Drama – Page 14 – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“Ferrari”

By Brett_G on December 30, 2023December 30, 2023

7.1

It’s no “Ford v. Ferrari.”

That being said, it’s still solid. Much more family drama than racing epic. The racing scenes that are part of the film are gorgeous and as intense as they come. I want to definitely warn those heading into this one that there is carnage galore when the rubber meets the road. The early days of road racing were downright deadly, and this film doesn’t shy away from it.

The cast is full of sneak attacks, and everyone fits exceptionally well, especially the main love triangle of Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz, and Shailene Woodley. The man liked fast cars and even more dangerous women. Respect.

A nice cap on my year at the movies! Look for the yearly recap tomorrow!

Documentary Drama

“Bank of Dave”

By Brett_G on December 25, 2023December 25, 2023

8.4

Me as the credits began to roll – “THIS WAS A DOCUMENTARY?!”

Feel good movie perfect for the holiday season!

The way they were able to fit such a wonderfully executed tale of financial David vs. Goliath, leveraged the overarching and impactful theme of community and the strength of small towns… I was quite frankly in awe. AND there’s a quite pleasant accompanying love story. AND a courtroom scene that took me back to “The Judge” and “A Few Good Men.” The film really fires on all cylinders and has something for everyone! Especially Def Leppard fans, or just fans of karaoke. Well done to all involved, earning a strong recommendation from me. Unlike in “A Few Good Men,” I trust you can handle the truth that they knocked it out of the park with this one.

Documentary Drama Indie

“The Iron Claw”

By Brett_G on December 24, 2023December 23, 2023

8.1

🚨warning🚨 if you are sensitive to suicide as a subject matter, this film’s plot centers on it. https://988lifeline.org

So… maybe they should have taken that curse thing a little more seriously…

Get ready to get sad. A 2 hour train wreck in slow motion, as the Von Erich family’s meteoric rise is only matched by its tailspin and destruction. A story that has to be real to be believed. You can’t write tragedy like this. Brilliant performances by all, and a well crafted film. It’s a relenting descent into the madness of intensity and what happens when you push yourself to the breaking point and never let off the gas. Watching the motor slowly disintegrate before your eyes is admittedly hard to stomach for the over two hour runtime, but incredibly impactful.

Maybe not the best thing to go to if you want to maintain the holiday cheer, but a definite sign that it’s Oscar season, gang!

Comedy Drama

“Poor Things”

By Brett_G on December 23, 2023December 23, 2023

7.2

What if instead of a creature who leaves a path of destruction, Frankenstein’s creature left a path of destruction by seduction? That’s I think the best way to sum up this film… It’s a hard one to pin down, but similar to “Barbie,” takes a swing at societal norms and historical lunacy with a cunning wit about it. The look and feel of the film is a cross between Wes Anderson and Tim Burton. Be warned, approximately 1/4 of the runtime is sex scene. Or disturbing closeups of Willem Dafoe. If your not ready for either, they can both be equally jarring experiences. Unlike “Saltburn,” this film pulled of its purpose much more effectively, and was more palatable, which surprised me. It’s weird, and it’s long… but if you’re looking for something different, this is definitely a film for you!

Action Blockbuster Drama

“Godzilla Minus One”

By Brett_G on December 15, 2023December 11, 2023

8.1

Far better than any of the U.S. Godzilla films. This film has stakes and substance in abundance. Well worth the subtitles.

The first 10-15 minutes of this film are truly ruthless. Where our American counterparts suffer from fear of alienating audiences, opting to play it safe, this film goes for broke at every opportunity. It delivers a much deeper message about the human experience and harkens back to the original themes of the Godzilla franchise, grappling with our use of technology and obsession with progress without regard for collateral damage and general consequences.

For such a small budget, this film also looks absolutely gorgeous, even in its destruction. The attention to detail and creativity is evident in almost every frame, and there’s a collective sense of care put into the craft that comes across throughout the entire runtime. An all-time blockbuster on the year!