Movie ReviewsSeen a lot of movies, got a lot of opinions.
Let’s get Lily Gladstone her Oscar.
“Stripper Boyz” Will Pelvic Thrust its Way to Your Heart
Stripper Boyz is an incredibly entertaining blend of dry, mumblecore-esque comedy and a surprising amount of heart. Who knew the answer to insecurity was ripping your clothes off on a stage in Las Vegas?
“Send Help” Needs a Little Help of its Own
It’s exceptionally difficult to spin the plate of a topic like abuse while also spinning the plate of Rachel McAdams flying through the air with a spear she sharpened herself to kill a boar. There’s a way to keep those plates going, but it takes a lot more effort than Send Help wanted to give.
“In Cold Light” is a Stark, Gritty, Beautifully Styled Thriller
Stylistically flashy in parts In Cold Light and with a dizzying infrared section, this film is a throwback to not-quite-action movies. The entire world doesn’t hang in the balance, but Ava’s entire livelihood does. That sure seems like enough to fight like hell for.
“The Compatriots” is a Love Story in the Name of Friendship
In his director’s statement, Cohen says that he hopes those who watch The Compatriots will fall in love with Javi and the people he represents. It’s safe to say, mission accomplished.
“28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”…Did Everyone in Hollywood Just Reread “Frankenstein?!”
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple doesn’t expound upon the world of its predecessors and undermines the complex emotions laid out in the franchise’s return.
Does “The Rip” Rip?
Without an escalation of tension, The Rip has no energy to ignite its story of betrayal, so it ends up not as a rip, but as a mere tear.
“If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing” is Unfiltered Teenage Anxiety and Humor
If That Mockingbird Don’t Sing is an introduction to Bones’ directorial voice, one that is sharp and funny, with room to grow.
“No Other Choice” is Park Chan-wook Firing on All Cylinders
No Other Choice is a thriller, yes, but it’s also a profoundly sad retrospective on the state of the world today.
“Sound of Falling” is a Masterclass in Generational Echoes of Memories
Reflections on the state of world affairs at four different points in time and portraits of families, Sound of Falling is an epic that cannot be contained within the frame of a camera or the confines of a home.
“OBEX” is a Lynchian, Analog Quest
Those who enjoy the corner of cinema Lynch has carved out will appreciate that OBEX does its best to fill in the space he has left behind.
“People We Meet on Vacation” is a Sweet Escape
There’s also a thin line between romance and friendship, and People We Meet on Vacation revels in the magic that happens when we step across that line. It’s exactly what the doctor ordered for a cold, rainy day.
“Primate” Goes Bananas
Primate is quick, dirty, and lean, a throwback, no-frills survivalist thriller that revels in its bloody monkey business.
My “Anaconda” Don’t Want None Unless You Got Originality, Hun
Anaconda could have been included in that conversation, but instead it’s too much like a big studio poking fun at itself while doing the exact thing it attempts to make light of.
“Belén” Fights for Truth
Belén is a fight for truth to be seen, heard, and, most of all, respected. Anyone can tell the truth, but those who control the scales of justice have to uphold it, even if it doesn’t align with their own assumptions.
“The Mother and the Bear” Struggles to Capture Connection
There are some warm moments about how food and language can immediately anchor us to a place we miss, how people can fall in love even when they thought those feelings were behind them, and how we may not understand our loved one but we can still support them. Unfortunately, The Mother and the Bear ends with what is still a fundamentally massive gap between mother and daughter.
“Blue Moon” Lacks the Magic of Old Broadway
There’s a way for a wordy, single-location film to use the freedoms of the film medium, look no further than Peter Hujar’s Day, but Blue Moon doesn’t capture the same sense of snapshot of a time and place in a person’s life.
“Night in West Texas” is Long-Fought Justice
Night in West Texas is a condemning piece of filmmaking, but one whose central voice should have been shifted.
“Tapawingo” is the Spiritual Sequel to “Napoleon Dynamite”
Tapawingo will speak to a generation that misses the oddball sincerity of the aughts and potentially win over some Napoleon Dynamite non-believers with its more fleshed-out narrative.
“Pillion” is the BDSM Christmas Movie You Need
Melling and Skarsgård make for a phenomenal pair that wholly sells the goal of Pillion, one that recognizes the many paths that can lead a person to emotional growth.
“The Plague” is an Expertly Paced Teenage Nightmare
The Plague is a cautionary tale of adolescence that’s searingly difficult to watch. It’s a masterful introduction to a new filmmaking voice.