Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
7.2
It’s kind of real life “Point Break.” But the FBI is doing anything but play along. The enigmatic main character was hard to turn away from and ever intriguing as this story unfolded. Netflix nailing another documentary. I wish they had delved more into the treehouse, but also understood it was one of a million interesting details in this saga. A fun couple of hours!
6.5
So… it’s kind of a “Tiger King” ripoff. This guy is INSANE, and his cult is INSANE. The only thing I might have to copy from this is his hiring someone to manage his dating app profiles and set up his dates down at the local Olive Garden once I make my millions from this whole movie reviewing thing.
The ending was a letdown for the ages, but perfectly on-brand for this shitshow. If you’re just looking to kill a couple of hours and feel better about your life… here ya go.
7.2
I’ll watch anything with Jodie Comer in it… so count me in.
THEN I discover that Austin Butler may have finally lost his Elvis accent?!?! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!
I’d file this one under “PG Sons of Anarchy.” There’s still violence, but it’s much more subdued and the overall feel of the film is much lighter. There’s a thoughtfulness here that really ties in to the fact that it’s the result of a photojournalist’s work. The cultural factors at play, lurking under the surface, really shined and elevated a tale as old as time. The backdrop of war and its effect on the youth, the ever-present search for purpose and evolution of these as we age was on full display and well handled by all involved. There are many heralding Tom Hardy as some sort of genius in this one, but I feel like he plays mostly variations of a similar character lately. There’s nothing wrong with that – it works. However, I’m left lost by the level of the fawning. It was a surprisingly good film, albeit a tad long in the tooth by the time the credits rolled.
8.2
I had to actually hunt a bit for a nearby IMAX screen to see this one, which was an unexpected hurdle. Once we got that out of the way, it was full afterburners, baby.
Strap in and get ready to be in awe of the dedication to the craft for almost 2 hours straight as real life Top Gun takes place. Watching the team come together and grow over the the course of a Blue Angels season was truly inspirational. As expected, there were quite a few life lessons tucked away in between the wing tips of the formations that make you wince on the edge of your seat, but the action rarely stops the entire time. You’ll leave with a newfound or renewed appreciation for aviation and expertise. Way to go Glen Powell and team!
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.”
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 