Action Amazon Prime Documentary

“The Blue Angels”

By Brett_G on

8.2

I had to actually hunt a bit for a nearby IMAX screen to see this one, which was an unexpected hurdle. Once we got that out of the way, it was full afterburners, baby.

Strap in and get ready to be in awe of the dedication to the craft for almost 2 hours straight as real life Top Gun takes place. Watching the team come together and grow over the the course of a Blue Angels season was truly inspirational. As expected, there were quite a few life lessons tucked away in between the wing tips of the formations that make you wince on the edge of your seat, but the action rarely stops the entire time. You’ll leave with a newfound or renewed appreciation for aviation and expertise. Way to go Glen Powell and team!

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Comedy Paramount+

“South Park: The End of Obesity”

By Brett_G on

7.9

These special events are hitting too close to home lately. “Navigating the American Healthcare System” is enough to leave anyone who’s had to do it in real life in the fetal position. Your typical “South Park” shenanigans, a solid Randy Marsh side quest, and an uncomfortable look in the mirror at the world we live in that you’re less sure you’re supposed to laugh instead of be concerned about with each passing season.

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Indie Suspense/Thriller

“I Saw The TV Glow”

By Brett_G on

6.8

File this alongside “Broadcast Signal Intrusion” and “Censor” in the “what the f**k did I just watch?!?” section of my mind… But the third best of those three. There was a lot of potential left on the table here, but also may have been some breadcrumbs left unnoticed by yours truly. There was a lot to take in in the short runtime here. I applaud the originality and production quality of the “Stranger Things” – esque trip down repressed memory lane here. The imagery and soundtrack are second to none. This is what A24 does best.

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Suspense/Thriller

“The Strangers: Chapter 1”

By Brett_G on

7.3

^This song pretty much sums up my review. Man, was this bad luck. The motivation boiling down to “because you were here” never ceases to be unsettling. This one was more of a mixed bag than I expected. For the first 90% of the runtime, they mostly had me. Tension, surprise cameos, and genuine dread. That being said, they lost the plot with the end. It was almost “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” cop-out ending level rug pull at the end. The silver lining/saving grace is that chapter 2 comes out later this year, and hopefully the fumbled ending was just lack of ideas for a smooth transition.

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Documentary Drama Indie Romance

“Love & Mercy”

By Brett_G on

8.6

Alongside “Chef,” this is one of my all-time favorite indie finds on the silver screen. Paul Dano and John Cusack hold down the forts at either end of the Brian Wilson timeline as one of the most legendary figures in rock/pop music takes on a whole new depth. A fascinating tale of love, loss, and the toll that riding the razors edge between genius and instantly takes on a person and the loved ones around them.

The soundtrack is of course legendary. The love story is oddly adorable. The bar for all other biopics was set at a level that few, if any have since reached. There’s not a weak link in the cast or a wasted frame of film.

I suggest a pairing with the documentary “The Wrecking Crew.”

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