Author: Brett_G

Drama Indie

“The Teacher’s Lounge”

By Brett_G on

7.2

Kids can be assholes… adults can be assholes… you know what? Everyone’s an asshole!

Seriously though, this is an hour and a half of examples of why teachers don’t get paid enough and why we can’t keep any in the profession anywhere in the world. The microcosm illustrating the broader degradation of societal trust in each other and the sinister consequences that closely follow the descent caused by it are on full display here. It’s been a hot minute since I’ve been this genuinely uncomfortable in a movie in a long time, for essentially the entire runtime. It’s almost kind of redeemed in the third act, though. Almost… I’m still not quite sure how to interpret the final frames.

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Documentary Drama

“The Zone of Interest”

By Brett_G on

7.6

So… this is an hour and a half of the chainsaw in the motel shower scene from “Scarface,” and should definitely win all the awards for its brilliant sound design.

The devil’s quite literally in the details with this one, and it executes subtlety to near perfection. It’s definitely a thinker, and not a modern blockbuster on the movie IQ scale. To contrast such beauty with such haunting atrocity is a tall task. It’s not a light movie, obviously. When our protagonist family is inconvenienced by the ash of the deceased contaminating the night sky, daring to interrupt their slumber… you’re in for a complicated emotional ride. To have such normal life existing so close to the worst of humanity… it’s a bold choice, and one that I felt paid off by the time the credits rolled.

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Documentary Drama

“The Monk and the Gun”

By Brett_G on

7.1

The chill older gentleman slowly whittling a giant phallus really brought everything together for me. Props to that guy.

A really interesting reflection on the need for government, the ways in which we as people choose to operate said governing body, and human nature as it exists in different communities and cultures. When “democracy fails” because too many people agree… that might indicate a problem, no? No matter the catastrophe though, James Bond will be the glue that holds us all together until the bitter end.

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Rom-Com Science Fiction

“Lisa Frankenstein”

By Brett_G on

7.9

Well that was a pleasant surprise!

Not since “Warm Bodies” has a film nailed the zombie rom-com in my book, and not since “Ready Player One” have I seen this many subtle nods to films of yesteryear cleverly shoehorned into so many frames.

Joe Chrest continues his run as “awkward dad.” Cole Sprouse rocks it as the lovable lug that our heroine can’t help but nurture as they slowly come to bring out the best in each other. Saving the best for last… Kathryn Newton. Holy shit, did she ever nail this! The perfect blend of wit, snark, and sensuality. She elevates every scene she’s in and simply steals the show by the time the credits roll. I honestly can’t see this movie working with anyone else. A testament to her brilliance in the role. A true sleeper hit, perfect for a makeup Valentine’s Day date this weekend!

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