Tiny Reviews: "Sinners", "Fantastic Four: First Steps", "Caught Stealing", "The Conjuring: Last Rites" and "The Long Walk"

SINNERS

Ambitious, beautifully shot (and scored) and it features an impressive ensemble cast at the top of its game - Sinners is one of the most interesting films of the year so far. It's full of commentary about Black identity, the white appropriation of Black cultural elements (it's my take on Jack O'Connell's character wanting to "have" Samuel's music) and how Black people had to live and work together in a world that doesn't see them as equals. Sinners' first two acts are superb, but Coogler lowers the bar a little for me during a more action-packed third act. Wunmi Mosaku delivers the best performance in the entire film (a soulful turn full of layers of grief), with Delroy Lindo, Miles Caton and Hailee Steinfeld also delivering high caliber turns. Michael B. Jordan gets the job done as a commanding leading man while Jack O'Connell makes for a chilling villain. The music and sound work are award caliber and the messy energy of the film just turns into into an engaging cinematic ride. Gothic, electric, highly original and action-packed... the best blockbuste,r of the year so far.

RATING: 8,5/10

FANTASTIC FOUR: FIRST STEPS

It doesn't reinvent the superhero formula and its structure fits the usual one in every MCU movie (with a gigantic final battle in the end of the film), but F4 stands from the crowd of the latest MCU releases as the most stylish and good-looking film of the bunch. It touches some interesting questions - parenthood, common good and duty versus personal will - without making it too heavy, without delving too deep and spoil the entertainment purpose of the movie. Award caliber production design transports you for a retro-futuristic New York City and the ensemble grabs your attention, with Vanessa Kirby delivering a powerful performance full of high dramatic beats as Sue Storm. Great cinematography, nice visual effects, sympathetic characters and a mysterious anti-hero (Silver Surfer, played by the always reliable Julia Garner) make it an entertaining and confy cinematic afternoon option. I hope it marks the "first steps" of a new (and more inspired) phase for the MCU.

RATING: 6,5/10

CAUGHT STEALING

Not the movie I would expect from Darren Aronofsky, who's responsible for some of the greatest tales of misery of the 21st century (Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, Black Swan or The Whale) - but you can see the misery behind the comedic beats, the thrilling chases or the almost "blockbuster friendly" cover of Caught Stealing. Led by an impecable Austin Butler, who shows some real movie star charisma here, this movie is a very nice ride - a bit above average action movies because of the sensitive touch Aronofsky gives while approaching these characters. Great cinematography, vibrant music picks and a commited supporting cast also elevate this movie without sacrificing the central stage of Butler's presence. A pleasant movie with an unexpected ending, it's solid with good but not great... And there's a scene-stealing cat!

RATING: 6/10

THE CONJURING: LAST RITES

A frustrating final installment - it takes the most well-known, intriguing and full of potential case of the real-life Warrens and they make it a sloppy and sentimental film about parenthood. Thank God for Vera Farmiga's performance, but not even her can save this film from the need of an exorcism for itself. An underwhelming final film for Wilson and Farmiga - not the swan song they deserved as Ed and Lorraine Warren. Still, there are some creepy scenes that make you hope for the best, but they are one-moment wonders and the film doesn't follow those moments of visual inspiration. Bland and unrefined, thanks God it is a "last rite".

RATING: 1/10

THE LONG WALK

There are no exceptional elements in this film besides some great writing and some very inspired performances (specially from Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson), proving these are the things that really matter in a movie (with a competent directing hand of course). The key word for The Long Walk to work so beautifully as a full cinematic experience is "empathy" - the way these characters present them and the way the actors play them offer the audience some bounding moments with them as you understand there are no villains, only victims of a military regime. It's a dystopian USA and the narrative is pretty interesting as we get to know not only the characters but also their reality as a country just by watching them doing the walk of their lives. It's a noble meditation turned into a movie and despite the lack of visual splendor, Francis Lawrence crafts what turns to be a pretty emotional cinematic experience. 

RATING: 7/10