KritPick's Reviews
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and we receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on our recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra and the opinions expressed in this post are the author's own. For more details see our disclosure policy and privacy policy. Episode 6 of The Last of Us continues the journey of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they attempt to find Joel's brother, Tommy (Gabriel Luna). The episode is set three months after the last which works great for the narrative. I appreciate when a show cuts unnecessary fat with time jumps. The characters need to get to a place but the journey there isn't exactly thrilling or full of character development and the writers shouldn't feel the need to fill in those blanks. Sometimes the destination truly is more important than the journey. After the time jump we find our protagonists well on their way to finding Tommy. What I love so much about this is how much of the source material they cut. In a video game it isn't weird to spend hours exploring the world which works well in that format. However, too much of this in a screen adaptation can actively harm your version of the story. This show rarely has that problem and nowhere in this series is it more evident than here. They cut large portions of the source material that originally took hours to get through into short 10 minute segments. It's extremely effective and shows the power of the narrative because everything that gets highlighted moves a character forward, whether it be literal movement or part of their story arc. In a previous review I mentioned that this show is hellbent on making the audience cry. Every episode feels like a ploy to poke at the audience's emotional sensibilities like a 2010s Pixar movie. While still true, the show has never forced the emotional moments. This episode actually avoids this trend. There is a true emotional heartbeat throughout this episode that largely has to do with Joel and the fear he must overcome when filling the role of Ellie's protector. Through the loss of his daughter, Joel is naturally quite guarded and only shows small bits of emotion but the writers allow him to let go in this episode. He bears his soul in a way we haven't seen him do before. He has bottled his emotions for over two decades and the only thing that has drawn them to blow the cap off is Ellie. Ellie's parallel to Sarah grows more apparent as time moves forward and it's to the point where Joel himself can't separate his duties to them both, both in memory and present. This links to something integral. Though this episode does little to progress their arcs, it ties up several loose ends in the story which have been hanging in the balance for a few episodes, even from the first episode. Not only does Joel finally come into contact with his brother but Ellie discovers that Joel had a daughter and that she passed. This bit of knowledge has been preventing Joel from letting go of the stand-offish persona he keeps around Ellie. This is told very well through Joel experiencing moments of fear induced paralysis that the audience is initially left to wonder why. We're later told that Joel, feeling his age, worries that he will let Ellie down, or worse, put her in harm's way. He's in a position where he does not want to lose another child and yet what's most interesting about this is that Ellie does not feel safe around anybody else but Joel. Ellie has absolute faith in him as a guardian, a father figure, and a friend. But it isn't until Joel is able to see this that the characters can branch and move forward. It’s not exactly character building, but rather clearing new ground so we can continue to build elsewhere. It's beautiful and written so flawlessly by the writers. Ramsey’s performance continues to impress and despite the love for Pascal, I think she is the best part of the cast. Pascal brings a lot of the emotional depth, not surprising as he is a seasoned actor, but Ramsey brings the echoes of emotion for Pascal to play against and bring it home which can be a vastly more difficult task. I do not understand the hate targeted towards her casting and this may be a case of an audience needing to maintain their expectations. Ramsey's interpretation of this character may vary slightly but she handles the adaptation as well as the show does overall. She may change some staples but she carries the overall spirit and soul of who Ellie is, which is more important than a one for one translation. It astounds me the quality this show has been able to keep up this entire time. It's been a very long time since I've seen a show where every episode adds a new element, a new arc, a new adventure, and every one is on par with the last. In last episode's review I mentioned that the show seems to be going back on that uphill trajectory and I think this episode all but confirms that. So I'm going to give The Last of Us episode 6 a... 9 out of 10 AuthorKritPick has been writing reviews for The Oscar Project since 2022. Check out all his reviews on his main review page. Follow him on YouTube (KritPick Productions) and Twitter (@Kr1tical).
