Title: Birds of Prey

Director: Cathy Yan

Released: February 7, 2020

Runtime: 1 hour 49 minutes

Watched via: Streaming on HBOMAX

IMDb synopsis: After splitting with the Joker, Harley Quinn joins superheroines Black Canary, Huntress and Renee Montoya to save a young girl from an evil crime lord.

I remember seeing Birds of Prey when it first came to streaming. The general consensus seemed to be that it was a lower-tier DC film. I disagreed then and disagree even more so after rewatching it for the first time. Margot proved in Suicide Squad that she could carry her own in the role of Harley Quinn, so I was excited to see her get her own movie.

Birds of Prey is bright, flashy, and a lot of fun. Not only do we get a story that helps to establish Harley Quinn as a main player in the DCEU, but she’s also surrounded by a cast that elevates her while carrying their own as well.

Jurnee Smollett as Black Canary made me want to see a Black Canary film. In what might be my favorite role of hers since Ramona Flowers, we get Mary Elizabeth Winstead as The Huntress. Rosie Perez and Chris Messina turn in great performances as well, but Ewan McGregor as Roman Sionis fully commits to the over-the-top persona of the role and does his best to try and steal the show.

Margot Robbie really grabs the role of Harley Quinn by the horns here and just has fun with it. The humor mixed and action sequences mixed with Robbie’s ability to go through the full range of Harley’s emotions helped to make Birds of Prey an upper tier DC film that gets bonus points for trying something different and taking chances.

But, what about you? What are your thoughts on Birds of Prey (2020)? Let me know in the comments below or you can tell me on social media!

• Twitter
• Instagram

So, what are we doing next? Well, I think this will be the last Margot Robbie filmography watch through installment of 2022. I’ll pick it back up in January and will decide in late December what the film will be.

Between now and then though, I’ll be giving updates of my progress in the yearlong T&BA scavenger hunt challenge, I’ll give a review of one of my recent non-Margot Robbie watches, and December will kick-off with a Top 10 of favorite holiday movies.

The post Birds of Prey (2020) appeared first on I've Scene That!.

A quick recap of the end of October. The #150DaysOfHorror challenge on Twitter came down to the wire but I completed it on the 31st. The list of all 150 horror movies I watched for the challenge can be found here. My favorite watch to close out the challenge was easily Saloum. I don’t want to give much away about this one. Watch the trailer below then go check it out on Shudder.

Now, let’s talk about how we’ll be wrapping up 2022. Our Margot Robbie filmography watch through will continue on but slightly modified. Instead of continuing on in order of release, we’ll be taking more of a random approach. We’re now at a point in Margot’s career where the majority of her movies will be on streaming. If they aren’t now, they will be eventually. So, rather than paying to rent movies that may not be streaming in a given month, we’ll just pick one that is currently streaming.

So, what’s that going to look like? Well, coming off of I, Tonya, we’ll be jumping to 2020 and looking at Birds of Prey. When Goodbye Christopher Robin is available on streaming, we’ll circle back to it and cover it. All of Margot Robbie’s movies will still be covered, there just might be times where we go a few weeks without an installment.

In addition to the random installments in our Margot Robbie filmography watch through, we’ll be wrapping up 2022 by keeping tabs on progress in the There & Back Again scavenger hunt. My progress there can be followed on Letterboxd. In December there will also be a top 10 holiday movies post. Do you have your annual staples you watch each December? What films would make up your top 10?

Looking ahead to 2023, I’m kicking around a few different ideas. There might me a theme/director/actor of the month. Maybe a focus more on television. It is mostly all just in the brainstorming stages. If you have anything you’d like to see, see more of, or see changed, let me know by commenting below or reaching out on social media!

• Twitter
• Instagram

The post Wrapping Up 2022 appeared first on I've Scene That!.

Title: I, Tonya

Director: Craig Gillespie

Runtime: 1 hour 59 minutes

Watched via: Hulu

IMDb synopsis: Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.

Wow does this one pack a whole lot into its runtime of just under two hours. We are given a look at the life of Tonya Harding from the beginnings of her figure skating career all the way through the infamous incident and the subsequent fallout.

