let them fight
This Week's Reviews: Are 'Sugar,' 'Ripley,' 'Loot' And 'The First Omen' Any Good?
This year, April 3rd, 4th and 5th stand out as quite the red-letter days for TV and film, with a number of high-profile projects releasing across various streaming services and in theaters.
Here's a round-up of all the reviews flying around that heap praise on the latest from Netflix, Amazon, Apple, and also for fans of genre moviemaking.
'Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire' (out now)
Godzilla and King Kong use to have a beef. Now that they've kissed and made up, there's no real meat in this generic big creature smackdown.
The humans simply exist to read out the Wikipedia plot summary — expository monkeys, if I may.
As much fun as it is to watch the Titans fight... at some point you go like: 'what's the point of this.'
[WXIX-TV]
If you love these silly monster flicks, this did sound like it was going to be a ton of fun but it doesn't entirely live up to its potential.
[Cris Kennedy, Inner East Review]
Consensus: Maybe wait until it comes to streaming, unless you LOVE giant apes and lizards.
'The First Omen' (out April 5, 2024)
Kudos to the suits for backing a horror film this provocative and spine-chilling.
[Richard Whittaker, Austin Chronicle]
An engrossing trip into the dark heart of evil and what it means to be chosen by the cruel hand of fate — and surprisingly, it lives up to the strength, power, and overarching dread of its source material.
Elevated by a remarkable lead performance from Nell Tiger Free, "The First Omen" does what is expected in terms of scares, and manages to be both creepier and more coherent than its more recent predecessors.
Nobody could predict that a theatrical Omen prequel would go this hard.
Consensus: Into horror and aren't squeamish? Then definitely trek out to the local theater to see this.
'Ripley' (out now)
This isn't just one of the best Highsmith adaptations ever; "Ripley" is easily one of the best shows Netflix has ever done.
From a purely visual standpoint, "Ripley" is one of the best original shows Netflix has to offer.
[Chris Evangelista, Slashfilm]
Steven Zaillian crafts an engrossing slow-burn and taps into a rich vein of evocative psychological disintegration and decay.
A tour de force by Andrew Scott and Steven Zaillian. On the level of Alfred Hitchcock's best work, this Ripley is fascinating, beautiful and macabre. A thrilling mystery with some of the most stunning cinematography you will ever see. A must watch.
[Grace Randolph, Beyond the Trailer]
This incarnation of Ripley is neither sun-washed thriller nor gritty social commentary. This Ripley is gothic.
Consensus: The hype is real, this is your binge-worthy watch this weekend.
'Música' (out now)
A thrilling debut, "Música" announces the arrival of Rudy Mancuso in a big way. Hopefully, he has more to say because he's shown that he has an exciting, unique way of saying it.
[Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture]
It's a sweet and silly romance that distinguishes itself from the usual fare by making use of Mancuso's expansive imagination.
"Música" heralds the arrival of a filmmaker, an actor, and a musician worth paying attention to, while also delivering a winning and visually inventive musical comedy.
Rudy Mancuso is a phenomenal talent. In "Música," his ability to create art from noise is unparalleled.
Consensus: A little bit of curiosity is enough to have a good time with this.
'Sugar' (out April 5, 2024)
It sets out — and largely succeeds — in creating a neo-noir that lovingly embraces film history while putting its own twist on it.
[Nick Clark, London Evening Standard]
Sleek, witty, and satisfyingly twisty, it's an engrossing new mystery for lovers of the genre and a wonderful showcase for star Colin Farrell.
Competence plus compassion make Sugar a great character.
[Fred Topel, United Press International]
An audacious and gutsy noir... the series takes real chances and risks that most wouldn't dare attempt.
[M.N. Miller, Geek Vibes Nation]
Sugar spends so long laying the foundation for the show it eventually becomes that it's easy to get irritated by the show that it is in the interim.
[Dan Fienberg, Hollywood Reporter]
Things may end on a cliffhanger that leaves the door open for further seasons, but any appetite for a return engagement is undone by the sour taste left by Sugar's central surprise.
[Nick Schager, The Daily Beast]
Consensus: Perhaps not for everyone, but who can reject Colin Farrell as a detective?
'Loot' Season 2 (out now)
If "Loot" had the courage to invest a little bit more in Molly's money-losing mission and a little bit less on easy sitcom stereotypes then its stock would rapidly rise. For now though it's a reliable fund of cheap laughs.
[Keith Watson, Daily Telegraph]
Our mild recommendation for "Loot" continues from its first season to its second. The relationships between the characters are growing, which is great, but the show is just not as funny as it should be, and that's always disappointing.
"Loot" season 2 on Apple TV+ appears to lose it's way as the characters lives diverge and the messaging takes a back seat to romantic drama.
While it takes several episodes for the second season to gain momentum, Rudolph and her unyielding wacky charm keep the series chugging away.
While "Loot" has become more of an ensemble, there is still no confusing who the center of the storm is though. Rudolph's colorful and textured performance is given more room to breathe in the second season.
[Catherine Springer, AwardsWatch]
Consensus: If you already watch this, keep going. If not, up to you on how much you love Maya Rudolph (which should be a ton, she's the best).