems, this Graham is just a devoted FBI agent.

Francis Dolarhyde, also known as "The Tooth Fairy", is ruined by the casting of Ralph Fiennes. He may be intimidating as Lord Voldemort, but he is just not the right person to play such a complex character. And once again the script is to be blamed, because Dolarhyde is portrayed as nothing more than a blockhead.

The other members of the cast/characters aren't that better. Harvey Keitel was miscast as Graham's supervisor, and he is quite bad too, and Mary-Louise Parker has to deal with a development-less character. But Emily Watson and Philip Seymour Hoffman both do a decent job.

Overall, "Red Dragon" is unevenly engaging and thrilling, and the only reason for it to exist is that they wanted to make a prequel to "The Silence of the Lambs" using same actors and same locations.

Thursday Movie Picks: Female Ensemble

Welcome to Thursday Movie Picks, a weekly series hosted by Wandering Through the Shelves where each Thursday you have to pick three films to match the week's topic.

It's female ensemble week, and, as a woman, I couldn't not love this theme. And since I love it, it seems pretty fair to me to pick three great films, so without further ado, I leave you to them. 

Caramel (2007)

The plot may not sound very interesting, it's just about six Lebanese women living in Beirut and how they handle their romantic life, but the film is definitely worth watching. Despite it being a romantic comedy, the film is a refined, and touching, and genuine portrait of women, not only Lebanese women, and Nadine Labaki, in the role of director, co-writer and actress, wonderfully balances the emotions and will make you feel things there are barely words for you to describe. 

Mustang (2015)

Five sisters set up a scandal that has unexpected consequences: their home is progressively transformed into a prison and marriages start being arranged. This one's easily is one of the best films of 2015, and the credits go to the film's women: director Deniz Gamze Ergüven for telling this intense story in such a beautiful and fresh way, and the actresses, especially the young Güneş Şensoy, for giving very natural and believable performances. 

Volver (2006)

After an attempted rape, Paula stabs to death her father, and her mother Raimunda tries to cover up the murder. As if that wasn't enough, Raimunda's aunt passes away, and her mother comes back from the dead. Another masterpiece from Pedro Almodovar revolving around women and their universe. The film is truly beautiful, there's no real suspense yet it is thrilling, and tragedy and melodrama are balanced so well the characters even avoid self-pity. And the cast is spectacular. 

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)

Genre

Drama | Romance

Director

Sam Taylor-Johnson

Country

USA

Cast

Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Eloise Mumford, Jennifer Ehle, Marcia Gay Harden, Victor Rasuk, Luke Grimes, Rita Ora, Max Martini, Callum Keith Rennie, Andrew Airlie, Dylan Neal, Anthony Konechny, Emily Fonda, Rachel Skarsten

Storyline

Literature student Anastasia Steele's (Dakota Johnson) life changes forever when she meets handsome, yet tormented, billionaire Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan).

Opinion

As you can see, I finally decided to watch "Fifty Shades of Grey". It's not like I suddenly am interested in the film. I just want to compare it to "Fifty Shades of Black" and hopefully be able to say how the parody is better than the original.

That being said, the film left me completely speechless. It is atrocious beyond words. So bad I had to take several breaks - and speed it up a little bit - to get through the whole thing.

But hey, it's not like I didn't know what I was getting into. Based on that thing written by a desperate housewife that many like to call a novel, the "film" is as thinly plotted as a porn, and nothing happens other than a rich and (supposed to be) handsome man fucking a mentally and emotionally retarded girl. But let's look on the bright side, it's impossible to spoil the film to those who haven't seen it yet. And by the way, even though the plot is porn material, I doubt this film will be able to satisfy anyone from that point of view.

Anyway, the "film" is even worse than the "book". Before you start thinking awful things about me, I didn't read the book, not completely anyway. I did give it a shot to understand what all the fuss was about, but I stopped reading after the photoshooting part. I know it's not much to compare, but it's enough in this case because I wanted to stop watching the film as soon as the first face appeared on screen because of what I'm about to tell you.

The acting. I'm sorry, I meant whatever those people are doing, which clearly cannot be called acting, just like in real porn. Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are two pieces of wood - if Groot and a lady Groot were the leads, the film would have been much more exciting -, both lacking sex appeal and chemistry. Johnson lacks the ability to bit her lower lip in a sexual manner, but who cares right, she does that only for the entire film. Dornan, well, he is just not that attractive or good-looking as Christian Grey is supposed to be.

Oh, I almost forgot to mention the annoying, repetitive and utterly pointless use of closeups that are hopelessly trying to capture some kind of expressivity from the leading actors.

However, I did enjoy something, the soundtrack. It is really too good to be the soundtrack to this thing.