Bria Lou Reviews

After a great first date that quickly goes bad, Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) despise each other. But when they are both invited to a destination wedding, they decide to fake date to stop their animosity from ruining the wedding celebrations. I didn't pay much attention to this film until I started seeing the reviews. I haven't seen a really good rom-com in a while, so hearing that this was quite a good one made me excited to see it! I liked this film, but I didn't love it. The meet-cute was really fun and unique, and a good way for the audience to get to know the characters. The cast is great, and the characters are all played really well. The main characters in particular are really fun to watch, especially when they're arguing. The dialogue is written really well and it's an enjoyable watch, but I never felt like I really got to know them, and so I never felt 100% invested in their stories. And with that, while I enjoyed their interactions, I never r

After the events of 'The Inheritance Games', Avery still doesn't know why Tobias Hawthorne left her his entire fortune. All she knows for sure is that she isn't a Hawthorne. But when she discovers something that suggests she's closer to the Hawthorne family than she ever imagined, Avery, along with the mysterious Hawthorne brothers, try to find the truth once and for all . I reviewed the first book, 'The Inheritance Games', HERE , and said that because I didn't love it, I wasn't really interested in reading the sequels. I picked this book up on the spur of the moment, because while I didn't love the first, I was kind of curious about what came next. I'm so glad I decided to pick this up, because I liked it a lot more than the first one! One of my criticisms the first time around was that I felt Avery was quite juvenile and childish. This time around was entirely different - I really liked being in her head, and she definitely seemed more matu

I'd never heard of this film before last year, when I watched it for the first time, so this time around was my second watch. Guy Richie's movies tend to be a bit hit-or-miss for me. This is one of the only ones where I don't have a strong opinion one way or the other. I didn't love the story, it didn't hold my interest the whole way through. But one thing that I absolutely loved was the dialogue. It was smart, quippy and made the film a much more fun watch than the plot itself would suggest. Another thing I absolutely loved was Brad Pitt's performance. This was probably one of my favourite roles of his. He did a great job with the character, and it was really different to everything else I've seen him in. But that being said, all of the performances were great. For me, if I had to guess why this film is considered a classic, it would 100% be because of the script and performances, rather than the film as a whole. It was the script that kept me locked in and

A creative writing assignment complicates the relationship between a teacher (Martin Freeman) and his student (Jenna Ortega). I heard about this film maybe once and remember being interested in it, but then I never heard anything about it again. So when I saw it was available to rent/buy on Prime Video, I decided to give it a shot.  I don't know what to make of this one. I didn't hate it, but there wasn't a lot to like. The only thing I did like was that Martin Freeman and Jenna Ortega worked really well together and had good chemistry. I'd love to see them work together again, in a film with a better plot and a less weird (platonic) relationship. The characters are written really weirdly. There were many moments when they said things that were just so unbelievable, especially Jenna Ortega's character, Cairo. Another odd aspect of the film was the tone - I could never tell if things were supposed to feel sinister or not because the film couldn't decide how it wa

This one was a re-watch. I'd seen this film once before watching it for the Bucket List. My memories of it weren't wholly positive - I didn't love the first watch, and while I didn't hate it, it wasn't a film that I was itching to watch again. Though saying that, I knew that I probably would watch it again eventually, because I knew how much of a classic it was. Like a lot of films I've watched for the Bucket List, I liked it more this time around than I did the first time, though I still didn't love it as much as I wanted to. But that being said, I did really enjoy it. The writing was great and Christian Bale was amazing in the role, as were the supporting actors. For me, though, the most iconic thing about this movie is its soundtrack. The songs used are amazing and fit the movie so well. They're used in such a unique, original way, that it feels like this alone makes the movie a classic. The film is really well made, and even though I don't love i

Young Willy Wonka (Timothée Chalamet) tries to follow his dreams to become a respected chocolatier, despite opposition at every turn . This film was never particularly high on my 'to-watch' list, but it was always on my radar, so I'm glad I've finally seen it. I liked this movie a lot more than I thought I would, but I still definitely had problems with it! For a start, while I love the fact that it was a musical, I didn't actually like any of the actual songs. None of them really stood out (except the one that's already known) and having only seen the film yesterday, I can't remember any of them. In fact, while the songs didn't hurt the film, I also don't feel like they were completely necessary. I would have liked the film the same amount if it hadn't been a musical. Wonka is a really charming character, and Chalamet plays him really well. In fact, the entire cast is great - definitely the best thing about the film by a mile. The relationship b

Next up for the Bucket List was another first-time watch! I'd seen the original 1932 film years ago and really liked it, but I never got around to watching this (undoubtedly more popular) version, so I'm glad it was on the list. I really really liked this movie. I'm not sure if I like it more than, or the same as the original, but I definitely had a great time with it. One thing about finally seeing all these classic movies is seeing how much impact they've had on pop culture, and this film is definitely no exception. It's so quotable, there are so many iconic images, and it's one that everyone should watch if they haven't seen it before. The most talked-about aspect of this film is probably the violence, and that's so interesting to see. Not only the way it's spoken about, but also the difference between violence in older films like this and newer releases. I personally thought the violence was done well, and while probably not all of it was strictl

