Author: Brett_G

Documentary Indie

“Just One Mile”

By Brett_G on

7.2

The champion of the running movies so far, in my book. Not because of the race, but because of the people. The deeper themes that run beneath the surface of this are superb. Watching people break down, push through, and rebuild each other is breathtaking. It’s human Kintsugi. The surprise Navy SEAL David Goggins type, I expected. The first timer pushing himself so far that it made me hurt on the couch, or the gentleman processing the passing of his father in between timed intervals of a race in the middle of nowhere? I did not see the peeling back of the thin veil covering the depths of humanity being torn open adversity. Get ready to fall much deeper into the viewing experience and to leave much more reinvigorated than ever anticipated.

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Documentary Indie

“The Barkley Marathons: The Race That Eats Its Young”

By Brett_G on

6.5

Insane. This guy and the people running this race are insane.

Similar to the “Saw” franchise, I’m discovering that there is a genre of running films whose theme is creativity in torture. How can we push ourselves mentally, physically, and spiritually to the brink in weirder ways. The map itself lets you know everything you need to know about the race. As is the theme with these movies, the true impact comes from the character studies, which are strong in this one.

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Action Comedy Indie

“Quicksand”

By Brett_G on

7.4

A surprisingly great buddy comedy/adventure, a la “The Hangover!”

Similar to “Deer Camp ’86” and “Terrifier,” I loved the authenticity of this film. Especially the easily recognizable landmarks as the dynamic duo made their way across the mitten state to track down the ring. The hijinks were much more creative and packed a much bigger punch than I expected. As described in the Q & A with the director afterwards, this crew was mostly learning as they went when it came to feature filmmaking. Had I not been told that, I would have never guessed it. There’s a finesse here that reflects a much more seasoned operation. Bravo to the filmmakers for pulling off a truly fun, funny, and impactful film! It’s festival accolades are well earned, and we’re lucky to have such a bustling movie scene in West Michigan.

Although not yet on streaming, you can find this one on Amazon/iTunes at the moment. The Vogue Theater and Celebration! Cinema spoil us here in West Michigan when it comes to limited releases and special events.

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Uncategorized

“The Meg 2: The Trench”

By Brett_G on

7.2

It’s a 2 hour ripoff of the JAWS trilogy, but I’ll be damned if it isn’t entertaining. Good to know the formula still works. Also of note, you can’t go wrong with Jason Statham doing a barrel roll on a jet ski before harpooning megs one by one. It’s badass factor far outweighs the lunacy of this narrative.

From the score to the shots composing this two hour behemoth… if you liked JAWS, you’ll like this. Don’t dig as deep as they dive. Turn your brain off, and watch the sharks and surprise guest creature wreak havoc before they meet their match.

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Horror/Thriller Indie

“Talk to Me”

By Brett_G on

6.2

Meh…

The premise had promise, but the execution was excruciating. Not enough delving into the “further” rip-off to really flesh it out. Just enough to fuel the cheap jump scares. A24 is better than this. But alas, an occasional misfire on the horror front. Some good moments, but overall unfulfilling.

Bonus track – a sleeper KISS hit by the same name!

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