Indie – Page 19 – Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“Finding You”

By Brett_G on May 23, 2021May 23, 2021

8.2

With these types of movies, I typically judge them by the feeling I’m left with leaving the theater. Does it give me the butterflies? This one checked all of the boxes and left this forever bachelor inspired.

Uptight person who needs to learn how to relax from their polar opposite counterpart? Check.

Gorgeous leads who have spectacular chemistry? Check.

Beautiful locale? Check.

Overbearing manager/parent who makes it a forbidden love? Check.

Just enough twist on the story we’ve heard a million times before so we don’t mind rendition 1,000,001? Check.

Just wait until you find out the “you” that she finds… it’s going to blow your mind.

This film reminded me heavily of “Letters to Juliet” and “Leap Year,” which still stand as two of my favorites. Come to think of it, it’s also checking boxes that make it similar to “Somewhere in Time” as well. It’s also possible that this pounced on me in a time of sappiness to have a more significant impact. Totally possible. Either way, the cast was perfect, the story was exquisite, and the end product was *chef’s kiss*.

Side note: This rendition of “Whiskey in the Jar” was much different than the one I typically listen to.

Drama Indie

“Four Good Days”

By Brett_G on May 10, 2021May 9, 2021

8.1

Get ready to get sad. Then mad. Then worry. Then sad again. Then happy? I think it’s happily ever after, but damn… if it wasn’t a rough path to get there.

Huge Kudos to Mila Kunis and Glenn Close for taking on these roles. For a mainstream film, this story goes down some dark rabbit holes. It’s fairly unafraid to go places that help give the narrative much more weight and impact in the end. Stephen Root is a bit of a sleeper hit, though, serving to provide perfectly timed perspective to the other cast around him. Without him, I don’t think the story lands half of the punches it does.

May have to set your morals aside for the third act, or be ready to process some things. In the end, an incredible story to bring to the big screen.

Drama Indie

“Minari”

By Brett_G on May 10, 2021May 9, 2021

8.5

A24 made this?!? I mean, there is a fire in the third act that reflects flickering light in the face of the cast that serves as a potent metaphor. But it’s not one of their family members ablaze, and there’s no witch in the woods who steals the children. Very out of character for them.

That said, this was an incredibly heartfelt and impactful family drama about the struggle to find the “American Dream” as an immigrant family. I loved the way that the story wove together so many different perspectives. American Culture, Korean Culture, Midwestern culture. The similarities and differences. What ties us all together as a community and what makes us unique as individuals.

Well worth having to read subtitles. I look forward to the film market becoming more international in the future, because of films like this.

Comedy Drama Indie

“Together Together”

By Brett_G on April 27, 2021April 24, 2021

8.4

So many societal issues, handled with the perfect mix of grace and awkwardness. Ed Helms and Patti Harrison shine as the two perfect people to bring this story to the screen. Similar to “Promising Young Woman,” this film takes incredibly awkward topics and brings them to life on screen in such a way that they seem much more approachable. The beauty of human life and the relationships between people. The wonder of what life can be when we let go of “the plan” and “normal.” I laughed, I got a little misty-eyed, I came away with a lot to ponder in how to present this. The only beef I had was with the ending, but I can also understand and support the artistic choice. A lot of heart in this one. The kind of storytelling that has come through and shined on the big screen in the past year with the almost absolute absence of big, blockbuster franchises sucking up all of the silver screen real estate. Well worth a watch!

Indie Rom-Com

“Sideways”

By Brett_G on April 13, 2021April 11, 2021

7.6

Think “The Hangover,” but in California wine country with only two friends. And one is an insufferable author. It’s fun to see these two play off each other. The eternal optimist and the eternal Eeyore.

The story is pretty predictable, the soundtrack is the same one you get with every other rom-com from this era, but the laughs are plentiful. Pour yourself a nice Merlot (I’m a Bourdeaux guy myself), sit back, and relax while enjoying this tale of these two gents getting their grapes crushed by life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yeCvV14UWw