Hollywood's Hidden Secrets and Heart-Pounding Thrillers (2024)

Hey Gang,

Welcome to another edition of The Social Script.

This week brings you not just one but two films :)

Heading straight in, cue the drumroll! This week I watched…

Elvis and Chinatown!!!

Reasons for watching this film you ask?

Well, Elvis was one of those films I heard about when it came out but never felt like was something I must go see but now that it’s available on Netflix I figured why not.

Chinatown on the other hand is just a classic and was something I knew I needed to watch and rightfully so I did just that.

Just FYI both of these films are available on Netflix so please feel free to check them out if you can!

Down below will be the TLDR (Too lazy didn’t read) if you're on a time crunch :)

7/10

Directed by Baz Luhrmann, "Elvis" depicts the ascent of the iconic star Elvis Presley.

This film is considered to be Austin Butler’s breakout role and features one of Hollywood's greats, Tom Hanks.

The narrative unfolds entirely through the perspective of Elvis's manager, Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks). Despite Parker's instrumental role in Elvis's rise to fame, he is often held accountable for the star's untimely demise.

❗Spoliers❗

I have to be honest with you guys, I never grew up listening to Elvis nor do I like his music compared to most people.

But after watching this film, I understand people's fascination with the guy.

Now, this isn’t necessarily the best depiction of an artist I’ve seen but memorable without a doubt.

I really liked Butler in this film because of the amazing job he put on a great performance.

Although I wish I could say the same about Hanks, I just felt like his character was too generic.

Like I’ve said before, I don't know too much about Elvis, but his manager seemed to be the typical Hollywood manager type, and although Hanks does that, it just comes off as predictable.

One performance that I thought was worth mentioning was DeJonge as Priscilla. Not only does she look exactly like Priscilla, but she also acts like how I would imagine Priscilla to be.

Overall, I wouldn't necessarily say I was disappointed by the acting; I just felt like I was wishing for more. But overall, this film does a good enough job so I can’t complain.

One thing about the film that bugged me though was just the horrible transitions. I just couldn't stand some of the transitions this movie had; they always came off as sloppy.

Maybe it’s just me, but when cutting to another scene, I just didn't understand why they looked so bad and out of place. But I guess the costume designs make up for it because wow, it seems like the costume design team put in real effort.

Although the transitions were bad, one thing I noticed was how this movie doesn't feel like there are any breaks.

And I think that’s the whole point.

From what I've understood, Elvis had a very chaotic life. His personal life was dysfunctional, and it seemed like Elvis’s mission was to provide for his family and help them rather than himself.

Elvis isn’t necessarily about what he accomplished but the dark reality of fame and fortune and the added stress that comes with that.

People often saw him as some sort of God.

And constantly it seems like everyone around him is being affected, leaving the man to think unclearly and use vices to keep him sane.

And with that feeling of no breaks in between, it makes me wonder if it was done on purpose to show that Elvis's life was just one continuous motion moving forward and there was no time to look back.

All his life was continuously on to the next show, on to the next movie, on to the next whatever path the man took.

And by the end of the film, you have a headache because there are just no breaks and it feels like there’s no break.

But overall, if you don't know Elvis like me or love Elvis's music and want something exciting, this movie might be for you.

This movie is very similar to Almost Famous, which in my opinion is a better film but still a fun option to watch if you're bored.

8/10

Directed by Roman Polanski Chinatown is based in 1937 Los Angeles, private investigator Jake 'J.J.' Gittes (Jack Nicholson) specializes in cheating-spouse cases.

His latest target is Hollis Mulwray, the influential chief engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, suspected by his wife (Faye Dunaway) of being unfaithful.

❗Spoliers❗

This was my first time watching Chinatown, and it was a pretty solid experience.

Before I criticize this film, I must say...

This movie was amazing, but just not for me.

Now, before I get booed off stage, let me explain.

Chinatown was amazing; from the acting to the story, it was all there.

I just couldn't seem to connect with this film at all.

I would watch this again another time and hopefully watch it with some fresh eyes, but it was not something I felt was worth watching.

But that’s okay because I’m going to explain exactly why this movie might be for you.

Jack Nicholson in this film just comes off as so confident, and you can tell he was so comfortable within himself. It's like the guy truly understood his character, and his mannerisms are just so spot on.

Jack pulls off the typical film noir feeling by playing a private investigator, and Faye Dunaway also does an amazing job as the typical femme fatale, with those two combined, you get a great duo.

The whole movie is just one big puzzle, and you're just spending the whole time trying to figure out what is going on.

There are constant lies and sprinkles of hints of what is going on, giving you as the audience a chance to investigate what’s going on.

But just when you think you know what’s happening, Jake confirms what is happening, and it totally catches you off guard.

I also liked how Chinatown is a real place that in the film, you are constantly hearing about, and there seems always to be a negative connotation that comes with it. When we as viewers finally get to the destination, we don’t understand the big hype.

Then, in the end, we understand, okay, now I know why.

The ending really left me in shock and was way more gruesome and horrifying than I expected, similar to Taxi Driver, but it was a fun adventure.

If you like mysteries/thrillers, give this a shot. I promise it won't disappoint but will require your patience and attention.

TLDR

Elvis

Austin Butler shines, but Tom Hanks feels generic. Sloppy transitions, but the costumes impress. Reflects Elvis's chaotic life. Worth a watch if you're into the entertainment industry.

Chinatown

First time watching Chinatown—solid experience. The acting and story are top-notch, with Nicholson and Dunaway shining. A gripping puzzle with constant twists. The ending is shocking. Recommended for mystery/thriller fans, but be ready to invest attention.

If you've made it this far thank you so much seriously as always, please feel free to share, reply, and subscribe.

Your support means the world to me and is crucial to the growth of this newsletter. Also, I'd love to hear your movie recommendations or criticism, so please don't hesitate to email me back with your suggestions.