A “QUICK!” Review of “The Whale (2022)”

A magnificent return from Brendan Fraser! He gives a phenomenal performance as Charlie that shows the grief, pain and yet the positivity of his morbidly obese character that makes him more complex. Hong Chau is also terrific as the nurse Liz. She gives a performance that illustrates the struggle and pain of someone watching their friend self-destruct.

I love the use of a 4:3 aspect ratio to really capture the claustrophobic nature of the apartment and to illustrate the obesity as Charlie takes much of the screen. The music score by Rob Simonsen is great and the makeup for the fat suit is stunning. This movie isn’t for everyone as it is depressing and quite melodramatic. It also has some issues in the writing and story, especially considering one character who appears throughout but didn’t add much to the plot in the end. Nevertheless, the movie is a hauntingly and heartbreakingly beautiful experience.

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A “QUICK!” Review of “Heart Eyes (2025)”

Heart Eyes has the makings of a really cool modern slasher character. The killer’s design is pretty cool, and the concept of killing couples on Valentine’s Day is a novel idea. The movie even starts off well with some creative kills. However, the movie goes downhill from there. It turns into an incredibly corny romcom—the dialogue is sappy, and the characters feel cartoonish. The movie then whiplashes between romance and horror, as if suddenly remembering there’s a killer on the loose. At one point, in the middle of a chase, the characters start opening up to each other—which was definitely not the time. Meanwhile, the killer becomes increasingly incompetent, failing to take out the main characters. The comedy doesn’t land, the romance is bland, but the kills are at least enjoyable. Just don’t go into this expecting a full-on slasher horror movie.

A “QUICK!” Review of “Last Breath (2025)”

Last Breath is a thrilling, anxiety-inducing telling of the true story of the 2012 saturation diving accident. The director, Alex Parkinson, is notable for co-directing the documentary film of the same name. This benefits the movie, as the events feel highly believable—Parkinson sticks to the facts rather than over-dramatizing them. Character actions and dialogue remain relatively grounded, reflecting the director’s commitment to honouring the real-life individuals involved. His inclusion of a timer is a great addition, elevating the tension. However, the film’s short runtime results in a lack of depth. We barely get to know the characters enough to care about them before they begin the dive. Additionally, the ending feels rushed, with constant time jumps after the dive. I wish the film had explored more of what happened immediately after the dive. Overall, Last Breath remains a very entertaining movie that respectfully represents the true story.

A “QUICK!” Review of “The Prosecutor (2024)”

The Prosecutor is an interesting film, as it’s actually a legal-focused thriller first and foremost, with the martial arts action coming second. I found this blend of genres to work surprisingly well, and I give Donnie props for trying something different. The movie features a phenomenal opening action sequence and an incredible climactic one too. When it comes to the action scenes, you definitely won’t be disappointed. However, the legal aspect—which makes up the majority of the film—is unfortunately a bit lacklustre and predictable. I wish the courtroom scenes had explored more of the complexities of the justice system and delivered more intense drama. It didn’t help that the villain was incredibly one-dimensional. Still, it’s an entertaining action movie overall, and this film does show that Donnie knows how to handle action.

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