Drama – Page 16 – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“The Gardener”

By Brett_G on June 7, 2023June 5, 2023

6.8

You’re not ready for this movie. I wasn’t ready for this movie. No one is ready for this movie.

Paul Schrader, the same man who brought the Abu Ghraib reckoning masked in a poker playing road trip coming of age film to life brings us… this. A white supremacist who falls in love with a black woman masked as a love story intertwined with a revenge tale masquerading as a film about horticulture. It’s a lot to take in, and definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s clunky at times, but similar to “The Card Counter,” this film deals in the most tense of situations. There’s really no breathing room until the credits roll.

Action Blockbuster Drama

“The Covenant”

By Brett_G on April 25, 2023

8.1

Holy shit this is intense. From every angle. Not only does the action leave you sitting on the edge of your seat, but the emotional impact will leave you slumped in your chair trying to recover before the next barrage of violence in these 2 men’s pursuits of honor, commitment, friendship, and brotherhood. It’s a beautiful display of the best and worst of humanity, and how they often coexist side by side in our world, mixing in a gray middle at times, left to our own perceptions.

Guy Ritchie can do no wrong with the action, but where this film goes above and beyond is in the characters. The story is demonstrated expertly, instead of spoon fed to the audience. There’s an understanding reached while going on this journey together, and it leads to much more impactful twists and turns. I found myself enveloped by this film in a way not many achieve. Bravo!

Comedy Drama Indie

“Somewhere in Queens”

By Brett_G on April 25, 2023

7.8

A surprisingly, incredibly powerful family drama. A film that also made me and the couple sitting behind me laugh uncontrollably through most of the runtime. The heart woven within this story is some of the best of the year!

The cast absolutely kills it. From main characters down to the valets who are only in one or two scenes.

At the heart of this one is the process of having one’s heart broken. Whether it’s losing your first love or almost losing your one and only love, the laughs are countered by some Rocky-like punches to the gut. Learning to overcome such adversity to live a fuller, more deeply experienced life on the other side is one of life’s great triumphs, and on full display here. Wonderfully done!

Drama Indie

“Rare Objects”

By Brett_G on April 18, 2023

7.1

Kintsugi in film form. Broken people helping fellow broken people. The best of humanity on display.

Alan Cumming and Julia Mayorga kill it in their respective roles, while Katie Homes’s performance pushes it over the top. A study in grief, damage, recovery, and resilience. Wrapped in a wonderful sense of, well, wonder.

Documentary Drama Sports

“Air”

By Brett_G on April 9, 2023April 9, 2023

8.5

“You’re remembered for the rules you break.”

The measure of a good “based on a true story” film is how well it can keep the attention of the audience. Did we all know the ship was going to meet its untimely demise at the hands of an iceberg? Yes. Did we all still put butts in seats and make it one of the highest grossing films of all time? You bet your ass we did.

This film keep you engaged from the opening note of “Money for Nothin’” until the credits roll.

Every single member of this cast brings their A game and keep the narrative firing on all cylinders at all times. The ability to make the mundane magnificent is something magical about this film. Whether it’s our taste for nostalgia, love for characters overcoming adversity, or love for this cast and this story, it all works.

Side note – the soundtrack is AMAZING!