Film 2452 - Quiz Lady

Intro: Back home after two weeks in Fuerteventura and before going back to the movies, this is the first film I watched.

Film 2452: "Quiz Lady" (2023), Jessica Yu
Watched: From the computer
Language: English
Watched with: Bill
Thoughts: Not groundbreaking, but I enjoyed it. It delivered exactly what I expected (and was looking for).
It’s always nice to see Sandra Oh, she’s a great actress and definitely deserves more roles on both the big and small screen, and here she’s no exception: she’s playing a very different character from what I’ve seen her do in the past. She’s loud and in your face, channelling crazy and unhinged energy. And look, she didn’t reinvent the wheel, but she definitely delivered. Especially next to Awkwafina, who is her exact opposite here. Reserved and invisible, her Anne gives off almost on-the-spectrum energy, especially when it’s time to play the game and answer all the questions.
Again, "Quiz Lady" isn’t giving anything we haven’t seen before, but the great chemistry between the two leads keeps the boat afloat, and it works.
Cast: Awkwafina, Sandra Oh, Paul Reubens, Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, Tony Hale, Jonnie Park, Will Ferrell.
Box Office: /
Worth a watch?: I think this TV movie is a good vehicle for both Awkwafina’s and Sandra Oh’s talent, and if you like these two actresses, then this film is definitely for you. For everyone else, "Quiz Lady" is a fun enough ride that delivers some enjoayble moments and works as good, lighthearted entertainment.
Awards: It won Outstanding Television Movie at the 2024 Emmy Awards, securing Awkwafina and Sandra Oh (on her 14th nomination!) finally that Emmy win.
Key word: Linguini.
Trailer
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Film 2429 - Marty Supreme

Intro: I had really high expectations for this one, considering the stellar reviews, crazy marketing campaign, Oscar buzz and yeah, its protagonist.

Film 2429: "Marty Supreme" (2025), Josh Safdie
Watched: At the movies
Language: English
Watched with: Niamh
Thoughts: I didn’t realize this movie shares its director with “Uncut Gems,” one of the most stressful movies I’ve ever watched. And “Marty Supreme” isn’t a walk in the park either.
I can’t really say that I loved it, to be honest, but I liked it enough for a number of reasons. It’s not my kind of movie: it’s so loud and fast-paced, and at times so intense and stressful, that I couldn’t fully enjoy it. This experience wasn’t as extreme as the “Uncut Gems” one, but it still affected (or tainted) my overall perception of the movie. That said, I did appreciate Timothée Chalamet’s performance — which I think could win him his first Oscar — and I love that Fran Drescher is finally back to acting. Overall, though, the standout performance for me was Odessa A’zion’s: she’s extremely talented, and her time in this movie proves it. I also appreciated the set pieces; I think the overall vibe and atmosphere were well built and convincingly recreated. Some really interesting music choices are included as well and, although not historically accurate, they really work.
Overall, I didn’t like it as much as I would have loved to, but I don’t regret committing to this two-and-a-half-hour movie.
P.S. The conceiving scene at the beginning reminded me of the movie “Look Who’s Talking”.
Cast: Timothée Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Odessa A'zion, Kevin O'Leary, Tyler Okonma, Abel Ferrara, Sandra Bernhard, Fred Hechinger, Fran Drescher.
Box Office: $79.5 million (so far)
Worth a watch?: If you’re a fan of Timothée, Josh Safdie’s filmmaking style, or the yearly award-season race in general, this movie is hard to miss. I was hoping for a more traditional biopic-style execution and less narrative craziness, but it’s as entertaining as it is stressful at times. It’s also a bit odd to see Timothée and Gwyneth Paltrow in sex scenes — but it is what it is.
Awards: Nominated for 3 Golden Globes for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Screenplay, it won Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy (Timothée Chalamet). 3 nominations at the upcoming 2026 Actor Awards: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role (Chalamet), Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role (Odessa A'zion).
Key word: Table tennis.
Trailer
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Film 2398 - Flow

Intro: I forgot to include this movie in my list of movies to review and I'm including it now!

Film 2398: "Flow" (2024), Gints Zilbalodis
Watched: On the laptop
Language: /
Watched with: No one
Thoughts: The experience of watching this movie is a very interesting one for me.
Back in February, I decided to give it a go on a flight from Dublin to Lanzarote, Spain. I wanted something nice and easy to watch on the 4 hour Ryanair journey, something to keep me company, but also wouldn't require too much brain power. And because we were really, REALLY deep into Oscar season, it only made sense to watch one of the nominees. And, to be honest, it was the best decision.
One thing I have to say beforehand is that the journey to Spain was insane. Turblence would get so bad at moments that it would be impossible to hold my laptop on my lap. Considering my second most irrational fear is dying in a plane crash, it's fair to say that it wasn't a pleasant experience. But watching "Flow" definitely helped.
One thing I didn't expect is the complete lack of dialogue. No human interactions - although humans are definitely part of this world considering the amount of man-made items present - just a cat on his journey to... I'm still not sure.
It's a very fascinating movie, it feels kind of magical at times and the story just progresses at its own pace, while the sea level (I guess?) is rising and our cat protagonist is trying to escape it.
There are a lot of wonderful shots in this movie, a lot of creative vision and an aesthetic that is simple, yet extremely effective. All of this, wrapped in a soundtrack that absolutely complements the end result.
I didn't know what to expect when I started this journey - both the cat's from the movie and mine on the plane - but I sure did enjoy it.
Cast: /
Box Office: €50 million
Worth a watch?: Definitely. It's an interesting movie and story, well crafted - amid a fairly low budget of €3.5 million - and executed. The absence of dialogue forces you to carefully follow the story, you can't get distracted or you'll miss some detail of the story. It's unusual and it takes a second to get used to it, but it's also so calming at times to just listen to the wind or the sound of the surroundings. Not to mention that there is definitely a very contemporary message being carried by the story: climate change and its effects on the planet.
Awards: Nominated for 2 Oscars for Best International Feature Film and Best Animated Feature Film, it won the latter. 2 BAFTAs nominations (Best Animated Feature Film and Best Children's & Family Film) and 1 Golden Globe win for Best Motion Picture - Animated. The movie also won the César for Best Animated Film and was in competition for the Un Certain Regard Award at Cannes 2024.
Key word: .
Trailer
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