Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
8.4
Damn!
“There’s fuckery afoot…”
The ensemble cast, the action, the story… bravo! This film explodes onto the screen, and doesn’t slow down until the credits roll. The entire cast is at the height of their powers along with director Guy Ritchie, who has one of the best eyes and touch for action directing in the business. Just the right mix of action, heart, drama, and comedy. Get ready to “I’m going to hell for laughing at this” for 2 hours, and love every minute of it.
7.3
Seriously?!?!?! That’s how we’re going to leave this thing?!?
Get ready to be genuinely unsettled for two hours, and be left hanging in the end (in my opinion). Just as intense and jarring as the trailer, just when you think you have this film figured out, it takes a turn and keeps you guessing and off balance. Checks so many boxes… Open ended, old lady warning of bad things while also creeping everyone out, jump scares, ghosts, and the little girl with an imaginary friend(s). Imaginary friends are never good news in these things. Solid directing. Builds tension better than most these days. Jump scares and the natural mystique of the scenery used cleverly and sparingly, making them all the more effective.
Seeing as this film is based off the same source material, I’m excited to see what’s in store for “Haunting of Hill House: Season 2.”
6.7
Well, the title isn’t a lie… it does happen underwater. Somewhat copying the themes of “The Meg,” the film follows a doomed crew of explorers who drilled too deep and unleashed something unintended. Calamity ensues. Kristen Stewart is in her underwear 79.8% of the run-time. TJ Miller provides much needed comic relief to a group of total Debbie Downers. Meh…
Part of me was thinking “did Fox just green-light every crazy project 2 years out from the merger with Disney? Just for laughs?”
9.3
Looking for an early front-runner for film of the year? Here it is. In the third week of January. Hauntingly beautiful. Uncomfortable in just the right way. Emotionally moving like almost nothing else in theaters nowadays. Michael B. Jordan, Brie Larson, and Jamie Foxx firing on all cylinders, with some of the greatest performances of their careers. Don’t let this one get away without seeing this powerful film on the big screen. Rooting for this to win all the awards, and to be seen by all who are looking for the best and the worst of humanity on full display for two hours. Not since “The Judge” have I seen such a slick courtroom drama. The fact that this all happened in reality, and continues to happen today just adds to this story’s impact. Shows just how much one person who believes can do to change so many lives… and how far we have yet to go in the journey of human progress. Don’t forget your tissues for this one. By the end, the profoundness of the title will tie everything together perfectly.
8.9
Wow.
First off, an absolute technical marvel. You’ll be hard pressed to see a film this beautiful in theaters. The cinematography and editing to appear as one continuous shot from start to finish are exquisite. Ballsy, but a move executed with gusto and grace. The story is razor sharp, the action is break-neck, and the acting is perfection. Deserving of every award it wins.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 