Feline Films | September-October 2023

Get ready for an exciting cinematic double-feature with Collin Cougar! He's here to share his reviews of two captivating films: a minimalist sci-fi tale set in the near future, exploring themes of love and sacrifice, and the other, a hilarious mockumentary chronicling the struggle of a summer theater camp in upstate New York.

Hi Cougars! Here are some films that you probably have not seen before but once you see them, you definitely won’t regret it! Swan Song and Theater Camp are polar opposite films. One is a hilarious heartwarming story and the other is melancholy and heartbreaking. But nevertheless, they both have interesting plots that will keep you hooked. Keep on reading to find out which one is which! 

 

Swan Song [R]

Swan Song on Apple TV is a heartbreakingly beautiful film, directed by Benjamin Cleary. It is a minimalistic sci-fi story set in the near future about love and sacrifice. I randomly watched this movie, and I am so glad I picked it. It is about a terminally ill man named Cameron, played by the spectacular Mahershala Ali. His doctor recommends a clone to take his place so that he will not leave his growing family. The clone is just like Cameron; it has all his memories, looks, and personality. The clone’s name is Jack and Ali played both characters superbly. Even though they looked the same, I could always tell the difference between the clone and the real Cameron. 

Swan Song is a beautifully shot film I was so engaged in. It subtly reminded me of an episode of Black Mirror, except it has more time to explore and dive deeper. Honestly, it was one of the most devastating movies I have seen all year. I was very moved and felt crushed at the end. 

Ali and Naomie Harris were the perfect scene partners. They had spectacular chemistry. In the movie, there is a scene of the first interaction they had with each other, and it was so cute I kept on rewatching it. Their performances were award-worthy in my opinion. Harris and Ali were the best choice to be leads of this film. Throughout, the film explores Cameron’s life focusing on his wife Poppy (Harris) and his son Hugo (Dax Rey). The Turner family relationship is so sweet which makes this film even more sad. 

The soundtrack is beautifully crafted, and all the song choices are so fitting. The movie felt a little convoluted in some areas, with a few plot holes, but it had amazing performances throughout. This film is a very bittersweet story about learning to accept your fate and revealing what the true meaning of your life really is.

8 paws out of 10

Theater Camp [PG-13]

Theater Camp is a delightful and hilarious mockumentary following a summer theater camp for young aspiring thespians on the brink of bankruptcy, located in upstate New York. This 90-minute film had me laughing the whole time with its witty humor. As someone who was very interested in acting and attended many theater programs when I was younger, I enjoyed this film very much. 

When the owner of the theater camp, Joan (Amy Sedaris), suddenly falls ill, the camp is now managed by her influencer son, Troy (Jimmy Tatro), who never had any prior interest in the camp. Two lifelong friends, Amos (Ben Platt) and Rebecca-Diane (Molly Gordon), who themselves were camp attendees as children, are also involved in its operation. Throughout, the film shows how Troy is struggling to run the camp and how Amos, Rebecca-Diane, and the other camp instructors are dealing with the camp without Joan, the camp owner. 

Theatre Camp was originally an 18-minute short film released on YouTube during the early part of the pandemic, created by Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, and Nick Lieberman. They gained a huge fanbase which led to the creation of a 90-minute feature. I am very glad Theater Camp was able to be turned into a full movie. It was so entertaining. 

This film is filled with a talented cast of kids and adults. It took me by surprise how good all the child actors’ comedic timing was. I burst out laughing multiple times during the whole duration of the film. Everyone was perfectly cast, and each role was done justice. 

While this film is very entertaining the second act gets kind of lost, but the final number is fantastic, the kids put on an impressive performance expressing how they feel about the camp through music pieces. It was so heartwarming and well-acted that scene was the best part of the film for me. 

9 paws out of 10

The reviews above were written by Caroline Gabbidon, a student at Collin College. Collin College News extends its gratitude for her valuable contribution.