Tiny Reviews: "Frankenstein", "Eleanor the Great", "Black Phone 2" and "A House of Dynamite"

FRANKENSTEIN

Guillermo Del Toro failed to amaze me with Frankenstein, but he still delivered a full cinematic meal: the crafts are amazing; Jacob Elordi is mesmerizing; and the director makes sure the Creature is no monster but a victim of a wicked mind. Still, some scenes felt sloppy and the movie took some time to catch my full attention, but I found peculiar how The Creature's point of view takes central stage and how it reflects Victor's own relationship with his father. A nice and noble film. Oscar Isaac and Mia Goth are nice but they can't match Elordi brilliance in this one - an extremely empathetic performance able to convey so much through his eyes and through the way he moves. Visually striking film from costume design to production design to Laustsen's cinematography! Not at the same level as Pan's Labyrinth or The Shape of Water, but it's a fine and noble film from Del Toro.

RATING: 7/10

ELEANOR THE GREAT

A tale about grieving and a study about loneliness, Eleanor the Great is a lovely little movie. Johansson shows she has a sensitive directing approach with actors and on-screen silences and she pulls a remarkable performance from her leading lady June Squibb - perhaps because she understood she is the key ingredient for this movie to work since the script has some major flaws and misses. Erin Kellyman delivers a fine performance and shows great promise as an actress, but I was not ready for Rita Zohar's tremendous scenes. Not a remarkable movie, but it is never bad since it has its heart in the right place as Johansson seems to go back to her indie roots, but as a director this time. Always sweet to watch a movie about intergenerational friendships.

RATING: 6,5/10

BLACK PHONE 2

Some sequels should be locked in a cave, buried under the ice or lost in the afterlife with no phone connection to the cinematic world. Black Phone 2 is one of them! It should have been an horror film, but it turned out to be a sloppy sentimental tale of a brother and sister. And it drags...! Not even Ethan Hawke's brief presence can save Black Phone 2 from being one of the most uninspired sequels in the horror genre and one of the weakest films of the year. Don't believe the hype if you come from me. No matter what... the first installment still is one of my favorite horror movies of the decade so far - a truly dark and chilling film!

RATING: 2/10

A HOUSE OF DYNAMITE

Kathryn Bigelow presents a valid possible scenario and she offers a valid viewpoint about a serious matter, but A House of Dynamite drags way too much to be actually thrilling. Great sound, fine editing and a commited cast (Rebecca Ferguson is the clear MVP) try to come in rescue of this narrative, but it is the kind of "prestige awards bait" that tries to be (and presents itself as) smarter and superior than it actually is. A very mid effort from Bigelow, which pales in comparison to Point Break, The Hurt Locker and Zero Dark Thirty. The narrative unveils its finale in the first act and the director can't quite build tension or intrigue in order to keep this film engaging enough.

RATING: 4/10