Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“Angels & Ornaments”

By Brett_G on December 11, 2019December 11, 2019

8.2

After catching this on the TV in bits and pieces at the nursing home I worked in… I then spent the next 6 months trying to track it down. There was no better feeling than finally hitting pay dirt and reconnecting with my all time favorite hallmark movie. It may be cheesy, and it may be predictable… but it still tugs at the heart strings with the best of them! An underrated cast brings the holiday spirit in rare form, and knocks it out of the park. Wrap yourself in a blanket and break out the hot cocoa… and settle in for some good old fashioned holiday magic.

Rom-Com

“The Holiday”

By Brett_G on December 10, 2019December 10, 2019

8.9

Nancy Meyers at the height of her powers… this one cranks the cheesiness up to 11 and doesn’t let up the entire runtime! Jude Law is flawlessly charming, Jack Black gives him a run for his money in this whimsical tale of romance starring across from two of Hollywood’s most beautiful and charming leading ladies, Late Winslet and Cameron Diaz. The subtle nod to the golden age of Hollywood and the intertwining of trailer cuts with the incomparable Don LaFontaine is cinematic perfection! The cherry on top of this over the top sweet film… one of the most underrated of Hans Zimmer’s scores delicately soaring through the story. Highly recommend as a holiday away from the slow movie release week.

Comedy

“Christmas Vacation”

By Brett_G on December 8, 2019

8.8

Yes, THAT Christmas Vacation… shout-out to AMC for bringing this classic back to the big screen to spice up the holiday movie-going season. So many iconic lines, so many iconic bits… a true holiday classic. More of a PSA than a review… check your local listings to catch this legendary film on the big screen!

Comedy Netflix

“Iliza Schlesinger: Unveiled”

By Brett_G on November 29, 2019November 30, 2019

7.9

Homegirl’s still got it! The same rapid fire comedic brilliance you’ve come to expect from one of the best in the biz is back in full force. Marriage has not killed the comedic skill, only honed it further. Her material on weddings and dating as we grow older has me in tears! The pay-offs of working my way through my watchlist continue!

Blockbuster Netflix

“The Irishman”

By Brett_G on November 28, 2019November 29, 2019

8.2

First off, a beautiful film. The set pieces and cinematography are breathtaking. Also great to see the old gangster movie band back together in the cast. That being said, it comes up short trying to be the new “goodfellas” or “casino.” An interesting tale, for sure, but the story drug too much for me over the 3.5 hour runtime. A little too much depth sometimes, that acted as quicksand for the narrative momentum. Still solid, just not quite up to the hype that’s been surrounding the film for the last 6 months.