Author: Brett_G

Suspense/Thriller

“The Strangers: Chapter 1”

By Brett_G on

7.3

^This song pretty much sums up my review. Man, was this bad luck. The motivation boiling down to “because you were here” never ceases to be unsettling. This one was more of a mixed bag than I expected. For the first 90% of the runtime, they mostly had me. Tension, surprise cameos, and genuine dread. That being said, they lost the plot with the end. It was almost “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” cop-out ending level rug pull at the end. The silver lining/saving grace is that chapter 2 comes out later this year, and hopefully the fumbled ending was just lack of ideas for a smooth transition.

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Documentary Drama Indie Romance

“Love & Mercy”

By Brett_G on

8.6

Alongside “Chef,” this is one of my all-time favorite indie finds on the silver screen. Paul Dano and John Cusack hold down the forts at either end of the Brian Wilson timeline as one of the most legendary figures in rock/pop music takes on a whole new depth. A fascinating tale of love, loss, and the toll that riding the razors edge between genius and instantly takes on a person and the loved ones around them.

The soundtrack is of course legendary. The love story is oddly adorable. The bar for all other biopics was set at a level that few, if any have since reached. There’s not a weak link in the cast or a wasted frame of film.

I suggest a pairing with the documentary “The Wrecking Crew.”

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Drama Romance

“Turtles All The Way Down”

By Brett_G on

8.4

Ah, young love… and intrusive, obsessive thoughts.

All of the John Green Easter eggs… *chef’s kiss. I totally didn’t coordinate drinking a Dr. Pepper while I watched this.

“You’re old-new, it’s different” was the most adorable, heartfelt half insult I’ve heard in a long time. The thing that John Green movies do better than most is relatability. There’s a realness in the stories that is undeniable. This film is no exception. The magical ambiance of a small town Applebees double date is undefeated.

The philosophy wrestled with is something I haven’t had to confront in a hot minute, but is so approachable in the way that’s it’s handled. The return of the god-turtle mythology to the big screen was an unforeseen connection. I never thought anyone this side of Stephen King would touch that.

All this to say what we have here is a wonderfully weird, exceptionally human story that was put on the big screen with a tremendous amount of care.

Tell your friends you love them.

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Amazon Prime Romance

“The Idea of You”

By Brett_G on

7.4

Thank the lord she sat on the piano to hit a random note and interrupt their make out session. Had they missed that must-do, it would have been an automatic deduction of points.

I feel like I’ve seen this movie a thousand times… but not necessarily in a bad way. Is it predictable? Oh hell yeah. Does it still hit? Every time.

Oh no… they fell in love with “the idea of” each other and not each other?!? But then had to wrestle with the fact that they actually got to know each other?!? But she’s old enough to be his mother?!? But he’s got a Yung Gravy level MILF habit?!?

Don’t take it too seriously, and you’ll have some fun frolicking across the globe with our couple here. The runtime was a tad long and the second to third act acrobatics got a little cringey, but all in all it was solid.

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