QUICK TAKES: The Remarkable Life of Ibelin; Your Monster; Goodrich; and Home Entertainment Spotlight
by Josh Sewell
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin
(Rated PG-13 for brief strong language. Now playing in select theaters and available on Netflix starting October 25.)
The premise: This deeply moving documentary introduces viewers to Norwegian gamer Mats Steen who died at 25-years-old from a degenerative muscular disease. In the wake of his passing, Mats’ family mourned what they believed to be an isolated existence without friends, romantic love or a greater sense of purpose. Instead, his parents and sister discovered Mats left them the password to his blog, which revealed a vibrant digital life that profoundly impacted a community of his fellow gamers.
The verdict: I made it 15 minutes into The Remarkable Life of Ibelin before I started wiping my eyes, and I basically never stopped. Take that as a recommendation to have Kleenex on hand before jumping into this beautiful real-life story. Not only is Mats interesting and engaging in home video footage, his writing proves he was also funny and intelligent in his online existence.
Director Benjamin Ree’s choice to enhance World of Warcraft footage (via animators) as a way for viewers to experience Mats’ life as Ibelin is a smart idea, even if there are a few times when it bogs down the overall narrative. There are some awkward moments where there’s no dialogue, but the game’s limited graphics aren’t strong enough to convey the characters’ interiority.
Still, despite a handful of flaws, learning about Mats’ short, complex life was one of the most poignant viewing experiences I’ve had this year. I can’t recommend it enough.
Grade: A-
Your Monster
(Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief bloody violence. Opens in select theaters on October 25.)
The premise: Melissa Barrera plays soft-spoken actor Laura, who gets dumped by her boyfriend (Edmund Donovan) while she’s in the hospital. Things get even more insulting when she learns her ex is still planning to direct a Broadway musical she helped him develop. At the same time, Laura discovers a rage-fueled monster (Tommy Dewey) living in the closet of her childhood bedroom. Although their relationship is initially tense, he ultimately encourages her to follow her dreams and stop being a doormat.
The verdict: I admire writer-director Caroline Lindy crafting something weird and different in this romcom/horror hybrid. However, what’s ambitious in theory doesn’t always result in ideal execution. Still, I’d rather watch something flawed but interesting instead of technically competent, but “so what?”
Barrera is always fantastic, so her magnetic work here is no exception. However, I was surprised by how witty and charismatic Dewey manages to be despite being buried under a bunch of monster makeup. That’s not easy to pull off.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure Your Monster earns its grand guignol finale, especially since it’s so reminiscent of Ti West’s far superior Pearl. Finally, the movie falls into the familiar trap of revolving around a hugely important work of art that’s nowhere close to the level of quality the characters think it is. The glimpses we get of the critical production indicate there’s no way it’s Broadway-bound, further undercutting the go-for-broke finale.
Grade: C+
Goodrich
(Rated R for some language. Now playing in select theaters.)
The premise: Andy Goodrich (Michael Keaton) finds his life upended when his wife enters rehab, leaving him on his own with their 9-year-old twin boys. Desperate for help with modern parenthood, he turns to Grace (Mila Kunis), his adult daughter from a previous marriage. In this time of crisis, he eventually evolves into the father she never had.
The verdict: With her second film, Hallie Meyers-Shyer proves her place as nepotistic romcom royalty (her parents are responsible for Father of the Bride, The Parent Trap, What Women Want, Something’s Gotta Give, It’s Complicated and a bunch of others) is warranted. This standard dramedy about a retirement-age workaholic finally understanding the importance of family doesn’t reveal any earth-shattering truths – did you know wealthy people have problems too? – but Keaton elevates the material more than it probably deserves.
The guy is incapable of giving a bad performance, which comes in handy when the characters in Goodrich start acting irrationally just to further the already-thin plot. Kunis and Carmen Ejogo are also strong, but they fly in and out of the story so often it’s tough to connect to them in any tangible way.
Nevertheless, the movie’s final act is so darn charming that being too hard on it feels a little like kicking a puppy. (Speaking of, the R-rating is way too harsh for such a genial, well-intentioned flick. There are a handful of f-bombs scattered throughout, but that’s about it as far as objectionable content goes.)
Grade: B-
Home Entertainment Spotlight
Cuckoo
(Rated R for violence, bloody images, language and brief teen drug use. Now available on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD.)
Hunter Schafer, best known for her work in HBO’s Euphoria, nabs her first leading role in this thriller co-starring Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick and Greta Fernandez. Cuckoo tells the story of Gretchen (Schafer), a teenager who leaves America to live with her father and his new family in a German Alps resort. However, things aren’t what they seem in this supposed vacation paradise. The Blu-Ray and DVD releases feature deleted scenes, behind the scenes footage and interviews with Shafer.
Book Spotlight
Batman: Resurrection, by John Jackson Miller
(Now available.)
In Miller’s new novel, which serves as a sequel to Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman (taking place between that film and Batman Returns), the Joker’s death continues to impact Batman and Gotham City. By night, the Caped Crusader continues his battle against criminals. By day, Bruce Wayne uses his business connections to save the city. But the Joker’s gang is still at large, continuing their boss’ havoc and enabling greedy opportunists like millionaire Max Shreck. Despite his best efforts, Batman finds evil growing more organized, orchestrated by a sinister behind-the-scenes force.
