Movie ReviewsSeen a lot of movies, got a lot of opinions.
Let’s get Lily Gladstone her Oscar.
"Babylon" - Film Review
Babylon is pure excess, to its own detriment. Chazelle became so lost in frolicking in the playground of the 1920s Hollywood he’s created that he forgot to tie it all together into something meaningful.
"Fire of Love" - Film Review
Fire of Love is born out of passion. The film’s narration is romantic, merely a reflection of the awe Maurice and Katia have for volcanoes. It’s a love that can be understood by anyone who loves something unbridled adoration.
"Avatar: The Way of Water" - Film Review
As with the first film, there will likely be droves of people who will keep showing up to screenings of Avatar: The Way of Water. It’s impossible to deny that they will be treated to a visual feast, but those looking for a more character-driven movie will be left adrift in the open water.
"Empire of Light" - Film Review
Empire of Light is lost in its own grandness. The film wants to be a meaningful celebration of the almost religious experience it is to go to the movies, but seems to believe that isn’t enough to sustain a two hour movie.
"The Menu" - Film Review
The Menu deserves to be seen with very little knowledge of the plot. Even the trailers (and likely this review) give too much away. It’s a dark, vicious satire that expertly unfolds itself over the course of ten dishes.
"Decision to Leave" - Film Review
Park manages to invoke the styles of Wong Kar-wai and Alfred Hitchcock in the same breath. A mix of film noir and sensual love story, Decision to Leave is right at home in Park’s filmography. He creates tales of revenge and violence that are neatly tied together with love.
"Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio" - Netflix Film Review
For a film about the necessity for heart and kindness, there’s a hollowness that’s impossible to overcome.
"Emergency Declaration" - Film Review
Emergency Declaration is thrilling and hits too close to home, given the world we’re living in now, but the film cannot stick the landing.
"My Policeman" - Prime Video Film Review
My Policeman would like to paint itself as a sprawling love story that’s sensual, emotional, and nuanced, but it’s a slog. The three main characters are too wrapped up in their own melodrama to have a lasting impact on the audience.
"Smile" - Film Review
Smile is nothing revolutionary, but it is creepy, and sometimes that’s enough. It’s more memorable than any recent iteration of Paranormal Activity and will certainly be a hit at sleepovers, but there’s not much more hidden beneath those sinister grins.
"The Wonder" - Netflix Film Review
The Wonder is a bleak tale of an unexpected connection between two people well acquainted with hardship. Pugh’s performance, as always, elevates this to something beyond a religious period piece mystery about life itself.
"Something in the Dirt" - Fantastic Fest 2022 Film Review
Something in the Dirt does live up to its name. There is something here and it’s a truly fascinating something, but the film needs a little more clearing away of the dirt.
"Calendar Girls" - Documentary Film Review
Ultimately, it’s hard not to be charmed by Calendar Girls. The women who make up the cast of characters will remind audiences of their own grandmothers or other older women in their lives. The film is charming, but only scratches the surface of what these women have to offer.
"The Wild Man" - Film Review
The Wild Man asks the difficult question of what it means to care about someone and whether there is any one right way to do so. Of course, The Wild Man does not have all the answers, nor does it pretend to. The film simply advocates for the effort that goes into loving someone and the worthiness of that effort.
"Forget Me Not: Inclusion in the Classroom" - Documentary Film Review
The final moments of Forget Me Not play out like the damning confession of Robert Durst in The Jinx. It’s a confession caught on a hot mic that proves how fundamentally broken the school system is.
"Halloween Ends" - Film Review
Halloween Ends will scratch the slasher itch for some. If you want gruesome kills, Halloween Ends has that. If you were hoping for a more meaningful end to a 40+ year franchise, you should probably look elsewhere.
"A Piece of Sky" - Film Review
A Piece of Sky is about the desperation of the human connection and the disappointment a person feels when that connection doesn’t live up to those promises of safety, security, and love.
"The Loneliest Boy in the World" - Film Review
he Loneliest Boy in the World was made for all the weirdos who never fit in when they were in high school. It’s a story that has been told many times over, to varying degrees of success. While The Loneliest Boy in the World may not have mastered the juggling act of horror, comedy, and coming of age, it certainly paves a path of its own.
"Everyone Will Burn" - Fantastic Fest 2022 Film Review
Those willing to go along for the ride of Everyone Will Burn will be treated to a nice gem of a flick. Its length is what ultimately holds it back from relishing in the eccentric melodramatics it so clearly wants to celebrate.
"Gemmel & Tim" - Film Review
Gemmel & Tim is respectful and damning, depending on who is the focus of the scene, while effectively offering a path forward to heal and change.