Category: Throwback

Drama Throwback

“Stolen Summer”

By Brett_G on

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!

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Comedy Science Fiction Throwback

“War Games”

By Brett_G on

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.

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Comedy Drama Throwback

“Bringing Out The Dead”

By Brett_G on

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.

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Comedy Drama Throwback

“The Descendants”

By Brett_G on

8.2

Gorgeous scenery, complicated life subject matters, deep characters, acoustic soundtrack…the Alexander Payne (Director) formula at the height of its powers.

Similar to “The Holdovers” and “Sideways” from his catalog, this one doesn’t shy away from the awkward or the difficult. Flawed people taking care of each other in the face of adversity is a film premise that will never tire.

George Clooney delivers one of his strongest dramatic performances, but it’s Shailene Woodley that steals the show. Her transition and development of character throughout the film is one of the greatest strengths of the story. As with most of Payne’s works, it’s the subtlety and attention to the smallest details in every frame that sets this apart from other films. Even the dumbass boyfriend becomes a redeeming character by the end, it’s truly a sight to see. Really well done.

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Documentary Drama Throwback

“All The President’s Men”

By Brett_G on

7.4

Better as a book…

Not that the movie was bad, and I understand it’s a classic and an important story. However, the book was better in this case. I know this is sacrilege as a movie critic.

The performances are spot on and the script really does a great job of hitting the essential marks in the story, but there’s only so much they could fit into the runtime, and there was simply too much to fit into a reasonable runtime. Definitely one of those “Hollywood can’t write something this crazy” stories, that Hollywood struggled to translate to the silver screen.

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