We start very early on in her life, with her beginnings as a “soft 4” year old where she skates her way into lessons. As Tonya gets older and is beginning to climb the ranks, we see the beginnings of her relationship with Jeff Gillooly (Sebastian Stan). These two are as good for each other as orange juice and toothpaste. It is an incredibly abusive relationship but given that “tough love” from her mother means she loves her, surely it is the same with Jeff. Right? Wrong. This relationship would prove to be the downfall of her career.

Look, everyone knows the story of the incident with Nancy Kerrigan. But do they know how everything really went down? Well, a large portion of this movie goes into explaining how and why everything built up the way it did and why things ultimately went down the way they did. And that is the most interesting part of the entire film for me. I will not go into the details here. If you have seen it, you know. If you haven’t seen it yet, well carve an hour and fifty-nine minutes out of your day to go remedy that.

Allison Janney won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as LaVona Harding and absolutely deserved it. The parenting philosophy of “tough love equals true love” that LaVona uses has a lifelong impact on her daughter and we see that, continuously, as the film plays out. A lot of the comedy is dark humor, and nobody delivers better than Janney here. Yes, LaVona says and does some absolutely horrible things to her daughter. However, Janney is able to leave a very small part of you feeling empathetic for LaVona despite what she has said and/or done.

When you think of someone who makes the most of their screentime no matter the role, who comes to mind? One of your answers should be Paul Walter Hauser. He keeps that trend alive here with his role as Shawn Eckardt, egomaniac and former bodyguard for Tonya Harding. While not on the screen for a substantial amount of time, he makes his time memorable with his comedic timing and delivery.

But let’s be real, with this film, it is Margot’s world and we’re all just living in it. No, she didn’t win the Academy Award for Best Actress, but she should have. Her performance here as Tonya Harding was nothing short of incredible. She was perfect to take on the role of the bad girl of figure skating. The look, the attitude, she nailed it all. While she might be best known for the role of Harley Quinn, this is hands down my favorite Margot Robbie performance that I have seen thus far on our journey. Actually, one could argue that this is my favorite overall Margot Robbie performance.

Well, that’s enough about what I think. What do you think? What are your thoughts on I, Tonya (2017)? Let me know in the comments below or by reaching out to me on social media!

• Twitter
• Instagram

What is up next? Our next stop on the Margot Robbie filmography watch through will bring us to 2017’s Goodbye Christopher Robin. While not currently streaming anywhere, it is currently available to rent on most major platforms for $3.99.

The post I, Tonya (2017) appeared first on I've Scene That!.

Title: Suicide Squad

Director: David Ayer

Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes

Watched via: HBOMAX

IMDb synopsis: A secret government agency recruits some of the most dangerous incarcerated super-villains to form a defensive task force. Their first mission: save the world from the apocalypse.

If you came here and expected me to bring a fresh take with this one, I apologize in advance. Everything that one could possibly say about this movie has already been said, both the good and the bad.

I will say though, even after a rewatch, I don’t think this is anywhere near as bad as some claim it to be. Is it a mess? Absolutely. But, it is a fun mess. Could we have done without Boomerang (Jai Courtney) and benefited from a larger focus on Diablo (Jay Hernandez) and Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje)? One thousand percent, yes. There is plenty to enjoy about this movie though.

Jared Leto is an incredibly polarizing actor. There seems to be no one who says, “Yeah, he isn’t bad.”. I tend to fall into the camp who enjoys his work but can also call a dud a dud (looking at you, Paolo Gucci). While the portrayal of Joker he gives us is over the top in a bizarre way, isn’t that what the Joker is supposed to be? I’m not saying he should have won awards, but credit for trying something different with it.

Will Smith as Deadshot did a fair amount of heavy lifting throughout this movie. Say what you will about him after “the slap”, but the guy can act. The wit that he brings to the character helps save a fair number of the scenes he’s in. And when he needs to come across as the caring father, he flips a switch and goes full The Pursuit of Happyness.

But who are we kidding? The real MVP of Suicide Squad (2016) is the one and only Margot Robbie. As we have been working our way through her filmography, she has had a few somewhat prominent roles. However, none of them come close to her performance here. Talk about a coming out party. She is easily one of the best comic book to silver screen adaptations. You could sit and fantasy recast a lot of characters in the DC universe but you would be hard pressed to come up with someone better to play the role of Harley Quinn. Whether she loves it or hates it, Margot Robbie will always be known for this role.

