My Weekly Take: F1; 28 Years Later and More...
Short reviews of films from Joseph Kosinski's bold racing masterpiece to Christopher McQuarrie's final take on the Mission: Impossible series...
Here in My Weekly Take, I write brief evaluations for each film to discuss why they are worth watching. Some may be ones I didn't enjoy, and I'll try to squeeze those in as well. These can be films that I've already seen and recently rewatched, as well as films that have just been released in theaters.
F1 / 2025 / Dir. Joseph Kosinski
F1 is a superb, bold, original, authentic, fast, emotional, and exhilarating ride that flies. Kosinski is now among the elite filmmakers whose films are a must-see event for me. The script, editing, sound design, cinematography, and acting are all exceptional, making F1 the epitome of a perfect summer blockbuster.
28 Years Later / 2025 / Dir. Danny Boyle
28 Years Later is hardly a film, in my opinion, and I understand that its main purpose is to serve as a launchpad for the sequels that are already planned for the next few years, indicating why the state of our film industry isn't as robust as it should be due to mindless spin-offs, sequels, and remakes without merit.
Boyle's film is based on the name and fame of his first picture, which was released in 2002 and was actually quite decent. However, 28 Years Later does nothing more than make us all victims of a cash grab. While there is nothing wrong with making money, producing films just for the purpose of getting cash is neither filmmaking nor art.
Warfare / 2025 / Dirs. Ray Mendoza, Alex Garland
I finally got a chance to see Warfare. While the cinematography, editing, acting, and sound design are all acceptable, it is impossible to determine the film's intended aim. We're all aware that war is not a pleasant experience, whether we've been in battle or not, if the filmmakers intended us to believe that. But if they merely wanted individuals who had been in combat to experience or remember the memories, then making a movie like this would make no sense because they would never forget their combat missions.
It also features one of the worst opening sequences in any military film. For a moment, I thought they were watching a scene from the film The Substance. Don't get me wrong about The Substance; I enjoyed it despite its many ridiculous elements. With Warfare, it appears like the directors had no idea where to start, where to conclude, or how to express whatever message they wanted to convey.
If the filmmakers meant to make an anti-war or pro-war film, it is neither. Truffaut famously stated that every war film eventually becomes a pro-war film, which makes sense, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't make a war movie. There are many good, poor, and outstanding war films. Unfortunately, Warfare is neither decent nor amazing. I'm not saying this because the movie didn't entertain me. I do not want a movie to entertain me. I simply want a good film.
Mission: Impossible—The Final Reckoning / 2025 / Dir. Christopher McQuarrie
The Final Reckoning, the culmination of the Mission: Impossible series, is a cinematic tour de force, offering a rich blend of action, adventure, and thrills. Tom Cruise's dedication to performing his own stunts is a testament to his craft and adds significantly to the film's authenticity. While action films are intended to entertain and thrill, they become even more remarkable when you realize the individuals behind them are really dedicated. The Mission: Impossible series works because of their collaboration.