Brett_G

“Valley Girl” (2020)

By Brett_G on May 19, 2020

4.5

Like, gag me with a spoon, that was rough.

Jessica Rothe and the soundtrack earned all 4.5 of those stars. Had to make up for a lot of Logan Paul. Although, his character is supposed to be a tool, so… good casting?

For some odd reason, they took a decent 80’s movie, forgot to write half of a script, and filled the gaps with musical numbers. I mean, the soundtrack was pretty bitchin’, but couldn’t fully pull this one out of a narrative tailspin. And subjected so many promising young actors and actresses to this ball and chain of a film.

It was colorful and full of everything 80’s, but a pretty hollow shell of an actual film.

Action Disney+

“Tall Tale”

By Brett_G on May 18, 2020April 26, 2020

7.9

One of many childhood favorites I’ve been able to revisit thanks to Disney+. Just as good as I remembered it! Classic Disney magic. Great coming of age story. Just enough goofy to remind you it’s a Disney movie. Perfect balance.

Swayze plays a close to perfect hero. Scott Glenn plays a villain akin to his brilliant performance in “Backdraft.”

Documentary ESPN Netflix Sports

“The Last Dance”

By Brett_G on May 17, 2020May 25, 2020

9.4

Damn…

Old school ESPN on full display. F-bombs and all. The rawness of competition, the camaraderie of team, and the price of greatness. One of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen, and worth every minute of the 10 hour runtime. Guaranteed to emotionally move you every episode. You’ll not only learn about the team members themselves at a deeper level than ever thought possible, but also shed a tear over a United Center security guard at one point. Perfect pacing, great archival footage, and a willingness by the interviewees to truly bear themselves publicly in a way that not many are willing to. Hopefully a sign of things to come from ESPN in the future. A return to THE sports network. Until then… 6 titles in 8 years will stand the test of time as one of the all time greatest sports runs in history.

An experience these last 5 weeks that shows the beauty of sports as a communal experience that unites people. Perfect timing, on top of everything else.

Action Suspense/Thriller

“Upgrade”

By Brett_G on May 17, 2020

7.9

“Westworld,” with a little bit of “John Wick.” A classic revenge story straight out of a western, with a modern twist. Fantastic action directing and cinematography makes for a wild ride in this quest for his wife’s killers and finding vengeance. Spent almost the entire runtime on the edge of my seat as the narrative navigated around each new corner, revealing a new twist. Very well done!

Amazon Prime Comedy Drama

“Upload”

By Brett_G on May 16, 2020

8.3

A little on the nose to be coming from Amazon. A company developed virtual reality that your consciousness is uploaded into after death? And it turns out that the parent tech company is evil? Little close to home, don’t you think?

The show itself was a pleasant surprise. Very well done! The cast have a great chemistry, the jokes all land without feeling like stale VR jokes. The love story develops naturally. And the scenery is gorgeous.