James Gray is the most underrated director in Hollywood and, in a just world, “Ad Astra” should make him huge. From the cinematography to the score to the special effects, “Ad Astra” is a jaw-droppingly gorgeous film. Gray conjures moments and images that will stay with me for the rest of my life. But the […]
Film
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Red Schlocks
Enjoying the dumpster fire at Redbox
I love bad movies—ones that are so bad it makes you want to re-examine your life choices and call someone who loves you; movies so incompetent that it’s hard not to have a smile on your face for the entire running time as you imagine the director deciding to take up a new career in reflexology […]
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IT Kinda Sucks
Evil clowns should be scarier than this
Don’t get me wrong; most filmmakers balance along the knife’s edge of borrowing and stealing. Stealing from the best has resulted in some of the most inspired movies ever made. We’d never have “Tree of Life” without “2001: A Space Odyssey” or “Joker” without “The King of Comedy.” But writer Gary Dauberman and director Andy […]
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May the Source Be with You
September Edition
Good news, everyone! It’s my birthday month! I will be accepting donations of scented letters and wilted flowers, many thanks in advance. Also, September is usually a pretty good month for movies, so hopefully we get some bangers over the next few weeks. I’ve been underwhelmed by way too many movies this year (as good […]
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Run, Rabbit
“Ready or Not” hides from the bigger ideas
Every once in a while, a premise comes along that’s so simple and elegant that it’s astounding it hasn’t been done before. While there are definitely aspects of “Ready or Not” we’ve seen before, the film is executed with such gusto that it’s hard to really be mad at it over the dumb stuff. This […]
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On the Ropes
“The Peanut Butter Falcon” wants us to love each other
Sometimes a movie makes you feel so good and so attuned to the human race that it’s easy to overlook the flaws. It seems like we’re more divided now than ever, and even things that everyone used to agree on are able to court some level of controversy. A few weeks ago, I posted a […]
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They All Float
“47 Meters Down: Uncaged” is shark schlock
Shark movies are, at heart, monster movies. Yes, sharks exist in the world and are much different than say, some weird and creepy creature designed by a filmmaking team, but their goal is the same regardless: killing teenagers. Whether it’s a shark, an alligator, Bigfoot or a redneck, they populate horror movies to rack up […]
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Alone Together
“Where’d You Go, Bernadette” is a missed opportunity
As a filmmaker, Richard Linklater is what you might call affable. In his movies, going all the way back to “Dazed and Confused,” he loves to find the truth in human interaction, but seems uncomfortable with pain that isn’t easily fixed. His best work (The “Before” Trilogy) comes close to really exploring damaged individuals, but […]
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Learn to Say Goodbye
Awkwafina refreshes in "The Farewell"
I‘m not sure what I expected from “The Farewell”—maybe something slightly schmaltzy, with multiple moments of unearned conflict and manipulative attempts to get the audience to reach for their hankies. That sounds harsh, but I don’t trust tearjerkers. They try so desperately to cash in on my emotional dollars that most of them feel like […]
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May the Source Be with You
August Edition
Look, I realize it’s incredibly impersonal to talk about the weather…especially with you. We’re closer than that. I’d rather find out how your summer has been and whether you’ve been properly hydrating—but I know you have. You’re responsible; I just worry because it’s so hot outside. If you need something to do while cooling down […]