The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)

The Cloverfield Paradox is a science fiction film set in the Cloverfield universe where scientists are trying to solve the energy crisis with a hadron collider in space.

I had never heard of the director before today, Julius Onah, and after today I'd say he's competent. The shots he chooses to use are interesting and different. He uses classic shots like in the position of power the person should look down on the weaker and vice versa. Also, I didn't notice any problems with the shots used during dialog. The last shot of the film was the only moment where I tilted my head in wonder as to why he chose that. It posed a lot of questions, which is both good and bad.

The writer is Oren Uziel. He wrote 22 Jump Street and Shimmer Lake and has proven that he can write both science fiction, crime, and comedy. Not many people can say they've done the same. The writing has some problems and I can't really get into spoilers but you'll find yourself asking 'How?' at some of the events that happen which I imagine fanboys will say that it's a paradox, you don't need to understand. As a man of reason and mathematics, I couldn't overlook some of the flaws in the writing. Side note: he's also writing the reboot for Mortal Kombat.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays the main character who has lost her children due to a tragic accident. It's a key bit of information that the beginning glosses over due to the writing. It's not a spoiler, and you should know this going in. She is convincing throughout the film and I couldn't find anything wrong with her performance. She can convey messages without having to speak which is key to a great performance. You might recognize her for her brief appearance on a show called Doctor Who.

Daniel Brühl plays Schmidt. I loved his performance in Inglourious Basterds and as Zemo in Captian America: Civil War. His character is interesting enough and has a few scenes with Ziyi Zhang, the woman from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon and, my favorite of her performances, Hero. I can't really say too much about what their characters do without spoiling anything but safe to say Brühl does great and Zhang is here to sell the movie to the Chinese audiences. There is a lot of Mandarin spoken in this film.

Result: B- (It's above average, the second movie was much better, and I do look forward to the next)

Comments

Angel and the Badman (2026)

Angel and the Badman is a remake directed by Julio Quintana , bringing a new take on the classic Western originally associated with John Wayne . This version stars Zachary Levi and Neal McDonough , two actors who have often been described as blacklisted in Hollywood. The movie takes a different approach from what you might expect, placing less emphasis on action and more on its underlying message. While there are a few scenes that could have been shortened, I can understand what Quintana was trying to accomplish with this remake. Zachary Levi , best known for Chuck and Shazam! , is charismatic and fits the role well. His portrayal of John Wayne's original character gives the film a different personality without making it feel like he is simply trying to imitate Wayne. Levi carries the movie effectively, and his performance is one of the main reasons the remake works as well as it does. Neal McDonough , known for Band of Brothers and his many villain roles, brings a sinister q...

Street Fighter (2026)

Street Fighter pays plenty of homage to the games and even the 1994 movie of the same name. Written by Dalan Musson , the screenwriter behind Captain America: Brave New World , and directed by Kitao Sakurai , who previously directed Eric Andre in Bad Trip , the movie clearly understands that Street Fighter is supposed to be ridiculous. Eric Andre brings his usual childish humor to a movie that often feels like it was made for teenage boys rather than the people who actually grew up playing these games. The choreography is great, but the direction is all over the place. I am part of the target demographic for a Street Fighter movie, but I am clearly not the demographic this film was trying to reach. I know it's easy to say you're a fan, so here's my achievement tracker for Street Fighter IV. Noah Centineo is a great Ken Masters . He has the charisma and personality needed to play the character, and he does a good job capturing the cocky attitude that makes Ken entertai...

Other Mommy (2026)

Other Mommy is directed by Rob Savage and written by Nathan Elston , adapting Josh Malerman's novel Incidents Around the House . Rob Savage has shown that he can make an effective horror movie, but this one struggles to deliver on its potential. The film has some genuinely creepy moments, yet it never manages to turn them into anything particularly frightening. The biggest problem is that the source material simply is not strong enough to support the kind of horror the movie is trying to deliver, and some laughable CGI only makes matters worse. Jessica Chastain , known for Interstellar and The Eyes of Tammy Faye , plays both Mommy and Other Mommy . She does a great job handling both roles and gives the characters the distinction they need, working with what the source material provides. Unfortunately, the CGI occasionally undermines her performance, especially when the movie tries to make Other Mommy look terrifying. There is only so much an actress can do when the visual ...

Movies, Film, and Chili

Search This Blog