Well there’s a lot to unpack here, first of all though I’d like to say thank god for the Russo’s and Newton Thomas Sigel, it feels like a year since I’ve watched something new that actually
looks cinematic (excluding the overblown Tenet of course) and not just slightly better than a TV movie (yes netflix I’m pointing my condescending finger at you) every frame, every pan, every tracking shot has clearly been considered. The scale changes throughout, depending of the beats of the story. The colours and the lighting all beautifully placed. It’s wondrous.
Henry Jackman on score duty does absolutely his best work to date here, encompassing, stirring themes matching the film’s jittery twitches.
Tom Holland is fast becoming more than just the blockbuster guy, after the also excellent The Devil All The Time, here the whole piece hinges on him, without him it falls apart. He’s in virtually every scene (if not every scene) and he completely holds the film together.
Everyone else is extremely capable, if a little under drawn, almost as if there’s just so much Holland there’s not much room for anyone else.
It’s a long film, the chapters and tonal changes I think doesn’t necessarily help this, although it wasn’t an issue for me personally. I wouldn’t say it felt wholly original, it’s influences are clear, Rules Of Attraction, Full Metal Jacket, Requiem For A Dream all sprang to mind. Again, I
like all those films so there’s no complaints from me.
The film has taken a bit of a kicking from critics and I’m not entirely sure why, course, it’s mostly depressing and overly exuberant perhaps, but The Russo’s could easily of carried on just making Avengers films (yes this is me digging out James Cameron and the 23 Avatar sequels nobody asked for) but they’ve taken a big swing here and for me they’ve mostly hit the target.
Would’ve loved to have seen this on the big screen.
Great review
@Casimir Harlow btw
8.5/10