Reviews
Greyhound (2020)
Intense, compressed, brief...
Having served in the Cold War on both a destroyer and on a submarine, I found this story contrasting the tensions between both worlds. The action is shown from the bridge, CIC, and decks of the Greyhound, which BTW is the slang term for destroyers and those who serve on them. Hanks subtly conveys the ache of leaving a loved one behind and her presence with him during the battle. He and his crew feel the presence of the subs stalking the surface ships and the deaths of sailors both above and below the icy water. There is no perfect rendering of combat in film, but the repeated commands and protocols between naval personnel and vessels are accurate enough to convey a sense of proper urgency to the story. Compressing roughly 48 tense hours into a ~2 hour film doesn't give much time to absorb all that's happening, and that's the point. Training and subsequent reactions shape the story in the faces of the bridge crew as they watch the captain and follow his orders which he does not explain. This is about relationships between combatants, among the ships in the convoy, and between U.S. and British allies. This film, The Enemy Below, and Das Boot make a reasonable trilogy for a weekend marathon. Enjoy this story from either a technical or a relational view as you see fit.
Annihilation (2018)
Interesting perspective
Heinlen's "Stranger In a Strange Land," Clarke's "Childhood's End, "2001," Steakley's "Armour," most good science fiction stories in essence, ask the reader to simply observe oneself along the way and invest a little thought in the journey. I own most of the MCU films and enjoy them for what they are: noisy, colorful, character adventures consumed simply for the fun of watching. However, films like "Arrival," "Ex Machina," "Annihilation," "2001" ask questions without the Hollywood Spoonfeed of late. I found the journey in "Annihilation" entertaining and thought provoking; not a perfect film, but worth the effort to just observe and participate with the characters. Their flaws, like mine, make us more interesting, human, and accessible. The unique special effects were blended with sets and seemed in service to the storyline, which was after all fictional. If Sci Fi fails to suspend or alter our expectations of daily logic, I will simply move on and forget it. Good stories, whether in print or film listed above, are remembered beyond methods or style of telling. I loved Portman in her pre-teen "Leon" role; but I enjoyed her performance here as a grown woman wondering what has happened to her life and the world around her. JJ Leigh, Isaacs and the supporting cast do service in telling their parts of the larger story. If one wants escape, Cap & MCU crew are standing by. If one watches Garland's films though, a little investment in after thought helps complete a worthwhile Sci Fi experience.