Yes, there is a supposed Ayer cut of the film that exists. Would I watch it if it were ever released? I absolutely would. But you won’t catch me being all toxic cultish fanbase about it. If it comes out, great. If it doesn’t, hey at least we found positives in this one.

Where do you stand on Suicide Squad (2016)? Do you love it? Can’t stand it? Let me know what you think in the comments below or by reaching out on social media!

• Twitter
• Instagram

So what is up next? Well, next up in the Margot Robbie filmography watch through will be 2017’s I, Tonya. Currently, I, Tonya is available to stream on Hulu.

But that’s not all. Since we are now in October, that means it is prime time for all things scary. I am going to try my best to bring a weekly review of a recent horror movie I have watched starting this week. This will most likely begin with the new Hellraiser. I will also be keeping you updated on my progress in the #150DaysOfHorror challenge as we approach the finish line.

Do you have any favorites that you plan to rewatch for Halloween this month? Is there anything new coming out that you are excited to see?

The post Suicide Squad (2016) appeared first on I've Scene That!.

Title: The Legend of Tarzan

Director: David Yates

Runtime: 1 hour 50 minutes

Watched via: VOD rental

IMDb synopsis: Tarzan, having acclimated to life in London, is called back to his former home in the jungle to investigate the activities at a mining encampment.

I would say better late than never that we finally get to The Legend of Tarzan, but that would be a lie.

Tarzan is a character that you could build a million different stories off of and around. Yet somehow we managed to get a story with no structure. With a cast including the likes of Alexander Skarsgård (Tarzan), Margot Robbie (Jane), Christoph Waltz (Leon Rom), and Samuel L. Jackson (George Washington Williams) one forms a certain set of expectations for what they’re about to see. A very long one hour and fifty minutes later, you realize that expectations do not always equal reality.

With an estimated budget of $180 million, what we are given in terms of CGI is downright atrocious. It looks like a cheaply made video game and laughably distracts you from what is happening onscreen. Also, why is it that every other shot required a closeup? The camera work was borderline nauseating throughout. Add to that the wooden performance turned in by Skarsgård and you’re in for a rough ride once you hit play.

However, it wasn’t all completely negative. The last time we saw Margot in Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, she made the best of her limited screen time. Here as Jane she has a substantially larger role and, for me, is one of the two bright spots of the entire film. She is able to get you to invest in the character of Jane, even when everything around her is doing its best to get you to turn the movie off.

The other bright spot, which should not come as a surprise to anyone, is Samuel L. Jackson. While he isn’t quite the “comedic sidekick”, I’m not sure how else to describe him in this role. You could almost argue that his character was borderline unnecessary, or at the very least that he didn’t need to make the journey to the Congo. Although you wouldn’t be completely wrong, Jackson as George Washington Williams makes The Legend of Tarzan (2016) slightly tolerable. He brings just the right amount of fun and funny to the table to make you want more of him.

Overall though, this is a hard avoid. Since it is not currently streaming for free, save your money and wait until it is. Even then, maybe checkout something that’s been rotting in your watchlist instead.

So, what did you think of The Legend of Tarzan (2016)? Are we on the same page? Did you enjoy it? Let me know in the comments below or by reaching out on social media.

• Twitter
• Instagram

What’s next? Next up in our Margot Robbie filmography watch through will be 2016’s Suicide Squad. I have seen it once before and remember it not being as bad as everyone claimed. Curious to see how it holds up on a re-watch. You can currently stream Suicide Squad for free with an HBOMAX subscription. It is also available to rent for $3.99 through most major platforms.

The post The Legend of Tarzan (2016) appeared first on I've Scene That!.

If you remember back at the beginning of July, I had a post covering the Final Destination franchise. I had watched the franchise as a part of the #150DaysOfHorror challenge put on by Brad and Drew. Well, we are turning the final corner of that challenge with only 51 days until Halloween. And, well, I have some catching up to do. Currently, I have watched 93 of 150 which leaves me 51 days to watch 57 horror movies. Not impossible, but not exactly a walk in the park either.

While I don’t have all of the remaining 57 movies mapped out, I do have at least 6 locked in. That is because I am also participating in the #BingeMoviesChallenge put on by Jason from Binge Movies. To round out Season 6.3, I have 6 George A. Romero films waiting for me and am looking forward to diving in this weekend.

