Capsule Reviews: 'Totally Killer,' 'The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial' & 'Nyad'

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the films being covered here wouldn't exist.

by Philip Price

Totally Killer

Photo: Amazon Studios

The most unbelievable part of “Totally Killer” is when someone travels back in time to stop a serial killer and save their mom from being murdered is that an iPhone battery would still be at 38% after multiple days. Admittedly really funny and charismatic though, if not a little shoddily made and cheap-feeling at times. I thought the writers might have something interesting to say about the double-edged sword of constructing one’s own mythology and how the risk/reward that the truth of self-mythologizing one day coming to light versus surrendering control to the culture to craft your legacy is an impossible call to make but this campy, quippy slasher doesn't really go down that rabbit hole. Conversely, “Totally Killer” is the kind of spoof where the characters and genre trappings are exaggerated for comical effect rather than the reinforcement and successful execution of such archetypes, while horrible, being a reminder as to why the genre itself is so endearing. In short, more of a leg-pull than a love letter yet one, when paired with “The Final Girls” and “Happy Death Day,” that makes for a pretty solid trinity of thrilling time travel throwbacks that ultimately do right by their horror inspirations because of its love for them.
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“Totally Killer” is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. 

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The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial

Photo: Showtime

I’m tempted to call “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” the “John Carter” of courtroom dramas as it would seem those coming into it unaware it’s not only based on a play but was a Humphrey Bogart picture back in the day would assume it’s William Friedkin doing Aaron Sorkin, but unfortunately, it also feels like those jumping through the current Showtime hoops to view the latest incarnation of Herman Wouk’s story will do so either out of appreciation for it being Friedkin’s final film or because of an affinity for the source material. While depressing on several levels, it’s even more so given “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” is a traditionally made and classically engaging piece of drama that kind of fires on all cylinders. Also, wouldn’t be surprised if Jason Clarke could easily pass the bar exam without studying for a single minute after the year he’s had.
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“The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial” is streaming on Showtime Anytime and Paramount+. 

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Nyad 

Photo: Netflix

It's hard to imagine how difficult it is to make a movie with an unlikable protagonist no matter how much the screenwriters and directors attempt to explain the reasonings for their character's poisoned perspectives. Balancing Diana Nyad's self-absorption and superiority with the admittedly compelling nature of her story, directors Jimmy Chin and Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi (“Free Solo”) are tasked with cracking the code on how to convince people to engage with such a personality without it first alienating them. Though the execution feels rather standard and their style is fairly bland, what these first-time narrative feature filmmakers do understand is that the somewhat loathsome nature of their hero must be channeled through the lens of how such a person can still be loved by those that believe in her and how that support system - despite being pushed to the edge, taken for granted and put in danger themselves - remains intact. Whether or not viewers will actually be convinced of such levels of loyalty remains to be seen (even if this is a true story) but coupling such an extreme temperament with the repetitive nature of the sport made “Nyad” feel like just as much if not more of an endurance test than the 50-plus hour swim from Cuba to Florida itself.
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“Nyad” is streaming on Netflix.