(Rated PG-13 for brief strong language. Now playing in select theaters and available on Netflix starting October 25.)
The premise: This deeply moving documentary introduces viewers to Norwegian gamer Mats Steen who died at 25-years-old from a degenerative muscular disease. In the wake of his passing, Mats’ family mourned what they believed to be an isolated existence without friends, romantic love or a greater sense of purpose. Instead, his parents and sister discovered Mats left them the password to his blog, which revealed a vibrant digital life that profoundly impacted a community of his fellow gamers.
The verdict: I made it 15 minutes into The Remarkable Life of Ibelin before I started wiping my eyes, and I basically never stopped. Take that as a recommendation to have Kleenex on hand before jumping into this beautiful real-life story. Not only is Mats interesting and engaging in home video footage, his writing proves he was also funny and intelligent in his online existence.
Director Benjamin Ree’s choice to enhance World of Warcraft footage (via animators) as a way for viewers to experience Mats’ life as Ibelin is a smart idea, even if there are a few times when it bogs down the overall narrative. There are some awkward moments where there’s no dialogue, but the game’s limited graphics aren’t strong enough to convey the characters’ interiority.
Still, despite a handful of flaws, learning about Mats’ short, complex life was one of the most poignant viewing experiences I’ve had this year. I can’t recommend it enough.
Grade: A-
(Rated R for language, some sexual content and brief bloody violence. Opens in select theaters on October 25.)
The premise: Melissa Barrera plays soft-spoken actor Laura, who gets dumped by her boyfriend (Edmund Donovan) while she’s in the hospital. Things get even more insulting when she learns her ex is still planning to direct a Broadway musical she helped him develop. At the same time, Laura discovers a rage-fueled monster (Tommy Dewey) living in the closet of her childhood bedroom. Although their relationship is initially tense, he ultimately encourages her to follow her dreams and stop being a doormat.
The verdict: I admire writer-director Caroline Lindy crafting something weird and different in this romcom/horror hybrid. However, what’s ambitious in theory doesn’t always result in ideal execution. Still, I’d rather watch something flawed but interesting instead of technically competent, but “so what?”
Barrera is always fantastic, so her magnetic work here is no exception. However, I was surprised by how witty and charismatic Dewey manages to be despite being buried under a bunch of monster makeup. That’s not easy to pull off.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure Your Monster earns its grand guignol finale, especially since it’s so reminiscent of Ti West’s far superior Pearl. Finally, the movie falls into the familiar trap of revolving around a hugely important work of art that’s nowhere close to the level of quality the characters think it is. The glimpses we get of the critical production indicate there’s no way it’s Broadway-bound, further undercutting the go-for-broke finale.
Grade: C+
(Rated R for some language. Now playing in select theaters.)
The premise: Andy Goodrich (Michael Keaton) finds his life upended when his wife enters rehab, leaving him on his own with their 9-year-old twin boys. Desperate for help with modern parenthood, he turns to Grace (Mila Kunis), his adult daughter from a previous marriage. In this time of crisis, he eventually evolves into the father she never had.
The verdict: With her second film, Hallie Meyers-Shyer proves her place as nepotistic romcom royalty (her parents are responsible for Father of the Bride, The Parent Trap, What Women Want, Something’s Gotta Give, It’s Complicated and a bunch of others) is warranted. This standard dramedy about a retirement-age workaholic finally understanding the importance of family doesn’t reveal any earth-shattering truths – did you know wealthy people have problems too? – but Keaton elevates the material more than it probably deserves.
The guy is incapable of giving a bad performance, which comes in handy when the characters in Goodrich start acting irrationally just to further the already-thin plot. Kunis and Carmen Ejogo are also strong, but they fly in and out of the story so often it’s tough to connect to them in any tangible way.
Nevertheless, the movie’s final act is so darn charming that being too hard on it feels a little like kicking a puppy. (Speaking of, the R-rating is way too harsh for such a genial, well-intentioned flick. There are a handful of f-bombs scattered throughout, but that’s about it as far as objectionable content goes.)
Grade: B-
Home Entertainment Spotlight
(Rated R for violence, bloody images, language and brief teen drug use. Now available on Blu-ray, DVD and VOD.)
Hunter Schafer, best known for her work in HBO’s Euphoria, nabs her first leading role in this thriller co-starring Dan Stevens, Jessica Henwick and Greta Fernandez. Cuckoo tells the story of Gretchen (Schafer), a teenager who leaves America to live with her father and his new family in a German Alps resort. However, things aren’t what they seem in this supposed vacation paradise. The Blu-Ray and DVD releases feature deleted scenes, behind the scenes footage and interviews with Shafer.
Book Spotlight
(Now available.)
In Miller’s new novel, which serves as a sequel to Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman (taking place between that film and Batman Returns), the Joker’s death continues to impact Batman and Gotham City. By night, the Caped Crusader continues his battle against criminals. By day, Bruce Wayne uses his business connections to save the city. But the Joker’s gang is still at large, continuing their boss’ havoc and enabling greedy opportunists like millionaire Max Shreck. Despite his best efforts, Batman finds evil growing more organized, orchestrated by a sinister behind-the-scenes force.
Reach out to Josh Sewell at joshsewell81@gmail.com
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