When ex-UFC fighter Dalton (Jake Gyllenhaal) takes a job as a bouncer at a roadhouse, he soon finds that his past is quickly catching up to him. I've never seen the original Road House, and when I put this one on I wasn't really planning to review it, but I found myself really getting into it. I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. Both the characters and the story were a lot more engaging and compelling than I thought they would be. The story sucked me in right from the beginning and I was interested the whole way through. The cast is great, but Jake Gyllenhaal completely carries the film and plays the character of Dalton really well. Again, I can't compare his performance to the original, but I really like the character. The fight scenes, which are pretty much what the film is about, are done really well. They're entertaining, but they also do a good job of moving the story forward. I think the reason I liked the film so much was because I didn't take it

  Next up for the Bucket List was a first-time watch. This is one that I had obviously heard of but knew next to nothing about. I found that it took a long time for me to connect with the story, and even then, while the film was interesting to watch, I never felt particularly invested in it. There were a lot of recognisable, iconic moments that I appreciated, and I get how much of an impact it had on sci-fi (and probably movies in general), but I don't know if it was for me. I somewhat enjoyed it, I understood everything that happened, but never felt connected, and didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. It could just be that I need to re-watch it, and I probably will, but for a first watch, I didn't take to it as much as I wanted to. But that being said, I'm glad I finally watched it!

A former movie star and a group of her family and friends take a spontaneous trip to a private island. By the end of the vacation, one of them has been murdered.  I've read Michaelides' first two books, and I didn't love either of them. I rated them a 2.5 and 2 respectively, out of 5. I pre-ordered this book because I wanted to give the author one more chance, and this seemed like the perfect way to do it. The premise was reminiscent of 'The Guest List' by Lucy Foley, which I loved. But I was completely aware going into this that, if I didn't like it, it would probably be the last Michaelides book I pick up. So yeah, I hate using the word 'hate' to describe the entirety of how I felt, but I really really didn't like this book. The only thing I really liked was the length of the prologue. I'm not a huge fan of prologues, but this one was the perfect length.  My first gripe is with the narrator. I hated his voice from the very beginning, as it was

Elly Conway (Bryce Dallas Howard) is an author who writes spy novels featuring secret agent Argylle. But when the plots of her books begin to mirror events in the real spy world, Elly finds herself in grave danger. I saw the trailer for this movie while watching another film and wasn't particularly interested in it. But after hearing and reading all the (mostly negative) reviews, I wanted to see what it was all about! I didn't hate the film, but I didn't really like it either. There's definitely more bad than good about this one. But one good thing - I really liked how it began. The beginning reminded me a lot of 'The Lost City', and I liked seeing the transitions from Argylle to Elly and back. However, one of the first problems I had was that Elly seemed like the least interesting character in the film she leads. I wanted to see more of everyone else and a bit less of her. But that being said, none of the characters are great, and none of them feel like real pe

  Another first-time Bucket List watch! I had been meaning to see this film for such a long time, years, and I'd never gotten around to it, so I'm really glad I've finally seen it! I really really liked the film. Honestly, I feel like I would have loved it if there wasn't so much of Bruce Willis's storyline. Because everything else I loved, but that dragged on a bit for me. But even then, that storyline would be great in an average film - it just wasn't as strong as everything else that happened. One of the main things that highlights a Tarantino film as being a Tarantino film is his signature writing style, and it's on full display here. I loved every piece of dialogue. You could watch this film with your eyes closed and understand these characters and who they are, because the writing explores them so fully. It was really interesting watching this film after seeing Reservoir Dogs, not only because of the crossover of actors, but because of how similar they

  On the cusp of a new relationship, Adam (Andrew Scott) is repeatedly drawn to his childhood home, where his parents appear to be living exactly as they were before they died 30 years prior. I was really excited to see this film. I needed to get the Oscar Best Picture nominees out of the way, but as soon as I was done, I was ready to see it! I loved this film! I kind of guessed I would, but I didn't know how much. The story is beautiful. So original and complex, you kind of don't even know what's really happening until you're fully in it, and I love that. You really have to see it to get it. The writing was incredible, so poignant. It's one of those stories where you can feel the filmmaker's passion on the screen, and that just made me even more invested in the story. There were so many perfect lines that will stay with you long after the credits roll. But aside from the writing, the acting in this film is incredible. As well as Andrew Scott, the film also star