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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and we receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on our recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra and the opinions expressed in this post are the author's own. For more details see our disclosure policy and privacy policy. The Last of Us episode 5 released and it was a step up from the last. My complaints about the last episode were about it being mostly filler and set-up for the following episodes and to my surprise, all that set-up was paid off in the very next episode. In the moment, this may seem like a good thing with multiple plotlines tied off quickly so our characters can move to the next step in their journey. However, I fear the future rewatchability, especially since so much time was spent setting up plot points for it to come to an end almost immediately after. Since all those threads tie up so nicely, I fear that the greatness of this episode actively makes the previous one worse. That said, this episode is a step up from the last. Joel and Ellie are back front and center on their journey and this time accompanied by two new companions, Henry (Lamar Johnson) and Sam (Keivonn Woodard). These two bring a lot of depth to the story in the source material and I thought it would be difficult to capture it the same way given the emotional torment of episode 3. Henry is a complex character. Though we understand his position in the world, a sought after informant being hunted by those he betrayed, we also understand why he made the decisions he made. There's some discussion of morality here, the philosophy of whether making bad choices makes you a bad person, whether or not they were made with good intention, or even grey intention. I wish we got to spend more time with Henry as I think his outlook on the world and the importance of his ethics hand the show a new flavour just when it's getting dull. Sam is an equally interesting case, and though mostly a vehicle to play out Henry's dilemmas and choices, he's given more to do in the show than in the source material. For one he has the added layer of being deaf, obviously a ploy from the creators to make him a more sympathetic character, but my God does it work well! Sam is inherently more endearing given the limited information we have on him. He has a history of cancer, he's deaf, he's eight years old, and was born into the end of days. There is very little you need to add to make him compelling to the audience, especially when paired with his father and the choices he had to make. But the story does not stop there. It backs these two into a corner they could not hope to get out of and tragically puts an end to both characters in the most awful of manners. This show seems obsessed with making the audience feel heartbroken, really setting in the feeling of living in a world without hope. It's beautifully done, dare I say better than the original. Away from Sam and Henry, Joel and Ellie are back but feel less like a duo in this episode than last. They get split up and paired with their new companions which mirror their situations. We get a lot more from Ellie than we do Joel this episode since Ellie is paired with Sam and to see how she responds with other children is very interesting. We monitor her as she plays and talks with somebody closer to her age, becoming more open and full of energy. This is something we rarely see because it feels disallowed when she’s with Joel. In the case of Joel, we see him try to relate to Henry whilst also questioning his morals. But slowly we see Joel become more understanding of Henry's situation as he's in a similar one with Ellie. Not only that, he can conceptualize the horrors Henry has committed because of his own losses in his daughter. So we see Ellie become a protector for Sam and we see Joel become more sympathetic and empathetic with Henry. It's incredibly smart because the characters needed this growth for the next part of their journey but they couldn't bring it out of each other in the way that Sam and Henry could. The writers really have a good grip on the arcs Joel and Ellie must undergo to get to the eventual climax and they've pinpointed every moment where those arcs can progress, even if it's slight. A talk about this episode would not be complete without talking about the big fire fight finale. The intensity is through the roof, our main characters are in an inescapable bind and our main antagonistic force has seemingly won... but then the ground collapses and the real threat of the entire show presents itself once again. Not only does it present itself on a massive scale, it introduces a bigger version of itself; the bloater. This is something fans of the source material have been waiting for and it finally comes to us half way through the season. It was teased in the last episode and this is by far the greatest pay off this episode had to offer. It was as terrifying as it should be and the make-up/costume department outdid themselves once again. A truly thrilling and horrific way to end that storyline. The show lets you breathe for a moment afterwards before dropping the bombshell on you that Sam was bitten and his arc concludes along with Henry. A truly bitter way to end the episode and it could not have been any better. I'm very excited for the next chapter in this series and it seems as though we are back on an uphill trajectory. I'm hoping for another 10/10 episode soon but for this episode I think we'll have to settle for an extraordinary… 8 out of 10 AuthorKritPick has been writing reviews for The Oscar Project since 2022. Check out all his reviews on his main review page. Follow him on YouTube (KritPick Productions) and Twitter (@Kr1tical). Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and we receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on our recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra and the opinions expressed in this post are the author's own. For more details see our disclosure policy and privacy policy Spoiler Review The Last of Us Episode three released and this is the first time in the show’s run so far that takes a huge deviation from the game. In episodes prior, there had been one extra scene not from the source material and it layered the world in a slightly more dramatic way. This episode didn't have that initial extra scene before the intro, which made me curious why but the episode itself made that clear. This entire section of the game is one of the more exciting parts and one of the more beloved due to the characters introduced and expansion of the world. This episode had a lot to live up to. It chose not to try, and it thrives because of it. In the game we don't meet Frank (Murray Bartlett) but we do meet Bill (Nick Offerman). It is heavily implied in the game that Bill and Frank had a romantic relationship, but it isn't expanded on too much. Within this episode we meet Bill at the birth of the apocalypse, and he seems to flourish in a world without other people. He despises interaction and lives as a hermit…until he meets Frank. Frank changes Bill's perspective on people and that love can exist in the end times. He brings a richness to Bill that wasn't present before the show, yet all the traits that Bill is still overly paranoid, loves guns, is incredibly smart and likeable, yet anti-social. But mostly he's necessary for the journey Joel and Ellie are on. While this is Joel and Ellie’s show, this isn't their episode. We get a few minutes in the beginning and end with them and despite that, they still have incredible character growth. In the beginning, Joel tells Ellie how the pandemic started because she is curious. He tells her how people assumed the virus spread and tells a few more stories of the horrors people went through, including one of government ordered executions on those whom they have no space for. It's a chilling anecdote that leads into the Bill and Frank storyline. Then that focus is done, the story picks back up with Joel and Ellie arriving at Bill and Frank's to find that they are no longer there. They get the supplies they need, have a bit of playful banter, collect the car left to them, and go on their way. I'm pleased the showrunners decided to deviate from the source material and tell a story they felt needed to be told. Bill and Frank's relationship is full of funny and tender moments. The slow build of their connection over the episode is some of the most heartwarming television I have ever seen but the climax of their relationship is really where your heart begins to tear. Frank has some degenerative disease, perhaps ALS, and decides one day that he no longer wants to live. He feels a burden to his partner but also fulfilled in his life and knows the only way to go is down. It's a crushing realization and almost unbearable to watch happen. He informs Bill and they spend one last beautiful day together, including getting married. The writers crafted this incredibly realistic relationship in a dystopian nightmare, and it is by far the best episode of the show so far
There will be inevitable backlash from those who are against the 'woke agenda,' whatever that means. There will be hate from those who want to mask their homophobia with 'love for the source material,' but at the end of the day, it matters very little because the show benefits from this storyline in a way it wouldn't had it stuck to the original story. The Last of Us isn't about the apocalypse. It isn't even really about Joel and Ellie. It's about the relationships people can build in the most dire times and no episode so far has captured it quite like this one. I said in my last review that if this episode was better than episode two, I'd be astounded. Well count me astounded because this episode elevated above everything so far. The casting, writing, and soulful, intimate direction is all a step above and even the small action sequence is more intense than previous episodes. I could nitpick a few problems like the parallels between their outbreak and Covid being a bit heavy-handed, but I'd be kidding myself to give this anything less than a perfect score. 10 out of 10 AuthorKritPick has been writing reviews for The Oscar Project since 2022. Check out all his reviews on his main review page. Follow him on YouTube (KritPick Productions) and Twitter (@Kr1tical). Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and we receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on our recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra and the opinions expressed in this post are the author's own. For more details see our disclosure policy and privacy policy The Last of Us Episode 2 released on schedule with a fairly significant dip in runtime but does the quality suffer because of that? Absolutely not! The premiere episode boasted an excellent score of 8 out of 10 so this episode had to keep up the standard in momentum, faithfulness, adaptability, and quality. But luckily for viewers, it does so tenfold. This episode starts with increased tension by dropping the viewer immediately into the action. This tone sticks directly to the camera the entire time and even turns up when the situation requires it. The heart of this episode is discovering the bond between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), a bond that will grow and become the heart of the show, and it is handled beautifully. The first episode had to focus on establishing characters separately, especially Joel who got the majority of the screen time. As a result, the relationship was not explored and Ellie herself was very underexposed. This episode is aware of that and immediately remedies it. There is plenty of Ellie content here, even away from Joel and she has an important conversation with Tess (Anna Torv) where she explains how she got bitten and whether she has a family or not. Ramsey plays up the subtext here and provides a deep yet subtle performance. She capitalizes on every chance to create a nuanced performance, and even in lines that could easily be forgotten, she gives so much meaning and life, a