Cinematic Sommelier
8.5
This one walked so that “I Think You Should Leave” could run… Such a perfect balance of Michigander inside jokes and beautiful Detroit scenery alongside Tim Robinson’s insanity. Sam Richardson was such a perfect pairing, along with pretty much every member of the supporting cast. I have no idea how I missed this one for so long, and now feel sad that it only lasted two seasons. Wonderfully weird lightning in a bottle.
6.9
The hockey version of “Major League”… about a decade before “Major League.” A lot less polished, but just as much ridiculousness, charm, and laughs. I had forgotten just how off the rails this movie gets, but for those who love the game of hockey there’s an undeniable charm about it… in between cringe moments that remind you that the movie was made almost 50 years ago.
A fun classic film night at the theater with this one!
7.9
What a way to kick off the theatrical releases for the year!
If this is a sign of things to come, 2024 is going to be an amazing year for horror films.
For all the folks who put in a pool because they never felt it safe to go back in the water after the events of “JAWS,” I have some bad news for you. It’s also not safe in your pool. Especially when it’s spring fed. Magic pools always have a catch. Look no further than “Hot Tub Time Machine.”
The story, the execution of the scares, and THE SOUNDTRACK… everything here brings its a-game until the credits roll. With every twist and turn, you’re drawn further and further into the depths of this one. There was a wonderful charm of originality with this one that I deeply appreciated. The wholesomeness of the family and America’s pastime (baseball) as a central theme made the turn into darkness all the more striking. A home run to start the year for Blumhouse!
8.6
I’m a sucker for Aaron Sorkin dialogue and a good walk and talk, so I’ve loved this film since the first time seeing it in the theater. Since then, I’ve occasionally passed by it in my library, meaning to one day re-watch it and see if it recaptured the magic. Spoiler alert – it does! Even more so after I finished the Steve Jobs biohgraphy recently, which prompted my re-watch recently. The attention to detail in the film was all the more breathtaking and spot-on than I had realized during that first watch years ago. What it does better than most, that “Oppenheimer” and “Killers of the Flower Moon” also later did, was nailed the tone of the story. A complicated, dynamic character that goes on to change the world. Weighing the impact they have on the world with the destruction they left in their wake. Uncovering the dark sides of once unknown or little known details that shine a new light on what had become a fairy tale image of history.
Michael Fassbender kills it as Jobs, with Kate Winslet as his character foil. The framing device of product launches was the perfect choice, as Apple became the center of Jobs’s being, with supporting cast came in and out of his life during different episodes in the saga. It wasn’t quite as reflective as the book, but the impact was nearly the same. It’s a busy 2+ hours, but well worth the runtime if you’re game for a breakneck pace of words per minute.
Book: https://a.co/d/97Q8XDY
7.3
Setting your romantic movie in Paris is a cheat code. A tad unfair, no?
This one reminded me of “A Good Person” from last year. A strong entry in the “broken people helping other broken people through shared imperfections” genre. I appreciate the honest messiness between and within the characters, and the genuine discomfort injected into the second and third act. A little bit of awkwardness goes a long way in authenticity. Dan Levy and crew kill it. A solid Netflix entry to start the year!
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 