Indie – Page 14 – 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.

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!

Horror/Thriller Indie

“Nefarious”

By Brett_G on April 18, 2023April 22, 2023

7.2

Thank (insert deity here) Christians finally figured out how to make good movies to deliver their messages. We’ve come a long way since the days of “God’s not Dead.” The key to delivering messages is in the delivery, and that comes down to making subjects palatable and subtextual, instead of attacking the audience with the subtlety of actually being thumped with a Bible.

Above all else, this was a really solid crime/horror thriller. The two main actors deliver powerhouse performances in what amounts to a one room play, with a few surrounding shots to support the narrative and round out the runtime. The Glenn Beck interview at the end was a bit unnecessary to drive the points home, but it’s understandable in the big picture. All in all, a solid addition to this year’s horror film lineup.

Moral of the story… probably not the best idea to straight up invite a demon into your soul. Just a thought from your friendly neighborhood movie reviewer.

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.

Drama Indie

“A Good Person”

By Brett_G on April 2, 2023

8.6

Broken people hurting, but also helping fellow broken people. The best and worst of humanity, and the sometimes close proximity of the two in our lives as we cross paths. A brilliant study in grief, redemption, addiction, and perseverance. Morgan Freeman kicks ass, as expected, but damn… Florence Pugh is a powerhouse on the big screen!

Make sure to have a box of tissues at the ready, and fair warning, they get into some deep shit here. It’s not for the faint of heart or those who are not in the best place emotionally to see depictions of attempted suicide, blacking out, or sexual assault.