Icarus Review

Directed by: Bryan Fogel (Jewtopia)

Written by: Jon Bertain, Bryan Fogel, Mark Monroe, Timothy Rode

Review: This Netflix documentary, which won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature, is an intriguing, riveting, and somewhat unsettling look at the Russian doping scandal right from where it was leaked.
It starts out innocently enough, with little mention of Russia for some time, with the director Bryan Fogel setting out to make a documentary simply about steroids in sports. He sets out to prove how easy it is to get away with doping, by doing it himself with the help of Russian scientist, Grigory Rodchenkov. However, after some time, Rodchenkov reveals that Russia had a state sponsored doping program for the Olympics, and the focus shifts away from Fogel and to Rochenkov as the scandal becomes public.
It then turns into a tale of conspiracy and international intrigue. It goes in depth into the alleged doping, its effects, and the whistleblowing, while making several allusions to George Orwell's 1984. It also makes you fear for Rodchnkov, who has gone into the witness protection agency, under suspicion that Russian agents might be after him for leaking this information.
This is a very moving documentary, and very deserving of that Oscar.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Also, from now on I've decided to post every Sunday instead of Saturday to give me more time to write these.

Annihilation Review

Written and Directed by: Alex Garland (Ex Machina) Based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer

Starring: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson

Review: Annihilation is one of the trippiest science fiction movies since 2001: A Space Odyssey. 
It focuses on a group of scientists who go on a dangerous mission into a forcefield from space. The rules of nature do not apply here, and this leads to some very bizarre occurrtences.
The overall experience is very cerebral, and full of beautiful special effects. There is very little action or anything intense, but when it does try to be intense or frightening, it succeeds with flying colors.
Unfortunately, for anybody reading this outside of the US, you will not be able to see this movie in theaters. The studio does not have a lot of faith in it, and have decided that for international distribution it will go straight to Netflix.
It isn't difficult to see why it may not be fully embraced by the average moviegoer. It is a very bizarre and artistic movie. The ending is very unclear, and raises more questions than it answers. However, unlike The Cloverfield Paradox, another movie Paramount sold to Netflix to cut their losses, it doesn't feel like things are happening simply for the sake of things happening. But this is still a movie that definitely isn't for everyone.
However, if you want a more intelligent sci-fi movie, and don't mind if it's a little surreal, then this is the movie for you.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars