I went to see Michael (2026)

I went to see Michael along with my family and tons of other people in the theater. It was fast moving biopic of legendary popstar Michael Jackson. It moves along fast and true. It used cinematography, wardrobe, color and his late music very well. Michael Jackson is played by his own nephew Jafar Jackson. His nephew mimics his famous uncle very well in terms of voice and dance. Dance, music, and production really pop out in the film. All these attributes are what surrounded the late popstar anyway. Iconic outfits like his red leather jacket in the “Thriller” music video and the “Beat It” music video are shown. They create behind the scenes stories of how these recognizable productions came to be. Michael’s inspiration and reason for performing is shown and highlighted. His no-time-for play childhood is also shown and connects to his young adult years. This later explains his branching off into a solo career from his brothers as part of the Jackson 5.

The cinematography is solid but highlights special moments of the story well. This is done using low motion when Michael first comes on stage as a solo artist away from his brother. Close ups are used for example when he first takes off his shades to see his future manager John Branca (Miles Teller) who stands out from the squares of his board meeting concerning his career. The close up also emulates brainstorming and eureka moments, for example when he comes up with a song reacting to gang violence around the country during the time which turned out to be the “Beat It” music video. Choreography combined with cinematography greatly impacted the film. Dance scenes like the thriller video and how he brought together opposing gangs through dance in the Beat it video. Low angles and panning shots follow the actor as he powers through moves. Even rehearsal sessions from when he was child in the Jackson 5 show the humility and confidence of the upcoming band managed by their father Joe (Colman Domingo)

I went to see Hail Mary (2026)

I went to see hail Mary today. It features Ryan gosling and an alien counterpart trying to figure out a way to save the stars from dying from a light eating pathogen destroying the galaxy. Ryan gosling plays grace, a science teacher recruited by the governments of the world to help save their sun by retrieving samples from another system that have a star surviving the pathogen. Ryan plays a sarcastic laid back teacher very reluctant to go but ends up being the only surviving crew member after waking up. He becomes friends with an alien on the same mission for his own star. They develop a comedic friendship through learning each other’s languages , behaviors and inspirations. They go through dangerous bouts with planetary atmospheres and flashbacks of scientific teams leading moments before take-off show the state of mind the world’s people were in before they went. Characters face moments of joy but the underlying fear of the mission breaks through in moments of emotional release. The movie features crisp cinematography if seen in imax. Similar feelings come from interstellar and Apollo 13. Interstellar is the most similar because of the same mission to save the earth. Again, the spacious cinematography coupled with the story of friendship and determination to complete the mission keeps you engaged.

The film stops during his Bad album titling his struggle to break free from his father control in the Jackson 5. Overall, the film highlights his start up and ultimately is about struggling with his own voice even from when he is child. It shows how he responded to outside elements of his time like gang violence and how the world saw him.

I Saw The

Moment(2026)

(Spoilers)

I went to see the moment with Charlie XCX. It follows the release of her “Brat”  album and the preparations for the concert tour. The movie focuses on her rebellious electronic night club image. Many of her props, as mentioned in the film, allude to drugs or alcohol. Common things you find in this kind of scene. The film features her marketing team, manager, concert set designers, and close friends. The tour and Charlie are seen under lots of pressure due to deadlines like set decisions and merchandise like the brat credit card accompanying the album release.

She faces decisions of loyalty to her friends slash coworkers when lucidly deciding to use the insightful Johnnanes instead of Celeste for her overall creative design. Celeste is her close friend and has been behind Charlie’s image for her previous concerts. Changing her lead designer and opening herself to Johnnanes’ new ideas and logic is one her first steps to recovering from what she is struggling with underneath, emotional release and honesty amongst her relationships. This idea is seen in her spa appointment where the practitioner senses stress that she is closing up which will only make things worse for her in the future. She argues with assistants in her hotel room and cuts herself in a fit of rage detailing the pent up anger and stress of creating what she wants for the tour.

