Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
7.7
Good, but not great. I think it was because I expected the whodunnit this time. It definitely fell into the trap of a bigger budget. That “22 Jump Street” nailed and I can never under with these sequels. At times it felt as transparent as, well, a glass onion. But, it’s Rian Johnson, so it’s also a beautifully made film, and you almost forgive it.
7.5
If you thought Jr. was an interesting man, wait until you become acquainted with Sr. The man, the legend…
Similar to “The Fabelman’s,” Robert Downey Jr. turns the camera inward and takes us back through his fascinating origin story, which rests upon a beautiful catharsis between father and son as they both face their mortality in different ways. It shows why Jr. was so damn good in “The Judge,” as the father son conflict seems to be familiar territory for him. That conflict may have been a weight on him throughout his life, but it was a weight that forced him to strengthen in a way that made him far stronger for having learned to carry it.
RIP Sr., and hugs to Jr. A truly beautiful tribute.
7.4
This almost made me want to stop drinking Mountain Dew, purely because it’s made by Pepsi. I’m officially team Coke now. How dare they!
An absolutely bonkers story, filled with even more dynamic characters. A perfect example of “you can’t write a story this good.”
Another forced look at our place i the world and how we all fit together and intertwine on the journey through life. There’s a lot under the hood in this one.
Led by powerhouse performances by Michael Keaton and Stanley Tucci, this film dives into a time in American history we too soon forget, or we’re blissfully unaware of in the first place. In this unthinkable chess match is addressed some of life’s most difficult questions, forcing us as viewers to evaluate things well beyond the boundaries of the screen. Exceptionally well done and well worth a watch!
8.6
One of the most impactful things I’ve watched all year. I caught it on a list on LinkedIn for leveling up one’s life, and now am including and recommending it here.
The way that the filmmakers lay out their case caused me to take a deep dive internally, and come out the other side more changed than I’ve been in a long time when the credits rolled on a film. Highly, highly recommend this one to anyone looking for a dose of profound perspective.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 