Reviews

Raising Arizona is comedy gold and a fine film for the entire family. It's a throwback to the screwball comedies of the 30's but with a modern take. It's the story of a convict who falls for a correctional officer, and after they marry they discover they can't have kids. As a result, they plot to kidnap a baby from a woman who just had quintuplets because they figure she has more kids then she can handle. At first, things I have seem to be going well. But soon enough other people in their lives begin to suspect something is awry. The walls begin to close in and the conscience of the couple, as well as the stress of being a parent, begin to complicate matters even further.

This movie has so many inspired moments. And a ton of quotable lines. The first 10 minutes is a fast paced introduction to the characters and the story. After that, you're hooked. The baby stealing scene is the best baby stuff ever put on film. The main baby is as cute as they come. The convince store robbery scene has a moving camera that broke new ground in cinema. Not many movies can say that. The fight in the RV is eye watering hilarious. And the final battle is unforgettable.

If you are looking for a fable about life that will give you permission to have fun in an action packed 90 minutes and very creative filmmaking, then give Raising Arizona a try. One of the best of the genre.

A clever mixture of mystery, sci-if, hang-out movies, blaxploitation, and modern gangster genre's all expertly crafted into an intriguing mess of a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. Like the best of the genre's did before, Tyrone stays entertaining while making many deep cultural observations. It explores themes of systematic racism along side themes of self-destructive behaviors. It's funny, serious, and just plain good filmmaking. The story is set in a foggy nondescript neighborhood and is filled with stereotypes we've all seen before. But a weird series of events connects a drug dealer, a pimp, and a ho on a mission of self discovery and freedom from the interior and exterior chains that bond them. There's cool cars from the 70's, and outfits from the 60's. And the acting is great! Boyega disappears into his role as Fontaine the drug dealer.

This is definitely one for those of you who are looking for something extraordinary and outside of the box. It will make you think and keep you asking questions. You will definitely want to watch it again once you find out what's going on. A second viewing is even more rewarding. Good job on Juel Taylor for writing and directing a one-of-a-kind script and movie. What a fresh perspective and unique voice. I can't wait to see what he does next.

This movie is clever and funny, and that is unsurprising considering it was written by John Hughes. Several memorable characters gather for their 10 yr reunion only to discover that one of their classmates is a psycho killer intent on making people pay for theuir cruel behavior to each other back in high school. Plot keeps you guessing and has many stupidly funny interludes that are reminiscent of a live action scooby do episode. Also, Chuck Berry shows up and performs My Dingaling. It's crass, sophomoric and juvenile. But it's funny, and some parts are unforgettable. It deserves much better than the rating it has on IMDb.

This show is lowest common denominator on every level. Campy. I don't think it knows how bad it is, but the after show behind the scenes with all of the actors taking their artistic approach so seriously makes it all the better. This show is sleazy. Trashy. The characters are trashy. The subject matter is trashy and superficial. The supporting characters are good, but in a bad way. The leads are bad, and play low-rent characters. It's a glamorized, imaginative fake world of bad people doing bad things, and the characters are shallow but take their ridiculousness so seriously. I'll watch it for all of these reasons but it's bad. One thing among many that made me laugh in episode 2 is that the final credits rolled to Donna Summers Love to love you, baby. Great song. This show tries to imply that's it's on the same level as that song. Ha! It's good to have ambitions, but no. Another thought that crossed my mind was that The Idol make Euphoria look a little worse because it's showing me how trashy that show was, too. Somehow I overlooked it because of the acting and good characters, but The Idol takes away from Euphoria.

I can see why this movie failed. It is a big mouthful of stuff to chew. BUT it is great! The characters are well written and acted. The art direction is great. The sets and colors are beautiful and recall the time and vibe of the time period they are meant to represent. Even more, the art direction helps to underscore the many themes this movie takes on.