perfect piece of casting. Joel doesn't grow much in this episode but not because of how the character is written. Joel becomes a warmer toward Ellie through this episode, starting off very cold, callous, and soldier-like, but ending up much kinder and understanding. This small character shift, seen in just an action or two, is enough to keep the audience invested in their growth together. Their relationship seems built more on experience than conversation. Joel is a character who finds it difficult to open up and this show would lose a lot if it were to just give it away so early. Beyond the two protagonists, the show succeeds stylistically. The first episode was more of a drama, but this episode definitely leans into the horror sensibilities of the source material. The suspense scenes where we finally see the real threats of this world are heart pounding and executed in a way to not put off viewers who are faint of heart while enticing those who want the more thrilling aspects of the story. The balance is found wonderfully and with ease. Some of the plot developments involved with these scenes are slightly predictable but being from a video game, that is not at fault of the show. Adaptations often come across a big problem in their creation. They either change plot points to be unpredictable or they stick to them and run the risk of it not working as well in a different medium. An IP this beloved must stay as respectful to the plot beats of the original as possible and only add in moments that don't effect the overall story, which it does. Though it's taking the smarter route, it's to the show's detriment at times, but does not happen enough to ruin the experience. As an adaptation of this section overall, it brilliantly captures the feeling of creature discovery as intensely as the game does. In line with the previous episode, scenes and sequences not from the game are added to build out the world in a unique way that only television can do. It takes everything that works in the original video game, puts it in a colander to lose all the aspects that won't adapt well and that takes what's left, adds a few ingredients and creates a beautiful new dish that feels refreshing yet familiar. The set design is even better this time around. We venture outside the quarantined zone setting of the first episode and find ourselves in a larger city. Just the aesthetic of this city tells a story. The tipped over skyscrapers, the craters in the floor from bomb explosions, the mass graves, and overgrown cars. Every corner of this city looks beat down and filled with stories of tragedy and fear. I love that you know exactly what happened to this city without it having to be told to you. They're even improving on some aspects, a tall task which the creators (particularly set designers) seem to want to take on. The costume and makeup on the zombie-like creatures are incredible, partly practical, partly CGI. They look impressive, especially in low light where the designs are most effective.
AuthorKritPick has been writing reviews for The Oscar Project since 2022. Check out all his reviews on his main review page. Follow him on YouTube (KritPick Productions) and Twitter (@Kr1tical).
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links and we receive a commission if you visit a link and buy something on our recommendation. Purchasing via an affiliate link doesn’t cost you any extra and the opinions expressed in this post are the author's own. For more details see our disclosure policy and privacy policy.
The Menu finally hit streaming recently and with an underperforming box office run, it's found a bigger fanbase with the ease of access. Buzz online has grown for this film and usually when this happens before I see a film, I sigh. I try not to attach myself to online fandom and anticipation for a movie because the excitement a lot of the time feels grander than the movie itself and the eventual viewing can be underwhelming.
This did not happen in this case. As much as it pains me to admit it, the internet was right. This film is as exquisite as the food it flaunts. The cold atmosphere of the cinematography courses through the runtime long before the film turns into a thriller. There's a constant essence of awe but also caution, a chill of tension playing the bass under the symphony of amazement and stellar casting. Every single aperture of this cast is filled with someone so perfectly selected that actors stop playing characters and real people are forged. There is little to no exposition on each character's backstory. We learn who they are, what they do, and why they're here all from subtext and sapient acting that create believable personalities in limited characters. There isn't a flaw in the casting but there are stand outs, notably the obvious in Anya Taylor-Joy (Margot Mills) and Ralph Fiennes (Chef Slowik) who we've come to expect nothing but stellar performances from.
The main problem with The Menu is that it's predictable without having the courtesy of being nimble. It slowly drags out sequences which don't raise much tension and leave too much to be desired in terms of thrilling content. The only thing that saves these scenes are the fantastic monologues performed by Fiennes who's occasionally accompanied by one of the great side characters.
I don't want to sound awful about this film because I truly did enjoy the experience. Though the pace was steady, the long, drawn out segments that lead to a predictable conclusion hurt an experience that is otherwise excellent. The story isn't incredible, the characters are slightly underdeveloped and mostly shallow, but the character work from the actors truly make this film a really exciting and fun time despite the rest of the flaws. Fine enough premise, gorgeous presentation and lovely, though unconventional, final girl ending. Would eat again. 7 out of 10 AuthorKritPick has been writing reviews for The Oscar Project since 2022. Check out all his reviews on his main review page. Follow him on YouTube (KritPick Productions) and Twitter (@Kr1tical). |