But wait, there’s more. Drew not only helped spearhead the #150DaysOfHorror challenge, he also decided to start a year long scavenger hunt as well that is officially titled “There & Back Again- A Year Long Movie Scavenger Hunt [April 2022 – March 2023]”. We have been referring to it as the T&BA challenge, or just simply the movie number and the theme that we’re currently watching. You can follow my journey on the TB&A challenge here. I have fallen a bit behind for the month of September. However, I should be caught up and have the whole month mapped out by the end of the weekend.

That was just a brief glimpse at what else I’ve been watching outside of Margot Robbie films, in terms of movies. As for television, we’re in that weird spot where a lot of shows are either ending or beginning new seasons. However, one I have really enjoyed so far is The Patient. Highly recommend giving that one a watch on Hulu, Steve Carell flexing his dramatic muscles is always a treat.

Enough about me though, what have you been watching lately? Give me your weekend check-in. What’s been a favorite find? An unfortunate dud? Tell me all about them in the comments below or on social media!

• Twitter
• Instagram

I’ll be back to start the week with more in the Margot Robbie filmography watch through. Be ready for The Legend of Tarzan as well as a look at a new trailer or two on the week.

The post Weekend Check-In appeared first on I've Scene That!.

Title: Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Director: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

Runtime: 1 hour 52 minutes

Watched via: VOD rental

IMDb synopsis: A journalist recounts her wartime coverage in Afghanistan.

Kim Baker (Tina Fey) decides she is tired of the same old job, the same old boyfriend, and the same old life. She is ready to find a new direction in life. While Liz Gilbert might go to Italy, India, and Indonesia to find a new direction, Kim Baker goes to Afghanistan.

Leaving behind her entire life, Kim decides to take a three-month assignment in Afghanistan as a reporter. After arriving, she feels immediately out of place and unprepared. When trying to find where the shower is, she stumbles into a room where fellow female reporter Tanya Vanderpoel (Margot Robbie) is beyond thrilled to have another woman amongst the sea of male reporters, cameramen, and security guards. She takes Kim under her wing, so to speak, giving her the lowdown on who to avoid. One such person happens to be fellow reporter, Iian MacKelpie (Martin Freeman).

With Tanya and Iian helping her navigate the reporter pool and her guide, Fahim Ahmadzai (Christopher Abbott), helping her navigate the Afghan social circles and treacherous roads, Kim feels there is nothing that can stop her from getting the next big story. But what will she give up and sacrifice in order to break that next big story?

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) is a very confusing movie. On the one hand, with the likes of Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Christopher Abbott, Billy Bob Thornton, and Alfred Molina we get a pretty decent “reporter behind enemy lines” drama with just the right amount of comedy sprinkled in. Then at some point we just decided to abandon all of that and focus on being a romantic drama. When we hit about the halfway point of the movie, from then on it becomes trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. It just does not work as a romantic drama. Nothing against Tina but her performance in the second half felt forced and unnatural. Billy Bob, Margot, and Alfred Molina all turn in great performances in their respective limited roles. Martin can flip the switch between comedic and serious almost seamlessly and he does so again here.

Overall this really is a story of two halves. Unfortunately, the worse half is what we end on. Since this is not currently streaming anywhere for free, I would say save your money and wait until it is.

But, what did you think of Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016)? If you have seen it, tell me what your thoughts in the comments below or by reaching out on social media.

• Twitter
• Instagram

So, what is up next in our Margot Robbie filmography watch through? We will be staying in 2016 with The Legend of Tarzan. This will be a first time watch for me. Currently it is not streaming anywhere for free. However, it is available to rent across all major platforms for $3.99.

The post Whiskey Tango Foxtrot (2016) appeared first on I've Scene That!.

Title: The Big Short

Director: Adam McKay

Runtime: 2 hours 10 minutes

Watched via: Blu-ray (currently unavailable to stream but is available for rent for $3.99 (HD) on Amazon and Apple.)

IMDb synopsis: In 2006-2007 a group of investors bet against the US mortgage market. In their research, they discover how flawed and corrupt the market is.

Hedge fund manager Michael Burry (Christian Bale), through his own research, believes that the housing market in the United States is propped up with popsicle sticks and crazy glue and is a bubble just waiting to burst. He believes that if he were to short (bet against) the housing market that he would profit quite handsomely. However, the big banks think Burry is a nut job and gladly accept his money. Why wouldn’t they want to take a bet against something that has never happened in American history?

