Action – Page 8 – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“Argylle”

By Brett_G on February 7, 2024February 4, 2024

7.7

Not sure which was worse. Henry Cavill’s CGI mouth in “Justice League” or his haircut in this…

I was really worried during the first 45 minutes of this one. Thankfully, it took off after the first act and ended up being a really well done spy thriller romance by the time the credits rolled. Sam Rockwell can save anything. The man may not always be a lead on the marquee, but he’s a lead in our hearts. Similar to Bob Odenkirk in 2021’s “Nobody,” I never had Rockwell as the James Bond type, but I’ll be damned, he pulls it off and then some in this one! The chemistry between him and Bryce Dallas Howard was, dare I say it, even better than the “Jurassic World” trilogy.

It’s Matthew Vaughn at the helm, so you know the action will be beautiful and the soundtrack eclectic. Both promised delivered on here from beginning to end. There was so much under the hood of this one that I was not expecting, and pleasantly surprised by. The twist leading into the third act dropped my jaw, right before learning the true meaning behind the Beatles song in the background the whole time punched me in the gut. Highly recommend for a fun, albeit long sitting in the cinema!

Action Blockbuster Science Fiction

“I.S.S.”

By Brett_G on February 3, 2024February 3, 2024

6.1

Ladies and gentlemen, we have our first bomb of the year!

What could have been an interesting plot is sufficiently squandered by the time the credits roll. We didn’t need this movie. Let alone the tired Russia vs. U.S. plot. The sad state of space CGI. Mediocre execution. Maybe it’s just that “Interstellar” set too high of a bar, and movies since are just struggling to catch up?

Nothing against the cast. They tried. There was just nothing to work with here. The only bright spot was that it was on an hour and a half of my life I can’t get back.

Action Comedy Hulu Romance

“Self Reliance”

By Brett_G on January 17, 2024January 15, 2024

7.8

Anna Kendrick was in it, so you know I had to watch it.

Once I dove in, I was pleasantly surprised by this one! A mix of “Squid Game,” romantic comedy, “It Follows,” and the “Purge” series… in a blender of head-scratchers. The sweet moments and genuine chemistry between Jake Johnson and pretty much every member of the cast caught me off-guard, and really added to the movie itself. Hulu’s known for sleeper hits, and this is no exception! Definitely not your typical action or romance movie, but a fun hour and a half ride!

Action Documentary Drama

“Ferrari”

By Brett_G on December 30, 2023December 30, 2023

7.1

It’s no “Ford v. Ferrari.”

That being said, it’s still solid. Much more family drama than racing epic. The racing scenes that are part of the film are gorgeous and as intense as they come. I want to definitely warn those heading into this one that there is carnage galore when the rubber meets the road. The early days of road racing were downright deadly, and this film doesn’t shy away from it.

The cast is full of sneak attacks, and everyone fits exceptionally well, especially the main love triangle of Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley. The man liked fast cars and even more dangerous women. Respect.

A nice cap on my year at the movies! Look for the yearly recap tomorrow!

Action Blockbuster Drama

“Godzilla Minus One”

By Brett_G on December 15, 2023December 11, 2023

8.1

Far better than any of the U.S. Godzilla films. This film has stakes and substance in abundance. Well worth the subtitles.

The first 10-15 minutes of this film are truly ruthless. Where our American counterparts suffer from fear of alienating audiences, opting to play it safe, this film goes for broke at every opportunity. It delivers a much deeper message about the human experience and harkens back to the original themes of the Godzilla franchise, grappling with our use of technology and obsession with progress without regard for collateral damage and general consequences.

For such a small budget, this film also looks absolutely gorgeous, even in its destruction. The attention to detail and creativity is evident in almost every frame, and there’s a collective sense of care put into the craft that comes across throughout the entire runtime. An all-time blockbuster on the year!