Today’s post will look a little different, and that’s because I’m starting a new series titled “Cinema Snapshots.” At the beginning of each month, I’ll reflect on what I watched the prior month and provide a quick “snapshot” of my thoughts on those films. Not to worry - I’ll still provide frequent in-depth analyses of films and their intersection with the Christian faith. But this series allows me to briefly share what else I’ve been watching in theaters and at home. So without further ado, here are my Cinema Snapshots for July 2024.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Detective Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy) is back on the beat in Beverly Hills. After his daughter’s life is threatened, she (Taylour Paige) and Foley team up with a new partner (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) and old pals Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and John Taggart (John Ashton) to turn up the heat and uncover a conspiracy.
No sequel will ever capture the raw energy and dynamics of the original Beverly Hills Cop film (how many times can you do the same fish out of water story?), but when this film clicks, it clicks. This fourth entry in the series contains some laugh-out-loud lines (many of which are improv from Eddie Murphy) and hilarious situational comedy. And honestly? I lose all rational thought when that main theme comes in on the synth.
★★★☆☆
Fly Me to the Moon
Starring Scarlett Johansson and Channing Tatum, “Fly Me to the Moon” is a sharp, stylish comedy-drama set against the high-stakes backdrop of NASA’s historic Apollo 11 moon landing. Sparks fly in all directions as marketing maven Kelly Jones (Johansson), brought in to fix NASA’s public image, wreaks havoc on launch director Cole Davis’ (Tatum) already difficult task. When the White House deems the mission too important to fail, Jones is directed to stage a fake moon landing as backup, and the countdown truly begins.
From a technical standpoint, this film left me wanting more. Sluggish, terrible pacing mixed with some on-the-nose dialogue round out a series of bizarre filmmaking choices.
But the strange part? I still enjoyed it! That’s the power of movie stars (specifically that’s the power of Jim Rash basically playing his same character from Community, a truly inspired casting choice). Plus, Daniel Pemberton’s inspirational score adds momentum and emotion to nearly every scene, some musical heavy lifting that elevates the entire experience.
★★★☆☆
Longlegs
In pursuit of a serial killer, an FBI agent uncovers a series of occult clues that she must solve to end his terrifying killing spree.
Longlegs succeeds as a somber reflection on the loss of childhood innocence and naïveté. Is it better to live in knowledge of the horrifically evil world we face, or to hold onto a belief in goodness and love?
My main problem with the film is that it suffers from an identity crisis. It lacks the urgency and engagement needed to be an investigative thriller but retains too much of that structure to embrace full horror. That strange tonal void successfully puts a pit in your stomach, but never quite pays that anxiety off.
That said, director Oz Perkins serves up some haunting shots, and I loved the contrast provided by placing Nicolas Cage’s zany and loud performance in an otherwise very introspective and subdued world.
★★★☆☆
Mouseshrooms
A psychedelic experience in an abandoned warehouse is interrupted by a building inspector…and a talking rat.
Shameless plug, I scored a short film last month directed by Shalia Fuentes-Matthews. You can listen to the music here, and be on the lookout to watch the film in the coming months! It’s a fun one.
Twisters
Haunted by a devastating encounter with a tornado, Kate Cooper gets lured back to the open plains by her friend, Javi, to test a groundbreaking new tracking system. She soon crosses paths with Tyler Owens, a charming but reckless social-media superstar who thrives on posting his storm-chasing adventures. As storm season intensifies, Kate, Tyler and their competing teams find themselves in a fight for their lives as multiple systems converge over central Oklahoma.
I’ve noticed a strange trend where legacy sequels (Twisters, Top Gun: Maverick) are much more willing to let themselves have fun and wear their hearts on their sleeve than other modern blockbusters. Come on, Hollywood, don’t be afraid to include genuine, unabashed emotion!
Rant over, but suffice it to say Twisters makes for a joyful and thrilling time at the movies. Glen Powell is magnetic, and Ben Wallfisch’s propulsive, electric score masterfully utilizes tinges of a country western style to accompany these tornado “wranglers.”
★★★★☆
Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool's peaceful existence comes crashing down when the Time Variance Authority recruits him to help safeguard the multiverse. He soon unites with his would-be pal, Wolverine, to complete the mission and save his world from an existential threat.
I’ll admit, Deadpool has never quite been for me. His crude sense of humor, over-the-top violence, and self-aware fourth wall breaks just get old after a few minutes. And while the third film in the franchise carries over those same characteristics I’ve disliked in the past, I found Deadpool and Wolverine to be largely successful as a buddy comedy. Reynolds and Jackman are an electric pairing, and the rapid-fire jokes largely land once the film gets going.
That’s not to say the film was without issue: I found it to be narratively flawed and underdeveloped, over-reliant on needle drops, and muddily directed in key action scenes. But even if it won’t have much staying power in my mind, it kept me laughing for most of its 128 minute runtime.
★★★☆☆
Presumed Innocent
“Presumed Innocent” is an eight-episode limited series starring and executive produced by Jake Gyllenhaal in the lead role of chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich. The series takes viewers on a gripping journey through the horrific murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office when one of its own is suspected of the crime, exploring obsession, sex, politics, and the power and limits of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.
I don’t normally cover television on my blog, but Presumed Innocent is one of the best things I’ve watched this year and easily my favorite TV show of 2024 so far. This layered and tension-filled legal drama hinges on its actors, and they deliver big-time. Each and every performance contains depth and nuance (with Ruth Negga and Peter Sarsgaard as standouts), captivating the viewer throughout each episode.
I didn’t always love the manic editing and camerawork that were sporadically used, but as the series comes to a close, those seemingly strange filmmaking decisions finally make narrative sense. It’s a fascinating companion to the 1990 film (though having watched both recently, I prefer the series), and well worth a watch on Apple TV+.
★★★★☆