But center stage is the director, Damien Chazelle. He directed the hell out of this movie. There is so much going on all of the time. It can be a little overwhelming, like Terry Gilliam's Brazil or Coppola's Apocalypse Now . But that's a good thing and it is clearly meant to quote those films in that way. The character arcs are well written and the scenes come rapid-fire one after the other. There are so many layers to each scene that help tell, not only the stories of the lead characters, but simultaneously the story of Hollywood. There are casts of hundreds recreating scenes that you haven't seen since the days of Lawrence of Arabia or Gone with the Wind. Huge crane shots. Oner's that dizzy the mind. This movie quotes heavily from Singing in the Rain. In fact, it's almost a remake of that film. It also quotes from Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights with it's heavy handed camera movements and a special scene that recalls the coked out Alfred Molina and some firecrackers.

This film is long but never boring. I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end and it is much better than most films in the last 5 years. It's very ambitious and it's smart. It is a film that offers a warning about the excesses of today and is reflective upon what is coming out of Hollywood and other media creation outlets and why. While it is a love letter to the film industry, ultimately it is harshly critical of that industry.

Well done Damien Chazelle. Films like this come along once in a generation. Don't miss this epic masterpiece if you are a lover of cinema or just want to be entertained for 3 hours and 9 minutes.

The Bad News Bears is a snapshot of what life was like on the 70's; the haircuts, clothes, attitudes, kids drinking beer, piling into a car without seatbelts, kids running wild with little to no parental supervision. It was epic and this classic film captures boys youth as if it were a documentary. This movie is a lot like Rocky. It has serious heart like very films do. It connected with the pulse of America post Vietnam. People wanted to feel like winners even though the war didn't go as planned. Our men did what was required of them and then they came home. The subtext of the Bad News Bears speaks to this American experience. Plus, it's a baseball movie that has great acting and very memorable characters. It's one of my all time favorites and very well done.

This is basically a collection of home video snippets where the filmmaker tried to go viral. There's not much of a through line in this documentary. The irony in this documentary is that the filmmaker is a dude looking for attention, much like the subjects in his doc. There is only one memorable moment in this documentary. After spending a lot of time with a convicted pedophile conspiracy theorist, the filmmaker surmises that the reason this dude fell down the rabbit hole is that he is just trying to add some meaning to his broken life. That moment was sublime. However, the rest of this "documentary" is akin to a collection of bum fights on YouTube, but it fails to be as entertaining. It's designed to be provocative and speak to a younger audience who isn't looking for depth. It's shallow and obvious and shameless. It doesn't have much of anything to say and doesn't keep a focused theme or point of view other than being focused on the provocative side of right wing politics while attempting to paint all conservatives with the same brush. It's even disingenuous about that, pretending to be balanced in its approach by peppering in a few lefty crazies for good measure. This was a bummer. Stick to the guys YouTube channel where the expectation is much lower and he can deliver on the promise. In this case, this dude bit off more then he could chew. He places himself a the center of his doc to because he thinks his brand and personality is strong enough to sustain us for an hour, but it's not.

Not since Ingmar Bergman has a filmmaker come along to portray aspects of the human experience in a way that is economical, succinct, artistic, and beautiful. Like Bergman, Garland's films (Ex Machina, Annihilation, and Men) and themes focus on relationships that have experienced abuse. And like Bergman, Garland relies on a small cast to help execute his vision.

MEN is the story of a woman who has recently exited an abusive marriage. She travels to the country to process the trauma she experienced in her marriage. While in the country she comes across many other men, all with the same face, who make her feel uncomfortable in small ways. As the plot progresses, she is uncomfortable in larger ways. This movie is a think piece. If you want to engage with a story that challenges you but could very possibly add value to your life, then you will enjoy this film. It's like watching a Bergman film. If you are looking for mindless entertainment, then skip this one. If you are a horror fan, this film is not to be missed.

For those who are worried about the title being a little too"woke", fear not. This is not an indictment of all men. It a provocative commentary about how life generally plays out for women navigating a world full of men. You need to have a little empathy for women while watching this film and you will be rewarded. For the "woke" crowd, there's plenty here for you as well. The film is not divisive in any way, though I can understand how the title and genre might lead you to believe that.

