Cinematic Sommelier
8.5
Never thought I’d shed a tear during a Seth Rogen film, but here we are… a true long shot, but he sinks it! This was a wonderful film, with a great message. Brilliant comes to mind. Appreciating authenticity, and taking risks for what we truly care about. Mixed in with the same 4th grade humor we’ve come to know and love. And the chemistry between these two… amazing! Very well done by the bearded wonder.
4.5
Like, gag me with a spoon, that was rough.
Jessica Rothe and the soundtrack earned all 4.5 of those stars. Had to make up for a lot of Logan Paul. Although, his character is supposed to be a tool, so… good casting?
For some odd reason, they took a decent 80’s movie, forgot to write half of a script, and filled the gaps with musical numbers. I mean, the soundtrack was pretty bitchin’, but couldn’t fully pull this one out of a narrative tailspin. And subjected so many promising young actors and actresses to this ball and chain of a film.
It was colorful and full of everything 80’s, but a pretty hollow shell of an actual film.
7.9
One of many childhood favorites I’ve been able to revisit thanks to Disney+. Just as good as I remembered it! Classic Disney magic. Great coming of age story. Just enough goofy to remind you it’s a Disney movie. Perfect balance.
Swayze plays a close to perfect hero. Scott Glenn plays a villain akin to his brilliant performance in “Backdraft.”
9.4
Damn…
Old school ESPN on full display. F-bombs and all. The rawness of competition, the camaraderie of team, and the price of greatness. One of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen, and worth every minute of the 10 hour runtime. Guaranteed to emotionally move you every episode. You’ll not only learn about the team members themselves at a deeper level than ever thought possible, but also shed a tear over a United Center security guard at one point. Perfect pacing, great archival footage, and a willingness by the interviewees to truly bear themselves publicly in a way that not many are willing to. Hopefully a sign of things to come from ESPN in the future. A return to THE sports network. Until then… 6 titles in 8 years will stand the test of time as one of the all time greatest sports runs in history.
An experience these last 5 weeks that shows the beauty of sports as a communal experience that unites people. Perfect timing, on top of everything else.
7.9
“Westworld,” with a little bit of “John Wick.” A classic revenge story straight out of a western, with a modern twist. Fantastic action directing and cinematography makes for a wild ride in this quest for his wife’s killers and finding vengeance. Spent almost the entire runtime on the edge of my seat as the narrative navigated around each new corner, revealing a new twist. Very well done!
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 