Movie ReviewsSeen a lot of movies, got a lot of opinions.
Let’s get Lily Gladstone her Oscar.
"Look Both Ways" - Film Review
Look Both Ways tries to cover five years in two separate timelines in less than two hours, but isn’t interested in the minutiae that really make up life. Instead, it’s broad strokes that barely amount to anything of substance.
"Fall" - Film Review
To truly enjoy Fall is to buy into its semi-unbelievable premise. Hunter and Becky are stranded at the top of a 2,000-foot-tall television tower in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Sure, it takes about twenty minutes of plot time to get Becky and Hunter to the tower, but does that really matter?
"Bodies Bodies Bodies" - Film Review
Ultimately, it’s very obvious from the onset if Bodies Bodies Bodies will incite a mid-level or rave review from you. For those who don’t fully appreciate its distinct brand of humor, there’s still enough of a twisty, turny good time to make it worthwhile, although the charm wanes fairly quickly.
"Mack & Rita" - Film Review
Mack & Rita is a film you’ve seen before. Sure, the plot and the characters are varied slightly, but there’s nothing new or different here. There are six montages in the meager 95-minute runtime, and that alone demonstrates how surface-level the script is.
"13: The Musical" - Film Review
It feels a bit sad that 13: The Musical isn’t premiering on cable everywhere at once in the same way High School Musical did sixteen years ago. 13: The Musical burst onto the screen in such a self-assured manner that it’s impossible to ignore this showcase of a brand new crop of talented youngsters.
"Easter Sunday" - Film Review
Instead of the charming, well-meaning mess of a family in My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Easter Sunday is focused on an irredeemably dysfunctional family. It’s no wonder Jo wanted to skip this dinner.
"Prey" - Film Review
What makes Prey so compulsively watchable is that it does exactly what it promises to do. It’s a frantic fight for survival led by a compelling cast of characters. When the audience finally gets a good look at the Predator, it’s a glorious reveal.
"Bullet Train" - Film Review
Bullet Train isn’t going anywhere fast. It’s self-indulgent and thinks it’s doing something entirely unique. The film gives itself far more credit than it deserves.
"They/Them" - Film Review
There is little redeeming value to They/Them. It fails as an escapist slasher flick for queer kids to vicariously live through, and it doesn’t make a strong case for dismantling conversion camps.
"Luck" - Film Review
In its heart, Luck does have something important to say. The film wants to teach children that bad luck is a learning experience and that they shouldn’t shut down when things go wrong. Challenges and problems are opportunities to adapt.
"Honor Society" - Film Review
Once again, Rice has proven her star power. She stole scenes from actors whose careers began before she was born in The Nice Guys, Senior Year, and Mare of Easttown. It won’t be long before Rice is a household name, and this fourth-wall-breaking performance as a teenage Machiavellian coup leader is a tour du force.
"DC League of Super-Pets" - Film Review
Those who have grown weary of caped crusaders fighting for truth, justice, and the American Way can rejoice in DC League of Super-Pets. While it’s not the finest of animated superhero films (that title is still firmly in the hands of Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse), the movie is a good-natured romp through the varied and wonderful journey of having a pet. Superpowers not guaranteed.
"Vengeance" - Film Review
Vengeance, more than anything, is a plea for life to have meaning without being distilled into content generation. It’s a plea for presentness, a willingness to embrace regrets, and a promise to do better.
"Senior Year" - Film Review
It’s not too hard to see where Senior Year went wrong. The humor is rooted in meanness and mockery, despite the script’s insistence that this high school is a place of inclusivity. Even with two impromptu dance numbers, the movie is sluggish and humorless Senior Year clearly has a case of senioritis.
"Minions: The Rise of Gru" - Film Review
Ultimately, Minions: The Rise of Gru is solid. The runtime doesn’t overexert the potentially irritating nature of the Minions, and the new characters breathe life into the franchise. The film proves to be a more than serviceable entry into the Despicable Me franchise and will most likely not be the last we see of the Minions.
"Don't Make Me Go" - Film Review
Don’t Make Me Go does veer into a sensationalist ending that is more in line with films like The Fault in Our Stars. It’s a disappointing choice that feels like tragedy for the sake of tragedy instead of the more refined journey that brought the audience to this destination. Ultimately, the beginning of the film really does set the stage for the ending, but there was hope it would subvert these expectations.
"The Gray Man" - Film Review
The Gray Man is a wannabe John Wick or Kate lost in a tonally incohesive script. It’s one man with armies of assassins on his tail who survives more gunshots and stab wounds than should ever be possible, all to save a young girl. Needless to say, you’ve seen this movie before you even press play.
"Lightyear" - Film Review
In nearly all ways, Lightyear is underwhelming. It’s shocking that this film was Pixar’s return to theatres after the pandemic. Soul, Luca, and Turning Red all would have made better theatrical releases than Lightyear.
"Marcel the Shell with Shoes On" - Film Review
“I like you brave,” Nanna Connie tells Marcel toward the end of the movie. There’s a lot for a one-inch shell to be afraid of. And there’s a lot for an average-sized human, so much bigger than Marcel, to be afraid of. It’s easy to make excuses and turn down opportunities that scare us, and it’s easy to stay in the world that we know, but humanity is at its best when we are brave.