These stresses come from her tour life and the gritty night club scene she chooses to portray which she keeps her head above when in the bathroom at a party. During a rehearsal it is revealed that the bank that their tour credit card was releasing through has become bankrupt further tarnishing her seemingly fleeting image. In the end she pushes through to the climactic scene where she leaves her team behind to only be found in a deep sleep, but resolved and ready for the show to go on. In a voicemail to her former lead designer, Celeste, she opens up about her journey of self acceptance, sacrifice and what she won’t give up on in order for her to continue doing what she loves.

First, the cinematography is very pulsating and electronic filled with sharp vibrant color and typography sequences. Heavy electronic dance tempos mixed with high stress moments and transitions further emeultae her night club aesthetic.

The shots are very documentary like giving a real look at what goes into producing a Charlie XCX concert. Long shots and close ups of the British country side open up the powerful characters in hard decision-making moments. Close-ups and over the shoulder shots anchor real moments of confusion and also assurance like in marketing meetings with Jamie or stage prep with Lloyd. Overall, the viewer will really enjoy the pumping cinematography and music along with learning the creative challenges of putting together a large cohesive project. 

I saw Shelter(2026)

(Spoilers)

I just saw Shelter with Jason statham and bodhi rae breathnach. It is an assassin/escape type action thriller with themes of questionable government oversight and friendship. Jason Statham plays a lighthouse keeper in the foggy isles of scotland. He gets recurring deliveries from a boat operator and his niece. One stormy day, the dinghy and boat that the niece and uncle use to deliver supplies with is swept over by the storm. Statham rescues the girl but the uncle perishes. Statham now the protector of the Breathnach, goes back into town for food. When at the store he is caught and camera and red flagged by MI6’s new anti terrorism system. Later that night at the lighthouse Statham’s dog alerts him of the coming assault team arriving by boat. Statham takes down the entire assault team revealing him as one of the country’s ex special forces members. The program’s leader frames him as a middle eastern terrorist purposefully because of bad business. It is up to Statham to save Breathnach from volleys of assassins meant for him and bring the hunt to an end. The cinematography is dark and an eerie blue tone is carried throughout the movie that comes with the atmosphere of the Scottish country. The theme of questionable government oversight is seen through its introduction. It comes off as illegally intrusive and reminds us of the 2013 NSA scandal that allowed the government to tap into phones, emails , and internet records. The theme of friendship builds throughout the movie as his relationship grows with Breathnach and as Statham relies on her and his friends to complete his mission. Arthur booth, one of Statham’s former coworkers, helps him find why he was framed and even helps them escape after an assassin comes to booths house to kill them. The relationship between Breathnach and Statham builds from when she is first upset with him for never greeting them when getting supplies and teaching her how to use a knife when she feels threatened by Statham after being rescued. As the two escape attack after attack, Breathnach becomes attached to Statham until the end where she is reluctantly taken to safety. The two build a relationship similar to a protective father and daughter. This is even seen at the end when Statham watches over Breathnach at a cafe as she reads. Statham disorients the camera being used by the government to watch her and even sends her a present reminding her of their chess game together. The movie is a solid action thriller with a little mystery involved. The intertwining plotlines, cinematography and well choreographed fight scenes make you root for the hero and envelop you into the dangerous Scottish scene.

I saw Send Help(2026)

(Spoilers)

I just saw Send Help with Dylan O’Brien and Rachel McAdams. It was comedic and violent. It reminded me of a problematic Adam sandler movie. Rachel is a long tenure employee at a firm where Dylan O’Brien’s character has just taken over after his father retired. There is an open executive position that O’Brien’s character constantly overlooks McAdams character to his own pompous friends due to McAdam’s old fashioned and messy character. O’Brien offered her to prove herself on a business trip which is the. Cut short due to a plane crash. The two survive on the island despite bickering, violent fights and failed betrayals. McAdams is very prepared due to survival training while O’Brien’s yuppy executive position has no use in the wilderness. Secrets are revealed uncovering the characters dark sides. In the end McAdams overwhelming feeling of underserved subservience, survival training, and survival of the fittest attitude gets her back to civilization alone richer than ever before.