But wait, what makes up the popsicle sticks and crazy glue holding the market together? Subprime loans. Well, what is a subprime loan? Enter the woman of the hour, Margot Robbie, to explain.

As far as Margot Robbie goes, that is it. She shows up on-screen at 13:50 and at 14:54 we see the last of her in this film. But, she does leave us with a memorable quote. “So, whenever you hear ‘subprime’, think ‘shit’.”

You might be thinking, “Hold on, was that Ryan Gosling narrating?”, and you would be correct. Gosling serves as our narrator but also plays the role of Jared Vennett, a trader for Deutsche Bank. Vennett hears about what Burry is doing and believes he too can cash-in by shorting the housing market. In his own attempt to find a bank willing to take the bet, Vennett accidentally dials FrontPoint Partners.

FrontPoint is run by Mark Baum (Steve Carell) who, self-admittedly, will call out an injustice when he sees it despite the surroundings or situation. On his team, Baum has Danny Moses (Rafe Spall), Porter Collins (Hamish Linklater), and Vinny Daniel (Jeremy Strong). While skeptical, Baum and his team agree to hear out Vennett and invite him to hear his pitch. In his pitch about a credit default swap, Vennett explains how bad bonds are then packaged together as CDOs, or Collateral Debt Obligations. Don’t worry though, we have Anthony Bourdain to help us understand what exactly a CDO is.

After listening to Vennett’s pitch, Baum and his team are still a little skeptical but start to believe that Vennett actually might be right on this one. In fact, they not only believe that Burry’s information checks out but that the bond agencies are grossly overrating these “bad” bonds.

This brings us to the last bit of introductions to our key players. Enter garage-based hedge fund Brownfield, made up of Charlie Geller (John Magaro) and Jamie Shipley (Finn Wittrock). They both just want a seat at the table with the big dogs. Unfortunately, they lack the experience and clout for a seat at the table. We, the audience, see this first hand as Charlie and Jamie are all but laughed at during a lobby meeting with JP Morgan Chase. However, as they are standing there after the meeting, they find Vennett’s prospectus and want in. But, in order to be taken seriously, Charlie and Jamie know they need help. So they decide to call a former trader who was also a neighbor, Ben Rickert (Brad Pitt). Despite being retired and out of the game, Rickert agrees to help Charlie and Jamie after looking through the data.

From that point on, we are off to the races. If you did not live through it, or have not seen The Big Short (2015) before, please go watch the film. Yes, a quick Google search will tell you whether or not Burry was right and how everything played out. But, the way the story is told here deserves to be experienced at least once.

When this scenario was actually playing out, I was old enough to have a slight grasp as to what was happening but young enough to be in a position where it had no major impact on me at the time. It wasn’t until The Big Short (2015) first landed on streaming that I saw it for the first time. That was the one and only viewing for me prior to revisiting it for this post. I remember liking it initially, but after a long overdue rewatch, I absolutely love it.

Yes, the story is fascinating. And yes, the music from Nicholas Britell works wonderfully in leaning into the swirl of emotions you feel as the story plays out. But, the performances we get are what make The Big Short (2015) so special to me.

Full disclosure, I forgot that Ryan Gosling was even in this, let alone that he was the narrator. Whenever anyone mentions The Big Short (2015), my mind instantly goes to Bale and Carell. That isn’t to take anything away from Gosling though, he is great as Jared Vennett. He and Steve Carell have a special kind of connection. We were able to see it in on full display in 2011’s Crazy, Stupid, Love and they pick up right where they left off here. An absolute joy to see those two trade jabs and work together on-screen. For Carell, he was fresh off of 2014’s Foxcatcher and delivers another powerhouse performance as Mark Baum. While he never disappoints in comedic roles, I hope it is a very long time before we see the end of Steve Carell in more serious and dramatic roles.

All of that being said, the two performances that I arguably enjoyed the most were turned in by Christian Bale and Brad Pitt. Bale has this ability to immerse himself into a role to such an extent that you forget you are even watching a performance, and he does it again here. No stone goes unturned with him. He wants to know and master every little minute intricacy of his character. As Michael Burry, that included learning to play drums and wearing a prosthetic eye to match the glass eye of the real Michael Burry.

