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.
6.4
Courtesy of Quentin Tarantino’s “Cinema Speculation,” which I highly recommend… one of a handful of oddballs you’ll see here on the feed in the next month or so.
A classic revenge thriller. “Taken” before the genre was run into the ground in the 2010s… back when it was run into the ground in the 1970s.
Man from Grand Rapids sends his religious daughter to LA on a youth group trip. Girl gets into porn. Man goes on the hunt for retribution against the man/men/women who contributed to her corruption.
I’ll also save you time – the reason you know the private investigator is because he’s Ray’s dad from “Everybody Love’s Raymond.” Apparently he’s never had hair.
7.4
Well, this is the most interesting episode of “Below Deck” I think they’ve ever released…
In all seriousness, it’s “Gilligan’s Island” from hell. Not even Woody Harrelson’s charm can distract the audience from the horrifying, imperative truths contained in this film. It’s truly a narrative work of art about class, societal collapse and rebuilding, and human nature. But… It’s an 11/10 on the weird. I also apologize for the cover photo of the trailer. Haha
7.7
It’s “Midsommar” meets “Chef.” And yes, that’s just as strange of a combination as it sounds.
First and foremost, Anya Taylor-Joy ❤️. I will watch anything she’s in. So naturally, my butt was in a seat. Then, they pit her against Voldemort himself, Ralph Fiennes. Fireworks. A masterclass in mysterious contention and connection. The kinship bordering on villainy is something truly special on the silver screen.
Warning – you’ll find yourself laughing more than expected. The comedy tag here isn’t by mistake.
7.1
It’s “Stepford Wives.” Don’t worry about wracking your brain trying to figure out why this whole thing seems familiar. That’s the secret.
That being said, it’s a beautifully shot movie, with some great tension-building sequences and a phenomenal performance from Florence Pugh.
To the good stuff – the drama – you could tell there was something going on on set. Not since seeing Journey live in concert have I seen an ensemble this distant and clearly uncomfortable with each other sharing the stage or the screen. It sadly takes away from some parts, but not necessarily the totality of the movie.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 