Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
7.9
Holy shit… how did I miss this one!?!?
In the vein of “Four Good Days” and “Ben is Back,” this one cracks open the worst of humanity to see the slivers of light that make it through even the darkest moments. The unexpected laughs, the deepest connection, and the basic human decency we too often overthink and overshoot. An all star cast firing on all cylinders and killing it from the first frame to the last!
8.1
Ever since “The Holdovers,” I will see anything Dominic Sessa is in. He really embodies the essence of Anthony Bourdain within the pages of “Kitchen Confidential,” scars and all. I really didn’t remember how much entitlement he overcame on the journey to enlightenment. Antonio Banderas also surprises as a mentor figure in “chef,” emitting fatherly energy to the max in every frame he graces with his presence. Hell, even Stavros is likeable in this! Enjoy the tunes, reminisce on summers gone by, and remember why we all loved the humanity underpinning every episode of “Parts Unknown”…
7.9
Somehow stumbled upon this one and it made my night!
A reflection on the personal nature of obituaries and reflecting on ones life was surprisingly refreshing. There were so many darkly comedic, yet touching moments in this one. I love these surprises buried in streaming services. A warm reminder to ensure we all take the time to take a step back and reflect on things to never lose sight of those things that are truly meaningful and impactful.
8.5
An all-timer, and one of the most straightforward examples of the hero’s journey put to film! Stephen King really nails these coming of age stories… this one is definitely one of the better early film adaptations. Every member of the cast going on to great things really speaks to the strength of the lightning in a bottle factor at play here.
7.7
Get ready to love a super cheesy movie that seems to stupid to believe. This wouldn’t work with any other actors. I just can’t see it landing without Rudd and Nick Jonas’s onscreen chemistry. Their comedic chops play so well off each other that it makes everything have just the right balance and believability. I really can’t believe this insane plot worked and was as entertaining and genuinely enjoyable as it was. A tale of brotherhood, the golden rule, love, family, and music – the universal language.
