Films mined from a tragic event in history aren’t necessarily a bad thing (see: United 93), but if I had to choose a filmmaker to treat a catastrophic situation that’s already claimed over 1.5 million lives across the world with consideration and decency, Michael Bay wouldn’t exactly be near the top of the list.īay’s standing in Hollywood seems like the universe’s answer to the question, “What if you gave a 12-year-old kid who shouts obscenities while playing Call of Duty a hefty production budget and enough explosives to wipe a small town off the face of the Earth?” If “loud” is the first thing that comes to mind when imagining a Michael Bay production, “tasteless” usually isn’t too far behind. Songbird never quite achieves what it sets out to accomplish, but it certainly deserves a tip of the hat for trying to make a movie about a universally trying time.It was always a matter of when, not if, Hollywood would make a movie-or several, with varying degrees of quality-about the ongoing pandemic. And while his fantastically ridiculous character might be right at home in a Coen brothers or superhero movie (both of which are in his wheelhouse), he feels out of place in this film, which is attempting to focus on the humanity of those struggling with loneliness and human connection. Sometimes, they seem at cross-purposes with his own needs. Tasked with getting the infected into the Q-Zone, he stabs the healthy from time to time for reasons that are unclear. As the sleazy head of the Department of Sanitation, his power has run amok in a way that doesn't make sense. Where it's most noticeable is with Peter Stormare, an actor who's known for playing some pretty over-the-top bad guys. But the disjointed filming seems to have translated into performances that don't quite fit together. And it's all melodrama, all the time: The musical score gets a 5 out of 5 violins. The reliance on tight, handheld camera work is reminiscent of The Blair Witch Project. Songbird takes leaps in logic that are impossible to get past. But just like the quarantine-staple Zoom meeting, things sometimes get lost in the static. Shot on iPhones and laptops, it truly is a feat. Certainly, recognition is due for managing to make a movie while respecting quarantine restrictions: This is guerilla filmmaking with an exclamation mark. Technically, this qualifies as a "thrill ride" - as in, it has unpleasant ups and downs, there's jerky camera work that leaves you queasy, and it goes nowhere in a hurry. Characters also swear, mostly "s-t." To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails. An aspirational character drinks beer, and unlikable characters smoke cigarettes. Everyone is in peril: Expect guns, stabbings, strangling, shootings, exposure to the deadly virus. Nico is also shown showering, though no sensitive body parts are actually exposed. Another character ( Alexandria Daddario) is an aspiring singer who's trying to put an end to a #MeToo-type sexual situation as part of her storyline, she wears skimpy lingerie that exposes her rear. The central story involves a romance between immune courier Nico ( KJ Apa) and Latinx artist Sara ( Sofia Carson). In the film, a militaristic government response has created a dystopian Los Angeles where people are ordered to stay indoors or face dire consequences. Parents need to know that Songbird is an ensemble drama/thriller about a pandemic that was made during the 2020 COVID-19 quarantine.
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