FLASH REVIEWS: "Mank", "Sound of Metal" and "Wonder Woman 1984"

MANK

David Fincher's latest sure is stylish and beautiful to look at: the cinemtography, the production design work, the costumes, the editing, the cast... everything! The original score by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross transports you for another era and you almost feel every sound you hear thanks to outstanding sound editing and sound mixing work. BUT Mank feels sterile to me and I believe it's because of the way it is written. Everything seems to keep the distance here, like a painting in a museum, and Mank never feels like a story you want to know. Fine performances from Gary Oldman and Amanda Seyfried try to bring some energy, joy and sass to the screen, but their efforts aren't enough against a scrip, but this duo is what makes Mank afloat to me (with a little help from Charles Dance, who's great in the few scenes he has). Here, you can see Fincher in command of his craft, but he seems to have gone style over substance here - still, Mank is a notorious directing achievement and it is a visual wonder to behold! For a movie that was considered a major awards player, I see nothing worth of an Oscar in the main categories here (yes, I'm saying Seyfried didn't feel worthy to me)... maybe Best Cinematography and Best Production Design and that's it, I guess.

RATING: 3 / 5

Oscar potential categories:

• Best Picture
• Best Director (David Fincher)
• Best Actor (Gary Oldman)
• Best Supporting Actor (Charles Dance)
• Best Supporting Actress (Amanda Seyfried)
• Best Editing
• Best Cinematography
• Best Production Design
• Best Costume Design
• Best Makeup & Hair
• Best Original Score
• Best Sound

SOUND OF METAL

First, my two (deceased) uncles were deaf. Second, Sound of Metal depicts the way deaf people live beautifully: the community, the schools, the way deaf people interact with each other. Sound of Metal has a special meaning for me! The movie's brilliance relies on a strong screenplay and an amazing lead performance from Riz Ahmed - an actor often underused, but I hope things can change for him after this movie. Ahmed conveys the emotional complexity of a health to "being sick" transition as someone who does not accept his new condition. It's a bravura performance elevated by Olivia Cooke and (specially) Paul Raci's performances. The sound editing and mixing is one of the best works in these departments I've heard in years and they assume a relevant role in transporting the audience to the deaf reality. The loudest thing in Sound of Metal is its silent moments. Thank you!

RATING: 4,5 / 5

Oscar potential categories:

• Best Picture
• Best Actor (Riz Ahmed)
• Best Supporting Actor (Paul Raci)
• Best Original Screenplay
• Best Sound

WONDER WOMAN 1984

It's a well intentioned sequel that aims to send a relevant message about greed and the importance of authenticity, but Wonder Woman 1984 gets lost by the time it starts to enter the third (and last act). Gal Gadot is back as Diana Prince AKA Wonder Woman and she has plenty of moments to shine in the first two thirds of the movie - a woman grieving the death of her true love and a woman living the hope of having him back to her arms again. Kristen Wiig also shines as an engaging anti-heroine, who goes from the sweet-hearted Barbara to the greedy Cheetah. In the end, Wonder Woman 1984 has entertained you, but you can't help but feel you've just watched a minor effort, specially when compared with the first Wonder Woman installment. The problem is the third act that leaves a bad taste in your mouth, because watching Diana / Barbara / Steve interactions and quest for the truth was far more compelling and emotionally ressonant than the "save the world" moments full of clichés. One note: Hans Zimmer has made a wonderful score for this one!

RATING: 2,5 / 5

Oscar potential categories:

• Best Visual Effects