matthewconnect Reviews

Earthquake Bird (2019)

Pop goes the tension

[8/10 · 16 November 2019]

Set in Tokyo, a surprisingly Japanese speaking Alicia Vikander, Lucy, is interrogated by police over the disappearance, and suspected murder, of fellow expat Lily. Tension grows throughout the film as Lucy grows increasingly jealous and paranoid of Lily, who slowly gets close to her mysterious photographer boyfriend Teiji.

Whilst the pace of the film is slow, Alicia Vikander is phenomenal as Lily, holding you at the edge of your seat as her mental state slowly crumbles. Time is taken to dwell on Lucy's expressions, her feelings, her psyche. Her eyes slowly welling up in one scene is magical.

The setting is a character in its own right, framed magnificently in a number of scenes- the grandeur of the mountains, the composition of the secret woodland temple, the liveliness of the festival... compared to the greys of Teiji's studio and Lucy's apartment near the end.

There is a quietness to the movie which I actually really like and unfortunately felt that the ending/resolve, which was rather abrupt did not feel right with the rest of the movie and was too convenient and expected.

Nonetheless, I found there was a lot to love about the movie that despite its pace, kept my attention throughout; with an emotional and reflective performance from Vikander, and was a much needed "quieter" film amongst all the noise of the world.

Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

Weak plot, but boy did it make me laugh!

[9/10 · 2 December 2018]

I loved the first film and its clever referencing to gaming culture and humour, which was filled with a lot of heart. In the sequel, the references turn to the internet and as a young adult, the references were very relevant to me and I really enjoyed spotting the different references. Some may find this type of "endorsement" annoying, but it's a film about the internet, let it be about the internet!

There were quite a few big laughs in here that I found were funnier than the first film. The cameo of Disney princesses is going to become an iconic scene for the Disney canon.

That said, the plot itself was slightly lacking and felt a bit lazy, and the writing of Ralph's character was slightly disappointing- insecure, jealous and clingy - which was unfortunately a bit forced.

Overall, if are familiar with internet trends and love Disney references, you will find something to love about this movie!