Hearts of Atlantis

All I remember about seeing this movie 20-some years ago is that it was boring. Well, guess what? It’s still boring. A lot of loose plot threads and almost-thriller beats makes this kind of dull. Even the terribly important paranormal/ESP aspects feel glossed over and hampered. Hints at mind reading is a varietal of Chekhov's gun: you gotta use it and it’s gotta matter.

Conclave

Ralph Fiennes and his ornate robes are the Superglue that holds this Vatican thriller together. The costumes and sets are all perfect and artful and the acting is expert. Political maneuvers are often achieved through mannered implications and nuanced facial expressions, as the important cardinal dudes try to pick a new pope. The top-tier cast is up for it. But thanks to Fiennes stoic character, the plot points tend to resolve themselves pretty smoothly and the resolution comes out of nowhere. It’s an amusing surprise, but its purpose seems to be to render the rest of the plot much ado about clothing. It’s all about ceremony - the underlying truths will be kept secret. Still, a highly competent drama for audiences resistant to car chases.

Resident Evil

Continuing the zombie retrospective. In this crucial contribution to the zombie lexicon, the parable here eats itself. An evil corporation makes zombies, but also the zombie virus antidote. But trouble starts when the whistleblowers steal the formula and then try to sabotage the zombie lab. So who’s at fault? Like they say: zombie outbreaks are caused by a series of mistakes rather than just one. Be that as it may, supermodels in combat boots and red negligées are ready to karate-kick the zombie hoards.

World War Z

Zombie retrospective. Rewatched this big-screen zombie epic for the first time since 2013. The plot is very basic, and it only feels epic because of the many, many zombies. Brad Pitt and his hair do a lot of heroic things, but they (the military?) MAKE him. They tell him they’re going to kick his family off of the safe ship unless he helps, which is pretty messed up. This was supposed to be a launch pad for a whole series of World War Z movies, alas.

Shaun of the Dead

Zombie retrospective. Culturally, one of the more successful zomedies, the plot presupposes what a couple of English slackers would do during the zombie apocalypse without the guns that are so easily accessible to Americans. Hypothetically, could a slacker rise to the occasion and save his loves ones? Probably not. But can he learn to be a hero at any rate, which will impress his girlfriend? I’m having trouble see the parable in this one. For what it’s worth, Simon Pegg delivers some above-par emotional acting, running around in an elevated-level of stress and weeping authentically when the loved ones are eaten. Turn off your brains, and enjoy Edgar Wright’s quick cuts and Pegg’s stressed-out bloke.