Film Review: A Million Miles Away (2023)

It is rare these days for a film to be as inspiring as A Million Miles Away. This beautifully-told biographical drama about the life of José M. Hernández, the first Mexican-American astronaut who came from very humble beginnings, is a must-see. It is to director Alejandra Marquez Abella's credit that this exceptional film is one of the year's best. Abella knows how to tell a great cinematic story and does so with mastery. The film moves at a quick pace, never wallowing in the many setbacks our hero experiences throughout his exhausting but determined journey. Instead, the audience recognizes these setbacks as the stepping stones they are, each leading Hernández to fulfilling his lifelong dream, igniting his passion even more each time they occur. Hernández is the ultimate underdog and we, his inspired audience, can't wait to see his victory. From a production standpoint, this film is near perfect. As our protagonist, Michael Peña gives an award-worthy career-best performance. His impressive portfolio of performances include many standout roles in Crash, Cesar Chavez, and End of Watch (to name a few). Without a doubt, he is one of the most talented actors of contemporary films. Here, he is allowed to shine, earning the audience's devotion and empathy with a vulnerable performance that should propel him into leading man status for many films to come. Peña is surrounded by a supporting cast that collectively create a remarkable ensemble. Of particular note is Rosa Salazar (who plays the role of Adela, Hernández's biggest cheerleader and loving wife). To her role, Salazar brings a charming likeability, which fuels an unforgettable performance filled with love, grit, and hope. There's much to love about this terrific film. Yet, at it's heart, this heartfelt story is about a hard-working family who deeply believed in the potential of one of their own, and together, propelled him to the skies.

David-Matthew Barnes

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿

Comments

Film Review: The Adam Project (2022)

Watching Shawn Levy's sci-fi action comedy The Adam Project is a fun, thrilling experience. The concept of the film is clever: a fighter pilot travels back to a specific point in his life, only to meet (and bond with) his younger self. The always-charming Ryan Reynolds is our leading man, playing the grown-up version of Adam Reed. Reynolds continues to prove he knows a thing or two about being funny. Here, his comedic timing is sharper than ever, evident each time he delivers hilarious lines of dialogue. The pairing of Reynolds with young actor Walker Scobell (who plays a 12-year old version of Adam Reed) creates a fantastic comedic duo. Their dynamic is very enjoyable to watch. They are surrounded by an all-star cast, appearing mostly in supporting roles, including Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Garner (both should've been given more screen time), and a devilish performance by Catherine Keener as an ultra-villain who you will love to hate. At the heart of the film, this is a good

Film Review: Joy Ride (2023)

Joy Ride is a lot of things: a bawdy comedy, a fun road trip movie, a daughter's quest, a hero(ine)'s journey, and a not-so-deep exploration of gender norms and stereotypes. While the laughs are plenty and the cast is charming, the film tries to figure out what it is and the result is a bit muddled. Director Adele Lim (in her directing debut) knows how to tell a good story. Her pacing of the movie is what keeps this comedy going. Little room is left to catch your breath before you've been moved on to the next outrageous situation, seemingly set up to allow the cast of comedians to shine. And they do, in part to Lim's directing, but also because all four actors are so damn entertaining: Ashley Park. Sherry Cola, Stephanie Hsu, and Sabrina Wu. Any of them could easily carry a film on their own. Here, they each have some terrific moments, but are ultimately diminished by a film that's too full. Structurally, the film's first two acts work really well. After a qu

David-Matthew Barnes' Top Twelve Horror Films

In alphabetical order because I love them all. Aliens (1986) Sigourney Weaver is the ultimate alien-fighting heroine is this horror-action classic, featuring one of the best spoken lines in any film: "Get away from her, you bitch!" Bride of Frankenstein (1935) One of the best sequels ever made (and even better than Frankenstein, in my opinion), owed to Elsa Lanchester's brilliant performance in the title role and James Whale's masterful direction. Black Christmas (1974) One of the first slasher films, this creepy tale set in a sorority house influenced many similar movies to follow. The Changeling (1980) Truly one of the best ghost stories made for the screen, this film is a horror masterpiece. Curtains (1983) This Canadian slasher flick features one the scariest ice skating sequences ever. The Fury (1978) This was the first horror film I saw as a child and it's impact on me has been lifelong. Amy Irving's final moment of revenge makes this great movie we

Filtinsel

Search This Blog