Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
7.7
Shout-out to a buddy of mine for the recommendation. A great Netflix find! Far more fear than expected. Far greater film than this had any right to be… but here we are. Great low-budget horror, in the style of the original “SAW.” Even the potentially cheesy moments played really well. Overall, very impressive.
7.9
As a sucker for Rachel McAdams films, I loved this one. Harrison Ford playing… basically Harrison Ford in real life on a press tour (old, ornery, doesn’t want to be there) plays perfectly against the bubbly personality of McAdams and Diane Keaton to create a perfectly heartfelt story. I really miss when these would make their way to theaters. Now they’re pretty much relegated to Netflix. The classic romantic comedy is a true art form, and this film hits every note masterfully.
9.1
A moment in film history I think we will look back on as a turning point. This film is so much more than it’s comic book overlay and much more important to society as a whole than it is advancing the narrative of the DC character. This film delves so deeply into realism as the main character essentially unravels to his core, you can’t help but be sucked in and be brought along for the ride. Joaquin Phoenix deserves all of the Oscars for this one. The mirror the film holds up to society is one of the most effective gut punches a film has delivered in quite some time. Definitely a must-see from me. It is certainly dark, but not quite as violent as I had anticipated. There are short bursts scattered throughout the film. Very well pace, written, acted, and overall executed film!
8.0
Double the action, double the jokes, double the fun! One of the best self-aware, self-deprecating comedies out there! Two hours of pure cinematic fun! The perfect execution of the typically fragile concept of “let’s make a sequel and just do the same thing… but with TWICE THE BUDGET.” This film takes the premise of the first, and takes it to a whole new level; something most sequels fall short of. Get ready to laugh your ass off for two hours straight!
7.8
Amazon Studios continues their winning streak… great film about the beauty of running and true friendship. All the more impactful that it’s based on a true story. Makes me miss running. May have to forego the theater for a while to start again… anyways, a great flick to catch in the theater, or in a few months on Amazon Prime if you’re looking for a heartfelt original story. Definitely recommend.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 