Comedy

“Fool’s Paradise”

By Brett_G on

7.2

Similar to “Showgirls,” I think this film is brilliant, but there’s a lot to dig through to get to that genius. It’s an expertly executed satire of showbusiness and Hollywood, and surprisingly funny. A true case of “less is more” in practice. The cast is fantastic. There’s not a weak link in anyone’s screen time. I was especially surprised by the non-verbal performance by Charlie Day, who typically relies on over the top vocals to sell his craft. it’d be like Jim Carrey not having any lines. A big leap, but also a big payoff here. Definitely different, but well worth the runtime and experimentation.

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Action Comedy

“The Machine”

By Brett_G on

6.5

Just watch the bit (linked below).

It may have been that I was forced to watch the red carpet for a half hour prior to watching this opening night, but I just found it okay… Which was unfortunate, because I was excited for this one. All the funniest moments were in the trailer, which I always hate. And it just seemed to drag by the end. An hour special – solid. A two hour movie? Too much Machine. Mark Hamill is just as out of place as you’d think.

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Horror/Thriller

“The Boogeyman”

By Brett_G on

6.7

Far better than I expected, but a bit of an enigma. For a Stephen King adaptation, it has a great ending. However, far too much of this story was missing for me. There’s a lack of connection to the characters that cheapens the experience. This bummed me out the further we got into the runtime because the film is so well crafted! The tension building and scares are top tier. But there’s nothing it’s built upon, which leaves it feeling somewhat hollow. All in all, surprisingly good that could have been great.

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Action Blockbuster Drama

“The Covenant”

By Brett_G on

8.1

Holy shit this is intense. From every angle. Not only does the action leave you sitting on the edge of your seat, but the emotional impact will leave you slumped in your chair trying to recover before the next barrage of violence in these 2 men’s pursuits of honor, commitment, friendship, and brotherhood. It’s a beautiful display of the best and worst of humanity, and how they often coexist side by side in our world, mixing in a gray middle at times, left to our own perceptions.

Guy Ritchie can do no wrong with the action, but where this film goes above and beyond is in the characters. The story is demonstrated expertly, instead of spoon fed to the audience. There’s an understanding reached while going on this journey together, and it leads to much more impactful twists and turns. I found myself enveloped by this film in a way not many achieve. Bravo!

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Comedy Drama Indie

“Somewhere in Queens”

By Brett_G on

7.8

A surprisingly, incredibly powerful family drama. A film that also made me and the couple sitting behind me laugh uncontrollably through most of the runtime. The heart woven within this story is some of the best of the year!

The cast absolutely kills it. From main characters down to the valets who are only in one or two scenes.

At the heart of this one is the process of having one’s heart broken. Whether it’s losing your first love or almost losing your one and only love, the laughs are countered by some Rocky-like punches to the gut. Learning to overcome such adversity to live a fuller, more deeply experienced life on the other side is one of life’s great triumphs, and on full display here. Wonderfully done!

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