Like Garland's other films, it helps if you've had some life experience with relationships if you are to fully grasp the concepts in this movie. If you saw Annihilation and thought it was about cancer, then you missed the point completely and maybe MEN isn't for you, either. This film is layered with subtext, symbolism, and metaphors galore. I know that, by now, I sound pretentious. Maybe I am. However, I'm grateful that an expert filmmaker is making small to mid-budget dramas for adults who have lived a little and faced emotional struggles that are common but hidden from society because of shame and decorum. Garland's films let us know we are not alone, and they can be a strong warning to those of us who have flirted with disaster and lost, or worse.

Garland's visions are bold, but on point. Several times in the film I stopped and asked my wife if this moment or that moment would scare her, as a woman. For instance, there is a moment when the protagonist is on a walk on a trail in the forrest mid day. The trail comes to a long dark tunnel, but she can see light at the other end. The protagonist stops, wary of entering. I asked my wife, "Would that scare you?" Her response, "Yes!" Something that, as a man, I wouldn't consider if it were me on that walk. After this film, ill be more cautious. It's loaded with thoughtful moment like that. Definitely worth the watch. Definitely unique.

This movie was well made and fun and entertaining but ultimately it was a hypocritical message that turned me off. Yes, capitalism isn't perfect and the rigging and cronyism and tax system all need a day of reckoning and reform, but it's a better system than any other.

There's nothing worse than a bunch of rich elitiests pretending to be cheering for tearing down the system that elevated them to their elite level.

This is a movie that wears its subtext on its sleeve. Its message is on the nose, but it also is pretentious because it asks you to figure out the clever puzzle that it creates and leaves you with. It's good when you want to shut your brain off and be entertained, but it's forgettable and the ideas are repurposed from better films of the past such as Exterminating Angel andThe most Dangerous Game. Both films are heavily referenced in The Menu.

This movie is extremely entertaining and unforgettable with lines to quote for the rest of your life. It's over the top in every way and it's fun. But it also captures the vibe of the late 70's and early 80's perfectly. The US was a different place than it is now and this movie does a great job of making you feel now the way we all felt back then. Scarface is a movie you will watch multiple times and enjoy each subsequent viewing as much as the first.

It also has some interesting themes to explore such as capitalism and how of affects peoples lives. There are some aspects of the film that might have a new meaning given the immigration situation in the US in 2022. Tony Montana is fleeing Marxism and is trying to embrace capitalism. However, DePalma, it seems, wants the audience to take an unfavorable view of capitalism. Up to you to decide.

A little messy with the symbolism, not expertly woven into the plot or theme. It's entertaining and not boring, but leaves you with a lot of questions that don't fill you with a desire to search for the answers. Acting is pretty good. This film feels like Tremors.

Reduces Wonder Woman to friendly neighborhood Spider-man. The lessons of the main A-plot are interesting and have a decent message, but are poorly executed. The B-subplot message and it's love story theme is abhorrent and makes Wonder Woman a villain. In the end, you don't want the world to be destroyed by the antagonist, but if Wonder Woman is the best we have to represent ideals we should strive to achieve, then who cares? Maybe it's just best to let destruction solve the problems at hand.

Then there is a C-plot... It's supposed to be serious but is campy and shallow instead. But if you like Stranger Things season 3 and are nostalgic for yet another 1980's mall scene, then you may like 10 minutes of this movie. Otherwise, it's a bummer.

This is a great film that does justice to an even greater play. Gritty, explicit and dark. The first film of Polanski after the murder of his wife and unborn baby. This may even be the best adaptation of any Shakespear play. Skip the other versions. This version is the best and you will like it.

