Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
8.2
Definitely can see why this cleaned house at the Oscars back in the day… what a wild ride! Jeremy Renner and Anthony Mackie team up pre-Marvel Universe to bring the same chemistry to this pulse pounding thrill ride of a film. Director Kathryn Bigelow at the height of her powers, directing actions scenes with unmatched intensity and thrill. Overall, a classic war film, and a great Christmas movie.
3.0
Well, the title doesn’t lie… there are cats… and that’s about it. 3 points, one for each good thing about this film.
1. Taylor Swift graces the screen for one song.
2. The lead actress, Francesca Hayward, does her best to save this dumpster fire.
3. Jennifer Hudson sings her ass off and rocks “memory.”
Aside from these moments, spend 2 hours (way too long) trying to figure out why they couldn’t decide on the scale of sets and props. Causing even more mental anguish than the CGI cats that bend the mind like AI deep-fakes. It’s no “Jersey Boys” or “Phantom of the Opera.”
7.2
Cheesy – Check
Romantical – Check
Happy Ending – Check
Yep… this one’s got every ingredient for a solid Disney Chanel original movie. An adorable love story, with some good chuckles along the way. Coincidently, also the reason I got into watching “Modern Family.” Making my way through the nostalgia of the Disney+ library this week.
6.2
So… that happened. Pretty run of the mill horror movie set in a haunted medical facility of some sort. Jump scares, demons, religious ritual gone wrong, this one checks all the boxes. It’s no “haunting on hill house”… if there’s nothing else on, you can maybe consider turning it on in the background? Not Netflix’s best. Or MTV Films’ best, for that matter.
9.4
After “Avengers: Endgame,” I didn’t know if anyone would ever land the plane as well as the Russo brothers when it came to a mega franchise believed by millions… until JJ Abrams delivered one of the greatest third acts not only of a trilogy, but a saga, that I have ever enjoyed on the big screen. Expertly executed callbacks and homages to classic Star Wars moments. The redemption of the perfect characters at the perfect times. The best case scenario endings for almost all involved… and enough nostalgia to make “Ready Player One” blush. To see everything come to fruition and come full circle left such a strong sense of closure that I felt completely satisfied when the credits rolled. There will be division, yes, but we can all say that we have witnessed cinematic history this year, and have shared some cherished memories with our fellow Star Wars fans over these past 4 years. Bravo to all involved… now onto a much deserved rest for the near future for this legendary franchise. We’ll see you on Disney+.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 