Cinema Snapshots: July 2019
What I watched last month...
Welcome to this month’s Cinema Snapshots! At the beginning of each month, I reflect on what I watched the prior month and provide a quick “snapshot” of my thoughts on those films. So without further ado, here are my Cinema Snapshots for July 2019.
Toy Story 4
Woody has always been confident about his place in the world, devoted to taking care of his kid—whether that’s Andy or Bonnie. But after Bonnie creates a reluctant new toy called “Forky”, a road trip adventure alongside old and new friends challenges everything Woody believes about loyalty, purpose, and what it truly means to be a toy.
When Toy Story 4 was first announced, I wasn’t of the opinion that another Toy Story was needed, especially with how wonderfully the trilogy had wrapped up in 2010. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The constant laughs and emotional depth of this fourth installment not only justifies its existence, but may make it the best of the seires.
One can’t discuss Toy Story 4 without mentioning the incredible animation and cinematography. I can’t recall the last time I have been so astounded by the realism and detail in an animated film. Each raindrop, dust bunny, and light reflection was so meticulously crafted it was all I could do not to simply stare at the scenery. The character design is more detailed than ever, adding more emotion and realism to the characters we all know and love. This unironically should be a contender for Best Cinematography at the Academy Awards.
The main voice cast has always boasted incredible performances, but Tom Hanks was a true stand out for me this time around. You could sense the inner turmoil in his voice, and hear his age catching up with him. Tim Allen’s Buzz continues to provide comic relief but also a few sentimental moments, while newcomers Key and Peele create nonstop laughs with their hilarious antics. Forky (Tony Hale) steals the show with his existential crisis. Only Pixar could manage to make a spork such a beloved character.
Randy Newman has provided the score and songs for all four Toy Story films, and just like the previous entries, his musical texture here creates a playful nostalgia and sets the perfect tone, from the familiar reprise of “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” to his latest new song “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away.” If you can’t tell, I was blown away by Toy Story 4. This is definitely one you won’t want to miss.
★★★★☆
Spider-Man: Far From Home
Peter Parker and his friends go on a summer trip to Europe. However, they will hardly be able to rest - Peter will have to agree to help Nick Fury uncover the mystery of creatures that cause natural disasters and destruction throughout the continent.
23 films in and the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues to produce quality entertainment, this time with Spider-Man: Far From Home. The plot is simple, but a stellar cast, rockin’ music, and laugh-out-loud comedic moments more than make up for its predictability.
Tom Holland (now in his fifth appearance as Spider-Man) has such a grasp on the character and nails his smarts, his insecurities, and his sense of humor. Zendaya gets a much bigger role in the sequel and proves her worth; as do Peter’s other hilarious classmates. Jon Favreau and Marisa Tomei make fun appearances, though fairly short-lived. But most of all, newcomer Jake Gyllenhaal is a delight as Mysterio. He brings nuance to the performance, acting as a new hero and potentially new mentor to Peter now that Tony Stark is gone. Fans of the comics may guess how things turn out, but Gyllenhaal does the role justice.
Michael Giacchino returned to score Far from Home and does a spectacular job expanding Spider-Man’s theme with new instrumentations, styles, and settings. I particularly loved his fusion of guitars and drums into the theme this time around, as well as its playful iterations. The visual effects are also impressive, capturing some scenes that feel straight out of a comic book page.
Just as director Jon Watts played on the tropes of high school coming-of-age films in Homecoming, he plays with stereotypical road trip and vacation tropes in this film, leading to some hilarious situational comedy. He continues to capture the “awkward high school” vibe perfectly, and the quippy dialogue kept me engaged and entertained throughout the film, even if a few jokes fell flat.
The story itself is largely cliche and forgettable, but Spider-Man: Far From Home is a blast to watch from start to finish.
★★★☆☆