As for Brad Pitt, it might seem an odd choice that his portrayal of Ben Rickert is one of my favorites of the film. Much like with Bale, you almost forget that you are watching Brad Pitt act. In Pitt’s case, it helps that his makeup and costume make him almost unrecognizable. But that isn’t the only thing. I think it is the humaneness of his character that appeals to me. Ben Rickert knows that the system is crooked and he also understands that for every winner there are just as many, if not more, that come out as losers. We are able to see this on full display as he, Charlie, and Jamie are all leaving Las Vegas.

Knowing they pulled of deals that will make them filthy rich, Charlie and Jamie can’t help but celebrate as they walk through the casino on their way out. But it is Ben who points out that millions of people are going to suffer as a result of them being right. He tells them that it is ok to be happy but just don’t dance around about it.

Granted, she was only on the screen for just over a minute, but of all the Margot Robbie films we have watched, this is by far my favorite…so far. It also is very easily my favorite Adam McKay movie that he has directed.

So, what are your thoughts on The Big Short (2015)? Tell me all about it in the comments below or by reaching out on social media!

• Twitter
• Instagram

Well, what is coming up next? Next up in our Margot Robbie filmography watch through we will be visiting 2016’s Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Unfortunately, this one also is not currently available to stream. However, it is available to rent in HD for $3.99 on all major platforms.

The post The Big Short (2015) appeared first on I've Scene That!.

Title: Focus

Directed by: Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes

Watched via: Streaming on Tubi

IMDb synopsis: In the midst of veteran con man Nicky’s latest scheme, a woman from his past – now an accomplished femme fatale – shows up and throws his plans for a loop.

Nicky (Will Smith) is an expert con man who spots a man and a woman, who are clearly a couple of rookies, and decides to play along with their con before exposing them and breaking down where they went wrong. The female half of that duo, Jess (Margot Robbie), wants to learn, wants to get better, and is committed to that lifestyle.

Although hesitant at first, Nicky takes Jess under his wing and begins to show her the ins and outs of how to successfully run a con. Whether it be wallets, watches, purses, rings, or credit cards, Jess picks up quick and can run with the best of them. At this point, I am all in for wherever we are going. A fun and flashy movie that glorifies the life of con artists? Sure, it could be fun. But wait, we can’t have that. Instead, it would seem that Jess has also stolen Nicky’s heart.

While in New Orleans running various other cons, Nicky and Jess attend “the big game” and in doing so wind up placing insanely high prop bets with legendary gambler Liyuan (BD Wong). Nicky loses each bet and is quickly down over a million dollars. He then decides to wager one final bet, Liyuan picks any player at random on the field and Jess will correctly guess their jersey number. Jess begs and pleads with Nicky to reconsider, but he insists.

Once Liyuan picks his player, Jess scans the field through binoculars. Nervous of picking incorrectly, she stutters and stammers as she tries to decide who to pick. But then, much to her surprise, Jess spots a member of Nicky’s team, Farhad (Adrian Martinez). After choosing Farhad’s jersey number of 55, Nicky and Jess take their winnings and exit the arena.

As they are pulling away from the arena, Nicky lets Jess in and explains how her not knowing the angle was essential for the plan to work. He then tosses her eighty thousand dollars, tells her she did great but the job is over, and then leaves in a different car.

Flashforward three years and we are in Buenos Aires. Nicky is recruited by Garriga (Rodrigo Santoro), owner of an F1 team, to run a con on a rival team. Nicky will pose as a disgruntled engineer who ultimately leaks exclusive fuel technology to rival McEwen (Robert Taylor). On the night the plan is to be put into motion, Nicky sees Jess walk down the stairs and put her arms around Garriga. Jealousy, regret, and anger wash over Nicky as Jess tells him that she is with Garriga and leading a very happy life now. Nicky is then determined to win back Jess regardless of the stakes.

Meanwhile, Nicky is still able to remain focused on the task at hand. He is able to get McEwen to believe the technology stolen from Garriga is legitimate. Next thing we see, Nicky is making deals with every single team. Each paying him three million euros in exchange for the technology. He turned his three million euro con into a twenty-seven million euro con.

