Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
6.4
“Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris” was far superior to “Mrs. Harris goes to Amsterdam as her marriage falls apart.” It took me far too long to put things together watching this one. It pulled a lot of punches throughout, which made it difficult to follow at times. It had a hard time nailing down a tone and picking a lane. Some almost sweet moments undercut by an ironic lack of commitment.
8.7
One of those films that plays like… well, like a play. Seemingly a continuous shot, all contained within a single locale… relying on the sheer stage presence of those on screen. Engross yourself in this piece of art character study that hits you right in the feels from beginning to end as we all pull up a bar stool and get lost in the swirl of emotions. You’ll be humming along to the show tunes as you try to prevent yourself from getting too misty eyed at this one. Bravo and job well done to all involved here. Every frame of this was a work of cinematic art!
8.2
I forgot just how great this movie is! Above and beyond the Garth Brooks song as the credits roll, the finale of this one is one of the smoothest directing jobs I’ve seen in a long time! A heartfelt family affair wrapped around one of my favorite genres – time travel. Buckle up for one hell of a ride!
8.2
What could have fallen incredibly flat by playing itself instead decided to dive right into the deep end and take the audience on an incredible emotional journey I think we all can relate to. The reflection on the power of “what if” and unfinished business on our perception of reality. How different versions of love accompany us on this journey through life. A much sweeter ending than I was anticipating halfway through…
8.2
It’s amazing what trying to dodge a cover charge can lead to…
This one surprised the hell out of me. If you’ve listened to podcasts at all in the last decade, there’s a good chance you’ve heard a stand-up comic gushing about the life of a comic, grinding it out for years to build a set, learn to work a room, and the cost-benefit analysis that goes along with every step of the journey. This movie somehow tells that tale in a way that doesn’t seem stale and keeps you engaged the entire runtime in the sea of quirks. There’s not really a single character wasted in this entire thing, and each interaction’s awkwardness is somehow a springboard to a therapeutic release of sorts put to film. Will Arnett and Laura Dern absolutely kill it here.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 