Author: Brett_G

Drama Indie

“Zola”

By Brett_G on

5.8

Not what I expected from A24. Or really from a stripper movie. This was dumber than “Showgirls,” and that’s saying something. I guess the lesson here is don’t ever base a movie script off a chain of tweet and reddit threads. I don’t even think they re-wrote and polished them. Just printed screenshots and ran with it.

Another valuable lesson – don’t go to Florida with a stripper you just met to go dance. Especially when she travels with a duo of… questionable men.

I’ll fully admit that I may have missed some deeper meaning here, but I also feel almost as resentfully confused as I was walking out of “Uncut Gems.” Also slightly offended? Let’s just say I have new frown lines and almost lost my voice yelling “WTF?!?” at the screen throughout the runtime. (Don’t worry, I was the only one in the theater)

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Action Comedy

“The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard”

By Brett_G on

7.6

A really solid sequel!

Salma Hayek serves as a strong addition to the now trio main cast here. Also of note, on par with Samuel L. Jackson in saying “motherfucker.” Made me laugh/cheer every time it happened. The villain was meh, but that’s not really the main reason you’re coming to the theater to watch this. Turn your brain off, watch the explosions, and enjoy the laughs along the way. An excellently executed, tight hour and a half action comedy.

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Drama Throwback

“Almost Famous”

By Brett_G on

7.9

I’m going to be honest, Paul Stanley on twitter raving about this film brought me here. Kate Hudson and Phillip Seymour Hoffman at the height of their powers kept me glued to the screen the entire time.

Such an amazing coming of age story alongside a character study of the many sides of friendship, fame and fortune. It felt like “Everybody Wants Some” and “Dazed and Confused.” With a little bit of “Spinal Tap” and “Rock Star” mixed in. Any movie that takes a sidetrack to the infamous “riot house” in L.A. is going to be a good story to see. For me, it was the perfectly balanced cast that took things to another level. You have the unhinged nature of 90% of the characters, moored to wisdom and reality by Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Frances McDormand. Oh, and the soundtrack is an absolute banger. Wall to wall classic rock hits.

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Horror/Thriller Indie

“Inside”

By Brett_G on

7.5

WHAT DID I JUST WATCH?!?!

^Me through most of this movie.

Solid recommendation on this one! A super-tight claustrophobic thriller that kept up its believability and tension the entire runtime. Where most will stumble with minor details, this film doesn’t lose itself in becoming too crazy or too over the top. Similar to “The Strangers,” it invades your safe space and leaves you deeply disturbed despite the momentary victorious comfort at the close of the finale. The crime statistics at the beginning of the film perfectly set the tone for what’s to come. (It’s insane that this is a thing.) Well written, well acted, well put together. Well worth an hour and a half.

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Comedy

“Queen Bees”

By Brett_G on

7.7

This one was kind of amazing… I was expecting funny, but it far exceeded my expectations!

Be it my appreciation that it brought Dementia/Alzheimer’s into the limelight or the fact that this cast was fantastic, and it knocks it out of the park for a tight hour and a half. Better than expected laughs with just as much heart balancing it all out, some moments hitting a little close to home for someone who used to work in a nursing home, bringing back all the right nostalgia. Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd) continues his recent renaissance. Helen Wilson shines as the leading lady. They seem to crank out at least one of these comedies a year, but this one was up there with “Book Club” on the level of wildly out-kicking its coverage. A feel-good movie when we need some real feel-good movies to welcome us all back to theaters.

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