But what about Jess? Does Nicky get her back? Does Garriga find out Nicky conned him? That you will have to find out for yourself. I am not going to spoil everything here. Not even in my thoughts on the film overall.

While this is the largest role for Margot that we have seen so far, it is also by far her strongest performance. She is absolutely fantastic in the role of Jess. And you can say what you will about his recent actions, but I will always see anything with Will Smith in it (even if it does takes me forever to get to it on my watchlist). The chemistry between Margot Robbie and Will Smith is the real MVP of Focus (2015). They are so strong together that you want to keep watching to see what happens next. Unfortunately, the script fails them and the chemistry is not used to it’s fullest potential.

The first act sets the tone for a fun con heist caper but the second and third act struggle to keep up. Overall I would say that it was an enjoyable watch. However, there was not anything here that would make it stand apart from the crowd as an unforgettable film.

So, what do you think? What are your thoughts on Focus (2015)? Let me know in the comments below or by reaching out on social media!

• Twitter
• Instagram

What is coming up next in the Margot Robbie filmography watch through?

We won’t be going too far as we will be right back here in the year 2015 for her uncredited role in The Big Short. If you have not seen it yet, unfortunately it is not currently streaming. But, if you do not own it, it is available to rent on Amazon for $2.99 and Apple for $3.99.

The post Focus (2015) appeared first on I've Scene That!.

Title: Z for Zachariah

Directed by: Craig Zobel

Runtime: 1 hour 38 minutes

Watched via: streaming on Pluto TV

IMDb synopsis: In the wake of a disaster that wipes out most of civilization, two men and a young woman find themselves in an emotionally charged love triangle as the last known survivors.

The synopsis given is not entirely accurate. You are led to believe, by that synopsis, that both men and the woman survived together. This could not be further from the truth as Ann (Margot Robbie) is the only known survivor when we first meet her.

It is not until Ann is searching for wounded game that she stumbles upon John’s (Chiwetel Ejiofor) belongings that she realizes she is not alone. John mistakenly bathes in water that is contaminated upstream and Ann informs him of his error and offers to help him.

John then returns the favor by informing her that you can still pump fuel without electricity. In doing so, Ann is able to put gas in the tractor that has sat idle for a year. Having an operational tractor means less time spent harvesting crops.

Now, if you were under the impression that you were the last person on the planet and then you encountered someone of the opposite sex, it is only natural that there would be some level of attraction there (especially when those people are Margot Robbie and Chiwetel Ejiofor). And yes, that is exactly what winds up happening here.

But what would make things more complicated than just trying to survive with someone you just met? Another impending disaster? Wild animal attack? Maybe an alien attack since we are classifying this as science fiction? Nah, adding another love interest. Enter Caleb (Chris Pine) serving no other purpose than being the “other man” in the triangle.

Caleb fancies Ann, John is not about to stand for that, and tensions rise. John confronts Ann and delivers a line for the ages, “It’s fine, it’s okay. You all go be white people together, okay?” John stands firm with his “me or him” stance and ultimately, depending on how you interpret the ending, takes matters into his own hands and kills Caleb.

With a tagline of, “After the end of the world she thought she was alone. She was wrong.”, one would expect a lot more science fiction that what we were given. Instead, the focus is on a lackluster love triangle that buries any focus on religion and science fiction. I found out after watching this that it is based on a book of the same name. I have not read the book, but I can only hope that it does more than just set a love triangle in a post-apocalyptic setting.

Heather McIntosh‘s score keeps you engaged and helps to create a tension and uneasiness that lingers the entire time. The cinematography from Tim Orr is breathtaking as he makes you feel like you are alone with vast amounts of nothingness around you. But the real stars here are Margot and Chiwetel. Both turn in very subdued yet incredibly powerful performances. It is a real shame that the script did not give them more to work with. The characters are given no real motive other than “fall in love with each other” and the entire film suffers as a result.

Z for Zachariah earns an unfortunate M for Mediocre.

Have you seen Z for Zachariah (2015)? Let me know what you thought in the comments below or by reaching out on social media.

• Twitter
• Instagram

What is coming up next? Well, next up in our Margot Robbie filmography watch through, we will be staying in the year 2015 as we look at Focus. If you are like me and have not yet seen it, currently it is available to stream on Tubi.

The post Z for Zachariah (2015) appeared first on I've Scene That!.