Overheard in the office this week: A coworker telling everyone that they went to the movies this weekend (we love that) but it had been so long since they had been to the theaters, they didn’t realize that every seat was a recliner (don’t love that). As appalling as it was to hear, we were stoked to know they loved it so much they said they “got the bug” to watch more movies on the big screen 🥲
Here’s what we have for you this week:
Concession Stand Scorecard: Mercy
Watchlist Worthy: ##
Friends We Recommend: ICYMI - Josh was the guest on a pod
This week’s movie - Mercy
Letterboxd Description:
90 minutes to prove your innocence or face execution.
In the near future, a detective stands on trial accused of murdering his wife. He has 90 minutes to prove his innocence to the advanced A.I. Judge he once championed, before it determines his fate.
Best Watched With
With someone who has to put the 3D glasses on top of their glasses
End Credit Thoughts
We watched this one in IMAX and in 3D. We have to be honest here. We went into this thinking why the hell would there be a 3D showing for this movie? We are happy and humbled to report that we found out why, and it makes a lot of sense.
In this not-so-far-off futuristic world in 2029, people accused of murder are guilty until proven innocent. Not with the help of a lawyer, and the jury, judge, and executioner are one person—well, one entity. An artificial intelligence judge, Judge Maddox (Rebecca Ferguson), plays all the roles, and the accused on trial is the defendant and the lawyer.
Detective Chris Raven (Chris Pratt) has access to the government’s cloud database, which stores pretty much any digital recording on any device that connects to the internet, to build a case, and is allowed to call anyone, but only to prove his innocence. These are the reasons why the movie calls for a 3D experience. Folders, files, and footage open and expand, immersing Detective Raven and the audience into visuals of the digital world. Detective Raven may be strapped to a chair the whole time, but we move in and out of recordings and phone calls as he sifts through evidence and FaceTimes others.
The accused has only 90 minutes to argue their innocence, which is about the movie’s runtime, so we experience the urgency and stress of the passing time alongside Detective Raven. Where the story falls short, the time aspect picks up the slack.
Chris Pratt is believable as a troubled man tied to a stake, ready to burn, demonstrating anger, restraint, care, conviction, and intelligence, but overall, the performances here are not groundbreaking. Rebecca Ferguson is a star, filled to the brim with talent, so she could play a tree, and we’d be impressed. As Judge Maddox, she does a job well done, portraying an engineered artificial intelligence that focuses on the facts and is designed without sentience.
For a movie centering on an immobile man and a projected image of a digital woman, there are quite a few other characters, settings, and a decent amount of action. Futuristic elements are present in technology, gadgets, and transportation, and the movie offers explosions, tension, and thrills we want in Sci-Fi Action films. Even though aspects of the story, particularly with this plane's landing, feel rushed and messy, Mercy is not special in what is being told but in how it’s shown.
We lean towards streaming this at home. It’s fun and entertaining enough, but if the story were stronger and the plot tighter, it would be a stronger case for spending time and extra money on it. If you are intrigued and don’t mind paying a premium, the immersive feel of IMAX and 3D is the way to go.
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The Movie Mavens Podcast
Josh was the special guest on their latest episode!
Home of the Spicy Double Feature, Movie Mavens is a podcast about movies hosted by filmmaker Annie Jaynes and pop-culture critic Carsen Greene.
Each week, the Movie Mavens compare two or more films that are related in some way in what they call a Spicy Double Feature.
They also keep a diary of recent watches and recommendations across all entertainment; film, TV, games, books, & more!
Follow them on Instagram @MovieMavens
For business inquiries, email moviemavenspodcast@gmail.com
Ep. 209: More Selfish Men (Marty Supreme & Whiplash) FEAT. Josh Perez from Sweet & Condensed
00:00 - Just Chattin’ with @justjoshperez
06:25 - New Years Resolutions
14:37 - Marty Supreme
43:32 - Whiplash
Tune in next week for | Send Help
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