These reviews were featured in the May issue of NE Volume Magazine.
Run
Run is another jewel in the crown of stellar Sarah Paulson performances, as she plays a mysterious mother who devotes her life to looking after her seriously ill child.
With just a 90-minute runtime, Run wastes no time setting up its premise and never slows down or gives a dull moment.
As secrets unravel and the plot thickens, there are some chillingly tense sequences that are sure to have you on the edge of your seat – but they can’t save the plot from being somewhat predictable at times.
Kiera Allen deserves some acclaim for her performance as main character, Chloe. Not only is Run her film debut, but she’s the first wheelchair user to star in a major thriller in 70 years (plus she holds her own amazingly against Sarah Paulson – and anyone who can do that deserves extra marks).
Whilst Run isn’t reinventing the wheel, it’s most definitely worth running to your TV to watch.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
Whilst 2017’s Justice League was pretty average and unmemorable, 2021’s refashioned Zack Snyder’s Justice League puts right all the wrongs of the original movie.
After stepping away from directing the original film mid-filming due to personal matters, Zack Snyder decided to show audiences what they were supposed to experience with the 2017 movie.
No more wacky CGI, underdeveloped villains or thin plots (did we mention this movie is FOUR hours long). Plus, we got a great Jared Leto joker cameo that was filmed especially for this version of the movie.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League reimagines itself to such an extreme that it’s no longer the same movie. This is an immersive, team-of-heroes origin story that is superior to its predecessor in every way.
Whilst it’s a shame we’ll likely never get the sequel this movie so prominently sets up, the fact we actually got to experience Zack Snyder’s Justice League is good enough for us.
Promising Young Woman
The Oscar-nominated Promising Young Woman speaks truth to what it means to be a survivor of sexual assault, and the lack of punishment for abusers.
In the first few minutes of the film, lead character Cassie (Carey Mulligan) is seen stumbling around a nightclub, pretending to be wasted until a man takes her home and tries to engage in sexual activities without her consent. After a tense confrontation, Cassie leaves the home of her would-be rapist.
We learn she does this often, in an attempt to avenge her best friend, Nina, who died after being sexually assaulted seven years ago.
The movie sparked an audience reaction not seen for a long time upon its release, with some deeming it problematic for its anti-empowering ending and others deeming it a feminist instant classic.
Either way, Carey Mulligan’s performance is undeniably spectacular, and the soundtrack sounds like I’d just hit shuffle on my own music library. It’s definitely worth a watch.
Which of these movies have you seen? What did you think?
Featured Image Credit: Focus Features/Everett
Ben Wilkinson 