Heather Babcock

Well, if there were ever a film being review bombed, look no further. The exact same review copy-pasted here with minimal changes to make it "original"? F - see me... Plagiarism. Pros: solid performances, interesting cinematography, unsettling premise, some interesting stylistic choices, and fairly entertaining. Cons: flabby run time - over 2 hours felt excessive, characters are a bit flat (elevated by the performances), and the film feels like it's yelling "GET IT!?!?" at me a few times, especially with its riffs on media. I have zero interest in whatever political or culture war people seem to think this movie represents. It's entertaining without being great. If you like an apocalyptic thriller, give it a go. If you're here review bombing a so-so Netflix movie, give your head a shake.

I remember seeing this film when it came out, liking it, and then watching it get absolutely thrashed by critics. I watched it again recently and I stand by my first opinion: this film is great. Is it perfect? No. But it's bright and fun and somewhat unique. I like watching a buddy movie. I like that the two main characters aren't "friends who are worried about being seen as TOO friendly", which was a common bit in the early 2000s. I love the banter. I love 2 con men who are so bad at conning that they're almost good. Yes, there are some slightly problematic bits. Only one speaking female character. Some colonial overtones with the whole 'locals see white dudes as gods' plot. A couple of the songs drag. The fact that Cortez was in Cuba before 1519 and must therefore have a teleporter... But these are quibbles and don't really detract from the overall film. I really appreciate an animated film choosing a darker period of history, and one that is often overlooked. I also appreciate the mostly accurately researched Mesoamerican ball game that plays a prominent role. Seriously, this movie rocks. Do yourself a favor and watch it.

I absolutely loved this film. It's a slow burn and more of a psychological character study. If that's not your jam, then this film likely isn't for you. I found it incredibly tense, largely because of Phil (Benedict Cumberbatch). His presence is menacing and the lengths to which he will bully and torment his favorite targets is unclear. When he feels threatened by his brother's new wife and her son, he steps up his torment. He is especially keen on proving that Rose isn't good enough and zeroing in on her weaknesses, like tormenting her with a song she can't quite master. His performative masculinity is all about tearing others down to appear strong and hide what he finds shameful about himself. He is almost personally insulted and angered by anything remotely feminine. The actors all give excellent performances and New Zealand is a fantastic stand in for Montana. (I've seen some reviews critical that it wasn't filmed on location... Um, ok. As if Hollywood never pretends, say, Vancouver is LA, Seattle, New York, and the Battlestar Galactica. Might as well be critical that they used New Zealand instead of Middle Earth.) The movie lingers on panoramic shots of sweeping hills and grassland. It highlights the isolation of the characters, despite being surrounded by ranch hands, household staff, and terrifying family.