Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
8.1
A parody of a biopic to a parody singer… Only Weird Al could pull this off. And they NAIL IT!
So cheesy, so eccentric, so perfect for the occasion. And Daniel Radcliffe was oddly made for the part of the protagonist. Surrounded by more cameos than I could keep track of in an hour and a half runtime… this one blew my expectations out of the water! (As long as you’re a Weird Al fan and are in for this type of a ride)
8.4
I still prefer the book on this one, but the movie gave it a run for its money and was a work of art itself presenting this important story.
While Leo puts on another great performance (and chalks up another epic meltdown scene) alongside the truly menacing Robert De Niro, I want to call attention to Lily Gladstone as Molly Burkhart and Tatanka Means as Agent John Wren. My biggest reason for preferring the book to the movie is due to the perspective of the story being told. The book’s focus on the FBI team and the community impacted was a much more impactful viewpoint, but narratively, I understand why Scorsese went this route. The ending was a creative Hail Mary pass to tie a bow on such an unsatisfying ending to the story. There was no good way to land the plane on a story with such a lack of closure/happy ending. The thing that the film nails is the tone. You’re uncomfortable for the entire runtime, waiting for the other shoe to drop, unsure of who you can trust, sensing the pervasive danger around every corner.
It’s absolutely gorgeous in its cinematography and the overall aesthetic of the film. The editing made the three and a half runtime pass more quickly than I was expecting, but it definitely tested my back’s tolerance for a single sitting in non-recliner cinema seats. It’s definitely on of those “Hollywood couldn’t write something this insane and interesting” stories, finally making its way onto the big screen, with a perfect cast and soundtrack.
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI https://a.co/d/aSIbW1M
9.1
It’s me, hi. I’m the movie reviewer, it’s me.
Seeing this in IMAX was definitely the right call. The film itself is breathtaking, and truly an artist at the height of her power. I honestly don’t know how she tops this one. The design, the performance, the connection… it’s the definition of “firing on all cylinders.”
Seeing it in IMAX allowed it to drown out the people trying to sing like it was an actual concert, and the projector’s brightness somehow overpowered the idiots turning their phone lights on towards the screen, again like it was an actual concert. I applaud the enthusiasm, but they were making every attempt to ruin the cinematic experience of the thing. The only complaint about the film is that they demoted “Long Live” to the song over the credits, which is sacrilege.
8.1
Who knew? There is water… at the bottom of the ocean!
I don’t think it ever started make sense, subverting not only the concert film genre, but also the pillars of live music production. But I’ll be damned if it wasn’t the most entertaining tight hour and a half of razor sharp cacophony ever put to film. The only people having more fun are the artists on stage. Their chemistry is almost as palpable as their incredible talents. I want to call it minimalistic, but despite the feeling of a “lack” of design… there’s a naturally choreographed beauty in almost every frame of this concert FILM. Bravo to David Byrne and crew!
8.2
“Run through lightning with your dick out.”
Of course a line from Pete Davidson, but also a perfect encapsulation of the film.
Strong “The Big Short” vibes with this one, with a dash of the brilliant Mark Twain quote “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often does rhyme.”
The film itself is perfectly made. A flawless snapshot of the moment. That all consuming insanity that preoccupied so many at the height of the pandemic. The crusade that pulled back the veil on a pillar of our American society and started a financial revolution.
The cast was immaculate and the script translated to the screen with just the right pace. It doesn’t spoon feed the viewer, but keeps you balanced between informed and entertained. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but packs the punch of an Oscar contender in message delivered.
The ending is complicated, as are most great stories. Life is sometimes best lived in the gray. The excitement of the complicated nature of it all.
Veering off my normal path, it coincided quite well with my recent reading (shocker, I don’t just watch things) “The Creature From Jekyll Island.” (Linked below) Sadly, the themes of picking winners and losers and hidden puppet masters and the world revolving around money resonated from the page to the big screen with this one-two punch. I highly recommend both, but will warn that neither is for the faint of heart.
What can I say? I like the film.
The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve https://a.co/d/eXiEbEs
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 