  I watched this immediately after watching Reservoir Dogs, which might tell you a bit about my state of mind when I started this! I knew nothing about this film before watching it. I have heard of Studio Ghibli, but not enough to have seen any of the movies. In fact, this is probably the first anime movie I've watched. My feelings on the movie changed throughout - I loved the animation, the vibrancy, how beautiful everything was, but it took me a while to get the story. In fact, I ended up googling the hidden meanings of the overall message and that really helped me to connect with some of the characters. Because the beginning of the film had me feeling a bit lost, and it took me a while to get into. But once I actually got into it, and especially once it was over, I understood how beautiful the story was.  So even though it wasn't entirely for me, I completely understand why it is loved, and why it is considered a classic. The storytelling is great, but the meaning behind eve

It's crazy that it's already the end of March. This post always comes around so quickly! Favourite Film (1): All of Us Strangers I've got a review of this film written and ready to upload so I won't say too much about it here, but I absolutely loved it! I've seen it maybe three times now and get something different from it each time. It's definitely worth a watch. Favourite Film (2): Poor Things I reviewed this film HERE , and ranked it the highest of all the Oscar Best Picture nominees, so of course it had to be on this list. I didn't fully know what it was about before going in, so it was a pleasant, weird surprise! Favourite Film (3): The Holdovers This is another Oscar nominee that I reviewed HERE , and while I think that Poor Things is probably the better film, this is the one that moved me the most. I loved it, and I think it holds up regardless of the Oscar hype. Favourite TV Show (1): Fleabag I don't know why it took me so long to watch this show

  I'm not the most well-versed with Tarantino films, and have only really become a fan in the last year or so, so I had never seen this movie and had only heard of it a couple of times. I actually wasn't intending to watch this next, but of the collection of films I had time for, I read the plot for this one and instantly loved it, so I had to watch it as soon as possible! I loved this film. I really didn't expect to love it as much as I did, and I really want to watch it again. The writing is amazing, and probably the best thing about the film. The way these characters were created, the way their stories came together and diverged, the connections they had with each other, it was just a great watch. It surprised my how connected I felt to some of these characters, and how quickly those connections were formed.  One of the main reasons for this is because the acting was also phenomenal. Although most of the actors in the film are very well known and revered, I hadn't re

Diana Nyad (Annette Bening), a 64-year-old swimmer attempts to become the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida. I have to admit, I probably never would have watched this film if the lead actresses weren't nominated for Oscars for their performances. The premise doesn't necessarily appeal to me. As expected, the film is exactly what it says, so you'll probably already know if it's for you or not. While the story is inspiring, it isn't the most interesting thing to watch. I have wondered whether it suits the movie format at all, because there is so much about the film that didn't work for me. And as much as I understand why stories about personal triumph and never giving up are important to tell, there were probably better ways to do it. I'm not sure if Diana Nyad ever wrote a book, but that would probably have been a more interesting way to tell the story. It seems to me that to really enjoy this film, you either have to have an interest in Nyad herself,

  I love the Jurassic Park movies! And when I say that, I include the Jurassic World movies (at least the first two!). I'm a huge fan of creature features, which I guess this falls into, so it was always going to be an easy decision to watch Jurassic Park again. Even without taking into account the way this film helped to form the landscape of sci-fi that we know today, the fact that the franchise has lasted as long as it has is just a testament to how impactful the first film was. But as well as being impactful, it's actually first and foremost just a good film. It's fun, it's thrilling, it's entertaining, it has great characters, and it has become iconic. While this first one may not be my personal favourite of all the Jurassic movies, I really like it and always have a great time with it. This is one that I'm sure most people have seen, so my recommendation doesn't really mean anything when the movie is this iconic. But if you haven't seen it, it'

After meeting and spending the night of graduation together, Emma (Ambika Mod) and Dexter (Leo Woodall) go their separate ways. But as the years go by, they are unable to let each other go. I didn't know whether I was going to watch this show or not. I watched the original movie, so I knew exactly what I was getting into, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to get into it again! But after hearing the rave reviews, I wanted to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did because I loved this show! I loved it from the first episode. The actors have great chemistry, which is just one of the reasons the show works as well as it does. It's so nice to watch them together. Even in the scenes where they aren't physically together, it's really interesting to see the way their friendship is kept alive. While I liked the movie version, a TV show is the perfect format for this story. It's really nice to actually see the time it takes for two people to fall in love, and having each ep

I was so happy to see this one on the Bucket List! I've seen this film maybe 4 or 5 times now and I love it more each time I watch it. Not only is it such a successful psychological thriller, but there's so much to love about it. From the performances, the writing, the iconic ending, everything! It's a great first-time watch because you have no idea where it's going or what you're getting. You just follow these characters, you're along for the ride, and you get so much more than you bargain for. For me, the best thing about the film was the characters and the way they were written and played. Of course, Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt are highly revered actors, and the way they breathe life into characters that could have easily become one-note stereotypes (the jaded older detective and the aggressive young rookie) is really interesting to watch. They make the film what it is. I've found while writing these Bucket List reviews (if you can call them reviews) tha