Drama – Page 11 – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“Wicked Little Letters”

By Brett_G on April 9, 2024April 8, 2024

6.9

Get ready to say “oh, you fucking wanker!” A LOT. The misogyny is strong with this one. Not that it doesn’t shine a light on how far we’ve come as a society and isn’t period accurate… and it does show how dumb it is to put “woman” in a job title… but still. It was CRINGE.

Jessie Buckley and Anjana Vasan’s chemistry really makes this one tick. It was incredibly fun to watch their relationship evolve as the film went on, and to see just how far the shenanigans would go before the credits rolled. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but a great time at the cinema, swearing like a sailor.

Drama Indie

“Perfect Days”

By Brett_G on March 30, 2024March 30, 2024

7.4

I never thought I could feel so comforted by a film… Watching this man clean public toilets, read paperback novels, and take pictures of trees was the most calming presence imaginable for two hours. An incredibly powerful portrayal of the beauty of simplicity and the calm found in routine. This is a tough one to put into words. I found the initial explanation of Komorebi to be the best, tying everything together as “soothing sunlight through trees.” This was soothing light on a screen.

Komorebi (木漏れ日): Sunshine filtering through the trees.

Documentary Drama

“Bob Marley: One Love”

By Brett_G on March 28, 2024March 23, 2024

6.1

The music’s great… The film? Not so much. It fell into the trap of the biopic overseen by the subject’s family. A middle of the road, safe, uninteresting tale that doesn’t portray the messiness that makes the subject interesting in the first place. And for some odd reason, the story skips huge chunks of Marley’s life and skips back and forth on the timeline like a Christopher Nolan film, but without the narrative clarity. Without a lot of Bob Marley background knowledge, it left me feeling like I barely knew anything more by the time the credits rolled, which left me feeling like a great deal of wasted potential was left on the cutting room floor on this one.

Comedy Drama Throwback

“Bringing Out The Dead”

By Brett_G on February 18, 2024March 10, 2024

7.4

Nic Cage as a paramedic? Sign me up!

In what could be a sequel to “Taxi Driver,” we join Cage and his carousel of rig partners in trying to wrangle the chaos of New York City, as well as the chaos within themselves.

Oddly comforting was the portrayal of the Emergency Room waiting area. Some things never change…

The film itself was a cross between the ambiance and inner monologue of “Taxi Driver” and the cinematography of “Seven.” It was an interesting mix. Ving Rhames and John Goodman turn in fantastic supporting performances opposite Cage. As does Tom Sizemore, of all people. An unexpected reflection on healthcare ethics and coping mechanisms in the face of insurmountable stressors.

Comedy Drama Throwback

“The Descendants”

By Brett_G on February 18, 2024February 18, 2024

8.2

Gorgeous scenery, complicated life subject matters, deep characters, acoustic soundtrack…the Alexander Payne (Director) formula at the height of its powers.

Similar to “The Holdovers” and “Sideways” from his catalog, this one doesn’t shy away from the awkward or the difficult. Flawed people taking care of each other in the face of adversity is a film premise that will never tire.

George Clooney delivers one of his strongest dramatic performances, but it’s Shailene Woodley that steals the show. Her transition and development of character throughout the film is one of the greatest strengths of the story. As with most of Payne’s works, it’s the subtlety and attention to the smallest details in every frame that sets this apart from other films. Even the dumbass boyfriend becomes a redeeming character by the end, it’s truly a sight to see. Really well done.