OVERLORD (2018)

a review by Evan Landon

I remember when this movie came out around the holidays back in 2018. I also remember no one wanting to see it with me! That could be because I talk too much during movies though. Going to the theater with me is like watching Mystery Science Theater 3000 except it's me snorting when I laugh & I chew loud. Possibly drunk. That is not the problem with this movie, however.

The problem with this movie is not how it coalesces with other languages, nor how it tries to. Sometimes, I literally feel like I am halfway between Full Metal Jacket and Inglourious Basterds at the beginning with Bokeem Woodbine straight up killing it in his monologue and delivery. He really is a talent. That being said, this movie is filled with great actors from Jovan Adepo in the lead role, John Magaro as the fast-talking New Yorker, & Mathilde Ollivier as the flame-throwing German badass. But I think the pony goes to Wyatt Russell (yes, that is Kurt Russell's son named after his part in Tombstone) who completely dominates the screen at any time. He did not fall far from the tree. That is a fact.

J.J. Abrams produced this movie, so a lot of credit tends to go to him for this flick, but I will give a huge nod to both writer Billy Ray known for his work on Captain Phillips and Hunger Games, as well as director Julius Avery, who I believe had an incredible vision that was fulfilled almost perfectly. A few things that kept it from being perfect was not the execution though.

Movies like this cannot be perfect. They just cannot. But this one was done so well, you forget about all the nonsense going on, you focus a little less on the bullshit, & you have a fantastic time watching this callback to ‘ye olde drive-in’ movies. It’s not even the timing. It’s just the entire plot! I mean, maybe it is perfect. I don’t know. The gore is completely up to par and the acting is top notch, as well as I said about the execution of the film. If you have the time this month, I would suggest checking this one out on whatevs streaming format you can find.

Is it good for grandma? Nope. But rarely the movies I review ever are. So there.

3.5 out of 5