Comedy Drama Indie

“Kinds of Kindness”

By Brett_G on

7.2

I expected weird, and weird I received.

What turned out to be the same ensemble telling 3 loosely related tales of psychologically disorienting oddity plays out over almost 3 hours of runtime. Each seemingly stranger than the next. I’m still not sure how to adequately put into words what this one entails without giving away the element of surprise, which is this movie’s biggest pocket ace. Definitely don’t watch with children or if you have a weak stomach… Shit gets weird, and it keeps getting weirder…

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Action Blockbuster Comedy

“Bad Boys: Ride or Die”

By Brett_G on

7.5

Was this batshit insane? Yes. Yes it was.

Did it still work? Hell yes it did!

What could have easily fallen into stupid territory somehow ended up in so stupid its fun territory that the “Fast & Furious” franchise has been aiming for for years now. The cast is perfect. Will Smith and Martin Lawrence really have these characters figured out, and the supporting cast they’ve assembled fire on all cylinders to deliver a powerhouse ensemble performance. I’m not sure the plot really matters. What matters is the creativity in the cinematography and the almost constant risk taking that pays off at every turn. They had fun with this one, and it comes through in almost every frame. A breath of fresh air in the middle of blockbusters trying to take themselves too seriously. Well done!

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Suspense/Thriller

“The Watchers”

By Brett_G on

6.7

Well, it’s definitely M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter at the helm. Ishana Night Shyamalan does her best to stick the landing of the patented twist ending that is her family legacy, and mostly nails it. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the lore that we delved into as an audience as this movie progressed. Some of the film seemed to be a pretty blatant ripoff of other films of late, such as “A Quiet Place” or “10 Cloverfield Lane.” That being said, it’s in the depth of storytelling that this one really finds its legs. In an attempt to be overly clever, the story falls into clunky territory, but overall, it wasn’t half bad.

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Indie Suspense/Thriller

“The Last Stop in Yuma”

By Brett_G on

7.5

In the wise words of Karl from “Sling Blade”… “it ain’t got no gas in it.” The gas station may not have any gas, but the diner has rhubarb pie!

Somewhere between “Bad Times at the El Royale,” “Pulp Fiction,” and “The Hateful Eight”… (it was recommended as a comp to The Hateful Eight)

A fun whodunnit of sorts, that unfurls in an increasingly wacky manner as the runtime progresses. Really keeps you on your toes. I got a little worried about the third act, given our bridge into it (trying not to spoil the surprises)… but I’ll be damned if they didn’t stick the landing with 2 of the best needle drops I’ve heard in a long while. Both made me laugh at likely inappropriate, but intentional situations. A fun sleeper hit!

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Action Comedy

“Thelma”

By Brett_G on

8.2

This movie is INSANE! But it’s also insanely good.

In a sneak attack out of nowhere, this followed the likes of “Book Club” and “Last Vegas” to add a legendary chapter to the Elderly shenanigans cinematic universe. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat… this one never missed! At a tight hour and a half, it was firing on all cylinders the entire time and had the sellout crowd cheering by the time the credits rolled. You can’t ask for a better popcorn flick with heart!

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