August 2024 Movie Reviews: Firebrand, MaXXXine, Wicked Little Letters
If you’re looking for a movie set more recently, this post is not for you! This August, we’ll take a look at a historical drama set in England in the 16th century, a slasher taking place in 1980s Los Angeles, and a black comedy set in a small British town in the 1920s. All three films feature strong female protagonists and are now streaming, but how do they ultimately grade?
Firebrand (2023)
Brouhaha Entertainment, 121 minutes
Firebrand is one of those movies that I’m not sure needs to really exist. Now, I don’t think that this period piece drama is an awful movie, or even actually a bad one. It’s just that there’s not really an exciting story being told on the screen.
I think that there definitely are interesting films that could be made about either of this film’s two central characters, Katherine Parr, who was the sixth wife of King Henry VIII, and the king himself. Unfortunately, this movie isn’t that film.
Firebrand focuses on the time period when King Henry returns from war abroad and becomes increasingly ill and paranoid (with much of his paranoia focused on wife number six). It’s just not all that interesting – not too much happens, and it’s not as though what occurs is truly historically accurate either.
The look of Firebrand – the costumes, sets, etc. – is really well-done. I have no complaints there. The acting, too, is solid. No one is really great in their roles, but everyone is good; Jude Law is the most recognizable cast member as King Henry VIII.
If you’re a diehard fan of period pieces, you’ll enjoy Firebrand. For everyone else, it’s probably one that’s fine to skip.
Grade: 5.5/10
MaXXXine (2024)
A24, 104 minutes
Well, that was disappointing. MaXXXine is the third film in writer-director Ti West’s X film series, serving as a direct sequel to the first movie, X. I was a fan of both X and Pearl (particularly Pearl), so I was definitely looking forward to this film. Unfortunately, MaXXXine feels both like a major letdown and a wasted opportunity.
The main issue with MaXXXine is the story. There’s simply not a lot that works. Despite a relatively short runtime (at least compared to most modern movies), MaXXXine is boring and drags. The plot sort of meanders along. There’s no flow or rhythm to the story – it all ends up being a disjointed mess.
The final act of the movie manages to feel both cliche while, at the same time, feels like it doesn’t fit with the rest of the film. X succeeded as an enjoyable slasher and Pearl thrived as a twisted fairytale. This entry ends up being neither ever truly scary or in any way unique or interesting.
Mia Goth, who stars as the title character, is still great here. She’s basically the one saving grace of the film. I really enjoy the character of Maxine and wish that she had found herself in a better story. I also felt like Goth wasn’t given the opportunity to take the character to another level in terms of intensity, something she’s shown she’s capable of in the past.
If you were a fan of the first two movies in the series, I understand wanting to give MaXXXine a try. Be prepared for a disappointing experience.
Grade: 3.5/10
Wicked Little Letters (2023)
Blueprint Pictures, 100 minutes
Wicked Little Letters is a totally watchable, solidly decent British black comedy. The story is set in a 1920s English town and focuses on a woman who begins receiving the titular “wicked little letters” in the mail. She suspects the letters are being sent by a neighbor she had a falling out with. As both the number of letters and the number of recipients receiving nasty letters increases, the case grows in its scope and becomes widely publicizing.
There are some mystery elements in Wicked Little Letters, especially early in the film, but the film is less of a whodunit and more of just a silly look at something amusing that happened in a British town 100 years ago. Olivia Coleman stars as Edith Swan, the woman receiving the letters, and Jessie Buckley plays her neighbor, Rose. Both are good here, though these are more the types of performances that are fun, but don’t really blow you away.
Overall, this is an enjoyable little film. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that it’s wickedly funny, but if you’re looking for something that’s more lighthearted to stream on Netflix, Wicked Little Liars is a solid, though likely somewhat forgettable, movie to watch.
Grade: 6.5/10