Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare
Cinematic Sommelier
8.2
I forgot just how great this movie is! Above and beyond the Garth Brooks song as the credits roll, the finale of this one is one of the smoothest directing jobs I’ve seen in a long time! A heartfelt family affair wrapped around one of my favorite genres – time travel. Buckle up for one hell of a ride!
8.2
A Rachel McAdams rom-com… AND it includes time travel!?!?! You know I’m here for it!
What begins as a quirky tale of adolescent pursuits of summer love slowly and decisively morphs into one of the most wise, thought provoking reflections on life and love I’ve seen in ages! Bill Nighy has such a gift for being both insightful and insanely hilarious at the same time. Definitely keep a box of tissues handy, and wear your heart on your sleeve for this amazing throwback!
7.7
I’m a sucker for coming of age stories… especially ones that take place over the summer. Therefore, I was all-in on this one from the get-go.
THEN, it decides to go on and be an amazing tale of faith, connection, humanity, imperfection, humor, love, and loss… all in an hour and a half!
There’s such a strong, genuine heart to this film that gave it an unmistakable warmth and made everything incredibly approachable. It didn’t fall into the trap of being preachy, which is always my worry… a bravo and well done on this one, which I highly recommend!
7.4
Hey! It’s the girl from “The Breakfast Club!” (Ally Sheedy)
Anywho… as we embark on Ferris Bueller’s Day at DEFCON 1… this was such a surprisingly fun flick! We can only hope that the new AI is this easy to topple when it desires to get a little big for its britches. Essentially “Ender’s Game,” but with a happy ending instead of a horrifying one. Broderick’s charm on full display, and a fun geek flick/red scare flick the likes of “Real Genius” or “Red Dawn.”
Bonus – I better understood the references included in “Ready Player One,” which I’m currently listening to on Audible as my 100th audiobook.
7.4
Nic Cage as a paramedic? Sign me up!
In what could be a sequel to “Taxi Driver,” we join Cage and his carousel of rig partners in trying to wrangle the chaos of New York City, as well as the chaos within themselves.
Oddly comforting was the portrayal of the Emergency Room waiting area. Some things never change…
The film itself was a cross between the ambiance and inner monologue of “Taxi Driver” and the cinematography of “Seven.” It was an interesting mix. Ving Rhames and John Goodman turn in fantastic supporting performances opposite Cage. As does Tom Sizemore, of all people. An unexpected reflection on healthcare ethics and coping mechanisms in the face of insurmountable stressors.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 