Talking Movies: Hunger, Beast and The Matrix: Resurrections
Spling reviews Hunger, Beast and The Matrix Resurrections as broadcast on Talking Movies, Fine Music Radio. Listen to podcast.
TRANSCRIPT
Good morning – welcome to Talking Movies, I’m Spling…
This week, we’re talking about a drama thriller, an action adventure thriller and an action sci-fi odyssey.
Starting off with a film now on Netflix…
HUNGER
A street cook joins the world of fine-dining under the tutelage of an infamous chef.
Director: Sitisiri Mongkolsiri
Stars: Nopachai Chaiyanam and Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying
Hunger is reminiscent of The Menu, Whiplash and Parasite. The Menu centred on an exclusive restaurant, a dark comedy hostage drama that functioned like an unhinged Monty Python sketch against the backdrop of a hellbent chef. While employing a similar intensity and setting with some equally grisly moments, Hunger is more of a journey film. Similar to Whiplash, there’s a relentless and obsessive undercurrent in this apprentice–master clash as things ramp up. Parasite comes through in the film’s commentary on class structures, offering a thoughtful and provocative tale. While fairly conventional in the way the trial by fire finds a student out of her depth and struggling to hold onto her dreams, what makes Hunger more substantial is its hard-fought lessons and social commentary. Delivering beautifully crafted and artful dishes, foodies will also find this to be a delicious, albeit dangerous sensory overload as a chef flirts with the edge by way of daring experimentation. Hunger has an authentic feel, aided by impassioned performances from its co-stars, even if the characters could have used more depth. While the messaging is a little muddled as the story weaves its way to a thoughtful conclusion, it’s never short of conviction or flair when it comes to pure entertainment value. Leaning on some weighty themes surrounding ambition, class, greed and power, there’s more than enough to sate audiences looking to enjoy intense and suspenseful drama in this deconstruction of food as a social concept.
A solid 7!
Moving on to a movie now on Showmax…
BEAST
A father and his two teenage daughters find themselves hunted by a massive rogue lion.
Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Stars: Idris Elba, Sharlto Copley and Iyana Halley
Beast could be a companion to alligator horror thriller, Crawl. There are obvious parallels with The Ghost and the Darkness, but the films are worlds apart in terms of finesse. While Beast isn’t trying to reinvent the genre, it’s mostly uninspired and seems content with doing just enough. Unfortunately, as talented as its main attraction actors are, this vehicle isn’t designed to maximise their abilities, there to fortify underwritten characters and bland screenwriting. Elba takes on a The Rock type performance and Copley adds charm and texture to a game ranger, otherwise there’s not all that much to hang the story on. The notion of a relentless predator is nothing new and unfortunately for Beast, it doesn’t have the character, heart or comedy to invest audiences. To make matters worse, while serviceable, the CGI and visual effects aren’t convincing enough to add weight to the ever-present threat. Using single shot simulations, the filmmakers are able to add a sense of claustrophobia, urgency and immediacy to some scenes but this gimmick is a bit too self-conscious, further restrained by overambitious CGI. Elba and Copley’s presence adds spice, but this flagging thriller doesn’t even have it’s-so-bad-it’s-good working for it. Coming in to land with a reskinned scene from The Revenant, Beast gives the impression that cast and crew simply clocked in with no one really wanting to take ownership.
A flimsy 4!
And finally a film on Showmax…
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS
To truly know himself and his reality, Mr. Anderson opts to follow the white rabbit once more.
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II
Lana Wachowski returns in this solo directorial expedition, harnessing the talents of Cloud Atlas author David Mitchell and John Wick superstar, Keanu Reeves. Using footage to remind us of the original’s invention and phenomenon almost 25 years on, this pastiche is best summed up by the closing credits cover of Rage Against the Machine’s track ‘Freedom’ – ultimately a navel-gazing and nostalgia-inducing reworking that mostly echoes and creates an appetite for the original masterpiece. The Matrix Resurrections has eye-popping visuals as expected, creating some spectacular action set pieces in an imaginative way without betraying the tone and feel of The Matrix universe. It has a tongue-in-cheek meta sensibility, introducing new faces to enhance this belated sequel. Calling it The Neomatrix may have been overkill, but what’s most surprising is that this late edition is not simply a cash grab, opting for a timely and thoughtful examination of modern society in its dualities and hypocrisies. Besides the tried-and-tested chemistry of its co-stars, it’s fun to see Neil Patrick Harris taking on the role of a villain with clout and while this mind heist sci-fi sometimes seems influenced by the likes of Tenet and Inception, it has enough recalls and style to mirror pop culture-defining Matrix elements. The muddled production was affected by the pandemic and unfortunately, this setback does lend a salvaged feel to this self-indulgent medley and postmodernist tribute. It did just enough to get…
A satisfactory 6!
So just to wrap up…
HUNGER… impassioned performances, elegant visuals and provocative social commentary compel this thoughtful drama thriller… A solid 7!
BEAST… aloof characters, subpar CGI and uninspired writing undermine this promising, stellar yet forgettable safari thriller… A flimsy 4!
THE MATRIX RESURRECTIONS… eye-popping visuals, good chemistry and timely commentary invigorate this imaginative yet muddled rehash… A satisfactory 6!
For more movie reviews and features visit splingmovies.com.
And remember, Don’t WING it, SPL!NG it!
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