Ty Watches "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery

Last weekend my wife and I watched "Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery". Let’s discuss.

I enjoyed the first two movies in the series. I think the first movie is incredible and I don't get the hate that the second movie got after it was released. I thought the second movie was very funny in fact. I have always enjoyed the murder mystery genre, and when the powers that be make it a little funny, that is right in my wheelhouse. My son saw a few minutes of this most recent one and he asked my wife and I if it was like "Clue". I feel like that was a very apt comparison. I thought he hit it on the nose. And "Clue" is a classic. I feel like the "Knives Out" series has brought the essence of "Clue" into the 21st century. These are funny and fun murder mystery movies. I know that they have said that Agatha Christie stories are the inspiration, and while that may be true, these are much funnier than any Agatha Christie novel. That is what appeals to me.

And this new one starts with comedy at the very top. We see this newish priest, played by Josh O'Connor, and he is pleading with the board to keep him on hand. Apparently he has punched a church goer in the face for something they have said that rubbed him the wrong way. We never learn what this person said, but this new priest is passionately pleading his case. Josh O'Connor is so great in this role. I don't know much about him, but in this movie he was so good. He portrayed this new priest as what I imagine someone in his generation would be like. He was passionate and opinionated, but he also knew his purpose in life and was going to fulfil that no matter what. I thought he was funny and compassionate and I was there for it. Jeffrey Wright, in a small role, plays O'Connor's mentor of sorts and he was perfect. He has such a commanding and powerful voice and you buy every word out of his mouth. When O'Connor gets put into his new church, this is where the movie truly starts to roll. He is placed in a small church in small town New York, and the characters that this church has are second to none, Josh Brolin is the main guy and he is a piece of work. He plays a version of this new wannabe alpha male who just happens to have an audience. He is mean and spiteful. He goes after what he wants with blinders on. Brolin, who seems to be in every good movie lately, does a fine job playing this butthead of a character. He goes for it and lands the jump. The community is made up of some wonderful actors. Kerry Washington has a "kid", played by Daryl McCormack, and he is a piece of work. He's entitled and a prick. He is a prototypical new age republican. This actor is great. Washington is phenomenal as the put upon lady in her family. They push her aside and make her do all the dirty work and she does it until she cannot take it anymore. And when she exposes information, that is a powerful performance, Cailee Spaeny is very good as the former cellist who has turned to the church to try and help her get over a serious injury. She is the joker who got sukered into thinking money and faith could help her heal. Jeremy Renner is very good in a very different role for him. He is a drunk whose wife left him. He will do anything to get her back, but he goes about it the wrong way. He is a pushover and a follower. Andrew Scott is a sci-fi writer who, much like Renner, will fall in line with the group. He has some of the best comedy readings in the movie and his fate at the end was hilarious and fitting. Thomas Haden Church plays a hard working guy who just wants what is best for his partner. Church continues to prove he is a capable actor. His partner is played by Glenn Close and she has the best performance by anyone in this movie, and it is not even close. She is wonderful as the keeper of the church and her arc is such a joy to watch in this role. Mila Kunis plays a cop and she is so understated and does a wonderful job using cop jargon and going about her business. And then we have Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc. This is such a fun role for him and he seems to be having a grand old time playing this detective. He chews scenery in the best way possible and I really love seeing Blanc on screen.

This third installment is fun, funny and a well done movie. I thoroughly enjoyed all two and a half hours, and it flew by. I cannot recommend this movie enough, especially if you have seen both, or even one of the previous movies. I believe you will find it as enjoyable as the others.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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Ty Watches "Civil War"

I went out and saw "Civil War" in the theaters yesterday. I was told by RD, my mom and dad that I should see the movie. I watched a few previews, read one spoiler free review and made up my mind, although it was pretty made up with the recommendations from family members. I went to a 1:30 show and it was about half full. This movie has been out for two weeks now and people are still going to see it.

This movie is an important one. People need to see this movie. This should be required viewing for all Americans. I think this may be the most important movie of the decade. This is an unflinching look at what America could become if we continue to go down the path of dictatorship. This movie is brutal. This movie is unrelenting. This is not a happy movie. There is not a happy ending. There are no heroes. I was exhausted after watching the movie. I am still thinking about stuff I saw and it has been almost 24 hours since seeing it.

Again I say, this should be required viewing. My fear though, the people who need to see this movie, who may be persuaded by this movie, will either hate it or not see it. I looked around at the crowd yesterday and they looked like me. I look like a liberal because I am a liberal. I vote democrat. I always have and always will. That was the vibe I got from the crowd. And that is great. It is clear that we are seeing this movie because it is vital for us to try and do anything we can to stop this from happening. But we already have that view on the world. I want things to get better. I want people to make decisions based on facts and science. I want the world to be a loving and accepting place. But the people that may be avoiding this movie, may be against this movie, they won't go see it or they won't open their minds if they see it. They have made their minds up. That is scary.

The scariest thing about this movie is that it could very well happen at any moment. And the militant and fascist racists out there, all they need is a reason to do the horrible things they want to do. That is all on screen. Jesse Plemons' character is terrifying. Nick Offerman's portrayal of a dictator turned president is a real possibility. The journalists, played by Kirsten Dunst, Wagner Moura, Cailee Spaeny and Stephen McKinley Henderson are all out for their own good. They want the picture and the story that will make them famous. By the way, Kirsten Dunst is magnetic in this movie. She does an amazing job portraying someone just doing their job and trying to make it in the crazy world in "Civil War". She deserves awards recognition. But again, she is out to get the best photograph. She wants to be remembered for her work. As I said up top, there are no good people in the movie and I think that is the whole point.

I believe this movie was put out to show how truly, truly awful things could get if we don't make changes. I don't want to have to live in a world where we ration for water or have to stay in internment camps or try and act like something awful isn't going on in the world. I want to live happily and free. Be in the land of the free and home of the brave. That doesn't seem possible in Garland's "Civil War". Things can change. Things can get better. But we have to recognize and not accept the dictators and militants in the current world. I don't want to live inside a Civil War.

This is a very important piece of content that needs to become required viewing. Go see this movie ASAP. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.