Spidey Senses: Review of Spiderman Into the Spiderverse

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse

Directors: Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, Rodney Rothman

By Alex Watson

Spiderman has gone through multiple facelifts since Sam Raimi first thrust the web-slinger onto our screens in 2002. Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse might just be the boldest and best outing yet for this franchise. Giving not one but five different origin stories, this movie is able to successfully juggle these numerous characters often to hilarious effect. The animation here on another level and the effect is jaw-dropping, the Marvel universe has a fascinating new ace up its sleeve or Spidey suit in this case!

In another dimension of the Spiderman universe, Miles Morales (Shameik Moore) is a high school kid who is bitten by radioactive spider. Attempting to embrace his destiny as the Spiderman, Miles' life is further complicated after the villain Kingpin (Liev Schreiber) opens multiple dimension. Soon our hero comes into contact with a down on his luck Peter Parker (Jake Johnson) and several other versions of the famed hero.

So often superhero films struggle to manage multiple heroes and villains, this is definitely not the case in Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse. The movie plays it smart by focusing primarily on Miles because a character he's impressively layered. A graffiti and hip-hop loving young boy from the block thrust into a fancy prep school who has a dysfunctional relationship with his overbearing cop father (Brian Tyree Henry) and is in awe of cool uncle Aaron (Mahershala Ali), Miles is a hero who is relatable on many levels. His early missteps and freakouts regarding his newly attained powers are played for laughs expertly, such as when he gives fellow student Gwen Stacey (Hailee Steinfeld) an unfortunate new haircut.

Directors Persichetti, Ramsey and Rothman wisely opt to flip this origin story on its head by showing us a far different and less appealing side to Peter Parker. In his own dimension, the original Spidey became a down and out loser. Watching this new incarnation gives a new stream of belly laughs. However, these are quadrupled when the other versions of this character are introduced including Nic Cage's wonderful Spiderman Noir and John Mulaney's bizarre cartoon pig Spiderham! Together these characters blend together seamlessly yet Miles instantly feels like the outsider. The notion of taking a leap of faith is heavily emphasized and frequently we see our hero struggle to fit. While the three co-directors are able to keep the laughs in good stock, they are also able to inject a real heart and soul into proceedings. Often this picture finds moments of levity and heartbreak when we least expect them.

The real star of Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse is the animation itself. The colors and the crisp 2D feel make this the perfect way to bring this origin story to life. It's particularly effective during a thrilling ending as the multiple universes open at once and the space-time continuum is set to go nuts! Miles emerges as the true hero of the piece and this universe shows that Spiderman's identity goes beyond Peter Parker and how its what's behind the mask that counts. Of course, there is a loving tribute to the great Stan Lee who manages to sneak in one final cameo.

Shameik Moore is the perfect choice for Miles Morales and former star of the ill-fated Netflix show 'The Get Down' is pitch perfect. Able to channel the restlessness and sheer excitement of a young teen, Moore wonderfully captures a hero in waiting. While Jake Johnson is often a love-hate figure onscreen, there are few actors who could have played Peter Parker as such an endearing failure. His lazy yet surprisingly deep delivery shows a man whose clinging his one chance to make things right. Liev Schreiber makes perhaps the most perfect Kingpin Marvel has seen yet. Vincent D'onofrio made a thumping presence in TV's Daredevil, but Schreiber's growling voice gives this man a whole new level of chills.

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse is one of the biggest surprises Marvel could have sprung on its fans. Funny, refreshing and memorable- Miles Morales is one character we would love to have a second outing!

The Fame Monster: Review of Vox Lux

Vox Lux

Director: Brady Corbet

By Alex Watson

As a director, Brady Corbet is one of the most intriguing talents to hit our screens in recent years. His debut 'Childhood of a Leader' was a gripping yet baffling account of a child finding a terrifying ego. His follow up Vox Lux in some ways is a fine commentary on the birth of celebrity and the corruption that follows. Despite a fine set up and a masterful central turn by Natalie Portman, it just feels like a wasted opportunity. 

In 1999, Celeste Montgomery (Raffey Cassidy) is a 14-year-old girl who is a survivor of a horrific school shooting. At the memorial for the victims, she sings a poignant and almost poetic tribute and instantly becomes a star. Years later, Celeste (now played by Natalie Portman) is now 31 and is preparing for a homecoming gig on Staten Island. However, a mass shooting occurs in a beach resort in Croatia which appears to have been inspired by one of her previous videos. Along with her colorful and constantly scrutinized personal life, how will she juggle another tragedy?

The first half of Vox Lux is where the movie's strength lies. Corbet jolts his audience early during a haunting opening sequence in 1999 where a disturbed boy turns up to a high school music class and immediately starting shooting people. Celeste tries to connect with him and refuses to succumb to fear, but the boy leaves her with a permanent neck scar. During the first act, a constant and personable voiceover by Willem Dafoe lets the audience fill in certain gaps. Celeste's rise to fame is a fascinating commentary on the corruption of fame as she goes from an innocent school girl to singing progressively more provocative lyrics. Recuperating in hospital from her wounds, she composes a song with her sister Eleanor (Stacy Martin). Soon the song strikes a chord with the nation and becomes as the narrator says with amused disgust "a hit!" 

Managed by an ego-centric, foul-mouthed and drug-fueled manager (Jude Law), her early misadventures will be making a lasting impact such as an ill-judged fling with a grungey British guitarist. Celeste goes on to become a household name while Eleanor secretly pens her songs and the pair drift apart after a notable mid-story incident. In the first half, Corbet crafts a story that is striking and free from a cliche, but sadly is unable to maintain this momentum going into the second half. Celeste has become the hot mess that so many young starlets are unable to avoid and after an unfortunate traffic incident- the shooting in Croatia (the killers wear masks similar to one of her prior videos) has given another meal for the media to feast upon.

Part of the problem with the final act of Vox Lux fails to bring the picture full circle and never makes full use of its great potential. Tensions rise during this stretch as Eleanor and Celeste clash over her teenage daughter Albertine (also played by Cassidy)- Celeste had a kid young who was raised by her sister while she ascended to the top. While Corbet throws the logs on the fire, the sparks never rise and things just burn out. Corbet almost seems to want to avoid answering the key questions he has forced his audience to mull over. The abruptness and ambiguity of its ending frustrates more than it fascinates us. Climaxing with an extending concert film (original songs by Sia and choreographed by Portman's husband Benjamin Millepied) is well polished but unnecessary. Corbet's movie has the quality of production and a promising premise to make a great movie, but despite some great camera work and cinematography by Lol Crawley- this fails to hit the high notes.

While she only arrives late in the day, Natalie Portman is excellent as the jaded and grenade gobbed Celeste. While her Staten Island accent is perhaps overly pronounced, Portman is mesmerizing as the immature and insecure star. Showing how the pressures of fame have stripped her innocence away and turned her into a barely coherent soul. However, it's Raffey Cassidy who steals the movie away from her co-star with an assured and confident turn. On double duty, Cassidy gives two separate performances which are both equally brilliant. As the young Celeste she shows the innocence and naivety of the fame that encapsulate her while as Albertine, she shows a young girl whose unable to open up to her self-centered mother. Impressing in movies such as The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Cassidy is one for the future.

Vox Lux is a movie which leaves us wanting more in the worst possible way. Brady Corbet will be an indie king someday, but this picture is a brief misstep what could be a promising career.