Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
8.1
As far as sequels go… damn. That was a fun 2 hour ride! The cast returns with just the right amount of differentiation from the first, just the right amount of laughs to heart. There’s a needle to thread with follow-up films, and this one nails it! Possibly my favorite performances from The Rock and Jack Black. Really the entire cast takes it up a notch for this one. (Still get a tad bit distracted by Karen Gillian) Really a return to the magic of the first.
8.3
Ready to cry to a football movie? Look no further. This cast of mostly b-list stars and up and coming actors rises to the occasion of telling the tale of one of the most legendary sports franchises and records in history… the De La Salle high school football winning streak, fall from grace, and resurgence. An inspiring story of perseverance, integrity, and character… all set against the backdrop of the gridiron. One of the few movies I’ve watched more than once in the theater when it was released.
8.7
What’s in the box? A great movie. One of the all time great performances by Kevin Spacey in this mind bending crime drama. This side of “Silence of the Lambs,” one of the best. Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman team up as a dynamic detective duo to track down the sadistic mastermind, all leading to a culmination that will live on in cinematic infamy. Highly recommend!
8.2
After catching this on the TV in bits and pieces at the nursing home I worked in… I then spent the next 6 months trying to track it down. There was no better feeling than finally hitting pay dirt and reconnecting with my all time favorite hallmark movie. It may be cheesy, and it may be predictable… but it still tugs at the heart strings with the best of them! An underrated cast brings the holiday spirit in rare form, and knocks it out of the park. Wrap yourself in a blanket and break out the hot cocoa… and settle in for some good old fashioned holiday magic.
8.9
Nancy Meyers at the height of her powers… this one cranks the cheesiness up to 11 and doesn’t let up the entire runtime! Jude Law is flawlessly charming, Jack Black gives him a run for his money in this whimsical tale of romance starring across from two of Hollywood’s most beautiful and charming leading ladies, Late Winslet and Cameron Diaz. The subtle nod to the golden age of Hollywood and the intertwining of trailer cuts with the incomparable Don LaFontaine is cinematic perfection! The cherry on top of this over the top sweet film… one of the most underrated of Hans Zimmer’s scores delicately soaring through the story. Highly recommend as a holiday away from the slow movie release week.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 