It's a non-traditional story, slices of life, vignettes. Story, not plot. It fits I the genre of the hang-out movie which is why it is being compared to Inherent Vice. Hang out movies have a feel and you need to pay attention to the characters and their choices and interactions with the other characters. Let the whole thing wash over you. Let go of the idea of a beginning, middle, and end. This is not "one thing leads to another". It's a free-form look back in time. However, you can feel the film building toward a climax all the way through.

A lot of younger people can't relate to the life and times of the 70's which this movie nails, and they are uncomfortable when they apply today's standards. If you lived through that decade, you will be happy with the depth of its portrayal. It will go over the heads of those who weren't.

The story centers around an overly ambitious 15 year old boy and his obsession with a 20 (not 25, she's lying - look at the clues in the movie) year old girl who is immature and and trying to figure herself out. Like most girls that age, she's a little shallow and superficial but is yearning for a deeper romantic connection with someone her age. That connection can be hers but it doesn't come in the package in which she would like. It's imperfect, but available.

This film is not about pedophelia. People who are saying this are not deep enough to understand what is happening onscreen with the human experience. Also, there is no sex in this movie.

It's a good movie and expertly made. It deserves multiple viewings to really see everything that is layered in there, and it'll be most appreciated by older audiences. Younger fan boys of PTA aren't going to get it, just like they didn't get Inherent Vice or Phantom Thread.

If you are a PTA fan and you think The Master or Punch Drunk Love are his best movies, you can skip Licorice Pizza. You won't get it. But everyone else will like it.

This show is the best thing next to the original trilogy, even better in some ways. Congratulations to Jon and Dave, and Pedro, and everyone else involved. All of the cool of Star Wars without the cheese or culture war drama. This show built on the values and themes of the original trilogy and brought the heart back to the franchise. And this episode delivers more than other. All episodes are outstanding in their own way, but this one rules them all. Jon and Dave, it's clear that you guys love the franchise as true fans. You did it right and made us all proud. Bravo.

Not fantasy, but dramatized sci-fi tales about how the lives of humans are impacted through advanced technology. A running major theme in season one is people coveting the lives of their friends and neighbors.

It's a feature length Star Trek episode. If you think the original series is slow, then avoid this film. I think it's the second best Star Trek film out of them all. This one still holds up. This movie was released when I was a 7 year old child. I was never a fan of the series, but my father watched reruns on television. He liked it so I was interested because I wanted to win his approval. My parents were recently divorced. My father brought his new girlfriend, me and my 3 1/2-year-old brother to see this movie. It was a wet and rainy day. About halfway through the film, my brother had eaten too much candy. He threw up all over my dad's new girlfriend in a very crowded movie theater. We were in middle seats with lots of people on either side. Her new sweater was covered in vomit.

A few decades have passed, and since then I had become a fan of the original series. I avoided watching the film again until this year. My revisiting this movie was rewarding in that it lived up to the style and themes of the series, and the once difficult feelings I had associated with it as a child were gone. I remembered what had happened with my brother and smiled.

Underrated gem for fans of film history. If you liked Hudsucker Proxy then you will like this. A fun farce with an old school romantic foundation.

Stopped watching after that. Shame on those who hurt and kill the innocent for entertainment. Misfortune to those who watch for pleasure.

This movie got dogged, but why? It's good, and it deserves a sequel.

I have enjoyed all of the versions of this story. This version, however, is outstanding. The CGI is a little on the rough side, but the story more than makes up for it. No cute songs, just great directing, filmmaking, and storytelling. Great job Andy Serkis and Netflix! (My 10 star rating is based on versions of the Jungle Book, not on all movies ever made.)

Not great acting, except Woody Harrelson, he was good as usual. Glover was ok channeling Lando. Script was really bad. Chewbacca deserved more of an origin story and set up than he got. There isnt much about this story that was memorable. Very derivative. Force Awakens was good and gave me hope. Rogue One was ok, better than Solo. Last Jedi was the worst SW movie, terrible handling of the plot and pointless scenes and plot points. It changed too much of the history for the worse. Solo is better than that but gutless.