“My Old Ass”

7.9

When the third act twist hits in this one, it’s a gut punch for the ages. I really didn’t expect the depth that I got from this one. I expected funny moments interlaced with some heartfelt moments, but I didn’t expect this to be one of the most insightful and inspirational movies I’ve seen this fall. Aubrey Plaza and Maisy Stella play off of each other perfectly, and I can’t imagine anyone else in these roles. Hug your loved ones, gang… and don’t be afraid to take a leap of faith just because it might have an ending or hurt along the way.

“Ghostlight”

8.4

Unexpectedly sweet. As family dramas go, this one fires on all cylinders and knocks it out of the park. The strength of the personality clashes really raises the stakes and the value of the payoff in the end. It took a while to find its footing and take off, but I did NOT expect the third act to hit as hard as it did. The dad processing his grief from the safety of portraying Romeo was such a tough watch but such a beautiful moment. Though I didn’t recognize any of the cast, they could not have been more perfect for their roles. A small but mighty film about family, love, grief, forgiveness, and getting outside of one’s comfort zone. Highly recommend!

“Woman of the Hour”

6.8

With this being Anna Kendrick’s debut in the director chair, and me loving Anna Kendrick, I went a little easier on it. Overall, I expected more… but I wasn’t completely disappointed. It has its moments where it really takes off and becomes truly creepy. That said, this subject had so much potential that I felt was missed and left us hanging a bit. A solid movie that had the potential to be great. “Late Night With the Devil” was my comp, and a much better film in my opinion.

“The 4:30 Movie”

8.5

This is as feel-good film as it gets for me. As someone who frequently spends an entire afternoon at a multiplex to enjoy anywhere from 2-5 (my record) movies… This film was speaking my language. Summer coming of age/love story set in up to your eyeballs nostalgia? I’m there! The story may be a little simple and goofy, but they absolutely killed it in the eyes of this fellow movie buff!